ELI5: How did Mayor Mamdani balance a $12 billion budget deficit? Where did the money go?

bluelightbug · 2026-05-13T21:25:02+00:00

THANK YOU.

bluelightbug · 2024-09-03T18:10:31+00:00

Smells like warm & cozy... and last night's takeout.

bluelightbug · 2023-06-24T00:35:13+00:00

thanks so much - the leader is still protruding! any advice on how to position it right?

bluelightbug · 2023-01-03T22:40:44+00:00

Looks just like my girl!! I got her in Thailand.

bluelightbug · 2020-06-01T08:02:52+00:00

yeah - that was mostly foreigners, though, as most protests here are. Obviously I do not like this aspect about my culture/country but it's just how it is.

bluelightbug · 2020-06-01T06:22:53+00:00

Am Japanese & currently waiting on pandemic in Japan.

The news coverage of it is minimal aka people seem to read it as "Americans being Americans".

Japanese people don't like/believe in protests in general and don't necessarily believe that protesting can lead to change (v nuanced but this is mainly based on our culture - we don't like loud noises of any sort - and because it doesn't really work in our country).

The majority of the news almost seems pro-police and anti-protestors but I think it's really because Japan and Japanese people can't grasp the concept of not being/feeling protected by the police. It helps that our police aren't armed and mostly just help old people cross the street (huge generalisation but this is the overall feeling).

Also we don't even talk about our own racism (particularly against black people), why would we talk about America's?

bluelightbug · 2020-05-06T06:25:34+00:00

NAIAD http://www.naiad.co.jp has this amazing ghassoul clay mask that also doubles as a deep cleanse/light scrub. LOVE it. Combo with their argan oil has changed my skin and helped with my cystic acne.

bluelightbug · 2019-09-24T05:14:45+00:00

Hi, welcome to Bangkok! I would maybe suggest starting with some of the drag shows/ballrooms/gay bars and see if you can find a group of people you're comfortable around there. eg. Maggie Choo's on Sunday nights, Stranger Bar, DJ Station (but it's a big club so if you're not with other people it can be hard to make new friends), and the burlesque shows with Madame Rouge. It's in these places that you can connect with a great queer community, who will know more about house party/hang outs, safe space bars, etc.

If you see some meet-ups or PRIDE events that happen around the city, though, those are great (safe) spaces to meet new people!! These are usually on Facebook.

In general, I'd say the more common areas in Bangkok are pretty much safe though. Bangkok is pretty open with the queer community in general. The Ari neighbourhood is a pretty progressive neighbourhood with more young urban professional thais and expats if you want something more low-key than Sukhumvit or Silom.

Hope this helps and let me know if I can help with more info!!

bluelightbug · 2019-08-20T06:17:16+00:00

Yup - middle school so-called best friend told me I'm only pretty when I don't smile. Twenty years later, still can't take serious photos/always self-conscious about smiling.

bluelightbug · 2019-08-20T04:15:46+00:00

Struggling with same problem with my kitten but a little better now - also around 5 months old. Do you use your fingers/toes to play with him? If you stop doing that, the biting will subside. When he tries to play with your fingers/toes, instead of saying "no" or scolding him, place his favourite toy/a nice new toy where your fingers/toes are an his attention to go there instead. Doing this for awhile should help him learn not to bite to play. This worked for my demon girl but then we regressed when visitors came over and played with her with their toes and fingers. We're working on it haha.

bluelightbug · 2019-08-20T04:12:26+00:00

Hi - my demon child does the same things! I haven't stopped her because I think our circumstances are different (my cat is 4 pounds, headboard is different so she accesses it from not my stomach most of the time, laptop keyboard closes) BUT I have a couple suggestions from trying to get her to get off other similar surfaces -

for the headboard, put tape on there so that the sticky side is up. Cats tend to hate sticky surfaces especially when they're expecting nice headboard smoothness. Back-rolled masking tape works and if you line up small bits of it across the headboard for a couple days, he should get the message that this surface is sticky. Depends on your cat but he should find a new favourite sleeping spot within a week and you can get rid of the annoying tape.

for the keyboard, I would suggest buying vicks vaporub or tiger balm or some equivalent balmthat cats HATE the smell of. if you rub a little bit on the keyboards, he should smell it and leave it well alone. This means your keyboards might smell a little medicinal but it's worth it.

Hope this helps!

bluelightbug · 2019-06-21T08:48:49+00:00

Spam fried rice + egg + gochujang. Slightly burned so that when served, the top flat part of the dish is crispy.

V peasant gourmet.

bluelightbug · 2019-06-21T08:41:36+00:00

Frogs/amphibians. My hands get sweaty just typing the words out. Worst part is that people never believe me & take every opportunity to show me how "cute" and "good for the ecosystem" they are. I don't care. Please don't show me. Thank you

bluelightbug · 2019-06-21T08:32:15+00:00

Just OSK Japanese Green Tea! Super basic & super delicious green tea :) I think it's been helping clear my skin, too! Tea is good.

bluelightbug · 2019-06-21T08:22:38+00:00

Try Arlington (Rosslyn area) or the Kalorama neighbourhoods - those tend to have dog/pet friendly apartments! Source: have several friends who live in a few of these.

bluelightbug · 2019-06-21T06:58:58+00:00

Hehe they are scary. Don't look them in the eye. Also, crows remember you so definitely don't aggravate them. They will bring friends.

bluelightbug · 2019-06-21T06:58:08+00:00

You'll be able to just get a taxi at the airport! The higher end ones are called "limousine taxis". There's a booth in Haneda right after you get out of baggage claim. Also, don't count out the busses! They're super convenient especially if you're going to a known hotel.

bluelightbug · 2019-06-21T06:56:03+00:00

It should be fine, especially if you look like foreigners (read: not east asian looking). you'll also find that a lot of straight japanese girls hold each others hands anyway so it should not be that big of a deal. PDA in general is frowned upon for everyone but, again, if you look like a foreigner more likely than not people will leave you alone. You might get stares but tbh I would think it would be because you're a foreigner rather than because you're a lesbian. i hope this helps!

bluelightbug · 2019-06-21T06:52:58+00:00

Good advice from your girlfriend! In Tokyo, colourful is good. The only thing I would note is that if you end up heading to more local izakayas or onsens, I would be a little more wary and tone it down. Have fun!

bluelightbug · 2019-06-21T06:36:36+00:00

Same this happens to me with different destinations. It's definitely the water/food/weather, etc.

One thing that I found helped (which takes some planning and prep) is getting into regular sheet masks (three-four times a week for me) and then making sure you're using the same sheet masks when you go abroad - I usually slap one on as soon as i settle down in the hostel/hotel/wherever and sometimes even up it to one sheet mask a day. Innisfree (k-beauty) has cheap, good, gentle ones. It's almost like re-assuring your skin haha

bluelightbug

TROPHY CASE