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Joined 1 year ago
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Cake day: July 8th, 2023

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  • I went through a McDonald’s drive-thru the other day and had the most insane experience. For the context of this anecdote, I don’t do that often, so, what I experienced was just weird.

    While not quite “AI,” the first thing that happened was an automated voice yells at me, “are you ordering using your mobile app today?”

    There’s like three menu-speaker boxes, and due to where the car in front of me stopped, I’m like in between the last two. The other speaker begins to yell, “Are you ordering using your mobile app today?”

    The person running drive-thru mumbles something about pull around. I do. Pass by the other menu “Are you ordering using your mobile app today?”

    Dude walks out with a headset and starts taking orders from each car using a tablet.

    I have no idea what is happening. I can’t even see a menu when the guy gets around to me. Turns the tablet around at me.

    I realized that I was indeed ordering using the mobile app today.



  • This is such a non-thing that it hurts to even consider how stupid it is.

    But, let’s consider:

    1. The Super Bowl is a private corporate event; any song may be performed ceremoniously. That’s protected speech.

    2. Not standing up for the Black National Anthem is whatever. That’s protected speech.

    3. The Black National Anthem is a colloquial title and has no legal status. That’s protected speech.

    4. While there is a statute outlying etiquette for performances of the National Anthem, there are no penalties for not adhering. That’s protected speech.

    5. “America the Beautiful” was also performed and there’s no legal basis for etiquette or participation. This song also has a long history of being performed alongside the Star-Spangled Banner to the point that it’s sometimes referred to as the National Hymn, even though that is a colloquial and non-legal designation. That’s protected speech.

    6. This is apparently the fourth year that “Lift Every Voice and Sing” has been performed at the Super Bowl. That’s protected speech.