@Teri_Kanefield I agree with you. Democracy is hard. At a combined meeting of my small town’s planning and zoning commission, town council, and other boards to discuss options for increasing affordable housing, several said “We need to make them build what we want” and got mad when I said that’s not how our legal authority works. It’s a university town & developers want to build high return apartments for students. We can make that hard, and incentivize AH, that’s all.
For @futurebird an ant plant. The green house has a big collection of ant plants, but sadly, no ants! The research specimen collection however does have a fantastic collection of army ants and their associated guests.
Just got an email from a local greenhouse that fuel costs are too high so they are giving away all their remaining houseplants this weekend and shutting down for two months.
@shekinahcancook and Orchid World is doing well! I started rescuing orchids at the beginning of the pandemic and at least for the Phalaenopsis, have figured out a good regimen to keep them healthy and blooming.
A few people are making more money, most people aren't. With wages basically stagnant and housing costs continuing to rise, really not surprising about the growing number of unhoused people.
And yet somehow, it will be spun that those of us that fall through the cracks are at fault and not the two issues I just mentioned.
@Adam_Cadmon1 had a convo with an acquaintance who has worked with and for religious orgs supporting the unhoused for a decade. He said he believes the root cause of homelessness is the decline in marriage and children in single parent households. I said, don’t you think poverty is the root cause? High housing costs and wages that haven’t kept pace? Inequity? You know, like data from the past few years clearly shows?
@KatM@Adam_Cadmon1 Yes! This! Rosa DeLauro from CT’s 3rd district has been pushing for the child tax credit for years and even this modest payment during 2021 dropped the child poverty rate significantly (and of course it climbed right back up when Congress let the credit lapse). For once we have a fairly simple solution to a complex problem. Just give people more money->see significant positive societal change.
Hello Middle-aged, but very attractive woman who is exuding absolute authority and pose, may I join whatever Superhero/Supervillain Team you're putting together? I have "skillz" if you know what I mean.
@RickiTarr Right. You’re in. You’re in charge of social engagement. I’m in charge of bail money and stocking the snack cabinet and we do whatever Janelle Monáe needs done.
I the kinda person when someone ask
' Jaden how are you? '
' yeah all good '
When really I got like 100 problems thrashing around in my brain and I am not fkg good!
But yeah i smile and say ' I good thanks '
Yall like this?
Why don't we admit we feel like shit?
@Jaden2 I think we don’t want to burden others. But you just found a way to share with us all that you are going through things with this post. That’s good. You didn’t hand me your burden to carry myself, you shared a load so I can help you carry it.
Trying to have a productive day. Run, writing group, then taking a prospective student out to lunch with some current lab members. What are y’all up to today?
@Drew_Lab Reading, laundry, just returned from a frosty walk on campus, now coffee, breakfast and editing for training video we want to go live today, then more editing for support documents. Really grateful to feel past the writing slump of the past few weeks. Looking forward to enjoying the holiday feeling accomplished rather than worried I haven’t done enough.