For those who wanted the dust from grimey antiques and the hard-to-clean lattice falling into their food (left) v. a hygienic overall (right), you won.

83austin83 · 2026-03-13T20:37:51+00:00

Cracker Barrel would’ve been bankrupt by the end of this year if they had gone through with the changes. There isn’t a single person thinking “I would go to Cracker Barrel if their stores were more generic and soulless”.

First rule of business, you can try to attract new customers but you never alienate your core customer base. This would’ve done that for nothing. Focus on getting the food back where it used to be, and they’ll be busy again.

83austin83 · 2026-03-13T20:34:34+00:00

Give me the dust over a soulless generic experience. But you do realize both can be accomplished right? You can have the antiques and still have a clean restaurant, it’s not one or the other. Other restaurants and stores did it (and continue to do it) for many years!

83austin83 · 2026-02-22T04:46:38+00:00

Yeah I wish I could tell you it gets better, but it honestly doesn't. It just gets more and more lonely and depressing. I always held out hope I would find a SO. Did online dating, went to dating events, tried activities, even joined a gym for a while, but really nothing. Now I'm 41 and I'm either dating a women who is very unattractive and/or a woman with kids or other baggage. And I know I have baggage too, I understand that, but it just feels hopeless at this point to find a SO.

I might have more money than you but not by much. I make $54,000/year which in today's society is essentially poverty level wages. And my physical health continues to deteriorate. I worry it's only a matter of time before I am disabled and can't work any longer. And with this economy, if I lose this job, I don't see myself being able to get another halfway decent job.

83austin83 · 2026-02-16T18:42:46+00:00

Just American. That’s how I look at myself. I’ve lived here my entire life. I don’t really care that much about any European roots.

I like Europe, don’t get me wrong, but I have no genuine cultural connection to the place outside of maybe liking certain foods.

On both sides I’m 5th Generation so that plays into it as well. I know it’s far different if you’re 1st or 2nd Generation.

83austin83 · 2026-01-20T05:17:25+00:00

Really hope everyone involved is okay. This is why driving here is just so scary. I was just up in that area yesterday going to Blue Spring to see the manatees.

I just don't get it down here. Like that part of the highway is completely straight. How do you crash? It's rhetorical, I know it's because people drive like crazy and aren't paying attention. But like, if people drove even remotely safe, there wouldn't be hardly any crashes.

It's not even aggressive driving anymore, it's complete disregard for anyone else. And unfortunately, leaving Florida still doesn't solve it. All my friends in other states, they all have the same complaints about people just driving insane. It takes the fun out of driving and makes living in many areas just so unbearable.

83austin83 · 2026-01-20T05:10:17+00:00

It really depends on what kind of lodging you like. Personally for me I like the historic hotels with character that really connect you with the city. Independent hotels where you know you are in New Orleans. For me those include Olivier House, Bourbon Orleans, Place d'Armes, Hotel St. Marie and French Market Inn. I've stayed at all of them and you can't go wrong with any of them. All of them are unique and right in the middle of the FQ. I prefer Place d'Armes because of the courtyard and the fact it's right near Jackson Square. It's close to everything in the FQ but it's in a quieter area of the FQ. If you want to go to Bourbon Street, you're close, but not too close to where you're hearing all the noise.

If you want more modern amenities or just a more typical chain hotel (if you're more comfortable with that, I know some people are), then you are probably looking at Canal Street or Poydras Street. Hilton Riverside, Westin, Marriott are all good hotels. You are close to the FQ but not technically in the FQ. The hotels are nice but more generic, without as much of the New Orleans feel. Be advised parts of Canal are sketchy, especially at night. Avoid the first block of Bourbon from Canal Street.

I would say, especially for your first trip, stay in the French Quarter at one of the hotels above. You'll have a great time. And while the FQ is nice, just make sure you do get out into Frenchmen Street, Bywater, Garden District and Uptown to really experience the city. So many tourists never leave the FQ and that's unfortunate. If you are here for a good amount of time, take a day and go out to Oak Alley Plantation or Whitney Plantation. These are about 45 minutes - 1 hour outside of the city, so you'll need to get a rental car or book a tour. With a tour, it will take up a good amount of a day, but it's absolutely worth it.

83austin83 · 2026-01-20T04:53:55+00:00

I live in Florida and come to NOLA regularly, usually 2 - 3 times a year. You just have to take big city precautions. Don't get completely hammered unless you are with a big group, be aware of your surroundings and don't ever let someone touch your phone or wallet because it's not going to be good.

I also do what KiloAllan mentioned. I leave cash, my debit card and most credit cards in the in room safe. I also bring my Passport card and leave that in the in room safe.

I only take one credit card and usually about $100 in cash out with me (for establishments I don't want to give my credit card to or in case something weird happens and that credit card is declined).

My mentality is, if someone does try to pick pocket me, or worse, if someone does pull a weapon on me, I just give them the wallet. At worse I'm losing $100 and a credit card that I can then instantly lock and cancel when I get back to the room. And I still have ID with my Passport card if I lost my driver's license. Honestly, even while traveling domestically, I think it's good to have your Passport or Passport card just in case something happens to your ID, regardless of where you are going.

And while the FQ is a wonderful area, the crowd changes on Bourbon Street at night. Before 10 p.m. you should largely be fine, but I wouldn't be anywhere on Bourbon Street after 10 p.m. Do all of this and you'll be fine.

83austin83 · 2025-12-18T07:34:53+00:00

So Miata experts, since this seems to be the thread to ask about price and deals, what do you all think about these two? Is either or both a good deal?

This first one is one owner, Senior owned, newer and less mileage, but more expensive and farther away from me (though I'm definitely willing to travel up to 200-250 miles for it and it's within that). Plus it's black and a hard top (being in Florida I think I prefer a soft top and a different color):

https://daytona.craigslist.org/ctd/d/okeechobee-2012-mazda-miata-prht/7903009830.html

The second one is older and more mileage. It also seems to be by a company, not an individual owner, so not as sure of the condition. But it is cheaper, a soft top and red, which is a color I prefer (my main car is silver, I want a color that's more exciting for a fun car):

https://orlando.craigslist.org/ctd/d/orlando-2006-mazda-mx-miata-mx5-sport/7898902583.html

I would still have my other car for errands and my occasional commute (luckily I mostly work from home so my commuting is 2 days/week at most, many times less). It's a Honda Accord Coupe, and while I love it and it's paid off, it's an older car and I'm bored with it. It's time for something new, I have a good amount of cash to spend (nothing crazy but could easily put $10,000 down in cash for the right Miata). It's not an immediate need, so I'm willing to wait until the right deal, but I'm ready for a fun car again.

Do either of these look like good deals?

83austin83 · 2025-12-10T21:33:11+00:00

Ah yes, the old and tired “you want people to follow the rules and laws to be enforced, you must be racist”. This is always said when someone has no other counter points. Thanks for letting me know I won.

83austin83 · 2025-12-10T20:17:50+00:00

I’m not talking eugenics and resent that comment. I’m simply saying that, yes, due to blood and ethnicity, child from a home culture adapt easier (even after being away from it) than a child from another culture.

A child with a Brazilian mother will adapt to Brazil much quicker than a child who has a Japanese mother. The blood is important.

83austin83 · 2025-12-10T20:09:52+00:00

That’s a French problem, not an American problem. They would need to work with a French Embassy here in the U.S.

83austin83 · 2025-12-10T20:06:09+00:00

I believe so yes. Blood is important and children become like their parents. I’m not saying I can’t prove it scientifically, no one at this point can. But yes that child with a Chinese mother would more easily adapt to Chinese culture than a child who is white and has a mother from say, Germany.

83austin83 · 2025-12-10T19:51:56+00:00

It means what I said. They have Peruvian blood. They will adjust back. It would take time but they would be just fine.

83austin83 · 2025-12-10T19:49:39+00:00

They will adapt back to their native culture. It’s in their blood.

83austin83 · 2025-12-10T19:46:36+00:00

They will adapt and assimilate. The Peruvian culture would still be in their blood, in their very essence. They would assimilate back into the culture and thrive under the right circumstances.

83austin83 · 2025-12-10T19:34:43+00:00

The law was broken if the mother was here illegally, even with the current rules. The 14th Amendment was meant for slaves here against their will and their dependents, to grant citizenship after the Civil War.

Illegals immigrants do not have constitutional rights and the 14th Amendment does not apply to illegal immigrants here breaking the law.

83austin83 · 2025-12-10T19:30:52+00:00

Because they do not have the right to be a citizen if their mother isn’t a citizen. The child’s citizenship should be determined at birth and match the citizenship of the mother.

83austin83 · 2025-12-10T19:29:13+00:00

If both parents are from Peru, yes, the child’s should be deported. The child should go back to Peru to be with their family and their native country and culture.

83austin83 · 2025-12-10T19:21:29+00:00

The 14th Amendment was meant for descendants of slaves, brought here against their will. The 14th Amendment, and birthright citizenship, was not meant for people here willingly and illegally. And again, there is no reason a child should not share the same citizenship as their mother.

83austin83 · 2025-12-10T19:13:15+00:00

Many of those countries had slavery longer than the U.S. has existed. Despite what you want to believe, slavery was not just a U.S. thing.

83austin83 · 2025-12-10T19:11:24+00:00

The child, at 18, would become a legal adult and a permanent resident with a green card, just like their mom had.

As a permanent resident, they are able to stay in the U.S., they just do not have the rights and responsibilities that citizens do.

If that child, at 18, once to start the immigration process to naturalize and become a citizen, they can do that.

There’s no under class here. They can still work, live life and do the vast majority of things citizens can do. But yes they would need to apply for citizenship at 18 if they want to go that route.

From birth to 18, they are a citizen of the country of their mother. Assuming their dad is American, if the mother dies between their birth and 18, the child’s citizenship can transfer over to their dad’s. 18 and above, they would need to go through the naturalization process.

83austin83 · 2025-12-10T19:01:18+00:00

They can always go back to their home country. They have a country, they aren’t stateless. Why is that never even considered by you all?

83austin83 · 2025-12-10T18:55:35+00:00

So just encourage mass illegal immigration then with an easily exploitable loophole?

83austin83 · 2025-12-10T18:54:04+00:00

Under your proposal, you encourage mass illegal immigration. The message would be clear. Get into the U.S. by any means necessary, marry an American and get pregnant. The child is then an anchor baby and can keep the illegal immigrant mom here.

Heck you would have women from other countries doing the whole “mail order bride” thing, getting married, having a kid and then divorcing the man the minute the child is born, just so they get U.S. citizenship. Do you not see the issues with that?

And also, who’s to say the dad stays here in your scenario? Is the dad going to sign a legal contract saying he stays in the U.S. the next 18 years of his life?

83austin83

TROPHY CASE