unicorn

That reminds me of A&F's racist T-shirts from 2004, which they actually thought were funny:

My recollection is pretty good, considering this was a quarter of a century ago: https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/page-one-former-contra-costa-supervisor-gets-3012878.php "Stoic and steadfastly denying any guilt, former Contra Costa Supervisor Gayle Bishop was sentenced yesterday to three years in prison for perjury and misappropriation of county funds... Former staff members aided in her conviction, testifying at trial for the prosecution that Bishop ordered them to perform work for her private law practice and her re-election campaign and to cover up traces of misconduct... Burak estimated that Bishop's actions cost the county at most "a few hundred dollars."...". Although it looks as though her sentence was reduced after an order from the Court of Appeals: https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/bishop-gets-6-months-in-jail-and-probation-2962593.php "Holding a packed courtroom in tight suspense to the end, a judge made a surprise show of leniency yesterday to former Contra Costa Supervisor Gayle Bishop by not sentencing her to state prison. Instead, Bishop, 61, will be required to serve a six-month county jail term for her seven felony convictions on misuse of public office and lying to a grand jury. The same judge, John Tiernan, sentenced her earlier to three years behind bars, but two of her convictions were later overturned on appeal. She is scheduled to surrender to authorities on Feb. 12, serve 30 days in custody and then will probably complete the sentence under home detention, Tiernan said...". Obviously, the ultimate sentence didn't make as big a headline as the original sentence.

Not only have there been such resignations, but also criminal prosecutions. Prior to living in Los Angeles, I lived in the county of Contra Costa, near Oakland, California. One of the county supervisors (the lawmakers for county laws) was found to have asked her government staff to do some work for her campaign. Not only was she removed from the Board of Supervisors, but she was also fined and imprisoned for a fairly substantial period of time (I seem to recall about 2-3 years). Law enforcement has even created stings to catch dishonest politicians, including the infamous Abscam sting operation, which put quite a few members of the US Congress in prison for years. Of course, at least on the federal level, Trump has allowed any violation of federal law to be ignored with impunity, as long as the violator has actively supported him, or donated a sufficient quantity to his campaign. Once again, the 18th Century framers of the Constitution never imagined the public would vote in such a charlatan as POTUS. This happened due to the SCOTUS "Citizens United" ruling, which forbade limits to campaign contributions, as well as the advent of social media, which allowed fabrications to dominate over investigative reporting and scientific fact. Especially under Trump, Republicans have waged an all-out war against truthfulness and science. It definitely wouldn't surprise me if Trump pardoned Ghilesne Maxwell in exchange for her lying about Trump not being on Epstein's list. Indeed, there is a mysterious hole in the surveillance video around the time of Epstein's death, which was ruled a suicide, but I strongly suspect was murder. As for the British politician who defrauded the government of $54,000, was she sentenced to a prison term? I'd certainly hope so. One can question those who rise out of nowhere to power. Many, like Trump, are simply adept scam artists.

While it may be the case that those with the mutation are resistant to infection, the mutation does not make those with it bullet-proof. I certainly wouldn't rely on this mutation to throw caution to the wind. I know of no public health organization which either recommends getting tested for this, nor of any statement that prophylaxis isn't needed when the mutation is present. https://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/viruses101/hiv_resistant_mutation/ "...The CCR5-delta 32 mutation in a sense locks "the door" which prevents HIV from entering into the cell. 1% of people descended from Northern Europeans, particularly Swedes, are immune to HIV infection. These lucky people are homozygous carriers of the mutated gene - meaning that they inherited a copy from both of their parents. Another 10 -15% (the number has even suggested to be 18%) of people with European heritage inherited one copy of the gene. Just one copy of the mutation does not prevent against infection. It does however reduce carrier's chances of infection and delays the progress of AIDS. Since the CCR5-delta 32 is tied primarily to the Eurasia region, the mutation has not been found in Africans, East Asians, or Amerindians... ...CCR5-32 Delta is exciting. It presents possibilities for new ways to protect against HIV. Many wonder if genetic testing is available yet to see if one has the mutation. There are some tests available (just google CCR5-32 Delta testing and you'll see) but it is not yet widespread or widely recommended. The mutation is not completely fool proof. Cases of homozygous carriers that have become infected with HIV have been reported. These few exceptions have dissuaded health officials from fully supporting genetic tests over ethical concerns. It would not be wise for those with the mutation to assume that they can lead a dangerous lifestyle and remain healthy. Understanding how and why certain people are resistant to HIV/AIDS with the help of CCR5-32 Delta will hopefully lead to new and highly successful treatments in our lifetime."

Wow. Another great, and extremely hot dark comedy now playing in a theater near you (hopefully) is Twinless. There's even a gay sex scene involving gorgeous heart-throb Dylan O'Brien. And it has a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. What more could one ask for?

While "boy" can informally refer to a young man, in most situations, particularly in the current climate, it's less creepy to refer to a youthful-appearing adult as a twink or twunk, depending on the person's muscular definition. Were I into twinks, I'd rather say "I'm into twinks," than "I'm into boys," which could be mis-interpreted. Of course, idiomatic expressions such as "Girls' night out," or "Boys' night out" are exceptions. Calling an adult "Boy" could also be interpreted as implying subservience. So the answer to the OP's question is this word can be used in the right context, but is best avoided for the sake of clarity/avoiding misunderstanding, whenever possible.

As those who run the festival like to brag, there are no visitors--only participants. https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/burning-man “‘No Spectators’ is a long-standing saying on Playa. You are encouraged to fully participate. It’s all about being there, being fully present, and not just observing. Two of the ten principles of Burning Man are radical participation and radical inclusivity, meaning that there are no outsiders. Everyone is part of the experience.” – Nora Atkinson, The Fleur and Charles Bresler Curator-in-Charge, Renwick Gallery There are definitely no day-passes, and it's essentially impossible to visit as a tourist. AI Overview Yes, the idea that there are only participants, and no visitors, is a core principle of the Burning Man event . The event is a temporary community, known as Black Rock City, which is created entirely by those who attend. Key aspects of this principle include: Radical participation: The culture is built on the idea that every individual is a creative and interactive part of the experience, rather than a passive onlooker. Everyone is encouraged to contribute to the city, the art, and the overall communal effort. "No spectators" is a common mantra: This longstanding saying on the Playa (the desert floor) reinforces that simply observing is not enough; you must be present and engaged. Creation over consumption: Unlike a traditional festival with headliners and scheduled performers, the people who attend Burning Man create all the activities and art themselves. This participatory ethos is one of the "Ten Principles" that guide the Burning Man community.

One has to understand that the US Constitution (including its bill of rights) was written in the 18th Century, when not just the US, but the entire world, was a very different place. Direct democracy was a new idea. There are many horrid aspects to the Constitution, including the Electoral College, the non-democratic Senate, and the virtual impossibility to hold the US President accountable under the law (especially under the current hard-and-fast political party system). I don't think anyone at the time imagined the likes of Trump. The one saving grace is that while Trump has appointed a plurality of the US Supreme Court justices, they are not beholden to him, and he cannot fire them once confirmed. Trump can even, in effect, fire Republican members of Congress by labeling them traitors--and he has done so multiple times. We live under a reign of terror with both Congress and the Presidency under Trump's control, and the mostly Republican-appointed SCOTUS putting few brakes onto his insane policies. We can only hope that at least the SCOTUS is not physically afraid of him--though I have a feeling he can figure out ways to put the squeeze even on them. We simply have to survive this reign of terror until his term is up or until he dies, whichever comes first. I never thought this could happen in the US, but I was wrong.

Wouldn't the abduction and enslavement of Thai citizens into Myanmar qualify? If US citizens were being abducted and enslaved into another country, I doubt the US would sit on its hands (unless, of course, the foreign country had an extremely powerful military, such as China or North Korea).

Shortly following 9/11/01, some form of passport has been required, even for land and sea crossings. Though valid for domestic air travel, even enhanced driver's licenses are not valid for entry into Canada and Mexico. https://www.tsa.gov/real-id/real-id-faqs Q: Can I use my REAL ID card to cross the border into Canada and Mexico and for international travel? No. REAL ID cards cannot be used for border crossings into Canada, Mexico or other international travel. For land and sea crossings (for example by train, car, or cruise ship), one can use a passport card rather than present the passport book, but most people who use the passport card also have a passport book. A Global Entry card (or NEXUS or SENTRI) is also adequate, although one must have a passport book to get such a card. Any international travel by air requires the full passport book.

I must admit that I've been curious for years, though never tempted to go. The festival definitely attracts a crowd of people who are not at all similar to myself. Those running the festival go to very great pains to make sure the site is not accessible to tourists and/or the curious. Money magazine estimated the cost of attending in 2017 to be about $2348 per person, and it hasn't gotten cheaper since: https://money.com/burning-man-how-much-it-costs/ And that's if you don't need to rent an RV.

I'm definitely no expert in that area. It seems, though, that the country's splintered, and all fighting each other. I would think that if the Thai or the Chinese wanted to, they could tell whatever militia is controlling that area to cut the crap, or they'd do it themselves, that this militia would have to listen? Aren't the Thai and the Chinese in a better position? Why would they accept having their citizens trafficked and enslaved? Could the local militia really thumb their noses at the Thai or Chinese while they're fighting their own countrymen at the same time?

You're factually wrong if you think those are cartoons. Those are many examples of actual signs one will see while traveling in Texas (and some other states). If you think those are cartoons and walk past one, you could end up literally dead-wrong. You might not have taken the warnings about pickpockets in Rome seriously, but you'd be an even bigger fool if you mistook those signs as jokes. I remember taking a cruise some years ago with my ex. At the time, it was common for unrelated passengers to be seated together at larger tables during meals. One woman from Texas (single) literally bragged that she owned a backhoe so that she could burry the bodies of any trespasser who wandered into her property. Certainly not a joking matter.

None of which I'm aware. It'll be interesting to see if police authorities will be able to figure out what happened. He could have been murdered at random by some drug-addicted lunatic.

Yes, there are deaths at Burning Man, mostly due to illicit drugs, which are prevalent at that festival. Kruglov was found in a pool of blood--clearly not a drug-related death. I hope the news media follows this story. I'm curious as to why he was targeted.

The way to stop these scams, or at least slow them down quite a bit, is to go after the scammers.

For God's sake, I've made it quite clear that I don't disagree with you regarding the egregiousness of the crime. The only difference between us is that I don't believe that victims are responsible for crimes committed unto them, and you do. You were not responsible for being pickpocketed, though you were apparently foolish in how you secured your money in one of the most pickpocket-prone cities on the planet. As I've said, I believe that the best way to discourage further crimes is to prosecute the guilty to the full extent of the law, and I certainly believe they should throw the book at the murderer (although playing ding-dong-ditch at 11 PM in Texas is not wise). No one's posting cartoons. You're hallucinating.

https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2025/09/03/burning-man-homicide-victim-identified-as-vadim-kruglov-37/85952607007/ "The man found dead at Burning Man has been identified as Vadim Kruglov, 37, a Russian who was living in Tacoma, Washington. Kruglov was found dead in a pool of blood on Aug. 30. The Pershing County Sheriff's Office put out a plea on Aug. 31 for help identifying the victim. He was identified using fingerprints, according to the sheriff's office...". I wonder if he was a refugee or asylee from Russia. Could the FSB have been involved? In any case, it looks like Vadim had a Билет в один конец (one-way ticket) from Russia to the US. 😢In any case, Vadim Putin could also find himself with a Билет в один конец to The Hague if he ever steps foot in the EU...

A woman here in Los Angeles lost $431,000 to a scammer who sent her AI images on WhatsApp, convincing her that soap opera actor Steve Burton (who's married) was in love with her and needed the money. 🫢 https://people.com/woman-loses-life-savings-after-scammers-use-ai-to-pose-as-general-hospital-star-11800052 "...KABC reported that the scammers first approached Ruvalcaba on Facebook Messenger before switching over to WhatsApp. She told KTLA that she initially sent more than $81,000 before selling her family's condo and giving the $350,000 in proceeds to the scammer. Ruvalcaba's daughter Vivian told the outlets that her mother has been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and said the victim believed it when the fake Burton told her he needed money after his home was destroyed in a fire...". The daughter is trying to make the company who purchased the property held responsible for the loss, arguing that Mrs. Ruvalcaba lacked the mental capacity to sell her home, but I can't see how that could be successful. If that lawsuit were successful, that would imply that all home sellers would be required to undergo a mental health assessment by a mental health professional to certify mental capacity. Unless a court had previously determined that she was incompetent, the buyer would have no way of knowing of any alleged mental health problems.

I certainly agree with you that 20 years would be far too lenient a sentence. Although, unlike you (apparently), I don't believe victims are responsible for crimes, that photo was obviously flipped (manipulated) to crudely (and ineffectually) attempt to hide the fact that the photo was taken at the victim's 6 year birthday party. In other words, while it is ostensibly a photo of the victim, it shows the victim when he was essentially half the age of when he was shot. Why not show his baby pictures? Of course, no one should be shot while they're running away, least of all for a fairly harmless prank. I'm sorry you were pickpocketed in Rome. While you probably should have been more careful, the reality is that lenient laws and lax law enforcement in Rome result in crime being more common than it needs to be.

My sister was in town, so we had dinner with her and her daughter and discussed, among other things, our upcoming travels. My husband and I mentioned that we're taking a cruise to Antarctica in a few months, and my sister mentioned that she was dunked in the Southern Ocean, where the freezing temperature of the ocean water is -2C, and she mentioned that she'd also done so in the Arctic Ocean at a similar freezing temperature. We both chimed in that we were quite certain we wouldn't partake in such an adventure. I've always thought that such activities were foolish (in fact, I'm surprised that it seems no one has suffered a medical calamity while doing such activities). I've also always thought it ridiculous that people risk their lives and suffer extreme hardship just so they can say they climbed Mount Everest (or similar). I feel somewhat less strongly about challenges which are simply very painful and challenging, but at least not very life-threatening. We're friends with a married couple, one 28 and the other 39, for example, who've recently climbed Mount Whitney (in June) and trekked to Everest Base Camp about a month ago. After the first climb, one could barely walk for 1 week, and the other for 2 weeks. They described the trek as beautiful, but fairly miserable, with both having explosive diarrhea for a couple of days. I followed their journeys on social media, and expressed admiration for their tenacity. I must admit, I'd love to make it to the summit of Mount Whitney, but would only do so if it were possible to get up there on the back of a mule. If I'm to undergo a difficult challenge, there has to be a limit to the degree of discomfort, as well as a high reward. The most arduous things I've done are a climb up Fuji-San, and the hike to Waterwheel Falls and LeConte Falls in Yosemite. I would say that the scenery was worth it, especially the Yosemite scenery, although if there had been a cog railway or funicular to those falls, I'd have chosen those (those options are much more likely in the Alps than in US National Parks). Waterwheel Falls: LeConte Falls: So will you undergo hardship to experience unique views? How about just for bragging rights?

Well, I'm pleased to notice that you do agree with it. While there are prudent steps one can take to reduce ones risk of being pick-pocketed, the fault lies in the criminal, not the victim. Certainly one has to be careful in places like Paris, Naples, and Rome, but victims are not responsible for their crimes. A woman is not "asking to be raped" just because she wears sexy clothing in a park at night. Any rape is the fault of the rapist. That does not mean one should abandon caution and common sense, nor ignore warnings related to specific places. If anything, it should be local police authorities' responsibility to go after pick-pockets. I saw a video once of someone who taped multiple pick-pocketing episodes in Naples, and police were nowhere. It really wouldn't take that much effort. I strongly condemn anti-gay laws as seen in many Muslim countries and sub-Saharan African countries (and Russia). Do I think those laws are awful? Yes. Would I smooch a man in a public park in Iran, Saudi Arabia, or Aceh Province in Indonesia? No, no, no. Would I wear a rainbow shirt in Russia? Hell no. Would I play "ding-dong-ditch" in Texas? No. How about doing so at 11 PM? No, no, no, no, no, no. That being said, the murderer in this case will almost certainly be prosecuted, and probably convicted. But I'm glad that you agree that one has to have common sense, as well as awareness of local dangers, regardless of how one feels about local laws. I'm not one for being "dead right."