China: We paid $5.4 Million for a Mysterious Trump Tower Lease and all we got was a stupid sanction!

@klaus said in "Nomadland": @jolly said in "Nomadland": Today's popcorn movies are tomorrow's classics. Not all, but the well done ones will be watched 50 years from now. Gone With The Wind may be the ultimate popcorn movie. Much of it now is indelibly chiseled into the American psyche. So you think people will watch Ironman in 50 years? The special effects will look dated in 10 years, and all that remains if you subtract the VFX are a few semi-decent gags and a story that makes no sense. For lots of awesome gags, check out Deadpool 1 and 2.

OK, that solution is better than what I proposed, but at least I got the overall strategy right: @klaus said in Puzzle Time - Natives at the Crossroad: This lets you identify one person who is for sure not the random guy. Then proceed as in the well-known two-person variant and ask the non-random guy the question for that puzzle.

It’s our culture now to diminish other people. The only difference is it is virtuous to mock people from the bad tribe and horrific to mock people from the good tribe. I pretty much have come to the realization that the only purpose news serves anymore is to generate outrage and it’s boring.

@axtremus said in What will Mike Pence do?: @horace said in What will Mike Pence do?: So, Ax, would you sign the petition? No. Would you be glad if S&S backed down due to it? Don't care one way or another. Maybe I should have qualified that by saying "if you worked there". I would be disappointed in my employer if they caved to such a petition.

My second Pfizer was largely a non event. I did a long run the next morning, felt like a hangover run. Then I felt like crap, took a nap and by afternoon felt really great....that was noticeable so I must have been compromised for a short window.

Louisiana is moving towards Constitutional carry. No license.

@klaus For the Tchaikovsky No. 1 octaves I choose Horowitz. No one else even close!

@klaus said in 15 dollar minimum wage: Will those raises only affect those who used to earn less than $15? If so, wouldn't the people who earned $15 before already feel silly because their additional qualifications over the <$15 employees don't result in any more $? No, they’ll just demand a pay hike, as will the regular federal workers. 40% pay hikes for everyone! Woohoo! I can’t wait to spend $10 per gallon of milk!

@george-k said in Masking at the Oscars: In 1998, the Oscars had about 57 million viewers. Last night, they had 9.8 million. I think it's safe to say that circa none of those 9.8 million were of the disadvantaged classes the high status woke at the event presume to speak for.

@taiwan_girl said in Third flight.: I was read about how because of the very "thin" air, that they were not sure it would be able to fly. NASA had a diverse team working on this, there was never any doubt.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof We can only hope.

@george-k said in The Pill: Wow. Now they need to get to work on the other coronavirus - the one the causes the common cold! Absolutely fuck that, gimme the COVID pill!

I can only apologize on behalf of England. First Piers Morgan, and now this. The thought of Nigel Farage attempting to energize his base in public is rather disturbing.

Is Sea World the legacy of this?

@george-k said in A fun guessing game: I would have never guess it was him. Fun stuff. He's got two photo books, which I picked up. They're seriously fun to look through.

It is tragic what happens in these 3rd world countries. I have a very good friend from Venezuela, his dad was a diplomat. I'll always wonder what happened to his family. Likely they went from being part of the elite to being part of the hunted.

@loki said in Bwhahahahahahahaha!: Interesting thread. We're an interesting bunch.

@axtremus said in Lowest 100 day job approval other than Ford and Trump: @jolly said in Lowest 100 day job approval other than Ford and Trump: I'm not wishing, I'm preparing. That is worthwhile discussion. If you don’t mind elaborating your thought, do consider starting a new thread to talk about how (and maybe when) you think the economy might tank, and what you think can be done to prepare for such it. I think we stand a pretty decent chance of stagflation. I think we have thrown money with both hands at an economy that didn't need it. If Biden gets his infrastructure bill, we're talking about 5.5 trillion dollars dumped into the streets. I already see inflation happening in the grocery store, the lumberyard and the car dealership, far in excess if the 2%/yr we have become accustomed to. Central banks are still monetizing large deficits with fiat money backed by nothing, ala MMT. I think companies and individuals both owe way too much money. Because of this, and because if we actually tried to go back to a more conservative and sound fiscal policy, I think bonds suffer and when the bonds tank, credit in general tanks. Too much money dumped into the system, possible negative shocks still to come in the supply chain, rising interest rates and a possible recession as the cherry on top. Might be some interesting times. Good stocks did ok during the last stagflation cycle, but I'm not so sure this time as I think the market is over-valued. I'm thinking real assets such as PM's, land, etc., may do best...