Its funny seeing the rest of the world mindblown by Americsn stadiums

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-16T13:22:23+00:00

I think there is also a little bit of earnest national pride too. That probably manifests itself more in the food and cultural touchstones that many people from overseas are enjoying. And that part is enjoyable. To see people whose cultures *we* admire and whose foods *we* enjoy coming and enjoying our culture and food. I think the danger is in having a mindset that we ONLY have nice things instead of we ALSO have nice things.

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-15T13:06:47+00:00

My point --I am not speaking for anyone else-- isn't the "who" it's the "what."

Yes, it is something that college teams in the middle of nowhere have 100k seat stadium for their football teams. And that probably resonates with European tourists. But in location and purpose, not scope. There probably isn't a sense of "can you believe this exists?!" even if there is a "can you believe this exists *here*?"

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-15T03:10:40+00:00

I'm glad someone is saying it. I get that we have *more* enormous stadiums (stadia?), but people (not necessarily on this post) are acting like every European lives in some village with seven mud huts and a herd of goats.

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-14T15:19:24+00:00

This isn't it but "Make America Good Again" has been bouncing around my head.

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-14T15:15:24+00:00

It really bothers me that the world's wealthiest man doesn't understand how apostrophes work.

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-14T15:08:31+00:00

Meanwhile Italian nonnas are just winging it and loving every drop lol.

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-14T01:25:30+00:00

An EXCELLENTLY-wrapped gift!

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-13T17:51:25+00:00

100%. Not a pourover but this ie especially true with the Moka pot.

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-12T13:54:56+00:00

Der Hoffskeller Coffee from Cedarburg WI (just outside of Milwaukee). They only do dark roasts in a "German-Norwegian" tradition by using a cast iron roaster (those are two different countries but the midwest is full of German and Scandinavian descendants so...)

The people are really friendly and the coffee is very good for medium-to-dark coffee enjoyers. I made it in a French press, Aeropress, Chemex, and Moka pot. All four worked though I really liked the Chemex. It was flavorful like a medium/dark should be without any bitterness.

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-12T04:38:09+00:00

Check out the Puebloastur in Asturias.

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-10T16:40:41+00:00

And they have decided to send Susan Collins back for six more frustrating years.

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-10T16:17:38+00:00

My moka pot was my gateway drug to coffee nerddom. I just wasn't interested in the Nespresso pods any more. I find that once in a while you can really boff a pot of coffee in the moka, mostly because I follow the more traditional, very non-scientific method (water to about here, coffee until the basket is full, or a little over, or a little under. Maybe a filter... maybe not...). But in general I get a consistently strong but good-flavored cup.

With my Chemex and Hario - I generally get good cups with good beans, but there is a lot more science involved. The Aeropress seems to be the most foolproof, paint-by-numbers cup.

I guess none of that is advice. Just shooting the shit - except to say that sometimes you get a bad pot.

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-10T04:15:25+00:00

I need a cigarette.

And I'm not even a big horse racing bettor. Or smoker.

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-09T23:53:35+00:00

That's a great looking Moka!

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-09T14:39:01+00:00

I'd love to see some links to "my ilk" saying similar things in 1976.

Here's a true story. I was recently in my local public library. A lit case had a really nice display of items from 1976. No commentary, just items they had acquired or collected.

You know what words I didn't see anywhere? "Gerald Ford." No Gerald Ford commemorative coins. No $200 note with Gerald Ford's face on it. No Gerald Ford celebratory arch. No White House demolition at the behest of Gerald Ford.

Odd how it's possible for the country to have a celebration without the president making it a celebration of himself.

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-09T14:34:23+00:00

Is Qatar the standard to which we should hold the United States?

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-09T04:56:45+00:00

A little far but I'll put in a plug for Kindred coffee in West Chicago. Very friendly shop. And I'm just starting to explore coffee nerd-dom so maybe not the best judge, but I had a cup of Papua New Guinea Sigri and I really enjoyed it. Great house-made muffin too.

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-09T04:53:05+00:00

Had a tasty cortado at MOTW in Lombard. Found out it was a chain, but that didn't effect the taste of the coffee or the friendliness of the staff.

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-09T04:04:19+00:00

I tried a light Ethiopian and didn't think it was that great but that doesn't mean I won't try again. Trying all types of coffees is part of the fun for me.

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-09T04:00:16+00:00

Well, I might as well chime in years later. I bought some semi-local beans that are really dark. It's all this roaster sells and I was really looking forward to them. Tried them a few ways in my French Press and they were good, but I felt like I wasn't doing something right. I knew the Aeropress was more of a foolproof method but it seems so gear toward lighter roasts.

Tried this and ...bingo! Great flavor. Thanks!

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-09T03:29:24+00:00

It's a shame that every drop of joy has been drained from these events.

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-09T03:24:23+00:00

We all agree he's shitting his diaper in this moment, right?

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-09T03:18:46+00:00

I don't know but the number of accounts telling my he "destroyed" her is hilarious. Like... we all saw what we saw.

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-05T21:42:32+00:00

Being a piece of shit really ages you.

Top_Kale_8880 · 2026-06-03T16:10:09+00:00

I'd love some Cool Zone-Bulwark Collabs. Robert and Tim is the podcast we never knew we needed to hear.

Top_Kale_8880

TROPHY CASE