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Poll

What do you expect on Wednesday?

Reports of protests are overblown. A few incidents around the country, but nothing major.
- 5 (45.5%)
A few major incidents in capitals, but nothing much in DC.
- 5 (45.5%)
A major incident in DC, but nothing much around the country.
- 0 (0%)
More than 10 capitals have major upheavals, but nothing much in DC.
- 0 (0%)
A major incident in DC plus more than 10 capitals with significant upheavals.
- 1 (9.1%)
More than half the capitals around the country have problems with protesters, but DC is quiet.
- 0 (0%)
DC has major problems, while more than half the capitals around the country also have considerable trouble with protesters.
- 0 (0%)
Huge disruption to the day.
- 0 (0%)

Total Members Voted: 9

Voting closed: January 19, 2021, 10:49:21 PM


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Author Topic: Trump Administration  (Read 1584079 times)

facilitatorn

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Re: Trump Administration
« Reply #2865 on: September 19, 2018, 04:47:45 PM »

Zero benefits combined with monumental liabilities, it’s no wonder republicans piss their pants when anyone brings up their tax scam.

http://www.epi.org/blog/further-evidence-that-the-tax-cuts-have-not-led-to-widespread-bonuses-wage-or-compensation-growth/

Compensation is falling. Thanks trump.

A man who can bankrupt casinos combined with a thoroughly corrupt and amoral political party can definitely bankrupt this nation.
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Will the Supreme Court grant trump work release to attend the republican national convention?

For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled.

Richard P. Feynman

LarryBnDC

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Re: Trump Administration
« Reply #2866 on: September 19, 2018, 05:03:10 PM »

Larry, is the piece from your son's classmate online somewhere, so I can share it with some folks out there who might care?

I’m working on getting him to let me publish in Shinbone Star.

But if you want to hear from another person who knows that world, dig this from Alexandra Petri, Class of 2006 National Cathedral School for Girls.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/opinions/wp/2018/09/19/some-interpersonal-verbs-conjugated-by-gender/
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If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you.

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bambu-wisdom

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Re: Trump Administration
« Reply #2867 on: September 19, 2018, 06:01:07 PM »

All hail the Chief!
Trump is being praised in bambuland for standing up to China on trade.
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LarryBnDC

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Re: Trump Administration
« Reply #2868 on: September 19, 2018, 06:07:26 PM »

Some youthful indiscretions lead to a life of wealth and power, some lead to a lack of citizenship rights...

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/09/brett-kavanaugh-christine-blasey-ford-elite-power.html

If Kavanaugh were black, he wouldn't get away with the it. Look at Clarence Thomas...oh, wait.

How about it being just wrong, no matter the offender's background? Isn't that enough?

If Anita Hill looked Christine Blasey Ford, Clarence Thomas would not be the Senior Associate Justice.

Something unprovable.

Still, what you're saying is...

The wrong itself is not enough. Race has to be added into it, just because.

Race has to be included because this is the USA. We refuse to reckon with our original sin.

in every situation?


Is this every situation?

You made the comparisons. Explain then and quit dodging your posts.

OK, a guy is nominated to the Supreme Court in 1991 and is accused of sexual harassment by a former subordinate. Clarence Thomas is accused by Christine Blasey Ford... in your honest opinion, is he on the Court today?

That doesn't explain why you choose to inject race into this story. Why isn't it just wrong, no matter others wrongs?

You're injecting racial politics into the conversation detracts from the woman's assertion that she was violated.  It's like Serena saying she was treated differently than men, instead of just admitting she broke the rules.

If you want history to be injected into this SCOTUS process, consider that black men got the right to vote before any woman ever did?

But none of that has to with this situation, and throwing it on the board diverts from the rightful attention that Ford's accusation deserves. You're as guilty of politicizing her coming forward as anyone in the GOP, when you do this.

Bitch, please...

I “chose to inject racial politics” because it is the reality I live. If you can’t deal with it then put me on ignore.
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If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you.

Lyndon Johnson

josh

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Re: Trump Administration
« Reply #2869 on: September 19, 2018, 06:18:37 PM »

I “chose to inject racial politics” because it is the reality I live. If you can’t deal with it then put me on ignore.

You should be so lucky.
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The day Richard Nixon failed to answer that subpoena is the day he was subject to impeachment because he took the power from Congress over the impeachment process away from Congress, and he became the judge and jury." ~Lindsey Graham

kiidcarter8

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Re: Trump Administration
« Reply #2870 on: September 19, 2018, 06:31:00 PM »

The Office of POTUS has come along way since Martin Van Buren.

Maarten.   "Martin" was an anglicized nickname.   

Our only president who spoke English as a second language.

Until Trump. Heh.

How did Obama grow up in Kenya without Swahili?
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kiidcarter8

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Re: Trump Administration
« Reply #2871 on: September 19, 2018, 06:32:50 PM »

Larry, is the piece from your son's classmate online somewhere, so I can share it with some folks out there who might care?

I’m working on getting him to let me publish in Shinbone Star.

But if you want to hear from another person who knows that world, dig this from Alexandra Petri, Class of 2006 National Cathedral School for Girls.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/opinions/wp/2018/09/19/some-interpersonal-verbs-conjugated-by-gender/


pay site
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Hamilton Samuels

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Re: Trump Administration
« Reply #2872 on: September 19, 2018, 06:38:43 PM »

Some youthful indiscretions lead to a life of wealth and power, some lead to a lack of citizenship rights...

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/09/brett-kavanaugh-christine-blasey-ford-elite-power.html

If Kavanaugh were black, he wouldn't get away with the it. Look at Clarence Thomas...oh, wait.

How about it being just wrong, no matter the offender's background? Isn't that enough?

If Anita Hill looked Christine Blasey Ford, Clarence Thomas would not be the Senior Associate Justice.

Something unprovable.

Still, what you're saying is...

The wrong itself is not enough. Race has to be added into it, just because.

Race has to be included because this is the USA. We refuse to reckon with our original sin.

in every situation?


Is this every situation?

You made the comparisons. Explain then and quit dodging your posts.

OK, a guy is nominated to the Supreme Court in 1991 and is accused of sexual harassment by a former subordinate. Clarence Thomas is accused by Christine Blasey Ford... in your honest opinion, is he on the Court today?

That doesn't explain why you choose to inject race into this story. Why isn't it just wrong, no matter others wrongs?

You're injecting racial politics into the conversation detracts from the woman's assertion that she was violated.  It's like Serena saying she was treated differently than men, instead of just admitting she broke the rules.

If you want history to be injected into this SCOTUS process, consider that black men got the right to vote before any woman ever did?

But none of that has to with this situation, and throwing it on the board diverts from the rightful attention that Ford's accusation deserves. You're as guilty of politicizing her coming forward as anyone in the GOP, when you do this.

Bitch, please...

I “chose to inject racial politics” because it is the reality I live. If you can’t deal with it then put me on ignore.

Shame you can't discuss anything with out your crutch.

No sense putting you in ignore, as your ignorance itself can be amusing, at times.

But your routine of dishonest and diversionary racist rants only prove that you're the bigot, Larry.

Sad.

For someone your age, you've learned very little about others.



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The artist's job is not to succumb to despair but to find an antidote for the emptiness of existence.

LarryBnDC

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Re: Trump Administration
« Reply #2873 on: September 19, 2018, 06:44:14 PM »

Larry, is the piece from your son's classmate online somewhere, so I can share it with some folks out there who might care?

I’ll post it fir you after it publishes.
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If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you.

Lyndon Johnson

LarryBnDC

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Re: Trump Administration
« Reply #2874 on: September 19, 2018, 06:52:15 PM »

Some youthful indiscretions lead to a life of wealth and power, some lead to a lack of citizenship rights...

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/09/brett-kavanaugh-christine-blasey-ford-elite-power.html

If Kavanaugh were black, he wouldn't get away with the it. Look at Clarence Thomas...oh, wait.

How about it being just wrong, no matter the offender's background? Isn't that enough?

If Anita Hill looked Christine Blasey Ford, Clarence Thomas would not be the Senior Associate Justice.

Something unprovable.

Still, what you're saying is...

The wrong itself is not enough. Race has to be added into it, just because.

Race has to be included because this is the USA. We refuse to reckon with our original sin.

in every situation?


Is this every situation?

You made the comparisons. Explain then and quit dodging your posts.

OK, a guy is nominated to the Supreme Court in 1991 and is accused of sexual harassment by a former subordinate. Clarence Thomas is accused by Christine Blasey Ford... in your honest opinion, is he on the Court today?

That doesn't explain why you choose to inject race into this story. Why isn't it just wrong, no matter others wrongs?

You're injecting racial politics into the conversation detracts from the woman's assertion that she was violated.  It's like Serena saying she was treated differently than men, instead of just admitting she broke the rules.

If you want history to be injected into this SCOTUS process, consider that black men got the right to vote before any woman ever did?

But none of that has to with this situation, and throwing it on the board diverts from the rightful attention that Ford's accusation deserves. You're as guilty of politicizing her coming forward as anyone in the GOP, when you do this.

Bitch, please...

I “chose to inject racial politics” because it is the reality I live. If you can’t deal with it then put me on ignore.

Shame you can't discuss anything with out your crutch.

No sense putting you in ignore, as your ignorance itself can be amusing, at times.

But your routine of dishonest and diversionary racist rants only prove that you're the bigot, Larry.

Sad.

For someone your age, you've learned very little about others.

Learned all I need to know about you a long time ago.

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If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you.

Lyndon Johnson

Hamilton Samuels

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Re: Trump Administration
« Reply #2875 on: September 19, 2018, 07:19:34 PM »

No. You didn't. You just think you did.

Your perception has been tainted by the assumptions you've made, and the lies and distortions you've both created and been fed.

So, run along and play your role.

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The artist's job is not to succumb to despair but to find an antidote for the emptiness of existence.

LarryBnDC

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Re: Trump Administration
« Reply #2876 on: September 19, 2018, 07:28:32 PM »

No. You didn't. You just think you did.

Your perception has been tainted by the assumptions you've made, and the lies and distortions you've both created and been fed.

So, run along and play your role.

Everything I need to know about you is in what you post.
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If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you.

Lyndon Johnson

REDSTATEWARD

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Re: Trump Administration
« Reply #2877 on: September 19, 2018, 07:36:05 PM »

This is from a classmate of my son who was a year ahead of him at St. Albans... he was also not a scion of Beltway Masters of the Universe.

”The topic of this long post is Rape Culture at all-boys Prep schools in the context of current events.

I've withheld my opinion on the Kavanaugh accusation because it’s salacious at best and terrible at worst--the issue that is, not my opinion. But I've seen many people talk about how hard it is to lend credence to Professor Ford's accusation that she was sexually assaulted by Judge Kavanaugh in high school. Much of this revolves around the fact that Judge Kavanaugh does not appear to be a monster, and did not appear to be a monster back in the day. Unlike Ted Cruz, he was well-liked in school! Since the accusation was made public, people have rushed to throw Kavanaugh or Professor Ford under the bus, and the stakes are high, so I get it. And given how nasty people are in general, I get it. That's why this post isn't a speculation on whether he did it or not.

Instead, I want to try to describe how widespread and socially acceptable monstrous, abusive behavior is in a privileged, all-male learning environment--or was back in the early 2000s. Many of you didn't attend all-boy schools, and many of you didn't attend a school where just about everyone benefitted from generational wealth--old money. And while I won't name names, I'll briefly recount the sexual assaults I witnessed or heard of, none of which have shown consequences for the perpetrators, all of whom I could see on LinkedIn today to confirm that they're professionally successful. Keep in mind, I was in the choir, and had strict parents. I didn't go to parties until junior year--which means, had I been Kavanaugh's classmate, I wasn't even drinking until one year after this alleged assault occurred. But I went to enough parties to know what happened at those parties. A whole lot of sexual assault and bad decisions happened. My small graduating class was finally divided over the conduct of many of my classmates; my friends preferred to party in the park, in small groups, because whether we knew it or not something was deeply wrong with the party culture. In the words of Demitrice Glover, "too many of those dudes treated Lord of the Flies as a How-To."

None of the following instances were reported to authorities. I doubt parents heard either. Most of them involved alcohol. All took place within two years in high school. This is the tip of the iceberg. (Remember, I was only marginally in the blackout-drunk party scene, thanks Mom.)

First off, an incredibly jovial, nice, popular guy rubbed his exposed genitals on a girls' face in front of numerous witnesses at a party.
A friend of mine woke up at a party on a couch, surrounded by people. Her boyfriend was on top of her, pinning her to the couch and trying to get her clothes off. She said people watched and did nothing until she yelled at him to stop, when he got pissy for embarrassing her.
A friend woke up, having passed out drunk, with a girl on top of him, trying to take HIS clothes off.
Another friend got a ride home from a mutual friend as I said goodbye to them. She called the next day because she had been black-out drunk, and did I remember who she got a ride home with, because she's got bruises on her arms and neck, and her shirt was torn.
Two guys I knew, but weren't friends with, were loudly discussing how to roofie a girlfriend so that she wouldn't detect it--discussing how much beer she should have before they sneak the pill. The next day at Sam's Bar there was bragging about the conquest, including that she was passed out so he could do whatever he wanted.
A student slapped another boy with his dick in the middle of the goddamn library.
A friend of a friend asked if she could pass out in the room I was staying in at a friend's party. I took it as flirting, but she clarified that she was drunk and she didn't want to sleep somewhere people thought she'd be alone.
On chorale tour, a group of boy seniors convinced a freshman girl to come drink in their room. Thankfully, one of the seniors--who I have always respected as a truly great guy--sniffed that this was a terrible, no-good, very-bad idea and sent the freshman on her way. Don't know what the outcome would have been otherwise, but it doesn't take much imagination.

In none of these cases were the individuals involved a loner, or a loser, or someone who would typically be considered likely to engage in antisocial, abusive behavior. But at schools like Prep and St. Albans, the hypermasculinity propels the student culture to dizzying heights of brutality. Some of these guys are now quite powerful, successful men. One sent a fundraising letter on behalf of the school a few years ago.

I am not posting this to suggest that we assume Kavanaugh is guilty. Rather, I'm posting it because people seem to immediately dismiss the accuser's story because Bretty was such a cool dude.

Well, I went to school with these cool dudes and I will aver that a good portion of them were rapey as all hell, that the culture afforded them the luxury of no consequences, and that in many cases parents and school officials unwittingly (wittingly?) enabled the culture to thrive. And for you STA parents and alums who may see this, yes I'm talking about that nice young man in your boy's grade. I'm talking about that friend who always had an extra buck for a donut at Sam's. I'm talking about prefects. I'm talking about vestry. I'm talking about artists. I'm talking about nerds. I'm talking about jocks.

Call me out for doing nothing back then. Call me out for contributing to the culture through inaction. But please also, disregard each and every vignette and anecdote that reflects Brett Kavanaugh's goodness as a person in the context of the veracity of Professor Ford's accusation. Because I thought many of the people I've described above were "good," before and in some cases AFTER I'd heard or seen what took place. And a million mitzvahs do not undo rape in any case.

To summarize.
Brett Kavanaugh attended a private boys’ prep school. He was then , and still is, a white man. Also a republican and, most likely, a Christian.
Ergo he was a teen-age alcoholic and certainly would try try to rape a girl.
Fire, ready, aim!
« Last Edit: September 19, 2018, 07:39:11 PM by REDSTATEWARD »
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LarryBnDC

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Re: Trump Administration
« Reply #2878 on: September 19, 2018, 07:54:24 PM »

This is from a classmate of my son who was a year ahead of him at St. Albans... he was also not a scion of Beltway Masters of the Universe.

”The topic of this long post is Rape Culture at all-boys Prep schools in the context of current events.

I've withheld my opinion on the Kavanaugh accusation because it’s salacious at best and terrible at worst--the issue that is, not my opinion. But I've seen many people talk about how hard it is to lend credence to Professor Ford's accusation that she was sexually assaulted by Judge Kavanaugh in high school. Much of this revolves around the fact that Judge Kavanaugh does not appear to be a monster, and did not appear to be a monster back in the day. Unlike Ted Cruz, he was well-liked in school! Since the accusation was made public, people have rushed to throw Kavanaugh or Professor Ford under the bus, and the stakes are high, so I get it. And given how nasty people are in general, I get it. That's why this post isn't a speculation on whether he did it or not.

Instead, I want to try to describe how widespread and socially acceptable monstrous, abusive behavior is in a privileged, all-male learning environment--or was back in the early 2000s. Many of you didn't attend all-boy schools, and many of you didn't attend a school where just about everyone benefitted from generational wealth--old money. And while I won't name names, I'll briefly recount the sexual assaults I witnessed or heard of, none of which have shown consequences for the perpetrators, all of whom I could see on LinkedIn today to confirm that they're professionally successful. Keep in mind, I was in the choir, and had strict parents. I didn't go to parties until junior year--which means, had I been Kavanaugh's classmate, I wasn't even drinking until one year after this alleged assault occurred. But I went to enough parties to know what happened at those parties. A whole lot of sexual assault and bad decisions happened. My small graduating class was finally divided over the conduct of many of my classmates; my friends preferred to party in the park, in small groups, because whether we knew it or not something was deeply wrong with the party culture. In the words of Demitrice Glover, "too many of those dudes treated Lord of the Flies as a How-To."

None of the following instances were reported to authorities. I doubt parents heard either. Most of them involved alcohol. All took place within two years in high school. This is the tip of the iceberg. (Remember, I was only marginally in the blackout-drunk party scene, thanks Mom.)

First off, an incredibly jovial, nice, popular guy rubbed his exposed genitals on a girls' face in front of numerous witnesses at a party.
A friend of mine woke up at a party on a couch, surrounded by people. Her boyfriend was on top of her, pinning her to the couch and trying to get her clothes off. She said people watched and did nothing until she yelled at him to stop, when he got pissy for embarrassing her.
A friend woke up, having passed out drunk, with a girl on top of him, trying to take HIS clothes off.
Another friend got a ride home from a mutual friend as I said goodbye to them. She called the next day because she had been black-out drunk, and did I remember who she got a ride home with, because she's got bruises on her arms and neck, and her shirt was torn.
Two guys I knew, but weren't friends with, were loudly discussing how to roofie a girlfriend so that she wouldn't detect it--discussing how much beer she should have before they sneak the pill. The next day at Sam's Bar there was bragging about the conquest, including that she was passed out so he could do whatever he wanted.
A student slapped another boy with his dick in the middle of the goddamn library.
A friend of a friend asked if she could pass out in the room I was staying in at a friend's party. I took it as flirting, but she clarified that she was drunk and she didn't want to sleep somewhere people thought she'd be alone.
On chorale tour, a group of boy seniors convinced a freshman girl to come drink in their room. Thankfully, one of the seniors--who I have always respected as a truly great guy--sniffed that this was a terrible, no-good, very-bad idea and sent the freshman on her way. Don't know what the outcome would have been otherwise, but it doesn't take much imagination.

In none of these cases were the individuals involved a loner, or a loser, or someone who would typically be considered likely to engage in antisocial, abusive behavior. But at schools like Prep and St. Albans, the hypermasculinity propels the student culture to dizzying heights of brutality. Some of these guys are now quite powerful, successful men. One sent a fundraising letter on behalf of the school a few years ago.

I am not posting this to suggest that we assume Kavanaugh is guilty. Rather, I'm posting it because people seem to immediately dismiss the accuser's story because Bretty was such a cool dude.

Well, I went to school with these cool dudes and I will aver that a good portion of them were rapey as all hell, that the culture afforded them the luxury of no consequences, and that in many cases parents and school officials unwittingly (wittingly?) enabled the culture to thrive. And for you STA parents and alums who may see this, yes I'm talking about that nice young man in your boy's grade. I'm talking about that friend who always had an extra buck for a donut at Sam's. I'm talking about prefects. I'm talking about vestry. I'm talking about artists. I'm talking about nerds. I'm talking about jocks.

Call me out for doing nothing back then. Call me out for contributing to the culture through inaction. But please also, disregard each and every vignette and anecdote that reflects Brett Kavanaugh's goodness as a person in the context of the veracity of Professor Ford's accusation. Because I thought many of the people I've described above were "good," before and in some cases AFTER I'd heard or seen what took place. And a million mitzvahs do not undo rape in any case.

To summarize.
Brett Kavanaugh attended a private boys’ prep school. He was then , and still is, a white man. Also a republican and, most likely, a Christian.
Ergo he was a teen-age alcoholic and certainly would try try to rape a girl.
Fire, ready, aim!


Certainly? No.

 Plausibly? Yes.
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If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you.

Lyndon Johnson

Yankguy1

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Re: Trump Administration
« Reply #2879 on: September 19, 2018, 08:15:16 PM »

I knew several people who went to Prep and two of my brother's best friends went there. None of them were jerks.
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"Well, I left Rome and landed in Brussels.  On a plane ride so bumpy that I almost cried. Clergy men in uniform, and young girls pulling mussels. Everyone was there to greet me when I stepped inside..."-Bob Dylan
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