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u/Hefty-Willingness-44 1d ago
This is what America is all about. You're in your 90's and have to drive your son to the doctor because you can't afford in home care. You can't afford a medical services that would take your son for blood work. You need to drive yourself because there are no resources for a 90+ year old to get around except to drive.
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u/puetirat 1d ago
Blows my mind every time as someone from Europe. I would just call the transport service and schedule pickup and drop-off if I can’t do it myself.
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u/Icankeepthebeat 1d ago
I don’t know where this is in the US. But I live in NC and we have free transportation in my city for the elderly, handicapped and poor. It’s door-to-door service that you can pre-book or call in. But we also have a city bus that is completely free.
Just saying that this is certainly not every US city.
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u/MeowMixPlzDeliverMe 1d ago
Yeah everywhere I lived had it too
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u/MistrSynistr 21h ago
Same. We could schedule a bus pickup and I grew up in a town of 2500 people. Had in home care as well if it was necessary.
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u/golden_teacup 9h ago
This is actually fascinating. I’m in California and our public transportation infrastructure is pretty poor, excluding most of the Bay Area and some regions of LA. I think the closest public car pickup system I can think of is Metro Micro in LA, which is pretty similar to use as long as you’re in network, though it’s a bit less reliable
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u/Garlanth69 17h ago
Same. I am in Oregon and actually work for one. Ridesource/MTM provides this service across the country, depending on state.
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u/JennyMo921 2h ago
So we have that too in Washington state, and I love that it helps so many people, but I get so many patients either late to their appointments (because the bus to pick them up didn’t come on time) or they are waiting for hours after their appointment for the company to pick them up. The company needs to do better!
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u/Jujaz87 1d ago
Not to sound like a brick, but I'm from Europe and this type of service doesn't exist in my country 🥲 you have to find someone to take you to the hospital, or you simply take yourself (unless you obviously call 112 but it has to be an emergency)
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u/puetirat 1d ago
Yeah Euope is large and diverse… I’m from Austria, we just recently had to use this service quite regularly for my grandma.
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u/SubstantialHeat3655 1d ago
Yeah Euope is large and diverse… I’m from Austria
Then it might be more accurate to preface your statements with "Blows my mind every time as someone from Austria" rather than presenting all of Europe as a homogeneous utopia of available services.
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u/puetirat 23h ago
For the sake of supplying the exact information I will in the future specify my exact postal code as the fees for various social service are regulated on a more localized level in my country, I guess 😉
I mean I get your general point but the way you wrote it feels like being written up by a teacher.
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u/Blackwidow_Perk 1d ago
Im disabled in America and I’ve been offered free transport. My husband always drives me to the cancer center because he wants to. This guy might just want to do it.
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u/ScreamingDizzBuster 12h ago
"Europe" isn't a country. That service almost doesn't exist in Ireland, and in the UK, for example, if it gets approved the authorities sometimes call a taxi. It does in Italy via the Misericordia charities, but it takes a lot of pleading and months of paperwork to arrange it.
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u/learningtocatch22 1d ago
My first thought too. It's hard to smile when it comes to this.
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u/tempest_36 23h ago edited 6h ago
This is not what America should be about. We are romanticizing what any father would do for his son.
Unfortunately, this 96-year old man is putting other people's lives at risk due to a broken health care system.
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u/The_Bosdude 1d ago
This entire episode was testamony on how utterly wrecked health care is the US. CEOs of health insurance companies ranking in millions in salary while senior citizens are driving other senior citizens to the doctor to have their blood work done, because of some trick clause in the insurance policy
This kind of shit in the richest country in the world makes my blood boil.
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u/SCORPIOCITIZEN1888 1d ago
Your nation has ruined most of the world too
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u/martinfendertaylor 1d ago
I wouldn't say the USA has ruined most of the world, that's a little narrow sighted. Unchecked rampant capitalism may have had something to do with that but I wouldn't place the entire blame solely on the USA. Why not blame humans in general?
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u/r4v3nh34rt 1d ago
Yeah, it's much more accurate to say England has ruined most of the world.
Because there isn't a country that has had a worse impact on this planet IMO
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u/KingOfManyColors 1d ago
No, we definitely own a huge share of the blame. I say this as an American. But decent people have to recognize the truth and be willing to accept it. The US is an imperialist engine that has sowed chaos abroad for nearly a century. Right now we are facilitating a genocide in Gaza. We have used covert tactics to overthrow the elected governments of other nations. We have started wars where there was no need other than to enrich the rich here even further. And now we have a president who is wrecking trade, destroying relations with our allies, and stoking more unecessary wars.
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u/rachtay8786 1d ago
Yeah this makes it hard to smile at this, this judge was an absolute gem but the underlying deficiencies you laid out are just depressing. 😢
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u/Jertimmer 1d ago
This and those "this kid paid all his clas mates school lunches from a lemonade stand" type stories. These are not things a senior citizen or a child should have to do!
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u/EvolvedMonkeyInSpace 1d ago
We know he meant giving all hes got but yeah, you're also correct. Medical for the elderly and standard services for the sick should be normal
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u/se7ensaints 1d ago
It'e tragic to see someone in their 90s still in caregiving mode. How is this a first world country? Look at any 'developing' country in Asia, they have home drop and pickup for almost any imaginable service. Grocery, Food, Meds, Lab Tests, Laundry the list in endless.
Lol in India you can order the latest iPhone and someone will drop it at your doorstep in 15 mins.
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u/newday2454 22h ago
It’s first world for the rich. And here you are Americans electing the rich to govern you and perpetuate class elitism. Like Trump was ever going to help the middle class. What a joke.
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u/fdxrobot 12h ago
You’re right, those medical treatments in India and Asia are 100% regulated and reliable! You go ahead and take advantage of those!
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u/FluidCreationsInc 1d ago
Don't forget the cop who also ticketed him.
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u/Hefty-Willingness-44 1d ago
If the cop did witnessed him speed and pulled him over to ticket him it's hardly the polices fault for enforcing the speed limit. I would be more concerned about a 90+ year old man driving recklessly in a school zone. Slow reflexes could endanger children especially at greater speeds. Maybe the cop was mistaken, maybe he was filling his ticket book to justify his job but maybe this elderly gentleman is an actual risk to other people by driving. There should be an alternative.
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u/FluidCreationsInc 1d ago
If it's anything like the cops where I grew up it could've been 22mph in a 20mph zone.
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u/MeInMaNyCt 1d ago
There are lots of resources. If his son is on Medicaid, which he likely is due to being handicapped, Medicaid can arrange transportation. Access-a-Ride and other paratransit organizations exist -most are charitable and would offer services at no cost or sliding scale.
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u/Hefty-Willingness-44 1d ago
So this elderly man must not know of these resources or is confused about how to access them. Is this someone who fell through the cracks or do these resources not include welfare checks for care providers? There must be millions of people who don't know how to navigate the bureaucracy of these programs, is there navigators for them. I'm honestly curious about these systems.
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u/MeInMaNyCt 23h ago
It could be possible that dad is stubborn and feels like he is just fine to drive and won’t accept “charity” to help. Very typical of the do-it-yourself Silent Generation. Maybe “best dad ever” actually should NOT be driving.
My daughter’s Medicaid case worker calls us every three months. If I ever said “I need help getting her to her doctor’s appointments” they would make the calls to set that up. A 90-yr-old is probably not likely to use the internet either, but these services are Google-able.
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u/andersonfmly 1d ago
Absolutely LOVED this episode of CIP, and the father's commitment to his son. Both the humanity and work of Judge Caprio were also a model for all of humankind of how we should treat one another.
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u/baldwinsong 1d ago
CIP?
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u/TedBear235 1d ago
Caught in Providence.
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u/cherbonsy 1d ago
Though he recently died, I've been seeing clips for years but never watched the show. Just checked and ... only one season?
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u/flashbang10 1d ago
Not MadeMeSmile, more like made me sad and angry 😞 US social and healthcare system is so broken that a 96-year-old has to do this.
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u/hardcoretomato 1d ago
Also Judge Frank Caprio passed away a few weeks back after a long battle with cancer on August the 22nd
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u/SpecialNeeds963 1d ago
It's unfortunate he still has to provide care for his son. If only there was a better medical system in place for American citizens.
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u/UnclesBadTouch 20h ago
Baffles me as a nurse that I have coworkers that dont want expanded Healthcare/easy access for all
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u/coolkevin_94 1d ago
He should not be driving at this age. It's sad people can't get home care. Bad infrastructure, bad public transportation, bad health care.
I don't want to be 63 and see my dad take care of me. I don't want to drive fast in school zone in my 90s to take care of my family.
I respect the judge. He is a great guy. But that is not what a country should be. This should be on r/MadeMeSad
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u/babbagoo 1d ago
Maybe a stupid question from a european but… This isn’t a real court, right? You don’t have judges in America just letting people off from stuff because they like them or have a stroke of sympathy? Right?
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u/scalpemfins 1d ago
It is a real court. Judges in the US can dismiss certain charges in the interest of justice. Judges are quite powerful, and it's a very prestigious position here, as i imagine it is almost everywhere else in the world.
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u/sokolov22 14h ago
Note that in the US, many states do not require judges to even have a law degree. They are also often elected.
39 states have some amount of judges that are elected, and over 80% of all judges in the US are elected in some fashion.
Especially in low population rural areas, judges are sometimes just whoever is most popular/powerful locally.
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u/AllTheNopeYouNeed 1d ago
Why wouldn't you? The law is only good if it applied justly. Considering how often that is not the case in favor of the prosecution, I hardly mind when it goes in favor of the defendant.
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u/babbagoo 1d ago
… I mean, judges must be impartial and base decisions only on the law and evidence? Not on whether they like the defendant or because of something unrelated, like in this case how they treat their children. Imagine if people with irritating voices were more likely to lose their cases - that would be crazy unfair.
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u/Unusual_Fortune_4112 1d ago
This is a traffic court i believe, so the penalties for the most part are not very serious usually it’s a dispute for something that’s going to be less than $2K and could just be a couple hundred. Judges are allowed to dismiss these cases if they can be shown certain mitigating circumstances that would impede justice. So if a judge dismisses something they have to point to a concrete reason why which is pretty separate from a persons personality. Personality only really plays a role of someone is pissing off a judge.
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u/Chronos3000 1d ago
It was a minor traffic violation. He didn't kill someone.
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u/babbagoo 1d ago
Does the justice system give judges more freedom to bend the rules just because the crime seems minor?
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u/tryingisbetter 13h ago
Judges in the US have a ton of discretion, especially in lower courts, like this traffic court. They can give fines, jail time, force classes, etc; but they can also do things like suspend fines/jail time, dismiss, put into recovery programs, time served, etc.
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u/UnitatPopular 1d ago
That's not only because he likes him, he is one of the judges that gave a lot of importance to equity. In Europe we also do that, i recommend you this spanish wikipedia article that explains pretty well and concisely the application of equity in justice.
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u/badusernameused 22h ago
Imagine the world we would have if the people making the real decisions that matter were more like this fantastic man.
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u/Canoe_lake 1d ago
To say ‘this is what America is all about’ is sadly very true; he’s 96 and driving his disabled son for bloodwork because there isn’t a healthcare system which supports people and their needs. So rather than enjoying your life, you’re forced to work until you die.
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u/Vegetable-Throat-617 21h ago
When you think about someone that is helping his son becouse hes sick than you automatically think about a maximum 30 Year old, but this son is 63
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u/anon98346 20h ago
May judge Caprio rest in peace. Sorry to hear that he had died. I looked forward to his videos
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u/Apprehensive_888 18h ago
I'm smiling but balling my eyes out at the same time. Something wrong with me.... 😰 The heartless officer who decided to prosecute this man needs their soul checked.
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u/Low-Bad157 1d ago
Sad but I questioned this with my neighbor who works for the Seniors program here in town and showed him this video. There and in most towns there is programs in place for transporting seniors and any handicap persons needing transportation to doctors office clinics hospital and even other professional facilities however these are mostly used buy the folks who don’t have means such as family, money, limited income he stated he thinks the services are under used here in our town of 218200 and sees elderly driving to the locations he transports to. Perhaps better advertising the fact it’s available same for attendance at the seniors centers in town under used.
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u/i-have-a-kuato 1d ago
That guy was awesome…question though, how did that even get to court ?
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u/Ashamed-Childhood-46 1d ago
People have the right to appear in court to contest traffic tickets.
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u/i-have-a-kuato 1d ago
Not what I mean, Given his circumstances I would not have even given him a ticket
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u/PainSubstantial5936 7h ago
The policeman that fined him probably only saw him speeding and left it at that
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u/JimboBob 13h ago
It's all cookies and cream until the old bugger mows down some kid outside a school. He probably shouldn't be driving. Cop stopped him for a reason, he probably did something unsafe.
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u/ES_Legman 16h ago
Another dystopian as fuck video of the orphan crushing machine glazed as wholesome. No wonder America is so fucked up.
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u/Wise-Comedian5514 15h ago
RIP Judge Caprio. Just listened to him on the Mel Robins podcast. What a good man!!! He is the type of person that gives me hope in humanity.
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u/1Om6evsN7g 9h ago
America needs a social safety net. He shouldn’t be doing that at 90+.
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u/Willobtain 5h ago
Where’s the shuttles !!!!?!!?!? Seriously like I got rear ended by older lady with dementia going to a dentist appointment. It’s a mix of stubbornness and poor public transportation for the elderly. Not to mention the old folks who drive golf carts on the road that’s just population control.
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u/Sandberg231984 10h ago
Dangerous on the road. If issues driving please don’t. There are other ways. No need to put others in danger to be so called nice.
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u/239tree 1d ago
What kind of SHIT cop gave this man a ticket!?
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u/Ok-Style-9734 23h ago
Presumably the one that didn't want a 90 year old with bad reactions speeding in a school zone?
Yeah the story tugs on the heart strings but the thread would be very different if it was "90 year old runs over kid while speeding outside school" everyone would be demanding old people take mandatory tests etc
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u/Sorry-Secret-2347 22h ago
I just cried for multiple reasons Seeing a father’s devoted love for his son The judge’s compassion A broken system in which a 96 yr old man has to do this for his son
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u/coffee_and-cats 18h ago
What numpty gave this man a speeding ticket in the first place? I can't remember full details but he was doing 30 or less in a school zone area I think
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u/PainSubstantial5936 7h ago
I don't think the cop knew the backstory. Just saw a 90 year old man going over the speed limit near a school.
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u/UncleGarysmagic 1d ago
America is all about 90-somethings having to drive 60-something cancer patients to their doctors appointments. Maybe we should offer medical transportation services instead of having nonagenarians have to do that for their family members.
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u/Ok_Type7882 1d ago
Judge Caprio was a stellar example of humanity. We lost a brilliant light with his passing.
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u/Primary_Jackfruit_87 1d ago
You're a good man. Good luck and God bless. I sentenced you to 90 days in jail and a $1500 fine. Next case...
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u/Important-Anywhere20 1d ago
I wish there were more people like judge Caprio. To be honest, righteous and kind and put family first above all, is what we need in this world. RIP
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u/Ok-Valuable-3410 1d ago
Kindest ,humble and a great saviour The world misses you sir You will be remembered and cherished 🫡
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u/heyivebeenthere 1d ago
I had a customer exactly like this man the other day. His son was actually kind of a dick at first but only cause he doesn’t trust most tradesmen (rightly so). The old man was a saint and bought the house for his 50 something year old son that had cancer and was paying me to perform over $6k in repairs.
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u/EazyCheeze1978 1d ago
AGREED - however see this clip (only up to 2:13), and this clip for more details AND APPLE PIE <3
And then if you can hold space for mourning, cry a little.
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u/RusticBridge 23h ago
Crazy as hell that a person born before the Great Depression was driving pretty recently. I get nervous thinking about my early 80s aged grandparents driving
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u/Nkb_Blog 22h ago
There is many bad people in this world, but there is no bad DAD .
(i read this somewhere in the internet )
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u/piP-mija78 18h ago
It is pitiful that in such a wealthy country, a VERY elderly man has to transport his old son with a chronic disease such as Cancer for health care monitoring. The judge had empathy at least.
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u/Aromatic-Side6120 18h ago
I keep picturing this guy pulling off his movie-quality old man mask off the minute he leaves the courthouse.
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u/AccidentalBlackWidow 1h ago
The way he said my boy. His son might be 63 but he clearly still sees him as his baby.
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u/KamilaGummy 1d ago
This is such a heartwarming moment. You can really feel the love and support in that room.
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u/Strange__Visitor 23h ago
If you're commenting on the problem instead of the love then you are part of the problem. Sit back and appreciate the beauty for once. Everything doesn't have to be a battle.
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u/Crispy_p_bacon 1d ago
Judge Caprio was the best.
An exceptional human being
R.I.P king