Thrabalen's recent activity
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Comment on Offbeat Fridays – The thread where offbeat headlines become front page news in ~news
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Comment on Experimental real property tax basis-set rate based on usable area per person in ~finance
Thrabalen Link ParentSpeaking as a former renter, homeownership vs renting is, for me, about do I own my home, or does my home own me? The quality of life for an apartment dweller is pitiful, and the rights of a...Speaking as a former renter, homeownership vs renting is, for me, about do I own my home, or does my home own me? The quality of life for an apartment dweller is pitiful, and the rights of a renter even moreso, and increasing the financial influence of landlords won't fix that.
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Comment on Seattle’s law mandating higher pay for food delivery workers is a case study in backfire economics in ~finance
Thrabalen Link ParentI agree, not everything is going to work for everyone, but I have two caveats. One is that the food delivery situation is just the example I was working with... there are likely other "one size...I agree, not everything is going to work for everyone, but I have two caveats. One is that the food delivery situation is just the example I was working with... there are likely other "one size doesn't fit all" situation, and they start to add up quickly. The other caveat is that when it comes to absolute necessities (food and health, such as dietary issues) the solution should work for as close to 100% as possible. I don't care if my clothing selection is limited, I do care if getting food is considerably more difficult.
I would love to avoid the road situation America has, but it's going to take a great deal of people thinking about it much harder than I've seen.
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Comment on Seattle’s law mandating higher pay for food delivery workers is a case study in backfire economics in ~finance
Thrabalen Link ParentWhich is great for populaces that don't have atypical dietary needs. I have a hard enough time finding sugarless groceries at big markets with a lot of shelf space.Which is great for populaces that don't have atypical dietary needs. I have a hard enough time finding sugarless groceries at big markets with a lot of shelf space.
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Comment on Seattle’s law mandating higher pay for food delivery workers is a case study in backfire economics in ~finance
Thrabalen Link ParentThe problem isn't one family buying a car. The problem is multiple families buying 2+ cars, in an area that's almost all rowhomes (so, no side yards, so shorter street lengths in front of...The problem isn't one family buying a car. The problem is multiple families buying 2+ cars, in an area that's almost all rowhomes (so, no side yards, so shorter street lengths in front of properties), in areas where development is being given to multiple family properties with no consideration toward parking.
My big concern for car-less cities is that public transportation is inadequate to shop for a full family unless you only buy enough to carry in one go, and then it means making multiple trips a week, and even then it's if you can do so. I can't drive, and I can't carry things terribly long distances, so I have my food delivered. In this situation, it's not even parking, it's vehicle access in general. And I know I'm not alone.
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Comment on Seattle’s law mandating higher pay for food delivery workers is a case study in backfire economics in ~finance
Thrabalen Link ParentThere's also the aspect of areas with bad parking. Where I live, parking has gotten so bad that once the car gets a spot, it's there for the weekend. Weekends are also the prime splurge times for...There's also the aspect of areas with bad parking. Where I live, parking has gotten so bad that once the car gets a spot, it's there for the weekend. Weekends are also the prime splurge times for delivery.
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Comment on EA is looking at putting in-game ads in AAA games — 'We'll be very thoughtful as we move into that,' says CEO in ~games
Thrabalen Link ParentInterestingly, I too thought of GTA... but as the one brand no advertiser would want to be involved with!Interestingly, I too thought of GTA... but as the one brand no advertiser would want to be involved with!
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Comment on Chevrolet Malibu heads for the junkyard as GM shifts focus to electric vehicles in ~transport
Thrabalen Link ParentWe had a minivan that, due to icy conditions, would up rear ending a SUV. The van was totaled because the hood went under the raised rear suspension. Wound up eventually (after another minivan)...We had a minivan that, due to icy conditions, would up rear ending a SUV. The van was totaled because the hood went under the raised rear suspension. Wound up eventually (after another minivan) with a Civic. Get an SUV? Screw that noise... the arms race of Bigger Better Faster Stronger is just going to eat last year's model, and the fuel efficiency is ridiculous... if I'm gonna die in a crash, I'm enjoying the time that comes before.
That said, I agree that the vast majority of consumers thinks like you outlined, and it's killing the sedan and minivan market. Eventually, it's going to be all SUVs, with an almost enforced mandate to upgrade every two years or practically admit that the injuries from a resulting collision are your fault. The Canyonero era of vehicle manufacture.
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Comment on What was it like choosing your own name? in ~lgbt
Thrabalen LinkI actually did so before I realized I was doing so. My handle here, Thrabalen, is one that I use everywhere. I've even thought about legally changing it, partially because I'm a non-transitioning...I actually did so before I realized I was doing so.
My handle here, Thrabalen, is one that I use everywhere. I've even thought about legally changing it, partially because I'm a non-transitioning trans person and I'd love to ditch my deadname (it also has unfortunate associations), but also partially because I'm quite invested in it.
As for where it comes from... once upon a time, when megafauna ruled supreme and an ISP could charge an hourly connection fee, I was heavily invested in an online cooperative gaming/fiction area. This name, Thrabalen, was a surname for a group of characters, a surname I created from whole cloth. The name has grown on me so much, and I've invested so much of myself into it, that it represents me far better than a name that was bestowed upon me long before I had the capability to understand language, much less give my input.
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Comment on The world owes Spider-Man 3 an apology in ~movies
Thrabalen Link ParentThis does not surprise me, sadly. I've always felt that the further Star Wars went along, the more Lucas' dominance made him his own worst enemy.This does not surprise me, sadly. I've always felt that the further Star Wars went along, the more Lucas' dominance made him his own worst enemy.
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Comment on The world owes Spider-Man 3 an apology in ~movies
Thrabalen Link ParentControversial take: I think Hayden Christensen played Anakin Skywalker exactly as he was presented in script: a man who was taken to the Jedi from the arms of his mother, reuniting with a woman he...Controversial take: I think Hayden Christensen played Anakin Skywalker exactly as he was presented in script: a man who was taken to the Jedi from the arms of his mother, reuniting with a woman he had a crush on, after having it pounded into his head that crushes are bad because you shouldn't form attachments, and we watch him stuck between the girl he's dreamed about and the cult that has been filling his head with grandiose purpose. He seems wooden and unsure what he's doing because Anakin is. That's my theory on all of it, and the shame of it is, the horrible writing and acting of the rest of it obscures it all.
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Comment on US Congress approves bill banning TikTok unless Chinese owner ByteDance sells platform in ~tech
Thrabalen LinkSo help me, if this is the central point in which it rests that an actual cyberpunk dystopia comes to pass...So help me, if this is the central point in which it rests that an actual cyberpunk dystopia comes to pass...
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Comment on Online shopping - how convenient is it actually? in ~life.style
Thrabalen Link ParentI just want to rebut this point a little (not invalidating your insight or experience at all) but, for me, ordering for delivery means I've have it in my hands quicker than if I went and got it...And yeah I too enjoy purchasing the item and as soon as the transaction is complete having it at hand ready to use instead of waiting any crazy number of days.
I just want to rebut this point a little (not invalidating your insight or experience at all) but, for me, ordering for delivery means I've have it in my hands quicker than if I went and got it physically. Planning a shopping excursion is usually a task in and of itself, with other things that need doing and limited time off to do it, while ordering is easy (too easy for many) and while it takes time to get to you, that's time that you'll be doing other things.
If going to brick and mortar stores works better, then excellent! Please keep doing that, as brick and mortar stores are important to communities, and doing what works best for you is important to you personally.
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Comment on Online shopping - how convenient is it actually? in ~life.style
Thrabalen LinkI find Amazon to be too convenient to abandon, as much as I'd like to do my insignificant part to lower Bezos' influence. I am older, a stroke survivor, and without any personal means of...I find Amazon to be too convenient to abandon, as much as I'd like to do my insignificant part to lower Bezos' influence. I am older, a stroke survivor, and without any personal means of transport. Being able to get large items delivered to my home is far too easy to do to stop doing it. But beyond that... the range of choice and availability makes it something of a no-brainer.
While my partner does have a vehicle (and thus, expanded shopping options), they also have full-time employment, so tine off is limited, to the point where I even get local groceries delivered (not by Amazon, I'm not made of money!)
I'd love it if another, more ethical company (or companies) could replace Amazon, but the nature of wealth and commerce means that the vast majority of companies have skeletons in the closet by the time you hear of them, I'm afraid.
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Comment on 4.8 earthquake in central New Jersey; felt in Philadelphia, New York in ~enviro
Thrabalen LinkPhiladelphia here. I absolutely felt it, my monitors wobbled, and I thought for a second it was an exceptionally large vehicle, but the street outside was empty. I realized it wasn't just me when...Philadelphia here. I absolutely felt it, my monitors wobbled, and I thought for a second it was an exceptionally large vehicle, but the street outside was empty. I realized it wasn't just me when I saw multiple neighbors come outside, equally curious.
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Comment on Ohio, Michigan Republicans in released audio: "Endgame" is to ban trans care "for everyone" in ~lgbt
Thrabalen Link ParentBy that reasoning, genocide along religious lines is also not genocide, yet we know that to be implicitly untrue.By that reasoning, genocide along religious lines is also not genocide, yet we know that to be implicitly untrue.
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Comment on Ohio, Michigan Republicans in released audio: "Endgame" is to ban trans care "for everyone" in ~lgbt
Thrabalen Link ParentThink of it less as "killing" and more of "eliminating," as far as individuals go, but if you eliminate all the members of a group, do you not "kill" that group? Is an imposed sterilization of an...Think of it less as "killing" and more of "eliminating," as far as individuals go, but if you eliminate all the members of a group, do you not "kill" that group?
Is an imposed sterilization of an entire group not genocide?
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Comment on Did anyone else play This War of Mine about the siege of Sarajevo? Are there other games you appreciate about rare experiences? in ~games
Thrabalen (edited )LinkI played TWoM (and the mentioned by cfabbro Frostpunk) and while I liked them initially, I found that my opinion of them in reflection to have soured. They're very intense games as far as emotion...I played TWoM (and the mentioned by cfabbro Frostpunk) and while I liked them initially, I found that my opinion of them in reflection to have soured. They're very intense games as far as emotion is concerned, and I largely game for escapism. I have more stress and depression in the everyday world without adding a good deal more. I still feel that they're excellent games with wonderful "storytelling" (in an almost procedural manner), but the tone of them does not seem to be for me, it seems.
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Comment on How much does a creator's worldview influence whether you use their tech or consume their media? in ~talk
Thrabalen LinkI have two rules of thumb, which admittedly I will sometimes not limit to just these two. I do not wish to aid anyone in any way if their desire is to hurt me or those I love (hurt being broad,...I have two rules of thumb, which admittedly I will sometimes not limit to just these two.
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I do not wish to aid anyone in any way if their desire is to hurt me or those I love (hurt being broad, but including without being limited to the attempt to legislate me or mine out of existence.)
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A good artist tends to invest themselves rather heavily into their art, to the point where my desire to avoid artists is deliberately higher than that of companies or tech figures.
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Comment on Indicted Republican lawmaker George Santos expelled from US House in ~news
Thrabalen Link ParentNot answering questions was the only way he could prevent lying.Not answering questions was the only way he could prevent lying.
This is actually brilliant. Assuming it's relatively inexpensive wine, they now have low-cost analysis of how many people pay attention to fine print and clauses. The kind of thing a tax-focused think tank should be keeping abreast of.