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| “God has a special place in his heart for those who are discriminated against and oppressed, and he asks us, his church, to make a decisive and radical choice in favor of the weakest,” Leo wrote. “Thus, in a world where the poor are increasingly numerous, we paradoxically see the growth of a wealthy elite, living in a bubble of comfort and luxury, almost in another world compared to ordinary people.” Dilexi Te Pope Leo XIII Forum post: "Why do Christians war on the poor? And do you?"  |
I arrived safely in Bangkok at the Pinto Hostel. I'll try to do better keeping you-all posted. My regular routines other than blogging are placed on hold and PRN.  |
Sumojo  - Met folks from USA, Slovakia and Taiwan. |
ReplyJeff-o'-lantern 🎃  - I stay in hostels and eat at 7/11 or on the streets.  It's steamy so I may end up eating less. |
ReplyCitizen Journalist  - Yes, I was a bit nervous as flying and entry rules change. I'm safe in Thailand.  |
Reply| I'm packing and stressing and setting up new electronics and exhausted. I hope to be better connected by next week when I'm in Thailand. |
ᗷαᛠᛠy~ᗷθθҽyҽʐ  - 7 hour layover in Seattle... after 2 hours of "sleep". I made a mess eating a ripe yellow watermelon. |
| Anni Pumpkin - Asiana is one of my favorite airlines. I'm in Seattle with two long flights... hopefully I can rest. |
| Jane Goodall (1934-2025) "Every single day we live, we make some sort of impact on the world. Most of us can choose what sort of impact we make," Goodall told the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, during a stop on her speaking tour in September. "Hope isn't wishful thinking. I tell people, 'Find something you can do in your community. Do it. Get your friends to support you. See that you can make a difference. Know that all around the world, other people like you are making a difference.'" In other words... everyone here can make a difference. |
| "If you don't like what I'm saying, you can leave the room," Trump said. “They’re very unsafe places, and we’re going to straighten them out one by one,” Trump said. “And this is going to be a major part for some of the people in this room. That’s a war, too. It’s a war from within.” “I told [Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth], we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military — National Guard, but our military, because we’re going into Chicago very soon,” Trump added. “That’s a big city with an incompetent governor.” "Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Leads Christian Prayer Service in the Pentagon" May 21, 2025. And apparently since. Does this sound like a Christo-Fascist militaristic government? "CMTA ... a Christo-Fascist nation formerly known as..." PROVE ME WRONG! |
Apondia  - true. They infiltrate organizations they want to take down. From the inside, they find a weakness to exploit to cause dissension within, mostly through unsubstantiated rumor/gossip. No one ever goes to the one being talked about to trace back where lies come from. And everyone is on defense. Otherwise, social media is overrun by influencers spinnin’ every which way. They appeal to people who want simple, substantiate their own stubborn beliefs. That’s why we can’t get objective discourse with agree to disagree, debate. Distracted by what’s the watch, guiltless, easy to forget real issues with entertainment at our fingertips. |
| Kåre เลียม Enga - if we don’t support religious leaders, who’s going to advocate for peaceable talks, speak believably on peace over aggression to find common grounds for reasonable outcomes? Where are values going to align in this country? Over politics? Who’s more organized and ready to defend our rights than Christians? Many religions are currently bonding over shared beliefs to advocate for the needs of the commonwealth. |
| I appreciate your awareness and what you share. No one has to prove you wrong. We all have a job to prove what’s right, offer solutions, rather than muddy the waters more. I appreciate steadfast. I keep your words, all words, under consideration, as a citizen who self-educates and prepares for whatever calling. Hard time to trust anyone in the world. Money and who controls it creates many problems ethics can’t overcome. All values are being corrupted. Everyone has a price. Some of the nastiest are fighting for just a few bucks, wound up, and pointed at anything getting in progress’s way. The bigger picture, humanity, can be brought to its knees. The powerful will control all the wealth. The rest of us, fight over what’s left in the outlands. This is a wealthy man’s way of dealing with our planet’s overpopulation. Because of greed, people like us, our children, will be left to starve. I presume. I have a lot of time to think. |
| Major earthquake in Philippines. Heard from GERVIC - Saving for Premium. He's okay; but I suspect Naomi is closer to the epicenter. Sent a note (she's been ill recently so I'm not expecting a quick response). |
| Olivia doing OctoPrep, I wrote a drabble about an old German walking in Thailand (Germans walk; Americans don't). ... "It thundered. Frau Elise opened her yellow umbrella and retrieved her walker; and, like any good German, honked Die Hupe at the calico cat to warn her that she was in the way." I can envision this but can you or anyone who is German?
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| A minor quibble, s'il vous plait: 'Twas often observed by young Amis [American soldiers & their kin] in Germany that Americans walked about, determined to arrive at whatever destination as quickly as possible. Germans, on the other hand - and elder ones in particular - engaged in "Schöning". That is to say, they strolled the byways and pathways, hands gently clasped behind their backs, looking about in appreciation at all Nature had wrought, and saying, "Schön! Schön!" [Pretty! Pretty!] Stimmt's oder nicht, Olivia doing OctoPrep  ? |
Scary_Soldier_Mike  - In Thailand many Thais don't walk except for short distances. They use small motorbikes or Grab (like Uber) or tuk-tuks. They walk around markets and malls of course. Europeans will be seen out walking, hiking, jogging, bicycling! Americans? They use big-bikes or like the Thais "order a cab". Me? I wander. The French verb "flâner" (maybe Spaziergang in German) captures how I usually walk, talking pictures or just observing. I don't often put my hands behind my back though when I stroll. |
| The English language can be quite flexible. An interesting use of -nth I saw today: "For the Epsteinth time, another distraction." Folks not following American news might not understand, but we in Montana do. |
| “If you want people to speak kindly after you're gone, speak kindly while you're alive." Discuss... "Kindness ... or not?" |
| Folks here have different values and priorities. Time does not flow the same for everyone, or should I say, not everyone flows through time in the same way. I'm traveling soon. At this moment that's one of my priorities. I'm old; that's one of my realities. I value diversity and inclusion; many here do not. I have to accept that. But — I do not have to remain silent. I share personal opinions and struggles hoping to sort out my angst, sometimes helping others who face similar issues. In the liminal space between my mind and my heart, between my dreams and reality, I persist. Between my experiences and yours, may we meet over tea or coffee and celebrate our common humanity. |
Humble Poet PNGravebound- 📓  - I've been Illinoised before. My first close friend was from Limestone (Peoria) and I write because someone from the Chambana-Urpain area found the keys to my Muse and set it free. |
| Damon Nomad - I prefer to hang around younger people (as I age most everyone is younger). I will stay in one of my favorite hostels in Bangkok. I'm highly opinionated and not always right. Many times I'm hoping to hear a better opinion. I reserve the right to change mine. |
Kåre เลียม Enga - LoL Champaign-Urbana. Tricky names, I know. There is a town in Illinois which has three Spring Streets --- and they all intersect! I think that's in Normal, Illinois if I remember arightly. Olney, IL has white squirrels. They're not albino, because they lack pink eyes and other albino traits. I guess what I'm saying is, there are a lot of reasons to visit this part of the country. Bren & I are just two of them. |
| Is this another sign of fascism: "The US vice-president stepped in to host an episode of Kirk’s podcast and was joined by the White House deputy chief of staff for Monday’s episode. Miller sought to blame what he called “far left” organisations for Kirk’s death, despite the motive for the shooting remaining unclear. He told Vance: “We are going to use every resource we have at the Department of Justice, Homeland Security and throughout this government to identify, disrupt, dismantle and destroy these networks,” Miller said, adding that they would do this “in Charlie’s name”. Vance then urged Americans to go hard against anyone perceived to be celebrating Kirk’s murder. He said: “When you see someone celebrating Charlie’s murder, call them out. Hell, call their employer.” I've changed this particular blog setting to Authors+ but... I doubt that any postings on WDC are safe any longer. Perceived is a frightening word and the lack of due process in the USA makes everybody vulnerable including anyone thinking of visiting before 2026 or 2028. You should answer here, unless you trust this public E-rated newsfeed post: "Vengeance..." |
| Wraiths Wheeling Widdershins - Yep. More Venezuelans murdered. What bothers me most is that some Americans think that's okay. The ongoing violent rhetoric continues... I also object to the president calling for the death penalty before a trial... but his nonchalance towards Venezuelans and Gazans is part of his message: only care about me me me. |
| Wraiths Wheeling Widdershins - you said it what a lot of people are feeling. Everyone in the country needs to calm down and take a deep breath but Trump etc are taking advantage of it |
| I'll be traveling soon. That means I may cut back on posts here and elsewhere. It's no longer safe for anyone from the US, entering or reentering the US to voice an opinion. Hopefully that changes but that's up to SCOTUS. |
| Oh Kare - I sure wouldn't travel but you have to take care of yourself. Voicing opinions is getting more and more dangerous. |
NormaJean AKA CHEER QUEEN  - I am becoming warier... I spent years finding my voice and do not want to be silenced. |
| I'm very upset with myself and having a meltdown. It's 2 am and not a good hour to bother people. I always manage to get through these moments but I'm tired of the struggle, tired of letting people down. I should've been in Portugal on the 13th, should've been in Thailand on the 16th. I didn't understand a message and screwed up. And now? |
Wordsmitty ✍️  - I was stunned to see the word perfection because I hadn't thought of it that way and have spent a lifetime trying to "get better". Perfectionism can be the enemy of the good-enough and caused me issues growing up. "I'm unworthy because I'm not perfect" is a horrible mantra. |
Here's a   just for you. Please consider, you may not have messed up. Misunderstanding a message might have prevented something else from happening. Humans are not prefect therefore as long as we have done our best, then nothing else should be required. There is a reason for everything and we might not know that season. Emotions need an outlet, so have at it. When you're finished do what is needed next and go from this place. Give yourself and and  because you still have the breath of life. Life is precious therefore you are precious. Any mistakes can be fixed. If the timing isn't right perhaps another timing is better. I have experienced this and found that even though I was disappointed, the new timing was better. Enjoy each day because this is what we have. Do what your are able to do and move the rest to the next day. Everything will be taken care of in the right time and right way. Life is an adventure and I enjoy the journey. Sometimes the bumps can be annoying but usually the out come is worth the bounce. It isn't easy but the investment brings forth much treasure. |
spirit dog prowling 4premium+  - My friend Max, who is Thai and knows the situation, texted me reassuring me that I did nothing wrong. I am crossing so many bridges... age, culture, language, situations outside my control... and probably others as well. That, and my health has deteriorated the last 5 years, so I'm not so sure about myself. |
| “Jasmine Crockett is just some circus act in that entire operation,” said Kirk, adding, “You shouldn’t take what she says seriously. It’s just a joke. What she represents is very serious, which is the continued attempt to eliminate the white population in this country.” Anything over E-rated should be posted here in this forum post: "Word According to Kirk: The Great Replacement" |
| A drabbling we will go... for "Drabble Activity 2025 - 25 in 25" ... going on all month long. I live in the West and so many people think we live in a Cowboy Western or... think that we're all ski-bunnies with private planes and hot tubs. We have those too; but there are still jobs that are "western" in nature. Adin, had one of those jobs last year running a mule train. Yes, he has a 1926 Willys. Yes, he plays various instruments. No, he's not old and grizzled. 
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| Other misconceptions of this part of the west = yes, we have indoor plumbing. Yes, there are stores to buy things. Now with the internet, more choices than ever because we have internet. In fact, I imagine my DSL connection through the phone company is as fast as anyone else in the county. Yes, we have phones, many cell phones and even old-fashioned land lines. (my choice) Yes, we have speed limits. But not long ago, there was the 'drive safely' speed limit. Yes, it gets cold in the winter. Dress for it. Yes, it gets hot in the summer. Again, dress for it. But, we don't get hurricanes and there is virtually no humidity. So don't paint Montana or Wyoming with a broad brush. Those who live here love it. After all, with only a million people in our large Montana state, there is plenty of room to roam. |
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