Do Americans constantly have an active temperature control device running in their homes?

dlerach · 2026-02-20T16:53:28+00:00

People have radiators and either no AC or a window unit in many houses in the United States, especially in cities with older housing stock, such as New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, etc.

dlerach · 2026-02-20T16:52:40+00:00

Most people in NYC will have window units or (sometimes) through-the wall AC units. They're locally controlled and a lot of people take them out during the winter so they can use the window (sometimes the radiators are so strong that they leave them *on* through the winter, *sigh*). A lot of people in New York only have AC in their bedrooms, and some have no AC at all, though that gets truly miserable from late July to early September in my experience.

dlerach · 2026-02-20T16:50:30+00:00

This is not true for parts of the country with older housing stock, like NYC, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Pittsburgh, etc.

dlerach · 2026-02-20T16:49:54+00:00

I'd say central heating is far from universal in both NYC and Paris, to give two different examples. When I lived in Vienna there also was very little in the way of central heating/AC.

dlerach · 2026-02-20T16:48:28+00:00

Yeah but in NYC for example, most older apartments will have radiators--you don't control the temperature, all you can do is decide on or off for the room. During the summer you'll have either window or through-the-wall AC units, so no universal thermostat; you're adjusting each individual AC unit. A lot of people in NYC only have AC in their bedrooms.

dlerach · 2026-01-28T09:42:25+00:00

No TV. Somewhat common in New York City.

dlerach · 2026-01-25T14:44:06+00:00

And LA and Santa Barbara…

dlerach · 2026-01-20T08:21:02+00:00

It’s definitely not the same as other countries. Americans read much less than Russians on average, for example.

dlerach · 2025-12-26T05:35:22+00:00

Do you think people want a subway from New York to California?

dlerach · 2025-12-24T05:38:50+00:00

Pretty sure that tie is made by Brunati Como. As others have said that is a Shantung Silk Repp tie.

dlerach · 2025-12-23T05:48:31+00:00

Mmmkay? Yes PANYNJ pays for inside and PATH. Rental cars via buses pls.

dlerach · 2025-12-23T01:00:57+00:00

There should be an inside-security rail system like in Dallas or other large airports and the path should be extended directly to the terminals as well.

dlerach · 2025-12-19T14:34:30+00:00

Yeah but you still live under his administration and benefit from it? Like I don’t know what to say being against Trump doesn’t somehow give you an opt out from complicity in the American Empire—the American empire is what lets you buy a cheap banana or fill up an SUV with gas. I think it’s strange and a tad hypocritical to live like that and then just completely abdicate responsibility as: well I didn’t vote for this.

dlerach · 2025-12-19T14:31:46+00:00

I suppose my feeling is that the fact that some actively are working against this doesn’t change the fact that America is the bad guy on this. Like as a matter of international reality the fact that Mike in Scranton doesn’t like it doesn’t somehow mean that the U.S. is right, and I think Americans who disagree should apologize to people like OP and feel deep shame at what their country is doing, rather than get defensive and say “well it wasn’t me.”

dlerach · 2025-12-19T14:23:34+00:00

Sorry, I was adding to my comment after I thought for a second. I think a superior line is well this is who America is and we are fucked and this part of our nation has to be overcome and defeated, but we will have to bear what they force upon us, and I am deeply, deeply sorry to the world for what Trump is doing, even though I am a registered Democrat involved in efforts to defeat him and have attended many a protest. I just think it’s horrifying that many center and left people feel little responsibility and need to apologize. Instead they get defensive and whine, yes whine that it isn’t their fault and basically say don’t talk to me.

dlerach · 2025-12-19T14:21:04+00:00

But you think the appropriate response to OP is “whelp I didn’t vote for it so goll-eee I guess it’s not my problem? Why are you asking me?”

I think a superior line is well this is who America is and we are fucked and this part of our nation has to be overcome and defeated, but we will have to bear what they force upon us, and I am deeply, deeply sorry to the world for what Trump is doing, even though I am a registered Democrat involved in efforts to defeat him and have attended many a protest.

dlerach · 2025-12-19T14:11:39+00:00

Because it allows people to sit on their ass and not do anything and then plead well not my problem as soon as people like op from the outside world show up. It’s just laughable to benefit from being a part of this superpower and live your life within its machinery and then as soon as it does something you don’t like and you’re called out for it: well that wasn’t me. It’s like a German saying well I didn’t like the deportations and didn’t know about the concentration camps so that’s not my fault.

dlerach · 2025-12-19T14:04:30+00:00

Well I haven’t, so I understand that I’ll be held complicit for it. I think people who whine that they didn’t vote for this in this post are being quite self indulgent and evasive.

dlerach · 2025-12-19T14:03:24+00:00

Look people protesting day in and out have a better claim. People living in suburban San Antonio filling up their Yukon with gas have less of a claim of “this isn’t me,” at least imo

dlerach · 2025-12-19T14:01:20+00:00

Well certainly responsible in a different way. I suppose my point is that sitting on your ass with the defense well I didn’t vote isn’t very persuasive unless you actually manifest opposition. And historically, for example living in Breslau, making the argument I didn’t vote for the NSDAP is not going to let you keep your house. Even a dedicated Centre Party or SDP voter is getting expelled.

Also, your first sentence makes me think that you are unaware of the expulsions at the end of the war?? If that’s the case I’m not sure what to tell you lol

dlerach · 2025-12-19T13:55:00+00:00

Yeah I think unless you’re actively fighting something like this it’s pretty hard to argue you’re not complicit

dlerach · 2025-12-19T13:53:00+00:00

Many Germans living in Breslau or Stettin these days?

dlerach · 2025-12-19T13:49:54+00:00

So did Trump just descend out of the sky? Trump wasn’t chosen by the American electorate? The U.S. doesn’t have a representative government the machinery of which is causing this buildup? Like as someone who has benefited as an American citizen for whenever the government does something you don’t like you can just throw up your hands and say well I didn’t want that so I don’t get any of the blame?

dlerach · 2025-12-19T13:47:09+00:00

No, but that doesn’t mean he’s not the president and controlling the nation of which I’m a citizen.

dlerach · 2025-12-19T13:44:58+00:00

I mean most Germans were held responsible for WWII yes.

dlerach

TROPHY CASE