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Cake day: July 5th, 2023

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  • We were on a Zoo trip during summer camp, me and my brother and a bunch of other kids from our judo class. Mostly early teens.

    Certain areas in the Zoo had free roaming animals, mostly kangaroos, emu, peacocks, some ponies, goats and sheep. A couple kids had the great idea to pester the pelicans. Pelican are a funny bunch that keep begging for treats with their giant beaks open and waddling around. They look less than threatening, although they have that frowny looking eye.

    Anyway the kids decided it’d be fun to take turns spitting into the beaks of one particular giant pelican instead of giving it treats. It didn’t really like it but the kids kept persisting, daring to lean in closer and closer into the pelican’s wide open beak. Finally my stupid little brother in the spur of the moment thought he’d show the other kids how it’s done. He ran up to the pelican, leaned in really close and spit the most nasty wad into its beak. At that moment the pelican turned its head sideways and

    *** CLAP ***

    I’ll never forget the sight of my brothers head being completely engulfed by a giant beak.

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    The grab only lasted for a blink of an eye. My brother didn’t even have time to realize what happened and struggle against it. He came out with a surprised and slightly scratched face. The surprise turned into a grin and then laughter within seconds.

    Nevertheless, the pelican gained the respect from the kids and they’ve stopped pestering it. But somehow I imagine that this is basically the worst they can do. Give you a stereo-slap on your ears with their beak. You are safe against that brown pelican.

    Be glad it’s not a cobra chicken.







  • If the BNPL offer comes with 0% interest and you pay with debit, or a credit card that you always pay off timely, I don’t see how it can be such a bad thing. Spending your money immediately, especially with the inflation accounted for, a fix $50 over twelve or twenty-four months means you actually came out ahead theoretically, since your money went further.

    The only catch here is of course that vendors will price their goods accordingly, where BNPL or loans will be the only way to afford their goods.





  • Anecdotal, I have Russian friends (a couple and their kids).

    The dad is really apologetic for his country. He also laments not being able to go back to visit his parents, because his profession would likely be in very high demand by the military so he doesn’t want to risk getting pulled in for service (even though he’s in his 40s).

    The mom already went back once, with kids. She says that the population in general, in both Moscow and the countryside, seem really oblivious to what’s going on. There’s a huge disconnect and often even disbelief about what’s going on further west. Likely due to govt media propaganda only running special operations victory headlines. Also those that are able, but down on their luck and fortune, are happy to sign up with the military for (relatively) good pay, especially if their role is not something that makes them fight at the front line directly.