Cool and Interesting News & Such.

[Rath Darkblade]

This is incredibly concerning: Meta is Eliminating their Fact Checkers and "Loosening" Speech Policies. (The Register, a UK IT Magazine)

This has already resulted, if an article on CNN can be believed, in people being allowed to call women "property" and "household objects".

Meta is turning into Twitter ... isn't it wonderful.

[BBP]

"Unreal estate: the 12 greatest homes in video game history."
https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/ ... properties

I didn't expect entry 13 but they may be right!

[Rath Darkblade]

Other than Maniac Mansion, I haven't played any of these. So I don't have much of an opinion on any of them, sorry.

[notbobsmith]

Interesting selection. Nice that they had Phantasmagoria, which was the only game I played. I'm not sure why they included "Jet Set Willy". I don't see how that is even recognizable as a mansion.

[Tawmis]

That's really cool. Glad to see Phantasmagoria mentioned!

Not surprised to see the Croft Manor mentioned (... ironically just got a new computer with a real video card, so I reloaded the Tomb Raider Game of the Year Edition... and it's like... a brand new game... everything is so sharp and clear, unlike when I had to turn everything down on my previous desktop - now the damn jump scares in the start got me twice!)

Disappointed the mansion in the text adventure game "Final Soul" isn't mentioned! Hrmph!

[BBP]

https://www.rtvdrenthe.nl/nieuws/177421 ... -de-wereld

Interesting: research on lightning primarily takes place in Japan, the US and Spain, because there simply is more lightning there than in The Netherlands.

In those places, lightning moves up. But in The Netherlands, and presumably in other places with similar conditions, lightning moves down.

[Rath Darkblade]

I can imagine all the researchers in conferences turning their heads. Thanks for sharing, BBP!

I have been following this story: Online Property Ad reveals Nazi-stolen art. Unfortunately this article ended with the former Nazi's daughter escaping with the paintings, but thankfully, about a week later, there was a happy ending:

Authorities in Argentina find the paintings - and charge the former Nazi's daughter for concealing art looted from Jewish dealers.

I know there is lots of art out there that the Nazis looted during WW2, but if even one painting can be returned to its rightful owner, that is a good thing.

[BBP]

Ah good to hear! Glad that there is a happy ending now.

The Goudstikker case reached both fame and notoriety as it created a perhaps not fully desirable juridical precedent of considering moral grounds over juridical grounds, and additionally major issues for smaller musea who lost their prime assets overnight.

One interesting case was that of the Wedding of Tobias and Sarah. People had noticed a connection between the Prayer of Tobias and Sarah, in the possession of the Netherlands, and Angel Slaying A Demon in the collection of Museum Bredius, both by Jan Steen. They were displayed next to each other until some clever person realised that they were both halves of the same painting, with sections removed on all sides. Both parts were unified in the 90s with the missing wing tip and can now be seen as one painting.

And then it was found that the left half was part of the Goudstikker collection. The heiress demanded it'd be returned, but the museum didn't want to lose one of its main pieces, plus it would break up the testament of Bredius whose collection is displayed at that museum, and who stipulated in his will that the collection should always be displayed as a whole.

The courts decided the painting should stay in Museum Bredius and the heir was to receive a million euros.

If you visit it, it's in The Hague, at Buitenhof, treat yourself for a unique collection.

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmm. Perhaps not full desirable? *shrug* I can understand the issue of juridical precedent and economic implications for the musea, but there is also a larger and simpler issue: the fact that part of the painting was owned by Goudstikker, and he was unfairly deprived of his property (first by the Nazis, and then when the museum refused to return it).

Two wrongs - first, Nazi looting, and then the museum profiting from stolen property - don't make a right!

I think the courts probably made the best of a bad situation.

[BBP]

It's hardly up to me as a layman to discuss that issue, but I thought it was interesting to read how it causes a conflict between judiciary and moral issues.
The art works were technically bought by the Nazis under a legal (if shaky) construction as Goudstikker had passed away fleeing the Nazis, and had left his artworks under the care of the individual who sold them, and even If you would consider it was art theft, there is a limitation of 12 years to theft (after 12 years you can no longer be tried for theft), even if you steal a masterpiece.

The court can decide on legal issues, but it's not there for moral issues.

If you would like to learn more about the implications of the Goudstikker case I'll gladly refer you to the Dutch Wikipedia.
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunstverz ... oudstikker

[Rath Darkblade]

This is frightening: German shopkeeper bans Jews from entering, saying "Nothing personal, not antisemitism, I just can't stand you."

This story has been all over the internet in the last few days, btw, so it's not just euronews reporting it ... so it's true.

This makes me feel very angry and very sad. I've seen a lot of anti-Jewish sentiments, vandalism, and even violence over the last few years (including here in Australia). But to see someone point-blank refusing to sell to Jews, or even deal with or talk to Jews ... that reminds me of the worst excesses of Nazi Germany in the 1930s, before WW2 broke out.

And yes, I know I'm invoking Godwin's Law, but in this case it's justified. "Not Antisemitism", huh? What else would you call it when you hate an entire race of people, just because of the actions of a few people in power? If this is acceptable, then can I ban all Germans from entering my house, simply because of the actions of Angela Merkel, or all Dutch people because of the actions of Gert Wilders?

I suppose the only good thing to come out of this is the fact that this shopkeeper has been slammed by almost everybody for his obvious, stupid racism.

[BBP]

When faith in humanity falters, my faith in animals is restored.

Or I'm rolling on the floor too much. Not sure which.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/202 ... quor-store

[Rath Darkblade]

When faith in humanity falters, my faith in animals is restored.

Or I'm rolling on the floor too much. Not sure which.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/202 ... quor-store

I particularly like this bit:

A rampage by a feral pig that stole three six-packs of beers in the DeGrey River rest area in Western Australia prompted warnings for campers to secure their food and alcohol. One camper said the pig drank all 18 beers, then got involved in an altercation with a cow.

I can imagine ... but I'm surprised the feral pig is still alive. A six-pack of beer in Australia is six cans of about 300 ml (about 10 fl. oz.), so drinking 18 beers is no joke. That's 142 fl. oz., or about 1.42 liquid gallons. (About 5.5 litres, for anyone not in the USA).

At least some of the comments on the story are amusing. Similarities between humans and animals:

1. Drink lots of alcohol.
2. Eat lots of food.
3. Start a fight.
4. Sleep it off.
5. Wake up and wonder what all the fuss is about.

[Tawmis]

(About 5.5 litres, for anyone not in the USA).

The cutest part of this is that you said it was 5.5 liters for us people in the USA...
Usually for larger volumes, we don't use liters. It's usually quarts or gallons.

In this case, I think most would know it as 1.45 gallons (or close to 1 and a half gallons).

This is a traditional 1 gallon jug (often, as seen here) for water...

[Rath Darkblade]

Um, I said it was "about 5.5 litres, for anyone NOT in the USA". I know you US folks don't use litres (or liters) -- but I thought you mostly used gallons? What would you use quarts for? *curious* Oh, and I thought you used pints, too.

As for that 1-gallon jug -- yikes! That's a lot of liquid. *nod*