It's funny how data-mining
means my data isn't mine.
There must be a silver lining,
but it's somewhere down the line.
- Mine This
-
john_j_enright- June 17th, 17:49
- Bird Mystery Solved
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- john_j_enright
- June 16th, 22:58
I was bicycling today, in a former golf course, which is being remodeled as a park, when I came across this bird, who was making a ruckus at me, fanning out his tail feathers, peeping a loud song, and, eventually, running away from me along the ground, which I caught on film:
I thought that it had a hurt wing and was unable to fly. I rode away feeling kind of bad for the poor little thing.
I had no idea what kind of bird it was, but one friend said it was a Killdeer, and another a friend who is a very accomplished birdwatcher said:
Definitely a Killdeer and one doing a 'broken wing' display that they are probably best known for. This bird likely had a nest or fledglings around and it was pretending to have a broken wing in order to distract you (a predator) away from them.
So I was feeling sorry for it... but it was fine!
Yes, that's what occurred:
I was suckered by a bird.
- Not A Lawyer But
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- john_j_enright
- June 15th, 14:56
You frequently read, nowadays, even in government publications, here and there, that it is illegal to ask a certain question in a certain situation.
As: it is illegal to ask what disability a person has, when they want to bring a service dog into a restaurant.
Or: it is illegal to ask someone, on a job interview, if they have ever been arrested.
Now, there may be legal reasons why it is best to avoid asking these questions. But I don't think it's correct that you are breaking the law merely by asking the questions. You may be opening the business up for some kind of discrimination lawsuit or penalty, but that's only if your reason for asking the question was for a forbidden discriminatory purpose.
I've noticed it's not usually lawyers who declare that a question is illegal. It's usually a worker with some basic training in how to keep their employer out of trouble.
Speech remains free, but can be evidence of intent,
and you may find yourself explaining what you meant.
- Compressed Air to the Rescue
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- john_j_enright
- June 14th, 19:32
My iPhone malfunctioned yesterday. It seemed like the little socket, where you stick the charging cord, wasn't working.
I tried another cable. I tried another power supply.
I blew in the little socket.
But I apparently I didn't blow hard enough. Because at the Apple Store today they blasted some canned air into the hole, and it all started working again.
If you carry your phone in your pocket,
beware of lint in your socket!
- Headspinning
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- john_j_enright
- June 14th, 0:07
It's hard to keep a handle
on any given scandal
when it seems like every day
brings another one my way.
- Blue Genes
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- john_j_enright
- June 14th, 0:05
Supremes rule that we can't patent pre-existing genetic material.
Allowing a company to tie up the building blocks of nature "would be at odds with the very point of patents, which exist to promote creation," Justice Thomas wrote.
I patented my genes, in the happy hope,
that I could charge my kids, but the court said nope!
- Comedy Writing, Revisited
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- john_j_enright
- June 13th, 19:53
I should reread that play
and try to puzzle out
why it's built that way
and what it was about.
There was no planning staff,
no schedule to decrypt.
But if it made me laugh,
I kept it in the script.
That only half explains,
since what makes something funny
frequently remains
the bee sting in the honey.
And in our human fashion,
some deeply buried thorn
of agonizing passion...
as humor is reborn.
- Overwhelmed
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- john_j_enright
- June 12th, 22:29
It's hard to keep a handle
on any given scandal
when it seems like every day
brings another one my way.
- Comedy Writing
-
- john_j_enright
- June 12th, 21:55
I should reread that play
and try to puzzle out
why it's built that way
and what it's all about.
There was no planning staff.
No schedule to decrypt.
Whatever made me laugh,
I kept it in the script.
- He Used His Head
-
- john_j_enright
- June 11th, 18:14
Oops:
German bank employee naps on keyboard, transfers millions
It was supposed to be 62.40 Euros, but he dozed off and his face rested on the keyboard and the 2-key went crazy and he transferred 222,222,222.22 Euros instead.
At least, that's his story and he's sticking to it - like his nose stuck to the 2-key.
Nodding off is funny
when it transfers tons of money.
I want him working on my account
and moving in a like amount.