ccabal86

I love Bill Maher, one of the few sane voices left... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hgjHXMKHVs

It's been great to read your posts HackSlash, and I'm really glad it helped you during the pandemic I'm not a very outgoing guy, but damn, I'm so ready to finally have this end and be able to go to a café or a restaurant. I can consider myself lucky, I've got a stable job in an organization that could transfer its activities online, and we can all work from home. But people working in HORECA, have it terrible.

What the hell is this mickey mouse shit? It's obvious this guy's not worth the trouble, let's just write off the loss and be done with it, I think we can survive 30 mil down the drain.

To be honest, I'm kind of torn on the corona visa. It's likely not a good solution, but may help reignite tourism sooner than without.

Here's hoping! I've really had enough of this shit. Travel is another thing though, I don't see that becoming a trivial matter until well into 2022.

Well, $15 an hour is pretty meager no matter where in the country. And the tax code can be tweaked so that businesses are compensated properly in the end.

I have a guess, but let me ask why you oppose the minimum wage.

Well, they start counting Gen Z from people born from 1995 and onwards. Could have been a Zoomer

False TNP drinks beer daily

False TNP lacks modesty.

Yeah, Cohiba is absolutely among the top brands (there are some other obscure luxury brands that can go at ludicrous prices), but even your average Cohiba goes for about $40 apiece at the store. $10 is an amazing price. I mostly buy cigars from the Dominican Republic at about $10 apiece. In that price range I've found that usually the cigars from there are structurally better built than that of their Cuban counterparts. Also, the tobacco is less strong, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Good for you guys. We're still waiting for our turn.

Only 4 years... you were smart, and much stronger than me. I smoked for over 4 decades. I guess to my advantage, I was never a really deep inhaler... it was all about the throat hit to me. That's where vape comes in, because it hits your throat exactly the same without inhaling a burned up shredded plant. I had a hard time with cigars because I couldn't keep myself from inhaling... too damn strong! Heh, that's actually something my cigarette smoker friends tell me when I offer them cigars. They instinctively inhale and yeah, that's like getting punched in the lungs, not at all a pleasant experience...

I believe you with the ridiculous prices, I've heard some horror stories from North America about that. It's so weird that here in Europe, mobile tariffs are dirt cheap. My wife pays 37 USD / month for 3 gigs of internet and UNLIMITED calls. My phone bill is paid entirely by my employer, and that's not even some huge privilege, it's pretty ubiquitous in the business world. On top of that, I believe some other EU countries have even cheaper tariffs. I started smoking when I was a teenager in the 70's and no matter what I did, or how hard I tried, I could never quit. I picked up a vape pen about 18 months ago and I have never smoked a single cigarette since. It's the greatest invention since the internet. My life was great before, but it's miles better now. You never realize how bad it smells, and how awful you feel, until you quit. This will sound crazy but my favorite flavor is a mix of Chocolate, Blood Orange, Root Beer, Raspberry, and Peppermint. It's amazing! I started smoking cigarettes at 17 and quit when I was 21. Best decision I ever made. I still smoke cigars though on a regular basis - a habit I got from my dad - but you don't inhale cigar smoke into your lungs, you just "savor" it in your mouth. NOTHING beats a good steak dinner followed by a nice cigar and coffee (some would say whisky, but I don't drink alcohol, so coffee it is).

Not yet, my wife and I are in the last tiers, as we are healthy and in our 30s. The vaccination is coordinated by the government, and medical staff come first, then the frail and elderly, and so on. We've also made reservations with a private vaccine distributor, in hopes of securing a vaccine through them sooner, but we'll see.

That's so weird. I know for a fact that I couldn't exist without internet "on the go", and it's not like I use it for recreation either, it's either direct work (email, group calls, etc.), research or to stay on top of current events - also much a requirement in my line of work.

Thanks for the read HackSlash, I really enjoy your writings To be frank, the having no phone is bizarre in today's world, hell, I would say so is having a landline. It's not really a choice anymore either, most jobs you can't really work without a smartphone.

That's even worse State corruption is the defualt in China, everyone is doing it, and everyone knows. If someone is prosecuted for corruption, it means that they crossed someone more powerful. Or maybe it's a signal to the higher-ups of that person that they're on a short leash. It's a power game. Is there a country where corruption isn't common place? No. But the degree varies. Is it more the price and the degree of visibility which varies? An openly corrupt system is at least a level playing field, even if your wallet is too small to take significant advantage. Conversely somewhere like the UK or the US, if you have the millions of spare capital to throw at lobbying (bribing), or the media empire to blackmail politicians you can tilt the tables in your favour, but if you're average Joe you're fucked. Actually, the avearge Joe is truly fucked when he can't get the simplest administrative tasks done - like get a building permit for his garden shed shed - unless he "expedites" the proces by "donating" to the pension fund of the city council clerks. Not necessary of course, although issuing that permit might take a few years. Or maybe he needs urgent medical treatment? Unfortunately the waiting list for that particular procedure is 2.5-3 years, but a little financial incentive and it can be arranged for next month. Or maybe there is a job opening for a decent position in public administration? Well, does he have any relatives working there already? Friends? Nothing? Well then that's not going to work, unless they're willing to pledge absolute loyalty to their boss who will eventually make good on that pledge. There are absolutely places like that on Earth, and in comparison the US and UK is practically corruption-free! Now I believe public services in China for the average citizen are fairly accessible without having to grease too many palms, but I know for a fact that even the lowliest public sector jobs (think elementary school teachere) are given more or less on this basis.

That's even worse State corruption is the defualt in China, everyone is doing it, and everyone knows. If someone is prosecuted for corruption, it means that they crossed someone more powerful. Or maybe it's a signal to the higher-ups of that person that they're on a short leash. It's a power game. Is there a country where corruption isn't common place? No. But the degree varies.

That's even worse State corruption is the defualt in China, everyone is doing it, and everyone knows. If someone is prosecuted for corruption, it means that they crossed someone more powerful. Or maybe it's a signal to the higher-ups of that person that they're on a short leash. It's a power game.

Bribery wasn't the reason he was executed. It was falling out of favor...

BREAKING NEWS! CHINA STILL SHADY. MORE AT 7.

Heard immunity aside, I fully support opening restaurants/cinemas/travel etc. back up to people who had already been vaccinated. You'd need to present proof of vaccination everywhere you go, yes, but I'm tired of this shit and the economy needs to function as well. Anti-vexxers and other idiots can stay in quarantine until they change their minds.

I'm pretty sure the Biden administration will not be easy on China. They may soften the rhetoric, but not the policy.

Lol, that pet ant is hilarious