The unimportant news thread

[Kalevala]

Personally relevant, as l had family imprisoned there.

https://bbc.com/news/articles/cx2v31plmkxo

I'm so very sorry to hear that.  Did they manage to get out alive?

K

[Kalevala]

Yeah, I like Killer Dave's bread as well. There is a bakery in town that makes a mean sourdough bread. I remember when I was a child, my Mother loved this bread we would buy in the store called Sheepherder's bread. We would have a slice with butter as desert, which is funny!

Oh, I love a good sourdough bread!  I remember tasting it first when I went to San Francisco with my parents.  I've made starters before too. 

K

[LKB]

I'm so very sorry to hear that.  Did they manage to get out alive?

K

Yes, my uncle survived and was eventually able to return to his career for some time. But nobody knew about PTSD and such in that era, and he was not able to get the help he needed. ( He had been an engineer for one of the large carmakers in Germany, and was imprisoned for political reasons. ) He eventually could no longer remain with my aunt and cousins, went insane and passed away, homeless and alone.

[Kalevala]

Heard earlier today that there was (still is) a huge power outage in parts of Spain and Portugal.  I found out about this when I went to check the scores and schedule at the Madrid [Tennis] Open.  Wonder whether any of our members here have been effected by it?  Like @ritter  ?

K

[AnotherSpin]

Heard earlier today that there was (still is) a huge power outage in parts of Spain and Portugal.  I found out about this when I went to check the scores and schedule at the Madrid [Tennis] Open.  Wonder whether any of our members here have been effected by it?  Like @ritter  ?

K

When Ukraine was repeatedly left without electricity over the past three years, sometimes for two or three days in large cities and for weeks or even months in smaller ones, did it worry you as well? Am I the only one who thinks there might be a connection here?

[Kalevala]

When Ukraine was repeatedly left without electricity over the past three years, sometimes for two or three days in large cities and for weeks or even months in smaller ones, did it worry you as well? Am I the only one who thinks there might be a connection here?

Yes, it sadden(s/ed) and anger(s/ed) me.

And I'm not certain what you mean in terms of a connection?  Please feel free to elaborate.  Last I heard (and this is also why I cross-posted it on the weather thread) is that it might have been caused by a rare atmospheric condition.

K

[ritter]

Thanks for your concern, @Kalevala .

We were without electricity for 8 hours, from 12:30 pm local time to about 40 minutes ago. That meant there was no internet, hardly any cellular signal, no ATMs, no credit card payments, no traffic lights, no subway, no trains. Very worrying...

There's been no clear explanation so far of what happened.

[Kalevala]

Thanks for your concern, @Kalevala .

We were without electricity for 8 hours, from 12:30 pm local time to about 40 minutes ago. That meant there was no internet, hardly any cellular signal, no ATMs, no credit card payments, no traffic lights, no subway, no trains. Very worrying...

There's been no clear explanation so far of what happened.

Glad that you have power back!     I checked in off and on on the BBC's website and read about all of the power outages.  Hope that it wasn't terribly hot where you live.  Last I read, they still haven't figured out what all happened.  At one point, I read speculation about it having to do with some rare atmospheric event.  Who knows?  Hopefully they'll get to the bottom of it.

K

[Kalevala]

Glad that you have power back!    I checked in off and on on the BBC's website and read about all of the power outages.  Hope that it wasn't terribly hot where you live.  Last I read, they still haven't figured out what all happened.  At one point, I read speculation about it having to do with some rare atmospheric event.  Who knows?  Hopefully they'll get to the bottom of it.

K

I felt badly for both the tennis players and spectators at the Madrid Open (no idea how the power situation is still like in Madrid).  Apparently, the players couldn't make it back to their hotels as they're driven there in electric golf carts.  God knows how the spectators, volunteers and other workers at the event made it home (if they have yet).

Sad stories of people getting stuck on trains (including no a/c and couldn't use the toilets as they need electricity to flush).  Some nice stories though of local people bringing food and supplies to the passengers on one of the trains.  Nice to read stories like that. 

Hope that it all gets sorted and soon.

K

[JBS]

A case of abusive AI
https://open.substack.com/pub/rationalistjudaism/p/the-other-sharks-out-there

[Florestan]

Leo XIV, the first North American pope. Interesting and promising choice of name. He looks and sounds quite OK.

[JBS]

Leo XIV, the first North American pope. Interesting and promising choice of name. He looks and sounds quite OK.

Also a Peruvian citizen, and, due to Haitian/Louisiana Creole great grandparents* the first Pope in modern times to have some Black ancestry.

*if I have the generational thing correct.

[Florestan]

Also a Peruvian citizen, and, due to Haitian/Louisiana Creole great grandparents* the first Pope in modern times to have some Black ancestry.

*if I have the generational thing correct.

Btw, I just love the Roman Catholic Church's diplomacy. You want an American pope, president Trump? Very well, take Leo XIV! Brilliant.

But why "the first in modern times"? Was there any pope in older times with Black ancestry? 

[JBS]

Btw, I just love the Roman Catholic Church's diplomacy. You want an American pope, president Trump? Very well, take Leo XIV! Brilliant.

But why "the first in modern times"? Was there any pope in older times with Black ancestry? 

Three popes before 500 CE were born in Roman Africa. The first was Victor I, who was pope c 190 CE. Some people claim them to have Black ancestry.

Credere vel non credere quod tibi optimum videtur.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Leo XIV, the first North American pope. Interesting and promising choice of name. He looks and sounds quite OK.

I was quite surprised to see that it was an American that was chosen. I hope he can do as fine of a job as his predecessor.

[drogulus]

Leo XIV, the first North American pope. Interesting and promising choice of name. He looks and sounds quite OK.

    He's certainly not old school like my choice.

[Florestan]

One can always count on Ernie for some irrelevant nonsense.

[Florestan]

Three popes before 500 CE were born in Roman Africa. The first was Victor I, who was pope c 190 CE. Some people claim them to have Black ancestry.

Ah yes, Victor I, Miltiades and Gelasius I.

Credere vel non credere quod tibi optimum videtur.

Credo posse.