I’ve noticed that as well, most cities in the States are all different shades of brown and grey. It’s kinda sad to see.
I always assumed that bland colors were easier to maintain and appealed to more people. But by God let’s not have any color in the world because of resale value…
it’s neither a hobby or a job But the trope that a very complicated, very dangerous situation can be solved by just one person and a gun.
It’s unfortunately so ingrained into the Hollywood story lines that people, especially in the US, think that that’s reality.
The idea of the rugged individual has destroyed the idea of societal support to the point that some people are actually terrified to ask for help in anyway.
I’ve always felt like Star Wars the original 3 (4,5 and 6) were a product of their time. They aren’t bad movies but they aren’t great movies either, but for whatever reason they struck a chord with the population in the late 70’s and early 80’s. George Lucas should have just let them be there really was no reason to make any more of them, but money.
That all small business owners are thieves and out to scam their customers - This was part of someone’s argument defending big box stores.
I’ve had a conversation with a couple of trump supporters that are also outdoors people (hunting, fishing, camping). And they use the public lands for most of their hobbies. They told me that this is what would get them to question their vote.
While there are many things that I feel should have gotten them to this question sooner like illegally deporting people, raises prices of everything, etc. etc. But I wonder how many others on the fringe of this cult that are outdoors people this legislation will piss off?
This speaks to a broader issue -
whenever there is an economic crisis, whether manufactured by trump or created in other ways, its never the rich that have to sacrifice its only the middle and lower classes. And when the wealthy are ever asked to sacrifice in the form of higher taxes they get pissed off and call everyone else a “taker” of their money.
I genuinely believe that most people understand this but our collective voices have been muted, manipulated and managed by some in positions of power.
Wonder why? Seems to me like a money printing machine for them, the factory and non- factory repair shops and the aftermarket.
Unless it’s seen as a way to hide your car from illegal activities, which well now that I think about it is probably the reason they didn’t follow through with the idea.
Give it time and there will be the option of Gigantic Corp paying for your teeth if you grow their logo on them.
Fuck you, JD
I seem to remember a story from trumps first term that there was a few hundred children that went missing from their detention centers and ICE didn’t have a clue as to where they went.
Did this happen? And was there any follow up?
Because if it’s true then ICE has been at the very least turning a blind eye towards human trafficking for years.
Just the opposite.
With the potential of medical expenses rising, medication costs going up, insurance becoming shittier (if you’ll be able to afford it at all), staying healthy to continue to earn a paycheck (that is a depressing phrase), the potential of wide spread violence, I think its imperative to be as healthy and strong as you can be.
You may also find yourself in a position where you’re the only one you can count on and if you are sickly, and weak then it will make things that much worse. Or you may find yourself in a position to help someone that has less ability to move and you’ll need to be in good health for their sake.
I think that most billionaires are clueless to how savagely hated they are by the larger population.
Ex-spouse: (on the phone with parents) My ex-wife has invited us over for beef wellington.
Ex-spouse’s parents: Hasn’t she tried to kill you like four times before? Why would you accept this invitation?
Ex-spouse: well her beef wellington is to die for!
Ex-spouse’s parents: Well that’s good enough for us, were in see you a 6
Yet to many of this followers these stories are all just bullshit lefty propaganda to smear the name of their great leader. They aren’t completely dumb they just have been brainwashed to only believe certain people and certain news organizations.
What are the realistic potential outcomes of everything going on?
Not sure. I don’t think anyone really is.
Part of the reason that there are not big protest yet is that many many people that do disagree with the administration have/had been looking towards the Democratic party to fight back. But that isn’t happening which is adding to the shock and awe of things. Truly Americans don’t really know what to do and without a large organizing presence to help drive a big push back there really isn’t anything being done.
I do hope that someone steps up soon and starts to organize a push back. Haven’t seen it yet.
There are a lot of European keyboard warriors that don’t seem to know much about America (other than social media) that keep trying to call out Americans for not “protesting right.”
It shows that they have no clue about the size of the country or the fact that the shock and awe that started this administration knocked everyone on their heels and only now are we starting to mobilize.
I understand not wanting to go 100% weird with most people, but damnit weird is interesting. So be a bit weird.
It’s true that politicians don’t usually lead, they look to the voting base to see what they can do. I think the issue right now is that there isn’t (yet) a unifying leader that can mobilize a big enough population of people to make it impossible for the media to ignore. while I think smaller protests have their place they are useless if they don’t move to something bigger. And something bigger - that being millions of people filling the streets of multiple cities - won’t happen without a big charismatic leader like Martin Luther King, jr.
Yet the middle of the road, center right democrats that hold power see this as a challenge to their control. They only have to look to how the GOP was hollowed out by a big charismatic leader in trump. The more “moderate” republicans lost control to the more extreme right - the moderate democrats don’t want that and will do what they can to hold down that yet unknown person from gaining a voice for the left.
this actually terrifies me.
School isn’t supposed to be “won” it’s supposed to teach you shit you’ll need later in life. Getting stuff wrong is part of the learning process. If all students do anymore is type LLM prompts they are fucking themselves up in the future. And they are fucking up other people’s future as well.
But honestly I could be completely wrong - LLM prompt writers may become a big salary job and actually knowing anything will be passe and not necessary. I just don’t want to live in that world.
Sincerely
Grumpy old fuck