I had to check and make sure I wasn’t in the background of that picture.

It would be pretty easy (with big error bars but since when did authoritarians give a shit about that?) to set up some alerts based on facial recognition when someone under 18 (they have their passport information) is hanging out with someone over 18 who did not arrive in the same party.

I think either of those are super plausible. There will be people where they stayed who are happy to snitch, no bugs required. On top of that, the UAE has one of the highest concentration of surveillance cameras in the world. Like 30,000 in Dubai. Throw in some facial recognition cross referenced with the list of folks on vacation or on business in the city and it’s real easy to find out who is spending time together, what their ages are, and what their kids will look like.

The second one happens all the time. Happened to me when I turned 18 before my then girlfriend. Her mom threatened me with jail and all kinds of shit even though it was perfectly legal and we were only a couple of months apart. She just didn’t like me or the fact that I was dating her daughter. Would have probably been worse if I had been a PoC.

I use that power. I say things ranging from “Dude, that’s not ok” to “Are you fucking stupid or something?” if I’m looking to get their attention.

I’ve also pulled out “You know my cousin is black, right?” (true statement) and “That’s my sister” (untrue statement). When you make it personal they get real uncomfortable and start apologizing.

Also USA. My teachers ran the gamut from not letting anyone to treating us like adults. My school was VERY white with only a handful of black kids across all of high school. One of the teachers was well known for never letting the black kids go until one of them went and peed in his trash can to prove a point.

The ones who treated us like adults got treated with the most respect. Weird how that works.

I feel that. I’ve got a very serious redneck thing going on. I hunt, fish, dress like I just got off work at the ranch (that’s true sometimes), and raise a lot of hell. I know why they think I’m one of them. It’s depressing some days because it’s almost like people can’t wait to say fucked up shit as soon as they meet me.

I know one Waldo and I’ve seen one Waldo in one modern book series (not counting where’s Waldo). I can’t think of anyone named Wally from a book series, but I know a few Walters that get referred to a Wally on and off. I think Waldo was probably more popular in the early to mid 1900s, and probably more popular in areas with higher German populations.

Alas, I am but one data point.

If I’m defeated at night: Three bottles of bourbon, a guitar, two tacos, and a beaten up cowboy hat.

If I’m defeated during the day: Bad code, a cup of coffee, and a gallon jug of water.

I’ve had to explain to three different people that they’re not getting a production window on Christmas Eve. I’m the only person in the office from the day after Christmas until January 2.

went on too long

Well you’ve certainly never been with me then!

Ok, now that the shit talking is out of the way, I really hope you do find exactly who you’re looking for.

This is far more succinct than I could have put it. Same.

I had something cogent to say when I saw this yesterday. Now I’m hammered so…

Hahahahahahaha

Let’s be inclusive. I hope he sees cool birds and an attractive person of his preferred gender on the way.

I don’t miss those “flex holiday hours”. Just give me a day off.

I hope the fish I catch this weekend are that fucking high.

Even if not, disease is a thing. Protect yourself before you wreck yourself.

Says the person who may not even have a rich inner life, at least as far as I know.

There nothing shameful about a man getting choked by Dick in the shower.

I totally get it, and the truth is that none of us really know how we’d react if it’s not us in the situation. We can only guess.

I’d like to think being ridiculously wealthy wouldn’t change me but we all see how most rich folks act. I’d like to think I’d spend my time in that gilded cage gaining skills and stocking up on money so that once I’m free I’ll have a life of relative ease. However, I don’t know that and I suspect I’d have done nothing of the sort. But it’s nice to dream.

Have you tried selling pictures of your feet? A lot of folks are mad that they can’t but they haven’t even tried yet.

But, to be honest, I’m pretty sad that I couldn’t marry for money. I would have made an amazing trophy husband in my youth.