Hanaguma

...and lives to tell the tale. Bill Maher, a vocal Trump critic, had dinner with the President and spent several hours with him in the White House. His impressions were rather surprising and I am sure disappointing to those who cannot stand Trump:

Northwestern University has an endowment of more than 14 BILLION dollars. Cornell has 11 billion. They dont need federal funds.

Has this happened to any American citizen yet? Or is PBS fearmongering, as usual... Not to mention it is being floated as a form of outsourcing for the worst violent criminal offenders. Not just anyone.

Sh!t happens in a war. Especially when one side are dirtbag terrorists who hide behind civilians and use civilian vehicles and aid vehicles for cover. The IDF didnt just shoot them up for the hell of it. They did so for the very valid reason that Hamas specializes in blending in amongst civilians and aid workers.

Of course they are the killer. But they aren't responsible for the death. Much like when a hostage is tragically killed in a robbery or kidnapping. The robber or kidnapper is responsible, even though they did not pull the trigger themselves. Hamas is the same. THEY are the ones who put civilians in needless danger. They are responsible for what happens.

Hamas has long used ambulances and other humanitarian symbols to further their disgusting goals. It is a common tactic. The families of those who were killed need to put the blame solely where it shoud reside- with Hamas. Plus the Hamas track record on accurately reporting casualties is less than good. Every dead Gazan is an advertisement for Hamas. Ask them why they wouldn't let Gazan civilians shelter in the massive tunnel network they built (with international aid money). Or why bunkers to hold weapons were built under schools, hospitals, and mosques.

You sad fools STILL rehashing and dissecting the Mueller Report? That was done 6 years ago. As for the "problem" with China tariffs. China sold the US more than 3 times what the US sold China. So who is at risk? China will bend the knee, as myriad countries are lining up to do.

The folks around Trump ALREADY have millions, if not billions. They don't need to play silly games like shorting the market. What is happening is what was predicted long ago- the tariffs are a negotiating tool, nothing more. And it is clear who the ultimate target is in all this- China. It is a way for the rest of the civilized world to line up in a pseudo free trade zone, opposed to China and it's hideous protectionist policies. People like Marco Rubio and Scott Bessent and Howard Lutnick are hardly idiots. They are very smart men and have a clear vision of what is necessary, and also of who the real enemy of freedom is.

Frankly, that is true for a lot of people. Plus, Carney is trying to distance himself from Trudeau by taking planks from the Conservatives' platform and running towards the centre. His problem will be in balancing between being too small-c conservative and also downplaying his significant role in the policies enacted by the Trudeau Liberals. Plus shedding his image as the pawn of the WEF and being a globalist before being a patriot.

The poll swing started when Trudeau resigned. And now we have been without effective government for going on 4 months because of the BS the Liberal party is pulling. As for Trump, not my favourite American by any means. Not even my favourite American politician! Fav American would be Bill Maher or perhaps Michael Moynihan. Politician? Tough call... possibly Rand Paul or John Kennedy.

Most of the boycotts are gaslighting- politicians looking to cash in on cheap political vibe. In the end, Canadians will go south for vacation. The weak Canadian dollar (thanks to the Liberals) is far more of a factor than any boycott. As for Polievre, there is no evidence that he is a Trump clone. He is fairly centrist, practical, and a touch populist. Not sure where you are getting your election coverage, but the race is tight now. The Liberals have had their "honeymoon bounce" and have nowhere to go but down. Mark Carney is a terrible politician at the retail level. Unlikeable, uncomfortable, and far too cagey about his personal finances. Plus, his French is not up to par- notice how eagerly he ditched a French language debate with a major broadcaster in Quebec. I predict we will see a slim majority Conservative victory. Less than the landslide if Trudeau had stayed, but a victory nonetheless.

This is what the "don't drive a Nazi-mobile" loons fail to realize. Musk is an employer, a taxpayer, etc. He runs StarLink, which is going to put up satellites and provide devices to the earthquake hit areas of Myanmar. He is also the founder of Neuralink, which will literally held the blind to see. But yeah, they would rather shake their tiny fists and mewl at their betters.

We, who live in America's hat, thank you for your concern. But please stop. Nobody is seriously worried about sovereignty or invasion or any of that hyperbolic nonsense. Like most things, Trump will bloviate, talk big to establish a negotiating position, then get reasonable. It is happening already. He and PM Carney had a phone conversation that both think went very well. He referred to Carney as "Prime Minister"- obviously the T-man hated Trudeau with the fire of a thousand suns. Which most sensible people would agree with. So enough. Throw your support behind the Conservative Party and Pierre Polievre, a true patriot, a man who will stand up for Canada. Not just against the US, but against China and the malign influence of the Euro-fascists of the WEF and Davos.

Canuckistan refugee here. It's a dumb question.

If the epicentre was that shallow, and that close to Mandalay, the city might be in some serious trouble. Hell, I felt it here on my 8th floor condo in Si Racha, south of Bangkok. Enough to make me stand up and look around.

Long term Tesla is still a winner. Up more than 50% since this time last year. And as others have said, it is an American company that employs more than 120 000 Americans.

I don't get it. The angry protestors are demanding that Tesla owners sell their cars. To whom? OTHER people, who can then be the target of angry protestors? It makes no sense. Or I guess Tesla owners should just "take one for the team" and eat the financial loss. Morons. The protestors, not the Tesla owners.

...or give sleepless nights to the investors and pension funds that actually own 87% of Tesla shares? Elon won't lose sleep, he could lose 90% of his wealth/share of Tesla and still be rather comfortable on the $30 billion he had left.

I am very awake. Someone NOT awake is the 2024 VP nominee for the Democrats, Tim Walz. He has been cheering the demise of Tesla as well. Sadly, he was unaware that his state employee pension fund holds over a million shares of Tesla stock! He has been dancing while the fund has lost more than $200 million. What a maroon. So those being hurt aren't "small investors". They are pension funds and retirement assets that individual investors have no control over. Oh, and nothing wrong with a boycott. The right did it to Bud Light a couple years ago as I recall. But what is different is the violence used by the anti-Musk folks to intimidate and silence their political opponents. Particularly since Musk was their darling up to about 15 minutes ago.

But the basic reality remains - boycotting Tesla hurts innocent Americans far more than it hurts Musk.

Musk isnt slashing the federal government. He doesnt have that power. DOGE can only make recommendations, which are followed or rejected. The fact that you think he has that power, though, suggests that the ignorant party is someone else... But of course you can disagree with him, no question there. But the FORM of the disagreement is baffling and useless. Injuring innocent Americans, possibly costing them jobs, and committing crimes are not valid criticism.

So screw the millions of Americans who have invested, either directly or indirectly, into Musk Inc? I am sure hard liners would say "divest!" but that is difficult to do when the shares are held by ETFs and holding companies. I won't say anything as to the quality of Tesla cars, I really don't have an opinion on them one way or the other. Not my area of expertise. But the virtue signalling of the mob has little to do with the product or the company and a lot to do with the simplistic, reflexive "MAGA BAD" shibboleth. If Musk had stayed a Democrat and supported Harris in the 2024 election, this would not be happening.

To me, there are some rather funny aspects of the whole "Tesla boycott" saga. First, Tesla is an American company that employs over 120,000 Americans. Second, Musk doesn't own it- his share is less than 13%. The majority of shares are owned by, you guessed it, American fund management companies. So they are not hurting Musk at all, but rather hurting innocent countrymen. And finally, the irony of boycotters going on Musk's social media platform to crow about boycotting Musk's car company. Generating clicks and revenue for him while beating their pigeon chests in rage. It is to laugh.

A number of airlines allow/suggest this. The problem comes when a "passenger of size" does the right thing and buys two seats, but the airline gives one away. Or breaks the two seats up into separate rows... In any case, the best thing to do is make sure the armrest is down at all times. If the POS has raised it before you get to your seat, just put it down again. If they complain, just say "sorry, it is an issue of safety and compliance". Which it is- armrests have to be down for takeoff and landing on every airline I know. If the hefty person persists, call the flight crew and explain to THEM that it is not an issue of comfort but of safety and compliance. But don't let someone claim half your seat.

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