We had maybe 3 small groups come by. Very young kids with parents. For our kids, we went to a downtown event where businesses handed out candy. I liked that it was pretty dense with costumes and a down/back loop so we got to see lots of costumes and run into other families we knew. It’s definitely changed and moved away from neighborhoods but there’s also a feedback loop. Fewer kids, fewer houses passing out candy, fewer kids. Now I have to figure out what to do with 95% of a Costco candy bag

I used to also… I used to. Looking forward to rolling a wizard when I get to the retirement home

I’m surprised that I’m the first to say “p-trap” drain. Self-maintaining, no moving parts, affordable as anything, protects the indoors from sewer gas, catches rings. Chefs kiss 200 years old and still great

Do you have relevant advice for the former one?

5 letters

I’m American and the main reason I don’t aim the same criticism towards other countries is that I’m American and don’t know enough about them. Maybe some people are agitating for malign purposes, but how much does that matter to a responsible netizen? No one knows who anyone is - maybe idiot takes are made by idiots or bad actors, it doesn’t change much. Lastly, one quote stuck with me after the last election season : " the reactionary is always right about what is wrong but almost always wrong about what would be right"

as others have said, “yes” most people have the misfit drawer. We always called it the "horrible drawer_ because ladles and can openers and things would often catch and make it hard to open. I say embrace it, everyone deserves love even if not everyone fits in perfectly

I get this, but probably the best way to feel safer is to forge local connections. Check on your neighbors, they’ll check on you

That it is

Honestly, me too and I don’t have much of a plan. I tried doing some pushups the other day and was shocked how much capacity I’ve lost. Following the wisdom that the hardest part of a run is lacing up your shoes, i’m just telling myself to do something every day. 3 sets of pushups. Squats during ad breaks. Walk to the store for a snack. That kind of thing A little bit of physical activity is a great distraction from the anxiety in my head

Doomscrolling, exercise, and looking up firing ranges near me. Been a few decades since last I went

No

Ankylosaurus! Tail club, armor plates, what’s not to love?

Fireflies. I could sit on a porch watching fireflies every night of my life