JCPhoenix's recent activity
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Comment on What's a culture shock that you experienced? in ~talk
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Comment on At CES 2026: A thumb-sized device that runs a fully isolated OS on your phone or PC in ~tech
JCPhoenix LinkUhh, no offense because this does seem like interesting tech...but are these kinda accounts and postings allowed on Tildes? Don't think I've seen anything like this before. @Deimos? Other Tildes mods?Uhh, no offense because this does seem like interesting tech...but are these kinda accounts and postings allowed on Tildes? Don't think I've seen anything like this before.
@Deimos? Other Tildes mods?
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Comment on What's a culture shock that you experienced? in ~talk
JCPhoenix Link ParentIn high school, a girl transferred in from Colombia and we became friends. But she was very touchy feely. Always wanting to hug me when we met up, touching my arm while talking to me, standing...In high school, a girl transferred in from Colombia and we became friends. But she was very touchy feely. Always wanting to hug me when we met up, touching my arm while talking to me, standing really close, etc.
As a guy, I was like "...is she into me? What is going on here??" Typical guy thinking, I know, but I wasn't interested in her in that way anyway. Also, practically none of the girls who I was friends with, who were from the US, were like that. Not to that extent. Plus, I'm not particularly touchy feely, again being a guy and just my own upbringing (think being Asian plays into this a little). But I didn't really know how to say something without thinking I'd be offending her.
Eventually a mutual friend unprompted told her, "You know, JC doesn't like being touched that much..." in front of me. My Colombian friend looked at me and I just nervously smiled and nodded in confirmation. She was mortified and apologized profusely. And I was a bit embarrassed, too. We're friends, after all! But she also explained that in Colombia that that level of touch and proximity is totally normal. It doesn't mean anything other than that we're good friends. She didn't really realize that in the US things were so different. We were still cool afterwards. She touched less, but I also accepted it more. It was a good learning experience, probably for the both of us.
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Comment on Save Point: A game deal roundup for the week of January 11 in ~games
JCPhoenix Link ParentAppreciate the ping! -- You know me so well <3 And wow, the Ace Attorney Trilogy for <$10 is a STEAL. If anyone has even had a remote interest in trying Ace Attorney, this is your chance. Even the...Appreciate the ping! -- You know me so well <3
And wow, the Ace Attorney Trilogy for <$10 is a STEAL. If anyone has even had a remote interest in trying Ace Attorney, this is your chance. Even the Ace Attorney Anthology, at $26.99 is great. That's all 6 of the mainline games for less than $30.
Ghost Trick, made by the same creator as the Ace Attorney series, is also <$10. It's a detective game, too, but plays more like a Rube Goldberg machine-esque puzzle game. Fun mechanic and fun story.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
JCPhoenix LinkStill playing Danganronpa v3: Killing Harmony. I think I'm like a chapter and a half from the end (only know this because I'm using a guide). It's gotten a little better, I think. More characters...Still playing Danganronpa v3: Killing Harmony. I think I'm like a chapter and a half from the end (only know this because I'm using a guide). It's gotten a little better, I think. More characters I don't care for have been murdered. Which is a plus? But while I don't hate the remaining characters (well, Kokichi Oma can fuck off right about now), I don't really care for them much either. The MC, Shiuchi Saihara, aggravates me. He's a wet noodle. But at least other characters also pick up on that and kinda call him out too. And there is a story beat that revolves around him being that way. So that's some of that for-the-story reasoning I've been looking for as to why these characters are the way they are.
Though I'm not sure I'm liking the direction the story is going/has gone. I think I've seen the big reveal that kinda signals I'm on the downslope of the game, but I'm like "Hmm, OK..."
After I finish v3, which I'm hoping I'll do before the end of the week, I might try to give some of the associated media, like the anime shows, a try. Because I feel like I'm missing context across the whole series, but particularly with v3. So maybe that'll help me appreciate it more. Along with just finishing the game.
I don't normally force myself to play games that I don't really care for, unless I'm playing something with friends. But as far as lore and universe-building, Danganronpa seems to do a good job of it. I am interested in learning more about these killing games and how the world got to this place and how it keeps happening over and over.
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Comment on Consumer Electronics Show 2026 in ~tech
JCPhoenix Link ParentThat one at least looks reusable if you stick new lollipops on it. I imagine it ran off AA/AAA batteries. Though Idk why a cheap AM/FM walkman and some headphones wouldn't have been a better...That one at least looks reusable if you stick new lollipops on it. I imagine it ran off AA/AAA batteries. Though Idk why a cheap AM/FM walkman and some headphones wouldn't have been a better option all around, even for a kid. I had some dollar store pocket radio/tape player as a kid. But theoretically, the product from that video could still be blasting FM music straight to your dome today! Though I'm also imagining how sticky it might be by now. Ugh, gross...
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Comment on Offbeat Fridays – The thread where offbeat headlines become front page news in ~news
JCPhoenix Link ParentI'm not seeing a problem here. Who doesn't like pizza? Like, a lot? Aussieman became Floridaman.P1ZZA H0
I'm not seeing a problem here. Who doesn't like pizza? Like, a lot?
HELLN0R
Aussieman became Floridaman.
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Comment on Hooters | Bankrupt in ~food
JCPhoenix Link ParentThe only time I've been to Hooters was senior year of high school with my dad. It was 2005 and it was like a night or two before Prom. My dad wanted to have a man-to-man talk and tell me that if...The only time I've been to Hooters was senior year of high school with my dad. It was 2005 and it was like a night or two before Prom. My dad wanted to have a man-to-man talk and tell me that if me and my date -- my then GF -- were going to have "some fun" afterwards, to be sure to play it safe. Which we already had been doing. Though tbf, he wouldn't have known that.
Why he chose Hooters to have that conversation, I have no clue. Like why couldn't we have just gone to a normal suburban restaurant like Applebees or Chili's? And yeah the food was pretty mediocre. Avoided Hooters and other restaurants like it since. Because why go to a restaurant if the main appeal isn't the food?
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Comment on Consumer Electronics Show 2026 in ~tech
JCPhoenix Link ParentAlong those same lines, I got an email from iFixit today about Repair.org's "Worst in Show."Along those same lines, I got an email from iFixit today about Repair.org's "Worst in Show."
Repair.org, the repair industry trade association, announced the 2026 Worst in Show awards today, annual anti-awards that spotlight the most harmful, invasive, wasteful, and unfixable tech on display at CES.
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Comment on Judge laughs at TSA as Southwest fights $48 million fine for keeping passenger fees in ~transport
JCPhoenix LinkThis is something I've never thought of. Mostly because I almost always use travel credits I've received from airlines. I did once let ~$120 in Southwest flight credits expire after cancelling a...The fight boils down to a simple question: when a passenger cancels and never flies, who has to send the money back—an airline, or the government that collected the fee?
This is something I've never thought of. Mostly because I almost always use travel credits I've received from airlines. I did once let ~$120 in Southwest flight credits expire after cancelling a return leg of a round-trip flight. I -- or my employer since they paid for the flight -- should have gotten that $5.60 passenger security fee back.
I feel like there are a couple easy ways to deal with this.
- FORCE AIRLINES TO REFUND BACK TO ORIGINAL FORM OF PAYMENT! Unless the customer specifically requests travel credit. This would practically guarantee a refund of the passenger security fee, along with other unused taxes and government fees. I shouldn't have to pay for a more expensive, higher tier ticket to get a cash refund. But that's a separate argument for a different day.
- Since that'll never happen in the US, issue travel credit for the bulk of the ticket (ugh), but then separately refund the security fee and other unused taxes and government fees back to the original payment method.
I do think Southwest, or any airline (there's another court case, Hahn vs JetBlue, that's basically the same argument, but a customer bringing suit), should be the one refunding the fee. A commenter makes a great point:
Fundamentally, how is that any different from retailers who collect state and local sales taxes on behalf of a state and its subdivisions and then periodically remit those taxes to the state?
If a customer returns taxable goods to a retailer, the retailer refunds the sales tax collected and offsets the sales tax refunded to the customer against the next periodic remittance of sales tax to the state.
But given it's the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, it'll probably rule for Southwest. So TSA will be on the hook. Though if that's the case, doubt we'll see much movement by the government to get people their money. Especially these days.
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Judge laughs at TSA as Southwest fights $48 million fine for keeping passenger fees
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Comment on "Visa" gift cards - What should I be looking at? in ~finance
JCPhoenix (edited )Link ParentPrivacy is good. I use it for some things. Less so for privacy and more for the credit card fraud/identity theft protections if a merchant gets breached (creating single use cards, card that can...Privacy is good. I use it for some things. Less so for privacy and more for the credit card fraud/identity theft protections if a merchant gets breached (creating single use cards, card that can only be used at one merchant, spending caps, etc). That said, I actually don't know how much info is passed to the merchant. Their website says the following:
What information does Privacy share with the merchant?
When you transact using a Privacy Card, the information shared with the merchant by Privacy as part of the card transaction includes the 16-digit Card number, expiration date, CVV, and billing address entered at checkout.
Separate from your Privacy Card transaction, the merchant will also see your name when you provide it during checkout.
Privacy does not share personally identifiable information with merchants, though if there is a transaction dispute, merchants will be able to see the name that you provided during checkout.
Which sounds like you can use any name or address/zip code for these. I actually didn't know that! I always use my real info, again because I'm not using it primarily for privacy. Though of course, if someone is ordering a physical product, could be more difficult to hide a name and address from the merchant since they gotta send you something.
And of course, Privacy itself does have the user's personal information. Probably for KYC/AML purposes. Wonder how long they retain those records.
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Comment on Iran’s supreme leader signals harsher crackdown as protest movement swells in ~society
JCPhoenix Link ParentA user's analysis I saw elsewhere pointed out one thing different with this protest from past major protests. I don't know if it's true or not, since I don't know enough about Iranian protests of...A user's analysis I saw elsewhere pointed out one thing different with this protest from past major protests. I don't know if it's true or not, since I don't know enough about Iranian protests of the past. Other just hearing about them.
But the user pointed out -- or at least western media seems to be repeating -- that Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former Shah, being closer to the center of these protests. The few articles I've seen keep do referencing Pahlavi and crowds chanting in support of and calling for the crown prince.
Anyone closer to the ground here have any insight into this? Is there widespread support for the return of the the monarchy? Even if the monarch is just a figurehead going forward?
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Comment on What’s a point that you think many people missed? in ~talk
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Comment on "Ai ni, laoji": China's Gen Z is breaking tradition by learning self-love (English) in ~health.mental
JCPhoenix Link ParentI had heard of 996, but not 007 in this regard. That's impossible! Please say that's just like a meme or sarcasm based on the already insane 996.I had heard of 996, but not 007 in this regard. That's impossible! Please say that's just like a meme or sarcasm based on the already insane 996.
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Comment on Texas becomes first state to end American Bar Association oversight of law schools in ~society
JCPhoenix Link ParentPretty much all accreditation in the US is done this way, through regulatory non-profit organizations. At least on the higher-ed side. I worked for one of them for many years. In many ways, like...Pretty much all accreditation in the US is done this way, through regulatory non-profit organizations. At least on the higher-ed side. I worked for one of them for many years.
In many ways, like much of US history and culture, it's due to distrust of government. Same reason why the Federal Reserve system, outside of the Board of the Governors, is only quasi-governmental. Don't let the government have full control (I think there are also constitutional stipulations to this, particularly 10th Amendment, but I ain't a lawyer). And this administration is very likely a fine example of what these seemingly bizarre regulatory setups are protecting us from.
That said, there is a certain level of gatekeeping that these organizations do. Which some may think is less than ideal. Certainly it is possible for a college to have a great law school, with great professors, rigorous standards, etc, to not be ABA accredited. Why should those graduates from said school not be able to sit for the Texas state bar exam? Why shouldn't the bar exam be the only determiner? Thinking about it the other way, I'm sure there are poorly-skilled lawyers who barely graduated from an ABA-accredited program, were able to sit for the bar and barely pass it, but can now practice in Texas. I don't think I'd want someone like that as my lawyer! So is the system really doing what it's designed to do? Or is it just gatekeeping for some other reason?
The accrediting body I worked for (which was CHEA/USDE-recognized; essentially we ourselves were accredited) actually dealt with this. I don't want to give out too much info, but for a while, many states only allowed students who graduated from schools accredited by a competing organization to sit for something akin to a bar exam or PE exam for that field. Which didn't seem very fair to graduates from schools we accredited. So we lobbied to get that changed in some states. So now some states say that graduates from both my former organization and the competing organization are eligible to sit for the exam. We literally opened the doors for additional potentially qualified people to enter that field. Is that a bad thing? I don't think so. Though I suppose time will tell.
So yeah. I think it's not as clear cut as Texas just be stupid fucking Texas as usual.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
JCPhoenix Link ParentNice! Glad to hear that there's hopefully some reason for all this. Have you played any of the spin-off games? Worth playing?Nice! Glad to hear that there's hopefully some reason for all this. Have you played any of the spin-off games? Worth playing?
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
JCPhoenix LinkSince I've been watching the anime Gnosia, that kinda triggered an itch to play some Danganronpa v3, the third in the main series. I started v3 back in 2023, but then put it down because I just...Since I've been watching the anime Gnosia, that kinda triggered an itch to play some Danganronpa v3, the third in the main series. I started v3 back in 2023, but then put it down because I just could not stand most of the characters. They're mostly just assholes, seemingly for no reason. Which is pretty different from the first two games.
Having returned to the game, 2.5yrs later, I'm reminded how much I can't stand them. Some of them, like Miu Iruma, are also super edgy in a not that funny way. At one point someone calls her a "cum dumpster" and she's like "Someone's finally called me a cum dumpster...yay!!!" Like, tf? What is wrong with you? I get that she's very likely never had sex and knows nothing about sex, so she talks and acts like she gets around, but...why? Is that supposed to be funny? None of the other characters really talk about sex.
I'm hoping that these characters being this way is related to the overall story. That they were chosen for this latest "killing high school" -- it's kinda like the book Battle Royale, but the murders much more devious and stealthy, so that's why the remaining characters have to investigate and deduce who the killers are -- because of their terrible personalities. But frankly? I don't care if most of these characters die. I'm not attached to them like I was to the characters in the first two games. The characters that seemingly were worth a damn were killed early on in the game.
I'm halfway through the third class trial, which means I'm almost halfway through the game. At this point, I just wanna know the story, so I'm mostly using a guide. Maybe I should've just watched a Let's Play. But I'm committed. Again. For now anyway.
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Comment on What are some stories of progressivism gone wrong in implementation? in ~society
JCPhoenix Link ParentI wanted to buy a Fit when my old 04 Civic died...in 2021. So I ended up getting another Civic, and I was shocked at how chonky it was compared to my old Civic. The 04 model was clearly a...I wanted to buy a Fit when my old 04 Civic died...in 2021. So I ended up getting another Civic, and I was shocked at how chonky it was compared to my old Civic. The 04 model was clearly a subcompact. The 21 model, just a compact. Maybe even bigger.
And yeah, I remember when the Focus did become a reliable car. I was actually surprised reading about it and hearing that it was decent.
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Comment on What are some stories of progressivism gone wrong in implementation? in ~society
JCPhoenix Link ParentThere is certainly a curiosity about her. I think everyone wants to know, but how do you ask someone that? "Hey do you have autism? Are you on the spectrum?" What if she doesn't know that? Did we...There is certainly a curiosity about her. I think everyone wants to know, but how do you ask someone that? "Hey do you have autism? Are you on the spectrum?" What if she doesn't know that? Did we just call her, to use a possible pejorative, "autistic" to her face? That's pretty messed up. So it just goes unsaid. At this point, I think most people have simply accepted that the situation is what it is. And to just play to her strengths, the few she seems to have in a work environment.
As far as ADHD, I have several friends who have it. Confirmed cases and I think they're all on various meds for it. But I have one friend who I think might have it worse than the others.
He was telling me once that he needs reminders for his reminders, for his reminders. When he tries to remember that he needs to put something into a calendar or like on a post-it note, it could go two ways: either he just forgets to do it, or does it, but then forgets to look at said calendar or post-it note. And even if he does see the reminder, it can be gone from his mind moments later. He's tried all sorts of things over the years.
I was just like, "Holy...how do you function??" And the truth is, he only sorta does. He got let go from a job, because he couldn't show up to meetings on time, or missed them altogether, or would start the day late. Because he got distracted. He unfortunately never disclosed he had ADHD until he was getting "the talk." His boss supposedly told him that he wished my friend would've mentioned it beforehand, that he would've worked with my friend. But it was too late.
I think he's gotten better through different meds and finding a better therapist as well. He does have a job again that seems to be going well.
I actually hired him as a contractor at the non-profit to automate some really tedious work for us. Saved our team hundreds of hours of work. The other side of ADHD seems to be the ability to hyperfocus. And boy did he when I asked him to work on that project! Think I had to tell him to slow down so we could pay him for his time. I wanted him to take my position when I left (it's a chill enough environment that I think he'd've been alright), but I got overruled while interviewing. Instead, they hired the other shitshow over there. Sigh.
My mom experienced something similar when we moved from the Midwest to Salt Lake City. As a kid/young teen, I didn't notice it at the time. But she told me that she got tired of people seemingly always within her personal bubble. Particularly while waiting in lines like at the grocery store. And not just within her personal space but like being so close as to touch her with their elbows and such.
Once or twice I've mentioned this on reddit and there were a handful of people who knew exactly what my mom had experienced in SLC. I was genuinely surprised; I thought she was just making a big deal out of nothing.