WHEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.........

     Can't sleep. Can't read - eyes too tired. Too much going thru my head. So when in the middle of the night one sits alone wondering what to do, what should one do? What could one do? One can ruminate. One can brood. One can be wishful, wistful. One can be hopeful, though reality seems to interfere with those thoughts!
     So what are those thoughts. Well, Friday was a downer what with the abstention of the US on the Security Council resolution re settlements in Israel. I wonder why we here in this country do not return all the settlements we made on Indian land, on French land, on Spanish land, on Mexican land and of course on British land. You see, we went in there and homesteaded and trapped and set up trading posts followed by more people followed by troops and forts followed by annexation followed by statehood and many times we fought wars, stated or not, and many times we cheated, admitted or not, but onwards we forged with a magnificent title to this movement - Manifest Destiny - which seemed to justify it all.
     Move forward to a tiny state reinstated in a modern formation in 1948 - the State of Israel. Now this was not a new state for there have been many states prior to this, the Kingdom of Israelites, of Judea and there had never ceased to be  a Jewish presence there throughout the millennium nor had there ever been a ceasing of prayers to return there, to Tzion, Zion. Even in the midst of horrors perpetrated upon Jews in Exile, in Galut, in the midst of concentration camps of the Holocaust, there was mention of the Return. On a secret synagogue's wall in Terezin, it was painted, with pride and longing.
     So in 1948 a nation was established, partly out of historical movement and partly out of guilt of the nations of the world who had stood by and done nothing, nothing, to halt the slaughter of the Jews, their burning, their drowning, their torture, their mass graves, their brutal fates. Excuses were used as to why they did not bomb the tracks, or pleas of "not knowing" were made even as we know that the papers had it in their columns and people had risked their lives to gather proof as they used stealth to enter and leave the camps, taking their lives in their hands.
     And so where did they go after the war was over? Well, back to their "homes" where they were unwelcome and killed again. So to where? The countries of the world still held quotas on them so in the DP camps they stayed, the same places where they had been slaughtered. And they went to British Palestine where the Balfour Declaration had long ago stated the fact that there was to be  a Jewish state in that territory - and where the British conveniently suffered a long spell of amnesia. And there they came, taken in by a country and people who fought every day to defend themselves and who accepted the tiny portion of land allotted to them under the UN mandate - but even that was too much for the Arabs of the area, the Arabs of seven countries which invaded this little state trying to stay alive even as it welcomed in thousands upon thousands of refugees who had nowhere else to go. And on top of that were the thousands upon thousands of refugees from these Arab lands, the Jews of those lands who had lived there for hundreds and thousands of years - for they had to flee from persecution and murder and left all behind other than their lives and the clothes on their backs.
     And there were no settlements, only settling the land which they had using indefensible borders established as the Arab invaders were defeated, pushed back. Yet still there was no peace and the attacks, the suicide attacks, the killing of women and children, invasions of homes and schools and busses, the very fabric of life - all went on for decades and yet Israel prospered and took in more refugees, even Vietnamese when no one wanted them, even Jews of different ethnicities and colors for all were Jews and if no one wanted them then they had a home in Israel.
     And all this time of no peace Israel became a modern state, an innovative state, inventing much that benefitted the world. And yet, all the Moslem states, all the Arab states and all the cowardly nations of the world who needed their oil and who thus indulged their ancient anti Semitism under cover of a new respectable title - all these people needed to see the state gone and the slogan of the Arabs was "from the river to the sea" - and into the sea with all the Jews and yet all the trouble was blamed on the state of Israel. When the Straits of Tiran were blockaded by the Egyptians what did the UN do? Why simple! It left and abandoned their jobs, their stated mandate and Israel was all alone. As usual.
     When Israel won this fight they immediately offered to make peace, to sign treaties and to return land captured during the fighting, during the attacks. Takers anyone? Nope! Not a one. Only more threats and more lies, so Israel waited, as it had done for years already. And eventually people began to think and wonder why not go back to where we had come from, where our parents had died. So they returned to Hebron, a holy city where our forefathers and mothers were buried and where there had been a slaughter of Jews in 1929. And why not return to Etzion where the Jews who had lived there were also attacked and slaughtered and now the sons and grandsons wanted to return to where there had been Jews already. And not to forget the Old City where there had also been Jews, where there had also been a slaughter and a rescue of besieged Jews living there. You see, Jews also had old keys to homes.
     So suddenly there came a new chant - no settlements for they prevent peace. Really? What was the excuse then for the decades of attacks and wars when there were no settlements, only a nation trying to live in their homeland the same as all the nations of the world. Why was it wrong for there to be one tiny little Jewish state, a state which faced continuous hatred and opposition from all the nations of the world, nations which had never ever lost their anti Semitic feelings, only tamped them down for a while. Why? And no answer, one that made sense. None that appeared to face facts and realities. None that worked and all denied facts and truths. When the vote to establish Israel was taken there was also to be a state for the Arabs - actually two - one of Jordan which had never existed before and which consisted of mostly so called Palestinians, most of whom had come from Greater Syria and had not been there for the generations they said, and then another state but guess what? The Arabs refused this - and now they cry out for a state! And still they cry out in their papers and media for the land of the river to the sea and into the sea with the Jews.
    And the world - oh it rides its horse again and Obama has left a terrific legacy, did he not. He made the final turn of his back on the State of Israel, the only democracy in the region, an ally of us for lo these many years, an ally which shared intelligence and arms it captured and had ties of families and friends, But he did not care and so he has left a legacy which in turn will cancel out any other thing he might have left as a legacy and which has forced me to acknowledge here that Trump was correct in this case and I only hope that he does not do a turn around on a dime as he has done many times before and that he stands by Israel.
'     And I wonder where all the nations of the  world will be should Israel not be first on the ground at disasters, not have the first hospitals up to help, not send in agricultural experts and water experts and all sorts of experts and advisers to help the nations of Africa and Asia. Where will they be then? Personally - I could care less for I am tired of this behavior. When the Arabs will learn that war is not the way. When they will learn to value their children and not send them off to die and then ululate in victory as they die taking others with them. When there is a sincere desire for peace - then there will be peace and in the meantime, despite the lies of the world, Arab citizens are in the army, in the universities, in the shopping malls, in the cities, in their own villages and they live nicely as well. Their economy flourishes though the PLA and Hamas do their best to ruin it all with their corruption and their inadequacies. Go to Israel and walk the streets, their cities, their countryside and see the truth for yourself.
     The eternal truth? Am Yisrael Chai!! The nation of Israel, its people, lives on. Nothing will stop that. Not lies, Not BDS. Not hatred. Not war. Not threats. Not excuses. When there were no settlements then what was the impediment to peace? The presence of a Jewish state which they still refuse to acknowledge. We sing of peace and they sing of war and death.
      Such are the sad thoughts when one cannot sleep and is awake in the middle of the night. Once again, ironically during the festival of Chanukah which celebrates a victory for freedom, we are besieged once more. May we all work that much harder to bring about a just peace in this world and really believe and act upon what we preach about peace in the world.

HOLIDAY WISHES

Tomorrow nite as we all light candles, be they the candles of Chanukah or the candles of the Noel, may we all pray that this light finds its way into the hearts of mankind. May all the wishes for peace and freedom, for justice and equality be heard and realized. Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and may G-d hold us all in His hands and in His heart.

WILL BE BACK SUNDAY WITH ANOTHER POSTING.

GOVERNMENT BY TWEET

     And so it begins, G-d help us all. We now have a man who blustered his way through an election, who had the help of a foreign government in winning this campaign, perhaps even soliciting them to do this and that is another ball of wax should it prove to be true after an investigation, a man who would be a failure in life were it not for the fact that he had his family's money and name behind him so people paid him for the use of that name and his bankruptcies, his labor problems, his fraud accusations re his Trump University, his pathetic and ugly behavior with and about women, his filthy mouth - all were excused for his name and for his reality show role.
     So this man who could not communicate in any other way but 140 characters, best done in the early hours of the morning , under cover of darkness, this man who had to be run after by his crew, so that 24 hours after an initial tweet they were explaining it off or out, this man who seems to be on a level of a pre teen, who cannot separate himself and his ego from his world viewpoint - this man now has the finger on the nukes and Lord help us. I, and many others, were worried about this during the campaign, wrote about it and yet look where we are now.
     And where is that? Here. "The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes," and as usual details were not forthcoming for after all - 140 characters is the limit. And the reaction of his buddy Putin, his secret weapon? "We need to strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces, especially with missile complexes that can reliably penetrate any existing and prospective missile defense systems," he said in a speech in Moscow. so should we all start digging out those shelters of the 50's, stock up on canned food and dry goods? Nah!! Would not help, trust me. There is no respite or escape from nuclear oblivion in such a case. But I wonder? While all this is going on and Trump scores a sore finger from his vengeful pressing of the go button, will he also be simultaneously tweeting re the fact that no one wants to show up at his inauguration? Or will he be boasting how he has brought back jobs to the country as we tool up for war?
     You see, no one wants in on this event other than Jackie Evancho, the Rockettes and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. As for the rest - uh uh. His reaction?  "The so-called 'A' list celebrities are all wanting tixs to the inauguration, but look what they did for Hillary, NOTHING. I want the PEOPLE!" And a response back - "Hi - we are people," she tweeted. "You are our president too. I don't want you to be, but u are. Also we ALL know you are dying without the approval, dear."
     And the tweet rule continues as he now tweets that he has never changed his mind re Moslems entering this country or even being tracked here through a Moslem registry. His staff scrambles, like the people with the shovels at the end of a circus parade, trying to get rid of his garbage, to be polite, and explain his insanity away. And insanity it is. This man is erratic, cannot seem to be trusted and seems to work his policies out in bursts of 140 letters. This is whom we now have, G-d help us all, and what are we to do? Impeach or investigate and find out that the election in its entirety was taken over by our renewed Cold War enemy and declare it null and void and start over! How to do this? Not a clue, but if this is all true, or this man's incompetence brings us to the brink of war and he cannot figure out how to stop it, at least not in 140 characters, then what? Are we to sign our lives away? Are we to allow the Rule of the Fat Cats to take our country to destruction? Or shall we go out looking for brave and intrepid souls who will take on this conglomeration and help get us back on the true path.
     Unfortunately we have now had eight years of a president who seemed to live in an ethereal world where high thinking people would converse on values and  be convinced to do the right thing. Wrong. People are not so noble and so we left ourselves open for this, for what we now have. We have a threat of a registry for a start. We have questionnaires going out in the Energy Department that sing loudly of an ugly witch hunt. We have a quest for information from the State Department as to whom it is that works on gender related projects and exactly what those projects are - like wells for the women in villages, or micro loans, or health aid - truly "bad" stuff huh? So where will it end? I dread to think that far ahead but the question is really how far ahead is it really? I think not too far at all. Pretty much the only female of any consequence in Trump's administration to be is Conway and here is her perceived role - "Trump Whisperer" for her ability to reign in and guide an unpredictable and often uncontrollable candidate prone to damaging outbursts." Such confidence boosting statements! NOT!! And what and who will govern while all his appointees are vetted by Congress? Trump alone? Oy!! Where is that gas mask? Where is the hazmat suit? Where is the nearest shelter?
     It is truly not funny, is it. All you Trumpers out there, the ones who are now ashamed at voting for him, the ones who now regularly post on sites stating these regrets and even those of you who are still stubbornly insisting that he will bring "change" - oh yes he will - but think if this is really the change we need or want - or can even survive.
     May G-d have His eyes and heart on all of us.

THE ANATOMY OF RAGE - AND SADNESS

     Just finished watching a brief vignette of an awful situation in  a J.C.Penny store wherein a woman went on  a rant, a racial rant, directed at two Hispanic women. Their crime - one was on line, paying, and the other woman came up with a few more shirts. Frustrating? Yes, but you and I know that many people have done this with one person on line with items and the other somewhere who might or might not show up with more items. So what? So it takes another five minutes but certainly in this season supposedly full of love and smiles, well, think again. The rant was awful - I cringed at it but what was worse was that it went on and no one stopped it until supposedly after the video of it ended. Not there, but certainly the woman should have been told to shut up already. And if people do not stop this then what about worse, like roundups and registries such as Trump was insisting yesterday that he will institute. NO!!!! Cannot be and remember folks, goose and gander. Never stops with one "hate" but instead always grows to include more as the suspicious attitudes and the paranoia grow.
     How did we get here? How did we in America forget our roots, our values and go insane? Things changed. The world is different and it changed quickly, so much so that people were often caught unawares, left jobless, even homeless or found themselves struggling where they never had to before. There was hunger in homes that had never faced that before nor ever expected it to be so. The wealth of society began to concentrate with Fat Cats of enormous wealth and power and the very fabric of our society was straining and tested, with failures at times.
    So people got angry and had no sure idea of where to focus that anger and how to improve the situation. The world situation did not make things any better what with terrorist attacks and stories every day of more wars all over the globe and Russia invading other countries and it just felt hopeless. So people were sad, yes, but they were also angry and unfortunately there are always those in society who pick up on that anger, who wait for it, hiding in ambush and they went to town.
     Viciousness became the order of the day. Anti everything that one could think of from anti Semitism and the old but "trusted" canards, xenophobia, and anger at women who did not "keep their place", anger at the overly wealthy and yet once again they escaped responsibility as they went into disguise, especially under Donald Trump who promised the world, who promised much with no details and look where we are now - all the billionaires and all the negative and selfish people all in power and the little guy, the people who voted for him in their blind anger - well, they are screwed and the anger will rise and the sadness will flow. We have now even been told that there is no more "drain the swamp" philosophy or actions. Well, duh, kinda figured that out already even if I never believed it in the first place. We are now being told that Russia is our friend and never mind all the ethics and conflicts of interest here.
    So the anger is there and there has never been such a president before so hated as he prepares to enter office, with such a low percentage. There has never been such fear of what he portends, of his plans and what will be of our democracy. There is a deep sadness and anguish that we are lost, we have wandered off the paths of justice and honor, of care and compassion, of right and freedom and it seems as if we will never get back, certainly not in the next four years. What kind of world will we have when a congressman thinks it okay to delay taking his child to the emergency room for a broken arm and waiting till the next day to save a couple of bucks - on his kid's back! On his kid's broken bone pain and having been there before, know how godawful painful it is! What have we come to? That is child abuse!!!
     People are saying that he will never last that long, that his incompetence will manifest itself and lead to resignation or impeachment. Would that it were so! But what if not? What then? Will we ever be able to return to where we should have been all along? Cannot answer that and therein the anger and the sadness that is not only in me but in thousands and even millions of others. The majority  of Americans voted for Clinton and we are stuck with the devil's disciple due to an antiquated system.
     It is okay to be angry for that is how we progressed thru the centuries and where we hope to continue and it is also okay to be sad for there has been a turnover of society and values here in America such as we have never seen before, at least not for those living. All the old ugly things have comeback. The fear in immigrant families, the fear of children brought here, who do not know another life - and what, now throw them out? Are we forgetting the enrichment of our society by immigrants? Are we to see the rending of families? G-d help us for did we not see enough of that in the Holocaust, in the lands of Africa where kids are kidnapped, where families and societies have disintegrated? The fear in the LGBTQ communities and the fear in those who have stood up for the people? Just what is to be expected? No one knows and hence the uncertainty, the fear, the anger and the depression.
     So what to do? Speak up. Stand up. Reach out. Be proud Americans and represent our values. That is the only way.

GOOD TO KNOW - COMPANY HELPS

     One can fight on alone. It is possible. However, it always is a better feeling when one stands with others, knows that there are others who have not given up the fight, who remain vigilant. It does not matter if that vigilance manifests itself as a participant in a march or a demonstration, engages in communication campaigns or simply talks about the issue(s) that cause concern. What does matter is that one remain alert to the day - and the night - and speak up. Silence gains nothing; it only allows for the strengthening of the other side.
     In a world which seems to survive on anger, there are definitely consequences. There is a plethora of nastiness and yet there are people who stand by their principles, speak the truth or point it out to others, as unpleasant as it might be. Here are a few things that might interest you.
     An Air Force general takes Trump to task at his ignorance and lack of understanding and knowledge on the F-35 program.
     The path of Rex Tillerson to culmination as a friend to "Putie" and his dealings with him and Russia - and the ethical conflict it poses with him as Secretary of State - not good, folks not good.
     A president elect who cannot stay off Twitter - or is that all he is capable of - and who engages in target practice against those who displease him. And this is the person who is supposed to unite us, a severely divided nation that MUST be fixed and not with hate and not with nastiness and not with ignorance but with patience and talking and hearing and listening and hope and help.
     A conflict of interest and ethical violations to a degree never before seen. The entire Trump family is up to its neck in Trump business and governmental business. It cannot be. The most recent oops on their part was the selling of time with Trump the day after inauguration for the mere price of $500,000 - $1,000,000. And he whined about the Clinton Foundation! The hypocrisy is stunning and deep and widespread. This cannot remain. This cannot be and they seem never to understand this and try and try again to mix the two - business and the country. And their chosen administration picks are mired up to their necks as well, Fat Cats all. Bad!
     We have an important person from Oracle resigning and just read why with these excerpts from his resignation letter.

"...he will seek to dismantle Social Security and Medicare –important retirement security for our aging and disabled population.
Trump stokes fear, hatred and violence toward people of color, Muslims and immigrants. It is well-known that hate crimes are surging as he has provided license for this ignorance-based expression of malice.
He disrespects Gold Star military families, women and the disabled.
He seeks to eviscerate environmental protections, the public education system, LGBTQ rights and women’s rights.
His tax and economic policies will greatly increase the national debt while concentrating wealth –exacerbating an alarming growth of wealth inequality in America.
I am not with President-elect Trump and I am not here to help him in any way. In fact –when his policies border on the unconstitutional, the criminal and the morally unjust –I am here to oppose him in every possible and legal way.
Therefore I must resign from this once great company."
     And finally, here is a small smattering of the incidents of hatred and violence that have occurred since the election and yes, there are many of anti Semitic origin. These facts are gathered by the Southern Poverty Law Center and published by the NY Times. My back feels a chill in this and so should the backs of others.

"• A man is accused of attacking a Muslim woman at a Manhattan Dunkin’ Donuts on Sunday, throwing coffee in her face and putting her in a headlock. According to police, he told the woman he “hated Muslims” and was going to kill her. He has been charged with assault as a hate crime.

• On Friday, a post on the anti-Semitic website the Daily Stormer called for a “troll storm” against Jewish people in Whitefish, Mont., where Sherry Spencer, the mother of the white nationalist leader Richard Spencer, owns a building. The post’s author, apparently reacting to calls for Ms. Spencer to sell the building, published pictures of Whitefish residents, including a child, with Star of David symbols and the German word for “Jew.” The post advised readers not to use violence or threats, but several people targeted have received death threats.

• Last Wednesday, a passerby noticed a swastika drawn on the side of a health clinic on the upper west side of Manhattan.

• A Temple University student discovered swastikas, a racial slur and the message “Trump 2016” written in snow on a car near the Philadelphia campus on Wednesday night.

• The sign outside a mosque in Redmond, Wash., was vandalized early Saturday morning. The mosque was also vandalized in November.

• Last Thursday, a man reported to Niagara Falls police that his car had been vandalized, with a racial slur and the phrase “go back to Buffalo” scratched into the paint. The tires had been slashed, the gas cap was missing and an unknown substance, possibly bleach, had been splashed inside the car.

• Police in Nassau County, N.Y., are investigating three recent incidents of anti-Semitic graffiti. On Friday, a professor noticed swastikas in a men’s bathroom at Nassau Community College. It was the latest in a string of vandalism incidents at the college. Also on Friday, a customer found anti-Semitic graffiti on the outside wall of a 7-Eleven. On Saturday, five swastikas were drawn in snow outside a home in Mineola, N.Y.

• Last Wednesday, a student at Western High School in Russiaville, Ind. posted a Snapchat photo of an Indianapolis Colts cheerleader with a racial slur after the cheerleaders visited the school to celebrate a blood donation program. The principal and the student have apologized, and the principal said the student faced “significant and severe” disciplinary action."

     The growth of hate, its open appearance and its increasing violence and occurrence - scary - and all since the election of Trump. The haters are out from the woodwork - and so must we. They must be answered and prevented and deterred and perhaps even taught to be better people and to see the truth of history and the results of such hatred. Perhaps. Maybe. If only. I hope. I despair.

DON QUIXOTE RIDES AGAIN

     Well, as one person put it, barring resignation, impeachment or incompetence, for the next four years we are stuck with a man who runs on arrogance and low self esteem at the same time, who allows others to dictate his actions even as he concentrates on moves of revenge and on growing his Twitter feed. We have a president who will have sway over a Great Divide of a nation, the worst crisis of confidence we have ever had in this country.
     This time it is not just the young out there protesting, but also the adults, the women, the seniors, the liberals and even conservatives who cannot tolerate his behavior. So we must keep on truckin' as they say and not give up the fight. But for today I am taking a small break, and want to focus on the other area that affects me - the Village and its president and "cabin" in the form of UCO officers. They are much of a disgrace, negligent, power hungry and cowardly. And yes, there are exceptions, but that is for another day.
     Sounds harsh, does it not? Well, if the terms fit..... When was the last time that his officers or Executive Board turned down any request he has made? Where were the voices of these officers of UCO when a huge contract was signed for CSI, a company to search for a new supplier of not just cable, but also Internet, phone and any other item or category that David Israel, in  his imperial wisdom, decided was relevant and allowed , never mind the Bilateral Agreement, never mind the rules of contract approval and never mind the fact that the people had voted NO, emphatically so, in previous votes, refused to put in money for it, and had voted, shall we say with their "feet" as they wired up themselves for incredibly cheap cost and are eminently happy and satisfied with their actions.
     The reward for their initiative was both gratifying and annoying, but expected as others followed the pioneers of this track and as David Israel excoriated them as how dare they show him up, highlight his negligence and outright refusal to obey the rules and continue on with his selfish power grabs and false statements that the Village would be left behind, that new people would not buy in and on and on. So far I believe we have had new people buy in although it must be stated that the buildings owned by some of his henchmen are those that have allowed in the wrong people, be it an overwhelming number of renters, inappropriate renters and buyers, families with children! so many that there are now THREE buses hiding along Haverhill in the morning, waiting for their charges to show up. Who who is killing the Village? Again, who? And who allowed a supporter of his to turn one of the associations into a motel for travelers, for tourists, for shoppers? Look to UCO, my friends, look there.
     And then we have this ridiculous campaign that will not end, that David Israel focuses on to the detriment of all else. Reserve funds for the collapsing roads and walkways? Oh, never mind that, for we have more important things to consider. Exorbitant rise in fees for next year and no statement if this rise is temporary or more likely will continue on from there, but never mind, why should we fight with WPRF and prove capital improvements vs. repair, for there is a more important fight, you see.  Never mind the funding for the critically important irrigation and pumps for there is a more important fight you see.
     So what is the more important fight? Well, it is not to keep up our infrastructure. It is not to attempt to find the best ways to use our monies and the best ways to watch out for our residents, particularly as we face a financial crisis of never before seen proportions. If one thinks that the increase of funding for health coverage is a lot in our checks this year, just you wait till the nasty dude's budget cutters and billionaires of the government get their edge or sword in and slash across the board with unbelievable cuts in social security and just wait till you see the size of the cuts there and as for health care - I shudder at what will be and so should the entire nation. But never you mind as the papers will be filled with attention getting stories to take our minds off the reality that will be so harsh and instead of eating bread or even cake, we will be fed circuses, a circus of information about a wife who seems to have vanished into the woodwork, a princess who seems to have insinuated herself into the government with extraordinary power, her husband, the adopted prince who thinks it is his right to join in because his father in law was elected- ugh! - and lots of questions about that! - and the two princelings who will make sure to keep our attention off the fact that we are now the economic engine that will keep the fortunes of Trump in place and in number one position. I mean, what else is the position of President of the United States good for if not to enhance one's own fortunes and those of family and friends?
    Anyway, I venture off course for today is about this -
        Desktop Computer, Laptop, Mobile phone/Smartphone, Games Console, Portable media player, Tablet, Connected or Smart TV, E-reader. IP Security Camera.....Etc.

How many of us, our Children, our Grandchildren have one or more of these devices. Let's move into the 21st. Century. The choice will be yours. 

What is this you might ask? Well, it is the soul of David Israel, he who has told us of the streaming radio stations around the world and how he finds them with their green dots and how addictive it is. But we must really look into this. First, how would David Israel know what our children and grandchildren come here for? Is it to do what they do at home, to encourage the kids to still sit at the screen when the outdoors beckon, the waters, the golf courses, the parks and nature reserves, the sun, ahhhh, the warm sun, the outdoor malls and just taking a walk. This is coming from the man who spends all day and much of the night sitting in his hidey hole staring at screens, plotting and planning. He pictures a future where we will all grow only arms as who needs anything else as we sit bewitched by our electronic devices and go from one to the other, as all else is neglected, as we open one after the other and do not shut any off, so ,more power, more power, More!!! 

      We need more common sense, more attention paid to the true realities of life, to the dollars and cents and the true values, and less focused on the few who have nothing else in their lives but screens and more screens. I truly believe that with care and forethought we will have all we need for any electronic devices and am not frightened by the black picture he paints of a Village left behind in a device bereft state of being!! Gimme a break!! What is more important is that we need to pay more attention to new bylaws, fair ones written by the entire Village, not just by a few henchmen of his in order to maintain his power. We need to pay attention and get ready for a post Millennium agreement with the Levys and we have got to do better this time around!!! We need to come up with fair and sensible plans as to how to mesh our needs with our funds and plan for the future and for our residents whose funds are limited. So will we have to give up a ball court or even two. perhaps, but there is plenty to go around!!And if one has to wait for a tennis court to open up - well, talk to people while you wait -it is one of the joys in life. Instant gratification is both childish and wasteful and it is time we acted and thought as adults, sensible, financially careful, and aware of true needs and are able to separate the chaff from the wheat.

     There is plenty in life that we have to think about, plenty to choose to battle. We are not dead yet, are we??? We have hopes of containing the damages caused by a Trump presidency and we have hopes of removing David Israel from office or at the very least, containing him and his wasteful programs and plans. To battle we go!!

  

 

CINDERELLA REVISED VERSION

     Remember the sweet version of Cinderella we all knew in childhood, sang along with and told to our kids? Yup, that one, where there really was no deeper meaning other than being good will eventually pay off and tormentors will be punished. Uh huh. Right.
     Then we came to know that there was a balletic version of Cinderella, a tad more political one might say. In this one political threads of justice for the poor, rightful ownership of land, governments that heeded the voices of the disenfranchised and of course all the accoutrements of a true fairy tale - handsome King and beautiful maltreated queen to be, a fairy godmother and some characters that received their dues but not really in so bad a manner. The fairy godmother even taught us a lesson - if one wants something, truly so, one has to participate in its creation. Interesting thought that.
     This is the version of Cinderella that is now on stage at Broward Center. It is great and it is always lovely to see the little princesses in the theater, the princes to be, and  the adults who clapped just as loud or even more so when the fairy godmother came along, at Cinderella who made sure her shoe was left for the prince to find, or the magic of magic - the coach, the gowns, and the wonderful ending of marriage, of justice done and forgiveness and atonement. I think adults clapped even more this year than before because we were all wishing on a star that this come true.
     I came across a Facebook version of the statement that one must help themselves and it goes something like this. There is no remote in life so get up and change it yourself. If only more people would have realized that sooner, though credit given where credit due - the Trump campaign knew that a long time ago so off they went to enlist their dear friends Putin and the Russian hackers, the scum of society in the form of haters and bigots, and the magic dust to spill in the eyes of the blue collar classes as they failed to recognize the truth of what would be - no health coverage, Fat Cats in the White House and government, no ethics at all and a presumed president to be with barely any functioning brain cell above the level of a ten year old schoolyard bully and I believe I owe an apology to ten year olds!
     SNL had a great skit, as usual, that did what democracy does and allows. It poked fun at our leaders, particularly those who got in the way due to their own actions and  statements. So if Trump does not like Alec Baldwin's wig, why then get his own cut so he won't look so stupid. If he does not like "Tillerson" greeting his good friend Putie, why then choose some other guy for Sec. of State rather than one who is actually partners with Russia in an oil deal!! Talk of lack of ethics. Talk of conflict of interest! And all the while, "Trump" is worrying over his phone, reading Twitter and tweets and mumbling for revenge on Vanity Fair. And then of course, in real life we had that same attitude and his most brilliant statement, real mature, where he tells China to just keep the drone!! Sure, that will show them! That was a true masterpiece - NOT - of diplomacy and calculated to keep things on an even keel with a world power that basically owns up!
     Cinderella and company sings of "things that are happening every day" and would that it were so in a positive way in real life. But what is happening is that there is a growing despair at the thought of what four years with this what? simpleton? fool? mean guy? amoral? one track? person, concerned with his own selfish and at times, many times, childish needs, and with his royal family running the show - what does this all portend? Can the Electors do something? Anything?
     I really am not sure what will be and if it will be enough and what would be if the Electors did revolt. Scary thought, but just as scary is the thought of a Trump presidency. Will we even be here in democratic form four years from now under that regime? I doubt it and so does an op-ed piece by two Harvard professors of government. They believe that the right wingers of this regime, the extremists that have become the regulars of this regime, have questioned and challenged the opposition, particularly of the liberal wing. They have now become traitors to the country according to the crazies. So the question is whether the institutions of ours that are supposed to maintain our equilibrium will do just that but here is a question for you. What if they too are compromised? And just look at the Houses of Congress and at the plans for the Supreme Court and then ask again if the checks and balances are still there?
     Many moons ago I mentioned the Manchurian Candidate in connection to Trump and I now find that more and more people are mentioning it as well. Trump is that stupid enough and that arrogant enough in that  stupidity to become the legendary patsy. He thinks of naught between those ears other than his business, his princelings and princess though he appears to neglect his queen and another princess along the way, he is that vulnerable to becoming a puppet, a puppet of dictators and demagogues, of killers and defamers of what is human and humane in people. Just ask the people of Crimea or the people in the Philippines or the millions in Syria.
     So will all the activists taking to the streets prevail? Will all the marches on Saturday, Jan. 21 make a point? I hope so but we will all have to keep on the case, stay the activists and despite whatever will be thrown our way, keep it up. That is the only way to keep our country democratic and on the right path. Elsewhere and otherwise? It will be a plutocracy, a business rules, a no ethics government, a war torn globe upon which we dwell, a dictatorship of America and if you think that cannot happen - think again and why not pop in on the series the Man in the High Castle and checkout how it works, what fear does to people.
     Time to be strong, people. Time to be brave. Time to be honest and time not to despair and give in. Nor should we look at sops to keep our attention. In any case, one mystery has been solved right here in the Village, For years people have asked just what David Israel does all day every day in UCO, Sundays included. Well, the secret is out. He listens to some global streaming radio, looking for green dots to click on and admits it is habit forming, addictive. What a waste of time, especially when the Village is in such desperate straits. And Gracie, my foolish friend, though perhaps you cannot help yourself, I know that we pay for everything  here in the Village and that is the point. We should not!! There are other people responsible for some of these payments and there are other people responsible for setting up payments we do not need for projects we do not want and for wasting literally millions of our funds on criminally negligent other projects. But you just keep trundling along, Gracie and hope you do not trip over your own feet and words.
     In the meanwhile we will use our words to try to right the wrongs, to be our own Don Quixotes, successful ones. Cinderella had a fairy godmother and a handsome and good king. We do not. We are our own pathways and tools of justice and fair play and proper government. Things do happen every day and we must make sure that they are the correct things to happen and if not, to make it so as we correct the wrongs. If not - I fear greatly for the future of us all. Vigilance, people, vigilance and action.

           PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

HOT OFF THE PRESS -

    

The PRPC Committee is still in action.  We will leave no stone unturned.   We are in the process of a new filing.  We will keep the village posted.

Happy Holidays to all.

Sandy Cohen, PRPC Member

"UNPRESIDENTED"

     Last nite after the show when talking of Trump's apparent inability to spell and no, I have never heard any reason for it such as dyslexia or any other learning disability other than the fact that our esteemed president to be is a dunce! We have seen that more often than we care to acknowledge and yet, there it is. Anyway, I was told that it is time to "let it go". Nope, I think not and evidently so do millions of others both here and around the world.
      So an action which he wanted to state that it was unprecedented became the above. Words just flow out of his mouth - as long as they are fantastic or terrific or bigly and can be repeated time and time again for we all know how difficult he finds it to string together enough words for a complete and intelligent sentence and thus Twitter is the only way he has found to communicate.
     But why not let it go? Why not accept the fate of us all and accept this man as the true nominee and winner, the next president? Because, probably, I am so hoping that some miracle will occur and he will not. And while I truly have come to believe more and more that in a righteous election, without the planned interference by Putin, by a fan of Putin from England who pumped out anti Hillary emails with that "fake news" and outright hoaxes, without Comey's doings, that in a true election, Hillary would have won - hands down, in every which way. Indeed, she has won the popular vote by almost three million voters. A mandate indeed! 
     Another term arises or comes to mind when discussing this whole incident and no, it is not mine but one I rather borrow from some intelligent writers.  One such term is "useful idiot". Interesting, yes? It is one who allows himself/herself to be deluded, to be ignorant, either naturally or purposely, and to be used by others in a poor manner for a wrongful result. Hello out there!! Has that not been the case here and is it not the still ongoing case as people who realize what they have done are counselling to let it go, wait out the four years - if we even have that!
     The Electors have a ballsy decision to make. I know what they should do, in fact, what the original wording states they should do - elect a qualified candidate for the office. Hello again! That certainly leaves someone out, does it not?
     Unprecedented is what we have when the electee is incapable, intellectually deficient and it is going to be left to his daughter and son in law to run the government while he just shouts  away and gives away the store - the American store.  Our country.
     Unprecedented is the fact that this is not, was not, a true election and for the first time in  history  it was hacked by an enemy country, aided and abetted by one of the candidates, knowingly or unknowingly and  I know where I land on that choice, so that we are now for all intents and purposes a subsidiary of Russia, caught in the orbit around Putin, a true  demagogue, admired greatly by Trump.
     Unprecedented is the rate at which protest grows. Notes on subway walls that are now being collected as a historical moment, thousands upon thousands of emails, letters, calls, etc. to Electors to do something, anything, but get that man away from the helm.
     Unprecedented is the rate at which celebrities turn away from him, he who brags of his own celebrity status. It is unprecedented as we see how many protests are sent to a world class singer, begging him to not sing at the Trump inauguration events.
     Unprecedented is the fact that we will have a president who thinks that the country is here for the singular purpose of furthering his business profits and since he could not do so well on his own and needed his dad to help him and now his children, well perhaps he could shine here, huh? Never mind ethics for the man has none. I have called him amoral and yesterday so did a columnist.
     So Charles Blow tells us to "stiffen our spine" and Loretta Lynch tells us, tells students that "You all are the ones who have the courage to walk with us. Without people who are willing to stand up and say that they have an issue or problem or something ...we would not be able to move these issues forward." And so in unprecedented figures, we, the ancient activists, who thought we had achieved and reached our goals, that we had found a way to insure that rights were a given, we, who had looked forward to retirement and a job well done, we now have to come back and join with the young, with the disillusioned voters, with the "regreters", and see that right is done, that rights remain, and that we are watching! Oh yes we are.
     No, we cannot just let it go. Not for the sake of the future and not for our own sakes.  Now we have  a new appointee for the manager of the budget, the same dude who voted to let the country come to a grinding halt, the same man who belonged to the so badly misnamed "Freedom Caucus", and he will join the government that now has a practically complete roster of appointees who will manage the destruction and takedown of their very departments and responsibilities and then why there we will be with no government other than the Trump royalty! Not for me!!! I will not let it go for if I do, if we do, we have resigned our rights, resigned our historical rights as Americans and helped destroy the American dream.
     And if you think that it is any different here, in the Village, it is not. So many have stated in so many words that the only way to get David Israel out of office is to let nature takes its course. Well, I beg to differ. We cannot, must not, allow this situation to continue. We are approaching the financial collapse of our Village, the fees are becoming more than many can handle and we are out pricing ourselves in fees for what we represent ourselves to be. We are not a luxury development, not in any way and while we have some wonderful amenities, we also have a weak and corrupted UCO in many ways, a UCO that does not stand up for the rights of the residents and instead serves the needs of Levy. We eat millions of dollars in repairs, wrongfully so, and he just sits and grins his troll like grin. We are being pushed into another potential fiasco what with this broadband and Atlantic Broadcasting. Just who the hell are they and I could care less about the future, etc, that we are being drowned in unless and until things and rules are changed. Internet is NOT a utility and hey, this new administration to be has been stating that time and again! All UCO is entitled to do is bargain for cable . Period. Those who wish, already have what we need and want with some associations wired up individually, other people paying for what they want as their building does not want the other way and quite frankly I am happy with Comcast and by the way did you know that this new company wants to swap HBO for EPIX. Yup! EPIX which shows old movies, lots of golf and no Game of Thrones!!! and other shows you like. Hey, they would save money on that deal and screw us! But David Israel wants this. Ed Black wants this. Lanny Howe wants this so who are we to gainsay this? We are the residents and we have voted this down before, voted down the increase that would come along with this on top of the $15 to $25 increase that many associations are now facing, to the detriment and dismay of their owners, but hey, David wants what he wants and WPRF refuses to pay for what they should and here we are. Let it go? Oh no, that is for Elsa to sing as she announces her independence and we announce ours, here and in the country with the statement that we will not let it go!
     Big job, but as a character in a book said, "You eat the elephant one bite at a time." Sun
Tzu, an ancient war strategist whose words are still valued today, said, " The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent." Yet here I differ with him for we must let them know, here and nationally, that we have our goals and we will go for them, not forsake them. We will not let go of our responsibility to ourselves, to others and to our historical integrity. We will remain what we are supposed to be, what people have shed blood for and here in the Village, we will remain what we are supposed to be, a well run middle class development with a heart and with a brain which knows how to value and how to choose.
     Ezra Taft Benson said "Some of the greatest battles will be fought within the silent chambers of your own soul." Well said. Look into those chambers, look into your soul and think of those  at risk for the future, your own kids and grandkids and the millions of people in this country and around the world. Here in the Village it is so small compared to the larger responsibility but it is all part and parcel of the same issue. Right is right, wherever and whenever. Hey, go see Rogue One and hear the words of truth from them - there must be hope, there must be aspirations, carefully chosen and fought for. May the force be with all of us!!!
  

LIES AND LIES AND LIES. QUALIFIED MANY TIMES TO BE UNQUALIFIED!

     What are we doing and what are we allowing to be done. This president elect is certainly not qualified to become president of the United States, a leader of the free world, a representative of what we should stand for. But if this happens, we shall stand for lies, stupidity, nastiness and danger. Every time I think that he has reached the peak of his garbage, he amazes me as he tops himself, even as he sinks further into the filth that he has created, into the morass of his own doing. For instead of draining a swamp, he has inserted himself and his family into one, one that grown ever larger and gives off more poisonous fumes every day - no, every hour!
     If the Electoral College - which should be eliminated anyway as an antiquated idea - truly did its job according to the words of its empowerment by our founders, it would not vote for Trump for it states that these votes must be given to a qualified candidate and G-d above knows that this man is for sure not that!! At times, in fact, most of the time, I wonder if this man even knows the meaning of truth and I suspect that his children have the same low morals or lack thereof as they seem not to understand the idea of separation of government and private business for the President and the reasoning behind it. They seem not to have learned that one must leave the at times crass dealings of the business world behind, not sell their soul for money, their access for money, their honor for money!
     Weeks before inauguration this man is still in his high school years, tweeting away with lies and threats and implied revenge. One can just see him sitting deep into the night or early morning hours, writing mean stuff about his supposed enemies and they range from a college coed who dared to ask a question to a magazine editor who gave a restaurant of his a bad review - and this man is expected to separate from his business - to anyone who criticizes anything that he says or does or owns or whatever!!! Hey, I am up early so again, Mr. Trump, call me and we can have a nice chat - that is if you can string words enough to create a sentence and without using the words terrific or fantastic or using repetition as a constant in your typing or speaking. It is bigly annoying!!
     So, latest lies? Here goes. That the information about the Russian hacking was not released until after the election. Wrong, wrong yet again. By October there had been information made clear to the public and what was not done was publically accuse or put the blame where it belonged - on the Trump campaign and G-d help us if it belonged to Trump too!! So twice this week Trump lied about this. Shocking, huh! Not really, for the truth barely ever leaves his lips.
 And the poor editor of Vanity Fair for here is what Trump states about him - "...big trouble, dead! Graydon Carter, no talent, will be out!"
     And the sleazy practices continue as the princes and the princess sell access to them to the highest bidder, ostensibly for charity but who knows where the charity dollars go and it is still sleazy and suspect, especially when these dudes are so engaged in the transition government and in proposed future dealings and these bids come from business people!! Separation anyone? Items to sell - yes but access - no. Emphatically so!!
     And the news keeps a comin'. The Russians hacked the email server of the Pentagon. Whew!! The Russians hacked numerous servers and systems dealing with the election and voting and the people involved and here we have a man who praises Putin, who anticipates such a friendly relationship, whose proposed Secretary of State has even received an award from Putin, who has great dealings with them and has fought for them - over the interests of his own native country!!
     And the care and  concern for the private citizens of the country. Wow, I am so underwhelmed!! People are beginning to wake up that rescinding, destroying the ACA or Obamacare will leave millions without medical coverage and care, once more people will be left to rot with their syndromes and diseases. Diabetics will fall ill and die, needed medicines for many diseases will not be attainable and the list of problems and truths go on. So in a fit of uh oh, now Ryan and company are promising "access" for all, that coverage will be available to be bought. Really? Who will be able to afford it? Who says the insurance companies will go along with this as the system must be balanced with healthy people buying so as to cover the  costs of the truly ill, emergencies and chronic. They are pulling out, threatening to pull out even more if the ACA is disemboweled and then go look for insurance! Ha! It will be the same thing of charity and emergency room visits, costly visits, wasteful visits and poor medical care and coverage for a huge swath of the population of the country. Thank you, Ryan. Thank you Trump, thank you all you crocodiles.
     Again, I ask, what are we doing? What will we do should there be no out at the present? Will we have to wait till the lies of this man rise to the "have had it" level and he is impeached or shall we wait until he and his family sink under the weight of the suits against him and have the world gape at the spectacle of the president sitting in court in the defendant's seat! Awful!!
     Unqualified is exactly that. Again, there has to be a way to disallow a minority winner whose morals and future are viewed as contemptible and poor by most of the nation and every day brings more and more doubt and worry Go sit in a doctor's office or at any gathering. Talk to someone in line with you and just hear the worry, the contempt, the fear, the frightened fear. This man's presidency is something to be worried about for sure and will demand great care and watchfulness. The ACLU says they will be watching and so will millions of others. There will be millions watching and acting to make sure that rights do not go backwards, that we do not retreat into the Middle Ages.
    Join with those millions whatever party you belong to. Join the party of the Americans who respect rights, the rights of all. Get behind the one you are most worried about and make your thoughts known. March, speak up and speak out, call, write, and hey, twitter! 2 AM is a good time to do just that!

A MOMENT TO PAUSE

     This is a difficult posting, not only because of the emotions it raises but also because there is so much that I long to write  re my most unfavorite personality, but for my sake, for my sanity, I must take a break. However, I will do my best to post another piece later this afternoon.
     Today is Friday. It is a day that often brings with it both frantic activity and peaceful moments, thoughts of what must be done in  a short time, and thoughts of yesteryear, often a day to touch base with old friends.
     For most of my life Friday was seen as a day of frantic activity on the part of my mother. My Pop would run around Thursday afternoon and if we were lucky, got to go with him. If we were doubly lucky, we got to stay out of my mother's way on Friday!! It was a day we were glad to go to school.
     The house was jammed with bundles, with food to be put away and food to be cooked and cleaning utensils - brooms, mops, supplies, rags, vacuums - all were all over the place. I swear I could see them propagating in front of my eyes!
     But what a magic moment at the end of it all. Somehow, 30 seconds before The Sabbath began, everything disappeared, the activities stopped and we were all dressed. An aura of peace and serenity reigned with my dad and brothers off to prayers and me and my sister watching my mother wave in the light and the blessings of Shabbat as she lit the candles, lighting the way for the visit of the Sabbath Queen to our home. For 24 hours we had a day of family, of laughter and jokes, of stories, of visits with friends and family, of reading in a favorite chair and playing games - before they deteriorated into disagreements, shall we say?
     Until fifth grade, though, I did not truly appreciate the gift of the no work policy. But that year I had a wonderful teacher, the first teacher I actually came to know as a person as we walked home together in the same direction, as she pushed us all to work. From her I learned how to study for a test, how to push myself and not take the easy way out. When in sixth grade I moved and changed schools, I encountered many teachers who demanded work and achievement and wow, did I appreciate the Sabbath. It was a day when I put aside my books and spent the day with family, with G-d, and walking all over the place with my friends, from one house to the other, staying until we could practically see the plea in the eyes of the parents of that home, pleading for a little time for quiet, for a blessed Shabbat nap. It was okay, for like locusts, our crowd just grew and we consumed all that was available.
     From that time on I have relished the coming of the Sabbath. No work. No phone calls from parents of students or board members. Just peace. Time to reconnect with the kids, talk of the week behind and the week ahead, what was learned in school (mostly nothing according to them!), laugh and tell stories. But it was not until I was that adult that I realized that this day was a gift from G-d. No work so no worry for why waste time on what could not be done, although often by the end of Shabbat I found that problems had solved themselves inside my own head. Thank the Lord for back burners of the mind!
     Shabbat has been a lifesaver for me and for the Jewish people throughout history. It gave every father a chance to be king, to enjoy his children, and for every mother to be Queen, to look at her family with pride, and for all of us to appreciate our history, our luck and our love.
     So Shabbat, or its anticipation, has given me a much needed respite from writing about that man and his lies and the danger he poses to us all. Time enough for that later on today. Right now I am taking a pre Shabbat anticipatory break, anticipating the peace, the laughter, the books, the friends. And as I light the candles I see my mom doing the same and my Bubby doing the same and all the women doing the same down the generations. And I see my mother doing the same, having magically dispersed the cleaning tools of Heaven, ushered my Pop and G-d to shul, (synagogue) set the table and lighting the candles, quieting down the noisy Heavens confounded by what man below is doing, has done and is proposing to do. Time for that later. Time for peace and family now. So I have my weekly chat with my parents as my hands cover my eyes as I say the blessing and I inform them of the doings of the family, the cute great grandchildren of theirs, of the needs and problems and I end my chat reassured that I am still loved as a child by parents and help and guidance is always there.
     So Shabbat Shalom to all, Jew and non Jew alike, for we can all use a day of peace and reflection, a day off from the tension of the times. Would that we could extend the peace and quiet, the serenity of the Shabbat to the rest of the week. What a better place the world would be.

REALLY? TRULY? CAN IT BE? DANGER? FEAR? TURMOIL?

     I have tried following the trail to the end of the path. I have gone further and further down the road each time the issue crops up but have been afraid to state the finality of the end. And yet, for how much longer can I, especially after having discussions with so many others of late who also use the words, "I'm frightened. Not so much for me as for my kids and grandchildren. What kind of world will they have to live in?"
     So all holds barred. The exact feelings and statements that will explain these fears and concerns. It may sound extreme, but think it through carefully and see if you can refute it and if you have solid statements to make other than , "Oh, give the man a chance, or maybe it will get better, or someone will stand up to him, or Congress won't allow it" well, then contact me but all these statements above are useless, suppositions based on frail hopes which in turn have no solid basis other than wishful thinking. Well, we all know the statement of "if wishes were horses....." In fact, what we have now is what foolish or hate filled people or deluded souls have caused - a president elect for whom people are afraid to confess they voted for, for the rest of us who did not - the majority of the voters in America, by the way, why we politely warn each other not to offend those poor Trumpers. Well, why not? They have gotten us into this mess and how to get out? Why did they not consider our feelings that they trampled upon during the election campaign, the rotten people that attached themselves to the campaign and the fear that engendered, the vision of the future that far outweighed any of the apocalyptic movies and their portrayal of a future world and a future USA that is frightening to the extreme - and more and more realistic every day what with the statements and the appointments and the lies and the Putin and Russian fangs and arms in our very lives, the very fabric of the soul of America.
     Sound over the top? Maybe, but read on and remember, I am open to honest and sensible and possible refutations. Yesterday someone asked in an op-ed piece why the Democrats do not fight like the Republicans, basically dirty or in your face and I wonder why? Why have the Democrats not stood up and said we will have no part of this? Why instead has Schumer stated that oh they will cooperate where they can? Why? What for? Did the Republicans cooperate with the Democrats the past  eight years? NO, they did not and so we had gridlock and threatened governmental shutdowns. If we do not do this, stand up for ourselves, for Pete's sake, then here is the concluding sentence of the piece. "What this portends for the next four years is truly terrifying" And I add, what it portends for the future beyond that is even more terrifying.
     And what do we know so far? Well, we have a new royal family, a princess who is supplanting the stepmother and taking over her office and functions perhaps? We have two princelings who will run the king's business concerns and the king will make sure that no decisions that are harmful to the profit lines of the businesses are enacted. We have entities who are already sucking up to this royal family by staying in their hotels, by shutting their mouths out of fear - and they confess to that fear!
     We have  a king to be who openly states that laws do not apply to him and in any case the morality of situations leave him cold. He is perhaps the most amoral and/or immoral being I have ever encountered. He is lacking in intelligence but makes up for that with his royal family and continues to openly display his sophomoric brains and personality and indulges in semi literate tweets in the middle of the night. He is the least dignified president elect or king to be I have ever come across and there is simply no shame in what he does or states for if there is negative feedback to a degree, he just denies he said it, lies, or walks it back - bigly so!!
     And what about the royal court, waiting to be approved by Congress, waiting for what? For the members to grow several pair in order to defy his destructive choices? Will they grow these pairs or will they wimp out and woe upon us if that happens. Look what we will have.
     Energy secretary - wanted to abolish it
     Education secretary - a major threat to public education, rabid charter school adherent.
     Attorney General - opposes the Voting Rights Act and is a known bigot.
     Health and Human Service secretary - wants to practically eliminate Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid and other such social programs. To hell with people, right?
     Treasury secretary - was up to his neck in the financial crisis we all barely survived and then of course profited from it all. Good business our king to be would say.
     E.P.A. head - denies climate change and has sued this department numerous times.
     Secretary of State - great for Exxon, and great for Russia and Putin - not so hot for us.
     Deputy secretary - OMG - watch the drool from that rabid mouth.
     Miscellaneous appointments - four generals, more businessmen and Fat Cats, the critters of the swamp, Goldman Sachs people up the wazoo and never mind what they caused and profited from in 2008 and ensuing years.
      And do not forget the wall to be built, the immigrants to be summarily tossed out, the Moslem registry, the Big Brother inquiries into Energy Department employees and their actions and thoughts about climate change, and do not forget the deportation police and what is the next step - thought police? He has already damned the media for being mean to him, such a grown up he is!! And what about women? Will we be forced into the back of humanity again? Will we be chattel again? Have we totally lost all hope of retaining rights over our own body, forced to carry babies we do not want and that might even have been foisted upon us by rapists, by incest violators, by piggish men who think they can do what they want, say what they want for after all, that is what men do we are told!! And please remember that Assad has said that Trump is a natural ally for him!!! I am vomiting.
     Thomas Friedman writes of the crazy recklessness of Trump's plans and policies, particularly his climate related ones and writes of what could be. He questions with great dread what the Russian interference actually means and I question too. Can we really rely on this election after all the hacking and the interference or are we here on this earth to satisfy the whims of Putin, a very bad man to say the least. And if we null and void this election as I am coming to believe we should more and more - then what? Civil War? Chaos? Are we strong enough to handle this? But on the other side, are we strong enough to keep our souls and our country and its values with four years of the Trump monarchy and will it be only four years or are we saying good bye to the democratic country once known as the United State of America?
     And a question. I have often joked that they will be coming for me, what with what I write and state. Is that really a joke? I dunno know. Perhaps I should ask Putin. Perhaps I should run to Israel but then again, what is its fate what with the anti Semitic fiends coming out of the woodwork and welcomed and the Arabists, the fossil fuel people appointed to the royal court? And hey, do not forget the Palestinian terrorists invited into a third grade classroom in Ithaca to spout hatred against Jews and Israelis. Check it out and it took a year! to get the video of it - never mind the other two that remain secreted! Simply put - I have never been so frightened in my life. How about you?
   
    

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

     All of us are familiar with questions, the ones the little ones ask, the ones that are asked and hopefully answered in the classroom, the ones we ask each other and the ones we ask ourselves. Even Socrates asked questions. What is just as problematic for some as troublesome questions, though, are the answers that must be given and the truths held within - or the lies running through them  evident to all. What do we do with these problematic questions and answers? We hopefully have the courage and the honesty to ask and answer as they should be but that seems to be lacking at this point.
    How did we, the greatest country in the world, ever get to this position, wherein we have a president elect whom very few want as president - even those who voted for him? How do we get outta this mess  or is it even possible and if not, then what the hell do we do for the next four years - if we survive them? Lord in Heaven, I have no ideas for that. I am just as stumped as everyone else, all trying for desperate answers to these desperate questions.
     We now have  a government of Fat Cats, of critters from the Black Lagoon, exactly the opposite of what the man promised his voters. We have an administration to be of those who are foxes now to run free in the henhouses and not only eat the chicks but destroy the whole henhouse down to the last board and nail. We have a proposed Secretary of State who has taken numerous actions opposed to governmental positions in his prior job and as for those who voted for Trump because he would be closer and warmer to Israel - told ya so!! This Tillerson is NOT a friend to Israel. But you got what you wished for and now you can rue it all for the next four disastrous years!
     The world is going off track and we have to ask where do we come in, how much blame does the new president to be deserve. A whole lot. He has empowered the extreme right wingers, the nut jobs, the dangerous haters, so much so that for example, Poland's right wing government is banning most public meetings and gatherings - unless of course they are under their protection. So how long do you think it would take for a Trump regime to do the same? Not long, I tell you and then what? Will we behave as sheep and go along with further loss of our rights, with further rending of the Constitution?
 We have just had the most hijacked election ever here in the USA. Down to the congressional races and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and up to the top race - all were hacked - openly and viciously. So are we not a satellite state of Russia who seems to have determined the outcomes of these races? And if that is so, then why and how do we allow these results to stand and yet, how do we change this without causing chaos and civil unrest and even war? I do not know, but the answers are above my pay grade - I just ask the questions!
     We do have people of courage though and we need to follow them and refuse to do wrong. Energy Department people are refusing to answer a questionnaire about their climate change activities. Tech employees at Google, Facebook, and elsewhere are not going to work on a registry of Moslems, all or from certain countries or wherever and whatever. My blood runs cold at the thought of another registry. Jews should fight this tooth and nail as should any decent person. Hate and prejudice and actions relevant to them only proliferate and spread from one group to another. There are no boundaries in hate. Advertisers like Kellogg are pulling away from sites and products associated with hate and bravo for them. Support them. Buy them.
     And how are we supposed to respect and honor a president who appears to be lacking several sections of a working brain. Read these sentences and tell me how one is supposed to rely on him, he who does not have any attention span, refuses to listen to intelligence briefings because, he says, he is "smart and does not need them on a daily basis" so how will he fill that time ? With working on his business dealings contrary to all that we hold dear as he uses the country to further his profits?
     "We’re going to win so much, you’re going to Paul Ryan and you’re going to go, ‘Mr. Speaker, please. Please. We can’t stand winning this much. We can't take it.And he’s going to come to see me and he’s going to go, ‘Mr. President, the people in Wisconsin are tired off winning so much.’" And it continues from there. This is a mature leader? This is a leader? At all?
     Questions have been asked throughout time and answers have been demanded. When enough asked how can people be chattel, we fought a war. When people asked how can we oppress people because they are of color or are women or are from other countries - we had civil rights movements and we continue to have them. When enough people asked how did we allow this slaughter of millions of Jews to go on without us saying boo, we have Holocaust education. Where anti Semitism rears its ugly head once more, we have those who fight against it. When a rap artist, if one can call him that, rants of "dirty Jewish execs" he is forced out. And when men continue to molest and abuse women, they are now called out on it, be they president elect or movie star or business exec.
     And questions can be local as well. How can David Israel continue to carry on his illegal broadband campaign when the people have spoken? How can he believe he or rather we should sign a ten year contract? Who does that in such a changing field - unless there are other things going on? Why does he not answer questions and demands for papers and information when it is required of him? Why does he oppress those who are opposed to him? Why does he cancel rights of Americans? Why do some people refuse to recognize his growing incompetence even as our financial situation worsens? Why? Because people are afraid to change the status quo but if we do not, be it here or in the country at large - our status quo will be changed for us and not in a good way.
     Questions and answers, answers that lead to more questions. Sometimes action is demanded. Come march with the women on January 21, 10 AM. Be it a mile or two or a half or a block - show your face and show your support. Get behind your subject. Fight to keep our rights. Fight to keep equality and justice and honesty. Republican or Democrat or even independent - our rights and the rights of all in our country are being challenged. Stand up for them and stand up for yourselves. And after the parade in the days and months to follow -  make phone calls, sign petitions, write and send emails and letters. Constant vigilance is needed, especially in these times.

WHERE TO TURN???

     If ever there were a time when one needs to pull the blankets over the head and return to a dreamworld, well, here we are. And yet, that avoidance tactic will do nothing to solve the problem and worse will be waiting when we cannot delay nor ignore any longer. So what is it exactly that we are trying to avoid?
     We have been attacked, just as surely as we were attacked on 9/11. There was no literal blood spilled, but it does not bode well for the future of that statement as somewhere along the line we must respond or look like fools in the eyes of most citizens and in the eyes of the world. One cannot sit and rotate and just hope that the bad people go away. These "wild things", this "monster under the bed" is real, are real in more ways than one and yet, what is the worst thing about this whole incident?
     No, it is not that we were grossly hacked; we knew this had to happen someday and probably already has to a large degree. What is the worst is that we have either an imbecile as the president elect or a person complicit in this act of war and that should scare the pants off you!!! Those blankets are looking better than ever.
     So what is this man's reaction to the opinion of 17 intelligence agencies (never knew we had so many)? "I don't believe it," he says. It could be the guy in New Jersey or a guy sitting in a bed. And in the meanwhile, Russia is sitting there with its proverbial head in  its hand bemoaning the truth of the statement  - beware what you wish for , for it might come true. Did they wish to disturb the election? Yes, I firmly believe so and I am obviously not alone. Did they progress to the point of backing Trump, or rather destroying Clinton without realizing that the action had a corollary attached - Trump could then win and yup, their dream came true and now they have to live with it. Even Russia now realizes what a ninny, to say the least, that we will have heading up the government.  How does one deal with a ninny? Ask Putin.
     But the more important question is - what to do? How could we possibly have a traitor, knowingly or duped into it, as the President?! Should we just sign on the dotted line and hand it all over to Russia? Where exactly does this end? "No panya maya" - I don't understand - but actually I do. Trump, this man, was so hungry to prove himself real, not just a reality show joke, not just a person who made it on his dad's pulling his nuts out of the fire and by using OPM - other people's money -  that he did anything and everything to bring that about. Frauds at Trump University, withholding wages from workers and contractors, bankruptcies galore, legal suits  and here he is with his ass just about perched in the seat of power.
     There are now websites where people are posting their regrets about voting for him. Too little too late - unless we actually get the chance and have a roadmap as to how to undo this without causing civil war, without destroying the country and yet, and yet, if we do nothing, then where will we be in four years? Not in a good place, and that is for sure.
     This is an inherently dishonest man who tells lies as easily as lifting his toothbrush and brushing. No tax returns. No health report and remember - this dude definitely has something going on inside that head and it ain't good. Lies and more lies. So you who wanted change - you got it, huh? Drain the swamp? Oh yeah, we got even more alligators and snakes in position now. Why we have practically the entire oil and fossil fuel industry holding governmental office. We now have all people who oppose the very office that they are appointed to so basically, they will preside over its autopsy, the quicker the better! We now have another fool, Rick Perry, who could not remember the three agencies he wanted to destroy if president and guess which one the genius forgot and then remembered - the department of energy - the very one that he is now nominated for!!!
     Oh, as for the minor problem that all these people have major, beyond belief, investment ties to the very areas they are supposed to watch, to make sure they protect the citizens, well, not to worry; they will just take the path of their leader - lie, deny, obfuscate and delay. Now we are not to hear his, Trump's, plans till after the election. Perfect, huh!!
     Even his own party has had it, with even supporters of his calling for investigations and Obama is not ignoring this in his waning days of office and neither should we. Should we just hope that enough electors realize that if they are to fulfill their stated duties they cannot cast their vote for Trump as he is not "qualified" to serve. And then what? Then what? I will admit, should this happen and Clinton be chosen, I and many others, millions of others, will erupt with a shout of joy and to be honest - so will many others who have by now realized the major error of their ways. But, a big but, what will happen? and what would happen if the electors could not agree on a candidate? Does Obama stay in office? Is there an emergency law to be passed to make sure we remain intact as a country? Blankets anyone?
     From the sublime to the ridiculous. I cannot ignore the elephant in the room right here in CV anymore. David Israel is a perfect mirror image of Trump in all his inadequacies. For years he has just chugged along, using his negative personality to frighten people, to throw them under the bus, to dust them off at a later  date should they serve his purpose - and these fools go right back in all the while enjoying the mirage of power. We have someone who has neglected his fiduciary responsibilities to the Village and its residents and allowed the demands on its finances to grow like Topsy. He wasted millions, literally millions, on poor contracts, poor performances, lack of contract clauses that would have protected us, shut down all the media outlets, threatened and denigrated from his seat on high, on that stage where he violated every aspect of the role and behavior of a chair.
     And now where are we? Ready to pull the local blankets over your head? Well, we now are going to have to pay an enormous increase in our monthly fees and no one has ever said if that is a temporary one year increase or if we will just merrily roll along and add to it next year so that more wasteful projects can be undertaken, more poor contracts can be signed and hey, need an excuse? Here's one - the roads, another elephant on the lawns of the Village. It is getting into an even more desperate situation but I guess we might have to wait till potholes open up, but hey, nostalgia will tell us to leave them so we can feel a bit of the old homestead from up north!!
     Over $10 and that is just for WPRF alone. Where is UCO's fee? What about the needs of the association? And I have never had so many people coming over to say that they simply cannot pay. They have no more stretch in their budget and this will mean a change in their food shopping or cutting out that movie or G-d forbid, not taking insurance on the unit. It could mean a doctor visit less or medicines needed not being bought and  taken. Even those of us who had a little give are now feeling it. I am. And so are others.
     And what are we paying for? We are paying for a capital improvement, something that WPRF and Levy should pay for, but it seems that they are calling it a "repair". Really? I have a president elect you might want to buy if you believe that!! And this stems not only from greed, which now seems to be the fashionable thing to have in this country, but also from the Millennium Agreement and while it will be up rather quickly, what have we done to address its bad points? What have we done to set ourselves up in a strong position and stop handing the keys to the vault over to Levy? Why nothing, sirrah, nothing!!! Typical of the poor performance and actions or lack thereof of David Israel and crew.
    An alleged traitorous person for President of the country. An incompetent local dude for
Village president. Hmm...going to the closet for more blankets. As the song says, "There's a time for us", but when? Don't know about you, but this whole national situation is truly getting me down and a bit bewildered as to how we got here in the first place, though I really do know and I wish others would recognize why too. At least let us do something to fix our local situation and let us put those blankets away, lace up our shoes, take a deep breath and get on with it. Defend our rights here in the country and here in the Village. Time for breakfast. Time to get to work. Blankets away. Wagons, ho!  (Sorry, had to get that in as we were just talking about that show, Wagon Train, and its stars.)
 

WOW!!!!! A STRONG WAKEUP CALL

     Once again my choice of topic was preempted by another, stronger one. And while it has a particular call of an alarming wakeup for Jews, something I have been talking about for quite some time, it also speaks to the world and a choice we must all make and probably very soon, sooner than we think and definitely sooner than we had hoped for.
     People are afraid. People are desperate. Perhaps people think that this is a time never before seen or lived through, but they are wrong. Perhaps people are more cowardly, knowing that they could undergo great personal harm should they speak out? Perhaps, but then again, who says that harm will not happen should one not speak out? Nothing in history tells us that and in fact, it teaches us the opposite.
     It is said that a smart Jew will always have a passport up to date and ready but a wise one will have it in his pocket. Once that almost seemed to be a witticism but now, now.....there is concern but again, I will ask my question - where in this crazy world that we have now will there be a place of refuge, of safety, a place to raise children in security, a place for the elderly to live out their lives in peace and quiet, a place for people to build lives free of concern for their very lives, never mind their living! And it will be not only the Jews seeking haven but all the people who disagree with the powers in charge and control.
     We all remember the words of Martin Niemoller, the Protestant pastor who spoke of the taking away of people and the silence of others because they were not them and so now here is the modern version of it according to the brilliant piece I read this morning.

"First they came for the Muslims, and I did not speak out–

Because I was not a Muslim.

Then they came for the Mexicans, and I did not speak out–

Because I was not a Mexican.

Then they came for–

Wait! We were supposed to be safe this time!"

     You see there is no safety this time. The world has shrunk that much and the poison that is affecting one country, the corruptness that is sickening all countries, has arrived here as well, along with a willful blindness of the people, refusing to see and hear what is right there. We have a president elect who - dare I say it - could actually be committing treason, or colluding with those who have or already have done so being in collusion with a foreign country, Russia, and its leader for who he has already professed admiration - as he arranged for them to hack our election and interfere with the very bones of our country. Methinks the man doth protest too much now in his denial, with 17 - 17!!!- agencies confirming Russian interference. Even his own party members are calling for an investigation - which we have had already!! We have choices for office to run this nation all with one thing in common - they are all fantastically wealthy and come from areas of the economy that do not speak well for the common man, the supposed beneficiaries of a Trump presidency. What is going on? And why are we silent?

     A touch of humor in a not so funny situation? Be assured we are okay for Sarah Palin has promised that she will keep an eye on Russia. Whew! Such a relief!

     Here is why I am so concerned. The history of my people is right there and takes place again and again.

"There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them…." From the Megillah or Scroll of Esther

"We got next,  because we’ve always got next" and then the rest of you. No one is immune, no one. Esther was told by Mordechai that she had to speak up, waiting was not a good idea even if she seemingly had a good plan - NOW was imperative and so it is now. NOW we must stand up to those who would destroy our world. NOW is the time to stand up to corruption of the soul that seems to be catching. NOW is the time to call a lie a lie and not hide it under a new name. NOW is the time to stand up, demand the truth, demand that our country live up to its history and its values, that we turn aside all the bad that seems to be growing daily, replicating itself in leaps and bounds.
     We all said that we would know the signs, that we would be ready and yes, there are people, Jew and non Jew alike who do have escape plans in place, but again I ask where is that place of refuge? The world is too small for that to be. Instead, what we need to do is be brave and stand up and shout and yell and fight against a redarkening of our planet, against the new wave of young and vicious anti Semites, against the shadow of the swastika once more, against the polarization of our country and indeed the world, to fight against the loss of our souls.
     So today's  original posting will be here tomorrow - I hope - but today's had to deal with this. It is that scary and worse, that possible, in all its facets and intimations. Not again, folks, not again. Not for me and not for you and not for our loved ones and not for the world. NOW is the time to make sure that it is so.
     And so I borrow the closing quote from the article that is still giving me the shakes.
“These are the times, “ wrote Thomas Paine, “that try men’s souls.”

The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumphs."

      Let our souls and our hearts and our minds be up to the job ahead.