A great idea to fix our universities

[The_Doc_Man]

No, but I've watched a lot of "True Crime" shows that include tax evasion. But now I'm surprised. You always prattle on and on about how you see us on TV as being so gun-happy, but you haven't seen us throw folks in jail for tax evasion? How do you think we caught Al Capone, one of the roughest gangsters of the 1920s? We couldn't catch him for illicit production of alcohol, but we got him on tax evasion. You are inconsistent, Col. Missing out on all those chances to ding us for not paying taxes? You're slipping, old fellow.

 

[ColinEssex]

No, but I've watched a lot of "True Crime" shows that include tax evasion. But now I'm surprised. You always prattle on and on about how you see us on TV as being so gun-happy, but you haven't seen us throw folks in jail for tax evasion?

No, we only get the US television shows that have loads of shooting and dead people. Tax evasion is too tame for export. Anyway, why bother with someone who was active over 100 years ago. By her own admission, we have a real one here.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

I'm afraid we don't have Texas style beef or ribs in Essex. Sounds ghastly.

Then look up a YouTube video series posted under the name "JOLLY" - which is the team of Josh & Ollie, two British fellows traversing the USA as food critics. They found a few Texas barbecue restaurants that they really liked. If you won't take MY word for the quality of Texas barbecue, take the word of your countrymen. These two young men seem to be a really enthusiastic pair of tourists looking for good food - and based on the number of videos, they've found a lot of it. Their videos will let you see USA citizens in something other than lurid soap-opera romance fantasies and ugly criminal violence shows.

Your later reference to Colombo suggests you should watch more recent shows. But at least you aren't accusing us of being like the Gunsmoke TV series, which depicts 19th century western USA settings. With Columbo, you've at least caught up to the 20th century. And by the way, Columbo rarely if ever uses a gun so your views on USA violence are questionable.

Returning to Josh & Ollie, the only other thing I have to say is how much I hate them because if I tried to eat what they eat, I'd weigh well over 300 pounds and would have continuous bouts of bilateral gout alternating with digestive upsets and gall bladder issues. Their "young, skinny kid" metabolism makes me jealous.

 

[CJ_London]

No, we only get the US television shows that have loads of shooting and dead people.

Perhaps that is all you watch. We get Suits, Hollywood Wives, a variety of American sports to name a few. Really think you should use I rather than we as you seem to live a very limited life and I’d hate to think our American cousins get the impression the UK population are all like you

 

[ColinEssex]

Perhaps that is all you watch. We get Suits, Hollywood Wives, a variety of American sports to name a few. Really think you should use I rather than we as you seem to live a very limited life and I’d hate to think our American cousins get the impression the UK population are all like you

The word 'we' can refer to any number above one. I obviously cannot speak for the whole population of the UK.
One of my favourite US TV programmes was 77 Sunset Strip, others are The Whirlybirds and Car 54 Where are You.
Actually, I was never a fan of 'Gunsmoke', James Arness never seemed right for that role.

 

[Pat Hartman]

but this situation has exposed what may be a fatal flaw in the U.S. constitution.

TDS has exposed MANY flaws. I used to wonder why people would get elected to office, especially the Senate and somehow a few years later they were multi-millionaires. I know we never prosecute members for insider trading even though it is illegal and I thought that was where the money was coming from. Stealing from your campaign funds is simply pennies and usually just supplies perks like travel and parties and the occasional nice present. It wasn't until DOGE had a go at the USAID department that the real money maker was brought to light. Apparently, you have to get appointed to some committee that allocates funds to some NGO. Then you get appointed to the board or get a family member taken on as a "consultant". The "consultant" scam gets you SERIOUS money. I think it is one of the Senators from RI who is currently under investigation for this scam. He votes to send $18 million to the NGO and his wife gets paid $2 million a year as a consultant to help them spend the money. Great gig if you can get it. And probably not even technically against the rules but it really needs to be.

Then there is the revolving door of government jobs/private sector jobs. This doesn't work for elected officials but they still get a landing pad if they lose their next election. One of the defense contractors will provide a cushy job or a bank or pharmaceutical company. Whatever type of company got the benefit from the member's voting. K-Street should be carpet bombed.

The framers of the Constitution foresaw some corruption but never on the scale that is actually happening. This is the one thing I will never, ever forgive Trump for. He made us all see what goes on in the swamp.

The Republicans seem to be less blatant in their double-dealing but they do it to and that is why members if both parties almost never get prosecuted. If one of them rats out others, the whiplash will take the rat out too. Someone outside has to discover the crime.

 

[Pat Hartman]

The word 'we' can refer to any number above one.

The King can refer to himself as "we" but it is pretty presumptuous for you to do so.

 

[ColinEssex]

The King can refer to himself as "we" but it is pretty presumptuous for you to do so.

And how long did it take you to think of your petty, pathetic sniping reply? Is that really the best you can do?

 

[Pat Hartman]

Escalation stops now.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

I have explicit permission from my wife to say that I am the king of my castle. And therefore as a king, it is proper of us to say that, Col, we are not amused.

 

[ColinEssex]

I have explicit permission from my wife to say that I am the king of my castle. And therefore as a king, it is proper of us to say that, Col, we are not amused.

As usual. 'Supermod' is exempt. I was quite happy reminiscing about old TV shows until supermod put her oar in, then suddenly you take her side. It's so obvious.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

As usual. 'Supermod' is exempt. I was quite happy reminiscing about old TV shows until supermod put her oar in, then suddenly you take her side. It's so obvious.

Pat declined to escalate. I can find NO vulgarity in her response. Are you disappointed that someone ignored your jab? Live with it, but there is no actionable statement here - for either of you at the moment.

 

[ColinEssex]

I can find NO vulgarity in her response.

Neither can I. I never said there was.

 

[NauticalGent]

Actually, I was never a fan of 'Gunsmoke', James Arness never seemed right for that role.

Interesting. I thought he was perfect for it, but then, that is the only role I have seen him play.

A budding star named John Wayne turned the gig down - he didnt want to get type-cast as a cowboy. Funny thing, this thing we call life...

 

[ColinEssex]

Interesting. I thought he was perfect for it, but then, that is the only role I have seen him play.

A budding star named John Wayne turned the gig down - he didnt want to get type-cast as a cowboy. Funny thing, this thing we call life...

I preferred 'Laramie'. The bloke who played Jess Harper went on to play Dr Bracket in CHiPS.

 

[AccessBlaster]

Peter Graves (mission impossible) is James Arness brother.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Interesting. I thought he was perfect for it, but then, that is the only role I have seen him play.

Well, James Arness DID have one movie role that true science-fiction aficionados will remember. In the 1950s version (directed by Howard Hawks) of The Thing from Another World, he was "the thing", described in-movie as a big walking intelligent carrot. I would say it was technically a "non-speaking" role, but he did utter a grunt now and then and was often involved in action. The lighting was such that his face was almost never seen, though. Howard Hawks filmed the Arctic-region indoor sequences with lots of shadows and low light levels. No face close-ups, no articulate speech, either. My understanding is that he was considered for the role because he was physically imposing, standing 6 feet 7 inches tall. He was mostly a supporting actor in a lot of Western and Action movies, often playing against John Wayne, who was also a big guy. His stage name was James Arness but the family name was Aurness.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Neither can I. I never said there was.

Then quit kvetching about non-events.

 

[ColinEssex]

Then quit kvetching about non-events.

Can you explain? What are you talking about?
Col