Random Thought Thread

Discussion in 'The Lounge' started by Justin Phillips, Apr 10, 2016.

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  1. minstrel

    minstrel Leader of the Insquirrelgency Supporter Contributor

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  2. Oscar Leigh

    Oscar Leigh Contributor Contributor

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    Did you see the train do the wheel?
     
  3. Oscar Leigh

    Oscar Leigh Contributor Contributor

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    Enemy propaganda from the water kind!!
     
  4. Iain Aschendale

    Iain Aschendale Lying, dog-faced pony Marine Supporter Contributor

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    This is a documentary, that's how all the trains work here. Even the subways, they had to dig the tunnels extra deep to accommodate them....
     
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  5. Oscar Leigh

    Oscar Leigh Contributor Contributor

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    Do you enjoy your naked floppy dancing?
     
  6. Cave Troll

    Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

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    Time to get things in season started. :p
     
  7. Earp

    Earp Contributor Contributor

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    The Golden Age of journalism.

    From the Library of Congress. Tonopah Daily Bonanza, December 03, 1917.

    DISLOYAL REMARKS START SHOOTING

    Last evening Charles Miller, who has repeatedly insulted the Stars and Stripes, was again the cause of a melee in the Casino by his insulting remarks against the United States government and his praise for the Kaiser. George Andrews, who happened to be present, took umbrage at Miller's most foul and insulting remarks and struck him. At this juncture Proprietor Silva came from behind the bar and took a hand in the hostilities, striking Andrews, knocking him down and kicking him in the face.

    After Andrews had recovered he left the place and later returned, firing several shots into the floor, one bullet penetrating the piano. Of late the Casino proprietor has taken it upon himself to beat and bruise drunken men at his will. The place is becoming a rough house and the commissioners should cancel the license.

    Charley Miller should be made to kiss the flag before the public on the main street of Tonopah, or the officers should arrest him and turn him over to the proper government authorities. There is no place in the United States today, except Tonopah, that the utterances of this man Miller would be tolerated.

    Andrews was arrested today and his case will come up at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. Miller was also arrested and will be given his hearing at the same time.


    FLAG INSULTER IS GIVEN TWO MONTHS

    This afternoon the case of George Andrews, better known as "Overland George," the pioneer prospector and all around good fellow, who defended the Stars and Stripes by refuting the disloyal remarks made by Charles Miller in the Casino Sunday night by hitting Miller and knocking him down, came up before Judge Dunseath at 2 o'clock. The Justice discharged the defendant and dismissed the charge of disturbing the peace against him. Andrews' attorney, Judge Peter Somers, objected to the dismissal, stating that he wished his client to be tried by a jury of his peers so that details or the Casino affair could be brought out. The ruling of the court prevailed.

    The case of Charles Miller, the German who has repeatedly by his insulting remarks against the United States government aroused the anger of loyal citizens, and who was knocked down by Andrews at the time of the trouble in the Casino, followed. He was charged with disturbing the peace. Judge Dunseath sentenced Miller to sixty days in the county jail.

    Many loyal American citizens were present in the court room and were only awaiting an opportunity, in case of Millers discharge, to force him to carry the American flag down Main street and at the intersection of Brougher, force him to kneel and kiss the Stars and Stripes. Government officials have been notified of Miller's dastardly verbal assaults against Uncle Sam. At the expiration of his term in the county jail it is to be hoped quick action will be taken and he will be interned for the period of the war. Nothing was done with Silva, the proprietor of the Casino, who virtually came to Miller's rescue and is as guilty, in the eyes of the citizens of Tonopah, as was Miller.

    District Attorney Atkinson represented the state.
     
  8. Cave Troll

    Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

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    New way to ice skate. :D
     
  9. Link the Writer

    Link the Writer Flipping Out For A Good Story. Contributor

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    Just wanted to randomly say you’re all awesome and should continue being awesome! Have a good holiday!!
     
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  10. Cave Troll

    Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

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    Well wrapping up the year, I am happy to say that I still enjoy real music. :D
    Cause this stuff makes me question the intelligence of the average moron.
     
  11. NoGoodNobu

    NoGoodNobu Contributor Contributor

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    I didn't actually get through—or even finish the first critique—because I actually think Kesha's song was okay.

    No, it isn't my favourite song nor is it in any way a sheer masterpiece of music.

    But it isn't top ten worst songs of 2017.

    And the way he mostly ripped into it by just being nasty while lacking any real critique made me lose respect for the reviewer/list maker.

    It felt like he just didn't like the song, which is fine, but presents it like it's objectively awful for no other reason than he dislikes it.

    He finds it boring. Okay. But then I didn't. And there was no other substantial reason given for it being objectively bad than it's in the same style that's become popular. Okay? Or just because it's suddenly popular to like Kesha's music because of her past situation. Really? And that's why it's top ten worst songs of 2017??

    Now if he wanted to point out the straining, near-screeching rasp when she hit the top of her register, I'd accept that criticism. Or that the accompanying church-like choir fell flat in foiling her vocals and the climactic chorus consequently felt a little flat as a result, I'd then have something to work with in his criticism.

    Now, pop music isn't really my deal, and Kesha's song was in no way groundbreaking or brilliant or even anything beyond passing-pleasant. But there are some godawful songs out there that can be attacked with far more substantial criticisms.

    I don't know. I just felt like the guy wanted to bash on things he personally dislikes, which is fine. Just that sort of thing doesn't appeal to me.

    It's why my favourite YouTube channel for film lists is CineFix—because even if I might personally disagree with their choices or conclusions about certain films, I can always respect the rationale behind their conclusions and their overall method of critique. They always break down films into their various techniques and elements, offering deep insights, and positing opinions with at least some sort of substantial, non-subjective supporting reasonings.

    So many are just arbitrary lists with no real rhyme or reason other than what the creator felt like including. Really not my cup of tea.
     
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  12. Sclavus

    Sclavus Active Member

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    I had one of those days when I questioned whether or not I'm a writer. Part of that (most of it, really) was taking stock of the advice I've gotten on my story. I get to eat humble pie, because @big soft moose and @Homer Potvin and others were right.

    My story had gotten too complicated and unwieldy.

    Long story short, I'm a writer, but I've been trying to tell the wrong story. So, I set everything aside. Everything. Then, I outlined a basic skeleton for a story, and only included those characters and aspects that contribute to that skeleton. The rest are pieces I might be able to use in later books, but they don't fit into this story.

    The story I'm writing is about a man who learns to forgive and love himself as he reclaims his hometown from the apocalyptic plague that's taken it over. Vincent is still a disabled veteran, still facing down baddies in a world gone mad, still trying to figure out who or what unleashed Hell in Colorado Springs.

    I read "Storm Front" by Jim Butcher recently (again) and noticed Dresden's got a few threads to follow in the story.

    One, a client hires him to find her husband. Two, the cops hire him to help solve a double homicide. Three, he's got the Doom of Damocles hanging over his head from the White Council. Those three threads weave together to create the story. The characters are still complex, the action is still intense, the writing is still good. It doesn't need a lot of extraneous junk in it.

    So there's a model for me, to weave a few lines together into a major conflict, and set the rest aside for later in the series or never at all.
     
  13. Laurus

    Laurus Disappointed Idealist Contributor

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    To be fair, Buckley's whole bit is based on nitpicking, hyperbole, and sarcasm.
     
  14. Iain Aschendale

    Iain Aschendale Lying, dog-faced pony Marine Supporter Contributor

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  15. Spencer1990

    Spencer1990 Contributor Contributor

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    I don't get it, @Iain Aschendale
     
  16. Iain Aschendale

    Iain Aschendale Lying, dog-faced pony Marine Supporter Contributor

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    Neither do I....
     
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  17. Iain Aschendale

    Iain Aschendale Lying, dog-faced pony Marine Supporter Contributor

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    Stolen from a friend:

    _20171218_084819.JPG
     
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  18. Cave Troll

    Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

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    :supergrin:It might be...
     
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  19. Cave Troll

    Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

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    Start your week off with something to ponder.:D
    Disney Princess.jpg
     
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  20. NoGoodNobu

    NoGoodNobu Contributor Contributor

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    So I work at a Chinese law firm.

    A coworker instantly bonds with me because I know & listen to her all time favourite band: One OK Rock.

    She's asking me to buy VIP tickets + meet & greet for their next concert in LA to be in the same area with her.

    This is honestly not what I thought would get me friends here. . .
     
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  21. Homer Potvin

    Homer Potvin A tombstone hand and a graveyard mind Staff Supporter Contributor

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    TMW you're rereading Catch-22 and see "advised avuncularly" in a dialogue tag and think, lordy, how literature has changed.

    Side note: the book holds up, no doubt there, but some of the language is beyond archaic.
     
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  22. Cave Troll

    Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

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    Up for a bedtime story. :)
    Reading in bed.jpg
     
  23. Night Herald

    Night Herald The Fool Contributor

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    This year, I decided to give one of my friends a gift in the form of a story, with a primary genre decided by him, featuring him as the protagonist, replete with in-jokes. The idea really appeals to the cheapskate in me.

    Good news is, he absolutely loved it.
     
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  24. 8Bit Bob

    8Bit Bob Here ;) Contributor

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    I've thought about writing a poem for a friend's birthday before, but I ended up just buying her a gift. I thought it might be a bit weird seeing as she wasn't particularly into poetry or anything.
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2017
  25. Link the Writer

    Link the Writer Flipping Out For A Good Story. Contributor

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    (Limps in)

    How are you all doing?

    I banged my knee up bad. :( This sucks...
     
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