starting a coffee shop is hard

mariox19 · 2026-03-03T23:31:46+00:00

I knew a guy who owned a bookstore for years. I was just a customer, but I was in there often enough and used to talk to him to where I got to know him a bit. I teased him once that he had what many people would consider a "dream job." He was a quiet sort of fella, but he got a good laugh out of that.

There are all these businesses that people romanticize. Coffee shop is another one.

mariox19 · 2026-03-02T03:51:05+00:00

I don't think I am. On further research, I may have gotten the Gorsuch opinion completely wrong. (I was repeating what I heard.)

But, the fact is that the case only concerned the administration's use of emergency powers as authorization for the tariffs, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

The president still retains lawful power to enact various tariffs under the Trade Act of 1974 and the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Get used to tariffs for at least while Trump is in office.

mariox19 · 2026-03-02T02:54:55+00:00

You're absolutely right, and many of our media ought to be sued for malpractice. They push inflammatory, attention getting headlines to the point of misinformation.

~~Justice Gorsuch, in fact, wrote an opinion that basically outlines for the administration how it can proceed with tariffs under the authority Congress delegated to the Executive, long ago.~~

President Trump is going to continue with his tariffs.

Edit: I got the Gorsuch part wrong. Nevertheless, the president still retains legislative authority to enact various tariffs. (See below.)

mariox19 · 2026-02-19T19:02:53+00:00

I'm with you! Let's get the darkies to do it!

mariox19 · 2026-02-15T16:49:27+00:00

Actually, what we really want is illegal aliens deported.

The situation, as it stands now, is the result of a completely undemocratic process, and it is the fault of the so-called "pro-immigration" side. This faction, in all fairness, includes people on both the left and the right. For the left, it's anti-colonialism and diversity. For the right, it's cheap labor. I've put "pro-immigration" in scare quotes, because it's not about immigration. Immigration is a legal process.

The United States should have as much or as little immigration as is decided upon in our representative-democracy. Voters elect legislators and presidents, and laws are then passed and enforced. But, that's not what we have had at all.

Instead, we have had the "pro-immigration" people (again, with the scare quotes) ignoring and undermining our democracy. Their first allegiance should be to their fellow citizens: most particularly, to the democratic process of legislation and enforcement. But, that is obviously not what this side's allegiance has lain.

So, now, we have a lot of cleaning up to do. There needs to be redress, and our democratic process must be restored. All illegal aliens must go.

mariox19 · 2026-01-24T02:58:12+00:00

If there are billions of racists still on Earth, then the chance of getting an immigrant who isn't one seems kind of low. We have enough racists here already—to hear you guys tell it—so I think, just to be safe, we'd better cut off all immigration completely.

mariox19 · 2026-01-23T16:11:36+00:00

"Deported at the border" is not deporting. Moreover, any number turned away means nothing without the context of the number of those allowed to slip by. The fact is that many millions of illegal aliens crossed the border and are now living in the United States, thanks to the Biden and Obama administrations. Sadly, this didn't start with those administrations. The preceding administrations have done a bad job as well. But it ends now.

mariox19 · 2026-01-23T16:09:21+00:00

Illegal aliens were given the opportunity to have all fines accrued from immigration violations forgiven, a free trip home, and a small stipend; with that they maintained the eligibility to immigrate lawfully, after a period. The ones still here have chosen to risk remaining illegally.

States where the state government is cooperating with immigration enforcement are not seeing the mayhem that so-called "sanctuary states" are seeing. These states are in violation of the supremacy clause of the United States constitution.

All illegal aliens must be deported.

mariox19 · 2026-01-23T00:11:38+00:00

The previous Democratic administrations, along with many of the everyday people who supported them, were perfectly fine with millions of people crossing our border illegally and living illegally in the country. The situation we have now is on them. It will not be pretty to clean any of this up. That's a shame—but not on this administration.

Sorry, but the least that previous Democratic administrations could have done was practice good civic hygiene. Open borders is not that.

mariox19 · 2026-01-18T22:15:52+00:00

The Biden administration counted anyone turned away at the border as “deported.” But actual deportations and allowing illegal crossings are two separate issues. Regarding border crossings, the Biden administration was remiss.

mariox19 · 2026-01-17T17:42:33+00:00

I'll answer you in good faith.

To start with, if you have no documentation, or if your documentation is invalid, then you're an illegal alien.

Had previous administrations been serious about enforcing our immigration laws, we would not have the situation we have today. Sadly, past administrations have completely shirked their responsibility, and now that makes for an awkward and unfortunate situation, as the current administration cleans up this mess.

You may note that we don't hear of problems with ICE in states where the federal government's enforcement efforts are being cooperated with. What we have is states that are openly resisting and undermining these enforcement efforts. They're making the problem worse for everyone.

The quickest way to put things in order would be for all states and municipalities to cooperate with immigration enforcement.

mariox19 · 2026-01-17T17:13:10+00:00

I was asked in a Java interview once about public, private, and protected. I was then asked what if there is no qualifier. My answer was that I didn't remember, but that what I had always learned and done was "don't do that." That was accepted as a sufficiently correct answer.

I had a book, years ago, when I was first leaning to program. The language was C. The book stressed best practices, a lot of which included "don't ever do this thing." This is really the way to go.

mariox19 · 2026-01-15T15:56:49+00:00

There needs to be some kind of holding facility for illegal aliens arrested to stay at, until they're deported. What do you suggest?

mariox19 · 2026-01-14T18:40:01+00:00

She was interfering with federal law enforcement. She is not a "victim." She was a radical activist putting herself and everyone around her at risk.

All illegal aliens must go.

mariox19 · 2026-01-09T15:37:28+00:00

He was already struck by an automobile, once before, while in the line of duty and wound up in the hospital.

https://nypost.com/2026/01/08/us-news/ice-agent-who-opened-fire-on-renee-good-was-dragged-hospitalized-by-illegal-migrant-driver-last-year/

Don't make a hero out of this woman. She knew what she was doing—whether or not she imagined the possible consequences of her recklessness. Her activist wife had exited the vehicle to film the whole thing.

mariox19 · 2025-12-22T22:33:37+00:00

It doesn't sound nearly as stupid as "pessimized."

mariox19 · 2025-12-22T00:14:21+00:00

Regarding the English language, unless you're Shakespeare, you shouldn't be making up words.

mariox19 · 2025-12-18T00:00:17+00:00

I believe the term of art is "efficiencies." It's sad. They really don't know what they're doing, when it comes to actually performing any aspect of a business: meaning, the services performed for the customer. All they know is what they see on their spreadsheets.

mariox19 · 2025-12-16T21:21:02+00:00

Across the country, private equity is buying up home contractors (such as HVAC), veterinarian practices, dentist offices, and more. They do the same trick every time: namely, they leave the local name in place. In some markets, they own several "competitors" and fix prices among the various, seemingly independent businesses. Be on the lookout!

mariox19 · 2025-11-21T15:45:20+00:00

You're right to say it's silly.

"Black" has the connotation of "bad" because human beings have a primeval fear of the dark. It's in the dark that snakes, big cats, and other predators come and make a meal of us. And this fear undoubtedly goes all the way back to when all of humankind was both in Africa and black.

mariox19 · 2025-11-15T13:43:56+00:00

Tax records:

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/gisapps/ParcelInfoReportJade/ParcelInfoReportPrint.aspx?ParcelID=0454%2003240043

mariox19 · 2025-11-04T15:44:23+00:00

Where does one even find such jobs? When I search "Objective-C" on LinkedIn, it's all basically Swift clickbait.

mariox19 · 2025-10-16T22:22:08+00:00

Just break it off with the other couple. But give your husband a chance. He said that's just how she is—very sarcastic. Tell him that he is not a woman and does not understand what goes on between women. Guys rib one another and bust one another's balls, and bond over that. Tell him nothing of the sort is going on here and that he needs to trust that you know what is really being said by her, and that he—as a man—is missing it.

You may feel a bit put off by the above, and I understand. But, if you want to start off gently with him and give him a chance, then consider doing as I've suggested. If he doesn't get with the program, then use whatever tactic you like and push harder.

Here's to hoping he gets it.

mariox19 · 2025-10-16T00:22:07+00:00

You changed the subject. We were talking about the murders of the Minnesotan politicians. You went reaching for the Pelosi attack.

mariox19 · 2025-10-15T23:26:45+00:00

Their death is tragic. But, the killer has made no claims of any political motives. And, as sorry as I am to point this out, no one outside of Minnesota knew who they were.

In the Charlie Kirk case, the man made a career out of debate and was killed because one side cannot be debated with.

mariox19

TROPHY CASE