The Crowhill Journal

We’re told it’s the constant refrain from the older generation. Everybody grows up and thinks the younger generation is different — lazier, stupider, etc. — and then some wise guy comes along and says, “there are Egyptian papyri with the same complaint. Get over it!”

There are clearly differences between generations. Just watch an old movie and listen to the weird ways they explain things.

Life is different over time in strange ways, and especially in the modern world. The world my granddaughter is growing up in is very different from the world my grandfather grew up in.

But here’s a scary thought. What if some of the differences are chemically induced — from the water, or the air, or pesticides, or … from Tylenol!

“Acetaminophen seems to make people feel less negative emotion when they consider risky activities – they just don’t feel as scared,” says neuroscientist Baldwin Way from The Ohio State University.

“With nearly 25 percent of the population in the US taking acetaminophen each week, reduced risk perceptions and increased risk-taking could have important effects on society.”

Mark Shea used to caricature societal changes as coming in two phases: (1) what could possibly go wrong? (2) who knew?

As I mentioned a bit ago, I’m looking for work. I’ve decided to go the consulting route for now. I’m about 50% billable as of today, and I have some leads on more work, so … I hope I can sort this out and make it viable.

For the last few weeks I’ve been going through job ads, and I noticed a couple things that were complete turn-offs. Two were particularly noteworthy: asking me to provide my pronouns, and an over-emphasis on diversity and inclusion.

When I saw those, I read it as “conservatives need not apply.”

“Uh,” “um,” “er” and such are filler words. In Chinese, the filler word is “that,” which sounds like “nega.”

See USC Suspended a Communications Professor for Saying a Chinese Word That Sounds Like a Racial Slur.

This story jumped out at me because I used to give lectures to Chinese businessmen on how the American publishing industry works. I don’t know a bit of Chinese, but I kept hearing them saying this word that sounded like the dreaded “n-word.” I asked a friend who speaks Chinese about it, and he didn’t give me a very satisfying explanation. This “uh, uh” explanation makes more sense.

The larger issue, of course, is how incredibly insane universities have become with all this speech policing nonsense. And this is the important point.

There is nothing for the university to investigate: Patton should be restored to his teaching position immediately. If anything, the offended students should apologize to him for causing the inconvenience.

Right. And not just an apology. There should be consequences for being that stupid — like getting points off their final grade.

I will probably wait to get it.

I’ve never had a flu shot, and I haven’t had the flu since I was a kid, so I’m not particularly worried about the virus.

Yes, I know this virus is different, and yes, I know that getting the vaccine is not only for me. It’s for protecting other people. So if the thing turns out to be safe, I’ll get it — for other peoples’ sake. But I won’t be an early adopter.

P&C review Double Duckpin from Union Brewing, then talk about grammar mistakes that even smart people make. Plus a few others.

“I could care less” vs. “I couldn’t care less.” That vs. which. Irregardless. Who and whom. Shoo in. Sleight of hand. Home in vs. hone in. Affect vs. effect. Misuse of apostrophes and quote marks. Bated breath. Accept vs. except. Insure, assure, ensure. Whet your appetite. Must’ve, should’ve, would’ve, could’ve. Plus many more.