The nuance I feel you might be overlooking is your so-called visual aid is just someone else’s hot bod (as much as it is mostly artificial) and it might signal to your partner that you don’t find her physique attractive enough, whereas the use of sex toys or physical aids as you put it would be your partner’s way of signaling that her pleasure is not exclusively centered on your penis or its size. Even in phallic shaped toys designed for penetration, there’s always something else reputable manufacturers include, be it vibration, texture, shape, simultaneous clitoral stimulation, suction, etc. And none of these are meant to substitute your own physique and the intimacy you bring to the table (or the bed, or the couch, or the shower hehe).

I think the poster below makes a good point that toys designed for men such as fleshlights would be a more apt comparison. And the reverse for the example you provide would be something akin to needing the visual aid of Johnny Sins to get off. If we were to talk about getting off during your little lovemaking session by the chemistry and the fantasy on screen in porn - and both parties were ok with and equally excited by it -, then I’d also find no issue with that (albeit, I do think there are healthier ways to go about).

When it comes to sex, it all eventually comes down to communication and respect. And if your boundaries to feeling comfortable draw a line against using sex toys, then that’s you and your partner needs to respect your feelings as well. I just feel like it’s a shame if people are missing out, because their own insecurities equate a dildo or a vibrator (or whatever) to a substitute for your penis, your body, and your active role during sexy times, because they definitely are not.

There’s always something for everyone and not everyone is into everything. As long as there’s consent, respect for needs and boundaries, and communication, no one ever needs to feel innadequate in the bedroom.

I’d like to think I have a healthy mix of both. Some albums are imo best in their original or earlier pressings (or at the very least in terms of bang for buck) and some have great remasters that make for the definitive version of the album, which can also be quite the personal preference.

For instance, early Zeppelin pressings (namely Porky Pecko and Robert Ludwig cuts) beat the most recent remasters out of the water, imo, but maybe I’d stick with the Classic Records’ 45rpm pressings if I’d been one of the lucky few to get them then.

And I definitely enjoy the older pressings from Pink Floyd’s DSOTM and WYWH more (have one with an HTM cut), but I like Animals’ 2018 Remix the most, when it comes to that album (although I could see someone prefering the OG’s sound) and the Syd Barret-era Mono versions remastered are great if you don’t want to lease your ass to pay for OG pressing prices on those.

Personally, I’ve moved from originals to good remasters, when possible, the better my system got, because it’s harder to find OGs from last century that are in good shape at a reasonable price and don’t take away from your listening experience with noise.

Worked for Turkey, apparently.

Oh, they’re in for it now. It’s strike three, so the next time they check their mailboxes, they’ll find a strongly worded letter there. That’ll teach them!

Hehe, they’re a niche buy, handmade from Portugal in the 00’s, called Harpa Lusitana.

Does that one have the God of Thunder cover track?

More BS to distract people from the Epstein files.

I’m giving IronFox a chance and also using a hardened Fennec, both of which are based on Firefox.

Didn’t think I’d see a degoogling list without DeepL, for translations. That’s definitely a choice.

More pressure? Okay, but at his age, there’s only so much clenching Donald’s butthole can exert.

Have to wonder where all the indignation from from the Federal gov supposedly overstepping its authority went, when the Republican party got its flaming bag of orange dookie through the door.

They’re still European, much closer to the EU geopolitically, and if you think about the many damaging trends we import from the macro USA, which is further distanced from us, it’s not such a big leap forward to think this might also contribute negatively to the social climate in the EU. Not to mention the UK itself.

I would personally suggest Qobuz, as it is demonstrably the service that pays artists the most and has multiple tiers of lossless audio options. The next best thing would be to buy from artists directly, whenever possible (maybe even physical media, if you have a good sound system for that).

People here advocating for piracy sound cute, but I wonder how actual musicians would feel about that.

Can confirm: am over 35 and if I stay up later than that I start to get cranky and sour about kids these days with their insistence on trying, instead of doing or doing not. Ugh!

Love that album and love the MOV issues of APC, that one just brings the house down without sounding compressed as hell.