Booking.com seems great until something goes wrong. Then, there’s no remediation.

Show up and discover a dirty, roach motel homeless flophouse instead of a vacation rental. The pictures are of the hotel but from a different time.

Good odds you won’t be able to get a refund.

Booking.com customer services words: We just talked to the owner, and they say it’s not like that, denied.

Send pictures. “Your picture…”. You mean pictures, plural? “No, there’s only one picture.” Try again. “Ok, I have multiple pictures.” And? “I don’t see the problem.” Mold isn’t a problem? “The owner says there’s no mold.” And the picture? “The owner says there’s no mold.”

Booking.com is awful.

The billionaires really want all in on no privacy.

This is what makes RE good. That and the terrible acting/script of the first game.

Found an aggregate site with a comprehensive list by state. The ones I tapped into are metro and have no online order options which makes them inaccessible to many.

To be fair, oil paint keeps for a really long time, I’ve used decades old inherited items, so I can’t imagine a lot of it gets donated. And I wouldn’t trust used acrylics for the opposite reason, as it tends to solidify in the tube over time.

It’s a neat idea, but access online is something most people rely on, so, after Blick, what is there, online?

I’ve not heard of a “creative reuse center”, but if it’s a metro thing, Amazon and Walmart market are used more often by more rural people. As such, the option needs to be browsable and orderable from home. Estate sales, the bid wars on art supplies get crazy to the point of surpassing retail.

Blick prices are decent imo, and I’ve been buying since the 90s. Art supplies themselves, like everything DIY and “maker” zone, have skyrocketed in price, unless you’re going for trash art sets from Ross or similar. The top grade paints and brushes are always ridiculous, wherever you go. Brand matters.

Blick sells canvas by the yard for a good price, it’s my go to for it. Clearance deals are sometimes remarkable.

Other than that, what’s left? Michaels? Hobby Lobby?

Exactly. If I’d shopped Amazon, I’d never know.

Blick is the place for art supplies.

There is nothing to compare except Walmart Marketplace.

if your purpose is to avoid buying from billionaires, that’s not a good alternative. Walton family rarely gets named because their billions is spread across multiple people. The Walton family donated big to both Trump and Heritage.

What you can do is open search for that item you want. Other options will pop up. You may find cool specialty businesses. In addition, you’re less likely to binge buy from browsing a wide market, like on Amazon or Walmart. Search, don’t go straight to the marketplaces.

A friend wanted a foraging bag. I asked what they meant. They linked, drum roll: Amazon. I searched and found a cool bag via barebones instead. And stumbled on a bougie axe site called helko. Way more fun than Amazon.

My point is, there are better ways than Amazon or Walmart Marketplace. I’m not saying you won’t buy from either, sometimes you’ll have to, but neither should be the first choice.

I don’t even do email on my phone. I like the large monitor that doesn’t require glasses to see. Two monitors even.

I derive no joy from watching video on a phone.

It’s a bit more urgent for US Citizens.

Given the path of the US right now, this is the wisest decision any American can make.

If work wants me checking email on the go then they can supply the phone. I don’t have an email app on my personal phone.

How is progress on the Crazy Horse monument? I’ve swung by once a decade since I was a teen, but it’s been 11yrs since my last visit.

I only read the headline on that one.

Microsoft is now, essentially, a bag of dicks.

I would support a better version of this.

Deficit is a major piece. They talk about it and then invariably increase it every time.

RNC lowers taxes, technically, but only ever in a way that hurts working class. DNC leave it all as is, never changing the bottom line.

First draft meme, here.

I have my old Speak & Spell. It still works.

No. Matthew Crooks went after him because of his suspicion of Trump being in the Epstein Files.

Rosie was brought by Trump, in association with a heinously treasonous idea, to distract from Trump’s association with the Epstein Files.

Distraction is Trump’s preferred tool when he’s scared or grifting.