Chit-Chat: What's On Your Mind Today?

[voiceover]

Instacart customer service sucks!!!!

[exhales]
I feel better now.

[Ohiopirate02]

8 hours ago, Is Everyone Gone said:

I've noticed that the sleeping spaces for them are usually in a loft or in an absolutely tiny area at the back of the house. Personally I like a more wide-open space where I sleep. Small sleeping spaces make me claustrophobic, and I live in a NYC apartment.

I've seen the pitch of the stairs used in tiny houses. There is no way I can climb down from my sleeping loft to use the bathroom at 3am without causing bodily injury.

[Browncoat]

1 hour ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

I've seen the pitch of the stairs used in tiny houses. There is no way I can climb down from my sleeping loft to use the bathroom at 3am without causing bodily injury.

And some are straight-up ladders which are a big nope from me.

[lookeyloo]

9 hours ago, Is Everyone Gone said:

I've noticed that the sleeping spaces for them are usually in a loft or in an absolutely tiny area at the back of the house. Personally I like a more wide-open space where I sleep. Small sleeping spaces make me claustrophobic, and I live in a NYC apartment.

Some of them look real cute. I see a lot on YouTube, lots of folks waxing poetic.  and some who say, eww, didn't like it.  Didn't realize how crowded we would be, how much it smells inside,  very noisy.  Maybe one or two low maintenance folks with a lot of outside space and weather to enjoy it.  I would require a real flush toilet so would have to be stationary.  Anyway, there's always something for everybody. 

[Dimity]

The one I was referencing earlier was basically one big room with a loft accessible by a fairly sturdy set of stairs.  It really was very crowded, especially as two adults and two dogs were living in it.  It was always meant to be temporary while they were building their own house. 

I think for one person it's probably no different than a bachelor apartment but has the advantage of not sharing walls with strangers and having a usable outdoor space. 

Edited April 16 by Dimity

[Anduin]

My last apartment had bedroom/study upstairs, kitchen and bathroom downstairs. I got quite sick of up and down all the time after several years. The building was a converted factory, they did what they could, but it wasn't a great design.

[Is Everyone Gone]

2 hours ago, Dimity said:

The one I was referencing earlier was basically one big room with a loft accessible by a fairly sturdy set of stairs.  It really was very crowded, especially as two adults and two dogs were living in it.  It was always meant to be temporary while they were building their own house. 

I think for one person it's probably no different than a bachelor apartment but has the advantage of not sharing walls with strangers and having a usable outdoor space. 

They layout of tiny homes kind of resembles a NYC studio. Studios in NYC are actually popular for "weekday homes." Like a busy Wall St dude has a home in Long Island but also a studio in Manhattan for when he works late he crashes there. (And, often ... the studio is where he meets his city gf/bf while the wife and kids are in the suburbs).

[Rushmoras]

Just wanted to share interesting colour the blossoming local trees in my town have :)

 

[shapeshifter]

1 hour ago, Rushmoras said:

Should be like that here in another month🤞

[Is Everyone Gone]

Is anyone else shocked by the number of YOUNG women of this generation who are "stay-at-home-wives"? I'm not talking about having kids and staying at home. I'm talking 21, married, staying at home, no kids. It's become paramount for a lot of young women of that generation to do this, and I don't get it. #1 the financials: how are they paying rent? #2 as someone where most of the women of my generation had kids and families AND worked at least part-time, this craze is baffling. 

[ECM1231]

1 hour ago, Is Everyone Gone said:

Is anyone else shocked by the number of YOUNG women of this generation who are "stay-at-home-wives"? I'm not talking about having kids and staying at home. I'm talking 21, married, staying at home, no kids.

I'm not familiar with this at all. In my neck of the woods, most folks don't even marry until their 30s. 

[voiceover]

@shapeshifter, @BetyBee, @ECM1231, and my Baltimore buddy @ebk57:

Thanks for the hugs.  They were very much needed after my 75 minutes’ worth of arguing with two online and one 800-number Instacart “specialists”.

Thirty seconds before the last call ended, I found myself actually *hissing “It’s just the principllllllllllllle!!!!!“ into my phone.

The story has a happy ending, though: this morning, my shopper texted me that they were all out of Mint Milanos; “How about the Double Chocolate ones?”

My mother loved them.

[JustHereForFood]

8 hours ago, Is Everyone Gone said:

Is anyone else shocked by the number of YOUNG women of this generation who are "stay-at-home-wives"? I'm not talking about having kids and staying at home. I'm talking 21, married, staying at home, no kids. It's become paramount for a lot of young women of that generation to do this, and I don't get it. #1 the financials: how are they paying rent? #2 as someone where most of the women of my generation had kids and families AND worked at least part-time, this craze is baffling. 

There seems to be a huge "I don't want to work for a living" movement among young people, with one group being more into the tradwife lifestyle and one for that "universal basic income" BS. Both sound exhausting.

[PRgal]

6 hours ago, ECM1231 said:

I'm not familiar with this at all. In my neck of the woods, most folks don't even marry until their 30s. 

Same here. Though I’ve been working from home since late 2009 when I was running a small corporation (my blog).  That closed around the time my son was born.  I’m now WFH in philanthropy.  
 

and a lot of people in my area don’t become parents until their mid-30s.  Moms in my son’s class (he’s in Grade 1, so the kids are all 6 or have just turned 7) range from mid-30s to nearly 50 and the dads are mid-30s to mid-50s.  

[Mollywolly555]

7 hours ago, ECM1231 said:

I'm not familiar with this at all. In my neck of the woods, most folks don't even marry until their 30s. 

I'm in a book club and there is a personal.therapist who says we wd be shocked how so many of her young female clients have SAH mom as their life goal.

My SIL was like this.  Maybe because her mom stayed at home even though she was trained as an RN. My mom stayed at home too, but Even Then I saw the need for having my own$. 

SIL,'s first husband was a BF from high school who got emotional abusive after 10 years. No.kids.  Second husband, she had kids with and got divorced when they were 5 and 8. IDK why for sure, but he physically resembled the first guy. Third husband she married at age 55. He had 5 adult kIds, she still has the 2, altho her daughter is estranged from her because SIL is maga and daughter is gay.  SIL worked outside the home this whole time, and is still working even tho she is 65. 

[Mollywolly555]

She's worked because it was necessary to survive, both as a married and then a divorced person.  Even though her family helped quite a bit wth babysitting,  groceries, etc. 

[Ohiopirate02]

2 hours ago, JustHereForFood said:

There seems to be a huge "I don't want to work for a living" movement among young people, with one group being more into the tradwife lifestyle and one for that "universal basic income" BS. Both sound exhausting.

I do not find universal basic income to be BS. The concept would benefit more working people than those who would choose not to work plus it would allow disabled people to have a better quality of life and have the ability to save more than $2000. UBI would mean the working poor only has to work 40 hours to afford rent instead of 60-80 with 2 additional jobs.

1 hour ago, Mollywolly555 said:

I'm in a book club and there is a personal.therapist who says we wd be shocked how so many of her young female clients have SAH mom as their life goal.

My SIL was like this.  Maybe because her mom stayed at home even though she was trained as an RN. My mom stayed at home too, but Even Then I saw the need for having my own$. 

SIL,'s first husband was a BF from high school who got emotional abusive after 10 years. No.kids.  Second husband, she had kids with and got divorced when they were 5 and 8. IDK why for sure, but he physically resembled the first guy. Third husband she married at age 55. He had 5 adult kIds, she still has the 2, altho her daughter is estranged from her because SIL is maga and daughter is gay.  SIL worked outside the home this whole time, and is still working even tho she is 65. 

I find this to be an over-correction. These young women grew up with mothers who worked full-time jobs in addition to doing the vast majority of housework and child-rearing. They saw how exhausted their moms were and are looking for a way to not be that. It's cyclical in a way with Boomer and Gen X women choosing to work full-time so they would not be stuck dependent on a husband who abused them and alcohol. The answer to this is not to become a tradwife, but to find a better work/life balance and pick better husbands.

[Is Everyone Gone]

2 hours ago, Mollywolly555 said:

I'm in a book club and there is a personal.therapist who says we wd be shocked how so many of her young female clients have SAH mom as their life goal.

I'm a high school teacher and our school had career day and I was shocked with a recent career day where a lot of girls said what was the whole point of college and career days, as they wouldn't be working once they got married anyway.

This is a huge shift from even five years ago.

[Dimity]

Those young women are in for a very rude awakening.  I had a young relative who went deeply fundie to the point she homeschooled her children and never wore pants, and of course was all 'the husband is the head of the house'.  Until he wasn't.   She was left at 30 with 3 kids, no education and no work experience.  Luckily for her she has a very supportive family who rallied around.

Anyway my point is that life holds no guarantees and these young women who think they are going to be living a life of ease (until the kids come anyway) better hope they marry well and that they stay married.  And there are no job losses, illnesses or accidents that can and will change everything.

[Rushmoras]

Cool and all, if you can afford to be stay at home dad/mom/spouse, but to find yourself a millionaire/billionaire is kinda impossible since you are in different society circles. I would also like to retire in my late 30s - early 40s, but that would mean winning the loterry lol.

[Dimity]

12 minutes ago, Rushmoras said:

Cool and all, if you can afford to be stay at home dad/mom/spouse, but to find yourself a millionaire/billionaire is kinda impossible since you are in different society circles.

They really do sound like, to use an older term, teenyboppers, who read fan magazines and are convinced they're going to marry whoever is the current teen heart throb.  Most of us outgrow this kind of fantasy.

I actually feel sorry for the young men who are expected to support these women in the style they imagine they are entitled to based on - what?  Seeing their parents comfortable middle class life that was likely based on two incomes, and earned at a time when rents and mortgages weren't out of reach and the grocery bill wasn't breathtakingly high?  

It's quite a burden to place on them, and while I'm sure some of them think this is how it should be, I doubt most of them have a clue just how much it costs to actually be adults paying bills and meeting obligations.

Edited April 17 by Dimity

[Ohiopirate02]

6 minutes ago, Dimity said:

I actually feel sorry for the young men who are expected to support these women in the style they imagine they are entitled to based on - what?  Seeing their parents comfortable middle class life that was likely based on two incomes, and earned at a time when rents and mortgages weren't out of reach and the grocery bill wasn't breathtakingly high?  

It's quite a burden to place on them, and while I'm sure some of them think this is how it should be, I doubt most of them have a clue just how much it costs to actually be adults paying bills and meeting obligations.

I actually don't feel sorry for these young men because they are choosing to marry these women. They also grew up in homes where mom worked full-time plus being in charge of the household. They too learned the wrong lessons from watching their mothers try to balance everything, and some of them resent their mothers for working outside of the home. They want to come home after a day of work to a clean home, a homemade dinner on the table, clean laundry, etc. and at some point have their spouse taking care of the kids.

[Dimity]

2 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

I actually don't feel sorry for these young men because they are choosing to marry these women. They also grew up in homes where mom worked full-time plus being in charge of the household. They too learned the wrong lessons from watching their mothers try to balance everything, and some of them resent their mothers for working outside of the home. They want to come home after a day of work to a clean home, a homemade dinner on the table, clean laundry, etc. and at some point have their spouse taking care of the kids.

I guess I was thinking more of young men like my son and nephews who don't have giant chips on their shoulders but I suppose if like is meeting like then that's not a bad thing.  Although I strongly suspect that many of the young men you are describing are the kind who end up alone and resentful and blaming all women for their sad little lives.

[Ohiopirate02]

7 minutes ago, Dimity said:

I guess I was thinking more of young men like my son and nephews who don't have giant chips on their shoulders but I suppose if like is meeting like then that's not a bad thing.  Although I strongly suspect that many of the young men you are describing are the kind who end up alone and resentful and blaming all women for their sad little lives.

It really depends on how much these guys resent their moms. The more milder ones are the ones who find like-minded women. The more extreme ones seek out women who do want a career in an attempt to break them. Those are the ones who end up alone or divorced.

[PRgal]

In my world, even women who stay home (and never before kids) were told to go to university because they would never find a suitable husband otherwise.  Think of it from the old fashioned view of going to a four year school for that “MRS” degree.  

[Spartan Girl]

6 hours ago, JustHereForFood said:

There seems to be a huge "I don't want to work for a living" movement among young people, with one group being more into the tradwife lifestyle and one for that "universal basic income" BS. Both sound exhausting.

Reminds me of this meme going around with a cartoon "angry feminist" purposely drawn as unattractive as possibly, complaining about how men are impossible to please, which followed by a prettier cartoon woman serving beer and a sandwich to a guy that promptly says he would die for her.

Excuse me while I ralph.

And I also would like to point out how insulting it is to insinuate that the only women not interested in dating or don't want to be little tradewives are ones that aren't attractive enough.

[Is Everyone Gone]

The oddest thing is, the girls I teach are all extremely lower-income. Like they didn't grow up with moms staying home, they grew up with moms working hard to support them. Yet they talk almost nonstop about not even needing to graduate college because they'll just find a husband and stay home.

[lookeyloo]

7 hours ago, Dimity said:

Those young women are in for a very rude awakening.  I had a young relative who went deeply fundie to the point she homeschooled her children and never wore pants, and of course was all 'the husband is the head of the house'.  Until he wasn't.   She was left at 30 with 3 kids, no education and no work experience.  Luckily for her she has a very supportive family who rallied around.

Anyway my point is that life holds no guarantees and these young women who think they are going to be living a life of ease (until the kids come anyway) better hope they marry well and that they stay married.  And there are no job losses, illnesses or accidents that can and will change everything.

this is the truth. I am 81.  I married my first husband, who was going to medical school, and we planned for me to work as a secretary until he became an intern and had a salary.  I got pregnant and then became a stay at home mom.  Fast forward to him being a cardiologist, in practice, and we moved to a new state and then a few months later, guess what?  His nurse seemed very attractive and I found myself alone with two small children and no future.  He discouraged me during our marriage to get more education.  I had no college and couldn't support myself on the secretary salary.  So when he left somehow I managed to get myself to a therapist and then to college.  He did pay alimony and child support so at least that and I always considered myself lucky for that.  Many women are not that lucky.   I did get an MSW and did support myself.  So I always tell young women to be able to take care of themselves because the future is always uncertain.  I tell my granddaughter that all the time.  She has one more year of college and then graduate school.  She may become a stay at home one day but she will always have her degree and can always get the necessary continuing education.  I think she will always work even if part time.

[Absolom]

9 hours ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

They saw how exhausted their moms were and are looking for a way to not be that. It's cyclical in a way with Boomer and Gen X women choosing to work full-time so they would not be stuck dependent on a husband who abused them and alcohol. The answer to this is not to become a tradwife, but to find a better work/life balance and pick better husbands.

I would have been in such terrible shape if I had not been working when the mr. died in his mid 50s.  I had a child in college, one in high school, and one in middle school.  If I hadn't already been working a job making six figures, their lives would have certainly not continued as they had been in the same house and school district.  If not working, these trad wife wannabes need to at least be prepared to take care of themselves and their families if tragedy comes knocking. 

[annzeepark914]

24 minutes ago, lookeyloo said:

this is the truth. I am 81.  I married my first husband, who was going to medical school, and we planned for me to work as a secretary until he became an intern and had a salary.  I got pregnant and then became a stay at home mom.  Fast forward to him being a cardiologist, in practice, and we moved to a new state and then a few months later, guess what?  His nurse seemed very attractive and I found myself alone with two small children and no future.  He discouraged me during our marriage to get more education.  I had no college and couldn't support myself on the secretary salary.  So when he left somehow I managed to get myself to a therapist and then to college.  He did pay alimony and child support so at least that and I always considered myself lucky for that.  Many women are not that lucky.   I did get an MSW and did support myself.  So I always tell young women to be able to take care of themselves because the future is always uncertain.  I tell my granddaughter that all the time.  She has one more year of college and then graduate school.  She may become a stay at home one day but she will always have her degree and can always get the necessary continuing education.  I think she will always work even if part time.

Good for you! (I was ready to read a dreadful post-divorce story)  Way too many young women put their husbands through medical school (or other post-graduate programs) only to be dumped, complete with little kids & no support. I'm glad it worked out for you.

[BooksRule]

I'm kind of hit-or-miss with my online habits (shopping and such), but I realized a couple of weeks ago that my driver's license was going to expire pretty soon (last time I renewed it for 8 years and that time has just flown by).  Anyway, the last time I remember having to wait at the DMV for about 2 hours before I got to the counter, had my photo taken, and got the new license (and I didn't even have to take any of the tests--such as eye test).  But I did check online to see where the closest offices were and found out that there are now only three within about an hour of where I live (there used to be at least 7 or 8 and friends could always be counted on to tell you which ones where best for getting in and out reasonably quickly).  When I went to the website to see about making an appointment (all are appointment only these days, no more just dropping in during a 'slow time'), none of them had any openings before my license was going to expire.  So, I went to see how complicated it would be to get it renewed online.  Easy peasy, it took about 5 minutes (mainly since nothing had changed since the last time I renewed).  I'm not sure if I'll get the new one by mail before the one I have now expires, but at least I have proof that I've renewed it.

[shapeshifter]

56 minutes ago, lookeyloo said:

 He did pay alimony and child support so at least that and I always considered myself lucky for that.  Many women are not that lucky

I was not “lucky” that way, but with 3 kids to support, managed to finish my undergraduate degree while working part time, and then I got a full time job just as government assistance ran out for anyone in similar or worse situations — due to short-sighted political agendas. There’s “nothing new under the sun.” 

[Ancaster]

On 4/12/2025 at 11:20 AM, shapeshifter said:

I cook oatmeal and potatoes in my microwave. No boiling over or exploding; I have it down to a science.

 

Do you mean "boiled" potatoes?  "Baked" potatoes?  I'd be interested in your method.  I've tried boiled a couple of times without success.  Sometimes I'll start a baked potato in the microwave but always finish it in the oven.  That's the point when, if I can be bothered, I'll oil and salt the potato - crispy salty perfection, yum.

[Ancaster]

On 4/12/2025 at 8:20 PM, StatisticalOutlier said:

 

I think I know a lot of things just because I'm curious, and there don't seem to be a lot of curious people around these days, and it's getting even worse when all information is fed to you.  Maybe you're the curious sort and have compiled more information than most people?

. . .

And all that said,  no offense, but your husband's ignorance about the address bar really is pretty shocking, given his use of the internet.  😀

 

I know stuff because I read, watch and listen to stuff that is educational.  I also have friends who believe in being educated.  For me, it's not necessarily about being curious, it's about wanting to be knowledgeable and exercising my brain, and being able to debunk the huge amounts of crap being spread these days either knowingly or unwittingly.  And no, I have no delusions that I will change people's minds.  Of course, I'm also curious, but that is not the primary reason for me trying to feed my brain quality content.  (Don't get me wrong, I also feed my brain and eyes plenty of crappy stuff.)

In terms of the address bar thing, sometimes the first thing you learn is what you will always use.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[oliviabenson]

I still think about Betty Broderick. Her slime ball husband ditched her for his secretary after she helped and put up with him going to law and medical school. I think she is still in prison.

[lookeyloo]

34 minutes ago, Ancaster said:

Do you mean "boiled" potatoes?  "Baked" potatoes?  I'd be interested in your method.  I've tried boiled a couple of times without success.  Sometimes I'll start a baked potato in the microwave but always finish it in the oven.  That's the point when, if I can be bothered, I'll oil and salt the potato - crispy salty perfection, yum.

I tried a baked potato in the microwave tonight.  I did find a "recipe" as in how to prep the potato and cooking times. It got done but texture not line oven baked. 

[Ancaster]

On 4/14/2025 at 5:28 AM, lookeyloo said:

We had a Commodore computer pre www and internet.  

Way back when my dad brought home a prototype Amstrad PC when it was still in development.  We programmed it to make a rocket go up and disappear and then come back up.

[Absolom]

29 minutes ago, lookeyloo said:

I tried a baked potato in the microwave tonight.  I did find a "recipe" as in how to prep the potato and cooking times. It got done but texture not line oven baked. 

Wrapping them in waxed paper can help the texture.

[Ancaster]

On 4/15/2025 at 3:19 AM, tearknee said:

**********************************************************

      

 

?

On 4/15/2025 at 5:50 AM, Ohiopirate02 said:

There is a law making its way through Congress right now that makes an Enhanced ID a necessity for those who want to vote, don't have a passport, and live in a state where it is offered. For the rest of us who do not live in the 4 states that offer the Enhanced ID we will need a passport to vote if our various documents like state issued IDs including Real IDs have a name that does not match our birth certificates.

I have valid passports and drivers licenses from 2 countries and the ability to get a third passport that I'm seriously considering.  It's all very expensive and I'm certainly no conspiracy theorist, but the way national and global politics are going, I'm very grateful to have options.

[Ancaster]

22 minutes ago, Absolom said:

Wrapping them in waxed paper can help the texture.

Doesn't it melt?

[shapeshifter]

1 hour ago, Ancaster said:

"Baked" potatoes?  I'd be interested in your method. 

I basically follow "Microwave Baked Potato" from https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025758-microwave-baked-potato
except I first wash it with water, pat it dry, and carefully remove eyes or other spots.

• PREPARATION
  • Step 1
    Poke holes all over the potato with a fork or small paring knife to prevent it from exploding.
  • Step 2
    Microwave on a plate at 50-percent power for 6 minutes. Flip the potato over with tongs and microwave at 50-percent power for another 5 minutes. A paring knife should slide through easily. At this point, the potato will be cooked through and tender with the moistness of a steamed or boiled potato. If you’d prefer a dry, fluffy inside, microwave for another minute or two longer, until the skin looks dry and wrinkled.
  • Step 3
    Cool for a few minutes, then cut open and fill with toppings

 

[Ancaster]

On 4/10/2025 at 7:36 AM, Dimity said:

My daughter and her husband swear by their air fryer.  

I hear lots of positives about that and the Instant Pot but to be honest I just can't deal with anymore gadgets in the kitchen.  I've seen them come and go for years now and most of them eventually end up in the basement somewhere or else donated on. 

I include in this my microwave - which mainly gets used now to warm up hot packs to soothe aching muscles or to make popcorn.  Otherwise it's just taking up a lot of counter space.

 

On 4/11/2025 at 7:58 PM, EtheltoTillie said:

Nobody uses the microwave for anything but reheating or thawing nowadays, but everyone has one, because it really is a useful tool we use several times a day. 

But when microwaves came on the scene they didn’t know what to do with them, so they’d try to sell them as alternatives for actual cooking.  ridiculous.

 

 

On 4/12/2025 at 8:22 AM, Dimity said:

I use it for that and for microwave meals.  I've learned not to bother for the most part when reheating food.  It's usually so uneven that it's actually easier to just warm things up in  a pot on the stove like a pioneer.

Yep.  I don't use it nearly as much as I used to - and like most people not nearly as much as people expected it to be used back when they first exploded onto the market (there used to be stores devoted to them, cookery classes for them and the like) - but still I don't think I'd want to go back to not having one.

I don't mind the stopping and stirring since I'd rather do that than do the extra dishes 😄

Because of their business my in-laws were given a prototype microwave to test.  My mother-in-law was so scared of it she put it in the spare room.  I'm not sure whether she ever used it.  I saw it when they moved and it was monstrous.

[Ancaster]

2 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

I basically follow "Microwave Baked Potato" from https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025758-microwave-baked-potato
except I first wash it with water, pat it dry, and carefully remove eyes or other spots.

• PREPARATION
  • Step 1
    Poke holes all over the potato with a fork or small paring knife to prevent it from exploding.
  • Step 2
    Microwave on a plate at 50-percent power for 6 minutes. Flip the potato over with tongs and microwave at 50-percent power for another 5 minutes. A paring knife should slide through easily. At this point, the potato will be cooked through and tender with the moistness of a steamed or boiled potato. If you’d prefer a dry, fluffy inside, microwave for another minute or two longer, until the skin looks dry and wrinkled.
  • Step 3
    Cool for a few minutes, then cut open and fill with toppings

 

Thank you for that.  I'm one of those who likes a baked russet potato with a crispy salted and baked skin (which I eat).  Otherwise if I want plain potato I just boil them (usually something like a Yukon Gold).  I haven't found a method to microwave boiled potatoes (if that makes sense) that isn't just as labour intensive.  I suppose I'm just old-fashioned, and am lucky enough to have the time to be so - boil peeled potatoes in salted water for 20 minutes, bake scrubbed ones for 90 minutes or so depending on size (rubbed with oil and salt if you have time), etc, etc.

[Ancaster]

11 hours ago, Is Everyone Gone said:

I'm a high school teacher and our school had career day and I was shocked with a recent career day where a lot of girls said what was the whole point of college and career days, as they wouldn't be working once they got married anyway.

This is a huge shift from even five years ago.

Can you expand as to a general regional location, urban/rural, size of school, etc?  Context helps me.

[oliviabenson]

I roast almost everything in an aluminum tin in the air fryer..works for me. I prefer the electric gadgets to my stove.

[Absolom]

2 hours ago, Ancaster said:

Doesn't it melt?

Not so far for me and my neighbor has been doing it for 20 years or so without a problem.  It kind of crinkles up around the potato. 

[Is Everyone Gone]

2 hours ago, Ancaster said:

Can you expand as to a general regional location, urban/rural, size of school, etc?  Context helps me.

Location: NYC/Bronx, urban, poorest Congressional district of the country. Many migrants, many immigrants, almost all POC. 

Which is why it's shocking to hear the girls idolizing the trad-wife content online. It's certainly so far removed from their actual lives.

[Anduin]

Tech question! I no longer have a physical media player. But I'd like to be able to play all my old CDs and DVDs, and even get some blu rays. Since I don't have a TV, I want to plug it into my PC. Exactly what gadget do I want? This question came from one of my favourite old movies getting a surprising and frankly awesome 4K HDR release.

I'd also like it to be multi-region, because all players used to be that once, so my collection acquired stuff from all over.

[Yeah No]

1 hour ago, Is Everyone Gone said:

Location: NYC/Bronx, urban, poorest Congressional district of the country. Many migrants, many immigrants, almost all POC. 

Which is why it's shocking to hear the girls idolizing the trad-wife content online. It's certainly so far removed from their actual lives.

It sounds to me like adolescent escapist thinking. I'm from the Bronx - granted I haven't lived there in over 30 years and I'm not from the poorest area nor am I a POC but I grew up lower middle class despite the fact that both my parents were intellectuals. I stayed in touch with the Bronx even after moving away because my father and best friend still lived there. 

But I get it. I had escapist fantasies of getting out of the Bronx, buying a condo. in the suburbs and living the "life of leisure" but I always knew that it would be unrealistic to think that my husband and I could live on one income even at that. He was not college educated and did not come from money either. We did end up saving for a decade and were able to finally buy a condo. in CT thanks to the lower real estate prices after the S&L crisis of the late 80s/early 90s.

For young women of color from the Bronx today, I can understand the fantasy of wanting to stay at home. But how unrealistic! Where is this fantasy guy going to come from? Do they know what their prospects are? I get wanting to aim high but still. For a very long time the Bronx has been a vast wasteland when it comes to meeting a decent spouse, especially in the poorest area.  My own husband was from Washington Heights in Manhattan. I think it would have been easier for me to meet someone in the Bronx had I been either Jewish or Roman Catholic, but I was Episcopalian and no one even knew what that was where I grew up. And back then certain religious and ethnic groups were more clannish and not as willing to marry outside their own backgrounds.

Edited April 18 by Yeah No
Punctuation issues.

[Yeah No]

 

On 4/14/2025 at 10:58 AM, Dimity said:

I got a selectric when I was in university.  You could backspace to erase mistakes!  Thought I'd died and gone to heaven.   I figured it could never get better than this 🙂.

Hah, yeah, I had that selectric in college thanks to my mother working in a big law firm that sold its used typewriters to employees at discount prices. Then when I went to grad. school in the late '80s she had an Olivetti electronic typewriter, which had an LED readout that let you make corrections before it printed the next line. But by that time I was working and had my own word processor at work. This was before Windows existed. I was allowed to use it after work to type up my papers. I REALLY thought I'd died and went to heaven THEN! 🤓

19 hours ago, JustHereForFood said:

There seems to be a huge "I don't want to work for a living" movement among young people, with one group being more into the tradwife lifestyle and one for that "universal basic income" BS. Both sound exhausting.

And entitled. I think part of this comes from not having been raised to understand and accept the realities of adult life. Unfortunately there is more of that going around these days.