The Outsiders.

I read it twice in school, 5th and 7th grade. I loved that it was written by a teenager for teenagers. It taught me that everyone struggles, everyone is fighting something, and outside appearances are nearly always deceiving. Some of the toughest looking people out there are the most sensitive and kind.

I don’t think I would have been as open minded about different ‘cliques’ as a teen if I hadn’t read it, and that translated into being more accepting of people from all walks of life as I became an adult.

I also loved To Kill a Mockingbird, and I mention it because I took away a lot of the same lessons as well as a stronger sense of justice and integrity through the story.

Sounds and feels very much like the PPP scams during the pandemic.

But really guys, it’s the welfare moms and immigrant childcare workers that are scamming this country and the reason there are no more $1 burgers to be found anywhere!!! /s

Time and time again, it’s the end user/consumer that the buck gets passed to. The owner class gets bailed out by us from the problems they create for us, then they tell us there’s no money to be found to provide even the most base level of assistance. And when we pitch enough of a fit for them to throw us a few pennies, it’s shoved in our faces again and again as some sort of handout that ‘proves’ how reliant we are on them. Abuse tactics 101, and like the abused we don’t know where else to go.

Jfc Kirk gets uglier the less I see him.

Imagine how great this world could be if more of our recent ancestors tripped for creative, spiritual, and intellectual inspiration.

Still fucking rats, I won’t forget either.

A is gonna be a hot Halloween costume this year, bet.

‘Hold me close, young Tony Danza’ - me at 9.

He is a symptom of the disease, and both must be dealt with as such.

Yeah we’re in the ‘come at me bro’ status of accountability on all fronts, esp when dealing with those that need to be held to account the most.

He’s already declared his political opponents and the majority of us that don’t share his ideals as terrorists and hostile enemies, signed a EO to that effect September 2025.

Shoot I don’t, it’s not my system. Sorry!

We gotta try something, and many other things too. Not trying is a big part of why we’re in this mess.

This may not qualify as currently reading - however I just finished Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre yesterday. Fantastic and difficult (emotionally) read. Really connects the dots and gives an inside look into Epstein’s world as well as an incredible story of survival and self-empowerment.

I’m also re-reading 1984 by George Orwell. I read it for the first time ~15 years ago and it terrified me, now it’s terrifying in a whole new way.

Gonna need a lighthearted read after this.

Oh awesome! I own this book and have not read it, it’s on my list to read this year.

Your point is valid, my hope is that a popular choice would have a wide ranging effect to de-incentivize the current two party system beyond the presidential elections. It could also help push similar legislation beyond presidential elections.

Again, this is my hope -

This is so real. I remember being a preteen when pagers were a big thing, and seeing a newspaper article written for parents that listed all of these ‘pager codes’ so parents could decode what their kids were saying to each other. Out of a list of perhaps 20, I only recognized 3 and the rest were so elaborate and clearly made up for this article. A few years later, I saw a nearly identical article listing largely the same ‘codes’ but for AIM chats. Shit like ‘2219’ means ‘parents nearby, pick the drugs up at Sally’s instead’. Like wtf?

Like you said, inventing a largely imagined culture for the generation they’re completely out of touch with.

Instead of ‘decoding’ what kids are saying, how about actually talking to them?

If you’ve ever played Beat Saber…this song is a really really good time.

Oooh no no no, he’s not incompetent at all. He’s got a very similar vibe to Dash from Trigun (pls watch if you haven’t) where he’s extremely skilled while looking incompetent, and wins fall right into his lap.

I’m sure there’s a term for this type of character, but I implore you to rewatch Cowboy Bebop with new eyes. The point of the show is not to watch bounty hunters succeed at catching bad guys, and if you watch it for this you’re not going to enjoy it.

If this passes, my bet is on the two party system becoming a distant memory very quickly.

This is what we need.

Come on America, despite the horrors we see now this is our chance to make things right and show the world that we actually intend to become the country we’ve always pretended to be. Let’s show the world how to rise up, break free of our shackles, and create a society that takes care of each other and our planet.

Also only drink soda, sir. Forget water, soda is the thirst mutilator!