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#1
Techmology and Scientism / Re: Weekly Science Headlines
Last post by Abbot Mythos - Today at 10:29:32 AMA century of hair shows how lead exposure collapsed
"A century of human hair shows just how dramatically lead exposure fell after leaded gas was banned."
As per this article:
"Before the Environmental Protection Agency was formed in 1970, lead pollution was a routine part of daily life across the United States. It came from factories, lead-based paint, drinking water pipes, and most of all from vehicle exhaust. Lead is a toxic metal that builds up in the body over time and has been linked to learning and developmental problems in children. As environmental rules tightened in the decades that followed, lead in the environment dropped sharply, and human exposure declined with it."
And, here's the link to the original paper the above article is based upon:
Lead in archived hair documents a decline in lead exposure to humans since the establishment of the US Environmental Protection Agency
Getting lead additives out of gasoline was a major undertaking by the EPA, back in the day. And, I'm not 100% certain the current administration would have the will, yet alone the interest, in doing so today, if the problem were only recently identified. Anyway, in my state, the lead pollution from a single Exide Technologies lead-acid battery manufacturing plant in Laureldale/Reading, PA is so extensive that it has still not been completely remediated, even though cleanup work first started in 1988.
Last, the above article reminded me of what some historians believe excessive lead exposure did to the Roman Empire a couple of millennia ago. Here's a link to a summary of that theory, if anyone's interested:
Roman lead poisoning theory
"A century of human hair shows just how dramatically lead exposure fell after leaded gas was banned."
As per this article:
"Before the Environmental Protection Agency was formed in 1970, lead pollution was a routine part of daily life across the United States. It came from factories, lead-based paint, drinking water pipes, and most of all from vehicle exhaust. Lead is a toxic metal that builds up in the body over time and has been linked to learning and developmental problems in children. As environmental rules tightened in the decades that followed, lead in the environment dropped sharply, and human exposure declined with it."
And, here's the link to the original paper the above article is based upon:
Lead in archived hair documents a decline in lead exposure to humans since the establishment of the US Environmental Protection Agency
Getting lead additives out of gasoline was a major undertaking by the EPA, back in the day. And, I'm not 100% certain the current administration would have the will, yet alone the interest, in doing so today, if the problem were only recently identified. Anyway, in my state, the lead pollution from a single Exide Technologies lead-acid battery manufacturing plant in Laureldale/Reading, PA is so extensive that it has still not been completely remediated, even though cleanup work first started in 1988.
Last, the above article reminded me of what some historians believe excessive lead exposure did to the Roman Empire a couple of millennia ago. Here's a link to a summary of that theory, if anyone's interested:
Roman lead poisoning theory
#2
Apple Talk / Re: Tales from the Cutting Edg...
Last post by Doktor Howl - Today at 12:07:20 AMHad one of those candy-gram charity things at work.
Bought one for each of my employees.
Billy: "Thank you for being so adequate."
Lauren: "Whatever is wrong with you works."
pRick: "You bring premium mediocrity to the workplace."
Mike: "Shit, I forgot you don't work here anymore."
John: "If this team was an ocean, you'd be the bicycle."
Maggie: "Thank you for lowering the bar."
Jose: "Thank you for keeping the 1970s alive."
The Other One: "What was your name again?"
And one to my boss:
"Give me some more money you bastard."
Bought one for each of my employees.
Billy: "Thank you for being so adequate."
Lauren: "Whatever is wrong with you works."
pRick: "You bring premium mediocrity to the workplace."
Mike: "Shit, I forgot you don't work here anymore."
John: "If this team was an ocean, you'd be the bicycle."
Maggie: "Thank you for lowering the bar."
Jose: "Thank you for keeping the 1970s alive."
The Other One: "What was your name again?"
And one to my boss:
"Give me some more money you bastard."
#3
Aneristic Illusions / Re: Hard Lessons to be Learned...
Last post by Abbot Mythos - Yesterday at 06:54:58 PMI originally started this topic having only the next U.S. Presidential Election in mind. But, some of these lessons will be applicable to the next U.S. Midterm, and U.S. Off-year Election as well.
And so, here's my latest edit of the first lesson. I'm fairly satisfied with this version. But, I may still need to tweak it a bit to make it more compatible with the lessons that will complete the document:
Lesson # 1. Know Your Country's Constituency
America is not the shining city upon a hill. It's 'Merica, and it's a trailer park on the banks of a swamp, with Billy Bob's Good Ol' Boys Bar & Grill on one side, and Ridgerunner's All Night Live Bait 'n' Ammo Shop on the other. And, the clergy has convinced many of its denizens that The Rapture before Armageddon is a viable retirement plan.
It ain't pretty. But, recognize it for what it is, not for what you want it to be.
And so, here's my latest edit of the first lesson. I'm fairly satisfied with this version. But, I may still need to tweak it a bit to make it more compatible with the lessons that will complete the document:
Lesson # 1. Know Your Country's Constituency
America is not the shining city upon a hill. It's 'Merica, and it's a trailer park on the banks of a swamp, with Billy Bob's Good Ol' Boys Bar & Grill on one side, and Ridgerunner's All Night Live Bait 'n' Ammo Shop on the other. And, the clergy has convinced many of its denizens that The Rapture before Armageddon is a viable retirement plan.
It ain't pretty. But, recognize it for what it is, not for what you want it to be.
#4
Apple Talk / Re: I Learned a New Word Today
Last post by Abbot Mythos - Yesterday at 10:31:14 AMQuote from: Abbot Mythos on February 09, 2026, 11:31:55 PMI learned a new word today:I've not yet come up with the perfect, catchy phrase that oozes the essence of 'adynaton.' So, I think I'm going to need more than just one new adynaton.
adynaton is a figure of speech, and a rhetorical device, in the form of hyperbole taken to such extreme lengths as to insinuate a complete impossibility.
I was curious about what form of speech the phrase "When pigs fly ..." is called, and the word popped up. Now, my self imposed challenge is to invent a new, catchy phrase for my personal use that simply oozes the very essence of 'adynaton.'
Now, this one is far from perfect, but variations of it should amuse me on the occasions when it's an appropriate reply:
"Just like when the South started the Civil War to end slavery."
#5
Bring and Brag / Re: Favorite Sentences Megathr...
Last post by Abbot Mythos - February 10, 2026, 11:08:00 PM"Knowledge is Good."
- Emil Faber - Founder of Faber College
- Emil Faber - Founder of Faber College
#6
Aneristic Illusions / Re: Regarding 'Merica's Actual...
Last post by Faust - February 10, 2026, 07:19:19 PMBeing black and Asian American is dismissing the fact that she represented "more of the same" an outsider would have had better odds
#7
Aneristic Illusions / Re: Regarding 'Merica's Actual...
Last post by Abbot Mythos - February 10, 2026, 10:56:04 AMSo, you really are going to go with that. Well ... it's your call.
However, accelerationists who can not bring themselves to vote for someone who is clearly the lesser of two evils lack the pragmatism required to make right, but unpleasant choices. I believe it's misplaced optimism to count on them to save anyone, including themselves, from anything.
And, anyone who has been paying attention knows the POSOTUS began his political career as an outsider. So, besides lacking the ability to make right, but unpleasant choices, I believe it's misplaced optimism to count on people to save anyone, including themselves, from anything, who do not realize 'Merica is in the situation it's in today because it chose to elect a political outsider to the highest office in the land.
Again, AOC was not on the ballot seeking the nomination of the Democratic Party for POTUS in 2024. And, early on, people were publicly encouraging her to seek that nomination. But, she's way more than intelligent enough, and way more than politically savvy enough to know her chances of winning that nomination were slim. Further, she knew that starting a long, ugly fight to secure the party's nomination would reduce her chances of actually winning the presidency to between slim and none. So, AOC made the smart choice, and then campaigned enthusiastically for the Biden/Harris ticket. And, if that wasn't good enough to get out the 'disgruntled youth vote,' the 'accelerationist vote,' and the 'outsider seekers vote,' then I have to wonder: Wouldn't the party be wise to move on, and maximize its efforts in securing 'Merica's blue collar vote again?
Now, the belief that AOC would have been the Democratic Party's savior in 2024 isn't anywhere near as bad as when some QAnon followers believed JFK Jr. would somehow reappear, become Trump's VP, and magic him back into the White House in 2021. But, that said, I don't realistically see either case as being anything more than wishful thinking after taking stunning election losses.
And, as I've written before: "Just how vile does a Republicult™ presidential candidate have to be before they can be beaten by a Black and Asian-American, female, Democratic Vice President?"
And again, as I've also written before: "Vice President and Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris lost because of her race(s), gender, and political party affiliation."
Last, I'll add: I have no reason to believe a Presidential Candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could have won, given her ethnicity, gender, and political party affiliation.
Quote from: Faust on February 09, 2026, 03:44:16 PMYes because as vile as Trump is he had:Some of 'Merica's disgruntled youth not understanding which political candidates, and which political party represents their best hope of securing 'The American Dream' is a communications and an educational problem. Still, you can't fix stupid. You can only do your best to recognize it, and outsmart it.
The racists
The disgruntled youth with no hope of ever owning a home in a society that bailed themselves out by sacrificing their kids futures.
The accelerationists and those looking for an outsider.
Conservatives that hold their nose and vote the party.
AoC would have appealed to two of the above groups.
However, accelerationists who can not bring themselves to vote for someone who is clearly the lesser of two evils lack the pragmatism required to make right, but unpleasant choices. I believe it's misplaced optimism to count on them to save anyone, including themselves, from anything.
And, anyone who has been paying attention knows the POSOTUS began his political career as an outsider. So, besides lacking the ability to make right, but unpleasant choices, I believe it's misplaced optimism to count on people to save anyone, including themselves, from anything, who do not realize 'Merica is in the situation it's in today because it chose to elect a political outsider to the highest office in the land.
Again, AOC was not on the ballot seeking the nomination of the Democratic Party for POTUS in 2024. And, early on, people were publicly encouraging her to seek that nomination. But, she's way more than intelligent enough, and way more than politically savvy enough to know her chances of winning that nomination were slim. Further, she knew that starting a long, ugly fight to secure the party's nomination would reduce her chances of actually winning the presidency to between slim and none. So, AOC made the smart choice, and then campaigned enthusiastically for the Biden/Harris ticket. And, if that wasn't good enough to get out the 'disgruntled youth vote,' the 'accelerationist vote,' and the 'outsider seekers vote,' then I have to wonder: Wouldn't the party be wise to move on, and maximize its efforts in securing 'Merica's blue collar vote again?
Now, the belief that AOC would have been the Democratic Party's savior in 2024 isn't anywhere near as bad as when some QAnon followers believed JFK Jr. would somehow reappear, become Trump's VP, and magic him back into the White House in 2021. But, that said, I don't realistically see either case as being anything more than wishful thinking after taking stunning election losses.
Quote from: Faust on February 09, 2026, 03:44:16 PMIf you keep assuming that every one of his voters was a racist then the same exact thing will happen again next timeI'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt on this one, and assume you unintentionally wrote a clumsy sentence. My assumptions, quite obviously, have little influence on anyone's vote but my own.
And, as I've written before: "Just how vile does a Republicult™ presidential candidate have to be before they can be beaten by a Black and Asian-American, female, Democratic Vice President?"
And again, as I've also written before: "Vice President and Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris lost because of her race(s), gender, and political party affiliation."
Last, I'll add: I have no reason to believe a Presidential Candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could have won, given her ethnicity, gender, and political party affiliation.
#8
Apple Talk / Re: I Learned a New Word Today
Last post by Abbot Mythos - February 09, 2026, 11:31:55 PMI learned a new word today:
adynaton is a figure of speech, and a rhetorical device, in the form of hyperbole taken to such extreme lengths as to insinuate a complete impossibility.
I was curious about what form of speech the phrase "When pigs fly ..." is called, and the word popped up. Now, my self imposed challenge is to invent a new, catchy phrase for my personal use that simply oozes the very essence of 'adynaton.'
adynaton is a figure of speech, and a rhetorical device, in the form of hyperbole taken to such extreme lengths as to insinuate a complete impossibility.
I was curious about what form of speech the phrase "When pigs fly ..." is called, and the word popped up. Now, my self imposed challenge is to invent a new, catchy phrase for my personal use that simply oozes the very essence of 'adynaton.'
#9
Aneristic Illusions / Re: Regarding 'Merica's Actual...
Last post by Faust - February 09, 2026, 03:44:16 PMQuote from: Abbot Mythos on February 09, 2026, 02:31:35 AMQuote from: Faust on February 08, 2026, 08:00:36 PMThat was part of it but she was also continuing very tried and tested voice of the establishment that Biden had represented, there's no appetite for that.AOC was not on the ballot seeking the nomination of the Democratic Party for POTUS in 2024. Joe Biden won the majority of the pledged delegates during the party's primary process, easily beating two (2) other already long forgotten male contenders. But, Biden ended his campaign for reelection before being officially nominated. Then, as per Rule 13J of the party's delegate selection rules, pledged delegates were left free to vote for whoever they wanted to be their candidate. And, after the delegates negotiated among themselves, Kamala Harris was nominated to run for POTUS, without a second national level Democratic Party primary vote being held. So, I'm unaware of any serious possibility where "AOC had a chance" to run for the office, much less become the current POTUS.
Its the reason AOC had a chance and Harris would have none
But, let me get this straight:
On Tuesday, Election Day, November 5th, 2024, 77,303,568 'Mericans had the choice between a very old, unhealthy looking, white, male, boorish, misogynist, racist, Putin lovin', pedophile friending, twice impeached, economy sinking, COVID-19 pandemic denying, 2020 election losing, failed January 6th insurrection leading, convicted felon, and adjudicated rapist, that was on the ballot with an 'R' after its name, and Vice President Kamala Harris. And, each of those voters said to themselves something to the effect of, "Oh, hell yeah, baby! Gimme some more of that first one! I don't want no "very tried and tested voice of the establishment" politician runnin' no gubernment of mine!
Come on?! Seriously?! Are you really going to go with that?!
Yes because as vile as Trump is he had:
The racists
The disgruntled youth with no hope of ever owning a home in a society that bailed themselves out by sacrificing their kids futures.
The accelerationists and those looking for an outsider.
Conservatives that hold their nose and vote the party.
AoC would have appealed to two of the above groups.
If you keep assuming that every one of his voters was a racist then the same exact thing will happen again next time
#10
Apple Talk / Re: America Year Zero
Last post by Mandelbrot Slapper - February 09, 2026, 01:19:24 PMOh yeah sorry. Was quite stoned.
.
The Second was The White Rose Resistance. Students at a Munich University, in the heart of the Nazi home ground. Hans & Sophie Scholl were siblings & they printed an illicit paper which they distributed in the wee hours of the morning after printing it in the University print shop after everyone else had left. They lambasted Mein Kampf from a literary as well as ideological perspective. They published battle casualty statistics from British & Russian sources. Reported on U-boat & battleship sinkings. Talked of concentration camps.
They were guillotined in 1943. Hans' last words were
"Es lebe die Freiheit!" (Long live freedom)
When they died Hans was 22 & Sophie had just turned 20. 16 other members were executed over the next three months & 13 more sentenced to between 6 months & 10 years in prison.
I'm reminded of an old NY Anarchist collective motto. "Flower power won't fight fascist power. All you need is dynamite"
.
The Second was The White Rose Resistance. Students at a Munich University, in the heart of the Nazi home ground. Hans & Sophie Scholl were siblings & they printed an illicit paper which they distributed in the wee hours of the morning after printing it in the University print shop after everyone else had left. They lambasted Mein Kampf from a literary as well as ideological perspective. They published battle casualty statistics from British & Russian sources. Reported on U-boat & battleship sinkings. Talked of concentration camps.
They were guillotined in 1943. Hans' last words were
"Es lebe die Freiheit!" (Long live freedom)
When they died Hans was 22 & Sophie had just turned 20. 16 other members were executed over the next three months & 13 more sentenced to between 6 months & 10 years in prison.
I'm reminded of an old NY Anarchist collective motto. "Flower power won't fight fascist power. All you need is dynamite"