I can’t remember where I read this, but IIRC it IS a Japanese thing. I mean, anyone can draw a conversation deeper by asking questions, but the Japanese do have a thing for picking one word and making it a question.

If I recall correctly?

I watched a few documentaries on the 100 Years’ War recently; I’m convinced we’re still living out THAT trauma … and that was just one crazy time out of many. It’s one of the ways I cope with climate change and the degradation of the global environment: reminding myself that living in really fucked up times is more the norm than anything. I do believe that modern technology and the absolute privilege we live with has given many of us in the developed world the illusion that we’re in control of the world. I have a suspicion that the awareness of how little we can do to stop the sheer randomness and brutality of life and human callousness is why religion has been so prevalent for most of history, it’s people having some solidarity in, “Holy shit, this is fucked. God, save us, you’re obviously our only hope.”

Yeah, that seems to be the most likely explanation for how the coins got to India too. Egypt was the entry point into the Roman Empire, and there were maritime trade routes from the Red Sea to India.

Withhold validation.

IMO geologists missed a lot of opportunities: i.e barfite, flashlite, holdmetite, alrite, campsite, dogshite (it’s white and fossilized, found in small deposits).

Ehh … The definition of a cult includes things like isolating you from your friends and family, and having secret teachings that only the initiated have access to. I.e. the Freemasons: secret teachings, but does not try to isolate you from friends and family. Secret society, but not a cult. Religion is a cult in terms of the original sense of the word: organised worship, but not a cult as we think of them. Though some subsets definitely do get pretty culty. Don’t know about these days, but when I was at university the Campus Crusaders for Christ definitely had the love-bombing and isolating you from your friends and family going on.

IMO this is personal. It’s the Opium Wars Pt. II.

“I can’t believe Jackson skipped Tom Bombadil! None of this makes sense now.”

First CN Rail, now the RCMP?! What does the federal government have against this place?

I’m willing to bet half those BC stats are actually Albertans driving into the mountains. Significantly more westbound than eastbound fatalities in the Rockies. If you fall asleep at the wheel in Alberta you wake up in the middle of a corn field. If you fall asleep at the wheel in BC you don’t wake up.

From the article you linked:

“This has traditionally been considered incorrect on the basis that it is equivalent to referring to a judge as being an honourable or an adult man as a mister, both of which are also grammatically improper.[8][9] It is likewise incorrect to form the plural reverends. Some dictionaries,[10] however, do place the noun rather than the adjective as the word’s principal form, owing to an increasing use of the word as a noun among people with no religious background or knowledge of traditional styles of ecclesiastical address.”

I wouldn’t correct someone who dropped this in casual conversation, but I do expect more from a news source that should be employing people with a better grasp on the English language.

This article is a mess.

Firstly, “Reverend” is an adjective, not a title. Sounds like it was a priest, minister, or pastor depending on denomination. It would be like referring to a judge as “an honourable” for an entire article.

Secondly, even if this minister pushed through the paperwork, there is no way it’s valid. Both parties have to sign the completed document at the time of the wedding itself, and it typically has to be also signed by witnesses. “Pre-signing” it would indicate it. It’s not a legally valid document.

Ironically, marriage documentation is pretty tight about the consent of both parties and witnesses to prevent women from being married off against their will.

Checkmate in TWO moves? How? The quickest I know is four.

Is this advertising?

Lol! I’d love to try a fancy, single-origin black tea, but in the cultural hinterland I occupy, Yorkshire Gold does a good job with the hard water. Bewleys does very well here too, but gotta order that from Ireland.

Know anywhere good to order from in Canada? I’m not interested in stale, bougie choices, more somewhere that routinely sources high-quality tea. And I’m not saying that’s what I’m drinking, it’s just better than Twinings, Tetley, or Red Rose. The water’s pretty hard here too, and I like it with milk. I’d love a good recommendation.

“tenets” … I thought you were giving me housing advice.

Yeah, a bit of an over reaction. I reread your original comment about sauteing and it was not phrased at all as criticism, but as a suggestion. Don’t know what provoked that wall of defensiveness.

Isn’t that like an ancestrally appropriate thing for Mongolian rulers? Where did he go? Bagdad? Would have thought they’d be proud of him.

Oh no no no … The younger generation of Australians DON’T eat Vegemite. Consequently, they’re growing weak and unhealthy.

Isn’t that salsa? That’s literally vinegar pickled bruscheta. Well, I guess it’s got jalapeno.

Or you talking like a spread made from pickled cucumbers? That sounds a lot like relish.