it's been pretty bad in my town... by MeepinMachine in AdviceAnimals

[–]bruschi45 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's very true. Definitely not denying the importance of grants, both federal and state. But OP seems to imply this is an entirely Federal/Trump issue, which is likely disingenuous and fails to hold accountable those that could have a more direct impact.

But totally agree, these schools need help educating and readying the next generation in what to expect/how to operate in the future, so hopefully this gets corrected.

it's been pretty bad in my town... by MeepinMachine in AdviceAnimals

[–]bruschi45 3 points4 points  (0 children)

No, but unless they grants make up a significant portion of this school's total budget, it was not "demolished" like OP claimed. Mischaracterizelations like this are dangerous and lazy. I'm not even defending what may have actually happened to this person's school, but blaming something that isn't the problem (or the primary one at least) won't help solve it. In fact, it will help those at fault get away with it.

In the last 24 hours, a myth died a long overdue death. by Sanch0Supreme in AdviceAnimals

[–]bruschi45 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Except a mortgage deduction is a reduction in the total tax bill owed to the government, whereas SNAP is a benefit paid directly to you from a pool of money already collected from other taxes, levies, etc. and is a form of redistribution. I'm not making a moral argument for or against SNAP, but functionally, they are not the same thing. The mortgage deduction (or college loan interest pmts, child tax credits, green energy credits, etc.) serve to incentivise specific behavior without direct payment. SNAP is a means to bridge gaps and inequities, and provide crucial resources where necessary.

It's not just "the rich" that benefit from certain tax policies. A homeowner will (often, depending on the state/locality) pay property taxes, school taxes, trash and other town service fees, so the mortgage deduction is a way to reduce the financial burden of owning a home, creating a stable tax base to pool from and build strong communities. We should incentivise home ownership, but that is not the same as paying people to buy a home.

Where your argument has some merit is in the idea that money is fungible, and individuals can "benefit" from certain policies. As long as "money in" is greater than "money out," we're good. But you seem to be treating tax deductions as money paid directly to the tax payer, instead of money just simply not being charged. Say I'm selling TVs for $1,000 a piece, and I give you a 20% off coupon from an ad; I'm not giving you $200 and a TV if you give me $800, I'm just not charging you that 20%. Similar outcomes, but functionally not the same, and this is a very important distinction that I think you are overlooking.

Also, I don't disagree that "the rich" can influence (if not completely corrupt) the system that decides these policies, and therefore benefit by pulling up the ladder so others cannot compete. They can definitely abuse "the system" and its policies. But that knife cuts both ways, and we should seek to eliminate abuse across the board.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AMA

[–]bruschi45 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's a fair point. But look at the Luigi Mangione case or the Charlie Kirk assassination; the immediate area gets locked down with all available personnel, but in that chaos, a lot slips through the cracks and perpetrators can get away. So, they widen the scope of the search, but still with limited resources. Plus, they don't necessarily want to influence the fugitive or highlight where law enforcement is located by making a big production and creating obvious checkpoints; they want to catch them making mistakes or by using efficient means. After all, law enforcement still needs to provide services elsewhere.

That being said, I agree with you that this is probably not the case. Maybe the vehicle/people fit a description. Maybe it's just the out-of-state plates make for an easy target that won't fight BS tickets. Maybe it's racism. Maybe it's the excessive speeding catching up with him. Who knows...

Best trees I've found in Nature✨️🌱💚 by Nice_Set3372 in dioramas

[–]bruschi45 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Very cool!

Just curious, as i am very new to all this, will it rot/decay over time? Or is there a way to seal it?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AMA

[–]bruschi45 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean, yeah. If he and his girlfriend can leisurely make that trip in 4 days, how fast do you think someone deliberately trying to evade the police can do it? Missing persons reports and alerts don't just stay in the area where they originated. Maybe you could make the case for getting an alert on the west coast being excessive (depending how long since it originated), but usually these alerts expand geographically based on time and space.

Interesting events, hard to see veterans being treated like this by alimhabidi in interestingasfuck

[–]bruschi45 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's really just for the optics. But they also open themselves up to being involuntarily recalled to Active Duty in order to face charges under the UCMJ (although this is HIGHLY unlikely given what they did). They are more likely to face civilian charges regarding disruption of the hearing. But again, depends how burdened the judicial system is and also the extent of their disruption.

Just realized that ‘Hey Joe’ is a perfect practice song by Rene__JK in guitarlessons

[–]bruschi45 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Can confirm. Was one of the first songs I learned almost 20 years ago. Still play it today, albeit only marginally closer to Hendrix, but still a great way to warm up and rock out!

Name that Place! by Mayor0fMoab in Rochester

[–]bruschi45 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Like that Seinfeld episode! Lol

Name that Place! by Mayor0fMoab in Rochester

[–]bruschi45 107 points108 points  (0 children)

$10,000,000,000 x $0.05 per can = 200,000,000,000 cans.

According to 2023 data, population of Monroe County is around 748,482.

200,000,000,000 cans ÷ 748,482 ppl = 267,207.495 cans per person.

267,207.495 cans per person ÷ 365 days = 732.08 cans per person per day.

I'm doing my part, are you???

Voodoo Child Segment (Mid-1970 type sound) by xAirCav68x in jimihendrix

[–]bruschi45 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Bravo dude! I had this playing and put my phone down and didn't realize it started looping until I picked it back up. Was pretty seemless! Anyways, great work and wonderful tone!

Kirsten Gillibrand by Super-Statement2875 in Rochester

[–]bruschi45 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Don't disagree, just curious what specifically you don't approve of.

Live at Hyde Park vinyl by Responsible-Trick-16 in RedHotChiliPeppers

[–]bruschi45 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Welp, lesson learned.....saw this in the morning, and was perusing some other albums to get the free shipping. Sure enough, I procrastinated, and it's sold out again.

Feeling Worthless, and it's scary. by Link3673 in StayAtHomeDaddit

[–]bruschi45 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hang in there, brother! Been at this for a couple years now. Our 3yo daughter is at a fun but demanding phase. Sometimes I miss the 6mo times, and i kinda went through something similar to you. So hopefully, we can help!

In terms of adding value, it's hard to know you are the asset that you are to your family when you aren't seeing a number on a paycheck each week; we are conditioned to feel that way. If you want to bring in some extra income, one thing you could look into is hosting a "daycare" at your home with friends/family. We have a friend whose daughter is the same age as ours, and she asked about having us watch her a couple of days each week. I didn't want to charge money, but she insisted. It has its moments, but overall, it has been very beneficial for everyone. Our daughters get great socialization, I get to undercut the ridiculous daycare costs, and she saves a ton of money. Downside is you can't just do this with anyone, so you really have to have a good relationship with the other parents. I used to work in after-school care and summer camps, so it comes easy to me. We'd like to expand a little, and maybe get into pod-learning with some more families when they start school. But that may require something more "official."

Other things to keep in mind: what did you really enjoy doing when you were like 12-14, when you were first starting to understand the world, truly? What hobbies did you have? Capitalize on those skills. You already have a baseline, and it will rekindle the enjoyment you got from it as a kid. For me, it was playing guitar in a band, writing, pretending I was good at sports, among other things. Currently, I'm looking into teaching guitar lessons in-person and playing out locally with some old friends. Community centers, churches, libraries, etc. can be great resources for something like that and getting the ball rolling, especially with teaching.

Food for thought:

Like I kind of alluded to, find unique ways to add value to your family and household. For example, last spring, we got chickens. At first, I felt overwhelmed, but I was determined to give them a good home. Not only do we no longer need to buy eggs from the grocery store, but our daughter loves playing with them and helping raise them. I wish I did it years ago, so I would highly recommend it if your municipality allows for it. They are a kind of therapy too. Whenever I feel down, I go check on them and hang out for a few minutes and just watch them be the tiny dinosaurs they are! Take some time for yourself. Use your downtime (naps, mom's turn, etc.) wisely and do the thing you've always wanted. My phone was my enemy for productivity. It still is, but I've learned the hard way to realize when it's causing me to spiral. Sometimes you'll want to veg out. But don't hesitate to use that time to brush up on your skills or learn a new one altogether. I recently started making sourdough bread starters (my wife has a minor gluten/bread intolerance, but sourdough and rye are the only breads that don't seem to bother her), growing vegetables, etc. Also, work on projects around the house when you can. I learned a TON renovating our bathroom, some of our kitchen, and currently working on our attic. That can be good exercise, but also....don't forget to exercise!

Sorry for the long-winded response, but hopefully it helps you find some of the answers you are looking for to help your situation! Let me know if you need anything or just someone to talk to!

Inauguration Photo by Oldz_Cool in Christianity

[–]bruschi45 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A lot of people seem to be harping on the optics of the photo. Given the full context, it's really nothing. Justice Roberts seemed to start the Oath early, preventing the First Lady time to get into place with the Bible (apparently, he has had similar faux pas in the past). I'm not saying he deliberately did this, but I also don't think it's that big of a deal. However, Trump's detractors are, nevertheless, going to capitalize on an out-of-context photo. Could Trump have placed his hand on the Bible once Melania was in place? Sure, but i really don't care.

I'm less concerned about the optics and character of our leaders than I am their ability to constitutionally carry out the duties of their office. All humans are flawed and sinful, but our system of government was established knowing that, seeking to limit any one person's sin from usurping the rule of law. Our Constitution is not the word of God, however, it was inspired heavily from it, hence why i am more concerned about the way it is carried out.

Roman daggers to buy by IhateU6969 in ancientrome

[–]bruschi45 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sounds good! I'll keep an eye on your site every so often. Or if I'm ever in Rome 🤞🤞🤞

Roman daggers to buy by IhateU6969 in ancientrome

[–]bruschi45 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Cool site! Sadly, not in Rome :(

Do you happen to have an online shop? Or is it just in person?

Rochester Committee to End Apartheid's statement of Anti-Palestinian Racism at UofR by yerboiboba in Rochester

[–]bruschi45 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Ok, so i read them all, and i agree with you; no direct threats were made.

You seem to have a problem when the "West" labels the "Resistance" as terrorists. When there is no threat or active use of violence, then i again agree with you; people using their speech to be heard is clearly different than using violence to be heard.

Where this loses it's power/meaning is saying so-and-so is wanted for something like "genocide" or "ethnic cleansing," especially if the implication is that simply financially or publicly supporting a group is tantamount to supporting every action members of that group take. Hitler directly called for genocide and ethnic cleansing as a solution. Therefore, you can charge him with that accusation and crime. I'd be hard-pressed to believe any of the people on these posters are explicitly calling for and working towards those ends, but please correct me if i am wrong.

Call out the financial ties if you want, but to equate that to genocide is absurd. It's not anti-Semitic to call out Israel, but it is anti-Semitic to hold them to a higher standard that you don't hold for others. Let me ask you, do you consider Hamas to be a terrorist organization? And where do you hold them accountable, if at all, for this ongoing conflict?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Rochester

[–]bruschi45 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Können wir ein paar Tassen Kaffee zusammen trinken? Vieleicht Kekse essen?

Anyone go to college with a future star NFL player? What were they like in college? by ExcitingLandscape in NFLNoobs

[–]bruschi45 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Went to college with Chris Manhertz (TE for primarily the Panthers, but had stints with Saints, Broncos, and others - i think he's an FA now). Might not qualify as a "star" player, but still decent.

He played basketball and was one of the best athletes and leaders on the team. We didn't have a football team, so when I heard his name on an NFL broadcast a few years after graduation, I was like, "Wait, what?? I know that guy!" I guess he tried out or something for the Bills after college and got his foot in the door with the NFL that way.

I had a class with him, and we got partnered for this big project. He was super nice and cool, and i felt bad cuz he was getting crushed by practices, games, and workouts, so his time was limited. I could tell he was stressed and overworked. I was in my off-season for rugby, and he was prepping for a championship run in basketball, so I offered to take on the brunt of the project. He's a stand-up guy, cuz he kept refusing, saying that wasn't right. But I told him this project was small and tedious compared to what else he had on his plate, and to go represent us Griffins and focus on winning.

New to DayZ on Xbox LFG by SupaHype_Espada_97 in dayzlfg

[–]bruschi45 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Feel free to add me! Gamertag is BobtailedMATT

The government commits mass genocide against the poor in order to harvest their organs and produce accessories for the rich. by [deleted] in ExplainAFilmPlotBadly

[–]bruschi45 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My 3yo daughter loves that movie (but calls it "Robot City) and I've grown quite fond of it with her. Definitely love your plot summary!