25 Smile Makers

25 Smile Makers

D. S. Mitchell

I’m Calamity and I am Calamity News and Politics. Calamity Politics is a progressive political blog that addresses the daily news headlines and political events. During the week I try to stay on task and comment and analyze the events I see.  But today is Sunday, and it’s the day I take to reflect on all my blessings. I also like to find no less than 25 things that are worth smiling about. Here we go.

1.) Naming a star after a friend 2.) Watching a dragonfly float on the breeze
3.) Tending my inner child 4.) Stepping into the warmth of a therapy pool
5.) Days at the lake house 6.) Old Faithful Geyser 7.) Postcards 8.) Flowers on the table 9.) Beach side cabins 10.) Orchid filled greenhouses 11.) Shelves of home canned veggies 11.) A new bike 12.) Old friends 13.) Black T and jeans
14.) The rolling wheat fields of Eastern Oregon 15.) The smell of Jasmine
16.) Standing up for myself in an uncomfortable situation 17.) Tootsie Roll Pops
18.) The majesty of space and time 19.) Burned toast with chunks of unmelted butter 20.) Weathered barns on country roads 21.) Rugged coastal cliffs
22.) Elephants 23.) March Madness 24.) Saving a house from demolition
25.) Flower laden window boxes

Here’s More

Well that was fun, and just because I have time here’s ten more things to smile about: 26.) My pocket copy of the U.S. Constitution 27.) Chilled shrimp salad
28.) Sun burned noses 29.) Freshly waxed hardwood floors 30.) French doors
31.) Time to play 32.) The smell of fresh-cut grass 33.) Ivy climbing brick walls
34.) White gym shorts 35.) Fern gardens, among ancient pines

I’m sure the upcoming days will cause many hours of frustration, but just remember, you decide how you are going to feel, react and take part in life. We must always make time to smile. Or, better yet, just laugh.

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Absurdity

Absurdity

D. S. Mitchell

No, Not Today

It’s another rainy day at the beach. I know it sounds like a long season of re-runs. So I’ve got time to play a game. All I need to do, to get a break at Calamity Politics, is shut off the work switch. Silly, but I’m not in the mood to be serious today. I was going to write an in-depth, thought-provoking, political post on Kim Jung Un and the burgeoning North Korean threat. However, I’ve changed my mind.

Rules Of The Game

Here are the rules of today’s game. I will open a dictionary. From the two open pages, keeping the words in sequential order I will write a story. The story of course will center on a well-known politician and his family.  I challenge you to do it. It is harder than it sounds.

So, here we go. The dictionary I will be using is, Everyday America English Dictionary, Edited by Ricard A. Spears, et al.  NTC (National Textbook Company) 1987.  Pages 130-131.

Daddy Knows Best

Donald Trump dropped his  fountain pen on the desk, and asked, “What’s for dinner tonight?”

“Some form of fowl that Donald Jr, bagged when he was on safari in Texas,” Ivanka answered.

“You are a fox,” Big Daddy Trump gushed, leering suggestively.

“Stop it, Daddy.”

Do you know what fraction of the federal budget is being spent on Jr.’s security detail?  Some woman reporter asked me today, and I had no idea.  Do you know?”

“Oh, Daddy, don’t worry about such stuff.  Just stamp it TOP SECRET,  and if that ‘fake news’ lady asks again, you just tell her it’s, classified.”

“Of course, of course. You’re right, sweetie.  I have more power in my twitter finger than ANYONE else in the world!  Especially some ‘fake news’ reporter.”

“We should have that finger insured.  What if there’s a fracture?  It would be a disaster,” she said, bobbing her head in confirmation.

“Careful, Daddy, that bowl is very old and very fragile.  Michelle Obama called it historic. She said something about Dolley Madison.

“Historic?” Trump repeated, simultaneously tossing the object skyward and catching it with his left hand.

“Daddy, please, stop juggling it. Stop it.”

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Really Dumb Sport Quotes

Really Dumb Sport Quotes

D. S. Mitchell

“Layed Back Tuesday”

It’s another play-day at Calamity Politics. No surprise, says the reader. I am officially declaring, ‘Layed Back Tuesday’. It’s great sometimes, being the boss, even if it’s only me, and Rocky. Rocky, my stalwart partner in crime is a blue and white Budgie. I have been trying to teach him to say, “Hello, Mama,” but to no avail.  Thinking about political theory, political science, political reality, political bullshit, is about as frustrating as trying to teach the bird to talk. So I have decided there will be no political discussion, today. There will be no analysis, there will be no relevant comment, other than what a few athletes have had to say over the years about some weird shit. So, here goes. . .

Just for laughs.

Mike Tyson:  Responding to a question about his retirement plans:  “Fade into Bolivian, I guess.”

Joe Theismann: “The term genius is inapplicable to anyone in this game.  A genius is Norman Einstein.”

Pedro Guerrero:  About his relationship with the press, “Sometimes they write what I say, not what I mean.”

Chuck Nevitt:  On why he appeared nervous:  “My sister is having a baby, and I don’t know if I’m going to be an aunt or an uncle.”

Yogi Berra:  “It gets late early out here.”

George Foreman:  “There’s more to boxing than hitting.  There’s not getting hit, for instance.”

George Roberts:  “I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first.”

Tug McGraw:  “Always root for the winner.  That way you won’t be disappointed.”

Don King:  He (Chavez) speaks English, Spanish, and he’s bilingual.”

Dizzy Dean:  The doctor X-rayed my head and found nothing.

Bill Cowher:  On whether the Steelers bent NFL regulations: “We’re not attempting to circumcise the rules.”

David Thompson: “Ball handling and dribbling are my strongest weaknesses.”

Dizzy Dean: after a 1-0 game, “The game was closer than the score indicated.”

Michael Jordan: “I never lost a game, I just ran out of time.”

Thanks again,

Rod L. Evans, Ph.D. taken from his book, Tyrannosaurus Lex.

Another 25 Reasons To Smile

Another 25 Reasons To Smile

By D. S. Mitchell

Take A Break

I’m finding the U.S. political scene, rather irritating, at the moment. It is obviously time for Calamity to take a brief time out, and throw the political crap out the window. Well, for a few minutes, anyway. So, for a couple of minutes I want to focus on something a bit more pleasant. When things look bleak, I find it important to consciously think about what makes me happy. To count my blessings. There are so many small things in life we take for granted, but it is often those small things that make life worth living. Making a list of those things always brings a smile to my face.  Here are the ones I came up with for today:

1.) A friend’s smiling face 2.) Chocolate 3.) Crystal goblets  4.) My dog, Lily  5.) Flannel sheets 6.) New shoes 7.) The smell of fresh coffee 8.) Spring flowers 9.) Ducks on the pond 10.) Clean windows 11.) Images from the Hubble telescope 12.)  A Foot massage 13.) Slow dancing 14.) Hide-n-Seek  15.) Old diary entries
16.) The Internet 17.) Winter storms 18.) Finding my cell phone 19.) Old movies
20.) Persian rugs 21.) Mom’s mac & cheese 22.) Bingo 23.) Summer dresses
24.) Milk and warm cookies 25.) Betty White

Please take a few minutes to hug those close to you, and write your own list of happy thoughts.

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25 New Things To Smile About

25 New Things To Smile About

D. S. Mitchell

Step Back

Frequently, we need to step back and think of the positive things in our life.  It keeps things in prospective. Writing and researching for Calamity News and Politics is good for my psychological well-being. My psychological well-being is in top form. What better release could I have than a political blog. It let’s me let  off emotional steam. However, my blood pressure I fear, on some days is off the charts. I read somewhere in the past that it takes more energy to frown than smile. It would make sense, but I have no idea if it is proven science.  What I do know is that the current U.S. political scene is causing me to rage and scream. I am going to take a breath and urge you to do the same. I am going to smile and I want you to smile too.

Offered Smiles

See if any of these images bring a smile to your face, that will make me happy:

1.) Sunday edition N.Y. Times,  2.) Old family photos, 3.) Jelly beans, 4.) Running on the beach, 5.) Old issues of Mother Earth News, 6.) Finding something you thought you lost, 7.) Goodwill ‘treasures’, 8.) The feel of cashmere, 9.) Misty mornings, 10.) Yard sales, 11.) Comfortable shoes, 12.) First dates, 13.) Cuddling in front of a fire, 14.) A few bad habits, 15.) Bubble gum 16.) butterflies 17.) Pay day, 18.) Discover your passion, 19.) Start a blog, 20.) Take a walk 21.) Complete a task, 22.) Share a hug, 23.) Fresh flowers on the table. 24.) Hop scotch, 25.) A good night kiss.

Have a wonderful Sunday.  I’ll try not to post again until Monday, but I can’t promise.  There is a hell of a lot happening, and some of it literally sets my hair on fire. Remember to smile it is easier than frowning.

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VIRAL DECEPTION

Viral Deception

By D. S. Mitchell

Viral Deception

An MSNBC pundit said on a Sunday morning news show that Fox News and Donald Trump were spreading disease.  In fact, she said, they were disseminating “viral deception,” or “VD” for short. I loved it. Associating the ‘fake news’ assertions of Fox News and Donald Trump to a sexually transmitted disease made me laugh.  The comparison was honest and appropriate. I hope it catches on.  The Fox News Network has lost significant viewership since the Trump inauguration.  Fox has jumped into the pool of Trump lies with both feet. I think Fox News is a danger to our democracy. Lies and distortion dished out every night must stop. I call on Fox to examine its coverage of the president. Time to move toward a more honest reflection of reality.

Moderated Outrage

Join me at Calamity News and Politics for coverage of the ongoing political outrage. CP is a progressive political blog published from the beautiful Oregon coast. We try to offer education, analysis, opinion and comment. Occasionally you may see a bit of humor. Health care, income inequality, social and judicial injustice and the Trump outrages are front burner issues.

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