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.

[m.

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....

Check out the comments on this article from here in West Michigan 🙄.

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 2, 2021:

Looks like a Duck Dynasty convention, lots of rednecks with beards...

Pew pew pew

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 1, 2021:

Star Wars seems as good an analogy as any for American politics. Both phenomena are based in mythology and most Americans vote based on irrational beliefs and emotion rather than on rational policy-based decisions.

Tis Monday and I hate Mondays lol

TomMcGiverin comments on Feb 1, 2021:

So true. Fuck all this unity talk. Biden needs to get real and remember how useless it was for Obama to see unity and bipartisanship with the Repubs. They are not interested in it. They just want to obstruct and hold all the power they can over the Dems. Which is why I think Obama, and now Biden, use this unity and bipartisan stuff as just a cover so they can govern with the same policies as the Repubs on the important issues of economics, war, taxes, etc. and still be able to blame the Repubs.

Alas, i finally had to block someone.

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 31, 2021:

I've blocked 57 so far and I'm proud of it! As another member already said a while back, I see blocking as a way to customize and optimize my experience on Agnostic.com.

What are things you would have liked to know pre-divorce or pre-breakup to make life after easier?

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 31, 2021:

I've got nothing, as, not to be smug, but my marriage was happy and successful until my late wife got dementia, so it was ended by illness and death. One thing or two that I did learn from the experience is that there are no certainties about the future and that next time, if I get another LTR, is that I will not get involved with someone more than several years older or younger. The older you get, the more things can suddenly change with one or another's health.

A KY Catholic School Shoved Hundreds of Non-Essential People on the Vaccine List | Hemant Mehta | ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 31, 2021:

People who oppose beneficial programs for the masses, like vaccination, universal health care, and Social Security are also always the first people to butt in line to get those benefits, proving how selfish and arrogant they are behind their ideological arguments against said programs. Everything is all about them and everyone else's role is to serve them only.

The fact that it matters to them to the degree that it does, and that they are taking freedoms away ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 30, 2021:

The cops should have been ready with tear gas and rubber bullets for the protesters, given them a taste of what BLM gets every time, and began firing as soon as they refused to disperse. This was way more serious than a BLM protest because these people were playing with the health of other innocent people. They are so arrogant and selfish. If they want to refuse the vaccine, fine, but they have no right to deny other people a vaccine. Same mindset that refuses to let others get a legal abortion. If you disagree with the law, fine, don't get one, but stay the fuck out of the way of others getting a legal abortion. This is exactly the same tactic as Bible-thumpers use to shut down abortion clinics. The cops need to be ready next time, across the country..

Helping me work

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 30, 2021:

Hoomans always need help and supervision..

I love this.

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 30, 2021:

Why be "normal" or conformist? Better to be an Addams in a Kardashian world.

We brought home 2 shelter kitties yesterday.

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 30, 2021:

Dawson is another cute tuxedo cat. My favorite breed.

A second grade girl got thrown out of a Christian school for telling another female classmate she ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 30, 2021:

About every gay person I've personally known has told me they knew they were queer around age 12-14 when they started showering with their peers in gym class.

More Saturday cuteness!!!!

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 30, 2021:

Someone's fur looks very dry and staticey.

How many have encountered a similar story?

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 29, 2021:

My take is that this is an old and common story, namely that in the games of dating and sexual affairs, if you have exceptionally good looks, you can get away with anything and have practically unlimited opportunities. Nobody ever said life was fair. If they have the looks, scumbag hedonists can pretty much do whatever they want.

Why are drugs so outrageously expensive? [youtube.com]

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 29, 2021:

Very simple. It's legalized extortion against the patients and legalized bribery between the lobbyists and the pols. It won't end until most people are willing to vote third party on this single issue if nothing else. Sometimes I dream of a huge mob storming the capital in DC, not for an insurrection, but something more like when the British gentry confronted the king and forced him to sign the Magna Carta. Only in this case it would be storming the capital, holding all the members of congress hostage, and forcing them to sign single payer health care and accept that for their own health care as well. I don't see much hope of either approach happening in my lifetime, the Magna Carta approach or voting for third party candidates for congress to get single payer.

Christians Panic After Biden Signs Executive Order Protecting LGBTQ Rights | Michael Stone

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 29, 2021:

Don't you dare threaten their right to be homophobic bigots!

So - my partner died in 20.

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 29, 2021:

You live in the LA area of Cali. I envy you, as there should be a decent supply of non-believing, secular men your age in the area, unlike an area like my Bible Belt state of Iowa. Whether you find them on Agnostic or on a paid site like Match, I'm sure they're out there. Take your time. Your main obstacle is all the men your age who are trying to only date women younger than themselves. They are fools and you don't need them.

Yes, they do.

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 28, 2021:

All lives may matter, but I'll be honest and say I have no sympathy for Trumpanzees that die of Covid after recklessly defying common sense measures to avoid infection. I won't miss them and their deaths will improve our politics.

Reminds me of a guy that once worked at my school.

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 28, 2021:

Guess he didn't need Viagra.... Honestly, I don't know how a guy could keep track of all his lies and keep them straight in his head. This guy could have made a great James Bond spy..

A few new ones and at least one from a member's fb page.

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 28, 2021:

I like the "Moment you realize you've been scammed..." photo. These are clearly not the sharpest sticks in the can...

G.M. Will Sell Only Zero-Emission Vehicles by 2035 [.nytimes.com] [.cnn.com]

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 28, 2021:

I recently bought a gas only engine car, a 2017 Ford Fusion, only because it was owned by a friend's deceased partner and was a low mileage great buy. I had planned on buying my first hybrid car. I will drive this until it reaches 150 K miles, which would be another 133K, or, more likely until 2030. Next time I buy it will either be a hybrid or an electric, depending on the price by then and the availability of charging stations, since I live in a condo apartment with no plug in option.

Face and PALM! With some ramblings - - - (So many ( !!! ?

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 28, 2021:

Two things. The nutjobs have no answer for how, on the one hand, the Repubs won most of the federal races for congress while, on the other hand, Biden won the prez race in an election that was rigged. There's no way both facts can be true if the election was rigged across several states, much less across the whole country. Second, I will accept the antifa claim, and anyone else should be equally skeptical of it, only if law enforcement confirms the actual participation of antifa members in the riot, because if that were actually the case, law enforcement has every motive to pin rioting on antifa members, because antifa and law enforcement are antagonists of each other in reality. And there has been no confirmation so far by any law enforcement of antifa members participating in the riot.

Fox News fed on Trump's lies. As ratings dip, it can't escape - Los Angeles Times

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 28, 2021:

Faux News will always have good ratings as there will always be a market for news that scapegoats the poor and minorities, as well as liberal elites and validates the views of greedheads and conservatives. Having a cult leader like Trump is not necessary for them to succeed in drawing viewers.

Socialism IS a scareword, most often confused with Communism thanks to over 60 years of American ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 28, 2021:

Truer words are never spoken, but the propaganda works, partly because most working class people still buy the myth that if they behave and work hard, they will be rich, or at least better off someday due to their efforts and the fairness of the system. They are wrong, but their dreams and hopes die harder and slower than they should. By now I think most poor people have figured out that the system is rigged, that capitalism will never help them, but since both major parties have forgotten them, they see no point in voting and they are right to drop out of the process.

Three Years Ago Today… dean 1000 January 30, 2020 at 21:56 Robert Parry gave up a 6 ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 28, 2021:

Lots of people have informed me that they agree with me that Frayed Bear is an ass, even if we may share some political views. He is a troll and a bully who enjoys insulting people. I have blocked him and have no intention of unblocking him ever. He needs to get help.

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TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 28, 2021:

Good luck with that. Like me, you live in a Bible Belt state, so this site has few members living there and they're scattered far away from each other, so the pickings are slim. About the only people on this site that have much in the way of local dating options are those that live in a large city or on either coast.

Not sure who needs to hear this, but a lot of the people in this group are exactly whom this song ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 27, 2021:

I think I'm too old for this artist to give a damn what I think about their song, but, at my age an artist needs to make their music listenable for me if I am going to get their message and respect it. The rapping is too fast for me to follow and the music is way too loud for me to focus on the lyrics. I was able to get the general idea of the song, which seems to be that leftist atheists are so enthralled by socialism that they dismiss and fail to respect the sincere religious beliefs and practices of believers who might be current or potential allies in the fight against the powers that be. I do not feel I am guilty of that, as I have no beef with believers who are conscientious citizens that support democracy, equality, and the separation of church and state. My beef and reason for dismissing some believers and their religious beliefs is when they support inequality, fascism, and the establishment of a theocracy. It will be interesting to see what other members post for comments on this, esp. the Boomer age members who will likely by put off by the music style.

Must be part of god's plan, huh?

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 27, 2021:

I'm sure some evangelical church would put him and his immediate family up, since they are also evangelicals, but it would still be a problem for his security staff. Like everything in the Trump admin., looks like someone forgot to plan ahead... Guess Pence had unshakeable faith that his God would get Trump re-elected.

Ted Cruz Says Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama Could Be Impeached Next

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 27, 2021:

Cruz talking out of his ass, as usual...

Radicalizing is a serious problem. This info may be of help. [youtu.be]

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 27, 2021:

It's a false equivalency. So far people on the left who are radicalized, at most, end up destroying property, and only by a few of them. And that's assuming that it was not a case of right wingers posing as BLM or antifa. On the other hand, people on the right, end up killing people, such as the riot on Jan. 6. I have yet to hear of any people killed by BLM protesters, but sure as shit, one or more of the Jan. 6 rioters were involved in killing a cop and many of them were planning to kill Pence and Pelosi if they got hold of them. I care way more about murder than property destruction. People who care more about property than human life have, in my mind, a pretty fucked up sense of values. They tend to be the same people who value order over justice. Radicals on the left gave up violence, which consisted almost entirely of blowing up empty buildings, back in the early 1980s while right wing extremists have flourished since then and often been violent towards people. This endeth the lesson....

What a drag to see newly elected President Biden kneeling and praying in that church near the ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 27, 2021:

JFK must have been doing something right, or at least a threat to do something radically good, otherwise he wouldn't have been whacked by a conspiracy the included the CIA and possibly also the mob.

Valentine’s Day gifts for manly men are, apparently, beef jerky related. [manlymanco.com]

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 27, 2021:

I feel secure in my masculinity, but I'm not into beef jerky, regular beers and excess bacon. To each, their own..

Livin' the life...

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 27, 2021:

That's why I want to be reincarnated as a spoiled, indoor cat, even if I only got to live in 20 year installments. At least I can hope for that even tho I don't believe there's anything after this life. Sometimes I think cats are living the dream life for vicarious humans. The yawn and the pink nose are so cute.

Promising news.

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 27, 2021:

I got the Regeneron drug cocktail after I got Covid and it really worked well for me. We'll see how it affects me later if I get Covid again or when I get vaccinated.

What a drag to see newly elected President Biden kneeling and praying in that church near the ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 27, 2021:

I'm really not concerned about Biden being a mainstream Catholic, as long as he's not an anti-abortion nut. I'm more concerned with how much he is pro-war, corporatist, and corrupt to the bone in serving the rich and corporate donors rather than us peasants. That stuff is far more important than a pol's religion or lack of.

Just a nice poem.

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 26, 2021:

We're all issued just one body per lifetime. We had best either accept it as is or do our best to improve it, since we can never replace most of the parts..

Why do White Christians Vote Republican, and Black Christians Vote Democrat? - YouTube

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 26, 2021:

We need to remember that black Christians, esp. older ones, do not vote for gay pols, nor do they support abortion rights, because they tend to be very conservative on social issues like those. White conservative Christians are conservative across the board in their views and voting habits.

Today is Angela Davis' birthday.

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 26, 2021:

She used to be so radical. Nowadays she sells out, caves, and tells people to vote for corrupt Dem pols.

It is cold windy and snowing here which always gives me cause to wear my long johns.

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 26, 2021:

I was already retired before Covid, but now with Covid here, I spend so little time outdoors in the winter that I almost never need to wear my long underwear or my thermal socks.

George Carlin vs. Religious Douchebag - YouTube

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 26, 2021:

I don't believe in hell, but personally, if there is one, I think Fred Phelps is more likely there than in some kind of heaven, based on how he lived his life and what he believed.

Pralina I hope you get one of these tickets if you want one. [cbsnews.com]

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 25, 2021:

I will watch it on TV, mainly to see the battle of the two quarterbacks..

Biden is just a few days in and he's already a big disappointment.

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 25, 2021:

Me neither. I saw this movie for eight years with Obama, so I am expecting nothing positive from Biden except better leadership on Covid, which isn't saying much since Trump had no leadership on Covid, and no open hostility towards racial minorities or blatant misogyny against women. Other than that, expecting much from Biden is setting yourself up for despair if you are at all left of center on anything other than identity politics and multiculturalism. Those things matter to me, as well, but not if all the leader offers is ID politics and multiculturalism, because our system is rotten to the core with excesses of capitalism and without reform on our economics and how power is distributed, we will be right back to fascism in four years and next time our electoral system is not going to save us.

Professional Spectator Sports

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 24, 2021:

Both Nader and Chomsky have talked about how pro sports are the modern version of the Roman Bread and Circuses. They keep the masses pacified and distracted enough to avoid revolts. They certainly should not be subsidized by the government, but they are thru tax breaks and local governments spending money to build sports facilities. Let the suckers who are paying fans, along with the team owners, foot the entire bill for the sports teams. I too quit caring about pro sports as I got older and became more deep and aware of how much socialism is needed. Like Nader tho, I still watch pro basketball, but mainly stick to just watching the playoff season, since the regular season is so long and exhausting that the teams, by necessity, don't really play defense or that all out during the regular season games. Other than pro basketball, the only other sports I watch are the Olympic sports like swimming, track and field, and gymnastics, and for those it's mostly just during the summer Olympic games.

Generally I have found myself having to vote Democrat the last few decades, to try to stand up ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 24, 2021:

I never have to worry about voting Repub for prez, they are all way too far to the right for me. Each four years, my only dilemma is whether to vote for the Dem or for the Green. Hopefully, by 2024, the Movement For A People's Party will be in place and have a viable candidate for me to choose over the Dem, who will most likely be Harris.

There is so much shouting out about FREEDOM.

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 24, 2021:

Right wingers only seem to value freedom when it translates to them being nasty to others thru domination or exploitation. They really don't care about the freedom of anyone different from them, weaker than them, or poorer than them.