V.3

yes, actually the AVERAGE score of all the ratings shows up in the first post. The initial post is the master record for that title.

i know it's confusing since there are many options here that are not on other social networks. the Likes, and other emojis are called "Reactions." They are available in discussion forum posts. the Liberal Arts posts are database entries created with fields of info that can be sorted and searched. They have an actual rating system built in, from 1 to 10 stars. So, yes, when you submit a Liberal Art book title you should post again to give it your 1 to 10 rating. (I guess the reason the rating is not available in the initial post is because some collection entries are submitted by the author themselves, who shouldn't rate their own work).

i like the quote. you mention several works. In the future, it would be better to submit one work at a time so others can add their own rating on the title. I edited the title to the first one. also, you should submit your RATING via another post. The software takes the work description in the first post and follow-up RATINGS/REVIEWS or COMMENTS on reviews is subsequent posts. This is just a comment. I have not read either book.

saw this on FB. A proposal for a "soft succession." It does speak to the point that the blue states do have leverage to use against this tyrant king and could and should apply that leverage instead of being bullied.

indeed, Chris, there are many, many things we can and should do. And the European models are a good start. My plan is to explore all the options via the 3001: Space Colonoscopy thread where we will simulate building a new society from scratch.

the most important implications of election 2025 is what it may say about election 2026! if there was "rigging" of 2024 could it be repeated in 2026? If so, could a big enough blue surge overcome any tampering? will Republicans looking to be re-elected, smell the rancid coffee and realize they need to finally break from The Lyin' King? will the Democrats use the election 2025 results as an excuse do what they always do -- not a lot -- so they can still milk fat-cat, corporate donors? will Democrat's finally embrace true CHANGE candidates like Mamdani, AOC, and Bernie?

NOTIFICATIONS: you can turn on the setting to Follow specific topics/threads and receive an email notification but you cannot receive email notifications of reactions to your posts. When the site gets busier there would be too much of those. instead of email notifications, i recommend turning on PUSH NOTIFICATIONS via the FOLLOW menu. Then, as long as your browser is open (on any site), you'll be notified with a sound and pop-up of your Newbl replies, messages, and, probably, reactions/likes.

the first thing i'd note about election 2025 is what it may say about election 2024. the Prez-a-King said twice that election 2024 was fixed and insinuated Musk knew enough about the technology to do it. He also told his voters they wouldn't have to vote next time because it would be taken care of. The media, largely ignored those remarks -- as did the Democratic Party. Significant election irregularities are being looked into (but not by the Dems). what stood out to me after election night is a set of simple facts i haven't heard anyone talking about. The turnout numbers I couldn't even find until a couple of months after the election about 7 million less Democrats voted for Kamala than voted for Biden. And 3 million more Republicans voted for the Lyin' King this time. -- after he became convicted felon, adjudicated rapist, charged with stealing classified documents, lead an insurrection, etc.. AND, despite the media anticipating a record election turnout -- 9% FEWER DEMOCRATS VOTED? i wondered what tale election 2025 might tell. Below, is an early indicator. After he was impeached twice during his first term, did Democrats really need to see 11 more months of the Lyin' King in action to get out the vote today? -- or did something happen to millions of votes last year???

overview of socialism versus the "dark triad"

REACTIONS, RATINGS, REVIEWS, POLLS and POINTS: These are options not found on other social networks. Likes 👍 and other emojis are called "Reactions." They are available in discussion forum posts. When you 👍, 🤣, or 🏆a post it adds to the writer's "reputation" points shown on their profile. A 👎deducts a point. Liberal Art Review posts are database entries created with fields of info. They have a ⭐rating system built-in, so the top-rated entries can be searched and sorted. In addition to REVIEW posts, you can COMMENT on review posts. POLLS allow members & public viewers to see what voters feel is the best answers on the issues. EDITING, DELETING: Click the white dot.dot.dot ... menu on the upper right of your post. For a profile or other data entry screen you will see a blue "Actions" menu at the bottom

yes. Dennis Miller regressed and become unfunny. He didn't work out for Fox News and neither did the snide show segment they fashioned after The Daily Show. There's a mean-spirited-ness about right-wing policies, and it doesn't translate to humor. i know it sounds bias, but Bill Maher's wit still seems to be at its best when he's ridiculing right-wing-nuts. I believe his way-overdone campaign against "wokeness" and "cancel culture" reflects his emotional weaknesses more than his sense of humor. He never got over ABC cancelling his network show, "Politically Incorrect" for being politically incorrect 20 years ago. And, i'm guessing, his over indulgence in the ganja only worsened his insecurities and paranoia.

i look forward to your help in building that radical new blue world from scratch in the 3001: A Space Colonoscopy thread. Pick a starship. Get on board.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FbSDFq9bu/

"prophetic?" or pathetic that it even took that long for a U.S. newspaper to air the obvious after a decade of supporting evidence?

Jennifer Lawrence says, Billie Eilish is going the other way. Telling billionaire's off to their face and donating millions. which way would you go if you were a celebrity? for example, J.K. Rowling airs anti-trans positions. Will you, should you boycott the Harry Potter universe?

Bill Maher was at his best when his logic and criticisms were consistent. But that's been happening less and less. this week he played the race/religion card -- blaming the N.Y. mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for being a practicing Muslim, and he threw in a dig about 9/11. Maher endorsed Andrew Cuomo, who is a practicing Catholic. No mention of any Catholic Priest's bad behavior. In 2008, Maher's RELIGULOUS film mentioned a lot of bad, fundamentalist behaviors. Yet for the past 2 years he's been an outspoken advocate of Israel's bombings in Gaza, which is, and always has been, an insane religious war by both sides for the control of alleged "holy land." i'm not sure whether i believe Bill's descent into emotional bias serves a useful purpose. It might be a good thing that many on the Right like his anti-PC, anti-woke rhetoric. It forces them to hear his more balanced and grounded ideas too. do you still watch his show?

i respect your commitment, mac. And i'm glad there's someone here with that opinion. But isn't the real argument that: you're trying to fit a round peg in voting system that's built with square holes. if we can't elect the lesser of 2 evils in a 2-party system we will never be in a position to change it? if we don't select the lesser of 2 evils we eventually get the greatest evil. Now our 2-party system is turning into a 1-party dictatorship. i would vote green too. But, unfortunately, the reality is not that if everyone voted their true conscious we'd elect a green. The will isn't there. The numbers aren't there. The voters are still in the dark. imo, the only viable path is voting for your true candidate of choice in the Primary and voting for the best agent of change in the General Election. Then, push for overhauling the whole election system. Obama had the House and Senate. He was in position to do that. We need to get back to that position.

i hear you M. On one hand we deserve a get-a-way from all the contentiousness. On the other, we need to interact. Things are never going to change unless we find a way to get through to the other side and penetrate their bubbles of misinformation. another issue, is that i anticipate members might come and go here if it just seems like we're all just preaching to the choir. Perhaps, not, however. Because, unlike the Right, the Left do not so readily fall in line. We have our own minds. We can see how it plays out.

indeed, what is "proper" is in the eyes of the beholder. What's a proper wage, proper healthcare, proper sexuality, etc.. our father's Republican Party complained that the Beatles didn't have a proper haircut. Today the Party believes it's proper for the President to poop on half of the people. but we can, and must try to define what is and isn't proper for American government, business, and citizens. At the very least, we can do a better job of defining it than the current arbiters -- right-wing media and corporate media in general.

this is the way it likely goes down if we don't turn this old blue planet into a new blue planet...

yes, Chris you're on the mark on all of it. It will all have to be dealt with but the first critical step is regaining the House and/or Senate in one year.

likewise, we can't help an adult addicted to drugs, alcohol, FOX News lies, etc.. if they don't want to be cured. BUT, we do educate children even though they don't want to be. So it gets back to raising children with proper education, and even more importantly, raising them to feel loved, valued, respected, and safe. Instead of fearful of everything and everybody. i learned many of life's most important lessons by observing the accelerated life-cycle of cats. A kitten, nurtured by both humans and its mother, assimilates well with humans and other animals. A feral that struggles to survive is prone to fighting, competing, and ill temper. Most can still be turned into adoring companions, appreciative and reciprocative of affection -- but will remain hostile to "others" and "outsiders." Moral of the story: Today's Republicans needed wet food and a tongue licking (not lashing) when they were young. Now, it's too late to change their stripes, but turning off FOX News might make them sociable and manageable again. Like they were in the Nixon, Reagan, and George H. Bush years.

technically, i believe you "can fix stupid" with education. What is much harder to fix is emotional imbalances once embedded. Right-wing ideology is fear based and propaganda enhanced.

imo, Dr Mark Hyman seems to be trustworthy. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HGKGAUzAS/