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Post by Merge on Aug 29, 2024 13:05:16 GMT
I won't rest easy until Harris/walz are sworn in. Even then - we saw what happened on January 6th. And so many Rs online are threatening "civil war." This won't be over until Trump is gone and possibly not then. Don Jr. seems likely to pick up the torch and he's just as warped and crazy as dad. |
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Post by Merge on Aug 29, 2024 0:37:02 GMT
Window treatments are ridiculously expensive, which is why we still have the cheap-ass 2" white vinyl blinds (old ones with pull cords!) all over our house.
I just remembered - I'd put it out of my mind but I think I've been one of those business owners that someone left over politics. I had a family in my piano studio that seemed very happy, sweet kids, got along well with them - but after about 3 lessons mom told me that "it wasn't a good fit" and they left. The only thing I can think is that the older boy happened to see the old Beto sign I have in a corner of my studio. He asked about it and I just told him it was an old political sign, and that was that.
But the next day I got the text from mom that they weren't coming back.
I hate to think those sweet kids are being raised in a house where Trump- or Cruz-style hatred is tolerated and applauded, but whatever. That's Texas. I quickly filled their spots from my waiting list and moved on.
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Post by Merge on Aug 29, 2024 0:27:10 GMT
1000%. Men have been at the front for ages (some good, some bad) and there is zero reason a woman can’t lead. For those saying “yes but not this one”. Ok fair enough. Bug is that enough to make you not vote for her now? Yes, that’s what is mind-boggling to me. Conservatives like to say that Biden has dementia. Have they listened to Trump? He is clearly going downhill fast. The man can’t keep a coherent thought in his head. So…vote third party? Well, sure, you have that right. The last time that a lot of people voted third party, we ended up with Trump. It’s something to think long and hard about. There are only 2 people who can win. Only 2. I'm really trying not to make assumptions about WHY people are saying "not this one." I think I know, based on what I can read on conservative sites and Twitter, but I'd really like to hear a fellow voter put it in their own words. |
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Post by Merge on Aug 28, 2024 22:41:26 GMT
I’d definitely prefer her to the one who had 5000 Taliban fighters freed. Exactly. We already knew that Trump's decisions around Afghanistan weakened the US-supported government and made Biden's job much harder. Releasing the 5000 prisoners - one of whom has gone on to the become the Taliban government leader - played into that. McMaster's recent book and interviews have only confirmed that Trump made very poor decisions in this area (and McMaster will not endorse Trump for a second term). www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/u-s-review-of-chaotic-afghanistan-withdrawal-blames-trumpRelated, this came up in my feed today about the new "vice and virtue" requirements for women in Afghanistan. Women must be fully covered head to toe in thick cloth when they leave their homes, which they may not do without a male escort. They are not allowed to look directly at any man who is not their husband or related by blood. Their voices must not be audible outside their homes at any time. www.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/aug/26/taliban-bar-on-afghan-women-speaking-in-public-un-afghanistanThis is what Trump allowed to happen when he released those 5000 fighters and destabilized the Afghan non-Taliban government. That's in addition to giving comfort to dictators around the world. So I'm just really curious why some here say they'd support a woman CIC, but "not this one." What could Harris do that would be worse than this? |
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Post by Merge on Aug 28, 2024 22:30:00 GMT
Yeah, absolutely. Definitely. Just not this one. Why? I am so curious. No one will answer this question. Why not this one? |
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Post by Merge on Aug 28, 2024 20:49:05 GMT
Absolutely a woman could handle being President of the USA. Now the question is, which woman? The one running I'm not so sure of.... Why? |
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Post by Merge on Aug 28, 2024 18:41:41 GMT
It’s going to vary from place to place. In the past, our board’s role was to hire and oversee the superintendent (he answered to them) and to manage the business of the district in a way that conforms with the voters who elected them. The board’s oversight is what truly makes it a public district, controlled by the will of the voters.
Now our state installed superintendent believes the state installed board’s role is to rubber stamp whatever he wants to do. It’s a mess. We the voters have no voice at all and our district is being destroyed.
Truly, I’ve come to believe that local elections including school board ones are the most important we can vote in. The president has far less to do with our everyday lives than the mayor, city council, and school board do. Local politics are where it’s at.
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Post by Merge on Aug 28, 2024 18:34:26 GMT
In my part of town and ones I tend to visit, I’d be very unlikely to see a Trump sign in any business.
There was one place that had a sign about how they wouldn’t bother with the cops but would just shoot thieves themselves. Never went back there. Salivating over shooting people is a huge turnoff for me.
Right now, the biggest political issue in town is the takeover of our school district. I will go out of my way to patronize businesses that have signs disparaging the state-installed superintendent.
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Post by Merge on Aug 28, 2024 18:28:38 GMT
There is a restaurant very near me that posts anti-democrat stuff on their marquee out front. They think they are being cutesy and trying to be like El Arroyo, but it backfired miserably for them. For example, back during the mask-mandated days, they posted a sign that said "no mask needed unless you look like Nancy Pelosi." That was the day I knew I would never eat there or any of their other restaurants they own. Oh, is that place still open? I remember that drama. What a stupid part of town to try that in. |
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Post by Merge on Aug 28, 2024 0:58:50 GMT
I'm sorry you can't get behind basic human rights expectations. And you're welcome for the work we do to protect your rights, even as you disparage us for doing so. I don't know why you assume I can't get behind basic human rights expectations. It's just that I do it in person and not by pounding on my keyboard. You defend our democracy by being sarcastic and condescending, but please accept the thanks of a grateful nation. “I rest my case” after my reply to a fairly snotty post about the motives of political posters here wasn’t sarcastic and condescending? Calling out political posts *again* in an unrelated/nonpolitcal thread when we’re already tagging them to suit you isn’t a little bit mean and condescending? YOU made this thread political. My sarcasm meter must be broken. Or maybe you need a hard look in the mirror. ETA: I tested positive for Covid today and feel like crap. That is NOT a request for well wishes or attention. I suspect you’ll tell me to go F myself. But it is letting you know why I will not be participating in this thread any further. |
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Post by Merge on Aug 27, 2024 21:49:28 GMT
Banking has changed too. I hardly ever go to the bank for anything. Some people only use online banks and don't have a branch to go to. While having some cash stashed at home is good, I know for me it is easier to access if it goes straight to the account. I'm ok with the ease in sending the couple a gift that way. Ooh, good point. My bank has no ATMs or local branches (USAA). I can deposit checks electronically, but have no idea how I'd deposit cash. Maybe I can do it through another bank's ATM as I do for withdrawals? I've never needed to know. |
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Post by Merge on Aug 27, 2024 18:02:42 GMT
I'm sorry you can't get behind basic human rights expectations. And you're welcome for the work we do to protect your rights, even as you disparage us for doing so. This is the tone that pisses me off. The holy than thou frame of mind. Do we need to stand in a circle and pat you on the back and say thanks? Are you looking for extrinsic value for what you do? So because others don't have the time or energy to do allllllllllllllll that you do, we are lesser than? So our vote doesn't matter as much because we didn't bleed protecting rights? I see this is the group I was part of. The we are like so much better because we spend our time tracking down every movement and thought of these locals who think they can take down democratic policies. Yet they ask for help and then tell others to stand down or not share because THEY need to be the ones to break the news. It's allllllll about them. I mean more power to you for doing something YOU want to do. But don't get all pissed at others for not doing the same. We all do what we can with what we have. And props to those who do it without needing to show off. Whoa. You're reading a lot into what I said. I never said anything about being better than anyone else, nor did I criticize anyone else for what they did or didn't do. I have no idea what you mean about "the group you were part of." I can't recall ever "showing off" for political involvement. We're talking about posts on a message board and those who feel those posts shouldn't happen here because people don't want to be bothered by reading them. I made a snarky comment to someone who make a snarky comment to me and that's it. I clapped back at her comment about seeing political threads. If you read more into it than that, that's entirely on you. |
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Post by Merge on Aug 27, 2024 16:59:40 GMT
They're all neatly marked so you can avoid them. Meanwhile, multiple game threads, what's for dinner threads, big brother, etc. and no one cares. Politics actually affects people's lives - in some cases, in very serious or even deadly ways. It's worth discussing. If it hasn't affected your life yet, congratulations, you're very lucky. And if politics continues to not affect your life in a negative way, you can thank those of us who have continued to be vocal about fighting for human rights and voting rights. In terms of "singing from the same hymnal," if by that you mean that we expect basic standards of not supporting policies that dehumanize or disenfranchise our fellow human beings, then yes. We should all be able to rally around those very basic expectations. I rest my case. I'm sorry you can't get behind basic human rights expectations. And you're welcome for the work we do to protect your rights, even as you disparage us for doing so. |
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Post by Merge on Aug 27, 2024 16:55:27 GMT
The good about the peas is our diversity of opinion. The bad about the peas is our decreasing diversity of opinion. I appreciated that Myshelley had a point of view and shared it unapologetically. She definitely made me examine my position as I contemplated hers. Without peas expressing unpopular opinions, this place becomes a very boring place of "I agree with everything you said and how you said it". Diversity of opinion as long as we all sing from the same hymnal politically. There are a couple of peas who absolutely cannot resist flipping their $#*t if someone doesn't toe the line. I have to remind myself that we're all just 1s and zeros. We can disagree without being disagreeable, at least some of us can, and we learn more from people who don't share our views if we just stop shouting at each other. Do we really need 17 political threads all saying that Trump is a bad man? They're all neatly marked so you can avoid them. Meanwhile, multiple game threads, what's for dinner threads, big brother, etc. and no one cares. Politics actually affects people's lives - in some cases, in very serious or even deadly ways. It's worth discussing. If it hasn't affected your life yet, congratulations, you're very lucky. And if politics continues to not affect your life in a negative way, you can thank those of us who have continued to be vocal about fighting for human rights and voting rights. In terms of "singing from the same hymnal," if by that you mean that we expect basic standards of not supporting policies or actions that dehumanize or disenfranchise our fellow human beings, then yes. We should all be able to rally around those very basic expectations. |
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Post by Merge on Aug 27, 2024 16:53:44 GMT
Yep, this quote tells you everything you need to know about what's happening here. Abbott is still worried about having enough votes to pass his voucher scam. Even many Republicans are opposed to it, so he's trying to install some who will vote with him. This "investigation" comes on the heels of an election investigation in blue Harris County that turned up no evidence of wrongdoing, but which the state is now using as an excuse to send additional monitors/intimidators to Harris County for the November election. When the investigation of Castellano turns up nothing, there will suddenly be new allegations to keep the idea of widespread voter fraud in Texas in the hearts and minds of voters. |
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Post by Merge on Aug 27, 2024 15:39:19 GMT
I've seen it happening in FL, AZ, and OH, too. Everybody needs to check their registration and then double check it before your deadline. When will the DOJ do something about what's happening in Texas? We've waited more than long enough. It's long past due. Mark Elias and his team have been working tirelessly (and winning) but FFS. Yes. In addition to this, Abbott is bragging about having removed 1 million people from the voter rolls this month. Several thousand were "illegal," he says, but the last time he did this, it turned out he was removing people who had been ineligible/on visas when they applied for a drivers' license, but had become citizens before they registered to vote. |
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Post by Merge on Aug 27, 2024 15:13:40 GMT
Shout-out to the person who took time to mark this "politics" but couldn't be bothered to add anything. You're the real hero.
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Post by Merge on Aug 27, 2024 13:50:23 GMT
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Post by Merge on Aug 27, 2024 9:28:38 GMT
Eh, I love the ease and security of Venmo and hate trying to buy a card. Plus with a cash or check you always risk theft, and you're putting the burden of getting it deposited on the couple as well. (A small burden, but a burden nonetheless.) If a handle was provided I'd probably just use it to send whatever amount I would have spent on them. Easiest for everyone.
I agree with whoever said it isn't materialism that makes people already have most of what they need - it's the fact that people get married later, and you can't just wait around for ten years without a toaster or a decent set of towels so you can hopefully get married someday and finally acquire them. DH and I married right out of grad school and honestly needed a lot of that stuff, but that's not true for most people today.
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Post by Merge on Aug 26, 2024 16:44:52 GMT
The comments she’s made about “bus kids” and those of a lower socioeconomic class put her beyond having a different point of view into unacceptably bigoted IMO. I don’t wish anyone ill, but I don’t miss that viewpoint here.
(ETA: It's not that I feel anyone should be prevented from sharing their viewpoint here. People can say what they like. But they should expect that others may disagree with them or find their views distasteful or harmful, and say so.)
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Post by Merge on Aug 23, 2024 17:24:15 GMT
She was outstanding. My hope is that there are persuadable Republicans out there. It feels like this team/campaign could bring them in. I read today that in Texas, people who had previously planned to vote for Kennedy are breaking 2-1 for Kamala when asked who they will vote for now. That’s positive. Harris is polling about 5 points behind Trump in Texas right now. The senate election is tighter. Since poll takers skew older and whiter, it’s probably closer than that. Turnout will be key. |
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Post by Merge on Aug 22, 2024 20:24:32 GMT
Yikes.
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Post by Merge on Aug 22, 2024 20:23:32 GMT
Honestly, if *adults* in the audience had been crying during any of the DNC speeches, I would have thought that was weird, too. Over the top. We’re excited, but not a cult.
But leave Walz’s special needs son alone. What is wrong with those people? I think they just can’t imagine a dad who says on TV that they love their family. Trump would never.
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Post by Merge on Aug 22, 2024 0:33:52 GMT
Almost 40% of my life. Crazy!
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Post by Merge on Aug 21, 2024 19:10:21 GMT
I feel like it has to be haunted.
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Post by Merge on Aug 21, 2024 2:24:28 GMT
"Why do you want to know?"
If she wants to start crap, change the subject. If she wants your opinion about something, share it honestly.
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Post by Merge on Aug 21, 2024 2:20:37 GMT
There's something genuine, heartfelt and touching about her family. Also, just very normal and down to earth. Can't begin to imagine the idiot Trump children making a video like this. Doug, Ella and Cole EmhoffRepubs are so triggered by Ella's look. She looks like my oldest and some of her friends - very GenZ. Right down to the round glasses and random arm tattoos. They can't handle a young woman styling herself for herself and not for the male gaze. |
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Post by Merge on Aug 21, 2024 2:17:27 GMT
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Post by Merge on Aug 20, 2024 18:19:02 GMT
Also RE: the Chromebooks. At least in my district, they all have to be district owned and imaged to be on the district internet. They have strict internet security and student-owned devices can only access the much less robust "guest" wifi. This is the situation in my district as well except that NO outside devices (including those of teachers) are allowed network access. Yes, I should have said any non-district device can only access the guest internet (including those of teachers). |
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Post by Merge on Aug 20, 2024 13:47:35 GMT
I love the Outlander series but I cannot recommend them because there is sooooooooo much rape. Yeah. It didn't really stick out to me so much when I was reading most of them in the 1990s, but it does now. At least she's not romanticizing it or making it a fantasy thing, but still. Lots of rape. Some of you may find this funny (has nothing to do with rape): I grew up in a very conservative family, and the only sex ed I received was "don't do it until you're married." I was also shy and introverted and didn't have friends who discussed sex openly. But I started working in an independent bookstore when I was 16, and when it was slow, I would keep a Julie Garwood novel under the cashwrap to read, and that's how I learned - sort of - about sex. At least the mechanics of it. |
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