Yay for good news, Consuela!

Todd, I can't get enough of those flower power photos. They definitely put me in my happy place.

yay for benign Consuela!

I love Fresca too. Be aware that it has grapefruit juice in it so there may be med interactions.

And now I remember why I stopped drinking it!

My friend called and is not upset except that she didn't get to see me today, so we're good. We agreed to get together soon for drinks and a board game. I wish my little neighborhood had a clubhouse. She can't come to my place because cats, but I'd like to have someplace I could invite her to.

The date thing makes perfect sense. If the study was conducted 3 or more years ago it's old news, who cares what the date was? And if it was within the last three years, we should no doubt know the date without being told, it's so fresh.

Well, we're supposed to follow one of the rules, but it's pretty damn unclear which one. Sheesh.

I wish my little neighborhood had a clubhouse.

Another argument for bungalow courts.

That rule question hasn't been cleared up yet? I figured in the time it took us to make fun of it someone higher up the food chain would have said what was correct. Live and learn.

The conservatives I know who are saying things like this are the worst offenders of swallowing the lies.

Well confirmation bias is a problem on both sides of the aisle, though in my experience I would agree that liberals are more willing to educate themselves on issues. And far less likely to dismiss rigorous scientific inquiry as "a conspiracy". (Though not always.)

Benign!

Yay! Excellent news!

Yay suela!

Yeah, that's awful, flea. Ugh.

I think confirmation bias is a huge huge issue. And it's one that's very difficult to defeat, because most of my (extensive) network of conservative friends and family find themselves in a total echo chamber. If literally all of your news, tv, newspaper, internet, radio, repeats the same erroneous info, it can feel very much like it must be the truth. Then if everybody you know and interact with on a daily basis also lives in that echo chamber, it can be difficult to source differing opinions.

I will say, like I always do in these conversations, that I do know many thoughtful, intelligent, compassionate, tolerant conservatives who are as dismayed by the state of their party as any of you are. People who are major donors making a difference in multiple charitable endeavors. Folks who are genuinely not bigoted, but are daily trying to live out their lives in service of others to the best of their ability.

I also know people who are absolutely hateful, of course, for whom I will always remain a closeted liberal because it's just not worth the battle. But they're not everyone.

And Liese says what I'm thinking, but don't have the capacity to articulate today. Though I am finding that they are being drowned out and marginalized by the hateful ones.