unicorn

These are perfect examples of your obsessively sticking to your "beliefs," in complete disregard to actual facts. I gave your references to sources which showed that only a small minority (about 5%) of Japanese agreed with the farmer's decision, yet you still deny it--without showing any evidence to the contrary, disputing my reference, of course. To you, if you believe it, it's a fact, regardless of what surveys at the time showed. All of the other arguments used to support the farmer's decision were also proven to be factually wrong: (1) It was alleged that I couldn't understand the reluctance of the farmer to sell the property because the US is only 250 years old, and this land has been held in the family for centuries. I then gave references proving that the land was given to those farmers towards the end of the US administration of Japan, in the early 1950s. That farmer would, in fact be born around the time his family received that land. (2) Proponents said that his stubbornness was something unique to Japanese culture--which I couldn't possibly understand. I disproved this with dozens of examples of similar hard-headed landowners from around the globe who tried to hold out for a better payout and later regretted it. In fact, I gave references that stubbornness and self-centered attitudes are actually antithetical to Japanese culture. Of course, there's also the fact that almost all of the other farmers sold their land to support the theory that stubbornness is not a traditional Japanese value (not a surprise to anyone who knows anything about Japanese culture). The most glaring and unequivocal example of your refusal to look at facts is the circumcision example, however. Parents are free to make their own choices, of course. They usually base their decisions on the father's status. However, the science is indisputable, as shown by the references I provided. The medical benefits of circumcision outweigh the risks. This is NOT a matter of opinion. It's a proven fact. Of course, as always, you provided no evidence to counter the scientific findings. Merely stating that the majority of parents choose not to circumcise their boys is not scientific evidence of anything. Like Trump and RFK, Jr., you simply assert that belief is more important than fact.

I was surprised that this came up as controversial. I thought this was all fairly obvious, and we'd chuckle together over the situation. The first couple of posts agreed. In order for the wife NOT to be a scamster, ALL of the following must be true: (1) AI is way, way off on JvdB's net worth. While unlikely, this is the most plausible in this list to be true, since none of us have access to his financial records (nor do anyone but his wife, accountant, and financial advisor). (2) Despite having medical insurance, he was out $250,000 in medical expenses. My mother had dementia and required constant care for over a year, and the sum was nowhere near that (although she had long-term care insurance, so even that amount, which was far under $250,000, was covered). If she'd had a spouse, the costs would have been far less. (3) This amount magically changed to $1.2 million, then $1.5 million. Oh, and she's now collected $2.7 million and still going. (4) Knowing of his impending death, JvdB purchased a massive estate, knowing full-well that his soon-to-be widow would be unable to pay for it, AND the bank gave him the mortgage despite a supposed inability to repay? Preposterous! Even if all of those statements were true, and I can't imagine it to be the case, they could simply move to a less expensive place. This silly argument reminds me of the musical Book of Mormon, with the song stating that facts are irrelevant. What's important is belief. If you feel your charity $$ are best spent helping a widow live a lavish lifestyle on a massive property, go ahead. If any of you are Muslim, it's Ramadan, and time to give your required Zakat. May I suggest Helping Hand for Relief and Development? I found them by accident since they were one of the charities rated 100% by Charity Navigator, and sent them some money. As it turns out, they're a Muslim charity, so I make my donations to them during Ramadan (as a bit of a joke to me). https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/311628040 "Helping Hand for Relief and Development is a global humanitarian relief and development organization responding to human sufferings in emergency and disastrous situations anywhere all over the world regardless race, gender, ethnicity, class, location, religion, color, cultural diversity and social background; with special focus on countries where the massive population is living below the poverty line. In addition to our emergency relief efforts in natural or man made disaster areas, we also work on long term relief and development programs like livelihood, economic empowerment, orphan and widows support program and skill development program." So would you rather go with the actual research Charity Navigator used to determine the effectiveness of the charity money? Or the unlikely musings of a widow from her giant mansion?

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DU3Zrp3Eaho/

Close--I'm definitely implying Spielberg donated to a likely scamster. But I did not, as you said, imply that Spielberg did so knowingly. That could be the case. For example, he may have donated to the family simply because he's a family friend, and the money is such a pittance to him. Another possibility is that he did it for the good publicity. However, it's also possible that he was scammed himself (unknowingly, by definition). None of us have any idea what was going on in Spielberg's head when he made the donation (nor is it possible to know what was going on in his head). I follow only facts.

Not quite. What the article says is that his friends state the family is out of funds and are struggling financially. However, do you really believe that he would purchase this expensive a home if it were the case that they were struggling financially?? That makes zero sense--completely irrational. And if it were true, the obvious solution would be to downsize to a home without 36 acres of land and 3 guest bungalows.

Screaming makes you look totally rational and in your right mind, of course... 😉

Again misquoting me. I never said Spielberg thought JvdB's wife was a scamster. Quite to the contrary, what I said is that he may be a bit gullible (in fact, it's the complete opposite of what I said). Also, with a net worth of billions upon billions, $25,000 is a tiny drop in the bucket--akin to $10 for you or me. Maybe he wants to help out an old friend, with an amount that's a complete pitance to him, so he doesn't care if she really needs the money. (And, for the record, yes, I obviously do believe the widow may be a scamster, but that's an entirely different matter than the Spielberg misquote) Well, it certainly behooves one to take a breath and look into things when responding to a request for financial assistance. The original request of $250,000 for out-of-pocket expenses is obviously already suspect given that he had health insurance. Then changing the figures up and up is even more suspect. And now her take is approaching $3 million, and still accepting the $$. Do you honestly believe JvdB would have purchased the mansion in Texas if he knew his widow couldn't make the payments (he obviously knew his condition was terminal when the purchase was made)? I so, I have a bridge I'd like to sell you. Even if it were true that he was so confused that he bought the mansion knowing his wife couldn't make the payments (highly doubtful), the obvious solution would be to downsize. It's intuitively obvious to even mentally challenged people that no one needs 36 acres/14.6 hectares of land, or multiple guest bungalows. And--obviously sell the Beverly Hills home. Unfortunately, there are too many people on this planet who will believe any smooth talker just because they want to believe what that person is saying. One only has to look at the re-election of Trump to understand that fact. Even 34 felony convictions won't convince them. The sad truth is that half of the world's population has an IQ under 100, and usually won't think rationally. Oh, you said it with a 28-point font, in bold capital letters. I take it back--you must be right! 🤤

WTF? I never said that. Complete BS. As usual, I present evidence, others have their imagination.

A bit gullible maybe? How is the fact that Spielberg donated $25,000 to the widow evidence of anything? Spielberg is probably the wealthiest director of all time, estimated by Forbes to be a multiple billionaire: Who is the richest director of all time? AI Overview The richest movie director of all time by net worth is generally considered to be Steven Spielberg, with estimates around $7.1 billion, followed closely by George Lucas (creator of Star Wars), largely due to their iconic franchises and major studio deals, though figures vary, with James Cameron and Tyler Perry also among the billionaires. Top Billionaire Directors (Net Worth Estimates) Steven Spielberg: ~$7.1 Billion (Jaws, E.T., Jurassic Park). George Lucas: ~$5.3 Billion (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, sold Lucasfilm). Peter Jackson: ~$1.7 Billion (Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit). Tyler Perry: ~$1.4 Billion (Madea franchise, Tyler Perry Studios). James Cameron: ~$1.1 Billion (Avatar, Titanic). Key Factors in Their Wealth Franchise Ownership: Lucas (Star Wars) and Jackson (LOTR) benefited immensely from their iconic worlds. Major Sales: Lucas's sale of Lucasfilm to Disney for over $4 billion significantly boosted his wealth. Back-End Deals: Directors like James Cameron have huge success with blockbusters like Avatar, earning massive profits. Studio Building: Tyler Perry's ownership of his own studio complex in Atlanta contributes to his wealth. AI Overview Steven Spielberg's net worth is estimated to be approximately $5.3 billion as of May 2025. As the highest-grossing film director in history, his fortune is largely driven by iconic films like Jaws, E.T., and Jurassic Park, alongside a lucrative lifetime deal with Universal for theme park revenue. Key Details regarding Steven Spielberg's Wealth: Net Worth: ~$5.3 billion (Forbes 2025). Primary Income Sources: Film directing, production company Amblin Partners, and a 2% stake in Universal theme park ticket sales. Ranking: Consistently ranked by Forbes as one of the world's wealthiest celebrities . Spielberg's career, spanning decades as a pioneer of the modern blockbuster, has cemented his status as the richest celebrity billionaire. That compound (with a main house of 5150 square feet, multiple additional bungalows, and 36 acres/14.6 hectares of land) was purchased weeks before JvdB died. Do you actually think he would have made the purchase, with his impending death, if he felt his surviving family wouldn't have the income to make the payments and additional living expenses? Unthinkable! And the widow did admit to the press that they did have health insurance (as required by law), but made vague claims of uncovered expenses. I'd rather help the needy than a rich swindler (the wife, not JvdB).

In the Olympics, I watch mainly the artistic stuff such as figure skating, ice dancing, freestyle skiing/snowboarding, and so on. I personally find it boring to watch people go down a hill in skis, luge, bobsled, etc., just to see how who can get down faster within fractions of a second. But I do admire the athleticism in those who express themselves artistically with skill, strength, and talent.

Well, it feels good to send money to a shyster instead of the needy, please be my guest. After all, why stop to think before doing? As for me, I feel good when I'm actually doing some good on this planet--not by stuffing the pockets of a rich widow. AI Overview James Van Der Beek's Texas ranch, located in Spicewood near Austin, features a 5,149-square-foot main house. Purchased shortly before his death in 2026, the 36-acre property includes five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a commercial kitchen, a pool, and additional cabins. Main House Size: 5,149 square feet. Property Size: 36 acres. Location: Spicewood, Texas (outside Austin). Features: 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, commercial kitchen, pool, and cabins. The property is a "compound" that the family initially rented in 2020 before buying. (Nb. They also own another 7-figure home in Beverly Hills)

You haven't read this thread carefully. No one is criticizing JvdB. This GoFundMe campaign was started after his death (and, as I said previously, I doubt he would have approved of it). Ever since the Affordable Care Act came into effect, all US citizens and permanent residents are protected from catastrophic medical expenses. The only expense which it doesn't cover is nursing home/long-term care, which JvdB clearly didn't need (and one can buy separate insurance for that, which I've done in order to protect my husband). It's hard for me to imagine how his uncovered medical expenses could even reach the $250,000 which she originally claimed, much less the millions of dollars she's collected instead. She's simply capitalizing on his good name (and shows no signs of stopping, no matter how many millions people donate). Well, I agree. The question, of course, is who is really needy. I donate thousands of dollars annually to various charities which help the POOR--the truly needy. I use the financial research done by charitynavigator.org, which studies the documents of the charities, and ensures that the money is spent efficiently to those who really need help. I almost always give to 4-star rated charities. Donating money to a multi-millionaire widow just because you liked her late husband constitutes giving $$ to a scamster to the detriment of the truly indigent. If you want to donate money to the needy, here are some suggestions: https://www.charitynavigator.org/search?causes=Food+aid&page=1&pageSize=10&sort=rating https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/363673599 https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/135660870

And another item of suspicion comes from the fact that if they were spending all of that money due to lousy health insurance, why wouldn't they have started this campaign prior to his death? My hunch is that JvdB wouldn't have approved...

As I indicated in my OP, I was a fan of James van der Beek's, and mourn his passing. I apologize if my public service message to start getting screened for colon cancer at age 45 was interpreted as a criticism of his behavior, as it was not intended that way. I will take the opportunity to reach out to a friend who recently turned 50, just as a concern. Obviously, it's not possible to obtain life insurance after obtaining a life-threatening diagnosis. Clearly, life insurance would not be sustainable if one could wait until one received a potentially mortal diagnosis to buy it. I have no idea whether or not he had this insurance, as the widow hasn't indicated one way or the other. However, I found an article in today's People magazine which heightened by suspicions that the widow may be attempting to profit from her late husband's popularity: https://people.com/james-van-der-beek-gofundme-rasied-1-million-less-than-24-hours-11905270?campaign=16874595&did=21968353-20260212&hid=089247988732f9a900151e1f8c73f2c531df3c3a&lctg=089247988732f9a900151e1f8c73f2c531df3c3a&lr_input=3911d0b923e8d92c50f8b74007080afa59d66697825b8a1e414be8db883b8062 "...The goal for the GoFundMe was originally set at $250,000, but grew as more and more donations came in throughout Feb. 11 [to $1.2 million, then to $1.5 million]....". As of this writing, the funds keep pouring in, easily topping the $2 million mark. If they had very lousy health insurance, which is questionable, I can understand having to cough up even tens of thousands. But millions? He was a well-liked and popular man, and clearly the wife is just raking it in. The problem with GoFundMe campaigns is that the truthfulness of the claims are never vetted. 😉

It hasn't been that long since I posted a string about a GoFundMe page for, I believe it was Mickey Rourke, which had me going "Hmmmm...". At least in this case Mickey Rourke called BS on that (he wasn't the one who set up or OK'd the GoFundMe page), and made sure all monies were returned. I was saddened to hear about the early passing of James van der Beek at the age of 48 with colon cancer. (Public health reminder: the USPSTF strongly [A-level recommendation] advises colon cancer screening starting age 45. Colon cancer screening is by far the most effective cancer screening we have) I was surprised to read, however, that his wife is now claiming poverty, although the man was valued in the millions. She claims that his cancer treatment sent them to poverty. Are we to believe that this man broke the law to avoid health insurance? Proof of health insurance is required when filing income taxes in the US, and one gets find the equivalent of what one would pay for basic coverage if one doesn't at least have that. And no life insurance, either? He had no accountant or financial advisor? And I believe SAG/AFTRA membership comes with pretty good health insurance. I asked AI about his earnings, and he didn't seem impoverished to me. Yet his GoFundMe page has amassed well over a million dollars, and climbing. I suspect the wife may be a scamster. I wonder what the decedent would have thought of this. AI Overview James Van Der Beek’s career earnings and net worth estimates fluctuated, with reports in late 2024 to early 2026 placing his fortune between $3 million and $15 million, driven by acting, producing, and, earlier, a lucrative divorce settlement. Despite his fame, he noted limited, if any, residuals from his breakthrough role in Dawson’s Creek due to a poor contract, forcing reliance on subsequent roles. Key Earnings and Financial Insights: Net Worth Fluctuations: While some sources estimated his net worth at $8 million to $15 million in 2024-2026, others, such as Celebrity Net Worth, placed it closer to $3 million–$6 million. https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-james-van-der-beeks-family

Because I don't take orders from you? 😜

Well, there are a lot of other songs which talk about welcoming death, but I found lyrics such as "No one ever cared if I should live or die," and "Loneliness and empty days will be my only friend" as particularly specific, poignant, personal, and disturbing. Who else have expressed the feeling that at no point in their life have they ever felt love? Not even as a child? Didn't even her brother tell her at some point that he loves her? How much more gut-wrenching can it be to think that the ONLY "friend" you'll EVER have are loneliness and empty days? A good understanding of anorexia nervosa continues to elude us, although a lack of self-esteem seems to be at the core. I suppose that by disfiguring themselves, anorexics feel a sense of self-control. They control the reason people won't love them? It's a form of self-mutilation, I suppose. For me, at least the examples you gave aren't at the level of starkness and specificity as KC's lyrics. One can have pain, but still have hope. It's one thing to express pain, but Karen's words expressed a complete abandonment of hope, at least as I understand them: one can look forward only the empty, lonely days. I wonder if anyone ever said to her "You matter to me!"? If I can believe those lyrics, it doesn't appear as if anyone did (at least not in a way that was communicated to her believably). And yes, I know she wasn't the actual song-writer/lyricist, but she clearly gave direction to whomever it was.

I had heard that song before; it was my husband who hadn't. That being said, my age was in the single digits when the song came out, so I never thought of listening to the lyrics before. Her beautiful voice has had no equal. I was an undergraduate at UCLA when she died. I remember when she died there were sick comments along the lines of "If only Karen Carpenter and Mama Cass had shared that sandwich, they'd both be alive today" (Mama Cass was described as having died choking on a ham sandwich by The Hollywood Reporter, though the person who wrote that in her obituary admitted in 2020 that she'd lied about that). https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/09/arts/music/cass-elliot-mamas-and-the-papas-death.html "...For years, the origin of the story that Elliot died from choking on a ham sandwich — one of the cruelest and most persistent myths in rock ’n’ roll history — was largely unknown. Then in 2020, Elliot’s friend Sue Cameron, an entertainment journalist, admitted to publicizing it in her Hollywood Reporter obituary at the behest of Elliot’s manager Allan Carr, who did not want his client associated with drug use. (Elliot died of a heart attack, likely brought on by years of substance abuse and crash dieting.) But that cartoonish rumor — propagated in endless pop culture references, from “Austin Powers” to “Lost” — cast a tawdry light over Elliot’s legacy and still threatens to overshadow her mighty, underappreciated talent...".

I can't remember the event, but my husband and I listened to the song "Goodbye to Love" by the Carpenters, and, as I often do when listening to old music, I asked him if he'd heard that song before. He said he hadn't, but remarked "Those lyric are really dark!" (or words to that effect). I was a young child when it came out, and it had never occurred to me to listen to the lyrics. I was shocked to read them, especially since we now know she died due to mental illness, apparently feeling unloved (she had an unhappy marriage and filed for divorce prior to her death). If a friend of mine had sung such lyrics, I would have taken him aside and expressed by concerns. It feels super-creepy to listen to those lyrics in retrospect. So sad that she never received the care she should have. "I'll say goodbye to love No one ever cared if I should live or die Time and time again the chance for love has passed me by And all I know of love Is how to live without it I just can't seem to find it So I've made my mind up I must live my life alone And though it's not the easy way I guess I've always known I'd say goodbye to love... All the years of useless search Have finally reached an end Loneliness and empty days will be my only friend From this day love is forgotten I'll go on as best I can...". I've definitely felt depressed before, but at no time have I ever felt that no one ever cared if I should live or die. If she really felt that way, and it seems she did, life must have been agony for her. 😢

On our ride back from the airport, the friend who house-sat for us asked us how we liked it, and my husband said it was the best week of his life! 😛 I wouldn't go that far, but the entertainment was amazing. Incidentally, he said he heard about the arrests on TMZ and even ABC news!!! 😬

You're right. I've been on dozens of cruises, and never seen drug-sniffing dogs, much less getting ON the ship/leaving the US. (I did notice them when boarding) It was an easy target, but targeted it was. Much more common to see dogs sniffing on arrival in the US (and generally only at airports). There have been some drug deaths on these cruises, but having border protection and Miami/Dade County involved on a ship leaving port clearly indicates the ship was targeted. The documentation from Atlantis did warn us about that possibility, but not about the drug-sniffing dogs. I wonder if that'll be a defense. I know that when entering the US, one can be searched without needing probable cause. However, I don't think one can search without probable cause just because one is leaving the US (plus, our first stop was in San Juan, PR, USA, so we weren't even leaving the US at that point). All I can guess, however, is that people who've held onto those suites for years on end will make some suites available. They're having an advance sale for next year, and getting a suite is apparently a complex process.

Boy, is there ever enough entertainment to go around. Audra McDonald gave performances, for example. In case any of you don't know who she is, here's the start of her Wikipedia entry: "Audra Ann McDonald (born July 3, 1970)[1] is an American singer and actress. Primarily known for her work on the Broadway stage, she has won six Tony Awards, more performance wins than any other actor, and is the only person to win in all four acting categories.[2] As of the 78th Tony Awards, she has earned a record-breaking eleven nominations . In addition to her six Tony Awards, she has received numerous accolades including two Grammy Awards and an Emmy Award. She was honored with the National Medal of Arts in 2016 from President Barack Obama, and was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2017..." . There was also a full production of Hairspray!, performances by Bianca del Rio, an ice skating spectacular, a production of the history of flight, complete with a cast member on an airplane riding through the theater, a spectacle of acrobats, divers, in a dance/water spectacular, a nude sexy acrobat production, and multiple drag queen and gay comedian performers. Of course, there's also the usual pool games, trivia games, bingo, and multiple dance parties (and a piano bar and other venues). Definitely not lacking for entertainment. And let's not forget the dick deck, deck 17, where open gay sex is encouraged. One would have to pay hundreds of $$ if one were to see those performers on one's own. Of course, there are those who come for the sex party atmosphere, but I didn't partake, and was amazed by the entertainment (definitely the best among the dozens of cruises I've taken).

The biggest problem for me is that the sying can lead to false assumptions and labeling. It can be fairly innocent, such as my asking the friend about Duesseldorf leading to the false assumption that I'm interested in going there. However, what if I ask about someone's experience in drug rehab, and getting labeled in the internet as a drug addict, for example. I should be able to have private conversations without having to leave my phone in another room, but I guess that's the way things are these days. If I want to learn more about Duesseldorf, I can figure out how to look that stuff up myself.

The WeHo Times went one better to totally shame the WeHo resident who got caught in the snare... https://wehoonline.com/west-hollywood-man-arrested-cruise-port-meta-onlyfans-creator/ "...Turns out Joshua Eddy, the West Hollywood man arrested Sunday at PortMiami before boarding a Royal Caribbean cruise is a Meta employee and OnlyFans creator with 306,000 Instagram followers. Joshua Eddy, 41, works as a Global Client Lead at Meta, according to a LinkedIn profile reviewed by The Advocate. The profile has since been removed or made private. Professional contact database RocketReach shows he also holds leadership positions at Instagram and Facebook and studied at both UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and UCLA School of Law, as well as Northwestern University. WEHOonline found California State Bar records show Eddy holds an active attorney license (Bar #292495) with an address listed as 1125 N. Fairfax Avenue, Unit 46102, in West Hollywood—the address of the West Hollywood Post Office. There’s no indication he currently practices law...". That post office is our nearest post office...