I think I know the parking app you’re taking about. Fortunately, Northampton MA (which I imagine is quite similar to Burlington) is a slightly better about putting zone stickers around. I usually have to circle the lot to find one, but they’re there much of the time. Northampton also seems to be slightly better at keeping the drug addled/mentally ill away from the parking garage, at least during normal business hours.
Bummer about your ticket. In my experience they’re always $15.
That's good to know. I will probably call downtown Burlington and, assuming I can get anyone on the phone, ask them what the penalty is for a second offense. (Narrator: she would not get anyone on the phone.)
Nope. The purpose of Burlington businesses is, I think, to provide an aesthetically pleasing background for the homeless to admire while they shoot up and/or accost passersby for their money and food.
Jul 23, 2023·edited Jul 23, 2023Liked by Holly MathNerd
Progressives view business as cash cows to fund their endeavors via theft (taxation), and not as locals trying to offer their skills in exchange for money.
I'm sad and down about our society's decision to unmake itself, so this piece fit my mood. COVID was the cover to implement any number of life-difficultifying measures and drain the joy from going about our daily lives. Our overlords are sadists. They get pleasure from causing us pain.
Remote work is the one and only good thing that came from COVID, and I hope a lot of these office buildings get turned into apartments, which would help with the affordability crisis.
Unfortunately, office buildings tend to not be suitable for residential use due to lacking things like plumbing that can handle hundreds of people taking their morning showers at once, enough windows for the amount of square footage, etc.
May I recommend thriftbooks as an alternative? Comments on parking garages, sticky (at best) stairwells and box canyons of death (I have chosen to walk through an ED parking lot with opposing factions facing off after a shooting over using a connector to the hospital) by a cranky older woman with a tendency toward fight is of no use to you! The loss of minimal social contract is sad, but people want to be 'good' without doing the hard things. People in government, especially, will work hard to maintain their delusions when citizens hold up mirrors for them to see themselves clearly or spotlight the foreseeable consequences of bad policy. Be safe. Be smart. Be happy.
I also use Thriftbooks for used books. I also purchase my DVDs there and they have had issues with scratches, or one time I got a case and no disc, but apparently I buy enough stuff with them that they are always awesome with customer service and refunding or sending replacements.
I check Thriftbooks for new releases too - recently they met and in 2 cases beat Amazon's current price. Amazon may lower price and honor that when they charge me, but money is like manure! Better to spread it around.
At some point, the city-level politicians of America will need to realize that the only way your city succeeds is by catering to the needs and interests of people who actually do taxable things. Unfortunately, many of them will not and will blame the failure of their cities on Covid rather than the fact that they allowed tax-paying people and activities to get run off by criminals and homeless people.
I've noticed the same thing you're talking about manifesting itself in different ways all across the country. Simple problems that could and should be solved are seemingly beyond our ability to solve anymore.
You could try and be a law abiding citizen and pay your ticket like you should, or you could be a homeless drug addict and suck down societal resources. It's like Tucker Carlson said on one of his shows, "It makes you feel like a sucker for following the rules."
I hate going to Burlington for this reason and many more. The message is loud and clear: if you're not a drug addict or indigent, Burlington is not interested in your business. Message received.
Option 3: OC spray, brass knuckles, kubotan. Lay down the law, Holly-style. "Sure, you can have some pizza. But I have to warn you, it's extra spicy and comes with a jab to the eye or solar plexus."
When I was moving cross country couple years ago I came across that parking service/app. As someone passing through this once only I *reeeeeeally* didn't want to sign up for it, so I drove an extra block or two to a business center parking lot and ate breakfast quickly. More and more I appreciate people who make electronic purchases with gift cards and/or use burner phones.
Of course I don't doubt you, madame! My initial impression was that this person befell this fate but no, you named the threat. I take it she won the primary/re-election? As progressive as Seattle is I don't think there was anyone that crazy (yet) when I lived there. Yet I also hoped I never faced any situation where I was threatened into action. I used to tease my friend for never wanting to visit me in the city, like "don't be a wimp" but in the end she was right. The suburbanites were right. I was wrong.
Also, I was only half serious. Carrying self-defense tools, serious. Seeking trouble like an 80s action hero all kicking ass and taking names, not serious. I just thought you as a bad-ass would be cool. It sucks to have to make that choice, but if the city is trying to dissuade you from visiting then so be it. "Not my circus, not my monkeys", as they say.
The destruction is intentional. The more we cannot take care of ourselves, the more dependent we become upon the matrix, that is, the world banking system. And the more dependent we become upon that system, the easier it is to enslave us.
It will be so much easier and convenient to pay for parking once they usher in the global CBDC.
Holly -- you have motivated me to do something I have been avoiding -- to write an article about the small town I live in, why I think this little town works, despite its undeniable flaws, and how we should not allow the degradation we see everywhere to destroy our confidence that the American ideal still survives. More later.
Time to get the hell out of Dodge, chuck. Whatever stories you are telling yourself to keep you there, stop telling them. Put a plan together and exfiltrate asap. Whatever help we can give, just ask. We only have one another.
Jul 23, 2023·edited Jul 23, 2023Liked by Holly MathNerd
Ugh, Holly.
You could have saved yourself a lot of grief had you ridden a Greta/Gaia-approved bicycle. The Noble Bicycle Activists know what is best for you! They built “protected bike lanes” that have *zero* turning and crossing conflicts with motorists in this city. Nevermind that your bike might be at risk for theft when locking it up you’d be proud of the fact it was helping someone in need。
I live in Poland. The local parking app - if you have location services turned on - tells you immediately which zone you are in and calculates the fee accordingly. It also calculates the exact price of the parking, so if you state in the app that you intend to stay for 3 hours, but that 3 hours extends into the period in which parking is free, you only pay up to the commencement of the free parking time. Seems like someone in the US could figure out how to do that. But I imagine there is some nuance that I am missing. At any rate, my sympathies for the useless app that effectively has put you in danger.
Surprised Burlington is rife with aggressive homeless, but I suppose this is what happens after years of "benign" neglect of drug and mental health problems.
I think I know the parking app you’re taking about. Fortunately, Northampton MA (which I imagine is quite similar to Burlington) is a slightly better about putting zone stickers around. I usually have to circle the lot to find one, but they’re there much of the time. Northampton also seems to be slightly better at keeping the drug addled/mentally ill away from the parking garage, at least during normal business hours.
Bummer about your ticket. In my experience they’re always $15.
That's good to know. I will probably call downtown Burlington and, assuming I can get anyone on the phone, ask them what the penalty is for a second offense. (Narrator: she would not get anyone on the phone.)
Fear not. They are always $15 and do not go up based on any tally of one's personal offenses. I got one today too.
Remind me to show you some other places to park aside from the garage.
I had no idea about Burlington. I thought it was one of the rare cities that escaped post 2020 shenanigans.
Nope. The purpose of Burlington businesses is, I think, to provide an aesthetically pleasing background for the homeless to admire while they shoot up and/or accost passersby for their money and food.
Progressives view business as cash cows to fund their endeavors via theft (taxation), and not as locals trying to offer their skills in exchange for money.
I'm sad and down about our society's decision to unmake itself, so this piece fit my mood. COVID was the cover to implement any number of life-difficultifying measures and drain the joy from going about our daily lives. Our overlords are sadists. They get pleasure from causing us pain.
Exactly.
No lie detected.
Whoops I mean check your bourgeois privilege! /s
LOOOOOOOL
"The unraveling of downtowns is underway." https://confoundedinterest.net/2023/07/22/cre-storm-over-800-billion-in-office-space-in-nine-cities-could-become-obsolete-by-2030-office-vacancy-rates-soar-as-fed-went-crazy-with-stimulus/
Remote work is the one and only good thing that came from COVID, and I hope a lot of these office buildings get turned into apartments, which would help with the affordability crisis.
Unfortunately, office buildings tend to not be suitable for residential use due to lacking things like plumbing that can handle hundreds of people taking their morning showers at once, enough windows for the amount of square footage, etc.
May I recommend thriftbooks as an alternative? Comments on parking garages, sticky (at best) stairwells and box canyons of death (I have chosen to walk through an ED parking lot with opposing factions facing off after a shooting over using a connector to the hospital) by a cranky older woman with a tendency toward fight is of no use to you! The loss of minimal social contract is sad, but people want to be 'good' without doing the hard things. People in government, especially, will work hard to maintain their delusions when citizens hold up mirrors for them to see themselves clearly or spotlight the foreseeable consequences of bad policy. Be safe. Be smart. Be happy.
ThriftBooks is terrific. Reasonable and with a pretty low purchase shipping is free.
I also use Thriftbooks for used books. I also purchase my DVDs there and they have had issues with scratches, or one time I got a case and no disc, but apparently I buy enough stuff with them that they are always awesome with customer service and refunding or sending replacements.
I check Thriftbooks for new releases too - recently they met and in 2 cases beat Amazon's current price. Amazon may lower price and honor that when they charge me, but money is like manure! Better to spread it around.
If that’s the case I wish more would get spread my way.
At some point, the city-level politicians of America will need to realize that the only way your city succeeds is by catering to the needs and interests of people who actually do taxable things. Unfortunately, many of them will not and will blame the failure of their cities on Covid rather than the fact that they allowed tax-paying people and activities to get run off by criminals and homeless people.
It is not so much modern society, but the collapse of civilization generally, that is toxic (and dangerous).
So much for Jean Jacques Rousseau.
He is one of the roots of the problem.
I've noticed the same thing you're talking about manifesting itself in different ways all across the country. Simple problems that could and should be solved are seemingly beyond our ability to solve anymore.
You could try and be a law abiding citizen and pay your ticket like you should, or you could be a homeless drug addict and suck down societal resources. It's like Tucker Carlson said on one of his shows, "It makes you feel like a sucker for following the rules."
I hate going to Burlington for this reason and many more. The message is loud and clear: if you're not a drug addict or indigent, Burlington is not interested in your business. Message received.
Option 3: OC spray, brass knuckles, kubotan. Lay down the law, Holly-style. "Sure, you can have some pizza. But I have to warn you, it's extra spicy and comes with a jab to the eye or solar plexus."
When I was moving cross country couple years ago I came across that parking service/app. As someone passing through this once only I *reeeeeeally* didn't want to sign up for it, so I drove an extra block or two to a business center parking lot and ate breakfast quickly. More and more I appreciate people who make electronic purchases with gift cards and/or use burner phones.
There is a 100% probability I'd be aggressively prosecuted and my life ruined if I did this. Look up "Sarah George" if you doubt me.
Of course I don't doubt you, madame! My initial impression was that this person befell this fate but no, you named the threat. I take it she won the primary/re-election? As progressive as Seattle is I don't think there was anyone that crazy (yet) when I lived there. Yet I also hoped I never faced any situation where I was threatened into action. I used to tease my friend for never wanting to visit me in the city, like "don't be a wimp" but in the end she was right. The suburbanites were right. I was wrong.
Also, I was only half serious. Carrying self-defense tools, serious. Seeking trouble like an 80s action hero all kicking ass and taking names, not serious. I just thought you as a bad-ass would be cool. It sucks to have to make that choice, but if the city is trying to dissuade you from visiting then so be it. "Not my circus, not my monkeys", as they say.
Yeah, violent stuff gets out of hand quick
I’ve been in a couple situations where I’ve almost had to pull a gun on someone. Not fun, man.
Holly,
This is all intentional. In the words Margaret Anna Alice, recited by Dr. Tess Lawrie, this is not a mistake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uovtt7jMbZ4
The destruction is intentional. The more we cannot take care of ourselves, the more dependent we become upon the matrix, that is, the world banking system. And the more dependent we become upon that system, the easier it is to enslave us.
It will be so much easier and convenient to pay for parking once they usher in the global CBDC.
Wouldn’t they be disappointed if we started taking care of each other instead.
That is probably the most important thing that we could all be doing now.
Holly -- you have motivated me to do something I have been avoiding -- to write an article about the small town I live in, why I think this little town works, despite its undeniable flaws, and how we should not allow the degradation we see everywhere to destroy our confidence that the American ideal still survives. More later.
Time to get the hell out of Dodge, chuck. Whatever stories you are telling yourself to keep you there, stop telling them. Put a plan together and exfiltrate asap. Whatever help we can give, just ask. We only have one another.
Ugh, Holly.
You could have saved yourself a lot of grief had you ridden a Greta/Gaia-approved bicycle. The Noble Bicycle Activists know what is best for you! They built “protected bike lanes” that have *zero* turning and crossing conflicts with motorists in this city. Nevermind that your bike might be at risk for theft when locking it up you’d be proud of the fact it was helping someone in need。
I live in Poland. The local parking app - if you have location services turned on - tells you immediately which zone you are in and calculates the fee accordingly. It also calculates the exact price of the parking, so if you state in the app that you intend to stay for 3 hours, but that 3 hours extends into the period in which parking is free, you only pay up to the commencement of the free parking time. Seems like someone in the US could figure out how to do that. But I imagine there is some nuance that I am missing. At any rate, my sympathies for the useless app that effectively has put you in danger.
Surprised Burlington is rife with aggressive homeless, but I suppose this is what happens after years of "benign" neglect of drug and mental health problems.