I have lived in Tampa for my whole life without ever stepping on a lizard. Yes they are all over, but they aren’t running underfoot. I don’t like Orlando, so haven’t spent much time there but the lizards can’t be that different.

I once (before cell phones put a video recorder in our pockets) saw an epic battle between a lizard and a palmetto bug. They were wrestling, same size as each other, thankfully the lizard eventually won. It was like a miniature version of a Godzilla fight.

55% is just past half, and the US is pretty sprawling. I wouldn’t call my house big, or small either, but being able to walk or bus to work is something I have not compromised on since I was 20, it’s more important than a big house. Which apparently puts me in a large minority.

I feel bad for the 45% of suburbanites who would prefer to be closer to everything, we have those house farms in the exurbs here. The houses are big, but not far apart. I know several people who moved down here, bought one of those houses because they looked nice, them realized how trapped they were, but right now the price of houses in my previously very affordable neighborhood in the city has risen to eye-watering levels, and that is true for most of the areas in the city.

Aging begins when you are born IMO, or whatever point a person comes into existence.

I don’t think creatures who reproduce ought to be immortal.

Senescence, I agree with the people who put it around 25, the point where you stop growing at all physically has to be the point you start degrading, but it must happen so much slower than growing does, I felt my absolute physical best around 45 years of age (certainly NOT 25) and still feel really good at near 60. So maybe there was an adjustment period then a steady state for awhile. Or a quick slide then s slower slide?

You aren’t ever going to run out of things to do. Literally - there will never come a time when everything you could do is done. Some tasks are projects that have a beginning and end, others don’t, they are ongoing work. But in any case there is always more you could do, more than you will be able to do.

Write a list, if you are afraid you will forget. I put reminders in my phone too. Prioritize your list, do the more urgent or important things.

Ha! I did not. It was so deliciously simple, that Tequila Ocho is so good. I do like a tajin rim on fruitier more complex drinks, especially this one, which may be my all time favorite drink:

imbibemagazine.com/…/cima-summer-special-tropical…

Wait, even if the baby is raised by a diverse set of people? Or they just prefer what they are exposed to regularly?

I can easily imagine tribalism being easy to fall into - little kids love sorting things into categories - but can’t really see any biological benefits at all to racism, can’t imagine why it would be innate?

You are right, I ought to have said the benefits outweigh the risks for me, that the good is more than the harm not that it’s universally harmless.

I didn’t say I am not addicted. Physical addiction, sure, because I get the headache when quitting. But as a drug I like it and it’s been an overall benefit to my life and health. Fewer migraines with daily coffee than without. Meaning even after a couple of years off it, increased incidence of migraine if I abstain from all caffeine. Reduced incidence if I use it daily.

My ex wrecked his teeth smoking pot, so I do not think smoking anything is good for you. But no I wouldn’t judge, whatever works for you. And no I don’t think cannabis is bad, certainly ought not be illegal I just hate the effect. Blah feeling, irritated not high just feel tired and slow.

Coffee not powder caffeine - I know the refined drug caffeine is too strong to safely dose it. I’m not snorting caffeine or slamming monster drinks.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4862107/

www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00409-y

hopkinsmedicine.org/…/9-reasons-why-the-right-amo…