Prelude to the Apocalypse

[Hoagtech]

Ha. A righty complaining about too little gun control.

Self defense and kids with guns factories are two different issues. You’re a tool if you agree with this Turtles. It wouldn’t surprise me though


Edit:
And just FYI. I’m in a bad space right now: My friend and former employee was found dead in his trailer today. We knew he was an alcoholic buts it’s suspected he overdosed on fentanyl laced heroin.

It just happened and I’m not too keen on issues related to killing the people that defend our people receiving these drugs.

I bought his SNES collection for a crazy low price and am feeling really guilty I didn’t act on my instinct and interject on his lifestyle red flags I was seeing.

...

I’ll make you a deal and put it on my pillow tonight. It’s not fair he has say goodbye to his family. He’s just a kid.

[BryanM]

Man, Rich Evans has been moving up in the world.

[Mischief Maker]

Man, Rich Evans has been moving up in the world.

Inconceivable!

[Sengoku Strider]

For only $275, you get one (1) ticket to a QAnon grifter convention and this incredible fashion piece:



I know it's not cheap, but come on. You'd never take that baby off. People will be sleeping and showering in that mofo, trying to peel co-eds off with a spatula.

[orange808]

1. Celebrate someone else's loved one being imprisoned at a gulag for political reasons. You don't care, because she's black and lesbian, of course, but you think "we don't know that". *chuckle* Yeah . Okay.

2. Pretend there are no other arms dealers in the world. Everyone that sells guns is an arms dealer. Reagan handed out guns like candy in proxy wars. Did you ever take even one moment to mention it? Fuck no. In fact, he made a special little deal to *not* release prisoners and keep them longer, so Ray Gun could be a heee-ro. (And, even sent them guns for the proxy wars! Go Team 'Merica!)

3. Next, just dump a huge bucket of your cringy personal shit and baggage all over everyone else, when we are already drowning in our own. Thanks for that.

4. Finally, bonus points for actually finding a way to suggest that: Griner is somehow related to the misfortune of your peeps. Wow. Just... wow.

[Air Master Burst]

5. Spot-on performative nationalism, what with the capital A on anthem and the haughty disdain for people who kneel for it.

Personally, as a combat veteran, I don't even respect that shitrag enough to kneel. I just sit there on my phone and hit the vape.

[BryanM]

This is probably the 8th time I've seen that text macro on prisoner swaps now. Always a sudden expert on [some dude] they never heard of being an evil super dangerous one-man army, but only ever gets pasted when the current president's team is [democrat]. The name of [some dude] is always forgotten within a week, if not a few seconds, if it ever even managed to touch short-term memory at all, showing how important he is to them personally and the world as a whole.

Just lazy white noise garbage from the propaganda machine, they don't even bother to write new stuff because why would they? Text macros are infinitely reusable, just copy and paste the same articles all the time and you only ever need one "writer".

Someone I personally actually remember and care about: Kyrsten Sinema. Leaving the democratic party. I don't care enough about the bastard to investigate why. Intuition says maybe she thinks she'll be primaried, but dunno. TLDR opinions and speculation would be welcome?

[Sima Tuna]

If memory serves, one local chain of McDonald's restaurants was going to pay with Wal Mart cards and charge employees if they wanted a real check.

I missed seeing this post. I remember Gamestop trying something similar. They forced you to sign up for a particular bank or credit union or something. Some really small group that wasn't accepted anywhere. Your paycheck would go into that account and you couldn't easily set it to go anywhere else. In order to withdraw or transfer the money, you had to use a card that took a percentage cut of the transaction when you did this.

There was this really old internet video exposing Gamestop, where a former employee explained how shit like this worked. It was a 2008 internet kind of video. I think I watched it on Dailymotion back when Dailymotion was a thing. Dude was hella mad about having worked at gamestop and he explained all the evil shit they get up to. Goes without saying that unpaid overtime was also a big part of the Gamestop market strategy. Minimum wage, unpaid overtime and a check that charges you for trying to take it out. What a wonderful hellscape to live in.

[Air Master Burst]

Someone I personally actually remember and care about: Kyrsten Sinema. Leaving the democratic party. I don't care enough about the bastard to investigate why. Intuition says maybe she thinks she'll be primaried, but dunno. TLDR opinions and speculation would be welcome?

Apparently she's not going to caucus with republicans, so if that holds, it won't change the overall power dynamic too much. She's just trying to weasel out of a primary challenge that she would probably lose.

ETA: presumably she's hoping the democrats won't run anyone out of fear of splitting the vote and losing it to a full-on republican.

[orange808]

Someone I personally actually remember and care about: Kyrsten Sinema. Leaving the democratic party. I don't care enough about the bastard to investigate why. Intuition says maybe she thinks she'll be primaried, but dunno. TLDR opinions and speculation would be welcome?

Yeah. Sinema was going to get primaried and her numbers are really bad. Looks like ~37% among registered Dems. They would have thrown her out. Now, She figures she can get onto the ballot, split the vote, and keep her seat. She's wrong.

Sinema isn't getting reelected. She already told the righties she's bisexual and she already built a liberal brand. Even if she dolls herself up, plays directly to straight guys, and tries to project "sexy threesome" branded bi, that won't fix things with the right. She's still GOP-lite and Republicans want the most extreme candidate available. Sinema would be a compromise. I think she still loses, but she's so self centered, she doesn't care. She will gladly split the vote and help the GOP win to feed her need for attention. (If she goes down, everyone goes down. She's a little like Trump in that way.)

Sinema didn't like it when the Democrats picked up another seat in the chamber. She wasn't going to be the "it" girl, anymore. She loved being the one person party and she's trying to recapture that with this move. Sinema thinks she can pal around with the right and be accepted, but things don't work that way. She's already molded herself as a "liberal" demon; they privately describe her as a "useful idiot". When she needs real support, she'll find out where she stands: alone. The right lets her tag along sometimes, but they would prefer to control her seat directly. Nobody gives a shit about her. Sinema thinks she's special, but she isn't.

She's an asshole. Sinema didn't tell voters what she represented from the beginning. She used the party's resources to get into the Senate and went independent. If she had been honest about her stance and been elected doing it, things would be different; she didn't.do that. It's hard to keep a job in the Senate when you alienate all the potential voters in your district. The right never wanted her and she already used and betrayed the Democrats. Now, she wants to take the Dems down for being upset with her (after she dishonestly hijacked the party for personal gain). She's a self centered petulant asshole.

[BulletMagnet]

I think FTX is the perfect example of garnishing ethics to personal gain.

...in related news...

You trade one of the the worlds most dangerous men who supplied weapons to Columbia drug cartels to gun down US marshals for a black, gay, female athlete? I guess it checks all the voter boxes..

You might want to consider the company you keep when making such statements.

[Hoagtech]

1. Celebrate someone else's loved one being imprisoned at a gulag for political reasons. You don't care, because she's black and lesbian, of course, but you think "we don't know that". *chuckle* Yeah . Okay.

2. Pretend there are no other arms dealers in the world. Everyone that sells guns is an arms dealer. Reagan handed out guns like candy in proxy wars. Did you ever take even one moment to mention it? Fuck no. In fact, he made a special little deal to *not* release prisoners and keep them longer, so Ray Gun could be a heee-ro. (And, even sent them guns for the proxy wars! Go Team 'Merica!)

3. Next, just dump a huge bucket of your cringy personal shit and baggage all over everyone else, when we are already drowning in our own. Thanks for that.

4. Finally, bonus points for actually finding a way to suggest that: Griner is somehow related to the misfortune of your peeps. Wow. Just... wow.

Typical turtles. That shiny reptile head of yours causes a lot of "Whoosh". It must be the slimy aerodynamics.

The baggage was cringe but to be fair. It was my way to warn others I was "in a mood"

Of course you'll deflect your comment of comparing being pro take away every bodies guns and make them the next holocaust victims to a man who armed the "Kids with guns wars" in Africa and turned around and armed cartels that caused the very drug issues I am facing in my City.

Its gets even more insane, considering Russia is increasing their arsenal from Iran. What a perfect timing to welcome back "The merchant of death". Now they can get inside weapon information and save billions on their purchase to gun down Ukrainian human lives.

Laughably the media is downplaying the shit out of it. Parroting each other saying "were not doing backflips because of the trade" BUUTT LESBIAN RACIAL PRIDE BLAHBLAH

The same lamestream media described him as "One of the most dangerous people on the face of the earth" and being responsible for the loss of 10's of thousands of lives

I have nothing against Griner's lifestyle or color of skin. The fact that democratic exploit check boxes are traded for loss of life and Russian trade deals during an Iran arsenal is fucking asinine!

And what about Paul Whelan. He didn't even break the law and was a US Marine. Because he didn't fit the democrat vote grab demographic. They couldn't get a soldier out instead? Oh wait white and male nvm.. (FUCK HIM)..



Yet another exemplary shitshow by the Biden Administration..

And tee hee hee about Sinema switcharoo. Hopefully more people wake up to the puppet masters who lie, cheat, steal, and censor (more than the Republicans)

You guys keep fucking up, we might even be looking at a senate majority soon. But Pelosi's insider trade network will keep most of the pockets stuffed on the left and the west coast.

[Air Master Burst]

lamestream media

You realize it's impossible to take you seriously when you say shit like this, right?

and turned around and armed cartels that caused the very drug issues I am facing in my City.

The call has always been coming from inside the house.

[Hoagtech]

lamestream media

You realize it's impossible to take you seriously when you say shit like this, right?

Its no secret that libtards are the majority right now and are sensitive to have their boobtoob news called names.

It worked on you didn't it?

And your comparing CIA dipping their hands into the drug trade to a man who weaponized the blood diamond industry and cartels?

I just wanted to see how naïve this thread can get.

The twitter files are starting to geal real interesting and provide a little context to the narrative formed by you cheating bitches that form the lamestream consensus that dance around your fragile, socially anxious brains.

There might even be a day where can talk budgets in here without being called a racist by another white guy..

(Oh no. He's making an opinion Throw in a leather trump jacket and God Rock!)..

[orange808]

I just wanted to see how naïve this thread can get

That's really up to you.

[Air Master Burst]

Its no secret that libtards are the majority right now and are sensitive to have their boobtoob news called names.

I'm a socialist, I don't watch that stuff. I also don't say things like "lamestream" and "boobtoob" because I'm an adult.

And your comparing CIA dipping their hands into the drug trade to a man who weaponized the blood diamond industry and cartels?

Sure am.

The twitter files are starting to geal real interesting and provide a little context to the narrative formed by you cheating bitches that form the lamestream consensus that dance around your fragile, socially anxious brains.

Not a liberal or a democrat and I really don't give a shit about twitter files.

There might even be a day where can talk budgets in here without being called a racist by another white guy.

That might require you to not say racist shit, though. Just a thought.

[BryanM]

God, all that talk about gun trade really reinforced how much technology is the core driver of civilization. You have these brilliant, curious people who want to discover the secrets of how the universe works, they work hard with scarce resources to try to create useful tools, or these impossible miracles.... and it all ends up as nothing more than giving guns to vampire-kings and monkeys.

I really am not joking about aging being a tractable problem we would have blown through decades ago if there was any real effort put toward it. It's incredibly stupid it wasn't until 2005 that we had the first hints of plasma having some effect on the epigenome.

ETA: presumably she's hoping the democrats won't run anyone out of fear of splitting the vote and losing it to a full-on republican.

Yeesh, that only works if the owner class is willing to give her enough ad copy on TV. Otherwise, it's 3-percenter's-ville for her.

50% last election, so maybe they will.

[BulletMagnet]

And what about Paul Whelan. He didn't even break the law and was a US Marine. Because he didn't fit the democrat vote grab demographic. They couldn't get a soldier out instead? Oh wait white and male nvm.. (FUCK HIM)...

1) Assuming Biden's own summary of the situation is accurate, Russia is asking a higher price for Whelan's release than Griner's because they've accused him of espionage, as opposed to drug possession; the administration apparently tried to make him part of the deal but it simply wasn't going to happen. If you think all of that was just made up, feel free to present a counterargument to that end.

2) As Whelan's brother has noted, the former was abducted during the Trump administration's tenure, but despite the stink he's currently making the then-President not only failed to bring him home but never even publicly mentioned his name once while in office. In fact, if you're willing to trust John Bolton on the matter (which, admittedly, is a considerable ask), he was at the time given the opportunity to trade Whelan's freedom for Bout's but turned it down (EDIT: ...and when Pompeo was asked to respond, he - surprise! - refused comment ).

If you think Bout is as dangerous as you say you do, then you presumably also think that the Trump administration made the right call in refusing the exchange and leaving Whelan in Russian custody; if this is the case, then what do you suggest the Biden administration should have done differently to bring Whelan home, since these days Russia is apparently even less willing to deal than it was back then?

Laughably the media is downplaying the shit out of it. Parroting each other saying "were not doing backflips because of the trade" BUUTT LESBIAN RACIAL PRIDE BLAHBLAH

I'm not exactly an encyclopedia when it comes to the media, but I really can't say I've seen anything remotely like this offhand; pretty much every non-critical reaction to the swap I've encountered has been some variation of "the price was high, perhaps too high, but somebody was freed." Again, there's certainly an argument to be made that if Bout goes back to his old ways others will be the ones to pay the price for Griner's freedom, but the notion that the media/left/etc. are somehow overjoyed that a black lesbian was freed while a straight white guy is still in jail - especially after Biden brought Trevor Reed home back in April - is completely and utterly a product of your own imagination.

As for Twitter, as things progress it's probably worth keeping in the back of your mind that Musk is all about complete transparency and freedom of information when it comes to the company's operations...unless you happen to work under him.

[Hoagtech]

I'm a socialist, I don't watch that stuff. I also don't say things like "lamestream" and "boobtoob" because I'm an adult.

Well hello from the past as you seem to be from the future of left leaning society. This theory of imperialism and capitalism robbing the very wealth from the equally hard working people is hard for me to ponder as I drive past the homeless drug addicts in their tentvilles who just want to do drugs all day and get off scott free. I'm sure if we spread the wealth around these guys would "do their part" in your theoretical community. Socialism and Anarchy share a lot of the same faults.

I identified as the latter when I was an "edgy teen" but I learned quickly that I was just being a selfish piece of shit who wanted the world to step in and solve my problems my sedentary lifestyle caused. Good luck in your personally "edgy phase" I'm sure your family is thrilled at thanksgiving reunions when you start bragging about your "oh so special" view on the world..

And I'm sorry for not realizing your an adult. I should have known someone with an anime avatar pic would have a mature grasp on society. I'll try not to offend anyone else with my 90's venacular.. I'm so glad you pulled out the maturity shame card. I feel so bad. Do you accept my deepest sincerest aplogies you kind hearted soul?

I have a strong idea why you don't like the term lamestream but Ill limit the amount of shame cards used in this convo.

Not a liberal or a democrat and I really don't give a shit about twitter files.

While liberalism and socialism are close to same end goal but you cant squeeze your way out of identifying as a simultaneous democrat as you probably voted for the candidate looking to give more social services. Your vote simply determines your party registration and the left is literally in the definition of a socialist:

That might require you to not say racist shit, though. Just a thought.

Couln't help using that "Racecard" could you? and preemptively at that.. It would nice if you can surprise me with a reaction that would be unique and open up the conversation.

I'm a proud capitalist and love my accomplishments of my hard work that has paid off. I got my employees around me raises too. They went from making $15 an hour 7 years ago to them making $85,000 and $110,000 a year currently. My employees would take a bullet for me because of the way I treated them.

I agree that the scumbags of the earth could take advantage of the working without labor laws. But the same scumbags would take advantage in a community setting.

Just like all Virtue hogging assumptions. Your political identity and ideals have nothing to do with your character. I'd go on but my favorite show Paw Patrol Supercharged is on and that shit is FIRE..

[BryanM]

John Bolton's been teasing a presidential run, and inexplicably seems to be trying a little bit of the anti-Trump strategy. Good luck with that.

I'd be a little surprised if they can succeed with their ratfuck voltron, cracks like this are already showing.

[Air Master Burst]

This theory of imperialism and capitalism robbing the very wealth from the equally hard working people is hard for me to ponder as I drive past the homeless drug addicts in their tentvilles who just want to do drugs all day and get off scott free. I'm sure if we spread the wealth around these guys would "do their part" in your theoretical community.

I find it interesting how the "mature, adult" thing never seems to be empathy or compassion. I've never really liked The Simpsons much, either, so I have no idea what you're even going on about. You might be interested in the actual historical relationship between anarchy and socialism, but that would require reading, so...

While liberalism and socialism are close to same end goal but you cant squeeze your way out of identifying as a simultaneous democrat as you probably voted for the candidate looking to give more social services. Your vote simply determines your party registration and the left is literally in the definition of a socialist:

I didn't vote for Biden, and I almost never vote democrat, so I don't know what you're on about here. I'm an ACTUAL leftist. Democrats and liberals in the US are center-right at best.

Couln't help using that "Racecard" could you? and preemptively at that.. It would nice if you can surprise me with a reaction that would be unique and open up the conversation.

I mean, you're the one who says you keep getting called a racist. Presumably you're the main common thread there. I've never tried to discuss the budget or whatever with you so I couldn't say.

I'm a proud capitalist and love my accomplishments of my hard work that has paid off. I got my employees around me raises too. They went from making $15 an hour 7 years ago to them making $85,000 and $110,000 a year currently. My employees would take a bullet for me because of the way I treated them.

Yeah, expecting your workers to take a bullet for you is pretty on point for capitalism.

I agree that the scumbags of the earth could take advantage of the working without labor laws. But the same scumbags would take advantage in a community setting.

Bad people will always exist, so why bother trying to keep them in line?

Just like all Virtue hogging assumptions. Your political identity and ideals have nothing to do with your character. I'd go on but my favorite show Paw Patrol Supercharged is on and that shit is FIRE..

ACAB, and that trick ass mark Chase is no exception.

[Mischief Maker]

The twitter files are starting to geal real interesting [...]

Part 1 by Matt Taibbi revealed that the Biden team asked twitter to remove stolen nude photos of Hunter Biden, something that was already TOS. He also let slip that the actual Trump white house was having things removed, but Taibbi decided not to elaborate.

Part 2 by Bari Weiss revealed that hate accounts like Libs of Tik Tok were given preferential treatment. Despite Libs of Tik Tok having a whopping 7 strikes for posts encouraging harassment and/or violence, one of which lead to bomb threats at a children's hospital, moderators were not allowed to nuke the account without direct approval from senior management. The actual details of keeping hate accounts out of the trending tabs were far less severe than Elon's actual announced shadowbanning policy.

I haven't looked into part 3 yet, maybe it's less of a snore?

I never had any respect for Bari Weiss, she's been a naked hack from the start of her time at the New York Times before quitting in the most drama-queen-style possible. Matt Taibbi on the other hand I used to admire, and his selective removal and bending of facts to try and fit Elon's intended narrative is deeply disappointing. I guess that Elon money is good.

[orange808]

There's already bullshit and FUD spreading. Here's the facts: Bernie Sanders got elected as mayor and later moved to the legislature as an independent. Sanders got his career going and kept it rolling as an independent--and he got votes with straight talk. Sanders told people what he represented and he's done a decent job following through. Sanders didn't sneak in using a Trojan Horse.

Sinema's situation is nothing like Bernie Sanders. She refuses to tell people what she believes in and she used the party to get elected. She didn't start at zero and build her brand around straight talk. Sinema didn't do shit on her own. She hid behind the party brand and used the Democrats as a Trojan Horse. That's completely different--and anyone that says differently is either disingenuous or a complete fucking rube.

She intentionally put on a misleading label and hid her true motives to get into power. She's a lying asshole grifter.

[Mischief Maker]

This Sinema situation vindicates my deep mistrust of the American Greens.

[BryanM]

I feel the same way. They don't seem to want to hold power or do the hard work it requires to acquire power. Sanders took an entire lifetime to get to the top, John Fetterman spent most his life helping the people Ninten thinks should be put into a gas chamber make their lives better. They didn't get there by preaching ideals, they got there plowing roads and convincing people that they have worth, that they shouldn't kill themselves.

It feels like the DSA has done more to change things in any given election cycle, than the greens have for the entirety of their existence. Perhaps... the greens are a grift??

[Hoagtech]

helping the people Ninten thinks should be put into a gas chamber make their lives better.

And how are you helping is the question..

Do you think the defacto legalization of fentanyl is helping?

Up against no reasonable alternatives your alternative is letting people kill themselves in their shelter

I think Institutions that don't rape and lobotomize are our only hope..

[BryanM]

#1 thing I am doing to help is by nagging other people to please not murder people who aren't hurting anyone but themselves.

#2 thing I am doing to help is nothing, because I'm not a control freak asshole, I'm a more different kind of asshole. It's not my place. Why would I tell other people how to live their lives? Am I their mother?? Do I want a big government nanny state controlling what hobbies people have?????

Intrusive hippy weirdos like Fetterman can do the hard work of re-integrating them into society. And the fascists can continue beating them with sticks reminding them that they'll never get to be human. Whatever.

Those other people can worry about other people things, I'll worry about Bryan things.

Opium on the rise thanks to capitalists? Maybe try cutting the supply off at the head, instead of obsessing over low level fuckers who aren't spending their weekends at cocktail orgies sleeping on a pile of $4,000 nineteen year old hookers?

... but that would be solving the problem slightly. The point is to have a scapegoat to hate, because the endorphins it releases feels good (almost like... some kind of drug. And the inexplicable obsession with this skubstuff? Almost seems like... some kind of addiction?), and if it's not fellow addicts it'll be something else.

But never alcoholics anymore, for some mysterious reason. I wonder why the alcoholics get a pass, when they're probably even worse off on average... .... life sure is full of mysteries, isn't it...

[Sima Tuna]

Substance abuse in the USA is going to require massive reform at every level and a huge influx of effort and money. The government doesn't want to do this, so it has been kicking the can down the road for years. Small wonder the situation only gets worse.

To combat addiction, you have to strike on every tier. Go after dealers. Make it harder to import substances across the borders. Encourage users to come forward and get help. Provide avenues for people who want to get off the street to do so. Basically, take away all the support struts the drug industry relies on. Get everyone off drugs except those hardcore users who really want to destroy themselves and have zero interest in escaping the life. There will always be some who want to drink themselves or stone themselves to death. But I have to believe most people are not that way, and that life circumstances and poor fortune contributed to where they are now.

Drug use and homelessness are two sides of the same coin and we can't fix one without fixing the other. Our present administration (and really, all administrations as long as I've been alive) demonstrate zero interest in addressing the homeless crisis.

[BryanM]

It really is closely connected to real estate, ain't it.

Housing people has been proven to be the best for everyone, except for the capitalists. And since the capitalists are the only people who matter, it makes perfect sense the only solutions we use is putting rocks on sidewalks and busing people to somebody else's district and tossing them out.

It isn't about the effort and money (it actually costs more to keep things this way, in policing. Hey, that's another organization invested in keeping the status quo.). It's about keeping rent and land as expensive as possible. And as they say, if people could just live without owing a massive gigantic debt to "earn" the privilege to do so, that'd give workers massive leverage. So everything is intended to be this way, it's not a problem it's a core necessary mechanic for our society. Always comes down to power, in the end..

[Air Master Burst]

Real estate and HEALTH CARE. So many people get addicted in the first place because of something that started as a legit prescription their insurance was happy to cover, but as soon as they need treatment for that addiction suddenly they're fucked.