I did a bit of that for a few years. My objective was usually to get the person I was arguing with to use facts and reference documents to support their claims, instead of just hurling insults and parroting some internet meme or their favorite talking head.
It could get interesting if they would try to explain their side and actually make a point. Most of that went away after last November.

Now, I rarely get involved and have blocked people I used to engage, including a family member who I once cared about and respected.

Years ago, when one BIL was still in the Navy, and another had a boat moored at Annapolis, we used to go to the Naval Recreation Center at Solomons MD. One year the BIL brought his boat over and we guys went out fishing. We pulled in about 2 dozen bluefish. Yeah, they're great grilled or broiled. Then again, I don't mind oily, fishy fish. I even eat sardines.

It's like beating your head against the wall.

...but not as enjoyable.

You'll have to pry my Black Prince brake (break) pads from my cold dead paws.

Good to see you. :thumb:

Depends. If it's an open exchange of views, based on shared acceptance of the same data, that can be fun and enlightening.

I agree with that. So far, I've had that experience about as often as a blind squirrel finds a nut.

It didn't useta be that way. Not all the time, anyhow. It's why I largely gave up on it, though I have had some excellent discussions in the past. But we're talking nearly 20 years ago.

LPLO, yet again.

Agreed. The topic is currently more polarizing that I've ever experienced, which has made rational discussion of differing opinions increasingly difficult.

On happier topics - bicycle addiction - I signed up for Zwift Academy this year, figuring I could use some structure in my training. Hoo boy. The baseline ride went pretty well - 3 segments mixed in with about an hour long ride: a 2 minute climb, a 25 second sprint, and a 10 minute climb. I did pretty well, surprised myself by managing 25 seconds at an average of 821w in the sprint. So I was feeling pretty darn good about myself.

Then I did the first workout - VO2max Over/Unders. 3 intervals of 2' at 300w, 1' at 245w, 1' at 300w, 2' at 245w. Managed the first one, but halfway through the second, I thought I was gonna die! Maybe I went too hard on the previous days IRL ride, but I can tell you that 1 1/2 out of 3 intervals left me - well, not shattered, exactly, but certainly showing a number of cracks.

Maybe I'm too old for this stuff? Or too wimpy.

That was never 5 minutes! Yes it was!

They're delicious and healthy, high in omega 3s. The big ones are called gators, I used to fish for them all the time. I also love fishing for the scrappy snappers, but they're too small to eat . . . catch & release.

We are friends with exactly one couple that we feel free to discuss politics with.

If we discussed politics with anyone else we know, we would be shunned in the community. We likewise never contribute to any party affiliated candidates other than perhaps judges that I have to work with. The good thing is the the lower level judicial races are not so much about right/left positions. It's more about keeping the good ones in office, and keeping the political dolts out.

Any one ever eat gar?

I have heard they're very boney and not at all worth the trouble.

That's what I've always heard. There were some groups around my home town that would grind them up and cook it like ground meat. Cajuns grind it up and make fried patties out of it as well. Never acquired the taste.

Really like fried Crappie.

Got a jury duty summons.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c1e494585e.jpg

your tldr is tldr

Heh. I got one a couple of days ago. October 20th. Total waste of everyone's time. As a lawyer, plaintiff's counsel does not want me for a civil trial because I will actually evaluate the evidence in light of the law and not just vote on sympathy. As for criminal trails, my old man was once Philly's Chief of Pubic Defenders. I have to disclose that on the questionnaire even though he's been dead since '96. (In Philly, a public defender is considered a member of law enforcement for jury duty purposes.) That always gets me tossed for cause. One time I got picked for a pool. When I got called into the room the court clerk said he would not waste any more of my time but wanted to tell me on behalf of himself and the judge that my dad was a good man. Another time, during voir dire, the judge asked me why I had indicated that someone in my immediate family had been a member of law enforcement. I explained who my dad was. I could see an older lawyer at one of the tables shake his head as if to say to himself "That's where I know that last name from." Was sent to a small room. Sat down. Maybe a minute later the bailiff opened the door and told me I was excused.

But it's a day out of the office with pay and an extra $9, which covers lunch.

No, but like David Letterman, I used to have a crush on Terri Garr.

https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-P...s/TeriGarr.jpg

budget 11 speed aluminum rim brake rear wheel suggestions?

I knew you'd say that. I felt the least strong about that one. I love my rim brake bikes and I'm not giving them up either.

Used it as a base for cycling around Calvert and St. Mary's counties with LSS and a baby one long weekend.