JCPhoenix's recent activity
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Comment on Hooters | Bankrupt in ~food
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Comment on Consumer Electronics Show 2026 in ~tech
JCPhoenix Link ParentAlong those same lines, I got an email from iFixit today about Repair.org's "Worst in Show."Along those same lines, I got an email from iFixit today about Repair.org's "Worst in Show."
Repair.org, the repair industry trade association, announced the 2026 Worst in Show awards today, annual anti-awards that spotlight the most harmful, invasive, wasteful, and unfixable tech on display at CES.
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Comment on Judge laughs at TSA as Southwest fights $48 million fine for keeping passenger fees in ~transport
JCPhoenix LinkThis is something I've never thought of. Mostly because I almost always use travel credits I've received from airlines. I did once let ~$120 in Southwest flight credits expire after cancelling a...The fight boils down to a simple question: when a passenger cancels and never flies, who has to send the money back—an airline, or the government that collected the fee?
This is something I've never thought of. Mostly because I almost always use travel credits I've received from airlines. I did once let ~$120 in Southwest flight credits expire after cancelling a return leg of a round-trip flight. I -- or my employer since they paid for the flight -- should have gotten that $5.60 passenger security fee back.
I feel like there are a couple easy ways to deal with this.
- FORCE AIRLINES TO REFUND BACK TO ORIGINAL FORM OF PAYMENT! Unless the customer specifically requests travel credit. This would practically guarantee a refund of the passenger security fee, along with other unused taxes and government fees. I shouldn't have to pay for a more expensive, higher tier ticket to get a cash refund. But that's a separate argument for a different day.
- Since that'll never happen in the US, issue travel credit for the bulk of the ticket (ugh), but then separately refund the security fee and other unused taxes and government fees back to the original payment method.
I do think Southwest, or any airline (there's another court case, Hahn vs JetBlue, that's basically the same argument, but a customer bringing suit), should be the one refunding the fee. A commenter makes a great point:
Fundamentally, how is that any different from retailers who collect state and local sales taxes on behalf of a state and its subdivisions and then periodically remit those taxes to the state?
If a customer returns taxable goods to a retailer, the retailer refunds the sales tax collected and offsets the sales tax refunded to the customer against the next periodic remittance of sales tax to the state.
But given it's the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, it'll probably rule for Southwest. So TSA will be on the hook. Though if that's the case, doubt we'll see much movement by the government to get people their money. Especially these days.
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Judge laughs at TSA as Southwest fights $48 million fine for keeping passenger fees
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Comment on "Visa" Gift Cards - What should I be looking at? in ~finance
JCPhoenix (edited )Link ParentPrivacy is good. I use it for some things. Less so for privacy and more for the credit card fraud/identity theft protections if a merchant gets breached (creating single use cards, card that can...Privacy is good. I use it for some things. Less so for privacy and more for the credit card fraud/identity theft protections if a merchant gets breached (creating single use cards, card that can only be used at one merchant, spending caps, etc). That said, I actually don't know how much info is passed to the merchant. Their website says the following:
What information does Privacy share with the merchant?
When you transact using a Privacy Card, the information shared with the merchant by Privacy as part of the card transaction includes the 16-digit Card number, expiration date, CVV, and billing address entered at checkout.
Separate from your Privacy Card transaction, the merchant will also see your name when you provide it during checkout.
Privacy does not share personally identifiable information with merchants, though if there is a transaction dispute, merchants will be able to see the name that you provided during checkout.
Which sounds like you can use any name or address/zip code for these. I actually didn't know that! I always use my real info, again because I'm not using it primarily for privacy. Though of course, if someone is ordering a physical product, could be more difficult to hide a name and address from the merchant since they gotta send you something.
And of course, Privacy itself does have the user's personal information. Probably for KYC/AML purposes. Wonder how long they retain those records.
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Comment on Iran’s supreme leader signals harsher crackdown as protest movement swells in ~society
JCPhoenix Link ParentA user's analysis I saw elsewhere pointed out one thing different with this protest from past major protests. I don't know if it's true or not, since I don't know enough about Iranian protests of...A user's analysis I saw elsewhere pointed out one thing different with this protest from past major protests. I don't know if it's true or not, since I don't know enough about Iranian protests of the past. Other just hearing about them.
But the user pointed out -- or at least western media seems to be repeating -- that Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former Shah, being closer to the center of these protests. The few articles I've seen keep do referencing Pahlavi and crowds chanting in support of and calling for the crown prince.
Anyone closer to the ground here have any insight into this? Is there widespread support for the return of the the monarchy? Even if the monarch is just a figurehead going forward?
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Comment on What’s a point that you think many people missed? in ~talk
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Comment on "Ai ni, laoji": China's Gen Z is breaking tradition by learning self-love (English) in ~health.mental
JCPhoenix Link ParentI had heard of 996, but not 007 in this regard. That's impossible! Please say that's just like a meme or sarcasm based on the already insane 996.I had heard of 996, but not 007 in this regard. That's impossible! Please say that's just like a meme or sarcasm based on the already insane 996.
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Comment on Texas becomes first state to end American Bar Association oversight of law schools in ~society
JCPhoenix Link ParentPretty much all accreditation in the US is done this way, through regulatory non-profit organizations. At least on the higher-ed side. I worked for one of them for many years. In many ways, like...Pretty much all accreditation in the US is done this way, through regulatory non-profit organizations. At least on the higher-ed side. I worked for one of them for many years.
In many ways, like much of US history and culture, it's due to distrust of government. Same reason why the Federal Reserve system, outside of the Board of the Governors, is only quasi-governmental. Don't let the government have full control (I think there are also constitutional stipulations to this, particularly 10th Amendment, but I ain't a lawyer). And this administration is very likely a fine example of what these seemingly bizarre regulatory setups are protecting us from.
That said, there is a certain level of gatekeeping that these organizations do. Which some may think is less than ideal. Certainly it is possible for a college to have a great law school, with great professors, rigorous standards, etc, to not be ABA accredited. Why should those graduates from said school not be able to sit for the Texas state bar exam? Why shouldn't the bar exam be the only determiner? Thinking about it the other way, I'm sure there are poorly-skilled lawyers who barely graduated from an ABA-accredited program, were able to sit for the bar and barely pass it, but can now practice in Texas. I don't think I'd want someone like that as my lawyer! So is the system really doing what it's designed to do? Or is it just gatekeeping for some other reason?
The accrediting body I worked for (which was CHEA/USDE-recognized; essentially we ourselves were accredited) actually dealt with this. I don't want to give out too much info, but for a while, many states only allowed students who graduated from schools accredited by a competing organization to sit for something akin to a bar exam or PE exam for that field. Which didn't seem very fair to graduates from schools we accredited. So we lobbied to get that changed in some states. So now some states say that graduates from both my former organization and the competing organization are eligible to sit for the exam. We literally opened the doors for additional potentially qualified people to enter that field. Is that a bad thing? I don't think so. Though I suppose time will tell.
So yeah. I think it's not as clear cut as Texas just be stupid fucking Texas as usual.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
JCPhoenix Link ParentNice! Glad to hear that there's hopefully some reason for all this. Have you played any of the spin-off games? Worth playing?Nice! Glad to hear that there's hopefully some reason for all this. Have you played any of the spin-off games? Worth playing?
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
JCPhoenix LinkSince I've been watching the anime Gnosia, that kinda triggered an itch to play some Danganronpa v3, the third in the main series. I started v3 back in 2023, but then put it down because I just...Since I've been watching the anime Gnosia, that kinda triggered an itch to play some Danganronpa v3, the third in the main series. I started v3 back in 2023, but then put it down because I just could not stand most of the characters. They're mostly just assholes, seemingly for no reason. Which is pretty different from the first two games.
Having returned to the game, 2.5yrs later, I'm reminded how much I can't stand them. Some of them, like Miu Iruma, are also super edgy in a not that funny way. At one point someone calls her a "cum dumpster" and she's like "Someone's finally called me a cum dumpster...yay!!!" Like, tf? What is wrong with you? I get that she's very likely never had sex and knows nothing about sex, so she talks and acts like she gets around, but...why? Is that supposed to be funny? None of the other characters really talk about sex.
I'm hoping that these characters being this way is related to the overall story. That they were chosen for this latest "killing high school" -- it's kinda like the book Battle Royale, but the murders much more devious and stealthy, so that's why the remaining characters have to investigate and deduce who the killers are -- because of their terrible personalities. But frankly? I don't care if most of these characters die. I'm not attached to them like I was to the characters in the first two games. The characters that seemingly were worth a damn were killed early on in the game.
I'm halfway through the third class trial, which means I'm almost halfway through the game. At this point, I just wanna know the story, so I'm mostly using a guide. Maybe I should've just watched a Let's Play. But I'm committed. Again. For now anyway.
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Comment on What are some stories of progressivism gone wrong in implementation? in ~society
JCPhoenix Link ParentI wanted to buy a Fit when my old 04 Civic died...in 2021. So I ended up getting another Civic, and I was shocked at how chonky it was compared to my old Civic. The 04 model was clearly a...I wanted to buy a Fit when my old 04 Civic died...in 2021. So I ended up getting another Civic, and I was shocked at how chonky it was compared to my old Civic. The 04 model was clearly a subcompact. The 21 model, just a compact. Maybe even bigger.
And yeah, I remember when the Focus did become a reliable car. I was actually surprised reading about it and hearing that it was decent.
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Comment on What are some stories of progressivism gone wrong in implementation? in ~society
JCPhoenix Link ParentThere is certainly a curiosity about her. I think everyone wants to know, but how do you ask someone that? "Hey do you have autism? Are you on the spectrum?" What if she doesn't know that? Did we...There is certainly a curiosity about her. I think everyone wants to know, but how do you ask someone that? "Hey do you have autism? Are you on the spectrum?" What if she doesn't know that? Did we just call her, to use a possible pejorative, "autistic" to her face? That's pretty messed up. So it just goes unsaid. At this point, I think most people have simply accepted that the situation is what it is. And to just play to her strengths, the few she seems to have in a work environment.
As far as ADHD, I have several friends who have it. Confirmed cases and I think they're all on various meds for it. But I have one friend who I think might have it worse than the others.
He was telling me once that he needs reminders for his reminders, for his reminders. When he tries to remember that he needs to put something into a calendar or like on a post-it note, it could go two ways: either he just forgets to do it, or does it, but then forgets to look at said calendar or post-it note. And even if he does see the reminder, it can be gone from his mind moments later. He's tried all sorts of things over the years.
I was just like, "Holy...how do you function??" And the truth is, he only sorta does. He got let go from a job, because he couldn't show up to meetings on time, or missed them altogether, or would start the day late. Because he got distracted. He unfortunately never disclosed he had ADHD until he was getting "the talk." His boss supposedly told him that he wished my friend would've mentioned it beforehand, that he would've worked with my friend. But it was too late.
I think he's gotten better through different meds and finding a better therapist as well. He does have a job again that seems to be going well.
I actually hired him as a contractor at the non-profit to automate some really tedious work for us. Saved our team hundreds of hours of work. The other side of ADHD seems to be the ability to hyperfocus. And boy did he when I asked him to work on that project! Think I had to tell him to slow down so we could pay him for his time. I wanted him to take my position when I left (it's a chill enough environment that I think he'd've been alright), but I got overruled while interviewing. Instead, they hired the other shitshow over there. Sigh.
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Comment on I am kinda curious about the demographics of Tildes in ~talk
JCPhoenix Link38/M/Virginia (US). Single and ready to mingle...Bi myself, anyway. IT specialist (supposedly) with the US federal government. Midwesterner at heart. Gamer. Terminally online Internet addict....18/F/Cali38/M/Virginia (US). Single and ready to mingle...Bi myself, anyway. IT specialist (supposedly) with the US federal government. Midwesterner at heart. Gamer. Terminally online Internet addict. Enjoyer of naps and travel; sometimes even napping on travels -- I'm knocked out before the plane even pushes back from the gate! I have a cat who's currently getting cat hair all over my clean clothes that I'm too lazy to put away. Thanks, Lux. Real cool.
EDIT: Resident F1 watcher and race weekend thread poster.
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Comment on What are some stories of progressivism gone wrong in implementation? in ~society
JCPhoenix LinkNot sure this is really in the same vein, but I'll share it. At the small non-profit where I used to work for a long time, the organization was seeking a new employee for the membership...Not sure this is really in the same vein, but I'll share it. At the small non-profit where I used to work for a long time, the organization was seeking a new employee for the membership department. This was in the aftermath of the George Floyd protests. I'm not sure how we got this candidate, if they just applied through regular channels or if they were suggested to us, but we did end up hiring them. I was not involved in their hiring, nor got a chance to meet the candidate beforehand. Which was unusual since staff were often given a brief opportunity to meet a promising candidate.
Anyway, the candidate that was selected was a young black woman. Relatively recent college grad. And my CEO, a white dude, was very proud of this moment. Look at our organization! We're fullspeed into DEI!
Nevermind that I, an Asian guy, was on staff. Plus our senior admin assistant is a black woman. Our then-director of membership was Puerto Rican. Our then events planner, a friend of mine, is European; like born and raised in Europe. Plus our Latin American recruitment director was from and based in a South American country. And women are like 2/3 of the staff or so and some are in senior leadership. I'd say that's pretty diverse!
But whatever, I'm not against more diversity in the workplace. It's an international organization, so it is important, IMO. Plus diversity of viewpoints from various backgrounds is always good. Monoculture is not good.
Except it became quickly evident that this young lady was not a good fit. Even simple stuff like putting mailing labels on envelopes was, at times, a struggle for her. No matter how many times she was shown how to do it. Ask her to put together a list of like names and addresses in Excel and you'd get some just...weird, nonsensical spreadsheet. Like there was no order to it. Several people on staff thought she might be on the spectrum, especially because of how she spoke and acted. Which is another type of diversity, right? Neurodiversity. Was that known beforehand? Was that another reason she was brought on? No clue; the few people involved in her hiring, including the CEO, act like this was a total surprise from how they met her in the interviews.
Anyway, it got to the point where she was more hindrance than help. My friend, the European events planner, eventually became the membership manager and became her boss. And my god, the patience she had with this young lady. But it got to the point where our then-newest coworker wouldn't be given anything to work on. She'd sit in her office just watching anime on her phone all day. Which also frustrated people because she was being paid to do nothing. Some people busted their ass, 50-60+ hrs a week, including my friend, and here was someone getting paid 40hrs/week doing fuck-all.
The CEO was not blind to this. It got brought up to him several times, in private and even not really private conversations, that perhaps we should let her go. And he knew it. But I heard him say, more than once, "I can't fire a black woman! I'm a white man! How would that look?!" primarily referencing himself, as opposed to the organization. Which is also weird, because the like second person he fired at the org was a black woman back in like 2016. Not because she was black, but because she did shoddy work and had a poor attitude, which everyone knew. But I didn't hear him talk about race when he did that.
Anyway, this woman is still there, 4-5yrs later. She's doing some actual work these days, and even well at times, I hear from my friend who's still there. But it's still not at the level that's really needed. There's a lot my friend has to do herself because she can't give it to her subordinate. It wouldn't get done properly and my friend would just have to redo it.
Interestingly, the CEO got fired a few months ago. Not because of this...but I have my suspicions that it's not not because of this and other poor hiring decisions (my replacement is also a shitshow). Regardless, the org's "DEI hire" outlasted him!
I do think hiring for diversity purposes can be a good thing. But it shouldn't be the only thing. Still need to have the skills and drive and all that. And certainly neurodiverse folks -- if it was known this woman was neurodiverse beforehand -- can be very capable. Just as much as any NT person. Maybe more so. Not trying to paint with a wide brush here.
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
JCPhoenix LinkSo a couple months ago, the YouTube algorithm popped this up for me: Full Circle Boys - Free99 It was surprising to see a boy band from the US in 2025. I'm not normally one for pop, but it's...So a couple months ago, the YouTube algorithm popped this up for me: Full Circle Boys - Free99
It was surprising to see a boy band from the US in 2025. I'm not normally one for pop, but it's pretty catchy, the dancing is cool, and the video is pretty funny. Have had it on repeat the last few days.
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Comment on US strikes Venezuela and says its leader, Nicolas Maduro, has been captured and flown out of the country in ~society
JCPhoenix Link ParentThey can barely run this country. Let's see how well the administration can run another one at the same time. Though I have this fear that somehow Venezuela becomes like the Belgian Congo...They can barely run this country. Let's see how well the administration can run another one at the same time.
Though I have this fear that somehow Venezuela becomes like the Belgian Congo...
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Comment on US strikes Venezuela and says its leader, Nicolas Maduro, has been captured and flown out of the country in ~society
JCPhoenix Link ParentI wonder if in the next however many decades, we're going to see more countries drop nuclear nonproliferation. It's been pretty clear for awhile that if a country has nukes, no one is going to...I wonder if in the next however many decades, we're going to see more countries drop nuclear nonproliferation. It's been pretty clear for awhile that if a country has nukes, no one is going to stop said country from doing basically whatever they want. Ukraine was probably (up until today) the most recent victim of that. Which was even more unfortunate because they did have nukes at one point.
It was bad enough when we had Russia throwing around its weight with impunity. China has certainly been flexing its muscles in the region. Not saying the US hasn't done it, but the US has generally tried to appear restrained to some extent. Idk if that's actually better or not.
I get that it's quite difficult to develop and maintain nuclear capabilities. But we've also seen that's once started, it's not easy to end it by outside actors (see Iran and North Korea). And hey, maybe there are nuclear-capable countries who are less scrupulous about NNPF, especially if cash and other concessions are sent their way.
I know for many countries, the "liberal rules-based order" lauded and imposed by the West, often driven by the US, has always appeared or been outright farcical. But it's actually dead now. Like full mask off. Wretched indeed.
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Comment on Tildes Minecraft - Season 3 Launch Day in ~games
JCPhoenix Link ParentPerfect, thank you! Though I wonder if I should look at some client side mods...Meh, I'll figure out what, if anything, I need once I jump on the server and start playing a bit.Perfect, thank you!
Though I wonder if I should look at some client side mods...Meh, I'll figure out what, if anything, I need once I jump on the server and start playing a bit.
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Comment on Tildes Minecraft - Season 3 Launch Day in ~games
JCPhoenix Link ParentOK, I feel dumb, but I haven't played Minecraft in a long time, especially with mods and all that. Though I think I jumped on the Tildes MC client briefly one day at least a year ago? But I don't...OK, I feel dumb, but I haven't played Minecraft in a long time, especially with mods and all that. Though I think I jumped on the Tildes MC client briefly one day at least a year ago? But I don't remember downloading and installing mods and such...
Do I use the Curse client to get all these? Or will they automatically download when I connect?
The only time I've been to Hooters was senior year of high school with my dad. It was 2005 and it was like a night or two before Prom. My dad wanted to have a man-to-man talk and tell me that if me and my date -- my then GF -- were going to have "some fun" afterwards, to be sure to play it safe. Which we already had been doing. Though tbf, he wouldn't have known that.
Why he chose Hooters to have that conversation, I have no clue. Like why couldn't we have just gone to a normal suburban restaurant like Applebees or Chili's? And yeah the food was pretty mediocre. Avoided Hooters and other restaurants like it since. Because why go to a restaurant if the main appeal isn't the food?