Yes, I’m in Greece. Visited our friends right before.
Right now…
Posted by Skye on June 5, 2025, 1:55 am, in reply to "BTW" Valued Poster
We are on a bus headed inland. Was able to connect to the Wi-Fi on the bus. Did the Acropolis yesterday. Getting quite a history lesson, which is always interesting.
I fell head over heels in love with Santorini
Posted by Trish on June 5, 2025, 8:17 am, in reply to "Right now…" Admin
If I could go there to die, I'd be very happy (mind you, I'd rather go back on vacation but that's way out of scope financially)
Now we are in Olympia for one night. The view from our balcony is just lovely. Athens was nice as big cities go with good parts and not so good parts… but so much history! The weather is a little warmer than we expected, in the low 90’s, but it’s sunny and beautiful traveling through the countryside… olive trees everywhere! The food is great, too.
So envious!
Posted by greenman on June 5, 2025, 12:04 pm, in reply to "We will get there!" Valued Poster
This isn't a sci-fi movie; Palantir, a tech company with deep ties to Trump allies, is building a sweeping federal database that will c e n t r a l i z e s e n s i t i v e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t Americans from agencies like the IRS, Social Security, and immigration services. Creepy enough for ya? This project, powered by Palantir's Al-driven software, is being rolled out under Trump's executive order that dismantled previous barriers to government data sharing. Skynet? The result is a s y s t e m that can m e rg e tax records, student loans, medical claims, bank accounts, and much more, creating a detailed digital profile of nearly every citizen. What is especially striking is the hypocrisy from many Republicans who have loudly railed against government overreach for years. They have used the fear of a tyrannical government a s a main reason to block any meaningful gun safety legislation, claiming Americans need firearms to protect themselves from state abuse. Yet, as this administration builds the most powerful surveillance tool in US history, many of those same voices are silent or even supportive. For all the b l u s t e r t h o s e d u d e s s u r e d o l o v e t o lick boots. It is hard to ignore how quickly their concern for personal freedom evaporates w h e n t h e o v e r r e a c h c o m e s f r o m their o w n side. Palantir's stock is soaring and investors a r e thrilled w h i c h is c a u s e in itself for alarm. The tech bros won't be happy until they have completely altered everything about how our country and the world w o r k s i n t o their favor w h i l e t h e r e s t o f u s turn into peasants fighting for scraps. The real story is about democracy and power, but mostly power. Centralizing this much personal d a t a in the h a n d s of o n e administration and one private company is an insane threat to privacy, civil rights, and t h e b a s i c c h e c k s a n d b a l a n c e s t h a t a r e supposed to protect Americans from government abuse. This is not just about efficiency or modernization; it is about whether the government serves the people, or surveils them
This is what I heard, and if true and if this bill passes, this country is pretty well done. I am frustrated that there isn’t something on the news about all this, or that Democrats aren’t shouting to the top of their lungs about it if this is true.
If the Senate passes the "One Big Beautiful Bill" and Trump signs it, that's it. It becomes law. And here's what that really means: • He can delay or cancel elections-legally. • He can ignore Supreme Court rulings for a year or more. • He can fire government workers for political disloyalty. • Judges can't enforce their own orders. • Protests can be tracked and criminalized. • LGBTQ+ rights, education, health care, and media? Gutted • Your VPN? Tracked. Your vote? Suppressed. Your speech? Flagged. This bill doesn't break the law. It rewrites the law so Trump never has to break it again.
Worst of the BBB doesn't go into effect until AFTER the midterm elections
Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on June 4, 2025, 3:17 pm, in reply to "Well" ADMIN
when, if the country retains MAGA GOP control of House and Senate, the felon gets his BBB way. There will be revolution and revolt. If the country breaks apart, the billionaire oligarchs already have their eyes on ruling their particular part, and they will remain loyal to dt. So secession to get away from him will fail. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony
So THAT’S why the Democrats are being quiet about it, too? In hopes that THEY will be in power? This country is so screwed.
I am noticing right NOW that AI is trying to anticipate and compose my post FOR me! God help us all… I only wish.
Why would the Dems be quiet about it until AFTER the midterms?
Posted by Sia on June 5, 2025, 8:26 am, in reply to "My God…" ADMIN
I don't think that the Dems ARE being quiet about it. We are hearing about it all FROM the Dems.
The GOP are hoping voters won't see what's coming directly after the midterms from their bill. DEMs are hoping exactly the opposite, that voters will know about it BEFORE the midterms and hold the GOP responsible (as they will be entirely).
Dems currently have no power and no hope but for the courts
Thin line of the courts is all that's holding democracy together right now.
Dems are barking loud, but again they have the wrong strategy. Then need two things.
1.) Delay implementation of trump until after the midterms, and
2.) concentrate on the midterms to regain the power they need to legislatively shackle him.
Schumer is an idiot. Just like Garland. Garland didn't get it, and neither does Schumer. Schumer puts himself there as spokesman barking the one cutsie he comes up with over and over (We're All Going to Die Bill) repeating it instead of building on it.
That was Harris' big mistake. Her attack on trump worked well in the debate. But the rest of her campaign was spent repeating the same lines almost word for word. Did people notice? Damned straight they did, and the fact she said little else drove home her argument was scripted.
We heard it the first time. We didn't need to hear it 692 more times in every speech she gave. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony
on June 4, 2025, 12:46 pm
