Spyke

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funny

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*Permanently Deleted*

I have a good friend with severe ADHD. She was in big trouble because of this and about to get evicted and lose her car because of dumb decisions. I took over her finances completely to get her out of the hole. She was racking up more than $500 of overdraft fees per month, had taken out a usurious car title loan, and had a ridiculous amount of credit card debt. It's been 20 years, and to this day she is not allowed to have a credit card. We have tried to set up her life so this doesn't happen again, but the banks keep trying to do her a favor by "allowing" her to overdraw her account, despite instructions not to do so. Life is hell for those with executive dysfunction, and the banks take full advantage of their weakness.

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xkcd - Spirit

It's fascinating how we anthropomorphize objects like this. My Roomba got stuck on some cables underneath my TV table and when I found it, it was making a sad sound that just broke my heart. As I picked it up, I found myself saying, "There, there little Roomba, I'll rescue you and get you some juice. Poor thing."

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Anecdotally, I recently had an issue with my printer and used Google to search for the exact error message (something like ' "error 4308e ink absorber pad is full" Brother JW539DW ') and the first three pages of results were random garbage about other things. If other search engines are worse, we are doomed.

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What has been the best thing that has happened to you so far?

Surprisingly (to me), having a child. I never wanted kids. Never even babysat, didn't like them-- hated how silly, loud, and disgusting they are. Then I got pregnant by accident. I was terrified. I was abused as a child and have a bad temper, so I was afraid I would lose it and hurt my kid. Pregnancy was difficult, labor and delivery moreso, but the instant he popped out ... I cannot describe to you the transformation. I am sure it is purely hormonal; pitocin is a helluva drug. My husband even said, "Who are you and what have you done with my wife?" It was akin to a lobotomy. Suddenly I adored babies and wanted to hold them and coo at them. I became more mellow and patient, went from the sort of conservative mindset that thinks "get a job," to the theretofore incomprehensible liberal views like "most in jail aren't really to blame for the circumstances they find themselves in, let's help them instead of punish them."

My son is by far the biggest blessing in my life. He is a companion that I never grow tired of, a wise sounding board, and a balm to my old age. I am literally a kinder, better person because I had him.

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Why Americans feel gloomy about the economy despite falling inflation and low unemployment

My son graduated with a degree in economics in 2020 and still hasn't found a job. He's not counted in the unemployment numbers because he hasn't filed for benefits. We need to look at labor participation as well as underemployment instead of the useless stats being used in this article. Real wages have tanked. People are running up debt just to buy groceries. It's desperate out there.

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Third-tallest tower in Los Angeles sells for 45% less than last purchase price as remote work, interest rates drive down office values

I don't think a lot people would be averse to 100% working in the office if the commute was a fifteen minute walk. For most, it's the time, hassle, and expense of commuting that is a drain on their soul. Of course there are other factors, but in my experience, gathering at the water cooler and lunch with coworkers, etc., are sorely missed. Just not enough to justify hundreds of hours of my life in gridlocked traffic.

So, if they convert a few of these buildings to homes and parks that make living in the city affordable and pleasant, I think most people would be glad to use the rest as workplaces. Imagine a park and daycare for the kids only an elevator away. Eateries and shops in walking distance. No need to own a car.

We could have that if we get our act together. Now's the time.

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Teen girls are being victimized by deepfake nudes. One family is pushing for more protections

So as a grown woman, I'm not getting why teenage girls should give any of this oxygen. Some idiot takes my head and pastes it on porn. So what? That's more embarrassing for HIM than for me. How pathetic that these incels are so unable to have a relationship with an actual girl. Whatever, dudes. Any boy who does this should be laughed off campus. Girls need to take their power and use it collectively to shame and humiliate these guys.

I do think anyone who spreads these images should be prosecuted as a child pornographer and listed as a sex offender. Make an example out of a few and the rest won't dare to share it outside their sick incels club.

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More Than 80 Percent Of Americans Can’t Afford New Cars

At today's car prices, it's actually cheaper for some people to use a rideshare every day. Especially when you factor in the cost of gas, maintenance, insurance,and parking. My friend drove for Uber and had a regular daily commuter, a nurse who worked in Houston's medical center where parking is around $30/day. We have no good mass transit options so Uber was the best choice.