Love Mitch and Stephen - had never heard of James Acaster but took a chance based on your list and loved him :D thanks for the rec!

I think it’s also partially about taking something that can be associated with … rednecks/middle America/conservatives I guess, and using it as a vehicle to try to reset people’s initial reactions against stuff that would be in their interest (unions for example). It doesn’t seem like it’s a concerted effort to actually reach that group, so right now it’s leftist memes for leftists but the potential for puncturing someone’s insular bubble Via familiar substrate for the message has interesting potential!

I had my test in a big snowstorm as well. Because of this the evaluator abridged the test a bit. It was a very surreal experience, I had been prepared for all of the maneuvers and instead it was mostly backing up along the curb type things.

I don’t know that it was as bad as the conditions for the OP, but at least because these are new drivers and the chances are greater for bad outcomes in conditions they don’t have many hours of experience in … I would be inclined to have tests during inclement weather postponed.

Could you clarify what the joke is? Is there a pun here that I am missing picking up on?

This entire thing is absolutely fascinating.

You and that kernel were both panicking!

Next Gen actually flexible livescribe fountain pen?? I honestly spent WAY too long trying to design a system that would automatically digitize what I wrote but work with a fountain pen. I eventually gave up and moved on to designing a system for a single handed braille keyboard to let me text while walking. Which I also have on hold. (I HAVE completed some projects, I have a knit shawl of silk/yak that I spun all the yarn for and then added 4000 beads to the edge work. I actually made two of them in different colors and materials. And I’ve made some crud apps and artwork. There is just too much that is interesting!)

Favorite fountain pen and ink (or at least your favorite at the moment)?

I love vinta perya (I dilute it further with water) in my Noodler’s clear flex pen. I have a million pens and inks but that’s the combo that makes me happy and that I keep going back to 💕

I also did well in school (have my Masters too!) and I got diagnosed with ADHD at around age 30 (I’m female so that made a difference in people’s expectations of how it presents). Totally no need to pathologize a trait or to pursue a diagnosis even if the traits do fir you, but I did just want to chime in that there are plenty of us who managed to defy the trope of “doesn’t apply themselves”.

For me, I totally do what you do with hobbies! It’s actually why I went into library science - ADHD is my superpower that allows me to be a generalist :P

I spent last night learning about wood pit clay firing techniques and learning about table saw safety. Why? Idk. I have Ehlers Danlos and I’ve had to give up sewing, spinning, etc, so it’s not like I’m going to be out there making slab tables or digging my own clay but… It’s REALLY fun to imagine and learn all about!

I love learning about new hobbies and I so rarely find the hobbiest of… Hobbies! Thanks for sharing :)