Trusted Traveler
2025-04-01T19:19:35Z via Dianara To: Public CC: Followers
In light of recent events, my suggestion for Canadians who may travel into/through the US is to apply for the trusted traveler program either via Global Entry or Nexus.
If you can, wait until the initial review is completed. That way, regardless of the results, you'll know ahead of time if anything in your background is flagging their systems. With that information, you can then bring additional supporting documentation if needed.
Or better yet, don't travel to the US. Don't risk the fascist regime sending you to some gulag for absolutely no reason... đ
HD Frasier on Hulu
2025-03-31T06:09:36Z via Dianara To: Public CC: Followers
It seems that Hulu is finally rolling out HD Frasier!
They replaced the classic Paramount closing logo for all episodes but not all episodes are in HD yet.
I already have a copy of the BluRay release but that'll just be my backup.
Canadians and US Visas
2025-03-29T01:29:01Z via Dianara To: Public CC: Followers
It irks me a little whenever I hear broadcasters stating that Canadians failed to obtain a US visa.
Canadians actually do not require a visa to enter the US with a few exceptions (entry by marriage engagement for example).
I myself took a bit to understand this process too and this is how I understand it:
A visa is permission to present yourself for entry into the country. You normally obtain this document at a consulate outside of the US. Canadians never do this in most cases.
Once at the port of entry, you then request to obtain status to be admitted into the country. They use the visa, if required, and additional paperwork to confirm eligibility to be admitted.
Whenever you leave the country, you repeat the above process if you want to re-enter. Canadians with work or study status skip to requesting re-admittance and never present a visa.
It's more likely in these stories that Canadians are attempting to renew their work or study status -- I suppose all this is confusing to most audiences so they just say "visa".
The thing is though, it is the border officer's prerogative to ultimately determine admissibility. Having a valid visa (if required) and a previously held status does not guarantee admission and re-entry.
I feel there's more to the Canadian's story linked. Normally if you're given a hard time, you'll be given ample opportunity to withdraw your request to enter and voluntarily turn back. My speculation is that the Canadian in this story insisted to remain in the system (perhaps as a way to contest the officer's decision) and they processed the denied entry while keeping her detained. This denied entry is why an entry ban is now in play; a voluntary withdraw avoids this situation.
Conscientious Objection
2025-03-26T22:04:41Z via Dianara To: Public CC: Followers
In light of recent events, particularly the seemingly callous acceptance of collateral damage for taking out a single target and the ongoing dehumanization of innocent populations, I feel I must make my position publicly known.
I cannot in good moral conscientious directly participate in actions that may immediately result in bringing harm to any human life. I've always thought about how minimizing collateral damage may mitigate this feeling but given how our leaders have become increasingly more overt with dehumanizing other populations, I've come to the realization that participating in such activities is contrary to my personal moral belief that all humans around the world have the right to life.
Therefore, if ever called, I will happily serve in a non-combatant or civil role but harming life is something I can never see myself finding acceptance.
@d6chung@identi.ca really we shouldn't even pay taxes because by doing so we are participating in the murder of others. Regardless if you are on identi.ca you are probably too old to have to worry about being drafted yourselfOpen Sushi Bar Unlocked
2025-03-07T08:40:43Z via Dianara To: Public CC: Followers
Normally when I go to a sushi bar, I ask for omakase service and unless they have a pre-fixed menu, they would just give me pieces and tally up what was given to generate the bill.
For my recent visit, I somehow unlocked an open sushi bar because the chef suddenly told me that it's now my choice and he would make whatever I ordered and not include it in the tally. That is, these pieces were free! He would even give me the end pieces of blocks of fish after fulfilling other orders!
Now I just need to remember this cheat code for next time...
New Era
2025-02-27T01:43:55Z via Dianara To: Public CC: Followers
As of today, I am now an American citizen!
I mark this day by updating my avatar to something that represents my cultural origins.
2025-02-27T01:40:35Z via Identi.ca Web CC: Public
Best Option in Pirate Yakuza
2025-02-25T07:20:49Z via Dianara To: Public CC: Followers
Yes, this was a day-one purchase.
Yes, it was due to Honolulu.
Yes, I played this over the weekend.
All I wanted to say is that they provide the best option I've seen in a game: the option to bypass QTEs!
Also, I like that I can now dodge to avoid damage -- I hated that I was forced to stand there and take damage in Infinite Wealth.
Flow
2025-02-20T02:21:54Z via Dianara To: Public CC: Followers
I just watched Flow and I think it's the best animated feature at least for 2024.
It did so much with no dialogue and the camera kept me engaged throughout. I got Ico vibes from this and I believe that game is an artistic masterpiece.
My only gripe with this film is who they cast for the capybara! I'd prefer silence.
âWe tried to record a capybara, but they donât really speak. Theyâre very silent. They only make noise when you tickle them. So it was one personâs very fun job to tickle a capybara. But the sound was really high-pitched and sounded more like an anxious small dog. It didnât fit the character. So we looked around for another animal and, after a long kind of search, we settled on this baby camel. So the capybara is actually voiced by a baby camel. â
AP reporter and photographer barred from Air Force One over âGulf of Mexicoâ terminology dispute
2025-02-15T00:35:32Z via Dianara To: Public CC: Followers
https://apnews.com/article/trump-ap-news-ban-air-force-one-b90b8b842d63aef9960ccffb4a657dc2
â
Hopefully, Americans are closely watching this because this action is very serious and detrimental to the rights and freedoms of Americans.
Wine Key
2025-02-03T06:32:08Z via Dianara To: Public CC: Followers
https://www.samsclub.com/p/members-mark-carbonated-mineral-water/P990338372
People say that these are hard to open and I agree.
However, I found a great solution that spares my joints: use a wine key! The problem is that it takes significant force to break the seal but the foil cutter of wine keys is great for breaking through this seal and making the cap easy to open!
David Lynch
2025-01-16T23:31:49Z via Dianara To: Public CC: Followers
:(
@d6chung@identi.ca turn that frown upside down :-)pmOS 24.12 Scare
2025-01-13T20:57:02Z via Dianara To: Public CC: Followers
I upgraded pmOS to 24.12 on my PinePhone and freaked out when I had no audio interface until I saw the edit under Extra notes in https://gitlab.postmarketos.org/postmarketOS/pmaports/-/issues/3359#note_459502 .
âI solved this with "sudo apk fix --reinstall alsa-ucm-conf" â
Jim Fulner likes this.
Ad-Free Flying
2025-01-06T19:31:45Z via Dianara To: Public CC: Followers
Wow! My AC flights completely had no ads!
Typically, they would annoyingly have ads playing after the safety video unless the flight attendant mercifully (not sure if they are supposed to but I'm sure they're annoyed by it too) terminates broadcast. The IFE would also have (at least skippable) ads playing prior to content.
However, this time there were no post-safety video ads and no pre-content IFE ads! It seems they completely removed all ads! Hopefully, this is a permanent change!
Show-Stopper
2024-12-22T05:32:24Z via Dianara To: Public CC: Followers
I attended a ballet performance in Toronto: https://national.ballet.ca/productions/the-nutcracker/
Someone in the audience had a medical emergency, which halted performance.
Is the appropriate response from the audience to applaud as the victim is being wheeled out?
I never experienced an unexpected show-stopper until today! This is a performance I'll never forget!
Yoon declares emergency martial law, accusing opposition of 'anti-state activities'
2024-12-03T16:26:05Z via Dianara To: Public CC: Followers
â
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241203012153315
Just In case, here is the text in verbatim:
âSEOUL, Dec. 4 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law, accusing the nation's opposition of paralyzing the government with "anti-state activities plotting rebellion."
"The martial law is aimed at eradicating pro-North Korean forces and to protect the constitutional order of freedom," Yoon said in an emergency national address televised live late Tuesday.
The surprise announcement came after the opposition Democratic Party (DP) railroaded a downsized budget bill in the parliamentary budget committee, and submitted impeachment motions against a state auditor and the chief prosecutor.
It marks the first declaration of emergency martial law in South Korea since 1981.
Yoon said the decision to declare martial law was aimed at "rebuilding and safeguarding" the nation, which he described as facing significant challenges.
While the declaration might cause "some inconvenience" to citizens, Yoon vowed to "normalize" the country swiftly, saying the government remains committed to its foreign policy of fulfilling its responsibilities within the international community.
Yoon highlighted that 22 impeachment motions have been filed against government officials since his inauguration in May 2022, with the opposition pursuing its 10th impeachment effort since the 22nd National Assembly convened in June.
He characterized the move as an "unprecedented" situation in the country's history and in global politics, alleging that these actions have significantly hampered the executive branch's function.
In regard to the downsized budget bill, Yoon said the reductions would undermine the government's essential functions, including drug crime prevention and public safety measures, saying it has pushed the country toward becoming a "haven for drugs and left public safety in a state of crisis."
Yoon accused the DP of using budget bills and impeachment motions as a political tool to shield DP leader Lee Jae-myung from prosecution, who is facing several trials.
"The National Assembly has become a haven for criminals, paralyzing the judicial and administrative systems and attempting to overthrow the free democratic system through legislative dictatorship," he said.
Under the Constitution, the president can declare martial law in response to military needs during times of war, armed conflict, a national emergency, or when public safety and order require it.
Following the address, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Park An-su, who was named as leader of the martial law command, announced a decree banning all political activities, including protests and activities by political parties.
Martial law can be lifted if a majority of the National Assembly demands its termination.
Shortly after Yoon's address, the DP called in its lawmakers urgently to the National Assembly. With 170 seats in the 300-member parliament, the DP has the capacity to revoke martial law with a majority vote.
Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party, said Yoon's declaration of martial law is "wrong" and that he will "block it" together with the people. â
Quick follow-up: Nat'l Assembly votes to demand lifting of martial law
âSEOUL, Dec. 4 (Yonhap) -- The National Assembly voted Wednesday to demand President Yoon Suk Yeol lift emergency martial law.
Under the Constitution, martial law must be lifted when a parliamentary majority demands it.
Of the 300 members of parliament, 190 were present and all 190 voted in favor of a motion demanding the lifting of martial law.
With the motion's passage, the martial law declaration is void, according to the parliamentary speaker's office.â
KĆ«hiĆ Avenue Transit - Priority Lanes Installation
2024-11-21T17:31:41Z via Dianara To: Public CC: Followers
https://www.thebus.org/HTMLFILE/TheBus/Files/638660732276753428/638660732276753428.htm
I already saw signage installed and wonder if that's the reason why the buses are now on-time.
These priority lanes are great but now I have no grace period to catch the bus since they were typically a few minutes late. I wonder if people are missing their buses for this reason, which is why the buses are emptier than usual now.
Project creates new MÄori vocabulary for geothermal sciences
2024-11-21T17:25:22Z via Dianara To: Public CC: Followers
That "kƫwhewhewhewhe " chant at the end of the segment was pretty trippy.
General Population
2024-11-07T20:57:56Z via Dianara To: Public CC: Followers
I've been pondering about the general population especially with recent elections. I recently received insight on the education divide among the population and how the uneducated are unable to understand the future ramifications of their decisions today since they are focused on short-term issues. This mentality is mostly due to the uneducated typically experiencing a different perception of the economy than the educated, who typically work in higher paying jobs. As such, the educated have the luxury of discussing long-term consequences of today's decisions.
I've come to realise how out-of-touch I am with the general population and now completely understand why politicians pander to the lowest common denominator -- they are simply forced to! While it's a major turn-off for me personally, I think it's important to not completely dismiss what they are saying as it provides an insight on what their campaign managers are seeing in the population.
All this to say I think I now appreciate political scientists and sociologists. These experts combined with ad-technology, data science, and machine learning can create a powerful political campaign, which I'm sure is already happening today.
Horror
2024-10-25T01:04:33Z via Dianara To: Public CC: Followers
My favourite movie genre is horror for two main reasons:
- audience reaction (enhanced by attending a cinema screening)
- innovative underscoring
I would love to attend a live performance of horror scores just to see the musicians handle (abuse?) their instruments or actually see the unconventional instruments!