Shared Services

One of the benefits of renting that is often downplayed is cost advantages of living in a single building with other people. It simply takes less infrastructure on a per-capita bases to support multiple people in a building. Multi-family homes are more energy efficient, cheaper to maintain on a per capita basis.

Rather then having three or four sets of lawn mowers, you have one guy do all the mowing for you. Rather then having many repairmen servicing different houses, you have same guy fix things on all the buildings he owns. Not to mention the savings living in the city, having buses and ability to walk or ride to various locations nearby and not having to motor everywhere.

I get tired of all the bullshit about how you’re stealing from your future every month you rent. You must be poor, a sad individual who chooses to rent more then on a very brief temporary basis. But have you looked at the energy costs alone for a single-family house? Or the cost of car commuting to a remote location? The cost of hiring your own mechanics and construction companies to constantly be fixing and improving the structure you live in?

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The temperature differentials between upstate and downstate are insane!

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Welcome to Germany! – DW – 03/27/2025

Dear US researchers: Welcome to Germany! – DW – 03/27/2025

Mass layoffs, frozen or cut research funds, political directives β€” US President Donald Trump's massive attack on science is not only affecting areas he dislikes, such as climate, energy, social, or gender studies. Other fields like AI or mRNA vaccine technologies are impacted, too.

Critics view Trump's assault on research freedom as a politically-motivated attack on the pluralistic system and the liberal democratic order. Trump, critics say, is taking aim at the scientific method of refuting claims and myths with facts and analyses.

The uncertainty created by Trump's actions is so great that many researchers want to leave the US for jobs in Canada and Asia, but especially in Europe.

West Fulton, NY

West Fulton is a small hamlet located in Schoharie County, New York, in the United States. It is situated in the western part of the county, near the Catskill Mountains. West Fulton is part of the town of Fulton, which encompasses several other hamlets and communities.

West Fulton, like many rural areas in upstate New York, is known for its picturesque landscapes, rolling hills, and natural beauty. It is a quiet and sparsely populated area that attracts those seeking a more rural and tranquil way of life.

While West Fulton itself may not have many amenities, you can find some in nearby towns such as Cobleskill and Middleburgh, which offer various services, schools, and shopping options. The region is known for its outdoor recreational opportunities, including hiking, fishing, and wildlife watching, thanks to its proximity to the Catskill Mountains and the Schoharie Creek.

The hamlet of West Fulton has a historic charm and a sense of community, with many older buildings and a rural atmosphere. It is a place where residents and visitors can enjoy the beauty of the natural surroundings and escape the hustle and bustle of more urban areas.

NPR

Trump moves to end union rights for federal employees : NPR

President Trump has signed an executive order ending collective bargaining for wide swaths of federal employees, as part of his broader campaign to reshape the U.S. government's workforce. The largest federal employee union says the order affects over 1 million workers.

In a fact sheet, the White House says the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA) gives him the authority to halt collective bargaining at agencies with national security missions.

This provision has traditionally applied to certain employees at agencies such as the CIA, the FBI or the National Security Agency.

But Trump's order, signed late Thursday, is more far-reaching, and includes employees whose jobs touch on national defense, border security, foreign relations, energy security, pandemic preparedness, the economy, public safety and cybersecurity.