One piece of offered advice in today’s heated political environment is to separate an individual’s politics from the person. You should respect them regardless of how their politics may offend or upset you. Easier said than done. If someone pulls out a match in a building with a gas leak, should I not be upset? Their reckless act endangers everyone, including me. That’s how I feel about voters choosing irresponsible candidates whose reckless behavior and proposed actions pose risks to us all.
Quiet, scenic, green, serene, an oasis of rustic culture, good food, crafts, antiques and a subdued lifestyle. One day, paradise; next day, hell. Roads flooded. Homes and businesses destroyed by wind, floodwaters and mud. And within this maelstrom, eerily silence. No contact with the outside world. No help to rescue trapped, injured and dying citizens. No way to escape. It felt like the end of the world…
Nature’s fury cannot be controlled, and one cannot reason with it. It is indiscriminate in its horror and its victims. Nature’s fury does not respect age, whether a person has led a good and moral life and what its affected targets are. Nature’s fury does not respect beauty and tranquility. It rampages blindly, horrifically and without pity.
I hope that the residents of Asheville NC and the surrounding communities are able to recover from this devastation as soon as possible. However I’m sure the scars and memories of Helene will last a long time. It’s a lesson for all of us, one day, blue skies; the next day, death and destruction.
Vanity Fair published a list of 50 Favorite Saturday Night sketches. Shown below are three of my favorite ones…
Disclosure: Not something that I readily admit to, but I have been a follower of professional wrestling for over 60 years. I grew up watching Bruno Sammartino, Bobo Brazil, The Kangaroos, Buddy Rogers, and many other wrestlers. Even at an early age, I never fell into the trap that what I was watching was totally real. I admired the athleticism and strength of the wrestlers, but I knew that the results were predetermined. I was always interested in how matches and wrestlers were booked. I had a sense of what the business was all about.
I don’t think there is anyone who has had a bigger influence on the pro wrestling entertainment business than Vince McMahon. He certainly is a very controversial figure. So I was very curious to view the documentary about him, especially given the recent allegations of sexual abuse and deviant behavior against him.
Here are my observations and quick review about the documentary…
The New York Times published a list of their Reader’s picks for the best 100 books of the 21st-century. Here are the only three books I have read that were on this list: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, Trust by Hernan Diaz; and When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. I was very moved by the Kalanithi book which I read in one sitting. I did not like Trust at all. I don’t remember anything about the Towles book other than I read or skimmed it.
I don’t understand the need for a second debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Who thinks that Trump will be better prepared? I have absolutely no sympathy or understanding for any “undecided voter” that may still exist. It’s pretty obvious which candidate people should vote for…
The three best college fight songs are from these schools: 1. Michigan; 2. Notre Dame and 3. USC.
At my stage in life, I think it better to appear certain, confidant but possibly wrong on one’s opinions, philosophy and views than still struggling to find the right answers.
In my 70 plus years of living and watching political debates this may have been the strangest claim by a candidate,” They’re (Haitian refugees) eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there, and this is what’s happening in our country, and it’s a shame.”
This is no longer a referendum on Donald Trump. It’s a referendum on the judgment and intelligence of the American voter.
Was anyone really surprised by the results of yesterday’s Presidential debate?
I did not watch the debate live. Why did anyone, particularly journalists and the press, expect anything different? There are outcries by many Republicans today that Trump was unprepared and did not have good debate management. Are you kidding?? Review any book written by a Trump administration insider and you will find that Trump does not read or prepare for anything. He “wings” it.
A word of caution to the Democrats. Hillary cleaned Trump’s clock in the 2016 debates and still lost. The MAGA mind is probably blaming ABC for their hero’s atrocious performance. It’s still not over…
Candidate A is a woman who prosecuted men who sexually assaulted women.
Candidate B is a prosecuted man who sexually assaulted a woman.
Who would you choose?
Not going to watch any of the debate….
“Nobody on the road / Nobody on the beach / I feel it in the air / The summer’s out of reach / Empty lake, empty streets”
Boys of Summer, Don Henley
73 summers have come and gone. How many summers do I have left?
Summer inspires so many remembrances of lost family and friends who shared picnics, swimming, birthday parties and vacations. Though summer fades, my love and gratitude for the joy shared in those moments never do.
Life is what is measured between summers.
The gentle sound of ocean waves softly lapping against the shore calms my heart and soothes my soul.
As summer fades, I find myself yearning for the waning light, the warmth it brings, and the endless possibilities it once promised.
Oh, if only I could capture the memories of my youth—riding a rickety boardwalk roller coaster, savoring the sticky sweetness of cotton candy, stealing glances and shy smiles on the boardwalk, and diving for a spike in a game of beach volleyball.
Summer inspires the beginning of so many love stories. There is no better season to be in love.
I am a child of summer, born under the sun’s warm embrace, comforted by soft breezes that once swayed the curtains as I napped in peaceful contentment.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Before reading this book, I was already intrigued by the Scopes trial, having encountered it through reading Inherit the Wind by Lawrence and Lee in my youth and viewing the film adaptation starring Spencer Tracy as Clarence Darrow.
This book captivated me, not just with the story of the Scopes trial itself but also with the rich background it provides on the cultural and political climate in America leading up to the trial. The country was grappling with racism, antisemitism, women’s disenfranchisement, and a stark divide between the North and South. Religious leaders were increasingly uneasy with the rise of science, and efforts to suppress scientific education in schools were prevalent—an issue that resonates even today.
Wineapple profiles three key figures of the era: Clarence Darrow, H.L. Mencken, and William Jennings Bryan. These profiles were the highlight for me. All three were intelligent, influential, articulate, and deeply flawed. Their strong beliefs on issues like racism, antisemitism, and religion shaped their actions.
Bryan, a staunch defender of the Bible, believed its teachings should be taken literally. His speeches and sermons, especially in the South, were widely popular. Despite three failed presidential campaigns, his political ambition never waned.
Darrow and Mencken, both agnostics, were critical of religious hypocrisy. Liberals in their politics, they used their legal and journalistic skills to push their principles. It’s fascinating that Bryan, Darrow, and Mencken ended up at the center of such a pivotal cultural and political moment.
Reading this book made me reflect on how much progress the United States has—or hasn’t—made in areas like racism, antisemitism, and the influence of religion in education, law, and politics. The challenges to science that existed in the 1920s are still relevant today.
I highly recommend this book as an insightful snapshot of American culture and politics in the 1920s and is still happening today.
Saturday Night will always remain burned in my memory as long as I live, as being the day when I heard the most religion preached, and the least practiced.
Will Rogers
Esot-eric 