This is a rant about Facebook.  More specifically their algorithms.  They look for words without context and don't review the thread the comment is added to.  The disagree review appears to be just another algorithm as it comes back pretty quickly upholding their original ding.  I have a suspicion that once you've been dinged, you get put on a list and they monitor your posts for their 'words' because it doesn't take long to be dinged again. 

1st example: if you are related to Irish-American ironworkers and one posts a picture of 1930s ironworkers on high steel sitting there eating lunch on an I-beam with no safety gear, what do you think?  I think they are crazy, and the remark was tongue in cheek, but put crazy and Irishman together and shazam, you are in time out for making a derogatory statement about a group of people.  Did the algorithm look at the last name of the OP or the commenter?  No.  Did they look at the picture posted?  No.  Did they understand the context of the statement?  Definitely not.

2nd example:  a political page posts about the CPAC meeting and the Fascist iconography and the shape of the stage.  On Twitter there were tons of threads and pictures.  On FB some clueless commenter says it wasn't and many Jews and Black people were there, which was a definite falsehood.  Comments go back and forth and I made the mistake of sharing a picture from Twitter showing her the comparison and why she was wrong.  Same scenario as above.  Get time out for the picture saying I was promoting a hate group which was the exact opposite of what I was doing.  

3rd example:  a political page posts about the 2 tweens who ran away from a group home and broke into a house filled with unsecured guns and ammo and they have a shootout with deputies.  People are going off on the group home  and I said, it all says something about parenting, group homes, and an idiot who leaves his house with unsecured guns and ammo.  That's not responsible gun ownership and hope his neighbors ream him a new one (pretty sure their property got damaged as well as their psyche's) and his insurance should cancel him.  (Pretty sure they will after all the claims and news reports).  But apparently an opinion held by many is against Facebooks community standards.  

The weird thing about all of this is they claim to want people to have conversations but if you don't want to 'break the rules' then only look and like pictures of vintage homes, flowers, castles, dogs, birds etc.   Remember not to share too many of them in a 24 hour period because that offends them as well.  

The really frustrating thing is that I see plenty of posts that are straight up lies about Covid, vaccines, politics ets.  Posts that could result in people getting hurt but Facebook thinks those are fine.  I've seen posts where comments are downright rude, but apparently that's ok as well unless a moderator is reviewing them because FB sure isn't.

Patriotism

There have been a lot of posts on FB about disrespecting the flag, the national anthem, not saying the pledge in school etc. I started thinking about this and the flag, anthem, pledge, etc. are all outward displays of patriotism. I think it is more important to live what they stand for. 

Think about it. Those displays are like icing. They look nice. But what good is pretty icing if the cake underneath is a moldy mess? We have patriotic people in this country and we have hypocrites who may display the outward signs of patriotism, but are clueless about what this country stands for and what the Constitution states, allows and demands of us. 

Being a patriot means standing up against bigotry, racism, hatred, misogyny, sexism or anything else that diminishes someone else’s rights. Flying a flag does not give you the right to call various ethnic groups names, or say they don’t belong here. It doesn’t give you the right to stop them from exercising their rights as citizens. It doesn’t give you the right to intimidate; discriminate against, or jail other people just because you have personal issues regarding your own status in this country. 

It’s time for Americans to start acting like the patriots they claim to be. Quit whining about others expressing their first amendment right to demand the government redress their grievances. Start working to make this a better place to live for everyone. That means working with ALL people to improve everyone’s lot in life and to stand up against the enemies of liberty or progress, whoever and wherever that enemy is. If It’s in your house – it’s time to clean house.

Do you ever just want to scream at someone? Or why I unfollowed you.

I don't care who you vote for, but please have a valid reason.

Don't tell me you hate Clinton -  because, as a lawyer, she defended a child rapist while you plan on voting for Trump who now has two child rape accusations against him and will be going to court next month for one of them.

Don't tell me Hilary is just saying whatever it takes to get elected.  There are reams of film of Donald saying different things to different people. Not to mention the same can be said of nearly every politician.  Don't tell me he is just saying those ugly things to be provocative - he said it, he owns it.

Don't claim the person you don't like is only in it for power, fame and money.  Everyone running has the same problem.  There are no altruistic politicians.  As they say power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.  Every single politician who gets into office as a reformer, ends up liking the perks they were supposed to get rid of.

Don't tell me your choice doesn't lie.  All of them have been caught in lies.  Even Jill has now been found to be investing in (and profiting from) the very companies she has reviled on the campaign trail.

Don't spiel garbage at me as God's truth, when doing a little research would inform you to the real truth that your sources are lying to you for their own purposes.

Don't use your religion to validate your choice of Trump.  There is no religion that supports the behaviors he has done or been accused of doing.  Don't tell me your religion tells you to give him a break when you won't return the favor to Clinton.  That's just hypocrisy, not to mention unchristian.

Please just be honest and know what the hell you are talking about.  An informed voter is the best voter and the best hope this country has.

Views on Trophy Hunting

One trophy hunter in particular.

Walter Palmer,
You make me sick.  There is no justification, reason, or rationalization for what you did.  It was MURDER.  You are a murderer.

You did not go out to be a man in nature.  To hunt a wild animal on it's terms.  To hunt for food or survival.  No you drove up in the middle of the night with a dead animal tied to the hood of your car and waited.  You baited this magnificent animal and then murdered him.  Beheaded and skinned him. Left his body to rot.  You had no care for his life, personality, family, or place in the ecosystem.  It was all about you.  Your lust.  Your greed.

The greed to assuage your bloodlust has resulted in the death of a noble animal, his cubs, your reputation, your business and probably a few if not all of your relationships.  I'd ask you if you think it was worth it, but your kind don't really think.

I don't feel sorry for you in the least.   You will deserve what society and the law brings down on you.  The hate mail, the death threats, the taunts.  Having to hide, losing your business, your savings, your reputation.  You destroyed it and you deserve to suffer for it.

There will be no sympathy for you.

Not from me, that's for sure.

The Rant

It's been a while, but the fiasco of election day and all the BS on the news has just been building up an outburst from me and this is it.

36.4% - really?  REALLY?  WTF!

To the 63.6% of pathetic, apathetic voters who could not get off their asses and do their civic duty and VOTE - Go F yourselves.  Really!

To the Hispanics who didn't show up to vote - don't bother marching down my street whining about the lack of immigration reform.  Don't complain if things get worse for you and yours.  Anything that happens is YOUR fault for not voting for people who would fight for you.

To the students/grads drowning in school loan debt - don't whine at me.  You were too busy, so now you can spend the rest of your life paying off high interest loans because YOU didn't vote for people who would fight for you.

To the low wage employees - have fun starving and living in low rent hell holes - because YOU didn't vote for someone who would fight for you.

To those who have benefited from the ACA - if it gets dismantled - look in the mirror and know that YOU have screwed yourself by not voting for someone who would fight for you.

To those of you who care about women's issues, Social Security, and Medicare, national parks, climate change, education, or safe food, water and air - I don't want to hear any complaints about lack of access, funding or care because YOU did not vote for someone who would fight for you and protect these things.

Because YOU did not vote YOU have given up your right to complain.  Because YOU did not vote, YOU got the government you asked for.  YOU abdicated your civic duty.  Those of us who did vote have no use for you.  You are contemptible in our eyes.

Yes, our government is a mess and needs to be fixed, but it will never be fixed without the participation of EVERY single person who can vote.  If you want things to get better, then you need to get informed and participate in the process to improve things.  Sometimes you are lucky and you have a great candidate.  Sometimes you have to compromise and vote for the candidate who isn't quite what you wanted and sometimes you have to hold your nose and vote for the lesser evil of two bad candidates.  But each time you vote, you make the system better.  When you don't vote - we get chaos or worse.

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To the Republicans prancing around shouting about mandates, majorities, landslides and sweeps - get real.  51% of 36.4% is 18.6% - that is not a majority, landslide or sweep.  Hell, if the whole 36.4% had been all republican - it still isn't a majority, landslide or sweep.  The Republicans who were elected, won by default.  The opposing team never showed for the game.

The mandate is what it has always been - elected officials need to govern.  They need to get work done.  They need to talk.  They need to compromise.  The need to show up more than 114 days a year.  They need to stop the BS, the lies, the hypocrisy, the sound bites, the talk shows, and the fake news briefings where they denigrate the other party's ideas without proposing any concrete plans of their own.

********

To those of you who voted for the folks who were elected - I am here and I will be telling you "I told you so" every time those elected officials attempt to dismantle or destroy the things that matter to you.  You can't vote against your own self-interest causing pain and suffering for the rest of us without getting a well deserved smack down.  Hope you enjoy crow.

The long, slow slide.....

My mother is dying.  In reality, she has been dying for many years.  The strokes in her late 60's took much of her short term memory and some of her mobility.  That she is still alive is a miracle - mostly a medical one in that the doctors who have watched over her have fought the good fight to keep her various illnesses in check.

Now at 82, the illnesses are winning the war.  Every action causes a unwelcome reaction.  Each trip to the hospital saps her her strength and her mental acuity resulting in a subsequent trip to a nursing home for rehabilitation.  Each time she comes back but not as strong as before she got sick.

This time, it appears that there will be no nursing home visit.  Now it is time for Hospice to step in and work to keep her calm and comfortable.  The dementia has taken over.  When she is not sleeping, she picks at her blankets and gown.  She tries to pull off the pieces of medical equipment keeping track of her vitals, her wrist tags and her oxygen mask.

Today when she was fussing and crying out, I made out some of the words and I can only surmise that she was back in her twenties, reliving the loss of my stillborn brother.  I am so angry about that.  Why, at this time is her mind doing this to her?  Why is she only remembering things that bring her sorrow and pain?  Why can't her last memories be the happy ones?  Why does life and death have to be so cruel?

I am angry about a lot of things.  I am angry that she is leaving me.  I am angry that she is suffering.  I am so damned angry that I can't do anything to make it better.  The only thing left for me is to be there, hoping my presence brings her some comfort and some calm.  I refuse to feel guilty for hoping her death comes quickly and quietly.  I can't stand to see her suffer and this is not the way she wanted her life to end.  It is as if her body is at war with itself.  Part of it trying to die while part of it fights to stay alive.

The last few years have been a race. She has been wanting to go and do and not stop.  She had her beloved Salon appointments where they treated her like a queen.  Giving her hand and head massages.  commenting on her jewelry and outfits.  We would go shopping and eat out.   We started the restaurant Bucket List - trying new and different places around the valley.  Some becoming favorite haunts because the food was so good and it was easy for her to eat.  We spend afternoons at the art museum, Desert Botanical Gardens and the Japanese Friendship Garden.  She loved to go shopping at Biltmore Fashion Park because it was dog friendly mall and she could pet people's dogs.  Then there was Macy's jewelry counter and all the glittering gems that she liked to look at.  The older sales ladies so happy to show her the baubles and let her try them on.  She made them happy too - when we would buy one on sale.

My father died when she was in her forties and it has been her and me together all these years.  We had our ups and downs, but we had so many good times.  I remember taking her to Disneyland and getting her on the rides.  She loved it.  She loved to travel and see new places.  I miss her so much.  Her body is still alive and there might be a miracle yet, though I don't hold out any hope for it.  I miss her wit and the fun we used to have.  Even the last years, when her questions would be repetitive and would drag at my patience, she was still herself in many ways.

We all want to just go to sleep one night and not wake up - that is the perfect death in our minds.  Some would say that this long, slow slide gives us a chance to tell someone that we love them, to build good memories and make the most of the time left.  While that is true, watching your loved ones slip away mentally is heart rending.  I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Update:  My mother lost her battle on Black Friday.

Healthcare

I have been listening to the talking heads, pundits, politicians and big mouths letting loose today.  None of them seem to have a clue as to what the average American wants or doesn't want.  They focus on one thing only- whatever they think will get them attention.

Here is what I, as an average American, think.

Middle class Americans, don't expect miracles or want extremes.  We don't expect to own a Ferrari.   We feel the same about healthcare.  We don't expect unnecessary medical expenses to be covered.

What we do want:

• Basic health care coverage.  To be able to go to the doctor when we are sick and be taken care of.  To receive the tests and medicines we need to get well.

• We want to know that if we have a heart attack or get cancer, that we won't go bankrupt and lose our homes or jobs. 

• We want to know that our kids are covered until they become part of the workforce.  

• We want to be able to get insurance at a reasonable cost and not be denied because we burped when we were two and that is considered a "pre-existing condition".

• We want our doctors, nurses, techs and hospitals to be paid a living wage for taking care of us.  

• We want to be told the truth by our health care providers.  If a generic drug works and is cheaper - we're good with that.  If a test isn't going to do as advertised on TV - tell us - we'll get that.   

• We want to be treated fairly.  

What we don't want:

• We don't want to have our insurance  company cancel our policy because we got sick and they don't want to pay.
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• We don't want our insurance premiums spent on bonuses for folks who figure out ways to deny coverage.

• We don't want to be procedured to death because that is how our doctor's get paid a living wage. 

• We don't want to pay for Ferraris and mansions for Healthcare CEOs and COOs.  They deserve to get paid a decent wage.  They don't deserve to become multi-millionaires on the backs of the rest of us.  Especially not at the same time they are denying us the right to get well or even live.   Honestly, we want the Health Insurance Companies to be non-profit because no one should be making profit off of other's health misfortunes.

Some of the folks complaining about Obamacare death panels and socialist medicine haven't really bothered to find out the truth or even to look honestly at what we have in this country today.  We have death panels.  They work for the health insurance industry.  They are the folks who deny you coverage or the ability to get a particular test, procedure or drug.  If you get your care from an HMO - you have to go through a gatekeeper to see a specialist.  (Referral anyone?)  That is no different than what the English go through, so the ingenuous remarks are beyond overdone.

Unlike Canada, the citizens of this country don't have a egalitarian streak and that is too bad. Everyone is treated differently and while we know it on a subconscious level, we don't know the full extent of it.  What we need is a system where we all pay the same cost and it is a fair cost.  There are too many paper and numbers games being played with the true cost of health insurance.   The actual true cost of everything needs to be posted like it is in other countries.  We are told that we need to pay more attention to healthcare costs so that we understand the true cost.  That is difficult to do when the price of something depends on who you work for and what percentage they are paying, who provides the insurance, who provides the service, who is getting kickbacks, what day of the week is it, and if there is a solar eclipse that day.

Maybe the Affordable Healthcare Act isn't perfect.  It doesn't go as far as it should.  It needs tweaks.  But more importantly, the folks slamming it need to look in the mirror and do a "Pinocchio nose" check because the American people expect and deserve the truth and not the lies and obfuscations coming out of their mouths.  We are tired of the Hypocrites and Liars spieling away and the media talking heads hanging on every word like lovesick teenie-boppers instead of doing their journalistic duty by questioning the blanket statements and pointing out the lies.

It is hard to fix massive things like this, but it has to be done.  Ask anyone from another country who lived through the massive changes that occurred and they will tell you it was not easy; however, they will all tell you that they are happy with the healthcare they have now and wouldn't want to be in our shoes.    Our Senators and Congressmen need to quit playing games and do the jobs they were voted in to do.  They need to quit pandering to the extremes and the big money and start working together for all of us and to make this country a better place to live.  If they don't, American exceptionalism will go the way of the dodo bird and we will be just another footnote in the history books along with the Roman Empire.  We have been falling down the lists.  Pick a list and we won't be at the top.  We won't even be in the top ten, unless the list is "countries who spend the most on defense".

I would suggest that this is the way most of us feel.  We may not always agree on the fine points but we all have the same complaints about the big stuff.