276 Comments

I have always wanted to be a world traveler but unfortunately a lifelong shortage of disposable income and the demands of work presented a stiff barrier to that. The only foreign soil I have ever set foot on were the two largest provinces of our neighbor to the north. I haven't even see all that much of the US yet, including parts that are relatively nearby. Outside of New England and the rest of the Northeast (and Michigan, where I grew up) the state that I have visited most is Florida. Been there many times, and not even once as a snowbird. I have only been west of the Mississippi once.

Expand full comment

Foreign travel requires two things that are in critically short supply for most Americans: money and time. International travel is a nice goal that is quite difficult to achieve for the great majority of US citizens. It is well out of reach for a fair number of us. I disagree with you on this point; I feel that most Americans sincerely DO wish they could travel overseas or even visit other countries in the Americas. It is simply unattainable for most. The United States is quite properly regarded as a rich country but we all know that in truth only a handful of Americans are rich. A typical Western European has far more disposable income than his or her counterpart does in America, as well as utterly mind-boggling (to Americans) quantities of free time. (We have cheaper gas (petrol) though and, in some regions, bigger houses because of cheaper land and lower building costs in those areas.) The only hope that most Americans have of encountering people from overseas are via chance meetings with tourists when they come here.

Back during the Cold War the Iron Curtain kept most people from Eastern Europe from ever setting foot outside of their countries. In the 21st century, the Wage Curtain is doing the same thing for Americans.

Expand full comment

Dogs didn't find those guys. Many hundreds (a veritable army) of state troopers, forest rangers, local police and FBI and Border Patrol agents slogging through the dense tangle of woods and rugged country in the pouring rain, thick fog and summer heat day after day after day did that. Dogs were employed at times, especially during the first week, but they ended up playing little role in the manhunt and eventual capture of the fugitives.

Expand full comment

I've been trying to think of something funny to say about this for 7 days, but really, it's just sad.

Expand full comment

Here in Texas it seems to be used interchangeably with "have a nice day". I know what a nice day is; not sure I know what a blessed day would involve.

Expand full comment

And yet Long Island has the Devil's Highway .... the LIE!

(Waves from across the Sound)

Expand full comment

10) Have a blessed day!

FTFY. (Also, always bless-ed, never as if past tense).

Expand full comment

I've been meaning to ask - what the hell does that mean?

Expand full comment

Jim Bob tells all his girls that.

Expand full comment

FTFY? Fixed this/that for you.

Expand full comment

Perfect reply--happy birthday America!

Expand full comment

Is jerk pork like the "soggy cracker" game? A bunch of large Jamaican men standing in a circle?

Expand full comment

That article is scary. Christianity is so deeply embedded we may never be truly rid of it. And Heinlein's "Revolt in 2100" might be the future. Minus the revolt part. They were ousting a theocracy.

Expand full comment

The passive ones are the worst because they don't even try to get rid of the active crazies. Wait... didn't someone say that about another religion?

Expand full comment

Look up "Dominion Theology". Low boredom threshold? We are the Chose People because the Jews didn't recognize Jesus was the Messiah. They will all become Christian before Jay gets back though. Except the ones who don't and get killed along with everybody but Christians.

Expand full comment

MY EYES!!

Expand full comment