Farewell DU

[the_liberal_grandpa]

Tomorrow at 12:01 midnight I begin my self imposed 72 media blackout.

TV, Newpapers, Social Media- everywhere that will be covering the start of this shit show will be off limits.

The media wants eyeballs and clicks over the coming days as they will bounce from thing to thing going on in politics and get us all panicked.

I encourage everyone to sit back and enjoy life for 3 days and don't get swept up in the massive tsunami of bullshit coming our way.

Read a book, watch a movie, work on a puzzle, catch up on your tv shows,spend time with you kids and grandchildren, or anything else that keeps you away from the blizzard that starts tomrrow.

See you all Thursday

[Aristus]

1. From one liberal grandpa to another:

See you when you get back.

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

57. My wife and I are doing the same thing, at least for Monday.

Working on crossword puzzles and other word games is fun!

[claudette]

2. What a great idea!

It's too depressing for me. I don't CARE what the orange felon says or does or what happens at his inauguration. I despise him and all those who voted for and support him.

[elocs]

37. Those who voted for Trump undoubtedly included millions who had previously called themselves Democrats.

As well as many who simply refused to vote for Harris because of her gender and/or race. Because what happened to the 7 million more votes that Biden received in 2020 that Harris didn't receive in 2024.

[Maraya1969]

59. Some people on Youtube and I'm sure other video sites have put

together classic funny clips of all sorts of sitcoms from the past. I have been watching things like "Best of Berta" from "2 1/2 Men" and Clips from "Seinfeld".

There are so many to chose from. I haven't done a web search yet but I may if I run out of what shows up. I like the older ones because even though we had problems back then I forget them and just enjoy the shows

[William769]

3. I'm almost there with you.

Misery loves company so I will be spending it here on DU with my internet family.

“We must all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately”

[ck4829]

4. Seems like I'll have the site to myself

[BOSSHOG]

15. I'll be in and out

Sharing whatever two cents worth I might have. I have a smidgen of optimism somewhere deep in my left handed brain.

[niyad]

26. No, you will be stuck with me, you poor thing.

[COL Mustard]

32. You'll all be entitled to....

My opinion!

[niyad]

43. Which we all eagerly await!

[ProfessorGAC]

47. Check Yourself!

I'll be keeping an eye on you!

[MontanaMama]

52. See you all here tomorrow.

I won’t turn on the tv or listen to any news on the radio however. I haven’t turned on msnbc since Election Day and don’t plan to.

[lark]

112. I'm checking in now and will probably do so again this evening.

Not watching anything with politics, no msm at all today. I am paranoid about the shit show, so will check in here for any catastrophes in the making. Watching him affects me on such a visceral level, not giving him one second of my viewing. Reading is better, doesn't hit me so hard, but even that will be cut way way back from normal.

[cilla4progress]

5. The only hitch is

It's hard to avoid completely, I'm finding.

Safely watching something non-political on TV and up comes an announcement for the inauguration, etc.

😳

[Ping Tung]

6. Sometimes you have to lose your mind to come to your senses. Fritz Perls

If your house is burning down you'd want to know why, where, and how it started to burn. But, first, get the hell out of the house.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

7. I have this on my agenda...

1) Get exercise down in our Fitness Room.
2) Work on client sewing orders.
3) Do more reading.
4) Watch my shows on Netflix.
5) Get my tax information for 2024 ready.
6) Empty my email account of SPAM I keep getting(unsubscribing seems to work at times).

I think I can get by for 72 hours. I think.

[jeffreyi]

8. Great idea.

Back to basics. Go for a walk, or a hike, or a snowshoe, or a bicycle ride. Or make something. Or cook a fabulous meal for someone. Or whatever. Leave something better than you found it. And. Mother Earth laughs last, always.

[JohnSJ]

9. Same here.

[CountAllVotes]

10. This upcoming disaster is making me sick

I'm worried about everything.

I lay in bed and cannot sleep and worry that I will not have enough to hang-on for another four years.

It is tough living on a very small pension ($106) and Soc. Security.

If I could work, I'd go and find a job somewhere but I simply cannot do it any more.

No one wants to hire some old person with a limp and a serious illness.

I worry that I will lose the house and lose my sanity to go with it.

Are there others out there that are worrying this much?

Hang-in there friends.

[c-rational]

12. Hang in there yourself, and try and find something to distract yourself which you find enjoyable.

[Paper Roses]

17. I'm 82, long over the work market. I'm scared to death.

A widow for 17 years, live on only SS income. I have no assets other than my house. My property taxes per quarter are more than my SS check. Running rapidly out of funds
.
If the idiot new president eliminates SS, I'm sunk. No money to rent an apartment for $ 3500 to4000 a month and no $ to pay for a move. First, last and security deposit? No way. After years of work since I was 16, I'm depressed. My kids are OK for now but I ques I'm looking for some solution.
My heart breaks for any immigrants, no matter what their status.
What is trump going to do with all of us without the $$$ to cope with his deranges plans?
I can't find words to express my disgust at what has happened to this country
.
Best to all of you who might be in a tight situation. I can't figure out how to cope, I hope you can.

[orleans]

56. i don't know what your situation is with your kids

but my nana lived with my parents before i was born and until she passed when i was 15.
same thing with my mom, me & my daughter who was 21 when we lost my mom.

maybe there is a place for you with one of them? (it might even be a delightful change)

[Clouds Passing]

11. Sounds like a good plan

I’ve been on a media blackout except for here. I can find plenty of things to catch up on.

[BobTheSubgenius]

13. Not bad advice at all!

Of the 72 hour cycle, 70+ will be fluff of the most annoying kind - so annoying as to be dangerous to the listener or viewer. Anything that is truly important will still be important and still be talked about days later, so why wade through the midden pit?

[Joe Nation]

14. Respectfully disagree

Disengagement only benefits their agenda.

[chowder66]

33. Respectfully, it's only 72 hours.

Everyone can catch up later.

[yellow dahlia]

93. I'm going with the same theory as you. n/t

[Prairie_Seagull]

16. Will be reading a textbook on architecture so

will be sleeping haha. Perfect time for us all to get some needed shut eye.

[Boomerproud]

18. I don't know when and if my blackout will end.

Keeping it to myself to protect myself from magat family members and coworkers. Bye.

[Sneederbunk]

19. You can run but you can't hide.

[surfered]

20. Every one deserves some R & R.

[Wild blueberry]

21. With you

[Kaleva]

22. DU has a wealth of non news groups

[ProfessorGAC]

50. Good Point

If we exclude MIRT, I spend half my time on non-news spots in DU. Maybe more.
And, until the MIRT term ends, I can't avoid the news related spots.
But, I don't do other platforms or social media. Even on music forums I only read, not pot.
So, I'm sort of avoiding this stuff anyway.
The Lounge, Sports, & Music Appreciation will still be suitable fun.

[Kaleva]

91. Starting tonight, I'm going to spend more time elsewhere on DU

There's so many interesting and varied topics being covered outside of GD. Places where I could actually learn new things.

[ProfessorGAC]

98. I Wish That...

...the Musicians Group was active like it was back in the day.
Some of us still go there, but the overall traffic is 10% of what it used to be.
Still, I have places here where I can hang out.

[perdita9]

23. My wallet will close for 72 hours after the inauguration

No takeout, groceries, movie tickets, or fuel purchases.

You want political attention? Stop spending.

[SWBTATTReg]

95. YES!

[SupportSanity]

25. I'm kind of going the other way, not that I planned to.

Life is what happens to you while you're making other plans.
---William Gaddis

I had planned on leaving the country before this point because of youknowwho coming into power again.

But I didn't leave the country. I didn't even renew my passport - I kept putting it off, and putting it off

I had joined BlueSky when it was announced here on DU.

I was never on Facebook or Instagram etc.

I became more active on BlueSky - and I continue to be on it A LOT.

I also attended the Peoples March (Jan 18th).

And it looks like I need to be more and more active and involved.

Staying and more involved. Not my original plan.

But it looks like I need to do this instead.

[RicROC]

69. I prefer Substack over Bluesky

[SallyHemmings]

27. Good idea

He doesn’t deserve the attention.

See you Thursday :

[JoseBalow]

28. You will be sorely missed

[Evolve Dammit]

29. good idea!

[LSparkle]

30. I may never come back ... it's too bleak, even here

I’ve prided myself on being informed but right now my sanity can’t afford that “luxury” ... reality will bite HARD for the near future. 🙃

[COL Mustard]

31. Instead of shutting yourself away...

Please consider Substack as a source of information. There are a lot of creators there and a lot fewer filters.

[Bluethroughu]

34. Great idea.

[LilElf70]

35. Smart move

See ya Thursday

[RecoveringJournalist]

36. mixed feelings

I understand this sentiment completely. However, my feelings are mixed and I'll tell you why.

We've been awash in a sea of misinformation for years now. Who said what? Who didn't say what? Who's planning what? And so forth. It's VERY easy to get confused about what reality is.

With that being the case, part of me wants to see what Cheeto Benito will say. Will he try to be cordial? Or will he, in his inaugural address, paint a dark and partisan picture about our country and its people right from the start?

In the coming days, months and years, knowing what's actually true could become harder and harder to discern.

I feel it's of utmost importance to know the facts. Knowledge is power. The more you know, the more you can prepare.

It's why I'm NOT disassociating myself with Trumpers I know. I'm maintaining a cordial, yet observant, distance.

I suggest everyone think about this and do what is necessary to stay informed. If things go as they COULD, not knowing the truth beforehand could be a precursor to bad things happening.

Stay safe, everyone.

[niyad]

41. A 72 hour break is not the end of the world.

[Skittles]

70. Trump is piece of shit

there's NOTHING there but ignorance and hate

[Aussie105]

86. Ignorance, hate and shit can have a short life span.

Keep asking the Grim Reaper to do me a favor, but he ain't lisnin'!

[Skittles]

89. in his case it has NOT

that orange freak is WAY past due

[Skittles]

71. Trump is piece of shit

there's NOTHING there but ignorance and hate

[LeftInTX]

103. With Trump in office it's easy to stay informed.

All yeah gotta do is hit the google machine.....

I didn't watch his inauguration in 2017, but it replayed and I heard about his speech etc. He called America a catastrophe. And made it sound like a shithole.
Everyone saw Melania's blue outfit and Michelle's burgundy outfit and her stink eye

[PortTack]

38. Great idea! Think I will do the same. I do not once want to see that f..k face

[markie]

39. well, thank goodness

you're not leaving us for good.... me? I'm spending the next few days on readying the production of a play my partner created
"We had a Dream" everything that is right and good and I will not be paying attention to what's happening in D.C..... well, unless there is a MISHAP of sorts

[niyad]

45. One dares to dream!!!

[DENVERPOPS]

42. In preparation for the future

I am searching out a source for that really strong drug to psychotics......(something like Halazone?????)

[QED]

44. I can do that...except for the Ohio State - Notre Dame game Monday night.

But I promise, that's all.

[spooky3]

77. And the Australian Open tennis (while I can stay awake). Nt

[calimary]

46. Hey, "Star Trek" will be how I get through it.

LOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNG time fan, from the original series to “Voyager”.

Wish I could actually beam out to another planet for a few days, but the TV reruns will do. I’ll have tea with Captain Picard and Commander Riker and then arrange quarters on “Deep Space Nine”.

[byronius]

48. That's my solution too!

[calimary]

51. Meet you at Quark's.

First drink’s on me!

[3catwoman3]

87. Is there a Trek marathon on somewhere?

[calimary]

100. I don't know. That would be WAAAAAAAY COOL!!!

Too bad we can’t beam up to some nice vacation spot where not a word will be wasted on the donald. We do have lots of Star Trek episodes recorded so we might even treat ourselves to our own marathon of ‘em. Assuming I don’t just sleep through “the donald show”.

If the weather’s staying nice, I might try a little gardening.

[3catwoman3]

101. Would that we could beam TCF and all his supporters into a holodeck where they would think...

...he was in office and we could have a second term of Joe Biden followed by a first term of Kamala Harris in the real world.

Have you watched the prequel series Strange New Worlds? I really like it. There is a very entertaining episode where younger Spock and younger T'pring end up unintentionally inhabiting each other's bodies when they mind-meld. It's called Spock Amok and is episode 5 of season 1.

Here is my reply to debm55's thread about people's favorite sci-fi shows:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1018&pid=2128547

[calimary]

108. For some reason, I'm just not there yet with "Strange New Worlds".

It’s “Star Trek” so I’ll give it time, but I’m just not there yet. And I can’t put my finger on why, either.

[KPN]

49. Great idea! I'll be joining you!

[AverageOldGuy]

53. Our plan

Sleep late.

Bloody Maries(plural) and home made eggs Benedict
Turn tv to a movie channel so we do t give T#### credit for a viewer
Nap
Do my annual reading of MLK “Letter From Birmingham Jail.”
Nap
Gin and tonic
Whatever

[BarbD]

83. Letter from a Birmingham Jail is

excellent reading. It totally changed my perspective.

[bmichaelh]

54. TCM on 01/21/2025

The day after the Inauguration, TCM is programming a couple of anti-Nazi and anti-fascist films beginning in the morning.

Confessions of a Nazi Spy
The Mortal Storm
The Great Dictator
The Seventh Cross
Edge of Darkness
Background to Danger

[Ishoutandscream2]

76. Great movies!

I’m off tomorrow. Working on the 21st. But the DVR will be my friend

[Katinfl]

55. DU is about all I will be able to handle.

[NotHardly]

58. SAME

[LiberalLovinLug]

60. I'm visiting my apolitical friends for a few days

Sweet couple who I almost envy in their disinterest in politics.
We play games. Go on hikes. Make good food. Have a little wine.
For my own mental health it’s the only way to get through these days ahead

[Attilatheblond]

61. Just bought a book about a pioneering female anthropologist

Gonna play the Moroccan themed Pandora channel and dive into the book later. News stations won't get my eyeballs until Rachel comes on tomorrow night, and maybe not even then.

[Raven123]

62. Great advice. I am started a great book 2 days ago.

Also a good time to deep clean rooms, shampoo carpets, declutter. All kinds of productive activity

[niyad]

94. Cleaning the litter box, turning over the compost. .oh wait, a neighbor

does that chore. Deciding which of the many ideas I saw for using expired spices I will use.

[LoisB]

63. I will be concentrating on the Australian Open, re-watching the Darrell Brooks trial, reading,

and crocheting. I do not want to see IT's face or hear IT's voice.

[spooky3]

78. Go Coco; go Tommy! In doubles, go Taylor T! Nt

[LoisB]

81. Yes!

[spooky3]

96. And go, Learner Tien! Nt

[spooky3]

104. Madison Keys beat Rybakina. Nt

[LoisB]

105. She is making quite a run. It looks like Tien's spectacular run might have run out of fuel

although he is fighting back. Go Learner!

[spooky3]

106. Yes, he's played some long matches. Ben Shelton took set 1.

I know I should turn in but it’s not easy

[Upthevibe]

64. the_liberal_grandpa..........

I'm going to a small gathering with my closest friends in Laguna Niguel.

We'll be playing games and consoling each other saying "it's going to be okay." We are LGBTQ+ so there is some fear there. Two are married couples who are hoping that their marriages won't be dissolved....

I'm not watching anything except shows I can stream (which I'm fortunate that I have quite a few channels) for maybe months.....

[Tom_Foolery]

65. I stopped watching any MSM the day after the election...

I dipped back in a few times this past week, quickly withdrawing when I saw the orange one's ugly kisser. I plan on avoiding any news until next weekend. Of course, I will be visiting DU each day as I have for almost 21 years.

[live love laugh]

66. Pre-spring cleaning, chess and reading 📕

[DownriverDem]

67. Save your sanity with

MeidasTouch on YouTube (free one). They are great. Then other left leaning broadcasters will come up.

[Ziggysmom]

68. Doing the same! My mental health cannot stand a glimpse of cheeto or hear his shit voice.

I never thought we would be going through this again!

George was correct! “Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.”

― George Carlin

[RussBLib]

72. So you mean "luego"

Spanish for "later"

[Ojerly]

73. If I hear that the Capitol implodes

then I might just turn on the news to see who the Designated Survivor is. I'm so disgusted with the MSM, including the progressive and liberal ones. They all seem gleeful to Biden Bash, and pass on fact checking FAT DonOld, and the others lying assholes.
Other than the impact it may have on my grands, I'm glad I'm on the waning side of the big dirt nap.

[bernieb]

74. Time out

I have a Mandela coloring book as well as Johanna Bayshore's "Enchanted Forest. " I plan to color lots of pictures

[Tweedy]

75. Truly excellent notion

[LetMyPeopleVote]

79. See you later

I will not be watching the inauguration but may watch Nicole, Rachel and Lawrence

[pandr32]

80. You've got it!

That's a great plan and I'm in.

[Aussie105]

82. The Inauguration will be on Aussie TV! Live! At 3 am!

I will be asleep then.

Closing down exposure to US 'news' for the next 4 years, except for DU and the Steven Colbert show.

[LeftInTX]

102. So I guess it's kinda like the King's coronation? All over the world?

Sorry to infest you!

[Dorothy V]

84. Already ignoring the orange monstrosity. Do not want to hear it or see it.

My schedule for tomorrow is full anyhow, shopping, going by the bank, doing laundry, etc. In my down time I will probably watch Bones and look wistfully over my flower dictionary (too early to plant anything, dagnabit!) May visit the DU Lounge but that's an iffy.

[ananda]

85. This liberal yellowdawg groks your idea!

Lovelovelove

[valleyrogue]

88. A hearty recommend to this post.

I was at a restaurant today with some members of my family, and we all agreed we would NOT watch the inauguration and basically do things we enjoy doing. Although it is very cold and foggy here in southern Oregon, I plan, at age 70 (!) to go for a run or rather jog tomorrow, visit my brother at a care facility as he is recovering from surgery and about to undergo another one, spend time with my dog, perhaps print some photos, watch YouTube videos and DVDs from my own collection. On the last one, I am watching some old silent films and some early sound films and also some vintage television series. I am also going to do some reading.

There is really a lot out there to do. To obsess over the insanity in D.C. is not healthy.

[MustLoveBeagles]

90. I will boycott the news tomorrow except for DU

Seeing A Complete Unknown again (highly recommended)and getting a pedicure is a better use of my time.

[Just Jerome]

92. Regrettably

I will have to check the FB page of local NAACP in the morning to see whether MLK March is canceled by weather. I only joined FB a year ago. Reluctantly, but for things like this.

Oh, well. We do what we have to.

[FirstLight]

97. I got a book to read, and homework to do

I'm also rebuilding my website so there's plenty to be done. It's going to be hard though no doubt that dopamine click is so easy for us to get. I'm hoping to do it a lot less though over the next 4 years especially

[Dem4life1234]

99. Do what you have to do

My mental health has suffered these last few months with this joke of an outcome.

A bad nightmare.

[peacebuzzard]

107. Yes indeed those are my plans

DU will be the only visits I make other than contact with infirm sisters.

[ReRe]

109. Thursday sounds good to me, liberal_grandpa,

But I can't promise to stay away from DU. I'm addicted.

[erpowers]

111. Already On It

I am constantly trying to read books. I am currently in the middle of reading two books. One is serious and somewhat long, the other is very lightweight and short. I will be reading a number of lightweight books this year as well as a number of serious books. I probably will not be able to watch a movie today, but maybe in the next few days. However, I will keep up with the news, probably more than I have in the last few days. However, I do not know maybe I will watch a movie today.

[akbacchus_BC]

113. Good advice. I still want to see Rachel M. and Laurence O. I won't be looking at MSM.

Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Trying times ahead.

[SayItLoud]

114. I'm with ya. No clicks coming from my devices. NT

[PatrickforB]

115. OK...you know general strikes kind of got killed clear back in 1947 with the Taft-Hartley Act

But have any of you wondered what would happen if we stopped cooperating completely for a few weeks? Don't buy anything but the necessities, and just go to work. No hits on websites, no Facebook, Instagram, nothing, and no streaming news? And no buying stuff.

Oh, really hard to do and nobody really pays attention to it. But what would happen if...? It is a nice thought. Because I get so tired of a consumer culture that barrages us 7/24/365 with ads dreamed up by people who are trying to create a false sense of urgency so we will spend money we don't have to buy stuff we don't really need. It sucks away all meaning from life.

And I get dozens of texts and emails too - SELL, SELL, SELL!!! DONATE, DONATE, DONATE!!!

I'm done. We have not been watching the news at all because even MSNBC is publicly traded so the fiduciary responsibility of their senior producers is never about truth in news and always about generating shareholder profits. And Fox? We won't even go there because it is nothing more than a right wing propaganda organ. I'm sick of biased media coverage because we have not gotten anything like the whole story on anything since 1987 when Reagan killed the Fairness Doctrine. That got rid of the last of the Murrow/Cronkite, Huntley-Brinkley people and gave us dregs like Hannity and Carlson.

You know, I'm not going to purchase any big ticket items unless something goes out and I have to. I work from home mostly so I'm not going to drive much.

But how do you say 'no' to something like Amazon? Doordash? Trumpy is unleashing these billionaire parasites on the treasury and they are going to do their best to strip it clean and leave the rest of us flapping in the wind. I mean, you wouldn't want any of these people in your house because you'd be afraid they would steal the silver. They aren't even close to being normal human beings - they have become so distorted by avarice - just sheer greed - they are barely human. They spend their entire life force amassing wealth, and for what? When the reaper comes, and it will for every one of us, we won't be taking any money with us when we go. Nor will we be taking any political power or economic power. None of that.

Have you ever wondered what the real reason is for human life? Why we were created? What we are supposed to be producing in our compressed sojourns on this planet? I do. I have, actually, since I was a child. Because we've gotten so just basic survival is so distorted, so commercialized, that it is devoid of any kind of meaning or sense.

I guess we will be living much more simply as we can.