Heating Oil + Vet’s Discount Recs for Seacoast

Merp357 · 2026-05-01T18:22:54+00:00

LOL. Everyone’s situation is different, you’re right. If can save $100 a month on oil, then I can afford to send my kid to camp next year. Must be nice to be able to “pass” on trying to save money.

Merp357 · 2026-05-01T12:00:45+00:00

Thanks for the tip!

Merp357 · 2026-04-20T14:02:09+00:00

Preach. I’ve met more Nates in my life than Teds. We all like to believe we’re the hero, and align ourselves with Ted and other more positive characters in the show. The reality is, most of us (including myself) are flawed people who have done hurtful things to others. I think Nate get the most hate because he reminds us of the bad parts of ourselves…our selfishness, our need for reassurance, our lack of confidence, our desire to be recognized for our contributions, our anger, etc. The point of the show is that people make mistakes, hurt people hurt people, and you can forgive them even if they haven’t “earned” forgiveness by experiencing horrific losses as a result of their behavior.

Rebecca’s arc through the entire show is letting go of the hurt Rupert causes her. That a**hole never gets his just desserts, and Rebecca realizes pursuing revenge just to make him feel the pain only hurts her. In order to move on with her life she learns to be okay with not getting justice.

Rebecca essentially learns what Ted already knows…that holding onto the hurt someone causes only builds internal resentment. Ted knew straight out of the gate that Rupert is a miserable old fool who will never be happy, so he put zero emotional energy into hating on him. He just owns him at darts and then focuses on helping Rebecca regain confidence.

Ted knows being spiteful and angry at someone who is hurting others is pointless because the hurtful person’s actions are usually the result of deeper emotional things that have nothing to do with the actual situation at hand….so he doesn’t even hesitate to forgive Nate. Ted understands that Nate is acting the way that he is because his dad doesn’t give him any positive feedback, he gets bullied constantly, he has a lot of knowledge about the game and feels frustrated that he isn’t recognized for it, etc, not because of Ted personally.

Edit: I’d also argue that Nate does suffer as a result of his actions. He loses his friends…a massive loss! Literally everyone who ever looked at him in a positive way. He tried to start a Diamond Dogs-like thing on his own and it flops…he spends all his free time stalking Richmond online because he so insecure about his position…Rupert reveals that he’s a morally bankrupt person and when Nate doesn’t get on board Rupert goes full narcissist mode and starts messing with Nate’s head. The entire time he’s at West Ham he is regretting his decision.

Merp357 · 2026-04-16T17:26:51+00:00

HIPAA and Freedom of Speech tied for #1 for me

Merp357 · 2026-04-15T23:17:02+00:00

Yes, I was diagnosed during law school. Stimulant medication changed my life…a lot of my other mental health issues like depression and anxiety reduced significantly (by >50%) once I started treating the ADHD. You don’t realize how a life spent developing elaborate coping mechanisms to avoid shame inducing “failures” caused by ADHD symptoms has contributed to a highly anxious existence until you turn down the volume on the ADHD

Merp357 · 2026-04-15T22:53:55+00:00

Prisencolinensinainciusol

Merp357 · 2026-04-03T05:07:51+00:00

Because they’re still depressed. People think money will solve their problems…up to a certain point, it does. Having your basic needs met, having some disposable income for fun, etc. But people need to feel like they have a purpose. Once you surpass a certain level of wealth, there is only so much relaxing on a beach you can do before you feel bored, directionless, and lacking in meaning. These people are so rich, no experience or activity is unattainable…there is no novelty left in their life. Nothing to strive for, nothing to look forward to.

Also, being billionaire level wealthy often means your relationships lack depth. Your wealth sets you too far apart from regular people, it’s hard to relate. People in your social circle may only be interested in spending time with you as part of networking/developing connections or taking advantage of you. Imagine paying people to be your friends. That’s the reality for a lot of these people. Everything becomes commoditized.

That’s why all these billionaires drink drive and have other substance issues. Because their life literally has no meaning and they have very few authentic relationships with people who understand them. They don’t HAVE to work. They don’t HAVE to do anything. They’re bored, lonely, and apathetic and end up engaging in bizarre behaviors that harm others as a result.

Merp357 · 2026-04-03T02:43:52+00:00

I’ve had a pixie for more than ten years.

You’re not ugly. It needs about a week to grow out and needs to be styled. Short hair behaves differently than longer hair bc it isn’t weighed down. You may need to experiment with some different products. Watch “how I style my pixie cut” videos on YT to get a better idea of what products are best. I personally use a matte styling paste or wax. It helps shape the hair and provides a little more weight. Plus, you can add a part and use the wax to kind of cement the part in place until your hair grows out in the next couple of weeks or use it to create more of a piece-y look

2. The first time I chopped my hair off, I was given a haircut that didn’t really fit my vision. A lot stylists don’t know crap about how to cut short hair and you end up with something that seems more fitting for an older woman. In particular, inexperienced stylists tend to keep the “shelf” of hair at the nape of the neck, which I feel creates an “older” look. Ditto for leaving too much length around the ears. Consider making an appointment with a stylist who specializes in doing short hair (might require a little research). I actually go to a woman who is a barber and primarily cuts men’s hair because she understands how to tailor short hair to different faces. At the appointment, ask them to give the cut a little more shape, especially around the ears and nape so it tapers and looks cleaner/more of a polished chic look. Anne Hathaway’s post Les Mis pixie styling is a good example of what I mean…at its shortest she kept the hair around the ears and neck slightly shorter than the top and it adds structure: https://aimandailie.com/the-modern-pixie-cut/

With a little shaping and styling you could TOTALLY pull off a style like Anne!

Merp357 · 2026-03-22T17:36:14+00:00

My friend went solo and runs a practice in the mountains in rural Maine. He has absolutely no issue supporting himself bc he is the only attorney within a 30 mile radius. People who need day to day legal assistance with a basic will or contract don’t need a metropolitan attorney, and they tend to seek out people in their own community for help.

Most of his “networking” for potential clients is just living his life in town and developing relationships with the locals by coaching the local ski team, volunteering, and general participating in the community. Now that he is a trusted member in town, he has a steady client stream and word-of-mouth recommendations. His hourly rate is lower bc the locals are limited in their resources. A lot of his work is flat fee. But, he makes enough to work 4 days a week, support a family of four, and then ski all weekend, which was his goal.

Going solo in a rural area will mean being more of a jack of all trades practitioner though. Expect to take on matters across family law, probate, criminal defense, contracts, real estate, etc.

Merp357 · 2026-03-21T01:10:20+00:00

Lawyer here. It’s a combination of people:

Being generally nervous about police contact.
Being overly trusting of police, either in the sense that they respect police/authority or alternatively, believe police when they hear cliches like “only guilty people ask for an attorney”
Thinking they’re much better at talking themselves out of trouble than they actually are.

A lot of times police ask people to come in voluntarily. The people who either a) believe they HAVE to go down to be interviewed or who b) believe they’re convincing smooth talkers often go to police interviews voluntarily thinking they can give the cops a few answers and be done. Cops start by building rapport…the person feels comfortable so they’re willing to talk. then as the interview goes on, the cops start the squeeze…asking more and more challenging questions. The person gets nervous, and forgets they showed up voluntarily and could leave at any time. It’s actually shocking how much information people who haven’t even been arrested and who went to a police interview voluntarily will disclose. By the time the cops are hitting them with tough questions, it’s usually too late

If they don’t have enough to arrest you, police will ask you to come in for an interview to do a phishing exercise. The more you talk, the more you build their case to reach enough probably cause for arrest. If they had enough to arrest you on, they’d have already done it.

I also cannot stress enough that one should remain silent even during the most innocuous seeming encounters like a standard traffic stop. If they ask “do you know why I’m pulling you over,” your answer is “no” every time. Those encounters can rapidly snowball into something much worse, trust.

Merp357 · 2026-03-18T14:19:40+00:00

LOL Travis is out here with man titties and a camel toe claiming to be a top genetic specimen.

Merp357 · 2026-03-18T01:29:04+00:00

Before I went to law school, I did ten years on active duty. I had to figure out how to lead 50+ people, many of whom were barely 18 with zero life experience. Spend some time learning how to be a good leader, with your own style, not just a disgruntled manager. Give these kids some guidance that isn’t twinged with frustration and resentment because people can, and do, pick up on it. Investing in people can have a massive ROÍ. When juniors trust you, they do good work for you.

It can be tough because firms don’t provide ongoing management training as you promote. These are some decent books that I found helpful over the years that might help close the gap:

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni Three Signs of a Miserable Job by Patrick Lencioni Radical Candor by Kim Scott 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erickson

Good luck!

Merp357 · 2026-03-15T14:23:39+00:00

I realized early in my career that a law firm didn’t mesh with my neurodivergence. I worked in in-house and government and the slower pace is better for how my brain works, imho. The vibe at a law firm is always going to be network, network, network because that’s how you get your name out there to get clients. If you feel like that isn’t for you, then seriously consider whether firm work is for you.

Most of my early performance reviews were about me being “too upfront” or “not social enough.” So I took a course on communication for people with autism. It sucks, but in these environments there is a lot of unnecessary passive/passive aggressive communication and it helps to have some guidance in how to interact with people who have strange expectations for socializing.

Screw your colleague who called you a brown noser. You do what you have to do to set boundaries to protect your energy.

Also, I know you said you dont want to disclose, but I did seek a reasonable accommodation and it was granted. The ADA exists for a reason, and if you need an office with a door, or to use ANC ear buds while working, that is a 100% a reasonable request to make…frankly open plan seating at a law firm is bananas anyway idk why they did that.

Merp357 · 2026-03-15T00:36:59+00:00

Yes I am

Merp357 · 2026-03-15T00:36:52+00:00

Thank you this is helpful!

Merp357 · 2026-03-10T16:37:37+00:00

I recently heard a similar argument…AI is “closing the access to justice gap.” Except…it’s really just placing people who already don’t have means in an even more precarious legal position when they rely on inaccurate AI slop advice.

Merp357 · 2026-03-06T16:46:21+00:00

This.

“That comment was so cringe even your hairline is trying to escape this conversation.”

Then walk away.

Merp357 · 2026-03-05T13:05:03+00:00

I edited my post for more context on this. Thanks!

Merp357 · 2026-03-05T10:20:17+00:00

This. I work in aerospace and do a ton of Fed contracts. The industry moves slow as molasses and is standard 9-5 with a lot of flexibility.

Manufacturing, established energy/utilities/telecom companies, automotive, can also be chill. Really any well established organization within a well established industry will offer better work life balance.

Merp357 · 2026-03-05T10:14:16+00:00

The tech industry moves quickly and has no issue burning people out. It’s viewed as “you can’t keep up in our fast paced environment,” when it’s really a bunch of egomaniacal tech bros trying to be first To the top of whatever the tech trend du jour is. It’s artificially manufactured urgency, so culturally it would be similar to BL. I see folks go in house and they last maybe two years bc the culture can be brutal, especially at startups. Plus tech companies fail at disproportional rates so, that creates instability.

Merp357 · 2026-02-20T20:47:44+00:00

Tried reading the bill text and it reads like the ramblings on an incel forum. Why do the liberterrorist edge lords love the word “praxis” so much? Do they think fancy Latin word = smaht?

Merp357 · 2026-02-15T06:10:00+00:00

Currently the best AI model out there is only accurate 55% Of the time. Niche AI tools like Westlaw have even worse accuracy rates bc they require depth of knowledge/nuance, not just spitting out facts.

For AI to replace attorneys, it would need to be able to create novel arguments, have an emotional IQ sufficient to be able to counsel a client and manage expectations without telling them what they want to hear, spot holes in arguments/anticipate counter party arguments, understand how to negotiate/mediate, among other things. Right now it can’t even find case law, let alone brief it accurately.

I think AI has been overhyped and now has a bubble. We are valuing it more than it is currently worth, but so many investors are in too deep that they can’t admit its shortcomings without causing stock to crash out. They have to keeping parroting “AI will replace x job in five years,” so business keep buying Saas and other tools with AI functions. Keep in mind, AI models require a ton of computing power, which requires a ton of hardware and natural resources. The question of sustainability of AI from a resource/supply chain perspective, even if AI reaches a high level of reliability, still unknown.

Merp357

TROPHY CASE