Is the pear tree included? Do I get one pear tree? 12 pear trees? No pear tree? This might be a dealbreaker, so take your time answering.

I love how Trump fans and big brain swing voters are trying to justify their vote for tariffs by making it about slavery and jobs. They never cared about slavery before. And it will not just affect gaming - it’s probably going to wreck all tech, appliances, reliable vehicles, everything on Amazon, SHEIN trash, etc.

FYI: Tax cuts for the rich + tariffs = it’s a fucking sales tax.

Manufacturers will not build factories in the US to avoid tariffs. They will downsize and hoard wealth for 4 years until a corporate-friendly Democrat is elected to undo just barely enough of the damage to avoid riots.

This is just a grift to shift more of the tax burden to the working class. Trump fans will gobble it up anyway.

I want off this ride.

I’ve been trying to find some excuses to be optimistic. Here’s a few potential silver linings:

1. If Trump/Project 2025 manages to accomplish their goal of tearing down the federal government, people will suffer immediately, including republicans, when they lose their Medicare, social security, access to healthcare, free education (daycare), prices go up, wages stay stagnant, unemployment and underemployment skyrocket, etc. This could open up a window in 2028 or 2032 where these programs need to be replaced, and it can be with non-halfassed universal systems like single-payer health insurance, UBI, etc. All the big brain swing voters might even be desperate and angry enough to actually pay attention and support them.

2. I hope 2024 demonstrated the importance of having primaries and participating in them. We might look forward to increased turnout in 2026 and 2028 primaries. If people want to nominate a left-leaning Democrat, primary turnout needs to be overwhelming. Unfortunately they might need to see centrists get wrecked a few more times. It’s possible that a third party rises out of this eventually, but more likely a progressive Democrat will eventually get a chance to run. In any case, sitting on your hands and whining about the system is not effective.

Do these help during the next 4 years? Not really, but go vote in the fucking primary in 2026 and nominate congressional candidates who want to talk about progressive policies. A little bit of hope goes a long way. Moderates don’t offer hope. 2016-2020 felt bearable because I thought Sanders would have a chance in 2020. I need some hope for 2028.

Also vote in your local elections in 2025 and 2027 too.

We can’t move on without a proper segue. How about politics+beans memes? I can’t imagine anyone would be unhappy with that.

I saw this in real time and it was even more disgusting than can be conveyed in text. You really need to see and hear these two goblins shouting and wheezing to get an accurate picture of where they want Democrats to go in the future.

Well I did say they are dumb AF.

Hope there will be a legitimate election in 2028, and show up to the fucking primary before it and in 2026.

I think Trump won because of the economy. Yes, he has a rabid base that really does want his fascism, but the voters who pushed him over the edge are ones suffering because inflation and the wealth gap that has just been allowed to increase unimpeded. Those voters don’t want fascism - they’re just dumb AF and don’t pay attention. They just voted for “change.”

These problems will only increase over the next 4 years, so there will be another opportunity defy the status quo in 2028. We had a chance and failed to do in 2016. We came closer in 2020. We didn’t have a real primary in 2024. When we get to 2028, it’s time to fucking do it.

This was not my first time being forced to vote for the lesser of two evils, and I’m not dumb enough to think it was my last.

Enjoy the self-righteousness for a few months.

Removed by mod

We’re buying each other a new bed, I hope. The gift that keeps on giving. (The shit we have now is horrible.) You could go for something that enhances your home life together.

I used to go into Bed Bad and Beyond when I couldn’t think of anything, and walk out with a bag full of small things she wouldn’t normally go looking for herself. Neck warmers, fuzzy socks, bath bombs, candles, that sort of thing. If your trip is the big gift, you could do a basket (or stocking) of smaller cozy stuff.

Sorry, but the answer we were looking for is “I’ll need to work on this over the weekend.” That’ll be all for today. We’ll call you.

Never trust a sentient cucumber

Domo arigato, Mister Spaghato

I care a lot about audio and that’s why I don’t use spatial. Stereo all the way with a good pair of headphones, or better yet, a really nice stereo monitor setup.

Then again, audio is also a drop in the bucket of why I don’t care for COD games lately. The sound is often weird, and the hit marker sounds too much like a cash register, which reminds me what COD games are really about - in case I forgot about the clowns and gorillas running around for a moment.

I’m not saying he is the pigeon lady, but I’m not not saying he is or isn’t a pigeon lady.

Nice

Now includes real teeth!

I have nipples, Greg.

Toyota, Mazda and Honda are the only makes I’ve really ever considered, or ever plan to consider. Of those 3, Honda has not gone that route yet as far as I know. Correct me if I’m wrong.

I was considering a Mazda for my next car. Now I’m not.

I live in a place that gets fucking cold in the winter. If the normal fob option were always available and you get the option to pay for the convenience using an app, that would be one thing - though $10/month for that is ridiculous. But removing the fob option and locking this basic feature behind a subscription is exactly the sort of game I don’t want my vehicle to play with me.

Go ahead and sell roadside coverage, parts/repairs, batteries, get royalties from Sirius or whatever for extra cash flow. Make a great app that adds new convenient live-service features and is worth paying for, even. But fuck all these new subscription un-gimping games.