Pre-Invasion, I worked closely with a number of Russians.

One of them came over here (US) for a few weeks to get a better handle on the software we were developing, and he was a stand-up guy. IF I had run into him in a bar without context, I'd have made a friend. The invasion shot that all to shit, of course. Helluva guy, and a helluva developer. Ticking those two boxes was all I expected.

Born 1981. Daniels and Todds abound.

Lots of Kylies, and the like, along with plenty of the traditional Sarahs and the like.

My "adopted" family (in-laws) and I have been heading in that direction and sending trial balloons for years.

This year, snacks, a pair of socks, and a couple bucks.

We got them gift cards for a restaurant we all adore.

We all are doing just fine, in our respective worlds. We've managed to stay geographically close, ish, and do holidays etc together at somebody's house. That's the important part.

Took me more years than it should have to realize that, but let's say my wife's family has taught me quite a bit over the years and largely changed my perspective on many things - this included.

Can you expound on 'block'? IIRC, Jerry blocks threads proactively on his microblog instances, and the user can undo that. Is that what you're looking for, or something further?

I (am blessedly fortunate to be able to) run a single user instance for myself. By definition, I don't see this shit.

But I rage for the folks who do.

It's real simple: However one perceives oneself is valid, full stop. Who the hell am I to suggest otherwise? I'm not in anyone else's head.

These motherfuckers, and threads, have more than one suicide upon their heads I'm quite sure.

As for me, it's no trouble at all to call someone by their preferred (anything) - Countless kids decided in their late teens to use their middle name, or something totally unrelated. You wanna be "Skip," I'm good with that. Dunno why, wouldn't be my choice, but... All that's relevant is that you identify as Skip or Buddy or Lisa or Suzie.

Don't fucking fly.

Not bc climate change, but bc no human has ever gotten off a commercial flight. and been in the best possible condition to face whatever they were flying to.

People are miserable, and concentrated in a small space they're doubly so. Add to that convincing security theatre puppets that my CPAP is actually medical equipment, and that no, the meds that make sleep possible are not prohibited (liquid max be damned).... Hell with that.

I can get from my driveway to Chicago Union Station in two hours or less from my driveway. The LSL can have me in Albany ~12h later. Given that I was forced to make that trip quarterly in a past life, trying to fly WN would have forced me to go via BWI or ATL and taken the same damn amount of time all considered, with lots more stress.

Train gave me a decent sleeper car for less than plane fare for the two of us, even on WN. I arrived ready to get to work, versus a lil jet lagged and angry at people in general. Yeah, train was a no brainer.

Obviously not an option on all routes, but worked well for me.

• A Long December (Counting Crows)

• Soul Asylum's cover of Rhinestone Cowboy.

The former is ever relevant, the latter is somehow both a total reimagining of the song and true to the original.

Yeah, I date myself with both of those. Yeah, I was probs in HS for both of them.

That, and Good Riddance / Time of your Life (Greenday). I understand it was supposed to be a sarcastic dig at a woman. But that's not how audiences largely heard it, and it became the legit, totally unironic anthem of a certain generation that I am abs not a part of.

Also... There's a completely random punk band no one but me has ever heard of (Ruth Ruth), and their album Laughing Gallery has been by my side at some of my lowest points over the years. Wish I could let 'em know the impact they had in making sure I pushed through some of the worst periods.

Oh, so instead of snoozing, the only option becomes "turn off"? That won't end well.

Don't mean to jump on you, and I'm sure that would work for some. But for those who are past that point... Less so.

There are risks to getting out of bed in the morning, too.

Unions are not by definition in response to untenable conditions - those are certainly the most high profile instances.

Can't imagine that any worker for Big Three automakers is regretting having joined a union right now.

No reason a future employer would need to know you were involved in organizing, and hardly something HR is going to disclose on a ref check. Setting aside the fact that it's not legal to 'blacklist' that way, would you want to work for a company that did, even by informal word of mouth? It's just not a thing.

https://archive.ph/xl8qC for those who want to read the article. It says more or less exactly what the headline claims, though.

With long term sickness a driving force behind the rise in people locked out the labour market, a focus of the upcoming statement will be to ensure fewer people are signed off and fall out of the workforce.

The assumption here is that those people don't need to be off work, and are simply having trouble getting approval to return to work. I find that not only disingenuous, but also offensive. Typical Tory, IOW.

It is when you then use the events you witnessed to testify and roll up the people who were directly and proximately responsible for that nightmare.

I do not think that her participation was so critical to the events as to mean "but for" her actions the plot wouldn't have existed. I do think that "but for" TFG and Guiliani's participation, those events never would have happened.

Seems fair to me that she gets a lighter sentence, and the plotters responsible for the entirety of the conspiracy get justice.

Also, she'll certainly never practice law again when all of this is over. Minor credit blemishes are enough to fail C&F in some places, can't see a state bar overlooking this.

I'm sorry you were in that position, and I hope you're doing much better now?