Chebucto Regional Softball Club

@albnelson Yes we’ve been talking about this discovery for the past week probably the biggest “ant news” of the year so far.

Why are the sections of a book called “signatures” what does that have to do with signing your name to a document if anything?

#bookbinding

@dianea

Needing fewer products and simplifying is a longer term project and one that I won’t twist anyone’s arm about. I do think it’s very rewarding. When I was younger and more idealistic I tried to brew my own Redbull by finding all of the ingredients and trying to buy them … um— don’t mess with powdered caffeine. Horrible idea.

but yeah there is some room for growth here — up to a point.

@uguisubari

When you are buying small quantities of inexpensive items like resistors and boards even if the price is doubled it’s not that alarming. Because the price was $1 and now it’s $2.

@uguisubari

For customers who don’t speak Chinese it’s more like a directory of where things are made and who to talk to. They don’t even ignore me when I tell them I’m a teacher and not a big company and will only spend a few 100 dollars. US electronics manufacturers block me for being too small potatoes while charging five times as much.

Keep waiting for tariffs to ruin this but not yet.

@uguisubari

This is one of the reasons ali-express was so exciting. People think it’s like amazon but it’s not. It’s not vertically integrated in the same way. When you buy electronics often you are dealing with the factory in China. If you are adventurous and patient you can email them (write in English and include a translation with an apology) and they are super helpful and will hook you up with the parts you need. It’s closer to early ebay than amazon.

@goaty

They have no stores in greater NYC and this has been a hard fought battle. Amazon has done some of the same things to our many small shops and businesses we feared walmart would. I know of many small towns ruined by a walmart.

Mostly they got refunds but it was like Walmart was trying to shoot itself in the foot— or more likely when walmart tries to ship to NYC there are too many ways that amazon could mess things up for them. Amazon has its own fleet of delivery vehicles and runs half of the post office. I have not encountered this issue with direct sales from manufacturers.

That quip about the shipping warfare and walmart is something I wish I could investigate more. Something very fishy is going on— basically I know a lot of people who stopped using amazon and tried walmart online instead for the few things they can’t find in local shops. In each case they would make an order only to have it cancelled after waiting a week— or it would fail to be delivered. Wild stuff. Never happened with amazon.

I don’t expect any of these companies are paragons of good but why involve amazon and a reseller in the process at all? Let the company who made the thing take all those profits.

There is something delightful about just buying things from whoever made them directly. It’s more fun in person— but no one is selling my favorite brand of migraine pills at the farmer’s market. And I know the brand that works and will throw a fit if I can’t have it. Amazon has cornered this kind of online purchase and driven all alternatives to obscurity. Don’t bother with walmart they are under some kind of corporate shipping warfare the product may not arrive. (and walmart isn’t great either)

Are you struggling to buy your favorite headache pills, lotions, makeup or other shelf-stable goods while avoiding using amazon? For some brands it might seem like the only option if you only look at the first three pages of a search. But nearly always the manufacturer will sell to you directly— although their pages are buried. I almost thought ebay was my only option— (items on ebay are often expired)

Nope! The manufacturer will ship to me and it’s a few cents less than amazon. (not much less)

@liferstate

That's an isopod. "rolly poly" they live in nature under logs and leaves. Inside of a house it could mean there is a moisture problem since they need a moist environment, but they aren't directly harmful and are not interested in human food so don't pose much of a risk for a pantry.

@kenSwinson

There is a cicada one:

Kiln Opening 18 August 2025 – KenSwinson.com

(www.kenswinson.com)

@CorvidCrone

Here at the weapons-grade pun refractory we never rest.

incompitant!!

@hypolite @KanaMauna
Like some dark ritual sacrifice

@KanaMauna

I have not found any evidence of anyone organically upset at what he said. This is manufactured. The public didn’t cry out at his jokes — some owner just thought this was the moment to try to earn favor.

@KanaMauna I still think he should go to Austin.

@jpaskaruk

I’ve long suspected that “mainstream” outlets are more hollowed out than they admit. I don’t know anyone who watches television or cable. I know more people with zero streaming subscriptions than ever before. But I’m biased I’ve been deeply tuned out for years now. I used to have a New York Times subscription. Used to watch shows. I just can’t anymore.