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mike @vagabondvivant.com · 3m

Whoa, your dad was in Nam?

mike @vagabondvivant.com · 3h

So it's now illegal to burn a flag but could I shred one? Could I stand on a street corner and safely hack a flag to pieces with a machete?

mike @vagabondvivant.com · 5h

My dad kept his uncle's "Battle plan" card for American GIs in WWII Germany

An old faded handout given to American soldiers in WWII Germany. Reads:

Headquarters
Twelfth Army Group
Europe

Pfc JOSEPH RICCA 12142258

I need not speak of your past accomplishments, other than to say you have reflected great credit upon yourself and your command.

We are now fighting on German soil, and we are in contact not only with the soldiers of our enemy but also civilians of Germany. As conquerors, we must now consider our relations with the people of Germany.

It is imperative that you do not allow yourself to become friendly with Germans, but at the same time you must not persecute them. American soldiers can and have beaten German soldiers on the field of battle. It is equally important that you complete the victory over Nazi ideas.

To guide you I have issued these special "battle" orders. They may appear to lead along a narrow path, but they are NECESSARY. You personally must prove to the German people that their acceptance of Nazi leadership is responsible for their defeat, and that it has earned for them the distrust of the rest of the world.

O N Bradley

LIEUTENANT GENERAL, US ARMY
COMMANDING

SPECIAL ORDERS FOR GERMAN-AMERICAN RELATIONS

1. To remember always that Germany, though conquered, is still a dangerous enemy nation.
a. It is known that an underground organization for the continuation of the Nazi program for world domination is already in existence. This group will take advantage of every relaxation of vigilance on our part to carry on undercover war against us.
b. The occupational forces are not on a goodwill mission.

2. Never to trust Germans, collectively or individually.
a. For most of the past century, Germany has sought to attain world domination by conquest. This has been the third major attempt in the memory of men still living. To many Germans, this defeat will only be an interlude-a time to prepare for the next war.
b. Except for such losses of life and property suffered by them, the Germans have no regrets for the havoc they have wrought in the world.
c. The German has been taught that the national goal of domination must be attained regardless of the depths of treachery, murder and destruction necessary. He has been taught to sacrifice everything- ideals, honor, and even his wife and children for the State. Defeat will not erase that idea.

3. To defeat German efforts to poison my thoughts or influence my attitude.
a. The Nazis have found that the most powerful propaganda weapon is distortion of the truth. They have made skiltul use of it and will re-double their

efforts in the event of an occupation in order to influence the thinking of the occupational forces. There will probably be deliberate, studied and continuous efforts to influence our sympathies and to minimize the consequences of defeat

b. You may expect all manner of approach-conversations to be overheard, underground publications to be found; there will be appeals to generosity and fair play; to pity for victims of devastation: to racial and cultural similarities; and to sympathy for an allegedly oppressed peopie.

c. There will be attempts at sowing discord among Allied nations; at undermining Allied determination to enforce the surrender; at inducing a reduction in occupational forces; at lowering morale and efficiency of the occupying torces; at proving that Nazism was never wanted oy the gentie and cultured German people.

4. To avoid acts of violence, except when required by military necessity.
For you are an American soldier, not a Nazi.

5. To conduct myself at all times so as to command the respect of the German people for myself, for the United States, and for the Allied Cause.

a. The Germans hold all things military in deep respect. That respect must be maintained at all times or the Allied Cause is lost and the first steps are taken toward World War III. Each soldier must watch every action of himself and of his comrades. The German will be watching constantly, even though you may not see him. Let him see a good American Soldier.

b. Drunkenness will not be tolerated. Penalties will be severe.

6. Never to associate with Germans. a. We must bring home to the Germans that their support of Nazi leaders, their tolerance of raciall hatreds and persecutions, and their unquestioning acceptance of the wanton aggressions on other nations, have earned for them the contempt and distrust of the civilized world. We must never forget that the German people support the Nazi principles.

b. Contacts with Germans will be made only on official business. Immediate compliance with all official orders and instructions and surrender terms will be demanded of them and will be firmly enforced.

c. American soldiers must not associate with Germans. Specifically, it is not permissible to shake hands with them, to visit their homes, to exchange gifts with them, to engage in games or sports with them, to attend their dances or social events, or to accompany them on the street or elsewhere. Particularly, avoid all discussion or argument with them. Give the Germons no chance to trick you into relaxing your guard.

7. To be fair but firm with Germans.

a. Experience has shown that Germans regard kindness as weakness. Every soldier must prove by his actions that the Americans are strong. This will be accomplished if every soldier treats the Germans with firmness and stern courtesy at all times.

b. Firmness must be tempered with a strict justice. Americans do not resort to Nazi gangster meth- ods in dealing with any people. Remember, your fair but firm treatment of the German people will command the proper respect due a member of a conquering nation.

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mike @vagabondvivant.com · 5h

Hell is being trapped behind a school bus on a long single-lane double-yellow suburban road

mike @vagabondvivant.com · 6h

I am so sick of seeing his face on every other post in my timeline.

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mike @vagabondvivant.com · 7h

Worse still when you consider how many women didn't take it because they didn't want the sheet to be empty 😕

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mike @vagabondvivant.com · 8h

The saddest part is, he didn't even know. They voluntarily, without coordinating, just all maneuvered the game to let him win every time. They were that sniveling. Meanwhile he's there thinking he's a genius.

And if that's not an analogy for his entire career I don't know what is.

mike @vagabondvivant.com · 8h

For anyone that hasn't read "Careless People," this is an actual thing that happened regularly. Full-on executives, doing what they can to let him beat them at Catan, like he was some sort of child king that needed to be placated.

mike @vagabondvivant.com · 9h

I'm suddenly reminded of the brief moment when the world was in love with overtime HDR photos

K. Thor Jensen @kthorjensen.bsky.social · 9h

This is the aesthetic of the future

Kyle wolf
@CRXSSF4DE
.
someone on the Motorola forums was having the same problem with the camera I've been having, but I just have to share the image they posted to demonstrate the issue.
it's the funniest shit I've ever seen in my life dude

The photo is of an elderly woman in gray clothes that has been so bizarrely processed that it looks both totally over and desaturated

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mike @vagabondvivant.com · 13h

This was where I first heard the song. Up until this moment, I'd always thought it was an original of theirs.

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mike @vagabondvivant.com · 15h

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mike @vagabondvivant.com · 22h

"yes men who let me win at Catan"

Beautiful

McSweeney's @mcsweeneys.net · 1d

"I support things like civil rights, access to education, and medical research. You could never imagine me sitting in the front row at the inauguration of a far-right ruler who promised to destroy those things."

Hi, I’m an Early 2010s Tech CEO

I wear the same T-shirt every day, and I have a relatably unkempt haircut. I remind you of the smart kids from high school, so I give you hope that...

buff.ly

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mike @vagabondvivant.com · 22h

I see you've been talking to everyone I know

Not JPo @notjpo.bsky.social · 1d

Whenever you feel alone remember that there are a lot of people in your life that can barely tolerate you but they do anyway

mike @vagabondvivant.com · 23h

That they even need to do this is infuriating tho

mike @vagabondvivant.com · 1d

Jock deep thoughts

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mike @vagabondvivant.com · 1d

SNL should get Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein to come in and do a Portlandia skit

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mike @vagabondvivant.com · 1d

Sitting in my dad's empty apartment, fighting the urge to carve "Brooks was here" in the closet lintel.

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mike @vagabondvivant.com · 1d

Have you ever stopped to consider the fact that Amazon is the REASON you feel you have nowhere else to go? There *are* alternatives, but the more you choose Amazon over them, the more power you give Amazon to bully you and other merchants.

You're literally enabling your oppressor.

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mike @vagabondvivant.com · 1d

By "majority of profits," you must mean 51% because Amazon *fucks* its merchants. It's not so bad with big ticket products, but items under $20 get shafted. And let's not even start on their "advertising" racket. Fuck Amazon.

source: was an FBA for years before I got tired of their bullshit.

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mike @vagabondvivant.com · 1d

@thelouvreof.bsky.social

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mike @vagabondvivant.com · 1d

Twenty years later, this song still slaps harder than any fictional movie song has a right to

youtu.be/0Vyj1C8ogtE?...

Scotty Doesn't Know

YouTube video by RoseRanger

youtu.be

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mike @vagabondvivant.com · 1d

His greatest sin was letting us all believe the White House could ever be staffed with intelligent, empathetic, principled idealists instead of the brick-dumb, soulless, corrupt narcissists it actually gets.

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mike @vagabondvivant.com · 1d

She absolutely thinks she's Jeff Daniels in The Newsroom, not realizing she's Jeff Daniels in Dumb & Dumber.

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mike @vagabondvivant.com · 1d

Y'all made SIXTEEN Amazon posts in the past four hours, most of them in a ROW. Fucking chill.

Just a lil suggestion.

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mike @vagabondvivant.com · 1d

Any democratic country would've forced them to remove "News" from there channel name years ago

The Frito Bandito @thefritobanditoo.bsky.social · 2d

Guys, every person you see on Fox News in a mask is just Robert O'Neill, retired Navy Seal and occasional Fox News contributor. He's the former Antifa, former Gazan, former gang member. His eyes are very unique.

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