Life On A B-I7

The Far Right v. Tech

Various motivated individuals with big agendas have been planning and plotting for decades to subvert and bend American democracy to their will. From the repression of voting rights, to the take-over of the judicial system, they have followed a careful and methodical plan. The ironic part of this whole mess is that in the 11th hour, it is the use of tech-media and financing provided by tech-bros that is implementing the agenda. Now instead of a far right oligarchy, we are entering the age of the Tech Broligarchy.

Democracy Dies in Oligarchy

Democracy dies when cowardly billionaires own newspapers. For that matter, you could say the same regarding billionaires that buy their way into government with only one agenda, to enrich themselves. Welcome to the age of the Broligarchy.

Both Ways

I went both ways in high school. I never pumped a fist or danced when I got a sack. When I opened a hole on offense for a nice gain, I returned to the huddle without histrionics. I wasn’t better than today’s athletes, that’s not the point, but there is a difference between then and now. I will leave it to you to determine how that reflects on our current social norms. For myself, I think we all could use a bit more humility. I think it would help us all get along a good bit better.

Social Media

Social Media is corrupting America. I suppose that’s a bit of a stretch. There is always some influence that corrupts. That much doesn’t change.

It is remarkable how much today resembles the America of 60 years ago. Same prejudices, same lust for power. The difference of course is the delivery of the message. Today the forces of greed and intolerance are much more subtle and efficient in that delivery. No less subversive, no less detrimental. When you step back and look at where we are, It’s difficult to say humans are evolving with respect to their care for each other.

Another Crossing

I’m going to ride my bike across the country again next year. I’m not sure why. It could simply be a matter of something I have to do and there is no better reason than that. Three times is a charm. I think this crossing will be the best yet. How many people age 71 can say they are going to do a trans-continental bicycle tour for the third time? Maybe a few. That’s not why I’m going to do it. It’s more like I have to do it, it has become part of my soul. The journey makes me happy, in a very real way, it completes me.

Magic

What is the best part of a relationship, a special relationship. The magic of course. I’m not just talking here about the magic that flows between two people that have a special bond, I’m also talking about the magic that can be found around them.

It’s hard to describe how special this can be, but you know it when you see it. Here’s an example. When you live alone and are not fortunate to have a special someone that is part of your life, you miss the small things. I marvel at the small things, like all the little special touches that I wouldn’t provide myself if I were living a solo life. Of course, I’m talking about the jar of Q-Tips on the bathroom counter. Every time I take one out of the jar, I realize how lucky I am. Of course, I also know the real reason they are there is to make me a better listener. I’m not stupid, I can take a hint.

Fear

Rule by consent has been replaced with rule by fear. Thank you Drumph.

(Drumph is Donald’s real surname. The spelling was Americanized by his ancestors so that it would appear to be less Germanic.)

Changing the Subject Slightly

I don’t want to live in the past. I want to live in the future.

I am finding that hard at this particular point in time.

The song “Believe These Blues” by Christopher “Kingfish” Ingram comes to mind at this moment. It’s not a happy song. In an odd way however, I take solace from it.

What’s Wrong With America?

My apologies for over simplifying.

Too many white men,
Too many guns,
Too little education
…as a result…
Too many stupid people.

You could look at this as a failure of our education system. That could be in a large part the case, but eduction is the responsibility of more than just our schools, it is our job as parents to instill in our children the importance and the desire to participate and especially to work together to preserve the best parts of America. Money and special interests cannot (and should not) be relied upon (or allowed) to take up those reigns.

Wale Up America

I’m tired of fuzzy thinking and empty promises. One of the platforms Trump ran on was lowering food prices. Three quarters of the American population are worried about the cost of food. Understandable.

The devil is in the details. American farming depends on undocumented workers, lots of them. Between 30 and 40 percent of farm labor is undocumented. Deporting undocumented persons as Trump has promised, will cause an increase in food prices. Add to that the promise by Trump to place tariffs on imports, food items included, and you have a clear recipe for an increase in food prices not a lowering of food prices.

This is the point where I have to bite my tongue. I will have to live in the economy that the majority of Americans wanted. Am I complaining? Not really. I will survive even if all I can afford to eat is Idahoan Instant Mashed Potatoes.

Container Living

I wouldn’t mind living in a surplus shipping container… There might be one in my future, you never know.

The older I get the less I care about my “container” and the more I like the idea of communism (small c, perhaps communalism is a better term, less loaded) as long as there are good schools, freedom of thought, honesty in politics, lots of libraries and no guns…

Ski Season Has Begun!

Today is November 15th (I tend to get a little ahead of myself in my writing.) Today was also the first day of skiing at Mt. Bachelor in Oregon. The is the earliest start to a ski season at Mt. Bachelor in 26 years!

Live Intentionally

I often find that song lyrics provide me with inspiration for writing. There is a deep seated part of me that would love to play a musical instrument. I did in fact, in Jr. High. I played the French Horn in the school band. I wanted to play the trumpet but the band instructor switched me to French Horn. I think the likely reason was that I was not good enough to play the trumpet. It might have been because there were too many trumpets and he thought I could pick up the horn, but I doubt it.

”If you don’t do nothin’ you’re gonna live to regret, you won’t have to live with what you can’t forget.” —?

I love that line. It’s a good reminder to live intentionally. Always listen before speaking. More importantly, listen with the goal of choosing a response that will enlighten rather than frighten (or produce any other negative response). If there is no appropriate response, or you need more time to consider what to say, silence is okay. If you are asked directly for your opinion but you are uncomfortable giving it, give it carefully and with consideration for the other’s feelings. If that goal can’t be met just say you have to give your answer some thought. If all this sounds complicated, it is. My experience has taught me it is worth the effort. The most difficult part of this is simply remembering it in the moment. It might be simpler to remember your goal should always be to give others reason to respect you.

Where We Need to Be

Every day is a new day.
Every day brings with it,
A chance to learn something new.
There is only one thing that stands
Between us and learning… Ourselves.

All we need to remember,
Is that everything
We do and see,
Leads us…
To where we need to be.

I wrote this while sitting in a Walmart parking lot. Go figure…

Quantum Entanglement

Trump’s new “Border Czar” (not an official Homeland Security job title) has served under four presidents. When appointed, he was quoted as saying Trump is the only one of the four presidents to have improved border security. The truth of the matter is there were more deportations under the Obama administration than there were under the first Trump administration.

We now live in a universe where facts no longer matter. Presumably there is a parallel universe somewhere out there that reveres facts.

The Sword of Damocles

About 2,500 years ago, Dionysius the Tyrant ruled Syracuse in Sicily. It’s been recorded he was so wealthy he wanted for nothing. Damocles a court flatterer was certain that wealth was all it took to be happy. When Damocles proclaimed this to Dionysius, he was put to the test. Dionysius allowed Damocles to sleep in a bed made of gold, the only catch was the sword hanging over the bed, suspended by a single thread of horse hair. Damocles spent what can only be imagined was a sleepless night terrified that the thread holding the sword would give way and end his luxurious night permanently.

Damocles realized that his envy and desire came at a price. Constant fear for one’s safety is no way to live. Damocles left the court and returned to a humble life in the country.

So what is the moral of this classic tale? I like to think that living in a state of anxiety only leads to unhappiness. Instead of choosing a life of adventure and risk or one of boredom, the best choice is to find a balance between the two. Uncertainty about our future prevents us from fully experiencing the present. If you feel yourself slipping into boredom, look for something new and stimulating. When looking around for that opportunity, remember it’s best to avoid opportunities you are not prepared for, opportunities that present what for you would amount to undo risk. A conscious balance between risk and reward is the key to happiness.

Another way of looking at this is to listen closely to the lyrics in the song “More and More, Less and Less” by Delbert McClinton & Glen Clark.

If you have Spotify, give it a go: More and More, Less and Less

Troubleshooting

Good troubleshooting is about not relying on past experience exclusively and then sticking to that no matter you see in front of you. That includes everything from fixing coffee machines to running for President.

Why I’m Not a Yankees Fan

One Hundred

The longer I live, the older I wanna get. —Curtis Salgado

I wouldn’t mind living to the age of 100. In fact why not? When I reach 100, I’d like to do something spectacular like ride my bicycle across the country. Well, maybe not something quite that spectacular, but you get the general idea. It’s likely that by the time I reach 100 there will be electric bikes capable of going five days before needing a recharge. That may make it possible. Changing gears slightly (no pun intended) I definitely want to be a member of the 100+ Ski Club. Perhaps the best part of living to 100 will be to see all the marvelous things my children do with their lives. I’m looking forward to that.

Barbershop

Three guys walk into a barbershop. The first one sits down in the chair and talks about fishing. The second one sits down in the chair and talks about Elk hunting. The third one sits down in the chair wearing a Seattle U. sweatshirt, the barber looks at him and says, “How did you vote?”

I explained that I was disappointed in the result of the election, but I was willing to move forward and look for ways to understand and be friends with those who don’t look at the political scene the same way I do.

The haircut was $16. The fisherman gave my barber a $1 tip, the elk hunter didn’t tip my barber. I gave him a 20 and told him to keep the change. He smiled. On my way out the door, I told him to have a beer and think of me. He smiled again and told me to have one for him.

Who’s To Blame

Kamala Harris ran a good campaign but she was handicapped from the outset. Her campaign failed to understand how unhappy the electorate is, including how unhappy they are with the Biden administration. She failed to understand the electorate’s desire for change, as a result, she failed to offer the substantive direction required to rally the votes needed to win.

Sometimes the simple answers are the best. I realize it’s more complicated. The bottom line: the Democratic Party now has a very long road ahead of it. They have lost the trust of the majority of Americans. Winning that back is going to take a lot of work.

Voting

Voting is not something we do every four years. Voting is something we do every day with our smile, with our actions toward one another and with our pocket book. It is quite literally how we live our life.

You’re not stuck in traffic; you ARE traffic. We blame society, but we ARE society. —Anonymous

I am trying to look at the long range consequences of my actions. It’s not easy. I fail as often as I succeed. The important thing is to try. Don’t blame others without first asking, what am I doing.

Best Truck Ever

I love my truck.

It might not be everyone’s cup of tea. If not, fuck you.

That’s how this conversation would go if we were using the script from Midnight Run… When it comes to the real world, my response would probably be “too bad…” probably.

Election Mess

I feel sorry for my children. We will all have to pay for this result, some of us more than others, but none more than our children. They will have to clean up this mess. It won’t be easy.

Steamroller Election

When James Taylor wrote Steamroller Blues in 1970, I’m sure he didn’t have any idea he was describing a future presidential candidate. Here is what he had to say about that future candidate.

He’s a steamroller.

He’s a napalm bomb.

He’s a churning urn of burning junk.

He’s a demolition derby.

He’s a hefty hunk of steaming bunk.

Two words were changed for clarity, the rest was all Taylor’s prescience.