Random Thoughts Thread

[BigFatMeanie]

Haiti’s social contract is in default.

Has it ever not been in default?

Ruled by Spain for ~200 years, then another ~200 years under the Frenchies, then non-stop coups, wars, revolutions, strongmen, criminals/thugs, and everything else since then (including US troops on the ground starting in WWI but they were withdrawn before WWII. Fun fact: Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote a version of the Haitian constitution under US occupation, one of many constitutions over the years.)

[Jeff Lebowski]

Has it ever not been in default?

Ruled by Spain for ~200 years, then another ~200 years under the Frenchies, then non-stop coups, wars, revolutions, strongmen, criminals/thugs, and everything else since then (including US troops on the ground starting in WWI but they were withdrawn before WWII. Fun fact: Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote a version of the Haitian constitution under US occupation, one of many constitutions over the years.)

Not-so-fun fact: After Haiti got their independence and stopped being a slave state, France informed them under threat of naval bombardment and invasion that they owed them (their former slave masters) a fortune for the slave business, etc they lost. USA played a role as well. They never got a fair chance.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/...-timeline.html

[Bo Diddley]

Not-so-fun fact: After Haiti got their independence and stopped being a slave state, France informed them under threat of naval bombardment and invasion that they owed them (their former slave masters) a fortune for the slave business, etc they lost. USA played a role as well. They never got a fair chance.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/...-timeline.html

I remember reading that. Was that something you posted before?

[Jeff Lebowski]

I remember reading that. Was that something you posted before?

I think so.

[Northwestcoug]

I remember reading that. Was that something you posted before?

I think so.

Ahem:

https://www.cougarstadium.com/forum/non-sports/the-back-fence/47687-random-stuff-worth-reading-on-the-internet-thread?p=2250235#post2250235

[Jeff Lebowski]

Ahem:

https://www.cougarstadium.com/forum/...35#post2250235

There you go!

I have shared that with a few people since. Really sad story.

[Bo Diddley]

Ahem:

https://www.cougarstadium.com/forum/...35#post2250235

Ok, I figured it was shared here. It's crazy to me that we had a hand in that.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Re-reading that article makes me very sad, even a little nauseated, although I laughed at the lines: "The Americans forced Haitians to build roads for no pay, and soldiers shot those who tried to escape. Many Haitians saw this as a return to slavery." Would anyone NOT see it that way? These people need a lot of outside assistance to overcome centuries of outside depredation.

[Joe Public]

These people need a lot of outside assistance to overcome centuries of outside depredation.

I’d hoped the widespread international attention and aid toward Haiti after the earthquake would be the catalyst for that, but it didn’t play out that way.

[Pelado]

If you haven't filed your 2023 tax return or at least an extension, don't worry, there's still a little bit of time remaining. Very little if you're on the East Coast.

https://www.irs.gov/payments

[Copelius]

20240420_144941.jpg

I have a new goal.

[Bo Diddley]

I have a new goal.

I love it.

[YOhio]

I miss the days on this board where you could talk shit about bananas and wuap would immediately be all up in your grill. He really liked bananas.

[Lost Student]

20240420_144941.jpg

I have a new goal.

Is it learning to ride your motorcycle backwards on the freeway?

[Copelius]

Is it learning to ride your motorcycle backwards on the freeway?

That would be one way to get the hair to do that.