Ask Lemmy

In the US, almost anyone can walk to the end of their driveway (or some other, similarly close location) and put an envelope in a box. In a matter of days, that envelope can be in any other box at the end of anyone else's driveway in the US, for less than the cost of a bottle of water.

Most US Americans have no idea how good they have it with the USPS.

Similarly, the investigative arm of the Post Office, the USPIS, is arguably the most powerful agency of the US government, as there are virtually no laws limiting their authority to investigate.

Data privacy.

It is so important to understand the basics at least.

Imagine a not-so-far future where you buy some sweets for your neighbor's children, and after a while, after somebody has found the remains of the packaging of these sweets somewhere in a streets's corner, you get a summons to court because they can prove that you were the buyer of this.

Silence.

Sometimes it's nice having nothing to interrupt my thoughts. I've never understood the concept of 'too quiet'.

my boyfriend. it's insane, how kind, smart, and funny he is. but he is so quiet, with almost everyone except me.

The transistor

Spending time being out of reach. The power button is by far my favorite on my phone.

Closeness with friends. You don’t appreciate it until suddenly they’re gone unexpectedly (for one reason or another - but just death).

How ball point pens work. Like a little roll-on deoderant.

Plus the retractable ones. Such a neat little mechanism :-)

The Commons aka the Public Domain. For some reason yet to be scientifically studied by extraterrestrials shall they make their way to this funny Pale Blue Dot one day, humans fall for the "if the product is free, you're the product" maxim (which is valid to certain extent, especially involving corporations, but ignores the fact that individuals can do things and hand it freely because they don't mind the costs they had doing something they love doing) and struggle to trust a content given free of costs, but the same humans don't seem to think twice before submitting themselves by the altar of capitalism for the same content. Yeah, this paragraph is also a vent in disguise.

!asklemmy@lemmy.world

Pigeons.

We domesticated them and then just discarded them once they were no longer "useful" to us. Now people see them as "sky rats" and are generally pretty shit towards them.

I think they are one of the best birds!

That life is priceless

After going without for a while I learned to really appreciate sleeping in a bed. When the sheets are newly washed too? Omg.

Hot water on tap. Refrigeration including air conditioning. Laundry machines. Bread. Beer. Fresh Air. The Sun!

Fountain pens.

Lastase pills. Some people don't know it's a thing. I wouldn't be able to eat so many good food like butter, poutine, cheesecake, yoghurt, nachos.. I know there are alternatives but they are not the same as the real thing.

I like how so many things are improving and life is really mind-boggling better and more convenient and nicer than it was 20-30 years ago. Food, healthcare, access to knowledge, etc.

But you can't say this that without massive massive blowback, because everyone is convinced of this doomer narrative that everything is worse and getting worse by the day. Like, ok doomer, please ignore all the massive progress. No, let's act like the world is awful and terrible because Netlifx raised their prices $1 per month. it's absurd.

Knowing exactly where and when to cite a source; what makes for a good one; and then doing it well.

indoor plumbing

Not having a car with its insurance, repair, fuel etc…

I don't mean to be rude but I tried marmite the other day for the first time on a dare and I almost puked. 😥

I appreciate appreciation. Marmite comes from the Middle French and was first used in 1581 when it meant “a usually tall covered cooking pot.” And that’s whats I appreciates about you.

The movie Ishtar, funnier than most Adam Sandler films.

My sanity. Imagine how bad it'd be if I went into the streets one day and started talking nonsense and throwing stones at people.