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choripan

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Everything posted by choripan

  1. What Joe Biden just did is not easy. RBG couldn’t do it. Feinstein couldn’t do it. And their refusals made the country worse. This is a historic act of humility. His presidency has been extremely successful, against all odds. Almost anyone in his position would go down swinging and embittered. I, for one, will not forget this.
  2. Was aware. Purposely never spell it that way because Fuck Elon and his jokes. Let that sink in.
  3. I would agree with this. We're approaching the point where "Tesla driver = MAGA hat." I think the key distinction we have to draw is that the CyberTruck came out *after* it was abundantly clear that Musk is a dangerous, petulant, downright repugnant person, who is actively working to subvert liberal ideas such as democracy across the world, including in our very own republic. On the other hand, because the Model 3, S, X, and Y are functionally over a decade old with no notable changes or improvements, it is impossible to know whether someone bought their Tesla in the last few years -- in which case, MAGA hat on wheels would apply! -- or whether they bought it 5, 10, whatever years ago when it wasn't eminently clear that Musk is a cunt. For that reason, I still generally give non-CT Tesla drivers the benefit of the doubt. If Tesla comes out with another new model or a substantial update to one of its existing models that's not just essentially "this trim piece is slightly different" (Model S!) -- that is, you will be able to tell the driver bought it new and supported Tesla the company, which is now essentially a milk-cow for Musk's dystopian dreams, and Musk himself -- then that will get the "MAGA hat on wheels" designation like the CT.
  4. Sir, can I talk to you about your submarine's warranty? For example, did you know the screen door must be serviced every 5 years? (1/2 Polish here...)
  5. Hey, just wanted to say thanks for this belatedly. The trip was AMAZING. I reconnected with friends, ate all of the main dishes at least once, and had a great side quest to Arequipa mixed in (had to try rocoto relleno, pastel de papa, and queso helado, and see the mommy Juanita"!). In order to fit everything in, I ended up doing Monday through the following Friday, which meant that my wife had daycare/elementary school coverage all 12 days except the two-day weekend in the middle.
  6. https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/15/elon-musk-plans-to-give-45-million-a-month-to-pro-trump-super-pac-wsj-reports.html I'm not sure if this is CR so, if so, please delete. Wasn't sure whether to put this here or the "Enshittening" thread (what with the douchebag "libertarian except for when I want help" tech/startup culture) or Cloak Room.
  7. choripan

    London

    Thanks! I should have clarified. We're people that have reformed from jägerbombs and shotgunning Beast to cocktails and wine, but would be totally down to find a cool pub, drink some typical ales (or Carlsberg, fuck it) and just hang with some blokes. Goal is to have enough fun and get enough of a buzz that my wife will be down for quiet/stealthy adult activities in the Airbnb when we get home.
  8. choripan

    London

    Looks like a lot of folks here are experienced Londoners. Looking for a few good recs. For background, we're living in Barcelona and dipping out for a Friday morn-Sunday afternoon trip with our kids. We're going to have a babysitter Saturday night from, say, 7/8p to 12/1am. Our home base is going to be right by Pelham Crescent. We've done all the classic touristy stuff in previous visits to London, so I'm looking for places that (1) are easy to get to and (2) the type of place that is distinctly London or cool/different enough to be of note. Basically, the type of place where I can say "hey, this place came recommended" and my wife can by like "nice recommendation, this is cool." Dinner not so important since we're not looking to blow 1-2 hours of 4-5 hours' worth of babysitter coverage. Thanks for any recs. Fine taking the tube or walking. Moderate preference for a handful of places in close proximity that we can bounce between.
  9. What the fuck? Did they quit making smoky backrooms or something? As a Detroiter, would love to see Whitmer. She's the kind of level-headed Dem that just makes shit work and attracts votes from the middle/undecideds. She fucks. Then Detroit mayor Duggan can keep kicking ass in the Gov's office and Lt. Gov Gilchrist can go run Detroit. All three of them fuck.
  10. As a Yank married to a Texan, every time we head back to visit her family or friends, I am struck by (1) how much most HEBs fuck, and how good most store brand/HEB stuff is; (2) how like one out of every five HEBs is an absolute shithole, and even some of the good ones have it pretty rough in the fresh produce section; and (3) how much I enjoy calling it "heeb," and how the joke has gone from "groan" to "c'mon, enough already," to "okay, actually laughing" over the last 15+ years I've been around her and her family.
  11. Wait, people actually like Rothko, et al? I thought doing so was some sort of performance art from within the visual arts community. HERE is art: Notice how the artist paid homage to the impressionists both through brush strokes and the piece in the background. The mischievous artist speaks to our human conceit through the concept of dogs playing poker, an activity which requires a certain intelligence not found below humans. Why is it that these beasts -- that species being our best friend, no less -- can play poker? Are we no better, despite conceiving of ourselves as apart from animals? And what of the bulldog passing the ace of spades? We see here, that no one is to be trusted, represented both through the act of passing the card and the mistrusting glances from the dogs across the table. Shall we trust? I could go on. I have contemplated this work countless times -- it has given me hope and contentment, thrown me into despair, and -- yet! -- what have I given it? Nothing. Or nothing that could ever compare to what it has given me. For shame.
  12. Yeah, the standard burger at Blimpy's is a triple. I think they're 1/10 of a pound per patty and an adult can't even order a single patty (?). Never seen it over the course of going there 50-100 times. Anyway, back to business. Main Street Proper – North Main Street (Culantro/Heidelberg/Chapala) – There’s a really good block of fairly priced restaurants on the north side of downtown. Culantro is good Peruvian cuisine and could hang with what I’ve had in Lima and Arequipa. Check what’s going on at Heidelberg. It’s a wood-paneled, German-themed, multi-level venue that sometimes has DJs, latin night, trivia, all sorts of stuff. And yes, of course, they have the boot. And the best for last, Chapala! One of my favorite places in the city, though I rarely eat there. The food is Tex-Mexy rather than Mexican, but the crowd at the bar is almost always down to chat, they’re always playing a good mix of rancheras and reggaeton, and they have a STRONG pour. Regents Field – The best sports bar in A2, imo. The food is actually good, you can get a pitcher for under $12-15, depending on what you order, and they have stuff like skee-ball and video games for free. Also, very importantly, they play the broadcast sound for games. 90% chance you’ll catch me watching a game here if I’m not at home or at the game. Pretzel Bell – An A2 classic and I don’t know why. The main floor is kinda lame, but the basement turns into a club at night. Listed here because of two things: (i) on weekend nights, they have a great DJ that plays a mix of 2000s and some 90s hip hop, mixed with modern stuff, and (ii) they fashioned an old can vending machine into the “Mystery Machine” where they stock cheap cans of beer and you can get them for $2. I’ve had MGD, Rolling Rock(!), Tecate, and a whole bunch of other random beers out of it. Conor O’Neils – A good Irish pub. They also often play sound for games. Blue Llama – A jazz bar that has good acts and an EXCELLENT chef, and usually the best menu in town, IMO. If you’re looking at a date night, this is my top rec. Cannelle – A patisserie/bakery that is a small chain, with 3 locations (Detroit, Ann Arbor, some random Detroit suburb). 90% sure it won a James Beard and their shit is top notch. This is the type of place I watch my wife eat an overpriced variation of a croissant with a pretentious mane while I sip my coffee. Lo-Fi – Poke your head in and see if you like the music. They have DJs that play anything from hip-hop to techno/EDM to reggaeton, depending on the night. Always busy on a weekend night and if you dig the music they have that night, you’ll have a good time.
  13. General -From like April/May until October/November, when the weather is nice, Ann Arbor pedestrianizes a bunch of its downtown streets and, more importantly, many places have go-cups. Just ask because some places participate in the go-cup program and some don’t. Either way, I recommended a stroll around downtown above, and it’s worth it. None of these places are more than a 10-15 minute walk apart, and after a vibe check on yourself or your group, head to whichever sounds best. All of these are usually a good time. There are also lots of “New American” bar/food type places but, fuck it, they’re ubiquitous in any urban or mostly urban environment. For the purposes of this, I'll divide Ann Arbor in West Downtown, Main Street, and East Downtown/Campus-ish. Here’s a map with West Downtown circled in red, Main Street circled in blue, and the remainder in green, and within that green with East Downtown X’ed in at the top, South University in the middle, and an outlying area off Packard street at the bottom. Very Generally, West Downtown is more of a 25-45 crowd, Main Street is 35+, and once you head east, except for in a few establishments, it's mostly under 30 and in many cases only students and some grad students. Game weekends, though, pretty much anywhere is fair game for anyone. Also, don’t forget that recreational weed is legal in Michigan and the County Prosecutor does not prosecute for weed or shrooms (https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2021/01/washtenaw-prosecutor-wont-charge-people-for-marijuana-shrooms-other-psychedelics.html). ** I'll do West Downtown tonight and get to the rest later ** West Downtown – This is basically anything west of Main Street but not on Main Street. Here’s a bunch of places I like, depending on the general vibe of the group. Babs' Underground - This is a cocktail spot where you'll typically see anything from grad students to 40-somethings. Most of the time, they'll be playing a great 90s-2000s hip-hop playlist, but more as background and not crunk. It's not a dancing place. Think stuff like Tribe Called Quest, Slum Village, etc. 8 Ball Saloon - This was the place to get a ($6, then $7, then) $8 pitcher of Natty Light. Long-time basement bar with punk vibes. Some students found it between when I went to undergrad (2004) and now, so now I'd say it went from a place to get away from the uppity east coasters that are at UM to a place with a good mix of townies and gownies. Has one of those digital jukeboxes these days and the mix of people makes for a wild playlist. My fav thing here is to play (real, not plastic) darts, bullshit with my friends over cheap beer, and people watch. Blind Pig - 8 Ball is the basement of the Pig. Check who is playing here because they have some great acts and a really deep history, though the venue is kind of unremarkable. A bit on the history: https://blindpigmusic.com/history/. Circ - Mix of people like Babs' but the demo is more 21-30 years old. They have a huge dance floor area, an outdoor area with firepits, and a small roofdeck. Depending on who is there, the music, and whether it's karaoke night or DJ night, Circ will be either like a 2/10 or a 8+/10. Worth a peek if you're bopping around downtown. Bill’s Beer Garden – Some time ago, the owners of A2 Home and Garden turned their parking lot into a biergarten at like 5-6pm each night. Beer Grotto - Craft beer joint with indoor/outdoor seating, located on a corner. They always have a really good beer list, service is quick, and they let you bring in outside food. This is really clutch with the aforementioned Blimpy Burger, a great 24-hr diner (Fleetwood), and a BiBimBop place all right across the street. Peridot/Pacific Rim – Creative east Asian cuisine. Pacific Rim is a bit more subdued and Peridot is a bit more creative. Peridot is a collaboration between the Pacific Rim chef and the owners of the next place on the list, and is a bit more creative. Last Word – Named after the famous Detroit cocktail, if you’re a cocktail person this is the typical “best place to get a cocktail with a vaguely speakeasy vibe” that’s just about everywhere. Good pours, good drinks. Blank Slate Creamery – This is a fancy ice cream joint where they’re creative with the flavors and all that jazz. I’m not a sweets guy, so don’t like that much ice cream, but they do a great four mini-scoop flight that’s perfect for sharing or each person having a mini-scoop or two individually.
  14. Gonna necrobump this thread to say thanks to all for the feedback in this thread and privately. After a meandering path to get there, he walks next weekend at UT graduation and we will be doing some drankin' together. 💪🤟
  15. I flexed so hard in Tradewars and Exitilus, often logging on at midnight when the game reset to eff some people up.
  16. I agree completely. MB getting level 3 actually on the streets and available to consumers for personal vehicles (contrasted with robo-taxis) is great work. I limited the scope to US because it's not something I feel confident enough to speak on with authority. My understanding is that MB would be with or a tiny gap behind GM/Cruise, but I don't want to get "gotcha'd" down thread if I'm off because I overstepped my knowledge on it.
  17. This. My wife is [redacted] at [redacted], one of the leading thinktank/policy-type journals on AVs. She is also [redacted] at [redacted], one of the handful of leading test sites/fake "cities" where AVs are tested. She is an academic and not affiliated with any brand, like Tesla, MB, Ford, GM/Cruise, Google/Waymo, etc. At least in the US, it is Google/Waymo <gap> GM/Cruise <large gap> Ford and Tesla. The way I hear it talked about at dinner parties, mixers, etc., Tesla is not a serious contender to reach level 4, let alone level 5, and there are serious doubts that it can ever be level 3 with a camera only approach.
  18. Uh, that's the whole point, be careful in order to not to put the innocent public in danger, like Tesla does.
  19. Good example of why no system that only uses cameras can be safe, or why Tesla is getting lapped and is stuck at Level 2. With a proper system and sensor fusion, you would have caught the kid in time. Radar? Nope, not metallic enough. Cameras? Nope, obviously. LIDAR? Yep! That's why you need all three. They serve different roles to fill gaps in the capabilities of the others.
  20. Lot of cases, especially relating to tax treatment, where a lease makes sense. Especially for business owners. In our personal case a few months ago, we leased a PHEV Jeep Wrangler in order to get the full $7500 EV credit, and then bought it out as soon as we could get a payoff from the leasing company. That's thousands of dollars in our pocket thanks to leasing
  21. I mean, the Catera led to the Alpha-platform cars (CTS-V and ATS-V, and now CT4/CT5), which are one of the few cars you can meaningfully track and put four people in that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I hate Musk as much as the next guy, by the way. I'd also add that I'm anti-proprietary just-about-anything, and the closed-off charging network drove me berserk, not unlike Apple's lightning cord or the way they used to do iTunes songs... But ... I don't think I agree with the dominant sentiment here that going further down- and mass-market beyond the Model 3 is the play. I follow the auto industry at a distance, and there's a reason that many companies have dropped sedans and cheap cars -- they just don't make enough money per unit of capacity. And while I get the argument about cheap cars bringing customers to a brand for their future loyalty, the data don't indicate that customers are loyal enough to make it worth it and I don't think it's enough to offset making thousands than hundreds per car sold. I think the play for Tesla is not diluting the bread-and-butter of the brand too much by going downmarket, and refreshing their current vehicles. But at the end of the day, I think Tesla is a one-trick pony (very-arguably cool tech, big promises, cachet, and fast acceleration set against shoddy build and poor per-dollar performance in anything but a straight line) and others are catching up to their trick while they have no ability to create something "new" again.
  22. It's tough to say which I dislike more. Musk/Tesla or the new M3 brought to you by Bucees.
  23. Sooo fuckin' close to justifying billionaire defended, but I think it's more that the person didn't do their research rather than being like "fuck it, MAGA hat on wheels but now I gotta flimsily justify it."
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