And by the way, one of the best things that can happen to areas at risk of population loss and economic decline is having thriving communities of people who have immigrated to the United States. Read up on Minnesota; read up on Maine. (I originally had a discussion of this in my first book!)

every time i tell this story to a woman she is like “this is AMAZING” and then we talk about how the bar is so low that “respecting my request” and “planning a date” are above it

the first time my now partner asked me out, I said I was busy and would be able to make plans in a week. for the next week he…left me alone, then followed up right on time. he also had a plan for what we could do (arcade bar). the combo of listening to me and being thoughtful was a major green flag

as someone repped by a performative senator (collins), these statements are infuriating. there is shock, there is concern, there are clearly fake promises made behind closed doors, there is another party line vote. repeat. never any consequential action.

Yikes!