From: punditster@gmail.com   
      
   On 2/10/2026 2:09 PM, Noah Sombrero wrote:   
   > On Tue, 10 Feb 2026 11:43:53 -0800, Dude  wrote:   
   >   
   >> On 2/10/2026 10:51 AM, Noah Sombrero wrote:   
   >>> On Tue, 10 Feb 2026 09:43:45 -0800, Dude  wrote:   
   >>>   
   >>>> On 2/9/2026 2:46 PM, Noah Sombrero wrote:   
   >>>>> On Mon, 9 Feb 2026 13:27:43 -0800, Dude  wrote:   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>>> On 2/8/2026 12:41 PM, Noah Sombrero wrote:   
   >>>>>>> On Sun, 8 Feb 2026 11:44:14 -0800, Dude  wrote:   
   >>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>> On 2/8/2026 9:48 AM, Noah Sombrero wrote:   
   >>>>>>>>> On Sun, 8 Feb 2026 09:44:46 -0800, Dude  wrote:   
   >>>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>>>> On 2/7/2026 7:16 PM, Noah Sombrero wrote:   
   >>>>>>>>>>> On Sat, 7 Feb 2026 09:36:40 -0800, Dude    
   wrote:   
   >>>>>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>>>>>> On 2/7/2026 7:55 AM, Noah Sombrero wrote:   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>> On Sat, 7 Feb 2026 09:33:18 -0500, Wilson    
   >>>>>>>>>>>>> wrote:   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 2/6/2026 9:11 PM, Dude wrote:   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 2/6/2026 1:46 PM, Wilson wrote:   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> "An ordinance creating a reparations fund for Black residents   
   in San   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Francisco has finally been signed into law, but the program   
   lacks an   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> identified source of funding. Mayor Daniel Lurie has stated   
   that no   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> city funds will be used, (even though he signed the law!)   
   emphasizing   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the fund's reliance on private donations...none of which have   
   been   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> received.   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> You just can't make this stuff up!   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> San Francisco has formally established a reparations fund for   
   Black   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> residents. Except the City has a  $1 billion budget deficit.   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The ordinance was passed, but no immediate cash payouts for   
   initiatives   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> like $5 million per person!   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Wait! What?   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>> It's fine! There's no problem! Just create a board of directors   
   and pay   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>> them a stipend to have a few meetings. There's no need to   
   actually do   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>> anything.   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Progressive government programs are dysfunctional ideas living   
   in a   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>> fantasy land of virtue so they can say, "We did the thing!"   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>> As it this were a new idea or not equally practiced by r's.   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>> So, I had to read that twice: 5 million dollars each for   
   reparations as   
   >>>>>>>>>>>> payback by liberal Democrats for supporting the slave trade?   
   >>>>>>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>>>>>> There's no way anyone could make this up!   
   >>>>>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>>>>> Your attitude towards the whole thing speaks for itself.   
   >>>>>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>>>> It's only fair that the Democrats pay reparations for the slave   
   trade   
   >>>>>>>>>> and to the disenfranchised Mexicans too. That was a terrible thing   
   to do   
   >>>>>>>>>> to people for profit. So, I figure Native Americans in Canada   
   should get   
   >>>>>>>>>> their welfare, at least, to triple from $640 month up to at least a   
   >>>>>>>>>> living wage.   
   >>>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>>> It seems to me the quote says, nobody is being paid for anything.   
   >>>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>> It means regardless of wealth or status, every person ultimately   
   pledges   
   >>>>>>>> their loyalty and service to a higher power. It's a spiritual choice,   
   >>>>>>>> serve the Lord or serve another.   
   >>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>> Or so the bible would have us believe.   
   >>>>>>>   
   >>>>>> If you are religious, you would probably elect to serve the Lord. If you   
   >>>>>> were an atheist, you would probably serve somebody else, like "Daddy"   
   >>>>>> Warbucks or the King. The point is, you've got to serve somebody.   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> So the bible says.   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> the things that yer lible   
   >>>>> to read in the bible   
   >>>>> they anin't nessussarily so.   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> So says Porgy.   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> As for me, I think there are enough excuses for mindlessness around   
   >>>>> without that one.   
   >>>>>   
   >>>> Everyone is different.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Apparently, Quebec is full of Roman Catholics, serving the Lord, while   
   >>>> in the US Midwest you'll find Protestants.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> If you're not serving the Lord you are probably serving someone else,   
   >>>> like the King, or your boss at work.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> You've got to serve somebody and pay your taxes.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Or, you could retire and just be mindless and serve yourself a cup of   
   >>>> Joe. In the end, you've got to pay somebody. YMMV.   
   >>>   
   >>> You have got to participate in paying everybody for everything always.   
   >>>   
   >> You got to pay somebody.   
   >>>   
   >>> That is under the current dispensation.  It is not a priori.  It also   
   >>> does not mean you are serving.  You are simply being paid and paying.   
   >>> Circulating money through the system.   
   >>>   
   >> Capitalism can become your God. Worshiping lucre and the golden calf.   
   >   
   > Or not.   
   >   
   >>> As some wise guy historian said of what historians will say about us   
   >>> now, "they bought and they sold".   
   >>>   
   >> A guy named Johnson went down to the crossroads to hitch a ride into   
   >> town where he supposedly sold his soul to the devil for a quarter doing   
   >> busking down in San Antonio.   
   >>>   
   >>> Suggesting that is all that we do. I'd say that mostly sums up the   
   >>> total emptiness of it all.>   
   >> You may be on to something.   
   >>   
   >> According to Buddha, the reality is that everything is empty. Why?   
   >> Because of change - no thing is absolutely real or unchanging.   
   >>   
   >> In reality, there's nothing absolute, everything is empty of own being.   
   >   
   > This cycle of money through society can be empty without "everything   
   > is empty of its own being".  Your switch of emphasis trivializes what   
   > I said.   
   >   
   >>   
   >> "Everything changes." - Buddha   
   >>>   
   >>> Except that does not mean that as individuals, we cannot refuse to buy   
   >>> into the necessity of it all, or serve the system.  It is possible to   
   >>> say, I object.  This is not right.  Gimme a break.   
   >>>   
   >> You can always retire. Just quit working. There's not much you can do   
   >> anyway; probably very little that is happening in the world affects you   
   >> personally. YMMV.   
   >   
   > It is not about quitting work.  It is about affirming the emptiness of   
   > the eternal cycle of money, not allowing that to get its slimy claws   
   > on the my potential servitude.   
   >   
   That's easy for you to say - you've still got your youth!   
    > >> Side gig suggestions for older people:   
   >>   
   >> Get a GoFundMe for a pet sanctuary and adopt a pet.   
   >> Drive for Uber or Lyft.   
   >> Work from home doing data entry or IT research.   
   >> Join a Senior Center or Moose Club and play bingo on Friday evenings.   
   >   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)