I'm tired of hearing about AI, to be honest. I never cared for it. I don't respect people who use generative AI, and I despise companies that sell out people's data to train it. Yes, people will lose jobs to it, but the world will not be better for it. It's just that consequences are rarely immediately apparent in such complex systems.
@RickiTarr In 1645, Johannes Lith first discovered LIthiuanium, the most fantastic element. Upon the discovery, he invented Lithiuania, a state devoted to the exploitation of lithiuanium. Alas, in a terrible hot air balloon explosion, he was lost to us. But over the years hence, his discovery of lithuanium has given countless millions ways to control their irresisitible urge to purchase new TVs.
@frumble That is quite interesting, thank you for sharing that. Proof that this plan from the CDC is idiotic. MIght as well just not quarantine at all.
@RickiTarr 67, I'm a couple decades off from that age, but I figure that if I'm going to live forever, I might as well do it as a crotchety old bastard.
#TheMetalDogArticleList #BLABBERMOUTH
Hellfenlic
One of the most charismatic black metal bands to emerge from the UK this century, THE INFERNAL SEA have been building up to this for a while. Even as far back as their DIY debut "Call Of The Augur", the distinct impression has been given that this band have a vision that extends beyond warmed-up fac...
@TheMetalDog I love their vibe, especially the stuff that sounds dirty and live. Negotium Crucis went straight into a regular rotation playlist. Thanks for the heads up on this band!
@RickiTarr I simply don't understand that perspective. When my partner and I have issues and they are struggling with it, I encourage them to talk to their therapist about it. I mean, that's what it's for.
Okay, I'm thinking about gift giving today. A little backstory about why:
Every year my Father-in-law attempts to get my Mother-in-law a gift. She is a bit of a shopper, and is notoriously difficult to shop for. Every year he gets her something he guesses a woman would like (perfume, sweater, jewelry), and every year she doesn't really like it, and ends up begrudgingly using it or returns it. They have been married over 30 years, and seem to have a pretty good marriage otherwise. It's like she wants him to magically understand what she wants, and he is sort of equally bad at the whole thing too. I will never understand why they don't just have a conversation about this. Just for extra fun, she is the most bizarre gift giver, also, to the point that it has become an annual tradition that I show my friends what she got us. A small list of things we have gotten:
A couch cover with grapes on it
A sexy nightgown
A painting of the house they live in
A gourd painted to look like a cat eating a bird
A package of tea that I would have absolutely loved, stuffed with cheap tea bags
Children's Lego sets
Toy trains
Underwear that didn't fit either of us
A wooden board covered in seashells that is supposed to hold a curling iron
A waterproof bed cover
I could go on and on. Just to clarify this doesn't bother me or my husband at all, we actually get a kick out of the weirdness. I don't personally care about presents much, I'm more of an experiences person.
SO, if you've managed to get this far, how do you feel about gift giving/getting? Feel free to elaborate and give examples!
Technology has made it stupidly easy to avoid real human interaction. Our eyes are glued to our phones as we walk down streets, barely noticing the people around us.
Even in real-world interactions, we talk over the top of our screens, anything to avoid face-to-face conversations.
We treat cashiers, servers, customer reps and even people we care about like NPCs from some video game–two-dimensional extras put here just to serve our needs.
@Daojoan You're not a big deal, and I'm not a big deal, when it comes to everyone else on this spinning ball. But we are both big deals to those who love us.
I legitimately don't understand pride in where you were born or where you live. You had nothing to do with it, and probably your parents didn't either, most people move for economic reasons. At best, I guess, it makes sports more interesting, and at worst, it leads to genocide. If some places seem better than others the reason is usually money, better infrastructure, better schools, which is a whole other rant. Nothing wrong with enjoying the place you are, but feeling superiority about it, is just cringe.
@RickiTarr Tribalism is rooted in our genetic heritage, but has taken on different forms because of our changing capabilities. Look at all the other primates and the way they display tribalism and compare it to humans. We just take it to another level.
I built this tool a year ago but I feel like Mastodon folks would like it
The "Weird Old Book Finder"
Type in a search query, and it'll find one randomly-chosen public-domain book that matches the query -- and present it for immediate reading: https://weird-old-book-finder.glitch.me
Why only one book? To prevent the paradox of choice! Just start readin'
Can't promise every book will be weird, but most are
