AugustusFerdinand's recent activity
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Comment on Offbeat Fridays – The thread where offbeat headlines become front page news in ~news
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Comment on Founder of collapsed Chinese property giant Evergrande sentenced to life in prison in ~finance
AugustusFerdinand Link ParentEven if that LGBT supporting company was found to be illegally firing 1,800 workers and pocketing $500M in savings to the tune of a $90M slap on the wrist?So right now the last thing we need is our government taking out companies who support LGBT rights, for example. I don’t trust this current government with the power to take down companies
Even if that LGBT supporting company was found to be illegally firing 1,800 workers and pocketing $500M in savings to the tune of a $90M slap on the wrist?
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Comment on Fairphone Gen 6+ now available in the US in ~tech
AugustusFerdinand LinkBe nice if I could get Graphene on this, but suppose it'd also be nice for it to be on T-Mobile bands. So I'm doubly unable to get this for those reasons.Be nice if I could get Graphene on this, but suppose it'd also be nice for it to be on T-Mobile bands. So I'm doubly unable to get this for those reasons.
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Comment on Keto ice cream brand filed for Chapter 11 after a judge found it copied a Brooklyn rival's packaging in ~food
AugustusFerdinand (edited )Link ParentOnly if you're also going for plain pastel color with cursive script... Evidence proves otherwise. What else in the ice cream aisle looks like it (aside from Rebel)? Every brand has it's own...Van Leeuwen's design is so simple it's hard to not infringe on it.
Only if you're also going for plain pastel color with cursive script...
A plain pastel container with the brand in cursive is hardly a unique design.
Evidence proves otherwise. What else in the ice cream aisle looks like it (aside from Rebel)? Every brand has it's own design language except Rebel, where the only difference is some text on the rim of the lid and a black dot. If you want Ben and Jerry's for example, you know what to look for and there are dupe brands out there for nearly every category to capture that market.
Also, some of those claims seem due to poor shelving setups. Why is the keto ice cream stocked so closely to the regular ice cream that these two brands are side by side? Nothing about Van Leeuwen tells me that they make specialty ice cream for specific diets, so I doubt that the two products should be placed exactly next to each other. Any store big enough to have keto ice cream should also be big enough to have more than one freezer door worth of ice cream.
Why do I have to make sure I'm not buying vegan "nutcheese" when I'm in the cheese aisle? Because that's where the cheese and cheese-like-substances exist. Pints are stocked near each other, with little-to-no demarcation between specialty ice cream and the normal stuff. This is undoubtedly on purpose both from an efficiency standpoint (both stocking and limited shelf space) and to "capture" buyers that would otherwise stay with their usual product choice. If you put all the vegan/keto/whatever food on one end or its own aisle then only the vegans/ketos/whatevers would ever try it.
The monetary judgement here does seem egregious though, some money and a forced redesign would suffice, not nearly $24M...
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Comment on Ken Russell’s The Devils | Official trailer in ~movies
AugustusFerdinand LinkThe flashing in the trailer is really fucking annoying.The flashing in the trailer is really fucking annoying.
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Comment on How often are you eating plant based meals? in ~food
AugustusFerdinand LinkWe meal prep lunches to keep from having to figure out what we want, cook, and clean during lunch when the only thing we really want to do is get away from our job/responsibilities for an hour. On...We meal prep lunches to keep from having to figure out what we want, cook, and clean during lunch when the only thing we really want to do is get away from our job/responsibilities for an hour. On Thursdays we discuss what we want for lunches the next week, prep happens on Sunday. As a rule we have one week of vegetarian lunches per month. It's not always the same week of the month, sometimes it gets skipped, sometimes it happens more than once (like this month). It averages out to once per month. This week we had a creamy cannellini bean main with focaccia. Next week we're having lentils and rice.
Vegan: Pretty much never.
Vegetarian: One week per month. -
Comment on Google Assistant shutting down on Android and Wear OS in September in ~tech
AugustusFerdinand Link ParentSame. I have voice commands turned off. I have Gemini turned off. I have a specific icon that launches assistant, where I then click the microphone, to then tell it to set a timer or an alarm or a...Same.
I have voice commands turned off.
I have Gemini turned off.
I have a specific icon that launches assistant, where I then click the microphone, to then tell it to set a timer or an alarm or a reminder.
When Gemini came out and enabled itself, I tried with it and it gave me the same response as you. Told me how, incorrectly, and couldn't just do what it was told to do. So I immediately turned it off.
Thanks for making my phone worse Google. Great job! -
Comment on What are your memorable airport stories? in ~transport
AugustusFerdinand Link ParentI haven't yet, but will now. Partially because I didn't know those were a thing as I don't typically go looking for protein in the Asian grocery. So you know, thanks for letting me know that...I haven't yet, but will now.
Partially because I didn't know those were a thing as I don't typically go looking for protein in the Asian grocery. So you know, thanks for letting me know that existed!
Partially because since I've been back from Japan, I haven't touched unagi since. I knew I loved the stuff from what I have had here in the states, but after having it in Japan it's just incomparable. That said, the craving for it will beat out my ability to drop everything and fly to Japan for more. -
Comment on What are your memorable airport stories? in ~transport
AugustusFerdinand Link ParentNothing I've heard and like buses, there are dedicated elderly sections that are clearly marked on the cars and platforms, so they tend to line up there and fill in just as quick as any other car....Wondering if they've had to stretch metro platform wait times because of the elderly as well..
Nothing I've heard and like buses, there are dedicated elderly sections that are clearly marked on the cars and platforms, so they tend to line up there and fill in just as quick as any other car. A note for you, there are also dedicated women-only cars (during certain times) that you may want to keep an eye out for. I only accidentally walked onto one and then immediately hopped to the next car before it actually left the station to not be that guy.
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Comment on What are your memorable airport stories? in ~transport
AugustusFerdinand Link ParentUnagi being a favorite food of mine, you're darn right it was! I made it a point that day that all the meals I had were going to have unagi. Breakfast was my normal protein shake, lunch was a high...Unagi being a favorite food of mine, you're darn right it was!
I made it a point that day that all the meals I had were going to have unagi. Breakfast was my normal protein shake, lunch was a high end reservation, afternoon snack was unagi onigiri, dinner was a more casual walk-in unagi place. I was fat and happy that day for sure! -
Comment on What are your memorable airport stories? in ~transport
AugustusFerdinand Link ParentOof... that's some gall to think you can pay your way ahead of people in wheelchairs. Funny story about pre-boarding, without any of the bad actors. When I went to Japan earlier this year, the...Oof... that's some gall to think you can pay your way ahead of people in wheelchairs.
Funny story about pre-boarding, without any of the bad actors.
When I went to Japan earlier this year, the flight out was delayed by a couple of hours. When it finally did start to board they did the usual pre-boarding for elderly/disabled and I found it funny that they kept changing the departing time while they were still pre-boarding.
Japan has an elderly population problem.
The flight perfectly reflected this.
When the pre-boarding line stretches down the room and around the corner it's not going to be done in the usual 5-10 minute timeframe. Took solid 35 minutes for pre-boarding alone. I, of course, wanted to be in Japan as soon as possible, but wasn't in a rush to sit in a plane for double digit hours either. Just found it funny that they still had the typical 30 minute boarding time built into their schedule on a flight to Japan where they'd generally know that a good percentage of the passengers are going to need more time to board. -
Comment on Cheap / budget travel Japan ideas request in ~travel
AugustusFerdinand Link ParentNot at all, there's plenty of room for all and they time entry so it's not too crowded. I had Sunday morning tickets.Not at all, there's plenty of room for all and they time entry so it's not too crowded. I had Sunday morning tickets.
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Comment on What are your memorable airport stories? in ~transport
AugustusFerdinand Link ParentI just try to be nice as much as possible. You never know what battles someone else is fighting and they're just trying to do their job and get through the day, but yeah they also have the power...I just try to be nice as much as possible. You never know what battles someone else is fighting and they're just trying to do their job and get through the day, but yeah they also have the power to make your life easier or a living hell if they want.
Similar thing, and since we're also communicating about your Japan trip, happened in Japan and was the only time I saw rude behavior by a Japanese person while I was there.
As mentioned before, am a large man. My goal in Japan was to do my very best to not be in the way or the annoying large human in a land of mostly smaller than me peoples. I stood as much as possible even if a seat was available to not make others uncomfortable. I stepped out of the way instead of standing in the sidewalk if I needed to check my phone for directions (standard behavior if you ask me, but something very few tourists seem to do). If a place was too crowded, I'd often come back later or go somewhere else, etc.
On the buses, public transit in Japan is amazing, there are seats specifically for the elderly, disabled/injured, and/or pregnant. They're near the front, have no stairs, easier to get in/out of with extra handles, etc. I got on a bus that was semi-crowded already, there were open seats, some in the above mentioned area that are fine to sit in if you are none of those parties and if the bus isn't full, but I just stood as I am fully able to do so and didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable sitting next to them.
One or two stops later, I see a young, seemingly very able bodied man take a seat in one of the, for lack of a better word, "special" seats. No issue, bus isn't full, someone that needs the seat hasn't gotten on the bus yet, bus is now pretty full with very few other seats available and more people standing.
Another stop and a little old lady, with a bag in one hand and a crutch under the other arm (with a cute little crocheted cover over the pad at the top), hobbles onto the bus. All of the special seats are taken now, all taken by people more obviously in need of them (primarily other elderly people), and so she gets as far as standing next to the seat occupied by the young man before she needs to brace herself as the bus takes off.
She's standing there because he should get up, but is too timid to say anything.
He ignores her, but I am willing to act like he just hasn't seen her as he stares at his phone.
Bus comes to the next stop. Little old lady barely catches herself to keep from falling forward while dropping her bag in the process, no one in that seat would not see this happen. He is now actively ignoring her, a woman that perfectly reflects two of the three logos right next to him on the wall for who should be in that seat. He knows this.
People help her pick up her bag just in time for the bus to take off, again quite abruptly, for her to fall backwards. Between the bus being pretty packed and other people just being nice, she's caught from completely falling over again.I am no longer willing to allow this to continue and giant gaijin mode kicks in; he's being rude and she's going to get injured at this rate. I take two steps forward to be next to him. Snap my fingers between his face and his phone (is anyone else unable to consistently snap loudly when they want to, but randomly cause a thundercrack when they're not trying?) loud enough that I see out of the corner of my eye that most of the bus has snapped to attention in my direction, he looks up at me shocked and I point upward to signal he is going to stand up and move. He does so, then I sweep my arm toward the elderly lady that had since moved to stand in the corner I vacated when I took my steps forward, to motion that this seat is now available.
She sits down, says arigatou gozaimasu, an old man in the next seat smiles at me, and I get off the bus at the next stop on my way to some wonderful unagi.
With how non-confrontational people tend to be, especially in Japan where manners are often paramount, size probably isn't a requirement here though and just needed anyone to take action to get it done. -
Comment on Cheap / budget travel Japan ideas request in ~travel
AugustusFerdinand Link ParentAs someone that also avoids the most popular things, I do have to say it was quite a fun experience.As someone that also avoids the most popular things, I do have to say it was quite a fun experience.
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Comment on Cheap / budget travel Japan ideas request in ~travel
AugustusFerdinand LinkNot necessarily fitting your exact requests, but here is a thread from where I asked for tips during my last trip to Japan that you might find helpful: https://tild.es/1r27 Otherwise I'll be...Not necessarily fitting your exact requests, but here is a thread from where I asked for tips during my last trip to Japan that you might find helpful: https://tild.es/1r27
Otherwise I'll be watching this thread for ideas for my next trip.
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Comment on What are your memorable airport stories? in ~transport
AugustusFerdinand LinkMine is the first time I got to travel first class. By today's standards/tech some of you youngsters would consider this ye olden days and how this plays out will tell you why. Was on a work trip...Mine is the first time I got to travel first class.
By today's standards/tech some of you youngsters would consider this ye olden days and how this plays out will tell you why.Was on a work trip in a previous job where I often drove out to somewhere and had to fly back. Being that driving somewhere can mean you don't know when you'll get there (this is pre-widespread-consumer-level-GPS navigation), when you'll get done doing what you need to do, when you'll get to the airport, etc. I don't know when I'm flying back so often just had to go to the airport and buy a ticket at the ticket counter.
Standing in line at the ticket counter with two people working it. One lady is occupied by a guy (Rude Dude) that is insisting that he has a first class ticket, that his travel agent set it up, he has customer service on the line, blah blah blah. System says otherwise. Payment amount in their system says otherwise. etc. etc.
This goes on and on for awhile, the second lady at the counter has already run through two other people while Rude Dude is arguing louder and louder, while on his cell phone with his alleged travel agent/customer service, insisting he gets first class, when it becomes my turn to speak with second lady.She does the usual corporate apology for the wait line, I make a comment about how it's not her fault that some people are belligerent and we exchange knowing eye glances at Rude Dude, ask how her day has been in usual be-nice-to-the-person-helping-you way. Tell her I need to book a flight back home, blah, blah, blah...
Rude dude next to me is now loud enough that I'd have to raise my voice to speak to the lady helping me.
Rude dude is damn near shoving his phone in the face of the other lady while she keeps telling him she cannot talk on his phone to whoever is on the other line about his ticket issues, that they'll have to call the primary customer service line if they have an issue, or customer service can call her counter as is the correct procedure, that he is booked for economy class and can upgrade him to first class for $XXX, etc.I dislike people being rude to customer service, but also try not to get in other people's business as it is none of mine and generally don't know the full story, but I have been standing here long enough to know that this guy simply will not take no for an answer.
I am a large man. I don't intend to be, but I have been described multiple times over the years as unintentionally intimidating just purely from existing. I am aware that this aspect of my appearance that I have no control over has, at times, advantages (it also has a myriad of disadvantages).
I, in almost comically slow fashion, reach out toward Rude Dude, slow enough that he stops talking, slow enough that the lady helping him stops talking, and both are staring at my arm slowing entering their sphere.
Rude Dude is holding a slider phone not unlike this style that were popular at the time.
I put one finger on top of the phone and push down, closing the slider and ending the call.
For what is probably the first time in his life Rude Dude is speechless and just stares up at me.
The lady helping him puts his economy ticket on the counter, smiles, and walks away.I turn to the lady helping me and ask "Sorry, didn't hear you the first time. How much did you say my ticket was again?"
She tells me, types a few things into the computer while I'm getting my credit card out, runs it, and then says "It looks like you were eligible for a free upgrade to first class, so I went ahead and applied that for you. Enjoy your flight."Did you know they give you alcohol for free in first class? Like, as soon as you sit down they'll ask if you want something.
It's lovely after a long day to sit back and enjoy a whiskey while waiting for the plane to take off. -
Comment on ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ powers to amazing second-best global opening at box office with $927m worldwide (355m domestic / 572m international) in ~movies
AugustusFerdinand Link ParentEh, I'd argue that IMAX doesn't matter. It did make up a $90M chunk of opening weekend ticket sales, but people that want to see the movie aren't going to avoid it if they can't see it in IMAX.Eh, I'd argue that IMAX doesn't matter. It did make up a $90M chunk of opening weekend ticket sales, but people that want to see the movie aren't going to avoid it if they can't see it in IMAX.
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Comment on ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ powers to amazing second-best global opening at box office with $927m worldwide (355m domestic / 572m international) in ~movies
AugustusFerdinand Link ParentWorth noting that... There's been rampant inflation since Endgame came out and studios report raw numbers because breaking a record gets more headlines than actual numbers. Adjusted for inflation...Worth noting that...
- There's been rampant inflation since Endgame came out and studios report raw numbers because breaking a record gets more headlines than actual numbers. Adjusted for inflation Endgame's box office is $466.5M
- It had a 5 day "weekend" since it released on Wednesday vs Endgame's 7pm Thursday release.
...but you know, those don't make for good headlines.
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Comment on Moist Towelette Online Museum in ~design
AugustusFerdinand LinkWhat a random delight. Be sure to scroll to the bottom and check out his Pride and Joy!What a random delight. Be sure to scroll to the bottom and check out his Pride and Joy!
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Resident Evil | Official trailer
11 votes
Judge halts Oregon man’s telemarketing lawsuits, cites fraud concerns
Step 1: Buy easily entered/throwaway phone number such as 541-999-9999 that people might use when just trying to casually check things like insurance prices without giving marketers your real info.
Step 2: Enter easily entered/throwaway phone number into national Do Not Call Registry.
Step 3: Wait for people to enter your phone number (or enter it yourself).
Step 4: Be a nazi?
Step 5: Sue any marketers that call/text you.
Step 6: Get a judge that notices that you're a "professional litigant", nazi, and likely fraudster with one hell of an agreement with a law firm to automatically pursue lawsuits in your name while only getting a 5-10% cut and puts a halt to it all because you're all of the above and wanted to be the representative in a class action lawsuit and the judge thinks that maybe a nazi wouldn't be the best choice there.