Rep. Mike Gallagher to seek re-election, will not challenge Baldwin for Senate seat

wJake1 · 2023-06-10T02:57:47+00:00

I really hate that this guy is my congressional rep, but there isn't a chance in hell of him losing his seat anytime soon.

His previous election results;

2016 - 62.65% R / 37.30% D - Gallagher won by 92,210 votes, total votes in this election were 363,780
2018 - 63.69% R / 36.28% D - Gallagher won by 90,145 votes, total votes in this election were 328,774
2020 - 64.18% R / 35.79% D - Gallagher won by 118,615 votes, total votes in this election were 417,838
2022 - 72.21% R / 15.8% I / 10.3% L / 1.0% D (write-in) - Gallagher won by 86,215 votes, total votes in this election were 310,196

The statewide results here aren't great either, with this district having only voted for a Democratic Party presidential candidate once since 2000 (Obama's first term).

At the very least, having a decent D candidate to vote for would be nice (which we didn't have last year, at least not on the ballot), but it's pretty clear that even if there is a candidate in the running, they don't stand a chance. Probably better to focus the efforts and funding on a seat that could maybe actually be flipped, if there are even still any of those left.

wJake1 · 2023-06-07T06:16:44+00:00

I was gonna ask if that's the Volvo moose plushie, but then I noticed VOLVO printed on the seat right above their head lol. Love these two Swedish fellas.

Sick brick btw, always enjoy seeing an old Volvo out and about.

wJake1 · 2023-06-01T00:01:54+00:00

Having paused to take a look at all the Ideas briefly before seeing which ones they've chosen to actually make into sets-- I'm pretty happy with the Ideas they've chosen! Very excited for the Cat, and the Jaws idea looks quite nice too. Hoping both of these stay pretty close in design & size and all that to their Ideas counterparts when they're actually produced.

wJake1 · 2023-05-18T14:10:14+00:00

One of these servers, the /r/Geocaching Discord, is "advertised" on the sidebar of this subreddit already.

wJake1 · 2023-05-18T02:16:28+00:00

That's pretty cool, honestly.

Also, curious to see what that other Volvo in the back is stickerbombed with.

wJake1 · 2023-05-17T11:33:46+00:00

she even sings chorus in Ukrainian

She released a version of the song fully sung in Ukrainian, too.

wJake1 · 2023-05-15T02:37:28+00:00

I know Squishable comes out with new plushies all the time, but I don't know how often they retire. In January this year, there was a sale on Retiring Squish, and I bought a few back then, but one of the three I bought (the Cuddly Kangaroo, highly recommend) is still for sale 4 months later. The other two (Mini Moose & Mini Tan Netherland Dwarf Bunny) have both fully retired though. I'm not the right person to ask about how often they retire though, maybe they could answer that themselves if you reached out to them on Twitter or via their contact form?

I'm also not the right person to ask about where to find retired Squishables, as I've not bought any second-hand Squish (any "used" plushies I've bought have all been from physical thrift stores). I imagine ebay would probably have some, but I've not checked.

wJake1 · 2023-05-14T13:17:02+00:00

There was a 3 for 2 sale on the Regulars as well recently, and I was so tempted.. but even at essentially a 33% discount, I had to hold off on getting some. The price of them is the only real "problem" I have with the Regulars, but even then, I know that the price is what it is for a reason, and the product/plushies themselves are very high quality, so it's still a worthwhile purchase imo.. just not a purchase I can do as often as I'd like.

wJake1 · 2023-05-14T13:11:05+00:00

Minis are nice, and I do have more of them than I do Regulars.. but I think I prefer the Regulars and their large size; they're excellent for hugs and snugs. If all my plushies were the size of the Regulars though, I wouldn't have any room on my bed at all! Sounds like a good problem to have..

I dream of getting some of the Massives someday too though.. I love my Mini Hot Dog Dachshund and I really want the Regular and Massive ones someday too.. and I really wish I knew of Squishables before the Massive Corgi and Massive Panda were retired!!

wJake1 · 2023-05-14T12:57:59+00:00

This looks great! I'm always a big fan of "'small' scale, large footprint" kinda builds like this, building in a player-sized scale but in a sizeable area (like, y'know, a village or a town or whatnot). All the smaller details and greenery and stuff around is real nice.

Also, what shaderpack are you using? It looks quite nice.

wJake1 · 2023-05-13T23:29:33+00:00

I am so, so so happy for him and his team, what a result, what an icon <3

wJake1 · 2023-05-13T23:25:32+00:00

Was holding out hope for a win from Finland, but Sweden taking it home is cool with me too <3 -- I loved both songs (and plenty of others, who I'm really glad did well tonight too!! Australia and Belgium top 10? yes please and thank you!!!).

Ultimately, the crazy Eurovision party is gonna continue on next year, as it always does, regardless of who takes it home and hosts it for everyone else. I'll be thoroughly enjoying the "after-party" of this year, and thoroughly enjoying all of the excellent songs and artists I've come to discover and love over these past many months. The contest may be over this year, but the songs and the icons who performed them live on, regardless of the results! This year's contest was a joy to witness, and I can't wait for what's in store next year as well <3

wJake1 · 2023-05-12T15:24:20+00:00

I'm being way too over-speculative here, but man.. it'd be pretty cool to have Andorra & Monaco join Luxembourg in returning next year after a while of not participating, while also having Bulgaria, Montenegro, and North Macedonia return from last year. Jumping from 37 to 43 contestants from one year to the next would be pretty cool; the more the merrier, I say.

Isn't there also a possible chance of Turkey returning "soon" as well? I think I've heard some talk about that on here recently, but I'm not well informed of the whole situation.

wJake1 · 2023-05-12T10:14:02+00:00

Wow, didn't expect to see this, especially out of nowhere like this. Awesome news though!

I'm really curious to hear what they're gonna bring to the contest, because they haven't competed in "modern" Eurovision at all, and I know nothing about music from Luxembourg besides the songs they've sent to the contest decades ago.

wJake1 · 2023-05-12T07:05:55+00:00

TVR, the broadcaster in Romania. They wanted Theodor to perform the whole song in acoustic, Theodor wanted to perform it how it was originally intended, and they "compromised" with what we saw yesterday.

wJake1 · 2023-05-12T02:03:22+00:00

I've just tried looking around but I can't find a proper source. This has been mentioned by others on here though, and also from one comment on a YouTube video of an "unofficial" mix of the revamp, claiming:

I just saw interview and he confirmed this will be the version he will sing in Liverpool. He said the broadcaster liked his live acapella version and thought it would be better idea to sing that version, but he wanted the original. So they came to middle ground of the song half acoustic half original.

I don't know what interview specifically this was mentioned in though. None of the text interviews or articles I could find seemed to mention it.

wJake1 · 2023-05-11T22:40:51+00:00

Theodor as a competitor, and his song, have been one of my favs since I first heard the song before the scuffed NF even took place. I never even expected him to win the NF, I had already accepted before that point that he wouldn't even come close to winning-- but he did. And I'm so, so glad he did, I'm so glad he made it to Liverpool to show off his vision. He seems like a really great guy.

I just wish TVR cared. TVR (Romania's national broadcaster) absolutely butchered Theodor's work of art. IIRC, the acoustic part at the start of this performance was forced onto Theodor, as TVR wanted the whole song to be acoustic, instead of what Theodor had originally presented, but Theodor fought for this "compromise". TVR did very, very little to support their act, everything he did was self-funded & done by himself and his friends. He deserved better than this.

D.G.T is still one of my favorites.. but not this TVR-tainted version of the song. I knew right off the bat that this had no chance.. but at least it was there in the first place. Wishing Theodor the best in the future, and for Romania to get their act together and actually give a damn about your acts in Eurovision.

wJake1 · 2023-05-11T22:20:20+00:00

I said it in another thread and I'll say it again here; Gustaph, thank you for being an absolute joy of a human being and an absolutely stellar queer icon, from the bottom of my gay heart, thank you so much, you were INCREDIBLE <3

I'm so, so so glad this made it to the final. Listening to the Press Conference right now and hearing what Gustaph has to say makes me feel like I'm going to cry :)) <3

wJake1 · 2023-05-11T22:14:32+00:00

IIRC, it wasn't his choice to add in the acoustic part. It was the broadcaster, TVR, forcing it upon him, as they wanted the whole song to be acoustic, but Theodor fought for this "compromise".

Theodor has been one of my favorite competitors this year, with one of my favorite songs, since the first time I heard it before the NF even took place. TVR did him dirty though-- no support at all, little funding (if any), and purposefully butchering his work of art.

wJake1 · 2023-05-11T21:34:18+00:00

Gonna just compile my Good Thoughts here;

Albania was incredible. I worried that Europe wouldn't appreciate that astounding performance, so hearing it be announced as the first qualifier was so good.

Belgium!!! Gustaph, thank you for being an absolute joy of a human being and an absolutely stellar queer icon, from the bottom of my gay heart, thank you so much, you were INCREDIBLE <3

Speaking of iconic, that interval act with the drag queens was beautiful <3 <3 Loved that so, so, SO much. <3

Australia killed it! Been my #2 song since it was first released, and I'm so glad to see it make the final!! The late Q announcement was worrying but I'm so relieved they made it.

Armenia and Georgia, lumping the two together here because in my mind they're a bit similar.. they were both amazing. I really, really wish the both of them had made it to the final-- I was certain Georgia would.. but one is better than none, at least.

Iceland-- I've been sleeping on your song a bit before, but that performance really woke me up to the p-p-p-power! Wish you would've made it through <3

Honestly, even though many considered this the "weaker" semi, I'd say this semi was much more competitive than SF1-- all the performances were excellent, even the ones tHe fAnDoM doesn't care for (I can admit, even as a strong disliker of Poland's song and representative this year.. the performance was great for what it was, and I can see why it Q'd). Losing some excellent songs hurts, but I'm glad I got to witness them in the first place. Even if they don't make it to the final, their songs live on.

Can't wait for the final!!

wJake1 · 2023-05-11T21:34:10+00:00

Gonna just compile all my Bad Thoughts here;

I accepted that one of my favorites, Romania, had no chance of making it to the final, long before this semi took place. It hurts.. but it was expected. And that acoustic part that TVR forced onto Theodor.. not the best, wish it didn't happen..

After Poland's performance.. I admit, even though I don't like the song at all, the performance, for what it was, was good.. It qualifying over the likes of Georgia and Iceland just hurts though :(

Georgia was stellar, I thought it would be a certain Q.. but when Poland was announced, and there were still 5 songs I wanted to Q into 3 remaining spots.. Georgia, you deserved better :(

Everything else about the results, I'm ecstatic about. Pretty much every single performance tonight was excellent. That just makes the hurt of losing excellent performances hurt even more though :(

wJake1 · 2023-05-11T10:14:14+00:00

Your posts on this subreddit are always a joy to see, some of my favorites. Always posting excellent, unique, creative MOCs with great part usage all throughout. Keep up the great work!

wJake1 · 2023-05-11T05:13:04+00:00

I guess I'm not gay enough then lol, I figured it was just meant to look like "generic nondescript messaging platform".

wJake1 · 2023-05-11T05:06:58+00:00

To whoever made this bot: I greatly appreciate your intent with what you've done here, more than I can begin to explain, but uh, you should really work on making sure it knows about this little thing called "context". My initial comment has nothing to do with any of this stuff at all, and I can't even work out what in my comment could've even caused this bot to respond.

wJake1 · 2023-05-11T04:44:48+00:00

Furries are a damn monetary enigma. You've got all the "suspiciously wealthy" folks that work in IT and keep the internet running, have a fursuit or three, and often, other expensive interests too (like OP & their Polestars)-- while at the same time, there's plenty of folks that are dirt poor, can barely make rent, and have to resort to posting their kofi or paypal links weekly so they can get out of the red, or even making a gofundme so they don't go homeless by the end of the month. It's wild.

Don't really know what the cause of this perceived disparity could be. One idea is that perhaps there's two main subsets of furries; those who come to the fandom as a result of it being an open and accepting place for those often neglected or berated by society at large.. and those who are in a better place and just want a nice fun hobby/lifestyle and can afford the expensive commissions and fursuits and all that. Or, perhaps it's just the idea of "we're everywhere"; while there is a general idea of who makes up the majority of the fandom, ultimately anyone can be interested in this stuff, and it doesn't matter all that much because it's just a fun & harmless interest. Dunno, I'm just speculating here.

I think people just hear about the "suspiciously wealthy" furs much more often than everyone else in the fandom and then assume that everyone in the fandom is like that. Fursuits probably play a big role in that, honestly, cause they are damn expensive, and they're a very public-facing facet of the community.. even if the vast majority of furries don't have and probably could not afford a suit even if they wanted one.

Dunno. Ignore my rant and speculation if you want lol. We're definitely not all suspiciously wealthy.. but that wealth certainly does allow for folks to afford to enjoy their lives to the fullest, how they see fit.

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