Best tweets to a Hollywood socialist . . .

While on Holiday a few years ago, I made a brief visit to Costa Rica. ONLY downside was the number of nasty reptiles / bugs.
Plenty of Volcanoes, too.
Country is clean and nice people. Plenty of Ex-Pats and several places to move with that in mind.
You can even get a decent PIZZA. Good medical and no danger of a military takeover. Nicaragua to the North is a problem.
But generally a few choices of Climate Type. Do Not go in the Ocean in several places. We saw Crocs / Gators in a few rivers, at least one of which was maybe 12 feet..... The boss. So I guess water skiing is OUT.
Too much is never enough

RE: You will NOT be arrested for having a ccw in your wallet, posted on February 14, 2021 at 11:27:07
pictureguy Audiophile Posts: 22597 Location: SoCal Joined: October 19, 2008	Not worried particularly about a piece of paper. It's what goes WITH it that may be the problem? Too much is never enough

RE: Medicare is..., posted on February 14, 2021 at 11:35:31

rivervalley817

'Frustration River Valley'

by golly, there's an Americana song title right there!

thanks for the reply & trust that I understood your POV before reading it

there's not much nuance in dismissal though some ideas deserve it out of hand

it's difficult to peer behind what's said for why it's said

which is why one should never assume it's been seen & stop looking

sounds like a self help ditty from pop-sci but I've found it to be true

with regards,

There is no ccw in Canada, posted on February 14, 2021 at 12:03:56
Victor Khomenko Manufacturer Posts: 55320 Joined: April 5, 2000	Was meant to be a joke... I must be losing my tough. :( Canada is California on steroids.

Consider Georgia, posted on February 14, 2021 at 12:06:25
Victor Khomenko Manufacturer Posts: 55320 Joined: April 5, 2000	Very nice climate, good people, great food, cheap local wine, VERY friendly towards the Americans.

RE: Consider Georgia, posted on February 14, 2021 at 12:27:16
rivervalley817	'friendly towards the Americans' well, they 'went blue' which should help [sic] regards,

RE: Consider Georgia, posted on February 14, 2021 at 12:33:57

pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008

Georgia USA or Independent Georgia, formerly of the USSR?
If the European version, would I get issued an AK at checkin? Is there a good Stereo store in Tbilisi? Or perhaps a good camera store? Must have a Trader Joe's Market, too....

Georgia USA is in the Hurricane Path. And within 100 miles of the coast is WAY to humid for human life. And based on 'Housewives', I don't want anything to DO with ATlanta. Further inland?
Too much is never enough

RE: There is no ccw in Canada, posted on February 14, 2021 at 12:41:28

pictureguy
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Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
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You never had much 'tough' but your touch IS failing........

Canada has SOME attractive features. I'd LOVE to take the Trans Canada train ride, for example.

Montreal has been used as a 'stand-in' for I think Helsinki in a few movies. The list of Hollywood productions both set in and just using Montreal is quite extensive.

And as kind of an aside? Viking Runes and other 'signs' have been found in the Eastern 1/3rd of the USA for a long time. I wonder if anything similar has been found in Canada? A little cold didnt' seem to bother the Vikings.
Too much is never enough

RE: Consider Georgia, posted on February 14, 2021 at 12:45:01

pictureguy
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Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008

I'd leave politics OUT of my travels. I've found that people treat you as you treat them. If you are an imperialist, you'll get the cold shoulder. If meeting someone half-way? You'll get along better.

I've had people 'suddently' decide they DID speak English after deciding me and wife weren't jerks.

Europen trains are an especially neat place to meet people. We even met tourists from Asia while on a boat ride in Lake Lucerne.....

You should probably leave your MAGA hat and Biden t-shirt at home.
Too much is never enough

This is merely a dislpay of your disconnect with reality, posted on February 14, 2021 at 12:51:40

Analog Scott
Audiophile

Posts: 9933
Joined: January 8, 2002

Just about every other first world nation on the planet has socialized medicine. And when asked virtually no one from any of these countries would exchange it for our system of health care. The people actually living in these "socialist" countries are actually quite vocal about the virtues of their socialist programs. You are merely pretending this is not true. And it is funny that you would single out Cuba as an example. A country that has been forced into poverty by the rest of the world lead by us to preasure them into revolt. And yet even poor poor poor Cuba has higher rated healthcare system than us.

Canada implemented a points-based system in 1967, posted on February 14, 2021 at 15:47:29

Jay Buridan
Audiophile

Posts: 10311
Location: Michigan
Joined: January 21, 2004

I looked at it thirty-five years ago but didn't qualify

Windsor was a lovely city back then and I worked in Detroit. It's still a nice city but it lost a fair amount of its charm after the casino was opened and many riverside restaurants closed.

I'd move to Vancouver, Victoria, or Montreal in a heart beat.

"Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. "
― W.C. Fields

Point Systems

Croatia, posted on February 14, 2021 at 15:55:15

Rod H.
Audiophile

Posts: 1918
Location: Oregon
Joined: May 18, 2005

Our neighbors moved to Croatia about ten years ago. When they first mentioned thinking about it about 12 years ago I said "what!?"

But they did, and they love it there. Bought a place on an island off the coast and with the help of local workers renovated it.

Some young people there speak English, but not many older folks. There was an old guy at a local store who never said a word to them for months, then one day began speaking amazingly good English with them. Come to find out he has spent time in the US long ago, but I guess he wanted to size our friends up a bit before commiting to converse!

Top Tier AKA don't tax me but socialize my losses, posted on February 14, 2021 at 15:59:38
Jay Buridan Audiophile Posts: 10311 Location: Michigan Joined: January 21, 2004	"Only the little people pay taxes." "Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. " ― W.C. Fields

Equivocation or Ambiguity, posted on February 14, 2021 at 16:29:30

Jay Buridan
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Posts: 10311
Location: Michigan
Joined: January 21, 2004

Philosopher Larry Powers published an interesting paper in 1995 arguing that there's only one logical fallacy which arises when terms are used to mean more than one thing.

IMHO, people almost always are arguing apples and oranges. The article is attached.

The One Fallacy Theory
Lawrence H. Powers
Informal Logic 17 (2) (1995)

"My One Fallacy theory says there is only one fallacy: equivocation, or playing on an ambiguity. In this paper I explain how this theory arose from metaphilosophical concerns. And I contrast this theory with purely logical, dialectical, and psychological notions of fallacy."

"Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. "
― W.C. Fields

The One Fallacy Theory

RE: Croatia, posted on February 14, 2021 at 16:49:10
pictureguy Audiophile Posts: 22597 Location: SoCal Joined: October 19, 2008	Near enough to Italy to be interesting. I expect regular ferry service to / from half a dozen places on either side. But overall? Too many words without Vowels. I'll bet the climate is terrific. And being around where so much Euro and 'Western' history happened must be a study into itself. I'll bet the photographic possibilitties are limitless. Too much is never enough

My problem, posted on February 14, 2021 at 17:34:59

RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001

with for-profit care is that it chooses dollars over lives every single time.

Examples like the above is why it needs to change. How it changes is what needs to be debated - but those on the right never actually do anything - they are anti-policy and anti-fix. Just tax cuts and more tax cuts.

You might enjoy DIMPLE YouTube channel produced by defectors from North Korea, posted on February 14, 2021 at 18:00:03

Jay Buridan
Audiophile

Posts: 10311
Location: Michigan
Joined: January 21, 2004

North Korean former soldier meets American in Seoul.

"Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. "
― W.C. Fields

North Korean former soldier meets American in Seoul.

RE: Croatia, posted on February 14, 2021 at 18:51:55
Victor Khomenko Manufacturer Posts: 55320 Joined: April 5, 2000	Many people don't realize that their Medicare does not work in other countries. Me... I am staying here, I am not going anywhere. There is no better place on Earth.

RE: Top Tier AKA don't tax me but socialize my losses, posted on February 14, 2021 at 19:41:19
rivervalley817	'"Only the little people pay taxes."

The Justice Department is pursuing. . . , posted on February 14, 2021 at 20:25:44

Chris from Lafayette
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Posts: 26537
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
Contributor
Since: February 6, 2012

. . . charges against Julian Assange. Yeah, I consider at least part of the Justice Department to be part of the Deep State. However, their policies wrt Assange could change once Merrick Garland gets in as Attorney General. (Garland - Obama's middle-of-the-road "innocuous" choice for the Supreme Court - seems to have a fairly decent record on free speech and the rights of a free press - we'll see. OTOH, he'll be obliged to pursue Biden's policies, which already conflict with some of Garland's previous rulings.) Meanwhile, Assange is rotting in Belmarsh Prison.

As for Mueller, he didn't defend his own report too well when he testified before congress, did he?

The evidence-free world of Russiagate

More. . .

So Wikileaks is an Arm of the GRU huh?

RE: The Justice Department is pursuing. . . , posted on February 14, 2021 at 21:19:15
rivervalley817	this is really an unfortunate post be well,

"this is really an unfortunate post"...., posted on February 15, 2021 at 01:14:07
TWB Audiophile Posts: 7408 Location: Long Beach, California Joined: January 5, 2001	ROTFLOL! So says one of the resident TDS victims!

At least it wasn't gnomic [nt] ;-), posted on February 15, 2021 at 01:26:36
Chris from Lafayette Audiophile Posts: 26537 Location: SF Bay Area Joined: February 17, 2004 Contributor Since: February 6, 2012

RE: "this is really an unfortunate post"...., posted on February 15, 2021 at 10:28:41

rivervalley817

hey TWB, how ya' been?

rest assured I'm not deranged, and of course this 'TDS' meme cuts both ways ... perhaps in your rush to post shade on RV817 you lost sight of the larger picture ... wait, you're sulking over the Big Sky thread, that's it!

CFL's odd Putin obsession and your bona fides as a die hard 45 apologist aside, you don't think Assange was wrong to publish the traitor Bradley Manning's stolen classified army intelligence briefs in an internet info dump? well I do

you know, that bastard went up on 22 charges and plead guilty right? he could have rcvd the death penalty for aiding the enemy! you're all good with his betrayal of country & the oaths he took to serve?

just where do you stand ... ? answer quick before the thread goes *poof*

RE: At least it wasn't gnomic [nt] ;-), posted on February 15, 2021 at 10:35:42
rivervalley817	actually Chris it was, in addition to being unfortunate I arrived at the unspoken logical conclusion, just not as you intended your delusions have impaired your judgement and that is unfortunate be well,

You sound as if you've lost your sense of humor. Or irony., posted on February 15, 2021 at 11:25:46
Chris from Lafayette Audiophile Posts: 26537 Location: SF Bay Area Joined: February 17, 2004 Contributor Since: February 6, 2012	Or just basic cleverness. Or all three? ;-)

I knew it - you ARE deep state! ;-), posted on February 15, 2021 at 11:33:43
Chris from Lafayette Audiophile Posts: 26537 Location: SF Bay Area Joined: February 17, 2004 Contributor Since: February 6, 2012	So. . . to get serious for a minute. . . Manning (together with Assange) exposes WAR CRIMES and you call him a bastard and want the death penalty to apply? While the actual bastards who COMMITTED the war crimes roam scot-free? Man, you are one messed up dude!

RE: You sound as if you've lost your sense of humor. Or irony., posted on February 15, 2021 at 11:42:10
rivervalley817	ironically if you meant your OP to be funny I lost YOUR sense of humor if you meant today's reply to be ironic instead of clever? success! be well,

RE: I knew it - you ARE deep state! ;-), posted on February 15, 2021 at 12:11:34

rivervalley817

I said nothing about any preferences for punishment ... if he could have afforded himself of 'whistleblower' protections he probably would have but he plead 'guilty' ... to the majority of sentient human beings that means he was, in fact, guilty as charged ... as info, I do not believe in the death sentence

what WAR CRIMES are you talking about? the most reliable sources report 'collateral damage' in the strike made under the Bush2 era command and there was zero evidence produced under the Obama era command

both involved air strikes and there was no evidence of civilian targeting in either incident ... I am anti-war and US foreign military operations in the region but you clearly have no idea what you're talking about

your opinion of me being 'messed up' is a 'consider the source' moment because as I've stated, your mind set impairs your judgement, since you can't help it I don't have any resentment about it

it is unfortunate though

be well,

*I can't handle the blind slant of a failed comedian. , posted on February 15, 2021 at 12:20:26**
Billy Wonka Audiophile Posts: 3771 Joined: April 25, 2013 Contributor Since: October 15, 2013	.

Ah - feigning ignorance now I see, posted on February 15, 2021 at 12:39:48

Chris from Lafayette
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Posts: 26537
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"what WAR CRIMES are you talking about?"

What do you call the video below? Is it "collateral damage"? (BTW, I love your use of that Orwellian term. And since the video depicts the brutal war crimes brought to light by Wikileaks, it's restricted, but I've put in the link below too.)

View YouTube Video

And you say you're "anti-war and US foreign military operations in the region"? You could have fooled me.

So, tell me again, whose mind impairs whose judgement?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVyJJXbHAgI

Here's my "OP" in this thread, posted on February 15, 2021 at 12:50:37

Chris from Lafayette
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Posts: 26537
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
Contributor
Since: February 6, 2012

(Link below.) Did you lose track? Yeah, I thought it was pretty funny when Rachel Maddow was doing her best Glen Beck imitation and tearing up about Putin turning off the electricity in Iowa. But I guess that that's something you evidently take seriously. (BTW, were you saying something about "impaired judgment" in a couple of your other posts in this thread?)

https://www.videoasylum.com/films/messages/10/104280.html

RE: Ah - feigning ignorance now I see, posted on February 15, 2021 at 13:29:02

rivervalley817

someone's fooled you CFL but it isn't me, that's not in my repertoire here

the footage you present is horrific and I personally believe that war itself is a crime against humanity but in order for military activities to be crimes they have to meet certain criteria. what you've chosen to expound on simply fails the test ... you do know that there were other players involved in the infamous 'wiki-leaks dumps' that weren't charged with criminal activity correct? no ... you obviously don't ... maybe you should look into that and figure out why

that way you can make principled judgments and statements on these matters instead of parroting the anti-American spin and propaganda deployed by those who are either avowed or sub-rosa enemies of the country you live in

there's no need for me to repeat myself about impaired judgement or 'win' any 'exchange' here so I'll just step away and let this subject drop. of course your eristic obsessive compulsive tendency won't let you, but I can

it's a really unfortunate though not unforeseen development. I do feel bad about it on many levels except for the consequential. you even forced some half-assed punctuation out of me. it's too bad that your mind-set = a set mind

be well,

*RE: I can't handle the blind slant of a failed comedian. , posted on February 15, 2021 at 16:27:53**
RGA Reviewer Posts: 15177 Location: Hong Kong Joined: August 8, 2001	I am sure he is far more successful than you? If he's a failed Comedian what does that make you?

And so. . . you're reduced to arguing via another gnomic post, posted on February 15, 2021 at 16:34:19

Chris from Lafayette
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Posts: 26537
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Joined: February 17, 2004
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And I thought you were doing so well at one time!

"you do know that there were other players involved in the infamous 'wiki-leaks dumps' that weren't charged with criminal activity correct? no ... you obviously don't ... maybe you should look into that and figure out why"
If all you can do is make allusions to some kind of "knowledge" which you suppose I don't possess, I hope you can see how that would look somewhat. . . uh. . . weak on your part.

"instead of parroting the anti-American spin and propaganda deployed by those who are either avowed or sub-rosa enemies of the country you live in"
Yes - always looking for enemies, aren't we. Our MIC is so much better off that way. Again, you deal only in allusions (and illusions for that matter!).

"there's no need for me to repeat myself about impaired judgement or 'win' any 'exchange' here so I'll just step away and let this subject drop. of course your eristic obsessive compulsive tendency won't let you, but I can"
But repeating yourself is all you've done so far. I'm the one who has presented actual evidence (e.g., the video in my previous post). Nevertheless, that's mighty fine of you to let the subject drop - tip of the hat!

So, RGA - how do you judge success or failure? Amount of money? [nt], posted on February 15, 2021 at 16:41:58
Chris from Lafayette Audiophile Posts: 26537 Location: SF Bay Area Joined: February 17, 2004 Contributor Since: February 6, 2012

The US is no longer in the top 25 for individual freedom, posted on February 15, 2021 at 17:10:33

RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
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Joined: August 8, 2001

So much for the "Land of the Free"

Here are the LEAST free nations on earth - as in political, economic, and personal freedoms. It also shows the steep decline in US freedom since 2016 https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2018/democracy-crisis

The top 27 freest nations. Note too that right-wing Republican owned think tanks like the Cato Institute are also involved in this evaluation so it is not lefty propaganda.

You have more freedom in Tuvalu than the USA - LOL - I mean Tuvalu - what? where? FFS!!

The USA ranked 58th! FFS! Let's see where the US ranks in 2024

https://www.businessinsider.com/countries-most-freedom-in-th

RE: So, RGA - how do you judge success or failure? Amount of money? [nt], posted on February 15, 2021 at 17:36:30

Wojciech
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Posts: 4144
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this and having a lot of "model like " girlfriends..:) It's a pretty good lifestyle for a 20-30+ stag. At 50 + though it's ahem.. slightly pathetic..:) (spoken with a hint (or more) of jealousy:)
Richard wouldn't have any job teaching English to a Chinese if America was a socialist shithole and not a ruthless capitalists empire with the biggest army ever assembled imposing it's hideous cultural values over the entire world.

RE: So, RGA - how do you judge success or failure? Amount of money? [nt], posted on February 15, 2021 at 17:37:10

RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
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Well - Americans on the right value money as success. Pick yourself up by your bootstraps is the republican mantra - in other words me vs we. An individualistic society where it is up to you to make money and we're not going to help you.

So taking Bill Maher - if Billy calls him a failed comedian then one needs to provide an example of HOW he is a failure. The onus of providing proof is on the person who makes the claim.

So Bill is on HBO and was just renewed for another 2 seasons. So if he is an epic failure then why would HBO give him another 2-year contract? Seems like a "Successful" comedy political satire no?

He has been doing this show for 19 years. Seems like a success to me?

Before that, he did 8 seasons of Politically Incorrect.

His Documentary "Religulous" is the 27th all-time money-making documentary and the highest-grossing one of 2008.

Bill Maher goes on a stand-up comedy tour through the US and Canada and sells out across both countries. Including a lot of Red States!

It's quite okay not to "like" him but that's like me not liking Prince - yeah I don't like the music but to say he's not popular or a failed musician would be asinine.

And Americans associate success with wealth - he has a net worth of $140 million - For the win!

RE: So, RGA - how do you judge success or failure? Amount of money? [nt], posted on February 15, 2021 at 17:52:18
rivervalley817	'and sells out' you could have started & stopped right there regards,

RE: So, RGA - how do you judge success or failure? Amount of money? [nt], posted on February 16, 2021 at 03:02:19

RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
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I get the humor - :)

I think some misread me - America to me should be able to "do it all" but has become corrupt beyond reason. America can be the world power and it can also look after its people.

Whenever I see a so-called third-world country doing things a LOT better than both America and Canada it frankly makes me puke in my mouth. How the Frak did we get to a point where bloody Norway or Finland or Hong Kong or South Korea or New Zealand can afford to operate on the neighbor's kid with needing a bloody Go-Fund page begging for money!

It's freaking pathetic when Hong Kong can do it but America can't. Then the excuses get trotted out but what are we a bunch of whiners making excises or can we not actually "outdo" those countries?

I had a finger infection. I live in HK which is very high on the economic income index (ultra-capitalist and ranks ahead of the US for economic freedom) which is why so many Americans open shop here. No sales tax, no import duties and a maximum income tax rate of 17%

I have no medical insurance. I go to the hospital - I was in the hospital for 10 full days. 2 operations - 12 doctors decided how to proceed and save my finger. All drugs, meals in the hospital, physiotherapy, all drugs during and after the operation. My total payout was $350 and 6 of the doctors graduated from Harvard medical and 2 others from Oxford - this was at St. Margaret's hospital one of the best in the world.

$350US total. If I was poor they could get most of that back.

China - third-world nation! FFS - we MUST be BETTER than this. Why do they care about their citizens more than we do about ours? I am not even one of their citizens and they care about me!

If China can do it (now I grant you Hong Kong is a lot different than China) but still it is two systems and one country.

America should be a better beacon - it can't just be words and constitutions and advertising hype and propaganda. I can walk down any street in Hong Kong - and so can any gorgeous woman at 3 am anywhere - and in South Korea and in Tokyo and there is next to ZERO chance she will be accosted - or mugged - nothing. Part of being free is always feeling SAFE and in the US (or Canada) there have been times where I have said - "Richard you're in some trouble here mate" - start putting the key between some fingers in case you have to defend yourself. That isn't "good living."

The feeling of needing a gun to defend yourself at all isn't "good living."

The age thing and dating is kind of funny - I remember watching an Episode of Fraisier - and Frasier is 40 and a 22-year-old is interested in him and he turns her away in part due to "how it will look" to others. A concept not really a concept in Asia. Roz tells him that it's hard enough to find someone without putting obstacles in the way. Fraiser teaches life lessons lol.

I am 47 and my girlfriend is 40. So it's not like that's much of a gap. Still, I would have no problem dating someone significantly younger. And you know well that a lot of women prefer older men for all sorts of reasons from security, wealth, maturity, experience etc.

And from my perspective - I like the fact that some younger women have shown interest in me. More now than when I was young.

And Hong Kong offers a LOT in this regard than living in some small town in Canada or the USA where pickings were slim. When I taught in Port McNeil British Columbia a town of 4,000 people or so - one of my roommates and I, were attracted to the same woman. And as he pointed out, of course, we were - she was the only one in the whole town worth being attracted to LOL. She was a crude redneck lout so we both avoided her in the end. Both roommates married women from Mexico on E-Harmony! Bloody hell they had to import! And no they were not poor - one of them was a banker and the other ran a clothing store chain - made more money! wow.

You live your life - it's not all nation-state politics at "theoretical levels" - it's your day-to-day living IMO that matters.

Mention Singapore and people freak that it is some kind of dictatorship - but on the ground living well yes - you are not free to chew gum and throw it on the road - you will get punished - but then so what? Follow the rules - be considerate of the land and your fellow citizens and you will never have a problem there. I don't have to look down when I walk to make sure I don't step on drug needles or gum or pop cans or whatever other crap is on the road. I don't have to read graffiti everywhere because some ass decides to vandalize something with little punishment. Whip their ass with a Caning. You're free - but not free to be an ass. I see no problem with common sense.

I lived in Mainland China for a year - no problems - work make money go to restaurants pubs site-seeing. Watch movies and TV etc. Just like anywhere. Day-to-day living was free - with the exception of internet sites being blocked. Okay so not good - but still - it's not like it was a gulag or something. Besides we had people who knew how to get proxy servers or whatever and so we always managed to get google and the like.

To read the Western media though it makes it seem like living there would be a true horror show. There is something like 70,000 Americans living in China. And that is in spite of media inducing fear tactics 24/7. It's just not that bad. People need to travel more - not just rely on American news and TV. Go to these places. See it first hand.

Maybe get a drop-dead gorgeous 30-year-old wife. Your friends may talk shit but they'll be envious deep down. LOL.

RE: The US is no longer in the top 25 for individual freedom, posted on February 16, 2021 at 11:31:34

pictureguy
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Posts: 22597
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I see what you mean and don't doubt what your sources say. But I might add one thing.

A society is free in proportion to the ability of its members to exercise self-control. A people with little self control will need more 'policiing'. In a perfect society, you wouldn't need police since everyone would want to behave themselves. And would do so. Mechanisms other than vioience would be needed to mediate the inevitable disputes.

The politics of me-firstism from the right AND left just makes it worse.

Don't forget to ADD that the US Incarceration Rate is among the highest on the planet.

If you look at the LINK, It would be interesting to chart the politics of those states having a HIGHER than USA Average incarcertaion rate V the remainder. US rates very highly by this measure, which is to say, poorly for personal freedom....which people seem unable to cope with.

I wonder where China lies on this measure?
Too much is never enough

https://www.prisonpolicy.org/global/2018.html?gclid=EAIaIQob

"People need to travel more - not just rely on American news and TV.", posted on February 16, 2021 at 12:19:03

Chris from Lafayette
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I think that some on this forum would do well to take heed of your statement! ;-)

BTW, this is another one of your outstanding posts. And when you mention China's blocking of Internet sites, it occurred to me that we have the opposite problem here: our tech overlords in Silicon Valley have, at the between-the-lines behest of congress, taken it upon themselves to block people from their de facto public sites on the Internet. LOL! Of course, that was just dandy when it started with the blocking of Donald Trump and Alex Jones - but now they're blocking sites like the socialist workers party and other left-wing organizations - for violating their vague and undefined "standards". Can you say, "slippery slope"? And yet we have the temerity to promote "our values" to the rest of the world!

RE: Is that the first or the second qualification..., posted on February 21, 2021 at 06:02:43

RGA
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Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
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"child molester and rapist?"

But I guess Fox News didn't cover it eh?

RE: Dealing with government and FEDEX, posted on February 21, 2021 at 11:20:33

Wojciech
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Posts: 4144
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I sent a pair of speakers from Detroit to neighborhood of Toronto (Canada), so over the river.The charge was $250 for a pair. Each speaker was 50lbs. After a week I was notified that the speakers are being returned to the sender. The confusion was the reason for return. At first they quoted lack of custom form then they reversed to "natural disaster" (covid). One of the speakers arrived on the porch .The other one was lost. After the inquiry they located the second one and delivered it. I was promptly charged $1200 for "overweight package" A nice customer support lady told me that the charge is for 150 Lbs and it is only the first of the two since they have to charge the same amount (another $1200) for a return shipping. There was no arguing since the "internal investigation" revealed that the package was scanned 4 times along the way and each time it confirmed 150 Lbs.
I had to report my credit card missing to avoid the extorsion and my relationship with fedex ended. I still "owe" them that money.

RE: Croatia, posted on February 21, 2021 at 17:01:13

RGA
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Posts: 15177
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There is no better place on Earth.

You don't get out much do you? It's not even the best place in North America.

99 reasons you're wrong, posted on February 22, 2021 at 02:49:43

RGA
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Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001

The 99 reasons the USA is inferior to Canada.

"(11) We're less prudish: An Angus Reid poll found 83 per cent of Canadians believe sex between an unmarried man and woman is acceptable, versus just 59 per cent of Americans.

12. We're better educated: 48.3 per cent of Canadians have a post-secondary degree, compared to 40.3 per cent in the U.S.

13. We're fitter: The percentage of American adults who are obese is 35.9. In Canada, it's 24.2.

14. We have more sex: According to a survey by condom-maker Durex, 59 per cent of Canadians say they have sex weekly, versus 53 per cent of Americans.

The money stuff which is probably what you and TWB care most about (or only about)

16. We're richer: Canada's average household net worth of $363,000 is higher than America's, at $320,000.

21. We live in bigger houses: We have 2.6 rooms per person in Canada, versus 2.3 in the U.S.

22. Canada has greater economic freedom: So says the U.S.-based Heritage Foundation Index of Economic Freedom. Canada scores 6th place, while America comes in 10th. Credit our sounder public finances.

25. Our banks are better: Earlier this year Bloomberg ranked the world's strongest banks. Four of the top 10 were Canadian, and all scored higher than the top U.S. bank, Citigroup, which came in 9th.

There's more: (28) Our corporate taxes are lower (PricewaterhouseCoopers ranks Canada 8th out of 185 countries for its advantageous corporate tax structure while the U.S. is 69th). (29) We embrace transit: Seven of the 10 North American cities with the most people taking transit to work are in Canada. (30) We get more paid holidays: America has no mandated paid holidays or vacation time, so 23 per cent of U.S. workers get no paid time off, compared to Canadian workers who get at least two weeks and nine paid public holidays.

Also better for audiophiles -

34. Our opera house is tops: There's no city in North America with an opera house to compare to the Four Seasons Centre in Toronto. Jack Diamond, who built it, was promptly handpicked by Valery Gergiev to build the new Mariinsky II theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Also less censoring (You know that FREEDOM of speech you Trumpers supposedly value (but only if you agree with it).

36. Our broadcast TV doesn't have to treat adults like children: Maybe it's because Americans are such sensitive folk, or it's our ill-defined role as cultural bridge between the U.S. and Europe, but Canadian TV regularly gets away with showing things broadcast networks south of the border can't: nipples, F-bombs and the like. When The Sopranos aired unedited on CTV, executive producer David Chase said that could never happen on U.S. network TV: "It's just not possible, we have rules against that."

Sports

46. Better football: Since the late 1970s, the National Football League has been tweaking its rules to encourage more passing—that is, to make the U.S. game more exciting. Up here, we got it right the first time: a three-down game on a great, big field. So on second and 10, you can bet that ball will be in the air.

49. We have better skiing: Canada's most popular ski resort, Whistler, trumps America's most-visited resort, Vail, with more trails (200 vs. 193), longer runs (a total of 36,960 feet vs. 15,840 feet) and more snow (469 inches vs. 348 inches)

And the stupid detector:

(79) We're more rational: Most Canadians (61 per cent) accept evolution, compared to just 30 per cent of Americans. Incidentally, the same percentage believe Bigfoot is "definitely" or "probably" real.

The rest.

https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/99-reasons-why-its-bette

RE: Consider Georgia, posted on March 5, 2021 at 04:21:45
Bill the K Audiophile Posts: 8395 Joined: June 3, 2006	Perhaps should avoid Gori, Georgia. Bill

I understand that Uruguay is more advanced as well, posted on March 5, 2021 at 09:11:54
Jay Buridan Audiophile Posts: 10311 Location: Michigan Joined: January 21, 2004	It's not hard to be more advanced than the USA. "Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. " ― W.C. Fields

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Films/DVD Asylum

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