Ooh… dark chocolate, a bit of sweetness, maybe some almonds in the mix, all put together in a decently sized bar.
Author: tallthinman72
Taking Sides
People have to stop treating Donald Trump like some endlessly fascinating anomaly, like he’s worthy of the press coverage because of his unlikely and relentless rise to prominence, or because he’s usually good for an outlandish statement or three.
In many ways, Trump is old news. He’s had his fifteen minutes for way longer than anyone deserves. He’s a manipulator. He’s a master of distraction, likes setting traps, and it often appears that various media outlets keep falling right into them.
The relationship between Trump and the press is largely adversarial, or at least ironic, in that he’s usually complaining about one network or another, yet finds a way to use any and all coverage to his advantage. Trump looks for allies and sycophantic loyalty, and most of the time he finds it with Fox, OANN, and Newsmax. The rest can go pound sand, as far as he is concerned.
“Fake news” ABC, CBS, and NBC are likely on his hit list, as is PBS—you know, any organization that tries to report the news Murrow or Cronkite style. Can’t have that in Trump World. Just one more reason why he deserves to be lambasted most of the time, not trusted, and certainly not treated like a sacred cow.
Maybe “bias” isn’t always a bad thing, though it is a slippery slope. The gloves have been off for a while now, though. Haven’t they?
I think I can…
I don’t recall many titles, but I do know I was read to as a young child. There wasn’t the plethora of options kids have today. It might have been The Little Engine That Could, the Watty Piper version, which I just learned is a pen name for Arnold Munk. It was probably a go-to back in the late 50s, early 60s, and before, but one we read to our kids, too. It wasn’t a bad message to instill.
Leaving A Mark
- The Bible— a book of books I’m still wrestling with, wondering if it’s the inspired Word of God or merely a collection of good stories.
- Sapiens, by Juval Noah Harari. Still wrestling with this one, too, because it largely refutes or at least brings into question No. 1 above.
- To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee), or A Separate Peace (John Knowles)– a couple of books I read in high school and still think about, because of the characters, twists and turns, and inspired, inspiring writing.
Practice and Experience
The one that emerges is offering words before a crowd. My internship while at seminary was at a large congregation that worshiped hundreds at multiple services on a Sunday, and I had to help lead worship every week and preach once a month.
The difference for me was that, when I preached, I never tried to speak without a manuscript. I knew what I wanted to say and had the words in front of me. And I had a pulpit to stand behind, though I did eventually leave it every once in a while.
I had no desire to stand before hundreds of people with a sermon insufficiently memorized. I never wanted to put that kind of pressure on myself– even if, for some, this would make the sermon more authentic and personal.
Other than that, I still have fears to conquer.
Sketchy from the get-go
Trump and his entourage play government like kids used to play Cowboys and Indians, obviously with enhanced consequences and much more on the line, but with a comparable sense of make believe.
What’s so troubling and frustrating is that they wield the levers of power but have little to no idea what they’re doing—the whole lot of them. Our lives are in the hands of sinfully incompetent people with suspect resumes. The only thing they bring to the table is a mystifying support of Donald Trump.
They “believe” in him, for some reason, maybe way more than he believes in them. It’s all a monstrously sick joke.
Millions of voters had the wool pulled over their eyes. Or maybe they knew exactly who and what they were loosing on us all.
Happy Face
Daily writing prompt
Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.
I make a batch of cold brew coffee every few days. I break out my Toddy system– the same one I’ve had since I started writing in WordPress eight years ago– and whip up a batch of the heavenly concentrate that ends up lasting four or five days, depending on how many end up using it. More often than not, it’s just me.
Fatigue
I’m tired. Tired of waking up every morning and realizing that it’s another day with Trump as president. Another day closer to some tipping point, when all the mismanagement and heartlessness and unrivaled incompetence finally tip the scales toward unchecked anger and chaos, or maybe a day of reckoning for Trump and his flunkies.
Kid Gloves
TACO. Trump Always Chickens Out. It makes for a good laugh at his expense, but we best be careful. Maybe it’s a good thing he chickens out. Maybe what he was threatening in the first place was unworkable and dangerous, or otherwise ill-advised and stupid. The last thing we want to do is get him so angry that he actually follows through on something rash, just to “show us.”
The verbiage he’s casting Putin’s way is typical Trump bluster, most likely empty threat, thinly veiled attempts at sounding tough. We pretty much know his tough talk is a ruse, that it’s not gonna go anywhere, except maybe to push Putin to do something somehow worse than what he’s been doing to Ukraine.
A Break From the Noise
Daily writing prompt
How do you know when it’s time to unplug? What do you do to make it happen?
I know when I need a break from the news feeds, or being available. It all becomes too much, for a time– sensory overload or mere distraction– and I realize all I need to do is put the device down and walk away. The phone or the tablet go on a shelf, or my bureau, and I do something else– read, play the piano, take a walk, head to the Y, work in the yard for a bit, start supper.
3 Cents' 