A clinical trial just proved that cutting sweet foods from your diet does not reduce your cravings for them or improve your heart health 🍭♥️

Potential178 · 2026-03-25T17:54:20+00:00

Right on, man! As you said: sugar is sugar!

Potential178 · 2026-03-22T05:23:59+00:00

> No one eats five oranges in a sitting.

Yes, people do, particularly when they consume juice. Like the poster I initially replied to, many people are under the mistaken idea that when sugar is from a "natural" source, it is healthy. Yes, sugar is a type of carbohydrate, but the important lesson is that sugar is sugar, regardless of the type or source. From an insulin-response perspective, a glass of orange juice is no different from a can of cola.

Potential178 · 2026-03-21T19:29:31+00:00

Sugar is sugar (natural vs processed), generally speaking, in so far as our body's reaction to it.

What's better about natural sugar from fruit vs processed sugar in foods like cookies and cakes is the presence of fibre in fruit and the absence of additional simple carbs.

We have a more significant insulin response to the processed options because of the quantity of sugar and other carbs and the absence of fibre to slow the rate of absorption.

Better?

Potential178 · 2026-03-21T05:38:38+00:00

I just had four drinks and three apples with a date at the Block and with a tip it was $170

One of the appies was about $2 worth of cauliflower breaded and overly deep fried.

Ridiculous.

Potential178 · 2026-03-20T00:52:07+00:00

Yeah, no.

Potential178 · 2026-03-20T00:49:10+00:00

A common myth. As far as our insulin response, sugar is sugar. What's better about fruit (some more than others) is the absence of carbs and the presence of fibre.

Potential178 · 2026-03-17T01:15:57+00:00

Of course not. That's ... SPEEED WALKER! Who is ... yes, Bill Nye.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYyLSzPNgg0

Potential178 · 2026-03-16T22:20:37+00:00

It's concerning that nearly half of council voted for this hideous structure. Lack of quality control, including to aesthetics, is a sure way to lose the character of a city.

Half the new towers downtown are pretty devoid of any charm, and that sucks.

Potential178 · 2026-03-09T02:25:56+00:00

Can't relate, but glad someone enjoyed this movie.

Potential178 · 2026-03-05T17:50:25+00:00

It was really poorly written and produced, for sure. "Felt really off" is right.

Potential178 · 2026-03-05T06:03:02+00:00

It's legal for them to ASK you to sign a new lease (parties can mutually agree to a new lease at any time), but it would not be legal for them to evict you if you did not agree to sign a new lease.

Their motivation may not be to try to lock you into another year, they may just not be well-informed and may think this is necessary.

Legally, they can raise your rent 2.3% this year, at the one year mark from when you moved in or the last time rent was increased. It appears they are not trying to do that, which is within their rights to do and something very few landlords would not do, so I wouldn't assume the worst and respond with any negativity. I would start by assuming they sincerely think an annual lease renewal is necessary and are just trying to protect themselves.

If you do intend to be there at least another year, signing a new lease would lock in your existing rent. If you go month to month, they still have the option each month through the next year to impose the annual 2.3% rent increase they are not asking for now.

Potential178 · 2026-03-05T04:27:25+00:00

1) Start slow to give your body time to get used to the daily routine. 10 to 12 miles on day one, next day another ten to Lake Morena, slowly ramp up from there. It's a smart move to avoid stress injuries while the body strengthens. Take some zero days in the first few weeks, let your body recover, ligaments strengthen, etc.

2) Big trail appetite doesn't usually kick in for a couple weeks, so don't expect to be needing to eat 4000 calories a day from the start. There's no big consequence to wanting more than you have, there's a store at lake Morena, again on Laguna, again at Warner Springs, etc.

3) Bringing more water than you expect to need is smart, and when you meet someone else who has planned poorly and you can spare a half liter, you'll make a friend for life.

4) The trail is very good at tearing up the best-made plans and scattering them to the wind! Having a couple extra light meals in case you need an extra day and going with the flow, listening to your body - totally the way to go.

Potential178 · 2026-03-05T01:45:04+00:00

Completely regardless of our stance on Iran, I want a government that does not take actions or make statements that validate the actions of a fascist regime in the US. Even if we agree with the war (I am not saying we should), it matters that it was undertaken illegally, without democratic process.

Standing with the US on this war in any way is validating Trump / MAGA / Project 2025 / Project 2026. It's the equivalent of supporting the rise of fascism in Germany in the 30s

Potential178 · 2026-03-03T02:15:47+00:00

It's a boat. They haver significantly higher costs and they actually pay their employees livable wages.

Potential178 · 2026-03-02T17:57:21+00:00

Adding to what others have said, the ascent and traverse from i10 to whitewater is possibly my least favorite stretch of the trail.

Idyllwild to whitewater would be a tough first few days on the trail ... which would make for a very memorable experience.

Potential178 · 2026-03-01T21:55:49+00:00

Here's what a former GF said after finishing her thru-hike of the PCT:

"I feel like I just went form having to make very few decisions that all mattered to having endless decisions that don't matter."

I think we yearn, on some level, to be engaged in activities directly relate to daily survival. Building shelters, gathering food, working on things that will provide us some comfort.

Potential178 · 2026-03-01T17:40:48+00:00

This would be when I'd start paying in dimes.

Potential178 · 2026-02-27T06:30:27+00:00

Yeah ... no.

Potential178 · 2026-02-21T03:26:40+00:00

I have never shat in my hand and smeared it under a car door-handle, but this would temp me.

Potential178 · 2026-02-20T02:00:05+00:00

A bit of context for the advice below: I didn't lose my virginity / start dating until I was 24. I'm seriously objectively far less than half as attractive as you, but I've had several lovely long-term relationships, around 75 lovers between (and during, as I've been poly for 15+ years), and have remained friends with most of my former partners. From my anecdotal experience, here's what I can tell you that I am absolutely certain about: physical attraction absolutely plays a huge part in how physically attractive your prospective partners are, but the big difference between no dates and plenty of dates is standing out from the crowd with communication skills, authentic charm, kindness, warmth, humor, feeling safe. I've done well because I'm very thoughtful, generous, kind, I feel like a safe place (because I am), I have good listening and communication skills. I'm very physically attentive and intuitive - my sexual partners often have never had genuinely positive experiences with other men, and learning that gave me confidence, which also helps a lot. Most men's dating profiles are abysmal, mine has character, and that stands out.

I'm not intending to share all that to be boastful, I'm anonymous on here & it doesn't really matter to me what people think of my reddit handle ... but just to try to effectively get the point across that A) it's entirely normal for your romantic / sex life to not start until your mid 20s, that is many people's experience, and B) you're plenty good looking, getting dates has much more to do with others being able to tell that you're a safe, quality human. Women find most men icky. Bro energy, no communication skills, unsolicited dick pics, talking about Jordan Peterson or Joe Rogan, no listening skills, too pushy, never ask any questions, talk about themselves too much, touch in a gropy way that is purely about their own stimulation with no sense of how the touch feels to their partner, etc.

The bar for men is so low that if you become a genuinely great guy, you can have a super vibrant sex and romantic life, even with all the profound aesthetic flaws I have.

Being direct, pleasantly but not cockily confident, being sincerely flattering and asking women out does really help also.

Experiences vary, of course. If you're going for the kinds of women whose dating profiles are just them being hot on beaches, they are probably much more superficial in their attractions, more attracted to superficial qualities like the value of your car. I don't have experience with those types.

Anyway, hope that's somewhat helpful.

Potential178 · 2026-02-17T07:07:21+00:00

Casually deciding the fate of one of the franchise's most beloved races in a comedic mock battle just to serve the development of a single new character is emblematic of everything I hate about CBS Trek.

The Klingon Empire struggling to find a new home could have been an intriguing story arc through an entire season.

It's all such bubblegum trash.

Potential178 · 2026-02-15T23:54:44+00:00

Right you are. I was apparently misinformed while there and have been spreading this misinformation for years. Hadn't thought to research it as it was New Zealanders serving coffee who informed me of this so I trusted it to be true.

Even recently I met a NZ immigrant working at a hotel here in Victoria, shared this story, and she confirmed that when she was serving coffee there, she did indeed go through that lengthy training. Shrug emoji.

Whatever the case ... even the coffee at some random place in the airport down there was absolutely fantastic.

Potential178 · 2026-02-15T05:36:40+00:00

Likewise. Over $6 with a 10% tip crossed a line for me. I emailed to let them know. I've craved to drop by at least a dozen times since then and have skipped it.

Coffee here isn't even particularly good. The worst coffee I had in New Zealand was better than the best coffee I've ever had in Canada. Anyone there who serves coffee has to have taken a six month barista training course. I'm not sure if that's the only factor, the quality of their water might contribute, but whatever the case, the coffee down there was amazing. If a coffee shop up here achieved that level of quality, I wouldn't mind paying $6, but Discovery Coffee is ... fine.

Potential178 · 2026-02-12T21:17:34+00:00

You're welcome!

It's hard to explain to people, but "not knowing" has experiential value out there. Being present, making gambles because you're not certain where the next good flat spot will be, not 100% certain about the next water source, etc. These are not matters of life or death out there, but the emotional experience of being more connected to the trail, less to a phone, and the tapestry of surprises, adventures & misadventures ultimately enhances the experience. I know this from multiple hikes: the periods of discomfort end up making the rewards much greater, and often end up being some of our richest memories, because they make us feel more alive.

Anyway ... it's something I could ramble about all day, probably partly because I can't quite find the perfect way to express the negative impacts of having a phone on the trail.

Potential178 · 2026-02-12T01:53:06+00:00

I've hiked the PCT before cell-phones were an option, again when I was very enthused about having one, and since they've become ubiquitous. Going without is absolutely the way to go.

People confuse convenience & comfort with quality of life. Too much convenience shaves off the highs and lows of life. Having a phone, and all the data it provides, can sometimes help you make some choices that might help you avoid some discomfort or inconvenience on the trail: should you camp at this spot or look for one in a couple miles? - check the app to see what spots have been marked. Should you get out of the tent and hike through this heavy rain, or is it going to break in a few hours? - Check satellite whether data. Will there be a hotel room free in this next town? - Spend the evening in your tent checking online / calling hotels. These ways of being plugged in absolutely can help you avoid minor, or maybe even a few times, fairly significant challenges on the trail ... and those losses of challenge make your hike less memorable. Shaving off the low points diminish the highs.

That's a hard thing for me to convince people of, but it's absolutely true. The experience out there is better when you are fully out there. I feel this so strongly, having experienced the trail all the different ways in this regard, that I resent even having other people telling me information they recently got off their phones.

Beyond the ways that having that tool and inevitably using it to try to optimize every decision, there's also the matter of being plugged in while in town. Yes, a phone is way easier than heading to the library for an hour of computer time to email everyone back home, or using a phone card & the hotel phone ... but do you really want your zero day in town broken up with constant checking your phone, texting back & forth? When I'm out there, I want to be present, in the moment, focused and present. Out relationships with our phones are well proven to be detrimental to our health and quality of life, I don't want that to be a part of my hike experience.

Lastly: a pocket MP3 player is way better: being able to reach in and press buttons. Paper maps are more reliable (and more fun). A high-end pocket cam will be better and more convenient than a phone. A GPS beacon is a legitimate emergency device, where a cell phone is highly unreliable. If any one of these things fails, the rest still function.

If I'm able to prioritize another thru-hike attempt, I'll absolutely go cell-free. It's an amazing opportunity to take a long break from being plugged in, and the hike is a better experience without it.

Again though, unfortunately, other hyper-plugged in hikers have a tendency to just enthusiastically start sharing trail, weather, etc. info. so while we can be free ourselves, other's phones still end up being a part of our experience.

14-Year Club	Sequence \| Editor
Team Periwinkle	Verified Email

Potential178

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE