DonkeyCigars

You can say it…”Vikings”.

I didn't build a true custom home, but recently went through this process with a higher end production home builder so I'll just share my experience (disclaimer, this was not in Texas): 1) We too had a wood burning which was a life saver this past Feb. Our new house we actually chose the natural gas because it looked nice the way it came with the inset and for the rest of the reasons you described. We also liked we didn't have to have a hearth and tiled all the way to ceiling. 2) I not only chose the higher end cabinets with the glaze for all the cabinets, but I actually paid to add cabinets everywhere I could-- laundry rooms, mud room, bathrooms, etc. My feel is that you can never have too many cabinets/cabinet space or closet/storage space. 3) Can't help you here, there was just one deluxe kitchen upgrade which of course was the biggest no brainer. 4) No clue-- just told them where we wanted the phone lines/internet and cable on a blueprint. We added the special outlets in the garage for wet/moisture exposure for a couple of freezers/fridge, etc. 5) We did the deluxe/lux master bath upgrade so that took the work out of thinking about it-- the drop-in tiled grand tub, the deluxe shower with the bench seating, etc. It was pretty much pick off a menu type deal. We picked the tile design in the shower which seems pretty subjective-- did the big tiles on the floor, medium ones in the shower-- don't remember the dimensions. All fixture types we did brushed nickel except the front door which we went the antique rust or whatever because it matched the upgraded door. 6) We didn't do hardwood believe it or not-- the stairs have hardwood which was the only option there, but we did a matching Luxury Vinyl in the living, dining, kitchen, mudroom, laundry, study. We did carpet in bedrooms and media rooms. I too have a gaggle of children. We gave one of the kids a Juliet balcony; let's see how that works out. 7) Not sure about the windows; I think they came with the highest end ones. In my old house I paid what felt like a ton of money to upgrade all my windows and sunroom a few years ago...never again. Some things you didn't ask that I think are worth discussing: have to go a minimum of 3 car garage these days-- with a J-swing if available because you have more room and I like the look. Cedar garage doors are what we went with, but I hear they are on back order. We also extended the covered patio to add some area and we upgraded to St. Augustine versus the Bermuda that came with the plan, which wasn't cheap; irrigation/sprinkler system was the only one option and seemed to be fine, but apparently St. Augustine is a water hog compared to Bermuda, but we really like the look and feel and find Bermuda to not be as pleasing. Like you, we felt like if we were going to do it, do everything we wanted no matter how trivial (like the sod).

Raising the minimum wage to $15 is awesome move by Chipotle. Seriously, good for them. I do feel like if you are a progressive though, you probably see that headline and think it a noble win for the working man. But you find out, wait, you mean they aren't going to be eating that cost and putting their money where their mouth is and sacrificing their prices? Instead they are passing that cost on to the consumer-- the working people and students who eat Chipotle? Well, that's not quite as noble. Big business remains unscathed and unchanged, in both profits, margins and mores, and the working class consumer is footing the bill. It's essentially a consumption tax, which is why I could not care less as someone who hasn't eaten Chipotle in a decade or longer. Good for the workers for getting more money per hour and good for the consumers who see value in paying more for the food to enable this change. This is how the system is supposed to work, imo.

IDK man. I feel like America was not built so that each individual had those rights. It was built so the white, land owning men could have those rights. Same now as it was before, it was just easier to obfuscate or hide because there was no technology to share ideas at lightspeed. Bam! CRT in action! I'm doing it!

I don't know if that sounds like a libertarian utopia or not, I'm not a political libertarian. I apologize for using the term as it's one that is obviously very loaded--what I was meaning to convey is that I'm neither pro nor anti-CRT at this point in my understanding of it. I will float on whichever way the current decides to go once the storm is over. Your post though helped me to understand why it's such a big deal in June of 2021-- there are things at stake. It's not an academic/framework conversation-- that's a ruse. It's a class war. B_T is right. Anyways, I'll float on now.

I guess-- but running from things and avoiding things you don't like or agree with is the American way. After all, America (at least America in the non-CRT perspective of white history) was founded upon a pilgrimage; the Great Grand Daddy of White Flight. Besides, why do you think all these billionaires are trying out their rockets to Mars lately? Eventually there will be another pilgrimage and "new world" (though quite literally this time). We humans can't stand each other outside of our own tribes, at the heart of it. And even among our own tribes we hate each other.

You have misread me. I'm not advocating for anything here today. I'm just trying to say I now I understand why this is a political football the last 30 days. I'm not pro or anti-CRT. I am more libertarian on the topic-- I guess more "not a racist, than anti-racist", if you will. You want CRT, great for it. You don't? great go for it. Vote with your feet and wallets.

Yes, I agree. I think this is the case and I think any reasoning that says "wha-why so scared of just learning history" is dishonest.

It's all relative.

Yes. Then we agree. Take it a step further and ask: if you (generally, the royal You) were at the top of the caste, would you willingly or knowingly knock yourself down a few rungs? Maybe you or a few highly evolved thinkers and stoics would. But would the sum of the parts? I would say no; likely you'd need the power wrested from you. Hence my comments on CRT being a threat and why it's actually pretty prescient to nip it in the bud...and anyone trying to reason that it's not a tool to whittle away their power, prestige, influence, money and privilege, is not being honest. Because I'm no Marxist, but of this I agree: there is no racial or religious or philosophical war-- there is only class war. And it is a constant war in a world of scarcity-- a world that is nasty, brutish and short. There is no utopia; that's not the human experience and condition. But I think folks are on to something that white people have done for centuries. Take the education and development back from the state and an external locus of control and roll up your sleeves and do it yourselves. It does take a degree of privilege to be able to home school, but that's a huge lever to pull in educating and empowering a future generation. Teach CRT and formulate and codify action items and strategies for your side at home-- you won't be allowed to in public.

I've said this before, but I will repeat it again (and be shouted down as a moron again, so be it): The Republican voterbase understands they are not multimillionaires. They also understand that the possibility of being the next Jed Clampett or Jerry Jones or My Pillow Millionaire guy, is an easier, greased skid if white privilege remains tipped in their favor. I used the analogy that they want to know the great green valley will be there if/when they or their children can get there, rather than have a little bit more wealth and comfort for today at the expense of doing away with their inherent privilege by being sons and daughters of a white, patriarchal America. Their voting agains their interests is aspirational. It's a vote for the hope and dream. It's like buying a lottery ticket. It's a psychological device, it's not because they are stupid, it's a combination of how and what they value combined with their status quo being "at least better than those other people".

I believe this is a fact and I have landed at this place of belief due to a confluence of two things: 1) combining my worldly experience and well-readedness and knowledge of human history and behavior with 2) paying attention the last 30 days to social media mention of CRT (here, but more the GenZ zeitgeist of twitter, buzzfeed and tiktok), reading as much as I can (e.g. like on here), reading articles with CRT (google alerts emailed to me weekly; articles in NYT, The New Yorker, Atlantic, etc.) Can you provide background on why you think I'm off base (if you think this, at all)?

hahaha, truly.

Man your post unlocked something for me. We agree that CRT is about understanding why. Everyone agrees with that; "it's just a framework" we say, in and of itself it is value neutral. But you added a follow-on. It's the next step action items that is the heart of the division. You say it as "...and then address it." That implication-- an action based off of learnings from CRT-- is what makes it not value neutral, but positive for those who are fighting for change and negative for those who are negatively impacted by change. Thus: a division and issue to fight over! I've read a lot about CRT over the last 30 days and read every post on this thread from mostly people whose politics I don't wholly agree with and my takeaway is: It makes 100% sense why this is something that is fought over, because it's a tool for change (via disruption at best, conflict at worst) and, this might be a hot political take, but I feel like those who are boogeymanning this (e.g. white people who want to keep power/influence/privilege, GOP/GQP, etc.) are actually very prescient in making this a battle. One of the smartest things they are doing to protect their interests is fighting this tooth and nail and not letting it gain a foothold, because they inherently know the end game here isn't just an academic investigation and whitepapers and junior college MLA formated essays about CRT, but the actual change that CRT will try to enable. It's dishonest to say "what's so wrong with learning the real history and experiences, etc. it's just knowing knowledge" because the reality is, CRT is a tool for people to gather ammo and build a case-- defensible/justifiable data to get more of the pie at the expense of those who are hoarding a lot of the pie. I think the last insight I had, personally, and you guys might already know, but I think I underestimate those with power and privilege and fortunes and how they are always on hyper alert to anything that will erode that and are a paranoid bunch. You just aren't going to sneak up on these guys with any nonviolent, well-reasoned or polite ask based on reason. It just reinforces my opinion that in America, you aren't going to claw any substantial gains in equality, inclusivity and diversity through any political or academic strategies. It will be through violence of the threat of violence (e.g. uprising, riots, destruction to economy, wealth, etc.).

Life is fragile and you should have sympathy for someone circling the drain of their physical time on earth. This is just one of the cons of having an 80 year old president, but you take the bad with the good and the good outweighs the bad, so for me it's a "nothing to see here and I'm moving on".

Love the sinner, hate the sin.

The one thing I agree the most with respect to CRT (at least as I understand it from that tweet storm someone linked for me) is that race is a social construct. There is no such thing as different races. There is one race: the human race. That's a cornerstone of teaching in the ole Donkey household.

Don't be daft.

Can't believe Milo's is still a thing. I think the last bar fight I ever got into was at Milo's back....20 years ago? Y'all go get 'em. Someone get a black eye for me.

I thought I was clear that I was talking about our current situation in America and not theories.

Not on principle and broadly, but not in Texas with our women. Is how I read that

Yes my wife and I have kids and yes we are raising them in our values and beliefs. I specifically try and avoid hot button topics and generally talking “politics” at home. Our worldview is one that deprioritizes politics and the state. We live in society because we have to; go along to get along, etc. but try and not be corrupted by the insanity that prevails all around us, on both sides. I do see value in my child understanding history and critical perspectives beyond the privileged lens. I think it’s valuable in that it helps to fill out more comprehensive thinking and understanding, I think it helps to develop intelligence (both knowledge/trivial and EQ/soft skills) and just generally well rounds them for being successful in life where you have to engage and interact and build relationships with all kinds, colors and stripes. You don’t have to agree, but you have to respect or, if you can’t do that, avoid. But I also think there is value in drilling into what privilege in America is and having kids be grateful and appreciative of the privilege they’ve inherited and to steward it well for their children and lineage. Hope that helps. And I’d be curious to hear your perspective. Do you have kids? Do you believe it’s important? How are you tackling these issues? I don’t know about you, but nobody handed me a handbook when we left the hospital so I’m the first person to admit I don’t know everything and maybe can learn from you. Certainly not too proud, in any case.

Titled "What do Conservatives fear about CRT". I read the article. Seems like there is nothing facially to fear. I think people are less scared of public schools corrupting their individual children and turning them in progressives or liberals, but they are more scared of what it could turn into; what it could inspire. Isn't that why ideas are always so dangerous? A spark here, a small fire there, a conflagration eventually, if lucky. https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-inquiry/what-do-conservatives-fear-about-critical-race-theory

The articles are all really well done, though.

Holmes, once a Silicon Valley darling, is facing federal wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges in connection with allegedly deceiving investors, patients and doctors about her company’s blood testing technology. Yet customers are raving about their product purchases on social media. In one TikTok, a young woman is seen posing in a mirror wearing a pink T-shirt that reads “Elizabeth Holmes is my #GirlBoss.” https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/10/elizabeth-holmes-swag-sales-soaring-online.html?utm_source=morning_brew