If no, then I applaud your sacrifice; preach it, brother. Spreading awareness and sensitiivty is critical.
If yes, then we get into the nasty business of setting goals and priorities. Or, rather, the nasty business of having our priorities set for us. Or can you see an achievable path that doesn't lead to a green coat of paint on the status quo?
I can say this: As much as I believe anything, I believe I was born to write a widely acclaimed novel. But I'm also a rational person who recognizes this is ridiculous. Even a person seriously dedicated to writing a novel faces a long shot. I'm not a serious person, even though I've made a decent living as a journalist/propagandist. Now I'm of an age that my failure bothers me. But I just don't have the time--or, more accurately, I don't have the wil--to forego pleasant distractions. Priorities. Make a call.
More practically, maybe a counterpoint, maybe not: My wife's constant scrolling of her social media feed drives me crazy. What a waste of a time, I insist. Yet moments ago she shows me the below. Does it qualify as learning something new, a diversion worthwhile? It's a lifesaving technique I didn't know; arguably an investment of a few minutes that's more valuable to me than the weeks/months/years I might spend to craft a piece of fiction that likely would be unread.
This is very much a state-by-state issue. Of note, however, because Texas is so large and orders so many textbooks, and because publishers don't want to customize their titles for all 50 states, the Texas version winds up elsewhere. And in Texas, successful candidates for the state Board of Education are often right-wing ideologues.
Okay, I'll bite. I was at a urinal today that had a mesh screen of a style I'd never noticed, and I thought: Some guy with a degree in engineering/fluid dynamics has this on his resume.
But when you consider there are what, 3.5 billion or so males on the planet, the benefits of urinal hygiene add up pretty quickly.
A few years ago (maybe 10) we started getting "waterless" urinals in the UK. I assume that was a materials improvement (extreme hydrophobic coatings?). They have an outlet pipe, but no inlet.
Not a materials improvement, but an improvement in the shape of the bowl, so mostly a direct result of better hydrodynamic and CAD modeling.
Not only do they use less water, but they /smell better/ -- most of the "smell of urine" results from the pee being added to, and reacting with, water, so no water, no noticeable odour.
Plus ça change, the better it has been said before:
In philosophy, anamnesis is a concept in Plato's epistemological and psychological theory that humans possess innate knowledge (perhaps acquired before birth) and that learning consists of rediscovering that knowledge within us.
Rich on so many levels—must read for anyone considering grad school with a real, research component. Also a good, broad look at team/organizational dynamics—and, surprise: the best self-promoter wins.
Would women's significantly superior graduation rates to men's in NCAA basketball qualify as 'toxic masculinity'? Or benign disinterest? Not that disinterest can't be toxic...
Many, many communities still rely, at least in part, on volunteer firefighters. I know a number of former military guys that love it--provides that the risk/rush and camaraderie you're looking for. And it ain't a cakewalk.
Thats a good point, I was thinking about that and first responder. Where I grew up most people are actually served by volunteer fire departments (extremely rural, only the towns have full fire departments and they are low population). Any time there was any kind of fire or medical emergency volunteer firefighters and first responders were always there super fast even if regular emergency services were ~30 minutes away.
My dad was actually a EMS/Paramedic for 20+ years and I think he feels similar about that to his military service. The long periods of boredom (low population rural area) followed by intense life and death situations mimics deployment/combat experience and if you have psychological issues related to wartime experience it can exacerbate it. At the same time, saving lives and helping people are extremely fond memories but when I was growing up I think the job was harder on him than he remembers these days.
Money chart (2022) is here: https://www.fleetowner.com/perspectives/running-lights/blog/...