The Day a Truth Bomb Exploded Across the Nation

No one saw it coming.

One moment America was engulfed in lies... and the next a truth bomb was dropped, transforming the country forever.

Historians carefully documented what happened in the course of the three fateful days that restored the United States of America.

Day One

The most obvious effect was on Trump and his cult followers. They could be seen gagging in the corridors of Congress and hurling on the streets. Millions of right-wing politicians and activists across the country found themselves at loss for words and weak from serial vomiting.

Historians observed that right-wingers were easy to spot with their bulging eyes and the projectile vomiting every time they tried to lie. Many were found lying on the ground, exhausted but unrepentant. From the first day it was the Tower of Babble amongst conservative crazies who were unable to speak because of their lying lips.

Day Two

Big changes. Because the right-wing tainted Supreme Court justices were liars and unable to speak, they had to step down and allow new justices who believed in the Constitution and women's rights to replace them.

The federal courts, state courts, and county courts experienced a purge of liars leading to judges that believed in the oaths they took. Justice was restored to the land.

From the White House to every government administration the effects of the truth bomb were evident as thousands of new job openings were created.

Day Three

The great political purge. No one knows for sure how many Republican politicians were struck speechless because they couldn't utter one sentence without lying. Historians estimate three-fourths of the Republican party found themselves without a job.

There were Democrats too who lost their voices because they were blatant liars. And Independents. The purge's effect was to not only restore sanity to our politics, but it also paved the way for the Golden Age in America that we are experiencing now in 2024.

As it stands, it turns out that historians were not sure who dropped the bomb? But they really didn't care.

You Know What's Really Scary this Halloween?

So here we are.

It's Halloween.

It ought to be interesting trying to tell the little monster trick-or-treaters from Trump cosplay clowns monitoring the houses that don't give out treats and marking them for a further investigation into why not?

Here's a sampling of some more scary stuff this Halloween:

-- A flock of election-deniers perched like ravens on tombstones in a graveyard are on the brink of being elected in the midterms. That ought to scare the hell out of any sane American.

-- Elon Musk now owns Twitter. Expect all hell to break out - especially today.

-- Trick-or-treating is becoming more dangerous every year and violent crimes are up this year. If you don't live in the "right neighborhood" indoor parties would be safer.

Most Popular Costumes

-- The Marjorie Taylor Greene costume is out -selling Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Mummy combined. That's without accessories like her Jewish Space Laser and broomstick.

-- The Ron DeSantis costume "DeSatanist" in a ruby red jumpsuit with horns moved up to the second most popular Halloween costume this year thanks to the inhabitants of the infamous Villages who reportedly bought up most of the manufacturer's stock.

-- For the second year in a row the Trump costume declined in sales despite being sold at half-price in Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Rumors are some retailers are throwing in wigs and orange greasepaint to sweeten the deal.

Trending.

GOP Halloween merchandise. You really got to see the Batshit Crazy flag line appearing in all of this year's parties. Even the ones for the kids.

The vendors for the faux Golden Idol Donald Trump statues are offering several sizes this Fall. No right-wing event is complete without one. 

Trendy Trumpies are bobbing for "Let's Go Brandon" lead badges in tubs of therapeutic bleach water.

As it stands, it's weird, the older I get Halloween seems to get scarier.

Memo to the World: Please be Patient with Us as We Try to Preserve Our Democracy

                        Warning

The citizens of the world are watching as American democracy slowly deteriorates. 

Allies are nervous and America's enemies are gloating.

As a citizen of the United States of America I have a message for the world today.

Despite the combative political atmosphere don't assume a majority of Americans are crazy. It's more like one-third of the country is under the spell of the Trump cult. I know. That's still a lot of people riding the crazy train.

Those minions of the former loser president have spawned an alternate media universe where crazies gather to plan... crazy things.

Listen. This is also probably happening in your country too - crazy elements making inroads into your freedoms. So don't judge us too harshly.

Sane Americans are fighting back although it looks like the MAGA maggots may win in the midterms. That's one battle. Not the war. 

If democrats manage to hold onto the Senate (which could go either way) it'll put the House in check should the election deniers take it over. If the MAGA morons take back the Senate, it's still not the end of the world. We'll still have a democrat for president.

I'd also suggest that losing both houses will motivate the hell out of the democrats in time for the 2024 presidential election.

America has managed to thrive for 246 years, and that kind of history is not easily wiped out. We're the oldest democracy in the world. We've fought wars to preserve this country and our freedoms.

You should be aware that we're still the one of the richest countries in the world with the biggest economy (even if it is currently struggling).

Fact. With a GDP of 23.0 trillion USD, the USA is by far the world's largest economy.

My point is simple. America is not going to succumb to external or internal threats. 

I know it looks bleak with a rogue former president running around trying to subvert our electoral system, but we've had enemies within before. They lost. As for Trump the odds that he's going to be indicted for numerous crimes are increasing every day.

Americans are resilient. We believe freedom has to be defended daily.

I would ask you to look at our long history and be comforted. Democracy is here to stay and will be for a long time to come.

As it stands, perhaps it's a leap of faith to be so confident in our nation, but it's better than the alternative.

Rogue Rubber Duck on the Loose and other Crazy News

Late Breaking News

Last Thursday Maine's Belfast Harbor Office confirmed that a giant inflatable duck broke free of its moorings amid high winds and escaped.

The rogue duck eluded officials in the high winds and drifted about 20 miles to the coast of Blue Hill where residents were warned to stay indoors in case the duck came ashore (I just made that up).

Officials say the origin of the massive duck is a mystery.

Moving on

Researchers report that horror's impact is really in the eye of the beholder, a little different for everyone but not all bad.

So, the next time you watch a horror movie, and it scares the shit out of you... it could be a good thing.

Someone please explain that to my wife who loathes scary movies. I'm sure she doesn't agree with the so-called experts who claim getting frightened helps you to cope with things.

Really?

Supposedly humans are equipped with deeply ingrained, unconscious mechanisms that help them respond to stress, wired in from times when danger might be outside.

The next question is why do people go to horror movies in the first place? 

Researchers call it the "paradox of horror." In essence they claim people like being scared and it's a form of stress relief. 

Personally, I think these experts are wasting time and money on a subject no one cares about.

Moving on

Drama in North Carolina as sheriff's deputies came to the rescue of a loose emu that played "Frogger with traffic" on a busy highway.

The rogue emu made its way to Chockoyotte Park in Roanoke Rapids before being wrangled by deputies and returned to its owners.

Moving on

A South Carolina restaurant shared security footage of the moment a deer ran into the business through the open front door and ended up slipping and sliding around in the dining room.

Reports say the deer never got a chance to order a meal as employees unceremoniously "escorted" it outside. I guess they were afraid he wouldn't pay for his meal.

Moving on

More restaurant mayhem in Queensland, Australia where a reptile wrangler was chasing a three-foot monitor lizard in a local cafe.

The reptile wrangler later bragged that he completed more athletic events than an Olympian to get it. "There was running, diving, and of course wrestling," the proud wrangler told reporters.

Moving on

Somewhere in Carroll County, Indiana there's a rogue kangaroo roaming around after escaping its owner's property. 

As of this writing the kangaroo is still on the loose looking for eatable fruits, leaves, and flowering plants. Locals are being warned not to try and catch the kangaroo because he'll punch their lights out!

Finally, my favorite crazy news item has to be about a robot. Not just any robot. Researchers at the University of California-Berkeley unveiled a robot they said can fold clothes faster than any previous automaton.

Wow! This invention could save the world... but I don't think it will. Meanwhile where do you find one of these speedy little clothes folders? I've checked on Amazon. It's still too early. But it's just a matter of time.

As it stands, the giant rubber duck was last seen hooking up with buoy south of Blue Hill!

That's Twice Now: 'Where's Nancy?' is the Siren Call of the Far Right

Crazed rioters were screaming "Where's Nancy?" as they ransacked the capitol on Jan.6 looking to kill the Speaker of the House.

MAGA morons scrambled down corridors and beat on doors in their search for Nancy Pelosi during the insurrection.

The call for her murder went out years ago among the far-right loons that are now in bed with Republican lawmakers.

Current attack ads by MAGA candidates regularly assault Pelosi and call for her death or some horrible accounting - like putting her on a prison barge near Guantanamo Bay.

The violent rhetoric embraced by all the GOP candidates these midterms far surpass prior elections - even the 2020 election.

That caustic rhetoric trickles down to the real crazies who support the Big Lie and gives them a mission - kill democrats. 

In a recent unhinged rally in Pennsylvania the organizers displayed a poster with photos of democrats who they said are going to be visited by the Angel of Death. A thinly veiled threat. Pelosi was among the group of democrats on the poster.

The people who go to those hate rallies and watch hate TV like Fox and Newsmax, are often inspired to take action and do something really stupid and dangerous.

This morning the breaking news was Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul, was attacked in their home by a man who shouted, "Where's Nancy?" She was in Washington DC at the time.

Apparently, the assailant entered the Pelosi residence through the back door of the house according to authorities. 

Reports say Paul called 911 and defended himself with a hammer, but the attacker took it from him and used it on him. The police arrived and arrested the attacker, 42-year-old David DePape during the assault. 

Doctors said that Paul underwent surgery for a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands. DePape was also hospitalized although it still isn't clear what injuries he suffered while attacking Paul and fighting off the police.

The 82-year-old Pelosi is expected to fully recover from his wounds.

How could that happen?

Pelosi's security detail wasn't at the house. The only time they are is if she's in attendance. That left her husband to fend for himself during the vicious attack.

The whole story isn't out yet because authorities are still investigating the motivation for the attack. 

I don't think it's unreasonable to point to the recent toxic politics, however. DePape's Facebook page showed he was an election denier and a far-right MAGA activist.

As it stands, that's twice now where the siren calls of the crazies called out Pelosi's name while searching for her. Let's hope the third time isn't the charm.

There's No Need to Panic but We Are Living in the End Times

Throughout my life I've heard stories about what the End Times would be like. 

Mainstream and faux religions have sprung up around the concept of a final reckoning where mankind is going to experience the big payoff for generations of sins.

Well, we're living in an end time right now. Let me explain; the world has changed so much in the last fifty years that people's once normal lives have transformed into survival modes that include joining cults and defying reality in a quest for power.

The time to combat the global climate crisis is running out. Mankind has chosen to shit in the Garden of Eden, and now we have the devil to pay. 

Scientists recently announced that greenhouse gases have reached the highest levels ever and the U.N. put out a report saying the world is "Nowhere near" hitting climate targets.

Don't even get me started on what havoc droughts are causing worldwide. The mighty Mississippi River is shrinking at alarming rates. It's now so low that barges bringing supplies are no longer able to navigate great stretches of the famous river.

Related: Europe's mighty rivers are drying up in the climate-driven drought

And how about the damn COVID-19 pandemic that's been rocking the planet for years now and doesn't look like its ever going away?

To make matters worse we're currently experiencing a surge of viruses in kids. Three-quarters of pediatric hospital beds in America are now full.

Democracy is teetering on the brink of the abyss as a divided America struggles to coexist in the super-charged partisan atmosphere of the midterms...STOP!

Before you jump off a cliff let's consider a few things.

1. How many of the terrible things I listed above are actually affecting your day-to-day life? Take a moment on this one.

2. The most devasting effects of the climate crisis aren't predicting to happen for 50+ years or more. Disappearing coastlines and islands for example. There's a good chance you won't even be around by then. I know I won't unless I set a Guiness World record for old farts!

3. Consider that the whole idea of an end time is not locked into how long it'll take for all the horrible things to come into fruition. It's not like it'll happen overnight. I'm not even going to get into the religious interruptions that suggest otherwise. I'd rather use logic and observation.

As it stands, in summary, don't waste your time worrying about today or tomorrow. Just live your life as best as you can every moment.

Better Keep an Eye Out for a 'Deep State' McDonalds Near You

Welcome curious reader!

You must be interested in hearing all about the "Deep State" threats that Republicans are valiantly fighting to save America.

Please don't be offended, but would you mind putting a tin foil hat on to blend with the crowd I'm going to introduce you too? 

I'm going to take you back five days ago to a far-right gathering in Manheim, Pennsylvania titled "Re-Awaken America" where QAnon crazies mingled with Mega MAGA morons to celebrate... being crazy.

It wasn't your typical Trump rally because the Great Divider was holding a rally somewhere in Texas at the time. Instead, the loons pulled out their favorite Golden Trump idol onto the stage for the minions to bow before.

Favorite topics included Jewish Space lasers, Demonic Satellites', sending the holy ghost into computers to destroy them before election day, and (my favorite) Deep State McDonalds!

The organizer of the freak show, Clay Clark, whipped up the crowd when he declared there was a "war on food" and a shady left-wing entity was pushing for the feeding of "insect burgers" (I wonder what effect they would have?) at McDonalds.

The crowd went wild with the new knowledge that McDonalds was part of the ever-expanding Deep State threat. It beat the hell out of the one-time pedophile ring hidden in the basement of a private pizzeria.

Expect Trump minions to be seen skulking around McDonalds restaurants peering at people's burgers from beneath their MAGA caps at a McDonalds location near you.  

Deep State theories languished in the dark corners of the internet for years before Trump took it mainstream and claimed it (the Deep State) was working to overthrow his regime.

Have you ever heard the quote, "There's nothing new under the sun?"

The fact is so-called deep state conspiracies have a long and twisted history in the annals of mankind. Nothing new here with the exception that millions of Americans now firmly believe a deep state of some shape or form exists today.

The reason why is simple. Mass media platforms and the internet are a monolithic monster that devours truth and spews misinformation every hour of the day. It's the perfect swamp for deep state conspiracies to thrive in.

Your best defense against the deep state is the truth. Do your research. Facts kick MAGA minion's asses every time. It won't be easy but as long as there's deep state believers their lies need to be exposed to the rest of the world.

As it stands, I suspect McDonald's founder Ray Kroc is turning over in his grave right now!

About October Surprises: They All Have Murky Histories

My first question for readers today is, does anything surprise you about what's going on in this country nowadays?

My second question is, do you know what an October Surprise is in relation to politics? 

If not, an October Surprise is about a news event that may influence the outcome of an upcoming November election. Sometimes they are planned and sometimes they're spontaneous. Telling the difference keeps political pundits playing a partisan guessing game up to election day.

The forerunner of the October Surprise happened in mid-October of 1840, shortly before the 1840 presidential election when federal prosecutors announced plans to charge top Whig Party officials with "most stupendous and atrocious fraud" for paying Pennsylvanians to cross state lines and vote for Whig candidates in New York during the 1938 elections.

The Origin of the Term

During the 1980 presidential election, Republican challenger Ronald Reagan feared that a last-minute deal to release American hostages held in Iran might earn incumbent Jimmy Carter enough votes to win re-election.

William Casey, the manager of the Reagan campaign, was the first person to mention the idea of an "October Surprise" to the press by publicly claiming Carter was going to use the hostages to his advantage.

The only problem with that accusation was President Carter told the press that the hostages would not be released until after the election prior to the claim by Casey.

The truth didn't matter, however. Casey's ominous warnings of an October Surprise to the press was done for strategic reasons. It was intended to prepare the voters, so that if some good October news happened, the voters would look at the event as a political ploy by the Carter campaign.

Historians point out that Reagan's campaign more than likely made a deal with Iran whereby the Iranians would hold the hostages until after Reagan was elected and inaugurated.

Congress, like it often does elected not to take any action despite damning evidence presented in news stories by the New York Times, the Washington Post, and independent journalists.

The following decades experienced more October Surprises, and they all had one thing in common - they were murky in origin. 

So back to this October.

I have to wonder what could possibly qualify as a surprise in today's political climate?

Partisan bombshells explode daily with each side seeking an advantage going into November. You could safely argue that every day this month had a surprise - which in another age - would have simply been called chaos.

As it stands, despite stretching my brain to its outer limits, I cannot conceive of what would be big enough to be considered an October Surprise in 2022!

Americans Already Facing Harassment During Early Voting

Try to imagine what it would be like if you went to drop off your mail-in ballot at a designated drop box and masked armed men and women wearing militia gear stood a mere 75 feet away and began intimidating you with crazy questions and accusations.

You'd probably think you were in a south American country like Venezuela.

But it's already happening in Maricopa County, Arizona. The Department of Justice is investigating several cases of voter intimidation like the one described above.

It's not a mystery or a one-off event. Republicans in their lust for power are encouraging fully armed "monitors" to patrol drop boxes and polling stations across the country.

These so-called election guardians are full blown members of the Trump cult and are willing to do what it takes to see him assume power once again. 

I can't help wondering how local sheriffs are going to defuse the heavily armed watchers and protect voters' rights.

In Arizona the sheriff's department has responded by adding extra patrols to the voting areas. It's still a volatile situation with 15 days to go until November 8th.

I'm so disgusted that voting has now become another flashpoint between the two Americas where one side has gone bat shit crazy. You know which side I'm talking about.

Voter safety. 

Who ever dreamed that one of our basic freedoms - the right to vote - would become a such a point of contention in the 21st century?

Moving on.

There are dark ominous political clouds gathering across the nation as we draw near to the midterms. An early winter is showing itself in places like Great Falls, Montana with heavy snow fall and downed power lines.

It's our winter of discontent. We've survived many others. And here we are again. It's nothing new in this diverse nation.

For your own peace of mind ignore the polls and all the performance art playing out in politics. Their all a waste of your valuable time.

When all the votes are counted, we'll see what really happens and then we'll move on, one way or another.

As it stands, all of our freedoms must be rigorously defended if we are going to survive as a democratic republic.

People Are Signing Up for 'What Me Worry Party?' the Hot New Ticket in Politics

Like any political party, the "What Me Worry Party" has a leader.

His name is Alfred E. Neuman. You may know him from his long association with Mad Magazine where he made his first appearance in 1954 when the magazine's editor Harvey Kurtzman introduced the iconic character.

I should point out that the "What Me Worry Party" members believe Neuman is an immortal. (That's no crazier than Trump followers who think he's the son of God). 

Followers cite the fact that Neuman made his first debut in public in a late nineteenth-century advertisements for painless dentistry.

As Neuman followers know that's where the motto "What Me Worry?" first appeared next to a portrait of him with his distinct smiling face, parted red hair, gap-tooth smile, freckles, protruding nose and scrawny body.

Some people may even recall when Neuman appeared on a presidential campaign postcard with the cation "Sure I'm for Roosevelt" in the early 1930s.

That's not all of Neuman's political chops. He ran for president in 1964 with the motto "What - Me Worry? I'm Voting Mad." 

His likeness was often substituted for President George W. Bush. Neuman's smiling face appeared on posters as part of the protest that accompanied Bush's 2001 inauguration.

Here's some visual examples of how involved Neuman has been in politics over the decades.

Who can ever forget when Neuman endorsed and congratulated Richard Nixon? Or, when he congratulated President John F, Kennedy for his big win?

Neuman is still popular in politics and can tout his experience with the current administration.

Neuman's quick insights have earned him the respect of a loyal following who agree with his philosophy that it's all bullshit and there's no use worrying about the state of politics - because it's a mad house.

As it stands, let's face it, nothing is too crazy during this election cycle.

The Price of Power: Americans Turning on One Another Like Rabid Honey Badgers

Sometimes I find myself blinking in astonishment at the warlike rhetoric that is standard in politics today.

This isn't the America I grew up in. I didn't hate my neighbor. Politics followed certain patterns like if you were caught flat-out lying about something during your election campaign... that was the end of it. You were pushed aside and ignored by all.

How things have changed.

Today politics is more a blood sport than ever with calls to hang opponents and line them up in partisan firing squads.

Republicans openly run on lies about the 2020 election being stolen. To get behind Trump's Big Lie is a badge of honor among the candidates running for office in November.

If Republicans take back Congress, they're promising a purge like this nation has never seen before. Their only agenda will be revenge against those who have stood up for democracy and called out the GOPs lies these last two years.

This upcoming election is about getting power at any price for Trump minions. The remnants of the Republican party that once balked at backing candidates like Hershel Walker and Dr. Oz have openly admitted they don't care what their candidates did or said in the past they're holding their noses and backing them.

The lust for power is that bad in the once United States where values like truth, honor, and respect for other humans have been trampled on by Trump and his fascist followers.

There are no limits. MAGA minions are increasingly turning to violence to overthrow our government. Jan. 6 was just a rehearsal for 2024 if the Republicans lose the presidential race.

What about our cherished ideals and love of freedom? Are we going to lose our democratic government because of rabid Republicans who can only think about being in power for themselves and are treasonous cretins?

Political pundits have bandied around the thought we could have another Civil War. I've got news for everyone who isn't paying attention... we ARE in a Civil War right now!

Look around you. Look at the people in your community. Look at the endless flow of misinformation and lies on all of the media platforms. It's all warfare. 

There are threats against women's rights. Threats against minorities. Threats against Jews. Threats against the LGBTQ community. Threats against teachers and election workers. Books are being banned from libraries and schools by MAGA morons.

All of this is the price of seeking unadulterated power to benefit a special segment of our society.

As it stands, where are you in this maelstrom of madness? Are you a combatant or a refugee?

Write on! Today is the National Day on Writing

Today is actually an initiative of the National Council of Teachers of English - built on the premise that writing is critical to literacy but needs greater attention and celebration.

For the past 11 years, the group has seen thousands of people share their responses and engage in activities around the theme #WhyIWrite.

As a lifetime lover of writing, I can honestly say the benefits are numerous. In a time when a former president and TV host had to have his daily briefings illustrated to keep his attention because he didn't like to read and simply couldn't write a coherent sentence, there's never been a greater need to write.

There's still room for writers in our world. There will always be room. The need to document history and to communicate via the written word is woven into mankind's DNA.

We've always recognized the power of the written word going back to ancient cave walls scribbled with our ancestor's messengers on them.

I'm concerned that the power of the written word is being diluted these days as fewer good writers can be found. There are hacks everywhere, brutalizing the language and lying in all caps.

I am encouraged by my granddaughter (a sophomore in high school) who loves to write unlike her peers. Her imagination pours out in cleverly written stories and essays. I like to think I'm part of the reason she loves to write and share her work with others.

Students nationwide need a renaissance of writing skills inspired by good teachers who understand the importance of the written word.

Words from Great Writers

-- "You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you." Ray Bradbury, Zen in the Art of Writing

--"The road to hell is paved with adverbs." Stephen King

-- "Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." Anton Chekhov

"Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on." Louis L'Amour

As it stands, when writing becomes a lost art civilization will sink into an ignorant morass with no records to read about what happened.

An Upside-Down World Where Down is Up

You'd be wrong if you thought that sloths live in an upside-down world. They're world is right-side up to them and we're the confused ones.

Like the Republican party where GOP congressman today are trying to institute a bill - the so-called Children Sexualization Act - that will prevent liberals paying strippers to dance in front of our school children!

In the real world there's never been one case of schools or state governments funding strippers to do the hoochie-couchie for students from kindergarten thru high school. That ridiculous assertion doesn't bother the MAGA morons, however. They truly live in an upside-down world.

This crazed attempt won't go anywhere this time, the democrats still have the House and probably won't even allow it to come to the floor. But, if those same MAGA morons win back the House we can expect to see these kinds of bills introduced daily.

I think it's important to understand reality is no long a safety rail in our society where millions of Americans are doing mental handstands rather than be confronted with the truth and reality.

It's not easy standing your ground against so many lies, and so much hate and racism. Real conservative Republicans have found that out after rebuking Trump and his minions for their part in the Jan.6 insurrection. Their careers are over.

Back in the day native American's were quite liberal in some ways. For example, when it came to dealing with members who were off their rockers, they called them "Contraries" and gave them a space in their society.

Contraries walked backward, said no instead of yes (and vice versa) in reply to questions, frowned when they were happy, and basically did the opposite of everything.

Sound familiar?

The only problem with our modern-day contraries is they don't live peacefully with the rest of us. Instead, their goal is to turn us all upside-down and to turn America into an authoritarian utopia.

As it stands, people like you and me must maintain our balance in this topsy-turvy world we live in and be defenders of reality and truth.

American Psychiatric Association Announces New Litmus Test for Crazies

Let's face it. 

It's not easy to tell who's crazy by just looking at them.

Especially nowadays when people run around wearing political cosplay costumes.

The only way to fully determine if someone is short a couple of bottles of a six-pack is to ask them some basic questions. 

After seeking advice from the American Psychiatric Assocation they shared an updated litmus test that I'm passing on to you.

Some core questions to ask:

1. Who is the president of the United States?

This is one of the quickest and most reliable ways of knowing if a person is a dimwit.

2. Is Trump the son of God?

Be prepared to hear blasphemy if you ask this. It's a surefire way to judge just how crazy they are.

3. What year is it?

Sounds too easy, doesn't it? Well guess what? When they start talking about 2020 you caught them red-handed.

4. Should there be more gun safety laws?

Keep a good distance when you ask this question and wear a bullet-proof vest. A normal person wouldn't pull an AR-15 to answer.

5. Is the earth round?

I know. Too easy. Crazies always feel strongly about their flat earth beliefs.

6. Describe what the American flag looks like.

If there's one thing crazies love, it's desecrating the national flag. A crazy will display numerous examples of Trump's fat orange face surrounded in stars and stripes.

Once you've determined your talking with a crazy here's some suggestions:

** Run away as fast as you can!

** Don't stop running.

** Smile pleasantly and suddenly say "Squirrel!" When they look. Run.

** Offer them a cheeseburger or a chicken wing from KFC to go away.

** Back away slowly smiling stupidly (it soothes them) while determining where the quickest escape route is.

** Agree with everything they say and even drool a little to put them at ease.

As it stands, those savvy shrinks emphasized that humor was the best medicine and .... defense!

Things That Make no Sense, but We Still Have to Live with Them

The only things that make sense to me anymore are my pets. 

Their straightforward companions, loyal and they know how to have a good time. 

I roll my eyes in disgust when I hear about the stock market suddenly going boffo because corporations reported obscene profits which translates to growing inflation for the rest of the poor souls in the nation. 

How does anyone make sense of these contradictory sets of statistics that are only decipherable by cryptographers and bankers? 

Moving on.

Despite being legal (medical and recreational) in most states today, Marijuana is still rated as deadly as heroin and fentanyl by the federal government. It's classified as a Schedule 1 drug. The baddest of the bad.

Not only does it not make sense it's a stupid relic from the Demon Weed Days of Reefer Madness. A reminder of another madness that sent millions of Americans to jails for sparking up hooties and packing pipes with cannabis.

President Biden recently freed marijuana smokers (not dealers) who were locked up in prison with an executive action that could someday lead to complete normalization. Don't hold your breath, however.

Moving on.

It's doesn't make sense watching golf courses daily watering acres of land in California during an ongoing drought. 

Southern Californian residents are being paid to dig up their lawns in a desperate attempt to conserve the dwindling water supplies... but it's okay for golf courses to squander water!

Environmentally it makes no sense, but the rich and famous don't want to give up their entertainment (nor modify it) for the sake of others' lives.

Moving on.

The wild conspiracies that blanket our society daily don't have to make sense. They're about poisoning minds. People can't seem to stop their spread. The result is idiocracy reigns.

It'll never make sense to me why we can't just set all of our clocks at the same time and be done with it. I've heard all the feeble reasons why we can't and their too ridiculous to repeat here.

We could if Congress and the states got their shit together but that's as about as likely as Trump confessing to all of the lies he told while squatting in the White House like a bloated orange toad for four years. 

I'll never understand how millions of Americans have put the most corrupt president in our history onto a pedestal where he can do no wrong even as he dismantles our democracy in little ways daily. 

As it stands, one of the disappointments of growing older is the increasing amounts of things that make no sense in your world. Instead of revelations with age you find there's even more senseless things than ever before.

Midterms: Watching for an Impending Political Train Wreck

On a moonless night in America two trains are heading for a political collision... a red train and a blue train.

The American audience is watching for the possibility of impending disaster from their TV sets and computers with fear and loathing. The midterms are coming, and no one really knows what to expect. What to believe. Who to believe. Or cares.

I'm reminded of the old silent films and their cliff hanger endings that kept people coming back to theatres despite the poor economy. They couldn't wait to see what happened to their hero/heroine.

They wanted to see if the hero could untie the fair damsel in time before the train rolled over them both and turned them into pancakes.

The surreal political world we now live in doesn't have guardrails to protect the public. The free flow of disinformation and misinformation is threatening to derail democracy in the November midterms.

October 2022. The two trains chug on towards the same depot - the voting center. 

They carry with them passengers with two wildly different views for what America should look like in the future. 

Pundits try to predict which train is longer, but it's impossible to tell yet as they hurdle down the tracks during the moonless night toward election day.

Both trains fear being derailed before November 8. Many obstacles still remain for both before the race is over and they can discharge their passengers to cast their votes.

When the votes are counted and announced we'll discover which train - the red (Fascists) or blue (Democrats) -prevailed and what that means for America. Democracy or Fascism?  

As it stands, hopefully the good guys (that would be the democrats) prevail like in those old silent films I mentioned earlier. 

A Call to Today's Younger Generation for Help from an Old Hippie

I'm passing on a sacred mantel today to America's youth who are old enough to vote in the upcoming midterms.

This mantel was woven by young Americans in the 70s who united to protest against the war in Vietnam and on marijuana. We declared war on a criminally flawed administration.

We gathered in in streets of San Francisco, New York, Oakland, and Berkeley to protest an administration that we felt was morally corrupt. Many Americans mocked us and called us stupid hippies because we believed in peace, not war.

But we stood firm.

We weren't going to be bullied by the crooked regime that used all of its powers to hunt us down and jail us with fake charges and laws attempting to take away our freedoms. 

Fun fact: all hippies didn't have long hair.

Remember the Mayday Protest in 1971 when citizens used the nation's capital as the ground on which to stage their disapproval?

It was a glorious day. A riot of youth and flowers where thousands of hippies camped out in masses on the edges of downtown Washington on May 2, 1971.

They chose places that enabled them to spread out along the entrances to the city as quickly as possible the next day.

Traffic was stopped for a few hours.

Later former CIA director Richard Helms remarked that Mayday was "one of the things that was putting increasing pressure on the Nixon administration to try and find some way to get out of the war."

I recall the rallies (Hell No! We won't go!) and the long-haired young men and women with flowers in their hair who at the time didn't realize the important role they each played in American history.

They were doing what they believed was right. They fought for individual freedoms and equality among races.

I look in the mirror today and I still see that long-haired rebel that believes in personal freedoms. But that was over 50 years ago and I'm slowing down now. 

I cherish my right to vote more than ever even if I can't physically attend rallies. But I'm worried that there's just not enough of us old hippies to lead democrats to victory in November.

All the election pundits seem to agree that the democrats only chance of not losing their majority in Congress lies with YOUNG VOTERS. That's you. The silent one's who don't respond to polls.

We know women are motivated and will turn out in great numbers because of the abortion issue. I'm counting on that. Still, it's not enough.

Campaigning against the negative headlines of inflation is an uphill battle for democrats which is giving the MAGA morons an edge in the closing weeks.

So, I'm asking all of you young voters to take this mantel - with its glorious history of making change - and wrap it around you. Talk with each other. I know you face numerous challenges in today's society my generation never dreamed of.

But we must not let Trump and his corrupt minions running for office establish any more footholds in our democratic process. They've already done enough damage.

Wear your Tye-dyed t-shirts to the ballot boxes or if you're voting by mail spark a bowl after you send it! 

Don't forget, your hippie predecessors also fought so you could legally smoke weed. The good fight continues.

As it stands, America needs you now more than ever. Your vote counts. 

It's Came Like a Thief in the Night - What We Should Be Prepared For

Photo - "As a thief in the night (COVID-19) by Du Lac

On October 7 there were early signs a new U.S. COVID surge could be on its way, according to a recent report published by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of National Health.

Americans like me have been letting our guard down since the pandemic was officially declared under control. We quit washing hands frequently, muffling our sneezes and coughs with our elbows, and masking in big crowds and indoors. 

The result? Personally, my wife and I, are both fully vaccinated and boosted, but we caught COVID-19. It came like a thief in the night and before we knew it, we felt like we had the mother of all flu bugs. But then we tested ourselves and found the culprit. 

She's had COVID for seven days and is still struggling. I'm on my third day and desperately trying to rally my strength after losing ten pounds (FYI it's not a recommended way to lose weight). 

The kicker is my 94-year-old dad lives with us and has daily medical needs. He's not in the best of health (but is fully vaccinated and boosted). We also tested him, and he has COVID-19 too. 

Worse yet... the Oregon Department of Health says he's too old to get the new anti-viral treatment. WTF? I guess you get written off at a certain age in our society!

Meeting our daily challenges while sick as dogs that got ahold of some bad meat has been difficult... to say the very least.

We can't have friends or family in the house for fear they'll get infected. I worry about my dad. In my fevered mind it's like being on a death watch. 

Here's What's Happening Around the Country

There's been an uptick in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, according to NPR. Experts are scratching their bald heads (most are bald you know) and don't know if we should be worried about a winter surge in the country or not?

Here's a thought; if people get the new bivalent vaccine, it could keep the numbers down... the rest of the story is only 8 million Americans have gotten the new vaccine which leaves 200 million people at risk.

President Biden succumbed to politics when he declared the pandemic was over. It's just not true. Instead, he should have warned people to be vigilant, and go back to safe practices because there was a chance COVID could come back this winter.

I sincerely hope the Biden administration can look past the upcoming midterms and concentrate on things like having a secure supply chain of vaccine and ways to deliver it to the public when we need it the most.

As it stands, have you seen any warnings from the national health departments about the need to get vaccinated ASAP? That's what I thought. Neither have I.

Trump Must Be Indicted for All of His Crimes!

              Republicans just don't care.

About truth.

About justice.

About honor. 

About democracy. 

About accountability.

About women's rights.

About threatening election workers.

They're proving all of that and more during the midterm elections by fielding a cadre of election deniers.

The GOP is so desperate to take back the House and Senate that their backing candidates like Hershel Walker whose been caught lying so often he could give a master's course in it.

But the GOP doesn't care if he paid for an abortion, beat up his wife repeatedly and held a gun to her head. Their swallowing their own bile to win in order to regain power.

Related: Trump Planned and Directed the Whole Damn Thing - Why is Anybody still Defending Him?

There's no choice: Trump Must Be Indicted to Preserve Democracy!

There's no GOP agenda to make America a safe democracy. Their agenda is revenge and seeing to it we have a fascist state led by a former president and TV host.

Americans like me are worried about the consequences. We're a tense nation teetering on near panic at the thought of the GOP regaining power in Congress.

We can't trust the polls. They're useless. These are the midterm blues. There's a good chance we're on the highway to hell, however.

Related: Russia Link to Trump Documents Means it's a matter of "when", Not If" He is Indicted

The only hope - and I mean our ONLY hope - is a record turnout of democratic women and young voters. A blue wave. It could happen. It must happen.

It will happen if you care about our republic and vote! If you're not registered yet, do it now.

As it stands... please vote!

Halloween is a Bigly Con Job Fronted by Pumpkins

I'm not going to bore you with the history of Halloween.

Who really cares?

For reasons never clear to me pumpkins are the most common image associated with Halloween. Skeletons and witches are secondary symbols but the Great Pumpkin (watch Charlie Brown's quest to find the Great Pumpkin here) is a centerpiece for the holiday.

Halloween is a commercial rip off that began with a schoolteacher giving students candy and letting them dress up in odd clothing so the little rascals would have something to do on Halloween instead of vandalizing neighborhoods. As years went by kids went "Trick or Treating" ... and still vandalized neighborhoods.

When Halloween grew more popular over the years capitalists saw a great opportunity to make lots of money. 

Halloween grew into a major industry offering scary costumes, Jack-O-Lanterns (one of the pumpkins rolls) carved into hideous and hilarious faces, and mountains of candies from Sweet and Sour witches and skeletons to chocolate monsters. The holiday was a dream come true for the candy industry.

Try asking someone what Halloween is all about? I'm sure you'll be amused by the answers.

Check One

A. A way for corporations to make big money.

B. Candy

C. Pumpkins

D. An opportunity to dress up in weird costumes and roam neighborhoods seeking candy and trouble.

E. Parties where children and adults play stupid games in outlandish costumes.

F. I don't know, nor do I want to know. 

Halloween Tales & Traditions

An Irish myth about a man nicknamed "Stringy Jack" is believed to have led to the tradition of carving scary faces on pumpkins.

Here's a link for Halloween stories for 1st graders through 8th grade. If you ask adults, they say Halloween is for kids. Don't believe them! They lie.

Adults go out of their way to watch horror movies hoping that they'll scare the shit out of them! Adult-themed Halloween parties get more popular every year. Naughty nurses are a standard theme for women. The guys enjoy dressing up like Dracula sucking up alcohol instead of blood.

As it stands, the whole holiday is a national con job fronted by pumpkins for corporations who keep finding innovative ways to cash in on America's second biggest holiday of the year.