"Yellowstone" Has Now Officially "Jumped the Shark" ...

 

So we watched the premiere of Season 4 of Yellowstone, last night ... 

... and I was very non-plused - in fact, even disappointed.  

My husband, Mark, enjoyed it more than I did, but agreed that it had too many "WTF?" moments and appeared disjointed. 

Just a forewarning - spoiler alerts for this post.

Okay, so when a show has become a caricature of itself and resorts to implausible stunts to draw in viewers, but it's so absurd that it actually results in the opposite effect, we say it has "jumped the shark."

This show-business phrase originated from that time that Fonzie literally jumped a shark in a pool on water skis of the latter episodes of Happy Days lol 

So essentially, "jumping the shark" means you can only suspend the disbelief of your audience so far, before you start to lose them.

In other words, the two-hour premiere was not only disjointed,  but highly implausible, too anticlimactic, led us on wild goose chases, repeated story lines, and focused more on gunfights and explosions than it did substance - how these events and struggles emotionally affected the characters other than more calls for gun battles and revenge, which is the last thing that anyone in the situation needs.

For example, for starters, exactly how many times is Jimmy going to fall off his horse and become nearly paralyzed, but instead makes a miraculous recovery?

And after little man Tate shoots an intruder attacking his mother, Monica, both then just disappear from the show completely, for the next two hours?

Now, as we know,  Kayce, Monica, and Tate are the only moral centers of the show - when they're missing, we notice.

We see Kayce later, but Monica and Tate - where are they are, after Tate shot the intruder, what happened to them, and why, again, is Kayce now wondering the fields in a Gilly suit?  (More on that below.)

And there was no way Beth could've survived that explosion at all, much less with one small strategically-placed, cheekbone-enhancing scratch on her face?

Yes, her back was severely burned, but how is a minor cheekbone-enhancing facial scratch and a severe back burn even possible, since  Beth was standing only a feet a way from the explosive package, directly facing it? 

And she sure did heal awfully quick, didn't she?  

As did John from being shot several times.

As did Kayce, who we already knew was prepared and survived the initial round due to his special forces training, but is later shot and down on the ground, after chasing down the two guys in the van that shot his dad.

When we next see Kayce, it's apparently months later, but he's now inexplicably traipsing through the field in a Gilly suit with a high-powered rifle, like a crazy man, and as if he was never hurt.

We have no idea where he was shot, how many times, nor what the extent of his injuries were, nor do we fully understand why he's dressed like that, months after the attack?

So we're like, "Oh - I guess he's okay - other than he looks like the Grass Man/Sasquatch of Montana, in that ridiculous camouflage, which actually makes him more conspicuous, instead of less, in that environment." 

And again, I didn't fully understand why he was wearing that - because John was coming home from the hospital and he was trying to protect him?

Or because he was being overly cautious/vigilant and exhibiting his PTSD on full display, months after the attack?

By the way, SPOILER ALERT ...

Yes, implausibly, everybody survived the Dutton family hit - even though there's no way a couple of them would have survived in real life.

Except apparently that poor mom with a flat tire that was gunned down simply for witnessing the hit on John - right  in front of her child, mind you - or Beth's assistant that opened the explosion box -  neither of whom were ever mentioned later. 

Guess their  lives weren't important to mention because they're not Duttons or Dutton-branded hands?

Okay, so - what I initially liked about the show, in addition to complex characters, was their ability to find justice outside of the  American plague that is frivolous corporate and political lawsuits, filed by people with more money than God based on BS, simply  to try to intimidate and obtain even more money and power - even though truth be told, if the Duttons themselves weren't rich, white people, too, there's no way they could get away with their particular brand of justice, doing what they do :/

However, another American sickness that plagues us is concern just  for ourselves and our own families, behaving as if we are living in some post-apocalyptic society, though we are not - and that aspect of the show has actually gotten worse this season.

Apparently, it's only important that the Duttons survive and eff everyone else, including innocent single moms and lowly assistants?

And let's face it, the Duttons aren't exactly a Norman Rockwell painting, and have engaged in some pretty nasty, illegal stuff themselves, and have not themselves been above murder, when all else fails, in order to keep that ranch - not to mention branding your ranch hands as if human beings are your property? 

And if John would just sell half of his 500,000 acres to Rainwater, the tribal chief, already, to do with as he pleased and have to deal with corporations himself, this would all be over anyway, but he won't.

And the emotional reactions of the Duttons themselves,  and their branded, after the attacks was just like, "I nearly died, haha,  oh well, next."

???

I felt like I was watching a Michael Bay film rather than Yellowstone ...

... long on big explosions and gunfights, short on substance. 

The only aspects I liked were these two ... 

First, the way that Mo -  Rainwater's bodyguard/casino security, - handles that racist A-hole, who in addition to telling the Native American Blackjack dealer that we "gave" and "allowed" Native Americans casinos - also stupidly bragged, truthfully or not, about his part in the Dutton hit, captured on casino security footage - and then demanded a "thank you" for both.

We love Mo - he's a quiet, spiritual bad ass :)

I also liked the introduction of the new  potentially adopted "Little Rip"  character, although Rip himself is initially unnecessarily cruel/verbally abusive to him at first.  

Beth was harsh to him at first, but changes her tune and finds her heart, after she learns more about his situation, which reminds her of a young Rip -  but Rip himself was just merciless and unnecessarily verbally abusive, at first, until he realizes he's a little him, 20 years ago, deserves a chance, and that he can be taught.

Hoping it gets better, but it's like they tried to pack too much into too little time?

I realize COVID was a hindrance, but other people figured it out, so-?

I'm wondering if show creator/chief screenwriter, Taylor Sheridan, just didn't try very hard, because he's too busy now working on several new shows, particularly his other 2 series about to premiere - the prequel, "Yellowstone: 1883" and "The Mayor of Kingstown?"

However, that premiere certainly did NOT change my previous list of my top 5 best streaming shows of the year and at least thus far, won't be added, that's for sure.  

Sorry, folks, I hate to be so negative about it, but I was sorely disappointed - they can do better!  

Red River Gorge, Daniel Boone National Forest, Central-Eastern Kentucky - November 7, 2021

 (Edited - content added)

The fall foliage is very late in Kentucky, this year, and may not completely come at all, considering that even though there's been plenty of rain, it was also too warm for too long, and then suddenly dropped down to freezing temperatures this past week, causing many leaves to simply die and drop off, rather than change color first.

Nevertheless, we took some mini-hikes at Red River Gorge in the National Forest, to Chimney Top Rock and Princess Arch :)  

The Red River Gorge is a protected geological area in the Daniel Boone Natural forest, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Central-Eastern Kentucky, in the Slade, Stanton, and Campton areas of Kentucky. 

It was formed over time by the Red River eroding through the landscape, over centuries.

Though the huge Natural Bridge is the big attraction there, we had visited there on our last hike, so I decided to show Mark two new areas to him - because if the foliage is on fire anywhere in Kentucky, it'd be at the gorge, and Chimney Top Rock would be the best vantage point.

In fact, there are only three areas in Kentucky I've introduced my husband too that I know he'd love and this is one of them - Red River Gorge, Shaker Village, and Mammoth Cave :)

Mark asked me what the difference was between a gorge and canyon?

Well, not much - I think just two differences, actually?  

They're pretty similar, both usually carved out from both water and wind, over centuries -  but technically,  gorges always have a river, canyons sometimes do not. 

Canyons also tend to be much deeper and wider, as well as higher in cliff elevations - although there are a few gorges in the White Mountains in the Northeast, as well as the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Southeast, that are very deep and have higher cliffs. 

Also, I think gorges tend to have more green/has more vegetation, whereas a canyon has little vegetation, if any at all.

Mostly, despite the technical differences, I think people named things a long time ago regardless, and it's just what people called it regionally - a gorge in the east and a canyon in the west?

Back to our hike, even at Chimney-Top Rock, the fall foliage wasn't up to par, but still on display in a few spots along the trail, and still a lovely view :)

(Sorry about the pic quality, these are from my iPhone 7 - our camera went kaput on our vacay in June :/)

From atop Chimney Top Rock ... 

In this pic, you can see the gorge creator, the Red River, at the bottom of the gorge, still twisting it's way through the terrain  ... 

Now, just a little story ... a cautionary tale ... 

So you see how there's fencing around the rocks, a wooden bridge between the two rock cliffs, and a grassy area about 200 feet down?

Once upon a time, about 28 years ago -  there wasn't. 

There was no bridge between the two rocks, no fence - but most importantly, there no partially filled-in crevasse  - at that time, it was just a straight 1000-foot drop between the two rock cliffs.

So the thing to do to prove your bravery, agility, and sense of adventure was try to jump from the higher one to the lower one and back again (the harder part) without a harness.

So 28 years ago, I went camping, hiking, and rock-climbing with some friends, and had a bit too much to drink - which of course lessens inhibitions and anxiety.

Now, let me just pre-empt this cautionary tale by saying that even though I have not been blessed with many gifts - particularly any athletic ability whatsoever (unless you count archery) - for some reason, I was a natural rock-climber.  

In fact, climbing was one of very few activities that came naturally to me and that I felt confident doing (perhaps overly so); in fact, still do, to this day, though it would take some conditioning now to get back there.  

As a child, despite fear of heights, I nevertheless climbed trees like a monkey - climbing up was never a problem, just climbing down - which is why to this day I prefer rock-climbing, not repelling ;)

In fact, my mother used to tell the story that at age 18 months, she  once came in to check my crib to see if I was asleep, but I wasn't in it - so she panicked, at first thinking I'd been kidnapped.

However, she found me curled up and asleep in the top shelf of the closet lol.  

She scratched her head - because I'd somehow managed to climb my way out of my crib, over the chest of drawers, and hoisted myself up into the top shelf of my closet, at 18 months of age lol.

(Never mind why I must've felt safer from my family sleeping in the top shelf of my closet - much like humans used to sleep in trees to avoid fork-tongued, venomous snakes in the grass? lol ;)

Regardless, back to my young-adult cautionary tale, for some stupid reason that I would have never done sober, with my anxiety issues and fear of heights  - I chose to take the legendary dare - and jump from one rock to the next and back again - with again, the jump to the higher rock back being the most difficult.

However, being slightly intoxicated -  I slipped on the jump back - nearly falling to my death, like so many who had done so before me (in fact, there's a few memorial plaques there now). 

In fact, had my male friend not insisted he hold my hands for stabilization on the jump back -  and thus helped pull me up after slipping - then I, too, would've been another Chimney-Top Rock casualty :/

Ah, the stupidity and ignorance of consequences of youth, and the lessened anxiety/inhibitions/non-filtered effects (which are there for a reason) of alcohol, eh?

Now, I won't even get near the edge ... but super glad they've put the bridge and fencing here. 

There are still people who climb past the fencing and try to do it - still at least 1 death a year there - but at least it's not the previous 4 to 7 per year.

Let that personal story from 28 years ago be a lesson to you - drinking alcohol and hiking/rock-climbing do NOT mix.

We next went to the small arch bridge we camped under on that trip - Princess Arch.

Some things had changed/shifted much since then, but this hadn't - except that I don't think you can camp there anymore, it's now an official park trail.

Just some other sights along the way - great day!

Some residual wild blueberries, untouched by man, bear, or birds ... 

So ... Colin Kaepernick "Should Be Fired" for Protest, But Not Aaron Rodgers? Nope, No Racial/Political Double-Standards Here ;)

 

So in 2016 - four years before the murder of George Floyd by a police officer over a $20 counterfeit bill, without resisting arrest -  Colin Kaepernick kneeled for the flag, protesting police brutality and racism. 

Trump then stated that NFL players who don't stand instead of kneel "should be fired immediately" for their protest, and that they're "ruining the game."   

People essentially called for Colin's head on a platter, and he was not signed with the 49ers the next year, nor to any NFL team, ever again - career now ruined.

Flash forward to 2021.

Aaron Rodgers misleads his teammates, other teams, and the American public about his vaccination status and defies the NFL's vaccine mandate (apparently telling legitimate science, valid data, his own union, his bosses, and common sense to F off,  in favor of advice from uneducated, UFC commentator, Joe Rogan) -  potentially putting hundreds of lives at risk.

*crickets* ... nothing happens?

Complete silence from those same mouths?

No suspension for Aaron Rodgers -  at most, he may have to pay a small fine - if that?

Nope, no racial or political double-standards in America, no sirree! ;)

Aaron Rodgers may be right about betting against the NFL doing anything to him - but I'm not sure he realizes that in doing so, he also has just single-handedly proven Colin Kaepernick's point and reason for kneeling - that there is a double-standard when it comes to race, and that white-male privilege and power abuse is still very alive and well. 

Clearly, Aaron Rodgers had no idea what "woke mob" meant when he said it about vaccination, because "wokeness" has absolutely nothing to do with vaccination, it's about socioeconomic inequity, particularly with regards to race (see two posts below) - but he's about to find out - likely from his own team's blockers and the other team's defensive linemen lol.

PS  

Oh, and by the way, Aaron - you also said that you "have the right to decide what goes in/happens within your own body" - and that your decision was made based on "fear of infertility/sterility" (despite there being zero data or evidence yet to support that the concern that vaccines causes sterility is a valid one). 

So ... does that same rule also apply to women and their reproductive concerns - meaning they should be allowed to decide what happens with their own bodies, and that they shouldn't be forced, by government or private company, either to get an abortion or NOT get an abortion?

Or does this rule only apply for men such as yourself  - yet another shining-example, poster child for the stereotypical whiny, over-privileged, falsely entitled, white male? 

:)

That should teach you to think more before you speak - especially about how many different kinds of cans of worms you're actually opening -  as well as that the press isn't always to blame for your sounding like an insane idiot in interviews -  nor can we blame women and relationship troubles for this fumble, because Olivia Munn was long gone/nowhere around to blame - this one's all you :) 

Ugh ... So I Just Filed a Fantasy Divorce From Aaron Rodgers as One of my Fantasy Co-Husbands ;)

 

(Edited - content added) 

Aaron?

I don't know how to say this delicately, after everything you just said, but seriously - what the ??? is wrong with you? lol

You went a little cuckoo after Olivia Munn left you or what? 

Okay, so ... he just tested positive, and he also just admitted not being  vaccinated, after previously stating he was "immunized." 

(In other words, he lied to everyone who got in close physical proximity with him while playing football, who believed he was vaccinated.)

It's not so much that he wasn't vaccinated that bothers me - it's the fact that he lied about being vaccinated.  

I mean, for goodness sakes, if you're going to take an anti-vax stance based on your beliefs, you have that right and choice - but at least have the cojones to be be honest, upfront, and clear about  not being vaccinated from the get-go, so that you don't put everyone else at risk who doesn't believe in your quackery - at least give other people the  same right to exercise their freedom of choice that you have, as to how close they are willing to get to you? 

Then he went further by stating that he "probably caught the virus from someone who was vaccinated" and that he knows he's now going to be "in the crosshairs of the woke mob."

First of all, "wokeness" has literally nothing to do with vaccination -  you clearly don't even know what that term means, but it has literally nothing to do with vaccination - it has to do with our broken socioeconomic system and social justice (see below post).

Regardless, I'm pretty sure that whatever their politics or stance on social justice, everyone on your team, as well as opposing teams, are going to be pretty pissed that you lied to them, after being in such close physical proximity to you - and I don't blame them.

Nope -  imagining you caught the virus from someone vaccinated,  insinuating the virus originates from the vaccination itself, makes zero sense - there is absolutely zero legitimate data or evidence to support that statement - it's certifiably cuckoo.

My husband and I have been vaccinated, and so has everyone we associate with, and not a single one of us has ever gotten sick/had side effects.

Additionally, all of us also have still worn masks, and not a single one of us has gotten COVID, even a breakthrough, or even the mild  phenotype - and my husband works for the public schools!

However, we do know several unvaccinated people who have actually died from COVID, including both parents of one the stylists at my hair salon.  They were 52 and 60, the same age as myself and Mark.

Both of her parents refused to get vaccinated or wear masks, believing at first COVID was a Democrat hoax, then that vaccination and mask-wearing was government control.

In their final moments, they first made excuses that maybe Trump didn't know how bad it was, then expressed regret for ever having believed Trump and Republican politicians - but it was too late - they died fairly young, and neither will ever get to see their very first grandson, who is now on the way :(

So if you want to get your hair done there, you will need to at least wear a mask at the very least, or plan on getting your hair done elsewhere, after hearing a very justified and warranted tirade, as she's now very passionate about both vaccination and mask-wearing - especially now that she's pregnant.

-AND-

 If he, and these naysayers, actually worked in healthcare, like I do, and actually read legitimate data rather than some nobody on social media claiming to be a doctor, or some quack practicing outside of compendia-based studies -  he would know better.  

Sorry, Aaron - I thought you were smarter than this,  but obviously not - and legitimate data disproves you.  

Plus you lied to the other players, who thought they were safe  enough to be in close proximity to you ... ewwww?

However, you ARE right about one thing ... you're soooo canceled.

In fact, I'm now embarrassed that I ever listed you as one of my fantasy co-husbands, talk about big mistakes. 

I mean, I have previously made some big mistakes with choices of men, in my life, but I can honestly say, despite whatever addictions or issues they may have  had, not a single one of them could ever be accused of being stupid.

Now, I'm sure this news of our pending fantasy divorce upsets you greatly, considering you have no idea who I am ;)

However, it's not really your fans you have to worry about anyway, of even the NFL administration (whom your dumb,  falsely-entitled, selfish, white ass bet against suspending you, which you're probably right about, but will nevertheless only further prove racial double-standards versus people like Colin Kaepernick kneeling for flags) and your white male over-privilege/abuse of power to the rest of us.

Thus, if COVID doesn't pummel you, I'd next be most concerned about those big, "woke mob" defensive linemen that you have to play against, most of whom are a foot taller, weigh at least 150 more pounds, and are  20 years younger than you, who are going to have a lot of fun playing "sack the quarterback."

And I wouldn't count on your own team members protecting you - they might be inclined to not block for you so much anymore?

And your wide receivers and running backs may suddenly be all like, "Oops! Silly me, I fumbled the pass again - I'm such a butterfingers.  Oh well, I still get paid $5 million and have more chances at a Superbowl win, but Aaron just effed up his last chance at a Superbowl win."

You say you hate the media, but you chose to use it to say some super inflammatory, ignorant stuff directly to the media - and yet you think you can still bitch about the media? 

Oh, I don't think so. 

Well, have fun with all ... that :)

Way past time to retire, now, Aaron - buh bye - you're fired - thank you for playing.

PS - by the way, you were easily and immediately replaced as my sports fantasy co-husband with the quarterback who once idolized you, but added his own unique baseball-influenced way to pass -  the younger, smarter, better-looking Patrick Mohames, who clearly also has more  basic common sense as well :p

Welp, the good news is, neither Aaron, nor his family, nor his fans, can scapegoat/blame this  possibly-career-ending fumble on Olivia Munn.

In fact, somewhere, I can imagine that the very beautiful, very talented, very intelligent, very woke, and very pregnant (comedian John Mulaney's child) Olivia Munn -  who's career was virtually destroyed because of her relationship with Aaron Rodgers, after constantly being blamed when he effed up on the field -  is now smiling to herself :)

If You Are Anti-Critical Race Theory, I'm Sorry - But You ARE Both Racist and Anti-Free Speech - Whether You Realize That's What You're Supporting or Not ...

(Edited - content added.)

As we know, Virginia went Red, in their gubernatorial race this week, as well as other areas in the nation.  

When  USA Today polled Virginians on their biggest reason for voting conservatively,  the top answers were not only handling of the COVID pandemic/immunization, but the teaching of critical race theory at  both university and public-school level.

Florida and Idaho have already passed anti-CRT legislation, and Texas and North Carolina are hearing arguments for these laws, and states like Ohio are considering them - with Florida's law in particular creating the potential for any college or university caught teaching critical race theory to lose government funding. 

So what is critical race theory?  

Well, don't ask this dude - he admits he doesn't know and doesn't understand it -  but B'God, he's against it, because his Republican politicians and right-wing media told him to ...

Sigh. 

I ... don't know whether to laugh or cry, so I'll just sigh.

So, he talks about getting back to educating our children, but he himself forms an opinion based on his lack of education about CRT  and doesn't even know what that means lol.

(By the way, this video was posted by a group of comedians/political satirists called "The Good Liars," which refers to Trump-style Republicans, not themselves.)

A complete definition of CRT can be found here (Britannica), but in a nutshell, Critical Race Theory is that racism, racial bias, and implicit racial bias -  and the associated socioeconomic trappings - are NOT based on inherent racial physical, biological, or genetic traits which determine inferiority through either natural selection or God-ordained inferiority - but instead are social and cultural constructs that we have created ourselves to justify inequity, injustice, and even mistreatment of people of color.

Further, it purports that these antiquated, disproven ideals of natural inferiority have nevertheless permeated our socioeconomic system and our culture, and they have been institutionalized in our justice system and our actual law since day one in this country - even within our constitution. 

Because before the 13th and 15th amendments, the constitution recognized slaves only in that they were counted as three-fifths of a population, which gave Southern white men a bigger population, and thus more representation power in Congress.

The slaves themselves were disallowed the right to vote, of course, just used to account for three-fifths of a population for representation purposes - because of course you know they'd all vote for their slave masters as "benevolent patriarchs" automatically, right? 

Sigh.

All of which our forefathers did without ever actually using the word "slave," but instead "non-free persons," which lets you know in carefully choosing the language, they already knew it was wrong.

Essentially, anti-CRT supporters are simply supporting the same old tired, disproven white supremacy arguments from 300 years ago, just rebranded for today in shiny new packages, finding new ways to either deny that slavery or racism ever existed, or attempt to justify it - to include arguments that "non-free people" did not mean "slave" in our constitution. (They never say what this supposed to mean, just that it doesn't mean slave and we should take their word for it lol.)

The rebranding of this white supremacy is done using lame "whataboutism" arguments based on isolated, singular events, as well as using language that appeals to people who believe they aren't racist.

Though Republican politicians supporting anti-CRT never mention it, at its core, supporting anti-CRT politics means you believe that racial inferiority is either God ordained or biologic natural selection, rather than racism being a socioeconomic and cultural construct we've created to justify inequity, injustice and even mistreatment of people of color -  regardless of whether you realize that's what you're supporting or not. 

And its supporters likely don't even realize that's actually what they're supporting, because as I said, it never comes out of the  mouths of Republican politicians supporting anti-CRT, but it's nevertheless a core component of anti-CRT ;)

Instead, they're focused on linking CRT to being "a myth invented by Karl Marx" and is therefore socialist, you see - hoping to scare people to death about socialism - despite the fact that Marx didn't come up with the idea himself.

Regardless, whether you realize that you're actually supporting thinly-veiled white supremacy in supporting anti-CRT, you still are - because you actually only have two choices:  Either you believe racism is a social and cultural construct we've created to justify racism or you believe race is natural, biologic inferiority/superiority. 

There are no other alternatives to believe than those two - natural racial inferiority or racism is a social/cultural construct we've created to justify racial injustice and inequity - period.

M'kay.

So - erm - first of all, I'm pretty sure people of color themselves thought of CRT, first, not Karl Marx lol.  

In fact, I know this is the case because Sojourner Truth said it years before Marx did.

But no one cared until a white male actually said it - which is proof in and of itself that racism is a social and cultural construct, rather than racial biologic inferiority, isn't it? :)

But because Karl Marx was the first white male to say it, now it's a thing? Got it ;)

But of course, we're supposed to believe that everything  Marx said was "evil," simply because he challenged prevailing thought and our socioeconomic system ;)

Hey, I'm not a Marxist, but then I try to avoid labels, and I don't follow anyone or anything blindly, I question everything - plus I see the positive and the negative in just about everybody.

(Well, there are exceptions of course, but I'm talking about most people,  people within the normal range.  I do think Trump himself borders on evil, but I don't think Trump's followers themselves are evil, just allowing themselves to be led astray from basic human decency towards selfishness and hatred, at odds with their own  stated Christian principles, thereby enabling evil.)

Yes, Marx sometimes said some cuckoo stuff and was pretty cuckoo  in his personal life, as well as overly harsh in his opinions, but he wasn't "evil"  - and we shouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater - because he also said some pretty brilliant stuff that hit the nail right on the head.

I mean, we're not talking about Hitler and attempts to mass-eradicate certain races and groups off the planet - we're talking about a man who challenged prevailing thoughts about our socioeconomic system - perhaps overly harshly - period. 

(And by overly harsh, I mean it probably didn't help his case that he called all capitalists "blood-sucking vampires," but that was Marx  for you lol.)

For instance, even though again, Marx was not the originator of CRT, he was a proponent of it - I do believe in critical race theory, because I have studied too much factual evidence to support it, as well as I have personally met people of color, directly from Africa (Nigeria, Botswana, and Tanzania), with no white blood at all, who kicked my ass intellectually, proving that there is no such thing as biological or "God-ordained" racial inferiority, and that racism is, in fact, a social and cultural construct we've created to justify our racism. 

Also remember that the theories of socialism, or even communism, are not what actually happens in practice.  

In socialist/communist theory, the producers are supposed to own everything equally, but that's historically never actually happened, because there is still always a small oligarchy or even a dictator at the top controlling everything, just the same as in fascism, a true monarchy, or laissez-faire capitalism - the only thing that changes is who's allowed within the oligarchy or dictatorship to control everything. 

 Thus, true theoretical socialism or communism has never happened, and likely will never happen, in practice - not in Russia, Cuba, China, Cambodia, or insert country calling itself socialist or communist here -  because unfortunately, humans cannot be unbiased and objective enough to make things equal and fair - and quite simply, most humans are too greedy. 

Marx also said a lot of brilliant things that were actually true about the industrial revolution and exploitation of laborers, especially at that time.

For instance, Marx also said that man (or woman) has an inherent need to create or innovate - it's our core nature.

This of course is an odd thing for an atheist to say, considering our inherent need to create would actually support the entire basis of Christian faith being creation of life and our "being made in our creator's image," but nevertheless, that's what he said lol.

Further, he postulated that when humans become separated from the creative process, from the sense of accomplishment gained from craftsmanship, we become part of a machine, by making only a part to a whole machine, which he called "dehumanization of the American worker."

He predicted this "dehumanization" and separation from the creative process/craftsmanship would ultimately lead to lack of sense of accomplishment, lack self-worth, and ultimately depression, frustration, and anger - especially if paid little to do it with no health benefits.

Sorry, but I believe that one, too - and the proof in the pudding for that one is what happened during the pandemic, when people were unable to do anything at all, couldn't work or socialize, this led to mass depression and anger, wanting someone to blame, for many.  

Not me, I previously couldn't afford to do stuff for years,  and was previously a "slave" to the conveyor belt of productivity-based pay for years prior, with the odds stacked against you - so pandemic restrictions and "not being able to do"  was simply par for the course for me, I know how to handle it and what to do lol.

But that is because I learned the trick to it a few years ago, after having experienced financial struggle so long, before the pandemic. 

The trick to avoiding depression when restricted or confined -  due to pandemic or  financial situation or even physically -  is to find your inner craftmanship, find something creative to do, for a sense of accomplishment - OR - immerse yourself in nature, in creation itself :)

Even if you hate your job (which I don't now, I love my job now, but it took years of getting to this level), your job does not define you, it's a part of your identity but not the whole -  unless you allow it to be - so find your craftsmanship and your sense of accomplishment anyway, outside of it - whether paid to do it or not :)

In other words, overall, I agree with Marx's assessment of our broken, sick socioeconomic system -  but I don't necessarily agree with how he wanted to "treat" it, what he wanted to do about it.

Regardless, back to our current political situation, the problem is basically anti-CRT Republicans don't want to have to feel uncomfortable about slavery or racism, or God forbid, feel guilt or remorse about it, so they do what any good gaslighters do - pretend it never happened and that racism doesn't exist and never existed and that you're crazy for thinking it did, and actually outlaw anyone teaching it.

Sigh.

Regardless, this type of truth-denying and gaslighting were defeated before, and it will be defeated again - it just takes time, though it may get worse before it gets better for a while, and we likely never will fully defeat it because there will always be pockets or racists and  power abusers/exploiters of others.

Today's Republicans are very short-sighted - make a quick gain or quick buck and get out, leaving a mess legacy for the Democrats to clean up later, only instead, get blamed for - they're like Wall Street stock-traders that way lol.

This short-sightedness cannot sustain itself forever, and at some point, we're going to reach a BS and too-much-drama threshold - drama is like the pain threshold that way.  

At a certain point, no matter how paranoid, gullible or easily roused by BS, and/or prone to drama a person is, they're still human - meaning even their neurological systems have nerve receptors that have a threshold for pain, fear, or aggression, and once that threshold is reached will result in exhaustion and avoidance.

Even their self-induced fight-or-flight responses cannot sustain for too long, and thus, they will not be able to sustain this frenetic pace long term.

Especially because at some point, either they, or their children and grandchildren, will hopefully eventually realize the people pushing them into fight-or-flight response isn't us, it's their own leaders and their own choice, based on BS.

Plus let us not forget that history itself, like truth, is NOT short-sighted, does not interpret data based on knee-jerk, fight-or-flight neurologic responses - it records everything including who was responsible for what, what they did to try to cover it up, gaslight, and white-wash it - all of it.  

And though it may take a long time for truth to come out, even possibly after we're gone, despite unbelievable gaslighting efforts to whitewash and cover it up, the truth always does :)

Fall Decor Additions ...

Being that it was too rainy to hike yesterday - and Saturday was all about the Michigan State/Michigan game (Michigan State won, btw, woo hoo!) -  we worked on a few home projects yesterday.

My fireplace is finally complete - not as full as last year,  but still helps things to look comfy and cozy as the days get shorter, and Thanksgiving approaches :)

(Even though the chimney sweep is coming tomorrow, so I'm going to have to move all of that, then put it back, when he's done lol.)

I ordered two more of the mason-jar lanterns like the one on the mantel ...

... and put tiny pumpkins, pine cones, and acorns in them, too,  for the kitchen bar.

I also got this window mirror and shutters a few weeks ago for our dining room, which is on the opposite wall to the windows and a bit dark,  hoping to reflect more light, which Mark put up this past weekend,   I already had the wreath, which was a bit skimpy, so I just added a few trinkets :)

I also added more color,  particularly red, to the wreath that I fully made that hangs on the balcony door, to give it more pop from the street, as it wasn't showing up as well from far away.

At first, I  added too much red, so I removed some - but I still think it's almost too much red/too much going on now?

I think I liked it better before, at least close up, even though it doesn't show up as well from the street ... 

Ah well, I can always take the added red leaves off, I'll think more on it  :)

Happy Fall, Y'all!