passport

I renewed my passport online (using a truly hideous photo one of my coworkers took for me) and a new one arrived within 10 days. Do we actually live in the future now? 

AI: not for the likes of me

MORE THINGS WHICH AI SHOULD BE USEFUL FOR BUT ISN'T

-Organizing my shopping list by store and shelf location

-Summarizing important outcomes of audiobook scenes I find boring (typically battle and sex scenes)

-Providing accurate home improvement cost estimates 

-Displaying at a glance which of my list of to-read books are available in which formats from my library

-Telling me exactly what time to drive within a two-hour window to most likely avoid traffic slowdowns

age verification

I have seen a lot of freakouts about the new NY social media age verification requirements. The actual rules, however, make me think it will actually benefit most of us to NOT get verified:

"Instead of the default algorithmically personalized feeds designed to keep young people on the platform, users under 18 will only be shown content from other accounts they follow or otherwise select in a set sequence, such as chronological order, unless they get parental consent for an addictive feed. Users cannot be cut off from the platform simply because they either do not want or do not have parental consent for an addictive feed. Instead, all users will still be able to access all the same content they can access now. The law also prohibits social media platforms from sending notifications to users under 18 from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. without parental consent."

Of course certain platforms may recognize the existential threat if people only see what they want, and require age verification for any functional use or otherwise f' things up. But on the face of it, being treated like a teenager would improve most people's social media experiences.

mmm

A semi-local bar hosts an annual "sexiest armpit" contest. This reminds me how when men online used to ask me for "pics ;)" I would send them a close-up of my hairy armpit. They often thought it was a pic of a different body part, which was concerning.

not my car

I intermittently take out my daughter's car while she's in Europe to keep it running happily. Every time I laugh at the stuff in it. In addition to the dashboard Jesus on a spring, there's a fossil hanging from the rearview mirror (ILLEGALLY!), and several tchotchkes which I think are Pokemon-related. Combined with its bumper stickers, people must think I'm much cooler than I am.

Which also reminds me that in high school I drove a 1980 red Ford Escort. This was a very common car, and one or more of the other people driving one was infinitely more popular than me, because when my mom or I drove it we got a lot of cheerful waves and beeps to say hello. The stolen valor was a little embarrassing but I still enjoyed it.

I, too, would like my own island

 Aquarium penguins get better retirements than Americans. 

people can be terrible in un-gendered ways!

I already complained about Manifest, but one thing I appreciated about the show was its portrayal of positive masculinity. Men were nonchalantly providing child care and elder care, one was an empath, they fought like hell for their loved ones without losing their humanity. At no time were they misogynistic. This shouldn't be a rare thing in media but it was refreshing enough that I think it is.