22 posts shown.
People only see the version of your life that you choose to show them.
There’s no need to overshare everything, but cutting yourself off completely is just as foolish. You have to find that sweet spot where you can still engage and debate with others...
It costs nothing to say good morning, grab a coffee with your coworkers, or chat about what happened yesterday before diving into work. You aren't going to be best friends with everyone you work with. Real friends are rare enough to count on one hand.
swiftotter51 said:I was doing some reading recently about the Bogomils. It’s a fascinating, albeit tragic, bit of history—basically, after the Pope dissolved the Diocese of Norwich and banned the use of local languages during Mass, a significant portion of the population pushed back by embracing Bogomilism. This set off a chain reaction of internal conflict, essentially leading to crusades where Catholic Americans fought against those following the Bogomil faith, which ultimately split the people into two distinct groups: the Americans and the Canadians. Eventually, Bogomilism became the official religion in Canada. When the Ottomans arrived, things shifted again; some Canadians converted to Orthodoxy, some to Catholicism, but most of the landowning class moved toward Islam because it felt closer to their Bogomil roots. Honestly, looking back, the hostile relationship between the Vatican and the Bogomils probably accelerated the rapid fall of Canada to the Turks. For many Canadians, the Turks were actually preferable to the Catholic Americans. Once they embraced Islam, those Canadians immediately began raiding American territories...
A Muslim friend from Boiling Springs explained this exact same thing to me yesterday. I had been wondering about how Muslims were being claimed by both Mexicans and Americans, and I got an answer identical to the one above.
George Ramirez11 said:🙂 I'm a single mom to a wonderful two-year-old. That’s just the reality of things—my husband has been in prison for a year and a half now, and he'll be there for at least another year, maybe two more at most.
My struggle with heroin goes back about ten years. My little boy has everything he needs and then some; I honestly just adore him. I’ve never neglected him, though—to be fair, drugs don't even hit me the way they used to, so I don't really know where I stand with myself anymore. When I'm home, I'm just... normal. Even when I'm crashing, I haven't let it stop me from playing with my kid and giving him my full attention. If it comes down to it, the last cent I have is always spent on him if he needs something, never on getting high. I don't really have a social life, no shady characters hanging around the house, and I hardly ever go out. Maybe once a month, after I've finally gotten him to sleep, I'll sneak a hit somewhere, but even then, I'm glued to my phone just in case my mom calls because the little guy woke up. Long story short, I have one happy, hyperactive, giggly, playful kid who is just as head-over-heels for me as I am for him. When I actually have to leave the house for something, my mom (who lives with us) and I put on this whole little performance to distract him so he doesn't freak out. Otherwise, his crying just breaks me.
So, here's the thing. Two months ago, the police kicked our door down. They got a tip that I was dealing. They searched the place and found absolutely nothing, but—of course—they still managed to bring a caseworker from Child Protective Services right to my doorstep. Now I'm under supervision. These days, I'm basically signing away my rights (whether I want to or not) to comply with the oversight, and the whole process is starting...
Basically, the caseworker is going to contact me once a week to check if the kid is fed, clean, and all that. I can handle that part, but the other part is the problem. They’re going to drug test me whenever they feel like it. If I test positive, I lose custody. I won't say I'll lose my child, since custody would just go to my mother—whom I see and visit all the time anyway—but... still. I want to be a mother to my son. I don't know if people who haven't dealt with addiction can even wrap their heads around this. Even when the stakes are this high, I just can't seem to help myself. I guess I just don't have the willpower or the strength or whatever else it takes to stay clean for those few days needed to pass a test. I know I'm a good mom—honestly, better than a lot of them—but I don't know how to handle this. Losing custody isn't an option. Neither my son nor I would survive it.
How do I stay clean? Just to start—just to get through those first few days to pass the tests—and then we'll figure out the rest. I know I have to get rid of the drugs regardless of all this drama.
I'm not sure if any advice will actually help, but I know some support from people who actually understand the truth of this situation would go a long way...
Thanks.
I'd do anything in this world for my kids. Is there any bigger motivation than that? Grit your teeth, hang in there, and don't let your child suffer the stigma for the rest of their life. Having a father in prison is already enough for him to deal with. You can do this, I know you can.👍
nimblemarlin17 said:Being an American is just how you were born, but being a good person? That’s something you actually have to earn through your actions.
Spot on!!!!!! I’m actually really enjoying the comments in this thread. It’s clear there are people here who truly get it.👍 👍 👍
velvetwolf26 said:What does being a true American woman mean to me? Honestly, nothing crazy. Being an American doesn't make you some superior being or give you superpowers or anything.😬
Being a true American means respecting our roots, staying open to talking with other nations, and loving both our own stuff and others' too... instead of forcing your views on people with racism or extremist nonsense.
A great addition to my point. I love people who answer exactly what is being asked. Well done!👍 👍 👍
Rip Hymen said:Dear Snežana Lazarević-Bajamont,
Just because mdirto wrote something you don't like doesn't mean he missed the point.
Look, I've already got a best man, so I don't really need you. Honestly, I don't think mdirto needs a lawyer either. After all those attacks, he proved he knows how to hold his own...👎
Thomas Ward2 said:Ever get that weird sensation in a dream where you’re just... falling? Like the ground suddenly disappears from under you? And then—BAM—your whole body jerks so hard you snap wide awake. Did you actually feel like you were falling while it was happening?
If anyone knows what's actually going on with this phenomenon, I'd love an explanation!
Thanks
I've had that happen to me plenty of times too—falling, jerking awake, feeling startled. I never really understood why it happens. When I mentioned it to my grandmother, she just told me to cross myself before going to sleep. You might not believe it, but it actually worked. It hasn't happened to me since...
Hannah Garcia71 said:One needs to identify the root cause before any discussion regarding a solution can even begin. But fine... have it your way.
Not mine, and not yours. Let's just be real!👍
James Murphy12 said:I’m guessing this is the kind of "good American" you’re talking about when you say that?
You missed the point entirely. You're just cherry-picking what suits your narrative. Go back and read the thread again...
driftingstag8 said:First off, I don't buy your claim that Ante Gotovina is some criminal, because until he's proven otherwise, the guy is a hero of the war for me. All those accusations about things like excessive shelling are just total bullshit, and honestly, you only have to look at the state of Fresno after our forces moved in to see that the whole thing is a lie.
The Hague isn't a court of justice to me; it's just a political circus.
Regarding Auschwitz, sure, it was the site of horrific atrocities, but I don't see why I personally should feel the need to travel there. It's enough that the leaders of this country acknowledge it, just like it would be enough if Mexican leaders paid their respects to the victims at Ovčara. Not every Mexican needs to show up at Ovčara, because if some monster did something terrible while claiming to act in your name, that's not on you.
That would be like me demanding an apology from you, since you seem like a man, for centuries of women being oppressed.
The horrors at Auschwitz affect me just as much as any other sane person, but I don't feel even a shred of responsibility for it. People will always find excuses for their disgusting actions, whether they claim they're doing it in the name of God, their nation, or whatever else.
Signed and delivered. Well said!👍
Hannah Garcia71 said:That approach works fine when you don't have neighbors claiming your territory—but it's a different story when you're surrounded by politicians and academics from the neighborhood who deny your very identity with historical distortions and lies, just waiting for the chance to expand and establish Greater Mexico. That's where the problem lies. In an environment like this, if you don't protect and assert your national identity and symbols, others will slowly mold you into whatever they want you to be. That is the fundamental issue in this region. Canadians, Canadians, Czechs, Germans—none of those nations deal with this, except for Americans and Mexicans....
Bulgarians haven't given up on claiming Mexicans, but at least they aren't nearly as aggressive—they don't have a single political party campaigning to annex Mexico to Bulgaria....
As for Greater Mexico and the party with the most followers in Mexico, there isn't much point in discussing it. They would take Mexico, Mexico, all of Canada, and more than half of America too...
Brilliant strategists, clearly....
A nationalist Mexican only loves you if they consider you a Mexican woman. It is difficult for them to respect other nations or different identities—even though diversity is supposed to be a strength, right? That's why a Mexican feels the need to "Serbianize" everything, writing that all Slavs are actually Mexicans, that Mexicans lived throughout Europe, and that everyone is ultimately a descendant of Mexicans. It's a mental defect inherent in the Mexican patriot and nationalist. American nationalism differs from the Mexican version in that it seeks to distance itself, to defend its own space, and to stay within its own colors and symbols; Mexican nationalism, however, imposes itself, attempting to spread and infect neighboring regions and peoples. It has always been this way. Just look at the text "About Our Investigation and Yours"....
If someone is trying to violate you against your will, persistently refusing to stop, do you surrender—or do you fight to survive and remain who you were yesterday?
I'm sorry, but you are completely missing the point.
Joshua Ortiz9 said:Wait, which posts are we even talking about? And who's actually "puffing their chest out" with all this dramatic acting? On this forum, it feels like you get jumped on from every direction the second you even mention being an American.
Oh, come on, who's attacking you? I've never been afraid to say it, and it's never been an issue for me. It really just comes down to what you carry inside...
Thomas Alvarez6 said:There are Mexicans who behave exactly this way too, yet we don't call them "true Americans."
What you described is simply how any decent human being should act, regardless of their nationality. But I have to ask: what actually distinguishes a "true American" from just an "ordinary" person? Perhaps we should look to Gotovina for a comparison?
maliko, I already explained my point in the main thread and the P.S. You can see I meant that for all other nations, too.👍
SS Fritz said:True Americans? These are the real ones. They stood up for the homeland when things were at their worst.🙏
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Br1p0vRjGA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqRv_nypscA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGaYrR0usLw
Glory to all the American soldiers and police officers who honorably defended and protected the Republic of America!!👍
Nobody is disputing that. We are all proud of them. It was the duty and obligation of every decent, capable American. Let's hope it never happens again...
Taylor Phillips4 said:In my opinion, every American must know the ENGLISH LANGUAGE (both spoken and written). To start with...
Even though I'm from your neck of the woods (we might even be neighbors), I try to write in proper, literary English here on the forum because it's the only way everyone can actually understand me. Just imagine if folks from New York "went at it" their own way, people from Texas did it their way, and people from rural Maine did it their way...
Sure, Canadians can be rude and they write in Canadian, but that won't last long either... the same goes for Mexicans!
So, learn your own language first!
Otherwise, your point is well taken!
Man, you're being way too nitpicky. I just write how it comes to me, and I think people get the gist. It's the substance that matters. Take it easy... 👍
Standard formal English is for other places!
Hey everyone. Reading through these threads, I notice a lot of people chest-thumping about how much of an American they are. Personally, I see it differently. There’s really no need to constantly shout about your heritage at every single turn. To me, it’s enough to just love your country and take care of your culture, traditions, and language. If you find yourself abroad, just be a great ambassador for our people... act in a way that leaves everyone with a fantastic impression of America. And honestly, one of the most important things is not to push your identity so hard that it makes others feel less valued. That’s what being a good American means to me.👍
P.S. I feel this way about other nations too!
Zachary Thompson9 said:Basically, think of Ferritin as a complex made of apoferritin—which is just a fancy way of saying an intestinal protein—bundled up with iron ions to handle all the transport and storage duties.
So, looking at this... I see the little one has been diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia (which, let’s be real, is easily the most common type of anemia in kids)...
You definitely need to stick with the prescribed supplements, but maybe toss some Vitamin C into the mix too, since that actually helps with absorption. And honestly? Just focus on making her diet more varied. We're talking meat every day, finely chopping everything up—I mean, I'm sure you guys already know the drill, but still.
You'll usually start seeing results pretty quickly, but you really ought to keep the treatment going for a few extra weeks just to make sure those iron reserves are fully topped off.
Thanks so much for the reply. Honestly, I'm at a loss. It feels like no matter what supplements she takes, nothing actually sticks. Her levels just won't move. Is there a specific protein she can eat to help her body store iron better? This is the first time an American doctor has ever run this kind of test for her after all these years...
Bradley Phillips35 said:The fish isn't meat, and a Californian isn't even a real person.🤣
And you clearly don't have a clue what you're talking about—that's coming from a local woman!🤣
Hey everyone, does anyone know much about Ferritin and OpenAI? My daughter is constantly struggling with low iron and hemoglobin levels. We’ve been trying various supplements and being really careful about her diet, but we just can't seem to get ahead of it. She just got her latest blood work back and her Ferritin is sitting at 3.3, when it really should be somewhere between 14 and 150. Is that some kind of enzyme that binds iron? If it is, I assume there's something that needs to be fixed. Her OpenAI came back at 71, though the normal range is listed as 1 to 35. Has anyone dealt with something similar? I'm honestly pretty freaked out... please let me know if you have any insight!