Historic Events You Lived Through? ~ Looking Back and (Trying to) Move Forward

BORN IN THE USA and LIVING IN AMERICA.  What my life has been like as an American citizen, through the years.  Pivotal moments.

AI art created using DreamUp, a free tool

I have a Tumblr account, and it's easy to tell the Tumblr community has a lot of young people. I stumbled across a post where the person said they were very upset to be living through a historic event RIGHT NOW. It was a reference to our 2024 presidential elections.  That made me think.  How many historic events have I lived through?

1950s and 1990s

1. Two (2) New Technologies: Television and Internet — I lived through the introduction of new technology: Television (50s) and Internet (90s). In the 1950s, television brought the world into living rooms for the first time, and by the 1990s, the Internet suddenly connected those living rooms to everyone else on Earth.

1960s

2. Three (3) Assassinations — The assassinations of John F. Kennedy (1963), Martin Luther King Jr. (1968), and Robert F. Kennedy (1968) shattered a generation’s sense of safety and hope in public leadership.  We The People truly mourned.

3. Civil Rights Act — The 1964 Civil Rights Act marked a seismic shift as the nation finally codified equality that had been denied for centuries.

4. Moon Landing — In 1969, seeing Neil Armstrong step onto the lunar surface made the impossible suddenly feel breathtakingly real.  Even though some of the old folks said it was a government plot, it didn't really happen.  Why would the government lie?

5. Richard Speck Case — The 1966 Richard Speck murders were a chilling introduction to the idea that one person could commit unimaginable violence.

6. Vietnam and Flower Power — Through the 1960s and early 1970s, the Vietnam War collided with a cultural revolution of peace, protest, and youthful defiance at home.

7. UT Mass Shooting — Although I lived in Florida at the time, the 1966 University of Texas tower shooting marked the beginning of a tragic pattern in America that would grow over the decades.

1970s

8. Presidential Impeachments — Watching Nixon’s impeachment process in the 1970s, Clinton’s in the 1990s, and Trump’s two impeachments in the late 2010s–early 2020s underscored how contested American political accountability can be.

9. Yom Kippur Wars — The 1973 Yom Kippur War and its haunting 2023 echo showed how unresolved tensions can repeat across generations on the very same sacred day.  50 years later, Hamas did it again! October 7, 2023.

1980s

10. Iran-Contra Affair — The mid-1980s Iran-Contra scandal revealed how secret operations and political maneuvering could shake trust in the highest levels of government.

11. Another Mass Shooting? — The 1984 San Ysidro McDonald’s massacre underscored how mass shootings were becoming more frequent and devastating. At the Golden Arches???

12. Fall of the Berlin Wall — In 1989, watching the Berlin Wall crumble felt like witnessing freedom physically break through decades of division.

1990s

13. Oklahoma City Bombing — The 1995 bombing was a devastating reminder that terrorism can come from within our own borders.

14. Two (2) More Mass Shootings in America — The 1991 Luby’s massacre and the 1999 Columbine high school shooting showed how mass violence has continued to escalate into a national crisis. NATIONAL, not international. Other countries don't appear to be having this crisis.

15. WORLD WIDE WEB - Internet Era — Mentioned previously but bears repeating because the Internet was a serious game changer. By the 1990s, the Internet suddenly connected those living rooms to everyone else on Earth.

Image generated by ChatGPT

2001

16. September 11 Attacks — On September 11, 2001, the world froze in disbelief as the unimaginable unfolded live on television. And We The People thought December 7, 1941, was the only day that would live in infamy. (O.o)

2011

17. Death of Osama bin Laden — The 2011 announcement of bin Laden’s death felt like a long-awaited turning point in the fight against extremist violence. Some people were dancing in the streets. It took a decade, but Obama took out Osama. It had a nice historical ring to it.

2010s–2020s

18. COVID-19 Pandemic — Beginning in 2020, the pandemic abruptly rewrote daily life, exposing both our global vulnerability and our capacity for adaptation.

19. Presidential Impeachments — Trump’s two impeachments in 2019 and 2021 underscored how polarized and contentious American politics had become.

20. Roe v. Wade Decisions — From the original 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling to its 2022 overturning, the shifting legal landscape revealed how deeply personal rights can hinge on political change.

21. Mass Shootings in America are a Regular Occurrence— By the 2020s, the US started maintaining database tracking reality—mass shootings evolved from rare tragedies to a national crisis. And the politicians continue to offer bereaved and angry parents their “thoughts and prayers”.

2021

22. January 6 Capitol Riot — The 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol was a stark and unsettling moment that tested the nation’s democratic resilience.

WOW! What a difference twenty (2o) years makes. In 2001, We The People got attacked by The Enemy. In 2021, We The People BECAME The Enemy. Thank you, Donald J. Trump.

2025 To Date

As unbelievable as it sounds, Donald J. Trump (with the help of tech giant Elon Musk) got elected as the 47^th President of the United States. Would you like what he has done in his efforts to put America First AND make America great again? Here are a few of my social media posts. I don't mind telling you that it is grueling and tiresome to try to keep up. Maybe Trump can have the luxury of “sleeping,” but I'M WIDE AWAKE! Follow me on BlueSky and also on Tumblr.

POP QUIZ! Is America a Democracy, Autocracy, or Kakistocracy? Tomorrow, when #WeThePeople wake up, will America be a Democracy, Autocracy, or Kakistocracy? It's just 2 easy questions. Use it for both an IQ and EQ test. OR for a Gold Card test. #POTUS #Trump🐐🟠 - How many gold cards have you sold?

— [ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛʜʏʟ ꜰᴏx ᴀᴋᴀ ᴄᴍᴏɴᴇʏꜱᴘɪɴɴᴇʀ] 💖 (@cmoneyspinner.bsky.social) 2026-03-06T22:07:33.889Z

WAKE UP AMERICA! ALL OF US IS NIGGAS NOW! Canada, Greenland – WISE UP! Our #POTUS trying to make y'all niggas too! #DoYouSeeWhatISee👀 #TheEVOLUTIONIsBeingTelevised📺 Yeah, yeah. Need to watch what I say, huh? I'm a leftist, liberal, radical, WOKE ... eh! pick a label. Just don't call me TRUTHFUL.

— [ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛʜʏʟ ꜰᴏx ᴀᴋᴀ ᴄᴍᴏɴᴇʏꜱᴘɪɴɴᴇʀ] 💖 (@cmoneyspinner.bsky.social) 2026-01-27T21:02:56.072Z

People sometimes like to review their old year whenever the new year comes around. I went through some of my old posts on Threads. This post is dated October 2025. It's 2026, and NOTHING HAS CHANGED. Let me rephrase that. NOTHING HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER! #POTUS #Trump – Agree or disagree.

— [ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛʜʏʟ ꜰᴏx ᴀᴋᴀ ᴄᴍᴏɴᴇʏꜱᴘɪɴɴᴇʀ] 💖 (@cmoneyspinner.bsky.social) 2026-01-02T20:03:57.550Z

MY list was first published via discussion on ForumCoin. It needed updating.

Interesting Reading. What Are 'Guardian' Apps?

 The beauty of social media posts is the other "voices" that are NOT in my head.  Many account holders freely share their thoughts and also share links to insightful articles.  We, or at least me ... I have already accepted that AI (artificial intelligence) is here to stay NOW!  So the next step is to try to keep up!  I am active on Bluesky, and someone shared a link to this article:

‘Guardian’ Apps Aim to Stop AI Agents From Going Rogue — The Information

(Image credit: Featured image in the article referenced.)

QUICK SUMMARY: Several AI companies are developing “guardian” or “safety” apps designed to monitor and control increasingly autonomous AI agents. As AI systems gain the ability to take actions on computers—such as browsing the web, sending emails, or executing code—researchers worry these agents could behave unpredictably or cause harm if not supervised. 

New tools from startups and major labs aim to track an agent’s actions in real time, block dangerous behavior, and provide audit trails for accountability. The piece highlights that while these guardrails are promising, they are still in their early stages and may struggle to keep pace with rapidly advancing agent capabilities.

Overall, the article frames these guardian systems as an essential but evolving layer of protection as AI becomes more autonomous.

But What About ...?

OK! Sounds like a wonderful “theory”. But we all know AI can only be used for good if the human mind or HI (human intelligence) using it … is not already corrupted. Care to follow me down this rabbit hole? 

I want to share a link to a Sherlock Holmes mystery (probably AI-generated). Sherlock said, “Someone is teaching the computer to ignore crime.” 

They say, "To err is human.  To forgive divine."  Well, maybe errors can be forgiven.  But what about CRIMES?  Imagine if law enforcement ignored crime because of AI?

Whispering Willows Sleep. “Sherlock Holmes and the Algorithm of Doubt.” YouTube, 31 Dec. 2025.

I do my best to stay informed and up-to-date about the use of AI in our world, and also share my thoughts or perspectives.  Follow on Bluesky.

Opinions and Perspectives ~ What are Some Historic Events You Lived Through?

NOTE:  Donald J. Trump was elected as the 47th president of the United States.  I decided this blog post could use some major edits and revisions.  So I published a brand new post.  Click here.

I am an old lady with a Tumblr account, and I can tell the Tumblr community has a lot of young people. I stumbled across a post, and the person was saying they were very upset about living through a historic event RIGHT NOW. It was a reference to our 2024 presidential elections.  Trump won!

But then I thought to myself:  How many historic events have I lived through?

At the time, those events were also upsetting.

Let me think. I've lived through:

1. Introduction of new technology: Television (50s) and Internet (90s)
2. 3 assassinations – John Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr.
3. 3 POTUS Impeachments – Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump (impeached twice)
4. The passage of the Civil Rights Act
5. Neil Armstrong walked on the moon
6. Richard Speck - 1st serial killer or mass murderer I knew about
7. The Vietnam War and “Flower Power”
8. Iran-Contra Affair
9. Fall of the Berlin Wall
10. Oklahoma City Bombing
11. Sept 11th Attack
12. Death of Osama bin Laden and several other high-profile terrorists
13. COVID-19 Pandemic
14. January 6 Capitol Riot
15. Yom Kippur War in 1973 & 50 years later same conflict, same people, on Yom Kippur AGAIN!
16. Several Landmark Supreme Court Decisions from Roe v. Wade to the overturning of Roe V Wade
17. MASS SHOOTINGS – 1960s at the University of Texas; 1980s at a McDonald's in California; 1990s at Luby's Cafeteria in Texas and at Columbine High School … It's 2024, and NOW there are so many mass shootings that we maintain a database of the incidents.

There are more. On my various social media accounts (Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) [**], etc.), I have "marked" other historic events after Trump took office. It's grueling and tiresome.

These events are memorable. But so far, I lived through them.

Original source

 [**] [NOTE: My X account is set for my posts to be publicly visible for public viewing. But for some reason, people who aren’t signed in to the platform can NOT see my account activity. The appropriate box in MY privacy and security settings is unchecked, which means the posts should be publicly visible, But they are not! If you are not signed in and you visit my profile page, it shows “@cmoneypinner hasn't posted”. THAT'S A BIG OLD LIE! I post plenty! Anyway! It's a free social media account. Elon Musk, the owner of X, who claims he promotes and protects free speech, can likely blame technology for not allowing MY public posts to reach a public audience.]

Does Jack Have Plans to Chop Down the Twitter Beanstalk? (An Opinion Piece)

The same day Elon Musk became the new owner of Twitter, it was announced that Jack Dorsey was developing a social app called Bluesky. What’s going on?

As expected, wherever tech news is published for the inquiring minds, one will find a mountain of speculation and also some facts about whether or not there is a war going on between the “giants” in the industry. Since October 28, 2022, there has been a lot of buzz circulating about Elon Musk and Jack Dorsey. Or is it … Elon Musk VERSUS Jack Dorsey???

Some think these two are NOT competitors but rather collaborators. I don’t know what these two guys are thinking, but I am inclined to agree with the gentleman who wrote article shared below. I doubt that there is a battle going in the land of the tech giants, which will end with one toppling the other. Oh, come on! This is American business. What profit or public good would be gained from doing that?

No, Elon and Jack are not “competitors.” They’re collaborating.

Wherein I attempt to clarify a number of ridiculous and false narratives currently taking hold about Musk and Dorsey’s…

davetroy.medium.com

HERE IS WHAT I THINK:

Dorsey and Musk are collaborating? So??? They are not “enemies”, they’re really “frenemies”? Uh huh. Sounds plausible.

Not surprised. It’s very likely a lot of that buzz about the alleged battle of the tech giants is unverified. No doubt it’s more like “gossip of endless possibilities” spread in panic mode. LOL.

Since I don’t know either of the guys personally, I can only base my likes and dislikes on their public persona. Based on that, I like Jack. I don’t like Elon.

That being said, I could care less whether they are competing or not competing. I want whatever is in IT for me! LOL. I am perfectly content to use both platforms whether they compete or not.

GOOGLE PLUS: I remember Google Plus. It was supposed to replace Facebook. I was invited to participate in the testing and when it went live, I used the same account that had been used in testing. I happily used both Facebook and Google Plus together. But alas! G+ went Bye Bye for consumers.

TUMBLR: And what about Tumblr? I have been a loyal user since the days of David Karp. Tumblr has changed ownership many times. But no matter to me. I just go with the flow.

TWITTER vs BLUESKY: I have been a loyal Twitter user for years. Even so, I sent my eMail in so that I could participate in Bluesky social app testing. If it goes live, I see no reason to leave Twitter and switch to Bluesky. Not me! I would be active on both platforms as long as they will have me.

The only thing that would stop me from using Twitter, Bluesky, Facebook, Tumbr, Pinterest, LinkedIn, etc., is if I wake up one morning and there is a page that says: “This platform has been shut down.”

I mean … what can I do about that? It was an executive decision made without asking me! They never invite me to those meetings. LOL.

I have been on the social media train for over 10 years. The only decision I can make is … I’m not getting OFF!

Thanks for reading. 

 Original Source