ExtremeDullard

In fairness, it's not new: I remember in the late 80's, people entering the US on the visa waiver program were given a green cardboard form to fill out in the plane before landing. The form has a bunch of questions like "What are you coming to the US for?" "Where are you staying?" etc.

Standard stuff. But it also had a really silly question: "Are you a war criminal?" That's a seriously stupid question: if you're a war criminal, you're unlikely to answer truthfully, and if you're not, you're going to answer No of course.

Some smartass in the plane joked that he would answer Yes for shits and giggles. Well, the joke was on him: he was detained and grilled rather thoroughly for 10 hours and then kicked out of the country. He kept saying "It was a joke! It was a joke!" but the INS officers kept saying "We're not amused and you're going to find out just how much we are not."

The same sort of story was posted in the newspaper - perhaps around the same time, maybe mid-80's - about a dude traveling with a violin. When the immigration officer asked him what it was, he said "A machine gun of course!" Same thing: it was pull out and interrogated rather roughly for hours.

All that was pre-9/11 and pre-USA Patriot Act, when things were still pretty chill. But even back them, it was standard advice not to fuck around with immigration in any way possible.

No question.

What I meant was, visiting the US today is like visiting Germany in 1934: if you must do it, do your utmost to avoid getting in trouble with the Gestapo.

The true good advice to give is: don't go to the fucking United States.

That's why I said it's an old Finnish joke.

I lived in Finland long enough to know that the Finns are not really happy. Or unhappy. Or excited. Or anything at all. If they are, they hide it really really well. The only true sentiment I ever felt in the Finns is quiet pride of their country.

I'm not a fan of authoritarianism, and even less a fan of the orange peel currently soiling the chair in the oval office. But this advisory essentially says you should have your paperwork in order before entering the US. I'm not sure what's to be worked up against: it's pretty sound advice even in the best of times.

Here's an old Finnish joke:

Why are people in Finland the happiest people on Earth?
Because all the sad people have killed themselves.

I hate the hospital for the same reason. Nothing like the mixed smells of chlorhexidine and death in a cancer ward.

But as a human, I can at least rationalize being there on an intellectual level

Their Save Our Heritage nonprofit is up against the Heritage Foundation. They're almost guaranteed to lose out.

Hint: there are Tesla dealerships in many other countries, if you want ideas for other places to visit during your holidays abroad.

Aah, the magic T word that lets the US powers that be arrest and detain anybody without due process...

I've been wondering for 23 years when the US would finally turn terror charges inward against its own citizenry to quell dissent. Well, that time has come.

Gee, I wonder if they know something we don't...

I reckon the White House should contract The Boring Company to drill a tunnel between the Oval Office and the toilet in Mar-a-Lago.

And possibly install a Neuralink chip in cheeto's brain too.

I mean since the White House is now a Musk showroom, why not go all the way...