Gaia Online still exists??

I use SpiralLinux (basically Debian with some tweaks). I like it a lot! If you want to stay in the Debian/*buntu lineage, consider it.

It might be another food allergy as well. I have skin reactions to dairy, and it took me years to figure it out because a) it’s a slow reaction (6ish hours after I eat it), and b) I also assumed it was something my skin was coming into contact with

And in keeping with the OP, I also still eat dairy from time to time. Not a severe reaction, it won’t become a severe reaction, and there’s still no good replacement for actual cheese, dammit. (Daiya is close enough…sometimes…)

When Brood X happened, I think one of my cats thought I was responsible for the cicadas. They kept bonking against our windows and she’d look at them, then look at me and meow. I tried explaining but I don’t think she understood :(

I don’t think you’re entirely wrong, but to me, the difference is that a good homage can stand apart as its own Thing, whereas something that’s derivative has to lean hard on the the tropes and trappings of the original in order to be anything at all.

Example: Stardew Valley vs a bunch of really mid/mediocre farming life sims it shares a genre with. SV is deliberately an homage to the Harvest Moon/Song of Seasons series and is upfront about it. But you can still pick up SV and have a great time with it, because it’s a well-designed and complete game on its own, regardless of whether you even know HM/SoS exists. Whereas with the copycats, the big selling point is “it’s just like [Harvest Moon/Stardew Valley]!” There’s not enough actual substance for these games to stand on their own.

Obviously, “quality” is a subjective measurement and all, but I think that’s where I would draw the line between an “homage” and “derivative.”

Back when I was a kid, The Simpsons was a really good show

How is “bro” toxic…? I can see how someone who isn’t a dude objecting to being called one, but that’s not an issue with the word itself

The “sticker” is actually an off-cut from a laptop skin from my other laptop (which also runs Linux, and also has a sticker over its Windows key :P), so it’s held up pretty well

I’m petty enough to put stickers over mine.

I used to get this sometimes. Turnes out my body doesn’t process fructose well. Look into FODMAPs if none of the other suggestions work for you (usually the FODMAP thing requires an elimination diet, I just lucked out due to weird circumstances)

Regardless of age, weight, or overall fitness, I have never been able to touch my toes when bending over from standing.

Maybe SpiralLinux? It’s basically just Debian with a few twealks, but the btrfs+Snapper might come in handy if/when you need to do tech support.

Nope. Never had a water-related incident with any cellphone in the 20ish years I’ve been using them. Just not relevant to my life.

Demon’s Tilt on the Switch. I’d been vaguely interested in it for a while and it was on sale for $10. I played a little and enjoyed it but I think it’s gonna be one of those things I have to be in the mood for, and I’m just not today. I’ve spent $10 on dumber things, so no, I don’t regret it.

That’s OK. No piece of art or media is gonna be everyone’s Thing.

Steven Universe. The online fandom was insane. The actual show was incredible.

Came here to suggest this. I’ve been doing IFS stuff with my therapist and it’s probably the most helpful therapy I’ve ever done.

Dementia specifically I don’t know about, but if you don’t eat enough it will affect brain function, since your brain requires energy to, yknow…work. Found a review article about it from a few years ago if you’re interested.

Like half of Fall Out Boy’s discography. “Hum Hallelujah” gets a special mention for literally being about a suicide attempt. Also “Dance In the Dark” by Lady Gaga, “Stomach Vs Heart” and “Humor of the Situation” by Barenaked Ladies (“Angry People” as well), “Slip Slidin Away” by Paul Simon, “When I Come Around” by Green Day…suffice it to say, I enjoy this trope a lot :P

I’m not at my place right now. If you come to my friend’s place where we’re at, you can have a donut and maybe pet the cat.