Trade Show

A trade show is a spectacle of sights and sounds, endless booths of exciting new products from established manufacturers and eager startups, all vying for attention. Product specialists give presentations, well-known endorsers give demos, models and celebrities generate enthusiasm. There are raffles and classes and performances and dinners and cocktail hours.

And of course there are people, lots and lots of people. Many will be strangers, but you’ll recognize colleagues, contacts, and people you’ve met at other industry events.

Spend a day in an environment like this, and the sights and sounds will replay in your mind for weeks. Spend multiple days and the effect is intensified.

If you attend trade shows frequently, you may reach a saturation level where it’s a challenge to stop thinking about what happens at the shows. You might find yourself craving quiet time where you can be alone with your own thoughts.

Places where people gather online remind me of a nonstop trade show. We see exciting things and participate in interesting conversations to the people where we think about the experience even when we are disconnected. That’s not necessarily bad, but if it becomes overwhelming and dominates our thoughts, it’s worth stepping away until those the thoughts we have come from within rather than from external sources of stimulation.

Asymmetry

State officials in Maine and Colorado removed DJT from the primary ballot per the Fourteenth Amendment. Response from MAGA: death threats, doxxing, and swatting.

State officials in Michigan, Minnesota, and California refused to remove Trump from the ballot. Response from Biden supporters: we’ll have to organize and work hard to get out the vote.

One candidate leads a violent cult determined to intimidate opponents and gain power by any means necessary. The other candidate’s supporters believe in democracy and the rule of law.

FYI - The Colorado lawsuit to exclude Trump from the ballot was brought by Republicans. Don’t blame the Democrats.

New York Minute 189 - Happy New Year

New York Minute 189 - Happy New Year

I was standing on the sidewalk holding a shopping bag in each hand while my wife returned an item in Target. A middle-aged man walked out to the store, smiled, and said, “I wish you a Happy New Year!” as he walked past.

“Happy New Year!” I wished him in return.

By appearances, I would have guessed that the man was Jamaican, but he had a US accent. He wore a large knit cap that covered a lot of hair and a black cloth face mask with a small marijuana leaf knitted into the fabric. He looked a bit disheveled, but his demeanor was pleasant.

“I hope it’s a good year,” the man said as he continued on his way.

“I hope so, too!”

The man stopped after eight or ten paces and turned back to face me.

“And by a good year, I mean no Trump.”

Solve One Problem At A Time

Solve one problem at a time and keep solving them.

Song Of The Year

My favorite song of the year was first released thirty-five years ago. I had recently moved to a new state to begin my professional career, and every detail of life was magnified, including the songs played by the radio stations that I was discovering.

Luke Combs’ cover is faithful to Tracy Chapman‘s poignant original, but it takes on a sublime quality of its own. It’s one of those songs that, no matter how many times I listen to it, it’s not enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr7oYjnt3bM

Year End Reflections 2023

I’m reflecting on changes that I made through the year.

1. Manage stress and get more rest.

This has always been a challenge for me, because I have a long to do list, but mindful of the stress that builds through the day, I have been taking more frequent breaks, and I avoid working late unless it’s absolutely necessary.

2. Get more exercise.

I did better this year than last. The Apple Watch has been a helpful resource.

3. Do things in the simplest way possible.

Increase productivity with a streamlined approach.

4. Accept when results are good enough.

When I finish a project, I often feel that I could have done it better. Occasionally, that’s true, but more often I waste time trying to redo it, and the results aren’t any better than the first version (and sometimes they’re worse). I could have invested that time into other projects. I’m going to try to avoid this mental trap in the future.

5.  Travel more efficiently.

I was able to visit more places for less money by focusing on weekends and by flying when driving would have required more time off.

6. Mind your posture.

It’s particularly bad when I look at my phone. I’m trying to maintain better posture and spend less time on the phone.

Letter To Santa

Dear Santa

I have been good this year

I didn’t spend too much

On camera gear

I bought two lenses

And that was it

It’s all that I needed

To add to my kit

For Fuji

I’ve a wide-angle zoom on hand

For when strong winds blow

The seawater and sand

I don’t want my sensor

To be scratched or hurt

When changing a lens

Might let in some dirt

For Sony

I bought myself a fast prime

For use in the dark

Where I spend lots of time

My love for this lens

Has only grown

It’s the sharpest glass

That I’ve ever owned

So Santa, you see

I need nothing this year

I simply ask

That you spread some good cheer

Give gifts to the children

Help those in need

And we’ll all have

A Merry Christmas indeed

Something To Think About

Something to Think About

A majority of Republican voters support a candidate who wants to dismantle democracy so he can be President for life.

Why do they support him?

Because he wants to close the Southern border.

Why does he want to close the border?

Because record numbers of migrants are streaming in from Venezuela.

Why are migrants coming from Venezuela?

Because the President of Venezuela dismantled democracy so he could remain in power for life.

-

It might seem tempting to support an authoritarian leader if that candidate promises to make life miserable for people that you don’t like. But be very clear. Under an authoritarian regime, no one will be happy for very long, and no one will be safe. Ask the people of Venezuela how well it worked out for them.

When the authoritarian leader starts to make your own life miserable, it will be difficult to get rid of him, because you will have given up the right to free and fair elections. Think about it.

Happy Holidays 2023/24

When someone says HAPPY HOLIDAYS, remember this list:

St. Nicholas Day (Dec 6)

4 Sundays of Advent

8 Nights of Hanukkah

12 Days of Christmas

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec 12)

Christmas Eve (Dec 24)

Christmas Day (Dec 25)

St. Stephen’s Day (Dec 26)

Feast of the Holy Innocents (Dec 28)

Feast of the Holy Family (Dec 30)

Watch Night (Dec 31)

New Year’s Day (Jan 1)

Twelfth Night (Jan 5)

Epiphany (Jan 6)

Mister Dictatorhead

Hannity: Do you pledge to the American people that you won’t abuse your power?

DJT: I’ll be a dictator on Day One.

(MAGA crowd cheers)

Democracy Is On The Ballot

The only action that will preserve American democracy is a vote for Joe Biden. Not voting is not an option. It doesn’t matter how exhausted or depressed you feel about politics. It doesn’t matter that you haven’t found a candidate who inspires you. If you don’t vote, you are subjecting yourself and your family to the loss of every right and freedom you have ever held dear.

Voting for a third party candidate won’t help either. Every vote that doesn’t go to the one person who can defeat Trump is a step closer to Trump returning to the White House where he will dismantle democracy and extinguish the rule of law. Voting for Trump is like putting a rat with rabies in your underwear. It’s a self-inflicted wound from which the country will never recover.

Rosalynn Carter

The world could use more Christians like Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter and fewer like Lauren Boebert and Mike Johnson.

Hammer

Conspiracy believing thug convicted of beating an 82 year old man with a hammer just days after a 77 year old man in orange makeup laughed about the attack at a political rally.

A Dangerous Idea

Every illiberal movement and every authoritarian regime is built on the idea that some people are inferior, undesirable, or dangerous, and that those people are undeserving of rights, liberty, security, or self-determination.

Think about how this idea has been applied throughout history. Think about how it enabled societies to dominate, subjugate, and even eliminate large groups of people. Think about how it is being applied today and where that is likely to lead.

When Night Comes

The sun sets

The sky fades to blue

When night comes again

I think only of you

Hospital Zone

If I live to be 120, I will never forget what Russia did to the hospitals of Ukraine or what Israel did to the hospitals in Gaza.

Halloween Limerick

At the pub late one Halloween

The barmaid had started to clean

As she bent toward the kegs

She spread her fine legs

And her treats were unveiled to be seen

(It’s so hard to keep a limerick clean)

PS. A friend challenged me to use “Halloween” in a limerick. Thanks to Ken for the inspiration!

Save The Children

Did you know that a serial killer in Houston has killed 20 children in the past two weeks?

Except, it wasn’t 20. It was 2,000.

And it wasn’t Houston. It was Gaza.

Who Pays The Price

Who pays the price

The heaviest price

When the bombs fall

And the rockets fly?

The children

The old

The sick and the poor

The mothers

The sisters

The man at the store

Those who did nothing

To bring on a war

Those who can’t fight

And can’t get away

Those are the ones who pay

They pay with their limbs

They pay with their eyes

They suffer all night

And pay with their lives

It’s always the same

Time after time

The innocents pay the price

By The Numbers

1 thing 2 do 3 times be 4 you 5leep is have 6 in 7 different positions, unless you 8 a heavy meal, in which case walk 9 thousand steps and go to bed before 10.

No Trace

The Earth

Will be here

Long after humans

Disappear

Buildings will crumble

Records will fade

No trace will be left

In a million years

The Integer Nine

Let’s contemplate

The Integer Nine

The first Odd Number

That’s not a Prime

This highest digit

Isn’t prime, you see,

Because it factors

To three times three

Jackpot

Great news! Someone just won the money that I spent on Powerball! ;-)

Pinball Wisdom

Life is like being a pinball. You’re thrust into unpredictable situations where you bounce around and get whacked from time to time, but the longer you keep going, the more rewards you accumulate.

Stunts

War has broken out in the Middle East, and the United States has -

- no Speaker of the House

- no Ambassador to Israel

- over 300 vacancies in top officer positions in the armed forces

because nihilistic members of congress have paralyzed the government with procedural stunts.

Fun With Bad Poetry

Fun With Bad Poetry

You look more yummy than lunch

That’s why I love you a bunch

-

I’ve done some stupid things

It’s true

But the stupidest thing I did

Was you

-

I remember the softness

In your voice

When you said,

“Please stay! Let’s do it again.”

I was happy to be there

In your warm arms

Until the door opened

And your husband walked in

A House In Disorder

War breaks out in the Middle East, and the US House of Representatives has no Speaker, because eight hard-line politicians led by a womanizer from Florida decided to bring the government to its knees.

American Politics in 2023

Voter 1: Who are you supporting in the upcoming election?

Voter 2: I like Candidate A.

Voter 1: Really? Why?

Voter 2: A promises to ban critical race theory and criminalize drag queen story hour.

Voter 1: Do you realize that Candidate A has a history of disparaging minorities, fomenting political violence, and working to undermine democracy?

Voter 2: Which part of drag queen story hour do you not understand?

Staying Young

I stopped by a coffee shop during a stroll through a coastal town in the Pacific Northwest. The morning rain had stopped, and the sun was coming out between the clouds.

I thought it best to put my camera away; it would have looked conspicuous dangling from my neck while I waited in line to order a latte.

I set my backpack on a bench, unzipped it, and placed the camera inside. A well-dressed gentleman passed by and noticed what I was doing.

“Wow! That’s a lot of equipment!” the man remarked with a smile.

“Carrying it around helps keep me young,” I joked.

The man, who was probably in his mid seventies, added, “Well, let me tell you this. Anything you do that helps keep you young is worth doing.”

“Thank you,” I said as I pondered the wisdom of this off-the-cuff comment. I repeated the man’s words and added, “I’m going to remember that for a long time.”

It’s Just That Simple

Vivek Ramaswamy claimed that people are being harmed by green energy innovation. The claim is ridiculous on its face - have you been attacked by a solar panel recently? - but let’s examine why he made it. Before running for president, VR started Strive Asset Management, which in turn invests in companies that drill for oil. The more oil that’s drilled, the more money he makes. His position on green energy is entirely self serving, another “rich guy” hoping to use public policy to fill his own pockets.

Kushner

Jared Kushner’s Résumé

- The son of a convicted felon (prosecuted by Chris Christie)

- The son-in-law of the first ex-president indicted on felony charges

- Turn down for a security clearance (until Trump intervened and told the government to give it to him anyway)

- Worked in the White House for four years ( January 2017 to December 2020 )

- Given responsibility for ALL Middle Eastern policy (despite no diplomatic experience)

- Given responsibility for the Covid response (1 million American citizens died)

- When the Trump Administration ended in defeat, Kushner started a hedge fund with $2 BILLION from the government of Saudi Arabia.

- High-level Saudi ministers objected given Kushner’s lack of experience, but the crown prince overrode them. (The same crown prince reportedly ordered the murder of Saudi/American journalist Jamal Khashoggi.)

- Kushner receives a $25 million annual salary to run the hedge fund (regardless of how well it performs)

- Response by Congress to all of the above: Investigate Hunter Biden.

Riddles - 20230828

Riddles - 20230828

Q: Why did the stern mortician refuse to cremate bodies promptly?

A: They have to urn it.

Q: How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb?

A: Two. One to change the bulb and another to argue that a different brand of bulb would have been better.

Q: Why did the photographer fire her publicist?

A: She wasn’t getting the right exposure.

Q: A man took his wife’s fancy camera on a whale watching tour. He accidentally dropped the camera in the ocean. What did his wife say when he returned home?

A: I shutter to think about it.

New York Minute 188 - Banana Fiend

New York Minute 188 - Banana Fiend

I buy organic bananas from a food market in my neighborhood that sells them at a good price. Each bunch is pre-weighed and wrapped in plastic tape that’s marked with an item number and a bar code.

Frequently, the tape looks as though it has been tampered with. I suspected that someone was sneaking bananas out of the bunches and resealing the tape, but I couldn’t imagine why. If they went to the register with a loose banana, they would still have to pay for it.

One day, I spotted a middle-aged lady standing at the banana display. She was resealing the tape on a bunch of bananas. I didn’t want to approach while she was there, so I picked up another item returned to the bananas a moment later. Many of the bunches had been untaped. Some were resealed sloppily; other bunches remained open.

The lady, now standing about six feet away, was eating a banana. The way she ate it was unusual. Instead of pulling the peel back part way, she had removed the entire peel in advance. The banana was bare from end to end. A second bare banana lay on a paper towel in her shopping cart on top of some other terms. There was a sealed bunch in the cart, as well.

When she finished eating the first banana, she returned to the display and placed the sealed bunch onto a hook. She walked away and looked back at me. I glanced at her and then turned back to the display. I shook my head in disgust at the vast collection of molested bunches.

The lady walked toward me. “I didn’t separate them,” she insisted.

“I didn’t say anything,” I said without looking at her. I didn’t want an argument to ensue.

“I didn’t separate them,” she insisted again. “I just changed my mind.”

“I didn’t say anything,” I repeated dispassionately.

I glanced at her shopping cart. A peeled banana sat conspicuously atop her other items. I found an undisturbed bunch and walked away.

Better

Every person you meet is better than you are at something. They might be better at bowling or scrabble. They might be better at fixing cars or solving crossword puzzles. They might be better at cooking a soufflé or making emergency repairs to a ripped garment. They might be better at tennis or golf. They might be better at finding deals and managing money. They might be better at dancing or remembering song lyrics.

It’s a near statistical certainty that they are better than you at something, even if that thing is not apparent.

Why is this important? Because humility is important, and because the lack of humility is unpleasant and unhealthy.

Be humble. You’re not great at everything. Even if you do several things well, there are billions of people who do lots of other things well. There are people who could read this paragraph and instantly translate it into Basque or Navajo or Swahili. Can you do that?

.

Be humble. No matter how good you are at something, remember that you are an absolute novice at most things.

Why should you embrace humility? Because humility opens your mind to new possibilities. Humility lets you learn and grow, because in order to grow, you first need to realize that you have room for improvement.

Lack of humility isn’t just insufferable. It’s toxic. The person who believes that they know everything learns nothing. Avoid falling into that trap.

You are wonderful just as you are, but each of us has potential for growth. Growth begins with an honest assessment of our weaknesses.

Random Thoughts - 20230821

Random Thoughts - 20230821

I’m not anti-social. I just don’t enjoy hanging out with people.

It takes a lot of balls to be a bad golfer.

Always remember that the highest level of success is the one just above the second highest level, although someone is probably going to sneak in an even higher level soon.

I’m so uncool that when I try to do something cool, it looks like I’m trying to be cool, which is never cool.

I’m not overthinking this. I’m just thinking it over.

Yard Signs 2023

I interpret yard signs as an indication of enthusiasm for political candidates. If I see a lot signs for Candidate B, but few or no signs for Candidate A, it leads me to believe that Candidate A is in trouble, even if the polls rate Candidate A favorably.

Last year, as I was driving through Western Pennsylvania, I noticed a large Doug Mastriano sign prominently displayed on someone’s garage. When Mastriano lost the gubernatorial election, the property owner put up an equally large sign emblazoned with TRUMP 2024.

When I drove past this weekend, the Trump sign was gone. A small, discreet American flag was in its place.

Only the property owner knows why he took down the sign, but I’m guessing that multiple felony indictments are making even the MAGA faithful question their support for you know who.

Direct Messages

DT: Jack Smith is deranged!

JS: I’ve read your DMs, freak.

Yet Another Special Counsel

GOP: We demand a Special Counsel!

DOJ: Here you go!

GOP: Not that guy!

Barbie Thoughts

The Barbie movie challenges us to examine familiar situations from unfamiliar perspectives. It encourages the viewer to draw their own conclusions, including some that may be uncomfortable. The film is bold, bright, flashy, and entertaining, but it inspires deep reflection, the highest aspiration for a work of art.

The story is allegorical. Plot devices may represent other things, but it’s all open to interpretation. I have several theories about what Barbieland represents. Which one is right? Maybe they all are. Maybe that’s the point.

If you see ‘Barbie’, in addition to being entertained, you’ll be treated to one of the best soliloquies ever written. Move over, Will Shakespeare.

Luxury Vacation Discount

Planning a luxury vacation? Ask for the Clarence Thomas discount.

Weird Word

I wish there were a word like weird but weirder than weird for when weird isn’t weird enough.

The Thoughtful Gentleman

She said that I made her panties wet. I felt ashamed, so I bought her some laundry detergent.

Laugh Long And Well

It’s okay to laugh when your nemesis stumbles. Think of it as karmic relief.

Free Speech

Free speech: I’d like to visit Cuba.

Not free speech: Take this plane to Cuba.

Admiration

If you want to be noticed, be bold.

If you want to be respected, be competent.

If you want to be admired, be reliable.

If you want to be loved, be kind.

Helsinki

Five years ago today, Donald Trump stood beside Vladimir Putin in Helsinki and told the world that he took Putin’s word over the assessments of US intelligence agencies. Let that sink in. I mean, really. Think about it. It would be like FDR claiming that he trusted Mussolini more than the Pentagon. It was one of the most absurd moments in all of US history.

Today, Joe Biden stood in Helsinki to welcome the nation of Finland into NATO. Neighboring Sweden will follow shortly.

Elections have consequences. Trump disparaged NATO, attempted to extort political favors from Ukraine, and lavished praised on Putin at every opportunity. If the pro-Putin GOP regains control of the White House, human history will enter its darkest age.

School Daze

Parents who demand control over school curricula and the books that students have access to in libraries are the same parents who complained loudly when they were called upon to teach their kids during the pandemic. Let that sink in.

When they were asked to fill in for teachers during an emergency, they couldn’t handle it. They demanded that the government, which they openly distrust, force their children back into classrooms as soon as possible. Yet these same people want to have the final word on how schools are run and how students are taught. It’s like addicted gamblers demanding control over how people manage their finances.

State Of Malaria

Florida’s stubborn, domineering leader appointed a science-denier as the state’s surgeon general. Now, Florida has a malaria outbreak. “Get ready for more plagues,” said Yahweh.

Two Phases To Every Project

There are two phases to every project, the time when you’re working on it, and the time when you aren’t.

What Have You Got To Lose?

In 2016, DJT tried to convince African Americans to vote for him by asking, “What have you got to lose?” We now know the answer: affirmative action and bodily autonomy. Plus he demonized the Black Lives Matter movement at every opportunity.

Legacy

Boris Johnson

F**ked the UK

Donald Trump

F**ked the USA

The legacy

Of their treachery

Will cause trouble

For a century

And Vlad

Is glad

That he had

A hand

In electing

These two cads

What’s The Password?

“What’s the password to the top secret server?”

“That’s classified.”

“Does that mean that you won’t tell me?”

“No, it means that we keep it in the bathroom.”

Don’t Wait

If a goal is important to you, don't wait to get started. Don't wait for the right time. The right time is as soon as possible. When people take on a project that they love, they always wish that they had started sooner.

Don't wait until you have the right resources. Start with what's available to you today, even if it seems inadequate. Working with limited resources will inspire you to be skillful and creative.

Don't wait until you have more training. The best training is what happens when you work passionately and diligently toward an objective.

Don't wait until you're finished with school. Don't wait until you move to the city. Don't wait until the kids grow up. Don't wait until you retire. All of those things will happen, and when they do, you'll get busy with other things. At some point, you need to resolve to move forward, or you'll always be dreaming of the future.

Most importantly, don't wait until you "have more time." That's a convenient illusion. You'll never have more time than you do right now. 24-hour days are not going to get any longer, and as you age and take on greater responsibility, your ability to use those hours will become more limited.

Act now, today, this week, this year. If you want something to happen, find a way to work it into your schedule, and get yourself moving. No excuses.

Weekend Wish

It’s time to toss your troubles into the bin. Don’t trash your weekend with garbage thinking. Keep a litter bag nearby in case any rubbish crosses your mind. Refuse to let waste drag you down in the dumps.

The Independent Power Of Words

Words have their own power. Their meaning can stray from the intentions of an author or speaker. If you have been misunderstood, clarify your message.

Late-Term Abortion

Late-term abortion is not an elective procedure to terminate a healthy pregnancy. Late-term abortion is an emergency procedure used to treat miscarriages and other catastrophic pregnancy events where the fetus is not viable and the health of the mother is in grave danger. Banning such procedures puts women’s lives at risk. People who do not understand those risks should not be involved in the decision making process.

Debt Ceiling Showdown

Congress is not going to increase the debt ceiling without concessions. That ship has sailed. Wall Street and the Chamber of Commerce can yell until they’re blue in the face. The party of chaos doesn’t care.

McTurtle smells blood in the water. He had to, or he wouldn’t have aligned himself with Charlie McCarthy. Together, they’re betting that Biden will cave to their whims, or the default will damage Biden more than it hurts Republicans.

Biden’s approval rating is pathetic. Astonishingly, he trails trump on a number of them. I don’t believe that the polls are accurate (the Wisconsin supreme court race was supposed to be a dead heat, but the Progressive won handily) but it’s troubling to see Joe so poorly regarded when compared to the most dangerous politician in our nation’s history.

On the other hand, Biden caving is a nonstarter. The McCarthy plan would hurt veterans, working families, air traffic controllers, and it would gut much of the progress that Biden made in his first two years.

Biden is left with two miserable choices: cave to the McCarthy mob or pull a rabbit out of his hat. There’s some talk that he could justify executive action under the Fourteenth Amendment, but that seems like the kind of theoretical parlor game that a Democrat wouldn’t have the chutzpah to pull off, and it would probably be struck down by the corrupt Clarence Thomas court.

Yes, I am concerned. If the US defaults, it will trigger a global financial catastrophe. Runs on banks will accelerate, millions of Americans will lose their jobs, and the US dollar will no longer be the most valued currency on the planet. We have three weeks to sort it out.

The Economics of Classical Performance

Opera is all about the fat lady. Ballet is all about the skinny girl. Economists call this specialization.

The Rise Of Authoritarianism

When I look at the United States today, I don’t see a country that’s drifting closer to autocracy. I see a country that is speeding toward fascism at 120 miles per hour.

Does that sound like hyperbole? Is it alarmist? Consider the following.

In every jurisdiction where authoritarians have unchecked power, such as partisan trifectas or legislative supermajorities, they are enshrining authoritarianism into law.

- Laws that make it more difficult to vote.

- Laws that ban books and accurate accounts of history.

- Laws that promote voter intimidation as a civic service.

- Laws that flood the nation with firearms.

- Laws that perpetuate minority rule by partisan gerrymandering.

- Laws that prevent citizens from accessing critically vital healthcare.

- Laws that dehumanize vulnerable populations.

- Laws that threaten doctors with felony charges.

- Laws that take away rights from citizens based not on what they do but on who they are.

Here is the critical question. Do you see any signs that such actions are slowing down, any at all? Or is this behavior becoming more prevalent, more brazen, and more extreme?

Why is this happening? It’s happening because resistance to authoritarianism has thus far been slow and disorganized.

There is no national law or standard to protect voting rights.

There is no national law or standard to protect women’s rights.

There is no national law or standard to protect the rights of the LGBTQ population.

There is no national law or standard to keep the most powerful weapons away from the most irresponsible and dangerous people.

There is no national law or standard against domestic terrorism.

American democracy has been inflicted with gaping wounds, and when we treat those wounds at all, we’re covering them with bandaids. The system is not going to be able to handle attacks of this magnitude for much longer.

Me and Ted

True story: I receive a lot of fundraising texts and emails from Democratic politicians. I have contributed to candidates in past elections, and the party loves to come back to ask for more money.

One day, a Republican fundraising organization must have accessed the wrong list, because I received a text message from “Ted Cruz.”

Ted (we’re on a first name basis now that we’re texting) was expressing his typical outrage over some bad thing that the Democrats were doing. “They have to be stopped!” the senator insisted. “Make a contribution.”

Normally, I delete these fundraising messages immediately, but I decided to have a little fun.

I sent a three-word response, quoting a nickname coined by certain former president: “Lying Ted Cruz!”

I have never received another fundraising request from Republicans.

When To Change

Don’t change for others. Change for yourself. Change when change will lead to greater fulfillment and better results.

The Forbin Project

I had a flashback to a movie that fascinated me when I saw it on television many years ago. Fearing that human error or a lack of judgment might trigger armageddon, the government puts its nuclear arsenal under the control of a sophisticated computer system. Unfortunately, the computers quickly outwit their designers and, realizing that they have the power to exterminate all life on the planet, hold mankind hostage.

The premise of “Colossus: The Forbin Project” (1970) has new relevance today for a variety of reasons.

- The ascendance of Artificial Intelligence is raising practical and ethical concerns.

- The world’s two nuclear super powers are at odds over a hot war in Europe. (The Soviets play a key role in the movie, but I won’t give it away.)

- The chief scientist in charge of designing the computer system was played brilliantly by actor Eric Braedon, who went on to have a long and celebrated career in daytime dramas. Mr. Braedon, now 82, recently announced that he is battling cancer. My thoughts are with him.

I wasn’t yet a teenager when I first watched “The Forbin Project” on television. I had no idea that I would have a career working with computers. I had never even seen a computer; they had not yet become ubiquitous.

Nevertheless, the story made a powerful impression. I hope that mankind will make wiser decisions in real life than they did in the story, but given the integral role of computer systems in our day to day lives, something that could not have been imagined in 1970, I fear that we may be facing a perilous future.

Corporate Embarrassment

That moment when you decide that it will be less painful to pay $800 million than let your CEO testify about your dishonest business practices.

Judgment

People who react negatively to abortion, gay marriage, drag queens, and transsexuals should stop worrying about what happens in other people’s bedrooms and figure out what’s not working in theirs.

Easter Reflection

Jesus fed the hungry. What’s your position on assistance to the poor?

Jesus healed the sick. What’s your position on healthcare for all?

Jesus condemned institutionalized greed. What’s your position on tax cuts for the wealthy?

Jesus sought refuge in a strange land as a child, when staying in his homeland was too dangerous. What’s your position on asylum seekers and immigrant children?

Jesus saved a woman from a vengeful mob. What’s your position on women’s rights?

Jesus never condemned a person for being gay. What’s your position on LGBTQ rights?

Jesus’s best friend was a prostitute. How do you treat the most marginalized members of society?

4/4/23

4/4/23

- Finland is joining NATO today.

- This is the 55th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

- The politically significant state of Wisconsin is holding an important election.

- For the first time in history, a former US president will be arraigned on criminal charges.

- The date 4/4/23 means the same day internationally, where they use the D/M/Y date format, as it does in the US, where dates are expressed as M/D/Y.

Laws Discriminating Against The Transgender Community

Transgender children struggle for acceptance in ways that most people cannot imagine. Laws that target transgender children reinforce their pain by offering concrete evidence that they are officially unwelcome due to what makes them different.

What if legislators in some state introduced a bill to ban handicapped children from restaurants? Sponsors of the bill claim that restaurant owners feel that the presence of handicapped people is bad for business: the cost of access ramps and special bathroom facilities is too high, and some customers feel uncomfortable around them. The proposed “solution” is to pass a law that would exclude handicapped minors from all restaurants across the state. Do you see how such a law would be hurtful and discriminatory toward handicapped people and their families?

What if a law prevented autistic children from going to public parks? Proponents of the law argue that autistic kids might wander off, so this measure is simply for their own safety. Can you see how such a law would be hurtful and marginalizing?

What if a law banned children with intellectual disabilities from going into retail stores and shopping malls? Do you see how that would stigmatize them and place undue burdens on their families? At a minimum, parents would need to hire a caregiver every time they need to go to the grocery store.

Transgender children have become an easy target for hate groups, misguided citizens, and opportunistic politicians. According to NPR, at least 150 laws that would negatively impact the transgender community have been filed by state legislators. Interesting fact: every legislator who has introduced one of these laws is a Republican. The transgender community has become a political bogeyman for the Right.

Does this sound familiar, a political party trying to gain power by openly targeting a vulnerable minority? It should. And it should worry all of us, not just because it’s blatantly unfair to the rights of the citizens who have been so targeted, but because it signals the overreach of a rising authoritarian movement in the US and abroad.

Cost and Rewards of Mistakes

A mistake is an action that yields a reward but incurs a cost. If we learn from the cost, the reward is multiplied.

Parents’ Bill Of Rights

Politicians in several states and at the federal level have been enacting “Parents’ Bill Of Rights” legislation. In most cases, these laws restrict the books and courses that are available to students, restrict what can be taught and even discussed in classrooms - in some cases, even menstruation cannot be mentioned even to high school students - and they make it easier to fire teachers and administrators.

This is unfortunate in too many ways to discuss, but it is also a missed opportunity. Here is an ideal for a Parents’ Bill Of Rights that could actually have a positive impact, and I would like to see if enacted at the national level.

“Every measure will be taken to keep students safe from gun violence in and around schools. To that end, universal background checks and waiting periods will be required for all firearm purchases. Red flag laws will facilitate identification of people with a history of violent or threatening behavior, including domestic abuse and violent social media posts. No person on a red flag list can purchase a firearm for a period of not less than seven years from the latest incident.

Insecure gun storage will be charged as a felony. Assault weapons will be reclassified and will require special permitting and insurance for purchase, including a minimum age requirement of 25 years.

Keeping students safe from violence is a solemn responsibility, and we commit to doing everything possible to achieve and maintain safe environments for learning.”

Natural Disaster Response

When tornados devastated Mississippi, President Biden immediately called the state’s Republican Governor and two Republican Senators and offered any and all help that the federal government could provide. Biden made a “major disaster” declaration and ordered Federal aid to the area.

When wildfires ripped through drought-stricken California, President Trump blamed it on untidy forests. “I see again the forest fires are starting. They’re starting again in California. I said, you gotta clean your floors, you gotta clean your forests - there are many, many years of leaves and broken trees and they’re like, so flammable, you touch them and it goes up. Maybe we’re just going to have to make them pay for it because they don’t listen to us.”

More Jokes - March 2023

I once dated a yoga instructor with anger issues. She introduced me to tantrum sex.

A boat full of pigs was taking on water. It was all hams on deck.

I used to believe in the merit system, i.e. if you work hard and do a good job, you’ll be rewarded accordingly. Now, I believe in the ferret system. The people who get to the top are weasels.

Welfare State

East Palestine, Ohio - Who’s going to pay for the cleanup?

Jackson, Mississippi - Who’s going to pay to fix the water system?

Flint, Michigan - Who’s going to pay to replace the lead pipes?

Child Tax Credit - Too expensive. Don’t just give away free money.

SNAP Benefits - Too expensive. If they want food, they’ll have to work for it.

Silicon Valley Bank - Bail them out! We can’t let the financial system crash!

Jokes - March 2023

A man sought treatment for his neurotic obsession with Bucharest. He was diagnosed with Romania mania.

A lady divorced her impotent husband amicably. There were no hard feelings between them.

A guy spilled a tangy, red condiment on the daily paper. He was trying to ketchup on the news.

International Women’s Day 2023

I would like to wish everyone a Happy International Women’s Day, but the ugly truth is that women’s rights are being taken away around the world and here in the US as well.

Oppression benefits no one, not even the misguided oppressors. It puts all of humanity in a weaker and more dismal position.

Strong, free women build strong communities, strong families, prosperous businesses, and a better world for everyone.

Support women’s rights. Oppose their oppressors. Speak out against inequality. Do everything in your power to stand up for women and girls.