Is America the greatest country in the world?

Meltdown99

In Canada, our winters are long and cold, you need to find a reason to get out, snowball fights on the weekends were blast.  

HesCalledDyer

brianlux said:

I grew up where there was no snow so instead we had dirt clod fights.  Got one square in the eye one time and it hurt like hell.  Snow balls, dirt clods, spit wads.  All the same thing- kids being stupid little shits.  I could have lost that eye.

That sounds amazing!! (the bold part).

brianlux

HesCalledDyer said:

brianlux said:

I grew up where there was no snow so instead we had dirt clod fights.  Got one square in the eye one time and it hurt like hell.  Snow balls, dirt clods, spit wads.  All the same thing- kids being stupid little shits.  I could have lost that eye.

That sounds amazing!! (the bold part).

It actually did snow one time when I was around 10 or 11.  We really flipped out digging it!  Fun!

No Coder

njnancy said:

No Coder said:

PJ_Soul said:

The Natural is one of my all-time faves (and I am so in love with Robert Redford ) ... I love all boxing movies, and I love all baseball movies. Even shit like Little Big League and Brewster's Millions and Mr. 3000, lol.

The rest of the sports movies... I usually like them too, but they don't do it for me like boxing and baseball ones.

Yes, The Natural is a classic.

I agree, I tend to even enjoy the decidedly average or shit sports movies (Mr 3000 is definitely in that category, but I still enjoyed it).

Forgot Caddyshack (damn!) and Happy Gilmore. There's also the Legend of Bagger Vance for golf too

I am a big fan of the Legend of Bagger Vance. It's not a movie that made a big splash in theaters and I don't play or watch golf, but I find the movie extremely entertaining. 

Friday Night Lights & The Longest Yard are also great football movies. 

Yes, that are both great football movies, although the TV Series, Friday Night Lights was much better than the movie for mine. It's probably my Favourite TV series ever  - "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose"

Meltdown99

U.S. sportswear traced to factory in China's internment camps

https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/u-s-sportswear-traced-to-factory-in-china-s-internment-camps-1.4222035?fbclid=IwAR3ZdsqBpd2GCOYBND2lMl-O0OCU3HxjmVVqhPo824yF1g6HjmdyyPeq-tI

rgambs

Meltdown99 said:

U.S. sportswear traced to factory in China's internment camps

https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/u-s-sportswear-traced-to-factory-in-china-s-internment-camps-1.4222035?fbclid=IwAR3ZdsqBpd2GCOYBND2lMl-O0OCU3HxjmVVqhPo824yF1g6HjmdyyPeq-tI

It's really a major bummer that high performance fabrics are almost solely produced in 3rd world conditions.  If you are into fitness, hunting, backpacking, etc you are out of luck when it comes to avoiding sweatshop labor in the supply chain.  Patagonia and North Face have been slowly working to make changes, but they can't just create an entire manufacturing industry overnight.

PJ_Soul

Do we want then to create a new industry? I would think we want them all to simply improve the working conditions and increase pay to fair levels in those factories they already have in those countries. If they just shut down and pull out all those workers are fucked.

rgambs

PJ_Soul said:

Do we want then to create a new industry? I would think we want them all to simply improve the working conditions and increase pay to fair levels in those factories they already have in those countries. If they just shut down and pull out all those workers are fucked.

Well...yes, ideally we would improve the working lives over there, but...ain't gonna happen lol

The problem (as I remember from what I  read a few years ago in an article) is that it's a supply side issue even for the clothing manufacturers.  Ethic-minded companies like Patagonia aren't major textile producers, they buy materials and manufacture them into clothing, and their suppliers are shady fucks rooted in the sweat shop/toxic waste dump mentality.

lexicondevil

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

One year in elementary school we had a massive snowfall at the start of winter. At lunch, it was pure bedlam on the playing field. I was in grade 6 and wreaking havoc- having the time of my life with my buddies. We had a great big massive snow fort and were protecting it with our lives. It was the perfect snow for packing.

The teachers were out in full force trying to regain control of the situation. They were trying to call everyone in, but there was a frenzied pitch. About 100 feet from me, my teacher was turned to the side yelling at some kid for something. I packed a good one for her and launched it- just as she turned and saw me do it. Her jaw fell and she stared at me- shocked I had lined her up.

You couldn't track the snowball because it was snowing too hard, but after 3-4 seconds... the snowball hit her square in the face. I drilled her. My friends and I didn't even laugh. I felt my stomach turn and I heard one of my buddies say something like, "Oh shit. You're in trouble."

I was in trouble. I got hauled into the office awaiting my fate. As I was in there, there were multiple kids crying and dealing with whatever happened to them on the field. It was no longer a school office as much as it was a makeshift triage.

I just got the stern talking to. I actually felt bad and I apologized. I threw one at her not really thinking I was going to hit her (especially square in the face). 

This sounds like a scene from a movie. I'm picturing it all and just laughing. I don't know how people deal with regular snow. I could never do it. Of course, I grew up in sunny California.

PJ_Soul

 

rgambs said:

PJ_Soul said:

Do we want then to create a new industry? I would think we want them all to simply improve the working conditions and increase pay to fair levels in those factories they already have in those countries. If they just shut down and pull out all those workers are fucked.

Well...yes, ideally we would improve the working lives over there, but...ain't gonna happen lol

The problem (as I remember from what I  read a few years ago in an article) is that it's a supply side issue even for the clothing manufacturers.  Ethic-minded companies like Patagonia aren't major textile producers, they buy materials and manufacture them into clothing, and their suppliers are shady fucks rooted in the sweat shop/toxic waste dump mentality.

Why wouldn't that happen? It's not an unprecedented thing at all. Of course it does take some combo of consumer awareness, government regulation and law (ideally in the nations where the work is being done), corporate responsibility in terms of ethical manufacturing, and/or workers' demands for rights. None of those things are impossible. Obviously they aren't possible in the short term, but issues like this are never handled in the short term.

HughFreakingDillon

PJ_Soul said:

 

rgambs said:

PJ_Soul said:

Do we want then to create a new industry? I would think we want them all to simply improve the working conditions and increase pay to fair levels in those factories they already have in those countries. If they just shut down and pull out all those workers are fucked.

Well...yes, ideally we would improve the working lives over there, but...ain't gonna happen lol

The problem (as I remember from what I  read a few years ago in an article) is that it's a supply side issue even for the clothing manufacturers.  Ethic-minded companies like Patagonia aren't major textile producers, they buy materials and manufacture them into clothing, and their suppliers are shady fucks rooted in the sweat shop/toxic waste dump mentality.

Why wouldn't that happen? It's not an unprecedented thing at all. Of course it does take some combo of consumer awareness, government regulation and law (ideally in the nations where the work is being done), corporate responsibility in terms of ethical manufacturing, and/or workers' demands for rights. None of those things are impossible. Obviously they aren't possible in the short term, but issues like this are never handled in the short term.

it's not very likely that any company, never mind an industry as a whole, is going to try to strong arm another nation into paying their workers better wages so they can charge more for their goods. 

people say they care until they have to pay $30 for a pair of socks. 

Halifax2TheMax

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

 

rgambs said:

PJ_Soul said:

Do we want then to create a new industry? I would think we want them all to simply improve the working conditions and increase pay to fair levels in those factories they already have in those countries. If they just shut down and pull out all those workers are fucked.

Well...yes, ideally we would improve the working lives over there, but...ain't gonna happen lol

The problem (as I remember from what I  read a few years ago in an article) is that it's a supply side issue even for the clothing manufacturers.  Ethic-minded companies like Patagonia aren't major textile producers, they buy materials and manufacture them into clothing, and their suppliers are shady fucks rooted in the sweat shop/toxic waste dump mentality.

Why wouldn't that happen? It's not an unprecedented thing at all. Of course it does take some combo of consumer awareness, government regulation and law (ideally in the nations where the work is being done), corporate responsibility in terms of ethical manufacturing, and/or workers' demands for rights. None of those things are impossible. Obviously they aren't possible in the short term, but issues like this are never handled in the short term.

it's not very likely that any company, never mind an industry as a whole, is going to try to strong arm another nation into paying their workers better wages so they can charge more for their goods. 

people say they care until they have to pay $30 for a pair of socks. 

That’s what trade agreements between nations are for.
 

Meltdown99

rgambs said:

Meltdown99 said:

U.S. sportswear traced to factory in China's internment camps

https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/u-s-sportswear-traced-to-factory-in-china-s-internment-camps-1.4222035?fbclid=IwAR3ZdsqBpd2GCOYBND2lMl-O0OCU3HxjmVVqhPo824yF1g6HjmdyyPeq-tI

It's really a major bummer that high performance fabrics are almost solely produced in 3rd world conditions.  If you are into fitness, hunting, backpacking, etc you are out of luck when it comes to avoiding sweatshop labor in the supply chain.  Patagonia and North Face have been slowly working to make changes, but they can't just create an entire manufacturing industry overnight.

I always assumed most of that stuff came from a 3rd world sweatshop.  But forced labour should never be OK.  But I really have no idea what goes on in those sweatshops that don't use forced labour.

brianlux

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

 

rgambs said:

PJ_Soul said:

Do we want then to create a new industry? I would think we want them all to simply improve the working conditions and increase pay to fair levels in those factories they already have in those countries. If they just shut down and pull out all those workers are fucked.

Well...yes, ideally we would improve the working lives over there, but...ain't gonna happen lol

The problem (as I remember from what I  read a few years ago in an article) is that it's a supply side issue even for the clothing manufacturers.  Ethic-minded companies like Patagonia aren't major textile producers, they buy materials and manufacture them into clothing, and their suppliers are shady fucks rooted in the sweat shop/toxic waste dump mentality.

Why wouldn't that happen? It's not an unprecedented thing at all. Of course it does take some combo of consumer awareness, government regulation and law (ideally in the nations where the work is being done), corporate responsibility in terms of ethical manufacturing, and/or workers' demands for rights. None of those things are impossible. Obviously they aren't possible in the short term, but issues like this are never handled in the short term.

it's not very likely that any company, never mind an industry as a whole, is going to try to strong arm another nation into paying their workers better wages so they can charge more for their goods. 

people say they care until they have to pay $30 for a pair of socks. 

Yeah, $30 would be a stretch for most of us for sure.  But I spend much more on socks than I used to .   I spend about $12 per pair of socks- a little over $16 Canadian.  I used to buy cheap socks at K-Mart and then I came across Eurochoice Socks.  These are far more comfortable, they stay up without cutting off my circulation and they last a lot longer than cheap shit socks.  In the long run, I am happier, more comfortable and probably don't spend any more money in the long run.

Durable goods makes more sense in many ways.  I don't understand why this concept is so rarely talked about. 

HughFreakingDillon

brianlux said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

 

rgambs said:

PJ_Soul said:

Do we want then to create a new industry? I would think we want them all to simply improve the working conditions and increase pay to fair levels in those factories they already have in those countries. If they just shut down and pull out all those workers are fucked.

Well...yes, ideally we would improve the working lives over there, but...ain't gonna happen lol

The problem (as I remember from what I  read a few years ago in an article) is that it's a supply side issue even for the clothing manufacturers.  Ethic-minded companies like Patagonia aren't major textile producers, they buy materials and manufacture them into clothing, and their suppliers are shady fucks rooted in the sweat shop/toxic waste dump mentality.

Why wouldn't that happen? It's not an unprecedented thing at all. Of course it does take some combo of consumer awareness, government regulation and law (ideally in the nations where the work is being done), corporate responsibility in terms of ethical manufacturing, and/or workers' demands for rights. None of those things are impossible. Obviously they aren't possible in the short term, but issues like this are never handled in the short term.

it's not very likely that any company, never mind an industry as a whole, is going to try to strong arm another nation into paying their workers better wages so they can charge more for their goods. 

people say they care until they have to pay $30 for a pair of socks. 

Yeah, $30 would be a stretch for most of us for sure.  But I spend much more on socks than I used to .   I spend about $12 per pair of socks- a little over $16 Canadian.  I used to buy cheap socks at K-Mart and then I came across Eurochoice Socks.  These are far more comfortable, they stay up without cutting off my circulation and they last a lot longer than cheap shit socks.  In the long run, I am happier, more comfortable and probably don't spend any more money in the long run.

Durable goods makes more sense in many ways.  I don't understand why this concept is so rarely talked about. 

because in our ADD culture, people think "HEY! LOOK AT THAT PRICE! I CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO BUY THEM!", but they don't think that spending that extra amount on the extra quality will save them in the long run. and companies don't want you to buy higher quality either. they make much more money on cheap goods you have to keep rebuying over and over again. 

Meltdown99

brianlux said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

 

rgambs said:

PJ_Soul said:

Do we want then to create a new industry? I would think we want them all to simply improve the working conditions and increase pay to fair levels in those factories they already have in those countries. If they just shut down and pull out all those workers are fucked.

Well...yes, ideally we would improve the working lives over there, but...ain't gonna happen lol

The problem (as I remember from what I  read a few years ago in an article) is that it's a supply side issue even for the clothing manufacturers.  Ethic-minded companies like Patagonia aren't major textile producers, they buy materials and manufacture them into clothing, and their suppliers are shady fucks rooted in the sweat shop/toxic waste dump mentality.

Why wouldn't that happen? It's not an unprecedented thing at all. Of course it does take some combo of consumer awareness, government regulation and law (ideally in the nations where the work is being done), corporate responsibility in terms of ethical manufacturing, and/or workers' demands for rights. None of those things are impossible. Obviously they aren't possible in the short term, but issues like this are never handled in the short term.

it's not very likely that any company, never mind an industry as a whole, is going to try to strong arm another nation into paying their workers better wages so they can charge more for their goods. 

people say they care until they have to pay $30 for a pair of socks. 

Yeah, $30 would be a stretch for most of us for sure.  But I spend much more on socks than I used to .   I spend about $12 per pair of socks- a little over $16 Canadian.  I used to buy cheap socks at K-Mart and then I came across Eurochoice Socks.  These are far more comfortable, they stay up without cutting off my circulation and they last a lot longer than cheap shit socks.  In the long run, I am happier, more comfortable and probably don't spend any more money in the long run.

Durable goods makes more sense in many ways.  I don't understand why this concept is so rarely talked about. 

I'm currently in the 3rd year with my Duluth trading company socks, 16-20 Us a pair.  They fit perfectly and are wearing very well.  

oftenreading

Well, since were on the topic of socks .... I go with Smartwool socks. They are comfortable, long wearing, spiffy, and they make my toes smarter.  

They start from about $22 a pair but go up in price, depending on the purpose (hiking, cold weather sports, etc). 

rgambs

oftenreading said:

Well, since were on the topic of socks .... I go with Smartwool socks. They are comfortable, long wearing, spiffy, and they make my toes smarter.  

They start from about $22 a pair but go up in price, depending on the purpose (hiking, cold weather sports, etc). 

We moved away from Smartwool to Darn Tough.
They are even better, cheaper, and they are lifetime guaranteed!

oftenreading

rgambs said:

oftenreading said:

Well, since were on the topic of socks .... I go with Smartwool socks. They are comfortable, long wearing, spiffy, and they make my toes smarter.  

They start from about $22 a pair but go up in price, depending on the purpose (hiking, cold weather sports, etc). 

We moved away from Smartwool to Darn Tough.
They are even better, cheaper, and they are lifetime guaranteed!

I’ll have to see if I can even get those. I’ve never seen them. 

My feet need to be smart, though, darn it. 

rgambs

oftenreading said:

rgambs said:

oftenreading said:

Well, since were on the topic of socks .... I go with Smartwool socks. They are comfortable, long wearing, spiffy, and they make my toes smarter.  

They start from about $22 a pair but go up in price, depending on the purpose (hiking, cold weather sports, etc). 

We moved away from Smartwool to Darn Tough.
They are even better, cheaper, and they are lifetime guaranteed!

I’ll have to see if I can even get those. I’ve never seen them. 

My feet need to be smart, though, darn it. 

My Grandma always used to say, "Smart feet are a great start, but when it gets rough you need your feet to be tough"