PhileasFogg

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.

Why’d they have to make an obituary (of sorts) and then put his mug shot up? kinda tacky IMO

@Jamie21, if you’re on this side of the pond, let me know - although -I’m guessing Mississippi wouldn’t be on your short list of places to visit 😉

I used to live in Nashville. I can’t swear to it, but I’m pretty sure that this is the name he’s used for the recent past There was something about the pics I couldn’t connect with to motivate me to contact him. Plus, I wouldn’t have been looking for a top.

@MikeThomas and @Gar1eth get a VPN. I use ExpressVPN and set my site to look like I’m a heathen from Chicago or LA. Works like a charm. Now, back to Matt Thomas

Ok, PS in two weeks. Recommendations for restaurants?

One other thing I’ll add is that if you upload a screen shot of the question into ChatGPT, it will give you the answers. It protects against the tricky questions designed to trip you up

IMO, it gives the harassed a context to have a voice, the harasser a warning, and the employer some insulation against liability. That doesn’t mean I like spending my time being treated as the lowest common denominator of human being I don’t like it anymore than you do. Before I retired, when I had to do these things, I can assure you that I was done in 15 minutes. I simply fast forward the videos, quickly hit the tabs, and answer the questions based on decades of experience and insight. And BTW, in my business, it wasn’t just harrassment training, it was about the equivalent of 42 hours of various compliance mandates - I still knocked through it all in about 2 hours.

Ironically, someone gave me your name with the highest recommendation earlier today!