pumpkin-eater's recent activity

  1. Comment on What would you recommend for a single, minimal, "overview-of-the-world" news source? in ~talk

    pumpkin-eater
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    Just a counter-point: have you considered that if something at that level of important happens, you'll hear about it organically from other people who do keep an eye on the news? Very little of...

    Just a counter-point: have you considered that if something at that level of important happens, you'll hear about it organically from other people who do keep an eye on the news? Very little of what appears even in reputable global news homepages is actually relevant to your life vs interesting things happening.

    3 votes

  2. Comment on Dozens of Texas water systems exceed new federal PFAS limits in ~enviro

    pumpkin-eater
    Link Parent
    Could it be that Texas water systems are mostly pulling from aquifers? We add PFAS to pretty much everything, so even if the soon-to-be-emptied aquifers are pure, nothing else is!

    Could it be that Texas water systems are mostly pulling from aquifers? We add PFAS to pretty much everything, so even if the soon-to-be-emptied aquifers are pure, nothing else is!

    3 votes

  3. Comment on Fellow hardline materialists, how do you "enchant" the world? in ~talk

    pumpkin-eater
    Link Parent
    Ahh I think i see what you meant now, that it is life that's cruel and uncaring... that life itself exists is magical, but the realities of predation and parasitism are pretty unpleasant. I'd...

    Ahh I think i see what you meant now, that it is life that's cruel and uncaring... that life itself exists is magical, but the realities of predation and parasitism are pretty unpleasant. I'd imagine most people get by with ignoring it unless they're confronted with it, and then forgetting about it as soon as they can (whether they're religious or not - perhaps Buddhism has an answer to the awful ways most animals die, but I don't think any other religion does beyond "it must be like this for a reason").

    I imagine being a life scientist you're in the tough position of being constantly reminded of those unpleasant realities... what do others in your profession think/do about it, out of interest?

    3 votes

  4. Comment on Fellow hardline materialists, how do you "enchant" the world? in ~talk

    pumpkin-eater
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    You don't think the structures of the observable universe, both large and small, are infinitely enchanting by themselves? Personally, I am captivated by the beauty of the universe (and yes, its...

    You don't think the structures of the observable universe, both large and small, are infinitely enchanting by themselves? Personally, I am captivated by the beauty of the universe (and yes, its unfathomable vastness), and find it utterly delightful that such small collections of matter as ourselves are able to self-assemble, and to then have an agency that nothing else we've observed demonstrates.

    I find the above much more magical than any attempt to anthropomorphise the laws of physics which are, let's face it, not cruel: simply indifferent to whether some transiently-conscious structure of its particles is created or destroyed.

    23 votes

  5. Comment on Let's talk about Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in ~music

    pumpkin-eater
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    I tend not to listen to the songs until the semi-finals (which I contest are the true Eurovision), but I've been really liking the vibes of the Ukrainian entry this year

    I tend not to listen to the songs until the semi-finals (which I contest are the true Eurovision), but I've been really liking the vibes of the Ukrainian entry this year

    1 vote

  6. Comment on Police bodycam shows sheriff hunting for 'obscene' books at library in ~books

  7. Comment on Game recommendations, specifically in ~games

    pumpkin-eater
    Link Parent
    Fellow gaymer here (and I bet you already know this!) if you haven't already it might be helpful to talk to a professional about this, since I'm sure it's having more of an effect on you than your...

    Fellow gaymer here (and I bet you already know this!) if you haven't already it might be helpful to talk to a professional about this, since I'm sure it's having more of an effect on you than your choice in games (and as part of that, stealth games might even end up being a useful tool for exposure therapy?)

    I know how much of an impact hiding who you are makes, and you deserve to be free of that baggage ❤️

    4 votes

  8. Comment on Semaglutide for weight loss in ~health

    pumpkin-eater
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    I used Ozempic for a few months (stopped after reading a story about shortages making it difficult for Diabetics to get access to it). Due to shortages, I started with (and stuck to) 0.5mg and it...

    I used Ozempic for a few months (stopped after reading a story about shortages making it difficult for Diabetics to get access to it). Due to shortages, I started with (and stuck to) 0.5mg and it worked very well as an appetite suppressant for weight loss, and I had no side-effects. Other side-benefits I saw directly:

    1. By not eating as much I was able to stop taking PPIs/H2RAs, which give me headaches, which was huge
    2. It saved me money - Ozempic cost was high, but reduced appetitite meant I ordered takeout way less (and if I did, ordered a sensible amount of food for a human). That may not be an issue if you don't spend a huge amount on food today, though.

    YMMV, but I think if you think it can make a significant difference in your weight, you're happy risking the listed side-effects (and, importantly, you're happy with being on it for the rest of your life - I don't think it's any more likely to result in a change in your lifestyle/mindset than any other weight loss intervention) it's worth a try.

    1 vote