Hernando's Hideaway. Another Thread "almost certainly not for you."

a reply to: Bassago

You don't have to tell me twice. I'll stay out of your way until you're feeling better. And you have to start feeling better, TPTB sent me a memo saying that was part of their plan for world wide domination.

a reply to: pennylemon

Nah, I think it has more to do with insecurity. People are herd animals (or pack, take your pick), but that leads to us wanting to feel like we fit in. In group, the one that sticks out is usually shunned by the rest in nature. It's a survival thing.

For humans, it's a little more complicated. The one who sticks out can either be shunned or, if they have a strong enough personality, they can pull the group to become more like them. People who are different have a hard time with it. You feel that instinct to fit in, and it's really hard to learn to just be comfortable inside your own skin.

Personally, I think it's that drive that functions at the base of most of our social problems, including extremism. Think about it, the more extreme a group is, the more they can isolate themselves and become self-affirming and reassuring that everyone else outside their group is the mysterious "other." Once you achieve that, then it no longer matters who the rest of society are ... you have your little group slice of the pie and it functions well enough for you. It can in fact turn out to be quite extreme as far as the rest of the world is concerned, but as far as you care, it's normal and proper.

I'm a gamer and a geek (Not Big Bang Theory style but the real thing). We have this kind of group society. You can see it at work at Cons.

a reply to: charles1952

Well Charles not to worry, I.m not cranky or anything. Just would like to sleep through the night sometimes, maybe wake up once and a while with the sun up instead of in the dark. No real biggy though.

Speaking on TPTB I was just reading an article on WaPo about the Secret Service and their "new dynamics" for protecting Obama from the crazies who are threatening him online. Almost seems the SS even want to know/watch those who "influence" others or may have racist undertones. Found that interesting as quite a few of us Hernando's have created many anti-Obama threads and been accused of racism numerous times.

Anyway who are those guys outside Hernando's wearing trench coats and watching us?

Time for beer???

Huh?? why did this post show up in bold?

Err.. never mind it was an error with the HAL (human abstraction layer.)
Now I really need beer.

a reply to: Bassago

I hear those things and I want to facepalm. My husband is so screwed! He's already on the watch list for flying and now the SS is going to be watching him too because he makes no secret of his disdain for Obama ...

a reply to: Bassago

We're good, dear Bassago, I just hope you don't have nightmares on a regular basis. Expat888 does, it's a really tough life. I can't help but feel that we're meant for something better. It would make no sense for us to have the ability to feel thirst if there was no such thing as water (or beer). It wouldn't make any sense for a race that never slept to feel sleepy. And what's the sense of us longing for a different world, if there isn't one?

Oh well, on to the Secrets. There are (or at least, were) some good guys in that organization. I don't know what's happened to it. Leadership?

Speaking on TPTB I was just reading an article on WaPo about the Secret Service and their "new dynamics" for protecting Obama from the crazies who are threatening him online.

I didn't see the article, but just "new dynamics" has be a little worried. First, I don't understand it. Somebody writes something on Twitter, somebody thinks it could possibly be construed as a threat, the next pair of agents goes to the address and scares the brown right out of the guy. They put him on the list of people to watch for awhile, and go on to the next idiot.

While you can be threatened online, you can't be hurt online. So this part of the job is largely intelligence gathering on plots and an attempt to discourage people from thinking along those lines.

Almost seems the SS even want to know/watch those who "influence" others or may have racist undertones.

Sorry? Once again? Because somebody has racist attitudes and expresses them, they fall under the scope of protecting the president? If I were running it, I'd monitor the three percent on the far right politically as possible shooters, plus everybody that should be in a nut house, and would have been several presidents ago.

And talk about vague targets, "Influencing someone?" That's basically meaningless. Every post I've ever read has had at least some slight impact on me.

Found that interesting as quite a few of us Hernando's have created many anti-Obama threads and been accused of racism numerous times.

Honestly, truly, this isn't intended to start an argument. Hernando's is opposed to it's very center to the policies in Washington, and especially in the White House. Hernando's doesn't insult people, try to beat them down, gloat over winning; heck, we don't even have winning. And as far as truth, nobody here as any reason to lie. We say what we're comfortable with saying, and what we say is truth.

Oh, the guys in the trench coats? That's my fault. We could have gotten away with your suit of armor for rat hunting, but when I put up the "Metal Storm" video, the ladies told me I had crossed the line. They issued an ultimatum. They required that I hire an ethical and conscientious rat hunting company that wouldn't hurt the rats. They catch them with special videos of rat pornography, then treat them to a meal and drinks, and when they're passed out, they send them to another country (but not First Class, that would be silly. They go Coach.)

The rats wanted to go to Russia for the Vodka, but the ladies insisted they be sent to France for the cheese. I don't know how that worked out.

The women were satisfied with that arrangement so peace reigns supreme over the land.

a reply to: charles1952

No nightmares, not any more than most others I suppose. Actually for the most part I don't mind them as they're sometimes exciting. Just not the creepy ones though, you know the ones that stick with you even after you wake up.

Too be fair to the SS the examples given in the article were pretty blatant threats so I don't have any issue with them checking that stuff out. Is was just the "keeping an eye on the influencer's" that seemed a little big brotherish. Guess compared to the rest of the US Stasi the SS is pretty focused and actually have a real job to do.

And say what?!? You made the rats fly coach? Isn't that against the Geneva convention or something. After all humans have (really) been at war with rats ever since there were rats. Hey I like that.

The War on Rats! The First, the Final, the Forever War!

Maybe Washington DC could work that into their double speak. Just think of what it could to for the economy.

a reply to: Bassago

That is so like you, Bassago. Always worrying about what's best for the country and the economy. Imagine what we could do for employment if we had a dozen factories working non-stop on your rat hunting armor and hired a million Americans to be rat hunters!

I haven't worked out the employee vs. independent contractor angle, or whether the pay would be by the rat or the hour, but I'm sure we can work something out. Not only the economy would benefit, but our health would improve.

Oh-Oh, I forgot something. All of the current rat exterminators would lose their jobs. If they're unionized, watch out.

Try some Tsingtao beer. Mrs. G. recommended it. It's a smoother beer, reasonably available and six-packs aren't terribly expensive. I know you probably can't do it today, but maybe when you're settled in.

Ah-ha! Another thought. In the movie [I]The Demolition Man[/I] Sylvester Stallone eats a rat burger and compliments it's taste. Feed the hungry?

a reply to: charles1952

OMG you're a genius! Just think, the "War on Rats" would not only practically eliminate unemployment it would boost the sales of the military industrial complex (we could buy tiny hellfire missiles for little drones.) Then we could sell all of the remaining rat carcasses to McDonald's and Taco Bell. That would boost the quality of their meat. It's a win-win-win for everyone but the rats.

The person who kills the last rat wins and might look something like this:


I just love this comic picture

a reply to: Bassago

I'm still surprised that the Obama Administration hasn't named me their Chief Consultant on Everything. I'll even promise to finish my term and not get embroiled in any scandals.

I like the Wilson picture, too. I hadn't see it before, it is good.

a reply to: Bassago

That's a good one! Those bug eyes

a reply to: Yeahkeepwatchingme

Hey Yeahkeepwatchingme, welcome to Hernando's. The bars over there and Charles said he picking up the tab. OK he didn't say that but he's a nice guy, figured he wouldn't mind.

I'll let him do any walk through as he's so much better at it (and I'm terminally lazy.) Grab a free brew before he hide's his credit cards.

a reply to: charles1952

I'm still surprised that the Obama Administration hasn't named me their Chief Consultant on Everything.

Ha good one. You know though that I sent my resume in first.

Bassago's Resume
1. Totally pro neo-liberal, nothing is off limits.
2. Never seen a Constitution I didn't want to shred.
3. When in doubt bomb some unsuspecting country.
4. Pander to Wall Street but act like I care.
5. Never accept responsibility for anything.
6. The only good school lunch is tofu.
7. When in doubt cry racism!
8. Ignore all global crisis.
9. Play golf!!

See I've got it down. I will become the henchman in chief's right hand man. However I'll need a good left-hand man to assist in the remaining destruction of Amerika.

Hernando's is awesome, guohua told me about this a few days ago

I didn't know where the bar was actually lol

a reply to: Yeahkeepwatchingme

Hee hee, well it's a virtual bar so it could be virtually any place. The main thing to remember is whenerver possible put your drink on Charles tab.

Honest he doesn't mind. Here have three, the night is young.

What a double post!?!?!?! That is so totally not my fault! It's this pathetically lame inet connection that just hangs here in the wind and makes me click "Resend Data" damn I hate this.

This is like 75% of the reason I've not posted a thread in weeks. Bloody hell!

So I asked Al Gore what to do but he's not saying.



And just because...

a reply to: Bassago

Alright three drinks! Gulp gulp gulp. All gone hahaha.

You know ... there actually are edible rats in the swamps down south. They're called nutria and they're an invasive species. There are so many of them that some culinary people are trying to get people turned on to them as a food source because who cares how many you eat? They don't belong here anyhow.

Honestly, as far as I'm concerned, if something looks good, I'll usually try it. I've gotten bad enough that sometimes, those giant deep fried, chili seasoned tarantulas on Bizarre Foods look sort of appetizing.

a reply to: ketsuko

EEwwwww.... I'm totally grossed out. Now don't get me wrong if I'm behind enemy lines or in some kind of apocalypse then maybe those nutria or whatever could be consumed. But at this point we always have the lowest common denominator of the human food chain, McDonald's!

Tarantulas??? err.. I ate a dried squid once, pretty similar.

On that note, another quarter in the jukebox!

a reply to: Bassago

You win, I don't have a chance. May I study government at your feet, Oh great one? I don't know how you managed to obtain all of those abilities, but I'm very very impressed.

(It's OK if you put Yeahkeepwatchingme on my tab for the next day or three, but he'll have to pay up after that. I'll talk to him about it.)

a reply to: Yeahkeepwatchingme

Good evening (or morning) Yeahkeepwatchingme. You've already had three drinks, so maybe you should ask Mrs. G. or her amazing staff what is available to eat. If you're not fit to drive home, one of us can take you, or you can use one of the cots in the back room. They're nothing luxurious, but they are first class when it comes to sleeping one off.

Tonight's a bit tricky for me in the rest of the ATS world, there are a couple of threads where I am attempting to defend an unpopular position, and I'm just mildly miffed in general. But that's no reason to be short with you. I'll try to answer your questions, but really, everybody here has decided to become part owner of Hernando's, and they all know a lot about it. You may decide to be a part owner as well. We'll see.

Hernando's is like nothing else on ATS. Just about everything about it is different and that's by design. We've had well over a thousand replies and their hasn't been an insult or a temper tantrum. Yet for all that casual informality we have tighter rules than any other thread on ATS.

You really have to read the OP. At a minimum, you have to read three consecutive pages of posts. Both of those rules are to help you get a feel for Hernando's and some of the regulars.

Other rules: Of course there's no language that would violate the T&C, but we have no difficulty with risque or even slightly bawdy language. A lady or a gentleman knows that there are times when a curse is the only appropriate language, but at Hernando's, that doesn't happen very often. The reason for that is one of our two main principles.

In Hernando's we are friends, family, or comrades in arms. The regulars here have come to know each other, care for each other, and share each other's sorrows and joys. There is no room for attacking an Hernando, or insulting or belittling them in any way. You'll come to learn that we are actually people who are concerned for each other, we have past triumphs and failures, great plans for the future, and are struggling through some rough spots at the moment.

As I say, there is nothing like this on ATS. There, people are more or less anonymous, leaping out from ambush in an attempt to win an argument or intimidate another poster. That brings us to our second principle. While the first principle is a rigid set of tracks we must stay on to avoid disaster, the second is nearly the complete opposite.

Our second principle is a search for truth. It is that vague flowing spirit that makes Mankind what it is. We don't push it or hurry it, but we all realize it's importance. We are ready to be grateful to the Hernando who gives us new information, even if it changes our mind. And if we do the same for another of our brothers or sisters, we do it in a spirit of helping someone who will soon help us when we go wrong. As time passes, the little truths we have discovered about each other and what we have learned may combine into a much bigger Truth.

Pick any topic, or join in on any that's going on. Follow it as far as you care to with Hernandos by your side. And that brings us to a third point. Not a rule or a principle, but I told Bassago I'd explain it to you. That is the matter of your bar tab. Again, we're the opposite of ATS. On ATS you can find to the decimal how many stars, flags, or whatever, you have, but they're all worth absolutely nothing. At Hernando's there is no way to find out how much you have on account, but it is worth drinks and meals.

How do you pay off your bar tab? By contributing. Tell us about you, likes and dislikes. Discuss what's important to you. That's another reason for reading several pages of posts. You'll get an idea of what is contributed.

We have an actual juke box with an extraordinarily wide variety of songs, and a poster gallery with several cat pictures.

As you came to the front door, you saw the burning barrel that the female Hernandos burnt their bras in. Inside, you'll see the bar in the far left corner, the kitchen is more toward the middle of the building, but on the other side of the wall marking the end of the bar. There is a large fireplace in the far right corner with overstuffed chairs nearby (excellent for short naps, by the way.) The bar has astonishing stools with automatic height adjustment for your comfort.

Between the kitchen and the fireplace is a small corridor leading to the room with the cots for those spending the night. You don't need to know about wine, liquor and beer storage yet. Depending on how could of a cook you are and what recipes you know, Mrs. Guohua may take you on as an apprentice. (She won't let me near the kitchen.) On the near side of the building you'll see tables. The ones on the left are most often used for dining and the ones on the right usually have drinkers. But you can eat or drink anywhere you choose.

Well, I hope this is a sufficient introduction, but the important part is ahead of you. Welcome to Hernando's! Hip-hip, hooray! Hip-hip, hooray! Hip-hip, hooray!