Thursday, June 1, 2017

We don't need no stinkin' Paris Agreement

Are we great yet?

The people prayed to God for help. He sent them scientists. The GOP said f*ck that.

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Purple Threat

There are so many threats out there right now, but husband alerted me to an important family historical threat that dates back to Halloween, 1975. This gem is from his father's journal:

October 31, 1975

We had, I think, only two groups of youngsters come by, trick or treating, but three groups who were on a scavenger hunt. I couldn’t help, but Arlene did give some purple threat to one group.

Note: Arlene was his wife. I can imagine her issuing that purple threat in her best, most eloquent prose.

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Russians are baaaack

My audience stats from the past several days show that Russians love me. I have 5 times as many hits from Russia as I do from the US (#2 geographic hits).

Hey Putin, buy my books! You could use a good romance instead of the bromance . . .

Saturday, May 6, 2017

Nobody Dies Because They Don't Have Access to Health Care

Democratic attack ads are writing themselves. Republican Congressional Rep. Labrador addressing his constituents.

Saturday, April 22, 2017

March for Science

I was in DC today to support science and evidence-based policy making. Here are some of my favorite signs.

Friday, March 24, 2017

They had seven years to design a new healthcare plan

The best they could design was a plan to make sure the wealthiest pay a bit less in taxes, while 24 million citizens lose access to healthcare, and older lower and middle class Americans pay much higher rates.

Epic fail.

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Bugs Bunny, Scott Pruitt, and the Laws of Physics

Climate change researchers have pointed out that, "just as there is no escaping gravity when one steps off a cliff, there is no escaping the warming that follows when we add extra carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to the atmosphere."

Yet Pruitt continues to refute physical laws of science. Why? I believe he subscribes to the "Bugs Bunny Alternative Facts", part of the vast Bugs Bunny Conspiracy. You know what this is -- the education we all received from cartoons, that tells us that gravity is only real if you acknowledge it (you can run off a cliff and keep running until you look down, for example). Here's a video that debunks Bugs Bunny's laws of physics. I recommend it as required viewing for members of the Trump administration.

Saturday, March 11, 2017

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Alternative Facts

“You look at what’s happening in Germany. You look at what’s happening last night in Sweden. Sweden, who would believe this? Sweden. They took in large numbers. They’re having problems like they never thought possible.” -- Donald Trump

Isaac Asimov once said: "There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Alternative Facts

"The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive." -- Donald Trump

Monday, February 13, 2017

A Diplomat's Love Letter to America

It is worth reading. A few excerpts below:

"We want Americans to sleep the sleep of the righteous, knowing that the smallest fraction of their tax dollar goes to ease poverty and reduce injustice. We want them to know that our consular officers are the first of many lines of defense against those who would come to the US with evil purpose. We want the families of America’s heroes – our servicemen – to know that their loved ones are not put into danger simply because of a failure to pursue non-military solutions."

"If we wall ourselves off from the world, we will extinguish Liberty’s projection, as surely as if, as the Gospel says, we hid our lamp under a bushel basket. If we do not respect other nations and their citizens, we can not demand respect for our citizens. If our public statements become indistinguishable from disinformation and propaganda, we will lose our credibility."

"Business made America great, as it always has been, and business leaders are among our most important partners. But let’s be clear, despite the similarities. A dog is not a cat. Baseball is not football. And diplomacy is not a business. Human rights are not a business. And democracy is, most assuredly, not a business."

Sunday, January 22, 2017

How far we haven't come

Husband and I were having breakfast at a little cafe close to home this morning. The tables are very close together, as there isn't much seating area. We managed to arrive just before the "after church rush", and we were seated at a four top table. Nice!

An elderly black couple came in behind us, and they were seated at the 4 place table next to us. The only African Americans in the place. No big deal, right? Dressed in Sunday clothes, I speculated that this was their after church ritual, like everyone else there. As my husband was quietly reading the paper I overheard their conversation. You can't help but hear others when the tables are so tightly packed. He mentioned marching with MLK (and he said, "MLK", not King), perhaps talking about it in light of current events, so I guessed that put him in the 75-85 age category. His wife smiled and nodded. It is always interesting, to me, to hear about events from that era, and reflect on civil rights struggles, especially just after yesterday's large marches.

Suddenly a large (white) church group came in to the cafe, and they were told they had to wait for tables. The black man I referred to was facing them, not more than 8 feet from some of the people who had to wait. He said to his (presumed) wife, "There's white people who need tables. We should leave." I was floored. No, no no! I thought. They had already ordered, but food had not arrived yet. Wife got up and talked to a staff person.

They came back to the table and put on jackets to leave. I said, "No, please stay. Sit with us. We have two empty places for you next to us." She smiled, and said, "The ADT alarm went off at our house. We have to leave."

This was a convenient lie. They had no cell phones, had taken no calls. That ADT thing never happened. But I suppose the deal was done. She had told the wait staff the same "white" lie.

I couldn't stop thinking about this incident on the way home. I realize that black people of that age were conditioned to give way to whites in these situations, but I had never seen it happen before, and I'm still saddened by it.

We have a long way to go. For some people, apparently, it's never over.

Sunday, January 15, 2017

The Villages Sentiment

This is typical stuff here, just a few more stickers than the average on the car/cart. Most are very happy to see Trump taking the leadership spot. This was in the Best Buy parking lot.

Monday, January 9, 2017

Watch the tweets

When I was growing up I had to confront bullies at my grade school (back in the old days). My mother, who was an elementary school teacher, used to say "they can dish it out, but they can't take it".

Watch the tweets.

Sunday, January 1, 2017

Which one is presidential?

And which one sounds like he won the 7th grade student council race? You make the call.

PEOTUS Trump tweeted his New Year message:

"Donald J. Trump ‏@realDonaldTrump
Happy New Year to all, including to my many enemies and those who have fought me and lost so badly they just don't know what to do. Love!"

POTUS Obama's New Year's message:

"It’s been the privilege of my life to serve as your President. And as I prepare to take on the even more important role of citizen, know that I will be there with you every step of the way to ensure that this country forever strives to live up to the incredible promise of our founding—that all of us are created equal, and all of us deserve every chance to live out our dreams. And from the Obama family to yours—have a happy and blessed 2017."