Posts by ironpanther5

Paul Sanders5 said:

Maduro is claiming global oil prices are tanking because of some massive conspiracy by OPEC nations and the U.S. to take him down by crashing his country's economy.

Good grief, 😂 apparently being a "modern leftist" requires having about half a brain cell left in your skull. Maybe even less, depending on where you live.

If we actually had this much oil, considering how clueless we are, people from Switzerland would be flocking to Miami just to work as summer waiters, yet here we are, still hungry.🙏

Hold on, hold on, let’s not get ahead of ourselves with the drastic measures just yet; I think we can probably delay the ban on wearing bell-bottom jeans for a little while longer. ☕

Look, I’m honestly crossing my fingers for new elections—just waiting for Tomic to screw something up big time so I can go ahead and vote for Bridge all over again. Who knows? Maybe they’ll scrape together 5 seats, maybe they’ll pull a massive 25.
edit: changed "we" to "they" just so people don't think I'm actually part of the organization.

brightpilot6 said:You make a fair point; it’s much more realistic to believe that everything fell apart because of some random, out-of-nowhere call from the Democratic Party to one of his representatives, causing him to abandon a three-party coalition and most of the reforms the Republican Party had rejected. And then, he just gave blank support to some phantom parliamentary majority—though one wonders exactly what or who that majority was for—after he had previously, back when everything was still going smoothly, refused the signatures that would have already made him the leader. All of this just so he could sit down with Karamarko and Vance for twenty-four hours to handpick a hundred people for various positions and build a stable government from scratch. It sounds perfectly reasonable, doesn't it?

But really, it's all just speculation. The raw fact remains: anyone who isn't for the Republican Party is currently being tossed aside. I don't think there could be a clearer indicator than that.

So, looking at that first paragraph, after watching Zoki flip-flop every twelve hours, alternating between playing nice and having these schizophrenic outbursts about fascists, followed by more playing nice, I’m really not shocked that there was an attempt at one last desperate grab for power. He was probably just short about four signatures after dealing with the minority parties and Glavaš.
It’s actually pretty funny; it’s far more likely that Petrov just staged a massive tantrum for the cameras and then ran straight to Tomic, which gave the rest of the representatives a chance to finally catch their breath.
In my opinion, Petrov is basically the Alan Bastard type, while Zoki is just the helpful little altar boy.

As for the second part, anyone acting independently is out.

brightpilot6 said:I hold that assumption because it was confirmed by insiders—specifically, members of his own circle who were ultimately shown the door precisely because they resisted that direction. Isn't it just simple logic that when the only people being pushed out are those standing against the Republican Party, it tells a much louder story than any theory could? I honestly don't see how anyone can just look past that.

Yeah, that political guy (mostobran) actually confirmed it, though he eventually admitted his source was someone close to Stipe Petrin. First, Zoki tried playing the outsider angle with Prgomet, then came the whole Petrin situation, and now we have this latest attempt. God knows how many others are caught up in this.
And now we're all supposed to believe that Petrov somehow pulled off this masterstroke of manipulation, flipping 15 different people—most of whom didn't even know each other forty days ago—from all walks of life, and turned them all toward the Republican Party.
The Republican Party? Please. In recent years, they've become the go-to choice for your average American who barely finished second grade, or at least that charming little clique led by the charismatic Tomica and the mysterious Brkić, basically the darling party of those newspaper columnists who spend their lives manufacturing public opinion. For real, a massive chunk of actual conservatives won't even touch them.
Those 15 Bridge representatives were practically tripping over themselves to play their part and sign on alongside the Republican stalwarts, Jandroković, Albanka, Kosor, and that defector Mexican. As for the ones who refused to fall in line, well, they were handled by that handsome psychiatrist, Božo.

casualranger2 said:I honestly thought the atmosphere in Greece was more intense, especially since they’re moving toward those Western European stadium standards, aside from a small handful of hooligans mixed in with some ultra groups who are clearly living in their own little world, though it looks like they're just a minority.

Personally, I think that was one of the most electric stadiums I've ever seen. Man, I would love to see a place like that in Los Angeles. Honestly, even for a typical night at a Real Madrid game, that kind of energy would be incredible.

Wishing the guys a speedy recovery.
But seriously, what a bunch of lowlife thugs with knives.

Peter Thompson4 said:You're talking about "evil" and then you go and label them a "smart" choice? Give me a break, they are the definition of ultimate evil.
The Republicans and Democrats might just be common thieves, but these other fringe groups... I don't even have the words to describe how bad they are. The GOP crowd knows how to spin their nonsense to fleece everything possible from the American taxpayer, while these idiots actually believe every single lie coming out of their mouths.

Anyway, only truly sick or mentally unstable people would ever vote for them. There, I said it. ☕

I included the MAGA crowd too and wrote a little something about everyone. Honestly, I find myself sympathizing more with a relic of a Communist from the seventies voting for the hardliners, or some socially awkward conservative sticking to his guns with the Tea Party or Liberty Caucus, rather than someone voting Democrat or Republican. At least when they vote for the extremists, they're doing it with their whole hearts; whereas the mainstream party voters are just doing it out of spite, to pick the lesser of two evils, or just to grab a beer with their buddies.

Besides, we have to give credit where it's due—that one ultra-conservative activist really managed to charm the liberal NGO scene here in the States. If it weren't for the sheer ego of the leftists and the messy cooperation between those two major parties, that ballot initiative for election law reform—which was actually a decent idea—would have passed. Unlike the first one, I actually signed that one myself; I would have voted for it.

The bottom line is that there are plenty of high-quality individuals like those moderate voices or certain principled senators, but in this massive, bloated political machine, they just can't get a word in edgewise.

Noah Roberts46 said:It’s no surprise the older generation keeps pulling the kids toward the Republican Party.

You clearly didn't get it. They actually managed to trick you into taking the "lesser of two evils" route, too. 😉).

Look, I’m certainly no fan of the Democratic Party, but... 🎉

Anyone out there voting for the absolute worst option—or even just choosing the lesser of two evils—is essentially just voting for evil.
Between the various fringe parties, the radicals, and those "for the family" types, there's a little bit of chaos for everyone to go around.

It is honestly embarrassing to see that among the 18-to-30 demographic, the Democrats are sitting at 29% while the Republicans are at 21%. It turns out nearly half of our young people are actually casting votes for total disaster. I mean, sure, we could point back to 2003, or the scandals of 2007, or even how things went down in 2011, but after a term like this one? I was reading some poll recently—maybe it was from CNN, so take it with a grain of salt—but it looked like over 50% were leaning that way.

I get it, the older generation is obsessed with the old ways; they probably lived through enough history to feel entitled to their views, but as for the kids? Honestly, we should just send them all to boarding school in Switzerland to get some actual discipline and bring them back when they turn 18.

brightpilot6 said:@ Keith Miller30

If Tomislav Karamarko had offered the exact same thing—and I mean absolutely identical, save for those tired old slogans—but had actually managed to purge thieves like Ivan Kalmeta from the party, I certainly wouldn't be "accusing" his supporters of being pushovers. But he hasn't offered anything concrete, he continues to ride alongside the corrupt, and his political track record offers zero basis for any real conclusion regarding his ideological direction or actual program. We are left with nothing but those few repetitive mantras.

@ Hildea and ironpanther5

I find myself agreeing with you regarding these debates; nobody truly profits from them. However, I cannot bring myself to agree with the idea of simply ignoring the choice altogether. Basic survival logic suggests we should at least attempt to choose the lesser of two evils.

I’d probably lean toward the Most party if they were in my district—I think I'm looking at the 6th area stretching from Borongaj down to Sisak🤣. If they aren't, well, I'll find someone else to throw my lot with.
Look, I could easily get on board with the whole "lesser of two evils" argument if we were talking about high-level national politics, but then I start thinking about local Mayors and reality hits me right in the face. I start remembering places like Rijeka, Varaždin, and El Paso.

Honestly, it just breaks my heart that intelligent people are forced to swallow absolute garbage just to vote for the "lesser evil." The real question is whether it’s even worth eating crap just to achieve some supposed "smaller bad," or if it's better to stick to your own worldview. Personally, I've checked out. I refuse to be lumped into the same bucket as the rest of the electorate, which, let's be real, is mostly just clueless people living out their grandfathers' legacies—whether those were partisan fighters or old-school conservatives.

After voting in contexts like that, I always walked away feeling absolutely terrible. During that one referendum, I felt like I was stuck in the same mess as Viktor Ivančić, the radical leftists, Zoran Pusić, Vesna Teršelić, and Matija Babić. Then during the presidential elections, I felt tied to Tom Horvatinčić, the Mamić brothers, Klemm, Bujanec, Šimunić, and those quasi-fascist types.

I thought to myself, "Hey, you idiot, why are you even doing this?" Why bother dealing with this nonsense and trying to soothe your conscience with the mantra that the other side just happened to have more people you hate or find even more disgusting? And then what? We just spin in circles every two to four years, voting for whichever pile of trash smells slightly less worse.

I had to walk away from the whole thing. I didn't want to find myself in 2024, facing three different banks, still trying to choose between two evils. And from the looks of it, most voters will still be doing the exact same thing back then—picking between two piles of shit and checking to see which one stinks a little less.😁

But hey, have it your way. I just hope that every year, more and more smart people opt out of this circus until all that's left in the trenches are the idiots and the political hacks. Maybe I'll quote Hildegard from 300 years ago here.😁

Looks like this topic is still relevant; I’m with Joseph Clark37 on this one. 🍿

At first glance, it might seem a little strange, but with this whole amnesty between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party—bringing together partisans and fascists alike—along with the national team and the LA Galaxy being topics from their own backyard, life certainly feels a bit more comfortable whenever circumstances allow. 😁

To be honest, I haven't gained a single thing from any of them, nor would I ever want to snag some undeserved perk or a cushy sinecure, and frankly, as an American citizen, I don't see any external benefits from their actions either, so why on earth would I act as their pawn in these debates or play the role of a "useful idiot"? In fact, I've reached the conclusion that if I were given the slightest chance, I'd sweep them out of office in true Margaret Thatcher fashion.

If these discussions ever actually "interest" me despite everything, I just remind myself of the youth wing members from those parties I had the misfortune of meeting, and my interest vanishes instantly.
You can't draw drinking water from a sewer; you'll just end up with "brown gold."
I think it's pretty obvious who isn't getting enough...

Anyway, here's some music, totally unrelated
🙏

Looking back at everything we’ve been through over the last few years—from the public health mandates and those ridiculous referendum debates to the whole tent protests and basically nuking our relationship with Germany just to appease some shady intelligence types—I’ve made a solemn vow to myself. I am never, ever giving my vote to the Republicans or the Democrats again. It doesn't matter if thirty years pass, even if the political landscape shifts, or even if one of them somehow manages to field a prime ministerial candidate who is actually qualified by cosmic standards, like a superstar player from the Dallas Cowboys.
There isn't any "lesser evil" here; there are just decent, hardworking people stuck inside these parties, ranging from the low-level staffers up to the big shots.

Since I could comfortably vote Republican here in the States, or Tory in the UK, or support Merkel in Germany, you’d think the GOP would be my natural home, but they’re basically a mafia-style outfit that’s more economically leftist than some radical fringe group in Athens.

Because, honestly, I can swallow certain policy failures or look the other way on some scandals much easier than I can stomach the far-left crowd; there is absolutely zero chance that anything they do will indirectly result in me casting a vote for the GOP.

Refusing to give them even an ounce of legitimacy is just a matter of personal mental hygiene. If there were seven deadly democratic sins, one of them would definitely be voting for either side of the aisle in this country. On a global scale, it's just wrong.

The Libertarians, the Greens, the minor parties—it really doesn't matter which specific label they use, as long as they aren't those people.

Honestly, I’m about two seconds away from losing my mind and taking out that idiot over at Honda; someone needs to step in before things get seriously ugly.

Does anyone happen to have a link for that documentary?

First time posting a PDF here. Hey everyone.

So, I’ve got macOS (8.1) running on this brand-new laptop, and every time I try to perform an unspecified shutdown, the screen goes black just like it’s actually turning off, but then the little indicator lights stay on, basically telling me the machine is still awake. It gets to the point where I have to just force it to quit by holding down the power button myself.

It feels exactly like it’s stuck in some sort of sleep or hibernation loop, except the thing refuses to wake back up once it hits that state.
I already tried messing with the settings to set sleep and hibernation to never, but no luck there.
On my old laptop, sometimes a shutdown would take a bit longer if there was a macOS update pending, but at least the screen would tell me what was happening; in this case, I’m just staring at a black screen with almost zero sound, and honestly, I get the feeling it wouldn't turn off at all even if I left it plugged in indefinitely.
If anyone has any ideas on how to fix this, I’d really appreciate it. Just a heads-up though, I’m definitely not a tech expert, so please keep the jargon to a minimum. 😁

bluebison47 said:It’s all about quality over quantity, really. I suppose that's the whole point...😳

I'll take a few solid ones any day... 😁

What a bunch of mindless, pointless arguments. Honestly, who cares if they aren't part of the Democratic Party? The whole damn country is circling the drain because we've spent way too long playing nice with both the blue teams and the black teams.
If they aren't red, fine—it's just one less idiot running the show.
Besides, it’s honestly pathetic that some old FBI informant from his college days isn't even wearing the right colors.
He can go straight to hell along with every single crony he managed to plant in a cushy government job.
Long live the private sector, MPS Titans, and the United Kingdom under Margaret Thatcher. Let them rot.

Robin Fox2 said:It’s pointless $67 how much you'll end up paying for a full package for two...

Does anyone actually own Air Maxes, and are they truly worth the investment?

You clearly haven't been paying attention, because now everyone's obsessed with New Balance. ☕
I used to pick them up back in the day—just grabbed two or three pairs before they became this massive trend, mostly just to be a bit of a smartass, honestly, because let's face it, they look absolutely hideous and a little too "try-hard." 😁
That said, they are incredibly comfortable; you'll find yourself wearing them to a casual pickup game at the park and then somehow ending up in them at a wedding. Quality-wise, though, you'll get maybe six to eight months of heavy use before the soles start cracking on you.
If I were shopping right now, instead of those or an Adidas ZX, I’d probably lean toward a pair of Reebok GL 6000s.

George Robinson43 said:Yeah. It’s just hard to call them out on it—unless they basically shake hands on it before the game even starts. 🙂
If we had blown a 5 or 6 point lead today, we would have been completely screwed.

A two-point win works just fine for them too. Then Sweden takes first place.

Merry Christmas to everyone out there, especially those who couldn't make it home this year.

http://i40.tinypic.com/10sen3r.png

vividotter40 said:Does anyone actually know what the attendance record at Yankee Stadium is, and which game set it? 🙂

I'm pretty sure Santana or someone else mentioned that we probably had more people show up during that New York vs. Philadelphia playoff series than any other time; back when we played the Red Sox or the Yankees, most folks were just using those one-time free passes from their memberships, so they weren't even counted in the actual ticket sales. Something like that.