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Perfect timing... didn't know this was a thread... I am going to make this a historical site in our city.

I think you read a lot into what out Czech friend wrote. I don't really buy the lie of American Exceptionalism. Will the United States get through this? Yes. Will thousands of people needlessly die because of bad decisions all over the place? Yes. I think Americans have become complacent that our government has functioning systems in place to help us in a crisis like this and those systems can't work when you don't staff them or think about them for years and years. I certainly grew up with a notion that the US was untouchable, 9/11 was a big wake up call for people in that regard, I think this also is/will be a wake-up call for people. Our government downplayed the role that face masks could play in containing/slowing the virus, seemingly because they realized we didn't have enough PPE to protect critical healthcare workers and wanted to avoid hoarding and shortages. I honestly took Crayxlp's post a week ago about everyone masks to heart and started wearing one to stores and it seems like more and more people are wearing masks out to shop, I'd say about 50% at Costco today. I just don't think Crayxlp hates America or Americans. It's literally just fine to be critical of the USA, it's policies, it's actions and even it's people, it doesn't mean you hate it or them. On another note, I can only hope that 30-40% unemployment is what it takes to realize employer provided healthcare coverage is a pretty dumb way to approach paying for medical care. I think I'd rather just have the extra $20k in income and pay an extra $15-20k in taxes for a different bureaucracy (lets not pretend Blue Cross/Aetna/etc are really cutting the red tape) to cover health expenses.

76042 Helicarrier re-build finished this morning. I reverse bagged this one so the build was very smooth. I've always loved this set, and since it took me a while to find one at a good price that adds a bit of extra satisfaction each time I build it. This is one of the sets that they did a great job with, the proportions and details are very close to the shots in the movies in my opinion, and the interior bridge addition it excellent. Once I modified the minifigure stand to include all of the original Avengers, that was the final touch, although one of the front turret extensions looks to have fallen off during transport from my building area 🙃 On the cons, I wish they would have scrapped the turbine spinning feature and added more interior, perhaps a Hulk lab, bunk rooms, and hallways. And secondly, the upper/second level bridge needs work. That large translucent piece just doesn't look good with all the other small details. But overall an amazing set for me!

Everything is... oh forget it. by captainsmog

I found this at work today, maybe it will help lighten the mood

This plays in my head every day that I wake up in America.

Thus the reason why small businesses need to apply for the PPP(Payroll Protection Program) and keep people on the payroll. We applied this afternoon. I will let you know how it goes, but if it works, I will be able to pay all my employees for two months with the help of the Feds.

(10265) Pickup Truck by Nathanael Kuipers

No cute Easter chicks and bunnies this year by Bricksom Parsom

And with perfect timing Trump has now taken actions that directly affect those outside his borders. The following is one version of many such threads which are spreading around Canada virally right now. This is why “people outside the US” think they have reason to comment on what the US does. “To all my American friends, your President has just asked 3M to stop sending N95 masks to Canada. The memory of your President is short. Things that Canada did during 911 have obviously been forgotten by the moron that Donny has shown himself to be. Canadians took in thousands of stranded Americans in Newfoundland when planes were told to land immediately. Canadians took these people in free of charge as they had to await days to head home. Following that, our soldiers stood side by side with our US neighbors and some of them made the ultimate sacrifice on our and your behalf in Afghanistan. Some of you may remember the covert operation that helped save the lives of Americans being held in Iran made possible by Canada’s embassy sheltering Americans as seen in the film Argo. To say that Canadians are pissed at this is an understatement. I along with many others in Canada from coast to coast hope that your President rescinds this directive immediately and understand that Canadians are your closest allies in the world. We may be small but we have helped your country out without asking for anything back on countless issues. Don't let our memories include this shortsighted and dangerous directive. Approximately a thousand medical workers cross the Ambassador bridge from Canada everyday to work in the Metro Detroit area hospitals. Workers that can be placed to work back in our country at this challenging time. I don't think you'll want that or similar actions to happen. As Canadians, we are watching closely at what is happening in your country. We are all pulling for you to come through this with the least damage possible and least number of deaths. May God Bless you all but don't forget those whom have always stood at your side as not just friends but also as family.“

Obamacare made it possible for my family to de-couple from employer based health care. Since then, we have significantly increased our annual April contribution to the US Treasury. You are wrong that it was complete trash.

“Stand beside her, and guide her,” we sing in “God Bless America.”

none taken. by the same measure, my homeschooled-before-everybody-did-it kids are not enjoying this either. All of their sports have been shut down. Two days a week, my kids typically socialized with other family's---one day at a church co-op where we ran weekly classes, the other in "the woods". Plus once a month, a field-trip to museums, or a community assistance service center, or the like. None of that is happening now. I guess my point is, a typically school week should be much different/better than what we are experiencing now, regardless of the previous schooling environment. I can imagine its incredible frustrating to be thrown into home learning on short notice though. You have my sympathies.

The Theed Royal Palace of Naboo by Etel Enzos

Settle down Canada. We know what you’re planning.

My point of view does not originate from a political viewpoint. It comes from a national pride viewpoint. I don't really care for those outside our country trashing our president. You aren't going to accomplish anything by doing this... you aren't going to make a Trump supporter suddenly change their mind about him because you called him an imbecile. You are just going to needlessly piss others off, so what is the point behind it? People change their minds and politics based more off of their own personal problems and experience. I voted for Clinton (Bill, not Hillary), Gore, Kerry, Obama, Romney and Trump. Simply because things had changed in my life that made me see things differently. Not because of anything anyone on the internet has ever posted nor because of anything I saw on a biased news network.

This is a joke, right? "Us as a people"?? My friend, you and I have very little in common, but we're both as American as the day is long. Maybe stop assuming that other Americans share your particular values and opinions. Millions of Americans call Trump names everyday, myself included, he's a liar and egomaniac, did you know he's #1 on Facebook? What difference does it make if a Canadian and a Czech do the same? Have a little backbone and stop calling the PC police.

Said it before and I'll say it again, jealousy😃 I think it says more about us as a people and country that we aren't on here bashing other places and leaders and shows others for their true colors and hypocrisy. Good luck trying to get many of us to take anything you say seriously and treat you like an adult when you act like a tool and resort to calling our President names like a little child.

I don't understand why so many people from outside of the USA feel the need to come onto this thread just to bash our president and the rest of our leaders without really knowing the first thing about our country. You don't see any Americans on here talking about how bad leaders of other nations are screwing it up for their people (except maybe China where it started and could have possibly been contained), so why constantly talk about ours? You guys are really starting to tread on my sense of national pride.

We will get through this, as one. NO doubt.

Enough with the negative rhetoric. Plenty of mistakes to go around with this situation. Being cocky about lack of cases in a country is silly and nearsighted. At any time, your luck can run out. One thing I am confident of though is that the US will survive and be stronger for it in the long run. We will learn who our friends our and respond accordingly.

I hope every single American will learn a lesson or two or many from this. Lets start with. 1. A for profit Insurance company based medical system only works well for the wealthy, medical workers and big pharma and Insurance corporations. And maybe not really well for medical workers. 2. The people put in charge of serious medical science problems should be actual medical scientists. 3. When corporate profits go up and productivity goes up, workers should share in those profits with better job security, better wages, better conditions, rather than nearly all gains going to the top stockholders and CEO's 4. Outsourcing of manufacturing and Industrial occupations everything from pharmaceuticals to metal fabrication will lead to the decline of a society and the pride workers have in the jobs they perform and the feeling of comradery between all citizens. Those were good, decent paying jobs people could be proud to have and have been replaced by service jobs no one really wants. 5. Elections have consequences and who you elect will be who leads during the best and worst of times.

Not surprisingly, we disagree. I don’t need to go back 3 years. It’s right there in your post. “Every single American”. You are quite simply expressing your opinion that you hope every single American will learn a lesson from this. That we will get knocked down a peg or two, because we think “we are the best in the world.” You are ignorant to our political system. You’ve shown that many times in this thread. And you are ignorant of our school system. I’m done with you and this conversation. I’m going to just let you sound like the ignorant, hateful person you clearly are.

I have to appreciate your wondeful insight - regarding my posts - how much "i Hate US".. truly.. amazing! it would require some time to go through all my posts since joining (cca 3´yrs back) to get some substantial base for that. my points regarding the virus spread /based on EU experience) might be farfetched, unwelcomed, over- , clouded(?), misguided.. whatever else you want to put in here.. if you accuse me of being attacking the U.S.A. on the basis of all the evil, then it is not true. I just state that you are way past the line when you could significantly reduce the spread, your official bodies knew that (and ignored that) and the history is going to show THAT. That is all. its been like a week that I suggested / posted here that you (= in US) should wear some mouth protective cloth.. Get a look at the guidance / rulings of your authorities.. they are always like a month late.. Your GOV says that they register at this moment around 210.000 positive? - get a grip! - you have already more than 5x times that given not just your ludicrious approach to this but also based on the EU stats. You will be "lucky" ( no offense meant), if you are able to control this to get less than 2 mil infected. - although there is no dispute that the exponential spread was given and ALLOWED by the lack of the proper approch from your US Pres / gov.

The vitriol and hatred you have for the United States and her citizens are very very clear. I would say more, but you’ve spoken very well for yourself. And for any of you questioning his beliefs, please keep in mind he just painted everyone - conservative, liberal, and everyone in between with the same broad brush.

people being paid for “not working” have had to work continuously to earn their unemployment benefit. Workers who just started out in a job aren’t able to file in most states. Many states aren’t going to be able to pay benefits if these numbers do indeed continue to climb, hence the fed support. Also keep in mind that some state’s max weekly unemployment isn’t even $300. Some, like Mississippi, max out at $235 a week. To compound this, most states stop paying Benefits in as little as 13 weeks while others tap out at 26 weeks. This isn’t a handout to most—it is a lifeline.

My daughter and I did a little building today.

Molon Labe by Hunter Erickson

Bob Ross by Julius von Brunk

I finally bought it! This was my first and only "big" LEGO set as a child. Everything else was scrounged from a Happy Meal or hustled off some neighborhood kid for pennies on the dollar. My dad would only buy me Joe's, because they were the real American heroes. That flip lid means so much to me. I remember hanging out in the stores and that little plastic window gave me a glimpse into another world. LEGO made the best box art too. It actually represented what was in the box and provided the same excitement. Do you remember the Nintendo box art? Some of the best until you actually played the game. Man, what a let down lol! I'm interested to see others recent childhood purchases and learn your story behind it.

You make a good point. Millions of people across the country right now are home schooling amateurs. I am. My wife is. My son is. His teachers are. Given some time and more experience with technology and basic home schooling teaching plans, I'm sure our experience would be much better. But most schools threw this together on the fly. It's a work in progress.

Corner pizza & pool by MAX ALDEGHERI

I can spot a Canadian right away with their beady eyes and flappy heads.

Home schooling is "not so good" as the president likes to say (in my opinion). While many of us are finding out that our teachers are subpar, kids need to be in school. They need to socialize and get out of the friggin' house. They need sports and activities. Too much drama at home right now. No offense to those who home school, but we must find a way to get kids back in school.

Just a reminder since I know quite a few on these boards resell either full time or part time. Please make sure to read and apply for any benefits you think you may qualify under the new CARES Act. There is a lot of funding available and a lot of it is forgivable. There are also quite a few different programs and applying for some may preclude you from applying for others so take your time and figure what is going to be the best outcome for your situation. Also we know that the $600 per week unemployment bonus under PUA is going to be extended to at least 6 months from 4 but keep in mind it will also likely get extended until at least through the end of 2020 - this specifically may sway a decision for alot of us to either close up operations to apply for PUA or keep going and get the free $10k advance through EIDL. Also keep in mind the possibility of much stricter govt orders regarding lockdowns and the possibility of no more ebay, and Amazon shutting down 3P selling altogether, for a period of time if the USA continues along the same trajectory. The simple fact is the USA is horribly exposed to this virus right now with inadequate testing and treatment supplies so there is the possibility of some really bad outcomes and some quite draconian govt orders that could really end business for alot of us overnight.

Reading about a place does not give you a true sense of what it is like to live in that place. I have personally been to many countries around the world and read about them, but that doesn't mean that I know what it is like to live and work in that country. Why do you assume I haven’t been there? Canadians go there all the time. And I’m sorry but reading about and researching things is how knowledge is gained and spread. Or are you ignoring what foreign doctors say about COVID because they haven’t lived in the US? I guarantee the plague doesnt care.

I don’t understand why you assume we don’t know anything about your country. Assume some basic literacy and world knowledge about the “leader of the free world” from those he leads. There’s no special privilege about being within the US that prevents others from discussing it.

I work for a church (4-15 employees). Pre-Obama care, employer insurance costs increased avg +7% each year. Post-Obama care, employer insurance costs increased avg +12% each year. All my deductibles and co-pays increased Post-Obama care too. And we had the mediocre insurance plan. I can't imagine what the top plans cost. There are some positives which came from it, but it has a heavy price tag.

No, he goes beyond that and while maybe not hating American's per se he isn't fond of our country and spew's childish hatred toward our President every post he makes which I do take personally. Really hard to be critical or criticize something you know little or nothing about without it sounding like drivel. I agree our Healthcare needs some work and "ObamaCare" was complete trash, but employer healthcare is great for a lot of us with good employers so honestly getting rid of it and paying anything remotely close to $10k a year more in taxes or any other form of Gov. option would be devastating and not the way to go.

Not surprising. You can't trust China. Then again, you can't really trust our government either.

There’s no vitriol or hatred there. It’s a diagnosis of a problem. This is one of those times where it’s better to listen than immediately react. Just because someone isn’t praising you doesn’t mean they hate you.

It's temporary. Everyone is worried that people won't return to work because “they can make more doing nothing!” Benefits will go back to the old system and people will go back to work. These are extraordinary times.

Last year I bought 375 yellow castle. I had this set as a child and parts of it are still in my lego bin. But I wanted a complete set with box and instructions. I also bought 497 Galaxy Explorer. I had classic space sets as a kid but I don't think I had 497.

I hate that I found this on r/conspiracy, but after watching the 10 minute video, it does seem to be public record he is referencing. Again, to each their own, but I thought it fitting to share this input. Please remove if needed.

Here is my Battle of Hoth scene that incorporates sets 8129 (AT-AT Walker), 75049 (Snowspeeder), 75014 (Battle of Hoth), 75138 (Hoth Attack) and a laser cannon from set 75259 (Snowspeeder – 20th Anniversary Edition) on three white base plates. The background pictures were my son’s idea and are much better idea than the plain white background I originally had. The reflection off the glass doors makes it difficult to get a really good overall picture, hence the close-up shots. Being at home all the time does have its advantages after I get done teleworking, more family time and more building opportunities. Since this is technically not a MOC since I did not modify any of the sets, I am posting it here.

Untitled by Snazzy Bricks

Memento mori by sebastian bachórzewski