StringJunky

Brave (Chrome variant with Google's tracking elements removed) is my go-to browser with Privacy Badger and uBlock Origin extensions. It has a bult-in optional browser-level VPN. That works pretty well for me. Just got a new i5 Win11 laptop, W11 is a bit of a privacy nightmare in terms of MS putting ads in the new Outlook email, I'm seeing. Seeing the email-tyle ads as the last straw, I've just bought Proton VPN and email app services. It works at whole-system level and, apparently, '5 Eyes spying cartel' snooping resistant as well that US/UK are part of, so hopefully, it's up to the job at the lower level I want it.

Maybe, if you learn to speak in the language of the listener, threads wouldn't get derailed so often. Trying to throw conversational curve balls all the time gets very tiresome.... use very sparingly. Keep on the track, mate.

You don't to have worry about everything; be selective. Not worrying about things in the world is not where I'm at, but I'm careful to diversely mix my online subjects, so that I don't get stuck in a mental rut focusing on one thing. For instance, I'll read heavy stuff like Ukraine and Palestine, but I'll mix that with the antics of domestic parrots on FB or YT. This seems to keep me quite level as it seems one can overthink things and end up disturbed. My worldview is to accept that good and adverse things happen simultaneously everywhere. It is up to me which I choose to see. Self-censorship is a useful skill at the appropriate time. The pursuit and feeling of constant happiness is not sustainable physically... your happy hormones are not meant to be on constantly. I always crash mentally after a period of solid happiness I think pursuing peace of mind is the nearest to a positive sustainable physical/emotional state because it means you have balance in your activities and thinking.

On the go bathroom for the immodest. Far too verbose. That's a posh name for 'builders'.

AFAIK, the only thing you can learn from an entanglement is whether it is broken or not. If you see it broken, then you know the system has been compromised... a bit like sticking something across the crack of a door to see if/when someone attempts to walk in. It's use in securing systems is more akin to an alarm system than a messenger.

The subjects I peruse tend to not be contentious, so Wiki is reliable enough for me as a starting point. The references will indicate the level of research.

A system is an ensemble of components, physical or abstract, that have some causative relationship between them in the mind of the observer.

I don't think any sensible strategist would take out any leaders in this stage of potential hostilities. Killing a leader would create too many new geopolitical outcomes. We need hose-pipes, not flamethrowers.

Mod Note: Denigrating great discoverers with truthful labels that have such negative connotations, are banned forthwith.

As addictive as hard drugs. I've kicked smoking, drugs, but can I give up sugar... NO. As you say, it's very pervasive.

High fructose corn syrup is consumed in the US 50x more than in EU... 50 pounds vs 1 pound p.a. I wonder if there is a per capita correlation in the relative incidence of mortality related to obesity with that.

I remember watching a BBC2 university programme years ago that said wearing sunglasses without side shields was worse than not wearing them at all. It stated that the dark lenses cause the pupil to expand, thus increasing the angle of incidence for reflected light off the inside of the lenses to reach the retina. In bright, snowy environs the risk is significantly higher for uv exposure to the eyes.

Dimethylmercury doesn't have many uses because of its toxicity. It can pass through layers of protective gloves. Scientist Karen Wetterhahn was a killed by it. IIRC handling protocols were changed after her death.

I recently re-joined Facebook and have been doom-scrolling endless animal videos by amateurs, and I have to say that there's more to many animals than meets the eye. Animals are not robots, completely driven by instinct.

And it can only multiply.

A sudden sharp transient would be harder on the ear drum, I would have thought.... like a shotgun.

165dB seems to be the starting point. 115-120db is where it will probably start hurting

Also 10Kg of it at about $4000/g.

When the input signal is too low or confusing, the brain will make something up. That's how pareidolia works.

Aye, but most politicians don't totally focus on that sector.