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 pocketbook.” I thought for years that she had come up with that on her own, but then one day I saw the quote attributed to New York Yankee catcher, Yogi Berra. Whoever the source I think it is particularly astute. I wonder what she’d say about Donald Trump making at least 8 billion dollars since 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?
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? 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 is 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.
Even “And” and “The”
Mary McCarthy detested Lillian Hellman and had fun publicly insulting her with such insults as, “Every word she writes is a lie, including “and” and “the.” Every time Trump, Musk, Vance, Lindsay Graham, and we can’t forget little Mikie Johnson, open their mouths, I feel like screaming, “Every word you speak is a lie, including, “and” and “the.”
Really?
I was watching game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and the Spurs and it was a great game, lots of action, and lots of noise and Donald Trump is photographed asleep inside a private box owned by New York Knicks owner James Dolan. That shouldn’t surprise anyone, the guy is 80 years old; it is clear we need an age limit for the most important job in the country. OMG we need an exorcism, NOW.
Trump Corruption
For Trump’s proposed UFC match scheduled for Saturday, June 14tth, his birthday, Trump had workers tear up the White House south lawn, a US Parks Service site. In a court filing the agency stated “Well over 60 million dollars and tens of thousands of hours have been expanded,” on Trump’s vanity project. The court filing went on, “seven (government) agencies, including Homeland Security and the Federal Aviation administration have allocated significant resources and manpower” to the president’s project. Wow, I also learned Trump will be selling a coin with his empty head emblazoned on it, for the meager cost of $11,999.99. What? When is this ok? Isn’t this what’s called using public resources for private gain? Last Saturday the Public Integrity Project filed suit against the Park Service Project on behalf of two Virginia residents to stop the event claiming the event would violate National Park Service regulations prohibiting sporting event on federal park lands. It will be up to a judge to decide if this bullshit will be allowed to go on as advertised.
Iran War vs Epstein
How many will die in the Middle East because Donald Trump needed a distraction from the drip, drip of the Epstein files?
Vista Print
I got new business cards yesterday. They were ordered in the United States, corrected by phone with a tech in Jamaica, and printed in Canada. They came and they were perfect. Good job, Vista Print. Total cost, $29.99. I always think it is good to thank somebody that did a good job. This is a totally unsolicited endorsement. I just can’t help looking at them, and can’t wait to hand them out. Amazing how modern capitalism works. LOL.
A New Word For Something Old
Retronyms are adjective-noun pairings made necessary because of technology. On Sunday afternoon I have time for this kind of shit. LOL. Here are a few: a.) “acoustic guitar”, because of the invention of the electric guitar b.) “AM radio”, because of the introduction of FM radio c.)”analog watch”, because digital watches were introduced d.) “bar soap” because of the introduction of liquid/gel soap e.) “cloth diaper”, after the invention of disposable diapers. Give it a try. I can think of at least half a dozen more. (Thanks Ron L. Evans, PhD from his book Tyrannosaurus Lex)
Free Stuff
I love Craigslist. I know the site has absorbed a lot of bad publicity the last couple years, and have some people spooked. But for me, it is a treasure chest. I love free stuff. And, the free stuff you can pick up on this website, due to divorce, marriage, moving, redecorating, upgrading, downsizing, immigrating, is absolutely amazing. Last week I picked up the cutest corner shelf, the week before that an awesome 1920’s library table. Next week, who knows?
Bumbling Along
Well, now you see how my head works. My mind has conjured up a number of things to go on about but none of these topics has fired up the old creative spirit. So, I think, I’ll go pot a couple more plants.
