A majority of Americans across nearly all demographic groups said DEI initiatives have made no impact on their personal careers, according to a newly released Harris Poll/Axios Vibes survey. read more
New York Mayor Eric Adams, who was indicted on federal corruption charges last year, traveled to Mar-a-Lago on Thursday to meet with President-elect Donald Trump. The New York Times reported on the upcoming meeting, which was not on the Democratic mayor's public calendar. read more
Pro-Kremlin social media accounts and outlets have been spreading a baseless narrative that mansions belonging to Ukrainian military officers burned down in the Los Angeles wildfires. read more
The number of deaths in the U.S. is expected to exceed the number of births by 2033, according to the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) annual 30-year projection of the U.S. population released on Monday. read more
A close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Moscow needs a land corridor through NATO-member countries, intensifying the already fraught relationship between Russia and the West. read more
A different view, from back in the days when America was at war, a very unpopular war ...
Steppenwolf - Monster / Suicide / America (Medley) (1969)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
[Verse 1]
Once the religious, the hunted, and weary
Chasing the promise of freedom and hope
Came to this country to build a new vision
Far from the reaches of kingdom and pope
[Pre-Chorus]
Like good Christians, some would burn the witches
Later some got slaves to gather riches
[Chorus]
But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands, to court the wild
But she just patiently smiled and bore them a child
To be their spirit and guiding light
[Verse 2]
And once the ties with the crown had been broken
Westward in saddle and wagon, they went
And 'til the railroad linked ocean to ocean
Many the lives which had come to an end
[Pre-Chorus]
While we bullied, stole, and bought our homeland
We began the slaughter of the red man
[Chorus]
But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands, to court the wild
But she just patiently smiled and bore them a child
To be their spirit and guiding light
...
'Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
Now their vote is a meaningless joke
They babble about law and order
But it's all just an echo of what they've been told
[Chorus]
Yeah, there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into the noose
And it just sits there watchin'
...
Wow, they don't write lyrics like that anymore.
50 years ago, yet there seems to be a current resonance in those lyrics.
@#17 ... One direction to focus your anger ...
Oh, there is no anger here.
Questions maybe, so many questions?
But anger?
No. I don't hold anger within me. Doing so is not productive, imo.
Here's a cool video...
Leon Bridges - Peaceful Place (2024)
www.youtube.com
@#28 ... Do you really think a leftist would do that?? God you're just a fraudster through and through Jeff. ...
Don't hold back, please say what you really think.
Reathel Bean And The Doonesbury Break Crew - Rap Master Ronnie (Long Version) (1984)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
[Reagan]
5, 6, 7, 8, uh.. 9..
Ah!
Oh yeah, Lord have mercy
Now let me here a little bass now Nancy
So good, So fine
You're cooking now mama
[Nancy]
Thank you dear
[Reagan]
Al. Smokin'
We're in a grove now
[Man]
That's groove sir
[Reagan]
Groove, we're in a groove now
Slip me a little keyboard cap
Al, you're God
Now that be fine
[Verse 1]
Okay people, gotta get down
Brother Ron Reagan has hit the ground
Gotta believe he's the dude of the hour
Got the glory, got the power
Ronny can communicate, the cat can rap
I even let Nancy sit on Mr.T's lap
Loves the needy, loves them dearly
Love to read graffitti if they'd only print it clearly
He can break
[Men]
Huh!
[Reagan]
He be trying to make the big box beat
Trying to get those voters on their feet
Get their consent, all I need is 10 percent
[Hook]
Say we want Ron
The guy's pure sex
He's the man
Who signs your monthly welfare checks
Ha ha ... ha ... ha haha!
[Verse 2]
[Al]
Ronny's the boss, he wears the pants
[Nancy]
But that man of mine sure loves to dance
[Al]
Got an open mind on civil rights
[Reagan]
My youngest son grew up in tights
...
@#9 ... And it's been rumored that the CEO of TikTok, Shou Chew, has been invited to the inauguration as well and will be seated in the VIP section, perhaps next to Elon Musk. ...
Trump's TikTok ban reversal comes after meeting megadonor who has stake in TikTok (March 2024)
abcnews.go.com
... s Donald Trump reverses his position on potentially banning TikTok ahead of an expected House vote this week on legislation that could lead to it being blocked in the U.S., the former president has been rebuilding his relationship with a GOP megadonor who reportedly has a major financial stake in the popular social media platform.
Trump met with the donor, hedge fund manager Jeff Yass, earlier this month at a Club for Growth donor retreat in Palm Beach, Florida, on March 1.
The Club for Growth, a conservative political organization to which Yass has donated millions of dollars, has opposed anti-TikTok efforts.
The group's president last year wrote: "Giving the government the power to ban apps and pick and choose between competing apps is a huge restriction on phone freedom."
The former president, who had originally spearheaded efforts to ban TikTok during his time in the White House, reversed his stance last week, posting on his own social media platform that getting rid of TikTok would benefit Facebook and that he doesn't want that to happen, suggesting Facebook is a bigger problem for the country. ...
Am I the only one here who is noticing a pattern of purchasing the actions of Pres-elect Trump?
Stranglers - Skin Deep (1984)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
Many people tell you that they're your friend
You believe them, you need them for what's round the river bend
Make sure that you're receiving the signals they send
'Cos brother, you've only got two hands to lend
...
Better watch out for the skin deep
Better watch out for the skin deep
(Better watch out) Watch out for the skin deep
(Better watch out) Watch out for the skin deep
Better watch out for the skin deep
...
Pres-elect Trump dislikes reporters who strive to report the facts of what is happening.
Trump Says Police Violence Against Journalists Is Actually A Beautiful Sight' (2020)
www.forbes.com
... During a rally in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, President Trump took his "law and order" message a step further, not only applauding harsh law enforcement treatment of protesters, but of journalists as well. ...[emphasis mine]
As he often does at rallies, Trump described the state of America's cities in dystopian terms, waxing on at length on ways he claimed protesters have attacked law enforcement -- such as throwing "rocks and cans of tuna fish" -- and mocking the use of the label "police brutality" for retaliation by police.
Trump praised the involvement of National Guard troops in quelling violent protests in Minneapolis, asserting "Minneapolis was cured" after the Guard was deployed.
But Trump also applauded acts of excessive violence by "big, strong" police while narrating them in detail, describing an instance in which, "they grabbed them, they grabbed them, they were grabbing them left and right."
"Sometimes they grab one guy, I'm a reporter! I'm a reporter!" Trump said gleefully, aggressively pantomiming a Guardsman throwing aside the reporter and shouting "get out of here," adding, "they threw him aside like he was a little bag of popcorn."
Trump said "you don't want to do that," but described such instances as "actually a beautiful sight" because of the "crap we've all had to take for so long," mocking reporters for using the term "peaceful protest" to describe protests featuring looting and property damage.
Trump also mocked MSNBC host Ali Velshi " a common target of his aspersions " for getting hit in the knee with a rubber bullet while covering a protest, incorrectly claiming he "got hit in the knee with tear gas and he went down," and mockingly shouting "I got hit! I got hit!"
...
@#11
Pokin Around: I don't expect answer, but: Why does this Walmart keep condoms locked up? (2020)
www.news-leader.com
... I'm going to call this a "Pokin Around" column not because my name is "Pokin" and the subject matter is condoms. I would never stoop so low.
Instead, I'm going to call it "Pokin Around" because I don't want to label it an "Answer Man." I doubt I'm going to get an answer.
At least not in this decade.
A reader, who will remain unnamed, told me he recently went condom-shopping and for the first time did so at the Walmart Supercenter at 2021 E. Independence St. in Springfield.
He was stunned by the store's condom protocol, if there is such a thing.
He found what he was looking for, but it was in a locked display. He had never seen such security, such protection.
To make his purchase, he had to flag down a store employee to open the display. He found this rather awkward.
And then, he was told he was not allowed to carry the condoms with him as he continued his shopping " he had to immediately pay for them at the pharmacy or drop them off there and pay when he was ready to check out.
This seemed very odd to him.
It seems odd to me. ...
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