Thrabalen's recent activity
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Comment on "Kraft Singles, the standard for American cheese, cannot legally be called American cheese, or even 'cheese food.'" in ~food
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Comment on "Kraft Singles, the standard for American cheese, cannot legally be called American cheese, or even 'cheese food.'" in ~food
Thrabalen Link ParentIf you're a tourist, sure. Otherwise, do what the majority of places do: use Provolone.If you're a tourist, sure. Otherwise, do what the majority of places do: use Provolone.
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Comment on It’s time to tax vehicles for weighing too much—even if they’re electric in ~finance
Thrabalen Link ParentMeanwhile, in my neck of the woods they're reducing centers, not expanding them.Meanwhile, in my neck of the woods they're reducing centers, not expanding them.
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Comment on It’s time to tax vehicles for weighing too much—even if they’re electric in ~finance
Thrabalen Link ParentIt's a 30 minute appointment now, without the US's 282.8 million drivers having to do it every five years. Now, let's drop an extra 127.4 thousand appointments every day into the system. I do...It's a 30 minute appointment now, without the US's 282.8 million drivers having to do it every five years. Now, let's drop an extra 127.4 thousand appointments every day into the system. I do believe wait times will increase just a tad.
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Comment on It’s time to tax vehicles for weighing too much—even if they’re electric in ~finance
Thrabalen Link ParentEspecially when you can be ticketed without proof and fighting it is almost futile. It would be a great way for officers to just jack someone's life up at will.Especially when you can be ticketed without proof and fighting it is almost futile. It would be a great way for officers to just jack someone's life up at will.
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Comment on Comcast introduces NOW TV as a cable alternative in ~tv
Thrabalen Link ParentI have to admit, I haven't been a TV skimmer since my 20s. For a while I was a Twitch skimmer, but even then, I've always enjoyed quiet to something to just keep the brain gremlins at bay. Neither...I have to admit, I haven't been a TV skimmer since my 20s. For a while I was a Twitch skimmer, but even then, I've always enjoyed quiet to something to just keep the brain gremlins at bay. Neither way is better, but the difference will change how and why you watch what you watch.
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Comment on Comcast introduces NOW TV as a cable alternative in ~tv
Thrabalen Link ParentI also don't need 20 different ketchups... but as someone who eats sugar free as much as possible, I'd love more than two or three good sugar-free jellies for my PBJ needs.I also don't need 20 different ketchups... but as someone who eats sugar free as much as possible, I'd love more than two or three good sugar-free jellies for my PBJ needs.
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Comment on Comcast introduces NOW TV as a cable alternative in ~tv
Thrabalen Link ParentIt's kind of funny, there's people who desire limited choices, and those who want as much variety as possible. And not just their TV viewing. You know how people hate that no single streaming...It's kind of funny, there's people who desire limited choices, and those who want as much variety as possible. And not just their TV viewing. You know how people hate that no single streaming service carries all of the shows they want to watch?
That's me with supermarkets. I have one specific ice cream I love, one specific microwave breakfast option, and one specific cheese. I have to go to three different supermarket chains to get that, because the majority of shoppers, as it turns out, want limited variety. They did a study, and choice paralysis while shopping is the consumer's largest complaint (following price, naturally.)
Was this a thread aside? Yes, but I saw an opening and dove at it. I do want to add, on-topic, that I grew up in the "three VHF channel" days, and I would not go back for anything. I love the amount of choice I've got. I'm on the fence about shows releasing weekly vs binging them. Weekly release is good for avoiding spoilers as much as possible though.
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Comment on What scares you the most? What fears and apprehensions are central to your identity and how you view the world? in ~talk
Thrabalen LinkNot terribly original, but... aging and death. My go-to is "growing old sucks, but not growing old sucks worse." It's a fear of the unknown... I don't know what my twilight years will be like, I...Not terribly original, but... aging and death. My go-to is "growing old sucks, but not growing old sucks worse." It's a fear of the unknown... I don't know what my twilight years will be like, I don't know what my death will be like, and I don't know what (if anything... and it's the "if anything" that scares me most) lies beyond. I'm an agnostic... I don't know if there's an afterlife, but I don't know there's not, either.
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Comment on What scares you the most? What fears and apprehensions are central to your identity and how you view the world? in ~talk
Thrabalen Link ParentI'm extremely non-confrontational, largely due to my rage issues. (I know where mine comes from... being helpless to do anything at age 8 while watching my mother be domestically abused, but...I'm extremely non-confrontational, largely due to my rage issues. (I know where mine comes from... being helpless to do anything at age 8 while watching my mother be domestically abused, but that's not germane.) I fear getting into confrontations because I fear that loss of control... it's the same reason I'm a complete and utter teetotaler. I don't want to ever lose control, because I abhor the idea of what I may become.
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Comment on What is a highly regarded/critically acclaimed movie that you do not like/understand the appeal? in ~movies
Thrabalen Link ParentDid, and loved it. I may not "get" Star Wars in general, but some of the works stand out to me. I was a huge fan of Solo, for instance.Did, and loved it. I may not "get" Star Wars in general, but some of the works stand out to me. I was a huge fan of Solo, for instance.
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Comment on What is a highly regarded/critically acclaimed movie that you do not like/understand the appeal? in ~movies
Thrabalen Link ParentWhile I'm not as old as the movie, I grew up during the 80s... annihilation was always lurking in the background. But I wasn't a post-war kid, that's for sure.While I'm not as old as the movie, I grew up during the 80s... annihilation was always lurking in the background. But I wasn't a post-war kid, that's for sure.
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Comment on What is a highly regarded/critically acclaimed movie that you do not like/understand the appeal? in ~movies
Thrabalen Link ParentI'll see your Dark Knight Rises and raise you not only the Nolan trilogy, but Batman movies in general. I honestly feel like we've never gotten a good live action Batman (but then, I will freely...I'll see your Dark Knight Rises and raise you not only the Nolan trilogy, but Batman movies in general. I honestly feel like we've never gotten a good live action Batman (but then, I will freely admit to not seeing the most recent batch.)
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Comment on What is a highly regarded/critically acclaimed movie that you do not like/understand the appeal? in ~movies
Thrabalen LinkHarry Potter (as a whole) Even before we found out who JK Rowling really was, I was never a fan of the Potterverse. Lord of the Rings (as a whole) Is it a good story? Yes, absolutely. But I never...Harry Potter (as a whole) Even before we found out who JK Rowling really was, I was never a fan of the Potterverse.
Lord of the Rings (as a whole) Is it a good story? Yes, absolutely. But I never found it to be a terribly engaging story to me, which is strange as I like fantasy as a whole.
Star Wars (as a whole) It all boils down to one maxim that I increasingly find to be true: the more important The Force is to a Star Wars work, the less I enjoy it. And all too frequently, the Jedi/Sith are the most important thing in a story.
Dr Strangelove It goes beyond dark comedy, beyond farce and becomes, IMO, somewhat childish. I remember watching it and thinking "This is highly regarded, it's going to get better. It's going to get better. It's... closing credits?!"
Game of Thrones Okay, this isn't a movie, but it's treated like a movie series by many fans, so I'm putting it here as honorable mention. This isn't about the finale, as I didn't make it that far. But on the whole, I found the show to be misery porn and a celebration of the worst elements of the genre, as if someone decided to make edgelord fantasy TTRG characters the stars of a show.
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Comment on Hulu and Disney+ content to be combined in one app, services to stay separate in ~tv
Thrabalen Link ParentThey do own the trademark of Pooh in a red shirt, though. Throw in Piglet and Tigger, and it's a slam dunk.They do own the trademark of Pooh in a red shirt, though. Throw in Piglet and Tigger, and it's a slam dunk.
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Comment on ‘So, I hear I’m transphobic’: Dee Snider responds after being dropped by SF Pride in ~lgbt
Thrabalen Link ParentThat is a great read. Let me add my own experience. When I was 17, in 1991, I finally came out to my mother. Let me paint you a brief picture. My mother adopted me, at the age of 7 days old, when...- Exemplary
That is a great read. Let me add my own experience.
When I was 17, in 1991, I finally came out to my mother. Let me paint you a brief picture. My mother adopted me, at the age of 7 days old, when she was 45. She was told she'd never have kids (and indeed, I was her only.) To say that there was no public discussion about trans issues is like saying Pluto is a little bit far away. There were no role models, no pride celebrations, no media projects. To be trans in 1991 was like being gay in 1891. no one talked about it and fewer people understood it, at least outside of the community itself (which was encouraged to be quiet, as is so often the case with marginalized people.)
I don't mention all of that out of a pity-party mentality. I want people who have never experienced the disconnect of being trans to understand one important truth: most often, people who are trans know they are before they ever hear about it. Trans awareness is not "hey, have you ever thought about this?", it's "hey, you are not alone."
Anyway. So, here I am, a 17 year old "boy" with a mother who was born at the birth of the Great Depression and whose teen years were born during the second world war. To say that she didn't understand what I was going through is, again, a vast understatement. But she was accepting. She was supportive. And above all, she tried to help me adjust.
Ultimately, medical assistance and society were not forthcoming in those years, and ever since I have settled into non-transitionary trans life. I often wonder about what might have been. I know who I am (a woman, in a masculine fleshcage), but it's been years since I've had anxiety about it. Publicly, I'm so closeted I have brunches with Aslan, but privately (and online, especially with friends), I am who I am.
I mention ALL of this because, as I said, in the days where I discovered myself this wasn't largely talked about, wasn't entertained, wasn't done. So, if being trans is all about fads and indoctrination where the hell did I, a kid born in the 70s with a mother who grew into adulthood in the 50s, even get the idea?
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Comment on Indiana governor signs “Don’t Say Gay” bill that forces teachers to out trans kids to their parents in ~lgbt
Thrabalen Link ParentThis is where you organize an entire classroom. Make these written notifications daily. If you're in high school, organize as many as you can. 30 students per class, eight periods per day, that's...This is where you organize an entire classroom. Make these written notifications daily. If you're in high school, organize as many as you can. 30 students per class, eight periods per day, that's 240 notes daily. Protest through ridiculous amount of paperwork.
Monday: all students ask to be known by the title "m'lord" or "m'lady." Tuesday, it's prime minister. Wednesday, "duke" or "duchess." Get creative with it.
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Comment on Fifteen years after 'Iron Man,' the MCU has lost what made its debut so special in ~movies
Thrabalen Link ParentI've watched all of the official Disney and Sony stuff (except Venom, never liked him), but I can see where different people have different lines. It's like Star Wars. Most people have seen at...I've watched all of the official Disney and Sony stuff (except Venom, never liked him), but I can see where different people have different lines. It's like Star Wars. Most people have seen at least the original trilogy, some the prequels, some the sequels, some the Star Wars Story movies, some the animated shows, some the Disney Plus shows... but it's all there, if you want a larger picture.
I'm a diehard Marvel fan, but I don't fault anyone who isn't.
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Comment on Fifteen years after 'Iron Man,' the MCU has lost what made its debut so special in ~movies
Thrabalen Link ParentI'm clearly the odd one out. I love the sprawling saga of the MCU. I actually wish more shared universes did this, and was kind of bummed when Star Trek's Dominion War in DS9 didn't include more...I'm clearly the odd one out. I love the sprawling saga of the MCU. I actually wish more shared universes did this, and was kind of bummed when Star Trek's Dominion War in DS9 didn't include more ships and crews we'd already heard of.
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Comment on What's your not-D&D RPG, and why? in ~games.tabletop
I've lived here for half a century, and I can tell you this: the big name places? They use it. The neighborhood pizza places? None that I've frequented have ever included orange goo in their steak. It's always provolone or American (but a quality place uses provolone.)
Now onions... those are non-negotiable, unlike peppers. That's the biggest mistake people not from here make... they think peppers are mandatory.