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Post by Merge on Jul 16, 2024 0:50:00 GMT
Like Trump, he’s also a fan of Putin. But sure - nothing to see here. No fascism intended.
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Post by Merge on Jul 16, 2024 0:43:59 GMT
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Post by Merge on Jul 16, 2024 0:32:33 GMT
I would rather have my toenails extracted with a pliers. To be fair, I feel almost the same way about the Democratic convention.
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 22:44:17 GMT
I expected it would be Vance. It needed to be someone not woke. So no black (Scott) or brown (Rubio) people, no women. Like mentioned, it needed to be someone who has absolutely zero integrity. Someone Trump would feel confident belittling if the person were to ever get "too big for his britches." Burgum is probably too much of an unknown for Trump. He earned his money through legitimate business acumen, which in Trump's mind could make him a threat and may actually listen to concerns from corporate America / business. He seems like the traditional GOP candidate, like Pence, and that was a problem. Vance has indicated he will kneel and kiss the pinky ring, and will sign up for anything if it gets him what he wants. I agree with this. No one the base would see as a “DEI hire.” But it seems some of the MAGAs are unhappy with the choice anyway. www.rawstory.com/jd-vance-maga/
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 22:41:38 GMT
For some voters that are tired of politicians this may be viewed as a plus. There is a certain amount of knowledge needed to govern at all, particularly for a president. There are also certain personality traits that are helpful. Neither of them has any of that. GE would never go out and pick a CEO with no experience. Why on earth do some voters think that’s a good idea for the Oval Office?
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 21:35:04 GMT
ETA: I thought this thread was going to be something exciting and having nothing to do with socks. I enjoy some of the smart ass comments of the people who can see this thread was supposed to be tongue-in-cheek. I came in for that and am shocked to see how many people are just talking about...socks. Wait… what? Maybe I’m having a blond moment. I need to go back and read between the lines, I suppose. Meanwhile I’m #teamnosocks. For the record, it’s a thread about socks. Nothing more. But it is here for the people who complain about political threads. Still, only socks. No judgement whether you wear red or blue (or none).
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 20:45:50 GMT
I spent most of my life barefoot or wearing flat sandals. I now have plantar fasciitis and have to wear shoes. With an arch. So now I’m all about socks. I find that my heels get more dry so I slather lotion on my feet before putting on my socks. This grosses out DH. I prefer a mostly cotton blend, but they aren’t as stretchy. I also recently discovered that i was wearing socks that were too snug. Now that I wear larger socks, I get less ingrown toenails. But they also slip a bit. I haven’t found my unicorn socks. Lots of sandals out there with a good arch that are great for PF!
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 19:20:01 GMT
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 19:08:57 GMT
This choice is also, obviously, a play to sew up Ohio in the electoral college.
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 19:03:06 GMT
Vance is a soulless opportunist. He doesn't care if Trump IS America's Hitler, as long as he (Vance) can have part of the power pie.
And when it's time to do illegal, unconstitutional things like fail to certify a free and fair election, Vance, unlike Pence, will do as dear leader tells him.
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 18:08:40 GMT
Nuts are the party poopers of the dessert world - so no nuts in my ice cream. EVER.
If we're talking hard ice cream, I love a good mint chocolate chip; toasted coconut; or something that's called "carnival" at our local ice cream shop - with caramel and sprinkles in it. If we're talking soft ice cream, give me a vanilla/chocolate twist with rainbow sprinkles or a cherry dip, if they have it. Oh, man - now I really want ice cream. How dare you??!? On block you go. My husband feels the same, BTW. We can't share ice cream.
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 18:05:48 GMT
In what way should we discuss whether people should have basic human rights and freedoms? What are the both sides on that? Because that's where we are right now. I know no one's opinion is changed. If you don't want to read what is written here, back on out and go start a thread about socks. No one is forcing you to read. Oh wow, assuming just because I don't want to hurl insults must mean I want to participate in game threads or threads about socks. I find that condescending. Let's be honest onelasttime and morecowbell (and the like) are not helping their cause by the way they participate in the threads. There are about a half dozen peas that overtake threads taking shots at each other so others trying to talk about the issue get lost in all their copy and paste articles, tweets, etc. It becomes a thread of them going back and forth trying to play the gotcha game. I would love to talk about current issues but unfortunately I can't start a thread for discussion. In a way I wish it was like FB where I could post something but exclude certain peas from seeing it. Welp, I find it condescending when people point out that we're not changing minds or saving democracy here. As if anyone thought we were. And insulting to suggest that people's basic rights should be up for discussion. I block people like morecowbell and don't respond to them. Others can do as they like.
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 18:01:25 GMT
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 17:55:40 GMT
I'm a fan of socks all the time. If I'm home I wear them 95% of the time no matter the season. We have central AC and my feet get cold during the months that we run that (in the south, so 9 mths/yr) and for obvious reasons in the colder months. I also wear my bra from the time I get up until I put on my pajamas. It's more comfortable for me. So when I'm home you'll always catch me with a bra and socks on. Oooh, bra-wearing habits could be a whole other thread! If I put one on first thing, it's usually a sports bra because I'm heading out to exercise. Otherwise, now that my working hours are 4-7 PM, I sometimes don't put one on for a while! Once I do put on a bra, it generally stays on until I go to bed.
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 17:52:57 GMT
Thanks for tagging me, I'd hate to have missed this! I knit my own socks and I love every single thing about them. I've pretty much perfected the fit and wearing something I've made myself is so satisfying. I don't feel the same about shop bought socks though. Oh good for you! I'm sure you're very talented.
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 17:26:16 GMT
When President Regan was shot I lived outside DC. Everyone was shocked and glued to their television. It was universally condemned. I live 45 minutes away from Butler. I was at a wedding when the shooting happened. The guests were a mixture of both democrats and republicans. When the news broke at the wedding the primary reaction was no surprise and no real change in atmosphere. I find it quite telling that in a group of over 200 mostly educated people the lack of interest or concern was so prevalent. Kind of like this is to be expected and we won’t let it ruin our day. I’m not taking one side or the other (I am a fairly liberal democrat) just noticing the difference in people’s perception of the two incidents. Our country is a very different place than it was in the early 80s.
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 17:25:20 GMT
coconut. it's not really ice cream but i love Talenti's coconut gelato. such a rich coconut taste with coconut shavings in it. most coconut ice creams i've had tasted like they could have been coconut sunscreen with sugar piled on top. yuck. my other favorite flavor is pure mango. not mango with peach or some other fruit mixed. just pure mango. this i only buy from the asian market. Those do sound good!
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 17:17:23 GMT
I like socks. My feet feel weird when not in them. Also, my socks aren't trying to take away my freedom of enjoying said socks. I agree. Everyone should be able to enjoy the socks (or no socks) that they like best.
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 17:15:44 GMT
I bet we can get this one to ten pages with some riveting discussion. Many minds will be changed.
I really only like ice cream with chunks in it - caramel pecan turtle is my favorite. But mint chocolate chip or rocky road will do in a pinch.
Also, I may have to surrender my TXDL for this, but I don't care much for BlueBell ice cream. I like HEB's Creamy Creations better.
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 17:12:58 GMT
I'm not a big fan of socks and only wear them when the required footwear needs socks - like for exercise.
I have sensory issues and they make my feet feel weird.
What do you like or not about socks?
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 17:10:40 GMT
Am I the only one who finds irony in a 10-page thread arguing over which side is the more divisive? Same shit. Same players. Same outcome. I don't believe in the existence of this board has someone changed their political views based off another persons post. Yet the arguing and name calling continues. Discussion isn't what is wanted on these threads. It befuddles me honestly. In what way should we discuss whether people should have basic human rights and freedoms? What are the both sides on that? Because that's where we are right now. I know no one's opinion is changed. If you don't want to read what is written here, back on out and go start a thread about socks. No one is forcing you to read.
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 17:08:11 GMT
Same shit. Same players. Same outcome. Once it gets to 10 pages, I can name the players without opening the thread first. There's a kind of magical thinking that gives people the impression that they will save democracy from one side or the other by using only their keyboards. If you don't want to read the thread, don't open it. Easy peasy. I'm under no illusions that I'm "saving democracy." This is simply a special interest of mind and I enjoy clarifying my own thoughts by comparing them to others. Again, if you don't like it, go play on the game threads.
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 17:06:29 GMT
Actually posting gives some better ideas/talking points if they are willing to discuss the situation with others I would agree. Typically though that is not what we see here. There are a few of you that are trying to discuss but your voice is lost in the incessant posting of the extremists (on BOTH sides) that are bickering back and forth about who is superior. I miss the days on the old board where we could have actual political discussions. They were so enlightening. This is just political spewing here. When was that? It feels to me like we've just changed from the majority being on the right to the majority being on the left. But to answer your question, people's basic human rights and freedoms should not be up for discussion. That's why we can't have discussion now.
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 16:53:49 GMT
Currently, we budget part of my private studio money and part of DH's bonus for vacation travel. He also gets a ton of airline miles and hotel room credits by traveling so much for work, so that drives our price down a lot.
In the past, we both picked up periodic side gigs to earn some quick cash for the vacay budget.
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 16:47:04 GMT
Another Texan here. I split the my time between the Houston area (urban and blue) and a town of less than 700 people (rural and red) and I have only once ever seen a citizen open carry. It's the gas station manager in the rural town. If it matters, the station is open 24 hours and is on the main highway through town. It's normally quiet but I'm sure she has seen her fair share of weirdos. I actually have my LTC even though it's not required in my state. I conceal carry sometimes for protection. I also hunt. I consider myself a responsible gun owner. Almost everyone I encounter who carries will tell you that open carry is a bad idea. It makes you more of a target and eliminates your ability to safely de-escalate a situation.Contrary to popular belief, responsible carry means using your weapon for self-defunse is always, always an absolute last resort. One wonders, then, why Abbott and the lege pushed so hard for permitless open carry. I think both concealed and open carry should still require a permit (that includes passing a safety class that drills into heads the thing you said - it's always an absolute last resort, and only for protection of human life). Training should also include not knowingly putting yourself in a situation where you are likely to have to protect yourself that way. We have way too many wackos around here who are willing to draw their weapons to prevent or punish a property crime - and our "justice" system generally encourages that behavior by declining to bring charges or acquitting them. Would be nice if some of the R folks here would lobby Greg for a more responsible system. He certainly doesn't listen to Dems on the topic.
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 15:36:17 GMT
I do not here in urban Houston. I’m sure many are concealed carrying though, hoping for their John Wayne moment.
Honestly if I saw someone open carrying a gun into an urban grocery store or restaurant I’d leave and call 911. How are we supposed to know what their intention is until it’s too late?
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 14:09:31 GMT
Hm. Does that mean that the special counsel also had no authority to prosecute Hunter Biden? Or does this ruling only apply to Republicans?
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 13:47:44 GMT
We already went to Spain in March, just me and DH. Discussing a family trip over the holidays in December but it will most likely be domestic. DH and I are also taking a brief trip to NC this weekend to see our youngest play at the Brevard music festival.
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 13:42:07 GMT
Your periodic reminder that, in the state of Texas, our governor has set a precedent that liberal protestors can be run over and/or shot with impunity. www.texastribune.org/2024/05/16/daniel-perry-greg-abbott-pardon/I would also argue that both men legally carrying guns here was a big part of the problem, but Abbott's decision is that only a man who has stated a desire to shoot BLM protesters (carrying guns or no) and then literally drives into a crowd is free to do so.
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Post by Merge on Jul 15, 2024 13:18:00 GMT
You're joking, right? Right? A right-winger complaining that the left isn't showing enough disgust for shootings that happen on the daily? The school shootings, mass shootings, gang violence, domestic violence, instances of toddlers shooting their siblings ... we're the ONLY ones talking about it unless a R wants to bring up Chicago. (Which doesn't even rank in the top 20 US cities for gun crime, but who's concerned about facts?) I don't think people should be able to purchase a gun without, at the least, thorough background and mental health check, updated every few years. So we agree on that. The reason the "discussion" doesn't take place is because we can't even get the right to agree to universal background checks. Any gun safety laws, red flag laws, or restrictions on gun ownership we suggest are shot down (pun intended) immediately by the "shall not infringe" people. I honestly don't know who you think you're talking to here. The right has spent the last sixteen years or so accusing the left of wanting to take away everyone's guns and blocking every attempt we make to regulate their purchase. Beto's presidential campaign was literally torpedoed because he said, hell yes, we're coming for your guns. And you want to blame US for not doing enough to prevent shootings? You must be on crack. As expected.
So you're just shitposting. And you wonder why we can't have an actual discussion.
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