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  • I think that it’s now safe to say that we Texans now live in a failed state.  30 years of GOP rule, setting our own standard, living the “Texas Dream,” which they’ve bragged about relentlessly…and let’s see where we are:

    A majority of the state in complete failure, unable to deliver the most BASIC of services (things that are called “utilities,” not “luxuries,” for a reason).  No power.  No water.  No means of clearing roads (that one, I can’t fault the state so much….but it wouldn’t be as big a crisis if people weren’t stuck in their homes with no power and water).  So citizens are stuck in their homes, some of them dying there. 

    Water resource planning?  After pretending for decades that a drought would never happen again, and not doing ANYTHING to develop resources in the state water plan (a document actually developed using science and mathematical projections), we had several locations, including actual cities, down to a few days of water supply.  We’ve finally gotten on our horse a bit, but it may be too late if the next drought comes anytime soon.  

    State rank in key categories:

    Education – 34

    Health Care - 37

    Infrastructure - 33

    Opportunity - 39

    Environment - 44

    Infrastructure - 33 

    In overall quality of life ranking by US News, we are now #38, down from #36 just two years ago.  At that rate, we’ll be in the bottom 3 within ten years.

    We are SUPER independent, and FUCK the feds….but we have requested federal disaster assistance more than any other state in the past decade or so.

    But hey, our economy is ranked #15!

    That’s right, we have a “roaring economy” and the “Texas Miracle!”  But we can’t deliver the basics for our citizens.  The economy is VERY efficient at funneling bazillions to the very few…..with little of it “trickling down” to most Texans.  Yeah, the people on this board generally do fine, but face the facts – we’re the top 10% or so.  We are educated, older, and fortunate.

    Our federal system allows for state-by-state experiments.  Texas is the poster child for near anarcho-capitalism and zero regulation or oversight.  We have tested that approach, for over a generation now (30 years of Republican rule).  That approach is a failure.  The evidence is undeniable, and overwhelming.  It doesn’t matter how many River Oaks millionaires you produce if the rest of your people are dying in their homes.  Shit, some of those River Oaks millionaires might be freezing to death today, too.

    The kids of a middle class family can hardly afford to go to a good state school.  Their prospects for employment are mediocre.  Their prospects of suffering crippling medical debt at some point are significant.  Their chances of not having basic utilities needed for life safety at some point – all but certain.  Their chances of becoming ill or dying from a pollution-caused illness are material.

    What’s the result?  Our leaders have sold Texas as a paradise – move here!  Bring your business here!  And some businesses have done so, adding opportunity…..but providing little to no tax support for the infrastructure we all depend on.  To the contrary, over the past few years, I know more and more people – educated people, people who can do their jobs elsewhere, who are looking to bail on this state.  It’s people with young kids, who want them to grow up in a better place.  It’s people in their working years, who simply want a better path.  It’s retirees, who want a safe and secure place to live.

    We have consumed our seed stock.  We have burned through our reserves.  We are now consuming ourselves.  The ability to pitch Texas as the land of opportunity is done.  Seeing what we have become, the tentative thought/plan my wife and I had of wrapping up our careers here and then getting the hell out of Dodge is becoming much more concrete.  My children are already unlikely to make their future in this state.  Now we are, too.

    But the response from the Republican leadership and their sycophants – “how are you gonna pay for it?  Taxes?  That’s socialism!  You want that stuff, you have to pay for it!”

    Fuck yes I do, and I’m okay with that.  I want groceries…so I have to pay HEB.  I want a car…so I have to pay Ford.  I want clothes…..so I have to pay Dillards.  I want my population educated….so I have to pay the school district.  I want electricity, with enough capacity to keep us running when we need it…..so I have to pay my bill, maybe with a capacity surcharge.  I want water to come out of the taps….so I have to pay for development of resources and maintenance of infrastructure.  I want roads….so I pay taxes to build and maintain them.  YES, I have to pay for all of those things, and “nothing is free” – no fucking shit.  So, let’s pay for it.  We have the #15 economy….we HAVE the funds in this state.  An economy with the flow of funds that ours has can produce and maintain all of those results.  But we have chosen a different path; funnel all the dollars to the top, and spend next to nothing for the public good.  We have privatized profit….we have socialized the costs.  And we are dying because of it.

    My fellow Texans are dying in their homes….and there’s nothing I can do about it today.  And I am enraged.

    I love Texas.  I am 6th generation here.  My ancestors have Texas historical markers on their graves.  We helped make this state, and this state helped make us.  It educated us (back when college was affordable).  But it’s time to face the fact – this state is a failure, and on its current path, with its current leadership and philosophy, it will only get worse.  This state has a terrible future, unless we dramatically change our path.   Chances of that happening?  0.0% -- because we’ll continue to vote for the guys who make our leadership priorities bathroom bills, and transgender sports, and requiring the national anthem be played at certain events.  Any bill that has been proposed to improve emergency preparedness of gov’t entities has been crushed by the Republicans controlling the lege….but we will definitely stick with those guys.  No taxes.  No government functionality.

    What we are seeing happening right now is our system working EXACTLY AS IT WAS DESIGNED AND INTENDED TO WORK.  And we will, I guarantee it, collectively decide to stick with that.  This state is in free-fall, and anyone with eyes can see it.  And anyone with a brain is starting to think of ways to make their life elsewhere.  It breaks my goddamned heart to see us commit collective suicide, but here we are.

     

     


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    SimonBolivar

    Posted

    The D8 vapes that I have all feel really bad when compared to putting flower in a Pax. I use gummies 95% of the time now, but the unregulated vapes felt pretty scammy honestly. 

    Foosters

    Posted

    13 minutes ago, SimonBolivar said:

    The D8 vapes that I have all feel really bad when compared to putting flower in a Pax. I use gummies 95% of the time now, but the unregulated vapes felt pretty scammy honestly. 

    well the unregulated ones which garbage put into them is a different issue, but even with those that are well-tested and regulated, I'm still concerned about inhaling a heated oil

    Brian Fantana

    Posted

    5 minutes ago, Foosters said:

    well the unregulated ones which garbage put into them is a different issue, but even with those that are well-tested and regulated, I'm still concerned about inhaling a heated oil

    Vape juice contains water soluble organic compounds, no oils. Still not good for you, I imagine, but inhaling heated oil would cause [maybe permanent] lung damage pretty quickly I think.

    chainsaw

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, Ragde said:

    Alcohol is terrible for your liver dude

    Counterpoint:

    Spoiler

    image.png

     

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    Schulz2.0

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Foosters said:

    Actual non-gotcha question for @Sawbonz

    As someone who occasionally vapes THC, my understanding was that it is believed to be safer than leaf combustion (cigarette or joint) but that most of the health concerns come from the unknowns that are present due to lack of studies? Is that fair?

    I prefer edibles and have a dry-herb vape that I'm far more comfortable using than the oil, although it is not near as convenient.

    A lot of vapes put heavy metals into your lungs.

    https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/disposable-e-cigarettes-more-toxic-traditional-cigarettes

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    MC Fresh Breath

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Brian Fantana said:

    I also quit cigs by using a vape, and quitting the goddamn vape was 100x harder.

    Nowadays I don't use any nicotine/tobacco products at all but I'm on those THC gummies every day.

    Which banned dyes are in those gummies?

    Pato del Muerto

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Brian Fantana said:

    also quit cigs by using a vape, and quitting the goddamn vape was 100x harder.

    Would have been easier if you used cigs to quit vaping.  

    • Haha 2
    BrickHorn

    Posted

    5 minutes ago, Schulz2.0 said:

    A lot of vapes put heavy metals into your lungs.

    No worries. I already have heavy metal coursing through my veins. 

    hqdefault.jpg

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    Pato del Muerto

    Posted

    46 minutes ago, Brian Fantana said:

    You're only ever in the danger zone (as far as creating harmful byproducts goes) if you are heating them to a point that actually causes thermal degradation. None of the commercial disposables (like Geek Bars or whatever) that most people use get hot enough for this to happen. If you're using a custom vape with high wattage, that can be a different story, especially if you're not replacing your coils as often as you should.

    Also, what TH is saying isn't really correct. There is no water vapor coming from the e-liquid, it's aerosolized glycerin and propylene glycol. Whatever water vapor you're exhaling comes from the air in your lungs.

    Either way, I'm glad I don't touch the stuff anymore.

    What temp do vape pens generate?  Quick google search says propylene glycol can decompose into formaldehyde and other toxic agents as low as 140C. 

    google also says vape coils hit that temp and well above. 

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    Sawbonz

    Posted

    17 minutes ago, chainsaw said:

    Counterpoint:

      Hide contents

    image.png

     

    Too soon

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    Foosters

    Posted

    24 minutes ago, Brian Fantana said:

    Vape juice contains water soluble organic compounds, no oils. Still not good for you, I imagine, but inhaling heated oil would cause [maybe permanent] lung damage pretty quickly I think.

    Are you sure? A quick search shows that these types of cartridges contain "cannabis oil."

    THE LEGION OF BLOOM — The Monarch Vape Line

    Whatever it is, its so viscous that turning the cart upside down will take hours for the solution to settle at the bottom

     

    Sawbonz

    Posted

    10 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

    Would have been easier if you used cigs to quit vaping.  

     

    tx 3 putt

    Posted

    11 hours ago, scottsins said:

    Have we just totally glossed over the ban of all sales of THC vape products that went into effect? Delta-8, THC-A, hemp derived Delta-9, etc?

    I knew nothing about it until yesterday.

    Dave Chappelle Omg GIF

    • Haha 1
    Brian Fantana

    Posted

    Just now, Foosters said:

    Are you sure? A quick search shows that these types of cartridges contain "cannabis oil."

    THE LEGION OF BLOOM — The Monarch Vape Line

    Whatever it is, its so viscous that turning the cart upside down will take hours for the solution to settle at the bottom

     

    I don't know about those, never used them. I was talking specifically about nicotine vape juice.

    5 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

    What temp do vape pens generate?  Quick google search says propylene glycol can decompose into formaldehyde and other toxic agents as low as 140C. 

    google also says vape coils hit that temp and well above. 

    I'm not sure, not an expert by any means but I would guess that temperature is just one factor. I know I read a while back that most of the toxic byproduct release was attributed to dry hits or improperly installed coils etc.

    GreenspointTexas

    Posted

    People vaping in 2025 is insane to me, but to each their own. Keeps my job safe. You wouldnt believe how hard it is to extubate someone who is a regular vape user vs non-smoker.

     

     

    Gummies easily where its at

    mchookem

    Posted

    31 minutes ago, chainsaw said:

    Counterpoint:

      Hide contents

    image.png

     

    🖕

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    Sawbonz

    Posted

    57 minutes ago, Brian Fantana said:

    it's aerosolized glycerin and propylene glycol.

    Again I don’t know how these pens work but compounds like this break down to bad shit if heated above certain temps. It’s why in O chem lab we had to heat certain reagents over a water bath instead of over a flame or hot plate

    Pescado_Rojo

    Posted

    All this talk about smoking reminded me of this Derrick Stroup bit. Good part starts at 14:00

     

    Brian Fantana

    Posted

    1 minute ago, Sawbonz said:

    Again I don’t know how these pens work but compounds like this break down to bad shit if heated above certain temps. It’s why in O chem lab we had to heat certain reagents over a water bath instead of over a flame or hot plate

    Whatever medical nerd, we amateur home chefs call that a double boiler

    • Like 1
    Foosters

    Posted

    i think we're all talking about different things.

    - E-cigs with liquid (can be broken down further into disposable vs refillable)

    - Vaping THC oil (can be broken down further into disposable vs refillable AND regulated vs unregulated)

    - Vaping dry herb THC

    Anyway, sorry for the thread derail. Probably a better place to continue the conversation.

     

    chainsaw

    Posted

    14 minutes ago, mchookem said:

    🖕

    That was the moment that changed it from "drinking this afternoon" to "drinking heavily this afternoon"

    Ghost of NMAS

    Posted

    I guess Texas is no longer a failed state since this thread has turned into a vape discussion group

    • Like 1
    Biff Tannen

    Posted

    Vape talk not going away

    mchookem

    Posted

    33 minutes ago, Ghost of NMAS said:

    I guess Texas is no longer a failed state since this thread has turned into a vape discussion group

    vapes, cooking oil, Hall&Oates...surly thread derails are an art form, dude!

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    Pato del Muerto

    Posted

    Texas s a failed state, and surly threads getting derailed are a stale fate. 

    TwiceHorn

    Posted

    2 hours ago, Foosters said:

    Is that right? Because the THC stuff is a pretty thick oil, and I'm just imagining my lungs looking kinda like my oven range hood after a couple of months of cooking...

    Well, sorry, I am less familiar with THC vapes than nicotine vapes.  But, pretty sure that's the same sticky icky that gets burnt with the doobage and inhaled, so avoiding the whole combustion of plant material is probably a harm reduction.  They're just now coming around to the notion that smoking marijuana is about as bad as smoking tobacco.

    • Like 1
    chainsaw

    Posted

    What is the link to the actual law

    Homercles

    Posted

    5 hours ago, SimonBolivar said:

    Simpsons Sandwich GIFs | Tenor

    Two more feet and I can fit it in the fridge 

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    Horn Dog

    Posted

    4 hours ago, mchookem said:

    vapes, cooking oil, Hall&Oates...surly thread derails are an art form, dude!

    Hey guys which kind of motor oil is better to use in the winter 5w20 or 5w40?

    Pato del Muerto

    Posted

    9 hours ago, Horn Dog said:

    Hey guys which kind of motor oil is better to use in the winter 5w20 or 5w40?

    Olive. Its low smoke point means it has a lower viscosity at low temps. 

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    HornOnTheBayou

    Posted

    12 hours ago, Horn Dog said:

    Hey guys which kind of motor oil is better to use in the winter 5w20 or 5w40?

    Speaking of winter, do y'all drip your faucets when the temperature drops below freezing?

    • Drool 1
    elfenix

    Posted

    Imagine thinking the problem with the Texas Republican Party is that it's too moderate 

     

    Quote

    Because Texas has open primaries, people who traditionally affiliate with the Democratic or Republican parties can vote in the other party’s primary election, commonly referred to as “crossover voting.” The suit alleges that crossover voting leads to the selection of more moderate candidates and gives non-party members unfair influence.

     

    Texas GOP sues Secretary of State to close primary elections | The Texas Tribune https://share.google/RPLcJQORsnoOHJcx8

    Valmy77

    Posted

    The Democrats better keep theirs open if the GOP does this.

    BrickHorn

    Posted

    I have been insisting for a while now that UT’s academic standing in the world has peaked. I think that’s true for Texas generally. It will take a while for students to catch up to the likely faculty exodus, but the brain drain over the next decade plus will be significant.

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    Satchel

    Posted

    1 hour ago, BrickHorn said:

    I have been insisting for a while now that UT’s academic standing in the world has peaked. I think that’s true for Texas generally. It will take a while for students to catch up to the likely faculty exodus, but the brain drain over the next decade plus will be significant.

    The sole finalist for the Tech’s chancellor position is a UT grad and virulent right wing ideologue. He’s responsible for all of the anti CRT and DEI legislation and the law that limits free speech on Texas campuses:

    Building off his success banning CRT in Texas schools, Brandon Creighton championed a 21st-century curriculum for Texas to increase rigor and keep political agendas out of the classroom.  In Higher Education, Creighton passed the strongest ban on DEI in public universities in the nation and sweeping reforms to rein in tenure.

    The Campus Protection Act was Introduced by state Sen. Brandon Creighton and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in June, SB 2972 amends Section 51.9315 of the Texas Education Code to clarify where and how students can demonstrate on college campuses.

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    Horn Dog

    Posted

    3 hours ago, BrickHorn said:

    I have been insisting for a while now that UT’s academic standing in the world has peaked. I think that’s true for Texas generally. It will take a while for students to catch up to the likely faculty exodus, but the brain drain over the next decade plus will be significant.

    So maybe in 10yr dipships like us can get in, like back in the good ole days!

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    dcbc

    Posted

    On 9/4/2025 at 7:05 PM, Homercles said:

    Two more feet and I can fit it in the fridge 

    LOL.  Homer reaction.  And username checks out.  This was just the perfect post.  Thank you.

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    dcbc

    Posted

    On 9/5/2025 at 8:07 AM, TwiceHorn said:

    That seems to be a new development associated with the disposable vapes.  I am more familiar with the older, sort of DIY vape apparatus.

    Oh, a volcano man, I see.

    chainsaw

    Posted

    9 minutes ago, Thatguy said:

    To get this thread back on track, we did it. My wife and daughter are safely in our new home in New York, while I close up shop here in Texas. My daughter Facetimed me really excited. She said she was at practice talking to her coach. Her coach was complaining about the drop in temperature and my daughter said, "You could always move to Texas". To which he coach responded, "Oh no. We like our women up here, thanks!". My daughter was beyond delighted. 

    So she is finishing up her senior year of high school and then it's off to play college vball. Her high school is super excited that they got a D1 volleyball player dropped in their laps, and she is happy to be surrounded by liberal-minded people. It sucks to be down here alone. The wife and I have been having Facetime movie dates. For their sakes the move had to be made. 

    How is the real estate market there

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    Thatguy

    Posted

    15 minutes ago, chainsaw said:

    How is the real estate market there

    Upstate is relatively cheaper than Texas. I was shocked. Bracing for the winter though.

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