I’m feeling better today.
The neck still hurts – both sides – but it’s a dull twinge.   The headache is missing.  I’ll consider that a win.  I don’t know if I’m getting better because the storm front changed or I slept on it differently.

I’ve been sleeping a lot over the past couple of days.  I don’t know.   It’s better today so I should just enjoy it.

Who knows what the weather vane will bring tomorrow.

I’ve been listening to the talking heads a lot over the past couple of days.   Talking heads = Rush, Hannity, … some other guy I don’t remember.    Should Jason and I go out in the evenings, I tend to get a good dose of Mark Levine while we’re in the car.  Since there are only three students in my class, I’ve actually been paying attention to the news a bit more.   I’ve determined something.

Everyone is off their fu*king rockers.

I know this isn’t a revelation.  People in politics are crazy, but it’s disturbing to really hear why.

There’s the whole Nike thing, which I don’t understand.
A multi-million dollar global company pulls thousands of shoes because some guy says it’s racist.
—  The opinion of one guy.   Really.   Yes, I know he gets paid big money by Nike, but he’s not the CEO.  Is the theme here that the ‘little man’ has control over a company.   A self-proclaimed social justice warrior judges and decides what other people think.   If the shoes were really that bad, Nike would have never invested the millions of dollars in development, materials, and shipping.

And what’s going to happen to the shoes now?   Are they going to be destroyed?   I don’t think that would fly because it would cause unnecessary pollution.  It’s a waste of sources that probably not recyclable.  Are they going to be shipped to nations who are in need?
–  I thought that would be a good idea, but Jason shot down that thought.  Something about the shoes being offensive or providing the wrong idea to others.   But…  if you need shoes, you need shoes.   Who cares what’s on them?

I don’t get it, but I guess I don’t have too.
I can’t wear Nikes any more anyway.  It’s just stupid.

Today, it’s all about the award-winning women’s soccer team arguing for equal pay.
This one makes my head hurt.
How much a sports player is paid is based on performance — but more importantly, market.

For example, a baseball player for the Yankees is going to be paid a butt load more than one who plays for Tampa Bay.  Someone on the Pats is going to be paid more than someone on the Dolphins.
–  This industry is largely driven by merchandise and ticket sales.    That’s it.

Men soccer is more popular and more financially profitable than women soccer.   It’s a fact of life.  There’s no denying it.   Men players are going to be paid more than female players.    It’s not personal.   There’s just more money to go around.

Instead of becoming an inspiration for young girls — or just children in general — they’re projecting the image that people can try just as hard as they can — and win — but it doesn’t matter because it’s not fair.

In a way, I can understand their viewpoint.    They won.   They want to go to Disney Land.   They’re proud and they celebrated their wins.    So much so that they drew negative feedback for showing the crowd that they’re winners.  They’re prideful and have a right to be. By extension, it’s logical that they are paid just as much – if not more – then the men’s team.

I tend not to categorize people by age and generation.   I try really really hard not too.    Everyone isn’t different, but everyone changes.  The changes happen minute by minute.  But, in this case, there’s a pattern.

The women’s U.S. soccer team are in their 30s.  AOC is in her 30s.  Ilhan is in her 30s.   This line of thinking and lack of understanding has to be, in part, education.

The women’s soccer team doesn’t understand the basic market structure. It’s not about the bigger picture.   It’s about ‘me’ and how ‘me’ is discriminated against.
—  Despite the women being under contracts.
These women agreed to their pay months or years before becoming part of this team.   They agreed that their performance, time, and skill was worth such-and-such amount of money.

They knew that they were paid less than the men’s team when they signed up.   They knew the ‘job was dangerous when they took it.’   So…. why on earth are they fussing now?

If they didn’t like the pay, they could have negotiated for a better rate or just walk away.  That’s part of their right as Americans.

So…. meh.

Some stereotypes of women are mood swings,  being indecisive, and overly emotional.  Women have been striving for generations to get away from these.   It’s just a shame that the U.S women’s team is reinforcing them.   I just don’t get it.

And this Epstein thing….   to much to go into.
Apparently, all of these rich and famous people knew about the Lolita Express and Orgy Island.   Some people took part.    A lot of people, from both genders, supported this guy.

Sure, Epstein tossed a lot of money around.  Supported causes.  Supported Democrats.

For them, money spoke more than ethical and religious beliefs.

That’s on them.   They didn’t see something/say something.
Now that Epstein is public, the rich are trying to do damage control.    As a former enchantress, they suck at it.

The people associated with the incident knew about it for years.   It was a not-so-secret secret.  They didn’t take action and even participated.

Per the dictionary, that’s collaborators and accomplishes.  They need to suck it up… but they won’t.    They’re rich and American tend to have a short attention span when it comes to some things.

Can’t help but wonder what type of relationship Bill and Hill have.
Not that it’s my business… but are they swingers?  In ten years, will we have a bunch of men claim to be raped by Hill?   We got a good picture of Bill.

I don’t know.
It’s crazy.

At the very very very end… will any of this help the real problems?  Will it help homelessness?   Will it help immigration?    Will it help abuse?

Nope. nope. nope.
Much ado about nothing.    It doesn’t matter when the sun goes down.

This is why I don’t pay attention to the news.