A possible hiccup with the sell-but-rent-back-from-the-new-owners plan is that it makes the house a rental for the new owners, and that could impact their financing. So unless that negotiation takes place away from the realtors/bankers, it could be a deterrent. I hate to throw another wrench your way, ktgrok! I know it's frustrating!

It may not have "heard" the conversation, but (again) due to location apps, "they" may have assumed Disney vacations came up in conversation because the other person is an avid Disney fan. The amount of information Big Tech has on both individual habits and general human nature can easily lead to this kind of ad targeting.

Location services are primary sources for marketers. Even if you think you have location services turned off, you’re probably running apps that show your location (maps, weather, Life360, etc.). A company I worked for sent ads to customers when they were within a certain distance of our competitor. And those ads worked. Crazy.

According to NBC News, in 2019, the FBI received 32,000+ applications and hired 900 new agents. So, yeah, it's competitive.

So many good thoughts in this thread! Regarding the topic of "fellowship," a book called Introverts in the Church opens with the observation that for a lot of people (including ME!), the chit chat time before the Sunday morning service is like a cocktail party without the benefit of alcohol (my paraphrase). For introverts, at least, this is NOT fellowship. It's more likely an awkward social expectation. Sure, those moments can possibly lead to deeper friendships and meaningful conversations, but to call it fellowship and suggest I should be filled in some way from that weekly ritual? No. After a lifetime of evangelical/nondenominational churchgoing, I recently started attending an Anglican service and it's WONDERFUL! There's something about the participatory nature of the liturgy that takes me out of that "consumer" stance and reminds me--powerfully--that I am worshiping as part of a larger family, both locally and globally. The quality of the music and the charisma of the preacher and the distractions from the people around me . . . none of that holds much weight anymore. As I said: WONDERFUL! There is still a sermon, and sometimes it's long, but it's not the main thing. The communion afterward--the response to the sermon and everything else that happened earlier in the service--is the main thing. This, too, has been extremely freeing in shifting my focus. So there's my plug for liturgy 🙂 Oh, and those of you who are thinking about alternatives to the sermon might be interested in following or reading Dan White, Jr. He wrote a book about dialogical preaching (facilitating conversation rather than one-way talking).

Living it right now. We’re encouraging him to pursue a four-year degree before joining a police force. Maybe he’ll see other opportunities while he’s learning? Meanwhile, we’re talking a lot about current events. And I’m praying. The truth is we need good cops, and my son would be one. He cares about people. The motto of “serve and protect” suits him so well.

Great advice already in this thread. I just want to point out that the main purpose of a resume is to get an interview, and it sounds like you've already got that nailed. So a secondary purpose of a resume is to provide talking points for the interview. And, again, it sounds like you've got that nailed. Go you!

This statement resonates with me: "However, Bateman argues that even when we think we’re buying more time with cosmetic procedures, it’s an illusion, a Ponzi scheme in which age always wins." I admit to being more open to Botox treatments in my 50s than I was in my 30s or 40s. (But of course! I didn't look "old" back then!) But I do wonder . . . to what end? Do women who start down that road for, say, professional purposes, give it up when they retire? Is the goal always to look younger than you actually are? Even if that "look" is obviously chemically produced? Just rambling here . . .

Patricia Heaton in The Middle?

Thanks for taking the time to watch the video and respond. I really appreciate it.

Thanks, everyone, for taking the time to explain. So helpful!

Thanks for validating my confusion :). I think I need to re-read the article @FuzzyCatz linked to better understand how the vaccine differs from other uses of mRNA therapies.

Are you saying that what the Moderna exec was talking about was gene therapy and the covid vaccine is something different? Maybe that is the key to understanding . . .

Talk to me, Science Hive. I've read the mainstream articles on how the current Covid vaccinations do not alter DNA, and I've read the outlier articles that suggest otherwise. In a 2017 TED talk, Tal Zaks, the (now) former Chief Medical Officer of Moderna, essentially praised the possibilities of mRNA in rewriting DNA code. You can search for the talk, but I'll warn you . . . it's usually attached to anti-vax, conspiracy-friendly commentary. If you can ignore the inflammatory commentary on either side and listen to what he's saying, can you then explain it to me? Is it possible that mRNA therapies/vaccinations can alter DNA? If so, what are the implications--good and bad--of this possibility?

I don't think the identity of Q is an issue for most people who accept the conspiracy theories. They see/hear/read a meme, a video, a podcast, an article and they believe it because it fits their worldview or whatever. Sure, some people are into the "Oooo, Q is an administrative operative who knows all," but most, I think, don't care about that angle at all. They just like the results of what he was saying.

People I know who are waiting cite a few reasons: 1. Their risk of hospitalization or death from Covid is very small. (Meaning, they’re younger, healthier, not obese, don’t have other known risk factors for complications, etc.). 2. They want long-term studies. While they see that people aren’t falling over dead immediately after getting a shot, they still want to see, for example, whether the vaccine impacts fertility. Conventional medicine has been wrong in the past, sometimes to tragic results, so they’d rather wait for more comprehensive, long-term data. 3. They already had Covid and figure their natural immunity is just as good as anything the vaccine can offer. At least for now.

An easy option is to put at the very top something like Career Target: Chief Dog Walker That covers the objective without the fluff. Bonus for external hires: This way the resume includes the very job title the recruiters are searching for so applicant tracking systems like it.

Sure!

Yes. ACNA. Outside services during summer months with "masks while moving" requirement. Then inside services at limited capacity (50%, I think?) and masks required all the time.

If you’re saying you have nine years of relevant experience, I’d definitely put the focus on those nine years. If you want to include the earlier, not-so-relevant experience, you can add one line at the end of the employment section that says “Earlier career included roles in feline companionship and book reading.” The “explain any gaps” line is usually on an application (though many companies are doing away with it because they recognize that humanity often has demands and stressors and obligations beyond work), so you don’t have to mention anything about earlier jobs on your resume.

I’ve worked in HR and have written resumes professionally for 15+ years. Nearly all of the resumes I write for mid- to late-career professionals come in at two pages. Generally speaking, a resume should be as long as it needs to be to convey the candidate‘s value. The trick is to convey that value clearly, concisely, and in a way that makes the hiring manager say, “I like what I’m reading here and I want to hear more.” When people with a lot of experience try to smoosh everything on to one page, they risk using a too-small font or minimizing all-important white space or cutting valuable information. As someone above pointed out, most resumes are viewed on screens, at least at first, so two pages isn’t the Big Bad No-No it used to be. Objective statements (“Seeking a progressive company in which I can utilize my management skills to further organizational success”) are a waste of space. As Bootsie mentioned, that kind of objective is obvious. Instead, use a short summary statement. Here’s the formula I start with: What do I do? For whom do I do it? What are the results? That leads to this kind of summary statement: Sales manager with 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Consistent history of leading sales teams to deliver year-over-year revenue increases of 6% in a territory valued at $5M. Expert trainer and presenter. Think of this opening as the only thing the reader might see and make it say what’s most important. I hope this is helpful!

I agree that the women should have had the same workout facilities, meals, etc. But a spectator in the stands not enjoying a women’s basketball game as much as men’s basketball game is an ingrained prejudice? It can’t just be a preference for, say, a faster style of play? It HAS to be a form of misogyny?

Is saying “I’d rather watch men’s basketball than women’s basketball” a form of misogyny?

That is a HUGE relief! Insurance tied to employment was among the biggest stressors for us when dh was laid off a few years ago. I posted here asking if we reeeeeaaaaalllly needed COBRA since it was so expensive. (I think everyone said yes.) I'm sorry you're going through this. It can be a frightening and frustrating and just plain sad time. Trying to be helpful, people said things to me like, "Something better is right around the corner!" I hated that. I wanted people to just let me be sad for a little bit. I'm a big proponent of weeping with those who weep. So, if possible, surround yourself with people who will support you in the ways you need--emotionally, practically, financially, etc. You've got a solid crew here who will listen.

Remind yourself of this as often as you need to. I don't know the right way to address your situation, but I empathize. We went through something similar with my FIL. MIL was so distraught once at the thought of him driving that she called my husband asking him to DO SOMETHING. As a temporary fix to buy some time at least for that day, DH removed a spark plug (I think) from the car. FIL called AAA who fixed the car and FIL took a drive. He was found many hours and hundreds of miles later, wandering the side of a highway, confused, soiled, and angry. That was the final straw for the family. They took his car keys and suffered with the anger. Terrible time for everyone.