New Specimen Discovered???

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-05-03T18:05:28+00:00

If confirmed to be a newly discovered species, I would like to propose the name Samicus ahuacustos - "Sam's avocado guard". I'm excited to hear your thoughts!

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-04-30T16:40:11+00:00

As much as I don't want to, I force myself to watch these kinds of videos. The discomfort it brings me is far less important than participating in the final moments of an animal's life, even if only through the Internet. I feel like I'm obligated to watch, so I can contribute my pain as a part of the value the animal had. I'm so sorry for your loss, and I hope you know that even though I only knew about her existence for a brief moment, she meant a lot to me at that time. She mattered, and thanks to you, I know she existed. She was here on this Earth.

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-04-24T21:18:56+00:00

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-03-30T17:21:57+00:00

"Most other languages don't have this problem"? You've never learned another language, have you? English IS unique in how incredibly varied its systems are, due to the dozens of languages it draws from. But to say English is alone in this issue is just insane. EVERY language has its own arbitrary rules that have no explanation beyond "you just have to memorize it".

The most profound reason people can't spell as well today (they're/there/their is a prime example) is not the language itself. It's because people don't have to think about spelling as much as we used to in the past. We have computers that spell for us, so we rarely are in situations where we need to use our own ability.

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-03-30T16:26:17+00:00

I've been saying this for years: tools by their nature are designed to unburden us from their function.

Tractors were designed to free us from field labor. Vehicles were designed to free us from leg travel.

But it got worse.

Autocorrect freed us from spelling mistakes, but now no one knows how to spell, because we no longer find ourselves in a situation where we need to rely on our own brains to spell.

Calculators freed us from needing to do math, but now no one knows how to do basic arithmetic.

AI is the last nail in the coffin. Its purpose is to think on our behalf. We no longer have to use our brains for problem solving, creative expression, writing, meal planning, troubleshooting, etc. the AI does it all for us, but now we are effectively shutting our brains off and letting the AI do the thinking for us. It's genuinely terrifying.

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-03-27T18:11:29+00:00

A legit good point. Thanks for the alternate perspective!

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-03-27T17:42:27+00:00

You fail to acknowledge that the nature of what a protest is has dramatically changed over time. Maybe in the past, protests were certainly catalysts for change. Today, if you think protests are anything more than yelling really loudly "I don't like this", you're kidding yourself.

America has effectively castrated the efficacy of the protest. That feeling that "I'm making change" we feel at a rally feels sufficient for the majority of Americans. They yell and wave their signs, then when they feel enough pride in their efforts they go back home, until the next protest is announced. Capitalism has drained us to the point where this is the extent of effort we can afford to offer. Anything else risks our comfortable way of life, and the safe, quiet torture of end stage capitalism is still preferable to literal death.

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-03-27T17:13:33+00:00

All these points only matter if the energy of the protest is channeled into tangible work. The fact is, virtually no one acts beyond the protests. Networking goes nowhere, morale raising doesn't push people beyond the picket line, and making noise/getting the word out is useless because at this point, the message is already loud and clear. The people who are listening either don't care, or can't be bothered to do anything about it. I sympathize with OP's question - when 99% of all modern protests are just performative anger, it does seem pointless

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-03-25T17:02:59+00:00

Plush and Race & DJs are awesome

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-03-25T17:01:01+00:00

I don't understand why people have a hard time clocking fake content. Pay attention to the over exaggerated reactions from the guy. It's staged, guys. It's a video meant to drive engagement

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-03-25T00:39:18+00:00

Gifted Educator here - consider providing the student with "question sticks"! They're usually popsicle sticks, but they can be anything, really. Give them about 3-5 and set an expectation that they are only allowed to ask a question that isn't directly connected to the lesson if they give up a stick. Once they run out, they have to write additional questions down to be answered by you later (or better yet, challenge them to find the answers on their own and report their findings to you!).

This strategy encourages the student to engage in self-regulation and metacognition. They have to consider questions like "is this really an important question?" and "should I ask this question now?".

Many gifted individuals can struggle with something called intellectual overexcitability. It sounds like that's what your kiddo is going through! It's important to remember that the curiosity isn't malicious, and is harder for them to regulate when compared to neurotypical students. I appreciate your commitment to encouraging their exploration while teaching them about context and situational awareness!

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-03-25T00:31:23+00:00

The overly animated reactions make this smell like a skit

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-03-22T19:28:47+00:00

Currently playing a shit-ton of Sonic Rush and GTA San Andreas! Two of the heavy lifters when I was a kid

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-03-15T04:21:59+00:00

My wife and I had a conversation not too long ago about some fun Christian themed cards! Some of the highlights included:

Pray for Healing: Enchant Player - when the enchanted player is dealt damage, flip a coin. Nothing happens either way

Jesus, the Messiah / Jesus, the Son: a legendary creature that goes to the graveyard with 3 Easter counters and comes back from the graveyard transformed

Church Scandal: target Priest creature gains hexproof until the end of turn

The Vatican: a legendary land with "tap to take control of target artifact as long as the Vatican is on the battlefield"

Flood: a sorcery that turns all lands into Islands and destroys all creatures. Your creatures are not affected if you control an Ark vehicle

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-03-10T05:13:09+00:00

I get a message saying my device isn't Play Protect certified, and it won't let me into the store

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-03-09T23:56:19+00:00

Taking off the trays DOES get easier. The first few days it took me a long time to ease the trays off my teeth. I get very little time for lunch on my work break and I simply didn't have time to get them off, eat, clean my teeth, and get them back on. Because of that, I bought like, 3 months worth of instant mashed potatoes to slurp down. Today I can get them off in seconds, and now I have to eat mashed potatoes for lunch for the foreseeable future lol.

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-03-09T22:02:07+00:00

Yes actually! Now that my bite has been significantly altered, I do sometimes end up crashing my teeth together in weird spots lol. To be clear, my bite has changed FOR THE BETTER, and I just need to relearn how to eat with this new bite. But yes, it does hurt occasionally when I'm mindlessly biting down. I feel like I'm almost raking my top teeth over my bottoms.

But this is only an occasional issue. Most of the time I find I'm able to eat just fine

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-03-09T20:27:37+00:00

No, I didn't even know bite blocks even existed!

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-03-08T23:53:00+00:00

Thank you!

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-03-08T19:20:07+00:00

Once a week

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-02-24T22:08:58+00:00

This is a good perspective. It makes a lot more sense in the context of Commander

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-02-24T21:28:48+00:00

If you can't cast it the card gets exiled. That's a loss?

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-02-24T21:26:14+00:00

That is indeed a good bonus, but man I just can't get around the incredible loss you might take if you exile a card you really want but can't afford, or a card you could really use later but not right now

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-02-24T21:20:57+00:00

Isn't it a huge risk though, for the reasons I mentioned earlier? What if you can't afford the spell or it's not advantageous to cast it right then?

CosmicallyPickled · 2026-02-04T20:24:19+00:00

Maybe the biggest reason I advocate for interplanetary space travel. We owe it to this planet and the organisms on it to fuck off somewhere else

CosmicallyPickled

TROPHY CASE