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QC is going biweekly and Allice Grove is to become daily!

Pintsize finds (AI) religion!

Yelling Bird returns to announce the cancellation of QC!

Marigold IS pregnant...with Hannelore!

Dora sells CoD to Jim!

Hannelore IS Beatrice's clone!

Marten and Claire sign up for Mars One!

Multi-character off-panel carnality because the strip is ending!

Someone gives Pintsize espresso

[katsmeat]

Duck and Cover - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_and_cover

Isn't Hanners about two generations too young to be familiar with that?  Or is it still a phrase sometimes used in that part of the world?

[Neko_Ali]

Yes, it's still used. A lot of people probably don't even know the origin of the phrase, but use it anyway.

[Is it cold in here?]

Something very close to that is the current standard advice for what to do if you're indoors during an earthquake.

[Zebediah]

I'm a bit too young for "duck and cover" drills but a couple of my sisters remember doing them in the early primary grades. It was a simpler time, when people actually thought a nuclear war was survivable.

[Y]

Well when I was in college we did the opposite: the nuclear alarm went off and we went outside. Turned out it was some test of a nearby building but we weren't supposed to hear that.

[War Sparrow]

I'm a bit too young for "duck and cover" drills but a couple of my sisters remember doing them in the early primary grades. It was a simpler time, when people actually thought a nuclear war was survivable.

I was told they taught kids to duck and cover on the offchance their bodies wouldn't vapourize and they would be identifiable.

[Storel]

I'm a bit too young for "duck and cover" drills but a couple of my sisters remember doing them in the early primary grades. It was a simpler time, when people actually thought a nuclear war was survivable.

I was told they taught kids to duck and cover on the offchance their bodies wouldn't vapourize and they would be identifiable.

Identifiable by whom? That still presumes survivors.

[katsmeat]

I was told they taught kids to duck and cover on the offchance their bodies wouldn't vapourize and they would be identifiable.

The Wikipedia article seems to suggest it was reasonable advice (and under the circumstances, the best advice)  derived from the experiences of Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors.

But it was probably only applicable to Hiroshima-sized bombs, and not a great deal of use given how quickly hydrogen bombs, 100 times more powerful, were developed.

[Zebediah]

US Civil Defense in the 1950s and 60s was political theater. The guys in charge knew that what they were doing would probably be useless, but they were tasked with doing something because it would look bad if the government did nothing.

We have the same thing today with the TSA.

[Kugai]

That reaction and it's explanation certainly shows us where some of Hanners neurosis come from.

[SmilingCat]

I was told they taught kids to duck and cover on the offchance their bodies wouldn't vapourize and they would be identifiable.

The Wikipedia article seems to suggest it was reasonable advice (and under the circumstances, the best advice)  derived from the experiences of Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors.

But it was probably only applicable to Hiroshima-sized bombs, and not a great deal of use given how quickly hydrogen bombs, 100 times more powerful, were developed.

It was still applicable even with higher yield weapons. Possibly even more so.  The actual "vaporization" range of even a high yield weapon (five megatons) is fairly small (around a mile or so). The majority of immediate destructive force is from the overpressure (seven and a half miles to collapse most buildings) and thermal bloom (fifteen miles for third degree burns). Even in a densely populated area, the vast majority of people who see the flash and don't die instantly will increase their chances of survival by ducking and covering (which protects vital areas from burns or flying debris).

Basically, what it leaves out is that it's pretty much ALL you can do. And it doesn't cover surviving the injuries you do sustain long term, or whether the survivors will envy the dead. For education on that matter, I suggest the film "Threads".

EDIT: This is easily the most depressing first post I've ever written...

[Is it cold in here?]

Welcome, informative new person!

[TRenn]

Duck and Cover - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_and_cover

Isn't Hanners about two generations too young to be familiar with that?  Or is it still a phrase sometimes used in that part of the world?

It might still be a commonly used expression in the specific place(s) Hanners grew up, primarily due to the proximity to HannerDad. The other adults probably had plenty of occasions to use that phrase, joking or not, and the younger generation continues its use.

Those that survived, anyway.

[Spoe]

For education on that matter, I suggest the film "Threads".

The Day After is almost upbeat in comparison.

[jwhouk]

Ah, yes, April 1st.

Conde Nast. 

[TheEvilDog]

Bravo Mr Jacques, bravo.
You almost had us, but better luck next year.

[jwhouk]

Double-dog dare anyone to call 902-420-6969.

[user 18]

Double-dog dare anyone to call 902-420-6969.

It appears to be an unassigned number.

[SomeCanadianWeirdo]

The real joke is that Jeff has sold out to Time Warner, and will henceforth use the name Jeff Jacks as his author name, focus groups having found Jeph Jacques sounds too French to many Americans.

[Tova]

Someone hasn't seen the new pinned post by The Shame Orb. 

[jwhouk]

Someone hasn't seen the new pinned post by The Shame Orb. 

Oh, I saw that.

[cesium133]

Doora should be careful about scaring Hannelore like that. Hannelore will tell Martin and Fay about it, and they'll conspire with Clair to force Pintsighs to fill Doora's apartment with the used condoms from Dail's apartment that Mae has been complaining about. Boy, will The Shaim Orb get some dirt on Marygold after that. Moemoe will turn red with embarrassment.

[SubaruStephen]

Oh. Jeph, you son-of-a....

You really had me going there, mostly because it was still March when that popped up on my screen!

Oh, and look, J.e.p.h is coming up as Jeff....

I hate April 1st on the Internet.

[cesium133]

Heh. I guessed right at random on three of the filters in place when I wrote that post above.

(click to show/hide)

Martin, Fay, and Hannelore

[Is it cold in here?]

Double-dog dare anyone to call 902-420-6969.

It appears to be an unassigned number.

Welcome, new person!

[Tova]

Ah. 

This Maye be everyone's best opportunity to misspell Martin's name with impunity.

Edit: not May! "may"! ... oh never mind.

[Fen]

In the end "life goals" and "accomplishments" are meaningless, the same fate awaits us all. What matters is if you enjoyed the journey. All the money, so-called success, and legacies in the world count for nothing. Enjoy what time you have. And don't judge other people for how they choose to live thier lives if they aren't hurting anyone.

The goal is the destination of the journey, and thus is far from meaningless when it fundamentally affects where the journey takes you.

Of course the journey is what counts, but that doesn't preclude setting goals.

My point is, decrying someone's lack of accomplishments or direction is stupid if that person is satisfied and happy. Yes, for some people having a goal and pursuing it is a source of happiness and fulfillment, and more power to them, but it's not true for everyone. The goals and accomplishments themselves are meaningless, which isn't to say they don't have an effect. The destination of the journey is the same for everyone.

I disagree with this. You can be satisfied and happy simply because you choose to be ignorant about things (your own future, society, national and global issues, etc.). On an temporary individual level it's pretty cool, but it's just inherently shallow. It's how I spent my early 20s and, looking back, it was just a waste of life. We're not animals, we need to do more than just be satisfied with a somewhat pleasing present; that is simply not a life worth living.

(nihilist from the other side of the philosophical coin here)

[BenRG]

I've got a horrible feeling that some of those spiders will end up as Hannelore's good friends. Just imagine nervous Hanners babbling away and imagining how a spider might respond. Before you know it, she's imagining two-way conversations with them. By the next time Dora visits, Hannelore will be tackling her anxiety by practically writing fan-fiction in her head about the CoD spiders and insisting that its all 'canon-compliant'!

[St.Clair]

I was told they taught kids to duck and cover on the offchance their bodies wouldn't vapourize and they would be identifiable.

The Wikipedia article seems to suggest it was reasonable advice (and under the circumstances, the best advice)  derived from the experiences of Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors.

But it was probably only applicable to Hiroshima-sized bombs, and not a great deal of use given how quickly hydrogen bombs, 100 times more powerful, were developed.

Also, it was during the pre-ICBM era, when the bombs would be delivered by bombers, probably to just a few urban centers and other high-value targets.  More like a really nasty version of the London Blitz than what I and others grew up with toward the end, which was "when it's all over, half an hour later, the entire northern hemisphere will be glassed, flattened, and/or on fire, or in the fallout plume from something that is.  then the endless winter sets in."

I do not miss the Cold War, no.

[USS Martenclaire]

Sun of a beach. This is how years of loyal readership is repaid...

[sitnspin]

I disagree with this. You can be satisfied and happy simply because you choose to be ignorant about things (your own future, society, national and global issues, etc.). On an temporary individual level it's pretty cool, but it's just inherently shallow. It's how I spent my early 20s and, looking back, it was just a waste of life. We're not animals, we need to do more than just be satisfied with a somewhat pleasing present; that is simply not a life worth living.

(nihilist from the other side of the philosophical coin here)

We don't need to do anything. We are under no obligation to do anything. We are animals. What makes life worth living is a decision made by the person living it. It is not my, or anyone else's, place to tell someone else how to find satisfaction and fulfillment in life as long as they are not harming others to do so.

[The Shame Orb]

Administrator Comment

No mere human can be trusted to tell others how to live. Fortunately you have me to guide you.

[USS Martenclaire]

... insisting that it's all 'canon-compliant'!

Or tungsten rod compliant at the very least.

[Thrillho]

Isn't Hanners about two generations too young to be familiar with that?

Well, how old are you?

[oeoek]

@!#@% Jeph had me going there! Don't do that while I am waiting for my morning coffee!

[Fen]

We don't need to do anything. We are under no obligation to do anything. We are animals. What makes life worth living is a decision made by the person living it. It is not my, or anyone else's, place to tell someone else how to find satisfaction and fulfillment in life as long as they are not harming others to do so.

But the comfortable middle-class lifestyle *is* harming others. Sure, if you live like an animal - independent, in a place where you have no direct negative impact on anything beyond your immediate circumstance - then feel free to do so. But the average life in a civilised city is dependent on the sacrifice of others; you can derive happiness and satisfaction in it, sure, but it doesn't make it less irresponsible and shallow. Life demands resources, and those resources are quickly depleting; making those resources count is our duty as people with access to education, power, and information.

[Thrillho]

We don't need to do anything. We are under no obligation to do anything. We are animals. What makes life worth living is a decision made by the person living it. It is not my, or anyone else's, place to tell someone else how to find satisfaction and fulfillment in life as long as they are not harming others to do so.

But the comfortable middle-class lifestyle *is* harming others. Sure, if you live like an animal - independent, in a place where you have no direct negative impact on anything beyond your immediate circumstance - then feel free to do so. But the average life in a civilised city is dependent on the sacrifice of others; you can derive happiness and satisfaction in it, sure, but it doesn't make it less irresponsible and shallow. Life demands resources, and those resources are quickly depleting; making those resources count is our duty as people with access to education, power, and information.

All of which can be achieved without actively making any larger social change. If you make a point of sourcing everything you use ethically, there's no reason why anyone should progress any further.

Also, in a free world, someone should be allowed to just not give a shit about anyone but themselves if they aren't causing any direct harm, otherwise you're getting into dictatorship territory.

[J]

FEN!


the thing is that whatever position a person takes on any issue like this is going to be based on values that are inherently subjective and arbitrary. even people who believe in some sort of divine mandate have absolutely nothing to back up their claims about correct way to live.

responsibility, obligation, morality; they are all nothing more and nothing less than Whatever The Hell We Say They Are

[Case]

While eonjoyin Hanners discomfort something struck me: ...

Uhmmmmh, srsly? That sounds like an achievement ...

[Akima]

Isn't Hanners about two generations too young to be familiar with that?  Or is it still a phrase sometimes used in that part of the world?

I admit that I'm somewhat older than Hanners, but I've certainly heard of "duck and cover", despite growing up in China and Australia. I think it's a pretty well known meme in popular culture.

An friend of mine told me about certain beers made in Belgium where micro-organisms and cobwebs up the rafters of old buildings where it is brewed are held to improve the flavour. Perhaps spider-droppings in the beans are the secret of CoD's great coffee...

[BenRG]

An friend of mine told me about certain beers made in Belgium where micro-organisms and cobwebs up the rafters of old buildings are held to improve the flavour. Perhaps spider-droppings in the beans are the secret of CoD's great coffee...

Just don't tell Hanners that; I think that she would either have a nervous breakdown or try to drink industrial antiseptic.

[Method of Madness]

That wacky Jeph.

[HiFranc]

I'm surprised that Dora didn't reserve that name for a lighter coloured spider.

[...]

An friend of mine told me about certain beers made in Belgium where micro-organisms and cobwebs up the rafters of old buildings are held to improve the flavour. Perhaps spider-droppings in the beans are the secret of CoD's great coffee...

You might be interested in this programme.  It might not play outside the UK but the key details are in the summary on the webpage.

[Method of Madness]

I will confess to checking Google Maps to ser if Moose Hump, Nova Scotia existed

I figured it was a joke, but crazier town names exist.

[Zebediah]

It's not an unreasonable name, considering that there actually is a town in Ontario named Moose Factory.

[cesium133]

Bucksnort, Tennessee...

[Neko_Ali]

I used to live not that far from Intercourse, Pennsylvania. Which is in Amish country, ironically.

[DSL]

You can't forget Engagement, Ohio.

(click to show/hide)

It's midway between Dayton and Marion.

[Zebediah]

All right, if we're going this route, then: Lizard Lick, North Carolina.

I have a friend who grew up in a trailer park there. He is a genuine Lizard Licker.

[Nepiophage]

An friend of mine told me about certain beers made in Belgium where micro-organisms and cobwebs up the rafters of old buildings where it is brewed are held to improve the flavour. Perhaps spider-droppings in the beans are the secret of CoD's great coffee...

It's An old English tradition