kitschqueen's recent activity

  1. Comment on Does anyone else have posting anxiety? in ~tech

    kitschqueen
    Link
    I can definitely understand the points about neurodivergence and anxiety. In addition, being a woman - or being a member of a minority that can be detected through a username or posting history -...

    I can definitely understand the points about neurodivergence and anxiety. In addition, being a woman - or being a member of a minority that can be detected through a username or posting history - has brought many of us uninvited stress when we post. Even thinking about posting this, I found myself going through my mental library of research and anecdotes (but especially data) to defend my position should some naysayer and/or troll reject my experience. It’s exhausting to think through all the points that could get picked apart, to prepare for more engagement than a simple comment. So I do the calculus of, “How important is this to me?” 99% of the time, it just isn’t worth it. But you can see this question fit the 1%!

    9 votes

  2. Comment on What is your favourite episode of a podcast? in ~talk

  3. Comment on The Court Jester | Short film | Pauly Shore is Richard Simmons in ~movies

    kitschqueen
    Link
    It’s fascinating watching this depiction of Simmons after listening to the podcast series Missing Richard Simmons, which explores his rise to fame and then total reclusion. Shore seems to be...

    It’s fascinating watching this depiction of Simmons after listening to the podcast series Missing Richard Simmons, which explores his rise to fame and then total reclusion. Shore seems to be balancing his effervescence and exhaustion in that last scene.

    1 vote

  4. Comment on What are some highly praised comedians you don't find very funny? in ~talk

    kitschqueen
    Link Parent
    I have this conversation with my husband every time he tries to show me a video of Robin Williams doing stand-up or on a late-night talk show. I just cannot handle the fire hose of stuff he...

    I have this conversation with my husband every time he tries to show me a video of Robin Williams doing stand-up or on a late-night talk show. I just cannot handle the fire hose of stuff he blasts, even though I can tell there’s talent there.

    7 votes

  5. Comment on US stores increasingly reverse course on self checkout in ~tech

    kitschqueen
    Link
    We have a grocery store down the road that put in self checkout machines about 12 years ago, then took them out 7 years ago. Then it put them back in 4 years ago. I’m looking forward to seeing how...

    We have a grocery store down the road that put in self checkout machines about 12 years ago, then took them out 7 years ago. Then it put them back in 4 years ago. I’m looking forward to seeing how this all plays out.

    2 votes

  6. Comment on Spotify cancels industry-favorite podcasts Heavyweight and Stolen in ~tech

    kitschqueen
    Link
    This is extremely disappointing, although not a surprise. After Heavyweight went Spotify-exclusive, I expected they were going to axe it with all the other Gimlet media that died at the end of...

    This is extremely disappointing, although not a surprise. After Heavyweight went Spotify-exclusive, I expected they were going to axe it with all the other Gimlet media that died at the end of last year. Then no word came of cancelation, but Spotify laid off Gimlet staff this summer so I assumed that marked the end. However, to my delight, it stopped the exclusivity this season and new episodes appeared on my podcast player. I hoped Spotify might have finally recognized the gem of this show.

    And now this.

    I look forward to whatever Jonathan Goldstein creates next. Maybe it will make me laugh and cry simultaneously like this show - knowing his style, it likely will. What I’m particularly curious about, though, is how the founders of Gimlet feel about the gradual dismantling of their podcast utopia. They were so proud of it - co-founder Alex Blumberg even hosted a show back in its heyday called Startup where one season focused on Gimlet. He left Spotify last year, and I’m not sure we’ve heard anything from Matt Lieber.

    In summary, Spotify did a capitalism.

    3 votes

  7. Tell me your Christmas ghost stories!

    ~talk Ask (survey)
    Telling “scary ghost stories” at the holidays isn’t just a seemingly out-of-place line in the song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” or the plot of A Christmas Carol - it’s actually a...

    Telling “scary ghost stories” at the holidays isn’t just a seemingly out-of-place line in the song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” or the plot of A Christmas Carol - it’s actually a very old tradition stretching back to pagan Yule festivals and Winter Solstice celebrations. So please share yours with us: true or false, but preferably true.

    19 votes

  8. Comment on For those with IBS, what changes did you make to improve your quality of life? in ~health

    kitschqueen
    Link
    Thank you deeply to everyone who has taken time to reply to my question. This gives us a glimpse of what we need to tackle and possible routes, but also a lot of hope for the future!

    Thank you deeply to everyone who has taken time to reply to my question. This gives us a glimpse of what we need to tackle and possible routes, but also a lot of hope for the future!

    4 votes

  9. For those with IBS, what changes did you make to improve your quality of life?

    ~health Ask (survey)
    Family member was recently diagnosed, and I’m trying to manage our menu, activities, and expectations to help them. I know every body is different and food intolerances vary, but I’m curious what...

    Family member was recently diagnosed, and I’m trying to manage our menu, activities, and expectations to help them. I know every body is different and food intolerances vary, but I’m curious what helped you?

    34 votes

  10. Comment on Petition launched to save Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum in Michigan from demolition in ~hobbies

    kitschqueen
    Link
    It looks like the meeting happened tonight. Any update from Detroiters? I’m a fan of this place from way back - one of my fav songs was even about it! I hope it survives.

    It looks like the meeting happened tonight. Any update from Detroiters? I’m a fan of this place from way back - one of my fav songs was even about it! I hope it survives.

    5 votes

  11. Comment on A new garment called the Tiger Summer Puffer keeps you cool in the heat... using beer in ~design

    kitschqueen
    Link
    And here I find an unlikely overlap in the Venn diagram of my two passions: beer and fashion. Bless you, Izzy Du.

    And here I find an unlikely overlap in the Venn diagram of my two passions: beer and fashion.

    Bless you, Izzy Du.

    2 votes

  12. Comment on What are your "must-read" books? in ~books

    kitschqueen
    Link Parent
    I’ve started The Memory Police based on your recommendation, and it’s excellent! Thank you again.

    I’ve started The Memory Police based on your recommendation, and it’s excellent! Thank you again.

    1 vote

  13. Comment on What are your "must-read" books? in ~books

    kitschqueen
    Link Parent
    Thank you for this list! I was just about to comment, “Any non-male author recommendations?” Then I saw yours!

    Thank you for this list! I was just about to comment, “Any non-male author recommendations?” Then I saw yours!

    3 votes

  14. Comment on Follow-up question: For those who made a significant change, how did it affect your relationships, whether romantic, social, familial? in ~talk

    kitschqueen
    Link
    Like many people in the previous discussion, I grew up conservative and religious. I was a true believer. I held some skeptical views and didn’t fit into the core group, but I still led strong on...

    Like many people in the previous discussion, I grew up conservative and religious. I was a true believer. I held some skeptical views and didn’t fit into the core group, but I still led strong on the fringe with the other misfits. For example, I was all in on the concept of God and Biblical inerrancy, but I was enough of a feminist (without using the word) to defy the subjugation stuff.

    I slowly, slowly separated myself as I began having friendships that challenged my indoctrination. It was steeply ingrained with instinctual rebuttals, so it took an embarrassingly long time to dismantle some basic tenets. But when I came to realize that its anti-LGBTQIA stance was a feature and not a bug, my beliefs came apart much quicker.

    Since I had been a leader and active member, I lost a lot of friendships. Some directly confronted me on my changes; others quietly faded. My parents are still very active in our religion, and it has strained our relationship; however, they do adhere to the “love” aspect so they are trying to adjust themselves to their lost sheep. It helps that both my siblings are also agnostic - I think it’s just hard for them that I finally went that way, too.

    What this change did do, unexpectedly, was improve my relationship with my partner. Without all the guidelines and expectations of the religion, we’re much freer with each other and our kids. We have more fun - possibly because I have less anxiety.

    And I’ve made a lot of new friends, ones that are more flexible and open in their thinking. They allow me to be malleable, as I do with them. Many also share a similar religious trauma/history.

    All in all, I feel more at home and myself than ever before with this current life. It took a lot of sacrifice, humiliation, and loneliness to get here, and it’s not safe for everyone to do. But I’m grateful I could.

    16 votes

  15. Follow-up question: For those who made a significant change, how did it affect your relationships, whether romantic, social, familial?

    ~talk Ask (survey)
    A few of you mentioned in comments to my previous question that changing your mind could or did affect relationships. To those who did go through such a significant perspective shift, please share...

    A few of you mentioned in comments to my previous question that changing your mind could or did affect relationships. To those who did go through such a significant perspective shift, please share your story!

    20 votes

  16. Comment on What caused you to change your mind about something significant? in ~talk

  17. Comment on Twenty-one species removed from endangered list due to extinction, US wildlife officials say in ~enviro

    kitschqueen
    Link
    Then there’s this paragraph, which seems like its own worthwhile article: “While some species are removed from the Endangered Species Act because they're considered extinct, others are delisted...

    Then there’s this paragraph, which seems like its own worthwhile article:
    “While some species are removed from the Endangered Species Act because they're considered extinct, others are delisted because their populations have rebounded. According to the agency, more than 100 species of plants and animals have been delisted based on recovery or reclassified from endangered to threatened based on improved conservation status.”

    12 votes

  18. Comment on What caused you to change your mind about something significant? in ~talk

    kitschqueen
    Link Parent
    My partner did want kids, so we did not fully commit to a relationship until we were both on the same page re: family and timeline. You’re absolutely right: a change like that while in a...

    My partner did want kids, so we did not fully commit to a relationship until we were both on the same page re: family and timeline. You’re absolutely right: a change like that while in a relationship can bring a lot of consequences. Perhaps we should ask that question next on Tildes: For those who made a significant change, how did it affect your relationships, whether romantic, social, familial?

    10 votes

  19. Comment on What caused you to change your mind about something significant? in ~talk

    kitschqueen
    Link
    I never wanted kids. Like, when people were setting career and college goals in high school, I set one that said, “Never have kids.” I told everyone I dated I didn’t want kids. I got multiple...

    I never wanted kids. Like, when people were setting career and college goals in high school, I set one that said, “Never have kids.” I told everyone I dated I didn’t want kids. I got multiple degrees and the career I wanted. Then I met my partner. He didn’t make me like kids more, but his nurturing presence got me into the precontemplation stage - thinking about thinking about it.

    One day, a coworker mentioned in passing, “I don’t like kids, but I like mine.” That struck me. It made a lot of sense. In time, I decided to start a family with my partner. It’s been hard due to some medical issues and such, and I’m glad I really thought it through so I could commit entirely. And I like my kids, but not really other people’s.

    To be clear, having kids is not the right choice for everyone - I will never tell someone “You’ll change your mind,” because I don’t think everyone will or should. I just happened to, and it’s worked out for me.

    48 votes