Someone once described Oklahoma’s weather pattern with this list:

Their blogs just got integrated fairly recently with the fediverse.

Generally speaking - There was a huge change a while back in how schools were getting money. Originally the government was paying 75% and the institute only needed to make the last 25%. Then things started to change and it flipped, so now most schools get 25% or less in funding and have to make up the rest of the 75%. (I’m generalizing numbers but they aren’t too far off). This drastically changed how things were ran and just like a business that’s gone private to public they are now trying to make money however they can.

They also got rid of/are limiting most full time jobs and have just increased adjuncts & grad students workload significantly. There is a block on all fulltime hires unless someone retires at at least 3 universities near me. Additionally most adjuncts make a pittance and have little/no say in their schedule or classes. Even when the department does try to accommodate, they generally have their hands tied by higher ups. Oh and schools will cancel required classes before the first day because of “low enrollment” (more than 12 people was the lastest requirement at one near me). Mind you that most students don’t get notified of their financial aide until the first week of school and can’t enroll until they have financial aide secured.

Again generally speaking - nowadays working a minimum wage job has better benefits, stability, and pay than being an adjunct. Even the poster you responded to said they have to work at multiple universities to get by - all without insurance. It wouldn’t be bad if it was only for a short while, before moving to a fulltime position. Yet I know of many qualified adjuncts (with goals of fulltime) that are hitting double digits in their adjunct positions waiting for an opening to go fulltime. Academia is unfortunately very different than it used to be.

Wearing the wrong length/width/shape shoe will indeed mess up your feet. Wearing the correct size/shape shoe for your individual feet will not give such issues. Additionally different shoes do different things so wearing the best one for the activity being done will yield the best results.

Changing to different shoes every day is also really important to dry out sweat and avoid repetitive injuries caused by wearing the same shoe such as corns, callouses, deformations, stress fractures, etc.

That said, cheap material and lack of local shoemakers, makes finding the good/best fit incredibly difficult if not impossible. Couple with feet size shifting throughout the day (swelling) and the changes over a lifetime, really makes everything more complicated. And that’s not even acknowledging prices or fashions.

If one decides to go barefoot, know that the impact can increase loss of the fatpad on the bottom of the foot over time.

Dogs can and do eat people. https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/animals/would-your-dog-eat-you-if-you-died-get-the-facts

I do agree that OP should look into already existing services that are actively monitored.

There has been a decline in third places. There was a decline before the pandemic but the pandemic made it worse. Here’s an article about the decline in America specifically and the newer ways people are trying to connect. It won’t help you make more friends, but will help get perspective of one of the reasons things have changed.

For books try https://m.alibris.com/

(Un)surprisingly, the US had lots of public pools, but they got removed because of racism. Definitely affects everyone especially the poor with little means of travel. https://www.marketplace.org/2021/02/15/public-pools-used-to-be-everywhere-in-america-then-racism-shut-them-down/

What do you call a guy on the wall? Art. What do you call two guys on a wall? Curt and Rod.

Technically transgenders are the transgenders of Nazi Germany according to the Museum of Jewish Heritage . He targeted all the LGBT+ community. That said you’re completely right about flow of events and need for scape goats.

It’s not laziness per se. It about the barrier for entry being too high. If they wanted to enter (as you did) they would find a way (as you have). However most people have other higher priorities and don’t really know if they want to enter so they do nothing. If the entry barrier is lowered (maybe by adding helpful pic/vid explaining how it works/where to go, a platform walk-through, people/celebs/influencers talking about their experiences, simple sign up requirements, easy searching, etc.) many more people would easily come in as it’s wouldn’t be as confusing to join.

Yes it’s a thing in the US and has been around for many years. That said, culturally teacher respect has gone down during that time while gun usage/accessability has only gone up. So while you can ask/demand the student to participate or hand over their phone, there is no incentive nor authority to have them comply. And good luck getting their parent to care or even bother to listen to you or show up to a meeting. The US press has labeled teachers as indoctrinators, pedos, and lazy overpayed child care. The administration will throw you under the bus immediately to not deal with bad press regardless of what happened. Additionally you’re paid worse than some much easier entry level jobs that pay more with much shorter hours. So it’s not really that it’s new or strange, but rather that the situation has changed and the current “just take the device” doesn’t work as effectively as it once did.

Believe others when they tell you who they are and then shift your behavior accordingly.

Au, how cute! I guess it’s also pretty metal! Maybe autistics are the… gold standard?