On the subject of whether simple falsehood is a “good” prank, I deeply object to the insinuation that there exists such an impossible creature as a “good prank” – explicitly setting out to harm someone is otherwise called fraud or assault depending on the nature of the harm and justifying it by claiming it was all for the amusement of yourself or others is just digging the hole deeper imho.If the pranked party finds it amusing as well and bellylaughs are had all around, I'd call that a good prank. I'll grant you, many are indeed undertaken in a spirit of bullying and not good humor. Perhaps it is that sort you're thinking of.
Once she passes, she'll start applying to college libraries at Colleges around Northampton. So, does she take over for someone at Williston, becoming Tai and Marten's boss. Does she go further afield? And might that entail moving away, and what would that portend for the strip? Or would she put her career and dreams on hold or would Marten decide his best future is at Claire's side?
Now this (http://shutupmerlin.tumblr.com/post/183814287237/a-series-of-events-1-i-put-in-an-annual-leave) is a proper prank. Even if it did backfire a bit.
If all else fails, she can use the flare to simply light the stack of handed in exams at the end.
If all else fails, she can use the flare to simply light the stack of handed in exams at the end.
Cackling mischievously?
That said, I'm still trying to work out if the signal flare is an example of her taking things a bit too seriously, a subtle attempt to use humour to get Claire to acknowledge that her fears are silly or some kind of Chekhov's Gun!Yes. All three.
College libraries aren’t Claire’s only options. There are also public libraries and school libraries.
Your lunch, should you accept it, is to fire the signal flare at the most inopportune moment possible.
College libraries aren’t Claire’s only options. There are also public libraries and school libraries.
IIRC, Claire's real interest is more in the preservation and care of ancient books. The idea of ancient knowledge in her hands seems to be something that fascinates her. So she could easily end up working for a museum archive or even a private collector who wants to keep their books in good condition.
Naturally, she would find the Ancient Cursed Tome of Forbidden KnowledgeTM or something similar.
Her smile definitely makes me lean towards Bubbles being proud of her foresight and apparently thinking that final exams are more physically threatening than they actually are!
Claire will kick ass and eat snacks during her finals.Is she Squirrel Girl now?
Claire will kick ass and eat snacks during her finals.“I’m here to kick ass and eat snacks, and I’m all out of ass! .... Wait, that came out wrong.”
Bubbles has shown leadership qualities before, and a former Marine told me long ago that humor was among the tools non-coms used.If Bubbles wasn't a NCO she was being groomed for promotion.
I'm taking that to mean that Bubbles did pack a sensible wrap with light protein! (When presented with options, I tend to go for the clean option.)
I've never been in the military or been close to anyone who was, but I suppose a certain type of joke gets very old very fast. I imagine humour is extremely important in military relationships, and it must keep evolving.
I've never been in the military or been close to anyone who was, but I suppose a certain type of joke gets very old very fast. I imagine humour is extremely important in military relationships, and it must keep evolving.In the US military a good joke or prank is nearly immortal. There's a constant turn-over of personnel and the victim can always look forward to pulling it on some poor Sad Sack who takes their place as the newbie, so classics are constantly recycled. For example, the Air Force and aviation branches of the other services all take fiendish delight in sending new arrivals for ten gallons of prop wash or a few hundred feet of flight line. There's a female civilian employee at many facilities named Ms H. Wate, usually in the supply or personal equipment section. Noobs and even others who become a little too impatient to obtain a popular given item or items of issue will be told to go to Helen Wate.
Noobs and even others who become a little too impatient to obtain a popular given item or items of issue will be told to go to Helen Wate.I assume she's a (distant) relative of Michael Hunt?
Yes, it is dangerous and can be deadly. The tar will cause body-wide burns and people have lost large chunks of skin and been permanently scarred and crippled. Think of it as a method of lynching that is not at least intended to be lethal.
Yes, it is dangerous and can be deadly. The tar will cause body-wide burns and people have lost large chunks of skin and been permanently scarred and crippled. Think of it as a method of lynching that is not at least intended to be lethal.
Nope, they used wood-tar rather than bitumen - the former is viscous at room temperatures.
Yes, it is dangerous and can be deadly. The tar will cause body-wide burns and people have lost large chunks of skin and been permanently scarred and crippled. Think of it as a method of lynching that is not at least intended to be lethal.
Nope, they used wood-tar rather than bitumen - the former is viscous at room temperatures.
Still hurts like a bitch unless you use solvent and/or heat/warmth to remove it.
Yes, it is dangerous and can be deadly. The tar will cause body-wide burns and people have lost large chunks of skin and been permanently scarred and crippled. Think of it as a method of lynching that is not at least intended to be lethal.
Nope, they used wood-tar rather than bitumen - the former is viscous at room temperatures.
Still hurts like a bitch unless you use solvent and/or heat/warmth to remove it.
I simultaneously loved Stackoverflow's, and found it annoying as hell.
If there's a tar & feathers manual, I've never located a copy.
Seems to be a link for how to use twitterIf there's a tar & feathers manual, I've never located a copy.
Let me help you out there (https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-setup-twitter-search-hashtag-and-login-help/).
On a more serious note, do AIs need to take classes (and pass exams), or can they just download the needed knowledge?
Seems to be a link for how to use twitter
That's the joke.
On a more serious note, do AIs need to take classes (and pass exams), or can they just download the needed knowledge?
AIs' minds work very much like those of humans. Whilst they can download data, they can only read it back as if it were an electronic book. They do not have the ability to automatically use that data in a practical way until they have applied it a few times in the actual real world. In essence, they can download the manuals but, because of the way they work, they're not really skills, just raw information that may not actually mean anything to them.
On a more serious note, do AIs need to take classes (and pass exams), or can they just download the needed knowledge?
AIs' minds work very much like those of humans. Whilst they can download data, they can only read it back as if it were an electronic book. They do not have the ability to automatically use that data in a practical way until they have applied it a few times in the actual real world. In essence, they can download the manuals but, because of the way they work, they're not really skills, just raw information that may not actually mean anything to them.
That covers the feathers part. ;)If there's a tar & feathers manual, I've never located a copy.
Let me help you out there (https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-setup-twitter-search-hashtag-and-login-help/).
Perhaps some of those we've have gone directly into internship programs having completed their academic downloads.On a more serious note, do AIs need to take classes (and pass exams), or can they just download the needed knowledge?
AIs' minds work very much like those of humans. Whilst they can download data, they can only read it back as if it were an electronic book. They do not have the ability to automatically use that data in a practical way until they have applied it a few times in the actual real world. In essence, they can download the manuals but, because of the way they work, they're not really skills, just raw information that may not actually mean anything to them.
Here is the thing though... I can't remember ever seeing an AI at the school as a student. When you consider how much the town and the comic revolve around the school it is a bit odd that the only AI we have seen associated with it is Momo working in the library. On the other side though there are a lot of AI working in the city in other jobs. Sure they could get work at the bot cafe or chassis sales store without any kind of official training. Some can come from on the job or picked up skills, like Roko's police officer career, or Bubble's mechanical skill. But there are those who need schooling and accreditation like Punchbot being a CPA.
So all things being the same, we should have seen at least the occasional AI student over the years. The fact that we haven't says that either it's been a mild oversight on Jeph's part, or AI do not actually learn like human, or at least don't have to. There might be shortened courses for AI that can just download all the materials needed and then if it requires do the lab work and test to prove their proficiency before hitting the work force.
Aside from the very abbreviate form of due process applied, I find it difficult to generate much sympathy for the recipients of the treatment in those few accounts I've read or heard stories of.
Here is the thing though... I can't remember ever seeing an AI at the school as a student. When you consider how much the town and the comic revolve around the school it is a bit odd that the only AI we have seen associated with it is Momo working in the library.
That's the joke.Just got in an argument with someone who somehow can't tell the difference between the Far Left and anarchism, so Icll take that as to the explanation of the joke.
*Snip*
Here is the thing though... I can't remember ever seeing an AI at the school as a student. When you consider how much the town and the comic revolve around the school it is a bit odd that the only AI we have seen associated with it is Momo working in the library. On the other side though there are a lot of AI working in the city in other jobs. Sure they could get work at the bot cafe or chassis sales store without any kind of official training. Some can come from on the job or picked up skills, like Roko's police officer career, or Bubble's mechanical skill. But there are those who need schooling and accreditation like Punchbot being a CPA.
So all things being the same, we should have seen at least the occasional AI student over the years. The fact that we haven't says that either it's been a mild oversight on Jeph's part, or AI do not actually learn like human, or at least don't have to. There might be shortened courses for AI that can just download all the materials needed and then if it requires do the lab work and test to prove their proficiency before hitting the work force.
That was great. The glittery mouse trail, under construction, comic sans, the terrible tiled background image. The terrible welcome-to-our-website banner. Big changes for Y2K! Only thing missing was a "best viewed in IE" graphic.ITYM "Best viewed in Netscape Navigator 4 or above", in that era.
New comic.
I thought blood & magic was usually considered BAD....
New comic.
I thought blood & magic was usually considered BAD....
New comic.
I thought blood & magic was usually considered BAD...
I'm fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing. What do you mean, "bad?"
You disagree with my subjective response to a story? Interesting.Aside from the very abbreviate form of due process applied, I find it difficult to generate much sympathy for the recipients of the treatment in those few accounts I've read or heard stories of.
Disagree in the strongest possible terms, but then we're into the criminal justice/prison policies thread.
New comic.
I thought blood & magic was usually considered BAD....
I'm fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing. What do you mean, "bad?"
Or that AI's role in the world has expanded in that time. I'm not sure if that's canon or not but I've always assumed it is. AI lifeforms have only arisen in the past few decades, after all. How old is Hanners' dad again? In the start of the comic their presence was nominal at best, existing as cute companions. Obviously there was more - such as Station and Bubbles - and the increasing AI presence in the comic (in number of appearances humanoid/varied forms, and economic roles) obviously reflects Jeph's decision to focus more on that story. But in-comic, I've been taking it as a given that AI presence in general has expanded within the past few canon-years.On a more serious note, do AIs need to take classes (and pass exams), or can they just download the needed knowledge?
AIs' minds work very much like those of humans. Whilst they can download data, they can only read it back as if it were an electronic book. They do not have the ability to automatically use that data in a practical way until they have applied it a few times in the actual real world. In essence, they can download the manuals but, because of the way they work, they're not really skills, just raw information that may not actually mean anything to them.
Here is the thing though... I can't remember ever seeing an AI at the school as a student. When you consider how much the town and the comic revolve around the school it is a bit odd that the only AI we have seen associated with it is Momo working in the library. On the other side though there are a lot of AI working in the city in other jobs. Sure they could get work at the bot cafe or chassis sales store without any kind of official training. Some can come from on the job or picked up skills, like Roko's police officer career, or Bubble's mechanical skill. But there are those who need schooling and accreditation like Punchbot being a CPA.
So all things being the same, we should have seen at least the occasional AI student over the years. The fact that we haven't says that either it's been a mild oversight on Jeph's part, or AI do not actually learn like human, or at least don't have to. There might be shortened courses for AI that can just download all the materials needed and then if it requires do the lab work and test to prove their proficiency before hitting the work force.
New comic.
I thought blood & magic was usually considered BAD....
I'm fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing. What do you mean, "bad?"
Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously, and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.
Or that AI's role in the world has expanded in that time. I'm not sure if that's canon or not but I've always assumed it is. AI lifeforms have only arisen in the past few decades, after all. How old is Hanners' dad again? <snip>
New comic.
I thought blood & magic was usually considered BAD....
I'm fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing. What do you mean, "bad?"
For a comic that supposedly revolves around a school, the cast is not exactly teeming with students, is it? I'd say it revolves around a school like it revolves around indie music.School? I thot it revolved around a coffee shop.
For a comic that supposedly revolves around a school, the cast is not exactly teeming with students, is it? I'd say it revolves around a school like it revolves around indie music.School? I thot it revolved around a coffee shop.
New comic.
I thought blood & magic was usually considered BAD....
I'm fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing. What do you mean, "bad?"
Generally speaking you don't want to perform blood magic because its not something you want to do a whim. But because Wicca is a practice filled with symbolism, blood is sometimes avoided because of the darker symbolism; death, battle. Then again, blood can also symbolise life and can be used in certain rituals can provide power. If blood is used in any ritual, its usually extracted with a lancet, the kind used for blood sugar testing.
New comic.
I thought blood & magic was usually considered BAD....
I'm fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing. What do you mean, "bad?"
Generally speaking you don't want to perform blood magic because its not something you want to do a whim. But because Wicca is a practice filled with symbolism, blood is sometimes avoided because of the darker symbolism; death, battle. Then again, blood can also symbolise life and can be used in certain rituals can provide power. If blood is used in any ritual, its usually extracted with a lancet, the kind used for blood sugar testing.
Thankfully magic isn't real. :evil:
New comic.
I thought blood & magic was usually considered BAD....
I'm fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing. What do you mean, "bad?"
Generally speaking you don't want to perform blood magic because its not something you want to do a whim. But because Wicca is a practice filled with symbolism, blood is sometimes avoided because of the darker symbolism; death, battle. Then again, blood can also symbolise life and can be used in certain rituals can provide power. If blood is used in any ritual, its usually extracted with a lancet, the kind used for blood sugar testing.
Thankfully magic isn't real. :evil:
New comic.
I thought blood & magic was usually considered BAD....
I'm fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing. What do you mean, "bad?"
Generally speaking you don't want to perform blood magic because its not something you want to do a whim. But because Wicca is a practice filled with symbolism, blood is sometimes avoided because of the darker symbolism; death, battle. Then again, blood can also symbolise life and can be used in certain rituals can provide power. If blood is used in any ritual, its usually extracted with a lancet, the kind used for blood sugar testing.
Thankfully magic isn't real. :evil:
And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 5.
Do I believe in magic? No.
Do other people believe in it or something similar? Yes.
Should it be dismissed out of hand? No.
Should it and those beliefs be treated with respect? Yes.
Do I believe in magic? No.Disagree strongly. The proper reaction to ridiculous beliefs, is ridicule.
Do other people believe in it or something similar? Yes.
Should it be dismissed out of hand? No.
Should it and those beliefs be treated with respect? Yes.
Do I believe in magic? No.Disagree strongly. The proper reaction to ridiculous beliefs, is ridicule.
Do other people believe in it or something similar? Yes.
Should it be dismissed out of hand? No.
Should it and those beliefs be treated with respect? Yes.
I stand by my words. Firmly. No exceptions for ridiculous beliefs held by millions or billions. Ridiculous is ridiculous.Do I believe in magic? No.Disagree strongly. The proper reaction to ridiculous beliefs, is ridicule.
Do other people believe in it or something similar? Yes.
Should it be dismissed out of hand? No.
Should it and those beliefs be treated with respect? Yes.
You know, the difference between belief and religion is the number of people who follow it. For example, Christianity has built up a religion around the idea that a man died and came back to life. And such a notion might sound ridiculous to an outsider.
So, just a friendly reminder that you're walking a very thin line.
I stand by my words. Firmly. No exceptions for ridiculous beliefs held by millions or billions. Ridiculous is ridiculous.Do I believe in magic? No.Disagree strongly. The proper reaction to ridiculous beliefs, is ridicule.
Do other people believe in it or something similar? Yes.
Should it be dismissed out of hand? No.
Should it and those beliefs be treated with respect? Yes.
You know, the difference between belief and religion is the number of people who follow it. For example, Christianity has built up a religion around the idea that a man died and came back to life. And such a notion might sound ridiculous to an outsider.
So, just a friendly reminder that you're walking a very thin line.
Meh.. I started going grey in my early 40's. But it can be disconcerting if it happens in your 20's. Can Marten get grecian formula and use it on the Down low?I'm In my twenties and starting to get grey hairs, but it doesn't really bother me. It's not a high percentage of my hair yet, so maybe that will change, but for now I'm pretty "eh" about it.
I take it you're a 'gnostic atheist'[1], then?Do I believe in magic? No.Disagree strongly. The proper reaction to ridiculous beliefs, is ridicule.
Do other people believe in it or something similar? Yes.
Should it be dismissed out of hand? No.
Should it and those beliefs be treated with respect? Yes.
I've had gray hairs since I was 16, Martin. Calm down.
I started getting some golden blond and copper hairs during my 20s. It's weird.
Do I believe in magic? No.Disagree strongly. The proper reaction to ridiculous beliefs, is ridicule.
Do other people believe in it or something similar? Yes.
Should it be dismissed out of hand? No.
Should it and those beliefs be treated with respect? Yes.
ridiculous adjective
ri·dic·u·lous | \ rə-ˈdi-kyə-ləs \
Definition of ridiculous
: arousing or deserving ridicule
I deeply empathise with Marten. I started going bald in my early 30s but I was strongly in denial. It was just thinning and a receding front fringe! Then I saw my head from above on CCTV feed and I realised that, yes, I was bald. That was a hard blow.
So, yeah, you're getting old Marten. It happens to all of us. Your dad proved that you're likely to go all steel grey although if you take more after your mum, maybe you'll go closer to silver. I'm sure that Claire will consider it attractive but I think that you want to avoid too much neurotic denial. Take it from me that it doesn't do any good!
I deeply empathise with Marten. I started going bald in my early 30s but I was strongly in denial. It was just thinning and a receding front fringe! Then I saw my head from above on CCTV feed and I realised that, yes, I was bald. That was a hard blow.
So, yeah, you're getting old Marten. It happens to all of us. Your dad proved that you're likely to go all steel grey although if you take more after your mum, maybe you'll go closer to silver. I'm sure that Claire will consider it attractive but I think that you want to avoid too much neurotic denial. Take it from me that it doesn't do any good!
Actually, getting old only happens to those who are lucky. Because there is actually a way to avoid aging: dying.
Actually, getting old only happens to those who are lucky. Because there is actually a way to avoid aging: dying.
Death is always an option, but never the only one, and in the vast majority not a desirable choice. Sometimes it just can't be helped, especially when growing old.
I would encourage Marten to recall how Claire reacted the first time she saw Marten’s dad. She didn’t think Henry’s grey hair was a turn-off at all.Claire meeting Henry for the first time was rather embarassing (2380) (https://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2380) though I think it's Dora's reaction you think of as she specifically mentions that Marten would look wonderful in gray hair. (1515) (https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1515)
I take it you're a 'gnostic atheist'[1], then?[1] If one must apply labels, that one fits. But also materialist as well as atheist - No belief in anything spiritual/supernatural.
To each their own so long as they aren't being a dick about it. And, so long as you aren't one of the ones that treats science like a religion.[2]
EDIT: [1]'Gnostic' in the sense that you are quite certain in your disbelief of (a) higher power(s).
[2]i.e. clinging onto outmoded paradigms, never questioning findings, and the like
Whether or not magic(k) exists depends on how one defines the word, and rarely does anyone bother to define it before opining on its existence (and the same is true of belief in God). One of the more useful definitions of magick I've seen is "the ability to effect change."I used to be an enthusiast of Aleister Crowley, who defined it as "the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with the Will."
Social delousing by humans...
I got my first grey hair when I was 12. It was the only one for a looooong time. Then, at 30, I started to really get grey hair, and now, at 45, I have grey temples and visible grey hair. That's how are things. What can I do except accept it?
"On a long enough time line, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero", Chuck Palahniuk"Don't take life too seriously, you're not going to make it out alive anyhow."
Do you not accept it? You relaying of the information seems pretty matter of fact.
Also as someone who is going bald and has been since 19, I envy those who have grey hair as the primary concern.
That reminds me that it's time again to dye away the skunk stripe.:-o what? If my white were in the form of a "skunk stripe" I would ROCK THAT SHIT OUT. I used to get silver-colored hair spray specifically to put such a stripe in my hair.
Do you not accept it? You relaying of the information seems pretty matter of fact.
Also as someone who is going bald and has been since 19, I envy those who have grey hair as the primary concern.
Actually, I don't really care. I try to not care about things I can't change, and it really worked in that case.
Ignore him, Marty. It's best just to let Mother Nature have her way with you. (No matter what you do She's going to win.)Do you not accept it? You relaying of the information seems pretty matter of fact.
Also as someone who is going bald and has been since 19, I envy those who have grey hair as the primary concern.
Actually, I don't really care. I try to not care about things I can't change, and it really worked in that case.
But grey hair is something you can change, after a fashion. That's what the various brands of hair dye are for, after all; so you don't have to just accept your natural hair color.
As for Marten, I'd say to him, "take note of where the Just For Men is sold, son. You'll be using it in a few more years."
Do you not accept it? You relaying of the information seems pretty matter of fact.
Also as someone who is going bald and has been since 19, I envy those who have grey hair as the primary concern.
Actually, I don't really care. I try to not care about things I can't change, and it really worked in that case.
But grey hair is something you can change, after a fashion. That's what the various brands of hair dye are for, after all; so you don't have to just accept your natural hair color.
As for Marten, I'd say to him, "take note of where the Just For Men is sold, son. You'll be using it in a few more years."
If my white were in the form of a "skunk stripe" I would ROCK THAT SHIT OUT. I used to get silver-colored hair spray specifically to put such a stripe in my hair.
:-o what? If my white were in the form of a "skunk stripe" I would ROCK THAT SHIT OUT. I used to get silver-colored hair spray specifically to put such a stripe in my hair.Marten may have a genetic predisposition to poliosis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poliosis) inherited from Veronica. Or more likely he's just getting old.
Also as someone who is going bald and has been since 19, I envy those who have grey hair as the primary concern.
My hair isn't graying.
My mustache, however...