This looks fun, why not. ​

Like this post and get some dirt on the corgi. ​ Not that I'm not used to that with all the times I roll in stuff in the yard.

1. Do you have any nicknames?

Does 'Baby Rustle' count as a nickname if it's longer than my actual name? ​

@Rusty sure does

2. What is a compliment you've never forgotten?

I dunno if it was meant as a compliment or a criticism, but I got told by a waitress that I say 'thank you' too much and I think about that all the time. ​ I'm taking it as a compliment though because people should be polite.

3. Is there something you want to tell someone, but won't?

I wanna tell the neighbors to shut the fuck up when they roll up at midnight with the subwoofer blasting in their stupid ass lifted truck. ​

4. Do you believe in soulmates? Why or why not?

Uh, it depends on what you mean by soulmate. I think there are some people who love each other so much that they'll be together forever and literally feel like a part of themselves is missing when they don't have that other person in their life. That said, I don't think there's some kind of universal 'soulmate' where everyone is meant to be intrinsically connected to another person, as not everyone is meant to be in that kind of relationship. I honestly think the concept of soulmates can be damaging because people will often stay in relationships citing that the person is their soulmate when the relationship just isn't working, or it can be used to make the definition of what is and isn't a proper relationship too narrow.

@Rusty How are you doing the little quote thing? That's awesome

@DankandDebauchery It's a Markdown quote ​

> quoted text

normal text

like dat ​

5. Biggest turn on?

It changes, but usually inanimate TF ​

6. What was your first job?

iOS developer for a music app. ​

7. What was the last song you sang?

I made a lot of noises that vaguely resembled the Sonic Racing: Crossworlds theme ​

@Rusty !!!

Fantastic, thank you

8. What is one of your most treasured memories?

When @riloh.nonstopcat.party took me to see a bunch of woofies at the wolp sanctuary ​

9. What has overwhelmed you recently?

Regret over dropping out of college. ​ Been having nightmares about it again.

10. Someone gave you $100, what are you spending it on?

Probably a comfier chair. My butt hurts. ​

@Rusty I wish you could get a good computer chair for $100 😭

11. What makes you feel appreciated?

People messaging me and chatting. It's nice to know I'm worth people taking the time out of their day to poke me. ​

SORRY I'M SO BAD AT RESPONDING THOUGH ​

12. Do you have trust issues?

Only in the sense that I can be too trusting. I'm usually inclined to think people mean well and will often make excuses for people if they're acting negatively. ​ Although I'm not inclined to change that since it causes me less stress to think someone is just having an off day than if someone was actually being a dick.

13. Best concert you've ever been to?

Ooooof, that's a tough one. Nightwish at the House of Blues was probably my most cherished concert memory, but Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Allstate Arena was fucking rad as fuck and Ninja Sex Party w/ TWRP and Planet Booty in Milwaukee was a super fun time.

Three-way tie I guess? ​

@Rusty I loved going to see NSP and TWRP last year

14. Do you care what other people think of you?

Doesn't everyone? I think there's a difference between caring what people think of you and ruminating over what people think of you. There are healthy ways of being conscientious without fixating on all the ways you may be presenting negatively to people.

That said, yes, I absolutely tend to ruminate ​

15. What are your main hobbies?

Video games and tech junk. Finding new ways to break my Linux system or installing random smart home stuff are some of my favorites. ​

16. Describe your dream home.

A three-story Chicago Greystone with a small front deck with all of the original hardwood flooring and finishes, although likely with some of the interior walls taken down to make things like a traditional dining space more functional in modern times. Transom windows over the interior doorways so you can have airflow without having your door open, and zonal centralized HVAC so the house can be heated and cooled effectively without needing mini splits everywhere. Walking distance to an L station, some restaurants, and a corner store.

Either that or a cute 2 story bungalow where what was traditionally an attic space is converted to a massive main bedroom suite. ​

17. What is your strongest held belief(s)?

You shouldn't believe anything without evidence, and evidence should be derived from the common consensus of the experts working in that field.

Also that the macOS menu bar is bad and dumb. ​

@Sominemo Yeah, in my mind I was thinking I'd combine it with my Amazon gift cards from Christmas. ​

@david They put on SUCH a good show ​

@Sominemo is best fetish ​

@Rusty I lived in a Chicago bungalow for half of my childhood. We didn't have much of an attic -- hardly enough space to stand upright. We mostly used it for storage. My grandparents lived in two-story Chicago bungalows. In fact almost everyone I knew from my old neighborhood (Portage Park) lived in bungalows.

@hyperreal Yeah, it'd certainly depend on the bungalow. Most of them either weren't built tall enough or require shed dormers. ​

Chicago is definitely the city of bungalows since the city was built out so rapidly.

@Rusty i got to see Nightwish at the masquerade when i was little. It was incredible! What an experience!

@Rusty
Do you actually think that?

I think everyone should be thinking for themselves and be calling out stuff that doesn't appear to add up. BUT doing so while seeking out accurate information and being willing to be educated and proven wrong.

Basically as I see it, if you're the expert then given proper explanations anyone (willing to learn) should be able to arrive at the same conclusion and understanding as you did.

Science is about knowledge and wisdom NOT blind trust in authorities.

@agowa338 There's a massive difference between deriving trust in authority and deriving trust in experts. Science has two main issues: 1) Science communication in modern times is complete shit and policy makers use that to their advantage and 2) There is a critical lack of actual consensus across a broad range of subjects because many studies aren't structured correctly or repeated in order to be verified.

I think you misunderstand what I consider "experts" and "consensus" ​ As an example, I believe MRNA vaccines are a miracle of science despite what the "authorities" tell me because they have been rigorously tested. On the other hand, I'm skeptical of the science on dieting and exercise because of how conflicting the studies are, despite what most experts in the field tell me, because their field is underpinned by shoddy science built on outdated assumptions that are only now finally being re-investigated and, while some "experts" might claim consensus, the studies certainly do not.

18. If you could get on a plane tomorrow, where would you go?

Depends, is the ensuing vacation paid for? ​ If so, I'd go skiing. If not, I'd go visit friends.

20. Do you believe in aliens?

Operating on the assumption that the universe is infinite and that we're not in a simulation, yes, I believe in aliens. I also think intelligent life is exceedingly rare and many life forms probably do not take a shape that we'd immediately identify as life.

I don't think aliens have ever visited Earth, but I'll admit I think that it's the only paranormal/cryptid phenomenon I'd give any credence to. I think if aliens ever visited Earth, it'd likely be through self-replicating drones because I do not think it's possible to achieve faster than light travel.

21. Biggest turn off?

Whiney/pushy doms.

22. What has made you laugh the most lately?

Old Vine compilations. ​ "A child" still gets me every time.

23. Favorite animal?

Big timber wolp ​

24. What lyrics are currently stuck in your head?

Not lyrics per se. The Arms theme song where they go, "Woh oh oh oh, woh Oh oh oh, WOAH OH OHHH, oh oh ohhhh, oh oh ohhhh."

@Rusty I still quote "Road work ahead? Uhh, yeah I sure hope it does."

@Hyperion21 YES ​ Every single time I enter a road construction zone.

@Rusty

Can't you just continue college on the side of what you're doing right now?

What are the options available to you in your country for this right now?

Nightmares for me usually mean that I've been avoiding thinking about some issue and pushed off making a plan or decision on it.

@agowa338 I can't afford it. The options here are community college which would only give me an associate's degree, or a four year university which costs 10s of thousands of dollars.

26. Name 3-5 ways to win your heart.

1. Headpets.
2. Back scratches.
3. Diaperbutt pats.
4. Nerd out with me over something I like.

27. Favorite comfort show?

After all these years, the show I come back to now when I need extra comfort is Roseanne (even though Roseanne Barr is a fuckin weirdo now ​ ). I grew up watching it on Nick@Nite and it's still one of my favorites.

28. Name one thing that always makes you angry.

When people are obviously and egregiously wrong, yet act smug and superior to you as if the obviously incorrect thing they just said proves how much more intelligent they are than you.

29. Favorite type of weather?

Stormy. ​ Gimme a big scary thunderstorm any day.

@Rusty @BlazingDoggo alcohol doesnt do that to be fair. Reformed alcoholic here, and i never went republican let along maga

@Tad "when I was little" so, like, recently? ​

@Rusty Tarja Turunen ^^;;

@Tad Holy SHIT

I would do ANYTHING to have seen Nightwish perform with Tarja. THAT'S AWESOME.

@Rusty i wished i had an angel, and there she was!
It was my musical awakening.

@Rusty I grew up on Roseanne too and it's so strange how much that show clashes with her apparent beliefs these days. It doesn't even seem like the same person

@RileyGecko Yeah, kinda parallels my actual mother which makes that whole thing hit a lot harder. ​

@Tad Her mid-concert outfit changes would have broken my little gay mind ​

@Rusty her voice is heavenly, yet she was up on stage playing air guitar!
My baby brain was unprepared, i was not ready to witness an actual human godess xD
I think it was ProgPower 2000.

@Tad I saw Annette in concert and she was decent. She had a really good stage presence. I feel bad for Anette cuz I'm sure she got a ton of hate and Tarja is an impossible act to follow. But, like, yeah. My little puppy brain was not broken.

@Rusty @Tad Her voice just lacked the depth / strength for this genre of music.

@darkwuff @Tad I think it fits the genre, just perhaps not the intensity of Nightwish, especially because Nightwish's intensity was specifically made for Tarja. I still think Anette has some highlights though, like the insane range she had in Scaretale.