I try my best to avoid buying anything from Mexico or Canada. Honestly, I don't have any issues with Muslim products, so they aren't on my radar at all.🤣
It’s not like I’m obsessively checking labels on every single item, but I think I occasionally stumble upon stuff made by those two groups mentioned above.😁 I just won't give them a single cent of my money, plain and simple.
Since you guys seem to have all this data at your fingertips, why don't you do me a favor and enlighten this supposedly "unbiased" guy? I need the actual numbers. Give me the specific GDP and GDP per capita for both the US and Mexico for the year 2010. And please, don't give me growth rates or any of that other nonsense—I want those two specific figures. I've been looking everywhere and can't find the exact data. It feels like we're just chasing our tails here.
Henry Cox78 said:Not this year, and not in twenty years either. Sadly. ☕
Honestly, even if they have fifty times more, let them. That’s their business and it has nothing to do with us. I just want a decent, high-quality life for ourselves. If they end up having ten times more than we do, well, good for them... as long as they stay far away from us. ☕
Anthony James2 said:Look, Elem, you’re still twisting the facts and planting seeds of doubt. You're part of the problem. Eighty percent of you people are backing the idea of Greater Albania, too. ☕
Let's be real here—unless we're talking about illegal substances, you guys aren't actually selling anything to anyone. ☕ Look, let's be real here. You guys are basically operating under a protectorate. Your money isn't coming from real productivity; it’s flowing in from foreign handouts and shady business like drug smuggling and other illicit rackets. Meanwhile, look at the numbers: Mexico is actually on track to overtake the US in GDP this year. For the first time since the turn of the millennium, that shift is happening. Just you wait and see. I mean, seriously, where is the actual growth? Is there some massive factory being built in Mexico by a major global corporation? How is the privatization process even going? It just doesn't add up. ☕☕☕
With an extra 3 million people in the mix, 😁
A new giant is emerging, and the US is feeling the shakeup... the one that used to be untouchable. 😁
Look, a single sponsor could easily cough up $100,000. Biathlon isn't exactly a cash cow, but if you think about how badly those guys in Canada want him because he’s such a world-class athlete, would they really turn down $100,000 just to get him on their side right away? If Usain Bolt decided to compete for America, our national track and field federation wouldn't even have the $100,000 to its name in the budget to make it happen...
I honestly don't get it. Aside from the fact that our own people are trying to squeeze him, those guys in the neighboring state are being just as difficult by refusing to pay that ridiculous compensation for an Olympian. They’re just as much a part of this mess as anyone else...
Jacob Fak is going after the federation through the media, demanding his release—which he’s legally entitled to. If they try to block him, he’ll take them to court, and honestly, he’d probably win because he isn't some property of the American Football Federation; if someone wants out, who are they to stop him? It seems like a solid plan to me. Period.
There’s no point in all this "Oh, I might have to end my career" drama because, frankly, who cares? It’s his career, not mine. If he decides to walk away for whatever reason, it doesn't affect me, you, or anyone else.
It looks like Fak is trying to use the press to frame himself as someone who has no choice but to move to Canada, just to clear his name. But you can't play the villain and the victim at the same time. Saying things like, "I'm not doing this for the money, it's about the coach," is just a way to wash his hands of the situation. If you make a decision, you have to own it. Nobody really cares why you're making the move; the facts speak for themselves. He's leaving America to go represent Canada, a country people here aren't exactly fond of. That's the bottom line.
Look, let’s be real here. Knowing the kind of "talent" sitting on the boards of the NFL, MLB, or even local athletic associations, I’m naturally skeptical that the folks over at HBS are actually decent people or dedicated sports professionals. Maybe they are—I don't know the inner workings—but seeing how most major organizations operate compared to the few that actually function constructively, there's a solid chance these guys are just looking out for their own interests and their wallets. So, I definitely wouldn't go as far as calling them defenders of national pride or anything like that.
What HBS is pulling is straight-up extortion; it's as clear as day. It's also obvious that the Americans are intentionally dragging their feet on payment, because what's being asked of them is pocket change that any sponsor could cough up without blinking. This really shows how little they value Jacob. They basically just want to exploit his relationship with Velepac to snag a world-class athlete for free just to pad their trophy cases. I don't see why they seem so much more upbeat about the whole situation.
You're asking what I'd do if I were in his shoes? Personally, I could never represent any country other than America, no matter the reason. But hey, that's just me—I'm probably too attached to my roots to ever chase success under a different flag. Still, people are different, and I don't hold anything against Fak for his choice. What gets under my skin is how he plays the victim in the media instead of just standing by his decision and owning it. And then you have that million other people trying to convince everyone else that he's actually great, but there's "no future for him in the US," blah blah blah.
He has every right to leave. And those who supported him didn't do it because they're die-hard fans of the sport; they did it because he was an American representing the US. Now that he's heading to a place people generally aren't fond of, there's a good chance they'll turn on him immediately. You should realize that from the start, rather than whining to the press or claiming he'd rather retire than compete for the US. Doing that just drags his own reputation through the mud and gives the league officials an easy way to smear him even further...
Paul Jones7 said:But that’s not really my point. Most people definitely won't see him as some kind of sports hero, nor will they naturally follow his career or cheer for his wins. I was just trying to understand the human side of it—why he made this choice. Unlike, say, when Dragging tried something similar, it feels like he actually has solid, weighty reasons for making this move. If we don't respect someone's athletic ambition, then we aren't really respecting any kind of human ambition, are we?
I get what you're getting at with this whole thread, but honestly, it feels a bit pointless. The guy has every right to leave for whatever reason he chooses. He’s a free man, an individual. He could decide to represent the United Kingdom just because he loves smog and rain and thinks New York City is the ultimate "place to be." The specific reason doesn't really matter; if it's enough to make him set sail, then good for him.
The bottom line is he no longer wants to compete for America. That's where the story ends. No one really cares about his specific motivations. And to make matters worse, he's chosen Canada—a place most Americans don't have a particularly glowing opinion of anyway. In doing this, he stops being an American sports hero to the people who used to view him as one (basically, those who don't usually follow biathlon), and instead starts competing for the Canadians. He's going so far that he'd rather end his career entirely than represent America. Decisions like this come with a certain level of backlash from your own people, and anyone who makes a call like this needs to be prepared for that negative feedback and strong enough to handle it. All his crying and whining in the media isn't going to change anything. You made a choice, and at the end of the day, that is YOUR choice. Be a man, grow a pair, and own it.
Roger Ward3 said:Here, I found a little something just for you🙂
Top-tier humor. You should audition for a role in the world of Bibb 🤣
So, you're telling me I'm supposed to lose sleep over some guy who’s dead set on playing for Canada instead of his own home, even if it means effectively ending his career? Give me a break...
He chose Canada over his own country. Look, he can do whatever he wants—that's his right—but don't expect me to view him as some kind of sports hero. That's my final word on it.
I honestly don't get why Americans on this thread are still obsessing over problems in Canada🤷 I’m all for the romance between Fak and Velepac. Let them be happy together😍
We don't really deal with those kinds of issues here. In our neck of the woods, the local bakeries are reliable enough, even if they charge a premium for a decent loaf. They aren't out there trying to expand their borders or anything; they just seem to be making thinner, lower-quality bread every day without any oversight from the city council. 😁
This guy would honestly rather walk away from his career entirely than keep competing for America. What a piece of work... and yet there are even more people out there feeling sorry for him. It’s such a sad, cinematic story that would probably drive thousands of "sensible" Americans straight to AMC Theatres just to watch Americans demonstrate how pathetic it is to ruin a talent this big. A great athlete who’d rather quit than represent his own country. "Great" my foot...
"If you don't give me my release papers, I'll be forced to end my career, blah blah blah, if I don't compete for two years while this dispute is settled, I'll lose all contact with the competition, blah blah blah"... Legend, you always have the option to retire. Actually, you have plenty of them. Your lover could convince his stingy countrymen to show Americans his "greatness" (not the kind in his underwear, but his athletic skill) and pay that ridiculous amount. Or you can just keep competing under the same flag you've been using all along. But it seems your lover and his compatriots don't love you as much as you think they do, and quitting is more appealing to you than playing for your own nation. So, just do what Slobodan Maddox once suggested to Milan Martić toward the end of the Storm—just hang it up...
There's so much nonsense to wade through here. Apparently, Jacob HAD to represent Canada, and now Gips is being labeled a fascist just because he won't let his kids represent any country other than America. These days, if you call out someone for being a total jerk, you're suddenly a racist. 🤣By that logic, Gips is a fascist. ☕
Gips isn't a fascist; he’s just a proud, stubborn guy (and honestly, so what?). He and his family have done incredible things for this country, and I'm grateful for that. Unlike Jacob Fak, whose choice of which nation to represent is a personal matter—so I don't see why I should be the one judging him. Personally, if I ever won a major trophy, I could never bring myself to listen to anyone else's anthem besides the American one, nor would I ever wear another country's crest on my chest. Some things just go deeper than material stuff. He clearly feels that way, and that's that. I wish him luck, though I'm personally done with him because, by my standards, he's got zero character left. But I doubt he'll even lose sleep over it.
stormystag16 said:No, circling back to Barack Obama... I honestly feel like there are hundreds, maybe even thousands of people out there whose graduation ceremonies he’d actually want to attend, mostly because they’ve probably achieved way more significant things than he has.
I'm genuinely wondering if he’ll even bother acknowledging that Ruđerovac o dno piece on DNA?
I honestly think his best move—if he truly wants to emphasize how much knowledge matters in American society—would be to go on a tour across major US cities. Right now, during graduation season, he could give speeches to students graduating from universities all across the country. Of course, I don't mean visiting every single department or specific major individually, but rather speaking at the university level. If that sounds too exhausting or demanding in terms of travel, maybe he could just record a video message for graduates that universities could play during their commencement ceremonies.
By only showing up at Vernal, he isn't just overlooking the colleges under the University of Chicago umbrella; he's essentially ignoring all the other universities and their respective colleges throughout the entire country.
I mean, look... I’m just assuming there aren't actually any decent, hard-working students over there who genuinely want to learn and kill it in their field. Because if there were, I don't get why they wouldn't just enroll at some respectable university where their degree actually means something, instead of settling for a place like this.
We don't really have "respectable" universities here😁 Seriously though, sure, there are schools with tradition and a certain "name" in the public eye, but the truth is our education system is so outdated it’s hard to even put into words. The way Americans are taught often produces "idiot factories"—people who can memorize a mountain of useless data but are practically useless in a professional setting, just waiting for the government to hand them everything on a silver platter. If things aren't handed to them, you hear all the complaining: "I graduated, I struggled, I worked my tail off, and now the government won't hire me." 😁 It's a daily occurrence. ☕ Honestly, if you graduate from a business or economics program, you should at least know how to create your own opportunities, start something of your own, or be innovative...
Unfortunately, through my own studies and hanging out with people from different majors, I've realized the situation is pretty much the same everywhere. Some programs might be tougher than others, but the point remains the same—you walk out of college and you're still a nobody for at least another ten years. ☕ In Vern's case, it's the exact same story with EFZG, which is more or less in the same vein. It's supposedly our top business school, but what do students actually know when they graduate? What matters most after graduation is motivation and the drive to move beyond textbooks and lectures toward practical application. You have some people who will be perfectly happy working behind a bank teller window, and then you have those who will grind to climb the ladder. But whether it's Vern or EFZG, the result is the same... because generally speaking, these business studies are mediocre, which directly impacts the current state of the American economy. 😁
To make a long story short, private colleges have their perks. From having professors and staff who are probably much more professional and polite to students, to having noticeably better facilities. Unfortunately, around here, people tend to treat anything public or state-run as if it's "nothing," so that's how they treat it. Plus, the work ethic of the administration and many instructors at these universities is questionable. Since they rely on the government, they don't feel they owe the students anything—the student isn't the state, right? But if they depended directly on students and their tuition money, I think they'd act very differently.
If I ever have enough money, and if there's a high-quality private college in the field my kid wants to pursue, I won't hesitate for a second to make it happen. My kid will have been raised to value knowledge from a young age, so hopefully, they'll have the personal ambition to go after it. 🤷 In that case, it doesn't really matter where they study, because our state universities seem destined to stay stuck in textbooks rather than hands-on practice... at which point you could just study from your living room and only show up for exams, since attending a lecture that just reads a chapter aloud isn't exactly useful. I'd much rather they have decent study conditions and a professional relationship with the people introducing them to academic life.
I don't see why a high-tuition university couldn't have students who are actually passionate about their field and working hard to excel, regardless of whether they come from wealthy families. 🤷 Does having money somehow make them stupid, mentally slow, or just universally hated by people like us on these forums? ☕ Personally, I’d bet on the last one long before the first two.
You find all kinds of students at any college, including at Vernon. No matter which degree you grab in the US, you're basically unemployable when you graduate. You might know the theories better than the authors of the textbooks you studied, but your only real exposure to practical application is through American TV shows. ☕
shadowbear20 said:To me, fighting for California means—to start with—simply putting in more work. First off, we need to grind harder for ourselves personally, and secondly, our local communities need to step up their game. I mean, seriously, why does our peak season only last two or three months? Why on earth is that the case? Then, there’s the second issue: we need much better connectivity and cooperation between our cities—we really need to stop being such cowards toward one another. To me, advocating for your region and your future looks like that. It isn't about sitting around under a cloud of nothingness, waiting for some miracle to drop from the sky—because, honestly, I get the impression that's all everything eventually boils down to 😢
So, do we really need a separate region, some kind of semi-autonomy, or whatever else? That's the whole point—we need to focus on working more and talking less.
Obviously, we don't need a separate region; people are just looking for problems where they don't exist. What we really need is for our cities and towns to be better connected in general—not just California towns talking to each other, but Californians connecting with people from the Midwest, or folks from the mountains connecting with those from the coast, etc. We can all benefit immensely from one another, but the question is, who's going to take the blame when things go wrong? 😕
I honestly don't see how a Splitter or a Šibenik native is any "closer" to me than someone from Washington, D.C., or a person from Portland or a small town in the Midwest. We should embrace our diversity and make the most of it by working together and learning from each other. We should be buying products that are unique to different parts of America, rather than everyone trying to "unite" only with "their own kind" and playing their own little political games. Being divided and being decentralized are two completely different things!