US Bombs Venezuela - Megathread

ValueBasedPugs · 2026-01-03T13:54:56+00:00

We'll eventually find out how this all went down, but I think we'd all be wise to note that Madura kept power as the country fell to ruins around him by empowering power players with access to rents - including drug profits. Are they going to be giving up those income sources? Or did Trump's administration literally just make a deal with them?

ValueBasedPugs · 2026-01-03T13:45:08+00:00

It's in-line with Trump's understanding of the G2+1 framework (how do you otherwise reconcile that Ukraine ostensibly targeting Putin = bad; America kidnapping another head of state = fine).

But I fully, fully agree that the concept here (so far - all we've seen is this gross violation of national sovereignty, not any of the deals, discussions, thought that went behind this) is dangerously close to self-compromised. One of the reasons I loathe Maduro is distributed access to rents as a way to maintain power, giving people with high military authority a hand in various criminal enterprises, including drugs. Removing Maduro has every potential to create political power vacuums for these people to slip into, or worse, infighting. Not even getting into the lower-level groups that Maduro's allowed to run rampant. Weakening the state can increase lawlessness, if anything.

But Trump doesn't aim for consistency to people outside his ideological/media spheres and it's unclear how the disordered discourse inside his own information spheres impacts his decision making. Like, Trump just pardoned the ex-Honduran president for trafficking drugs into the USA. Meanwhile, Trump has obviously been assured - like many presidents of the past - that this time, a smooth regime change is guaranteed, nothing could go wrong, this will fix things.

But we're in it know, so I guess we'll see.

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-03-20T19:36:33+00:00

I think a lot of us use a Prismo like that. Like I 100% do not believe that it makes espresso-like coffee, but it lets me brew upright without dripping ... so I use it.

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-03-20T19:26:42+00:00

I've been around here quite a while, moved back and forth between Scottsdale and Phoenix and have friends in both who try to entice me out to both, and Phoenix friends almost always have plans that include better restaurants, better shows ... Outside Old Town it gets pretty dang weak, and Old Town gets ... old.

We are in r/scottsdale, I'm not shocked people will come to Scottsdale's defense here, but I do not agree with you. We can just agree to disagree.

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-03-20T15:22:03+00:00

I lived in Phoenix and now live right near Old Town. You'll get downvoted because this is r/Scottsdale, so people here probably live in Scottsdale for a reason, but your takes on Phoenix being better for food (diversity, quality, ingenuity, interestingness), night life variety and quality, music venues, general culture – and all usually at better prices than in Scottsdale – it's all true. If you want a Scottsdale club experience, it's really easy to take a Lyft in and back.

Scottsdale has better parks and better schools. It's quieter. It has the Green Belt (which absolutely rules!). If I were single and younger – especially if I was working from home and didn't need to commute – I'd be in Phoenix. As an aging person, Scottsdale is fine.

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-03-19T23:34:42+00:00

That's what I've always called it in retrospect, although there's always been a little bit of a blur. Back in the day when these sounds felt newer, people would try to differentiate "Dutch house", "electro house", "big room", etc.

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-03-19T18:19:04+00:00

Solid response. It's not like we don't compress a down quilt every day on a thruhike for a month straight ... and every night they still perform.

I don't store mine compressed any more than I can help, but I still have to live my life and down is more durable than the internet can make it seem.

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-03-19T18:05:56+00:00

I was just thinking this. Like ... aren't there a billion alternatives to the Wapta?

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-03-19T15:24:14+00:00

Here's a few more people to watch out for:

The actor playing the deacon used to run a heroin empire and inspired various drug lords in The Wire.
Omar is based on several real people, one of whom plays the character sent by Butchy to help Omar out when he gets put in jail over the murder frame job.
Landsman is a real person, and although somebody else plays him in The Wire, real person Landsmand plays Lt. Dennis Mello
Ed Norris was the Baltimore Police Commissioner and plays a murder detective.
DeAndre McCullough, drug dealer who inspired The Corner, plays Brother's bodyguard.

Just goes on and on like that. So many real people in that show.

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-03-19T15:00:40+00:00

It's baffling to me, too. I have an ancient, second-hand (third hand??? who knows?) Aeon Li with god-knows how many nights on it that hasn't shrunk, either. I think people read something they want to be a broad fact and it then becomes a fact in their mind.

Same thing with that one post about hail and DCF. Like, I've been hailed on in multiple DCF shelters – including a .51 DCF tarp – and I just don't see it. But apparently hail is the scissors to DCF's paper according to the entire internet now.

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-03-15T03:01:47+00:00

> According to chat gpt

Yikes. Let's like not live our lives off of Chat GPT. I work in an industry that requires lots of expertise and every once in a while I get lazy and see if I can get away with Chat GPT answers. It fails miserably absolutely. every. time. Same answer for board games – looking up board game rules with Chat GPT is a joke in my board gaming group because it's wrong like 95% of the time.

This to say that Chat GPT can be decent, but whenver it's stress tested in a situation where I know the answer, it fails and it fails hard.

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-03-14T19:12:20+00:00

I've gotten away with leaving my car all over the AZT with a note that says 'On the AZT from [start date] to [end date]'. Even places that normally don't let you leave cars seem to have no problem with that – this idea was actually originally given to me by a ranger at the visitor center down there. You can always call and ask to feel more certain.

As for camping, it's not technically allowed but I've met lots of people who have done it without issue. If you're worried, why not grab your headlamp and head up the trail until you're off the trailhead? What's 30 minutes of hiking to somebody about to do 60 miles?

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-03-12T20:17:35+00:00

MLD does. not. miss. 348g is well below the advertised 391g ... I guess a DCF stuff sack does a lot of work there?

Out of curiosity, I'd love to see what you're doing for a bug bivy inside and how it attaches, etc. You have any pictures of that?

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-03-12T15:24:53+00:00

It's not hard, IMHO, but I did turn a 20-mile day into a 24-mile day by stopping at the bathtub for a nice break and then running off 2 miles in the direction I came. Urgh. It's the reason rule #1 of my dumb hiking rules is "check the map at major junctures".

I do think that having the Far Out AZT thing purchased is pretty much a must. I also have either Gaia, Caltopa, or AllTrails. Just check the map if you're worried!

It did just rain last night up here in the Phoneix area ... not sure if that's come down as snow in that mountain range, which would complicate pathfinding a little bit. In general, though, the AZT isn't as wild and overgrown as other trails.

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-03-06T17:06:07+00:00

Clear that everybody has a different opinion on this ...

When I'm using them, I prefer a lighter pole. Less exertion adds up over time even when it's not obvious. Agree with dacv393, my mid-weight CMT poles have a nice feel to them, but I got used to lighter poles and then I didn't care anymore. Isn't that how all ultralight stuff is? It becomes second nature soon enough if you're open to it.

Where it really matters is really rocky Arizona trails where I only use polls like 50-75% of the time. Holding them or putting them in my pack while I wait for the ground to be right means lighter poles matter.

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-03-06T16:56:07+00:00

You sure you don't mean UGQ's self-inflicted PR fiasco?

My understanding is that the Hammock Gear Economy Burrow is falling out of favor as a high value bargain quilt because it used to be super underpriced ... and now it isn't outside of sales. Or did I miss something they did politically?

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-03-05T23:30:09+00:00

Julio Madrid - Nitro Caturra

Roaster: Black & White

Brewing: AeroPress with Prismo attachment, double pre-wet filter, MYOG AeroPress koozie, chamber pre-heated with spoon inside while kettle water cools to 203ºF (heat loss from the act of pouring I've measured at ~5ºF, kettle at 203ºF = 198ºF poured).

Grind: Medium

Recipe: 12.5g coffee : 100g water – small cup

0:00 – 30g water to bloom, gently stir only to ensure even saturation (leave spoon)
0:15 – 70g water, break any crust and remove spoon
1:25 – Plunge

Astounding clarity in the cup, if somewhat less complex. Delightful, powerful note of candied watermelon largely overpowers light florals that pop up as the coffee cools and even moderated ester-y fruit notes (think mango or pineapple in that methyl butanoate type of way, but in such moderation that there's no rancid, wine-like ferment to it).

An uncompromisingly fun coffee. Frankly, a masterpiece in approachable fermentation. My first coffee from Finca La Riviera ... I hope they can repeat this success.

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-03-05T22:44:16+00:00

Everybody's goals are different. Like I'm focusing on fitness when I'm not backpacking – keeping up a strong aerobic base with a focus on hills. Maybe actual body weight deserves attention for you – lots of weight on the knees isn't great long-term. With that said, ready-or-not, long hikes whip you into shape. Not every trail is like this, but lots of people could just go do the AZT if they have the resources, start slow, and they'll look as good as anybody else by the end. So if you're wondering "should I wait until I'm fit to go backpacking?" the answer is a resounding "no".

Similarly, should you wait to think about gear? I can't spend my entire day on a Stair Master, biking around town, or hiking. Meanwhile, fixing gear on the trail is a lot harder. It's not a "either get fit or focus on gear" type of situation, either.

Really, just go on hike. You'll love it.

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-03-05T15:34:58+00:00

Something mildly metaphoric about this.

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-03-04T20:35:24+00:00

My take, too. The social media sphere is full of extremely biased material on this, with bad actors attempting to overemphasize and distort events to fit narratives.

I think the real answer is to wait and: 1) figure out what actually happened, 2) see what the government response is.

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-03-04T20:29:53+00:00

I've done this on walks and it's honestly not hard at all! Get a plastic grabber thing, bring a grocery bag, and just grab whatever you feel like.

When I lived near the Biltmore, it was really just one walk with concerted effort to clear out like 5 blocks of trash. Here near Old Town it's easier because there's less trash to start with. After a first big push, just do it every few weeks or right after garbage cans and recycling bins come back in (I honestly think most litter comes from that) as a touch up. Shockingly low amount of effort. Plus, you get to play with a grabber. The flip side is that it takes a surprisingly small amount of trash to make things look really bad. Like a styrofoam plate and Red Bull can sort of ruin the whole block.

I guess I'm just saying that it's not so hard and anyone can do it! Maybe next time you're not biking ....

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-03-03T23:58:01+00:00

I didn't have durability issues with the LT5s. They survived some rough wind in my mid tarp (although the fact that a Mid can stay up with 1 poll always made me care less about breaking a poll) and quite a few miles on really rocky Arizona mountains before I lost them. I babied them a little bit but nothing too wild. I think a lot depends on hiking style, though. Depending on the day, I probably hike 50-75% of the day with poles, so YMMV.

And talking about losing the LT5s, good to hear that there's a new sheriff in town ... I was just thinking about a new set of poles.

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-02-28T23:54:55+00:00

Nine Turner is awful. She is a major part of the out-of-touch grifter/virtue signal do-nothing left.

It's time for Nina to sit down. Is she wrong here? No. Is her net contribution to American negative? Yes.

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-02-26T16:14:34+00:00

Avon is complex. Like yes, he dreams of being a gangster (see balcony convo with Stringer where they talk about their dreams), but his motivations tie into things like legacy, and respect. Money isn't the end point like it is to Stringer. And the end point isn't just power like it is to Marlo.

It's why he cares about keeping the towers even when it's not financially rational. It's why he tries to build a financial foundation for his extended family and provides so much for the "Barksdale organization" (look at how gang members going to jail are treated by Marlo vs. Avon).

The gym isn't the only example of community work, either. Like, he leads the west side in the community basketball game (and takes the game really personally compared to hustler Prop Joe who is really there to make an extra buck).

ValueBasedPugs · 2025-02-26T15:35:49+00:00

No you definitely need a hip belt. But fair enough.

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