Not a ranger, but a former camper who have broken a few rules by and by.

Make sure you're not annoying neighbors.

Follow the (other) rules and respect quiet hours.

Also good to get out and about, so they don't see all of you hanging about the same site all day.

It's not for me to decide how much people should be paid. Or for you, sorry to let you know.

There's a labor market. The time off teachers get is just one small part of it.

As it stands, competent people who have a desire to be teachers are instead opting for more pragmatic choices. That's what happens in a free society.

The solution is the same as any hiring/retention problem…to pay them competitively. Sorry you don't like it, but that's just the free market answer to this problem.

Actually, the marketing for the field already over-performs. Lots of people think they want to be teachers, and go into debt to become them.

A dose of reality leads many to switch careers. I've worked with a lot of them over the years.

Many, many people have a side hustle or second job these days. It's not double-dipping when you use your scheduled time off to make ends meet or try to get ahead a little. That's still your time to sell. You weren't aware?

Many, maybe most, teachers don't get 4 months off.

They get 4 months to work another job.

Many of the ones who take the summer off have other sources of money, inheritance or a well-off spouse.

I've got cousins around Pittsburgh.

They've got spigots ("spickets") inside their house, where my house has faucets. Our spigots are just for hoses outside.

I'm still always surprised when a spigot is new and shiny. I picture something old fashioned when I hear "bathroom spigot."

Take the train in. The ride is great.

Eat at Reading Terminal Market.

If you can, walk up Ben Franklin Parkway, either to the Franklin Institute, or go full Rocky and go all the way to the Art Museum. (Or, take the shuttle.)

Have dinner in Chinatown.

>"crayon"

My wife, who grew up out of state, taught my kids to say “cray-on” — and then the wait staff at the diner couldn't understood what they were asking for.

She also taught the kids that "donkey" doesn't right with "monkey."

Senators not congressmen. Representatives can only be elected, per the Constitution.

You can get a $1,600 annual check from the state of Alaska every year if you become a resident.

UBI/stimulus checks are by no means a dead subject. Politicians of both major US parties have recently floated ideas occasionally that would provide direct payments to individuals.

There are five days designated in state law as school holidays in Pennsylvania.

Then there are “local holidays” that are set by each school board for that school district (school district sizes vary greatly). These local holidays will typically vary based on the composition of the student body. Most of the time though, these are holidays known and celebrated outside of Pennsylvania.

Ref:

“No school shall be kept open on any Saturday for the purpose of ordinary instruction, except when Monday is fixed by the board of school directors as the weekly holiday, or on Sunday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Christmas, Thanksgiving, the First of January and up to five additional days designated as local holidays in the adopted school calendar by the board of school directors as official local school district holidays.”

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/uconsCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&yr=1949&sessInd=0&smthLwInd=0&act=14&chpt=15&sctn=2&subsctn=0

Because people often use the job of commissioner to build a resume to prepare for a run for congress.

There are trivial offices people might compare to “dogcatcher.”

Township Auditors and Tax Collectors often have the duty of simply signing a piece of paper, so that a professional firm may do the auditing or tax collecting.

The OP is correct that it is worthwhile to oppose folks running for those offices (the first job is to recruit a better candidate, or to step forward yourself). These offices can be stepping stones to “policy offices.”

Also consider school board races. Alice or Bob might be active in the PTA, but if they're going to ban books about reproductive health…

Just because they are holding them on one charge doesn’t mean more charges are not pending.

They are likely still gathering evidence. Interviewing everyone, etc.

And a little technical error can get a charge thrown out.

I'm going posit that the reason you so many more responses from PA than NY is probably…the luck of the draw.

It sounds like you don't have so much of a reason to pass up these offers. You won't be too far from “home.” Take an offer and see if you like it here.

It's pretty easy to get form Allentown/Bethlehem to NYC. From Lancaster, Harrisburg or York, it's farther, but the train makes it easy.

If it's not a fit, in a year or two, circulate your resume again. This time, you'll have experience, and it will be easier to find a job where you like.

Maybe divide the yellow into "Philly" and "Suburbs'co." (There’s are an insane number of people who don't cross the city line.)

"Transshipment-burg" could work for the lower I-81 area.

My info's a couple years old, but a lot of places used to shut down in January and then they'd open one by one as the weather got better.

But it's nice and quiet down there, that time of year.

It's an excellent school, but probably way more expensive than you need to start a good career as a software developer.

If you're actually looking into getting into management in high tech, then Drexel's prestigious degree may be more worthwhile.

Hard fact: If you want to be a software developer, you will need to teach yourself constantly throughout your career. You cannot count on any university to teach you what you actually will need to know a few years after you graduate.

Yes, and now that you don't stop to pick up a ticket anymore, there are fewer clues you are going the wrong way.

Sure, you still have to miss a lot of things. But we can expect this to happen more often until they come up with new safety systems to make up for all the people and things they removed from the process.

Sipping coffee at a diner.

The staff is stuck there too, and most don't mind a chat when they're not busy. And if anyone knows something better to do, it's them.

Anything's better that staying holed up in the hotel room alone.

Try calling your State House rep's constituent services office. It's hit or miss, but some staffs are very helpful, and get can you the info

In other words: Working as in "does work," not working as "not broken."

I'll add, Longwood Christmas has a whole different look at night than during the day. If you go and you love it, a second visit with the sun up or down could be in order.

Also, Reading Terminal Market is a great place to eat, and maybe buy some treats to bring home from friends or family. It's generally so busy nobody is going to notice you are alone. It's nice and warm in winter, and big enough to walk around for an hour or so.

To add to other answers:

The date of the primary is not officially set yet.

When it is, you'll find it here:

https://www.vote.pa.gov/about-elections/pages/election-calendar.aspx

and here:

https://ballotpedia.org/Pennsylvania_elections,_2023

PA Judicial primaries are especially important, as candidates can “cross file.” You don't need to be a member of a party to appear on that party's ballot.

Especially in a crowded field, cross-filed candidates “sneak through” and win the other party's primary.

Even before the primary, you can help judicial candidates by signing candidate petitions to get them on the primary ballot. By stepping forward to do this, that's one less signature those candidates need to “chase.”

There are often local “signing parties” you can attend early in the year, and if there aren't, your county party will have petitions at their office (which is typically in your county seat) or a local volunteer may be willing to come by your home.

To get in touch with your local party, Google <your county name> <your party name> , e.g., Centre County Democrats

Call a mechanic. They'll know, and won't charge you for the answer.

Not sure where you got that.

I'm explaining what it takes to win. It's not a friendly backyard game, not even at the local level.