The Oldiesfreak Deluge of Absurdity, Ignorance, and Bad Posts III

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I've already lost 6 lbs.

Hooray for the Sloppy Joe/Mexican Food/Ice Cream diet!

I'll admit, the diet hasn't been what you would consider a "weight-loss" diet, and by no means can it last too much longer, but 6 pounds is 6 pounds.

Do you think you really lost 6 lbs. by eating that?

I lost 6 pounds somehow and I know it wasn't by exercising.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Those types can self-deport to California and take their problems with them.

And therein lies the problem of Federalism. That is no way to run a railroad. We are one nation, and states generating externalities and distortions, and handing out bribes to keep industries and so forth in a race to the bottom in more ways than one, creates economic distortions, and wastes money, by the rail car full.

Incidentally, externalities, distortions, and bribes are commonplace in the Washington DC morass, as unscrupulous individuals dispatch lobbyists to leech money. It is no coincidence that Washington DC borders many of the wealthiest counties in the United States as they serve as breeding grounds for parasites.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I have decided that I want to be in Fort Worth by Saturday, June 7, 2014 which is 8 days after I get my certificate.  Any time between Saturday, May 31 and Saturday, June 7, 2014.  So, to attempt to accomplish that feat, I am going to start looking and applying for jobs in Fort Worth on Monday, April 14, 2014.  Between now and then, I will make a trip down there every 7 weeks to scope things out.  I'll go down early on a Saturday morning about 0500, spend all day down there, and come back late Saturday evening about 2100.  I will get a hotel for a night in October and in March during my fall and spring breaks.  My first trip down there will be July 13.  After that, I'll go August 31, October 18-20, December 7, January 25, March 14-16, May 3.  Plus, if and when I have interviews down there, I will go down there.  That will be 6 trips before I start applying.  The trips in August and October will be primarily to spot the locations of apartment.  The trips will be for the purpose of getting used to Fort Worth traffic, finding and driving to different businesses from different apartments that I find in the previous trips such as grocery stores, shopping centers, restaurants, banks, post offices, churches, as well as exploring the city streets and highways.  I'll be doing quite a bit of driving, and I'll be using quite a bit of gas, but its an effort to hit the ground running and already know where stuff is at when I move down there next June.

The overnight stays in October and March will be to do more in depth exploring.  The trip in March will be to actually talk to some apartment managers and try to take a tour and get some ideas.  Also both in October and March, I want to go to church down there on the Sunday morning that I come home and get an idea of what church I may want to get involved in and get plugged into.

They won't be aimless trips like the one I had to Alva last week.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Ben aims for more Moderate Hero points.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I see a lot of people here clamming that the Northeast and the Midwest could be competitive in the future because the Democratic Party is performing poorly among whites.

While I agree that the Midwest would be more competitive in the future, I disagree that this is a case in the Northeast.

That the Democratic Party is losing the white vote is out of its control. The Democratic Party is strong in the Midwest because of unionized labor. Unions have been experiencing a deep decline especially in the Midwest and that mean that the strength of the Democratic Party in that region will recede.

The Democratic Party is a strong in the Northeast because the Northeast is very socially liberal. When the Republican Party embraced cultural conservatism, it alienated a lot of northeasterners and bring it to the Democratic fold.

As a result, while the Midwest will likely become more Republican, the Northeast will be unlikely to change significantly.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Well yes. Which is quite ignorant of the fact that union voters make up a minority of our Democrats and that the unions here are not primarily in declining industries. " The Democratic Party is strong in the Midwest because of unionized labor." is a such an oversimplified statement it's quite silly.

And the fact that there are far more minorities amongst Illinois Democrats than white union members and that unions are obviously not why the Democrats do far better in the Chicago suburbs now than 20-30 years ago.

And the fact that Iowa is already a right to "work" state and that unions are not a big factor there nor a reason for its relative Democraticness.

And the fact that as union members retire and die off the replacement voters are a from a voting bloc that is more Democratic than than they are (18-29 white voters in the Midwest were stronger for Obama both times than the 60/40 that union members voted.)

And other things about that map but not about the Midwest.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

B, thanks to the IPU pressure the moderation has improved.

People actually take this IPU thing seriously and it's not just a running gag? WTF?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I think we are all overlooking one very important aspect of this. If the Millennial Generation is considered to be those born in the 20 year age range of 1980-2000 or even a longer age range of say 1980-2010 or so, there can still be drastic differences in their upbringing and ideas on the issues.

For example, I am a Millennial. I was born in 1988. My very first memories of life begin in 1990/1991. I remember my parents enjoyed watching The Cosby Show, Empty Nest, Cheers, Night Court and L.A. Law. By the time I was in grade school, it was Seinfeld, Friends, Frasier and E.R. that seemed to dominate TV in my home. I remember my first trip to the movies after Thanksgiving dinner in 1992 to go see "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York". 

I remember historic events unfolding, from the trial of O.J. Simpson to Oklahoma City, TWA Flight 800 (which bombarded more news in the late Summer and Fall of 1996 than even did the Clinton/Dole election), Monica Lewinsky, Elian Gonzales (which dominated the news for much of early 2000), Bush v. Gore and then by the time I was in Jr. High and becoming a teenager, 9/11/01.

As far as music goes, I remember A LOT of Phil Collins, Paula Abdul and Whitney Houston music which by the time I reached my preteen years had disappeared in favor of Backstreet Boys, N'Sync and Britney Spears. During my childhood, Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, Bryan Adams, John Mellencamp, Tom Petty and others that had blared from my parent's cassette tapes were having what was (atleast up to 2013) there last significant mainstream billboard hits.

The term "social media" was not nearly heard as much until I was already an adult. Indeed, when YouTube came about, I was already 17 years old. We didn't get a home computer until December 2000. I was in 4th grade when my school got computers in every classroom. I was a teenager outgrowing video games when they released Playstation 2. Indeed, Playstation and Nintendo 64 were the last video game consoles I ever had.

Compare all this with others close to my age in the Millennial generation. If they are 18 years old, born in 1995, and begin to remember life at the same time that I did (two-three years after birth), then their first memories would be from 1997 or 1998. HUGE DIFFERENCE. That means they have no recollection of O.J. Simpson or Jon Benet Ramsey. They never heard a new song by Rod Stewart or Tom Petty on the radio unless it was an oldies station. They shake their heads when you ask them about Cheers or L.A. Law or Empty Nest.

My "Nick at Nite" was The Bob Newhart Show, Bewitched, Happy Days, I Love Lucy, Welcome Back, Kotter and Taxi. By the time a "Millennial" who may be only six or seven years younger than me saw Nick at Nite, he would have seen The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Roseanne, Wings and The Cosby Show. HUGE DIFFERENCE.

While I was 14 years old at a rally for supporting the troops (and George W. Bush) in 2002, they were only seven year old kids, and by the time they were 14 years old, it would be 2009 and all they would know of George W. Bush would be that he just left office unpopular and that he couldn't open a door. HUGE DIFFERENCE.

Also, our parents raised us differently. My father was born in 1955. There are 18 year old kids in my same generation with parents born the same decade I was. It can cause a major difference in someone's upbringing.

Don't simplify the Millennial Generation. The gaps are huge.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

There are a lot of white on white crimes out there.

Yep.  Typocally its white collar theft perpetrated by rich owners against the poor, suffering worker.  I'm glad you see this, NJ-R person.

It's called the Federal Reserve.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

There are 13 items listed, but I've cut out all but my favorites...

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Once again, Dr. Cynic Jr. strikes.  Let's analyze:

1) No tapes of his conversations have been released, so he was being prudent

2) No terrorist has made it to the executive level

3) No bullet holes in his fat body

4) Uh, young muslims flew the planes into buildings.  Let's not forget that.

6) I'm sure some Al Qaeda chatter has been directed at getting the muslim hating Ailes

9) There's lots of lazy f[inks] that are no longer lazy thanks to this.  

10) It has to be true, why else would anyone hate this prince of the media?

Quit nitpicking, people.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

NY-15 of course, given how it votes like North Korea. Not too many thinking folk there.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

And in a recently bumped thread, proof that J. J. made as much sense 8 years ago as he does today:

Uh, your not being forced to be gay.

Here we see the neo-fascist loony left again.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Folks, I have just been in deep prayer and convicted by my God of not living up to my fatherly duties as the spiritual head of the household though we are 8,500 miles apart.  I have also been convicted of not being focused on God's Kingdom, rather trying to build Jeff's kingdom.  I need to spend more time with my God praying daily for my children.  I am also going to start tapering my use of the forum.  I'm going to try eventually break away from the forum entirely.  The Update will be the first to slow down. Then the rest of the forum will taper.

$70 a month = "spiritual head of the household" to Bushie. Although what it makes all the more amusing is that he's even admitted it's actually his grandmother's money, not his, so even by Bushie's comical definition of family he is merely the nephew to these kids.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Thatcher/Thatcher. Jesus is an ungroomed, long-haired, unelectable hobo.

The summary of Jesus is bad enough, but someone with the name Must Crush Capitalism saying that they would vote for Margaret Thatcher is quite...um....

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Most industries and sectors vote Republican. There are a lot of Democrats who stay at home and don't have to work due to large incomes or they're on welfare and food stamps. Working leads to conservatism. I've worked in grocery, retail, sales, fast food, construction, and office buildings. I have yet to find a liberal base of employees at any job I've ever had.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=175909.0

Just read the title.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

It's probably the classic "Hitler and the Nazis were socialists" talking point idiot right wingers and libertarians love to bring up.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

My whole problem with this case is trying to feel any sympathy for Treyvon Martin. Treyvon is the epidemy of everything most average Americans hate. "Pothead", "Thug", "Hood", "PULL UP YOUR PANTS!", "Violent temper", "Thief".

When dealing with people like that, regardless of their color, I have zero tolerance. Thus as far as I'm concerned, it was self-defense against a person who was the worst of America.

People always say I'm cold hearted, but I am not. If a woman is walking down the streets and attacked, I feel sympathy for her and want a harsh punishment for her attacker. If the woman was walking down the street to buy meth, well then she did it to herself and I feel no sympathy. See? I don't think that's too far out of the mainstream.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

San Diego has perfect weather and Duluth has absolutely horrible weather.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

http://www.freep.com/article/20130718/NEWS01/307180107/Detroit-prepares-file-bankruptcy-soon-Friday

The City of Detroit is in final preparations to file for federal bankruptcy as early as Friday morning, several sources told the Free Press today.





Congratulations to the unions on their victory.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=176745.0

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Rap is primarily listened to by dumb white suburban kids.

Technically that'd be fairly accurate for [insert music genre here], including and especially whatever dreck he currently subjects himself to.

No, there's very few people who listen to the same music as me who live in suburbs.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Hate to get involved in the awful "discussion", but ill point out that as rape is about power and control usually instead of sex, there is probably no link between revealing clothes and rape at all. Which makes the whole insinuations even more uncomfortable.

Might I also point out that a jogging outfit of shirts and a tank top is probably more revealing than any "slutty" dress, yet is not controversial.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Back to the original topic, now that I'm on my computer and have more time:

No one would argue that listing legitimate advice as to avoiding rape (don't go alone in dark alleys, don't get intoxicated or put yourself in a vulnerable situation) is blaming women that don't follow those who do get raped. But "Don't dress like a "slut" or you might be raped" is not that, since as noted it's about power exchange. "Don't go in creepy back alleys in shady areas after dark" is not bad advice, and no one would argue that a guy who gets assaulted and mugged in such an area deserved it or its his own fault, or even a woman for that matter. But if a woman is raped in such a situation, it doesn't matter if she was wearing a sweatshirt and jeans or a miniskirt. Neither is going to make a difference to such a rapist.

Of course no one would also argue that a woman who's raped in a back alley really enjoyed it or wanted it. But in the type of situations where most rapes occur, it becomes a frequent accusation, and this "advice" is just a way of shifting the blame onto the victim. It has its origins in old backwards thinking that all women are slutty and probably enjoy it anyway, and is the basis for why in so many Islamic countries the burden of proof is put on a rape victim to prove she didn't want to have sex and fought back to avoid prosecution. Even in countries where extramaritial sex isn't illegal, it can still be used as a source of "slut shaming" if that sort of thinking gets out, or ridiculous thinking like "OK he might've raped her and it is his fault, but if she didn't wear that outfit he probably wouldn't have been tempted" which once again is now what rapists seek.

And this also ties into why Todd Akin's comment was so messed up. It wasn't that it was factually innaccurate and scientifically garbage, while it was, even if that wasn't the case the implication was also there that it was only a "legitimate" rape if the woman was under physical duress and fought back, so if tricked or drugged and in other cases it's not truly rape. The old "Well she was asking for it". No defended in court would ever argue "well she was asking for it for walking in that alley so clearly it was consensual" but "she was asking for it otherwise she wouldn't have dressed that way" IS used. It doesn't always work of course, maybe not even a majority of the time when there is an obvious rape, but it's still used. It's not the same as "It's not OK to take your iPod, but you shouldn't have left it in that location", more like "Well if you left it there you clearly didn't want it anyway, so whoever took it didn't do anything wrong."

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I like it. We should have more bases here and close ones overseas if we're not using them.

In a thread about closing EMBASSIES.