Russia doesn’t have nearly as much influence over global markets as the US.

Edit: But Putin has had a much longer political career and has probably set things into motion that we won’t ever be able to confirm his involvement in. So you might be right.

With Republicans in general, I think. It seems to be their best attempt at misdirection, and I think it works to keep their target audience from paying attention to their least savory activities.

They spent decades training the leopard, so they thought they had tamed it.

If you’re concerned about your anonymity, keep in mind that companies frequently put ID numbers on their return envelopes to help match the returned mail piece with your record in their database. Sometimes the number is invisible (UV ink) so it doesn’t look “mass produced” to the recipient.

Because back in the day none of that shit would fly especially around people who fought in the war, but it does now.

I think that we’d be better off if the dads, uncles, and grandpas who came back and refused to talk about their war experiences had made it clearer to the next generation exactly how horrible it was. It didn’t fly with them because they saw what it brought. It flies with younger people because we were sheltered from the true horrors of the war.

I think a trip to the Holocaust Museum should be required for all high school seniors. If it isn’t closed by the clown show currently running the country, at least.

My family was super meat-centric for all holidays except Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Any meal where it’s physically possible to barbecue, we would. And a family barbecue meant hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, pork steaks, and beef steaks – one of each per person, plus a couple of extras. Sides were German-style slaw and potato salad. Buns were not included, but my grandma would always put a stack of white bread on the table (she was the only person who ever ate it).

When I started dating my husband and took him to a family holiday, he was shocked by the fact that my whole family was eating hamburgers and hot dogs with flatware instead of on buns. And he was actually sad at the lack of side dishes.

When I went to one of his family barbecues, I was sad that there was just one hamburger per person (already on a soggy bun) and a ton of weird casseroles.

Thanks. I’ve been on my own for a long time now. I’m glad that I’m still far enough from retirement that my accounts should have plenty of time to bounce back before I need to rely on them.

I really feel for the retirees who voted against this who are finding that their finances are not as stable as they should have been.

My mom retired last year. She also voted for Trump. She made her bed …

I found this part surprising:

He has also established himself as a wellness guru.

Do you also think that saying “Happy Holidays” somehow excludes Christians?

Increasing the size of your umbrella doesn’t discriminate against the people who are already under it. It simply invites more people to join them.

Assault rifles were only banned for 10 years, from 1994 to 2004.

Maybe a “breakfast bar” or an “oatmeal bar.” I think a UK flapjack has a more cake-like texture than a US granola bar.

Surely the leopards won’t eat his face.

I hope there are enough students who are willing to take such a bold step together to make their point.

I feel like GenX said, “The fucking old people caused this mess and are standing in the way of fixing it. We need them to die off so someone else can turn it around, but there aren’t enough of us so it’s probably up to the younger generations.”

We never had a lot of collective ambition, which I guess is good because our parents still won’t let go of power.

I’m sure Orwell didn’t really expect telescreens to become a real thing, but we have very literally welcomed surveillance devices into our lives and homes. Now, it’s just a matter of who starts actively using them as a monitoring device.

I’m sure the NYT has noticed, but their attorneys probably advise against making medical claims about sitting presidents. Especially since the current one is particularly litigious.

Amen, sister.

Yes, I’m living my best life now in spite of everything I was taught in my formative years.

You’re right about that whole last paragraph. Of the dozen-ish kids from my small, rural church who were in our youth group together, I’m the only one who got out. The rest of them are raising their own teens in the church now, most of them still even in the same town.

I don’t know what made me so different. I always had a keen sense of logic, and I was just rebellious enough to question things. I also had access to “heretical” art that helped me feel less alone (shout out to '90s alternative rock). I wasn’t the only one of us who went to university, but I was the only one who moved out of my family home to do it.

I don’t think there’s anything I could say to any of them now that would make them reconsider their worldview. Of course, that works both ways. I know they consider me a sort of “fallen woman” for having strayed from the Straight and Narrow™.

I am so sorry that happened to you and that the place where you turned for help just added to your trauma.