The Morning Rant: Superior American Edition

The smug pomposity of Western Europe in the face of overwhelming data that show a rapidly collapsing culture and society is fascinating to behold. Birth rates among natives are far below replacement, church attendance has cratered, tax rates are onerous, crime is exploding, Churches are being burned or turned into mosques, free speech is now at the mercy of increasingly totalitarian governments, and on and on.

But they have "free" (but rationed) healthcare, and their trains are lovely and fast and mostly on time! Oh...lots of vacation too!

Apparently, being able to get around on nice trains trumps the loss of freedom, the lack of purchasing power to own an automobile (freedom's conveyance), Muslim rape gangs, life in tiny apartments with no air conditioning, minuscule appliances, sclerotic municipal services, and all the other complexities of an overweening regulatory and administrative state.

Here is a typical exchange between the Bien Pensant and a proud American. It is everything you expect!

X is currently full of Europeans trying to tell Americans how much better life in Europe is.

One of the constant refrains is "Our government makes sure we get XX days of vacation yearly."

Euros do not realize that is not the flex they think it is.

To us Americans it reeks of...
— Cynical Publius (@CynicalPublius) December 9, 2025

I have a bit of experience with living in America, and had the opportunity to live in Paris for several months, in an upscale neighborhood far from the crime and the Islamic hordes in the midst of their conquest. And I can tell you unequivocally that life in America is better.

Do you know why those hip Parisians shop every day for food on their quaint and lovely streets filled with wonderful food shops? Because their f*cking kitchens are tiny, and their toy refrigerators don't hold enough for more than a day or two of cooking! Do you know why they are...to be polite...rather odoriferous? Because they sweat all the time (remember; no A/C!), their access to clothes washing is problematic, and their bathrooms are a joke, with hand-held showers and poor water pressure.

If you want good service in a store or a restaurant, don't bother. That wonderful living wage that they pay waiters translates into disinterested and mediocre service. And in stores? Hah! Good luck. Buying a box of band-aids can take 15 minutes. And their vaunted socialized and "free" medical care is strictly rationed, and only the well-off can get speedy and high-quality care. Or...you know...just fly to America, which many people around the world do, in spite of our health-care issues.

Our poor people own cars, and have more freedom than anyone else in the world. But the privilege of paying obscene marginal tax rates so that government can subsidize public transportation is better? I don't think so.

Western Europe should pay more attention to its own existential problems, and simply appreciate that America has paid for their defense since World War II. it is disingenuous in the extreme to claim that we do not subsidize Europe...the many trillions of dollars we have spent on NATO, either directly or indirectly, is distinct from any economic benefit that a rebuilt Europe has afforded our economy.

Are many parts of Western Europe beautiful? Absolutely! Many of their cities are marvels of architecture and culture, and its physical beauty is often stunning. But it is increasingly becoming a Potemkin Village, as their governments carefully minimize or hide (Rotherham or Malmo anyone?) their massive problems.

But the biggest problem by far is Europe's curious disinterest in their own freedom. Speech is carefully controlled by government and compliant corporations, and with that control comes a diminution of the very concept of freedom and liberty. Until that changes, Western Europe will continue down the path toward totalitarianism, either externally applied by Islam, or internally applied by...themselves!

If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom - go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen!

-- Samuel Adams

[Crossposted at CutJibNewsletter and X/Twitter]. If you folks who are on X/Twitter would follow us it would be much appreciated!

Posted by: CBD at 11:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 MONKEY!

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at December 11, 2025 11:00 AM (zjgNU)

2 Good morning good people.

Posted by: Tonypete at December 11, 2025 11:00 AM (cYBz/)

3 The Morning Rant: Superior American Edition

=====

So, all the other morning rants are, what?, Armenian?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:00 AM (GBKbO)

4 I even had to correct my horrible typing.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at December 11, 2025 11:00 AM (zjgNU)

5 first?

Posted by: Sturmtoddler at December 11, 2025 11:00 AM (v6XNT)

6 way off, but at least i'm not chasing otters.

so it's time for content.

morning horde

Posted by: Sturmtoddler at December 11, 2025 11:01 AM (v6XNT)

7 Europeans are poor.

Their cities are dirty

Crime is through the roof

And they are imprisoned for saying things everyone agreed with 20 years ago.

Fascism might always be coming to America...but its now in Europe

Posted by: 18-1 at December 11, 2025 11:04 AM (sKqQm)

8 and while i never lived in europe, i've spent a fair amount of time there for work over the years. you're not wrong in any of the above that i have seen.

tiny apartments with tiny furnishings for tiny support

Posted by: Sturmtoddler at December 11, 2025 11:04 AM (v6XNT)

9 My absolute favorite Sam Adams quote. I would follow that guy right into a line of frickin red coats.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at December 11, 2025 11:04 AM (SNshR)

10 Apparently, being able to get around on nice trains trumps the loss of freedom...

Heh. The people of Minnesota have their rape.gsnga, but are still waiting for their trains.

Posted by: Diogenes at December 11, 2025 11:04 AM (2WIwB)

11 What is "the flex?"

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 11, 2025 11:05 AM (pkeXY)

12 I have long said that all of Europe is like a museum. It's all pretty and historic and in many cases spectacular. Just like the dinosaurs were. You walk through Europe and you can't shake the feeling that, like the dinosaurs, everything good about the place is in the past.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at December 11, 2025 11:06 AM (iFTx/)

13 Lunch time is almost over

Posted by: Skip at December 11, 2025 11:06 AM (TjuhY)

14 C'mon CBD, don't hold back. Tell us how you really feel.

Posted by: no one at December 11, 2025 11:06 AM (W7XSX)

15 Because their f*cking kitchens are tiny, and their toy refrigerators don't hold enough for more than a day or two of cooking!

Imagine the power you would have over the masses if the *tiniest* supply chain wobble results in mass hunger, thirst, darkness, and/or cold?

Posted by: t-bird at December 11, 2025 11:07 AM (ittVa)

16 Europe is generally socialist regardless how they want to describe it, it's still a pig with lipstick.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at December 11, 2025 11:07 AM (NwnyJ)

17 Cut News Jib with Robert Spencer was a very good listen

Posted by: Skip at December 11, 2025 11:07 AM (TjuhY)

18 Eurotrash can live any way they wish. It's not for me to tell them how to live. But I also think they should defend themselves and their "way of life" on their own. Open borders and welfare statism leads only to social chaos, and depending on America or the EU to protect you from the inevitable invasion is just wish-casting.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at December 11, 2025 11:07 AM (SNshR)

19 I've always wanted to see England, Scotland, and Ireland. Not any more, not with what they are turning into. Their totalitarian seizure of opportunity during the Sniffle Scare changed that idea for me forever.

Same with Australia and New Zealand.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 11, 2025 11:08 AM (wzUl9)

20 Are Europe's "judges" as bad as Ours? One just ruled that the "Maryland Dad" must be released immediately..

Posted by: It's me donna at December 11, 2025 11:08 AM (VE6XX)

21 If you've ever worked for a company that has European offices you'll understand that the Euros are all lazy-assed layabouts who are constantly thinking of and bragging about what they'll do with the month of August since none of them spend it at work.

They're as useless as tits on a boar, and loathsome assholes to boot.

Posted by: ballistic at December 11, 2025 11:08 AM (3BwY8)

22 12 I have long said that all of Europe is like a museum. It's all pretty and historic and in many cases spectacular. Just like the dinosaurs were. You walk through Europe and you can't shake the feeling that, like the dinosaurs, everything good about the place is in the past.
Posted by: Elric The Blade at December 11

I would live in Italy in 3 seconds. But not Milan, or Rome, or especially Naples. But Cortona? Yes. It’s a postcard. I would even hang laundry on the line.

Posted by: Piper at December 11, 2025 11:08 AM (Wmg4n)

23 11

What is "the flex?"
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 11, 2025 11:05 AM (pkeXY)

Show of power or superiority.

Posted by: tubal at December 11, 2025 11:08 AM (pDt9x)

24 Europe, as a whole, is worse off than our poorest states.

Additionally, the "powerhouses" of Europe: Germany, France, UK, are BARELY at the GDP of Mississippi (Germany) or below it (UK, France).

That "indolence" is part of it, but most of it is governmental misrule, which birthed that "indolence" and entitlement.

The Germans that came over here to work are especially hard workers. (Auto Industry).

That's likely selection bias, but the German work ethic clearly still exists.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at December 11, 2025 11:09 AM (zjgNU)

25
Get out of NATO, now

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM} at December 11, 2025 11:09 AM (xG4kz)

26 I used to have discussions with out west German representative about Europe and the USA. He always brought up the black issue and how that was terrible. My counter point was wait until your muslim population approaches 13% and see what happens.

They are seeing it now most gooder and harder and I laugh.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at December 11, 2025 11:09 AM (xvV+O)

27 C'mon CBD, don't hold back. Tell us how you really feel.

Posted by: no one at December 11, 2025 11:06 AM (W7XSX)

I loved every bit of my time there, but to pretend that Europe is some magnificent testament to human progress is a cruel joke.

But...Parisian women are gorgeous!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 11, 2025 11:09 AM (n9ltV)

28 24 Europe, as a whole, is worse off than our poorest states.

Additionally, the "powerhouses" of Europe: Germany, France, UK, are BARELY at the GDP of Mississippi (Germany) or below it (UK, France).

That "indolence" is part of it, but most of it is governmental misrule, which birthed that "indolence" and entitlement.

The Germans that came over here to work are especially hard workers. (Auto Industry).

That's likely selection bias, but the German work ethic clearly still exists.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at December 11, 2025 11:09 AM (zjgNU)

======

But Europe imported Syria which meant positive GDP which makes them not only economic powerhouses, no matter anything else, but more moral than you.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:09 AM (GBKbO)

29 Europe is going to fall.
But it will be illustrative that you can't have birth control and cradle to grave Socialism and still have European culture.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 11, 2025 11:09 AM (xcxpd)

30 Most of the smart and enterprising Europeans left the continent in the 18th-19th centuries, going to either the New World or their countries' colonies abroad.

The World Wars killed off most of those who stayed.

Europe's been on a downward trajectory for a long time.

Posted by: Bulg at December 11, 2025 11:10 AM (77rzZ)

31 27 I loved every bit of my time there, but to pretend that Europe is some magnificent testament to human progress is a cruel joke.

But...Parisian women are gorgeous!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 11, 2025 11:09 AM (n9ltV)

========

I would move back to Rome in a heartbeat.

But my standard of living would be materially lower and probably cost more.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:10 AM (GBKbO)

32 Good morning all.
My son lived in Brussels for 3 yrs. I was astounded the first time I saw their apartment. It was spacious but the kitchen was a joke. Tiny fridge, 2 burner stove,washing machine but no dryer. It is a completely different lifestyle.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 11, 2025 11:10 AM (t/2Uw)

33 Japan MAY be facing the problem and accepting that there may be fewer Japanese people around but they will, at least, BE Japanese.

It's a better choice than what Europe is making. Of course, they're on an island. Very hard for Africans and Muslims to invade an island.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 11, 2025 11:11 AM (xcxpd)

34 Never been to Europe, doubt I ever shall?? What am I missing?

Posted by: tubal at December 11, 2025 11:11 AM (pDt9x)

35 "But you Americans have guns! How gauche! You're supposed to let the state protect you!"

Posted by: NR Pax at December 11, 2025 11:11 AM (svLOV)

36
What is "the flex?"
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr.

Something to brag about or to lord it over someone else.

Not unlike self-absorbed gym rats admiring themselves while flexing in front of a full length mirror.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM} at December 11, 2025 11:12 AM (xG4kz)

37 33 Japan MAY be facing the problem and accepting that there may be fewer Japanese people around but they will, at least, BE Japanese.

It's a better choice than what Europe is making. Of course, they're on an island. Very hard for Africans and Muslims to invade an island.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 11, 2025 11:11 AM (xcxpd)

=======

50% of Japan's population in 100 years, but all Japanese, will still be Japan.

110% of Japan's population in 100 years, but majority African, will not be Japan.

Also, lower birthrates tend to fix themselves over time. Space becomes less of an issue at a certain point.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:12 AM (GBKbO)

38 It's a better choice than what Europe is making. Of course, they're on an island. Very hard for Africans and Muslims to invade an island.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards

Heck, the Mongols couldn't even take Japan.

Posted by: Bulg at December 11, 2025 11:12 AM (77rzZ)

39 Tread lightly, Morons. The chimppunk is in full rage mode this morning.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at December 11, 2025 11:12 AM (1zOXE)

40 There are youtube videos of Brits and other Europeans visiting America and are blown away at the size of our kitchens and appliances.

And the portion sizes in restaurants.

Posted by: no one at December 11, 2025 11:12 AM (W7XSX)

41 I was in London for a week in the summer of 2014. Even then it was extremely dirty. I can't imagine how much trash is lying around 11 years later!

Posted by: The Lower Depths at December 11, 2025 11:13 AM (Dg7ng)

42 35 "But you Americans have guns! How gauche! You're supposed to let the state protect you!"
Posted by: NR Pax at December 11, 2025 11:11 AM (svLOV)

Because they do such a fine job, I opine, dripping with sarcasm.

Posted by: tubal at December 11, 2025 11:13 AM (pDt9x)

43 Democrats want us to be like Britain, Germany, or France. Small choices, thought control, government control of housing, food, and medical care.

They can screw the hell off.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at December 11, 2025 11:13 AM (SNshR)

44 Thx CBD.
Pax Americana has allowed Europe to be self indulgent aholes since the fifties. Every stupid leftist idea upto and including the EU. Now uncontrolled invasion by muzzies. There's a response to the above tweet wiere a guy in Europe lays out everything that is wonderful and better in Europe. Every bit is caused by us being there. If we left NATO the French and Germans would be at each other's throats within six months.

Posted by: Smell the Glove at December 11, 2025 11:13 AM (D+mpw)

45 IIRC, only Luxembourg is above the capita in earnings of our lowest state. That is nothing to be proud of.

On my first trip to Europe I was shocked at how appliances was so small and cost 2X+ our prices. My eyes were opened to the lies we were f living better that Americans.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at December 11, 2025 11:13 AM (xvV+O)

46 38 It's a better choice than what Europe is making. Of course, they're on an island. Very hard for Africans and Muslims to invade an island.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards

Heck, the Mongols couldn't even take Japan.
Posted by: Bulg at December 11, 2025 11:12 AM (77rzZ)

Bad luck for the Mongols helped Japan there, but yes.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 11, 2025 11:13 AM (xcxpd)

47 Europe suffers from the same malaise that our country does, to a lesser extent.

They have been coasting on the built up physical and cultural capital from their previous, great civilization.

Both physical infrastructure built by great empires and cultural infrastructure, built by Christianity are what created Europe.

But they've been undermining both, either through neglect (physical) or outright hostility (Chrisitanity).
Their leaders are men without chests who think that the Christian ethic they grew up with is the natural state of man. That's why they think importing third world, hostile, musselmen will work.

It is a disaster and it will not get righted with an actual war, for which they have purposely made their military and people wholly unprepared.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at December 11, 2025 11:13 AM (zjgNU)

48 Let Europe be what they are, just don't bring it here.
I could care less what they do, say, or think.
However we have a good many Americans who I wish
would deport themselves to Europe where they would
be happy.

Posted by: Case at December 11, 2025 11:13 AM (G1OIb)

49 I have long said that all of Europe is like a museum. It's all pretty and historic and in many cases spectacular. Just like the dinosaurs were. You walk through Europe and you can't shake the feeling that, like the dinosaurs, everything good about the place is in the past.
Posted by: Elric The Blade at December 11

I would live in Italy in 3 seconds. But not Milan, or Rome, or especially Naples. But Cortona? Yes. It’s a postcard. I would even hang laundry on the line.
Posted by: Piper at December 11, 2025 11:08 AM (Wmg4n)
_______

So you saw that Tuscany movie with Diane Lane? LOL.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at December 11, 2025 11:14 AM (iFTx/)

50 The future belongs to who shows up.
This is not good news for Europe.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 11, 2025 11:14 AM (xcxpd)

51 It is a disaster and it will not get righted with* an actual war, for which they have purposely made their military and people wholly unprepared.
Posted by: Formerly Virginian at December 11, 2025 11:13 AM (zjgNU)

*without

An edit button! My kingdom for an edit button!

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at December 11, 2025 11:14 AM (zjgNU)

52 If Edward Creasy could make his list of the most significant battles in history I wonder if he’d still include the Battle of Tours. After all, it looks as though the Arab Muslims may well succeed in conquest… it was a delaying action… 1400 year delaying action….

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at December 11, 2025 11:15 AM (xT8gx)

53 50 The future belongs to who shows up.
This is not good news for Europe.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 11, 2025 11:14 AM (xcxpd)

======

If Germany hadn't forced Europe to import Syria 10 years ago, Europe would have had to find another solution to their social welfare net crisis.

Something like: having babies.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:15 AM (GBKbO)

54 I went to Germany on a business trip over 25 years ago. I thought it was nice.

But I was shocked at all the graffiti along the train routes. I thought I was in NYC.

My preconceived notion that Germany was orderly was shattered.

Posted by: no one at December 11, 2025 11:15 AM (W7XSX)

55 yum yum shit
yummy shit pebbles
in my mouth

Posted by: Aliassmithsmith... the anal behind anal sex at December 11, 2025 11:15 AM (gdNWk)

56 Circa 1990. A college friend brought his very Italian girlfriend over. It was our first house. Regular 3b,2b,2 car garage in a decent neighborhood in SW Houston.
Lovely girl that was very fresh on the scene seeing America for the first time.
She saw our double door refrigerator in the kitchen, asked if she could open it and then commenced to crying.
She told us the local store they went to everyday didn't have that much refrigeration and absolutely no ice.

Posted by: DanMan at December 11, 2025 11:15 AM (8uzBS)

57 51 An edit button! My kingdom for an edit button!

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at December 11, 2025 11:14 AM (zjgNU)

=====

There's a solution to that!

Cozy up to ace so much that he gives you the keys!

Just hope he checks his email.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:15 AM (GBKbO)

58
But...Parisian women are gorgeous!
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December

My mama was stunning to her last day. When I see pictures of her in her 20s? Wow. My grandmother, being French, used to tell my mom she was pretty but not as pretty as her- how awful is that? Now my grandmother would stop you in your tracks in her youth, she was gorgeous, too. She was a ringer for Zsa Zsa Gabor. My sister looks just like them.

Posted by: Piper at December 11, 2025 11:15 AM (Wmg4n)

59 An edit button! My kingdom for an edit button!
Posted by: Formerly Virginian at December 11, 2025 11:14 AM (zjgNU)

I have sung that song as well....

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 11, 2025 11:16 AM (xcxpd)

60 Heartbreaking European letter to Santa.

https://is.gd/cI1vUD

I guess they're European hillbillies.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 11, 2025 11:16 AM (L/fGl)

61 C'mon CBD, don't hold back. Tell us how you really feel.

Posted by: no one at December 11, 2025 11:06 AM (W7XSX)

I loved every bit of my time there, but to pretend that Europe is some magnificent testament to human progress is a cruel joke.

But...Parisian women are gorgeous!
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 11, 2025 11:09 AM (n9ltV)
____

I was disappointed in French ladies. I expected Brigitte Bardot and Lea Seydoux. What I got was ... not that.

I was more impressed with Italian, Spanish, and German babes.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at December 11, 2025 11:16 AM (iFTx/)

62 The Germans that came over here to work are especially hard workers. (Auto Industry).

That's likely selection bias, but the German work ethic clearly still exists.
Posted by: Formerly Virginian
____________

A lot of older books talk about a Protestant work ethic. So does this hold for the southern krauts, too?

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at December 11, 2025 11:17 AM (XvL8K)

63 Also don't get me started on the lackadaisical bullshit that is the European way of eating dinner at 10pm.

For Pete's sake eat dinner at a normal time and then go to fucking bed so you can be at work in the morning. Yeesh.

Posted by: ballistic at December 11, 2025 11:17 AM (3BwY8)

64 "Federal judge orders Abrego Garcia's immediate release from ICE custody" crows CBS news...

The Dems and the left have spent millions on this trash getting him out of legal custody so he can roam free...just to watch him go right back in...which will be the case again very shortly.

These people are evil idiots - they're not going to get anything out of this but a hole in their wallet and bad PR...

Posted by: Boswell at December 11, 2025 11:17 AM (NTVPI)

65 I am a history buff and love to travel. I traveled to Europe for the first time the year I graduated college with a back pack by myself. You could do that at one time. I spent 3 months mostly in Amsterdam and London and then went to Israel. Never felt scared. No cell phones. People were wonderful. I spent days wandering the streets and visiting museums. It was a different world. Authentic. Now lost.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 11, 2025 11:17 AM (t/2Uw)

66 Most of the smart and enterprising Europeans left the continent in the 18th-19th centuries, going to either the New World or their countries' colonies abroad.

The World Wars killed off most of those who stayed.

Europe's been on a downward trajectory for a long time.

Posted by: Bulg at December 11, 2025 11:10 AM (77rzZ)

Europe also did everything they could to destroy their successful colonies abroad, as well. (South Africa and Rhodesia.) Australia and New Zealand are destroying themselves.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at December 11, 2025 11:18 AM (zjgNU)

67 There's a couple of English guys who travel the US and make vids about how little they understand and /or in awe of about the US. Pretty funny stuff.

Posted by: Smell the Glove at December 11, 2025 11:18 AM (D+mpw)

68 But the biggest problem by far is Europe's curious disinterest in their own freedom. Speech is carefully controlled by government and compliant corporations, and with that control comes a diminution of the very concept of freedom and liberty.

Who knew that Big Brother controlling the masses required nothing more than a short form video of some female making bird hands and telling you that your thoughts are problematic?

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 11, 2025 11:18 AM (ExV1e)

69 My husband Richard was a valued municipal employee, essential to the delivery of services to our Borough. Won awards and all! Please don't disparage the sacrifice and dedication these fine cogs in the wheel of progress afford the greater British public.

Posted by: Mrs. Hyancinth Bucket at December 11, 2025 11:18 AM (oftw2)

70
So you saw that Tuscany movie with Diane Lane? LOL.
Posted by: Elric The Blade at December 11, 2025

Nope. Didn’t even read the book, and I know how much the locals hate it. I live with someone from there.

Posted by: Piper at December 11, 2025 11:18 AM (Wmg4n)

71 Bare Boobs! It's French Culture!

Posted by: Clark Griswald at December 11, 2025 11:18 AM (Q+gd/)

72 Early Bird Special type dinner eater. We call it supper. When two meals a day are the default early makes sense.

Posted by: tubal at December 11, 2025 11:19 AM (pDt9x)

73 You're supposed to let the state protect you!"

Posted by: NR Pax at December 11, 2025 11:11 AM (svLOV)

The same State which is imprisoning people for saying men are men?

Yeah. I'll take my chances with the guns, thanks.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, a black, LGBT, child of immigrants at December 11, 2025 11:19 AM (oSeBJ)

74 yum yum shit
yummy shit pebbles
in my mouth

Posted by: Aliassmithsmith... the anal behind anal sex at December 11, 2025 11:19 AM (gdNWk)

75 But my standard of living would be materially lower and probably cost more.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:10 AM (GBKbO)

The vast majority of Western Europeans cannot conceive of a standard of living on par with ours.

The apartment in which we lived was in an upscale neighborhood, and quite large for Paris (1,600 square feet), but was laid out with the assumption that appliances were tiny, energy was expensive, and A/C was nonexistent.

The building itself was laid out for maximum inconvenience too.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 11, 2025 11:19 AM (n9ltV)

76 For Pete's sake eat dinner at a normal time and then go to fucking bed so you can be at work in the morning. Yeesh.
Posted by: ballistic at December 11, 2025 11:17 AM (3BwY

I’m extreme in the other direction as I like to eat dinner at 4pm (lunch at 11am). I go to bed at 9 and up at 4 or 5… I can’t fathom eating dinner at 10pm

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at December 11, 2025 11:19 AM (xT8gx)

77 It's a better choice than what Europe is making. Of course, they're on an island. Very hard for Africans and Muslims to invade an island.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 11, 2025 11:11 AM (xcxpd)

Well, I never!

Posted by: United Kingodom at December 11, 2025 11:20 AM (zjgNU)

78 But...Parisian women are gorgeous!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 11, 2025 11:09 AM (n9ltV)

Yeah, American women need to up their game in general.

Fortunately, for us American males, the Euro-Male is kinda ratty.

Posted by: naturalfake at December 11, 2025 11:20 AM (iJfKG)

79 59 An edit button! My kingdom for an edit button!
Posted by: Formerly Virginian at December 11, 2025 11:14 AM (zjgNU)

Think Before You Post.

Posted by: Sir Mark Nancy Susan Heather Rowley at December 11, 2025 11:20 AM (3+0K7)

80 Free medical care.

https://is.gd/36DhgN

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 11, 2025 11:20 AM (L/fGl)

81 Apparently, being able to get around on nice trains trumps the loss of freedom...

Europeans are perplexed that we don't use trains more. Of course, Europeans tend to think that the US is the size of France.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 11, 2025 11:20 AM (ExV1e)

82 I would move back to Rome in a heartbeat.

But my standard of living would be materially lower and probably cost more.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:10 AM (GBKbO)

Rome was amazing, but yeah, what you said. You would also have to get used to driving a scooter and parking like a retard.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at December 11, 2025 11:20 AM (snZF9)

83 Surprisingly, one of the countries that is turning to capitalism, free expression, freedom of mobility, and competition is Vietnam. Go figure.

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at December 11, 2025 11:20 AM (g8Ew8)

84 If Germany hadn't forced Europe to import Syria 10 years ago, Europe would have had to find another solution to their social welfare net crisis.

Something like: having babies.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:15 AM (GBKbO)

There would be a big contraction before that happened, because kids don't want babies anymore and birth control drugs means they don't have to.

In the meantime, their welfare state would collapse because there aren't enough people for their aging population to be supported.

They are caught in a trap. And they can't walk out.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 11, 2025 11:20 AM (xcxpd)

85 I loved every bit of my time there, but to pretend that Europe is some magnificent testament to human progress is a cruel joke.

But...Parisian women are gorgeous!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 11, 2025 11:09 AM (n9ltV)

========

I would move back to Rome in a heartbeat.

But my standard of living would be materially lower and probably cost more.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:10 AM (GBKbO)
_____

No offense, but Rome was my least-favorite Italian city (other than Milan) in terms of where to live. Spectacular things to see and do on vacation. But I found the people smelly, rude, and overall the city was dirty and (surprisingly) covered in graffiti.

Some real Italian smokeshows, though. Like my mom.

Would I live there for 6 months? Why not? But move their permanently? Nope.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at December 11, 2025 11:20 AM (iFTx/)

86
MUNKEY

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 11, 2025 11:21 AM (y9nCu)

87 82 Rome was amazing, but yeah, what you said. You would also have to get used to driving a scooter and parking like a retard.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at December 11, 2025 11:20 AM (snZF9)

=====

I'd probably walk and use the public transportation.

It's not the best public transportation, but it works. Most of the time.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:21 AM (GBKbO)

88 Think Before You Post.
Posted by: Sir Mark Nancy Susan Heather Rowley

Yeah, right, like that's gonna happen.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 11, 2025 11:21 AM (L/fGl)

89 IIRC, only Luxembourg is above the capita in earnings of our lowest state. That is nothing to be proud of.

On my first trip to Europe I was shocked at how appliances was so small and cost 2X+ our prices. My eyes were opened to the lies we were f living better that Americans.
Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at December 11, 2025 11:13 AM (xvV+O)

Also Netherlands and Finland.

Posted by: United Kingodom at December 11, 2025 11:21 AM (zjgNU)

90 Euros are lazy, entitled, sexually disordered, smelly, over educated and host many a sexually transmitted disease.

If they were a plow mule, they would be mercifully put down.

Posted by: Good Riddance at December 11, 2025 11:22 AM (FGMmt)

91 I think I'll just blame the Biden administration for propping up a President who had dementia and being a left wing cabal.

Posted by: Aliasjonesjones at December 11, 2025 11:22 AM (Nx5jP)

92 85 No offense, but Rome was my least-favorite Italian city (other than Milan) in terms of where to live. Spectacular things to see and do on vacation. But I found the people smelly, rude, and overall the city was dirty and (surprisingly) covered in graffiti.

Some real Italian smokeshows, though. Like my mom.

Would I live there for 6 months? Why not? But move their permanently? Nope.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at December 11, 2025 11:20 AM (iFTx/)

=======

It's a part sentimental thing, tied to my year living there when I was younger, with the physical beauty of the aged aspects, along with the religious aspect.

I love that place.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:22 AM (GBKbO)

93 First day in Rome some scum bag tried to pick my pocket. He learned Americans get testy and physical quickly when that happens. Most were shocked on the train a very few congratulated me.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at December 11, 2025 11:23 AM (xvV+O)

94 The Best Left is what I have often heard. The truth of that I do not know.

Posted by: tubal at December 11, 2025 11:23 AM (pDt9x)

95 I would live in Italy in 3 seconds. But not Milan, or Rome, or especially Naples. But Cortona? Yes. It’s a postcard. I would even hang laundry on the line.
Posted by: Piper at December 11, 2025 11:08 AM (Wmg4n)
_______

So you saw that Tuscany movie with Diane Lane? LOL.
Posted by: Elric The Blade at December 11, 2025 11:14 AM (iFTx/)

No one can afford kids in Italy, so you'd be living solo like they do.

I'll never forget when my spouse spent 11 months there on deployment. I brought my 18 month old to visit on 2 separate trips and it was like I was bringing a treasure. Folks would treat my spouse and I better just to get close to the little princess b/c she was so rare, and boy did we hear a ton about no one can have a kid b/c no one could afford to raise the kid...

Posted by: Nova Local at December 11, 2025 11:23 AM (tOcjL)

96 Look at the changes in Europe from 2000 to 2025.

Now imagine what Europe will look like in 2050.

An increasingly poor, rapidly Islamfying continent, with Chinese-style social and political repression - no freedom of speech, all "anti-EU" parties banned, and a mandatory digital currency that the government can confiscate from you at any time.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at December 11, 2025 11:23 AM (xTIDn)

97 91 I think I'll just blame the Biden administration for propping up a President who had dementia and being a left wing cabal.

Posted by: Aliasjonesjones at December 11, 2025 11:22 AM (Nx5jP)

====

Troll doesn't realize white birthrates are so low because progressive birthrates are so low.

Conservative whites are at replacement rate of 2.1, barely changing since the 90s.

Conservatives have kids while progressives tell their one kid that they're a racist stain on the world that's going to explode any minute anyway.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:24 AM (GBKbO)

98 Europeans are perplexed that we don't use trains more. Of course, Europeans tend to think that the US is the size of France.

We do use trains. We use them so we don't have to walk to change terminals at our massive airports.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 11, 2025 11:24 AM (COQGW)

99 Morning! That woman in the Art Thread looks like an ur-Karen.
And it's 5 below zero here.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 11, 2025 11:24 AM (npFr7)

100
Europe has been living on the capital, not the interest, for decades. And now the capital is running out. France is bankrupt and unreformable, Germany is implementing the Morgenthau Plan of its own accord, Britain is sliding into authoritarianism and civil war.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at December 11, 2025 11:24 AM (tgvbd)

101 If we left NATO the French and Germans would be at each other's throats within six months.
Posted by: Smell the Glove at December 11, 2025 11:13 AM (D+mpw)

Which one is Sunni and which one is Shia?

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 11, 2025 11:24 AM (ExV1e)

102 Are Europe's "judges" as bad as Ours? One just ruled that the "Maryland Dad" must be released immediately..
-----

It'll be immediately appealed and stayed.

Posted by: Crusader at December 11, 2025 11:25 AM (TN0g+)

103 and overall the city was dirty and (surprisingly) covered in graffiti.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at December 11, 2025 11:20 AM (iFTx/)

That's one of the things that surprised me about Paris. Over the last generation, graffiti has become endemic. Miles and miles of it along the highways leading into the city, and even in nice neighborhoods it is a constant.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 11, 2025 11:25 AM (n9ltV)

104 I've never left the continental US in all my life. I used to think it might be nice to visit Europe and see the sights, but now I realize two things:

1 - Let's face it, I'm already seeing the apex of the West right here...warts and all.

2 - And if I want to see the ruins of fallen empires...well, I'm watching that in realtime, sadly.

It's a bittersweet set of realizations. Welcome to the 21st century, I guess.

Posted by: Brother Tim (102mm/W59), Keeper of the Tim Continuum at December 11, 2025 11:25 AM (OUMaO)

105
It's a part sentimental thing, tied to my year living there when I was younger, with the physical beauty of the aged aspects, along with the religious aspect.

I love that place.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:22 AM (GBKbO)

When we go to Italy, I drag J to Rome for the day to stare in awe at the things many people only get to see in books, and a super fancy dinner. Then it’s out of my system and back to Tuscany. Don’t even speak to me about the horribleness of Pompeii.

Posted by: Piper at December 11, 2025 11:25 AM (Wmg4n)

106 If we ever go expat, the countries we would consider are Uruguay, Finland, and maybe Portugal.

Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at December 11, 2025 11:25 AM (lW16O)

107 Surprisingly, one of the countries that is turning to capitalism, free expression, freedom of mobility, and competition is Vietnam. Go figure.
Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at December 11, 2025 11:20 AM (g8Ew

Also most Vietnamese (especially in the US, but in country as well) LOVE Americans.

We should really increase ties. (I believe Trump has been.)

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at December 11, 2025 11:25 AM (zjgNU)

108 103 and overall the city was dirty and (surprisingly) covered in graffiti.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at December 11, 2025 11:20 AM (iFTx/)

That's one of the things that surprised me about Paris. Over the last generation, graffiti has become endemic. Miles and miles of it along the highways leading into the city, and even in nice neighborhoods it is a constant.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 11, 2025 11:25 AM (n9ltV)

=======

"It's all the quality of Banksy!"
-Europe

*not taking it personally, apparently*
-Banksy

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:26 AM (GBKbO)

109 82 I would move back to Rome in a heartbeat.

But my standard of living would be materially lower and probably cost more.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:10 AM (GBKbO)

Rome was my favorite Italian city...Venice was an overpriced tourist trap.

I loved Assisi and Lucca, but not quite "cities"...and Pisa is a waste of time...go to Lucca instead...

Posted by: Nova Local at December 11, 2025 11:26 AM (tOcjL)

110 Europeans are perplexed that we don't use trains more. Of course, Europeans tend to think that the US is the size of France.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 11, 2025 11:20 AM (ExV1e)

Totally this. When I did that metal cruise every year the vast amount of people on it were from europe. Many of them were here for a month and the cruise was a small part of it. They would rent cars and drive to other places either before or after the cruise. I heard the same stories over and over. After driving to other places they started to understand the size of the US, why we don't have trains running everywhere, and holy shit they love our big cars. lol

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at December 11, 2025 11:26 AM (snZF9)

111 If I was gonna move anywhere outside the USA, it would be to Asia.

Sadly, I can't handle the heat and humidity of most of the countries in the area. But I would take Korea or Japan or Philippines or Bangkok or even Vietnam over any place in Europe.

I may one day do winters in Philippines and summers in USA.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at December 11, 2025 11:26 AM (iFTx/)

112
Europeans are perplexed that we don't use trains more. Of course, Europeans tend to think that the US is the size of France.

__________

We have an extensive and profitable rail system here. Our track mileage is only exceeded by Russia. It is used, as it should be, for freight.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at December 11, 2025 11:26 AM (tgvbd)

113 Rome is filthy, covered in graffiti, streets and sidewalks in terrible condition. Crowded, smelly.Food is still fantastic though. I'm glad I got to see the sights but have no desire to go back to Rome. Would love to explore the rest of the country's Bologna and Florence were incredible.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 11, 2025 11:26 AM (t/2Uw)

114 105 When we go to Italy, I drag J to Rome for the day to stare in awe at the things many people only get to see in books, and a super fancy dinner. Then it’s out of my system and back to Tuscany. Don’t even speak to me about the horribleness of Pompeii.

Posted by: Piper at December 11, 2025 11:25 AM (Wmg4n)

======

I finally did Pompeii on this trip.

It was a thing to see. Glad I saw it. It's done now, though. Barely saw any of Naples outside of that.

The weird thing is that I'm not a city person. I generally don't like them. But Rome? Rome is just...different.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:27 AM (GBKbO)

115 That's one of the things that surprised me about Paris. Over the last generation, graffiti has become endemic. Miles and miles of it along the highways leading into the city, and even in nice neighborhoods it is a constant.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 11, 2025

Brussels is awful with this, on beautiful buildings.

Posted by: Piper at December 11, 2025 11:27 AM (Q9G/L)

116 Now imagine what Europe will look like in 2050.

An increasingly poor, rapidly Islamfying continent, with Chinese-style social and political repression - no freedom of speech, all "anti-EU" parties banned, and a mandatory digital currency that the government can confiscate from you at any time.

Of course, we're going to look like that too if the Democrats take power back - they will make very, very sure that they will never lose power again.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at December 11, 2025 11:27 AM (xTIDn)

117
Are many parts of Western Europe beautiful? Absolutely! Many of their cities are marvels of architecture and culture, and its physical beauty is often stunning.

Those marvels of architecture and culture are almost always OLD architecture and culture, from when Europe actually worked. Their modern culture is either wholly produced by or based on American culture, no matter how crude it is.

Europe is a cultural cemetery.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 11, 2025 11:28 AM (y9nCu)

118 Every Christmas i like to call Europe and give them the message from Bruce Willlis.

Posted by: thug dolphin at December 11, 2025 11:28 AM (EyfuW)

119 My sister looks just like them.
Posted by: Piper

She was, in fact, talking about her twin sister.

Posted by: The Narrator at December 11, 2025 11:28 AM (ittVa)

120 And they don't pick up dog shit in Italy. It's everywhere.

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at December 11, 2025 11:29 AM (XvL8K)

121 Brussels is awful with this, on beautiful buildings.

52% of the school kids in Brussels are Muslim.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at December 11, 2025 11:29 AM (xTIDn)

122 *weeps*

Posted by: Zombie Vlad Tepes at December 11, 2025 11:29 AM (Q+gd/)

123 I loved every bit of my time there, but to pretend that Europe is some magnificent testament to human progress is a cruel joke.

In a way, it is. It's the magnificent testament to human progress that provided a foundation that America built upon even more magnificently.

It's both tragic and criminal that the current "elites" are now systematically tearing down all that was admirable about the culture that the giants who came before them built over so many centuries.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 11, 2025 11:29 AM (COQGW)

124 Canadian appliances are also insanely expensive. 2 or 3 times the American price.

Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at December 11, 2025 11:29 AM (lW16O)

125 I would move to Japan in a heartbeat if A) I could speak/read/write the language, which I cannot and don't have the time to learn, and B) If the people weren't so wildly xenophobic/racist. They're all polite to a fault but getting turned away from mostly-empty restaurants just because I'm not Japanese gets old.

Posted by: ballistic at December 11, 2025 11:29 AM (3BwY8)

126
The weird thing is that I'm not a city person. I generally don't like them. But Rome? Rome is just...different.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:27 AM (GBKbO

I have this picture I took of a door in one of the little side streets of Rome. It’s probably my favorite picture, not the Trevi Fountain, not Vatican City, but this little door. I get it.

Posted by: Piper at December 11, 2025 11:29 AM (OoFl2)

127 I finally did Pompeii on this trip.

It was a thing to see. Glad I saw it. It's done now, though. Barely saw any of Naples outside of that.

The weird thing is that I'm not a city person. I generally don't like them. But Rome? Rome is just...different.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:27 AM (GBKbO)

It's the religion, ruins, and cats for me, while surrounded by an actual city.

It's why I loved Lucca and Assisi - you move from the Roman Empire ruins in Rome to the Dark Ages...and then finish in Florence for the Renaissance (I also liked Florence) and call it a day...

Posted by: Nova Local at December 11, 2025 11:29 AM (tOcjL)

128 Over 100 so here is James O’Keefe’s latest not so undercover video with a fat black racist NPR journalist college lecturer. First few minutes are hilarious.

https://x.com/JamesOKeefeIII/status/1998890704206991693

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at December 11, 2025 11:30 AM (xvV+O)

129 and overall the city was dirty and (surprisingly) covered in graffiti.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at December 11, 2025 11:20 AM (iFTx/)

That's one of the things that surprised me about Paris. Over the last generation, graffiti has become endemic. Miles and miles of it along the highways leading into the city, and even in nice neighborhoods it is a constant.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 11, 2025 11:25 AM (n9ltV)
______

It's been a few years since I was in Paris, but when I was there the graffiti was mostly outside the city proper. I remember taking a cab from CDG into the city for the first time, and being like "wtf, am I in the right place?" Outside the city wasn't the City of Lights. It was the City of Shites. Pretty shitty neighborhoods, crawling with obvious immigrants (Muslims), and covered in graffiti. Luckily, all that changed when I got to the city proper. I don't know if that's still true.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at December 11, 2025 11:30 AM (iFTx/)

130 Those marvels of architecture and culture are almost always OLD architecture and culture, from when Europe actually worked. Their modern culture is either wholly produced by or based on American culture, no matter how crude it is.

Europe is a cultural cemetery.

Yeah, Europe takes an awful lot of credit for what their ancestors did.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at December 11, 2025 11:30 AM (xTIDn)

131 and overall the city was dirty and (surprisingly) covered in graffiti.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at December 11, 2025 11:20 AM (iFTx/)

That's one of the things that surprised me about Paris. Over the last generation, graffiti has become endemic. Miles and miles of it along the highways leading into the city, and even in nice neighborhoods it is a constant.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 11, 2025 11:25 AM (n9ltV)

That's what surprised me the most about our trip to Germany this year.

Ghetto-style graffiti everywhere and I mean...Everywhere!!!

The German reputation for order and cleanliness and hardworking is either totally exaggerated or no longer operational.

Posted by: naturalfake at December 11, 2025 11:30 AM (iJfKG)

132 If we left NATO the French and Germans would be at each other's throats within six months.
Posted by: Smell the Glove

And the downside is?

Posted by: rickb223 at December 11, 2025 11:30 AM (hS7lz)

133 125 I would move to Japan in a heartbeat if A) I could speak/read/write the language, which I cannot and don't have the time to learn, and B) If the people weren't so wildly xenophobic/racist. They're all polite to a fault but getting turned away from mostly-empty restaurants just because I'm not Japanese gets old.

Posted by: ballistic at December 11, 2025 11:29 AM (3BwY

======

I downloaded Duolingo and started Japanese lessons!

They should probably remove all the Western lettering from the words, though. I'm not learning the Japanese writing systems at all. Maybe over time, it'll get harder.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:30 AM (GBKbO)

134 I am a history buff and love to travel. I traveled to Europe for the first time the year I graduated college with a back pack by myself. You could do that at one time. I spent 3 months mostly in Amsterdam and London and then went to Israel. Never felt scared. No cell phones. People were wonderful. I spent days wandering the streets and visiting museums. It was a different world. Authentic. Now lost.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 11, 2025 11:17 AM (t/2Uw)

I lived in Germany for four and a half years back in the 70's. Wonderful place. Had a lot of fun.

Went back around 2011. Didn't recognize it. Totally changed. It was like walking around in East Berlin before the wall came down. So sad.

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at December 11, 2025 11:31 AM (g8Ew8)

135
It's both tragic and criminal that the current "elites" are now systematically tearing down all that was admirable about the culture that the giants who came before them built over so many centuries.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 11, 2025 11:29 AM (COQGW)

_____________

At the same time, they hide behind that heritage to sneer about how barbaric we are.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at December 11, 2025 11:31 AM (tgvbd)

136 125 I would move to Japan in a heartbeat if A) I could speak/read/write the language, which I cannot and don't have the time to learn, and B) If the people weren't so wildly xenophobic/racist. They're all polite to a fault but getting turned away from mostly-empty restaurants just because I'm not Japanese gets old.
Posted by: ballistic at December

Take a Shiba with you. They are a golden ticket! That is our next big vacation. I may have to borrow a Shiba while there as I don’t think I can just bring mine.

Posted by: Piper at December 11, 2025 11:31 AM (OoFl2)

137 110 Europeans are perplexed that we don't use trains more.

When I was moving from CA to MD, I actually thought about taking Amtrak just to enjoy the view and relax.

An airline ticket was less than half the price. Easy choice.

Posted by: NR Pax at December 11, 2025 11:31 AM (svLOV)

138 In Europe, sometimes the washing machine is in the kitchen

and their electrical outlets look funny

Posted by: Don Black at December 11, 2025 11:32 AM (zzfOt)

139 I’ve been to the Paris of the future when I went to Marseilles in 1991.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at December 11, 2025 11:32 AM (xvV+O)

140 Budapest is my favorite city. Beautiful, historic, walkable, great food, inexpensive and they hate socialists .

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 11, 2025 11:32 AM (t/2Uw)

141 119 My sister looks just like them.
Posted by: Piper

She was, in fact, talking about her twin sister.
Posted by: The Narrator at December 11, 2025 11:28 AM (ittVa

Sadly, no. She is 21 months older than me!

Posted by: Piper at December 11, 2025 11:33 AM (OoFl2)

142 If I was gonna move anywhere outside the USA, it would be to Asia.

Sadly, I can't handle the heat and humidity of most of the countries in the area. But I would take Korea or Japan or Philippines or Bangkok or even Vietnam over any place in Europe.

I may one day do winters in Philippines and summers in USA.
Posted by: Elric The Blade at December 11, 2025 11:26 AM (iFTx/)

Korea and Japan both have temperate climates, influenced by the fact they are both coastal countries. Tokyo is right in the middle of Japan and is about the same latitude of Asheville, NC.

Hokkaido (Northernmost island) is quite cool and has serious winters.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at December 11, 2025 11:34 AM (zjgNU)

143
Budapest is my favorite city. Beautiful, historic, walkable, great food, inexpensive and they hate socialists .
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 11, 2025 11:32 AM (t/2Uw)

___________

Nothing like a bout of communism to make you hate socialism.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at December 11, 2025 11:34 AM (tgvbd)

144 Eastern Europe still has some hope. I would love to visit there and see Cracow, Prague, and Budapest.

I loved Moscow when I was there in the Yeltsin years. Yeah, it was pretty filthy, but you kind of expect that in Russia. Would love to see St. Petersburg, too.

Posted by: Bulg at December 11, 2025 11:34 AM (77rzZ)

145 20
Are Europe's "judges" as bad as Ours? ‘

Judging by what I see on the Lotus Eaters podcast, they are worse.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at December 11, 2025 11:34 AM (jbnUc)

146 We have an extensive and profitable rail system here. Our track mileage is only exceeded by Russia. It is used, as it should be, for freight.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at December 11, 2025 11:26 AM (tgvbd)

Exactly! And we use our trucking system for the last mile, which keeps massive train stations outside of our cities!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 11, 2025 11:34 AM (n9ltV)

147 64 "Federal judge orders Abrego Garcia's immediate release from ICE custody" crows CBS news...

The Dems and the left have spent millions on this trash getting him out of legal custody so he can roam free...just to watch him go right back in...which will be the case again very shortly.

These people are evil idiots - they're not going to get anything out of this but a hole in their wallet and bad PR...

Posted by: Boswell at December 11, 2025 11:17 AM (NTVPI)

Isn't he under a sentence from Tennessee for some crime? Just put him back in the State pen, until this lawless order is quashed.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 11, 2025 11:34 AM (npFr7)

148 Totally OT:

Robert Pattinson seems to like to be in the center of Love Triangles.

Poor Tom Holland.

Short Kings get no respect.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at December 11, 2025 11:34 AM (XV/Pl)

149
Passenger rail: 19th century technology at 21st century costs.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at December 11, 2025 11:36 AM (tgvbd)

150 Budapest is my favorite city. Beautiful, historic, walkable, great food, inexpensive and they hate socialists .
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 11, 2025 11:32 AM (t/2Uw)

Prague is great too.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 11, 2025 11:36 AM (COQGW)

151 I would move to Japan in a heartbeat if A) I could speak/read/write the language, which I cannot and don't have the time to learn, and B) If the people weren't so wildly xenophobic/racist. They're all polite to a fault but getting turned away from mostly-empty restaurants just because I'm not Japanese gets old.
Posted by: ballistic at December 11, 2025 11:29 AM (3BwY

Many people mistake politeness for kindness.

They are polite to a fault, but not particularly kind, especially to outsiders.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at December 11, 2025 11:36 AM (zjgNU)

152
We have an extensive and profitable rail system here. Our track mileage is only exceeded by Russia. It is used, as it should be, for freight.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at December 11, 2025 11:26 AM (tgvbd)

And depending on freight transport rates at any given time, a good portion of that containerized freight is Chinese goods transiting the US by rail from the West Coast to East in order to be shipped to Europe.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 11, 2025 11:36 AM (y9nCu)

153 I would move to Japan in a heartbeat if A) I could speak/read/write the language, which I cannot and don't have the time to learn, and B) If the people weren't so wildly xenophobic/racist. They're all polite to a fault but getting turned away from mostly-empty restaurants just because I'm not Japanese gets old.
Posted by: ballistic at December 11, 2025 11:29 AM (3BwY

Weird.

I've never had an experience like that in Japan, and I've been there a lot, since I was stationed there in the late 80s.

Not saying it didn't happen to you, but it didn't to me. Now, France on the other hand is where I actually saw some anti-American rudeness at a couple of restaurants.

Posted by: naturalfake at December 11, 2025 11:36 AM (iJfKG)

154 Are Europe's "judges" as bad as Ours? ‘

FUN FACT: Roland Freisler was the model for Judge Boasberg.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 11, 2025 11:37 AM (COQGW)

155 UNEXPECTEDLY!

Headline (Bloomberg)

"US trade deficit unexpectedly shrinks to smallest since 2020"

Posted by: mrp at December 11, 2025 11:37 AM (rj6Yv)

156 Ran across a good example of how the European's have allowed their military forces to decay into near non-existence. The British Navy for a couple of centuries was the most powerful naval force in the world; even in the 80's they didn't have much trouble operating in the Falklands War.

As of today, the British Navy is smaller than Italy's. Their surface combatant forces consist 7 Frigates, 6 Destroyers, and 2 aircraft carriers that they are scared to take too far out of port because they break down so often. That plus a few subs is it, that's the entire British Navy now.

Posted by: Tom Servo at December 11, 2025 11:38 AM (uWKK8)

157 155 UNEXPECTEDLY!

Headline (Bloomberg)

"US trade deficit unexpectedly shrinks to smallest since 2020"
Posted by: mrp at December 11, 2025 11:37 AM (rj6Yv)

A threadbare word.

Posted by: tubal at December 11, 2025 11:38 AM (pDt9x)

158 Prague is near the top of my bucket list. I have never been to Poland and it is where my grandparents were from.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 11, 2025 11:38 AM (t/2Uw)

159 Beautiful, historic, walkable, great food, inexpensive and they hate socialists

The last part sold me. Time to start looking for plane tickets.

Posted by: NR Pax at December 11, 2025 11:39 AM (svLOV)

160 156 Ran across a good example of how the European's have allowed their military forces to decay into near non-existence. The British Navy for a couple of centuries was the most powerful naval force in the world; even in the 80's they didn't have much trouble operating in the Falklands War.

As of today, the British Navy is smaller than Italy's. Their surface combatant forces consist 7 Frigates, 6 Destroyers, and 2 aircraft carriers that they are scared to take too far out of port because they break down so often. That plus a few subs is it, that's the entire British Navy now.
Posted by: Tom Servo at December 11, 2025 11:38 AM (uWKK

Like the Cajun Navy, only their food sucks.

Posted by: tubal at December 11, 2025 11:39 AM (pDt9x)

161 Poland and Hungary are the only sane European countries at this point.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 11, 2025 11:39 AM (t/2Uw)

162 That plus a few subs is it, that's the entire British Navy now.
Posted by: Tom Servo

But they still have rum, sodomy, and the lash, right? So they're good.

Posted by: Bulg at December 11, 2025 11:39 AM (77rzZ)

163 As of today, the British Navy is smaller than Italy's. Their surface combatant forces consist 7 Frigates, 6 Destroyers, and 2 aircraft carriers that they are scared to take too far out of port because they break down so often.

They could probably still take the Russians in a surface engagement.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 11, 2025 11:40 AM (COQGW)

164 161 Poland and Hungary are the only sane European countries at this point.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 11, 2025 11:39 AM (t/2Uw)

Exhausted cultures?? Like farmed out soil.

Posted by: tubal at December 11, 2025 11:40 AM (pDt9x)

165 163 As of today, the British Navy is smaller than Italy's. Their surface combatant forces consist 7 Frigates, 6 Destroyers, and 2 aircraft carriers that they are scared to take too far out of port because they break down so often.

They could probably still take the Russians in a surface engagement.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 11, 2025 11:40 AM (COQGW)

Like Bum Fights.

Posted by: tubal at December 11, 2025 11:41 AM (pDt9x)

166 Don’t even speak to me about the horribleness of Pompeii.
------

I've got to admit I'd like to see the venue that Pink Floyd filmed at all those years ago.

Posted by: Crusader at December 11, 2025 11:41 AM (TN0g+)

167 May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen!

That masterful line always gets me. Unfortunately, Idiocracy approaches and some will say he talks like a fag...

Posted by: t-bird at December 11, 2025 11:41 AM (vhFJq)

168 As of today, the British Navy is smaller than Italy's. Their surface combatant forces consist 7 Frigates, 6 Destroyers, and 2 aircraft carriers that they are scared to take too far out of port because they break down so often. That plus a few subs is it, that's the entire British Navy now.
____

Probably for the best, since the Muslims will soon control the UK Government/military. Hopefully we have a plan to exfil the nukes.

Posted by: Well, There's Always the Unexpected at December 11, 2025 11:41 AM (qUkBO)

169
I loved Moscow when I was there in the Yeltsin years. Yeah, it was pretty filthy, but you kind of expect that in Russia. Would love to see St. Petersburg, too.
Posted by: Bulg at December 11, 2025 11:34 AM (77rzZ)

I read somewhere that all cities look inviting in the winter, because the snow hides the filth and garbage.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 11, 2025 11:41 AM (y9nCu)

170 Poland and Hungary are the only sane European countries at this point.

And the current ruling party in Poland is pro-EU, pro-mass immigration, and all the rest.

They're just not strong enough to actually implement these policies yet.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at December 11, 2025 11:42 AM (xTIDn)

171 Prague is near the top of my bucket list.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice)

Same here.

I used to want to see Vienna, too, but I here it's a lost cause these days. The capital of classical music is now just another muzzied-up stan.

Posted by: Bulg at December 11, 2025 11:42 AM (77rzZ)

172 If we ever go expat, the countries we would consider are Uruguay, Finland, and maybe Portugal.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at December 11, 2025 11:25 AM (lW16O)

Uruguay, and also Paraguay, have done a stellar job of staying out of the news. That's a good thing.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 11, 2025 11:43 AM (npFr7)

173 We have had friends in Northern Italy for years. Have traveled there. The complaints registered in the rant do not seem to apply there, as far as I can tell. YMMV.

Posted by: Ex Rex Reeder at December 11, 2025 11:43 AM (MZ+PY)

174 Probably for the best, since the Muslims will soon control the UK Government/military. Hopefully we have a plan to exfil the nukes.

It's been more than a decade since the Royal Navy has successfully launched a Trident missile from a sub.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at December 11, 2025 11:43 AM (xTIDn)

175 Are Europe's "judges" as bad as Ours? One just ruled that the "Maryland Dad" must be released immediately.

-
Point Counterpoint.

House Dem Files Articles Of Impeachment Against RFK Jr. For Turning His Back On Science

Lila Rose
@LilaGraceRose
Unjust.
Swiss man Emanuel Brünisholz has been jailed for refusing to pay a fine after posting a Facebook comment noting the differences between male and female skeletons.
The government claims his statement violated anti-discrimination laws against those who say they are “LGBTQ”
Pointing out the biological differences between men and women isn’t “hatred” — it’s acknowledging basic science.

-
Some science good. Other science bad.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 11, 2025 11:43 AM (L/fGl)

176 My sister lives in France. She takes TDS to the extreme. Anyhow, she was telling me about lying on a gurney in a hospital hallway for something like six hours. I asked her if that ever happened to her when she lived in NYC, and invited her to tell me how superior socialized medicine is compared to the USA.

Posted by: windbag at December 11, 2025 11:43 AM (rEn7R)

177
They could probably still take the Russians in a surface engagement.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 11, 2025 11:40 AM (COQGW)

They probably could. It's amazing to recall that once the Soviet Navy was considered second only to the US in strength. Any Euro who still thinks that Russia is some giant military power should ponder this for a while.

Posted by: Tom Servo at December 11, 2025 11:43 AM (uWKK8)

178 Poland and Hungary are the only sane European countries at this point.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 11, 2025 11:39 AM (t/2Uw)

The EU's fire brigades when the SHTF.

Posted by: mrp at December 11, 2025 11:43 AM (rj6Yv)

179 171 I used to want to see Vienna, too, but I here it's a lost cause these days. The capital of classical music is now just another muzzied-up stan.

Posted by: Bulg at December 11, 2025 11:42 AM (77rzZ)

=====

Was there a few months ago.

It's very clean and very...18th century.

The largest Muslim presence I felt in my last Europe trip was in Munich, and that was one concentrated little pro-Hamas protest outside of St. Stephen's of all places.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:43 AM (GBKbO)

180 and B) If the people weren't so wildly xenophobic/racist.

My brother's experience, as well, and he wrote and spoke the language.

Posted by: t-bird at December 11, 2025 11:44 AM (vhFJq)

181
Are Europe's "judges" as bad as Ours? One just ruled that the "Maryland Dad" must be released immediately..
Posted by: It's me donna

============

Which means he's in detention, which means he's awaiting... what? Trial? Deportation? How long has the "what" not happened and why are we still waiting for it?

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at December 11, 2025 11:44 AM (1N/bM)

182 I read somewhere that all cities look inviting in the winter, because the snow hides the filth and garbage.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur

I was in Moscow in the winter, and you could still see the grime everywhere. But, as I said above, it's Russia, so you just accept it.

One of the coldest days I've ever experienced was the day I toured the Kremlin. But, again, you expect that in Russia. It was very appropriate.

Posted by: Bulg at December 11, 2025 11:45 AM (77rzZ)

183 176 My sister lives in France. She takes TDS to the extreme. Anyhow, she was telling me about lying on a gurney in a hospital hallway for something like six hours. I asked her if that ever happened to her when she lived in NYC, and invited her to tell me how superior socialized medicine is compared to the USA.

Posted by: windbag at December 11, 2025 11:43 AM (rEn7R)

=======

There was a movie made in Canada about 20 years ago: The Barbarian Invasions (no, it has nothing to do with immigration, actually).

It went from critical darling to cultural hatepoint pre-social media for an interesting reason.

It's about aging leftists reflecting on life, but the actual literal view of the Canadian healthcare system showed overcrowded hospitals with patients waiting in hallways on gurneys while the main character's son had to negotiate with people to get his father in to see a specialist.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:45 AM (GBKbO)

184 yum yum shit
yummy shit pebbles
in my mouth

Posted by: Aliassmithsmith at December 11, 2025 11:46 AM (gdNWk)

185 "Our government makes sure we get XX days of vacation yearly."

I didn't use any vacation days this year. I'll live.

Posted by: Frank Barone at December 11, 2025 11:46 AM (IifOV)

186 > Probably for the best, since the Muslims will soon control the UK Government/military. Hopefully we have a plan to exfil the nukes.
----------
IIRC, all their nukes are on their ballistic missile subs. I don't think they've got "bombs" in the traditional sense or missiles (ICBMs).

So, if that's it... we'll sink the subs and be done with it.

There's no possible way to remove the weapons on those submarines while they are in port. In England. Run by Islamists hell bent on using them.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at December 11, 2025 11:46 AM (NwnyJ)

187 >They're all polite to a fault but getting turned away from mostly-empty restaurants just because I'm not Japanese gets old.
----

maybe they're still butthurt over getting nuked

Posted by: Don Black at December 11, 2025 11:47 AM (ZxPkt)

188 FUN FACT: Roland Freisler was the model for Judge Boasberg.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 11, 2025 11:37 AM (COQGW)

It wasn't those blue weirdos from Prometheus?

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 11, 2025 11:47 AM (Vq1pX)

189 Italy, until one gets sick then its get home quick.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 11, 2025 11:47 AM (0XZup)

190 I lived in Germany for two tours in the 70's and 80's. Also Turkey for a year in '85. My apartment in Turkey had a kitchen that was bigger than any place I lived in Germany. But very small living room. Weird that way.

Posted by: Diogenes at December 11, 2025 11:47 AM (2WIwB)

191 Ban it!

New York Post
@nypost
‘Jingle Bells’ is racist, claims video shared by Joy Reid — sparking Christmas culture war

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 11, 2025 11:48 AM (L/fGl)

192 Why was Chase Bank "spoofing" the silver market all through 2010 to 2020? What is "spoofing"? Suppose you want to hold down the price of a commodity. Here is the illegal trick you could use: tell the market you are selling the commodity - then cancel that offer to sell. If you carefully time this you can hold the price down. Chase admitted they were doing that and paid a fine of $920,000,000 for doing that.

Why hold the price down? Because you are buying the commodity and keeping it, and you want to keep the price low. They had to be buying huge amounts of silver to afford an almost billion dollar fine.

Posted by: An Observation sez Trump is my President at December 11, 2025 11:48 AM (Da7Vv)

193 Italy, until one gets sick then its get home quick.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 11, 2025 11:47 AM (0XZup)
======

Yeah, buy the best travel insurance you can afford.

Posted by: mrp at December 11, 2025 11:48 AM (rj6Yv)

194 Canadian appliances are also insanely expensive. 2 or 3 times the American price.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at December 11, 2025 11:29 AM (lW16O)

Cannot confirm or deny. I have not bought a new appliance in 20 years. Last "major" appliance I bought was a used washing machine for $125. I was looking for a new drip coffee maker, and the el-cheapos at WalMart start at twenty dollars. I got a nice used one at a thrift shop for nine bucks.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 11, 2025 11:48 AM (npFr7)

195 When the Islamists take full control of Denmark, and Denmark still owns Greenland...

Posted by: davidt at December 11, 2025 11:49 AM (Q+gd/)

196 191 Ban it!

New York Post
@nypost
‘Jingle Bells’ is racist, claims video shared by Joy Reid — sparking Christmas culture war

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 11, 2025 11:48 AM (L/fGl)

======

There is no war on Christmas.

There are just the educated elite making all aspects of Christmas problematic and unfit for public social life which you poor rubes don't understand.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:49 AM (GBKbO)

197 @BillMelugin_
·
56m
Eyebrow raising moment during Secretary Noem’s testimony.

@BennieGThompson
refers to recent shooting of National Guard soldiers in DC as “unfortunate accident”.

Posted by: Don Black at December 11, 2025 11:49 AM (ZxPkt)

198 For all of our well known problems there is no place like the US on earth. One of the biggest problems we have is a society where few know this simple truth. They are bombarded with propaganda from our elites telling them the US is a backward country without a distinct culture while Europe is a refined and enlightened wonderland.

They are being lied to. The US is the light of the free world and if it ever gets extinguished the world will fall into darkness and that is not hyperbole.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 11, 2025 11:49 AM (viF8m)

199 cont from 190

The Germany I lived in would not tolerate what is there now. But then they were the WW 2 generation. They didn't tolerate a lot of stuff.

Posted by: Diogenes at December 11, 2025 11:49 AM (2WIwB)

200
Now, France on the other hand is where I actually saw some anti-American rudeness at a couple of restaurants.
Posted by: naturalfake at December 11, 2025 11:36 AM (iJfKG)

During the Desert Shield buildup in 1990, a bunch of us American soldiers serving as peacekeepers went to Eilat to drink beer and chase Euro women. We were all at a big table having dinner one night and the Israeli waiter started off being polite, but then started lecturing us, literally wagging his finger in our faces telling us that we needed to do something about Saddam.

As much as I support and admire Israel as a country, in my experience a big chunk of individual Israelis are rude assholes.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 11, 2025 11:49 AM (y9nCu)

201 Silver spot price, 63.60/ounce.

Posted by: tubal at December 11, 2025 11:49 AM (pDt9x)

202 197 @BillMelugin_
·
56m
Eyebrow raising moment during Secretary Noem’s testimony.

@BennieGThompson
refers to recent shooting of National Guard soldiers in DC as “unfortunate accident”.

Posted by: Don Black at December 11, 2025 11:49 AM (ZxPkt)

======

Think he survives a post VRA Section 2 world as the sole black and Democrat rep in Mississippi?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:49 AM (GBKbO)

203 There's no possible way to remove the weapons on those submarines while they are in port. In England. Run by Islamists hell bent on using them.
__

Perhaps the last native Captains will sail them to Norfolk when the Quran hits the fan.

Posted by: Well, There's Always the Unexpected at December 11, 2025 11:50 AM (qUkBO)

204 I HATE MYSELF AND I WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW IT!

Posted by: Everything about Liberalism is Jewish at December 11, 2025 11:50 AM (K+su+)

205 *Norfolk, VA.

Posted by: Well, There's Always the Unexpected at December 11, 2025 11:50 AM (qUkBO)

206 I'll just leave this here.

Variety@Variety
Jon Stewart, Rachel Maddow Among 2025 Walter Cronkite Awards for Excellence in Political Journalism Honorees

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 11, 2025 11:51 AM (L/fGl)

207 There's no possible way to remove the weapons on those submarines while they are in port. In England. Run by Islamists hell bent on using them.
Posted by: Martini Farmer
---

It's conceiveable that the Naval officers still have some since and unlike the French in Moroco will bring their ships to dock in Virginia?

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 11, 2025 11:51 AM (0XZup)

208 Europe? Bah, humbug. Coke comes in a thimble. Fit for nary a sip.

Posted by: Don't blame the alligators at December 11, 2025 11:52 AM (1Nv0l)

209 Canadian appliances are also insanely expensive. 2 or 3 times the American price.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at December 11, 2025 11:29 AM (lW16O)

But they do sell better toilets there...none of this low-flush garbage. Don't ask me how I know.

Posted by: Diogenes at December 11, 2025 11:52 AM (2WIwB)

210
The US is the light of the free world and if it ever gets extinguished the world will fall into darkness and that is not hyperbole.
Posted by: JackStraw at December 11, 2025 11:49 AM (viF8m)

THIS. FOR THE LOVE OF SWEET BABY JESUS, THIS

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 11, 2025 11:52 AM (y9nCu)

211 @BennieGThompson
refers to recent shooting of National Guard soldiers in DC as “unfortunate accident”.

-
Ted Bundy had a shit load of those.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 11, 2025 11:52 AM (L/fGl)

212 Oh hey, so what's the weather like over in Chattogram today?

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 11, 2025 11:53 AM (Vq1pX)

213 206 leftists love giving themselves awards for being leftists.

Posted by: Don't blame the alligators at December 11, 2025 11:53 AM (1Nv0l)

214 Comment 204, before is was scrubbed, was more more over the top than I have seen here in a long long time.

Posted by: tubal at December 11, 2025 11:53 AM (pDt9x)

215 New York Post
@nypost
‘Jingle Bells’ is racist, claims video shared by Joy Reid — sparking Christmas culture war

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks
_________

Jeez, what's she said about White Christmas?

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at December 11, 2025 11:53 AM (XvL8K)

216 Another thought piece that hits it out of the ballpark, CBD.

Posted by: Lady in Black at December 11, 2025 11:54 AM (qBdHI)

217 I was about to say so,etching about the troll but CBD was quick. Thank you.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 11, 2025 11:54 AM (t/2Uw)

218 Jeez, what's she said about White Christmas?
Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at December 11, 2025 11:53 AM (XvL8K)

You mean Cloud Dancer Christmas?

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at December 11, 2025 11:55 AM (3+0K7)

219 The US is the light of the free world and if it ever gets extinguished the world will fall into darkness and that is not hyperbole.
Posted by: JackStraw

---

Last best hope of man on earth.

Posted by: Honest Abe at December 11, 2025 11:55 AM (1Nv0l)

220 Squeezing racism out of Jingle Bells is incomprehensible.

Posted by: tubal at December 11, 2025 11:55 AM (pDt9x)

221
Jeez, what's she said about White Christmas?
Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at December 11, 2025 11:53 AM (XvL8K)

Ask her about the phrase "white as snow". Or better yet, "black ice"

REEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 11, 2025 11:55 AM (y9nCu)

222 107
‘ one of the countries that is turning to capitalism, free expression, freedom of mobility, and competition is Vietnam.’

It is funny how we couldn’t force them to take any of those things 55 years ago. They were ready to fight to the last man.
But as soon as it was THEIR idea… they couldn’t have enough.
Maybe they are like Americans.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at December 11, 2025 11:55 AM (jbnUc)

223 They're all polite to a fault but getting turned away from mostly-empty restaurants just because I'm not Japanese gets old.
----

maybe they're still butthurt over getting nuked
Posted by: Don Black

Don't start none. Won't be none.

Posted by: rickb223 at December 11, 2025 11:56 AM (hS7lz)

224 They are being lied to. The US is the light of the free world and if it ever gets extinguished the world will fall into darkness and that is not hyperbole.
Posted by: JackStraw at December 11, 2025 11:49 AM (viF8m)

Truth

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at December 11, 2025 11:56 AM (g8Ew8)

225 we win, WE WIN!!

"Critical minerals used for building weapons and other essential electronics have been discovered in the sands of Utah's Silicon Ridge.

Ionic Mineral Technologies (IMT) uncovered 16 different types of high quality minerals within its 74,000 square foot mining site in Provo.

The find could give the US an edge over China which has long dominated the market.

'You can’t make a vehicle without these, you can’t make a fighter jet without some of these metals,' IMT's founder and CEO Andre Zeitoun told the Wall Street Journal.

Zeitoun added that the minerals discovered are used for semiconductors, electronics, and chips that power artificial intelligence.

IMT told the Wall Street Journal the minerals discovered include lithium, alumina, germanium, rubidium, cesium, vanadium and niobium."

Posted by: runner at December 11, 2025 11:56 AM (g47mK)

226 Another thought piece that hits it out of the ballpark, CBD.
Posted by: Lady in Black at December 11, 2025 11:54 AM (qBdHI)

Yeah, he's very rarely within the ballpark, isn't he?

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 11, 2025 11:56 AM (Vq1pX)

227 NIOBIUM!

Posted by: runner at December 11, 2025 11:56 AM (g47mK)

228 222 107
‘ one of the countries that is turning to capitalism, free expression, freedom of mobility, and competition is Vietnam.’

It is funny how we couldn’t force them to take any of those things 55 years ago. They were ready to fight to the last man.
But as soon as it was THEIR idea… they couldn’t have enough.
Maybe they are like Americans.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at December 11, 2025 11:55 AM (jbnUc)

=====

It's my understanding that the Vietnamese people saw it as a nationalistic fight against colonialism, America just the latest in a long line that dates back to Chinese fights to control it, and that their leaders just happened to be communist at the time. It wasn't ideological for most of the Vietnamese.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 11:57 AM (GBKbO)

229 They probably could. It's amazing to recall that once the Soviet Navy was considered second only to the US in strength. Any Euro who still thinks that Russia is some giant military power should ponder this for a while.
Posted by: Tom Servo at December 11, 2025 11:43 AM (uWKK

The Soviets wanted to project power worldwide. Putin is only interested in the "near-abroad".

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 11, 2025 11:57 AM (npFr7)

230 IMT told the Wall Street Journal the minerals discovered include lithium, alumina, germanium, rubidium, cesium, vanadium and niobium."
Posted by: runner at December 11, 2025 11:56 AM (g47mK)

Judge Boasberg rules that the entire thing has to be sold to China immediately.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 11, 2025 11:57 AM (Vq1pX)

231 I loved every bit of my time there, but to pretend that Europe is some magnificent testament to human progress is a cruel joke.

But...Parisian women are gorgeous!

Blink three times if you are being held against your will and commenting under duress.

Posted by: Unknown Drip Under Pressure at December 11, 2025 11:57 AM (a3CJ+)

232 Squeezing racism out of Jingle Bells is incomprehensible.
Posted by: tubal

Apparently, it was written by a former Confederate soldier and, she alleges, was intended to be sung in black face at minstrel shows.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 11, 2025 11:58 AM (L/fGl)

233 Federal judge just ordered Abrego Garcia's immediate release from ICE custody. Just once, just once I would love to hear Trump tell this judge to pound sand.

https://tinyurl.com/38yjrnpk

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at December 11, 2025 11:59 AM (5xuJ/)

234 > Perhaps the last native Captains will sail them to Norfolk when the Quran hits the fan.
----------
I have a rough outline in my head for a bang up techno-thriller. Needs some star power, a hot babe and cool AI special effects.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at December 11, 2025 11:59 AM (NwnyJ)

235 232 Squeezing racism out of Jingle Bells is incomprehensible.
Posted by: tubal

Apparently, it was written by a former Confederate soldier and, she alleges, was intended to be sung in black face at minstrel shows.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 11, 2025 11:58 AM (L/fGl)

Oh, yeah, we always sang it in blackface. Stupid Bitch.

Posted by: tubal at December 11, 2025 12:00 PM (pDt9x)

236
They're all polite to a fault but getting turned away from mostly-empty restaurants just because I'm not Japanese gets old.
----

maybe they're still butthurt over getting nuked
Posted by: Don Black

*Du Pont says hello*

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 11, 2025 12:00 PM (y9nCu)

237 Go big or go home!

Climate activists want to save the world by draining the Mediterranean Sea into the Egyptian desert

https://is.gd/91Xv2Z

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 11, 2025 12:01 PM (L/fGl)

238 Stupid Bitch.
Posted by: tubal at December 11, 2025 12:00 PM (pDt9x)

IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE STUPID BITCH EXACTLY FITS THE METER OF THE SONG

Posted by: BEN ROETHLISBERGER at December 11, 2025 12:01 PM (Vq1pX)

239 @greg_price11
·
1h
A leftist dressed as a Catholic Cardinal just interrupted Secretary Noem's opening statement yelling "the power of Christ compels you."

Posted by: Don Black at December 11, 2025 12:01 PM (ZxPkt)

240 The US is the light of the free world and if it ever gets extinguished the world will fall into darkness and that is not hyperbole.
------

The US at its core has always represented "hope". The idea that all men were created equal. That all men have the rights. That a man could be born poor, but still have an opinion. That a man could be lacking in some way but still achieve something of note, and keep whatever he achieved rather than casting it away to the state. That a man could make mistakes, and think bad thoughts, and yet somehow still find redemption. Yes redemption, because at its core the US has always embraced Judeo-Christian values.

Our Nation's struggles to remain "the light of the free world" are tied almost entirely to our struggle to remain a nation that embraces Judeo-Christian values. Because without those values, it becomes quite easy to lose one's hope. Without hope, and the possibility of redemption, one day soon looks just like the next, and a feeling of nothingness can overtake our being.

Posted by: Crusader at December 11, 2025 12:02 PM (TN0g+)

241 239 @greg_price11
·
1h
A leftist dressed as a Catholic Cardinal just interrupted Secretary Noem's opening statement yelling "the power of Christ compels you."

Posted by: Don Black at December 11, 2025 12:01 PM (ZxPkt)

=======

Sending Catholic Hispanics back to majority Catholic Hispanic countries is a moral sin, or something.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 12:02 PM (GBKbO)

242 what's she said about White Christmas?

"Baby it's cold outside" is a roofie rape song!!

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at December 11, 2025 12:03 PM (xyTle)

243 "ballsy" is a stance.

Maria Corina Machado had to sneak out of Venezuela in disguise to get to Oslo for her Nobel.
It was first in a wig and disguise to get to the coast, then onboard a small launch on the 9th, and then across the Gulf on the 10th to Miami where she got on a private jet for the leg across the Atlantic
During that time the US ran a couple of F-18's over the area to the dismay of the Venezuelans, and then the following day seized an oil tanker that was false flagged (we may have heard of this).

Was this done to support Corina Machado? Or was it just pushed up because it would be convenient? Or just happenstance?
Ballsy. This is Argo level ballsy.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 11, 2025 12:03 PM (rbvCR)

244 Big Ben Roethlisberger for the win!

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at December 11, 2025 12:03 PM (xvV+O)

245 They are bombarded with propaganda from our elites telling them the US is a backward country without a distinct culture

If when they say "backward" they mean "not progressive enough", then, from their perspective I would agree and would answer: "we aren't 'backward' enough".

As for distinct culture, they are correct. The US has no distinct culture. Leftists brag that the US is a Salad Bowl of multi-culturalism that particularly hates the WASP culture that built this place from scratch.

Posted by: Unknown Drip Under Pressure at December 11, 2025 12:03 PM (/TiS1)

246 1h
A leftist dressed as a Catholic Cardinal just interrupted Secretary Noem's opening statement yelling "the power of Christ compels you."
Posted by: Don Black at December 11, 2025 12:01 PM (ZxPkt)

You can take the kid out of the theater, but... he'll still be a ridiculous garbage baby anywhere else, regardless.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 11, 2025 12:03 PM (Vq1pX)

247 America was foundationally made of people who wanted to get the hell away from European oppression. Europe sucked back then, for, you know, people who did not want their faces ground by the boot of the state.

Posted by: tubal at December 11, 2025 12:04 PM (pDt9x)

248 So Spanish Inquisition cosplay.

Posted by: Anna Puma at December 11, 2025 12:04 PM (MeJZi)

249 Apparently, it was written by a former Confederate soldier and, she alleges, was intended to be sung in black face at minstrel shows.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 11, 2025 11:58 AM (L/fGl)

Oh, yeah, we always sang it in blackface. Stupid Bitch.
Posted by: tubal
-----------

It's not racism its cultural appropriation.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 11, 2025 12:05 PM (0XZup)

250 This is Argo level ballsy.
Posted by: Kindltot at December 11, 2025 12:03 PM (rbvCR)

I love the subtext.

"Hey let's support this lady getting a Peace Prize by committing a bunch of acts of war against the shithole that's been oppressing her. That'll be funny, right?"

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 11, 2025 12:05 PM (Vq1pX)

251 Backfield in motion?

Michigan's head football coach was just fired for an alleged affair ... then he was arrested 😬

https://is.gd/PYK27P

-
Fella needs to read some Proverbs 5.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 11, 2025 12:06 PM (L/fGl)

252 A leftist dressed as a Catholic Cardinal just interrupted Secretary Noem's opening statement yelling "the power of Christ compels you."

His sum knowledge of Christianity comes from the movie 'Exorcist'.

Posted by: Unknown Drip Under Pressure at December 11, 2025 12:06 PM (/TiS1)

253 "Critical minerals used for building weapons and other essential electronics have been discovered in the sands of Utah's Silicon Ridge.

Ionic Mineral Technologies (IMT) uncovered 16 different types of high quality minerals within its 74,000 square foot mining site in Provo.

The find could give the US an edge over China which has long dominated the market.

'You can’t make a vehicle without these, you can’t make a fighter jet without some of these metals,' IMT's founder and CEO Andre Zeitoun told the Wall Street Journal.

Zeitoun added that the minerals discovered are used for semiconductors, electronics, and chips that power artificial intelligence.

IMT told the Wall Street Journal the minerals discovered include lithium, alumina, germanium, rubidium, cesium, vanadium and niobium."
Posted by: runner at December 11, 2025 11:56 AM (g47mK)

I smell 100% bullshit. Their "mine site" is less than 2 acres, for one. Two, dissolve enough dirt and sand in acid, and run it through a spectrometer, you will "detect" the presence of a host of elements. None of which are sufficiently concentrated to be considered "ore".

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 11, 2025 12:08 PM (npFr7)

254 I feel like the phrase "blunt trauma" does not appear in the news coming out of our capitol nearly often enough.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 11, 2025 12:08 PM (Vq1pX)

255 In a nutshell, Western Europeans are dhimmi.

Posted by: toby928(c) at December 11, 2025 12:08 PM (jc0TO)

256 I have a rough outline in my head for a bang up techno-thriller. Needs some star power, a hot babe and cool AI special effects.

Hollyweird will want the english muzzies to be german nazis and the US president to be Ilhan Omar but played by Samuel Jackson.

Posted by: The Sum Of All Fears at December 11, 2025 12:08 PM (FGMmt)

257 More and more I am convinced that an entire generation of assholes will have to die off before America can regain its former glory.

Like in The Ten Commandments
The Israelites had to wander the desert for 40 years, 'until the entire generation that had sinned, was consumed'

Posted by: Don Black at December 11, 2025 12:08 PM (ZxPkt)

258 253

I smell 100% bullshit. Their "mine site" is less than 2 acres, for one. Two, dissolve enough dirt and sand in acid, and run it through a spectrometer, you will "detect" the presence of a host of elements. None of which are sufficiently concentrated to be considered "ore".
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 11, 2025 12:08 PM (npFr7)

So, AOP, we can put you down for how many Shares??

Posted by: tubal at December 11, 2025 12:09 PM (pDt9x)

259 >>As for distinct culture, they are correct. The US has no distinct culture. Leftists brag that the US is a Salad Bowl of multi-culturalism that particularly hates the WASP culture that built this place from scratch.

I disagree with that. I've traveled pretty extensively both foreign and domestic and while the US has different customs and traditions in various regions and locations it is all at it's core distinctly American.

Yes, it has been purposefully degraded by our betters but it's still there. When you return to the US from a foreign destination you know you are home whether you arrive in Seattle or Atlanta. We are basically a good and just people largely as was noted above by our Judeo Christian roots. The left constantly works to erase it but it's still there. The responsibility of every generation of Americans is to insure it always remains otherwise we are just another place on a map.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 11, 2025 12:10 PM (viF8m)

260 Michigan's head football coach was just fired for an alleged affair ... then he was arrested 😬

https://is.gd/PYK27P

-
Fella needs to read some Proverbs 5.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 11, 2025 12:06 PM (L/fGl)

BLACK MAN'S KRYPTONITE!!!

Posted by: Tom Servo at December 11, 2025 12:11 PM (uWKK8)

261 257 More and more I am convinced that an entire generation of assholes will have to die off before America can regain its former glory.

Like in The Ten Commandments
The Israelites had to wander the desert for 40 years, 'until the entire generation that had sinned, was consumed'
Posted by: Don Black at December 11, 2025 12:08 PM (ZxPkt)

That is actually a pretty good analogy. Did Trump speak to the rock, or whack it?

Posted by: tubal at December 11, 2025 12:11 PM (pDt9x)

262 Is the culture of Paris the same as the culture of the Vendee?

Oh, wow...they're different, huh?

I guess France has no culture.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 11, 2025 12:11 PM (GBKbO)

263 "this Michigan scandal is the biggest scandal in college football since the last Michigan scandal"

lol

no shit.

Posted by: one hour sober at December 11, 2025 12:12 PM (Y1sOo)

264 I spent a lot of time in Malmo in the '90s because my largest customer back then was in Landskrona. It was fantastic then, but apparently a shithole now. I pity people who never got to experience London or Paris back when they were English and French, as opposed to multi-cultural.

Posted by: jwest at December 11, 2025 12:12 PM (lnMN4)

265 French culture > petri dish?

Posted by: Anna Puma at December 11, 2025 12:13 PM (MeJZi)

266 Like in The Ten Commandments
The Israelites had to wander the desert for 40 years, 'until the entire generation that had sinned, was consumed'
Posted by: Don Black at December 11, 2025 12:08 PM (ZxPkt)

Go long on brazen serpents, right?

Posted by: Kindltot at December 11, 2025 12:13 PM (rbvCR)

267 1h
A leftist dressed as a Catholic Cardinal just interrupted Secretary Noem's opening statement yelling "the power of Christ compels you."
Posted by: Don Black at December 11, 2025 12:01 PM (ZxPkt)

But as a leftist he believes Jesus is just Palestinian dude without power.

Posted by: Still lurking up north, read some, don't comment much at December 11, 2025 12:13 PM (8CIFn)

268 .
NOOD

Ace is up!

NOOD!

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at December 11, 2025 12:13 PM (O7YUW)

269 The Crockett challenge.

CROCKETT: "I challenge somebody to go and find a clip of a Democrat invoking violence!"

The GOP response.

https://is.gd/ePoqMd

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 11, 2025 12:14 PM (L/fGl)

270 Federal judge just ordered Abrego Garcia's immediate release from ICE custody. Just once, just once I would love to hear Trump tell this judge to pound sand.

https://tinyurl.com/38yjrnpk
Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at December 11, 2025 11:59 AM

Almost every detail in this article is a lie.

*looks*

Oh, The Hill, of course.

Posted by: toby928(c) at December 11, 2025 12:14 PM (jc0TO)

271 Michigan's head football coach was just fired for an alleged affair ... then he was arrested

Where de white wimmens at?

Posted by: Sheriff Sherrone Moore, Sex Pest at December 11, 2025 12:14 PM (FGMmt)

272 Hrm. I may not have closed that tag properly. Let's just do that now.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at December 11, 2025 12:14 PM (O7YUW)

273 "getting turned away from mostly-empty restaurants just because I'm not Japanese gets old."

They did you a favor.

With that attitude and if they let you in, imagine what they might have put in your food then stand around the kitchen laughing and high-fiving each other while you ate it.

I know a lady who married a Japanese guy, and she won't go there for the blatant bigotry she experienced when visiting his family. (His father was a fighter pilot in WWII, interestingly.)

Posted by: ju at December 11, 2025 12:15 PM (EgpoY)

274 *Checks cheap Hungarian/English phrase book*

Snakes in brassieres?

Posted by: Anna Puma at December 11, 2025 12:15 PM (MeJZi)

275 Almost every detail in this article is a lie.

*looks*

Oh, The Hill, of course.
Posted by: toby928(c) at December 11, 2025 12:14 PM (jc0TO)

Covered by other sources as well. Original, more than likely, AP or CNN News Source. But, it's not just The Hill.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at December 11, 2025 12:17 PM (5xuJ/)

276 251 Backfield in motion?

Michigan's head football coach was just fired for an alleged affair ... then he was arrested 😬

https://is.gd/PYK27P

-
Fella needs to read some Proverbs 5.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 11, 2025 12:06 PM (L/fGl)
------------

She confessed the relationship to the school administration. (what's up with that?)
His mistress turned him in to the school board.
Then he treatens her and his wife and himself.

The big question is; Which one is the crazyest?

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 11, 2025 12:18 PM (0XZup)

277 >>>Apparently, being able to get around on nice trains trumps [x, y, z].

"Trump!"

Posted by: m at December 11, 2025 12:18 PM (RuTUS)

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