First-World Problems...

The coolest thing on earth when I crossed international borders was the stamp. That silly stamp that the bored immigration clerk thumped down into my passport. But it was a huge deal for me, and it was a permanent reminder of the trip...good, bad or indifferent.

But now? It's all electronic. Or at least 95% of it. Facial recognition and fingerprints and retinal scans and electronic records, but no "thump" from the stamp.

That sucks.

Posted by: CBD at 02:00 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 1

Posted by: Skip at April 14, 2024 02:01 PM (fwDg9)

2 Your papers, please.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at April 14, 2024 02:01 PM (63Dwl)

3 Never had a passport I owned

Posted by: Skip at April 14, 2024 02:02 PM (fwDg9)

4 But then that's a 3WP if they can't give out pretty stamps

Posted by: Skip at April 14, 2024 02:02 PM (fwDg9)

5 My 1WP is to get lawn tractor out today or tomorrow?

Posted by: Skip at April 14, 2024 02:03 PM (fwDg9)

6 Why do you have to have a book if it's all electronic?

Posted by: rickb223 at April 14, 2024 02:05 PM (0hu/3)

7
Last time I traveled I was told I had two weeks to visit then leave the country or they'd start looking for me, find me, and toss me out.

What a concept.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at April 14, 2024 02:06 PM (RKVpM)

8
My 1WP is to get lawn tractor out today or tomorrow?
Posted by: Skip at April 14, 2024 02:03 PM (fwDg9)

__________

Got mine back last week from repairs after dried clippings on a windy day caught on fire.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 14, 2024 02:07 PM (MoZTd)

9 Kohler's generator is getting old or maybe it's the cheap batteries that I buy - I always disconnect the ground between cutting and at thirty minutes before cutting it's put on a 2amp charge.

Posted by: Braenyard at April 14, 2024 02:07 PM (NlLwm)

10 Huh. So how was the visit to Buffalo?

Posted by: Diogenes at April 14, 2024 02:07 PM (W/lyH)

11 I had to send my old passport back to have additional pages added. I traveled a lot.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 14, 2024 02:08 PM (LkLld)

12
No plans to visit foreign countries, including California and NYC.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 14, 2024 02:08 PM (MoZTd)

13 I went to Europe with 5 friends after our high school graduation. Can you imagine that today? We had a great time bumbling around with our rudimentary language skills and actually surviving all summer. That was many years ago and my kids still whine about not being able to do that when they graduated from high school. Of course they were worried when we took our grandkids on a trip across the country to see America.

Posted by: Megthered at April 14, 2024 02:09 PM (BolxK)

14 Might as well stop traveling to other countries!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 14, 2024 02:12 PM (iN/nt)

15 Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 14, 2024 02:12 PM (iN/nt)

The list of countries I will visit just shrank a bit. Ireland is probably going to recognize "palestine" as a country.

They will not get one penny from me.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at April 14, 2024 02:14 PM (A3700)

16 I haven't be abroad in years! I think I'll stay a man.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at April 14, 2024 02:14 PM (IG4Id)

17 My FWP.
Containers for right handed people. Hershey's chocolate syrup comes in a container that if you want to see the label, say when it is sitting on the shelf and you are trying to find it so you can put a squirt into the morning latte, you have to grab it with your right hand. This is so you can use the left hand to open the snap open lid, which is designed to be closed sideways to the bottle. But Im left handed so its all backwards and when I look for it on the shelf, all I see is the back label of the container.

This annoys me.

Posted by: Diogenes at April 14, 2024 02:18 PM (W/lyH)

18 I haven't be abroad in years! I think I'll stay a man.
Posted by: weft cut-loop at April 14, 2024 02:14 PM (IG4Id)

Groan...

Posted by: Diogenes at April 14, 2024 02:19 PM (W/lyH)

19 Never had a passport. Never have had a desire or need to travel outside the US that required a passport ( cruises being the exception for traveling outside US) .

I concede that I'm missing out on a valid life experience but I'll survive.

Posted by: polynikes at April 14, 2024 02:19 PM (TDRQO)

20 The list of countries I will visit just shrank a bit. Ireland is probably going to recognize "palestine" as a country.

They will not get one penny from me.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at April 14, 2024 02:14 PM (A3700)

Ditto.
And the boys in Dublin will discover the Palis are real downers come whiskey time.

Posted by: Diogenes at April 14, 2024 02:21 PM (W/lyH)

21
The list of countries I will visit just shrank a bit. Ireland is probably going to recognize "palestine" as a country.

They will not get one penny from me.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo

I was looking at maps of the ME today and noted some of them had palestine as a country.
They might as well identify wakanda.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 14, 2024 02:23 PM (iN/nt)

22 I would feel very vulnerable without my carry . That's what happens when you carry almost every waking hour for 29 years ( flying for work was also not comfortable) .

Posted by: polynikes at April 14, 2024 02:25 PM (TDRQO)

23 I understand you'll need a passport or an enhanced drivers' license to travel domestically.

I'm thinking of getting TSA pre check if anyone has it...is it worth the time/money/effort?

I hate those lines.

Posted by: vivi at April 14, 2024 02:26 PM (Egz6Y)

24 Containers for right handed people. Hershey's chocolate syrup comes in a container that if you want to see the label, say when it is sitting on the shelf and you are trying to find it so you can put a squirt into the morning latte, you have to grab it with your right hand. This is so you can use the left hand to open the snap open lid, which is designed to be closed sideways to the bottle. But Im left handed so its all backwards and when I look for it on the shelf, all I see is the back label of the container.

This annoys me.
Posted by: Diogenes

You can't tell a Hershey's imitation chocolate container without seeing the front label?
Has long have you had this memory problem?
Have you mentioned it to your VA Primary Care NP?

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 14, 2024 02:26 PM (iN/nt)

25 Something tells me that WAPO got some blow back:

Original Headline Friday: "Supreme Court to hear case on obstruction of justice by J6 defendants"

New headline, same article, today: "Supreme Court to Hear challenge to Jan 6 obstruction charge."

Is the NPR fiasco working some magic here? First headline: "yeah, har har, those guilty asses!"
Second headline? "hmmm should we be...um, fair here?"

Posted by: Boswell at April 14, 2024 02:27 PM (K+UlC)

26 Here is what most 3rd world shit holes like Zangaro or Detroit or Atlanta "customs" is like..

https://tinyurl.com/y6nf3unr

Always bring booze or a magazine or two for a safe entry and to pay the "import" tax.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at April 14, 2024 02:28 PM (R/m4+)

27 I never needed a passport until I visited Spain and went to Paris for a few days, too. All Canada and Mexico asked for was a photo ID and proof of citizenship, which in my case was a Voter ID card. Now I have an enhanced license to cross the borders. Suck it, Ohi-yoders! (That's for my Sis, who can't get over that she can't have an enhanced license since she moved to Ohio. No offense to Ohi-morons.)

My FWP is the increase in hobby supplies. I finally broke down and bought a GreenStalk vertical planter because it was cheaper than buying standard pots.

Don't get me started on paint and other art supplies.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at April 14, 2024 02:28 PM (fxCK2)

28 I'm thinking of getting TSA pre check if anyone has it...is it worth the time/money/effort?

I hate those lines.
Posted by: vivi

Depends on the size of the airports you use and how often you fly.
Skyharbor in Phx is big and busy; so, the lines are long; but, I don't fly often so I just bite the bullet and get in line.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 14, 2024 02:29 PM (iN/nt)

29 >>I'm thinking of getting TSA pre check if anyone has it...is it worth the time/money/effort?

Depends on how much you travel. And now there is another system called Clear if you really travel a lot. It has priority over per check.

I use pre check and it's definitely worth it for me.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 14, 2024 02:31 PM (LkLld)

30 > My 1WP is to get lawn tractor out today or tomorrow?
Posted by: Skip
___________

I had mine out yesterday to run the land plane over the driveway. And, again today to mow the property.

You can solve all the world's problems on a tractor.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 14, 2024 02:31 PM (Q4IgG)

31 Morning Glories. Those are my FWP today. I'm clearing the garden plot, and they are everywhere.

Problem is, you break a morrning glory root in half, and instead of a dead morning glory, you have two new ones.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at April 14, 2024 02:32 PM (OX9vb)

32 I'm thinking of getting TSA pre check if anyone has it...is it worth the time/money/effort?

I hate those lines.
Posted by: vivi

IIRC, it depends on the airports you're going through. Some will speed you along, others aren't manned anymore because too many people were using it.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at April 14, 2024 02:32 PM (IG4Id)

33 When I flew out of DFW after the last TxMoMeet, I was roughly handled by TSA. I said "I do not appreciate it."
The TSA goon's reply was "Tough. Next time don't fly."

And I, as a veteran in good standing, am subjected to this treatment, while illegals are not.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 14, 2024 02:33 PM (u82oZ)

34 I just got a new passport, which requires you to send in your old, expired passport. For some reason I can't understand, they then punch a hole in your old passport and send it back to you. Why?

Posted by: Archimedes at April 14, 2024 02:35 PM (CsUN+)

35 IIRC, it depends on the airports you're going through. Some will speed you along, others aren't manned anymore because too many people were using it.

That's about right. It kind of seems like a crap shoot.

Posted by: Archimedes at April 14, 2024 02:36 PM (CsUN+)

36 Might as well stop traveling to other countries!
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron

That's what the elites want you to do.

Posted by: rickb223 at April 14, 2024 02:36 PM (0hu/3)

37
I hate those lines.
Posted by: vivi

Sorry, I didn't really think about your last line.
Yes, totally worth it if you hate the lines!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 14, 2024 02:37 PM (iN/nt)

38 As a Canadian citizen and 24 yrs a legal resident of the USA, it always makes me sad that Americans (and canucks) don't first appreciate their own 57

states before travelling abroad for pleasure.

This country is overflowing with natural wonders and awesome sights, fantastic, friendly people and first world adventures and accomodations in every single state.
Passport stamps and gushing over foreign restaurants is okay, but, appreciating your own famn damily should come first.

Posted by: old chick at April 14, 2024 02:38 PM (sOete)

39 they then punch a hole in your old passport and send it back to you. Why?
Posted by: Archimedes

For all the memories that came with the stamps that are no longer used.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 14, 2024 02:39 PM (iN/nt)

40 First world problem.

I'm at the airport. Nuff said.

Posted by: nurse ratched at April 14, 2024 02:40 PM (o3GKd)

41 For some reason I can't understand, they then punch a hole in your old passport and send it back to you. Why?
Posted by: Archimedes at April 14, 2024 02:35 PM (CsUN+)

I'm not absolutely certain of this, but it may be because people like to keep their passports as a memento. And, also, if you get it back with holes in it, you know it hasn't been sold to some illegal to use for identity theft.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at April 14, 2024 02:41 PM (OX9vb)

42 I just got a new passport, which requires you to send in your old, expired passport. For some reason I can't understand, they then punch a hole in your old passport and send it back to you. Why?
Posted by: Archimedes at April 14, 2024 02:35 PM (CsUN+)

Because I need another 3 years before I can retire on my 6 figure salary and soak the taxpayers for more dough.

Posted by: John C. Layabout, Dept. Of State Passport Hole Puncher And democrat at April 14, 2024 02:41 PM (R/m4+)

43 I'm not absolutely certain of this, but it may be because people like to keep their passports as a memento. And, also, if you get it back with holes in it, you know it hasn't been sold to some illegal to use for identity theft.

My wife speculated it's so you can remember how young you once were, and how much you've aged.

Posted by: Archimedes at April 14, 2024 02:41 PM (CsUN+)

44 "Hey gang, let's arm the TSA. They have a right to shoot innocent citizens after groping them".

Some DHS kid with a picture of Mayorkas in his wallet

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at April 14, 2024 02:42 PM (0EOe9)

45 I always travel with my passport, even inside the US. After 9/11 you never know when the shot is going to hit the fan and I want to be able to prove I'm supposed to be here.

Posted by: nurse ratched at April 14, 2024 02:42 PM (o3GKd)

46 >>I'm not absolutely certain of this, but it may be because people like to keep their passports as a memento. And, also, if you get it back with holes in it, you know it hasn't been sold to some illegal to use for identity theft.

I had a number of visas in my old passport that had not expired despite the fact the passport did. I had to carry both the old and the new passport for a while.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 14, 2024 02:43 PM (LkLld)

47 they then punch a hole in your old passport and send it back to you. Why?
Posted by: Archimedes

When I renewed my legal resident/green card for another 10 years I have to appear in person to have my fingerprint and photo, but, they do not make me turn in my soon to expire card. That annoys me. It could be used fraudulently,

Posted by: old chick at April 14, 2024 02:44 PM (sOete)

48 Yes, I was sad when I was in Israel 2 months ago my Passport was not stamped.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 14, 2024 02:46 PM (PQ4m2)

49 Yes, I was sad when I was in Israel 2 months ago my Passport was not stamped.
Posted by: Nevergiveup

Israel used to slip a piece of paper into your passport with their visa so you could travel to other ME countries without getting hassled.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 14, 2024 02:48 PM (iN/nt)

50 When I renewed my legal resident/green card for another 10 years I have to appear in person to have my fingerprint and photo, but, they do not make me turn in my soon to expire card. That annoys me. It could be used fraudulently,
Posted by: old chick at April 14, 2024 02:44 PM (sOete)

I have all my old passports except for the one I lost in Ashdod Israel. But because of that I have a Passport that says "Issued in Jerusalem" which is cool. Of course when I traveled with one back to Israel I always got hung up in Security LOL

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 14, 2024 02:49 PM (PQ4m2)

51 It would have been nice to score the job of passport stamper. Dressed in a snappy uniform, a Balkan style holster and Sam Brown belt holding a Luger, and a scowl on your face when some asshole from high school shows up in your line.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at April 14, 2024 02:50 PM (0EOe9)

52 Dog poops in the first class section of United Airlines flight, plane forced to divert

https://tinyurl.com/yckcmpxb

Posted by: redridinghood at April 14, 2024 02:51 PM (NpAcC)

53 Can't see, was finishing the book I was reading outside

Posted by: Skip at April 14, 2024 02:52 PM (fwDg9)

54 Just stay home.

Posted by: Plus it's cheaper at April 14, 2024 02:53 PM (LMo2x)

55 Turned off the world since yesterday, what's been going on? Or is it better not to know how things are going in the Middle East?

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 14, 2024 02:53 PM (XKLLJ)

56 55 You missed out on some successful aerial gunnery if the IAF used the internals.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at April 14, 2024 02:55 PM (0EOe9)

57 Anna Puma,
I'm with you. Been on vacation in SoCal for Marines wedding and barely have paid attention to the news.

Ignorance is bliss.

Posted by: nurse ratched at April 14, 2024 02:57 PM (axJ17)

58 But because of that I have a Passport that says "Issued in Jerusalem" which is cool. Nevergiveup

I admire you for your service to the USA and Israel. Reading your comments enriches me.

Posted by: old chick at April 14, 2024 02:57 PM (sOete)

59 prior:
Israel said to strike back on Iran in next 24/48 hours

It is a golden opportunity to plaster their nuke shops.

Posted by: DaveA at April 14, 2024 02:57 PM (FhXTo)

60 Dog poops in the first class section of United Airlines flight, plane forced to divert
https://tinyurl.com/yckcmpxb
Posted by: redridinghood at April 14, 2024 02:51 PM (NpAcC)

Gerard Finneran got drunk on United flight 976 in 1995, argued with the stews, then climbed onto the serving cart and proceeded to shit on the serving cart and smear it all over the cabin.

There is a song honoring his exploits.

The man is a legend.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at April 14, 2024 02:58 PM (R/m4+)

61 It would have been nice to score the job of passport stamper. Dressed in a snappy uniform, a Balkan style holster and Sam Brown belt holding a Luger, and a scowl on your face when some asshole from high school shows up in your line.
Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at April 14, 2024 02:50 PM

When I visited relatives on the East Coast pre-Covid, I took the shortcut through Canada. The US customs guy at the NY crossing was the opposite of scowling. He asked where/why I had stopped while in Canada; I told him to have lunch and to use the bathroom.

"Using the bathroom is the best reason to stop in Canada," he said. "Welcome back to the United States."

I don't know what beef he had with Canada, but I laughed my head off.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at April 14, 2024 02:59 PM (fxCK2)

62
That silly stamp that the bored immigration clerk thumped down into my passport.

I've only ever been to Canada but enjoyed yelling this is MY highway when returning after all the road signs with "Her Majesties Highway" on the #.

Posted by: DaveA at April 14, 2024 03:00 PM (FhXTo)

63 19 Never had a passport. Never have had a desire or need to travel outside the US that required a passport ( cruises being the exception for traveling outside US) .

I concede that I'm missing out on a valid life experience but I'll survive.
Posted by: polynikes at April 14, 2024 02:19 PM (TDRQO)

I believe that only 25% of all Americans actually have passports. When I was asked about this by someone in a foreign country that I was working in, I told them that most people have no idea how large the USA is, and how varied the population from region to region. It's like Europe, but only right here. We've got enough going on to keep over 300 million people happily occupied without ever leaving its borders.

Posted by: Darrell Harris at April 14, 2024 03:02 PM (3Hm/H)

64 I hear Rick's got the letters of transit, don't tell Renault.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at April 14, 2024 03:03 PM (XV/Pl)

65 I've only ever been to Canada but enjoyed yelling this is MY highway when returning after all the road signs with "Her Majesties Highway" on the #.
Posted by: DaveA at April 14, 2024 03:00 PM

Ha ha! My favorite road sign was on the 403 highway. All the exit signs were normal until suddenly there was a HUGE sign for Wayne Gretsky Parkway. Hockey Hall-of-Famers outranked the QOE.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at April 14, 2024 03:05 PM (fxCK2)

66 Anna that's OK, Sundowner didn't get anything happening over the weekend either

Posted by: Skip at April 14, 2024 03:06 PM (fwDg9)

67 30 > My 1WP is to get lawn tractor out today or tomorrow?
Posted by: Skip
___________

I had mine out yesterday to run the land plane over the driveway. And, again today to mow the property.

You can solve all the world's problems on a tractor.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 14, 2024 02:31 PM (Q4IgG)
----
Careful not to catch gonorrhea from the seat.
{obligatory Seinfeld reference https://youtu.be/_LqNF8Z5Gzs}

Posted by: Ciampino - I have a Snapper at April 14, 2024 03:08 PM (qfLjt)

68 I hear Rick's got the letters of transit, don't tell Renault.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at April 14, 2024 03:03 PM (XV/Pl)
-------------
Louis's not a music lover.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight at April 14, 2024 03:09 PM (Be/+i)

69 I admire you for your service to the USA and Israel. Reading your comments enriches me.
Posted by: old chick at April 14, 2024 02:57 PM (sOete)

Believe me, the pleasure has been all mine, but thank you

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 14, 2024 03:09 PM (PQ4m2)

70 I would like to go back to Tahiti. Sure it's a French ghetto, but I like it. I'd like to go back to one of those restaurants where you wear swim suits and sit down to eat knee deep in water while all the fish swim around you. The entire Tahitian navy is one vessel. It's slightly bigger than a PT boat with a ma deuce turret.

Posted by: gourmand du jour at April 14, 2024 03:11 PM (MeG8a)

71 Have to think how many movies does that passport stamper get into

Posted by: Skip at April 14, 2024 03:13 PM (fwDg9)

72 prior:
Israel said to strike back on Iran in next 24/48 hours

Posted by: DaveA at April 14, 2024 02:57 PM (FhXTo)
-

Nah.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at April 14, 2024 03:14 PM (1QTht)

73 I used my passport (that's never been used) as ID for the "Real ID" driver's license. It was that, or a birth certificate that was NOT issued by a hospital but rather by a State/County entity. Which sounded like a royal pain in the ass to find.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 14, 2024 03:14 PM (Q4IgG)

74 73 I used my passport (that's never been used) as ID for the "Real ID" driver's license. It was that, or a birth certificate that was NOT issued by a hospital but rather by a State/County entity. Which sounded like a royal pain in the ass to find.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 14, 2024 03:14 PM (Q4IgG)

1st World Problem: I had a Sentry, and had to go through all kinds of background checks to get it, including proof of birth and citizenship. It even has my picture on it.
It's not accepted as ID by banks and other organization because it isn't on their "approved list"...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 14, 2024 03:16 PM (ynpvh)

75 Wow Mr. Peabody talk about the Wayback Machine

Abu Gharib 'prisoners' are suing a military contractor for their torture.

https://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=155588

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 14, 2024 03:16 PM (XKLLJ)

76 SENTRI not SENTRY...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 14, 2024 03:17 PM (ynpvh)

77 75 Wow Mr. Peabody talk about the Wayback Machine

Abu Gharib 'prisoners' are suing a military contractor for their torture.

https://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=155588

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 14, 2024 03:16 PM (XKLLJ)

"Sorry, beyond the statute of limitations. Next!"--hopefully some judge

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 14, 2024 03:18 PM (ynpvh)

78 Not all have gone the electronic route. When I flew back from Europe last year I had to fly from Amsterdam to Frankfurt before heading home.
When I got off the plane in Frankfurt they stamped my passport with an exit visa when I went through security to get to my plane.
A few hours later I had an entry visa stamped in my passport due to the flight being cancelled due to mechanical issues and the airline put us up in a hotel that was not on airport property.
The next day when I went through the security process again and had an exit visa once more stamped into my passport.
All these stamps are on one page in my passport. The Germans found the page with my entry stamp into France and put all their stamps on that same page.

Posted by: Scuba Dude at April 14, 2024 03:19 PM (f0/sc)

79 My FWP is the pool vac keeps getting stuck under the ladder. Seems like they could come up with an AI pool vac that's smart enough to not get stuck under a ladder.

Posted by: fd at April 14, 2024 03:20 PM (vFG9F)

80 78
...The Germans found the page with my entry stamp into France and put all their stamps on that same page.

Posted by: Scuba Dude at April 14, 2024 03:19 PM (f0/sc)

Germans: Always trying to stamp/stomp around in French territory.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 14, 2024 03:20 PM (ynpvh)

81 79 My FWP is the pool vac keeps getting stuck under the ladder. Seems like they could come up with an AI pool vac that's smart enough to not get stuck under a ladder.

Posted by: fd at April 14, 2024 03:20 PM (vFG9F)

Well, going under a ladder IS bad luck...Not sure how many years your pool vac's gonna get for each infraction.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 14, 2024 03:22 PM (ynpvh)

82 The Germans are quite proud of how many times they have beaten the French in war.

Take a river cruise down the Rhine and see all the monuments to German victory. I have.

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 14, 2024 03:23 PM (XKLLJ)

83 always travel with my passport, even inside the US. After 9/11 you never know when the shot is going to hit the fan and I want to be able to prove I'm supposed to be here.
Posted by: nurse ratched at April 14, 2024 02:42 PM (o3GKd)

You just need to know who won the last World Series.

Posted by: polynikes at April 14, 2024 03:23 PM (MNhXM)

84 I've mentioned this several times before, but when I got my "Real ID" driver's license there were a lot of illegals also getting driver's licenses. And one of the INS forms they're provided by our government is acceptable for them to get a "Real ID" license.

Which permits them to enter government installations as well as fly domestically (which they pretty much can do anyway.)

And it's not "just" Hispanics that can use that INS form to get a "Real ID." So can the men from the ME and China that have flooded over the border too.

Feel safe? Yea, me neither.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 14, 2024 03:24 PM (Q4IgG)

85 Anna we are back to Barky's Sue the government win the prize
This government would love to pay some Muslims off for anguish

Posted by: Skip at April 14, 2024 03:25 PM (fwDg9)

86 New York Post @nypost 19h
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul and her husband double their income in 2023 trib.al/Y8euZdJ

Catturd ™ @catturd2 7h
Imagine that.

Posted by: andycanuck (vtyCZ) at April 14, 2024 03:27 PM (vtyCZ)

87 Yeah, those stamps are great. I thought I had a good collection of shithole country stamps, but a friend of mine had a post Qaddafi Libya stamp and a Yemen stamp from the time they tried to assassinate the President.

Posted by: Charles Martel at April 14, 2024 03:27 PM (smrxK)

88 I have never had a passport.While overseas in the Army I had military orders.Wife and sons had passports.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, My Two Cents at April 14, 2024 03:28 PM (MvA9C)

89 Aren't they mis-gnedering Horrible Hochul as a 'her'???

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 14, 2024 03:28 PM (XKLLJ)

90 82 The Germans are quite proud of how many times they have beaten the French in war.

Take a river cruise down the Rhine and see all the monuments to German victory. I have.

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 14, 2024 03:23 PM (XKLLJ)
----
Why are French streets lined with trees?
So that the German troops can march in the shade.
{old joke}

Posted by: Ciampino - Bushes! I'm tired of eating bushes. at April 14, 2024 03:28 PM (qfLjt)

91 I am trying to figure out where to go for vacation - we will go to the GA mountains with everyone like we do annually. J wants to go to Montana or Wyoming. I am sure there are pretty sites to see, but just not sure. The Keys have been vetoed as we have gone quite a bit so it’s not new or exciting, though my daughter loves it. She eats stone crab until it rolls out of her ears and I think she could go to the Hemingway Museum every day and not get sick of it. Has anyone gone anywhere domestically that was just really amazing? We have been to all the hot CO spots, he loves New England, I have spent more time there than I care to spend so that isn’t exciting to me. We have visited AZ quite a bit, though not with my daughter. I think I am becoming a homebody. We have great beaches right here, I have a pool, I don’t have to worry about my kitty cats. I am disappointed in myself for feeling like this!

Posted by: Piper at April 14, 2024 03:30 PM (ZdaMQ)

92 Missing the "thump" is fine, but I miss the ker-chunk of the old credit card machines. I'm sentimental like that.

Posted by: Mr.Softee at April 14, 2024 03:30 PM (V5BDR)

93 Does anyone remember what a preening, sanctimonious, hypocritical idiot Phil Donahue was? Pepperidge Farms remembers:

https://is.gd/hLUaXu

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at April 14, 2024 03:31 PM (PiwSw)

94 Besides having TSA Pre Check, I also have the Global Entry to skirt much of the Customs line. Did not really need it when I was in Europe in 2023, Customs was a breeze, little or no line.
Unlike 2019 when I must have been on line for a half hour or so. That is when I found about Global Entry, I saw a few people able to cut the line with it.

I used to have two passports, one issued by the US and a Irish passport which I was able to get due to my Mother was born there. It has since expired, have thought about renewing.

Posted by: Scuba Dude at April 14, 2024 03:31 PM (f0/sc)

95 NY Gov. Kathy Hochul and her husband double their income in 2023 trib.al/Y8euZdJ

Why do I anticipate a late-night date hammer in Hochul's husband's future?

Posted by: Boswell at April 14, 2024 03:32 PM (K+UlC)

96 I believe that only 25% of all Americans actually have passports. When I was asked about this by someone in a foreign country that I was working in, I told them that most people have no idea how large the USA is, and how varied the population from region to region. It's like Europe, but only right here. We've got enough going on to keep over 300 million people happily occupied without ever leaving its borders.
Posted by: Darrell Harris at April 14, 2024 03:02 PM (3Hm/H)

My whole family has passports and has had them practically since birth.

It's valid picture ID for the kid, especially as a homeschooler taking standardized tests.

It's what's needed to see the world easily & safely - whether that was Niagara Falls (yes a birth certificate counts) or a cruise (where, yes, a birth certificate sometimes counts, but if you get stuck on an island, you are screwed without the passport).

I have family abroad, so I need the ability to go out of country if they need us. 1st, it was Germany, then it was China, now it's Vietnam...and friends in Poland. These aren't even the same people.

It's a way out if it's ever needed. I don't think this last reason will matter, but you never know.

Posted by: Nova Local at April 14, 2024 03:34 PM (exHjb)

97 I'm having a FWP that is turning into a 2WP. I've heard credible reports that they are running some type of "peep show" down at the local Tractor Supply. Have we sunk this far this fast?

Posted by: Emily Litella at April 14, 2024 03:34 PM (V5BDR)

98 Containers for right handed people. Hershey's chocolate syrup comes in a container that if you want to see the label, say when it is sitting on the shelf and you are trying to find it so you can put a squirt into the morning latte, you have to grab it with your right hand. This is so you can use the left hand to open the snap open lid, which is designed to be closed sideways to the bottle. But Im left handed so its all backwards and when I look for it on the shelf, all I see is the back label of the container.
This annoys me.
Posted by: Diogenes

You can't tell a Hershey's imitation chocolate container without seeing the front label?
Has long have you had this memory problem?
Have you mentioned it to your VA Primary Care NP?
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron

The problem could be that the back label has the "nutrition" information, and seeing that every time makes hershey's syrup less fun to use.

Posted by: mikeski at April 14, 2024 03:34 PM (DgGvY)

99 Chuck Schumer @SenSchumer 11h
As Israel is under attack from Iran, we stand with Israel and its people, and the United States will do everything we can to support Israel’s defense against Iran.

Councilwoman Inna Vernikov @InnaVernikov 7h
Remember when you supported the “Iran Deal”?

john jackson @pvtjokerus 18h
You called for overthrowing Israel's govt 2 weeks ago.

Posted by: andycanuck (vtyCZ) at April 14, 2024 03:35 PM (vtyCZ)

100 It's what's needed to see the world easily & safely - whether that was Niagara Falls....

Posted by: Nova Local at April 14, 2024 03:34 PM (exHjb)

Niagara Falls! Slowly I turned....

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at April 14, 2024 03:36 PM (PiwSw)

101 86 New York Post @nypost 19h
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul and her husband double their income in 2023 trib.al/Y8euZdJ

Someone married her ?

Posted by: It's me donna at April 14, 2024 03:36 PM (Akjoo)

102 I am disappointed in myself for feeling like this!
Posted by: Piper

Story time: The last queen of England sent her son to visit all the U.S. States, she followed and when to see the S.F. Bay and Tahoe. Her comment paraphrased: we should have let them have the rest and kept CA.

Go see Tahoe, Yosemite, and Sequoia. If you can see Lassen volcanic park. Death Valley is neat; but, way to hot when you can go see the other places comfortably.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 14, 2024 03:37 PM (iN/nt)

103
The problem could be that the back label has the "nutrition" information, and seeing that every time makes hershey's syrup less fun to use.
Posted by: mikeski

That's easy: don't put your glasses on when reaching for the container.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 14, 2024 03:39 PM (iN/nt)

104 " I am trying to figure out where to go for vacation"

Save it for October and go to Corsicana Texas.

We are going to to Jekyll Island for few days at the start of May. There's a campground near the beach. Maybe we will see the creature.

Posted by: fd at April 14, 2024 03:39 PM (vFG9F)

105 Piper,
The Olympic National Park is spectacular. So is Mt Rainier National Park.

Posted by: nurse ratched at April 14, 2024 03:40 PM (8r3Kg)

106 Ciampino's Rescue Kitties

The kittens are up and about - live-streamed.

Still accepting donations towards the unkindest cut of all

There's another more extensive photo update #247 at the link.
Take a look if interested. Make sure to click on
"See Older Updates" as well if it's your first time.

https://is.gd/WQ5JcT OR http://tinyurl.com/4pak97f6

ALSO LIVE STREAMING!! - Now most nights as well

Twitch: https://is.gd/qyDILz OR http://tinyurl.com/2rvjn93v
YouTube: https://shorturl.at/grR06

Posted by: Ciampino - Bushes! I'm tired of eating bushes at April 14, 2024 03:40 PM (qfLjt)

107 ker-chunk of the old credit card machines.

The cell phone spin-off charge machine from work needs a new battery. Search finds ebay sellers in China? 6+ weeks delivery and I'm not sure it'll work.

Posted by: DaveA at April 14, 2024 03:41 PM (FhXTo)

108 Hello everyone. It just dawned on me that America's 1st world problem is visas too.

If we actually used them and roughly kicked out people that overstayed, we would have never had a political party that felt comfortable with what Biden's doing now.

Posted by: BifBewalski at April 14, 2024 03:41 PM (MsrgL)

109 I miss the ker-chunk of the old credit card machines. I'm sentimental like that.
Posted by: Mr.Softee

I last heard that in the very early 00s, buying groceries when "the system was down" at the store.

Now the cards don't even have embossed numbers, so those carbon-copy makers are even more obsolete than rotary phones. Which should still work if you have a POTS connection for them.

Posted by: mikeski at April 14, 2024 03:42 PM (DgGvY)

110 ZH's comment section usually is a parody of comment sections except when it comes to Israel. Then, the State Dept. takes over and it then becomes a parody of Whyte Power.

Posted by: Jamaica at April 14, 2024 03:44 PM (IG7T0)

111
105 Piper,
The Olympic National Park is spectacular. So is Mt Rainier National Park.
Posted by: nurse ratched at April 14, 2024 03:40

We went to Oregon 2 years ago, maybe 3? It was amazing, but beyond a quick weekend in Seattle, we haven’t spent anytime in WA. Olympic National Park does look incredible! Adding to the list of possibilities…

Posted by: Piper at April 14, 2024 03:45 PM (ZdaMQ)

112 Has anyone gone anywhere domestically that was just really amazing?

Fly to Vegas, stay a day or two, then head to the Grand Canyon (North Rim), Bryce and Zion. There are small towns centrally located so that you can visit all three as day trips.

Posted by: Archimedes at April 14, 2024 03:46 PM (CsUN+)

113 I still get stamps and/or stickers from everywhere I go. But I don't go to Western Europe or 'good' places.
Japan still does physical stamps.
Speaking of, I think Japan has about the same rate of passport possession as Americans. A surprisingly high percentage of Japanese have never left the country.

Posted by: LenNeal at April 14, 2024 03:47 PM (9yXr+)

114 7 Last time I traveled I was told I had two weeks to visit then leave the country or they'd start looking for me, find me, and toss me out.

What a concept.
Posted by: Divide by Zero at April 14, 2024 02:06 PM (RKVpM)

wut

Posted by: m at April 14, 2024 03:47 PM (o3SCB)

115 I've got a piece of Death Valley around here somewhere. From The Devil's Golf Course. There is some cool (ha) stuff there, like Scotty's Castle and sub-sea level terrain. I guess it's all still there, as it's been 29+ years since I've been there.

Posted by: fd at April 14, 2024 03:51 PM (vFG9F)

116 Yeah, those stamps are great. I thought I had a good collection of shithole country stamps, but a friend of mine had a post Qaddafi Libya stamp and a Yemen stamp from the time they tried to assassinate the President.
Posted by: Charles Martel'

I had a transit Visa from The Former Republic Of Yugoslavia, in a US passport. That was a rare one.

Posted by: LenNeal at April 14, 2024 03:51 PM (9yXr+)

117 The Vigilant Fox 🦊 @VigilantFox Apr 10
Dr. Phil Destroys DEI Advocate In Under 40 Seconds

“What gives a DEI program the right to come in and try and alter the nature of things to create equality of outcome?”

HR LEADER: “How do we help level the playing field for everyone?”

DR. PHIL: “Okay, so that means you’re trying to create equality of outcome?”

HR LEADER: “Mm-hmm.”

DR. PHIL: “That’s what I hear you [Pastor James Ward Jr.] saying about playing God. How do you create equality of outcome when people aren’t the same? You’re right. Some people are shorter. Some people are taller looking over that fence. They can’t both play in the NBA. You can’t create equality of outcome. What gives a DEI program the right to come in and try and alter the nature of things to create equality of outcome? That’s been tried. That didn’t work. That was called Marxism.”

Scott Adams @ScottAdamsSays 1h
DEI isn't a philosophical debate. It's smart people trying to talk batshit crazy people out of the dumbest idea in the history of humankind. (Equal outcomes being the dumb part.)

Posted by: andycanuck (vtyCZ) at April 14, 2024 03:53 PM (vtyCZ)

118 Hmm I was on a job related project on Cat Cay, Bahamas for six weeks in the 90's. A passport was never mentioned although I was a substitute and a fee of two thousand for work permit was already paid for me but no passport.

Posted by: I'm Gumby Damn it! at April 14, 2024 03:56 PM (9wvmw)

119 It's hard to believe that back in the 1800s people traversed Death Valley on foot and in wagons. Those people were tough. We did it from the comfort of 1972 Dodge Monaco station wagon with the optional rear A/C and that was no picnic.

Posted by: fd at April 14, 2024 03:56 PM (vFG9F)

120 Scott Adams needs an old English teacher

Posted by: Jamaica at April 14, 2024 03:57 PM (IG7T0)

121 91 Piper

Katmai National Park, AK. It IS truly amazing. It's where the bears fish for salmon. It's like walking right into a National Geographic Special!

Imo, you can't see AK properly on a cruise. Not unless you just want to visit gift shops in Juneau.

Even Glacier NP in AK, which you can see from the water on a cruise, is better seen if you enter by land. THEN you can go out on a 50-passenger, 3-hour tour boat if you want.

Posted by: mnw at April 14, 2024 03:58 PM (NLIak)

122 If you watch the Smithsonian Channel series Aerial America that does a drone view of each states landmarks , historical sites, cities, etc. you would realize that there is more things to see and do in the United States than you could do in a lifetime.

The one caveat is you have to ignore some of the woke narration .

Posted by: polynikes at April 14, 2024 03:59 PM (MNhXM)

123 61 When I visited relatives on the East Coast pre-Covid, I took the shortcut through Canada. The US customs guy at the NY crossing was the opposite of scowling. He asked where/why I had stopped while in Canada; I told him to have lunch and to use the bathroom.

"Using the bathroom is the best reason to stop in Canada," he said. "Welcome back to the United States."

I don't know what beef he had with Canada, but I laughed my head off.
Posted by: NaughtyPine at April 14, 2024 02:59 PM (fxCK2)

hahahaha

Posted by: m at April 14, 2024 03:59 PM (o3SCB)

124 Three-hour tour

Three-hour tour...

Posted by: andycanuck (vtyCZ) at April 14, 2024 04:00 PM (vtyCZ)

125 >>Unlike 2019 when I must have been on line for a half hour or so. That is when I found about Global Entry, I saw a few people able to cut the line with it.

Global Entry is fantastic if you travel overseas frequently. I was in a 2 hour customs line in Atlanta once, multiple flights all coming it at around the same time, and missed a connection. Global Entry takes a few minutes, totally worth it.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 14, 2024 04:01 PM (LkLld)

126 FOODIE NOODIE

Posted by: Skip at April 14, 2024 04:01 PM (fwDg9)

127 72 prior:
Israel said to strike back on Iran in next 24/48 hours

Posted by: DaveA at April 14, 2024 02:57 PM (FhXTo)
-

Nah.
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at April 14, 2024 03:14 PM (1QTht)

Good to see you, Biden's Dog!

Posted by: m at April 14, 2024 04:01 PM (o3SCB)

128 91 Has anyone gone anywhere domestically that was just really amazing?

Wife and I went to Wyoming back in 22 and we liked it enough to contemplate retiring there.

Posted by: NR Pax at April 14, 2024 04:02 PM (yAp34)

129 83 always travel with my passport, even inside the US. After 9/11 you never know when the shot is going to hit the fan and I want to be able to prove I'm supposed to be here.
Posted by: nurse ratched at April 14, 2024 02:42 PM (o3GKd)

You just need to know who won the last World Series.

Posted by: polynikes at April 14, 2024 03:23 PM (MNhXM)

Who won? Didn't watch.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 14, 2024 04:20 PM (ynpvh)

130 The Caribbean and Central America are still big fans of the Large Rubber Stamp. Giving each Passport a manful thwack with it is what makes those guys smile...

Posted by: Brewingfrog at April 14, 2024 05:05 PM (6XMOy)

131 Such a disappointment as my wife and I went between countries in W Europe and border guards waved us through.
I wanted the damn stamp!

Posted by: jimmymcnulty at April 14, 2024 08:58 PM (1YtI/)

132 The stamps we got in Spain and Italy last year were boring rectangles. EU's tacking all the joy of the stamp anyway with their conformity.

Posted by: EGGO at April 15, 2024 09:30 AM (D4xED)

133 Can I just say what a comfort to find a person that actually understands what they are discussing over the internet.
You actually understand how to bring an issue to light and make it important.
A lot more people ought to look at this and understand this side of your story.
I was surprised you're not more popular since you surely possess the gift.

Posted by: Midnight snacking at April 20, 2024 06:36 PM (oXHyL)

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