Chit-Chat: The Feels

[PRgal]

@kittykat  My son is an Alpha and he hasn't quite reached the age where they start using language that we don't understand.  However, he calls videos on YouTube, "YouTube vids" and says that's what his friends say.  I mean, he's technically NOT wrong, but do you really need to say "vids?"  Or is that to distinguish between long form videos ("vids") and the more reels-like short ones?  What I am NOT a fan of is how assignments are almost all completely digital/screen-focused at his school.  Just about the only time they go "old school" (besides gym) is in art or music.

[peacheslatour]

6 minutes ago, PRgal said:

@kittykat  My son is an Alpha and he hasn't quite reached the age where they start using language that we don't understand.  However, he calls videos on YouTube, "YouTube vids" and says that's what his friends say.  I mean, he's technically NOT wrong, but do you really need to say "vids?"  Or is that to distinguish between long form videos ("vids") and the more reels-like short ones?  What I am NOT a fan of is how assignments are almost all completely digital/screen-focused at his school.  Just about the only time they go "old school" (besides gym) is in art or music.

At least they still have art and music in school. In the US, they get rid of those things as fast as they can, especially if they interfere with the holiest of holys, football.

[PRgal]

2 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

At least they still have art and music in school. In the US, they get rid of those things as fast as they can, especially if they interfere with the holiest of holys, football.

They can't fully get rid of art/music in Canada unless provinces alter the curriculum completely.  I know that funding is cut some of it, especially at the elementary level.  It's not really affecting private schools, however.  

[bluegirl147]

16 minutes ago, kittykat said:

 

My own experience is why I've disavowed the whole Generation War arguments.  Every generation has good people and assholes.  Every generation has rich and poor for their own reasons. Yes there is the argument that Boomers grew into a good economy but not everyone benefitted especially, as discussed earlier, if you were a POC. But that doesn't mean every white person prospered as well.

I've said before the gap with the most lasting effects is the income gap.  There are some very well off boomers right now and there are some boomers who need SNAP and Meals on Wheels to not go hungry.  Both of which could be cut.

Each generation has it's winners and losers.  And the ones with the money are always the winners.  

 

[kittykat]

26 minutes ago, PRgal said:

@kittykat  My son is an Alpha and he hasn't quite reached the age where they start using language that we don't understand.  However, he calls videos on YouTube, "YouTube vids" and says that's what his friends say.  I mean, he's technically NOT wrong, but do you really need to say "vids?"  Or is that to distinguish between long form videos ("vids") and the more reels-like short ones?  What I am NOT a fan of is how assignments are almost all completely digital/screen-focused at his school.  Just about the only time they go "old school" (besides gym) is in art or music.

I have an alpha as well and her school is more hybrid.  They get screen time but also do plenty of worksheets and are currently working on oral reports where they are not only using Internet sources but books as well.  We are also lucky to have her in a school where art and music are taught multiple times a week. I'm not sure about the whole vids term.  We just say that we watched a YouTube.

[annzeepark914]

20 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

At least they still have art and music in school. In the US, they get rid of those things as fast as they can, especially if they interfere with the holiest of holys, football.

Hopefully not all schools. Our 14 year old grandson (in MN) plays trumpet in several of his school's bands, contemplating trying the French horn as a back up instrument skill. Do schools still teach driver's ed?  It sure is needed, based on what I've seen out there on the roads.

[peacheslatour]

This just happened in Seattle. A group of out of state christian fundies showed up in the mainly LGBTQ enclave to hold a hate fest and counter protesters showed up. The only violence was perpetrated by the proud boys dressed as cops.

Mayor Bruce Harrell said in his statement: "When the humanity of trans people and those who have been historically marginalized is questioned, we triumph by demonstrating our values through our words and peaceful protest—we lose our voice when this is disrupted by violence, chaos, and confusion."

He added: "I am grateful for those who make their voices heard in support of our neighbors without resorting to violence. In the face of an extreme right-wing national effort to attack our trans and LGBTQ+ communities, Seattle will continue to stand unwavering in our embrace of diversity, love for our neighbors, and commitment to justice and fairness."

Ross Johnston, a preacher and an organizers of the Mayday USA event, wrote on X: "The audacity of the @MayorofSeattle to claim that we as Christians were 'attacking' is bigoted and the rhetoric of a God hating politician whose 'power' came up against a superior force.

"PS: all arrests were from the protester camp - it takes a bit of a brain to understand what that means maybe you have one? (Highly doubt it)."

Organizers of the counterprotest said: "Anti-queer, anti-trans "Mayday USA" is bringing their reactionary preaching to Seattle with help from right-wing pastor Matt Shea and his Christian Fundamentalist "On Fire Ministries." Provocatively, they are rallying under the hashtag "#DONTMESSWITHOURKIDS" at Cal Anderson Park on Capitol Hill in the heart of Seattle' Queer community. Let's send a message with a loud picket line, signs and banners: Bigotry is not welcome here!"\

https://www.newsweek.com/seattle-protest-breaks-out-violence-what-we-know-2076830?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark

Edited 8 hours ago by peacheslatour

[kittykat]

I was reading about that too.  What an epic fail.  Trying to rally in Capitol Hill of all places!  I read about the arrests and that's when I learned what the protest was really about. And once again our side was the peaceful one.

[Lantern7]

Apparently, Gary Trudeau doesn’t have the fear of retribution in him. Here’s today’s Doonesbury.

I couldn’t embed it or save and post it. If anyone wants to try it here, I’ll be cool with it.

I think Gary and those that oversee his strip haven’t gotten in trouble because no one has reminded Ol’ Pudding Brain of his existence.

[Ohiopirate02]

1 hour ago, bluegirl147 said:

I've said before the gap with the most lasting effects is the income gap.  There are some very well off boomers right now and there are some boomers who need SNAP and Meals on Wheels to not go hungry.  Both of which could be cut.

Each generation has it's winners and losers.  And the ones with the money are always the winners.  

 

I refuse to get bogged down with the "who had it worse" debate. It's one of the many tactics the billionaire class uses to keep us fighting with each other while they keep on fleecing us. Because the only way to truly enact change is for all of us 99% to band together and force our elected officials to actually do something. I'd rather save my energy. And scoring fake internet points on a Boomer of a Millennial is never going to feel that good. 

[annzeepark914]

https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-speech-commencement-address-west-point-usma-may-24-2025/

I found this in the comments section under an article in the Washington Post about Trump's "speech" yesterday at West Point. Good God Almighty!  Wearing an inappropriate campaign hat, yakking on and on, not completing sentences, he supposedly was the laughing stock in Europe (many people say!!)

Edited 7 hours ago by annzeepark914

[shapeshifter]

4 hours ago, Dimity said:

The baby boom generation was, and is, an extremely large cohort that  benefited from post war affluence and enjoyed a standard of living and access to education that 'kids today' definitely are not.  

We were a generation on the forefront of huge societal change and many positive moves forward - we also now are the generation being blamed for a lot that went wrong, and is still going wrong, with the world.  Which sucks.

One of my highly educated daughters (born in the early 80s) was insisting the Vietnam War was the fault of the Boomers. Hopefully she has since realized she was wrong.

 

1 hour ago, kittykat said:

Examples like this are why we need to abolish the electoral college.

Any example of why the electoral college should be abolished is, unfortunately, also usually a reason it will not be abolished.😞

1 hour ago, kittykat said:

I won't lie, in my 20s I was definitely going toe to toe with my Boomer mom on generation wars.  I would be all "you hoarding affluent boomers" and she'd respond with "you entitled phone-obsessed millennials" (I'm more Xennial) you all know the drill, but of course it's not so simple.  My mom was not an affluent Boomer.  My parents divorced in the late 80s and she worked every job she could starting from the bottom and worked her way up. We never owned a house we did apartments and I remember being the only one of my friends who's parents didn't live in a house and it made me insecure.  I'm not proud of this mindset, I never wanted for the basics.  I was clothed, fed, sheltered, given a weekly allowance but adolescent me was jealous of the other kids all the same.  I now look back at all the hours both my parents worked to get us what we wanted and am grateful for them both.

My own experience is why I've disavowed the whole Generation War arguments.  Every generation has good people and assholes.  Every generation has rich and poor for their own reasons. Yes there is the argument that Boomers grew into a good economy but not everyone benefitted especially, as discussed earlier, if you were a POC. But that doesn't mean every white person prospered as well.

Wait. Are you my daughter? 😂

 

 

[ebk57]

40 minutes ago, Lantern7 said:

Apparently, Gary Trudeau doesn’t have the fear of retribution in him. Here’s today’s Doonesbury.

I couldn’t embed it or save and post it. If anyone wants to try it here, I’ll be cool with it.

I think Gary and those that oversee his strip haven’t gotten in trouble because no one has reminded Ol’ Pudding Brain of his existence.

The first 2 panels are missing, but that happens in a lot of newspapers

 

[peacheslatour]

1 hour ago, annzeepark914 said:

https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-speech-commencement-address-west-point-usma-may-24-2025/

I found this in the comments section under an article in the Washington Post about Trump's "speech" yesterday at West Point. Good God Almighty!  Wearing an inappropriate campaign hat, yakking on and on, not completing sentences, he supposedly was the laughing stock in Europe (many people say!!)

[Absolom]

1 hour ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

I refuse to get bogged down with the "who had it worse" debate. It's one of the many tactics the billionaire class uses to keep us fighting with each other while they keep on fleecing us. Because the only way to truly enact change is for all of us 99% to band together and force our elected officials to actually do something. I'd rather save my energy. And scoring fake internet points on a Boomer of a Millennial is never going to feel that good. 

Say it again for the people in the back.  It's one of the most useless things ever.

[Spartan Girl]

I saw the touring production of Hamilton today. Not gonna lie, it was harder to watch because the last time I saw it was three years ago when I thought we were done with Trump forever and now…

God, sometimes I want to scream at top of my lungs: “WE WERE FREE! WE WERE IN THE CLEAR!!! HOW COULD YOU STUPID FUCKS DO THIS TO US AGAIN?!!!!!!!!”

[annzeepark914]

17 minutes ago, Spartan Girl said:

God, sometimes I want to scream at top of my lungs: “WE WERE FREE! WE WERE IN THE CLEAR!!! HOW COULD YOU STUPID FUCKS DO THIS TO US AGAIN?!!!!!!!!”

Yup.  No critical thinking skills (I'm especially looking at the jerks, Dems & Indies, who sat out the election or voted for a 3rd party loser candidate). 

[Annber03]

34 minutes ago, Spartan Girl said:

God, sometimes I want to scream at top of my lungs: “WE WERE FREE! WE WERE IN THE CLEAR!!! HOW COULD YOU STUPID FUCKS DO THIS TO US AGAIN?!!!!!!!!”

I have lost count of how many times I've asked myself this since last November. I can't believe we're having to dea with this asshole AGAIN, and I just keep wondering what the fuck it will take to make him finally go away once and for all. 

[ProudMary]

This past Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that DJT didn't have the right to fire the Fed Chair. The rest of their decision is infuriating, but at least they got that part right.

Supreme Court signals Trump can’t fire Fed Chair Powell

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/22/supreme-court-fed-powell-trump-00366526

In an interesting coincidence, Fed Chair Jerome Powell delivered the Commencement Address at Princeton University yesterday. I'm linking the full text of his speech, but I'd like to quote a specific section here. (Bolding mine)

My first reaction was that it was too bad that the West Point graduates didn't get to hear Powell's speech instead of the incoherent ramblings of the Commander-In-Chief, including the gem that @peacheslatour referenced a few posts above, but perhaps it was exactly what some of the newly-comissioned Second Lieutenants needed to hear.

Well done, Chair Powell. 👏 It does make one wonder if he would have been as forceful, had SCOTUS not provided him with cover a few days prior. 

Baccalaureate Remarks

Chair Jerome H. Powell

At Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey

https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/powell20250525a.htm

Since the founding of this great democracy 250 years ago, generation upon generation have assumed the burden and the honor of moving us closer to the ideal that all are created equal. Now, it's your turn. I ask you to take a minute and realize how the quest for these values has led us to this point in our history. We lead the world in so many ways, including in scientific innovation and economic dynamism. Our great universities are the envy of the world and a crucial national asset.

Look around you. I urge you to take none of this for granted. When you look back in 50 years, you will want to know that you have done whatever it takes to preserve and strengthen our democracy, and bring us ever closer to the Founders' timeless ideals.

[PRgal]

4 hours ago, kittykat said:

I have an alpha as well and her school is more hybrid.  They get screen time but also do plenty of worksheets and are currently working on oral reports where they are not only using Internet sources but books as well.  We are also lucky to have her in a school where art and music are taught multiple times a week. I'm not sure about the whole vids term.  We just say that we watched a YouTube.

They do oral reports too but my son is NOT a fan.  In fact, he DREADS them.  I have to FORCE him to practice in front of us (and it's always REALLY SCRIPTED)!  He's getting SLIGHTLY better now that he knows he HAS to take part in a piano recital.  

[peacheslatour]

23 minutes ago, PRgal said:

They do oral reports too but my son is NOT a fan.  In fact, he DREADS them.  I have to FORCE him to practice in front of us (and it's always REALLY SCRIPTED)!  He's getting SLIGHTLY better now that he knows he HAS to take part in a piano recital.  

I love how you support and encourage him.

[LexieLily]

2 hours ago, Annber03 said:

I have lost count of how many times I've asked myself this since last November. I can't believe we're having to dea with this asshole AGAIN, and I just keep wondering what the fuck it will take to make him finally go away once and for all. 

Sad to say for all of us, I unfortunately think Mother Nature/Father Time is the only thing that will rid us of Trump and his constant rage-tweets. 

[Dimity]

8 minutes ago, LexieLily said:

Sad to say for all of us, I unfortunately think Mother Nature/Father Time is the only thing that will rid us of Trump and his constant rage-tweets. 

I've long given up any hope that he will see the inside of a prison. He's never going to pay for all the misery he and his administration is inflicting on the world.

He is busy using his presidency to line his pocket rather than leave any kind of positive legacy.  Well positive to anyone outside his cult.

 

[Dimity]

If I live to be a hundred I will never understand how anyone in the military voted for this man:

 

[Annber03]

I'm just wondering how all of this is making us great again. Trump's out here disparaging soldiers and giving embarrassing, nonsensical speeches, we're the laughingstock of the world and other countries are boycotting our goods and services and warning people not to come here, nobody's intimidated by Trump's tariff threats the way he wants them to be, he's friendly with dictators and alienated our allies, prices continue to go up on things, our stock market and economy is unstable and Trump's actions have nearly cratered the global economy as well (and still could, if he continues on his dumbass plans), people here in the U.S. are losing rights and jobs at an alarming rate, important organizations and agencies are being gutted, we can't seem to fund aid for people suffering the effects of natural disasters or medical emergencies, but hey, the rich guys are getting richer...

...so, uh, yeah, when exactly do we get "great" again, 'cause none of the above seems to fit the definition of "great" as I understand that word. 

[peacheslatour]

14 minutes ago, Annber03 said:

I'm just wondering how all of this is making us great again. Trump's out here disparaging soldiers and giving embarrassing, nonsensical speeches, we're the laughingstock of the world and other countries are boycotting our goods and services and warning people not to come here, nobody's intimidated by Trump's tariff threats the way he wants them to be, he's friendly with dictators and alienated our allies, prices continue to go up on things, our stock market and economy is unstable and Trump's actions have nearly cratered the global economy as well (and still could, if he continues on his dumbass plans), people here in the U.S. are losing rights and jobs at an alarming rate, important organizations and agencies are being gutted, we can't seem to fund aid for people suffering the effects of natural disasters or medical emergencies, but hey, the rich guys are getting richer...

...so, uh, yeah, when exactly do we get "great" again, 'cause none of the above seems to fit the definition of "great" as I understand that word. 

At least I hope the markets learn to ignore him. Nothing but empty threats and bluster. He's just a screaming toddler swiping his shitty hands on our world. I look forward to reading his obituary.

 

[Lantern7]

4 hours ago, Spartan Girl said:

God, sometimes I want to scream at top of my lungs: “WE WERE FREE! WE WERE IN THE CLEAR!!! HOW COULD YOU STUPID FUCKS DO THIS TO US AGAIN?!!!!!!!!”

Yeah. I think of bad retribution. Fire. Kicks to the chest. Tar and feathers. Stockades. All the stuff Angus Young sang about in “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.” I want justice, but I know it’ll take a miracle for that to happen. Rorschach journaling doom and gloom makes more sense. And all I do is make little quips that I hope people find funny, hoping the darkness doesn’t affect me or those I like severely.

Edited 2 hours ago by Lantern7

[shapeshifter]

2 hours ago, Dimity said:

He is busy using his presidency to line his pocket rather than leave any kind of positive legacy.  Well positive to anyone outside his cult.

Although this presidency is understandably being compared to the rise of the Nazis — especially because of the cult of a leader — I keep thinking of the Salem Witch Trials, especially wondering what it was really like for the citizens who fell under this spell, when it was over:
https://actiontourguide.com/what-happened-in-the-aftermath-of-the-salem-witch-trials/

[Yeah No]

On 5/23/2025 at 4:02 AM, Soapy Goddess said:

I hear what you're saying re: support, so I have a question for you/Dems: Are you willing to withdraw your support for the Democrats?  Because I can't imagine for one second that you or anyone else here actually believes it was a great idea to destroy and burn up Teslas. Not to mention supporting all the other violent stuff they're doing in the name of party. 

Agree the Rep party is not what it was under Reagan, but by the same token, the Dem party isn't what it was under Clinton either. The violence (in the action of party support) is beyond control.

I promise you that I'm not being compromised in my beliefs. I'm not happy about certain things, but I tend to look at the bigger picture. Rome wasn't built in a day, and as a patient person, I'm willing to wait and/or give the benefit of the doubt. I might feel differently a year down the road, but for now, I remain moderate in my support. I just pray the insanity doesn't continue to escalate.

I would think that if you are really looking at the bigger picture you would know that the kind of violence you're talking about is by far not exclusive to Democrats. I don't know who is guilty of more of them but given how many instances there have been coming from both sides does bringing up the Tesla incident really make a specific point against Democrats? At least when Democrats complain about the horrible things Trump does there is no one equivalent on the Democratic side, not even CLOSE and I don't think that's even open for argument given how many times and how egregiously Trump has broken the law, defied the Constitution and shown himself to be deluded, ignorant, racist, mean spirited, petty and selfish.

See this article with details. In a list of 10 such recent events 6 of them were committed against Democrats. And it includes the Tesla incident BTW. And this being from PBS doesn't necessarily make it biased against Republicans, but it may not be complete anyway. If there have been enough incidents not reported here that were committed against Republicans to switch that around, please do tell. But I have a feeling it won't change much if anything:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/the-growing-list-of-political-violence-in-the-u-s

[Yeah No]

On 5/23/2025 at 12:13 PM, shapeshifter said:

Similar in the small, private college library where I worked for almost 20 years. I think the cut-off to avoid the college having to pay benefits was 32 hours per week, which is pretty much full time, especially with commuting since the college was in an area with higher housing costs.

Even full-time librarians and administrative staff were at-will employees, which is how I and other female employees of my age got nudged into early retirement so they could replace us with no-benefit, "part time" employees.

When I worked at a university 35 years ago full time was considered 35 hours a week. It was a true "9 to 5" job. But that was then, this is now. I'm pretty sure that like everywhere else these days that got upped to 40 hours per week to qualify for full time benefits. But I know of cases in the corporate world where 32 hours would qualify you for benefits, just less benefits than full time employees would get. And that might be the case in some places in higher ed. too.

I too was "nudged" (more like forced) into early retirement when my company terminated me while on worker's comp. after slipping and falling and breaking my arm on company property. They specifically were targeting older people making better salaries and then hiring young unexperienced people and paying them a lot less. In the case of my job, they hired a temp. and kept her as a temp. as long as possible in order to avoid paying benefits. They eventually hired her, but then ended up terminating her a year later for no stated reason, like they did with me. Being able to terminate without cause is specific to the state. Some states are "at will" states. CT is one, which is one reason why bringing a wrongful termination lawsuit like I did is much harder there. But they terminated me while on worker's comp. which is right there a violation of CT law because it states that you can't terminate someone while collecting worker's comp. So I won that case.

[Yeah No]

On 5/23/2025 at 11:49 AM, 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.

This is what I want to know. These employers don't want to pay a living wage so that their CEOs can continue to make obscenely high salaries. The income disparity between workers and CEOs is shockingly high right now. I think I read somewhere that it might be even worse than in the time of the robber barons when adjusted, and that was pretty bad. I think it was at its lowest in the 1970s or thereabouts. But no, they'll still blame the workers for their plight. And it's true of all workers across the board, not just at the low end. They're all making less than they should for what they do in order to finance those huge CEO and C-suite executive salaries.

There was a lot of press about dissatisfaction about income disparity a few years ago but it got drowned out by other issues and of course the smoke and mirrors of Trump who wants us all to be distracted and buy into his insane views and solutions to economic problems, some of which don't even exist so we don't pay attention to the REAL reasons we don't have enough money.