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THE MORNING RANT: “Financialization of All the Things” is Parasitism, not Capitalism
Friend-of-the-blog Alexandria Brown offered up a recent X/tweet addressing the financialization of, well, everything in business and commerce, and how it should be viewed in relation to the ideal of capitalism. Specifically, Alex wrote: ”Here's a fun question to which I have not made up my mind even a little bit: is the financialization of All The Things a form of capitalism which is at least tolerable or is it so reductive of human life and endeavors as to be past a limitation on acceptable commercial behavior?”
Those of us who advocate for free markets understand that capitalism also presents an opportunity for bad actors to misbehave within the system. Be it 20th century snake oil salesmen peddling patent medicines, or 21st century Wall Street investment bankers selling pools of subprime mortgages as high-quality securities, there have always been bad actors exploiting the opportunities within a free market. But just because we conservatives endorse capitalism doesn’t mean we must endorse – or even tolerate - the worst practices that occur therein. In my opinion, the “financialization-of-all-the-things” is a form of parasitism that does not create wealth, rather it serves to extract the accumulated wealth from entities where wealth has previously been created. Those engaging in “financialism” are the corporate world’s version of tapeworms and ticks. If you have been reading my essays on corporations treating employees as a pestilence and customers as prey, I am unambiguous in my revulsion at the management strategy of using financial manipulations to provide short-term gains, irrespective of long-term damage to the enterprise. In one recent piece I discussed the mess MGM Resorts and Panera Bread have found themselves in, with both having to apologize for bad corporate behavior. They are now trying to win back disaffected customers after employing the modern management gimmicks of: • Revenue-mining customers with new and outrageous charges that produced a short-term boost in sales.• Slashing headcount and customer service to reduce labor expense, giving a short-term boost to operating profit.
• Cheapening their product with reductions in quality and/or size, producing a short-term boost in gross profit.
But in every case, these actions tell customers that rather than being valued, the corporation sees customers as marks to be exploited. A great many customers may get hoodwinked once, providing the short-term profit boost that was being sought, but then never come back, thus destroying the company’s long-term prospects. A downward spiral of alienated customers, declining revenue, deteriorating facilities, and degraded reputation ensues.These business practices were parasitic. The future cash flow of the loyal customers of MGM and Panera were represented in how those businesses were valued, be it the goodwill asset on the balance sheet or the market capitalization of the stock. But the fallout from those practices devalued the worth of MGM and Panera. When the dust settled from all the financial gimmickry and lost customers, the end result was little different than if those companies’ executives had simply pulled equity out of their companies. Another recent essay of mine, “Sherwin Williams Eliminates 401k Match Amidst Stock Buybacks and Increased CEO Compensation,” discussed an even more stark example of how financialization is a form of parasitism. To conserve $165 million in cash, Sherwin Williams suspended its 401(k) match for employees, but this was right as it was also flushing away about $900 million in cash for stock buybacks, for the purpose of propping up the stock price. Coincidentally, much of the compensation of Sherwin executives is based on stock price and in the form of stock bonuses. A stock repurchase is a very simple act of distributing the existing wealth of a corporation. Cash is depleted to buy back stock, and the company’s capitalization decreases accordingly. The money might otherwise be used for capital improvements, debt reduction, etc., but Sherwin executives decided to use the company’s capital to try to enrich themselves. [Disclaimer - there are valid circumstances when it makes good sense for a cash-flush corporation to engage in stock buybacks, but a company that is eliminating its employees’ 401(k) match to conserve cash is not one of them.] Sadly, the financial practices of executives at Sherwin Williams, Panera Bread, and MGM Resorts are not isolated. They are emblematic of a prevailing management philosophy that is being learned at elite business schools. The world of private equity has even more abuses, with takeover targets such as Joann Fabrics getting loaded with debt to enrich their acquirers, with all the above-mentioned financial gimmickry then applied. This often leads to bankruptcy and dissolution of the company, as happened to Joann. Companies will necessarily fail in the “creative destruction” of capitalism. But strip mining a company of its assets and loading it up with debt isn’t creative destruction, it’s parasitic destruction. Those of us who support free market capitalism must not be afraid to condemn those who harm its reputation. Just as I can advocate for hunting while simultaneously condemning poachers, I can also advocate for capitalism while condemning those who enrich themselves by engaging in parasitic “financialism.”
Financialization of all things strikes me as a form of parasitism, effectively serving to extract accumulated wealth. While equity may not be distributed, an org’s equity and goodwill is depleted by financial machinations that bring s/t profit gain & long term loss of customers.
— Buck Throckmorton (@BuckThrockmort) December 10, 2025
Comments
(Jump to bottom of comments)1
FIRST!!!!!
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at December 15, 2025 11:00 AM (Zz0t1)
2
Sponge!
Posted by: rickb223 at December 15, 2025 11:00 AM (QVuuq)
3
#Winning
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at December 15, 2025 11:00 AM (Zz0t1)
4
Willowed:
An outhouse picture labelled "Muldoon's Liberry" was featured on Oregon Muse's Book Thread way back around 10 years ago.
Posted by: muldoon at December 15, 2025 11:00 AM (/iMjX)
Heh.
An outhouse picture labelled "Muldoon's Liberry" was featured on Oregon Muse's Book Thread way back around 10 years ago.
Posted by: muldoon at December 15, 2025 11:00 AM (/iMjX)
Heh.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at December 15, 2025 11:02 AM (Zz0t1)
5
I heard Pam Bondi shot a bunch of people!
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 11:02 AM (krQz2)
Posted by: Lizzy at December 15, 2025 11:03 AM (NuV6c)
7
WTF is "financialization of all things"?
Posted by: Huck Follywood at December 15, 2025 11:03 AM (f/d3F)
8
Fancy name for grift.
Posted by: Martini Farmer at December 15, 2025 11:03 AM (NwnyJ)
9
Buck, don't even get me started on private equity.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 11:04 AM (77rzZ)
10
SPONGE!!!
Posted by: RedMindBlueState at December 15, 2025 11:04 AM (bFu5X)
11
Business schools really need to start hammering an important point: "is the strategy you're recommending (usually involving degrading the product) good for the company long-term, or just your short-term benefit before you move on?"
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2025 11:05 AM (Riz8t)
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at December 15, 2025 11:06 AM (Zz0t1)
13
At some point playing with piles of money became more important than making them. See debit financing.
Posted by: pawn at December 15, 2025 11:06 AM (EMg+d)
14
Is it quitting time yet?
Posted by: NR Pax at December 15, 2025 11:06 AM (lXoJ5)
15
Slashing headcount and customer service to reduce labor expense, giving a short-term boost to operating profit.
To be fair, minimum-wage and "living-wage" laws are partially to blame here.
To be fair, minimum-wage and "living-wage" laws are partially to blame here.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 11:06 AM (77rzZ)
16
Business schools really need to start hammering an important point: "is the strategy you're recommending (usually involving degrading the product) good for the company long-term, or just your short-term benefit before you move on?"
Likewise, companies need to start asking this question of the MBAs steering the company.
Likewise, companies need to start asking this question of the MBAs steering the company.
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2025 11:06 AM (Riz8t)
17
The "Financialization of all things" sounds like a step in Marx's history.
It's often known as "Late-stage Capitalism". Most people know this--libertarians definitely do not recognize it--but "Capitalism" actually had a role in Marx's "History". It was to reduce all "arbitrary values" down to the Dollar.
Once, you realize the dollar is "arbitrary" in itself, then people "become the currency". That environment is then primed to demand economic distribution.
It's often known as "Late-stage Capitalism". Most people know this--libertarians definitely do not recognize it--but "Capitalism" actually had a role in Marx's "History". It was to reduce all "arbitrary values" down to the Dollar.
Once, you realize the dollar is "arbitrary" in itself, then people "become the currency". That environment is then primed to demand economic distribution.
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 11:06 AM (krQz2)
18
Capitalism is the greatest economic theory ever. Until it's corrupted. Then, it's not much better than the rest, unfortunately.
The moral of the story is, people tend to suck.
The moral of the story is, people tend to suck.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at December 15, 2025 11:07 AM (Zz0t1)
19
Time to cap being able to deduct interest on loans to buy a competitor etc.
And likewise, we should end the double taxation on dividends allowing them to be treated the same as interest paid.
Kill the incentives to over leverage and replace capital of various means to debt.
Bring back preferred stock as during downturns, you can always cease dividend payments but never interest.
And likewise, we should end the double taxation on dividends allowing them to be treated the same as interest paid.
Kill the incentives to over leverage and replace capital of various means to debt.
Bring back preferred stock as during downturns, you can always cease dividend payments but never interest.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:07 AM (WDjG6)
20
We know that AtC doesn't like SPDRs.
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at December 15, 2025 11:07 AM (1cMie)
21
Lazy Fairy Capitalism??
Posted by: tubal at December 15, 2025 11:07 AM (pDt9x)
22
Most people know this--libertarians definitely do not recognize it--but "Capitalism" actually had a role in Marx's "History". It was to reduce all "arbitrary values" down to the Dollar.
---
That should be "Most people don't know this..."
---
That should be "Most people don't know this..."
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 11:07 AM (krQz2)
23
This is often paired with moving from an ownership model to a subscription model.
You don't own software, you lease it at a monthly/annual fee. Same for movies, music, and more alarmingly, features of your car. Hello, WEF 'you will own nothing and love it!' dystopia! No ownership = maximum financial extraction as you subscribe to, or pay on-demand fees, for everything.
You don't own software, you lease it at a monthly/annual fee. Same for movies, music, and more alarmingly, features of your car. Hello, WEF 'you will own nothing and love it!' dystopia! No ownership = maximum financial extraction as you subscribe to, or pay on-demand fees, for everything.
Posted by: Lizzy at December 15, 2025 11:08 AM (NuV6c)
24
11 Business schools really need to start hammering an important point: "is the strategy you're recommending (usually involving degrading the product) good for the company long-term, or just your short-term benefit before you move on?"
Posted by: Archimedes
-------
Elite business schools are simply teaching their students how to do the long con in ripping off everyone--customers, lenders, workers while enriching themselves.
Posted by: Archimedes
-------
Elite business schools are simply teaching their students how to do the long con in ripping off everyone--customers, lenders, workers while enriching themselves.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:08 AM (WDjG6)
25
The moral of the story is, people tend to suck.
Posted by: Sponge
Some of us more than others.
-- Kamala Harris
Posted by: Sponge
Some of us more than others.
-- Kamala Harris
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 11:08 AM (77rzZ)
26
Coincidentally, much of the compensation of Sherwin executives is based on stock price and in the form of stock bonuses.
I believe this is the case for pretty much all major corporations and, if memory serves, happened in response to the tax rule change implemented during the Clinton administration which capped the amount of an executive's salary which could be taken as a business expense. Back when the Dems first started whining about how the CEO should not be able to make more than 20x the salary of the lowest paid worker.
So a rule which sort of enforced that was implemented and executives started getting paid in stock and, suddenly, stock price is all that mattered.
I believe this is the case for pretty much all major corporations and, if memory serves, happened in response to the tax rule change implemented during the Clinton administration which capped the amount of an executive's salary which could be taken as a business expense. Back when the Dems first started whining about how the CEO should not be able to make more than 20x the salary of the lowest paid worker.
So a rule which sort of enforced that was implemented and executives started getting paid in stock and, suddenly, stock price is all that mattered.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 15, 2025 11:09 AM (ExV1e)
27
We know that AtC doesn't like SPDRs.
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at December 15, 2025 11:07 AM
Rude!
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at December 15, 2025 11:07 AM
Rude!
Posted by: The Face-Sized Spider in AtC's Attic at December 15, 2025 11:09 AM (bFu5X)
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 15, 2025 11:09 AM (L/fGl)
29
Alex. Had not thought about her in a long long time.
Posted by: tubal at December 15, 2025 11:09 AM (pDt9x)
30
Capitalism is the greatest economic theory ever.
The moral of the story is, people tend to suck.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at December 15, 2025 11:07 AM (Zz0t1)
---
I prefer not to use Marx's Johnny-come-lately name for Free Markets.
Who coined the word "Capitalism"?
Marx.
The moral of the story is, people tend to suck.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at December 15, 2025 11:07 AM (Zz0t1)
---
I prefer not to use Marx's Johnny-come-lately name for Free Markets.
Who coined the word "Capitalism"?
Marx.
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 11:09 AM (krQz2)
31
25 The moral of the story is, people tend to suck.
Posted by: Sponge
Some of us more than others.
-- Kamala Harris
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 11:08 AM (77rzZ)
*shifty eyes*
Posted by: Sponge
Some of us more than others.
-- Kamala Harris
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 11:08 AM (77rzZ)
*shifty eyes*
Posted by: Pete Buttigieg at December 15, 2025 11:09 AM (1cMie)
32
Much of this goes to BJ Clinton and his hatred of big CEO salaries. Corporations went to stock options to give compensation. The results were inevitable. Stock price became number one goal of executives over building a company or good service/products.
Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at December 15, 2025 11:10 AM (xvV+O)
33
Whig-in answer to your point about cosmic rays in the Art Thread, there is this:
SpaceX satellites avoid radiation primarily through
passive shielding (materials) and radiation-hardened electronics, rather than active deflection. They use materials like aluminum and high-density polymers to block harmful particles and incorporate resilient components designed to withstand the harsh space environment.
How SpaceX satellites handle radiation
Radiation-Hardened Electronics: Core components are built with microchips and systems designed to resist damage from high-energy particles (like alpha and beta particles).
Passive Shielding: The satellite's structure uses materials rich in hydrogen (like certain plastics/polyethylene) and aluminum to slow down or absorb radiation, similar to how other spacecraft are built.
Design Practices: They use grounding, close openings to prevent particle entry, and avoid directly exposing sensitive polymers to the space environment.
SpaceX satellites avoid radiation primarily through
passive shielding (materials) and radiation-hardened electronics, rather than active deflection. They use materials like aluminum and high-density polymers to block harmful particles and incorporate resilient components designed to withstand the harsh space environment.
How SpaceX satellites handle radiation
Radiation-Hardened Electronics: Core components are built with microchips and systems designed to resist damage from high-energy particles (like alpha and beta particles).
Passive Shielding: The satellite's structure uses materials rich in hydrogen (like certain plastics/polyethylene) and aluminum to slow down or absorb radiation, similar to how other spacecraft are built.
Design Practices: They use grounding, close openings to prevent particle entry, and avoid directly exposing sensitive polymers to the space environment.
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2025 11:10 AM (Riz8t)
Posted by: You Know Who at December 15, 2025 11:10 AM (+3KVp)
35
Be it 20th century snake oil salesmen peddling patent medicines, or 21st century Wall Street investment bankers selling pools of subprime mortgages as high-quality securities, there have always been bad actors exploiting the opportunities within a free market.
++++
The key to a functional market is preventing excesses from consuming the entire thing. This is why "capitalism" (whatever the hell that means) is not Darwinism. That would be the strong doing whatever the hell they please without constraint, including lying and stealing.
"Preventing excesses" has a name: law. Actual law, with actual enforcement.
Bogus patent medicine with unbacked claims? That's *fraud*, and you can be sued into extinction for it.
Selling trash securities as high-quality with no diligence or disclosure on what goes into your elaborate risk structure? That's fraud, too.
Colluding with your competitors to freeze out new players or constrain price changes? That's a cartel, and falls under monopoly law.
So-called "late-stage capitalism" (blech) is nothing of the kind. It mostly boils down to legalizing fraud and removing liability for connected players. It's cronyism, not a market.
++++
The key to a functional market is preventing excesses from consuming the entire thing. This is why "capitalism" (whatever the hell that means) is not Darwinism. That would be the strong doing whatever the hell they please without constraint, including lying and stealing.
"Preventing excesses" has a name: law. Actual law, with actual enforcement.
Bogus patent medicine with unbacked claims? That's *fraud*, and you can be sued into extinction for it.
Selling trash securities as high-quality with no diligence or disclosure on what goes into your elaborate risk structure? That's fraud, too.
Colluding with your competitors to freeze out new players or constrain price changes? That's a cartel, and falls under monopoly law.
So-called "late-stage capitalism" (blech) is nothing of the kind. It mostly boils down to legalizing fraud and removing liability for connected players. It's cronyism, not a market.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:10 AM (avHHk)
36
The profit motive is inherent to being human, yes?
Posted by: tubal at December 15, 2025 11:11 AM (pDt9x)
37
Private Equity is a cancer. A deep rooted cancer.
Ever hear of Roark Capital? Probably not. But yiu most likely do business with them every day. They own several hundred thousands franchises in every imaginable industry worldwide. They own Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts, Buffalo Wild Wings, Arby’s, Sonic, Jimmy John’s. Thats just a small portion of their restaurant portfolio. Then they also own Meineke, Maaco, Primrose Schools, Anytime Fitness, Merry Maids and hundreds more every day companies that you probably do business with.
All of this owned by one privately owned investment firm.
Aren’t we supposed to have anti-trust laws in this country?
Ever hear of Roark Capital? Probably not. But yiu most likely do business with them every day. They own several hundred thousands franchises in every imaginable industry worldwide. They own Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts, Buffalo Wild Wings, Arby’s, Sonic, Jimmy John’s. Thats just a small portion of their restaurant portfolio. Then they also own Meineke, Maaco, Primrose Schools, Anytime Fitness, Merry Maids and hundreds more every day companies that you probably do business with.
All of this owned by one privately owned investment firm.
Aren’t we supposed to have anti-trust laws in this country?
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 11:11 AM (udlma)
38
The moral of the story is, people tend to suck.
Posted by: Sponge
I think it is more that a fish tends to rot from the head. Our elite class in the West despise their fellow citizens and seek to loot their wealth, destroy their societies, and eliminate them as a threat to elite control. They have become quite open about this and WEF types (I regard any assholes attending as suspect SOBs) simply view workers, consumers, and the rule of law as something deserving to be strip mined for wealth.
Posted by: Sponge
I think it is more that a fish tends to rot from the head. Our elite class in the West despise their fellow citizens and seek to loot their wealth, destroy their societies, and eliminate them as a threat to elite control. They have become quite open about this and WEF types (I regard any assholes attending as suspect SOBs) simply view workers, consumers, and the rule of law as something deserving to be strip mined for wealth.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:11 AM (WDjG6)
39
Money is not the point. The goods and services that you can get with the money are the point.
In as much as the financial world facilitates the making of things, and they do quite a bit of that, they are doing good. Otherwise, they are parasites that take the work of others.
In as much as the financial world facilitates the making of things, and they do quite a bit of that, they are doing good. Otherwise, they are parasites that take the work of others.
Posted by: Cybersmythe at December 15, 2025 11:12 AM (2Insx)
40
"• Revenue-mining customers with new and outrageous charges that produced a short-term boost in sales.
• Slashing headcount and customer service to reduce labor expense, giving a short-term boost to operating profit.
• Cheapening their product with reductions in quality and/or size, producing a short-term boost in gross profit."
The first and last are rent-seeking, the middle is just excessive influence of cost-minded people, not financialization. Slicing up mortgages into transactable pieces is financialization, finance is concerned with making stuff transactable. Much like having public stock versus a fully private company.
Regarding private equity, particularly the area of LBOs(venture and growth tend not to use debt but have higher failure rates since the original business is more speculative), the business is collectively owned by equity and creditors. If the equity owners were to "strip a business of assets", they'd be robbing the creditors. This narrative is a broad misunderstanding of how debt works, if a business is viable sans debt it continues through bankruptcy with the debtors replacing equity. A business being dismantled generally means operational failure.
• Slashing headcount and customer service to reduce labor expense, giving a short-term boost to operating profit.
• Cheapening their product with reductions in quality and/or size, producing a short-term boost in gross profit."
The first and last are rent-seeking, the middle is just excessive influence of cost-minded people, not financialization. Slicing up mortgages into transactable pieces is financialization, finance is concerned with making stuff transactable. Much like having public stock versus a fully private company.
Regarding private equity, particularly the area of LBOs(venture and growth tend not to use debt but have higher failure rates since the original business is more speculative), the business is collectively owned by equity and creditors. If the equity owners were to "strip a business of assets", they'd be robbing the creditors. This narrative is a broad misunderstanding of how debt works, if a business is viable sans debt it continues through bankruptcy with the debtors replacing equity. A business being dismantled generally means operational failure.
Posted by: Red Turban Someguy at December 15, 2025 11:13 AM (okun6)
41
I think they get away with this because they make the process too convoluted for the average person to figure out. And the sophisticated players are all in on it.
Posted by: Tom Servo at December 15, 2025 11:13 AM (uWKK8)
42
Aren’t we supposed to have anti-trust laws in this country?
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 11:11 AM (udlma)
Laws don't apply to everyone.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 11:11 AM (udlma)
Laws don't apply to everyone.
Posted by: ... at December 15, 2025 11:13 AM (zALxA)
Posted by: A. Remora at December 15, 2025 11:14 AM (oftw2)
44
Radiation-Hardened Electronics: Core components are built with microchips and systems designed to resist damage from high-energy particles (like alpha and beta particles).
Passive Shielding: The satellite's structure uses materials rich in hydrogen (like certain plastics/polyethylene) and aluminum to slow down or absorb radiation, similar to how other spacecraft are built.
Design Practices: They use grounding, close openings to prevent particle entry, and avoid directly exposing sensitive polymers to the space environment.
Posted by: Archimedes
==========
Interesting. So basically lightweight shielding but not particularly helpful for energetic cosmic rays and/or gamma radiation.
Passive Shielding: The satellite's structure uses materials rich in hydrogen (like certain plastics/polyethylene) and aluminum to slow down or absorb radiation, similar to how other spacecraft are built.
Design Practices: They use grounding, close openings to prevent particle entry, and avoid directly exposing sensitive polymers to the space environment.
Posted by: Archimedes
==========
Interesting. So basically lightweight shielding but not particularly helpful for energetic cosmic rays and/or gamma radiation.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:14 AM (WDjG6)
Posted by: biggus dickus at December 15, 2025 11:14 AM (v3pYe)
46
In my opinion, the “financialization-of-all-the-things” is a form of parasitism that does not create wealth, rather it serves to extract the accumulated wealth from entities where wealth has previously been created. Those engaging in “financialism” are the corporate world’s version of tapeworms and ticks.
++++
Saddle everyone with debt, and let higher prices increase demand for debt. Virtually *all* of economic policy is tuned toward removing constraints on debt.
Citizens are incentivized to go into and remain in debt.
Businesses are incentivized to go into and remain in debt.
Government is incentivized to go into and remain in debt.
Policy after policy encourages it, from writing off consumer debt interest in your taxes to repressing interest rates to keep the federal government solvent, and all of it encourages MOAR DEBT.
The Veda got it wrong. It should have been, "Now I am become debt, the destroyer of worlds."
Debt has its uses, and our capital markets made the world possible. Debt excesses are extremely dangerous, and encourage more of the same until collapse comes.
++++
Saddle everyone with debt, and let higher prices increase demand for debt. Virtually *all* of economic policy is tuned toward removing constraints on debt.
Citizens are incentivized to go into and remain in debt.
Businesses are incentivized to go into and remain in debt.
Government is incentivized to go into and remain in debt.
Policy after policy encourages it, from writing off consumer debt interest in your taxes to repressing interest rates to keep the federal government solvent, and all of it encourages MOAR DEBT.
The Veda got it wrong. It should have been, "Now I am become debt, the destroyer of worlds."
Debt has its uses, and our capital markets made the world possible. Debt excesses are extremely dangerous, and encourage more of the same until collapse comes.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:14 AM (avHHk)
47
We just need a controlling authority to rein in industry, yes?
Posted by: tubal at December 15, 2025 11:14 AM (pDt9x)
48
If everything can be bought and sold, then so to life becomes a commodity.
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 15, 2025 11:14 AM (2GVsD)
49
In as much as the financial world facilitates the making of things, and they do quite a bit of that, they are doing good. Otherwise, they are parasites that take the work of others.
Nope, now you sound like a Marxist. There IS a role for people who find more efficient ways to maximize return on investment for shareholders. We had that discussion in the 80s. The trick is to balance short and long term interests.
Nope, now you sound like a Marxist. There IS a role for people who find more efficient ways to maximize return on investment for shareholders. We had that discussion in the 80s. The trick is to balance short and long term interests.
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2025 11:15 AM (Riz8t)
50
"Capitalism" can be called "distributed discretion".
Ownership is the societal mark of who controls a thing. Who is recognized as having discretion over the thing.
Thus abolishing "private property" is really complete consolidation of meaningful discretion under the State.
The Russians, actually managed to do this part of it.
Ownership is the societal mark of who controls a thing. Who is recognized as having discretion over the thing.
Thus abolishing "private property" is really complete consolidation of meaningful discretion under the State.
The Russians, actually managed to do this part of it.
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 11:15 AM (krQz2)
51
If stock buybacks were intended to benefit shareholders instead of executives, they would be doing the buybacks when the PE was below average, not when it was high. How can I be so much more astute than a highly compensated board?
Posted by: Thomas Paine at December 15, 2025 11:16 AM (8fjZH)
52
'strip mining a company of its assets'
Posted by: Buck Throckmorton
How many times have you, like me, heard "Our employees are our biggest asset" Just before a lay off?
Posted by: Buck Throckmorton
How many times have you, like me, heard "Our employees are our biggest asset" Just before a lay off?
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at December 15, 2025 11:16 AM (kfTpm)
53
Every system will have weak points that can be exploited by bad actors. And when your only goal, as with the Left, is subversion, you only need to find said stress points and amplify them.
It doesn't matter what follows, or what comes next, or what the plan is. It's all about destroying. And destroying is easy.
It doesn't matter what follows, or what comes next, or what the plan is. It's all about destroying. And destroying is easy.
Posted by: ... at December 15, 2025 11:16 AM (zALxA)
54
41 I think they get away with this because they make the process too convoluted for the average person to figure out. And the sophisticated players are all in on it.
Posted by: Tom Servo
========
I think the ballooning wealth of Congress critters is beginning to be the next House bank scandal. Crenshaw was stupid to poke an anthill in Sean Ryan and it is beginning to be the internets versus Crenshaw right about the time his district will be chopped up.
And if the GOP doesn't do something about the elites stuffing themselves, including pols, then I think the voters will and that will be that for Democracy if the Dems get in.
Posted by: Tom Servo
========
I think the ballooning wealth of Congress critters is beginning to be the next House bank scandal. Crenshaw was stupid to poke an anthill in Sean Ryan and it is beginning to be the internets versus Crenshaw right about the time his district will be chopped up.
And if the GOP doesn't do something about the elites stuffing themselves, including pols, then I think the voters will and that will be that for Democracy if the Dems get in.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:16 AM (WDjG6)
55
38
I think it is more that a fish tends to rot from the head. Our elite class in the West despise their fellow citizens and seek to loot their wealth, destroy their societies, and eliminate them as a threat to elite control.
-------------------------------
Yes, and elites get like this when some sea change is afoot, whether a change of dynasties in Chinese history or a Revolution. Bolsheviks in the 1930s were true believers even up until the moment they were shot by the NKVD. CPSU managers in the 1980s were openly cynical, and it dripped down to the entire party. The fella who runs the "Ushanka Show" on YouTube talks about how he openly admitted joining the party for cyncical reasons in 1980s Ukraine, and the committee approved him anyway (with only one idealistic woman objecting - loyal to the party to the end as Orwell predicted).
Our elites now are 1980s Soviet Communists, in form and increasingly in function.
I think it is more that a fish tends to rot from the head. Our elite class in the West despise their fellow citizens and seek to loot their wealth, destroy their societies, and eliminate them as a threat to elite control.
-------------------------------
Yes, and elites get like this when some sea change is afoot, whether a change of dynasties in Chinese history or a Revolution. Bolsheviks in the 1930s were true believers even up until the moment they were shot by the NKVD. CPSU managers in the 1980s were openly cynical, and it dripped down to the entire party. The fella who runs the "Ushanka Show" on YouTube talks about how he openly admitted joining the party for cyncical reasons in 1980s Ukraine, and the committee approved him anyway (with only one idealistic woman objecting - loyal to the party to the end as Orwell predicted).
Our elites now are 1980s Soviet Communists, in form and increasingly in function.
Posted by: The Lower Depths at December 15, 2025 11:17 AM (Dg7ng)
56
To conserve $165 million in cash, Sherwin Williams suspended its 401(k) match for employees, but this was right as it was also flushing away about $900 million in cash for stock buybacks, for the purpose of propping up the stock price.
++++
Is either part of that true? The number of companies who use debt to fuel buybacks is pretty high. Did they actually have a billion dollars to buy back shares, or did the company borrow it?
And share buybacks are rarely about defending share price. That's the claim, but the volumes just aren't big enough. Buybacks are usually about two things:
1. Moving shares into the company treasury, so they can be used for M&A later (stock-based deals require the stock to come from somewhere, and that means treasury shares or a new offering that dilutes shareholder value)
2. Paying all the stock-based compensation (discounted shares, grants, options, etc.). Those shares have to come from somewhere, too.
Maybe Sherwin-Williams was dumb enough to blow reserve cash on buybacks to prop up share price, but it would be unusual. There's usually other stuff going on.
++++
Is either part of that true? The number of companies who use debt to fuel buybacks is pretty high. Did they actually have a billion dollars to buy back shares, or did the company borrow it?
And share buybacks are rarely about defending share price. That's the claim, but the volumes just aren't big enough. Buybacks are usually about two things:
1. Moving shares into the company treasury, so they can be used for M&A later (stock-based deals require the stock to come from somewhere, and that means treasury shares or a new offering that dilutes shareholder value)
2. Paying all the stock-based compensation (discounted shares, grants, options, etc.). Those shares have to come from somewhere, too.
Maybe Sherwin-Williams was dumb enough to blow reserve cash on buybacks to prop up share price, but it would be unusual. There's usually other stuff going on.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:17 AM (avHHk)
57
Bogus patent medicine with unbacked claims? That's *fraud*, and you can be sued into extinction for it."
Ha!!! It's funny that you actually think that!!!
Ha!!! It's funny that you actually think that!!!
Posted by: Pfizer Pharmaceuticals at December 15, 2025 11:18 AM (uWKK8)
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 15, 2025 11:18 AM (2GVsD)
59
We just need a controlling authority to rein in industry, yes?
Posted by: tubal at December 15, 2025 11:14 AM (pDt9x)
If only we had someone with a brilliant mind like Albert Speer to coordinate American industry for the welfare of the people. -- collage 'educated' leftists... probably
Posted by: tubal at December 15, 2025 11:14 AM (pDt9x)
If only we had someone with a brilliant mind like Albert Speer to coordinate American industry for the welfare of the people. -- collage 'educated' leftists... probably
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 15, 2025 11:18 AM (ExV1e)
60
52 How many times have you, like me, heard "Our employees are our biggest asset" Just before a lay off?
you know who else has employees that are their biggest asset?
you know who else has employees that are their biggest asset?
Posted by: soylent corporation at December 15, 2025 11:18 AM (v3pYe)
61
I think the most egregious example of mining the customer is where car companies charge monthly fees to activate features that the customer already paid for.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at December 15, 2025 11:18 AM (8fjZH)
62
If only we could Fix the problem of Winners and Losers, Haves and Have Nots. Everyone should be a Winner.
Posted by: tubal at December 15, 2025 11:18 AM (pDt9x)
63
>>> 35
==
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:10 AM (avHHk)
>>> 37
==
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 11:11 AM (udlma)
You can't do that! It would be worse than enforcing immigration law!!!
///////
==
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:10 AM (avHHk)
>>> 37
==
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 11:11 AM (udlma)
You can't do that! It would be worse than enforcing immigration law!!!
///////
Posted by: Helena Handbasket at December 15, 2025 11:18 AM (ULPxl)
64
Corporate America is just doing the same sort of thing they see the government doing. Or the other way 'round.
Either way, one starts it, the other mimics it.
Because someone's gonna' get rich.
Either way, one starts it, the other mimics it.
Because someone's gonna' get rich.
Posted by: Martini Farmer at December 15, 2025 11:18 AM (NwnyJ)
65
>>Much of this goes to BJ Clinton and his hatred of big CEO salaries.
CEO salaries used to be more in line w/the rest of the company's salaries, though. Had a relative who was an expert on compensation - was hired by CEOs to establish compensation schemes (including Bob Paley, alt Disney, etc.). He claimed that the reasonable CEO pay vs. rest of employee pay paradigm was broken by Michael Eisner, and once Eisner as paid silly money, it soon spread to other CEOs.
If you look at what silly executives at unrecognizable NGOs are paid - ridiculous salaries not reflective of their actual impact/success - you see it's become shameless greed.
CEO salaries used to be more in line w/the rest of the company's salaries, though. Had a relative who was an expert on compensation - was hired by CEOs to establish compensation schemes (including Bob Paley, alt Disney, etc.). He claimed that the reasonable CEO pay vs. rest of employee pay paradigm was broken by Michael Eisner, and once Eisner as paid silly money, it soon spread to other CEOs.
If you look at what silly executives at unrecognizable NGOs are paid - ridiculous salaries not reflective of their actual impact/success - you see it's become shameless greed.
Posted by: Lizzy at December 15, 2025 11:19 AM (NuV6c)
66
Invest in companies that build steel shutters and wrought iron bars for first floor windows. Going from turd world to first world is hard, but going from high trust to low trust society is easy.
Posted by: Slipping Away.... at December 15, 2025 11:19 AM (oftw2)
67
If stock buybacks were intended to benefit shareholders instead of executives, they would be doing the buybacks when the PE was below average, not when it was high. How can I be so much more astute than a highly compensated board?
Posted by: Thomas Paine at December 15, 2025 11:16 AM (8fjZH)
Most modern boards seem to be friends of the CEO and are, likely, in on the scam somehow.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at December 15, 2025 11:16 AM (8fjZH)
Most modern boards seem to be friends of the CEO and are, likely, in on the scam somehow.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 15, 2025 11:19 AM (ExV1e)
68
Companies will necessarily fail in the “creative destruction” of capitalism. But strip mining a company of its assets and loading it up with debt isn’t creative destruction, it’s parasitic destruction.
++++
There is very, very little that can be done about that. If assets and cashflows exceed book value, somebody is going to try to cash in on that. The owners of the company - the shareholders, though usually by proxy - will happily support it every time.
++++
There is very, very little that can be done about that. If assets and cashflows exceed book value, somebody is going to try to cash in on that. The owners of the company - the shareholders, though usually by proxy - will happily support it every time.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:19 AM (avHHk)
69
16
Likewise, companies need to start asking this question of the MBAs steering the company.
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2025 11:06 AM (Riz8t)
I have recently looked into this idea that young MBAs are running companies, which seems superficially implausible, and it seems what is being attributed to them is most likely a consequence of CFOs being promoted to CEO more frequently. Far as I can tell management is still largely old people. To the degree 20-something MBA grads would have any influence on decisions, it'd be through the consulting world.
CFOs/Treasury has always been more cost and mathematically-minded, while MBA programs generally have more management/social-skills minded people.
Likewise, companies need to start asking this question of the MBAs steering the company.
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2025 11:06 AM (Riz8t)
I have recently looked into this idea that young MBAs are running companies, which seems superficially implausible, and it seems what is being attributed to them is most likely a consequence of CFOs being promoted to CEO more frequently. Far as I can tell management is still largely old people. To the degree 20-something MBA grads would have any influence on decisions, it'd be through the consulting world.
CFOs/Treasury has always been more cost and mathematically-minded, while MBA programs generally have more management/social-skills minded people.
Posted by: Red Turban Someguy at December 15, 2025 11:20 AM (okun6)
70
***I am unambiguous in my revulsion at the management strategy of using financial manipulations to provide short-term gains, irrespective of long-term damage to the enterprise.
----
Fire the MBAs, promote from within the company or poach the best from a competitor.
Eliminate HR and have management of each division responsible for employees under his supervision.
----
Fire the MBAs, promote from within the company or poach the best from a competitor.
Eliminate HR and have management of each division responsible for employees under his supervision.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 11:20 AM (uGpeQ)
71
But in every case, these actions tell customers that rather than being valued, the corporation sees customers as marks to be exploited.
---
Here's my favorite, current example:
The major airline rewards/credit card programs are valued at more than the airline.
During Covid, the airlines had to take out loans. And they put their CC rewards programs up as collateral.
Which had to eventually be disclosed in their financials.
And every one, all of them, those were worth billions more than the actual airline.
Worse? The customer buying a seat is a loss-leader to gain rewards members.
Because, once they get you in, they exploit the psychology of "one more (over-priced*) flight and the next one is free!"
And that, "10k free miles if you rent with Hertz?" Hertz buys those from the airline. (which per mile rate is not disclosed)
Cause that keeps you renting with Hertz.
*b/c they manipulate the website; your price as a "member" is higher.
---
Here's my favorite, current example:
The major airline rewards/credit card programs are valued at more than the airline.
During Covid, the airlines had to take out loans. And they put their CC rewards programs up as collateral.
Which had to eventually be disclosed in their financials.
And every one, all of them, those were worth billions more than the actual airline.
Worse? The customer buying a seat is a loss-leader to gain rewards members.
Because, once they get you in, they exploit the psychology of "one more (over-priced*) flight and the next one is free!"
And that, "10k free miles if you rent with Hertz?" Hertz buys those from the airline. (which per mile rate is not disclosed)
Cause that keeps you renting with Hertz.
*b/c they manipulate the website; your price as a "member" is higher.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at December 15, 2025 11:21 AM (HXT0k)
72
It seems every company desires to be ENRON without being caught.
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 15, 2025 11:21 AM (2GVsD)
73
So "Financialization of all the things" is the polite way of referring to "Shittification of everything" or are these two distinct but related phenomenon.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at December 15, 2025 11:21 AM (CovfX)
74
51 If stock buybacks were intended to benefit shareholders instead of executives, they would be doing the buybacks when the PE was below average, not when it was high. How can I be so much more astute than a highly compensated board?
Posted by: Thomas Paine
Way back in the 40s, James Burnham wrote of the Managerial Revolution. He was someone that went from Trotskyite all the way to NR as an editor. Needless to say, owners aka shareholders don't own the company functionally; the managers do. Same with government; the managers aka senior Civil Service run the place, not the titular President, Congress, and Courts. Same with any other large institution. And that is remarkably similar to the nomenklatura and how they controlled the Soviet State in the late Soviet Union.
Pretty predictive of late stage US politics and policy.
Posted by: Thomas Paine
Way back in the 40s, James Burnham wrote of the Managerial Revolution. He was someone that went from Trotskyite all the way to NR as an editor. Needless to say, owners aka shareholders don't own the company functionally; the managers do. Same with government; the managers aka senior Civil Service run the place, not the titular President, Congress, and Courts. Same with any other large institution. And that is remarkably similar to the nomenklatura and how they controlled the Soviet State in the late Soviet Union.
Pretty predictive of late stage US politics and policy.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:22 AM (WDjG6)
75
62 If only we could Fix the problem of Winners and Losers, Haves and Have Nots. Everyone should be a Winner.
--------------------------
Well to some extent capitalism breaks down as people try this. The economics taught in textbooks assume rational actors comparing features of products (think buying an appliance after reading many reviews).
The sort of advertising slop I think Andy Warhol was making fun of (you never can tell with that autist) was about fooling people into thinking this slop will make them FEEL great, and that is (strictly speaking) a distortion of the free market system. I'm not advocating government regulation of Coca-Cola ads, but we need to recognize that emotions and wise decisions don't go well together, and a lot of financialization is about convincing people that something that makes no sense is fine because it might make them money, and money makes people like you, or something.
--------------------------
Well to some extent capitalism breaks down as people try this. The economics taught in textbooks assume rational actors comparing features of products (think buying an appliance after reading many reviews).
The sort of advertising slop I think Andy Warhol was making fun of (you never can tell with that autist) was about fooling people into thinking this slop will make them FEEL great, and that is (strictly speaking) a distortion of the free market system. I'm not advocating government regulation of Coca-Cola ads, but we need to recognize that emotions and wise decisions don't go well together, and a lot of financialization is about convincing people that something that makes no sense is fine because it might make them money, and money makes people like you, or something.
Posted by: The Lower Depths at December 15, 2025 11:22 AM (Dg7ng)
76
It seems every company desires to be ENRON without being caught.
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 15, 2025 11:21 AM (2GVsD)
++++
Enron was a combination of ahead of its time and sloppy.
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 15, 2025 11:21 AM (2GVsD)
++++
Enron was a combination of ahead of its time and sloppy.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:22 AM (avHHk)
77
Business schools really need to start hammering an important point: "is the strategy you're recommending (usually involving degrading the product) good for the company long-term, or just your short-term benefit before you move on?"
==
They dont teach virtue or morals or right and wrong in business school. Closest you come is ethics, and you dont need it to graduate in some cases. Ethics isnt as powerful a force for good in a business school as you might think, in that it is often an exercise in weighing competeing outcomes and in business school the measure is dollars. Its not hard to rationalize a short term gain vs a long term gain. Long term is speculative. A bird in the hand is worth more than all the birds in the bush. Easy. And self interest makes it profitable. The pyscho parade is having a societal effect. No one wants to build or grow or have kids because they think global warming is going to end humanity in 20 years anyway.
==
They dont teach virtue or morals or right and wrong in business school. Closest you come is ethics, and you dont need it to graduate in some cases. Ethics isnt as powerful a force for good in a business school as you might think, in that it is often an exercise in weighing competeing outcomes and in business school the measure is dollars. Its not hard to rationalize a short term gain vs a long term gain. Long term is speculative. A bird in the hand is worth more than all the birds in the bush. Easy. And self interest makes it profitable. The pyscho parade is having a societal effect. No one wants to build or grow or have kids because they think global warming is going to end humanity in 20 years anyway.
Posted by: Frank Shirley enrolls you in the jelly of the month club at December 15, 2025 11:22 AM (fzZrL)
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 11:23 AM (uGpeQ)
79
Our elite class in the West despise their fellow citizens and seek to loot their wealth, destroy their societies, and eliminate them as a threat to elite control. They have become quite open about this and WEF types (I regard any assholes attending as suspect SOBs) simply view workers, consumers, and the rule of law as something deserving to be strip mined for wealth.
Posted by: whig
The most frustrating thing is that they don't look at the long term impact. What good is it to be a multimillionaire when your company (or country) collapses. I have seen third world kingpins. They live in compounds with armed guards, not unlike being in prison.
Posted by: whig
The most frustrating thing is that they don't look at the long term impact. What good is it to be a multimillionaire when your company (or country) collapses. I have seen third world kingpins. They live in compounds with armed guards, not unlike being in prison.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at December 15, 2025 11:23 AM (8fjZH)
80
Most modern boards seem to be friends of the CEO and are, likely, in on the scam somehow.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 15, 2025 11:19 AM (ExV1e)
The lack of independence or accountability for modern Corporate Boards is the greatest point of weakness in our current corporate system. They exist so that companies can pretend that there is some oversight, when in fact there is none.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 15, 2025 11:19 AM (ExV1e)
The lack of independence or accountability for modern Corporate Boards is the greatest point of weakness in our current corporate system. They exist so that companies can pretend that there is some oversight, when in fact there is none.
Posted by: Tom Servo at December 15, 2025 11:23 AM (uWKK8)
81
Greed Is Good.
Posted by: Gordon Gekko at December 15, 2025 11:23 AM (FGMmt)
82
Greed is hardwired, sadly.
Posted by: tubal at December 15, 2025 11:24 AM (pDt9x)
83
Most modern boards seem to be friends of the CEO and are, likely, in on the scam somehow.
Disney has entered Chat
Disney has entered Chat
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 15, 2025 11:24 AM (2GVsD)
84
All the cashback programs remind of the Greenbax stamps from back in the day.
Yeah, you're getting something 'free' but you paid a lot of money out to get that 'free'.
Yeah, you're getting something 'free' but you paid a lot of money out to get that 'free'.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (6ydKt)
Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (g8Ew8)
86
Costco is introducing Buy Now - Pay Later programs.
Now we can not only carry delinquent auto loans, student loans, mortgage loans and credit card debt, we can carry hot dog debt.
Now we can not only carry delinquent auto loans, student loans, mortgage loans and credit card debt, we can carry hot dog debt.
Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (MNCvZ)
87
Penny Stocks for the WIN!
Posted by: Pudinhead at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (Wg6v7)
88
There is very, very little that can be done about that. If assets and cashflows exceed book value, somebody is going to try to cash in on that. The owners of the company - the shareholders, though usually by proxy - will happily support it every time.
Posted by: Joe Mannix
==========
Eliminate leverage incentives by not allowing deductions for debt or cap them at a max just like for buying a house. This would lead to capital being used to finance acquisitions rather than debt.
Eliminate corporate taxes on issuing dividends including preferred stock.
I would also include all compensation to executives as being salary including from buybacks, sale of options, etc.
Posted by: Joe Mannix
==========
Eliminate leverage incentives by not allowing deductions for debt or cap them at a max just like for buying a house. This would lead to capital being used to finance acquisitions rather than debt.
Eliminate corporate taxes on issuing dividends including preferred stock.
I would also include all compensation to executives as being salary including from buybacks, sale of options, etc.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (WDjG6)
89
The most frustrating thing is that they don't look at the long term impact. What good is it to be a multimillionaire when your company (or country) collapses. I have seen third world kingpins. They live in compounds with armed guards, not unlike being in prison.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at December 15, 2025 11:23 AM (8fjZH)
I think most of them are quite happy to live like Lords in 13th Century Europe. They stay in the castle on the hill surrounded by high walls, full of servants; while the troubles of the serfs in the valley below is of little concern to them.
The most frustrating thing is that they don't look at the long term impact. What good is it to be a multimillionaire when your company (or country) collapses. I have seen third world kingpins. They live in compounds with armed guards, not unlike being in prison.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at December 15, 2025 11:23 AM (8fjZH)
I think most of them are quite happy to live like Lords in 13th Century Europe. They stay in the castle on the hill surrounded by high walls, full of servants; while the troubles of the serfs in the valley below is of little concern to them.
Posted by: Tom Servo at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (uWKK8)
90
46 The Veda got it wrong. It should have been, "Now I am become debt, the destroyer of worlds."
Debt has its uses, and our capital markets made the world possible. Debt excesses are extremely dangerous, and encourage more of the same until collapse comes.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:14 AM (avHHk)
I'm a filthy poor, but I have gone out of my way to make sure I do not walk into debt traps.
I thought I was doing a good thing, but no, now I just get told that I'm too stupid to manipulate debt to my advantage.
Debt has its uses, and our capital markets made the world possible. Debt excesses are extremely dangerous, and encourage more of the same until collapse comes.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:14 AM (avHHk)
I'm a filthy poor, but I have gone out of my way to make sure I do not walk into debt traps.
I thought I was doing a good thing, but no, now I just get told that I'm too stupid to manipulate debt to my advantage.
Posted by: XTC at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (UnA8+)
91
They live in compounds with armed guards, not unlike being in prison.
Better room service though.
Better room service though.
Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (Kt19C)
92
Costco is introducing Buy Now - Pay Later programs.
Now we can not only carry delinquent auto loans, student loans, mortgage loans and credit card debt, we can carry hot dog debt.
Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (MNCvZ)
There are similar options for fast food.
You can rent to own your Taco Bell meal deal.
Now we can not only carry delinquent auto loans, student loans, mortgage loans and credit card debt, we can carry hot dog debt.
Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (MNCvZ)
There are similar options for fast food.
You can rent to own your Taco Bell meal deal.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at December 15, 2025 11:26 AM (Zz0t1)
93
Most of the people at the tops of big companies are narcissistic sociopaths or psychopaths and don't give a f**k about customers, employees, their families or any one but themselves.
Posted by: BillB at December 15, 2025 11:26 AM (TQxb9)
94
As we've oft discussed here, the reason the youth hate capitalism is they think the current system is capitalism.
But, it's corporate-socialism.
And no where near a free market.
Our government borrowed trillions of dollars because 5 or so corporations were deemed (by those in government) "too big to fail" and that is the fault of ... capitalism?
But, it's corporate-socialism.
And no where near a free market.
Our government borrowed trillions of dollars because 5 or so corporations were deemed (by those in government) "too big to fail" and that is the fault of ... capitalism?
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at December 15, 2025 11:26 AM (HXT0k)
95
The sort of advertising slop I think Andy Warhol was making fun of (you never can tell with that autist) was about fooling people into thinking this slop will make them FEEL great, and that is (strictly speaking) a distortion of the free market system. ...
Posted by: The Lower Depths at December 15, 2025 11:22 AM (Dg7ng)
++++
Not really. Selling feelings is as old as time, and is why there's so much nuance in advertising law and why the line between fraud (false advertising) and puffery (grandiose statements not presented as fact) can be so blurry. It's why so many advertise "wellness" instead of "health," for example. "Wellness" isn't a thing. It's puffery.
Those excesses also tend to be constrained if the operating environment is fair. Patent medicines don't work and people quit buying them. Canned soup is an open market. Or, rather, these things *should* be true. The only correct answer when a snake oil salesman goes to Washington and demands that snake oil be made mandatory is to tell him to fuck off. But Washington never does, and the environment becomes unfair.
Posted by: The Lower Depths at December 15, 2025 11:22 AM (Dg7ng)
++++
Not really. Selling feelings is as old as time, and is why there's so much nuance in advertising law and why the line between fraud (false advertising) and puffery (grandiose statements not presented as fact) can be so blurry. It's why so many advertise "wellness" instead of "health," for example. "Wellness" isn't a thing. It's puffery.
Those excesses also tend to be constrained if the operating environment is fair. Patent medicines don't work and people quit buying them. Canned soup is an open market. Or, rather, these things *should* be true. The only correct answer when a snake oil salesman goes to Washington and demands that snake oil be made mandatory is to tell him to fuck off. But Washington never does, and the environment becomes unfair.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:26 AM (avHHk)
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 15, 2025 11:26 AM (2GVsD)
97
If you look at what silly executives at unrecognizable NGOs are paid - ridiculous salaries not reflective of their actual impact/success - you see it's become shameless greed.
Posted by: Lizzy at December 15, 2025 11:19 AM (NuV6c)
You wanna see ridiculous salaries? Look at charities. Some CEOs of charities make 7 figures.
Posted by: Lizzy at December 15, 2025 11:19 AM (NuV6c)
You wanna see ridiculous salaries? Look at charities. Some CEOs of charities make 7 figures.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 11:26 AM (udlma)
98
86 Costco is introducing Buy Now - Pay Later programs.
Now we can not only carry delinquent auto loans, student loans, mortgage loans and credit card debt, we can carry hot dog debt.
Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (MNCvZ)
I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a Hamburger today!!!
Now we can not only carry delinquent auto loans, student loans, mortgage loans and credit card debt, we can carry hot dog debt.
Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (MNCvZ)
I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a Hamburger today!!!
Posted by: Wimpy at December 15, 2025 11:26 AM (uWKK8)
99
>>>Fancy name for grift.
Posted by: Martini Farmer
>Capitalism should not be soiled by questionable business practices that are Machiavellian. Let's try to keep the politics out of the free market.
Posted by: Martini Farmer
>Capitalism should not be soiled by questionable business practices that are Machiavellian. Let's try to keep the politics out of the free market.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at December 15, 2025 11:27 AM (1zOXE)
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 15, 2025 11:27 AM (L/fGl)
101
Variety is trying to frame Trump in regards to the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife.
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 15, 2025 11:26 AM (2GVsD)
---
That's the first thing I said when my wife told me that two older folks had been found dead in Rob Reiner's house.
"Trump did it!"
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 15, 2025 11:26 AM (2GVsD)
---
That's the first thing I said when my wife told me that two older folks had been found dead in Rob Reiner's house.
"Trump did it!"
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 11:27 AM (krQz2)
102
86 Costco is introducing Buy Now - Pay Later programs.
Now we can not only carry delinquent auto loans, student loans, mortgage loans and credit card debt, we can carry hot dog debt.
Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy
Eventually a jubilee will happen because is the mass of society is debtors; they have every interest in liquidating their creditors to liquidate their debt.
Saw something similar in Chinese history. Regular as clockwork once the landlords got too much of the peasant's income as to threaten their existence; voila, instant peasant revolt with landlords being liquidated directly.
Now we can not only carry delinquent auto loans, student loans, mortgage loans and credit card debt, we can carry hot dog debt.
Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy
Eventually a jubilee will happen because is the mass of society is debtors; they have every interest in liquidating their creditors to liquidate their debt.
Saw something similar in Chinese history. Regular as clockwork once the landlords got too much of the peasant's income as to threaten their existence; voila, instant peasant revolt with landlords being liquidated directly.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:27 AM (WDjG6)
103
Mike Stivic : Y'know something, Mr. Bunker, at first thought I misjudged you. And I was right, I did misjudge you. You're a lot more ignorant than I thought.
Archie Bunker: What are you saying, ignorant. Did you hear what he called me, ignorant? Well, let me tell you something. Sticks and stones my break my bones. but you are one dumb Polack!
Archie Bunker: What are you saying, ignorant. Did you hear what he called me, ignorant? Well, let me tell you something. Sticks and stones my break my bones. but you are one dumb Polack!
Posted by: All In The Family at December 15, 2025 11:27 AM (FGMmt)
104
Costco is introducing Buy Now - Pay Later programs.
Now we can not only carry delinquent auto loans, student loans, mortgage loans and credit card debt, we can carry hot dog debt.
Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy
Wimpy was waaay ahead of his time.
Now we can not only carry delinquent auto loans, student loans, mortgage loans and credit card debt, we can carry hot dog debt.
Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy
Wimpy was waaay ahead of his time.
Posted by: stu-mick-o-sucks at December 15, 2025 11:27 AM (onZb0)
105
The French Republicans are appalled that you question our corporate overlords. You will not be invited to the Chamber of Commerce Christmas Party at Bushwoods this year not to their New Year's Eve party co-hosted by the CEO of Goldman Sachs and Liz Cheney.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at December 15, 2025 11:28 AM (D6l9B)
106
Penny Stocks for the WIN!
Posted by: Pudinhead
Are those really a thing? If so, what will happen to them now that we've stopped minting pennies?
Will the penny still be retained as a money of account in accounting?
Posted by: Pudinhead
Are those really a thing? If so, what will happen to them now that we've stopped minting pennies?
Will the penny still be retained as a money of account in accounting?
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 11:28 AM (77rzZ)
107
Look out! Wajahat Ali is mad!
https://is.gd/aRPPC4
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 15, 2025 11:27 AM (L/fGl)
The truth hurts sometimes.
https://is.gd/aRPPC4
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 15, 2025 11:27 AM (L/fGl)
The truth hurts sometimes.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at December 15, 2025 11:28 AM (Zz0t1)
108
Buck-
You can see distinct Financialization of Everything with a little different slant in the medical field over the last 2 (or more) decades.
Medical decision making by doctors in the best interests of the patient has been subsumed by financial decision making by Health Systems Administrators. From defining disease downward, pushing dubious "preventative" screening, up-coding diagnoses for billing, calling for more frequent follow-up visits and ordering more costly tests to pushing newly patented designer drugs and downplaying any role of generic pharmaceuticals, etc, the field has become one big money grab. People have been dehumanized in the process. And it is all draped inn faux caring.
You can see distinct Financialization of Everything with a little different slant in the medical field over the last 2 (or more) decades.
Medical decision making by doctors in the best interests of the patient has been subsumed by financial decision making by Health Systems Administrators. From defining disease downward, pushing dubious "preventative" screening, up-coding diagnoses for billing, calling for more frequent follow-up visits and ordering more costly tests to pushing newly patented designer drugs and downplaying any role of generic pharmaceuticals, etc, the field has become one big money grab. People have been dehumanized in the process. And it is all draped inn faux caring.
Posted by: muldoon at December 15, 2025 11:28 AM (/iMjX)
109
100 Look out! Wajahat Ali is mad!
https://is.gd/aRPPC4
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 15, 2025 11:27 AM (L/fGl)
He can't be that mad, he hasn't allahu akbar'd himself or anybody else yet.
https://is.gd/aRPPC4
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 15, 2025 11:27 AM (L/fGl)
He can't be that mad, he hasn't allahu akbar'd himself or anybody else yet.
Posted by: XTC at December 15, 2025 11:28 AM (UnA8+)
110
I’m just a plain ‘ol engineer, never an executive. But I started noticing 30 years ago that even “low level” promos (like say up to director level) were all predetermined ahead of time and always went to young ambitious hard chargers who knew they’d only be in the new job long enough to “make an impression” so they’d implement all kinds of initiatives that had the appearance of action but would be net losers long term (or neutral at best)… short term stupidity incentivized….
Posted by: LinusVanPelt at December 15, 2025 11:28 AM (xT8gx)
111
To be fair, minimum-wage and "living-wage" laws are partially to blame here.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 11:06 AM
The minimum wage around me is a joke. There are only three places that pay minimum wage and all of them are dollar stores. walmart in my town starts people at $14 an hour if you have a pulse and they bump up up by 50 cents an hour if you can hack it and stick around for 90 days.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 11:06 AM
The minimum wage around me is a joke. There are only three places that pay minimum wage and all of them are dollar stores. walmart in my town starts people at $14 an hour if you have a pulse and they bump up up by 50 cents an hour if you can hack it and stick around for 90 days.
Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at December 15, 2025 11:29 AM (0N4FZ)
112
A problem we live in is society has become far too comaplex, and simply large, for the old economic systems to work well. They may locally, but on the scales of today, no.
Posted by: tubal at December 15, 2025 11:29 AM (pDt9x)
113
Buck's gone all Marxist commie on us!
Kidding. While the small handful of corporatists among us would say otherwise, enshittification, rent-seeking, ownership destruction, monopolization and screwing the customer by making them pay and pay and pay to continue to use what they already bought are not principles of a free market system. It's a parasitic kleptocratic oligarchy.
Kidding. While the small handful of corporatists among us would say otherwise, enshittification, rent-seeking, ownership destruction, monopolization and screwing the customer by making them pay and pay and pay to continue to use what they already bought are not principles of a free market system. It's a parasitic kleptocratic oligarchy.
Posted by: If it's good for GM it's good for us at December 15, 2025 11:29 AM (TbWk/)
114
Costco already issues credit cards.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 11:29 AM (udlma)
115
96 Just wow
Variety is trying to frame Trump in regards to the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife.
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 15, 2025 11:26 AM (2GVsD)
So their son was a big Trump supporter and was just taking one for the team after all of Trump's hateful rhetoric towards Hollywood?
Variety is trying to frame Trump in regards to the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife.
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 15, 2025 11:26 AM (2GVsD)
So their son was a big Trump supporter and was just taking one for the team after all of Trump's hateful rhetoric towards Hollywood?
Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 15, 2025 11:29 AM (6ydKt)
116
96 Just wow
Variety is trying to frame Trump in regards to the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife.
Posted by: Anna Puma
--------
Vile people that live in a dying state within a dying industry and their own workers dying from refusal to accept reality.
Variety is trying to frame Trump in regards to the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife.
Posted by: Anna Puma
--------
Vile people that live in a dying state within a dying industry and their own workers dying from refusal to accept reality.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:29 AM (WDjG6)
117
So-called "late-stage capitalism" (blech) is nothing of the kind. It mostly boils down to legalizing fraud and removing liability for connected players. It's cronyism, not a market.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!)
It's no wonder we get the rise of Mamdani and Sanders.
So-called "late-stage capitalism" (blech) is nothing of the kind. It mostly boils down to legalizing fraud and removing liability for connected players. It's cronyism, not a market.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!)
It's no wonder we get the rise of Mamdani and Sanders.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 15, 2025 11:29 AM (pkeXY)
118
Government has two valid (one might say necessary) roles in the free market: (i) enforcing the Rule of Law, and (ii) ensuring legitimacy of the market by ensuring the free flow of real information.
The first includes, especially, criminalization of theft types of offenses, and - maybe more importantly - enforcement of contracts. The second includes primarily policing of fraudulent practices (an overlap, perhaps, with anti-theft responsibility).
Both are legitimate governmental roles. Unfortunately, both open up multiple opportunities for bad actors in government to abuse their regulatory powers.
A neutral AI might be the answer, but - obviously - a malicious AI would likely only make things worse. And governmental regulation of AI . . . oh well.
The first includes, especially, criminalization of theft types of offenses, and - maybe more importantly - enforcement of contracts. The second includes primarily policing of fraudulent practices (an overlap, perhaps, with anti-theft responsibility).
Both are legitimate governmental roles. Unfortunately, both open up multiple opportunities for bad actors in government to abuse their regulatory powers.
A neutral AI might be the answer, but - obviously - a malicious AI would likely only make things worse. And governmental regulation of AI . . . oh well.
Posted by: One-Eyed Cat Peepin' in the Seafood Store at December 15, 2025 11:29 AM (FhMCZ)
119
When does the boob thread start?
Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at December 15, 2025 11:29 AM (Kt19C)
120
Some time ago, I ran across a comment (from Jerry Pournelle?) along this line: We’ve met the aliens. They’ve landed and they want the planet, but they’re not in any hurry, so here’s their deal. World hunger - cured. All diseases - cured. Life-span - tripled. Poverty - thing of the past. Peace and plenty for all. But every child born from the point of deal’s acceptance will be born sterile. After we’ve all died out in a few hundred years, the aliens will move in. The trouble with too much of current management theory is that it offers no reasoning to refuse the deal.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at December 15, 2025 11:29 AM (q3u5l)
121
>>> I'm not advocating government regulation of Coca-Cola ads, but we need to recognize that emotions and wise decisions don't go well together, and a lot of financialization is about convincing people that something that makes no sense is fine because it might make them money, and money makes people like you, or something.
Posted by: The Lower Depths
----
Stupid people - our school system does not teach students how to think. Critical thinking would override much of the schlock bs.
Schools are, at best, a true false test. Check the correct boxes and win; no who, what or why. Why? Who cares? Who know?
Single purpose automatons, at best.
Posted by: The Lower Depths
----
Stupid people - our school system does not teach students how to think. Critical thinking would override much of the schlock bs.
Schools are, at best, a true false test. Check the correct boxes and win; no who, what or why. Why? Who cares? Who know?
Single purpose automatons, at best.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 11:30 AM (uGpeQ)
122
All the cashback programs remind of the Greenbax stamps from back in the day.
Yeah, you're getting something 'free' but you paid a lot of money out to get that 'free'.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (6ydKt)
++++
Sure, but it falls under the category of "I am spending it anyway" and so the net additional cost is invisible.
It is not zero, it just can't be seen - but it *is* effectively zero to the end user. The bank card networks are taking their percentage (which is reflected in price) whether I get a "cashback reward" or not - so I might as well take it.
When the merchant hands that fee back to me (cash discount, for example), I will quit using it. This was another major constraint that has changed recently, though I don't know if it was law or merchant services competition. I see "we charge you the credit card fee" or "discount for cash" signs now (not often, but they exist) and didn't used to.
Yeah, you're getting something 'free' but you paid a lot of money out to get that 'free'.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (6ydKt)
++++
Sure, but it falls under the category of "I am spending it anyway" and so the net additional cost is invisible.
It is not zero, it just can't be seen - but it *is* effectively zero to the end user. The bank card networks are taking their percentage (which is reflected in price) whether I get a "cashback reward" or not - so I might as well take it.
When the merchant hands that fee back to me (cash discount, for example), I will quit using it. This was another major constraint that has changed recently, though I don't know if it was law or merchant services competition. I see "we charge you the credit card fee" or "discount for cash" signs now (not often, but they exist) and didn't used to.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:30 AM (avHHk)
123
The minimum wage around me is a joke. There are only three places that pay minimum wage and all of them are dollar stores. walmart in my town starts people at $14 an hour if you have a pulse and they bump up up by 50 cents an hour if you can hack it and stick around for 90 days.
Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at December 15, 2025 11:29 AM (0N4FZ)
Fast food in my area pays $16-18 an hour. Minimum wage is moot.
Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at December 15, 2025 11:29 AM (0N4FZ)
Fast food in my area pays $16-18 an hour. Minimum wage is moot.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 11:30 AM (udlma)
124
Remember when CEO salaries were "out of control" and Ted Danson was getting paid 16x what the CEO of NBC was getting paid?
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 11:30 AM (krQz2)
125
CFOs/Treasury has always been more cost and mathematically-minded, while MBA programs generally have more management/social-skills minded people.
Posted by: Red Turban Someguy
I spent my career in a lab full of bench scientists, and the management cadre was selected from among them. I came to realize that the things that make an excellent scientist are often exactly what makes a poor manager. Someone who was very good at both were extremely rare.
Posted by: Red Turban Someguy
I spent my career in a lab full of bench scientists, and the management cadre was selected from among them. I came to realize that the things that make an excellent scientist are often exactly what makes a poor manager. Someone who was very good at both were extremely rare.
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2025 11:31 AM (Riz8t)
126
> Costco is introducing Buy Now - Pay Later programs.
--------
Isn't there a food delivery service that does this too? Make payments on your $35 DoorDash order that ends up costing you $50 by the time you've made two payments.
Or something like that.
--------
Isn't there a food delivery service that does this too? Make payments on your $35 DoorDash order that ends up costing you $50 by the time you've made two payments.
Or something like that.
Posted by: Martini Farmer at December 15, 2025 11:31 AM (NwnyJ)
127
96 Just wow
Variety is trying to frame Trump in regards to the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife.
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 15, 2025 11:26 AM (2GVsD)
They should give me a call, I got that game down pat!
Variety is trying to frame Trump in regards to the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife.
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 15, 2025 11:26 AM (2GVsD)
They should give me a call, I got that game down pat!
Posted by: Candace O. at December 15, 2025 11:31 AM (uWKK8)
128
Just wow
Variety is trying to frame Trump in regards to the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife.
Posted by: Anna Puma
Trump never sleeps.
Variety is trying to frame Trump in regards to the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife.
Posted by: Anna Puma
Trump never sleeps.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 15, 2025 11:31 AM (L/fGl)
129
You can rent to own your Taco Bell meal deal."
Flush with...?
Hey, 20 payments and this tattoo is all mine!
Flush with...?
Hey, 20 payments and this tattoo is all mine!
Posted by: man at December 15, 2025 11:32 AM (XuXeR)
130
Just wow
Variety is trying to frame Trump in regards to the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife.
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 15, 2025 11:26 AM (2GVsD)
——
I predicted that last night when I first heard about meathead. It will be all over the democrat propaganda outlets.
Variety is trying to frame Trump in regards to the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife.
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 15, 2025 11:26 AM (2GVsD)
——
I predicted that last night when I first heard about meathead. It will be all over the democrat propaganda outlets.
Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at December 15, 2025 11:32 AM (xvV+O)
131
I'm a filthy poor, but I have gone out of my way to make sure I do not walk into debt traps.
I thought I was doing a good thing, but no, now I just get told that I'm too stupid to manipulate debt to my advantage.
Posted by: XTC at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (UnA8+)
Answer a simple question: Do you want to be ensnared in a perpetual storm of wondering about the state of your money.......or do you want to be free?
I thought I was doing a good thing, but no, now I just get told that I'm too stupid to manipulate debt to my advantage.
Posted by: XTC at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (UnA8+)
Answer a simple question: Do you want to be ensnared in a perpetual storm of wondering about the state of your money.......or do you want to be free?
Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at December 15, 2025 11:33 AM (g8Ew8)
132
My limited experience with financial schemes is they are often exploiting a law, regulation, revenue ruling, private letter ruling, revenue procedure, etc, etc. More of those will only make things worse.
Posted by: Oglebay at December 15, 2025 11:33 AM (2ap+5)
133
110 I’m just a plain ‘ol engineer, never an executive. But I started noticing 30 years ago that even “low level” promos (like say up to director level) were all predetermined ahead of time and always went to young ambitious hard chargers who knew they’d only be in the new job long enough to “make an impression” so they’d implement all kinds of initiatives that had the appearance of action but would be net losers long term (or neutral at best)… short term stupidity incentivized….
Posted by: LinusVanPelt at December 15, 2025 11:28 AM (xT8gx)
This is a form of organizational decay that larger orgs tend to suffer. Changes for the sake of change so that credit can accrue to certain elements of management. This is theoretically solved by ownership correcting incentives, but in large companies only the biggest executives will have enough impact on the business as a whole to be concerned about the negative effects of making arbitrary changes.
Posted by: LinusVanPelt at December 15, 2025 11:28 AM (xT8gx)
This is a form of organizational decay that larger orgs tend to suffer. Changes for the sake of change so that credit can accrue to certain elements of management. This is theoretically solved by ownership correcting incentives, but in large companies only the biggest executives will have enough impact on the business as a whole to be concerned about the negative effects of making arbitrary changes.
Posted by: Red Turban Someguy at December 15, 2025 11:33 AM (okun6)
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at December 15, 2025 11:33 AM (Zz0t1)
135
So their son was a big Trump supporter and was just taking one for the team after all of Trump's hateful rhetoric towards Hollywood?
Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 15, 2025 11:29 AM (6ydKt)
---
Even if he was politically a leftist, they'll find his one-time stay at Trump Towers or an old New Jersey Generals jersey "suspicious".
Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 15, 2025 11:29 AM (6ydKt)
---
Even if he was politically a leftist, they'll find his one-time stay at Trump Towers or an old New Jersey Generals jersey "suspicious".
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 11:34 AM (krQz2)
136
93 Most of the people at the tops of big companies are narcissistic sociopaths or psychopaths and don't give a f**k about customers, employees, their families or any one but themselves.
Posted by: BillB
No less than big government, big charity, etc. Individuals might but overall large organizations resemble baronial holdings where the titular lord of the moment grabs whatever he can from the backs of the workers and rival barons. The king (shareholders in this exercise) exert little if any control unless they gather an army and besiege the current management and board by siege tactics.
Posted by: BillB
No less than big government, big charity, etc. Individuals might but overall large organizations resemble baronial holdings where the titular lord of the moment grabs whatever he can from the backs of the workers and rival barons. The king (shareholders in this exercise) exert little if any control unless they gather an army and besiege the current management and board by siege tactics.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:34 AM (WDjG6)
137
A neutral AI might be the answer, but - obviously - a malicious AI would likely only make things worse. And governmental regulation of AI . . . oh well.
Posted by: One-Eyed Cat Peepin' in the Seafood Store at December 15, 2025 11:29 AM (FhMCZ)
Harlan Ellison wrote this short story. Didn't end well for humanity.
Posted by: One-Eyed Cat Peepin' in the Seafood Store at December 15, 2025 11:29 AM (FhMCZ)
Harlan Ellison wrote this short story. Didn't end well for humanity.
Posted by: Allied Mastercomputer hates you at December 15, 2025 11:34 AM (TbWk/)
138
Variety is trying to frame Trump in regards to the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife.
Posted by: Anna Puma
Trump is just an accessory. It was his ballroom that actually did the deed.
Posted by: Anna Puma
Trump is just an accessory. It was his ballroom that actually did the deed.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 11:34 AM (77rzZ)
139
Trump killed Reiner.
Trump killed the Brown students.
Trump sure does a lot of killing in the eyes of liberals.
Trump killed the Brown students.
Trump sure does a lot of killing in the eyes of liberals.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at December 15, 2025 11:34 AM (Zz0t1)
140
There are all sorts of schemes out there, right now, to control rampant capitalism in all of its’ forms and distortions. None of them seem too appealing when put into practice, and allowed to be managed by the Solons of We Know Better. It’s just an inherent problem.
Posted by: tubal at December 15, 2025 11:35 AM (pDt9x)
141
110 I’m just a plain ‘ol engineer, never an executive. But I started noticing 30 years ago that even “low level” promos (like say up to director level) were all predetermined ahead of time and always went to young ambitious hard chargers who knew they’d only be in the new job long enough to “make an impression” so they’d implement all kinds of initiatives that had the appearance of action but would be net losers long term (or neutral at best)… short term stupidity incentivized….
Posted by: LinusVanPelt
======
Not much different in academia.
Posted by: LinusVanPelt
======
Not much different in academia.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:35 AM (WDjG6)
142
So it was a Ballroom Blitz?
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 15, 2025 11:35 AM (2GVsD)
143
Eventually a jubilee will happen because is the mass of society is debtors; they have every interest in liquidating their creditors to liquidate their debt. ...
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:27 AM (WDjG6)
++++
There is a much, much better solution than the Jubilee. The Jubilee does work after a fashion, but it's collective punishment and reward. The Italians and then the Northerners came up with a much better system: bankruptcy. Bankruptcy punishes both the borrower *and* the lender. The borrower won't get credit again any time soon and if the lender screws up too badly, he fails and also goes bankrupt.
Bankruptcy essentially *is* a Jubilee, just at the micro level instead of the macro.
One of the major problems (beyond capital price repression) we've had since the lead-up to the S&L crisis is policy movement to avoid bankruptcy at all costs. Continental Illinois should have gone bankrupt, not been bailed out. Long-Term Capital Management should have gone bankrupt, not been bailed out. Bear Stearns should have gone bankrupt, not been bailed out.
A capital market *needs* bankruptcy to function properly.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:27 AM (WDjG6)
++++
There is a much, much better solution than the Jubilee. The Jubilee does work after a fashion, but it's collective punishment and reward. The Italians and then the Northerners came up with a much better system: bankruptcy. Bankruptcy punishes both the borrower *and* the lender. The borrower won't get credit again any time soon and if the lender screws up too badly, he fails and also goes bankrupt.
Bankruptcy essentially *is* a Jubilee, just at the micro level instead of the macro.
One of the major problems (beyond capital price repression) we've had since the lead-up to the S&L crisis is policy movement to avoid bankruptcy at all costs. Continental Illinois should have gone bankrupt, not been bailed out. Long-Term Capital Management should have gone bankrupt, not been bailed out. Bear Stearns should have gone bankrupt, not been bailed out.
A capital market *needs* bankruptcy to function properly.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:35 AM (avHHk)
144
77 Business schools really need to start hammering an important point: "is the strategy you're recommending (usually involving degrading the product) good for the company long-term, or just your short-term benefit before you move on?"
==
They dont teach virtue or morals or right and wrong in business school. Closest you come is ethics, and you dont need it to graduate in some cases... Its not hard to rationalize a short term gain vs a long term gain. Long term is speculative. A bird in the hand is worth more than all the birds in the bush.
I think it depends on how you define things like long vs. short term. I would certainly put "long-term" at much less than 20 years. Ethics are important, but as we've seen in the age of DEI and climate change, one person's ethics is another person's abandonment of their fiduciary responsibility.
==
They dont teach virtue or morals or right and wrong in business school. Closest you come is ethics, and you dont need it to graduate in some cases... Its not hard to rationalize a short term gain vs a long term gain. Long term is speculative. A bird in the hand is worth more than all the birds in the bush.
I think it depends on how you define things like long vs. short term. I would certainly put "long-term" at much less than 20 years. Ethics are important, but as we've seen in the age of DEI and climate change, one person's ethics is another person's abandonment of their fiduciary responsibility.
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2025 11:35 AM (Riz8t)
145
Anyone remember the OLD Sabarros pizza?
Posted by: hurricane567 at December 15, 2025 11:35 AM (1V/nS)
146
In as much as the financial world facilitates the making of things, and they do quite a bit of that, they are doing good. Otherwise, they are parasites that take the work of others.
Nope, now you sound like a Marxist. There IS a role for people who find more efficient ways to maximize return on investment for shareholders. We had that discussion in the 80s. The trick is to balance short and long term interests.
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2025 11:15 AM
Apparently, I wasn't clear. Finding more efficient ways to maximize return on investment IS facilitating the making of things and providing of services. No Marxism needed.
Nope, now you sound like a Marxist. There IS a role for people who find more efficient ways to maximize return on investment for shareholders. We had that discussion in the 80s. The trick is to balance short and long term interests.
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2025 11:15 AM
Apparently, I wasn't clear. Finding more efficient ways to maximize return on investment IS facilitating the making of things and providing of services. No Marxism needed.
Posted by: Cybersmythe at December 15, 2025 11:35 AM (2Insx)
147
Unfortunately, both open up multiple opportunities for bad actors in government to abuse their regulatory powers."
"When buying and selling are regulated, the first things bought and sold are the regulators"
/ some smart person
"When buying and selling are regulated, the first things bought and sold are the regulators"
/ some smart person
Posted by: man at December 15, 2025 11:36 AM (XuXeR)
148
Cash back or mileage cards are great for people who are disciplined and know how to work the system. I have a credit card that pays 5% on gas. I use it only for gas always pay it off every month.
Airline cards are the best because they always give you a sign up bonus. 50k, 75k, even 100k miles if you spend a certain amount in 3 months or whatever. So sign up spend the amount pay it off. Get the miles, then cancel the card. Rinse and repeat with the next one.
People like me are loss leaders for the cards. Because most people sign up get the 100k miles but then spend $5k in interest over the next 10 years paying it off.
Don't hate the player hate the game.
Airline cards are the best because they always give you a sign up bonus. 50k, 75k, even 100k miles if you spend a certain amount in 3 months or whatever. So sign up spend the amount pay it off. Get the miles, then cancel the card. Rinse and repeat with the next one.
People like me are loss leaders for the cards. Because most people sign up get the 100k miles but then spend $5k in interest over the next 10 years paying it off.
Don't hate the player hate the game.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 11:36 AM (udlma)
149
125 CFOs/Treasury has always been more cost and mathematically-minded, while MBA programs generally have more management/social-skills minded people.
Posted by: Red Turban Someguy
I spent my career in a lab full of bench scientists, and the management cadre was selected from among them. I came to realize that the things that make an excellent scientist are often exactly what makes a poor manager. Someone who was very good at both were extremely rare.
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2025 11:31 AM (Riz8t)
Yeah, it's really a balance that is required. You basically have two opposite extremes, one where only cost and "numbers" matter, because that's what they see and understand, and the other where only the product matters, as that's the world they understand, independent of cost. Customers can't afford the super-product and don't want to buy something of unreasonably bad quality either. Ideally the cost guys are getting rid of unnecessary waste and the operations guys are adding features customers actually find a good value.
Posted by: Red Turban Someguy
I spent my career in a lab full of bench scientists, and the management cadre was selected from among them. I came to realize that the things that make an excellent scientist are often exactly what makes a poor manager. Someone who was very good at both were extremely rare.
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2025 11:31 AM (Riz8t)
Yeah, it's really a balance that is required. You basically have two opposite extremes, one where only cost and "numbers" matter, because that's what they see and understand, and the other where only the product matters, as that's the world they understand, independent of cost. Customers can't afford the super-product and don't want to buy something of unreasonably bad quality either. Ideally the cost guys are getting rid of unnecessary waste and the operations guys are adding features customers actually find a good value.
Posted by: Red Turban Someguy at December 15, 2025 11:37 AM (okun6)
150
Last night I was listening to Spinal Tap while wrapping Christmas gifts. Then I wake up to news of Rob Reiner's death.
Makes me wonder if I should listen to some Diddy tonight.
Makes me wonder if I should listen to some Diddy tonight.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at December 15, 2025 11:37 AM (KTHZX)
151
It says something about the world that things like how you enter a building with your associates needs to be carefully considered if you want to get ahead.
Posted by: Oglebay at December 15, 2025 11:37 AM (2ap+5)
152
72 It seems every company desires to be ENRON without being caught.
Posted by: Anna Puma
---
Enron didn't break the laws. The law broke them.
See: Harvey Weinstein & Co.
Posted by: Anna Puma
---
Enron didn't break the laws. The law broke them.
See: Harvey Weinstein & Co.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 11:37 AM (uGpeQ)
153
Speaking of bankruptcy,
After 42 years in operation, the last 15 being something even Gordon Gecko would be embarrassed by, the anime studio named GAINAX has finally closed its door and ceased to exist.
After 42 years in operation, the last 15 being something even Gordon Gecko would be embarrassed by, the anime studio named GAINAX has finally closed its door and ceased to exist.
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 15, 2025 11:37 AM (2GVsD)
154
Costco is introducing Buy Now - Pay Later programs.
Now we can not only carry delinquent auto loans, student loans, mortgage loans and credit card debt, we can carry hot dog debt.
Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (MNCvZ)
And thousands of yoots who have every single one of those apps on their phone and use all of them will complain about how mush easier olds had it because we didn't have a million disposable plastic tchotchkes to spend money we didn't have on.
Now we can not only carry delinquent auto loans, student loans, mortgage loans and credit card debt, we can carry hot dog debt.
Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (MNCvZ)
And thousands of yoots who have every single one of those apps on their phone and use all of them will complain about how mush easier olds had it because we didn't have a million disposable plastic tchotchkes to spend money we didn't have on.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 15, 2025 11:38 AM (ExV1e)
155
OT-Apparently the Bondi hero who tackled one of the gunmen has had a Go Fund me set up for him. And Jewish investment banker Bill Ackman has contributed a huge amount ( Ackman's contribution is not mentioned here, but I read of it elsewhere). I think Ackman has had his eyes opened to the anti semetism of the left as well as the dangers of Islam ( if he didn't know the latter already)
https://tinyurl.com/ymbt6ed5
https://tinyurl.com/ymbt6ed5
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 15, 2025 11:38 AM (ix8EF)
156
112 A problem we live in is society has become far too comaplex, and simply large, for the old economic systems to work well. They may locally, but on the scales of today, no.
---------------------
I think this seems intuitively true, but I'm not actually sure if it is in fact. Manufacturing has never been easier on small scales. Other than servers and (perhaps) cloud services, there is no legitimate need for massive capital in a tech company (AI is trash; some of the best video games recently had extremely small dev teams working on tiny budgets).
I think that the corporate overlords created a bullshit system with absurd global supply chains in part to make themselves seem indispensable (or at least that has been the effect of their actions). But there really isn't a need for a massive conglomerate to manufacture something in Indonesia using Chinese components that will be fully assembled in Mexico. It's just moving stuff around to get unit labor price down slightly so the CEO's bonus goes up.
---------------------
I think this seems intuitively true, but I'm not actually sure if it is in fact. Manufacturing has never been easier on small scales. Other than servers and (perhaps) cloud services, there is no legitimate need for massive capital in a tech company (AI is trash; some of the best video games recently had extremely small dev teams working on tiny budgets).
I think that the corporate overlords created a bullshit system with absurd global supply chains in part to make themselves seem indispensable (or at least that has been the effect of their actions). But there really isn't a need for a massive conglomerate to manufacture something in Indonesia using Chinese components that will be fully assembled in Mexico. It's just moving stuff around to get unit labor price down slightly so the CEO's bonus goes up.
Posted by: The Lower Depths at December 15, 2025 11:38 AM (Dg7ng)
157
Yeah, you're getting something 'free' but you paid a lot of money out to get that 'free'.
Posted by: SpeakingOf
*******
Whenever the cashier at the Wiggly Piggly hands me my receipt and tells me I saved 14 dollars and 82 cents today, I gently correct her and point out that, "Actually no. I spent $287.48..."
Posted by: SpeakingOf
*******
Whenever the cashier at the Wiggly Piggly hands me my receipt and tells me I saved 14 dollars and 82 cents today, I gently correct her and point out that, "Actually no. I spent $287.48..."
Posted by: muldoon at December 15, 2025 11:38 AM (/iMjX)
158
re Australia Bondi Beach shooting of Jews-
The make and model of the rifles use may be identified, per foreign outlets: Beretta BRX1. Probably chambered for .308.
https://tinyurl.com/fsmasyvc
Looks like the weapon in the available photos.
It is NOT semi-auto. Bolt action, with a straight-pull bolt. According to Beretta, a practiced user can fire this weapon faster than using a typical bolt action that is a turn-pull-push-turn bolt. YMMV
The make and model of the rifles use may be identified, per foreign outlets: Beretta BRX1. Probably chambered for .308.
https://tinyurl.com/fsmasyvc
Looks like the weapon in the available photos.
It is NOT semi-auto. Bolt action, with a straight-pull bolt. According to Beretta, a practiced user can fire this weapon faster than using a typical bolt action that is a turn-pull-push-turn bolt. YMMV
Posted by: Gref at December 15, 2025 11:38 AM (5rh/l)
159
... People like me are loss leaders for the cards. Because most people sign up get the 100k miles but then spend $5k in interest over the next 10 years paying it off. ...
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 11:36 AM (udlma)
++++
Credit card companies have a name for people who pay off their balances every month, never pay interest and collect rewards: "deadbeats."
At least, it used to. Not sure if they still refer to people who do that as "deadbeats."
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 11:36 AM (udlma)
++++
Credit card companies have a name for people who pay off their balances every month, never pay interest and collect rewards: "deadbeats."
At least, it used to. Not sure if they still refer to people who do that as "deadbeats."
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:38 AM (avHHk)
160
Kidding. While the small handful of corporatists among us would say otherwise, enshittification, rent-seeking, ownership destruction, monopolization and screwing the customer by making them pay and pay and pay to continue to use what they already bought are not principles of a free market system. It's a parasitic kleptocratic oligarchy.
Posted by: If it's good for GM it's good for us at December 15, 2025 11:29 AM (TbWk/)
---
It should be remembered that in America "The Market" was part "Free Market" and part "Market Square". Where you're still a neighbor, and are expected to behave honorably.
Posted by: If it's good for GM it's good for us at December 15, 2025 11:29 AM (TbWk/)
---
It should be remembered that in America "The Market" was part "Free Market" and part "Market Square". Where you're still a neighbor, and are expected to behave honorably.
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 11:39 AM (krQz2)
161
Besides lunch time
To me it's who can loot the country and not get caught
To me it's who can loot the country and not get caught
Posted by: Skip at December 15, 2025 11:39 AM (LNaAb)
162
Anyone remember the OLD Sabarros pizza?
Posted by: hurricane567 at December 15, 2025 11:35 AM
They used to be at every mall in the country and their pizza sucked.
Posted by: hurricane567 at December 15, 2025 11:35 AM
They used to be at every mall in the country and their pizza sucked.
Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at December 15, 2025 11:39 AM (0N4FZ)
163
Trump seems to have responded inappropriately to Reiner's death.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at December 15, 2025 11:40 AM (KTHZX)
164
I think most of them are quite happy to live like Lords in 13th Century Europe. They stay in the castle on the hill surrounded by high walls, full of servants; while the troubles of the serfs in the valley below is of little concern to them.
Posted by: Tom Servo at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (uWKK
Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven
Posted by: Tom Servo at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (uWKK
Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 15, 2025 11:40 AM (ExV1e)
165
Anyone remember the OLD Sabarros pizza?
Posted by: hurricane567 at December 15, 2025 11:35 AM (1V/nS)
First time I remember getting violently ill from food.
Posted by: hurricane567 at December 15, 2025 11:35 AM (1V/nS)
First time I remember getting violently ill from food.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at December 15, 2025 11:40 AM (Zz0t1)
166
stories seem to be conflicting on whether Neil Reiner has been arrested or not.
I think he has.
I think he has.
Posted by: Tom Servo at December 15, 2025 11:40 AM (uWKK8)
167
I see "we charge you the credit card fee" or "discount for cash" signs now (not often, but they exist) and didn't used to.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:30 AM (avHHk)
I see it sometimes.
What I see a lot of is utility companies and state agencies charging 3.5%+ "Service Fees" for using a debit or credit card.
Charging me for sending some photons to a server and back.
Ridiculous.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:30 AM (avHHk)
I see it sometimes.
What I see a lot of is utility companies and state agencies charging 3.5%+ "Service Fees" for using a debit or credit card.
Charging me for sending some photons to a server and back.
Ridiculous.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 15, 2025 11:40 AM (6ydKt)
168
Landman lays down some truth.
In the episode, Tommy (Billy Bob Thornton) is urging his father, T.L. (Sam Elliott), to kill time around the house by watching a TV show and suggests “The View.” When T.L. admits that he doesn’t know what that is, Tommy explains it as, “A bunch of pissed-off millionaires bitching about how much they hate millionaires and Trump and men and you and me and everybody else they got a bee up their #ss about. It’s pretty funny.”
In the episode, Tommy (Billy Bob Thornton) is urging his father, T.L. (Sam Elliott), to kill time around the house by watching a TV show and suggests “The View.” When T.L. admits that he doesn’t know what that is, Tommy explains it as, “A bunch of pissed-off millionaires bitching about how much they hate millionaires and Trump and men and you and me and everybody else they got a bee up their #ss about. It’s pretty funny.”
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 15, 2025 11:41 AM (L/fGl)
169
Credit card companies have a name for people who pay off their balances every month, never pay interest and collect rewards: "deadbeats."
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!)
That's my wife.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!)
That's my wife.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 11:41 AM (77rzZ)
170
Costco is introducing Buy Now - Pay Later programs.
Now we can not only carry delinquent auto loans, student loans, mortgage loans and credit card debt, we can carry hot dog debt.
Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (MNCvZ)
=====
Last time I had a Costco hotdog was like 5 years ago, and I barfed. Haven't had one since.
Now we can not only carry delinquent auto loans, student loans, mortgage loans and credit card debt, we can carry hot dog debt.
Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (MNCvZ)
=====
Last time I had a Costco hotdog was like 5 years ago, and I barfed. Haven't had one since.
Posted by: Jordan61 at December 15, 2025 11:41 AM (DRSnL)
171
Israel will always remember Sbarro because of the massacre that happened in one.
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 15, 2025 11:41 AM (2GVsD)
Posted by: DaveA at December 15, 2025 11:41 AM (FhXTo)
173
I thought I was doing a good thing, but no, now I just get told that I'm too stupid to manipulate debt to my advantage.
Posted by: XTC
Depends, debt incurred for current consumption (and that includes depreciating assets like cars unless you drive for a living) is bad, debt for investment may or may not be good.
But right now, if young 20-30 or so, simply putting money into a balanced portfolio even with the enshittification, can earn a decent historical return and with compounding, might mean you can retire someday.
Posted by: XTC
Depends, debt incurred for current consumption (and that includes depreciating assets like cars unless you drive for a living) is bad, debt for investment may or may not be good.
But right now, if young 20-30 or so, simply putting money into a balanced portfolio even with the enshittification, can earn a decent historical return and with compounding, might mean you can retire someday.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:41 AM (WDjG6)
174
practiced user can fire this weapon faster"
Yep. It's very easy to put several rounds downrange in a hurry
Yep. It's very easy to put several rounds downrange in a hurry
Posted by: man at December 15, 2025 11:41 AM (XuXeR)
175
When I worked in DC, the Sbarro's in Union Station was fantastic. Loved that place.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 11:42 AM (77rzZ)
176
... The most frustrating thing is that they don't look at the long term impact. What good is it to be a multimillionaire when your company (or country) collapses. I have seen third world kingpins. They live in compounds with armed guards, not unlike being in prison.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at December 15, 2025 11:23 AM (8fjZH)
++++
Which is fine.
For certain people, it's not really about being rich, nor is it exactly about quality of life. It's about either (or both of):
1. Being richer than your neighbor
2. Having power over your neighbor
For the former, it's actually a benefit because you're so much obviously better than the trash that surrounds you. What good is it having a 70" TV set if even the rube in the trailer park down the road can have it?
For the latter, it's better to rule in Hell than serve in Heaven.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at December 15, 2025 11:23 AM (8fjZH)
++++
Which is fine.
For certain people, it's not really about being rich, nor is it exactly about quality of life. It's about either (or both of):
1. Being richer than your neighbor
2. Having power over your neighbor
For the former, it's actually a benefit because you're so much obviously better than the trash that surrounds you. What good is it having a 70" TV set if even the rube in the trailer park down the road can have it?
For the latter, it's better to rule in Hell than serve in Heaven.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:42 AM (avHHk)
177
Their violence is speech.
Our speech is violence.
Part 234,663,543.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer
Our speech is violence.
Our silence is violence.
We're pretty awful, don't ya know!
Their violence is speech.
Our speech is violence.
Part 234,663,543.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer
Our speech is violence.
Our silence is violence.
We're pretty awful, don't ya know!
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 15, 2025 11:42 AM (pkeXY)
Posted by: garrett at December 15, 2025 11:43 AM (IaZ7c)
Posted by: mr tmz at December 15, 2025 11:43 AM (rJ48h)
180
Credit card companies have a name for people who pay off their balances every month, never pay interest and collect rewards: "deadbeats."
At least, it used to. Not sure if they still refer to people who do that as "deadbeats."
Posted by: Joe Mannix
========
Depends, some high spenders, they make it work via their regular vig. If you seldom purchase using the card at all and pay off balances, they are not fond of you.
At least, it used to. Not sure if they still refer to people who do that as "deadbeats."
Posted by: Joe Mannix
========
Depends, some high spenders, they make it work via their regular vig. If you seldom purchase using the card at all and pay off balances, they are not fond of you.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:43 AM (WDjG6)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 15, 2025 11:43 AM (ix8EF)
182
Now to derail the thread.
Tonight's Powerball jackpot annuity is past $1 billion. Would that be a nice Christmas present?
Tonight's Powerball jackpot annuity is past $1 billion. Would that be a nice Christmas present?
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 15, 2025 11:44 AM (2GVsD)
183
Archie was right about the fucking Meathead; it was his own progeny that took him out. Go figure.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at December 15, 2025 11:44 AM (1zOXE)
184
Australian PM warns about "right-wing extremist groups" after Muslim father and son shot up Hanukkah event
-
Damn right-wing extremists!
-
Damn right-wing extremists!
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 15, 2025 11:44 AM (L/fGl)
185
I think that the corporate overlords created a bullshit system with absurd global supply chains in part to make themselves seem indispensable (or at least that has been the effect of their actions). But there really isn't a need for a massive conglomerate to manufacture something in Indonesia using Chinese components that will be fully assembled in Mexico. It's just moving stuff around to get unit labor price down slightly so the CEO's bonus goes up.
Posted by: The Lower Depths at December 15, 2025 11:38 AM (Dg7ng)
This is a defect of international free trade. Infrequent but large volatility costs are largely not borne by businesses, but consumers. If they were to go for a higher cost but more stable option, they'd be out-competed.
When was the last time a customer was concerned about the amount of Chinese vs American rare earths in their PC?
Supply disruptions aren't addressed until they actually occur because there's no incentive to do so, and being the higher cost secure-supply producer can be fatal when the next shock is a decade away.
I think that the corporate overlords created a bullshit system with absurd global supply chains in part to make themselves seem indispensable (or at least that has been the effect of their actions). But there really isn't a need for a massive conglomerate to manufacture something in Indonesia using Chinese components that will be fully assembled in Mexico. It's just moving stuff around to get unit labor price down slightly so the CEO's bonus goes up.
Posted by: The Lower Depths at December 15, 2025 11:38 AM (Dg7ng)
This is a defect of international free trade. Infrequent but large volatility costs are largely not borne by businesses, but consumers. If they were to go for a higher cost but more stable option, they'd be out-competed.
When was the last time a customer was concerned about the amount of Chinese vs American rare earths in their PC?
Supply disruptions aren't addressed until they actually occur because there's no incentive to do so, and being the higher cost secure-supply producer can be fatal when the next shock is a decade away.
Posted by: Red Turban Someguy at December 15, 2025 11:44 AM (okun6)
186
I know this will be blasphemy to some but one of the best slices of pizza I ever had was at the big Sbarros near Times Square
Posted by: ... at December 15, 2025 11:44 AM (zALxA)
187
For the latter, it's better to rule in Hell than serve in Heaven.
Posted by: Joe Mannix
========
Until of course they meet their eternal host, Stan. Too late for rethinks at that time.
Posted by: Joe Mannix
========
Until of course they meet their eternal host, Stan. Too late for rethinks at that time.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:44 AM (WDjG6)
188
I have first hand experience with this. As a member of a plant management team we would routinely get orders from corporate HQ to "pull sales in' to juice the bottom line at the FY half and end of year. What that meant is we would have to redo our production schedules to move higher sales volume/profitable sales by a month or two. This often resulted in "dead" months reducing manufacturing efficiencies with operations and maintenance scrambling to change labor and raw material to accomodate the purely greed based decisions of upper management.
I was also a project manager and often had to pause CAPEX spending for cash flow as if it was a faucet only to be told a few months later to spend as much as I can before end of year to capture more depreciation for the following year. Nevermind project schedules which are mostly linked to equipment purchases and availability.
I was also a project manager and often had to pause CAPEX spending for cash flow as if it was a faucet only to be told a few months later to spend as much as I can before end of year to capture more depreciation for the following year. Nevermind project schedules which are mostly linked to equipment purchases and availability.
Posted by: MAGA_Ken at December 15, 2025 11:44 AM (Vh9CX)
189
Tonight's Powerball jackpot annuity is past $1 billion. Would that be a nice Christmas present?
Posted by: Anna Puma
Not from what I've read. Winning a huge lottery like that usually means misery for the winner.
Posted by: Anna Puma
Not from what I've read. Winning a huge lottery like that usually means misery for the winner.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 11:45 AM (77rzZ)
190
Every year at this time I stand amazed that there are enough trannies in Siberia to staff an entire orchestra.
Posted by: Holly Jolly One at December 15, 2025 11:45 AM (oftw2)
191
I'm with Buck on this one
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 15, 2025 11:45 AM (xcxpd)
Posted by: man at December 15, 2025 11:45 AM (XuXeR)
193
Sbarro's was maybe a small step above public school cafeteria pizza. It just wasn't good.
Posted by: Not something you want to pay for at December 15, 2025 11:45 AM (TbWk/)
194
Not sure "financialization" is really the best term for the issues described. Even less sure there are clear bright lines here.
Fraud is one thing. Customers - or shareholders - ending their relationship with an enterprise due to decline in quality or management of the company is the basic mechanism of free market behavior.
You don't like stock buybacks? Sell your position, or decline to invest to begin with. Don't like the coffee? Don't go there any more.
Fraud is one thing. Customers - or shareholders - ending their relationship with an enterprise due to decline in quality or management of the company is the basic mechanism of free market behavior.
You don't like stock buybacks? Sell your position, or decline to invest to begin with. Don't like the coffee? Don't go there any more.
Posted by: rhomboid at December 15, 2025 11:45 AM (U/Byj)
195
Credit card companies have a name for people who pay off their balances every month, never pay interest and collect rewards: "deadbeats."
At least, it used to. Not sure if they still refer to people who do that as "deadbeats."
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:38 AM (avHHk)
Hmm. I do that. Does that make me Deadbeat Doof instead of Disco Doof?
At least, it used to. Not sure if they still refer to people who do that as "deadbeats."
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:38 AM (avHHk)
Hmm. I do that. Does that make me Deadbeat Doof instead of Disco Doof?
Posted by: Doof at December 15, 2025 11:45 AM (c2vsb)
196
>>I know this will be blasphemy to some but one of the best slices of pizza I ever had was at the big Sbarros near Times Square
Honestly...at the time, it was the best Pizza in Times Square. You needed to head 20-30 blocks South to get to the good stuff, back then.
Honestly...at the time, it was the best Pizza in Times Square. You needed to head 20-30 blocks South to get to the good stuff, back then.
Posted by: garrett at December 15, 2025 11:45 AM (IaZ7c)
197
This is why communism is popular among the youth.
"Capitalism" took away their ability to get a well-paying job, to buy a house, to have a family.
If I were under 20 and saw how "capitalists" emptied my country of wealth and replaced it with foreigners, I'd be a commie, too.
"Capitalism" took away their ability to get a well-paying job, to buy a house, to have a family.
If I were under 20 and saw how "capitalists" emptied my country of wealth and replaced it with foreigners, I'd be a commie, too.
Posted by: Occam's Razor at December 15, 2025 11:45 AM (HJUJ8)
198
0% into cards are also a good deal. Usually they have a 3% fee . For an 18 month intro period that’s 1.5%. A n 18 month CD pays 4% ish right now.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 11:46 AM (udlma)
199
I think it's important to humanize the casualties from the latest Dem-permitted atrocity.
https://is.gd/9lfCUW
https://is.gd/9lfCUW
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2025 11:46 AM (Riz8t)
200
I know this will be blasphemy to some but one of the best slices of pizza I ever had was at the big Sbarros near Times Square
---
You share that with Michael Scott, then.
---
You share that with Michael Scott, then.
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 11:46 AM (krQz2)
201
Sbarro was Peak Mall Pizza
Posted by: garrett at December 15, 2025 11:46 AM (IaZ7c)
202
had was at the big Sbarros near Times Square"
That and the one at the Staten Island ferry slip...
That and the one at the Staten Island ferry slip...
Posted by: man at December 15, 2025 11:46 AM (XuXeR)
203
Charging me for sending some photons to a server and back.
Ridiculous.
Posted by: SpeakingOf
Somebody has to pay for the electricity.
Charging me for sending some photons to a server and back.
Ridiculous.
Posted by: SpeakingOf
Somebody has to pay for the electricity.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 15, 2025 11:46 AM (pkeXY)
204
Animal Farm and 1984.
NOT SATIRE: "Animal Farm" remake from Angel Studios promotes "dangers of capitalism" 😬
https://is.gd/3WRvOY
NOT SATIRE: "Animal Farm" remake from Angel Studios promotes "dangers of capitalism" 😬
https://is.gd/3WRvOY
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 15, 2025 11:47 AM (L/fGl)
205
... Charging me for sending some photons to a server and back.
Ridiculous.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 15, 2025 11:40 AM (6ydKt)
++++
Eh, they're not. They're charging for power, cooling, manpower, software licensing and bandwidth. These systems are complicated and are *not* free to build or run. They're not even cheap. The transaction fee credit card companies take is very possibly excessive, but the costs of rendering the service are also quite high.
I fully support merchants being allowed to pass through processing costs. If it costs the merchant 3% to accept a credit card, charging that through *improves* transparency and that may cause a shift in consumer preferences. I am in favor of transparent pricing generally.
Utilities that don't do this get auto-paid with my credit card. Utilities that do get auto-paid from my checking account. If they charge a transaction fee on either, I mail a check every month if the fee is significantly greater than a stamp, envelope and check. if it isn't, I appreciate the convenience and eat the fee as the price of convenience.
But I object not at all to greater price transparency.
Ridiculous.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 15, 2025 11:40 AM (6ydKt)
++++
Eh, they're not. They're charging for power, cooling, manpower, software licensing and bandwidth. These systems are complicated and are *not* free to build or run. They're not even cheap. The transaction fee credit card companies take is very possibly excessive, but the costs of rendering the service are also quite high.
I fully support merchants being allowed to pass through processing costs. If it costs the merchant 3% to accept a credit card, charging that through *improves* transparency and that may cause a shift in consumer preferences. I am in favor of transparent pricing generally.
Utilities that don't do this get auto-paid with my credit card. Utilities that do get auto-paid from my checking account. If they charge a transaction fee on either, I mail a check every month if the fee is significantly greater than a stamp, envelope and check. if it isn't, I appreciate the convenience and eat the fee as the price of convenience.
But I object not at all to greater price transparency.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:47 AM (avHHk)
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 11:47 AM (udlma)
207
Islam Invasion @IslamInvasion
They plotted to plant 5 IED bombs in [Los Angeles] on New Year's Eve.
Islam and Pro-palestine is one agenda: to destroy us!
X video: https://bit.ly/4oUBoqK
They plotted to plant 5 IED bombs in [Los Angeles] on New Year's Eve.
Islam and Pro-palestine is one agenda: to destroy us!
X video: https://bit.ly/4oUBoqK
Posted by: Clyde Shelton at December 15, 2025 11:47 AM (P5BPp)
208
Bankruptcy punishes both the borrower *and* the lender. The borrower won't get credit again any time soon...
This is how you tell me that you've never been through a bankruptcy without telling me you've never been through a bankruptcy.
One of the first things you get after a personal bankruptcy is credit card offers.
This is how you tell me that you've never been through a bankruptcy without telling me you've never been through a bankruptcy.
One of the first things you get after a personal bankruptcy is credit card offers.
Posted by: Cybersmythe at December 15, 2025 11:48 AM (2Insx)
209
Winning a huge lottery like that usually means misery for the winner."
Tell you what... I'll take one for the team, ok?
Tell you what... I'll take one for the team, ok?
Posted by: man at December 15, 2025 11:48 AM (XuXeR)
210
I think it's important to humanize the casualties from the latest Dem-permitted atrocity.
https://is.gd/9lfCUW
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2025 11:46 AM (Riz8t)
Benny will be blamed for the next shooting for his posting such violent rhetoric.
https://is.gd/9lfCUW
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2025 11:46 AM (Riz8t)
Benny will be blamed for the next shooting for his posting such violent rhetoric.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at December 15, 2025 11:48 AM (Zz0t1)
211
Hmm. I do that. Does that make me Deadbeat Doof instead of Disco Doof?
Posted by: Doof
I understand that you're obtuse. So, Dim Doof?
Posted by: Doof
I understand that you're obtuse. So, Dim Doof?
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 11:48 AM (77rzZ)
212
Honestly...at the time, it was the best Pizza in Times Square. You needed to head 20-30 blocks South to get to the good stuff, back then.
Posted by: garrett at December 15, 2025 11:45 AM (IaZ7c)
That was my experience too
Posted by: garrett at December 15, 2025 11:45 AM (IaZ7c)
That was my experience too
Posted by: ... at December 15, 2025 11:48 AM (zALxA)
213
Australian PM warns about "right-wing extremist groups" after Muslim father and son shot up Hanukkah event
-
Damn right-wing extremists!
I sort of welcome this rhetoric because it's so obviously unrealistic, it forces people to confront their leader's mendacity.
-
Damn right-wing extremists!
I sort of welcome this rhetoric because it's so obviously unrealistic, it forces people to confront their leader's mendacity.
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2025 11:48 AM (Riz8t)
214
Anyone remember the OLD Sabarros pizza?
Posted by: hurricane567 at December 15, 2025 11:35 AM (1V/nS)
Back in the day, The Fat Boys did their "All You Can Eat" video in one.
1985?
Posted by: hurricane567 at December 15, 2025 11:35 AM (1V/nS)
Back in the day, The Fat Boys did their "All You Can Eat" video in one.
1985?
Posted by: Kool Moe Dee at December 15, 2025 11:48 AM (FGMmt)
215
SPDRs.
how does she feel about spqr?
Posted by: biggus dickus
I'd quess cheering for togas and lace up boots.
how does she feel about spqr?
Posted by: biggus dickus
I'd quess cheering for togas and lace up boots.
Posted by: DaveA at December 15, 2025 11:49 AM (FhXTo)
216
182 Now to derail the thread.
Tonight's Powerball jackpot annuity is past $1 billion. Would that be a nice Christmas present?
Posted by: Anna Puma
======
I think of the Lotto curse. I think if one won that amount of money, it would resemble a curse. Every relationship with others becomes transactional or you worry it is. You worry about guarding your wealth, temptations become viable that were previously not available. Personal safety concerns and then managing the fortune without getting ripped off by your own advisors.
Two tragedies, one is not getting what you want and pining for it forlornly. The other one is getting it and finding out it is not quite worth it.
Don't want to be a king nor a billionaire myself.
Tonight's Powerball jackpot annuity is past $1 billion. Would that be a nice Christmas present?
Posted by: Anna Puma
======
I think of the Lotto curse. I think if one won that amount of money, it would resemble a curse. Every relationship with others becomes transactional or you worry it is. You worry about guarding your wealth, temptations become viable that were previously not available. Personal safety concerns and then managing the fortune without getting ripped off by your own advisors.
Two tragedies, one is not getting what you want and pining for it forlornly. The other one is getting it and finding out it is not quite worth it.
Don't want to be a king nor a billionaire myself.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:49 AM (WDjG6)
217
“Rob Reiner, a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star, has passed away, together with his wife, Michele, reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, sometimes referred to as TDS,” Trump said.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at December 15, 2025 11:49 AM (KTHZX)
218
A fitting Reiner retrospective
>>>So far as his main talent went, he was pretty much finished.
>>>What he had devoted his life to more recently was TDS, and a constant screeching and hypocritical insanity and malice in his politics. He repeatedly tried to equate Republicanism, MAGAism, and traditional US faith and patriotism with Nazism and Fascism, like many other hysterical Democrats have done. After Robert Reich and Robert Di Nero, he may have been the most vituperative, vindictive and vehement critic of Trump and his administrations around, which is a bronze medal in partisan lunacy earned from a very crowded field of competitors.
https://shorturl.at/oKsfe
Jupplandia substack
>>>So far as his main talent went, he was pretty much finished.
>>>What he had devoted his life to more recently was TDS, and a constant screeching and hypocritical insanity and malice in his politics. He repeatedly tried to equate Republicanism, MAGAism, and traditional US faith and patriotism with Nazism and Fascism, like many other hysterical Democrats have done. After Robert Reich and Robert Di Nero, he may have been the most vituperative, vindictive and vehement critic of Trump and his administrations around, which is a bronze medal in partisan lunacy earned from a very crowded field of competitors.
https://shorturl.at/oKsfe
Jupplandia substack
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 15, 2025 11:49 AM (dK+Kv)
219
>>Islam Invasion @IslamInvasion
>They plotted to plant 5 IED bombs in [Los Angeles] on New Year's Eve.
>Islam and Pro-palestine is one agenda: to destroy us!
Every Holiday is a threat. Muslims absolutely love to kill you while you celebrate any non-muslim holiday.
Which is why I believe nuking the hadj to be the only appropriate response.
>They plotted to plant 5 IED bombs in [Los Angeles] on New Year's Eve.
>Islam and Pro-palestine is one agenda: to destroy us!
Every Holiday is a threat. Muslims absolutely love to kill you while you celebrate any non-muslim holiday.
Which is why I believe nuking the hadj to be the only appropriate response.
Posted by: garrett at December 15, 2025 11:49 AM (IaZ7c)
220
96
‘Variety is trying to frame Trump in regards to the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife.‘
Reiner would have wanted it that way.
‘Variety is trying to frame Trump in regards to the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife.‘
Reiner would have wanted it that way.
Posted by: Dr. Claw at December 15, 2025 11:49 AM (jbnUc)
221
Jeffery Mead @the_jefferymead
The left has a problem with political violence...
I also think we should be giving the FBI alot of credit for stopping this. If they would have failed to stop it, everyone would have something to say.
So I think we should be giving them a lot of credit for stopping this before it could happen.
NLDR (Noldor) Media @NLDRMedia
BREAKING - The DOJ says it has disrupted a major far-left terrorist plot planned for New Year’s Eve in Southern California.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced that four members of the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF) were arrested in Lucerne Valley on charges including conspiracy and possession of destructive devices after allegedly preparing IEDs for coordinated bombings targeting multiple sites, including ICE agents and vehicles. A fifth suspect was reportedly detained in New Orleans in a related plot.
Officials say the group blends pro-Palestinian activism, anti-government extremism, anti-capitalism, and “landback” ideology — underscoring emerging domestic threats amid global unrest.
X: https://bit.ly/3KVtVtD
The left has a problem with political violence...
I also think we should be giving the FBI alot of credit for stopping this. If they would have failed to stop it, everyone would have something to say.
So I think we should be giving them a lot of credit for stopping this before it could happen.
NLDR (Noldor) Media @NLDRMedia
BREAKING - The DOJ says it has disrupted a major far-left terrorist plot planned for New Year’s Eve in Southern California.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced that four members of the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF) were arrested in Lucerne Valley on charges including conspiracy and possession of destructive devices after allegedly preparing IEDs for coordinated bombings targeting multiple sites, including ICE agents and vehicles. A fifth suspect was reportedly detained in New Orleans in a related plot.
Officials say the group blends pro-Palestinian activism, anti-government extremism, anti-capitalism, and “landback” ideology — underscoring emerging domestic threats amid global unrest.
X: https://bit.ly/3KVtVtD
Posted by: Clyde Shelton at December 15, 2025 11:49 AM (P5BPp)
222
Why are we using that shitbag filth asshoe Karl's term, "capitalism", anyway? Why not "free market"? Yes, I know that *other* asshoes have corrupted that, but, isn't the whole fcking point of a free market to enable mutually beneficial deals? How is it beneficial to a customer, for one example, to buy a car that won't be paid off before it dies and can't be repaired except at overpriced dealerships? But you gotta have a car, right? and feralgov regulations sure don't help with the base *cost* of building a car, either.
Posted by: Helena Handbasket at December 15, 2025 11:50 AM (ULPxl)
223
Australian PM warns about "right-wing extremist groups" after Muslim father and son shot up Hanukkah event
-
Damn right-wing extremists!
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks
Let's compare body counts of mohammedans and right wing extremists.
-
Damn right-wing extremists!
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks
Let's compare body counts of mohammedans and right wing extremists.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at December 15, 2025 11:50 AM (8fjZH)
224
I believe in free markets, but it seems when Wall Street gets involved, it becomes "late stage capitalism" type memes that I can't really defend.
The flip side though is just because Wall Street does bad things, that doesn't mean we give socialism another try.
But much of this can be fixed with some pretty bipartisan regulations.
The flip side though is just because Wall Street does bad things, that doesn't mean we give socialism another try.
But much of this can be fixed with some pretty bipartisan regulations.
Posted by: Leupold at December 15, 2025 11:50 AM (eIzlH)
225
“Rob Reiner, a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star, has passed away, together with his wife, Michele, reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, sometimes referred to as TDS,” Trump said.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at December 15, 2025 11:49 AM (KTHZX)
Can't fault the guy for being a straight-shooter.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at December 15, 2025 11:49 AM (KTHZX)
Can't fault the guy for being a straight-shooter.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 15, 2025 11:50 AM (dK+Kv)
226
170 Costco is introducing Buy Now - Pay Later programs.
Now we can not only carry delinquent auto loans, student loans, mortgage loans and credit card debt, we can carry hot dog debt.
Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (MNCvZ)
=====
Last time I had a Costco hotdog was like 5 years ago, and I barfed. Haven't had one since.
Posted by: Jordan61 at December 15, 2025 11:41 AM (DRSnL)
Their rotisserie chickens for $5 are awfully good.
But Costco is just another corporate entity that we tolerate and take advantage of. It's the local outfits we try to use first.
Now we can not only carry delinquent auto loans, student loans, mortgage loans and credit card debt, we can carry hot dog debt.
Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy at December 15, 2025 11:25 AM (MNCvZ)
=====
Last time I had a Costco hotdog was like 5 years ago, and I barfed. Haven't had one since.
Posted by: Jordan61 at December 15, 2025 11:41 AM (DRSnL)
Their rotisserie chickens for $5 are awfully good.
But Costco is just another corporate entity that we tolerate and take advantage of. It's the local outfits we try to use first.
Posted by: Tex Lovera at December 15, 2025 11:50 AM (wtvvX)
227
Are you sure about this?
Posted by: mr tmz at December 15, 2025 11:43 AM (rJ48h)
++++
Yes.
But Bear Stearns probably would never happened if not for the bailout distortions before it, and if fraud hadn't been made legal to keep the stock market and housing markets up after 9/11.
Bad decisions at the policy level to defend major interests and avoid taking medicine have knock-on effects. Since the 80s, it's been all-in on elongating the business cycle. Okay. We have fewer recessions than we used to - but reducing the frequency of downturns seriously increases their amplitude and introduces tremendous systemic risks, perverse incentives and moral hazards.
Posted by: mr tmz at December 15, 2025 11:43 AM (rJ48h)
++++
Yes.
But Bear Stearns probably would never happened if not for the bailout distortions before it, and if fraud hadn't been made legal to keep the stock market and housing markets up after 9/11.
Bad decisions at the policy level to defend major interests and avoid taking medicine have knock-on effects. Since the 80s, it's been all-in on elongating the business cycle. Okay. We have fewer recessions than we used to - but reducing the frequency of downturns seriously increases their amplitude and introduces tremendous systemic risks, perverse incentives and moral hazards.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:50 AM (avHHk)
228
Eh, people bitch about every system. It boils down to not thinking the deal they are getting is “ fair”, and something out to be done about that. To defend their stance the most egregious examples of “ what’s wrong” are trotted out to prove their point, whether or not it actually applies to their situation. People have a strong bias towards envy, jealousy and resentment.
Posted by: tubal at December 15, 2025 11:51 AM (pDt9x)
229
We have to stop letting the ideologically deranged set our expectations for us.
The Suck that is everywhere is basic Human suck.
Humans are why we can't have nice t'ings.
Everybody thinks we can build Babel, and if we just build the right Babel, things will no longer suck.
The Suck that is everywhere is basic Human suck.
Humans are why we can't have nice t'ings.
Everybody thinks we can build Babel, and if we just build the right Babel, things will no longer suck.
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 11:51 AM (krQz2)
230
By just reading the comments, it looks like most people would rather have a controlled, state-run financial system. Hate to tell y'all, but it's been tried and it doesn't work.
Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at December 15, 2025 11:51 AM (g8Ew8)
231
167 I see "we charge you the credit card fee" or "discount for cash" signs now (not often, but they exist) and didn't used to.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:30 AM (avHHk)
I see it sometimes.
What I see a lot of is utility companies and state agencies charging 3.5%+ "Service Fees" for using a debit or credit card.
Charging me for sending some photons to a server and back.
Ridiculous.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 15, 2025 11:40 AM (6ydKt)
The utility is being charged by the payment processor. Related, this is where rewards programs for credit cards and such come from. They charge the merchant to use their service but compete for customers by returning some of that.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:30 AM (avHHk)
I see it sometimes.
What I see a lot of is utility companies and state agencies charging 3.5%+ "Service Fees" for using a debit or credit card.
Charging me for sending some photons to a server and back.
Ridiculous.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 15, 2025 11:40 AM (6ydKt)
The utility is being charged by the payment processor. Related, this is where rewards programs for credit cards and such come from. They charge the merchant to use their service but compete for customers by returning some of that.
Posted by: Red Turban Someguy at December 15, 2025 11:51 AM (okun6)
232
I think of the Lotto curse. I think if one won that amount of money, it would resemble a curse. Every relationship with others becomes transactional or you worry it is. You worry about guarding your wealth, temptations become viable that were previously not available. Personal safety concerns and then managing the fortune without getting ripped off by your own advisors.
--------------------
Not me. I'd buy a farm in the country and make it into the world's best cat rescue. I'd create a sculpture garden of cat statues like in the movie Flow.
--------------------
Not me. I'd buy a farm in the country and make it into the world's best cat rescue. I'd create a sculpture garden of cat statues like in the movie Flow.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at December 15, 2025 11:51 AM (KTHZX)
233
Don't want to be a king nor a billionaire myself.
Posted by: whig
Me neither.
As my wife always says, "It's not how much you make, it's how much you keep."
Posted by: whig
Me neither.
As my wife always says, "It's not how much you make, it's how much you keep."
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 11:51 AM (77rzZ)
234
*Pauses*
What if one of those South American tourist-robber gangs killed Rob Reiner and his wife? And the Left is trying to craft a false narrative it was the son who did it?
What if one of those South American tourist-robber gangs killed Rob Reiner and his wife? And the Left is trying to craft a false narrative it was the son who did it?
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 15, 2025 11:51 AM (2GVsD)
235
++++
Credit card companies have a name for people who pay off their balances every month, never pay interest and collect rewards: "deadbeats."
At least, it used to. Not sure if they still refer to people who do that as "deadbeats."
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!)
-------
And credit reporting agencies give ZERO props for paying that debt off regularly. No matter how much.
Credit card companies have a name for people who pay off their balances every month, never pay interest and collect rewards: "deadbeats."
At least, it used to. Not sure if they still refer to people who do that as "deadbeats."
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!)
-------
And credit reporting agencies give ZERO props for paying that debt off regularly. No matter how much.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 11:51 AM (uGpeQ)
236
114 Costco already issues credit cards.
Costco offers a credit card deal to members, but it's run thru Chase Bank and Chase holds/services the debt. not Costco.
Just to clarify.
Costco offers a credit card deal to members, but it's run thru Chase Bank and Chase holds/services the debt. not Costco.
Just to clarify.
Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy at December 15, 2025 11:51 AM (MNCvZ)
Posted by: Danny Devito at December 15, 2025 11:51 AM (Zt+0/)
238
This is why I'm not a fan of libertarianism. At its worst, it elevates individual greed uber alles, and excuses it as "Liberty!"
And private equity is corporate strip mining. Its impact on the healthcare field has been toxic.
And private equity is corporate strip mining. Its impact on the healthcare field has been toxic.
Posted by: Dr. Mabuse at December 15, 2025 11:52 AM (uY1j2)
239
Chicanery is as old as the hills. The 19th century equities markets were no places for the faint-of-heart or occasional dabblers. There has never been nor will there ever be a trade floor bereft of double-dealers, con men (and con women!), and flimflammers.
But I wouldn't want it any other way. Communism, for example, is the greatest act of flimflammery ever imposed on a citizenry.
The infernal combination of corrupt government regulation, private privilege, and devious mass media manipulation is the source of our current woes; the scope of which can be easily determined by the reaction of the wicked to the exposure of their schemes.
But I wouldn't want it any other way. Communism, for example, is the greatest act of flimflammery ever imposed on a citizenry.
The infernal combination of corrupt government regulation, private privilege, and devious mass media manipulation is the source of our current woes; the scope of which can be easily determined by the reaction of the wicked to the exposure of their schemes.
Posted by: mrp at December 15, 2025 11:52 AM (rj6Yv)
240
>>>Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced that four members of the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF) were arrested in Lucerne Valley on charges including conspiracy and possession of destructive devices after allegedly preparing IEDs for coordinated bombings targeting multiple sites, including ICE agents and vehicles.
MILF >>>> TILF
MILF >>>> TILF
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 15, 2025 11:52 AM (dK+Kv)
241
Wait wut? Sam Elliott is sjpposed to be Billy Bob Thorntons father??? He is 81 and Billy Bob is 70. Um thats just not gonna fly.
Posted by: Landman??? at December 15, 2025 11:52 AM (fzZrL)
242
Winning a huge lottery like that usually means misery for the winner."
-
That’s kind of a myth. As well as the myth that they all go bankrupt in a few years. There have been a few studies recently that dispelled these myths. Lottery winners were happier in the short and long term and very few of them lost the money. Most winners didn’t go out and buy $500k cars and shit. They lived the same lifestyle more or less just with financial security.
-
That’s kind of a myth. As well as the myth that they all go bankrupt in a few years. There have been a few studies recently that dispelled these myths. Lottery winners were happier in the short and long term and very few of them lost the money. Most winners didn’t go out and buy $500k cars and shit. They lived the same lifestyle more or less just with financial security.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 11:52 AM (udlma)
Posted by: man at December 15, 2025 11:52 AM (XuXeR)
244
This is how you tell me that you've never been through a bankruptcy without telling me you've never been through a bankruptcy.
One of the first things you get after a personal bankruptcy is credit card offers.
Posted by: Cybersmythe at December 15, 2025 11:48 AM (2Insx)
++++
Yes. When lenders are shielded from liability, they don't care. Bankruptcy has been broken by the desire to shield the lender from being exposed to it.
Remove bailouts, backstops, etc., and that would change. But we have spent 40ish years shielding the lender side of the equation from the consequences of poor credit decisions - so the lender basically doesn't care.
One of the first things you get after a personal bankruptcy is credit card offers.
Posted by: Cybersmythe at December 15, 2025 11:48 AM (2Insx)
++++
Yes. When lenders are shielded from liability, they don't care. Bankruptcy has been broken by the desire to shield the lender from being exposed to it.
Remove bailouts, backstops, etc., and that would change. But we have spent 40ish years shielding the lender side of the equation from the consequences of poor credit decisions - so the lender basically doesn't care.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:53 AM (avHHk)
245
"Costco offers a credit card deal to members, but it's run thru Chase Bank and Chase holds/services the debt. not Costco.
Just to clarify."
---
Ahem.
Just to clarify."
---
Ahem.
Posted by: The good people of CITI at December 15, 2025 11:53 AM (Zt+0/)
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:53 AM (WDjG6)
247
If you have your health you already won a bigass lottery.
Posted by: ... at December 15, 2025 11:53 AM (zALxA)
248
Funny how all that "right wing extremism" can be found on left-wing college campuses expressed by left-wing radicals.
Funny how all that "right wing extremism" can be found on left-wing college campuses expressed by left-wing radicals.
Posted by: Soothsayer at December 15, 2025 11:53 AM (KPKlu)
249
Carly Fiorina (or "Carly the C**t"), as she is known to former HP employees, did this. HP printers (and other HP gear) used to be built like tanks. When she took over, she started selling the same Chinese crap as everyone else, just with HP badges, and at HP prices.
This "strategy", if it can be dignified with that term, will indeed produce large profits, for a quarter or two, maybe a year.
After that the suckers catch on. End result: your company is screwed. Your former gold-plated brand name is a joke.
But hey, by that time you've moved on to the next company you're going to destroy.
This "strategy", if it can be dignified with that term, will indeed produce large profits, for a quarter or two, maybe a year.
After that the suckers catch on. End result: your company is screwed. Your former gold-plated brand name is a joke.
But hey, by that time you've moved on to the next company you're going to destroy.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at December 15, 2025 11:54 AM (IG3/x)
250
The Shittification invariably follows a company being bought out by an investment group. They don't care about the company's long term viability, they care about fast ROI, and that usually means gutting the company for a quick buck.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at December 15, 2025 11:54 AM (KTHZX)
251
Costco offers a credit card deal to members, but it's run thru Chase Bank and Chase holds/services the debt. not Costco.
Just to clarify.
Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy at December 15, 2025 11:51 AM (MNCvZ)
Yeah but the concept is the same. Buy now pay later that is making the news is just another version of this. And I doubt Costco will run it themselves they probably have a 3rd party like Affirm.
Just to clarify.
Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy at December 15, 2025 11:51 AM (MNCvZ)
Yeah but the concept is the same. Buy now pay later that is making the news is just another version of this. And I doubt Costco will run it themselves they probably have a 3rd party like Affirm.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 11:54 AM (udlma)
252
Last time I had a Costco hotdog was like 5 years ago, and I barfed. Haven't had one since.
Posted by: Jordan61 at December 15, 2025 11:41 AM (DRSnL)
---
I've probably had scores of them since that time, with no problem.
Whatever food you eat before you barf, you're pretty much put off of that food for a decade or so.
I loved Mountain Dew as a teen. I barfed with the flavor of Mountain Dew and couldn't think of drinking it more about 15 years.
Posted by: Jordan61 at December 15, 2025 11:41 AM (DRSnL)
---
I've probably had scores of them since that time, with no problem.
Whatever food you eat before you barf, you're pretty much put off of that food for a decade or so.
I loved Mountain Dew as a teen. I barfed with the flavor of Mountain Dew and couldn't think of drinking it more about 15 years.
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 11:54 AM (krQz2)
Posted by: Monty Python at December 15, 2025 11:55 AM (Zt+0/)
254
> MILF >>>> TILF
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 15, 2025 11:52 AM (dK+Kv)
Indeed. I've yet to see a tranny ILF.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 15, 2025 11:52 AM (dK+Kv)
Indeed. I've yet to see a tranny ILF.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at December 15, 2025 11:55 AM (IG3/x)
255
>>>And credit reporting agencies give ZERO props for paying that debt off regularly. No matter how much.
I was able to pay off my mine and my wife's student loans (finally) this year and we laughed when we get the notification from the banks that both our FICO scores took a hit as a result.
I was able to pay off my mine and my wife's student loans (finally) this year and we laughed when we get the notification from the banks that both our FICO scores took a hit as a result.
Posted by: brak at December 15, 2025 11:55 AM (jGJov)
256
I have slice of pizza and hotdog at Costco once a week. Best $3.50 meal available around here.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 15, 2025 11:55 AM (xcxpd)
257
Yeah I once got incredibly sick after garlic cheese bread and it wasn't the cheese bread that did it. I didn't think ANYTHING could sour me on freaking garlic cheese bread but it did for a good five years.
Posted by: ... at December 15, 2025 11:55 AM (zALxA)
258
Winning a lot of money would be a burden.
I would set up a CP3o charity, go to the office to decide where I would donate money.
I would set up a CP3o charity, go to the office to decide where I would donate money.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 11:55 AM (uGpeQ)
259
Wait wut? Sam Elliott is sjpposed to be Billy Bob Thorntons father??? He is 81 and Billy Bob is 70. Um thats just not gonna fly.
Posted by: Landman??? at December 15, 2025 11:52 AM (fzZrL)
Kind of like the guy playing Tom Selleck's father in Blue Bloods being only 6 years older than Tom.
Posted by: Landman??? at December 15, 2025 11:52 AM (fzZrL)
Kind of like the guy playing Tom Selleck's father in Blue Bloods being only 6 years older than Tom.
Posted by: Pug Mahon at December 15, 2025 11:55 AM (PSEDc)
260
This busty brunette with nice teeth used a credit card to finance her beach vacation at a resort who's construction was financed with an exotic structured security offering, so she's feeling pretty good about things at the moment:
http://tiny.cc/8kgw001
http://tiny.cc/8kgw001
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:55 AM (avHHk)
261
It is a difficult question to answer because as much as I agree with you, nobody has a good solution, other than investor interest.
Besides, many of the companies, for one reason or another deserve to be strip mined
Besides, many of the companies, for one reason or another deserve to be strip mined
Posted by: n at December 15, 2025 11:56 AM (/Eqgy)
262
Hate to tell y'all, but it's been tried and it doesn't work."
This. I chuckle at a number of the complaints raised by Buck and others over issues actually caused by government overreaction. The stock buyback/pay bit is a direct result of gub action...
This. I chuckle at a number of the complaints raised by Buck and others over issues actually caused by government overreaction. The stock buyback/pay bit is a direct result of gub action...
Posted by: man at December 15, 2025 11:56 AM (XuXeR)
263
MILF >>>> TILF
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 15, 2025 11:52 AM (dK+Kv)
Indeed. I've yet to see a tranny ILF.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at December 15, 2025 11:55 AM (IG3/x)
I like turtles!
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 15, 2025 11:52 AM (dK+Kv)
Indeed. I've yet to see a tranny ILF.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at December 15, 2025 11:55 AM (IG3/x)
I like turtles!
Posted by: Zombie Kid at December 15, 2025 11:56 AM (dK+Kv)
264
Not me. I'd buy a farm in the country and make it into the world's best cat rescue. I'd create a sculpture garden of cat statues like in the movie Flow.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo
======
Tragedy: your sense of aesthetic taste will have died. And then CBD will show your bad taste in teh Art thread of the future.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo
======
Tragedy: your sense of aesthetic taste will have died. And then CBD will show your bad taste in teh Art thread of the future.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:56 AM (WDjG6)
265
And credit reporting agencies give ZERO props for paying that debt off regularly. No matter how much.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 11:51 AM (uGpeQ)
As long as the balance is not zero you do get props. So if you have a card make sure you use it. Even if it’s putting $20 on it at a gas station. Set up a monthly auto pay and forget it.
You get dinged when the card is active but not used ever.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 11:51 AM (uGpeQ)
As long as the balance is not zero you do get props. So if you have a card make sure you use it. Even if it’s putting $20 on it at a gas station. Set up a monthly auto pay and forget it.
You get dinged when the card is active but not used ever.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 11:56 AM (udlma)
266
That’s kind of a myth. As well as the myth that they all go bankrupt in a few years. There have been a few studies recently that dispelled these myths. Lottery winners were happier in the short and long term and very few of them lost the money. Most winners didn’t go out and buy $500k cars and shit. They lived the same lifestyle more or less just with financial security.
I sometimes daydream about what it would be like to be Elon-rich, and I always come to the same conclusion: it wouldn't really make me happier. I can already afford the things I enjoy, most of which are dirt cheap, so what would the extra money get me? Security is really what most people crave, and I have that. I have a wonderful wife, happy, successful kids, and now, darling grandkids. I wouldn't trade with Elon, Bezos, Zuck, or anyone else.
I sometimes daydream about what it would be like to be Elon-rich, and I always come to the same conclusion: it wouldn't really make me happier. I can already afford the things I enjoy, most of which are dirt cheap, so what would the extra money get me? Security is really what most people crave, and I have that. I have a wonderful wife, happy, successful kids, and now, darling grandkids. I wouldn't trade with Elon, Bezos, Zuck, or anyone else.
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2025 11:56 AM (Riz8t)
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 11:56 AM (krQz2)
268
> 241 Wait wut? Sam Elliott is sjpposed to be Billy Bob Thorntons father??? He is 81 and Billy Bob is 70. Um thats just not gonna fly.
Posted by: Landman??? at December 15, 2025 11:52 AM (fzZrL)
It's working fine. It's called "acting".
Heh.
Posted by: Landman??? at December 15, 2025 11:52 AM (fzZrL)
It's working fine. It's called "acting".
Heh.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at December 15, 2025 11:56 AM (IG3/x)
269
"If I were under 20 and saw how "capitalists" emptied my country of wealth and replaced it with foreigners, I'd be a commie, too."
Make that under 30 and you are dead on.
I think that the current system being called "late-stage capitalism" is explaining this.
Sadly corruption is built-in to all human endeavor. It's just a matter of time.
Make that under 30 and you are dead on.
I think that the current system being called "late-stage capitalism" is explaining this.
Sadly corruption is built-in to all human endeavor. It's just a matter of time.
Posted by: pawn at December 15, 2025 11:57 AM (EMg+d)
270
Whatever food you eat before you barf, you're pretty much put off of that food for a decade or so.
...
Posted by: Axeman
--
Hello, Popeye's
...
Posted by: Axeman
--
Hello, Popeye's
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 11:57 AM (uGpeQ)
271
That’s kind of a myth. As well as the myth that they all go bankrupt in a few years.
---
More of a myth: You're going to win the lottery if you purchase a ticket.
---
More of a myth: You're going to win the lottery if you purchase a ticket.
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 11:58 AM (krQz2)
272
Chili's used to have a Cajun Chicken Pasta dish that I rather liked. They discontinued it and replaced it with some other pasta dish.
I tried it once while on a trip to Anaheim, CA and spent the evening projectile vomiting in my hotel room.
I then tried it again a month or so later while on a trip to another city and had the same result.
Yeah, never had that shit again......
I tried it once while on a trip to Anaheim, CA and spent the evening projectile vomiting in my hotel room.
I then tried it again a month or so later while on a trip to another city and had the same result.
Yeah, never had that shit again......
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at December 15, 2025 11:58 AM (Zz0t1)
273
My objection isn't that the credit card companies take a fee, and it's passed on to me.
My objection is that they take a percentage of the price as if my paying $10,000 costs more to transact than my paying $1.
It's all 1s & 0s sent over fiber optics.
You wanna charge $2.50 a transaction, fine.
3.5% is B.S.
That's a tax rate not a service charge.
My objection is that they take a percentage of the price as if my paying $10,000 costs more to transact than my paying $1.
It's all 1s & 0s sent over fiber optics.
You wanna charge $2.50 a transaction, fine.
3.5% is B.S.
That's a tax rate not a service charge.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 15, 2025 11:58 AM (6ydKt)
274
This busty brunette with nice teeth used a credit card to finance her beach vacation at a resort who's construction was financed with an exotic structured security offering, so she's feeling pretty good about things at the moment:
http://tiny.cc/8kgw001
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:55 AM (avHHk)
You'll put your eye out, kid.
http://tiny.cc/8kgw001
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:55 AM (avHHk)
You'll put your eye out, kid.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 15, 2025 11:58 AM (dK+Kv)
275
252 Last time I had a Costco hotdog was like 5 years ago, and I barfed. Haven't had one since.
Posted by: Jordan61 at December 15, 2025 11:41 AM (DRSnL)
---
I've probably had scores of them since that time, with no problem.
Whatever food you eat before you barf, you're pretty much put off of that food for a decade or so.
I loved Mountain Dew as a teen. I barfed with the flavor of Mountain Dew and couldn't think of drinking it more about 15 years.
Posted by: Axeman
=======
Tequila shots for me.
Posted by: Jordan61 at December 15, 2025 11:41 AM (DRSnL)
---
I've probably had scores of them since that time, with no problem.
Whatever food you eat before you barf, you're pretty much put off of that food for a decade or so.
I loved Mountain Dew as a teen. I barfed with the flavor of Mountain Dew and couldn't think of drinking it more about 15 years.
Posted by: Axeman
=======
Tequila shots for me.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:58 AM (WDjG6)
276
Absolutely. Any western nation which does not do this will be conquered by Islam, if it is not already.
Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh
BREAKING: Congressman Randy Fine (R-FL) demands the United States deport ALL Muslim immigrants, and revoke citizenships en masse
"Mainstream Muslims have declared war on us. The least we can do is kick them the hell out of America."
"It is time for a Muslim travel ban, radical deportations of all mainstream Muslim legal and illegal immigrants, and citizenship revocations wherever possible."
Fine's comments come after a slew of Islamic terror attacks - AND the FBI foiling an Islamic bombing plot in LA.
"This has to stop. Diversity is not our strength. Diversity has become suicidal."
X: https://bit.ly/3XXWk5n
Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh
BREAKING: Congressman Randy Fine (R-FL) demands the United States deport ALL Muslim immigrants, and revoke citizenships en masse
"Mainstream Muslims have declared war on us. The least we can do is kick them the hell out of America."
"It is time for a Muslim travel ban, radical deportations of all mainstream Muslim legal and illegal immigrants, and citizenship revocations wherever possible."
Fine's comments come after a slew of Islamic terror attacks - AND the FBI foiling an Islamic bombing plot in LA.
"This has to stop. Diversity is not our strength. Diversity has become suicidal."
X: https://bit.ly/3XXWk5n
Posted by: Clyde Shelton at December 15, 2025 11:58 AM (P5BPp)
277
You're not one of the Skandis are you?"
Not sure. Some N euro DNA mixed w/a helping of "indigenous" Americans...
So, a mutt.
Not sure. Some N euro DNA mixed w/a helping of "indigenous" Americans...
So, a mutt.
Posted by: man at December 15, 2025 11:58 AM (XuXeR)
278
I'd trade my wife for a billion. Then I'd buy her back for half a billion and she'd laugh.
Posted by: ... at December 15, 2025 11:59 AM (zALxA)
279
Joe Mannix, excellent point about the systemic risk and distortions of state interventions, often in response to "crises", that themselves become the problem or create new ones.
Let's not even begin to discuss the idiocy and distortion, entirely artificial and unnecessary, of "corporate taxes".
Let's not even begin to discuss the idiocy and distortion, entirely artificial and unnecessary, of "corporate taxes".
Posted by: rhomboid at December 15, 2025 11:59 AM (U/Byj)
280
And credit reporting agencies give ZERO props for paying that debt off regularly. No matter how much.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 11:51 AM (uGpeQ)
Spoken like a person with a bad credit rating.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 11:51 AM (uGpeQ)
Spoken like a person with a bad credit rating.
Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at December 15, 2025 11:59 AM (g8Ew8)
281
I'd like to add a root cause:
The death of the growth mindset.
Sure, sure, everyone plans on a growing economy and a growing populace.
But look at what they are all doing: Everything they do is designed to take more and more from less and less.
A government that is seeing actual population increases, doesn't seek more and more tax increases.
A business that is seeing actual growth, doesn't need to cut more and more product value or services.
They're not growing their herd of sheep, they're shearing the same, but smaller, herd as last year 2, 3, 4 times a year.
The death of the growth mindset.
Sure, sure, everyone plans on a growing economy and a growing populace.
But look at what they are all doing: Everything they do is designed to take more and more from less and less.
A government that is seeing actual population increases, doesn't seek more and more tax increases.
A business that is seeing actual growth, doesn't need to cut more and more product value or services.
They're not growing their herd of sheep, they're shearing the same, but smaller, herd as last year 2, 3, 4 times a year.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at December 15, 2025 11:59 AM (HXT0k)
282
It’s counter intuitive but it makes sense that fico scores decease when you have less debt. Fico is a score on how trustworthy are you to pay back debt. Once you have no debt, it’s hard to know if you’re trustworthy paying back debt.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 11:59 AM (udlma)
283
This. I chuckle at a number of the complaints raised by Buck and others over issues actually caused by government overreaction. The stock buyback/pay bit is a direct result of gub action...
Posted by: man at December 15, 2025 11:56 AM (XuXeR)
---
Yup. And, really a "fairness" issue about "income distribution" as well.
Posted by: man at December 15, 2025 11:56 AM (XuXeR)
---
Yup. And, really a "fairness" issue about "income distribution" as well.
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 11:59 AM (krQz2)
284
Yes. When lenders are shielded from liability, they don't care. Bankruptcy has been broken by the desire to shield the lender from being exposed to it.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:53 AM
I think my point is that the debtor is not punished for going through bankruptcy. Quite the opposite, in fact. My experience is that it really sucked getting into a position where bankruptcy was necessary, but the bankruptcy itself was quite a relief.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:53 AM
I think my point is that the debtor is not punished for going through bankruptcy. Quite the opposite, in fact. My experience is that it really sucked getting into a position where bankruptcy was necessary, but the bankruptcy itself was quite a relief.
Posted by: Cybersmythe at December 15, 2025 11:59 AM (2Insx)
285
> Tequila shots for me.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:58 AM (WDjG6)
Peppermint schnapps has joined the chat.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:58 AM (WDjG6)
Peppermint schnapps has joined the chat.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at December 15, 2025 11:59 AM (IG3/x)
286
249 Carly Fiorina (or "Carly the C**t"), as she is known to former HP employees, did this. HP printers (and other HP gear) used to be built like tanks. When she took over, she started selling the same Chinese crap as everyone else, just with HP badges, and at HP prices.
This "strategy", if it can be dignified with that term, will indeed produce large profits, for a quarter or two, maybe a year.
After that the suckers catch on. End result: your company is screwed. Your former gold-plated brand name is a joke.
But hey, by that time you've moved on to the next company you're going to destroy.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at December 15, 2025 11:54 AM (IG3/x)
Clearly you just hate free markets and want a centrally-controlled command economy like the USSR, commie.
This "strategy", if it can be dignified with that term, will indeed produce large profits, for a quarter or two, maybe a year.
After that the suckers catch on. End result: your company is screwed. Your former gold-plated brand name is a joke.
But hey, by that time you've moved on to the next company you're going to destroy.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at December 15, 2025 11:54 AM (IG3/x)
Clearly you just hate free markets and want a centrally-controlled command economy like the USSR, commie.
Posted by: And just want to date Carly Fiornia at December 15, 2025 12:00 PM (TbWk/)
287
I loved Mountain Dew as a teen. I barfed with the flavor of Mountain Dew and couldn't think of drinking it more about 15 years.
Posted by: Axeman
=======
Tequila shots for me.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:58 AM (WDjG6)
Jack Daniel's.
Posted by: Axeman
=======
Tequila shots for me.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:58 AM (WDjG6)
Jack Daniel's.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at December 15, 2025 12:00 PM (Zz0t1)
288
As long as the balance is not zero you do get props. So if you have a card make sure you use it. Even if it’s putting $20 on it at a gas station. Set up a monthly auto pay and forget it.
You get dinged when the card is active but not used ever.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 11:56 AM (udlma)
++++
Sort of.
A big factor in the credit score is fixed debt (mortgage, car loan, etc.). When a fixed debt is paid off and not replaced, it *will* ding you, sometimes significantly.
Another big part is "utilization" on revolving credit If you have, say, $20k in credit on your credit cards and usually have less than $2k in use, your utilization is great. The month you have to replace your HVAC and charge $15k, it will shoot your utilization way up and your score *will* come down that month and points come off faster than they go on.
If you have no fixed debt, your score will drop at the drop of a hat (and sometimes for no discernible reason) and climb up more slowly. It will always be "very good" or "excellent" but it will move a lot. Fair Isaac *really* wants you to have fixed debt.
You get dinged when the card is active but not used ever.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 11:56 AM (udlma)
++++
Sort of.
A big factor in the credit score is fixed debt (mortgage, car loan, etc.). When a fixed debt is paid off and not replaced, it *will* ding you, sometimes significantly.
Another big part is "utilization" on revolving credit If you have, say, $20k in credit on your credit cards and usually have less than $2k in use, your utilization is great. The month you have to replace your HVAC and charge $15k, it will shoot your utilization way up and your score *will* come down that month and points come off faster than they go on.
If you have no fixed debt, your score will drop at the drop of a hat (and sometimes for no discernible reason) and climb up more slowly. It will always be "very good" or "excellent" but it will move a lot. Fair Isaac *really* wants you to have fixed debt.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 12:00 PM (avHHk)
289
3.5% is B.S.
That's a tax rate not a service charge.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 15, 2025 11:58 AM (6ydKt)
I never thought about it before, but that's a great point.
A tow is a tow, whether it's a Ferrari or a Yugo.
That's a tax rate not a service charge.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 15, 2025 11:58 AM (6ydKt)
I never thought about it before, but that's a great point.
A tow is a tow, whether it's a Ferrari or a Yugo.
Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 15, 2025 12:00 PM (JwNbV)
290
272 Chili's used to have a Cajun Chicken Pasta dish that I rather liked. They discontinued it and replaced it with some other pasta dish.
I tried it once while on a trip to Anaheim, CA and spent the evening projectile vomiting in my hotel room.
I then tried it again a month or so later while on a trip to another city and had the same result.
Yeah, never had that shit again......
Posted by: Sponge
-----
That might have been a contamination problem from Chili's using Sysco reheats of meals in a bag.
But it could have been a substance intolerance given the industrial grade provenance of ingredients Sysco (and/or its primary competitor whose name I forget) uses.
I tried it once while on a trip to Anaheim, CA and spent the evening projectile vomiting in my hotel room.
I then tried it again a month or so later while on a trip to another city and had the same result.
Yeah, never had that shit again......
Posted by: Sponge
-----
That might have been a contamination problem from Chili's using Sysco reheats of meals in a bag.
But it could have been a substance intolerance given the industrial grade provenance of ingredients Sysco (and/or its primary competitor whose name I forget) uses.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 12:00 PM (WDjG6)
291
"I would set up a CP3o charity, go to the office to decide where I would donate money.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 11:55 AM"
A gift has been given in your name to The Human Fund.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 11:55 AM"
A gift has been given in your name to The Human Fund.
Posted by: George Costanza at December 15, 2025 12:00 PM (Zt+0/)
292
I'd trade my wife for a billion. Then I'd buy her back for half a billion and she'd laugh.
Posted by: ... at December 15, 2025 11:59 AM (zALxA)
Not as much as when she throttled you in your sleep and made off with half a billion with Jose the poolboy.
Posted by: ... at December 15, 2025 11:59 AM (zALxA)
Not as much as when she throttled you in your sleep and made off with half a billion with Jose the poolboy.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 15, 2025 12:01 PM (dK+Kv)
293
The Chili's grilled chicken pasta in the 90s was a nice dish. No one really knows what it was unfortunately.
Posted by: ... at December 15, 2025 12:01 PM (zALxA)
294
260 This busty brunette with nice teeth used a credit card to finance her beach vacation at a resort who's construction was financed with an exotic structured security offering, so she's feeling pretty good about things at the moment:
http://tiny.cc/8kgw001
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:55 AM (avHHk)
A nice ocean view!
I could sure use one of those right about now...
http://tiny.cc/8kgw001
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:55 AM (avHHk)
A nice ocean view!
I could sure use one of those right about now...
Posted by: Tex Lovera at December 15, 2025 12:01 PM (wtvvX)
295
We have fewer recessions than we used to - but reducing the frequency of downturns seriously increases their amplitude and introduces tremendous systemic risks, perverse incentives and moral hazards."
This, right here, is it. Spot on, and I tip my hat to you.
This, right here, is it. Spot on, and I tip my hat to you.
Posted by: man at December 15, 2025 12:01 PM (XuXeR)
296
I loved Mountain Dew as a teen. I barfed with the flavor of Mountain Dew and couldn't think of drinking it more about 15 years.
Posted by: Axeman
=======
Tequila shots for me.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:58 AM (WDjG6)
Jack Daniel's.
Posted by: Sponge
Yukon Jack Canadian Whiskey.
Posted by: Axeman
=======
Tequila shots for me.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:58 AM (WDjG6)
Jack Daniel's.
Posted by: Sponge
Yukon Jack Canadian Whiskey.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 12:01 PM (77rzZ)
297
This busty brunette with nice teeth used a credit card to finance her beach vacation at a resort who's construction was financed with an exotic structured security offering, so she's feeling pretty good about things at the moment:
http://tiny.cc/8kgw001
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:55 AM (avHHk)
Big old milk zeppelins...
http://tiny.cc/8kgw001
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 11:55 AM (avHHk)
Big old milk zeppelins...
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 15, 2025 12:02 PM (xcxpd)
298
>>>As long as the balance is not zero you do get props. So if you have a card make sure you use it. Even if it’s putting $20 on it at a gas station. Set up a monthly auto pay and forget it.
You get dinged when the card is active but not used ever.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald
---
Fuck them. They provide a service to the store to facilitate sales. Credit reporting agencies are running a bigger scam than credit cards.
I take that back, it's incest just like healthcare insurance and pharma.
You get dinged when the card is active but not used ever.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald
---
Fuck them. They provide a service to the store to facilitate sales. Credit reporting agencies are running a bigger scam than credit cards.
I take that back, it's incest just like healthcare insurance and pharma.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 12:02 PM (uGpeQ)
299
Not as much as when she throttled you in your sleep and made off with half a billion with Jose the poolboy.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 15, 2025 12:01 PM (dK+Kv)
Not likely since she's a virulent racist!
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 15, 2025 12:01 PM (dK+Kv)
Not likely since she's a virulent racist!
Posted by: ... at December 15, 2025 12:02 PM (zALxA)
300
I did some consulting for a bank and got very deep into fico scores. The APIs fair and Issac have are something to behold. There are thousands of variables that go into the score.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 12:02 PM (udlma)
301
I would set up a CP3o charity, go to the office to decide where I would donate money.
Posted by: Braenyard
The protocol droid has a charity????
Posted by: Braenyard
The protocol droid has a charity????
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 12:02 PM (77rzZ)
Posted by: garrett at December 15, 2025 12:02 PM (IaZ7c)
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 12:03 PM (uGpeQ)
304
Is this about me?
Posted by: A busty brunette with nice teeth at December 15, 2025 12:03 PM (Zt+0/)
305
Fuck them. They provide a service to the store to facilitate sales. Credit reporting agencies are running a bigger scam than credit cards.
—
How do you propose a lender judge the creditworthiness of a borrower then?
—
How do you propose a lender judge the creditworthiness of a borrower then?
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 12:03 PM (udlma)
306
My objection is that they take a percentage of the price as if my paying $10,000 costs more to transact than my paying $1.
It's all 1s & 0s sent over fiber optics.
You wanna charge $2.50 a transaction, fine.
3.5% is B.S.
That's a tax rate not a service charge.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 15, 2025 11:58 AM (6ydKt)
++++
Ah, okay. I understand your point now.
There is another aspect to it, which makes it a bit less absurd (but probably only a bit), which is that the transaction processor is exposed to risk. If the issuing bank is down for whatever reason, the network uses its own records and will respond on the bank's behalf. If you run your Chase Visa at a merchant and Chase can't approve the transaction for some reason (and it can be fleeting), the *network* - Visa, in this case - can do so and then send it to Chase. If the bank then declines a soft-approved transaction when it settles, the network has to eat that, not the bank.
The card networks *are* exposed to risk on the transaction, which is why they often charge a percentage. The percentage they charge is pretty high, which is one of the reasons there are more merchant services outfits than there used to be.
It's all 1s & 0s sent over fiber optics.
You wanna charge $2.50 a transaction, fine.
3.5% is B.S.
That's a tax rate not a service charge.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 15, 2025 11:58 AM (6ydKt)
++++
Ah, okay. I understand your point now.
There is another aspect to it, which makes it a bit less absurd (but probably only a bit), which is that the transaction processor is exposed to risk. If the issuing bank is down for whatever reason, the network uses its own records and will respond on the bank's behalf. If you run your Chase Visa at a merchant and Chase can't approve the transaction for some reason (and it can be fleeting), the *network* - Visa, in this case - can do so and then send it to Chase. If the bank then declines a soft-approved transaction when it settles, the network has to eat that, not the bank.
The card networks *are* exposed to risk on the transaction, which is why they often charge a percentage. The percentage they charge is pretty high, which is one of the reasons there are more merchant services outfits than there used to be.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 12:03 PM (avHHk)
307
302 >>Big old milk zeppelins...
Those are some nice Calcium Canons.
Posted by: garrett at December 15, 2025 12:02 PM (IaZ7c)
Butterfat bombers.
Double D dreadnoughts.
Those are some nice Calcium Canons.
Posted by: garrett at December 15, 2025 12:02 PM (IaZ7c)
Butterfat bombers.
Double D dreadnoughts.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at December 15, 2025 12:04 PM (IG3/x)
308
Yukon Jack Canadian Whiskey.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 12:01 PM (77rzZ)
That was my brother's go to for a while. I did get sick off that once, but it was only a part of the binder I went on, so it doesn't offend me now.
Yukon Jack Canadian Whiskey.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 12:01 PM (77rzZ)
That was my brother's go to for a while. I did get sick off that once, but it was only a part of the binder I went on, so it doesn't offend me now.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at December 15, 2025 12:04 PM (Zz0t1)
309
> I loved Mountain Dew as a teen. I barfed with the flavor of Mountain Dew and couldn't think of drinking it more about 15 years.
Posted by: Axeman
=======
Tequila shots for me.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:58 AM (WDjG6)
Jack Daniel's.
Posted by: Sponge
Yukon Jack Canadian Whiskey.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 12:01 PM (77rzZ)
The Bull for me.
Posted by: Axeman
=======
Tequila shots for me.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:58 AM (WDjG6)
Jack Daniel's.
Posted by: Sponge
Yukon Jack Canadian Whiskey.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 12:01 PM (77rzZ)
The Bull for me.
Posted by: mr tmz at December 15, 2025 12:04 PM (rJ48h)
310
No on ever puked from Southern Comfort and everyone loves it's taste.
Posted by: Top Shelf Tom at December 15, 2025 12:04 PM (oftw2)
Posted by: man at December 15, 2025 12:04 PM (XuXeR)
312
They're not growing their herd of sheep, they're shearing the same, but smaller, herd as last year 2, 3, 4 times a year.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at December 15, 2025 11:59 AM (HXT0k)
-------------
Infantile Thinking in Stage One [h/t Thomas Sowell].
I blame MTV and the culture of immediate gratification ... but mostly the culture of immediate gratification.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at December 15, 2025 11:59 AM (HXT0k)
-------------
Infantile Thinking in Stage One [h/t Thomas Sowell].
I blame MTV and the culture of immediate gratification ... but mostly the culture of immediate gratification.
Posted by: ShainS -- Bamboo Ruminant and GayFontoPhobe at December 15, 2025 12:05 PM (L/LrU)
313
Here’s the damned thing: if, like me, you have a 401(k) or IRA, your money is likely invested in the same kind of predatory practices that destroy companies in the long run for short-term gain.
We demand high returns. The people investing our money for us deliver.
To counteract this, I would love for my investment company to offer funds that seek to build businesses, not hollow them out.
We demand high returns. The people investing our money for us deliver.
To counteract this, I would love for my investment company to offer funds that seek to build businesses, not hollow them out.
Posted by: Michael Rittenhouse at December 15, 2025 12:05 PM (T1u+Z)
314
What I see a lot of is utility companies and state agencies charging 3.5%+ "Service Fees" for using a debit or credit card.
Charging me for sending some photons to a server and back.
Ridiculous.
Posted by: SpeakingOf
And that's why I still have and use paper checks.
If you charge me extra for the convenience of the card, you get a check instead.
Charging me for sending some photons to a server and back.
Ridiculous.
Posted by: SpeakingOf
And that's why I still have and use paper checks.
If you charge me extra for the convenience of the card, you get a check instead.
Posted by: FeatherBlade at December 15, 2025 12:05 PM (a+4eV)
315
C3PO was the homo Droid, and R2D2 was the annoying little asshole, right? I have not watched the Trilogy for forever. Did either of the robots appear in any of the new Star Wars crap?
Posted by: tubal at December 15, 2025 12:05 PM (pDt9x)
316
300 I did some consulting for a bank and got very deep into fico scores. The APIs fair and Issac have are something to behold. There are thousands of variables that go into the score.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald
----
But if you don't pay interest it's ZERO.
There ain't no thousands of variables.
It's a scam.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald
----
But if you don't pay interest it's ZERO.
There ain't no thousands of variables.
It's a scam.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 12:06 PM (uGpeQ)
317
Aaaannnnddd it's a boob thread...
Posted by: Which is nice at December 15, 2025 12:06 PM (Zt+0/)
318
Wasn't Sally Field playing Tom Hank's Mom in Forrest Gump despite being younger than Tom?
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 15, 2025 12:06 PM (xcxpd)
319
That was my brother's go to for a while. I did get sick off that once, but it was only a part of the binder I went on, so it doesn't offend me now.
Posted by: Sponge
Yukon Jack put me in the drunk tank of Michigan Stadium.
Posted by: Sponge
Yukon Jack put me in the drunk tank of Michigan Stadium.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 12:06 PM (77rzZ)
320
>>> 300 I did some consulting for a bank and got very deep into fico scores. The APIs fair and Issac have are something to behold. There are thousands of variables that go into the score.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 12:02 PM (udlma)
If that's not exaggeration, then I question how those scores can have any real value. In fact it's making me think of that jackass Brit EXTHPERT with his magic woofloo model that couldn't produce the same answer twice.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 12:02 PM (udlma)
If that's not exaggeration, then I question how those scores can have any real value. In fact it's making me think of that jackass Brit EXTHPERT with his magic woofloo model that couldn't produce the same answer twice.
Posted by: Helena Handbasket at December 15, 2025 12:06 PM (ULPxl)
321
my mistake, she's 10 years older.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 15, 2025 12:06 PM (xcxpd)
322
Bacardi 151 for me.
Posted by: ShainS -- Bamboo Ruminant and GayFontoPhobe at December 15, 2025 12:06 PM (L/LrU)
323
We are not a growing country.
Hell, I don't even think population is growing worldwide.
I am pretty sure that China is lying about up to 30% of their population.
Because imagine the crash if the world at large found out?
Every government budget, every major corporate budget is built on the assumption of an always-growing population.
Hell, I don't even think population is growing worldwide.
I am pretty sure that China is lying about up to 30% of their population.
Because imagine the crash if the world at large found out?
Every government budget, every major corporate budget is built on the assumption of an always-growing population.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at December 15, 2025 12:07 PM (HXT0k)
324
319 That was my brother's go to for a while. I did get sick off that once, but it was only a part of the binder I went on, so it doesn't offend me now.
Posted by: Sponge
Yukon Jack put me in the drunk tank of Michigan Stadium.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 12:06 PM (77rzZ)
Were you offered a coaching job??
Posted by: Sponge
Yukon Jack put me in the drunk tank of Michigan Stadium.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 12:06 PM (77rzZ)
Were you offered a coaching job??
Posted by: tubal at December 15, 2025 12:07 PM (pDt9x)
325
If you charge me extra for the convenience of the card, you get a check instead.
Posted by: FeatherBlade at December 15, 2025 12:05 PM (a+4eV)
++++
I'll pay $0.50 for convenience and do so happily.
If they transaction fee is $1.25 or less, I'll take it ever time, Envelopes, checks and stamps aren't free. It costs about $0.70 to send a check in the mail, and not having to bother with it is worth four bits to me.
Posted by: FeatherBlade at December 15, 2025 12:05 PM (a+4eV)
++++
I'll pay $0.50 for convenience and do so happily.
If they transaction fee is $1.25 or less, I'll take it ever time, Envelopes, checks and stamps aren't free. It costs about $0.70 to send a check in the mail, and not having to bother with it is worth four bits to me.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 12:07 PM (avHHk)
326
Angela Landsbury was only a few years older than Lawrence Harvey when she played his mother in The Manchurian Candidate.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 12:08 PM (77rzZ)
327
Yukon Jack put me in the drunk tank of Michigan Stadium.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 12:06 PM (77rzZ)
---
That rat-bastard!
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 12:06 PM (77rzZ)
---
That rat-bastard!
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 12:08 PM (krQz2)
328
Bacardi 151 for me.
Posted by: ShainS -- Bamboo Ruminant and GayFontoPhobe at December 15, 2025 12:06 PM (L/LrU)
*shudders*
Same.
Posted by: ShainS -- Bamboo Ruminant and GayFontoPhobe at December 15, 2025 12:06 PM (L/LrU)
*shudders*
Same.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 15, 2025 12:08 PM (dK+Kv)
329
"In my opinion, the “financialization-of-all-the-things” is a form of parasitism that does not create wealth, rather it serves to extract the accumulated wealth from entities where wealth has previously been created."
Like lawyers and accountants and politicians?
Like lawyers and accountants and politicians?
Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at December 15, 2025 12:08 PM (w6EFb)
330
Yukon Jack put me in the drunk tank of Michigan Stadium.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 12:06 PM (77rzZ)
Were you offered a coaching job??
Posted by: tubal
LOL.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 12:06 PM (77rzZ)
Were you offered a coaching job??
Posted by: tubal
LOL.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 12:08 PM (77rzZ)
Posted by: man at December 15, 2025 12:09 PM (XuXeR)
332
my mistake, she's 10 years older.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 15, 2025 12:06 PM (xcxpd)
=====
There was a movie called Punchline where she was his love interest. So that's weird.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 15, 2025 12:06 PM (xcxpd)
=====
There was a movie called Punchline where she was his love interest. So that's weird.
Posted by: Jordan61 at December 15, 2025 12:09 PM (DRSnL)
333
217, 218
‘ sometimes referred to as TDS,” Trump said.’
Not Trump’s finest hour but Reiner’s actions and invective earned him a hostile send-off.
‘ sometimes referred to as TDS,” Trump said.’
Not Trump’s finest hour but Reiner’s actions and invective earned him a hostile send-off.
Posted by: Dr. Claw at December 15, 2025 12:09 PM (jbnUc)
334
If I saw Angela Lansbury in public, I'd suspect that somebody's going to find a murder victim nearby pretty soon.
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 12:09 PM (krQz2)
335
I don't know why people invite "Jessica" to their parties!
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 12:10 PM (krQz2)
336
Don't want to be a king nor a billionaire myself.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:49 AM (WDjG6)
I lead a pretty simple life. I want enough money to live that life until I die without being a burden on others, particularly my chirrens. And I'd like to be the next best thing to unknown.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 11:49 AM (WDjG6)
I lead a pretty simple life. I want enough money to live that life until I die without being a burden on others, particularly my chirrens. And I'd like to be the next best thing to unknown.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 15, 2025 12:10 PM (ExV1e)
Posted by: man at December 15, 2025 12:10 PM (XuXeR)
338
If they transaction fee is $1.25 or less, I'll take it ever time, Envelopes, checks and stamps aren't free. It costs about $0.70 to send a check in the mail, and not having to bother with it is worth four bits to me.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 12:07 PM (avHHk)
That's a pretty good proxy for age: "are you willing to go through hassle to pay a tiny bit less?" When you're younger that's an obvious "of course". When you're 29 or so you really understand that your time is worth money and paying a little for convenience is actually OK.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at December 15, 2025 12:07 PM (avHHk)
That's a pretty good proxy for age: "are you willing to go through hassle to pay a tiny bit less?" When you're younger that's an obvious "of course". When you're 29 or so you really understand that your time is worth money and paying a little for convenience is actually OK.
Posted by: Ian S. at December 15, 2025 12:10 PM (QZThv)
339
Wasn't Sally Field playing Tom Hank's Mom in Forrest Gump despite being younger than Tom?
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 15, 2025 12:06 PM
Tom Hanks was born on July 9, 1956, making him 37 years old during principal filming of Forrest Gump (August to December 1993) and at the film's release on July 6, 1994.
Sally Field was born on November 6, 1946, making her 46–47 years old during filming (turning 47 in November 1993) and 47 years old at release.
Notably, Field played Hanks's mother in the film despite being only 10 years older in real life—a common Hollywood casting choice aided by makeup for her older scenes.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 15, 2025 12:06 PM
Tom Hanks was born on July 9, 1956, making him 37 years old during principal filming of Forrest Gump (August to December 1993) and at the film's release on July 6, 1994.
Sally Field was born on November 6, 1946, making her 46–47 years old during filming (turning 47 in November 1993) and 47 years old at release.
Notably, Field played Hanks's mother in the film despite being only 10 years older in real life—a common Hollywood casting choice aided by makeup for her older scenes.
Posted by: Clyde Shelton at December 15, 2025 12:11 PM (P5BPp)
340
I sometimes daydream about what it would be like to be Elon-rich, and I always come to the same conclusion: it wouldn't really make me happier. I can already afford the things I enjoy, most of which are dirt cheap, so what would the extra money get me? Security is really what most people crave, and I have that. I have a wonderful wife, happy, successful kids, and now, darling grandkids. I wouldn't trade with Elon, Bezos, Zuck, or anyone else.
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2025 11:56 AM (Riz8t)
Happiness is >>> riches. If I had a lot of cash, I wouldn't buy a mansion. I'd fix up what I have better. Maybe buy a little vacation place somewhere. Take trips. Buy slightly more expensive booze. Maybe buy a Model a or a nice old pickup. Pay my grandkid's college tuition. Give a bunch away!
But oddly enough, I don't think Elon is in it for the $$$. He wants to do giant things, and when you can pull that off, the money is a side benefit.
Just my two cents.
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2025 11:56 AM (Riz8t)
Happiness is >>> riches. If I had a lot of cash, I wouldn't buy a mansion. I'd fix up what I have better. Maybe buy a little vacation place somewhere. Take trips. Buy slightly more expensive booze. Maybe buy a Model a or a nice old pickup. Pay my grandkid's college tuition. Give a bunch away!
But oddly enough, I don't think Elon is in it for the $$$. He wants to do giant things, and when you can pull that off, the money is a side benefit.
Just my two cents.
Posted by: Tex Lovera at December 15, 2025 12:11 PM (wtvvX)
341
Jagermeister FTW!
Posted by: man at December 15, 2025 12:09 PM (XuXeR)
=====
We went to the Class Six on Saturday, and they had a table set up with samples of tequila and Jagermeister. I passed.
Posted by: man at December 15, 2025 12:09 PM (XuXeR)
=====
We went to the Class Six on Saturday, and they had a table set up with samples of tequila and Jagermeister. I passed.
Posted by: Jordan61 at December 15, 2025 12:11 PM (DRSnL)
342
Winning a lot of money would be a burden.
I would set up a CP3o charity
You'd give money to an android?
Winning a lot of money would be a burden.
I would set up a CP3o charity
You'd give money to an android?
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 15, 2025 12:11 PM (pkeXY)
343
302 >>Big old milk zeppelins...
Those are some nice Calcium Canons.
Someone, somewhere, is keeping the definitive list of euphemisms for boobs. And he never gets a day off.
Those are some nice Calcium Canons.
Someone, somewhere, is keeping the definitive list of euphemisms for boobs. And he never gets a day off.
Posted by: Oddbob at December 15, 2025 12:11 PM (qP1co)
344
Not Trump’s finest hour but Reiner’s actions and invective earned him a hostile send-off.
Posted by: Dr. Claw at December 15, 2025 12:09 PM (jbnUc)
---
I'd still take Trump over almost every other politician. But he could really learn the benefit of shutting his yap about personal things.
Posted by: Dr. Claw at December 15, 2025 12:09 PM (jbnUc)
---
I'd still take Trump over almost every other politician. But he could really learn the benefit of shutting his yap about personal things.
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 12:11 PM (krQz2)
345
How you feel about "Financialization of All the Things" will depend in large part what you think the prime directive of a company is.
Posted by: Elric The Blade at December 15, 2025 12:11 PM (iFTx/)
346
314 What I see a lot of is utility companies and state agencies charging 3.5%+ "Service Fees" for using a debit or credit card.
Charging me for sending some photons to a server and back.
Ridiculous.
Posted by: SpeakingOf
And that's why I still have and use paper checks.
If you charge me extra for the convenience of the card, you get a check instead.
Posted by: FeatherBlade
-----
Considering the cost of a stamp, time and convenience or what I would pay their credit card service. I use a payment kiosk. I pass it everyday when I'm out, it's no inconvenience.
I have the pleasure of denying the CC company, the utility companies their vig and the USPS.
I walk away feeling satisfied every month.
Charging me for sending some photons to a server and back.
Ridiculous.
Posted by: SpeakingOf
And that's why I still have and use paper checks.
If you charge me extra for the convenience of the card, you get a check instead.
Posted by: FeatherBlade
-----
Considering the cost of a stamp, time and convenience or what I would pay their credit card service. I use a payment kiosk. I pass it everyday when I'm out, it's no inconvenience.
I have the pleasure of denying the CC company, the utility companies their vig and the USPS.
I walk away feeling satisfied every month.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 12:11 PM (uGpeQ)
347
334 If I saw Angela Lansbury in public, I'd suspect that somebody's going to find a murder victim nearby pretty soon.
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 12:09 PM (krQz2)
We have a DVD set of Perry Mason, wife likes it. Still entertaining, but I've noticed that Mason finds more bodies in hotel rooms than the entire LAPD.
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 12:09 PM (krQz2)
We have a DVD set of Perry Mason, wife likes it. Still entertaining, but I've noticed that Mason finds more bodies in hotel rooms than the entire LAPD.
Posted by: Tom Servo at December 15, 2025 12:12 PM (uWKK8)
348
Private equity destroys thriving businesses, such as Joanne Fabrics. Joanne was a growing highly profitable business with plans for expansion.
PE bought the company via massive debt, that they paid off via selling stores and eliminating staff. Now they declared bankruptcy and the investor group walked away with millions.
PE bought the company via massive debt, that they paid off via selling stores and eliminating staff. Now they declared bankruptcy and the investor group walked away with millions.
Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at December 15, 2025 12:13 PM (wBaIH)
349
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at December 15, 2025 11:49 AM (KTHZX)
Well, I doubt that Rob Reiner's son killed him because Reiner Sr. had Trump Derangement Syndrome.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at December 15, 2025 11:49 AM (KTHZX)
Well, I doubt that Rob Reiner's son killed him because Reiner Sr. had Trump Derangement Syndrome.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 15, 2025 12:13 PM (PFs9e)
350
Every government budget, every major corporate budget is built on the assumption of an always-growing population."
This. It's a fascinating topic, and gets little notice. Japan is working thru this very scenario, and their unwillingness to follow the prescriptions of the world's ruling class is giving many fits..
This. It's a fascinating topic, and gets little notice. Japan is working thru this very scenario, and their unwillingness to follow the prescriptions of the world's ruling class is giving many fits..
Posted by: man at December 15, 2025 12:13 PM (XuXeR)
351
---
I'd still take Trump over almost every other politician. But he could really learn the benefit of shutting his yap about personal things.
Posted by: Axeman
---
What about the good things he personally does for people, should he stop that too?
I'd still take Trump over almost every other politician. But he could really learn the benefit of shutting his yap about personal things.
Posted by: Axeman
---
What about the good things he personally does for people, should he stop that too?
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 12:13 PM (uGpeQ)
352
Private equity destroys thriving businesses, such as Joanne Fabrics. Joanne was a growing highly profitable business with plans for expansion.
PE bought the company via massive debt, that they paid off via selling stores and eliminating staff. Now they declared bankruptcy and the investor group walked away with millions.
Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov
Yep. The last company I worked at was an international defense contractor, and was doing quite well. Private equity came in and broke it all up, and laid off quite a few people, me included. Fucking vultures.
PE bought the company via massive debt, that they paid off via selling stores and eliminating staff. Now they declared bankruptcy and the investor group walked away with millions.
Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov
Yep. The last company I worked at was an international defense contractor, and was doing quite well. Private equity came in and broke it all up, and laid off quite a few people, me included. Fucking vultures.
Posted by: Bulg at December 15, 2025 12:14 PM (77rzZ)
353
>>>>>Big old milk zeppelins...
Those are some nice Calcium Canons.
Posted by: garrett at December 15, 2025 12:02 PM (IaZ7c)
Butterfat bombers.
Double D dreadnoughts.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia
>When those toddler tuggies become unwieldy, they must be expressed for the hope of the children.
Those are some nice Calcium Canons.
Posted by: garrett at December 15, 2025 12:02 PM (IaZ7c)
Butterfat bombers.
Double D dreadnoughts.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia
>When those toddler tuggies become unwieldy, they must be expressed for the hope of the children.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at December 15, 2025 12:15 PM (1zOXE)
354
‘ sometimes referred to as TDS,” Trump said.’
Not Trump’s finest hour but Reiner’s actions and invective earned him a hostile send-off.
Posted by: Dr. Claw at December 15, 2025 12:09 PM (jbnUc)
>>>In 2017, Reiner said he thought Trump was "mentally unfit” to be president in an interview with Variety and said he was the "single most unqualified human being to ever assume the presidency of the United States." - Newsweek
It's a fine hour. F that guy.
>>>He repeatedly tried to equate Republicanism, MAGAism, and traditional US faith and patriotism with Nazism and Fascism, like many other hysterical Democrats have done. After Robert Reich and Robert Di Nero, he may have been the most vituperative, vindictive and vehement critic of Trump and his administrations around, which is a bronze medal in partisan lunacy earned from a very crowded field of competitors.
See link at 218.
Not Trump’s finest hour but Reiner’s actions and invective earned him a hostile send-off.
Posted by: Dr. Claw at December 15, 2025 12:09 PM (jbnUc)
>>>In 2017, Reiner said he thought Trump was "mentally unfit” to be president in an interview with Variety and said he was the "single most unqualified human being to ever assume the presidency of the United States." - Newsweek
It's a fine hour. F that guy.
>>>He repeatedly tried to equate Republicanism, MAGAism, and traditional US faith and patriotism with Nazism and Fascism, like many other hysterical Democrats have done. After Robert Reich and Robert Di Nero, he may have been the most vituperative, vindictive and vehement critic of Trump and his administrations around, which is a bronze medal in partisan lunacy earned from a very crowded field of competitors.
See link at 218.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 15, 2025 12:15 PM (dK+Kv)
355
348 Private equity destroys thriving businesses, such as Joanne Fabrics. Joanne was a growing highly profitable business with plans for expansion.
PE bought the company via massive debt, that they paid off via selling stores and eliminating staff. Now they declared bankruptcy and the investor group walked away with millions.
Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at December 15, 2025 12:13 PM (wBaIH)
PE's first move is always to find companies that own their own locations, and sell off the real estate. Eventually the company can't afford their lease to the new property-owner anymore, and goes out of business.
PE bought the company via massive debt, that they paid off via selling stores and eliminating staff. Now they declared bankruptcy and the investor group walked away with millions.
Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at December 15, 2025 12:13 PM (wBaIH)
PE's first move is always to find companies that own their own locations, and sell off the real estate. Eventually the company can't afford their lease to the new property-owner anymore, and goes out of business.
Posted by: XTC at December 15, 2025 12:15 PM (UnA8+)
356
Warren William first portrayed Perry Mason on film and he was good at it.
Posted by: King of the Pre-Codes at December 15, 2025 12:15 PM (oftw2)
357
I'd still take Trump over almost every other politician. But he could really learn the benefit of shutting his yap about personal things.
Posted by: Axeman
---
What about the good things he personally does for people, should he stop that too?
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 12:13 PM (uGpeQ)
---
Of course not. Yeah, technically the words I use cover that, but the context is about insulting people.
I wish he did less of that.
Posted by: Axeman
---
What about the good things he personally does for people, should he stop that too?
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 12:13 PM (uGpeQ)
---
Of course not. Yeah, technically the words I use cover that, but the context is about insulting people.
I wish he did less of that.
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 12:15 PM (krQz2)
358
I lead a pretty simple life. I want enough money to live that life until I die without being a burden on others, particularly my chirrens. And I'd like to be the next best thing to unknown.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 15, 2025 12:10 PM (ExV1e)
----
Same here.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 15, 2025 12:10 PM (ExV1e)
----
Same here.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 15, 2025 12:15 PM (ESVrU)
359
340 I sometimes daydream about what it would be like to be Elon-rich, and I always come to the same conclusion: it wouldn't really make me happier. I can already afford the things I enjoy, most of which are dirt cheap, so what would the extra money get me? Security is really what most people crave, and I have that. I have a wonderful wife, happy, successful kids, and now, darling grandkids. I wouldn't trade with Elon, Bezos, Zuck, or anyone else.
Posted by: Archimedes
We're working very hard to take Security away from you. It's not personal, we're doing this to the entire middle class!
Posted by: Archimedes
We're working very hard to take Security away from you. It's not personal, we're doing this to the entire middle class!
Posted by: Socialists Everywhere at December 15, 2025 12:15 PM (Dv3i1)
360
Joanne Fabrics. Joanne was a growing highly profitable business with plans for expansion"
Don't forget their hard woke turn... Mrs used to shop there, but walked away in disgust...
Don't forget their hard woke turn... Mrs used to shop there, but walked away in disgust...
Posted by: man at December 15, 2025 12:16 PM (XuXeR)
361
This. It's a fascinating topic, and gets little notice. Japan is working thru this very scenario, and their unwillingness to follow the prescriptions of the world's ruling class is giving many fits..
Posted by: man
------
Yes. New prime minister acknowledges the problem and says they will work through it without 'foreigners'. She's busy throwing the 'foreigners' out, at the moment.
Posted by: man
------
Yes. New prime minister acknowledges the problem and says they will work through it without 'foreigners'. She's busy throwing the 'foreigners' out, at the moment.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 12:16 PM (uGpeQ)
362
my mistake, she's 10 years older.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 15, 2025 12:06 PM
There was a movie called Punchline where she was his love interest. So that's weird.
Posted by: Jordan61 at December 15, 2025 12:09 PM
Talk about weird... I saw "In Time" (2011) recently where Olivia Wilde played Justin Timberlake's mother.
But it "worked" for the plot of the movie as the people in this world would stop aging at age 25 or something. So everyone looks 25-years old even if some are 50 or 75 or some 100.
But what didn't work was Olivia Wilde's acting like Justin Timberlake's mother. When she was trying to act motherly to him, it looked like they were both about to start laughing from how absurd it was, them being the same age.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 15, 2025 12:06 PM
There was a movie called Punchline where she was his love interest. So that's weird.
Posted by: Jordan61 at December 15, 2025 12:09 PM
Talk about weird... I saw "In Time" (2011) recently where Olivia Wilde played Justin Timberlake's mother.
But it "worked" for the plot of the movie as the people in this world would stop aging at age 25 or something. So everyone looks 25-years old even if some are 50 or 75 or some 100.
But what didn't work was Olivia Wilde's acting like Justin Timberlake's mother. When she was trying to act motherly to him, it looked like they were both about to start laughing from how absurd it was, them being the same age.
Posted by: Clyde Shelton at December 15, 2025 12:16 PM (P5BPp)
363
I'd still take Trump over almost every other politician. But he could really learn the benefit of shutting his yap about personal things.
Most people understood that this was a test and anyone major saying mean things about Reiner would be used to invalidate Charlie Kirk's murder.
Trump failed the test.
Most people understood that this was a test and anyone major saying mean things about Reiner would be used to invalidate Charlie Kirk's murder.
Trump failed the test.
Posted by: Ian S. at December 15, 2025 12:16 PM (QZThv)
364
That's a pretty good proxy for age: "are you willing to go through hassle to pay a tiny bit less?" When you're younger that's an obvious "of course". When you're 29 or so you really understand that your time is worth money and paying a little for convenience is actually OK.
Posted by: Ian S.
Except for the part where way too many places make paying by credit card more of a hassle than strictly necessary. Usually for "security reasons".
Posted by: Ian S.
Except for the part where way too many places make paying by credit card more of a hassle than strictly necessary. Usually for "security reasons".
Posted by: FeatherBlade at December 15, 2025 12:16 PM (a+4eV)
365
270
‘ Whatever food you eat before you barf, you're pretty much put off of that food for a decade or so.
...
Hello, Popeye's’
Miller Genuine Draft
‘ Whatever food you eat before you barf, you're pretty much put off of that food for a decade or so.
...
Hello, Popeye's’
Miller Genuine Draft
Posted by: Dr. Claw at December 15, 2025 12:17 PM (jbnUc)
366
Japan says they are treading water while the western world is falling apart. That Japan will remain when the west is gone.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 12:17 PM (uGpeQ)
Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 15, 2025 12:17 PM (JwNbV)
368
Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh
JUST IN: Liberals are desperately claiming the right is celebrating the death of Rob Reiner, but X is being flooded with conservatives expressing sorrow for Reiner and his wife's death.
Reiner previously broke with the Left to condemn what happened to Charlie.
A sad loss.
X video of Rob Reiner commenting on Charlie Kirk's assassination: https://bit.ly/4oUe3FG
JUST IN: Liberals are desperately claiming the right is celebrating the death of Rob Reiner, but X is being flooded with conservatives expressing sorrow for Reiner and his wife's death.
Reiner previously broke with the Left to condemn what happened to Charlie.
A sad loss.
X video of Rob Reiner commenting on Charlie Kirk's assassination: https://bit.ly/4oUe3FG
Posted by: Clyde Shelton at December 15, 2025 12:17 PM (P5BPp)
369
Every government budget, every major corporate budget is built on the assumption of an always-growing population.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice
Every election's voter turnout numbers, too.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice
Every election's voter turnout numbers, too.
Posted by: t-bird at December 15, 2025 12:18 PM (+3KVp)
370
Trump is always gonna Trump. What are they gonna do, say worse things about him? Try to you know what him? Already been did.
Trump gets a victim card for life, does he not?
Trump gets a victim card for life, does he not?
Posted by: ... at December 15, 2025 12:19 PM (zALxA)
371
The person that killed Rob Reiner has been identified as a white man.
Posted by: Jake Tapper, Pederast at December 15, 2025 12:19 PM (FGMmt)
372
Every government budget, every major corporate budget is built on the assumption of an always-growing population.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at December 15, 2025 12:07 PM (HXT0k)
And, at the same time, most of them adopt policies which have the opposite effect.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at December 15, 2025 12:07 PM (HXT0k)
And, at the same time, most of them adopt policies which have the opposite effect.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 15, 2025 12:20 PM (ExV1e)
373
Also depends on what you define as a "hassle".
I find that navigating online payment portals is a hassle that I'd rather avoid.
I find that navigating online payment portals is a hassle that I'd rather avoid.
Posted by: FeatherBlade at December 15, 2025 12:20 PM (a+4eV)
374
Whatever food you eat before you barf, you're pretty much put off of that food for a decade or so.
Make that two decades. Rum, Coke, and Wendy's Chili.
Make that two decades. Rum, Coke, and Wendy's Chili.
Posted by: t-bird at December 15, 2025 12:20 PM (+3KVp)
375
If stock buybacks were intended to benefit shareholders instead of executives, they would be doing the buybacks when the PE was below average, not when it was high. How can I be so much more astute than a highly compensated board?
Posted by: Thomas Paine at December 15, 2025 11:16 AM (8fjZH)
Most modern boards seem to be friends of the CEO and are, likely, in on the scam somehow.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 15, 2025 11:19 AM (ExV1e)
It's the other way around. CEOs are friends of the board, who bring in the CEO to manage the scam that the board decides to run.
We tend to forget that CEOs answer to the board, who actually have the power and make the large decisions. They delegate that power to the CEO. The CEO is the board's bitch, until they get too big for their britches and defy the board or are so incompetent that they can't manage the scam to the board's satisfaction.
If stock buybacks were intended to benefit shareholders instead of executives, they would be doing the buybacks when the PE was below average, not when it was high. How can I be so much more astute than a highly compensated board?
Posted by: Thomas Paine at December 15, 2025 11:16 AM (8fjZH)
Most modern boards seem to be friends of the CEO and are, likely, in on the scam somehow.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 15, 2025 11:19 AM (ExV1e)
It's the other way around. CEOs are friends of the board, who bring in the CEO to manage the scam that the board decides to run.
We tend to forget that CEOs answer to the board, who actually have the power and make the large decisions. They delegate that power to the CEO. The CEO is the board's bitch, until they get too big for their britches and defy the board or are so incompetent that they can't manage the scam to the board's satisfaction.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 15, 2025 12:20 PM (y9nCu)
376
Trump gets a victim card for life, does he not?
CNN viewing liberals and Bluesky posters 100% believe he wasn't actually shot, he was rigged up with a ketchup packet like in the movies.
CNN viewing liberals and Bluesky posters 100% believe he wasn't actually shot, he was rigged up with a ketchup packet like in the movies.
Posted by: Ian S. at December 15, 2025 12:20 PM (QZThv)
377
Regardless of wealth or position, "Perfessor" Squirrel is destined to be consumed by us.
Posted by: Pack of Hangry Cats at December 15, 2025 12:20 PM (oftw2)
378
JUST IN: Liberals are desperately claiming the right is celebrating the death of Rob Reiner, but X is being flooded with conservatives expressing sorrow for Reiner and his wife's death.
Posted by: Clyde Shelton at December 15, 2025 12:17 PM (P5BPp)
---
Of course they are. I predicted it as soon as I heard two elderly were found dead in his home.
When the progs want an "explanation", Action-at-a-distance works.
Posted by: Clyde Shelton at December 15, 2025 12:17 PM (P5BPp)
---
Of course they are. I predicted it as soon as I heard two elderly were found dead in his home.
When the progs want an "explanation", Action-at-a-distance works.
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 12:21 PM (krQz2)
379
Of course not. Yeah, technically the words I use cover that, but the context is about insulting people.
I wish he did less of that.
Posted by: Axeman
=======
I don't care much anymore about what other people say. If it is true, then it is true. If false, ditto.
But Trump has been subjected to and by Meathead and his ilk an enormous load of vitriol over the years. Expecting him to turn the cheek after Meathead cheered for Trump to die, be bankrupted, be in jail along with his family, etc. doesn't have a handle on Trump at all.
He says what he thinks nowadays and for the most part, he is being truthful--he is just ignoring societal taboos on such expressions.
And most voters won't care much if the price of groceries goes down, we continue with relative peace, and jobs are around.
I wish he did less of that.
Posted by: Axeman
=======
I don't care much anymore about what other people say. If it is true, then it is true. If false, ditto.
But Trump has been subjected to and by Meathead and his ilk an enormous load of vitriol over the years. Expecting him to turn the cheek after Meathead cheered for Trump to die, be bankrupted, be in jail along with his family, etc. doesn't have a handle on Trump at all.
He says what he thinks nowadays and for the most part, he is being truthful--he is just ignoring societal taboos on such expressions.
And most voters won't care much if the price of groceries goes down, we continue with relative peace, and jobs are around.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 12:21 PM (WDjG6)
380
There's no "test" to fail.
There is only Abiding By The New Rules.
Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 15, 2025 12:17 PM (JwNbV)
Some people get it.
The left already invalidated Kirk's murder, and nothing Trump could say or not say would change the left's "minds" about it, because they are brain-damaged cultists whose only religious virtue is politcal power, by any means necessary.
And for those still asleep at the switch, that means killing you and your family.
There is only Abiding By The New Rules.
Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 15, 2025 12:17 PM (JwNbV)
Some people get it.
The left already invalidated Kirk's murder, and nothing Trump could say or not say would change the left's "minds" about it, because they are brain-damaged cultists whose only religious virtue is politcal power, by any means necessary.
And for those still asleep at the switch, that means killing you and your family.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 15, 2025 12:21 PM (dK+Kv)
381
I'm fine with Trump's insults.
Don't cause none, won't be none.
Don't cause none, won't be none.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 15, 2025 12:22 PM (xcxpd)
382
Carly Fiorina? A blast from the past.
On April 27, 2016, Cruz announced that, if he were selected as the party's presidential nominee, he would choose Fiorina as his vice presidential running mate,[262] but after losing the Indiana primary six days later, he suspended his campaign,[263] making her vice-presidential candidacy the shortest in modern American history.[264]
Fiorina received one electoral college vote for vice president from a faithless elector in Texas.[265] Following Trump's election, Fiorina was considered for the position of director of national intelligence during the 2016 transition period.[266] In 2020, Fiorina endorsed Joe Biden's presidential campaign due to her disapproval of President Donald Trump.[267][268] Wikipedia, in part.
On April 27, 2016, Cruz announced that, if he were selected as the party's presidential nominee, he would choose Fiorina as his vice presidential running mate,[262] but after losing the Indiana primary six days later, he suspended his campaign,[263] making her vice-presidential candidacy the shortest in modern American history.[264]
Fiorina received one electoral college vote for vice president from a faithless elector in Texas.[265] Following Trump's election, Fiorina was considered for the position of director of national intelligence during the 2016 transition period.[266] In 2020, Fiorina endorsed Joe Biden's presidential campaign due to her disapproval of President Donald Trump.[267][268] Wikipedia, in part.
Posted by: L - No nic, another fine day at December 15, 2025 12:22 PM (NFX2v)
383
Would you rather be a billionaire and die at 29 yrs old or be middle class, 70 yrs old and pass away with children and grandchildren? Are they both win-win?
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at December 15, 2025 12:22 PM (nljXp)
384
Make that two decades. Rum, Coke, and Wendy's Chili.
Posted by: t-bird at December 15, 2025 12:20 PM (+3KVp)
Southern Comfort and anything
Make that two decades. Rum, Coke, and Wendy's Chili.
Posted by: t-bird at December 15, 2025 12:20 PM (+3KVp)
Southern Comfort and anything
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 15, 2025 12:23 PM (y9nCu)
385
Fico is just statistical regression models. People love to hate it but it’s just math. Variable x has y impact on z outcome. Thats all.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 12:23 PM (udlma)
386
And most voters won't care much if the price of groceries goes down, we continue with relative peace, and jobs are around.
The problem is it's almost 2026, groceries are still expensive, we're apparently starting a new war in Venezuela, and Trump is allowing H1B abuse to continue as long as FedGov gets a cut.
The problem is it's almost 2026, groceries are still expensive, we're apparently starting a new war in Venezuela, and Trump is allowing H1B abuse to continue as long as FedGov gets a cut.
Posted by: Ian S. at December 15, 2025 12:23 PM (QZThv)
387
It came to me late last week that the prog credo of "Keep the dream alive" also means "Don't let whatever hallucination we're enjoying fade."
Progressivism seems to begin with Rousseau's hallucinations about the "Noble Savage", travels through Marx's "Stages of History", and then goes on to cling to hallucinations for dear life.
Progressivism seems to begin with Rousseau's hallucinations about the "Noble Savage", travels through Marx's "Stages of History", and then goes on to cling to hallucinations for dear life.
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 12:24 PM (krQz2)
388
In the wake of a Sunday mass shooting at Australia's Bondi Beach that left 15 dead and more than two dozen injured, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed to strengthen the country's gun laws.
In the wake of a Sunday mass shooting at Australia's Bondi Beach that left 15 dead and more than two dozen injured, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed to strengthen the country's gun laws.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 15, 2025 12:24 PM (pkeXY)
389
377 Regardless of wealth or position, "Perfessor" Squirrel is destined to be consumed by us.
Posted by: Pack of Hangry Cats at December 15, 2025 12:20 PM (oftw2)
He got a .32 gun in is pocket for fun he got a razor in his shoe.
Posted by: Pack of Hangry Cats at December 15, 2025 12:20 PM (oftw2)
He got a .32 gun in is pocket for fun he got a razor in his shoe.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 15, 2025 12:24 PM (xcxpd)
390
Not shedding tears for Reiner. He was an odious piece of shit. Whatever.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 15, 2025 12:24 PM (udlma)
391
Regardless of wealth or position, "Perfessor" Squirrel is destined to be consumed by us.
Posted by: Pack of Hangry Cats at December 15, 2025 12:20 PM (oftw2)
---
I'm OK with that. It's all part of the natural order of things.
Posted by: Pack of Hangry Cats at December 15, 2025 12:20 PM (oftw2)
---
I'm OK with that. It's all part of the natural order of things.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 15, 2025 12:25 PM (ESVrU)
392
Having been part of these tough decisions, the c-suite isn’t laughing evilly while rubbing their hands together on a pile of money. Usually it’s a conversation around retaining jobs and how we make that happen. There are also very tough decisions around layoffs, plant shutdowns, etc. none of those conversations are fun.
Posted by: Piper at December 15, 2025 12:25 PM (ZdaMQ)
393
11 Business schools really need to start hammering an important point: "is the strategy you're recommending (usually involving degrading the product) good for the company long-term, or just your short-term benefit before you move on?"
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2025 11:05 AM (Riz8t)
I hold MBAs in the same stead as attorneys\ambulance chasers.... same causality and the same projected remedy...
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2025 11:05 AM (Riz8t)
I hold MBAs in the same stead as attorneys\ambulance chasers.... same causality and the same projected remedy...
Posted by: Pinochet Flight Attendant at December 15, 2025 12:25 PM (zL/eJ)
Posted by: one hour sober at December 15, 2025 12:25 PM (Y1sOo)
395
Trump is always gonna Trump. What are they gonna do, say worse things about him? Try to you know what him? Already been did.
Trump gets a victim card for life, does he not?
Posted by: ... at December 15, 2025 12:19 PM (zALxA)
He doesn't need a victim card with the balls to say what needs saying.
I don't take Trump's propositions as perfectly formed logical syllogisms that jive with reality, but there is merit to the suggestion that TDS and his RR's life outcomes aren't related in a sense that his decisions brought him to this point.
Trump gets a victim card for life, does he not?
Posted by: ... at December 15, 2025 12:19 PM (zALxA)
He doesn't need a victim card with the balls to say what needs saying.
I don't take Trump's propositions as perfectly formed logical syllogisms that jive with reality, but there is merit to the suggestion that TDS and his RR's life outcomes aren't related in a sense that his decisions brought him to this point.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 15, 2025 12:25 PM (dK+Kv)
396
383 Would you rather be a billionaire and die at 29 yrs old or be middle class, 70 yrs old and pass away with children and grandchildren? Are they both win-win?
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at December 15, 2025 12:22 PM (nljXp)
Different pleasures.
The latter is more impactful probably.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at December 15, 2025 12:22 PM (nljXp)
Different pleasures.
The latter is more impactful probably.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 15, 2025 12:26 PM (xcxpd)
397
Southern Comfort and anything
Posted by: IllTemperedCur
Oh, yeah. Forgot about high school. That was a permanent reaction. Never again.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur
Oh, yeah. Forgot about high school. That was a permanent reaction. Never again.
Posted by: t-bird at December 15, 2025 12:26 PM (+3KVp)
398
In the wake of a Sunday mass shooting at Australia's Bondi Beach that left 15 dead and more than two dozen injured, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed to strengthen the country's gun laws.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 15, 2025 12:24 PM
Single shot weapons only!*
*until the next time
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 15, 2025 12:24 PM
Single shot weapons only!*
*until the next time
Posted by: RedMindBlueState at December 15, 2025 12:26 PM (bFu5X)
399
Police suspect fair play.
Police suspect fair play.
Posted by: As Dennis Miller used to say at December 15, 2025 12:26 PM (Zt+0/)
400
The person that killed Rob Reiner has been identified as a white man.
Posted by: Jake Tapper, Pederast at December 15, 2025 12:19 PM (FGMmt)
lol
Cuts like a knife.
Posted by: Jake Tapper, Pederast at December 15, 2025 12:19 PM (FGMmt)
lol
Cuts like a knife.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 15, 2025 12:26 PM (dK+Kv)
401
Japan says they are treading water while the western world is falling apart. That Japan will remain when the west is gone.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 12:17 PM (uGpeQ)
Japan choosing to remain Japan makes me suspect that they're correct.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 12:17 PM (uGpeQ)
Japan choosing to remain Japan makes me suspect that they're correct.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 15, 2025 12:26 PM (ExV1e)
402
Ace must have hit the Manischewitz hard last night.
Posted by: garrett at December 15, 2025 12:27 PM (IaZ7c)
403
392 Having been part of these tough decisions, the c-suite isn’t laughing evilly while rubbing their hands together on a pile of money. Usually it’s a conversation around retaining jobs and how we make that happen. There are also very tough decisions around layoffs, plant shutdowns, etc. none of those conversations are fun.
Posted by: Piper at December 15, 2025 12:25 PM (ZdaMQ)
Are you also there for the discussions about c-suite compensation? Because that's what really chaps our hide, giving raises to people who lay off workers.
Posted by: Piper at December 15, 2025 12:25 PM (ZdaMQ)
Are you also there for the discussions about c-suite compensation? Because that's what really chaps our hide, giving raises to people who lay off workers.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 15, 2025 12:27 PM (xcxpd)
404
The person that killed Rob Reiner has been identified as a white man.
Posted by: Jake Tapper, Pederast at December 15, 2025 12:19 PM (FGMmt)
And a Jew. It really makes you think about the plight of the Palestinians. -- the cast of The View... probably
Posted by: Jake Tapper, Pederast at December 15, 2025 12:19 PM (FGMmt)
And a Jew. It really makes you think about the plight of the Palestinians. -- the cast of The View... probably
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 15, 2025 12:28 PM (ExV1e)
Posted by: People named Orinthal James at December 15, 2025 12:28 PM (Zt+0/)
406
Someone light the beacons of Endor.
Posted by: RedMindBlueState at December 15, 2025 12:28 PM (bFu5X)
407
none of those conversations are fun."
Sure it is. I mean, who doesn't love diving into piles of gold like Scrooge McDuck.
The equity bit is funny too - someone has to sell.
Sure it is. I mean, who doesn't love diving into piles of gold like Scrooge McDuck.
The equity bit is funny too - someone has to sell.
Posted by: man at December 15, 2025 12:28 PM (XuXeR)
408
The left wrestling the news cycle away from the Jewish attack in Australia, etc.
I don't care one iota Ron Reiner was killed, likely by a relative. (What's new?) I would like to know why Pierre Robert died.
I don't care one iota Ron Reiner was killed, likely by a relative. (What's new?) I would like to know why Pierre Robert died.
Posted by: L - No nic, another fine day at December 15, 2025 12:28 PM (NFX2v)
409
Of course they are. I predicted it as soon as I heard two elderly were found dead in his home.
When the progs want an "explanation", Action-at-a-distance works.
Posted by: Axeman
========
And fake condolences from conservatives on social media, because it is the "right thing to do" actually repulses me a bit. That is the social virtue signalling of the right that we are better than you when the left doesn't can't and won't reciprocate.
Regarding Reiner, I made a brief private prayer as I usually do after such public tragedies and their victims. I pray for the family that was left behind and for Reiner himself to have repudiated most of his life's work from his spreading hate of others so he could be saved after death. I wish eternal damnation on no person but death itself does not excuse what type of life they led right before they died. It is for the Lord himself to judge us as we shall be judged and fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
I don't care to be recognized for it on social media.
When the progs want an "explanation", Action-at-a-distance works.
Posted by: Axeman
========
And fake condolences from conservatives on social media, because it is the "right thing to do" actually repulses me a bit. That is the social virtue signalling of the right that we are better than you when the left doesn't can't and won't reciprocate.
Regarding Reiner, I made a brief private prayer as I usually do after such public tragedies and their victims. I pray for the family that was left behind and for Reiner himself to have repudiated most of his life's work from his spreading hate of others so he could be saved after death. I wish eternal damnation on no person but death itself does not excuse what type of life they led right before they died. It is for the Lord himself to judge us as we shall be judged and fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
I don't care to be recognized for it on social media.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 12:28 PM (WDjG6)
Posted by: Soothsayer at December 15, 2025 12:29 PM (KPKlu)
411
Beacon worked. Ewok's up.
Posted by: RedMindBlueState at December 15, 2025 12:29 PM (bFu5X)
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 15, 2025 12:29 PM (pkeXY)
413
But Trump has been subjected to and by Meathead and his ilk an enormous load of vitriol over the years. Expecting him to turn the cheek after Meathead cheered for Trump to die, be bankrupted, be in jail along with his family, etc. doesn't have a handle on Trump at all.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 12:21 PM (WDjG6)
---
The question I have is: Does it make it better?
Better would be "Yeah, that guy really hated me. But it's sad when anybody is the victim of a crime."
If he wanted to riff on how Democrats like crime from there, that would be an opportune time.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 12:21 PM (WDjG6)
---
The question I have is: Does it make it better?
Better would be "Yeah, that guy really hated me. But it's sad when anybody is the victim of a crime."
If he wanted to riff on how Democrats like crime from there, that would be an opportune time.
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 12:29 PM (krQz2)
414
Anthony Albanese has vowed to strengthen the country's gun laws.
I'm sure that will help a lot/ sarc.
Muslims probably have lot of weapons in their mosques.
I'm sure that will help a lot/ sarc.
Muslims probably have lot of weapons in their mosques.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 15, 2025 12:29 PM (PFs9e)
Posted by: San Franpsycho - RESIGN ALBO! their blood is on your hands at December 15, 2025 12:30 PM (A0sqA)
Posted by: man at December 15, 2025 12:30 PM (XuXeR)
417
I don't knows nothin' 'bout no Roberts Rheingold. I was on my way to church... uh, whenever those murders happened. I mean, uh... what murders?!
Posted by: Alphonso Whiteman at December 15, 2025 12:30 PM (7Q0e+)
418
"Japan says they are treading water while the western world is falling apart. That Japan will remain when the west is gone.
Posted by: Braenyard"
With their birthrate thee will only be a few thousand of them
Posted by: Braenyard"
With their birthrate thee will only be a few thousand of them
Posted by: Ripley at December 15, 2025 12:30 PM (GUOwU)
419
Surprised Romney hasn't been mentioned here.
Posted by: Bubba at December 15, 2025 12:31 PM (85Q8Y)
420
That's what Sherwin-Williams did.
Posted by: San Franpsycho - RESIGN ALBO! their blood is on your hands at December 15, 2025 12:30 PM (A0sqA)
---
Just ask them!
Posted by: San Franpsycho - RESIGN ALBO! their blood is on your hands at December 15, 2025 12:30 PM (A0sqA)
---
Just ask them!
Posted by: Axeman at December 15, 2025 12:31 PM (krQz2)
421
Are you also there for the discussions about c-suite compensation? Because that's what really chaps our hide, giving raises to people who lay off workers.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December
I was. Because I was in the c-suite. Executive compensation really is not the same as director and below. I do know J, who currently sits in the c suite, took a 25% reduction last year along with everyone else to ensure hourly increases could happen. They won’t need to do that this year.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December
I was. Because I was in the c-suite. Executive compensation really is not the same as director and below. I do know J, who currently sits in the c suite, took a 25% reduction last year along with everyone else to ensure hourly increases could happen. They won’t need to do that this year.
Posted by: Piper at December 15, 2025 12:31 PM (ZdaMQ)
422
421 Are you also there for the discussions about c-suite compensation? Because that's what really chaps our hide, giving raises to people who lay off workers.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December
I was. Because I was in the c-suite. Executive compensation really is not the same as director and below. I do know J, who currently sits in the c suite, took a 25% reduction last year along with everyone else to ensure hourly increases could happen. They won’t need to do that this year.
Posted by: Piper at December 15, 2025 12:31 PM (ZdaMQ)
You must work with better people than I have.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December
I was. Because I was in the c-suite. Executive compensation really is not the same as director and below. I do know J, who currently sits in the c suite, took a 25% reduction last year along with everyone else to ensure hourly increases could happen. They won’t need to do that this year.
Posted by: Piper at December 15, 2025 12:31 PM (ZdaMQ)
You must work with better people than I have.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 15, 2025 12:33 PM (xcxpd)
423
348 Private equity destroys thriving businesses, such as Joanne Fabrics. Joanne was a growing highly profitable business with plans for expansion.
PE bought the company via massive debt, that they paid off via selling stores and eliminating staff. Now they declared bankruptcy and the investor group walked away with millions.
Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at December 15, 2025 12:13 PM (wBaIH)
PE's first move is always to find companies that own their own locations, and sell off the real estate. Eventually the company can't afford their lease to the new property-owner anymore, and goes out of business.
Posted by: XTC at December 15, 2025 12:15 PM (UnA8+)
-----
Pure capitalism at work. You'll notice the purity capitalists are pretty quite about it.
PE bought the company via massive debt, that they paid off via selling stores and eliminating staff. Now they declared bankruptcy and the investor group walked away with millions.
Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at December 15, 2025 12:13 PM (wBaIH)
PE's first move is always to find companies that own their own locations, and sell off the real estate. Eventually the company can't afford their lease to the new property-owner anymore, and goes out of business.
Posted by: XTC at December 15, 2025 12:15 PM (UnA8+)
-----
Pure capitalism at work. You'll notice the purity capitalists are pretty quite about it.
Posted by: MAGA_Ken at December 15, 2025 12:33 PM (Vh9CX)
424
Are you also there for the discussions about c-suite compensation? Because that's what really chaps our hide, giving raises to people who lay off workers.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards
Yep. And you see the same in universities and private charities. New sportsball coach gets millions, the previous fired sportsball coach gets millions and yet students cannot afford tuition to finish their degrees. Charities cutting back on giving but hiking salaries for the very top.
Interlocking boards where a CEO of one company is on the board of another deciding compensation are also a factor. All these types view it as perfectly responsible to pad their paychecks while the peons that work for them and their recipients fold.
I believe in entrepreneurship form of capitalism, not our current system of Black Rock, State Street, and Vanguard running these companies through boards and the top executive team making bank in good times and bad.
Even kings would be astounded and appalled by some of these pampered princes of our ruling class.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards
Yep. And you see the same in universities and private charities. New sportsball coach gets millions, the previous fired sportsball coach gets millions and yet students cannot afford tuition to finish their degrees. Charities cutting back on giving but hiking salaries for the very top.
Interlocking boards where a CEO of one company is on the board of another deciding compensation are also a factor. All these types view it as perfectly responsible to pad their paychecks while the peons that work for them and their recipients fold.
I believe in entrepreneurship form of capitalism, not our current system of Black Rock, State Street, and Vanguard running these companies through boards and the top executive team making bank in good times and bad.
Even kings would be astounded and appalled by some of these pampered princes of our ruling class.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 12:34 PM (WDjG6)
425
354
‘ It's a fine hour. F that guy.’
I acknowledged all the rotten shit Reiner has said and done and said he deserved what Trump said.
I just don’t think Trump’s reputation or our fight for the country benefit if Trump jumps at every opportunity to look like an asshole.
You don’t have to worry about him taking my advice.
‘ It's a fine hour. F that guy.’
I acknowledged all the rotten shit Reiner has said and done and said he deserved what Trump said.
I just don’t think Trump’s reputation or our fight for the country benefit if Trump jumps at every opportunity to look like an asshole.
You don’t have to worry about him taking my advice.
Posted by: Dr. Claw at December 15, 2025 12:35 PM (jbnUc)
426
Speaking of late stage capitalism, just had the limited time only Pablano Chicken Quisidilla from Taco Bell, this might be the best tasting thing I’ve had from a fast food joint in years.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at December 15, 2025 12:35 PM (JfNRv)
427
When you're 29 or so you really understand that your time is worth money and paying a little for convenience is actually OK.
Posted by: Ian S.
---
Or just the opposite.
Posted by: Ian S.
---
Or just the opposite.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 15, 2025 12:40 PM (uGpeQ)
428
The question I have is: Does it make it better?
Better would be "Yeah, that guy really hated me. But it's sad when anybody is the victim of a crime."
If he wanted to riff on how Democrats like crime from there, that would be an opportune time.
Posted by: Axeman
=====
I don't bother to require people to say what pleases or doesn't please me. It is what it is. Trump is not running for anything anymore and he will say what he wants when he wants.
And yes, the vile public invective that Reiner was involved in during the last couple of decades is as much of his legacy as his directing career.
Don't want people expressing bad thoughts at your funeral, don't be that guy.
Part of Trump's appeal to many is not to engage in the phony bullshit political speak that our ruling class engages in. Remember Bush's Religion of Peace bullshit as an example. PM Albanese expressing regret of Australia but somehow neglecting to mention that this was Islamic hatred directed at innocent Jews. And endless bleating about deploring the violence while failing to put the shame and onus on the very community that is committing and supporting these ghastly crimes.
I will have none of it.
Better would be "Yeah, that guy really hated me. But it's sad when anybody is the victim of a crime."
If he wanted to riff on how Democrats like crime from there, that would be an opportune time.
Posted by: Axeman
=====
I don't bother to require people to say what pleases or doesn't please me. It is what it is. Trump is not running for anything anymore and he will say what he wants when he wants.
And yes, the vile public invective that Reiner was involved in during the last couple of decades is as much of his legacy as his directing career.
Don't want people expressing bad thoughts at your funeral, don't be that guy.
Part of Trump's appeal to many is not to engage in the phony bullshit political speak that our ruling class engages in. Remember Bush's Religion of Peace bullshit as an example. PM Albanese expressing regret of Australia but somehow neglecting to mention that this was Islamic hatred directed at innocent Jews. And endless bleating about deploring the violence while failing to put the shame and onus on the very community that is committing and supporting these ghastly crimes.
I will have none of it.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 12:40 PM (WDjG6)
429
I just don’t think Trump’s reputation or our fight for the country benefit if Trump jumps at every opportunity to look like an asshole.
You don’t have to worry about him taking my advice.
Posted by: Dr. Claw
======
Authenticity has its own values when the world is filled with lies and distortions. Just like Variety blaming Trump for Meathead's murder bullshit.
We should all be reminded that ultimately whatever we say about the deceased has little bearing on what the Prince of Princes will judge. It it is true then it is true. If false, then false. He will judge.
You don’t have to worry about him taking my advice.
Posted by: Dr. Claw
======
Authenticity has its own values when the world is filled with lies and distortions. Just like Variety blaming Trump for Meathead's murder bullshit.
We should all be reminded that ultimately whatever we say about the deceased has little bearing on what the Prince of Princes will judge. It it is true then it is true. If false, then false. He will judge.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 12:43 PM (WDjG6)
430
It took nearly Teo decades for me to even see a bottle of sake without getting a bit queasy. Now I can handle it.
Posted by: PabloD at December 15, 2025 12:45 PM (6RaQN)
431
How tf does autocucumber turn "two" into "Teo"?
Posted by: PabloD at December 15, 2025 12:46 PM (6RaQN)
432
428
PM Albanese expressing regret of Australia but somehow neglecting to mention that this was Islamic hatred directed at innocent Jews. And endless bleating about deploring the violence while failing to put the shame and onus on the very community that is committing and supporting these ghastly crimes.
I will have none of it.
Right there with ya, lad.
It was kind of telling - there were fireworks displays in Austriallian Mooslum enclaves celebrating the attack. Seems 'bad show' and all that for 'peaceful people'...
Much the same for the various groups that had 10\7 celebrations after that attack.
And, the West STILL does nothing...
You've made that petrud bed, you gotta lay in it...
Posted by: wh
PM Albanese expressing regret of Australia but somehow neglecting to mention that this was Islamic hatred directed at innocent Jews. And endless bleating about deploring the violence while failing to put the shame and onus on the very community that is committing and supporting these ghastly crimes.
I will have none of it.
Right there with ya, lad.
It was kind of telling - there were fireworks displays in Austriallian Mooslum enclaves celebrating the attack. Seems 'bad show' and all that for 'peaceful people'...
Much the same for the various groups that had 10\7 celebrations after that attack.
And, the West STILL does nothing...
You've made that petrud bed, you gotta lay in it...
Posted by: wh
Posted by: Pinochet Flight Attendant at December 15, 2025 12:48 PM (zL/eJ)
433
The problem is it's almost 2026, groceries are still expensive, we're apparently starting a new war in Venezuela, and Trump is allowing H1B abuse to continue as long as FedGov gets a cut.
Posted by: Ian S.
H1B quotas are set by federal law. Trump is not allowing any additional over the 85k that are allowed in FY2026 and furthermore are killing the Indian outsourcing firms by the new $125k fee per new job and refusal to allow multiple applications for the same dunce to go through for the lottery.
Essentially it is a property right where you get three years and then it is possibly renewed for three years. So we are still seeing Joe Biden's bulge in the python working through. Ordinary people care probably more about the deportations and public safety from the masses of criminals leaving than the H1B issue which mostly is white collar types, often in Big Tech.
Venezuela is not really a war, more like Panama if it ever gets to that point. And groceries, other than beef are beginning to see some reductions in non-processed foods.
Most of the media including Fox are full on globalists that predict damage from everything Trump does becuz globalists. Mostly bullshit.
Posted by: Ian S.
H1B quotas are set by federal law. Trump is not allowing any additional over the 85k that are allowed in FY2026 and furthermore are killing the Indian outsourcing firms by the new $125k fee per new job and refusal to allow multiple applications for the same dunce to go through for the lottery.
Essentially it is a property right where you get three years and then it is possibly renewed for three years. So we are still seeing Joe Biden's bulge in the python working through. Ordinary people care probably more about the deportations and public safety from the masses of criminals leaving than the H1B issue which mostly is white collar types, often in Big Tech.
Venezuela is not really a war, more like Panama if it ever gets to that point. And groceries, other than beef are beginning to see some reductions in non-processed foods.
Most of the media including Fox are full on globalists that predict damage from everything Trump does becuz globalists. Mostly bullshit.
Posted by: whig at December 15, 2025 12:50 PM (WDjG6)
434
If Barron Trump had stabbed Donald and Melania, Meathead would've (a) immediately said something horrible on X and (b) furiously masturbated.
Posted by: PabloD at December 15, 2025 12:51 PM (6RaQN)
435
This is an interesting question and should lead to a reexamination of certain things, such as what, if any, loyalty to a nation does any corporation have, and if none, what loyalty should be shown by citizens. Someone stole your IP or patent? Too bad, maybe you should have thought about that.
I think the bigger question though is capitalism is about risk/reward. It survives in accountability. We have most big corporations/banks/pharma/ag that I'd say they have no accountability at all, so do we really have capitalism as such?
I think the bigger question though is capitalism is about risk/reward. It survives in accountability. We have most big corporations/banks/pharma/ag that I'd say they have no accountability at all, so do we really have capitalism as such?
Posted by: crypto king at December 15, 2025 12:56 PM (s8WNT)
436
A prime issue in all this was the worship of "growth." It came amid or as a result of the devaluation of dividends, promoting price growth as the only method of making money in the market.
The only way to achieve growth in a mature market area is to buy out other players in the market, or to expand into other markets (often by buying out a player in said market.
Financialization comes a result of this growth bias, with playing a money game (instead of making products) becoming a way to "grow" profits so your stock price will go up.
It also becomes a barrier to entry for smaller companies, reducing the market breadth.
I'm not upset, like Bernie, that we have 23 varieties of deodorant. I'm upset they're all made by the same 2 companies.
The only way to achieve growth in a mature market area is to buy out other players in the market, or to expand into other markets (often by buying out a player in said market.
Financialization comes a result of this growth bias, with playing a money game (instead of making products) becoming a way to "grow" profits so your stock price will go up.
It also becomes a barrier to entry for smaller companies, reducing the market breadth.
I'm not upset, like Bernie, that we have 23 varieties of deodorant. I'm upset they're all made by the same 2 companies.
Posted by: GWB at December 15, 2025 12:59 PM (k936I)
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