unicorn

Thanks for the informative post. It would seem like a pretty easy and intuitive software fix not to suggest the profiles of people who limit their friend requests. But what do I know? Just to get it straight, you don't change the email address that you check regularly, nor what you give to friends, only to companies, right?

I received an e-mail from a former student of my late father's, who was an esteemed professor, and has an endowed chair in his name at the university where he was a professor. He had apparently tried unsuccessfully to e-mail my step-mother because he wanted to donate his Required Minimum Distribution from his retirement account towards that chair's fund (the fund provides additional salary over and above the usual professors' salaries, in order to attract the most highly qualified professors). Well, she's changed her email a couple of times over the years, so the former student couldn't reach her. I myself have lost touch with a couple of old acquaintances because they changed their e-mails. I still have the same e-mail I used since I first set up an email account over 30 years ago on AOL. While I get some occasional snickers from people about what an old dinosaur I am for using such an old service, it doesn't cost me anything, and I can't imagine why I'd want to change it. However, I know a bunch of people who change their e-mail address with some frequency, and/or have multiple addresses, some of which they seldom check. I curious to hear from those who change their e-mail addresses. How often do you do it and why? On a related issue, I received an e-mail from Facebook with a friend suggestion, and recognized an old college friend, whom I haven't contacted in over a decade. I thought "Oh, I wonder how he's been doing?" so I clicked on adding a friend, but Facebook sent me a message that I couldn't submit a friend request because I "didn't know him." Any idea why Facebook would send me the suggestion, when it wouldn't let me act on their suggestion? This old friend is not someone famous, nor, from his job as listed on the Facebook page, does he appear to be wealthy.

I'm a fan of Chappell Roan's and was glad she was well-honored at the Grammy's. Seeing her clothing and make-up I think she'd do well on RuPaul's Drag Race, dont you?

I'm 100% behind locking up those who use AI to nudify images of real children, as well as any "how to" manuals. However, it's not fair nor a good idea to criminalize making videos with adult actors who simply "look very young." Locking such people up simply costs society, in absence of a real victim.

Interesting flight path for the commercial regional jet. I've actually flown into DCA many times, and know to always pick the port-side window seat because of the beautiful views of the National Mall and Jefferson Memorial on landing (from the north). I can't recall any flight I've taken which lands from the southerly direction. I agree that now is not the time to jump to conclusions, though it certainly seems that the helicopter pilot wasn't following instructions. The black boxes will tell us whether his instruments were faulty, or if he simply ignored the instructions intentionally. What got me hot under the collar was the statement that it could take a year or longer. It really shouldn't. They showed a photo of the helicopter pilot, and he appeared to be a cis white male, so at least that shoots down the ridiculous racist argument by the Ignorant Don.

I must admit that I saw red when I heard an FAA official on the radio yesterday say that the investigation into the fatal plane crash near DCA "could take over a year." The news report said that there were over FIFTY investigators on the case! Lives are at stake at this busy airport, and the causes for this accident need to be determined and addressed ASAP! The traffic control recordings and black boxes are available, so this really should not be a dragged out investigation. Already, it appears that the helicopter pilot bears at least a good deal of the responsibility, which should easily be confirmed with the black box data. While that piece of the problem fixed itself, hopefully there are other factors which can be addressed promptly in order to make landing at that airport--and not in "over a year." https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/31/business/dc-plane-helicopter-crash-cause.html "...The requested route — referred to as Route 4 at Reagan National — followed a specific path known to the air traffic controller and helicopter pilots. The helicopter confirmed visual sight of a regional jet and the air traffic controller instructed the helicopter to follow the route and fly behind the plane. But the helicopter did not follow the intended route, the people briefed on the matter said. Rather, it was above 300 feet, when it was supposed to be flying below 200 feet, and it was at least a half-mile off the approved route when it collided with the commercial jet...". One can only hope that the helicopter pilot was a heterosexual cis white male, to avoid giving fake talking points to Agent Orange.

Original Angry Birds https://www.youtube.com/shorts/X2ORbtBC2vE?feature=share

Not that I have martinis or negronis that often, but when I do, I prefer to have my olives with almonds in them. My husband likes blue cheese, but that flavor is too strong for me. I notice that some olives come stuffed with garlic or onions, which I consider too strong in flavor as well. Pimentos are OK, and that seems to be a rather standard filling, but I prefer the neutral taste of the almond. So how do you like your olives stuffed?

As an update, the neighbor who had us over for lunch called us to ask us if we "hated" him. Apparently the Christmas lights neighbor told him "All of the neighbors hate you!". I have a feeling he took some bad advice and complained to the neighbor about the lights. (We told him of course that we were fond of him)

I notice that most people seem to say "I've got" instead of "I have." For example, they'd say "I've got a cold" instead of "I have a cold," or "I've got to go," instead of "I have to go." It seems simpler for me to just say "I have." Do you have a preference for either way?

Well, you won't get disagreement from me regarding whether Trump is a hypocrite. He obviously freed the J6 terrorists because he wants these violent criminals on his side, and wants it to be known that as long as he's in charge, those who commit violence in his name have nothing to fear (dangerous thug that he is himself). However, almost everyone would agree that people convicted of assault with a deadly weapon should not be welcomed in this country (a tiny minority of immigrants, to be sure). It's nutty talk that we should welcome these convicts which helped get that bozo elected.

Not too complicated to understand. Those are two entirely separate issues. Just because I disagree with Trump most of the time (like probably over 95% of the time) doesn't mean I can't agree with him on a single issue. In fact, most people agree that the insurrectionists should not have been pardoned, especially the violent ones. While his decision was predictable, obviously letting those people out was a horrible decision. However, most people would also agree that violent criminals who are also in the country illegally should be sent back to their country of citizenship.