Also I feel like it's important context about the "criticism of some of its themes" that season 2 aired in the wake of 9/11 and it wasn't subtle in its criticism of the US (and the US military etc)

It's not a perfect show but I feel like that was the absolute worst timing it could have had

There was a lot of non-smart MP3 player options on AliExpress (Amazon isn't really an affordable or useful option in Aus) and I imagine other similar sites. Just keep in mind that at least on Ali you can only complain about an order within the first couple months I think so don't spend too much

It's also way lighter than a smart device!

Also if anyone has an old phone that still works well enough for apps and wants to donate it to a cripple in need because the $50 android MP3 player is shit and awful 🙏🙏🙏 (I'm in Aus)

Also way smaller storage space for about the same price (and then the included SD card broke)

Also like, the minimal software of a non smart MP3 player is super nostalgic anyway and there is way less that could go wrong with a cheap non smart little device than a smart one

Also isn't mine cute??

I spent $65 AUD and it has physical buttons and a dial, it's just for music and does music well, expandable storage + 64 GB included, doesn't use up a lot of battery so it lasts forever between charges

The android one? Immediately gets very hot, is often slow or freezes, battery life is shit etc

Also: if you decide to buy one: I got mine from AliExpress and its one without fancy software or touch screen and it works great! I've also bought a small android MP3 player from AliExpress as a backup device for being stuck in bed, and I absolutely recommend getting the non-smart MP3 players

You can also buy MP3s from small artists on Bandcamp and Sound Cloud! Which supports them way more financially than Spotify and similar services!

Physical buttons! Change song without looking! No Spotify shuffle algorithm! No AI!

- listen to music that embedded itself in your brain when you were a teenager and didn't know or it wasn't known yet that the artist was awful without them earning anything via music streaming apps

- windows media player legacy still exists and USB CD drives for computers are cheap now

Last one especially because cloud storage is becoming the norm over expandable storage

- can use wired headphones/earphones again if you prefer those

- nostalgia

My initial statement about judging each other when the problem is systemic issues and shit also applies to how people cope with disability, how people present as queer, etc etc etc

We do not fix this shit by tearing each other down

I've been especially lucky that I've been able to borrow money or have other people help pay for things I need but couldn't afford. I've still had to use PayPal's "pay in 4 payments" option once, because I fucked up and forgot a bill

To use them with all the relevant information.

We need better regulations. Better social safety nets and resources.

We do not need to judge each other

And removing access to resources, no matter how predatory and fucked up, shouldnt come at the expense of marginalised people's ability to live.

It's important to talk about just how fucked up they are - The Checkout on ABC (Aus) was super important for this. Because no one should make the decision

Maybe it was an emergency. Maybe it wasn't. But do you know what it is? No bodies business

Because the predatory nature of those companies and schemes and systemic poverty are not going to be fixed by judging each other's spending habits

Maybe they fucked up and can't afford a bill or expense that can't wait, because everyone makes mistakes and poverty is especially stressful especially when you are in poverty because you are disabled, or visibly trans, or otherwise marginalised

Maybe getting their kid a birthday present is worth a little bit more debt to them, because their kid deserves a little bit of joy and to not feel the crushing weight of poverty.

Maybe it's for themselves because poverty is bleak and depressing and they need to cope somehow