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Hola, buenos días. First day of the New Year. All the very best to everyone in Philosophy 115. Happy New Year! Feliz Año Nuevo a todos mis amigos - from windy but warm Tenerife.
Czechostan, Visiting queendom of myself, and Valdoru
*sigh* I was writing a long post and ended up closing the wrong window before I sent it, necessitating that I go back and retype. For a change, I can't blame NS!
It's cold, gray, and wet here right now in SC, which is actually father south than Tenerife (roughly parallel to Mauritania in Africa). I remember before going to bed last night thinking that 2017 HAD to be better than 2016. Then I remembered Trump and the trumpeteers will be in power for almost the entire year, and my hopes for a better 2017 were dashed to the ground. To add insult to injury, I couldn't go to sleep (even though I was massively tired) till 4:30 AM or so. I intend to stay in the USA and try to protect our civil rights and political liberties, but if gangs of Brownshirts start roaming the countryside, beating up Democrats/liberals, Jews and Muslims, persons of colour, intellectuals, immigrants, LGBTQ persons, etc., I'm not going to stick it out only to be sent to the gas chamber! A couple of people in the last two days have suggested Berlin as a desirable refuge, which I find intriguing. It would be a pain in the butt to learn German, but thankfully English is widely spoken over there. Yes, the right-wing nut jobs are becoming more prominent in Germany (as well as most of Central and Western Europe). A critical difference for me is that Germany really lacks a developed conservative movement or right wing and the current German Nazis are not QUITE as loony tunes as those in the USA; they enjoy a much lower level of support, covert and explicit; and the German people by large majorities would never elect someone like Trump. It's too bad that I've mostly given up alcohol (last night I had a limoncello shot which I sipped most of the evening, then a few sips of champagne at midnight), as I could use a drink! ;)
On a more positive note, my weight this morning was tied with the lowest weight I've ever recorded since the gastric bypass. All of my body composition numbers were good and already either within the ideal zone or rapidly approaching it. I am now 9 pounds from the goal set by my family doctor He doesn't want me to go below my ideal weight, just in case I develop some nasty illness or go through some trauma and need those energy reserves to sustain me during my recovery. It's particularly gratifying since I have been going sideways instead of losing for the past month or so. I've had to give away all of my fatboi clothes except for a few wintage pieces.
To 2017! May we find the courage of our convictions to resist the reactionaries and KEEP America great!
Sunrise from the Sea, Czechostan, Visiting queendom of myself, and Wolfgang von death
whispers Happy new year. The aspirin is on the counter if anyone needs it. I'm going back to bed.
Sunrise from the Sea and Valdoru
I strive to be everything the "religious right" - which is actually neither religious nor right - hates. It is my deepest hope that I live my life in such a way that Westboro Baptist pickets my funeral.
Sunrise from the Sea, Visiting queendom of myself, Wolfgang von death, and Huaxia
so many* (ugh i can't english)
I highly recommend Berlin to at least visit. Wonderful city which has such a grim feel to it in certain places yet always feels "right". You'll have little issue with the language barrier but obviously would need to learn the language if you become a resident. Could easily move to mainland Europe after the Brexit vote here. Would prefer if the people of Scotland just votes yes to independence and joined the European Union again but that's probably another 15 years off.
The German state is for more egalitarian that the individual neo liberals that dominate US discourse. Though never get too complesent with anything. It looks like a real possibility that the once marginal fringe of Le Pen, National Front is in for a huge viyella share of the elections in France with a much better starting point in the polls than Trump ever had.... the backlash of accepting migrants into Germany may play havoc in the elections there too... some of the Notic nations are turning more inside of themselves also with conservatives making greater showings in their elections (though I admit, conservatives in Europe (including the UK to an extend) is a little less hot luster than the American variety: policies of the Democratic party last, If they were to be implemented at face value in most of Western Europe would be considered outrageous for most main stream and moderate conservatives).
Personally. I am favouring Iceland right now. Middle of nowhere and has such a more open society. There's something about a small (literally not services) state which is appealing and when used well can enact the most wonderful social policies due to poor living with rich in schools, work and play.
The great shame for many Americans is the continued use of the state as an agent of control and a forced policy (in all but name) of segregation along not just ethnicity but socio-economic status where huge inequality is met with cheer from the dogmatic conservative ideologues who welcome it as often as a good thing from whatever junk they have been smoking. Even if this was out of self interest, you could maybe understand that mentality... But even the rich are harmed through it with curtailed outcomes for themselves also. It's always that bizarre paradox we are led to believe that the top 1% are in well catered for at the expense of the 99%. Relatively they are, of course. However in the long run everyone suffers in health, education... etc.
I highly recommend for anyone, who hasn't yet caught the film by Michael Moore (where to invade next) to catch it online or whenever. It's a great starting point to see what could be changed over time.
Anyway, hope everyone had a great new year and let's hope 2017, even with its challenges brings about change for the better.
Sunrise from the Sea, Czechostan, and Huaxia
Iceland is a great place but so small and the language barrier there is higher than in most other countries, on account of Íslenska being one of the most difficult languages to learn (supposedly, I have never tried).
For me moving to Europe would put me at a disadvantage in terms of language, employment, friends, citizenship status, etc and set me back quite a bit financially. All of that is surmountable, of course, but it would take a great deal of time - I would basically have to start my life over completely, and I am getting too old to do that once again. And who knows, depending on which country I chose in a few years they could have their very own fascist demagogue take power, and somehow I don't fancy the idea of being an immigrant under a fascist regime.
My point is that moving countries, especially as a political refugee, is always a dicey move unless you have lots of money and ideally social and economic connections in your new home. It's all the more dicey when the geopolitical situation is as unstable as it is now; you may find you aregoing from the frying pan into the fire. And if I have to deal with an oppressive power structure, I'd rather deal with it on my own turf, among my own comrades, rather than have to deal with it as a stranger in a strange land, so to speak.
Besides, if all the good people leave, then there really is no hope. It's up to us to stay, put up resistance, and build something better.
Remember that the Internet is in no way representative of the public at large. It is a very small and very peculiar slice of people who actually bother to post about politics online. This goes for both Trump supporters and anti-Trump folks.
But also remember that only 18% - 18% (!!!) - of the American population actually cast a ballot for Trump. The vast majority of Americans do not support him or his agenda.
Just a quick regional announcement:
Can those who are members of the WA please ensure that all other WA members have at least two endorsements please? This is to allow anyone (who so wishes) to propose a World Assembly resolution.
Thank you.
Generally, I agree with staying to fight the good fight, that if all the good people leave, that will empower the bad people to do their worst. Still, try telling that to the Jews in Germany who tried to ride out Naziism--that didn't work out so well. There comes a time when the only rational option is to bail, to survive to fight another day. I don't think we're there yet in the USA. We've elected an incipient authoritarian to the presidency. Does the rest of the government and the American people take the route of least resistance and let him do whatever he wants? Then, yes, I can see us slowly sliding into fascism. With some luck and some backbone, the principled democrats in this nation (of all parties) can contain the damage Trump does and restore rationality to the presidency in 2020. Trump is, of course, a walking bullseye for impeachment and while I think a President Pence in some regards would be better than Trump, he is also woefully inadequate to be president.
Sunrise from the Sea, Central Kadigan, Wolfgang von death, and Fernia leinland
Remember this: We are basically "cash cows' for the powers that be. Free enterprise/capitalism has done very, very well for the people in charge.
They're not going to do anything to impede you going to work, buying flat screen televisions and paying lots and lots of taxes.
We can fight back but it's going to have to be smarter than just brute force and blind paranoia. It's going to need to be cold, calculated and most importantly, it's going to have to bankrupt the people in power.
Mardi gras mambo!!!!!!!
Do you have a link to the recipe for King Cake? I have one for Princess Cake (and it is daunting, to say the least!) As I recall, King Cake is much more straightforward.
I've always just bought them from a bakery. It's pretty much coffee cake with multicolored sugar on top. I have had some filled with fruit, or cream, or chocolate.
Reyes (Epifanía) is bigger than Christmas in the Canary Islands. That's when the niños get their presents. There was a big parade through our town on 5 January (noche de Reyes) and the Three Kings arrived on camels. There was a long queue for Reyes cakes in the local supermercado. Friday the 6th - Reyes - was a public holiday. Everything shut, except for the bars that serve tourists.
Post self-deleted by Sunrise from the Sea.
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