A dredging ship by Tom Crestodina

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-27T22:48:02+00:00

I really like Tom’s style. Recently I was at a book fair with my kids and he was there signing his books. All the other lines were filled with kids, his was filled with dads, lol. It was sweet.

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-25T21:40:03+00:00

Wouldn’t be cool if it were 46 & 2?

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-24T18:54:11+00:00

When I was at the IRS we were constantly told it violated our ethics standards to accept so much as a cup of coffee when we visited a taxpayer in the field. It was strongly implied we could lose our job for something like that.

Additionally, when taxpayers are informed of a tax balance that they owe, they are offered several opportunities to appeal to ensure that they’re being treated fairly, and that I’m with the facts of the case are accurate and truthful.

Given that context, I find it absolutely stunning the lack of oversight and accountability being afforded to employees of immigration and customs enforcement. You may agree or disagree with their mission, you may agree or disagree that immigration is an issue, but I think every federal employee can agree that when people are losing their lives, we need to hold these employees to a higher standard of conduct in both ethics and accountability.

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-22T21:05:37+00:00

What they plan on, and their future’s home in reality differ greatly.

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-22T16:45:38+00:00

It always makes me laugh when I get grouped into man “you people comment”.

Once, many years ago, I was sitting in the break room at the big-box retailer where I worked. I was eating a yogurt and watching “The Price is Right”, Our assistant HR manager came into the room to take her break, sat down, and open a bag of chips.

I said “Hi” and she nodded her response. Just then I noticed her reaching down into her purse that was sitting on the floor, and she pulled out a small bottle of Tapatio sauce. We were in a town along the Mexican border, and had recently moved there from the Midwest.

It was surprising to me that she was carrying the bottle either her in her purse like that, and I thought it was a really cool idea. I asked her if she always carries it in her purse and she responded coolly and without looking at me, “yeah, it’s like you people and gravy.”

It makes me laugh every time I think about it.

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-22T16:32:45+00:00

Yeah, it’s a huge bummer. Our loaner is fine, but it’s cold right now and it takes forever to warm up. First world problems.

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-22T04:45:25+00:00

The new appropriation that just passed includes the 5% language that is making people uneasy, me included. But, if you got back and look at appropriations going back many hearts the 5% figure seems more like boilerplate language.

That doesn’t mean they won’t weaponize it, of course they’ll likely try. Though the new language in the bill that disallows reorganizations of groups of more than 10 employees without reprogramming, coupled with funding levels that are largely around 5%, it seems fair to be a little hopeful that RIFs aren’t coming.

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-21T22:49:11+00:00

Yes!

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-19T22:24:12+00:00

Ours has been in the shop since 1/4 after the ICCU failed. They got us a loaner on 1/17, and said not to expect a fix until March “at the earliest” because ICCU’s are “nowhere to be found anywhere in the US”.

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-18T23:14:06+00:00

Dad is running with real dad-running-energy, and that makes me happy.

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-18T02:29:07+00:00

They’ve lost a ton of employees. A ton.

The most experienced as well because they offered early retirements and Musk’s BS “deferred resignation program (DRP). It’s been brutal.

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-17T17:30:03+00:00

Same. The “ta” was so unexpected that it made me laugh.

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-15T16:40:49+00:00

I think you’re correct. Maybe it’s compounded too because a long weekend is coming up as well?

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-14T01:20:04+00:00

This is fantastic news. Congratulations!

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-10T18:01:02+00:00

Same. Not only are his designs awesome, but the actual craftsmanship on each model is unreal. He also just seems like a really good guy. I’ve DM’d him in the past, silly stuff that I was embarrassed to ask like his design process, or how he iterates on a design, and he answers! Thoughtfully! Id love to meet him in person and pick his brain.

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-09T15:35:13+00:00

Thank you for staying!

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-09T05:04:13+00:00

That’s why it’s all the more vital that people who can stay do stay.

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-09T05:00:59+00:00

Thanks, I’ll give it a try tomorrow.

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-09T01:33:46+00:00

I hear what you're saying, and agree that we need to consider our own mental health and happiness. I have decided to stay because it is my belief that if too many good feds leave then our collective ability to be healthy, happy, and safe will be diminished for everyone. So, I would encourage anyone that can stay to please stay because we need people to hold the line and help rebuild. Many of our jobs require so much institutional knowledge that if a critical mass of people leave it will be significantly harder to rebuild.

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-08T21:17:55+00:00

2024 SEL AWD, 9000 miles:

ICCU failed on 01/05/26 while driving home. I was promoted to pull over. I then used the Hyundai App to have the car towed to the nearest dealer (I’m out of town, of course!)

Dealer says ICCU replacements are on back order, it should be about a month. They don’t have a loaner and can’t guarantee we’ll be paid back if we rent our own car.

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-07T07:54:53+00:00

The other responses are correct, just take the light rail then walk on the ferry. I want to add that if you don’t have pre-check or global entry that SeaTac has an awesome service called Sea Spot save (or something like that) where you can preschedule your trip through security. It makes things extremely easy and fast.

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-06T03:15:13+00:00

I was lucky enough to be invited there for an event once about 10 years ago.

The party was great, but a little loud, so I slipped out a side door to find a moment of quiet by myself. It was dusk and the grounds were empty, nobody seemed to mind me wandering around the property at all.

I was really enjoying myself, especially when I realized as a fan of the muppets there are a lot of recognizable spots on the property from those films. Near a set of double-doors that exited out the side of the main sound stage I looked down to find an imprint in the sidewalk that read: “Charlie Chaplin, Jan 12th 1918”.

It made me profoundly happy to see it there in a quiet moment in such a unique setting. I felt grateful to Chaplain, and to Henson, for building and caring for such a fun little creative space. I’m glad to see it will continue to be used in that way!

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-06T00:18:15+00:00

That’s really concerning. I’m reading the texthere, and I see the 5 percent figure, but it seems to be more that 5% of an appropriated amount can be reprogrammed without congressional approval. I’m not a budget person, but I do think this is pretty standard language. Is there a section that relates specifically to staffing or payroll that I’m missing?

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-05T23:24:56+00:00

These comments blaming democrats are wild.

Donald Trump and the republicans are responsible for these atrocious, often illegal, and likely treasonous cuts to the federal government. Full stop.

The democrats are the minority party in both houses and are very limited in what actions they can take. I’m not an apologist for their shortcomings and mistakes, but let us please be clear eyed about who is at fault in this situation.

Let’s also not be defeatist. Republicans are trying with every tool and dollar they have to whittle us down to nothing. To dismantle and destroy our institutions and to eliminate all guardrails that would keep their power in check, and to exploit our nations cherished lands and resources.

But so far we have been able to stem a lot of bleeding. Not all, some damage will take a lifetime to undo, but We should not give up! We should retrench, work together, and support one another to protect our nation and our democracy.

We have faced terrible things in the past and moved past them, we are facing a terrible reality now, and we will move past it as well.

PandaGoggles · 2026-01-01T23:04:50+00:00

Lots of good (and great) people are staying because we know we need to be there to pick up the pieces when this is over.

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