u/old_science_guy

The OMB is accepting comments on their plan to end all the "fraud, waste, and abuse" in science funding, by giving trump appointees the authority to decide which grants get funded. The OMB is using the same language used by trump and DOGE to destroy other federal programs.

In the current process, a panel of scientists scores the grant applications for scientific impact, societal benefit, and innovation. Only about 15% of the grant applications survive this scientific review. Detailed budgets must be presented before any money gets awarded to the best proposals, followed by strict accounting after the money is awarded.

The purpose of this OMB proposal is to replace this process with something Vought, RFK jr, and trump consider useful (that is, promoting fraud, waste, and abuse that benefits trump).

Please leave a comment at the website below to tell the OMB to let scientists continue to be gatekeepers of science in the US:

https://www.regulations.gov/document/OMB-2026-0034-0001

After 7 years of spending all our free time together, my wife discovered a particular video game that has completely replaced me in her life.

It gives her everything she wants - visuals, storyline, romance, action, and writing. She has linked up with multiple AIs to help her write her own fan fic, just for fun.

She's on the computer from noon till 2 a.m. EVERY day. Not a single break in 2 years. I mentioned that I miss hanging out, and she got furious and said we need a divorce if I'm going to "hit her with that". We have had this discussion 3 times in 2 years, and nothing has changed.

She says gaming relieves her stress, takes her mind off current events, and gives her an artistic outlet. All of which is true. I never mentioned gaming addiction to her, but separately she has said there's nothing wrong with people being addicted to AI or gaming. She gets very defensive if anyone says anything bad about AI now.

She still loves me in those couple hours per morning when we see each other, but I am near the end of my rope. She thinks this life is just fine, but I feel completely alone.

I can't imagine a solution other than waiting it out or just leaving.

I've read posts here about crazy drivers as well as great roads. Everywhere has some of both.

How does Charlottesville - and the surrounding back roads - compare to other small cities? Quality of roads vs number of insane drivers?

What general region near Cville has the best biking roads (N E S W of town)?

How far away is good mountain biking?

I've lived and ridden in Madison WI, Seattle, Bloomington IN, and South Hill VA. (Nowhere else is like Southern VA. They are the most amazingly courteous drivers! They'll wait patiently 100 ft behind you till it's safe to pass.)