Idk how it compares to Houston, but I was teeeerrified to drive on the freeway for like 2 months when I first moved to Dallas. Also the sheer audacity of some of the traffic maneuvers was something to behold. For example, I would routinely see people turn left from the right-most lane, cutting across 3 or more lanes of traffic. I just cannot comprehend why you would choose to do that instead of just circling the block or turning into a business to turn around.

Yeah, that would actually be a great scenario for us. Dead Trump splitting the Republican vote for the next 2 decades would be chef’s kiss.

I think you need to address why cooking sucks for you. Do you know how to cook properly? My wife isn’t a big fan and that’s mainly as she doesn’t know what goes well together and doesn’t know how to use herbs and spices so needs recipes to tell her how to make most foods, especially initially.

I know you mean well but this is so condescending, wtf? It is bizarre how many people on this thread are acting like it is an actual impossibility for someone else to not enjoy something simply because others like it. I don’t even hate cooking but it’s so weird how everyone is INSISTING that no, this person must be confused when they state they don’t like a task that is broadly considered a chore by many. ??? What is happening? I’m sure there are many things that they enjoy that you might not because we all enjoy different things.

What I really miss is the distinction between texting and instant messenging. I LOVED chatting on AIM when I was teenager. When you wanted to talk you signed on and when you were done, you just signed off. Now anyone anywhere can pop up in your pocket at any moment, demanding attention. Worse is that a good portion of people consider it rude to not answer a text immediately or even still, consider a day or 2 to be unreasonably long. Yeah, I might be checking my phone, but that doesn’t mean I’m available to talk to you at this exact moment for any myriad of reasons, including that maybe I just don’t feel like it. I started treating texts more like email and it has helped so much.

Isn’t that basically the US’s slogan at this point?

Why do I feel like people bring these posts up so they can feel better about themselves by downvoting anyone who disagrees? Hm…

I guess because you lack empathy and refuse to acknowledge that reality is probably more nuanced than your singular lived experience?

Who is actually trying to make themselves feel better here: the person who’s posturing as simply better than others because you don’t struggle with your weight? Or the people down voting you because they recognize there are a myriad of other factors that might cause a person to struggle with eating healthy including:<br> -food deserts<br> -physical or mental disabilities<br> -lack of time (some people are legit out there working 2 or 3 jobs)<br> -inadequate cooking spaces (especially cheap apartments in big cities)

Huh? I don’t understand this comment. Are you saying you think I’m lying? Lol. I mean more power to you if you’ve never experienced these self checkout logjams. I’m fine with them in concept, but the way a lot of the stores I’ve experienced use them makes it kinda unpleasant. Guess it’s regional.

The downside is forcing a bunch of people through self checkout who need a cashier. Whenever you all talk about how great self checkout is, I wonder what mecca you live in. My only experiences with it are long lines and long waits caused by a number of factors:

-Many self checkout lanes closed because they think everyone is stealing and refuse to staff more than one person to watch over you

-Old people who can’t use technology and don’t want to be using the machines

-People who have entire carts and struggle to effectively scan their groceries on the tiny space allocated.

-Machines that scan painfully and artificially slow because they want to weigh every goddamn item to prove you aren’t stealing

-Machines that record you and yell at you for stealing if you move an item slightly awkwardly

Yeah, this sure sounds like the “free market” correcting itself as these people love to prattle on about.

Yeah, exactly this. I have a mortgage and a car payment so I’ve got lots of debt, but I wouldn’t consider myself “broke” by any stretch. I don’t live paycheck-to-paycheck, I put 10% away for retirement, and I can afford to spend money where I want without stressing about it. Overall, pretty charmed compared to how a lot of folks are struggling these days and it’s honestly kinda wild to act like it’s comparable to anything they’re going through.

I feel like it’s one of those things where if you’re in California, people are going to have a lot of big opinions. But if we’re talking outside the state, we got each other’s backs.

4th largest*

I just read an article this morning (tried to find it to link here but couldn’t) that was talking about how it will be more difficult for Dems to lean into this strategy because most of the blue states already have independent committees to draw districts (as they should.) It basically pointed to California as our sole bastion of hope for 2026 and noted that if a bunch of the states follow suit, the Republicans will have the edge. Continues to come down to the electoral college problem with small states getting disproportionate voices.

Other people are saying it’s Vital Proteins, apparently.

Right, and Irish-Americans have more knowledge and understanding about Irish-American culture.

The other poster was making it seem like American culture is homogenous or like descendants of immigrants can’t still retain distinct cultural traditions and identities outside of generic American. Whether or not those traditions are the same as the original country of origin is immaterial. Nobody is claiming that it is.

What I don’t understand is why Americans portray themselves as Dutch when coming to the Netherlands.

Do they, though? Are there really that many Americans who think or try to pretend they are actually Dutch, instead of Americans who are have Dutch ancestry?

It honestly sounds like they are just trying to connect by sharing a commonality and something that is (probably) important to them in some way. It’s an expression of appreciation. Even if the cultural traditions carried on in the US are different than in the modern-day country–so what? It doesnt make those cultural traditions less important to the people who celebrate them. I fail to understand what is wrong with acknowledging or appreciating where those traditions originated.

Is it just a matter of semantics and an objection to the label itself “(whatever nationality)-American”?

The level of authority that you’re speaking with about another country’s culture while clearly only having a surface-level understanding is actually wild. Maybe accept that the Americans who are telling you otherwise have more knowledge and understanding of their own culture.

Yes, that reminds me of when Florida(?) started requiring drug testing for welfare recipients and ended up spending more on the tests than whatever they saved uncovering fraud.

The Mountain Goats

It’s such a a ridiculously niche joke and it’s soooo good.