HumorousWonders

A catalog of the wonderful things that catch my fancy

[alexanderwales]

I used the phrase "waiting on tenterhooks" and then thought "what the hell is a tenterhook".

It's these things! So when you're waiting on tenterhooks, you're stretched tight like a piece of cloth. Very evocative, now that I know what it means.

[politijohn]

[lierdumoa]

There's another post on here where this woman talks about dating a rich guy and she was like "oh you can't drink alcohol on a public sidewalk here" and he was like "Sure you can -- it's $500." Like he'd done it often enough that he had the "price" memorized.

[mckitterick]

the word "privilege" comes from the Latin privilegium, meaning "private law," or law granting one person or group benefits others don't enjoy

[philosopherking1887]

I remember reading an article about Koch Industries that said they just budget in fines for violating environmental regulations and lawsuit settlements for damage and accidents caused by broken pipelines -- it’s cheaper than installing cleaner, safer equipment.

Fines that aren’t adjusted to the means of the violator are worse than useless.

[fandomsandfeminism]

Punishable by fine = legal for the rich

[beatrice-otter]

... unless you use the day fine system (most commonly found in Scandinavia and North Europe), where instead of fines being a set amount, they are a set number of days' worth of income. If the fine for parking where you're not supposed to is one day's pay, then someone who makes $150/day will have a $150 fine, and a rich person who makes $50,000/day (including investment income) will pay $50,000.

Every few years, Sweden gets in the news for a new record high speeding ticket. At least once the fine has been over $1M in USD. And every time it's a wealthy foreigner who cries about how absurd and unfair the ticket is ... and then carefully follows the speed laws for the rest of his time in Sweden.

[rostekhorn]

One of my small beefs with Leverage the first time I was watching it was the feeling that the marks involved were often guilty of actual-factual crimes. Too many people like Jimmy Ford the mob fixer or Damian Moreau the terrorist financier or Victor Duebenich the corporate spy, and too few people like Ian Blackpoole the scumbag who murders children by refusing to cover their health care in a way that's evil but 100% legal. After all, if your villains are committing crimes, your heroes can just be cops or lawyers. Isn't the whole point of having outlaw heroes that they can go after people who aren't legally guilty, "only" morally guilty?

But after a while I realized that the distinction was purely academic. Yes, there are absolutely things in society that aren't crimes and should be, but 99% of the people who are guilty of them are guilty of actual-factual crimes too, because the system has just decided to treat their crimes like jaywalking. Donald Trump has been a criminal his entire life. Elon Musk is a criminal. George W. Bush is a war criminal. The issue isn't who's committing crimes and who isn't, just who's allowed to and who's not.

[rembrandtswife]

@rostekhorn just remember what JR always says: "Nothing changes until a white man goes to jail."

[andremichaux]

VERONICA MARS | 2.22, "Not Pictured"

[michaelmoonsbookshop]

just some of the the changes in design for the Penguin Symbol on old Penguin Paperbacks 

[dinkywinks]

he did a little dance and for this crime he was imprisoned in a bubble

[luxflora]

They liked his little dance so much they gave him a spotlight

[anasandorpygoscelis-deactivated]

family album

[delgrosso]

[jpjkd]

We honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—a man of faith, courage, and vision. His dream inspires us to walk in love, pursue justice, and serve others. Let’s commit to carrying his vision forward and making a difference together.

[mirificmarie]

[landsccape]

[mirificmarie]

“When the sun is setting, leave whatever you are doing and watch it.” - Mehmet Murat Ildan #nofilterneeded https://www.instagram.com/p/CEqF-GKnKf4/?igshid=1lqaww7d3c2z2

[mirificmarie]

Mr. Steal-Yo’-Pillow would like to wish you a #happynationaldogday🐶 #dogsofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CEX6pIfnWfQ/?igshid=ry43tzctkdm0

[mirificmarie]

Chuey INSISTED on a mid-morning fetch break. #insistedonit #dogsofinstagram #fetchislife #fetchishappening https://www.instagram.com/p/B_2hDL0lkoG/?igshid=ww59gkwt3q1l

[mirificmarie]

“TODAY’S TO-DO: Stop thinking. Recent studies reported in real-life medical journals indicate that there is no such thing as a stressful life event—only stressful thoughts about life events. Therefore, if something upsets you or makes you nervous, stressed, or freaked out in anyway, just don’t think about it. The way to eliminate stress from your life is simply to stop thinking. Hurray! One less thing to do. TODAY’S TO-DON’T: Stop dreaming of greatness.” #wordadaycalendar #frombackinhighschool #prescient #quarantine #covid19usa https://www.instagram.com/p/B97yN0kHICf/?igshid=q3pvc4efvjqj

[mirificmarie]

Working from home again and “until further notice” this time. Traded in my previous work-from-home coworker for a harsher task master. #covid19usa #workfromhome #socialdistancing https://www.instagram.com/p/B9zbli-n2ss/?igshid=14pzz9cassmpp

[mirificmarie]

Old co-workers who come across your favorite cookie and take the time to send them to you are the real MVPs. #girlscoutcookieseason #favoritecookie #bestpeople https://www.instagram.com/p/B9AmEIlnIMI/?igshid=1eefi9012i0w3

[mirificmarie]

I have the best #galentines a lady could ask for #giftsfromgalpals https://www.instagram.com/p/B8wPEA8nFyE/?igshid=10ap4u57k6qfn

[mirificmarie]

I’ve gained some weight in the last year. I don’t really think I look that different (so I’m not that sad/mad about it), but trying to put certain pairs of old standby pants on in the morning was making me sad. So I’m finally kicking them to the curb (and maybe making a little money with them?). #hereforagoodtimenotforalongtime #cestlavie #pleaseexcusetheunvacuumedfloor https://www.instagram.com/p/B8mKEUVHsQX/?igshid=14n8gdiyezff3

[mirificmarie]

Good morning, starshine. The world says hello. #viewfromtheoffice #sunrise #nofilter https://www.instagram.com/p/B8jHghKHrmO/?igshid=womacq39qywa

[mirificmarie]

This unicorn vomits delicious wine. #aerator #unicornmagic🦄 https://www.instagram.com/p/B8Xk8uenh09/?igshid=vzvnoie2qbuf