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    • max.patch wrote:

      steve easterbrook, ceo of mcdonalds, made $15.9 million last year.

      decides it would be a good idea to violate company policy and dip his pen in company ink.

      gets fired.

      i'd call him a dumbass but i'm going to wait and see what they paid him in severance, stock options , etc as he walked out the door escorted by 2 security guards.
      Maybe the new guy switch back to beef tallow and start making "real french fries" again. :)
      That would Ray Kroc happy.
      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General
    • max.patch wrote:

      lol, i just got an email coupon for breast augmentation -- $5,950 regular price for $3,925.

      reminded me of this old episode of "king of queens" when doug got carrie lasik surgery with predictable results.


      Go for it Max. They will offer you half off the second breast. Of course then you would be asymmetric.
      “Of all sad words of tongue or pen,
      the saddest are these, 'It might have been.”


      John Greenleaf Whittier
    • Traffic Jam wrote:

      I’ve spent a lot of money at Backcountry .com but never again. They are suing people for having the word “backcountry” in their name. Assholery.


      https://coloradosun.com/2019/11/05/backcountry-com-trademark-lawsuits-boycotts-bac
      VW did a similar sort of thing years back. A lot of car clubs and suppliers of parts that VW no longer supplies, had to change their names.
      Just stupid
    • Astro wrote:

      Big Thank You to all the Veterans out there who served our country to protect our freedom!!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
      My music group (25 of us playing fiddle, guitar, viola, mandolin) had an amazing time playing and singing for a packed room (SRO) at an assisted living center. The seniors really enjoyed the performance of patriotic music and many of them cried.

      We honored the major branches of the armed forces by playing each theme song and inviting the veterans to stand if they were able. It was very moving. We also played a variety of patriotic songs from other eras, including the Civil War.

      There are a lot of kids in my group from 5 yrs and up and it’s amazing that they had never heard most of the songs that we learned so it was a valuable experience for them.
      Lost in the right direction.
    • Traffic Jam wrote:

      ....I remember learning most of those songs in grade school. I’ll have to ask my daughter if they’re still allowed to play patriotic songs in their classrooms.
      Isn't it sad that this is even a question? So many are being taught to hate this country :(
      “Of all sad words of tongue or pen,
      the saddest are these, 'It might have been.”


      John Greenleaf Whittier
    • IMScotty wrote:

      Traffic Jam wrote:

      ....I remember learning most of those songs in grade school. I’ll have to ask my daughter if they’re still allowed to play patriotic songs in their classrooms.
      Isn't it sad that this is even a question? So many are being taught to hate this country :(
      It's a very very sad state of affairs indeed.
      "Dazed and Confused"
      Recycle, re-use, re-purpose
      Plant a tree
      Take a kid hiking
      Make a difference
    • jimmyjam wrote:

      IMScotty wrote:

      Traffic Jam wrote:

      ....I remember learning most of those songs in grade school. I’ll have to ask my daughter if they’re still allowed to play patriotic songs in their classrooms.
      Isn't it sad that this is even a question? So many are being taught to hate this country :(
      It's a very very sad state of affairs indeed.
      :( no smiles here
      Cheesecake> Ramen :thumbsup:
    • odd man out wrote:

      What I really hate is that it has become common to accuse people of hating their country because they express their patriotism in a different way or as a weapon to attack people who see things differently. That is total BS.
      Yeah, but if anyone has a problem with children learning fun patriotic songs we grew up with I believe it is better for them to keep it to themselves and not steal the joy from the children. It is as if we are no longer free to share the joy of our own heritage.
      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General
    • Astro wrote:

      odd man out wrote:

      What I really hate is that it has become common to accuse people of hating their country because they express their patriotism in a different way or as a weapon to attack people who see things differently. That is total BS.
      Yeah, but if anyone has a problem with children learning fun patriotic songs we grew up with I believe it is better for them to keep it to themselves and not steal the joy from the children. It is as if we are no longer free to share the joy of our own heritage.
      I have no problem teaching patriotic songs to the next generation. There are plenty of good arguments to support that. But I do not think people should label those who disagree as "country-haters". It is the first page of the dictator's playbook. First you get "duly elected" by appealing to love of country and the fear of outsiders. Then you equate opposing viewpoints to hating your country. Thus opponents become traitors to be eliminated. Once you have eliminated the opposition,there is nothing to stop the dictator. Or as pointed out in Star Wars -"This is how liberty dies ... with thunderous applause." If you don't speak out, you are complicit in the destruction of your own country. So why not come up with intellectually legitimate arguments to support a position.

      As for patriotic songs, some are good and some not so good. Let's face it, as a song, The Star Spangled Banner pretty much sucks. The melody is an old British drinking song that is almost un-singable (unless you are Aretha Franklin or Whitney Houston). I'm also not a fan of the lyrics as they are about the flag more than the country and it was born of a military conflict. These are two trends in patriotic songs I do not like - conflating love of country with flag-worship and the idea that what makes America great is that we are good at killing our enemies. So which ones do I like? If it were up to me, I would probably pick America the Beautiful at the National Anthem. Be sure to read all four verses. It talks about what is great about America (hint" it's not the flag or killing enemies). My other most favorite would never make it as the national anthem as the lyrics are a bit to poetic and written by a communist. You probably know it.
    • odd man out wrote:

      Astro wrote:

      odd man out wrote:

      What I really hate is that it has become common to accuse people of hating their country because they express their patriotism in a different way or as a weapon to attack people who see things differently. That is total BS.
      Yeah, but if anyone has a problem with children learning fun patriotic songs we grew up with I believe it is better for them to keep it to themselves and not steal the joy from the children. It is as if we are no longer free to share the joy of our own heritage.
      I have no problem teaching patriotic songs to the next generation. There are plenty of good arguments to support that. But I do not think people should label those who disagree as "country-haters". It is the first page of the dictator's playbook. First you get "duly elected" by appealing to love of country and the fear of outsiders. Then you equate opposing viewpoints to hating your country. Thus opponents become traitors to be eliminated. Once you have eliminated the opposition,there is nothing to stop the dictator. Or as pointed out in Star Wars -"This is how liberty dies ... with thunderous applause." If you don't speak out, you are complicit in the destruction of your own country. So why not come up with intellectually legitimate arguments to support a position.
      As for patriotic songs, some are good and some not so good. Let's face it, as a song, The Star Spangled Banner pretty much sucks. The melody is an old British drinking song that is almost un-singable (unless you are Aretha Franklin or Whitney Houston). I'm also not a fan of the lyrics as they are about the flag more than the country and it was born of a military conflict. These are two trends in patriotic songs I do not like - conflating love of country with flag-worship and the idea that what makes America great is that we are good at killing our enemies. So which ones do I like? If it were up to me, I would probably pick America the Beautiful at the National Anthem. Be sure to read all four verses. It talks about what is great about America (hint" it's not the flag or killing enemies). My other most favorite would never make it as the national anthem as the lyrics are a bit to poetic and written by a communist. You probably know it.
      Which is why Ronald Reagan wanted to replace the National Anthem with America the Beautiful. Shame he wasn't successful with that one.
      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General
    • There’s so many great patriotic songs, I can’t choose a favorite. Our song list from the Veterans Day performance included..

      (This is a great patriotic song list!)


      Reveille
      The Star Spangled Banner
      You’re a Grand Old Flag
      The Caissons Go Rolling Along
      God Save America
      Gee, But I Want To Go Home
      My Country ‘Tis of Thee
      God Bless the USA
      American Patrol
      MARINE’s Hymn
      God Bless America
      Washington Post March
      Faith of Our Fathers
      Into the Wild Blue Yonder
      Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B
      Battle Cry of Freedom
      Anchors Aweigh
      Stars and Stripes Forever
      America the Beautiful
      Battle Hymn of the Republic
      Semper Paratus
      Taps
      Lost in the right direction.
    • Astro wrote:

      odd man out wrote:

      What I really hate is that it has become common to accuse people of hating their country because they express their patriotism in a different way or as a weapon to attack people who see things differently. That is total BS.
      Yeah, but if anyone has a problem with children learning fun patriotic songs we grew up with I believe it is better for them to keep it to themselves and not steal the joy from the children. It is as if we are no longer free to share the joy of our own heritage.
      One of my most vivid memories as a kid was learning about old time music. One of the songs we learned was the tune that was being used to advertise Golden Grahams cereal. Learning that it was an old song with different lyrics really made an impression on me! So much of our great music is being lost and forgotten.
      Lost in the right direction.
    • max.patch wrote:

      hike the AT and earn college credit.

      at first glance i thot it was silly...but then i remembered i got college credit for bowling...so what the heck. go for it.

      lonelyplanet.com/articles/coll…LKbMKGF8tKIhZeRb6alvRJWX8
      Beat me to posting this.
      I wonder these credits will stack up against the new federal aid rules about credits being part of your degree plan. ?(
      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General
    • Astro wrote:

      max.patch wrote:

      hike the AT and earn college credit.

      at first glance i thot it was silly...but then i remembered i got college credit for bowling...so what the heck. go for it.

      lonelyplanet.com/articles/coll…LKbMKGF8tKIhZeRb6alvRJWX8
      Beat me to posting this.I wonder these credits will stack up against the new federal aid rules about credits being part of your degree plan. ?(
      they seem to be making this more than hiking. It says an academic plan must be approved in advance. In the two cases cited, one was did writing and video production while the other was doing field biology. As a Bio major, I took a lot of field trips. This would be a field trip on steroids. As for writing, such excursions certainly worked for Muir and Thoreau. Of course you have to pay tuition for the privelege.
    • odd man out wrote:

      Astro wrote:

      max.patch wrote:

      hike the AT and earn college credit.

      at first glance i thot it was silly...but then i remembered i got college credit for bowling...so what the heck. go for it.

      lonelyplanet.com/articles/coll…LKbMKGF8tKIhZeRb6alvRJWX8
      Beat me to posting this.I wonder these credits will stack up against the new federal aid rules about credits being part of your degree plan. ?(
      they seem to be making this more than hiking. It says an academic plan must be approved in advance. In the two cases cited, one was did writing and video production while the other was doing field biology. As a Bio major, I took a lot of field trips. This would be a field trip on steroids. As for writing, such excursions certainly worked for Muir and Thoreau. Of course you have to pay tuition for the privelege.
      I believe the "privilege" is free for any of us, it is the "college credit" they are making the money off of. :)
      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General
    • odd man out wrote:

      Astro wrote:

      max.patch wrote:

      hike the AT and earn college credit.

      at first glance i thot it was silly...but then i remembered i got college credit for bowling...so what the heck. go for it.

      lonelyplanet.com/articles/coll…LKbMKGF8tKIhZeRb6alvRJWX8
      Beat me to posting this.I wonder these credits will stack up against the new federal aid rules about credits being part of your degree plan. ?(
      they seem to be making this more than hiking. It says an academic plan must be approved in advance. In the two cases cited, one was did writing and video production while the other was doing field biology. As a Bio major, I took a lot of field trips. This would be a field trip on steroids. As for writing, such excursions certainly worked for Muir and Thoreau. Of course you have to pay tuition for the privilege.
      My daughter had to pay tuition (well actually her grandparents did the MET for her) for working at Detroit Institute of Arts, American Textile History Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, Chicago History Museum as an intern as well as field trip to South Africa.
    • odd man out wrote:

      I have no problem teaching patriotic songs to the next generation. There are plenty of good arguments to support that. But I do not think people should label those who disagree as "country-haters". It is the first page of the dictator's playbook. First you get "duly elected" by appealing to love of country and the fear of outsiders. Then you equate opposing viewpoints to hating your country. Thus opponents become traitors to be eliminated. Once you have eliminated the opposition,there is nothing to stop the dictator. Or as pointed out in Star Wars -"This is how liberty dies ... with thunderous applause." If you don't speak out, you are complicit in the destruction of your own country. So why not come up with intellectually legitimate arguments to support a position.
      As for patriotic songs, some are good and some not so good. Let's face it, as a song, The Star Spangled Banner pretty much sucks. The melody is an old British drinking song that is almost un-singable (unless you are Aretha Franklin or Whitney Houston). I'm also not a fan of the lyrics as they are about the flag more than the country and it was born of a military conflict. These are two trends in patriotic songs I do not like - conflating love of country with flag-worship and the idea that what makes America great is that we are good at killing our enemies. So which ones do I like? If it were up to me, I would probably pick America the Beautiful at the National Anthem. Be sure to read all four verses. It talks about what is great about America (hint" it's not the flag or killing enemies). My other most favorite would never make it as the national anthem as the lyrics are a bit to poetic and written by a communist. You probably know it.
      Amen. A-freaking-men to first paragraph.

      I'm not bad at singing The Star Spangled Banner. Don't mean to brag, well maybe a humble brag. My daughter swam in HS and at the last home meet senior year, one of the moms turned to me and said she was sorry my daughter was graduating because that meant she wouldn't get to listen to me sing The Star Spangled Banner anymore.

      I think America the Beautiful should be the National Anthem as well. I also like God Bless America but understand why it could not be the National Anthem.
    • Trillium wrote:


      My daughter had to pay tuition (well actually her grandparents did the MET for her) for working at Detroit Institute of Arts, American Textile History Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, Chicago History Museum as an intern as well as field trip to South Africa.
      Trillium,
      The American Textile History Museum was one of the most under appreciated gems in Lowell. It is such a shame the museum has closed, I thought it was great. Wish I had the chance to say hi to your daughter while she was there. I hope she enjoyed her stay in Massachusetts.
      Scott
      “Of all sad words of tongue or pen,
      the saddest are these, 'It might have been.”


      John Greenleaf Whittier
    • IMScotty wrote:

      Trillium wrote:

      My daughter had to pay tuition (well actually her grandparents did the MET for her) for working at Detroit Institute of Arts, American Textile History Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, Chicago History Museum as an intern as well as field trip to South Africa.
      Trillium,The American Textile History Museum was one of the most under appreciated gems in Lowell. It is such a shame the museum has closed, I thought it was great. Wish I had the chance to say hi to your daughter while she was there. I hope she enjoyed her stay in Massachusetts.
      Scott
      I enjoyed the Surveying Museum in Springfield IL but it too closed down not long after I was there. Maybe because there are very few geeks like me who get a kick out of measuring things.
    • rolling stone magazine -- which i've never read unless it was at a doctor's office or something -- just changed their issues to monthly (instead of every 2 weeks), raised their subscription rate to $60 a year, and if ya want to buy just one at the newsstand it'll set up back $10.

      they also decided to give me a free one year subscription for some reason that i can't explain.
      2,000 miler
    • max.patch wrote:

      rolling stone magazine -- which i've never read unless it was at a doctor's office or something -- just changed their issues to monthly (instead of every 2 weeks), raised their subscription rate to $60 a year, and if ya want to buy just one at the newsstand it'll set up back $10.

      they also decided to give me a free one year subscription for some reason that i can't explain.
      maybe they saw all my posts about TAYLOR and figured i was part of their target market. :)
      2,000 miler