Seclusion's recent activity
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Comment on Gut check on contractor quote in ~life.home_improvement
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Comment on Looking for recommendations for sci-fi books with a 'body snatchers' theme of human possession or replacement in ~books
Seclusion LinkI think it's worth mentioning Mira Grant's Parasite. I enjoyed their Newsflesh series, so I started this one. I haven't finished the series, but I feel that it falls into the "Bodysnatchers" category. -
Comment on What field do you work? And do you love your work and workplace? in ~talk
Seclusion LinkI work in the chemical industry. Specifically, sanitation chemicals and sanitizers. My job used to be to visit production facilities, observe their processes, audit their methods, give advice, and...I work in the chemical industry. Specifically, sanitation chemicals and sanitizers. My job used to be to visit production facilities, observe their processes, audit their methods, give advice, and write reports. It was a lot of problem-solving and relationship-building. I loved every second of it. Any time I wasn't in the field, I was researching white papers on new methods and products, looking for new verticals we could tap into to expand our offerings, watching and talking to the competition to get an understanding of how we could compete. It was awesome.
However, through some poor corporate decisions and general mismanagement, my priorities, and thusly, my job description have changed. I am now a salesperson. I have been instructed to spend 95% of my time knocking on doors, peddling soap. My time with my current customers has plummeted, to the point they're making comments about not seeing my 'smiling face' as much. I have to report every sales call I do in an Excel sheet, an online portal, and on weekly video calls, all to the same people. Despite being here five years and discussing my utter disinterest in sales during my interview, I have still been relegated into this position.
I work with some great people and I believe in the product, but I absolutely loathe what I am doing. I am miserable. Even when I attempt to explain that I am not trained, experienced, or motivated to be a salesperson, I am met with disregard simply because 'this is a sales position'. I have started to look elsewhere, but unless I want to continue in sales, it looks like I will have to leave the industry.
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Comment on The importance of handwriting is becoming better understood in ~humanities
Seclusion LinkThis is very interesting. As someone who has always been into technology, when I started college, (over 15 years ago, which I just realized) I remember trying to type my notes in class and finding...This is very interesting. As someone who has always been into technology, when I started college, (over 15 years ago, which I just realized) I remember trying to type my notes in class and finding that I didn't understand anything when reviewing them. I had to go back to hand-writing them just to get the material. To this day, I still hand-write notes in meetings so I can absorb the discussion.
Having a first grader now, I have always advocated for them to focus on writing, so it's studies like this and my own personal experiences that just reinforce the need to push for a focus on writing. I will have to make sure I pay attention to the curriculum to ensure that things are being taught/utilized.
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Comment on What are your favorite break up songs? Or my lover left me songs? in ~music
Seclusion LinkDo I Wanna Know? - Arctic Monkeys This is a great song to drink to while thinking.Do I Wanna Know? - Arctic Monkeys
This is a great song to drink to while thinking.
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Comment on Are you using WiFi 6E in a home/home office setting? Have you seen any benefit to the 6GHz channel? in ~tech
Seclusion Link ParentI have the same one and I, too am impressed with it. My old router would only cover about 75% of my 1000 sq. ft. house and wifi outside was just not happening. Now, with the mesh setup, I'll have...I have the same one and I, too am impressed with it. My old router would only cover about 75% of my 1000 sq. ft. house and wifi outside was just not happening. Now, with the mesh setup, I'll have my car on the street before it loses signal. Absolutely worth getting.
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Comment on The US dairy industry is trying to outlaw plant-based “milk” labels—again in ~food
Seclusion Link ParentThis is the most recent ruling Essentially, it's not the standard, but they're choosing when and where to enforce it. This is what makes standards of identity a problem.This is the most recent ruling
FDA believes that food standards should provide for flexibility in manufacturing procedures and ingredients, provided that the basic nature and essential characteristics of the food are preserved. Given the oversupply of UF milk and the pending rulemaking, through this guidance, we are announcing our intent to exercise enforcement discretion regarding the use of fluid UF milk and fluid UF nonfat milk in the production of standardized cheeses and related cheese products under 21 CFR part 133, in addition to the other required dairy ingredients, provided that the physical, chemical, and organoleptic properties of the cheese or cheese product are not affected.
Essentially, it's not the standard, but they're choosing when and where to enforce it. This is what makes standards of identity a problem.
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Comment on The US dairy industry is trying to outlaw plant-based “milk” labels—again in ~food
Seclusion Link ParentI don't disagree with you. I think the problem is that if you get to the heart of it, the bulk of the dairy industry is a bunch of traditionalists who dislike change. This trend shows an impact to...I don't disagree with you. I think the problem is that if you get to the heart of it, the bulk of the dairy industry is a bunch of traditionalists who dislike change. This trend shows an impact to their bottom line and is radically different to their world views, so they're going to fight it tooth and nail.
I don't think any reasonable person is going to be confused about the fact that oat milk is not technically milk, but unfortunately with food production, there has to be a set of very specific standards in place, so this is going to go on until someone decides the legal jargon required to define what is milk and what isn't.
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Comment on The US dairy industry is trying to outlaw plant-based “milk” labels—again in ~food
Seclusion LinkThis is such an interesting fight. As someone who lives in a dairy-heavy state and works in the dairy industry, I'm quite familiar with the situation. The long story and basis for both sides of...This is such an interesting fight. As someone who lives in a dairy-heavy state and works in the dairy industry, I'm quite familiar with the situation. The long story and basis for both sides of the argument is one of tradition and business savvy.
If you want to go way back, there is a precedent for the point they are making. The milk alternatives really aren't milk, just like there are cheeses that aren't really cheese. Why do you think Velveeta can sit in a box, out of the refrigerator? Because it's actually labeled "cheese product". In the industry, it's known as processed cheese and is made of some cheese flavors and oils/emulsifiers (interestingly very similar to plant-based cheese). So, there is a legal, and enforced standard for cheese, thereby forcing Velveeta to be labeled "cheese product".
Now, if this were the only thing going on, one could argue that the precedent is there and has been upheld for decades, so clearly you have dairy, and "dairy product" classifications and everyone moves on with their lives. But the dairy industry is also making another push regarding the classification of milk via UF, or Ultra Filtered milk. UF milk is run through a filtration process where a portion of water is removed, thereby making it more concentrated. The dairy industry is pushing to include UF milk on a label as just "milk", after all, nothing is added, and only water is removed, so it's still just milk, right?
That's where I think the crux in this lies. How can they be sticklers for "cheese product" and milk alternatives, simply because those aren't really milk/cheese, and yet, UF milk, ultimately, isn't truly milk either. They're playing both sides of the argument, and it feels a little disingenuous. And this same fight is being fought against plant-based cheeses as well, claiming those aren't cheeses!, all the while, spinning up production on plant-based cheeses themselves to get in on the trend.
I understand the need to protect their brands, but I would think they should either maintain the purity standard and just accept labelling UF milk, or leave milk alternatives alone.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Seclusion LinkI found and started playing Dyson Sphere Program. As someone who spent hundreds of hours playing Satisfactory, this scratches that itch. In fact, the more I play it, I think I like Dyson Sphere...I found and started playing Dyson Sphere Program. As someone who spent hundreds of hours playing Satisfactory, this scratches that itch. In fact, the more I play it, I think I like Dyson Sphere Program more.
It's all of the fun of figuring out the logistics of a giant factory, tangling all of your conveyors like spaghetti, and pushing for optimization; but there aren't enemies to fight, so you're free to just go and build.
I really like how even if you're not producing enough power, everything doesn't just shut down, it runs at reduced capacity so you can work to increase your output.
There's also a more robust production design. There's a whole subset of multiplying your production, stacking materials on belts, and making things more efficient.
I'm looking forward to unlocking the rest of the research and building the sphere!
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Comment on Rooster Teeth announces that Achievement Hunter is shutting down after fifteen years in ~games
Seclusion Link ParentYou're right. My comment sort of spiraled into a complaint-fest, so I apologize, but hopefully they start addressing the tech as the gateway to the content; especially with FIRST seeming like the...You're right. My comment sort of spiraled into a complaint-fest, so I apologize, but hopefully they start addressing the tech as the gateway to the content; especially with FIRST seeming like the priority model, because it pushes people from YouTube to their site.
I agree that the comparison to Patreon is beneficial, and even the straight-up honesty that watching an ad on the site is 10X as profitable for them than YouTube. I'm optimistic, so we'll see where it goes.
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Comment on Rooster Teeth announces that Achievement Hunter is shutting down after fifteen years in ~games
Seclusion LinkIt's been 20 years, it would be insane for them to do the exact same thing forever. I think there are a ton of amazing personalities across all of RT, and I think the new direction they're headed...It's been 20 years, it would be insane for them to do the exact same thing forever. I think there are a ton of amazing personalities across all of RT, and I think the new direction they're headed has a lot of potential.
What frustrates me is the flip-flopping on FIRST. This announcement talked about a "renewed focus on FIRST content", but I've seen and heard this several times before. The fact that they're back to promoting FIRST makes me hopeful that they'll follow up, but there are some issues with this.
Namely, if they're trying to funnel more people to RT directly, I'd like to see some better investment in the website and the apps specifically. The Xbox app doesn't recognize that you've watched the video, so if you go back to a video you've watched before, it picks up at the last 5 seconds and you have to scramble to try to restart it before it skips to the next one. Sometimes, you just can't do it fast enough, so you have to load the site, find the video, start it at the beginning, pause it, then go back to that video in the app so you can watch.
The android app isn't much better. If you watch a video in a previous season/year, when you close the video or go back, it reverts you back to the most recent season/year. So, if you watch to catch up on a series, you have to spend a lot of time scrolling.
The worst part is, you can't report these issues because the reporting functionality is broken as well.
I still watch the content daily, I like what they're doing, but I'm not sure if I truly buy this reinvestment in FIRST. Hopefully they can show it.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~enviro
Seclusion Link ParentWhat upsets me the most about the system is the fact that, at least in my case, we are brainwashed as kids into believing capitalism in the US is the premier system. Sure there are others, but...What upsets me the most about the system is the fact that, at least in my case, we are brainwashed as kids into believing capitalism in the US is the premier system. Sure there are others, but they all failed or are corrupt.
The second you start to analyze things and realize that infinite growth is impossible and we're only destined to be crushed under the giants at the top, again, at least in my case, it makes me feel duped and foolish for believing it.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~enviro
Seclusion Link ParentI think the subtext, and this is my interpretation of it, in their comment about capitalism being broken is that capitalism incentivises people to make decisions that are worse for the group...I think the subtext, and this is my interpretation of it, in their comment about capitalism being broken is that capitalism incentivises people to make decisions that are worse for the group because they benefit the individual.
The miner could take the subsidy, keep mining, and still come out ahead, while the infrastructure suffers.
Perhaps if there was a system in place where everyone's basic human needs were covered, people as a whole would be able to forgo massive wealth to ensure everyone has what they need.
But I might be projecting my own thoughts into this.
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Comment on What's the funniest story you know? in ~talk
Seclusion Link ParentThat never occurred to me and I've read this story like, 15 times. I feel like I need to wash my hands.That never occurred to me and I've read this story like, 15 times. I feel like I need to wash my hands.
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Comment on What's the funniest story you know? in ~talk
Seclusion (edited )LinkWhile I can't think of a story involving myself personally, there is one classic that always comes to mind when one of these threads shows up. It's NSFW, FYI. This is a post from reddit's r/sex...While I can't think of a story involving myself personally, there is one classic that always comes to mind when one of these threads shows up. It's NSFW, FYI.
This is a post from reddit's r/sex subreddit. I always feel a little bad laughing, but the way this guy describes the scenario always makes me laugh. Prostate Stimulation. Below is the text in case you don't want to send traffic.
First. Sorry for the way I wrote this. Writing it this way I'm really embarrassed by all this and it was the only way I could convince myself that I could post it, even anonymously. Just bear with me, okay?
This starts in a stupid, embarrassing way. I’m 23, but my doc decides he wants to do a prostate exam during my physical. (Quick question - isn’t that like twenty years early?)
Okay. So he pushes in and it is the first time anyone’s ever been in there. Like ever. And two things happen within three seconds: I get idiotically, you-could-bend-a-steel-bar-around-my-dick, stupid hard. And I groan. Involuntarily and explosively and horrifically.
My doctor laughed his ass off. I mean laughed, and told me it was okay. “Really,” he says. “It’s pretty common” he says.
But his face tells me it’s not that common.
Dutifully, I went to Reddit and looked this shit up. Reddit fucking loves it some straight guys getting off on their prostate. “So okay,” I say to myself, “let’s buy a fucking drumstick and do this thing.”
So I go to a music store and buy a pair of drumsticks, talking incessantly about what a goddamn professional drummer I am, and how fucking necessary it is for me to own some drumsticks right then, as if the guy behind the counter could see into my soul, perfectly aware that I was going to shove one of those sticks right up my ass when I got home.
I knew. He knew. The guy driving the bus knew. The drumsticks sat in that bag like the fucking One Ring, bending space around it. I had guilty secrets, stolen form the Gods, and I was going to fuck myself with them.
So I get home and I do all the stuff. Lube, stick, push, feel, POW.
Shit like cum, but not cum, some kind of watery fluid slips out of me in a big knot and feels fucking magnificent. Right out of the tip of my purple-tipped cock.
(Another question. Purple tip. Normal when super-hard? Or am I going to give myself a blood clot or something? This is new for me.)
It keeps coming, and the feeling gets better and better. I stop jerking off. (Oh, another note: I was jerking off.) My face gets hot. I realize I’m blushing. My chest blushes, too. That’s new. All my muscles tense up under my skin. They’re probably fucking blushing by now, too. I’m a big, red, purple dicked, autoerotic machine, pounding this drumstick into my ass while my GF is at work, feeling like a fucking idiot.
My balls get this frozen cold sensation, and grip up into me, terrified of what’s about to happen (I would assume).
At which point I actually, literally, honest-to-god it’s apparently not just a stupid phrase, see goddamn stars. Little colored lights. My head rushes. I cum so hard I actually scream. Not like a girl, I scream like an extra in 300. I scream like someone lifting a Buick over their head.
Long story short it was the best orgasm of my life. And later that night, I had sex with my GF and the comparison was... I mean she’s sexy and wonderful and we have(had?) great sex, best so far, she’s awesome, but it didn’t compare.
Next day, more drumstick. This time with porn. Porn gets shut off ten minutes in. I don’t need anything else. I’m a fucking prostate monk, austere in my faith.
More sex with GF. She knows something’s up. Maybe not “I FOUND OUT MY BF IS FUCKING HIMSELF WITH SURPLUS MUSICAL EQUIPMENT REDDIT WHAT DO I DO?” up, but she knows.
I keep the drumsticks on the nightstand like the fucking purloined letter. I say they’re for her. But I can kind of tell she’s not buying it. She knows I’m not as enthusiastic about sex.
Fast forward three months. By now I’ve graduated to a full-on cock-shaped dildo stuck to the bedroom wall. Ass up, head down, biting a pillow. Believe me, I don’t get this either. Why cock shaped? Because I wanted something thicker and I figured if I was going to be fucking myself on a daily basis, I might as well get over any lingering homophobia that might be clinging to my soul.
Okay, serious time. I’m not gay. I’m not Bi, either. I also don’t think there’s anything wrong with being either. In fact, it would be super convenient if I were Gay, because then I could tell my GF that I’m gay, and get fucked on a regular basis. I don’t know what to do about this. GF tries to seduce me a few times a week and I go along with it. She cums... and so do I, but it’s not fun for me. I lost interest in her. It takes me forever to cum.
No, using a plug doesn’t do it. It has to be an “in out” motion, not just a brick in my rectum. No, my GF wouldn’t peg me if I asked her about it. I brought it up, hypothetically, in terms of “something I found on Reddit.” Her reaction was not promising. I’m not going to say she’s homophobic or anything, but she has very traditional views of what men and women are supposed to be like, and writhing like a demon while a huge cock slides up into your hole is not what the man is supposed to do - so she says, anyway.
And the problem is also that I just don’t want to fuck her anymore. I want to be fucked. And even though I’m not attracted to men, I’ve considered breaking up with her (first, obviously, no cheat-o) and hooking up with guys. But even that isn’t something I want to do, because I love her (we’ve been together for almost a year) and I love being with her. Just not “BEING WITH” her.
So, Reddit. What do I do? I want to be a normal boyfriend. But I also can't deny that I am sexually oriented to being fucked, and not fucking. I cum without touching myself. I don't even WANT to touch myself. Doesn't that mean something obvious?
Suddenly occurred to me: if being gay is genetic, could I be physiologically gay but psychologically straight?
TLDR; DISREGARD THAT, I FUCK (artificial) COCKS.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tildes
Seclusion Link ParentThat's exactly how I feel. What I find interesting is that when I first came here, I was thinking "boy, this really how reddit used to be ten years ago". And after a few days of coming every few...That's exactly how I feel.
What I find interesting is that when I first came here, I was thinking "boy, this really how reddit used to be ten years ago". And after a few days of coming every few hours, refreshing, looking for the new stuff and that dopamine hit, I realized that to me it isn't what reddit used to be.
To me, this is a community of people who seem to genuinely care about the site, the content, and the other members of the community. I think that is how reddit used to feel and how I felt about it. I believe over time, it evolved into just another social media platform, married with a deep-rooted forum.
As I get older, I find that I am coming to terms with things ending more. Shows that I like, movie franchises, book series, and now even internet content. I am finding that prolonging the life of something beyond the reasons I sought it out only makes for me to become more disillusioned.
For me, reddit has been sunset, and that's okay. I don't need something to 'be the new reddit'. I need to find a new outlet for my desire to be part of a community. And honestly, in the last month, I have found it in more than the internet. I have found I am less engaged online and moreso in the real world, which I am finding to be truly wonderful.
I still get to come here and talk to people, see their insights, hear their stories, but then I know when it's time to leave and I am comfortable doing it.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tildes
Seclusion LinkThe biggest change I have noticed is that I am not constantly scrolling, looking for new things. If I have time to sit down and read, I check out the front page, sorted by activity, just so I see...The biggest change I have noticed is that I am not constantly scrolling, looking for new things. If I have time to sit down and read, I check out the front page, sorted by activity, just so I see where people are talking. I poke around, look for something interesting/new, then I'm done. I don't sit on my phone for hours looking for content. If I don't see something interesting to engage in, I just leave the page.
I only delve into the deeper content when I feel I have the time or desire to learn about or discuss something specific. I find I now have a lot more free time and I have picked up a lot of my old hobbies. I also feel a lot less anxiety, which seems to given me some more clarity into life.
Overall, this has been great, learning how to not Reddit.
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Comment on Suggestions for a short trip to Denver? in ~travel
Seclusion Link ParentYou're absolutely right, everything does change. I know back in the 80's they wanted to grow Denver to be the 'next Chicago' and I think they've done a great job of it. Growing up there, I always...You're absolutely right, everything does change. I know back in the 80's they wanted to grow Denver to be the 'next Chicago' and I think they've done a great job of it.
Growing up there, I always kind of felt like we were 'one of those western states with mountains, but not California'. Now I see and hear people talking about it all the time.
While it's no longer the place I personally want to be, I'm proud of and impressed by what it has become.
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Comment on Suggestions for a short trip to Denver? in ~travel
Seclusion LinkI know this is not very helpful, but when I went to answer this question, I realized I can't. I was born there. I grew up there. But after leaving over 10 years ago, I know it is nowhere near the...I know this is not very helpful, but when I went to answer this question, I realized I can't.
I was born there. I grew up there. But after leaving over 10 years ago, I know it is nowhere near the place I left.
I went back last year and found it to be so completely different from the place I grew up in, it really struck me that it is no longer my home.
I'm going to have to watch this thread to see some of the places I should visit next time since I'm the tourist now.
Is this the only quote you have? It would be beneficial to get quotes from 1-2 other reputable contractors in the area.
The other question is, what does the existing space where the fireplace is going look like? Is it just a wall? Is there an existing fireplace? If it's just a wall, even an electric fireplace needs fire-resistant insulation, ventilation, and electrical. All of that requires framing and drywall. If it's existing, there's probably some padding of the quote to cover removal and other issues with the existing unit.
Same goes for the range hood. Is this freestanding on an island or on a wall? Either way, you're going to have to tie the unit into structure, be it the ceiling or wall. If you're moving the range, all the ventilation from the hood will also need to be moved.
Honestly, $70K is a lot of money, but if it's a reputable company and they're doing everything from demo to painting, it's not outrageous considering the scope of work. Again, alternate quotes will help put things in perspective.