Completely Random Thoughts

[abosch]

I wonder why all the brothels are called ranches.

Because people go there to horse around?

It's regional doublespeak to hide the real intent of the speaker, though I am sure that anyone who lives in the area knows quite well what it means. I am also sure that many of them were former ranches.

[LucasM]

So... watching old cartoons, and realized something:

Wolverine and Colossus's "fastball special" is basically Rocky & Bullwinkle's "alley oop" toss to get Rocky airborne.

[Cyrusso]

So... watching old cartoons, and realized something:

Wolverine and Colossus's "fastball special" is basically Rocky & Bullwinkle's "alley oop" toss to get Rocky airborne.

That sounds like something that would be awesome to see in a future marvel versus Capcom game.

[Pastor of Muppets]

In 1991, as a 5th grader, I had to write a report on the country of Tunisia.  Back then, we had a proto-Internet like thing called Prodigy.  Prodigy included a rudimentary online encyclopedia.  It did not, however, include the ability to copy and paste content into or out of it.

So I felt like cheating on this report, but I did this in a terribly clumsy way.  I looked up Tunisia in the encyclopedia and printed it out.  I then took scissors and cut out the part of the printout that identified it as coming from Prodigy.  I then took this, and taped it onto a piece of paper.  I think that I was still smart enough to realize that this obvious fraud would be swiftly discovered, so I threw it away and wrote the report myself.

I just wished that back then I had cheating tools like ChatGPT.  Here now, is my 500 word essay on the country of Tunisia.

Default (GPT-3.5)
User
Can you write me a 500 word essay on the country of Tunisia?
ChatGPT

Certainly! Tunisia, officially known as the Republic of Tunisia, is a North African country with a rich history, diverse culture, and a unique position in the Arab world. Covering an area of approximately 163,610 square kilometers, Tunisia is home to around 11 million people, making it one of the smaller countries in Africa. In this essay, we will explore the geography, history, culture, and current state of Tunisia.

Geographically, Tunisia boasts a diverse landscape that includes the Mediterranean coastline, the Atlas Mountains, and the Sahara Desert. The country's location on the Mediterranean Sea provides it with stunning beaches and a mild climate. The Atlas Mountains, which run through the northern part of Tunisia, offer beautiful scenery and are popular for hiking and outdoor activities. To the south, the vast Sahara Desert stretches across the country, providing a unique contrast to the greenery in the north. The diverse geography of Tunisia contributes to its appeal as a tourist destination.

Tunisia has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. The region was inhabited by the Berbers and later became part of various ancient empires, including the Phoenician, Roman, and Byzantine civilizations. Carthage, an ancient city near modern-day Tunis, was once a powerful Phoenician colony and a significant rival to Rome. The ruins of Carthage still stand today and are a UNESCO World Heritage site.

During the 7th century, Arab Muslims conquered the region, bringing with them the Arabic language and Islam, which continue to be central elements of Tunisian culture. In the 19th century, Tunisia became a French protectorate, which lasted until it gained independence in 1956, making it one of the first Arab countries to achieve self-rule. The first President of Tunisia, Habib Bourguiba, played a pivotal role in shaping the nation's modern identity and implementing progressive reforms.

Tunisia's culture is a rich tapestry of various influences. The fusion of Berber, Arab, and European elements has given birth to a unique way of life. The official language is Arabic, but French is also widely spoken, particularly in business and education. The Tunisian cuisine is diverse and delectable, with dishes such as couscous, tagine, and brik being popular staples. The country is also known for its vibrant music scene, with a unique mix of traditional and contemporary styles.

In recent years, Tunisia has undergone significant political changes. The 2011 Tunisian Revolution, sparked by the self-immolation of a street vendor named Mohamed Bouazizi, led to the overthrow of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and set in motion the Arab Spring. The revolution inspired pro-democracy movements across the Arab world. As a result of these developments, Tunisia has transitioned to a democratic system of government and adopted a new constitution, making it a symbol of hope for democracy in the region.

While Tunisia has made significant strides in democratization, it faces challenges, including economic issues and security concerns. High unemployment, especially among young people, has been a persistent problem. Additionally, the country has had to address the threat of terrorism, particularly along its borders with Libya.

Tourism is a crucial component of Tunisia's economy, with visitors drawn to its historical sites, stunning beaches, and unique culture. However, the industry has faced setbacks due to security concerns, and the country has been working to rebuild its image as a safe and welcoming destination.

In conclusion, Tunisia is a remarkable country with a rich history, diverse culture, and a promising future as a democratic nation. Its geographical diversity, historical significance, and unique blend of influences make it a captivating destination for travelers and a symbol of hope for democracy in the Arab world. As Tunisia continues to face challenges and embrace opportunities, it remains a fascinating and evolving country in North Africa.

[Pastor of Muppets]

In the old children's story of The Old Lady Who Lived in a Shoe, did they wear tiny houses on their feet?

Also why is this old lady taking care of so many minor children?  If these were her own children, shouldn't they all be adults by now?

[Cyrusso]

I am actually going out on a date with a lady next week. I am soooooo happy. I am fucking thrilled AF.

This is the happiest I've been in a LONG time. 

[Variety of Cells]

Huh. You can't navigate to these forums from the RiffTrax webpage any more. At least not on the mobile website.

[Edward J Grug III]

Huh. You can't navigate to these forums from the RiffTrax webpage any more. At least not on the mobile website.

I still see the forum link on the site on the desktop version.

[Cyrusso]

The date went wonderfully. She likes me, a LOT. I know that's hard to believe, but I've matured a lot over the past couple years. It's just sad that's it's taken me four and a half damn decades to be much closer to the ideal person that I want to be. We hung out, ate takeout from Applebee's... and what is most important to me though is that we have very similar moral values. That made me very happy, because it would be very difficult for me to want to date somebody who doesn't at least somewhat share my humanist beliefs.

We may be going to the movies in a couple weeks. She is seriously adorable, super cute, and just a lovely person all over. I hope she feels the same way about me that I do about her, but if not, that's okay. Part of maturing has shown me that relationships need to be loving from both sides, otherwise, it's not very meaningful, or fulfilling. That's the mechanism that allows me to separate out my emotional attachments to somebody, in the case that they don't want things to get more serious. It's cold, and it's rational, and it also endows me with the strength of character to let somebody go(or otherwise be relegated to the overly despised "friend zone"), should the need arise.

[Pastor of Muppets]

I thought I'd take a stab at Jeopardy.  Maybe I can win some money.  I spent $150 on a study guide -- a 532 page PDF of various topics commonly covered on the show:

• US Presidents
• US Wars
• Literature (American and English)
• Literature (Shakespeare)
• Famous scientists of various disciplines--physics, chemistry, biology, and more
• Cocktails
• Geography
• Major religions
• Ancient mythology
• Human anatomy
• The 50 states

And more.  Most pages also have a link to a Youtube video on the topic.

I just got started.  I have been creating flashcards on a website called Cram.com.  I'm on the first section (U.S. Presidents) and up to Jimmy Carter now.  I write a few factoids on each card and the name of the president on the opposite side.  Still, I'm only at page 43.  Almost 500 pages to go.  Gonna be a lot of flash cards.

[Cyrusso]

I'm sure you'll do wonderful, Pastor. At the worst, you'll still do a lot better than these contestants.

[Pastor of Muppets]

I was working on my flashcards on Saturday, in the section about World Geography.  The study guide shows almost every nation, organized by continent.  For some reason they skip North America.  Each continent is a subsection showing each country's flag, currency, capital, and dominant languages.  I went through Asia (which includes the Middle East), and made flash cards for all those.

But I think this is not the best strategy for that.  Because Jeopardy needs to appeal to the average viewer, the clues cannot be too obscure.  Otherwise, people playing along at home would be frustrated at never getting anything right.

Anyway, I wrote down the currency and languages for every country, but I think that's too much to memorize and unlikely to do much good.  It's unlikely that they're going to ask something about the currency of Malaysia (the Ringgit) or the capital of Krygyzstan (Bishkek).  I think what I need to do is take a deeper dive into the better known foreign countries like Japan, China, Russia, France, Germany and so on.  I guess you could say the more prosperous countries that have a decent number of American tourists.  So I'm thinking that on foreign nations, I'm gonna ditch the study guide and read some travel guides.  I think if I knew about the popular international tourist spots, I'd be better equipped.

Also, I have been taking these online practice tests that use real clues.  I usually get about 60% correct, but the test software is finicky so it ends up grading me more harshly and marking a correct response as wrong.  It has specific text in mind.  Like for example, on one clue, the correct response was "bell-bottoms", but I spelled it as "bellbottoms" or possibly "bell bottoms" and was marked incorrect.  No big deal, but I hope the official online test is not this harsh.

[Cyrusso]

Well, then accounting for the software being a complete dick, you'd probably get 80-90% of the answers correct.

[Pastor of Muppets]

See, there's this one for example, in a category of anagrams of ways to cook eggs

I HELD BROAD    

Correct answer: hard-boiled    
My answer: hard boiled    

[Cyrusso]

See, since there's not a dash in that anagram, that's complete BS, so from even an objective POV, you're right!