FinishingDutch @ FinishingDutch @lemmy.world

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Joined

2 yr. ago

Ha, the slang and colloquialisms are actually the easy part, really!

We are subjected to an awful lot of US culture in general. We watch Hollywood movies and we get most US shows, which are shown with subtitles here. We also follow US news and events, we enjoy US music, we use a lot of the same services, etc. Basically, if I moved to the US, I’d fit right in.

We tend to enjoy US culture quite a bit. We might disagree on topics like politics, healthcare, gun issues or the metric system, but by and large we’re like… Canadians.

Thank you, we take pride in our language education.

We learn English, French and German in school, which really helps when dealing with the rest of Europe. Whenever you meet someone from another European country, chances are you can find at least one language you both speak. Makes trade and travel a lot easier.

I do occasionally slip up when talking to Americans. We’re generally taught UK and US English here simultaneously. Which means I sometimes have the UK spelling in my head, which can differ slightly. For example, flavour vs flavor. Online, I usually try to keep it ‘US English’.

Yeah, I can absolutely see that ‘District of Columbia’ argument in my head :D You’d assume people at least know that one considering how much important stuff happens there. I’d understand if someone not from the US didn’t know. But Americans really should.

Well I’d certainly hope the people in the military get properly trained. You’d hate to confuse Austria and Australia or Georgia (state) and Georgia (country) if you ever needed to bomb or invade either one of them :D

I always knew Americans in general were bad with global geography… but to not even know their own states? That sounds insane.

Heck, in our Dutch schools, we actually learn all the states in the United States. I definitely know New Mexico is a state. Same as Alaska and Hawaii (but not Puerto Rico, which is a territory but not a state)

How am I better at this than actual Americans? That should not be a thing.

This shit is exhausting and incoherent to read. Also, jury nullification is in no way, shape or form ‘advocating for violence’.

‘Violence is never the solution’ is usually the thing the abuser tells you. Because they know that violence is indeed the thing that gets you actual change more often than not.

Did talking get us out of World War II? No. Are you going to reason with a dictator like Assad, Hussein, Gadaffi, etc? No. Did the French get rid of their oppressive ruling class through vigorous debate? No.

And that’s not even counting how many countries and peoples had to fight themselves free over the centuries.

Violence is not the solution to every problem. But it sure is the only solution for some of them.

Glad I could teach you an interesting phrase :D

It’s actually quite old. It’s been used in this context of ‘shooting someone’ since at least the 1870’s.

https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/in74zji

Wake the fuck up, samurai. We’ve got a CEO to ventilate.

Non negotiable sounds fine with me. Because we don’t negotiate with terrorists.

I’d like to give a heartfelt thank you to Microsoft management though, for furthering the cause of Linux adoption. We couldn’t have done it without you. 🙏

I’m definitely not going to be forced to Windows 11. I’ll probably install Linux on my now three year old PC until it falls apart and I need a new one. Or I might just go back to Mac, which I used exclusively for 7 years in the 2010’s.

If Microsoft thinks they can intimidate or push me to 11, they’re sorely mistaken.

They’re not. I got one last week, the one about ‘buy a new computer with Windows 11’. And I’m in the Netherlands.

I always see movies alone. Preferably early in the day in a deserted theatre if possible. Movies are very much a ‘me time’ activity. I go at least twice a week with my unlimited movie pass.

It’s just not needed to drag someone else along, especially if they aren’t as interested in the movie to begin with.

Yeah, an ENT will usually use a curette while looking into your ear. That’s like a little stick with a loop or scoop at the end. Basically, they’ll manually scrape it clean. It’s effective, but usually more unpleasant as you found out.

Thankfully, drops and irrigation work just fine for me.

I’m always amazed how much comes out. I always like to take a look after they flush it.

Last time, my left ear - the one that didn’t even feel clogged - had a plug in it about the size of your pinky distal phalange (the last section of your pinky).

I didn’t even feel it when it was in there. But I sure as shit felt when it wasn’t! Everything sounded so loud for a day or two afterwards.

Basically, every method has its pros and cons. For me, a few drops of oil and irrigation work fine. But I also know some people require manual curette and suction to get it cleaned.

And yes, the ear bulb has its own cons. For example, you shouldn’t do it if you’ve ever had ear related trauma like a blown eardrum or ear tubes. And it should always be done with lukewarm water, as cold water can lead to dizziness.

For me, here in the Netherlands, it’s a free doctor’s visit to get it done. Only costs me the ten minute wait in the waiting room.

You can, but in general it’s good to be aware of risk factors and the proper way to do it.

For example, if you’ve had ear issues like a ruptured eardrum, ear tubes or a history of infections, it’s best to let a doctor look at it first. It’s a fairly safe thing to do, but there are contra-indications to be aware of.

Another important note: if you’ve do irrigate, it’s usually best to use lukewarm water. If you’ve use cold water, it can lead to dizziness. Not everyone is susceptible to that, but it’s good to be aware of it.

I’m like your wife, in that I get clogged ears naturally. Particularly my right ear. I have a slightly wonky ear canal, which causes wax to build up. I usually get it cleaned every year or so. Olive oil drops help to get things going.

Honestly though… irrigation to me is just as enjoyable :D

It’s like scratching an itch in a spot you didn’t even know was itching. And you’re going to love how clean it feels. Definitely get it done at least once if you’ve never experienced it.

DO NOT stick anything in your ears. Absolutely not.

Your ears are self cleaning. Earwax is a cleaning mechanism, that’s designed to trap dirt and things and remove them from your ear. It works with your jaw movement, which slowly moves the wax to the outermost part of the ear.

If you use Q-tips, your ears produces more wax because it thinks there’s something that needs cleaning. Basically, you’re making things worse by doing that.

If you’ve got a clogged ear: first try a few drops of olive oil and let it sit for a minute or two. That’ll soften the wax and make it easier to get out. Usually you’ll need to do it a day or two.

If your ear remains clogged, get it irrigated at your doctor’s office. They squirt lukewarm water in it to flush out your ear canal. You’ll have awesome superhero hearing for a day or so afterwards. It’s quick and painless if done properly.

Do not fuck with your ears yourself. It’s not worth it.

At some point it’s gonna get dystopian enough that your phone will require a blood sample before it lets you online, to confirm that you are in fact a meat popsicle.

It’s a shame they’re inherently dangerous, hence why they aren’t used anymore. They have a high risk of spreading infection when blood/fluid ricochets back into the device while administering a dose. Thus contaminating the next one to be administered. Basically, the risk isn’t worth the convenience.

I still think they’re pretty cool. They’re the real life inspiration for Star Trek’s hypospray. Many people would love a device like this since fear of needles is quite common.

One colleague of mine has a huge fear of needles. She basically had to be held down by four people while getting her covid shot. It was necessary, she consented to the manhandling… but a device like this would’ve made it a lot less stressful for her to get the shot.