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schiff_for_brains 1 point ago +1 / -0

Roughly 60% of the oil we refine is domestic. About 28% is Canadian. The rest comes from abroad.

But buyers come from around the world for our oil. So we have to pay at least as much as they are willing to pay.

1
schiff_for_brains 1 point ago +1 / -0

The IRGC consists of largely independent leadership. This was done to counter the constant threat of assassination. We've killed much of their leadership, and now there is nobody to reign them in.

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schiff_for_brains 4 points ago +4 / -0

If renewables actually work in the long run, it will be because utilities are able to store surplus production and release it into the grid later. We can't produce enough batteries to do so. But battery systems could at least help smooth out demand and knock out the highest, most expensive peaks.

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schiff_for_brains 2 points ago +2 / -0

Why would Biden's administration start the investigation? Was it to keep Newsom from trying to take Biden's spot? ie, to protect Kamala?

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schiff_for_brains 4 points ago +4 / -0

I've been through a few vets over the years from moving.

Each time I do the first visit, I'm very honest about being price sensitive. They usually approach care differently at that point. I've even had a couple drop their "normal" charge for monthlies to match online pricing to keep the business. When practices declined twice to do so, I just never bought meds from them - just got prescriptions. You can even get a lot of pet meds at human pharmacies.

The one time wifey took the dogs for their first visit to a new vet, they got her for $2k. Even though they came in with records the practice treated them like they had never been to the vet before. I took them the 2nd time, and had the talk, and they were much better. I think the annual for 2 dogs was like $500. And when one needed surgery on it's knee, the vet did me a huge solid on the price and follow up care.

If you don't want to be taken for an expensive, emotional ride, just let the vet know up front that you're not one of those "do anything at any cost" people. They usually get it. If they're so well established that they're too busy at any price, that's probably not the best vet to use....look for another that is more in line with what level of care you are able to provide.

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schiff_for_brains 3 points ago +3 / -0

You have to be careful how you exchange money there.

If you turn USD into CAD at retail, it's about 15% charge. If you turn leftover CAD back into USD, you pay again (but you should have less to exchange). You may be able to do better at your bank before your trip.

Really, a no FTF CC is the way to go. Spend just what you need and let the CC handle the conversions. Sometimes you can run into smaller places that don't take plastic money, though. So you should have some cash on hand.

They will always take USD at parity. For a small one-off transaction, it's not a huge deal given the inconvenience of exchanging cash once or twice.

Most things are more expensive in Canada. Housing is particularly expensive. Beef and pork, too. Fresh produce...it all adds up. This is because their dollar is weak, so anything imported costs more.

Beware the duty free stores....they aren't always a good deal. I've seen things cheaper in my home state than the duty free stores, which might save you something vs. high taxing Canada and New York State, maybe.

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schiff_for_brains 4 points ago +4 / -0

Excise taxes are on certain products, goods and services like air transportation and telephone service. There is no excise tax on labor.

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schiff_for_brains 2 points ago +2 / -0

It's a shame they didn't send a social worker to be attacked by the knife.

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schiff_for_brains 3 points ago +3 / -0

Joke's on them. Classic american cars barely made 100k.

Peak durability for much of our manufacturing happened around 1995 - 2005. So many of those things are Buy it for life kind of quality. Ever since then, we've been subjected to constant over regulation and enshitification.

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schiff_for_brains 2 points ago +2 / -0

That is indeed Bill Maher. And he owns Kid Love Productions, which produces his show.

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schiff_for_brains 1 point ago +1 / -0

My wife got us a "free vacation" as a consolation for something. Doesn't really matter what. We went and sat through the pitch. Wifey was really interested, but I talked her down. On the way back home, right outside the resort, was a real estate office that specializes in getting people out of timeshares. They were selling the older division timeshares at 90% off the price of new ones. I'm sure the 10% was kept by the broker for finding somebody to take over the timeshare obligations. People were literally trying to give them away. At that point, she finally got it.

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schiff_for_brains 1 point ago +1 / -0

it also forces them to open up to business interests...

Who's going to tell OP why Iran was barely able to conduct any international trade?

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schiff_for_brains 2 points ago +2 / -0

The first report was the result of corruption.

The second is a lie to cover up corruption.

That's a pattern of false reports.

It's the cover up that gets ya!

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schiff_for_brains 2 points ago +2 / -0

It's totally possible that the IRGC had more control over the country than any other faction. Think the man behind the curtain. Their power is largely gone. If their financial network is also dismantled, all it will have is soldiers and small arms. A much lower level of threat to both the middle east nations and the people of Iran.

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schiff_for_brains 3 points ago +3 / -0

There are enough people there. Kick him in the balls. 2 cops aren't enough. Lots of witnesses will delete their videos and testify it didn't happen.

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schiff_for_brains 4 points ago +4 / -0

Carlson's dad had spook credentials. The deep state likes to recruit their own. My theory is that he was meant to co-opt MAGA. Once he finally gained prominence, The path to self destruction would (hopefully) kill it. That is not happening.

I was wondering where TF Nawfal came from, as well.

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schiff_for_brains 3 points ago +3 / -0

Everybody has a smart phone.

Fertility rates have been declining since before smart phones.

Coincidence? Probably.

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