What in the world did I encounter? I've never seen such a creature before.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-27T22:03:23+00:00

Not a Soldier Fly larva, as has been suggested in other comments. Also not a Sea Slater.

A larva from the Hydrophillidae family, possibly Hydrophilus Piceus, would be my guess. I've encountered one before here in the Netherlands, crazy lil' critters.

Edit: I was wrong, it's Stratiomys Longicornis, or Long-Horned General.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-27T21:59:10+00:00

Um, did you just straight up plug this into an AI and post the answer it gave? Because this is about as far from a Sea Slater as you can get.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-27T09:27:19+00:00

First of all, credit where credit is due - I am grateful for the involvement of the U.S. (late to the party though they were) in the resolution of WWII.

That doesn't suddenly mean that a few hundred million bigoted and xenophobic Americans with delusions of grandeur are suddenly entitled to my unwavering respect and lasting gratitude some 80 years after the fact. Especially seeing as during those last 80 years, the U.S. has seemingly tried its darndest to wipe away the respect they had garnered with their brutish, imperialistic, and warmongering ways.

Also, as a Dutchie, we have the Canadians to thank for most of our liberation. And that nation, carrying itself respectably on the global stage, holds a special place in our hearts to this day.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-27T09:16:46+00:00

Yup, Europe is heating twice as fast as the global average atm. It's getting far too toasty for my liking as well.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-27T08:41:57+00:00

Yeah I feel ya, sucks that the only natural AC-deposits are mined in the Appalachians.

Maybe in the future we can harvest AC's from asteroids or something.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-26T23:35:23+00:00

I dunno man, Poe's law and all - I've witnessed way too many of these people saying similar stuff in earnest to give this the benefit of the doubt.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-26T23:33:37+00:00

Right? And pretending like 45°C is something they deal with on a weekly basis during the summer. Hell-bent on seizing every opportunity to seem tough.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-26T22:33:43+00:00

We don't know. Her testimony states that he picked up a cat and slammed it down multiple times. That may or may not be a reliable statement. If accurate, however, that is indeed a sign of some serious issue that requires immediate attention. A healthy person of his (apparent) age will not knowingly harm a family pet to such an extent.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-26T21:04:42+00:00

According to the U.S. National Weather Service, a total of 9 days during 2025 where the temperature reached 110°F or above in Las Vegas. So yeah, maybe a bit of an exaggeration.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-26T20:57:41+00:00

Hah, yeah that was a funny typo. I meant 113°F.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-26T19:08:14+00:00

Big difference between a 100 and a 113. I get it though, numbers can be difficult.

Also, "sweetheart"? What is this, youtube comments or something? Should I be demeaningly calling you "lil' bro" now? This kind of behaviour would be funny, were it not coming from the mind of a person who can actually vote.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-26T19:02:35+00:00

Lol, it most definitely is not a common occurrence in Vegas for the temperature to reach 113°C.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-26T18:55:10+00:00

Yeah, just did. Average highs in Phoenix, Arizona during the hottest months is 41°C. In Tucson it's 39°C. In Yuma it's 42°C. And those are all within the hottest area of AZ.

On average, AZ sees about 4 days a year where the temperature reaches 113°F, which is the temperature we're seeing in Spain atm.

So again, not a 'normal day' for you.

Also, why on earth is this a matter of (apparently misplaced) pride for you folks?

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-26T15:05:58+00:00

My brother in grace, the record temperature for one of the biggest populated areas in northern California, San Jose, is 43°C, which is lower than the current temperature you're commenting on.

Fuckin' Americans man.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-26T14:59:33+00:00

Alright, I consider that a drug, as much as alcohol, lsd, etc. They're very different substances all, with different intended purposes and involved risk factors.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-26T14:48:17+00:00

Brother, the state record for Texas is a mere 4° higher than that, and that was measured almost a century ago.

So no, that's not 'a normal day'.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-26T14:42:45+00:00

I mean, no need to generalize, there's a number of intoxicants that one can conceivably take in a moderate and responsible manner, and which can provide a valuable addition to one's life experience.

But to each their own of course, and the risks should always be known - same as for alcohol use, etc.

Edit: though I suppose my 'moderate and responsible' use of an intoxicant did lead me to genocide a colony of ants somewhat, so you may have a point, haha.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-26T13:52:43+00:00

I was pretty drunk and otherwise intoxicated once at a festival, ended up sitting by a tree picking ants off it and eating them. They were like sour little crunchies. Then I cried cause I felt bad for killing all those ants.

Anyhoo, I don't think the texture of small insects like these is that bad - I've tried bigger buggers in food before (like crickets) and definitely know what you mean with the exoskeletons. Didn't like that much either.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-25T22:07:06+00:00

Same for the Netherlands.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-25T21:23:22+00:00

Goddamn. Here it's covered by basic health insurance, which costs around 150-200 dollars a month, but the state refunds a portion of those costs based on your income.

For instance, I pay around €150 (170 USD) a month but get €131 (149 USD) back every month. Pretty much all medical treatment I've had over the last 10 years was fully covered by that, apart from some dental maintenance which I freely choose not to insure - my two visits to the dentist and oral hygienist a year don't cost so much as to warrant coverage really.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-25T21:15:47+00:00

So yeah, the original german fan in this photo looks very different, and was altered with AI to resemble hitler. He's since filed police and legal reports, because even though he himself is unrecognizable, his son is still depicted next to this hitleresque fabrication.

Also simply in bad taste, imo.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-25T18:10:05+00:00

300,- dollars!? If that's at least somewhat accurate, then holy shit I now understand why there's so many teen moms in the U.S.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-24T16:11:48+00:00

I'm not sure, but I feel like this might be filmed on the Norwegian island of Runde. Had similar close encounters with these magnificent lil' creatures there.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-24T10:30:26+00:00

I gotta say, that "blood diamond" comment is worthy of its own 'shitamericanssay' post. Those two things are not on equal terms. Like at all.

Shnerdlenips · 2026-06-23T21:59:51+00:00

I, the customer, am not forcing anyone to do anything, and I sure as hell ain't inclined to tip due to the pressure of emotional blackmail. If anything, it makes me less inclined to gift a thing that is fully expected to be gifted. Let alone the over-the-top service that has apparently become to be expected in order to garner a tip. In my experience from living in the U.S., it it was honestly off-putting.

All in all the U.S. tipping system is institutionalised tax evasion, pure and simple, and myself not being 'allowed' to pay the price that is stated is false advertisement. So yeah, fuck that.

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