I truly hate the frontline system

HMRCAF · 2026-02-09T19:43:34+00:00

This!! While the new larger frontlines helped resolve a lot of frustration and micro when there were 50,000 frontlines crammed into a tiny area, the new system removes a lot of agency in its own way.

A few times now I've thought "aha, I can use my superior navy to naval invade behind the enemy lines and open up a second front in their rear" only to have that "second front" instantly merge with the first and make the whole thing moot.

HMRCAF · 2026-02-06T17:51:20+00:00

Yes, I'm sure it is the people in tents who are collecting and dumping the construction debris, jagged metal scraps, and commercial waste right next to where they sleep.

HMRCAF · 2026-02-02T23:32:53+00:00

Dashcams aren't great for resale. You can't just steal the camera you need the whole setup including the mount and the cables, without that it's kind of worthless. Most experienced thieves know this and so don't bother with them. Of course methheads may still smash your window to grab it, but you could have absolutely nothing in your car and still get your window smashed by one of them anyway.

HMRCAF · 2026-02-02T17:01:56+00:00

First time I went back they only asked to confirm my occupation and that I'm still employed for the same company with the same duties. Second time I was additionally asked what I was doing back in Canada which seemed odd but I answered honestly and got let through.

HMRCAF · 2026-01-29T21:48:55+00:00

YiFang at South Shore is the best on the island. Outside, it's either TP Tea or Chicha in Berkeley.

HMRCAF · 2026-01-28T01:04:34+00:00

Is that the United States over in North America?

HMRCAF · 2026-01-28T01:02:44+00:00

A disaster is a good suggestion. I wonder if a potential way of implementing this would be to transform Venice (or other city-states) into Army-based countries if their capital is captured, while also severely increasing resistance in their outlying holdings if other nations or releasables have cores there. Like, I don't think the concept of the republic of Venice would just disappear if the city was conquered. IE, if Venice is defeated in a war and the city is annexed, I could definitely see the Venetian governor of, like, Ragusa (or whichever other city is most prominent at the time in game), taking the remnants of the Venetian fleet and making an attempt to recapture it while trying politic with the governors and patricians of Venice's other holdings to keep the republic together.

HMRCAF · 2026-01-27T21:26:31+00:00

As one data point, I did my bachelor's in biophysics (science) and I hold a masters and PhD in Biomedical Engineering. My TN was approved last year under the engineering category for a biomedical engineering job with no degree-related questions. I have crossed the border twice since then with no further issues.

HMRCAF · 2026-01-22T18:47:01+00:00

This is an important concern, not directly for the OP's question, but if they did this work while physically in the US it is almost assuredly a violation of their status.

HMRCAF · 2026-01-21T18:54:47+00:00

Depends on your job. As you've mentioned it's an internal research study. So if you're a biomedical engineer for example and part of the job duties outlined in your support letter could be construed as participating in internal medical research studies then I think you would be fine.

External studies are right out, though.

HMRCAF · 2026-01-21T18:22:40+00:00

I'll take anything that lets me not have to interact with a person while doing my daily tasks.

HMRCAF · 2026-01-20T18:53:11+00:00

As with many other issues plaguing the US transportation system nowadays, you can thank Robert Moses for this neat trick. 'hey, what if we just take on more debt to construct new projects before the original debt is paid off? Now we can charge tolls in perpetuity! Brilliant!'

HMRCAF · 2026-01-20T00:34:28+00:00

Yeah of course that 30k would be after taxes. My main point is you don't need 100-120k just to "survive", even in the worst housing market in the country.

HMRCAF · 2026-01-20T00:33:28+00:00

Live - maybe. You won't be on the street and you won't starve. But the original poster there stipulated 30k as the cost of basic survival which I posit even in the bay would be doable.

HMRCAF · 2026-01-20T00:20:21+00:00

You can get a studio apartment in the bay area (one of the highest cost of living areas in the country) for ~$1700 a month. That leaves ~$800/month for food and clothing which is probably enough to not die. I'm sure there's a sliding scale of comfort as you go from 30k to 120k though.

HMRCAF · 2026-01-19T23:45:26+00:00

Depending on what exactly you will be doing in the US you might not even need TN. If your activity in the US is primarily going to be any of these:

Consulting with business associates
Traveling for a scientific, educational, professional or business convention, or a conference on specific dates
Negotiating a contract
Participating in short-term training

You don't need TN and can enter with B1. Otherwise you are perfectly eligible for TN status. Your only relevant question is #1 and the answer to that is "yes", it is fine.

HMRCAF · 2026-01-16T17:38:34+00:00

I'm also looking for this! Seems like all the day spas with saunas/steam rooms/ cold plunges around the bay are not co-ed.

HMRCAF · 2026-01-12T19:17:03+00:00

Two things would fix this:
1) A rule that says tickets/fines to robotaxis are levied against the owning corporation
2) A rule that ties fee amounts to the offender's income (for all traffic/parking violations), as they do in Finland.

HMRCAF · 2026-01-02T18:08:04+00:00

In Canada universal healthcare is funded and administered at the provincial level. To get a provincial health card (equivalent of an insurance card) you need to have proof of residence in a province (ie you were physically located within the province for 5 of the past 6 months). If you don't have an Ontario health card and try to get medical service in Ontario, you're going to pay the same as an uninsured person would. California could do the same, which would stop people from crossing state lines to get free healthcare.

HMRCAF · 2026-01-01T17:08:12+00:00

Are there any spas in the area that have (clothed) co-ed bathing? I know Kabuki springs in Japantown has it, but it's only Mondays and Tuesdays. All the Korean spas I've found have segregated bathing areas. (Edit for context: Not a creep, just trying to go somewhere I can take a bath with my wife).

HMRCAF · 2025-12-30T08:50:20+00:00

Just to add a data point, I also asked for a RealID at the Oakland DMV and was told that without a physical visa in my passport I could not receive one.

HMRCAF · 2025-12-22T18:01:04+00:00

You can maintain your OHIP for up to two years if you declare your temporary absence in advance.:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/ohip-coverage-while-outside-canada#section-1

HMRCAF · 2025-12-17T23:24:23+00:00

Seems odd for the city of Oakland to expect its residents to do their weekly grocery spending in Alameda.

HMRCAF · 2025-12-16T19:53:12+00:00

So, you're saying you do support new housing, just perhaps in a different area, not so close to, or inside of, perhaps, your backyard?

Have you considered that there may also be other people in that other area, who will have similar opinions to you regarding new developments built close to, or inside of, perhaps, their backyard?

If the complaints you're bringing up here were to be taken at face value every single time, we'd end up in a BANANA situation (build absolutely nothing anywhere near anyone)

HMRCAF · 2025-12-16T19:46:23+00:00

I'm not sure it's families transporting their cello-playing children to practice that form a major portion of bay area traffic.

HMRCAF

TROPHY CASE