unicorn

That's rather talented of you. I sometimes try to guess where someone is from based on their accent, but I can't imagine trying to do so based on looks. One can learn something and break the ice with the right guesses. Once, while we were traveling, I heard a coule speaking Dutch in what I thought was a Flemish accent, and I asked if they were Belgian. I found out that while they were Dutch, they lived in the Dutch Province of Limburg, which is a finger of Dutch territory which pokes into the Belgian Province of Limburg. We had a laugh about it, and I called them "honorary Belgians." So now I know that if someone speaks with a Flemish accent, he may be either Belgian or from the Dutch Limburg Province. As for identifying Spanish-speakers by their accents, I would frequently pick out from my patients' accents that they were from a Caribbean country, and not from Mexico or Latin America (or Spanish, which is even more obvious). However, I could only say that the darker the skin, the more likely to be from the DR, then Cuba, then Puerto Rico being the least likely. The only thing I can say from regarding physical appearance is that for some reason I tend to find Colombians as the most attractive people from Spanish-speaking countries. However, I would never guess that just because I find a man hot, that he's probably from Colombia. I was very taken by a Paraguayan dude, and would have married him had he been an honest man.

If someone can be compliant, I'd go for orals. If there are side-effects, one can always stop. There are those, such as the OP, however, for which taking medication daily seems to be difficult. It's for those that injectables are a better choice. When taken as directed, most PrEP medications show efficacy closer to 97% than to 90%.

No, it does not. What it does say is that one must seriously question any statements of fact made without references. When I make statements of fact, I usually provide links to my references--or at least a statement to the effect of "I heard on the CBS news today"... Only when one leaves references can another person check those references for credibility. Of course, just having a reference doesn't mean the statement is true. There is one regular poster on this forum who habitually posts references, claiming the reference states one thing, when in fact the reference states the opposite. But at least in that case the person with the fake references can be identified as a liar. We all know who that poster is, and we all know to view any statements he makes with extreme caution. It's foolish to believe something simply on the basis of "somebody told me" or "I read it somewhere." This doesn't mean that an undocumented statement can't possibly be true. What it does mean is "undocumented" = "unreliable". Believing in something merely because someone said so (and one wants to believe in it) is foolish. A lot of people do just that, however. Look at how Trump got elected. He's a professional con-man who makes completely baseless allegations and claims. His supporters will believe whatever he says, regardless of the facts.

There are a lot of amusing AI videos with parrots and cops these days. Probably the same people. Even AI can be fooled by other AI. One has to be careful not only of what one reads but also what one sees these days. In this one, the parrot's head goes right through the metal in the cage:

Several days ago, we needed a Lyft from the rental car center at Providence's TF Green Airport. We picked an "XL" and were assigned a driver who, it was announced, was deaf, and it also sent a couple of sign language signs we could use. I previously had trouble communicating with another ride-share driver who was deaf, and this driver was 14 minutes away. Well, there was a Lyft Comfort driver who was 8 minutes away, so we switched, noting the long wait time. However, I feel that this is kind of a job in which ability to communicate with one's customers is important. Have you ever been assigned a deaf ride-share driver? How did you feel about the experience? Is it my duty to learn ASL so that I can get.a ride?

Hopefully, you're just being facetious. The purpose of artwork is to enjoy it and appreciate it, not to make waffles. Where i agree with you is paying ridiculous sums just because the artist is famous. One can just as well enjoy reproductions and/or works by less well-known but essentially equally talented artists.

I definitely agree that we place too much value on originals. The only reasons I can think of for buying an original are either (1) you think you can sell it later for more, or (2) you're a high-volume museum, such as the Louvre, where tens of thousands will pay good money each day to see the original (and also provide more tourist dollars towards your city's and/or country's economy). If you simply appreciate the artwork, reproductions can be made, the difference which can only be detected by experts. If I really like an artwork, be it a painting, sculpture, or whatever, I'll get a reproduction. I can appreciate it over and over for a tiny fraction of the cost. Even better, I'll buy an artwork I like from an unknown artist, then I pay less for something that I not only appreciate, but that's unique. One of my most prized possessions is a sexy merman statue (not this one) near my pool, which always gets great comments at my parties... (My sculpture is larger, and, unlike this one, is one-of-a-kind)

I agree. It's silly to take these anti-HIV meds without also using condoms.

On the subject of handsome locals, this handsome local news reporter got my gonads warm: https://www.wpri.com/author/ethan-logue/ https://www.mypanhandle.com/author/ethan-logue/

Earlier today I attended a lecture on headaches delivered by a strikingly handsome professor from a nearby university. His lecture was strangely monotone, and delivered in such a dry manner that I suspected he's neurodivergent (on the spectrum). (I talked with others who attended the lecture, and they agreed that his lecture was flat). I looked him up online, and was surprised to see an arrest record for someone with his name, and approximately the same age, about 10 years ago. Do you think this is the same man? https://www.pri-med.com/globals/faculty/g/galicaandrewm https://www.hngnews.com/sun_prairie_star/news/man-accused-of-stealing-900-of-liquor-from-sun-prairie-woodmans/article_95de6fb8-6850-11e5-9049-0ff6033707fd.html https://www.umassmed.edu/neurology/neurology-specialties/Neurological-Rehabilitation-Recovery/neuro-rehab-and-recovery-faculty/ His Facebook profile is also pretty sparse--he seems to have a couple dozen young female friends and that's it...

Not that I necessarily disbelieve your "Dr. No" hypothesis, but there's obviously a world of difference between legally buying an art treasure at "near knock-down prices" and stealing a (readily identifiable) art treasure. A legally-purchased art treasure obviously has great value, and is a rational investment (especially when purchased at a relatively low price), which can be admired by all, and even passed onto ones loved ones or to charities (such as a museum) upon one's death--or sold if one prefers. What can one do with a stolen painting other than put in into a hidden location to admire in private?

Well, although Dr. No was before my time, I've seen the movie--and all other Bond movies. Yes, I suppose some super-rich villain could buy the painting to put in his evil lair, where only his trusted henchmen could see the painting. Does that really happen in real life? Are there real Dr. No or Goldfingers around?

I understand the theft of jewels (which can be melted), but I've never understood why someone would steal a painting. You'd never be able to sell the painting, nor even able to show the painting to almost anyone else. Am I missing something? Isn't stealing a painting taking a big risk with no potential reward?