Disqus - Latest Comments for lexica

Re: So Much For Keeping A Low Profile

Lexica — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 17:51:50 -0000

Sorry to ignore the story, but I find myself stuck on the terminology. I work in risk management, and "excess insurance" has a specific meaning. Is OP using "excess" to mean "deductible", which would be the term used in the US?

Large organizations, like the one I work for, often have multiple layers of insurance. They may have coverage with Company A for claims up to a certain amount, but claims that "pierce" that layer will go up to the next level of "excess" coverage through Companies B, C, etc.

Underwriting excess insurance is a risky prospect, based on balancing how likely it is that a significant claim will occur during the covered period vs the fact that when a claim does hit, it's often seriously significant (millions of dollars) and takes a lot of court and lawyer time to resolve.

Re: Not Very Closed-Minded, Part 48

Lexica — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 19:54:03 -0000

Holy smoke, how did I typo the year that badly? No, I did not take the GED this year. It was in the early 1990s.

Massive brain-hiccup there.

Re: My Parents The Monsters

Lexica — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 19:17:41 -0000

He's also one of the few people whose fried rice Uncle Roger approves of.

https://www.asiaone.com/digital/gordon-ramsay-responds-glowing-seal-approval-uncle-roger-nasi-goreng-cooking-video

Re: She’s Producing A Lot Of Hot Compressed Air

Lexica — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 19:06:25 -0000

I'm just there for Kpop discussion, gardening photos, and telling people "yeah, YTA."

Re: The Difference Is Deafening

Lexica — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 17:52:18 -0000

For anyone who's interested, here's a performance video by the Australian group Alter Boy, whose members include two Auslan (Australian Sign Language) interpreters:

https://youtu.be/nqs_37CnvV8

Re: Thanks, Rafiki!

Lexica — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 17:39:26 -0000

It's been more than 40 years and I still remember that the code word my mom gave me was "pudding". Never had to use it, luckily.

Re: You May Be Sleepy But You’re Not Wrong

Lexica — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 17:13:27 -0000

This is me resisting the urge to launch into a discussion of how amazing Hangul is. (Seriously, it's wonderful. I'm not aware of any other script where the shape of the letter indicates how to pronounce it.)

Re: You May Be Sleepy But You’re Not Wrong

Lexica — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 17:10:38 -0000

I'm blinking in puzzlement at the idea of 11:30 being "early". I mean, back in college I learned the hard way not to sign up for 8am classes*, but 11:30? That's lunchtime.

*And then here a couple of months ago I went and signed up for an online language class that meets at 6am on Friday. Every time the alarm goes off at 5:30am, I remind myself "You didn't just willingly sign up for this, you camped on the 'join class' button until it opened up and clicked it with glee."

Re: It’s Just Not App-enning

Lexica — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 16:39:37 -0000

Way back when I took a linguistics class in college, I think the teacher said things like this are called "performative statements". Other examples include "I now pronounce you married", "You are found guilty and sentenced to [x] years in prison", "I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen…"

Re: May We Offer The Poor Boy A Dictionary?

Lexica — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 16:25:52 -0000

Looked at through modern eyes, The Swiss Family Robinson is, uh... a lot.

Fantasy author Ursula Vernon did a live-tweet as she read it. The tweets are funny, and wow how did I not notice these issues with the book when I read it? (Answer: I was 8.)

https://mobile.twitter.com/i/events/856296229193613312

Re: May We Offer The Poor Boy A Dictionary?

Lexica — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 16:16:09 -0000

Similarly, I feel annoyed when people describe cats as "cruel" due to their hunting technique. It's not cruelty, it's minimizing the risk to the cat (the technique of swat-and-wait-then-repeat reduces the chance for the cat to get injured by the prey).

Re: May We Offer The Poor Boy A Dictionary?

Lexica — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 16:12:28 -0000

The other day I looked at my husband and said "so, electric can opener?" My wrists were not happy with me after opening six cans in a row.

Re: May We Offer The Poor Boy A Dictionary?

Lexica — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 16:07:59 -0000

Don't forget the "on fire" part. That's part of the fun.

Re: Some People Just Want To Watch The World Burn, Part 13

Lexica — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 15:31:14 -0000

Also not the first story where commenters were actively arguing that it's reasonable for a server not to know the items on the menu.

I mean, I worked at Dairy Queen, a bastion of fine dining and excellent service, and most of my first day was spent learning the menu and practicing making a proper DQ curl on ice cream cones, so what do I know?

Re: This Is Your Brain On Autopilot, Part 2

Lexica — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 14:57:01 -0000

I've heard of authors on book tours putting a sticky note on the hotel alarm clock: "Today is TUESDAY DECEMBER 7 and you are in PHILADELPHIA."

Re: This Lie Has A Date Of Death

Lexica — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 14:16:06 -0000

I'm 51 and a fan of Kpop, which tends to skew VERY young – many newly-debuted groups have members in the 18 to 20 range, and some are as young as 15 when they debut. It's been interesting to try to figure out what the tipping point for me is between "this person is an adult and seems comfortable with the sexy image they're presenting" vs "oh, no, this person is entirely too young and I would feel creepy ogling them". (Since I know I'll never do anything about it, I feel okay appreciating pretty people in their early 20s. Younger than that is... nah.)

At this point, I'm so glad for the previous-generation artists who are still active. You're in your 30s or 40s? Hello there, I'm about to check out your entire back catalog.

And I cherish Joon Park, who is literally the only active performer I can address as "oppa". (Love you, man. Wassup?)

Re: This Lie Has A Date Of Death

Lexica — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 14:05:20 -0000

I was born in a year ending in 0 so the math is easy for me. I just don't like doing it.

Re: Maybe We Should Start With “Love Thy Neighbor”

Lexica — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 13:51:51 -0000

I just wasted 30 seconds trying to figure out that circular reasoning and now I'm getting a headache. Ouch. I hope you didn't have to deal with them again.

Re: Maybe We Should Start With “Love Thy Neighbor”

Lexica — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 13:50:00 -0000

I'm sorry you had to deal with that, and at the same time the mental image of you shouting "love thy neighbor, b-tch!" is making me happy.

Re: Keeping Your Cool With This Refrigerator Monster

Lexica — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 17:28:13 -0000

In the handful of states with "community property" rules, most debts incurred by one spouse during the marriage are owed by both spouses.

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/debt-marriage-owe-spouse-debts-29572.html

Re: Missed Out On Good Customer Service By A (Lan)Yard

Lexica — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 17:24:31 -0000

"I couldn't find anyone to help me, so I did struggle" is not passive-aggressive, it's a statement of fact.

Re: I Didn’t Steal Your Pot-Tarts!

Lexica — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 17:16:59 -0000

The big shoplifting mobs do seem to be a thing, at least based on the reporting I've seen. However, the response seems to be (at least in some cases) disproportionate – see the current SFPD takeover of Union Square, for example.
https://www.sfgate.com/essays/article/San-Francisco-cops-union-square-takeover-16647305.php

As far as store closures, when journalists have looked into that in more depth, they're often linked to lower sales or overall corporate plans to close X locations by the end of the year, not necessarily to shoplifting.

Re: The Great Bagel Caper

Lexica — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 18:24:42 -0000

I'm not speaking from a lack of experience of food service, I'm speaking from the perspective of having worked at Dairy Queen and spending the first two days of work training focusing on the menu and how to do a DQ curl on the soft-serve cones.

If you're working at a restaurant, the first responsibility you have is to understand the menu. Especially if you're working somewhere like this sounds, where the menu is limited.

I'm a little surprised (although I shouldn't be) at the people who think that this server shouldn't be expected to know the menu of the place they were working. Arguing that someone working at a bagel place doesn't need to know the term "capers" seems like arguing that someone working at a hot dog place doesn't need to know the term "mustard" or maybe "sauerkraut".

If capers are on the menu as an option, the servers should know what capers are.

Re: Her Head’s A Balloon You Just Wanna Pop

Lexica — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 18:06:47 -0000

My heart goes out to her. Whether she's diagnosed neurodivergent or not, some people are just awkward at humaning, despite their best attempts. It's rough.

Re: Don’t Worry, Someone Will Make It A Miniseries Eventually

Lexica — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 18:02:00 -0000

Spoiler: When the armsman said to Miles

Count Vorkosigan, sir.

I just lost it. Glad I had tissues available.