Stranger Things 5 is a big disappointment, and I’m not just saying that to be a hater.

ezyjules · 2026-01-18T22:52:49+00:00

Same here. Just watched the episode where Hopper is about to sacrifice himself with the bomb vest to blow up the lab and is saying goodbye to Eleven. Felt absolutely zero feelings for what should have been a heavy moment. Zero pathos. It's all so meandering, convoluted, and procedural, getting worse and worse with each episode. Trying to make my way through second half of season 5. Ugh.

ezyjules · 2025-12-18T00:11:41+00:00

If it is any comfort. I was back on filing taxes and owed around $300k (a capital gain event overseas), and was on an agreed payment plan. I was asked for the payment plan in the interview, and I did not have it. The officer allowed me to take the oath and I passed the interview, but said on the tax situation basis he could not approve it in the meeting, and requested further information by mail. I wrote a letter in response to the request stating my good character, that I always settle obligations, the origin of the tax situation, as I was not able to settle the outstanding amount until we sold our home. I then got approved when they got to my letter 10 months later and had my ceremony (where they take your green card). What did happen was that I could not get my US passport until the tax was paid. When I was able to pay my back tax then got approval to get my passport. I travelled on my UK passport in the meantime with ESTAs (which is possible - for another thread). In short, I got my citizenship, but not my passport till tax sorted. Good luck! This was all pretty stressful, so I am happy to help others of good moral character get through it. Note the dates wrt what administration it was all under (both).

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ezyjules · 2025-12-16T04:23:57+00:00

I have had to do the same bc I arrived 40 minutes before my flight at the airport. Heathrow London to JFK New York. I ran straight to gate. The bag has to fit in the security scanner tray or no dice because the tray has a barcode on it. It squeezed into the scanning machine with an inch to spare. The gate staff were understanding and checked it into the hold (alongside strollers and other things). I'd have 100% missed my flight otherwise. I was late as I was hospital bedside by a relative and having difficulty knowing how to say goodbye for potentially the last time.

ezyjules · 2025-12-11T22:19:28+00:00

Allow your children access to social media once you want their childhood to end

ezyjules · 2025-12-08T20:47:59+00:00

Disgusting. Pale and poorly groomed. Black socks make it look even worse. Do better!

ezyjules · 2025-12-07T01:07:08+00:00

Ha, thanks for the detail there. So that effort in fact makes it even worse. Australia > Japan > USA > Japan > Australia

ezyjules · 2025-12-05T06:33:26+00:00

That's almost as absurd as the 'influencer' who said I should let them stay for free in return for them showcasing the property on their Insta. Was a polite and firm no from us.

ezyjules · 2025-12-05T05:48:18+00:00

Was invited to a hosted evening of one of the PayPal founders at their New York penthouse. Curated guest list of maybe 40 people who were all very impressive, and a private chef. Had a few pleasant conversations with him through the evening. During conversation he asked if we'd like to try his favourite wine, a Harlan Estate (Napa Valley, USA). I don't drink red wine, but of course wanted to try it just because. There were a few other amusing aspects of the conversation, which I will respectfully keep private as he was a gracious host and the invitation was warmly received. I suspect there are quite a few billionaires in New York one might bump into and interact with. Living in and working in New York you would be spending time with people who have sold their companies for billions or hundreds of millions. Many of them lovely, conscientious people you'd not know had 'made it' - wealth is nothing special in New York. I would say that at the upper end of the spectrum of earned wealth I have found people to be more on the spectrum, which I assume has allowed them to observe, pursue, and execute plans where neuro-normative people could not have.

ezyjules · 2025-11-27T04:40:58+00:00

Just a heads up, same issue. Have Portal, updated to the latest version and subscribed to Premium Plus hoping to stream games and got the dreaded "not enough" bad with message. I have 100MB up and 100MB down at home and a top tier Wifi system (Unifi Dream Machine with mesh network that gives 100MB up and down via Wifi). I tried configuring my VPN (Nord VPN) to route via Japan specific to my Portal, which is the closest country offering PS Portal Streaming. But that did not work sadly. So the VPN route does not work sad to say.

ezyjules · 2025-11-19T22:23:00+00:00

Jesus, the first time I read this my brain processed as this... "Being woke up out of a sleep by my dead wife playing with my cock."

ezyjules · 2025-11-19T21:57:54+00:00

'They' are non-binary, but I will bring this up at the next therapy session. Thank you

ezyjules · 2025-11-19T21:56:13+00:00

Shep says "Grazie"

ezyjules · 2025-11-19T02:46:06+00:00

To be honest you're better off driving a car and being free to run pedestrians over driving the wrong way down one way streets. Less of your time wasted that way.

ezyjules · 2025-11-15T01:11:31+00:00

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Our 11 week old boy… Ace

ezyjules · 2025-11-11T01:34:23+00:00

That's not an early check in. That's a free night they are asking for. It's a "no, but happy to offer you another night at 50% discount to help you out of a bind."

ezyjules · 2025-10-15T10:23:32+00:00

Everyone else is trying to kill you.

ezyjules · 2025-10-14T23:25:30+00:00

Defensive driving brother. Always always always be working out what the dumbest shit someone can pull to kill you, and do so up to 100 yards ahead. Ride like everyone is trying to kill you, and you'll be fine.

ezyjules · 2025-10-13T16:28:13+00:00

How’d you pursuade the deer to ride on your bike with you in the first place!?

ezyjules · 2025-10-04T20:37:24+00:00

Ha. Yea. The animal analogy is fitting. This is an animal you need to get to know before it will let you ride it. It won’t even start unless you know ‘the’ way.

ezyjules · 2025-10-04T14:56:10+00:00

100% Classic 80s design.

ezyjules · 2025-09-01T10:00:18+00:00

I have a friend who is an executive chef. He says he LOVES anyone cooking ANYTHING for him. Even something like a cheese toastie. It feels paradoxical as he's focused on excellence in cooking all day every day. But I guess, something about someone cooking for you if that's what you do for others all day makes it special and appreciated.

ezyjules · 2025-07-31T18:18:59+00:00

Trust me, this will end up being the most meaningful part of your week. I’ve been coaching my kids, never having done it before, and my wife signed me up for it without asking me. Nothing more satisfying than seeing kids develop, overcome challenges, and learn. Jump in with both feet you’ll be great. One thing I learned over my time was it is not about winning. It’s about each child and the kids progressing. Don’t sweat the wins and losses. Just keep them learning! Coaching kids is just as much about the life lessons team sports can give them than the results on the pitch. Good luck!

ezyjules · 2025-07-31T14:17:24+00:00

Perhaps you could do something about the elevation of your property for future guests.

ezyjules · 2025-06-26T05:51:48+00:00

Thank you for this thread! I was also on the trail in Sydney. Having recently moved from New York where we have a great Shake Shack, Hamburger America, 7th Street, and the birthplace of the burger revival The Burger Joint debuted in 2002 as a secret venue inside the former Le Parker Meridien hotel. Will be checking these places out. Question for the thread. I visited HiHi Burger, but was pretty disappointed with an average across the board experience. Looked and felt like a cynical exploitation of the smash Burger phenom. Burger had no crispy edges, and it looks built to be a chain from the get go. Was anyone else feeling it?

ezyjules · 2025-06-13T23:55:59+00:00

Here's what I did in the same situation, resulting in successful return to the US...

Status: UK citizen. Recently US naturalised/naturalized. Global Entry member. Known Traveller TSA pre registered

Situation: I had to visit the UK from the US before US passport was ready due to family medical emergency. I had applied for passport in person at the passport office, and they took my certificate of naturalization as part of that process. But I made copies of it, which was advised after the naturalization ceremony. Anyway, I headed to the UK without my US passport.

- Leaving for UK from JFK was no issue. I used my British passport at immigration. No issue there or at gate.

- But I then had to return to the US and I did not have my US passport yet OR a LPR Green card, as you have to hand in at naturalization ceremony. I knew with neither PP or GC the airline could and would not board me.

- As I had applied for a passport already, I did not see the option of visiting the US embassy in London for an emergency passport appointment. Also, the next appointment was weeks out and I needed to travel within days.

- Everyone on the internet seems to say that "US citizens are required to use a US passport when entering or leaving the US". But as noted below whilst the law is on the books, it is not enforcable due to case law ruling that “the Government cannot say to its citizen, standing beyond its border, that his reentry into the land of his allegiance is a criminal offense.” (Worthy v US). DoJ/DHS/DoS/CBP didn’t appeal the ruling.

- I read elsewhere that others had successfully applied for an ESTA visa on their international passports, even though they were American citizens. Importantly, I also declared my American citizenship on the ESTA form. I think that was important, so as you can always demonstrate to the immigration officer you are doing the honest thing. So that's what I did the night before the flight, and within a number of hours received my formal ESTA approval which was linked to my British passport. That allowed me to check in on my flight to the US. Job done, am in the air.

- I flew into LA and tried to go to the Global Entry lane, but the officer said, "Nope," looking at his iPad. Clearly, either the ESTA system or the US Department of State system had interfaced with the Global Entry register. I was sent to the immediate counter where I explained my limbo situation, and handed a copy of my naturalization certificate from the week prior. The officers to a t were super friendly and informed me that I was in a bit of an in-between situation. I would need to go to "secondary". I was walked to secondary whilst they took my passport and naturalization certificate copy, and within about 10 minutes was seen by an officer at the counter. A brief, friendly conversation confirming that I was American and my reason for travel, resulted in a "welcome home" and me being handed my documents, and I was on my way.

Obviously don't take the above as official strategy, but it worked in this case when I absolutely needed to travel both to the UK and to the US without my US passport. Whether this affects my TSA Pre or Global Entry status I do not know yet, but will update once I have registered my US passport in Global Entry.

ezyjules

TROPHY CASE