21 Comments
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Jim Morton's avatar

Hamas attacks? Israel’s ensuing war? That’s a bit neutral - Hamas murdered over a thousand innocent Jews and then relied on useful idiots for cover. No no no.

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dj l's avatar

exactly - that's CNN's headline. And some identify Hamas & Hezbollah as militants instead of TERRORISTS. Wording can make a lot of difference.

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SPW's avatar

I guess it all depends on whose ox is being gored, right? There was a time England would have called us terrorists had it been in the lexicon of the time. If the Arab world could ever get its own stuff together, they could eat Bibi and his state for lunch but then, of course, the US would be dragged into a nice nuclear conflict. Unlike Putin, whose missiles keep blowing up in their silos, we’ve kept Israel well armed. Be careful what you wish for.

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dj l's avatar

OMG - what the now USA was against England were true militants. Learn your history. And the difference between terrorists & militants

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SPW's avatar

I know the difference so how many fairies can dance on the head of a pin? If someone is holding a gun to your head, are you going to flip a coin in order to decide if that person is a militant or a terrorist?

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dj l's avatar

water hacking - a too real possibility, & they admit how vulnerable they are. Hopefully people have backup safe water in their homes...

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dj l's avatar

"Arrests of Americans have become increasingly common in Russia in recent years. Concern has risen that Russia could be targeting U.S. nationals for arrest to use later as bargaining chips in talks to bring back Russians convicted of crimes in the U.S. and Europe."

72 year old man, arrested for allegedly "fighting" as a mercenary for Ukraine...

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dj l's avatar

Safest Cities - I clicked on changing the order for Home & Community Safety Rank ...

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dj l's avatar
Oct 8Edited

The work jerk: perhaps news broadcasters putting a political slant in any possible way they can?

follow the "rest of the story", DeSantis saying the news is wanting to politicize the approaching storm...

DeSantis has been in direct contact with Federal Emergency Management Director Deanne Criswell.

At a press conference Monday afternoon, DeSantis denied that he refused to take Harris' call.

"I didn't know that she had called," he said. "I'm not sure who they called. They didn't call me. Their characterization of it was something that they did. It wasn't anything that anybody in my office did, in terms of saying it was political."

The AP link was NEWS about the approaching storm

The NBC News was garbage political hacking, & I wonder why Bill included it?

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Dixie OConnor's avatar

While I enjoyed seeing the name of my city in the list of safest cities, people living in Burlington, VT feel differently. Things have changed dramatically in the past 10 years with homeless encampments on church and library properties, drug deals and shootings in city hall park, theft in our marketplace etc. Does that sound safe to you? Check out this news report based on my sister's experience as a minister in downtown Burlington - https://www.wcax.com/2024/08/07/burlington-pastor-says-church-under-siege-drug-users-homeless/

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dj l's avatar

exactly. It's like saying crime in places like San Francisco is getting better. Well, because shops are closing due to theft & vandalism. Or homeless camping out on the sidewalks in front of their doors so shoppers are reluctant to enter, or storeowners get tired of cleaning the sh!t off the walk in front of the door. Restaurant owners report having to walk customers out to their parked cars a few blocks away because of fear. Or people quit calling the police because they won't respond to "just theft of merchandise or auto", or burglary w/out proof of life-threatening...

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Dixie OConnor's avatar

It's that way there too, huh? Wow, I had no idea. Very, very similar to BTV. How sad.

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dj l's avatar

I'm not in that area, but have relatives there. In Portland, OR, too. I'm in a safe area, altho it's too small to be listed.

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dj l's avatar

and on the other hand, as I've stated, I won't be voting for Harris or Trump...

Bizarre stories proposing that the government used weather control technology to aim the hurricane at Republican voters quickly racked up millions of views on X and other platforms.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., endorsed the idea, posting Wednesday on X: “Yes they can control the weather. It’s ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can’t be done.”

imo, AARRGH!!!!! I'll let her call me ridiculous any day

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James P. Moriarty's avatar

Sounds like a wining baby sociopathic. Exhibit A - Trump.

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risenhow's avatar

The work jerk happened upon a mirror and was saddened by the image. A hardworking coworker at a common crossroad of prioritizing work over family and unrealistic expectations from the home office regressed to the "...but we can fix this if we just work harder/longer..." mindset. By the way, this was the senior ranking in-country leader. Quality of work noticeably and progressively slipped as did their patience threshold and emotional stability. Thankfully for everyone, a reality awakening allowed this truly gifted leader to make a timely career change where they've once again found their calling. Unfortunately, it was a cycle that repeated several times over by skilled candidates trying to push water up the stream.

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Carol Ferguson's avatar

The work jerk: I've worked with two people who did this. They always used the speaker phone, talking loudly through long meetings, while pacing back and forth, one, a supervisor in his office, the other in a cubicle office. You could hear them from quite a distance. Closing the office or cubicle door had no effect. This was most distracting, irritating and inconsiderate. Asking them to pipe down was useless.

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Patty McGlasson's avatar

The work jerk makes me ponder myself as a leader. I was a work jerk mostly bc that was the culture of the company I spent almost my entire career with. Not that I am blaming them, but that's who/what I was. It took (1) employee that left to really open my eyes to life after working hrs and this changed albeit slowly, my leadership actions. I now truly appreciate work for what it is and appreciate the team supporting me and our company. I did can the other work jerks and see clearly the toxicity surrounding such folks. There is a place for everyone, "but not here" I like to believe.

Thanks, Bill, for your thoughtful Understandably!

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Lisa Maniaci's avatar

I have worked in a male dominated industry for many years so I have made it a point to treat people the way I want to be treated. My big boss was a misogynist who made fun of me for waiting tables to put myself through college. That said, I am from NY and live in NJ. Coworkers I deal with in other parts of the country take offense to my no-nonsense communications. I'm not a 'soften the blow' type of person, and I would appreciate it if people would be that way with me as well. Don't be a jerk, but don't dance around it.

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Dena Strait's avatar

Work jerk - I am in process of leaving a client who I feel has acted like a jerk. He believes he is my supervisor, although that is not how my contract is written. Yet, he hasn't spoken to me in over 8 months other than to call me one time and chew me out in front of another contractor. He refuses to accept my calls, return my calls, call me when I email him asking him to do so, etc. Most communication is through others or via email. Apparently, I didn't agree with him on something, or he thought my email tone was harsh. It was a nonevent I can't even put my finger on. But he chose to go the silent treatment rather than call me to discuss like an adult. This is a director level person for a public school district, and he is keeping his job. If "leadership" doesn't stop it, it only continues.

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Seattle Mom's avatar

The work jerk may be a two sided equation. I left my favorite job ever after management made it clear I was persona non grata. This was a direct result of my speaking out about unfair work conditions which impacted and upset everyone. In the end we had to get the union involved and have state laws changed to find resolution. The whole process was bitter and devisive. Somehow, I became the bad guy, because I kept fighting. Many of my coworkers seemed to believe that things could have changed via simpler routes, but they were not involved in any of the negotiations. I’m sure they see me as a work jerk. It was a huge win, but I just feel sad.

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