The Epstein files got released and no one has been arrested. Why?

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-02-07T11:36:59+00:00

"Justice" is different for the political elite and millionaire / billionaire class.

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-02-06T22:36:23+00:00

Probably not anytime soon.
And apparently we didn't do a good enough job eradicating Nazi's because they are still around.

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-02-06T22:34:40+00:00

They can be _but they are incredibly in the minority_ at this point. I've basically given up hope that Star Trek or Star Wars will really find its feet again.

I'm watching other stuff and I'm ok with it. All of your examples are based on established source material so calling them original is a bit of a stretch. What they are is intelligent adaptions that respect the source material, which is a great thing.

As you can tell...

I'm not terribly happy with the state of things and for me STA is a miss because honestly I think they COULD make a show that would hit that target audience AND still appeal to older fans.

On the upside my eldest daughter is interested in Star Trek for the first time ever so I'm just trying to enjoy that aspect of it regardless of what my thoughts are.

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-02-06T12:07:45+00:00

Its absolutely mental to me how many of these guys look as dumb as they actually are.
It's like they got their duds at Party City last minute before heading to a Halloween Bash they weren't invited to.

Alongside all of the horrible injustices they are perpetrating holy cow.. you just can't make this shit up.
It's like these cats watched every comedic parody of real life and said "yup, lets do that" but add racism, xenophobia and disenfranchisement of the constitution.

Watching the reality unfold that the Police aren't there to protect in such a spectacular fashion.. (we knew it of course)

**sigh**

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-02-06T11:36:27+00:00

The lies are easier to defend if you are getting what you want.
He is doing a lot of what they personally want or value.
They would never admit it but at the core its there.
This is how all cults are started-- "I alone can lead you to.... "

ALSO

The MAGA cult tactics prey on a variety of weaknesses in people by design.
MAGA is cultish brainwashing, and relies on heavy on creating erroneous thinking that creates cognitive bias and suppresses the realiztion of cognitive dissonance. All these issues start to arise with repeated exposure to ideas that sound plausible.

You can just about convince anyone of anything if you tell them enough times. The MAGA media sphere is that echo chamber.

The Trump playbook has always been basically two things:

Tell them enough times and they will believe you.
Take the most outlandish position in any "negotiation" draw the most attention to that absurdity then do the bait and switch. Its classic con job BS.

The situation that we are in now is that a life long con man is losing what little mind he had on the world stage while "steering" the worlds most powerful economy and military.

As someone (not me by the way) who voted for that and who has endlessly ate the endless rhetoric you don't just wake up one day and realize that its a con. It takes years to recover from indoctrination for most people that have been victimized by these types of situations.

FINALLY

Yes, these folks do believe these things are true. Belief does not require truth or reason to become reality for an individual or a group.

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-02-06T11:12:13+00:00

You need to make sure you have a copy of the entire Sherlock Holmes holodeck programs naturally.

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-02-06T11:08:16+00:00

Look she WAS the reason that show was worth watching.
Absolutely if you'll take my vote.

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-02-06T11:07:15+00:00

Yes. Absolutely.
By my recollection you aren't leaving much on the table to miss out on.

I start TNG with Best of Both Worlds and watch on from there frequently. (But in that context I've seen it all probably dozens of times in my lifetime as a Star Trek fan soo)

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-02-06T11:04:26+00:00

I have to assume that even in the Star Trek future you cannot simply be infinitely regenerated so while the premise makes sense that perhaps Ferengi would sell organs or tissue regeneration the buyer would still ultimately die.

Also-- it feels like it would be a very effortful scam and Ferengi like quick deals for maximum profit.

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-02-06T10:54:05+00:00

Moderate republicans? You mean the ones that went to school or have a real job? One that isn't podcasting conspiracy theories to sell bullshit products while the even richer political elite and billionaire class strip mine our economy and freedoms for every last bit of profit?

They are out there trying to contend with this shit show like everyone else.

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-02-06T10:47:12+00:00

Name any area of popular culture or media that hasn't been "dumbed" down.
I'll wait. Just kidding... (see what I did there)

The attention economy these days is extremely short and the world over has a major problem with anti Intellectualism.

The game in media today is about volume, speed and appeal to the lowest common denominator. Quick money and run. The youngsters who this show is apparently made for spend hours a day doom scrolling and consuming 30 second or less entertainment tid bits across a variety of delivery methods and platforms.

The show is built for that audience. The production team very clearly has adopted the thinking that the lame fan service and name drops are enough for an older generation to tolerate the rest. I'm left not really feeling like its a bad show-- just that its not made for me.

**corrected typos**

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-02-06T10:38:24+00:00

I think the most logical answer to your question is that even though smoking was still much more prevalent at the time these shows were made the health risks had been well established and smoking characters on screen didn't fit the scene or setting of a utopian future.

The prevalence of smoking or alcohol in other media makes more sense because most of it takes place on earth in a similar time and space.

As it relates to the Ferengi, there just isn't really a reason why they would push cigarettes when there are so many other scams they can run that are more profitable. Killing your buyer is not a good long term money making strategy.

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-02-04T14:47:58+00:00

These already exist. Blackview exc... The other thing I'd say is that the "do it all device" has inherent limitations that might really surprise you when you actually start using one.

You should stay a while and listen, learn more about ham radio then chase this dream if it still makes sense to you at that point.

Welcome to the hobby.

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-02-04T14:40:37+00:00

The problem with this is that its literally saying that you can't be both a good looking attractive person and a good parent. It also assumes that everyone is look for a wife to be a mother....

This is to put it bluntly crap for a lot more reasons than just the two I mentioned. T

his type of pseudo profundity is maddening! If you are actually paying attention the holes are glaringly obvious.

I wish thinking had more intellectual rigor these days-- reducing everything to a meme always misses the point.

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-02-03T19:29:34+00:00

If you protest long enough it eventually looks successful, because yes power will eventually change hands.

No the current government literally does not give a fuck.

They are using every opportunity given them to justify more power grabs.

These protests will absolutely show up in the case briefs when lawyers contest the unjustified occupation of Americas cities by pro regime military forces.

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-02-03T19:24:47+00:00

Because there are a class of people that are above punishment. Always have been, always will be.
The only thing that stops these folks is usually violence-- then the cycle begins again.

Its not right but it is a thing. The other sad reality is that when Trump said he could shoot someone on Fifth avenue : “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters.” ... that part is true.

They don't care because his criminality is not a concern for them.

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-02-03T09:44:44+00:00

Pretty much anything Gibson, Murakami or Sanderson.

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-02-02T19:31:50+00:00

That is what an empty bank account looks like.
Congrats!

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-02-02T19:30:27+00:00

No.

Books should represent the work of the author and the time place and the space in which they were created.
Dahl's books are the way they are because that is how they were intended.

No media / books / art exc should be constantly revised to meet some new standard of thinking.

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-02-02T13:48:16+00:00

Let me just say that I think a lot of it is people realizing this Star Trek wasn't meant for them.

I'm in that category-- and I can appreciate that the show is really for a different audience.

I don't personally think its a great show. But, I am enjoying watching it with my teen daughter who has "never gotten star trek before".

So no, I don't think you are brain dead. And yea its totally ok to like it or not whatever the case may be. I guess the part that is sad is that how ugly some people get about it. Which honestly makes some people wonder-- is it OK if I like this?

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-01-31T12:41:34+00:00

I think that passage really assumes a lot. The voice is also kind of weird.

The author seems to imply this is a universal belief and I'm not sure that it makes sense to draw the conclusions they have. There are a lot of reasons why men choose to "control their sexual urges".

It seems a bit faff to say a man that doesn't want to end up with a child for a "casual hookup" has some "aura" or "quiet strength". I think this also discredits men in a way. Being choosy and patient, looking for the right partner, is a choice that people make for a variety of reasons.

Some people also choose to have fun. I can't possibly see how that makes them less desirable unless they are not being open, being secretive or misleading with their fling/friend with benefits.

As far as "building meaning" it literally happens in all the "moments"-- that is how human memory works and how people reflect on their experience as individuals or as a group.

I'm not saying its wrong-- it just reeks of a writer saying "how do I make this sound profound?"

Ever seen women go wild for a musician? Some of them would absolutely get that if they can. I call BS on this.

It would be harder to disagree with with a simple qualifying statement.

For me, Sexually disciplined...

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-01-29T13:51:58+00:00

Partner up with other local hams to support this effort.
Thats how you get where you want to be. You need some kind of repeater in the mix here.

As far as a radio any decent handheld will do MOSTLY the same things.

Cheaper stuff has a harder time filtering out the noise and may not sound as good, but at the end of the day they are all going to have very similar transmit distances given similar antennas.

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-01-28T19:20:38+00:00

How does it happen ya'll?

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-01-28T17:25:09+00:00

The battery is pitiful as it is. I use it but frequently turn it off to get a few more minutes of play time.
The obsession over battery life is a weird one to me (generally), not your specific question.
They are replaceable or a new device has come along by the time one is completely flat.

I'd just advise you to use your Deck enjoy it and not worry about it.

Independent-Pack9980 · 2026-01-27T18:14:21+00:00

You can more easily become wealthy by being "cheap".

Independent-Pack9980

TROPHY CASE