I think you already know this, but your story is not unique. I know it absolutely pains you that a woman you loved dumped you over an experimental vaccine that people claim is “safe,” yet even the manufacturers will not accept liability for what they produce. That should tell her something. It does me. I do not tell people I will never get the vaccine, but I am most definitely going to wait for the results to come in before deciding.
If you love her and want to stay with her, perhaps reach out to her an put it in those terms. That said, if she really loved you, she would not toss you to the curb for this reason. My wife would never do that to me. In fact, my wife and I do have a difference of opinion about the vaccine. She wants to get it and I do not. However, her reason is that she wants to travel. My response to her was that if she wants to get it, at least delay as long as possible. We both enjoy traveling, but now just is not a good time – even if you get the vaccine. Some countries have quarantines, some do anal probes, etc. She agreed with me. She is also smart enough to appreciate that taking the vaccine is a risk, too.
I cannot pass judgement about your girlfriend, but she is either in need of emotional support and you were just the target of her frustration (very possible) or she just does not have it in her heart to respect a different viewpoint. If it is the latter, find another girlfriend. Life is too short to live with a person who is intolerant, selfish, uncaring, etc.
The fact you are undecided about your future is understandable. To be frank, I think most people see going to work as a chore. Further, the last time I looked at the data I noted that most college graduates do not even do jobs in the fields for which they received a degree. Before going to college, I had already decided I wanted to do one of two things. I had not made up my mind, but I was absolutely set on two choices. It took only a semester or two in college for me to lock onto exactly what I wanted to do, but many of my college classmates were largely undecided even into the third year.
I would assume that through all this time, you have seen things that pique your interest. Write those things down. Imagine yourself getting up each day to go to the office to do that job, whether it is teaching, writing software, trading stocks in the NYSE, operating a CNC machine, issuing loans at the bank, or selling insurance. I think getting up each day to do something you love doing will have an incredibly positive impact on you personally. This is important for a few reasons.
Once you have gone through the mental exercise of what jobs you might want to do that would make you happy, start planning how to make it a reality.
Only have you have established a successful career (and by success, I mean what makes you happy, not necessarily that you are rich) should you worry about long-term relationships. If you love that girl who tossed you aside, invite her along on your journey. But do not be dismayed if she does not want to join you. As the saying goes, there are plenty of fish in the sea.
Obviously, I do not know anything about your personality and life preferences beyond what you have shared here, but if I were in your shoes given your IQ and my (admittedly biased) perceptions of you given what I read, I would be considering a career in mathematics (the NSA has some fun projects), computer science, or nuclear physics. If you like biology, Pfizer is always looking for researchers. :)
I am an optimist even when the world seems to be falling apart. And I am old enough at this point to be able to speak with some authority when I say you still have time to carve your path in life. Once you settle on that, plot your course to get there. And if you want somebody to talk to, contact me. I would be happy to be a sounding board for ideas.
The ADL is opposed to such cultural enrichment: https://www.adl.org/education/resources/fact-sheets/response-to-common-inaccuracy-bi-national-one-state-solution
I seriously do not believe Coca-Cola is feeling any pressure. The CEO arrogantly stated the complaints from conservatives were inconsequential. Given the global market the company serves, I suspect he is correct, even if arrogant. I am mindful that Coca-Cola has solid deals with places like McD, Chick-Fil-A, Delta, and many other businesses. So the biggest impact will be a minority number conservatives in end consumer sales.
It will be interesting to see their next earnings report, though, with the guidance they will offer.
Police are not out arresting people for no reason. I think Geraldo should look into why arrests are happening. I agree with Dan here: he's just trying to stir racial tensions. The way Geraldo is speaking, you'd think that there are cities full of white people out killing each other and the police are just not arresting them and letting murderers go. That not happening. Unless we can have an honest conversation, things are just going to suck.
Sadly, I'm not sure we will ever know the truth. From videos I saw, it appears that protesters did attack police and overwhelmed them. Meanwhile, they cleared the capitol of representatives to keep them safe. At some later point, the police stood down and allowed people to go in.
I do not believe the police extended an open invitation, but rather they just didn't try to stop them.
The problem with charging people with trespassing is that I am quite certain that some of the folks who were late to the party (i.e., they were never there confronting police) just saw open doors and people wandering through the doors. How would they know they're not allowed in? I am sure some of them really had no idea. If I saw open doors with police standing to the side and smiling as people walked past, even I might assume it was OK to enter.
But as I said, we'll likely never know the truth.
I think most people would have known or should have known that attempting to break into the Capitol was not a smart move. Where I live, if you stick your head through my door, I have the right to shoot, too. This is self-defense. I suspect the officer was ordered to defend the representatives in the same spirit.
The only thing that really bothers me about this is how she is demonized. She made a mistake. She gave her life for that mistake. But she was not carrying out an insurrection, as the left likes to suggest. It's the dramatic over-stating of the facts (i.e., lies) that frustrate me.
As I recall, he shot first and didn't even ask questions later. I will not defend her sticking her head through the door, but that deserved an immediate death sentence with no warning?
To be fair, though, I respect the police in all of these situations have a tough job to do and decisions to be made in a split second. I cannot blame the officer in the capitol. I suspect he had orders to defend the representatives inside. It's a very unfortunate situation.
But, it bugs me that this guy comes along race-baiting. I don't have a Twitter account, myself, else I would reply to the guy. He's clearly a far left nut, because race is all these people focus on.
What I meant was that it was Democrats who pushed for segregations many years ago, and it's Democrats again pushing for segregation today. Democrats seem to be the party of racism, while arguing that Republicans are.
Politically, though, I really am somewhere in the middle. I liked Trump's America-first policies and focus on blue collar Americans. And, admittedly, that is why I had historically voted for Democrats in the past. I support blue collar workers, because I support people who will get up and put in an honest days' work and who strive to make a better life for themselves and their family.
Sadly, Democrats seem to be embracing socialism and encouraging slothful lifestyles. They support people who whine about equality rather than working hard to make something of themselves. Society cannot function this way. Nothing in life is fair, but to cut people off at the knee caps by allowing illegal immigrants to take jobs and also exporting good jobs to other countries, is wrong. It hurts Americans. I get the impression that most of our elected officials actually do not give a shit about the people of this country. But they'll come out and say things like "we need to cancel $50K in student debt" in an effort to "buy" votes. They're happy to give away other people's money all day long that way, but it is not an effective or proper way to govern.
Maybe the right solution is for police to stop carrying tasers. Given that this happens from time-to-time, if we get rid of tasers then the accidents can be avoided. I'm not an officer, but I can fully appreciate making a mistake like this in a split second, high-adrenaline situation where you're dealing with a person who might be armed.
I think the majority still favors independence, but I think that percentage is slowly shrinking. It's similar to the situation we have here in the US. Some are strongly favorable to capitalism, free speech, etc., while a growing number of people in the US are calling for socialism, "universal basic income", "single payer" (i.e., free government) healthcare, etc.
Culturally, mainland and Taiwan are very similar. They were one China before. They speak the same language (albeit there are also local dialects in Taiwan and mainland China). All it will take is for the voters of Taiwan to reach the tipping point where they choose to be recognized as a part of China and not further push for independence. When is the last time there was even a demand to be recognized as an independent nation? I don't know.
Socialism / communism looks appealing when people are desperate. I think if Taiwan's economy were to falter just a little, that's all it would take to swing the pendulum in China's favor.
China is slowly enticing Taiwan to unite. Unlike the US government that is inept and has no long-term strategy, the Chinese leadership is methodical and patient. As China's economy continues to do well, the people of Taiwan will want to rejoin "the union". The fact that Taiwan is a province of China that is not even contested by the rest of the world also suggests the rest of the world will do nothing to prevent this merging of governments. It might take another 50 years, but I predict it will happen without one shot being fired.
Sadly, I'm seeing people in this Twitter thread blame everyone and everything. I'm sitting here wondering why people don't realize that we have a breakdown in morals and ethics. This is not due to poverty. My ancestors came from a community that was the definition of poverty, but people did not go around murdering each other. People blame the GOP. What?! They blame the NRA, as if the second amendment had anything to do with people violating the law here.
My opinion is that morals and values are gone, and that's why we see this. Maybe the Ten Commandments hanging in the school would have helped. Perhaps prayer before class starts would be helpful. Maybe a strong family would have helped lead these kids down the right path.
This stuff is sad, but it's pathetic that people want to place blame everywhere except where blame should be placed.
I am pretty sure that the CDC has said that old age and being overweight are the two main factors leading to disparities.
They actually make it pretty clear about obesity: https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/obesity-and-covid-19.html
Congratulations! You found a keeper!