I’ve been reading some news on Gen-Z types not taking any shit anymore and as a result I’ve got The Who’s “The Kids Are Alright” echoing in my head.

Weird. I love squid jerky. Of course it’s probably prepared very differently here from where you are.

I tried marijuana in my youth and all I got out of it was a migraine that made me want to die.

It turns out I’m particularly sensitive to carbon monoxide. So no MJ (or tobacco either, really) for me!

Gas fueled sports cars (real ones, not “sports” cars with automatics) do have three pedals: gas, brake, and clutch.

I carefully look away from the clutter and the boxes at the back of the closet and pretend it’s not there.

I used to be an avid flyer, but the turn airlines have taken to become cattle cars of the air has removed that shine. I recently flew from Wuhan to Seoul to Calgary to Ottawa (and back) in order to do a road trip from Ottawa to Victoria and back (to Calgary, bypassing the Ottawa->Calgary leg) and in the process just reaffirmed my complete lack of desire to do air travel for anything but the absolutely necessary ever again.

I love travel, but I’ll stick to rail for as much as is practical. The road trip was great but exhausting for our driver (my stepfather), and here in China rail is just the best option for long-distance travel. Comfortable and fast. Air is no longer on the list except at specific great need.

Vaguebooking is usually something associated with drama queens on Facebook.

Photographs. My photographs, to be specific. Maybe, on occasion, if it really resonates me, something of local cultural significance. (These can vary wildly from simple charms to complicated works of folk art.)

I genuinely have no idea what it is that you’re complaining about. Could you perhaps clarify in an edit?

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. It’s a Debbie Downer of a song, it lasts forever, and it gets really repetitive.

ABBA’s “Fernando” pops up in my head randomly all the time. Styx’s “Half-Penny, Two-Penny” has a phrase that leaps to mind quite often when reading news. “Justice for money, what can you say? We all know it’s the American Way.” and also “Justice for money, how much more can I pay? We all know it’s the American Way.” And when that leaps to mind the rest of the song follows. Forever (or so it seems)…

As a child I had a problem pronouncing “chocolate” so I called it “drawer”.

This makes more sense to people who know German since that’s what I was using at the time.

I want to get some of the local magpies to start eating out of my hand by summer time.

I was nearly frantic trying to find my glasses once. I enlisted the aid of SO (who complied, but was smirking for reasons that would soon become obvious). While I was digging around in places it could have fallen, I mentioned that it would be so much easier if I could actually see clearly while doing this.

Then I had a brainstorm. I took my glasses out of my blouse’s front pocket and put them on so I could see more clearly if my glasses had fallen behind the desk…

I used to, but it’s not really a thing here.

I am not sure what you mean by saying the CPC isn’t Communist anymore.

The CPC has never been communist.

It’s socialist.

The number drops a bit when the polls are done in secrecy. Still far higher than any western government, mind.

To clarify for any pseudo intellectual who happens to be reading:

“<X> is true for <reason> you utter idiot” is not an example of the ad hominem fallacy.

“<X> is true because you’re an utter idiot” is an example of the ad hominem fallacy.

Glad to be of service.

Have you considered taking a communications course so you don’t sound like a pretentious, obfuscating jackass?

Eschew gratuitous obfuscation. (See what I mean?)

In AI alone, we lead the world.

*Deep Seek has entered the chat.*