In two different companies I’ve seen people refer to “the database” when they actually mean a spreadsheet. That’s not just a terminology mixup, these things were super complex, with pseudo-relational tables, lookups, links to other files etc. The sort of thing that should be in an actual database, that has less chance of breaking in obscure ways when someone inserts a row or types a value over a formula. It was actually pretty impressive, in an “impending doom at any moment” kind of way.

Also had one where there was a spreadsheet of everyone in the business top to bottom, shared by HR and IT. Both groups needed a list of staff, so why not just keep one, right? This thing had personal details like home address and medical conditions, plus things like salary (inc garnishments), performance management notes etc, as well as of course their username and password (which was assigned to them and they couldn’t change) and security questions and answers. It didn’t even have a password on the file. I noped tf out of that place as quickly as I could, but for reasons even worse than that stupid spreadsheet.

Walt Disney

My app doesn’t support spoilers so I don’t know if this has worked. Maybe collapse this comment if you don’t want to see it, just in case.

Edit: fixed maybe? Thanks @Zagorath@aussie.zone

I’ve not tried them but you can get replacement pads which apparently have a cooling gel in them. Eg these.

No idea if they’re any good but would be interested in hearing from someone with first-hand experience.

Aussie here, to me xmas = summer time. Xmas movies always felt irrelevant, and the idea of Santa wearing all his gear is mental when it’s often 40C+ and humid af.

Being cold would feel alien that time of year, even more so if it snowed because that doesn’t happen in 99% of the country regardless of the time of year.

I suspect we’re not taking about actual storytelling here as much as anecdotes that signal whether you will or will not agree with the rest of what’s about to be said, but to answer the question as asked, imho good storytelling depends as much on the listener as the teller.

Some find joy to be infectious, they’ll enjoy a story because the teller’s eyes light up, and watching someone loving the shit out of something is itself a joyful experience.

Some will only enjoy a story if it’s of direct positive relevance to them, regardless of who’s telling it.

As I understand it these are basically an insurance policy. The promoter takes out a policy detailing the odds of a payout being required, and pay a premium based on the insurer’s risk assessment.

And of course the insurer wants to minimise the odds of paying out, and the promoter wants to minimise their premium - so the top prize is usually, as above, near-unwinnable.

Was about 3pm here /cries in Australian

We regularly get screwed over during business hours by things being pushed out overnight in the US/UK

That’s what would be called “a swing and a miss”

It’s almost like speculating has risks

Needs a massive safety net with “family money/influence” under the successful gambler

90s Steven Segal went a bit crazy with the spray tan

Yeah… this isn’t a meme, it’s literally children being sold.

As I recall it, the family were facing eviction, and the kids were indeed sold, including the one she was pregnant with. A couple of them ended up basically being slaves on a farm somewhere.

I’ll laugh at plenty of things I probably shouldn’t but this isn’t one of them.