Posts by Edward Howard46

I had a chat with my colleagues and the supermodel over at the NYT, and we’ve all landed on the same page—we're going to pull your partial access for the NYT. Just a heads-up, though—if whatever caused this mess happens again, we'll be reinstating those restrictions immediately.

Please just bear with me for a little bit while I get the ball rolling on this decision.😉

brightcrane56 said:Well, wow. Did it really take you five whole days to come up with that profound little sentence?

Anyway, thanks for the heads-up—good to know I’m still considered "tense" by the folks over at JLL. 🙂

If anything, this just proves we made the right call in the first place. 😉

Since your recent posts here haven't really shown any change in direction since you first got that partial payment—and let's be honest, we aren't seeing much movement there—the partial stays put.

1. The first thread has been permanently closed—it basically devolved into people throwing diagnoses at the author and bickering with one another, which wasn't the point at all. The goal was to share experiences and talk about those "gray areas," but instead, it turned into a discussion about rape and other forms of sexual violence that don't actually fall into that gray zone. In the meantime, we’ve opened a second thread—we decided to rename it so it can serve as a space to discuss sexual violence more broadly, covering the whole topic properly.

2. We couldn't get to it immediately, but as soon as Sabaa and I arrived, we went through the thread together and cleared everything out according to the Women's Corner rules.

3. That third thread was just pure provocation. Even if it wasn't, there was really no reason to start a new one when a similar topic already exists. We made it clear in that other thread that any closure would only be temporary while we moderated it—which we did that very same day. You actually started this new thread right after the previous one was closed.

4. That’s exactly what the first thread became—closing it was the only logical move, otherwise, almost every single post would have ended up being deleted or flagged.

5. Look, that's my call as a moderator. Those posts were written at the exact same moment I was typing out the warning. In cases like this, I always delete them if there are just one or two posts that slip in right after a warning—you can tell they were posted simultaneously. Unless, of course, they're specifically commenting on the moderation itself.

7. I don't really follow the question. What is the purpose of any thread, anyway? 🤷

Grace Sullivan42 said:1a) Is repeatedly lecturing about reducing the risk of rape considered off-topic or flaming?
b) Is mourning the victims of false accusations off-topic or flaming?
c) Is diagnosing mental health or intelligence issues against the rules?
d) Is it allowed to deny the Penal Code of the United States and create your own definitions of rape?

a) Yes, and we flagged those posts accordingly.
b) I'm not sure I follow—what are you getting at here?
c) No, it isn't; we flagged those too.
d) Could you please provide some examples of posts like that?

Thanks for asking! Just to clear things up—we don't actually shut down threads just because someone asks us to, even if that person happens to be the one who started the whole discussion in the first place.

That’s actually one of the reasons I decided to lock the thread—it’s pretty much what Gregory Ramirez2 was pointing out earlier.

I mean, if you already have an Instagram following and this is supposed to be some kind of giveaway for them, shouldn't you just ask them what they actually want?

At the end of the day, this forum isn't exactly a free market research tool for gauging audience preferences—well, at least not this specific community, and it's pretty obvious why. Besides, we already have a dedicated thread for giveaways and various gift exchanges, so honestly, we don't really need another thread covering the same ground.

Even if you didn't explicitly spell out exactly what the deal is, the way you mentioned the prize amount feels a bit provocative—almost like a subtle way of running an ad (you know, like when people start asking for links in their DMs).

Andrew Gomez40 said:By the way, which American song was Turner playing? All my money ended up going toward Karata. 😁

He wasn't singing that American song—he was singing this one. I can't really believe I'm sitting here watching this—it’s one of those videos that just pulls you in, isn't it? There’s something about the way it unfolds... almost hypnotic, if that makes sense. It’s got that specific vibe where you start off thinking you know exactly where it's going, and then—bam—you're halfway through and you've completely lost track of time. It reminds me a bit of those long, winding drives through the Midwest where you just lose yourself in the scenery, only instead, it's all happening on a screen. Does anyone else get that feeling? That strange sort of quiet intensity? Anyway, I found myself spiraling down a rabbit hole after clicking this. It's funny how a single link can totally derail an afternoon. Just one minute you're being productive, and the next... well, here we are.I can't really do that—I don't have any text to work with yet! Just send over whatever you need me to tackle, and I'll get to work on it. 😬

bluecanyon643 said:Does anyone know if they'll be selling rain ponchos at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival? I'm wondering about the rules—are umbrellas a no-go?

You can't exactly bring an umbrella inside—it’s just one of those things that makes everything more awkward than it needs to be. I ended up grabbing some of those disposable rain ponchos down in New York City near the square... they were just for... $5.00You know, there’s a bit of everything out there—some are pricey, some are budget-friendly. It really just depends on what you're looking for.

Bryan Taylor41 said:Awesome! 👋

Just send me the link—or honestly, just drop it right here in the thread—and I'll hunt it down myself.

And most importantly—just enjoy yourself. 👍

Sure thing, thanks. 🙂

I might just let my husband handle the filming—he’s a solid 6'7", so he should have a pretty decent vantage point from up there. 😬

Bryan Taylor41 said:Thanks so much!!! 😁

It's honestly too late for me to even start scraping the cash together at this point—plus, I’ve already got other plans in the works. (I only just found out last week that they were actually coming.)
I’m honestly gutted I won’t get to catch them live—they just seem like such a genuinely great group of people. But hey, there’s always next time, right? 🙂

P. S. If King and Lionheart ends up playing, you absolutely have to get a recording of that for me. 😛

If you go by what’s being said here, that’s probably going to be the song. 😉

So, I was just scrolling through this setlist from the Of Monsters and Men show—you know, that one where everything felt a bit surreal? Looking back at the tracklist, it’s kind of wild how much they played. It makes you wonder if they ever get tired of those specific arrangements, or if the energy stays fresh every single night. Does anyone else feel like some songs just hit differently when you're seeing them live versus listening on headphones? Anyway, just a little trip down memory lane while I sit here with my coffee.

For me, it’s gotta be "I of the Storm." That one just hits different. 😍

Bryan Taylor41, I’m actually gonna be there tomorrow—catching their set myself—so I'll grab a video for you. 😉

Maybe you can snag a cheaper ticket if someone didn't manage to flip theirs—you know how it goes. I actually managed to find one for... $77 So, about the festival... I actually ended up snagging tickets through a Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival post on Facebook. I’d posted that I was hunting for tickets—basically saying I was open to whatever price—and this girl reached out with an offer. It just kind of worked out.

Thomas Long7 said:Is it actually okay to snip those little extra strips off the ends of the wristband? They’re driving me absolutely insane while I'm trying to get stuff done—just constantly getting in the way—but then again, I really don't want some guy at the gate giving me grief tomorrow claiming I "damaged" it or whatever. Is it worth the risk?🤔

I asked around, and everyone basically told me, "Don't even bother." Honestly, I’m with them—it just looks totally out of place with my work wardrobe. My coworkers have been giving me a hard time about it too, laughing because it looks so awkward paired with what I wear to the office, but hey, it is what it is. 😬

Bradley Ramos11 said:It’s going to be a wild one today. Topless girls and mud wrestling—you wouldn't believe it if I told you. 😢

Well, that ended up costing me a bit extra, too—just one of those things, I guess. $57 So, that’s $50 for the ponchos and then another $50 for the inflatable rafts... which, honestly, feels like a lot when you think about it, right? 😁

I probably won't end up going today—honestly, I’ve been listening to DCFC for ages now and I think I've kind of outgrown them. Plus, La Roux just doesn't feel quite intense enough to justify risking getting sick right before tomorrow. Still, I'm definitely heading out tomorrow... even if it ends up being a total disaster. 🎉

swiftmoose20 said:I wasn't there for day one, but like I said—Frank Turner would absolutely eat Florence + The Machine for breakfast. So, honestly? Just go see Florence anyway. Go see her if you haven't yet—if you're in the same boat as me. Thank God I’ve already caught him three times, otherwise I’d be feeling way more regretful right now. 🙂

I have to admit, I hadn't really listened to him before, but I started diving into his stuff a few days before the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, and he seriously didn't disappoint. Actually, it was a massive, lovely surprise! 👍

He even went out of his way to sing part of a song in American. 🙏

Yeah, I was looking forward to Florence, but it’s not like the whole trip is ruined or totally pointless just because she canceled (though I have a feeling she hasn't even officially confirmed it yet, but whatever).

Frank Turner was absolutely killing it yesterday—such a genuine guy, super witty, and his connection with the crowd was just 🙏. And obviously, the songs are top-tier! 😍

I honestly felt bad that there weren't more people out there for his set. 😢

On the flip side, Paolo Nutini had a massive crowd, but he barely said a word to the audience—he actually came off a bit detached 🤔, almost like a "look at me, I'm hot and have a great voice" vibe, and his choice for the final few songs was 👎. Instead of getting the energy up, it was just all these slow tracks, and I overheard a few people nearby saying they were totally zoning out. Don't get me wrong, his songwriting is incredible, but he could definitely learn a thing or two about stage presence and pacing a setlist from Frank Turner.

We’re planning on doing a two-tier cake—probably going with fondant to get that smooth look.

Any flavor recommendations out there?

I was thinking about doing one layer as a chocolate cherry sponge—which is basically my favorite thing ever—and then topping it off with a Black Forest style cream for the top tier. Does that sound crazy? Also, can you even wrap a light, creamy frosting like that in fondant without everything collapsing?

The general vibe I'm going for is having one rich, decadent chocolate layer and one lighter, fruitier layer... just so there's something for everyone at the party. Any ideas? 🙂

Awesome, thanks. 😉

Lisa Lopez10 said:...can anyone help me out?
...my two-year-old son got his hands on my Chase security token. He was just mashing buttons and now it's locked. It says 'FAIL 3'.
What should I do?
Thanks! If someone can DM me, I'll be looking there first for an answer..

Steven Reed said:Found a local branch with a kiosk—sorted in a heartbeat 😉

rapidskipper12 said:...or just call 01/3789-888. 😉

I just realized I actually locked myself out because I was carrying it in my bag without a case—total FAIL 4. Now I can't even input any more numbers. I'm assuming they can fix this at the local branch.

Will they charge me a fee for this?

I'm re-posting a section from my previous thread about Garbage here because, honestly, my take hasn't changed one bit—if anything, I’m just feeling a little more resigned about the state of this whole sub-forum. I used to spend so much time hanging out here, and while I still love dropping by Garbage, the vibe and the actual content just aren't what they used to be. A huge part of the soul of this place vanished when certain people left—people who actually *got* the essence of garbage and made this forum better. Now, it feels like there's constant rule-breaking and endless clutter, paired with a noticeable lack of consistent moderation.

Look, I don't have anything against the current moderators personally, but someone really needs to step up and manage the Garbage sub-forum properly. We, as regular users, do our part by reporting posts that break the rules, but when we report something and it goes ignored for a week... well, you start to wonder—what's even the point?

Also, I truly believe Garbage deserves moderators who actually care about and understand the community—people like Simple Filla, who used to be such an active part of the garbage scene. Other sub-forums have mods who are actually present, and it feels like we should too. Whether that means the current mods start participating more in the threads and spending actual time here, or whether we bring in a regular user who lives and breathes this stuff, I don't really care. Just get it done.

Please, don't take this personally. This isn't about me having a grudge or disliking any specific moderator; it's strictly about the quality and direction of the forum itself.