I insisted we buy candy this year, as always, for Halloween, because I didn't want to be one of those "dark" houses that seem too cheap to play along with the little ones. Only after a couple hours did I realize that the porch light was burned out, so we were dark the whole evening. What do do with all that candy? Oh well, I'll figure something out
A random fact: Earlier this week, Moscow was showered with pure s***. A skyscraper-high plume of raw sewage. And everyone around the geyser probably died from the stench. Also this week, a Russian court fined Google more money than exists on the planet. And thanks to compound interest, this will double every week. Google will probably not pay. It's sad to see a country with so much culture, literature, music and architecture being destroyed by politics. But Vlad is asking for it.
It was because we closed the debate room - the pressure was too high and it had to burst out somewhere
I admit, when the discussion turns to Canada, my attention perks up. I just think I live in such a cool country. (Am I allowed to say that?)
He's locked in his room with Darlin' Clementine and video games. That would drive me to drink, too, and I don't even like the stuff. Well, to each his own. Have fun, kiddo. (If you are a she or a them or an it, please substitute the proper pronoun. It's all I can do to keep track of my own gender.)
If you want me, I'll be in my room in restless stupor induced by wine and anti-anxiety meds, wondering where my country went and praying for my kids and grandkids.
How strange. I would've thought you would belt out Old Man River. (You get a little drunk ... and you land in jail? I hope you didn't, Link!)
Anyone here who have tried the Swedish Glögg? It's a sort of spiced wine that is supposed to be warmed up before you drink it. I drink it room temperature. Found a bottle of it with chocolate and chili flavouring, it's my new favourite taste.
Back in the Sixties, a popular phrase was, "the revolution will not be televised," meaning, as I understood it, that we should pay attention to what was happening behind the scenes because the truth would not be obvious. Now, it seems to me, the operative phrase ought to be, "this revolution is on the internet," because what is occurring in this country right now has been broadcast repeatedly and openly, and we can see it anytime we choose to look. And, in my opinion, it is sad. As is commonly repeated in my cohort, it's not for myself I grieve so much as for my kids and grandkids.
Had their been a 24 hour news cycle, smartphones, a camera on every corner, and social media in the 60's, I'm fairly sure everything would look fairly similar to what it does now. Imagine JFK vs Nixon with all the dead people voting in Chicago, if it happened in that milieu. And forget about the truth in the 60s vis a vis its media presentation. You had a few national news sources, a few national magazines, your local TV station, and that was it. All of which were controlled by a handful of people who received all of their information from a handful of government sources, none of which could be easily cross referenced without Internet, email, or easy/practical long distance phone calls. I don't want to use the term "propaganda" because there's a lot more nuance to it, but media based information 50-60 years ago mostly came from the top down and was much easier to manipulate. Now it comes from the bottom up thanks to social media and UGC (user generated content). I have neither kids nor grandkids, but have had thousands of employees over the last few years that would fit the demographic. And for the most part, they only care about being to make enough money to buy a home, retire, and enjoy the modest perks of life. I have 30 year olds with good jobs and good salaries that can't afford rent or a car, never mind a home or retirement. Political inclination or persuasion for them doesn't make the top 10 concerns. I think this latest election proved that fairly conclusively. For each person who is concerned about (insert any random divisive political/philosophical issue) there are nine just trying to get by. Maybe one day potential leaders will understand that, but I doubt it.
I get it Homer. There are no simple or easy answers, I know that. I'll stop here, lest I push this too far to the "banned" zone.
