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Word is that 2018 will be a strong Capricorn year. There are 4 Planets in that sign right now. Capricorn rules Saturn and it's predicted that this relationship will manifest itself by placing stringent demands on humanity. Whether in one's personal life, one's job, or political leanings, this configuration in the heavens supposedly portends that things are going to get very complicated. So say the astrologers. What say you, Del? Taking everything into consideration, i tend to subscribe to the idea that things will get worse before they get better. Not a far-fetched notion considering the quixotic economy and the polarized populace at home, and the possible repercussions from abroad attributable to the fool hardiness of the inept POTUS. Furthermore, taking into account that right or wrong has no relevance in how reality is played out, i have little faith in Trump being brought to trial for his collusion with the Russians or that an impeachment will be imminent. Especially considering how impotent the floundering Democrats are. The newly-elected senator from Alabama now speaks in conciliatory tones, hoping Democrats and Republicans can compromise for the "good of the country". The typical Democrat stance of taking the high road against a bunch of self-serving low-lifes. Meanwhile, Republican leaders are falling under the sway of Trump. As luck would have it, like other scoundrels, his teflon surface prevents charges against him from sticking. Or is any clear leadership emerging from the ranks of the Democrats except for played-out old men, and wanna-be candidates of the female variety, still handicapped by their gender. A 2020 defeat of Trump is dependent on his leadership resulting in disaster. But he seems to be successfully settling in, converting his party leaders with his bluster and hyperbole, impressing them as he bumbles along, never falling off the edge. If he gets better at this, as an incumbent president, he may be re-elected. Also, there could be many independent voters who might like his tough talk and bold misguided threats to the rest of the world. The incidents of domestic terrorism at the hands of Muslims converted to the cause of Isis certainly don't inspire a lot of opposition to his restrictions against the Islamic community. Whatever. The earth will continue to orbit the sun, and revolve on its axis, and the good guys will be indistinguishable from the bad guys while the masses will be sandwiched in between. Black folks? They, as usual, will be plagued by their perennial problems as pundits persist in articulating them, offering no viable solutions. And so it goes. What will be an encouraging surprise is if my pessimism is unwarranted! I can't believe we're of the brink of 2018. Seems like just yesterday when the new century turned. Tempus fugit. Yesterdays are like blinks of the eye, and time is fleeting. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "Today is a gift. That's why it's call the present". Taking things one day at a time is the best option for a world-weary mortal like me. Ho Hum. See ya next year (?)

Well the strategy is to create a market so that more product can be sold. If that means convincing women with straight hair that they look better with curly hair, or women with curly hair that they look better with straight hair, and that they all will look better with hair of a different color then they are happy. All that racial, self-hate stuff you mentioned @Pioneer1, is incidental. What has been an amazing trick getting women to justify all of these gyrations marketers have imposed upon them as somehow empowering. Whether it is the hair care products, the makeup, the completely dysfunctional high heal shoes, or any of the stuff women are forced to deal with, and the end of the day it is really about profit. I have throw away more working TV's and computer monitors than I care to admit. We have all be placed on a hamster wheel of consumption. The idea that Apple was deliberately making older phones slower comes as no surprise the users of technology, what is surprised is that people are still lining up to buy stuff from them. We all know this planned obsolescence is art of their business model. F#ck Apple.