Bowl Cat!

 

There's a new addition to OUR family!

Meet Gemma, our new kitten.

She is a dilute calico, which I guess means a calico with muted colors (?). Whatever. She's a darn purty little kitten.

Alison wanted Scout, our now one-year-old tabby, to have a companion. I had more mixed feelings about it, but I decided it was best to go with her judgment.

She is a very rambunctious, active kitten. Gemma explores the house with an aggressive curiosity.  

The name Gemma comes from the series Severance, and is Mark Scout's wife outside of work (outie is what Lumen's workers are outside of work - innie is at work; the two personalities are severed). Guess who Scout is named after?

Scout and Gemma get along pretty well. I'm not sure how thrilled Scout is over Gemma being in my lap. Scout and I have a special connection, and I hate that being "severed".

If I put my foot on the Ottoman, it will be attacked.  

I will continue my pet posts to keep y'all updated.

Meow and woof!

Trump Ruins Everything

 

Trump ruins everything.

Yes, the red card against the American soccer star seemed iffy at best. 

But sports are full of decisions fans don't like.

The refs called it.  The VAR (video review) confirmed it.  It was deemed a red card.

And by virtue of that decision,  Folarin Balogun was banned from playing in the next game.  That seems weird for those who don't usually follow soccer, but that's just the way it is.

But then, Trump intervened.

FIFA, the syncophants that they are, reversed the suspension.  NOT THE RED CARD.  Just the suspension of one game.

Trump is bragging his heart out that he put his thumb on the game, altered the rules, and restored Balogun's ability to play against Belgium in the next game, the Round of 16.

Rules don't matter to Trump.  He feels like he can get away with anything.

Belgium is furious. So is most of the rest of the international football community.

It has deligitimazed the rest of the USMT's run at the cup.  Everything that happens after this is tainted.

Hopefully, the US coach will not play Balogun to minimize the controversy.  But it will not make it go away entirely.  FIFA has once again shown how craven and corrupt they are.*

The topper is that Balogun is presumably the type of American that Trump hates the most - an anchor baby.  Under Trump's proposed ban on birthright citizenship, Balogun wouldn't even be eligible to play for the USA.

Trump ruins everything.  America's deacde long descent down the escalator of decency continues unabated.

*The history is long and disgusting, and would require a very long post to detail.  Please feel free to Google for more details.

America's Aborted 250: Saturday Political Soap Box 305

Like it or not, it's hard to celebrate right now.  American-style democracy is under serious attack today. 

Much of what I love most about America is under serious challenge by a malevolent wannabe dictator, a weak and compliant Congress, and a Supreme Court determined to strip away our hard-fought rights.

His projects in DC are not to show a shining nation.  It is to glorify and profit himself.

The reflecting pool is emblematic of that toxic makeover, and of his complete incompetence and buffoonery.

 

His takeover of the America 250 event, turning it from a celebration of the nation into a glorification of all things Tumpy, has resulted in the biggest failure of an event of this scale EVER.  Melted ice cream, power outages, unattended musical acts, pitiful state booths, the dominance of Christian Nationalists, a cheesy, crumbling, Arch Du Drumpf, parts of the stage falling on performers, crippling heat with little air conditioning.  The Great American State Fair is not just a failure; it is a complete and utter embarrassment.

And there is more to come.  They plan on upping the fireworks from 20,000 to 850,000.  That is a dangerous increase, environmentally and health-wise. If I had dogs there, I would be taking a trip to Williamsburg.  

He is planning to give a speech on a day when the temperature could hit 107.  He wants to impress people with how long he can go. I'll bet the stage will be fanned/air-conditioned. The audience watching it? Eh, not so much. Better have a giant fleet of ambulances ready.

The increase in democracy and equal representation/opportunity has never been a straight line in this country.  The Civil War, the constitutional amendments, and Reconstruction were followed by Jim Crow and segregation.  Civil rights movements in the 60s were followed by decades of backlash, encouraged by Reagan.  The promise of Obama and "Yes, You Can" was followed by Trump and "No, You Can't."

American Democracy

July 4, 1766 - January 20, 2025

I'm sorry. That's the way I feel right now.

Change my mind.

Maybe it's too late.

But I hope not.

Find a way to celebrate what's best in this country.

And be sure to vote for people who will restore the American promise for ALL of its people.

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

AOC '28

There's a New Addition to Our Family: Rose Aldridge Column #1

 

 The good news -

While attending a meeting of The Friends of the Pierce County Library, I asked whether they had any older issues of The Blackshear Times I could look through to find Rose's early columns.  She said, "You mean these?" and opened a cabinet behind her, revealing multiple hardbound volumes of The Blackshear Times dating back decades!

They're in the Heritage Room, and I arranged a time to go in there and start my research. I found when she was hired, tracing the first column to February 18th, 1982.

The bad news - 

My limited familiarity with computers, phones, and cameras has made it difficult for me to present them in an easy-to-read and collectible format.

Nevertheless, I will do what I can and gradually improve my ability to display and compile the columns.

I think they are worth sharing. Her writing is very sharp and humorous, real slice-of-life gems, worthy of Erma Bombeck and Lewis Grizzard.

Below is another attempt at making it more readable,

From the start, Alison is an important feature of her columns. She is determined to participate in the Cabbagepatch doll craze of the early 80s. She is even willing to settle for a knockoff and put up some of her own hard-earned money (allowance? chores?) to get it.  When the store is initially closed, I love how Alison says, "I just knew this would happen, now I'LL NEVER GET A BABY."

Be patient, Rose and Alison.  One day, you'll both have something so much better than a cabbagepatch knocoff!

More columns to come, and I will continue to improve my technical skills.

Va Without the Voom: The Awesomeness of Supergirl

 

Movies featuring female superheroes have had a lot of trouble at the box office.

With the exception of the first Wonder Woman movie (starring Gal Gadot), many of the others have ranged from barely adequate to disastrous.  This is only regarding the box office.  Many have been critical successes, earning considerable accolades from film critics.

Part of the problem comes from what I would call "male comic fans in theory." They're often men who are more familiar with superheroes via television, movies, toy figures, video games, and cosplay, 

Even some comic fans are fixated on one era of the superhero, rather than the totality of its presentation.   

Some are fixated on female characters whose physicality and sexual allure are emphasized.  Supergirl had only one such period, when she was drawn by Michael Turner in the 2000s.

For the most part, Supergirl has been portrayed as the girl next door. Starting in the 50s, she took on many aspects of the time she was written in, updating as the culture updated. I would say that Supergirl has had more revisions and changes than almost every other superhero.  And that's saying a lot.

Many of the "fans" who shout, "That is not Supergirl!" are rejecting other versions. 

Through all the changes, other than the Turner era, she's meant to be pretty but not Va-Va-Voom.  Her appeal is designed to be as much to young girls as to boys. Her problems in the 50s were typical of that time.  She was very caring and empathetic, liking boys but not overly obsessed with them.  

The movie version is based on the graphic novel Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. This is a grittier version of Supergirl.  Unlike Superman, she witnessed the destruction of her home planet, Krypton, as a young girl.  The only part of Krypton to survive was Argo City, a domed city that was also eventually destroyed.  She survived aboard a rocket ship, heading to Earth, where she would be a protector of the infant Kal-El (Superman). She lost everyone she knew and loved, including her parents, and, through time anomalies, arrived on Earth after Kal-El had become a full-grown adult. Think carefully,  Someone who had been through this would be suffering from a lot of trauma and PTSD, wouldn't you think?  Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is the story that most fully acknowledges this.

This Supergirl is traveling the cosmos, often seeking out worlds under a red sun, where she does not have her powers, where she is not invulnerable, where she can feel things. She can drink and get drunk.  She can feel pain.  Heck, she can even get hers pierced or a tattoo.*

She looks disheveled and not perfectly put together. 

This is the version that Milly Alcock has been hired to portray.  And by early critical accounts, she is outstanding in that role, a true highlight of the film.

Yet, the incel army continues to carp.

By any human standard of beauty, Milly Alcock is gorgeous.  It is to her amazing abilities that she can portray Kara (Supergirl) as she is meant to be in this story.  Someone in a lot of pain, trying to find the balance between the trauma she has gone through, and still trying to live up to the impossible standards of goodness and valor she sees in her cousin, Kal-El,

I am currently reading a collection of the earliest Supergirl stories, starting in the fifties.  I am also re-reading Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.  And over the years, I have read everything in between.  Next to Superman, she is mt favorite DC superhero.

I am very much looking forward to seeing Supergirl in the theatres as soon as I can get out to it.

I wish a lot of people would see it.  I want to see more of director Jame Gunn's DCU.

But I am scared that the incels and comic snobs are going to win,  

So, if you are a moviegoer, if you like superheroes, if you saw Barbie, please come see this movie.

A failure here could cost us not just the DCU but female-empowerment movies in general. 

I hope to see you there!

 *Yes, some have harped at a picture of Milly Alcock as Supergirl wearing earrings.  It's true that normally Supergirl's skin would be impervious to piercing, but that's only under a yellow sun.  With a red sun, it is possible, and something I think Kara would want to do.  So there, you part-time fans/wankers!

This is a New Post

 

This is a new post.

We are still grieving the passing of Rose Aldridge, Alison's mother, Benjamin's precious Mema.

Outside of our family, her contributions to the community were considerable.  Working as an Editor and Columnist for the Blackshear Times, she was adept at straight news coverage and at writing humorous, relatable columns. She won many awards for her work.

She spent a decade working at Pierce County Schools, helping to highlight the significant achievements of a school system that was entering the ranks of the very best.

She did not keep her columns.  We have found only a couple of her many awards.

I did find out that prior years of The Blackshear Times have been collected and bound.  Her columns and news stories would be in those volumes.  I am going to try to look through them and see if I can compile them and share them in some way.  

I wish I had done this when she was physically with us. 

Sometimes the worries and stress of our lives, our busyness, both real and manufactured, interfere with our time to preserve the best of what we do.

I also have considerable genealogical and biographical information from my father, hundreds of pages. I was posting some of it here, under the title "Stories From a Stony Land."  

I haven't done that for a long time.

I need to get back to that.

The Strait Line may not be the perfect place to do it.  Nevertheless, it lasts a long time.  The computer uploads these blog posts to the cloud, and they are available for people to find and read.

The Strait Line is approaching 1.5 million views.  Not Amazon numbers, but not nothing either. 

My arthritis is better.  I can sit at the computer a little bit longer. So, I hope to write about the present, dream about the future, and preserve the past.  

The stories, the voice, and the compassion of those we loved need to be shared.

This is a new post. 

 A new post that is also a commitment to the old.  Because the old is important.  Not just to preserve, but to inspire and remember who we love and why we love them.

Bonded Forever: Benjamin and His Mema

 

There is the one.

Maybe not for every child.  But there certainly was for me.  There is that one grandparent you develop an exclusive, close bond with. It was certainly true for me. I was very close to my mother's mother, Grandma Martin. She passed from ovarian cancer when I was only 12, but there is hardly a day that goes by that I don't think of her.

The same is true for Benjamin.  He was bonded with his Mema, Rose.  I've seldom seen a closer, loving relationship than I have between these two.

It started very early. Both Alison and I worked, so Rose would pick up Benjamin from Daycare. They would spend quality time together, including reading, sharing the day's events, snacks, and, of course, Dumbo.  Benjamin wanted to see that movie again and again and again, and she would patiently watch with him, taking in his excitement at the train scenes.

They loved to go to the movies together.  Alison and I did not see many of the animated films aimed at children, as that was Mema's and Benjamin's thing. He would always get the kid's snack tray, which included popcorn, candy, and a drink.

One time, Benjamin was out with my parents and Mema.  They ate at a restaurant and then went to the movies.  They settled in, and Benjamin piped up, "Where's my poptorn?" Even though they were full, you never saw three grandparents get up so fast in your life, all wanting to get him his 'poptorn." Was he a bit spoiled?  Yes, but that is the job description of grandparents!

Year after year, birthday after birthday, they were always there. Together, always loving, always finding joy in each other.

As he grew older, their relationship only deepened.  She supported him in whatever he chose to do.  There was never judgment, never a cross word.  

As her health declined, he continued to be there for her, even on her last day in the hospital ICU.  He drove down from his new place in Warner Robins (Benjamin is a computer programmer for the Department of the Air Force), and they had a two-and-a-half-hour conversation. He sat next to her hospital bed and held her hand.

That night, she came home.  The last three months had been rough, but she was very happy to be at home, with friends, food, and Wheel of Fortune. After only two days, she passed Saturday morning.  

Benjamin was not there.  At least physically.  Their bond was there, and it will always be there. 

The bond is there.  Benjamin will never forget her.  There will not be many days when he does not remember her.  

My boy is an amazing man.  He is loving, supportive, and kind.  And I would love for Alsion and me to take full credit for that. But we can't.

It comes from them. The bond between a boy and his Mema.

A bond that will shine forever.

 

Into the Dark: Late Spring Speculatron - Saturday Political Soap Box 304

 Will we find our way out of it? Will we ever see the other side of our authoritarian nightmare and return to a more civil democratic republic?  Will we escape like Hungary finally turning aside Orban, or will we live in a dystopian nightmare for decades like North Korea?

I don't know.  We can only turn to the SPECULATRON *   and guess.  

Will we plunge ever further into the dark? Or will we finally turn to the light of democracy and resume America's path to greatness and freedom?

I don't know. 

Well, that kind of destroys the spirit of prognostication, don't it?

There are many reasons to fear that we will not return to democracy anytime soon.  Many of our institutions are hanging by a thread.  Courts dominated by right-wing extremists who could negate progressive legislation, an Electoral College skewed towards advantaging small rural states and southern conservative states, relentless gerrymandering by conservative legislatures designed to lock in power for generations, a media largely dominated by rich right-wing zealots, a Christian Nationalist church with over-sized influence, and an increasing debt that will saddle future progressive efforts.

Is there hope?

Yes.  Consider the picture above.  Yes, Republicans use ridiculous cultural issues to inspire their supporters.  Vilifying trans persons is just the newest boogeyman.  They've been doing stuff like that for generations.

But sometimes, the fires rage too high, and they bring enough people over to make a difference. Optimistically, I feel like we are approaching one of those times.

What could that mean?

MIDTERMS

Everything else being equal, given (I pray) a minimum of election interference, the Democrats should take control of the House.  There may be no amount of gerrymandering that could prevent this - they are overestimating how many solid Republican voters there are, particularly in the Hispanic community. 

The Democrats should have a solid majority, somewhere between 20 and 40 seats.

The Senate may be closer.  I think the Democrats will eke out a thin majority (two to five).  Nice, but not a 60-vote filibuster-proof majority.  But enough to halt the approval of the most heinous Trump nominees, and (hopefully) freeze the Supreme Court.

And yes, the Democrats should use hearings to investigate the administration's wrongdoing and, if necessary, impeach. But no impeachments will work - there will still be too many Senate Republicans.  So this effort should not be the only thing that Democrats are known for.

They must pass popular progressive legislation in the House, even if the Senate filibuster stops them, even if the President vetoes it.  There must be a clear record not just of stopping the administration's constant excesses, but of a traceable record showing the American people the path they will take when we elect a Democratic President in 2028.

2028 President

And in that 2028 election, Democrats need to nominate a TRUE Progressive.  Mealy-mouthed candidates who receive large corporate donations are not needed.  AOC, Talarico, and Ro Khanna would all be significantly better choices than corporate centrists like Newsome, Buttigieg, or Harris.  Don't get me wrong.  If one of the centrists wins the nomination, I will still vote for them.  And I do believe they can be competent, practical leaders.  I just don't think they meet the moment.  Without decisive progressive legislation that favors the working class, the Democrats will once again be fleeting, as the Republicans rev up the cultural nonsense and tell the working class - see? They didn't do anything for you, did they?

There is little hope that the Republicans will nominate a decent candidate, one who, although conservative, supports constitutional democracy.  The shrinking base has shown in recent Republican primaries that they do whatever Trump wants, no matter how irrational.  So they will nominate from a narrow band of extremists - Trump (in direct violation of the constitution and ignoring his crumbling health), Vance, a sold-out Rubio, and even someone from the America First crowd - MTG, Tucker Carlson, and others, even more vile and disgusting.

So, yeah, that's my more optimistic take.  Even if we take this path, it may take many years to self-correct.

But I got high hopes.

At least for this post.

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

AOC 28

*patent pending.

Return of Wednesday Wanderings!

 

 Back in the Golden Days, when I would post almost every day, I had a feature called Wednesday Wanderings.  It would allow me to comment on multiple topics, things that I didn't think justified a full post of their own, or I was too lazy to expand.  Well, I'm back!

Health Update

I'm doing pretty good!  I had a follow-up rheumatology appointment, and I got my best analysis of the problem to date.  What I had assumed was primarily rheumatoid arthritis may be as much osteo-related (bones) as it is.  It has helped refocus my treatment, and I feel much better.  I should be going in for a bone density test very soon.

They asked me if I had broken any bones.  Uhh, just twice.  Once, around 8 or so, when a kid shoved me out of the garage window, I tried to brace myself with my right arm, and I about snapped it in half. The second was in high school, playing soccer, when I ran into a kid and bent my right-hand index finger back. Come to think of it, I might go back and make a whole blog about these incidents.

My Dad, who grew up on a dairy farm and chugged milk and dairy products, developed osteoporosis in his 80s. My mother, who was lactose intolerant and avoided dairy, had bones like a rock.

My son Benjamin has broken two of the hardest bones to break, his shoulder blade and femur.  He might ought to have a bone density test.

Talarico Tracker

Stuningly, last night, Texas Republicans selected Ken Paxton as their Senatorial candidate.  Ken Paxton is super corrupt from many different angles - financial, political, and sexual.  I mean, really, he's corrupt enough to make even Trump envious as to what he gets away with.

I saw an interview with a Texas voter who said he was going to vote for his incumbent Senator Cornyn, but he switched to Paxton after Trump endorsed him.  I mean, really? Can you imagine being that far up the butt of a cult?

Paxton should be an easier candidate for Talarico to defeat.  Unless Musk deploys his space lasers again.

Reading

Currently reading the second novel in the Beartown hockey series.  It's by Fredrik Backman, a Swedish writer, set in a small Swedish town, and rich with interesting characters.  Fortunately for me, it has been translated into English, which helps me immensely.

I'm also reading a collection of the earliest Supergirl stories, dating back to the late fifties.  I like reading about the early character developments of our most iconic superheroes.  

Movies

Not seeing too many. Looking forward to the Supergirl movie in June, and will soon re-read the graphic novel it is based on, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.

Continuing my watch of the Top 100 Science Fiction movies of the 20th Century, I am stuck on The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. A 1953 movie that helped start the giant monster trend has been difficult to find.

TV

Just finished The Boys.  Loved it! I've read the entire Boys comic series (some 60-plus issues), and yeah, I realize the TV show ended somewhat differently, but I'm more than ok with it.  I'm super tired of everybody whining about how series end on TV.  It's impossible for writers and others to come up with an ending that will make everyone happy.  The parallels between the series and our increasing drift towards fascism were incredible, especially since some of the storylines predated some of Trump's vile antics.

Well, I've wandered enough for one post.

Wanderingly Yours,

T. M. Strait

AOC '28

Ya Gotta Get Up! Ya Gotta Get Up! Ya Gotta Get Up in the Morning!

 Come on, Scout!  Up and at'em!

Alison started her new Summer schedule at work.  The good news?  She'll have Fridays off! Yay!  The bad news? Mondays through Thursdays will be longer days, starting work at 7 AM instead of 8 AM!

I usually get up (or am rousted) around 6:25 to help take care of the pets (letting them out, feeding them, etc.). That time is now 6 AM.

You would think I'd solve this by simply going to bed earlier, to balance things out.  But nah, I'll stick with my 11:20 time to turn off the TV and start the headed-to-bed routine. I'm stubborn that way.

It could mean I drift off while reading, or fall asleep during a cabinet meeting.  But I have to be careful.  Any nap may make it harder to fall asleep that night.  

I normally get about five and a half to six hours of sleep a night.  If I try to do more, insomnia could result.  At least enough to keep me in my usual range of hours.

I know all the theories about how much sleep people need, but I feel like everyone has their own internal clock.  There is greater variance in the amount of sleep required than is popularly expected.  At least that's my non-medical expert opinion.*

But without heavy drugging, there doesn't seem to be much I can do about it anyway.

Oh, well.

Anyhoo, I like being awake.  I...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Sorry.  Took a brief nap.

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

AOC '28

*just think. If I were RFK Jr., all my non-medical expert opinions could become Federal law!

Quickie Georgia Primary Update

 

Just a quickie review of last night's Georgia Primary.

Governor

Keisha Lance Bottoms was the decisive winner in the Georgia Democratic primary for Governor.  She won 56% of the vote in a crowded field, with the next-closest candidate mustering only 19%. This means she can hit the ground running, while the Republicans...

have a very divisive runoff ahead of them.  Burt Jones, the Trump-endorsed lackey, receiving 38% of the vote, while the most racist candidate I've seen in this state since Lester Maddox, Rick Jackson, finished with 33% of the vote.  The best news is that my congressman, Buddy Carter, finished third and is now out of politics, at least until 2028.

Speaking of good news, the Democratic candidates for Governor received 54% of the vote, while the Republican candidates received only 46%.  Yes, more Democrats voted than Republicans!

Unfortunately for me, the bad news is that the county I live in continues to be MAGA SOAKED REPUBLICANS, with 91% voting for the Republican Governor candidates, and only 9% voting for Democratic Governor candidates.  This godawful percentage has held true for a decade or more. 

US Senate

Incumbent Democrat Jon Ossoff was unopposed.  I would still love to know his total vote count, but I have not yet found a site reporting it.

The Republicans have two awful candidates in their runoff: Mike Collins, a Trump-backed extremist with 41%, and Derek Dooley, a nepo baby with 30%.  His father, Vince Dooley, was the much-loved Georgia football coach.  This apple, however, is very far from that tree. Georgia Republicans have a tradition of foisting sports-related names on a distracted populace (re: Herschel Walker).

US Congressperson 1st District

Speaking of nepo babies, Jack Kingston's son, Jim Kingston, snagged 52% and thus avoids a runoff.  I don't know much about him, except that he was endorsed by the orange conman, and he's not Buddy Carter.

The Democratic runoff will be between Joyce Marie Griggs (35%) and Amanda Holloerll (25%).  The person I voted for, Patrick Wilver, finished a distant 5th with 7% of the vote.  I'm not ashamed.  I will ALWAYS choose the candidate that I think will move us most quickly to true universal healthcare.

I lean against Joyce Marie Griggs.  She is in the moderate/conservative wing of the Democratic Party. I will likely vote for Amanda Hollowell, but I need to do a bit more research about her positions.

Georgia Supreme Court

I am sad to report that both pro-civil and human rights candidates lost to far-right Christian Nationalists. This was non-partisan, with no party labels, and not enough Democrats did the research to figure this out.  Had they followed the Governor's voting pattern, we would not be looking at such a disaster.

Well, I said I would be brief, and I have failed to do that.  I will try to address other races in subsequent posts. There are a number of Democratic runoffs, so Democrats need to show up in large numbers!  Let's keep outvoting the Republicans!

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

AOC '28

Georgia Primary: Lost Who to Vote For? Saturday Political Soap Box 303

 

PatrickJ Wilver, candidate for 1st Congressional District

This is a tough one.

Many of you have probably already voted in the Georgia primary, but I'm voting on Election Day this year only because that's what best fits our schedule.

It'd be difficult to come up with endorsements this year.  There are many candidates this year, and it's hard to find much information about many of them.  

I'm going to tell you where I'm leaning, but I highly encourage you to research for yourself.  

This is only for the Democratic Primary.  If you want to vote in the Republican primary, I really don't know what to tell you.  Most of their candidates are groveling to be the candidate closest to Trump. Good luck with that, attaching your star to a President whose star is falling to Reath, disintegrating before our very eyes.  The only thing I beg you is not to vote for Rick Jackson - a vile bigot running racist and cruel ads.

Governor

Keisha Lance Bottoms

Former Mayor of Atlanta...considered for Vice President by Biden

In this one, I have decided not to fight the inevitable.  She may not be the most progressive candidate, but she is competent and more than capable of being Governor.  She's the most likely to get over 50%, and I would really like to avoid a runoff.  The Republican race is likely to end in a divisive runoff, and I would rather our candidate have the lead time to consolidate support.

Another good choice would be Jason Estaves.  He may be a bit more progressive than Bottoms, and he seems like a good person, with some charisma and speaking skills.

Nabilah Parkes

Former State Senator. Gwinnett County

I'm leaning here right now.  She is experienced as a politician and an activist, and I believe will be good on healthcare and insurance issues.  Since she has legislative experience, she may be able to herd the cats in Georgia's legislature.

I'm also considering Josh McLarin.  He is also a State Senator representing a district that covers parts of the northern suburbs of Atlanta.  His legislative priorities are similar to Nabilah's, and I have seen some TikTok Georgib-based progressives endorse him.

Secretary of State

Cam Ashling

A progressive who also has financial and small business experience. She has the experience to handle all the needs and concerns of small businesses, with licensing and other services offered by the Secretary of State.  She is being on election integrity (OUR kind, not THEIR kind), and I believe has the analytical skills to be a good Secretary of State.

I'm also considering Adam Consonery, Jr. He is the candidate who has most clearly endorsed ranked-choice voting.

Georgia 1st Congressional District

Patrick J Wilver

He's a veteran (West Point Graduate), an activist, and a college student at Georgia Southern. He's young, energetic, sharp, and able to connect with the younger voter while still appealing to the rest of us (including this old man).  His platform is the most progressive, and he most clearly states his support of true universal healthcare.  He's capable of attracting the working-class vote and moving Congress away from corruption and toward addressing 21st-century issues, not gridlock and culture-war madness.

Joyce Marie Griggs is likely to receive the most votes because of her name recognition, but she is not my choice. A conservative-to-centrist Democrat, she has run and lost before and is unlikely to build the coalition needed to win in the General Election. I am most likely to vote against her in a runoff, so I am hoping that a genuine progressive is her opposition.

I won't go into all the others.  There is a lot. You do need to vote for Miracle Rankin and Jen Auer Jordan for the Georgia Supreme Court.  They will help protect us in matters of women's reproductive rights, voting rights, and workers' rights and interests.

Without details, where I'm leaning on other races -

Attorney General  - Tanya Miller

Commissioner of Agriculture - Sedrick Kent Rowe, Jr.

Commissioner of  Insurance - Keisha Sean Waites

State School Superintendent - Anton Anthony (Otha Thornton also looks good).

Commissioner of Labor - Brett A Hulme

Public Service Commissioner - Angelica Pressley (only if you want someone advocating for YOU instead of the insurance companies).

Court of Appeals of Georgia - Will Wooten

Court of Appeals of Georgia - Fatima Harris Felton

I normally don't vote for unopposed candidates, but I am making an exception for Jon Ossoff. He has been an excellent Senator, and I am proud he represents Georgia.  We need to send a message to the lunatics running on the Republican side that we will keep the best, like we did with Ralph Warnock (the best speaker in the Senate). 

Please, if you read this and have other recommendations, please let me know. I'm open to any thoughts as to who the most progressive candidates are.

T. M. Strait

AOC '28

President Talarico

 

In hindsight, some things seem obvious.

When Barack Obama spoke at the 2004 Democratic Convention and electrified everyone who saw it with his "there are no red states, there are no blue states, there is only the United States of America" speech, it began a trajectory that quickly launched him towards the Presidency.  His message of hope, his cool, calm intelligence and empathy, connected with what many Americans wanted to return to after the years of unnecessary wars, massive deficits, botched disaster relief, and a crashed economy.

President Obama achieved many things, and he ably served two terms, righting much of where America had gone adrift.  He left a gap, however, in that he campaigned as a progressive but governed as a centrist.  This left some disappointed in the breadth of his achievements. 

On the darker side of the inevitable, the resentments simmering, especially by the white working class, led to the consideration of something I thought no one ever considered. In retrospect, the path was determined when the orange grifter came down the escalator with his Epstein wife in June 2015.  With the Democratic elites' rejection of Bernie Sanders, who could have had a broader appeal to the white working class, and the selection of legacy centrist Hilary Clinton*, the ascension of that narcissist was sealed.

And we as a country have suffered irreparable harm over the last ten years.  The Constitution is being shredded, Republicans move solely to the whims of their mad King, racism is ascendant, the economy is declining, and democracy itself is evaporating.

Now, many want to move away from the madness of Trump, from the rule of old men**, from a time when every day you wake up to a new horrific action from an administration built on greed and corruption, revenge and racism. 

Not only has the government been corrupted, but so has the very religion that many in this country have followed.  Christian Nationalism has led the faith into a dark place, worshiping power and control instead of love and generosity.

Enter James Talirico, State Senator from Texas.  Unlike many Democrats, he does not shy away from Christianity.  But his is not a Christianity of fear and hate.  His is one of love and light.  He calls us to use our Christianity to love and help others.

He is running for the US Senate in Texas.  His opponent will either be current Senator John Cornyn (an older mainline Republican who nevertheless kowtows before the antichrist-like Trump), or Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (a deeply corrupt politician, both in money and in sexual misconduct). If Talarico wins, I believe that will launch him on a path to be President of the United States.

Some Talirico quote -

"We as Christians are called to do more than charity. We are called to challenge the systems that make charity necessary." 

"As the hymn says, 'they will know we are Christians by our love.' We have to get back to that."

"The covenant that binds “We the People” together rests on this promise: Power flows from the consent of the governed. When that covenant is broken, when leaders choose their voters instead of voters choosing their leaders, we are not merely witnessing a political maneuver; we are confronting a moral trespass against the very heart of democracy."

He often uses quotes from Matthew that emphasize the importance of taking care of those in need - 

for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”

Although I very much like James Talarico, this is not a direct endorsement, just a likely path.  I still am very much for AOC to be our next President.  And current polling shows her to be one of the most popular politicians in the country.

Many things could happen that could divert us from this path.  Talarico has a lot yet to prove, and I don't know of any skeletons (or, with Trump, whether that even matters anymore).

But I do know this.  Whether his path leads to the Presidency or not, his path shows the only way forward for Christianity to survive.  If  Christianity continues down the path of Christian Nationalism. It will either wither away or make Christianity completely unrecognizable.

Even more important than the light that James Talirico shines on democracy is the light he shines on our restoration of faith.

Until next time.

T. M. Strait

AOC '28

* this is not to flame Hilary Clinton. She was the most qualified person to be President, had the talent and temperament to be effective, and she won the popular vote.  She just wasn't meeting the moment that fit the anti-establishment mood.

** make no mistake.  I feel that Biden was a good and arguably great President.  The things he accomplished with the small Congressional margin he had were nothing short of miraculous.  But he was old.  And with the cyclical nature of our politics, like when the elderly Eisenhower was replaced by the younger, more charismatic John F Kennedy; between Biden and Trump, we are ready to turn to a younger generation.

A Look Out the Window

 This is Scout, my kitty pal.  He's on the porch side of our kitchen window.  He can climb anywhere.

Actually, he's not really a kitten anymore.  He'll be one a week from now. That's our best guess for his birthday, and we're sticking to it.

I'm not a cat person, but I am a Scout person.  I've never had a cat want to be with me so much.

Personal Health

At 70, health can be like a game of whack-a-mole.

Diabetes? Bam! Under control! Blood pressure? Bam!  Better, but not teenager-like.  Weight? Bam? Lost about 30 lbs! Prostate biopsy due to slow rise in PSA? Bam! No cancer or abnormalities!

Arthritic flare-ups in feet, knees, and legs?  Bam! Went to a Rheumatologist in Valdosta and was prescribed a better medicine that has greatly reduced pain!  Enough where I can sit at the computer a little bit longer and write more!

Writing

Now I can return to The Strait Line more (now with over a million views!) and pursue some of my other writing projects.

For the second time, I am a runner-up in the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine's Mysterious Photograph contest. Maybe I should expand and try some other contests.

Future topics for the Strait Line:

President Talarico

Top 100 Sci-Fi Films of the 20th Century continued

More stories from the Kingdom (near-future flash fictions that extrapolate into a darker future if we allow fascism to continue to grow and thrive)

More stories from the Stony Land (adaptations from my father's research into my family's history of the Straits in America, going back 13 generations)

Stop! In the Name of Democracy! How to fix the happenings with the Supremes!

More Scout, Pixie, Alison, Benjamin, and Retta! 

Television and Movies

I finished Season 3 of The Diplomat last night.  You would think that, given my personality and interests, I would love more political series, but I am often drawn away from them because of their lack of realism.  With THe Diplomat it's not so much that's not realistic, it's thast it's sometimes amoral.  Even the lead characters commit subtrefuge that I'm shocked thatthey're willing to do that. The acting sometimes is a little stiff or overreaching.  It had enough good moments though, thast I will watch Season 4 when it comes out.

Alsion and I started Season 2 of THe Pitt last night.  It's very, very good, but both of us are squeamish during some of the surgery scenes, and we turn to each other and ask, "Why are we eatching this?"  It's compleeing characters and important social commentary - that's what gets us through.

Not much to say about movies, other than i am really looking forward to Supergril.

Sports

I'll just list my favorites.

MLS: Atlanta United

NWSL: Portland Thorns

MLB: Detroit Tigers

NBA: Detroit Pistons (in the playoffs! Woot! Woot!)

NHL: Detroit Red Wings

NCAA any sport: Michigan Wolverines (my alma mater)

Can anyone tell by this I grew up in Michigan?

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

AOC '28

Top 100 Sci-Fi Movies of the 20th Century!!! Part 5 No. 58 - 52

 

  I received this issue of Remind, which Alison calls "my old people magazine," that ranked the top 100 Science Fiction movies of the 20th century.

Remind does feature many pop culture stories, primarily from the 1950s through the 1990s, though there are references to earlier decades as well. Each issue focuses on different topics, such as country music, westerns, and "where are they now" issues, among others. I enjoy it, as I love pop history. They also have puzzles and a monthly guide to what's on TCM (Turner Classic Movies).

I thought it would be fun to review the movies on the list in reverse order and share my thoughts on them. The magazine's ranking of the movies is not mine.  

I won't go into detailed reviews, but I will share the IMDb ranking and my own rating on a 1-10 scale. I am starting to grade some movies by fraction, such as grading a 7 as 7.3.  

58)

Soylent Green

Year: 1973  IMDb: 7.0 Tom: 7.0  Had I seen before? Yes  Service found on: Library Rental

Imagine 2022 New York City.  Pollution is rampant, there is overcrowding, poverty, unemployment and hunger. The only food in abundance is Soylent Green.  And what is it made of?  Huh? Eh? Eh? At the time, it was perhaps the biggest surprise I had experiencec in cinema.  It features a disillusioned cop in Charlton Heston, and Edward G. Robinson in his final film role. I enjoyed revisiting this science fiction mystery thriller.

57)

The Andromeda Strain

Year: 1971  IMDb: 7.6 Tom: 7.3  Had I seen before? Yes  Service found on: Pluto TV

Well, this time we did it to ourselves.  Achrashed sattelite brings in deadly microbes, killing an entire town, except for an old man and a baby. Wickedly realsitic, sometimes plodding, but always focused on the crisis at hand, aa small group of scientists try to figure and neutralize the virus. This was based on a bestseller by Michael Chrchton (Jurrasic Park), a writer I followed until he went globel warming denier.

56)

Starman

Year: 1984  IMDb: 7.0 Tom: 8.1  Had I seen before? Yes  Service found on: Roku

It's no secret that I am a huge John Carpenter.  I seldom see movies more than once, but most Carpenter films I could watch again and agian.  This one is one of his best, and is unique in it's romantic ... stariness.  Jeff Bridges plays an alien doing his best to emulate human behavior. He was nominated for Best Actor, a rarity for a scince fiction film performance.  And he deserved to win.  He is aided by a Karen Allen (also a steller performance), assisting him in trying to return to his home world, while being persued by those pesky governemtn agents.

55) 

Strange Days

Year: 1995  IMDb: 7.2 Tom: 8.3  Had I seen before? No  Service found on: Library Rental

Yeah. I have no idea how I hadn't seen this before.  To date, of those movies I had missed, this was the biggest surprise. Set just four years in the future, it's use of VR and other elements are more prophetic for now than 1999/2000. I found the story very engaging, and the two leads, Ralph Fiennes and Angela Bassett, very engaging. It really rings true today, not just thte VR, but with AI, and the increasing racial and social injustice of our times. Successful both as a social commentary and an action thriller, I highly reccomend it.  But, oh boy!  Is it ever hard to find!  Your best bet is a livrary DVD rental.

54)

The Thing From Another World

 

Year: 1951  IMDb: 7.0 Tom: 5.9  Had I seen before? Yes  Service found on: Roku

This is based on a famous novella by John Campbell.  I'm not sure how close to the source material it is.  John Carpenter may have benn slighltly closer in his 1982 adaptation. It's strenght is on a more realistic dialogue and presentatiion than many science fiction movies of it's time. It's scare factor is fairly muted.  James Arness (Gunsmoke's Mattt Dillon) plays like a giant alien carrot.  Not phenomenal, but impressive fot it's time, and worth a watch,

53)

 Starship Troopers

Year: 1997  IMDb: 7.3 Tom: 7.4 Had I seen before? Yes  Service found on: Pluto TV

Another film whose thmes hit harder today than they did at the time of the film's release. Based on Robert Heinlein's sceince fisftion novel, the film presents a mix of younf adult angst  and outright fascism.  Earth fights off an invasion of giant bugs, eventually trying to take the fight to the bug's home planet. There are news clips and TV ads icleverly interspersed throughout.  I understand what director Paul Verhoevan (Robo Cop) was going for, but the message against facism is somewhat lost in the miltary glory of the young soldiers, fghting as much for their home planet, as they are for the right to be a "citizen." I'm not sure everyone gets what they're watching, but that just might be me. Yes, the scariness of what we're going through now effects how I view this movie.

54)

Year: 1976  IMDb: 6.6 Tom: 4.0 Had I seen before? No  Service found on: Puto TV

I'm sorry to end this segment on this downer of a note, but this movie is terrible. Maybe you'll find it palatable, but I didn't.  It just meandered incoherently, and i didn't understand much of it. This is not a crticism of David Bowie.  He's a great musician, and he probably just did what they told him.  Sotry line is somewhat similar to Starman, I guess.  I'm not sure. In my opinon, a waste of celluloid. 

 As an added feature, I would like to keep a running list of those movies I have rated 8 or higher.

90) Akira 8

89) Cocoon 9

88) They Live 9

84) Face Off 8

77) The Time Machine 8

75) The Truman Show 8

          70) Galaxy Quest 8

          68) Time After Time 8

          67) Superman 8 

          63) Men In Black 8  

           56) Starman 8.1

           55) Strange Days 8.3

Next up? More John Carpenter! Perhaps the best of 50's science fiction planetary visits! James Cameron enters the charts! Star Trek chase whales! And much more!  Well, two or three more.

Until next time!

T. M. Strait (thanx, H. G. Wells!)

AOC '28