Well, I certainly never knew how much American conservatives loved the British Monarchy until the last 24 hours. If you took a poll today, Prince Charles could probably win the damn 2024 nomination.
As for me, I'm more inclined to believe an outsider spilling the beans than the people who have built a wall around Prince Andrew, despite the fact he was caught red-handed participating in the most unforgivable aspects of Jeffery Epstein's world. Not in a "I knew this guy because we were rich and he was rich" way like Clinton and Trump, but being called out specifically by accusers as someone who was trafficked to.
The girls in the Netflix documentary are not just tossing every rich person to the wolves. They say that they certainly saw Trump and Clinton in various places, but are adamant neither of them did anything to them. But they call out Prince Andrew, Allen Dershowitz, and former NM Governor Bill Richardson by name.
Point being, if you're willing to protect a sexual predator, you're probably not gonna have any qualms about painting your new in-law as Lady Macbeth. And, as a side note, Piers Morgan has got to be one of the biggest shitheels on Earth. Not a wonder he lost the Larry King time-slot in record time.
The only 'conservative' radio personalities worse than Piers Morgan are Levin and, the worst douchebag of all, Michael Savage. Oh, I'm sorry DOCTOR Michael Savage...
So much for Republican support being eroded by the Capitol uprising. Also, looks like corporate money is losing its' relevance rapidly. Unfortunately for the Democratic Party, that doesn't look like it's having the effect that they thought it would... https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2B118K
So much for Republican support being eroded by the Capitol uprising. Also, looks like corporate money is losing its' relevance rapidly. Unfortunately for the Democratic Party, that doesn't look like it's having the effect that they thought it would... https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2B118K
I haven't seen recent polling on it, but the amount of self-identified Republicans who either outright support or don't have a real problem with what happened that day (and what success would have entailed) is........way too high for comfort. I think we've reached a point where a majority of GOP voters, if forced between sometimes losing to democrats in a democracy or holding permanent power in something less than a democracy, would choose the later without any real qualms whatsoever. Which basically means those people only think things like rules and a fair playing field should apply to other people, not them.
This is really starting to feel like playing YMCA basketball against someone who calls a foul on every shot they take, but throws the ball across the gym and threatens to hit the showers early if they get called for one on the other end. Eventually, someone like this destroys the entire activity.
So much for Republican support being eroded by the Capitol uprising. Also, looks like corporate money is losing its' relevance rapidly. Unfortunately for the Democratic Party, that doesn't look like it's having the effect that they thought it would... https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2B118K
I haven't seen recent polling on it, but the amount of self-identified Republicans who either outright support or don't have a real problem with what happened that day (and what success would have entailed) is........way too high for comfort. I think we've reached a point where a majority of GOP voters, if forced between sometimes losing to democrats in a democracy or holding permanent power in something less than a democracy, would choose the later without any real qualms whatsoever. Which basically means those people only think things like rules and a fair playing field should apply to other people, not them.
This is really starting to feel like playing YMCA basketball against someone who calls a foul on every shot they take, but throws the ball across the gym and threatens to hit the showers early if they get called for one on the other end. Eventually, someone like this destroys the entire activity.
White Boomers aren't going down without a fight. They still have the numbers, and especially the wealth, to get their way.
So much for Republican support being eroded by the Capitol uprising. Also, looks like corporate money is losing its' relevance rapidly. Unfortunately for the Democratic Party, that doesn't look like it's having the effect that they thought it would... https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2B118K
I haven't seen recent polling on it, but the amount of self-identified Republicans who either outright support or don't have a real problem with what happened that day (and what success would have entailed) is........way too high for comfort. I think we've reached a point where a majority of GOP voters, if forced between sometimes losing to democrats in a democracy or holding permanent power in something less than a democracy, would choose the later without any real qualms whatsoever. Which basically means those people only think things like rules and a fair playing field should apply to other people, not them.
This is really starting to feel like playing YMCA basketball against someone who calls a foul on every shot they take, but throws the ball across the gym and threatens to hit the showers early if they get called for one on the other end. Eventually, someone like this destroys the entire activity.
It's not very shocking that the average Republican would choose political autonomy over second class citizenship in a fake democracy. Seems a very human thing to do.
So much for Republican support being eroded by the Capitol uprising. Also, looks like corporate money is losing its' relevance rapidly. Unfortunately for the Democratic Party, that doesn't look like it's having the effect that they thought it would... https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2B118K
I haven't seen recent polling on it, but the amount of self-identified Republicans who either outright support or don't have a real problem with what happened that day (and what success would have entailed) is........way too high for comfort. I think we've reached a point where a majority of GOP voters, if forced between sometimes losing to democrats in a democracy or holding permanent power in something less than a democracy, would choose the later without any real qualms whatsoever. Which basically means those people only think things like rules and a fair playing field should apply to other people, not them.
This is really starting to feel like playing YMCA basketball against someone who calls a foul on every shot they take, but throws the ball across the gym and threatens to hit the showers early if they get called for one on the other end. Eventually, someone like this destroys the entire activity.
It's not very shocking that the average Republican would choose political autonomy over second class citizenship in a fake democracy. Seems a very human thing to do.
Storming the capitol was not an attempt at "autonomy". It was an attempt to control the government regardless of what the votes were.
So much for Republican support being eroded by the Capitol uprising. Also, looks like corporate money is losing its' relevance rapidly. Unfortunately for the Democratic Party, that doesn't look like it's having the effect that they thought it would... https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2B118K
I haven't seen recent polling on it, but the amount of self-identified Republicans who either outright support or don't have a real problem with what happened that day (and what success would have entailed) is........way too high for comfort. I think we've reached a point where a majority of GOP voters, if forced between sometimes losing to democrats in a democracy or holding permanent power in something less than a democracy, would choose the later without any real qualms whatsoever. Which basically means those people only think things like rules and a fair playing field should apply to other people, not them.
This is really starting to feel like playing YMCA basketball against someone who calls a foul on every shot they take, but throws the ball across the gym and threatens to hit the showers early if they get called for one on the other end. Eventually, someone like this destroys the entire activity.
It's not very shocking that the average Republican would choose political autonomy over second class citizenship in a fake democracy. Seems a very human thing to do.
Yah!
Second class citizenship should only be applied to minorities like it’s always been and Californians because everyone hates them for not raking their forests.
In all seriousness, losing an election or not having your ideas implemented into laws and policies, does not make a person a second class citizen. A person still gets all the benefits that the government is rolling out regardless of political affiliation. For example, the stimulus cheques are going to everyone, not just those living in urban blue areas.
So much for Republican support being eroded by the Capitol uprising. Also, looks like corporate money is losing its' relevance rapidly. Unfortunately for the Democratic Party, that doesn't look like it's having the effect that they thought it would... https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2B118K
I haven't seen recent polling on it, but the amount of self-identified Republicans who either outright support or don't have a real problem with what happened that day (and what success would have entailed) is........way too high for comfort. I think we've reached a point where a majority of GOP voters, if forced between sometimes losing to democrats in a democracy or holding permanent power in something less than a democracy, would choose the later without any real qualms whatsoever. Which basically means those people only think things like rules and a fair playing field should apply to other people, not them.
This is really starting to feel like playing YMCA basketball against someone who calls a foul on every shot they take, but throws the ball across the gym and threatens to hit the showers early if they get called for one on the other end. Eventually, someone like this destroys the entire activity.
It's not very shocking that the average Republican would choose political autonomy over second class citizenship in a fake democracy. Seems a very human thing to do.
Yah!
Second class citizenship should only be applied to minorities like it’s always been and Californians because everyone hates them for not raking their forests.
In all seriousness, losing an election or not having your ideas implemented into laws and policies, does not make a person a second class citizen. A person still gets all the benefits that the government is rolling out regardless of political affiliation. For example, the stimulus cheques are going to everyone, not just those living in urban blue areas.
This. It's pretty clear that those claiming to be "second class citizens" have no actual idea of what being a second class citizen entails. They misunderstand that social pressure to say "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas" is in no way an abridgement of their rights or values.
Rather, it is the systematic suppression of fundamentally enshrined rights of minorities that have made those folks second class citizens since the founding of the nation. This is ironic, because it is those same conservatives that have pushed hardest for policy keeping minorities as second class citizens that are now complaining of being that themselves.
Ironic, but not surprising. Aggrievement politics, and all.
So much for Republican support being eroded by the Capitol uprising. Also, looks like corporate money is losing its' relevance rapidly. Unfortunately for the Democratic Party, that doesn't look like it's having the effect that they thought it would... https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2B118K
I haven't seen recent polling on it, but the amount of self-identified Republicans who either outright support or don't have a real problem with what happened that day (and what success would have entailed) is........way too high for comfort. I think we've reached a point where a majority of GOP voters, if forced between sometimes losing to democrats in a democracy or holding permanent power in something less than a democracy, would choose the later without any real qualms whatsoever. Which basically means those people only think things like rules and a fair playing field should apply to other people, not them.
This is really starting to feel like playing YMCA basketball against someone who calls a foul on every shot they take, but throws the ball across the gym and threatens to hit the showers early if they get called for one on the other end. Eventually, someone like this destroys the entire activity.
It's not very shocking that the average Republican would choose political autonomy over second class citizenship in a fake democracy. Seems a very human thing to do.
Yah!
Second class citizenship should only be applied to minorities like it’s always been and Californians because everyone hates them for not raking their forests.
In all seriousness, losing an election or not having your ideas implemented into laws and policies, does not make a person a second class citizen. A person still gets all the benefits that the government is rolling out regardless of political affiliation. For example, the stimulus cheques are going to everyone, not just those living in urban blue areas.
This. It's pretty clear that those claiming to be "second class citizens" have no actual idea of what being a second class citizen entails. They misunderstand that social pressure to say "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas" is in no way an abridgement of their rights or values.
Rather, it is the systematic suppression of fundamentally enshrined rights of minorities that have made those folks second class citizens since the founding of the nation. This is ironic, because it is those same conservatives that have pushed hardest for policy keeping minorities as second class citizens that are now complaining of being that themselves.
Ironic, but not surprising. Aggrievement politics, and all.
There isn't even any "social pressure" to say Happy Holidays. The reason Happy Holidays exists as a phrase is that between roughly November 20 and January 1, there are four major holidays that encompass a secular and religious element (of the two major religions in this country) within a 40 day window, and people have other shit to do with their lives rather than a.) list them all off in every conversation and b.) try to figure out which person they are interacting with observes which (if any) of those dates. Hence "Happy Holidays", to save everyone's time and sanity. Sometime around 2004, certain people decided they could sell it as an all-out assault on the Christian faith in the public square. It's the great-great grandfather of the shit we are seeing recently.
If anyone is alive and not in a coma during the months of November and December in the United States, and isn't secluded in a basement with no television, the idea that Christmas has been erased from the culture is perhaps one of the most absurd things that has been sold that people actually believe in. If anything has eroded the religious aspects of the holiday, it is capitalism itself which has done so, and it is now far more a secular holiday than a religious one. Anyone who is sitting around pretending Jesus is more central to Christmas than Santa Claus and Rudolph is living in a true fantasy land. Don't kid yourself. Dragging your kids to mass on Christmas Eve for an hour isn't teaching them any different. They're sitting in the pew dreaming about ripping open gifts the next morning.
First off, as an aside, I am always just incredibly curious who these 5-10% of Democrats are when asked most questions who apparently don't believe in anything the party stands for, but that's not really the main issue here. I believe ONE Republican House member voted for this thing, and NO Republican Senators did so. It's a massive shot in the arm for the economy the moment the checks go out, it basically establishes a UBI for the next year if you have children, and it's supported by half of their OWN voters, not to mention 3/4ths of the country as a whole.
They would have voted for the EXACT same package if Donald Trump was President. Or at least in overwhelmingly large enough numbers to pass it. But the DIFFERENCE between the two parties is that, if Trump was still in office, Democrats would have voted for it too. And as close to no one on the Republican side of the aisle as humanly possibly did because Biden is now in the Oval Office. This is only happening (relative to Biden's victory) because Democrats won two Senate races by the skin of their teeth in Georgia. Otherwise, no one would be getting a damn thing.
In regards to the vaccine rollout, Biden has been underpromising and overdelivering in regards to the goals. And now (apparently) the directive is availability to ALL adults by May, with a goal of a (relative) start to return to normalcy by the end of the summer. You can chalk it up to luck and timing all you want, but it's also the result of coming in with a plan, not making wild claims, and (as the saying goes) chopping wood and carrying water. Biden is going to have more wind at his back by this fall than anyone in recent memory.
First off, as an aside, I am always just incredibly curious who these 5-10% of Democrats are when asked most questions who apparently don't believe in anything the party stands for, but that's not really the main issue here.
Just as an explanation for this, imo, it's a diverse, large country. Some lefty people may be salty about dropping the minimum wage hike from it, others may be misinformed about the amount of aid. Definitely seeing some lefty people under the mistaken apprehension that struggling individuals are only getting $1400 out of this.
First off, as an aside, I am always just incredibly curious who these 5-10% of Democrats are when asked most questions who apparently don't believe in anything the party stands for, but that's not really the main issue here.
Just as an explanation for this, imo, it's a diverse, large country. Some lefty people may be salty about dropping the minimum wage hike from it, others may be misinformed about the amount of aid. Definitely seeing some lefty people under the mistaken apprehension that struggling individuals are only getting $1400 out of this.
I thought of that too, but then I wondered why anyone who thinks that would identify as a "Democrat" to a pollster rather than saying they are non-affiliated but progressive.
First off, as an aside, I am always just incredibly curious who these 5-10% of Democrats are when asked most questions who apparently don't believe in anything the party stands for, but that's not really the main issue here.
Just as an explanation for this, imo, it's a diverse, large country. Some lefty people may be salty about dropping the minimum wage hike from it, others may be misinformed about the amount of aid. Definitely seeing some lefty people under the mistaken apprehension that struggling individuals are only getting $1400 out of this.
I thought of that too, but then I wondered why anyone who thinks that would identify as a "Democrat" to a pollster rather than saying they are non-affiliated but progressive.
It's also adjusted to the margin of error as well if the number is too high. Let's say 98% agree with it, but the poll you're using has a MOE of +/- 3.3% (which this poll did), since it's impossible to have a 101.3%, the number is dropped slightly so the highest MOE is below 100% as even 100% of any diverse population will not be agreeance on whatever question you are asking.
We need 15 more posts and then the politics thread will have reached 666 pages.
Yep, got nothing to say today.
It's amazing how I absolutely ALWAYS make note of seeing three sixes back to back to back, basically because of an Iron Maiden song I don't even really like.
It's amazing how I absolutely ALWAYS make note of seeing three sixes back to back to back, basically because of an Iron Maiden song I don't even really like.
Heavy metal and D&D are the devil's tools for corrupting souls. Now, speaking seriously, I still find it unbelievable that D&D caused a satanic panic during the 80's. I mean, with heavy metal, yeah, I can see why it could be accused of satanism. But D&D? Come on. (Well, to be perfectly fair, in the Monster Manual there is talk of demons like Demogorgon and Orcus)
"At various times in its history, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) has received negative publicity for alleged or perceived promotion of such practices as Satanism, witchcraft, suicide, pornography, and murder. Especially during the 1980s, certain religious groups accused the game of encouraging sorcery and the veneration of demons. Throughout the history of role-playing games, many of these criticisms have not been aimed specifically at D&D, but touch on the genre of fantasy role-playing games as a whole.
The concept of Dungeons & Dragons as Satanic was linked to the concept of Satanic ritual abuse, in that both presumed the existence of large, organized Satanic cults and societies. Sources such as the Dark Dungeons tract from Chick Publications portray D&D as a recruitment tool for these organizations."
The Satanic panic of the 1980s and early 90s remains just endlessly fascinating to me, and it would be hilarious if it hadn't legitimately destroyed many innocent lives (see the McMartin Preschool Trial and the West Memphis 3). Supposed "Satanism" was actually used as evidence in court against defendants.
I watched a short documentary on YouTube about the making of the first Baldur's Gate, and apparently one of the reasons everything in the game is so tilted toward a "good" playthrough is that TSR (who would soon be sold) was still experiencing post-traumatic stress over being associated with anything "evil". Bioware got the license right around the time everything got sold.
The Satanic panic of the 1980s and early 90s remains just endlessly fascinating to me, and it would be hilarious if it hadn't legitimately destroyed many innocent lives (see the McMartin Preschool Trial and the West Memphis 3). Supposed "Satanism" was actually used as evidence in court against defendants.
I watched a short documentary on YouTube about the making of the first Baldur's Gate, and apparently one of the reasons everything in the game is so tilted toward a "good" playthrough is that TSR (who would soon be sold) was still experiencing post-traumatic stress over being associated with anything "evil". Bioware got the license right around the time every got sold.
I might've mentioned this before, but I literally had a school friend who was not allowed to play the Warcraft games, but was allowed to play Starcraft. Growing up in a non-religious home, it was one of the most absurd things my childhood mind had ever encountered.
The Satanic panic of the 1980s and early 90s remains just endlessly fascinating to me, and it would be hilarious if it hadn't legitimately destroyed many innocent lives (see the McMartin Preschool Trial and the West Memphis 3). Supposed "Satanism" was actually used as evidence in court against defendants.
I watched a short documentary on YouTube about the making of the first Baldur's Gate, and apparently one of the reasons everything in the game is so tilted toward a "good" playthrough is that TSR (who would soon be sold) was still experiencing post-traumatic stress over being associated with anything "evil". Bioware got the license right around the time every got sold.
I might've mentioned this before, but I literally had a school friend who was not allowed to play the Warcraft games, but was allowed to play Starcraft. Growing up in a non-religious home, it was one of the most absurd things my childhood mind had ever encountered.
I was allowed to go to the theater and watch "Natural Born Killers" by my dad (at 11) but the idea I would ever be able to rent "Hellraiser" or "Night of the Demons" from the video store was off the table. I should honestly ask him about his reasoning behind this, but I am quite sure he wouldn't even remember.
Oh it was very real. My grandma burnt my original DM Guide, Players Handbook and Monster Manual. Made me watch which seemed excessive. I bought the Kiss - Double Platinum vinyl set twice she smashed them both times. Saying you are a girl and can’t be a boy anymore, in West Virginia, early 80s... They drug me to every church or revival in the Appalachia Mountains to have them pray to remove my sickness, my evil. Not to mention the shrinks and a lovely stint in a mental hospital to “cure” me. The world is different now but the scars are deep, and the self hatred never really goes away.
Oh it was very real. My grandma burnt my original DM Guide, Players Handbook and Monster Manual. Made me watch which seemed excessive. I bought the Kiss - Double Platinum vinyl set twice she smashed them both times. Saying you are a girl and can’t be a boy anymore, in West Virginia, early 80s... They drug me to every church or revival in the Appalachia Mountains to have them pray to remove my sickness, my evil. Not to mention the shrinks and a lovely stint in a mental hospital to “cure” me. The world is different now but the scars are deep, and the self hatred never really goes away.
What's odd about Double Platinum setting her off is that it's literally the only album they put out up to that point that didn't have their comic-book likenesses on the cover, it's just chrome. You'd almost think it would have been enough of a stealth move to get her to overlook it in your collection.
Oh it was very real. My grandma burnt my original DM Guide, Players Handbook and Monster Manual. Made me watch which seemed excessive. I bought the Kiss - Double Platinum vinyl set twice she smashed them both times. Saying you are a girl and can’t be a boy anymore, in West Virginia, early 80s... They drug me to every church or revival in the Appalachia Mountains to have them pray to remove my sickness, my evil. Not to mention the shrinks and a lovely stint in a mental hospital to “cure” me. The world is different now but the scars are deep, and the self hatred never really goes away.
What's odd about Double Platinum setting her off is that it's literally the only album they put out up to that point that didn't have their comic-book likenesses on the cover, it's just chrome. You'd almost think it would have been enough of a stealth move to get her to overlook it in your collection.
Right?! But nooooo... she had to monitor everything I own, maybe she listened to it. Never made sense to me, my criminal older brother steals cars, breaks windows, is a bully and does drugs, she never even looked at his stuff. There used to be a drug called rush, kinda like a whippet to the hundredth power, he did it at Church one time, back went straight, head shot up and his face turned beet red. Pastor goes, Brother ***, share with us! I laughed my ass off, come on! It was funny! I got in trouble, they never said anything to him even though, unlike the pastor, they knew exactly what he did. I had to run the nursery and look after the littles while the service was going on most of the time, they would not let him back there with me because they knew he would do drugs back there. They definitely had different standards for us. He had Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Heaven and Hell, Quiet Riot - Metal Health, Eddie Murphy - Delirious, Richard Prior - Live on Sunset Strip and many more, they never said a word to him. I never understood them or why we were treated so differently.
My mom is an immigrant and she was always called a witch when we were young. My dad was a rocker so he embraced the music. He also bought one German version of DnD, called "the eye of the master", loosely translated.
My family was on the receiving end of the shunning here and there, since we were the only coloured people in the village. But my mom worked as kindergarten teacher and the newer generation parents did not care much.
The village priest did. My parents had to marry twice. Once for the law but because my mother worked in Catholic school and she was an outsider (but Christian still), they wanted them to marry for church as well. That happened one year later and the school kids were the brides kids.
I think I mentioned this before, about 250 pages ago, but my dad burned my D&D stuff back in '83. Can't remember what he did with the lead figurines I had. I hope he didn't burn those too (it would explain a lot about how my brain works though)...
Unfortunately lead figurines melt not burn. I had to empty the burn barrel, crawl inside and scrape out the lead that clogged up two air holes on the bottom of the barrel on one side because all of the trash on that side was not completely burning. Grr!
Unfortunately lead figurines melt not burn. I had to empty the burn barrel, crawl inside and scrape out the lead that clogged up two air holes on the bottom of the barrel on one side because all of the trash on that side was not completely burning. Grr!
When it melts its just like mercury at that point. There would be vapors.
I think I mentioned this before, about 250 pages ago, but my dad burned my D&D stuff back in '83. Can't remember what he did with the lead figurines I had. I hope he didn't burn those too (it would explain a lot about how my brain works though)...
Ironically enough D&D and similar role playing games are often considered to have a great deal of potential for combating depression these days. There’s plenty of qualitative research done on the benefits of having positive & heroic alter-egos.
Comments
The only 'conservative' radio personalities worse than Piers Morgan are Levin and, the worst douchebag of all, Michael Savage. Oh, I'm sorry DOCTOR Michael Savage...
https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2B118K
I haven't seen recent polling on it, but the amount of self-identified Republicans who either outright support or don't have a real problem with what happened that day (and what success would have entailed) is........way too high for comfort. I think we've reached a point where a majority of GOP voters, if forced between sometimes losing to democrats in a democracy or holding permanent power in something less than a democracy, would choose the later without any real qualms whatsoever. Which basically means those people only think things like rules and a fair playing field should apply to other people, not them.
This is really starting to feel like playing YMCA basketball against someone who calls a foul on every shot they take, but throws the ball across the gym and threatens to hit the showers early if they get called for one on the other end. Eventually, someone like this destroys the entire activity.
White Boomers aren't going down without a fight. They still have the numbers, and especially the wealth, to get their way.
It's not very shocking that the average Republican would choose political autonomy over second class citizenship in a fake democracy. Seems a very human thing to do.
Storming the capitol was not an attempt at "autonomy". It was an attempt to control the government regardless of what the votes were.
Yah!
Second class citizenship should only be applied to minorities like it’s always been and Californians because everyone hates them for not raking their forests.
In all seriousness, losing an election or not having your ideas implemented into laws and policies, does not make a person a second class citizen. A person still gets all the benefits that the government is rolling out regardless of political affiliation. For example, the stimulus cheques are going to everyone, not just those living in urban blue areas.
This. It's pretty clear that those claiming to be "second class citizens" have no actual idea of what being a second class citizen entails. They misunderstand that social pressure to say "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas" is in no way an abridgement of their rights or values.
Rather, it is the systematic suppression of fundamentally enshrined rights of minorities that have made those folks second class citizens since the founding of the nation. This is ironic, because it is those same conservatives that have pushed hardest for policy keeping minorities as second class citizens that are now complaining of being that themselves.
Ironic, but not surprising. Aggrievement politics, and all.
There isn't even any "social pressure" to say Happy Holidays. The reason Happy Holidays exists as a phrase is that between roughly November 20 and January 1, there are four major holidays that encompass a secular and religious element (of the two major religions in this country) within a 40 day window, and people have other shit to do with their lives rather than a.) list them all off in every conversation and b.) try to figure out which person they are interacting with observes which (if any) of those dates. Hence "Happy Holidays", to save everyone's time and sanity. Sometime around 2004, certain people decided they could sell it as an all-out assault on the Christian faith in the public square. It's the great-great grandfather of the shit we are seeing recently.
If anyone is alive and not in a coma during the months of November and December in the United States, and isn't secluded in a basement with no television, the idea that Christmas has been erased from the culture is perhaps one of the most absurd things that has been sold that people actually believe in. If anything has eroded the religious aspects of the holiday, it is capitalism itself which has done so, and it is now far more a secular holiday than a religious one. Anyone who is sitting around pretending Jesus is more central to Christmas than Santa Claus and Rudolph is living in a true fantasy land. Don't kid yourself. Dragging your kids to mass on Christmas Eve for an hour isn't teaching them any different. They're sitting in the pew dreaming about ripping open gifts the next morning.
Approval of COVID-19 Relief Bill:
Everyone: 75%
Democrats: 94%
Independents: 77%
Republicans: 46%
First off, as an aside, I am always just incredibly curious who these 5-10% of Democrats are when asked most questions who apparently don't believe in anything the party stands for, but that's not really the main issue here. I believe ONE Republican House member voted for this thing, and NO Republican Senators did so. It's a massive shot in the arm for the economy the moment the checks go out, it basically establishes a UBI for the next year if you have children, and it's supported by half of their OWN voters, not to mention 3/4ths of the country as a whole.
They would have voted for the EXACT same package if Donald Trump was President. Or at least in overwhelmingly large enough numbers to pass it. But the DIFFERENCE between the two parties is that, if Trump was still in office, Democrats would have voted for it too. And as close to no one on the Republican side of the aisle as humanly possibly did because Biden is now in the Oval Office. This is only happening (relative to Biden's victory) because Democrats won two Senate races by the skin of their teeth in Georgia. Otherwise, no one would be getting a damn thing.
In regards to the vaccine rollout, Biden has been underpromising and overdelivering in regards to the goals. And now (apparently) the directive is availability to ALL adults by May, with a goal of a (relative) start to return to normalcy by the end of the summer. You can chalk it up to luck and timing all you want, but it's also the result of coming in with a plan, not making wild claims, and (as the saying goes) chopping wood and carrying water. Biden is going to have more wind at his back by this fall than anyone in recent memory.
Just as an explanation for this, imo, it's a diverse, large country. Some lefty people may be salty about dropping the minimum wage hike from it, others may be misinformed about the amount of aid. Definitely seeing some lefty people under the mistaken apprehension that struggling individuals are only getting $1400 out of this.
I thought of that too, but then I wondered why anyone who thinks that would identify as a "Democrat" to a pollster rather than saying they are non-affiliated but progressive.
It's also adjusted to the margin of error as well if the number is too high. Let's say 98% agree with it, but the poll you're using has a MOE of +/- 3.3% (which this poll did), since it's impossible to have a 101.3%, the number is dropped slightly so the highest MOE is below 100% as even 100% of any diverse population will not be agreeance on whatever question you are asking.
Yep, got nothing to say today.
It's amazing how I absolutely ALWAYS make note of seeing three sixes back to back to back, basically because of an Iron Maiden song I don't even really like.
Heavy metal and D&D are the devil's tools for corrupting souls. Now, speaking seriously, I still find it unbelievable that D&D caused a satanic panic during the 80's. I mean, with heavy metal, yeah, I can see why it could be accused of satanism. But D&D? Come on. (Well, to be perfectly fair, in the Monster Manual there is talk of demons like Demogorgon and Orcus)
The wikipedia entry on this has a hilarious description:
"At various times in its history, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) has received negative publicity for alleged or perceived promotion of such practices as Satanism, witchcraft, suicide, pornography, and murder. Especially during the 1980s, certain religious groups accused the game of encouraging sorcery and the veneration of demons. Throughout the history of role-playing games, many of these criticisms have not been aimed specifically at D&D, but touch on the genre of fantasy role-playing games as a whole.
The concept of Dungeons & Dragons as Satanic was linked to the concept of Satanic ritual abuse, in that both presumed the existence of large, organized Satanic cults and societies. Sources such as the Dark Dungeons tract from Chick Publications portray D&D as a recruitment tool for these organizations."
I think there was also Islands and Infidels, and Grottos and Ghouls...
I watched a short documentary on YouTube about the making of the first Baldur's Gate, and apparently one of the reasons everything in the game is so tilted toward a "good" playthrough is that TSR (who would soon be sold) was still experiencing post-traumatic stress over being associated with anything "evil". Bioware got the license right around the time everything got sold.
I might've mentioned this before, but I literally had a school friend who was not allowed to play the Warcraft games, but was allowed to play Starcraft. Growing up in a non-religious home, it was one of the most absurd things my childhood mind had ever encountered.
I was allowed to go to the theater and watch "Natural Born Killers" by my dad (at 11) but the idea I would ever be able to rent "Hellraiser" or "Night of the Demons" from the video store was off the table. I should honestly ask him about his reasoning behind this, but I am quite sure he wouldn't even remember.
What's odd about Double Platinum setting her off is that it's literally the only album they put out up to that point that didn't have their comic-book likenesses on the cover, it's just chrome. You'd almost think it would have been enough of a stealth move to get her to overlook it in your collection.
Right?! But nooooo... she had to monitor everything I own, maybe she listened to it. Never made sense to me, my criminal older brother steals cars, breaks windows, is a bully and does drugs, she never even looked at his stuff. There used to be a drug called rush, kinda like a whippet to the hundredth power, he did it at Church one time, back went straight, head shot up and his face turned beet red. Pastor goes, Brother ***, share with us! I laughed my ass off, come on! It was funny! I got in trouble, they never said anything to him even though, unlike the pastor, they knew exactly what he did. I had to run the nursery and look after the littles while the service was going on most of the time, they would not let him back there with me because they knew he would do drugs back there. They definitely had different standards for us. He had Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Heaven and Hell, Quiet Riot - Metal Health, Eddie Murphy - Delirious, Richard Prior - Live on Sunset Strip and many more, they never said a word to him. I never understood them or why we were treated so differently.
My family was on the receiving end of the shunning here and there, since we were the only coloured people in the village. But my mom worked as kindergarten teacher and the newer generation parents did not care much.
The village priest did. My parents had to marry twice. Once for the law but because my mother worked in Catholic school and she was an outsider (but Christian still), they wanted them to marry for church as well. That happened one year later and the school kids were the brides kids.
Strange world.
When it melts its just like mercury at that point. There would be vapors.