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.

47,000 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 54 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 ballroom in order for him to host his billionaire buddies and the rest of their Epstein-Class friends.

Anyone who doesn't think we can'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.

Hanky-Heads

For some reason, a former neighbor popped into my head this morning while listening to news about the Iran non-war.  It was 1991 and 'Pat' had taken a new corporate position, making the move from Indiana to New Jersey.  As a cultural reference: it was the latest incarnation of Star Trek,  and Pat preferred Captain Pikard's bald pate while I'd have jumped Riker's bones if given the opportunity.  I made it a point to befriend her...East Coast people have such a bad rap...but gradually I placed more distance between us than the common wall of our living rooms.

I don't remember the conversation but I remember the moment I heard her call the peoples of the Middle East, Hanky-Heads.  I didn't have the confidence to call her on it at the time, shame on me.  She liked to drink and so did I, and during one of our 'stupors' she shared this story:

'Pat's' two sisters liked to drink, too, and they'd all go partying in Indianapolis.  One sister she described as beautiful, blonde, buxom (and well-married).  Snockererd and giggly one night they stumbled upon a wake, of all things.  Everyone's seated, soft music playing, when Blondie, in her up-to-here, down-to-there outfit, staggers up to the casket and begins sobbing and sobbing.  She finally turns and leaves the building held-up by her sisters.

Sure, it's a funny story, but can you imagine the widow?  Poor woman, she's probably been haunted by their prank the rest of her life, and likely has a very different recollection of her late husband; questioning innocuous memories.  Naively, I was shocked; for Pat appeared to be quite conservative during the daytime.

Anyway, that all popped into my head following Iran and the news (correctly) thrashing the latest White House loss:  Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the former Labor Secretary, who's leaving for personal reasons, uh-huh.  Hopefully she's not coming back to this neck of the woods, for prior to D.C. she was a Representative from Oregon who lost her bid for re-election.  She flunked out of Trumpland so I imagine will come home to lick her wounds (with her creepy father in tow), ugh.

When you hear the allegations against these people - their extracurricular (and extramarital) affairs - sure, it's not uncommon, but you'd think they'd have a higher level of decorum in their positions.

But we're a nation run by a Pig with a capital P who has no morals; who's trying like hell to reshape the future of our country regardless of him being in power: a Christian Nationalist nation, where women are once again chained to the kitchen while undesirables are chained in ICE facilities.

Nice goin' Mr. President.

Why the Rush to Leave Iran - We'll Only Head for Cuba

That was my thought this morning while listening to the Antichrist opine that a deal (so sick of that word) with Iran should be made in a few days...until it's not.  The 'war' wasn't supposed to last this long, but who in their right mind believed 2-4 weeks?  Maybe that's me - I don't believe a word coming out of the White House, period.

War #10 is about to be resolved by our President, he's claiming; doesn't matter he started it.  Of course he's building that hideous Arch as a tribute to himself as the man who got rid of despots; but he's a wimp. He goes after Maduro and Khamenei but how about Putin?  I'd have traded him for the first two, for the world would definitely be better off (but Putin's got pictures).  You watch:  he'll bust Brazil' Bolsonaro out of prison, just as he pardoned Hondoras's Hernández, the Proud Boys and the rest.

Don't worry about that Arch, if it is ever built; for it'll get torn down eventually, just like Robert E Lee statues, never fear.  We may all be dead by then, but it'll go... 

Some people may say I'm too (mentally) involved in what's going on in the world.  You mean politics?  Well that's true, because I like to stay informed, no matter how distressing.  One person I know voted for Trump simply because of RFK Jr's stand on eliminating food coloring or whatever's supposed to be bad for us.  OK, fine - except they're walking that promise back, I wonder if she knows.

Think things are going well?  It is if you're invested in the stock market.  I'm also tired of Trump  trumpeting the tax breaks everyone's supposedly getting; including Social Security for seniors.  I'm not, for my Social Security is too low to tax to begin with.  And when we DO get our January COL increase, SNAP benefits are reduced - but I've been living like that for years so I'm used to it - just FYI.

My point is that a loaf of bread and quart of milk costs the same for me as it does for Elon Musk, if he shopped cheap.  The gasoline at the pump costs the same for me as it does for you.  It costs more to buy groceries locally but it's now a $10 trip to Walmart, and prices are higher there, too.  

What harm would it have been if, in lieu of a tax break, I'd get some additional SNAP benefits (currently about $195/mo) like they did during COVID? Surely that would cost less than a day's warfare.

So I'll economize like everyone else; what's the point in complaining, Trump isn't listening.  He's aching to head for Cuba - he can't WAIT for this Iranian Deal to be completed properly, so he'll leave it half-ass like he does everything else.

Oh, wait, the Strait of Hormuz is now Fully Open, Trump says.  While writing this post, the Iranians say the same.  I don't believe either of them, for they're not reading from the same script.  But either way, Cuba, here we come?

We Need Michael!

Just a quick note - I can't focus on our vile, irreverent, boorish President for too long before I feel sick and mad.  Today I'm not going to worry about my words...not after the DESPICABLE post Trump shared last night with himself as Jesus Christ.

What is he trying to do...alienate everyone?  He relishes this game he plays with himself - getting everyone worked up until he says, "Everyday Fools!" (why restrict us to a single month?)

Nothing makes sense...from this other-war to buying his Cabinet new shoes to attacking the Pope.  Jeez...are we all supposed to magically turn into home-grown, white, male, Christian Nationalists (with everyone else subsurvient, including the Mrs)?

Dad's side of the family are primarily Catholics and Mom's either Atheists or Episcopalians, which seems to be a mix of Catholic and Protestant, why not?  How many households celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah?  What I'm wondering is how J.D. Vance, a 2019 convert to Catholicism, fits in with Trump's blasphemy?  He (DJT) seems to possess no values other than greed.

That D.C. arch he's building, taxpayer funded in part, to the tune of 100 million (it'll be more) - what's up with that?  Who says that's ok?  And it's supposed to be completed by July 4th?  What're they smoking in the Oval Office?

Hegseth fired the head of the Army Chaplains - supposedly because they don't share core values but I think it's because Maj. Gen. Green is Black.  I saw a flash - something about Trump pardoning his staff prior to leaving office, of course he will.  Biden helped with that, unfortunately.

But that's not going to save them from their tar-and-feathering-inclined neighbors, who have been encouraged by this very administration.  They'll flee to third-world nations if not Russia, because I'll bet not too many of our NATO allies would invite them to dinner, so to speak.

Enjoy those pisshole countries Trump constantly bashes, tee hee.

I haven't written much about the Israel/Gaza war conflict because, as Netanyahu unleashed further Hell onto the Gazans, I increasingly came to understand he primarily wants to maintain power; but we've got our own despot to worry about.  Bibi's doing the same in Lebanon; only now he's dragged us into his mess.

Sure, sure, no one wants Iran to have nuclear capability, duh.  But don't automatically label anyone who doubts that our other-war has, from the start, had the correct motives and objectives; as people who promote terrorism and every other horrible name DJT assigned to Pope Leo.  Shameful.

So is he crazy or senile?  Does he have rabies or syphyllis?  Or is he just so frustrated that things aren't turning out his way that he simply doesn't care about starting a war?  That's why he's building a Triumphal Arch - to celebrate his future victory, if we survive.

We need Archangel Michael's help now.

(Top photo: painted on a 4" gourd scrap)

You Know You're Old When....

I spent most of my mid-50s to 60s pining after food.  I grew up without lacking sustinence, even though much of Mom's menu would likely be poo-poo'd nowadays, for canned was big back then.

This photo is proof-positive of my words. In 2009 I was alone on Ruff Life down in Puerto Rico, trying to get her in enough shape to sell so I could follow 'the Captain' back to America.  Just a bit of backstory.

For months I worked with limited electricity and water; swealtering days of sanding, painting and other repairs (click on link for Befores and Afters).  I had hardly any money and was sick of dreaming of food; until one day, weak with desire, I decided,

"If I can't buy the food I want, I'll PAINT it!"  My refrigerator, left unplugged to conserve power, had become a storage cabinet and I had the door all planned out; but sold the boat before I could finish that project.

I sent Ben & Jerry's a picture and they rewarded me with a nice letter from Customer Service, along with the magnet on the bottom right of my current collection (r). Companies don't do that anymore.

Back on dry land, $5 hot chickens sold at Walmart were a splurge I'd allow myself on special occasions.  I'm past those bleak times but still rarely eat out, even fast food, which has become outrageous.  But a couple weeks ago I went for a walk on the beach and decided to treat myself (for exercising) at the Chinese counter in Safeway.

Some dishes I could identify but not all.  I chose General Tso's Chicken with rice; plus an eggroll.

"For another dollar you have have TWO entrees and it already comes with an eggroll or 2 potstickers."

Couldn't pass up that Friday special.  I asked what I was looking at and she rattled off Chung King-This, Szechuan-Chu-That and the like, to my ignorant ears.  OK, I'll also have (and pointed to the sliced pork).  While I was struggling for a name she advised,

"That isn't an entree."  A woman had arrived and stood to my bad, right side so I couldn't see her clearly.

Then what is it, I wondered silently.  Hmmm..."Ok, what's that again?"

She repeated all my choices, patiently; but the waiting woman began shuffling, breaking my concentration.

"OK, I'll have the Sesame-Orange Chicken."

"Those are two different dishes, you have to choose one or the other."

"AW, C'MON," I heard off my starboard side

The deli-gal momentarily paused and I was proud of myself for controlling Amy's mouth and not moving a muscle, took all my concentration.  I was not going to allow her to spoil my treat.  After I finalized my selection, neither rushing nor apologizing for being me, I finally turned to look. Here's how I described her to the first person I told:

"She looked like a skinny, stringy white-haired crack-head on her lunch break, probably."  That was harsh but I was peeved.  I knew if I said a word she'd berate me like those people at the recent No Kings protest, but she avoided my glance. Good thing for all involved.

Which brings me back to the title - for me this was it - being harangued for being confused, aged, or something else.  How can they know I've been like this my whole life?  Another lame attempt at public humiliation to boost someone's self-esteem, you see it all the time, from people who post horrid ratings without first attempting to contact a Seller to politicians becoming octogenerians.