Ellecram's recent activity
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Comment on How Donald Trump won, and how Kamala Harris lost in ~society
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Comment on My not so nice thoughts on Battlestar Galactica in ~tv
Ellecram Link ParentBSG will always be one of my favorite shows. I loved the world building and politics and the overall story even if some of the characters could be annoying. I always remember one of the comments...BSG will always be one of my favorite shows. I loved the world building and politics and the overall story even if some of the characters could be annoying.
I always remember one of the comments made by Captain Adama about the difference between the military and the police:
"There's a reason you separate military and the police. One fights the enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people. When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the state tend to become the people." -
Comment on Loneliness can kill, and new research shows middle-aged Americans are particularly vulnerable in ~science
Ellecram Link ParentThe only opportunities near me are the library which I will likely sign up for. My health is a limiting factor since I came down with a couple unexpected long term conditions last year. On the...The only opportunities near me are the library which I will likely sign up for. My health is a limiting factor since I came down with a couple unexpected long term conditions last year.
On the positive side I am in therapy to try to make some plans in this area and I will be setting up an appointment with an attorney to help me with a lot of the legal issues.
Appreciate your comment.
I will rise to the occasion eventually. -
Comment on Loneliness can kill, and new research shows middle-aged Americans are particularly vulnerable in ~science
Ellecram Link ParentThank you. I do what I can but at my age I have lived a good life and fine with whatever happens.Thank you. I do what I can but at my age I have lived a good life and fine with whatever happens.
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Comment on Loneliness can kill, and new research shows middle-aged Americans are particularly vulnerable in ~science
Ellecram Link ParentI actually thought of that but it is not financially viable. I am not poor enough to get into the highrise/senior living in the community and far too poor to afford an independent senior community.I actually thought of that but it is not financially viable. I am not poor enough to get into the highrise/senior living in the community and far too poor to afford an independent senior community.
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Comment on Loneliness can kill, and new research shows middle-aged Americans are particularly vulnerable in ~science
Ellecram Link ParentMy entire immediate family are all deceased including my children. I am 66 and have been living alone since 2008. I am due to retire in another year and dreading it as my colleagues fulfill a...My entire immediate family are all deceased including my children. I am 66 and have been living alone since 2008. I am due to retire in another year and dreading it as my colleagues fulfill a daily communication need I no longer have.
I have lots of cousins and some friends that I see and travel with occasionally but it is the everyday interaction that will do me in. I am already planning on dying fairly soon after I retire and that is OK with me. -
Comment on Cutting-edge tech made the Netherlands a major exporter of food (2022) in ~enviro
Ellecram Link ParentI had the opportunity to visit the Netherlands last fall. We drove through and visited a lot of the countryside. They have an absolute massive agriculture industry. I was amazed.I had the opportunity to visit the Netherlands last fall. We drove through and visited a lot of the countryside. They have an absolute massive agriculture industry. I was amazed.
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Comment on Palm Springs capped Airbnb rentals. Now some home prices are in free-fall. in ~society
Ellecram LinkI live in a small town in rural PA. I have owned a really old house since 1996 in the small town where I live. These kinds of hoses are quite affordable and always have been. I've put a good bit...I live in a small town in rural PA. I have owned a really old house since 1996 in the small town where I live. These kinds of hoses are quite affordable and always have been. I've put a good bit of money in it over the years and it needs inside remodeling but it's served me well. I had to do this when I was getting divorced in 1996. Living in a nice ranch house with a huge yard wasn't hard yo give up. This smaller property was easier for me to take care of.
Now that I am near retirement I am just going to sell it and try to find an apartment. I will likely need to move to a nearby larger town as there are extremely limited apartment options in my area.
I can't wait to not to have to take care of everything! I have to arrange for people to almost everything there days - cutting grass, handyman repairs, etc. -
Comment on I'm in Netherlands for work. Any recommendations? in ~travel
Ellecram (edited )LinkYou could take a train into Amsterdam. There are all kinds of things to do there from museums to canal boat tours of all kinds and awesome places to eat. Depends on what you like to do. I think...You could take a train into Amsterdam. There are all kinds of things to do there from museums to canal boat tours of all kinds and awesome places to eat. Depends on what you like to do.
I think the train ride is about an hour or so depending on what kind of train you take.
If you do just be very careful walking around as the bicycle riders are numerous and fast! -
Comment on Hahaha we live in hell: "how do we pay for parking?" in ~tech
Ellecram Link ParentI did not know that! Good bit of knowledge to tuck away just in case.I did not know that! Good bit of knowledge to tuck away just in case.
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Comment on Hahaha we live in hell: "how do we pay for parking?" in ~tech
Ellecram (edited )Link ParentThis happened to me and my cousin a few months ago in a parking garage on the south side of Pittsburgh. Apparently neither of us noticed that you needed to read a QR code to get out of the parking...This happened to me and my cousin a few months ago in a parking garage on the south side of Pittsburgh. Apparently neither of us noticed that you needed to read a QR code to get out of the parking garage.
I can understand taking the risk to park on a street or open parking area w/o payment but those garages lock you in with those gates that one cannot get through.
Thankfully she had a cell phone with QR reader capability because I certainly didn't. My phone was on its last leg and barely functioning.
There was no one there, no numbers to call, no way to get out of the lot without reading the QR code.
Nightmare!
What the hell would I have done if I were by myself at the point? Call the police? How would I get out?
This is the first time I have run across this insanity and it has me concerned. -
Comment on Want employees to return to the office? Then give each one an office. in ~life
Ellecram Link ParentMy agency allows a few work from home days per month depending on the worker/situations. However, my agency provides social work/child protection services which requires a lot of in person...My agency allows a few work from home days per month depending on the worker/situations.
However, my agency provides social work/child protection services which requires a lot of in person contact.
We all have our own offices with doors. I love it.I worked from home about a week during covid and was relieved I was allowed to come back full time during that period.
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (August 2023) in ~health.mental
Ellecram LinkNot doing well at all. Have been trying to arrange therapy for multiple issues including anxiety, life transition, unresolved grief, health issues, etc. Nothing life threatening. I have good...Not doing well at all. Have been trying to arrange therapy for multiple issues including anxiety, life transition, unresolved grief, health issues, etc. Nothing life threatening.
I have good insurance but just can't seem to find anyone. Either there are no openings or they can't figure out how to do the billing, etc.
Have worked with my HR rep and even gave the Employee Assistance Program a try to no avail.
I do need face to face therapy. I've lost everyone in my family and need human contact - virtual would be unsatisfying.
It's really frustrating.
I've needed therapy before and it's never been an issue. My last therapy was about 15 years ago when my son died.
My doctor has prescribed klonopin for my anxiety which has escalated over the last several months but medication isn't the only treatment. -
Comment on Are you currently learning a new language? Are there any languages that are on your wishlist to learn? in ~humanities.languages
Ellecram Link ParentThank you for your reply. I always enjoy the opportunity to use a few brief German phrases when I travel there. Most of the time people seem to understand me then they just start speaking English LOL!Thank you for your reply. I always enjoy the opportunity to use a few brief German phrases when I travel there.
Most of the time people seem to understand me then they just start speaking English LOL! -
Comment on Are you currently learning a new language? Are there any languages that are on your wishlist to learn? in ~humanities.languages
Ellecram Link ParentI have never tried any of the Asian languages. It does help if you have someone to practice with!I have never tried any of the Asian languages. It does help if you have someone to practice with!
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Comment on Are you currently learning a new language? Are there any languages that are on your wishlist to learn? in ~humanities.languages
Ellecram (edited )LinkI am currently studying German again. I travel to Germany and surrounding countries every few years and some of the language has actually stuck with me. However, I need to refresh my vocabulary. I...I am currently studying German again. I travel to Germany and surrounding countries every few years and some of the language has actually stuck with me.
However, I need to refresh my vocabulary.
I cannot seem to get the hang of verb tenses and word order but as long as I know enough to be polite I am fine.
I studied French in college for 2 semesters and learned to read and write fairly well but the pronunciation always trips me up. I have Canadian relatives who helped me during that time. Practice partners enriched my experience.
I recently traveled to Denmark and Norway to visit family and had a bit of difficulty with those LOL!
I also had difficulty with the Czech language although I did finally learn how to say "thank you" by the end of my time in that country. -
Comment on What are the best cover songs that reinterpret the original into a different genre, style, or mood? in ~music
Ellecram Link ParentMany thanks. I didn't even think to make links LOL.Many thanks. I didn't even think to make links LOL.
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Comment on What are the best cover songs that reinterpret the original into a different genre, style, or mood? in ~music
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Comment on What are the best cover songs that reinterpret the original into a different genre, style, or mood? in ~music
Ellecram Link ParentI listed this in my comment as well. The Dead South totally changes the tenor & mood of the song. It's amazing!I listed this in my comment as well. The Dead South totally changes the tenor & mood of the song.
It's amazing! -
Comment on What is one of your favourite plant-based dishes? in ~food
Ellecram LinkZucchini bread, eggplant parmigiana, & chickpea/cucumber salad.Zucchini bread, eggplant parmigiana, & chickpea/cucumber salad.
Democrats do not have the massive propaganda outlets that the Republicans have. The Republicans have monopolized most of the available platforms - television, AM & FM radio, Sirius radio, twitter, many newspapers, and whatever else I have missed. Talk radio on Sirius and some other radio stations is insanely toxic.
This is essentially a media problem and we need to figure out to combat that or our message will never even be seen or heard.