It's shocking to see the assault on libraries across Appalachia. Sad to see it's a broader problem. For as little finding as they require they provide critical services. So many nasty politicos trying to win some points with the lowest common denominators of humanity must see them as an easy target.

Long-time offgridder here. Would love to have a reasonable alternative to lead-acid or lithium. Opted for lead-acid again on the last battery swap around 5 years ago. Squeezed about 12 years out of the last set -though they were pretty degraded by that time. This bank is depreciating faster, probably because of increased use.

Hmm. Mouse is corrupted by the influence of the ring, escapes. "In place of a Dark lord, you will have a squeaky king! All shall love my little whiskers and despair!"

In Appalachia, it was unlikely to not know someone on a vent or dead from Covid, yet...

One web LLM I was screwing around with had Job Interview as a preset. Ok. Played it totally straight the first time and had a totally positive outcome. Thought the interviewer way too agreeable. The next time I said the most inappropriate stuff I could imagine and still the interviewer agreed to come home with me to check out the rock collection I keep under my bed and listen to Captain Beefheart albums.

Normally pretty much an anarchist in my policy predilections. But there are folks I went to school with that I wouldn't trust with a power drill, much less a rifle. Seems they're just the ones that make the biggest deal over having guns -and least likely to use them in any responsible way. The role these sorts of badass-looking firearms play now is to make powerless Americans feel like they have some agency. Likely dangerous when these misinformed, utterly propagandized serfs feel extra pressed and attribute their low quality of life to all the wrong reasons/people.

A shame to hear how far HP has fallen. Back in the day they had some solid, workhorse laser printers that delivered for years with no issues and pretty good toner efficiency. Based on what I've read here, I'm not likely to buy another.

The goal is surely to capture every human need and package them as obnoxious subscriptions.

The Norwegian Blue prefers kipping on its back -and sometimes taking surveillance photos. Beautiful plumage.

Seriously. I spent 2 days in the hospital last week with bilateral pulmonary embolisms after having COVID the middle of last month. I was NOT otherwise at risk for clots. A terrible surprise that I'll no doubt be recovering from for some time. I'm on a blood thinner for 6 months.

Heard someone assert that MBA's have ruined the world. Seemed a hyperbolic statement at the time. Though casting my eyes around an ever more enpoopified landscape, it's tough to disagree.

Well we had it tough. We used to have to get up out of the shoebox at twelve o’clock at night, and LICK the road clean with our tongues. We had half a handful of freezing cold gravel, worked twenty-four hours a day at the mill for fourpence every six years, and when we got home, our Dad would slice us in two with a bread knife.

I'm chronically ill. My ability waxes and wanes. When folks see me out doing something challenging, they tend to assume I'm just fine and must be some shiftless malingerer. Rather than understanding I've sunk a lot of time and preparation into trying to be ok for that occasion.

For the last time ..we aren't interested in browsing your collection of stolen pocket watches.

Maybe everyone should listen to the Jonestown tape at some point. It's truly horrible, but may provide some inoculation against demagoguery.

Vines will constrict young trees in such a spiral.

It's also sometimes used as shorthand for crypto-orchidism -undescended testicles.

New acquaintance: "Why the Hell are you staring at me like that...? What's wrong with you?"

Or you arrive to find the civilization has had time to collapse and given way to the rise of damned dirty apes.

AT&T are trash. Took us far too long to dump them. Glad we did. Found much better service at a quarter the cost.