It’s quite bad and crazy though. fluoridated water helps to protect people’s teeth, and all you need to do is drink tap water. This means that anyone with access to tap water will get at least some basic protection against tooth decay and all the health problems that stem from that.

Without fluoridated water, the people who do not have access to regular dental care (including toothbrushes and toothpaste) will be the ones who suffer the most. Those are the people who will end up in emergency rooms with infections, heart disease, etc. and will also not be able to pay the hospital bill, thus not only adding stress to already stretched thin emergency rooms, but also overall creating a larger financial burden on the industry.

Something something an ounce of prevention and all…

Also, before election day, the government is dissolved and the winners immediately assume office after. No lame duck period

The letter is not here yet you liar

A sternly worded, AI-generated notice:

While it’s understandable to be cautious about buying a product based on promised updates, there are several reasons why it can still be a reasonable decision:

• Trust in the Brand: Many companies have a track record of delivering on their promises. If a brand has a history of providing valuable updates and features, it may be worth trusting that they will continue to do so.

• Current Value: Even if a product has promised future features, it often provides substantial value in its current state. Users can benefit from the existing features while looking forward to enhancements.

• Community and Ecosystem: Some products thrive in a vibrant community where users share tips, tricks, and workarounds. The support of an active user base can enhance the product experience even before promised features are released.

• Long-term Investment: In fast-paced technology markets, many products evolve over time. Buying early can sometimes give users a competitive edge or ensure they are part of the development process, influencing future updates.

• Risk vs. Reward: While there’s a risk that promised features may not materialize, the potential reward—enhanced functionality, improved performance, or even a price drop due to demand—can make the investment worthwhile.

• Feedback Opportunities: Early adopters often have a voice in the development of future updates. Engaging with a product before all features are released can allow users to provide valuable feedback that shapes the final product.

In conclusion, while it’s prudent to be wary of non-existent features, evaluating the overall value, the brand’s reputation, and potential benefits can justify the purchase.

I am currently reading The Apocalypse Codex, and immediately thought of that :) Great series so far

I was mildly upset I got $1000 as a bonus instead of a pay income because I thought that bonuses were “taxed at a higher rate” when instead they are simply “withheld at a higher rate” and it all washes out in the end when you pay your taxes at the end of the year.

I do wish I had a way to opt out of any withholding for bonus pay, I’d rather have the money now and risk having to pay a bit when I file taxes vs not having the money and getting a refund a year later when it’s worth less.

4. Not having to deal with any competent opposition.

Or opposition that was just competent enough to cock block each other resulting in a PC win for the riding and thus a majority government with ~30% of the popular vote

If wages/salary are your primary/only source of income, you are not part of the wealthy class, even if it is $500k. Not even close.

Of course riding mowers are not common outside of the US.

North America really, they’re everywhere in Canada as well

not even bro-dozer trucks, I have a un-modified (unless you count dents and rust) ~10y old pickup and a fairly new ‘sporty’ sedan (i.e. low-profile tires, stiff suspension, somewhat lower to the ground). Sedan has to come almost to a stop or I will scrape something. In the pickup slowing down is optional (though I do because regardless of speed bumps I don’t want to hit someone)

yep, violent revolution rarely ends with better conditions for the people

Do what I do and stash an emergency bottle in the ol’ prison wallet

Come join us on the QA side! I’m an automation developer, so it’s my job to make things automated :)

It’s a fiscally conservative position, where fiscally conservative is defined by someone who wants the government to spend less money and have a balanced budget.

Homeless people are a net burden on the government, even if the only costs are to arrest and imprison them. Since we are already paying to house them (in prison) it would make sense instead to give them a modest place to stay and enough support to get them back to a healthy state of living. This becomes a net financial benefit because a healthy employed person pays income tax, they buy stuff and pay sales tax, etc. so the money spent to get them back on their feet is repaid and then some.

The same thing happens again when the government offers free college or vocational training to people, the amount of taxes someone pays goes up with their income, and using the government as a single-payer to these schools will help keep costs low.

Case in point: in Ontario we had a program called Second Career (it still lives on as ‘Better Jobs Ontario’ but it’s been hamstrung by the conservative government) which was funded through EI and would pay your tuition, books, supplies, and give a basic living allowance up to $28k per year if you qualify. It would cover any 2-year diploma program, with the caveat that if you failed out you would be on the hook to repay the tuition/books/supplies costs.

I did that program starting in 2009 and paid out-of-pocket (w/OSAP) for a third year to upgrade from Technician to Technologist. Prior to that, our household income was low enough that we effectively paid 0 income tax after deductions. After graduating, I tripled my income, and in the 11 or so years since I’ve doubled it again. For the ~$60k the government spent on me, they made that back in about the first 3 years after graduation and the rest has been profit from their perspective.

When I was a kid (80s-90s), we just wore a coloured pinny.

World special military operation

I wonder if they pitch-corrected it so it plays correctly in the Martian atmosphere…

Those trees are also giant sails which transfers that much more force from the wind

Sometimes… I’ve had lots of bad experiences with super slow checkout people. I would say most of the time, they were boomers themselves and spent half the time trying to make chit-chat.

That being said, I will still line up for a staffed checkout if I have a cart full because it is easier since I can bag and put in the cart as they’re scanning. But also, many of the self checkouts here have a limit of like 10-20 items posted.

I have 3 kids and it’s been my experience that the parents who are worried they might mess up tend to be the better parents, because they care enough to worry. It’s the ones who think they have it in the bag that tend to fuck up.

You’ll do fine