That's not true at all. American English absolutely differentiates them in exactly the same way.

The only Star Trek or Star Wars shirt I currently own is black with yellow gold lettering saying "Star Trek" in the Star Wars font. I think it makes some people uncomfortable. My S.O. hates it. I think it's hilarious and I know immediately what type of "nerd" I'm dealing with based on people's reactions to it. I suspect most people don't realize it's a joke or they are worried that I don't know it's a joke.

The best part is the random bill.

• Go to the doctor. Get blood drawn.
• Doctor send the blood to a lab for the test. Doesn't tell me who. I don't care who. It's their subcontractor, let them worry about it. *Go back to the doctor or get a call for results. Pay the doctor the standard co-pay. *Months later a random company sends me a bill. This is a company that I have never interacted with or entered into any contract with, for work that somebody else (presumably my doctor, but who the fuck knows for sure) asked them to do for them, sending the results to that other person and NOT to me.

The system is broken. If any other company subcontracted a part of their work to a third party, you as the client would reasonably expect that work to be paid through the original contract, not get a bill directly from the subcontractor. I didn't hire them, the doctor hired them. As far as I'm concerned, that's the doctor's subcontractor and their debt, not mine. I paid the doctor already.

Or another variant.

• Go to the emergency room.
• Get separate bills FOR THE SAME SERVICE from the hospital, the doctor, and somehow the hospital again but this time it's the emergency room (which is somehow separate with a different billing company).

The system is not just broken. It is designed to fleece us and train us to always accept whatever debt the institutions decide to levy on us without question.

"non-lethal" Oh, boy! What an infuriating misnomer that is.

This is also a good time to remember nothing here in this context is "non-lethal". All of these things (sand bags, tear gas, tasers, pepper spray, mace, rubber bullets, batons, shields, tactical holds, etc.) are accurately called "less lethal" because all of them can and will kill under certain circumstances, even when used by trained officers with good intentions. (I know. How often does that happen, right?) It doesn't take much to cross that line between "not intending murder" and "actual fucking murder", often something as simple as a common medical condition or simply falling while moving over hard ground like curbs and sidewalks. If a reporter is using the term "non-lethal" in the context of police brutality, that's a pretty good sign that you are being lied to.

So was /r/TheDonald

Chopsticks. Use them. It takes a little practice, but they are perfect for snacking, especially popcorn. Cheetos are easiest of the chips, but others are possible. No more residue on your finger tips, or the backs of your hands from reaching into the bag. I also switched to chopsticks for things like salads (fruit or vege variety), noodles, and getting olives and such out of jars. Even a good stew or chili can be eaten with chopsticks and a spoon. Now I just need to get better at using chopsticks with my nondominant hand.

A decade ago she would have been seeking that validation from her friends. ChatGPT is just a validation machine, like an emotional vibrator.

I hate how modern journalism uses phrases to distance us from the harsh reality, like "mortality rates increased" instead of "people killed by government policy", "officer involved shooting" instead on "murdered by police", "abortion rights" instead of "human rights".

I can see you haven't interacted with many police in these areas. I wouldn't be surprised in the least by any of that behavior. The cops only protect and serve property, not people.

I'm sure there are other birds that look more like the sketch on the right.

It's the gritty psychedelic dystopian cyberpunk movie we didn't deserve. Nintendo had no idea how to produce a movie and just let them run fucking wild. Hollywood should be encouraged to take more chances. Fucking electric bumper cars demolition derby style car chase. Dino-people. Devo (the concept not the band). Psychic fungi. And all the other fucking weirdos. It's not even awesomely bad, it's badassly awesome.

What's most surprising to me is how closely the latest animated Movie Bros. movie followed the very broad strokes of the plot of the original, like a sanitized and fully kitsch commercial reboot, which is kind of appropriate for the world we live in.

I'm no nationalistic fanatic of the flag, but is it really so difficult to understand that the flag is a symbol?

Obviously each flag, be they for nations or other groups, represents more than just a piece of cloth to many people. Taking offence at someone else's identifying with what a flag symbolizes is not okay. But, I tend to look skeptically at worship of any kind of idol, be it flag, cross, or text. That still doesn't mean it's okay to hate or persecute people for their beliefs, even if they appear silly to you and as long as they don't hurt others.

One group can demonstrate their respect for the nation by physically following some rules around the flag and others can demonstrate their loyalty to their ideals of the nation being violated by flying the flag upside down or burning a flag.

A flag or banner is not just a piece of cloth, never has been.