February 2, 2026

DU has certainly changed. Folks no longer seem to value empathy nor compassion here and have become as

brutal as those on the 'other side'. You can't claim moral superiority if you don't stay above the cruelty.

I am as shocked by the comments posted here:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20988440 as I am reading comments on Youtube celebrating ICE's actions.

I doubt if many actually read the article, which had an entirely different title than the OP about a young man, who was raised in northern Alabama and deported to Mexico last fall. He is one of thousands brought to the US as children, raised as a Southern American, and had his life destroyed by this insane immigration round-up. I am so disgusted with the United States that I left and now, like him, am struggling to learn Spanish.

I thought DU was a place of like-minded Democrats, but it doesn't seem like it anymore.

After almost 23 years, I think I'm out of here.

February 1, 2026

We are seeing history repeat itself.

Jurgen Stroop, SS commander at Warsaw Ghetto, 1943.



Gregory Bovino, ICE commander in Minneapolis, 2025.

Do you see the similarities?

January 31, 2026

If one wants to focus on the Nazi extermination of millions and compare it to the aims of our current regime: Watch

"33 Photos from the Ghetto" on HBO/Max. It just premiered today. Sobering. I was so moved by the words written by the photographer's friend in his letters to his daughter that are spoken in the last 10 minutes of the film.

"If there is any purpose for these recollections, it is to ensure that the memory of those shameful times are preserved, so that people born and raised in abundance, convinced of the values of our civilization, may understand what may happen in the future if they allow themselves to be set against one another like dogs." - Hilary Laks

Photographer was Zbigniew Leszek Grzywaczewski

January 12, 2026

I'm in tears tonight. Read the words on this certificate, signed by FDR, given to my grandmother when her

son was killed in WWII.

November 22, 2025

This is my second favorite Costa Rican bird so far. Toucans are first.

This is a Montezuma Oropendola eating papaya at my feeder this morning. They produce a wonderful gurgling bubbly sound.

June 25, 2025

Loading the ship container for my move to Costa Rica.

If you ever thought moving across states was stressful, try this

May 24, 2025

My favorite photo from Lapland.

March 25, 2025

I'm 77 and I never thought I would see the day when elected politicans would

not care about blatant national security breaches (Signal chat, non clearances for DOGE employees, TSF's stolen documents, etc.) and call for dismantling the federal courts. Then again, they are destroying every aspect of the US. History, Intelligence, NATO, international cooperation, education, research, healthcare, tourism, FEMA, and finance, to name a few.

And look at the freedoms we're losing. A right to choose to have a child or not, the right to state an opposing opinion, the right to read any book, the right to protest a corporation, and the right to hearing truth are a few being 'disappeared', along with some of our neighbors.

As many of you know, I'm currently in the act of packing a lifetime of belongings to make a permanent move to another country. It is heartbreaking to do this. But I also see a glimmer of living in peace, enjoying life without the stress and pain of being here. I'm watching everything I worked for being destroyed and just can't stay.

January 20, 2025

Maybe it's too early for my announcement, but I'm moving to

Costa Rica! To close on my beautiful new house on February 14th.

August 12, 2024

Very disheartened about the Illinois State Fair's decision to change the awarding of culinary championships.

Both of my decorated cakes won blue ribbons (1st. place) in their respective classes. However, I was shocked to see there was no champion in the division when we went to the fair yesterday. The fair has decided to merge 'decorated cakes' with another division competing for championship.

I came home and dug out the premium book and saw that it was true and that I had overlooked the information when I sent in my entry fees. Others might have noticed, as there were only about 50% of the usual number of entries this year.

Based on this change, I may not be entering any cakes again. I view it as not exactly unfair, but not worthwhile. Decorating a dummy cake is rather expensive compared to baking a batch of cookies. The cake forms run $5 to $20 each. The fondant covering is around $25 and I have probably invested $200 in decorating tools.

Thanks for letting me rant.