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UpperWestside

Certifiably Surly
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Posts posted by UpperWestside

  1. Just now, threesheets said:

    Fair enough, and good for you @UpperWestside There are a lot of "I'm not a Lakers fan, I'ma wherever he at fan" motherfuckers out there. 

    Mind sharing how you came to be a Lakers fan? I'm in my 40s and only know one that actually grew up in SoCal.

    Sure why not. I did not have cable or satellite TV as a kid due to living in the country in a small town in Texas. I saw Magic Johnson and the Showtime Lakers in 1987 and was hooked. To add humor to it CBS used to put the graphic up when they showed the score and it said LA LAKERS. I was so young and the only reference to the LA abbreviation I knew was Louisiana...LOL. I still have my Magic jersey from the 3rd grade and attended both of the victory parades in 2009 and 2010. I drove from Texas to there both times. I tried living in SoCal briefly. Beaches were awesome, but I need seasons so NYC it is.

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  2. 2 minutes ago, threesheets said:

    Putting a qualifier on what would make the conference finals fun might be the most Lakers/Lebron fan shit ever.

    I am a Lakers fan, not a LeBron fan. Wanting to play Utah goes back to series played as far back for me as the late 80’s.

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  3. Just now, totallynotabuttpirate said:

    Hey now, Vogel's probably top 1-2 defense coach in the league. 

    Like most Laker fans I thought he was a curious choice. He got my respect with how he transformed the Lakers into a cohesive defensive unit that became elite on that end of the floor. Obviously having Davis plays a big role in the transformation, but the guys seem to really like him. 

  4. 1 hour ago, Biff Tannen said:

    Sure, but what has shown you it will be anything BUT business as usual?

    The women in the Democratic Party have the wherewithal and persistence needed to get this done. The men are going to follow their lead. I would have Congresswomen Porter and Cortez alternate asking questions and have Senator Warren brought in on this as well. I want to see Congresswoman Omar featured prominently because as small as she is in stature she makes up for it in what she would say. Lieu would probably be the only guy besides Bernie Sanders I would want to hear speaking in a congressional setting. I realize that the inquiries aren’t going to work like this, but since rules and norms mean little in Washington you might as well set things up how you want and just go with it.

  5. 9 minutes ago, Mrs Whiggins said:

    Dave calling out the Caller for selective editing:

    When you're running stories on ice cream......

    Well now we have to know the brand of the ice cream. Is it American made? Did the president offer his opinion on what other flavors he enjoys or does BIG CHOCOLATE have him bought and paid for? We need to know these pressing issues. 

  6. 7 minutes ago, Pancho said:

    Why is it a personal mission for Mitch to stop this?  

    Because he said back in 1987 how he will approach everything. Everything he does is to obstruct anything a Democratic administration and Congress wants to get done. That is it. Well that and likely a slew of traitorous acts will come to light. 

  7. 44 minutes ago, Biff Tannen said:

    I fear we need to get ready for disappointment. I think the biggest thing that has been shown out of the entire shit show that the GQP has become is that the Dems don’t seem to understand the rules of the game. Or rather that there are no rules. Rational people can see what is happening. My conclusion is that the Dems think they are smarter than the game, when in reality, the game radically changed and passed them by. 

    Stay positive. You can keep in the back of your mind the possibility that this willl go sideways, but let’s keep an open mind and see how this plays out. Biden needs to direct them to get moving. This cannot be business as usual. Show some gumption and take a stand. 

  8. 9 minutes ago, Biff Tannen said:

    SHUT THE FUCK UP ABOUT SUNDAY TIPPERS JESUS FUCKING CHRIST

    I think we should attempt to circulate rumors that Biden is a bad tipper and see if we can get Fox and OAN to run stories on it. We have got to manufacture some controversy for Biden so we can get the DT crowd to join us to talk about Tipgate.

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  9. 10 minutes ago, Anastasis said:

      

    I am honestly amazed that this is really a thing.  People come up to you and talk about their Jesus while waiting for their eggs benedict?  I was serious when I said initially that some of us seem to be occupying different universes. Certainly the case.

    I worked retail from the time I was 15 or so until I was in my early 30s. Nobody every came up to me in that setting and tried to convert me (exception, there were some very evangelical homeopathy people that would come in on the weekends and want to talk about Cs and Xs and shit while I rolled my eyes). Must be something different about food service.  But to be frank, I think we have some form of selection bias in play.  Probably based in SES with an interaction by sect. I eat out a lot. A bunch on Sunday's after church with friends and family.  I have never seen somebody pitch jesus in that setting, and can't ever imagine doing so, but I also run with a different crowd I guess. 

    Jesus is awesome.  When my family eats out, whether Sunday or otherwise, we say a short prayer discretely.  We try not to be performative about it, but some crosses are made habitually. We try to time it discretely when the server is away, but sometimes they roll up with a reup on the rocks margarita in the middle of the whole situation. I think that I will actually be more performative moving forward and hope that the tip they get on the end of it helps soothe their preconceived notions for the next party.   

    It really is a thing. When I started serving it was not something I was aware of, but I received a quick education. I have been asked to attend churches, had those cards left on the table about the end times, and would get complimented for great service and get several God Bless yous on the way out the door only to get what was leftover from the offering. There were times it was an exercise in frustration, but eventually you just accepted it and treated them with the same kindness as someone who tipped well.
     

    I pray when I go out to eat. I do not usually go in a group. It’s usually just me and one other person. We’ll pray over the meal and ask God to bless everything. It’s usually after our meal is brought out because I don’t want the server to have to stand their awkwardly waiting to ask us a question while we pray. I would honestly just suggest to you to keep doing what you do. When the server comes back to me halfway through a meal I will engage them and ask what they are doing with their life and try to give them encouragement to pursue the thing it is they said they are doing. A great tip is obviously cool to get, but so are kind words accompanying it. I want the person serving us to know they are valued as a human being. That is how I show Christ’s love in that setting. 

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  10. 1 minute ago, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

    I think what infuriates me the most about ole Turtle's comments is that this can drag into 2022 which is an election year. Fuck it being an election year. Anyone found to have been complicit (and there are definitely a few Senators and Members of the House who were) should be charged with treason and ineligble to run.  Fuck the Turtle.

    I am going to forego listening to him because there is nothing worth hearing from him anymore. Set up a commission with or without any of the death cult participating and find out who committed treason. I mean we have some obvious ones who did, but let’s see what all the evidence says about others who did. There is no reason to allow this to continue to drag out. The Democrats have got to take a hard line on actions like this and stamp it out of our politics.

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  11. 6 hours ago, Anastasis said:

    Seems to me that the "after church crowd" isn't really defined adequately as "people that go out to eat with their friends and family after church."  Maybe it's just the language of the industry.  Kinda like how "Canadians" doesn't really refer to people from Canada. 

    Okay I’ll make it clear. If you are walking in wearing your Sunday best, almost always in a group of six or more, talking about Jesus and telling me how wonderful he is, while then leaving a tip that’s less than the “Widow’s Offering”, you are part of the Christian group that every single server I worked with attempted to avoid because they were just not going to tip well. Ethnicity nor age of the Sunday Christians did not matter. That is the group. Every server worth their salt will have at least one story of having to serve them and wishing they had not done so. I look back now and just shake my head at the utter selfishness that was on display by people who purported themselves to be anything but that.

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  12. I think the best way to deal with someone focused on obstructing progress is to just go around them. I would not communicate with him or ask for his opinion on proposed legislation. You are just giving him an opportunity to further spread his toxic ideas and mindset. The more you marginalize someone like Senator McConnell the less influence he has. He’ll just resort to lashing out regularly once he realizes the only power he has exists only in his mind. 

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  13. 4 minutes ago, Longhorn_Fan68 said:

    anyone 65+ just needs to be put out to pasture. that generation is lost. 

    I am of the mindset of not giving up on another human being. I understand the frustration right now though. I think you have to stick to a message of reconciliation with these folks as they come back from the abyss. I do not like what it is that is represented by the cult, but using rhetoric they currently employ will not allow us to move forward as a country with as many of us as possible coming together to improve our collective situation.

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  14. I just attempted to read that new Covid thread that got moved into here. It is just an airing of grievances thread. The death cult pull is really strong on some folks. So much work still to be done to get this country on somewhat normal footing. It’ll get done, but it is going to take a whole bunch of de-programming.

  15. 8 hours ago, Satchel said:

    Democrats still outvote Republicans by the millions, even during off year elections. We’ll just have to do a better job of targeting those vote while increasing the turnout. We’re beginning to understand that no victory stays won. Vigilance is the key.

    I like your positive outlook and agree that staying vigilant is absolutely key in this situation. We have enough toxicity around here so reading your message is nice. I am also going to think that turnout is going to be abnormally high in 2022 because you have people like Stacey Abrams out there pounding the pavement making sure people stay engaged and vote in every election. The Death Cult can attempt to suppress the vote, but it will not work this time. 

  16. 29 minutes ago, washparkhorn said:

    Best Tippers:   Servers (current or former)

    I tip 33 percent. If the service is not up to par and the meal doesn’t go well due to that I will still tip 25 percent because I take into consideration what that server has had to deal with that day from managers, guests and co-workers. They might also have family issues going on that are impacting them. The 25 percent tips are rare though. Usually meals are smooth for me here and the server will get 33 percent, usually in cash as that is the preferred way to leave a tip. 

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  17. 2 hours ago, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

    I may have you read wrong, but I think you are young and idealistic still.  Me, I am a cynic.  Also, I own my selfishness.  I busted my ass to get where I am.  It is because of that that I want the money that is taken from me to be used well.  Right now, it isn't.  There is so much waste and grift in the system, it is ridiculous.  That is why I really have a hard time being ok with giving them more.

    We're close in age I think. It's actually as I have gotten older that I have adjusted how I look at life across the board. I do not disagree that our money is in many instances used for things that can be classified as ill-advised spending. I think it is incumbent though for us to be involved and do something when we see waste and grift taking place. Getting actively involved politically needs to be a part of our life.

    I also don't bemoan you for having busted your backside to get to the point in life you are at where you are doing well financially. You should be proud of yourself for having achieved what you have in life. 

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  18. 40 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

    It just warms my heart to see all of you who worked in restaurants share the universal contempt for post-church Sunday diners.

    They were the worst. The most devastating thing to Christianity is “Christians.”

    I worked a whole bunch of Sundays and it did not matter where I worked. The early afternoon Christians easily tipped the least of anyone I ever ran across. I eventually said that Sunday was no longer a day I would work because I was at a point where I did not want to miss church anymore myself. Thankfully I had an employer that did not argue with me not working that day. I will say that Sunday Christians were pretty high on the list of people that servers actively tried to avoid having to wait on. It is counterintuitive to come in and talk to a server about God and then leave a miniscule tip because the rest of your money apparently went to the offering plate. 

  19. On 5/24/2021 at 11:34 AM, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

    I am definitely not a progressive, and I do not believe in demonizing success.  I think Warren/Sanders/AOC have good ideas, but at the end of the day, you have to pay for those ideas, and quite frankly, my tax burden is fucking ridiculous as it is.  I tend to find a lot of waste in government, but especially in New York State and City.  Some of that has to do with the mob still having sway via Unions and other ways.  Then you have fucksticks like Cuomo who run the state like the mob and an ineffectual asshat like DeBlasio in charge of the city....sigh.

     

    I attempt not to label anyone whether they have what is considered the mindset of someone who is progressive or someone that might be labeled as having a conservative bent. What I do when I look at people is I listen to what it is they are saying. What I most want to glean from a politician or any other person I am friends with, work with or am around regularly is are they speaking a language where their views involve how it helps the greatest amount of people as is possible. You can be a conservative human being and still be thoughtful of others and put others before yourself. In our current climate I realize that is not happening from self-identifying conservatives for all the reasons we already know.

    I also look at the cost of the ideas you are referencing. What I do is I attempt to think if they are worth it or not. Are they plans that are going to transform our population in a positive way so that generations not even yet born can benefit from this one day? If they are expensive are they still worth it because of the greater good of our society as a whole being pushed forward in part because of them? If I can see that then I have no issue with the cost because if it helps other people in society out that need it I am all for it. We all live just once and I personally do not care about the hit to my pocketbook if the money is well spent. If it is not then let's have a conversation about how to better direct that tax revenue than where it is going. I believe the ideas from that trio are great. Senators Warren and Sanders put in decades of work to get to this point in time to where they can actively transform our society. Long after they are gone the work they did will go on and live on after them. That to me is pretty important. People such as Congresswoman Cortez will be the ones to pick up the slack and continue forward. This is how a society that functions should work. The question is getting enough of the folks who deride these plans to understand that they will be good for them and the future generations of their own families as well. Again I also cannot stress enough that when I look at candidates I want to see if they share qualities that were embodied in John Lewis. That is the political gold standard for me. 

    Cuomo and DeBlasio...Hoo boy. One has severely abused the power of his office, as well as having shown a lack of empathy related to the deaths of all of those people in the nursing homes, a list of women that he at the very least said horrific things to as well as showing no remorse for either of those situations. DeBlasio has left behind a legacy of never taking a firm stand on anything really. I think he has the quality of empathy, but he does not have leadership qualities that can inspire others to have concrete ideas about how to govern. I do not hate him or dislike him as a human being, but I am looking forward to having a new mayor.

  20. 16 minutes ago, Neonmoon said:

    Nice summary 

     

    The time to negotiate this bill has passed. Put it up for a vote. Give Manchin something shiny and call it a day. Rinse repeat and pass another bill the following day. 

  21. 2 minutes ago, Blotto said:

    Thanks for posting that. I think overall it is just hard getting a woman’s professional league to a profitable position. I don’t know who the player or players are that will take the WNBA to a higher profile than they currently have, but she’s out there already I think. People forget or perhaps do not realize that Magic Johnson game six performance in the 1980 finals was on tape delay. The NBA has come a long way from that. 
     

    If I have a daughter and she wants to watch the WNBA I would be cool with it because there are some great role models in that league. Instead of denigrating these women I think it’s important to just be positive. Even if women’s basketball is not your cup of tea sometimes it’s good to just wish them well and not delve into negativity just for the sake of being negative. I will likely watch more games this year because of Maitreyi and her articles on Defector, but that’s just me. I watch very little football anymore, but I am not going to denigrate the sport or the people who thoroughly enjoy it. 

  22. Losing 12 million on the entire league’s season during a pandemic sounds pretty good when I see that Chicago paid Otto Porter 29 million this year to play like the 3rd guy off the bench. 
     

    Would they like to break even on this venture? Sure. The WNBA has cultivated and grown the overall basketball fanbase and that’s a good thing. That leads to higher merchandise sales (Almost entirely talking about NBA gear sold) and more interest in the game. If the overall loss is 220,000,000 over that amount of time I think they’re doing alright. If Adam Silver and the governors really had a problem with the league they would shut it down. 10-12 million a year is nothing to them. 

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  23. 20 hours ago, Kermit said:

    I care. My daughter loves basketball so we sit down together and watch it. 

    I can readily admit that I have watched very little of the WNBA. I am a Lakers fan so what little I have watched has been the Sparks. Needless to say Derek Fisher has an odd way of running the franchise in showing Candace Parker the door.
     

    Defector has a writer, Aitreyi Anantharaman, that is so well-versed in the league that she makes me want to sit down and watch some games because of the preview she did. Her writing on the site overall is as good as anything this side of Drew Magary and David Roth. I would enjoy talking hoops with her as she is also really good at discussing the NBA as well. 

    https://defector.com/well-well-well-if-it-isnt-the-2021-wnba-season-a-preview/

    Let your daughter read it. I think she’ll enjoy it. I think you might enjoy reading it too. 

     

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