Random Unthreadworthy Questions

[bagtagley]

Does the school and the staff going have experience doing similar trips?

Are they staying away from that listed "level 4" areas?

With yes answers to both questions, I'd be comfortable sending my kids, assuming they had gotten old enough to appreciate the trip.

FWIW, I work for a school that just scrapped a planned March trip to Peru. The deciding factor as I understood wasn't just unrest, but specifically the impact on the areas where they had been planning to be. If they had been planning to visit less affected areas of the country, the decision would at least have been harder, although they may have reached the same conclusion (some of the travel disruptions have the potential to create significant logistical issues even if they don't present safety challenges).

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Teachers/staff have never been to Colombia, but they’re using a company, Explorica by World Strides, who they’ve used a lot and who supposedly have a lot of experience in South America. We’re waiting to hear back on how much experience they have with Colombia, specifically. They will mostly be going to major cities (Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena) and won’t be near level four areas.

Interesting that you mention Peru. The group of kids were given a choice between Colombia and Peru.

[ötzi]

Has anyone here ever actually used Flex Seal? Did it work?

So, little PSA/update. I bought the Flex-Seal and used it. Seems to work fine, there's been water in the humidifier for 2 days now and no sign of it leaking.

Shit smells super toxic going on and drying, and it takes a long time to dry, 24 hours at least for a coat. You definitely don't want to use it or have it drying in the house. But after it dries it seems neutral, no odor or anything at all that I can detect.

I did make a strategic error, getting the "clear" variety. Because it's clear it's hard to tell exactly where it was sprayed and if you missed a spot. So I don't recommend the clear but the product actually seems pretty decent once it dries.

[oldnew_guy]

Does anyone know of a decent source or writings about demographics in the US and the world? Specifically the impact on the labor force and economy?

Obviously Chinas latest news brings this to the forefront, but it also seems to be popping up in the US news.

People keep saying things like “no one wants to work in X industry” (construction). In that case I’m curious if the percentage of any given generation going into construction is the same but with a smaller population or if it really is a shift away from people working in that industry.

I can look up stats but I keep seeing analysis from people whose expertise I don’t entirely believe.

[Garbowski]

I know you said you are not interested in stats, and I don't really have a recommendation other than the usual suspects. But I thought I'd mention our main library has stacks of really cool old government publications with the exact number of carpenters in every city in 1904 and such. I'm guessing the bureau of labor and statistics still publishes them and is certainly tasked with providing expert analysis straight from the source and not a journalist who was recently moved up from local news. I have had very good luck reaching out to the government directly on matters that I though were too esoteric but someone eventually gets back to me.

[atom]

I would definitely start with the BLS.

[oldnew_guy]

I wouldn’t say that I’m not interested in stats, just that they are more useful when paired with an expert analysis (academic papers, long form journalism, book etc).

[riser4]

I wouldn’t say that I’m not interested in stats, just that they are more useful when paired with an expert analysis (academic papers, long form journalism, book etc).

Oh, so you want someone else to write your Doctoral dissertation for you, huh?

[oldnew_guy]

Oh, so you want someone else to write your Doctoral dissertation for you, huh?

I’d just look to ChatGPT if I was doing that.

[Timberridge]

Oh, so you want someone else to write your Doctoral dissertation for you, huh?

The TGRz is not the sort of place where doctoral candidates hang out. He's just trying to win an internet argument.

[BmillsSkier]

Are we undefeated in internet arguments though?

[bennymac]

basically you are just hoping we might give you some insight into the evolution of the market economy in the southern colonies?

My contention is that prior to the Revolutionary War, the economic modalities, especially in the southern colonies, could be most aptly described as agrarian pre-capitalist.

But of course that's my contention. I'm a first-year grad student; I just got finished reading some Marxian historian like Pete Garrison. I'm gonna be convinced of this 'till next month when I get to James Lemon. Then I'm going to be talking about how the economies of Virginia and Pennsylvania were entrepreneurial and capitalist way back in 1740. That's gonna last until next year; then I'm gonna be in here regurgitating Gordon Wood, talkin' about, you know, the pre-revolutionary utopia and the capital-forming effects of military mobilization.

Except that Wood drastically underestimates the impact of social distinctions predicated upon wealth, especially inherited wealth. I got that from Vickers' "Work in Essex County," page 98.

[Supermoon]

Yeah, but at least you’re unoriginal

[oldnew_guy]

I have to admit that this is not the way I saw this going.

[Core Shot]

I really wish the south had seceded. Oh wait. They did.
I wish the north let the south secede

Would have been interesting historically.
I’m sure slavery would have ended. At some point.
Lincoln was a racist prick. He didn’t give a rats ass about black people.

And states rights federalism might have continued.
I miss federalism. Even though I never really knew it. But it sounds good.

And yet. Maybe hitler wins ww2 without a unified American super power? It’s like that old Star Trek episode. Can’t let hitler win. Fucking goose stepping bad mustache weirdo.

[old goat]

This was in the NYT today.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/17/o...smid=share-url

[Brownski]

Are we undefeated in internet arguments though?

Yes. On both sides of the argument in fact.

[ghosthop]

Is there a good reason for or against including my son’s middle name on his passport? Middle initial?

My concern is that his middle name uses a traditional spelling (Leonhard) and I don’t want to cause issues for him down the road.

[Supermoon]

Leon Hard is a great porn star name

[riser4]

Leon Hard is a great porn star name

This.

[ghosthop]

It means lion hearted, or literally, strength of a lion.

If he decides to pursue an alt-country career he has Hank Leon already baked in.

[Danno]

Is there a good reason for or against including my son’s middle name on his passport? Middle initial?

My concern is that his middle name uses a traditional spelling (Leonhard) and I don’t want to cause issues for him down the road.

I don't know for sure, but my ex traveled with my daughter recently and something that happened (they had to change or cancel flights) led her to tell me to always use her middle name in ticketing. Not the same, as it is ON her passport, but if it is your son's legal name, why would you not include it on his passport, that is just about the most formal document of identity we have?

[dunfree]

Is there a good reason for or against including my son’s middle name on his passport? Middle initial?

My concern is that his middle name uses a traditional spelling (Leonhard) and I don’t want to cause issues for him down the road.

For- distinctive identifier

Against - nothing

[Supermoon]

It means lion hearted, or literally, strength of a lion.

If he decides to pursue an alt-country career he has Hank Leon already baked in.

Kid’s going places!

[jm2e]

Always have Passport and DL match names exactly. Extra points for TSAPreCheck/GlobalEntry.
I wasn't able to take my nursing board exams because one had a full name and one had an initial. Delayed start of career by 4 months while I waited to reschedule. Wife almost got stuck in Mexico because they changed a U for a D on our last name in her passport and (as 20 somethings) we didn't want to deal with the expense and hassle of changing it. That was a very nervous making hour while US Immigration decided if she was an imposter. If anyone is going to make your life shitty, it's immigration. And you don't ever want them to have an easy excuse to make your life shitty. Put the name on there make sure they get it right. Measure twice, cut once.

[spanky]

Is there a good reason for or against including my son’s middle name on his passport? Middle initial?

My concern is that his middle name uses a traditional spelling (Leonhard) and I don’t want to cause issues for him down the road.

First time passport for your son? If so, you need to provide evidence of who he is. For a kid, that is typically a birth certificate. I doubt the US Dept of State will allow you to put anything that differs from his birth cert.