chopstick said:

Fun fact, I gave a public talk at one of the meetups once years ago. Of course it was on foreign policy. I did a basic run down of what our country was up to in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Ukraine and Yemen. I believe this was in 2018.

It wasn't easy, I had to use note cards and almost froze up a couple of times. There were maybe 50 people there. Probably won't be doing that again.

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ballsalsa said:

"Normal" is relative.  If you grow up in Bel Glade, Florida Man is "normal".  If you grew up in Palisade, bikers for Trump are "normal".  If you grew up in Delta, those freaky hillbillies are "normal"

Conversely, if you grew up in Encino, unfrozen cavemen are "normal".  If you grew up in Calabasas, Kardashians are "normal".  If you grew up in Malibu billionaires with no access to a real sewer system are "normal"

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ballsalsa said:

I never lived in Michigan so you'll have to come up with your own "normal"

My grandma grew up in Mt Morris but I have a feeling her "normal" from 96 years ago might not apply anymore

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ballsalsa said:

That's true.  If you grew up in Michigan, it's "normal" to get chemical burns by surfing in a lake

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Bigbadwooof said:

ballsalsa said:

I never lived in Michigan so you'll have to come up with your own "normal"

My grandma grew up in Mt Morris but I have a feeling her "normal" from 96 years ago might not apply anymore

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In West Michigan Lakes look like Oceans.

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Brian Jones said:

Bigbadwooof said:

ballsalsa said:

I never lived in Michigan so you'll have to come up with your own "normal"

My grandma grew up in Mt Morris but I have a feeling her "normal" from 96 years ago might not apply anymore

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In West Michigan Lakes look like Oceans.

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ballsalsa said:

I read that somewhere.  The lakes are so polluted with industrial waste and shit that surfers get burns, I guess.

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I think he's talking about the Great Lakes, which are the ones that look like oceans. They'll fuck them up eventually, but it's still the greatest supply of fresh water on earth, and if it keeps raining in the upper Midwest, California and Arizona can buy water from us as long as we can absolutely gouge you, because shouldn't there be a price to pay for living in paradise without fresh water.

I don't mean to be crude, but the rust belt wants revenge and there appears to be the means and the ways.

Don't know what you're talking about surfers getting burned. Could be my ignorance, but never heard of surfing here but if there is it has to be the Great Lakes, but they're clean, and even Lake Erie for 30 years because it's the shallow one and cleaned up fast. Flint Michigan is mercury infested, and the Cuyahoga river in Ohio used to start in fire, but no one ever surfed there.

California, Paradise Lost.

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Brian Jones... are you from Michigan, brother!?! I never knew!

Cheers bro

Btw.. that surfing bit.. I was scratching my head too haha!

I will say, the lakes have some invasive species in them that aren't great.

christopera said:

No, I am from Pennsylvania.

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Why the fuck would anyone vacation in Michigan!?!

You like fishing for pike or somethin?