Just a random stranger here for their own soapbox. Expect things about nature, conservation, food, homesteading and the like.
I'll admit I asked that question before looking at the list. After looking, it only further cemented my pre-conceived notion that the youtube release is absolute trash.
A mere 36 movies, and based on titles, most if not all readily available from higher quality sources. None of them seem particularly obscure, as I recognize several actors' names and I'm not the type to care too much about who plays who.
I mean, hey, if youtube rips are your jam, go for it people. But for those looking for quality/obscurity, you'd probably have better luck elsewhere.
Is preserving the bitrate/quality of a youtube movie really that important? Did they upload anything not available in much, much better quality elsewhere?
'Bottle Bill' Back at Capitol
https://www.newyorkupstate.com/business/2025/02/reduced-reused-remitted-ny-bottle-bill-back-at-capitol.html
Looks like the redemption system is in need of updating. Having experienced the redemption system in Maine, the one in New York is definitely lacking in comparison - at least from a consumer standpoint.
The article highlights that redemption centers have not been able to adjust their handling fees, and that the types of bottles acceptable for redemption have not changed despite consumer demand shifting towards beverages in those "not redeemable" categories.
My own, personal opinion is that I agree that the system needs updating. Taking a walk down my rural road, there are quite a few bottles that end up as just trash/recyclables. Especially weird is that liquor bottles are currently not redeemable, as those make a casual walk a profitable venture in other states, and the incentive helps keep things clean.
In some areas, people actually rely on picking up bottles and cans to get by, so adjusting current laws to include more redeemable items seems like it will only serve to be beneficial across the board.
North Country Veteranarian Sues Village of Massena
Oh man, here's one for any of us up this way that have been following this story.
Dr. Wilfredo Perez, owner of the Java Veterinary Clinic out on Route 56 just on the outskirts of Massena lost the clinic to a fire back in 2022.
For those that remember, the fire itself was somewhat controversial, as it had reignited after the first fire response, and that second ignition is what ultimately destroyed the entire facility, with many local residents losing pets in the blaze.
What has made this story interesting is Dr. Perez' response to the blaze, with this recent article being part of the saga in which Dr. Perez is trying to place blame on the town and local fire departments for the blaze, with his believing the fire departments did not act quickly enough.
https://northcountrynow.com/stories/louisville-veterinarian-who-lost-clinic-in-2022-fire-now-suing-village-of-massena-as-well,282899
Now, here's a tidbit that I have heard from people that know Dr. Perez at a personal level: He did not have insurance coverage for the facility, nor it's contents, and also kept a large sum of cash with which he used to operate the business in a safe on-site which was also lost in the blaze.
First hand knowledge is that while Dr. Perez is a generally nice person, he did not take criticism very well, which has resulted in strained relations with the community as well as some of his current and past employees.
Local rumor is that the fire was set intentionally, though the lack of insurance tends to make one question that.
Not just merely a machine powered by explosions, sitting on volatile liquids... but one in which we've decided that it's also a great place to enjoy some music, maybe a nice beverage, and as a great way to take our attention off into vast distances to the sides to "see the sights".
I think to myself as I steer with one knee, trying to simultaneously drink my coffee and light a cigarette...
Just throwing an anecdote out there, but just went to nasa.gov myself, entered "Sally Ride" in their search box, and it pulled up several pieces about her. This is as of February 7th, 2025 for a reference for those that see this comment at some later date.
Driving.
Somehow millions of us go hurtling by each other mere inches away in multiple tons of steel, often in conditions less than ideal yet for the most part, it's a safe way to travel.
We can't even collectively agree on most topics, yet we put our lives in each others' hands every day.
Even disregarding all the other drivers, we put ourselves in a metal can, hurtle towards solid objects, and simply count on the idea that on average, nothing catastrophic will happen.
Pure, random chance is enough to end us - animal pops into the road, a tree randomly falling, etc. - yet there we go, on yet another daily commute.
I have a long commute through the "middle of nowhere" so lots of time to think about things that ought to be downright terrifying. The thought of hitting one moose is bad. Never occurred to me until just the other day that two moose was not out of the realm of possibility.
I don't know if it's wanting to see "The End" as you put it, but at least in my case I'm just tired of all the "We're this close to doomsday!" stuff and think to myself "Holy crap, just get it over with already" - the idea being that after everything turns to absolute crap, the only direction left is back up.
Like either the world is going to end soon, or we're going to figure out how to get along as a collective, global society. But while we're stuck in between the two, it's annoying.
People want spaces about a certain topic. It makes sense that people then "censor" things that don't fit said topic.
Even if that topic is "Be kind".
Just as with "free speech" in real life, online there are also limitations. If you disagree with those limitations, you have the freedom to go elsewhere. If you find that nowhere fits the kind of place you want to be in, make your own.
Just as people don't have to tolerate being around others mouthing off in their face, so to can they take steps to avoid/prevent that online.
In my opinion, people that can't fathom that concept are the ones most in need of that oversight.
Put an N64 controller in my hands, and I've still got the muscle memory for all the fatalities in Mortal Kombat 3 Ultimate Edition. As well as Shang Tsung's entire move set.
Oh and HALIFAX? !YNGWIE! to unlock the Naboo starfighter in N64's Rogue Squadron.
I can say for certain that they dont. At least not all of the firearms. And "or else"? Really? Are you intending that to read as a threat, or merely a warning about said dumbfucks?
Because that sort of "threat" is a nice indicator of the type of person that shouldn't have access to firearms.
I mean besides the obvious in ties to a SovCit, the letter itself doesn't read quite like it should. The language used seems a little too basic for a financial document.
Though I can't say for certain, as I have exactly zero experience with financing a car through a dealer. Credit unions ftw.
Those dumbfucks are a vocal minority. We tend to forget that the internet is not necessarily representative of a population. So pretty much every "extreme" really ought to be taken with a grain of salt.
Spitwad blasters. Hard to get a good distance without some sort of directional control and air focus.
With the caveat of "actual journalism". Too many "journalists" just rehashing social media posts, not nearly enough in-depth investigative journalism.
I'd also like to see less editorialization of news-worthy topics, and more "Here are the facts, in their entirety".
But yes, fuck the corporatized mass media in general. Obviously there are some exceptions, but those holding the purse strings can all collectively fuck off.
You'd think there's enough global support that something might kick off elsewhere in the world. But those not having to deal directly with the nonsense going on in the US have the benefit of being able to sit back and spout off.
Sorry we're not revolting fast enough. Kind of hard to do when things are generally equally split in the country, and the majority of folks need to keep going to work to keep food on the table.
Probably all as designed, but we're all too damned tired and those doing things we don't like know it.
I feel like if the nurse knew the instruction was false, following "orders" makes them just as complicit. And yes, obviously there are risks associated with telling someone with authority over you "You're wrong".
So I'm not a doctor, but I assume knowing basic anatomy is a requirement, right? Like, I just recently had an ultrasound and could tell what my liver was compared to other organs. Surely if an untrained eye can pick out a liver, surely a doctor should be able to...
Simplest way to put it is that prisons exist because some people simply cannot be allowed to live in "normal" society. Unfortunately, people have decided that this fate is no longer reserved for the worst of the worst/those that pose imminent danger, but now include "moral" offenses.
This is one of those topics where there is no "good" solution - only "less evil" options. And until humans as a species no longer have the various hold-over traits from our time before "civilization", we'll have to accept that we have to collectively make shitty choices.
Given the state of the world these days, 31 days is long enough for at least 3 very particular tasks. Any left over time, I'd probably just be bored and procrasturbate.
Hey all,
The dude that set that community up here. I just want to say to any that the topic might interest: Welcome. I look forward to seeing what others might have to share about Upstate whether news, events, or even just a "Man, this cold is brutal" commiseration thread.
Feel free to hit me up on kbin.earth, PieFed, or several other federated platforms. My username is spread around as I was working on getting my various federation feeds gathered in one spot.
See you out there,
ADKSilence~