What Can A Simple Citizen Do?

Young people glamorize Adolf Hitler and Luigi Mangione, the 'punk' who shot the healthcare executive in the back like the coward he is.  Have you seen his fans?  Doubtful those young women would act the same if he looked like...well, you get my point.  It's one thing to idolize James Dean; it's another to do the same to Charlie Manson. Think their parents know?

I can't find my previous post, but I know I wrote about the inevitability of January 6th rioters being compensated for their legal fees/emotional distress/lost income.  How does $1 million apiece sound to you folks who lost health care benefits, for that's what the President's $1.7 Billion slush fund is for; look it up if you don't believe me, and from various sources on various mediums and not merely your favorite 'thread'.  Trump is paying off his militia so that even if he's officially out of office (maybe), his gang, now cleared of any charges and living the high life, will be at his beck-and-call.

What about the illegal stock trading on the lives of our military - YOUR child, grandchild or friend.  I also wrote about us going into Cuba as soon as Trump can wipe his hands of Iran, some people missed CIA's Ratcliffe's jaunt down there this past week.  They're trying not to make the same mistake they made with Iran - bombing the hell out of them without a how-dee-do to anyone (and so we'd quickly pivot our attention from the scandalous Epstein Files, I still believe.)

So they're saying that Cuba is preparing to attack Guantanamo Bay (and Florida?) with drones;, therefore that will be the reason we go in and take Castro out.  What Trump really wants is to build a bunch of hotels and casinos to recreate the 'good old days' of Havana - you've seen Godfather II.  He'll begin planning construction before the Strait of Hormuz is freely opened up like it was before he stuck his oversized Ego into that oily, wily, pack of snakes; if it ever is.  What's a million-Euro toll among friends?

Cuba's holding their hands up in self defense, and I'm more likely to believe them.  Considering Trump has been threatening to take over Cuba (and Iceland and Canada and probably Mexico's next) for quite some time, oh, and let's not forget Venezuela (what are we doing there?) then sure, maybe Castro thought it might be a good idea to stock up on some drones.  Look how well Iran's been doing and, of course, Ukraine, hooray for Ukraine.

I wouldn't be surprised if Canada and Iceland were stocking up on defenseive weapons, too; even if it's only crampons and ice picks.

We're not prepared for another epidemic, pandemic, plague, whatever they want to call it.  Oh, that would probably please the folks at the 9-hour Prayer Fest in the Capitol on Sunday; bunch of Bible-Thumpers (no, I didn't misspell - that's what Mom called religious fanatics).  Oh, they're not fanatics?  Then I'll bet you're white, male, possibly toothless, and willing to treat your wife as our President and Christian Nationalist Secretary of Missteps espouse - barefoot and pregnant.

What would Barbara Bush have said to George (or Betty Ford to Gerry) if she heard him call a woman reporter, Piggy, or another a Stupid Person?  What's wrong with our ditzy First Model?  Can't she say a thing; or is it because he can't understand a word she says, I sure can't.

Think he only acts that way in public and not to women close to him?  Hell, no; bunch of well-dressed saps.

What a world.  Senator Bill Cassidy (R) LA lost his reelection bid because he voted his conscience after the Jan. 6th attack - YES, it was an attack - and pissed off DJT for life.  Many more Republicans felt the same way immediately after the disgrace, but we all know how that's gone.  Anyone who isn't lockstep with the First Octogenarian is toast.    What person of any decency would knock Sen. Cassidy's gracious concession speech, Republican or Democrat?  Next up is Kentucky's Rep. Thomas Massie's fight on Tuesday; another Republican out-of-favor because he sided with the Epstein survivors?  That is NOT a character flaw.

My conservative mother used to say that the fall of a civilization begins with the loss of its morals.  I heard this since the 1960s and considered her 'old-fashioned and out-of-step,' as I'm sure younger generations now consider me.  But now I see her point.  That's what it boils down to:  Who has any decency left and who does not?

So what can a simple citizen do?  Vote your conscience and remember the values we all were taught, at least in school, when we were very young.  Not everyone had inbred parents.

Whatever Happened To Hairnets?

Leon Trotsky poster 1960s

I was watching a morning piece about a new bakery in Portland.  The doughnuts sure looked yummy and I was enjoying the shout-out, UNTIL...

The gal filling the 'nuts flipped her 2-foot ponytail out of her face before she began squirting for the camera.

Ugh.  I instantly flashed back to the time a fellow volunteer invited me to a local Austin coffee shop.  I didn't have my own car  (just my motorhome) so it was always a treat to go anywhere outside of the Community First Village.

I've been intimidated by modern Coffee Shops since 1994, when I was introduced to my first Starbuck's, in Portland, OR, by a co-worker. Tino and I had recently moved to the city, and we usually drank the plain-old at-home kind, with cream.  You know those confusing menu boards; I stared like a deer in the headlights.  Ms. Vicki ordered her iced-double-shot-espresso-hazlenut-whatever; and when it was my turn I pointed and said, you know already,

"I'll have what she's having."

It's been that way ever since,  for I never order alone.  Fast-forward to 2017 and it was pretty much the same experience with Lesslye; except for my horror at the kids behind the counter: 20-somethings, one who was sleeveless (with underarm hair, I'm not certain now) and her wild head-hair without a net.  The young man preparing food was similarly netless.  Lesslye might remembers it differently, but it's my story...

I thougt it was the law, but I don't eat out often enough to know for certain.   It seems a sensible policy to help ensure public health, like no rat droppings in their kitchen; but perhaps hairnets are as aversive to wear as masks were during Covid.  And what about gloves?

"Anything to eat?"

Were they kidding?  I felt old and out of touch amidst Austin's COOL crowd. I felt the same in Eugene; and Portland, I suppose.  I remember the original Hippies, and what we see nowadays are cheap imitations.

I don't know about you, but strands of my hair fall out all the time. Not all at once, thankfully; but regardless, would you want to eat my DNA?

So that's today's rant.  Maybe it was just a crack I made to Lesslye about, "What's next - underarm hair?"  I wouldn't be surprised.

$19 Left in SNAP and Three Weeks To Go

I was about to turn this off for the night, but I'm p...d.  I went shopping this week (after receiving my SNAP) and I've got $19 left until next month.  I'm sick of hearing about billion-dollar ballrooms and the idiots who have no idea that's even a 'thing'.  Or the fact that the Saudi Prince got p...d at Trump after he said we'd escort ships through the Strait without consulting them; so President DJT called it off  within 24 hours (plus he can't risk his royal son-in-law's business dealings).  Kinda surprised his Generals, but what do they expect?  That's how coups begin.

I thought we were supposed to be the biggest and baddest?

So Trump caved for Prince Slit-their-Throats; but when NATO countries were mad they weren't consulted what did he do?  Threaten this-and-that like a child having a tantrum.

So anyway, we're supposed to be footing the bill for all this with shit-eating grins on our faces.  I've said before that since I'm not getting a tax break, how about helping a bit with (our) SNAP instead of cutting our benefits.

I am SICK TO DEATH of hearing stories about the uber-wealthy.  SICK TO DEATH of those who think what's going on is fine.

"Yippee!!" they say, "...the stock market's soaring and  more people are using credit cards!"

DUH, that's how you survive when you don't have cash to buy the things you need.

I was recently hit with a close-to $4,000 car repair, which is about what I paid for it in 2018.  Partially paid with cash; much with a credit card.  Perhaps, because that's still stinging, that's why I'm so angry at the Upper Class; who can easily toss $4,000 for a bottle of wine, and easily stroll past misery without a glance.

Thanks a lot, ever-Trumpers. May you reap what you sow.

Cheap Imitations

President Trump may have remodeled the Oval Office to resemble Buckingham Palace,  but it's as genuine as a Rolex knockoff.  Our President is likely the only person unaware much of the world is laughing at his bad taste and Superiority Complex:

"A superiority complex is a behavior that suggests a person believes they’re somehow superior to others. While not an official diagnosis, symptoms of it can occur with some conditions. People with this complex often have exaggerated opinions of themselves. They may believe their abilities and achievements surpass those of others. However, a superiority complex may actually be hiding low self-esteem or a sense of inferiority."

We knew that already, didn't we?

I read that during the King's visit, Trump had Jackie Kennedy's portrait hung in the Oval Office.  I don't know what anyone else is supposing, but I think it's a set-up to have Melania's portrait hung opposite, as if to suggest their good-tastes were equal.

We know the truth to that, too, don't we?

All in all, you have to hand it to Charles's constitution - how he could sit in that gaudy office and be fondled by Donald - must have really turned his royal stomach.

Americans are quite grateful for his visit; most especially his speech before Congress, touting the importance of Separation of Powers.  And the Republicans stood up!  So either they were grateful the King spoke the words they're too afraid to voice; or else they're imbeciles who don't know any better.

We know the answer to that one, too, n'est-ce pas?

Madame Defarge and the Epstein Class

If we were in the late 1700's, Paris, A Tale of Two Cities,  I'd be Madame Defarge, sitting with my knitting at the base of the guillotine.

40,000 Oregonians are losing their SNAP benefits, and it's happening in every state.  Not me - I'm over 64 so the work requirement doesn't apply.  But not everyone under 64 requiring SNAP to keep from starving is able to meet the 80-hour/mo work requirement, usually due to physical or mental disabilities. This, on top of fuel prices and everything else.

So the absolute GALL of Mike Johnson to ask us to pay $400 million for Trump's gaudy ballroom in order for him to host his billionaire friends and their Epstein-Class buddies.

Anyone who doesn't think we won't have a Second American Revolution isn't paying attention.

The Correspondent's Shooting

Two things came to mind after the assassination attempt at the White House Correspondent's Dinner (and the subsequent discussion of rescheduling):

1 - All those women are going to have to find another dress.  Men have it easy - they're all Penguins - but the gals?  Show up in the same dress after the entire world has seen it?  No, no, no...

and

2 - I wonder how many people BET on the chances of a shooter gaining access; and whether the shooter was successful or not.  Who's looking into that?

I'm very glad everyone's safe.  What a cluster.