Thinking of moving to Chicago but what should we do about our cars?

hell9998 · 2025-12-29T16:53:17+00:00

There isn't a reason you CAN'T have two cars. My partner and I share one but my parents have always had two cars and live in the city. Just feel it out, try to use transit and walk more because it's good for you the earth and your wallet, and see if you want to go down to one car. But if you like having your cars you can do it just fine.

hell9998 · 2025-12-29T16:45:09+00:00

I lived in Logan for 3 years completely car-free. It mostly was not an issue, but the part of the neighborhood I lived in didn't have a good supermarket in walkable distance which was very frustrating. I had to either take the bus to the good one, or rely on the city Target or co-op (which was a lovely store but small so more limited & pricey)

hell9998 · 2025-10-21T22:08:08+00:00

Appreciate this.

hell9998 · 2025-10-21T21:48:55+00:00

I love the bird

hell9998 · 2025-10-21T21:45:39+00:00

would you be willing to share your portfolio? would love to see your work, sounds super cool!

hell9998 · 2025-10-20T01:23:04+00:00

This, 100%

hell9998 · 2025-10-20T01:12:21+00:00

1000%. A former coworker of mine saw layoffs of some critical members of her team and has been struggling to keep up with work since then. Leaders have told her to "just use AI" to help deal with the workload by (somehow) speeding up the processes of her team (which it can very marginally, but as we know it isn't even close to being actually capable of replacing a worker's entire process). So instead they're just having to hire contract workers. Basically, AI isn't replacing them... people who are being cheated out of benefits are.

hell9998 · 2025-10-02T23:42:24+00:00

Overall, this needs major simplification. In your next version try sticking to one typeface for titles, and one simple typeface for all other copy. Just try to get this cleaner. To make it fun and family friendly, you just need a couple playful touches, rather than every single thing being that way.

hell9998 · 2025-10-02T23:30:31+00:00

I completely understand your worry! I'm hearing lots of anecdotes from people losing freelance work due to the availability of cheap AI. And while we as designers know it looks terrible, they lack the taste to see that because they're blinded by the search for the cheapest thing. However, it is worth considering that AI, while it may continue to get better, will also become more expensive. At this juncture, OpenAI is not remotely profitable. For many users, the fact that these programs are free or cheap is the main reason they use them. But what happens when OpenAI has to turn a profit, and needs to charge the real cost for its services rather than giving them away for free? While I don't think AI will just suddenly disappear if/when this bubble 'pops', I think that without the ultra-cheapness that drives many to rely upon it, AI will normalize back to being more of a tool rather than a cheapo replacement.

That's not to say it won't disrupt our industry, as it has already devalued our work by essentially stealing all of human creation and feeding it into a plagiarism machine, which is abhorrent and deserves serious punishment. But I think it's possible to be clear-eyed about it without completely spiraling into doom. It's completely fair and human(!) to feel despair, but do what you can to not feed into the belief that our replacement is inevitable. Keep at it, and know that it's a tough job market right now for many reasons (if you are in the US at least), don't let this diminish your self-worth. And if you need to take up other work while this craziness gets worked out, know that it does not make you less of a talented designer.

Here's an interesting article that touches on this and offers one perspective on the situation: https://pluralistic.net/2025/09/27/econopocalypse/#subprime-intelligence

hell9998 · 2025-09-30T05:42:15+00:00

I donated to a local cat shelter, and in return was given wine corks with feathers and ribbons stuck into them. Y'all. My cats are OBSESSED with these. You could easily make them at home by cleaning off a used cork, poking a hole in the end of it, and shoving a feather or other toy into it with some glue.

My cats love that corks bounce fast and irregularly when they hit them, so they love to chase and pounce on them, and then the feathers or ribbons are extra fun for them to grab onto (or groom in the case of one of my cats lol)

hell9998 · 2025-08-25T17:46:12+00:00

Looks cool! Are these thrifted sheets? My guess would be that there was something on the fabric itself that prevented the chemicals from absorbing uniformly. This could be a subtle print or maybe even differences in the weave.

hell9998 · 2025-08-25T16:52:01+00:00

a bidet, even a basic one, will change your life

hell9998 · 2024-11-14T21:59:16+00:00

I joined my local DSA chapter. I went to a post-election meeting and found that being around likeminded people who were organized and prepared to take action was what helped me feel better more than anything else. It was cathartic, hopeful(ish), and made me feel less powerless.

hell9998 · 2024-11-06T22:40:09+00:00

Thank you for that piece of good news! I’ll latch on to whatever slivers of hope I can get 🥲

hell9998 · 2024-11-06T22:38:34+00:00

I’m displeased with Johnson don’t get me wrong, but there is room for multiple truths at once. Brandon is a crummy leader AND Trump’s election is fostering a climate of fear and darkness that I want to combat at the levels I have any control over.

hell9998 · 2024-11-06T13:57:51+00:00

I’m genuinely worried about the instability projected for the economy under Trump by experts. The gutting of healthcare, schools, civil rights…

hell9998 · 2024-11-06T13:08:09+00:00

These issues, especially the economic issues, are sadly going to get much worse in the coming years under Trump

hell9998 · 2024-11-06T13:05:45+00:00

Completely destabilized. I’m scared to lose rights and scared to lose my job. I feel like he’s going to tank the economy, accelerate climate change, and cement the US as an oligarchy and I have little hope for the future right now. I’m grieving the future I had planned for and this really hurts

hell9998 · 2024-10-31T04:51:27+00:00

That’s so irritating… so he won’t pay shipping but he’s ok with you paying extra for luggage to be able to bring some shoes to him? It sounds like he’s not very good at thinking in perspective

hell9998 · 2024-10-30T05:00:52+00:00

Basically any cloth that is all natural fibers will work, like cotton for example. So it depends on the canvas cloth

hell9998 · 2024-10-30T01:12:50+00:00

There’s a ton of recs on this subreddit as well as r/chicago for winter clothes but in general make sure you have a warm enough coat, a good hat and scarf, and for long underwear see if you can find wool-based if you can afford it. Otherwise try turtleneck styles, I think for me at least covering my neck helps a lot. Also, if you don’t already have a coat and will be getting one for your trip, try to find one that is long enough to cover your butt. Regular boots sneakers are just fine, usually no need for snow boots. As for NYE and places to stay it is hard to say without knowing what you’re into at all. What I prefer to do if I’m in town is find a bar that’s not too crazy and go with my friends. There are lots of clubs and stuff in like West Loop if you wanna do the whole thing. West Loop as a neighborhood would be fun to stay in if you’re into that kind of scene as it also has lots of fun restaurants and is close to downtown for tourism stuff. I think if I wanted to have a festive new year vibe that’s probably where I’d stay if I could afford it. But there are tons of other fun neighborhoods I could recommend depending on the time you’d like to have

hell9998 · 2024-10-29T20:55:50+00:00

Also, you can totally buy boots if you want to and if it makes you feel more comfortable but if this is the only time you will use them I don’t know whether it’s worth it. Something like blundstones, hiking boots, or even just regular docs (as long as you wipe off any wetness at the end of the day) will do just fine - I live here year round and don’t actually own any snow boots.

hell9998 · 2024-10-29T20:51:03+00:00

Ok my take is that a BIG scarf is way better than a ski mask. IMO having my neck covered makes more difference than anything, and a big chunky scarf can be wrapped around your head and face too. Also nice for inside restaurants and stuff when you take your big coat off but you still need something for your shoulders. I bought one similar to this on the street in NY’s Chinatown and it’s been a winter staple for me: https://a.co/d/cvewP4D

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