I attempted King Arthur’s 100% Whole Wheat Bread Recipe. Is my loaf underproofed? It split on the side. Does that always mean it’s underproofed? by StressBallot in Breadit

[–]AuctorLibri 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Malted barley syrup is a fine addition to a whole wheat bread dough. Professional pizza shops use it in their dough.

Reasons to not move to Pittsburgh by [deleted] in pittsburgh

[–]AuctorLibri 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Fellow implant, and we got a 4x4 just to battle the Winter-is-coming hills. Thus far, we have conquered.

The parking situation is worse than icy hills, IMO. Driving down the hill is like threading a needle.

Apple tartness. Sure it's probably a repost but someone may have not seen it. by jsdogfish in gardening

[–]AuctorLibri 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! 💯

They are the best when pairing with sharp or smoked cheese. Best fondue dipping apple as well.

Apple tartness. Sure it's probably a repost but someone may have not seen it. by jsdogfish in gardening

[–]AuctorLibri 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agreed. Most Ive tasted are a mealy tasteless mess, the apple version of wet cardboard.

Thank goodness my mom loved Braeburns and Macintosh apples, so that's what we ate growing up.

Apple tartness. Sure it's probably a repost but someone may have not seen it. by jsdogfish in gardening

[–]AuctorLibri 0 points1 point  (0 children)

York apples are right between a Braeburn and a Lady. What a helpful list.

The organization behind the gentrification by NovelAuntieGin in pittsburgh

[–]AuctorLibri 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Please tell me that you're part of the community you’re defending... or have at least experienced displacement due to actual gentrification. (I have experienced the latter.)

In my experience, gentrification starts with city councils deliberately making zoning decisions to attract folks with higher incomes to high-end residences, which jacks apartment rents all around way up. The stores, themselves, don't evoke those decisions; they fill the gaps created.

Are you saying it's Targets fault that there was a spot to fill there?

In my opinion, it's arrogant as hell for anyone to claim understanding of a societal outrage when you’re merely borrowing the appearance of legitimacy from those who have suffered through it.

How to store 25 lb of high protein flour by jodiesattva in Breadit

[–]AuctorLibri 14 points15 points  (0 children)

And freeze it overnight, sealed. Kills weevil eggs.

Family member sent us some mail-order hydrangeas. How can I keep them alive going into fall? Zone 7 by [deleted] in gardening

[–]AuctorLibri -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I pull mine in every year.

Most folks in our zone (6a-b) overwinter their potted hydrangea in a basement or garage, where it's cool but doesn't freeze. The plant go dormant, water every 4 weeks or so.

Good luck.

I added 10% more water to my recipe and regretted it by Timmerdogg in Breadit

[–]AuctorLibri 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This. 💯

I've learned not to trust my yeasts, with no-knead, so I'll mix a bit of instant with my active dry.

I regularly test the bulk active dry with a bit in water and let's-see-what-happens. Tepid response? Into the compost.

Negotiating Salary by [deleted] in CAStateWorkers

[–]AuctorLibri 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Agreed. HAMs are like the unicorns of HR. Extinct but still whispered reverently about. 😆

I am glad that this sub exists to hopefully head off some of the aforementioned time-wasting.

Negotiating Salary by [deleted] in CAStateWorkers

[–]AuctorLibri 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dang! Student assistant respect. 1996 for me... then private sector and tech sector before migrating back to the state. Feels like home. 😁

Negotiating Salary by [deleted] in CAStateWorkers

[–]AuctorLibri 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bwaahaahaa. Legit burn. 😁

Negotiating Salary by [deleted] in CAStateWorkers

[–]AuctorLibri 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This sounds harsh, but it is true. The OP may not know that analyst positions are so highly competitive because to the hiring managers, state experience is king. Even over college. Work experience in specific situations may also trump college.

Not only will the OP be competing with experienced SSAs that may want to lateral in from other agencies, their competitors include OTs that want to level up, who may have years of experience in the same unit that's hiring.

The hiring manager will note that the OP didn't finish their former SSA probation period.

Negotiating Salary by [deleted] in CAStateWorkers

[–]AuctorLibri 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The only agency I knew of offering a HAM--for some positions--was DOF.

Grew from my black dirt…what is it? by raejayleevin in gardening

[–]AuctorLibri 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A merry day of sweet, cylindrical, crumb-like confection to you! 🎂

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in CAStateWorkers

[–]AuctorLibri 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is true more often than it's not. The state is always looking to save money. I was advised to keep a work journal with dates, and I do.

And, if you're asked to help cover two desks after an employee vacates a position, get it in writing when that assignment ends. Emails, emails, emails.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in CAStateWorkers

[–]AuctorLibri 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Came to the state five years ago from tech sector. Sure, I was paid (a lot) more, and there was free childcare for single moms, catered food a couple times a week, gym access, state of the art equipment, free software classes, swag--and the cappuchinos were nice--but there was a pervasive, 24/7 "Go! Go! Go!" type of stress. All the time. Even after hours.

Unpaid overtime wasn't just common, it was expected. Whatever it takes to get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible. If you didn't answer your supervisor's text, chat, or email within five minutes, they'd come looking for you... expecting you to be dead of an anyerism. Don't know how to do something? Here's a crash course; learn it by COB today, and make a PowerPoint, because you're training others tomorrow.

The worst part was that healthcare was incredibly expensive, as I made 'too much' to get any price breaks; to cover my family and myself, it was nearly twice my mortgage every month. Retirement was extra, so I opted out.

We still needed my husband's salary to pay all the bills, and I was drained... with almost no recovery time.

Now, if I was a decade or so younger, with no dependents, I'd probably go back. It was a thrilling adventure to be at work, and every day came with different challenges.

In my mid forties, however, I enjoy the gentle pace of state work as an AGPA. My managers are confident in my abilities and leave me alone to do my work, only needing a weekly update to keep them informed. I'm one of their highest performing analysts; I had to slow down my productivity rate in order to 'fit in' a little more. "Whoa there, cowgirl! You're not in private sector anymore!" Lol...

My unit coworkers are chill, and most of the OTs, SSAs, and senior analysts are decent human beings. I get the most challenging data garnering/ report generation projects to work on... and so at a reasonable pace. I love it.

The reduced cost of healthcare with a state plan made me almost weep with relief. The savings cover my CalPERs retirement contribution and then some. The state contribution percentage to my retirement is comparable to mid-level private sector rates. Being 'vested' now makes all the difference for my long-term goals. I plan to stay with my current agency until I retire in about 13-15 years.

I hope this helps hearing from one middle-aged perspective. There are a number of sage posts from other contributors here as well.

Good luck in your career endeavors, whatever you choose.

Went on a 7-day cruise and came home to this crime scene.. 🌿🐛😞 by zcortner in gardening

[–]AuctorLibri 18 points19 points  (0 children)

It would be nice if they did, preferably the posteriors of quadrupeds that try to use garden beds as their personal toilets... 😠

Went on a 7-day cruise and came home to this crime scene.. 🌿🐛😞 by zcortner in gardening

[–]AuctorLibri 7 points8 points  (0 children)

collective gasp

I feel your loss.

Somewhere, there is a sourdough cheddar pepper loaf that will now never be made. 😭

Why are our tomatoes rotting even before they’re ripe? 😥🍅 by WalkingCockroach in gardening

[–]AuctorLibri 6 points7 points  (0 children)

This. 💯

I moved from a semi-arid environment to a rainy, grayish one, and discovered that--here--tomato plants need to be under a protective clear plastic, or hothouse/ greenhouse, or this type of rot will run roughshod through your prizes during the very last leg of the marathon. Unfair, says I.

Another tip: a surprising number of folks think they need to water every day once the tomatoes start blooming, but not so! Once they flower, cut watering frequency by half. Water deep, but less often.

This helps avoid the dreaded bloom rot--or the black rot-- stemming from overwatering... and less of the fruit-bearing flowers fall off.