Disqus - Friends of andrewjthomas

Re: Some Top Kids Games

zoembie — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:17:04 -0000

Good list! Ticket to Ride gets a lot of play for us, in particular.

My 9 year old loves the Settlers of Catan card game. She delights in exploring new strategies for winning.

She liked Kids of Catan a lot when she was much younger - I want to say maybe 6-7? She was kinda old for it then, too, but I think she liked it as much for the lovely wooden pieces as anything.

Set is a great game for kids, they are way more intuitive about things like that than adults, and again, they can win fairly.

Re: why i am not afraid to take your money, by amanda fucking palmer

zoembie — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:00:25 -0000

Amen. There should be no shame in asking money for what you do. And there is no shame in paying for it. When the man with the flute in the train station makes the end of my long evening commute better, I give him a dollar. When I find something that soothes my soul or incites me, it's worth my money. And it *doesn't matter* how much money has already been paid, given, collected. 'cos that isn't my business.

Business is business, and business runs in the family, because it feeds the art. Thanks for writing this - it makes me feel better about the "selling out" aspect of selling art.

Re: Apple Streaming Music

zoembie — Thu, 29 May 2014 13:50:46 -0000

I liked the Beats music service when it was Mog. Their headphones seem like overpriced crap, but stylish crap, so that's a thing (I'm hardly an audiophile - I have entry-level Sennheisers). I don't really understand this acquisition, except that it's a "lifestyle brand". Like, what's next? Maybe Prada?

Re: Apple Streaming Music

zoembie — Thu, 29 May 2014 13:52:45 -0000

I actually felt really sad the other day realizing that moving entirely to e-books means a new friend can't look at my bookcase and know what I'm into anymore. Bookcases and CD shelves used to be important indicators of cultural affinity. I guess Facebook, Goodreads, or Last.fm are the new alternatives, but I'm guessing most people never look at someone's library other than their own.

Re: Nerds Unite – Charming Photos of People Connected by Hobbies

zoembie — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 15:04:48 -0000

I like the idea of this project very much but dislike the execution. By having the participants be so stoic among the objects of their passion, it drains all of the life out of what are life-affirming activities for those same people.

Re: How an Awesomesauce New Suffix Came to Be

zoembie — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 21:02:54 -0000

Huh, didn't realize it went that far back. Now if you can please help explain "amazeballs" I'd be grateful.

Re: Purdue Researchers Create Scientifically Accurate Animated Simulation of 9/11

chris — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 02:51:01 -0000

Dearest Conspiracy Theorists,

Please look up the recent collapse of a span of the Maze in Oakland California when a gas truck caught fire. Guess what was weakened to the point of failure in a short time? Steel? You got it, guess what else? It was rated for much higher weight/strength than the steel used in the twin towers.

Remember the most simple answer or solution is often the correct one. The complexity of a conspiracy large enough to secretly take out multiple structures in NYC through controlled means is immense. This is a project that would require thousands of man hours of planning and a large group of individuals to pull off efficiently and in a timely fashion. For this conspiracy to have happened as suggested you would need a large team of individuals with varied technical backgrounds. You would then need this large group to maintain secrecy for the rest of their lives, or dispose of them all.

Re: Christian music star Jennifer Knapp comes back and comes out

chris — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:31:40 -0000

Regarding Einstein's beliefs which are AGAIN misspoken here. He did not believe in an active god, this means no Muslim god, No Christian god. His god was that of Spinoza's description, one who is/created all and takes no hand in the course of action, in fact, may not even be aware of the results of its own creation. So for the record: Einstein didn't believe in Christianity.

Re: Dutch concern over van der Sloot 'show trial'

chris — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:30:53 -0000

Let's not forget the Dutch still get off easy for being by far the most horrendous slave traders (and pretty much starting it all) the world has ever known... basically if you aren't Dutch, they don't care about your worth as a human at all.

Re: U.S. was born a Christian nation

chris — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:14:17 -0000

Rational Agnosticism is the only sensible path once you have truly looked into and researched all the options for a higher power.

Re: U.S. was born a Christian nation

chris — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:16:45 -0000

This is untrue, our founding fathers were far more concerned with their personal status, positions and wealth than religion. Please reread your history as you have taken a false impression.

Re: U.S. was born a Christian nation

chris — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:17:59 -0000

Saying something or writing it down, no matter how many times, does not turn fiction into fact.

Re: Source: Explosives found in suspicious packages packed powerful punch

chris — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 08:07:01 -0000

You thank Saudi Arabia, because you want the King and his aligned followers to keep helping us. The King in SA is not in complete control as someone like Jong-il, he is more akin to Chavez with regards to control of the populace.

You make it public because it got too far and had to be let known to the general shipping companies to all step up their game and also to let the terrorists know that we are so thorough we have caught this method as well.

Re: Palin's reckless views on obesity

chris — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 00:52:33 -0000

So please explain this to me all those who say the government should stay out of "parenting your children with regards to food"... if you guys are doing such a good job how come America is filled with obese children? Further the states where the TEA party has the largest base of supporters are at the top of the obesity scale for both youth and adults. Obviously you people can't control your eating if left to your own devices, now can you?

Re: Palin's reckless views on obesity

chris — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 00:55:50 -0000

They aren't HER (Obama's) figures, try checking a source before posting useless drivel next time.

Re: Palin's reckless views on obesity

chris — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 00:57:46 -0000

Global warming is a fact, if it is entirely man made is what is up for debate. But don't let your ignorant beliefs get in the way of hundreds of experts who deal with climate... When was the last time you did any climate studies again?

Re: Palin's reckless views on obesity

chris — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:02:05 -0000

There's no such thing as a "God given" right in our country anyways, they are unalienable rights granted to all people at birth. Too bad the TEA party people forget this fundamental fact about America. Makes me wonder why they hate our country so much to wish to deny rights and freedoms that our Constitution granted. Thought they were all about that old piece of paper.

Re: Palin's reckless views on obesity

chris — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:02:57 -0000

Why do you hate children? Do you abuse them?

Re: Palin's reckless views on obesity

chris — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:10:25 -0000

Your tax money already pays for obese kids and as the current generation get older you will pay for them again. Why do you think your medical insurance is so high and getting higher? We are raising generations who are predestined for diabetes, more heart disease and just poor health. Isn't it more cost effective to treat them NOW with cheap good food than wait until they need medical care?

Re: Palin's reckless views on obesity

chris — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:12:19 -0000

Obesity is never good for you. You are probably misquoting a study that found having a few extra pounds, especially with age, can help one fight some diseases and viruses. However this is a very special case and only for certain people, sorry you got this confused in your head.

Re: Palin's reckless views on obesity

chris — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:17:49 -0000

Preservatives have nothing to do with obesity problem as they are not the source of calories in junk food.

Re: Palin's reckless views on obesity

chris — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:18:54 -0000

What is nonsense about the Happy Meal ban in SF? Do you even know what it really says? For the record it doesn't ban toys in meals, it only bans toys in meals that have a very high calorie value. You are okay with feeding your children huge amounts of calories to get a toy?

Re: Palin's reckless views on obesity

chris — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:22:56 -0000

Uh oh the crackers have done gone crazy and brought out the moderators again! Silly white folk!

Re: Palin's reckless views on obesity

chris — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:27:28 -0000

We know what causes obesity, if you don't personally then you are not paying attention or being willfully ignorant. Obesity is caused by consuming more calories than you use. Quite simple, eh? Americans eat far too many calories and live very sedentary lifestyles these days, the only result that could happen from such is weight gain.

Re: Let's all eradicate the emoticon

chris — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:49:53 -0000

In a limited communication medium, any advantage to give extra context is a must.

I've been on the tubes since '93 so I feel totally okay with telling you two to get off my lawn. :P