I am so damn fed-up with feeling the need to face palm, fed-up with having my eyeballs roll…the level of ignorance south of my border is just amazing, in a very, very, bad way. Rhetorical question, I guess, but here we go; is there no education in the United States, I mean not just global history/geography but their own.
Those “settlers” who arrived at Plymouth Rock? They were, in fact, refugees, fleeing religious persecution, financial hardship and looking to find freedom. (Freedom and this particular arm of Puritanism is pretty much the definition of irony.)
The Irish who arrived in the great wave beginning in 1845? Fleeing hunger, economic hardship and religious persecution.
The Italians? Financial hardship, vis a vis, unemployment, overpopulation, and natural disasters.
Germans? Religious persecution, poverty, and restricted freedoms, except the Drumpf family – who were draft dodgers from way back.
The Polish, Ukrainian, Scottish, please refer to the above. They all came to North America for the same reason, freedom from oppression, to escape poverty and hardship – natural or politically inflicted.
Oh, did I mention, they were all white? Is that where the current calls to halt immigration, arrest and throw innocents into concentration camps? Deport them to, what is to most, foreign countries?
Most “Americans” faced prejudice but this current degradation of the country, these “Make America Great Again” idiots, gleefully ignore the ethnic slurs faced by their own ancestors; Mick, Limey, Wop, Polack, Bohunk..oh and then there is “bead rattler”, bible thumper…you get the gist.
The United States is, most definitely, NOT the “Land of the Free” hoped for by their founding fathers. It is the land of “Whatever ideology the oligarchs want to throw out as diversion”.
So no, the United States, Canada and Mexico are were not “settled” by Europeans. These countries were destinations for refugees, fleeing for their lives. For christ’s sake, get off Truth Social and read a goddam history book.
Yes, it is in Project 2025; Yam-Tit’s instruction booklet.
I didn’t believe it, when I saw the report. For all the propaganda pushed by the fanatics on the ultra-right wing, for mainstream media (owned by right wingnuts), the centrist and left also have their own propaganda, so I like to delve into it before I get my panties in a knot. Its true. Even NewsNation reports on it and they are MagaT’s favourite non-news source, along with Fox; I pulled this from their site:
(NewsNation) — A new report from the Heritage Foundation suggests policies it says will strengthen the American family, including marriage camps for unmarried people and two-child families.
The group, which was behind the controversial Project 2025 policy document, is also advocating for other policies, including those designed to encourage people to marry young and forgo education in favor of starting a family.
One recommendation is marriage camps, which would serve as boot camps that would prepare couples for marriage with a communal wedding ceremony and a financial reward for completion. Couples would also be assigned a mentor to help them through married life.
And, further pulled from the internet:
Project 2025 + camps for unmarried
The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 has proposed a series of policies aimed at strengthening the American family, including the creation of marriage camps for unmarried couples. These camps are designed to prepare couples for marriage with a communal wedding ceremony and a financial reward for completion. The initiative also includes assigning couples to mentors to assist them through married life. The proposal is part of a broader agenda that emphasizes the importance of two-parent, heterosexual families and discourages online dating and marriage penalties. Additionally, the foundation suggests the creation of savings accounts similar to “Trump Accounts” for newborns and additional tax credits for families where one spouse stays at home to care for children. The initiative is part of a larger effort to push for more religion and a uniform day of rest to limit commercial activity.
And more:
Creators of Project 2025 Want to Send Unmarried People to Camps
The Heritage Foundation — the think tank behind the infamous Project 2025 policy wishlist, which dragged down Trump’s most recent reelection campaign with its massively unpopular proposals — apparently has a new priority: rounding up the unmarried people and shipping them off to camps.
We’re not joking.
As NBC News reports, the Heritage Foundation is pushing the White House to pass initiatives to financially reward newlyweds, create deeper tax incentives for married couples, discourage online dating — paradoxically, it would seem — and even start opening government-run “marriage bootcamps.”
According to the Heritage Foundation’s framework, called “Saving America by Saving the Family,” the camps would serve as reeducation centers for unmarried couples.
“Successful completion of the program would mean that couples are ready to walk down the aisle at a communal wedding by the end of the bootcamp,” the organization’s screed declares. “The bride and groom would also be matched with a mentor couple to help them to navigate the highs and lows of early married life.”
There’d also be cold, hard cash involved.
“The most innovative aspect of such a program, however, would be to add a monetary incentive for couples to get — and stay — married,” the framework continues. “For example, each couple that completes the program could receive a ‘wedding bonus’ of up to $5,000 on their wedding day to be paid through foundations or private donors, not government funds.”
According to NBC, the total cost of the Saving America by Saving the Family initiative would be $280 billion over the next decade. As to whether taxpayers would pick up the bill, the Heritage Foundation’s documentation notes that the federal government has previously earmarked money for “marriage education programs.”
“A modest investment, I think, [which] will pay off tremendous dividends,” Heritage Foundation vice president of economic and domestic policy Roger Severino told NBC.
**********************************
This was used under Nazi Germany folks; blonde, blue eyed babies and Aryan race, all that crap. Is there any hope for the United States? A country run by the Xtian version of the Taliban/Isis? A country controlled by oligarchs? All the most personal information of Americans, all Americans, is now available – free and easy access thanks to Musty-Musk and his cohorts. Can’t undo that.
The U.S, I am afraid, is finished. Done. Thank those people stupid enough to vote the felon into office, thank those people who felt voting was just too much of a bother, an inconvenience. They are the ones who sat by and allowed their country to be destroyed. The U.S. has fallen and it can’t/won’t get up.
So the dementia addled S.A’er, grifter, con-man and convicted felon, currently polluting the White House, has now set his sites on Cuba. Rubio’s current hobby interest.
Is anyone shocked or surprised? I’m not. There have been many discussions around here about how and when, this would happen. It was inevitable. The Gaza paradise insanity isn’t going to plan so what next? I think Rubio and Yam-Tits have watched Godfather II, one too many times.
Cuba has stood up to the U.S. where larger, stronger and wealthier countries have folded like dirty toilet paper, including my own country (something that really shames me).
Cuba is in dire straits and has been for some time; following Castro’s death. The country needs trade, needs essential goods, like fuel, medicines and food stuffs. Where is the rest of the world while this criminal threatens yet another sovereign nation?
Canada, Greenland, Mexico, Gaza, Iran, Venezuela and now Cuba, all are in this idiot’s crosshairs. Little Marco wants Cuba; the potentials for raping this country are enormous and I can see him salivating at the opportunity to turn it into his own little island.
Think what the U.S. did prior to the revolution was bad? If Yam-Tits and little Marco get their hands on that SOVEREIGN nation, we can all just hold their beer because Cuba will be destroyed. I see a larger, more disgusting and ultimately, money-making bonanza than Epstein island.
The world needs to support Cuba, turn that orange dictator aside and move the world toward peace.
After a shipment was said to have been delivered, (it was not), I tried to contact someone, anyone at ASL, through following the tracking number, I find out it was handed off to Precision.
Ok, look – I’ve been in transport all my life, worked in all facets except driving, I leave that to my husband. I don’t have his patience. There would be carnage…right, where was I? Oh yeah, false delivery notification.
Like many people, I have a camera but it isn’t easy to see the unit, that is a deliberate decision to avoid vandalism or general silliness. I have one that records my driveway and another that records my front walkway, stairs and deck. To boot, I am a smoker, my husband is not, so I go outside for my smoke. The package stated it was delivered at 10:26 pm; I was out there at 10:30 pm, and again, around 11:30 and again, before I went to bed, at about midnight. There was no delivery. There was fresh snow, no footprints, no tire tracks in the driveway. I think it is safe to say, the delivery wasn’t made.
So, I contact Amazon; Amazon says to contact the carrier…ASL and provide the useless website.
It takes you to Descartes tracking…same info, it was delivered but it then shows the actual delivery carrier, Precision (subsidiary of ASL).
Okey dokey, I file my complaint/report on Precision’s website. I receive one of those email system generated (noreply@precisiondeliveries.com) with a case number that I am sure is as useful as used toilet paper. The email says I will be contacted. Needless to say, I have not been contacted.
Went to Amazon, requested a refund due to the fraudulent delivery claim; they refunded my money and I have re-ordered the same item. Yeah, dumb but now, I am invested in this.
You see, I did what folks do when a package goes missing, even though I knew, for A FACT, this delivery was never made to my home. I asked my neighbours, I went to our community group and put out a “Help” post, describing the situation and the contents of the package. Well…lo and behold. I am not alone with these mysterious deliveries. ASL has a pretty dark history of the same type of false delivery claims. Last count was 5 of the folks in my small community. Probably more at this point.
I would suggest and I’m probably shouting into the void that Amazon remove ASL from their list of approved carriers, until they can prove that their customer service/tracking has improved or been re-vamped. I checked their reputation online and it is not good.
In French for my neighbours and friends:
PRECISION DELIVERIES ET FAST FRATE DEVRAIENT FIGURER DANS VOTRE CLASSIFICATION DES CHOSES IRONIQUES.
Je n’aime pas dénoncer publiquement une entreprise, mais il est temps qu’on soit tous au courant.
Après qu’un colis ait été déclaré livré (ce qui était faux), j’ai tenté de contacter quelqu’un chez ASL en suivant le numéro de suivi. J’ai alors découvert que le colis avait été pris en charge par Precision.
Regarde, j’ai travaillé dans le transport toute ma vie, j’ai touché à tous les aspects sauf la conduite, je laisse ça à mon mari. J’ai pas sa patience. Ça serait un carnage… n’est-ce pas ? Où en étais-je ? Ah oui, fausse notification de livraison.
Comme bien des gens, j’ai une caméra, mais elle est discrète, un choix délibéré pour éviter le vandalisme et autres bêtises. J’en ai une qui filme mon entrée et une autre qui filme mon entrée, mes escaliers et ma terrasse. De plus, je fume, contrairement à mon mari, donc je fume dehors. Le colis était censé avoir été livré à 22 h 26 ; j’étais dehors à 22h30, puis vers 23h30 et encore une fois, avant d’aller me coucher, vers minuit. Rien. Il y avait de la neige fraîche, aucune trace de pas, aucune trace de pneu dans l’allée. Je crois qu’on peut dire sans risque que la livraison n’a pas eu lieu.
Du coup, je contacte Amazon ; Amazon me dit de contacter le transporteur… et me donne un site web complètement inutile. Le lien vous redirige vers le suivi Descartes… mêmes informations : le colis a été livré, mais le transporteur indiqué est Precision (filiale d’ASL).
Bien, je dépose ma réclamation sur le site de Precision. Je reçois un de ces courriels automatiques (noreply@precisiondeliveries.com) avec un numéro de dossier aussi utile qu’une feuille de papier de toilette usagée. On me dit que je serai contacté. Évidemment, je n’ai jamais été contacté.
Je suis allé sur Amazon et j’ai demandé un remboursement pour livraison frauduleuse. Ils m’ont remboursé et j’ai recommandé le même article. Oui, c’était niaiseux, mais maintenant, je suis fasciné ….
Voyez-vous, j’ai fait comme tout le monde quand un colis disparaît, même si j’étais absolument certain que cette livraison n’avait jamais eu lieu chez moi. J’ai interrogé mes voisins, j’ai publié un message d’aide sur le groupe de notre quartier en décrivant la situation et le contenu du colis. Et bien… surprise ! Je ne suis pas la seule à avoir ces problèmes de livraison. ASL a un passé assez sombre en matière de fausses déclarations de livraison. Dans ma p’tite communauté, y’en avait cinq. Probablement plus maintenant.
Je suggère, même si je prêche peut-être dans le désert, qu’Amazon retire ASL de sa liste de transporteurs autorisés tant qu’ils n’auront pas prouvé que leur service à la clientèle et leur système de suivi se sont améliorés ou ont été entièrement revus. J’ai vérifié leur réputation en ligne et elle n’est pas bonne.
Among the plethora of other topics on which Trump is an ignoramus? Geography…of his own country.
So Canada and Greenland are at risk from an enemy invasion; he alludes to Russia and China. I know, it is sad how badly the education system failed him or was it, simply, that he is just too stupid to teach? I tend to believe it is the latter of the two.
You see, the country most at risk for this invasion propaganda is, actually, the United States. They are 2.4 miles from Russia via Alaska. Greenland is 3,117 miles. Canada? 4,143 miles.
And China? From Greenland, 4,843 miles; Canada is 5,847 miles, BUT the United States? From the Aleutian Islands (Alaska) – specifically Attu? 1703 miles to China.
So geographically, the U.S. is at bigger risk than Canada or Greenland.
Sit down, Yam-T*ts; your Golden Dome is a joke and about as legitimate as your Trump Phone, Trump University, Trump Steak, and the Trump Casinos.
Paw-Paw is past the point of medication; he, desperately, requires 24/7 care. No, we do not live because of the U.S. I believe the statement should read, “Canada lives REGARDLESS of the U.S.”.
Americans are in such terrible trouble. If any country needed help, currently, it is the U.S. Pseudo-Gestapo pulling people off the street, out of the cars, out of their homes; killing and maiming with no consequence.
Canadians realize that the U.S. is not our ally; the U.S. in a little over a year’s time has turned into our greatest enemy. In fact, the enemy of all democratic nations.
(I did not write this; it is the work of a good friend who always seems to encapsulate thoughts, perfectly.)
There is a Public Relations lesson I learned in my old job and took into my personal life.
A reputation can be destroyed in one single incident. It will take at least two years of very hard work to restore it or it can take 10 years or it will never be restored.
When you have taken a reputation destroying arrow, public relations will swoop in and immediately make three demands.
First, you will apologize immediately and profusely. You will accept all accountability.
Second, you make an immediate and decisive decision to demonstrate accountability and a desire to change. And that will include reparations of some kind.
Third, you will spend whatever amount of time to demonstrate a change of path.
You have seen this happen time and again with idiot celebrities.
Example! Will Smith after his reprehensible behaviour at the Oscars.
He apologized quickly, a decisive decision was made to come out of the public eye for years ( while he works on himself), banned from the Academy. He will never be nominated again.
At the top of his career the pedestal was very quickly kicked out. Four years later he is still working on redemption. Or perhaps he’s not. Perhaps he’s given up.
One man, one slap, one destroyed reputation.
Now imagine if you will.
A friend, an ally, a comrade in arms, a neighbour, a brother suddenly, inexplicably, shockingly turning on you.
I can tell you as someone who has walked beside dementia both professionally and personally it is the most difficult thing to contend with. To watch someone you loved and who loved you with everything suddenly one day look at you with vacant eyes. Speak to you with venom. Deny they ever loved you and yes, sometimes physically assault you.
In those moments it is very difficult to remember them as who they were.
The most soul wrenching grief response families must work through later is the guilt about how they secretly felt through those moments.
The USA has become Will Smith to some. Angry, violent, so gifted by the fates but still discontent OR the demented beloved to others.
Outcome is all the same.
Whichever it is, the American reputation in in utter tatters and will not be repaired in my lifetime.
Going forward you will see worldwide protests, flag burning, anthem booing. Brace yourself.
The year of appeasement, ego stroking, golden trophies, carriage rides around Windsor Castle have come to an end.
Here in Canada, no one will admit this outloud but we are amused.
Because the world has now learned what Canada ( the ugly redheaded step-sister to the USA) has always known.
Canada knew it didn’t matter how ferociously we fought in wars beside them, how many Americans we hid and got out of Iran during the hostage taking crisis, how many nationals we took into our homes in Gander after 9-11. It didn’t matter Canadian utility companies were the first into New Orleans after Katrina or that Air Canada was the first airline to land with supplies and rescue equipment. Or the Canadian water bombers sent to California during wildfires.
We knew it never mattered.
This nation of ours would always be the butt of American jokes. Was always underestimated and always under appreciated.
As George Bush stood before cameras the day after 9-11 and thanked nations…..while Canadians were in the very process of feeding and housing Americans. Canada was the only nation he “ forgot”.
Who can you trust in dark days? Trust the friend who will hide you. If those Canadians had been caught hiding Americans in Iran they would have been hung from trees.
Go watch the movie Argo as they steal Canadian valour making Canadians bit players in their own history.
The world though, doesn’t know that.
They don’t know what we know.
They don’t know that the USA has a massive ego, a great sense of entitlement, and absolutely NO appreciation for the world they share as global citizens.
When they tell you they are the greatest nation in the world…..they mean it. They believe that. And what’s more, the world owes them. And they are here to collect.
I admit, I am amused.
It’s just been embarrassing. Watching other nations bow before Caligula, making great promises, kowtowing with outstretched hands of gold. Only to then watch a car plant of Koreans, there to help, to be dragged away in shackles. More tariffs slapped on, leaders humiliated in the Oval Office and now….after it all….a promise of annilation either “ the easy way or the hard way”.
Meanwhile “Nasty” Canadians refused to bow the head despite threats of annexation, scolding from an American “Ambassador”, tariffs, or letters of complaints from American Governors, Canada knows you can’t ever give the USA enough.
Frank McKenna Canadian ambassador to the United States, told Americans post Katrina: “you are our friends and together we are family – you do not suffer alone.”
But they always thought they did. Because they placed no value on who sat beside them
Back in the day; I was co-chair of a Neo-Pagan association. It was a lot of fun, met some great people and as with all organizations, some not-so-great folk. That’s life.
Time tends to colour memory and I only have good memories of those times. I will keep it that way.
Am I thinking of restarting a Pagan association? A.B.S.O.L.U.T.E.L.Y NOT! As much fun as we had, it was tiring, mentally draining and freaking expensive. My “spirituality” has changed. Time and age will do that.
I do know that I think…again, time/memory thing, I was more centered. Maybe it is because I had something to concentrate on, a focus, something I, currently, lack. I don’t have hobbies, per se. I have things I enjoy, like video games but no actual hobbies.
Am I still a Pagan? I suppose. I don’t believe in deities, more of an archetypal influence on human behaviour and goals. Do I still believe in the various practices? Sure do. I believe in a universal unconscious and our ability to tap into it. Based on knowledge of past behaviours, influences? Probably but regardless, while I have stored those practices away for about 10 -15 years, they do still hold an “allure” for me.
Rituals were something to which I always looked forward; by and large they were very centering events. Oh we had a few that were way off base; usually due to “visitors” or people that carried a very dark side, invading our space. For the most part though; they were good events. Solidifying events.
With all that is going on, in this world, in my life; I think I may start to strike up those rituals again, on a personal level however. Perhaps this is the focus I need in my life. I’m very scattered. And I don’t like that feeling at all.
If You Agree With The Venezuelan Invasion; Block Me, Unfriend Me…
During a season usually associated with pseudo-Peace-On-Earth-Good-Will-Toward…you know the rest, Yam-Tits invades a sovereign nation, using drugs as his excuse. Let that sink in…he invaded a SOVEREIGN nation; regardless of what Maduro may be, Venezuela is a SOVEREIGN nation. The same as Ukraine, a SOVEREIGN nation in 2022. The same as Poland was a SOVEREIGN nation in 1939.
He is embezzling a nation. He sells himself and his country to the highest bidder. Meanwhile, average Americans are struggling to buy groceries, pay utilities and make medical insurance payments. His bots and misinformation army are in high gear.
None of the above is a news flash to anyone with an I.Q. above that of your average doorknob. What was a newsflash to me, was that I have friends who applaud what the Criminal-In-Chief did with Venezuela. Is Maduro a piece of shit? No kidding. Is it up to a foreign nation to determine the future of a sovereign nation? Absolutely not. Drugs? Come on, who is stupid enough to belief that bullshit? Rescuing the people of Venezuela? Again, take your idiot pill this morning? His backers, his puppet masters want the oil. Apparently they aren’t rich enough.
Who is next? Cuba, with an eye on Mar-A-Lago 2.0 because Gaza doesn’t seem to be working out to well for the slimeball?
And where is the U.N. or N.A.T.O. in all of this?
Honestly, I knew politicians were the worst sort of criminals, bought and sold like streetworkers but with less integrity than the latter. I am withdrawing from the world at large; I am going to concentrate on family, friends, hobbies and my favourite sports teams. My duty is to myself, to my family and to hell with the rest of the world. Fiscal rape and subjugation is at levels that bring to mind the world of medieval monarchy, corruption and the Hapsburgs. We are done, until it is all burned down, we are done.
Wicked Emerald - Live From The Montérégie 