up2eleven's recent activity
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Comment on What's your favorite "treat yourself" meal? in ~food
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Comment on What are some interesting hobbies you can start for free and without leaving your home? in ~hobbies
up2eleven (edited )LinkFind an instrument for cheap on craigslist or something and maybe a beginners lesson book. (I know this breaks the rule of "free", but you can also find a free instrument from someone who has...Find an instrument for cheap on craigslist or something and maybe a beginners lesson book. (I know this breaks the rule of "free", but you can also find a free instrument from someone who has something they don't use anymore). I picked up the guitar at age 13 not knowing a damn thing about it. I lived in the middle of nowhere. Every time I learned some new chords or could play a new song, it was a tremendous feeling of joy and accomplishment. I'm now 48 and the music just flows out easier than speaking. I still haven't taken a lesson, although, if I'd learned music theory, I'd actually understand more about what I'm playing as far as keys, scales, etc. I'm self-taught, and I've found since that many things in life can be self-taught.
Also, drawing can be another good creative outlet. Sometimes I just take a pencil and paper and draw something I can see near me or use a picture of something as a guide. Of my various creative skills, drawing is probably the one I'm least good at because I do it so infrequently. However, it's a great way to just lose myself in something for a bit.
Writing is another great hobby. Learning different ways to express the same thought, finding different words that convey the meaning you want...breaking the rules to evoke more intense emotions or vivid landscapes. Words can be engrossing to explore. There are so many ways to write, as well. Poetry, short stories, odd, random thoughts, rants, journaling, and entire books. While there are "rules", grammar nazis can be ignored. As long as the reader understands what you are trying to say, you did it right.
You can also create your own forms of art by building things out of other things. Glue together a bunch of lighters to make a robot. Carve candles into different shapes. Make a small drumset out of empty pill bottles. I used to take old magazines and I'd find one larger picture and then cut out little bits from other pictures and affix them with Scotch tape to make a little scene.
Whatever you choose, just remember, you will suck at first, and probably for quite a while. Don't expect to be good, only to learn and to progress and to enjoy it! If you enjoy it, then when you get good, the compliments will become unexpected and pleasant surprises!
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Comment on On the matter of calling a child "they" in ~lgbt
up2eleven LinkA lot of parents try very hard to impress their beliefs about social issues on their children at a very young age. I agree that a four-year-old is unlikely to have become aware of gender issues...A lot of parents try very hard to impress their beliefs about social issues on their children at a very young age. I agree that a four-year-old is unlikely to have become aware of gender issues without influence from the parent. I think it's good to expose children to issues, once they're old enough to start to really grasp the reasons why the issues are important. At that age, it just becomes a situation where every kid that age thinks their parents are right and try to emulate them however they can. I find it unlikely that the kid has an understanding of gender issues.
I do think a kid at that age, if they are trans, may be starting to feel like they are different from other kids who share their biological sex. However, as things are right now, legally, a parent has to pick one of the binary genders for legal forms of all kinds; birth certificate, school registration, medical forms, etc. There's no legally recognized third option currently.
I don't think that a kid is going to be damaged in any way by being referred to as a certain sex, as long as the parents let them know that they can be open about everything with them, and if their kid starts to express that they don't feel like their biological sex, then they can work together to address that.
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Comment on So what's up with the Toto - Africa craze? Are we in another 80's music revival? in ~music
up2eleven Link ParentLook at the size of that song. Absolute unit.Look at the size of that song. Absolute unit.
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Comment on "Guy" should be a neutered term. Change my mind. in ~humanities.languages
up2eleven Link ParentExactly. Thankfully, the trans friends I have are pretty reasonable and they were patient with me as I adjusted to referring to them with different pronouns. I also saw them being similarly...Exactly. Thankfully, the trans friends I have are pretty reasonable and they were patient with me as I adjusted to referring to them with different pronouns. I also saw them being similarly patient with strangers, and this made me respect them even more than I already did.
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Comment on "Guy" should be a neutered term. Change my mind. in ~humanities.languages
up2eleven Link ParentWell, there's one caveat. If a trans person is asserting their gender identity and is really specific and feeling sensitive about it, I can respect that, provided they're not shitty about it.Well, there's one caveat. If a trans person is asserting their gender identity and is really specific and feeling sensitive about it, I can respect that, provided they're not shitty about it.
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Comment on "Guy" should be a neutered term. Change my mind. in ~humanities.languages
up2eleven LinkGuy and dude kind of apply universally. At least, I use them with my female friends and they use it with each other as well, so...Guy and dude kind of apply universally. At least, I use them with my female friends and they use it with each other as well, so...
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Comment on What upcoming video games are you looking forward to? in ~games
up2eleven LinkCyberpunk 2077, Ghost of Tsushima, Identity, Fallout 76, Last of Us 2.Cyberpunk 2077, Ghost of Tsushima, Identity, Fallout 76, Last of Us 2.
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Comment on What are some TV shows you find yourself constant rewatching? in ~tv
up2eleven LinkRome, Band of Brothers, The Young Ones, Mighty Boosh, Shooting Stars, Never Mind The Buzzcocks. I wish those last three could have more seasons.Rome, Band of Brothers, The Young Ones, Mighty Boosh, Shooting Stars, Never Mind The Buzzcocks.
I wish those last three could have more seasons.
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Comment on will we see a ~politics? in ~tildes
up2eleven LinkIt's exceptionally difficult to keep knee-jerk, partisan rhetoric out of anything involving politics. But I suppose it's worth the effort to try!It's exceptionally difficult to keep knee-jerk, partisan rhetoric out of anything involving politics. But I suppose it's worth the effort to try!
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Comment on Name the online accomplishment you are most proud of in ~talk
up2eleven LinkI was able to manage my social media accounts to the point that I mainly use them as tools rather than a distraction, and was able to get almost all toxic people off of my friends lists with...I was able to manage my social media accounts to the point that I mainly use them as tools rather than a distraction, and was able to get almost all toxic people off of my friends lists with almost no drama. I very rarely take part in any online debates and am able to have more actual conversations. Now, social media is rarely a source of stress in my life.
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Comment on Here's an idea. Comment something really unique (in a good or a bad way) and relatively unknown about a place you're living in or lived in. in ~talk
up2eleven Link ParentWell, we already had some of the best Mexican cuisine north of the border. It's a bit of a funky, eclectic city, like the Portland or Austin of Arizona, and it's also a college town and full of...Well, we already had some of the best Mexican cuisine north of the border. It's a bit of a funky, eclectic city, like the Portland or Austin of Arizona, and it's also a college town and full of artists and freaks. This mixture attracted a lot of chefs.
We have some amazing breweries, and we have top notch pizza, Mediterranean, African, Indian, Thai, Viet, Italian, you name it. There's a ton of variety and most of it is high quality without being terribly expensive (because wages are shit here). Even most of the bars have surprisingly good food.
Some places I frequent (you can google them) are Shooter's which has a really good grilled steak with a poblano pepper and pepper jack cheese on it. House of Bards just got a new chef and has great wings and tacos and I really need to try one of their burgers because holy shit they look good! Frank's bar and grill has a Reuben that would please a New Yorker. Brooklyn Pizza has some of the best crust I've tasted. Nico's Taco shop is incapable of messing up their food (their carnitas is nice and charred and fatty and perfect).
Outside of fast food, it's just hard to find bad food here. Even a local legend that is known for its slushies called Eegee's makes the best ranch I've ever had and their ranch fries are decadent.
This city is one of the oldest in America as well, and so has a history of agriculture that predates most of the rest of the country. Native American food here is a bit of fusion with Mexican, which makes sense because this was basically part of Mexico for a very long time and the Mexicans and the Yacqui, Hopi, Yavasupai, Navajo, Tohono O'odham and a bunch of other nations all influenced the cuisine in this area for thousands of years, and if you ever make friends with some NA folks, holy shit can they cook! One friend dug a hole, threw in some coals, some tenderloins and some herbs, covered it, and that evening the meat was the most tender and flavorful thing I've ever had. No restaurant could compare.
The local snarky slogan here is "Keep Tucson Shitty" but it's mostly to keep people out because there's something special here.
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Comment on What's everyone's favorite movie? in ~movies
up2eleven LinkI'll always love Blade Runner, but the movies I re-watch repeatedly tend to be comedies like Trading Places and Life of Brian. Love those movies.I'll always love Blade Runner, but the movies I re-watch repeatedly tend to be comedies like Trading Places and Life of Brian. Love those movies.
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Comment on What's everyone's favorite movie? in ~movies
up2eleven Link ParentAlso must second Children of Men. "Pull my finger!"Also must second Children of Men. "Pull my finger!"
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Comment on What can we learn from the life-cycles of Digg and Reddit? in ~tech
up2eleven LinkI think, with many communities, a "benevolent dictatorship" is necessary. When people try to be too inclusive and give everyone equal say, it devolves into a shitshow. It happened with Digg,...I think, with many communities, a "benevolent dictatorship" is necessary. When people try to be too inclusive and give everyone equal say, it devolves into a shitshow. It happened with Digg, Reddit, Burning Man, you name it.
One needs to establish some rules and values and then say, if you agree with these things and are willing to abide by them, you're welcome here. If not, feel free to find or create something more to your liking.
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Comment on What are you playing? in ~games
up2eleven LinkI'm replaying Witcher 3 lately. I also reinstalled Fallout 4 in anticipation of Fallout 76. Checking out the Ready Player One content in VR as well.I'm replaying Witcher 3 lately. I also reinstalled Fallout 4 in anticipation of Fallout 76. Checking out the Ready Player One content in VR as well.
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Comment on Here's an idea. Comment something really unique (in a good or a bad way) and relatively unknown about a place you're living in or lived in. in ~talk
up2eleven LinkMy town is the only one in the US to be a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.My town is the only one in the US to be a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.
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Comment on New sci-fi book recommendations? in ~books
up2eleven Link ParentI second the Expanse books! Great stuff!I second the Expanse books! Great stuff!
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Comment on We should have our own introduction thread. What's your story? in ~lgbt
up2eleven LinkPan dude here. I identified as bi for most of my life because pan wasn't really a concept yet. I was in the closet for most of my life because I grew up in a time when coming out of a gay bar, you...Pan dude here. I identified as bi for most of my life because pan wasn't really a concept yet. I was in the closet for most of my life because I grew up in a time when coming out of a gay bar, you had to be very careful to avoid getting beaten or killed. I only came out fully about maybe five years ago. It feels good to not hide anymore.
I'm into writing, travel, guitar, videogames, cultures, history, and exploration in general.
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Comment on Where are you from? in ~talk
up2eleven LinkTucson, Arizona, USA. It's as close to the Old West as you can get, with Saguaro cacti everywhere and extreme desert heat in the summer. It became the only city in America to be a UNESCO Culinary...Tucson, Arizona, USA.
It's as close to the Old West as you can get, with Saguaro cacti everywhere and extreme desert heat in the summer.
It became the only city in America to be a UNESCO Culinary City, and our food scene is pretty awesome.
Our funky and eclectic 4th Ave. is being gentrified and it's a huge point of division and contention here.
The main demographics here are a ton of poor folks, some wealthy independent artists, and, for part of the year, a ton of college students.
It's a mostly friendly, no-bullshit kind of culture here. Lots of lovely freaks and weird characters.
However, the employment options are shit.
Mac and cheese with tuna, black pepper, and cayenne. Simple, easy, and really satisfying.
The other one is Penang Curry. I learned how to make it from a cooking class I took in Thailand and it's become one of my favorite things to make ever since, but I have to plan ahead for that one due to needing to get a lot of the ingredients from an Asian market.