Absolutely–especially if it helps to offset server costs. I’ve donated before for that.

Curious what you’d think of a sort of roped off, “free to enter” entry community/instance that would be akin to a shallow pool. Just enough so you understand how it works and see what it would be like, but everything else would have that pay-for barrier. You’re right that there’s a good benefit to putting a wall up but at the same time we’re still small enough that actively discouraging people from joining might not* be wise. I absolutely have turned my nose up to websites and servers that have some kind of pretty splash page and then a “Okay pay to get in!” message. I don’t even know what I’m paying for.

Oh hey I was just about to comment that the one time I got morphine in the hospital it absolutely did not make me feel like this. It didn’t feel like anything except “thank god the pain stopped, now I can rest.” But it didn’t make me feel good above my baseline and I was about to wonder if something was wrong with me? Now I just feel lucky.

Fantastic write up. Reminds me of a post on Hobby Drama.

I was looking for a good source for that (I have heard the same thing) but found this instead which is still helpful.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666956022000290

My to do list app had a wrapped and I was deeply displeased to see it.

Definitely how I started, and there is definitely something to be said about playing a game where nobody knows what’s going on, as long as everyone understands that’s going to be the state of things and are willing to work together. Whenever something came up we weren’t sure about we’d ALL dive on the rule books, not just the GM.

I have a gemstone (I forget what kind, it’s a dark purple though) worry stone. It’s just the right shape to rest in my hand and let me rub my thumb over it. I don’t really use it for that often, but on occasion it’s nice to just hold a cool stone, literally and figuratively.

Had a tamer but similar hill near my home growing up. Loved speeding down. It ended in a lot filled with gravel. Fortunately the day I spun out on the gravel lot was coming from a different, slower direction. Developed an extremely bad case of road rash all over one leg. When I realized what might have happened if I’d been taking the hill instead, that I probably would have broken my legs or worse, I stopped going down that hill. Realization of mortality can be like a bucket of ice water sometimes.

In order, Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM), Pokemon, Digimon

First one is a screencap from Overly Sarcastic Productions. I sadly don’t remember where the second one came from.

I’ve been complimented on my voice before, and those aren’t weird compliments. But delivery is important. I had a coworker tell me, “Your voice is great!” And of course I’m thankful. But then deadpan, she goes, “You should do ASMR so I can listen to it.”

Now that was a weird compliment.

Lots! I’m constantly trying new teas because that’s apparently exciting to me. I’ve done Harney & Sons, Yorkshire, Adagio, a couple of Etsy shops (WildWoodsTea, OpenDoorTeaCT), and ton of local shops (not gonna list to avoid doxxing sorry!)

That’s super traumatic! I’m so sorry that happened to you.

Wow, that is really interesting. Thanks for posting!

When I was a young teen, one of my friends gave me a floppy disk of midi song files she liked a lot but they mostly had names like “ANIME 2” so I had no idea where they came from. There was one on there I was particularly obsessed with but could never find. Then one serendipitous day, I did. It was The Destruction of Laputa from Castle in the Sky.

Edit: Or it was Sora from Escaflowne. There’s been a few times I heard an instrumental or non-English song with no source to go off of.

Oh, good song!

They don’t creep me out but I fucking hate birds. They’re so goddamn noisy. When I hear a bird near my window screaming, something primal in me activates and I wanna climb out on the ledge and throw rocks at it to make it shut the fuck up.

Wow thank you for the comprehensive write up! At this time we won’t be getting a new car–my husband and I are squirreling away our money for a down payment in the event we ever find a house, and since both our cars are still in fantastic condition, that takes precedence. But I will save your post, just in case!

Oh bummer, those latter things ARE what I was wanting. That’s too bad. I’m not very interested in Android Auto, I’m perfectly content with having my phone on a mount with an aux cord.

It looks like the remote starter and a rear/dash cam combo might be it!