It’s more expensive than SPF, but I spring for cedar - I built my planter boxes, garden beds, and patio furniture out of it. No staining required, zilch upkeep. I built a 3m x 1M raised bed planter several years ago and it’s required zero upkeep so far. Ditto my patio set built five years ago.

I way prefer the wood for what it’s worth. I love weathered wood - it ages beautifully, lasts for years and years, and the environmental impact of cedar (assuming that’s what it is) is far lower than concrete too.

Concrete is the plastic of things that aren’t plastic. Produced mostly with fossil fuels, huge GHG associated with production, and will sit as a lump of trash forever-ish once the next person decides they prefer a different look.

Make your own decisions obviously - I’m aware that I’m particularly carbon footprint averse.

This is absolutely fantastic

Huh, I thought it was just me that did that - I just assumed everyone else was so much more disciplined than me…

Totally agree.

I sure wouldn’t say ‘all’. The first years of your mortgage you are paying the bank more in interest than you are knocking off the principal.

A $300k home with 20% down and an interest rate of 3.5% on a 25 year amortization schedule will see the buyer paying $8k in interest versus $6k towards the principal at the start. Over the course of the mortgage, the $300k home will cost $420k thanks to the $120k in interest the bank takes.

I tackle this two ways.

I ensure that I have a progress pride bracelet, pin, or other clearly visible symbol of allieship on me at all times. I also have prominently displayed safe space signage around my office. There should be zero ambiguity of my support - my hope is that this both makes 2SLGBTQIA+ and any other marginalized individuals feel welcome around me, and I also find it reduces inappropriate jokes or comments from the broader organization. People KNOW that I will make a stink if they are assholes. I try to ensure a safe bubble around me.

The other thing I do is try to make it clear to my team that I care about them as people - they aren’t cogs in a machine.

Ultimately, it’s up to my team members to decide if talking with me will help or hurt. I just try to make sure that my door is wide open.

I wanted kids when I was younger, but wasn’t ready to give up my freedom. Once I was ready for kids the world (and the future in particular) looks so bleak that it doesn’t seem fair to the theoretical kiddo to say ‘hey, here’s a dumpster fire - good luck’. Instead I babysit for my friends and family, spoil the kids around me, and sleep in on the weekend. I also have more time for activism and trying to ensure a brighter future for kiddos.

No regrets.

When asked how many customers would be affected, the company said that while precise numbers are not yet available, up to four customers may be impacted. “I would like offer our sincere apologies to Aunt Sue, Uncle Frank, Mike, and Jodi.”

This reads like a train wreck start to finish.

Mind sorta blown - such a great explanation.

I’m reading The Last Emperox by John Scalzi. The series has some interesting concepts but while I really enjoyed Scalzi’s sense of humour in the Old Man’s War series, it doesn’t land quite as consistently for me here. Regardless, it’s definitely a fun read.