My parents have always been well-off. At christmas, us kids would get like $1500 worth of toys and junk. each of us like 10-15 presents. I remember a few of them, but you know how much I would have given to hang out with my dad playing video games? All of those presents, from every christmas. He never had time for me, time for us. He was too busy trying to make as much money as he could. It rotted his brain. He truly believes that a persons worth is determined by the numbers in their bank account. So I guess I’ll always be a failure to him. I don’t speak to him anymore.

Keep offering to hang out.

When I was working as a line cook in college, I was one of two white guys behind the line, with the rest of our BOH (Back Of House) crew being black. One day on the line we were all joking around like we always did. One of the black cooks, named Rose (he was an older guy, with coke-bottle glasses and strong, thickly calloused hands. He had a snaggle tooth and a big ol’ pot belly), was regaling us with stories about how he has a veritable harem of women at his beck and call. He told us he was supporting like 5 different women, and all of them were entirely devoted to him.

I thought that he was being hyperbolic, and decided that I would poke fun. I was going to say something like “Rose, I can’t believe for a second that even 1 woman would be after your ugly mug.” But my midwestern-whiteness shone through, and before I could deliver that absolute blister of a line, I decided to use an exclamation so as to punctuate my lack of belief in his statement. I started with “Ooh boy,” and didn’t get to finish.

I was immediately accosted by Rose, his spatula gripped tightly, and he was mad as hell. The other line cooks were instantly aware of the situation and reacted to hold him back, as Rose was about to knock my befuddled ass into next week. Eventually they were able to calm him down, and explained to my dumbass that calling a black man “boy” was explicitly racist, and derogatory.

We were fine once he realized I had no idea it was racist, I just thought of it as an exclamation along the lines of “Boy howdy!” or something.

It was a very eye-opening moment.

I’ve only ever been to one. Been to a lot of protests, but only one political rally.

I went because the politician inspires noble actions, noble thoughts, and I wanted to hear him speak in person. I’ve been a supporter of his for quite a while now, and I wanted to physically show up for him just like I do metaphorically at my polling place. It wasn’t really about hearing his ideas, or receiving new information from him, it was just about being present in the moment, together in a throng of people who all gathered in solidarity with what he and his candidacy represents. Like, how you don’t have to worry about being embarrassed about singing your bands favorite songs out loud, when you’re in a crowd of people gathered to see that band. It was there that I could enthusiastically cheer for what I believe in, what I prioritize.

The rally I’m speaking about was for none other than Bernie Sanders. He was introduced by Donald Glover, and oddly enough, while introducing him, a bird alighted upon the podium, much like what happened at another rally he did. It was a great time, and I’m glad I was there. I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.

Here’s the nested article, i.e. the article your article is talking about: October 23, 2024, By Blair Fix; The American Housing Crisis: A Theft, Not a Shortage

Reads very well, really puts this in perspective. Extreme income inequality is the root of most Americans problems.

Where does “letting women die during a miscarriage” fall on your scale?

Why does the article keep referring to Google as “The Chocolate Factory?”

well Look at that, definitely never saw those before.

Rachel Ray is for people that aren’t sciencey enough for Alton Brown. I’m sure she has some good recipes, but she lent her name to a lot of bad products. I would not feed my pets her pet food.

Are we still in NATO? then, yes.

nah, it’s a legitimate complaint, and exactly the reason I stopped watching after a couple episodes. They portray cops like they’re “angel helpers” and it just reeks of bootlicking bullshit. The main character is Lucifer Morningstar, or the guy who’s main schtick is questioning authority, and yet he’s 5-0’s best friend. It completely destroys the idea behind the show, when the obvious corrupt organization is never taken to task. Atlanta shows cops as they are, this show is just copaganda.

Cloud Atlas

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Tora Tora Tora!

Oh Brother Where Art Thou

Gone with the Wind

huh. you’re both wrong AND an asshole. interesting combo you’ve got goin’ on there.

I mean, I still think that having an operational moon-based spaceport is something we could see in our lifetime.

And as with all things concerning global affairs, it takes time and consistent pressure to overcome the lizard-brain us-vs-them mindsets that is inherent to our human political sphere. We’ve already grown to the point that we could take care of everyone on the planet, shuffling off the shackles of a scarcity-based economy which so severely hindered global human advancement in the past. I can only imagine what the combined efforts of the American, European, and Chinese economies/governments could accomplish if they put aside their differences, and embraced a true lasting partnership.

Also the website you gave is so incredibly interesting, I need to look at it more before I can appropriately sing its praises

I keep seeing this repeated, but it’s simply not true. Capitalism isn’t the problem, Oligarchy is. This article I linked mathematically proves that it doesn’t matter what form of governance your society uses, it inevitably falls into an oligarchy without strong recurring investments into social welfare.

So, keep voting for the people that want to expand social security, expand job protections, expand medicare/healthcare, increase the minimum wage, while decreasing cost of living, education, and housing (progressive democrats, basically).

If we can get Kamala in office, with a supermajority in the house/senate, we could finally pass some much needed shit, and stave off the inevitable turn to fascism that an oligarchal society seems to induce. It would have been better if we just elected Bernie Sanders, but can’t stall progress for perfection!

Ounce of prevention worth a pound of not being subjected to an endless stream of racist hate-filled trolls!

Woohoo!

So not only does putin get a big fat L, but the EU continues to grow! I believe from the EU and NATO partnerships, we will someday see 1 global, unifying government that will formalize conflict resolution, leading to a lasting and sustained peace on Earth. And what does global peace mean? It means a massive increase in standard of living for all, as well as expansion into SPACE! When we can unify as one people, only then can we truly embark on the journey Star Trek promised us.

I just wonder what our flag will look like.

But staying in the present, way to go Moldova. As a terrified American, it does me good to see favorable election results.

Great list of websites to never visit 👍

I get enough hate-speech during on-line video games. By not using any of those apps, I successfully save myself from multitudes more, while also foregoing any potentially addictive status-seeking site-based-compulsions. I used to play Clash of Clans on my phone because it was a good way to waste a couple minutes while taking a shit. I quit when I began to play too much. I feel like Facebook, twitter, instagram, they’re all just sites to waste time on. Which begs the question, why waste time on them at all? Why waste time?

I know not every moment can be spent fruitfully, but when something you do to waste a bit of time in between/during mundane tasks becomes something that now demands attention outside of that, then it’s time to stop wasting time on it.

The single greatest take-away I got from medical school, is that some doctors can be incredibly stupid. They’ll examine you, then step out into the hall and google your symptoms. I wish I was being facetious.

Same. Tonight is the last evening I could conceivably go out. I tried to get myself to go out last night, but after my workout I just wanted to put on my warm comfy house clothes and overeat while watching science fiction.

Now I have a new decision. Do I force myself to go out tonight? I’d love to go out dancing, but driving into the city in the dark (and having to drive back) is such a bummer.

I’m sitting here all comfy/cozy. I’m warm, with a full fridge, and a house all to myself with today and tomorrow off work. The feral pack of kittens I feed is trusting me more and more.

When I was in medical school, I had to drop a deuce during a break between lectures. While I was in there, performing spectacularly, some other guy came into the restroom (situated just outside the lecture hall) and shouted “Is somebody takin’ a shit in here!?”

and I was just like, “…yeah, where else would I do it?”

But I feel like that guy who openly questioned why someone would shit in a bathroom, is exactly the same type of guy that would question someones masculinity over how they choose to take a piss.