Orsys

9 hours ago, Dean said:

How is the mix? Absurd seemed to divide opinions in that regard.

FUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is when a VPN is a helpful utility.

8 minutes ago, downzy said:

House is almost certainly going to Republicans in 2022, largely due to redistricting.

The Senate is less likely. Plus you can’t redistrict a state. I think it likely Democrats retain the Senate, even possibly pick up a seat or two. 

Really? You give me some hope. I barely recognize the country I grew up in.   I fear one more trumpian president and it will slide past a dangerous point. But maybe I'm wrong and the pendulum is just swinging to the extreme before it starts swinging back again.

21 hours ago, downzy said:

If Biden can shift the blame for 4th wave of covid onto Republican governors (which is a gimme at this point) and get the Democratic caucus to pass the infrastructure bill, he sets himself up well for re-election three years from now.  I feel that most federal Republicans would rather see a Biden second term than a return of Trump. If you’re Ted Cruz or DeSantis, you want Trump to lose in 2024 and then have a wide open shot in 2028. 

2022 will raise the biggest challenge for Biden. If the Rs take the House and the Senate, and it looks like they will, the clown show we see today with the trump party will be the clown show on steroids, and they will take any excuse for impeachment of Biden and/or Harris.  I say they will likely take control of both houses of Congress because of the voting changes, not because they have better platforms. they are really even trying that approach anymore.

15 minutes ago, dontdamnmeuyi2015 said:

I watched Bill Mahr last night and he had an ex soldier who served in Afghanastan for 2 years. He has confidence that our military will get the Americans out and then leave. He also believed that no matter how long the US stayed in Afghanastan there would never be a good government there. The ex president had over 180,000,000 dollars when he left there. WTF? Bill 's right every war is about money. The US has lost it's mind.

I read on yahoo.com that now ISIS in back there messing with the people trying to get out.

It's like they all were hiding just waiting for the right moment to emerge from their underground lairs to take over yet again.

I hope the US learns from this and stays out of these countries because even though we have a great military you can never beat these tribes that know the lay of the land so well and don't play by the rules.

I want our men and women home safely and let that country take care of itself.

Those countries have not changed in thousands of years, and they won't start now.

Not sure if this is correct, Bill mahr said that when Trump made the deal he wanted to invite the Taliban leaders to Camp Daivd?

Either way, they waited to take over as soon as most of our military was gone and I'm sure lke the ex President, the Taliban are being paid well too.

Money talks and shit walks.

You mean the phase 2 part?  Yes, that was supposed to happen. but the talks fell apart, partly because phase 1, the "deal", did not include the Afghans, which understandably didn't sit well with them.  I wonder if this is not why the Taliban just walked in and took control of everything. Plus, of course, the fact that the military sat down.  I did read of frustrated soldiers that wanted to fight, were ready to fight, and were told by their superiors to surrender.  Makes me think, like you said, it's all about the money. And a few people got it all.  Biden did the right thing. I hope he gets it done by 9/11 so it meets the target he set.  There was no way trumpets weren't going to make it look like a failure regardless of how it went down anyway.

10 hours ago, Basic_GnR_Fan said:

A few things here, the Afghan army folded in 3 days, and the President fled the country. Who would the Taliban even be sharing power with? They are the legitimate power now in that country. As long as they are keeping to the deal and not killing Americans, we need to just move on. Who knows, years from now we could be allies again. Look at Vietnam, we now have no issue being on friendly terms with them.

But that's my point. The deal was made, shady as it was without Afghanistan at the table.  A "phase 2" of the deal (as reported by AP) was that there would be negotiated sharing of power. But if that was going to happen, the Taliban would not have taken all power immediately. That's the part where they were not acting in good faith.  Agree with you though, The US just needs to get US citizens and their Afghanistan allies out and be done with it.  Other ally countries should get out as well. I do worry about what happens to women and girls now, especially since they have had a taste of more freedoms.  Breaks my heart. But not sure what other countrys' role would be in changing that at this point.

17 minutes ago, Basic_GnR_Fan said:

To what extent is the Taliban not respecting the deal? There hasn't been a US soldier killed since the deal and supposedly the airport has now been secured and the Taliban has announced a general amnesty. We'll see if their amnesty holds up, but things appear to have stabilized.  

There have been reports of Taliban control and seizing allies of the US.  There does seem to be a bit of a settling now, but it did appear the Taliban aggressively took control of the country.  I don't think they have broken the deal but the deal was weak and didn't ask for enough concessions to protect Afghan people. They didn't break the deal, but I do think they acted in bad faith.  I believe a phase 2 was supposed to define a shared power structure between the Taliban and Afghan government. They took power pretty fast so that phase will not materialize.

1 hour ago, rocknroll41 said:

This is all so strange. It feels like we’re back to March 2020.

I recall earlier this year some YouTuber saying “enjoy the summer while it lasts, cause once the fall hits we’re gonna get a good couple of variants coming our way.”

didn’t even take until the fall…

Yeah, I actually got to patio with vaxed friends a couple of times and now it feels like we're taking a step back. But for the most part, i still run in the morning without a mask, Zoom all day long and mask up when i go shopping.  18 months now.  It's not even a new normal anymore. Just normal.  

It is interesting how often I read today that this will define Biden's presidency. Trump's exit from Syria was seen in a similar way and he was slammed for abandoning the Kurds. But it certainly is not what defined his presidency.

Trump's February 2020 announcement of the "deal" with the Taliban should have started the plan for excavation of allies and US citizens. But they didn't do that. Because they, too, believed that there was no need. Under Trump, thousands of US military were brought home leaving 2,500. And 5,000 extra Taliban were added after they negotiated for release. Trump even said that the Taliban was now preparing to fight the terrorists.

I believe that the Trump admin saw it the way the Biden admin did. That the Taliban was acting in good faith, and would honor the "deal".  It is a Trump/Biden fiasco that they believed the Taliban to be allies. 

6 hours ago, downzy said:

Trump's last Secretary of Defence (he had many) came out today and said that they never really had any intentions of leaving Afghanistan.  The exit of forces agreement with the Taliban was only meant to be a ploy, and that American troops would have remained in the country even if the Taliban retook power. 

 

See this is where I wonder what is really going on. Trump's "ploy" included reducing the number of military to 2,500 leaving the opportunity for the Taliban to strengthen  and organizing, including the 5,000 fighters that were released?   

And I read a article about an Afghan soldier on the Daily Beast that seemed odd. "On Saturday night, he says he and his contingent were told by their superiors to surrender. “We did, we had a plan to fight for a while but no one asked us for fight. This is the most ridiculous moment of my life.”

The soldiers thought they were going to fight.  This and all the praise trump gave the Taliban makes me wonder. 

So they tell me, "Take AstraZeneca" as soon as you can. So I do. then they tell us (next day) shouldn't take AZ.  then they say wait 12 weeks for second shot.  Then they say no, wait 16 weeks.  Oh no, wait 8 weeks.  Then they say don't take a second shot of AZ, take an mRNA, so I get Moderna.

Now I hear AZ will not be recognized by a bunch of countries if it's the one from India, and mixing vaccines will not be recognized by a bunch of countries.

I just wish a bit more thought for overal implications would have happened before recommendations were made.

All I want to do is get back to Miami this winter. 

1 minute ago, action said:

our universe if "good enough" (not perfect). See the plank constant and the wavefunction of elemental particles

1 minute ago, action said:

our universe if "good enough" (not perfect). See the plank constant and the wavefunction of elemental particles

I just woke up.

19 minutes ago, action said:

yes, pretty much

Given the fact that there are multiverses, I think God had some system of "trial and error". I think, god himself is a natural phenomenon (everything is), and therefore limited in some capacity. That's why you see imperfection even on our earth in the form of violence and sorrow.

Maybe our universe is just another "error". 

Done. Good luck!

Two songs that actually make me nauseous to hear them:

Maria Muldaur - Midnight at the Oasis

Soft Cell - Tainted Love

I didn't mind the finale though it felt like just wrapping up loose ends.  I actually liked the second last episode which felt more finale to me anyway.

I did think that having one male and one female as taking the thrones was a cheap way around who should end up reigning.  But I did like Arya's story.  She needed to head to something bigger, and there would be nothing but rebuilding for these lands.  So I liked Arya sailing west - into the sequel.

1 minute ago, shotsfired cro said:

he thanked everyone for all the support he felt in GNR and said he will continue to support the band with Matt and Gilby in the years to come!

Hmm, did he edit that tweet?

Enigma - The Cross of Changes

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon

GnR - Appetite for Destruction

Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing (best of)

Good for driving home to Toronto from Miami.

12 hours ago, username said:

Als, this was pretty funny. And well-spotted. Game Of Starbucks! 

 

Do I appear jaded if I say that I don't believe leaving that cup in the scene was a mistake?

After all is said and done, I had better see one of those broads on the iron throne.

So I just read Common Sense Book on Investing by John Bogle and I get it now.  .wish I read it 15 years ago.

It helped clarify a lot about a really shady business.

6 minutes ago, soon said:

Im glad we both side stepped those bullets! And then either of us had the option of selling our unused prescription on the streets. So much potential damage.

Your job sounds like it was interesting. Thanks for filling that role for our safety! Do you share what your job was online? 

Thats great news!! 

Director of IT and Privacy.  I participated on a lot of work focused on patient rights.  It was the most rewarding part of the job.

54 minutes ago, soon said:

I went too a clinic with severe stomach pains. After a 5 minute examination they said they didnt know what was causing it and prescribed me tramadol. I of course did not fill this prescription and it was not an acceptable course of action to address my stomach pain. In addition to the risk of addiction, it would have potentially masked further symptoms should I have had an issue requiring treatment.

They gave me a significant amount, with no follow up appointment, when Id only been in pain for a few hours. Its crazy over here. At least prescribe Naloxone along with it, but they dont.

Same here.  I had a thyroidectomy and two surgeries on my hands.  Each time they gave me at least ten days worth of Oxys.  I didn't take them, mainly because I was working on a committee about Oxy prescriptions and increased addiction at the hospital where I worked so was afraid of them.  And the pain I experienced wasn't bad enough to even require this kind of med.  

Just now, SoulMonster said:

 

But then when I get to Canada I get the clear impression that the typical marihuana users are just like the caricatures made by those who oppose it, that it seemingly IS a gateway drug to hard opiates, and that Canada isn't this enlightenment society where just about anyone would line up to buy some quality weed (like you would see at a wine shop) 

 

I think you see people who have time to hang around a long line to get their pot.  What I see is that most of my friends smoke pot a little or a lot.  And most of my friends work and have families.  They smoke it like they drink, at the end of the day, weekends, when responsibilities have been met.  Of course, just like with alcohol, there are those who have developed a problem.  But for the most part, I don't see it causing more problems for them with drugs that they wouldn't have had before.  I may smoke more often than before, because I don't risk my livelihood and reputation anymore, and because I quit my job and have decided to have a good time now.  But I don't see me waiting in that line.  We can grow up to four plants per household, and I have a son who is a horticulturalist.  Perhaps it's time I have a very interesting conversation with him.

3 hours ago, Len Cnut said:

I'm seriously considering emigrating to Canada

Bring munchies.

19 minutes ago, soon said:

Eating is a big committed imo. I too have throat issues and I find that my vaporizer suits me. Some vaporizers are difficult to 'draw' from, but mine is easy. Mine is for dried flowers/buds and was about $120 CND. And unfortunately thats the economy model.

Based on what you said above, if I were you I might try a hybrid strain. Hybrids mix the two main categories of weed, indica and sativa. Indica is a nice calm 'body high' and sativa is better known for its high energy high. And then as a back up, incase you experience a touch of paranoia, you could get some edible CBD oil. CBDs are physically and mentally calming. If things start getting away from you, just take a drop of cbd oil.

(PS did you hear about that Canadian woman who smoked black market weed and then tested positive for fentanyl? Scary!)

Wow. When did pot get so complicated?  Shopping for it will be interesting.  I saw the one they opened here in Toronto.  Line up went around the block.