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Post by 3piggles on Nov 8, 2016 17:13:38 GMT
Laying in the supplies to keep the kids busy over the break isn't exactly being Christmassy. I think of that as being prepared I'm glad you get the school closing notices in time to keep Alex off the train. We did, when Lesley was in school. Back when Vic and I were in school, schools rarely closed because of bad weather. I remember waiting for the school bus to skid to a stop down the street, then running down there to get on. We had to have really bad snow the buses and cars couldn't manage at all, for the schools to be closed. Now, the liability of making students and staff get to school when the driving is dangerous, is too high. Schools close a lot more than they used to. It was actually good to be at the polls when we were, because out kitty corner neighbor was there, and we got to talk to him. I saw him helping his wife out their kitchen door and into the car, and she was using a cane and unable to walk without his help. Turns out they were visiting some friends, something happened, and she keeled over and landed on her head. Did herself quite a lot of damage. He was getting her to the hospital, when I saw him helping her. We got to get an update. She's doing a lot better, getting the tubes and things out in the next few days, and hopefully will be home to recuperate by the end the week. We reminded him that we were only across the street, so to call on us if he needed anything. Interestingly, we found out about that from the husband of the couple they were visiting when she had her accident. His name is Frank, and he's the brother of a friend of ours who used to live one street over from us two houses ago. Her daughter and out daughter had birthdays a day apart, so they celebrated together for years. Their daughter is married and living in New Jersey now, but she came up for Peanuts birth, which was great. Talk about a small world. Vic was always reluctant to put up the decorations until the day after Thanksgiving, and only did it then because he had the day off work, and was able to do it. He always wanted them down and put away on New Year's Day. It will be interesting to see how he is about that this year. He's setting up the shed, and I think he just didn't want to have to put everything away, just to get them out again in a couple of weeks
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Post by Bean on Nov 9, 2016 9:19:45 GMT
Ugh, what's going on?!
I woke up this morning thinking 'Has it snowed?' and 'Please tell me Trump isn't president' (not necessarily in that order). Although I was worried about the possibility (of Trump, not snow) I still felt deep down that there were too many sane and intelligent people for him to be elected as your leader. This is such bad news for the whole world, I feel almost disassociated from the human race today.
In other news, we did get snow, but it rained a lot before, so although a few cm settled when it became heavy, it's quickly turning to slush.
Glad you caught up with your old neighbour and your new neighbour's news too, 3piggles. I'd keep those decorations up if they lift your spirits - you'll need it!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 9, 2016 9:52:47 GMT
I love small world co-incidents like that Piggles love, I think it is life's way of keeping us on our toes and not to take anything for granted. I agree with you Bean love, I think it is horrendous that Trump has made it. Paul's exact words were that Hillary was a conniving bitch (don't know about that) but the thought of a republican being in power, even though it isn't my country, worries me very much. We have had a lot of rain here but no snow as yet. I can't wait to put my deckies up, I need cheering up.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Nov 9, 2016 20:33:59 GMT
I'm sorry, Jo, but it seems Paul lapped up all the negative propaganda the republicans dished out, as if it were gospel. Trump is actually under indictment for crimes, but now that he's been elected president, those charges will be dropped, or they'll just disappear. Don't bother to tell Paul that, though. He doesn't want to hear it. I'm not just feeling disassociated, I'm feeling downright scared. It's been a dark, dreary, rainy day, which is nice, because now that the majority of voters have elected the rapist over the rape victim, and called the rape victim a conniving bitch, I don't feel safe leaving the house. It's open season on anyone who isn't a heterosexual white male, which I find very, very scary I normally keep the house locked up tightly, because there have been too many home invasions. At least I feel somewhat safe in my own home. This election is devastated our retirement fund, which means Vic can't retire when this contract runs out, and will have to find another job, if the contract isn't renewed. He was thinking about getting a few things done around the house, but those will also have to be put on hold, as we can't take any money out of the retirement fund. He had some stock he planned to use to pay for the generator, but found it was only worth about half of what it was a few months ago, when he checked and decided to use it. He also probably won't be able to retire even when I start collecting social security in October 2017, as it won't be enough for us to live on. Medicare rates keep increasing. Social security payouts keep decreasing, and our back up fund is barely treading water. That's what this election has caused, and it's going to take a long time to get it all sorted so investors feel confident investing again. So having it be a dark, dreary, rainy day seems appropriate.
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Post by bazookagoof on Nov 10, 2016 3:07:52 GMT
I apologize for the results of our election and all the pain it's going to cause. (not that I voted for that slimeball, but I still can't believe it happened.)
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 10, 2016 9:53:25 GMT
Not really Piggles love, and despite what he said about Hillary, he dislikes Trump as much as I do. I don't know if Hillary has been a naughty girl as I don't follow politics that closely. I think you misunderstood me, all he was saying is that she has her faults too but she was the preferred choice for both of us. I am so sorry it is going to cause problems for you hunni, I always worry when the conservatives get in in the UK. Sorry for you too Baz love. I hope all my dear friends are going to be OK
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by Bean on Nov 10, 2016 10:04:08 GMT
I know how disassociated I felt after the last general election, and also Brexit, but knowing half the population of your country think Trump is fit to lead the country, must be beyond comprehension. I find it frightening and it won't affect me so much as people who live there. I'm sorry it effects your finances so much too, 3piggles.
I understand people are fed up with how things are now, and I don't much like Hilary Clinton either, but as with the Brexit vote, a lot of it has been about making a protest vote for change rather than an intelligent analysis of what your personal issues are and whether this result has the potential to change things for the better. We're all gobsmacked over here. Kids who usually don't even register politics are totally shocked and worried that this joke candidate (so they thought) is now a major political power in the world. The hateful things he's said and done, and now he knows millions of people think he's ace and want him in charge?
Environmentally, this is a disaster too. The US is one of the biggest contributors to pollution but Trump says global warming is 'just weather' and wants to see existing restrictions on emissions etc (which are woefully inadequate if we're not going to destroy our planet) lifted.
You just have to hope there are intelligent people around him who will stop him turning his random bigoted and hateful thoughts into policies.
This week we went to hear an author called Jon Ronson speak. He's touring a show based on one of his books 'The Psychopath Test' - it essentially evaluates insanity and how we classify and deal with it within society.
A definition: People who are psychopathic prey ruthlessly on others using charm, deceit, violence or other methods that allow them to get with they want.
Here's the checklist created by a psychiatrist called Bob Hare (you don't have to get them all, just score highly on the majority), and see if it isn't pretty much a description of your new president.
glib and superficial charm grandiose (exaggeratedly high) estimation of self need for stimulation pathological lying cunning and manipulativeness lack of remorse or guilt shallow affect (superficial emotional responsiveness) callousness and lack of empathy parasitic lifestyle poor behavioral controls sexual promiscuity early behavior problems lack of realistic long-term goals impulsivity irresponsibility failure to accept responsibility for own actions many short-term marital relationships juvenile delinquency revocation of conditional release criminal versatility
I know these personality types often do well in business - the rate of psychopathy is at least 4 x higher among CEOs than it is in the general population. But in politics is that what people need? Sure we've had some of those types in power before - Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, Saddam Hussain and Henry VIII....
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 10, 2016 10:14:18 GMT
That is quite a list Bean love and I agree, many are the traits of very successful business people which is scary. You have named some of the most abominable people in history and now there is another to add to the list. I hope there are some good people around him and he listens to them. Most psychopaths are way above average intelligence too and seem to know how to avoid being caught for a long time. I know Criminal Minds is just a programme but I can't help feeling that some of the cases are based on true ones. Frightening.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by Bean on Nov 10, 2016 10:46:34 GMT
One of the guests at this talk was a woman who had been married to a psychopath (she's written a book called The Bigamist which I'd like to read as she was a really interesting speaker). She's obviously an intelligent and confident woman, and she thought she was married to a great guy who worked for the secret services and often travelled abroad on dangerous missions of international security. She had a house and kids with him, and only found out years later he had another set of wife and kids (and more kids from other relationships too). I really admire how she's coped with it all - obviously it was devastating but she's very reflective about it now and doesn't take it personally. She says to pyschopaths, other people are just prey - someone they can use to get what they want by whatever means necessary. As you say they're often intelligent people so very intuitive at knowing what will be effective - manipulating someone or feigning emotions etc. So how can it be personal if they're incapable of caring about people - the same way a mouse can't take it personally if a cat hunts it. I think I'd be a lot more traumatised!
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Post by 3piggles on Nov 10, 2016 22:25:37 GMT
Wow, that psychopath checklist is right on the money Yes, Trump seems to fit this profile perfectly. I can't help but wonder, and to hope, that a lot of it is an act, and now that he's president, he'll stop saying what all the losers want to hear, and start doing something decent. I don't really think that's going to be the case, but I have to hope. Angela Merkel pretty much told him where he could stick it, saying he would have Germany's full backing, as long as he treated equal human rights as a priority, and didn't do anything that would negatively impact the planet. She said it quite eloquently. Hillary Clinton is no Angela Merkel, that's for sure, but she was the lesser of two evils. Jo, I wasn't picking on Paul specifically. It's just that so much of what was said about Clinton wasn't even close to being true, but it made great sound bites on newscasts, so everyone jumped on those lies, and spread them as truths. Yes, Clinton has her negatives, too, and the biggest one was that she was old school. She would have lead the way all the old presidents did. That's why I didn't want her, and why I voted for Bernie Sanders in the primary. I wanted change, not the same old thing that got us into a recession every decade. Obama was change, and it apparently scared the stuffing out of far too many people. So yes, she definitely has her negatives, but not the ones that were made up to smear her, then made into fact by the media. Basically like Brexit, people were told what the Brexit supporters wanted them to hear, and not the truth. Now the truth is out, everyone knows how badly they were lied to, and it's too late to do anything. There's a lot of hate an anger going around, from the Clinton supporters who are unfriending all their Facebook friends who voted for Trump, gangs of Trump supporters beating up gays and threatening women. That's the part that really frightened me, the celebration of all the Darwin Award winners who voted for Trump, and it's happening. Nothing in New Hampshire that I know about, but gay man was beaten bloody in Pennsylvania, and I can't remember where the women were being threatened. Sad Anyway, there's nothing we can do about it. What's done is done. Now we have to figure out how to keep it from happening again. There's a reason why the Democrats lost, and it wasn't just because of Hillary. I think if Bernie Sanders had gotten the nomination, he would have lost, too. Historically, we don't have long runs of one party, and after one 8-year stint by one party, the election goes to the other party in an almost pendulum swing of votes. But even if we do swing to the opposite every eight years, I think the democrats missed some crucial points in some crucial states, and they can't afford to do that. By the way, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, but was overridden by the electoral college vote, that went to Trump. Every election we get all the petitions to overturn the electoral college, and it never happens. Al Gore lost to George Bush the same way. I'm not sure how great a president Al Gore would have been, but we know how well George Bush did
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 11, 2016 9:58:58 GMT
I will have to read that Bean love, it sounds really interesting. Some of the crack pots we have had here have had wives and families, Peter Sutcliffe the Yorkshire Ripper being one which springs to mind. He did only have the one family though and not kiddies scattered far and wide. I find it horrifying Piggles love that gays are being targeted now and women threatened, where is it all going to end? Someone ought to shoot him!!!
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by Bean on Nov 11, 2016 10:26:56 GMT
George W Bush was a moronic embarrassment too - it's pretty shocking that in a large progressive country with an enormous pool of intelligent, forward-thinking, passionate and caring people, such imbeciles get the top spot!
I'd heard about people protesting about Trump, but not about the violence that's happened with people taking Trump's election as a green light to act out the vile and bigoted opinions he's been spewing. That's just abhorrent and I hope that Trump will start to develop a sense of humility and responsibility, even if it means getting up the backs of his supporters who are ready with their bricks to build that wall to keep all the drug dealers and rapists out.
I think it's just been about winning for him so far, getting an ego boost from being voted most popular (even if he's not based on number - but by golly it's interesting that he trusts the results now, given how corrupt he's been saying the process is all along?).
We've just taken the view, with our recent political woes, that although it's not what we want and things will of course change in ways we don't like, ultimately there's still much to be happy about and if we don't focus on that we're giving the plonkers even more power than they already have. There are so many lovely people in the world and on a local level, there is so much positive stuff going on that reassures us the world can still be a good place in many ways, even if we do want, and very much need, change. I still value democracy.
It's so sad when friendships and family ties are fractured because of political beliefs - I understand frustration, lack of understanding and even anger. But the minute we just shut down anyone who doesn't agree with us, we're playing right into the hands of those who want to divide us and it makes us easier to manipulate. And it makes it more likely the negative views will become more biased and radical, and those people will be more likely to take negative action without feeling any inhibitions. Of course sometimes it's best to leave politics at the door where you know you're just going to have to agree to disagree, but to divide ourselves further is just sad and pointless.
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Post by 3piggles on Nov 11, 2016 20:15:54 GMT
I agree about leaving politics at the door with good friends, and haven't unfriended any of my trumpy friends. I also agree that we have to look at the few positive things, while we watch our rights being erroded, as if we don't, we'll all commit suicide! But looking for the positive, or being forgiving, isn't possible for the groups being targeted by the trumpsters. Women, LGBT, Black, Hispanic, Muslim, anyone who speaks with an accent or even looks at all foreign, are all scared. I hate to say it, but I've gone back to exercising my second amendment right. It's the only way I feel safe when I'm home or out alone. I think this will blow over, just as the endless attacks on muslims blew over after 9/11, but that's not going to happen for a while. Even if this hullaballoo blows over, once he's sworn in as president, it will start all over again. I don't think the hooligans are the majority of his supporters, although they are in some places. I think most of his supporters want their job security back, want companies penalized for moving overseas and taking all the jobs with them, want to have working 40 hours at least buy them what it did when they started working, want to be able to afford to go to college and have a better life, and want to think they matter. They really don't care about all the unarmed black people murdered by the police, because of them are racists, anyway. Oh, they don't mind black people getting ahead, as long as it's not at the expense of any white people, which in their minds, it has been. It's going to be interesting to see exactly what trump and the republicans manage to accomplish. They seem to be at odds with each other, and I'm not sure the republicans aren't more dangerous than trump. They want to overturn Roe v. Wade, end Obamacare, force christianity on everyone, and some other things. They have also proven they are willing to bring the government to a halt to get what they want, which means hubby's social security check. Meanwhile, the outlook for our retirement fund to recuperate any time soon isn't good. There are far too many unknowns, and far too many threats to society, for investors to jump start the investment markets right now. I'm trying to stay as positive as possible, as you are since the Brexit vote, but even if Trump and the republicans only get a fraction of what they want, we're going to have some majorly negative changes in this country. I fear the UK will have some, too
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 12, 2016 16:15:43 GMT
I have just read a horrifying article about the KKK and how they are coming out in force. They are delighted that he has made president and I am now a little concerned for the safety of minority groups. I know it will have repercussions on the UK but it is my American friends I am worried about. Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Nov 12, 2016 21:48:29 GMT
They're planning a huge rally in North Carolina sometime soon, and yes, they feel he has totally validated their white supremacist mentallity. It's really sad, especially with all the murders of unarmed black men by cops in some parts of the country. As one non-white immigrant was saying, they can't hide their skin, so they can't keep from being targets. It is a scary time, and yes, he brought this on just to get elected president Hubby has the deck and stairs off the slider almost done. He worked on it most of the day. It's a lot more than I wanted, but it is nice to be able to step out the slider door and go to the shed, fill the bird feeders, etc. He also had time to sit at the dining table and look at the back yard, and look out the window over the kitchen sink, and has agreed with me to have the generator installed in a different place, even if it costs a bit more to run the electrical wire the extra distance. We have a small back yark that we plan to arrange and landscape to give us as much useable space as possible. Having a generator right in the middle of all that just doesn't work for me. It would also block access to behind the shed and to my potting bench. So when they set up the time to install the generator, we'll tell them we want it in a different location.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 13, 2016 16:16:38 GMT
I somehow feel that a huge backward step has been taken piggles love. Instead of things improving for certain people, I feel they are going to be much worse. I hope I am wrong. I wouldn't want a generator there either Piggles and you certainly don't want it where it is going to be in the way.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Nov 14, 2016 15:29:26 GMT
Jo, the worst part is that it's not really a step backward. All of these people were always there. It just wasn't politically correct to voice their opinions, but they always had them We were talking to someone in our community, who had an accident on the job, was badly injured, and has gotten meds, etc., from doctors ever since. He was a passenger in a truck delivering a prefab house. Dispatch said they had a wire hanging, so he told the driver he would fix it. He was under the truck trailer fixing the wire when the driver received word from dispatch to back up the truck. It turned out they used CBs, and he picked up a call to another driver, but that wasn't made clear, so he backed up the truck. The man we were talking to was hit in the lower legs by a steal bar under the truck, and dragged. It was a terrible accident,but that's all it was, an accident. However, the way the man told the story, there was a Puerto Rican driving the truck. The man ORDERED the driver not to move until he was back in the truck, but being Puerto Rican, the driver was too freaking stupid to know when a dispatch order wasn't meant for him. The man then started seeing a good doctor, but now the good doctor has been replaced with a female, Chinese doctor, who is a complete moron, and has totally changed his treatment. That's what we're fighting. Trump has validated all of these people's bigotries, and even made them popular. What's worse is that these people do not hear what they're saying as being wrong. They don't consider alternatives. They are right, and that's that Violence against minorities is popping up everywhere. If I were a minority, I would not want to be arrested by the police right now! What's worse is that the violence has already started. Women are reporting men pushing them out of the way on sidewalks, and saying things like "get out of my way, bitch." That's not the mentality of men who will help us defend the right to control our own reproductive systems, to be paid equal wages for equal work, to be respected bosses, or to even get hired for the best jobs. It's the mentality of men who want women to be their property, and to know that they are subservient to men, even if our laws explicitely say the exact opposite They are also men who see nothing wrong with joining the right-to-birth movement that forces women and young girls to bring unwanted babies into the world. Thes babies grew into children and adults who have filled our prisons since they were young, at a horrendous cost to the taxpayers.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 15, 2016 9:25:02 GMT
You are absolutely right Piggles love, it isn't as if the hatred hasn't always been there it has and it is worrying that Trump has now endorsed it and it is encouraging violence. I wouldn't like to be one of a minority group either and I must confess to being very worried about the things I am hearing. The right to birth movement doesn't bear thinking about.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by Bean on Nov 18, 2016 9:54:54 GMT
It's Children in Need here today - a big annual fundraiser for kids' charities. You'll see giant bears wearing eye patches (the mascot is called Pudsey Bear) shaking collection boxes wherever you go.
The kids have both gone off to school in spotty-themed non-uniform and have lots of fundraising things going on at school. (Hopefully they'll be satisfied with all that and won't want to watch the awful tv telethon later - I'm happy to donate but would rather not watch the gubbins, especially as a lot of it related to popular tv and music that I don't know/ like.)
We're having some really horrid wet and windy weather here - it's very cold too. We haven't had snow here but we saw quite a few cars with snow on this morning, so it's not far away!
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Post by 3piggles on Nov 18, 2016 17:17:33 GMT
Ah, that explains the picture Wheekies posted of her son dressed up with the eye patch and polka dots to go to school. The picture was adorable, but I had no idea what the occassion was. I'm with you, Bean, I don't mind donating when I can afford it, but I don't want to join in festivities that are geared to totally different age groups. Jo, it is disturbing, especially since Nigel Farage is pushing the same hate agenda, so he will be an ally of Trumps. The only thing worse than one bigot and hater, is a support group of bigots and haters, and Trump definitely seems to have that. Ugh, not good sounding weather, Bean. I like all snow or all rain, but I'm not keen on the raw cold that comes right at the cusp of the two. When you get snow, do you get much snow, or just a coating to an inch or two? Our first snow was forecast for Thanksgiving day, next Thursday, but I think we're going to get rain, instead. There are always pockets or extreme weather, though, so we could see a flake of two, and have some slick spots on the roads. I hope you don't get too much nasty weather. They bunnies will be hiding in their house. Are you still walking Aimee to and from school, or has she branched out on her own? I know you were going to start the school year walking with her or driving her, but weren't sure if you would continue to do that, or if she would strike out on her own. Our backyard feeding station. The new Bird Central: Front garden area. It's done for this season, but we'll add more things next year:
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