FSogol

FSogol's Journal

December 1, 2017

FSogol's Advent Calendar Day 1: The Scientific Reason Why Reindeer Have Red Noses

Put me in the group that loves Christmas. While not being particularly religious (I did have a Lutheran upbringing), I've always enjoyed this time of year. To count down, I'll post a daily post here in the lounge with something, usually offbeat about Christmas.

From Smithsonian Magazine:

In 1939, illustrator and children’s book author Robert May created Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The character was an instant hit—2.5 million copies of May’s booklet were circulated within a year—and in the coming decades, Rudolph’s song and stop-motion TV special cemented him in the canon of cherished Christmas lore.

Of course, the story was rooted in myth. But there’s actually more truth to it than most of us realize. A fraction of reindeer—the species of deer scientifically known as Rangifer tarandus, native to Arctic regions in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Russia and Scandinavia—actually do have noses colored with a distinctive red hue.

Now, just in time for Christmas, a group of researchers from the Netherlands and Norway have systematically looked into the reason for this unusual coloration for the first time. Their study, published yesterday in the online medical journal BMJ, indicates that the color is due to an extremely dense array of blood vessels, packed into the nose in order to supply blood and regulate body temperature in extreme environments.

“These results highlight the intrinsic physiological properties of Rudolph’s legendary luminous red nose,” write the study’s authors. “ help to protect it from freezing during sleigh rides and to regulate the temperature of the reindeer’s brain, factors essential for flying reindeer pulling Santa Claus’s sleigh under extreme temperatures.”

November 30, 2017

Don't know how to explain the birds and bees to your kids? This holiday inflatable might help.

Product Description

For the pervert that comes out in all of us at Christmas time that wants to show cheer, Goodwill toward his fellow man, and yule tidings, but also has a secret desire to piss off his entire neighborhood block by posting this hilarious humping reindeer duo on your front lawn next to A light up Santa, you’ll not only be inciting anger in those live around you, but also terrorizing them on each day they drive past your house with their young children in the car and have to endure the questions:

“Mommy, what are they doing to one another,?” You’ll know that you’ve made their Christmas wishes come true.

Sadly, for our dying culture, it is the 2nd best seller at one online store.

November 30, 2017

With everything going on in this country, it seems like a good time to post this:

Steve Martin's "A Public Apology:

There are several incidents of sexual harassment I would like to apologize for:

In 1992, I was interviewing one Ms. Anna Floyd for a secretarial position, when my pants accidentally fell down around my ankles as I was coincidentally saying, "Ever seen one of these before?" Even though I was referring to my new Pocket Tape Memo Taker, I would like to apologize to Ms. Floyd for any grief this misunderstanding might have caused her. I would also like to apologize to the Pocket Tape people, to their affiliates, and to my family, who have stood by me. I would like to apologize also to International Hardwood Designs, whose floor my pants fell upon. I would especially like to apologize to my wife Karen, whose constant understanding fills me with humility.

Once, in Hawaii, I had sex with a hundred-and-two-year-old male turtle. It would be hard to argue that it was consensual. I would like to apologize to the turtle, his family, the Kahala Hilton Hotel, and the hundred or so diners at the Hilton's outdoor cafe. I would also like to apologize to my loyal wife Karen, who had to endure the subsequent news item in the "Also Noted" section of the Santa Barbara Women's Club Weekly.

In 1987, I attended a bar mitzvah in Manhattan while wearing white gabardine pants, white patent-leather slippers, a blue blazer with gold buttons, and a yachting cap. I would like to apologize to the Jewish people, the State of Israel, my family, who have stood by me, and my wife Karen, who has endured my seventeen affairs and three out-of-wedlock children.

November 28, 2017

The Man Who Invented Christmas

The movie based on the Les Standiford book was released today. Great book, will have to make time to see the film.

From wiki:

In October 1843, Charles Dickens (Dan Stevens) was suffering from the failure of his last three books. Rejected by his publishers, he set out to write and self-publish a book he hoped would keep his family afloat and revive his career. The film tells the story of the six fever-pitched weeks in which Dickens created A Christmas Carol. The film takes audiences inside the magical process that brought to life Ebenezer Scrooge (Christopher Plummer), Tiny Tim and others, changing the Christian holiday into the merry family event we know today as Christmas.

Also stars Jonathan Pryce as Dickens's father, the inspiration for Scrooge.

November 28, 2017

What is the best tv or movie version of Dicken's "A Christmas Carol"

Asking for a friend.

November 21, 2017

Know someone who needs food or help? Point them to this:

http://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank/

Call the Hunger Lifeline for personalized recommendations to community food resources over the phone: 202-644-9807 (Monday-Friday 9 am – 5 pm)

Or Enter your zip code in the Food Bank Network field

https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/get-help/

to search for services related to food, transportation, education, job training and more. If you do not know your zip code, you can quickly find it here www.whatismyzip.com by entering your address.

November 20, 2017

Gymnastics Class Day 1

November 17, 2017

Has everyone started an Al Franken thread yet?

This is mine, so I have that checked off.

bring on the weekend!

November 14, 2017

Divisive Myths to Bash Ralph Northam and Democrats in VA

Myth #1. He's moderate or conservative because he voted for George W Bush twice.

Here's what Northam said:

Northam’s full statement on his votes for Bush:

Ever since I first ran for public office, I have fought for my values: commonsense gun reforms, protecting our environment, defending women’s access to reproductive health care, fighting for equal rights for the LGBT community, and economic opportunity for all Virginians.

At the time, I didn’t pay much attention to politics. Knowing what I know now, I was wrong and would have voted differently. I became politically engaged after becoming fed up with insurance companies affecting my patients and learning my Republican senator said a child with disabilities was possessed by “demons,” which deeply offended me as a father and a doctor.

So, I decided to run for office on the issues I cared about: fixing our healthcare system and cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay. I stood up for implementing commonsense gun reforms, ensuring the LGBT community was given equal rights, and defending women’s access to reproductive health care.

If there is a lesson Democrats should take away from 2016, it’s that voters sometimes vote against their values. Usually, they are doing it because they aren’t aware that they actually share the same values as the Democratic party. As someone who made that realization when I became engaged, there is no better person to reach these people than me.

Still not convinced? Consider this: We only know he voted for Bush because he told us. His vote was secret and no one would know. Northam told us the truth even though the truth could have hurt his campaign.

Myth #2. Tom Perriello was more liberal and fought "tooth and nail" for Northam

Tom Perriello wasn't bashed by Bernie haters. Sanders didn't have much support in VA. Most Virginians like Perriello, but he doesn't have as good as a track record in statewide elections and didn't get much support in the primary. Northam is completing a term as Lt Gov and has much better name recognition in the Democratic strongholds (No VA, the Exburbs, Norfolk, Newport news, and Richmond).

Perriello was a help during the campaign, much like Obama and Biden, but "fighting tooth and nail"? He appeared at a couple of events and recorded a robo-call in his district. Hardly, tooth and nail.

Btw nothing Perriello's record shows he is more liberal that Northam. Perriello is weak on women's health issues, abortion, and guns. Both have a mixed record on Democratic issues. Sanders' support was more of a contrarian, "there must be something wrong with elected officials" than anything the candidate's records show.

Myth #3. Northam attempted to distance himself from African American LT Gov Justin Fairfax

It is untrue that Justin Fairfax's "face disappeared from Northam campaign literature the moment it looked like white voters were slipping away."

About 6 weeks before election day, an environmental group paid for a mailing, but only supported Northam and Herring since Fairfax didn't take a position on their issue (I forget whether it was offshore drilling or the NG pipeline). GOP ratfucker Michael Steele and Bierbart attempted to use this issue to strip off black voters from Northam and depress turnout. Fairfax ran on and didn't care about the issue. Fairfax's face and name appeared on all party literature that I saw and they had joint appearances all over the state including rural areas. The extremely likable Fairfax, at age 38, is a rising star. He'll be governor one day.

Myth #4. Northam is against sanctuary cities

Ralph Northam cast the deciding vote in favor of sanctuary cities that let illegal immigrants who commit crimes back on the street,” the narrator says.

But the claim, which suggests Northam cast a vote allowing for the establishment of so-called sanctuary cities, does not provide the complicated context behind the vote.

The Republican-controlled General Assembly considered legislation in February to ban sanctuary cities, or localities that refuse to help detain and deport people who are in the country illegally.

Northam, the lieutenant governor, presides over the 40-member state Senate, and only votes when there’s a tie.

Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment (R-James City) initially voted against the ban. It was an odd move for the GOP leader to break from his party, but it set up a tie forcing Northam to go on record on a contentious issue.

Northam voted against the bill, and Gillespie’s campaign promptly put out a statement condemning him for it.

The bill came for another vote, and passed with Norment’s support. Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) vetoed the legislation.

Asked if he deliberately voted against the bill to force a vote from Northam, Norment walked away from reporters.

Complicating matters further: Virginia technically doesn’t have sanctuary cities.

Here's a synopsis of how the issue went:

Sanctuary cities (of which there are none in Virginia) are cities where the local police force does not pester residents about immigration or residency status.

The GOP is pretending that Sanctuary City means that law enforcement won't arrest or process warrants for criminals accused of actual crimes because they are in a Sanctuary City.

If a warrant came out for someone accused of assault in a Sanctuary City, that person would still be sought out by local law enforcement and arrested.

Sanctuary cities only provide a respite for people who have overstayed work or tourist visas or who snuck into the country, as long as they are law abiding.

This "outrage" is a mental exercise attempting to damage Northam with the Latino community. In reality Northam enjoyed a lot of support from Latinos. Contrast with Gillespie who treated Latinos like murderous animals.

Myth #5. Democratic Socialists won the day.

Despite some last minute ratfucking by Democracy for America (DFA) a group started by Howard Dean who resigned when they attacked Northam, Democrats won big. Yes, a self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist won, but he appeared on the ballot as a Democrat. Yes, local candidates didn't receive much money from the national democratic groups, but that is the case in every local election. You must be able to raise a certain threshold to prove your worth. Some candidates can do this, but other candidates, replace cash with grassroots action and knock on a lot of doors. This grassroots paid off and it is disingenuous for outside groups to claim victory for other's hard work.

Conclusion, Northam is a decent, honest candidate. He is progressive and has the best interests of Virginians in mind. The Democrats enjoyed a good election and made some unexpected gains in the House of Delegates thanks to awesome candidates, grass root organizing on the local level, and the public's general dissatisfaction with all things Trumpy. We won because we talked about the our issues and the values that are important to us. The GOP lost because they spent their time parroting Trump, talking about how Danica Roam goes to the bathroom, and treating Latinos like dangerous animals.

Bring on 2018, it will be our year if we can avoid the clowns who want to divide us and GOTV.

November 10, 2017

Need some phone and computer advice

Mrs FSogol takes tons and tons of pictures with her phone (Samsung Galaxy 7 on Verizon). She maxed out the phone storage and extra card, she's filled up the cloud storage that Verizon gives us.

She's on a computer all day at work and won't use a computer at home.

Is there a solution or something that can store her photos for easy viewing? What should I use to back up all those photos?

Any suggestions? Recommendations?

Profile Information

Gender: Male
Hometown: Northern VA
Member since: Fri Oct 29, 2004, 10:34 AM
Number of posts: 45,481

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