Chief Twit

DoubleEgger · May 12

JohnInCarolina · May 17

JohnInCarolina · May 21

https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/19/climate/xai-musk-memphis-turbines-pollution

DoubleEgger · May 28

Another Starship launch, another Starship failure. Quality control is on par with the Cybertruck.

Botch · May 28

JohnInCarolina said:

Was going to post my struggle on a separate thread, but I'll just leave this here.
I turned 65 in mid-February, had three months before that date, and three months after, to sign up for SS. Being a chronic procrastinator, I didn't do anything until about ten weeks ago (a much smarter "Future Me" would've done things differently). BCBS told me I had to go to ssa.gov to transfer to SS first, check. Tried to establish an account with SSA, was constantly denied (wouldn't tell me why). Got to the end of my options, photographing my UT Driver's License and send it in. Confirmation denied for several weeks. One last option, answer these questions and we'll send you a bar code to take to your local Post Office, denied for 3 weeks.
Called the local SS office twice daily for another couple weeks, "All our agents are busy, please call back >click<" No Hold function whatsoever. Finally signed in, and walked up to my local SS office (after walking thru Security similar to TSA (sign in, remove metal/belts/shoes, walk thru x-ray machine, get dressed again)). Signed in again, typed in my info in a kiosk, got a ticket number, sat down. 1:30 pm. Armed guard announces that "procedures have changed" and told us if we didn't already have a confirmed appointment, the clerk we got (five pissed-off civil servants behind bulletproof glass) could only schedule us for a "real" appointment. Fine, I sat there. 4:00 pm, announced "We're closing now, please come back tomorrow".
Ph*ck.
Same thing happened next morning, armed guard said (it changed overnight) that the pissed-off Civil Servants would only give us a phone number to call for an appointment. I raised my hand, said "I've been calling that number for five weeks now, I keep getting disconnected". "Are you calling our local number, or the 1-800 number?" "The local one". "Well, that wont' work", and he gave me the slip of paper with the 1-800 number on it, and I left. Called that number from home, put on hold with an estimated wait time of 90 minutes (the one good thing is I was able to select "Receive a call-back" rather than wait on hold).
2.5 hours later, phone rang, and I got a very pleasant lady on the line who stepped me thru the process, while I was on-line, to get access to the SSA website. 50 minutes later, I hit the same roadblock, and she said, "I don't know why it's rejecting you, let me set up an appointment with your local SSA office".
Tuesday, after the Holiday, went back in (again), got called up to a pissed-off guy behind bulletproof glass, he asked for my ID/driver's license, typed for awhile and after a few "hmms", "uhhs", what the's...", he said "Excuse me" and disappeared for ten minutes or so. Came back with a sheet with a new website (ssa.gov/setup) and a passcode that would expire in 2 days. Tried that, and actually established an account with the SSA! They've rejected my application to sign up for Medicare Parts A & B, but it sounds like something I need to do with BCBS Federal, so hopefully that works this week.

I had read, in a couple places, that doge was going to try to cripple the SSA until the next election (which won't happen) so that money stayed in place for the oligarchs. The post above, and my own experience, confirms that to me, at least.
I'm very tired, and very, very scared. Will be going to bed now, may have more to say when/if this gets completed.

JohnInCarolina · May 28

@Botch - none of that sounds any fun. I hate that so many seniors might be experiencing something like that right now. Sheesh.

JohnInCarolina · May 28

fishlessman · May 28

Botch said:

JohnInCarolina said:

Was going to post my struggle on a separate thread, but I'll just leave this here.
I turned 65 in mid-February, had three months before that date, and three months after, to sign up for SS. Being a chronic procrastinator, I didn't do anything until about ten weeks ago (a much smarter "Future Me" would've done things differently). BCBS told me I had to go to ssa.gov to transfer to SS first, check. Tried to establish an account with SSA, was constantly denied (wouldn't tell me why). Got to the end of my options, photographing my UT Driver's License and send it in. Confirmation denied for several weeks. One last option, answer these questions and we'll send you a bar code to take to your local Post Office, denied for 3 weeks.
Called the local SS office twice daily for another couple weeks, "All our agents are busy, please call back >click<" No Hold function whatsoever. Finally signed in, and walked up to my local SS office (after walking thru Security similar to TSA (sign in, remove metal/belts/shoes, walk thru x-ray machine, get dressed again)). Signed in again, typed in my info in a kiosk, got a ticket number, sat down. 1:30 pm. Armed guard announces that "procedures have changed" and told us if we didn't already have a confirmed appointment, the clerk we got (five pissed-off civil servants behind bulletproof glass) could only schedule us for a "real" appointment. Fine, I sat there. 4:00 pm, announced "We're closing now, please come back tomorrow".
Ph*ck.
Same thing happened next morning, armed guard said (it changed overnight) that the pissed-off Civil Servants would only give us a phone number to call for an appointment. I raised my hand, said "I've been calling that number for five weeks now, I keep getting disconnected". "Are you calling our local number, or the 1-800 number?" "The local one". "Well, that wont' work", and he gave me the slip of paper with the 1-800 number on it, and I left. Called that number from home, put on hold with an estimated wait time of 90 minutes (the one good thing is I was able to select "Receive a call-back" rather than wait on hold).
2.5 hours later, phone rang, and I got a very pleasant lady on the line who stepped me thru the process, while I was on-line, to get access to the SSA website. 50 minutes later, I hit the same roadblock, and she said, "I don't know why it's rejecting you, let me set up an appointment with your local SSA office".
Tuesday, after the Holiday, went back in (again), got called up to a pissed-off guy behind bulletproof glass, he asked for my ID/driver's license, typed for awhile and after a few "hmms", "uhhs", what the's...", he said "Excuse me" and disappeared for ten minutes or so. Came back with a sheet with a new website (ssa.gov/setup) and a passcode that would expire in 2 days. Tried that, and actually established an account with the SSA! They've rejected my application to sign up for Medicare Parts A & B, but it sounds like something I need to do with BCBS Federal, so hopefully that works this week.

I had read, in a couple places, that doge was going to try to cripple the SSA until the next election (which won't happen) so that money stayed in place for the oligarchs. The post above, and my own experience, confirms that to me, at least.
I'm very tired, and very, very scared. Will be going to bed now, may have more to say when/if this gets completed.

the ss department has been messed up forever. my brother lost both ankles about 12 years ago when a little nissan going about a buck30 front ended him. when disability finally approved the ssdi payments he got a check for two years back pay.....ive seen drunks get ssdi within a few months. just totally messed up. after ankle replacements were done he went back to work and notified them, took another year for them to stop sending checks. hope things work quickly for you from here on in

Gulfcoastguy · May 28

@Botch, I had to wait for a month to make an in person appointment. Then I had a sort meeting in person. Between the two I had 3 texts saying that the meeting was changed to a phone interview (like I am going to give my SSN number and banking information over the phone). After the second one I called and verified that my meeting was in person. On the third call I told the woman to turn herself in to the police. Guess who was my agent at Social Security? It turns out that was when the Musky One was trying to change procedures. Then a month wait to receive my Medicare card. My former employers insurance was much more efficient. I never contacted them but they sent me a letter telling me to apply for Medicare and that on my birth month they would automatically transition to a wrap around at X dollars a month and to get a Medicare part D.

Buckwoody Egger · May 29

hang in there Botch! once it’s settled it will be on cruise control

JohnInCarolina · May 29

https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-isnt-really-leaving-the-government-but-he-is-on-everyones-****-list-2000608750

JohnInCarolina · May 30

JohnInCarolina · June 2

JohnInCarolina · June 3

lousubcap · June 3

A bit late to be posting from the "other side of the Pond "@JohnInCarolina...But a great way to roll into the local time.

DoubleEgger · June 3

JohnInCarolina said:

Why should Ukraine trust Musk or Trump? It’s clear whose side the administration is on.

JohnInCarolina · June 7

https://www.npr.org/2025/06/02/nx-s1-5417994/former-doge-engineer-shares-his-experience-working-for-the-cost-cutting-unit

JohnInCarolina · June 10

DoubleEgger · June 10

JohnInCarolina said:

I recommend Callahan Auto Parts.

JohnInCarolina · June 10

https://futurism.com/cybertruck-sales-bad

caliking · June 11

DoubleEgger said:

JohnInCarolina said:

...

I recommend Callahan Auto Parts.

JohnInCarolina · June 11

I guess those SpaceX rockets ain’t gonna pay for themselves:

JohnInCarolina · June 19

Speaking of SpaceX:

SamIAm2 · June 19

So not "a major malfunction" then?

Gulfcoastguy · June 19

A Big Oopsie?

JohnInCarolina · July 6

“It’s time for a party for the third color on the American flag!”

SamIAm2 · July 6

Yellow would be my suggestion.

Botch · July 7

I was going to post about this, and ask you folks this question:

Exactly who does he think he's going to attract to this "party"?
Certainly not the magats. muskrat went directly against their demigod, very publicly, and they certainly won't move over to his side.
Certainly not the democrats. DOGE has badly damaged the entire social net of the Government.
And certainly not the old-school republicans who see the fascist threat in Dump. I think I can safely speak for all 139 of us: we HATE muskrat. Between his aforementioned damage to the social net of the government, his indiscriminate firing of so many dedicated civil servants (so many veterans!) and his specific targeting of watchdog agencies who were investigating/fining his own many businesses, I don't think any of us support him either.

And, really, what's his "major theme"? Destroying the government (including robbing Medicare/Medicade/ Social Security, that we've ALL paid into our entire lives, just to lower the deficit (with no mention about the tax cuts for he and his ilk))? Which US citizens, specifically, care about reducing the deficit/debt, when their own lifetime pensions/benefits are being threatened? It's a strong talking point for many, but does it actually swing any votes? The lack of federal support for disaster victims (lookin at you, TX, and still at you, WVa) will only pump up this suspicion of DOGE.

I really can't figure out the demographic of who would join his party (on the other hand, it only took him $250M to re-elect a bald-face traitor, a few key state seats may just be child's play for him). Ph*ck.

What do you think?

Gulfcoastguy · July 7

His own people at Tesla won't vote for him. Anyone who drives a non Tesla EV won't vote for him. Anyone who invested money in the new EV plants or EV battery plants won't vote for him. The right won't vote for him because he has turned his coat multiple times. He'll get about as far as Kamela will. The question is from which side he will syphon his few votes.

JohnInCarolina · July 8

Grok appears to have been trained on data from KKK rallies.

Chief Twit

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