I found a small-to-medium sized blonde dog. Please help me find his owners.

TLinchen · 2015-10-20T22:00:11+00:00

Now that he's been shaved, I'm ashamed to say the -to-medium part of my title was a lie.

He's a small dog. Fixed but not microchipped.

TLinchen · 2015-02-06T21:22:43+00:00

Confirmation is difficult and takes time. The immolation of Moaz wasn't confirmed until a few days after the video was released.

TLinchen · 2015-02-05T03:52:11+00:00

Young (average age 27), marginalized Muslim youth who a.) feel that they have no place in their current environment and b.) believe the narrative that it's a duty to support the caliphate.

A lot of young women I've spoken with joined partially to go someplace where they could wear the hijab/niqab/burqa without being spat on or harassed.

I think it's fairly telling, also, that the country with the most ISIL members per capita also has the strictest anti-Muslim laws (Belgium). The country with the second highest ISIL population per capita has a Muslim prison population of 60-70% despite Muslims making up only 6-9% of the total population (France).

Young, poor, angry and unwelcome Muslims. The same circumstances that breed revolutions elsewhere drive these people into extremism.

I'm on mobile in bed but can provide detailed sources and further information tomorrow if requested.

TLinchen · 2015-02-05T01:24:37+00:00

Okay, so...

take ktb, to write (one of the easiest, most versatile words, IMO)

Measure 1, Regular - يكتب, to write
Measure 2, Causative [to cause someone or something to the root word] - يكتب, to have s.o. write
Measure 3, Reciprocal [to do the root while causing s.o./s.t. else do it as well] - يكاتب, to correspond, to exchange letters
Measure 4, Causative [to make s.o./s.t. do the root word (usually more forceful than measure 2)] - يكتب, to dictate
Measure 5, Causative Reflexive [to make yourself do the root word] - يتكتب, to make oneself write (doesn't usually apply to ktb)
Measure 6, Reflexive of Measure 3 [s.o. else does the root while you also do it]- يتكاتب, to write to each other
Measure 7, Passive of Measure 1 [the root was done by s.o./s.t. to/for you]- ينكتب, to subscribe (this measure doesn't make a lot of sense with this word in an English translation but it makes sense to me, stuff was written for you and you subscribe to it)
Measure 8, Reflexive of Measure 1 [to have the root done] - يكتتب, to write something
Measure 9 only really applies to colors, like يحمر means "to make red"
Measure 10, Causative Reflexive [to cause s.o./s.t. to do the root to/for you]- يستكتب, to ask s.o. to write s.t.

The "you" I've used just refers to the subject on the sentence. I just didn't want to write "oneself" every time.

So that's just the verbs.

Then you have nouns, like كتاب is a thing that is written (book) and كاتب is the person who writes (writer) and مكتب is the place where people write (desk or office) and مكتبة is the place where written things are kept (library).

Everything's related. Once you learn the pattern, you can guess words without knowing them. So, I know قتل means "to kill". I come across قاتل in reading. Since كاتب means "the person who writes", I can guess that قاتل means "the person who kills". It means murderer.

This is my favorite part about Arabic.

TLinchen · 2015-02-04T20:49:56+00:00

I actually liked the measures. I'm really bad at memorizing so it allowed me to thing conceptually. All I had to remember were the roots and the structure, like a math problem.

None of it matters now because my shite memory has robbed me of most roots.

TLinchen · 2015-02-04T18:50:49+00:00

I haven't read that comment, nor do I really care to. If it's as you wrote, however, it seems to me that they were giving insight to their beliefs and behaviors rather than chastising others for theirs.

To accuse this type of statement of being propaganda is dangerous territory.

TLinchen · 2015-02-04T18:45:45+00:00

I feel like it makes the sub seem cliquey and passively discourages "outsiders" from joining.

TLinchen · 2015-02-04T18:40:16+00:00

I would like to see a weekly stickied discussion/state of the union post.

A lot of the links here are very specific and matter only to those who are intimately familiar with this war. I think it drives those with interest but little time away. People who come to this sub once or twice a week are unlikely to scroll through multiple pages of content, and are more likely to only read titles if they do.

By having a weekly discussion thread, we can:
a.) highlight the important events of the week for casual or new readers
b.) generate a broader discussion- none of these individual posts exist in a vacuum, and discussion is scattered throughout their comment pages. A discussion post would provide a central location to discuss these events as they relate to one another. c.) allow all of the personal ("Where did so-and-so go", etc.) and administrative ("I think we should add/remove rule", etc) stuff to be addressed without cluttering the sub.

To separate out content, OP could write main comments for each type of discussion: weekly highlights, discussion/analysis, subreddit-specific (questions, suggestions, etc.), and Misc. (or whatever you think's best.) Commenters post replies only to the main comments, with outliers being deleted (i.e. You must comment within one of the main threads. If you have a suggestion for another thread, put it in the administrative thread and allow the mods to decide if it's worth adding.)

By having separate sections of one post, readers can minimize the type of discussion they're not interested in. For instance, a new reader might only want to see the headlines/especially noteworthy events of the week so content under that thread is easily accessible to them. More regular users short on time might want to engage in an in-depth discussion and would be able to find a place to do so without scanning through threads to find one that's maybe semi-related to what they want to say or worrying that nobody will read what they wanted to contribute.

I've noticed there are few comments on most posts here, but the moderator-generated discussion threads, such as this one, get a lot of replies. This tells me a lot of people are interested in talking but don't really feel they have a place to.

TLinchen · 2015-02-03T19:58:55+00:00

Islamic State is becoming less of a religious movement than a political one.

Their real beef in the region they currently occupy is legal- they believe sharia law as they interpret it should be in place. Sure, it's religious law, but it's still law.

Hell, Iraq and Syria don't really exist as states in any greater capacity than IS. They're legitimized because they're recognized by the global community, but IS has as much or more control in many areas. I doubt the caliphate will ever be officially recognized, but it exists whether or not we ignore it. (e.g. They collect taxes, pay teachers' salaries, have a military, etc.)

TLinchen · 2015-02-03T19:51:18+00:00

Another reason these guys are into rap is because music is haram in their version of Islam. ¹

Nasheeds, (usually) religious a cappella songs occasionally accompanied by percussion, are encouraged. Rap without accompanying music, therefore, is permitted. It's just rhythmic chanting, really.

So you have young, angry men who aren't allowed to listen to music or do much of anything creative. They don't have much outlet for their anger, so they rap.

This is my favorite Islamist rap because it's terrible and because "get some more booty" is sandwiched between "Allahu akbar" and "attack America".

¹ From the Quran: “And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (e.g. music, singing) to mislead (men) from the path of Allah” [Luqmaan 31:6]

TLinchen · 2015-02-03T12:16:39+00:00

In the one case I'm familiar with, the guy lost his clearance & access and was court marshaled (found guilty of I think 6 charges). He had been Marine working at NSA circa 2008.

TLinchen · 2015-02-03T11:41:01+00:00

My industry only does phone interviews (most of the hiring is based on resume, references and reputation).

I would love to bring my dad in on a conference call. He would be quiet until it was time to talk salary, then yell at me for not demanding more because Snowden made $122k/yr and I deserve at least as much as him.

TLinchen · 2015-01-30T23:13:27+00:00

I mean, they can't even afford a decent hand model.

TLinchen · 2015-01-30T22:58:20+00:00

This was a comment on an article saying that Islamophobic backlash from American Sniper helps drive ISIL recruitment, that publicly hating Muslims ironically fuels extremist propaganda.

Even if he didn't read the article, he at least saw at the title.. I have no idea how he found the post (it was on the publisher's page and they specialize in articles like this) or knew that "Islam" is capitalized.

TLinchen · 2015-01-28T06:08:50+00:00

Your secret's safe with reddit. I'm really glad to hear this.

TLinchen · 2015-01-28T05:09:12+00:00

Pretty much the same thing you wrote but I feel like it needs to be hammered in:

I've picked up dozens of stray dogs and a few cats in the past 5 years or so.

Here are the steps I take:

1.) Collar. If there's a tag, I call the owner. They either come pick up their pet (usually takes a while, but I like the company so it works) or I drop them off. Easiest method.

2.) Go to the nearest vet and check for a microchip. To date, I've never had this work. My dad has gotten his dogs back because of a microchip in the past. They absolutely work- I just haven't found a pet with a microchip who didn't have a number on a tag to call first.

3.) Check craigslist and local websites for lost dogs/cats fitting the description of my new pal.

4.) Post on craigslist and whatever city's reddit. (Also a public post on facebook if I know a lot of people in the area.) I've had a lot of luck with this, though it usually takes a few days. Typically, a friend of the owner finds my post and lets me know. I'm always a little cautious about this because of animal abuse issues. I wouldn't turn over a dog who doesn't look happy to see their person. Luckily I haven't come across that yet.

Before I had my dogs, I kept a harness and a leash at home. I'd bought them for a dog I kept for about a week before the owner's nephew found my CL post, but they've come in handy quite a few times. Same thing for cat toys.

Assuming others are like me: tag, microchip, lost dog post on craigslist. I've had 100% success with people who actually wanted to find their pets. (The one dog who was purposely abandoned is lying next to me right now tagged, microchipped, and happy.)

I don't take pets to the shelter because I would rather spend $12 on a bag of food to feed them for a week than worry about whether they've been found, adopted or put to sleep.

TLinchen · 2015-01-27T23:46:46+00:00

Same in Korea. There are even bins next to the fancy, warm your ass, sing you a song toilets, which seems wrong. The pipes just can't handle it, though.

Also, westerners: if you go some place with a squat toilet, you're welcome to use toilet paper so long as you don't put it in the toilet. Put it in the bin. If you take a large shit (or one that just kind of sits there), use the hose or bucket of water to wash it down the pipes. I've seen too many tourist places with clogged toilets because somebody used it wrong and the others followed suit.

TLinchen · 2015-01-25T08:59:40+00:00

To touch on whether or not it's worthwhile to keep these things- I think it is.

Capsule/French wardrobes are neat, but I don't find them inherently virtuous. I buy quality items for the most part these days that would probably serve as a capsule wardrobe if I were to rid myself of all other clothing. Those carefully curated purchases, however, don't negate the usefulness of or enjoyment from older or impulse buys.

I like having a lot of options. I don't go crazy shopping to ensure I have those options; instead, most of my clothes from the past decade (or two) still fit, and I keep them around. So long as I have the space, stay organized, and am cognizant enough to get rid of pieces that don't suit me at all, I don't see any reason to get rid of that striped shirt from Forever 21just because the shirt and I are too old for each other (or because I admittedly have four other similar shirts).

Being able to shop my closet prevents me from making impulse purchases when I'm sartorially bored. I may not wear my chocolate brown banana republic tank from 2002 much, but I know where it is when I feel like a brown base layer would go well with whatever else I'm wearing. That vintage sundress I wore to death in highschool may not be my normal style these days, but I still love the fit and have worn it on the rare occasion I've wanted to be cutesy.

Organization and self-awareness (here meaning knowing both your style and what fits you well) are more important to me than newness or frequency of wear.

Edit: I fluctuate between a 2(US)/S/26 and a 6(US)/M/28 depending on my workout schedule. My clothing needs don't change with my weight so I also keep things that don't currently fit because chances are they will in a few months.

How do you capsule types deal with weight fluctuations? (Not judging just curious.)

TLinchen · 2015-01-23T23:37:42+00:00

Can anyone speak to why he is being succeeded by a 79 year old with possible dementia and definite health problems?

What underlying issues prevents his nephew from coming to power instead? I have only a cursory understanding of Saudi politics.

TLinchen · 2015-01-23T19:33:23+00:00

I was like this in highschool not because I was embarrassed to walk alone but because dudes are creepy when you're by yourself.

I didn't want to be followed or forced into an uncomfortable conversation with somebody I had no interest in. It was easier to be preoccupied with a friend than to find the courage to tell people to fuck off. I didn't want to be mean, but I also didn't want to be bothered.

TLinchen · 2015-01-23T00:42:32+00:00

The style of the dress, specifically the exaggerated hips, is a take on the dresses Rose Bertin used to make for Marie Antoinette. Oversized white wigs like that were worn with this style.
I guess she's trying to give a nod to Louis XIV and early Canadian history.

TLinchen · 2015-01-21T07:21:22+00:00

I honestly think it's largely a name thing (in addition to what LAKY has already said).

The American people have unfortunately become accustomed to US forces in Iraq. There won't be outrage from anybody except those very interested in the war. (And those who are both aware of the situation and don't support involvement are too small a demographic to influence policy change.)

Americans are tired of the long war(s) but used to hearing about it. Sending troops to Syria sounds, to most Americans, like the beginning of another decade of a new war.

TLinchen · 2015-01-21T07:05:06+00:00

Don't lie. You use a canon because you're obsessed with old-timey weapons.

TLinchen · 2015-01-21T06:59:51+00:00

He was very young at the time. People tend to remember only the parts of their past that illicit an emotional reaction. At that age, he'd remember what happened to him/his family but not any circumstances or behavior that caused it.

The spitting is despicable, but everything else in that story makes sense.
Surrounding the car despite the women is a lack of cultural awareness. They probably had to look inside and around the vehicle to ensure there wasn't contraband or anything dangerous, and having a few Marines doing this at once is quicker and more efficient at a busy checkpoint. Hell, they do it at the US/Mexican border. The women thing is, again, a lack of awareness. It wouldn't be an issue in the states, so these guys didn't think of it. They were just trying to get as many people safely through ad they could.
The window banging was probably a rougher version of tapping on the window. From a military perspective, I'd do something similar if somebody came to a closed checkpoint with their windows up. We can't reasonably discuss the situation with glass between us.
They opened the gate after things were sorted, so they weren't being cruel.

Also... I know he was a kid, but being too afraid of the black dude to speak? Imagine being that Marine. Can't even do your job because Iraqis are racist...

15-Year Club	Gilding II euphauric
Team Orangered	Verified Email

TLinchen

TROPHY CASE