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4 votes
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United States Justice Department report finds ‘cascading failures’ and ‘no urgency’ during Uvalde, Texas, shooting
54 votes -
A cheap week in LA/SB
I work remotely for a US tech start-up, and my work is flying me out for our company kickoff in Santa Barbara at the end of February. Because I want to spend as little time in Berlin February...
I work remotely for a US tech start-up, and my work is flying me out for our company kickoff in Santa Barbara at the end of February. Because I want to spend as little time in Berlin February weather as possible and I want to meet up with some local(-ish) relatives, I'm flying in a week earlier than necessary. As a result, however, I'm going to have some free time to fill.
The biggest thing is that I'm going to have to find and pay for my own lodging while I'm there until the work event starts and I can check into the hotel my company booked. So if anyone has any personal experience with some cheap-but-not-sketchy lodging options in LA or Santa Barbara, I especially welcome that. I'm flying into LAX so I'm able to stay there before going down to Santa Barbara for the actual work event if it's cheaper or there's more to do there (which I kinda assume is the case on both counts, idk).
I've heard LA is generally pretty expensive. I'm not a huge party animal by any means, but I figure I should do more when I'm there than sitting in my hotel reading (especially if I want to kick the jetlag before all the work stuff starts). So I'd also love any recommendations for cheap but interesting stuff to do while I'm there. My cursory Google searches have turned up a bunch of Hollywood tourist type stuff and recommendations for outdoorsy activities like hiking, neither of which is my speed. But surely there's gotta be some interesting stuff for a nerdy introvert to check out!
I'm also a very food-motivated traveler, so any particular restaurant recommendations for while I'm there are very welcome -- especially stuff that's hard for me to find in Germany. Latin American food is especially high on my list ofc, and I'm also on the lookout for good wing places, since I know both of those things are very hard to find at home in Berlin. But I also welcome other recommendations, especially stuff that isn't gonna come up in a quick google search. Or authentic Chinese food (even though I'm not going to SF, I learned how to say 洛杉矶 in Chinese class back in the day so LA's gotta have at least somthing 😅). I'm also a coffee person, so I'd love to know about any particular standout local coffee shops (even though I'm sure there's way more than I could try in even a month in a city the size of LA).
11 votes -
The US Securities and Exchange Commission authorized financial firms to offer ETFs tied to Bitcoin
26 votes -
Salary caps to shootouts: how US soccer could transform the game
6 votes -
Half of recent US inflation due to high corporate profits, report finds
35 votes -
No one's names were changed at Ellis Island
41 votes -
‘The Fabelmans’ star Gabriel LaBelle to play Lorne Michaels in Sony’s ‘SNL 1975’; Cooper Hoffman and Rachel Sennott also join ensemble
5 votes -
Benjamin Netanyahu tells US he opposes creation of Palestinian state after Gaza war
19 votes -
A brief history of the United States’ accents and dialects
12 votes -
Louis Rees-Zammit’s hasty ditching of Wales for NFL adventure is huge gamble
4 votes -
RIP PDQ Bach
16 votes -
Moving to Colorado from Oregon (USA) in late February
Hi everyone! I am moving to Colorado from Oregon late February and will be driving with my cat. I am shipping my belongings separately so it’s just us in the car. We will be traveling through...
Hi everyone!
I am moving to Colorado from Oregon late February and will be driving with my cat. I am shipping my belongings separately so it’s just us in the car.
We will be traveling through Idaho, Utah, and Colorado. I have never been through any of these states, particularly this time of year. My planned route is
Day 1 - Portland, OR -> Boise, ID
Day 2 - Boise, ID -> Salt Lake City, UT
Day 3 - Salt Lake City, UT -> Grand Junction, CO
Day 4 - Grand Junction, CO -> Denver, COBecause of the time of year, I wanted to see if anyone had tips for traveling this route. I have checked average temperatures for the cities I’ll be stopping in for that time of year but I know that’s not the full story. I’m also going to get my car checked out before the long drive to make sure all is well. I have all season tires that are newer and chains already in the car.
I have a first aid kit, will bring a few blankets and some food/water for both me and the cat (Marge), a battery pack, and a few days of clothes for the traveling. That’s all I could think of.
Does anyone have suggestions or tips for this 1200+ mile trip? Also, my cat has only ever been in the car for about 3 hours at most. She’s sometimes anxious and sometimes chill. If anyone has suggestions for traveling with a cat in the car for up to 7 hours per day, that would also be appreciated!
12 votes -
The poverty of anti-wokeness
39 votes -
‘Oppenheimer’ wins Best Picture and Director at Critics Choice Awards, leads field with eight; ‘Barbie’ gets six
25 votes -
Why this math professor objects to diversity statements
46 votes -
Book review - A Fabulous Failure: The Clinton Presidency and the Transformation of American Capitalism by Nelson Lichtenstein and Judith Stein
4 votes -
New York City finishes protected bus lane designs in downtown Brooklyn
13 votes -
‘Succession’ wins Outstanding Drama Series, 'The Bear' wins Outstanding Comedy Series, 'Beef' wins Outstanding Limited Series at the Emmy's
33 votes -
US judge blocks JetBlue-Spirit merger after DOJ’s antitrust challenge
12 votes -
The three-decade saga that led to the Crown Heights tunnels
13 votes -
Alabama's Nick Saban retiring after seven national titles, most in major college football history
20 votes -
He spent his life building a $1 million stereo. The real cost was unfathomable.
46 votes -
Three migrants drown at US border as Texas blocked their rescue
37 votes -
Uncovering the forgotten female astronomers of Yerkes Observatory
15 votes -
Oil companies will soon pay fees for emitting a climate ‘super-pollutant’
11 votes -
Humorous messages on electronic signs discouraged by new guidelines from US Federal Highway Administration
33 votes -
The US Federal Trade Commission made an unprecedented move against data brokers
20 votes -
‘Don’t mess with us’: WebMD parent company demands return to office in bizarre video
68 votes -
Citing safety, dozens of Jewish families are leaving Oakland public schools
37 votes -
Guenther Steiner leaves role as Haas Team Principal
15 votes -
A secret tunnel in a NYC synagogue leads to a brawl between police and worshippers
50 votes -
Why you should watch Straight Jacket, the lost gay rom-com
4 votes -
New York Times faces backlash for [5,000 word] essay speculating on Taylor Swift’s sexuality
50 votes -
Scientist cited [by Christopher Rufo to make allegations of plagiarism] in push to oust Harvard’s Claudine Gay has links to eugenicists
10 votes -
To fight absenteeism, US schools turn to private companies
22 votes -
Invisible Ink: At the CIA’s creative writing group
17 votes -
American Red Cross declares an emergency blood shortage, as number of donors hits twenty-year low
52 votes -
‘This has been going on for years.’ Inside Boeing’s manufacturing mess.
28 votes -
The hidden worlds of Monopoly – From Atlantic City to high fashion to Karl Marx, the most recognizable board game has had serious cultural impact
10 votes -
David O. Russell to direct Linda Ronstadt biopic, starring Selena Gomez
2 votes -
The US Supreme Court will evaluate the constitutional validity of local ordinances barring homeless from sleeping on streets and sidewalks
35 votes -
Will US companies hire fewer engineers due to Section 174?
20 votes -
Hertz is selling 20,000 electric vehicles to buy gasoline cars instead
26 votes -
West Virginia bill would mandate "curing" trans people under 21
47 votes -
Iran wins with US airstrikes on Houthis in Yemen
7 votes -
Boeing discovers accountability a little too late
20 votes -
My new apartment’s most aggravating feature (latch smart locks)
50 votes -
TIL: Don't use your points directly on Amazon
Maybe everyone knows this, but I suspect not. For years, I've been using the points I earn on a Chase Freedom card directly on Amazon. I just found out today that I'm only getting 80% of the...
Maybe everyone knows this, but I suspect not. For years, I've been using the points I earn on a Chase Freedom card directly on Amazon. I just found out today that I'm only getting 80% of the value. Redeeming 26,345 points at Amazon yields $210.76. Redeeming 26,345 points on the Chase website (for an Amazon gift card) yields $263.45.
The Chase Amazon Prime Visa does give 100% of value directly on Amazon's site.
30 votes -
Red and blue US states: dichotomized maps mislead and reduce perceived voting influence
25 votes