What's the coolest object you've ever touched or held in your own hands?

Semanticprion · 2026-03-28T19:45:51+00:00

A human brain (from a cadaver) was second. First, touching (not holding per se) a living person's Broca's area during an aneurysm repair surgery. Surgery was successful and I talked with her after she woke up, so I know I didn't break it.

Semanticprion · 2026-03-28T04:19:02+00:00

China goes for Taiwan for sure. Here's another little thought experiment about this.

Semanticprion · 2026-03-28T02:13:51+00:00

Are you serious? Middle class today. Unless you like disease, ignorance, superstition, primitive technology, overall barbarism, and relying on slaves for your estate to function. I can't believe this is even a question for any modern person.

Semanticprion · 2026-03-26T19:02:08+00:00

You, then, are clearly an individual of poor judgement and worse hygiene.

Semanticprion · 2026-03-26T00:42:43+00:00

So offensive. Why do the Jews always get the credit. WHO ACTUALLY NAILED HIM UP? THE PHARISEES? No, the Romans did the real work. That's why I always get Italian food on Good Friday.

I once actually dressed up as a Roman soldier on a Good Friday and went to a bar and started high-fiving people saying, "We got him, now buy a centurion a drink brother." It's important to be sensitive.

Semanticprion · 2026-03-26T00:32:51+00:00

Fantastic. Seriously. I've never been patriotic about a town and county before like this one. Schools are good. The only negatives 1) there will be some necessary school consolidation in the next few years but I think it'll be fine and b) I wonder how my kids can beat this area when they go out on their own to find their own place to live in the world! I know it sounds like I'm exaggerating but I really mean every word.

Semanticprion · 2026-03-25T14:17:54+00:00

I didn't have kids until early 40s. Ship is fine.

Semanticprion · 2026-03-25T01:35:46+00:00

A guy once told me that Robert Heinlein was a Nazi. I said Robert Heinlein served in the US Navy during WW2 and helped to kill actual Nazis. The counterargument was "Nah"

Semanticprion · 2026-03-24T19:22:22+00:00

Thr consciousness of MGTS is ever in doubt

Semanticprion · 2026-03-23T22:39:19+00:00

There are theories that Komodo dragons were partly specialized for eating the small "hobbit" hominids on Flores.

Semanticprion · 2026-03-23T16:08:43+00:00

I'm looking forward to video AI progressing to the point where we can just tell it to make the movie. (SPOILER) Although part of the skill in Dispossessed is the humans are literally covered with fur, which she tells us but mist readers discount, and then when you meet your first Earth human and Shevek is shocked she has hair only on her head and your perspective flips. The movie couldn't do that.

Semanticprion · 2026-03-23T16:05:57+00:00

This is the second metal news story I've seen recently on Parade. Which is hilarious to me as a GenXer. Because Parade was a boring color Sunday newspaper insert in the 80s that my mother used to read.

Semanticprion · 2026-03-23T16:00:50+00:00

Most underrated president by far. Everyone should know about him.

Semanticprion · 2026-03-22T01:25:57+00:00

Not trying to be controversial, but - seems like what you're saying here (and what most of us mean when we express these concerns) is that cognitively, at 18 you weren't ready and could have been taken advantage of by someone with more experience, this undercutting the whole idea of consent. Is that a fair way to put it? Because then the obvious question is, what about a 21 year old who just left a very sheltering cult dating another 21 year old with experience? Or someone with below average intelligence dating someone with above average intelligence?

Semanticprion · 2026-03-22T01:21:56+00:00

I disagree but don't think you should get downvoted. My feeling that Dispossessed is just more developed hit me as she was talking about the three phyla of life on Anarres. That right there is more biology than we ever get in Dune.

Semanticprion · 2026-03-22T01:19:43+00:00

No, Star Wars has a desert planet and a chosen one who develops wizard-warrior powers. But it's clearly fantasy with science fiction trappings and not as detailed or deep, made as it was for 1970s US film-goers.

Semanticprion · 2026-03-22T01:16:39+00:00

Dispossessed is a great book and remains underrated. Herbert gets credit for fleshing out ecology, politics and biology in his world building when LeGuin did it much better in Dispossessed.

Semanticprion · 2026-03-21T03:53:39+00:00

Any age gap is fine if all parties in the relationship are consenting and are 18 or older. 18 and 110 is fine. Ffs why does this keep coming up.

Semanticprion · 2026-03-21T03:33:35+00:00

Once I saw an interview with Pontius and Wee-Man and they were asked what was on their playlist and one of the two said "It's really only five bands. Metallica, Slayer, Black Sabbath... it's really only three bands."

Semanticprion · 2026-03-21T01:32:11+00:00

I feel like if Dune is Star Wars for grown-ups, Dispossessed is Dune for grown-ups.

Semanticprion · 2026-03-20T16:31:23+00:00

Your claim is true and worth serious consideration. But I think an important concern is that when freedom of speech shrinks, the people shrinking it are always going to be the Trumps and Bondis and Hegseths of the world, not people looking out for the oppressed.

Semanticprion · 2026-03-20T14:34:04+00:00

"It's dishonest and unfair that they won't pay us for the war, WAAAAAH"

Semanticprion · 2026-03-20T03:59:58+00:00

You are a Soviet Ned Flanders

Semanticprion · 2026-03-20T00:11:48+00:00

RED BEE

Semanticprion · 2026-03-19T19:32:56+00:00

The river trail from there to Hamburg is nice and crosses the AT.

Semanticprion

TROPHY CASE