Posts by nimbleranger52

I know. It’s the same mess here. Empty shelves and deserted grocery stores everywhere. Just grab the essentials while you still can.

My mom texted me asking if this was really happening in the city? Honestly, this is exactly what things looked like in Germany about two weeks ago. Usually, stuff like salt, oil, flour, sugar, and pasta just flies off the shelves instantly... but there wasn't actually a breakdown in the supply chain itself, just people panicking...

Everything has calmed down a bit now. They've postponed the clubs and all those big public gatherings, but you can still find food in the shops...

Schools are going to be shut down for the foreseeable future, too.

Anyway, for those of us living over here in Germany, if we decide to pack up and head back home to the States, we're looking at a potential quarantine when we land.

So much for catching that Easter sun back home in the States...

When it comes to the whole gay community, I honestly feel like they’re getting way too much media coverage lately. Look, do whatever you want with your life, nobody is coming to stop you, but what is with all this constant noise in the news? It feels like we're being bombarded by a group that makes up maybe five to ten percent of the population at most.

It’s not like I’m afraid of gay people or anything; they're just people like anyone else, right? But could you please just not remind me of your lifestyle choices every single day? I get it, I see it, it’s fine—you’re gay, whatever, that’s cool. Just leave me alone and let me live my life without the constant lecture.

Noah Roberts46 said:You can't wipe it out entirely, but you can definitely scale it back. There are endless reasons why terrorist attacks happen—we could talk about it until tomorrow. But ignoring it, or refusing to condemn such attacks and acknowledge the obvious problems, is simply unacceptable.

I agree with the other part of the post. Larry Fox5, you live in Germany, don't you? From what I gather. I have friends and family over there, and they tell me people struggle with certain segments of the Muslim population because they act like they're still in their home country and show zero interest in adapting to the local culture. To be clear, I'm not saying this applies to the majority of Muslims. What I'm getting at is that they seem to face much harder integration hurdles than, say, other minorities living in Europe.

I was in Brussels a few years ago, and they literally have entire neighborhoods where the police are powerless. You see two Muslims fighting in the street and nobody reacts, even with a cop standing just two meters away. People are sleeping on the streets in front of storefronts and leaving piles of trash everywhere. One of the most beautiful cities in Europe has turned into a literal dump. Is it the same in Germany?

Now look, I'm not saying the state should just lock the doors and ban Muslims from entering. Not at all—especially since I understand how difficult it is for people fleeing wars caused by the imperialist policies of certain nations. In my hometown (think a mid-sized US city), a few families from Syria were settled, and their integration into our society has begun. I saw an article about it recently, and honestly, I think it's great; I'm happy for them. My point is simple: if you're going to invite a massive influx of people from a different culture into your country, do it smarter. If necessary, do it in smaller, more organized waves. Integrate them into society instead of just dumping them into isolated enclaves where they live separately from everyone else. Make it planned and make it high-quality. Obviously, their culture is vastly different from ours, but ignoring everything and letting whatever happens happen just because it's "progressive" is fundamentally wrong and leads nowhere.

@wiredfalcon2

It's great that you have a crystal ball and somehow know exactly what my life looks like and how I think. Please, keep going—watching you squirm is pure entertainment.

Brussels looks more like an Arab city than the heart of Europe. I haven't seen that much garbage in a European metropolis in a long time. Outside the city center, it's mostly Belgians, and even in the center, it's similar. But take the area by the FlixBus station, for example—it’s basically a mini ghetto. You've got weed being smoked and needles everywhere, and the police aren't even close. I was literally the only white guy surrounded by Black guys, and let me tell you, it wasn't exactly a comfortable feeling. It's not like anyone did anything to me personally, but it creates this heavy sense of unease. And then there was this one guy who tried to pick a fight with me. But yeah, the central station area is just full of drugs and needles and nothing happens. That’s Brussels for you.

Then I went back to Germany and realized that Germany is, in essence, still a white country—an ethnically homogeneous community. And honestly, my god, German cities are dirty, but Brussels makes them look spotless by comparison.

As far as Muslims go, most of them are Turks. They’re normal people. The problem is the Arabs. They don't want to, and frankly, they can't, adapt to Western values. They just have their "Allah spoke" mentality and refuse to budge.

But then again, the other day I see four Chinese kids speaking perfect German; I mean, these kids were raised in Germany and everything is totally normal. They’re essentially "original Germans," just of Chinese descent.

On the flip side, I work at this one facility, and I really feel for the Turk there. These attacks by lunatics in Hanover and Stuttgart... people don't talk about those attacks nearly enough. But they happened.
He immediately feels threatened, acting like it's an attack on Muslims specifically. It seems like Muslims always play the victim, and honestly, they’re often responsible for their own situation because the expectation is always that the host should adapt to them, rather than them adapting to the people who welcomed them.

If you go to the Maldives, you aren't allowed to carry a Bible or a cross, and you certainly can't bring pork. That's because of the laws on the islands, plain and simple.

But if you told Muslims they couldn't carry a Quran in some European country, they would scream about being persecuted and oppressed.

That's what this is: hypocrisy. And I hate it.

When you're in Rome, you act like a Roman. End of story.

loneseal said:Yesterday, MPT and Mate Bulić both jumped on Meta to throw their support behind Kolinda. But honestly, if you look at the comment sections on their posts, she doesn't stand a chance.

And let's talk about Thompson, because he seems like an absolute piece of work, doesn't he? He basically called us all communists just because we aren't voting for the Republican Party. So what, I'm some hardcore communist now just because I don't back the Republicans? Please. It's not that simple; I don't have any love for the Democratic Party either.

Then you've got people screaming through the halls about Zoran Milanović, only to get hit with that classic, blunt response from Zoran Milanović himself.

Then I see Sebastian Kurz—all polished, young, educated, and serving as the Chancellor of Austria. A guy who actually rides in economy class and waits in line like everyone else to board a plane. Sure, he has bodyguards, but he isn't rolling up in an armored tank or crushing people under a bus just to prove how "sophisticated" he is, you know?

But I guess that’s just down to the mindset and how people are raised. What do our local North American criminals—these so-called "distinguished" entrepreneurs and politicians—actually know about that kind of decency?

Ivo Josipović was the only one who actually acted like a gentleman, but I suppose you can't succeed when you're surrounded by such a bunch of peasants.

And then, to top it all off, I see these women all over Facebook losing their minds over some message from Thompson... 😁😁

Check out this Facebook status from a colleague of mine who’s living and working over in Germany. It is brutally honest. Just absolute chaos. People are fleeing from total jerks like those guys involved in the Kolinjda rallies or Milanovic, and then you have priests trying to lecture them during Midnight Mass? What a disaster.

Went to Midnight Mass, came back. I honestly can't tell if I was at a holy service or some post-election rally for Miroslav Škoro combined with a pre-election KGK meeting.

It hit me that we’re all just idiots because we voted for the exact same people again when we could have chosen others and won in the first round easily.
But hey, maybe we get a chance to fix things on January 5th, and we really need to show up for those elections; they are incredibly important and we have to go, otherwise, anyone who skips them will probably end up stuck in hell forever...
And on another note: Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ

Honestly, when I see my friend who works at one of those government agencies, she’s already whining by Monday about how much she can't wait for Friday. For God's sake, she has never once picked up an extra shift, worked a weekend, or even touched a night shift. She’s protected like a grizzly bear in a sanctuary... yet she constantly grumbles about her paycheck being too small. Well, if you don't have enough cash, why don't you go find a side hustle? Work some Saturdays. Or just get outside and hustle for it...

I swear, these American government jobs... the whole mindset is stuck in the 1960s, back when the idea was just "I have an economics degree, so I sit in this one office until I retire." It's archaic.

Me? I work weekends and federal holidays. And of course, I actually get paid for it. At least with a German person, things are handled fairly; they'll pay you double for working Sundays or national holidays...

But her? Now comes the weekly cycle of complaining... maybe she'll finally get some rest soon...

It feels like every single new model hitting the shelves is getting more and more overpriced by the day... and then you have this massive marketing machine constantly whispering in our ears that we absolutely need it to stay relevant... and we fall for it every single time, don't we? We just swallow the hype and hand over the cash like mindless sheep...

Honestly, smartphones have got to be the biggest losers when it comes to value retention; you pay a fortune for one, and then two or three years later, it’s basically worth nothing. I mean, even used cars in the States don't lose their value nearly as fast as these gadgets do.

Jessica Gonzalez said:I bought mine half in cash and half through financing. The loan itself wasn't the issue, it's more about everything else that comes with owning a car. For instance, my car is nearly 11 years old now, I've put about 100k miles on it, and it's still in great shape. I’ll probably need something bigger once the kids grow up, but maybe I can hold off for a few more years. Between driving around town and road trips, I cover about 9,000 miles a year, which is roughly $2,500 in gas. I always stick to the dealership for service, which usually runs me about $1,500 to $2,000 annually. Registration and fees come out to around $200. Then you've got two seasonal tire swaps and storage which total over $233. Until recently, I was also paying $67 in taxes. Gas is about $8, and other miscellaneous stuff is maybe $400. I sometimes get the feeling you spend the most on gas just because you're filling up every week. It is the biggest expense, I guess, but not by a massive margin compared to the rest. Though, I should mention my car is small, so everything costs a bit less. A buddy of mine recently picked up a used Mercedes for about $30,000; he's from a small town in Alabama. He inherited a place from his mom, so I assume he didn't have a mortgage, but still. $30,000 for a used car? You could probably find a tiny studio apartment in Chicago for a little more than that and rent it for life.

Oh, we actually drove to Germany recently, to this small town in Bavaria. I honestly thought people would look at me like some poor guy from overseas driving an 11-year-old clunker, but then I saw the exact same Fiesta—just an older model—parked twenty meters away on the same street. You see cars like that everywhere. I think the average age of cars is pretty high across Europe, and even in the US. My car is pretty much the average age for a vehicle here. Cars built in the last 15–20 years seem to break down way less; if you stay on top of maintenance and don't drive them too hard, they can last decades. Back in the day, my brother and I pushed an old Golf Mk2 to 300k miles before it finally ended up at the scrapyard for $300. I guess you just have to drive them as long as they keep rolling and make sure to take care of them.

Look, having actually lived out in the States, I can give you the lowdown on how people over there really think when it comes to anything on wheels. It’s almost funny, isn't it? They get all worked up over these V6 engines, maybe a 3.2 liter setup, and they act like hitting 200 horsepower is some kind of massive achievement. That’s basically the baseline for them—and don't even get me started on the fact that it’s almost always an automatic transmission. It's just what they expect! And the obsession with trucks? It’s unreal. You see nothing but Dodge Rams, Ford F-150s, and Chevy Silverados everywhere you look. If they aren't driving a full-sized pickup, they’re grabbing a massive SUV just to fill that same void. At the end of the day, for most Americans, it doesn't matter what's under the hood as much as one thing: does it look huge? As long as it’s big, they’re happy.
And don't even get me started on how much people here obsess over those Japanese imports, too. I mean, sure, they’re sleek and they definitely bring that high-end, luxury feel to the driveway, but you don't exactly see them cruising down the interstate every five minutes, do you? They exist, obviously, but let's be real—they carry a massive price tag that keeps most folks from actually buying one, and then, once you finally do own one and something inevitably breaks, good luck finding the parts without waiting an eternity for some shipment to arrive. It's just one more headache, isn't it?

You know, speaking of things that just never change, I was thinking about the car culture over in Germany. It’s honestly hilarious if you really sit down and look at it. You’ve got these huge immigrant communities there—Turkish families, people from all over the North America—and they all have this absolute obsession, this deep-seated, almost religious craving for German luxury. It doesn't matter what else is happening in their lives, they just want that Mercedes, that Audi, or a BMW. And I mean, I get it, right? There's a certain status to it. But even if the car is ten years old and probably held together by sheer willpower and a prayer, it *has* to be one of those big three brands. It’s like they won't settle for anything less than the "holy trinity" of German engineering. And if they can't swing the big boys, what do they do? They pivot straight to a used VW Passat. It’s always the same pattern, isn't it? Why is it that people feel the need to chase that specific kind of prestige, even when the car is practically a relic? Is it about the drive, or is it just about being seen in something that carries a recognizable badge?

Look, it’s pretty obvious if you actually take a second to look at the streets, isn't it? People just want cars that actually work for their lives instead of these flashy, impractical status symbols that offer zero utility. I mean, when you're just trying to navigate daily life in a city like Chicago or New York, what do you need? You need something small, nimble, and easy to park, which is exactly why you see those little Smart cars parked on every single corner. It just makes sense, doesn't it? But then, the moment people start thinking about their families or actually having to haul gear around, they pivot entirely toward station wagons and SUVs because, hello, practicality actually matters once you have kids or groceries to move. It’s all about function over form, even if most people are too distracted by shiny paint jobs to realize it.
So, let me give you the rundown on my relatives, because honestly, it’s a whole thing. One of them has a Master’s degree—yeah, a real high-level education—and he’s pulling in about $4,000 a month after taxes working over at Bosch. He’s driving one of those Toyota Avensis wagons, you know the type, and his wife is out there grinding in some little Peugeot she uses for work. It’s just one of those things, isn't it? You look at what people are actually doing with their lives and where they end up.

On the other hand, you’ve got this guy, right? Just some blue-collar construction worker who somehow managed to score a used Porsche recently. I mean, the man works like a dog, grinding away all day every single day just to afford it. His absolute peak existence is probably grabbing ten days off to hit the coast for some sun, maybe hitting up a Sunday service when he can catch a breather, but still... he’s out there driving a Porsche. Can you even wrap your head around that?

You know, when it comes to our people over here in Germany—I mean, looking at how Americans behave when they move abroad—it’s honestly kind of depressing to watch. You see these folks arrive with big dreams, and then, what? Within three months, they’re already rushing out to sign some massive auto loan for a shiny new truck they can barely afford, and before you know it, they're drowning in debt just trying to make those monthly payments. It’s like they’re living on canned meat and cheap snacks just to stay afloat. And the funniest part? They spend their whole year working themselves to death, only to fly back home for those few weeks of vacation and act like they own the damn town, acting like the big shots of the neighborhood. It’s sad, really, but if you want the truth, that’s exactly how it plays out.
I’m sitting here right in the middle of downtown, and honestly, I probably shouldn't have even bothered with a car in the first place. Why do I do this to myself? Every single time I need to get somewhere, my immediate thought is just to hop on an app, rent something, and call it a day, but now I'm stuck. Now that my girlfriend is finally heading over, we’re just going to be sitting here staring at this thing, trying to figure out what on earth we’re supposed to do with it. Is it worth the parking fee? Should we just ditch it? It's one of those situations where you realize your "convenient" plan was actually just a massive headache waiting to happen.

And let me tell you, the Germans have such a massive surplus of older vehicles sitting around, which is exactly why they started this whole war on clutches and these ridiculous diesel bans. It’s all just a calculated move to force people into buying those overpriced electric pieces of junk, or to bully them into upgrading their entire fleet when they don't even want to. And honestly, the sheer stupidity of it is best seen in cities like Chicago—they’ll go ahead and ban diesels on one specific street, but then you look just a hundred yards away and there are diesel trucks idling without a single problem? Seriously? But hey, I guess that’s what passes for "environmentalism" to them these days, right?🍿

Look, regarding that Ford of yours, I’m actually driving a Fiesta to work every single day myself. It’s a solid little machine. If I remember correctly, it’s got a diesel engine—maybe a Ford TDCI? Anyway, I haven't had a single headache with it, even though it’s already clocked about 90,000 miles and it's roughly three years old now.
Not too long ago, I had to deal with a steering rack issue on my VW Polo. In my humble opinion, that VW diesel just doesn't have the same punch as the Ford engine. Sure, the interior feels a bit classier, maybe a touch higher quality, but when it comes down to how the car actually handles on the road? I’ll take the Ford any day of the week.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if I were shopping for a new ride right now, I’d be looking at either a Ford or a Toyota.

Back when my family was car shopping about four years ago, my old man was dead set on getting an Audi. I was pushing for a Golf, but he wouldn't budge from the Audi dream. So, what happened? They ended up buying an Audi that was four years older than the one we originally looked at, all for the exact same price, and then they spent the whole time complaining about it! My mechanic told him he should just cut his losses and sell it. I mean, it had way more mileage back then and was significantly older...

But hey, I guess according to some people, it’s all about having that Audi badge on the grille, right?

My take is simple: you want something newer, regardless of the brand. These days, you don't see those massive, world-ending differences between manufacturers that used to exist back in the day.

I’ve seen plenty of BMWs out on the interstate just completely giving up the ghost. Some electronic component fails and suddenly they're stranded. And yet, half the people out there still act like they’re driving the ultimate status symbol.

Michelle Palmer6 said:I honestly can't wrap my head around why anyone would still label HTC, LG, or Sony—especially Sony—as "premium" brands when you compare them to Xiaomi, or even Huawei for that matter.

Man, I’m sitting here thinking about how much we all got it wrong, you know? Just looking back at where we were a couple of years ago, everyone was basically laughing their heads off at Huawei, treating them like some minor player that couldn't possibly compete on the big stage. We all just brushed them off, didn't we? But honestly, if you actually take a second to look at what they're doing right now—if you really stop and observe the sheer scale of their moves—it’s enough to make your head spin. How did we miss this? How did we let ourselves get so complacent while they were quietly building an absolute empire under our noses? It's wild, really. You have to look at them today, because the landscape has completely shifted, and frankly, it’s a wake-up call for anyone who thought they knew what was coming.

Man, I remember back in 2014 when I was rocking that old HTC phone—and honestly, looking back, it was such a joke how quickly it just fell apart on me. I mean, really, how does a piece of tech even fail that fast? One minute everything is fine, and the next, the front plastic casing right by the speaker just completely peels away like it wasn't even glued on properly. It’s infuriating, isn't it? You spend your hard-earned money thinking you're getting something solid, only for the hardware to start disintegrating in your hands before you've even gotten used to the interface. Is it too much to ask for a device that actually stays in one piece for more than a few years? Just feels like they stopped caring about build quality altogether.
Honestly, I’ve had two Sony phones in my life, and frankly, what was the point? First, there was that old Sony Ericsson thing back around 2002—or maybe it was 2003, I can't even remember—but I swear if you stood in the middle of a busy intersection in downtown Chicago, you wouldn't get a single bar of signal. It was useless. Then, fast forward a decade or so, I picked up one or two models around 2015 or 2016, and it was just more of the same headache, really. The battery life was an absolute disaster, and don't even get me started on the build quality; the whole thing felt like cheap plastic held together by prayers. I am officially done with that Sony garbage for good. If you actually look at their sales numbers, it’s pretty obvious they’re circling the drain, isn't it? At this rate, they might as well just file for bankruptcy and call it a day.
So, I used to have this LG phone back in the day, and honestly, for its time, it was actually pretty solid—like, the camera was killer and everything, really top-tier stuff for what it was. But man, even with all that, it had this one massive, glaring flaw that just drove me absolutely crazy. You know how it goes, right? Everything seems perfect until that one specific thing starts dragging the whole experience down into the dirt.
So, I finally bit the bullet and made the switch over to Samsung, specifically looking at those A-series models, but honestly? What a complete letdown. I was really hoping for a smooth transition, you know, something that actually felt like an upgrade, but they just weren't all that. Is it too much to ask for a phone that doesn't feel like a budget compromise the second you take it out of the box? I don't know, maybe my expectations were just way too high, but after all the hype, I expected something more than just... mediocre.
So, I’ve been lugging this Huawei Mate 20 Lite around for about six months now, and honestly, it gets me thinking—why does everyone act like Samsung is the only game in town? If you look at what they're actually giving you for the same price point, Huawei just blows them out of the water; I mean, seriously, aren't the cameras easily twice as good as anything Samsung is putting out at that level? But then, okay, I have to admit it, I can't just sit here and pretend everything is perfect because the screen situation is a whole different story. When it comes to the display, Samsung is hands down number one, period. Their color reproduction is just on another level compared to Huawei, and there’s really no debating that part. But hey, that’s just my two cents, right?
So, I was sitting there just minding my own business, using my Samsung tablet, when suddenly these two little bright spots pop up on the screen out of nowhere. I mean, what even is that? It’s like they just materialized! And the worst part—the absolute absolute worst part—is that whenever I pull up a white background or a blank page, those little dots just glow right at me, staring back like they're mocking my sanity. They're stuck right there in the left corner, hovering near the back button, which is just perfect timing for when I'm trying to navigate, isn't it? Just total garbage. What am I supposed to do with this? Is the hardware failing, or is the universe just testing my patience today? Honestly, it's just complete crap.

I think I’m finally ready to just pack it all up and head back over to the Samsung camp. Honestly, why do we even bother chasing these other brands when they just end up being a headache? Is it really worth the constant troubleshooting and the feeling that you're fighting your own phone every single day? I’ve been sitting here, weighing the pros and cons, staring at my screen, and it just keeps coming back to the same conclusion—I miss the reliability, I miss the ecosystem, and frankly, I’m tired of the nonsense. It’s like once you step away from what actually works for you, you spend more time fixing things than actually using them, right? So yeah, I'm pretty much set on making the switch back.

Look, I’m just going to say what everyone else is too afraid to admit out loud: Sony and HTC? Please. They aren't even playing in the same league as the heavy hitters anymore. Calling them premium mobile brands is like calling a local diner a five-star steakhouse when you know damn well they're just serving overpriced burgers. They've lost the plot, haven't they? You look at the market today and you see these massive, polished powerhouses dominating everything, while these guys are just... hovering in the background, trying to convince us they still matter. It’s honestly exhausting to watch. How can anyone take them seriously as luxury or high-end tech when they lack that actual prestige? It’s all just noise at this point.

So, just head over to www.amazon.com and pick out whatever catches your eye; you can even split up the payments with financing if you don't want to drop all that cash at once. I actually pulled the trigger on an Acer Predator this past Friday—snagged it for $840 instead of the usual $1,200 thanks to Black Friday deals and a little extra discount I managed to stack on top.

You should probably check out Best Buy too. There’s a great electronics shop right in downtown Chicago, just a stone's throw from that Mexican coffee spot, MP.

Cheers from Chicago.

There’s this massive debate going on right now in a Facebook group dedicated to life in Sweden. This guy starts asking about crime rates in Seattle or Chicago, and honestly, I don't even know. People are just throwing their own personal experiences at the wall to see what sticks. But get this—most of the Americans who have lived in Sweden for a long time all seem to be singing the exact same tune, claiming there isn't actually any unrest in Sweden at all; they're out here insisting those cars were torched by right-wing fascists, or rather, that they paid Arabs to set them on fire just so they could rack up more votes in the elections.
The second you tell someone that there might be alternative news sources out there, they immediately jump down your throat and accuse you of lying.

Is the mentality in Sweden really so fragile that you aren't allowed to say a single negative thing about the country or point out the issues existing there?

If you ask me, the people over there are completely brainwashed.

I mean, seriously, with every single mess involving migrants, foreigners, or Swedes, they somehow find an excuse and pin the blame squarely on the right wing.

If that’s truly the state of mind over there, then that country is headed straight for disaster... Look, it’s perfectly fine to be positive and defend the good parts of Sweden. Of course you should! But you also have to accept the negative stuff. But this? Trying to say anything against refugees or Arabs is strictly forbidden, otherwise, you're instantly attacked.
Check out this one comment from an American woman living over there:

"Oh my god, like mainstream media sources are the only things that matter, the people, and all that crap—it’s just a fascist war-mongering mob of garbage. Yeah, cars have been burned in Sweden, but not for the reasons those fascist paranoiacs claim. In Sweden, setting cars on fire has been an expression of revolt and dissatisfaction for years, and these recent ones in Chicago aren't anything new. Seriously, if you're all so terrified of everything, especially anything different, why on earth do you even leave your houses? Just stay where you are and stay quiet."

Sweden is just sticking to its old ways, isn't it? These elections are nothing more than a total sham, just like what we see playing out in Germany or America.

Do you people honestly believe that honesty and democracy actually exist in the West?

Seriously, what is going on with people setting cars on fire all over Sweden lately? I feel like I’ve completely missed the memo on this one,

Larry Walker24 said:It’s pretty wild how Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are constantly trying to stay under Queen Elizabeth II’s thumb, even down in the South IRL.

I mean, I find that obsession with London totally fascinating when it comes to Canadians. They basically want to be the Queen's little equestrian club. Honestly, whenever that silly old Queen starts popping out of an ATM on a twenty-dollar bill, I just can't help but cringe. Those Canadian dollars are actually beautiful pieces of currency, but apparently, they have to keep featuring her because ATMs mostly just spit out twenties, right?🙏🙏

Take that highway in Alberta—running from Edmonton to Calgary—they officially named it the Queen Elizabeth Highway just because she drove through there a few years back and they wanted to honor her. It’s honestly ridiculous.
Or look at how they celebrate Victoria birthday somewhere in May or June. That whole national holiday doesn't even make sense.

A lot of things about those Canadians just don't click for me...

Then you've got New Zealand, where they actually rejected changing their flag to get rid of that British icon in the corner. I really wonder how the Canadians managed to pull off their change fifty years ago. Even though immigrants aren't the majority yet, I bet they'll declare themselves a republic one of these days...

As for California, I feel like none of it is going anywhere either... they simply don't have the guts to go all the way. It’s disappointing... clearly, they're too comfortable living under the crown after all... 🤦🤦🤦

Aaron Thomas3 said:When I read people claiming that Catalan independence would be too expensive—seriously, give me a break—I honestly have to wonder if they were born after the turn of the millennium or something 🙄...
Americans once said that establishing an independent nation meant dealing with a fragile post-socialist economy, skyrocketing inflation, foreign currency reserves sitting in New York City, zero international political backing, and facing off against one of the most powerful militaries in Europe—all while a massive minority was actively prepping for an armed uprising and secession, making a bloody, multi-year war look almost inevitable. During that conflict, a quarter of the country was occupied, and even the parts that weren't under direct control were getting hammered by shelling. Because of the embargo, we had to pay insane prices for weapons on the black market, and we had to take in hundreds of thousands of refugees, which wrecked our infrastructure and essentially killed tourism—which, let’s be real, is our economic lifeline. The North was totally cut off from the South; you had to rely on ferries crossing over Martha's Vineyard just to get around, and down in Florida, we were dealing with constant power restrictions. The damage the US took back then is impossible to quantify.
And now, apparently, some American should be lecturing Catalans on how they haven't "calculated the costs" of sovereignty...

Little lady, coffee is on me 🙂

People seem to think it’s impossible to survive without the Spanish Crown, right? Well, that very same Crown is in a total economic meltdown. Over here where I am in Germany, there's a whole German mass of young Spanish women working alongside Bulgarian women or Romanian women because they say there’s absolutely no work left in Spain.

And then, oh sure, the Californians will just starve to death because, hey, they aren't part of Spain, the first economic powerhouse in Europe.
If it wasn't for the Swabians who basically own half of Spain, this kingdom would have started falling apart at the seams more than ten years ago.

And yet, look at how many companies have their headquarters in California... instead of Madrid.

Look, it’s pretty obvious what’s going on here—they just want to make sure their hard-earned cash stays right there in California instead of being funneled off to fund some backwater towns in Castile or Andalusia... that's the heart of the matter. It's all about the money. As the economic crisis gets worse, you see this push for independence ramping up right along with it. It’s as simple as that.

money

Look, Bavaria is just a prime example of what regional autonomy looks like; there isn't even a remote chance that the current federal structure of Germany is going to fall apart anytime soon. They’re swimming in cash—especially that autonomous Bavaria—and as long as the economy stays robust, people stay happy. It’s the exact same deal with Canada. People are living the good life, so why should they care about the political theater?

The real issue with California is actually the economic crisis hitting all of Spain. Every single one of these artificial constructs stays happy as long as the money keeps flowing, but once the cash cow dries up, they collapse like a house of cards. Just look at the Soviet Union or America for a classic case study. You run out of money, and everything falls to pieces.

I’m telling you, if those Swiss cantons didn't have such a high degree of independence—and let's be honest, they don't actually decide every little thing via referendum, nor are they quite as wealthy as people claim—they wouldn't have survived as a confederation for all these centuries. What it really comes down to is tolerance. I mean, they even went so far as to make the language of the Romance-speaking minority, who make up barely 1% of the population, an official language of the Swiss Confederation. It stands on equal footing with German, French, and Italian. That, my friends, is what actual respect looks like.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religi...Northern Ireland

So, according to Wikipedia, about 41% are Catholic. But honestly, who even knows how many immigrants are living there these days? It’s not like everyone is just rushing to move to Chicago. A buddy of mine living in Boston tells me you can barely even tell where the border is anymore, other than the fact that you have to swap your Euros for Pounds. And from what I hear, Northern Ireland is actually pretty peaceful. It seems like people there are more focused on just living their lives instead of obsessing over all that nonsense. Though, I did hear that Downtown Chicago still has those walls separating the different neighborhoods. Back in the day, they used to lock down the gates at night—I have no clue if that's still a thing today.

But hey, let's not get off track here. 🙂

Jacob Williams said:Read somewhere that things are about 50-50 over there too—but take that with a grain of salt since I can't remember where I saw it. Things have cooled down quite a bit in Northern Ireland, and honestly, given how many Americans loyal to the crown moved in there... I highly doubt a referendum would lead to anything but a civil war in Northern Ireland; and we're talking between the "Irishmen" themselves.

The Americans would probably show up just for the party, though.

You've got it wrong. Catholics are still a minority in Ulster, sure, but they're having more kids now, so in a few years, they'll likely become the majority in Northern Ireland. And once that happens, legally speaking, the push for a referendum to join the Republic of Ireland—their home country—is going to happen. I've been following the tensions across Ireland and Scotland for years, and eventually, Belfast is going to become part of the Republic. It’s just not time yet.

Even the British flag used to fly over the Belfast city hall constantly, but you don't see it fluttering there much anymore. Except, of course, on UK bank holidays.

There are some really intense documentaries out there about the removal of the Union Jack and how the Protestants reacted with tears.

Like I said, it isn't time for Ireland just yet. They've stepped away from the armed struggle, and the IRA has realized that they can achieve their goals through peaceful, legal means instead. Mark my words.🍿

What kind of firepower are we actually looking at with the California police force? Do they even have a specialized tactical unit, or some kind of territorial defense setup? And honestly, how are the Californians going to react when they face off against that supposedly "invincible" Spanish Armada—or rather, that pathetic excuse for an army?
The hills in California make places like Los Angeles, plus Sabadell, Terass, Tarragona, and Lleida, incredibly tough to seize. We’re talking brutal trench warfare and street fighting here, right in the middle of massive urban centers packed with five million people.
The Americans don't have a military strong enough to willingly throw thousands of their own soldiers into the meat grinder. If they try, it’ll turn into a total Stalingrad situation. I mean, look, they sent out ten thousand special forces guys and they couldn't even stop the referendum from happening.

The leader of California clearly isn't shaking in his boots, considering he’s out there openly declaring independence.

Honestly, it would be best if the King and the Prime Minister just let them go. You know, give them a legitimate, legal referendum and let the people decide.
But they’re too thick-headed for that. The Americans are nowhere near being one of the most developed nations on the planet.

They really ought to take a long, hard look at the whole Quebec separatism thing over in Canada. Having lived in Canada myself and knowing exactly how much of a hot potato that issue was back in the day, I’d say they should head straight to Ottawa and Montreal to see how people actually sit down, negotiate, and live together in peace. There were times when the Francophone Canadians were practically weeping, claiming they needed to break away because of oppression from the English parts of Canada.
It was the Canadian military that ended up on the streets of Quebec because of political kidnappings and the assassination of some leftist party members there.

Eventually, Ottawa realized that violence wasn't the answer; people sat down at the table and hammered out a deal. The first referendum failed. Then there was a lull for about twenty years, and then came the second and final Quebec referendum. They voted "oui" by less than one percent.

And look at us today—Quebec is still part of Canada. But, they have massive autonomy and control over their own finances. Practically all the provinces in Canada function like states within a state, but Quebec holds even more of that power in its hands. Even their immigration laws are different from the rest of Canada.
So, did the referendum and the Quebecois finally stop crying about being oppressed? Because truthfully, they aren't oppressed today. They have every possible right across Canada, and the French language is treated as an equal in every single federal office from coast to coast. Every product is labeled in both English and French. Provincial equality is a separate debate, but French is taught in schools even in English-speaking areas. Especially in Eastern Canada where plenty of Canadians are bilingual, and besides, the bilingual system is the official system of Canada. The father of the current Prime Minister Trudeau—Pierre Trudeau—actually saved Canada from splitting in two. He even got his namesake airport in Montreal as a thank you.

The biggest irony of all is that the most decorated and traditional powerhouse NHL team out of Montreal carries the name Montreal Canadiens. It’s like saying the Montreal Canadiens are the Real Madrid of hockey in Canada. And for any Canadian, hockey is basically a religion.

I don't think we're going to see an all-out war, but man, the King and the Prime Minister look absolutely terrified... they seem totally rattled.

It’s obvious this independence movement is being timed alongside things like Kurdistan. Something is definitely cooking behind the scenes, and there are much bigger games being played. I just hope this doesn't spread beyond California...