LaceyLou

Yes-Spain's reign of totalitarianism lasted longer than the Axis powers.

Operation Paperclip did result in a lot of German scientists being allowed into the US, and some of them had been doing work for the Nazis so.... yeah. It's definitely something to remember.

I have a feeling Drumpf is not a supporter of Amtrak.

That's the one, yes. At least Kraft is saying the 'right' things, though I still don't trust him.

I got a flyer in the mail for a candidate for mayor of Boston-a real Trumper who vows to work with ICE... one look at his last name is enough to tell me that his family was probably less than welcome (to put it mildly) in this city. How quickly people forget. He has a snowball's chance in Dante's Inferno to make it to the general election, but still.

I'm one of the few people I knew who always did the best on tests consisting of essays. I also liked oral exams-the only bummer of stopping at a master's was not having the chance to defend my thesis.

There's a massive surge of ICE activity in "Boston" right now, that started last Thursday. I have Boston in quotes because most of the activity I've heard of has been in Chelsea, Revere, Lowell.... and other places that are not the city of Boston.

Maybe we could rebuild Alcatraz as a golden palace, and tell him it's his kingdom.

I think you'll be able to get one. https://www.boston.com/news/coronavirus/2025/09/03/against-fda-restrictions-healey-issues-order-making-covid-vaccines-more-accessible-in-mass/

Is he pulling a "Paul is dead" type of stunt, to raise even more money?

Yes. I somehow doubt that he is sincerely repenting for his behaviors, and working to not repeat them.

Truth is, a lot of the programs that might help stem the flow of poor migrants, like the Peace Corps and/or USAID programs, are ones that the current regime has cut to the bone. Seems as though the best way to help with the issue is to work with the countries to help combat poverty (for example). The cynical side of me is that many of the extreme Republicans secretly want the borders open, not only for cheap labor but so they can continue to use it to rile up their voters.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if he was the recipient of many swirlies when he was in junior high.

Yup. It does seem like he's got a whole lot of animosity towards them. But of course I'm obviously just part of that mob who wants no laws whatsoever, so I suspect my opinion doesn't matter.

Something about the way this discussion has turned makes me remember the guy in the Fenway neighborhood who used to yell at teenagers walking by and talking to 'shut up and get off of my lawn.' He lived in an apartment building. He didn't have a lawn.

Same. And for those of us whose family came in the late 19th/early 20th century, our ancestors were often unwelcome and subject to negative stereotypes. And it isn't always easy or even possible to 'do things the right way' when you're trying to escape war, persecution, or even extreme poverty.

He really doesn't seem to have much appreciation at all for living things. And something tells me that urn just over RR's head had a special meaning also.

That at least would serve a useful purpose, even if it's still a bad use of our National Guard.

That, and because of propaganda from the people who are benefiting from the new technology cutting into their bottom line.

On another note, how much photoshopping had to be done to make his face look like that? He looks like he's entirely made of plastic. And there's that dead eye look yet again for the stats boss.

I just finished The Cafe with No Name, by Robert Seethaler. It's a fairly quick and satisfying read. I like that it goes over how the city of Vienna changes and yet doesn't change, just as is the case with the characters in the book.

Boston has a fair number of homeless also... linked in part to closure of a treatment center on Long Island. ETA unfortunately a lot of cities have people displaced by the high cost of housing, and a lot of them are blue cities. That's probably why many people who are right of center seem so happy when they hear of 'violent homeless people' wandering their streets. It just fits and confirms what they believe to be true.

I'm torn... most of the time I roll my eyes when people tell me my city is burning to the ground or is too dangerous to walk around... Another part of me likes it because I'd rather not have them around anyway.

On another topic... how many of the people blocking release of the Epstein files, and bending over backwards to support a certain person were campaigning to 'restore dignity and honor to the White House' in 2000?

I do remember there was a campaign to remove the ad from television, and that it worked. It was a case study in one of my communications classes in the 80s.