- Welcome to Principia Discordia.
News:
There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.
Recent posts
#61
Apple Talk / Re: Open Bar: Curbside Pickup ...
Last post by Chelagoras The Boulder - November 11, 2025, 07:09:00 PMMom has now settled down into the nursing home life, for the most part. Still tryna call her when i can so she doesn't feel abandoned.i thought this would chill me out, yet i just got done struggling thru a random bit of stress sickness that hit me outta nowhere.
#62
Apple Talk / Re: Tales from the Cutting Edg...
Last post by Chelagoras The Boulder - November 11, 2025, 07:06:14 PMjust when i swore id never do mental health work again, you make it look SO MUCH FUN 
#63
Apple Talk / Re: ITT: Call It Now, Be Right...
Last post by Chelagoras The Boulder - November 11, 2025, 06:57:49 PMthe funniest option would be Pacifica or the New Callifornia Republic, or whatever we end up calling it, proposes an EU-style American Union that includes pretty much every nation in the North and South Americas, EXCEPT the US.
#64
Aneristic Illusions / Re: Regarding 'Merica's Actual...
Last post by Faust - November 11, 2025, 12:30:36 PMMaybe that makes sense, it avoids a humanitarian crises in the usa over the Christmas period then allows them to trigger the shutdown again in Jan, that said
If they genuinely think the republicans won't budge, then the shutdown is pointless and harmfull.
If they think something will have changed by end Jan I dont see what it could be, but they must have something, because otherwise they will be facing two embarrassing climb downs instead of one.
If they genuinely think the republicans won't budge, then the shutdown is pointless and harmfull.
If they think something will have changed by end Jan I dont see what it could be, but they must have something, because otherwise they will be facing two embarrassing climb downs instead of one.
#65
Aneristic Illusions / Re: Regarding 'Merica's Actual...
Last post by Abbot Mythos - November 11, 2025, 03:22:03 AMQuote from: Faust on November 10, 2025, 06:25:05 PMThey folded on everything right? AMA funding is gone right?The eight senators who recently caved to the Republicult™ to end this government shutdown voted to hold yet another formal vote on the DIVISION A—CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2026. (And, unless you're an accountant with intimate knowledge of the U.S. Federal Budget, I wouldn't waste much time reading this thirty-one (31) page document.)
Now, it does appear the Republicult™ in the senate will have the votes to pass the this continuing appropriations act (CR). But, it only funds the government until January 30, 2026. So, this is basically a "kick the can down the road" move, and everyone gets to argue over another CR again early next year.
Most of the articles written about these negotiations are big on opinions, and low on facts. But, here's one that's as good as any I have read:
Here's what's in the Senate deal that would end the government shutdown
As per this article:
"The eight Democrats had been engaged in bipartisan talks over ending the stalemate for several weeks, and reached the agreement without the support of the party's leaders in the upper chamber.
The agreement they struck does nothing to address the expiring health care tax credits (emphasis mine) — which had been their party's key demand — besides the promise of a future vote on the issue. The deal left many Democrats furious with the eight senators who voted to advance it and with the party's leaders for allowing the defections."
And so, it's my opinion that our eight illustrious senators are saving the Republicult™ from the embarrassment of intentionally bankrupting and starving many of our citizens over the holidays for nothing in return. Now, is this a humanitarian thing to do? Sure, it is, in the short run. But, I don't believe it is in the long run.
I sincerely hope I'm wrong about this. But, this looks to me like yet another case of the Dems snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
#66
Aneristic Illusions / Re: Regarding 'Merica's Actual...
Last post by Abbot Mythos - November 10, 2025, 09:08:44 PMQuote from: Faust on November 10, 2025, 06:25:05 PMThey folded on everything right? AMA funding is gone right?To be honest, I don't even know.
I've been so disgusted, after reading the "Moderate Democrats" folded last night, I've barely looked at the news. My attitude is, if you're kicking your opponent's ass, don't waste your energy, or your time. Finish them off, and move on.
Now, I did look at one highly partisan political site a little while ago. And, those people published an article that read like the Dems had just executed some brilliant, winning strategy. Nevertheless, my reaction was WTF?!
So, after I finally cool down, I'm going to have to study the situation in detail, and get back to you.
Now, this may be another case of "kicking the can down the road," as American politicians are famous for doing that. But, to do it when you're clearly winning is incredibly stupid. Still, it's not like the Dems have not snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the past.
#67
Aneristic Illusions / Re: Regarding 'Merica's Actual...
Last post by Faust - November 10, 2025, 06:25:05 PMThey folded on everything right? AMA funding is gone right?
#68
Aneristic Illusions / Re: Regarding 'Merica's Actual...
Last post by Abbot Mythos - November 10, 2025, 04:29:18 AMI have once again been reminded why my Certificate of Voter Registration lists me as having NO AFFILIATION since 9/4/2008, even though the last Republican candidate I voted for was Arlen Specter for U.S. Senator in 1992.
Senate Democrats blink on the shutdown after 40 days of pain
As per this article:
"After nearly six weeks of a painful shutdown, a critical number of Senate Democrats backed a Republican funding bill to reopen government — with little to show for holding out so long."
Senate Democrats blink on the shutdown after 40 days of pain
As per this article:
"After nearly six weeks of a painful shutdown, a critical number of Senate Democrats backed a Republican funding bill to reopen government — with little to show for holding out so long."
#69
Apple Talk / Re: On This Day in History
Last post by Abbot Mythos - November 10, 2025, 12:03:44 AMNovember 10, 1885 - Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach Revealed the First Internal Combustion Engine Powered Motorcycle
Now, a couple of steam engine powered motorcycles had been built prior to this. Still, this ICE powered bike is the Daddy of what we're still riding today.
This motorcycle was powered by a prototype 264-cc engine. And, while non-bikers may find this unimpressive, that volume engine was more than enough for the single cylinder two-stroke, and single cylinder four valve four-stroke enduro motorcycles of my era.
Now, a couple of steam engine powered motorcycles had been built prior to this. Still, this ICE powered bike is the Daddy of what we're still riding today.
This motorcycle was powered by a prototype 264-cc engine. And, while non-bikers may find this unimpressive, that volume engine was more than enough for the single cylinder two-stroke, and single cylinder four valve four-stroke enduro motorcycles of my era.
#70
Techmology and Scientism / Re: The Tech Forum
Last post by Abbot Mythos - November 09, 2025, 04:15:01 PMThe irony in an AI musician singing 'How Was I supposed to Know?'
As per this article:
"Billboard's announcement of an AI artist on one of its charts is even more unsettling than it first seems."
As per this article:
"Months ago, a musician named Xania Monet went viral on TikTok with a song called "How Was I supposed to Know?" In short videos, women in plaid shirts mouthed along to its mournful chorus under captions that read: "Pov: you found that one song that speaks for your soul." Three-year-olds in the back seat of cars fumbled their way through its lyrics about growing up without a dad and falling in love with the wrong men. Listeners wept, alone in bathrooms.
"How Was I supposed to Know?" made its way to radio, rose up the charts and just landed at No. 30 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart. Its success prompted Billboard to run an article marking the historic moment:
"The first known instance of an AI-based act to earn a spot on a Billboard radio chart.""
I am not a musician, so AI being used for this purpose is not potentially taking food out of my mouth. Still, I do find this tech development disturbing.
As per this article:
"Billboard's announcement of an AI artist on one of its charts is even more unsettling than it first seems."
As per this article:
"Months ago, a musician named Xania Monet went viral on TikTok with a song called "How Was I supposed to Know?" In short videos, women in plaid shirts mouthed along to its mournful chorus under captions that read: "Pov: you found that one song that speaks for your soul." Three-year-olds in the back seat of cars fumbled their way through its lyrics about growing up without a dad and falling in love with the wrong men. Listeners wept, alone in bathrooms.
"How Was I supposed to Know?" made its way to radio, rose up the charts and just landed at No. 30 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart. Its success prompted Billboard to run an article marking the historic moment:
"The first known instance of an AI-based act to earn a spot on a Billboard radio chart.""
I am not a musician, so AI being used for this purpose is not potentially taking food out of my mouth. Still, I do find this tech development disturbing.