I live on the Earth, home to humans. Every human I’ve met, heard, or read about has been pretty stupid about something. I can’t imagine that I’d be the sole exception, so if I had to guess I’m not smart.

More to the spirit of the question, for me it has to do with programming. I love programming, I went to school for it and learned a ton. It really covers a wide breadth of applications, and you can make anything happen with a computer if you’re determined enough. And, like any field, there’s general knowledge as well as deeper specializations.

If you’re not into programming, know that there’s a divide in every application between what’s called the Back End and the Front End. The front end is what the user interacts with, and ultimately is an interface for the back end which actually runs the application.

I don’t know if it would still be considered accurate, but in school we’d joke about how the back end is more complex (more services to integrate with), and the front end is easier because it’s all about look and feel. Generally speaking, people develop an affinity for one or the other and then further specialize based on that.

I can’t seem to pick up a front end framework to save my life. The thing that the self-described smart kids called easier is wayyy more complicated than it looks. I have a lot of training, I’m skilled in multiple languages, and I can whisper the secret words that open up the database. But I don’t know if I could Hello World my way through a React app if there was a gun to my head.

Context matters a lot. I wouldn’t flip off my mom, but with some friends it’s how we say hello. So I guess I put it in the whole range of 1-5

Now, about you seeing it censored, I always thought that was bizarre. You see it a lot in american media - but let’s be adults for a second. If they’ve censored somebody’s hand, there’s a very limited few reasons why that might be. It doesn’t take a genius to guess what the censored gesture is, and the blurring doesn’t really do anything to diminish the insult.

Honestly, I think it has a lot to do with the prudishness of american media. The gesture is symbolic of an erection, but I don’t know anybody who’d confuse a finger for a penis.

Interestingly, all cultures seem to have a gesture for this, even if it isn’t necessarily the middle finger. Some places it’s the thumbs-up that stands in for it, and others it might be gripping your elbow and pointing your fist.

You have my sincere sympathies. I have family going through cancer right now and it’s a bastard. Nobody deserves it.

The best way to break the news is a highly personal thing. What’s good for one family might not be good for another family. If your family is supportive, they’ll probably want to help somehow. If your family is toxic, you don’t owe them anything, not even a diagnosis if you don’t want to. And in all cases, any sort of reaction is reasonable to expect - receiving news of your diagnosis is the first step in grieving and you can never be sure how people will react to that.

At the end of the day, you’ve got a much better idea how your family might react than a bunch of strangers on the internet. But I’ll go ahead and share our bad news delivery system, and you can decide if it works for you.

Ours is a family that believes in eating our feelings and ripping off the bandaid. When we have bad news to share, we invite the family out to lunch. Somewhere public if you feel that’s appropriate. After everyone’s ordered we hit them with a “Listen, I’ve got some bad news…” and then just jump into it. Then after the news has hit, the creature comforts of a hot meal does wonders to soothe the soul.

Telling everyone at once can be intimidating. You might find you benefit from having a confidant who knows your situation. Breaking the news one-on-one is often easier, and then when you’re ready to tell the group they can be there to back you up.

No internet forum is really good for receiving medical advice on, and I won’t talk you into or out of treatment. However, if you’ve only just received the first test results, you may not have a complete picture of what’s going on.

Ultimately, it sounds like you don’t want to suffer. And I respect the hell out of that. But if you only just received your diagnosis, you might be in shock and incapable of seeing anything hopeful.

Some people conflate the testing and determining prognosis and treatment plan with the treatment itself. I guess all I’m saying is that before you decide that you don’t want treatment, you should consult with doctors you trust and determine what that treatment actually is. Not all cancers are equal, and the aggressiveness of the treatment has much to do with where it is and how progressed it is.

Anyway, as in all things, it’s your body so it should be your choice. But when you’re making big choices it helps to have all the data.

The magician’s assistant must be a labracadabradoodle

Wake up
Sun is shining
Birds are singing
Have tea on porch
Watch the squirrels frolicking in the leaves
Despite everything, it’s all going to be okay
Oh, hiya neighbour
Doing some yard work?
BWARRRARARARRRGHGHHGHGHGHGHG

Are you fucking retarted [sic]? Are you too godamn [sic] stupid to see how fucking dumb you are? You my simple mindless friend … no intelligent creator would ever willfully will into existance [sic] a moron as fucking moronic as you.

Can’t imagine why you got banned 🙄

Everyone sucks here, but like… come on

Cooking from scratch is almost always going to be less expensive, better tasting, and healthier.

Cooking with pre-made ingredients is often faster and easier.

For me, the decision is often predicated on how much energy I have. Sometimes prepping all the ingredients and the resulting cleanup feels like an impossible undertaking. Which is a shame because I’m a good cook - but sometimes I hate cooking.

Meal prepping or making batch meals is often a happy medium. Homemade food that you can later just reheat. If anybody has tips for making it feel less like I’m eating leftovers all the time, I’m happy to hear them

This feels weird.

Like, I get it. Having a Hammer documentary without Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee would be like making a sandwich without bread.

But using a simulated likeness and voice to push your narrative into a dead man seems wrong. I’d even go so far as to say it undermines the credibility of your documentary.

Cushing was hugely prolific and starred in so many of these films that I have a hard time believing they couldn’t find contemporary interviews to use instead of making something new.

I think there’s a difference between saying, “This is my name and I work here for the city,” and, “This is the home address of my opponent whom I’m sharing lies about and threatening violence towards”

Especially when you consider that it’s not just the officials, but their families who are exposed too

Some produce does surprisingly well at room temperature. Potatoes, onions, and gourds can last for months if stored properly. We keep our tomatoes on the counter and they’ve lasted for weeks at a time. As a general rule, if it’s found on a shelf rather than a cooler in a grocery store, it’ll be good for at least several days outside the fridge.

Everything I need to make rice or noodles is shelf stable. Pasta’s probably your friend here too.

Beans can be kept dried or canned. Dried is far cheaper, but can be more labour intensive for cooking. So if I’m just making something for myself, canned is a good choice too.

Lots of seafood is pretty good canned. Fish and crackers is something of a lazy/comfort food for me.

I had some fridge trouble in the recent past, and it was super lame. Good luck, and I hope you get a replacement soon

I’ve lived with the snow all my life, but I can probably still offer some tips that people get caught on.

Snow removal is a bastard. Snow’s often heavier than it looks, especially when it’s wet. If you’re doing it yourself, make sure to stretch and not to attempt it if you have a heart condition. The low temperature makes the exertion more difficult on your heart, lungs, and muscles. It’s a fantastic way to stay in shape, but I often pull something in my back with the first major snowfall.

Winter driving bears some special consideration. Your car might need more time to warm up before it’s good to drive, and freezes will kill low batteries. Traction is poor, and even with a light layer of snow it can be very difficult to drive uphill. You often need a running start, and around here sometimes you just can’t make it to the top. Be prepared by knowing alternate routes, and by keeping an eye out for other drivers that might start rolling back towards you.

People often get stuck in the snow, so it’s important to be prepared. There’s two types of roadside emergency kits that you should be prepared to use. One is for attempting to get your car out of the snow, and the other is for survival if you can’t get unstuck. People more qualified than I could tell you what should be in them, but warm clothing and blankets are a must. If you have enough fuel, you might think that you could run the car all night to keep warm. But be warned that might not always be an option, and if the snow is piling up it can cause your exhaust to back up and asphyxiate you.

Walking in snow requires a higher level of exertion. It’s harder on your muscles, and stabilizing on packed snow might cause you to use some unfamiliar muscle groups. Again, it’s a great way to stay in shape, but if you’re not prepared for it you can quickly have a bad time. If the snow is particularly deep, you might be interested in snowshoeing or skiing. These are easier than clomping through the snow, but again, they’ll be unfamiliar muscle groups and require some practice.

I would do some research to see what level of snow removal your destination city does. Some places are super accessible, some plow only roads and leave sidewalks buried, and some places you’re snowbound for months at a time. I personally find it quite cozy to be snowed in, but it can become a serious problem if you’re not prepared for it.

This one’s probably subjective, but I find it important to keep separate Winter and Autumn outerwear. We’re at the time of year now where we’re starting to see some freezing temperatures, but it’s nowhere near what it’ll be in a couple months’ time. If you’re coming from a hot climate, you might be tempted to put on your warmest clothes as soon as it’s colder than you’ve been in your life. But then when it gets even colder than that, you’ll be happy to have something warmer to add to it.

Find something fun to do in the snow. If you’ve never seen snow in person before, I understand it’s often a magical feeling. But once you live with it for a long time, the magic can fade, and the inconveniences can mount. Having something to look forward to with the snow sometimes makes all the difference between Winter Wonderland and Frozen Hellscape. Whether that’s tobogganing, skating, or snowball fights, you’ve got to do something to keep up the morale in the winter months.

So I guess the thinking is that things get trapped under the contact lenses. When you blink or pour water over your eyes, you would normally flush nastiness away from your eyes. With the lenses on, it blocks the flushing action, which gives the parasite more time to establish itself.

I suppose this is probably also true for most bacteria or foreign particles too. I imagine it’s also one of the risks of just wearing contacts for too long without changing them.

It feels very weird that you can gamble on election results.

Like, casinos have deep pockets, lobbyists, and are in bed with politicians. It feels like it would be easier for them to influence an election than, say, sporting events.

Not to mention that providing odds for the election results is also something of an endorsement for who they perceive to be a favourable party.

There’s a famous example of one of these bulbs that’s been in operation since 1901

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centennial_Light

Before using a straightener (or a curling iron, but that’s like the opposite of what OP wants), check out some videos of people straight up burning their hair off by using them wrong.

That’s not to discourage anyone from using them, they’re great tools. Just like, be careful

Over the past three weeks, members of the group, which falsely claims that Helene was caused by a “weather weapon,” have been making conspiracy-driven claims that the U.S. military is attempting to kill U.S. citizens with “directed energy weapons.”

I’m directing some energy at them right now, let’s see if they can pick up on it.

You want to pour sugar in tanks, like whatever. I’m not sure North Carolina has a legitimate need for armoured vehicles and the military industrial complex is pretty whack. But they also want to destabilize the cellular and electrical infrastructure which would be essential to provide relief for hurricane victims.

Doxxing elected officials and threatening the police is a bold choice. Usually these nutcases are making allies with the police.

By golly, this almost seems like it could be terrorism.

Friend, it’s not inconvenient to me. I just thought it was kind to alert you to the social blunder you’re committing.

You both largely agree with each other. The other commenter is advocating for police reform and admits that the police aren’t doing a good job of protecting the community. Doubling down on your stance while the person you’re debating is trying to work with you ultimately prevents cooperation, and neither of you needed to resort to personal attacks.

All cops are bastards, but abolishing the police isn’t something that’s going to happen overnight - it’ll be procedural and subject to reform. And if things go as you hope, and the judicial system is to find a way to solve societal problems, it would be a great benefit to use existing resources. You can dismantle the police while splintering them into more wholesome services that actually serve the will of the community.

Even if we end the war on drugs and criminalizing people due to their circumstance, there’s still going to be traffic. Traffic doesn’t have to be enforced by an armed thug, or threat of incarceration, but it’s too dangerous of a problem to simply ignore.

They keep bringing up reckless driving because that was the thesis of their original comment. They’re concerned about reckless driving because it results in violence, bodily harm, and death in their community.

You came stomping in here about police reform and the disproportionate rate of incarceration for non-violent offenders. And while those criticisms are valid, they’re misplaced here.

Further arguing the point is demeaning to everyone involved

“Here’s to your last birthday!”

Technically true, hopefully prophetic.

You can give my million to trans rights groups, thanks

Context kind of matters for me, but if I’m screwing any in, it’s both of them.

My monitors are on a swivel bar, and plug into the underside. Those get screwed completely in if the cable has screws. But on the desktop, since it doesn’t really move and I’ve never yanked a cable, they’re usually left loose.