Honestly, now that I know Pee Pee island is in the mix, I’m sold on a trip to Newfoundland. Dildo was almost enough to make that happen as it was.

Edit: There’s campsites at Dildo Run Provincial Park, btw. Do with that information what you will, people.

We got the Subproject 68 expansion set here.

Out of curosity, how was the weather in your end of the world? We had the same thing happen this year, but mostly because it was unseasonably warm.

Granted, it was also 'cause we had a fog machine this year, but the weather played a big part.

Huh. Can’t help but wonder if this is connected to why a significant amount of people find asses sexually attractive across gender lines - something about signs of a good persistance hunter (likely quite overstated by base monkey brain), and therefore ability to provide for spawn.

Probably not, but makes ya think. I also accept that I’m thinking about it from a heteronormative, sex as biological imperative for spreading genes POV - so limited and overall probably wrong.

I wouldn’t say it’s bad so much as it’s simplified and incomplete. Some of us cough develop defense mechanisms designed to keep other people away, and at one point it may have been for good reasons. Down the road, though, you find yourself keeping those defences when they no longer serve you, which isolates you from others.

For these folks, acknowledging that they’re doing this, finding ways to safely lower their guard, and slowly exposing themselves to more people and experiences can help with that loneliness.

This is the kind of thing I get from this image. But this situation does not address all causes or types of loneliness, just one possible factor.

I have two spots on the other side of the country, that I haven’t seen in almost twenty years, that still serve this function if trying to calm myself down. One is a waterfall in what was then a very lush patch of forest. Another is a quiet bay surrounded by pine trees.

If I’m having a rough time, more likely than not I’m slowing down my breathing and visualizing one of these places.

This is an excellent example to pull if you ever want to talk about memetic warfare as a concept.

Listening to a folk punk song that uses the word fuck to great effect on Spotify yesterday, wondering why the fuck the line ‘If you fuck up I will still be your friend’ reads ‘If you f up’.

I just don’t get it. Fuck is a valid, if vulgar, part of the common English lexicon. It serves a purpose.

Two choices:

1. Medical mask and sunglasses (preferably those boxy ones people wear over regular glasses). Few people question medical masks these days.
2. Embrace the lunacy, and wear whatever mask/facial covering you think is cool/funny. Life’s short and a lot of people would do well to embrace harmless weirdness.

Gross, but I’m not shocked. IVF and prenatal genetics screening is big business, it was really only a matter of time until someone tried pulling this. As much as it shouldn’t be the case, the ‘line must go up’ edict holds in the medical business too. I know some large lab services companies that are likely watching groups like this with great interest (but letting them take the risks first, which is smart because this is a con).

My hope is that someone squashes this and we keep screening limited to risks for severe developmental disorders (which, even still, is at least a little ethically problematic) and conditions that lower the probability of the pregnancy coming to term. But we’ll see - there’s gold in dem der embryos.

Edit: Read the original investigative article. Modern Nazis are reportedly involved. Again, gross, but not shocked. https://investigations.hopenothate.org.uk/superbaby-factory/

Would love to see further independent verification from a non-activism-focused source (to be clear, I am not saying the investigators are being irresponsible in their reporting), but the way newsroom budgets have been slashed these days, it’s really only outlets like this doing actual, old school investigative work.

Not affiliated, just a fan.

It’s very much a different strokes for different folks kinda thing. People I know prefer LSD and other, closely related lysergamides because it gives a bit more of an energy boost - I’ve heard it described as shrooms with a shot of espresso. Others prefer shrooms because it’s a little more laid back feeling.

Granted, your set and setting is really going to set the tone for whatever psych you ingest. Things can go amazingly or very, very badly with either substance depending on your headspace and how you set yourself up/structure your environment for the experience.

Naive in the sense that it doesn’t adequately account for the situation of many people. Not everyone has the circumstances where they can do this. I can’t help but feel there’s some survivorship bias influencing your position.

I’m curious, though, if you’re up to illustrating (if not, totally fine): You are a single mother of two sons, ages 7 and 8, living in Generic State, USA. You have a high school degree and no post-secondary education. You have limited support, solely in the form of limited childcare, from family/the wider community. You make about $1600.00 USD per month, after taxes, working 50 hours a week at a physical workplace. You’re finding yourself with $10 left at the end of each month, after all legitimately necessary expenses (rent, food, basic utilities) are paid for. Let’s make it easy and say you have no debt.

What are you doing, and where are you going, if following your advice? It should be noted these circumstances are actually quite a bit better than other folks in the U.S. To be clear, I don’t think this is a gotcha, nor is it intended to be - I just want to see your approach here.

Edit: Monthly wage should be after taxes, not before, and changed $900 to $1600 (based roughly on monthly takehome pay at Ohio’s minimum wage rate, and I calculated for 1 pay period rather than 2 per month)

So, question: You’re someone with a not-remote-friendly skill set. You save your money to travel - travel, mind you, not immigrate, so subject to the visa requirements of travellers/tourists (as this seems to be what you’re talking about - immigration is a whole different kettle of fish). The money runs out. What do?

Or - you’re living paycheck to paycheck with children. You try to save money to travel for the reasons you’ve brought up here. It’s not possible. What do?

No offence, but your account of travel as a solution here seems deeply naive. It can work for some, sure, but “just leave the country bro” simply isn’t an option at all for many, many people.

Start here for inspiration: https://piratebox.cc/faq

Frame it in a cheap glass case with a little placard that says “Break glass in case of cereal emergency”

IIRC, sh.itjust.works refederated with hexbear several months ago. I just don’t think the userbase engages in a lot of those communities.

Then again, I browse by All New pretty frequently, and I’ve never seen a hexbear post that way that I can recall. So idk.

I feel like there’s WAY more of a story here - why on earth would a bunch of folks think you hacked them just because you have a commonish, if esoteric sounding, skill set? - but if you’d rather leave it there that’s cool.

I’ve been working from home for almost 5 years now, and to be honest it drives me nuts. I kinda miss people, thus the bar. Not exactly the healthiest social outlet, to be fair, but I like it more than staying home.

Boo! Go to a bar and ask someone weird questions! You might get cornbread, who knows?

Raising one to you my friend - I know how tough it is to connect with people after moving sometimes. 👊

May not be your speed, but something I’ve thought about re: the business card thing: Keep an eye out for interesting or odd business cards, and keep a couple with you to write your info on the back for this kind of situation. Depending on what they’re for, it’s a conversation starter when you meet again, and it doesn’t feel as contrived as making your own cards.

Small independent businesses are a good source for these, particularly if it’s a decent place for a date/friend outing. Or just something odd you like or find funny.