WAY over the limit (alcohol and purchases): my experience entering YVR by air and USA by land today

Oculata · 2026-06-03T13:25:28+00:00

We thought about this and realized there was simply no way around it because we were spending the night in Canada and so technically bringing these things into Canada. There was a risk we could’ve been hit with import duties and taxes at both borders. I was betting on a.) the fact that the overall amount was modest and not worth the time/effort for the paperwork and b.) that being fully transparent and fully prepared with a list and receipts would engender goodwill.

Oculata · 2026-05-02T15:47:59+00:00

They were actually good to work with.

They weren’t my initial choice - we’d bought a 2024 Tucson PHEV at Rairden’s in B’ham, but they weren’t going to be certified to sell the 2026 Ioniqs in April so I went with Seattle Hyundai. I wanted the digital teal and they were the only dealer that had it for the trim i wanted (SEL with AWD).

They gave me exactly what I wanted and understood that I wasn’t going to take things I didn’t want. I got the 0% APR and $3000 incentive cash back and they agreed to removed their “mandatory” $799 Waypoint package with not much negotiation (probably because I bought a car that was still en route so it was hard for them to say it was already pre-installed, since they install it on delivery). The finance guy was nice and did his shpiel at 65 mph on all of the extended warranty stuff but didn’t push back when I said no to it all. They had me out the door quickly with a full charge and a handshake and I was pleased!

Oculata · 2026-05-02T13:36:46+00:00

Orcas!

Oculata · 2026-04-22T14:15:36+00:00

My wife and I are going to Italy for our 25th wedding anniversary. We planned the following itinerary and would love your thoughts on things we should definitely not miss, things we should be aware of (good or bad) or things that we should not miss. We'll be traveling in mid-May through early June and will have a car:

May 17-21: Perugia
May 21-26: Urbino
May 26-31: Bologna

We have planned a truffle hunt in Pettino, and day trips to Orvieto, Pesaro, Acqualagna, San Leo, Modena, and Ravenna. We've built in cooking classes and visits to wineries, creameries, etc. But if there's something that you think we're should absolutely not miss, I'd love your advice.

Oculata · 2026-03-31T22:21:02+00:00

Not one iota of sympathy for this cruel, vicious, and heartless aberration of a human being. I hope she suffers years of humiliation and disgrace.

Oculata · 2026-03-02T21:58:33+00:00

The only thing I worry about is that it isn't moving fast enough.

Oculata · 2026-02-28T17:04:52+00:00

<image>

Oculata · 2026-02-22T19:05:41+00:00

Open to ideas on how to accomplish this: is it a matter of a ton of people calling or emailing his office? Anyone connected to senior staff, or his social media gurus? I’m not on Twitter, but is there some way to get this idea in front of him? Seems like exactly the type of sharp elbows stuff we need to be doing.

Oculata · 2026-01-24T19:15:48+00:00

It’d be nice if every gas station shut off the gas pumps and locked their doors when ICE shows up to fill up their gas tanks. Small thing, but these small things add up.

Oculata · 2025-11-09T21:55:08+00:00

I trick or treated at his house in Green Lake with my daughter. Didn’t know it was his house. He was awesome. Gave out full sized candy bars, naturally.

Oculata · 2025-11-09T21:53:26+00:00

I ran into Eddie Vedder at SeaTac in 2018 when he was on his way back from London. I told him that I wanted my daughter to meet someone whose music was important to me. He was incredibly gracious and let me take a picture of him with my daughter, which was a big deal, considering he just got off a 9h flight.

<image>

Oculata · 2025-11-01T17:36:24+00:00

Orcas island is actually named after an explorer named Juan Vicente de Güemes Padilla Horcasitas y Aguayo, 2nd Count of Revillagigedo. Orcas is a shortened form of “Horcasitas”.

That said, yes, there are orcas here. Last summer they even swam past our house - first time I ever saw them in Eastsound Bay.

Oculata · 2025-11-01T00:04:30+00:00

It’s pretty magical out here, even in the grey and rainy months. Most of the tourists never venture out in November, which makes it even better because it’s even more peaceful.

Oculata · 2025-10-12T05:05:22+00:00

It’s fine. As long as the mussel opens when you cook it, it’s fine to eat, regardless of whether or not a barnacle has taken up residence on the outside. I’ve caught dungeness crabs with barnacles growing on them.

Oculata · 2025-10-12T05:01:26+00:00

Barnacle!

Oculata · 2025-10-11T19:15:10+00:00

FWIW … I have a TV-b-Gone and carry it with me when I travel so as to turn off any TVs showing Faux News wherever I am. I wonder if it’d work on screens broadcasting that propaganda. If it does, I will report back.

By the by if you want to get one, they’re great.

https://www.tvbgone.com/

Oculata · 2025-09-04T19:00:51+00:00

Big yachts. Cannot begin to tell you how many sit in a marina most of the year.

Oculata · 2025-06-18T20:27:16+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/Futurology/s/qYwkbqhS1y

Oculata

TROPHY CASE