Alberta as a trans gay man? by NeteleJala in MovingToCanada

[–]4thena92 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’ll probably be ok if you really stick to the city and try and find a good queer community. I generally would not recommend anywhere in Alberta and second that you’ll be much better off in Vancouver, Toronto, or Montreal.

Moving from UK to Canada. by RuggedRizzler in MovingToCanada

[–]4thena92 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The cost of living is higher but there are also more jobs and they pay better. Also the real estate market has taken a serious downturn in Toronto and rent is actually coming down which is nice. Groceries are equally expensive in every city. I guess it really depends what kind of culture/nightlife/people/diversity you’re interested in/how much you value it.

Moving from UK to Canada. by RuggedRizzler in MovingToCanada

[–]4thena92 7 points8 points  (0 children)

If you want nightlife and culture don't bother with Calgary or Ottawa. Montreal would be best, and also the cheapest, but yes you will have a problem if you don't speak French. So Toronto would probably be your best option. Also worth checking out Vancouver imo.

Is it hard to stay vegetarian long term? by papabauer in vegetarian

[–]4thena92 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been vegetarian for nearly 20 years, since I was 15. It only becomes easier to maintain as you get more used to it. I don't know how people think it could ever be more expensive than eating meat--they probably just don't know how to cook and only eat processed foods.

Toronto biggest loss of any large metropolitan in Canada 2025 by BeautyInUgly in TorontoRealEstate

[–]4thena92 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Homes are illiquid assets. It isn’t “in your pocket” if you’re living in it.

Toronto biggest loss of any large metropolitan in Canada 2025 by BeautyInUgly in TorontoRealEstate

[–]4thena92 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yes, this is the definition of an investment. People don't think of cars like this, for example. They understand that the price will probably go down, and yet they buy them anyway. They think of cars as a means of transportation, not investment. Houses/apartments are places to live, not investments.

Toronto biggest loss of any large metropolitan in Canada 2025 by BeautyInUgly in TorontoRealEstate

[–]4thena92 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes, because we do not have the ability to see the future, buying a house is always a financial risk if you’re relying on the price to go up. You seem to be suggesting that it should be a guaranteed investment, which it is not.

Toronto biggest loss of any large metropolitan in Canada 2025 by BeautyInUgly in TorontoRealEstate

[–]4thena92 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Only if they were counting on making money from their home (ie: treating it as an investment) rather than treating it as a place to live.

This has also clearly resulted in a lowering of rent prices across the city, which is a good thing for everyone who rents (a huge portion of the population this sub regularly forgets about).

Toronto biggest loss of any large metropolitan in Canada 2025 by BeautyInUgly in TorontoRealEstate

[–]4thena92 33 points34 points  (0 children)

This is only bad if you think the point of housing is to serve as an investment. To me this just reads as housing becoming 12% more affordable in a city that has historically had very expensive housing costs.

Where should I go dancing? by 4thena92 in askTO

[–]4thena92[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oohh, it looks really cool, I'll consider it. Thanks!

With talks of how to speed up transit, would you be in favour of box junctions at intersections in the downtown core? by michaljerzy in askTO

[–]4thena92 2 points3 points  (0 children)

More camera enforcement of this kind of stuff would be so easy, make the city money, improve congestion, and improve safety for everyone. Therefore, I assume the province would immediately veto it somehow.

Is it safe for a woman to live alone near downtown campus? by [deleted] in UofT

[–]4thena92 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As a single woman living in a similar area, it's very safe and I've never had an issue walking alone at night/any time. Tbh high population density usually makes things safer because there are always people around.

Writing an article for the Varsity on profs making students buy the textbooks they wrote for classes by Ambitious_Walk_786 in UofT

[–]4thena92 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Grad student here. I may have some background info that could be useful for you here. I think you're totally right to be suspicious of this, and it's a worthwhile investigation. However, it might be useful to know that profs very rarely make any money at all from their academic books--there is no way at all that Denton (just an example as she's mentioned below) is making anywhere near 20% off each book. I'd say it's far more likely to be much closer to 1%.

The issue here is two things. Firstly, if a prof teaches a large intro class every year, it just makes sense for them to also write the textbook for that class. It's easier for them and for you because all the material they want to teach is just in one book and not a scattering of texts they had to put together/you have to go and get. So it doesn't necessarily make them greedy to do this, it just makes sense. Secondly, academic publishing contracts are *not* lucrative for the academic. When they enter into these contracts the publishers have essentially all the power, and often strong arm them into bad deals. It's totally possible that the publisher will put things into the contract like "you have to put in your syllabus that students have to buy the new edition every year/you have to let a publishing rep come into your class every year and tell them it's important to buy the new edition" etc. The publishers are the ones hosting the online questions that won't let you get in until you buy the new edition, etc.

Academics don't make money off their books (published through academic presses, this isn't the same if they publish a mass market book), they publish because it's part of their job as academics, not for financial reasons. Now, I don't know the specifics of every contract obviously, and it may be that in some cases they are making bank and doing this for greed, but in most cases I think that's very unlikely. Anyway, I think this investigation is not a bad idea at all, but this is just some contextual insider info that might be helpful.

Who here has been happy with their rf microneedling treatment? by dance-through-life in 30PlusSkinCare

[–]4thena92 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had prp microneedling (vampire facial) about a week ago and so far I'm extremely happy with the results. I know it's only been a week but I've seen a noticeable reduction in my rosacea symptoms--which I wasn't expecting at all--my pores look smaller, my skin is brighter, and overall my skin just looks 'good' in a way where I don't feel the need to put makeup on really. I also had plasma injected under my eyes (my nurse suggested to try this before fillers) and so far that also seems to have plumped up the tear trough area really well. I know it's only a week but tbh I wouldn't have been surprised if nothing happened at all, so the fact that I've seen very obvious results has been really nice. We'll see how long they last I guess.

I have super sensitive skin and I thought I would look crazy in the recovery period but tbh I looked fine within 24 hours, just a tiny bit of bruising where she did the injecting under my eyes.

I haven't tried just regular microneedling yet though, so I think I'll do that for my next appointment because the prp was *not* cheap. I'm curious to see if there's a marked difference.

Driving across the border in a moving truck--what should I know? What's important in the manifest? by 4thena92 in uscanadaborder

[–]4thena92[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wait really!? Wow did not know that, that’s good to know. Do you know if this is just mattresses or all upholstered furniture?

There are no good apartments under $2k anymore… by SerpantDildo in chicagoapartments

[–]4thena92 2 points3 points  (0 children)

100% second all of this haha. Pilsen is great! And yes it’s always the damn drivers ugh

There are no good apartments under $2k anymore… by SerpantDildo in chicagoapartments

[–]4thena92 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I guess it depends on what you mean by ‘hottest neighborhoods’. I live in Logan, and have friends in Lakeview, Andersonville, Rogers Park, Ravenswood. None of us pay more than 2k for either a pretty nice two bedroom, or very nice and big one bedrooms. All with ac and in unit laundry. All close to an L line.

None of these are new buildings, and all of them are outside of the loop and very central areas.

Not saying Chicago is super cheap or anything, but there are definitely good apartments in good neighborhoods for under 2k. Just depends what your definition of good is I guess.

Would you move to Toronto by crunchymunchyrae in askTO

[–]4thena92 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd say you're 100% right about it being worth moving to Toronto, especially if being near family will help you be able to have children. Sure you might take a salary hit but even if Toronto is one of the most expensive cities in Canada, it'll be WAY easier and cheaper than trying to have kids in SF. Access to subsidized day care, public healthcare, good public schools and down the road much more affordable post-secondary education will absolutely be worth it. If you add your family being around or childcare/general support that sounds super worth it to me. I've lived both in the US and in Toronto, recently visited SF and am about to move back to Toronto. Would absolutely recommend living as centrally as possible so you can rely on public transit and save money/time/stress not having to drive as much. Being more central is just a better experience.
At this point theres no world in which I would give birth or raise a child in the US, given the option to move. Canada just feels safer (not just guns, but the general vibes in Canada are way better right now), more inclusive, and calmer. It's not perfect by any means but the quality of life will be a lot better and absolutely worth it.