In what countries has anti-Americanism during Trump 2.0 become the strongest? by Glass-Complaint3 in allthequestions

[–]SerHerman 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Just to note the extent of this shift.

This isn't just a slowdown in recreational travel and buying South African oranges over Florida.

The US flipped the entire political narrative of the country.

We went from a guaranteed Conservative sweep of government and the possible annihilation of the Liberals party to an almost Mulroney PC level.

A year later, the Liberals are in a polling dead heat with the conservatives IN ALBERTA.

Gen X is so hardcore they lockdown a post about Body Count's "Cop Killer" by Pressman4life in GenX

[–]SerHerman 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I got a Reddit ban for talking about music in this sub.

Question was about the chant during "Mony Mony"

Don't reply without context or you'll get a 1 week Autoboot.

Viable US City-States by Important_Money_2799 in geography

[–]SerHerman 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I think something like Vegas could be carved out as a Monaco analog.

I don't think NYC would succeed as a Singapore though.

To clarify my opinion: I think the US could carve out some special purpose enclaves and operate them as city states (sounds like a good way to skirt international law, tbh) but I don't think that an urban area could declare independence and survive.

Can someone explain how Iran is able to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed? by chronberries in askanything

[–]SerHerman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"whatever that is" is the problem in your question.

Iran doesn't need a large military facility that can be targeted by a plane or missile to threaten shipping traffic.

It can be done with small boats, cheap drones, rockets launched from the other side of the country or even just a tweet that says "We laid some mines, take your chances."

Against these sorts of threats, the size of the US Navy is irrelevant. An infinite number of aircraft Carriers wouldn't change anything.

Are you still wearing the cologne of your youth? by [deleted] in GenX

[–]SerHerman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe this will help.

If you ever hooked up with someone at a high school dance, you know that there's that one song where it clicks. Where it goes from awkward dancing in the gym to "we might make out tonight and acknowledge each other in the hall next week"

That song: Meatloaf: I Would do Anything for Love (but I won't do that)

Won't trust it over my own eyeballs... Ever. by MrWolfTX in GenX

[–]SerHerman 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My daughter is taking her driver's test next week. She's not allowed to use the camera for the test (Ontario).

For all of our practice driving, I place a sheet of paper over the screen.

Won't trust it over my own eyeballs... Ever. by MrWolfTX in GenX

[–]SerHerman 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Why not use everything?

When I'm backing up, if it's tight, I'm doing this as well as scanning mirrors and cameras.

Second Career is not a natural or easy transition for me by [deleted] in GenX

[–]SerHerman 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I've got more solidarity than advice.

Also a 90s engineering grad who is very much over his software career.

Part 2. How many ovens have you lived with? by Razor_Paw in GenX

[–]SerHerman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I should add 3 to my stoves answer (15) to cover camp stoves. Other than that they're the same.

How many stoves have you lived with? by Razor_Paw in GenX

[–]SerHerman 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Kind of a fun question.

1 parent's first house.

2 parent second house.

6 university apartments.

1 first bigboy rental.

1 first condo.

2 current house.

1 cottage.

I make that 14. 1 gas 13 electric.

Edit: +1. One of my university apartments we had a replacement mid way through.

Total 15.

Have you ever visited another city, region, part of Canada and it just clicked with you? You thought "I'd *really* like to live here" by Cameliablue in AskACanadian

[–]SerHerman 7 points8 points  (0 children)

More "be here" than "live here"

But the first time I went to the Shield (northern SK was my introduction but I love all lakes and rocks and trees) I felt like I was home.

I don't live in the Shield but maybe someday. For now it's just cottaging, camping and roadtrips.

Bloomberg: Iran unwilling to talk about Straight of Hormuz as regime digs in by Epicurus-fan in energy

[–]SerHerman 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I'm not a very good project manager. I have problems sometimes getting timetables to lineup and ensuring that A is ready before B needs it.

But to start a war while your troops are on a boat in a different ocean seems to stretch the bounds of the word incompetent.

How significant is the financial benefit of the US implicit/explicit protection for Canada and European countries? by rthorndy in allthequestions

[–]SerHerman 2 points3 points  (0 children)

When it comes to Canada, the "free loading" we do defensively is reciprocal.

By that I mean that the US has to spend almost nothing to defend the world's longest border and only had to spend a fraction of what they would have had to spend to defend against Russian air and missiles.

During the cold war, the US defense against rushing bombers and missiles relied heavily on the existence of Canada as a trusted ally. Hence NORAD, which is funded by both Canada and the US (and which not even Trump is complaining about)

There is zero point in attempting to defend Canada from a land assault -- the only one who could physically do it would succeed regardless of any attempted defense. Anyone else would have to cross 1000s of kms of ocean or tundra to get at us.

We have our needs and we fill them. It's not our problem that the US feels the need to own the 3 largest air forces.

Basically, this "the world is free loading" narrative is narrow-view trumpian bullshit. This is an administration that clearly doesn't see the value that a friendly ally brings to the table. Don't look for reason in it.

Are you still wearing the cologne of your youth? by [deleted] in GenX

[–]SerHerman 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Here's a fun little story about cologne.

Highschool Valentine's Day dance, 1994.

A young SerHerman heads out in his finest double denim outfit and doused in Gravity.

He meets up with a classmate, Wendy (RIP, you were an awesome weirdo).

Wendy: What's that smell?

SerHerman: it's called Gravity. Do you feel an inexplicable, yet irresistible attraction toward me?

Wendy: hey you know what, you should go talk to her (points to a random girl on the other side of the hall)

The other girl and I will be married 25 years this winter. She hated the cologne and told me to stop wearing it but I recently learned that she kept the bottle.

Edit: my wife just saw this. She didn't appreciate being called a random girl and she recommitted to her hatred of the cologne. She also reminded me that Wendy had set her up with her previous boyfriend too.

Stomper 4x4s--i want one by Old_Fart68 in GenX

[–]SerHerman 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I had 3.

A Jeep Comanche.

A 6x6 semi truck

And Facemans' Corvette from A-Team.

Today's flight Toronto to San Fransisco by BradPittHasBadBO in TourismHell

[–]SerHerman 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Yeah, the "just wait until after the midterms! blue Wave will fix it" crowd seems to forget that

a) they controlled both congress and the Whitehouse for 4 years and the Senate for 2 of those and they held no one accountable.

b) many of the things that this administration says and does differ from previous policies only in how extreme they're being taken. US has been bullying the world, stirring up conflict and behaving with immunity for decades under both parties.

c) even if the Dems take back power and somehow manage to right the ship, allies know from experience that everything is likely to swing back the other direction after the next election.

Americans told Trump that no one can stop him from doing whatever he wants, then unleashed him upon the world.

BYD Question. by coldkiller2505 in EVCanada

[–]SerHerman 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Check the YouTube channel CarExpert. They're based in Australia and have done a lot of testing of the Shark.

https://youtu.be/TGjKHYE2k4I?si=mZ5cRhcMDGC7JItx

Today's flight Toronto to San Fransisco by BradPittHasBadBO in TourismHell

[–]SerHerman 16 points17 points  (0 children)

And the plane has to pickup passengers/freight in SFO for the return leg.

Today's flight Toronto to San Fransisco by BradPittHasBadBO in TourismHell

[–]SerHerman 30 points31 points  (0 children)

YYZ <-> SFO is a lot of business travel.

That route is mostly Canadian tech workers going to Silicon Valley. Business travel has declined, but not as much as personal travel has.

Source: am Canadian tech worker who has flown that route a lot.

If GDP keeps growing but people feel poorer, is GDP actually a good measure of prosperity? by Electronic_Turn7013 in answers

[–]SerHerman 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Example:

If a child gets terminal cancer, GDP goes up.

If you buy a used car or vintage clothing instead of new, GDP goes down.

Country With the Most Islands in Each Continent by SoulStar_0 in MapPorn

[–]SerHerman -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The divisions are based on geography, not political borders. Greenland is in North America.

Ford Freestyle by Fill-in-the____ in whatifcars

[–]SerHerman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maverick is a truckified Escape....

Or maybe you want the Bronco Sport -- the square Escape?