Tab Combs
@drtcombs.bsky.social
Transport-Equity-Resilience PhD.
Road Harm Reducer.
Villagist.
She/hers. Occasional outbursts about dogs, kids, Davidson hoops, & gardening. My opinions are mine.
Please read pinned post before following.
Road Harm Reducer.
Villagist.
She/hers. Occasional outbursts about dogs, kids, Davidson hoops, & gardening. My opinions are mine.
Please read pinned post before following.
NGL when I saw the email alert that said "large sinkhole" I was rather expecting a large sinkhole. Like the building swallowing kind. Not a "smaller than a manhole" sinkhole.
January 12, 2026 at 3:47 PM
NGL when I saw the email alert that said "large sinkhole" I was rather expecting a large sinkhole. Like the building swallowing kind. Not a "smaller than a manhole" sinkhole.
...issues, but generally it's been good. It's so much worse in so many places.
The correct answer definitely isn't privatization, but I can see how many families would go that way in desperation.
The correct answer definitely isn't privatization, but I can see how many families would go that way in desperation.
January 12, 2026 at 3:16 PM
...issues, but generally it's been good. It's so much worse in so many places.
The correct answer definitely isn't privatization, but I can see how many families would go that way in desperation.
The correct answer definitely isn't privatization, but I can see how many families would go that way in desperation.
to be fair I only read the headline (and thought, "no shit sherlock")
compared to so many parents out there, I've got it relatively easy: the bus picks up my kid in front of our house at a reasonable time, hauls her butt across town, and drops her back off. we've had some ill-timed reliability...
compared to so many parents out there, I've got it relatively easy: the bus picks up my kid in front of our house at a reasonable time, hauls her butt across town, and drops her back off. we've had some ill-timed reliability...
January 12, 2026 at 3:16 PM
to be fair I only read the headline (and thought, "no shit sherlock")
compared to so many parents out there, I've got it relatively easy: the bus picks up my kid in front of our house at a reasonable time, hauls her butt across town, and drops her back off. we've had some ill-timed reliability...
compared to so many parents out there, I've got it relatively easy: the bus picks up my kid in front of our house at a reasonable time, hauls her butt across town, and drops her back off. we've had some ill-timed reliability...
Not coming off as an unprepared dumbass in a flagship conference presentation is a key part of any contingent professor's job, so, yeah, it hits.
January 12, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Not coming off as an unprepared dumbass in a flagship conference presentation is a key part of any contingent professor's job, so, yeah, it hits.
I am reminded that I presented our preliminary findings on this paper at our field's flagship conference without having had a chance to look over my presentation first...because I was calling neighbors 6 states away to find someone who could take my kid to school when her bus failed to show.
January 12, 2026 at 2:28 PM
I am reminded that I presented our preliminary findings on this paper at our field's flagship conference without having had a chance to look over my presentation first...because I was calling neighbors 6 states away to find someone who could take my kid to school when her bus failed to show.
If you think about it, it's a very empathetic approach to a very competitive environment.
I wish other teams would adopt it.
I wish other teams would adopt it.
January 11, 2026 at 3:28 PM
If you think about it, it's a very empathetic approach to a very competitive environment.
I wish other teams would adopt it.
I wish other teams would adopt it.
The healthy player budget (HPB) problem is exacerbated by the 'OMG the starting point guard is out' (OMGTSPGIO) problem, which dictates that no one else can play like a starter, even if there are non-starters at every position who are good enough to start, if the starting point guard is out.
January 11, 2026 at 3:27 PM
The healthy player budget (HPB) problem is exacerbated by the 'OMG the starting point guard is out' (OMGTSPGIO) problem, which dictates that no one else can play like a starter, even if there are non-starters at every position who are good enough to start, if the starting point guard is out.
'cats appear to have a 'healthy player budget' problem. No matter how deep the bench is any given year, only x players will be available for any given game, where x = the secret number of players needed to win said game minus 1.
January 11, 2026 at 3:21 PM
'cats appear to have a 'healthy player budget' problem. No matter how deep the bench is any given year, only x players will be available for any given game, where x = the secret number of players needed to win said game minus 1.
These, but ours only have fun colors on the binding
www.untica.com/zegrox-a5-co...
and these match perfectly! paperage.co/collections/...
www.untica.com/zegrox-a5-co...
and these match perfectly! paperage.co/collections/...
www.untica.com
January 10, 2026 at 2:33 AM
These, but ours only have fun colors on the binding
www.untica.com/zegrox-a5-co...
and these match perfectly! paperage.co/collections/...
www.untica.com/zegrox-a5-co...
and these match perfectly! paperage.co/collections/...
Really not bad! Some wrote more than others, some neater than others, but I tried to make sure people had time to write without feeling pressured.
January 10, 2026 at 2:23 AM
Really not bad! Some wrote more than others, some neater than others, but I tried to make sure people had time to write without feeling pressured.
Yes! Mini notebooks are the best. Ours have rainbow spines that match the pens!
I bought a gross of them just in case they're a hit.
I bought a gross of them just in case they're a hit.
January 10, 2026 at 2:21 AM
Yes! Mini notebooks are the best. Ours have rainbow spines that match the pens!
I bought a gross of them just in case they're a hit.
I bought a gross of them just in case they're a hit.
This semester, I'm aiming to remove as many barriers as I can for students who just want to be present, fully present and engaged, in class.
There are limits, of course, but I'm trying to create low tech options.
I'm sick of forced tech use, and I'm starting to think a lot of the next gen is too.
There are limits, of course, but I'm trying to create low tech options.
I'm sick of forced tech use, and I'm starting to think a lot of the next gen is too.
January 10, 2026 at 2:19 AM
This semester, I'm aiming to remove as many barriers as I can for students who just want to be present, fully present and engaged, in class.
There are limits, of course, but I'm trying to create low tech options.
I'm sick of forced tech use, and I'm starting to think a lot of the next gen is too.
There are limits, of course, but I'm trying to create low tech options.
I'm sick of forced tech use, and I'm starting to think a lot of the next gen is too.
It was easier on me, too. Reading a few dozen daily reflections that are handwritten, on paper, with margin doodles beats the pants off reading them in an online discussion board. No contest.
January 10, 2026 at 2:15 AM
It was easier on me, too. Reading a few dozen daily reflections that are handwritten, on paper, with margin doodles beats the pants off reading them in an online discussion board. No contest.
I switched one of my courses to all on-paper in-class activities last semester and the biggest thing that came back in the reviews was how refreshing it was to get to write thoughts out by hand.
January 10, 2026 at 2:13 AM
I switched one of my courses to all on-paper in-class activities last semester and the biggest thing that came back in the reviews was how refreshing it was to get to write thoughts out by hand.
Same! When I meet someone new, I tell them up front that I probably won't recognize them in public.
Gotta set appropriate expectations.
Gotta set appropriate expectations.
January 9, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Same! When I meet someone new, I tell them up front that I probably won't recognize them in public.
Gotta set appropriate expectations.
Gotta set appropriate expectations.
I swear, sprinting several blocks down your town's main street hollering "Jess! JESSSSSS!!!" at someone not named Jess really does help you learn to accept who you are.
January 9, 2026 at 4:53 PM
I swear, sprinting several blocks down your town's main street hollering "Jess! JESSSSSS!!!" at someone not named Jess really does help you learn to accept who you are.
Now, my default position when initiating a social interaction is to assume it will go awkwardly, and prepare myself accordingly. On the rare cases it does not, it's a happy surprise. The rest of the time, I just shrug and think, yeah, that's exactly what I thought would happen.
Very liberating tbh
Very liberating tbh
January 9, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Now, my default position when initiating a social interaction is to assume it will go awkwardly, and prepare myself accordingly. On the rare cases it does not, it's a happy surprise. The rest of the time, I just shrug and think, yeah, that's exactly what I thought would happen.
Very liberating tbh
Very liberating tbh
I once chased a long-lost friend down to say hello, after she failed to notice me waving at her.
It was not my long-lost friend.
The upside is that I'm now innoculated against all future social embarassment.
It was not my long-lost friend.
The upside is that I'm now innoculated against all future social embarassment.
January 9, 2026 at 4:48 PM
I once chased a long-lost friend down to say hello, after she failed to notice me waving at her.
It was not my long-lost friend.
The upside is that I'm now innoculated against all future social embarassment.
It was not my long-lost friend.
The upside is that I'm now innoculated against all future social embarassment.
tbh my disgust of all things tea has led me to have little interest in learning about its growing conditions, so I'm just spitballing on this one.
January 8, 2026 at 6:31 PM
tbh my disgust of all things tea has led me to have little interest in learning about its growing conditions, so I'm just spitballing on this one.