No? Maybe ‘we’ need to find stronger words then? As someone o/s the USA ‘sphere of influence’, I find it awe inspiring just how BAD the optics are of what is happening in the USA! Truly, it is like a rerun of Europe (UK) prior to Munich & ‘appeasement’ - “surely he won’t really do that, will he”?

Ouch …

Okay …

This is the ICE version of “Kristallnacht“ - the name comes from all the broken glass.

One of the ‘worst’ things about Joy division - less so New order, was that they made such joyful & invigorating music about ‘horrible’ topics!

For another perspective, this was on a wall near Brick Lane market, in London. Strangely apt …

Visited the Escher museum, in den Haag & saw this outside the window - the modern version of ‘see no evil, speak no evil & hear no evil’? BTW, this museum was amazing!

<sigh>

Here’s a thought. You know how the presidents of the USA get secret service protection after they leave office? Well, that’s going to be Trump! (I do suspect that there will be a lot of fantasies to support increased protections). Anyway, as Trump removed protections for others, so you can for him?

Dang!

Unfortunately, like too many ransom notes, this can only be a false hope. It equates to “hold your horses, Trump will be gone soon “ (technically). Meanwhile, the damage done may not be recoverable …

To my mind, many define others by their terms, so as to make alterity recognisable. I understand, especially in an intellectual way, that it’s harder to make someone else understood without ‘frames of reference’ to refer to. But, why? I embrace absence & wonder if that silence defines me - or you?

@rowdyrebel.bsky.social thanks.

I went for breakfast this morning & they offered ‘coffee’. Which was basically a long black. For the next coffee, I requested an ‘espresso’. Which was basically a short black. Methinks that I have been spoiled?

@effectivealtruist.bsky.social thanks.

@psychobob4q2.bsky.social thanks

I don’t care about the ‘threat’ of AI. Although, you might. AI takes your ‘job’ & what do you do? IF you don’t have to worry about ‘affording’ to live, then you can help others. Capitalism means you have to work - but, why? Why is it it so important to be capable of consumption. This is the dilemma?

Well, between Biden, Clinton & Obama … why not listen to ‘alternative’ views?

Or, perhaps more realistically, kick Melania out! If she gets 50% of her husband’s ‘wealth’ & you seize it …

Twenty years ago, I woke up. This was not my plan. @postsecret.com Today, I am in Amsterdam. Much has happened, some good & some bad, e.g. supervisor offering me ‘child porn’! Things are different & waking up = focusing on a different (& harder) future. Now, no one cares, nor do I care for anyone.

Why not, I say!

An odd statement? But one does strike me as an interesting difference - that the ‘coward on Capital Hill’ has‘only’ deported 10% as many immigrants compared to Obama, which seems to also be a source of angst for Trump & yet, under Trump, more Americans have lost their lives!

@thomasbenner.bsky.social thanks

It does seem so, yes …

The people in my life I don’t care for; the people I care for aren’t in my life.

Talk about the optics!

Well, yes …

Aldous Huxley, 'Brave new world', 0060830956, xiv: "Today it seems quite possible that the horror may be upon us within a single century ... Indeed, unless we choose to decentralise & to use applied science ... as the means to producing a race of free individuals, we have only two alternatives: ...

Is it just me, or is this 'ICE surge' (& disruption) in MN a payback by Trump for Waltz running as VP?

Now that’s an idea! But remember to mention the ‘drug trafficking’ too?

Concur!

Hmm, yes … that is a good question!

@archedeyebrow.bsky.social thanks.

Oh?

Well, yes …

@rowdyrebel.bsky.social thanks.

@rhondafg.bsky.social thanks.

Dang! RIP?

Well, there you go!

Or, to put that another way, there are many in the world living on US$2/day, so that same amount would provide the ‘daily bread’ for 750000000000 people! Oh, wait - there’s only ~7500000000 people in the world … In simple terms, that annual amount would feed all in the world for more than one year.

Gosh! Who’d have thought!

@evolgarlic.bsky.social thanks

@kevin-gallant.bsky.social thanks

@skriley.bsky.social thanks

Oh, very nicely apt! I think that a deeper meaning may also be that the USA is addicted to petrochemicals?

Does it matter? I keep a record of books that I read, so that I have something to remind me when I am in the ‘rocking chair’? Anyhow, it seems that I read 46 books - but I only have records from May last year! Is that an okay rate? Really not sure what happened to the previous five months … #BookSky

Not sure what the ‘situation’ was - see alt text, but that is a fine looking paella! Apparently the pan is from Aldi too! Wonder if ‘succarate’ formed?

My #NYResolution is to leave people the fuck alone! Clearly, if history serves me correctly (& even if it doesn’t), people just want me to leave them alone & let them bath in their ‘now’, to let them forget our history. Now, if they reach out, I’ll reply; but otherwise, it’ll be STFU. What’s yours?

@redclouddog.bsky.social thanks.

Yes, good idea! Just to be sure, you understand …