Story Time With "Return of As It Stands"

Good Day World!

Today, I'm sharing my second blog with you,

Return of As It Stands

It's a real change of pace. I feature short stories with twist endings and surprises.

Stop by and have a drink at Dewey's Bar,

The Last Drink at Dewey’s Bar

History won't tell you about the time Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday met the REAL fastest gun in the Old West...

A Stunning Showdown at Snake Junction

And 

The Day Racism Died in the World

How Logan ‘The Last Lizard Lord’ Saved Earth

The Mobster and The Tunnel

There's many more. All easy, fast reads, that will leave you thinking...and perhaps wanting more.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

The Buzz On How To Deal With Pesky Mosquitos

Good Day World!

The buzz today is about dealing with those pesky mosquitos that devil us, especially during this time of the year.

First, I'd like to introduce the very latest in mosquito control (color me surprised):

The Mosquito Away line of TVs being produced and marketed in India by electronic giant LG, has an ultrasonic component designed to repel mosquitos in it.

Mosquitos are considered a major health hazard in India, where more than 10,500 cases of dengue fever were reported in New Delhi alone.

You might want to look into getting one of those TVs, especially if you're a couch potato!

Other ways of getting rid, or coping with mosquitos, is to wear clothes that are designed with biting insects in mind. Bite-proof clothing is generally sold in sporting goods stores.

Just keep in mind these bite-proof clothes are often treated with repellents (DEET) or poisons (permethin).

Another way to combat certain species of the little blood suckers is to not wear dark colors such as black, blue, and red, which can make mosquito season tough for gang members!

Another trick: avoid mosquito prime time. Dusk, dawn, and during darkness - these are the times when most mosquitos feed.

This may come as a rude shock, but did you know that Citronella candles are no more effective at keeping mosquitos away than regular candles, which also produce heat, moisture, and carbon dioxide that draws mosquitos to people?

I'm all for natural responses to mosquito attacks. Here's a good article about 13 natural ways to keep mosquitos away.

One more helpful article: What Attracts Mosquitos and How To Repel Them.

Meanwhile, I'll be trying to figure out how to order one of those Mosquito Away TVs!

Time for me to walk on down the road...

I Had a Dream Last Night That This is All Just a Bad Dream

Good Day World!

It's a nightmare right?

No one could be so cruel that they would send the "Dreamers" - children of illegal immigrants who've spent their entire lives in America - back to Mexico and other south American countries... for revenge. 

No one, but Trump that is. 

Let's take his latest action where he announced (actually the Chickenshit had his puppet Sessions do it) an end to the immigration protection program called DACA.

There is no rule of law in the Trump era. He's on an mission. Every since Barrack Obama roasted him at a White House Press Dinner, Trump has been lusting for revenge.

The moment he slunk into the Oval Office Trump had his minions seeking out every bit of legislation, and executive order Obama signed in his two terms.

He doesn't give a damn what they were about. All Donny knows is that a black guy made fun of him and white supremacists didn't.

That nightmare, where he was publicly shamed, keeps playing over and over again in Trump's tiny brain. 

Americans have become mired in Trump's mission to dismantle the government and overthrow Obama's legacy.
We are part of his nightmare.

Like the walking-dead, people walk around in a haze, wondering when the government is going to come get them. Immigrants are the current recipient for Trump's wrath.

There will be others. Our Maniac-In-Chief is more like the boogeyman than a president. He'll make more people suffer too.

I had a dream last night that this is all just a bad dream.

Then my alarm went off, and I was faced with the reality that Trump was probably squatting on the toilet tweeting the mornings marching orders.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Good Journalism Still Exists in the Age of 'Fake' News

"He campaigned on applause-line policies: Anything that roused a response from his rabid adherents, he repeated and amplified. He never gave details because the details didn’t exist, and he wouldn’t have been able to understand and articulate them if they did." Opinion, NY Times, 7/20/17

Good Day World!

There are two great newspapers in America that understand good journalism. They both are setting the gold standard for investigative reporting in the 21st century.

The New York Times, and The Washington Post.

It's no wonder Trump hates them both. Unlike CNN, Fox, or MSNBC, they really strive for fair and balanced reporting. They are the top two newspapers in the nation with millions of subscribers.

The people who read the NY Times and the Washington Post aren't interested in alternate realities presented by bias publications and websites.

Readers of these two newspapers have the ability to read beyond one paragraph, and to comprehend difficult issues facing our world.

As a retired newspaper editor and publisher, I know that mistakes can happen with the best of publications. When they do, a correction is run the next day.

This is just one of the differences between legitimate reporting, and sensational fact-free reporting which has become so prevalent. 

The news and the editorial sections are separated in the NY Times and The Washington Post, unlike most other publications where the two merge all too often on the front page.

My fellow journalists today face challenges I never dreamed of when I worked. The fact that more people are politically hardwired complicates the situation.

A straight fact-filled news story is suddenly challenged because it doesn't fit a certain world view; left, or right. This blurring of reality makes it that much harder to get the truth out.

The icing on the cake however is our president's loathing for the free press, who he calls the enemy. In spite of that, The NY Times and The Washington Post have managed to turn out great investigative stories that rival the Watergate reporting.

Make no mistake, The NY Times and The Washington Post are two of the last bastions of credible reporting in America. Fake and bias news has no place to hid in these publications.

You can fact-check them on numerous websites from PolitFact to Snopes to assure yourself your not reading someone's fantasy.

It's not that there aren't other good newspapers out there, it's just that they don't have the history or quality of reporting that The NY Times and The Washington Post have. 

Take heart. There's still some good journalism in America.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Drunk in America: Which States Can Claim Bragging Rights?

Good Day World!

When it comes to lushes, Americans come in behind a lot of other countries that drink alcohol like water.

Russia, Germany, the UK, Italy, and France come to mind.

Among ourselves, the states that drink the most may surprise you.

For starters, they're in the northern part of the country. According to this link, here's the 15 most alcohol consuming states in America.

Brace yourself.

15. Massachusetts
14. Vermont
13. Ohio
12. Hawaii
11. Michigan
10. Alaska
9. Maine
8. Nebraska
7. Minnesota
6. Illinois
5. Iowa
4. Montana
3. Washington, D.C.
2. Wisconsin
1. North Dakota

So what's going on with North Dakota?

I'm not sure why California and Oregon didn't crack that list. I've lived in both, and they make a lot of wine.

Booze facts:

In most Muslim countries booze is taboo. That's really too bad when you think about it. It could really benefit Muslim men to tie one on now and then without being beheaded.

Just an observation.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Harvey Help, Heat on Trump, and Heat Thanks To Global Warming

Good Day World!

I felt like I should have been wearing some high water boots when I saw the photo optic of Trump kissing a black toddler in a Houston shelter.

It's going to take more than kissing adorable little girls to clean up Trump's act. He's been a bad boy lately and is getting desperate as the Russian/Trump campaign collusion investigation heats up.

The word is he's chaffing under his new chief-of- staff, Kelly, because he always acts like an adult and expects Donny to do the same.

I'm hopeful that Congress will pass a bipartisan bill for $6.7 billion in aide for Harvey survivors... ASAP. The money can come out of whatever funds Trump hoped to con Congress out of to build his fantasy wall. 

I'm also hopeful the unhealthy air quality in southern Oregon will get better sometime soon. Where I live in Medford, we have unhealthy air alerts daily. It's been that way for a couple of weeks.

Fires to the right of us, and fires to the left. Winds shift and the Rogue Valley becomes a scene out of downtown Beijing. Throw in triple digit temperatures, and it's downright ugly.

Fires burning all over the country. California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, and Montana at last count. Maybe more today.

It's about climate warming. Everyone - but our stupid president and some of his minions - know earth temperatures have been rising dramatically and man-made emissions is not helping anything.

The sickening part of the so-called argument about Global Warming is that the someone who doesn't believe in what 97% of the scientists in the world says, is the leader of the free world!

It's hard not to feel doomed. It's also arguably a good time to buy a good gas mask with reserve oxygen tanks!

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Donnie's Impending Temple of Doom

Good Day World!

The last time we looked in on Donny Little-Hands (the clown masquerading as our president), he was pardoning a convicted racist when Hurricane Harvey hit.

Since then he's visited Texas to see how bad things were on the ground after Harvey's devastation. In true Trump fashion he turned that event into a farce - gleefully noting all the people that came to see him.

Oh yea. There weren't any signs of devastation where Rump's press conference was held. And he didn't explore any further with officials.

The next day he bragged to reporters how he saw the devastation up close.

Meanwhile...

Our Liar-In-Chief has entered into the valley of investigations and into a Temple of Doom of his own making.

Obstruction of justice. That's the sign above the door of the Temple. Stump entered months ago.
His greeter was special counsel Robert Mueller who's leading an investigation into ties between his campaign and Russia.

Apparently the investigation is heating up in the Temple. News reports stating that Trump signed a deal for building a Trump Tower in Moscow - during the campaign - have emerged.

Financial ties are also among the obstacles Hump must navigate in the Temple of Doom.

Unlike the movie, where the hero gets out of the deadly Temple, Donnie isn't going to be so lucky.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Very Short Stories, Sorry-Assed Congress, and How's Your Day?

Good Day World!

Who expects much to change in Congress when the clowns reconvene next week?

Show of hands.

Not me, that's for sure. The Republican majority in Congress has translated to zero progress. Not one major legislation passed. For eight years GOP leaders swore to repeal and replace Obamacare.

We all know how that turned out. Now, we have to hope they can pass a spending bill to keep the government operating. If Trump tries to tie his wall fantasy to that bill there's going to be a problem.

Donny Little-Hands has been mumbling about shutting the government down if he doesn't get his way. Will someone please slap that pouting man child and tell him to get real?

Moving on.

I started another blog called Return To As It Stands where I indulge myself in writing very short stories everyday. 
I do my best to surprise and entertain readers within the space of 800-900 words.

With Titles like, The First, and Last Dinner, Future Shock: The Test,  and A Day At The Operating Table, I'll  keep you guessing on how they end. Check it out.

Moving on.

How was your day? Care to talk about it? I have a comment section below if you do.

I just want to say that I love writing in it's many forms, and both of my blogs are labors of love.Thanks for stopping by.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Celebrating Our 43rd Anniversary With A Few Tips

Good Day World!

My world changed for the better on August 31st, 1974. That's when Shirley and I got married.

A few thoughts on staying together:

* Always communicate, no matter how angry you are at the moment. Never go to bed angry. Period. The anger just simmers and boils over the next day if you don't.

* Mutual respect. This attitude is often overlooked. Even when you don't agree with a stance your partner has taken on a subject, never turn it into an argument.

* Don't let politics divide you, especially in the Age of Trumpism. There's no subject worth that. If politics are an issue, choose not to discuss them.

* Give each other space. There's nothing wrong with pursuing different pastimes separately as long as they are within reason and don't lead to separation. There's a fine line here.

* The best advise I can give you is be friends. Best friends. Don't let that ever change. 

* Make a habit of finding time to pursue joint interests. Anything from going to yard-sales to going to concerts qualifies.

* Finally, life is too short. Try to live each day to the fullest as loving partners.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

I'm back! After Some Tech Challenges 'As It Stands' is Back Online!

Good Day World!

I won't even go into why this blog has been inaccessible since July 20th - it's just too complicated.

The good news is I'm back, and will resume sharing my humble opinions with you.

In the gap between July 20 and now, I created another blog: Return Of As It Stands.

It features very short stories. I mean like only 800 or 900 words in length. But each packs a punch in a way that you won't soon forget.
I encourage you to check it out.

Meanwhile, returning to my opinionated self, I have a few quick observations:

Classic Trump - He makes Hurricane Harvey into an opportunity to fawn over the people who came to see him when he and wifey visited Texas. 

Some people are saying the pardoning of Sheriff Arpaio (the scourge of Latinos everywhere) is a prelude to pardoning his family and pals from any collusion charges with Russia.

Trump's handling of North Korea is enough to make atheists religious. 

I'm going to let you go for now. Take care.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

John Birch Society Making a Comeback in Texas Thanks To Trumpism

                                     Good Day World!

Much to my surprise, and disgust,the John Birch Society still exists. 

It's members have been dwelling under rocks waiting impatiently for a chance to re-emerge and spread their message of hate to a new generation.

That day has come.

In my day, back in the 50s and 60s, The John Birch Society took advantage of the Cold War to spread hate under the guise of patriotism.

Sound familiar?

In the last few years the John Birch Society has experienced a resurrection in Texas, the new epicenter for the group.

Gone is the organization’s past obsession with ending the supposed communist plots to achieve mind-control through water fluoridation. 

What remains is a hodgepodge of isolationist, religious and right-wing goals that vary from concrete to abstract, from legitimate to conspiracy minded—goals that don’t look so different from the ideology coming out of the White House. 

Here's an interesting irony:

The John Birch Society once thrived pushing the idea of Soviet infiltration in the U.S. government. 

Now, it wants to stop the investigation into Russia's 2016 election meddling and possible collusion with Trump's campaign.

Once considered a group of extreme loonies, the Birchers have found a new supporter in Trump, and his wacky administration. 

Even the Republican Party, once considered mortal enemies of the Birchers, are now considered an ally. How times change.

Texas Gov. Abbott distrusts the federal government. Period. He's the same clown that when serving as a Texas attorney general, filed numerous frivolous lawsuits against the Obama administration.

But, Gov. Abbott, is really famous for a stunt that thrilled the Birchers back in 2015.

Some Texans feared that a U.S. military training exercise called “Jade Helm 15” was a covert attempt by the federal government to invade the state, seize Texans’ guns, and imprison conservative citizens in abandoned Wal-Marts, Abbott deployed the Texas State Guard to monitor the U.S. military.

A Bircher-friendly move if I ever saw one. 

It's no wonder the John Birch Society is so optimistic these days, they have an ally in Texas, and the White House.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

When Is Trump Going to Dump Melania for Ann Coulter?

                                   Good Day World!

It would be a match made in hell.

Imagine that Trump got tired of Melania slapping his hand away every time he tried to hold it, and divorced her?

It would be number four, but Ann Coulter would really be his ideal partner. They both thrive on insulting people. They both love to tweet their inner frustrations and imagined victories. They both lie at the drop of a dime.

Coulter's latest rant...

...went late into Sunday night. She fired off a salvo of 32 combative tweets (not including re-tweets) at Delta Airlines because they made her move from her paid-for seat with extra room, to another seat, on a flight from New York City to West Palm Beach, Florida.

Coulter’s tweets were filled with insults to the airline’s flight attendants, employee screening and training, WiFi, even the woman who was assigned to Coulter’s original seat — she called her a "dachshund-legged" woman in one tweet.

After sustaining the barrage for more than 24 hours, the airline responded Sunday night.

“We are sorry that the customer did not receive the seat she reserved and paid for,” Delta said in a statement posted to its website. “More importantly, we are disappointed that the customer has chosen to publicly attack our employees and other customers by posting derogatory and slanderous comments and photos in social media.

“Her actions are unnecessary and unacceptable.”

But Trump would have been proud if that was his woman. It's easy to see how much these two have in common. Their both rude and crude.

There was a scene out of the movie "Deliverance"  where a man starts dueling an Appalachian boy with his banjo. One plays for a moment, then the other responds. Great scene.

In a bizarre update, I can see Trump and Coulter dueling on twitter - each playfully insulting the other one and anyone else who dares to chime in.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Now This Is Entertainment: Hypocrite-In-Chief Launches 'Made in America' Campaign

Hypocrites get offended by the truth.” 
 Jess C. Scott

Good Day World!

I've always tried to buy products made in America.

Sometimes it isn't easy, especially when it comes to tennis shoes.

When I heard that our Hypocrite-In-Chief was launching a "Made in America" messaging campaign I laughed so hard my false teeth rattled!

Trump wants Americans to buy stuff made here, but that message is somewhat murky when you consider that his daughter Ivanka's whole fashion line is made in China, and that Trump himself has 89 patents for products to be made in China.

Double standard? Obviously.

In the next three weeks Trump will be staging dog-and-pony shows looking for good optics. Understandable when you consider recent White House optics. 

This week will feature products made in the good old USA.

Next week is "America Heroes" week that is expected to focus on American jobs.

And the third week will be devoted to the "American Dream" according to a White House official.

Trump's first dog-and-pony show is happening today. He's looking at locally made products displayed on the South Lawn of the White House.

This whole campaign will underscore Trump's plan to reform the tax code. Now there's a scary thought.

Who do you think will benefit the most by a revised tax code? Trump's billionaire buddies without a doubt. 

Despite repeated requests, Trump won't talk about his product patents in China, or Ivanka's clothes and shoes produced there in sweat shops.

In a feeble attempt to divert from the Russian collusion scandal - which is really heating up with Donny Jr.s special meeting with the Russians - Trump is hoping to get people's minds on another subject.

Good luck. Trump's dog-and-pony shows don't stand a chance against the constant flow of information about his cronies colluding with the Russians during the elections..now that's entertainment!

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Sin Eaters in the White House Attempt To Absolve Trump's Actions

Good Day World!

They use to be called White House spokespeople. 

Their job was to share what the president was doing, and any of his future plans.

The National White House Press corp covered these briefings because it was a way to dig deeper into a story, or to clarify the administration's stance on a particular topic.

That all ended with the Trump regime.

Our prolific Liar-In-Chief needed more than just spokespersons, he needed "Sin-Eaters" to handle his arch enemy, the free press.

For the record, a sin-eater is a person who consumes a ritual meal in order to magically take on the sins of a person or household.

Traditionally, the food was believed to absorb the sins of a recently deceased person, thus absolving that person's soul. Consequently, sin-eaters supposedly carried the sins of all people whose sins they "ate."

Sean Spicer and Sarah Huckabee Sanders have not only been eating crow for Trump, they're absolving his sins by stonewalling the press, and just outright lying.

It's a unique position. A person has to be ready to shed all their dignity, tell lies without blinking, and repeat anything Trump says, claiming it as gospel.

All in an attempt to shield his Orangeness from himself.

Wow. It's got to be the worst job in the world.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

It's Early In The Game But Trump Calls in Ty Cobb

Good Day World!

It's early in the game but Donald Trump brings in his secret weapon...Ty Cobb.

(Photo - Trump's latest lawyer: Ty Cobb)

In a fairness, it should be noted that Trump has not hired the base-stealing legend reverently referred to as The Georgia Peach...aka Ty Cobb. 

He died in 1961. 

But Trump did manage to find a descendant of Ty Cobb, who happens to be a highly regarded lawyer, to rally his campaign team against accusations of Russian collusion in the 2016 election. 

According to Bloomberg, the younger Cobb was brought to the White House to, "enforce discipline in the White House regarding Russian matters."

I admit, I'll be watching with a sense of disgust and morbid amusement as Ty Cobb goes to bat for the biggest liar to ever sit in the Oval Office.

Here's a thought; do you suppose he's doing it - defending Trump - to become famous? After all, who ever heard of him outside stuffy court rooms?

Ty Cobb the lawyer. Not too much ring to that, is there? He needed to do something that would make people remember him. 

Like help Trump steal the 2016 election.

One caveat; there's a difference between famous and infamous.

The George Peach is probably rolling over in his grave!

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Resistance Report: Trump's Voter Commission Trashed By ALL 50 States

"Curses! Foiled again!" - Synidly Whiplash

Good Day World!

Trump and his minions have backed off from their extraordinary attempt to gather voters’ personal information, following a barrage of legal challenges, an outcry from state officials, and a rash of voter registration cancellations by people concerned about their privacy.

The response to Trump puppet, Kris Kobach's attempt to gather personal information on American voters has been six lawsuits and a universal outcry of "foul!" among the 50 states.

Koback sent a letter out on June 28th asking state officials to provide names of the country's 150 million voters. In addition, the letter sought voters’ addresses, social security numbers, voting histories, party affiliation, criminal histories, military status, and more.

Not one state – not even Kansas, where Kobach is secretary of state and in charge of elections – has agreed to comply fully with the request. 

Maryland’s attorney general, Brian Frosh, called the request “repugnant”. “It appears designed only to intimidate voters,” he wrote, “and to indulge President Trump’s fantasy that he won the popular vote.”

In other cases, voters said straight out they did not trust the presidential commission. One North Carolina voter said it “smells funny.”

Once against, resistance to Trump's draconian orders has prevailed. It's not the first time, nor will it be the last. It's a testament to the American people that they are not going to go quietly into the dark during the Era of Trump.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Trumpism vs The Environment: Which is More Important To Americans?

Good Day World!

Trump's primary goal is to destroy everything President Obama did for this country.

That includes the protections instituted for the environment we live in.

Trump put his sock puppet,Scott Pruitt, in charge of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with instructions to reverse clean air and water regulations - a move akin to putting a fox in charge of the hen-house.

Former EPA administrator (under George W. Bush) and Republican, Christine Todd Whitman, recently told the press, "I've been very concerned by what I've seen - this is about people's health. They are undermining science and people’s respect for science. They don’t seem to care.”

The Good News:

The limitations of Trump’s power to reset U.S. climate policy has been on full display over the last few days in Washington. 

White House plans to scrap restrictions on the release of a potent greenhouse gas are getting stymied by the courts, by forceful public opposition and even by Republicans in Congress.

Some In Corporate America Push Back On Trump's Climate Regulations Roll Back

Green Groups Vow War Over Trump's Climate Rollback

In The Face Of Trump Environment Rollback, California Stands In Defiance 

The resistance is real. Americans aren't going to idly stand by as Trump and his minions try to destroy our environment.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Trump's Cronyism Contributes To Chaos in the White House

Good Day World!

I'm waiting for Trump to appoint his 10-year-old son Barron to a government position.

Why not?

He's managed to find key power positions for those family members that can stomach working for him.

Democrats cry "cronyism." Republicans swallow their dignities and claim whatever the president wants to do is legal... that there are no laws that can be used against their orange-faced master.

How many family members did President Obama appoint to key positions in the government?

The answer is zero. Nada. None. Instead he picked qualified candidates that knew what they were doing. That concept never entered Trump's skull.

So blatant cronyism crept into the White House amid the chaos, the Russian hacking scandal, and no game plan on what to do in Afghanistan.

Watching Ivanka Trump sit down with world leaders - in Daddy's place at the G-20 Summit - showed the world that America was no different than a Banana Republic when it comes to dictators elevating their families into positions of power.

The only thing Ivanka knew about the topic of African Migration and Health was that she (actually the U.S. government came up with the $50 million donation thanks to Daddy) and the World Bank had come up with a fund to finance women entrepreneurs in poor countries.

Maxine Waters, a Democratic congresswoman from California, told MSNBC: 

“It does not make good sense. Here you have the president of the United States at the G-20, representing us as the leader of the free world, and so he’s going to play politics and give his daughter a chance to have a place in the sun and to be seen at a very important meeting that she knows nothing about."

It makes sense to Trump however. In his mind he wasn't elected President, as much as a dictator who can condone cronyism when it comes to his family and friends.

Time for me to walk on down the road...