I grew up in an evangelical family. We had a wooden spoon for punishment. It was used a grand total of twice. My parents made sure never to use it in anger, and never hard enough to actually cause pain.

And after twice, my parents sat me down and told me that there was no useful purpose in violence as punishment for wrongdoing, it wasn’t something Jesus had ever told people to do, there were better ways to discipline than corporal punishment to lead a child in the correct way to go, and they’d never do it again.

I was disappointed at the time because a few thwacks with a spoon was simpler than having actual consequences directly tied to my behavior.

But growing up, I knew other kids who got hit with a stick, spoon or belt in anger by their parents and relatives regularly. Most of them didn’t have religious parents, but some of them did.

…that was the point?

They’re making this argument about Ukraine, and yet are perfectly fine with the US on their doorstep.

Shows that this isn’t about the US, but about getting stuff from Russia.

US military aid to Seoul, on the other hand, is a brilliant strategy….

When I was in that age bracket, I identified as conservative. Over the years, my positions have become increasingly conservative, and I find myself classified by many as a flaming socialist.

So this isn’t a new thing; people compare themselves to what they consider normal.

I think what it really shows is that it’s less obvious today what the difference between conservative and (what? liberal? progressive?) is. People tend to know more what they aren’t than what they are when they’re young. If they reject something that’s considered liberal, they must be conservative.

“This is no different than the maintenance guy moving it out there….”

Except…

1. If the maintenance guy is union, he’s doing union work in contravention of union agreements
2. moving something out because of a state law is different than moving something away in contravention of said state law
3. the maintenance guy wouldn’t make it a press opportunity and dress up like a construction worker

Trump always sides with himself.

I grew up in the cold war. I’ve done the drills. I know both what the fear of an all-out nuclear holocaust is, and I know that the reality will be something entirely different.

Did you not see what happened to Russia’s latest Satan II ICBM? Thankfully that one wasn’t armed.

Crazy; I just get on a call with my doctor and they email my employer. All covered by insurance and I pay nothing and take no time off.

If my employer did anything about it like fire me, they’d get reported to the government who would prosecute with minimal involvement from me other than a statement and possibly witness testimony.

That’s a good line to use on Putin.

Realistically, if Putin uses the nuclear codes, this is what happens:

A few warheads in Russia explode in their silos and the government blames the West. A bunch of other warheads are harmlessly shot down. A few actually find their targets and a few million people are wiped out. The west retaliates and suddenly the war is over.

BICS then becomes ascendant in global power, China claims Taiwan and the Philippines and possibly Japan, and Israel is wiped off the face of the earth as all sides turn it into a nuclear slag pile, killing Israelis, Palestinians and a large number of Lebanese and Syrians in the bargain.

Then things adjust to the new normal and economies rebuild, with the noted absence of Russia and Belarus.

But if an employee says “I need to take a week’s medical leave, here’s a note from my doctor…” the employer doesn’t know the reason and can’t fire the person, right? I’m just failing to see how this can mutate into something worse. Or are you saying it’s common practice in the US for employers to deny medical leave?

Slams implies alcohol consumption doesn’t it? And blasts implies some sort of physical or metaphorical explosion.

What’s wrong with “denounces” or “disparages” or all those other words that actually have literal meanings?

In the US, are employers really allowed to pry into what type of medical leave an employee is taking?

Hmm… is there such a thing as a lame duck congress?

I can just imagine the GOP congress refusing to pass anything after a D wave is elected, effectively killing all government until the end of January.

Perfectly fine. But in the upcoming election, because of FPTP voting and the electoral college, you have one choice: vote Harris or be OK with Trump getting elected.

Doesn’t mean you have to agree with Harris or support her policies. Just means that not voting for her means Trump is just that much more likely to be elected, at which time it doesn’t matter who you voted for, who you endorse, or what personal values you hold.

But those aren’t the only names on the ticket.

My general rule is to vote for individuals at the municipal level, vote first causes at the state level, and vote strategically at the federal level, to get the representatives who will steer policy closest to the direction I want into office. Then comes the letter writing to remind them that I helped elect them, and they still need to win my support by acting in accordance with my values in key areas.

That was a dugong impressive pun….

It’s the same type of people who were against seatbelt regulations in the 1970s and helmet laws for motorcycles and bicycles later on.

People who only want to live in a society when the benefit to them is immediately obvious.

Balanced for inflation?

Still?

Cuba hasn’t sponsored terrorism in decades….

Thankfully they don’t appear to have my number.

Obvious solution: build water splitters driven by natural gas.