Captain_Wacky's recent activity
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Comment on The CEO of UnitedHealthcare (insurance company) has been assassinated in NYC in ~news
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Comment on Oscars: Conan O’Brien will host Hollywood’s biggest night in ~movies
Captain_Wacky LinkThis is how you know they're really desperate. /sThis is how you know they're really desperate. /s
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Comment on Why US Democrats won't build their own Joe Rogan in ~society
Captain_Wacky Link ParentSomewhat, but I think that may have been more accurate in a past version of him. He is (like all people, and in further comparison to Rogan) quite a messy person in the sense that it's not easy to...Somewhat, but I think that may have been more accurate in a past version of him. He is (like all people, and in further comparison to Rogan) quite a messy person in the sense that it's not easy to pin him down and neatly fit him into any one ideological "box." Certainly, he's out there in the left part of the spectrum, like Rogan hangs around on the right, but to zero in any further would yield an incomplete picture.
For anyone who's not familiar with Robert Evans (the host), off the top of my head:
He likes guns. Wants gun control. Hates cops. Hates fascists in general, and actively protests against them. Is critical of the Kennedy legacy and what it's done to color any and all actions of the Democratic party. Has done a multi part series on Jefferson and his slave ownership. Hates unfettered capitalism and sees the irony of his show being hosted by iHeartRadio and is open about it. Has done pieces on subjects like the Bhopal disaster and the Battle for Blair Mountain. Has criticized toxic masculinity in mass media, and has done a piece on the "mens adventure magazines" of the 50s and 60s. Was/is very much into recreational drugs.
Recently he said something to the effect that "his pipe dream in life is just to buy a shit ton of land and have a compound, so he can fire a gun in any direction and not hit anyone."
Whether that qualifies to be anarchic or libertarian, idk. I may be wrong on that, the more I look at my above collection of anecdotes, but I think the "leftist Joe Rogan/anti-Rogan" comparison is still apt.
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Comment on Why US Democrats won't build their own Joe Rogan in ~society
Captain_Wacky LinkPure spit balling here, but I think the closest that the left could have to a "Joe Rogan" analog may be in the host of the "Behind the Bastards" podcast, but I don't think he would entertain the...Pure spit balling here, but I think the closest that the left could have to a "Joe Rogan" analog may be in the host of the "Behind the Bastards" podcast, but I don't think he would entertain the idea unless the Democrat Reform to something more progressive was already complete, as he's presented multiple criticisms of the Democratic party in it's current form, and has stated his personal beliefs are more Libertarian in nature.
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Comment on Dockworkers' union to suspend strike in US until Jan. 15, source says in ~transport
Captain_Wacky LinkAs far as union goals go, I think returning to work was a mistake. By returning to work, they're letting the last of the Christmas stuff get through, and now nobody in Corporate-land is going to...As far as union goals go, I think returning to work was a mistake.
By returning to work, they're letting the last of the Christmas stuff get through, and now nobody in Corporate-land is going to listen.
They had Santa by the balls. They should have squeezed.
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Comment on The Minimal Phone in ~tech
Captain_Wacky LinkThe sales pitch about mental health and screen time, all while having Reddit preloaded, and access to the app store (and therefore all the other unhealthy apps and habits that cell phones provide)...The sales pitch about mental health and screen time, all while having Reddit preloaded, and access to the app store (and therefore all the other unhealthy apps and habits that cell phones provide) tells me everything I need to know about the product and it's makers.
Also, what's the point of having a camera on an E-Ink device? You want to go minimal, commit to it and don't even feature the camera.
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Giant pigeon to loom over New York
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Comment on Donald Trump whisked off stage in Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd in ~news
Captain_Wacky LinkWell, this certainly appears a lot more dramatic than the last time the Secret Service had a scare with Trump, namely the incident in 2016 where someone rushed the stage. However, that incident...Well, this certainly appears a lot more dramatic than the last time the Secret Service had a scare with Trump, namely the incident in 2016 where someone rushed the stage.
However, that incident has largely been forgotten about, almost 8 years later.
That being said, today's was a lot more dramatic than a single maroon bum-rushing a stage. I guess the big takeaway for right now is: we've seen something tangent to this before, with Trump. We can take a deep breath and find some comfort in that, somehow.
This is familiar ground. Somewhat.
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Comment on Captain America: Brave New World | Official teaser in ~movies
Captain_Wacky Link ParentDC has a number of cherry trees gifted to them from Japan, who will replenish stock (shipping from the mainland itself, IIRC) to maintain a specific number, the exact number also escapes me. Don't...DC has a number of cherry trees gifted to them from Japan, who will replenish stock (shipping from the mainland itself, IIRC) to maintain a specific number, the exact number also escapes me.
Don't think they're present in Arlington, (I think I saw Arlington in the trailer) but they're definitely in abundance at the tidal basin. In fact, I want to say most, if not all the gift trees are there.
The trees themselves are a part of the DC culture, and with the microcosm of Japanese culture that's also within DC, they hold an annual cherry blossom festival in March/April, and have been doing so since at least the 1950's.
With all that being said, I will agree with the blossom backdrop feeling out of place with the iconography and imagery. They're not really the first thing that comes to mind when DC gets mentioned.
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Comment on They came from Italy. Now, they outnumber us all. in ~enviro
Captain_Wacky LinkA fun little informative read about an unlikely mascot from the city of Cincinnati, Ohio.A fun little informative read about an unlikely mascot from the city of Cincinnati, Ohio.
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They came from Italy. Now, they outnumber us all.
18 votes -
Comment on The most profound cosmic horror or weird lit stories you've read that are not Lovecraft or Ligotti in ~books
Captain_Wacky LinkSome of Jorge Luis Borges' short stories can easily be considered "horror adjacent," and like to ponder the metaphysical. Subjects like a child with perfect memory at the expense of practically...Some of Jorge Luis Borges' short stories can easily be considered "horror adjacent," and like to ponder the metaphysical.
Subjects like a child with perfect memory at the expense of practically everything else. Man attempting to simulate a man by means of "manual dreaming," only to realize that the dreamer himself is the subject of another's "dream"/simulation. A garden landscape with a corridor lined with spires that slowly change color with red at one end to yellow at the other, and the gradient so gradual and spires so many that the change goes undetected to the human eye and mind. A library containing every possible combination/permutation of letters and characters, ever; and the human response to such a repository.
There's a lot to unpack with him. Also wrote a ton of essays, and poetry too, all about the same stuff.
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Comment on Ghosting isn't as cold-hearted as it seems, say psychologists — but people still hate it in ~life
Captain_Wacky LinkSure, the intent to harm may not be there, but it still denies the ghosted any opportunity at constructive criticism and growth. On the other hand, I'm sure there's cases where ghosting is...Sure, the intent to harm may not be there, but it still denies the ghosted any opportunity at constructive criticism and growth.
On the other hand, I'm sure there's cases where ghosting is acceptable. There's some batshit crazy people out there and if you have to isolate them from yourself ASAP then I can see ghosting being a legitimate option.
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Comment on Dear Mr. Borges, which translation should I read? in ~books
Captain_Wacky LinkAn informative and entertaining read, from the year 2018 by Medium, about translation efforts on Borges' writing.An informative and entertaining read, from the year 2018 by Medium, about translation efforts on Borges' writing.
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Dear Mr. Borges, which translation should I read?
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~books
Captain_Wacky LinkJorge Luis Borges is known for his short stories and his poetry, and he frequently mused over topics like labyrinths, mirrors, the infinite, recursion, repositories/archives, dreams, as well as...Jorge Luis Borges is known for his short stories and his poetry, and he frequently mused over topics like labyrinths, mirrors, the infinite, recursion, repositories/archives, dreams, as well as the pantheon of "The Classical" gods, typically as a combination of some/all of the above.
A quick example, "The Book of Sand." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiyoFL0sU_U
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Captain_Wacky LinkJose Saramago's "Death With Interruptions" is a lovely musing into the idea that "Lady Death" is real, and decides to take a break at her job for a little while. He mulls over how humanity handles...Jose Saramago's "Death With Interruptions" is a lovely musing into the idea that "Lady Death" is real, and decides to take a break at her job for a little while.
He mulls over how humanity handles their newfound immortality; how the govt, deathcare, and life insurance companies cope with their new reality, and how things are handled when she returns, and it's all packaged nicely in at a little over 200 pages.
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Comment on Birthrates are plummeting worldwide. Why? in ~life
Captain_Wacky Link ParentI work for the post office. You would not believe how many suburbanite parents hang around at the bus stop, all in their cars, partially because they themselves don't want to walk to the stop, and...I work for the post office.
You would not believe how many suburbanite parents hang around at the bus stop, all in their cars, partially because they themselves don't want to walk to the stop, and so their child doesn't have to walk the street-and-a-half distance. I see only one or two parents hanging around, not in a car, walking back with their children.
I'll also see about three or four kids total out on bikes. Idk any exact number, but I'd roughly estimate about 20 kids or various ages in the neighborhood.
Now with all that being said, I should my experiences are limited to three bus stops in the same neighborhood, and are purely anecdotal. That being said, it doesn't take a PhD to realize that nothing about this is healthy or sustainable.
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Any books for a beginner Go player?
Discovered Go not too long ago, finding it quite enjoyable. I know there's plenty of reading material out there, but I'm unaware of what exactly would be worthwhile, especially for someone who's...
Discovered Go not too long ago, finding it quite enjoyable.
I know there's plenty of reading material out there, but I'm unaware of what exactly would be worthwhile, especially for someone who's been dabbling around at it for 3 months at most.
Grateful for any and all suggestions!
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Comment on The death of a gun-rights warrior in ~life
Captain_Wacky Link ParentGod, I know that Republican doublethink is fantastic at this sort of thing, but you'd think the cognitive dissonance would be so blatantly apparent to the person in question. Sure, they're "free...God, I know that Republican doublethink is fantastic at this sort of thing, but you'd think the cognitive dissonance would be so blatantly apparent to the person in question.
Sure, they're "free from fear," but to conceal and carry (at least, to do so legally) means giving up access to a lot of those spaces that I'm sure the gun owner holds dear, as per the standard "No Weapons" sign on the doors of practically every corporate/suburbanite box store in existence.
Trying to picture it conjures imagery of Don Quixote trying to keep his delusions alive and well.
Doubtful, unfortunately. They're not gonna take money away from other Fortune 500 CEOs, just because one of their own was shot.
As far as I'm aware, the media hasn't released the name of the shooter or mentioned any motive. So there's also no real "boogieman" to attach this all to, yet.