Getting Ready to Swing

Yesterday, Alison rearranged the deck furniture on our titanic screened-in porch. She did this while I was at play rehearsal.

She was making room for the porch swing she and her father were building.

You read that right. Alison and her father. Not me. I am not building the swing. I don't think there's any demand for me to try.

This is one of the reasons I am not comfortable with strict gender roles and why I have been more open to people being who they are and not what others expect.

For better or worse, I have never been handy or crafty. If Alison or others want me to help with something, and they can direct me to exactly what I need to do, I'll be happy to help. But I have no ability or interest in doing more.

Fortunately, Alison likes these kinds of projects and happily takes the lead.  

Again, anyone who expects the male to do one thing and the female to do the other will be sorely disappointed.  

In the picture above is Cocoa Bear, carefully inspecting the changes to our back porch. I told her about the swing, and she said she would give it a hard pass. Only Boss-A-Man was interested, and that was only if he could be on our laps.

I may use it some. If nothing else, it will give me a different place to sit, so I won't sit in any one place for too long, which I think contributes to my arthritis pains.

I'll be sure to show you pictures when the swing has been installed.

 

Tuesday Twitter Questions 091322

 Hello!

Welcome to another edition of Tuesday Twitter Questions!

OR

I want to write, but I have no really strong topic.

For this, I go to my illustrious Twitter feed and try to answer the first five questions I run across.*

Question #1

Balancing a day job and writing and social media and health and fitness and a social life is rough… Anyone actually manage it all?

No. No, I don't. I've found in retirement that I am not getting the consistency of days I hoped for. I cannot block out the same time to do what I want to do, mainly writing each day.

I regularly walk in the mornings, but the rest of the day's exercise varies quite a bit. And that doesn't even count the days I have limited mobility due to foot and/or knee and/or back problems.

But I'm working on it. Every week is a new week to try to straighten things out.

Question #2

How can Republicans claim to be the party of "small government" when they want the government to make medical decisions for women and control the history taught in public schools? That's the opposite of "small government." What am I missing?

The parties and what they represent are constantly changing. Most of what is now the Republican (MAGA) party doesn't care about small government. They care primarily about the continued dominance of white "Christian" men. They want to control women. They want to control the educational narrative.

Small government can refer to not providing help at the federal level for those in need. It can mean lower taxes and regulations for achievers. This is not insignificant, but it is no longer a significant concern for MAGA Republicans.

Question #3

Do you have a favorite story about witches?

Yeah. But they're mine! My favorite is the non-fiction autobiographical short, War of the Witches and the Martians. I also like the fiction short Rescuing Princess Charlotte. My grand unpublished opus, The Extra Credit Club, has witches. And ... SPOILER ALERT... so does History of the Trap.

Question #4

Do you have multiple writing projects going at once?

Sort of. I need to market The Extra Credit Club. I need to continue writing the second volume of The History of the Trap. I periodically write The Kingdom Come stories and a few stories set in Crowley.

Mostly, I just need to get back to writing more regularly.

That would be the first step.

Question #5

How many people have ACTUALLY stopped watching CNN, not using their website, not sharing their content?

Stopped watching CNN? Yes. Which may not be entirely fair, as there are still a few good people there (Jim Acosta, for one).

Not using their website? Ooops. Guilty as charged. Has somebody got good FREE (no paywall) news sources that would have quality phone apps?

Not sharing their content? No, never have been too much for that.

And that includes this edition of Tuesday Twitter Questions!

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

*overtly sexual questions, really stupid questions, and repetitive questions may be skipped.

Losing My CNN: Saturday Political Soap Box 288

 

Circa 18 months ago:

I was at a loss. Sometimes I watch morning news coverage. But it was tough to find one that wasn't biased to the right. I wanted something ranging from left to at least center-left.

Fox News, OAN, and Newsmax were still bleating pro-trump and hard-right talking points. And my go-to MSNBC put Joe Scarbrough on in the mornings. It's true that he had grown very anti-Trump, but he would still be very conservative on almost all other issues. TYT was good, but they were not live - at least in the mornings.

The main network morning shows, like the Today Show and Good Morning America, were more fluff than stuff. I was likelier to see celebrity news interviews and recipes than hard news.

I had long since given up on CNN. It wasn't terrible, but it focused on giving equal time to opinions that did not deserve equal time (facts given equal time with fantasy). They also ran a lot of fluff shows about cooking or whatever. Much of their news was blanded, making them a good choice for airports or medical offices.

Another MSNBC* host that I can't stomach is Chuck Todd. He pretends he's neutral, but he often rehashes Republican talking points. His show was at 1 PM.

I complained to my sister, and she told me about CNN's Brianna Keilar, who was on opposite Chuck Todd. She seemed much more acceptable to me. No, she wasn't a liberal flamer. But she seemed to value truth and facts.

When she moved to CNN's morning show, I was happy! I had my mornings back.**

Recently, all that has changed.

A few months ago was the startling news that Time Warner had been bought by the Discovery Channel people. I mean, what the hay? Is Discovery bigger than the super mega-corporation Time Warner (previously owned by the giant AT&T)? That made no sense. Naked and Afraid is bigger than Game of Thrones? Who knew?

Worse news related to this followed. Turns out the major investor in Discovery is a billionaire, one who is a Trump donor and supporter.  

It turned ugly after that. One of their most liberal hosts, Brian Stetler of Reliable Sources, was pushed out. His crime? Indicating that "I really hope we don't both sides democracy" Correspondent John Harwood son followed, for the sin of calling Trump "a demagogue" And the new head of CNN went to Republican legislators and basically said, "What can we do to make you happy?"

Others like Anderson Cooper, Jim Acosta, and Don Lemon live on borrowed time. It depends on how well they can kowtow to their new overlords. And I am afraid Brianna Keilar is already gone, moaning about Biden's speech being too nasty to PEOPLE WHO WANT TO END DEMOCRACY.

Biden was wrong for calling them semi-fascists. They're not. The MAGA Trumpies are full-blown FASCISTS. There is nothing semi about them,  They are ALL IN.

So, I have to abandon my flirtation with CNN. Do we really need yet another far-right-wing news network?

But it doesn't matter what the American people want.

It only matters what billionaires can buy.

* I didn't want to interrupt my post's main flow, but I know that MSNBC has its own problems. It is owned by COMCAST, which has its own right-wing leanings. At this point, however, the liberal hosts are what's getting them the ratings and money, and they have been able to push back on being subsumed. MSNBC isn't good all the time, but it's good most of the time.

**I need to note that I only see about 15 to 20 minutes of morning coverage daily. Sometimes it's zero. Sometimes it's more if there is a major news story.

My Super Power

 He had the type of personality that led everyone to like him. Except me. I couldn't stand him.

I don't know why I saw him differently. The charm that so enticed others repulsed me. Something in my experiences, or even in my DNA, made me suspicious of smiling glad-handers. The more charismatic one was, the more doubtful I became.

At first, he seemed to want nothing from us. He gave parties. He learned all our names and little details about our lives. "How is your daughter Sarah? Is she enjoying her third year at Mercer?" "Dan! You're walking much better today! Is your bout with gout almost through?" That is a gorgeous sweater, Maryann! Did you crochet it yourself? You just get better and better with each project! Maybe you should open up your own shop!"

Yes, please, Maryann. Open up your own shop in the shopping village he was planning on building. His shopping village sounded more like a strip mall, but who am I to argue with his honeyed words?

At first, his grand building scheme was nothing we needed to worry about. He had it fully financed. All we had to do was watch it being put together and enjoy the shopping and sales tax benefit, contributing to the support of better public schools and paved roadways.

But it sounded so good that a few couldn't resist begging him to become involved. Oh, please! Take our money, and we can also cash in on your dream.

So, the project got half built. Then, the work stalled out when some of the subcontractors were not getting paid. There was always some excuse about the quality or completeness of the work. Why, he had the money to pay. He just was waiting for things to fall into place.

When he left, most people thought it was just temporary. He was arranging the next wave of construction; he was finalizing blueprints with an Atlanta architect; he was simply taking a break. He would be back better and more energetic than ever.

Now, even though it's been two months, many are still optimistic that he was coming back, that the investment they had made with him would reach fruition, and they could glory in the returns.

I knew better. I knew he would not be back.

Everyone has a superpower if they examine themselves closely enough.

Mine is smelling out con men.

No, not every real estate developer is a con man.

But the ones that are? God help us if we can't detect them.

Not the September I Remember

 

September is the most depressing month of the year.

At least as it relates to weather.

Growing up in Michigan, September was always the month when the weather started to change. There was a clear end to Summer and the start of cooler Fall weather. Leaves would change color. You would often have to wear a jacket. The mowing season was over, and the snow shoveling season had yet to begin.

One time, in visiting Michigan in late September, we went on a trip to Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. We wanted to go to Mackinaw Island, but it had started snowing, and the ferry service was temporarily halted.

So, even after all these years in Georgia, I still expect it to start to get cool and Fall-like in September, and I'm always disappointed.

Every day in  September, I wake up and think the Fall weather will begin. Yet, every day, my heart is broken.  

It remains hotter than hell. Yesterday, while I was out, the weather had me close to heat exhaustion. It was 90 with a feels like of 103. Yes, I know Southern California is going through a similar heat wave, with triple-digit highs. But what we have that LA does not is the humidity that hovers near 100%.

Our leaves are not changing color. Maybe in October or November. There is no cooler weather. When I walk in the predawn mornings, the temperature may be lower (the 70s), but the humidity is still off the charts. There is no jacket weather - you can barely tolerate wearing pants. And my lawn is still growing at a monstrous rate. We have thunderstorms most afternoons. And for the most part, the rains do not leave you more comfortable.  

Of course, with global warming, things may have changed in Michigan. Their Septembers may no longer be as glorious as I remember.

As I write this, at 9:17, the temperature is 78 with a feels like of 85. The humidity is 93%. The projected high is 92, which probably means another triple-digit feels like. Over the next fifteen days, the lowest high is projected for Friday, at 82.

As I write this, at 9:22, the temperature of Bridgeport, Michigan (where I grew up) is 59, with a whopping 59 feels like. The humidity is 90%. The projected high is 78. Over the next fifteen days, the lowest high is projected for Tuesday, at 72.

These differences are not incredible, but they do make a change between comfortable and uncomfortable.

You would think I would be used to this by now after over four decades in Georgia, but no, I am not. Every morning I get up thinking that Fall will begin. Every morning my soul is crushed by the continuation of relentless heat.

So, no, I won't get used to it.

Ah, September. You're not what I remember.

Mail Box Pet!

 

I opened the mailbox yesterday to see if we had any mail.

We did not.

Instead, we had a friend.  A small lizard.  I call it a gecko, but it may be something else.

It's not the first day in our mailbox.  Alison and I have both noticed it the last few days.

We're not bothered by it.  We just hope it has enough to eat.  And, believe me, the things it would eat are primarily things we would NOT want to run across in our mailbox.

I'm not sure how our postal person feels about it.  Hopefully, it's not illegal.

So, trust me.  We consider our little mailbox pet our friend, and we are glad to have him.  I just wish it would stop bringing up how we can save on insurance every time we see it.

Level 3 and Rising: Post-Indictment Update

 

This is an update of a post from August 2022, where I speculated what level of criminality would be reached by the former President's unlawful retention of Presidential Records. Where did he wind up?

Well, as you can see from the picture above - pretty much in the toilet!

Pictured above are documents found as a result of the search warrant of Mar-A-Lago. Some of these documents were found in Trump's office. They were found in many locations, none of which had the level of security needed for highly classified documents.

We are ascending a level of misdeeds that put whoever was involved in this at significant risk of indictment, prosecution, and conviction. And, yes, that includes the former President of the United States, Donald J Trump.

This is a brief overview, but it indicates where we're at and where we might be headed.  

Level 1

Violations of the Presidential Records Act

These are records under the Presidential Records Act that must be retained by the National Archives. Some may eventually wind up in a Presidential Library, but under no circumstances will they be in private hands, not even a former President.

The punishments include fines, prison up to three years, and, I quote, they could be "disqualified from holding any office under the United States."

Have we met the prerequisites for Level One?

Yes, we have. The records don't have to be classified to meet this threshold. And his possession of them was not accidental. 

Verdict - Indicted on these charges! Compounded with willful retention and obstruction of justice.

Level 2

Violations of the Espionage Act

This is the misuse and possession of classified and top-secret information. And, yes, the FBI has established that several hundred of these documents were kept, including documents at the highest level of security and documents that could expose and harm human intelligence assets. But, again, the security level for these documents was woefully inadequate, some alarmingly so.

The punishments for violations of the Espionage Act for mishandling defense information are fines and up to ten years in prison.

Have we met the prerequisites for Level One?

Yes, we have. He had highly classified documents, and they were not secure.

Verdict - big-time violations! At least thirty-one! Evidence includes that he shared them, knew he had not declassified them, and left them in unsecured locations - I mean, in a BATHROOM, for God's sake!

Level 3

Obstruction of Justice

It is a crime to obstruct an investigation into potential crimes. You cannot lie. You cannot misdirect. You cannot defy proceedings.

The punishments for this vary greatly, depending on their severity. There are fines. There are prison sentences ranging from six months to twenty years.

Have we met the prerequisites for Level Three?

Yes, we have. He didn't release anything back to the National Archives until January 2022. That means he held onto everything for about a FULL YEAR.

Then they had to go back to get more in June 2022. Trump's lawyer lied and signed that they had everything - no more documents were left at Mar-A-Lago.

He lied. He still had many more records, including around 100 classified documents, which the DOJ had to resort to a search warrant to obtain.

He lied. He misled. He delayed. He's guilty of Level Three.

Verdict - indicted on obstruction. Based on the testimony of others and ON HIS OWN WORDS.

Level 4

Exposure of Classified Materials

Well, we don't know why he had these documents. We don't know what he did with them.

We do know that security was lax at Mar-A-Lago. It's a HOTEL. People come and go. It is even possible that foreign agents or spies could get in and find out classified secrets.

We don't know which documents, if any, Trump was showing to other people, like guests, he was trying to impress.

I'm not sure of the punishments. I think it would just ramp up the penalties under the Espionage Act.

Have we met the prerequisites for Level Four?

Not sure yet. That will require more investigation, including surveillance footage.

Verdict - he did share them. He left them unsecured. Did he sell them, deliberately reveal them to foreign powers? We don't know yet.  

Level 5

Selling of Classified Materials

This is selling classified information to other nations, organizations, or individuals.

The punishment? Why don't we ask Ethel and Julius Rosenburg? If that historical reference is unfamiliar, we're talking about execution.

Some dare call it TREASON.

Have we met the prerequisites for Level Five?

No. And I pray that we don't.

Vrtdict - no indictments. I have not seen any evidence that he sold them. It is a logical inference based on his character but only an inference.

But you have to ask yourself - why did the narcissistic, money-hungry real estate con artist want this stuff? Has he ever done anything without benefitting himself? What was his purpose?

Perhaps he's a toddler who just couldn't let go. MINE! MINE! MINE!

Perhaps he was looking for leverage, a quid pro quo? Don't think that was his modus operandi? Why don't you check in with Ukraine? Quid pro quo is damn near Trump's middle name.

Perhaps he was looking to sell it? Pictures of Dr. Evil from Austin Powers come to mind. I'll sell this information for "one million dollars!"

Would Trump actually do this?

I don't know. But you have to ask yourself this - based on what we know of Trump's behavior and personality-

Can we rule it out?