chocobean's recent activity
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Comment on How a Chinese battery factory sparked a political meltdown in a small Michigan town in ~finance
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Comment on The investor backed proposed California tech city is now reframed as ship building hub and gains more local support in ~design
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Comment on The investor backed proposed California tech city is now reframed as ship building hub and gains more local support in ~design
chocobean LinkBe a cool gambit if this pans out for the investors: give up a small fraction of the 65k acres, put in a port paid for by the government and defense department, then oh look the port needs shops...The company, which now owns more than 65,000 acres in Solano county [...] That site, California Forever said in its statement, has more than 1,400 acres of land that was proactively zoned for “maritime industrial uses”. It would be used a manufacturing and assembling location rather than a port, Carli said.
Be a cool gambit if this pans out for the investors: give up a small fraction of the 65k acres, put in a port paid for by the government and defense department, then oh look the port needs shops and housing and we just so happens to have plans for a whole dang city would you look at that.
But in all seriousness, working with locals to build something they want, is proud of, and has heritage link to, is a much better plan than surprise airdopped billionaire town.
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Comment on When is pet insurance worth it? in ~life.pets
chocobean Link ParentAh I remember you posting about fresh Juniper! That's too bad Juniper can't somehow....take over Batman's old policy. Is it possible to sign up for one and then keep shopping around for better...Ah I remember you posting about fresh Juniper!
That's too bad Juniper can't somehow....take over Batman's old policy. Is it possible to sign up for one and then keep shopping around for better rates like one does with car insurance?
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Comment on When is pet insurance worth it? in ~life.pets
chocobean Link ParentI agree with all your statements, and perhaps the difference is in how much I trust the pet health insurance industry. I fully expect them to charge me every month and then somehow deny care for...I agree with all your statements, and perhaps the difference is in how much I trust the pet health insurance industry. I fully expect them to charge me every month and then somehow deny care for my pets when I actually need them. Either I have the money right then and I'll get them care or I won't and that's super sad but a more black and white reality. I agree insurance is supposed to smooth it out, but am suspicious of it being the case.
I think the best course of action is to set aside a big chunk of money when one adopts a pet, and add to it every month instead of paying the industry. The controversy is that I believe those who can't afford insurance nor big chunk of money, they should still be able to enjoy the love and companionship of a beloved pet. So many are guilted into buying insurance or somehow providing chemo for a pet or home reno's for a disabled pet that they can ill afford.
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Comment on Elon Musk says xAI has acquired X in deal that values social media site at $33 billion in ~tech
chocobean LinkI always hear this as "this is as bright as it will ever be and it's only going to get dimmer from here on" Oh well if his Tesla shareholders are happy and people are still investing in Musk...The future could not be brighter.
I always hear this as "this is as bright as it will ever be and it's only going to get dimmer from here on"
Oh well if his Tesla shareholders are happy and people are still investing in Musk that's that.
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Comment on When is pet insurance worth it? in ~life.pets
chocobean LinkExtremely unpopular opinion: a pet is not a family member, and there is a point at which it doesn't make sense to financially continue to have said pet. Anecdotal: when we adopted this kitten she...Extremely unpopular opinion: a pet is not a family member, and there is a point at which it doesn't make sense to financially continue to have said pet.
Anecdotal: when we adopted this kitten she came with insurance coverage for the first year. Our first and only claim was denied. Insurance sounds like a waste of time and money: either we have the cash on hand to pay for treatment, or we don't and that's that.
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Comment on Can you repair coil zipper without replacing the entire zipper? in ~creative
chocobean LinkIf would probably void your warranty, but in your situation I would take it to one of those old school alterations shops and ask them to fix it. They would know how to, and probably have access to...If would probably void your warranty, but in your situation I would take it to one of those old school alterations shops and ask them to fix it. They would know how to, and probably have access to very similar replacement zippers, and have the finished product look more professionally put together than I could be able to myself
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Comment on Border-straddling library raises $140K for renovations after US limits Canadian access in ~books
chocobean LinkShameful, callow, petty indeed. On an unrelated note, I don't like referring to library patrons as "customers". Nor at hospitals nor motor vehicular departments nor passport offices nor schools,...Shameful, callow, petty indeed.
On an unrelated note, I don't like referring to library patrons as "customers". Nor at hospitals nor motor vehicular departments nor passport offices nor schools, nor any place I'm not choosing an optional trivial commercial good. Am I being weird, and is customer actually the correct and best English word for members of publicly available good, services and communities?
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Comment on Amid calls for sovereign EU tech stack, Swedish startup Evroc raises $55M in Series A funding to build a hyperscale cloud in Europe in ~tech
chocobean Link ParentIt'd be a Regency drama of a reunion. I'd like to think we're the independent minded scion who left home at a young age to make a name for themselves, who is now rejoining the season as the Tall...It'd be a Regency drama of a reunion. I'd like to think we're the independent minded scion who left home at a young age to make a name for themselves, who is now rejoining the season as the Tall Mysterious Stranger who can navigate the complex web of relationships and somehow knows everyone's secrets.
We've got uranium baby! We're very eligible.
Most of Canada’s reserves are located in the Athabasca Basin of northern Saskatchewan, which hosts the world’s largest high-grade deposits, with grades that are 10 to 100 times greater than the average grade of deposits mined elsewhere in the world. Source
And apparently our old CANDU reactors were designed to use natural uranium, but I don't know too much about that. Hopefully we'll reinvest in developing tech for the world stage again.
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Comment on What keeps you up at night? in ~talk
chocobean LinkTonight, it's literal: My kid, tossing and rotating, on the same hotel bed, because they didn't have the booked 2 queen room. Usually, it's lights out for me within a few minutes of laying down...Tonight, it's literal: My kid, tossing and rotating, on the same hotel bed, because they didn't have the booked 2 queen room.
Usually, it's lights out for me within a few minutes of laying down putting the phone away. But when I think about things and fret, I'm in a very similar position as @Odysseus. My partner can't work and my kid is young; it'd be exceptionally difficult to get work as good if I lost it. Even if we float along financially with a local minimum wage job, it means I won't have the ability to frequently visit my elderly and soon to be gone father. But: as mentioned, it's rare
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Comment on Introductions | March 2025 in ~talk
chocobean Link ParentMy 2 worst commutes were (1) 50km along the 401 in Toronto, so between 1:15 - 2:00+ weather depending, and (2)1.75hr train/bus each way, but at least I can play video games and sleep. My quality...My 2 worst commutes were (1) 50km along the 401 in Toronto, so between 1:15 - 2:00+ weather depending, and (2)1.75hr train/bus each way, but at least I can play video games and sleep.
My quality of life has so dramatically improved that the concept of rush hour is now a faint memory: recently I took a rideshare for a mere 14km (8.7mi) from Granville Island to Richmond, at 230pm on a weekday, and was amazed that it was almost 5 when I arrived. Thank goodness I wasn't in a taxi, but I also felt terrible for my driver averaging $10/hr, when minimum wage is $17.85/hr.
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Comment on What would your past self say about your current self? in ~life
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Comment on Introductions | March 2025 in ~talk
chocobean Link ParentI would not be put off by Deimos calling us Tilderen.I would not be put off by Deimos calling us Tilderen.
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Comment on Introductions | March 2025 in ~talk
chocobean Link Parentthere's one every day----!!! Gleeeee~~~ I have you marked on Tildes as Relationship Coach. A lifetime ago I hung out at /r/marriage a lot and gave out a bunch of advice too, but not like, book...there's one every day----!!! Gleeeee~~~
I have you marked on Tildes as Relationship Coach.
A lifetime ago I hung out at /r/marriage a lot and gave out a bunch of advice too, but not like, book writing worthy advice :)
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Comment on Introductions | March 2025 in ~talk
chocobean Link ParentApologies, RTO as Return To Office: the roads were so nice during COVID, and there was good evidence that even animals got a break from our air/noise/light/vibration pollution. I am modestylly...Apologies, RTO as Return To Office: the roads were so nice during COVID, and there was good evidence that even animals got a break from our air/noise/light/vibration pollution. I am modestylly involved with affordable housing in a small town, to encourage spreading out a bit as well, but it's so hurtful to the economically struggling when they're forced to live in ridiculously overpriced shoeboxes because they need to be close to the office: the poor get poorer.
Roads are dangerous; long commutes hurt marriages; parents are too tired to hang with their kids after 8 hours of work + 2 on the road; sitting for those 10 hours is bad for our health and also as a result our communities look desolate and devoid of life. :< I'm very unhappy with forcing people back to office
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Comment on “I don’t see how we can save it.” in ~life
chocobean Link Parent*cries sad tears for your beautiful tree 。゜゜(ﾉД`)*ﾟﾟ･｡ Make lots and lots of memories......*cries sad tears for your beautiful tree
。゜゜(ﾉД`)*ﾟﾟ･｡
Make lots and lots of memories......
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Comment on Introductions | March 2025 in ~talk
chocobean LinkHello! How long have you been on Tildes? How did you find out about us? I was going to link my response from summer 2023 and was shocked to find I never introduced myself. :/ just stepped right in...Hello!
How long have you been on Tildes? How did you find out about us?
I was going to link my response from summer 2023 and was shocked to find I never introduced myself. :/ just stepped right in and began to take up airspace immediately. Anyway I was part of the Reddit API fiasco refugees.
How did you choose your username?
Been chocobean since the IRC / ICQ days . Origins is from a chocolate covered, fruit jelly bean snack: the product has a commercial in 90s HK, with a catchy jingle.
What are your interests?
A/S/L (age/(gender|pronouns|identifier)/location)
18/F/California was a bit ago, currently living in Atlantic Canada
What do you do? This could be in your spare time, for work, your passions.
I work remotely, in a software adjacent role. I love working remotely and it's what enabled our family to afford extremely affordable real estate. I'm very passionate about giving that opportunity to as many families as possible and have a burning hatred for unnecessary RTO for humanitarian and environmental reasons.
Do you want other users to PM/DM you from this thread?
:D sure ! But I'm really terrible at returning PMs.... Sorry
Give us a fun fact (or a link!)! If there is anything to know about tilderinos, it's that we value knowledge sharing!
Fun fact! In 2018 no demonyms was voted the most popular demonyms. Probably "Tildos" is my least favorite one. Tilderinos I don't hate.
Fun fact! Camels have leathery hot sand parking patches on their knees and their tummies. True Facts was very interesting; camels are far weirder than I had realised.
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Comment on Introductions | March 2025 in ~talk
chocobean Link ParentYou give (gave?) dating and relationship advice for a living?!?! That's super cool! Do you yourself have a lot of first person experience, advanced degrees in psych or is it a be super reasonable...You give (gave?) dating and relationship advice for a living?!?! That's super cool! Do you yourself have a lot of first person experience, advanced degrees in psych or is it a be super reasonable and empathetic and communicate well kind of thing? I do it for free without people wanting advice lol but how did you find this role? Asking because when I was young I religiously followed a newspaper column on relationships: a man and woman writer would both respond side by side to the same question, and it was amazing.
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Comment on “I don’t see how we can save it.” in ~life
chocobean Link ParentIt's a magnificent tree, I'm so sorry for your loss. Alternatively, have you talked to as many septic designers as you can to see if you can come up with an alternative? What if you installed a...It's a magnificent tree, I'm so sorry for your loss.
Alternatively, have you talked to as many septic designers as you can to see if you can come up with an alternative? What if you installed a burn it all up toilet at home? I'm just throwing out ideas here
What a crazy and sad saga.
The sad fact is that Chinese companies are normal companies that want to do well, go international, and operate in the free market. They have charismatic and visionary leaders who want to make good changes for themselves and the world. The sadder also fact is that they're allowed to do so until one day they're magically not.
Example. The recent Panama Canal CKHutchison deal : Li owns CKH, and he was making good money on the ports until Trump whines about them being Chinese owned. Then Li decides to sell, to an American company, and China moans about how it's totally not controlling the ports, but also how dare Li sell his ports without first getting the go ahead from Beijing.
And now it's a frikkin mess. Businesses want stability and predictability and to be able to make long term investments that make sense. The world is increasingly going to minimise dealings with China AND the United States, for good reasons.
This poor Chuck, he's right that people are being xenophobic and ignorant about batteries and denial of climate change and needlessly distrustful of EVs. But he's also a dang bleedin' fool if he thinks Chinese businesses work in a vacuum without party involvement and espionage.
I hate that I'm in agreement with Trump and GOP here, but this is one area where they're actually right: if and when they run their own authoritarian regime (ie, now), this is exactly the kind of manipulation and control they would exert on all American businesses, academia, NGOs, law enforcement, their citizens etc so of course they've figured out that that's how China runs theirs. This is your stalker boyfriend who's going to eventually kill you, warning you about this new friend being a stalker who's eventually going to kill you.