CannibalisticApple's recent activity
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Comment on Brown University shooting leaves two dead, nine injured as police search for killer in ~news
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Comment on Brown University shooting leaves two dead, nine injured as police search for killer in ~news
CannibalisticApple Link Parent...and another update: he has been released, and does not seem to be the culprit. So to recap: the shooter has not, in fact, been detained. The investigators have also asked for more information......and another update: he has been released, and does not seem to be the culprit.
Police are releasing the man that had been detained earlier today because evidence “now points in a different direction,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said.
There had been evidence pointing to this individual, Neronha said, but that evidence needed to be corroborated.
Over the last 24 hours, the attorney general said, the evidence is now leading them elsewhere.
Neronha added it was “unfortunate that this person’s name was leaked to the public” and “we will proceed very carefully.”
So to recap: the shooter has not, in fact, been detained. The investigators have also asked for more information from the public.
Hopefully this doesn't screw up this man's life too much since as noted, his name was leaked. I saw his name when trying to find a decent article to link for the initial post before settling on the CNN one, so people wouldn't really need to specifically search to find it.
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Comment on Why Canada really lost its measles elimination status in ~health
CannibalisticApple Link ParentI really don't think there's nearly as much malice involved as you imply. Based on my (admittedly brief) research, Low German is a variant that differs from the standard High German taught in...I really don't think there's nearly as much malice involved as you imply.
Based on my (admittedly brief) research, Low German is a variant that differs from the standard High German taught in schools. This reddit post on r/AskAGerman indicates it's radically different from standard German, to the point that native standard speakers would struggle to understand it. Made more complicated by how it can further vary by region, so even if you understand one region's variant, you may not understand another. It's to the point I see multiple people say they're essentially different languages.
And that led me to this Stack Exchange post about Low vs High German with a reply by someone who grew up in a Canadian Mennonite household:
As a native Low German speaker, I would like to add that even with some informal education in High German, I have a hard time following it. My parents were of Mennonite descent, started a family in Canada, and primarily spoke Low German at home until my siblings and I began schooling in English. Had I not taken an interest in learning "regular German", or High German, as we called it, I would have been unable to comprehend even the simplest phrases. Growing up with Low German, I always considered it to be simple, funny language, practically synonymous with a lack of education. However, as I advanced in school and went on to college, I began to value the language and see it as a rare heritage. So, is it a language? Maybe not by the standard of a trained linguist, but I will always consider it to be one. As to the analogy about BBC English vs daily English, I think it is pretty far off. There is a great deal more difference between Low German and any other language than an accent. Probably a better analogy would be North American English vs. Some of the Creole variants spoken in Belize.
Another crucial detail not mentioned in that reply: Mennonite communities seem to speak a particular variant called Plautdietsch, which evolved to be even more different from other Low German variants since... Well, it developed outside Germany. And that means it'll have more regional slang and influences depending om where they settled. Also it doesn't have a written form, which makes it even harder to teach as a second language.
There don't seem to be many resources for Plautdietsch outside of engaging with native speakers, so that limits people's ability to learn it. Seems like the primary places that formally teach/study it are college classes as parts of linguistics or German studies programs, which aren't the kind of elective a regular student would choose for learning a second language. Theoretically, native speakers can probably still understand other Low German variants, but it still diverged enough to create some potential barriers and cause communication struggles so the translator would still need some time to learn those differences.
My point: the lack of language support doesn't seem like some malicious or deliberate slight against a minority by the government. It's more likely they just don't have many people with medical training who can speak it. From what I can find there are estimated to be about 70,000-80,000 people who speak Low German/Plautdietsch in Canada (out of a total population of over 40 million), and I assume most of them are Mennonites. So... Not a very big pool to draw from overall, though it helps that the languages tend to be clustered in specific regions around those communities.
It seems like their best bet is to recruit bilingual people from the Mennonite communities and train them in medicine, or at least teach them enough to serve as effective translators. It's vital that medical staff can explain what they're doing to patients and why, and breaking it down into something they can understand requires you yourself understanding what the procedure is. Like, the blog post mentions one instance of being unable to communicate to a mother "that she should wait in the car while they prepared a negative-pressure room." I for one am a layperson who has never heard of a negative-pressure room, so I'd need to know what that is first before explaining it to a very frantic parent or patient.
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Comment on Brown University shooting leaves two dead, nine injured as police search for killer in ~news
CannibalisticApple Link ParentIt's not just schools. We've had shootings at malls, movie theaters, music festivals, night clubs, churches and synagogues, office buildings, grocery stores, restaurants, regular crowds on...It's not just schools. We've had shootings at malls, movie theaters, music festivals, night clubs, churches and synagogues, office buildings, grocery stores, restaurants, regular crowds on streets...
Literally no where feels safe anymore. There's almost always an undercurrent of tension when I leave the house for some big event, this subconscious awareness that a maniac can show up with a gun. I looked up mass shootings to refresh my memory because I know there's more locations than I mentioned, and found some recent ones I was shocked I hadn't heard of. Or if I had, I forgot them. In any other country they would be national news, but here they're a blip and all blend together.
It's just... Horrifying how normal this is for everyone, and even more horrifying that kids may not fully comprehend just how absolutely fucked up it really is. They have a chance to grow up used to these shootings as part of reality, rather than horrific tragedies. It's like that saying about how a single death is a tragedy, a million is a statistic, except on a larger scale because instead of a single death it's a single massacre.
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Comment on Brown University shooting leaves two dead, nine injured as police search for killer in ~news
CannibalisticApple Link ParentWhat's sad is I can't think of a better description. The suspect is (or was) at large, but isn't actively shooting anyone. Same as if any other murderer evaded police after killing someone in...What's sad is I can't think of a better description. The suspect is (or was) at large, but isn't actively shooting anyone. Same as if any other murderer evaded police after killing someone in public. That statement is only so horrifying because of how damn common these school shootings are.
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Comment on Brown University shooting leaves two dead, nine injured as police search for killer in ~news
CannibalisticApple LinkLatest update: A person of interest has been detained. It's a link to the CNN live update article, so copied the relevant bullet points because the contents can change. Of note: I've seen multiple...Latest update: A person of interest has been detained.
• Police say they detained a man in his 20s who is considered a person of interest in yesterday’s shooting at Brown University, which left two students dead and nine others injured at the Ivy League school in Providence, Rhode Island.
• A CNN crew saw officers move in early this morning at a hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, where a source says the person of interest was detained. The person had two firearms, including one with a laser sight, an official told CNN.
It's a link to the CNN live update article, so copied the relevant bullet points because the contents can change. Of note: I've seen multiple sources that he's not a student, and the latest article mentions that multiple sources claim he's from Wisconsin.
Authorities believe the person of interest traveled from Wisconsin to Rhode Island to carry out the shooting at Brown last night, the sources said.
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Comment on I don't care much for symbolism in ~creative
CannibalisticApple LinkI've never been much one for symbolism either. I can appreciate it, and really admire writers who manage to add multiple layers of symbolism, but I'm into a more direct and literal approach. I do...I've never been much one for symbolism either. I can appreciate it, and really admire writers who manage to add multiple layers of symbolism, but I'm into a more direct and literal approach. I do love foreshadowing and complex narratives, but those are still fairly direct. So, symbolism can be hit or miss for me (and "miss" is literal).
I think the best approach is when it can be caught after completing a work once. I saw a note by a mangaka that their first priority when writing is entertainment, and that defines my own writing philosophy. I don't want readers to have to trudge through works to enjoy them, and that includes having to analyze every scene for symbolism or overly flowery language just to understand what's happening. Catching symbolism and foreshadowing on a reread or rewatch can be great and make it even more enjoyable, but for the first time? It should just be enjoyable for everyone.
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Comment on I don't care much for symbolism in ~creative
CannibalisticApple Link ParentFrom what I know, Tolkien wrote that sentence totally randomly on a blank page while grading assignments. He had no clue what a hobbit was at that point, it just randomly popped into his head....In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.
From what I know, Tolkien wrote that sentence totally randomly on a blank page while grading assignments. He had no clue what a hobbit was at that point, it just randomly popped into his head. That whole opening was probably him just writing whatever popped into his head while figuring out what a hobbit was. So trying to find symbolism in that is pretty funny to me.
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Comment on The San Francisco Bay Area shortage of dental hygienists in ~health
CannibalisticApple Link ParentThe lack of benefits alone seems like a perfectly valid reason for it to be declining. Benefits like health insurance and retirement are more crucial than ever right now, and it sounds like...The lack of benefits alone seems like a perfectly valid reason for it to be declining. Benefits like health insurance and retirement are more crucial than ever right now, and it sounds like insurance companies aren't keen to cover part-time roles of any sort without raising rates. The lack of insurance is especially bad since the article mentions some having to pay out of pocket for physical therapy relating to pain from doing their jobs, so that cuts into the paycheck.
Combine that with potential personality clashes and cliquey environments, which can be particularly bad in smaller environments like dental practices, and it's understandable people change fields. Some people might stick out bad environments for the benefits, but it sounds like even good practices are likely struggling due to simple economic factors.
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Comment on Save Point: A game deal roundup for the week of December 7 in ~games
CannibalisticApple Link ParentFriendly reminder for anyone interested that it starts today! First game is up for grabs, Bullets & Trains. You have to claim the games every day, or the chain breaks and you'd have to buy the...Friendly reminder for anyone interested that it starts today! First game is up for grabs, Bullets & Trains. You have to claim the games every day, or the chain breaks and you'd have to buy the missed one to resume it.
(I'm skipping for the record, their library doesn't have any that look particularly up my alley. But figured I'd pop in and remind folks who might want to do it!)
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Comment on Ireland among countries boycotting Eurovision after Israel allowed to compete in ~music
CannibalisticApple LinkAs someone who's never watched EuroVision, a question: is there any way that the contestants and their countries could be anonymized somehow, a la The Masked Singer? Because that seems like it...As someone who's never watched EuroVision, a question: is there any way that the contestants and their countries could be anonymized somehow, a la The Masked Singer? Because that seems like it could remove at least some of the political aspects.
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Comment on Sperm from donor with cancer-causing gene at Denmark's European Sperm Bank was used to conceive almost 200 children across Europe in ~health
CannibalisticApple Link ParentTwelve families seems reasonable to me. If each family had one child, there would only be twelve kids out of over one million children in Denmark. Even with all of them having three, that's still...Twelve families seems reasonable to me. If each family had one child, there would only be twelve kids out of over one million children in Denmark. Even with all of them having three, that's still 36 kids total. So long as the twelve families aren't all in the same town, the odds of accidentally getting together with your half-sibling are fairly low, which is one of the big concerns with these mass donors.
The relationships of children conceived via sperm donors can vary. Some might consider each other siblings and treat each other as close family, while others are more distant and keep to their nuclear family. The way I see it, most donor-conceived children typically already have a "complete" family so any half-siblings would be basically bonus relatives. But then, I'm an only child, so it might feel different for people with siblings?
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Comment on How Europe is gearing up to follow Australia's teen social media ban in ~tech
CannibalisticApple Link ParentIt's worth noting that the banned platforms seem to be those centered around alogirthmic content creation. Discord isn't getting banned, so platforms meant for actual direct socializing rather...It's worth noting that the banned platforms seem to be those centered around alogirthmic content creation. Discord isn't getting banned, so platforms meant for actual direct socializing rather than media seem to be safe overall. Tumblr also seems safe, possibly since it doesn't use an algorithm to flood feeds the way other platforms do.
Honestly my biggest concern about the headline was cutting off kids from support networks. There was a young Australian teen on a Discord server I run dealing with some messed up stuff at home, and Discord was one of the only places they could seek advice and support. Thankfully things seem much better now, but that was my first thought. Just having people to talk to and validate your feelings is HUGE, and can be the literal difference between life and death for some people.
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Comment on How Europe is gearing up to follow Australia's teen social media ban in ~tech
CannibalisticApple Link ParentTo add to that, don't all the banned platforms have their own official mobile apps? I don't think 4chan does, just third party apps according to a quick search. And most kids do seem to prefer...To add to that, don't all the banned platforms have their own official mobile apps? I don't think 4chan does, just third party apps according to a quick search. And most kids do seem to prefer apps over websites...
(Granted, pretty sure Truth Social also has an app, but like you said, I don't think many kids would hang out there. Especially Australian kids. If one goes out of their way to sign up they're already deep into the mire...)
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Comment on Paramount launches a hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery in ~movies
CannibalisticApple Link ParentI don't drink alcohol but the ö makes the name feel fancy, so I'd say that's a good offer worthy of consideration!I don't drink alcohol but the ö makes the name feel fancy, so I'd say that's a good offer worthy of consideration!
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
CannibalisticApple LinkSpirittea updated last week so I've been playing that. Started a new file because it's been a while and the exact mechanics felt rusty in my head (and the update added new stuff anyway), and so...Spirittea updated last week so I've been playing that. Started a new file because it's been a while and the exact mechanics felt rusty in my head (and the update added new stuff anyway), and so far I'm pretty pleased with it. The most immediately obvious change in the new game is that there are now many more cosmetics available. Finally I can wear shorts and tank tops! I can have a ponytail! I'm also trying to solve some riddles to unlock new "bathhouse formations", so that's a neat little new mechanic.
So far I've solved only one riddle, and it was totally by accident. I was trying to interact with something else entirely and a formation scroll popped up seemingly randomly. I was confused to later see a riddle marked as solved and had to look up the answer before realizing what happened.
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Comment on Magnitude 7.6 earthquake hits northern Japan, tsunami warning issued in ~enviro
CannibalisticApple Link ParentThe app was designed after the 2011 earthquake, and the developer is a big fan of Evangelion. Actually, he'd already had a Twitter account named after NERV tweeting about weather in 2010, which...The app was designed after the 2011 earthquake, and the developer is a big fan of Evangelion. Actually, he'd already had a Twitter account named after NERV tweeting about weather in 2010, which eventually led to the app's creation. Here's an article about its history. Honestly it makes me smile to see geeky interests impacting the world like that.
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Comment on Paramount launches a hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery in ~movies
CannibalisticApple Link ParentI genuinely wish that wasn't an Onion article and a real offer, just so I could entertain the insane possibility of them accepting it.I genuinely wish that wasn't an Onion article and a real offer, just so I could entertain the insane possibility of them accepting it.
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Comment on Magnitude 7.6 earthquake hits northern Japan, tsunami warning issued in ~enviro
CannibalisticApple Link ParentLooks like it was inspired by Evangelion! Neat!Looks like it was inspired by Evangelion! Neat!
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Comment on CGA-2025-12 🏴☠️🏝️🍌 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 The Secret of Monkey Island in ~games
CannibalisticApple Link ParentThe staple remover was so confusing to me too! I kept waiting for it to come in handy somehow. Also the guide I found specifically suggested dumping spare stuff in the pot to clear your inventory....The staple remover was so confusing to me too! I kept waiting for it to come in handy somehow.
Also the guide I found specifically suggested dumping spare stuff in the pot to clear your inventory. Kinda wish I did that, since I'd know the remaining items would play a role at some point. The amount of stuff I had made me gloss over it since so much was useless, to the point it didn't even occur to me to check them again when I'd get stuck. I assumed multiple times I needed to find some hidden thing, only to learn it was in my inventory all along...
A grim tangent: how often have the manhunts for a mass shooting at a school extended like this? They honestly kind of blur together for me given the sheer volume, but it feels like they usually get arrested or die (either by suicide or police confrontation) on the same day.
I hate that mass shootings are common enough for me to make assumptions like this about specific types, but I had the impression that school shooters seem to usually be some flavor of suicidal or self-destructive. Often they're students or former students with some form of grudge, or they're people who WANT to be killed or gain notoriety, and know that attacking schools will get the strongest reaction and attention. Most of them seem to act with the intent that they won't get away.
So the fact this shooter has yet to be caught is just... unnerving, I guess. It feels like it breaks the pattern, which makes me worry that they might have other plans. The odds of this person planning a really fucked up traveling tour at multiple schools are low, but so long as we don't know the motive or identity, the odds aren't zero.