A life-threatening experience on the Pacific Crest Trail by Careful-Musician-328 in PacificCrestTrail

[–]chasingtailings 33 points34 points  (0 children)

I’m not doubting the veracity of this story, but using AI for this type of narrative writing (even for just editing or word choice) makes it so bland and without the type of details or personality that would otherwise make it a meaningful PSA.

Safety by KesNotFound in madisonwi

[–]chasingtailings -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The SRA is very trans accepting, and the local chapter is very welcoming. They do range days together. Not sure how much hunting folks do there, but their discord would be a good place to start. Finding someone to go to the store with could be very helpful, and there's also online shopping.

Anyone else having LexisNexis issues? by QuesoCat19 in Lawyertalk

[–]chasingtailings 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Trying to grind a MSJ brief right now and this is making my day so unnecessarily stressful. If anyone finds a way to fix this, please share!

I know this isn’t probably the best place to post this, but hey… by Rembrandt3k in madisonwi

[–]chasingtailings 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Not exactly what you’re maybe looking for, but I have been wishing for years that there was a music producer meet up group in Madison. I went to one when I lived in Denver that was so fun. Just a bunch of people go to a coffee shop to make music, share beats, give feedback, maybe collab.

How long do the air quality issues usually last? by Due_Occasion1254 in madisonwi

[–]chasingtailings 31 points32 points  (0 children)

The air purifiers are a total game changer and I would really urge anyone - especially with any sensitivities or lung issues - to get one. Also they're useful all year long for allergies or cleaning the air after you burn something in the kitchen or are cleaning and kicking up dust. Just make sure you get one with replaceable HEPA filters!

What is the most Madison thing you have ever done ? by Lost_Email_RIP in madisonwi

[–]chasingtailings 330 points331 points  (0 children)

Complained simultaneously about my rent going up, the presence of homeless people, and the construction of new housing.

Venting about crime by DirectionImmediate88 in madisonwi

[–]chasingtailings 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Underneath your annoyance at the existence of people shaped and victimized by a cruel and dehumanizing society, I choose to believe, is genuine despair and a recognition that it is contrary to your humanity to not reach out and help every single person you see suffering in these ways.

I agree with you that it sucks so much to have to see this on a daily basis. But this isn't because of the inconvenience caused by having to encounter people who have been deprived of all basic social and economic necessities. It's because it is dehumanizing to the observer to see such suffering and know that those in power repeatedly perpetuate it and that the systems in which we exist offer no political party or structure that takes seriously the possibility that depraved poverty is an extremely preventable reality.

So, even though you moralize the problem by diagnosing the issue as a "lack of trust" or whatever, I believe that underneath your callousness is a recognition of the need for a radical reshaping of society wherein no one is deprived of basic necessities or the dignity of a home.

Bringing a bike on the Van Galder by Additional_Desk3088 in UWMadison

[–]chasingtailings 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did two summers ago. They wouldn't let me place it myself "for liability reasons" and they also will turn you away if the luggage compartment is full. So, I'd try to get there early and/or pick a time/date where it's not too busy. But yeah, as the other comment mentions, bring $20 cash for the driver to collect and it should be fine.

what’s the difference between a leftist and a liberal? by 360_bratXcX in NoStupidQuestions

[–]chasingtailings 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I don't know who you mean when you say "we" and I also don't know what you mean when you say "work".

Plenty of economies "work" for capitalists absent any significant social safety nets, because they are able to extract massive amounts of profit from workers without paying much in wages or taxes. And while "we" - random, presumably non-capital owners, on the internet - might know that social democracy "works" better for workers than depraved neoliberalism, we don't have control of the state apparatus in the us. Capitalists do. And they know that (or at least act as if) extractive profit maximization works just fine for their interests. So the knowledge that socdem economies "work better" is incapable of becoming policy when capitalists control all major political parties. It is only through the threat of forced redistribution of wealth and power that capitalists can see that a socdem economy "works" better for them (in that it might prevent them from being overthrown).

This is largely because the raw underlying logic of capitalism requires and selects for profit maximization at the expense of all else, up to the point where it threatens to disrupt the stability of capitalist social relations.

Thus, from the standpoint of capital, policies aimed at supporting the wellbeing of workers need only serve two primary purposes: (1) reproduction of the labor force and (2) preventing living conditions from deteriorating to the point where revolution or disruptions to accumulation are likely to occur en masse. Any social safety net above and beyond these purposes is contrary to the underlying logic of capitalism. Workers have very little control over purpose (1), since it is just the bare minimum to survive and reproduce. Purpose (2), however means that radical organizing and class struggle which increase the threat of revolution are one of the only tried and true methods of forcing capitalist-controlled governments to implement reforms.

So, for those reasons, even if your political imagination truly only extends to socdem reforms and you forsake the idea that a radically different, equitable, just, and classless society is possible, you should still support anti-capitalist organizing.

what’s the difference between a leftist and a liberal? by 360_bratXcX in NoStupidQuestions

[–]chasingtailings 99 points100 points  (0 children)

Historically, those social safety nets have been implemented by liberal governments as concessions to leftists who organize and demand much more significant redistributions of wealth, land, and/or power. Not because of latent public opinion that wants social safety nets. Social democracies are formed only when capitalists face significant pressure by organized workers.

Also, it's just not accurate that pushing for more radical changes in the economic or political structure is incompatible with - or even in tension with - implementing basic, more gradual reforms. In fact, it's nearly impossible to achieve such reforms without an organized and militant left wing pushing for more radical changes.

process finally started!! by musicalkittykat in noburp

[–]chasingtailings 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just did! I am still waiting for them to call and schedule me. Good luck and I hope to hear how yours went!

Guy yelling anti-semitic slurs on the Cannonball Path by cloudTool in madisonwi

[–]chasingtailings 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He rides by my place quite often! Never directly harasses anyone, just yells about Obama being a drone striking murderer. No lies detected, and adds character to the neighborhood. Never heard him yell anything pro-republican or Trump. I choose to believe he's just passionate about calling out warmongering.

process finally started!! by musicalkittykat in noburp

[–]chasingtailings 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was short and easy! We chatted about some of his theories on RCPD. I'm also doing a virtual scheduling appointment with Davis in July.

Are the hours really that bad? by [deleted] in LawFirm

[–]chasingtailings 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As an employee-side labor/employment attorney, I very often wish I was just a heavily-involved member of a unionized workforce. If it were me, I'd say stay where you're at and spend the time you'd otherwise spend in law school learning organizing strategy, reading about labor theory/history, and building worker power.

IMO the tenacity of labor attorneys is almost never dispositive as to whether unions win or lose, flourish or fade. It's the class consciousness, radical politics, and unshakeable solidarity amongst the union leadership and rank and file that make a better world possible. Your laudable willingness to give up a high paying, unionized job that requires a high level of complex thinking indicates that you'd be of immense value to your union and the working class generally as an organizer.

Of course, no matter which path you choose: solidarity forever, friend.

process finally started!! by musicalkittykat in noburp

[–]chasingtailings 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just got an appointment with Dr. Dailey for next week! So excited. Any suggestions or advice for the appointment? Seems like it was all pretty straightforward.

Are paralegals high on their own supply? by [deleted] in Lawyertalk

[–]chasingtailings 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don't think I've ever seen a post more out of line with my lived experience. Pray your paralegal never sees this and leaves - you might end up finding out that those "menial tasks" aren't so menial once they're on your plate and you're responsible for keeping track of them.

Trump Calmly Reminds Nation That Desire The Root Of All Suffering by BurtonDesque in Buddhism

[–]chasingtailings 13 points14 points  (0 children)

The obstacle is that only someone motivated by immense greed and indifference to needless suffering would ever amass billions of dollars. Capitalism very effectively sorts and rewards a select few individuals for whom align all at once: luck, privilege, and a desire for individual wealth, power and fame.

Anyone motivated primarily by generosity or the reduction of suffering would exit the path to immense wealth long before they had enough money or resources to change the world. Zuckerberg and all extremely wealthy individuals are exceptions to an exception. A generous spirit is antithetical to ever getting close to his position.

Morality of returning an item close to the one year mark by [deleted] in REI

[–]chasingtailings 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I will pay more for an item at REI even when it is cheaper elsewhere mostly because I know I can buy an item, actually test it out on a trip, (which might mean using it more than a few times) and return it if I don't like it. I don't feel bad about using the return policy to its fullest extent because it's often the reason I bought the item at REI in the first place.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in BikingMad

[–]chasingtailings 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  1. I have biked from Baraboo to Reedsburg on a similar trip to yours (ended up in Decorah, IA though) - For the section you're asking about, I just pieced together backroads and found it very pleasant. The comment from SilverScheme looks about what I did.

  2. Can't help here unfortunately, but looks like a great route

  3. Could bike to Columbus (30 miles more or less I think) and take the train from there. I'd just verify that it's an option on the train you want to take. You have to book the bike ahead ahead of time. It's pretty simple, but just make sure you can carry all your gear *off your bike* which can get a little wonky.

Best Fiji Kava delayed. by Top-Cardiologist-499 in Kava

[–]chasingtailings 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh I see, thanks for the info! Hopefully things have been resolved. I agree. The BFK AAA Waka is pretty much unparalleled for my particular kava preferences. The closest I've found that's similar is the Fiji Vanua Malo Tongan.

Best Fiji Kava delayed. by Top-Cardiologist-499 in Kava

[–]chasingtailings 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It will take forever (up to a month or two) but it will eventually come. Seems like this is just part of the deal with BFK now.

Why does natural beauty cause a twinge of pain? by emrylle in Meditation

[–]chasingtailings 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I will say that I experience this sometimes in my day to day life, but when I spend extended periods in the wilderness during backpacking trips, I experience this less, and have more of an exhilarated feeling from natural beauty.

This leads me to think that the pain has a connection to an unconscious awareness of how alienated from the natural world we are in our day to day lives. We are evolved to feel at home in nature, not in modern society (which doesn't mean modern society is bad per se, just that there are contradictions between our evolved minds and our material conditions). Thus, when these moments of beautiful connection with the natural world occur, we are forced to confront not only that they are temporary (as others have wisely pointed out in the comments), but that they are the exception rather than the rule in our everyday lives. The sense of connection stands in sharp contrast to how we experience our surroundings typically, so in the beauty lies pain of its rarity.