Posts by Peter Thompson4

I mean, I’m with you, but honestly, this whole country is just circling the drain at this point. It’s like you can turn on any channel in America and it's nothing but a non-stop, 24/7 loop of absolute garbage, so don't expect things to get any better than this mess we're stuck in. And let's not even get started on all the endless bureaucracy, the constant petitions, and all those ridiculous new labels they keep slapping on everything... #orangesponsorsyou

Basically just giving everyone the middle finger (mostly to thin air, if you catch my drift).

Keith Miller30 said:When it comes to the first leg of your journey, you really can't go wrong because the Pacific coastline and the islands are absolutely stunning, much like everywhere else in this country. It feels almost redundant to suggest specific destinations when any direction you take will yield something beautiful.

Now, regarding the California coast—I actually just returned from a two-week trip where I simply wandered through various towns, both large and small, covering about half of the region. Once I finish up my current responsibilities, I fully intend to head back for another fortnight. Everything is truly spectacular; places like Santa Barbara and Carmel are wonderful, while Monterey is a ten out of ten, and San Francisco is breathtaking (you absolutely have to visit the historic landmarks there), though it does feel incredibly crowded with tourists. Please don't misunderstand me, as I have nothing against travelers, but it seems like every single cafe, restaurant, and gift shop is owned by the same transient crowds; it’s honestly surreal, almost like walking through Times Square. Motovun—or rather, one of those hilltop towns in the north—is equally gorgeous, though you have to drive to a certain point and walk a bit to reach the town center, which isn't a problem. You can easily explore it by walking along the old fortifications, and there are a couple of great spots in the center where you can grab a pizza that is frankly phenomenal (since options are somewhat limited anyway). Then there are the smaller, quieter towns I stumbled upon without any real plan—little spots tucked away in the redwoods, or sleepy coastal villages where you might see two people on the street, or charming hillside towns like Sausalito or Napa...

The California coast is magnificent, and it is truly worth seeing. I say this because I am so genuinely impressed that I am already planning my return.

Thanks 🙂

Man, I was planning on touring that upper part of the country, but now you've totally overcomplicated things for me because I was originally thinking about hitting the islands, but since you brought up Carmel and those other spots, I really want to see them again. A buddy of mine told me recently how the food scene there was absolutely insane and he actually preferred it over the South. That really piqued my interest. Times like the old days at Miami Beach or Clearwater are long gone (though I hear those places are going downhill lately too).

James Anderson5 said:It really depends on whether you're staying for a long trip or just a quick getaway. If you're heading out for the weekend, I always love grabbing a coffee in a coastal town like Newport and hitting the beach first—specifically those spots just outside the main downtown area. For an afternoon swim, I usually head to a spot like Malibu, away from the center, where it's always lively with music and a great vibe

For a solid meal, I really enjoy heading over to a place like a local seafood shack near the pier. You can park nearby and walk toward the center. They have incredibly fresh fish, great service, and the prices are fair. If you're looking for something more budget-friendly but still want an amazing atmosphere and a view, try one of those pizza spots tucked away in the quieter seaside villages

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...ar_County.html

It's alright, but there's a lot more driving involved, it gets pretty crowded, there isn't much shade, and I don't recall any standout restaurants in that area...

👍
I'd probably aim for something around a week or maybe ten days.

I still need to wrap my head around the whole plan, honestly, figuring out what goes where. I'd love to find a smaller town that's close enough to a bigger city so I can have "my" little beach during the day, but still be able to head out at night to grab a bite or a drink somewhere decent.

Amanda Evans2 said:Honestly, you might be better off just heading out to the coast, grabbing a black coffee, and finding some peace and quiet...

Is the northern coast actually better than the southern spots?
I haven't spent a massive amount of time up there, and even when I did, I was just a kid, so I've completely forgotten which spots are the heavy hitters and which ones are total busts. So, what would you guys actually recommend from those northern island chains?

And does anyone actually venture down to coastal California? I haven't spent much time in places like Santa Monica or Laguna Beach either.

James Anderson5 said:Somewhere good for swimming, maybe a scenic hike, or just a little bit of everything...😛

Honestly, I’ll take a little of everything, but right now my priorities are strictly hitting the beach and finding incredible food, because let's be real, I just want to wander around a bit, grab some snacks, you know how it goes ☕
(1.food/beach, 2.nothing, 3.outside, 4.culture)

And honestly, all that "soaking up culture" stuff is way overrated ☕

Back from the dead☕

Can someone please just give me some decent recommendations for a nice spot over in the islands near the coast?

Matthew Young35 said:I disagree. It isn't all the same.
Whether a local politician blows $1,000 $0.00 on fancy dinners at a steakhouse or some official decides to drop $50,000 on a luxury bathroom for their office? That is one thing. But is it really the same as someone spending $50 million to repaint a highway tunnel, taking a $5 million bribe to sell off ExxonMobil, and causing $1 billion in systemic damage? Don't even get me started on the massive conglomerates or the era of predatory privatizations.
If we actually sat down to tally the cost, would it even surprise us if the Republican Party hasn't cost this country at least $20 billion?

That’s what the people voted for, I guess, and frankly, I'm way too exhausted right now to sit here and list every single catastrophic mess left behind during the Democratic administration.

Matthew Young35 said:What did I gain?
You answered that yourself:
"it sounds like a better solution to me too."

The Republicans have proven themselves to be an absolutely disastrous option. We've seen it play out in practice. Repeatedly.

No, it isn't just the same nonsense in a different wrapper. Nothing compares to the GOP. Except, perhaps, a biblical plague of locusts.

It’s all exactly the same bullshit in the end, and honestly, I don't even know if it matters whether I say it like that or if it sounds any better to you, because frankly, who gives a damn?

Look, I already made my point clear—we desperately need some fresh faces in politics instead of just shuffling the same old tired players around like it's some broken record!

Matthew Young35 said:They should join a coalition with the Democrats.
Honestly, I'd side with anyone just to keep the Republicans out of office.
☕

And what the hell did you actually achieve by doing that? Look, I get why it sounds like a better move on paper, but seriously, what's the actual payoff? Nothing. It's the exact same crap, just wrapped up in different packaging.

James Anderson5 said:And that’s really the heart of the debate. In almost any election, about 40% of people don't even bother to show up, and at least 20% are just seniors or folks from rural towns who haven't a clue whose economic platform is which or even who they're voting for. Then you've got another 10-20% who vote purely based on their own interests or family ties.

Take those local politicians lately who hand out government contracts to certain groups—who do you think their families end up voting for?

A large part of the population doesn't truly know what they want, and if you have enough money and media influence, it's incredibly easy to manipulate them...

Look, I get where you're coming from and I totally agree, but at the end of the day, that's just democracy for you—that's the system we live in.

Everyone has the right to say what they want, and just because some people choose not to use that right while others exploit it, you can't really blame the ones who are actually playing the game.

Whatever, most people actually voted for this... we basically got exactly what we asked for.

Matthew Young35 said:No, absolutely not.
The majority was held by the Republican Party and the Bridge Party, but let’s be clear: those who voted for the Bridge Party did so specifically because they couldn't stand the thought of the Republicans running the show.

Well, yes and no. Sure, the Republican Party had a majority, but it wasn't enough to actually run things in politics. And look, even though I personally hated seeing them join forces, damn it, that's just how politics works—it was either the Republicans or the Democrats.

Matthew Young35 said:How can you say they haven't done anything?
They helped the Republican Party take power. Twice.
And they'll do it a third time if given the chance.
Aside from that, you have a point. They didn't achieve much, but my issue is actually with what they *did* manage to do.

The people chose the Republican Party, plain and simple. They won the majority, and while the political landscape looks a little different nowadays, those were the guys who were "supposed" to be in charge.

Yeah, but everyone’s constantly riding the Bridge Party because they didn't accomplish some miracle in their first six to twelve months, completely ignoring the fact that they didn't even hold a majority (not even close). Like, what exactly were they supposed to pull off overnight?
If you ask me, they squeezed out everything they could. These thugs wouldn't give them any meaningful authority or key positions to begin with, which honestly, is already way more than anyone actually expected from them.

And damn it, people just straight-up spit on them—it's like a bunch of bros being unfair—because they didn't perform impossible feats, and then everyone immediately runs right back to the old options like the Democrats or the Republican Party, acting like those guys aren't total failures too 🤣. It's the same idiots who dragged us into this mess. We've dealt with twenty-five years of corruption and crime, but no, nobody cares about that; instead, everyone's pissed at the new party that was somehow expected to fix everything in three measly months 🙏

Keith Miller30 said:I actually ended up shouting at that little kid who peed in the fountain one day $1.75. I was sitting in a coffee shop, minding my own business, when he mistakenly thought I was someone else; he walks right up to my table, looking incredibly proud of himself, and asks, "Did you see that? Well? What do you have to say?" I honestly had no idea how to respond, so I just gave him a "nice job," and then the guy asked if he could borrow $1.75 for a beer. You really can't refuse to lend money to someone who has made it all the way into a Tompkins column.

So did he pay you back? 🕺

Amanda Evans2 said:Christ Resurrection blessings to the wealthy

Edin is actually playing this afternoon against the Atlanta Falcons, so are you absolutely certain you actually saw him...

That’s exactly what I’m telling you! He knocked back some drinks and headed over to H2O, where he took a photo with some guy I know, though there's also one shot of him just hanging out at the bar.

By the way, Rom isn't footing the bill because the guy didn't even have cash for a drink, so he had to cough up his own money.

What is even going on with these "ballers" today? I spotted Edin Dzeko over at Jimmy Woo, then saw Marcel and Plivarica hanging out at MM in Sesvete.

Paul Sanders5 said:A decent VPN actually costs money 😳

Don't even ask me for the specifics, I don't use one myself—just keeping it 901 to 908 for you, man.

That’s exactly why I’m asking! It seems like everyone I run into online is willing to shell out the cash without blinking an eye, and honestly, I'm not exactly looking to be some cheapskate, ☕
but if I'm going to commit to paying for something for a few months, damn it, I'd much rather hear some actual advice from people who actually know what they're talking about.

rapidstag2 said:What, are you lacking a toothpick or something?

P.S. Don't go losing sleep over hooligans; it’s not like you're actually attending the games anyway. 😁

The point isn't that I'm being soft—it's actually the exact opposite—it's just that I've looked into it and there's a massive amount of absolute garbage VPN crap out there with all these monthly subscriptions that's just a total scam.

Switching gears here, but I was wondering if you guys actually use a VPN, and if so, which one are you running?