aka Contrarian

@richardmurrayWell, as I confessed to Troy and ProfD, I made the mistake of offering simple soltions to complicated problems. I don't really think there will be any official separation of red and blue states, or that racism will completely go away in my lifetime. Time is the only hope. It brings change but as we know, it is gradual. Thanks for your insightful analysis of the situation.

My introduction to the concept of conspiracy theories dates back to 1963 when the assassination of JFK spawned what would become a cult of passionate, fanatic people driven by the idea that the killing of this popular POTUS was not the random act of a disgruntled lone wolf. Especially since Lee Harvey Oswald was, himself, later murdered. Altho over the years I have been inundated with a multitude of theories, many of which were romanticized, I have never bought into the idea that Kennedy's death was the result of an organized conspiracy. And to this day there has never been any absolute proof to change my mind. What I observed over the years about conpiracy theorists was that they all harbor a certain mindset that imagines - a sinister cabal of men, the "They" who are plotting against the innocent good guys made up of the "Us" who will be the target of an evil organized PLOT. You know, - the way a James Bond movie unfolds... What all this has given rise to is an interesting response from Psychologists who typify conspiracy theorists as victims of the "Kruger-Dunning Syndrome", people who all have one thing in common; a trait which inflates their ego because they all believe that they are too. smart. to. be. fooled, something they've convinced elevates them above others who haven't "caught on" to what's really going on. This core belief gives these folks a false sense of superiority, inasmuch as many are only average in intellelligence and would undergo a cognitive dissonance type reaction if forced to confront their fallibilty. I find this psycho-babbo interesting. zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Of course you are both right, ProfD and Troy. In desperation and disgust, I seek simple solutions to complicated problems. "Everybody hates a cop - until they need one." And racism is about more than red and blue states; it's the "nature" of the beast." You'd think after all this time I wouldn't have to be reminded of all this.

To me, Language is a tool which can often be inadequate. Abstract ideas often dwell in the spaces between the lines. ZEN exemplifies this.

A lead story in Chicago's news today reports that a black cop has brought a law suit against the Chicago Police Department, charging it with racism adter a group of his fellow white officers harassassed him with threats and racial epithets when he attempted to intervene while several of them were manhandling a pregnant perp who was a black sista. There have always been rumors about there being a KKK element witin Chicago's police department. There were also a recent story in the news about a black cop visiting down south filing a suit after being stopped and harassed by white police officers while driving. This country needs to stop trying to rescue and preserve Democracy and just let the red and blue states go their separate ways. The USA no longer exists.

You may prefer your men tall dark and handsome, (with bantam legs and high butts) but discrimnating females appreciate more diversified standards.

Just look at all that good white meat. And they're rich and powerful to boot. Leo lions!

@TroyActually, I was born in 1933. My true astral twin is Roman Polanski who was born the exact same year and day as me. August, 18, 1933. In addition to being a brilliant film director (Rosemary's Baby, Chinatown) and husband of Sharon Tate, the starlet who was among those murdered by Charles Manson followers, Polanski was later accused of seducing an underage nymphet and "exiled" from this country. He's still alive, however. The hunky Robert Redford now in his late 80s, was also born on August 18th as well as my boy Andy Samberg of SNL and other comic ventures. Sadly, the recently deceased Malcolm Jamal Warner was also born on August 18th... A group from my hometown is compiling a history of its early black settlers and my story is among the accounts which will appear in a book they plan to publish. I'm also among the 3 oldest living black alumni of the highschool I attended and I was honored at the annual all alumni cook out a couple of years back. My family is familar with all I care to share about my history which is unique in some ways but mundane in others.... In the AI world of the future, history will be devalued and dispensed with. Who cares?

Magik is mind boggling. Literally. I think I may have tinkered with it, not realizing what I was doing, many years ago and that this might have had something to do with the longevity which has become a burden to me. @umbrarchistHave you ever considered that sky scrapers could be latterday pyramids that aliens enabled the buildimg of and that this is why the twin towers did not conform with the earthly rules of physics?

Does information equal explanation? I don't belueve Putin can alter the reality of what has already happened. He can only prevent more of the same from continuing to happen. He can choose Life over Death. Why he has been entrusted with this power is a mystery - to me.

Cynic that I am, agreeing with your assessment poses no difficulty for me. It's all an exercise in futility.

Today, Illinois Democrats turned out in full, force - our Governor, Chicago's mayor, both of our U.S. Senators, and a slew of other prominent dignitaries, held an extended televised press conference, raking Trump over the coals and vowing to stand up and resist MAGA's attempt to take over the city. An impressive show of force and unity! So we'll see what comes next. Bernie Sanders also stopped here on his Anti-Oligarph tour and spoke at a well-attended, enthusiastic rally.

Are "reality" and "existence" interchangeable or at least interdependent? Speaking of semantics... I don't pretend to totally comprehend or even challenge all of what other human beings determine to be infallible. I just wonder. I do accept the possibility that some things are beyond human comprehension and are.what.they.are. - audio syllabels encapsulated in visual symbols.... 🤪🙃 pass me the toke.

That's so true. She always manages to portray me so much nicer than I am .🥴

Interesting. I've always reduced the reality question to the simplest terms when pondering it. The phenomemon that occurs when the sun is at my back and I cast a shadow satisfies my wondering. And, just for reassurance, I pinch myself. 🤪 When my "theory" is challenged, I simply shrug and explain that: "I know that I know nothing." That Quatum Physics is a bitch. All the figures and activity that I "see" in my peripheral vision out of the corner of my eye, disappear when I turn my head to observe them directly! And I don't think I'm hallucinating! Is anyone familiar with the "Mandela Effect" involving movies? I may post about it later on a new thread.

Not surprising, Chicago's Mayor and Police Chief, both of whom are black , quickly responded that crime is down in Chicago (although you wouldn't guess this if you listen to nightly local newscasts), and they do not welcome any outside meddling. Struggling with huge budget deficiencies, including teachers' demands, the mayor's rating are also waaay down. Reaction to Trump's threat has been mostly along racial and party lines. Black folks just want the shootings to stop because they so often involve innocent kids. Also, a lot of the killings are the result of individuals settling personal disputes with guns, as opposed to gang violence. Break-ins and robberies remain a threat, unfortunately. Our Democrat Governor says he hasn't heard anything official from the Trump administration and he has no intention of cooperating with it. I don't think anybody really believes that calling out the "Nazi" Guard is the answer, especially Chicago's large Hispanic population who are too busy worrying about ICE to welcome any other government intervention. In answer to your question, - the picture is blurred by mixed emotions. I agree with those who complain that the situation reeks with a fascistic police state foreboding. Chicagoland does, however, seem to be in agreement when it comes to DA BEARS. Beating KC's scrub team was fun to watch even if we'll probably never see those scoreboard figures again. But our hopes are alive and well. We at least have a promising backup QB.

Made it! Today's my 92nd birthday. Don't know whether to laugh or cry. Such is life. 🤪

Nonetheless, the potential of Da BEARS looked quite promising.Caleb Williams was impressive during his minutes. Chicago is excited!

Get outta here. There's nothing to leave alone. I never complained about anybody coming on this thread. That was the self-serving scenario that you in your straw man mode created in order to control the narrative. I merely made an amused observation about you doing what you had previously accused me of doing. Didn't make me any difference if people wanted to come on here and blow off steam about Trump and his ulterior motives. Unlike you, I'm not threatened by the input of others. Your transparency is pathetic. @ProfD - and any other football fans: How about those BEARS! Is Buffalo a good team?

😴 As if me and Delano needed the trite validation of what we've already concluded.

The same goes for you, you devious jack-off. You didn't apply that mindset when you whined about me posting on your hip-hop thread. There is no end to the lengths the strawman won't desperately resort to in order to avoid being proved wrong. smh You're really a piece of work.

True. They are the 2 sides of the one coin representing destiny. Peace. 🤟

@Mel HopkinsThank you! You're pretty special, yourself. A rare, delightful spirit. Knowing you is a privilege! 🫶

@DelanoI'm becoming more and more hooked on what my sister, who died much too soon at age 60, liked to suggest: that life is a dream that we wake up from when we "die". Dreams have taken on a greater significance at this point because they fill my sleeping hours, always bringing to mind Poe's poem: All that we see or seem, Is just a dream within a dream. zzzzzzzzz

Pioneer had the gall to get his panties in a bunch, complaining because I came on his hiphip thread and made a comment he didn't want to hear, but da sorry-ass nigga has no problem takin over my thread, gettin on his soap box, spoutin alotta hot air. He's like Trump inciting a mob on January 6th, and now calling out the National Guard to quell street violence. lol