Tag / politics

by Lexine

Wednesday Random Thoughts

So….WordPress starting doing this for those who want to write using Classic Editor…

…and I’m not a fan of it! I have to use a pop-up window to write my nonsense here now?! Booooo! Bring back the full-page Classic Editor!

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For those on Bluesky: has anyone noticed an uptick in angry/ignorant accounts lately? Especially when it comes to politics? This past weekend alone, in regards to the second murder by ICE (let’s call it for what it is–a murder) in Minneapolis, there was so much ignorance coming from so many accounts (many of whom claim to be “anti-Trump”, and some coming from countries that have their own issues), I swear, the amount of accounts I blocked may have surpassed the amount of followers I currently have. It was *that* bad. There was even one account stirring up antisemitic bullshit on the victim (read it if you dare); that’s the kind of stupid shit you’d expect to see on Elon’s Nazi Bird app. But, nope, that’s Bluesky today, and it blows chunks. Did I mention that if you call out the Dem-bashers or the “watermelon crowd” (as I like to call them, IYKYK) on their bullshit, your account could get tagged labels and placed on block lists that could suppress your engagement/visibility? I’ve seen two accounts of this vein get unfairly suspended. Christ almighty. The site wasn’t this bad a year ago. 

Safe to say, I plan on not posting there as much from here on out. (My work-in-progress just yelled out “yaaay!”) It helps that I can’t be on the internet when I’m at my day job and that I’ve hit a busy period with work and non-work stuff. It also helps that I don’t see social media as a big necessity in my life. If you can believe this, I’ve only been doing SM for the past three-and-a-quarter years, and I’ve witnessed the births and enshittifications of Twitter, TikTok, IG, and Snapchat throughout my adulthood. (I signed up for Twitter in the summer of 2022, and IG shortly after, and I initially used both platforms to promote my book.) With the site seeing an uptick in ignorance, antisemitism, and Dem-bashing for clicks, could I be witnessing the enshittification of Bluesky in real time?

Also, if they block you, block ’em back. ‘Nuff said!

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Saw this recently…

Source

I’m sad to see this. Just eight years ago, the brand was valued at a billion dollars, and given the quality of her products then, I saw why. PMG has some top-quality stuff. Motherships 1 and 5 (which I own) are my desert island palettes, their lip glosses are divine, and their OpuLust lip glosses and LustTrance lipsticks remain two of my most-missed discontinued products. I first saw the brand at the Third Street Promenade Sephora in Santa Monica nine years ago, and I balked at the $125 (?) price tag of her eyeshadow palette (in this case, Mothership 1). Then I tried it on for myself, and…I kinda got why it was pricey. (I still don’t believe eyeshadow palettes, no matter how high-quality they are, should not cost that much. I think $80 would’ve been a more reasonable selling price for her Motherships.) 

By the way, how is PMG filing for bankruptcy, but not that flopping brand from that plastic lesser (I’m not saying her name here) that’s sold at Ulta, Macy’s and Nordstrom? Or is her family suppressing those stories from the public? No one I know doesn’t wear or buy shit from that brand that’s collecting dust in stores these days. 

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I attended some MLK Day events in SF last week: 

A speech at Yerba Buena Gardens. I’m unclear over who the speaker in the center is, as I just arrived in the area when this was happening (Nancy Pelosi, maybe?)
Rally signs
KCSM Jazz 91’s MLK event, “Music and The Movement”, featuring some of the radio station’s personalities
An MLK Jr. quote sign outside Oracle Park

I originally went there to see the KCSM event. They first showed a documentary on the radio station’s 60th anniversary, and while it was pretty interesting, I felt like it went on longer than it should. I can always watch the doc at home; it’s not often do I get to see a live, informative discussion on jazz music and how its messaging & history ties to the principles that MLK Jr. stood for. 

Tiffany Austin, who performed after the discussion, is a very good singer, by the way! 

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I need to go watch Netflix soon. Not only for Heated Rivalry, but now for this: 

The trailer for "Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model," a docuseries about the controversial reality competition series, is out:

— Phil Lewis (@phillewis.bsky.social) 2026-01-26T21:34:22.994Z

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The Macarena. Independence Day. The 72-10 Chicago Bulls team. Mariah’s “One Sweet Day”. They all turn 30 this year! And I was there to witness it all when it originally happened! *pops a Werthers* 

Nowadays, doing the Macarena would trigger those ICE fuckers. 

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Another throwback: Google Photos showed me that seven years (and two days) ago, I was at the NHL All-Star Game and events! 

At SAP Center in San Jose, CA, for the 2019 NHL All-Star Game! Taken 1/26/2019.
The ginormous Shark head seen in Sharks home games
Sharks collectible swag (all featuring former Sharks player Brent Burns)
My seats for the game
Close-up of the players. The Metropolitan Team (white jerseys) beat the Central team (black jerseys).
Old me with the Stanley Cup!

It was my first time seeing the Stanley Cup in person! And to see my guys Crosby, Letang, and Lundqvist on the ice at the same time? 😍 They all played for the Metropolitan team, which won the All-Star game. 

Ya know, every time I see these throwback pics of me from the 2010s, two things come to mind. One: I sorta-kinda miss my natural black hair (it’s been dyed red for the past six years). And two: I really don’t miss how big I was then. 

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the first 3 words you see will define your 2026 😭MoneyNew car Pussy

— Uncle pablo from Miami (@pablostjohn.bsky.social) 2025-11-24T20:47:50.488Z

I got “money”, “ass”, and “travels”. So far, this is eerily accurate. Right now, I’m making good money working my ass off from my work travels.  (I’ll eventually post about my day job here; I’m approaching 15 years into my profession this summer.)

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I can’t bring myself to eat let alone buy Dubai chocolate. It’s not sugar-free, for one. And after reading a wild article on (I kid you not) “Dubai port-a-potties” a few years ago, I refuse to touch that sh-,er, stuff!

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Some of my most memorable life events took place in a year that ended in a 6. I plan on doing some throwback posts throughout this year on what was up with me in the years 1996, 2006, and 2016. (Not 1986, though–I was only 1 going on 2 then.) I got some stories to tell! And may 2026 give me something fun and memorable. 

by Lexine

Tuesday Random Thoughts

I had to move this little rant from my previous entry as I feel like it distracts from the poem, but I still stand by this:

I’m pretty disappointed over the absence of posts condemning the attacks from some so-called “pro-Democracy”/”anti-Trump” accounts on Bluesky. Not even a repost from those accounts that condemned the attacks! I work Sundays and had a long, busy AF day at work, yet I managed to repost some things (I legit didn’t have the words at the time), throw up this entry, and also check in on a very good friend of mine who happens to be Jewish. Those same accounts were more eager to repost about the hero of the shooting and the awful deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife. Reiner is a legendary director no question, and his death was horrific…but–and you’ll hate me for reminding you this awful truth–he also called for Biden to step down last year. (And Biden still gave him grace.) Those accounts can keep blabbering about how shitty Trump is (what’s new) and demand to “release the Epstein files now!”, but them staying silent on the latest antisemitic incident in Australia says a LOT. You cannot be “for peace” or “kindness” in your bios and straight-up ignore the senseless murders of a community that continues to go through more hell thanks to your blatant/low-key antisemitism.

***Not from the rant, but it’s a sad coincidence that the Democratic party’s two biggest voting blocs (black people and Jewish people) have also been two of the most-targeted communities this year, whether it’s in the job market, vile malpractice in healthcare, or from more violent attacks. Going into 2026 and the midterms, I’m making sure the candidate I vote for fully supports (among other things) the black and Jewish (and the LGBTQ+) communities.

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My latest Bluesky gripe: those same “pro-Democracy”/”anti-Trump” accounts bashing “feckless” Democrats on the regular while praising “progressives” like that oyster boy with the Nazi tattoo in Maine and the new NYC mayor who surrounds himself with abusers and antisemites. I used to follow some of those accounts, but no longer! And I can’t help but notice all those accounts barking “do something!” to the likes of Jeffries and Schumer are qwhite something. 😒 Pro-tip: the real pro-Dem/anti-Trump accounts on Bluesky are those run by those who are the base of the Democratic party aka black and Jewish voices. They may not have a six-figure follower count or a podcast, but they’re all legit.

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If I could give pop culture a New Year’s resolution for 2026, it’s to stop making Sydney Sweeney happen. She’s unapologetically MAGA and I hear she’s wooden in her acting. I am not surprised another mid AF blonde girl has gotten more shine than deserved, but couldn’t Hollywood hype up a boring blonde who’s not MAGA?

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It’s now less than 10 days till Christmas?!

One weird way I stay sane during the holidays: not listening to almost all Christmas songs! Having worked in retail a long time ago, an Xmas song during the holidays can be triggering. I feel for those who work in retail and have been subjected to non-stop Xmas-themed aural assaults since November (on top of dealing with rude/foolish customers and demanding bosses/supervisors and working long hours).

I say “almost all” as there are some Xmas songs I truly enjoy, but I’ll post them in another entry.

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Yes, I’ve been doing Duolingo for a year now, please clap. No, I doubt I’ll make it two years. My subscription ends in a few weeks, and with the app’s admitted use of AI and inconsistencies with translations, I’m most likely going to delete that damn owl off my phone. I originally used it to brush up on my Spanish that I thought I’d be using for a job opportunity I was interested a year ago, but those plans fell apart. Yet I still kept using the app–the game-ification of it can be addicting. While sé cómo hablar algo de español, it’s not something I need to use in my day job right now, and it’s also been cutting into my book-writing time.

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Speaking of my work, my eBook is still on sale at Smashwords! Now until Jan. 1st!

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Controversial opinion, but Sephora >>> Ulta because Ulta carries some brands associated with toxic, shitty celebs. I went to an Ulta yesterday and the very first things I saw were displays of perfumes featuring a plastic grifter and that groomer Drake. I ended up going to a Sephora (who have their own controversies, I know) for eye bleach. I saw on the Ulta app that I’m $80-something away from being a Platinum member, but after being reminded of the trash-ass celeb brands they sell, I’d rather keep my money.

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Of course I did not win Powerball’s billion-dollar jackpot yesterday. If I did, I wouldn’t be writing this entry, but in my 20th straight hour of doing this around my apartment:

I did win $4–got the Powerball number right. #blessed

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I got 17–I saw #2, #6, and #13 in my household and elsewhere as a wee one, but I never used them. I think us elder millennials were the very last group to have at least seen all these things and use most of them. *pops a Werthers* My childhood bestie had a waterbed and sleepovers were fun…until we jumped on her bed, of course.

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The last installment of my Toronto trip will be up…when I get to it and I’m aiming for it to be soon, I swear. In the meantime, here are some pics of my recent visit to the Bancroft Gardens’ “Garden of D’Lights” holiday event:

Lit-up trees and plants at the Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, CA
Plants basking in the holiday lighting at the Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, CA
Lights and more seen at the Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, CA

Rocks in holiday lights at the Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, CA
A garden pathway
Holiday palm tree

Going to Garden of D’Lights has been a holiday tradition of mine since 2022, and there’s always something new with every visit. For instance, this is the first time I’ve seen this there:

A poisonous grape plant at the Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, CA
close-up of the poisonous plant’s warning sign

TIL there’s a grape plant in existence that bites you back!

by Lexine

By George

Cindy Crawford on the debut issue of George magazine, October/November 1995. 

There was something both fun yet absurd about George magazine. I understood why the magazine wanted to marry politics with celebrity/pop culture stuff of the time, but given what became of politics since its debut issue 30 years ago, maybe they should’ve left politics as usual aka boring, but functional and for the people. I have one back issue (the February/March 1996 issue, to be exact, and I’ll try to find a scan/post on this soon) that talked about how each of the 1996 would-be presidential candidates would benefit from some plastic surgery. Only in this country did (and still do) we need our politics to go the sensationalist, tabloid-esque route to get people’s attention, even if the issue at hand does not benefit the average American. Like, OK, Bob Dole would look better with “$6K veneer caps”. And what was his stance on universal health care again? 

However, I cannot tell a lie: George had some fire covers, their debut issue included. Cindy Crawford as George Washington in a midriff-baring outfit is just genius. Her wig game was even on-point! 

by Lexine

Quotes Of The Moment 9.10.25

You are under no obligation to mourn the death of people who would’ve celebrated yours.

— Derek Powazek (@fraying.bsky.social) 2025-09-10T20:56:40.309Z

and

Violence is always wrong and so is promoting harmful ideologies such as racism, misogyny, homophobia/transphobia, and white supremacy (and promoting it all for profit). Thus, I send my condolences to those affected in the Colorado school shooting (a news story that is heinously being buried by mainstream media) and that’s it. If one wants my respects in their death, simply put: don’t be a disgusting asshole in life.

by Lexine

I Miss

— Physicians for a Healthy Democracy (@physiciandemocracy.medsky.social) 2025-07-07T15:32:20.925Z

I miss the days where I can live my life without worrying if my gender, sexual orientation, or/and skin color would make me a prime target for the modern-day Gestapo (even if I was born in the States). 

I miss having a proper, competent government at the federal level, where their social media posts were not written by 4Chan exiles. 

I miss having a competent Supreme Court that didn’t bow down to oligarchs. (Just three judges siding with democracy ain’t enough!) 

I miss the days when politics were boring and not “BREAKING NEWS” every damn day.

I miss knowing a time when the US was not associated with concentration camps.

I miss the days when Nazi/fascism shit was a vile thing to do, and you’d only catch glimpses of it being parodied on shows like South Park. 

I miss satire being satire and not an actual New York Times headline. 

I miss mainstream media being factual, objective, unbiased, boring, and informative. I think it was before Faux News arrived. 

I also miss news channels not being 24-7. I’m old enough to remember CNN not being all news all the time, and when they aired other programs, like Style With Elsa Klensch. 

I miss seeing people feeling genuine shame when they fucked up. 

I miss the Biden days. And the Obama days. And the Clinton days. And, dare I say it, the W. Bush days. As much as I still loathe W. Bush, things were quite bad then, but not as catastrophically bad as it is now. The person that throws shoes at Putin’s puppet will be considered an international hero. 

I miss the days when the US was one of the places people sought refuge in after fleeing from the violence in their native land. Now, the States is becoming one of those violent countries!

I miss escapism. I’ll get back to that soon. 

I miss destressing at the beach. Crowds, work, and other things are keeping me away from them at the moment. 

*pops a Werthers* 

I miss the days when young girls bought their makeup/skincare at the drugstores and not at Sephora because TikTok told them to go get their makeup/skincare at Sephora. I think I should be glad I grew up with Seventeen magazine (which hyped brands like Cover Girl and Neutrogena to us teens in the 90s) instead of social media. I also grew up in a town where we didn’t have a Sephora or Ulta, and that makeup at Macy’s (which we had) was “for old ladies”. 

I miss life before social media. Blogging here is my tie to the pre-SM days, since blogging existed before SM blew up. Also, I tend to write a lot, and you can only fit so many characters in a SM post. 

I miss pop culture before 2008. I don’t think pop culture really died in 2009, but it started getting mid when the 2010s arrived. I blame that fake AF family. 

I miss it when “celebrity” meant an entertainer or public figure who got famous through talent & hard work and sustained it all over the years, and not some who-dat who has a bunch of social media followers and blew up after one of their TikToks went viral. “Famous influencer”? “TikTok celebrity”?? I don’t know them and get off my lawn. 

I miss craftsmanship in fashion. Some of the outfits I see on fashion runways these days would make Yves Saint Laurent spin in his grave. 

I miss riot grrl rock, new jack swing R&B, and socially conscious messages in mainstream music. 

I miss being a cat mom. Even if I wasn’t thinking about fleeing the country, the rules in my apartment only permit service animals. *pouts* 

I kinda miss hash browns. There’s no low-carb equivalent for it! 

I will not miss the times I’m currently stuck in. I aim to be a survivor of these times, however. 

by Lexine

Signs Of The Times

I’m four days late in this (blame my day job) but better late than never in posting my favorite images from last Saturday’s No Kings protests!  (Which I couldn’t attend because day job.)

*All posts from Bluesky*

Protesters formed a human banner at Ocean Beach during the "No Kings" protests in San Francisco on Saturday. The protest is among nationwide demonstrations against President Donald Trump.📸: Santiago Mejia

— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle.com) 2025-06-14T18:16:36Z

Anyone who’s been following these protests should know that the ones on Ocean Beach in SF DELIVER!

Best image of the day:

— Krassensteins (@krassenstein.bsky.social) 2025-06-15T02:30:26.400Z

— Shelby Rivers (@ashelbyrivers.bsky.social) 2025-06-14T13:56:09.015Z

This is my favorite sign from Seattle #NoKings March. It’s 100% Pacific Northwest mood 😁

— KSlatteryResist (@kslatteryresist.bsky.social) 2025-06-15T15:08:23.419Z

From No Tyrants Day in Vancouver, BC.@alexwinter.com @vafcity.bsky.social #nokings#notyrants#Vancouver #Canada#FiftyFiftyOne #indivisible #meidasmighty#maplemeidas@meidastouch.com @meidaskiesha.bsky.social

— 🇨🇦Gen X Goth🇺🇸 (@jengagnon.bsky.social) 2025-06-16T02:27:59.058Z

Sacramento, California

— Natasha (@nastynatasha–1.bsky.social) 2025-06-14T19:30:12.943Z

Lmao

— Hemry, Local Bartender (@bartenderhemry.bsky.social) 2025-06-14T19:58:04.956Z

I had to add this because, well…oh, and this too 🤡

I’m Kat Abughazaleh and I approve this message.

— Kat Abughazaleh (@katmabu.bsky.social) 2025-06-15T01:04:39.570Z

Ahhh New Haven

— Asha Rangappa (@asharangappa.bsky.social) 2025-06-14T18:03:15.199Z

My favorite sign so far at #NoKings Walnut Creek

— Crystal Odenkirk – Art & Design (@crysodenkirk.bsky.social) 2025-06-14T18:46:09.386Z

Yay my hometown

“No Kings” Houston, TX

— Physicians for a Healthy Democracy (@physiciandemocracy.medsky.social) 2025-06-14T16:11:37.046Z

The most Los Angeles sign ever. And it’s true.

— Victor Shi (@victorshi.bsky.social) 2025-06-14T18:57:16.451Z

Florida ready!

— Serenity.Sue (@serenitysue.bsky.social) 2025-06-14T00:52:15.575Z

This incredibly Minnesota sign is breaking my heart.

— B. "Sunny" Willison (@bwillisun.bsky.social) 2025-06-14T19:18:26.698Z

Context to this

🤔

— KAMALA NATION (@kamalanation.bsky.social) 2025-06-15T13:50:58.066Z

Unlike many protests I've covered, of all types, the overwhelming number of signs at the Redlands #NoKings protest are clearly homemade.

— Beau Yarbrough ⌚🐕 (@lby3.bsky.social) 2025-06-14T18:13:08.730Z

My favorite #Wisconsin #NoKings sign/flag from today.#wipolitics

— Spud Lovr (@spudlovr.bsky.social) 2025-06-15T03:24:17.222Z

I need everyone on Normal People internet to know that American Girl Doll Instagram is doing doll protests today. There are tiny t-shirts and signs. AND THEN I realized it's a joint protest with the Barbie ppl, where there are EVEN TINIER SIGNS.

— Sarah Tolcser (@tolcser.bsky.social) 2025-06-14T22:03:41.069Z

Dolls protesting counts!

Chicago.

— Puff the Magic Hater (@mskellymhayes.bsky.social) 2025-06-14T17:27:05.561Z

Not a sign but an amazing concept (and well-timed shot 😆)

And…

— Jesus… (@comefollowjesus.bsky.social) 2025-06-16T16:49:10.598Z

✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼