The Off Topic Topic

[Josephus]

Posting at 2:14 pm. Home early so I can watch Napoli Chelsea. 

[Lettow77]

some freakish German-Chimpanzee hybrid.

http://www.thelocal.de/society/20120203-40531.html
Stop the madness!

[fhdz]

I also just discovered that Gardetto's does a all rye chip bag.

[Lettow77]

 There is some concern amongst interested parties that our future space colony is becoming crowded with undesirables; there are whispers that the Southerners themselves are not equal to the task of being the primary caretakers of the world-ship, while the nations of the celtic congress will form a net drain

The best solution is astringent selection- out of millions, only hundreds will be allowed, and it is hoped that severe straining and careful selection will make Southerners worthy of their mandate for the coming neogenesis.

There is further rumbling that demands to know if the French as a whole deserve entrance, contrasted with Brittany and the Pied-Noirs, who are guaranteed admittance. It is unclear what Occitania's role will be, and the French question is the most vexing matter currently dominating European affairs.

At present, it suffices to say that the French (in some form), the Afrikaners, Southerners, Japanese, and the Celtic Congress Nations will be given admittance. Magyars were considered and rejected; an ill-augured people such as they would surely spell doom for the project.

By unanimous acclamation, all agree that the first city to be erected on our new world shall be an idealized re-creation of Venice, born again without its noxious odours or still more noxious italians.

Edit: Furthermore, there is a pressing and consistent agitator for Manchurian representation, citing numerous cultural and historical sources to suggest worthiness of the Worldship, and implicit in the demand is that a refusal equates to an unwarranted underrepresentation of the Orient. There are indeed fears that a Manchu presence would signal an unwelcome shift, and defend Japan's membership on the basis of Japan's westernization. Manchu participation ultimately seems likely, but the vocal protests of it's proponent have created an element of dissent.

[Eddie Teach]

Are the voices conducting a council now? 

[Lettow77]

 Provisional (and subject to change) World-Ship representation is currently thus:

Southerners 25%
Japanese 25%
French* 20%
Irish 10%
Scottish 6%
Welsh 4%
Afrikaners- 10%

[Admiral Yi]

Today I found out that Barnes & Noble has an entire section for Teenage Paranormal Romance. 

[CountDeMoney]

Today I found out that Barnes & Noble has an entire section for Teenage Paranormal Romance. 

What, you never saw that before?  It makes me weep.  I had no idea there were so many "Twilight" knock-offs. 

[DGuller]

Today I found out that Barnes & Noble has an entire section for Teenage Paranormal Romance. 

Seems to make sense, it's not like there are many normal teenagers frequenting Barnes & Noble.

[Josquius]

Ah Japan, efficient you are not.
How many Japanese does it take to change a lightbulb? 3. One to do the changing and two to hold flags and direct foot traffic around him.
Seriously I could see that happening.
This morning I encountered two council workers changing the flowers by the side of a pavement....and standing either side of them were two more council workers whose sole job was to direct pedestrians around them.
At every building site, no matter how big or small, its the same. Guys whose job is to wave little flags and direct traffic.

[Lettow77]

 I cut off most of my hair

I had enormously long hair, which had grown for over a year from an already longer-than-average start, but it had to be shorn off. I am now going to shave off my beard as well- the given sacrifice I offer freely to the sacred isles. I must have my passport, and I can't look too much like a hairy barbarian.

[fhdz]

Ah Japan, efficient you are not.
How many Japanese does it take to change a lightbulb? 3. One to do the changing and two to hold flags and direct foot traffic around him.
Seriously I could see that happening.
This morning I encountered two council workers changing the flowers by the side of a pavement....and standing either side of them were two more council workers whose sole job was to direct pedestrians around them.
At every building site, no matter how big or small, its the same. Guys whose job is to wave little flags and direct traffic.

We have flaggers here too...but they're for roads, not footpaths.

[The Larch]

Didn't buddharhubarb also mention the chronic overstaffing of many Japanese companies? IIRC he mentioned it when talking about banks, and how they seemed to be stuck in the 70s.

[fhdz]

Didn't buddharhubarb also mention the chronic overstaffing of many Japanese companies?

Isn't that largely a function of having such a high population on such a small land mass?

[MadImmortalMan]

Didn't buddharhubarb also mention the chronic overstaffing of many Japanese companies?

Isn't that largely a function of having such a high population on such a small land mass?

I don't see why that would follow. More likely a case of not updating the business structure in a timely way.