Sandbox (4)

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Sometimes very active discussions about peripheral issues overwhelm a thread, so this is a permanent home for those conversations.

I’ve opened a new “Sandbox” thread as a post as the new “ignore commenter” plug-in only works on threads started as posts.

5,860 thoughts on “Sandbox (4)”

  1. dazz: I have great memories of going searching for snails as a child when we went to the village… and feasting on them later! where do you live that snails are still subsistence food there, Alan?

    Yes. Many older houses have snail cages to keep snails the requisite number of days till they’re edible. Foraging for all sorts of free food is still common, wild asparagus, walnuts, almonds, figs, mushrooms.

    EDIT: I take it that would be Carcassonne

    Yup.

  3. Alan Fox: Jesus! I consider myself adventurous when it comes to trying new foods but I draw the line at rats.

    That was a long time ago. According to that article “la rata del marjal” is nothing like urban rats. They only eat rice and vegetables, but yeah, it still makes me cringe, haha

  4. Alan Fox: Carcassonne

    I see the Tour de France just arrived there yesterday. Awesome, I just googled it, what a beautiful place!

  5. dazz: I see the Tour de France just arrived there yesterday. Awesome, I just googled it, what a beautiful place!

    Sunday was the stage finishing there. The next stage started from there yesterday. It’s an honour for one town to get both in one tour.

  6. I was recently served a “paella” with noodles instead of rice, and lobster.
    I objected to it but no answers were given…

  8. Also along US 93: Deer hunting, Nevada style.

    Looks like they bagged a four-point buck. Good shooting, guys!

  10. Passing along a message from Vincent Torley:

    By the way, in case you’re wondering why I haven’t commented over at The Skeptical Zone for a while, that’s because I’ve been busy reviewing a 912-page tome by Michael Alter, titled: “The Resurrection: A Critical Inquiry.” It makes for very interesting reading, and it’s been quite an eye-opener. I’ll probably have an article up in the next couple of weeks. Say hi to the rest of the gang over there for me.

  13. walto:
    I’m mostly wondering why he agreed to be a moderator, myself.

    He offered in response to my request to all interested contributors. He did make it clear he would have little time to spare.

  16. Alan,

    Well, that didn’t last long! 🙂

    Nope. Perhaps you’ll get along better with Swamidass than I did. He’s big on censorship and moderator interference.

  17. keiths:
    Alan,

    Nope.Perhaps you’ll get along better with him than I did.He’s big on censorship and moderator interference.

    I doubt that; But it did make me smile. Thanks for that.

  19. In defence of Bruce and Canadians everywhere. my wife offered scrambled eggs for Sunday breakfast, which I slathered in her home-made ketchup. Fabulous!

  22. Called in on a friend for coffee this morning. He was keen to show me his latest toy. Any ideas what it is?
    Hghgarden

  25. Alan Fox:
    dazz, Bang on! What was the giveaway? the chimney?

    Yeah, also those seats outside, the shape… and those are felt hats in the hanger, right?

  26. dazz: Yeah, also those seats outside, the shape…and those are felt hats in the hanger, right?

    Yes. You must get out more than me. Did not know about felt hats in saunas till today.

  27. Well, I remember there being “sauna hats” but I didn’t know they were made of felt until I googled it today 🙂

    I’m not into saunas TBH
    It’s already hot and humid enough outside right now, and a heat wave is coming in a couple of days, ugh! Free sauna for everyone 😀

  28. dazz…and a heat wave is coming in a couple of days, ugh! Free sauna for everyon

    You might need a felt hat without a sauna. Temperatures in the mid-forties forecast for around Madrid. Take care and keep an eye on the old folks.

  29. Some random thoughts. I miss Glen Davidson, Tom English & Robin. In case you read this, hope you guys are doing great

  30. Alan Fox: I have a five euro palate

    Same here. I can tell a “legit” wine from a bottom of the barrel one but that’s about it.

  31. dazz:
    Some random thoughts. I miss Glen Davidson, Tom English & Robin. In case you read this, hope you guys are doing great

    Allan Miller, too. I met Allan near the end of his walk along “Haute Route”. Lovely guy.

  32. dazz: Same here. I can tell a “legit” wine from a bottom of the barrel one but that’s about it.

    I’m very lucky here that in a vast sea of cheap cooperative production there are little independent islands of excellence that make wine for five euros that might sell for 50 if it had a Burgundy or Bordeaux appellation.

  34. Alan Fox,
    The best thing about living in the Mediterranean region, other than the culture of course was the food and wine… I could to a bodega and buy good wine, young or older for 79 -100 peseta per liter = less than a Euro…
    There are a lot of things wrong with North America but food and drink are some, or most of the problems…I think

  35. J-Mac:
    Alan Fox,
    The best thing about living in the Mediterranean region, other than the culture of course what the food and wine… I could to a bodega and buy good wine, young or older for 79 -100 peseta per liter = less than a Euro…
    There are a lot of things wrong with North America but food and drink are some, or most of the problems…I think

    That was a long time ago. Now turism has changed everything. Prices have sky rocketed

  36. J-Mac:
    Alan Fox,
    The best thing about living in the Mediterranean region, other than the culture of course what the food and wine… I could to a bodega and buy good wine, young or older for 79 -100 peseta per liter = less than a Euro…

    Youv’e lived in Spain? And did I see some Russian?

    There are a lot of things wrong with North America but food and drink are some, or most of the problems…I think.

    Can’t say about the US but disconnection between what you eat and where it comes from is something that can be cured. UK lost the plot during the two World Wars but there’s been a revival. France starved and the ability to forage and make a meal from almost anything has been turned into haute cuisine

  37. dazz: That was a long time ago. Now turism has changed everything. Prices have sky rocketed

    What? I thought that Spain had one of the highest unemployment rates in EU among19-30 something… it was high when I lived there but most worked under the table…

  44. As my “weather observation” moves into a new phase.

    I want to go on record as predicting that I can improve on the average difference between 1 day weather underground forecasts and actual temperatures for the final 4 months of this year for London England.

    It will all make sense soon enough
    I just wanted to make sure that I posted this ahead of time.

    peace

  45. Can anyone point me to the OP where Lizzie accuses Stephen Meyer of lying? I seem to recall the OP was about his book Darwin’s Doubt where he messes up on phyla but I can’t seem to find the offending passage.

  46. Closest I could come was this:

    In my view, Darwin’s Doubt is a masterpiece of equivocation, and I think Meyer is smart enough to know this. That is why I express my disapproval in my post – not because I am “prejudiced” against his case (it would be cool if true) but because I don’t think he is being honest.

    When you look at the context, she was being pretty mild-mannered.
    As is her wont.
    Of course, the ‘honest opinion’ defense covers this aspersion easily, whereas a certain commenter would be hard-pressed to refute the accusation that malice motivated his notorious ‘falsehoods’ claim against JS…
    Edit to fix ‘ancient link’ issue.

  48. Richardthughes,
    Here’s the text of Patrick’s email to Lizzie:

    Elizabeth,

    I apologize for bothering you on your holiday and am not requesting any response until you return. I would like to make you aware of two additional issues that have arisen at TSZ in the past couple of days.

    1) DNA_Jock has been moving comments from the Moderation Issues thread to Guano. These comments were directly related to moderation issues. My understanding is that no comments are to be moved from that thread. Worse, he has failed to include a link or even mention that the comments were moved. This violates the TSZ ethos.

    2) Alan has placed me in pre-moderation. I requested that he cite the rule I violated and the authorization for any admin to take that action against any TSZ member. Despite being active since that request, he has not deigned to respond.

    The behavior of Alan, DNA_Jock, and Neil over the past month has not been aligned with your stated goals for TSZ. They have demonstrated nothing but personal animosity, disdain for other members, egotism, and petty authoritarianism. They have behaved nothing like the example you set. Whatever decisions you make about rule changes when you return, these three admins need to go. They have abused their privileges and lost any trust they may have previously earned.

    I have copied Alan on this email to demonstrate how people should discuss issues transparently and in good faith. I will no longer be participating at TSZ until this situation is resolved. While I’m sure that pleases your rogue admins, no one should be subject to their arbitrary and unjustified abuse of authority.

    A full explanation of the issues that preceded this latest failure to do what is best for the site, along with my recommendations to recover, is available in my comment on the Summary thread. I look forward to your return.

    Sincerely,

    Patrick

    Any thoughts, Rich?

  49. Alan Fox,

    I’m largely done with TSZ , little here aligns with my interests these days. That’s not a slight on anyone. Ultimately its Lizzie’s call. If it were up to me I’d look at it as if we were forming a new country and collectively write our own constitution, etc. Moderation is a thankless task – I’m not taking sides but my own strong leanings are:
    (1) Unfettered speech
    (2) Be everything UD isn’t

    I can understand how many would think 1&2 would ruin TSZ, and given my non participation I don’t get a vote anyways.

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