Open mike 28/12/2020

15 comments on “Open mike 28/12/2020”

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1. 1

   Uggh. A large well-stocked bookshelf has long been a prop to cultivate a faux facade of sophistication and erudition. But I had never been aware of how much of an industry there actually is around creating that deception. Apparently it's done really well out of people wanting zoom meeting backgrounds.

   https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/12/26/books-by-the-foot-washington-dc-covid-books-440347
   1. 1.1

      It's a bit funny but sad too considering the increasing struggle to encourage children to read faced with the competing attractìons of computer games.
   2. 1.2

      I agree with JanM that it's a bit funny and sad too, but also a testament to the enduring power of the printed word, in this digital age.

      Books (in many eyes) convey status, which is what Books by the Foot caters to, while computers and smartphones are just so . . . so ordinary.
   3. 1.3

      That is amusing. Prentious. Obvious as well.

      I just prefer to keep people from looking at my desks. Cables everywhere (I currently have 18 USB ports active in the desk). Hardware. Test equipment. Coffee cups. Pens & hardcopy. Laptops. Flash drives and external hdds. Phones. Pads. etc

      Instead, they look at the lights above me or (at home) at a mini kitchen.
      1. 1.3.1

         Your workspace sounds like my workshop.

         A litany of unfinished projects; flagon holders from repurposed pallets, a 'proof of concept' star roller for making firework stars, containers of grape, willow and pine charcoal waiting for processing into biochar or aforementioned fireworks…, charcoal retort mark 2 nearly finished, remnants of quart bottles of home brew that became bottle bombs.

         Every now and then the desire for surfaces overcomes the creative urges and a tidy-up ensues. That possibly will occur this afternoon.

         Maybe a resolution on Thursday will sort this out.
   4. 1.4

      We actually regularly get them in the shop wanting bulk books with a certain colour spine that matches their interior colour schemes…
2. 2

   Are we striving to be the best we can be?

   https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/123827343/new-zealands-2020-report-card-doing-well-but-could-try-harder
   1. 2.1

      Excellence is also merited for our democracy in the Freedom in the World Index with a score of 97 out of 100, but we dropped one point due to the Christchurch terror attack.

      And that was the work of an Australian import so they should have dropped a point – not us.
      1. 2.1.1

         I dunno – we had more than a couple homegrown supporters of that f-wit. I didn't realise we had so many.
      2. 2.1.2

         It was a mass murder of 51 innocent New Zealanders on NZ soil. The spy agencies carry some responsibility for this and must do better, IMHO. I think the one-point drop is fair and generous to NZ.
         1. 2.1.2.1

            My comment was a bit tongue in cheek taking into account the normal back-chat and competition that exists between the two countries.
            1. 2.1.2.1.1

               Oops, sorry.
3. 3

   Home ownership is a community pride generator.

   If we're chucking $1500 a week at a motel room for 5 on the interchange. Wouldn't we be better off chucking $1000 a week at a 3 beddy mortgage on their behalf?….just sayin.
4. 4

   Ha, I can't remember what my handle was in here and my post has been put aside for the consideration of a moderator…it's me, Dave. My email should be the same. My attempt at my user name, at a stretch, similarities with whoever I was before.

   "Dave's not here."
   1. 4.1

      That Moderator wasn’t me but you were known here previously as “David Mac”.

      All good and HTH

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