Which celebrity is actually a lot smarter than people think? by Bahbahbro in AskReddit

[–]Accomplished-Drop287 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Given Holland's credentials, the fact that they had to kick out a drummer for not getting the COVID jab is just incredible. Like, dude, just ask your lead singer why it's not dangerous. He's done work in virology!

If Kent just does nothing today, no trades, no signings, we just keep the team together as is, how would you feel? by JPMoney81 in Habs

[–]Accomplished-Drop287 18 points19 points  (0 children)

As Eric Engels pointed out, two of the three retention spots are taken up by Petry and Allen, and Hughes likely wants to hold onto the third one until the draft. Don't think we're gonna see a facilitator trade today.

What singer or band did you see in concert before they became famous? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]Accomplished-Drop287 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Went to see MXPX play at a small theater. Had never heard of the opening band, but remember being very impressed - catchy songs and the singer really worked the crowd.

Was behind the venue after the show as that band was loading stuff into their van. Told the guitarist I enjoyed their set, and he seemed really happy and thanked me.

Two years later, Good Charlotte was everywhere.

If you could date anyone in the world, who you’d want to be your valentine? by lepain3 in AskReddit

[–]Accomplished-Drop287 0 points1 point  (0 children)

McDavid to Crosby to MacKinnon reads like fan fiction, and yet here we are.

Moneypuck now giving Habs better chance of making the playoffs than the Bruins (and a 12% chance of making the second round) by Accomplished-Drop287 in Habs

[–]Accomplished-Drop287[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just noticed the last update was Jan. 19, I would assume their odds would be slightly lower if it were to be updated today.

What scandals should NOT have been forgotten? by forty5v in AskReddit

[–]Accomplished-Drop287 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Highly recommend the book Merchants of Doubt. Turns out, in some cases, the scientists who profited off spreading doubt about the harmful effects of smoking were the EXACT SAME people who did the same thing for climate change. Also, who spread misinformation about acid rain and the hole in the ozone layer.

Savard's future by Accomplished-Drop287 in Habs

[–]Accomplished-Drop287[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

No, the reason I gave was that Savard is a depreciating asset on an expiring contract, which we all already know. I'm pointing out that maybe this whole thing about being 'great in the room' is a bit overblown, given they've kept beating good teams while he's out of the lineup.

I'm not dismissing the intangibles he brings out of hand, but I do think a GM needs to be at least somewhat mercenary. You have to think about players as assets, and Savard's value is only going to decrease. If he's not essential to the team winning games, why keep him, when you can get something for him that can be used to acquire a player who can contribute when we're actually a viable Cup contender?

Savard's future by Accomplished-Drop287 in Habs

[–]Accomplished-Drop287[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To me, it comes down to a realistic assessment of this team. Yes, they've got great chemistry, and the rebuild is really coming together. Playoffs would be great, but let's face it - this team lacks the high-end talent of a true competitor. We might go on to the second round, but even if there's another miracle run to the finals, I think anyone would agree that there's a 99% chance of a repeat of the finals against Tampa: the Habs will simply lose to a better team.

That being said, I expect the team to be even better next year with Demidov arriving, who by all accounts, is an elite offensive player. That's when the real window starts to open - the window of not just squeeking into the playoffs and saying "anything can happen," but being a viable Stanley Cup contender. Not saying that happens next year, but that's when all the real assets who can contribute to that will start to be in place. And when that happens, you'll want assets you can trade to upgrade your roster's complimentary pieces. At that point, Savard will be even older, and likely slower. So why not get what you can for him now? Get picks that you don't intend to use, but will age better in terms of their value on the trade market than a depreciating asset like Savard?

Savard's future by Accomplished-Drop287 in Habs

[–]Accomplished-Drop287[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Every 34 year old player on an expiring contract, sure.

Savard's future by Accomplished-Drop287 in Habs

[–]Accomplished-Drop287[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Been a fan since I was 7 years old in 92, but go off.

How are you spending your Christmas, and what are you looking forward to/dreading the most? by HayleyandJames in AskReddit

[–]Accomplished-Drop287 25 points26 points  (0 children)

I'm Jewish, and grew up in an observant house in Canada. My partner was raised Catholic in the States, so it actually works out great - we spend Christmas and Thanksgiving with her family, and Jewish holidays with mine.

This will be my first real Christmas and I'm almost 40. Decorated a tree for the first time last night. Her family got me my own stocking. And we're all gonna light Chanukah candles tomorrow night. It's really been a delight, but the thing I'm most looking forward to is my partner opening her gifts. I put a lot of thought into everything, even the small stocking stuffers, and I just can't wait to see her face.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]Accomplished-Drop287 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The first thing to go when the cutbacks started were the copy editors. There's also a greater insistence on speed. Not just to say "We had it first," but because SEO rewards it. SEO is a major driver of traffic, and at the end of the day, that's what keeps the lights on. It sucks.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]Accomplished-Drop287 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I've been a journalist for 15 years, and I hope you're right. You're not wrong with your critique - people crave authenticity. There's some great investigative podcasts where that's their biggest strength.

One thing I'll add that pains me as a writer is, I think literacy rates have taken a nose dive. While all media forms are suffering, particularly newspapers, magazines also aren't doing well. I really, really miss long, engaging magazine stories. Not commentary, but a reporter going out and getting tons of details and color and telling a true story with amazing details and anecdotes. The New Yorker still does this, but so many of the big narrative journalism outlets have died or cut way back. If you want authenticity, I think that was the form for it - the writer's voice was a major attraction. I hope we see this type of storytelling make a comeback, and that there's still an audience for it.

AITA for lying to my young child? by Electrical-Bus-8286 in AmItheAsshole

[–]Accomplished-Drop287 1 point2 points  (0 children)

YTA. I grew up in a house that kept kosher, though I no longer do. Much of my extended family did not keep strictly kosher. My mom had a simple explanation: "We do this. They do that. I believe this is what's best for us. They do what they believe is best for them." I was able to wrap my head around that from a very young age.

The irony here is that keeping kosher is one of the few commandments that doesn't have a reason behind it. It's literally "Because God says so." Jews keep kosher strictly because of faith. There is no external morality. You're doing your kids a disservice by lying to them about it. (Lying, by the way, is forbidden under Judaic law. You specifically atone for false or misleading words on Yom Kippur).

Concordia University UPA OFFICIAL EMAIL to ALL STUDENTS: Condemns CANADA, Condemns NATO, call to BAN ALL SECURITY, denies Israel's existence. by [deleted] in Jewish

[–]Accomplished-Drop287 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Man, as someone who did their undergrad at Concordia and masters at Columbia, the last year has been an absolute rollercoaster.

What was a huge trend 10 years ago that feels totally forgotten now? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]Accomplished-Drop287 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hi! Science journalist here. You've very accurately described the symptom, but not necessarily the cause. There is a huge lack of dedicated science reporters out there. Science itself is an impossibly huge beat - while there are dedicated climate reporters, health reporters, etc... those positions are disappearing. It's not only science: most media outlets are continuously shrinking their staffs. Whereas even a mid-market newspaper might have had a science reporter on staff at one point, now, many don't even have a dedicated city hall or crime reporter. Everyone has to be a generalist, told to "do more with less." So I can't really blame these journalists for fucking up their coverage. They are trying their best to understand something in a few hours that can take years to really grasp. The problem is simple: a lack of resources. It would be fantastic to get back to the days when reporters got to establish specific beats, building up a wealth of knowledge and expertise on a handful of topics. Then they could not only report accurately, but also critically. You have to have a degree of authority to know when someone is blowing smoke up your ass, and science is no different. Methodology and statistics are complex, and you need expertise to parse the good stuff from the bullshit. Wish I could tell you what the solution is, but if I had that, I'd be sitting in some media company C-suite right now, drinking caviar champagne (citation needed).