What’s on your mind?

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

Something is wrong, very wrong.

Three times in the past few days my beloved has told me that I was right about something.

Should I be worried?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Something is wrong, very wrong.

Three times in the past few days my beloved has told me that I was right about something.

Should I be worried?

They say that wisdom sometimes comes with age; perhaps, you should celebrate, rather than worry.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Yesterday, - and yes, it is overcast, dark, and dreary, and dismal, the grey and gloomy sky a glum shade of dark charcoal - I noticed that some of the schools had their lights on from 4pm (16.00), - cars have their lights on much of the day, and the local authorities are putting up the Christmas lights; however, according to the calendar, it is still only early-mid November....we have barely passed Armistice Day.

Let us leave Christmas celebrations, decorations, and other aspects of this festival until December, please.

 

[rm5]

I have not seen any Christmas decorations myself, but I believe you. Personally, I am just looking forward to Thanksgiving, which is my favorite holiday.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I have not seen any Christmas decorations myself, but I believe you. Personally, I am just looking forward to Thanksgiving, which is my favorite holiday.

Enjoy Thanksgiving.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Yesterday, - and yes, it is overcast, dark, and dreary, and dismal, the grey and gloomy sky a glum shade of dark charcoal - I noticed that some of the schools had their lights on from 4pm (16.00), - cars have their lights on much of the day, and the local authorities are putting up the Christmas lights; however, according to the calendar, it is still only early-mid November....we have barely passed Armistice Day.

Let us leave Christmas celebrations, decorations, and other aspects of this festival until December, please.

Personally let’s not even bother. But yes it’s far too early to be putting decorations up. The perpetual Christmas adverts are bad enough.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Personally let’s not even bother. But yes it’s far too early to be putting decorations up.

Agreed.

The perpetual Christmas adverts are bad enough.

Bad enough, incessant enough and loud enough.

 

[rm5]

This trip (that hasn't even happened yet) is an absolute mess. Hotel refunded me $200. Had to book another hotel, and this Hilton cost almost $500. It was one of the only ones that I can check into not being 21 (of course this trip falls a week before my 21st birthday). Which means I'm on the hook to spend almost $300 MORE than I was anticipating just because Sonder went out of business. This trip is getting way too expensive. In retrospect I should have just canceled it and lost the flights, rather than having to spend an exorbitant amount of money to rebook the hotel. I'm so frustrated.

Edit: I think the Hilton is refundable, I looked before I booked it. I need to think about this more, but right now I just want to cancel the whole trip and lose the flights. I'm fine not getting my money back for flights at this point.

 

[Apple fanboy]

This trip (that hasn't even happened yet) is an absolute mess. Hotel refunded me $200. Had to book another hotel, and this Hilton cost almost $500. It was one of the only ones that I can check into not being 21 (of course this trip falls a week before my 21st birthday). Which means I'm on the hook to spend almost $300 MORE than I was anticipating just because Sonder went out of business. This trip is getting way too expensive. In retrospect I should have just canceled it and lost the flights, rather than having to spend an exorbitant amount of money to rebook the hotel. I'm so frustrated.

Edit: I think the Hilton is refundable, I looked before I booked it. I need to think about this more, but right now I just want to cancel the whole trip and lose the flights. I'm fine not getting my money back for flights at this point.

As frustrating as this is, just remember some of the Sonder employees are losing their jobs and possibly more. So I think they are probably out of pocket way more than you.

Next time get travel insurance to guard against this sort of thing. As for not being able to book a hotel room before you are 21, I never knew that. But then I probably didn't stay in a hotel until I was well into my 30's.

 

[rm5]

Next time get travel insurance to guard against this sort of thing. As for not being able to book a hotel room before you are 21, I never knew that. But then I probably didn't stay in a hotel until I was well into my 30's.

I get travel insurance on everything. However, the insurance does not cover liquidation of the hotel company. Maybe there is another plan I could have selected, I don't know. Either way, I got it sorted.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I get travel insurance on everything. However, the insurance does not cover liquidation of the hotel company. Maybe there is another plan I could have selected, I don't know. Either way, I got it sorted.

Sounds like exactly the sort of thing travel insurance should cover TBH.

 

[The Clark]

Yesterday, - and yes, it is overcast, dark, and dreary, and dismal, the grey and gloomy sky a glum shade of dark charcoal - I noticed that some of the schools had their lights on from 4pm (16.00), - cars have their lights on much of the day, and the local authorities are putting up the Christmas lights; however, according to the calendar, it is still only early-mid November....we have barely passed Armistice Day.

Let us leave Christmas celebrations, decorations, and other aspects of this festival until December, please.

Hahahha you hate this time of the year!

I personally enjoy the early festivities but I do admit, the gloomy mornings can be hard to stomach and really set the tone for much of the day.

 

[KaliYoni]

Either way, I got it sorted.

From what I've been reading over the last few days, you did the right thing by moving quickly. You most likely will end up with more than most affected people. Hilton is now telling Sonder customers to arrange refunds through their credit card issuers. So who knows when—probably a minimum of 30-60 days since that's how long it takes to handle a typical disputed charge—you would receive any money from your card issuer. Worse, when a company goes bankrupt, anybody who qualifies for a payment after the bankruptcy winds its way through the court system only gets pennies on the dollar.

Other things you can look into include seeing if your state has a travel provider bankruptcy refund program (similar in concept to bank deposit insurance) and checking the card holder benefits on your credit card.

Another really bad thing caused by Sonder's implosion is that people were booted out of their rooms during their stays. Not a great way to spend a vacation, even if one has enough money to find new accommodations quickly and easily.

 

[Macky-Mac]

...Another really bad thing caused by Sonder's implosion is that people were booted out of their rooms during their stays....

earlier today I was reading about some current Sonder guest who returned to their room and found their luggage had been packed by the hotel staff and put out in the hallway....door lock code had been changed too

 

[Madonepro]

Trying to come to terms with some recent health news. I've always been very fit, and healthy, and have never smoked, and alcohol, has always been a very occasional thing at best. I went and had a CT Coronary angiogram to get a Calcium Score, as it's a requirement in my country to get access to Statins, to lower my cholesterol (stubbornly just above normal limits). The report afterwards, showed I had a little bit of atheroma/plaque, but nothing to worrisome, and started statins, which have been great, and lowered my cholesterol below 2, and a change in diet (long overdue).
However, the CT scan showed that my 'Aortic Root' was dilated, and so had to be referred to a Cardio Thoracic surgeon for an opinion, and with my healthcare knowledge/experiences and employment, thought he'd just say, let's keep an eye on it, with yearly/6 monthly scans etc. But in my appt 2 days ago, no mention of that, simply, this is the surgical option, they can rupture at anytime, don't be running too often, or too hard, no weight training, blah blah.
Which has placed me in an awful predicament; no surgery and wait and see, or surgery, knowing that I don't have enough a/l or sick leave, or finances to survive paying rent, bill and living costs for 3 months, and an Australian system which doesn't help for my demographic.

Well Tuesday is the day. Surgery on my Aortic Root, potentially 12 weeks off work, and a diet of baked beans, toast and tea.
Fortunately, the surgery, whilst still major (because it involves splitting my breastbone) potentially will be less invasive, due to a technique, that hasn't been available in my part of Australia (and for Americans, not yet approved there) involves, performing a CT Scan of my Thoracic Aorta, and with CAD, 3D printing a replica of it, and making a 'material graft', that like a support stocking, is wrapped around the outside of my aortic root up the thoracic aorta, and carefully placed around the arteries that supply the heart. It is sewn to itself, and asks as a support/scaffold, to prevent it stretching, and integrates itself as it stays. It effectively treats the problem permanently.
So I comfortable with knowing all this, but the worrying part, is the fear of how painful the healing process will be, the lack of support I have here in Australia to help me physically/mentally and financially. I had setup a gofundme, which I posted at work, but sadly, that was a waste of time.

Catch you'll soon.

Surgery link: https://www.thecardiaccentre.com.au/hospital-based_tests/the-pears-procedure/

 

[Apple fanboy]

Well Tuesday is the day. Surgery on my Aortic Root, potentially 12 weeks off work, and a diet of baked beans, toast and tea.
Fortunately, the surgery, whilst still major (because it involves splitting my breastbone) potentially will be less invasive, due to a technique, that hasn't been available in my part of Australia (and for Americans, not yet approved there) involves, performing a CT Scan of my Thoracic Aorta, and with CAD, 3D printing a replica of it, and making a 'material graft', that like a support stocking, is wrapped around the outside of my aortic root up the thoracic aorta, and carefully placed around the arteries that supply the heart. It is sewn to itself, and asks as a support/scaffold, to prevent it stretching, and integrates itself as it stays. It effectively treats the problem permanently.
So I comfortable with knowing all this, but the worrying part, is the fear of how painful the healing process will be, the lack of support I have here in Australia to help me physically/mentally and financially. I had setup a gofundme, which I posted at work, but sadly, that was a waste of time.

Catch you'll soon.

Surgery link: https://www.thecardiaccentre.com.au/hospital-based_tests/the-pears-procedure/

Sorry to hear about this, but at least the surgery is going to fix the problem.

Good luck with the procedure and the recovery.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well Tuesday is the day. Surgery on my Aortic Root, potentially 12 weeks off work, and a diet of baked beans, toast and tea.
Fortunately, the surgery, whilst still major (because it involves splitting my breastbone) potentially will be less invasive, due to a technique, that hasn't been available in my part of Australia (and for Americans, not yet approved there) involves, performing a CT Scan of my Thoracic Aorta, and with CAD, 3D printing a replica of it, and making a 'material graft', that like a support stocking, is wrapped around the outside of my aortic root up the thoracic aorta, and carefully placed around the arteries that supply the heart. It is sewn to itself, and asks as a support/scaffold, to prevent it stretching, and integrates itself as it stays. It effectively treats the problem permanently.
So I comfortable with knowing all this, but the worrying part, is the fear of how painful the healing process will be, the lack of support I have here in Australia to help me physically/mentally and financially. I had setup a gofundme, which I posted at work, but sadly, that was a waste of time.

Catch you'll soon.

Surgery link: https://www.thecardiaccentre.com.au/hospital-based_tests/the-pears-procedure/

The very best of luck with the procedure and with your recovery.

 

[MBAir2010]

Epiphany du jour:
do they rock climb in Baghdad
and what are they referred to?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

With the nadir of the depths of winter approaching, the days are getting ever shorter, darker, drearier, and gloomier; it darkens from before four (16.00), with the sun (or, some semblance of light) barely putting in an appearance before 8 am.

 

[Mac Geezer]

Skepticalscribe - The holidays at this time of year serve to focus our attention on family and community in celebration of the harvest (Thanksgiving) and the approaching re-birth or dawn (Christmas/New Year). After January 1st focus your attention on the fact that the days are getting longer. Winter blues results only if you allow it into your head.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Skepticalscribe - The holidays at this time of year serve to focus our attention on family and community in celebration of the harvest (Thanksgiving)

While I wish Americans well when they celebrate this festival, I hail from Europe, and thus, follow a different calendar.

and the approaching re-birth or dawn (Christmas/New Year).

Christmas - even as a child - was never my favourite season; give me spring, or summer instead, while, for that matter, I can even tolerate (early) autumn, as well.

For what it is worth, in recent years, my favourite Christmas' have been those that occurred when and while I was working abroad (and I always volunteered to work over Christmas; Easter, however, for me, is non-negotiable, - I thrill to spring -and I will always seek leave then, if serving abroad).

After January 1st focus your attention on the fact that the days are getting longer.

Actually, after midnight on the 21st December, (and, no, not 1st January), trust me, I very firmly focus my attention on the (absurdly welcome) fact that the days will, from then onwards, start to lengthen.

Winter blues results only if you allow it into your head.

Ah, no.

For those of us who suffer from SAD, - as my mother did, also - this is considerably more than something one allows "into" my head.

If I had the choice, I'd sleep, snore, and snuffle my cosy way through the coming months and seasons, awakening by preference sometime in mid -March.

 

[mrsmith1]

Ive been watching a lot of horror films recently featuring the Devil as part of a film course I’m doing “Satanic Panic: The Devil on the silver screen” and nearly all these films, The Omen, The Exorcist, Prince of Darkness etc are based around the catholic faith and priests so my question is, are there any horror films based on Jewish, Islamic, Hindu etc beliefs?

 

[rm5]

With the nadir of the depths of winter approaching, the days are getting ever shorter, darker, drearier, and gloomier; it darkens from before four (16.00), with the sun (or, some semblance of light) barely putting in an appearance before 8 am.

This is how it is in Wisconsin, too. Dreadful and depressing. It's also in the 20s (Fahrenheit). I grew up in the Southwest, and the big differences I was shocked by moving to WI was the fact that it gets darker way earlier, and the fact that the temperature it is in the morning is pretty much how it stays the rest of the day. Back home in the desert, it is cold in the morning, but warms up to a reasonable temperature in the afternoon. That is definitely not true in the Midwest.

 

[rm5]

Ive been watching a lot of horror films recently featuring the Devil as part of a film course I’m doing “Satanic Panic: The Devil on the silver screen” and nearly all these films, The Omen, The Exorcist, Prince of Darkness etc are based around the catholic faith and priests so my question is, are there any horror films based on Jewish, Islamic, Hindu etc beliefs?

I have lots of friends who are film students and could better answer this question, but I will give my take. I'm sure there are horror films that are based on other faiths. I would guess that such films are marketed more widely where those faiths are dominant, rather than minorities. Again, that is just my guess, and since I am not a film major in college, I have not taken the classes that would answer that question.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I have lots of friends who are film students and could better answer this question, but I will give my take. I'm sure there are horror films that are based on other faiths. I would guess that such films are marketed more widely where those faiths are dominant, rather than minorities. Again, that is just my guess, and since I am not a film major in college, I have not taken the classes that would answer that question.

To add to your remarks, I will make two further observations:

The first is that the geographic reach - or release - of many movies made within the cultures mentioned by @mrsmith1, is/are - or may be - for reasons of fashion, language, advertising, popular taste, and so on, not, perhaps, as wide as those from the anglophone world, and thus, would not be widely known about, or, at least, not outside arthouse circles.

And the second reason is that in some of these cultures, making a movie which may be interpreted by some as somehow antagonistic - or irreverent - to what may be deemed local religious custom and belief, (which may hold a prominent or powerful position, or place, in that country's culture), and thus, may come complete with consequences, may come with repercussions, may come to carry (heavy) penalties (legal, among others), penalties that would be far in excess of what may be experienced by movie makers who hail from a western cultural milieu.

In turn, this may serve to curb, or curtail, or stifle, any desire to explore such themes on film, let alone arrange a public screening of a movie that treats of such subjects.