Random Thoughts Thread

[Ziggy]

From a couple of pages back...

He's also a neat freak to the point that it might be a mental problem.

I'm not a neat freak. I had hemmies. That's why I made some life changes like not using coarse toilet paper, squatting when I take a shit, eating more spicy food with capsaicin that regulates blood pressure...

Some people might think it's weird or stupid, but at least my ass doesn't hurt anymore and I can sit properly without dying of pain. So I really couldn't care less what people think of it. Sitting on a toilet is much weirder and less natural than squatting anyway...

Loosing the underwear had nothing to do with that though. That's just because I started questioning its use. That, plus the fact that it fucks up your built-in cooling system...

Oh, well I didn't mean to imply that you're a neat freak, I wasn't picking on you I was just BS'ing.

I can appreciate your changes tho, maybe more so than most people. I never (thank God knock on wood) had hemorrhoids, but I did have a "situation" a few years back that created similar problems. I had a type of cyst that most people get on their lower back, only I decided to get mine a little lower. Having the cyst was a nightmare, and I'll just leave it at that. Apparently it was rather large, so I had a good chunk of me removed. Prolong sitting becomes a challenge, even now years after the removal. If I have to sit for more than ~20 minutes I end up shifting around a lot and sitting in positions that start to hurt my back.

As for sitting versus squatting... I think it was that show Idiot Abroad. I don't watch the show, but I catch a few scenes every so often. The idiot was in India, I think, and I happened to catch a scene where they were discussing bathroom procedures. They didn't have toilets like we do in the USA, their toilets are almost flush with the floor and you just squat over them. The guy told the idiot that they're "much better." But I can't help but wonder... HOW are you squatting if not sitting on toilets? Do you just put your feet up on the seat?

I'm not a public shitter. Never have been, and probably never will be. But if the situation ever arises where I don't have much of a choice, I've thought about it, and I will be putting my feet up on the seat and squatting.

Speaking about "neat freaks," I might be a little bit of one myself. I keep those tubes of Clorox bleach wipes in the closet, and I wipe the toilet seat down almost every time before sitting on it. Yes, in my own house.

As for the no underwear thing, I don't think I'd ever be able to get into that. It has nothing to do with skid marks or anything, I just wouldn't be comfortable. But as far as the built in cooling system goes, that only applies to certain types of underwear. I wear boxers, so my cooling system works just fine.

[Jmustang1968]

J, I wasn't placating to either side, and I vote without affiliation to any political party. In a perfect system, it makes sense to have a one ID, one vote voting process. But I think the details really bog down the implementation of this system, and it's easier for those who have the privileged means to obtain a state issued ID. It's an arduous task for some especially given the context and distrust some identities have with the government. It doesn't help when you're trying to change the culture of voter-turnout.

That being said, maybe Mr. Popo and others might be able to interject with their technological prowess. If you were using a state voter-ID system, it makes sense that you'd pull it off of an online database with everyone's name who is registered to vote within a district. I wonder what the resistance nation-wide would be to states switching to a digital system, and the possible security risks that would rise. We could put ballot counting into the figurative hands of computers, with instant calculations.

The real issues I see with are still prevalent: in NC's case, having the Tobacco companies line the pockets of politicians and other lobbyists while the people are none the better. There's no reason why a local government and community shouldn't be able to enact no smoking legislation. There's no reason why a state should be able to gerrymander districts in favor to a specific party. Eliminating state income tax drives some nails in the coffin too. Good luck North Carolina!

I think the problem the United States has in its political system (and life in general) is mistaking comfort for happiness. If sweeping changes were enacted to kick out the corporate interest that is so prevalent in system, and limit further interactions companies have with our government. I think the current group of legislators across the board has lost its way and do not represent well the people they were elected to represent. Right now so many governmental services provide comfort, but do not allow for the pursuit of happiness, merely keeping many where they are without much mobility. Look at social services provided with tax dollars, crippling federal student loan debt that came with near assurance of having a good paying job upon graduation. There's plenty of systemic policies in place that don't allow for much social/economic mobility.

States can run without a state income tax successfully.

I believe part of what hit NC so hard is that their economy is very tied into the financial sector and banking. So when that tanked in 08, they were hit especially hard.

The school loan issue is altogether another topic. I think too many people go to college when they probably aren't suited for it. Universities were also jacking up tuition and acceptance rates knowing all of the money they would be raking in. Then you have students majoring in fields with historically low pay or job availability and getting over 100k in debt for a 30k-40k a year profession.

I think there is plenty of room for mobility. The rise in technology the last few decades has opened up opportunities for many. I grew up in a borderline poverty/lower middle class family to upper middle class. I know many others who have done the same and also many others who have squandered their chances.

I think expectations of people need to be raised as too many people tend to live up to their expectations or parents. Too many people expect the government to take care of them in case things go poorly for them and so don't prepare as they should. Some people of course get raw deals or unfortunate circumstances and society should get them back on their feet. I also think people are caught up in materials and luxuries while ignoring necessities and fallback plans. I am guilty of this myself at times.

[Jmustang1968]

From a couple of pages back...

He's also a neat freak to the point that it might be a mental problem.

I'm not a neat freak. I had hemmies. That's why I made some life changes like not using coarse toilet paper, squatting when I take a shit, eating more spicy food with capsaicin that regulates blood pressure...

Some people might think it's weird or stupid, but at least my ass doesn't hurt anymore and I can sit properly without dying of pain. So I really couldn't care less what people think of it. Sitting on a toilet is much weirder and less natural than squatting anyway...

Loosing the underwear had nothing to do with that though. That's just because I started questioning its use. That, plus the fact that it fucks up your built-in cooling system...

Oh, well I didn't mean to imply that you're a neat freak, I wasn't picking on you I was just BS'ing.

I can appreciate your changes tho, maybe more so than most people. I never (thank God knock on wood) had hemorrhoids, but I did have a "situation" a few years back that created similar problems. I had a type of cyst that most people get on their lower back, only I decided to get mine a little lower. Having the cyst was a nightmare, and I'll just leave it at that. Apparently it was rather large, so I had a good chunk of me removed. Prolong sitting becomes a challenge, even now years after the removal. If I have to sit for more than ~20 minutes I end up shifting around a lot and sitting in positions that start to hurt my back.

As for sitting versus squatting... I think it was that show Idiot Abroad. I don't watch the show, but I catch a few scenes every so often. The idiot was in India, I think, and I happened to catch a scene where they were discussing bathroom procedures. They didn't have toilets like we do in the USA, their toilets are almost flush with the floor and you just squat over them. The guy told the idiot that they're "much better." But I can't help but wonder... HOW are you squatting if not sitting on toilets? Do you just put your feet up on the seat?

I'm not a public shitter. Never have been, and probably never will be. But if the situation ever arises where I don't have much of a choice, I've thought about it, and I will be putting my feet up on the seat and squatting.

Speaking about "neat freaks," I might be a little bit of one myself. I keep those tubes of Clorox bleach wipes in the closet, and I wipe the toilet seat down almost every time before sitting on it. Yes, in my own house.

As for the no underwear thing, I don't think I'd ever be able to get into that. It has nothing to do with skid marks or anything, I just wouldn't be comfortable. But as far as the built in cooling system goes, that only applies to certain types of underwear. I wear boxers, so my cooling system works just fine.

A pilonidal cyst right? I recently had surgery for it as well. I think it was ack or fastbilly who also did. Not pleasant and I think I need I again as mine didn't go away fully or has already come back.

In reality it isn't a cyst but an abcess.

[Retrodude]

I probably spend more time talking to people about how stupid and spineless the Democrats are than I do about Republicans.

Party aside, conservatives play dirty and progressives aren't willing to do the same to defeat them because they actually have a conscience. That's why they're the good guys and it's also why it seems like they don't do anything to stop the worst abuses. They can't. Their morals won't allow them to do what would be necessary to keep the conservatives in check (i.e. fight fire with fire and give them a taste of their own medicine). Unfortunately, the conservatives know this and more than one person has noted that NC has become a cautionary tale, a warning to all the other states about what will happen if they allow far-right politicians to gain control of all three branches as we did. Can you imagine if the whole country was like NC? What a terrifying thought.

Haha wow. This is naive and sounds like some childhood fairy tale. You really believe this?? Posts like this are why I can't the stuff you say seriously.

I look at the world and report what I see as honestly as I know how. One of the advantages of having Aspergers is that most of the time, I immediately recognize deception and trickery when I see it and when I do a fact check on something I suspect is untrue, more often then not my suspicion is correct. As it happens, I'm a registered independent and I believe in voting for the person not the party. While there are a few conservatives I could see myself voting for (John Huntsman and Chris Cristie among them), most of them haven't done anything but confirm my opinion that they are not to be trusted. Sorry.

[MrPopo]

That being said, maybe Mr. Popo and others might be able to interject with their technological prowess. If you were using a state voter-ID system, it makes sense that you'd pull it off of an online database with everyone's name who is registered to vote within a district. I wonder what the resistance nation-wide would be to states switching to a digital system, and the possible security risks that would rise. We could put ballot counting into the figurative hands of computers, with instant calculations.

The biggest hurdle will tying a unique ID to each person. You need a way for person A to be able to definitely prove that they are person A in the government registry, while at the same time ensuring they can't also pose as person B. Once you have that, the actual one vote per person system is pretty trivial to implement. You'd spend far more on security to make sure that someone doesn't get access to the database and change people's votes.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Politics and anal cysts in the same thread - the same page, no less.

Seems appropriate.

[Jmustang1968]

Politics and anal cysts in the same thread - the same page, no less.

Seems appropriate.

I know you are making a joke, but it isn't an anal cyst lol. Mine was on my tailbone right below the waist.

[AppleQueso]

Politics and anal cysts in the same thread - the same page, no less.

Seems appropriate.

"Politics and Anal Cysts" would make a great name for a punk album or something.

[prfsnl_gmr]

Politics and anal cysts in the same thread - the same page, no less.

Seems appropriate.

"Politics and Anal Cysts" would make a great name for a punk album or something.

"Anal Cyst Politics"

Someone jump on it!

[AppleQueso]

I could probably try and slap together a crust or grindcore song with that title or something... but I'm about to go to bed...