Life Hacks by 6 Brilliant Blogs

The next time you're surfing the internet try taking a tour of blogs for some fantastic reads.

Before I unveil a random selection of blogs be warned that I'm not providing direct links to them, but you can Google them if you want to know more about the blog and blogger.

Let's start off with the #1 blog on the internet. 

Billboard

Best known for the hot 100 and Billboard 200, which lists the most popular songs and albums each week in the industry. Offers industry news, events, podcasts and music streaming.

Next, one of my personal favorites.

- Monkey's Tale

The best Adventure Travel blog on the web! The beautiful photography from locations around the world is a stunning sight to see. Be transported by this couple who carefully document their experiences. There are great travel tips included for every country.

Entrepreneurs will love...

Fast Company

With an editorial focus on innovations in technology, world changing ideas, leadership, creativity, and design. The site also offers readers advise on how to grow their businesses and economic news.

An offbeat but fascinating site.

- Bouncin' and Behavin' Blogs

Blogger Jason Provencio is a renegade writing for the masses. His articles are scorching and topical. He will give you plenty of food for thought and might even shock you with his harsh language and controversial views.

Active communities featured.

- Illumination

Find your voice at this blog which encourages people to speak out in life by offering a well-created forum featuring articles from spirituality, relationships, science & tech, poetry/fiction and business.

My personal favorite.

- Fictionista

Blogger Darnell Cureton shares his writing expertise with readers while also featuring his original micro fiction, flash fiction and his diary. This award-winning blogger does book reviews and is really good about answering your questions about writing techniques.

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Interesting fact:

There are 600 million blogs on the internet (the blogosphere) accounting for one-third of all websites published.

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"Nowadays, everyone seems to have a blog that finds readers." - Robert Dallek

As it Stands, I hope one of these recommendations makes your day!

Universal Music Power

In a delightful description of the power of music William Congreve wrote "Music hath charms to sooth a savage beast..." in his 1697 play The Mourning Bride.

The benefits of listening to music has not been lost over the ages. In fact, humans were making their own music in prehistoric times and have not let up since. Every culture has its own beat, but they all provide entertainment and meaning in their societies.

If we boil down the real power of music, it's a mood enhancer. It improves our moods by triggering the release of three powerful chemicals: dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin. These hormones give us a rush of pleasure, support reward and motivation and help us feel connected to others.

I remember going to a concert featuring Grand Funk Railroad and Black Sabbath at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles in 1971 and being caught up with the primitive beat as people passed communal joints. It was a collective high that turbo charged my adrenaline making it a memorable experience.

Among other benefits music transforms us to other planes of awareness and spiritual joy when listening to religious music that stirs our souls. There are occasions for what I call sad music - funerals, tear-jerker movies, etc. They are an emotional release for some people.

My favorite music is rock and roll. I especially enjoy music from the 60s, 70's, and 80's. I recall driving my 1964 Chevy and rocking to the Canned Heat's "On the Road Again" blaring out of the eight "10-inch Craig speakers hooked up to my Eight-Track tape recorder.

How about you? What's your favorite type of music?

How about your favorite groups?

A sampling of my favorite groups:

The Beatles, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, Moody Blues, Fleetwood Mac, The Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Who, Eagles, Canned Heat, Grand Funk Railroad, Blue Oyster Cult, Creedance Clearwater Revival, Jefferson Airplane, The Animals, Steppenwolf, and Emerson Lake & Palmer.

"Music is the strongest form of magic," - Marilyn Manson (Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) 

As it Stands, to me one of the greatest things a person can do in their life is make music. Writing, singing, playing an instrument, it doesn't matter. We all have our inner beat and rhythm to share with the world. Go with your flow.

Taking a Chance

History is full of people who were willing to take a chance despite the odds of achieving success.

Their reasons vary wildly. They are called risk takers because they realize that in reality things don't always go well... but what the hell? They give it a go.

One of the reasons people take a chance is because they want to be famous.

Take Walt Disney for example. He experienced failure repeatedly before becoming a household name. He was actually fired from the Kansas City Star because his editor felt he "lacked imagination and had no good ideas!" Worse yet, he was unceremoniously removed from the company (Laugh-O-Gram Studio) he started at 30 years old.

The moral of Disney's story is never give up and keep taking chances until you achieve your goal. Walt became an icon because he didn't give up despite years of failures.

Types of risk takers

* There are the calculative and perceptive (hedge funds, contractors, entrepreneurs) people who observe what is going on in the markets and pick their moments. They realize that risk is a variable in the equation that leads to return. Their strength is deductive reasoning and oversight.

* Then we have people who take risks because it gives them a thrill. They don't always think ahead and are likely to fail through lack of planning. But when they succeed it becomes addictive. They are generally fearless and take on challenges that most people wouldn't consider. 

10 Famous People Who Gave Themselves Another Chance

1. Albert Einstein - He didn't speak until he was four and did not read until he was seven, causing his teachers and parents to think he was mentally handicapped.

2. Thomas Edison - Teachers told Edison he was "too stupid to learn anything." He failed at 1,000 attempts to invent the light bulb.

3. Michael Jordon - He was cut from the high school basketball team. He didn't allow that setback to stop him however and became a legend on the court.

4. Babe Ruth - One of the greatest players in baseball had the unenviable record, for decades, of strikeouts. When asked about this he said, "Every strike brings me closer to the next home run." 

5. Henry Ford - His early businesses failed and left him broke five times before he founded the successful Ford Motor Company.

6. Dr. Suess - 27 different publishers rejected his first book To Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street.  

7. Jack London - While he would go on to publish popular novels like White Fang and the Call of the Wild, his first story received six hundred rejection slips before finally being accepted.

8. Fred Astaire - In his first screen test, the testing director of MGM noted that Astaire, "Can't act. Can't sing. Slightly bald. Can dance a little." Astaire went on to become an incredibly successful actor, singer, and dancer and kept the note in his Beverly Hills home to remind him of where he came from."

9. Paulo Coelho - The author of one of the most well-read books worldwide, The Alchemist, was released by an obscure Brazilian publishing house which told him to give up. He didn't give up however and kept knocking on doors until he found success.

10. Vincent Van Gogh - During his lifetime, Van Gogh sold only one painting, and this was to a friend and only for a small amount of money. Still, he plugged on and created over 800 known works. Today they bring in hundreds of millions. 

As it Stands, if you think about it, you're taking a chance every day of your life. 

Lots of Laughter

 
A laugh is a laugh no matter how you get there.

What makes one person laugh might not be so funny to another person. That's just the way it is. Take jokes for example.

Do you want to be safe with your jokes in mixed company and avoid controversial subjects?

Go with corny jokes.

* What did the lettuce say to the celery?

   "Quit stalking me!"

* What's small and red and has a rough voice?

   A hoarse radish!

* What did one wall say to another?

   "I'll meet you at the corner."

* What did one toilet say to another?

 "You look flushed."

Okay. You got the idea.

Let's take the next step and look at some examples of dirty jokes.

* Why isn't there a pregnant Barbie doll?

   Ken came in another box.

* Why did the snowman suddenly smile?

   He could see the snowblower coming.

* How did Burger King get Dairy Queen pregnant?

   He forgot to wrap his whopper.

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Did you hear the one about a penguin having car trouble? So, he takes his car to the garage. The mechanic says it'll take about an hour to check what's wrong.

The penguin sees an ice cream shop across the street, and heads over to get himself a snack while he's waiting.

It's awkward for the poor guy to eat with flippers, and he makes a bit of mess.

He goes back to the mechanic to find out what's wrong with his car.

Mechanic says, "Looks like you blew a seal."

"Ha, no... that's just a little ice cream," the penguin replied.

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I personally try to avoid "loaded laughter." You know, the kind that's mean and mocking someone's bad circumstances. It's a fine line, however. If you're watching a comedy and characters get humiliated or have accidents that's okay. There's a difference between fantasy and reality. Knowing that line will help you keep friends.

You may have heard the saying "Laughter is the best medicine." It's true. One of the best feelings in the world that also brings so much cheer to life is laughter.

Did you know that laughter acts as a powerful antidote for pain, stress, and conflict? Laughter actually increases the immune cells in your body and decreases stress hormones. A good laugh increases the blood in your body and the functioning of blood vessels. Thus, it can help protect you against a heart attack.

Who makes you laugh? A family member or friend?

"Always laugh when you can, it is cheap medicine."                                                              - Lord Byron

As it Stands, my prescription for a good life... lots of laughter.

Positivity is like Electricity

Have you ever known someone who lights up a room the moment they enter it?

Some people are blessed with such a positive spirit that their mere presence makes you smile.

They radiate encouragement, and positivity.

Positive energy is one of those buzz words that originated on the fringes of psychology. I equate it with charisma.

What are some of the traits of a positive person?

* Optimism: They have a hopeful and upbeat outlook on life.

* Resilient: They can bounce back from setbacks quickly and maintain their positive outlook.

*  Kind and Generous: They exhibit kindness and generosity, creating a supportive and nurturing environment. 

* Honest: The are honest and uphold strong moral principles, earning the trust and respect of others.

* Supportive: They offer genuine encouragement and share joy.

* Open-Minded: They are open to new experiences.

* Flexible: They are flexible with adaptable.

I've been blessed with knowing many positive people in my life. One of my favorites is a journalist/book author named Woody Woodburn.

Woody is the perfect example of someone who radiates positivity regardless of the challenges he's faced. Today I want to tell you about his new book, The Butterfly Tree which is available on Amazon. 

It's an extraordinary saga of seven generations of positive people meeting challenges and thriving. Do you want to meet Woody? You can contact him at woodywriter@gmail.com. If you ever want an inspirational speaker at an event, Woody delivers with delightful stories and messages of hope.

There are other people that I've run across in my 74 years who also deserve recognition for being inspirational and maybe I'll share some stories about them in the future.

As it Stands, as Elbert Hubbard once said, "Positive anything is better that negative nothing."

Enjoyable Experiences

The icing on the cake of life is enjoyable experiences. 

I'm talking about experiences that resonate in our memories for the rest of our lives and are part of our daily lives.

 Powerful ones full of emotion and excitement. Sometimes they last for just minutes and sometimes they last for years. And sometimes a lifetime.

When I peel back the pages of time exposing enjoyable experiences, I see the birth of each one of my three sons and the day I married my beautiful wife of 50 years.

I recall those halcyon days when each one of my three sons learned to walk and talk. Now I see them as men with children of their own, opening up new paths to enjoyable experiences with grandchildren.

When asked about the "best time of your life" possible answers could include:

* Childhood: "When I was a kid, playing all day with nor worries."

* Teenage years: "High school, with friends and first experiences with freedom."

* Early adulthood: "Traveling the world after college, exploring new places and meeting new people."

* Retirement: "Having time to pursue hobbies and spend quality time with loved ones."

What was the best time in your life? Hopefully, you are enjoying it right now whatever your age may be. 

I'm at a stage where my enjoyable experiences may seem silly to some... 

Like savoring my wife's prize-winning stew by candlelight - just the two of us or following the LA Lakers and drinking good beer like Guinness (shout out to my buddy Woody Woodburn).

The key to enjoying things (this coming from a 74-year-old man whose been around the block) is being positive as much as you can.

I know it can be a shitty world - but the benefits of embracing the important things in your life will be numerous and often lifesaving.

As it Stands, to summarize, life is too short not to embrace every moment, especially the enjoyable experiences that come your way.

Be Happy

The world is full of challenges that can drag us down unless we get proactive in our pursuit of happiness.

It's too easy to be depressed. Or worried. Or fearful. 

Monumental events happen daily across the planet and right where we live. The Good, Bad, and the Ugly are on display every day.

We all want to be happy. Right? But it's not easy. The good news is there are steps we can take to assure happiness.

According to scientists and researchers, some keys to happiness include:

* Positive emotions: Are a key component of happiness, according to Martin Seligman, the founder of Positive Psychology.

* Engagement: Feeling interested in your activities and connected to others.

* Meaning: Feeling like what you do matters.

* Relationships: Strong relationships are a key predictor of happiness throughout life.

* Accomplishments: A key component of happiness, according to Martin Seligman.

* The Big Four: Qualities that bring satisfaction and peace, including friendliness, cheerfulness, compassion, and gratitude.

* The Three P's: Pleasure, purpose, and pride.

* Lowering expectations: Being pleasantly surprised by what life has to offer.

* Physical activity: Can increase happiness.

* Mindfulness: A key to happiness as people age. I touched on the subject a few of posts ago. See "It's a Time for Lifestyle Change."

My own observations about happiness include seeking out positive people, developing a sense of humor, and nurturing relationships with family and friends.

One of my favorite songs' is Don't Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin.

"Here's a little song I wrote

You might want to sing it note for note

Don't worry

Be happy

In every life we have some trouble

But when you worry you make it double

Don't worry

Be happy, don't worry, be happy now."

(Here's a link to all of the lyrics)

As it Stands, life is too short not to at least try to be happy. What do you have to lose?

Veteran's Day: Remembering My Tour of Vietnam/Cambodia

Vietnam 1970.

I was a scared 19-year-old away from home the first time in his life. 

I didn't expect to survive my tour. 

I was completely ignorant about the Vietnamese culture. My training told me that the Vietnamese (NVA and VC) were subhuman.

I was a combat engineer (demolition) and spent countless hours minesweeping dangerous dirt roads.

I was assigned to the 442 Eng. Div., 31st Eng. Battalion, B-Company headquartered in Bien Hoa. 

Besides minesweeping I did a lot of hard grunt work building firebases, digging trenches for sanitation and water pipelines to villages, and constructing buildings in Binh Duong and Binh Long near the Cambodian border.

Early May in Cambodia. 

Initially my squad was attached to the 3rd Brigade of the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), but we were later transferred to several units (generally - and in one case with a group of Marines. We were assigned to rifle platoons where we used our skills to blow up underground caches of enemy supplies from food to weapons. 

One day my best friend Rogers and I came under fire while helping haul bags of rice that were liberated from an NVA underground bunker. 

He was killed. I was lucky. In that moment I was no longer a teenager - I was forced to become a man determined to live despite the horror of seeing bullets pierce Rogers body. 

             Marijuana in Country

There was one thing all of the pot smokers agreed on... the Vietnamese weed was the best we'd ever smoked.

I freely admit to smoking pot daily, along with the rest of my platoon. It was a way of coping with the hell we lived in. True statistic: the majority of grunts smoked pot in 1970. 

It's been over a half of a century since my south Asian adventures, and I'm still (at times) haunted by the memories. I'm service-connected with PTSD and have spent years in counseling. 

As it Stands, today my thoughts are with Rogers and the other young men who didn't make it back from that terrible war.

You Are Not Alone

When the time comes in our lives that we find ourselves grieving the loss of a loved one it's good to know we're not alone.

Grief is a universal experience affecting both the mind and the body, with feelings in our brain directly affecting our physiology in ways that can leave us stressed and numb.

There's a newly established none-profit that is pursuing a mission to support individuals navigating grief and burnout through community support and somatic-based practices, instructing them how to grow through grief taking control over the nervous system.

The Denver-based LIGHT Movement utilizes scientific insights from the Polyvagal Theory developed by neuroscientist Dr. Stephen Porges, and organizes classes, retreats, and workshops to help overcome grief in a powerful organic way. 

Scientists have learned that grief can significantly alter our physiological state, making it crucial to address both emotional and physical impacts.

The word somatic refers to one-half of the division of the human nervous system, with the other half being the autonomic nervous system.  Somatic refers to those aspects of the nervous system we can control, and it plays a key role in how grief unfolds across our physiology.

The Light Movement also addresses burnout - the loss of passion and motivation in today's hectic world. They use a method called bilateral stimulation, which involves rhythmic stimulation of both sides of the body, such as alternating taps, walking, swimming, art, baking, cooking, and gardening.

Does this non-profit sound like something you are interested in? This December 21st, a virtual (nationally and globally) class will be conducted teaching people how to use somatic based tools to support integration and find meaning and purpose in your life.

Here's a link to the Light Movement offering events and resources to improve your life.

As it Stands, it's good to know you don't have to be alone during those challenges in your life. 

It's Time for a Lifestyle Change

No more politics. 

No more news. 

I'm getting off those trains and taking a new path for my remaining days on earth.

Call it cocooning. Retreating from humanity. Hiding. I don't care. With Trump in the Oval Office, I can no longer bare any reminders of him and the authoritarian government he's installing. It's like poking the bear and I see red.

Enough.

I'm taking the most peaceful path I can and that means my exposure to people will be more limited than it is now. I'm disgusted with a majority of Americans who are now following that fascist orange clown's destruction of our democratic lifestyle.

Time for changes.

My wife and I are looking into how mindfulness meditation can improve our daily journey. There are tons of videos on YouTube, lasting from 10 minutes to hours.

What is mindfulness meditation?

Mindfulness meditation is a mental training practice that teaches you to slow down racing thoughts, let go of negativity, and calm both your mind and body.

It's something millions of anti-Trump people should consider if they want to get through the next four years and cling to their sanity.

Because I'm a combat veteran (Vietnam/Cambodia) who saw too many horrors I have PTSD. Living with it hasn't been easy but I've managed thus far. This new challenge is calling for me to make the biggest lifestyle change yet. As a retired newspaper man (editor and publisher) I've always followed the news and politics. I've commented on both in the last four decades with regularity.

To save my sanity I have to step back from the Toxic News sites on TV, Cable, and Social Media outlets. No more.

About 40 years ago I use to paint with oils. I even actually sold some of my artwork. For some reason - probably because of extreme pressures at the time - I stopped. Now it's time for me to pull out my brushes and oil paints and to become one with my art again.

There are plenty of things to do that produce good vibes and my goal is to live out my final days (just turned 74) by pursuing positive activities. That includes more exercise and other hobbies. And spending more time with loved ones. 

You can call me a coward, or a turtle hiding in his shell. It doesn't matter. I don't care what people think about me anymore. I just want to live in peace and if that means not being aware of what's happening in the country or the world, so be it.

As it Stands, I can't change what's happening in the world. I voted for Democracy, but now it's in a death spiral and I don't want to watch the carnage. The only thing I can change is myself and how I cope with life.

Democracy Just Died: Trump Cult is in Charge of America

As a student of history I've always maintained that when America falls it will be from within. 

Unfortunately, it looks like I was right. 

When Trump seized the reins of power in this presidential election the United States of America ceased to exist. Democracy died.

We now have a dictator who plans on taking retribution against his perceived enemies like political opponents and anyone that dares stand up to his agenda of carnage. At least four years of hate, racism, and authoritarian rule face the average American. Possibly for a lifetime if Trump gets his way. And he does get his way a lot.

Our enemies will become our new allies, and our old allies will become our new enemies. NATO will be under siege like never before. The world order is shifting hard to the right which bodes ill for people's freedoms.

Stop.

I can't keep up with this madness. I'm a retired journalist - a newspaper editor and publisher. I've spent decades covering news and politics and now I have to turn my back on them because I can't handle what's happened with Trump. It's triggering my PTSD. I'm a Vietnam combat veteran who never fully came home. And I have to protect myself now.

I stopped writing this blog last May because I was getting overwhelmed by the hatred and chaos Trump was spreading throughout the country. So, I gave myself a six-month break.

I just turned 74 years old. I don't have that much time left in this world. I've been fighting medical issues (recently had vascular surgery) and I don't want to deal with the madness. It's too depressing. I'm no longer going to write about politics. Period. Frankly, I don't know what I'm going to write about going forward.

Right now, I'm mad and disappointed with my fellow Americans who have allowed our republic to get to this point. I attribute it to fearmongering, racism, and the rise of a cult like this nation had never seen before. Disinformation and outright lies that have flooded the American media in the last 10 years has finally taken its toll. 

This may sound mean, but I have no sympathy for the Hispanic men (who turned out in droves) and voted for Trump making the difference in the crucial swing states.  When they have family members who suddenly get deported in a mass deportation (as Trump has promised) their votes will come back to haunt them. Millions of Americans charmed by the master grifter and traitor will slowly watch their freedoms disappear in the days and years ahead. 

As it stands, it's no longer the America I grew up in and that really makes me sad. And mad.

Blog Break Until Presidential Election is Over

I finally hit the wall today.

I can't think of what to say about all of the madness going on in this country right now.

I'm a writer with no words to properly describe the current chaos.

The growing conviction that we're in the end times for our constitutional democracy and the republic we created 249 years ago, is hardening into a reality as the MAGA cult keeps expanding.

The journalist in me wants to document these terrible times but the Vietnam veteran with PTSD is telling me to back off for a while to stave off depression so deep I might never recover.

This is a personal decision made out of necessity. I'm not giving up on America, but I have to distance myself the next six months until we know who wins the election.

I wish I could just write about other things, but I'm too overwhelmed by the grave situation we're all in to do a decent job.

In over 20 years of publishing this blog I've taken breaks before for a variety of reasons, but none as long as this one will be.

As it Stands, I hope you understand, my dear readers, that I do intend to come back this winter. God willing.

Whose Justice? The Interruption Changes from State to State

It just depends on what state you're in these days whether you have a chance of getting justice in the courts.

If you are in Texas, it's okay to kill a black protestor according to Gov. Greg Abbott who pardoned Daniel Perry, a former US Army sergeant who was convicted of murdering a protestor at a Black Lives Matter rally in 2020.

Perry faced between five and 99 years in prison for fatally shooting 28-year-old Air Force veteran Garret Foster at an Austin, Texas, racial justice rally two months after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

But he's free today because of a racist MAGA governor.

If you're a woman who needs to get an abortion, you are out of luck in 14 states that have abortion bans based on gestational duration. There are 41 states that have abortion bans in effect with only limited exceptions.

A woman is hard pressed these days to find any justice when it comes to their bodies. Unless they go to one of the following 15 states, they won't be able to safely get an abortion.

They are Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.

There are 30 states where Stand Your Ground Laws are in effect. Basically, the law is called "shoot first" for a good reason. If you live in one of these states don't expect justice if you accidently step on someone's property or scare them because your brown or black. 

In the other 20 states you may be prosecuted for killing someone if you could have safely walked away from the confrontation. Your chances of justice improve in these states.

As it Stands, looking at the overall picture, living in a red state or blue state is like living in two Americas.

What Would You Do If Trump Was Re-Elected?

Seriously... I've heard people talking about leaving the country if Trump gets back in the Oval Office.

That would be deserting our Constitutional Democracy if you ask me. The last thing the nation needs is to fully buckle under to the orange blob's authoritarian regime.

There has to be resistance. The millions of Americans that would suffer in Trump's proposed fascist state must not give up fighting for their freedoms which he intends to take away.

Like any bully, Trump is a coward and if you stand up to him, he'll eventually wither.

Instead of giving up hope if Trump is re-elected, we need to do everything we can to stand up to him in the courts and Congress during his administration.

Yes, Trump will be further infecting both of them but if people rally and vote them out and hold them accountable in the next election America will defeat him and his cult members.  

I made a decision to stand up to Trump during his four disastrous years as president. There was no way that I was going to let the orange leech go unchallenged. Millions of Americans felt the same way and kicked Trump out of office in 2020.

As a Vietnam veteran I've served this country in my youth. I've always believed America is special. Freedom is more than just a word to me.

At 73-years old I'm just as determined to serve my country and preserve the freedoms that were hard-earned from the blood of patriots throughout America's history. 

Despite Trump's criminality - he's been convicted in two civil cases and indicted in four criminal cases involving 88 felonies - the political pundits say this year's election is going to be close. That Trump could win it.

Once upon a time such a candidate would have been inconceivable. Not today. That's our reality. 

As it Stands, what would you do if Trump wins? 

GOP House Members Humiliate Themselves... Again

This is getting old.

GOP members of the House never seem to tire of being humiliated by their master Trump.

No bar too low. No shame too great.

The 118th Congress with its Republican majority has been making history for all the wrong reasons since they kicked out their own speaker of the House to start off the term.

Here's some of their magic moments that will forever enshrine what will be hereafter known as the worst Congress in history.

Latest stunt:

-- The Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson and reps J.D. Vance and Tommy Tuberville all attended Trump's trial to support him. They sat in the court to show their loyalty like good little minions.

When was the last time a House speaker and members attended a criminal trial to back a former president who tried to overthrow the government?

Oh wait! NEVER.

And yet here we are. All moral boundaries and laws breeched by a cult that has infected Congress since Trump slithered into office in 2017.

-- Mike Johnson is not really in charge. Trump is the Speaker of the House and if anyone doubts it look at Johnson's pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago when he was elected speaker. He went there to kiss the ring. He brags about talking to the Donald every week. Translation: he gets new orders every week.

-- Since the GOP became a majority in the House it has been a three-ring circus with lots of infighting and sham hearings attacking President Biden and his son.

They've passed less legislation than any other House in history. The own members admit it's been a hot mess, and a record number are retiring early to get away from the swamp they created.

-- No past Congress has had members who violate their own laws to defend outright criminality in civil cases like Jim Jordan's interference in Trump's fraud case where he went to New York to hold a kangaroo court of MAGA politicians who worship Trump.

-- In 240 years, we've never had a House of Representatives actively spend the majority of their time attacking the current president of the United States. Their sustain siege is unprecedented.

As it Stands, what we see as humiliating (when a person debases themself) is considered loyalty in the MAGA cult.

American Soap Opera: The Trials and Tribulations of Trump

Soap operas are a good example of Americana and have been around since the late 1940s. 

Days of our Lives and All My Children were just two of the ongoing daytime dramas that millions of people tuned in to daily.

The best thing about soap operas, which are still immensely popular, is that they are fiction. Regardless of how real the characters and situations, we always knew we could turn off the TV and they would go away.

Today the whole nation is tuned into a scary soap opera that could result in fascist state if the most corrupt president in our history gets re-elected president.

Following a former presidents felony trial (one of four cases he has been indicted in) every day in a New York courthouse has been a surreal experience covered by the mass media and the right-wing media.

We can't just turn the TV off and be done with Trump's ongoing criminal trial. Every form of media - from print to podcasts - is covering this real-life soap opera, breathlessly reporting every ridiculous detail.

Trump sleeping in court. 

Trump farting in court. 

Trump texting in court. 

Trump disrupting the court. And on and on...

Just like standard soap operas there's a cast of ever evolving characters. The witnesses have ranged from a porn star to Trump's former fixer. They've been fascinating and disgusting.

The courtroom itself is controversial. Trump whines about it being too cold when he's not attacking the judge or witnesses. 

When it comes to soap opera villains like Peter August in General Hospital, or Kristen DiMera in Days of Our Lives, they're not even close to being as evil as Trump really is.

As it Stands, the Trump trial is a soap opera from hell and we're all participants, like it or not.

Public Discourse: Here's How Far Americans Have Sunk

After seeing a video of people eating chocolate ice cream out of a standard size toilet in a midwestern restaurant, I was finally convinced this country is metaphorically going down the crapper.

Also, on that menu there's Orange Turd sorbet served in a golden shitter, according to one wit on X where I saw the video.

If the Italians are known for having bad tempers, then Americans should be known for being course and rude in our conversations.

Especially when it comes to politics. There are no barriers in a war of words where loathsome nicknames and hateful accusations are hurled every day.

Even normal conversations in public and social media are often so crude and rude they get out of hand and result in violence.

We have a presidential nominee who's in court for paying hush money to a porn star (while married) and being known for his infamous quote about "grabbing pussies whenever he wants."

In Congress a female GOP member of the House brought in and displayed fully nude photos of the president's son during a public hearing.

At some point numbness kicks in.

As the conversations continue to grow increasingly disgusting Americans are turning blind eyes to stories like a female member of Congress caught groping her date and vaping during a performance of a Beetlejuice musical.

The presence of course language starts early. Children mimic what their parents say and how they say it.

In fairness, people also have different opinions about which terms are okay and which are offensive.

What's not complicated is the fact that people just don't seem to care anymore. Taking the high road to a conversation and not using foul language is becoming a casualty in our culture.

As it Stands, it's sad that this is how far we've sunk as a civilized society.

Trump's Repeat of a Quid-Pro-Quo Offer Might Get taken Up This Time

         It wasn't that long ago that Trump approached Ukraine's president Zelensky with an offer to send military supplies in exchange for finding dirt on Joe Biden.

Apparently, it's one of Trump's favorite ways of doing business. You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours.

This time Trump is offering oil industry executives the deal of a lifetime (when he's re-elected) if they come up with a billion dollars to fund his cash-strapped campaign.

"This deal perfectly captures what's wrong with our big money campaign finance system," Erin Chlopak, former Federal Elections Commission attorney, told Politico in a recent interview.

The solicitation reeks of corruption but isn't illegal, given that Trump reportedly didn't tie the donation to exact policy actions.

The oil industry has already put together numerous executive orders for Trump to sign if he wins in November. Such policies include reversal of a Biden-administration pause on natural gas export permits and new drilling expansions.

The thing to keep in mind about this MAGA proposal is it will be a blueprint for how he does business when he slinks back into the White House.

Trump was impeached the first time he tried to pull off a quid-pro-quo with Zelensky. This time he won't have to worry about repercussions because he's planning on a complete overhaul of government by remaking it into his dystopian dream.

It's still unclear if the oil industry is going to pony up and boost Trump's campaign. A billion dollars is a lot of money. But if any group could pull it off it would be them.

The meeting was held last month when Trump passed the hat around to invited executives at Mar-a-Lago.

As it Stands, "Fighting corruption is not just good governance. It's self-defense. It's patriotism." - Joe Biden

I Never Thought I'd See the Day that I Couldn't Afford Fast-Food Prices

The last decade has seen a steady increase in the costs of fast food, according to FinanceBuzz, a personal finance site.

The good news is I eat at home more often. The bad news is while my disposable income remains the same (I'm retired) and the cost of eating fast foods keeps climbing.

My earliest fast-food memories start with McDonald's when my family of six went there before going to the drive-in movies on Friday nights.

Hamburgers were only 15 cents and every item on the menu cost less than 25 cents. It was a guilty pleasure to eat fast food and go to the movies. 

As the years went by, I can remember eating fast foods because it they were cheaper than restaurants. For the poor McDonalds was a haven for the only warm food they could afford.

It was just a matter of time before the prices began a steady climb and we're now at a crossroads. Inflation gone wild.

In the last ten years the price of a McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese meal more than doubled in price from $5.30 in 2014 to $11.99 this year. 

Other restaurant chains have also been jacking their prices up. Popeye's, Jimmy John's and Subway hiked their prices from 2014 to 2024 86%, 62% and 39%, respectively.

I haven't been to a Subway for a long while and when my wife and I went to one in Arcata, California. a couple of days ago I was stunned. It cost $32 for two-foot-long meatball sandwiches. My eyes bugged out.

For the record fast food prices can vary wildly from state to state. While prices are set at the corporate lever for some fast-food restaurants, they are determined by individual franchise owners at others.

Across the country there's 22 states that have raised their minimum wages in January, although the federal baseline pay remains at $7.25 an hour.

In California fast-food chains with 60 or more locations nationwide are now required to pay their workers a minimum wage of $20 an hour.

The rising labor costs account for driving the food prices according to the corporations, but that's just a smoke screen according to the Roosevelt Insitute who noted the industry's record profit margins.

Which brings me back to the fact that fast foods have become too expensive for retirees (and poor people) to buy. We're a significant segment of customers that the fast-food industry has always counted on in their sales predictions and that's changing.

As it Stands, I suppose there will always be a reason for people wanting fast food. Regardless of the price.

Blog Break: Taking Time to Exhale

Warning.

Sensory overload.

Too much Trump, Stormy Daniels, MAGA Mike Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Lindsey Graham.

Too many Trump trials being held up by MAGA judges and the Supreme Court where the rule of Trump applies.

Too much antisemitism. Too much hate. Chaos every day. Christain Nationalism. Fascists. Traitors.

I'm checking out.

I'll be back Friday May 10th.

May I suggest you take some time off and turn off all those negatives and do something positive for yourself.

Check the right side of the page for past posts. 

Do you like fiction and poetry? Take a visit to my other blog The Creative Chronicles of Dave Stancliff

Have a great day.

As it Stands, we all need a break now and then.