What pissed you off today?

[XJDenton]

Bernie said  “I think we should look to countries like Denmark, like Sweden, and Norway and learn from what they have accomplished for their working people.” Not, "I want to be SWEDEN!".

[Stadler]

Bernie said  “I think we should look to countries like Denmark, like Sweden, and Norway and learn from what they have accomplished for their working people.” Not, "I want to be SWEDEN!".

But we haven't learned.   We're still talking about it.

[Dave_Manchester]

I'm just musing out loud here but it's something I think about a lot these days as I watch the global order transmogrify before my eyes. A lot of the 'socialist' policies adopted by the wealthier European countries are to an extent only possible because up until now the US has effectively guaranteed their national security. In other words countries like my native UK and, to an even greater extent, Germany (effectively occupied by the US military for decades) were able to direct their funds to social programmes, as I'll loosely call them, because they didn't need to worry about military spending. It'll be interesting in the coming years to see what happens to these countries as they have now basically been told they need to kick in way more than they have been for their defence. As an example, Britain's prized NHS is facing the worst crisis in its history...

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jul/25/worst-nhs-staffing-crisis-in-its-history-is-putting-patients-at-serious-risk-mps-warn

...at the same time that the government are having to pledge a huge increase in its defence spending. The NHS is potentially within years of having to be privatised. And this pattern can be seen across Western Europe. I'm trying not to stray into P/R territory here but Russia's invasion of Ukraine will, I think, place enormous strain on the 'socialist' safety nets we (or at least I) have taken for granted in Western Europe. There is likely no bigger critic on earth of America's military expansionism than I, BUT, it is undeniable that where America's 'allies' are concerned, having your national security bankrolled by the US frees you up to spend money on stuff like the NHS (it's no coincidence that the NHS was created in 1948, which is pretty much the exact time the British handed over the reins as global leader to the US). Now that all European nations have pledged to take greater financial responsibility for their own security, the age of our (European) smugness (sorry but that's kind of what it is) regarding our 'fairer' societies will come under strain I think.

To be clear I'm not saying our 'socialist' policies are ONLY possible because of America picking up the tab for Europe's security. These things are ideological too, Europe leans towards a 'society over the individual' ethos whereas America doesn't. But I'm saying it's made far easier by not having to shoulder the financial burden of guaranteeing your national security. So far it's been a generally mutually beneficial arrangement. America paying for the EU's and, overwhelmingly, NATO's defence means Europe and NATO never go against US economic interests, and in turn Europe can afford 'cheap' healthcare and university education because they know someone like Mad Vlad will never start lobbing bombs at them so long as that arrangement exists.
 

[Dublagent66]

People who take something out of context and twist it around to fit their own narrative.

[Stadler]

People who take something out of context and twist it around to fit their own narrative.

Politics pisses me off sometimes too. 

(See what I did there?)

[Dublagent66]

Who said anything about politics?  That goes without saying.  I'm talking about right here.

[Stadler]

Who said anything about politics?  That goes without saying.  I'm talking about right here.

I know; I was taking what you said out of context and twisting it to fit my own narrative. 

Just busting stones a little to get a laugh, nothing more. 

[Dublagent66]

Haha Stads.  You got me! 

[Dublagent66]

Well, what do you know?  It happened again.  Fuckers arguing for the sake of argument cause they can't feel good about themselves unless they're trashing someone else's opinion. 

[Stadler]

Well, what do you know?  It happened again.  Fuckers arguing for the sake of argument cause they can't feel good about themselves unless they're trashing someone else's opinion. 

HAHA, wasn't me!   


I don't know to what you're exactly referring, but I'll add this:  I've gone on record as not being a fan of Chris Murphy, my Senator, but he made a post the other day showing two kids in the Little League World Series.  Pitcher beans the batter right in the side of the head.  Kid goes down - probably more scared than hurt, but still - and the kid on the mound just stood there.  Batter finally went to first base and was looking at the pitcher who was just standing there, apparently starting to cry.  Batter calls time out, and walks over to the pitcher and hugs him, telling him it's okay.  Murphy tweets that and says "This is who we are.".    The comments - on both sides - were barely grade school.   "That's not who we are, we're [this; trashing liberals] or [that; trashing conservatives]".  One guy says "how would you know" and essentially calls Murphy a p***y.   One guy says "Yeah that's who we are until we start watching Conservative media outlets and get brainwashed!"

Like for fuck's sake; you can't let even a LITTLE humanity creep in? These kids are 10, 11, and 12; you're not secure enough in your whatever to put the kids first and take it for what it is?   Like I said, I'm no fan of Chris Murphy, but HE wasn't politicizing it (well, to the extent ANY tweet from a U.S. Senator isn't politicized by it's very nature, but I'm giving him a pass). 

[cramx3]

oof, that example would piss me off too. 

[Stadler]

So another one; I was on a work trip, about an hour from the airport; on the last night (Wednesday) I drove to the airport and got a hotel close so I didn't have to drive in the morning.  I got there, did some work, ate, and it was sort of late but not that late, so I went to a local dive bar and had a couple beers.   I stared talking to this guy who was already... not fit to drive, let's say, and at one point he goes "so I'm 60 this year and my kids... blah blah blah".  We keep talking and I mention something about kids, and he says "well, you're obviously older than me so..."

I'm 54.  WTF, bro!?!

[TAC]

Must’ve been all those big words you were using. 

[Grappler]

Step 1.  Illinois Secretary of State mails me a notary application for my August 2022 notary public renewal.
Step 2.  Complete application, mail back in mid-July with my $10.00 check to address listed on the application.
Step 3.  Wait
Step 4.  Receive letter in mid-August from Secretary of State indicating that my application for a HANDICAP PARKING PLACARD was denied.

 

Step 5.  Call Secretary of State.  Explanation from them that my application was sent to the wrong department.  And "oh, by the way," there is a new application with a $15.00 fee, which is why my application and check were likely returned.

Step 6.  Get angry, because I completed the application that was mailed to me, which was the old application, but it was denied because it's not the new application with updated fee.

Step 7.  Get angrier over inefficient state bureaucracy causing my notary commission to expire while I have to re-submit the application.

[ProfessorPeart]

Step 1.  Illinois Secretary of State mails me a notary application for my August 2022 notary public renewal.
Step 2.  Complete application, mail back in mid-July with my $10.00 check to address listed on the application.
Step 3.  Wait
Step 4.  Receive letter in mid-August from Secretary of State indicating that my application for a HANDICAP PARKING PLACARD was denied.

 

Step 5.  Call Secretary of State.  Explanation from them that my application was sent to the wrong department.  And "oh, by the way," there is a new application with a $15.00 fee, which is why my application and check were likely returned.

Step 6.  Get angry, because I completed the application that was mailed to me, which was the old application, but it was denied because it's not the new application with updated fee.

Step 7.  Get angrier over inefficient state bureaucracy causing my notary commission to expire while I have to re-submit the application.

He's a little too busy with his Tumblers to be able to focus on the job. 

[Implode]

Happened last week, but I've been chosen to be on my county's grand jury. So I have to go in to indict 20-40 cases every Wednesday until December. Some cases are interesting, but over all it's just super boring. 

[Dream Team]

Yesterday for at least the 4th time in the 30 years I’ve owned my house, someone backed over my mailbox. I’ll let you guess the gender of driver.

But seriously, completely putting aside misogyny and gender stereotypes and rhetoric and anything else that would derail the discussion, why can’t women back up?

[Glasser]

That sucks but was it a woman all 4 times? I just think a bad driver is a bad driver, male, female or otherwise.

[Dream Team]

Yes all 4 times  .

[Dublagent66]

Let me guess, she was driving a pos with no back up camera and sensors?

[King Postwhore]

My male cousin took my brother's mailbox down 2 times.

[TAC]

Let me guess, she was driving a pos with no back up camera and sensors?

Hey easy there..I drive a POS with no back up camera and sensors.

[King Postwhore]

Let me guess, she was driving a pos with no back up camera and sensors?

Hey easy there..I drive a POS with no back up camera and sensors.

Like we didn't know. 

[Dublagent66]

   Yeah, I did up until about 7 years ago.  Not that I ever needed a back up camera anyway.

[King Postwhore]

Hard to look backwards in your 50's. Lol

[El Barto]

Don't need a backup camera in my car. It's my car and I know where it is. In rentals those things are wonderful, though. Don't really need the camera, but the sonar pings are huge when parallel parking.

[cramx3]

Of course most of us who are older don't need a camera.  It is nice to have though. I've not yet fully come around to completely relying on the back up camera as even after like 4 years of having a car with one, my instincts are still to turn around and look most of the time.  However, my right lane camera is so clutch for changing lanes that I almost never look right when doing so now.

[TAC]

My old stiff neck prevents me from actually turning around, but I use my mirrors. Obviously, I don't have a backup camera, but for our rentals, they are pretty cool.

[Stadler]

So........ I went to Strasburg, PA this weekend with my family.   Five hours, +/-, each way, then one day we went to Philly (actually Cherry Hill, NJ) which was an hour each way.   So a lot of driving.   

I'm seriously considering running for office in CT.  And if and when I do, there's going to be a new sheriff in town.  I will immediately draft a bill to equip all toll structures, as well as each bridge structure, and reprogram each camera that is currently used to track traffic, to record the progress of cars.  (We already have them for registering license plates, and many states use them for giving tickets at red lights/stop signs).   If you're in any lane other than the farthest right hand lane, and there are at least three cars within a certain time frame behind you (say, ten car lengths), BAM, you get a ticket. And we're going to set that fucker at a minimum of $350 per.  I might even add dollars for every car over three behind you.  If you get pulled over for using your phone while driving, it will be treated like a DWI, with all that entails (including loss of license).  I will require a retest at every license renewal (goes without saying I would revamp the test materials as well).

All I know is traffic was brutal all weekend and made far worse by idiots not paying attention to the matter at hand.   

There's more, but that's the gist of it for now.

[Snow Dog]

Found Stadler’s car.

[cramx3]

So........ I went to Strasburg, PA this weekend with my family.   Five hours, +/-, each way, then one day we went to Philly (actually Cherry Hill, NJ) which was an hour each way.   So a lot of driving.   

I'm seriously considering running for office in CT.  And if and when I do, there's going to be a new sheriff in town.  I will immediately draft a bill to equip all toll structures, as well as each bridge structure, and reprogram each camera that is currently used to track traffic, to record the progress of cars.  (We already have them for registering license plates, and many states use them for giving tickets at red lights/stop signs).   If you're in any lane other than the farthest right hand lane, and there are at least three cars within a certain time frame behind you (say, ten car lengths), BAM, you get a ticket. And we're going to set that fucker at a minimum of $350 per.  I might even add dollars for every car over three behind you.  If you get pulled over for using your phone while driving, it will be treated like a DWI, with all that entails (including loss of license).  I will require a retest at every license renewal (goes without saying I would revamp the test materials as well).

All I know is traffic was brutal all weekend and made far worse by idiots not paying attention to the matter at hand.   

There's more, but that's the gist of it for now.

I can get behind this.  Not sure if you read the NYtimes daily today about car accidents going up, but it's very noticeable how poor people drive lately and I guess it's no longer just something I feel is happening, it's backed by stats. 

[TAC]

Found Stadler’s car.

Awesome!

[King Postwhore]

 

[cramx3]

  in my humble opinion of driving through these states, it's the NYers ruining it for everyone!

[Lonk]

in my humble opinion of driving through these states, it's the NYers ruining it for everyone!

HEY HEY NOW!!! You are right