leh-nerd skin-erd

It would be an interesting case study had we all not lived through their “Biden is awesome and you’re a conspiracy nut if you believe otherwise!” era. Now, it’s just sad.

You have to get some help along the way. A wealthy/affluent family can surely raise a lazy, unmotivated child as easily as a family struggling to get by. I used to take my children on a drive through a local city to show them what they didn’t want as their future. I always paid particular attention to the accumulation of garbage and debris at/near around a residence v homes/dwellings that were well kept in the same neighborhood. My theory was that you can not always control your circumstances (@Doc Brown did a nice job outlining the need for a social safety net in another thread recently), but in a city with regularly scheduled, predictable garage pick up, in the vast majority of cases, you could control the amount of trash accumulating outside your front door. I think you’re over the target here, and at some point, on some level, a desire for more has to come from somewhere. The stories of athletes being successful and crediting a hard-working single mom for helping them achieve goals of college and beyond come to mind.

How hideous are you??! As to no Nelsons, I’m not surprised. That’s long been sort of a country club thing.

You are correct—I haven’t updated my passport in 5+ years, maybe as much as 8. Thank you for bringing me up to date on the process—and serious question—you were not approved 4 times? What caused the rejection? I have a much bigger issue with visiting DMV to get my Real ID. I’ve lived in the same house for nearly 40 years, pay property and school taxes, a valid driver license, lived in only 5 or 6 places in my life, and DMV demands my papers as proof of my me-ness. It’s absurd. It’s like they really never cared about who obtained a license and the system is really broken. It’s not unlike our immigration issue, and no, I do not agree with you on Trump’s attempt to fix the system. If the country can get back to a sensible system, everyone benefits. Sorry about the golf situation. I understand Nelson Mandela had the same issue for many years.

When I first started reading Fergie’s post, I was drawn to the parallels between his story and “The Diary of Anne Frank”. Then I thought of the trauma of a 60+ year old retired rich guy heading to a local post office without valet parking, having to wait in line behind 2 ladies buying forever stamps, submitting his paperwork and then popping over to the country club to practice putting. Everyone has their battle, I suppose. Then again, I’m 6th generation and Fergie is just another carpet bagger if you ask me.

I think the problem is an untreated anxiety disorder, but keep fighting the good fight. Glad you made it through.

Politics is indeed a dirty business, I’ve said that many times myself, and used the “fair game” analogy. I would not expect nor assume Trump is pure of heart ant more than I thought Biden was. If your contention is that the NYT operates in a political fashion with a desire to influence the outcome of political races, I concur. I was interested more in your commentary, but it seems we are on the same page.

Andy, you seem like a good guy and you’re a good poster. This type of story should be in the National Enquirer, not a paper once associated with quality journalism. Here’s a quick recap of the rumor being shared: “Elon Musk…was using drugs…far more intensely…according to people.” I know that some people believe anything (unless it’s about a president in cognitive free fall, happening right before their eyes), but which people, Andy? Are they men or women, political friends or political foes, the waiter at his favorite restaurant or the front desk guy as Planet Fitness? Who do you think it was, and would you vouch for them as honest brokers? “Mr. Musk’s drug consumption went well beyond occasional use.” With this statement, the Times changes the narrative that “some people say” and flat out declares that Musk is a drug user and states definitively he’s a regular drug user. No citation, no sources, no nothing. The next part…geesh, man, have they no standards at all at the NYT? There’s so much waffling between allegations and declarations of fact it’s unbelievable. My favorite is the insulation that the reporter’s sourcing is speaking to unknown people who saw pictures of a box? Seriously Andy, you buy all this stuff? “It’s unclear…whether Mr. Musk…was taking drugs..at the White House. But he has exhibited erratic behavior…insulting…gesturing like a Nazi…and garbling answer”. Geesh Andy, if these are the standards, Joe Biden is likely the head of the Sinaloa cartel! And while I can’t say for sure that 4th or Homey gesture like Nazis, but they sure as heck offer insults and on occasion most definitely garble answers. You don’t have to believe everything said or done by intrepid Times journalists, it’s ok asking even a precious few questions. It’s Tabloid journalism and not really all that great even by that standard.

Again, though, the Prez and admin who tried to put the opposition in prison was Biden/Harris. That ship sailed, sir, but thankfully enough Americans with common sense course corrected.

An enigma wrapped in a riddle. The virus shut down the world, China refused to cooperate…and absent a few congressional hearings, that’s pretty much it.

Damn, a mill-five, beating the tax man and 2 days in jail? That’s a pretty nice personal payday for a guy looking to benefit all humanity.

I heard he quit in a pre-arranged, previously scheduled fashion?

Great reply, thank you. Interestingly, I like stability and reasonable change, but just using the collective approach to managing illegal immigration as one glaring example, that can lead to an absolute clusterf&ck. This is your Rip Van Winkle moment, NB.

You're flipping your wig, Fergs. All this conspiracy mumbo jumbo has got you in a tizzy. I don't know Catturd or David Brooks, but I guess my question would be net worth aside, how did they do on the other big stories of our time? Biden's cognitive implosion 2020-2024? I'd bet that one was a lot closer to the target than the other. On the bright side, it's refreshing to see you expecting more from you know, journalists. Welcome to the club.

Frig. I'm usually sharp as a tack and not afraid to say it. My bad there. I cannot imagine voting dem in the future, but completely agree and vote for the party that hurts me less. It's hard for me imagine now, but this was my thought process Trump v Hillary: Everyone knew Trump, and we can move past his one-time darling status with political figures in the dem party. The simple fact was that my wife and I used to watch The Apprentice with my oldest son (he was quite young), understanding the reality TV aspect and fictionalized portions of the show. It was just about enjoying the show, but we did talk a lot about situational awareness, handling difficult situations, work place politics etc. When the run up to choosing nominees was ongoing, I was nauseous thinking about Jeb Bush, or another Clinton in the WH, and not really thinking Trump at all. I called one of my liberal buddies and said..."You know, I might just vote for Biden if he throws his hat in the ring...". I recall where I was when Trump rode the elevator down and announced and thought "Holy Cr8p, what on earth is happening here?". To look back and think I thought THAT was crazy when looking at what's happened since...wow.

Probably as close as we're going to get. I say transparency is cool, you say "yeah but...".

Well, you started by suggesting I was right, then later on talked about true republicans being shunned and cast your opinion as an "idiotic assumption", which seemed at odds with the notion that I was right. It was meant to be a light-hearted quip and appears I have missed the mark. Since I've come this far, I guess I should make sure I clarify my comments from the post. There was a time I felt as you did, and that was right was right and wrong was wrong. I truly meant the part of your perspective being noble. It would be awesome if that's the way government works. You may absolutely be correct that holding the line, staying above the fray and doing 100% the right thing is right regardless of the outcome. Perhaps if the curren admin did, any and all future admins would follow suit. I simply don't feel that's realistic anymore, and that government(s) do not operate like that regardless of who is in charge. That's our reality, and I just don't see the point in pretending it is not. That was my only point.

I sense a subliminal message is in play here. Your words say one thing, but I just have this feeling...🤔 It's not an idiotic assumption on your part, and I certainly would not shun you for your noble position. However, I don't attach much emotion to this sort of things anymore. Beyond that, if government operates the way it operates repeatedly, the standard becomes what it becomes. It has nothing to do with me supporting it, or raging against it, it's just how it works. I'm simply saying your belief in how government works is in direct contrast to the way it actually works.

It's 2025 and we only recently received all the data associated with an assassination that took place in 1963. It was several years before concrete evidence was produced to show that the Obama admin and CIA were fully briefed that the Clinton campaign was up to no good with Christopher Steele, a fact Obama could have shared at the very beginning of the hubub about Russia meddling in the elections. Joe Biden had classified documents in his possession for what seems like decades, and was sharing intel with an individual without clearance and we only found out after Trump's house was raided. I have no idea who did what, who got arrested or who didn't. You don't either. I am absolutely willing to see how it all plays out with transparency. You should want the same thing.

Roundy was prolly thinking about daylight savings time. Spring forward. Fall back. High level stuff.

Weird. Another poster here was telling me the settlement was $30m. Fools rush in, I ‘spose.

Huh. What? I agree, and as you pointed out earlier--If little toy soldiers want to do the nutcracker dance at James Comey's place at the beach, they may go viral on Ray Epps! Was ha facing jail time, assumed of course.

The newsworthy part is the FBI director/assistant director stating the facts will “surprise and shock everyone”. With regard to the confidential human sources, the only question I would have is if they violated laws, what charges were pursued? I don’t know that “prohibited activities” equates to illegal activity, but it certainly sounds like it’s possible. I’m sure you would agree is all good news if the report is truly forthcoming. Transparency is a good thing.

In fairness, he waited 11 full hours before bumping his own post. Admirable restraint all things considered. Big girls need love too, L.

Agree. Get underground in the tunnels where the air is pure with just the hint of urine and vomit in the air. Chances are really, really high a taxpayer won’t be slashed, mugged, sexually assaulted, accosted or pushed onto the tracks.