aka Contrarian

Well, that settles that. It was like pulling teeth to get a plausible answer. Now I can get some sleep tonight. How 'bout you?

@umbrachist: Have you considered alien intervention? As Troy previously asked, what would be the motive behind a conspiracy by earthlings, and what was accomplished other than the tremendous loss of innocent lives, and a 20-year skirmish in Afghanistan? Who benefited from that conflict other than the military industrial complex?

@Troy, Delano & ProfD: My paranormal experiences aren't necessarily spontaneous or surprising. I believe they were/are the culmination of things I experimented with years ago. I've always been fascinated with meta-physics and the supernatural. When I was young and into new age stuff, I did a lot of rituals and things to try and draw good fortune into my life. I experimented with mirrors and chanting and imaging, and collecting talismans. Crystals actually do have special chemical properties; that's why they are used in electrical devices. Pyramids, as we know, date back centuries and not only embody mathematical principles but emit a certain kind of energy. Mirrors capture you and when facing each other can reflect images ad infinitum. Chanting turns sound waves into energy and when done while simultaneously picturing what you want to materialize, can facilitate results. (Prayer works on this same principle.) I expected quick results with all my rituals, not realizing that the things you send out into the Universe are on a different time wave. Now, it's like all of these rituals I was doing are gradually manifesting themselves, making my life outre, and I believe this includes my longevity; and is why I have chronologically reached my 90s but am mentally and, in some weirdly physical areas, frozen in middle age. I now realize more than ever that there is more to life than meets the eye. It's a lot about the different frequencies at which we are vibrating, and the different dimensions some are able to shift into... @Delano I never thought about the scrolls I keep seeing when I close my eyes, possibly being glimpses of the Emerald Tablets or akashik records. There is writing on them, but I never remember what I read Just some thoughts I felt compelled to share

@umbrachist: Why have you spent 23 years of your life seeking explanations about this 9/11 event? Are you a conspiracy theorist?

@umbrarchistbelow is what Meta AI says about the 9/11 "affair". Is it the official response? Does it ignore your questions. The twin towers of the World Trade Center collapsed on September 11, 2001, due to a combination of factors related to the terrorist attacks that day. Here's a brief summary: 1. *Impact damage*: Commercial airplanes, hijacked by terrorists, intentionally crashed into the towers, causing significant damage to the exterior columns and floors. 2. *Fires*: The impact and subsequent fires weakened the steel structures, particularly the trusses and columns. The fires burned at extremely high temperatures, causing the steel to lose strength and stiffness. 3. *Structural failure*: As the fires continued to burn, the steel structures began to fail, leading to a progressive collapse. The towers' design, which included a central core and perimeter columns, contributed to the collapse. 4. *Pancaking effect*: As the upper floors collapsed, they fell onto the lower floors, creating a "pancaking" effect that increased the force of the collapse. 5. *Global collapse*: The combination of these factors led to a global collapse of both towers, with the South Tower falling at 9:59 a.m. and the North Tower at 10:28 a.m. The 9/11 Commission Report, published in 2004, provides a detailed analysis of the events and factors contributing to the collapse of the twin towers. It's important to note that the report concludes that the collapse was not caused by a controlled demolition, as some conspiracy theories suggest, but rather the result of the damage and fires caused by the terrorist attacks.

@umbrarchistSo, was it all just a quirk of fate- a series of random circumstances involving human error? I have a short attention span these days.

I have paranormal experiences. It all started when I put a souvenir made up of crystals on my night stand, placing it next to a minature pyramid. I believe these 2 objects interacted to form a portal for the spirit world. One night a couple of years ago. I was lying awake in the dark, after the bewitching hour (3:AM) when I started to experience tintinitus. My ears were resounding with static. Then I heard my dead husband's voice. He had passed away about 12 years prior. He said he couldn't stay but that he wanted to tell me "good-bye" because he didn't get a chance to do so before he died (after slipping into a coma). I wanted to ask him where he was but I was transfixed. Then he was gone. I don't think I was hallucinating. I have all kinds of weird things going on in my room at night, I see figures and a white blimp in my peripheral vision and sometimes feel like I'm being touched. When I close my eyes I'm in a different environment and see scrolls with printing on them. My dreams are strange and vivid. One time I picked up the strong scent of a perfume I used wear years ago. Often when the dog comes into my room, he stops short and freezes and stares into space. Verrrry strange. None of this really frightens me but I did put the crystals and pyramid away in a drawer. I'm convinced I have a spiritual guide who looks out for me... Good Evening.

@umbrarchist: good for now. After the November election, anarchy may start to look like an acceptable alternative. The American empire is on shaky grounds.

@umbrarchistWell, guessing that what you described happened was during the mid 1970s when you were in your early 20s. I KNOW you're not in my "league" but you could be in your early 70s, which nowadays is not necessarily old. Age is just a number. An abstract thinker like you should comply with that.

@umbrachist: the word "woman" is perfectly suited for your updated description of what a female should be.

I figure umbrachist is a little older than 68.

Maybe when they were constructing the twin towers, they cut corners to save time and money, knowing this was hazardous but figuring the chance of a plane flying into the buildings was highly unlikely. Maybe that's a trade secret and nobody wants to let that be known. Maybe inspectors were routinely paid off to look the other way. Maybe there were a lot of fingers to be pointed. Realizing now that terrorists might try this again, maybe any company erecting skyscrapers after 9/11 makes sure not to bypass safety standards again. ...shoddy workmanship. maybe...

Traditionally, a "lady" is a female who has poise, good manners and good morals. She's not necessarily sophisticated or worldly. She 's more likely to be sweet and innocent. A man who "lusts in his heart" for another man's mate is guilty of harboring a desire to sleep with her, and this is a sign of disrespect, especially if he voices his desire.

@umbrarchistYou have a Chicago flavor. And you passed the anti- Trump litimus test. You're an Agnostic, and maybe not an anarchist.

I'm using my Samsung Android right now, stretched out on my recliner, chillin'. This is why I now post so much at night. Because I can do so in comfort. Actually, once you get the hang of it, using the phone method is not that bad. Posting pictures is not difficult for me and I can enlarge my keyboard. The real problem is the profusion of ads and, as I said before, the who-is-saying-what-quoting-who amid the maze of marathon threads. I ordinarily use the touch typing system I learned in my high school typing class, but here, I use the one finger hunt and peck method aided by the self correction and spell-check features. How the board is set up allows you to edit and delete. @umbrarquist: Agnostic...AgainstTrump... SearsTower...IIT...IBM...hummm.

When it comes to parenting, as the mother of 5 children, I can state that there is no magical one size fits all method for raising kids because each child is different. Parenting is a learn by doing trial and error process. And nothing is more vexing than the unsolicited advice ftom those who don't have children. My husband lost his father at an early age, so he always appreciated my father's input on subjects and one of the things my dad passed on to him was to be a man of your word if you want to gain the trust of your wife and kids. We always lavished praise our kids when they did well and downplayed their failures, and were careful not to over inflate their self esteem. With me, it depended on how capable a man was when it came to controlling or taking the lead. I'm lazy and have never liked a lot of responsibility so if a man wanted to run the show he could. But if he fell short on a regular basis, I was gone. I was married for 50 years.

@ProfDSometimes, these threads get so entangled with quotes and responses that I can't tell who is saying what because I'm age impaired. And It's also rather difficult for me to navigate through this forum using my phone. I miss my computer and its keyboard. I need to get a lap top I guess. Anyway, I don't agree that the Baby Boomer and GenXers had it that easy. My kids didn’t. It's the Millennials, and GenZers who are indulged by their parents and who don't really care about tradition. Nor are they preoccupied with institutionalized racism because they are pacified by instant gratification. The world is changing and so are the priorities of its youth. The only thing they seem to be struggling with are their gender issues. The majority of black ones are clueless when it comes to reparations. If Trump gets in, young folks may not even be that dislodged.

@ProfDYou prefer to ignore or dismiss the "forward" progress that Blacks have made because you are stuck in the mire of reparations. If you believe that "heaven resides within you", then why are you so luke warm about the rewards of individualism? You have created your own "pie-in-" the-sky-fairy-tale".

...words,words,words. I'm captivated by the spaces between the words. When it comes to life, it is what it is.

@ProfDIf Blacks could control America, they would. And because they believe everything originated in Africa, they implicitly consider blackness superior. Of course. we are both entitled to our opinions. One thing for certain; nobody speaks for all Blacks.

As a member of the generation who actually lived through and participated in past history, my response is to the "Johnny-come- latelys" like nels, hindered by their tunnel vision, spouting all of their second-hand information which does not span the big picture. Black progress has been made and was not accomplished alone. Much of it began during Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration within the halls of the non-discriminatory Civil Service department, where ANYBODY who passed an exam was eligible for federal employment which at that time also included the Post Office. Democratic president Harry S. Truman desegregated the armed forces. There were also organizations like the NAACP, The Urban League, and last but not least, the Civil Rights movement, all of which wouldn't have gone far without the help and financial assistance of white people of good will! The much-maligned liberal media is who aired Martin's and Malcolm's grievances. catapulting them into the national spotlight that proved beneficial to them. LBJ, who was a product of his southern origins, put aside his past and, with MLK looking over his shoulder, signed the civil rights bill. Jewish philanthropists and white corporations also funneled large sums of money into negro causes and colleges during those times. But others with ulterior motives want to put their spin on the situation when, in truth, blacks have not been the complete dupes of political parties. In a perfect world, things would be perfect but in the real world, Life don't give a damn about niggas, and since Jesus ain't stepped up, black folks need to look in the mirror and consider who really deserves the blame for their race not achieving its secret wish to control America and enforce black supremacy. Some consideration should also be given to the fact that, as individuals, blacks are at their best, and that the black middleclass hasn't done bad for itself, either. But, of course, this mindset does not jibe with the myopia of the visionaries who dream the impossible dream I'm done.

Watching the Democratic convention on live TV presents no problem for a cynic like me. I make no apologies about my interest in watching history being made. I'm curious! And I'm certainly liking all the examples of woman power showing up during these proceedings. I can hardly wait to see what will predictably be nels' scathing review of Kamala's acceptance speech. He probably has it already written,!

Ho-Hum. When it comes to the subject of pulling strings, nels, himself, prompts me to make a comparison. He's like a dummy whose ventriloquist is the Retrumpican cult. In the event of a November win, however, his numbskull will no longer be needed, so he'll have to go hunting for a "black job". If he's lucky there might be a few openings left for GOP bootlickers. Meanwhile if you're tired of being inundated with nels' right wing propaganda, go on line and check out ACLU's breakdown of Project 2025, the manisfesto of the Heritage foundation which is the ultra Conservative organization backing the MAGA Menace for president, just waiting to install him as America's monarch.

@TroyAwwwwww, how sweet! Instead of a granddaughter, you got a late-life baby. Hi, Delano! You guys both look young for your age!

@ProfDYes, I live in a suburb 17 miles west of Chicago, about a 20-minute drive from the United Center where the convention is being held, and which is also the home court of the Chicago Bulls. The city has been preparing for this event all summer and excitement is polluting the air. I, myself, like most others, am ŕestricted to watching this historic event on TV. One of my daughters, however, volunteered to be a member of the reception crew so she will be getting a close up look at things. We shall see what we shall see...