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Registered on:5/15/2011
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quote:

The vibes are increasingly feeling like he will be retained. That’s what has him concerned.


Retention vibes don’t mean he’s safe — they mean he’s still useful. And usefulness is temporary in post-acquisition integrations.

Maybe leadership changes. I had over 20 bosses in my 23 years there. So maybe someone comes in they like and the situation improves after the shock wears off.

If not? He should shift into steady, compliant execution mode and stop signaling that he’s part of the future-state leadership—no pushing improvements, no rescuing projects, no strategic opinions. That positions him as a solid but non-critical legacy leader, which is exactly the profile most likely to be selected for a not-for-cause redundancy.

They don't "hate you" but they "don't like you" for the long haul.

Had to help implement "RIFs" (Reductions In Work Force). "Early Retired" twice indirectly to avoid them coming up (but got hired back twice eventually!). Now fully retired. Big Fortune 500 Company, but it always did the "acquiring". Usually sucks. You think you're doing great. Got a good lifestyle trajectory, then BAM! It all gets fricked up.

My $.02:

There's money involved. "Drink the Kool Aid. For Now".


Acquirers don’t RIF the people who are driving things forward; they RIF the people who are competent, steady, not toxic, but no longer strategic drivers of the new agenda. To fit that profile, he should shift into a lower-visibility, compliance-oriented posture—asking for clarification instead of proposing solutions, following new processes exactly as written, avoiding opinions on integration strategy, stopping the push for improvements, no longer challenging assumptions, and stepping back from being the cultural bridge. Taken together, this positions him as a solid but non-critical legacy leader

In a 1:1 with his new boss:

“I know the company is still figuring out the long-term org design. I’m committed to supporting the transition in whatever way is most helpful, even if that means changes to my role down the line.”

Plan For The Next Phase Of Your Life

"RIFers" liked to be viewed as "hard charging". "Change agents". "Shaking things up". Easiest way to do that is to cut costs and staff reductions. The easy way out. Not long lasting, but appears like "change is happening".

No negativity, no conflict, nothing that could be construed as “cause.” Stay professional, and quietly prepare for the next role. Refresh résumé, reconnect with recruiters, and be ready the moment a package arrives. It will come. Want proof? Watch Animal Planet and see what happens to young or older males in a lion pride when the new "Lion King" comes in to take over.

Tell your friend he's not alone and it sucks. Be there for him. It's really stressful. And the future looks so uncertain. But he'll survive. Maybe even thrive later on!

Good luck!



This is what happens when you cut federal funding for midnight basketball
quote:

Is that what we are holding out for? Because originally it was regime change.

Now we seem fine with leaving in the same people we couldn't trust on the understanding they will really behave this time.


Once we do that, then we need to fortify the ballroom to avoid drone attacks.
The price we have to pay for Iran to not have the nuclear bomb it was developing
In an era where you're profiled, sometimes it works out ok. Keep getting these "sponsored" ads of Salma Hayek pics for sale on eBay.

Blame the O-T's "Babes of Bygone Era Threads" for this. :cheers:



Operators Standing By!

re: About this ballroom

Posted by Nole Man on 5/20/26 at 10:22 am to
Trump stated: “The ballroom is actually a fortified anti-drone military command center.”

So, it's really more of a military complex. The roof is a drone port. It's a strong military position to protect the President and elected officials. Essential architecture for an era of drone warfare.

But..

I think we do need to come up with a new name for it instead of "a ballroom".

Maybe the "Bunker Ballroom"? The "Underground City"?

These Figs saying that he goes into the bunker in January 2029 to protect himself and his Cabinet from the people who would enforce his departure from office are full of shite.

re: Nobody 2

Posted by Nole Man on 5/19/26 at 11:14 pm to
It was so campy I really kind of liked it in a way!

Nobody 2

Posted by Nole Man on 5/19/26 at 10:52 pm
What in the hell did I just watch!

LINK

re: Trump's Lawsuit Against The IRS..

Posted by Nole Man on 5/19/26 at 4:19 pm to
Looks like the US government agreed to drop tax claims against Trump in broadening of IRS lawsuit settlement.

Only $1.9B

The Trump administration announced Monday the creation of a nearly $1.8 billion fund to compensate allies of the Republican president who believe they have been unjustly investigated and prosecuted, an arrangement that Democrats and government watchdogs derided as “corrupt” and unconstitutional.

The “Anti-Weaponization Fund” of $1.776 billion, will allow people who believe they were targeted for prosecution for political purposes, including by the Biden administration Justice Department, to apply for payouts, creating what acting Attorney General Todd Blanche called “a lawful process for victims of lawfare and weaponization to be heard and seek redress.


So, let's get this one straight:

Trump sued his own IRS for $10 billion over leaked tax returns — then his own DOJ settled the case and created a $1.776 billion taxpayer-funded “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” The president filed the lawsuit, the president’s DOJ settled it, and now the president’s political allies can collect the money.

The fund uses taxpayer dollars to cover Jan. 6 defendants, Mar-a-Lago raid claims, Russia-investigation grievances — basically anyone who says they were a victim of “lawfare.” They even branded it with a patriotic number: $1.776 billion.

And we're footin' the bill. Got it. :rolleyes:
quote:

Only modern President to lose wealth while in office.

Meanwhile, tell me how the Obamas, the Clintons and even the Bidens are doing.


How is that?

Recent reporting from outlets like Forbes, Yahoo Finance, and The Economic Times shows Trump’s wealth has surged in the last year, driven mostly by crypto ventures, token sales, and the soaring valuation of Truth Social/Trump Media. Forbes estimates he gained roughly $3 billion in a single year, calling it the most lucrative period of his life. Major drivers include World Liberty Financial’s token revenue, investor speculation tied to his political profile, and the post-election spike in TMTG stock.

Forbes Article

Donald Trump just had the most lucrative year of his life. The president is now worth a record $7.3 billion, up from $4.3 billion in 2024, when he was still running for office. The $3 billion gain vaulted him 118 spots on The Forbes 400, where he lands at No. 201 this year.


Some AI research on the others. The summary:

How did the Obamas, Clintons, and Bidens increase wealth after office?
This part is straightforward and well-documented.

Barack & Michelle Obama
After leaving office:

Book deals: A joint Penguin Random House deal reportedly worth $60+ million

Netflix production deal: Reported in the tens of millions

Speaking fees: Obama earns $400k+ per speech

Their wealth increased dramatically after the presidency, not during it.

Bill & Hillary Clinton
After leaving office:

Speaking fees: Bill Clinton earned over $100 million in speeches

Book deals: Hillary Clinton’s memoir advances were in the $8–14 million range

Foundation work: Large fundraising operations (not personal income, but part of the public narrative)

Their wealth also increased after office.

Joe & Jill Biden
The Bidens were not wealthy during Joe Biden’s Senate years.
After leaving the vice presidency:

Book deals: Reported $8 million+

Speaking fees: Biden earned $200k+ per speech

Teaching roles: Paid university positions

Their wealth increased after leaving office, not during.

Fact is, most modern presidents and vice presidents become wealthy after leaving office through book deals, speaking fees, and media contracts. A shame but true.

Harvard or Yale. Always a tough choice.
quote:

They don't age well, in my experience

Kind of like Russian babes that then become Babushkas



quote:

I've been to Poland; it's kind of like a ghetto version of Germany.


Poland is amazing! Been twice, going back in November. Krakow is one of the coolest old cities you'll ever want to visit. Warsaw, particularly the Old Town area, was surprisingly nice. Spent the day in Gdansk and it's a beautiful city. So much to see and do. And yes, the women there are very nice looking. Got that porcelain white skin look to them you see often in Eastern European women.
quote:

Was hoping for hot chicks.....got disappoint instead


Tough crowd







Besides being a great country to visit, they got...

Humanoid robot chases wild boars in the Polish capital Warsaw

A viral video shows a humanoid robot chasing wild boars in the Polish capital Warsaw. The hero of the video published Sunday is Edward Warchocki, a humanoid robot turned Polish influencer. Edward is a Unitree 1 robot produced in China, whose bubbly personality is a Polish creation.

LINK

Just think if you could develop that for Nutria in the swamps or Pythons in the Everglades?? :rotflmao:
LOL! Spent a few days in Bulgaria. Great country to visit BTW.

I stay in touch with someone from Bulgaria we met on a cruise a few years ago. Her comments today on that:

Those who know me know that my work meets people from over 12 nations! Well this morning I'm going to work at 5 And instead of Good morning, every whole morning greets me with Bangarangaaa ??, it is a success for Bulgaria! And most importantly, no matter how mixed opinions there are about the song, Europe appreciated it. May be it's time to get out of social thinking and open our eyes to Western Europe. I also do not tolerate Western European propaganda of gendarism and Satanism, but in our song I do not see any of these, but rather a modern European sound, which is of course Ganyo, who does not know English, has no way to translate ??, and Western Europe, excluding the above-mentioned 2 minus, there are and 200plus compared to our Balkan thinking syndrome as I like to call it.

Bulgaria broke out with something normal in Europe, bravo to the girl who fought to the end and succeeded.


The staging was heavily inspired by the traditional Bulgarian Kukeri ritual, featuring costumed figures who chase away evil spirits. Look it up. It's an amazing site.

You would not believe the excitement and pride brought this small country. Bulgaria's first-ever Eurovision victory!

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The "America First" agenda has flown completely out the window. Business as usual with our politicians including Trump.

China was originally framed as the central long-term rival requiring firm economic pressure, investment controls, and strategic competition.

Bottom line: food = power. China can't feed its population as is, and taking over U.S. food production is a concern.

I thought Trump was tough on China, so why allow ANY of it?

Trump's Lawsuit Against The IRS..

Posted by Nole Man on 5/14/26 at 2:19 pm
LINK

The DOJ is now weighing a possible settlement in Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit over the 2020 leak of his tax returns — a leak carried out by an IRS contractor who later went to prison.

Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization filed the suit in January 2026, arguing the IRS and Treasury failed to protect their confidential records. If the Department of Justice settles a lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump against the IRS and the Treasury Department, Trump's net worth could be effectively double, based on his estimated worth and the damages he is seeking.

Now, as of May 2026, DOJ and IRS officials are reportedly discussing a deal that could include a major payout and even dropping ongoing audits of Trump-related entities. Critics say it raises conflict-of-interest questions since Trump oversees the very agencies negotiating with him.

Billions in taxpayer funds could possibly paid to Trump. He is the plaintiff and also the defendant. He states that “Any money that I win, I’ll give it to charity, 100% to charity, charities that will be approved by government or whatever.” We'll see.

I'm no fan of the IRS. Would like to see it either abolished or it's scope significantly reduced through some kind of flat tax or VAT (Value-Added Tax) system used similar to what many European countries have in place.

The IRS has a dismal record of protecting taxpayer privacy going back to the last century under both Republican and Democratic presidents. But, this makes no sense to hold average Americans liable for a federal agency’s faulty oversight of a contractor.