The last few weeks on Batch, I've been occupying myself, for amusement, out of boredom, and also out...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 21, 2021:

Apparently N. just read my final reply on Batch. Our conversations are erased from my inbox. She must have read my reply and then deleted all the messages between us. Just for laughs I typed a couple words of another message to her, but she has me blocked from sending her any further messages, even tho I am not blocked from seeing her profile, at least not yet. No surprise here at all..

Rush Limbaugh dead at 70: A media blowhard for American capitalism - World Socialist Web Site

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 21, 2021:

Reagan and Rush deserve a lot of the blame for the rise in right wing populism, but so does the Dem Party for always effectively killing any left wing populism that ever rose as a response to Reagan and Rush, even as early as the 1980s. I remember how they crushed Jesse Jackson, Dennis Kuccinich, Jerry Brown, and others on the left as well as Nader, trying to promote left wing populism, long before Bernie became a national figure. They have been at this a long time and had plenty of practice before screwing Bernie in 2016.

Freedom Rider: Impeachment Theater Democracy is hanging on by a thread -- not due to marauding ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 21, 2021:

I couldn't agree more with any of this. At least two of us are not ignorant rubes that fall for the distraction and propaganda. Too bad we will always be way outnumbered.

Kiri has discovered plastic bags are fun.... [youtu.be]

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 21, 2021:

My former neighbor's cat loved to play with plastic tissues and to lay in boxes.

The last few weeks on Batch, I've been occupying myself, for amusement, out of boredom, and also out...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 21, 2021:

> Update: This afternoon N. sent me a terse reply with no apology about her having ghosted me for four days before her reply today. I quote as follows: Sorry we are not a match and I wish you the best". I sent her a reply of about 100 words explaining why I thought she ghosted me and critiquing her standards for rejecting me as not having a successful professional career and thus not being high status enough for her and her friends. I explained how my two degrees did prove quite helpful in my marriage as a partner with my wife, who was a social worker, and later as a caregiver for her and then as her guardian. I also mentioned that my marriage as my one LTR in life, proved I was a competent and worthy partner for someone and as far as I'm concerned I am a successful person in life as proven by my marriage, certainly as much of one as any divorced woman like her, whose marriage failed. I also suggested she might revise her profile essay to remove the words caring and empathetic from her self description and that she take a look at her selection skills and her values when it comes to choosing a partner. I also said that she could have learned all this other information about me soon enough if she had not rejected me prematurely for not being enough of a high status male. We shall see if she reports me to Batch for being insulting or abusive, etc. in my reply to her, but as of now, I feel I said nothing out of line in my reply to her terse, non-apology for ghosting me and I do not deserve any kind of suspension or banning from Batch. If she has the right to ghost me without any explanation or apology, then I feel I have to right to assertively have my say in reply when she renewed contact with me, not that I think it will have any influence or change in her. I simply enjoy standing up for myself and having my say. I have never ghosted anyone or even done anything like that in the dating game before online dating and I never will. I will always maintain contact, give them a real goodbye, and an explanation as well, whether they ask for it or not, whenever I reject someone after having seen them in person more than once. So when someone ghosts me and then sends me a half-assed or terse message, I am damn well going to give it back to them and have my final say about them. Thoughts??

That's the big difference

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 21, 2021:

That is a difference between individual members of the parties on isolated incidences of either promoting or opposing a relief effort. It's apples and oranges to compare that to how the vast majority of both parties membership acts when it comes to long term policy and legislation, such as military funding, tax policy, environmental policy, economic policy, endless wars, health care policy. My point stands, namely that both parties are owned by the same people and support the same ruling class policies on everything that really matters as far as long term laws and legislation. AOC is given no real power in her own party and is allowed to be a shining star for the media of progressive policy only in order for her to serve the useful purpose of the Dem Party leadership, of conning most people into thinking she is the leader and norm for Dem Party policy, which she isn't by any stretch of the imagination. The same applies to Bernie Sanders and other member of The Squad. They are simply a marketing tool for the Dem Party leadership, but no way in hell will the party ever allow one of them to get the party nomination for prez or even VP.

Sunday morning cuteness

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 21, 2021:

Fight the oppressive power, kitties!.....

Sunday morning fun

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 21, 2021:

Like I said somewhere else, Rush's body or ashes will undoubtedly be interred in some high security vault or crypt that the masses will not be able to visit or desecrate. Sort of a post death version of a gated community.

Biden visits Bob Dole at home

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 20, 2021:

Even tho Dole was a Repub, tho a moderate one back when the party had a number of them, I always liked him and thought he was a decent man. He was also the funniest politician I have ever heard. He really was " too funny to be president", the title of his memoir... I'm glad Biden made that visit. Dole deserved it.

1. Will this Covid bring the US economy back to the dirty 30s?

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 20, 2021:

I will limit myself to just saying two things. The photo appears to be a cow, and, Covid's effect on any one individual is very hard to predict. There are people over 90 who have survived it and there are people in their 30s who have died from it. It's too deadly and unpredictable to be careless about and trifle with. It's your life and your health, so do what you want regarding Covid, but don't dare endanger my health with your choices. You have no right to do so.

Ron DeSantis Orders Florida’s Flags Lowered to Honor Rush Limbaugh Florida’s Republican ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 20, 2021:

Everybody mooning Rush on his way to the grave is a fitting send-off...

I was just trying to log in to agnostic.

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 20, 2021:

Happened to me too a little earlier this morning. Like the other guy said, it happens from time to time and I just check back later.

Modern dating.

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 20, 2021:

In spite of how scary that sounds, the more common, realistic risk of online dating is good old hurt feelings and disappointment, no matter how low you keep your expectations.

Take that trump fans

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 20, 2021:

I really wanted Bernie instead, but I held my nose and voted for Biden, mainly because he wasn't Trump and I knew with Biden we would at least get better leadership on Covid as well as a better chance at getting the kind of economic relief for Covid as well. Outside of that stuff, I expect little improvement in our country from Biden. In the rest of things besides the Covid crisis, Biden will be better mannered than Trump, but he really won't change much for the better, just like he said in his speech to fat cat donors before the primary campaign. Of course, Biden and the Dems will blame that lack of action and change on the Repubs, but, like Obama, the real reason will be that they don't support it in the first place. Most Americans are sheeple who are too stupid to see that and blame it all on either the red or the blue, not on both, like they should. If Biden's admin. plays out the way I expect, I promise we will have another Repub prez in four years, and he will be worse than Trump. You heard it here first..

Texas Republicans! 🙄

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 19, 2021:

All three are equally huge assholes. I can't pick one over the others.

Faced with real consequences for participating in insurrection, MAGA followers turn on Trump

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 19, 2021:

My fear is that most of them will never face much in the way of consequences for the riot, certainly not as much as they deserve. I am also disturbed that whoever killed that one cop does not seem to be likely to be charged with murder and also that Kyle Rittenhouse will probably never be convicted of anything serious for the two murders he committed last summer in Kenosha, WI.

Are you an individualist? [youtube.com]

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 19, 2021:

Quite the opposite, I am a proud socialist and a believer in collectiveism. America's biggest problem is this hyper-individualism. It blinds us to having empathy for others as well as to seeing our common interests, such as single payer health care for all and a guarrentied income. We need both of them ASAP, but individualism prevents voters from seeing the rational solutions to our problems. I don't see it going away in my lifetime, if ever, because it's only gotten worse during my adult life, beginning with the Reagan presidency. The older I get, the more I wish I had met a compatible Canadian woman when I was young, so I could have married and lived there with her. A Euro woman would have been even better. The US is more and more seeming like a hostile society where I don't belong, but I'm doomed to die here, probably while still alone. Even as a young adult, I quickly realized that, in the vast majority of people, birth location and family ties were destiny when it came to earnings and career success, and that educational and employment opportunities were the vehicles thru which that destiny was provided. Also, as long as most Americans remain very materialistic and buy into consumerism, they will continue to support a competitive society and economy instead of collectiveism and cooperation, because they also seem to never lose their belief that someday they or their kids will get lucky and become rich, against the odds.

Love George Carlin's political commentary. [youtu.be]

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 19, 2021:

Does anybody recognize who the dickhead was debating Carlin there?

Definitely them

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 19, 2021:

So true. You only need to be smarter than the rubes and know which buttons to push.

We can still jail him

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 19, 2021:

Hell yes!

I truly am sad and afraid for our kids

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 19, 2021:

Part of my reasoning in choosing to never have kids..

Go Ted, go! And Take Mitch McConnell with you...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 19, 2021:

Good one..

Deregulate the power grid, fail to winterize the equipment, blame a socialist policy when disaster ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 18, 2021:

This is one of those clear cases that, if Texans still vote for Repubs in state elections, then they truly get the government they deserve, at least collectively.

Seems Mexico needs a wall

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 18, 2021:

That is fucking hilarious satire! Made my day...

This lady in a wheelchair couldn't climb the stairs, but watch what happens when she pushes the ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 18, 2021:

A concealed lift. That is really slick..

Ted Cruz Accused of Flying to Cancun Amid Texas Power Outages As Photo Goes Viral

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 18, 2021:

There goes his presidential hopes. I can already see the attack ads writing themselves for Cancun Cruz...

This Preacher Said in October He Cured Rush Limbaugh’s Lung Cancer With Prayer | Hemant Mehta | ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 18, 2021:

In the words of the late Rev. Mojo Risin (JIm Morrison of The Doors), " You cannot petition the Lord, with prayer!"..

Yeah some caring politician

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 18, 2021:

I hope this cooks his political ambitions for prez. The attack ads over this are already writing themselves if his opponents have the balls to use them. Cancun Cruz has a ring to it and is ready-made for the ad.

Truth to my mind

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 18, 2021:

Well said. I gave up long ago trying to reason with the ignorant and delusional. Like trying to talk a schizophrenic out of their delusions. Only meds can change that. I don't know what can change a Trumper.

Kroger Closing More Stores to Avoid Paying Workers Hazard Pay Grocery giant Kroger, announced ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 18, 2021:

Sad to see another company is just as greedy and heartless as Walmart.

The world got a bit better today.

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 18, 2021:

And that if hell existed, Donald has this friend waiting for him to join him there.

Poor Kitty

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 18, 2021:

Kitty needs her own playseat..

This is a Texas politician We owe you nothing

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 18, 2021:

Everything's bigger in Texas, including the assholes....

For someone who did so much damage to American democracy, and contributed to poisoning the minds of ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 17, 2021:

If we're wrong and there is a hell, may Rush rot in it... I've never killed anyone either, but I have wanted to stand on the graves of some people and, as Elvis Costello sang, " Tramp The Dirt Down".. He wrote it about Margaret Thatcher.

Does teaching "white guilt" also cultivate a "white pride" backlash?

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 17, 2021:

I don't really have a vote on this. I just know that many, but not all, white people get defensive and lash out when they feel their white identity and white privilege are confronted and threatened with it being taken away from them, at least as they see it. This results in backlash and they act it out by voting for Repubs and other reactionary pols. They also act it out by bashing and seeking power and control over racial and ethnic minorities. I like to think I am fairly non-racist and teachings about white guilt and white privilege don't threaten me personally, so I don't react negatively to it. I take it in, weigh it against my experience, logic, and use my intellect to apply it to how I live and treat others. Because I would like to live in a pluralistic, peaceful society if possible, and because I know that non-whites are not my real enemy is this country. As a socialist, I know my real enemy is the ruling class. Most whites have not figured that out yet, sadly, and neither have a lot of minority race Americans.

Misogynist, racist, xenophobe, narcissist, drug addict, hypocrite, enemy of American democracy and ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 17, 2021:

I just saw the news on TV and I laughed out loud in spite. I'm sure he'll have plenty of conservative company waiting for him in hell, if only it existed... Things like this make me wish there was one.

New form fitting clothing for men... 🤔😂🤣

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 17, 2021:

Reminds me of something out of the movie A Clockwork Orange...

fun cat video. [facebook.com]

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 16, 2021:

Sheesh. Watching this video is sort of creepy when I think of how many humans are in relationships with partners that are less loving and affectionate than these cats.

Dave Chappelle on Capitol Riot. [youtu.be]

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 16, 2021:

I feel cheated. I was hoping and expecting several minutes of Chappelle, but all they played was maybe half a minute. Too hot for corporate news channels.

57 GOP State And Local Officials Were At The Capitol Insurrection | HuffPost

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 16, 2021:

No surprise there. I doubt they will suffer any political consequences for their participation with their state parties or even in their next election. In fact, in red voting areas, it may even help.

Texas Republicans Beg Biden for Help Weeks After Endorsing Secession Bill In response to a huge...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 16, 2021:

They deserved for Biden to tell them to shove it, same as Trump would have told a blue state in the same boat. Dems are such pussies.

US could have averted 40% of Covid deaths, says panel examining Trump's policies | US news | The ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 15, 2021:

The way Trumpers see it, most of those deaths were elderly people mooching off Social Security they don't deserve, but of course all the Trumpers can't wait to collect theirs. As for the rest of the Covid deaths, disproportionally among the poor and minorities, those people aren't their kind and are surplus labor anyway in most cases, so they are also seen as no loss. Same with low wage workers like meatpackers who have had a lot of Covid deaths, easy to replace, no loss there.

What should they call the new "Republican Party"?

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 15, 2021:

I vote for New Confederate States Of America or American Fascist Party. At least those two names would be honest and fitting.

Hundreds of people are volunteering to escort elderly Asian Americans to help keep them safe - CNN

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 15, 2021:

Man, I hate racist bullies. Makes me want to beat the shit out of them if I could legally do it.

The price of being single |

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 15, 2021:

I was with my late wife from 1995 to 2015, when we were medically separated because of her dementia getting bad enough that we had to live apart until her death two years later. I kept visiting her regularly after we had to live apart. Before her dementia began in 2011, those 16 good years with her were the best years of my adult life and I still cherish them. I also still have a strong memory of how much I was getting tired of being single the last several years before I met her. So I have a clear picture and plenty of data to go on in seeing how much better my life was with my wife than before her as well as what my life has been like as a widower for really the last five years, after she was already gone for the most part from the dementia.

Biden's Win Was MUCH Tighter Than Originally Thought - YouTube

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 14, 2021:

I have no doubt whatsoever, and didn't before the election, that if it weren't for Covid and it's effect on the real economy, not the stock market, that Trump would have won. We won't be so lucky in four years.

If someone's not happy with the Senate's verdict that found Trump "not guilty," this map might ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 14, 2021:

Almost all of these senators are from red states where their seats are very safe, so, nice idea, but it's not likely most of them can be bounced...

-6 degrees outside. I definitely would rather be on a tropical island today.

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 14, 2021:

It will reach -21, air temp, before our current cold spell is over in my area.

We are STILL BEING LIED TO.

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 14, 2021:

I already believe the whole 9-11 Commission's report was a whitewash, so why would the insurrection be any different?

My summation of Impeachment verdict

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 14, 2021:

Jimmy Carter himself said several years ago that we are no longer a functioning democracy. It was true then because corporations had taken over the government and we had a plutocracy and kleptocracy. The insurrection and impeachment have simply ripped off the veil so the rot is easier to see.

I hope he listens

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 14, 2021:

The problem is Biden is too cowardly to play hardball with the Repubs, and even if he wasn't, he has no interest in changing the status quo. He's not going to run for re-election anyway and will probably hand over the reins to Harris either before his term ends or set her up to get the nomination in four years.

The Democratic Party has for some time now been a moderate conservative ( business ) party.

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 14, 2021:

Too late, I'm afraid. Bernie missed his chance this last time. He's now seen as too old.

I almost wished I believed in hell

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 14, 2021:

I share your pain.

What do you know about accountability, Pooh?

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 13, 2021:

If you're a Repub pol, you're accountable to no one, altho you do have to pretend to be accountable to God.

Snow is a delightful occurrence here, with about 4" today after a night of being blasted with ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 13, 2021:

Our snow ended yesterday, at least for several days. Meanwhile it's crazy cold and windy. Winds around 25-40 mph with air temps as low as -15.

43 fake Americans in our Senate.

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 13, 2021:

10 votes short. Just about what I expected. Since the outcome was already clear long ago, I wish the Dems had gotten it over with quicker.

Fox host argues against raising the minimum wage because "fun things" will cost more | Media Matters...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 13, 2021:

That point about minimum wage being mostly a "starting wage" is bullshit, because most low wage jobs have no unions representing the workers, and like Wal-Mart, the business model in those businesses is to rely on constant turnover so there is no pressure or, in the minds of the business owners, justification to increase the wages of long term employees. Case in point, I used to work for a small radiator shop as a delivery driver. During my indentured servitude there for a few years, I was making around $9 and hour to start, back in the late 90s. The boss was a redneck who knew I had gone to college and he really enjoyed harassing me whenever he got the chance about anything he could come up with, driving too slow, etc. When it came time for my yearly performance review, which supposedly would determine my wage increase, if any, he would always give me a measly nickel an hour wage increase. The job benefits were good and I enjoyed my driving job, except for the boss. He also kept me stuck in the only truck that didn't have working air conditioning. If it weren't for those benefits and my enjoyment of driving, I would have been out of there quick as soon as I could find something better. Starting wage, my ass...

Roaming Charges: Scene of the Crimes - CounterPunch.org

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 12, 2021:

I must admit that the older I get, the more I feel like this, feelings of despair, resignation, and an inclination to abandon the fight. I wonder how Bernie Sander privately feels about the future of America and our politics. He knows he will probably die soon.

Secular Dating

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 12, 2021:

Shortcut route, then visit a Unitarian church. Longer route, try online dating and designate yourself as atheist, agnostic, or spiritual, but not religious, depending on your preference for a label and on what the site allows for labels to choose. Plan on it taking a while unless you get very lucky with the Unitarian church route and find one with a lot of single women your age. The odds are against that because, in my experience, most of the single women at those churches tend to be middle aged or older than that. The women your age at those churches are almost always coupled and with young kids. In other words, most young adults at those churches are part of a young family with kids.

Bruce Springsteen JEEP 2021 Super Bowl Commercial 2021 LV - YouTube

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 12, 2021:

I too was disappointed to see this commercial. I like Springsteen and expected better from him. His politics are liberal, but he is always too quick to side with establishment Dems rather than progressives. The one time he went out on a limb to challenge his blue collar, establishment Dem fans was when he took a stand against police racism and brutality with his song American Skin. He got a lot of flack from police unions and his fans, so now he's preaching this vague unity stuff. Rotsa ruck with that.....

I think we knew it all along.

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 12, 2021:

No shit. Anyone with a room temp IQ and an ounce of intellectual honesty already knew that. Just like the whole "Support The Troops" talk and bumper stickers, it was really all about telling the protesters, whether it's against war or racist cops, to shut up and fall in line.

So - my partner died in 20.

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 12, 2021:

The sad fact is that if you are a woman on a typical paid dating site, like Match, not a free site like Agnostic, most men don't bother to read the bios or care about them. The photos are really most of the game with the paid sites. Some people pay to get professionally taken photos for their profile and I think that if you are not already above average looking, that may be money well spent.

i have a thought and i wanna share it shouldnt the woman be the one who bends down on one knee to...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 12, 2021:

May I ask why you are so negative towards women in general? What has your personal experience been, if I may ask?

US politics - The most compelling argument (in my opinion) for conviction is one I haven't heard, so...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 11, 2021:

The Repubs's argument against conviction, the same as last time, is that the incitement of the riot was not an impeachable offense. If so, then what the hell is an impeachable offense? Seems to me that many of the Repub Senators were still around in the 90s when the same Repubs voted to convict Bill Clinton for mere sexual perjury, lying about a blow job he got from his intern. As I recall no one died over that, unlike the seven dead so far from the riot. These people have no shame...

The whole world is watching.

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 11, 2021:

That is the reality. The trial vote is a referendum on which Repubs still support Trumpism. The election in two years will then be the final referendum on that by the voters.

Is it just my imagination, or did Match, and probably all the other dating sites as well, get rid of...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 11, 2021:

Update: It's also significant that Match eliminated some of the trait checklist that would tell a viewer what the member was looking for in a partner, such as race, income level, baldness or hair color, religion, height, etc. You can still see if they are looking for someone with kids or not and maybe a few other things, but for the most part, you are flying blind as to whether they have already eliminated you or are likely to, for not meeting the boxes on their shopping checklist. This is not really much of a hardship for the women, but it is for the men, since most of the time the men have to do all the pursuing and initial messaging. It would be nice if Match was sensitive to that and kept the original checklist of traits so we wouldn't have to guess every time as to which women would give us a chance or not. Seems to be just encouraging men to do the scattershot method and message every women in their area and age group, which I know is not something most women appreciate.

Crossing State Borders with a weapon, Video showing him being "cuddled" and "aided" by the PD, and...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 11, 2021:

Man, I hope this kid gets sent to the big house where he can be somebody's bitch....

What do you think scammer or just a misguided individual? [agnostic.com]

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 11, 2021:

Duplicate post.

What do you think scammer or just a misguided individual? [agnostic.com]

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 11, 2021:

Scammer. The photos are too ridiculously hot to be a real person. In fact, the whole set of photos changed in less than an hour.

Gallup: 60% of Americans Say They Could Vote for an Atheist President | Hemant Mehta | Friendly ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 11, 2021:

With Bernie, we could have had both a socialist and an atheist. Altho Bernie is a cultural Jew, I suspect he is privately an atheist as well.

I think we're all bracing for disappointment

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 11, 2021:

It's not surprising, since about half the jury is made up of his peers, as in fellow crooks...So he can't say he's not getting due process in that sense...

I think we're all bracing for disappointment

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 11, 2021:

Like a broken clock that is right twice a day, this time even Killary is right.

Aunt Jemima name change - Pearl Milling Company. No more racist images. [cnn.com]

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 11, 2021:

Reminds me of the SNL sketch last year with Dave Chappelle where the ad agency fired Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben for being non-PC and outdated. Guess the sketch was prophetic, as comedy often is... That whole thing is similar to the Weekend Update sketch on SNL back in the 70s when they announced that the Sambo's restaurant chain was adopting an all-kosher menu and changing the name to Hymie's Jew Boy..... Ah, good times.....

I sometimes wish this could be enforced.

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 11, 2021:

That's a great statement of what conservatives should do if they actually care about living their convictions. Instead, they are only interested in telling other people what to do and forcing them to do it, while at the same time pushing for government policies that facilitate the aquisition of wealth to satisfy their personal greed and selfishness. Their motto is, "More for me and my kind, less for everyone else". The creed of the socialist is, "More for everybody except the rich who already have too much-the super rich- and then maintain the balance".

Democrats WANT To Lose The Midterms: Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 10, 2021:

I totally agree. Remember how Obama started his first term with supermajorities in both houses of congress? He knew he would have to own all the blame for his neoliberal policies and selling out the working class. When he lost those majorities in the mid-terms, you could visibly see him relax that he now could blame the Repubs for not even proposing anything progressive to congress..

I'm quite glad, I'm not participating in this anymore. [m.youtube.com]

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 10, 2021:

Pretty on the mark. I haven't visited dance clubs or the bar scene with the intent of meeting women since I was in my 20s and even then it was pretty demoralizing, even tho I was noticeable better looking with a full head of hair and an athletic body. Since then I have only entered bars to sing karaoke or listen to live music. The dance club and meat market bar scene are a ridiculous waste of time for people once they are middle aged or older. I did go to one of them just out of morbid curiosity after a woman at a singles group for older adults that I briefly attended said that she went to this one club to meet men and dance. So I gave it an hour one night and it was exactly like this nature video. Really loud music, very packed, nowhere to sit, lots of women dancing together just like in the video amusing themselves with the advances of guys approaching them. Total bullshit. Nobody knows or can tell who there is actually interested in meeting other singles, who is there just to dance with their female friends, who is there mainly to chase sex (undoubtedly a minority of the women, but probably most of the single men) or who is maybe more than one of the above. And it's not worth any man's time or money to hang out there futilely trying to figure it out. Dating sites, cesspools that they are, are much better because at least most of the people on there-excluding the scammers and fake profiles-are at least nominally interested in meeting people to date. I have run across a number of women who say they refuse to use dating sites to meet men, because they say they can do that just as easily for no money by going to bars and dance clubs instead. And that may be true for the women who are above average looking, since there will always be men at those places who will buy them drinks, etc. and I saw evidence of that when I did my one hour field trip to the dance club. But the woman, no matter what her looks, will still have to pay their own cover charge if there is one for the club, and few men are going to approach a woman who is below average looking compared to the other women at the club. I also noted that the women I've run across in the last few years who say they will do clubs and bars before using dating sites, are NOT blessed with the kind of looks that will get them lots of free drinks, but I managed to refrain from my usual nature and tell them they would be paying their own way at the bars and clubs if they choose that route over dating sites. Bottom line is, if you are male at all, or a below average looking female, you are going to have to spend some money to meet dating prospects at my age. The choice is spending money on a dating site or else at the bars and clubs. In my mind, if I'm going to try meeting female strangers at public ...

Good to be loved I am looking for a long term relationship

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 10, 2021:

Since you live in Atlanta, which is way bigger than Des Moines, it's possible you may meet someone from your area here on Agnostic. Wish I could say the same for myself. No new women from my area have joined in the last three years and I have already struck out with the handful in my area from this site that I reached out to. Good luck...

What dangerous, wrong or false things do Conservatives believe?

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 9, 2021:

One of the most dangerous things that most of them appear to believe is simply their belief that might makes right, including the belief that those who are tolerant, respectful, and willing to compromise with those on the other side are WEAK and inferior to the warrior types that Trumper, fascist, reactionaries revere. This makes peaceful coexistence, pluralism, or multiculturalism in our society impossible. And I am getting fed up enough with how they are harming our government and culture in America that I support letting them secede or set up their own separate country of fascism, if that's what they seem to want. I will gladly move one state away from my current home if necessary to flee their idiotic politics.

ADMIN.

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 9, 2021:

Same thing happened to me a few days ago. Suddenly I was required to log in, even tho I had gone for more than a year since I last had to do that, instead of just being able to click on a previous alert e-mail sent from the site. None of the password codes the site sent to me worked, so I had to use the link to reset my password, which I had forgotten long ago from not having to log in for so long. I suspect the site's functioning is starting to deteriorate from not getting regular maintainence from site staff. Reminds me of what started to happen long ago with a karaoke discussion forum after they canned their webmaster and let the site fall apart. Eventually it was consumed by scammers and pirates using the site for their online ads. I also think this may be related to the lack of alerts I've had for the last few days.

Slow down Homer!!!

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 8, 2021:

Now that is what I call dilated pupils...

[youtu.

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 8, 2021:

What disturbs me is that the authorities in DC have yet to say anything about charges against the rioters that killed the capital cop or who is even suspected of it. I wonder if anyone will ever be charged and punished for that murder.

Enough with America's 'thank you for your service' culture.

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 7, 2021:

Americans need to get honest about what we now have regarding military service and wars of choice, instead of this strict code of thanking vets for service, supporting the troops (whatever that really means?), and otherwise accepting without question the policies of the pols, the government, and the military leaders. What we really have is a poverty draft and a military, at least at the lower rank levels, made up mostly of people who join mainly to escape poor employment options, racism, and poor education options, rather than out of patriotism or public service, and because of that they are seen by their civilian leaders and top brass as more like cannon fodder and human capital rather than precious human beings or noble warriors. That last part ought to rile up ole bigpawbullets, but I've already blocked him, so I'll just imagine his outrage...

Well, today's the day!!! Super Bowl LV!!! Which also happens to be the day that America's going to ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 7, 2021:

What achievement are you referring to?

Fox cancels Lou Dobbs.

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 6, 2021:

I remember a long time ago when Dobbs was on CNN and actually worth listening to. He told the truth back then, unlike other pundits, about how bad trade deals like NAFTA were for most Americans. Then he turned towards most of his message being immigrant bashing and racism. I tuned him out by the time he got to Fox News.

In Search of Tomorrow Ahead of Ecuador’s Feb.

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 6, 2021:

I bought this book a month ago and am planning on reading it soon during the coming cold spell in my area.

I saw this drawing and tried to remember the last hug I had, and it was well over a year ago.

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 6, 2021:

I hear you. The only hugs I've had since Covid hit hard have been with a gay male friend that I've known since high school, when I've been to visit him out of state a few times. Glad I'm secure and comfortable enough with myself and him to do that. Maybe this summer I can try online dating again and enjoy some hugs, or more, thru that. I may be weird, but I enjoy kissing and hugging just as much as sex.

So, yesterday I posted an interesting news release from my last employer.

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 6, 2021:

A way to heal the cannon fodder quicker so they can get back out there on patrol in whatever countries we're occupying...

Just a reminder of the stances of the republicans concerning Trump's second impeachment trial.

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 6, 2021:

At least the last two panels would be honest, but you'll never hear either one of them from the Repubs.

Senate Democrats Plan on Moving to Legalize Marijuana Later This Year [truthout.org] .

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 6, 2021:

A cynical way to get some votes next time without costing their rich donors anything. Just more culture war politics.

I'm curious. What the hell is wrong with Mitch McConnell's chin?

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 5, 2021:

When the inside and the outside match so well, you just can't help commenting on the repulsiveness...

Pastor Claims Biden White House Being Run By the Devil Conservative evangelical Pastor, ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 4, 2021:

These guys almost always turn out to be closet (gay) cases with serious sexual kinks....

How the rich maintain control

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 4, 2021:

Divide and conquer on ID politics and culture war issues works like a charm. People ignoring those and uniting on class basis scares the shit out of the ruling class. That's why their corporate media usually blacklists people like Bernie and Nader if they dare seek real power in the government. Can't have them encouraging the peasants to not fall for the distractions from the class war.

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TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 4, 2021:

Payback's a bitch and a MF, Donald...

No the parties are not the same

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 4, 2021:

Sure, there are stark differences between the parties on culture war issues, and even on real issues that matter more, like taxes, war, economics, health care, immigration, etc. but those differences on the latter issues are only between the progressive Dems like Bernie and AOC vs. the Repubs, not the establishment Dems and Dem leaders. Those Dems make sure that progressive like Bernie and AOC never get any real power in the party or congress, so those differences between the parties are for show and mostly just cosmetic ploys to raise money, fire up their base, and convince progressives to stay within the Dem Party instead of leaving and starting a third party that actually wanted them and respected them. That third party could then start getting what they wanted instead of having to settle for being always lied to and slapped in the face by the Dem Party.

Did Biden and the democrats lie about the $2,000 stimulus checks?

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 3, 2021:

They did lie about it and it's going to cost them next time we vote, at least in Georgia.

Wednesday morning cuteness...Bath time!!!

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 3, 2021:

Mama cat has a huge tongue..

Your LATE!!!!

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 2, 2021:

Must be feeding time..

This guy is fucking brilliant.. [youtube.com]

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 2, 2021:

I agree with this only to the point that PC culture needs some moderation, like all things that are better with a happy medium rather than the most extreme form of it. When PC culture goes to an extreme, it only plays into the hands of the system and the ruling class in dividing the 99% unnecessarily so the we won't unite on class lines against the 1%. The 1% couldn't care less about culture wars and cultural issues, they just want to keep all their wealth and power.

Can we do a Go Fund Me to pay for the ammunition?

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 2, 2021:

Oh please let it be televised....

UPDATE. Baby dies in Romania after being immersed in baptism ⋆ Universul.net

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 2, 2021:

Guess that whole symbolic baptism thing of being reborn didn't quite work out....