Great read!

Depends on the climate and the number of trees. I understand wanting to leave all the leaves, but it’ll just create a muddy mess in my yard. I mulch them, it spreads through the yard. I circle around the trees and garden beds to get more leaves in those areas. Leftovers go on the composting pile.

That’s cool as hell

This is what I’ve done; I founded an adult rec sports league a few years ago that’s burgeoned into a thriving community. It’s about half queer, we have a large group that hangs out after games, regular social events, developing leadership board, active Discord. We’ve raised over $10,000 for charities and member medical bills. (America is really sad) It’s really a bright spot in a lot of our lives right now. As things get worse, we now have a community to fall back on and support one another.

Just a social norm. Allegedly keeps the water cleaner with less hair and detritus. However, you’re still expected to wear one if you’re bald. I certainly didn’t agree with it. I think it’s more important just to shower up before swimming.

When I visited Spain, they wouldn’t let you swim in the hotel pools unless you had a cap.

Sorry, I should have said living wage. Like what an actual minimum wage should be, calculated based on the average cost of basic necessities. (Food, housing etc…) With geography included. Pretty basic stuff. Like how the minimum wage in CA is 16.50$? Of course some servers would be upset - if you’re valet or a server at a fine dining restaurant you’re making significantly more than a server at a working class chain for doing essentially the same job. That’s dumb. Also, I’d posit there are a lot more people against tips than for tips, which makes legislation a possibility.

How/why would inflation be out of control? The cooks don’t get tips, the managers don’t get tips, the dishwashers don’t get tips. They’re paid a wage. Some restaurants in the US already do this. I have one near me.

I do know what the server’s wage is where I live - It’s $2.83/hour, with a maximum tip cover of $4.42 to bring to minimum wage, which isn’t even close to a liveable wage, since minimum wage hasn’t been adjusted since '09 and it was too low then. Plus they have no health insurance or other benefits (average cost is $9k for solo/$25k for families).

I’m not inclined to tip when I visit Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Switzerland, Denmark etc… because their servers make liveable wages and they have healthcare and other benefits provided by their governments.

I’m an American and I hate tipping culture. I don’t believe your solution to getting rid of tipping culture is viable. I think we collectively as a culture would need to agree not to tip, which isn’t going to happen. A much easier way would be through legislation and forcing employers to pay fair wages. I don’t think customers would be inclined to tip someone making a fair wage. If this thread and hundreds like them on Lemmy and Reddit are any indication, people are generally guilted into tipping because wait staff makes $2/hour or whatever in the states.

I disagree. You’d have to organize a national movement with a majority of the relevant population onboard. Can’t even get people to vote. Good luck.

Unpopular opinion, but I got used to eating hot dogs growing up with regular sliced bread and I might even prefer it. The bun/dog ratio is good. However, I know it’s more bread and is contradictory, but Danish hot dogs are my favorite.

Critical thinking is important, y’all.

You’re right, unfortunately. That’s a reality in some rural areas. My experience does come from a city with options, and I’m judging those folks. One positive is that so many things can be delivered now, which helps to supplement the absence of local businesses put under by Walmart, and can even create more local businesses. While you may not have the option with certain medications, spending 30% less there will make a difference.

You hit the nail on the head; principles are important and a measurement of your character. I understand that ignorance plays into it as well - I’m sure I support some crappy companies inadvertently. If we all tried our best however, there’d be less kowtowing to bigotry, fascism and exploitation of vulnerable people.

I didn’t used to, but I’m getting more judgemental as time goes on. I’m an ally and involved in LGBTQIA orgs and I can’t tell you how many gay friends and acquaintances I have that still go to Chick-fil-A and Walmart. I’m harsher with those two, but now, I’ll speak out against folks going to Target as well. Even without Target, Walmart and Amazon, I still have no trouble buying anything I need without inconvenience. The only language large corporations speak is money and if you can’t even boycott a company that makes mid fast food that’s spending money to take away your rights, it seems pathetic to me.

I think they just failed. The Wachowskis aren’t writing or directing.

I truly believe Resurrections was a purposeful flop to demonetize/kill the series to prevent WB making additional sequels or maybe remakes.

That’s a good way to describe it. I really enjoyed Dark, but I didn’t watch TV for a few weeks and it felt impossible to get back to.

I would implore you to catch up, or at least watch season 16. The Risk E. Rats and Dennis mental health Day were amazing.

Psycho Goreman

I wanted to follow-up and say that I got some Marmite, Coleman’s mustard and a box of Yorkshire pudding mix. I’m excited to try the marmite in recipes. I tried it on a cracker and it tastes like this “better than bouillon” broth-making concentrate. I don’t think I’ll be eating it plain on toast anytime soon, but it’s very salty and umami.