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Celebrating Juneteenth

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Celebrating Juneteenth…

Despite MAGA “Culture”…

Celebrating Juneteenth…

Despite MAGA “Culture”

 

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

Continue to Proclaim Freedom…

As we celebrate Juneteenth, now a legal holiday thanks to years of activists’ campaigning and then our former President Biden in 2021 for making the day a federal holiday. It troubles me that we live in a racist ICE-filled nation because of our current administration, but that won’t stop us from celebrating. The holiday fell on a Friday this year, giving us a whole weekend to celebrate. Here are are 19 ideas to honor June 19th:

  1. Many towns are having public celebrations – I have my pink Juneteenth T-shirt all ready; I will proudly celebrate the North African portion of my heritage.
  2. Check your local library for books and films honoring Juneteenth.
  3. Make it a weekend event with barbecues, water parks, movies, or concerts.
  4. Visit an African museum to view exhibits and artifacts.
  5. Enjoy a marathon of African American TV episodes on your favorite streaming service.
  6. Read the Emancipation Proclamation out loud.
  7. Volunteer for a liberal Democratic organization.
  8. Buy a beautiful piece of African art to display.
  9. Teach children about African culture.
  10. Share stories and ideas around a campfire or picnic.
  11. Learn African dances and dance like everyone is watching.
  12. Learn the significance of quilts and how they assisted with the Underground Railroad.
  13. See the new recently released Michael Jackson film.
  14. Craft an African decoration to display.
  15. Read about Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Shirley Chisolm, Rosa Parks, and Kamala Harris.
  16. Read about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Barack Obama, John Lewis, Jesse Jackson, Hakeem Jeffries, and Cory Booker.
  17. Read about Big John and Mother Amy, slaves that positively influenced Dolley Madison.
  18. Enjoy some delicious soul food while listening to the premier children’s choir, the Soul Children of Chicago – see soulchildrenchicago.org for their music.
  19. Visit the brand new Obama Presidential Center in person or online, which is open starting today – go to obama.org.

 

Whatever you decide to do to celebrate, enjoy, engage, and be safe – God bless our nation. We celebrate freedom despite our current administration – vote blue and continue to fight for freedom as we celebrate Juneteenth…

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Nasty Games

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Nasty Games

Nasty Games

Negative Adjectives for Donald J. Trump

D.S. Mitchell

Calamity Politics is happy to announce that I, Editor-in-Chief, the only Editor-in-Fact, I am going to devote the entire first political blog post of the day to a really nasty game. I want to ensure you that the ‘game’ will not distract me from my usual in-depth political coverage; that will come later. LOL. My regular readers know that the ‘in-depth’ description is probably a bit misleading.

I’m decently polite and tend to shyness. Rarely do I attack. But this morning as I was driving back home from my acupuncturist appointment I started thinking about Donald J. Trump, 45th and 47th President of the United States, con-man, self-promoter, convicted felon, and started tossing adjectives around in my head as I made the 20 minute drive from Cannon Beach to my home in Surf Pines. Quite simply the guy is a mafioso kingpin. He and his family are pocketing billions of dollars from scams and even government contracts.

The game I’m suggesting is very simple. Your first task is to think of a word. It must be a negative adjective that describes Donald Trump, such as liar, or narcissist, or bully. Choose any word you like, then think of as many synonyms of that word as you can.

My core adjective for Donald Trump is SWINDLER. Here is my list of synonyms for the word:

1.) cheat
2.) fraud
3.) crook
4.) grafter
5.) shyster
6.) hustler
7.) con-man

8.) villain
9.) conniver
10.) rogue
11.) cheat
12.) charlatan
13.) cozener
14.) thief
15.) chiseler

16.) filcher
17.) robber
18.) gouger
19.) rascal
20.) criminal
21.) phony
22.) creep
23.) rat

24.) flim-flammer
25.) bilker
26.) hypocrite
27.) pretender
28.) slicker
29.) gyp
30.) hustler
31.) heel
32.) loser
33.) liar
34.) lowlife
35.) sneak

36.) SOB
37.) dishonest
38.) trickster
39.) imposter
40.) scoundrel
41.) grifter
42.) booster
43.) cheater
44.) pitchman
45.) dodger
46.) villain
47.) thug

48.) hoodlum
49.) manipulator
50.) opportunist

If I had used double word descriptions such as confidence man, bunco artist, slick operator I might have been able to manage 100 Trump negative adjectives. THIS IS NO JOKE FOLKS.  Trump is a criminal. He’s been ripping people off for a long time. He’s used to fuckin’ people over; he doesn’t know how to be anything but what he is, a thug and a grifter. I don’t mind attacking Trump, he attacks anyone and everyone. He’s a bully. I feel no guilt; I can approach him with the same attitude that he approaches all those who disagree with him. Slash and burn, take no prisoners. Call it as I see it, as low and dirty as that may be.

Stand for what’s right. Join the Resistance.

 

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A Gut Reaction to Superfoods

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A Gut Reaction to Superfoods

A Gut Reaction to Superfoods

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

Topic of Conversation

With pre-, pro-, and other biotics being one of the biggest things in nutrition for a while now, how your gut is doing continues to be a significant topic of conversation. Back in the day, it was rather unladylike to discuss one’s guts, unless, of course, you were preparing fish.  The times, they are a changin’, since it is now quite stylish to converse about one’s innards.  I’m sure that mine are pink, and happily filled with mocha latte, with a few probiotics thrown in for good measure. My dear fashionable friend L. J., however, has taken an interest in my gut health, suggesting that I acquire some ginger root and steep it in boiling water for a yummy little elixir that will do truly exemplary things for my mocha latte-ridden internals.  Should I have the guts to actually drink this, I’m sure my system would dance an Irish Princess jig.

My Gut Instinct

I did actually purchase the ginger root, which looks like the stump of a weed.  It sits on the pantry shelf, taunting me – my gut reaction is to use it the next time we have sushi.  My gut instinct tells me perhaps a simple cup of tea with a jelly doughnut chaser could perhaps replace this culinary potion.  Mind you, I’m not speaking of an exotic fig twig kumquat pomegranate purple berry blast tree bark tea – an uncomplicated cup of chamomile laced with honey, drunk with one pink-polished pinkie extended, will do.  Perhaps the rather debonair L. J. will join me.  I think I will just resolve to stick to non-GMO, preservative-free real food in 2026, have the guts to stand up for my convictions, and of course, I’ll do it with style…

The Culprit

But those intestines can get you, if you’re not careful. I can recall trick or treating as a very small child, when we could all have yummies without worrying about the effects of allergic reactions. I never had any allergies back in the day, but as a woman of a certain age, I am sure killing it now. After many years of enjoying various flavors of rice, I am now intolerant of this particular grain, it appears. A small cup during a quiet afternoon at home had my anaphylactic self in bed for days. A quick cooking medley of long grain and wild rice, flax, and chia seeds was the culprit.

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Dumb & Ugly Josh Hokit

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Dumb & Ugly Josh Hokit

Dumb & Ugly Josh Hokit

By D.S. Mitchell

Michelle Obama target of UFC fighter

Josh Hokit, also known as “no class Hokit,” in a post fight interview with Joe Rogan Sunday night thanked Donald Trump for hosting the UFC event before insulting the mother of one of his rivals, praising the Lord Jesus and ending the rant with an old far right wing conspiracy theory attack on former first lady Michelle Obama with the following disgusting comments, “And lastly — Michelle Obama is a man! Am I right, America?” To his credit, Rogan did not follow up on Hokit’s comment.

The fact that these comments were made on White House grounds shocked me; but why should I be shocked? Trump posted a video clip on his Truth Social account earlier this year that showed the Obamas as apes. After a heated response  from the public Trump tried to defend the offensive post before finally taking it down. Trump has yet to denounce Hokit’s comments. Many in the community have come out against Hokit’s racist and misogynistic dialogue, which I must say reflects poorly even on scandal ridden Donald Trump and his UFC event.

Robert Griffin III, a black former NFL quarterback and a UFC fan slammed Hokit’s postgame interview. “What a disgrace. It takes a really small man to use his biggest moment to attack a woman by calling her a man. Especially with the history behind calling black women men,” Griffin said on X.

Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-New Mexico) called Hokit’s remarks “disturbing”.

The often controversial Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, said Monday that he thought Hokit’s insult was inappropriate and Trump should have spoken up immediately condemning the remarks. “When on the White House lawn… I don’t care what you think about the Obamas or anything, that has to be an immediate denounce,” Portnoy said.

UFC CEO Dana White in a later interview told Time magazine that he disliked Hokit’s comments, “I understand that the Obama’s are public figures but I’m completely against saying nasty and false things about people’s families,” White told the magazine in a text message. “Everyone knows my position on free speech but I hate that kind of nonsense.”

Michelle Obama is beautiful, dignified, talented,  and a down right sensational person. I thank her and her lovely family for the eight years that they shared themselves with us. Thank you, Michelle, Malia, and Sasha (Natasha) and Barack. We were so lucky to have had you as our first family, and I for one, miss you.

 

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Flag Day 2026

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Flag Day 2026

What the Stars and Stripes Mean to Me

Editor: Flag Day, celebrated on June 14th, commemorates the adoption of the American flag by the Continental Congress in 1777.  While the day was first observed nationally in 1877 and celebrated by various communities during the Civil War to support the union troops, it wasn’t until 1949 that President Harry Truman signed a congressional resolution officially designating June 14th as Flag Day.

Over the last decade it has seemed as if the MAGA crowd had hi-jacked our flag; but that is only a fact if we allow it. I will not hide my flag, I will fly it proudly. My flag will not adorn the back of a pick up truck flapping and shredded from the wind. No I will honor that red, white, and blue symbol. of our bond as a country under l

 

Ways to Celebrate the American Flag

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

June 14th, Flag Day, is not a day for fake kings, it is a day to honor our flag, which stands for freedom and those who fought for it. Trump is a 35 count convicted felon. He incited the January 6th, insurrection. He is a traitor to everything our flag stands for. Here are ways to celebrate Flag Day, un-MAGA style:

  1. June 14th – celebrate our nation’s flag-not Trump’s birthday.
  2. Include Juneteenth in your celebrations.
  3. June is LGBTQ month – let’s celebrate.
  4. Show your colors. Fly your stars and stripes right next to the Pride flag, the Breast Cancer Awareness flag, My Body My Choice flag, or how about a blue and yellow Ukraine flag. I support them all.
  5. Have your Father’s Day celebration include at least one same-sex couples that are dads, like Pete and Chasten Buttigieg.
  6. Cookouts, picnics, and celebrations that honor diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  7. Have a vegetarian cookout or party.
  8. Support our military.
  9. Plant a tree in honor of a vet.
  10. Pray for our troops in the Middle East
  11. Teach a class about “Liberty for All.”
  12. A day at the water park or pool can be a learning experience with books written by progressive authors or your favorite website on your tablet, perhaps Calamity News and Politics….
  13. Teach the truth about Francis Scott Key and the song that became our National Anthem. I respect the song but the attorney that wrote the words had a serious racist streak that troubles me. I feel much the same about Christopher Columbus.
  14. Advocate for “God Bless America” to become our National Anthem and Leif Ericsson as the first European in the Americas.
  15. Boycott Tesla and Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire, better known as one of the oligarchs who bought the 2024 election for “The Donald.”
  16. Support NATO.  Fly NATO’s dark blue flag with it’s centered white compass next to the red, white and blue.
  17. Visit your library for information on democracy and how we are supposed to do it here.  I love my library.
  18. Offer to teach a class at the local community college on significant black women that shaped  America, like  Shirley Chisholm, Sister Rosetta Tharpe: The Godmother of Rock & Roll · Harriet Tubman · Maya Angelou · Rosa Parks · Misty Copeland, to name just a few
  19. Know before you speak; teach Black history with accuracy and respect to those around you.
  20. Denounce any parade for Trump’s birthday. America has no king and money should not be wasted on this foolishness when there is a threat to necessary federal programs that many of our nations citizens rely on.
  21. Do a video training, teach teens how to read and write cursive so they can read historical documents.
  22. Be woke.
  23. Stand up against tariffs that are a tax on Americans.
  24. Stand against ICE murders and ICE prisons.
  25. Stand firm in your convictions against tyranny and greed.

“God bless America, my home sweet home.”

Stand for right. Join the Resistance.

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Something More to Smile About

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Something More To Smile About

Something More To Smile About

D. S. Mitchell

Thank you, for visiting Calamity Politics, where we normally feed our reader’s the unadulterated red meat of liberal political news. But today, I am having one of my, “not today,” moments.

Ha, ha. I changed my usual offering of “25 Things To Smile About” to “30 Things To Smile About” for this week only. So, many awful things have happened this week that I thought we could all use an extra couple of reasons to smile. Happy political blogging. Thanks again, for visiting Calamity Politics, we hope you find topics of interest and enough Trump news to keep you laughing and screaming all week-end.

1.) Parades
2.) Cannon Beach, Seaside, Gearhart, and Astoria, Oregon
3.) Fresh baked Molasses cookies with THC
4.) Music boxes
5.) Being on time
6.) Deep sea fishing
7.) Introverts Anonymous

8.) Old time rock ‘n roll
9.) Big trees
10.) Being appreciated
11.) Hand embroidered 501’s
12.) Penguins, walking
13.) Herb gardens
14.) Yard Chess

15.) Having my taxes finished by April 15th
16.) Double Caramel Mocha espresso
17.) Canoes and Kayaks
18.) Michael Fanone
19.) The journey
20.) Deep fried onion rings
21.) Summer Solstice
22.) A plan
23.) The beach, after Memorial Day
24.) Rock walls
25.) Tile roofs
26.) The WNBA
27.) Portland, Oregon’s Old Town
28.) Food, Views and Piano at The Bridgewater Bistro, Astoria, Oregon

29.) Plate of chips & dip
30.) The quiet, before the storm

 

That’s it. Remember, stand for what’s right, you’ll feel better about it.

Join the Resistance. No Kings.

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Women Of A Certain Age, In A Modern Era

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Women of a Certain Age In a Modern Era

Women of a Certain Age In a Modern Era

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

Women of a certain age, here are three scenarios of life in the world today – may we always be able to laugh at ourselves. Tushy selfies on social media, medical mishaps, and deodorant differences are modern stories for our times:

Licking My Elbow

I found a lingerie clad female, complete with a bare backside, on my husband’s social media. He was rather unimpressed with her “assets”, and my sister thought she looked like a man. I, however, was very displeased with the friend responsible for bringing this individual into our lives. When I emailed my online buddy to inform her that there was a moon out tonight on my husband’s Facebook page, and that her new chum was smiling on both ends for all the world to see on my spouse’s timeline, she was very apologetic, explaining she barely knew the culprit when she accepted her friend request. Had she known she would target her other friends significant others, she would have blocked the person.

My pal, in an effort to make up for her new acquaintance’s behavior, sent me a how to video giving play by play advice to teach me how to take a rear end selfie of my very own. Huh? A derriere selfie is like licking your elbow – it can’t be done, can it? One must need to be contortionist to accomplish this feat. I informed my friend that my cell phone doesn’t have a wide angle lens – things are definitely larger than they appear. I assumed the backside bimbo on social media had a “photographer” do the deed for her. I was never good at the game “Twister” and I am not double jointed, but I must admit my curiosity was peaked. It can’t be any more difficult than the fifth position in ballet…

I donned my spanx leggings (with rear-lift technology built in) and gave it a whirl, twisting and turning while setting the camera at a jaunty angle just like my friend suggested. I wasn’t sure my husband would want this display on his page, either, but what the heck. Needless to say I threw my back out and fell on the floor right on my said tushie. En route home, after my trip to the chiropractor,  I stopped at a medspa for a non-invasive Brazilian butt lift, because my rear view has style…

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Wandering Thoughts

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Wandering Thoughts

Wandering Thoughts

D. S. Mitchell

Thinking Aloud

I’ve spent most of the afternoon potting plants. I’m putting my beloved lake house up for sale and I noticed the deck needs a bright summer look so I went on a buying spree in Home Depot’s garden section. LOL. My dear neighbor came over with his wheel barrel when he saw me struggling with my blooming treasure and made quick work of the unloading. Brilliant blue Witches Hat, a dozen baskets of gorgeous red petunias, and 8 giant pots of amazing white Snow Thimble.

Getting the picture; red, white, and blue; the 250th anniversary? Anyway, none of this matters except that I do very little on Sunday, except play in the garden, eat gummies, canvas the internet for conspiracy theories, and write for Calamity Politics. The Calamity Politics part of it is where I am right now. Some days focusing on a particular topic is easier said than done, so please bear with me as random thoughts bounce around the page as I play with what’s hopefully going to be an article for Calamity Politics.

Misfiring Electrons In My Brain

Mom Said

My Mom used to say, “People will ignore facts, dismiss science, and argue the unarguable; if it’s in the interest of their wallet.” I thought for years that she had come up with that on her own, but then one day I saw a version of the quote attributed to New York Yankee catcher, Yogi Berra. Whoever the source I think it is particularly astute. I wonder what Mom or Yogi would say about Donald Trump making at least 8 billion dollars in the first 19 months of his second term? I won’t mention his kids cuz they seem to be everywhere snagging US government contracts, causing protest rallies as far away as Albania. Since when is this alright? Mom? Yogi?

Yogi Berra

When Yogi Berra left this world we lost the greatest baseball comedian-philosopher of all time. I didn’t say that, I read it somewhere. In addition to the first quote noted above he had a million more; such as, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”  “Nobody goes there any more, it’s too crowded.”  “You can observe a lot, by watching.” “The future ain’t what it used to be.” “Never answer an anonymous letter.”  “It’s like deja vu all over again.” “He hits from both sides of the plate.  He’s amphibious.”  When queried about where he wanted to be buried, he said, “Surprise me.”  Yogi Berra had a zest for life that even death couldn’t stop. While men like Yogi Berra continue to bring smiles to our faces men like Donald Trump and his cronies are literally trying to break the American spirit.

Start Writing

What about encouraging some blowback? I don’t believe it’s right for Trump to run a mafia operation  out of the White House without some kicking and screaming from the American people.. If you haven’t written a letter to your Mayor, your local newspaper Editor,  your State Legislators, or one of your Federal Legislators, you should do it immediately.  It’s a great way to get what’s bothering you off your chest.   The Letter to the Editor is especially rewarding because you can present your beef to the community and garner a few minutes in the spotlight. While you’re fired up, make some poster board signs for the next NO Kings protests, get your drum, your voice amplifier, your comfy shoes and be ready for the biggest protest in US history.

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On the Radio

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On the Radio

On the Radio

By John Curran

 

I try to lighten the load but one thing I have to have is my little Sony transistor radio. And so I turned it on and was listening this morning to a woman make a very interesting point. She was talking about how now since we got this big momentous date on the calendar called 250 that it’s just the greatest time and ‘n excuse for a big national party, not like no backyard BBQ thing this go ’round, no sir this one gotta be BIG, bigger more and more and more even, than it ever was. Yet at the same time, this woman went on, it’s pretty damn ironic that for a lot of people probably so what might not be a more logical response to the real ongoing real that is actually, not fake news here, actually happening. I mean this woman was saying that in point of fact this particular anniversary could and may well one day be looked at as maybe the most terrible time, the most perilous time, the time most in need of real solid brains and leadership and instead we got this ongoing dog and pony show, this delusion, that everything’s ok when, a whole lotta people sure ain’t with that one, no mo, no one wants this shit, says the woman, who then pointed out the irony of it all. That’s when I tune out. Irony? What’s that? Anyway, I think I know what she’s saying. Pretty cool, I tend to agree. I ain’t got nothing for Kid Rock anyway. So pretty dumb. Take it from a dumb guy, one who ought to know. Radio. It’s what I know.

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Women of a Certain Age-Culinary Edition

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Women of a Certain Age-Culinary Edition

Women of a Certain Age – Culinary Edition

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

  1. If you watch “The Food That Built America” on the History Channel and shout “I bought that!” during the show, you might just be a woman of a certain age.
  2. If you call Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice TV dinners…
  3. If you know what a Jawbreaker is…
  4. If you were unaware that many of the foods you have eaten in the past are GMO…
  5. If you ever ate a Pop Tart without frosting…
  6. If you remember when each of the new M&M colors came out…
  7. If you remember the red dye no. 2 scare…
  8. If you ate fruit off the tree without washing it…
  9. If you refer to a microwave as a microwave oven…
  10. If you ever had Jiffy Pop…
  11. If you remember who helped with the Shake’n’Bake Chicken…
  12. If you still fry chicken…
  13. If you had fish sticks on Fridays…when you were a kid
  14. If you think drinking milk with fish is dangerous…
  15. If you ever drank milk straight from the cow…
  16. If you drank from the garden hose…
  17. If you agree milk comes from a cow or a goat, not a nut…
  18. If you know who Famous Amos is…
  19. If you know Tab was a soft drink…
  20. If you drank Tang because the astronauts did…
  21. If you ever had caramels with white cream layer stripes…
  22. If you ever ate a Sky Bar…
  23. If you have heard of Willy Wonka Oompas candy…
  24. If you recall the Banquet chicken commercial with the hot chicken…
  25. If you recall the commercial with the stuck to the box pizza…
  26. If you ever drank Diet Rite cola…
  27. If you know what “Schweppervesent” means…
  28. If you remember Swanson Dinners and still eat their potpies..
  29. If you recall when Pringles were new fangled…
  30. If you know who Mrs. Fields is…
  31. If you think Dolly Madison snack cakes are named after Dolley Madison…
  32. If you know who quipped “good cracker”…
  33. If you know what tuna had their mascot looking for “good taste”…
  34. If you had a Charlie Tuna mug…
  35. If you have a Pillsbury Doughboy doll and poke its tummy…
  36. If you ever had the Goober Grape jelly and peanut butter combo in a jar…
  37. If you ever opened a can of pork and beans and had to search for the tiny piece of pork…
  38. If you remember the “Hostess is wholesome” commercials…
  39. If you know who the Jolly Green Giant is…
  40. If you know what’s “mmm mmm good”…
  41. If you know what choosy moms choose…
  42. If you recall the commercial with the chocolate bar bumping into the peanut butter…
  43. If your baloney has a first and last name…
  44. If you ever ate a fried baloney sandwich…
  45. If you ever ate butter on saltines…
  46. If you ever had turkey or tuna croquettes…
  47. If you made meatloaf on Mondays…
  48. If you ever ate ham loaf…
  49. If you ever had a hot beef sandwich with gravy fries…
  50. If you ever had lunch at the restaurant in Woolworth’s, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
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