bolverk

Highly recommend this evening's "Last Week Tonight" for those who might be inclined: How we got here What to expect What do we do about it

Uh, wow, that was fuckin' Shakespearean.

The big idea floating around among conservative circles that I've heard is to have a national sales tax to replace federal income taxes and for Texas to raise the state's sales tax rate on top of that in a bid to eliminate property taxes. Talk about sticker shock people would have when they go buy that carton of eggs.

The OP created this thread specifically to discuss issues without the name-calling. I sense this is probably not gonna work out, but wanted to try to start a discussion thread about our overall politics, culture, issues, and the upcoming Trump term in good faith. If others are open to it, let's avoid the hysterics, name calling, and overly judgmental rhetoric to discuss issues and news as liberals/conservatives/none of the above, Trump or anti-Trump supporters. Maybe something good will come out of it, even if it's just in this community. I am not a Democrat. I tend to vote very heavy towards Democrats in this landscape. I hate the two party system. I have a set of personal values, and that dictates my positions, not party lines. I admit that the result of this election saddens me, but it's a relief that it was a clear and indisputable decision. The people have spoken. I think that opens the door to clear minds and introspection. I think we can all agree that we live in troubling times as a society and the future is very hazy. Can't depend on government and politicians to figure it out. It's on us. No trolling. If you have a strong position, present it. We can argue. Let's be patient with each other and not run off posters. I will genuinely listen and process and be thoughtful with replies. Join me. Go for it. What do you want to talk about?

Then, by all means, take a stance. Say something more than just a vague complaint about the behavior of other posters. You claim to be a middle-of-the-road guy. If that's true, then you should fit in fine.

I'd been considering putting something like this together to see the final turnout since I'd been keeping track of early voting until last weekend. This pretty much tells the story about how abysmal the turnout really was in Dallas, Tarrant, Harris, Bexar, El Paso, and South Texas. This same account put one together for Oklahoma, where the same apathy is reflected in the larger cities, but I haven't seen anything for the rest of the country. Once all the numbers are in nationally, I'll put something similar together for the nation or post if I see anything like this.

When I was watching the game in real time last night and after seeing the Utah QB go down in the endzone, one of the announcers said there was a flag. I immediately thought, "Well, yeah, one of the blockers in the backfield practically tackled a Utah rusher," because that's the action you saw on the screen as the play unfolded. I haven't yet seen a good replay that focused on the backfield since the live-action play. All the replays focus on the defensive holding call or are from that far-off wide angle. I'd like to see if BYU got away with holding themselves on that play.

Which middle-of-the-road social issues would you like to discuss? Which ones have you attempted to talk with the board about before? How was your experience? It's kind of tough to respond without any specifics.

Location of the facility on Google Maps.

Wordle 1,240 3/6 ⬛⬛⬛⬛🟨 ⬛🟨🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Connections Puzzle #518 🟪🟪🟪🟪 🟨🟨🟨🟨 🟦🟦🟦🟦 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🙂 Daily Quordle 1021 4️⃣7️⃣ 8️⃣5️⃣ m-w.com/games/quordle/ ⬜⬜⬜🟩🟨 ⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜ ⬜⬜🟩🟨⬜ ⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬜🟨⬜🟨⬜ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨 🟩🟨⬜🟨⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨 ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩 ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩 ⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜ ⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟩⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛

Wordle 1,239 4/6 🟩🟨⬛⬛🟨 🟩⬛🟩🟩🟩 🟩⬛🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Connections Puzzle #517 🟨🟨🟨🟨 🟦🟦🟦🟦 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟪🟪🟪🟪 🙂 Daily Quordle 1020 4️⃣7️⃣ 5️⃣6️⃣ m-w.com/games/quordle/ ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜🟨⬜⬜🟨 ⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩 ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩 ⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩 ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨 ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬜🟩🟨⬜⬜ 🟩⬜🟨⬜🟩 ⬜🟨🟩⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

If, at any point during gameplay, the crowd gets into a lazy, calm, dull quiet, please shout out at the top of your lungs in your best booming voice, "MULEDICK!" to let us know you're there. Good luck. We're counting on you.

And you want a king, but you'll settle for a dictator instead. You're illiberal (in the classical sense), reject the Enlightenment, and oppose the fundamental principles of American democracy. You're anything BUT making America great again. You're anti-American.

@texashorne I know nothing about your posting history, but are you aware that the poster you're repping has stated his emphatic political wish that we had a king to rule this country? I'm not joking, either. He desires a monarchy in America, and he votes accordingly. This is part of the bundle of beliefs that he's professing his willingness to die for.

I've pretty much decided I won't be a bleeding-heart liberal anymore -- I'll be a black-hearted one. If you support liberal democracy, equal rights, the Golden Rule, pluralism, and hold an inclusive live-and-live outlook, you're generally an ally and okay in my book. I will work with you on any differences. If you're actively opposed to those broad principles (especially those who crave a fucking monarchy in America) and affirmatively voted for the hate machine, you are indeed my political enemy. I'll relish any and all blowback you receive -- no matter how harsh -- because you fucking deserve it. Hate begets hate, and my black heart no longer has any brotherly love for you. My only concession to kindness will be toward those who are too stupid to understand what's what and will take that into account on a case-by-case basis.

Yeah, I had to look it up when he mentioned it. With both parents as public school teachers, my family wasn't ever wealthy enough to go to Disneyworld. Six Flags in Arlington was the best we could do. And, besides, it turns out Captain EO didn't happen until 1986, and I was already 15 and likely just above the targeted age demographic, so it wouldn't have appealed to me by then anyway. Sincere thanks for the additional info, regardless. More context is good.

For what it's worth, I have a whole library of appropriate Aubrey GIFs on hand.

I don't know all the details regarding whom was attacked, how many from each side were involved, or to what degree anyone was injured. What I've seen posted in this and the other thread is all I know on this incident. How widespread was the Israeli hooliganism before the violent response? That too, I don't know. If you find out, let us know because I've got a lot more important things, both closer to home (Trump 2.0) and even abroad (e.g., NATO, Ukraine, Taiwan), to worry about now than these soccer assholes beating on each other in fucking Amsterdam.

The aggy Battalion student newspaper has a full list of the programs. https://thebatt.com/center/board-of-regents-to-vote-on-mandating-minor-certificate-eliminations/ It's worth a read, because it goes into what made the process controversial and "unprecedented," being that faculty were not included in the process, which is apparently the norm in these situations. Impacted Programs Minors: Global Art Design GR Global Culture and Society UG Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies UG Asian Studies UG Geophysics UG Comparative Cultural Studies U.S. UG Chemical Engineering UG Petroleum Engineering UG Design and Simulation of Mechanic Systems UG Aerospace Engineering UG Analysis, Design and Management of Energy Conversion Systems UG Engineering Concepts UG Maritime Studies UG Global Health UG Certificates: Regulatory Science in Food Systems UG Cultural Competency UG Landscape Management UG Watershed UG Facility Asset Management GR Transportation Planning GR Community Development GR Diversity UG Petroleum Geoscience GR Geoscience Data Management GR Computational Sciences GR Environmental and Engineering Geology GR Business Economics UG Quantitative Economic Communication and Global Cybersecurity Engineering GR Electric Energy Systems GR Energy Technology, Law and Policy GR Subsea Engineering GR Engineering Concept, Creation, and Commercialization GR Engineering Therapeutics Manufacturing GR International Petroleum Management GR Corrosion Science and Engineering GR Energy Engineering UG Cybersecurity Policy GR Latino Mental Health GR Individual, Group, and Team Coaching in Specialty Area GR Post-Secondary Science Teaching GR Maritime Business Administration GR Analytics GR International Business GR Capital Markets and Investments Equity UG Investment Banking UG Investment Banking and Private Equity UG Banking Services UG Health Systems Management GR Popular Culture GR Performing Social Activism UG

Crossposting this from the main Ukraine thread over in DT. @ztejas If the Ukrainians do indeed pursue getting "the bomb" again, it'll be the result of our isolationism and us abandoning our allies. This is the kind of dangerous shit that happens when the US turns its back on the world. When there is no backstop or the umbrella of American protection, it only destabilizes shit and invites more chaos because everyone has to go it alone.

The front came through here. It's an awesome 52 degrees right now with clearing skies and a nice breeze.

This is what their site has.

In the case of abortion, the Democratic position is that the federal government absolutely should let people live their lives AND so should state governments. What you are clearly stating is that you in fact do favor state governments telling us how to live. You're fine with Big Brother, so long as it's Austin dictating how you live. This is the contradiction built within the State's Rights argument, in my view. You're placing the rights of the State over the rights of the individual, making you pro-Big Government. It's the same argument made back in the Antebellum and Jim Crow South. "We're in favor of State's Rigths!" - Slavers/Segregationists "The State's Right to do what?" - Citizen "The State's Right to limit your rights." - Slaver/Segregationist

Wordle 1,238 3/6 ⬛⬛🟩⬛🟨 ⬛🟩🟩🟨🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Rough start but got there. Connections Puzzle #516 🟪🟪🟩🟩 🟦🟨🟨🟨 🟨🟨🟨🟨 🟦🟦🟦🟦 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟪🟪🟪🟪 🙂 Daily Quordle 1019 4️⃣8️⃣ 5️⃣6️⃣ m-w.com/games/quordle/ ⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜ ⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜ ⬜🟨⬜⬜🟨 ⬜🟨⬜🟨⬜ 🟩⬜⬜⬜🟩 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬜⬜🟨🟩⬜ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬜⬜🟨🟩⬜ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬜🟩🟨🟩🟩 ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬜⬜🟨⬜🟩 🟩⬜🟩⬜🟨 ⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜ ⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜ ⬜⬜🟩🟩⬜ ⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟨⬜⬜🟨🟨 ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩