Well fudge. I just realized My Fitness Pal is from Under Armour. I am very conflicted.
And we live to fight another day.
Mal ,'Objects In Space'
Natter 75: More Than a Million Natters Served
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, butt kicking, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
SuziQ - Feb 10, 2017 10:53:11 am PST #7194 of 30002
Back tattoos of the mother is that you are absolutely right - Ame
Dana - Feb 10, 2017 11:05:15 am PST #7195 of 30002
I'm terrifically busy with my ennui.
Woohoo, I can update our driver's licenses with the new address online. Not having to go to the DPS is goood.
Gudanov - Feb 10, 2017 11:29:56 am PST #7196 of 30002
Coding and Sleeping
Trying to maintain old friendships while using Facebook is getting trickier for me. So I got this message from an old friend:
I have a question. I will use the paul Harvey approach. If I were the devil and wanted to create a dictator... I would create a division in the people, A divided people would be to my advantage. I would then fill all the news with lies and half truths With the devotion that I created I would have "news" side with one side or the other rather than report the truth. Journalistic integrity would be a thing of the past.
If I were the devil and wanted to create a dictator… I would pit two vipers against each other in an election to give the people no good choice I would insure that the vipers fought with the hate and malice of the most evil kind This is the leaders I would promote to be advisories in an election I would insure that this election is as divisive and inflammatory as possible
If I were the devil and I wanted to create a dictator…. I would get the most spoiled child in the race to win the election… But not the majority. I would insure that the losing party already is affiliated with groups that riot when they don't get there way. I would insure that the side that loses is using Hate tactic disguised as Love. I would make sure that the side that loses has already insisted that anyone opposing them is evil,
If I were the devil and wanted to create a dictator... I would insure that words like rasist, sexest, bigots are what the losing group says about anyone that opposes them. I would cause a rift that is not easy to mend and a narrowness of the mind that will not be turned aside by reason.
If I were the devil and wanted to create a dictator…. I would then have the spoiled child elected leader use the same abuse of power that his predecessor did but at a faster and more public rate. I would make sure that The spoiled child leader was unapologetic and rude in every public outing. I would make sure that the spoiled child leader was inflammatory whenever possible
If I were the devil and wanted to create a dictator… I would have the losing side stage large protests and riots. I would insure that the losing side would claim that the duly elected leader was "Not My President" thereby saying that the spoiled child leader doesn't have authority over them.
If I were the devil and wanted to create a dictator… I would just keep the pressure up until the lawlessness of the losing side CREATED the Very thing they are protesting. I would laugh as the spoiled child leader resorted to using force to create "Law and Order" I would have the entire nation in turmoil and concern
If I were the devil and wanted to create a dictator… I would use the paranoia of both side to an advantage I would use the corrupt news sources to further the strife and antagonism. I would let it build and build
If I were the devil and wanted to create a dictator… I would use this division to create either anarchy or a tyranny. Either way, I would win. The anarchy will create a dictator or the tyranny will become a dictator.
In Other words… If I was the devil and wanted to make a dictator… I would continue to do exactly what he is doing
So then I asked what the question was and I got the following:
As I wrote, I realized it isn't a question but a comment on our society. But if there was a question, I suppose it would be, Does the left understand that they are creating the situation that promotes the rise of a dictator? Do they see that by acting the way they are acting that they are creating a self fulfilling prophecy? This is not just one sided. both sides need to check themselves.
I'm not sure how to deal with this. He seems to be concerned about Trump turning dictator, but blaming the left for it.
Tom Scola - Feb 10, 2017 11:43:33 am PST #7197 of 30002
Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.
If I were in your place, I would probably get myself all bent out of shape counterproductively trying to explain psychological projection to him. I guess that isn't much help, though.
Gudanov - Feb 10, 2017 11:59:25 am PST #7198 of 30002
Coding and Sleeping
He got mixed up with a conservative church and has turned conservative. He doesn't like Trump, but he's obviously getting news from the right. He seems to think the left should sit down and shut up. I think that's from misinformation rather than malice though.
Gudanov - Feb 10, 2017 12:07:05 pm PST #7199 of 30002
Coding and Sleeping
Whoa!
Too early to say anything definite, but this could be the start of serious trouble for the Trump administration.
Hil R. - Feb 10, 2017 12:19:57 pm PST #7200 of 30002
Sometimes I think I might just move up to Vermont, open a bookstore or a vegan restaurant. Adam Schlesinger, z''l
I just got my annual evaluation letter from the head of the math department. It says that they accommodated my disability by having me teach some classes online. I never asked for that as an accommodation. The only accommodation that I asked for was that, if I'm teaching two classes back-to-back, they need to be in the same building, because I can't walk across campus in five minutes. It was a completely separate conversation, with no mention of disability, where I said that I'd be interested in teaching online. (I mean, it's probably not hard to figure out that part of my interest in online teaching is because it doesn't require so much walking and standing, but I never actually said that.)
Jesse - Feb 10, 2017 12:34:07 pm PST #7201 of 30002
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.
That seems like something to push back on, if you think they might later say "but you teach all these classes online now! isn't that enough accommodation???"
intellectual (as an offensive term)
That upsets me so much. And is definitely a situation where I can't see beyond my own borders. I never got it with W -- I want the president to be the smartest person in the room! Ugh. So many things to be ugh about, I don't know why that's the one that stood out for me.
In fun news, I went this afternoon with my mom to see a taping of a local show where singing groups compete. I always like seeing behind-the-scenes stuff, and the group was good! As you might imagine, most of the audience was their families.
amych - Feb 10, 2017 12:44:05 pm PST #7202 of 30002
Now let us crush something soft and watch it fountain blood. That is a girlish thing to want to do, yes?
I want the president to be the smartest person in the room!
Yes! But then again, I'd also much rather have a beer with someone brilliant, so I'm not sure that test was actually for me.
Matt the Bruins fan - Feb 10, 2017 1:10:30 pm PST #7203 of 30002
"I remember when they eventually introduced that drug kingpin who murdered people and smuggled drugs inside snakes and I was like 'Finally. A normal person.'” —RahvinDragand
Gud, if your friend is saying that everyone on the Left should passively allow Trump to do whatever he wants without objection or comment, I'd quote Edmund Burke at him:
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."