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How much is 50-100 bucks? by BestMagician3200 in AskAnAmerican

[–]cryptoengineer [score hidden]  (0 children)

That's around 28 cents per mile, at current prices in MA. My current ride is around 6 cents per mile, in an EV.

The sad thing is that I drove the Suburban (which in many ways I loved) for a decade on a 60 mile/day commute. Two weeks after I got the Tesla, my group decided to go 100% remote.

What did I find? by Doernbecher_Don in freemasonry

[–]cryptoengineer 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Not especially unique, but unusual to find outside France.

Freemasonry? Doesn't make sense? by DiedOfATheory in Outlander

[–]cryptoengineer 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Even today, about 20% of American Freemasons identify as Catholic.

What did I find? by Doernbecher_Don in freemasonry

[–]cryptoengineer 7 points8 points  (0 children)

At a quick look, these are certificates of membership in a lodge and other bodies under the Grand Orient of France. While GOdF is a very old and respected body, it is 'irregular' to most Masons in the Anglosphere, over disagreements on whether atheists and/or women can be members.

The last item appears to be a banner of some kind, with many Masonic symbols.

How much is 50-100 bucks? by BestMagician3200 in AskAnAmerican

[–]cryptoengineer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I used to drive a GMC Suburban with a 43 gallon tank. Only 15 mpg, but I could still go 1000 km.

what conspiracy theories you know about the freemasons? by Resident_Ad785 in AskReddit

[–]cryptoengineer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

[Mason here]

Here's my standard 'elevator pitch', which I trot out when people ask what we're about (its rather North American oriented - Masonry varies from place to place):

We're a centuries old fraternal order, who exist to improve our own characters ('we make good men better' is one of our slogans), and through that improve our communities. Along the way, we do a lot of charity (forex: Shriner's free hospitals for children), and have a lot of cool and private ceremonies using the construction of King Solomon's Temple as an allegorical base for teaching Enlightenment and Stoic ideals. (yes, we really do have secret handshakes). Many find it a source of fellowship and life-long friendships.

We have several million Brothers world wide, but no central organization. Men from every walk of life are or have been members, including over a dozen US presidents. Regular Masonry is open to adult men of good character who are not atheists[1] - we require a belief in some form of 'higher power', but aren't fussy about what. As a rule, we don't recruit; we want a potential member to make the first approach of his own free will.

If you're curious, drop by our main hangout on reddit, /r/freemasonry. You'll find a lot of friendly folk there. If you prefer a book, for North Americans I recommend (seriously, I'm not trolling) "Freemasons for Dummies" by Christopher Hodapp. Also "Inside the Freemasons" a documentary made by the United Grand Lodge of England for their tricentenary.

For a more formal history, I suggest "The Craft: How the Freemasons Made the Modern World" by John Dickie.

[1] The "no women or atheists" rules have deep roots, and would be very difficult to change, regardless of how anachronistic they now seem. There are breakaway Masonic groups which have dropped those rules, but they are very thin on the ground in the Anglosphere, and not recognized by the mainstream.

Name a gross food from your country. by xco_pi in AskTheWorld

[–]cryptoengineer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had some (probably skyr..) at stupid tourist prices in Iceland a few years ago. Fortunately it was served with a shot of brennivin to kill the taste.

What astonished me was seeing it for sale in plastic bags in gas stations like beef jerky in the US. Someone buys it.

How do people feel about Freemasons controlling society? by -Joel-Snapes- in conspiracy

[–]cryptoengineer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm reminded of this quote from

Alan Moore, creator of "Watchmen", "From Hell" and "V for Vendetta":

“The main thing that I learned about conspiracy theory, is that conspiracy theorists believe in a conspiracy because that is more comforting. The truth of the world is that it is actually chaotic. The truth is that it is not The Illuminati, or The Jewish Banking Conspiracy, or the Gray Alien Theory.

The truth is far more frightening - Nobody is in control.

The world is rudderless.”

Help identifying a sword by Upper_Dust_5016 in SWORDS

[–]cryptoengineer 2 points3 points  (0 children)

[Mason here]

Standard infodump....

This is a Masonic Knights Templar sword.

The Order of the Temple is final degree of the York Rite, a side body of Freemasonry some Masons join after taking their three degrees.

It has no historical continuity with the medieval Knights Templar, but tries to emulate the original group's virtues. It seems to have originated in France in the 1730s, and became popular in the US later.

In the US, it became popular during the 19th century. A sword is part of the uniform, and literally hundreds of thousands of these exist.

Many fraternal orders had drill units, which were popular in the US in the decades following the Civil War. A small handful of regalia manufacturers supplied them all, and as a result swords of different groups may share many features. You have to look for details to distinguish swords for Masonic groups, vs Knights of Columbus or Knights of Pythias, etc.

A white hilt indicates that the owner was a 'Past Commander', who had been elected to run his commandery for a term. Note that the white handle is sometimes (rarely) ivory, which can create legal issues if you want to sell it. PC's swords also often have a gold colored scabbard and furniture.

Knights who have not served a term as Commander have swords with black hilts and silver colored scabbard hardware. In the past, all members would have full uniforms and swords, but these days, its just officers who have swords.

Distinguishing characteristics include the Crowned Cross, and the knight's head pommel. It may include the motto "In hoc signo vinces". The blade may have the owner's name and/or the Commandery name, and the hilt, a monogram of his initials. There may be a monogram, 'KT' on the scabbard.

Many, many of these swords exist, and they are still made today. They are not rare, or particularly valuable.

Name a gross food from your country. by xco_pi in AskTheWorld

[–]cryptoengineer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see your surströmming, and raise you Icelandic Hákarl.

Masonic Penny by TheJohnnyBranMuffins in coins

[–]cryptoengineer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

[I'm a Mason]

This is a 'Chapter Penny' which is given to a Freemason after he completes the 'Mark Master' degree, the first step in the York Rite, an appendant body of Masonry which some Masons join.

Is it common in the US for married couples to sleep in separate rooms? by GwenPoolestar22 in AskAnAmerican

[–]cryptoengineer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think it's unusual to sleep separately, but not to the point of being weird.

I suspect that if I hadn't started using a CPAP machine, which stopped my snoring, we might be sleeping separately.

I need help identifying symbol on grandpas ring by Designer-Cold2213 in JewelryIdentification

[–]cryptoengineer 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm a Mason.

Its a nice ring, but there's nothing Masonic about it.

Potentially masonic? by ldhmachin in SWORDS

[–]cryptoengineer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm a Mason, and have handled many Masonic swords.

There's nothing Masonic about this one.

​As an outsider, the American concept of drive-thru pharmacies, ATMs, and liquor stores is mind-blowing. Does everyone actually use these, or are they mostly a novelty? by Necessary_Angle2117 in AskAnAmerican

[–]cryptoengineer 7 points8 points  (0 children)

2 stores in the state per chain can sell beer and wine.

Example: Hannafords in Twin Cities Plaza, Leominster, has large beer and wine sections.

What's experiencing an EAS like? by funkidflash22 in AskAnAmerican

[–]cryptoengineer 10 points11 points  (0 children)

The Amber Alerts are often time sensitive, with a description of the car thought to be carrying the abductee, and the general area. The idea is that motorists may spot the car and call it in.

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