slygardener4 said:That is precisely the fatal flaw within our right-wing politics—they possess a deep-seated inclination toward authoritarian control over their own citizens while simultaneously acting as puppets for foreign interests. 🤮
And frankly, the Left isn't any better. It's the classic hallmark of insecure cowards.
goldengull3 said:In a nation where 4.4 million people reside, only 1.3 million are actually working—and half of that group is tied directly or indirectly to the state—how many people could realistically be expected to vote for a true conservative platform?
Americans have a deep-seated love for socialism: "The government needs to provide for me (insert: housing, a job, even a stable romantic life)..."
That’s how they were raised. Under the old regime, leadership was treated like an absolute parent—part loving father figure, part ruthless disciplinarian—and everyone else was expected to just take the beating. The truth is, they need to grow up. They need to wake up from these infantile delusions, because those old authority figures aren't coming back to save them. But they refuse to face reality. In fact, they find anyone who actually stays awake to be an inconvenience; they'd rather drown anyone with a sense of awareness just to maintain their comfort. The problem is, the longer they stay asleep, the more they rely on the system—their safety nets, their comforts, their very homes. When the awakening finally hits, it won't be gentle. They’ll open their eyes to find themselves stripped bare and standing on cold ground under a storm-torn sky. It’s pathetic. 😢
If we actually had a truly patriotic, honest, and competent Republican Party 🙂 instead of the current mess, we wouldn't just be dealing with thorns; we'd be looking at a field of a thousand blooming flowers. 🙂
Michael Anderson2 said:Will it even matter?...🤣 What good is it if you don't live up to your own word—if you don't actually stand up for the things you preach?
Well, it’s basically over. The extremists won. Even Gettysburg looks like a minor skirmish compared to this 🤣
Just don't lose hope or lose focus on what's right. In the long run, life tends to balance itself out. I support you starting this thread; it serves as yet another clear sign of the mess the Raiders have left us in 👍
I don't bother following them. Honestly, I find some of our own outlets, like Index or T-Portal, just as draining to read. All that's missing is a little more local news from the Pre-Drina region to complete the headache.
There might be something to the coward mentality—they tend to bow to the powerful while trampling those beneath them.😕 And that is exactly how Dr. Ivo operates.
Ma, excuse me, ma'am, but would you say you're being indecisive? Honestly, it's a bit of both. 🤣 It’s probably best if you just hang out with Jerry Martinez5. You two seem to be on the same wavelength anyway. As for that friend who started this whole mess... frankly, nobody cares about her.
Come on, Rebecca Scott3, don't you see what's happening? Your friend, going by the handle Jerry Martinez5, is clearly trying to shut down any actual, constructive conversation about her life before it even gets started. 😁
Rebecca Scott3 said:...I honestly think this whole letter thing is a solid move.......I’m going to sit down and write to her.......now I just need to figure out the best way to approach it... ...because every single time I've tried to actually talk things through with her, she just gets incredibly defensive....it's like, "no, that's not how it happened" or some other excuse... ...but look, she's clearly hooked, like totally head over heels at first sight....so why not? She's got the great paycheck and all those fancy titles too... .... ...complexes...yeah, they're a huge issue.....it's probably not going to be easy to get her to change much.....but...I'll give it a shot.....
Slowly and with focus. Aim for the core of the matter. Don't pull your punches, but don't be insulting either. 🙂
Do yourself a favor and send her a long, old-fashioned letter. If she’s refusing to listen to anything you have to say, a letter is one thing she won't be able to ignore.
For the sauce: 3 shallots 1/2 cup heavy cream apple cider vinegar dry white wine 60g butter
Instructions: 1 First, remove the heads, legs, and giblets from the pigeons. Wash and pat them dry. Butterfly them by cutting along the breastbone so they lay flat like a steak. In a bowl, combine about ten tablespoons of olive oil with a sprig of finely chopped thyme and a bit of fresh cracked pepper. Submerge the pigeons in this marinade and let them rest in the refrigerator for an hour, turning them occasionally to ensure even coverage. 2 To prepare the sauce: peel the shallots, mince them finely, and sauté them in 20g of butter. Pour in a glass of wine and simmer over low heat, stirring constantly, until the liquid has reduced by about half. 3 While that simmers, place the pigeons on a grill over hot coals. Cook them for 7–8 minutes per side, basting frequently with the leftover marinade. Finish the sauce by adding a glass of vinegar and letting it reduce over low heat. Once about two-thirds of the liquid has evaporated, the sauce is nearly ready. 4 Whisk in small pieces of the remaining butter, then stir in the heavy cream, salt, and pepper. Serve the pigeons hot, seasoned with salt and pepper, accompanied by the fragrant sauce.
Michelle Vaughn18 said:I started writing this when I was in that headspace where I was realizing that none of this was really, you know, normal. By the end of the post, I was pretty convinced the whole thing was pointless, but since I’d already typed it out... what did I have to lose? I mean, I don't really know what to do anymore anyway.
The pill stuff is super hard to explain. On one hand, I know meds are supposed to do something... like dull the pain and stuff, and I just want them to dull whatever it is happening to me. I don't even know what "it" is myself. On the other hand, I want to see what they actually do. Like I said, I've thought about suicide a lot, but I don't have the right meds on hand, and honestly, I'm not EVEN sure I want to go through with it. Just playing around with different combos and amounts... trying to get a feel for them and how strong they are, how they work... But since I don't feel ANY effect, I'm just taking more and more. I take all sorts of things, just wildly DIFFERENT stuff—whatever I find lying around the house, from Advil to antibiotics (when I was sick, instead of taking them to get better, I'd just hoard them so I could swallow them all at once). The ones that look most tempting are the ones with those strict warnings and limits (like how many you can safely take), so I just take more than that.
I don't have problems, I'm positive about that! Why? Because I've had them before. And I know what actual problems look like. It's actually because I *don't* have problems that I feel so miserable; it makes me feel even worse. I used to think all my stupid behavior would stop once my problems vanished, but that's not how it works. The picking thing... also really hard to put into words. Everything is hard to explain because I don't even understand it myself. Suddenly I'll just "snap" and do something dumb like picking at my skin or self-harming... or the pill thing. After I do it, I feel better.
I actually do have goals and I am enrolled in college. But lately, those goals just feel... pointless. I mean, we're all gonna die anyway, right? So who cares if I check stuff off a list or not? And honestly, even the college thing is such a struggle. It was supposed to be this "fresh start," but I'm 99% sure I'm gonna blow it. I just don't have the strength left, and everything I used to care about is losing its meaning. And I wouldn't call myself lazy. I've proven that to myself. I worked really hard to get into school, and I did it.
I used to be at my computer all the time. But I wouldn't say I was building a whole different world there; it was more just a way to pass the time. I don't spend nearly as much time on it now. Honestly, I barely do anything anymore. I just lie around. I've lost interest in everything.
The issues with your behavior and mood are likely directly tied to this "experimentation" with pills. It's entirely possible your entire mental state is being driven by a series of chemical reactions in your body and brain—because, let's be blunt, you're an addict.
Essentially, if you want to figure out what's actually wrong with you—aside from the dependency itself—you need to detox first. You have to clear the slate.
If you can't do it on your own, you absolutely need to seek professional help.
Once you've eventually cleared your system (assuming one of those "medicinal" cocktails doesn't kill you first), you'll finally have a stable foundation to work on your mental and physical health. And maybe a shot at some actual happiness.
Zachary Mendoza2 said:No, why would I be? They are my ancestors, and I respect them. In fact, I want to learn more about them. It is how I understand myself and others.
In reality, Charles Darwin himself didn't have particularly original thoughts. He essentially lifted his theory of evolution from another thinker—Empedocles.
briskpuma23 said:Creating isn't just about having an original thought. I wouldn't even say how much of a stretch original thought actually is as a concept. And it’s certainly not original thought that serves as the foundation for humanity. When someone treats an original thought as their ultimate life goal, they usually end up just chasing the unoriginal urge to shock people.
Exactly. It’s like my old acquaintance Herostratus.