We have a couple sets of neighbors who fly to Europe a couple of times a year for fun (yes, I’m surrounded by people who are even more privileged), and I think what a profound lack of self awareness in the midst of our climate catastrophe.
I agree with the ocean liner versus Disney megalopolis bs choice. Though I feel like I might go very stir crazy after eight days. 🚢
@LikeItOrLumpIt@DemocracySpot@Skepticat yeah. I'm in California, and I could see maybe taking a ship to see Alaska, provided it stopped in Washington State or BC first.
Get off, reacquaint yourself with solid ground, etc. Then continue.
Can't do that as easily between say, New York and the U.K.
Hard to get around the convenience (as is often the case in our modern society) of air travel. I've taken a train all the way across the U.S. Took over three days, versus 4.5 hours. Still. 🤷♂️
@LikeItOrLumpIt@DemocracySpot@Skepticat I fantasize about going back to Europe (been 3 times, but not in thirty years), but thinking about air travel and climate issues gives me lots of cognitive dissonance.
We've got this cheap egg cooker that plays the loudest, most terrifying alarm you've ever heard when it's done cooking. My wife requested that I make it "less aggressive" so I hacked it into the most gentle egg cooker of ALL TIME
@dworkin I don’t know if he ever will, but I would love to see him be part of a presidential ticket in a general election, for either President or VP. I would vote for him in a hot minute.
I love Unmasking Autism. I've now read almost the first half and there's this constant flow of "that's me!", "oh!" and "wtf?!" from my part.
Part about learning certain characteristics being unwanted and masking by overcompensating for them was especially revealing. Things that really resonated:
"Pretending I didn't know the answers to questions" and "Keeping silent when people said things that weren't true" in order not to appear arrogant.
"Solving problems by myself" and "Not getting 'too excited' about anything, including good things" in order not to appear annoying and loud.
"Nodding or laughing, even when I have no idea what's going on" in order not to appear clueless and pathetic.
"Not voicing my needs" in order not to appear sensitive.
I'm in this picture and I don't like it... It's not that I recognize ever being certain things but I recognize overcompensating.
I am sitting here telling Summer the newest chapter in my health care saga.
My daughter felt strongly that I should get a second opinion on my thyroid diagnosis. So yesterday, I did the fasting blood tests again and gathered up my imaging results and sought out a more informed opinion from a doctor who knows me and my medical history.
This morning, that appointment happened.
It turns out that the doctor who decided that my thyroid was atrophied and put me on medication was wrong.
I am in excellent health for my age. My thyroid is small but just small normal. Because I took medicine she prescribed, I am grossly over medicated.
I was actually fine all along.
Summer offered a third opinion. She thinks I should file an official complaint.
I think Summer is right.
The silver lining is that I lost 18 pounds while I was going through this strange health odyssey. #Summer
So a happy accident of having Apple TV+ is discovering an overwhelming number of sci-fi offerings available.
The first of which I'm watching is...
Constellation (2024)
It's about an astronaut on the International Space Station, which after an accident occurs, leaves limited life support and systems, and she's by herself while having to jerry rig her escape home.
There was an experiment that occurred just before the accident happened and NASA wants it transported back.
It has an intriguing set up. What's slightly creepy is that it plays with the time line, and has the astronaut is back on Earth, apparently seeing things after she kidnaps the experiment. It's not exactly clear what's happening.
Stars Noomi Rapace, Jonathan Banks, James D'Arcy, Rosie Coleman, Davina Coleman, William Catlett, Julian Looman, Barbara Sukowa, Henry David, Sandra Teles, and Carole Weyers
@jepyang well I thought at some point they took a big left turn and lost their way. Or, at least they lost me. First few seasons though yeah, fantastic. Never forget Bill saying Sookehh in his husky voice. 😁