WTF in America
May 19th 2020, 7:59 am
#8251
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,543
Re: WTF in America
You might both find this piece, published 2 years ago when the faltering LA Times was sold for the umpteenth time in just a few years, quite interesting.
When we first moved to LA, the Times was a vibrant presence in this city. It was a great and thriving newspaper - in many ways on a par with the NY Times and Washington Post.
That changed with the digital revolution, as it did for so many publications - tho' the Times had further to fall. And it did. Rapidly.
Its eventual sale by the storied Chandler family and the subsequent decimation of its newsroom has been a palpable loss.
I'm not sure how the paper is faring now.
But given the current Covid climate there's a peculiar irony when one considers the identity and background of its current owner .....
https://www.latimes.com/business/hol...616-story.html
I hope you won't have to contend with "Border Patrol" and can circumvent the notorious paywall
so that you can read this account.
When we first moved to LA, the Times was a vibrant presence in this city. It was a great and thriving newspaper - in many ways on a par with the NY Times and Washington Post.
That changed with the digital revolution, as it did for so many publications - tho' the Times had further to fall. And it did. Rapidly.
Its eventual sale by the storied Chandler family and the subsequent decimation of its newsroom has been a palpable loss.
I'm not sure how the paper is faring now.
But given the current Covid climate there's a peculiar irony when one considers the identity and background of its current owner .....
https://www.latimes.com/business/hol...616-story.html
I hope you won't have to contend with "Border Patrol" and can circumvent the notorious paywall
so that you can read this account.My son’s take on it is that the Times certainly was badly hollowed out, as were so many other papers, but they learned their lesson and have at least partially rebuilt. He certainly supports it with his $$.
May 19th 2020, 8:08 am
#8252
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,543
Re: WTF in America
"You'd think...." indeed 
And they did!
After one of the David demises, Forest Lawn DID replace the marble fake (let's call a spade a spade) with a bronze one.
To no avail (alas)
It too succumbed to what now appears pre-ordained:
A disastrous topple
It seems David does not want to be cloned,
BTW....speaking of multiples, there are also 6 (yep, SIX!) Forest Lawn Cemeteries
These grassy final resting places seem to fare better than their contents
(....wonder how Corona has impacted them....move over David ? )
sorry/apologies, shouldn't joke but one craves the release of a dollop of black humour
And they did!
After one of the David demises, Forest Lawn DID replace the marble fake (let's call a spade a spade) with a bronze one.
To no avail (alas)
It too succumbed to what now appears pre-ordained:
A disastrous topple
It seems David does not want to be cloned,
BTW....speaking of multiples, there are also 6 (yep, SIX!) Forest Lawn Cemeteries
These grassy final resting places seem to fare better than their contents
(....wonder how Corona has impacted them....move over David ? )
sorry/apologies, shouldn't joke but one craves the release of a dollop of black humour
My mother in law, and her extended family, are buried at the Jewish cemetery in the gloriously-named Valhalla, NY .... basically the entire town is one massive cemetery. Well worth a visit.
May 19th 2020, 1:13 pm
#8253
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: WTF in America
I remember being a cemetery, but now you make me regret not making time to vist it. 
I only lived there for eight months, and grew to loath the place, especially the commuter trains that blasted their horns as the passed through the narrow valley, for 21+ hours a day, and I suspect that I was close to some sort of mental break-down, not being able to sleep due to stress and feeling pretty much helpless to improve my lot. Things were so bad that quitting my job without one to go, to was in fact a very easy decision to make.
May 19th 2020, 3:07 pm
#8254
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,543
Re: WTF in America
It is? I used to live there. I remember being a cemetery, but now you make me regret not making time to vist it.
I only lived there for eight months, and grew to loath the place, especially the commuter trains that blasted their horns as the passed through the narrow valley, for 21+ hours a day, and I suspect that I was close to some sort of mental break-down, not being able to sleep due to stress and feeling pretty much helpless to improve my lot. Things were so bad that quitting my job without one to go, to was in fact a very easy decision to make.
I remember being a cemetery, but now you make me regret not making time to vist it. I only lived there for eight months, and grew to loath the place, especially the commuter trains that blasted their horns as the passed through the narrow valley, for 21+ hours a day, and I suspect that I was close to some sort of mental break-down, not being able to sleep due to stress and feeling pretty much helpless to improve my lot. Things were so bad that quitting my job without one to go, to was in fact a very easy decision to make.
Kensico Cemetery is one of the great nineteenth century exurban cemeteries. Lovely to walk around in May or June, probably really nice in Fall, I don’t think I’ve been there then. It has a very large Jewish section, Sharon Gardens.
But having to commute to work from there would be a whole different story, I can see that.
May 19th 2020, 3:29 pm
#8255
Stand-up Philosopher
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Regina Saskatchewan
Posts: 16,344
May 19th 2020, 3:43 pm
#8256
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,543
May 20th 2020, 1:02 am
#8257
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2011
Location: "LA LA Land"
Posts: 2,448
Re: WTF in America
Move over Cecil (B. DeMille), Rudolph (Valentino), Judy (...Over-the-Rainbow) - all of whom have their final resting place at the (suitably named) Hollywood Forever Cemetary:
Once a year, to commemorate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) the Hollywood Forever Cemetery throws open its pearly gates to the 1000's of celebrants who flood its grounds to honour the dead or go un poco loco. Or both.
It's unique. It's bizarre. And it's most definitely a WTF in America event.....
(yes, Día de los Muertos is celebrated in Mexico - but what takes place at the Hollywood Cemetary is in a class of its own)
Last edited by MMcD; May 20th 2020 at 1:06 am.
May 20th 2020, 10:26 pm
#8258
Deep in the woods of CT
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,002
Re: WTF in America
You did? I love that part of the world! It’s my wife’s childhood stamping ground. She’s from the Bronx, but her mother was from Ossining. (Yes, it’s true, the lights used to dim on Thursday evenings, when they executed the prisoners.)
Kensico Cemetery is one of the great nineteenth century exurban cemeteries. Lovely to walk around in May or June, probably really nice in Fall, I don’t think I’ve been there then. It has a very large Jewish section, Sharon Gardens.
But having to commute to work from there would be a whole different story, I can see that.
Kensico Cemetery is one of the great nineteenth century exurban cemeteries. Lovely to walk around in May or June, probably really nice in Fall, I don’t think I’ve been there then. It has a very large Jewish section, Sharon Gardens.
But having to commute to work from there would be a whole different story, I can see that.
May 20th 2020, 10:47 pm
#8259
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: WTF in America
Apparently you can make money in the US by selling pizzas to yourself.
Last edited by Pulaski; May 20th 2020 at 10:52 pm.
May 20th 2020, 11:45 pm
#8260
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: WTF in America
Here's another brave attempt to knock Florida off their perch at the apex of WTFery, this time in Georgia, with a possible connection to South Carolina: Augusta woman throws bottle containing urine and faeces into a Taco Bell. 
May 21st 2020, 12:32 am
#8261
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Joined: Apr 2014
Location: Lauren's Co. SC by way of Palmetto, Florida
Posts: 3,265
Re: WTF in America
Here's another brave attempt to knock Florida off their perch at the apex of WTFery, this time in Georgia, with a possible connection to South Carolina: Augusta woman throws bottle containing urine and faeces into a Taco Bell.
May 21st 2020, 2:58 am
#8264
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Joined: Apr 2014
Location: Lauren's Co. SC by way of Palmetto, Florida
Posts: 3,265
May 21st 2020, 7:42 am
#8265
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,543
Re: WTF in America
Apparently you can make money in the US by selling pizzas to yourself.
DoorDash is backed by investment giant Softbank, which this week posted a record-breaking loss of nearly $13bn.
Defending the loss, chief executive Masayoshi Son reportedly compared himself to Jesus.
The billionaire is said to have stated during a call with investors that Jesus was "also misunderstood".
He later apologised.
Defending the loss, chief executive Masayoshi Son reportedly compared himself to Jesus.
The billionaire is said to have stated during a call with investors that Jesus was "also misunderstood".
He later apologised.