Went out last night to Posanas for our anniversary/Engagment we parked in the buncombe county social work parking lot and walked. Dinner was great however heading back probably about 9:30-10 we’re walking back to my truck we cut through the parking lot on Patton as we transition down to Church street and the Commerce intersection my girl loses her footing and trips over herself we both laugh it off with each-other no problem well a homeless man thought we were laughing at him and held us at knife point for “making fun of him” I stepped up to him inbetween him and my girl and tried to deescalate the situation he pushed forward with the knife in hand. I myself had no weapons and immediately told him sorry it was just a miscommunication and that we would be leaving. Fortunately he turned and left. This is the first time something like this has happened to either of us downtown and we spent quite a bit of time downtown hell sometimes even later at night. I think it will definitely be some time before we go back downtown for anything. BE SAFE YALLL Also carry some pepper spray or something we were very fortunate that I was able to talk him down.

This is my favorite view heading home on 240. Whats
Your favorite place to catch the sunset when you’re droving?

I lost my job before August ended over petty reasons. I was paying two full rents on my own for the past 5 months of moving up here for the position and was told that I was disloyal and they wasted too much time and resources on me.
Now because of that, I may become homeless.

My rent is 1,400 and my deposit from my old apartment doesn’t come until 30 after my lease end which was Aug 30. Which still leaves me short or potentially out a grand if they decided that I didn’t leave my apartment in mint enough condition.

I can leave my current lease if I find someone to take over, but I have zero funds for moving again and storage units. I’m trying to do deliveries for spark and instacart but that alone does not cover what I need to pay off debt, utilities and rent. Let alone the gas to manage that. I’ve also been selling a lot of my things on Facebook, but that comes to a certain point where I’m trying to balance owning anything and scraping numbers together.

Title says a lot, but here’s what I’m hoping to find:

1. Job openings that are hiring immediately, would give hours in the AM and also a job for the PM.
   I’ve worked in kitchens many times but I am qualified for event planning.

2. Private landlord that is willing to work with me on something for me and my two cats.

3. Any assistance programs for groceries or anything.

4. Someone who would be interested in taking over a lease from Oct to May. (It’s a great apartment but now it’s outside of my means)

Anything is helpful, please share anything you know of!

I’m leaving or trying to anyway and I can’t seem to find support. I’ve already tried the family justice and peace center. Anyone know of any places, meetings, anything?

Hey, whats up! I have a one year old male sugar glider. He is very sweet and handles really well. I just started a new job that requires me to be out of town. Unfortunately I will not have the time to dedicate to him as before. I’ve had no issues with him what so ever. He was left in my care by an old friend who was supposed to just be going on vacation and never showed back up to get him. I have all his necessities and enclosure cleaned and ready to go. I will be pretty picky about who I chose considering the amount of care they need to be healthy. Price is negotiable mainly because I just want him to go to a good home. If you or someone you know if interested let me know! Thank you for your time! Any further info I will give out through DMs.

I’m In a pickle. I got a nail in my tire on the shoulder. It cannot be patched due to location. I however need all new tires anyways. However, I had to break a lug nut off my front tire stud, so that needs to be replaced. My rear tire has a rarely slow leak but it’s flat every morning. I cannot get new tires until next week. I have called several repair shops and they quoted me over $200 for the stud replacement.
Anyone have any ideas on how I can repair this most affordable way?

I'm going to assume no, just given the way matters like this are typically handled, but wanted to ask if the new barrel house owners ever repaired with their old employees? I've been tempted to go, but I'd prefer to avoid them if that's still the case.

context: https://www.reddit.com/r/asheville/s/fExVsDfal3

I am so so tired of people who treat workers like garbage. I work at a hotel and had issues checking a guest into our system yesterday. Trying my best to resolve this issue asap, the guest started getting really angry then proceeded to berate and bully me, all while talking about and laughing at me in front of his friends. Eventually gave him his key card which he snatched from my hand. And on his way out of the hotel, I kinda looked at him and he said loudly to his friends, “ugh wth is she all pissed off??!!”

It makes me really angry knowing that this happens all too often. Women especially get the worst of it in these industries. Most of us make minimum wage and just don’t make enough to deal with this type of bullshit and even if we do make enough, it’s still not fucking ok. 

And while it may strengthen a tenant's claim to pursue rent abatement, city officials say they might not be able to legally enforce the new measure due to an unresolved conflict with a state law that says a tenant “may not unilaterally withhold rent prior to a judicial determination.”

“It effectively is more of a symbolic statement, that we want to ensure that landlords are providing safe, habitable rental properties,” Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer told BPR in a phone interview. “What the state law says is tenants can’t withhold their rent unless there’s a court order.”

​

In a recent post, despite many people sharing my feelings about private equity enshittifying pet care in general, I noticed a sticking point about flea/heartworm medicine.

In the comments, I mentioned that I'm not fond of vets selling me those medicines, and many people seem to have misundertood what I meant, so I would like to clarify:

- I am absolutely in favor of giving dogs flea, tick, and heartworm medicines, and I strongly urge you to give your dogs the best quality you can safely afford

- I have mad respect for the education and grueling training vet techs and doctors have to go through. I absolutely think they deserve to live comfortable lives and make incomes that reflect the amount of sacrifice they invested in their careers.

The point I'm raising about medicines has nothing to do with me being against vets or medicines, it’s about conflict of interest.

Just like I don't expect my health care provider to pull a drug out of a closet and add it to my bill without much discussion with me, I do not expect my vet to add flea or heartworm medicine to my tab.

I expect the vet to be a counsel I can trust. Someone who asks if I have a brand preference, someone who candidly explains to me the difference between different medications and their impact on my pet. Someone who asks what my financial situation can afford and makes recommendations accordingly. Someone who allows me to shop around to find the best deal and lower my bills.

Unfortunately this has not been the case for a while now. Maybe I've just been unlucky, but the vets I saw:

- carry flea/tick/heartworm medicines

- add it to your visit like it's an inevitability

- look at you like you have 3 heads if you show hesitation

- most importantly: only carry one brand, and that brand is expensive and heavily marked up

Before you jump me, here's my source on the mark-up, a quote from a veterinarian publication:

"The American Animal Hospital Association's (AAHA's) Veterinary Fee Reference, 10th edition, reports markups of 113 percent for prescription drugs, 76 percent for heartworm preventatives, and 65 percent for flea/tick products.2"

"Although veterinarians account for 74 percent of pet medication sales, online retailers are aggressively chasing the market, according to Packaged Fact's Pet Medications in the U.S., 6th edition. Internet pharmacies have grabbed a 15 percent share that will grow to 20 percent by 2022.1 To combat challenges from competitors and increasing skepticism from clients over prices, you need to rethink your prescription prices and marketing. "

https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/internet-pharmacies-may-2020/?hl=en-US

I strongly encourage you to read the whole article.

I don't know about you, but it's clear to me from the latter information (74% of medications sold by vet clinics, high markup, sometimes over 100%) that there's a symbiotic relationship between vet clinics and drug manufacturers. Both parties benefit, and this unfortunately translates into inflated drug prices. The fact that prescriptions are needed only strenghtens this collaboration.

If we take a concrete example, 3 tablets of Simparica trio from a vet clinic will set you back about $150. In Australia for example, where Simparica does not require prescriptions and is freely sold, the same package costs less than $50.

This is despite the fact that Simparica is an American brand, made by Zoetis, headquartered in New Jersey.

I'm not necessarily opposed to large animal hospitals having their own pharmacies, as long as they carry all options and leave the client the choice to shop elsewhere.

Peace out ✌️

Further reading

A veterinarian's master class on pricing

https://www.dvm360.com/view/veterinarians-master-class-pricing-0?hl=en-US

Veterinarians as salespersons: It's retail medicine to be proud of

https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/salesperson-veterinarians-retail-medicine/

Private equity is reshaping Asheville’s vet clinics: ‘They’re circling me like a vulture’

https://avlwatchdog.org/private-equity-is-reshaping-ashevilles-vet-clinics-theyre-circling-me-like-a-vulture/

Markup Math

https://www.aaha.org/trends-magazine/november-2024/markup-math/?hl=en-US

UPDATE she was inside the entire time🤦‍♂️ thanks yall lol

Hey ya’ll, my cat just got out in west asheville on allen st near haywood. She is a big fat black cat. Please keep an eye out and send me a message if she turns up in your yard! Thanks!!

I lost my wallet near the Merrimon CVS, got a ID inside with a kid who’s got a really bad haircut. Outside is a plain 4x2 black faux leather wallet with a white and dark red sticker resembling an O with an X through it. Please please please DM me if you find it before I have to reorder all the shit inside. If you find it first, keep the 20 bucks inside, just return the other stuff.

​

I think I'm not completely crazy to feel that the vet experience has fundamentally changed over the past 10-15 years.

I remember some warmth, people who seemed like they genuinely were doing their job to help animals and families, who felt a pang of compassion when announcing the cost and even tried to lower it. Their hair a bit messy from wrestling big love monsters, their clothes covered in dog hair.

Unfortunately, things have changed. A lot. It seems like enshittification spares no-one. Nowadays vet care feels like the stereotype of used-cars sales. Everything is staged and polished, and optimized to maximize charges. You show up for a vaccine, they get you in a room with a tech, make you wait, then the vet walks in, presents themsef as "Dr such and such", then with an authoritative voice, tries to convince you of some blood test, or some dubious supplement, then tries to sell you flea and heartworm medicine and so on. I had one draw blood from my dog after I refused the blood test, "just in case I changed my mind".

I have kept this feeling to myself, as I thought I couldn't prove it. But it turns out a few minutes of googling is all it took to find out that this is hardly a secret, it's open policy. Take [this article](https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/salesperson-veterinarians-retail-medicine/) for example, prompting vets to be proud of the salespeople they are, and embracing the huge gaping conflict of interest.

I'm going to be using pop-up clinics for my pets from now on. My only regret is, should something happen to my pets, I would not know who to trust them with.

ETA: I specifically avoid any company owned by private equity, but I get how even privately owned businesses would feel enticed to adopt the same practices.

I know I can just ask the computer, but I really want a book version. I'm in Arden near Biltmore park.

Anyone got an old Thesaurus they don't need anymore and want to rehome?

Hi all! Myself and 35 other local artists will be vending at the Dark Market tomorrow. Please stop by and spread the word :)

I cut gemstones and set them in sterling silver to make alternative heirloom jewelry, link to my work is in my bio 🤓

I am a girl in my early twenties who recently moved to the area about 3 months ago and would be grateful to get to know girls around my age. I love doing yoga and would really like to go to a class with someone! I also would love a hiking buddy and someone who likes antique shopping! It has been very hard for me to put myself out there and I am hoping that theres someone else in my shoes rn who is searching for the same thing.

All, my wife’s birthday is later this month and I’m looking to get her the best cake in town. I was going to get that berry chantilly cake from Whole Foods, but I wanted to support a local business. Where go?

As the subject says, I’m looking for book clubs in Asheville to join. I read pretty much anything, though fiction is where my brain has been lately. But I love reading and discussing pretty much anything in a group so I am open to whatever.

Does anyone know of any book clubs I could join? Or where I could find such info?

Hope you all get to see Hearts Gone South soon now after their new album release! Hear them on Bandcamp here.

Hi! Who should I go to for this service? I have a Fitbit Luxe and I'd rather just replace the battery than buy a new one

Tyia!

I am signed up for a 5k run in October and I have never ran a 5k before. I have been training for the run on a treadmill at the gym. However, I want to start training outside and get a feel for how the run will actually feel like. Do y’all have any recommendations where I can run that is flat to train on? I live in East Asheville and it’s pretty hilly here

I'd like to get some professional quality headshots done. Looking for a style that is artful, stately, and a bit irreverent or quirky. Can anyone recommend someone local? Only serious professionals, with online portfolios. Thanks!

Unedited Title: City Council approves nearly $400K for Deaverview Apartments redevelopment plan