Yea, no kidding.

@Mary-Anna said in I know it's not spring everywhere...: I've got four tabletop aeroponics systems Ooh, tell us more! I didn't know we had crocus until a patch of purple showed up in our back yard. (Unfortunately, we also have deer or rabbits or something, because something ate them.) Rabbits love crocus leaves and flowers.

Beautiful.

All class, all the way down. Way down.

This was reported (I think it was the FT) and caught my attention as the article said their new battery takes 4 minutes to charge giving over 400 miles range.

I just saw a starter named “Doughbama!”

Another vote against reusing old strings - ultimately going to cost you more over the long haul. I know Chicago is a different market from yours, but you might want to explore and see if another institution or individual might have a suitable piano replacement. Over the past 3 years I've seen some amazing things offered here. In one case, it was Baldwin SD10 for $1,500 - and in better than decent shape - but they needed it out - IMMEDIATELY. I thought wrong thoughts for a moment. In another instance, someone literally offered two Steinway Ds for free - allegedly - but who knows - in useable condition. Still, you might want to put the word out to techs in the community if there's an older philanthropist who might have a suitable instrument that could be used. You could either keep the current D until you have funds to do more work - or sell it to someone who could restore it to its old glory. When I'm no longer able, I would like to donate my piano to someone with talent but without funds - and even provide some funds to maintain just to see it have a happy home. Of course, that assumes that our current President doesn't ruin the economy - and we have to trade the piano for eggs.

I see @Cindysphinx log in a few times a week; she was here yesterday but hasn't posted anything since mid-February.

Agreed with all that has been said - that the staffing cuts are ill-advised and harmful to a population of people who often may not be technologically capable. Of course, it is also interesting how uninformed the genius behind DOGE appears to be - e.g. not understanding how 8 years could be receiving SS. One saving grace in all of this - if funds could be allocated to develop AI to handle at least some of the issues that people have. Generally, the service component of our government has been on the trailing edge of technology. This is one instance where it could prove beneficial to modify that approach.

FUBAR

@DougG said in Well this was sobering: according to this, I died two years ago. See, anomalies like this trips up DOGE when they look at Social Security data.

China Considering Sending Peacekeepers to Ukraine, German Media Say https://www.kyivpost.com/post/49416

@Piano-Dad said in Biomedical research takes a hit: BTW, Columbia needs to grow a pair and fight back. Georgetown offers an example. These targeted budget cuts are illegal. I think you'll see something if their current genuflection isn't viewed as sufficient. I can't say I blame them for capitulating thus far, even if they won a specific suit the administration could fuck with them in myriad ways, renegotiate their indirects, award far fewer grants, crawl up their ass over title VI stuff (which they're doing anyway).