Tuesday Open Thread ~ Chinese New Year • 春節

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 3:20am

If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people. Confucius 551 - 479 BCE

Welcome to the Chinese New Year. This is the beginning of the year of the Pig, the last critter in the 12 animal zodiac cycle. Woo hoo! (firecrackers explode in the background with colorful paper streamers floating everywhere). Coincidentally, it is the second new moon after the solstice. Since Pig symbolizes Yin, there are five elements associated: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. This one is the Earth Pig. The extraction industry may be advised to practice caution.

Some more wisdom from the old sage Confucius ~~~

“The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.”

“The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.”

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

Liu Zi Ling 刘紫玲

權御天下 Sun Quan The Emperor

Looking forward to your wisdom bits.

"Pig" Chinese Paper Cutting from Wikipedia

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Submitted by enhydra lutris on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 5:46am

Good morning, QMS. Up early today. Raining since

about 1:30, because various. Due in Fremont Kaiser at 6:00 am, but not allowed coffee or other liquids after 4, and have a special regimen to start at 4, so up now for my mandatory java. No breakfast either, damn.

I'm a dog, pig year is neither particularly auspicious nor particularly inauspicious. Same-same as to health, or so they say.

Given that it is earth pig, maybe I'll do better with the garden. Perhaps focus upon it. As an empiricist, I know that this is all crap, but as one of the early boomers I know that it never hurts yo hedge one's bets.

Hope to be back this afternoon.
Have a great one.

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 7:11am

Good luck with the tests

@enhydra lutris
Lab work is not usually fun.

Sexagenary_cycle_years.svg_.png

—

question everything

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 3:45pm

Heh, ture, but this was a surgery. Took a bit over an hour, but

@QMS
I'm bacl home now. Now I have to figure out how to get my act together for the rest of the day with miniml painkillers so I can actually do shit without screwing it up.

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 4:21pm

OK then

@enhydra lutris
painkillers are my friends. Had surgery last week. Easing offa them, but not swiftly.
Good luck.

—

question everything

Submitted by Raggedy Ann on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 5:55am

Good Chinese New Year morning, QMS ~~

Year of the pig - I read about it, my grandson is a pig (lol), so it's his year to move forward, and, as a millennial, he is actually trying to move his life forward. In fact, were setting up a piggy bank system for him to learn budgeting. There you go!

Celebrate but keep it simple!

Have a beautiful day and happy new year, everyone!

—

"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

Submitted by The Aspie Corner on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 8:24am

And I'm a Wood Rat, according to Chinese Astrology...

@Raggedy Ann ....that explains a lot.

—

Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.

Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 9:39am

Do you go thru a lot of tooth pics?

@The Aspie Corner
I do.

—

question everything

Submitted by Raggedy Ann on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 11:42am

I'm a water dragon

@The Aspie Corner

These Dragons work hard throughout life and gain reputation and fame. They sometimes overthink and worry, but will smoothly pass through the decades.

Waiting for my fame to kick in.

—

"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

Submitted by The Aspie Corner on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 6:11am

Kamala Harris laughs about prosecuting poor people for truancy

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml3C03VxJL8]

Well worth a read:

The Strategy of International Class Struggle and the Political Fight Against Capitalist Reaction

—

Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.

Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.

Submitted by detroitmechworks on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 6:15am

Heh, I always try to downplay my zodiac...

Because it feels like I'm bragging when I bring it up. Not trying to, I just think it's incredibly cool to be a Fire Dragon. Course, my Sun sign is all screwed up too if you go with the western Zodiac, with Mercury as my ruling planet in Virgo. I mean, the charts are just complimentary as hell, which immediately means to me that somebody is trying to sell me something.

I get very suspicious when I get compliments without deserving it.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ2Kg7P0o7I]

—

I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 6:51am

I forgot to tell you about a book on sailing back in the day -

@detroitmechworks
2 years before the mast - by Richard Henry Dana. A diary of his voyage as a common seaman from Boston to Ca, up the coast, and then back.

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by detroitmechworks on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 6:58am

Awesome, Will have to check it out.

@enhydra lutris Finding that I'm just enjoying the little details. They're helping me change the emphasis of the story. I find far too many post-industrial stories are obsessed with the characters trying to recreate the 20th century, forgetting that the 20th century was the one responsible for the most human deaths by humans... ever. (But give the 21st time, it's just getting started.)

—

I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Submitted by Lookout on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 9:44am

Darwin recommended reading Humbolt...

@detroitmechworks
...which is still on my bucket list-
Personal Narrative of a Journey to the Equinoctial Regions of the New Continent
by Alexander von Humboldt

I loved Darwin's "Voyage of the Beagle". I'm sure both would be available in the library.

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by detroitmechworks on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 10:01am

Yup, lots to examine!

@Lookout One of these days I'm going to hunt down a 1902 copy of the "Bluejacket's Manual" as well.

—

I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Submitted by Azazello on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 7:31am

A classic for sure.

@enhydra lutris
See also Joshua Slocum's Sailing Alone Around the World.

—

We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.

Submitted by UntimelyRippd on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 9:22am

And the Rime of the Ancient Mariner

@Azazello
well, that's a different sort of thing, but it has some power.

there's also some interesting detail in Treasure Island, for that matter, and Captains Courageous.

and there's a cool song by Al Stewart, Old Admirals. just to set the tone while you're meditating on your plots.

—

The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.

Submitted by detroitmechworks on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 10:03am

Well, since my entire premise...

@UntimelyRippd is retooling the past for the current day, the choices and suggestions have been wonderful. Library opens in 2 hours, I hope. (With the snow, the schools are closed, and libraries often follow suit.)

—

I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Submitted by earthling1 on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 11:21am

One of my favorite books

@detroitmechworks
when I was young was Kon Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl. More 20th century though.
I'm now trying to find anything on Zheng He and his 15th century voyages to Europe and beyond, 50 years before Columbus.
Gavin Menzies "1434" piqued my interest.
If you're interested I'll bring book to the meetup for you.

—

Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 11:37am

Welcome dear new year

@12

Why do the Chinese snowmen look anxious? There's snow telling.

—

question everything

Submitted by detroitmechworks on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 11:35am

Thank you!

@earthling1 I don't think I've ever found a book that I did not in some way learn something from.

Even if it's a warning how facts can be twisted. (I'm looking at you, Limbaugh. Master class in deflection, projection and other forms of blame shifting.)

—

I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Submitted by dystopian on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 3:11pm

Kon Tiki

@earthling1 Kon Tiki was great. One of my favorite ocean related reads as a teen was "The Log From the Sea of Cortez" by John Steinbeck. He went with some researchers into the Gulf of California for a year or so and I thought the book was fantastic. Classic Steinbeck.

—

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

Submitted by randtntx on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 1:05pm

How 'bout

@detroitmechworks Moby Dick?

Submitted by eyo on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 6:23am

Earth Pig Organs

The organs of the Earth Pig are the stomach and spleen. To protect these vital organs, members of the Earth Pig sign are warned against overindulgence and encouraged to maintain an active lifestyle.

Louis Armstrong sings "Mack the Knife"

I'm a fifty-niner, age 59 born '59.

The Year of the Earth Pig

Those born between February 8, 1959 and January 27, 1960 are members of the Earth Pig Chinese Zodiac sign. If you were born before February 8th, please consult the 1958 Chinese Zodiac, which is The Year of the Earth Dog.

An earth pig sided by earth dogs and metal rats, right on! I never knew such trivia until now. oink!
---
More than 100 Camp Fire victims are being booted from their properties. Here’s why
Earth pigs are not the same as capitalist pigs in my view, not really.

City and county officials said they were acting under duress, fearing the state would lose an expected $1.7 billion in federal cleanup aid if they continue to allow people to live on burned property.

cronies wearing jack boots is what it looks like to me, same as it ever was. nucking futs
fearing the state
fearing the state
fearing the state
om

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 7:19am

Thanks for the Satchmo

@eyo Love that version the bestest!

59/59 is sometimes known as your golden year. Mine was 8 years ago.

This is year 4716 in the traditional Chinese calendar.

Cheers

—

question everything

Submitted by eyo on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 7:59am

Remittances hit a new record high of $33 billion in 2018

embrace the giant suck, bigly

Mexicans working abroad, mainly in the United States, sent US $33.48 billion to Mexico last year, an increase of 10.5% over the 2017 figure, according to the Bank of México (Banxico).

The remittances were sent in 103.9 million separate transactions, a 6% increase on the 2017 figure, and each one was on average $322 compared to $309 the year before, Banxico data shows.

Almost 98% of remittances were sent by electronic means and just over 94% came from the United States.

Now I smell a SWIFT sanction is possible, because why not. PU up against the wall mofo

Financial analysts say that Trump’s tough stance on illegal immigration has encouraged Mexicans in the United States to send more money home.

duh We have always been at war with ~~Central~~ ~~South~~ North America? ~shrug~ meet the enemy

While a candidate for president, Trump threatened to cut off remittances to Mexico, proclaiming that such a move would pressure the Mexican government to cough up “a one-time payment of $5-$10 billion” for his border wall.

duh duh duh DUH!
therefore vestige

Submitted by randtntx on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 9:04am

Light misty rain

here. It's perfect outside for planting some seeds. I'll put my butterfly/pollinator seeds down today in a bed that has been prepared since the fall. I'm trying to counteract the destruction on the border as reported here: https://www.texasobserver.org/national-butterfly-center-staff-surprised-.... I should see results by early summer.

I may throw all caution to the wind and plant 2 trees in a spot that I have in mind. That's a ten year plan according to the Confusius quote above. Such an investment could be considered wildly optimistic. Oh well.

Teaching??...that is a tall order. I do like the bit written by Caitlin the other day cited on EB
https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2019/02/04/dissidents-must-understand-the-d...
h/t divineorder
Teaching by telling truthful, interesting stories. It hasn't worked for me but it's worth a try for the more talented among us.

Some upbeat tunes from a favorite texas transplant:

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 9:21am

Like your 1, 10, and 100 year plans.

@randtntx
covering all of the bases simultaneously. Also dig the red beans. Marcia rocks.

Teach the children well

—

question everything

Submitted by randtntx on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 1:13pm

She's fun

@QMS I wish I could have had her for a piano teacher when I was a kid. Her style of playing is a bit related to ragtime, which is also fun.

Submitted by Azazello on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 9:36am

From the late Jerry Riopelle:

@randtntx
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM3PZ9WQ_a0 width:400 height:240]

—

We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.

Submitted by randtntx on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 1:29pm

Like that Tx

@Azazello Red Ball Flyer tune. Speaking of flying;

Submitted by lotlizard on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 9:17am

Happy Chinese New Year, everyone !

Ein CIA-Clown namens Guaido

https://www.broeckers.com/2019/01/30/ein-cia-clown-namens-guaido/

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 9:34am

Great graphic loti

@lotlizard
Kinda puts things in perspective. Also calls into question the establishment lies. Thanks!

When you feel the spirit, open up your heart and shine bright!

—

question everything

Submitted by WoodsDweller on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 9:34am

Has your family tried 'em?

Powder Milk!

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSdQ3Q__XRw]

I managed to get the truck out to the road Sunday after spending a MONTH snowed in. Yesterday I bought more food at one time than I ever had in my life. Things were getting a bit lean back here. Now if I just have enough sunlight to keep the power on and the refrigerator running. We should be back to sunlight in a couple of days.

—

"The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function." -- Albert Bartlett
"A species that is hurtling toward extinction has no business promoting slow incremental change." -- Caitlin Johnstone

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 10:00am

Wow, that's a long time to be snow bound

@WoodsDweller
I've been shadow bound in a fake reality for quite a while now. Powder milk biscuits sound pretty good. With a side of black bean chili. Mmmm

Good luck!

—

question everything

Submitted by Lookout on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 10:03am

Pigs in the woods...

Many folks are raising pigs in forests...(2 min)
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRa5I0Nm9Fk]

We buy what little pork we eat from forest pastured pigs. We call 'em happy pigs....they just have one bad day.

Pig At Home In The Pen Wednesday February 17 1937, Charlotte NC Arthur Smith - Fiddle/Vocals, Alton Delmore - Guitar, Rabon Delmore - Tenor Guitar (2 min)
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhobIHLLXJ8]

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 10:17am

Pig in a poke

@Lookout

A pig that's in a poke might turn out to be no pig at all. If a merchant tried to cheat by substituting a lower value animal, the trick could be uncovered by letting the cat out of the bag.

The proverb encapsulates that wise advice to purchasers of goods, caveat emptor, let the buyer beware — always inspect the goods before you pay for them. Make the seller open his poke and show you the pig within.

...reminds me of the healthcare bills being floated about.

—

question everything

Submitted by Lookout on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 10:24am

lot's of porcine sayings aren't there?

@QMS

make a silk purse out of a sows ear

lipstick on a pig

Never try to teach a pig to sing. You waste your time and you annoy the pig.

What's time to a hog? (2.3 min)
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIDQnuE8EB8]

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 10:52am

pig time indeed

@Lookout @Lookout
time to eat (most of the time), time to sleep (the rest of the time) and most else is on automatic (sex, busting down fences, oinking). The lipsticked pig always reminds me of the Obama comment on Palin. Singing pigs with silk purses evokes a good rub - roast wise. Our neighbor raises heirloom Red Wattle hogs, brought to us by the French from New Caledonia by way of New Orleans

—

question everything

Submitted by eyo on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 11:05am

Vent spleen not stomach

to get rid of one's feelings of anger caused by someone or something by attacking someone or something else.

To get rid of one's what now? Well shit, that's a deep subject, deep and stinky. heh Speaking of stinky, I raised a pig once. From zero to three hundred pounds in six months. They are smart. And delicious! lol What happened was, one day when we were live/working at the fish farm, my partner brought home a piglet. She never even asked me about it, and I couldn't say no after it skipped around in high heeled hooves on our wood floor, and then pooped in the cat's litter box without any training what so ever. It was a reject runt, free for the taking at the post office, so she took it and then we had it.

That hog fence vid made me LOL, thanks. How many volts did he say? zzzt yeah our pig just rooted up the fence boards once he hit 100 pounds, nothing would stop him. At fifty pounds we had his balls chopped out, I will never forget it omg. The guy just walked up and snipped them out, slish slash done! Tossed 'em over the gate to the barn cats, ew. Pigarino screamed bloody murder for about five seconds, and then went out grazing with the cattle. Yes we did not name our meat pet, we called him "pigarino". He was a great pig, the butcher told us we did a good job with his marbling and all that. Very tasty.

Did I mention I don't eat meat anymore? No wonder. Not even fish. Nothing with a face, because that is the part that gets stuck in my lint trap, no matter how fresh and tasty their nutrients might be. It's all too expensive, not worth it. Feels like a big privilege, not necessary. NO CAFOs at least, pretty please with sugar on top? corporate death cake

love to eat them mousies...
mousies what i love to eat!
bite they little heads off,
and nibble on they tiny feet
-- B. Kliban

speaking of violent fantasies
empty spleen mashup

For Her
just do it

Submitted by CB on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 7:25pm

Yes, he was a great pig.

@eyo

A travelling salesman drove past a farm one day and noticed a pig with one wooden leg. He didn't think much of it until a week later, driving by the same farm, the pig had two wooden legs. The third week, the pig had three wooden legs, and finally, after seeing the pig the fourth week with four wooden legs, he had to stop to inquire about it.

He tracked down the farmer and asked him about the strange sight. The farmer told him, "Well, that's the greatest pig alive. About a month ago, he saved my wife and kids and me from our burning house by waking us up in the middle of the night just in time to escape without any harm!"

The salesman continue to prod the farmer about the pig's wooden legs. "Well," the farmer replied, "this pig is just like one of the family. He's a really great pig. A couple of weeks ago, our youngest boy fell in the creek, and this truly wonderful pig fished him out just in time to save him from drowning! He's one really great pig!"

The salesman, starting to lose his patience, again inquired about the wooden legs, to which the farmer replied, "Last week, I fell off my horse and my foot got caught up in the stirrup. This great pig ran along side of the horse and me and untangled me and truly saved my life. What a great pig - the greatest pig in the world!!"

Losing his patience, the salesman finally shouted, "All right already, That's enough! He's a really great pig - a REALLY great pig! But what about his wooden legs?!"

To which the farmer replied, "Well now, a great pig like that - you don't eat him all at once!"

/Prairie Home Companion