Same in Canada. Open drug use is everywhere, enabled and encouraged by the state. The government doles out "safe" heroin and meth to anyone. Sandwich boards in Vancouver openly advertises cocaine and crack pipes for sale like hot dog stands of old. All the traditional Christian holidays have been cancelled. Last year the Canadian federal government removed all vestiges of "Christmas" from anything official. Few people put up lights anymore in that woke country, but LGBTWTFBBQ gets an entire "pride season" and flags for every sexual fetish hang proudly in public school gymnasiums.
On the other hand, the last two Christmases our family has spent in small-town Japan has had FAR more Christmas spirit than anything even I've ever experienced in Canada, with much deeper meaning and significance. Our kids are getting a childhood like children growing up in the 80s and 90s. I have no regrets moving our family here.
I do have at least two major regrets. Took my kid to a clinic last Friday. No medical interview. When I tried to provide some information, they treated it as unimportant. The doc listed to his stomach and prescribed 5 days worth of two different medications. What a joke.
I grew up in Santa Monica in SoCal (Southern California). It's becoming just as unsafe and economically gutted as most cities in the USSA, which itself is going the way of all empires.
Video entitled "WTF happened to Santa Monica, California?"
The video is depressing and exactly what was to be expected from the covid lockdowns. I am working on a second piece, Decay Japan and was considering including some of the closure signs on businesses during and after the panic. After seeing the video in your link, I think I will.
However, the covid damage comes atop decay that was well underway before the lockdowns during the panic, which, to me, just shows that we are entering the end game for their plans.
What I have been hearing and seeing from the left coast is truly shocking. Saw a bit of it myself stationed in San Diego. When I arrived San Diego was in the top 5 most livable cities in the States. Less than two years later it was not even in the top 20. Gangs moved in and were killing off cops faster than they could be replaced. I used to ride my bike in from Imperial Beach when my ship was in the yards. Eventually, the area just out side the gate became off limits and I could no longer ride in. A sailor was knifed just outside the gate and this prospected the off limits designation. Seems that it has continued into downward spiral. Sad. Such a beautiful city it too once was.
Obama took office in January 2009. Of course he was a product of the Chicago machine politics that produced this catastrophic hollowing out of the urban core of Chicago - but that got started back in the 60s if not before. And yes the war on Christianity has accelerated the decay, not just in Chicago but in all urban centers that are governed by non believers. Very sad to see
Indeed. I was just confused about your comment that you wanted to see what Obama had done to Chicago - at Christmas 2007?I I may have misunderstood the timelines
AH AH AH. Boy I really flubbed this. 2011 was the last time I was in Chicago and the USA. The time before was 2007. I completely forgot that I had been back to the States twice since my wedding there in 2004. It was not you who misunderstood the timelines, it was I. The trip to Chicago followed by the train trip to STL and all that followed in my OP was in 2011.
In 2007, going off the photos I took, we were only at the homes of family and a friend to Florida. We saw Disney’s awesome Christmas decorations as we spent New Year’s Eve and early morn at Epcot. The dearth of decorations in my home town and the mall near home were memories from the 2007 trip and thus due more to the assault on Christmas that was well underway at the time.
Thank you for pointing this out. Going through my cloud based photo album now, I see that I saved many albums in the wrong folders. Have a lot s sorting to do that I would not have realized if you hadn’t tipped me off that something was amiss.
Ah yes, it was before Obama was in office but when his party had control of both house of the legislature. Not that the republicans did much better, though when was the last time that party held sway in the windy city. Obama was also from Chicago, a US senator representing the area and before that an Illinois State Senator. while he was not president when I last visited the city, I cannot separate him from anything that comes out of Chicago’s nor Illinois politics since 1997.
Sorry, no. Not at all. My maternal side of the family is from Chicago and I wanted to share with my wife the magic of the city at Christmas time that I enjoyed as a kid but was bitterly disappointed.
That's one grim and sad rendition of "you can't go home again".
My condolences for your loss.
```Bing
Between 1994 and 2004, Chicago underwent several significant changes:
Urban Development: The city saw extensive urban renewal projects, including the transformation of Navy Pier into a major tourist destination and the redevelopment of the South Loop area.
Economic Growth: Chicago’s economy grew, driven by the finance, technology, and service sectors. The city also became a hub for corporate headquarters, attracting major companies.
Cultural Expansion: The city’s cultural scene flourished with the opening of new museums, theaters, and music venues. The Chicago Cultural Center became a focal point for arts and culture.
Infrastructure Improvements: Major infrastructure projects included the expansion of O’Hare International Airport and the construction of new public transit lines.
Social Changes: The city experienced demographic shifts, with an increase in diversity and changes in neighborhood compositions.
```
Basically everything listed as "good" here is likely the underlying reason for the decay.
Cultural & societal shifts; along with economic developments being concentrated in a few geographical areas, slowly draining away economic activity from other areas.
Then the effects of it all are further boosted by mass transit.
Except it wasn’t just in the Windy City this decay was observed in. Everywhere I ventured that trip was in advanced states of urban decay, even the rural areas.
It's likely much of the same underlying reasons. Big centres of commerce outcompeting more scattered businesses.
You can see a similar effect with Osaka and Tokyo.
In Tokyo the longer it takes to get somewhere with the tram the more abandoned and desolate it becomes and the more desolate the longer it takes to get there.
In Osaka you have Namba Walk and I swear some people inside there don't even know there is a world beyond those walls.
The Omotesando area of Tokyo has long been losing businesses. Back when I was still in Eikawa, which I left in 2002 or 03, a student told me that they did not believe that Japan’s economy was in decline until he went Christmas shopping at La La Port, a huge shopping Mall, in Funabashi. He took his family there for Christmas for several years but that year it truly was empty. He then realized that people did not have the discretionary funds they once did. I added what I just shared about Omotesando and a general discussion on the sinking economy commenced. Since then, I have seen little to suggest its foundering had abated even briefly.
E-shopping has had an explosive growth in Japan, especially in regards to clothing.
From what I saw that looks to have changed the range of supply in physical stores to either be overly expensive Chinese goods or expensive Chinese luxury goods.
Already moving in that direction before the panic, these last 4 +years have really accelerated it. My wife almost never leaves the house. We have long used SEIKYO, or the local CO OP which is a home shopping delivery service mainly for groceries but they offer furniture and clothing too. Before the panic, she order non food items only rarely, now she buys such almost weekly. She buys almost everything else online and we have deliveries roughly twice every day. It seems that she is not alone.
One of the things that has long had me wondering, and this too predates the panic, is the construction of a large number of huge distribution centers on my side of the river across from Tokyo in the years leading up to the panic and into it. Oh, and a few just inside the city too. Massive buildings with spiral ramps several stories high, large enough to accommodate 18 wheelers. More recently, drug stores and medical centers popping up everywhere. What was once an anime character store in Akihabara is now a multi storied drug store is one example. Another is a brand new 5 story building in front of my local train station that while still under construction, has a sign indication it to be a “Medical Mall” in English.
That is indeed bizarre... wonder if there is any relation to every mall outside tourist areas having SDG messaging on the loudspeakers and every matsuri poster having an SDG emblem on it.
Horrendous.
But, diversity is our strength.
Unless it's white Christians.
Humanity sucks now, Kitsune. Completely.
Can’t argue with that, sadly.
Same in Canada. Open drug use is everywhere, enabled and encouraged by the state. The government doles out "safe" heroin and meth to anyone. Sandwich boards in Vancouver openly advertises cocaine and crack pipes for sale like hot dog stands of old. All the traditional Christian holidays have been cancelled. Last year the Canadian federal government removed all vestiges of "Christmas" from anything official. Few people put up lights anymore in that woke country, but LGBTWTFBBQ gets an entire "pride season" and flags for every sexual fetish hang proudly in public school gymnasiums.
On the other hand, the last two Christmases our family has spent in small-town Japan has had FAR more Christmas spirit than anything even I've ever experienced in Canada, with much deeper meaning and significance. Our kids are getting a childhood like children growing up in the 80s and 90s. I have no regrets moving our family here.
I do have at least two major regrets. Took my kid to a clinic last Friday. No medical interview. When I tried to provide some information, they treated it as unimportant. The doc listed to his stomach and prescribed 5 days worth of two different medications. What a joke.
The second is traffic law.
I plan on posting on both soon.
Ever sad - you're a great storyteller - very engaging.
I grew up in Santa Monica in SoCal (Southern California). It's becoming just as unsafe and economically gutted as most cities in the USSA, which itself is going the way of all empires.
Video entitled "WTF happened to Santa Monica, California?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ByB00sweDk
The video is depressing and exactly what was to be expected from the covid lockdowns. I am working on a second piece, Decay Japan and was considering including some of the closure signs on businesses during and after the panic. After seeing the video in your link, I think I will.
However, the covid damage comes atop decay that was well underway before the lockdowns during the panic, which, to me, just shows that we are entering the end game for their plans.
What I have been hearing and seeing from the left coast is truly shocking. Saw a bit of it myself stationed in San Diego. When I arrived San Diego was in the top 5 most livable cities in the States. Less than two years later it was not even in the top 20. Gangs moved in and were killing off cops faster than they could be replaced. I used to ride my bike in from Imperial Beach when my ship was in the yards. Eventually, the area just out side the gate became off limits and I could no longer ride in. A sailor was knifed just outside the gate and this prospected the off limits designation. Seems that it has continued into downward spiral. Sad. Such a beautiful city it too once was.
Obama took office in January 2009. Of course he was a product of the Chicago machine politics that produced this catastrophic hollowing out of the urban core of Chicago - but that got started back in the 60s if not before. And yes the war on Christianity has accelerated the decay, not just in Chicago but in all urban centers that are governed by non believers. Very sad to see
One party rule for decades has proved more destructive than atomic bombs.
The decline started long ago, but accelerated to Plaid speed in a short period of time.
Indeed. I was just confused about your comment that you wanted to see what Obama had done to Chicago - at Christmas 2007?I I may have misunderstood the timelines
AH AH AH. Boy I really flubbed this. 2011 was the last time I was in Chicago and the USA. The time before was 2007. I completely forgot that I had been back to the States twice since my wedding there in 2004. It was not you who misunderstood the timelines, it was I. The trip to Chicago followed by the train trip to STL and all that followed in my OP was in 2011.
In 2007, going off the photos I took, we were only at the homes of family and a friend to Florida. We saw Disney’s awesome Christmas decorations as we spent New Year’s Eve and early morn at Epcot. The dearth of decorations in my home town and the mall near home were memories from the 2007 trip and thus due more to the assault on Christmas that was well underway at the time.
Thank you for pointing this out. Going through my cloud based photo album now, I see that I saved many albums in the wrong folders. Have a lot s sorting to do that I would not have realized if you hadn’t tipped me off that something was amiss.
Thanks again.
Ah yes, it was before Obama was in office but when his party had control of both house of the legislature. Not that the republicans did much better, though when was the last time that party held sway in the windy city. Obama was also from Chicago, a US senator representing the area and before that an Illinois State Senator. while he was not president when I last visited the city, I cannot separate him from anything that comes out of Chicago’s nor Illinois politics since 1997.
Sorry, no. Not at all. My maternal side of the family is from Chicago and I wanted to share with my wife the magic of the city at Christmas time that I enjoyed as a kid but was bitterly disappointed.
That's one grim and sad rendition of "you can't go home again".
My condolences for your loss.
```Bing
Between 1994 and 2004, Chicago underwent several significant changes:
Urban Development: The city saw extensive urban renewal projects, including the transformation of Navy Pier into a major tourist destination and the redevelopment of the South Loop area.
Economic Growth: Chicago’s economy grew, driven by the finance, technology, and service sectors. The city also became a hub for corporate headquarters, attracting major companies.
Cultural Expansion: The city’s cultural scene flourished with the opening of new museums, theaters, and music venues. The Chicago Cultural Center became a focal point for arts and culture.
Infrastructure Improvements: Major infrastructure projects included the expansion of O’Hare International Airport and the construction of new public transit lines.
Social Changes: The city experienced demographic shifts, with an increase in diversity and changes in neighborhood compositions.
```
Basically everything listed as "good" here is likely the underlying reason for the decay.
Cultural & societal shifts; along with economic developments being concentrated in a few geographical areas, slowly draining away economic activity from other areas.
Then the effects of it all are further boosted by mass transit.
Except it wasn’t just in the Windy City this decay was observed in. Everywhere I ventured that trip was in advanced states of urban decay, even the rural areas.
It's likely much of the same underlying reasons. Big centres of commerce outcompeting more scattered businesses.
You can see a similar effect with Osaka and Tokyo.
In Tokyo the longer it takes to get somewhere with the tram the more abandoned and desolate it becomes and the more desolate the longer it takes to get there.
In Osaka you have Namba Walk and I swear some people inside there don't even know there is a world beyond those walls.
The Omotesando area of Tokyo has long been losing businesses. Back when I was still in Eikawa, which I left in 2002 or 03, a student told me that they did not believe that Japan’s economy was in decline until he went Christmas shopping at La La Port, a huge shopping Mall, in Funabashi. He took his family there for Christmas for several years but that year it truly was empty. He then realized that people did not have the discretionary funds they once did. I added what I just shared about Omotesando and a general discussion on the sinking economy commenced. Since then, I have seen little to suggest its foundering had abated even briefly.
That reminds me!
E-shopping has had an explosive growth in Japan, especially in regards to clothing.
From what I saw that looks to have changed the range of supply in physical stores to either be overly expensive Chinese goods or expensive Chinese luxury goods.
Already moving in that direction before the panic, these last 4 +years have really accelerated it. My wife almost never leaves the house. We have long used SEIKYO, or the local CO OP which is a home shopping delivery service mainly for groceries but they offer furniture and clothing too. Before the panic, she order non food items only rarely, now she buys such almost weekly. She buys almost everything else online and we have deliveries roughly twice every day. It seems that she is not alone.
One of the things that has long had me wondering, and this too predates the panic, is the construction of a large number of huge distribution centers on my side of the river across from Tokyo in the years leading up to the panic and into it. Oh, and a few just inside the city too. Massive buildings with spiral ramps several stories high, large enough to accommodate 18 wheelers. More recently, drug stores and medical centers popping up everywhere. What was once an anime character store in Akihabara is now a multi storied drug store is one example. Another is a brand new 5 story building in front of my local train station that while still under construction, has a sign indication it to be a “Medical Mall” in English.
That is indeed bizarre... wonder if there is any relation to every mall outside tourist areas having SDG messaging on the loudspeakers and every matsuri poster having an SDG emblem on it.