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#1

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by HVC - Today at 03:30:50 AM

He really is a toddler. It'd be more funny if he wasn't fucking up the world.

#2

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by The Brain - Today at 03:22:00 AM

In fairness to Trump, only POTUS has the full picture and can prioritize between Sharpies and world crises.

[During a Cabinet meeting Thursday that discussed the war in Iran, record-long security lines at many of the nation's top airports, rising oil prices and skittish stock markets, the president interjected by holding up a custom-made black and gold Sharpie and offering a long story about how his preferred marker came to be a White House fixture]

#3

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by Syt - Today at 03:12:02 AM

In case anyone was wondering about Caligula's state of mind.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-cabinet-sharpie-pen-iran-war-153a483dc7fcb6c110c69a47481287ae

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump may believe the adage that the pen is mightier than the sword — as long as it's a Sharpie.

During a Cabinet meeting Thursday that discussed the war in Iran, record-long security lines at many of the nation's top airports, rising oil prices and skittish stock markets, the president interjected by holding up a custom-made black and gold Sharpie and offering a long story about how his preferred marker came to be a White House fixture.

"See this pen right here?" Trump said at the start of a roughly five-minute, on-and-off diatribe on the Sharpie. "This pen is an interesting example."

It was one of several lengthy asides the president made during the meeting that sometimes felt especially jarring given how many more important things his top advisers could have been discussing.

The Sharpie monologue came after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, envoy Steve Witkoff, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered sobering comments about missile strikes, Tehran's uranium enrichment efforts and the U.S. troops that remain in harm's way.

The president offered the winding tale as an example of how his business sense can lead to better, cheaper outcomes in federal spending. He was also seeking to drive home his broader, long-standing criticism that renovations to the Federal Reserve building in Washington are too expensive.

"We've gotta get our priorities straight," Trump said.

The anecdote began with Trump insisting that the White House was once stocked with "beautiful" ballpoint pens that cost $1,000 each.

That presented a problem, Trump said, when, during ceremonial bill signings, he would hand out pens as keepsakes to lawmakers, supporters and various others who helped make new legislation possible. Recipients even included children, whom he lamented did not know the value of what they'd been gifted.

"Sometimes you have 30, 40 people," Trump said.

Despite being known for a love of all things ostentatious — including the sprawling, $400 million White House ballroom he demolished the East Wing to build — Trump said giving away so many expensive pens meant "I feel guilty by nature."

"I love the government like I love myself, economically," Trump said. "I want to save money."

The president said he worked with a marker maker and worried about giving the company involved too much publicity — only to divulge that it was Sharpie, a longtime favorite of his, drawing laughs from his Cabinet.

For decades as a celebrity businessman, Trump used the pens to sign autographs or mark up newspaper clippings and send them with personalized notes written in the telltale thick black ink. And, as president, Trump has continued to wield Sharpies to sign executive orders, proclamations and bills.

Trump said he contacted the company and was told that they could make a black pen with the White House logo in gold and that they wouldn't charge for it. Trump said he insisted on paying $5 per marker. Online searches reveal that typical Sharpies sell for usually $1 to $2 apiece.

"The head of Sharpie gets a call. I don't even know who the hell he is. He said, 'Is this really the president?'" Trump said.

It was the most attention the marker has gotten at the White House since the " Sharpiegate " scandal involving Hurricane Dorian during Trump's first term. Still, Sharpie's manufacturer, Atlanta-based Newell Brands, said in a statement that it didn't have any information about the conversation Trump described, but that Sharpies are used by current and past U.S. presidents, elected officials, celebrities, athletes, and artists, among others.

Trump summed it up as "a business story."

"For $5, I get a much better pen than for $1,000, and I can hand them out," he said. "And, honestly, they've become hot as a pistol, so what can I tell you?"

After concluding his Sharpie recollections, Trump took a moment to revel in his own storytelling ability before offering the floor to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

"Good luck, Scott," he said as the rest of the Cabinet laughed again.

"Well, sir," Bessent offered, "as usual, you're a tough act to follow."

#4

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Syt - Today at 02:44:12 AM

LOL.

The Pirates get 2 runs in the first. "Oh hell yeah guys! This is going to be the year!" And then in the bottom of the first inning the season is over.

False hope and disappointment. The Pirates experience.

#5

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by Jacob - Today at 02:34:03 AM

I meant that Air Canada is subject to the Official Languages Act, not its CEO.

This report is from 2016. Nothing has changed because there is no consequences for ignoring complaints.

https://www.clo-ocol.gc.ca/en/publications/annual-reports-other-reports-parliament/2016/special-report-parliament-air-canada-road-increased-compliance-through-effective-enforcement-regime

I leave you with this quote from 1976

There is hardly a technical or administrative problem in language reform that Air Canada could not solve if its attitude were different. From the start, the Corporation's approach to language has been fearful, defensive and negative. No wonder so many of its employees seem to have the impression that respecting the official language preferences of paying passengers on the State airline is not a high priority. And no wonder reasonable wishes of its own employees to work at least part of the time in their preferred language have caused near trauma.

Keith Spicer, Commissioner of Official Languages, Sixth Annual Report, 1976

I see. Thanks.

Whether the CEO is legally required to be bilingual at this stage or not, I agree that the basically unilingual condolences to the family of the deceased Quebec pilot is fucking disgraceful.

I also agree that the anemic implementation of the official languages act in general is reprehensible. Its proper implementation should be a point of pride in Canada, for all Canadians, whether or not they're bilingual, Francophone, or Anglophone. Air Canada, of all fucking organizations, should be a shining example of this and that it isn't is straight up shameful.

#6

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by Jacob - Today at 02:22:22 AM

The Official Languages Act.

It is why you here everything in French and English when you take a flight.

Yeah that last part I'm familiar with. It's also why there's French labels on our groceries.

I'm not familiar enough with the Official Languages Act to know whether executives of affected organizations are required to be bilingual. But I guess that's the case then? And Air Canada is still subject to the official languages act it seems, in spite of being privately held?

And then they tried to exploit a bit of leniency with a "he's not fully bilingual, but he'll get there... give him a bit of grace" and then he did sweet fuck all about it in that time?

If that's the case I'm absolutely in favour of Air Canada getting slapped down for that. That's bullshit.

And I'm in favour of that on two separate grounds. 1: because I support our official bilingualism policies; and 2: because corporations and rich executives should not get away with ignoring our laws. Fuck that.

#7

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by Zoupa - Today at 02:16:18 AM

I meant that Air Canada is subject to the Official Languages Act, not its CEO.

This report is from 2016. Nothing has changed because there is no consequences for ignoring complaints.

https://www.clo-ocol.gc.ca/en/publications/annual-reports-other-reports-parliament/2016/special-report-parliament-air-canada-road-increased-compliance-through-effective-enforcement-regime

I leave you with this quote from 1976

There is hardly a technical or administrative problem in language reform that Air Canada could not solve if its attitude were different. From the start, the Corporation's approach to language has been fearful, defensive and negative. No wonder so many of its employees seem to have the impression that respecting the official language preferences of paying passengers on the State airline is not a high priority. And no wonder reasonable wishes of its own employees to work at least part of the time in their preferred language have caused near trauma.

Keith Spicer, Commissioner of Official Languages, Sixth Annual Report, 1976

#8

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Valmy - Today at 02:12:37 AM

Were you guys aware that Pakistan and Afghanistan are fighting these days as well?

Yep. Ukraine vs. Russia. The USA and Israel vs. Iran and Lebanon. Pakistan vs. Afghanistan.

Probably a bunch of civil wars going on I am not aware of.

#9

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by crazy canuck - Today at 02:11:35 AM

The Official Languages Act.

It is why you here everything in French and English when you take a flight.

#10

Off the Record / Re: Iran War

Last post by Jacob - Today at 02:10:36 AM

Yeah I did a search and found the same thing, which seems to indicate 70% support, which is slightly less bad than the 90% you initially said.

Still not great though.