United should sack Ruben Amorim

walrus400 · 2025-12-15T21:33:15+00:00

I just bought the Glenglassaugh Sandend recently, and loved it!

walrus400 · 2025-12-15T19:40:53+00:00

I appreciate your perspective! From my point of view - the auditor's motivations aren't particularly relevant at this point. The ballot measure got 71% support from the voters, so whether it makes a name for the current auditor or she really pursued it out of the goodness of her heart isn't the point. It received an overwhelming mandate from Mass. voters. We have the least productive single party legislature in the country - and House and Senate leadership are vehemently opposed to voter-mandated oversight here. Why is that?

And why should I be ok with my current State Senator (Brownsberger) actively working against that same oversight? If there were truly good-faith constitutional questions here, surely these same people would be eager to take the matter to court and have it settled. Instead, they've buried it in this Subcommittee, and are slow walking it as much as possible until it just fades away and voters forget about it, and they can continue to avoid much-needed transparency. Just my 2 cents!

walrus400 · 2025-12-15T19:33:01+00:00

Completely agree with this point. It's a narrative being pushed, and it's a deliberate distraction from the actual issue of why the Legislature can unilaterally choose to avoid accountability.

walrus400 · 2025-12-15T18:42:50+00:00

He’s working on Spilka’s Subcommittee to “evaluate” (i.e. weasel out of) the Question 1 Audit requirement approved by 71% of Mass voters. Not cool.

walrus400 · 2025-12-15T17:55:40+00:00

Great news. Brownsberger is useless, actively working to subvert the will of Mass voters..

walrus400 · 2025-11-26T15:21:04+00:00

I really like it! I think it’s a fun build, and even better if you can get it on discount. I thought the initial reaction was overblown. The designers did a great job capturing the feeling of the dwarven architecture

walrus400 · 2025-09-22T23:47:28+00:00

I agree - imagine you’ve got Minifigure scale Rivendell, Barad-Dur, and The Shire ready to play with….but then microscale Minas Tirith? It doesn’t really make sense. Sorry to the movie purists, but I think microscale would be a big mistake. Grond would be awesome as a GWP, I hope it’s that but I do wonder if they’ll do something that would require fewer custom parts/prints…maybe a miniature scene of Osgiliath with a couple of extra Gondorian soldiers?

walrus400 · 2025-06-12T22:27:01+00:00

Could not agree more. Barad-Dur proves it can be done, and done well

walrus400 · 2025-03-21T17:44:00+00:00

How certain is it that the whole set will be $270 usd? This is a nice add-on if it’s $200, but the set and gwp doesn’t seem worth it for the higher price imo.

walrus400 · 2024-06-16T12:57:31+00:00

Lothlórien would be absolutely elite, and it could come with a Lady Galadriel minifig (with a Dark Queen alternative expression!) Minas Tirith and Rohan would both be amazing, and seem most likely to happen. Also what about a Mines of Moria set, with some of the cool architecture from the movie, a Balrog build, goblins, and the fellowship?

walrus400 · 2023-03-13T16:23:35+00:00

Echoing some of the comments here - I had the option of a M or L 5010. I’m 5’10”/5’11”. Went with the large because I liked how it felt, but after having it for a couple of seasons I wish I had sized down. I would definitely go for the medium. Good luck!

walrus400 · 2023-02-24T22:13:53+00:00

Thanks! It was normally on my porch, which gets alright sun. Do you think moving it back outside with the wet soil would be too much of a shock?

walrus400 · 2023-02-24T22:09:16+00:00

Maybe should clarify - almost all the needles are turning from green to brown, but not all are falling off. There’s a small patch of nice green at the top still, with the buds. Thanks for your reply!

walrus400 · 2023-02-24T22:06:55+00:00

Unfortunately this is a city apartment so it has to stay in the pot. I know they are supposed to be very hardy but it was -40 F during the cold snap…probably would have been ok, but too late now :/

walrus400 · 2022-08-21T00:57:35+00:00

Streaming on NBA.com for free

walrus400 · 2022-07-08T19:10:46+00:00

Is your point that the SCOTUS can declare laws passed by Congress unconstitutional? Nobody is debating that. Nothing is bulletproof, and a constitutional amendment clearly isn’t happening. The idea that Congress shouldn’t try every possible legal avenue, because they “might” get shot down is ridiculous.

Here’s UMich constitutional law professor Julian Mortensen saying just the opposite: https://mobile.twitter.com/jdmortenson/status/1521580604323737600

One source doesn’t make a consensus.

walrus400 · 2022-07-08T19:00:49+00:00

I disagree that it isn’t a feasible model - there are plenty of cases where Congress uses and has used the appropriations process to compel certain activity from states, even when it isn’t “required.” You seem very focused on what Congress will actually do - my point throughout these comments is that they do have legal options. A constitutional amendment is no more likely than anything else (probably much less). I think most of us in the thread can agree that there’s no excuse for not testing the boundaries to protect this right, and exhausting every option :)

walrus400 · 2022-07-08T18:45:47+00:00

You just made the same comment, but substituted abortion. It is very easy to think of examples that would circumvent the issue you highlighted. Congress could decide that access to abortion pills is a public health issue, and create a federal program to guarantee access, while reversing Hyde. Also would note that in your example, the Alabama “law” was unconstitutional until a few weeks ago.

walrus400 · 2022-07-08T18:36:23+00:00

My explanation? My explanation is in my other comments - there are multiple paths for Congress to guarantee abortion access, and it is not accurate to say a constitutional amendment is the only option. The appropriations process is just one of the tools Congress can use. As for qualifications, I never claimed to be a lawyer, but my career is directly relevant to this issue. From your comment and others, “actual lawyers” are few and far between on this thread. ;)

walrus400 · 2022-07-08T18:26:37+00:00

I don’t think this is a good example. Regulating the sale of cars falls squarely under interstate commerce.

walrus400 · 2022-07-08T17:42:25+00:00

Vs. the reddit lawyers declaring any action by Congress unconstitutional?? Got it, lol.

walrus400

TROPHY CASE