Wednesday, January 22, 2025

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Wednesday, January 22, 2025

January 22, 2025

What Would Batman Do?

AI photo of tractor with plow attachment moving across bloody ground with bones scattered.

For a long time, there have been people, almost smart individuals, who are convinced that we live in either a computer simulation or some other type of alternative reality. Most days, I roll my eyes at such ideas. How can we discern a fake reality when we don’t have a grip on true reality? But then, I started looking through the news this morning and I have to admit that something feels off. There’s snow on the water tower at Pensacola Beach. New Orleans’ Bourbon Street is covered in a white powder that didn’t come from Mexico. The first headline I see? ‘[Felonious Punk] pardons founder of Silk Road website.’ Just down the page from that was ‘Punk fires heads of TSA, Coast Guard and guts key aviation safety advisory committee.’

I think I have it figured out: we’re not in a simulation or alternative reality, we’re in a DC Comics’ Batman episode. The Penguin has managed to become president of Gotham, which is not just a city now but an entire country and his first act was to pardon all the other criminals sitting in Arkham. He then gets rid of law enforcement officials so that he and his friends can’t be arrested again. Drugs and weapons can freely enter the country and can even be ordered directly through the dark web! He sits on his throne and refers to this as the ‘Golden Age of Evil’ while dangerously playing with the Sword of Damocles.

Just like in the hit spinoff series, ‘The Penguin,’ Batman is nowhere to be found. Disappointing, isn’t it? We grew up thinking that a rich heir to his billionaire daddy’s fortune would become the dark-winged vigilante that brought justice to the world. Instead, the billionaires are all over in Davos slapping each other on the back. Has DC Comics been lying to us this entire time or did they just hire a new set of writers?

In this episode, the Felonious Punk Penguin, like any comic book villain, is testing his powers to see how much he can get away with. He starts by removing the Constitution and other founding documents as well as information about preceding presidents from the White House website. A handful of people grumble online, but not enough to bother him. Next, he eliminates traditional places of sanctuary such as churches and schools, opening the door to anyone being arrested anywhere. His administration directs all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion staff to be put on leave, making sure marginalized people stay marginalized. Police investigate whether foreign actors are paying for antisemitic crimes in Australia. Could this be the work of the Felon’s henchmen?

The truth is that no billionaire is coming to save us. Billionaires are how Felonious Punk made this rise to power in the first place. There’s no Alfred pulling strings down in the Batcave. Lucious Fox isn’t tinkering around with interesting gadgets that manage to stun but not kill anyone. If we’re going to get out of this mess, we have to do it ourselves and we can’t expect the police, the Justice Department, or anyone else in government to help us. This is all up to you and me. The gloves have to come off. There are no rules.

One of the first questions we have to ask ourselves is, “Who’s going to save Anne Frank?” White America has been fascinated with the story of the Jewish family hidden by friends and ultimately murdered by Nazis for nearly a century. What we’ve never dealt with, however, is how we would respond to a similar situation. It’s time to have that conversation. If ICE comes into your church building, are you going to stand in their way? If they come to your child’s school and interrupt their class to take away their best friend, will you intervene? If your next-door neighbors are targeted, will you hide them?

If you say you would help the Frank family but won’t lift a finger for an immigrant family now, you’re a fucking hypocrite and a bad person. I don’t want to know you. I don’t want to see you. Go away. Do we not have a moral responsibility to humanity to protect those prosecuted by evil? Or are we too fucking blind to see the evil standing right before us?

Dear citizens of Gotham, the time has come to write your part. What are you going to do? Are you going to linger in the shadows, a faceless part of the crowd? Are you going to huddle around your fire and deny access to anyone else who’s shivering in the cold? Or are you going to help those who are targeted, give voice to the marginalized, and do what you can to foil the plans of Felonious Punk and his henchmen?

Temps are cold enough this morning that the kids’ school has declared this an e-learning day. The whole concept of e-learning is that you don’t have to be physically present to learn and do something positive. Dear US citizens: this is your e-learning day. Login. Take a good look at the assignment, and then get it done. You already have everything you need.

And if you need one, coffee is the universal antidote for everything.

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Tuesday, January 21, 2025

January 21, 2025

Defy. Resist. Dissent.

The tortured souls of those who gave their lives defending their country scream in anguish as the Felonious Punk destroys the constitution

Welcome to the Deep Freeze. When the Gulf (of Mexico) coast is forecasted to receive as much as twelve inches of snow, it’s time to pack everything up and stay inside for a while. We’re keeping the kids home from school today because, once again, it’s too damn cold for them to be standing at a bus stop. The ground was frozen to a degree that dirt crunched beneath my feet when I took the dogs out. My bones ache deep into their marrow. The animals are tightly snuggled together to preserve their body heat. I couldn’t write a more harrowing beginning to a novel of apocalyptic horror if I tried.

No one here watched the inauguration. We’re just not that into insipid stupidity. I’ve not read ‘the speech,’ and I won’t. I don’t mind fiction all that much, but I’m not into pompous self-aggrandizing from someone who is barely literate. No one who stood in the Capitol Rotunda yesterday has my respect. I refuse to acknowledge any authority they might claim. I will not use their names. I actively resist this entire administration and everything it attempts to do.

I didn’t turn off my news tickers yesterday, primarily because I was afraid that I might miss something legitimately newsworthy. While I was hoping for a mass suicide event in the Rotunda, I’ll settle for President Biden commuting the sentence of Leonard Peltier on his way out the door. Understand, a commutation is not the same as a pardon. This champion of Indigenous American rights is still technically under arrest but can finish out his days at home where he can receive the medical care he needs. The FBI can go pound sand on this matter. Peltier has always claimed innocence and there is plenty of evidence to support that claim, but because two federal agents were killed all the feds care about is having a scapegoat. Peltier has never been dangerous, but I remain hopeful that his words inspire an uprising.

The true criminals begin with the oaf who wouldn’t bother to put his hand on the Bible while taking the oath of office. You know, that thing that begins with “I swear…” If he’s not swearing on the Bible, then what’s the authority on which he’s swearing? His actions deny there being any authority greater than himself, which means it is up to us to prove how wrong he is.

Other low points of the day include but are not limited to the following:

The Punk signed an executive order beginning the process of withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organization.
Revoking protections for transgender troops. The military doesn’t keep a unified list, so the whole concept becomes a deep invasion of personhood and privacy.
Declaring a national emergency on the U.S.-Mexico border, suspending refugee resettlement, and ending automatic citizenship for anyone born in the U.S. Given that birthright citizenship is protected by the 18th Amendment, the Punk is effectively violating the Constitution on this one.
Temporarily suspending all U.S. foreign assistance programs for 90 days pending reviews to determine whether they are aligned with his policy goals. Spoiler alert, funding already approved by Congress is obligated to be spent. The Punk does not have the power to stop it.
Halting offshore wind lease sales and pausing the issuance of approvals, permits, and loans for both onshore and offshore wind projects. Does the Punk understand what he’s doing? No. Does this have everything to do with preserving oil money? Yes.
Directing the Homeland Security and Justice departments to prepare for him to use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which allows the president to deport any noncitizen from a country considered an enemy of the U.S. No one in the US is safe regardless of immigration status.
Rescinded a 2021 order signaling the Education Department would use Title IX to protect against discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. This action puts your children in danger.
Withdrawing from the Paris climate treaty. Again. Mind you, we are the only industrialized nation foolish enough to take such a step. So, you know that snow in the Deep South? This is just the beginning.

Worth watching: Early this morning, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi had a phone call. “We jointly support the development of a more just multipolar global order and work to ensure indivisible security in Eurasia and the world as a whole,” Putin told Xi in remarks carried by the Russian state TV. “Joint efforts by Russia and China play an important stabilizing role in global affairs.” This is a frightening development as our two largest ideological enemies threaten to control more of the world. Keep an eye on this matter.

I don’t expect there to be a great deal of good news over the next four years. For that reason, I’m upping my use of AI-generated imagery on these posts. For the past few years, I’ve re-edited and re-imagined photos from my archives, but the situation we find ourselves in at this moment requires a change. Photos from my archives are from a happier time. They were full of fun, exploration, and frivolity. All that is gone and I’m not going to destroy my photos by trying to make them fit the disgusting and ridiculous circumstances we are in.

Not that any of this matters. Fewer than 100 people view any given update. That’s not exactly a movement that threatens to upset anything. Still, at some unknown point in the distant future, I want our descendants to know that someone put up a fuss. If the world collapses into this chaos, it won’t be because I didn’t try to warn you.

Personally, I’m going to sit here and drown my sorrows in caffeine.

Current Issues / Morning Update / News & Comment / Personal / Politics / Social Commentary / video

Monday, January 20, 2025

January 20, 2025

Hell Freezes Over.

Today begins a different reality. Today, Democracy takes a back seat to Oligarchy. Today, people celebrate evil intentions. Today, one’s skin color can get them arrested. Today, science and education are the enemies of higher stock prices. Today, Americans reject the qualities that once made the country great. Today, the media makes a hard pivot to prevent becoming the target of retribution. Today, one has to do the fact-checking for themselves. Today, we stop being the country our forefathers envisioned. Therefore, it is appropriate that this morning much of the continental US wakes up to polar temperatures and life-threatening windchill. We elected to go to hell and it has frozen over.

When I took the dogs out at 7:00 this morning, the air temperature was -1F. The wind blew from the North across frozen snow, creating a windchill of -11F. I could feel my mustache freezing on my face. The dogs, who had snuggled closely all night, were quick to take care of business and quite happy to come back inside. There were no birds singing this morning. As our blue-collar neighbors left for work, no one had their music turned up loud, no one was speeding through the intersection, and no one bothered to wave. The tight grip of the polar vortex leaves everyone looking for warmth and struggling to find it.

Already this morning, President Biden has made the unprecedented move of issuing preemptive pardons to retired Gen. Mark Milley, Anthony Fauci, Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, and Adam Schiff to protect them against retribution from the incoming administration. This isn’t normal. In a peaceful transition of power, there’s no reason to worry about becoming a political target for legal action. Only in a country preparing to yield to a dictator are such pardons necessary.

The country we face this morning is not one our children want handed down to them. In the midst of yesterday’s temporary TikTok outage, Tipper came to me with a video excerpted from last year’s Congressional hearings into the social media app. In it, Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton ‘grills’ TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi. Here’s the clip:

Now, people who’ve been watching for a time understand that the entire Arkansas congressional delegation is like a herd of orange cats: they share a single brain cell and Senator Cotton never gets a turn at using it. This was Tipper’s first introduction to the nonsense, however, and as we watched the clip together she asked, “Who the fuck elected this idiot that doesn’t even know Singapore is not in China?” Our 14-year-old, who enabled a VPN on her own yesterday, understands that what is happening is bad news for the future of the US and she’s expecting those of us old enough to vote to do something about it. “You need to find a solution,” she warned.

After all the noise and protesting, few people in the US are paying any attention as prisoners are being released in Gaza and Israel. Instead, we’re all bracing for the impact of the Felonious Punk’s sweeping executive orders, which he says he’ll issue this afternoon. Believe it or not, there was a time when executive orders were rare. Prior to President Grant’s administration, executive orders were rarely used and only for limited White House purposes. While FDR holds the record at 3,721 (most related to WWII), President Biden has issued comparatively few, less than anyone since Grover Cleveland’s second term. The idea of coming into the office ready to issue 100 orders or more deliberately and maliciously demonstrates the president’s desire to bypass the role of Congress in establishing laws.

Here’s the thing: while federal employees are bound to follow executive orders as if they are law, the rest of us don’t. Executive orders are limited by the Constitutional reach of the Executive Branch. States can defy them. Cities can defy them. You and I can, and should, defy them. We do not have to be complicit in this rush toward dictatorship. We have choices and we are duty-bound as citizens to exercise them.

As chaos unfolds in DC, the rest of the world’s rich and powerful are gathering in Davos, Switzerland for their annual conference on how to run the world. According to Oxfam, billionaires’ wealth grew three times faster in 2024 than the year before. The wealthier billionaires become the more poverty the rest of us experience. With poverty comes disease and hunger. Along with the poverty comes a feeling of helplessness.

The good news: there are more of us than there are of them. We hold more power than any of us realize. All it takes is one nationwide strike to bring the powerful to their knees. We’ve been loathe to do that for fear that our 401Ks would suffer, but my friends, your 401Ks are meaningless if we allow the creation of an economy that won’t let you retire. We’re almost at that point already. There is absolutely no reason to not kick the stilts out from under the economy and take the country, and the world, back for people who are in the true majority.

I, for one, refuse to cooperate with the incoming administration. I’m not watching anything to do with the inauguration. I won’t cooperate with any executive orders. I won’t ‘turn in’ neighbors whose citizenship might be questionable. I won’t out people who fall anywhere on the LGBTQIA spectrum. I will support the use of alternative fuels. I will encourage those who defy this government. I will resist, dissent, and deny any unreasonable use of power by any government agency.

What about you? Are you willing to take a stand or will you roll over and play dead?

What the world needs now are more badgers and fewer possums.

Current Issues / Long Read / Morning Update / Nature / News & Comment / Personal / Politics / Social Commentary

Sunday, January 19, 2025

January 19, 2025

Calculating The Risks.

There are risks to almost everything we do. Have I had enough sleep or too much? Are these clothes too heavy or too light for the weather outside? Am I drinking too much coffee (NEVER!)? Am I taking too much medicine? Is the unknown person who just hit my DMs real or a bot? One of life’s greatest challenges is that we don’t know what we don’t know. There are moments when the best option we have is to fuck around and find out. This morning is one of those moments.

Last week I was about to walk into the kitchen when I saw Tipper standing there in her furry costume, oversized monster head and all. I paused, unsure of what was going on. She began to dance. She danced for about 15 seconds, then ran over and turned off the video on her phone. She was on TikTok. While I might consider our small, cramped kitchen an inappropriate space for any picture, Tipper was having a blast interacting with her friends.

Tipper isn’t awake yet (no surprise there), so I don’t know how she’s going to respond to finding out that her favorite app isn’t working this morning. I don’t expect a great deal of anguish on her part because she has other sources of communication open and she’s not afraid to use them. All of them. At the same time. For her generation, apps are a fluid space. When one goes down, two or three more pop up to take its place.

What’s interesting is that TikTok is being shut down over a perceived risk that China is using the tool to skim off personal information. China has denied the allegations while First Amendment advocates claim that free speech dominates over a risk that might not be real. Yet, there’s something we don’t know that has caused two administrations, Congress, and the United States Supreme Court to support banning the app. We’re not getting the full picture, one that apparently scares the shit out of those who are in the know. So, we’re banning the use of the app, just to be safe. The risks are too high.

Of course, not everyone agrees, which is acceptable. One person on Blue Sky lamented that it seems strange to worry about the risk of Chinese spies when we’re letting the devil himself into the Oval Office. While I can certainly appreciate that view, my instinct tells me that the government is making the right move. China is not to be trusted. They’ve never been trustworthy at any point in my lifetime. Regardless of the trade between them and the rest of the world, China has repeatedly proven that every move they make has behind it the intention to dominate on a political level. The risk is likely more severe than anyone outside China’s Communist Party knows.

And there’s another risk raised by the New York Times. What if no one misses TikTok? After all, it’s not like the app is out there saving lives. The videos are more silly than informational. Most creators are kids having fun with their friends. So, what happens if they just shrug off the blackout and move on to a completely different interest? It’s a question that can’t be answered until they all start waking up this morning.

The TikTok ban seems irrelevant when compared to some other risks. Guard troops will wear a special patch at Trump’s inauguration to make it clear they aren’t police. Noting that a) every law enforcement branch seems to be wearing camo these days, and b) Far-right actors have shown open hostility toward police in the past, the National Guard wants to make sure that genuinely stupid people can tell the difference between Guard troops and police at the inauguration. The risk is real. Many extreme supporters of Felonious Punk are violent and even more of them are really, really, really, really stupid.

Moving the inauguration indoors to the very Capitol rotunda that some of the same people stormed four years ago creates more risks. Judges allow some Capitol riot defendants to return to DC for the Felon’s inauguration. At the same time, that doesn’t mean they’ll be able to get inside the Capitol as space for the event is quite limited. How will they respond to being left out in the cold? One has to acknowledge the risk, but at the same time, one would expect the risk to be mitigated by their support for the incoming president. We’ll just have to see how it goes, won’t we?

Here’s another risk that probably isn’t getting sufficient attention: It’s not clear who will lead the Pentagon when the Felon takes office. What happens then? There currently is no appointee to lead the Defense Department. A significant number of people are stepping down tomorrow and that institution built on chain-of-command strategies isn’t going to know who’s in charge. Who has the final say on things? Who’s going to take responsibility if something goes wrong? Can the military respond appropriately should there be an attack?

Of course, there’s a backup plan and a backup plan to the backup plan. However, anyone who’s been in the military will be quick to tell you that such plans get set aside when politics comes into play. For all its rules and regulations, the Pentagon is mired deeply in both internal and external politics. The fight for who gets to call the shots has been present for generations, even causing disasters on the battlefield. We can hope that our enemies are not ready to take advantage of this obvious weakness, but all the hoping in the world doesn’t make anyone any safer.

The biggest risk of all? If you live in the continental United States, your pipes could burst this week. Subzero temperatures will blanket the US starting early Monday morning and carrying through at least Wednesday. Such a severe cold puts the nation’s plumbing at risk no matter how much insulation one has. Yes, there are things one can do, such as leaving faucets running constantly for the next three days, but that, in turn, creates other risks as well. In our house, we have a number of cats who would rather drink the water running from the tap than from their water bowl. That increases the risks of things being knocked off the counter and breaking.

No one is immune from risk. Even if you don’t have cats rushing up to your kitchen sink, simply stepping outside and breathing the cold air puts one at risk. Heaters carry risks. Thermal clothes have risks. There’s no escaping the fact that our lives have a lot of risks and there’s not a lot we can do about any of it.

And now I’m hearing cats in the empty bathtub. Cats with zoomies are a risk.

My personal plan is to watch where I step and drink more coffee. Beyond that, whatever happens, happens.

Current Issues / Health / Morning Update / News & Comment / Personal / Politics / Social Commentary

Thursday, January 16, 2025

January 16, 2025

The Holding Of Horses.

Pain. The last knuckle on the pinky fingers of my left hand decided it wanted not to cooperate last night. That’s all it took to make my night miserable. None of the larger joints seemed to have any problems for a change, but that one itty bitty knuckle was enough to make rest impossible for most of the night. This proves yet once again that little things can make a big difference.

There’s an interesting article in today’s New York Times reviewing the new book by Gay Talese, “A Town Without Time,” a new collection of his New York writings. One of the “little” things he notices, particularly as people get older, is how people dress. He and his wife, the retired publisher Nan Talese, live next door to a 16-story medical building. He sees cars pull up and people get out to see a doctor, and they’re dressed “dreadfully, in blue jeans, sneakers, windbreakers,” he said. If they’d only dress better, they’d feel better, he’s convinced. “Look in the mirror, you’d feel better,” he said. “You wouldn’t have to spend so much time in doctors’ offices.”

I’m sitting here in a long-sleeve compression shirt, old jeans, and baggy socks. I haven’t worn a suit in so long I’m not sure any of them still fit; they’d likely hang on me like an old dish rag. These days, I’m more likely to settle for less style and greater ease. Just the act of getting ready to take the dogs out in the cold each morning is exhausting. When I come back inside and un-layer myself, I have to sit down and catch my breath before doing anything else. Do I look like a mess? Yes. Do I feel like a mess? Yes. Would wearing a suit change that? Not one bit.

Headlines started hitting my phone late last night heralding a truce between Gaza and Israel. After 17 months of stupidly going back and forth at each other, this is good news, right? I wouldn’t start those celebrations just yet. Netanyahu says ‘last minute crisis’ with Hamas holding up approval of Gaza truce and hostage deal. Even if the Israeli Cabinet approves the deal, it wouldn’t take effect until Sunday. In between now and then, Israel is going to fire all the rockets they can. Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least 70 people after the peace accord was announced! Remember, it was Netanyahu who torpedoed the Camp David Accords that Jimmy Carter brokered between Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat, preventing them from being approved. Netanyahu is a war criminal who can’t be trusted. The details matter.

The FDA finally got around to banning Red Dye 3 from food yesterday. The cancer-causing dye has been illegal in cosmetics for decades, but for some stupid reason, it’s still a mainstay in a number of overly processed foods and medicines. Store-branded gummy vitamins are especially likely to be full of the dangerous stuff, along with cake icing and candy corn. Seems like a little thing, perhaps, but have you noticed the increase in cancers among younger people? Little things. Pay attention.

Local Indianapolis news stations went nuts last night as the state’s governor signed an executive order eliminating the DEI office and related initiatives at the state level. Who does that most affect? Primarily anyone looking for a state job. It means no one’s going to be making sure that the handicapped person isn’t overlooked because hiring them might mean having to make costly accommodations. At the same time, the governor also signed orders for state agencies to reconsider whether state employees actually need a college degree and to eliminate ‘burdensome’ requirements from various state licenses. Why? Because the state’s workforce is too undereducated to meet the current requirements. Little things.

Before heading out the door this morning, G took a look at the seven-day forecast. In addition to a chance for more snow on Sunday, morning temps are all well below zero for at least the first three days of next week. That means we’ll want to make sure everyone’s blankets are clean and dry. Sure, it sounds like a small thing, but it can make a big difference when one is fighting off frostbite.

I wonder what Gay Talese thinks about snow boots.

You can wonder if I really give a shit what Gay Talese thinks.

Health / Long Read / Morning Update / Mythology / News & Comment / Personal / Politics / science / Social Commentary

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

January 15, 2025

You Can Die If You Want To.

Zero. As I type this morning, that’s how many degrees of warmth we have in Indianapolis. Zero. Granted, the US still uses the Fahrenheit scale so we’re not talking about absolute zero, in which case I would have kept the kids home from school and the dogs would just have to hold everything until later this morning. As it is, I made sure children were well-layered, capped, and gloved before they walked out the door with what I hope is sufficient warning about the amount of ice everywhere.

G has a visit to the state house scheduled for today, something to do with entrepreneurship and economics. I’m hoping his trip is interesting and educational. If not, be sure that his review will be more scathing than anything I might write. The child has no filter and is not shy about expressing his viewpoint. The same goes for a couple of his school friends. I’m not sure the airheads in the state legislature are ready for what’s about to hit them this morning.

Like many states, Indiana does most of its law-making during the first two months of each year. There simply isn’t enough going on to justify longer terms in most states, and governors always have the ability to call a special session if an emergency pops up. So far, there are 503 bills introduced to the state senate and 519 bills in the state house. If that sounds like a lot, don’t worry too much. In previous years, fewer than fifty bills actually make it to the governor’s desk for signing. Some are combined, but most are dropped because they are, in a word, stupid.

For example, Senate Bill 364 and House Bill 1335 both lack any understanding of real-world science. The bill “Prohibits a person who has the intent of affecting the intensity of sunlight, temperature, or weather from discharging a chemical or apparatus into the atmosphere, except in certain circumstances.” That’s right, folks, they’re outlawing chemtrails and weather manipulation machines because Indiana science education has failed that badly.

Senate Bill 35 requires that “each school corporation, charter school, and state accredited nonpublic elementary school to include print handwriting, cursive handwriting, and spelling in its curriculum.” Because, you know, this generation does so much handwriting.

Here’s a fun one. Senate Bill 11 proposes that “a social media operator [to] restrict a minor user’s access to social media without first obtaining verifiable parental consent for the minor user. Defines a “minor user” as an individual who is less than 16 years of age. Establishes a civil cause of action to allow a parent or legal guardian of a minor user who accesses social media without verifiable parental consent to bring a suit against the social media operator. Allows any person to bring an action for injunctive relief against a social media operator if the social media operator fails to implement a verifiable parental consent method. Allows the attorney general to: (1) bring an action against a social media operator that fails to implement a verifiable parental consent method; and (2) issue a civil investigative demand if the attorney general has reasonable cause to believe that any person is engaged in a violation. Creates a civil cause of action if a minor user is subject to social media bullying.” I get that online bullying is a problem, but this isn’t the answer.

House Bill 1170 eliminates gun-free safe zones. Heaven forbid there be anywhere that Second Amendment nut jobs can’t get to you.

House Bill 1008 wants to adjust the Indiana/Illinois state line. Damn good thing we don’t border Greenland.

Senate Bill 286 makes it illegal to wear a mask at a public assembly. Let’s all just get sick and die.

House Bill 1231 requires the display of the Ten Commandments in all schools. Because iron-age mythology makes more sense than science education.

There’s plenty more to read through if you have absolutely nothing better to do with your day. The greater majority of bills are housekeeping details that keep everything funded and running. Most bills won’t see the light of day, especially if they encounter any serious pushback.

One bill I was surprised to see but wholly support is House Bill 1011 which would allow for end-of-life options. Specifically, “Allows individuals with a terminal illness who meet certain requirements to make a request to an attending provider for medication that the individual may self-administer to bring about death. Specifies requirements a provider must meet in order to prescribe the medication to a patient. Prohibits an insurer from denying payment of benefits under a life insurance policy based upon a suicide clause in the life insurance policy if the death of the insured individual is the result of medical aid in dying.” Given the state’s stance on abortion, I don’t expect this bill to make it out of committee, if it even gets that far.

Right-to-die legislation makes far too much sense for an aging population where up to 4 in 10 people could develop dementia after 55. Anyone who has witnessed a loved one slowly, painfully, withering away, not knowing where or who they are, understands the level of mercy this type of legislation shows. Republicans don’t understand compassion or mercy, though, and they’re sorely lacking in common sense, so don’t expect this one to hit the governor’s desk.

I can’t overemphasize that most of the bills proposed in this state legislature or anywhere else will ever actually come up for a vote in any form. State legislators like to act all big and grandiose as they introduce their insipid little bills, but rarely does anyone actually give a shit. For that matter, rarely does anyone even know who they are. I’ve often wondered if someone could walk into the chamber wearing a suit with a flag lapel pin and just start talking. Would anyone know the fucking difference?

States are likely to become the front line of the Felonious Punk’s agenda because it will be easier to pass ridiculous legislation in state houses than it is at the federal level. State legislators tend to be an empty-headed sanctimonious lot that relishes any attempt to garner favor at a federal level. Watching them genuflect to a convicted felon and rapist makes me want to puke.

Meanwhile, LA is still on fire and celebrities don’t want you to forget about them. There are photo ops everywhere.

What matters most is that we all are warm and safe and that there’s more coffee in the pot.

Current Issues / Health / News & Comment / Personal / Politics / Social Commentary

Monday, January 13, 2025

January 13, 2025

Cancellation.

Nothing about life has ever been certain, not even death and taxes. Sure, they exist, but what form will they take? Can they be put off for another year? Can you make yours more meaningful than anyone else’s? Life doesn’t come with any guarantees and 2025 seems to be the year the universe has decided to emphasize that point.

Twenty-four people are now known dead in the LA fires. Among the victims, an amputee who died next to his son who had cerebral palsy. A resident who refused to leave died with a garden hose in his hands. Annette Rossilli, 85, insisted on staying in her Pacific Palisades home with her dog Greetly, her canary Pepper, her two parrots, and her turtle. Rory Callum Sykes, a former Australian child star, was at the family’s 17-acre Mount Malibu TV Studios estate, where he had his own cottage when it burned down.

Meanwhile, temps across the Midwest are headed back to the bottom of the thermometer by the middle of the week. While there are currently no expectations for additional snow, the severe cold slows recovery efforts and creates additional health problems, especially for those with pre-existing breathing issues (count Kat in with that group).

You’re not the only one feeling as though you’re fighting an uphill battle alone. Winter is always a rough time for those with seasonal depression, but this January is on track to set a new record for violent deaths, including suicide. 988 calls are up dramatically, but there are still thousands who refuse to reach out for help.

There’s an old maxim stating that ‘If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.’ Governments, local, state, and federal, should be leading the charge at finding solutions, but instead, they are the cause of bigger problems. Plows aren’t where they need to be. Fire hydrants are dry. Resources are mismanaged. Legislators are more worried about which committee they’ll be on than providing assistance for their constituents. They’ll approve billionaires for cabinet positions but won’t provide funding for emergency housing.

If there’s going to be a 51st state, it needs to be Puerto Rico, not Canada or Mexico. Invading Greenland only creates more enemies. Interfering with European elections makes the world more unstable. Any ‘war’ on immigrants could have a devastating effect on Social Security. There’s a reasonable fear of a polio resurgence. Even adults may soon be vulnerable to ‘childhood’ diseases, even if you had them as a kid. All of these are things that governments should be addressing, but no, we’re more worried about the ups and downs of the stock market, making sure the rich get richer.

Here’s an idea: complete tax revolt. If billionaires are taking over the government, then they can bloody well pay for it. They have the cash. They could fund the next four years and still be richer than 99% of us. So, why the fuck are people like you and I paying a fucking dime in taxes? I want a full refund. When governments start doing their job, protecting and helping their citizens, then maybe we can talk about people like you and me participating in its funding. Until then, we should keep our money in our pockets.

We’re going to need every dime we have if we’re to survive this year.

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Thursday, January 09, 2025

January 9, 2025

Hot & Cold.

When I logged in this morning, Grammarly, the browser extension I use to check my spelling and grammar, popped up a notice saying they had reviewed my writing style for 2024 and that I am best described as ‘The Sage.’ I’m not sure I agree with that assessment. ‘Caffeine addict’ is probably more appropriate. I can’t imagine how jumbled my words would be if I didn’t have a pot of coffee sitting on my desk each morning. I stifled a laugh because Kat’s still asleep. Grammarly doesn’t like that last sentence because I changed the tense halfway through. Queen Bit, who is sitting on my laptop acting as editor this morning, doesn’t seem to mind.

The kids are headed back to school this morning. Primary city streets are well-plowed now, so buses are running pretty close to on time. Sidewalks are still a mess as plows piled snow on them, though. Pedestrians can’t catch a fucking break in this city. The safer option in weather like this, and sometimes the only option, is to walk along the edge of the street. I’ve done that more times than I care to count and I know the dangers. Legally, homeowners and businesses are required to clear the sidewalks in front of their homes and businesses. However, at least in our neighborhood, few people are healthy enough to be outside pushing around shovels full of snow. I know it’s not an activity I dare attempt.

I watched with interest as school closing announcements in Oklahoma and Kansas came across my monitor last night. They have a new weather system hitting them this morning. The accumulation totals appear laughable to people living in places where snow is measured in feet, not inches. The challenges the center states face are unique, though. For Kansas, snow on the flatland means blizzard conditions. Ranchers have to find ways to protect cattle herds that are too large and too scattered to move into a barn. For Eastern Oklahoma, the terrain is an issue. The rolling hills that are so beautiful in Spring are treacherous with the smallest amounts of snow. Municipal governments there don’t have the funding for armies of snow plows or tons of salt. Driving is immediately hazardous as the slightest slip of a tire can send one plummeting over the edge of a cliff.

The cold winter weather of the central and eastern states lies in stark contrast to the ‘worst-ever’ wildfires in and around Los Angeles. While it’s still too early to begin making lists, be sure that a large number of landmarks are gone. Alerts this morning show that the fire has spread into the Hollywood Hills, putting the famed sign in danger. I know that area. The scrub brush in between the homes primarily constructed in the 1940s and 50s, puts the entire place in danger of going up like a tinder box. Lives are upended as the only safe option is to leave, not knowing if anything will remain when they return.

If this seems to be out of season for wildfires, you are correct. This fire is unusual and unexpected. While celebrities and movie stars are quick to hop aboard their private jets and whine about the loss of their million-dollar homes, millions of other people struggle to find a ride of any kind. Freeways are more jammed than normal. Residents are forced to make the painful decision to leave behind pets as they flee. Many have no place to go. Traveling very far is not financially possible for hundreds of thousands of people. As the fires grow, some could still become victims even as they’ve already lost their homes.

Against the backdrop of national tragedy, the prospect of a multi-million dollar inauguration funded by gesticulating tech bros demonstrates how completely out of touch the incoming administration is with the realities of living in America. The Felonious President-elect and his billionaire cronies live in a fantasy world where a new Imperialism sounds like a fun thing to start. They have no concept of how rough winters tend to give way to tornado-ridden springs followed by a devastating mix of drought in the West and hurricanes in the East. Millions of lives will be tragically disrupted over the next twelve months. If you think anyone in DC gives a shit, you are sadly mistaken.

If I don’t seem hopeful, I’m not. World leaders are repeating the sins of the 16th and 17th centuries with no clue how wrong their actions are for everyone on the planet. The end results this time will be exactly the same as before. There will be revolutions and uprisings, assassinations, and mass casualty events. Disease will become rampant. Human civilization takes a hard step backward.

I wish I could foresee a better future, but the data doesn’t support that. What may bother me most is that there are groups of religious zealots who will celebrate this chaos because, in their addled minds, these wars must certainly herald the return of a Savior who, once again, fails to show up. They’re willing to not only sacrifice their own lives but those of everyone else in pursuit of a fake prophecy that is never coming true.

Now might be a good time to invest in the funeral business. We’re going to need a lot of caskets.

Go ahead. Prove me wrong. Please.

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Wednesday, January 01, 2025

January 1, 2025

The Daily Requirement of Vitamin C [2010]

Don’t look back, look forward. I know that’s not easy when every media source is doing ‘year in review’ stories all over the place, but 2024 is dead. I’m not sure it deserves a proper burial. Just toss it in a ditch and move on because the trouble it caused stays with us long after it’s gone.

We don’t need resolutions today, either. We need a re-commitment to ourselves and the people and things we love. I started this morning by cleaning around Frankie, the smashed-face wheezer kitty’s bad eye. I played peek-a-boo with Hamilton for several minutes. Bit is nuzzling my hands as I type, purring loudly. I’m on my third cup of coffee, drinking it slowly, enjoying the taste. These are some of the things that matter.

Kat sent back pictures of the little cabin she’s staying in; it’s nicely appointed with a huge picture window looking out onto the woods. Perhaps she’ll see some wild turkeys or even a deer or two. She handles the cold better than most people, so she’s planning on doing a little hiking around the cabin, enjoying the time to herself, and the quiet.

G stayed up with me until midnight. I looked in on him at one point during the evening to find him studying schoolwork. He’s not happy with his GPA, or all the gunfire in our neighborhood. Tipper ignored both of us last night but was up early talking on the phone with a friend.

Perhaps our lives aren’t as exciting as others. We’re not jetting off to some exotic location, running marathons, or attending parties. I only left the yard once during the entire month of December. We take our meds, keep our heads down, and focus on staying alive. Considering all the options, that seems to be the best approach to the new year.

There are three news stories this morning that I find concerning. The first is the tragedy of a car driving into a group of revelers in New Orleans. At least ten are dead and 30 people injured. No one has any details yet, no idea of what motivated the attack. Around the world, driving vehicles into large groups of people has become an easy form of terrorism. There’s no good way to stop it from happening. Even staying inside holds no guarantees. This is the way 2025 is starting, not from an attack by a foreign agency, but from ourselves, our neighbors.

Hidden within the many folds of today’s New York Times is a careful story about the large cache of bombs the FBI has discovered at a Virginia farm. This is the largest collection of non-military explosives the agency has uncovered in its history. Most of the explosives were fashioned as pipe bombs, some marked ‘lethal’ and others with the hashtag #nolivesmatter. With the hashtag comes a threat from what has, until now, been a mentally deficient shadow group of far-right ideologies that “historically encouraged members to engage in self-harm and animal abuse,” according to a threat assessment released in August by the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. Again, these are not foreign players. They call themselves patriots, forcing us to question the motives of anyone who claims that title for themselves. The person in custody even blew off three of his own fingers while making the bombs but was undeterred in his mission. You are right to be bothered. The FBI found one, but there are many others.

Chief Justice John Roberts issued his annual report and his words are alarming. The judiciary is under attack. Threats against federal courts and justices have tripled over the last decade. As more political cases are thrust into federal courts, more people, especially politicians, are dissatisfied with the results. “It is not in the nature of judicial work to make everyone happy,” he wrote. He’s also concerned about “elected officials” who blatantly disregard court rulings. No, he didn’t mention anyone by name, but everyone knows that was a warning to the incoming administration.

Put those three stories together and you have the makings for a very rough year. In one way or another, we are all targets. Yet, there’s little we can do besides going on about our lives as if nothing’s wrong. So, tell people you love them even if it’s awkward. Be kind where you can but don’t tolerate stupidity. Perhaps consider investing in some Kevlar.

Happy New Year.

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Tuesday Morning Update: 12/31/24

December 31, 2024

Chemo pill day 766

“I wear the chain I forged in life. I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it.” [2011]

Looking back through my Facebook memories, I have to go all the way back to 2011 to find a year where I felt that the coming year might be better than the last one. I have no hope at all for 2025. My checking account is negative. The social security check likely won’t hit until Thursday or Friday. There are gifts that still have not arrived and may have to be completely replaced. Kat is taking some necessary time by herself at a cabin in Brown County and won’t be back until Thursday. The Recovery Room is a mess and will take most of the day to clean. Laundry is piled high. The coffee maker decided to just dump water all over the counter this morning.

My body refuses to cooperate. We’re now two months into a non-stop headache and I still can’t see a neurologist for another 30 days. I can barely stand long enough to take the dogs out. I’ve already given the kids notice that they’ll need to fend for themselves for meals. Fortunately, the fridge and freezer are stocked. There’s a pending problem with my left eye that I can’t yet explain. My mind is unable to focus; it takes almost three hours to create these updates each day. I have books I want to read but after a couple of paragraphs, I have to put them down.

Meanwhile, the US Treasury says Chinese hackers stole documents in a ‘major incident’. Desktops within the Treasury itself were compromised. We cannot assume that any digital information is safe anywhere. One might as well assume that someone, somewhere, has access to everything from your grocery list to your dreams.

The FBI is warning sports leagues about crime organizations targeting professional athletes. Homes are being burglarized during games. Both NFL and NBA players have been affected so far. If you are in the habit of buying things from pawn shops, swap meets, or flea markets, I would suggest that you stop. Chances are too high that you’re receiving stolen merchandise.

The Taliban says they will close all national and foreign nongovernmental groups employing Afghan women, but the global attack on women’s rights doesn’t end there. In Gaza’s crowded tent camps, women wrestle with a life stripped of privacy. There are plenty of people who want to strip American women of their rights as well. You elected most of them to Congress.

Nearly all of Puerto Rico is without power on New Year’s Eve. Problems maintaining heat and power exist all over the globe. Moldovans fear looming energy shortage as Russia halts gas supplies. The move could put several European countries in danger, sparking a global economic crisis.

Xi says no one can stop China’s ‘reunification’ with Taiwan but that’s not likely to happen without war and that, too, would create an economic crisis for which neither the US nor anyone else is ready. The chances of such a war being limited to Taiwan are almost nil as Japan stays positioned to defend the South China Sea. Should Japan become involved in a war with China, the US is obligated by treaty to become involved as well.

Norovirus cases are surging in parts of the US, CDC data shows. We’re not well. I’m not sure we want to be well. If predictions from the New York Times are any indications, our diets this next year are not likely to help the matter any. We already know that the incoming president is incapable of adequately handling any kind of large-scale disease outbreak, so we’d best take care of ourselves as much as possible.

The world population will be 8.09 billion on New Year’s Day. Remember, we surpassed the limit of the planet’s sustainability at the six billion mark. Whether Republicans like it or not, we need to stop having so many babies. There’s no longer a need for you to replace yourself. AI will take up the slack in employment and, increasingly, more children will be born into a life of poverty.

New Year’s Eve is often referred to as ‘amateur night’ because of the number of people at parties who only drink one or two times a year and are unable to hold their alcohol. The problem may not be as bad this year, though, as few people say they’re going out for the night. Why should anyone go out? There’s nothing really to celebrate. Sure, we’re leaving behind a really rough year but 2025 is only going to be better for the 1%. The rest of us are going to suffer and things that are bad now will only get worse.

Is there any good news as we shed the chains of one year for the heavier chains of the next? About the only thing I could find is news that Wallace & Gromet are making a comeback. Other than that, we’re pretty much screwed.

Happy Fucking New Year.

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Monday Morning Update: 12/30/24

December 30, 2024

We are at that point where end-of-the-year deaths are kicking in. Linda Lavin, who became a familiar face on TV playing ‘Alice,’ died yesterday at age 87. Charles Shyer, ‘Father of the Bride’ and ‘Baby Boom’ filmmaker, dies at 83. The founder of Cablevision and HBO, Charles Dolan, died at 98. At least 66 people died after a truck plunged into a river in southern Ethiopia. 18 passengers were killed in 2 separate road accidents in Pakistan. Indy’s homicide rate hit 200 yesterday, but overall, the nation’s murder rate continues to decline.

What’s dominating headlines this morning, though, is the death of former President Jimmy Carter, the 100-year-old longest-living president of the US. All the tributes being raised are appropriate for no one deserves as much respect as does President Carter. You don’t have to look far to find lists of all his accomplishments and the challenges that cost him a second term. Thousands of people have stories of their encounters with the former president, most of which are overwhelmingly positive. I am fortunate enough to have two.

The first came in a reception line in 1997. I was photographing the event and it wasn’t until everyone else had filed through that I was allowed to meet the former President and First Lady. I wasn’t expecting anything more than a tired handshake and maybe a ‘nice to meet you’ or ‘thank you for coming.’ The fatigue was showing on the President’s face, the hour was late, and there was absolutely no reason for us to have a conversation. Yet, when I extended my hand, he took it firmly in both of his and held it. He smiled with that trademark smile and we talked for nearly five minutes, an eternity in presidential time. We briefly discussed photography and the event but quickly moved on to family, faith, and concerns about the future. He didn’t temper his statements to be politically correct. He was forthright and candid in his opinions. I left significantly more impressed than I could have imagined.

The second encounter was by chance in 2002. I was exploring numerous side projects at the time, one of which involved trying to get a grip on exactly what happened during the Iranian hostage crisis. At the time, there was still a lot of information that hadn’t been digitized, so my best resource was Carter’s presidential library. After pouring through pages of redacted documents, I stepped outside for a breath of fresh air. Off to the side, totally undisturbed and almost unrecognizable, was the former President kneeling down to tend to a young flowering plant. He was wearing jeans, a denim jacket, and an Atlanta Braves ball cap.

I had no intention of disturbing him; I had no right nor reason. He was busy working with the plant, as far as I could tell there wasn’t even Secret Service around (they were there, I just didn’t see them). I sat on a concrete bench and was looking through my notes when I felt a hand on my shoulder; it was the President. Smiling, he asked, “It’s Charles, isn’t it? I almost didn’t recognize you with the long hair.”

I started to stand but his hand sat me back down. “Don’t bother,” he said. “I was going to sit down anyway.” He inquired as to what I was working on and when I told him his expression and tone grew serious. He asked, “What’s your perspective?”

“It seems like it was a lose/lose situation no matter what you might have done,” I told him.

He nodded. “There’s still a lot that’s classified which prevents me from fully explaining our decision-making process at the time. Let’s just say that there are moments we can’t see clearly until we’re looking through the lens of the past. If I had known then what I know now, the situation would never have happened.”

We talked for almost thirty minutes, discussing the challenges of dealing with multiple concurrent crises, the politics of international negotiations, and trying to parent a rebellious child (Amy) while running for re-election. He talked openly about deception, political interference, and the loneliness of taking an unpopular stance (he wanted to officially recognize Palestine). He worried that 9/11 proved how vulnerable the US is and how the unpredictability of terrorism sometimes backs presidents into a corner. Winning isn’t always an option.

A phone call from his wife, Rosalyn, brought an end to our conversation. We shook hands and he went inside. I gathered my things and stopped for a chili dog on my way back to the office, pondering what had just happened. Such accessibility to any other president would be impossible. He broke the mold in ways we still can’t imagine.

There will be a lot said, a ton of analysis and re-examination, over the next week and a half. President Carter’s state funeral has been set for January 9. There will also be memorials in Atlanta and internment in Plains. People will say a lot of things, share a lot of memories, and build up a life that was unique in his public service.

I’ll sit here wishing I could have seen him again, had another conversation. I’m sure his perspective had changed even more over the years. He was an extremely intelligent and thoughtful person who never, ever stopped thinking.

His death closes one of the most chaotic years in memory. I’ll never forget the experience, the humanity, and the honesty of the gentleman from Plains. May he rest in peace.

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Sunday Morning Update: 12/29/24

December 29, 2024

I went to bed at 8:15, barely able to keep my eyes open, and slept for a solid eleven hours, to the point that the cats were coming into the Recovery Room to question why they hadn’t yet been fed. When I finally got around to checking my phone, which had been knocked onto the floor, the AP alerts told an interesting story. 8:33 – 17 dead in South Korea airliner crash. 9:46 – 29 dead …. 11:23 – 74 dead …. 12:29 – 179 dead …. In the end, AP reports A total of 179 people — 85 women, 84 men, and 10 others whose genders weren’t immediately identifiable — died in the fire.

Exactly what happened is still unclear. The Muan tower issued a bird strike warning and gave permission to the Jeju Air flight to land on a different runway. The landing gear was never deployed. The plane skidded along the runway on its belly before crashing into a concrete barrier and exploded into flames. Aviation experts who talked to Reuters expressed doubts about a bird strike affecting the landing gear, though, and raised additional questions. “Why didn’t fire tenders lay foam on the runway? Why weren’t they in attendance when the plane touched down? And why did the aircraft touch down so far down the runway? And why was there a brick wall at the end of the runway?” said Airline News editor Geoffrey Thomas.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the border, North Korea’s roly-poly dictator with a bad haircut announced his toughest anti-US policy yet. Never mind that North Korean troops fighting in Ukraine on behalf of Russia are dying almost as fast as they’re deployed. This overgrown toddler with a bad temper has absolutely no regard for the people he governs. He wants to be the biggest bully on the block, but all he’ll ever be is an afterthought.

At this point, I’m not sure that there is anything that can salvage this dumpster fire of a year. Among all the year-in-review articles floating on every news page, I was most interested by a statement from Taryn Simon in her piece for the New York Times. “You can’t see anything reflected in boiling water. But when it’s still, water is a mirror,” she said. “It’s still in the anticipation, and it’s still in the aftermath. But we’re told to watch when it’s boiling.” There has been a lot of boiling in 2024 and there are already plenty of people turning up the fire for 2025. We have to look carefully at all that’s going on, watch the water after it has settled, before seeing the reality of what’s happening.

I’m afraid I’m going to need a new coffee machine (yes, there’s a metaphor coming). The machine that I bought in 2015 has reached a point where I have to wait two to three hours for half a pot of coffee. Never mind that I put in enough water for a full pot. Half the water is evaporating before it hits the ground beans. The problem is blockage. We have hard water and over almost ten years of use, the narrow lines have limited the speed at which water is moved from the heating tank to the basket containing the coffee. Sure, we’ve tried various solutions over the years, but ultimately the corrosion wins. I’ve had to drink my morning coffee a half cup at a time.

Countries are the same way. Boiling water is useful, removing impurities and such, but when water is left boiling too long, it begins to evaporate. If the heat isn’t removed, the whole thing becomes useless. Corrosion, corruption, lies, deceit, and fear-mongering destroy what should be useful conversations. Exclamations that amount to “this is my country, not yours,” keep tempers hot. We stop talking and start yelling. We stop listening. As a country, we’ve been boiling for so long that we’ve forgotten what turned on the heat in the first place. Our lines of communication are so corroded with opinions and lies that the truth has trouble getting through.

The price of coffee keeps increasing, as well, but that’s another conversation for another time.

Make no mistake, life in the US has been worse. Drop back to the 1930s, less than 100 years ago, when the depression was in full swing, when organized crime controlled much of the nation, when soup lines were a necessary part of survival, women’s rights were largely nonexistent, and “alternative” sexualities were unspoken. People needed to have large families because the odds of children surviving into adulthood were too slim, and the odds were just as bad for mothers surviving childbirth. Families in rural America often maintained their own cemeteries because they just kept dying.

The problem is that we don’t need to be anywhere close to challenging century-old statistics. The economy is, supposedly, booming. Medical science allows us to live over 100 years. We throw out more food than we can consume. So, why aren’t our lives better?

Consider the possibility that we have so much of everything, that we’ve lost our damn minds and don’t know what to do with it all. Prime example: the disaster that is method dressing. Sorry, this world doesn’t need more impractical red-carpet looks, especially when there’s no fucking red carpet. Neither do we need to see anyone’s butt crack. Whale tails and jelly everything weren’t good ideas the first time around. WTF is “pre-shower” makeup? What’s the difference between a “mushroom bob,” “micro-bob,” and “boy bob”? I’d ask Kat but I’m afraid she might throw something at me. We have made 2024 just as much of a cultural nightmare as the political climate.

Maybe our best move at this point is to start 2025 by turning down the fucking fire and letting the water be still. Pour vinegar over the corruption and see how much melts away. Replace what’s not working in our lives.

Clearly, our approach to 2024 was a bad one. Let’s try something different.

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Saturday Morning Update: 12/28/24

December 28, 2024

The dogs let me sleep late this morning and I enjoyed a long conversation with Kat before taking the dogs out and making coffee. It was an interesting night with two of the cats temporarily escaping, high winds and rain, and more than enough noise to keep a person wide awake. I slept through all of it. Kat slept through everything except the wayward cats making noise as they came back inside. We are both in a position where exhaustion dominates our days. That also means our tolerance for nonsense is pretty much at zero.

When the first headline I see in the morning is, “Man accused of attacking TV reporter, saying ‘This is Trump’s America now’,” it discolors my attitude as I look through the rest of the news. First of all, no, it’s NOT a felon’s America now and it never will be. Second, the attacker told the reporter, who is a Pacific islander, that as a Marine he had taken an oath to “protect America from people like you.” No, no one takes such an oath. The Marine Corps oath is to “protect and uphold the Constitution of the United States.” Attacking someone based on their appearance violates that oath.

I worry that incidents like this could increase in 2025. If January 6 protestors are pardoned, as the felon-in-chief has promised, that will be a signal that all politically motivated crimes could be excused. I’m concerned that we’ll begin seeing more headlines such as “18-year-old arrested after being shot inside Castleton Square Mall,” “‘There is someone with a sword in your parking lot’ | Indy man arrested after allegedly pulling out machete at Family Dollar,” and “Pregnant woman stabbed by pizza delivery driver over $2 tip.” The new administration, whether intentional or not, has emboldened its supporters to use violence as a means of getting their way even in the smallest of confrontations. This puts more people on edge and increases the possibility of the US becoming a nation at war with itself.

Fighting back against bad government, which is what we’re facing, is a matter addressed through court filings and public protests. Countering the blatant stupidity of people who are bent on getting their way is more dangerous. This isn’t like the Civil War where the conflict was organized, North vs. South. This is a perilous situation when, at any point during any day, some idiotic mother fucker is likely to turn a gun on anywhere for any reason.

What kind of company does that put us in? Consider that in Kenya, a country known for its fast athletes, four women were murdered because of their athleticism. We are at risk of becoming just like them. Israeli soldiers burn a hospital in Gaza and the US gives them a pass because “they’re fighting terrorism.” Afghan forces target Pakistan in retaliation for deadly airstrikes.

We are at risk of becoming just as debased as Kenya, Israel, and Afghanistan, especially if the Felon insists on keeping up this stupid conflict with bordering and nearby countries. Empire building is wrong. Forcing your beliefs, religious or political, on other people, especially at risk of violence, is wrong. If we do not stand up loudly and publicly against such crimes, we will die because of them.

There is already enough death just through natural causes. Olivia Hussey, star of the 1968 film ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ dies at 73. Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78. Warren Upton, the oldest living survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, dies at 105. Even Mother Nature is working against us. Climate change added 41 days of dangerous heat around the world and Hurricane-force winds bear down on California, in the latest stretch of extreme weather. We have more than enough ways to die without trying to kill each other.

As we face the end of this less-than-stellar year, we have to face the fact that 2025 could easily be worse. Hold your loved ones close. Tell people you love them. Never assume that anything you do, anywhere, anytime, is going to be routine. Next year is going to be a battle against some of the most evil philosophies we’ve ever faced. We have to be ready.

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Tuesday Morning Update:12/17/24

December 17, 2024

The first morning after is impossible. You wake up hoping it was all just a dream. The inevitable jolt of reality hits harder than it did yesterday. Denial is more difficult. The US is the most dangerous place in the world for going to school. Yes, bombs drop on people in Gaza. Schoolchildren in Ukraine have had to stop classes because of the danger. But those are areas of declared war. The enemy doesn’t know the names of the people they’re killing. Here, a boy stabs a girl to death as she walks to school. In Wisconsin, it’s an upset 15-year-old girl who kills another student and a teacher, then shoots several others before turning the gun on herself. And just like that, more families have joined the list of those waking up on what should be a school day and realizing that nothing’s ever going to be the same again.

There have been 323 shootings at K-12 schools in the country this year. Texas, Louisiana, and Maryland have the most. They range from small towns to large cities, both public schools and private. When our children leave for school each morning, we have no guarantee that they are safe. We jump when the phone rings and our heart drops when we see that it’s the school that’s calling. When you’re braced for the potential that something has happened to your child, them having a D in History class isn’t such a big deal anymore. You’re thankful that they’re still breathing.

The Associated Press released its list of ‘influential’ people who died this year. Of course, there’s always some old film star that passes during the last five days of the year, but the list is largely complete. You’re not on it and neither am I. Chances are pretty good that we never will be on one of those lists. What passes as being ‘influential’ does not mean that one is a good person. For many on that list, talent triumphed over character. There are no school shooting victims on the list. Apparently, our children are not ‘influential’ enough.

The kids are not okay. Tests show math skills are in decline. Whether you like math or not, this is important because math helps develop critical thinking skills. And while there are plenty of opinions about education, the fact remains that we’re letting the kids down in more ways than anyone can count. The curricula are insufficient. Arts programs that aid cognitive learning are non-existent. Over seven million students have Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for specific education needs. Their nutrition sucks. Each day 47 US students are diagnosed with cancer. And perhaps most insane of all, we’re actively debating the efficacy of the vaccines that have all but eliminated polio, smallpox, and many other childhood diseases. If we’re wilfully creating this environment for our kids, do we even love them at all? Do we care if they come home from school alive? Our actions and our words don’t match.

I have more years in the past than I do in the future. I probably won’t see the day when this year’s kindergarten class is running the country or the world. But then, that’s assuming that there’s still something to run. The world doesn’t need government if there are no people to govern.

The planet goes on spinning. A self-induced extinction event might help clear the air. Literally.

Tuesday coffee hits differently.

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Tuesday Morning Update: 11/19/24

November 19, 2024

Funny how I can sit down at the desk first thing of the morning and think of all the things I’m going to get done, but by the time I’ve read through the news, my brain switches to, “We need to lie back down.” Anything that needs to be done outside needs to happen today, while the temperatures are near 70. Thursday’s high is 38, which will feel even colder if it snows. Seasonal temps are upon us for the rest of the week. It’s time to get ready.

Hopefully, today will be better than yesterday. I struggled to stay upright for as little as an hour and ended up spending most of the day in bed. At one point, I thought I was hearing voices again, but it turned out to just be the program that Kat was watching. I did finally get through to the neurologist’s office but the soonest they can get me in is January 29. I’m on a waiting list should a cancellation open a spot before then. The insurance company, however, still hasn’t called back. I’m not surprised.

The big news for this week, month, and year is that my oldest, Zach, finally got around to asking his girlfriend, Meg, to marry him! We knew this moment was coming, we just didn’t know when. Of course, she said yes! This brings about an exciting new season in all of our lives. No, they’ve not set a date yet, but I expect that to be coming soon. I stop now and remember that precious little tow-headed boy I once carried on my shoulders. I couldn’t be more excited!

By the way, I still have two more adult boys living with their mom. Please, feel free to take them off her hands. They’re nice guys, and perhaps that’s part of the problem. Nice guys still have a problem getting noticed because, as much as anything, they don’t want to bother anyone. Well, that and they spend an inordinate amount of time playing video games. Blame their grandparents for that. I never wanted them to get started.

Kat was finally able to see her PCP yesterday. The news is cautious. He told her that she would likely have difficulty breathing for months. That means everyone is going to have to be patient with her. Even with a schedule of only taking two clients a day, she comes home thoroughly exhausted and often falls asleep before she’s had time to eat dinner. Stress over the cumulative holidays and birthdays doesn’t help, either. She discovered yesterday that she and the kids will be doing two Thanksgivings. We’ll have ours early, probably Wednesday depending on how she and I feel next week. I think we have everything we need from a food perspective.

Paying the bills coming due is another matter. Everything hits all at once here at the end of the month and I don’t know when my check will arrive. Kat’s still waiting for a check she deposited last week to clear. I know I have nearly $200 in bills coming out before the first of the month. The way holidays hit the calendar this year, I may not get paid until December 2 or 3. We greatly appreciate the help we’ve had so far. If anyone else wants to contribute, my Venmo is @C_I_Letbetter and CashApp is $ciletbetter.

Today would have been my father’s 95th birthday. I’ve mentioned in previous years how disappointed he would be in world events. As I was combing through local news this morning, I saw this headline: ‘I have fallen short’ | Indiana Sen. Taylor addresses sexual harassment allegations. I was reminded of Poppa’s response to a tearful Jimmy Swaggart apologizing for a cheating scandal. “You can fool people all you want, but you can’t fool God.” I miss his balanced wisdom. In his honor, there will be ice cream today.

With winter rapidly approaching, it’s not surprising to see escalations rising in Russia and Ukraine. In the short time since I sat down here, Ukraine has apparently fired six US-made missiles into Russia. On Russia’s side, Putin has signed a new nuclear doctrine, lowering the bar for the conditions allowing the use of nuclear weapons. What might be more terrifying, though, is that Russia has increased production of radiation-resistant mobile bomb shelters. Why would they do that if they weren’t planning on needing them? Winters are notoriously difficult in both countries, so don’t be surprised to see them making aggressive maneuvers before the end of the year.

Lebanon and Hezbollah have approved the draft of a cease-fire agreement, but it’s unclear yet whether Israel will go along. So far, Netanyahu has been ferociously against such moves, firmly stating that there would be no rest until their goals are met. Knowing that he has staunch allies in the coming Republican administration is likely to bolster the Prime Minister’s defiance. Meanwhile, aid has been stripped from 100 trucks carrying food into Gaza. Looters are to blame. This is further proof that war brings out the worst of humanity. They are like cockroaches crawling out from under cracks in the molding.

There is so much more we could discuss, but I’m feeling the pressure from this damn headache closing in quickly. Among things worth noting, a Judge struck down Wyoming abortion laws, including an explicit ban on pills to end pregnancy while Orders for Morning-After Pills and Abortion Pills Rose After Trump’s Election. The NYC priest who allowed Sabrina Carpenter to shoot a music video in the church was further stripped of duties. Oh, and part of the roof at AT&T Stadium collapsed last night, foreshadowing another Cowboys loss.

I apologize for not having more stamina. The persistence of this headache has worn me down.

If only more coffee could be enough to solve all the problems.

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Monday Morning Update: 11/18/24

November 18, 2024

Another Blearing Day [2017 original with AI background]

We are running on fumes and coffee grounds this morning as I’m trying to keep my eyes open after what might have been two hours of sleep last night if it’s all stitched together. Kat didn’t fare much better. Making matters all the more frustrating were the animals that woke us 30 minutes earlier than normal. I took the dogs outside and even the neighbor’s rooster was being annoyingly loud. I might say that I’m looking forward to going back to sleep, but I can’t. I have to try to get an appointment with the neurologist and wait for the insurance company to call back. I’m relatively certain that neither of those things will happen on a schedule I find satisfactory.

Should I buy milk or pay the bills? I can do one or the other but not both. If you feel inclined to help, my Venmo is @C_I_Letbetter, and CashApp is $ciletbetter. No obligation. I know this is a tight time of the year for everyone’s budget.

Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy this morning. I know how they feel.

The Russia/Ukraine war is about to get nastier. After 1,000 days of this mess, people on both sides of the ever-moving lines are sick and tired of the whole thing.

45 pro-democracy activists face sentencing in Hong Kong. When having a different political opinion becomes a crime, is anyone safe?

Trump’s Pentagon pick paid woman after sex assault allegation but denies wrongdoing. No third-party vetting was done. Standard FBI background checks were skipped. Were you expecting anything different from a racist, rapist felon?

Air pollution in Delhi is fifty times the safe limit. Meanwhile, the US looks to gut clean air laws. Please, make it all make sense.

One cruise line is offering a four-year escape for those who want it. I suppose that’s fine for those who have the cash to pay for four years of living in advance. Most of us are just trying to pay for our next meal.

Today is the anniversary of the 1978 Jonestown Massacre, and now we can understand why. Remember, Jim Jones got his start right here in Indy.

Hurricane season isn’t over. Why would it be with such an abundance of hot air over Florida?

Black, Hispanic, and LGBTQIA+ people are getting threatening texts again. Don’t expect it to stop. This is a new reality and we’ve no choice but to stand up to this racism. Neo-Nazis marched on Columbus, OH over the weekend as well. Sure, “officials” condemned the action, but who the fuck approved that permit? When are we going to put these idiots in the ground? Are we going to wait and let them shoot first? Bad idea.

Tickets for European sex parties are on the rise by as much as 500 percent. Disclaimer, we’re members of one of the organizing entities mentioned in the article. Politics isn’t the only reason these events are popular.

The NY Times says social media is veering to the right. This is a fixable problem. Be loud. Be proud. Ban the trolls.

We’ve got rain moving in overnight and a decent chance of snow by Thursday. If you thought you were miserable this morning, just wait, it gets worse.

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Saturday Morning Update: 11/16/24

November 16, 2024

Critical Help Needed

We have no gas. We have no water. That means we have no heat and the toilet can’t be flushed. Citizens Utility says they’ll have service restored sometime today, but we have no idea exactly when. I’m working on the dregs of leftover coffee from yesterday. The temperature inside the house is at 64 and continues to fall. At least we have power. A problem at a substation caused approximately 36,000 people in Northeast Indy to lose power yesterday. AES says that all power has been restored, but this is the second time this week the city has been hit with a major outage.

Instinct says to abandon the house until the utilities are restored. We can’t do that for a couple of reasons. First, someone has to be here when the gas is turned back on. They have to make sure things don’t go boom. Second, we can’t afford to leave. We can’t afford anything. I secured a gallon of milk and a bag of cat food before everything went sideways yesterday. I hope that’s enough to see us through the end of the month because there’s absolutely nothing left. Never mind that G’s 16th birthday is the 26th and Thanksgiving is two days later. We have to work with what we have.

If you want to help, and I seriously feel bad about asking, our request is that you send any help through either Venmo or CashApp. Please do not use Zelle as that could impact my social security. My Venmo is @C_I_Letbetter and CashApp is $ciletbetter. Kat’s Venmo is @Katherine-Franson85. Any amount of assistance is appreciated.

Yesterday was a zoo even before the utility outage. My doctor’s office called shortly after 8:00 and asked if I was still having problems with the headache. Of course, I was, as I still am today. But instead of the referral to Neurology I had requested, I was told to go to the hospital. Now. So, we went to the hospital, dashing any hopes Kat might have had for a quiet morning. Fortunately, the waiting area was empty when we arrived allowing me to be seen quickly. They drew blood and ordered a CT scan. I could have told them the results without going to all the trouble. The CT scan showed no signs of hemorrhage, injury, or tumor. The bloodwork was all completely normal. Three and a half hours, plus drive time and considerable expense were wasted to make the insurance company happy.

We got home just in time for Kat to down a couple of slices of leftover pieces before heading to the salon. I waited for the milk and cat food, then went to bed not having any idea that our utilities were already out.

Then, the insurance company finally called. No, this wasn’t the call I had requested last week. This was a call that was supposed to happen in July. The representative was horrified when I explained my situation, contacted her supervisor, and promised that a case manager would call “within 24 hours.” Naturally, by this time it was after 2:00 on a Friday afternoon. We both acknowledged that it would likely be Monday before I would get a call. We’ll see if anything happens.

Fortunately, Kat’s sternly worded email to Eskanazi Health had more impact. She now has an appointment with her PCP on Monday. She had a rough night with a couple of serious bouts of coughing. She and Tipper both were up eating at 3:30 AM. We’re hopeful that her visit with the doctor will shed some light on whether she’s making progress or not, and give her some assistance with the pain.

Meanwhile, my head still hurts like crazy. I’m keeping the room relatively dark to keep it from getting any worse. Nothing OTC helps and Tylenol is rough on the kidneys. My kidneys are already fighting for life because of the chemo and diabetes. There’s no point taking anything else that might compromise them, especially when it’s not going to work. I did finally get the referral to Neurology, but when I called, the automated system asked for an extension. I don’t know anyone’s extension, so I hit 0. That resulted in another recording saying that the “network operator” was not available. The next message said that the backup operator was not available. Please call back. No chance to leave a message for anyone. Perhaps they took the afternoon off. I’ll have to try again on Monday.

Could things get worse? Oh yeah, they always can. Weather forecasts for next week show temperatures plummeting on Wednesday and a possible chance for the first snow of the season on Thursday. Back when people in this region measured snow in feet, not inches, they understood how to drive on the white stuff. It’s been 13 years since we’ve seen that significant of snowfall, however. In the interim, a whole generation of new drivers have gotten their licenses without knowing how to drive on snow and ice. They don’t respect the elements and end up endangering the lives of everyone.

Perhaps it is a good thing I don’t fly. A bullet struck a Southwest jet preparing to take off from Dallas Love Field headed for Indy last night. No one was hurt, but the plane did have to return to the gate and was taken out of service. I’ve not heard whether a replacement was found last night or not. As of this morning, there isn’t an update as to where the bullet might have originated and whether the passenger craft was a target or not. I expect this kind of news from Haiti, where the airport has had to close due to gang violence. Such an event here is extremely unusual.

No, I did not attempt to watch the much-hyped game of patty-cake between a greasy influencer and an elderly champion. We canceled our Netflix subscription a couple of years ago when the price kept going up every time we got a new bill. Even if we had the service, which suffered from an overload of people who slowed down their lives to watch the train wreck, I still wouldn’t have tuned in. I find events such as this to be debased and gratuitous, appealing to the lowest and least desirable of human traits. Yes, I’m definitely looking down at those who watched.

Meanwhile, The daughters of Malcolm X sued the CIA, FBI, and NYPD over his assassination. There’s no way this doesn’t get nasty. The fact that the FBI and CIA kept extensive files on black leaders they considered “potentially troublesome” is widely known at this point. That most, if not all, of the persons involved in the 1965 assassination are likely dead by now, only complicates matters. Conjecture isn’t admissible in court. Written documents are, and if the daughters have enough of those documents, from whatever sources, an FBI gutted by a vengeful president could take a serious hit. Buy your popcorn now.

All week long, scientists at every level and in every field have been wringing their hands over coming changes to various organizations tasked with the research that keeps us all healthy. There are conflicts of interest with everyone who’s been nominated thus far. We can only guess whether they’ll all pass the rigors of Senate approval, but the president-elect has threatened retribution if they don’t. You might want to buy an extra box of that popcorn.

This is where we’re at this morning. Everything in my body says it’s time for a nap, but I don’t dare just in case Citizen’s decides to show up. My head is screaming at me. I know it’s Saturday and there’s no question that the outcome of the IU/Ohio State game will reshape the college football landscape, but something’s going to have to improve before I can handle watching any of the games.

And I’m now out of coffee. Please, help.

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Friday Morning Update: 11/15/24

November 15, 2024

Video Edition

The page-shifting problem that drove me nuts yesterday has yet to be resolved, making typing out anything of length almost nauseating. I have no idea, nor do I know how to check, whether this is a WordPress issue or a theme issue. Depending on when you view this, you may see a different theme as I try to figure out the problem. Ugh.

Kat and I are both waiting to hear back from our doctors. The difference is that I’m already having a conversation with my PCP’s nurse as we try to figure out what’s going on with the hallucinations. Kat, on the other hand, has been trying for two weeks to get her PCP’s office to give her a follow-up appointment as required by the hospital. Yesterday, a receptionist at her PCP’s office told her she would, “Just have to wait until her December 18 telephone appointment.” Uhm, she needs blood tests to make sure the blood thinners are working correctly. HOW THE FUCKING HELL DO YOU DO BLOOD TESTS OVER THE FUCKING PHONE?

By the way, it’s probably worth mentioning that my PCP is with Community Health Network, while Kat’s is with Eskanazi Health Services. Make of that what you will.

The kids were doing okay. G was happily singing both in and out of the shower this morning. Tipper, however, burned her hand when the bowl of potato soup she was having for breakfast (don’t ask) spilled over. That’s a helluva way for anyone to start their morning.

Since this page-shifting thing won’t stop, I’m going to rely on videos to cover most of the news, starting with Stephen Colbert’s take on the dangerous and ridiculous cabinet appointments made yesterday.

Then, who saw this coming?

Post from Associated Press
The satirical news publication The Onion won the bidding for Alex Jones’ Infowars at a bankruptcy auction, backed by families of Sandy Hook Elementary School…

Too bad North American indigenous tribes don’t have better representation in Congress. Perhaps then we could pull off something like this:

What more do you need to know? Nothing immediately jumps to mind. Oh, but if you want to have that Fried Chicken Thanksgiving we mentioned yesterday, here’s the video for that.

Life is strange right now and I’m not going to pretend that I have any answers. I’m deeply concerned about everything at this point. Grocery prices are not going to go down. Gas prices are almost certainly going back up. Energy costs are going up.

I may start hoarding coffee, just to be safe.

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Thursday Morning Update: 11/14/24

November 14, 2024

At 10:51 AM yesterday, I was awakened from my nap by the sound of the backdoor opening and shutting. I heard Tipper call me by name, “Charles!” three times. While the kids do get home early on Wednesdays, this was too early. So, I called back, “Tipp? Is that you?” There was no answer.

Concerned, I tossed Solaris from my shoulder (where he sleeps when I’m in bed), and headed for the kitchen, still calling, “Tipp? Is that you?” But there was no one there. There was no indication that anyone had ever been there. The door was shut (thank goodness). The gate between the kitchen and living room was shut. Fat Guy hopped onto the back of the couch and meowed for attention.

Worried that this might be one of those unexplained psychic connections, I sent Tipper a text. Sure, she was in school and she’s not supposed to have her phone in school, but her teachers allow it. I had to ask, “Are you okay?”

“Yes. Why?” she responded.

“I thought I heard you call my name,” I said.

“I’m at school LOL,” was her response.

Well, fuck. After 18 months without them, I’m back to having auditory hallucinations again. Only this time, the cause almost certainly is not the chemo meds. I messaged my oncologist’s nurse practitioner, who suggested contacting my neurologist. I called the neurology office and they said I need a new referral because of the change in insurance. By now, it was 5:15 and the doctor’s office was closed. Requesting the referral was number one on my list of things to do this morning.

I don’t need this added complication in my life right now. Yet, here it is, fucking things up, causing me to question reality. There haven’t been any visual hallucinations, but who the fuck knows what today will bring?

Rain fell throughout the night. More will fall this morning. Medication hasn’t been enough to touch the pain. The animals pushed in close, three cats, two dogs, to prevent me from rolling around all over the bed.

Making matters worse, my editing screen keeps shifting back and forth to the right two pixels as I type. WordPress had a major update yesterday, so I’m assuming that is to blame. The faster I type, the faster the shift, making it a visual frustration. Yes, I tried closing the browser and opening a new one. That didn’t help. So, this entry is going to be considerably shorter than normal.

The kids are fine. Kat’s resting.

Republicans now have control of both houses of Congress, but don’t think that it’s going to be the rubber stamp the Felon wanted. They chose a moderate as Senate leader, and at least one Senator has said that Matt Gaetz’s nomination as Attorney General is DOA. This could get interesting. One news story this morning claims that insiders are already creating a list of Pentagon officials they want fired, presumably to remove any obstacles to illegally using US troops against American citizens. There is a flurry underway to cement the Felon’s authority within the first 100 days of the administration. (Please forgive the lack of links to the stories, but with this infernal shifting it’s impossible to pull off.)

The NYTimes is suggesting friend chicken for Thanksgiving. Seriously. It’s a sizeable argument.

I’m sorry, I need WordPress to fix this shifting problem. My head is about to explode. Maybe we’ll have better luck tomorrow.

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Wednesday Morning Update: 11/13/24

November 13, 2024

There is a lot to consider this morning. I chose Willie Nelson’s ‘Stardust’ album to serenade me this morning, and the words of “September Song” seem all too fitting, “Oh, it’s a long long while/From May to December/But the days grow short/When you reach September/When the autumn weather/Turns leaves to flame/One hasn’t got time/For the waiting game/Oh, the days dwindle down/To a precious few
September, November/And these few precious days/I’ll spend with you.”

I’m not sure where to start. Kat had yesterday off and spent it resting up at Brandon’s, away from the cats. I miss having her here, but again, she’s doing what’s best for her. We don’t talk about how close we came to losing her. She has to put herself first. That’s not going to change in the foreseeable future. Her clients have been understanding and supportive. She’s off again today, the only “appointment” being taking G to violin lessons this afternoon. I’ll make potato soup for dinner, which I hope at least feels good going down. The time with her is precious.

G came home from school yesterday determined to be impressive, and he was. Without a pattern, he made an absolutely lovely scarf for a friend, using a soft fabric with a Southwestern design. He measured carefully, sewed magnificently, and finished it off beautifully. I never thought of G as a fashion designer until recently, but if he wants I’m sure he could pull it off with fantastic results.

On the other hand, Tipper came in from school, ate a bowl of cereal, and then retreated to her room, leaving only to use the bathroom. Something is going wrong, but she’s not talking. That is, she’s not talking to me. I have a feeling she’s talking to someone, I’m just not sure that person is giving her the best advice. I have no idea what the appropriate response should be. Each morning, as she leaves early for the bus stop, I tell her that we love her. I wonder on mornings like this if those words fall on deaf ears.

The tightness in my chest won’t go away. Don’t worry, it’s just anxiety. There’s no immediate danger. The pill I take for anxiety is huge, so I doubt that I should ask for anything stronger; it might leave me comatose. There’s little comfort, though. My bones ache terribly. The chemo and changes in the weather work together to make sure the pain never goes away. The fog in my head seems particularly strong this morning.

I have to contact the insurance company today. When I sent them a message last Wednesday, I was told that a case manager would call me within 48 hours. That call never came. I gave them some grace since it was a “holiday” weekend for some. Still, no call. I need to be in an Assisted Living facility so that Kat can address structural issues in the house. I also think that having a nurse handy 24/7 isn’t a bad thing. I’m afraid to take a shower because there’s no one here to even call for help if I fall. I find it interesting that United Healthcare, which is the insurance to which I’m assigned, is trying to buy Amedisys, a large home health company. The Justice Department and four states’ Attorneys General filed an antitrust lawsuit against the insurance giant yesterday in an attempt to stop the deal. How the fuck am I supposed to trust a company knowing full well that they’re far more interested in controlling healthcare and taking the profit than they are concerned over my or anyone else’s legitimate health needs?

I just went to the kitchen to refill my coffee mug, and friends, I don’t feel well. Sitting back down helps, but I’m struggling to stay conscious. Alerts from the bank are constantly reminding me how broke I am. I look at G’s birthday on the 26th and Thanksgiving the day after and wonder how in the world I’m supposed to pull off a major birthday celebration one day and the whole turkey, dressing, and pie thing the next. I’m not asking Kat for help. All we need from her is for her to stay alive. That’s it. I have to do everything else myself. I don’t mind doing it, either, I just don’t know at this juncture how I’m going to do it. I don’t know how I’m going to fix lunch, either. I’m trying to get it together, but my body is fighting back pretty damn hard.

Looking at the news this morning is not helping. A fucking Faux News anchor is the felon’s choice for Defense Secretary. That’s right, let’s put a complete novice in charge of the world’s most powerful military. Please, someone fucking explain to me how that makes a lick of sense. The Pentagon’s most senior officials are right to be concerned. For that matter, every country in the world should be concerned.

Then, the felon went and nominated South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security. This is the same bitch that put down her dog for no good reason. South Dakota’s indigenous tribes won’t let her even set foot on any of their lands. Noem’s daughter got preferential treatment while applying for her Real Estate license, an application that was initially turned down. There is so much corruption following this bitch that it’s going to take an extra moving van just to transport all her conspiracies to D.C.

The nomination that simultaneously scares me and makes my blood boil is Mike Huckabee as Ambassador to Isreal. Why? The former Arkansas governor has long called himself a Zionist, but he’s really a pre-millennialist Southern Baptist convinced that a war with Isreal at the forefront will bring about Armageddon and the mythical Rapture of believers. Ambassadors normally don’t have all that much influence. In fact, it’s generally considered a cushy do-nothing job. Huckabee won’t be content to just sit in some office, though. He’ll be in Netanyahu’s ear, putting money in Israel’s pocket, and pushing for greater war. This idiot cannot be trusted.

Finally, there’s the appointment of fucking Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head a new “advisory” Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). While this new agency is not an actual government agency with any authority, their whole purpose is to dismantle everything these two idiots consider “Bureaucracy.” Say goodbye to safety regulations, environmental controls, OSHA, and all the things that the government does to protect us from the ruthless and careless greed of corporations. How will this work? Easy. DOGE advises Congress to make changes. The felon’s stooges, Mike Johnson as speaker, and Rick Scott as the Senate’s GOP leader, then turn that advice into legislation that the Republican-controlled Congress passes without question, and the felon then signs it into law. Just that quickly, all our protections are gone.

What can be done to stop this madness? On one hand, Democratic Governors are banding together to stop the felon’s changes from taking effect. Don’t dismiss this effort. Since most of the changes the felon wants to make are implemented at the state level, Governors have the power to “just say no.” The ACLU and other organizations are gearing up to file lawsuits against offending laws as well.

However, Trans people are experiencing a mental health crisis, overwhelming call centers, as they fear that the felon will make good on his threat to roll back protections for the Trans community. We don’t know the extent to which this unhinged administration might attack the broader LGBTQIA+ community as well. No one feels safe.

Justice will take a hit as Jack Smith plans to step down from the Special Counsel’s office before the inauguration. The felon complained all through the second half of his first administration that he didn’t think the Special Counsel’s office was legitimate. Don’t be surprised when he attempts to completely eliminate the office, making it damn near impossible to investigate any government official over any wrongdoing.

To everyone who has said that our fears about the felon’s second administration were premature and unfounded, fuck you. The felon isn’t even trying to hide what he’s planning. He’s proud of his efforts to destroy the country. This is pure Fascism 2025. 52% of you have learned absolutely nothing over the past 90 years. Don’t expect me to cry for you when you are affected by this nonsense just as much as the rest of us.

Meanwhile, John Krasinski was named People magazine’s 2024 Sexiest Man Alive, Thailand’s baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng has an official song released in 4 languages, and the escaped monkeys apparently like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Oh, don’t forget that Robotaxis are now open to anyone who wants a driverless ride in Los Angeles. I can’t think of a more terrifying city to have cars zipping around without a driver. Also, you’re spending too much time on the toilet.

I’ve listened to both sides of four albums while typing this update. Okay, I did stop a few times to sing along. The dogs don’t seem to mind. Barry Manilow is pushing us toward the end. I feel worse now than I did when I started. I need to force some food down my throat and take my meds.

If my coffee cup is empty, you’ll know I died.

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Tuesday Morning Update: 11/12/24

November 12, 2024

This Tuesday morning starts with a pretty decent frost outside. When I took the dogs out at 5:45, the air temperature was 36 degrees (Fahrenheit), cold enough to don gloves and remind myself that a hat is never a bad idea. Some of the neighbors’ trees are completely bare while ours still stubbornly holds on, waiting for a sub-freezing frost. This is the type of November I remember, the kind that makes me comfortable as the heater kicks on, reminding me of how privileged I am to not be out chopping wood. I’m not good at chopping wood. We would surely freeze to death if we relied on such.

Neither child said anything about school yesterday beyond, “It was okay.” We all remember those days when it seemed as though we weren’t learning anything, don’t we? Yet, at least for some of us, more information leaked into our brains than we realized. I’m assuming the same still happens on even the most boring of days.

Being a Girl Dad is still baffling me, though. Tipper came in, barely spoke, and then disappeared for the rest of the day. I didn’t see her again until this morning. She was dressed and on her way out the door, fifteen minutes earlier than necessary, when I stopped her and reminded her that we love her. The result was an eye roll and a half-hearted, “Love you, too,” as she headed for the door. I worry that there’s an eating disorder at play, but I have no way yet of proving it. The fridge is full of leftovers so the kids were free to choose whatever they wanted for dinner. I’m not sure Tipper ever came out of her room. Everything I read tells me this is a difficult and tumultuous time for teenage girls, but I’m not getting any usable advice. I love this child more than she can imagine. And I worry.

Kat did go to the salon for a little while. She took clients that weren’t especially difficult, and even that proved taxing. By the time she got back home, everything about her demeanor showed complete exhaustion. She’ll take today off, thankfully. I worry about Kat more than I do Tipper. She pushes herself too hard. She’s done that since she was 16. I don’t think she knows how to exist without pushing herself hard. I’m trusting that she’s listening more carefully to her body right now,

Fuck. An alert from my bank just informed me that an annual renewal I’d forgotten just came out. $104, gone, just like that, leaving a deficit of -$28. I can probably move things around and cover this one, but there are still $96 and $45 bills that can’t be avoided coming up before my check hits. Fortunately, the fridge and freezer are full of food. We’re doing okay there. The utilities are caught up. G’s birthday is this month, though, and the holidays are looking quite lean. Something else to worry about.

There’s a guest opinion piece in this morning’s New York Times with the title, “If You’re Sure How the Next Four Years Will Play Out, I Promise: You’re Wrong.” The author’s primary thesis is that we cannot predict the future with all its twists and turns. We all have to admit that he’s correct in such a statement. However, the issue I would take is that there are markers that indicate what is most likely to happen next. Those markers are what fuel our worries about the future. We’re not just guessing in the dark.

What are some of those markers? Let’s start with California Gov. Gavin Newsom will spend part of the week in DC as he tries to Trump-proof state policies. Gov. Newsom remembers the issues California faced the last time this felon was president. He’s rushing to see if there is any protection to be found in federal law. The problem is that any “help” the state receives now is most likely to be rolled back quickly by the new administration. They did this last time and there’s no reason to believe that it won’t happen again.

Round 2 in the Trump-vs-Mexico matchup looks ominous for Mexico. Relationships with our Southern neighbor didn’t go well under the first administration. This time around, however, Mexico has a new leftist president, The felon doesn’t have a good record when it comes to dealing with people who are too progressive for his taste. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has proven to be a tough, stand-your-ground stalwart, especially as she moved to completely upset that country’s court system. With the felon’s promise of mass deportations, the two leaders are likely to bump heads early and the outcome is not likely to be pretty.

Next up: Economics. A headline in this morning’s Times reads Europe Braces for Trump: ‘Worst Economic Nightmare Has Come True’. Think this is just fear-mongering? Already this morning, Global shares mostly declined, shrugging off Wall Street’s rally. Don’t trust what you see happening on Wall Street at the moment. The increases there are fueled by promises of tax breaks for the rich. The rest of the world, however, is not so enthused. The felon’s promises of severe tariffs, for which US citizens ultimately pay, thus setting off another round of inflation, have the rest of the world concerned about a global financial meltdown, similar to what we saw in 2008, thanks to Bush’s failed economic policies. Again, this could happen quite quickly once numbnuts is in office. Economies are global.

Then, there’s the immigration issue. Again, referencing this morning’s Times, which seems to have a better handle on domestic issues than other sources at the moment, Michelle Goldberg warns “If You Thought Trump Wasn’t Serious, Look at His First Appointments.” She points toward the same issues brought up in another article, “Trump Hires Show His Intent To Carry Out Immigration Crackdown.” What it all comes down to is Tom Holman and Stephen Miller, both of whom have a deep-seated hatred for immigrants. Holman has already said that “No one’s off the table in the next administration,” and yesterday confirmed that workplace raids would resume. Miller has said that Trump would cancel the temporary protected status of thousands of Afghans who fled here after the Taliban’s takeover. This is also the jackass who is in favor of using the National Guard to arrest migrants en masse. Want to see our national economy crumble? Take away all immigrants. The effect will be immediate.

With markers like that, how can we not worry? And to make matters worse, Sen. Elizabeth Warren is warning that the presidential transition team “is already breaking the law.” Sen. Warren would know because she wrote the applicable law! If there were any sign of the incoming corruption, this is it, written in neon and flashing brightly against a dark sky.

So, while we may not be able to accurately predict the exact events of the coming administration, we can predict the effects of those events and it is not going to be good. Even the people who voted for him, many thinking that his campaign rhetoric was hyperbole, are going to suffer. There’s no escaping the negative results of his plans. Our only hope is that the idiot suffers a heart attack or stroke that renders him ‘unable to fulfill the duties of his office.’ Perhaps a President Vance would gut current appointments and replace them with a more moderate selection. Or not. Again, we can’t see the future.

Not everything in the world is negative. I’m thrilled to report that 13 monkeys are still on the loose in South Carolina. Researchers have only been able to capture the majority because they were still in groups. The remaining escapees are more likely to be venturing out on their own. I wish them (the monkeys) the best.

Beyoncé and her legacy will be the subject of a new course at Yale. Of course, to take the class you have to actually be admitted as a student to Yale. Good luck with that. Still, the fact that the class exists is enough to rile right-wing nut jobs and that makes me happy.

Oh, this is fun: The UK has a deer problem. The current estimated deer population now tops two million. That’s a problem for a relatively small island nation. Complicating matters is that gun ownership in the country is extremely rare and difficult to obtain. While the government’s “solution” is to try and convince the people who eat the most bland food in the world that venison is good, no one has said who’s going to actually hunt down all those deer. Trust me, once a few are killed, the rest will go into hiding.

Oh, the big news locally is the conviction of Richard Allen on all counts related to the murders of two teenage girls. This conviction has taken forever as both the prosecution and defense have fucked around with evidence and judges for too many years before ever going to trial. Will there be an appeal? Oh yeah. Allen’s wife was heard saying on her way out of the courthouse, “This is far from over.” With all the pre-trial stupidity that went on, there’s plenty of likely ground for it to be overturned, and if that happens the prosecution is almost certain to appeal the appeal. I’ll probably be dead before a final verdict is ever reached.

Saks Fifth Avenue’s holiday light display in Manhattan is changing up this season. One of the seasonal thrills of living in New York this time of year, besides the big tree at Rockefeller Center, is “window shopping” the holidays at Manhattan’s biggest stores. Saks is celebrating its 100th anniversary by lighting the whole building, not just the windows. Unfortunately, my broke ass can’t be there to take pictures. Perhaps someone (looking at you, Joe Lombardo), can slip over and take some photos for us. I’m sure it is a marvelous sight to behold.

Is that enough to distract us from the horrors that are about to unfold? Momentarily, perhaps, but reality still lingers in the back of our minds no matter how much colorful joy we try to put upfront. For now, I’ll eat breakfast and take my meds like a good boy, then probably take a nap because that’s what I do best now. I slept from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM yesterday. I even missed my 2:00 alarm. I don’t enjoy this cancerous existence at all.

But hey, the coffee’s hot.

Current Issues / Health / Long Read / Morning Update / News & Comment / Personal / Politics / Social Commentary

Monday Morning Update: 11/11/24

November 11, 2024

Sunday wasn’t a bad day, as things go. I felt decent enough to finally finish Tony’s pictures. It only took me three weeks, which isn’t a record but is still embarrassing. I’d say I can relax now, but there are still pictures from my last trip with Jen that I’ve not yet touched. This puts me in the position of having to ask myself if I’m as ready for a comeback as I thought I was. The answer, most likely, is no. I may never be ready for a complete comeback, which makes me incredibly sad.

Fortunately, G was here to keep my spirits up. He was in a fantastic mood yesterday, joking around, actually being nice to his sister, and talking up a storm. His frequent visits to my room kept me on my toes as his conversations always require me to completely stop what I’m doing and listen carefully to what he is saying. If he can get a zinger in about how old I am, he doesn’t miss it. At the same time, he’ll swing on a tree branch and laugh just like he did when he was six. It’s impossible to be down when you’ve got someone who can consistently make you laugh.

Kat came home and spent the night. As far as I can tell, she seems to have slept well. Her difficulty breathing is still obvious, though. I don’t know what her plans are for today, but I hope they include plenty of time for her to sit or lie down and recover. Kat tends to push herself; something she’s always had to do. Breaking that habit, and giving herself the space and time to fully recover is not easy for her. She wants to be up, taking care of things, moving around, and working. Right now, though, she needs to not do any of those things.

I tried watching the Colts game but turned it off and took a nap after Flacco threw two interceptions in the first quarter. That was enough to tell me that they were going to lose. I have a difficult time believing that there’s not a better QB sitting around somewhere in the NFL universe. And while Coach Stenchen is apologetic, I think Kenny Moore II, who caught an interception in the second half, is more in touch with what’s actually happening with the team. This is what he said in the locker room after the game:

“I don’t think everybody is working as hard as possible, and obviously it’s showing. I’m not the type to sugarcoat it, honestly. I don’t think the urgency is there. I don’t think the details are there. I don’t think the effort is there, and I don’t see everything correlating from meetings to practice to the games, and it shows. We have to look ourselves in the mirror and ask ourselves how bad we want it.”

“The thing that’s frustrating is we’re letting things leak into another week. To go out and make the same mistakes over and over—that’s what drives me insane as a player and individually. We are in November and I don’t see us making that jump from September to November. I’m seeing the same things. We just have to start addressing it and not sugarcoat or beat around the bush. I think that’s what we are lacking and year-to-year it’s the same thing.”

Holy shit. I hope Stenchen ponders on Moore’s words a bit this morning. I understand that there was some booing going on during yesterday’s game. We can’t let that get started here. Chicago fans are booing the Bears. Jets fans are being merciless when the team plays at home. We don’t need to be like them, but the Colts need to step the fuck up and show us they’re worth those million-dollar salaries.

There were some other really tight games yesterday. The Chiefs, in all honesty, should have lost yesterday’s game against the Broncos. Blocking that last-minute field goal saved their ass, but the fact remains that Kansas City played a lousy game. The same applies to the Lions as kicker Jake Bates made a 52-yard field goal at the last second to win the game against the Texans. Again, they should have lost. QB Jared Goff threw five interceptions! You don’t deserve to win when you’re playing that sloppily. Russell Wilson’s TD pass to Mike Williams lifted the Steelers over the Commanders 28-27, but the young Commanders were arguably the better team. This time next year, I expect it to be Washington who’s running roughshod over the division.

I’m not seeing a lot of news this morning that’s worth talking about. 25 of the Escaped Monkeys of 43 were Captured in South Carolina. And, somewhat hilariously, Mattel Mistakenly Listed A Porn Site on the Packaging for ‘Wicked’ Dolls. Oops!

What’s important is that today is Armistice/Veterans Day, one of the most increasingly forgotten holidays on the calendar. I came across an opinion piece by Vietnam vet Frank Lennon in the Providence Journal. The article is behind a paywall that’s difficult for anyone outside of Rhode Island to justify. So, let me quote a significant portion of that article for you here.

While looking up the 1924 Armistice Day information, I came across another event from that year that was pivotal in the history of how we treated our veterans. It was the passage of legislation providing Bonuses to WWI veterans.

After the euphoria of our victory in World War I died down, many veterans went through hard times. Most were disillusioned, because our government, and society at large, left them to fend for themselves. Adequate health care was beyond the reach of many, especially for “shell shock” – what we call PTSD today. Others found it difficult to find a job.

These problems were exacerbated by the Great Depression at the end of the 1920s. The already high unemployment rates among veterans increased. Vets competed for the few available jobs with civilian workers – many of whom had done very well during the way – while “our boys” got by on the pittance that Uncle Same paid them.

In 1924, Congress tried to redress some of this disparity through the World War Adjusted Compensation Act. It gave bonuses to all enlisted personnel who had served during wartime, with the amount based on each individual’s service time. There was an additional payment for overseas service.

The catch was that these bonuses were paid in the form of certificates, not cash. They functioned like insurance policies, and although they did accrue interest, veterans could not redeem them until 1945.

Rendered desperate by the Depression, veterans asked Congress to modify the law to allow the certificates to be cashed out immediately, when the need was most dire.

In May 1932, WWI veterans organized a march on Washington. At least 20,000 (and perhaps as many as 40,000) veterans, their families and supporters set up camps and occupied buildings in various locations in Washington. The largest camp was a shantytown on the Anacostia Flats across from the Navy Yard. They called themselves the BEF – “Bonus Expeditionary Forces,” a play on AEF, the banner under which most of them had fought during the war.

On July 28, 1932, the attorney general ordered their eviction. Washington police fired at the protesters, killing two veterans. President Herbert Hoover then ordered the Army to clear the campsites and move the protesters across the Anacostia River.

The troops advanced with Tanks, fixed bayonets and tear gas.

You might be surprised to know that Gen. Douglas MacArthur led the troops in this confrontation, along with his aide, Maj. Dwight D. Eisenhower. The commander of the tank contingent was Maj. George S. Patton.

Despite specific orders from Hoover not to cross the bridge, MacArthur pressed on to the camp on the far side. (Perhaps a harbinger of things to come?)

The camp still held about 10,000 people. Tanks and tear gas drove out the Bonus Amer marchers, their wives and their children. Their shelters and belongings were burned. Injured civilians overwhelmed D.C.’s hospitals.

Chillingly, the Army deemed the exercise to be a success. The Bonus Army was gone.

The press saw it differently. The Washington Daily News called it “a pitiful spectacle” to see “the mightiest government in the world chasing unarmed men, women, and children with Army tanks. If the Army must be called out to make war on unarmed citizens, this is no longer America.”

And we thought being spit upon was as bad as it could get?

Throughout the 1930s, the strength of our military reached frighteningly low levels, and little if any emphasis was placed on veterans issues.

Then Pearl Harbor happened, and all of a sudden the military became important again. After the war ended, we could not do enough for our veterans. The GI Bill ensured that post-WWI problems would not be repeated. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, respect for veterans reached an all-time high.

Unfortunately, it took another all-in world war to make that happen.

…

About 25 years ago, Ge. Bernard Rogers, former Army chief of staff, made a very interesting point about the unique nature of military service in our society.

“A doctor contributes to his patients; a priest to the members of his parish; a lawyer contributes to his clients; a politician to his constituents. But those privileged to wear our nation’s uniforms belong to a profession in which every member, every day, makes a contribution – no matter how small – to every citizen of this great land.”

Those are words we should take to heart on this Veterans Day.

I concur. And as I consider how the president-elect is setting up his administration, with emphasis on “rounding up” immigrants and “making the country great,” I fear we will see repeats of Hoover’s disastrous orders. If MacArthur, Eisenhower, and Patton weren’t strong enough to stand up to illegal presidential orders, do we dare think that anyone in today’s Pentagon would respond any differently?

This is why I worry. This is why I am committed to being a safe person, a reliable resource, for anyone being assaulted by any portion of our government or the ridiculous laws it may pass.

Pass me that coffee pot. I need a refill.

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Sunday Morning Update: 11/10/24

November 10, 2024

Sunday Morning Chill. [2012 original with AI background]

Please read quietly this morning. The kids are still asleep, and after all the activity they had yesterday, I’m sure they need it. I enjoyed listening to them interact with each other without fighting. Their conversations with friends were frequently hilarious. Neither teen has any filter when talking to their friends. Try cheating in a game? You’re gonna get called out. Heaven forbid you do something wrong while playing on their team! Curses are going to fly, especially if you’re playing with Tipper. There were times when it was difficult to pay attention to the football games because the kids were being too entertaining.

G has taken on the heavy task of helping me get my heavy leather duster back in shape for this winter. I’ve not worn it in several years. There are tears in the lining, one on the left shoulder, and all the buttons are missing. The shell was also pretty dirty. I took care of removing all the cat vomit from the shell and he went to work. I gave him a specific set of leather tools and thread to work with. His hand-stitching is absolutely remarkable! The replacement buttons came early this morning. There is still one place that needs a full leather patch, but I don’t have the funds for that at the moment. Fortunately, we still have a while before the snow starts to fly. But seriously, what G is doing with his sewing is seriously impressive!

Kat spent the day chilling and I’m sure she’ll do the same today. Don’t expect that to change too much. She hasn’t said yet whether she will try taking a couple of clients tomorrow. Please, don’t push. We all would much rather she take her time and come back healthy. Pulmonary embolism isn’t something from which one just bounces back. Please, give her space to heal.

You already know what I was doing yesterday. I’m going to miss college football when the season’s over. Yeah, the playoff games sort of extend the season, and then, there are all the bowl games that don’t mean a helluva lot anymore. I don’t have much faith in the playoff committee, though, in selecting the best teams, and there are so many bowl games scattered from mid-December to mid-January that one has to ask the question: why?

IU faced its biggest test yet, defeating Michigan 20-15. Everything the team does from this point forward sets a new record for the program. They still have a couple of rough games to go, and that final game against Purdue is always unpredictable, despite how much Purdue has been disappointing this season. By the way, Purdue embarrassed themselves again, losing at Ohio State, 0-45.

The Florida Gators should have just stayed home. They’re down to starting their third-string QB and it seems that much of the rest of their starters are out with injuries. As a result, Texas ran all over them, 49-17. That score fails to tell just how dominant Texas was. The score was 35-0 at halftime. The entire second-string squad played the second half. Arch Manning was able to run up the score easily, getting in some good play time that will help next year. This Texas program will be one to fear for several seasons.

There were a couple of significant upsets this week. Georgia got caught with their eyes shut and lost to Ole Miss, 28-17. Will that be enough to pull Georgia from playoff contention? Possibly, but there’s another opening on the playoff sheet as Miami lost to Georgia Tech, 28-23. That almost certainly pulls Miami from the playoff brackets. With three weeks left in the season, everything comes down to who makes the fewest mistakes and keeps their starters healthy.

You know that myth about deaths happening in threes? It’s not true, but deaths do often happen in multiples. This morning’s list includes:

I suppose one could make the argument that there are two sets of three, but c’mon, anyone who’s been around the industry will tell you that myth is false.

There are a few other tidbits of news. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree arrived in New York City, pushing the holiday season on everyone whether they want it or not. If you’re even slightly at risk of stroke, you’ll want to know that there are new guidelines for preventing them. Be sure I’m paying extra close attention to that one. There’s also 8 Factors That Can Raise Your Heart Disease Risk. Don’t let these stories slide. Your life could depend on them.

The kids are both awake now, but still being quiet. The dogs have been out, all the animals are fed, and most everyone has settled back down for a morning nap. The rain that moved in overnight is supposed to continue through mid-afternoon. I’ll eat breakfast, take meds, and then probably pass out.

As Sundays go, this one almost feels normal. We know it isn’t, though. Behind the scenes, there are people planning mass immigrant deportations and the elimination of funding for offshore wind energy, among other things. The threats that we’ve talked about all week are still there. We just never know when they might be put into action. My level of trust in anyone is extremely low at this point.

As long as there’s coffee, we’ll survive. If that ever runs out, just go ahead and shoot me.

Current Issues / Health / Morning Update / News & Comment / Politics / science

Saturday Morning Update: 11/09/2024

November 9, 2024

20241109_07012010922814495025489 — Here. You Are Always Safe [2024]

Look at this morning’s picture. Normally, they don’t have much, if anything, to do with whatever I’m talking about. This morning is different. I’ve decided to do something controversial and wear a safety pin. Not a small one, mind you. I ordered the largest one I could find. I’m not hiding it under a collar, either. It’s right there on the front of my shirt where everyone can see it. Yeah, I’m aware of all the backlash. If you doubt my solidarity with women, immigrants, and the entire LGBBTQIA+ community, try me. I may be small and weak, but goddammit, the head of my cane alone is enough of a weapon to render someone senseless and I’m not the least bit afraid to use it. You won’t be the first time I’ve had to stand up for someone. I have five of these huge pins because I have a bad habit of losing things. I’ll wear them until I know that everyone is safe.

There may be further additions and changes to my attire and attitude as well. I am beyond disturbed that at least four of the people closest to me are now at high risk, not only from the coming policies of a deranged and horrible president but more likely from those who put him there. Policies don’t hurt nearly as many people as do actions and we’ve already seen those actions in place. The Orange Felon isn’t going to show up at my daughter’s school and directly threaten her safety. Students indoctrinated by his rhetoric may, though. We’re fortunate that our kids go to schools that protect them against aggressive behavior. There’s still the bus ride there and back, though. No one’s protecting them there. If I have to start riding the damn bus to keep them safe, I will.

Of course, there’s also the danger that I’m apparently losing my fucking mind. My dreams have been unusually lucid of late, but they went over the top this morning around 2:30 when a dream was interrupted by what I thought was a young woman standing at the side of my bed. She had shoulder-length brown hair, was wearing a simple dark blue dress, and smiled as she said, “Hello.” That’s what caused me to sit straight up in bed. I heard her. I rubbed my eyes and she was gone. I looked around the room, Both dogs were still sound asleep. Cats had draped themselves here and there, none of them appearing to be disturbed. But, I heard her! Her voice was pleasantly sweet, just loud enough to wake me from my dream. Since when does a dream wake one from another dream? Am I hallucinating again? I thought we had cured that problem by changing chemo meds two years ago. I really don’t want to return to a state where I can’t trust what I think I’m seeing. I closed my eyes and immediately went back to sleep. Who does that?

Then, because once a day is tainted it stays that way, as I was sitting down to read this morning’s news, I heard a horrifying crash coming from the kitchen. I knew before I left my chair that the cats had knocked something off the counter. What I didn’t expect was the complete explosion of porcelain across the entire kitchen floor and even into the living room. Fortunately, I was still wearing boots from having taken the dogs out earlier. I grabbed the broom and dustpan and started sweeping. I’ve warned the kids that I’m still not sure I got all the little pieces of porcelain.

As I sat back down in my chair, Hamilton, who is the closest thing I have to an emotional support animal, started pawing at my arm. I assumed he wanted some attention and pets. Typically, I can pet him for a couple of minutes and he’s cool. Not this morning. I started petting him and he put his paws on my shoulder and pulled. Not expecting this behavior, I was rather slow in getting the message. He wanted me to lie down and he didn’t stop pestering me until I gave in. I lay next to him on the bed and checked the health monitors on my watch. My oxygen was below 90 and my heart rate was 137. I stayed put and cuddled with Ham until the numbers were better. This is why we’re running late this morning.

Kat didn’t have a good day yesterday, either. Her original plan had been to take G to his shadow day, then he would join her at the salon. They never made it to the salon. After dropping off G, Kat went to her mom’s and slept on her couch until it was time to pick him up. Then, they came home, and she chilled in her big chair until Tipper got home. I don’t know if she’s going to even try going to the salon today. I’m hoping she just goes on up to Fishers and stays there for the weekend. Her recovery is going to go slowly and I don’t want anyone rushing her.

Amidst all this, I must say that the kids are doing well. They were both up before I was this morning. They’re each busy doing their own thing. I have projects for both of them later in the day, but they can have the morning to themselves. They’ve definitely earned it.

Saturday morning is normally my science catch-up time and there’s a lot to read this morning, most of it concerned about continued funding. One of the top stories this morning is How much power do Trump and Kennedy have to reshape health agencies? Throughout the campaign, scientists have sounded the alarm that science funding and agencies are at risk. Of course, no one listened. Why would the people who deny climate change and question the validity of vaccines suddenly start paying attention to what the scientists are saying? [sarcasm]. Supposedly, Kennedy is vetting the resumes of those who might head various health and science concerns. That could definitely shape the future of those agencies. However, there’s no shortage of concern that the National Institute of Health is in for a major shakeup.

However, the new Republican administration isn’t the only threat to the science world. Russia has postponed three major science projects. In Greece, warming water temperatures completely wiped out this year’s mussel harvest. In fact, over the course of the week, I’ve seen reports of cutbacks of various kinds on every continent except Antarctica. As nationalism and right-wing fanaticism grow across the world, so does distrust and dismissal of established science.

This is concerning for any number of reasons. For example, there’s considerable concern that infections of H5N1, or “cow flu,” are going undetected. What are the odds of the world having another pandemic during the next four years? Much tighter than anyone cares to admit on the record. Best advice: wash your hands frequently and keep those masks close.

Health isn’t the only concern, though. In Botswana, there’s research actively taking place that may show that the whole fucking continent of Africa is about to split. The repercussions of such an event would change everything from tidal flows to the movement of the jet stream around the world. Entire weather patterns would be affected. And there’s not a damn thing anyone can do to stop it from happening.

Look, I can’t predict the future any more than anyone else. We’ve all seen the plan this administration has for us, though. The number of people it puts at risk is horrifying. These aren’t just abstract numbers on a page. These policies affect real people, you and your neighbors, and millions of lives are going to be destroyed if we don’t act. This isn’t the time to be a pacifist. Loving your neighbor doesn’t stop them from being an asshole. From where I sit, we have no choice but to be unusually aggressive in our response to everything this new administration does.

As I’ve been typing, I’ve been listening to an old Deutsche Grammophon recording of Vladimir Horowitz at the piano. His complete mastery and domination over even the most tender and careful of pieces is precisely the kind of mood we need to foster right now. No note gets away, nothing skipped.

Hamilton is pawing at me again. I need to eat breakfast and take my meds. I’m not well. I’m not strong. But you are always safe here.

Health / Morning Update / Mythology / News & Comment / Personal / Politics / Social Commentary

Friday Morning Update: 11/08/24

November 8, 2024

A Morning Call to Mourning [2011 original with AI modifications]

A solid night’s sleep hasn’t been possible since Tuesday and I’m sure I’m not alone. Regardless of what time I go to bed, or what tools I use to help me sleep, I wake up from dystopian dreams somewhere between 12 and 12:30. I’m usually able to go back to sleep after getting my bearings and realizing where I am. But then, I wake up somewhere around 3:00, again from disturbing visions of the future, and that’s it. I’m awake for the morning. Too many of you are right there with me. Too many of you aren’t sleeping at all.

Kat worked at the salon for a while yesterday. She only took two clients, finishing up around 8:00 PM. She was exhausted and couldn’t get to bed fast enough. G has a business shadow day this morning after which he’ll go to the salon and help out his mom with some of the details around the shop. I’m still concerned that she’s moving too quickly, though I understand why she’s pushing herself. She feels the weight of the world is on her shoulders. She always has. She desperately needs some of that weight removed without threatening the health and safety of everyone in the family.

I did make a mistake last night. In the throws of exhaustion, I had dinner delivered. A part of that dinner included street corn and I have no idea what flavoring and/or spices were used in its preparation. The result was a colon cleanse so thorough that I could have had a colonoscopy this morning, no problem. The kids didn’t seem to have any problem with their food, so I assume the corn was the only issue.

Getting less sleep at night means I’m napping more during the day which means I’m getting less done. My head is already spinning as I type. I can’t go back to bed yet, though, as I’m having milk and cat food delivered this morning. I still have a handful of Tony’s pictures to finish as well. Maybe I’m not as ready for a comeback as I thought I was. Even when I took the dogs out yesterday, I had to sit in a chair the entire time instead of walking around the yard with them.

Like many of you, I worry that matters are going to get worse before they get better. Here are some of the stories I’m reading this morning:

Hold on, I’m not done yet. I’ve had plenty of time to read this morning.

Even the animals are upset. 43 monkeys escape from a South Carolina medical lab. The young female monkeys, all too young to have any disease, left after a door was suspiciously left open. While “There is almost no danger to the public,” according to officials, residents of the nearby town are still cautious, and not all the monkeys have been found. Something tells me the Rhesus macaque primates heard how bad healthcare for women is in the United States and are trying to ‘go back where they came from.’

Llamas in Utah are apparently trying to catch a train going anywhere but Utah. No one seems to know where they came from, where they’re going, or whether they’ve been captured. The domesticated animals obviously got news of the election results, though, and decided to make a break for it. When the animals start leaving, you have to wonder why so many humans are staying.

Midst all the fear on the part of friends and family, I am mystified why some progressives are still quoting “love one another” Bible verses on social media. Stop it. You’re not helping. You had a fucking year to use your comic book scripture to affect the election. What was the result? 8 in 10 of white evangelicals VOTED FOR THE RAPIST! Obviously, there’s no power at all in your Bible verses. Put the damn book back on the shelf and leave it alone. I can find quotes about other ancient mythologies that are more appropriate. Try this one on for size:

“But suddenly the world turned sideways. I realized I’d been played with. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades had been set at each other’s throats by someone else…”

Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief

Not good enough? Hmmmm, what else can I find quickly…

“When an impious band madly raged to extinguish the Roman name in the blood of Cæsar, the human race was astonished with sudden terror at ruin so universal, and the whole earth shook with horror.”

Ovid, Metamorphoses

And I haven’t even opened any of the volumes by Homer yet. Philosopher Northrop Frye wrote, “The disinterested imaginative core of mythology is what develops into literature, science, philosophy. Religion is applied mythology.” All the scripture verses in the world fail to capture any meaning because they are all, every last one of them, based on myth and a lack of understanding of modern science. Quoting them changes nothing and this election has certainly proven that to be true.

I also oppose the basic philosophy that love is a cure for the hate that fueled this election and its consequences. When the fuck has that ever worked? There were people who had the same ideas in Germany. By the way, today is the anniversary of Hitler’s failed 1923 ‘Beer Hall Putsch.” So, why didn’t love stop the bad man’s war then? Where was the love that could have stopped the murder of not only Jews but millions of others, including gays and anyone that we would now consider neurodivergent? Love doesn’t stop shit. The apologetics that comes with a “love everyone” attitude merely opens a door for hate and terror to come marching on in.

What I can promise you is that I will not be silent. When have I ever been quiet? I am gathering up all my energy to roar as loudly as this chemo-tortured body is able. Sure, at best we only have around 100 readers a day, and the greater majority of those are Facebook friends and acquaintances. Still, this is my voice and I will use it.

I can also promise to do my best to keep safe all those around me. So help me, if someone tells my daughter, “Your body, my choice,” I’m taking their fucking head off. If someone tells Kat that, be certain that she will take their head off. That statement is a blatant and intentional threat. I have zero tolerance for such threats. I will not hesitate to commit acts of violence if it will save the life and humanity of someone I care about. I may be small, but I have my mother’s temper and she managed to keep rowdy classes of fourth graders quiet. You don’t want to mess with that energy.

No, I don’t think we’re going to see any jackbooted thugs coming down our street. Instead, we’re going to see laws passed that quietly repeal one right after another. The Constitution will be gutted and the Supreme Court will be complicit. There will be no safe corner in the United States where we can peacefully live. We either fight or we die.

Which is it going to be?

Monday Morning Update: 12/30/24

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Saturday Morning Update: 11/16/24

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Friday Morning Update: 11/15/24

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Thursday Morning Update: 11/14/24

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Saturday Morning Update: 11/09/2024

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