I would be disappointed, but random news about sodium ion batteries keeps popping up and making me think it’s not so bad after all.

The there was that one article that was way too sensational to be anywhere near adoption, though it was pretty neat.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260603023917.htm#google_vignette

Researchers have discovered how microscopic imperfections and atomic vibrations can be used to control a powerful quantum effect in an advanced material. The effect can turn alternating electrical signals from the environment directly into the kind of current electronic devices need, without traditional components. As temperature changes, the signal can even flip direction, giving scientists a new way to tune device performance. (though there were little to no details about how much power was/could be generated at all and seemed based way more in theory than practical application)

I’m about to restart journaling, though it’s only to cover my ass at work. I am entering a new phase of work with some known problem people who might have higher responsibility over me, so I’m doing it purely to show someone else down the line that whatever happened, I was just doing my work (as was assigned by incompetent managers).

Professionals messing with water systems are always well overcosted for the seeming scope of work. The reason being that they need to take out the pan, the walls, some tiles, inspect the floor around the area, remove and replace whatever seems like it’s been damaged, find replacement tiles that are either the same or similar… and the most important part is that they make sure that if they have to come back in 5-30 years for any leaks, they want that to be covered up front as well. You’re effectively paying for leak insurance from them for the next however many years they offer, as well as a potentially brand new bathroom built if the damage is bad enough.

You want a one day fix for a singular part of a greater (and notably damaged) area. They want to make sure they do it once, and then don’t ever hear from you again for that particular part. So there’s all of that and quotes apply Murphy’s Law for unseen issues. The whole floor may need to be replaced, every structural member under the floor might be weakened from excessive water damage and needs either replacement or support, if you have tiles on the walls, some of the walls may need replacement, if there’s an exterior wall involved there they might need to check the those structural members for damage and then possibly replace them, etc. It extends to the whole room and a bit beyond.

I’m going to guess the 16k quote was a “I don’t want to do this, so price multiplied to assure I don’t need to”. My only suggestion is to ask around among others you know if they’ve had work done and by who. There are plenty of freelancers out there who will do exactly the one part you want to do and charge (based on current info) somewhere around 1.5-3k to do just the part of the job you want done, with none of the protections from the larger companies aside from immediate leak issues. Finding a competent freelancer is the toughest part, which is why I always suggest getting one from someone else who has had a good experience (or more).

It would make sense to do hair first… but I think the reason I generally do it last is because while I’m waiting on the water/body acclimation, I’m already slathering with soap and as a result, hair care is pushed to the back as a result.

Saw Seattle, didn’t think further.

Based on the voting districts alone, those areas aren’t the least populated in the state, but they’re also definitely not cities.

Since those areas also don’t have hiking trails unlike a huge swath of the state, I’m going guess the terrain along the coast there is not easily traverseable.

I’m not an expert in any way, but I know of one way to take a grenade apart.

Though I would think there are less explosive methods that likely take specialized tools, much like disassembling bullets from their casings.

I’m up for an enthusiastic sweeping before the game so we don’t slip on pine needles.

You were also an enjoyer of the clickbaity “money tree” back in the day? Each pixel was a link to something (it was ads, it was entirely ads), but you might could win $10,000 or so it claimed.

Also I was using a 14.4 modem well after 56k and dsl/broadband were introduced and available to everyday consumers. Every webpage took a few minutes to load in for me in those days. It wasn’t until a bit after 2003 that I finally caught up with the times… it’s kind of amazing to think that my ping was manageable in Aliens vs Predator 2, and the first Call of Duty.

I feel obligated to point out that while the label fits, it shouldn’t be a defining personality point.

People often get caught with labels they put there themselves or they were given by others. It’s important to be separate enough from them that you are not constrained by them. If they care enough about finding a label to fit for now, I hope they will continue checking in with themselves on occasion to check if the label still fits.

Much like the feeling of ‘if people are going to call me a villain, I might as well be a villain’. It happens (sometimes quite subtly) for most labels people choose to live by.

I would imagine that the replicators do make the exact same thing every time. The same texture, ripeness, distribution of toppings, etc. each and every time. So wanting the ‘real’ thing may be part placebo, and part wanting to experience the random imperfections of a natural product.

Could someone with enough time and effort make the replicator able to create slight variations on the food that wouldn’t unintentionally poison people? Sure. However it seems like the replicator is used as a future MRE and that natural food is genuinely preferred by most people in that universe.

The first known things pirated looks to have been software at some point in the 70’s.

Most music and video files were so large that actively sharing them back then wasn’t feasible for most people, though I’m sure many made it work even in those slow times. I remember the days of watching images load in one pixel layer at a time.

Napster was the first real breakout application specifically for getting pirated media, but people were definitely sharing movies, music, and anything else digital over IRC well before Napster popped into existence.

Based on information provided, aroace is a functional descriptor.

That being said early teens is a highly transformational time for people. Some change would not be unexpected.

I start out facing away while I test the water on my not so delicate skin until I acclimate, or make whatever adjustments needed. Then I alternate depending on where I’m washing. I tend to handle my hair last, which always leads to a cascade of shampoo and conditioner foam down in all the crevices which then need to be rinsed again.

I read the article and I don’t quite see the line they took to get that gamers are the target applicants they want…

Was it just the ability to sit in a chair and watch a screen for 8+ hours a day?

Was it the outliers like those half dozen people who have platinum’d crimson desert already?

The people who play rage bait being able to handle without cracking under direct pressure?

If it wasn’t something people sought it wouldn’t be produced. I can’t say I care at all about what people are into as long as it involves consenting adults. I don’t know why anyone feels the need to attempt control over something they don’t like if it’s not harmful. And I don’t perceive skewing societal norms in entertainment as harmful. Addiction is an entire other issue that doesn’t pertain to this specific plot line.

The word necessary has a lot of wiggle room here. What are necessities? Going by the bare minimum:

• food
• water
• protection from the elements
• protection from illness/infection
• continuation of the species

That’s about everything we truly ‘need’ to die of old age and not go extinct. Nearly everything people currently do is a subset of those needs. Space exploration can be marked under both protection from the elements and continuation of the species.

Xsplit is a video mixer, which has been kind of shut out by the free and accessible OBS that most streamers use these days. I haven’t looked in on it in so long that I have no idea what they could possibly be bringing to the table for their subscription based service that the free options aren’t already doing.

Ymmv on that one. I still get random cravings, 5 years after completely quitting. I still occasionally smoke in dreams. It latched on to me extra hard.

tom segura on the topic