21 years ! I guess I'm a "veteran" here ? How about you ?

Anyone been here longer than 21 years ? To be fair, I did take a long break. Happy Thanksgiving, if you celebrate, to you and your family.

Massive US Marine Buildup in Caribbean Just 7 Miles from Venezuela's Coast

Rank speculation: Trump burns/deletes the Epstein files

Disclaimer: The reason I'm floating this "rank speculation" is because Michael Wolff has said on the Daily Beast podcast recently that Trump has this obsession about why Nixon didn't burn the tapes. Source: Why Trump Is Obsessed by Burning Evidence: Wolff | Inside Trump's Head

Travel lovers, can you relate to money-related frustration ?

As some of you know, I do love to travel. I always have.

I know you can backpack, sleep in tents, stay in hostels, and do other measures to cut costs significantly. I have stayed in hostels twice, and it's a bit hard to get used to the lack of privacy, if you really want to save money. However, I've never had any problems with the ones in Chicago (downtown) or Berlin (tourist district Mitte).

I just prefer to fly, stay in a hotel (even if only one star), eat at affordable restaurants, etc. Nothing extravagant. Lately I've gone overseas from my home in Florida, and it is, bare minimum, about $2,000 for a week for airfare, hotel, food, etc. Could that figure be cut more ? Yes, if necessary. Going to Canada or Mexico or The Bahamas, etc would cut those costs.

Anyway.... $1500 to $2000 (to my modestly retired self) does not come easily. I am glad I have this frustration, instead of relying on SNAP and having to endure the unspeakable cruelty of Trump and his Republican lackeys (nuff said).

Publix supermarket facts and discussion about new open-carry guns policy

Note: If you hate Publix or would never shop there, that's cool. Please just refrain from this discussion, thanks.

Hi all, I took a long break from DU but this issue (amongst many others) has driven me back.

Two part discussion:

1- What do you know about the "open carry" guns policy in Publix ?
Reference here: https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/publix-to-allow-open-carry-in-stores-prompting-mixed-reactions-from-shoppers/

2- What have you seen as the reaction to this policy ?

I know a lasting comprehensive boycott of Publix would change this policy, if that could be accomplished.

Thanks sincerely !

Steve

Cape Morris Jesup, Greenland: -1 F (-18 C), only 442 miles from the North Pole

hi all DU Loungers, I'm back

I've been here over 20 years now (hard to believe), but I took a long break of a few years. Now that the Fascist-in-Chief-to-be has been elected AGAIN (just so hard to fathom), I need the Lounge and DU.

Ok, anyone have a good joke to make us smile ? I am not good with remembering jokes

Steve aka steve2470

Mental Health Group: Please try to have hope

Hi all,

I return here 4 days after the horrible, almost unbelievable day that was the Presidential election. I know (since this is DU) all of you feel something similar. It was a really bad night for me and early morning. I went to bed at 3:30 AM more or less knowing the Fascist-in-Chief-to-be was going to be inaugurated in January 2025. I don't have to list all the obscene things he will try to do. We all know them.

Now, the good (maybe): For my own sanity, I still feel the American public do not want fascism or true authoritarianism, despite my own Governor DeSantis going full-on fascist about the abortion amendment. I have listened to many podcasts, so I know there is a range of opinions on why Ms. Harris lost. I feel "perceived economics" was the real factor, meaning the inflation over 5 years. Never mind that current inflation is about 2.5% and trending down. Gasoline and groceries and rent, etc. were all up over the last 5 years, with some of those items coming down in price. Yes yes, some voted out of pure racism, pure misogny, hatred for liberals, hatred for Democrats, pure xenophobia. The ghastly icing on the cake, to me, was the perceived "bad economy". Way too many Americans are ill-informed and misinformed about politics and government.

Please have hope, and don't succumb to despairing depression. Yes, I know, much easier said than done. I have chronic depression, so this is very personal to me. I just cannot succumb, or I will have to move out of the country.

Please forgive all the politics I inserted in here, and please try to have hope. All the best to everyone here with your mental health !

Steve

Jewish Group: Sincere question about Trump and the American Jewish community

It's really a two part question. Since I have been here since 2004, I am definitely no troll.

First question: Does Trump pose any threat to the American Jewish community, and if so, how much and what kind ? I ask this because I am very close to a Jewish person. I am not Jewish, just extremely sympathetic. I ask this because of a remark made at his Madison Square Garden rally and also the undeniable presence of neo-Nazis and anti-semites among his backers.

Second question: What threat, if any, does Trump supporters and governors pose in the states ? I realize both questions are impossible to answer almost perfectly, but I am concerned about the Jewish community.

Thank you for your patience and time, Steve

Resignation effective immediately as group host

Hello group members,

I have enjoyed being Host of this group, but I am no longer here very much to be of any benefit. Please elect someone else to do the very easy job of Host of this group. Thank you.

Steve aka steve2470