Squared Stiff

One *very* small source of comfort is that this will certainly be an important moment in history and that I'm not the only one going through this. History will not look back kindly at these decisions. I'm proud of my service, regardless.

Thanks, Ashley. It's a shame that most people won't realize it until it's too late.

Yes. Admin leave until June 2 followed by a short period of severance. I'm luckier than others, I'm aware, but the stability I had secured for my family is vaporized. I had planned on retiring at the CDC.

The loss of my division of CDC is huge, but it's only part of the cuts at the CDC--TB prevention, gun violence, suicide prevention? All gone. And how much more have the American people lost across the rest of the government at FDA, EPA, IRS, & others? It's unfathomable.

Extreme Heat Programs Hollowed Out by Trump Staff Cuts Layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services have dealt a critical blow to the agency's efforts to manage rising temperatures made worse by climate change

Last week I went on record with the BBC, Politico, & others about the devastating loss of my Division at the CDC and what that means for our country. I'm quoted here: www.scientificamerican.com/article/trum...

My firing last week sucks for many personal reasons, but it's also a huge loss to the American people. My entire division of 200+ people (Division of Environmental Health Science & Practice) was eliminated.

Hi everyone. After focusing on family following my wife losing her federal job in February, I'm back on Bluesky with not great news...I have now also been terminated from my position at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after nearly 10 years as a civil servant.

Thanks, Jen. It sucks, but we'll ultimately be OK. I appreciate you reaching out--I forgot about BlueSky.

Haven't had to build a resume in 10 years, but it's not looking good out there (IYKYK). Anyone in communications/marketing/PR willing to take a look at mine and see how it comes across so far?

My wife, a public servant with the CDC, was unjustly fired from her job today, along with hundreds and hundreds of others. It's all so senseless and sad.

Saw Captain America: Brave New World last night and I'm starting to mirror my wife's feelings that all the movies require too much background knowledge to get the full picture. Marvel movies need to start like TV shows with a 2-minute "Previously On..." preamble.

YouTube video by The TV Madman Chicago Is Calling Me Home - George Wendt/Second City (1987)

Whenever I feel nostalgic for the Chicago where I spent part of my youth, I watch this video of Chicago's favorite son, George Wendt. (JK) Did you know George was a Second City Alum? Now you do. www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Zfn...

I'd need to rewatch. I only saw it once during the original theatrical run, but I wasn't a fan.

Yep. Love his work.

Don't know a thing about the book, but I'm in!

So random and weird! I love it. Wish you had a way to capture their perplexed expressions. Lol

This rules so hard!

Congrats! Love what you add to the site. A great timeline cleanser! Keep up the great work.

I'm still moving in, but I've started an antiques booth in a new, closer location. Its a touch smaller, but still focusing on comics, cards, and toys. I'm really pleased with how the booth looks, especially the row of trading cards in the case--takes me back! What do you think so far?

Those who've been following me since the other site may know that I have a side hustle running an antiques booth. We'll, this is my last month at this location as they raised rent AND commissions (now 20%!). It was a good run here, but I'm not done yet...

YouTube video by Steve Wallis '70s Motorhome Winter Camping

Oddball pick, but this is a great retro-themed video. Guy goes camping in a 70s camper wagon complete with fondue, tuna helper, and so many other great 70s details. fun! www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcOP...

John Candy from 'Planes, Trains, and Automobiles' displaying a Casio watch on a T-shirt

The internet must know I have a fine taste for t-shirts because I keep getting served an ad for this amazing entry in the medium:

Talk about a shirt that goes hard. LOL

I watched it for the first time ever just a couple years ago. I was shocked it had not been on my radar during my slasher-obsessed teenage years. I enjoyed it very much.

Big Lots was great...like 10+ years ago. You used to find good deals on closeout stuff, but now it's just sanitized, uniform cheap crap. No diamond in the rough finds.

Too kind! I don't have many Halloween tapes, but I do have tons of X-files & Buffy tapes with commercials (among many others) if those interest you.

Cool! It's getting harder and harder to find rare/obscure/weird tapes at Goodwill, but the mainstream titles are still aplenty. As you may know, I've been mostly collecting the TV-recorded ones as I love unearthing cool local stuff, intros, and other things lost to time. Fun!

Toys I kind of get...like setting up for the shock and awe of Santa on Christmas morning. But opening packs of cards...super weird. Think they were secretly into it or were they just "doing you a favor" by easing your access to the toys/cards?

Ooh! Just spotted this and saw you got a VHS/TV combo for Christmas! Too cool, congrats! You're gonna have so much fun collecting your favorite tapes! What are you on the hunt for most?

Not to be negative Nancy here, but work has really sucked since...oh, I don't know...January 20th or so. Today was especially depressing. Wish I could scream more explicitly into the void, but IYKYK.