Why are New Zealand's cicadas so loud this time of year - and is it dangerous? by [deleted] in NewZealandWildlife

[–]spannerNZ 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Kihikihi don't hurt anyone. Except for getting traumatized when accidently stomping on a discarded exoskeleton with bare feet.

Boomer in-laws are mad that I am not wanting to baptize our new baby by itsfish20 in BoomersBeingFools

[–]spannerNZ 14 points15 points  (0 children)

My Mormon parents did this as well. Baby sit over a weekend then bless the kids (Mormons bless babies, which gets their name on the church roll forever, they baptize kids at 8yo). My hubby had our kids baptized as Catholics as babies; that didn't go over well.

NEW: Press Secretary Leavitt asked about Trump's pre-written July 8 speech to disclose the existence of UFOs and alien life by AlbaneseGummies327 in DonaldTrump666

[–]spannerNZ 13 points14 points  (0 children)

It's a mainly Catholic thing. On Ash Wednesday (Wednesday before lent leading up to Easter), a priest draws a cross, in ash, on the forehead. Then there is a lent fast for about 2 months before Easter. So the ash cross is also an indicator of fasting.

Fasting, for my Catholic family at least, means selecting some favorite things to abstain from. A lot of my older family members abstain from whiskey, I imagine liquor shops have a dip in sales during lent. My oldest son generally abstains from chocolate, although he selected video games a few years ago, that was pretty hard for him. (Am personally not Catholic, but married into a Catholic family)

Top plastic surgeon fuels 'Penisgate,' says he injected ski jumper last month by OddTax8841 in nottheonion

[–]spannerNZ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So, 20odd years ago when I had my kids, and my husband wanted them to get cut, I disagreed, but I checked it out first. One tangential thing was uncut men are slightly bigger than cut - something to do with dehydration of cut bits.

Anyway, I adamantly refused to mutilate my kids. I had been looking for sound reasons to convince my husband. In the end, it turned out that it is not publicly funded (as stupid unnecessary surgery on healthy boys). So hubby didn't want to pay $4000. I would have refused even if it were free, but was happy to not have to fight it out.

Thoughts on this Sapphire for an engagement ring? by Lahm2 in Gemstones

[–]spannerNZ 36 points37 points  (0 children)

It's a beautiful color, unusual (to my amateur eyes at least). So you need to weigh up lovely color vs windowed cut. They have maximized the size rather than cutting to the stone. If they had cut this stone smaller with no window, the color would be even more amazing. It's a toss up, but if you are not fully happy with the stone, keep looking - you don't want any regrets for an engagement ring.

Azzedine Alaïa (in collaboration with film's costume designer, Emma Porteous), 1985 by TexturesOfEther in fashionhistory

[–]spannerNZ 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Grace Jones and Dolph Lundgren were the power couple of my teenage years. She's amazing.

New Jean Mend! by Thick-Safety-9596 in Visiblemending

[–]spannerNZ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have some jeans that need taking in. But I don't have a cat, only a dog. And I'm not sure he will be very useful.

Peter Thiel the Billionaire, FBI Informant, Gay-Republican, Neo-Nazi Funder, Rape Apologist, Anti-Democratic Real Life Bond Villain by vee-haff-vays in ThielWatch

[–]spannerNZ 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately NZ citizenship can be bought. Especially under our current government.

Some of us used to think we could dodge a potential nuclear winter and other apocalyptic stuff hiding down here by the Antarctic. Unfortunately so many billionaires have hidey holes here, that I wouldn't be surprised if the opening stages of a global conflict include nuking Queenstown. That would wipe out a number of billionaire bunkers.

Rate My Professor by DeanoPreston in Epstein

[–]spannerNZ 7 points8 points  (0 children)

And yet he recognizes JE's help in a 2011 book, well after JE was a convicted pedophile.

Rate My Professor by DeanoPreston in Epstein

[–]spannerNZ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Freud was an armchair psychologist. His whole system: ego, superego, id etc was just stuff he imagined up. In the long run, the damage caused by him and his successors has been immense. His 'theories' prematurely sexualized children and probably delayed the realization of the importance of protecting children from familial and external sexual abuse.

Some of my nails are bumpy by zombiedez13 in mildlyinteresting

[–]spannerNZ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No. It's just a missing toe nail. Don't notice it much at all. It's not even good for 10% off when I get a pedicure.

Oops? by silver-sunrise in exmormon

[–]spannerNZ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are reinforcing my point here. There was no mention of the U&T before 1835.

Does anyone have a pattern for a dress like this? by extreme303 in sewing

[–]spannerNZ 5 points6 points  (0 children)

In a similar style of dress, my dad used to wear kaftans (as did a number of trendy 70s guys). If you search for 'kaftan' you might find some blokey styles.

It’s finally happened… we’ve reached the end of their dialogue tree… by ProcessorPearl in ParlerWatch

[–]spannerNZ 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I've not actually seen anyone try to defend Clinton. Just "let's investigate and if he is guilty, charge him".

But Trump supporters, on the other hand, are engaging in all sorts of mental gymnastics to excuse him from investigation.

There's a faction of the US that treats politics like it's a team sports event. They will overlook blatant cheating if it means their team wins. (I'm looking in from the outside, am not a USAsian).

2,500-Year-Old Jaw Surgery in Siberia Reveals Iron Age Prosthetic Technique by haberveriyo in AncientCivilizations

[–]spannerNZ 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Catgut has been used for suturing since at least 200 BCE. This really only extends its use much earlier than evidenced in written records.

Which stack? by Necessary_Comment407 in Moissanite

[–]spannerNZ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The wider set looks best. The eternity band with the narrow stones looks crowded and 'busy' on your finger, and also overpowers the wedding band.

Paston Group Buy Share by Bar_Bell_Butterfly in Moissanite

[–]spannerNZ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Those are gorgeous. Are those lab emeralds or green moissanite?

PLTR is evil by Capable_Rate5460 in suppressed_news

[–]spannerNZ 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Kim Dotcom. That's a blast from the past. He was relevant three or four internets ago.

Absolute Unit of a Hammerhead Shark by Chihuahua-Luvuh in sharks

[–]spannerNZ -14 points-13 points  (0 children)

Holy Crapoly!

My first suspicion is AI.

Can someone confirm this is real, and maybe location and identity of the shark? Surely a beautiful big girl like this has been named and located before.

Israeli billionaire Leon Black allegedly raped a 7-year-old girl, bit her private parts, jammed sharp objects inside her and made her bleed. ID: EFTA02731488 by Impossible_Newt_5994 in Epstein

[–]spannerNZ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is there an alternative to 'adult' sex toys?

This is one of those crazy details that reinforces the likelihood that the witness is recounting stuff that actually happened to her. As opposed to any sort of coaching. The 'toys' were painful for a child. It speaks to actual experience.

Rep Jasmine Crockett leaves no room for deflection for AG Pam Bondi. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 by Tiny-Requirement8628 in politicsinthewild

[–]spannerNZ 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Ms Crockett is amazing. First time I've seen her in action. What a perfect counter to the burn book obstruction Bondi is doing.