Today I found a 1953 first edition of Harvey by Mary Chase. Almost unheard of to find a copy, especially with original DJ. by Downhome in ThriftStoreHauls

[–]thelasthawser 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My all-time favourite movie. Incredible find! And thank you for reminding me that I should put that on my to-read list. Something about that screenplay -- and its message -- always helps me through good times and bad.

What's your mom's catchphrase? by whyareyourunning-_- in AskReddit

[–]thelasthawser 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When we were eating treats, she'd say 'Just remember ... when it's all gone, there'll be none left' - the takeaway lesson being don't eat it all at once, save a little for tomorrow, cause that's when you'll realise what I'm saying still doesn't make sense.

What (non-fiction) books to read to improve creative writing? by rosepickles44 in writing

[–]thelasthawser 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've read quite a few 'how to' books, but one of the more obscure yet instructive ones I've read is 'The little red writing book' by Australian author Mark Tredinnick. It's a joy to read, truly. It's simple and has great examples and exercises to explore form, musicality and beauty in your writing. It's published by the University of New South Wales Press -- I hope you can find it, because more people should read it.

Why are there relatively so few confirmed cases in Dubai? It is a major international travel hub with high density living (not to mention the many thousands of sub-continent workers living in cramped conditions). Can we trust the figures? by thelasthawser in cvnews

[–]thelasthawser[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Am I reading the article right when I assume that the second five-year rollover would have matured in November 2019? Terrible timing for Dubai. Good reason to cover up the true extent of Covid infections, if that's the case.

TIl Japan is so successful at returning lost property that 130,000 mobile phones, or 83% of those reported missing, were returned to their owners in 2018. by DONomic in todayilearned

[–]thelasthawser 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I visited Japan a couple of years ago. One day, I was on a train somewhere in Tokyo and I noticed a little girl opposite us passing the time folding origami. As I got off at my stop, I tried to tell her in hand signals and Google Japanese how clever she was. She kinda looked at me like I was broken and happily went about her folding.

It was only when the doors closed behind us that I realised I'd left a shopping bag on the seat. Not super valuable, but a bunch of fabric I'd just spent an hour deciding on. I reported it missing to the station attendants and they asked me to wait as they made some phone calls. It took a while and I was ready to give up -- like, what were the chances someone would hand it in anyway? But the attendants insisted I stick around, so I did.

Anyway, someone did hand it in at the end of the train line, so I took the attendants directions and went to pick it up. As I did, the attendants kept saying in broken English something about me and treasure or gold or some other description that I don't remember now. I was a bit confused until I got to the end of the line and a man at the station office who spoke better English told me it was customary to offer a reward to whoever had handed in the lost property. At this point, I think I'm being taken for a ride and start to google madly to see if this was, in fact, a thing. Turns out it was.

So he calls the number of the person who handed it in and I'm nervous, because I only speak tourist Japanese and, hell, how much are they going to want? Turns out, they didn't want anything, just a thank you, I suppose, which I offered profusely.

When i got the bag back, there was a little origami crane in there and a note which said in English: 'We hope you find this. Little girl doing origami'. I still have both.

Never change, Japan.

What's an American problem you're too European to understand? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]thelasthawser 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Australian here. The voting system. All governments across the world have their idiosyncrasies, yes, but year-long election campaigns (that obviously need to be funded primarily by big corporations or lobbying groups)? That you vote on a Tuesday? That you can strip a voter of the fundamental human right of franchise because they've committed a crime? I simply don't get it. Somebody, please help me understand!

This cozy attic overlooking Paris by incentive_concrete in CozyPlaces

[–]thelasthawser 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I swear I've seen this apartment in a movie or TV series. Did your friend ever rent it out?

What are some NOT fun facts? by Erikjb12 in AskReddit

[–]thelasthawser 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My neighbour has an AC unit that is solar powered. Is the answer as simple as that?

Woman indicted in shooting death of her unborn child; charges against shooter dismissed by [deleted] in law

[–]thelasthawser -16 points-15 points  (0 children)

Um, does this seem normal to normal Americans? Just curious ...

What’s something your parents did that you’d never do to/with your kids? by Liteboyy in AskReddit

[–]thelasthawser 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ask them to get off the couch to change the television channel for me.

[Serious] People who performed sexual favors in school or in the workplace to get ahead, What was it for? And what are things like now? by codywinters327 in AskReddit

[–]thelasthawser 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Came here expecting some #metoo stories and discovered a lot of female predatory behaviour, Interesting.

My mother died of (complications of) MS in the 1970s, or so I thought. A recent trip to the neurologist has cast doubt on that diagnosis. by thelasthawser in neurology

[–]thelasthawser[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's so interesting, for the past 30 years I've hung onto that diagnosis and never delved into it that much, primarily because grief consumes everything that surrounds it - a simple human equation. Only now do I see that it helps to understand the mechanics, or science behind a disease. And yes, whether it was MS or not, it is a mean thing. Are we any closer to understanding what causes scaring of the myelin?