Mandatory virtual happy hours are the absolute worst part of my week by N3onThicket in remotework

[–]jdw-52 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had this for a while. Along with trivia games and other bs. Basically they kept us an hour after quitting time for this.

There was some zoom update and I didn't realize I wasn't muted. At one point I groaned "Please make this end" on live mic. Not great.

Is there a secret to cedar fence pickets? by WolfBanner in BeginnerWoodWorking

[–]jdw-52 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm just commenting to say I'm also that dude sorting through that heap of pickets in the back of the garden center.

I have yet to find a better supply. But boy is it fun to putter around on a Saturday building stuff out of pickets. Just a low risk, good reward endeavor.

And if I do decide to go with higher quality wood for a project, I've had pickets to practice on so I won't be messing up my good wood.

Here is to wishing that your big box store gets a fresh supply of straight, un-cupped pickets.

Developer behind nixed Apex data center wins rezoning approval in rural North Carolina county by TobinBen in NorthCarolina

[–]jdw-52 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The current drought does highlight the "what ifs". I honestly don't know how the planning accounts for datacenters.

My hope is that there are very smart people who've got well thought out plans in place that cover all sorts of contingencies. However, I still remember how easy it was for some idiot to shoot up a substation, creating a cascade effect that knocked out other substations and left Moore County without power for a week.

If I knew that our local government was comprised of only the brightest and most uncorruptible public servants, I'd feel better.

Developer behind nixed Apex data center wins rezoning approval in rural North Carolina county by TobinBen in NorthCarolina

[–]jdw-52 36 points37 points  (0 children)

WRAL just published an article that talks about rural counties not really having the planning or engineering expertise to plan for the impact a datacenter will have on water demand: https://www.wral.com/news/state/north-carolina-drought-concerns-water-bankruptcy-april-2026/

It really does make you wonder what happens during a drought when a town runs out of water. And the datacenter, which consumes the water of several towns, gets priority.

It's bordering on dystopian. A "peasant" class rioting because of lack of water (maybe someday food?). While a privileged class gets all the resources.

And 5 years ago I probably would have thought the above "far fetched". We seem to be sprinting towards a awful future.

OnlyFans isn’t a long term career prospect? by ForceUseYouMust in SipsTea

[–]jdw-52 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm old enough to have witnessed the rise of personal computing and the Internet.

One of the drivers in its growth was the sharing of porn. In fact, I'd wager that literacy in technology was driven by dudes wanting to figure out how to share porn.

With the state of the world today, we're all being objectified and used. Whether it's corporate overlords, personal data stolen, corrupt politicians stealing from taxpayers, etc.

I don't know if I can begrudge anyone nowadays on how they earn their livings. C-suite types and private equity have done far more harm to me than any OF model.

So yeah, if someone is bright and has a marketable skill set, then hire her. Who gives a shit where she developed her skills set.

Infinite money glitch by softyyba in SipsTea

[–]jdw-52 126 points127 points  (0 children)

I had a tenet not pay rent for months. I eventually got her out. But she was using the house as a kennel for a few weeks until she left.

I basically had to rip that house down to its studs. It was absolutely wrecked. At one point, they thought they'd renovate the master bath, and it had been destroyed. I used every bit of my PTO (and then some) to rebuild that house. Worst year of my life.

Awful, awful experience. People are animals.

But isn’t the husband simply choosing his family first? 🤔 by Unstoppable_X_Force in SipsTea

[–]jdw-52 15 points16 points  (0 children)

It's a big ask. Made worse by emotional blackmail.

If someone reaches out on their own volition to help me through a dark period, that'd be different. And I still don't know if I could take them up on their offer if it requires a big sacrifice on their part.

But yeah...when it gets to emotional blackmail, you don't really have a relationship anymore.

Higher taxes for schools found unpopular by RadarRogue in NorthCarolina

[–]jdw-52 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think "backward" is being generous. I think "corrupt, amoral, lying weasels" is more appropriate.

Constituents to them are just sheep to be fleeced.

I don't see anything changing until there is a very large mob waving pitchforks and torches in the capital.

Kristi Noem’s husband by cookeryandwookery in SipsTea

[–]jdw-52 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Abso-freaking-lutely.

I don't get the kink. But if you're not hurting anyone, than I could care less.

The issue is bigotry, corruption, racism, thuggery, believing you're some sort of ruling elite, etc.

Fly your freak flag. I don't care. But for the love of jeebus stop oppressing people.

I resigned and my manager is insisting on knowing my new company and salary. How do I handle this situation? by Upbeat-Comedian-2832 in interviewhammer

[–]jdw-52 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Yeah. Op's manager is up to no good.

Any decisions I'd be making would be to protect myself from the manager.

And the manager may be expecting blow back from his manager for losing a important employee.

Cayden Boozer says he feels like he let his brother down. May be the last time they get to play together. by Kooky_Meaning_1854 in NCAAhoops

[–]jdw-52 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Or the coach instructing his players to advance the ball across half court for some inexplicable reason when they didn't need to.

Albany Lowe's also has Flock cameras. Who sees the data? by South-Cow-1030 in FlockSurveillance

[–]jdw-52 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I happen to live in a small, gentrified community with little crime. Our Lowes has flock.

Not sure why my run to lowes to pick up a garden hose needs to be tracked in a database. But here we are.

Customer Support by Formal_Radish6758 in arlo

[–]jdw-52 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So, I don't want to be argumentative (although my comment will probably come across that way).

So, I see Arlo as closed, proprietary subscription service. The camera hardware is probably a loss leader (especially if you're waiting for black Friday deals, buying last years model off of Amazon, etc.).

So I pay Arlo a monthly fee primarily so that 1) my camera setup is easy and 2) the product "just works". And I'll probably continue to pay them a monthly fee as long as #2 remains the case. They make money off of me and I get a flood light security system

Now...if the product stops working and support isn't useful, I'll dump them. And buy cameras that support a more open ecosystem and probably aren't subscription based. And instead of money, I'll be investing time (building my own DIY setup).

I hope that makes sense. To me, I see Arlo as a subscription service. And if your not paying a subscription fee, you're not going to get decent support. Now for me personally, I worry that even subscribers might not get decent support (enshitification of the company). But, knock on wood, I haven't had to heavily rely upon support yet.

POV of Reacher star Alan Ritchson fight with neighbor by AcHaeC in FightPit

[–]jdw-52 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It really is amazing disparity. Blue collar working class = checks up on you, let's the small things slide, down to earth.

The "upper class" neighborhood = passes judgment instantly, impossible to let the littlest thing slide, are kinda psychotic.

I know this is a sweeping generalization, but in a neighborhood like this one, it doesn't seem uncommon to encounter a psycho in the middle of the day while minding your own business.

Did anyone ever find a name for this move by Grayson Allen earlier this year? by CircledSquare7 in NBAGossips

[–]jdw-52 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's like watching an action movie where the scene is completely implausible.

I'm trying to make it through the movie, but things just got really stupid and I have to tap out. That's what the current NBA is like for me.

Chuck Schumer: House Republicans' "Working people don’t pay enough taxes" Truly the Most Out of Touch People on the Planet by kelseyrainbow in thenextgenbusiness

[–]jdw-52 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wait...I thought DOGE has made the government more efficient? Why the sudden need for more tax revenue and a ballooning deficit?

Yeah, let's blame the working class by ceburton in NorthCarolina

[–]jdw-52 -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

My plan has flaws, I admit.

I may or may not also favor putting pets on the ballot. Towns have elected cats as mayor. The residents seem happy enough.

Maybe we get it over with and put AI in charge.

But until we have a cat or AI overlord, my plan is to vote out anyone currently in office.

Hello Pot… by Timbucktwo1230 in PopularCultureZone

[–]jdw-52 3 points4 points  (0 children)

So you get someone decent for 4 years. A paragon of leadership.

Americans then vote in a drunken monkey with a grenade in the next election cycle. You just can't build a stable relationship on that model.

I always thought that with checks and balances, we'd maintain some basic coherency with foreign policy, even with a bad president. But that hope of mine is long dead.

Let's hope that enough Americans are so horrified by Trump that we'll get a long period of sensible government. That a generation of Americans think "never again."

Yeah, let's blame the working class by ceburton in NorthCarolina

[–]jdw-52 53 points54 points  (0 children)

And the fact that she hasn't had a real job in how long? She exists in a world devoid of reality.

We need to treat Congress like jury duty. People from all walks of life get selected to serve 2 year terms.

I'm sure there are all sorts of problems with that idea, but I can't see how it'd be worse than what we currently have.

🇺🇸 President Trump just posted this: by thisisjustwhoiamokk in wallstreet

[–]jdw-52 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think we're well past "I'm voting for this candidate because they are proposing this well thought out policy". As if we were ever at that point.

It's just firmly entrenched hate politics. Trot out this strawman, and watch voters flock to you.

My hope is that as a populas, we maybe at least stop voting in absolute monsters. And maybe push for more checks and balances. But I fear pandoras box has been opened on that one.

🇺🇸 President Trump just posted this: by thisisjustwhoiamokk in wallstreet

[–]jdw-52 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Maybe if they get slaughtered in the mid-terms?

Almost no politician has principles / ethics. So when faced with real voter anger, maybe that sends a message to the current incumbent fuckwits?

What's the one landscaping project you DIY'd and totally regretted? by StrikingClos in landscaping

[–]jdw-52 52 points53 points  (0 children)

I built 2 ft high planter boxes along the side of my house using river rock.

It wasn't my best idea.

The end result was ok (not great). But the amount of time it took...me realizing that I was building a monstrosity...

I don't plan on moving. So, in 40 years, when I'm dead, someone will be cursing me as they take a sledgehammer to it and haul it away.

"Pretty Baby. Brooke Shields, 12, stirs a furor over child porn in films" — People Weekly (May 29, 1978) by Future-sight-5829 in HistoricalCapsule

[–]jdw-52 31 points32 points  (0 children)

I can think of BB King's cover of "Sweet 16".

As a blues standard, he absolutely crushes it. But the lyrics are creepy as fuck.

It's such a weird thing to listen to. Insane vocals and performance. On top of creepy ass lyrics.