Categories
America It Happened to Me

It took TWO YEARS, but my renewed NEXUS card finally arrived!

For people who often travel between the U.S. and Canada, the NEXUS card is so incredibly helpful. It says “this person is a citizen of Canada or the U.S. and has been pre-screened for faster processing.” Not only does it mean quicker U.S./Canada border crossings, but it also includes TSA PreCheck for quicker security clearance for flights within the U.S..

My NEXUS card expired during the pandemic in 2020, when a number of government services on both sides of the border either slowed to a crawl or stopped completely. I applied for a renewal back then, and…waited.

The NEXUS program has been delayed for a number of reasons, not the least of which was the fact that U.S. Customs and Border Patrol wanted American NEXUS officers to be armed while working in Canada, because America’s the land of gun care and health control.

One flight to Canada, two flights to Salt Lake City, one flight to London, and two years later, my NEXUS card arrived a good two years after I applied for renewal, and wow, am I glad to have NEXUS privileges again.

Categories
America The Current Situation

Vote!

If you’re in the U.S. and an American citizen, it’s the midterm elections today. Get out and vote!

Categories
America The Current Situation

“Quiet! I’m declassifying documents.”

Talosian (Star Trek alien with giant, veiny head) with caption “Quiet! I’m declassifying documents.”
Thanks to Star Trek Shitposting for the find!
Categories
America The Current Situation

The “I just said ‘It’s declassfied’” excuse

Donald Trump as “Jeannie” from “I dream of Jeannie,” saying “Declassified!”

In a new interview with his personal fluffer, Sean Hannity, Donald Trump test-ballooned his latest defense for illegally (and potentially treasonously) keeping U.S. government secret documents on his private gold club/residence:

“If you’re the president of the United States, you can declassify just by saying, ‘It’s declassified’.

Even by thinking about it, because you’re sending it to Mar-a-Lago or to wherever you’re sending it. … There can be a process, but there doesn’t have to be.”

It’s an understanding of secret documents that’s equal to the “I said so” rule of schoolyard games, or perhaps Michael Scott’s understanding of bankruptcy on The Office:

There were over 300 such documents stored at Mar-a-Lago, which is not a facility up to the task of securing such things. The search was a result of an earlier finding of other secret documents at the site.

Categories
America The Current Situation

Jerry’s gonna Jerry

The problem is that Jerry’s going to keep on Jerrying, because voting for Trump — or probable future presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, who’s basically Trump with an attention span and malevolent competence — is actual identity politics, and the simple proof is all the merchandise that they buy, their performative parading about, and their willingness to pour money into the scam.

Remember that the Republican Party didn’t bother to come up with a platform in the last election because they didn’t need one. It’s more than enough for them to be the vessel for the grievances of people who were promised that they’d be at the top of the pecking order and promise to be the cudgel to beat those who they believe usurped them from that spot.

In the end, as Adam Serwer observed in the Atlantic article that grew into a book, The Cruelty is the Point.

Categories
America It Happened to Me

Buc-ee’s: I, for one, welcome our new beef jerky overlords.

For the benefit of those of you who’ve never experienced a Buc-ee’s, here’s some video I shot during my first-ever visit to one of these roadside stores that’s best described as “Imagine a Circle K, but on Texas steroids,” or “Picture a Wawa, but the size of a Walmart.”

Categories
America

“What would the Founding Fathers think of all that?”

Comic: MAGA guy in red cap and U.S. flag t-shirt: “No child of mine is gonna learn about men who wear makeup, high heels, and a wig at their school! What would the founders think of all that?” / Founding father in traditional clothing, checking self in mirror: “Oh, have I got some news for you.”
Tap to view at full size.

The Founding Fathers would’ve been confounded by lots of things, from non-land-owners having a vote to dishwashing machines. Appreciate the things they did right, learn from what they did wrong, and don’t fuss too much over the intent of people who were just getting the hang of Enlightenment ideas.

Also worth checking out: How to quit being a wimp and DRESS MANLY like the GOOD OLD DAYS.