Chit-Chat: The Feels

[Anela]

4 minutes ago, JustHereForFood said:

 

Also, who is forcing anyone to watch anything? If it's not doing well for your mental health and gives you desire to murder people, maybe it's time to stop watching...

Ignoring it, doesn't make it stop. 

14 minutes ago, Affogato said:

In fairness when I learned about hundreds of thousands of infants starving in gaza I had an urge, but no capacity, to bomb israel.  And then I thought immediately that it is Netanyahu and his party. Not individual people, who may disagree with him or been misinformed. 

Right. I had no urge to do the same to them, but I'm not wishing good things for Netanyahu, or the people who are absolutely fine with what's happening. 

His own citizens were coming out to protest him. 

[isalicat]

2 hours ago, peacheslatour said:

Exactly. He accomplished nothing for the people of Gaza and he killed two people who have no control over the situation whatsoever. It's like shooting a grocery clerk because you don't like the price of eggs.

Which is why this guy is not some random idiot. He is a tool, a programmed tool who succumbed to the endless media cycle and thought he should take action. I can't dismiss him as just some disturbed individual given the general climate surrounding this particular debate. The two lovely young people that died should mean more than a shrug and a "wattayagonnado".

[Anela]

Trump's FEMA denied additional help to the people of North Carolina, after spreading conspiracy theories last year, that Biden and FEMA weren't helping them. 

 

4 minutes ago, isalicat said:

Which is why this guy is not some random idiot. He is a tool, a programmed tool who succumbed to the endless media cycle and thought he should take action. I can't dismiss him as just some disturbed individual given the general climate surrounding this particular debate. The two lovely young people that died should mean more than a shrug and a "wattayagonnado".

Nobody is shrugging it off. I don't personally know anyone who is happy with this. 

But we've been told to shrug off genocide. 

[lookeyloo]

30 minutes ago, Affogato said:

In fairness when I learned about hundreds of thousands of infants starving in gaza I had an urge, but no capacity, to bomb israel.  And then I thought immediately that it is Netanyahu and his party. Not individual people, who may disagree with him or been misinformed. 

At some risk, I will say I am Jewish and hate Netanyahu and all that he is doing. The citizens who protest are probably like the ones here not happy with Orange.   Of course the Gazans and Palestinians are humans and deserve better treatment. Hamas I am not a fan of.  I try and keep my head down but every once in a while some ugly stuff comes my way from unexpected places. 

[Dimity]

20 minutes ago, Anela said:

Ignoring it, doesn't make it stop. 

Killing innocent people doesn't either.  There has to be a point where if what you are seeing is causing you to want to harm others or to not care if others are harmed then it's time to back away. 

 

[shapeshifter]

11 minutes ago, Dimity said:

Killing innocent people doesn't either.  There has to be a point where if what you are seeing is causing you to want to harm others or to not care if others are harmed then it's time to back away. 

I agree.

Today my oldest daughter and I were talking about YKW. 
Of my 3 daughters, she's the only one I can discuss this stuff with. With 3 of them, it's kind of like Goldilocks; there's always one who's just right for the situation. In this case, one of her sisters is too hot and the other too cold, heh, more or less. 

So, she at least considered my idea, which is: It may not be that he is incapable of feeling empathy; it may be that he is terrified of feeling empathy.
And now, after a lifetime of cultivating his habits of bullying etc. to avoid feeling empathy or sympathy, he cannot change.

[Annber03]

1 hour ago, Affogato said:

No, I’m okay with the teslas.  i’m particularly ok with the attacks on dealerships, which are owned by the company. T was the only way I can think of to make the point. And make no mistake. I want Musk to loose his money, status and companies. 

This. If anyone's expecting us to feel any sympathy for Musk, they're looking in the wrong place. 

7 hours ago, bluegirl147 said:

 

And this is why I get so angry when I read comments about people on SNAP or receive  Medicaid saying they are lazy and get a job.  Most people do have jobs but those jobs  don't offer health insurance and  they don't get enough hours or get paid enough to support their families without assistance.   So why don't those judgmental people turn their judgement on employers who don't provide a living wage?  It is never the employers fault always the employee who I guess is at fault for working a job that doesn't pay them enough. And when someone says they need to get a better job I ask and who is going to do the low paying job then?  That job still needs done.   And of course they have no answer for that.

*Raises hand* This describes my family's past situations to a T, notably when my dad was ill and my mom was trying to work a minimum wage job to hold u all together. I would absolutely LOVE for the idiots who say things like that to  dare say them to my mom's face (or my dad's, were he still alive).I guarantee they wouldn't even be able to finish their sentence before my parents told them exactly what they could do with their "job advice". 

8 hours ago, PRgal said:

I remember seeing seniors working at McDonald's alongside teens when I was a kid...and this was around 1989-1990.  But maybe the "seniors" I saw were really more like late 50s/early 60s (many were Cantonese speaking and served my grandparents in the language THEY were most comfortable with) and just seemed old to me because I was nine or ten!  

I remember an older lady who used to work at our local McDonald's back when I was a kid. She always gave me and my sister ice cream cones :). She was really sweet and friendly, and I think she genuinely did enjoy her job, in part because she got to interact with kids like us.

But yeah, the way people look down on those that work fast food* while also acting like it should just be a job for teenagers and not a living wage and whatnot is incredibly frustrating and stupid. 

*And you know those who look down on the people who work fast food would also likely be the very same ones who would be all, "I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOUR MANAGER!" if they got a fast food order that wasn't to their satisfaction. 

Edited Friday at 10:56 PM by Annber03

[Browncoat]

53 minutes ago, Anela said:

Trump's FEMA denied additional help to the people of North Carolina, after spreading conspiracy theories last year, that Biden and FEMA weren't helping them. 

Huh.  I guess Vance's visit, promising them all the help, meant absolutely nothing after all.  Surprise, surprise.

[ECM1231]

1 hour ago, isalicat said:

 

 but fortunately my faith community follows the Gospel of doing unto the least among us, as doing for our Lord himself.

 

Amen! One of my favorite hymns!

[Affogato]

https://apple.news/Aww7gFyWrRnmJzVlz4TNBBA
 

The curious case of Trump’s disappearing media transcripts

3:53 PM EDT May 22, 2025
 

so not keeping a historical record. Also covering up his many stupid statements. Can’t confirm information. 

[PRgal]

@Annber03 The ice cream machine worked?? Besides seniors, one McDonald's worker I remember was a young man who had special needs.  I was probably 10 when I saw him and he was probably the first special needs adult I met in person.  He was very nice and seemed like he really loved his job.  Keep in mind this was 1990 or so and job programs for people like him weren't as common

[Dimity]

First it was Canada — now some Europeans are avoiding US brands too

What began as a backlash in Canada has spread across the Atlantic as US companies face growing consumer resistance following President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs and provocative rhetoric.

While his 20% tariffs on imports from the European Union have been reduced to 10%, the damage to consumer sentiment may already have been done.

European consumers appear increasingly inclined to turn away from US brands, and the data suggests it may not be just a passing trend.

This article came out before he started babbling about imposing a 50% tariff.  I think he is underestimating the anger against him in Europe just as he has the anger here in Canada.  I think, I hope, he's finding out that he can't bully everyone.

[Anela]

15 minutes ago, Dimity said:

First it was Canada — now some Europeans are avoiding US brands too

What began as a backlash in Canada has spread across the Atlantic as US companies face growing consumer resistance following President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs and provocative rhetoric.

While his 20% tariffs on imports from the European Union have been reduced to 10%, the damage to consumer sentiment may already have been done.

European consumers appear increasingly inclined to turn away from US brands, and the data suggests it may not be just a passing trend.

A hitchhiking streamer I follow, came back this week, on Tuesday. He normally hitches through the US, to get to an event called Twitchcon (he's in Europe, right now, for the EU version), but he isn't doing it this year, because he's Canadian.

I was just catching up with his VOD from today, and he says he's annoyed that he isn't doing it this year, because he likes travelling through the US, and he likes Americans. You can see what he said here:

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2466065993?t=11h10m07s

It's 11:10 to 11:14 maybe. But it isn't happening, because of trump's BS. 

He said that we're a unique bunch, lol. Entertaining, and diverse. 

Edited Yest. at 01:05 AM by Anela

[annzeepark914]

1 hour ago, Affogato said:

https://apple.news/Aww7gFyWrRnmJzVlz4TNBBA
 

The curious case of Trump’s disappearing media transcripts

3:53 PM EDT May 22, 2025
 

so not keeping a historical record. Also covering up his many stupid statements. Can’t confirm information. 

Can't read it as I'm out of free articles. Well, we've complained about the fact that no one ever publishes his idiotic blatherings word for word. I was watching Deadline WH today &  former FL Republican congressman, David Jolley, twice referred to Trump as unstable & unwell. That was an interesting remark about DJT because Jolley plans to run for Governor (as an Independent, I think). Some transcripts I've wanted to read are Donnie's chats with Vlad over his first term, and in the past 4 months (getting his orders from the boss man).

[LexieLily]

On 5/22/2025 at 1:42 PM, tres bien said:

How much more is it going to take before Harvard sues the crap out of his phony fraudulent vindictive “administration”

Word on the internet streets is that Barron Trump was rejected by Harvard when he applied while Obama and one of the Obama daughters were accepted and got their education there, and that is part of the reason if not the main reason Trump is going after them full force. 

Whether or not that is true it says a lot that it could be true, that our president has the temperament of a cranky and vindictive toddler. 

[Lantern7]

Just now, LexieLily said:

Word on the internet streets is that Barron Trump was rejected by Harvard when he applied while Obama and one of the Obama daughters were accepted and got their education there, and that is part of the reason if not the main reason Trump is going after them full force. 

Whether or not that is true it says a lot that it could be true, that our president has the temperament of a cranky and vindictive toddler. 

The pettiest man to ever petty. Did Tom Petty write any songs about being petty-in-small-letters?

The Middle East? My thought is that both sides are run by people hellbent on destroying each other. Guys like Trump want to jump in not because they love Israel, but because they refuse to recognize Palestinians' right to exist, let alone have their own state. What happened yesterday will probably fuel the fire to turn Gaza into a parking lot. Really, is there anyone on the MAGA side that you'd be sure would be okay with Jewish people in general?

[peacheslatour]

7 minutes ago, Lantern7 said:

The pettiest man to ever petty. Did Tom Petty write any songs about being petty-in-small-letters?

The Middle East? My thought is that both sides are run by people hellbent on destroying each other. Guys like Trump want to jump in not because they love Israel, but because they refuse to recognize Palestinians' right to exist, let alone have their own state. What happened yesterday will probably fuel the fire to turn Gaza into a parking lot. Really, is there anyone on the MAGA side that you'd be sure would be okay with Jewish people in general?

Donald jumps in because he's an opportunistic bully and any chance to kick people when they're down tickles his happy place.

[LexieLily]

1 hour ago, Lantern7 said:

The pettiest man to ever petty. Did Tom Petty write any songs about being petty-in-small-letters?

The Middle East? My thought is that both sides are run by people hellbent on destroying each other. Guys like Trump want to jump in not because they love Israel, but because they refuse to recognize Palestinians' right to exist, let alone have their own state. What happened yesterday will probably fuel the fire to turn Gaza into a parking lot. Really, is there anyone on the MAGA side that you'd be sure would be okay with Jewish people in general?

Taylor Swift has a song called The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived which has a lyric that says you deserve prison but you won't get time. Does that work? 🤭

[Lantern7]

26 minutes ago, LexieLily said:

Taylor Swift has a song called The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived which has a lyric that says you deserve prison but you won't get time. Does that work? 🤭

Not really. She was probably thinking of one of the many, many, MANY men that did her wrong. Without his money and power, a guy like him wouldn't get her attention.

I'm going to bed. Nothing like surfing Facebook and seeing a friend post something like this.

Once again: I am so fucking sick and tired of hearing about MAGA's inhumanity to man.

[Soapy Goddess]

11 hours ago, Milk-Eyed Mender said:

As for being fine with Teslas being set on fire, I'll be happy to advocate zealously for property rights just as soon as the current administration begins advocating for human rights.

But that's apples and oranges. We, as humans, should know right from wrong. We are supposed to be a civilized country and yet we have some far left people (or even hired people) who see absolutely nothing wrong with destroying personal property. And really, a lot of those Teslas were on floor plan with the dealerships! So who are these left wing radicals hurting? You guessed it. People just like themselves. The people who work at the factories down to the salesmen at the dealership.

We, the people, have no control over the current administration and what they are advocating. The vote is over. They're going to do what they're going to do, and neither you or I can physically stop them. The violence that's happening now in the name of protesting is mostly on the left. Unless I'm missing a recent event.

[anony.miss]

10 hours ago, Dimity said:

Killing innocent people doesn't either.  There has to be a point where if what you are seeing is causing you to want to harm others or to not care if others are harmed then it's time to back away.

Agreed. Once we (as in society) start arguing that the murder of two innocent people - peace advocates by many news accounts - can be explained as the killer's reaction to watching news coverage of a genocide, we've completely lost the plot.

Edited Yest. at 09:03 AM by anony.miss

[Soapy Goddess]

4 hours ago, LexieLily said:

Word on the internet streets is that Barron Trump was rejected by Harvard when he applied while Obama and one of the Obama daughters were accepted and got their education there, and that is part of the reason if not the main reason Trump is going after them full force. 

Whether or not that is true it says a lot that it could be true, that our president has the temperament of a cranky and vindictive toddler. 

And this is how rumors get started. Admittedly.

It's not only our president who has issues with temperament.

[tres bien]

If you’re someone who doesn’t think Trump’s attack on Harvard (Columbia but they folded) and soon other colleges and universities he will go after if they don’t agree to his terms to remake everything he can in his image (Kennedy Center 😟) how about this

On Friday the “administration” cut all funding for the African American Museum in Boston because “it no longer serves the interests of the United States”

1 hour ago, Soapy Goddess said:

And this is how rumors get started. Admittedly.

It's not only our president who has issues with temperament.

Oh really 

[Affogato]

2 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

And this is how rumors get started. Admittedly.

It's not only our president who has issues with temperament.

It isn‘t an unreasonable rumor. It is in line with Trumps demonstrated decision making and currently unbridled narcissism. He could just be annoyed because Harvard didn’t immediately cave, of course, which isn’t precisely better. 

[Affogato]

6 hours ago, Lantern7 said:

Not really. She was probably thinking of one of the many, many, MANY men that did her wrong. Without his money and power, a guy like him wouldn't get her attention.

 

It does sound as if she was singing about a narcissist. 

[Milk-Eyed Mender]

Deleted

Edited Yest. at 12:27 PM by Milk-Eyed Mender

[Blergh]

3 hours ago, tres bien said:

If you’re someone who doesn’t think Trump’s attack on Harvard (Columbia but they folded) and soon other colleges and universities he will go after if they don’t agree to his terms to remake everything he can in his image (Kennedy Center 😟) how about this

On Friday the “administration” cut all funding for the African American Museum in Boston because “it no longer serves the interests of the United States”

Oh really 

History as well as education and art are NECESSITIES not luxuries for any and all citizens of all nations!  It's most infuriating that #45 is downright hostile to all the above.

Moreover if and  when curators, educators or artists have interpretations  that aren't universally agreed     with by others , it's important for them to acknowledged  so others can consider said interpretations when pondering any number of issues. African- American History IS part of US American History and it's important for US Americans of ALL backgrounds to at least consider that part of our history in order to have needed information to try to change things for the better for our nation (to say nothing of being inspired by folks overcoming odds and having triumphs).

I urge every one reading this to preserve as much written and video history one has in one's possession to be able to teach the younger generations in one's circle regardless of these unwarranted and nihilistic attacks by #45 on history!

Edited Yest. at 01:04 PM by Blergh

[shapeshifter]

9 hours ago, LexieLily said:

Word on the internet streets is that Barron Trump was rejected by Harvard when he applied while Obama and one of the Obama daughters were accepted and got their education there, and that is part of the reason if not the main reason Trump is going after them full force. 

Whether or not that is true

4 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

And this is how rumors get started.

Although rumors can arise from more than one source, this one seems likely to have been picked up from an offhand speculation made by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on Threads on April 17:
threads.com/@senwhitehouse/post/DIj9I0tydeN 
and on Twitter/X, archived here: archive.ph/2caIc
where Senator Whitehouse quipped:
“Can’t help but wonder how many Trumps got rejected by Harvard.”
Note he did not mention anyone specifically. 

Whenever I see Senator Whitehouse mentioned by name in my sleuthing for truth, I am always tempted to make a catty joke about his "Whitehouse" name, either in its entirety or just the first part of the name's compound word.
But it seems both I and Mr. Whitehouse should leave making such loaded quips to the professional comics.

 

[Mollywolly555]

Re: Middle aged and elderly working at service jobs. 

About twice a year I go to the  big mall to see what's new,  what's on sale,  etc., and I was pleasantly/innocently surprised to find middle aged female sales clerks in stores catering to young women mostly.

As I am elderly, I was glad not to have to deal with (my own)  perceived judgment from a young person clerk in a hipper store than Talbots.

I did not stop to think what brought the older sales clerks to work there, although I do consider the elderly greeters who work at Walmart,  and wonder about them. Plus feeling grateful I don't have to do that in my retirement.  Although, with this adm threatening/cutting  Medicaid,  it may be a reality too soon. 

[shapeshifter]

2 minutes ago, Mollywolly555 said:

I did not stop to think what brought the older sales clerks to work there

I do. I write entire biopics in my mind.
Another reason I'm exhausted all of the time.

[Milk-Eyed Mender]

7 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

But that's apples and oranges. 

No. That's me wondering why this administration and those who support it prioritize the health and welfare of a car - and by extension a billionaire's pocketbook - over the health and welfare and basic human rights of its citizens and the world at large.

Your belief that there's no way to hold an administration accountable once votes have been cast is incorrect. Impeachment and conviction and the 25th Amendment are there for any Republican in Congress or the Cabinent with a shred of respect for the Constitution and love of democracy to use. Protests, general strikes, a critical mass of the public voting with their dollars, are all options.  Whether there is a nationwide appetite for any of this remains to be seen. 

[Milk-Eyed Mender]

14 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

I agree.

Today my oldest daughter and I were talking about YKW. 
Of my 3 daughters, she's the only one I can discuss this stuff with. With 3 of them, it's kind of like Goldilocks; there's always one who's just right for the situation. In this case, one of her sisters is too hot and the other too cold, heh, more or less. 

So, she at least considered my idea, which is: It may not be that he is incapable of feeling empathy; it may be that he is terrified of feeling empathy.
And now, after a lifetime of cultivating his habits of bullying etc. to avoid feeling empathy or sympathy, he cannot change.

That's an interesting and, I'm thinking, very kind, interpretation. I know the term is out of favor now, but all I see is a stone cold psycopath who hits at least 18 of the 20 markers on Robert Hare's infamous psycopathy checklist.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopathy_Checklist#:~:text=The Psychopathy Checklist or Hare,justice system—and to differentiate

[Affogato]

46 minutes ago, Milk-Eyed Mender said:

That's an interesting and, I'm thinking, very kind, interpretation. I know the term is out of favor now, but all I see is a stone cold psycopath who hits at least 18 of the 20 markers on Robert Hare's infamous psycopathy checklist.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopathy_Checklist#:~:text=The Psychopathy Checklist or Hare,justice system—and to differentiate

Abuse is generational. Trump was abused. You bet Barron was/is too. 

[Dimity]

Quote

I get that some of y'all wanna take political sides but saying that Kid Rock is better than Bruce Springsteen might be the most delusional thing that I've ever heard

A friend of mine shared this today and it seems to me the perfect example of why I can't take anything Trump supporters say seriously.  They are in a cult.

[ProudMary]

Here's  bit of "hopium" on a Saturday afternoon.

I'm posting a screenshot of the graphic, but also posting a link to the source.

https://bsky.app/profile/adambonica.bsky.social/post/3lpv4a3ynpk2l

If you want to dig a bit deeper into some of these wins, you can visit Just Security and their excellent tracker at this link. ⬇️

Perhaps right-wingers would care to take a look at just how much illegal, anti-constitutional activity is being perpetrated by those you voted into office. 

Just Security Litigation Tracker: Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions

https://www.justsecurity.org/107087/tracker-litigation-legal-challenges-trump-administration/

 

[peacheslatour]

8 minutes ago, ProudMary said:

Here's  bit of "hopium" on a Saturday afternoon.

I'm posting a screenshot of the graphic, but also posting a link to the source.

https://bsky.app/profile/adambonica.bsky.social/post/3lpv4a3ynpk2l

If you want to dig a bit deeper into some of these wins, you can visit Just Security and their excellent tracker at this link. ⬇️

Perhaps right-wingers would care to take a look at just how much illegal, anti-constitutional activity is being perpetrated by those you voted into office. 

Just Security Litigation Tracker: Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions

https://www.justsecurity.org/107087/tracker-litigation-legal-challenges-trump-administration/

 

And he'll just do what he wants anyway. There is no more rule of law. There is only Trump.

[ProudMary]

46 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

And he'll just do what he wants anyway. There is no more rule of law. There is only Trump.

First, nice Ghostbusters reference!

I hear you and I understand, but we can't let ourselves go there. The Judiciary is doing its job and predominantly doing it well, sometimes even at SCOTUS level.

Just a few days ago, in a case that would seem to have been teed up just for her, Amy Coney Barrett's recusal in an Oklahoma case looking to use taxpayer funds for a Catholic charter school set up a 4-4 split (Roberts voted with the liberals) that allowed the lower court ruling against public funding for the school to stand. That's just an isolated example, but there are positive things happening that are not being reported. You have to look hard, but they're happening. 

Supreme Court blocks Oklahoma from launching taxpayer-funded religious charter school

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/supreme-court-oklahoma-launch-taxpayer-funded-religious-charter/story?id=120902550

As a nation, we are in a valley right now, and the mountains around us may seem too high to climb, but we have to keep believing. Don't give up. Each of us is needed in the fight. Not all of us will get to see it, but as Dr. King told us, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." I believe that.

Edited Yest. at 05:17 PM by ProudMary
Edited to add link to SCOTUS case

[Anela]

19 hours ago, Dimity said:

Killing innocent people doesn't either.  There has to be a point where if what you are seeing is causing you to want to harm others or to not care if others are harmed then it's time to back away. 

 

Did I say that it did? No, I didn't. Please don't put words in my mouth. I said that nobody was happy about it.  You singled out my post. Other people said that same thing. That ignoring it doesn't help.

But as I said before: the world was told to ignore genocide, and we were also told in this thread, to ignore it, too. 

Edited Yest. at 05:41 PM by Anela

[peacheslatour]

11 minutes ago, Anela said:

Did I say that it did? No, I didn't. Please don't put words in my mouth. I said that nobody was happy about it.  You singled out my post. Other people said that same thing. That ignoring it doesn't help.

But as I said before: the world was told to ignore genocide, and we were also told in this thread, to ignore it, too. 

I didn't think it was so much that as giving people permission to take a step back, touch grass as they say. It's not healthy to spend all your time doom scrolling and watching horrific images that we are helpless to do anything about. It eats away at you.

[Anela]

22 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

I didn't think it was so much that as giving people permission to take a step back, touch grass as they say. It's not healthy to spend all your time doom scrolling and watching horrific images that we are helpless to do anything about. It eats away at you.

People do that already. I do. I was planning to this weekend. It's been raining all week.

 

17 minutes ago, Dimity said:

The world has not been told to ignore genocide.  But what I do see happening is far too many ignoring the events of Oct 7th, handwaving it away in any conversation as if it was nothing - not unlike the way Trump and the Trumpettes would like us to believe the event if January 6th were just out of town tourists out for a good time. I also see people, people I used to consider normal decent human beings using what is happening in Gaza as an excuse to deny the Holocaust. 

The world has been told to ignore it. It's none of our business, if we aren't Jewish. And I, and friends of mine, have never denied the holocaust. The people I know, who have not stopped posting about Gaza, are Jewish. 

Outside of Gaza, this was another thing that happened not long ago:

 

 

 

US man gets 53 years for fatally stabbing Palestinian-American child

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjew8p8l2lgo

Quote

 

An Illinois landlord who fatally stabbed a six-year-old Palestinian-American boy and severely wounded his mother has been sentenced to 53 years in prison.

Joseph Czuba, 73, was convicted in February for murder and hate crimes for the death of Wadee Alfayoumi, and the wounding of his mother Hanan Shaheen in 2023 shortly after the start of the Israel-Gaza war.

The family had been tenants in Czuba's home in Plainfield, roughly 64 km (40 miles) from Chicago. Prosecutors said he targeted them over their Muslim faith.

Czuba had pleaded not guilty, but jurors convicted him after deliberating for less than 90 minutes.

Wadee Alfayoumi's great uncle, Mahmoud Yousef, told the court on Friday that no sentence was going to "justify" the boy's death, according to NBC News.

"The day he was killed, his father had memories, had plans for his son," he continued, saying Czuba "had no right to take them".

Appearing in a red jail uniform, the thin and frail looking convict declined to speak on his own behalf.

The trial included testimony from Alfayoumi's mother, who described the encounter in harrowing detail, and from Czuba's now ex-wife, who said he had grown agitated by the war.

 

We were told to mind our own business, when our country was sending the bombs, and some of our politicians were there, and signing those bombs. One of the presidential candidates wrote, "Finish them!" on a fucking bomb.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/nikki-haley-writes-finish-them-israeli-artillery-shell-drawing-criticism-2024-05-29/

Edited Yest. at 06:14 PM by Anela

[Annber03]

17 hours ago, PRgal said:

@Annber03 The ice cream machine worked?? 

Ha :D! Yes, it did, at least back then, anyway :p. 

(Dang, now I want an Ice cream cone...) 

[peacheslatour]

Just now, Annber03 said:

Ha :D! Yes, it did, at least back then, anyway :p. 

(Dang, now I want an Ice cream cone...) 

Come over to my house. I've got cones and this decadent indulgence!

[nokat]

2 hours ago, peacheslatour said:

Ready for some Saturday funnies?

Nad Zapper had me laughing, and then the idiot Noem one. It's so true it hurts. Listening to Donald try to describe what the Declaration of Independence is was painful too.

[peacheslatour]

See Cadet Bonespurs, the draft dodger babble about trophy wives and yachts while elite military cadets sit in total silence at one of the most important days of their lives.

[Anela]

 

Uvalde community to hold candlelight vigil in honor of Robb Elementary School shooting victims

KSAT will stream the vigil at 7:30 p.m. Saturday on KSAT.com

https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2025/05/24/uvalde-community-to-hold-candlelight-vigil-in-honor-of-robb-elementary-school-shooting-victims/

That tweet was from three years ago. FB memories. 

Edited Yest. at 08:49 PM by Anela

[ProudMary]

18 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

See Cadet Bonespurs, the draft dodger babble about trophy wives and yachts while elite military cadets sit in total silence at one of the most important days of their lives.

Congratulations, all you new Second Lieutenants! Meet your addled Commander-In-Chief. Your lives are in his hands.

Instead of saying anything motivational, DJT's once again rambling incoherently, this time about a long-ago conversation with real estate developer William Levitt, who's been dead for over 30 years.

Here's a video clip from the Commencement speech, via Aaron Rupar's on BlueSky. 

https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lpwgbul3qq2i

 

 

[annzeepark914]

Such a disgrace today at West Point. The President of the United States of America addressing our country's future military leaders while wearing a stupid campaign hat and babbling nonsense. 

[tres bien]

His performance today at West Point is beyond words of disgust 

Is West Point obligated to invite the sitting president? This man should not be invited anywhere 

My heart breaks just knowing that these brave men and women are willing to die to protect our country and had to be subject to a madman’s sick pathetic bullshit

 

[athousandclowns]

On 5/22/2025 at 6:38 PM, shapeshifter said:

There are so many jobs those of us of a certain age would gladly do but it's just too physically painful now.

I  returned to my home town after my husband’s death and feel very isolated now.
 I recently returned to volunteering at non profit that I did till lockdown.
 The first 2 times was not pleasant.  It’s an incredible organization that supplies sweats ,underwear ,flip flops ,journals ,stuffed animals ,and hygiene products to sexual assault victims whose clothes are taken as evidence after a rape kit is done. I was only one of 3 volunteers to show up and was expected to carry big plastic bins with 50 pair of slacks etc into another room to spot check the count, document, correct and return big ass bin on Shay many times is on  a high shelf  

After I went grocery shopping and could not get all my bags to my condo in one trip  because my arms & shoulders hurts so bad .  It was better this week because 2 volunteers were there for 2 of the 3 hours but I’m really going to concentrate on a solo trip of some kind because this is not what I had pictured for my golden years to be either physically, emotionally ,let alone this shit storm politically . Never did I think the things we fought so hard for years that’s it’s now acceptable to a big part of the population to get into a Time Machine and go backwards. Gotta wipe my resting bitch face off to go celebrate my 13 year old grandsons birthday for second time this week. I didn’t even smile when cardiac technician started my echo yesterday with we are  going to see if you had a heart. Something I might have found amusing previously. 
 

[Ohiopirate02]

9 minutes ago, tres bien said:

His performance today at West Point is beyond words of disgust 

Is West Point obligated to invite the sitting president? This man should not be invited anywhere 

My heart breaks just knowing that these brave men and women are willing to die to protect our country and had to be subject to a madman’s sick pathetic bullshit

 

They may be obligated to invite either the sitting president or VP. The 2024 speaker was Biden, and 2023's was Kamala.