The Off Topic Topic

[Liep]

Why would you want to undo that stereotype? It looks lovely.

[Syt]

Why would you want to undo that stereotype? It looks lovely.

It's not representative of 90% of the country. Hell, many people would contend it's even part of Germany. It's like equating every American to the worst cliché of Texans.

[Liep]

equating every American to the worst cliché of Texans.

That's pretty much what I do.

[Syt]

What's worse, I missed Sausage Fest on Saturday:

https://www.facebook.com/events/814772401911946/

It's family business! Beefy celebrates it's American-Italian heritage and presents us a taste of home:

Fresh, home-made italian sausage, marinara sauce, fine cheese, roasted bell peppers on a toasty bun.

This flavor brings out Beefy's best memories of childhood. You can't miss it!

Get Beefy!

[Duque de Bragança]

Better equate Germany to Bavaria than say Prussia, or some East German industrial wasteland, full of stalinist architecture.

[Liep]

Better equate Germany to Bavaria than say Prussia, or some East German industrial wasteland, full of stalinist architecture.

Also Bavaria is the only place in Germany I've visited besides Berlin, so it's easier.

[Valmy]

Why would you want to undo that stereotype? It looks lovely.

It's not representative of 90% of the country. Hell, many people would contend it's even part of Germany. It's like equating every American to the worst cliché of Texans.

Better than equating Germany to Nazis, which is what we do the rest of the time.

[Admiral Yi]

The rest of Germany is Sprockets.

[Valmy]

The rest of Germany is Sprockets.

[Ed Anger]

The grandson of Paul Tibbets took command of the 509th bomb wing. :nukeboner:

[derspiess]

It's not representative of 90% of the country. Hell, many people would contend it's even part of Germany. It's like equating every American to the worst cliché of Texans.

BUT IT'S FUN.  Geez...

[Syt]

Merkel's famous hand gesture:

[alfred russel]

If I thought I could get leave during that time, I'd totally be down.

There are also some really good, less dramatic hikes in the Olympic mountains...The Brothers is a popular one (don't try to pet the mountain goats...they can kill).  http://www.summitpost.org/the-brothers/517714

Or check out some of the hikes along the coast (Shi-Shi beach, for example).  No elevation gain, but still awesome.

Check out this site for other leads...

www.wta.org

Thanks Toni. The mountain goats look cool.

I'm leaning toward St Helens--that combines interesting history with an interesting hike with an interesting geological feature. It should make for a cool story. But if I can't get the permits, it seems there are lots of other options.

[garbon]

http://www.theonion.com/americanvoices/walmart-allowing-employees-wear-denim-raise-spirit-50584

Walmart Allowing Employees To Wear Denim To Raise Spirits

In an effort to raise the spirits of employees who have made complaints about low pay and the lack of flexible hours, Walmart has announced it will relax its dress code to allow employees to wear black or blue denim in addition to black or blue khakis. What do you think?

"I'm fine with it as long as it doesn't feel like I'm in some sort of rock and roll club."

"Whenever I feel down about being trapped in a cycle of poverty, I just throw on my favorite Levi's."

"Typical Walmart. Always throwing denim at the problem."

[Malthus]

My kid's tadpole-raising project is reaching its end - two of the little creatures have grown legs and are crawling out on a rock inside their aquarium.

In honor of that transformation, I played ZZ Top's "Legs" on the iphone. Seemed appropriate somehow. 

She's got legs, she knows how to use them.
She never begs, she knows how to choose them.
She's holdin' leg wonderin' how to feel them.
Would you get behind them if you could only find them?
She's my baby, she's my baby,
yeah, it's alright.

Works better for tadpole development than for humans.