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Post by questa on May 8, 2021 0:06:28 GMT
Oh, come on, Mick! I knew the first part but the WHO is not hard.
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Post by questa on May 8, 2021 0:00:48 GMT
A friend of mine was a Theravadin Buddhist nun who ran meditation groups.
( We had an interesting group consisting of 3 Catholic nuns, 3 Catholic women from the ordination of women group, 2 consecrated witches from Canada, 2 agnostic feminists, a Tibetan Buddhist student and me.)
Twice a year (equinoxes) we would hold a meditation in an adjoining Chapel and invite the friends and families.
All the congregation are sitting, waiting for us to enter. We walk into the chapel (having removed our shoes) and down the aisle. Behind us we hear the scuffle, scraping and plopping as the congregation divests itself of its footwear, while looking around to see what others are doing or heads at knee level as they wrestled with undoing laces. It had not occurred to any of our group that people wore shoes in a Chapel.
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Post by questa on May 7, 2021 23:00:50 GMT
Yes, but look at you! You have a marvellous shell over you and only your legs and claws poke out a bit...that's why they are pinker than your shell. Even that is getting a little mottled! (I've been meaning to tell you, Kimby, you have a beautiful carapace!)
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Post by questa on May 7, 2021 11:01:08 GMT
Mich, you say for 'a couple of years.' Why ddid she stop if it was helping. I guess expense would come into it but mine is for free. Today I have had a stiff neck and I can turn my head carefully.
To add to this week's fun and games, I went to my skin check doctor today. 19 pre-cancers frozen off...hidden in my L eyebrow, all around my hairline and scattered over my face and hands. More "ouch-ie" than the Botox but bearable.
I can't have my vax for 2 weeks after the botox so I guess that will be the next session.
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Post by questa on May 7, 2021 10:39:14 GMT
When did people start wearing outside shoes into the house anyway? Most cultures remove their footwear and leave them at the door then either don slippers/scuffs or stay barefoot. This is better for feet, floors and furniture although they usually would not put their feet in a position where they are pointing at someone.
When outside shoes get worn inside the life of carpets is shortened and they need frequent cleaning. Timber floors soon get scratched and damaged, as do tiles. I have lived in places where shoes NEVER come inside and it seems to be only Western cultures that drag the dirt, spit and other unpleasant things into the house.
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Post by questa on May 7, 2021 0:10:05 GMT
Kuala Lumpur airport. I was in the check in line to fly back to Oz. Well dressed man in next line extremely distressed as there had been a error and his seat re-assigned. He HAD to be in Melbourne and there were no seats left. I was in no hurry so I offered my seat and was thanked profusely. About an hour later a Malaysian Airways chap came up and offered me a free return ticket and 3 nights stay in a 3 star hotel on the riverfront in Kuching, Sarawak on island of Borneo. Some quick phone calls to Oz and I had the most enjoyable holiday out of all the trips I've done. (Pics in Asia file)
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Post by questa on May 6, 2021 10:18:21 GMT
That is my intention, Spaceneedle, unless something better comes my way. Thank you for your kind words.
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Post by questa on May 6, 2021 10:07:02 GMT
With my luck the bullet would jam in the chamber!
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Post by questa on May 6, 2021 6:01:36 GMT
Oh Boy! Have I had a few rough days lately! Over the last few months ago my writhing and twisting full-body movements have increased. Then I developed the same dystonia of the head and neck and the spasms from that had me extremely vexed. In brief, the muscles that are used in head/neck go into tight spasms and stay like it for up to an hour or so. The muscles pull against their opposite number, twist into knots or just clench down and make me use naughty words.
My brand new GP waved a magic wand and got me into the clinic that does the Botox treatments and yesterday I had 5 injections in and around the screwed up muscles. Naturally I read up on it in the interwebz and scared myself spitless. The process was said to be painful and full of hazards and the after effects had a list of terrifying sequalae, but the pain I was getting was so intense I knew I had to do something.
So I let the doctors have their wicked way and they injected 5 doses of Botox into my neck in various places...10 minutes and I was done.
Today I have much less pain and can turn my head again. I am generally OK with all-over stiffness and discomfort. I have to have this done every 12 weeks but it says it takes about a week to kick in properly. My head and scalp and neck twinge a bit...I can just hear them singing "My achy-braky muscles" I can't understand why women will pay for this as a 'beauty treatment'.
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Post by questa on May 6, 2021 1:08:46 GMT
Last night the House of Assembly for the State of South Australia sat until late into the night, debating the "euthanasia bill" also known as the "doctor-assisted death" or "right-to-die" bill. There have been 16 attempts over 29 years to pass this bill and this is only the Upper House. The numbers were 14-7 while polls have indicated up to 85%
The Lower House will be harder as the greater number of single issue members try to block its passage. Recently I noticed (with pleasure) that the members of The States Houses now bear names I can only guess at and speak with accents. Many are from countries where a free and fair election does not exist. They might have different views to bring to the subject,
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Post by questa on May 4, 2021 4:38:24 GMT
Heeby-jeebies is used to indicate fear, trepidation etc. I haven't checked it but I fancy it is a version of the things medieval people would mutter to embolden themselves in such a situation... "Here be Jesus, Here be Jesus"
In the Anglican prayer book the night time prayer up to 1960s was
" From Ghoulies and Gheesties and all wicked beasties and things that go bump in the night Good Lord deliver us."
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Post by questa on May 4, 2021 4:06:42 GMT
What about the airplane that taxis to its taking off area?
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Post by questa on May 4, 2021 1:09:59 GMT
I just found this thread...my favourite subject...words!
Another queue is the name of the long plait that Chinese men wore in days gone by.
a modern snowflake is some young person who expects everything should be easy and needs someone to make decisions for them. "Melts" at the first sign of a difficulty.
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Post by questa on May 3, 2021 0:18:37 GMT
I get a mental picture of a weightless spaceman/woman floating around the cabin with a vacuum cleaner gathering up the remains of last nights curry. thank you very much, K2!...
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Post by questa on May 1, 2021 23:19:49 GMT
In Australia women have been accepted into the fire brigades for years. The title Fireman switched to Fire Fighter without any angst from either side and little kids can still tell you they want to be a fire fighter when they grow up, like Mummy.
Male nurse is still used, as is male midwife, mainly to let patients know that all males aren't doctors and all doctors aren't males.
The word "midwife" comes from Old English where the "mid" means "with". Thus midwife means the person, male or female, who stays with the woman ("wimmen")for the duration of labour, birth and the first few days. The Wife is indicating the woman having the baby but the mid-wife indicates the experienced woman who assists in the birth. That is why men can be midwives without creating a word storm.
Copied from "Pregnant individuals" thread
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Post by questa on May 1, 2021 0:11:36 GMT
Tod...does it still hold up a table on an uneven floor...We called our phone book "The wobbler's digest"
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Post by questa on May 1, 2021 0:00:10 GMT
My grandfather had a saying..."turn every penny over 3 times before spending it" and it works. Do I need it, do I really want this one and what would life be like with/without it?
No impulse buying here! It pays off because everything I buy is needed and has a purpose in the home. No kitchen gadgets that never get used to a car bought many years ago that he could repair himself.
I have inherited his frugal nature but when I travel I make sure I have built in enough lee way to cover the occasional splurge, rarely a meal but something I can take home. If it is also useful...bonus. At home I can't justify expensive clothes, shoes or equipment. My friends laughed when in one week I paid $45 for a "pre-loved" 3 piece lounge suite and $180 for a pure down and well designed sleeping bag for my off road camping.
I usually live on freshly cooked street food when travelling and at home, being a useless cook, I stick with rice and noodle type meals, avoiding anything with more than 6 ingredients.
Today's money-grabbers are all the electronic stuff we are told we can't live without. I have enough hassles with a smartphone and camera. I'll leave them to my kids as antiques...might be worth a dollar or so.
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Post by questa on Apr 29, 2021 23:36:00 GMT
I hope you have a celebration for this happy news. Go on...you know you want to...!
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Post by questa on Apr 29, 2021 1:51:16 GMT
About those Bali monkeys, Kerouac...There are 3 places in Bali where the tourists come in contact with them -Uluwatu in the southern tip of the island, Sangeh in a large forest central west where they are the only tourist feature for kilometres and the famed Monkey temple in Ubud where the tourists get to interact with the little beasts. I am betting this is where you went.
The monkeys are macaques...long sharp teeth and rotten personalities at the best of times. The temple is built in the forest with a little shallow pool in the centre and paths leading to neighbouring villages The monkeys meet up in this central area to play around and take bananas etc from the tourists. They are very bold and will grab your bag, camera, sunglasses and run up a tree. They will bite if you try to get them back.
There are about 8 Rangers who patrol the park retrieving bags and dressing bites etc. They are armed with catapults and are fantastic marksmen, I've seen a chap hit a monkey who was on top of a tree and his stone had to pass between 2 branches. It is sometimes the only way to retrieve stolen items. Food for them is supplied by the rangers but there were old ladies selling snacks. There were coach loads of tourists coming and going so the monkeys have learned tourist=food They don't bother local people and I always gave them a wide berth. It is sad that they are going hungry but so is everyone in tourism.
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Post by questa on Apr 29, 2021 0:33:55 GMT
The 28-29th April is the 25th anniversary of the Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania. 35 people were killed and 23 seriously injured. The killer is serving 35 life sentences in solitary confinement with family only to visit. The whole gun control legislation had a radical re-write, the government paid out thousands of dollars buying back guns of certain types (I've forgotten details) and an amnesty was granted to allow illegal guns to be handed in.TV showed truckloads of guns being destroyed in bonfires.
The survivors are having a small ceremony today. I have heard that someone in US wants to make a film about it...not a doco but feature film. I find that revolting and a sure way to encourage the copycats.
I still feel proud that Oz had the guts to take bold action on gun control.
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Post by questa on Apr 28, 2021 14:09:45 GMT
Sound like a job for QAnon! Here is the reply from a fact checking site: That is the big question, K2. We shall have to come back in 3-5 generations to see who was right. I think I read where his fellow virologists have spoken against his opinion. A situation like this brings all the failed scientists out of the woodwork hoping to make a name for themselves. Every circus has a clown. just a lust for power that overrides any other consideration.And for the time being, that is not illegal, just immoral. . I would imagine the methods used by those "leaders" to shore up their power base would attract the attention of the Courts in The Hague IF they could prosecute civilian criminals. My thoughts are...at what stage can this be declared a war/police action/peace-keeping force and so open to International justice. Without looking at the leaders, there would be plenty officials corrupt from head to toe who would keep the prisons occupied for a while
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Post by questa on Apr 28, 2021 10:44:36 GMT
The killing of another human by gross negligence or just plain stupidity could be put down simply to human error or being a fallible human. It compares, for me at least, the same as a doctor who buries his mistakes. It is a terrible flaw in humanity and proves again and again we are so weak. Thanks for your response, Tod. Are you playing the "I was only following orders" card? or the 21st century version..."I'm so dumb I didn't know to wash my hands and I missed the training session". Then you look at Trump and wonder if he was criminal or plain ordinary stupid.
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Post by questa on Apr 28, 2021 8:18:43 GMT
In the international courts in the Hague people are judged and punished for various "Crimes against humanity." These are perpetrated in a war-like situation.
Here we have a global war against a family of viruses. We also have hundreds of world and country leaders mismanaging this war, criminals operating with impunity, ignorant fools who spread rumours and publicise misinformation and so on down to the well meaning official who skips hand washing and so 20 more people will die.
Are not these "crimes against humanity"? The infrastructure is there to at least try the leaders of the countries that are killing their citizens by refusing to take heed of the scientists. The thieves must be brought to justice (Dream on!)and the people who spread lies and cause confusion also tried.
If a classroom of children all die, does it matter if it was a rogue national leader or an AK47 that killed them.
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Post by questa on Apr 28, 2021 7:11:55 GMT
I'm with you, Huckle. Ages ago I was given a sweet little Nokia. It made and received phone calls, what else did one need in those halcyon days. It was mostly asleep in its little pouch and we had a satisfying relationship. Then I was shamed into getting a new model. The salesman said, "this is the model we suggest for our older buyers, it is more user friendly and easier to understand." Cheeky young pup! As much as I tried I was losing calls and temper. Even my tech-savvy kids said it stumped them.
So I inherited my son's i-phone...nightmare-on-a-stick. I soon realised there was no way I would ever be fluent in using it. It is not just me, others have tried to do something and I often hear, "Well it SHOULD do this but it's not happening"
It is pretty good as a camera, though, so long as you don't want to make or receive phone calls.
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Post by questa on Apr 27, 2021 12:35:48 GMT
If you have the kind of electric stove with the open spiral burners, they're great for lighting cigarettes. No mine is a glass top but agree with you ...those spiral ones cranked out a lot of heat. Ah well, pobody's nerfect...
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Post by questa on Apr 27, 2021 7:54:35 GMT
My body needs all the endorphins it can get! Apparently one cigarette equals 2 doses of my levadopa pills and as long as my lungs are OK my doctor says after 57 years of smoking why go through the misery to myself and those around me.
This village has a no-smoking rule...no smoking outside but you may smoke in your own rooms. keep your stink to yourself.
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Post by questa on Apr 27, 2021 1:11:44 GMT
This is a very, very trivial trauma that unfolded last night. I had been working all day sorting stuff in a haphazard way, A friend visited me, had coffee, chat and cigarette then left...taking my cigarette lighter with her.
No problems...I'll have a proper look for it later. Had dinner, but no post-prandial smoke...getting tetchy now. What can I use? All electric house, no naked flames. Considered walking to the carpark and lighting cig on the plug-in lighter on the console. Blast! raining again!
By now even my cat was keeping out of my way...she knows when I am low on nicotine.
AHA The toaster. Inserted the cig tip into the slot and waited...and waited. Nup, won't ignite on just one filament, pushed it in further...OWW...burnt fingertips and a sizzle of hair.
Then remembered some fine incense sticks hidden in a drawer. Found one and rested it on the filaments which soon produced a good wisp of smoke. As I waited the toaster reached its timer and sprang up with a clatter, startling the daylights out of me.
I used the glowing tip to light up the cigarette then the cat went into a fit of sneezing and coughing and I remembered she is allergic to Sandalwood. Put her outside (in the rain) and finally sat down with an incense and menthol flavoured cigarette.
One day I really must quit smoking.
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Post by questa on Apr 26, 2021 23:42:20 GMT
Did he go in to buy some "Tiger Balm" or was he just lyin' around?
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Post by questa on Apr 26, 2021 23:21:42 GMT
This is a very nasty virus and capable of springing a surprise. Luckily this country seems to have done the right thing, if sometimes s bit slow off the mark. I'm just afraid the guard will drop and we will get another wave, people have been restricted for so long it is beginning to get a nuisance and resolution will waver. Keep fingers crossed. This morning's news says that another variant has shown up in the Indian disaster...faster, more lethal and no vaccines for it. There is your surprise, Mossie.
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Post by questa on Apr 26, 2021 11:42:31 GMT
Iy must be a cold roof because Pussy cat is wearing her warm winter coat. Maybe it is "What's New, Pussycat" ?
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