I know it's bad for me, so I use it very sparingly, but I have a jar of bacon grease that gets used every so often. I'll be honest, I don't know anyone outside my family that still does it.

I'm also from bumfuck nowhere, so that could be an influencing factor on why I am the way I am.

I miss that local sexpot

I think that makes sense. I am 100% a layman with this stuff, buy if the "AI" is just predicting what should be said by studying things humans have written, then it makes sense that actual people were more likely to give serious, solid answers when the asker is putting forth (relatively) heavy stakes.

Every year I believe this more and more. I've always been lumped in with the tech crowd by anyone not tech-savvy, but in reality all my knowledge is from personal troubleshooting and very limited (I'm thinking of trying Linux and that's gonna be like a whole ass event for me). I used to think that was dumb, but then I started working with more Gen Z...

They have zero idea how to troubleshoot anything. If the computer doesn't do what they expect, it's a full stop for some of them. I have "solved" so many IT problems by replugging a cable or just knowing the settings option exists. These aren't stupid kids either, they're in a tough industry and very capable otherwise. I think my generation was right place, right time to learn this stuff organically because shit just never worked quite right -- apple was largely the outlier back then.

This is why I say the Wire is the best cop show out there still, espevially growing up with a cop. It raises up the parts of police work that deserve praise; eg. the individuals that get in for the right reasons or have appropriate respect for the job once there, the opportunity police have to make a positive impact on outliers in our society, etc. It also gives a pretty realistic look at how these things go wrong or become ineffective at an institutional level (and 100% don't shy away from idiot/aggressive cops, narratively equating them to gang members). As far as I can remember there is never a "big, bad internal affairs" plot line. When it does come up it's in reference to a character's problematic behavior and treated as a fair consequence of their actions.

Watch the Wire if you havent and you like crime-drama. It's as good as it gets.

Raised by Wolves. It was killed by HBO around the time of the discovery merger thing, but was a fully written (creator originally wrote it as a book, and then made it into a screenplay) and unique show. Produced by and has some directing from Ridley Scott.

The show follows two androids, Mother and Father, raising a human child alone on a desolate planet after fleeing a dying earth controlled by hi-tech zealots. This new home might be far more related to them than they realize, and maybe not always so desolate. It blends mysticism and sci-fi in a really fun way, and I will never not be angry I don't get to see how it ends.

One of the best modern series I have seen. Incredibly compelling, mysterious, and they manage to wrap it up in a thoughtful way. It's a must see if you like sci-fi.

Who are those other dictators with the good haircuts??

I dont know, I'm starting to understand it. Like, the last marvel movie I remember making a point to see was the most recent Spider-Man (however long ago that was), and I was falling off before then. I watched Loki, but that was it other than catching parts of a movie on streaming. I missed all the other big shows. The fucking mountain of mediocre media it feels like I have to climb to get caught up is absurd. So, if it's something like watching a (one) movie or a series to get context -- fine. But if I need to start by looking up a guide and watch order just to get hours of subpar content, then I'm out. I'll watch the new Spider-Man, and complain when you rely on some flop from a year ago rather than construct an actual plot that's reasonably self-contained.

This is coming from someone who reads and collects comics. I'm no stranger to the "read this other series for 1-?? issues to get the full story!", but MCU is something else entirely. Wide where it should be tall.

I forget it's not a super widely known thing that samurai movies and westerns have built off each other in a way. Slow burn, fast climactic action, stoic protagonists. It's one of those things that you wouldn't expect at face value, but actually have a lot in common when you start breaking it down. They have influenced each other a lot over the years, with 7 Samurai itself even pulling some inspiration from Ford's westerns.

It's cool seeing some of the history laid out. That sharing of ideas has led to some incredible films.

But if I sexist two sexists? That's progress baby

Well, it made me feel smart. So either you're a good teacher, and helped me put into words and solidify something I already understood more abstractly. Or you're a terrible teacher, and have led me further astray.

Pretty rough dichotomy there. I would not want to be an educator.

There really were some great ones. Playing through Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops still stands out to me over a decade on. Shit was tight, and I honestly didn't feel that again after the PSP. Until I picked up my steam deck, that thing would have rendered 10 year old me catatonic.

I mean if you read it article it's full of "this is the Democrats fault" and "we made a mistake, but we'll never admit it". So many are still flailing, looking for anyone else to blame and absolve them of a dumbass move.

"the Ukraine" referred to the region while it was still part of the Russian/Soviet empire. Nowadays just "Ukraine" is the better way to say it, from what I understand.

Maybe this is me being unaware of my own divergence, but that sounds pretty normal. We're attached to pattern as humans, and driving is one of those things you do subconsciously (or at least it's on the back burner in terms of direct focus) after a while. Makes sense you would conflate two super similar routes when you are essentially operating off muscle memory

I work for a neurologist practice, and the amount I have to argue with insurance (and inevitably have to get the neurologist on the phone to directly request something for many) is insane. A good chunk of my job isn't providing care, but arguing with insurance that the care is necessary. These companies are actively delaying patient care, and try to blame the physician whenever possible.

Wildly infuriating, especially when the denials are worded along the lines of "we reviewed this, and don't consider it medically necessary". Motherfucker, a doctor said it was necessary and listed the clinical reasons why this test or procedure would be beneficial. Nothing has radicalized me for universal healthcare more than working in healthcare.

Yeah, I'm 30 and I have way more recent embarrassing moments to keep me up at night. I'm not thinking of shit I did when I was a kid

I argued with family about this more than once since the debate, and it's endlessly frustrating. I work in the medical field. I've worked mother/baby. Still takes way to long to impress on them that this not only isn't happening, but any remotely similar story they hear is someone twisting the worst day of hopeful parents' lives around to support their political bias. Real people having their tragedy flagrantly lied about, and being painted as baby killers, for no good reason. It's disgusting.

Still no idea if I've gotten through, but they seem to have stopped bringing it up for now.

Then called her (I think NPR said it was a her) crazy afterwards, implying she was having a mental health episode. Then they've gone on to release photos, showing they were blatantly violating federal law after being clearly told they were doing so. Not to mentioned , they allegedly assaulted an Arlington cemetery staff member in furtherance of that violation (I know you mentioned this but I feel it's worth repeating, there should be multiple people charged for this).