Morning Update: 04/03/24

Morning Update: 04/03/24

April 3, 2024

Drying Off [2005, contrary to what the border says]

Before getting into the daily mush, it would be inappropriate to not mention that our thoughts are with everyone affected by the 7.4 magnitude earthquake early this morning in Taiwan. The latest numbers show nine dead and over 700 injured, US military bases in Okinawa could potentially be affected by tsunami warnings. This is the strongest earthquake in the region in 25 years.

Wind. After all of yesterday’s rains coming through and making the day miserable, we were hit with strong winds last night. I haven’t walked around the house yet to assess the damage, but it was strong enough to rip one of the secure points away from our front tarp on the carport. A loose corner on the back tarp was flapping so strongly that it sounded at times like distant gunshots. This made the Gang of Five extra snuggly but also meant that I couldn’t move

Sleep was fitful and confusing. I’d dream for a while then wake up totally confused. What day is it? Am I waking from an afternoon nap or is it night? Is this the weekend? Did I oversleep? Wait, where am I? When that happens one time during the night there’s no reason to be alarmed. When it keeps happening over and over, four or five times a night, it’s impossible not to be troubled. Is this a new side effect from the chemo or something else? Is this a symptom of something not yet diagnosed? With a body in the condition mine is, there’s no way to know without visiting a doctor and I’m not going to waste copay on that.

With the wind has come a deep drop in temperatures, so we’ll be staying in again today. I’ve already warned G he needs to dress warmly. I’d tell Tipper the same but she just shrugs and does whatever she wants. If she’s cold it’s her own fault.

Here’s a question for you: how much cologne should a young man wear? Earlier this year, the young men in G’s class were admonished about personal hygiene. Apparently, the coaches don’t like the fragrance of teen spirit. Now, he starts the day with so much cologne I can smell him from the other end of the hallway. I’ll admit that teenage boys have a natural funk unlike anything else. I’m unsure if those natural feromones are supposed to attract a potential mate or ward off potential attackers, but it is distinct. Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.

There is a lot of news crossing my desk this morning. My energy level and my diminishing level of cognition will play roles in determining what I address. The item at the top of my list at this moment is the whole Krispy Kreme/McDonald’s partnership. I’m just waiting for McD to slip a sausage patty, egg, and cheese in the middle of a donut. I’d definitely try one, then slip into a diabetic coma for a few minutes.

Another issue is that Grammarly, which I use regularly, is now flagging every adjective I use. They can kindly fuck off. The world needs adjectives, especially online since they are the primary method of describing depths of emotion, the severity of a situation, and just how much it pisses me off that they think adjectives are inappropriate. I’m not sure what adjectives did to deserve such hate, but it needs to stop.

Both kids are off to school. I need to refill my coffee. Stay tuned for more!

Current Issues / News & Comment / Politics / Social Commentary

Morning Outrage

April 2, 2024

ISRAEL HAS COMMITTED A WAR CRIME

Early this morning, EDT, while those of us in the Midwest were sheltering from the storms, seven members of chef Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen were murdered by an Israeli air strike. DESPITE HAVING COMMUNICATED APPROPRIATELY WITH ISRAELI AUTHORITIES, the caravan was leaving a warehouse where they had just delivered more than 100 tons of food via maritime routes. The workers killed include a Palestinian and citizens from Australia, Poland, United Kingdom, and a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada.

The organization’s CEO, Erin Gore, put it this way: “This is not only an attack against WCK, this is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the most dire of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable,”

Enough with US tolerance of Israel’s fucking war crimes. World Central Kitchen has found ways to peacefully deliver food all over the world, including war-torn Ukraine, without any issue. They are a highly effective and respected organization that takes to heart the need to address the tragedy of hunger and famine in hard-to-reach places around the world. And who the fuck ends up bombing them? Israel, whom the US refuses to recognize as a serial war criminal.

Israel issued a statement saying they would investigate the matter, but good money is on getting back a statement saying something to the effect that “This was a horrible tragedy as sometimes happens during war. Oops, we’re sorry, but we’re not going to stop.”

Please understand, I’m not antisemitic. I’m anti-Zionist. There’s a difference. I believe Jewish people, as well as everyone else, have the right to live wherever the fuck they want to live.

What is Zionism? According to the Anti-Defamation League, “Zionism is the movement for the self-determination and statehood for the Jewish people in their ancestral homeland, the land of Israel.” In short, skipping over several thousand years of history, it is a group dedicated to the formation and protection of the Jewish homeland as defined before an ancient Babylonian captivity.

Why is Zionism wrong? Because nationalism is wrong. Let me be very clear, for those in the back:

Everyone has the right to live peacefully wherever the fuck they want to live regardless of pretend borders, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.

If you disagree, please kindly step the fuck off the planet. Humanity would not exist today were it not for multiple, free-roaming migrations of our ancestors, all of them, looking for hospitable and reasonable places to live without fear of the danger posed by natural resources or greedy idiots. The freedom to exist and the freedom of movement is an inherent right that no country has grounds for limiting. Telling a people, “You cannot live here and we’ll kill you if you try,” is anti-human and in violation of international law. YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO EXIST.

What no one has is a right to govern where that government is not wanted. “The consent of the governed” is an extremely powerful clause. No one is obligated to recognize the authority of a government that actively denies the individual right to exist.

Yet, here we are, not only telling Palestinians to get out of Gaza and then killing them when they try, but now we’re killing the people who are simply trying to make sure no one starves to death in the process. Please, someone, reset that courtroom in Nuremberg. We have some crimes that need to be addressed.

The support of these activities by the US government is critical as well. While Israel is doing its best to exterminate all of Gaza, US states such as Florida and Texas are putting limits on who can travel in/out of their states in search of medical care such as abortions. We’re just as bad, if not potentially worse, than Israel so no wonder we’re supportive of the crimes they’re committing.

Wait, don’t we inherently have the right to travel between states? Sort of, but not really. The right to travel is generally covered under the Privileges and Immunities Clause of the Fifth Amendment. The specific portions reads: “The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.” Since 1823, that has generally been taken to include freedom of movement. However, since then, throughout the 19th century, the Court continued to let the states have the authority to decide who could move back and forth across state lines. So, if a state decides it doesn’t want people traveling to a “safe” state for medical care, precedent would indicate that they have the right to limit that travel and impose penalties.

In case you’ve not been keeping up, Texas is willing to impose the death penalty.

All of these actions are anti-freedom, anti-human, and grossly immoral by any standard. We’ve put up with far too many of these crimes and we’re past the time when people like you and me need to object and flood both the Internet and the halls of Congress with the noise of our opposition.

Consider this my first volley. ENFORCE A CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA NOW! Let’s make humanity more important than anyone’s nationalism.

Cancer Update / Current Issues / Morning Update / Personal

Morning Update: 04/02/24

April 2, 2024

After waiting all fucking day, putting off things we might have gotten done, it finally started raining around 11:00 last night and it has yet to stop. I just took the dogs outside. The yard is a swamp. Up the road from us, a lake has formed. I feel especially sorry for G who has to walk the quarter-mile to his bus stop in a few minutes. Thunder still rolls across the night sky.

I’m not sure how much sleep any of us got last night. Kat was up for most of it. G was up at 12 and 3, finally giving up around 5. I was able to at least stay in bed, dozing in and out. All the meds weren’t enough to induce sleep through all the pain. In a battle of arthritis vs. chemo, arthritis is definitely winning. Let’s set that pain level firmly at 10 and hope that it doesn’t go any higher. Tomorrow, it turns cold again. I feel like the weather has a personal vendetta against me.

We’re still 10-15 days from having any money in the account, assuming Social Security actually comes through. I don’t have any amount of faith in the system. We’re out of bread, margarine, and milk. I’m cutting back on coffee because that’s getting low as well. It’s not that we’re out of food, but that the food requires the addition of certain staples to be prepared and we don’t have the staples. The dogs will need food by the end of the week as well. This level of need is hurting almost as much as the arthritis. Right now, 10-15 days might as well be forever.

I feel really bad sending G out in the storm. If I still had a car I could at least take him to the bus stop. But no, not only can I do little to help myself, I can’t help anyone else, either. We’re hoping that Tipper’s bus shows up on time today. Yesterday, all the buses from her school were late because, get ready for this, the bus company didn’t know that school was starting back after spring break. How is that even possible? I’m sure they were given the same schedule as the rest of us.

Remember when things like this didn’t annoy us? We could play out in the rain and have a good time! Getting soaking wet was part of the fun. Now, I sit here still shivering from having taken the dogs out 30 minutes ago. This whole aging thing is for the birds.

I can take more meds again in an hour. At least I’m still alive, right?

Current Issues / Holidays / News & Comment / Social Commentary

Stupid Things Xians Say

March 31, 2024

Don’t Wander [AI creation based on original 2010 photo]

Christianity is getting a lot of attention today (and all this past week) because of it being Holy Week. However, as they so often do, some pseudo-Xians just don’t seem to understand the whole concept of peace, love, and inclusion. They prove this by opening their mouths and saying some really inappropriate and ignorant things.

Take for instance, please, that time this week when the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said, “If you don’t like our religion [xianity], then we don’t want you in our country.” What this part-time Bible salesman is saying is that he’s more than willing to implement a religion litmus test for anyone wanting to come into the country. Now, where that gets interesting is trying to narrow down what he means by “our religion.” Obviously, he doesn’t like Muslims, Hindus, atheists, or Buddhists. However, he links religion to politics when he says that a Jewish person who votes Democratic (and most do), “hates their religion” and “everything about Israel.” So… are Jews getting in or not? Now, any reasonably-minded person knows that such a litmus test is a violation of the First Amendment. However, let’s just go crazy for a moment and assume he could get away with it. How long would it be before he tries to deport, round up, or terrorize anyone who doesn’t fit without his narrow (and farcical) religious expectations?

Then, there was all that hullabaloo today over the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. Somehow, pseudo-Xians just noticed this year that religious themes are not allowed on the decorated eggs used for the roll. Cue right-wing outrage because they’re an ignorant bunch of people who don’t seem to realize that the ban has existed since 1978. Take another look at that. 1978. Over 40 years ago. And they’re just now realizing it. And all this over a fictional rabbit that allegedly places eggs all over the yard. Apparently, these pseudo-Xians are also ignorant of the fact that Easter Eggs are a pagan tradition that predates xianity. Seriously, do these people ever pull their heads out of their asses and take a look at the world around them?

Taking the ugly lamb-shaped Easter cake is SBC megachurch pastor Josh Howerton who told his Dallas-based Lakepointe Church congregation that, on their wedding night (actually, he specifically emphasized “his” wedding night), the women should: “Stand where he tells you to stand, wear what he tells you to wear, and do what he tells you to do.” Incredulous, isn’t it? You would think, especially after all the abuse and marital cheating scandals the SBC has endured, that such misogyny would, at the very least, be kept on the down-low. Nope. Here it is, right out in the open. We even have it on video.

Dismantling this statement a bit, first, let’s realize that, by most accounts, fewer than 30% of people, male or female, are virgins on their wedding night. Most sane people realize that sexual experience is a good thing; find out what you like and what you don’t, take away the mythology of losing virginity, and hopefully avoid the pain and mess of your first sexual experience. If 70% of men are not virgins (and the real number is likely higher), then they have not necessarily been planning for their wedding night their entire lives.

Second, this is putting wayyyyyy too much pressure on the wedding night for it to be pleasurable. Weddings are a big deal and by the time the happy couple gets away from the reception and all the people and checked into the hotel for the night, they’re fucking exhausted! Why put all that pressure on the wedding night? It’s insane to create those kinds of expectations that are almost certainly going to lead to disappointment.

Third, and perhaps most important, if your spouse is telling you where to stand, what to wear, and what to do and this isn’t a sex game to which you’ve both agreed, then you’ve married a misogynist and need to get out of this marriage as soon as possible! Abuse, emotional and physical, is right around the corner. Nothing good comes from being in a relationship with a misogynistic person. Nothing. Get the fuck out while you can. PLEASE. A chocolate bunny would make a better partner.

If it seems like I’m picking on pseudo-Xians it’s only because they’re making so much noise as they show us how incredibly ignorant, thoughtless, and cruel they actually are. There’s no true spirit of love here. There’s no intention to bring peace. There’s no desire for inclusion. Everything they’re doing is fake and they’re loud enough with their actions to make sure we don’t miss them. As long as they keep doing and saying stupid things, I’ll keep calling them out for it.

Current Issues / News & Comment

Circus Rings

March 31, 2024

ARGUMENTS FOR TAKING THE BACK ROADS: CIRCUS WINTER CAMP [2019]

Waking up to the sound of gunfire isn’t nearly the rarity that it should be. Most of the time, the shots are fairly distant, over a quarter of a mile away. Last night, they were a lot closer, no more than a couple of blocks to our East. A single shot. No follow-up. I thought about going out to check before calling the police, but those are the kinds of actions that can get you killed. I stayed in bed and called no one. By the time cops arrived, no one was going to be around. This was around 2:30 this morning.

The dogs, sensing that spring break is over, want to go out at 5:45 this morning. As we stepped out into the dark between rain showers, the familiar “berries and cherries” of police lights could be seen at the entrance to our subdivision. A few years ago the dogs would have been straining at the fence to see what had happened. The lights have become so common in the neighborhood that the dogs ignore them now. Only the sound of sirens irritates them.

Coming back inside to avoid the rain, I turned on the local news. SEVEN teenagers between the ages of 12-17 were shot downtown around 11:30 last night. While all the victims are in stable condition, no suspects have been named. Local police are considering the possibility that there was more than one gun involved. This is the third weekend in a row with mass shootings. I find it interesting how this coincides with major sporting events in town all three weekends, bringing out a higher number of people than IMPD seems capable of policing.

Is this merely a local problem? Of course not. The law enforcement circus is a national disgrace. Opening this morning’s Washington Post, I see a headline that disturbs me deeply: The FBI is visiting people because of their social media. Every day. The person in question this time was a Stillwater, Oklahoma resident, Rolla Abdeljawad, who had the foresight to record the encounter. The “FBI” agents refused to identify themselves. Refused to show her their badges. Told the Muslim woman, “Facebook gave us a couple screenshots of your accounts.” The FBI refused to comment. Ms. Abdeljawad has been vocally pro-Gaza in her recent posts. No one is investigating whether the three men were real FBI agents or anti-Muslim troublemakers.

Welcome to the circus. No one’s responsible for their actions, especially if they’re drunk. No one’s responsible for their children running around downtown at 11:30 at night (even if they are leaving a sporting event). No one’s responsible for the harassment of non-Christians. It’s all one big, wild, raucous, many-ringed demonstration of carelessness, from sea to shining sea. Flack vests not included.

Current Issues / News & Comment / Politics

Wrath Warning

March 27, 2024

Nothing is more blasphemous than the former grifter-in-chief hawking “customized” Bibles during Holy Week. The level of backlash the entire party should receive for indulging in this nonsense would be never-ending if there were, in fact, genuine Christians at the head of any major denomination. There once was a time, not terribly long ago, when this would have been enough to end his campaign. But then, how many times have we said that same thing about other shenanigans and idiocies this over-hyped fool has perpetrated?

One of the aspects of this mess is the narcissist stating that he wants to “Make America Pray Again.” Say what? Is it just me or does that sound like a threat? Stop and think about it. When are people most likely to pray? When they’re afraid. When do even non-believing people start to pray? When their lives are in danger. When are we most likely to be afraid for our lives? If this idiot gets re-elected. He’s already been talking about retribution and he’s made it quite clear that he plans on taking an authoritarian, even dictatorial stance if he should get back into office. There is nothing about this move that is comforting or Christian. In fact, this is an insult to everything that is genuinely American.

This comes at a time when more people are leaving the church than joining it. The number of atheists has doubled. The number of agnostics has more than doubled. Of those leaving, 67% say they are doing so because they no longer agree with that religion’s teaching. Okay, so find a different religion, right? Nope, only 9% are looking for any kind of substitute. People are increasingly fed up with the nonsense that religions are spouting, especially aggressive anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric. A smart campaign manager would look at that trend and say, “Hey, we need to step away from the religious bullshit.”

Such a level of grift reminds me of the hundreds of thousands of people who gave money to the late televangelist Jim Bakker. There was the Christian theme park. There were the “End Times” food buckets. There were prayer clothes and “holy oil” and all manner of nonsense for which people would pay believing that it would somehow make them better Christians. The evidence, however, points to the fact that such devotion only leads to increased levels of hate, the church doing more harm than good, and innocent people victimized.

Furthermore, if one is going to believe the Bible at all, one has to be concerned that such blasphemy is inviting God’s wrath on anyone who participates in the nonsense. Remember the Golden Calf? 3,000 died and the rest were struck with a plague. [Exodus 32:1-35] Of course, there’s been no such wrath for 6,000 years, so either there’s no God to get angry or no teeth to his threats. But if you’re going to believe, then perhaps it would be a good time to repent of such idolatry.

None of this has any place in politics. Politics should be about who would be the best leader, not the best grifter, not the best preacher, not the biggest felon. Smart, intelligent people are onto the scam and want nothing to do with it. Those who are shelling out $80 for their package are just stupid. There’s no other way to look at it.

Cancer Update / Current Issues / Morning Update / News & Comment

Morning Update: 03/27/24

March 27, 2024

One sure sign that I’m dreaming is how healthy I appear. Have you ever noticed that? In my dreams, I’m more likely to be in my 40s, healthy, and strong. I can still do things like climb trees to get a shot, rescue the damsel in distress, and eat a fantastic meal without feeling ill afterward. Such dreams are a long way from this morning’s reality: old, cancerous, and in pain. I’m not as witty as I once was. I’m not full of quotable sayings. I don’t like how I look. Posture is an afterthought.

Have you ever noticed that television and media don’t know how to represent people like me? It’s easy to represent a gay couple as long as they both look good. It’s easy to represent someone handicapped as long as they can pull off witty banter. Including multiracial characters isn’t a problem anymore, either. But when was the last time you saw a well-defined character who has trouble physically getting out of bed in the morning? Has the crime ever been solved by someone who has to stop in the middle of a car chase to take their medicine? The closest I can think to that kind of inclusion was the old police drama “Ironside,” which started in 1967. Even there, they chose an actor (Raymon Burr) who was otherwise healthy and strong. He was extremely intelligent, and decisive, and showed no sign of muscle atrophy at all.

But then, who wants a main character that’s inherently weak, flawed, and frequently boring?

I was boring yesterday. I’ll likely be boring today. The wind is back out of the North today so I’ll likely spend a fair amount of the day wrapped in a blanket. There are plenty of leftover beans and cornbread so It’s unlikely that I’ll cook. I might take a shower.

The kids were all but invisible again yesterday. G is making friends in the VR community. Tipper is working on her art. Neither leave their room except to get something to eat. Sure, this is typical teenage behavior. To expect much more of them would be ridiculous. I don’t have anything exciting to keep their interest. I mean, what dad can compete with VR?

At least I’m not Utah state Rep. Phil Lyman who responded to yesterday’s collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge with the nonsensical statement, “This is what happens when you have Governors who prioritize diversity over the wellbeing and security of citizens.” In a second post, he wrote, “DEI=DIE.” And this numbskull is running for Governor of Utah. Other insane Republicans blamed the bridge collapse on Russia and open borders. How people get to be so fucking stupid is a situation I don’t understand. ‘Tis the season for desperate attempts to appear relevant, I suppose.

Maybe I’ll go back and re-process some older photos today. Or maybe I’ll just dream.

Current Issues / News & Comment

What’d You Say?

March 25, 2024

When the writers of the US Constitution made the First Amendment all about free speech, they were responding directly to the limitations imposed by the reign of England’s King George III, who aggressively punished those who spoke out against him and/or the Church of England. They wanted to make it very clear that such an impediment would not be tolerated in this “new” country. It was a novel idea, but it didn’t last. Relatively quickly in 1798, Congress passed the Sedition Act, criminalizing any criticism of the young government. Abolitionists were subjected to the Gag Rule in 1836, making it impossible to resolve any issues around slavery. In 1862, General Grant attempted to expel US Jews from “all land under my command.” President Lincoln quickly countermanded the order, but the action set the stage for a conflict still in action today.

Everyone likes the idea of free speech until someone says something they don’t like. Slander and libel laws exist specifically to keep people from publishing lies against other people, but they didn’t take into consideration a time when literally everyone in the country would have a publishing platform at their fingertips. The concept of free speech is undermined by the fact that each person is convinced of their opinion without having any understanding of the truth. For the majority of life’s events, we can’t “run back the tape” to confirm what did or didn’t happen, what someone did or didn’t say, or even the context in which a statement was made.

One of the greatest challenges to the Constitution, and to democracy as a whole, is the presumption of personal responsibility. When the Constitution was written, the right to vote and participate in government was limited to male landowners. This wasn’t unusual for the time and with it came an inherent assumption that landowners knew how to make responsible decisions. The founders too quickly discovered that they were wrong but no one knew how to put that horse back in the stable. We still don’t. We are all inherently selfish, greedy, and desperate to act in our own self-interest. We’re more interested in doing what’s best for me than doing what’s best for the entire population. We don’t want anyone telling us what to do when to eat, how to vote, how much money we can have, or anything that might cause us stress.

The Constitution wasn’t designed to handle the paradox that a statement can be both truth and fiction at the same time. For example, let’s pretend that I went to a new restaurant a meal with which I have a lot of experience: fried chicken. I understand how difficult it is to get fried chicken just right, where the meat is juicy but the coating isn’t too dark. Not everyone knows what they’re doing. I’ve had some really good fried chicken and some that needed to have been thrown away. Armed with this knowledge, I bite into this new fried chicken and am repulsed by the taste to the point that I am concerned that it may be contaminated with salmonella. Wanting to spare others the horror and potential illness, I hop on Yelp and write a blistering review about how dangerous the restaurant’s fried chicken is.

At the same time, someone a few tables over orders the fried chicken as well. Their fried chicken tasted delicious, to them, with the best coating and optimal juiciness of any chicken they’ve ever had. They want all their friends to know how wonderful the food is and patronize the restaurant so that it will stay around for a while. They, too, go to Yelp and write a glowing review about how wonderful the restaurant’s fried chicken is.

Who’s right? Who’s telling the truth? The interesting reality is that both can be right and wrong at the same time. Our pallets are different. Our food preferences are different. Our idea of what is “good” is subjective. Each person who goes to the restaurant can have a different experience, liking or hating different aspects of the experience. Each person has the right to tell everyone about that experience. But when the restaurant fails six months later because of bad reviews, can the owner of the restaurant, who thinks their food was wonderful, claim that the people who wrote those negative reviews were slanderous?

Implied throughout the Constitution is the idea that people are inherently responsible. We now understand, more clearly than ever, that they are not. If anything, the opposite is true. Responsibility is something that must be taught and, through means of social pressure, enforced. Where there is no responsibility, there can be no freedom. We must understand when it is appropriate to speak and when to keep our mouths shut. We must understand when it is appropriate to carry a weapon and when it should be secured in a vault. We must be responsible in everything we do or we turn freedom into a shackle.

Ultimately, the matter comes down to the fact that we can legislate neither morality nor responsibility without infringing on someone’s implied rights. If we cannot behave in a civil, responsible manner, then we’ve already lost the rights we claim.

Sigh. I had more, but my brain is gone. Feel free to ask questions in the comments below.

Art / Current Issues / News & Comment / Politics / Social Commentary

Can They See This In Texas?

March 24, 2024

In June of last year (2023), the Texas State Legislature, one of the most brain-dead in the union, passed a law requiring adult-oriented websites to use “reasonable” age verification to make sure that only people 18+ are accessing their websites. You know, they’re so obsessed with “protecting the children.” Lawsuits were immediately filed and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals applied a temporary stay, but at the same time required adult websites to comply with the law. As a result, Aylo, who owns sites such as PornHub, had a choice to make. Aylo said no, thank you, and pulled its websites from Texas. The revenue they receive from Texas isn’t worth the trouble it would take to add the necessary age verification. Insert giant middle finger here.

Some people in Texas took Aylo’s departure as good news. They got rid of the big porn monster, right? Hardly. In fact, what it did was create a fun challenge for teenagers to get around the law. I’m guessing none of the people involved in creating the law know a damn thing about VPNs, IP masking, or anything of the other dozen or so technologies that can be used to hide the location of someone attempting to access a website. People who want access to the material have plenty of options. And should the courts finally decide, incorrectly, that the law is constitutional (let’s face it, no one has actually read the Constitution in 50 years), it’s unenforceable.

For now, though, we decided to check and see if anyone in Texas can see what we post here. We grabbed a handful of images from 2009-10 and we’ll see if anyone can see them. Let us know in the comments if you can, and we’re guessing you can.

Hidden on the Beach [2010 with AI background]

Morning Coffee [2010 with AI background]

Taco Seasoning [2010 with AI background]

As The Day Dies [2010 with AI background]

Current Issues / News & Comment / Politics

LGBTQ+ People Thrown Under The Bus… Again

March 24, 2024

No one is surprised anymore when a Republican legislator attempts to pass a bill aimed at removing the millions of LGBTQ+ people from American society. They’ve been emboldened, especially at the state level, over the past eight years and are making the removal of LGBTQ+ rights a campaign platform across the country. There’s little question that the GOP hates anyone who isn’t straight and Christian, despite the fact that many Republicans themselves are closeted gays. [Yeah, I said it.]

Proving my point is the fact that over 40 policy riders were introduced to the mission-critical budget funding bill passed by Congress and signed by the President this week. The goodness: only one of the riders made it through to the final bill. The bad news: one of the riders made it through to the final bill: banning US embassies from flying the Pride flag.

Why did Democrats, who we expect to be LGBTQ+ friendly, allow even one rider to get through? To get the necessary number of votes to pass the bill. In fact, House Speaker Mike Johnson was busy touting the flag ban as a reason for voting for the bill. Democrats allowed the rider to stay as a concession, saying they’d overturn the rider in later legislation.

Once again, LGBTQIA+ were thrown under the bus for the sake of political expediency. Now you know where you really stand with politicians. Democrats love you until they need Republican votes and then they conveniently forget the millions of people and the rights with which they are endowed.

Across the country, Republicans are making a concerted effort to end Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts, especially at the educational level. Alabama was the latest state to remove funding and forbid DEI education. Many other states such as Kansas and Missouri are waiting to do the same.

Two bills, the “Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act,” and the “Equal Campus Access Act,” both of which target trans students, advanced in the GOP-dominated House of Representatives this week. The attack is unrelenting and ferocious as candidates up for re-election are spouting hate all up and down the campaign trail.

What can be done to stop this storm of hate that’s walking up to your front door and entering without knocking? There are a few things that come to mind.

Be visible. To the extent possible, show up at every public campaign event and make your presence known. Sure, there are private events from which we’re excluded but most are looking for public venues that attract the most people. Don’t let them make you invisible. Wear the rainbow proudly and make it impossible for anyone to ignore your presence.
Be heard. VOTE. The LGBTQIA+ community is large enough to dominate almost any election. But that means everyone has to vote, even though the Democratic and/or Independent candidates aren’t much more attractive. When they see how the community has the power to sway elections, they’ll start paying more attention.
Make noise. Use social media as a platform. Call out your local legislators. Make sure your friends are aware of what’s going on. Call and email your representatives’ offices. Organize or attend marches. Don’t leave any doubt about where you stand on the important issues.

There are too many times when legislation makes its way into law because we aren’t paying attention to what is going on, especially at the state level. There’s not a state in the union that doesn’t have a significant LGBTQIA+ presence. You can’t depend on others to protect your rights. You have to do it yourself. Believe it or not, you do have influence. Your voice matters and the more often it is heard the more power it has.

The GOP agenda is to make all LGBTQIA+ people socially invisible. We cannot let that happen. We can’t let Democrats throw us under the bus like that, either. We have to be so loud that we’re impossible to ignore.

Don’t let hate win.

Current Issues / News & Comment / pop culture

Make Stupidity Embarrassing Again

March 22, 2024

Dance The Night [2014 with AI background]

Stupid people have always been in existence. We tend to not hear of them in terms of history books because other people were too embarrassed to talk about them. Who ate that bad batch of mushrooms that told us they were poison? Oh, some random guy who put his stomach before his brain. We can learn what not to do from stupid people, but until recently we didn’t do things like making them internet famous or electing them to Congress. Here are just a few examples that came across my newsfeed today.

We noticed a few weeks ago that one of the windows at the Wing Stop on 10th Street was boarded up. Here’s why: Two people, one inside and the other outside, were shooting at each other. Over wings. Apparently, the in-store POS system was down and the customer was told they’d have to order and pay via the app. That didn’t set well and the customer went outside and decided to shoot up the store. Someone inside the store decided to shoot back. This is exceedingly embarrassing because who in their right mind gets that upset over Wing Stop wings?

Representative Marjorie Taylor Green has been a national embarrassment since she was first sworn into Congress. There’s no way to be sure, but she could be the stupidest person to ever occupy a seat in the legislature. Today, she filed a motion to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson because she didn’t like an appropriations bill the House passed to keep the government open. If a vote was taken today, the motion would lose significantly. What she fails to realize is that there is no true majority in the House at the moment. Whichever direction the Democrats vote is which side will win because the Republican party is too fractured to agree on anything. This makes it likely the next speaker could be a Democrat.

Being able to Zoom into funerals that are, for example, too far away to travel, seems like a nice perk, doesn’t it? But actually using Zoom safely can sometimes be a tricky affair and if you’re not on point, it can get embarrassing. A congregation in Barnet, north London was attending the service of a man who had died of cancer. A business acquaintance clicked the Zoom link not realizing that her camera was on. The entire church got to watch her take a shower.

Oh, and don’t forget the former president who looked at an eclipse without using solar glasses. It’s embarrassing anyone still mentions his name.

Seriously, let’s make stupidity embarrassing again.

Current Issues / News & Comment / pop culture

Raging Mad

March 21, 2024

Raving Mad [2014 original photo with AI background]

One of the things that drives me nuts is when the phone rings while I’m taking a nap and I can’t tell who it is. There are enough spammers and scammers out there that if there’s not a name I recognize attached to the call, I’m not answering the damn phone. Ever. The technology for listing a company name with a phone number has existed forever at this point. There is zero reason for your company name to not show up anytime anyone from your company calls someone else. There’s no legitimate reason for you to hide who you are.

I don’t understand why it is legal to mask your phone number. I especially don’t understand why it is legal to use someone else’s name on the number you’re masking. From my perspective, the entire practice seems to have absolutely no purpose but to commit fraud. So, why in hell would I answer one of those numbers?

The problem is, that I’m apparently missing calls from insurance and healthcare providers because there’s no identification when they call. I had a letter from my insurance provider a couple of weeks ago that started, “I’ve been trying to reach you by phone…” Okay, explain to me why, then, when I compare your listed phone number with the list of recent missed calls, there’s nothing remotely similar on the list. You work for a large company. When you call, I should see the name of the fucking company! If I don’t, then I’m going to assume that you’re not legitimate.

The FCC posted a warning in 2022 regarding what they call “spoofing.” Their first suggestion for avoiding spoofing is: “Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers. If you answer such a call, hang up immediately.” See? Even the FCC agrees you shouldn’t answer unidentified numbers! Their page also includes a form for filing a complaint, though I’m not sure it works since, for some stupid reason, the practice is illegal.

WHY is this legal? If you know, please explain it to me like I’m five. Okay?

On Monday, we published a long read about exclusivity in which we used Apple as an example of a company that relies heavily on the exclusiveness of its product to boost the company’s value. Well, low and behold, that practice has backfired. Earlier today, the Justice Department hit Apple with an antitrust lawsuit for unfairly monopolizing the market. At first glance, this might raise some questions because there are millions of people, like me, who don’t use any Apple products. My Samsung S22 Ultra works just fine, thank you very much, and has plenty of features that Apple doesn’t offer.

The phone market isn’t exactly what has the Justice Department concerned, however. In the filing, the Justice Department alleges that Apple used “a series of shapeshifting rules and restrictions in its App Store guidelines and developer agreements that would allow Apple to extract higher fees, thwart innovation, offer a less secure or degraded user experience, and throttle competitive alternatives.

Specifically, the complaint accuses the tech giant of boxing out smaller competitors by blocking the expansion of apps that allow for multifunctional use; disrupting messaging formats and capabilities between Apple and non-Apple devices; and monopolizing the use of tap-to-pay functions on iPhones so that they only use the Apple Wallet.

Here’s the rub: Apple made over $400 billion in revenue last year. There is no way in hell that this lawsuit is going to put the company in a financial position so severe that they dramatically alter their practices; it’s not going to happen. Sure, Apple will fight the lawsuit because they have a fiduciary duty to do so, but the move doesn’t scare them any. They will continue to be the tech juggernaut that they are. They will continue to overprice their products. They will continue to make sure life is difficult for their competitors. That’s the Apple way.

And you help them every time you buy their shit.

Yeah, if this kind of stuff doesn’t drive you a bit mad, I worry about you.

Current Issues / Morning Update / Personal

Morning Update: 03/21/24

March 21, 2024

Birds & Feathers [2015 original photo, AI background]

Everything was going sort of okay until I tried to get out of bed. Belvedere’s noggin was going one way, mine was going another, and they collided hard enough to knock us both down. Even now, 14 hours later, I can still feel where our heads met each other. I wasn’t good for the rest of the day. My balance is still off. I almost fell forward putting the food in the dogs’ bowls. This is 100% a side effect of the chemo, but it’s also one of the side effects that may never go away.

G had a better day. He’s been saving up his money for months and was finally able to purchase a Meta Quest 2 VR headset. Setting it up took a while, but once he had it going he was having all kinds of fun. Is there a chance this is going to be a problem? Yes. He isn’t aware of who/what is around him when he’s wearing the headset. The best move is to announce which side of him you’re on. Unfortunately, the animals can’t do that. I’m waiting for a cat to become an unintended victim of a wayward step.

Watching the kids as they eagerly anticipate the arrival of packages is almost as much fun as Christmas. The excitement isn’t about the surprise factor because they know what they’re getting. The joy is centered around the fulfillment of desire, seeing something for which they’ve worked come to realization. I hope they are able to keep that joy their entire lives.

Temperatures have dropped again this morning. Taking the dogs out required layering coats. Of course, the pups don’t understand why I can’t just hop out of bed and open the back door. They get antsy waiting for me to get dressed and the more I have to wear the more anxious they become. And why am I, and so many other older people, obsessed with the weather? I asked the internet but there’s no scientific conclusion. There are moderately entertaining guesses here, here, and here, but I wouldn’t put too much weight on their accuracy. I find it interesting, though, that the thing we teased my father about is now the same thing I do each morning.

Apparently, we now have to worry about the safety of our water. Newsweek reported yesterday that water systems around the US are being hit by cyberattacks that threaten the safety of the nation’s drinking water. While water companies would presumably have time to warn people about the quality of water, there are plenty of problems with this situation and no one seems to have a firm grasp as to how to handle them. Water utilities are, at best, controlled by local municipalities. At worst, such as in Indy, they’ve been privatized by companies who have a profit obligation above the need for safety. Since boiling the water usually makes it safe to drink, I’m sticking to coffee for now.

Have you noticed how many critical world leaders are a lot older than I am? Not only is the US president and the opposition leader in the 80s, Russia’s Putin is 71, King Charles is seventy-something, and German chancellor Olaf Scholz is 65. Okay, 65 isn’t that old, but the other guys are at an age where the line between wisdom and tottering old fool is dangerously thin. We are entrusting our lives and our well-being to these idiots. You’d think the people of the world would be a lot more selective, but the systems are stacked against us. The Brits don’t really have a choice at all.

ABC News is reporting that the US has finally submitted a proposal to the UN for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza based on hostage release. I fail to understand why a cease-fire is being so difficult to pass. How can countries not be in favor of a cease-fire for any reason other than the selfish gain coming from the war? Of course, even if the UN passes the damn thing, it doesn’t have the power to enforce it. Israel will continue to do whatever the fuck it wants to do and the US Congress will continue to support them even as the rest of the world screams foul. This, among other things, is why the US is no longer in the top 20 happiest countries on earth. We keep making stupid choices.

Finally, I’ve talked all week about Comic Con being in Indy this weekend. Yes, that means thousands of strangely dressed people are heading downtown for three days starting tomorrow. You know what else, though? Indy is also hosting the first two rounds of March Madness. That means thousands of basketball fans descending on the same downtown area. Oh, and the Indiana National Guard is hosting a gun and knife show. I’m sure there’s no way those three things could collide horribly. And I’m just supposed to let my 14-year-old roam free down there with only her boyfriend for protection? I’m not going to tell her she can’t go, but this Dad is looking for ways to beef up her security. If you have any reasonable solutions, let me know.

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Current Issues / News & Comment

Information Randomized

March 20, 2024

Relaxing Afternoon [2014 original photo with AI background]

While I was napping, Dreamhost, my favorite web hosting company, moved all my sites to newer, faster servers. The result should be faster loading speeds, especially on posts with full-sized images. I’ve been trying to find a balance between having a lean website and still hosting full-resolution images. This is going to help considerably. Let me know if you continue to have any problems.

Meanwhile, the Republican Study Committee (RSC) is calling for an undetermined increase in the retirement age to offset longer life expectancy. This would mean that instead of retiring at age 67, one would have to work however much longer before being able to access the funds that you specifically invested in the fund while you worked. This is the Republican’s way of “going after Social Security.”

According to CBS News, The deal on the appropriations bill includes a ban on “all direct U.S. funding for… the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees until March 2025.” This would severely hamper any aid service for Palestinian Refugees displaced by the war with Israel. If this isn’t blatant government racism, I don’t know what it is. I’m severely disappointed that the White House would agree to such a ban.

Alanbama’s governor has signed into effect a law banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across public schools, universities, and state agencies. If the law survives inevitable legal challenges, it will be a horrible step in the conservative effort to erase LGBTQ+ people from society. The bill also requires that higher education institutions designate bathrooms “for use based on biological sex,” banning trans people from using public bathrooms that align with their gender identity. Especially harmful, also bans discussions of “whether slavery and racism are aligned with the founding principles of the United States.” In other words, Alabama wants to live in a fantasy land full of lies.

The state of Tennessee has gone off the fucking rails. SB2691 passed the state senate on Monday. The bill states that is is “documented the federal government or other entities acting on the federal government’s behalf or at the federal government’s request may conduct geoengineering experiments by intentionally dispersing chemicals into the atmosphere, and those activities may occur within the State of Tennessee.” The bill also says, “The intentional injection, release, or dispersion by any means, of chemicals chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus within the borders of this state into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight is prohibited.” Two things are obvious. These senators have forgotten that federal acts and legislation supersede state law. Also, they flunked high school science classes.

For everyone else who missed that part of your education, here’s what really causes the contrails behind jet planes.

I’m constantly amazed at how stupid people are.

Art / Current Issues / Fashion

No Bra Needed

March 18, 2024

Let’s talk for just a moment about how incredible actress Sydney Sweeney looks in this sculpted top from Balmain! I really have to wonder whether Olivier Rousteing made this specifically to fit her body. I can’t imagine this ever being a look that one would find in any store anywhere! The look is nothing short of stunning on its own, but on someone like Sweeney, it reaches its pinnacle of artistry. Cheers to Olivier for such creative and eye-catching creativity!

So, why the hell is the media making such a big deal about the fact that Sweeney isn’t wearing a bra? What level of fashion senselessness does one have to have to even consider wearing a bra with a wonderful look like this? To do so would absolutely destroy the silhouette and cheapen the look! Enough with the damn prudishness already! 2024 is the year of sheer already! We’ve seen dozens of actresses and models out in public with sheer tops and dresses brilliantly showing off a lot more than we see here. There is zero reason for making a headline about there not being a bra under the top. Who the fuck is approving these articles?

We left Puritanism behind in the 16th century. Fashion has done amazing things since then and giving women the freedom to wear whatever they want, wherever they want is central to our progress as a society. Hell, if we can tolerate men wearing loafers without socks, we can tolerate women not wearing a bra, especially with a look as stunning as this one. There are a lot of people who simply need to get the fuck over themselves and let people live.

Cancer Update / Current Issues / Morning Update / News & Comment / Social Commentary

Morning Update: 03/16/24

March 16, 2024

Everyone slept. Both kids came in from school, went straight to bed, and didn’t wake up until late. No one had dinner. No one did chores. They just slept. I’m not complaining. I had a 16+ hour sleeping day myself. I can’t explain why yesterday was more tiresome than others, but we were all caught by the plague and I’m not hearing anyone complain about it this morning. Will that translate to increased activity today? That’s doubtful, but we’ll see. Tipper is motivated to finish up her costume for ComicCon next weekend, so that may keep her awake for a while. G, though, is still dragging a bit this morning.

I’m still kinda bummed that we don’t have corned beef to cook for tomorrow. The prices are too high. We can’t get a small amount, either. The kids plow through a three-pound slab without raising their heads. Meat, in general, has gotten too expensive for modest budgets. We have plenty of beans if I remember to put them on to soak the night before, but again, there’s that problem of falling asleep and not waking up in time.

One of my former babysitters (understand, she babysat me and my brother) posted last night that she was making cinnamon rolls from scratch and I swear I can smell them coming out of the oven. Of course, 500 miles is too great a distance to even think about having her send me a pan. Plenty of bakeries make cinnamon rolls, but there’s nothing like the texture, flavor, and smell of those fresh out of someone’s home oven. Do I need them? No, of course not. They sure would make me feel good while I was eating them, though.

Food is a critical element for anyone, but the combination of chemo and diabetes makes it a critical matter. Not eating isn’t an option and could potentially have deadly results. Eating comfort food, like cinnamon rolls, doesn’t help my sugar intake. I have to eat something when taking the chemo, but if it’s too heavy I get indigestion. In fact, eating too much blocks the effects of the chemo, so that’s not a helpful path. Trying to keep everything in balance is a daily challenge. We know lean meats and veggies are best, but for breakfast? Who wants green beans for breakfast?

The State of Indiana is getting its Happy Hour back. 40 years ago, the state banned the practice of Happy Hour at bars and restaurants out of concern that it encouraged people to over-consume alcohol within a short period of time, leading to more drunk driving. As of July 1, it’s back. The state legislature passed the bill earlier this year and Gov. Holcomb signed it yesterday at one of the city’s oldest bars.

Here’s the catch: Happy Hour cannot extend beyond 9:00 PM. That sets the stage for a number of hypothetical situations. One would be that people might be encouraged to get their drunk on earlier, releasing them into the wild during rush hour. Another might be that bars that offer Happy Hour could see a significant downturn in business after 9:00 PM. A third possibility is that it could bring back the after-hours office drinking that was once a regular part of any business.

Are those concerns still applicable, though? With so much work being done remotely, there aren’t as many people in offices who want to get together after work. They have children and pets to get home to. They have errands to try and run. And younger employees simply aren’t interested.

Bars and restaurants are still not the late-night draw that they were before COVID. Kat came out of a performance venue last night to nearly empty streets in one of the most fashionable areas of town. Bars struggle to pull people in late because young people especially are interested in things other than drinking until they puke. That doesn’t mean you won’t find a party here or there, but ask almost any bar owner and they’ll tell you that they’re struggling to attract and keep people very late, especially during the week.

As for the drunk driving concerns, rates of drunk driving fatalities have been steadily on the downturn since 1985. Sure, even one death is devastating, but once again, that 21-35-year-old demographic that was previously responsible for so many tragedies is more responsible for their drinking than their parents’ generation.

The proof is in the pudding and it seems natural that there could be an uptick in public drunkenness and drunk driving during the latter part of the summer. But overall, I don’t think there’s much danger of returning to the levels that existed all the way back when I was in college. We were the generation that defined rowdy drunken parties. I’m hopeful our children learned to not make the same mistakes.

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Cancer Update / Current Issues / Morning Update / Personal

Morning Update: 03/15/24

March 15, 2024

We survived the storms. Marion County never was in that much danger, but all the surrounding counties were. The alarms went off because of protocol, but there was no rotation anywhere over the city. We’re safe. I walked the yard with the dogs this morning and there is no noticeable damage. The cold breeze from the North is less than welcome, but we are thankfully better off than many of the areas around us. We are grateful.

Good news came from someone within the Social Security system. I’m still trying to figure out if it’s disability or Social Security proper. I know it’s not SSI because the letter specifically says that is still in process. Still, it means a month from now we should finally start getting some financial assistance. I still need to re-apply for Medicaid apparently. I thought that was being handled during the phone interview two weeks ago, but that assumption now seems to be wrong. If I can get all my ducks to at least acknowledge one another then perhaps we can find a solution so that Kat isn’t stressed from worrying about me all the time.

The dogs did not take well to yesterday’s storms, especially those early afternoon. Not only were they cuddled up in bed with me, they were both doing their best to lie on top of me. Their weight combined with arthritis pain made enduring that portion of the storm excruciating. They rarely get that anxious about anything so I was surprised by their behavior.

As I was perusing social media this morning, I noticed a post from a friend who is also dealing with chemo. She lamented how she has no one to talk with, no one to lean on and provide any level of emotional support. I’m not sure people understand that chemo and its effects are not a short-term thing. We don’t just go for a few weeks until everything is okay. Oral chemo is a multi-year treatment. Every day is a chemo day. How we feel can turn on a dime. What we’re physically capable of doing can change in an instant. We need people who will take time to help, to listen, and to be there while our bodies are being decimated in an effort to rid ourselves of this disease. Can you be one of those people?

There are so many parts of the world I fail to understand at the moment. On one hand, a woman running for NC state school superintendent is allowed to call for the public execution of people whose views she doesn’t like. Meanwhile, Ayro, the parent company of Pornhub, had to completely block access to the site in the state of Texas because of a new law requiring proof of age. I thought that technology already existed, but apparently not sufficiently to satisfy the Texas law. All of this while the Senate now debates whether to ban social media platform TikTok from the US because of fear its Chinese owners are using it to spy.

When Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote The Scarlet Letter in 1850, he skewered the puritanical laws and attitudes that assaulted free speech and highlighted the hypocritical actions of those in authority, particularly the clergy. One would think that a society moving forward from that point would learn the lessons of the fictional book, see the dangers of their ways, and make some changes. Obviously, not only have we not learned, but we’ve doubled down on the nonsense of trying to regulate personal morality. We’re still frightened by the sight of a woman’s breast but not a man’s. Media routinely slut shames women whose attire is deemed inappropriate. And heaven forbid anyone have more than one sex partner. If anything, our society is worse about enforcing an unreasonable moral code now than it was 200 years ago!

We have to stand up not only for free speech rights but for freedom of personhood. I am the only one who has any right to decide what course of action is best for me and I don’t have the right to force anyone else to agree with my moral choices. What I have the right to do, however, is insist that you keep your lousy, hypocritical, religiously-based nonsense out of my life. You don’t get to limit my choices. You can take your made-up pseudo-psychology claptrap and shove it up your ass. The world doesn’t need anyone enforcing a moral code. If you need religion, or laws, to make you a good person, then chances are pretty damn high that you are not a good person.

My stats tell me we need a lot more people to subscribe and it wouldn’t hurt if you shared posts that you find informative or helpful. Since we’re not wasting time on social media anymore, getting anyone’s attention is a lot more difficult. We appreciate your help. Thank you.

Current Issues / pop culture / Social Commentary

Burgers Aren’t Cheap

March 14, 2024

One doesn’t have to be as old as I am to remember a day when fast food burgers were the most inexpensive way to feed yourself or a family. Burgers were under a dollar. Fries might cost 85 cents. Drinks were maybe 50 cents if you got the large size. Those days have been gone for quite a while, but an article I was reading this week brought home just how much the cost of those fast food meals has increased. So much so, that in some cases, it can be cheaper to dine indoors with seated service, even with tip included.

Case in point, Chili’s has a deal called 3-for-Me, an entree, side, and drink, for a relatively low price. There are three burger combinations included with the deal that are listed as only $10.99. Understand, this is a decent-sized, well-complimented burger (equal to a double-meat burger in most fast food places), a healthy serving of fries, and a soda, with seated service and refills on the drinks. Even with tip and tax, you’re getting out for under $15 and don’t have the stress of trying to eat in the car, or waiting until you get home and having to warm up your food in the microwave.

How does this compare to fast food? I thought the best way to compare this is to make a table. We’re using a burger, fries, and drink or something equivalent for comparison. Take a look:

McDonald‘s Big Mac meal with large fries and soda	$9.89
Burger King Double Whopper meal with large fries and soda	$12.19
Hardee’s Super Star Combo	$11.78
Sonic Double Cheeseburger combo with large fries and soda	$10.89
Five Guys Cheeseburger, large fries and soda	$18.77
Arby’s Double Beef ‘N Cheddar meal	$10.99
KFC Three-piece chicken combo with side and drink	$9.19
Applebee’s Neighborhood burger with fries and soda	$14.98

Caveat: These prices are accurate as of March 14, 2024, in certain Midwest markets. Prices vary by location.

Sure, all of these places have cheaper options. However, we’re comparing burgers to burgers and it’s clear that fast food isn’t always your most economical choice. Fast food is really only advantageous if you have a legitimate time crunch. Otherwise, consider going inside and letting someone bring the food to you. Doing so is going to be less stressful, the food is going to be hotter and fresher, and you’re more likely to get the burger cooked the way you want it. Not to mention the fact that the burger may be healthier than what you’re picking up through the drive-thru. Who knows how long that Big Mac has been sitting there?

I’m not making any endorsements but be sure the next time I don’t feel like cooking, we’re going to consider our options a bit more carefully.

Cancer Update / Current Issues / Morning Update / Personal

Morning Update: 03/13/24

March 13, 2024

Time To Relax [2010] (AI background on original photo)

Taking a look at family things first: G has his PSAT test today. He’s anxious to get it over. I’m anxious for him. Standardized tests are a bitch. I took the ACT 1,000 years ago, not the SAT and both have changed a lot since then. I don’t feel qualified to offer any help. I told him “Good luck” as he left this morning. His only reply was, “Ugh. I wish.”

Tipper’s in here showing me furry paws she wants for ComiCon. The kids are out of school that Friday and she’s over-the-moon excited about the three-day event. She’s been saving her money and making different costume-related items for weeks. She has the $ and the paws are cute, complete with little toe beans. I don’t understand the culture. I don’t need to. It makes her happy and she’s not hurting anyone. I’m going to support her all I can.

The best part of the day for me yesterday was that it was warm enough to sit outside and take in some sun. I’m low on vitamin D anyway, so it helps to be out in that regard. The dogs also like the extra time being outside and frightening people walking by. What tickles me is that people see Hamilton (black lab/pit mix) and think he’s the dangerous one. Nope. Toss Ham a hard roll and he’ll bury the thing until it softens up. Belvedere (English hound) is the one with the jaw strength. Sure, he looks cute, but toss him a hard roll and it’s crunch right into the thing and it’s gone in seconds.

Among the things to do yesterday was complete a health survey the insurance company sent because “we’ve not been able to reach you by phone.” Do you want to know why you can’t reach me by phone? Because when you call, nothing is identifying the call as coming from you. I don’t pick up for numbers I don’t know. I need to see something that tells me you’re not a telemarketer or someone else looking to waste my time. This is especially important if you call while I’m napping. I take a brief look at the number and if there’s not a name I recognize on there, I’m going back to sleep.

While most of the questions were about health history, as one might expect, the one that always makes me giggle is, “Are you safe at home?” I understand this question coming from my doctor, but what is the insurance company going to do about it if I’m not safe? Are they going to help find me a safer place to live? Is there an Old Person Protective Agency they can call for assistance? Or are they going to call the police to come over and shoot me?

You’re an insurance agency. I find your attempts at empathy and caring disingenuous. We both know that your primary purpose is to avoid paying for healthcare so that you can keep more of the premiums. There’s no sense in pretending otherwise. If you really cared, the copay to see my oncologist and other specialist wouldn’t be $35 per visit. I had to cancel an appointment this week because it’s a two-visit ordeal and I don’t have $70 for the copay. Don’t pretend to care when you’re still making sure I can’t afford healthcare.

HAPPY SLEEP AWARENESS WEEK!

Did you know that this is Sleep Awareness Week? I didn’t either until an app on my watch told my phone to remind me. [Yes, that’s how I get my critical information now.] I found it interesting that I got the notice on a day after I’d slept 11.3 hours straight, with another three hours added on in the afternoon. I’m still averaging between 13 and 16 hours of sleep per day. Some days those sleep periods are broken up, other days they’re more contiguous. The chemo gives me little choice in the scheduling.

I don’t think I know any intelligent adult who would deny the fact that sleep is important. It’s not only important that we get regular amounts of sleep, but that we have a sleep schedule that is steady and reliable. We understand the importance of having a comfortable place to sleep that supports our back and neck. There’s no problem with the basics.

However, there are a number of myths that linger around sleep and those are what do the most damage. We believe these tales that have been handed down over the generations and we find them difficult to give up. Here are a few examples.

Myth: Sleep is not a priority for health. One dangerous myth is the belief that diet and exercise are more important for overall health. In reality, sleep is crucial for physical health, emotional well-being, and cognitive performance. Lack of sleep can lead to a host of health problems, including obesity and heart disease, both of which are severe problems in the US.

Myth: Less sleep is needed as you age. If that were true, I’d be severely oversleeping. While sleep patterns do change as we age, the need for sleep does not drastically decrease. Adults typically require 7-9 hours of sleep per night.

Myth: Snoring is harmless. Hello? Sleep apnea, anyone? Although snoring is common and sometimes harmless, it can also be a sign of serious breathing and heart issues linked to all sorts of fun diseases including stroke. Here’s a hint: if it’s bothering someone, you might want to get that checked out.

Myth: You can catch up on lost sleep. Many believe that sleeping more on weekends can compensate for sleep lost during the week. Nope. While a little extra sleep can help relieve part of a sleep debt (great, another debt to worry about), it cannot completely make up for the lack of sleep and its effects on the body over a longer period. People who work the third shift tend to be especially ill-affected by this one.

Myth: It’s healthy to be able to fall asleep anywhere, anytime. There are a lot of people, especially those who’ve been in the military, who fall asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow or sleep in any situation. However, this can actually indicate sleep deprivation. Ideally, falling asleep should take 10-20 minutes. I have a lot of trouble falling asleep too quickly. I have to be careful.

Myth: Alcohol helps you sleep. Not really. While alcohol might help you fall asleep faster, or in places you didn’t intend to sleep, it disrupts your sleep cycle. Particularly interrupted is REM sleep which is important for memory and learning. This leads to poorer quality sleep and, yeah, you’re gonna have a hangover.

There are tons of websites with good advice on getting healthier sleep. If you have lingering questions, especially if you keep waking up during the night, please talk to your doctor. When we’re not getting enough sleep, it’s often because our bodies are trying to tell us something. Heed the call. Get help!

There are plenty of other things to talk about, like the US House of Representatives voting on a TikTok ban, the myth of noncitizens voting, and other silly things such as Kristen Stewart’s wardrobe. Maybe we’ll get to those, maybe we won’t. I already need a shower. I’m not sure I want to wallow in a mess that would have me wanting to take more than one. I do know that it’s supposed to be another beautiful day in the Midwest, so I’m hoping to get some more vitamin D. We’re going to do our best to make this a good day despite having to take on some difficult conversations.

I’m not good with difficult conversations. I’d rather just skip those. We’ll see.

Current Issues / Politics

Republicans Are Not Patriots

March 12, 2024

As much as they like to blabber on about patriotism, the Constitution, and American nationalism, the current GOP is not a patriotic party and the people who are running it are not patriots. Therefore, it stands to reason, that if you are voting for them, you are not patriotic, either.

Ever since Lara Trump was elected head of the GOP last week, 60 full-time staffers have either been fired or asked to resign and reapply for their jobs. They’re being replaced with solid nutcases who support the 45th president without hesitation, no questions asked. That’s a problem, considering the fact that the former president is a fascist (look it up in a real dictionary).

I’m so very happy that Jon Stewart is back on The Daily Show for this election season. He caps this off so very well.

Current Issues / science / video

And The Oscar for Best Picture Goes To…

March 10, 2024

I haven’t seen the movie Oppenheimer because theatres are still a dangerous place for me to exist. Will it win the most Oscars tonight? I’ve no idea, but Brian Cox’s opinion is interesting.

And then Neil deGrasse Tyson and Brian Greene give their opinion on both the movie and the person.

Science doesn’t get a lot of attention in the movies and when it does it’s usually wrong. We’ll be anxious to see how the Academy responds.

Current Issues / Hashtag Philosophy / pop culture

Self Care Vs. Controlling Behavior

March 9, 2024

How To Tell The Difference

Out On A Ledge [Original 2009 photo with AI background added]

Self care is a popular piece of what I call hashtag philosophy. While the topic is a legitimate form of psychological study and treatment, its popularity exceeds its actual scholarship and far too many people (in my opinion) are claiming self care around activities and actions that do more harm than good, for themselves and others. As a result, when someone claims they’re acting out of self care, others are more likely to respond dismissively than supportive, diminishing any benefits.

We all have elements of self care to which we have to attend. Here are some of mine:

Drinking at least 46 ounces of clear, non-caffeinated, non-carbonated liquid. This is necessary to prevent dehydration caused by the chemo.
Resting whenever I feel tired, not because I’m lazy but because the chemo, and the CLL itself, leave me exhausted and unable to function at a normal level.
Severely limiting the amount of sugar I consume. I’m Type 2 diabetic and that complicates the cancer treatment.
Exercising caution in the amount of public interaction I have. Having CLL and being on chemo means having practically zero immunity to anything, despite vaccinations. Spaces that are too crowded or being confined with someone who is ill are situations I try to avoid.
Avoiding strenuous activity. Lifting heavy packages, chasing the dogs when they escape, or anything else that might put my physical body under duress can cause an adverse reaction, including high blood pressure and/or increased risk of heart attack.

My situation drives my self care needs and those needs, in turn, are the basis for the boundaries I set. Whether those needs are met is almost exclusively my choice. Even when the dogs escape, I’ve learned that running after them is typically not the most efficient response; it leaves me winded, and I’m putting myself in danger. The dogs will come back once they’ve had their little romp. If I choose to ignore a self care boundary, I do so knowing the risks.

However, actions I undertake to keep myself safe and healthy should not get in the way of the fact that I am, as we all are, part of a community. My community is considerably smaller now than it once was due to my limitations, but regardless of the situation, my self care should not cause me to lose empathy, impose undue restrictions on others, avoid responsibilities, or make unreasonable demands.

I saw a meme recently that said, “Telling your partner where you are, who you are with, what time are you coming home is not being controlled, it’s RESPECT.”

I don’t necessarily disagree (despite the fact it’s a poorly phrased expression). Clear communication of expectations is necessary for a healthy relationship. However, to demand absolute adherence to that statement is a) presumptive, b) lacking in trust, and c) aggressively controlling. If one is demanding this information of their partner at every juncture, they’re being manipulative and potentially abusive.

For example, my partner is not home as I write this. I know where they probably are and who they probably are with, but if they’re not where I think they are, I’m not going to get upset. They are an adult. They know how to set their boundaries. I’ve seen them walk away from situations that are physically or emotionally threatening. I’m not their parent. I don’t need to know what they’re doing and who is keeping them company every minute of the day. If I were to start texting them or calling them demanding to know all the little details of their life, I’d be an asshole.

This topic is top of mind at the moment because I’ve been made aware of multiple situations where genuine assholes, one of which I formerly called a friend, are exhibiting narcissistic behavior and calling it self care. I didn’t want to say anything until I’d at least checked for literature on the topic. Turns out, there’s almost no literature, especially from peer-reviewed sources of any authority.

What I did find was a self-published article by a Cape Town, SA psychologist, Joan Swart, titled “The Dark Side of Self-Care.” I’m not qualified to confirm anything she says, but there are a couple of statements I think bear quoting.

“The line between self-care and narcissism can become blurred when the practice of self-care devolves into an obsessive focus on self. When an individual is so engrossed in meeting their own needs that they start neglecting the feelings and needs of those around them, self-care starts morphing into narcissistic behavior. This could manifest in consistently prioritizing personal needs over those of others, even in situations where others are in a state of greater need.“

…

“This tendency of avoidance can seep into emotional processing as well. Self-care activities, if employed as a constant escape route from tough emotions, can inhibit emotional growth. A person might turn to yoga, meditation, or their favorite TV show each time they experience sadness or anxiety, seeking distraction rather than confrontation. While these practices can offer temporary relief, they may not address the root cause of these emotions. Over time, this could result in an accumulation of unresolved emotional issues, leading to more intense emotional distress.”

Again, I’m not a clinician nor do I possess the credentials to pass authoritative judgment on Dr. Swart’s article, but I see a lot there that rings true based on my anecdotal experience.

One particular ongoing situation of which I am aware is a couple who share two young children. Earlier in their relationship, she had a decent-paying job, a house in her name with the title clear, and her own transportation. He brought little more than companionship and sperm count to the relationship. Now, with the kids both of school age, she is no longer employed, does not have transportation, and is financially responsible for all utilities and food. He has a decent-paying job and transportation via a company vehicle. Common sense dictates that he participate in paying a portion, if not all, of the utilities and food.

Instead, he spends over $300/month for cigarettes and soft drinks for himself, nothing for groceries, and only $10 since October 2023 for utilities. The house is such a mess that there is a possible cause for the children to be removed from the home. He comes home from work and plays video games. That’s it. His excuse? Self care. “I’m tired. I need a break. I work, I shouldn’t have to do anything else (such as take care of the kids).”

See the problem? His concept of self care has dissolved into a level of avoidance and narcissism that is endangering both the relationship and the children.

Given all the pitfalls, (Dr. Swart outlines a few quite nicely) one might wonder what the difference is between healthy self care and unhealthy behavior. Let me give you a few examples. SC = self care, UB = unhealthy behavior.

SC: I need x hours of sleep so I create an environment for myself that facilitates that with minimal impact on others.
UB: I need x hours of sleep so everyone better shut the fuck up and leave me alone so I can get it and it’s your fault if I don’t.

SC: I have medically necessary dietary needs. I purchase my own food and if necessary prepare it separately so as to not impose upon the desires of others.
UB: Coffee and soda are prohibited in this house because they’ll make me sick and irritable. Don’t you dare bring that stuff in here!

SC: I have social needs so I make arrangements with friends to meet up in ways that accommodate both of our schedules.
UB: I don’t want to leave the house, it makes me anxious. Why don’t you ever come over to visit?

I’ll assume that’s enough to make my point. With true self care, the responsibility for my needs is mine. I don’t expect or demand others to go out of their way to meet my needs. I am empathetic to the needs of others and do not impose my limitations inappropriately.

Taking care of yourself is a necessity. So is being responsible for yourself. Don’t be the asshole who makes your self care everyone else’s problem.

Editorial note: The decision to not hyphenate Self Care was intentional because, in my opinion, it does not meet the the grammatical qualifications for hyphenation.

Personal note: Writing this has severely taxed my mental acuities this afternoon. I started thinking I was coherent enough to make an intelligent statement. By the time I was halfway through, I was having to look up several words that are a normal part of my vocabulary because I couldn’t remember them. This is part of the fun of being on Chemo.

Current Issues / News & Comment / Politics / Social Commentary

But It’s Good For You!

March 8, 2024

Waves Of Sand [AI background behind original 2009 photo]

I think we are becoming increasingly like our pets. We’ve slept all morning. Again. In fact, it’s been me, both dogs and, at times, six cats all snuggled up together as if our lives depended upon the joint body heat. If I don’t have something specific to occupy my time, such as joining someone for coffee, I will sleep. If I complain about all the sleeping, I’m told, “Your job right now is to get rest.” In other words, sleeping all this time is supposed to be good for me. Chemo is hard on the body. Get rest.

I’m noticing, however, that not everything that’s supposed to be good for you actually is. The US, Jordan, Egypt, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium engaged in a joint aid drop over Gaza earlier today. The packages contained much-needed food and basic medical supplies. This is a good thing, it would seem, given the inability to get aid to the people starving in Gaza.

What happened? One of the parachutes on a “parcel” failed to fully deploy causing it to crash to the ground killing five and wounding eleven. Obviously, this wasn’t the size parcel UPS typically carries. The package was supposed to help. It did exactly the opposite.

Aid groups also criticized the drop as being “wholly insufficient” to meet the growing humanitarian need in Gaza. A UN aid coordinator said that the airdrops were a “last resort.” Israel and Hamas have made any other means of supplying aid impossible. Wanting to do good and being able to do good are rarely unified when dealing with matters of this scale.

What’s next? In his State of the Union address last night, President Biden said, “I’m directing the US military to lean an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters.” The mission will take weeks to plan and develop before any aid flows through the pier, but it sounds like something good to do, doesn’t it?

Maybe. What happens if Israel decides that somehow Hamas is using the pier? Are they going to bomb US military personnel, aid personnel, and Palestinian aid workers? Can Hamas be trusted to let the aid come in and get to the places where it is most desperately needed or will the shipments be hijacked? There is the distinct possibility that’s what meant to help could make things much worse in the region.

Funny how there are so many people who don’t want things to go well, who don’t want people to be helped, unless they are the ones doing it. Stupid-fund baby Elon Musk is a prime example. Recently, he’s been trolling MacKenzie Scott, Jeff Bezos’ ex, for her no-strings-attached generosity. There she is out there trying to do good by not attaching a bunch of stupid rules to her donations, and for some absolutely ridiculous reason, Musk feels threatened.

Really? How the fuck is Musk concerned? How do Ms. Scott’s donations affect him in the slightest? Oh, he’s afraid she’s using charities as a front for PAC donations.

Let’s break this down: Billionaires are never self-made. Billionaires are hoarders. Billionaire wealth comes from the hard work and creativity of thousands of people who are paid too little for their labor. Billionaires don’t earn shit.

They sure do care a lot about their image, though. They’ll spend millions of dollars employing staff to do deep dives on the charities they might help fund. They apply a lot of rules as to what the recipients can and cannot do with the money. Reporting is critical. Why? The billionaires don’t want anything to go sideways and tarnish their image. They don’t want to be left looking foolish or like bad guys. They want applause. They want to give the appearance of caring about the organizations they fund.

Is anyone buying this bullshit?

Along comes Ms. Scott with the novel approach of no-strings-attached funding. No carefully negotiated contracts. No limits on how the funds are used. No penalties. Only straightforward generosity. Suddenly, all the boys in the club are scared. That should teach us something about the true motives of those who are complaining about Ms. Scott’s donations.

And accelerate the argument that billionaires need to be heavily taxed. They owe every country where they have operations. They have because others starve.

I think I need to lie back down.

Current Issues / Morning Update / News & Comment / Politics / pop culture

Morning update: 3/8/24

March 8, 2024

Never Safe Enough [AI background behind original 2008 photograph]

Multiple people in the family are sad this morning that Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball comics, has died at age 68. My older boys especially were obsessed with Dragon Ball when they were younger. It’s frightening how often creative lives run short.

I’m trying to settle in for a day of rain. Normally, that means extra pain meds to try and keep the arthritis at bay. This morning, oddly enough, it is only the end knuckles on three fingers on my right hand that are giving me fits. I’ve no idea why I’m getting this particular segmentation.

Reading through the reviews of last night’s State of the Union address, I’m convinced that the people in Georgia who elected Marjorie Taylor Greene must be as equally disgusting as she is. Otherwise, they would have had her out of office by now. She’s an embarrassment to a political system that does a good enough job of embarrassing itself.

How the hell do tires fall off an airplane? It happened to a United Airlines flight leaving San Francisco shortly after 11:30 yesterday. The tire fell into an employee parking lot, damaging several cars. This absolutely blows my mind. Why the fuck do we still fly when it’s increasingly obvious no one’s maintaining the damn planes?

My brain is not working well this morning. The number of corrections I have to make to my typing is disappointing. Maybe I’ll write more later.

Current Issues / Politics

Fact-Checking

March 8, 2024

Where’s Your Focus? [AI background on 2008 photograph]

I woke up a little before 1:00 AM EST to the sound of gunshots, six of them, somewhere to our South. This isn’t an unusual or surprising event. Neither does it necessarily mean that a violent action occurred. It did wake me up enough, though, to kick my stomach in gear. I needed a snack. Having retrieved and eaten said snack, I was now awake enough to look around and see that the president’s State of the Union address was a hot topic.

The thing about political speeches is that the first thing one has to do is try to wade past all the horse shit. They’re going to talk about taxes, job growth, inflation, etc. What matters is that we catch the falsehoods and understand what’s really going on. There’s a lot of context one needs to understand. Checking with a couple of major news outlets, the New York Times and CNN, one glaring issue is on the topic of crime, interesting given what woke me up.

The President claimed that violent crime is at the lowest level “in 50 years.” I just heard gunfire. I don’t feel as safe as I did eleven years ago when I first moved here. In response, Senator Katie Britt of Alabama claimed that “life is getting more and more dangerous.” Who’s correct? What are the facts, ma’am?

From the NYTimes:

Recent federal data does not support the notion that crime is on the rise. The F.B.I.’s annual crime report for 2022 showed that murders in the United States dropped just over 6 percent compared with the year earlier and, overall, violent crime also dipped. Available F.B.I. data for the first three quarters of 2023 shows that homicides were on track to drop significantly, among declines in other categories of violent and property crime.

From CNN:

Facts First: [The President’s statement] is true, at least based on preliminary 2023 data that should be treated with caution. The preliminary 2023 data published by the FBI, running through the third quarter of the year, showed that violent crime was down 8.2% compared to the same period in 2022 – a decline that would be “historically large” for a year, crime data expert Jeff Asher wrote in a December article. Asher wrote: “The quarterly data shows violent crime down in big cities, small cities, suburban counties, and rural counties, pretty much across the board.”

Senator Britt was lying through her polished teeth.

The Senator also stated, “We have the worst inflation in 40 years.”

From CNN:

Facts First: This claim is false. Britt could have accurately said, in past tense, that inflation was at a 40-year high when it hit its Biden-era peak of 9.1% in June 2022. But inflation has declined sharply since that June 2022 peak, and the most recent available rate, for January 2024, was 3.1%. The Biden presidency aside, that rate was exceeded as recently as 2011 – far less than 40 years ago.

Like Britt, former President Donald Trump and other Republicans have repeatedly ignored the decline in inflation since June 2022 to criticize Biden in the present tense.

More lies. More deception. Republicans have never been my favorite party, but this current incarnation reeks worse than a hog slop in the summertime. I guess that’s not surprising given the party’s leader looks like an overstuffed Berkshire.

There are now six cats and a black lab on my bed. I’m tired, but I’m not sure exactly where I’m supposed to sleep.

Current Issues

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