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Baffled by treatment of Nassar victims

Come Heller high water …

∫ One true thing: If you want to start a heated debate, tell people you like or hate traffic circles. They’re all over Michigan now and there’s no middle ground on them. Personally, I like them. That’s your cue to write me an angry email.

∫ John Engler resigned from MSU this week after people were ticked off by his comment that some of Larry Nassar’s victims were “enjoying” the spotlight. I’m glad for it, but why was this the breaking point for MSU? Engler’s been saying stupid, hurtful stuff since he got there. I also wonder why some people seem to have such trouble viewing the victims as victims. The attitude I detect from some is the victims should just “shake it off” or “get over it already.” This baffles me.

∫ Maybe it shouldn’t. A lot of people seem to struggle with empathy. Until, God forbid, something bad happens to them or someone they love. Then, suddenly, they “get it.”

∫ A new survey says millennials are supposedly mystified by the yellow warning light in newer cars that looks like a turkey wishbone with an exclamation point between the bones. So? So am I. The symbol I see doesn’t say, “Hey, dummy, one of your tires is low on air.” It says, “Make a wish.” Whoever designed that thing needs to go back to drawing school. All that’s needed is a side view of a tire with a flat at the bottom. How hard is this?

∫ Roku, the company that makes the little stick thing you plug into dumb TVs to make them “smart,” backed off plans to add Alex Jones’ hate-filled InfoWars show after customers revolted. I was one of them. I’d have dropped Roku in two hot seconds if they allowed that show. Voting with your wallet is the only power consumers have these days.

∫ In that last blurb, I was going to use the term “pocketbook.” Then I realized I don’t really know what a pocketbook is. I’ve never owned one, as far as I know.

∫ A new government report says we’re not making enough babies to replace ourselves. I suspect it’s because kids are expensive and real wages haven’t increased since the 1970s, according to Pew Research. That means your purchasing power today is about the same as your parents’ and grandparents’ nearly 50 years ago. Let that sink in. One of the few states where the birth rate exceeds the U.S. average is South Dakota. Because, honestly, what else is there to do in South Dakota?

∫ There’s a documentary coming up about the last remaining Blockbuster store, which is in Oregon. I’d watch it, but I don’t do Netflix and, well, there’s no Blockbuster near me. Duh.

∫ OK, I was teasing about Netflix. I have it and love it. But I actually miss video stores. Netflix and Hulu have some movies but usually not that many. I usually want to see movies that I missed when they were in the theater but they seldom have those. Come back, Blockbuster!

∫ And, by the way, don’t you sometimes wonder why theaters carry such a small percentage of the movies that come out? Every Oscar season, I look at the films nominated for Best Picture and have never heard of them because theaters don’t show them. What the heck?

∫ I also wish there were theaters that showed the documentaries, shorts, and animated films that win awards, too. Where do people see these things?

∫ “Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.” — Max Ehrmann.

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