Re: Spiderman movies

On 27.07.2023 15.32, Merlyne wrote:
> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]: 
> 
>> On 22.07.2023 17.21, Merlyne wrote:
>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>
>>>> On 18.07.2023 13.24, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>
>>>>>> On 12.07.2023 13.22, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On 08.07.2023 17.01, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Low cost snipping provided]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [How low?]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Down to here]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [That's pretty low]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Especially considering the quality of workmanship]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Don't sell yourself short]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [I try]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [That's something at least]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [The hardest part is overcoming my naturally unassuming
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> character] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> [It's good for your brane to work outside your comfort
>>>>>>>>>>>>> zone] 
>>>>>>>>>>>> [That's going to be quite a problem, since I have no
>>>>>>>>>>>> intention of leaving the zone. Someone needs to invent
>>>>>>>>>>>> remote braining or something.] 
>>>>>>>>>>> [I'll just add that to one of you litses]
>>>>>>>>>> [Assuming I will get anything done is hardly a viable
>>>>>>>>>> strategy.] 
>>>>>>>>> [Yes, it seems that way]
>>>>>>>> [There's plenty of time... No hurry.]
>>>>>>> [You say that and then suddenly the doomsday prophet is right]
>>>>>> [Well, I'm not doing all that work and have it all come to nothing
>>>>>> because of a stupid doomsday...]
>>>>> [That's a defeatist attitude]
>>>> [Are you calling me a quitter...?]
>>> [If the shoe fits...]
>> [What shoe? You need special shoes for doomsday, now? I'm not buying a
>> pair of shoes that I can only use once.]
> [That cult in the US liked Reeboks. You could try that]
[Bah. All the 'some sports person wore them' brand sneakers are stupid
expensive - and also doesn't last very well.]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [...]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Or you can get one of those nylon jobs
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> they sell for all hallows eve. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I could probably get a whole bunch of
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> different ones at WalMart for $100.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I don't doubt it, but would they go with
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> your $800 handbag is the question? 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> That doesn't matter. People wear
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> mismatched 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> stuff all the time. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Yebbut won't people assume your handbag is
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> a cheap knock-off if you use it with a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> nylon wig. And then what's the point. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> that's ok. If they think it's a knock-off
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> then they won't steal it. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> But also they will think your handbag is a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> cheap knock-off. I can only imagine the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> chatter in the country club bar... 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> *gasp*
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It makes me feel like someone's taken an
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> interest. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> There are different kinds of interest. I'm
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> concerned this kind will damage your social
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> standing. You might even be invited to fewer
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> cocktail parties... 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> *checks diary*
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I get invited to precisely 0 now.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Is it even possible to get invited to -1
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> parties? 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I suppose technically it is possible to send out
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 'do not attend' notices to those who are
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> uniquely unwelcome. I don't think that happens
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> much in cocktail party circles... 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> You know more about it than I do.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Not really. I don't even like cocktails much...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I liek cocktails. I guess mocktails now.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Last time I had a 'proper' cocktail was many years
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ago when a co-worker an I decided to try everything
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> on the menu in the bar on the Oslo ferry. It went as
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> well as could be expected... 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Puked and passed out?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Neither, but I suspect the work may have been a tiny
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> but sub-par the next day...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> And you wept openly when you got your credit card
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> statement. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> No, that was the good part. The company I worked for
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> didn't give out standard per-diem amounts, so everything
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> we had a receipt for got refunded...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I have fond memories of submitting receipts for business.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I hated having to save and collate and list and submit all
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> those receipts every month. I suspect it cost me quite a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> lot of money, too. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> IT consultants are rich. so, pocket change.
>>>>>>>>>>>> Not so much if it includes hotel bills and possibly even
>>>>>>>>>>>> plane tickets. Anyway it's the principle! I shouldn't have
>>>>>>>>>>>> been required to do accounting. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Couldn't you just hand the envelope of receipts to an admin
>>>>>>>>>>> person? 
>>>>>>>>>> Nope. They had to be listed on the expenses form along with
>>>>>>>>>> the relevant account no. and identification of each receipt,
>>>>>>>>>> which also had to be handed in.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> [I think I had to put the total being submitted on the form and
>>>>>>>>> then attach the receipts]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Now I have a job that doesn't require travel.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Me too... Not so much a job but at least I don't have to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> travel. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> I thought you liked to travel.
>>>>>>>>>>>> Not so much after I became aware of the environmental impact
>>>>>>>>>>>> of air-travel. In any case it was more the being in
>>>>>>>>>>>> different places than the  getting there that was enjoyable.
>>>>>>>>>>>> Although I would like to try riding on one of those
>>>>>>>>>>>> VeryBigFastness trains they have in France... 
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> The planes are taking off whether or not you've booked a
>>>>>>>>>>> seat. I couldn't afford to travel for a long time. Now I find
>>>>>>>>>>> it stressful. 
>>>>>>>>>> It's not so much the travel that's stressful, as it's all the
>>>>>>>>>> planning and preparation. Just don't do that part.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> The planning part is fine. It's the arriving at the airport at
>>>>>>>>> 5 am only to find out that the airline over-booked the flight
>>>>>>>>> etc, etc that is stressful. I also don't fly well or sleep well
>>>>>>>>> when away. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Who even flies a 5 o'clock? That barbaric. The overbooking is
>>>>>>>> not within your control, so have some breakfast and look
>>>>>>>> derisively at all the stressed people in the airport.
>>>>>>>> The hotel bar has remedies for not sleeping well...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Alcohol makes me sleep worse.
>>>>>> I'm not saying get plastered. One beer (alcohol content optional).
>>>>>> The vitamin B will relax you and possibly make you sleepy too...
>>>>>>
>>>>> Alcohol makes my body hot (temperature-wise) and I can't sleep.
>>>> Non-alcoholic beer doesn't have any alcohol in it...
>>> Why don't I just take the vitamin B then.
>> It's important to stay hydrated, especially when flying. Also they
>> don't dispense pharmaceuticals at the departure hall bar.
> Beer doesn't keep one hydrated. That's why after a night on the town 
> people wake up parched.

That's still the alcohol what does that... And also possibly the
physical activity.

>>
>>>>
>>>>>>> You have to check in hours before the flight. If we go to a
>>>>>>> conference, it's usually in Toronto or we fly from Toronto so we
>>>>>>> have to get the first flight out of here in the morning.
>>>>>> They also have trains in and out of Toronto. I know this for a
>>>>>> fact. 
>>>>> So you also know for a fact that the train takes 3-4 hours to get
>>>>> there (vs. 50 minutes for the plane) and the train station is
>>>>> another hour away from the airport.
>>>> They should get some faster trains. Also the distance to the airport
>>>> is because train stations are inside cities, often really close to
>>>> where you want to be, so that time should be added to air travel
>>>> time, as should the 'hours' you have to be at the airport before
>>>> departure. Given a reasonable number of departures, train journeys
>>>> (even non-high-speed trains) will end-to-end mostly be faster than
>>>> air travel up to 400-500Km. Also you have the whole travel time
>>>> available unbroken for whatever (even work if so inclined). And more
>>>> leg-room. And usually a table big enough for a laptop.
>>>>
>>> Free wifi?
>> Sure. On most trains...
>>
>>> Anyways, it's a moot issue.?
>>
>>>>>>> Because of staff shortages, flights are often cancelled now at
>>>>>>> the last minute. It's not a problem at if I'm at the local
>>>>>>> airport, but if I'm trying to get home, it's a huge problem.
>>>>>> I have no recent data, but most European airlines [used to] hand
>>>>>> out cash and/or vouchers for meals and hotel stays in those cases.
>>>>>
>>>>> The airlines are doing everything in their power to fight that.
>>>>> Since covid, they have been short-staffed and therefore frequently
>>>>> cancel flights at the last minute.
>>>>
>>>> You should probably join EU... they have rules for that sort of
>>>> thing. 
>>>>
>>> We have rules about it. As you well know, for every rule there are 
>>> exceptions. The airlines always weasel into a loophole.
>>> https://otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/air-passenger-protection-regulations-
>>> highlights
>>
>> Meanwhile some of the airlines around here were close to bankruptcy
>> because of all the covid disruption....
> 
> Yes. That happened here as well. Air Canada wailed on the government who 
> gave them money to stay afloat during covid. They used the money to buy 
> back their stock and whined for more money.

Smells like fraud... Is Air Canada (partly) state owned?

>>
>>>>>> Also: call it work-hours and take it back as flex-time...
>>>>>>
>>>>> That only works if the travel is for work purposes which it isn't 
>>>>> anymore because they had MS Teams installed on all our laptops.
>>>>
>>>> In that case there is also the relative cost to consider... Air
>>>> travel should logically be much more expensive than train. And if
>>>> ever an equitable CO2 charge is implemented it will be.
>>>>
>>>
>>> I prefer attending virtually at any rate. My internet could randomly 
>>> disconnect during boring meetings or I can play Candy Crush. Also, if
>>> my camera is off, no one can see me rolling my eyes.
>>
>> There is that... But you can only play Candy Crush with the sound off,
>> though.
>>
> I always do. The music is annoying.

It's meant to keep you awake... And your surroundings aware that you
play the game.
 --
BeH

" We are trapped by language to such a degree that every attempt to
formulate insight is a play on words." - Niels Bohr