All Hallows

Honoring the dead

Pray their souls will find their way

On All Hallows’ Day

The Woods

If you go first 

And I’m left alone

I’ll find a small house

Far out of town 

Deep in the woods

The quiet woods 

Where I’ll live with a dog

A big, happy dog

And we’ll go for walks 

Long adventurous hikes 

I’ll toss a ball

And he’ll bring it back

Toss and fetch

Will be our friendly game

Before he runs off

On his own for a while 

Dreaming of pheasants 

And rabbits to chase

While I stay back

On the meandering path 

Feeling the breeze

That slips through the trees 

As I dream of you 

Only of you

Of holding you 

Here in my arms

One more time

Copyright © 2020 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

What Else Can Go Wrong?

Twenty twenty

A challenging year

A deadly pandemic

Disruption and fear

A contentious election

Voter suppression

Powerful interests

Bent on repression 

A totalitarian president

A Machiavellian senate

Courts packed with ideologues 

Unrepentant 

Protests in the streets

Hungry for justice 

Videos of brutality 

That haunts and disgusts us

White supremacists

And far-right factions 

With powerful weapons 

Emboldened for action 

Fires in the West 

Storms in the South 

This whole year has been 

A punch in mouth 

Standing hours in line 

To cast a vote 

While legal wrangling 

Might cast them all out 

What else can go wrong 

As we make things right 

What else can go wrong 

As we struggle for the life 

Of Democracy?

Copyright © 2020 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

Propaganda

The first objective of a totalitarian is to cast doubt on information.

“Don’t believe the journalists! They are biased and dishonest.”

“Don’t believe the experts! They are all corrupt. They spread misinformation in order to sell books.”

“Don’t believe people that society once respected. They are now enemies of the state, secretly scheming secretly to overthrow us as soon as they get the chance.”

“Never trust outsiders! They have come here to take what is rightfully yours. They are the most villainous enemies of all.”

“Believe only in the leader, the party, their official spokesmen and their most steadfast supporters. Even if what they say sounds outrageous, believe it! It’s true! It’s the real truth, the good news, the alternate facts. Everything else is a lie. Everyone else is trying to trick you.”

This is how the insidious influence propaganda sweeps through a nation and reduces the population to obedient drones, well-meaning, functioning people who have lost the ability to think critically and who will believe any lie that the cult leader claims to be true.

Random Thoughts - 20201030

Random Thoughts - 20201030

There is power and elegance in simplicity.

Dream of the impossible and work toward something wonderful.

“Perhaps I haven’t made myself clear.” - The Aspiring Invisible Man

Every result is a success if it informs and encourages your next attempt.

If you wait for an invitation, you’ll miss the best parties.

Swim fast or be shark food.

Random Thoughts - 20201029

Random Thoughts - 20201029

If a task is tedious, there’s a better way to do it.

If that ship has sailed, at least you won’t get seasick.

I’ll take the over-under, unless you’re the undertaker.

A stitch in time comes in handy after a ripping tear.

A story that’s partially true could also be completely false.

A selfish act might be your best option, or it might just be selfish. You’ll have to figure that out for yourself.

Skills That Can’t Be Taught

Instagram features a wide spectrum of talent. There are people who take amazing photos with their phones. There are people who carry expensive gear to the most beautiful places on earth and come home with awkwardly composed images.

There are skills that can't be taught, but I believe that any skill can be learned. Someone taught Stephen King about nouns and verbs, but he taught himself to tell amazing stories.

Anyone who has a story to tell can learn to express it, but learning how requires persistence, courage, humility, and an honest assessment of strengths and weaknesses. It takes nerve to expose one's vision to the world and guts to admit when something that we worked on really hard could have been better. The people who make that bold self-assessment are the ones who can capture breathtaking images on a mobile phone, while someone less in tune with their limitations fills up hard drives with megapixels of mush.

Be kind to yourself, but be candid as well. Realize when you could be doing something better. You don't have to admit that to anyone else; this is only for you and only so you can push yourself to reach your full potential.

That Empowering Feeling

I love the feeling when things don't go right, when I'm trying to do something, but it doesn't work out they way that I want it to. I keep working on it, keep trying things and banging away while frequently cursing with frustration.

It's maddening. I take a break and come up with some new ideas, but nothing works. I shelve it until the next day, get some rest, and attack it with a new perspective. I try again and again and again, until finally...

...something works! A breakthrough! And the results are spectacular, better than I could have hoped. I **LOVE** that feeling! The frustration was worth it, the time well spent, because now, I have a new understanding, a new technique, a new strategy that I can apply whenever I need to get a similar results. I am a stronger person for having gone through the struggle, and I will never take what I have learned for granted.

The Corruptible ACB

Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett might overturn Roe v. Wade. If that happens, it will be a seismic shift in American culture. But until that happens, speculation on the fate of Roe v. Wade is a distraction, a shiny object to keep your attention focused away from the day in, day out business of the US Supreme Court.

Before ACB weighs in on a major challenge to women’s rights, she will vote on hundreds of other decisions, decisions to benefit corporations, to protect polluters, to limit voting rights.

The conservative justices on the court were selected by and sponsored by deep pocketed donors, donors who want their taxes to be low, their businesses to be unregulated, and who want to maintain their ability to bend government policy to their will. And those justices have proven to be extremely loyal, ruling in the interest of their wealthy benefactors at nearly every opportunity.

So, whether Roe v. Wade stands or falls, be assured that justices Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett will be working overtime, grant their corporate benefactors every benefit and fulfilling their every desire, regardless of the damage these corrupt, partisan decisions do to the law, the Constitution, to Planet Earth, and to the taxpaying citizens of the United States Of America.

Typical Political Conversation

Typical of political conversations over the past four years:

- Donald Trump is the Best Bowler Ever!

- Well, not really. Here’s a copy of the scorecard.

- That scorecard is a LIBERAL RAG!

- Okay. I was just pointing out the facts.

- You Libs can’t get over the fact that he beat Hillary!

- We weren’t talking about Hillary. We were talking about bowling. 45 just bowled a 47.

- WHY ARE YOU SO FILLED WITH HATE?

Destiny Of The World - Part 1

We have all heard tragic accounts of someone leaving a pet or a child in a car on a hot day. Why is this so dangerous? What causes the interior temperature or the automobile to rise to life threatening levels in a short amount of time?

The key is the rate at which heat enters an enclosed space versus how quickly it escapes. The sun’s rays heat the air in the car. That air can’t escape, so it gets hotter and hotter. This is the principle that keeps a greenhouse warm even when the air outside is cold.

On a large scale, our planet works the same way. The sun’s rays heat the atmosphere, and the atmosphere retains some of that heat. If it didn’t, the Earth would be a frozen, barren wasteland.

Similarly, much of the heat that’s received by the sun eventually radiates back into space. This cooling process prevents the Earth from overheating.

While this rate of heat exchange stays constant, the planet’s overall temperature remains stable. But that can be altered. If gasses that hold more heat are added to our atmosphere, the temperature of the Earth will rise just as certainly as the temperature of a closed automobile rises on a sunny afternoon.

Here’s the bad news. This is already happening. In fact, it’s been happening for quite some time.

Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, human activity has released massive amounts of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. This has resulted in an atmosphere that holds more heat than it did previously.

Imagine that you are sitting in your car on a sunny day. The engine is off, and the air air conditioner is not running, but you feel comfortable because the windows are all open.

Now imagine that someone closes the each window most of the way leaving only a small crack to air to get in and out. The car is now going to heat up, because not all of the warming air will escape.

Our planet has the same problem. The build-up of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere is like those closing windows. Heat cannot radiate back into space as easily, and the planet is getting warmer.

We are already seeing the results of this heat build up. Damaging storms are more frequent and more powerful. Extended droughts fuel record breaking wildfires. Low lying coastal areas are flooding.

If we don’t reverse the trend, the consequences will become more and more catastrophic. Fertile regions will become barren. The permanent extinction of life on Planet Earth is a real possibility.

So, now that we understand the problem, what can we do about it? I’ll be back to discuss that shortly. In the interim, I would encourage you to do your own research. The more you know, the better you’ll be prepared for what’s coming.

For The Record

Trump Associates

Paul Manafort (convicted felon)

Rick Gates (convicted felon)

George Papadopoulos (convicted felon)

Michael Cohen (convicted felon)

Michael Flynn (convicted felon, awaiting sentencing)

Roger Stone (convicted felon, sentence commuted by Trump)

Jeffrey Epstein (convicted sex offender, committed suicide)

Ghislaine Maxwell (on trial for sex crimes)

Charles Kushner (convicted felon)

Joe Arpaio (convicted felon, pardoned by Trump)

Elliott Broidy (pleaded guilty to foreign lobbying charges)

George Nader (convicted of possession of child pornography and having sex with underage boys)

Donald J. Trump (unindicted co-conspirator in the Michael Cohen case)

Karma

Karma - Attempting to discredit a rival by shaming one of his children with information that you know to be false, and then falling for the oldest con in the world despite your long and storied history in law enforcement.

Rudy Giuliani, you win this month’s Karma For Idiots Grand Prize, which will be awarded to you in suppository form. Please, Mr. Mayor, tell us one more time what a horrible person Joe Biden is. It’s going to sound rich coming out of your creepy old pie hole.

Steps Every Day

To go a long, long way

Take a few steps every day

Press Conference

Did anyone find it fascinating that on the day when President Obama gave a speech, the intelligence community suddenly felt the need to give a press conference on foreign election interference? When was the last time the FBI gave a press conference? Oh, yeah! It was right before the 2016 election. How did that work out?

Let’s Vote!

Don’t dote

Don’t emote

Don’t gloat

Just Vote!

In person or remote

Let’s VOTE

Everyone

Right now

Or we’re gonna miss the boat

The Blue Tide

One of my favorite Shakespeare quotes:

“There is a tide in the affairs of men

Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.

Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries.

On such a full sea we are now afloat. And we must take

The current when it serves, or lose our ventures.”

Never mind that this passage was spoken by Brutus, who was plotting to do in Julius Caesar.

The tide is rising now, a massive Blue Tide that will push history in a progressive direction. It’s different than the fleeting Blue Wave of 2008, a momentary spike driving by a once in a generation political personality. That wave crested and then fizzled.

This is different. It’s been swelling since the Women’s March of January 2017, through the struggle to save the ACA. It rose enough to change the House profoundly in the last election. It witnesses the daily injustices of Trump and McConnell and becomes stronger with each passing week.

It’s not driven by a personality. Biden is not Barack Obama or Franklin Roosevelt. He’s just a guy who’s in position to take the reins as we clean up the chaos left by a fascist living in the people’s house.

That said, I do have concerns. A potential Blue Tide was demolished in 1968 when Robert Kennedy was killed.

1. Voter suppression is more determined and widespread than ever.

2. Absentee voting is complicated, and many ballots will be rejected based on technicalities.

3. A Biden illness would be tragic.

4. If McConnell manages to retain control, nothing good will happen for two more years.

5. If the Trump team managed to pull out a Bush v. Gore victory in a very Trump-friendly supreme court, this country is toast.

6. Post-election violence is a real possibility.

I’m cautiously optimistic that we will ride the tide to a better future, but the shoreline is still quite rocky.

Irritated

If you get irritated every time someone does something that you don’t like, you’ll never have a day of happiness in your life.

People do nasty things. Forget about it. Don’t give them the power to ruin your day.

Be Who You Are

Be who you really are. Do what you need to do. Go where you need to be.

Legal Jeopardy

When Mr. Trump leaves office, it’s possible that he will face legal jeopardy up to and including criminal indictments for bank fraud, money laundering, election tampering, and obstruction of justice. Within the next few years, it is likely that the US Supreme Court will have three sitting justices that were nominated by a convicted felon.

Think about that. Think about the kind of country where the criminals pick the judges.

Should Mr. Trump be prosecuted, I would expect each of his justices to step down immediately and voluntarily. Should any one of them remain on the bench, it will send a clear message to unscrupulous actors at home and abroad that the American justice system is a sham, a clearing house promoting and defending the unseemly ambitions of corrupt and devious interests.

Radicals

Mr. Trump’s supporters claim that Mr. Biden is “a puppet of the radical Left,” while their own leader retweets far-right conspiracy theories and normalizes White supremacy. In Donald Trump’s America, you can march openly in a rally with torch-carrying racists; just don’t drive there in an electric car.

Criticism Of Senator Feinstein

People are criticizing Senator Diane Feinstein for thanking Lindsay Graham for holding a fair hearing for Judge Barrett. I am no fan of the nominee, and I feel that her addition to the bench will set rights in this country back decades, but I feel that the criticism of Senator Feinstein is unfair.

Every Senator on the committee had time to make their case. They were not badgered or uninterrupted.

Senator Whitehouse of Rhode Island gave a detailed presentation on corruption in the selection process for federal judges. The Chairman let him give his presentation in full. It is now part of the public record.

Senator Feinstein praised Senator Graham for holding an open forum, which it was. She should not be disparaged in a fit of partisan tribalism.

Biden Town Hall

I was disappointed with Mr. Biden’s performance at the televised town hall. Instead of answering questions concisely, he rambled through his résumé and his life story. He came across as a scatterbrain.

Mr. Trump also comes across as a scatterbrain, and most of what he says is untrue. The difference is that Trump’s supporters like that he riffs about nonsense that makes them feel good. He could tell them that Hillary would have given Mars to China, and they would have cheered enthusiastically.

But people who would potentially vote for Mr. Biden don’t want fluff. They want assurances that the next administration is going to pull us out of the dark, shameful hole that the current administration has dragged us into.

Mr. Biden seemed to do a bit better in the second half of the evening. I think that someone from his team might have had a word with him during a commercial break. And having a mind that bounces from idea to idea might not be a bad quality for a chief executive who makes decisions with a team of good people. Nevertheless, it didn’t come across well, and at this point, every vote matters.

Law And Order, Country Style

A friend recently posed a thought-provoking question: After living in a large city, would I be happy living in the country again?

I have been pondering this quite a bit, more than I thought I would initially, and it has led to some interesting insights. I hope to summarize my thoughts on the matter in writing at some point, but for the moment I would like to share an insight that is topical and timely in this election season.

There is an intense political narrative around the issues of law and order. The narrative suggests that crime is rampant in cities, and if people who live outside of cities want to protect themselves and their property, they’ll need to make appropriate political choices. Does any of that sound familiar?

As someone who has lived in a variety of places, I have some insights on this matter. Here is something that might surprise you.

I experienced more crime when I lived in the country than I do living in the largest city in the nation.

The political rhetoric of the day is full of words like vandalism, property damage, and looting. My building in New York has never been vandalized or looted, but my parents’ place in the country is vandalized frequently.

When they hang up a “No Trespassing” sign, it’s promptly stolen or destroyed.

When they post a “No Hunting” sign, trespassers use it for target practice with whatever firearm they happen to be carrying that day.

This doesn’t just happen during hunting season, which is like a massive free for all for trespassing. The signs are damaged year round, but in season, it’s worse. No one observes Private Property signs. If hunters think there’s game in those woods, no one’s going to stop them. They’re on a mission.

On multiple occasions, I have heard buckshot rain down on the trees around my parents’ house. Hunters will argue that no trained shooter would let that happen. Well, somebody discharged those weapons.

It gets worse. This is going back a lot of years now, but when I lived in the country, I used to know guys who broke into houses for fun. They didn’t steal things (too often), but they used to get into people’s private stuff and then laugh about it later.

One couple in the area had a collection of homemade sex tapes. I know this because my breaking and entering buddies were so familiar with the house that they used to let themselves in to watch the tapes. Then they’d laugh about it as they shared details.

Oh, yeah! And back in the 70’s, my home county had a serial killer, just for good measure.

I’ve been in New York for a long time. No one breaks into my apartment. No one vandalizes my building. In all of the years that I’ve been here, there has never once been a riot. We do have demonstrations occasionally, like when the cops kill an unarmed civilian, but although they are tense, they are usually orderly, and the tension dies down in a few weeks.

So, from my perspective, this “we must enforce law and order on cities” rhetoric is a bunch of bull crap. And I know bull crap. I’ve stepped in it. In the country.

Deadly Policy

It’s fascinating to watch people who claim to be pro life argue for fewer restrictions during a pandemic, a policy that will lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths and permanent harm to many survivors.

Reducing Abortion

If you want to REDUCE the number of ABORTIONS, ensure that ALL women have access to AFFORDABLE healthcare, affordable CHILD CARE, EDUCATIONAL opportunities, a LIVING wage, PAID maternity leave, and FOOD and HOUSING security free of PREDATORY LENDING schemes.

If you are NOT willing to CONTRIBUTE to the SOLUTION, don’t DEMONIZE the problem. Focus on resolving your LAZINESS and your GREED.

Ambiguous Use Of The Word Product

I bristle every time I hear the ambiguous use of the word product, as in, “I see that you’re using product in your hair.”

Ketchup is a product. I’m not going to put ketchup in my hair.

Duct tape is a product. A Steinway is a product. You wouldn’t get very far if you put a grand piano on your head.

Dangerous Psychos

If I were a woman, I would fear two types of men: Angry Psycho and Creepy Psycho, also known as Donald Trump and Mike Pence.

Aware Of My Own Weaknesses

I am keenly aware of my own weaknesses. Either that, or I’m so inept at so many things that a lackluster outcome is a safe prediction.

Voter Suppression

Voter suppression is an intractable parasite on American democracy.

Law Enforcement Heroes

I want to express my deepest admiration and gratitude to the brave men and women of the FBI and the Michigan State Police for foiling a plot by right wing extremists to kidnap the Governor. These are true American heroes, and they deserve our utmost respect.

Patient Zero

Typhoid Trump went into the Oval Office today. He might as well swing a machete at his staffers.

Dinner At The White House

I, for one, am happy that the President was feeling well enough to leave the hospital and return home. He should celebrate by inviting Mitch, Lindsay, Ted Cruz, and Bill Barr over for a long, intimate dinner in a small, tightly-sealed dining room. No staff. No servers. Just set up an all you can eat buffet, a self-serve bar, and a couple of karaoke mics, and let the boys have a great time together. Closely together.

Hanging On

If you were hanging on waiting to see whether the US would fall to fascism, you just missed your stop.

Don’t Be Afraid

Don’t be afraid of Covid-19! Don’t let it interrupt your life!

If you start feeling short of breath, or if you come down with a high fever, don’t panic! Call your personal physician. Have him send your private helicopter to take you to your dedicated floor at the hospital where a team of doctors will take care of you and only you around the clock, giving you experimental medicines to which no one else has access.

While you’re receiving treatment, have some of your employees stop by to take you on a joy ride around the hospital. Don’t worry about them getting sick. Who knows? They might not! It will be fun to wave at any friends who happen to be waiting for you on the sidewalk.

Before your treatment is completed, insist that you be released, because who wants to be stuck on a private floor of a well-staffed hospital when you could be infecting people back at your home or office? Have your helicopter pilot fly you back to your place. He won’t mind quarantining for fourteen days. He’s a busy guy; he probably doesn’t spend much time with his family anyway.

“But wait!” you’re saying. “This sounds expensive!” Well, you’ll be delighted to know how affordable it really is. If you pay a minimum of $750 in taxes each year, you may already qualify!

Make Arrogance Grotesque Again!

Downtime

I work hard most of the time, but occasionally I’ll have a day where I feel like I can’t get started. There are things that I want to accomplish, but I can’t get motivated. I feel as though my brain can’t focus and my body is stuck in quicksand.

By the next day, or even a few hours later, I’ll feel fine and life will get back to normal - sometimes, just having a good meal will help to get me back on track - but it’s exhausting and disheartening to feel so unmotivated.

I had a day like that this weekend. I had a long list of things to do, but I was too listless and unfocused to start even the simplest task on the list. When I tried to rest, my mind raced in a bunch of different directions.

Fortunately, I realized that the best thing to do was to give myself a much needed break. I worked really hard this year. My brain had to confront a number of challenging problems and come up with effective solutions in short order. I haven’t taken a vacation, and I’m badly overdue for some downtime. On top of that, all of us are living though an array of difficult and downright crazy circumstances. It’s as though the world is trying to see how far we can bend before we break.

So, I gave in to my exhaustion. I vegged on the couch for a few hours, relaxed, and enjoyed some coffee. When I could muster some strength, I went out for a pleasant walk. I relaxed a bit more and then worked on a project that I could do without stress or strain. It felt good to get something done.

We’re not machines, and even if we were, what machine can produce output indefinitely without taking time off for routine maintenance? As we navigate these uniquely challenging times, it’s more important than ever that we remember to take care of ourselves. We need to be assertive and schedule time off when we feel exhausted and overwhelmed; we can’t just push our way through it.

Give yourself a break. Take some time off. Rest when you feel the need rather than pushing yourself beyond your limits. The problems of the world are not going to disappear. They will be waiting for you to return once you have reclaimed your energy and renewed your focus. Be good to yourself. You’re the only one who can determine when some downtime would help. Don’t ignore the warning signs.

Take One Small Step

Take one small step 

And enjoy the success 

Let those warm feelings 

Inspire what comes next 

Good Looks

I didn’t get here because of my good looks. My looks have been freeloading. Later, I’ll make them clean the garage.

Lack Of Empathy

I am dedicated to taking the high road with regard to the President’s health. This is a dire situation, and I believe that it should be treated with sensitivity. I’m not going to pile on during someone’s darkest hour no matter how much I may have disagreed with them in the past. I cannot act that way in good conscience.

That said, I have no reservations about commenting on the behavior of others.

This morning, a friend posted a very mild joke today about the First Couple. It was not cruel at all.

Someone, who I am guessing is a supporter of the President, responded defensively: “Where is your empathy?”

It is worth noting that empathy has been glaringly absent from American political leadership for the past three and a half years. It seems hypocritical to start demanding it now.

Dating In College

College is such a wonderful time for dating! I often reminisce about the fun that I had.

I dated a Political Science major. We argued a lot.

I went out with an Education major. She taught me a thing or two.

For a while, I dated a Psychology major. She often asked me about my parents.

I dated an English major. She was always reading. Literally.

I had a brief affair with a Math major. Fortunately, she was discrete.

I dated a History major, but that’s all in the past.

I thought about dating a Philosophy major, but logic dictated otherwise.

I went on one date with a Chemistry major; we had none.

I had a brief fling with a French major. She was a great kisser!

I dated someone who studied Old English. I couldn’t understand a word that she said.

I once hit on a freaky Computer Engineer; she wanted to know my RAM capacity. I told her that I had a big hard drive, but I didn’t want any bytes.

I had disaster date with a Music major. I thought that we were getting into a groove, but she claimed that I lacked feeling, that I was tone deaf and a beat off.

I went to dinner one evening with a Tax Accountant. She made me pay. I had too many deductions.

I regret that I didn’t date her friend, the Finance major. I could tell that she had interest.

I went on one date with a Marketing major, but she wasn’t what she made herself out to be.

For excitement, I once dated a Drama major. It didn’t end well.

I went out with a Dance major, too, but she left me for a guy with more experience.

I tried to go out with a woman in pre-Law, but negotiations broke down. I never got to submit my briefs.

I went out with a shapely Engineer one semester. She was very proud of her measurements.

I once dated a girl with a double major in Religion and Agriculture. Holy cow!

I went on a date with an Architecture major, but we had no foundation.

I met a cute Med student at the bar one night. She gave me a shot.

I had lunch with a Culinary student once. We went out for a burger.

My date with a Liberal Arts major went badly when I had to ask her what it meant.

I dated an Aviation major, but we had to break it off. Too many ups and downs.

Copyright © 2020 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

One Bold Act

Every grand outcome begins with one bold act.