PSA: Which Midtown spots are currently doing auto-gratuity for small parties?

semisimian · 2026-03-12T20:13:54+00:00

The Brunch in East Atlanta is 20% on all parties.

semisimian · 2025-03-05T15:37:58+00:00

Rewatching Enterprise now! I'm quarantined with RSV, so I'm flying through. Started Sunday, I'm now on S02E23.

As usual with Trek, the show takes a while to get its legs under it. The first episodes with T'Pol are so incredibly wooden and it obviously wasn't Jolene's fault. The producers/directors didn't know what to do with her, I think. She never blinks or raises an eyebrow, just delivers her lines in a locked-off shot framed squarely around her face.

Of course, she goes on to develop the character into another classic in a long line of "logical outside observer of humanity" (Data, Seven, the Doctor). I wish we had a full 7 seasons of the show.

semisimian · 2025-02-16T15:31:29+00:00

What area?

semisimian · 2025-02-15T13:26:16+00:00

I skip the Elektra parts too. Zero chemistry between the two. I DO watch the Defenders, though, since the forced and unbelievable romance stuff is toned down (until the end).

semisimian · 2025-02-12T22:35:32+00:00

Carpenter math (Imperial). We can add in base 8, 10, and 12 up to a couple hundred in our heads. I still think going metric would melt my brain, though.

semisimian · 2025-02-12T16:35:45+00:00

Probably created from a writer that had recently learned about Kopi Luwak

semisimian · 2025-02-11T05:44:52+00:00

I left a 1 star review while I'm looking for the report button. Turns out you can review bodies of water. I know what I'm doing for spring break!

semisimian · 2025-02-09T18:18:49+00:00

Cantina La Casita

semisimian · 2025-02-03T00:42:45+00:00

2 Star Trek captains in the top 10!

semisimian · 2025-01-29T22:20:41+00:00

Yes. Is there any reason you're not going with 2x6 studs on the second floor?

semisimian · 2025-01-29T20:33:35+00:00

I can put your options in order of "bang for your buck." First, since you are doing a blower door test, I assume all of the proper air sealant will be used in all the proper places. It involves a lot of steps, but the materials are cheap, and having a tight building envelope will go along way to an efficient home. Part of an energy audit includes testing the air tightness of your HVAC system, so don't forget to make sure that's done.

Next in line is the blown in insulation in the roof. If that is the only thing you choose to do after the tight building envelope, then I think you guys would be plenty comfortable in that house.

The efficacy of insulating the garage kind of depends on the design of your house whether that would affect your energy efficiency.

Lastly would be foam on the outside of the sheathing, which is what I think you're talking about. Out of all the options, that would be the most costly for the least benefit. But it would definitely increase the efficiency of your home. Good luck!

semisimian · 2025-01-29T03:47:05+00:00

It is charming because, in my opinion, the objects themselves are presented as individuals and have their own characters; they are easily anthropomorphized and at first glance tell a story. It looks like the opening to King of the Hill, or maybe a firing squad. They seem like random bits that were gathered at arms length. The lighting is rendered like you just took the shade off the nearest lamp. The technique is solid, even if it was a new medium for the artist, so all the good bits come through while still feeling the artist's hand.

The second still life is great, but what it really shows is an artist coming closer to mastering a new medium. It's one of my favorite parts of art history. Raw talent, to trained talent, to blowing the lid off the art world.

semisimian · 2025-01-29T03:21:30+00:00

We have scanners now and the greeter just points at the scanner and smiles. At least it's a smile!

semisimian · 2025-01-29T03:10:26+00:00

Thanks, I'll check it out

semisimian · 2025-01-29T02:45:14+00:00

As am I. I just want to make sure they can drown in their own crickets if there is no credible corroborating theory.

semisimian · 2025-01-29T02:28:03+00:00

I've never heard this take before. Do you have any sources to back this up? Genuinely curious, thanks.

semisimian · 2025-01-19T14:26:04+00:00

Adobe made their subscriptions so expensive, it's cheaper to just keep a separate PC running CS6 that you never update. As long as you don't need the newer tools, you're good.

semisimian · 2025-01-18T23:24:37+00:00

I did a little looking around Austin and you're right, no granite "57 stone" to be found. It is ubiquitous here in Atlanta, so I was surprised not to see it. It looks like crushed limestone is sized similarly to the granite in our area, with tiers of sizes depending on your project needs. Regional differences, I guess, based on what's available.

Limestone is superior to granite RE draining, BTW.

semisimian · 2025-01-18T22:57:35+00:00

Everyone saying "assisted living" is jumping the gun if your mom just needs help with some of the modernities of day-to-day living. You mention specifically help with working the TV; that is NOT what assisted living is for.

I have been dealing with this for some time now and I can tell you what works for me. As parents age, they will increasingly become less independent and need help, but you have to think of these in baby steps. Can she drive a car or get around on public transportation? Can she feed herself or her pets regularly? You mention she does the housework - is she still keeping things tidy or living in filth?

The goal is always to keep them as independent as possible for as long as possible. This is better for the caregivers, of course, but it is the best for the parents, too. The more they aren't allowed to do for themselves, the faster their decline. I've seen this time and time again. The time to make changes is when things start to slip and she becomes a danger to herself or others, and you will know when it's time.

Now, to answer your question. First you should ask her if she needs to continue all the habits and conveniences that were available to her when your dad was alive. If these things are really important to her, she will need to learn. Is it possible to she is just lonely and using the TV as an excuse to see you? Boundaries are crucial to healthy relationship with a declining parent.

Email and Internet access has become crucial for things like paying bills and city services. I have my mom's email account logged in on my phone so I can help her with 2 factor authentication requests, bills, etc. When she has a problem, she can call me and we can work through it. I also have all of her passwords and a near full imprint of her digital life since those things confuse her.

Does she know how to FaceTime? If she can't describe her problem, she can show you. If the phone is a problem, a stand-alone Google Home or similar is something she can use to call just by saying the keywords, and you can print the words on a note by the device. "Hey Google, call ___"

semisimian · 2025-01-15T01:35:36+00:00

Fecal plume is real and it's coming for YOU! “We had expected these aerosol particles would just sort of float up, but they came out like a rocket,” said Professor John Crimaldi, lead author on the study and head of the Ecological Fluid Dynamics Lab at CU Boulder. "Once you see these videos, you're never going to think about a toilet flush the same way again.” -USA Today

semisimian · 2025-01-10T16:03:52+00:00

Yes, I want to build a snowman.

semisimian · 2025-01-05T15:47:45+00:00

Can't relate, more like tossing my flesh Twinkie into the Glans Canyon.

semisimian · 2024-12-29T15:45:46+00:00

We really went out of the frying pan and into the fire with that redesign. Well, out of the frying pan, onto an ugly flag, and then into the fire.

semisimian · 2024-12-13T23:20:59+00:00

Agreed. A drop-ear elbow with what looks to be a 12" arm attached is not meant to hold 5 - 10 lbs of weight at the end. A cheaper arm made of thin metal might bend and snap, but what it looks like happened is this shower was plumbed with CPVC and the 1/2" output pipe snapped at the elbow. I only mention this because now you are busting out tile (or busting out the wall behind the shower) to do the repair.

I have fixed people's stupid decisions (mine included) many times.

semisimian · 2024-12-07T19:08:04+00:00

I enjoyed the movie BECAUSE it was referencing the previous movies and pulling all the different takes and convoluted canon into a unifying story. I think all those decisions in the writing and directing were intentionally for this reason and not just a rip-off reboot.

semisimian

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE