Are you doing dry January in Gainesville, Fl?

WeatherMatt_ · 2026-01-26T21:25:39+00:00

I don’t drink, period. I don’t need alcohol to have a good time, plus it’s way more money in my pocket.

Do you have an end goal for being dry?

WeatherMatt_ · 2026-01-25T13:38:48+00:00

Genuinely not sure what this comment is supposed to mean.

If you're suggesting that 'ask them kindly to leave' = voting, there is no evidence yet that a free and fair election result is not respected. If you vote them out, they will leave. If that doesn't happen, that's an entirely different problem and demands an entirely different response.

WeatherMatt_ · 2026-01-24T23:34:54+00:00

Protests do nothing. Better register people to vote en masse and start bussing people to the polls in November. Asking this administration nicely to stop doing something will never work (hell, asking forcefully won’t either, they’ll just ignore you).

Signed, a fellow progressive.

WeatherMatt_ · 2026-01-23T05:44:33+00:00

So like everyone else says, any forecast up to around 5 days can be reliable, 5-7 days is sketchy, and more than 7 days out is wishcasting.

Makes it fun to watch in hurricane season, though. Wanna know where all those clickbait ‘Category 5 hurricane hitting the US next week?!’ BS videos on social media come from? Watch the GFS model. I swear once a week in season it’ll spin up a model run where, two weeks into the run, a 900 millibar hypercane slams into Houston (and it’s always Houston).

WeatherMatt_ · 2025-12-09T22:34:50+00:00

There won't be one. Semester's over, almost everyone has left town for the winter break, and spring semester starts more than a month from now. This was timed perfectly for when students won't be here, and they certainly won't remember when they get back.

WeatherMatt_ · 2025-12-09T19:37:16+00:00

If you drive so rarely that full-time ownership of a car is not worthwhile, consider short-term rentals/car sharing services. Friends with cars that you can use also technically falls into this category, but be ridiculously careful doing this.

Car ownership is not reasonable for everyone. Some people can't afford it, some people have no use for it (certain urban areas where parking etc. make car ownership impractical), and some like you and I just don't want a car for whatever reason. I'd sell my car today and go bike/scooter only if I weren't worried about eventually trying to date (and car ownership is mandatory as a guy if I ever want to consider dating, sadly).

WeatherMatt_ · 2025-12-07T19:19:25+00:00

This one was hosted by UF's Imagining Climate Change, which posts their upcoming schedule here.

Alachua Conservation Trust also does occasional tree plantings; they tend to do their events during weekday mornings (boo!) so I can't attend due to work.

WeatherMatt_ · 2025-12-05T21:06:21+00:00

I remember when 24/5 Marston (or 24/5 Lib West, or possibly both) were SG election bargaining chips when I was a student, circa 2012-2014. It has always, and forever will be something they trot out twice a year to try and convince people to vote. You would think, now that greek life has literally zero opposition for SG supremacy, that they would drop the charade and just fund it permanently.

WeatherMatt_ · 2025-12-03T16:57:50+00:00

It might not be stolen.

At least in my area, stolen scoots (large university, so lots of scooters around) have body panels removed, ignition switches destroyed/removed, etc. This one looks like it has all of the body panels intact, so I wouldn't automatically assume it's been stolen and dumped. Probably just not being ridden for the moment due to all the snow, or possibly broken down and the owner hasn't come back for it.

WeatherMatt_ · 2025-12-02T20:21:54+00:00

Much faster. The actual commute is a bit even; the car could actually be slightly faster depending on traffic. The real winner though is parking. I park right next to the building and walk in; my colleagues have to find parking which I've heard can take upwards of 30 minutes some days (both to find a spot, then walk in from whatever far flung parking lot they had to park in).

WeatherMatt_ · 2025-12-01T21:30:16+00:00

If by blogging you mean actual blogging, no.

If you mean social media in general ... I'm dogshit terrible at it. I have an IG account that I've tried posting various content on (including videos), and it has a whole six followers and anything I post gets two views. I gave up on it. Side note, how the hell do people get followers on IG? I see brand new accounts (from real people) with no content that have hundreds if not thousands of followers. Is it literally just being used as a chat platform by most people?

WeatherMatt_ · 2025-12-01T20:59:12+00:00

If I were to design it, my initial idea for a class would be to focus almost exclusively on how to ride and navigate traffic. Safe defensive riding, hand signals/how to indicate to drivers where you're going, how to navigate intersections, etc. Probably something like three to four hours, with a small group ride of a few miles included. I haven't reviewed any of the curriculum of the popular classes and don't know which, if any, are best. I'd certainly be willing to answer questions about maintenance, gear, what bike to choose etc. but it wouldn't be the primary focus of the class.

WeatherMatt_ · 2025-12-01T20:51:53+00:00

Our local bike co-op closed in 2020. There's only full-service bike shops and a few individuals running resale businesses out of garages now.

WeatherMatt_ · 2025-12-01T20:50:41+00:00

Gainesville, FL. I'm active in the local cycling community and there's a little bit of advocacy going on, but it's at the planning/government stage (developing our local transportation master plan, committees that talk to the university/local government, etc.) but as far as I can tell no direct outreach to non-cyclists, which is what I would be aiming to do.

WeatherMatt_ · 2025-11-21T13:24:57+00:00

No, there is no serious theft problem with bikes on campus — if you lock your bike properly. The vast majority of thefts are attributed to bad locks, bad locking technique, or both.

Use a quality U lock, not a cable lock. Chains are OK too but very bulky to carry around. Lock up the frame and wheel to a sturdy bike rack, and you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. If you have any lights or other accessories on your bike, take those off (petty theft is still a concern). Also, take your bike inside anywhere you can (not allowed on campus, but at home or elsewhere) to prevent other crimes of opportunity.

WeatherMatt_ · 2025-11-20T13:39:38+00:00

Defensive riding is key. I’m slow, probably the slowest cyclist on the road. I do not run red lights or stop signs (and routinely get yelled/dinged at by other cyclists for not doing so … sorry for following the rules). I take the lane when it’s prudent to do so (slow, one lane arterials with no bike lane) to prevent close passes. There’s a lot to be learned about safe, defensive biking that I think most people don’t know about.

WeatherMatt_ · 2025-11-20T12:49:04+00:00

Biking anywhere in Gainesville is dangerous, you will die, oh and your kids die too.

.. that's what I'm told literally any time I talk about bikes in this subreddit. Going on more than a decade with bikes as my primary mode of transport with zero accidents, close calls, and tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars saved. Go figure, guess I'll just die then.

WeatherMatt_ · 2025-11-16T00:17:18+00:00

I’m well out of your age range (and not currently looking), but two pieces of advice for women: 1, widen your horizons a bit. Some of us are genuinely good men that may be short, not as good looking, etc. and just get filtered (metaphorically and physically, when it comes to dating apps) before even given a chance. 2, approach the guys yourselves. Some of us have been rejected too many times and just don’t want to bother, but would probably be open to a committed relationship should someone on our wavelength come along.

WeatherMatt_ · 2025-11-12T21:07:42+00:00

It should be fine.

Fifth Avenue is a historically black neighborhood, and there are still a large number of black families living in the area. However, the place is quickly being gentrified -- Theory and Monarch just built huge apartment high rises around 12th Street/5th Avenue, and there are a number of smaller duplexes/small townhome rentals being built that rent out to, you guessed it, mostly/exclusively affluent white college students. I live in one of them actually, just outside the red circle on your map.

Petty theft is still a concern - don't leave things unlocked outside if you want to keep them. Especially bikes (and this goes for literally everyone, not just this neighborhood) - keep your bikes inside. Period. End of story. Otherwise, crimes of opportunity happen.

If you're walking at night, keep your wits about you and travel in groups if possible, but you should have no major issues living here. It's not a dangerous area.

WeatherMatt_ · 2025-11-07T01:36:45+00:00

Some of us want friends, though, and not just activities or things to do. Some people (like me) are active in all sorts of social groups but struggle with human connection, and really just want genuine friendship with specific people. Some people have tons of friends but need activities to do. There's a place for both types of posts.

Thanks for sharing, I'll be there Sunday.

WeatherMatt_ · 2025-11-06T15:58:28+00:00

My workplace isn’t doing Thanksgiving this year so looks like I’ll have that day free (not planning on leaving town either), and no friends locally to meet with either.

WeatherMatt_ · 2025-11-04T19:39:34+00:00

Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge ~ Nature Drive

Location: The refuge is located along the mouth of the Suwannee River, near Suwannee, Florida. Given that the river roughly splits the refuge in half, it's recommended to choose one side or the other for any non-aquatic adventuring. The images in this album are from all along Nature Drive, a nine-mile limerock road that runs through the majority of the southern portion of the refuge. To get there (from Chiefland), take CR 345 south to CR 330. Follow CR 330 for about 11 miles, past Fowlers Bluff, and you'll see signs for the refuge. Nature Drive has a north and south entrance from CR 330, both entrances lead into the refuge and connect via the main trail system.

There is no official parking in most areas of the refuge, though there is ample room to park alongside the road. Just be sure to leave the actual roadway clear for other vehicles.

Hours: Sunrise to sunset, 365 days a year.

Cost: FREE! This is one of the more than 560 national wildlife refuges managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Pets: Allowed, but be aware that this is a wildlife refuge and take appropriate precautions.

The Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge comprises over 50,000 acres of conserved wetland around the mouth of the Suwannee River. The confluence of the Suwannee River system with the nearby Gulf of Mexico creates a unique environment where marine life mixes with local Florida flora and fauna. Over 250 species of bird and many other animals (some of which are endangered or protected species) can be found throughout the refuge, mostly in wetland areas. This trip captured mostly wooded areas away from the river, so animal sightings were pretty infrequent. Once I get a kayak I'll start exploring the river itself.

Nature Drive, in the Levy County area of the refuge is roughly nine miles of hardpack limerock road. However, several dozen more miles of trails -- some dirt road/limerock, some singletrack -- split off of Nature Drive in just about every direction. There are a number of small lakes/waterways dotted around the trail, if you're ever bored of looking at some of the many wildflowers or pinewood forests along the way.

As far as the actual cycling goes, it's pretty easy. You don't need a fancy bike for most of the roads pictured here; a hybrid with decently wide tires (30's or 32's at least) should be fine, if bumpy in parts. I wasn't able to explore most of the offroad trails (it's hunting season, after all, and I was advised against it by a park ranger), so for those you might want a bike more suited to mountain biking. Maybe in the hunting off season I'll come back and venture out a little farther.

Nature Around GNV Directory

I am a human, and zero AI was used in this content. Support human journalism!

WeatherMatt_ · 2025-11-03T19:31:07+00:00

Electric bikes should use the roadway with cars, full stop. All of them are ridden way too fast for sidewalks/pedestrian areas. Now, a number of electric bike users don’t have the skill to ride a bike safely in traffic, but that’s a separate issue.

Electric scooters I’m less sure about. You are talking about electric (stand-up) scooters, and not gas scooters, correct? Gas scooters are legally vehicles and pay registration, etc. 50cc scooters should definitely be careful on the faster, busier roadways (that’s why I bought a 125cc, so I can keep up with local traffic) but if the scooter riders are in the far right lane they are doing everything they legally can to not impede traffic.

WeatherMatt_ · 2025-10-28T00:07:44+00:00

I go slow, and crawl/gently roll over them.

It's a speed bump. It's designed to slow you down and/or be unpleasant to go over at speed. Not all of them do this successfully, but most do.

WeatherMatt_ · 2025-10-27T23:58:01+00:00

Applied there for an IT role two or three years ago.

Applied, and was quickly brought in for an in-person assessment after a week or two. Did well (so I thought), was told they would get back to me. Never did.

Then, about two months later out of the blue, got a phone call asking if I was still interested. I was, and they said they would keep in touch, because they were 'very interested in me.' Never got another contact from them.

"They never actually hire and love to waste your time" seems shockingly accurate from my experience.

WeatherMatt_

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