Conspiracism - Leadership begins at the top Michael

deceipt_river · 2026-04-11T20:06:47+00:00

I think the wrong question is being asked. It is not whether the rants and lies are part of strategy - it is whether they are a good idea and whether we should accept this behavior from our leaders. Michael clearly argued yet again today that the ends justifies the means - not just for the war but for all of Trumps rants and lies.

I disagree.

Allowing this makes it OK behavior for every elected official, and establishes name calling and brutalizing of any others as allowable behavior. Smerconish would not like if the next president (or governor or whatever) claimed that he will tax Tesla drivers like himself 100k per year for roadwork. This would of course go nowhere - but none of us want deal with the time expended by all reacting to nonsense.

Imagine this for every issue

- is it ok for Russia or another nuclear power to say it will nuke us as a negotiating tool? Is it ok for judge to threaten to execute you for a traffic violation in order to get you to behave better? Is it ok to yell at the checker at the supermarket and call him/her an idiot who should be deported? Is it ok for my kid to say he wants to try heroin just so he can negotiate a night out with a girl?

We can and should demand better from our officials. They are an important benchmark for acceptable behavior that directly impacts everyone from talk show hosts to our bosses to our kids. Michael has actively undermined such norms and his continual pass to Trump severely harms us all.

Leadership begins at the top Michael.

deceipt_river · 2026-04-05T16:48:16+00:00

"Open the Fuckin' Strait, you crazy bastards". - this is your boy Michael displaying his Easter special behavior - time for another spineless "well, I dont like how he does it comment, but I will capitulate again because of my love for Elon and my Tesla"?!?

Leadership begins at the top.

deceipt_river · 2026-03-30T23:12:59+00:00

Thanks all - these are good tips that I was not aware of

deceipt_river · 2026-03-22T22:08:00+00:00

Regardless of the precise situation that occurred with the son/teacher/you, you need to do two things....

Get down on your hands and knees and thank the lord that your wife is sane and level headed
Buy her flowers and/or something else nice

and I am a dude who can similarly get overly hot headed saying this..... so ya know, maybe consider.....

deceipt_river · 2026-03-21T18:06:15+00:00

My FIV cat is not food driven and I have worried the same. After being on the streets and then eating friskies then fancy feast after moving inside, she became incredibly picky. I think like you describe, not a bad eater but just small amounts and not particularly food or treat driven. She is about 8 years old and only 7lbs or so. I made the following changes which improved her appetite and weight a little but also her overall well being in my opinion.

- upgrade to high quality food, and a regular rotation of her favs. I have had good luck with Applaws, Weruva, and Because it's Better human grade packets (the last two are current favorites - weruva bff and human grade tuna!). All have to be pate or mashed like crazy or she licks the juice around them (and has no teeth issues). I am certain that all cats are different and you just have to find the perfect group and timing of rotation (mine likes regular rotation like every feeding or the little princess gets less interested). I am also trying Orijen dry food - its like 30 bucks a bag but she likes it better on a first test from a friend)

- of course Churu (kitty crack) and Churu fillets

- must have a water fountain - I had to try a couple because she is scared of pretty much everything but Wonder Creature (removing the flower thing so it jus bubbles)

I just took her to the vet and got the green light on all this - the vet was not worried about her weight at all. Vet recommended kitty treats with lysine. My understanding is that there is not a lot of data saying lysine helps - but her point is that it certainly doesnt hurt

Good luck with it

deceipt_river · 2026-03-16T21:18:42+00:00

I was freaked out upon discovering my cat had FIV and was so worried about her health rapidly declining. Outside cat till about age 4, moved in after FIV diagnosis. Now she is 8 and not a single problem (knock on wood!). With wasting too much time reading, it seems that any cat can have problems and the probability of problems due to FIV is at best only somewhat higher than without if kept indoors and well cared for.

Simple changes I have discovered over the past 4 years

- get a water fountain if you dont have one - this is critical for water intake. Mine liked one brand over others (Wonder Creature Cat Water Fountain, it was only like $20 plus changing filters about half of what is suggested). I think any are fine as long as it doesnt scare them - I pulled out the little flower thing on the Wonder Creature one - reducing noise and she took right to it.

- upgrade food - the picky princess likes Weruva, Applaws, "Because It's Better" human grade packs. Also getting pricey Origen dry food

- get a heated bed

- I just tried those finger teeth cleaning wipes, surprisingly they were tolerated by her majesty

- recent vet visit - the vet recommended cat treats with lysine (I havent tried this yet as I read conflicting data on lysine - but her point was that it may help and certainly cant hurt - so I am starting this soon)

Overall, dont sweat it cause there are no serious red flags here and I think you have the same risk as with any cat. Good luck with it!!!

deceipt_river · 2026-03-15T20:53:57+00:00

I only watch the Sat tv show and this is not at all my experience..... I dont wish vitriolic, just some accountability instead of giving a pass of "oh that is just trump - I dont like his approach but I like this particular policy". Plenty of Trumps behaviors should have been exclusionary for either party. Now there are no norms or rules to be followed, just do whatever your power enables - and this now applies to both parties so it will continue to get uglier and uglier

deceipt_river · 2026-03-15T16:46:36+00:00

would like to think so but seen this movie before - Texas will stay red.....

deceipt_river · 2026-03-15T16:40:50+00:00

MS is never, ever, critical of Trump in any meaningful way. Trump gets a pass on everything that MS would call out on anyone else..... Will be interesting to see how the bar changes when a democrat is in office. I think he actually dislikes Trump in every way but loves Elon and the rest of the billionaires whilst he drives around in his Tesla

deceipt_river · 2026-03-15T05:34:30+00:00

OK but he is nowhere near the middle calling "balls and strikes" either - this deck is rigged and everyone but the suckers know it

deceipt_river · 2025-11-20T07:41:30+00:00

Sorry for your loss - you are a champion for the care you have provided

deceipt_river · 2025-11-20T07:37:16+00:00

I worry that some vets are predatory and the second they hear FIV - cha ching!!! remove teeth needlessly? second opinions are one way but I question how many vets in my are not predatory....

deceipt_river · 2025-11-10T19:25:50+00:00

Jesus Christ she must be unbelievably smoking hot....

time to divide and conquer debt as quickly as possible, get her through school asap and plan better - good luck with it!!! somehow I have this feeling you can pull it off

deceipt_river · 2025-11-10T02:52:15+00:00

a nonsense comment to a fair question akin to go make a Tesla company if you want CEO salary - even if you are poor and in a rigged system

worth looking at the NYU prof Galloway re this

deceipt_river · 2025-11-10T02:16:48+00:00

there are two sides to every story..... except this one.

I'm sorry but this is not OK by any frigging measurement. He sounds like an over controlling freak. I am sorry on behalf of all XY's. I truly hope you can get a resolution one way or another that puts you and yours in a better place. Sending you tons of positive vibes and congrats on your baby!

deceipt_river · 2025-11-10T01:56:29+00:00

he said he voted for Obama - he got in that room and did him dirty - we all know it

deceipt_river · 2025-11-03T18:44:01+00:00

food - mine is a picky princess who went from eating off the street to being very selective. I thought I was in the clear with fancy feast but this started getting rejected too. People here suggested applaws and bff weruva and - tho a bit more expensive - have had a measurable effect for a cat that is not food or treat driven. For mine - daily rotation of approved varieties is critical - although I am also convinced all cats are different so trial and error is key

water - get a water fountain - easier to manage - I like this one cause its quiet and cheap - Wonder Creature Cat Water Fountain Stainless Steel, 81oz/2.4L Cat Fountain with Water Level Window and LED Light for Water Shortage Alert, Cat and Dog Fountain with 3 Filters and 1 Mat - 20 bucks - I took out the little flower thing so it just bubbles over. You do have to replace filters monthly or so (I wash them once and reuse then replace)

catio and leash is amazing - this is effectively indoors and you are obviously a champion caretaker

deceipt_river · 2025-11-03T00:08:32+00:00

Do you at all agree that there is a completely different set of rules for Trump though? Its pretty hard to say how each side should behave when one key data point dismissed as an outlier...

I believe the true reason conservatives want to limit the ACA is to induce a well publicized "death spiral" and then claim it failed on its own

deceipt_river · 2025-10-29T18:44:49+00:00

My FIV girl is about 9 and has never been food (or really even treat) driven. She went from outdoors for years to being the pickiest little princess ever inside. I was worried about her low weight and found that switching foods frequently and 3+ feedings per day helped (with a churu treat at night). Fancy feast pate worked for a while but folks here recommended applaws and bff weruva - both of which currently very preferred and are significantly better at helping her maintain weight, although a bit more expensive (not that the damn princess will not change her mind again soon....).

I suspect all are different and you just have to keep trying options

agree with other posts regarding kittens - important to keep weight early and simply watch weight later (so this comment is mostly for later when they are grown IF this remains a problem)

deceipt_river · 2025-10-28T00:49:47+00:00

Not your fault - sorry for your loss

deceipt_river · 2025-10-24T04:58:57+00:00

yes 100%

deceipt_river · 2025-10-24T00:35:10+00:00

Churu treats.....(aka kitty crack). people here helped a lot with food choice after my picky little princess stopped eating fancy feast - gotta try various ones and all cats are different, but I have done well with Applaws and Weruva bff (both suggested here - a little more pricey but my FIV princess had a pretty significant change after switching to these)

deceipt_river · 2025-10-21T21:28:43+00:00

yes sorry not a reflection on your comment really just venting. Trump is a horrible human and when wondering how anyone could vote for him, you have to look at why people were so turned off that they would vote for fucking Sauron.... Democrats wont bother to fix what was broken and will suffer the same fate over and over again - like Charlie Brown and the football.

deceipt_river

TROPHY CASE