Asinine's recent activity
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Comment on What does a newcomer moving to your town/city/state/country need to know? in ~life
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Comment on When is pet insurance worth it? in ~life.pets
Asinine Link ParentDefinitely this. We have two dogs, and one (chocolate lab) is nearing the end of life phase. The other is around 7, and is a husky/shepherd mix. The vet we go through provides it, though I'm not...Definitely this. We have two dogs, and one (chocolate lab) is nearing the end of life phase. The other is around 7, and is a husky/shepherd mix. The vet we go through provides it, though I'm not sure it covers anything outside of that specific vet.
So because the older one is old, he doesn't have lots of stuff covered - but it covers enough of his monthly steroid shot to help him walk better to pay for it. Additionally, it covers most of his regular checkups, teeth cleanings, etc. My SO was getting him a pain killer at discount, but it didn't seem to help much so we quit that.
The other also lacks certain coverages due to her breed, but as pointed out above, abnormal/accident type things are great. She's been amazingly "safe" though, which is shocking. Her next door friend managed to get impaled on a stick, encounter a porcupine, and do all the things I expected her to do but hasn't... knock on woodSo ultimately, do the research and weigh the pros and cons.
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Comment on Assassins Creed Shadows and stealth in ~games
Asinine Link ParentI've been looking for a game that could match Tenchu for well, nearing 30 years now. I actually bought a PSX about 10 years ago when I got Tenchu on ebay... and went to play it and the disc...I've been looking for a game that could match Tenchu for well, nearing 30 years now. I actually bought a PSX about 10 years ago when I got Tenchu on ebay... and went to play it and the disc snapped in half. :(
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Comment on What does a newcomer moving to your town/city/state/country need to know? in ~life
Asinine Link ParentNot in any of the states I've regularly driven in, except for the outlier... (even in Texas), which only had that asshole big truck guy. But fuck that dude. It was usually always an awkward merge...Not in any of the states I've regularly driven in, except for the outlier... (even in Texas), which only had that asshole big truck guy. But fuck that dude.
It was usually always an awkward merge before necessary to keep everyone thinking "should I shift over, or no?" but also based on what was available. -
Comment on What does a newcomer moving to your town/city/state/country need to know? in ~life
Asinine Link ParentYour first point really makes me sad. I was privileged to live in Europe and driving only made sense there. I grew up in CA (California, not Canadia ;), and it was typically a shitshow of options....Your first point really makes me sad.
I was privileged to live in Europe and driving only made sense there. I grew up in CA (California, not Canadia ;), and it was typically a shitshow of options. Now I live in New England, and it's hit or miss, but generally, the zipper effect is the baby Yoda way.Both Europe and NE should have had that it works in their brochures.
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Comment on How do you feel about your PTO? in ~life
Asinine LinkI'm in the US and work for a currently-held private company whose hedge fund is in the process of selling us to a public company... My PTO is amazing. My health care benefits are amazing. I've...I'm in the US and work for a currently-held private company whose hedge fund is in the process of selling us to a public company...
My PTO is amazing. My health care benefits are amazing. I've been with the company over 5 years, and the intro (under 5 years) level of PTO is 4.85 (that may be off by a bit) hours per 2-week paycheck. Currently I'm earning 6.92 hours, and when I hit 10 years (2029) it will bump up to around 8.
They used to let you purchase PTO at cost, and raises go in in March, so you used to be able to buy PTO and keep it and when you quit 20 years later, you paid original prices for but get the cash out of your current wages. Apparently this was triggered by the IRS as being "not okay", so I only have 160 hours there. But, still, every year you're allowed to buy up to 80 hours of PTO, which is divvied over the year... so I pay my current salary rates and it is divested back at me sometime in December. I never use it, as I always have plenty of normal-issued PTO, so I basically get a paycheck at the end of the year that I "saved up".Thing is, I'm really leery about the up and coming purchase and how that's going to affect me personally... it will make my business life easier, as the current company is cheap AF, but the reason we can't get funding to keep a lot of things tip-top is because we're enjoying these bonuses being run by a hedge fund...
All that being said, I top out at 192 hours of PTO, and I have enough vacations planned out this year that I will dip down to about 30% of that and get up to almost 60%. (That also increases into the 200s after year 10, but not an issue quite yet.) I did have to take some days off before I hit the 5 year mark due to the previous max PTO being 168 hours. But, it makes me realize I am definitely upper middle class and I have great options.
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Comment on Steam Spring Sale suggestions in ~games
Asinine Link ParentOn that note, I find it very frustrating that I cannot buy people a game on Steam without them being my friend. I'm a mod/admin on a discord for a decently popular game, and I'll occasionally buy...On that note, I find it very frustrating that I cannot buy people a game on Steam without them being my friend. I'm a mod/admin on a discord for a decently popular game, and I'll occasionally buy a copy for people. Sadly, I often resort to grey market options (though currently on my "favorite" it's not available, so that's fair) because it's safe to say I do not want to be steam friends with random internet people...
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Comment on Meta wins emergency arbitration ruling on tell-all book, Careless People by former employee Sarah Wynn-Williams - book promotion to be limited in ~books
Asinine LinkMmm, legalese. Should? Okay cool, but I shan't. Looks like I need a copy as well; thank you Barbara!Mmm, legalese.
The ruling says that Wynn-Williams should stop promoting the book and, to the extent she could, stop further publication. It did not order any action by the publisher.
Should? Okay cool, but I shan't. Looks like I need a copy as well; thank you Barbara!
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Comment on What works do you think should be added to the literary canon? in ~books
Asinine Link ParentYeah, I remember the frustrated feeling. I tried to read it since it was so "cool" after just having seen Conspiracy Theory, but it was such a struggle to finish.Yeah, I remember the frustrated feeling. I tried to read it since it was so "cool" after just having seen Conspiracy Theory, but it was such a struggle to finish.
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Comment on What works do you think should be added to the literary canon? in ~books
Asinine Link ParentNot gonna lie, I remember very little from Gatsby... something about a car wreck, possibly involving the rich dude's cheating wife? Maybe a secret room in the mansion... I just know I remembered...Not gonna lie, I remember very little from Gatsby... something about a car wreck, possibly involving the rich dude's cheating wife? Maybe a secret room in the mansion... I just know I remembered thinking that Nancy Drew held my attention better. Granted, 40s me likely would see it much differently than early 20s me, so I really ought to give it another go.
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Comment on What works do you think should be added to the literary canon? in ~books
Asinine Link ParentI should read The Great Gatsby again and see if it maybe is more tolerable. That also goes for Catcher in the Rye. I just finished Kerouac's The Sea is my Brother and it falls into those books'...I should read The Great Gatsby again and see if it maybe is more tolerable. That also goes for Catcher in the Rye. I just finished Kerouac's The Sea is my Brother and it falls into those books' category... I feel they're just stories of boring day-to-day life [with some odd abnormalities thrown in to move a plot] that I think I'd write if I wrote a book. I feel that this is likely because I can't really create anything, just kind of regurgitate what I know with a few different flavors (pun totally intended).
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Comment on What are some good, non-microtransaction riddled mobile games? in ~games
Asinine Link ParentThat it is, but at least earlier levels are doable on the phone.That it is, but at least earlier levels are doable on the phone.
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Comment on Movie recommendations? in ~movies
Asinine Link ParentThat actually reminds me of The Abyss although I'm not sure it fits in here. The genre is not really my thing, although I loved the Matrix after being forced to watch it a few times... I saw it...That actually reminds me of The Abyss although I'm not sure it fits in here. The genre is not really my thing, although I loved the Matrix after being forced to watch it a few times...
I saw it (the Abyss) for a friend's half-birthday in March as his birthday typically landed when school started back up. And his family had a friend with a full surround sound and a laser disc... which apparently had a lot more than the in-movie or VHS options had. Now that I think of it, I suspect this was around '95, so I may have some false memories...
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Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
Asinine LinkI grew up hating cooked cereals, but I've lately loved having some frozen berries in raw rolled oats with some milk and a dash of sugar. It's a serving of fruits and decent carbs (I generally...I grew up hating cooked cereals, but I've lately loved having some frozen berries in raw rolled oats with some milk and a dash of sugar. It's a serving of fruits and decent carbs (I generally avoid carbs but eh), and I can throw it together with minimal effort after my crap drive home from work.
I was doing overnight oats with steel-cut (also would add the berries and sweetener), but ran out of the oats and the store didn't have them when I went back. So when I'm done with the rolled, I'll get the steel-cut again.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Asinine Link ParentMy superpower is determining what the main questline is then avoiding it like the plague. I've always hated being railroaded, and KCD was amazing to play for me. Obviously your mileage seems to...My superpower is determining what the main questline is then avoiding it like the plague. I've always hated being railroaded, and KCD was amazing to play for me. Obviously your mileage seems to vary, but if that's an aspect that appeals to you, it does well.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Asinine Link ParentI gave my Deck to my SO, because I've always been more of a desktop gamer than a handheld/platform one. I originally bought a bunch of recommended-for-Deck games (and a couple I wanted that were...I gave my Deck to my SO, because I've always been more of a desktop gamer than a handheld/platform one. I originally bought a bunch of recommended-for-Deck games (and a couple I wanted that were ranked great for it) when I got it, and interestingly enough I didn't care for most of them in the long run (that is, played on the desktop). The top were Ryse Son of Rome (I actually think I'd like it if I played on desktop, just haven't tried yet... 2 years later haha. I actually did try but the controls were a bit much for keyboard so I tried on the Deck a bit to figure what was what then lost interest), Horizon Zero Dawn (watched the SO play it but the vibe is just so... I dunno, not jiving with me - even on desktop. On the Deck I couldn't read the text, which was blurry, despite it being verified), and Hollow Knight/Braid. Also I learned I really just don't like platformers.
I also got Super Blood Hockey which was basically all I played, but I'd have to make an effort to do so. Kind of lame overall, which is why I gave it up.As @notcoffeetable stated, it's a where, not what. I got into PSX and Xbox/Xbox2 a bit, but I've never really been into the portable options, except when my cousins would bring their Game Boys at Christmas and we'd play Tetris.
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Comment on Grammar errors that actually matter, or: the thread where we all become prescriptivists in ~humanities.languages
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Comment on Dystopian book recommendations in ~books
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Comment on What were some artists, groups or albums that had an influence on you before you were old enough to choose for yourself? in ~music
Asinine Link ParentI got really good at chopping and cutting and whatnot, and even was pretty pro with the honing steel. I have since nicked my thumb good enough that I only didn't chop off the tip because of my...I got really good at chopping and cutting and whatnot, and even was pretty pro with the honing steel.
I have since nicked my thumb good enough that I only didn't chop off the tip because of my thumbnail, and I've wrecked my fingers a whole lot since. And I can't hone anymore... :)
But yeah, it helped me learn how to cook, and I learned that I loved to do it.
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Comment on What were some artists, groups or albums that had an influence on you before you were old enough to choose for yourself? in ~music
Asinine LinkI grew up with a mother who gave me my 10 seconds of national fame when I was a year old when she was on Name that Tune. She lost (I saw the recording once, and while there was a lot of "she was...I grew up with a mother who gave me my 10 seconds of national fame when I was a year old when she was on Name that Tune. She lost (I saw the recording once, and while there was a lot of "she was cheated" banter regarding it, I only remember the other contestant not knowing an answer so it swapped to her turn, so she just started blurting out options trying to brainstorm. She knew the answer but it was "on the tip of her tongue" and knowing her now, she'll just start spewing out everything similar until she gets it. She was doing that and the other guy said the answer even though her turn wasn't over, and they gave it to him. At like age 7, even I knew that's not how the game worked), but she got a "year's supply of Peppermint Patties" and a pretty sweet stereo system my dad was still using even 10 years ago.
I remember she had Stevie Wonder's double album Songs in the Key of Life because it was one of the few she kept that we'd listen to. Naturally, it had "Isn't She Lovely" because that was my song and also every other girl who was born after late '76 for a while...She got "saved" in the early/mid 80s, which cut out all music that wasn't Christian (and also homeschooled us, which I don't really think is correlated and I am very happy that happened... the homeschooled part, not the ditching good music part). But I remember her listening to a lot of R&B and some disco, though I believe I only know the disco memory because she'd sing quips to us during bits of our life (my brother and I loved baseball, so if we were playing and ran and tripped/fell, she'd sing something like "ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST!" or if I was fanning a polaroid pic, she'd sing "Shake shake shake, shake that booty!") Granted, despite a lot of the crappy Christian music, some reminded me of Jim Croce as well.
Around 10 or 11, I remember hanging with my neighbor across the street and she introduced me to how you could put other tapes in Teddy Ruxpin. It didn't quite work with her new favorite tape, so we usually listened to NWA in a normal boombox. (Later, I'd get my older cousin to show me it could be done with a band called Black Sabbath. Nothing quite like NWA, but I did like their music.)
At 16 (in the 90s), I finally got my drivers license and found a local radio station I liked. It had a lot of R&B, pop, etc... I remember re-hearing some Madonna and learning TLC, Salt N' Pepa, etc... I loved it. But soon I started working my first job at a local pizza joint where I was basically the prep cook. Business was miserable and they went out of business within a year, but... one coworker would swap the radio station from the "classics" the owner insisted playing (Frank Sinatra, et al) to rock. I preferred the rock but didn't really pick up much of anything, though I knew a few stations that I'd listen to by then... then this song came on.
He immediately was like... uh, I'm gonna change this song. It boggled my mind, and I told him it sounded awesome. He chuckled and said we could leave it on but we'd have to change it if anyone came in. I asked why... turns out, the main chorus states "I want to fuck you like an animal".
Interestingly enough, soon after I swung fully into grunge, rock, and that stuff but still had a soft spot for rap and R&B.
So, long story short: I found Napster, moved out, and got DSL. An online crushed recommended me this one band Muse, and I loved their first album. I dated a guy who showed me I hated the Shins before they were cool. Grunge and rap still hold a huge spot in my heart, though a lot has changed since then. I guess this got ramble-y.
Short story long: anything by Dickens.
Or just a tow truck in Houston typically any day... :(