SSOTT

[Lups]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

Turns out we're at the point where "believes in and will fight for democracy" is the rare quality to find and everything else is gravy.

Authoritarianism is on the march!

It's funny, because in my emo existential teens, reading things like Beckett's Happy Days:

Winnie, buried to her waist, follows her daily routine and prattles to her husband, Willie, who is largely hidden and taciturn. Her frequent refrain is "Oh this is a happy day." Later, in Act II, she is buried up to her neck, but continues to talk and remember happier days.

& Ionesco's Rhinoceros

Over the course of three acts, the inhabitants of a small, provincial French town turn into rhinoceroses; ultimately the only human who does not succumb to this mass metamorphosis is the central character, Bérenger, a flustered everyman figure who is initially criticized in the play for his drinking, tardiness, and slovenly lifestyle and then, later, for his increasing paranoia and obsession with the rhinoceroses. The play is often read as a response and criticism to the sudden upsurge of Fascism and Nazism during the events preceding World War II

At the time it seemed like old timey stuff from backwards people from days long gone ... who'da thought it would all happen again <100 years later!

Myz did, he said so in the original ssott, I laughed him off cuz we're all that smarter thank folks were back then

We've had people protesting against vaccinations here. We came up with the whole prenatal care and the 0 to school system for healthcare. And apparently we have folks opposing vaccines.

Fml, or more accurately, fuck all our lives.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by Lups

Myz did, he said so in the original ssott, I laughed him off cuz we're all that smarter thank folks were back then

It's interesting thinking back to those discussions ...

What we got right:

* There was great appeal to rural America (70%!) for an unconventional straight-talking (i.e., not PC) presidential candidate who spoke to the daily problems and challenges of the middle class

(and, IMO still, there's great justification for up-ending the capital-is-king-labor-is-unrewarded power structures inhabiting all western governments but ...)

What we got wrong:

* Americans share common foundational notions of democracy
* Americans value their cultural diversity
* Americans learned in the 1930s-1950s what government "banal evil" was and committed to fight against it forever, e.g., 1989 "Mr Gorbachev tear down this wall".

BTW, by "we" I mean "me"


Anyway, back to Beckett's Happy Days, I sure am seeing and hearing a lot people acting like Winnie. As for Ionesco, I hope we're seeing the max # of Rhinoceroses, but if we get a shift of power, I see a lot of people ready for the transformation ...

[minn19]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

It's interesting thinking back to those discussions ...

What we got right:

* There was great appeal to rural America (70%!) for an unconventional straight-talking (i.e., not PC) presidential candidate who spoke to the daily problems and challenges of the middle class

(and, IMO still, there's great justification for up-ending the capital-is-king-labor-is-unrewarded power structures inhabiting all western governments but ...)

What we got wrong:

* Americans share common foundational notions of democracy
* Americans value their cultural diversity
* Americans learned in the 1930s-1950s what government "banal evil" was and committed to fight against it forever, e.g., 1989 "Mr Gorbachev tear down this wall".

BTW, by "we" I mean "me"


Anyway, back to Beckett's Happy Days, I sure am seeing and hearing a lot people acting like Winnie. As for Ionesco, I hope we're seeing the max # of Rhinoceroses, but if we get a shift of power, I see a lot of people ready for the transformation ...

Don’t 100% understand the above, but I think basically we all underestimated how many fucking morons we all live around.

I get the irony of post by the way.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by minn19

Don’t 100% understand the above, but I think basically we all underestimated how many fucking morons we all live around.

well sure I could show off my brevity too, but I'm humble.

Which brings us back to those shared values ... boy, 5 years ago I'd have sworn that most Americans shared (and would defend!) values like humility, equality, justice, charity, generosity, fairness, truth, honor, respect, civility, anti-authoritarianism ...

That American run-to-the-fire / save-the-people instinct.

Unfortunately I don't think we have that in majority anymore ... or at least this generation of American adults don't.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

well sure I could show off my brevity too, but I'm humble.

Which brings us back to those shared values ... boy, 5 years ago I'd have sworn that most Americans shared (and would defend!) values like humility, equality, justice, charity, generosity, fairness, truth, honor, respect, civility, anti-authoritarianism ...

That American run-to-the-fire / save-the-people instinct.

Unfortunately I don't think we have that in majority anymore ... or at least this generation of American adults don't.

I’ve said here before many times that I thought the baby boomer generation (especially white ones) is the most selfish generation in US history. I shouldn’t be surprised that they raised an even more selfish generation with a healthy dose of ignorance and entitlement mixed in. Then the resurgence of racism in both groups when minorities started making strides into traditional white areas etc. Sometimes I think that is an oversimplification but then I see things like the rise of violence against Asians, even ones that are US citizens by these idiots (because they somehow had something to do with COVID) and I think it is truly that simple. They live off of the propaganda they want to hear. I really think we are in serious trouble unless we get a run of really strong leaders to get through this really shitty time.

Alternative theory I have is the West, especially the US became too prosperous and a bunch of people got bored and went looking for problems.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by minn19

I think it is truly that simple. ... I really think we are in serious trouble unless we get a run of really strong leaders to get through this really shitty time.

Me too, I think we're in a generational fight for democracy on our home turf.

Most of Europe had to start a World War to cleanse itself of these same forces (Spain not until the 1970s!) and were it not for America, they would've lost. Who's the America today? Maybe Europe + Australia + Canada + Japan?


As for the simple part, I do think there's a more complex component: industrial revolution -> creative revolution combined with capital beating out labor. As an example, no only is there no incentive to work if you have capital, there are massive incentives NOT to work: you're penalized for it.

H/T to Scott Galloway:

Since 2008 the NASDAQ has quintupled
Inflation is 24% up
CEO pay has gone from 50x to 300x earnings
... and the minimum wage has stayed at $7.25

In America we punish workers and reward those with capital - nobody bats an eye at spending trillions on corporate tax cuts (35% during Reagan to 21% now!) which convert to buy-backs which converts to sky-high stock which converts to C-suite wealth (so basically the country put trillions directly into the pockets of corp execs at the expense of everyone else) but sheesh $2T on infrastructure we can't afford it!

America has stopped investing in common infrastructure to lift all boats and is turning into a corrupt plutocracy where everyone is encourage to get theirs while fucking over everyone else. And people see that. They see their neighbor getting a giant handout while they're putting in double shifts and now their health insurance is going up.

Anyway, I could go on, but the bottom line is, I'm 100% with you, but I'd also add in capital beating labor and the resulting massive inequality to it.


Total side note as long as I'm ranting: student loan forgiveness. WTAF!

(1.) How do liberals not see this as pure wealth redistribution from the bottom 70% to the top 30%. Biden said it right, "I see a kid going to U penn for $70k/yr and we're going to forgive that? No."

(2.) Education costs have balloon since the 70s when we cut state-school sponsored tuition (this was a Reagan thing) ... this created a loan bubble that drove up all costs over and over ... so what's gonna happen WHEN WE FORGIVE THOSE LOANS!?! geezus, tuition will quadruple.

Such a stupid fucking policy idea.

[GrussGott]

Anyway, in road trip news, no covid symptoms yet, plus check this shit out:

[GrussGott]

Look, all I'm sayin is, if you happen to be in NorCal on Sunday July 11th, Skid Row.

In other news, it goes without sayin that all y'all in this thread have been HODL in the money for years but if you wanted to double up, not a bad time

[Captain Blood]

Originally Posted by Lups

Myz did, he said so in the original ssott, I laughed him off cuz we're all that smarter thank folks were back then

We've had people protesting against vaccinations here. We came up with the whole prenatal care and the 0 to school system for healthcare. And apparently we have folks opposing vaccines.

Fml, or more accurately, fuck all our lives.

Or flm.

I saw a tweet you liked, I thought it was really funny. "Because of inflation, the 69 now costs 96".

I also like what Justin Amash had to say about Liz Cheney. "Don't make her a hero". He certainly has a right to say that. Still have no idea how anyone could've voted for Trump in 2016. Imbecilic

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by Captain Blood

Looks like it is android only right now.

If you have an old V1 and only Apple, this is the next best thing to JBV1:

iOS:
Buy V1Driver: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/v1driver/id1081009674
V1Driver discussion on RDF: https://www.rdforum.org/forums/177/
V1Driver setup info: https://www.vortexradar.com/2018/03/...iver-settings/
Download V1connection: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/v1conn...pp/id651690266

It does many of the same stuff like mutes alerts, eliminates the displays except for "real" alerts, has audio announcements, etc

Great overview of all of this here:

Again, I can't overstate how awesome JBV1 is though ... saved me probably 10x and then alerted me many many more!

Video does a great job of telling you why JBV1 is so valuable ... seems like not until you hear about it and then actually use it - CAH.RAZY amount of intelligence and functionality and honestly 80% of the countermeasure value is purely in the app even if you never use a V1.

[Captain Blood]

Originally Posted by minn19

Don’t 100% understand the above, but I think basically we all underestimated how many fucking morons we all live around.

I get the irony of post by the way.

https://twitter.com/davenewworld_2/s...787049984?s=21

[minn19]

Lups like rant inbound………

Fuck Iowa and their stupid speed cameras. I’ve been through there twice in the last 5 years and both times I’ve gotten a civil fundraiser ticket in the mail.

They say it’s only $85 for 20 over the speed limit. Tempted to bring the Porsche down there and see if it’ll really do 180 plus.

[Captain Blood]

Finally! A vacation!
Where am I?

[minn19]

Originally Posted by Captain Blood

Finally! A vacation!
Where am I?

Congrats, I’m jealous. According to Google and your brew of choice, St. Lucia?

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by minn19

Congrats, I’m jealous. According to Google and your brew of choice, St. Lucia?

But he makes the kid eat ice cream or whatever ... ah well, I guess he's making him save his energy for the whorehouse tonight.

[Captain Blood]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

But he makes the kid eat ice cream or whatever ... ah well, I guess he's making him save his energy for the whorehouse tonight.

It's my first Caribbean vacation with the younger twins. Had a great time snorkeling together. Hopefully he will avoid the whorehouse. And a word to the wise....... when booking youtr Caribbean vacation, make sure you stay on the Caribbean side of the island, not the Atlantic side. I made a big mistake on that account.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by Captain Blood

It's my first Caribbean vacation with the younger twins. Had a great time snorkeling together. Hopefully he will avoid the whorehouse. And a word to the wise....... when booking youtr Caribbean vacation, make sure you stay on the Caribbean side of the island, not the Atlantic side. I made a big mistake on that account.

Please say more about that ...

[Captain Blood]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

Please say more about that ...

In spite of what I thought was good research, I'm at an old Club Med resort. On the Atlantic side. Lots of wind and kelp.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by Captain Blood

Lots of wind and kelp.

SCORE!

[Captain Blood]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

SCORE!

"Swimming in it" can't be one of them.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by Captain Blood

"Swimming in it" can't be one of them.

just trying to help you lemonade this stuff ...

On another note, how are the airports / flights / hotels? Amateur hour or what? Packed? What's the skinny?

[Arcades]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

just trying to help you lemonade this stuff ...

On another note, how are the airports / flights / hotels? Amateur hour or what? Packed? What's the skinny?

So so.

I sent my father to LAX recently and it was the first time I didn't need to go to Arrivals for his Departure time. Usually i go down to Arrival because the freaken Departure is soo packed it isn't even funny.

So, it's okay at the moment. It isn't packed but people are around. Hotel is about 50%, at least regarding my father's company hotels they are roughly around that. It isn't as terrible as the start of COVID but at least at the moment, most of their hotels can pay for their employees now so.

Waiting begins for my car.