Country For Sale

Things are so bad, I had to start tweeting

[Country For Sale @bridgespls]

@redknitterPNW @thehill I have driven across the US multiple times, so I do have an idea.

This is not a huge problem. I just know this stretch of NYS thruway well. Their "convenience" centers are less convenient on Sunday now. They just are. It's nothing against Chick-fil-A, I'm complaining about NYS.

[Country For Sale @bridgespls]

@DrunkPhilosoph0 @thehill Chittenango rest area only has a Chick-fil-A (and a Starbucks if you want coffee or small snack foods and like waiting an hour on Sundays). Some do have a 3rd restaurant. But most are 2 plus maybe a coffee place.

Is it the worst affront ever? No. Does it seem stupid by NYS? Yes.

[Country For Sale @bridgespls]

@DrunkPhilosoph0 @thehill ?? These rest areas just have 2 restaurants, so the line at the only one open gets ridiculous on Sundays.

But as I said already, I just bring my own meals now. No worries! I solved it.

[Country For Sale @bridgespls]

@DrunkPhilosoph0 @thehill Did they get some huge kickback from Chick-fil-A? I'm not a NYS resident, I don't care enough to investigate.

It's just validly annoying as someone who regularly travels I-90 in NYS and it's this 6 hour long black hole of inconvenience with high tolls. Boo, NYS!

[Country For Sale @bridgespls]

@DrunkPhilosoph0 @thehill This isn't about Chick-fil-A, they can do what they want!

This is about inexplicably bad decision-making by NYS. Why build convenience centers for travelers to entice them to take your roads and pay your tolls, then chose a place closed Sundays? Not convenient!

[Country For Sale @bridgespls]

@DrunkPhilosoph0 @thehill I wasn't traveling then, but I would have been peeing on the side of the road!

Even with every other rest area closed for the rebuilds that are adding Chick-fil-A, it's a challenge. Some of rest areas are far apart as it is! I do not love I-90 in NY. It's not my favorite.

[Country For Sale @bridgespls]

@patflorida22 @thehill Agreed! It was a really foreseeably bad choice! Chick-fil-A is closed Sundays, this is not a surprise, and it was obviously going to cause problems.

But this lawmaker is reacting to a real problem, a real mistake made by whoever approved their contract. 33 years of annoyance!

[Country For Sale @bridgespls]

@thehill I just pack my own food now, whatever day I'm traveling. It's not like this is an insurmountable problem. It's cheaper and healthier.

But a "closed Sunday" restaurant did change my behavior so they've lost my business at their rest areas every day of the week.

[Country For Sale @bridgespls]

@thehill As someone who frequently drives this stretch, it is annoying on Sundays. There's very little directly off exits, so you rely on rest areas, then the lines are long when Chick-fil-A is closed as there's just one restaurant option.

It was dumb whoever let Chick-fil-A rent there.

[Country For Sale @bridgespls]

@Surly_Temple @ChefReactions Same!

Is this peach kugel run through the telephone game? "Peaches? Pasta? Say no more! I've got this!"

[John Burn-Murdoch @jburnmurdoch]

NEW: Does the American Dream foster inequality?

Let’s start with a shocking stat:

These two things are simultaneously true:
• The richest Americans are the richest in the world
• Food poverty is more severe in America than in any other developed country

[John Burn-Murdoch @jburnmurdoch]

Now, does all of this mean extreme wealth and extreme poverty have to go hand in hand?

I don’t think so. You can have a society where the rich do very well and the poor still have a good standard of living.

But America is clearly not currently getting that balance right:

[Country For Sale @bridgespls]

@TracyNovick I was talking to my husband on the phone as he came home from the airport the other day, and he did just that. I guess my conversation was too engaging. He ended up missing 95 entirely.

[Country For Sale @bridgespls]

Of all the wild claims I learned Somerton has made, the idea that straight white women were offended by the gay sex in #RedWhiteAndRoyalBlue? Yeah, no. I'll speak for straight white women here--not a problem.

Anyway, great video by Todd in the Shadows, worth a watch!

[Todd in the Shadows @ShadowTodd]

So, here's what happened when I fact-checked James Somerton, the worst video essayist on YouTube. The results will shock you! And then it got worse! Enjoy, everyone!

https://t.co/nWQbU3BWBu

[Country For Sale @bridgespls]

@zerocovid4kids @FixingEducation I'm glad someone else brought up health. My doctor was the one to bring up health concerns. The sickest I've been wasn't even COVID, it was freaking Fifth Disease, because parents didn't keep sick kids home, and old building with no ventilation let germs spread unchecked.

[Country For Sale @bridgespls]

@FixingEducation Every job has things that suck. I've worked in a variety of industries. None are perfect. But health/safety risk for inadequate pay--no thanks. Those two combined were my breaking point.

[Country For Sale @bridgespls]

@FixingEducation Big one you missed: health risk. My doctor asked if I really needed to be exposed to the continued illnesses (not just COVID--the complete lack of concern for teacher health, include inadequate sick time).

And the money. Those are the only two reasons are why I left.

[Country For Sale @bridgespls]

@killersumobunny 1) I have 2 kids who don't particularly like chocolate, and it's hard to wrap my head around.

2) Would your mom mind if I stole this idea, because it's genius, and I'd get double chocolate that way!

[Country For Sale @bridgespls]

@RyanMath6284 Anyway, you said it was an unpopular opinion, so I hope you're right that it's not a widely held opinion. Having worked as a teacher and left the field, hats off to you for staying. The administration should deal with setting parent expectations for communication, not you!

[Country For Sale @bridgespls]

@RyanMath6284 I wonder what the problem for parents is then? Lack of understanding how to access? Lack of understanding why they should access? Lack of reminders? Too many teachers emailing that makes parents think they don't need to check? Some other disincentivization or confusion?