semisimian

joined 4 months ago
[–] semisimian@startrek.website 1 points 1 day ago (3 children)

We don't have the RV thing where I am. The people in the video are talking like this is commonplace in Portland. Is this mobile drug manufacturing? Mobile prostitution? Do they move the RVs often to avoid police? Are they stealing the RVs or is there some black market?

It just seems organized. Thanks ahead for any insight.

[–] semisimian@startrek.website 31 points 4 days ago (3 children)

It is Marching Season in Northern Ireland, when Protestants hold parades, marches and bonfires celebrating a Protestant victory over Catholics in 1690. The season runs from Easter to September, but the peak is in July.

This effigy is definitely a product of ultra right-wing talking points and mounting tension from anti-immigrant sentiment. It's not a healthy expression of a valid concern. There are mannequins depicting human beings at the top of the pyre. Under it is a sign that tells you exactly the group they want to harm. Further, a sign that says "veterans before immigrants" sets up a false dichotomy that pits two unrelated groups against each other. It has all the tropes of this type of propaganda.

The designers and builders of the pyre should not be celebrated and should face some legal backlash.

[–] semisimian@startrek.website -1 points 5 days ago

This is an astute answer. Bravo.

[–] semisimian@startrek.website 6 points 5 days ago

It doesn't look like supply, so it has to be something else besides copper, right? Bad lighting? A paint job?

[–] semisimian@startrek.website 38 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Avalon on the island of Catalina. It's the one and only town on the island and there isn't really anywhere else to go. People use golf carts to get around. There are no gas stations on the island, so if you do have a car, you have to import your own fuel or use the marina.

Miniscule car infrastructure + laws limiting the number of cars on the island = no car culture. Bam.

[–] semisimian@startrek.website 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

As I was reading the article, I had to keep checking the URL to make sure I wasn't on the Onion. Is the BBC doing satire now?

[–] semisimian@startrek.website 38 points 1 week ago (6 children)

From the article: "There’s something about the freedom of mobility and there’s something very American about it, and so, I also think that there’s a lot of people around the world that think about American cars, and they think about American road trips, and we want to invite the rest of the world. They’re going to come for FIFA’s club games, or they’re going to come for the World Cup, or they’re going to come for the Olympics, come and see sporting events, but then you can also take a week or 10 days with my family to travel around this great country. Stop at our great restaurants. Stay in our wonderful motels or hotels. Gas up your car with great American energy."

THIS is actual car-brain thinking. I see a lot of memes in fuck cars attacking individuals and the choices they are forced to make, but this article illustrates issues that we have to fight. It's got all the delusion you expect from a government source written by car companies: tying car ownership to freedom, oddly thinking that non-americans think about our car culture as a positive experience, and that wonderfully tone-deaf tagline.

Your city likely has some form of a transportation committee. Join it. Go to the meetings. The switch to Zoom has made it even easier to do so. My experience with our local zoning committee has reinforced that you have to fight like hell, even with your own neighbors, to do simple things like decrease parking requirements. Car-brain is real and it's propped up by decades of propaganda and policy.

[–] semisimian@startrek.website 29 points 1 week ago (1 children)

And then saying "inflation is down," as if that has any real day-to-day impact on our travel plans.

[–] semisimian@startrek.website 23 points 2 weeks ago

In the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event, this response is completely warranted. After 9/11, it was difficult in America to celebrate anything immediately after. You had to address it. "I know we are all in pain, but my son was born today and I'm happy."

The reelection was traumatic for those that remember the insanity of the 1st term. And it ended in a worldwide trauma that we are all still trying to wrap our minds around.

After a while, though, it can be seen as performative. But let's give people time to grieve if they need it.

[–] semisimian@startrek.website 1 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

I have a dedicated windows 10 PC for gaming only. Microsoft is actively trying to brick my machine. I have to read the fine print to make sure I'm not agreeing to the 11 "update." I feel held hostage - it sucks.

I'm thinking of going to steamOS - I'm a casual gamer that just needs it to work when I have the spare minute to fire up a game. I don't have time to do much troubleshooting, but I will make time so I don't get locked into a console. Shrugging emoji.

[–] semisimian@startrek.website 13 points 2 weeks ago

"We surveyed the mother-in-laws and high-school bullies of our participants to gauge personality traits."

 

Most of my Dad's Uriah Heep record covers used to freak me out as a kid. They're pretty awesome, though.

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