PhileasFogg

Michelin 5 ⭐️ or Expedia 5 ⭐️ ’cuz honey, they ain’t the same

Welcome @Leakinghole…it’s good that many - hopefully all - will see you’re a class act

we know which one the tabloids would publish. Be better than the tabloids

I’ll tell you why - because I contacted him and asked it that was his intent. He was shocked and rightfully so. as the ADL said “context is key”. Your unilateral conclusion of intent is inconsistent with context. If you were right, he wouldn’t care about removing it. But he did. QUICKLY If he was what you imply, he’d want to continue sending a strong message. Believe what you want but don’t disparage a guy based on your unilateral conclusion I’m pasty white and I had NO IDEA about this symbol. Non racists don’t waste time learning symbols of racism. He deserves the benefit of the doubt until you KNOW otherwise. Until then, you are entitled to avoid him but not to disparage him.

I had a FaceTime conversation with him last week about a possible trip. He left no impression with me that he had any tendency like that. The ADL also said “context is key”…in my book, it also means “gotcha” or “ok.” It seems to me that a service provider would not intentionally offer a photo that limits their appeal to a very narrow list of clientele (that probably isn’t active as “buyers”) and we are wrong to assess this without context I have to say that it feels as though we are trying him in absentia and disparaging him without knowing his intent

Good point, thank you! I continue to assert that anyone is free to proselytize and everyone else is free to listen or not listen. For me, I’d doubt the sincerity of an escort doing the proselytizing, but I’ve seen stranger things

And for every single ‘Christian’ entity advocating that, I can name you 10,000 that would oppose that. In the Indiana example you posted, local churches in Indianapolis came out opposing the statements. I wouldn’t worry about Church of The Hold Shopping Center when there are governments elsewhere actually doing it. ETA: when a church identifies themselves as a King James Only Church, they’re advertising themselves as one that doesn’t believe in rightful interpretation of scripture and are not taken seriously by other Christians. KJV is a poetic interpretation and is not true to the original Hebrew and Greek texts and no serious believer tries to apply the words literally.

I don’t want to put words in @JackValor’s mouth since I’ve not met him. But I would say it very well might start with communication that isn’t “hey, wha’s up”. Some of the guys have it noted in their profile - be polite, introduce yourself, what you’re looking for, where, and when. This is part of why I don’t use a burner phone. They can look me up on MrNumber and immediately see who I am.

Part of the American Dream is the fact that it’s the largest economy in the world by a long shot. 68% of the economy is consumer spending! GDP=C+I+G+(x-m). C=Consumer Spending. You cannot get enough of the other component (investment, government, and net exports) to offset 68%. An economy is not made robust with spending for basic human necessities - they’re important, but those are commodities with low margins. Economic resilience comes from producing high margin valuable products that trigger spending and employment that ripples through the marketplace with high velocity. This was all proven by the late Soviet experiment. the problem I see with your statement is that it assumes both spending and consumption are bad. Both are necessary.

Well, I don’t know. I hear you, but I’d push back on the idea that these ‘radical’ energies are automatically liberatory. A lot of what gets framed as being outside the mainstream isn’t progress — it’s just noise or backlash. And defining happiness purely by your own perceptions isn’t liberatory either — that’s just self-referential comfort, not change. Real liberation comes when ideas actually shift conditions for more than just the individual. So I continue to encourage the OP to reach beyond temporary externals to find happiness or satisfaction. For me, history has proven time after time that it runs in cycles. What is now won’t be soon and what can’t be is likely to be - it it has merit

Absolutely. And that’s a sword that cuts both ways. I suspect that half of society thinks they’re out of the mainstream for 20 yrs and then the other half the next 20. The pendulum always swings one way or the other, but spends more time in the middle than on the extremes

Happy Birthday!

I think there’s many who believe the “mainstream” is the dominant narrative. Isn’t that why it’s the “mainstream”. If something requires replication to be heard, it’s clearly not a dominant narrative. But back to my earlier comments - perspective is a choice.

My Meat Can’t Be Beat Takes a Licking and Keeps on Sticking Rammer Jammer You’ll Have My Hammer The Cock Doc

I guess I didn’t need to read the ad to figure out what position he offers 😂

What it’s always been Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What a Wonderful World Medley by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

With all due respect, no. It is growth. Demographics change and moving locations from stagnant areas to vibrant ones is part of the process. We should probably also note that most of the locations are on long term leases, so in many cases, they are truly jettisoning the locations. While the world appropriately focuses on same store sales growth (which will increase as stagnant stores are replaced), there’s really three sub-metrics: a) site locations acquired for future locations b) locations under construction or recently opened c) locations opened a year or more This is the one that matters and, by mathematical definition, when the old locations are dropped from the calc, the result is inherently accretive correct, there is no assurance that a new location will succeed But the large QSR’s have a model that is proven and reliable Absent a natural disaster, there is no “spec” risk

I’m very careful with language in any communication that leaves a trail

I’ve not done an overnight or longer without a video call. And I generally do overnights and trips. It’s a get to know you - what does he like, what do you like, what are the “do nots,” Consider it a friendly interview so you can hit the ground running- metaphorically that is

I guess you’re saying this takes getting “hammered” to an entirely new level 😂

Yeah, I got the nonPNP I have heard that meth addicts get a bigger high when someone high on meth pisses into the bottom who receives a quicker lift from intestinal absorption. But that’s inconsistent with no-pnp, so might it simply mean water sports (again, not my thing, hence my ignoarance on the topic)

I rarely sign in to RM, but apparently I did recently. Occasionally, I’ll have a message from a guy whose profile I’d seen. Surprisingly, I had a message from one I hadn’t looked at. 🤨🤔 I looked at the profile and didn’t know what this meant when he said “No judgment if you use the substances. However, I'm clean and a good piss top & a massage gun owner.” Clearly, I know what “I’m clean” means. But “good piss top” and “massage gun owner” have me flummoxed particularly in the same sentence as “I’m clean”. It doesn't sound like something I want, but please bring me in to a 21st century level of hip understanding please.

My view - he has a business. Religion and politics generally don’t mix well with business. But he is also a business owner and can run his business as he pleases. And as a consumer, you can also choose to take your business elsewhere. To me, that’s the true definition of freedom.

But that had a hint of vengeance - almost like they had a falling out when he quit

Haha. Three trips planned in the next 4 weeks. Chicago, Palm Springs and Key West.