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Post by Julia, wrought iron-y on Jul 9, 2011 13:36:34 GMT -5
So, call me a elitist liberal, but can I tell you how damn sick I am of stupid? I was on weather.com, just to see if we might get any rain in the near future (that would be no, unfortunately, and made the mistake of letting my eyes drift over to the comments section. I mean, it's not you tube, it's not ain't it cool news, and of course, there were a HUGE amount of comments saying "god will fix global warming" "humans don't have anything to do with climate change," "it doesn't matter if the world's ending if you're 'saved,'" and a lot of sniping at "liberals" promoting the "climate change myth." On the freakin' WEATHER CHANNEL website!!! Is there not one safe place? (Except here, of course.) I'm not saying that every culture doesn't have its fringe element, its conspiracy theorists, and that's not a bad thing. If nothing else, it's a pressure valve, and, at best, it can serve as a way to draw attention to underhanded policies/behavior. Part of why conspiracy theories thrive, in my opinion, is because people believe (not wrongly) that those in power are not being forthcoming, or telling the whole truth. But what seems to be happening is that people are creating their own separate realities, discounting facts, and enforcing their beliefs on others, sometimes with terrible consequences. And to have people in the public eye endorsing such beliefs (ie, that climate change is a myth)...well, you don't need some all powerful deity to destroy the earth, we'll just do it ourselves. And when the ice caps melt and the whole world is submerged in water, before I drown I will swim over to Glenn Beck and anyone else promoting junk science and bullshit and kick their ass before I go. Speaking of destroying the earth... In light of the red comment above, isn't it kinda scary how we have heard nothing much lately about the Fukushima disaster? Not to mention the nuclear plants on alert near Omaha. One is completely surrounded by water from the Missouri River, which is still rising from recent rains in the Dakotas. enenews.com/Are some things just to scary to contemplate? Even though I have NPR on almost all day, and read the paper, I heard nothing about the Yellowstone River oilspill until Rachel Maddow's show on the 5th: not that it wasn't mentioned, but that's all it was, mentioned, in such a way that it sounded very much no big deal. I suppose that after the horror in the Gulf last summer it's easy to minimiize a spill that doesn't include any immediate numbers in the seven and eight place order of magnitude, but: a river in flood and millions of acres of range and cropland contaminated with crude oil is way not nothing.
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Post by Spaced Out Looney on Jul 9, 2011 14:10:03 GMT -5
Speaking of destroying the earth... In light of the red comment above, isn't it kinda scary how we have heard nothing much lately about the Fukushima disaster? Not to mention the nuclear plants on alert near Omaha. One is completely surrounded by water from the Missouri River, which is still rising from recent rains in the Dakotas. enenews.com/Are some things just to scary to contemplate? Even though I have NPR on almost all day, and read the paper, I heard nothing about the Yellowstone River oilspill until Rachel Maddow's show on the 5th: not that it wasn't mentioned, but that's all it was, mentioned, in such a way that it sounded very much no big deal. I suppose that after the horror in the Gulf last summer it's easy to minimiize a spill that doesn't include any immediate numbers in the seven and eight place order of magnitude, but: a river in flood and millions of acres of range and cropland contaminated with crude oil is way not nothing. I've been trying to catch up current events, now that I'm post boards, but I'm finding it really difficult. I'm tired and it's supposed to be my vacation month. I'm getting the feeling that the reason why there's so much focus in the media on inconsequential drivel is because what's really going on is too much for most people to handle. And that things aren't even worse than they are is because most people think that things are generally OK.
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Post by Karen on Jul 12, 2011 13:04:22 GMT -5
Dang it. In other words. The earth is doomed, unless we can get past this transition period. Go us! Of course, I am taking the most simplistic message of the movie and distilling it to 'let's buckle down and do this'.....but some would say I'm a dreamer.... Karen -- Is that really a 3 hour movie? Can you summarize? Sue, To answer your question, I was going to post a link: www.imdb.com/title/tt1166827/plotsummaryBut after reading the content of the summary on the IMDB link, I wondered if they actually watched the movie at all, because I didn't see an anti-Christianity tone to the movie. I wonder who wrote the summary. Anyway, the movie spins out some hard facts - things we already know. That there are the haves and the have nots, and that if we don't do something quickly, things will devolve into badness. But there is hope there that if we take all the knowledge and technology at our disposal and apply that to solving the world's problems, that it can be done. Mainly, we need to quit trading money that has no value, and focus on hard good trading, not money trading;i.e., stock market, because that isn't a 'real' way to make money and it is ruining the world economy. They recommend you watch it 10 times to really get the full gist of what they are saying, and I will rewatch to see if it actually does what this summary says it does: Extremely controversial documentary split into three parts, first producing information discrediting religion, particularly Christainity through showing the similarities of major religious figures.I don't know how I missed that, unless it wasn't Part 1 that I watched. This is similar to what I took away from watching the movie: Yahoo Users SummaryThe Zeitgeist Movement (TZM) is people around the world supporting real change, with supporters numbering more than half a million and growing.
Real change is not made with elections and changing country leaders.
Real change is not adding more laws, implementing more restrictions, and giving up personal rights and freedoms.
Real change is not "going green" by bringing your own shopping bag to the grocery store.
What is real change? First, we have to start by looking at what is important: We have one planet with limited resources that must be carefully managed in a sustainable manner to be available for all future generations.
Is money important? Can you breath money or eat money or by sheltered by money? No, money just facilitates exchange so you can obtain necessities.
What if we could make available all the necessities of life without money? What if we could do it for everyone on the planet in a sustainable manner?
Luckily for us, we can. We have the understanding and advanced technology to do just that.
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Post by Karen on Jul 12, 2011 13:10:28 GMT -5
Speaking of destroying the earth... In light of the red comment above, isn't it kinda scary how we have heard nothing much lately about the Fukushima disaster? Not to mention the nuclear plants on alert near Omaha. One is completely surrounded by water from the Missouri River, which is still rising from recent rains in the Dakotas. enenews.com/Are some things just to scary to contemplate? Even though I have NPR on almost all day, and read the paper, I heard nothing about the Yellowstone River oilspill until Rachel Maddow's show on the 5th: not that it wasn't mentioned, but that's all it was, mentioned, in such a way that it sounded very much no big deal. I suppose that after the horror in the Gulf last summer it's easy to minimiize a spill that doesn't include any immediate numbers in the seven and eight place order of magnitude, but: a river in flood and millions of acres of range and cropland contaminated with crude oil is way not nothing. When you have much of the media controlled by big oil interests, it is not going to spill the beans, so to speak.
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Post by SpringSummers on Jul 18, 2011 22:44:40 GMT -5
Got a bit of flack from people on taking the girls to see Harry Potter!
I guess it is the same sort of stuff that people used to say about Buffy - do people really, really, really not understand the concept of fiction and metaphor?
OK - well, just blowing off some steam. I totally ignored the comments.
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Post by Karen on Jul 21, 2011 9:46:42 GMT -5
Got a bit of flack from people on taking the girls to see Harry Potter! I guess it is the same sort of stuff that people used to say about Buffy - do people really, really, really not understand the concept of fiction and metaphor? OK - well, just blowing off some steam. I totally ignored the comments. Good for you for ignoring the ignorant.
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Post by Sue on Jul 21, 2011 20:06:41 GMT -5
Got a bit of flack from people on taking the girls to see Harry Potter! I guess it is the same sort of stuff that people used to say about Buffy - do people really, really, really not understand the concept of fiction and metaphor? OK - well, just blowing off some steam. I totally ignored the comments. Is that still going on? What people, people at work? (nosy, that's me)
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Post by SpringSummers on Jul 21, 2011 22:15:46 GMT -5
Got a bit of flack from people on taking the girls to see Harry Potter! I guess it is the same sort of stuff that people used to say about Buffy - do people really, really, really not understand the concept of fiction and metaphor? OK - well, just blowing off some steam. I totally ignored the comments. Is that still going on? What people, people at work? (nosy, that's me) When I told my born-again sis that I was taking the girls to see HP, she warned me in grave tones that it was about "sorcery!", and when the girls' social worker said she wanted to take them to a movie next week and wondered what was playing at the (one and only) local theatre, I told her what was playing, saying "but they've already seen the HP movie, I took them this past weekend." She said, "Good. I do NOT like Harry Potter!" Her tone gave away that her objection was the same sort of "religious" objection. . . and it really, really, really mystifies me. This same sis loves Bond movies and Terminator movies. It is bewildering, but I don't discuss it with her, try to reason with her, or try to get her to see the inconsistencies in her thinking, etc. I mean - if someone doesn't use reason to make a determination, how can reason work to change that determination? It can't. And she also knows full well that her comments will do no good whatsoever, since I always ignore them. So not only does her reasoning mystify me, but her motivation for continuing to make these sorts of comments mystifies me as well. She's not making these comments to save me from myself, because she knows from very, very long experience that the comments do not work, and I ignore them without fail. So she's making them to . . . to . . . eh. I have no idea. I think she tells herself she's doing it to try to "save" me and my poor young victims, but I don't buy it. She's way smarter than that. She noticed a long time ago that her comments never, ever work to effect change. I wonder what it does for her? What motivates a person, to do the same thing, over and over and over and over, when it never works to acheive the supposed goal? It can only be that the true goal is not the supposed goal. Some goal IS being acheived . . . maybe something internal? It's mystifying.
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Post by Sue on Jul 24, 2011 12:18:18 GMT -5
The BEST 3 sentences I've read in ages, from an editorial in the NYT (link below) titled: "Make Way for the Radical Center" "DID I mention that I’ve signed a pledge — just like those Republican congressmen who have signed written promises to different political enforcers not to raise taxes or permit same-sex marriage? My pledge is to never vote for anyone stupid enough to sign a pledge — thereby abdicating their governing responsibilities in a period of incredibly rapid change and financial stress. Sorry, I’ve signed it. Nothing more I can do". www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/opinion/sunday/24friedman.html?_r=1(not that long) The rest of the article I'll reserve judgement on, although it will be interesting to watch. This is the kind of thing I could see Colbert/Stewart getting behind. I'm very curious to see what Colbert is going to do with the money raised by his SuperPac.
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Post by Karen on Jul 25, 2011 10:30:32 GMT -5
Is that still going on? What people, people at work? (nosy, that's me) When I told my born-again sis that I was taking the girls to see HP, she warned me in grave tones that it was about "sorcery!", and when the girls' social worker said she wanted to take them to a movie next week and wondered what was playing at the (one and only) local theatre, I told her what was playing, saying "but they've already seen the HP movie, I took them this past weekend." She said, "Good. I do NOT like Harry Potter!" Her tone gave away that her objection was the same sort of "religious" objection. . . and it really, really, really mystifies me. This same sis loves Bond movies and Terminator movies. It is bewildering, but I don't discuss it with her, try to reason with her, or try to get her to see the inconsistencies in her thinking, etc. I mean - if someone doesn't use reason to make a determination, how can reason work to change that determination? It can't. And she also knows full well that her comments will do no good whatsoever, since I always ignore them. So not only does her reasoning mystify me, but her motivation for continuing to make these sorts of comments mystifies me as well. She's not making these comments to save me from myself, because she knows from very, very long experience that the comments do not work, and I ignore them without fail. So she's making them to . . . to . . . eh. I have no idea. I think she tells herself she's doing it to try to "save" me and my poor young victims, but I don't buy it. She's way smarter than that. She noticed a long time ago that her comments never, ever work to effect change. I wonder what it does for her? What motivates a person, to do the same thing, over and over and over and over, when it never works to acheive the supposed goal? It can only be that the true goal is not the supposed goal. Some goal IS being acheived . . . maybe something internal? It's mystifying. I suspect something internal. It most likely has nothing to do with you at all or even your beliefs. She must really believe deep in her heart that watching movies that show wizardry in a positive light are harmful. Similar to how I feel about natural healing tips that I sometimes push on you all. I know many people think diet and herbal cures are malarky, but that still doesn't stop me from giving advice, because I believe so strongly in it. So, nod and smile and know that she is thinking the best for you, because she probably is, and even if she isn't, she must feel better for speaking her peace. Glad to hear that things are working out well with the girls so far. Vince and you were in my thoughts this weekend. Lots of introspection this weekend - my 40th high school class reunion.
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Post by Karen on Jul 25, 2011 13:22:55 GMT -5
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Post by Julia, wrought iron-y on Jul 25, 2011 19:34:27 GMT -5
Several years ago almost exactly the same thing happened about two miles from me: a woman who had been working all day and then picked up her kids from daycare and stayed for a Christmas party, so she's been awake and working for fourteen hours, four of them on the bus, walked across Martin Way to her apartment at night in the rain in November rather than walking an extra 2/3 of a mile to the nearest protected crosswalk. All three of them- her and both preshcool aged kids- were hit, and one child died. There's a street-light, a covered bus stop, and a walk light there now. And the 62 bus schedules are fixed so that she could have gone to the next major intersection, crossed the street at a long walk light, and caught a bus to take her to a stop on her side of the street in another ten minutes instead of twenty-five riding the bus to the end of the route and back. I think that's the right way of dealing with it. Nobody who hasn't tried to cope with working and raising small children while dependant on public transportation belonged on that jury.
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Post by Julia, wrought iron-y on Jul 25, 2011 20:49:31 GMT -5
John Boehner has no sense of shame, does he?
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Post by SpringSummers on Jul 25, 2011 22:22:52 GMT -5
When I told my born-again sis that I was taking the girls to see HP, she warned me in grave tones that it was about "sorcery!", and when the girls' social worker said she wanted to take them to a movie next week and wondered what was playing at the (one and only) local theatre, I told her what was playing, saying "but they've already seen the HP movie, I took them this past weekend." She said, "Good. I do NOT like Harry Potter!" Her tone gave away that her objection was the same sort of "religious" objection. . . and it really, really, really mystifies me. This same sis loves Bond movies and Terminator movies. It is bewildering, but I don't discuss it with her, try to reason with her, or try to get her to see the inconsistencies in her thinking, etc. I mean - if someone doesn't use reason to make a determination, how can reason work to change that determination? It can't. And she also knows full well that her comments will do no good whatsoever, since I always ignore them. So not only does her reasoning mystify me, but her motivation for continuing to make these sorts of comments mystifies me as well. She's not making these comments to save me from myself, because she knows from very, very long experience that the comments do not work, and I ignore them without fail. So she's making them to . . . to . . . eh. I have no idea. I think she tells herself she's doing it to try to "save" me and my poor young victims, but I don't buy it. She's way smarter than that. She noticed a long time ago that her comments never, ever work to effect change. I wonder what it does for her? What motivates a person, to do the same thing, over and over and over and over, when it never works to acheive the supposed goal? It can only be that the true goal is not the supposed goal. Some goal IS being acheived . . . maybe something internal? It's mystifying. I suspect something internal. It most likely has nothing to do with you at all or even your beliefs. She must really believe deep in her heart that watching movies that show wizardry in a positive light are harmful. Similar to how I feel about natural healing tips that I sometimes push on you all. I know many people think diet and herbal cures are malarky, but that still doesn't stop me from giving advice, because I believe so strongly in it. But it is one thing to post some advice on a board. You really don't know who might read it and possibly benefit, or if the person you directed it to took your advice, or what. But would you continue to give this advice to someone in your life that you knew never, ever, took it, and in fact, took an opposite route . . . each and every time? If you thought drinking ice tea was causing a friend sinus problems (just coming up with a wild example off the top of my head), and each time she mentioned that she made or drank iced tea, you told her "don't drink iced tea, it is the cause of your sinus problems," but she continued to drink it, and even claimed she had no sinus problems . . . would you continue to say this to her, every time she mentioned iced tea or had a glass? Not that I have any better explanation than what you suggest, here. I do think it is about some sort of . . . internal reward she feels from this. I mean, it MUST be about what she gets out of it, since she can easily see that I never, ever, over years of time, get anything out of it. Thanks for the Vince-thoughts. It feels like yesterday still, so often. 40th! Amazing. You truly look younger than your age, though. We really need another S-fest.
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Post by Karen on Jul 26, 2011 8:00:24 GMT -5
I suspect something internal. It most likely has nothing to do with you at all or even your beliefs. She must really believe deep in her heart that watching movies that show wizardry in a positive light are harmful. Similar to how I feel about natural healing tips that I sometimes push on you all. I know many people think diet and herbal cures are malarky, but that still doesn't stop me from giving advice, because I believe so strongly in it. But it is one thing to post some advice on a board. You really don't know who might read it and possibly benefit, or if the person you directed it to took your advice, or what. But would you continue to give this advice to someone in your life that you knew never, ever, took it, and in fact, took an opposite route . . . each and every time? If you thought drinking ice tea was causing a friend sinus problems (just coming up with a wild example off the top of my head), and each time she mentioned that she made or drank iced tea, you told her "don't drink iced tea, it is the cause of your sinus problems," but she continued to drink it, and even claimed she had no sinus problems . . . would you continue to say this to her, every time she mentioned iced tea or had a glass?Not that I have any better explanation than what you suggest, here. I do think it is about some sort of . . . internal reward she feels from this. I mean, it MUST be about what she gets out of it, since she can easily see that I never, ever, over years of time, get anything out of it. Thanks for the Vince-thoughts. It feels like yesterday still, so often. 40th! Amazing. You truly look younger than your age, though.We really need another S-fest. Aw, you are sweet to say so. Thank the wonders of good genes and makeup! We really do need another S-fest! I have been kicking around an idea for a virtual S-fest. Nothing heavy. Just picking a date where we could all watch OMWF at the same time, post online our thoughts and reminiscences, and maybe those of us with webcams could hook them up and we could watch and sing along and have a few laughs. Could be fun! To answer your question - I wouldn't keep giving the same advice to someone who obviously doesn't want to take it, unless it was one of my kids. LOL! "Floss, boys!" Maybe it's because she's your sister she feels you should 'mind' her! Or it's just become a bad habit with her.
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