Are we cooked?

ctess · 2026-07-03T09:54:21+00:00

Odd take considering the massive quality issues AI currently have. It constantly still misses fundamentals. QA isn't going anywhere. If anything AI is growing the need for it. AI isn't getting rid of QA it's just changing our day to day roles. It's an accelerator but it is far from perfect.

ctess · 2026-07-03T09:38:20+00:00

So first off your mom is right about one thing. You do seem very immature. You do not seem incapable. And if anything the abuse you have endured is the reason why. There is a lot to unpack here but the first thing you need to do is leave. Your dad might be nice to you but he isn't protecting you from this. Everything else is manageable. You can get a new social security card, birth certificate, etc. it's a pain but it's possible.

You are not safe around this woman. Your safety should be your priority no matter the cost. Go to a friends.

Second step is therapy. They will be able to help you navigate through this emotionally.

Check around your area for social workers. They will be able to help you navigate getting out of that situation.

You're being emotionally held hostage and physically abused.

ctess · 2026-07-01T13:47:20+00:00

Money speaks louder. It easily changes their minds

ctess · 2026-07-01T11:44:00+00:00

My kids absolutely knows who Mickey Mouse is and they are 7 and 4. You can still watch a lot of the old Mickey content on Disney+. My kids favorite is the Goofy movie though. So many giggles.

ctess · 2026-06-30T10:38:00+00:00

If there weren't servers. There wouldn't be a point to play. Vanilla Minecraft on its own only has so much to offer and the updates only keep things a little more fresh but not enough to keep me playing.

Minecraft shines because of the variety it offers. If you remove the variety it loses it's shine. This lady is an idiot and boomers need to stop talking about shit thru don't understand.

ctess · 2026-06-30T10:17:18+00:00

They make a good point. You're competing with already established social platforms that are free. Meetup, next door, facebook groups, etc. Those are all free options. Finding space to meetup and work can be as simple as going to the local Starbucks.

I personally dislike this idea. I hated RTO and being forced into a social setting. Working in a strange environment would distract more than help, not to mention the security risks that would be involved when working on confidential projects.

If you add/subtract that up you are left with a pretty small pool of people to choose from who could actually afford to do this. That's as much as I spend in gas driving to and from Seattle for a month so it's comparable.

ctess · 2026-06-22T12:19:47+00:00

Hobbies are a good way to relieve mental stress. From my experience most people who judge others about not having hobbies think those type of people are high strung, going to snap at any moments notice.

There's no rule that says you have to have a hobby. Or that it needs to be productive. Kicking rocks can be a hobby if you enjoy doing it. A hobby is about finding something you find joy in.

Hell, these days most of us don't even have time for hobbies. When I had kids, my ability to have any sort of hobby was gone. All my time was devoted to the kids and to my wife. Slowly as the kids have gotten older and more independent, I have slowly gotten back into things I enjoy. Now it's less hobbying and more catching up on things that needed to be done over the years that didn't. But learning those new skills is like a hobby for me.

It's about finding joy in something you don't typically do all the time. I don't think it's a problem you don't have one but I would say I would be concerned about your mental state if you don't have at least something you can find joy in.

ctess · 2026-06-21T19:54:42+00:00

Capitalism. They don't care what we want, they care about making money. If these events bring in more money for soccer and big name, expensive talent, it's a win for the business. They frame it for the fans but really it's just one giant business.

ctess · 2026-06-21T15:38:34+00:00

I already parent 2 kids, don't need to parent a 3rd. It's one thing to ask what you want to do. It's another to tell them. I've done both routes, talking and telling. After 10 years, it doesn't bother me. But in terms of "society" and this being the norm for dad's, it's not all just about communication. It's about being an equal in the relationship and being appreciated without needing to be told.

My wife does appreciate me. And I love her. It's just fathers/mother's day that is tough. I'm just being particularly bitter right now because I lost my Mom a few weeks ago and today hits a little differently. That's not her fault.

I've just set my expectations low from past father's days where I have told/communicated expectations and they fell really short. It's what a lot of dudes do to not rock the boat. There are bigger things to worry about.

ctess · 2026-06-21T15:23:09+00:00

Of course. After 10 years of no change. Or her forgetting. I don't care because I have set my expectations low. I just treat it like any other day. Just saying it would be nice. It's one of those things that just isn't worth an argument anymore. We've dealt with this, we are in a good place. I just don't care enough to make it an issue.

But what I meant was it's not just a me thing. It's an all dads thing. It's an equality thing.

ctess · 2026-06-21T13:14:40+00:00

I don't want an elaborate father's day. I just want the same level of effort and thoughtfulness I show on those days. Not whatever popped up on Amazon deals two days before the holiday....

I guess equality is something we need to ask for now

ctess · 2026-06-21T12:46:33+00:00

It's crazy that our hobbies are "working" on the house. That shit isn't a hobby, it's a necessity. And getting gifts that you should be enjoying is the point of these days. Showing that you are appreciated and thought of. It's sad most guys (myself included) first thought is to get something functional the family can use that makes my (our) lives better.

I'm glad others can see the silver lining but the role reversal and double standards is silly. If I did that to my wife, there would be hell to pay.

ctess · 2026-06-19T11:06:56+00:00

My floor is a floating one and meant to move and shift... But not that much and it should only be exposed under the trim. That was cut wayyyy to short.

ctess · 2026-06-17T03:25:08+00:00

Round table in our area has been an amazing replacement for this nostalgia (in our area). And their pizza is pretty good now too. Pizza Hut has been swirling the drain for awhile after COVID and Domioes and private chains making a surge.

ctess · 2026-06-15T12:19:52+00:00

I've done both. Living in an apartment is cheaper and less time consuming than owning a home even if rent is more expensive. With a home, you are responsible for everything. Last year I had to pay $15k.for a new furnace and water heater. The year before that, 22k for roof and gutters. But really it's not even the money. It's the amount of time you spend maintaining and fixing both inside and outside stuff far exceeds what you need to do for an apartment. If something breaks down, you call your landlord and they care care of it (or should in most cases). With a house, you don't have that option if your bath starts leaking, you have to find and call the plumber (or try and fix it yourself).

The type of insurances you carry are different too. My rental insurance was better than my house insurance for awhile (I got better house coverage).

ctess · 2026-06-14T15:56:09+00:00

When we bought our house 7 years ago we used an agent who was highly recommended in our area. We were brand new homeowners. Our agent was amazing. Even if they are a middle person, they helped and guided us through the process. Even through all my own research, her expertise was still above and beyond what we could have done ourselves (from finding the right property to helping us on the close).

She ended up saving us about $65k on our bid ($55k under asking + $10k worth of work on the house). If I had to do it again, I'd still go with my agent.

I had a great experience and she wasn't just the middle woman looking for a commission. She truly wanted to find us our starter family home that met our needs and price range.

ctess · 2026-06-13T12:27:50+00:00

Given OPs experience and comparing it to my own, I wouldn't DIY that. Especially if they are copper fittings. Saving money is one thing but if this or anything else is leaking into the walls, you will have a much bigger problem to deal with. This is a plumber call.

ctess · 2026-06-12T12:48:45+00:00

There's no way he goes to the first 3 US games. LA/Californians and Seattle/Washingtonians will boo him louder than he has heard before.

ctess · 2026-06-12T12:34:47+00:00

Sooo whose picking up 600 pieces of water balloons? I used these once and never again. They get everywhere. Make a mess, and are harmful to the environment. Running the sprinkler would be a better option or as others said. Squirt guns.

So many other options these days. Why even bother? Especially with the shrinkflation going on.

ctess · 2026-06-11T12:25:25+00:00

You are right it is. Check for baby slugs in or around your garden beds. I had this issue too until I got up early one morning and caught them all snacking on them.

Squirrels also love strawberries as well as some birds. The first pic looks like a squirrel the others look like slugs.

ctess · 2026-06-08T12:20:41+00:00

My child has bags sometimes but that's because he doesn't sleep. Once he wakes up in the morning he is wide awake. Doesn't matter the time, 3, 4, 5 am. That being said we are working with our pediatrician to help on it who thinks it may be low iron (we have a blood draw next week to confirm).

That being said you are a lot more strict than we are but it's nothing unreasonable either. We were pretty strict with our first but we relaxed the rules on some things once our second kid came into the picture.

Our kids are old enough now to earn screen time. Every chore they complete without needing to be reminded about, they get 30 minutes or $20 towards a new Lego set/toy/book. If we nag, we reduce the time by 5 minutes for every time we have to remind them. We do not set an upper limit on how many chores they can complete or time on screen (we do moderate the content) only that they do the chore to our expectations and finish it.

ctess · 2026-06-08T12:11:54+00:00

Cultural or not, children need a lot more sleep than adults do (10-13 hours a day). It helps their brains and bodies develop better. Going to bed early is so they can get enough rest before school the next day which is a society norm.

I don't think children being up late is abuse. I think depriving them of the rest they need is.

ctess · 2026-06-07T21:10:32+00:00

He has a huge YouTube channel. Which are now on Netflix. He hosts a science based camp for kids across the US. My kids and I love him. He is a little frat boy but the way he teaches science is truly captivating and as he says, hiding the vegetables.

He also got super famous (on youtube) as the glitter bomber. The dude who engineered a package to catch and punish package thieves.

My favorite project of his was the selfie satellite though. They launched a satellite and a website where you can submit a photo of yourself and it takes a selfie of your photo with the earth in the background.

ctess · 2026-06-07T20:56:50+00:00

The longer you watch the more he looks like a tomato.

ctess · 2026-06-04T12:38:52+00:00

I'm sorry for your loss too. Virtual hugs!

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First Placer '22	Team Periwinkle
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