WC 1M Post Challenge - You Ready?!

[N_LaRUE]

If you're wondering what's going on with the tower. It's maintenance. They're painting etc. The tower changes colour frequently. Usually stays in a certain colour range though.

The area around it is usually packed with tourists was rather quiet.

We got a bench nearby. This was the view from the bench.

 

[MSFTisMIA]

When you get it you'll have to pay a review. I'm not surprised they'll bring out the X5 ii.

I love what I'm seeing here. The best part was the 3800mah battery. If they do the exact same upgrades as they did to Xperia 1 for the 5, it might be daily driver material for me. I liked the 5. What was missing for me was a bigger battery, headphone jack, Qi. All of those things they added back.

 

[MSFTisMIA]

I can understand protests. I can understand the anger.

I don't understand the violence.

I sympathized a bit with the so called 'yellow vest' movement here in France until they started destroying things and making a mess of the country.

I know there are those who take advantage of situations like this and that's what makes this whole thing difficult. Who's protesting and who's just there to take advantage?

It's difficult to know if what's happening is beneficial for the cause. It's this going to bring about change? Is this going to cause more stereotyping?

I can see things going south real quick if it continues.

Especially if 45 sees this as an advantage...

I'll do a two part reply here.

With how things are set up, the more resources you have, the more insulated you get. Maslow's hierarchy of needs state that unless you situate the base needs, you really cannot get to be the best person possible (paraphrased).

America has always thought itself clean and away from all the antics we've seen in dictatorships all over the world. But when one looks closer, the issue is that if authoritarianism gets hold here, it is more ruthless potentially than anywhere else. That's why you always see Hollywood movies that shows how destructive it could look. In fact, I suspect it would be way worse here that you'd make the most stark dictator multiply orgasmic with envy.

This country was founded on not wanting to answer to anyone. The problem with that mentality is that there's always someone one has to answer to. Anytime people's access to resources get threatened, no matter what socioeconomic level one is at, there will always be a visceral reaction.

 

[MSFTisMIA]

I can understand protests. I can understand the anger.

I don't understand the violence.

I sympathized a bit with the so called 'yellow vest' movement here in France until they started destroying things and making a mess of the country.

I know there are those who take advantage of situations like this and that's what makes this whole thing difficult. Who's protesting and who's just there to take advantage?

It's difficult to know if what's happening is beneficial for the cause. It's this going to bring about change? Is this going to cause more stereotyping?

I can see things going south real quick if it continues.

Especially if 45 sees this as an advantage...

Destruction of property has always been a tactic used historical to level the situation in protest. Fire is always a tool that doesn't care about socioeconomic status.

Now, having been in a civil protest myself and grown up in quite a few riots, here's something I can share. You'll always have those who just want to break and steal because they're opportunists. And if you're in the protest and call them out, they turn on you. Targeted destruction to reinforce the points of angst. Seeing burning cop cars or firebombed precincts don't faze me - grew up seeing that because cops are used to enforce laws. If cops are enforcing laws written to reinforce the marginalization of a certain group of people, they are merely doing their job. When you add ethnic disparity in it, the issue gets more complicated.

I saw that there was a brewery downtown in Minneapolis near the epicenter of the business was vandalized in an interesting way. The owner - black - was on CNN. Some employees had put signs on one half of the business that it was black owned. On that strip were vandalism had occurred, that section of the business was untouched. Of course, not all of that business was unscathed - it was still broken into and vandalized. Still, it comparatively suffered the least amount of damage on that block.

Why? Simple - you damage minority owned, the impact is immediately felt - job loss individually, resource access loss communally. The thought process is that white face pks will have access to resources to replace what's damaged. That's why those employees went back to put up those signs in the windows, unbeknownst to the owner.

Do I agree with it? Nope. There's more to it than just people being wild and wrecking .

 

[N_LaRUE]

I'll do a two part reply here.

With how things are set up, the more resources you have, the more insulated you get. Maslow's hierarchy of needs state that unless you situate the base needs, you really cannot get to be the best person possible (paraphrased).

America has always thought itself clean and away from all the antics we've seen in dictatorships all over the world. But when one looks closer, the issue is that if authoritarianism gets hold here, it is more ruthless potentially than anywhere else. That's why you always see Hollywood movies that shows how destructive it could look. In fact, I suspect it would be way worse here that you'd make the most stark dictator multiply orgasmic with envy.

This country was founded on not wanting to answer to anyone. The problem with that mentality is that there's always someone one has to answer to. Anytime people's access to resources get threatened, no matter what socioeconomic level one is at, there will always be a visceral reaction.

I don't remember much from my American history I took in high school (which is sadly better than what most Americans get). I also have read a lot of different things about the USA. From various perspectives.

Division is the first thing in creating a dictatorship. Politics everywhere is trying really hard to create this more and more. Typically right wing. We've had an upsurge here in Europe recently but not as bad as people were expecting.

I can totally appreciate how right wing politics can sound very appealing to those who feel the system is no longer working for them. I can also appreciate how those who feel disempowered don't bother to vote.

In the USA it's been so bad for so long that it's a really broken system. Without even taking about the electro college... The crap politicians do in power is ridiculous and the emphasis in business first has created this weird society that to anyone else (especially with the current government) seems like some dystopian world.

The USA has felt for so long like it was some special country, bigger, better, more free than anyone else that is gone to it's head. There's really nothing special about the USA compared to other western societies.

By the time anyone realises that the USA is no longer democratic it will be too late. It's borderline now. One more term of this government and I'm pretty positive the Constitution will be adjusted with supreme court backing of course.

Unfortunately a lot of the language used in the USA is religious and most think there is only one thing to answer to... Even though the USA is the only purely secular country around. Something a lot in the USA don't like to hear.

I lastly, I'm aware of Maslow's hiearchy of needs. I'm also aware of the situation in the USA where this doesn't get met very well and why things with the protests happen to this extent. Especially with the current situation of lockdown and joblessness.

Like I said I understand the anger and everything but what did looting setting building on fire and damaging property achieve?

 

[MSFTisMIA]

I can understand protests. I can understand the anger.

I don't understand the violence.

I sympathized a bit with the so called 'yellow vest' movement here in France until they started destroying things and making a mess of the country.

I know there are those who take advantage of situations like this and that's what makes this whole thing difficult. Who's protesting and who's just there to take advantage?

It's difficult to know if what's happening is beneficial for the cause. It's this going to bring about change? Is this going to cause more stereotyping?

I can see things going south real quick if it continues.

Especially if 45 sees this as an advantage...

Oh, a part three.

The violence occurs for lots of reasons. Some people just want to **** up someone and that's that. Some people turn on those who don't want to protest from a viewpoint that is different. There's an expected homogeny here - oppressed experience oppression the same way and must confront the oppressors the same way.

A government who never listens to marginalized people will always prefer to deal with civilized demonstrations. That's why some advocate for aggressive demonstrations. Wrecking for and giggles randomly does not advance a cause.

One effective way of protest is that brown people could vote with their wallets and not spend a dime for a day in anything but brown business. That cannot be done as there isn't enough brown owned producers/business owners to handle that volume. The system is aware of this, and that's why as effective an option that is, it is hard to execute.

Because of how deep the problems run, we will be stuck in a cycle of outburst and subjugation that always occurs after incidents like this. How many brown names must I list here that have triggered similar angst that have not led to effective, targeted follow up after the rage has subsided? There are groups working to make changes, but they don't have the same level of energy behind them as seen when the rage is at its peak.

That's my issue here. We still haven't gotten to that true tipping point yet where the angst gets channeled into something truly sweeping and effective.

 

[MSFTisMIA]

I don't remember much from my American history I took in high school (which is sadly better than what most Americans get). I also have read a lot of different things about the USA. From various perspectives.

Division is the first thing in creating a dictatorship. Politics everywhere is trying really hard to create this more and more. Typically right wing. We've had an upsurge here in Europe recently but not as bad as people were expecting.

I can totally appreciate how right wing politics can sound very appealing to those who feel the system is no longer working for them. I can also appreciate how those who feel disempowered don't bother to vote.

In the USA it's been so bad for so long that it's a really broken system. Without even taking about the electro college... The crap politicians do in power is ridiculous and the emphasis in business first has created this weird society that to anyone else (especially with the current government) seems like some dystopian world.

The USA has felt for so long like it was some special country, bigger, better, more free than anyone else that is gone to it's head. There's really nothing special about the USA compared to other western societies.

By the time anyone realises that the USA is no longer democratic it will be too late. It's borderline now. One more term of this government and I'm pretty positive the Constitution will be adjusted with supreme court backing of course.

Unfortunately a lot of the language used in the USA is religious and most think there is only one thing to answer to... Even though the USA is the only purely secular country around. Something a lot in the USA don't like to hear.

I lastly, I'm aware of Maslow's hiearchy of needs. I'm also aware of the situation in the USA where this doesn't get met very well and why things with the protests happen to this extent. Especially with the current situation of lockdown and joblessness.

Like I said I understand the anger and everything but what did looting setting building on fire and damaging property achieve?

Destruction of property also serve symbolically to remind the powerful by the powerless of one thing: that the powerless isn't as powerless as the powerful thinks.

Again, I do not claim expertise on the American experience. I can only use the lessons learned from my experience to examine what I see.

The thing is the powerful doesn't understand the experience of the powerless nor do they really care to do so. This is reflected by the current president when he invokes following of law in relation to the protest and his privilege when he tries to skirt financial laws. All laws are equal in that they are laws, not all laws are respected equally based on perspective of who is looking at said laws.

For those who care to what to understand, listen to this song. Very applicable. The truth is for those who are powerless and want to make real change, it's not enough just to listen to the angst.


https://youtu.be/za01QWLXisQ

 

[MSFTisMIA]

My spirit is in support of the angst that's driving the protestors. I'm fortunate that I have other avenues I can access to advocate for change and will use those. This is a long game issue that will not be resolved fully in my lifetime as the subjugation didn't start in my lifetime either. Moving the needle forward in balance is important.

 

[MSFTisMIA]

My spirit is in support of the angst that's driving the protestors. I'm fortunate that I have other avenues I can access to advocate for change and will use those. This is a long game issue that will not be resolved fully in my lifetime as the subjugation didn't start in my lifetime either. Moving the needle forward in balance is important.

Remember, lots of people in this generation have never exercised their rights to advocate in the face of inequalities. I'm sure there are people their who think breaking is supposed to be a part of this process. Like in many other experimental learning exercises, not everyone researches appropriate resources.

I'm on the train now and I see two people with signs headed to a protest site. I hope they exercise good judgment in their protest. I also hope they don't get arrested. It doesn't meant that they will, they can do everything right and that still happens. That's the scary part.

 

[MSFTisMIA]

This is what happened at one of the branches I used. Had a nice chat with NYPD on scene before I continued to use the ATM.

Complicated.

 

[MSFTisMIA]

This is what happened at one of the branches I used. Had a nice chat with NYPD on scene before I continued to use the ATM.

Complicated. View attachment 142272View attachment 142273

So...i bank with both Chase and Wells Fargo. Neither of which are saints. Chase was sued for discriminatory lending practices vs brown folks within the past 5 years. One of my colleagues experienced this directly. Wells Fargo has its own checkered history recently as well. I use both because of convenience, I spite of their issues.

There is a recognized credit union that I'll eventually transition my money to. I'll put both my business and personal accounts there eventually.

This branch is by Union Square, where that space historically has been used to protests all sorts of .

Now having done this, you've put the people who work at this branch in a jam, as tomorrow's shift is going to look wonky. They'll likely put up board as an intermezzo, which for a bank looks hideous. The branch will have to spend the money to get it fixed to get this sorted out as quickly as possible.

So this gets vandalized. What's the point of doing to at a branch totally in a slightly isolated spot? This was the only business touched. Draw your own conclusions.

 

[MSFTisMIA]

There's always some spectacle to see here in NYC, pandemic or not. Sometimes the whole bit is so tiresome.

If I could skip this summer, I would. Someone just call me whenever there's a reliable vaccine.

 

[MSFTisMIA]

There's always some spectacle to see here in NYC, pandemic or not. Sometimes the whole bit is so tiresome.

If I could skip this summer, I would. Someone just call me whenever there's a reliable vaccine.

The city to me has this weird vibe today. The whole paycheck I went into was more deserted than I had seen in a long time. I didn't go to a closer one I have been using mostly in the pandemic as that's near one of the sites where people are protesting at.

It's hard to describe what I was sensing. All I can state it's a bit topsy turvy, really. And ultimately, overwhelming and burdensome.

 

[MSFTisMIA]

Not surprised.

https://amp-cnn-com.cdn.ampproject....s/george-floyd-brother-talks-trump/index.html

 

[MSFTisMIA]

Well, this adds to my point earlier about the complicated nature of targeting properties during a protest.

https://www.nydailynews.com/new-yor...0200531-7qn63gkzprbx7nxcfxmjspziae-story.html

 

[raycpl]

Here's more info asymptomatic spreaders

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52840763

 

[libra89]

As for what's going on, I am circling between emotions. It's interesting to see who is speaking and who is not speaking in my personal realm and also in the realms of those I choose to follow.
I am glad to see that people are being schooled to not group protestors and rioters together, as it's about time. That's all I can say on this right now.

 

[libra89]

On another note, I have been watching Ramy and it's so interesting in the season that just released the other day. Still watching but I am so amused so far. No spoilers please.

 

[fatclue_98]

There's always some spectacle to see here in NYC

Y'all got a ways to go before you join the Flori-Duh sh*thood. I am however, proud of our city for keeping it cool up until now. I lived through every one of the 4 riots we had in the 80s. For the uninformed, each and every one involved white cops killing black men. Unlike Ferguson and others, they were all charged. What caused the riots? Not the acts themselves but rather the acquittals in each and every trial.

Latinos who have fair complexions like me think they're immune to this but like the old WNBA slogan said - we got next.

 

[fatclue_98]

THIS is how the fuzz should behave. I'm shocked beyond all belief it came from Gables cops. Historically they've been no angels.

https://cbs12.com/news/local/police-take-a-knee-in-solidarity-prayer-with-protesters-in-coral-gables