INNER VOICE, INNER SOUL, INNER CHILD

     From where I sat there were misty eyes throughout the room. Every adult was pounding hands together for all they were worth. They had to, for if not, if they did not clap long and loud enough then Tinkerbelle would die, not even make it to the story itself.
     But the adults were clapping for more than Tinkerbelle. They were clapping and tearing up for what was, for the innocence of childhood, for the optimism that once permeated the very air we breathed here in the United States and they clapped in the hopes that maybe, just maybe, we could pull ourselves out of this miserable current situation and fairies and what they represent would live once more.
     The play Finding Neverland is now at the Broward Center and worth a visit. The cast was wonderful, the play both serious and funny and they hit every line the way they were supposed to. And the message it sent was clear. Look into your eyes, the mirror of your souls, of your hearts and minds, and truly see what is there. Find the inner child that still remains inside and use it, allow it to guide you in moments of need - that is the inner child that represents what is good and healthy, innocent yet wise.
     It is a funny thing to say that when we have a child now in the Oval Office. It is a weird thing to think that the inner child of one is sitting there in UCO allowing his own temper tantrums to be displayed right there on stage or ring throughout the halls of UCO. But these 'children' give us glimpses into that inner heart and soul of these people and it ain't pretty. One ensconces himself on the couches of the White House or his fancy gilt encrusted hideaways and watches, obsessively, the TV screens and tweets away as his favorite and perhaps only true way for him to communicate his thoughts, such as they are. The other hides in his back room in UCO, never mingling with the residents, never taking advantage of the facilities, of the shows, of the very company of anyone other than perhaps his 'Eddie' and his computers.
     Watch children in action, See how they reach out to new people and sights. See how they can react to adults, see the truth of adults. Children and dogs they say. (Personally I could do without the dogs but that is just me. Do not deal well with critters of any type.) Hmm, guess that includes two legged critters as well. When we lost that spontaneity, when we lose that honesty, when we lose that ability to empathize, when we turn to the dark child within us, that is when we begin to lose the world. It is that dark inner child that blackens the world, that puts business over people, that puts personal gain and personal desires over the good of the electorate and it is that dark remnant of childhood that is now ruling the world in too many places and when a person in power embraces that child, turns to murder and hatred, turns to oppression, turns to rampant prejudice, well, Tinkerbelle and other fairies are dying. We need to clap once more, loud and long and clear.
     When we have a human animal who now crashes a car into a crowd leaving a mosque, when we have an Alex Jones telling the world that those Sandy Hook kids did not die, when we have him not dealing well with Megyn Kelly and good for her, when we have a lawyer, one supposedly who comes along complete with a brain and we have that very same lawyer trip multiple times over his own tongue denying Trump's part in the whole mess and the fact that he is under investigation - when we have all that - those fairy lights are dimming. 
     We need to be aware of those who would kill off those lights for good, those who see their own needs as the driving force of whatever community they infect. We need to be aware of the rot they encourage, the rot that eats away at our own values and cause us to turn on our neighbors, the rot that raises evil and disturbing thoughts in one's mind.
     No one is perfect and we have both the good inner child, the one that allows us to look within and see what is right and the evil one, the dark one who encourages us to the wrong side of life, the one who chooses to leave the goodness of childhood behind and only take the schoolyard bully along. That is what we have now too often. We must clap those hands, truly look ourselves in the eyes and be honest with ourselves, not defensive, not ashamed at the wrong turn we took, but merely put it aside and go the right way now. And if some tears come along with this road of rediscovery, then so be it. And remember the tears that were shed, the blood that was shed when man behaved inhumanely towards other men, be it the Holocaust or slavery or other genocides. Today is Juneteenth, the day the Emancipation Proclamation reached the ears of the Texans, two and a half years late. Would that we could all emancipate ourselves from evil that still remains in the world.
     "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."  (Victor Frankl)
     "In spite of everything, I believe that people are good at heart." (Anne Frank)
     These people stated these beliefs in truly a most horrific time and in an unfathomable set of circumstances, when hate ruled the world. If they could say that, if they could put this positive spin on humanity and its power to choose does it not behoove us to think on that and choose the right child and pound those hands. Let the light shine again.
     
     

THE ADMINISTRATION THAT IS NOT

     In two days we will be hitting the fifth month anniversary of Trump's administration, but wait! Did I say administration? What administration? It seems that the only jobs that Trump can fill are those beginner jobs filled with younger folks who are looking to build their resumes, to getting a toe in the door, but as for the secondary and tertiary levels? Forget it! Just not happening.
     First it seemed as if the man could not make up his mind. Then actually many questioned whether in fact he actually had a mind!! Then it seemed to be that those nominated for the job could not get properly vetted and approved as there were too many issues, or they backtracked and turned the offers down as they would have to give up the chance for lobbying or divest themselves of their stocks, etc. Not quite sure why these lower levels were so stressed about that issue as their leader(s) seemed to have been able to keep their wealth in stocks and investments without a problem, particularly el Donald!
     In any case, Republicans who were offered jobs turned them down as they felt they were then too exposed to toxicity of proximity, or of being thrown under the bus, or of getting publicly reamed out like a child under the thumb of the schoolyard bully.
     The latest turndown of a job was by a Milwaukee County sheriff who decided he did not actually want the job in Homeland Security and this from a controversial man who had a person die of dehydration while in his custody. Lovely caliber of people we are looking at!!
     Potential appointees are worried about being tarred with the same brush of stupidity and  cupidity that has smeared Donald thru his own actions and statements. You see, no one is immune from the consequences of one's actions. Sometimes it takes a bit longer and sometimes it is immediate, but - the truth always comes out. Always. No one wants to be mixed up in this toxic atmosphere and so our government goes unstaffed and G-d forbid we have a dire emergency - who will be those that take care of it? Where will our administration be then as they cannot take care of the people that this administration is supposed to serve. And all the while poor Spicer suffers from delusions as he insists that people are just about banging down the door for a job. Uh huh.
     History is too often filled with those who thought they could get away with anything and yet history also shows us that these dictators were unhappy in their assumed roles and gave in to paranoia and murderous impulses From ancient times till today, there is not a dictator who has not done this and look at el Donald. If he thought he could get away with it, he would go for it, shred the Constitution and take all the reins of power in his hot little hands. The dictators are the ones he emulates as best he can and whom he praises to the sky. And why not, for they seem to return the "love". Look how Russia has seemed to safeguard his trademarks in their country. It just all smells to the heavens.
     He is involved up to his neck, red tie or not, in the shady dealings with and of Russia. He has refused to clarify his own holdings and wealth to the satisfaction of all, ignoring the standing tradition of all recent presidents of opening their books. But this man thinks he is above the law and fumes away on Twitter, accusing one and all, of 'hunting' him. How does he not see who is in his mirror looking back at him? And how does he not realize that no one but no one wishes to work with and for and in a toxic and dangerous environment where the boss does not give you his loyalty and in fact, will throw you under the bus without thinking anything of it.
     This same category of an administration that is truly not,  is to be found right here in the Village. Read the lists of the committees, check the names against the listing of all the committees and the officers and see the truth. This place is being run by six or seven officers plus another inner circle of ten people or so and I am being generous in that number Any other person will be blocked especially if one opposes the Lord and Master, David Israel, who emulates Trump to a tee. Then we will get the plaintive calls in The Rag to volunteer but no one wishes to unless they are willing to give up their independence, their very heart and soul.
     Secret dealings and meetings in both administrations. Health bills being concocted in secrecy. Contracts being signed in secrecy and notice that the problems that we raised in the DA were NOT addressed. For one, though we ostensibly have received funds for a project manager - where is that same person? Looking at resumes they say. Truly? I have  a private bet with someone as to who will fill that job. And as for the possibility of Atlantic not being ready at close of the Comcast contract and their ostensible VERBAL offer to pay up for us, that verbal never got translated into writing in the contract as David rushed to sign his name. What is in it for him that he rushed to sign while major areas of contention and of major importance to us were left dangling? What about our choice and surety of available channels. Why the hell would Atlantic now sign an amendment to the contract, now that they have us exactly where they want us. So is this why suddenly  David was oh so worried that there would be too many people in the room during signing so he had it done in secret and announced it later.
     Two administrations that need to go. Here in the Village we need to get that one resident owner one vote passed and enacted. Snow birds are to be included in that but as for renters - uh uh. There has to be some degree of ownership, of a stake for a person, if one is to vote. Too easy for renters to up and leave. The question of snowflakes would need to be decided but personally, if a person owns and comes down and does not rent to another - then voting privileges should be  allowed and one to a person, not multiple votes for multiple units. Resident! We need to use tamper proof on line voting and no, I think we are safe from the Russians so we can do this online.
     The lies and the chicanery that go on in both substandard administrations are awful to contemplate. Both need to go. Impeachment? Voting out at the proper time? Non violent implosion? Choose a way but choose quickly for the future is not too bright with these invisible administrations and these naked emperors. Then perhaps we can go back to a normal situation and then maybe  almost every book and every movie and TV show will not have to have a pejorative statement re el Donald! I understand why and I truly feel the same way but I wonder - how the hell did we allow this man in office and in fact, how the hell did we allow David Israel to stick around and pull his shticks, much to our detriment.
     The administrations that are not. Just lovely!!
 

1825? SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD YEAR?

     Civil rights? The rights to a better education? The right to protect the consumers, the workers? The right to revoke and rescind all civil rights and prevent any settlements made from becoming law and setting precedents? And just add to that the money that Trump wishes to return to banks that will not "trickle down" but would rather go to the shareholders and we all know that. Making for a great vintage year, does it not and then just add to that the increased and more vocal demand from the Republicans to loosen the gun laws. Duel at the Capitol at Noon? A new picture?
     It seems that despite all the hullabaloo made about the travel ban and the immigration stalkings, that ICE is proceeding apace and made a deal with Iraq to corral and send home immigrants here, mostly being Chaldean Catholics. Many of these people are kids who were brought here as young children and who do not even speak the language any longer. Some have committed crimes but when and are they hardened criminals? Do they deserve a death sentence for evidently ICE and Trump seem to be blind about the discrimination against and the killing or rather slaughter of Christians of all sects in Iraq.
     There is a verse in Leviticus that states "You shall not stand idly by the blood of your fellow human being" (Chapter 19 verse 16). Are we going to stand around while people are consigned to the dust heap of the world. Are we going to ignore the fact that death sentences are not only being passed on the immigrants but also upon standard good old Americans who happen to be needy, are poor, are in poor health, have low paying or no jobs at all, no retraining, are aged, alone and now we have the oh so astute appointment of an old crony of Trump's, a party planner, a liar who claims a law degree from a school which says it has no record of her ever being granted this degree, and now she has been given the authority over the billions of dollars involved in the NY metropolitan area for housing. Wow!! His appointments get worse and worse and we are the losers because of them.
     We are responsible for our fellow man and by the way, that includes women as well for the rights of women seem to be trampled upon by Trump and his crew ever more so on a daily basis. This morning we even find out that the policy found in DAPA, Deferred Action for Parents of Americans, has been cancelled. So less protection for these "terrible" immigrants and parents of legally American citizens. Just about what is expected from a heartless and soulless administration. And lookee here - Trump has just now changed his tune and says he will allow the Dreamers to stay. For how long will this stand?
    ".... to investigate Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election — and any "collusion" with the Trump campaign — his assignment also includes "any matters that arose or may arise” from the Russia probe."
     This is the assignment and responsibility given to Robert Mueller and his assembled staff, a very capable crew, to do. Evidently Trump does not appreciate this and is ranting and raving over the "witch hunt" he is suffering. Truly!! He is vehemently stating that there is nothing there and should not be subjected to a charge of obstruction of justice. Now we read that Jared Kushner is being investigated by Mueller for his role in this whole abominable mess. In the meanwhile, Trump seems to think that his position as President puts him above the law, as he does with his ethics violations, his business conflicts and anything else his tiny and mean heart desires. He will find out otherwise but then the question is raised and what, we get Pence? Oy vey!! But then again, maybe the Republicans and the Trump worshippers will have finally learned that Trump is not only naked, but is also dangerous to life and limb to our country, the world and all within, even our very planet.
     In any case, I like living in today's times with all that I hold dear and 1825 and its outlooks of that time are not attractive at all. The question is - why do these others find it indeed attractive and why are they trying so hard to drag us all back there? Sniff, sniff. Smell anything, folks?

A LONG SHADOW

     There is much anger in this country. I have written time and time again of the explosive anger and yesterday warned of the impending implosion if the situation remains the same. And yesterday there was a first exposure of that anger as a senior citizen took shots at a group of congressional baseball players. He was afraid of Trump and his politics, afraid for loss of social programs and basically angry at the world at this point. Thank the Lord above that he had bad aim for it could have been worse and actually, some of the consequences are not good at all. Aside from the wounded, we are looking at potential disastrous results. First of all, we have the first shots fired in a war that until now has been mostly non violent, just overlaid with that burning anger, disappointment and fear. First shots often lead to more, especially if we do not pay attention, but I am afraid that the attention will be to try to attempt to tighten the reins and turn America into  that Amerika that many in DC would like. 
     Second of all, we have those who are now crowing that they will start carrying around their pistols and guns. This is not, at least now, a daily occurrence but the anger in Congress rises each day. Are we going to have congressmen shooting at each other as a result of that anger and gun carrying? And what will that bring about? A dissolution of that very same Congress? We already have the Koch brothers at work trying to organize an attempt to totally destroy the Constitution and replace it with a new one that would severely change our country. Long may that flag wave? Not by them it won't.
     And what is another bad consequence, what ensues from the behavior coming out of DC is the long shadow that it casts over the country. We have our own UCO where the president is desperately trying his best to emulate the dictatorial and insane policies of Trump. He pretends openness but does most after secret meetings of his immediate officers and his most trusted man behind the throne, 'Eddie" Black. He proclaims he is after the benefit for the Village, yet signs a contract in secrecy giving the excuse that he was 'concerned' over the crowd! Truly!! And we do not know whether those concerns we had about who will cover the huge cost of Comcast when Atlantic does not reach us in time? What will the channel set up be, for with a look at the contract signed, it appears that those who wish to watch in Spanish, or French or even Portuguese will be quite happy. Others? Well, tough on  us I guess. What about reviews, what about specifics that are truly pinned down as to how many will service the Village, how they will attempt to fix problems, will they keep us up to date on their progress in getting to our area? None of these are answered and who knows what is going on in Davidland and who benefits? Qui bono - who benefits is always the answer and it is certainly not the Villagers. Not at all.
     Maybe we should let the shadow get even longer, but this time in our favor. First, we will formally announce the promotion of Lanny Howe to the position of chief brownnoser to David and he can learn from Pence who is "blessed" to work for Trump, "privileged" at that! Second, we can get a lawyer like Mueller to investigate just what has gone on over there in the UCO building. Today it had been announced that Trump IS under investigation. Wow, I am so shocked - not!! Perhaps we need that lawyer over here to investigate all the breaches of David - fiduciary, politically in his running of meetings and anything and everything else. We need to prevent him from  passing his new documents wherein new bylaws will just about shut down the democracy that is still here in tattered remnants.
     Well, at least David Israel does not have the power to turn on a dime and curse out Qatar as a terrorist funding country and then sign a deal for $ 21 billion dollars arms deal with an immediate sale of $12 billion dollars worth of warplanes and other such lovely items. Think it would mean something extra special if we and our troops are bombed by our own drones and planes, shot with our own weapons? Oops, silly me, that is already happening to a degree! Nothing new under the sun, is there? ISIS is already adapting our drone technology and using it with a great deal of success, to the detriment of our armed forces.
     People, the time has come to stand up and be counted, both here and in the Village. Brian Mast poses as the friend of us even as he votes to dismantle the protections afforded us in the Dodd-Franks bill, so I guess he is not worrying about another 2008 meltdown and as David and his crew pretend to service the Village, neither in Washington nor in the Village are our elected and appointed officials serving us but are rather serving themselves. Not a good situation at all.
     It is discouraging to sit here and write most every morning and see the situation worsen rather than improve. Oh well, at least I can depend on Samantha Bee taking it all up in her own inimitable way and making me and millions of others laugh. Even the Australians can laugh at the imitation of Trump. Sad, is it not. We are the laughing stock of the world, even of our allies, we, who used to be the leader of the Free World, an example to others, a role model. Now what do we model? Nothing good. Bigly sad.
     
     

DOES THAT "STAR SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE"?

    Irony indeed. Today is Flag Day, a day when we honor the meaning and the history of our flag, that star spangled banner and yet today is a day when we can question whether it still waves over America, whether it still means what it has meant to millions over the two and a half centuries that it has indeed waved from one side of the world to the other.
     In fact, the question truly is, whether America is still what it always meant as a concept, as a representative of all that is good in humanity, of the higher aims of humanity, of the willingness to know it is not perfect and to go after that which made it imperfect. Today, at this nadir of American history, the answer is sadly no. We have sunk to a point where truly, the flag means nothing, its history is mocked, its depths shallower by the day, and Betsy Ross must be turning over in her grave. I wonder what those Iwo Jima heroes would think now of the flag they raised on that brutal island. We have honor flights but what do they really mean in the context of what is going on in Washington today?
     Today we read of a mayor who removed the portraits of Trump and Pence from town hall because he stated that "respect is earned, not demanded" and it raises questions about the man in the Oval Office who demands loyalty and respect and for what? Quite frankly, at this point he has my sincere disrespect for he has dishonored his position, his office, this country - my country.
     Just what is going on today? We have a Senate hearing where the questions fell once again according to Party. Republicans tried to whitewash the Little Mouse testifying, allowing him to give long winded answers that responded to nothing that was asked. He was consistently allowed to plead an invisible executive privilege because Trump 'might' one day wish to invoke it, hence his refusal to answer questions directly. He "cannot recall " - the most obvious hideaway response of all those who have done something criminal or illegal or immoral. He contradicted himself time and again and when Kamala Harris pressed him, he was rescued by McCain and Burr  who then allowed him to wander the world in his answer, but no answer was actually forthcoming.
     So we have a President who has to be defended even though he is seriously incompetent and deranged. The image of the man with a sickly grin on his face as he went round the table soliciting compliments from his officers was truly nauseating, They were "blessed" to serve him, a privilege to serve him - but they serve US, the People, not this man who emulated every single dictator and tyrant of the world who always solicited praise about himself. One could superimpose the face of Hitler over Trump's and the meaning is clear - disgusting and dangerous. This man, this awful man, who now has over 200 lawmakers suing him for violations of the Emoluments Clause, who changes his mind more than a woman going thru her closet trying to find the right clothes to wear, this man who now says that the bill that he encouraged, the bill to repeal and change the healthcare in this country, this man now tells these people who listened to him that the bill is "mean"? Truly!! Who made it so, who brought this about?
     So today we have a story how the rich are buying land to survive the apocalypse - uh huh, guess there really is a climate issue. Guess there really is much to be afraid of with Russia and terrorists and once again the rich survive. Told ya that we are all scheduled to die!! Saves money for the important stuff - like the thousands upon thousands of dollars that Melania's clothing costs! Wow, so much in common with the base that elected her husband, right?!
     In a book I just finished, Testimony, one of Turow's characters states ever so truly that " After meeting people regarded as "legends" that what is called charisma, this outsize attractive power, was often rooted in madness. We experience these people as extraordinary because deep psychic distractions prevented them from observing the same boundaries the rest of us had learned to adhere to...... (yet)There are no rules, no order, no civilization if everyone is simply out for himself."
     Can anyone find a better statement that is so descriptive of Trump and where we are today in the country, what this man represents and where he is going with his philosophy that business rules the day, particularly his!! As Commodore Vanderbilt once stated, "What do I care for the law? Haint I got the power?"
     Actually WE have the power if only we will choose to exercise it. We can throw the pols in DC out of office. WE can stop weasels like Brian Mast from doing any more harm. WE can throw Trump out of office, force him to resign for if he does not go and take his corruptness and  lack of care for others, there will be an implosion within this country the likes of which we have never seen and that bodes no good for us. The downfall of Rome will be nothing compared to the downfall of the best shot that humankind had - the United States of America. So let that flag still continue to wave. Make your displeasure, your disgust, your anger be clear as water. Get this man and his phonies gone. Truly drain the swamp and long "may that star spangled banner yet wave". Look at that flag today and ponder. Please. Please.

WHICH ROAD?

     We are at a crossroads. Right here in the Village we are at one and in America the same type of choice awaits our decision. Are we going to stand up to what amounts to incapable government, decisions that are bad from the outset, government by a few for the many, even those who want no part of it, or are we going to stand up and shout "Enough!!" 
      Robert Frost wrote of the road not taken and there are many meanings and interpretations, but today the fitting, most apt one is the choice between the high road and the low one. We have made a major mistake, in both places. We allowed the tinpot dictator here to ram thru his programs, such as they are, and his financial decisions full of folly and woe for us. Our CAM appears to be working hard, but it is not enough to overcome all that needs to be done. Our finances are a mess and what comes across as a budget constantly neglects to answer the question as to where and how we are going to find the funds to take care of the crumbling and aged infrastructure, the funds to repave the road and do it right this time, the constant repair on the Clubhouse - both of them- that are actually capital improvements but we always suck it up and pay for it. Where is the money to come from? With all reserves going into a big  slush fund, there is no way to tell and no way to separate it all out. The only road to take here is the road of on line elections where tampering would be nigh onto impossible - that is, unless the Russians are coming!! Seriously, there would be none of this recounting any more, this sham of honesty that still stinks to the heavens and the voting needs to follow democracy - one vote per resident owner. Enough of David and back to the way it should be with term limits, a constant flow of new blood and new ideas as volunteers are actually welcomed into UCO and  asked for heir thoughts, not shut down as they are today.
     Even more so do we have to choose the high road, the one which tells us that we have a government full of thieves and liars, incompetents and governmental amateurs at a time when we truly need public servants, professionals and honest people who know the needs of the people, be it healthcare or jobs, honest jobs that actually lead someplace, that offer a future. They know the needs of the environment and the need for us to work with other countries of the world. We have irritated our closest allies, be it the UK, France, Canada, Mexico or any other country which functions on democracy and not tyranny. On the other hand, it appears that Trump woos the dictators and murderers of the world, from the Philippines to Turkey. 
      The ranks of the government are empty as more and more choose to separate themselves from the ever growing cloud over the White House. Those who need to be confirmed are not reaching the Senate for that because no one wants the job and Trump is not nominating!! This is not a do nothing regime, far and away the opposite, but what it is doing is horrific and so bad for us.
     Now we have a suit brought by lawyers from DC and Maryland who are arguing what I have long ago stated - that the moneys that foreign governments pay to the Trump outlets - or inlets, if one wishes - are a violation of the emoluments clause and a high violation of ethics. In fact, this whole administration violates ethics left and right and what is most annoying is the growth of the heirs apparent, the Trump family. Donald JR. seems to have developed a role for himself within the government, perhaps he will be called a new senior adviser right there along with Jared and Ivanka!! We do   not need a royal family, thank you!!
     When Sessions himself lied thru his teeth at the hearings then whom are we to trust when the very officers who are supposed to provide and guide justice in the country are themselves guilty of violating the law, grossly so. They took the low road and we need to go high and show the world once more that we are ourselves, open to the world, prepared to take our role and place within it. We need to show our own citizens that we welcome them, that we will provide that social safety net for them, that we will provide the funding for the new jobs for a new economy, that we all have  a future - once we get rid of the trash now ensconced in DC. Not an easy job nor an easy road but it must get done. We must choose and choose the correct road or the future will grow even more dim. Choose.

JINGOISM REDUX

     Jingoism is a form of extremism, usually in the area of foreign policy and aggressive statements or threats. It goes quite nicely with populism and nativism and all these terms are not in the best interests of us or the world. 
     There has always been a false theory that any nation can so choose as to go it alone. But almost from the very beginning national policy, any nation's policy, was always determined by what would happen with its dealings with other countries and globalism grew until today there is no one country that can isolate itself, not even North Korea, who uses the world's media to advance its policies and who has gladly accepted food aid when their citizens were literally starving in the streets. So Trump can put aside all his chitchat in this area and face reality.
     Nativism and populism are simply adjuncts to that outmoded theory and its only "grace" is that it allows people to cover their base and nasty prejudices and violence, cloak it in a fancier term, but it is what it is, no matter the name. The biggest purveyors of jingoism, nativism, always hawk their statements camouflaged as stating the needs of the nation, stating its problems so as to arouse the populace and cause them to turn into a mob, literally or figuratively. So Hitler did, so too does Trump as he goes on his 'campaign' trips even as his Presidency crumbles around him.
     We, the people, have to choose. Are we going to give up our grievances and work towards a better and fairer world or are we going to continue to sulk and blame all on someone else, dream of a time long gone and that is never coming back short of an apocalypse? 
     We need to stop the passing along of lies, sheer lies, calling it news, and following along the byways of liars, pure and simple. A man known for his fake statements, including the use of a pizza store as a sex site, or that a Democratic staffer was killed, now types out that Comey declared Trump innocent, that he had never asked for the investigation to be stopped or handled differently. Did we all listen to the same hearing? But pass this trash along did the rest of the self deluders and even intelligent people who refused to believe what they had put into office, passed it along. 
     At some time we must recognize what was done and pay the piper. But there are those who continue to deny. The man is ignorant so he is innocent of any true misdeeds. The man is not a politician so he can be excused for his moronic and madman like behavior. But is that so? Ignorance of the law is no excuse and never has been in the courts of law and if one deemed himself worthy of being President then he must do his homework. Period. And not a politician? Truly!!! Any one who has ever worked in business or education or indeed any workplace where there is more than one person knows that politics is the name of the game so cut the crap!!!
     Swamp critters are swamp critters and it matters not whether they are crocs or gators or caimans. They all will gladly chow down on you and yours so lobbyists given waivers that bypass Trump's supposed new rules about them, businessmen who want to dismantle all that we have done to build a safer future, who preside over the demise of the very departments and programs they supervise - these are swamp critters who come in with the arrogance of business CEOS who can do as they wish as long as the cash flows.
     “It's not about the party; it's about the people. And I can tell you the people are pissed.”  So says Gillibrand, whom I hope runs next election in 2020.A tad earthy, but so true. There is nothing in Trump's program that is for the people unless they are of the ultra wealthy. There is nothing there for the people unless one can dig in along with the rest of the carnivores who devour the safety net, cut all social programs, who would leave the disabled in a bad way, who would let children starve, who know that the world has changed but who refuse to recognize it as it affects their wallets. But we are getting close to the tipping point when there will be no road back.
     It is time that we fixed our election process and just as we are fighting here to get a basically one man one vote system into place in CV, so too do we need to do that here in the country nationwide. It would take a change in the Constitution, but that has been done before. We need to streamline the process of removing either a crook and/or a madman from office. We need to strengthen our system of ethics review and consequence. We need to do a lot of work and make no mistake about it, as we improve, so will our relationship with the other nations of the world. We are now being left behind and this will continue until there is a sane and knowledgeable person in the Oval Office who truly cares for the people and the rest of the world. That is the job of America. Too bad that our supposed leader and gang have forgotten that and have resorted to jingoism and nativism. Truly sad.

Petition

Thanks for your help ! Thanks for helping defeat mandatory Wifi and the increased fees that go with it. We appreciate your signing our  " Just Say No to WIFI" petition . Thankfully the initiative was defeated due to your help and our persistent opposition, Now we need your help in a new initiative to give each and every unit owner a vote in the election of UCO officers.  We are presenting a petition to the Advisory Committee to amend the bylaws so that you and all your friends and neighbors in the village have a vote and a say in who represents us. Though we only need 25 signatures on the petition we would like to present a petition with a lot more names as we feel that it will have a more profound effect on the committee To add your name to the growing list of residents who agree click on this link and fill out a simple form. We are also proposing that a new system be adopted that facilitates voting over the internet. though this is not part of our petition we believe it's an idea who's time has come. Becker and Poliakoff, a prominent law firm specializing in HOA and Condominium law is offering an approved system allowing electronic voting over the internet.  Another idea who's time has come !

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A CATHEDRAL YOU MUST SEE - NOT WHAT YOU THINK

     Today I has an amazing experience We went to the Cathedral of Learning that is an integral part of Pitt, the sister of Carnegie Mellon. It is the closet one can get to Hogwarts in style and architecture and it is amazing.
     Totally build like a cathedral, it is amazing. I told my son I am coming back to enroll in the university so I can sit there at the antique tables in a rarefied atmosphere and study and learn. The aura is inspiring and the most amazing thing about it is that it is still in use as a building with lecture rooms and classrooms. There are approximately 40 rooms that are dedicated to the culture of different countries, with accompanying guiding talk. The ability, the right, to sit in these rooms and learn - wow!!!
     Over and over we heard about universities, as early as the 10th century, the pride that the nations took in education, in the idea of freedom, of truth, of decency and I wonder where it all went. How did magnificent cultures and countries deteriorate into today's countries? Where did the culture and the humanity go? Where did the decency or at least  the striving for it go or when did it turn rancid from disuse?
     No pie in the sky naif, I know that there were some terrible things going on throughout man's history but certainly we could have, should have advance rather than receded. We have lost sight of what we should be, what we need to strive for, to seek the truth, to abhor lies, to continuously improve ourselves, better ourselves and make no truck with those who will not, who knowingly step off into the evil for the benefits it gives them.
     A trip to the Cathedral of Learning should be a required outing for all politicians, for all CEOs and perhaps then they will feel the shame and take the steps needed to improve he world - but first themselves.
     Pie in the sky, I know, but that Cathedral!!!
     Wonder if Trump has ever been there - one does not even have to read to benefit from it.
     

HAPPY DAYS!

    Bet you think that happy days refers to the Comey hearing. You are wrong! Today I am happy because it is my B-day! Yay! The messages from friends, new and old, from students from my past life, it is kind of overwhelming at times. And no, no cards or wishes form Trump - Comey neither and none from David Israel!! Oh dear!
     Seriously, I never expected that at this stage in life I would be protesting again, writing my heart out, frustrated at the turn of events, confused at the world and its actions and kind of pessimistic at times.
     Yet I also am grateful for my blessings - my kids, my grandchildren, my friends, my life - and my best friend, Gerry. I am thankful for my faith, deeper than ever at a time when sometimes faith is all we have to hang on to and I thank G-d for giving me all that I have though could have left out a few surgeries! Seriously, in times like these
when the stress is high, when the anger rages in the country, we all need to retain a sense of humor, knowledge of the importance of friends and family and knowing that eventually things will right themselves.
     Tune in later in the day for a more serious posting. Now I am off to receive more birthday  kisses from the grandchildren. Love it!!

SORRY SORRY SORRY

     So sorry, folks. We left the house at 3:30 AM to catch a plane for Pittsburgh and have just caught our breath. A captain was missing , then found, a piece broke but was fixed and finally we reached our little ones. They are now blowing bubbles with the gum they are not allowed to have - a grandparent's perk!
     What I found time to do was listen to Comey and wage a battle within myself to not explode with frustration and annoyance. It is shocking to think that all this could go on and even more shocking that a member of an institution based on law did not reveal the violations immediately. Why not? I am not a fan of Comey and believe he did wrong with Clinton and now with Trump but on opposite ends - one where there was no need to say anything and one where it should have been blasted from the windows of the FBI.
     How could we have allowed such a crook to become president. Thought we learned from Nixon. How could we not see the difference between Camelot and TrumpWorld? How could we allow the unethical behavior to permeate our government? How could we have allowed his entire family other than Barron and Tiffany to get involved? How and when does this reach a border, a point of no return and a point of us saying - OUT!!!
     What gave me hope at a dark moment was hearing on line a video put out by an Arab group that protested violence, that sang of love and meeting enemies with peace rather than hate, that Allah was better than the terrorists who kill people, even the innocent. There is hope in this world, as hard as it may seem right now.
     Tomorrow I hope to write a longer posting, one which perhaps can  make sense of what happened today and where we are going to go with this. Reading that the GOP Senate members think they can go on with repeal of the healthcare - that just blows my mind. Their ostensible leader is a crook, a liar, a predator, a disturbed man and yet they continue to strip the protection around their electorate.
     Think the world will make sense tomorrow? We will see what the morning brings.
     

TO BE OR NOT TO BE

    No, I am not rewriting Hamlet. In fact, while his question was whether to commit suicide or not, mine concerns whether it is wise to be afraid or not. This was a question posed to me by a resident of the Village and was a multi-part question.
     My first response was to be yes, very afraid. I believe that the clock has ticked over to one minute before midnight. We have no sane leader of the country, we are pulling ourselves into a small hole, away from the world, ignoring our obligations and have turned into a country filled with hate, filled with concern at a mad leader and worried over the fact that every day another piece of information comes out related to the Russian probe. Yes, be afraid, be very much so.
     Yesterday I watched a video of an observant Jew in LA get beaten up by a man waiting there for him to pass. The date? May 22, 2017. I just read a report of a 65 year old Jewish woman, Sarah Halimi, in France being held captive and tortured until she was thrown out a window to her death, all the while the police and media standing outside her apartment door doing nothing, nada, zilch!! When? April of this year. Am I afraid, oh yes I am, especially when I read this morning of a drive by directed at two good kids because they appear to be of Moslem heritage, shot just before their graduation from high school. Is this what our country and the world has become, just a bunch of disaffected hate filled people, ready to harm others who are not 'like' us? Be afraid, be very much so.
     We have more reports of Trump asking his national intelligence officer, Coats, and Pompeo, to intervene with Comey and the investigation and of course we know the incident with Comey who was so set off balance that he asked Sessions to run interference for him and keep Trump away from him.
     We have reports of an obsessed Trump obsessively watching TV, tweeting away for all he's worth, cursing out the media, the "enemy of the people"! "The FAKE MSM is working so hard trying to get me not to use Social Media." MSM is mainstream media. He is vowing to take action and what will be that action? Talking, quite inappropriately to people who are on the committee in the Senate, dreaming that all would be forgiven and he can go ahead with his hateful plans? Sure, why not scare some more people away so now we have children who are American citizens being denied food stamps because their parents are afraid of being deported and their children being left alone. So there ya' go - the death plans once more. Be afraid, indeed so.
     Today there is as report out that "President Trump's charity foundation funneled $100,000 in donations meant for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital into revenue for the Trump Organization by using his son's charity, Forbes reported Tuesday." And this has been going on to the tune of $10 million dollars over ten years. This is indeed the bottom of the barrel, taking money away from kids sick with cancer and other awful maladies and taking care of his golf courses instead. What a pathetic excuse for a human being, never mind a leader. Afraid? Oh yes!!
     The second part of the question concerned a local 'leader', David Israel, a leader very much in the same category. No, I do not know what he gives to charities nor any intimate details nor do I care to know as that does not impact on the Village. What does is his abrasive and immoral manner of behaving and running his show. Yes, his show and evidently not ours. He violates Roberts' Rules when it suits him and violates every ethic of a chair at a meeting by behaving in a partisan manner and taking time away from the speakers to announce and reinforce his opinions and desires.
     He continually foists financial disasters upon the Village and it is only through the hard and determined work of some that we have avoided many of them. He is obsessive in his behavior, mannerisms and goals, none of which appear to have any benefit to or for the Village in the long term. His latest fiasco? Trading the realty building for a shack that needs major renovation and why? Because WPRF said it would be a  good idea? Because Levy said let's switch a wreck for a good building? Because the Rag needs a place to function? Not that they truly function as an independent organ of the Village for they are simply a mouthpiece for David Israel and allow no dissenting voices to be printed or discussed in the paper; in fact, the Rag treats these people as nonexistent until it comes time to denigrate.
     He runs things in a Trump like secret manner, refusing to allow in any dissenting voices and like Trump, has a difficulty filling positions because most people are either forbidden by him, banned, or people simply cannot deal with him and his behavior and his mouth.
     And when one disobeys that man sitting in the backroom all day, when one dissents from his plans, he threatens, he discards and he shouts nasty stuff. So was I afraid of him I was asked, afraid for what he could do to me? Well, most emphatically NOT afraid for what can he do? Illegally? Perhaps, but then again, that is pretty dangerous for him so I doubt that. And legally? Deny me a place in UCO, the ability to perform my responsibilities as an Executive Board member? His loss and the Village's loss so am I afraid? No indeed. In fact, it just makes me laugh that much harder.
     But the fact remains that he is killing off this wonderful place, slowly taking apart our financial stability and amenities. Am I afraid for that reason? Oh yes indeed. But I must admit that he falls far, far behind the other so called leader whose deeds and behavior and incompetence and insanity make me much more afraid for us and for the future of the world.
     To be or not to be? You decide for yourself.

TIME TO FACE THE MUSIC

   The title is actually incorrect. It is not music we will be facing or hearing but rather a dissonance that has adversely affected us and indeed the world at large.
“His complete incompetence, his complete failure, and his complete inability to see his incompetence and his failure as anything except personal brilliance would get him fired everywhere from the boardroom at Microsoft to the deep fryer at McDonald’s.”
     This is written about Trump, a leader who is most emphatically not! Keith Olbermann exposes this naked emperor and states clearly what I have been saying all along - “Donald Trump is not of sound mind,”. For sure we need to correct this situation, but it is not easy to face what we have allowed to be done. It is not easy to impeach or remove a sitting president but this must be done, it is imperative that it be so.
     When a leader once more assumes the role of a most inappropriate schoolyard bully at a time when a leader of calm mien is needed - that is not good. When this happens time and time again, it is even worse and there comes a time when one must say goodbye and not with the sweet tones of Bocelli, but with the anguished and angry tones of the American people. Even his friends are sadly admitting that he is being himself and this self is most emphatically not good for us nor the world.
     When State Department staffers, when Acting Ambassadors around the world resign - that is not good. When the man turns on his own aides, the ones he chose himself, that is not good, and when his main adviser is a populist and a nativist - fancy words for a bigot, one who in a previous century might be found in a white sheet, then we are on a dangerous edge of what? A calamity? It is already here!
     This sick man, this demented man, sitting in the Oval Office, finds it more important to punish the leaker rather than repair what was leaked. The leaker is a whistle blower and it is sad that  these reports have to be leaked rather than be addressed and of course, the first 'leaker" they choose to charge is a young woman of 25 - not those of the White House or the Congress, but a kid, who leaked a report of Russian interference in the election. Wow!! As if we did not already have knowledge and proof of that!
     So what do we have now? We have a man who profited over the past few months from Saudi delegations staying at his hotel trying to fight off a 9/11 bill. Nice!! Good business, right? $270,000 of good business! Ethics, anyone?
     We have admirals and generals who are warning us that we are falling behind, lagging behind in energy replacement, lagging in research that is needed to face the future. Coal anyone?
     We are a country where a baseball minor league team is allowed to advertise with a Caucasian Heritage Night or now an "Hourglass Appreciation Night" and you guess what that refers to!
    We have lost all manners, all decency, have retrogressed to a more vicious and backwards time and look who is at the head of it all - a self confessed sexual predator, one who thinks that TV is reality, that he can be a man baby even as the country and the world deteriorates in front of his eyes. Time to take action. Time to impeach or remove him from office via constitutional means.
     It is a sad and dangerous time for us now when we desperately need a leader, a sane and rational and capable leader and all we have is a big baby who throws tantrums, who thinks he can command all and frighten all, a man who would tear us, the United States  of America, tear us down and away from the world, yield our position of leadership, abdicate our position as leader of a world trying to be moral, trying to do the right thing.
     These are desperate times, as has been said before, but the words fit the times and the needs. We must face the music, the music that we have allowed to be corrupted, the music that strikes the ears with dissonant tones. This is not an Aaron Copland production of atonal music but rather the noisy and disturbing music of a broken mind.
     There is nothing more to say at this point, is there? The need is clear.
   
      

BACK TO VOLTAIRE

     "It takes twenty years to bring man from his vegetable state inside the womb... to the stage where he begins to grow into maturity. It took thirty centuries to learn something about his structure. It would take an eternity to learn something about his soul. It takes only an instant to kill him."    Voltaire, 1764
     Read those words and feel their wisdom. Feel the truth found within those sentences and then ask oneself what the hell are we doing? We find ourselves living in a world that seems to echo all day and all night with the sounds of violence, with the sound of weeping, with the roar of hatred and we wonder what to do about it.
     And amongst the wonderers certain thoughts come forth. We remember Goldwater and his "extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice." We encounter the thinking throughout history that says that one must lose some individual liberties if we are to have security, but then we must think over that again for how many societies over the centuries have promised that security and never truly kept it going nor gave security to those who were ripped away from their families in the middle of the night?
     War always comes up as an answer to the violence of terrorism. It has been tried often, but masses of troops are not the answer either as we have found that out to our detriment as we continue a war of almost two decades in Iraq and Afghanistan. War seems to irritate those caught within its spiked web, only raising more violence and die hard opinions. "Men are not made for war. But neither are they made for slavery." (Jean Guehenno, 1942). Yes, there are some wars that needed to be fought because all else failed and we need to be able to see more clearly which path needs to be taken, but we need to be absolutely clear and make the decision in a calm and rational manner.
     Having a madman sit there and tweet away, use his capitals incessantly, get into a fight with the mayor of a city under attack, shout about how we need to tighten bans here in America to keep us safe - no, folks, this is not the answer either. We are not made for slavery either - not for the slavery of rules that break the back of society, that turn us from the achievements of mankind back to the rude and crude ways of a dictatorial society. That has been tried before and is still being tried in certain countries and it leads to naught but more violence.
     We need sanity more than ever but it seems that all we are getting is more insanity, more shouting and more threats. Ban these people, threaten those, attach suspicion on anyone who dares to question and Eugene McCarthy is smiling in his grave. Yes, we need to be vigilant but we also need to be realistic and wise. Unfair rules and regulations cause people's backs to rise and tighten and then we simply get more violence and a split in society such as the one we are building right here in our country. The two sides will never hear each other, never think over the concerns and worries of the other person and the dream of America will be gone, shattered and for what? Turning America into Amerika is not the answer. Never the answer. Never!!
     So the USA is tightening visa applications. Fine, although it is already very tight - if only we would remember to scrutinize and smooth the operation into being able to actually see the individual standing before the booth waiting for entry. But we are careless there and also forget that the borders of any country are leaky, even the borders of the countries that used to live within the Iron Curtain boundaries. It is never sealed tight with no space for leaks so simply adding pages to an application that is already tight is foolish. Besides the fact, once we set up sealed borders, no visitor laws and crazy competition out there in the world rather than cooperation in the economic and scientific and humane areas, what do we have left? Only the desire  to keep breathing, even under awful rules in breakback societies, but is that what we want for ourselves and our children? Can you remember all the names and passwords you have used in the past five years? I cannot and I bet you cannot either so why do we expect others to be able to do so and if not, what? They are banned forever? So we lose their contributions to our society? We ignore the value that immigrants have added to our country over the centuries. Think of the names of foreigners who fought in our own Revolutionary War, from Lafayette to Kosciusko to von Steuben and others. Alexander Hamilton was an immigrant as were so many of our fighters in our ragtag army.
    We must keep our sanity and our heads and only that way will we keep our freedoms. Yes, it appears to be that this streak of violent and extreme Islam must be stopped, but we must find the right ways. Setting up extra burdens on those of our citizens who happen to be Muslim is not the answer. It only pushes them away and stops them from helping authorities. We have lost too many people because of religion. Jews were often the target of this religious hatred and religious canards, the Holocaust being the most recent and actually the anti Zionism that is barely disguised anti Jewish hatred appears to be alive and well today. Must we add more hatred of others to the cause?? It never works.
     Today four Arab nations have cut ties with Qatar due to their support of terrorism, one being Saudi Arabia - hypocrisy to the nth degree, but perhaps they are learning,  We will see. And do we hear  Trump saying we are pulling our 10,000 troops out of Qatar where they are based? Shhhh - nope, sorry. All is quiet.
     So we continue to live in a world that is changing its geography, changing the challenges, man made and natural, denying reality in the words of others, losing our perspective and even our leaders are loyal to themselves and to their party, demanding personal loyalty from Party members and is this America? Is this the future of the world? It is a sad future - an awful present - we are expecting and living with.
     Do I know the answers? No, way above my pay grade, but certainly the answers we are getting now are not the answers that work either. We need thinking outside of the box. We need open minds and hearts. We need to develop trust. We need to reach out to others, allow them into society so that they will turn against those who would destroy it. We need to show that all of us are victims. Now I am not a particular admirer of Justin Bieber, but out of the mouths of babes we hear words of wisdom. At the OneLove concert in Manchester he shed tears, as did many others and said, that he has not lost hope, that  "God is good in the midst of the darkness; God is good in the midst of evil. God is in the midst, no matter what is happening in the world. And He loves you, and He's here for you." Perhaps we need to refer back to the Image hidden within us for we are sure not doing so well right now. We must change. We must.

WHO ARE WE REALLY?

     Who are we? What truly resides in the hearts and minds of all of us and is there no hope for us, for the world? Opening the computer last nite I found that what had been my quiet and restful Sabbath had not been so for the world. Yet another attack, this time in London, a three pronged attack, with one area being London Bridge. As one who has an avocation of British history, there was a special sting to it. Is there nothing sacred anymore? Are we to destroy ourselves and all the bookmarks of history while we are at it?
     But then I remembered a tale I read from a wise man and it gave me hope. There is a legend about the Divine Image and the angels of G-d. Hearing that man was to be created in the image of G-d, they decided they needed to hide that as humans were not worthy of this honor and the debate arose as to where to hide this Image. One angel said to place it on the highest mountaintop, but another said that it could be climbed. Another said to leave it at the bottom of the sea and yet another angel said also no good for humans will be curious about their world and will explore.
     One angel came up with what was felt to be the best idea. The Image would be hidden inside man, the last place they would be likely to look and so it was done. Most religions and truly religious people know that we must look for that Image within us, seek it out, strengthen it and foil those, from angels to man, who would prevent us from being the best we can be, from truly living as we should.
     Even those who have no religion can find this Image thru their deeds for they instinctively feel that man is meant to be good, to be kind, to be peaceful. Yet today it seems that man has truly gone off the track. There are those among us who lead the unsuspecting to evil places There are those who act more like the image of the Devil rather than the other way. They cheer the blood and the pain imposed on others. They cheer the sight of blood and death.
     These people are the cowards of mankind. There is no glory, certainly no Divine Image present in these actions no matter how they are disguised. There is simply at the heart of it, an evil that needs to be eliminated from within us all, for these killers instigate hatred in others and a vicious cycle runs endlessly, leaving horror behind.
     But this horror is not the possession of only one religion. Rather it can be found within all as extremists have been known throughout history to kill those who are different from them, who worship otherwise, or even do not worship at all. Whips and beheadings, prayer patrols, no matter the country, imposing one's private beliefs on the public via laws - all are wrong and all lead to bad and worse things.
     So who is man? What is to be the destiny of Mankind? Will the evil within us win out or will we delve deeply within ourselves and find the strength of that Divine Image? Will we truly feel the sympathy for others, the understanding of how this horror has come about, the ability to separate the evildoers from the innocent or will we mash all together and create more horror and diminish hope? Will we just be people who take advantage of horror to push our own agenda? Trump using this in a truly gross misuse of it, displaying opportunism at its worst, is an example par excellence of the contravening of the Image within us. This needed to be an opportunity to stand up to terror and madness as did the Mayor of London. It needs to showcase the brave people who stepped forward to help, to shut down the perpetrators. That is what is needed, not more hate for that leads nowhere. We need to be above what these people wish us to be, to become.
     A wise man in Jewish history, a great Rebbe or Rabbi, once scolded his students with a statement. "Masks! Where are your faces?" We, all of us, wear masks over our true faces and feelings. We need to remove those masks, to show our true faces, to allow ourselves and others to see the true inner selves and if we all do this, if we learn how to do this as children, internalize it as we learn our religion and learn of our humanity, then there will be hope. But till we do, there will be more of this violence and it behooves us all to look within, to reach for that Divine Image that will lead us to the proper path. Bombs and knives and guns break us apart, literally and figuratively. How do we teach the opposite? How do we become the better people we can be? Would that we have an easy answer, some simple actions to achieve that. It is always easier to take the low road, the shortcut, but most times there are bad results from that. Doing good, being good is not easy and demands that we invest a great  deal of energy into that search. May G-d bless us all and all our efforts to reach that goal.

STOP THE WORLD - I WANT TO GET OFF!

     What a world. As our head here in America we have a man who has now defined himself by two countries who know no freedom, no democracy, only violence - Syria and Nicaragua. One is a pile of bombed out rubble and dead bodies and the other is a monument to bad and violence in government. And here we are, opting out of the Paris Accord as the third nation to do so. Shame on us and shame on Trump - again.
     So Elon Musk has resigned from a White House committee as have others in various industries because Trump is being  a shortsighted man of no vision at all in this deed. Perhaps when he sees Mar a Lago go down for the third time he will realize that he did wrong and then he will say oops! Too late. But at least we have industries here who realize that our economy would benefit from  technology that will help clean the air, provide clean water, stop the meltdown at the Poles and give us and the world a chance. There are cities and states that are doing the same and even wish to join the Accord on their own.
     Yesterday, as I read his decision, I said to myself that maybe a move to Canada or even France would do the trick of bettering the situation. At least Macron has the toughness to know what to do and as he said, " To make the world great again!" In the meanwhile, Trump is actually sandblasting the American economy and jobs will be lost.
     This is not the end of his stupidity as he pens in another message that would allow companies to not provide contraception coverage. I remember paying for the pills every month and thought it wonderful when my kids did not have to or for anyone to pay for the choice of contraception,.Now we will have no coverage - but Viagra et al are covered for you guys  and so once more women have no control over their own bodies or at least having it very difficult to do so. An inevitable result - more back alley abortions, more death, more maiming, more unwanted babies, more domestic abuse and more people dying for lack of medical coverage and health care, but it must be the 'mindset' as Carson maintains!!!
     There is a lack of caring today in the world and that is represented quite strongly within the Trump administration and actually right here in the Village. Ethics seem to be  a rare and hard to find principle. David Israel hates me with a passion and why? Because I tell it like it is and show no fear of him and in fact, ridicule him and call him out on his dictatorship tactics and his falsehoods and lies. Today there was a close call on the Atlantic contract and he won after calling out after anyone who opposed it and we, the Village, will suffer for it just as we did with the roads, infrastructure and financial issues in the Village. I will not relent and will watch and write of what I see. And if he hates, well, he can join the crowd typical of Trump who seem to hate all who are different, the "other".
     The world is a hateful place of late. Nooses are drawn and left on buildings, a vicious symbol of hate. Old and nasty prejudices are being raised and shouted and bruited about with the alt right reveling in it. If one does not follow the mainstream then one is wrong, worthy of hate, of diminishment. The latest piece of scary news - the governor of Kentucky is establishing prayer patrols!!!. So what is next? Whips and beatings if one is not modest enough or if one does not join the prayer as it comes by? What is the difference between this and the "modesty" patrols of the Moslem countries and the whips of the Sharia patrols? Actually - nothing!!
     So as the world itself is deteriorating, as the world groans under the burden of environmental disasters that we have placed on it, as the situation gets worse and as people turn a blind eye to it for selfish reasons, we, the people of the planet turn worse as well and it will get far worse than that as the situation grows dimmer and hope fades. Take a look at a map of the earth and place a pin where there is a flare up, a war, a dictatorship, a crackdown on liberty, mass imprisonment and growths of hate and you will soon have more pins than one could believe.
     So just came back from seeing Wonder Woman, a superb movie. Of course, I loved hearing the Israeli accent of Gal Gadot, Wonder Woman herself, but the movie has a message as well as a story and good acting. Basically it states that we, the humans on earth, mankind in particular and emphasis on MAN, have a choice. We have within us good and bad, light and dark. It is up to us what we choose. WE choose either evil or good and one cannot be abstaining from that choice because to stand aside is to allow evil to flourish and we have heard that from many philosophers over the years. Whatever power it was that you believe in, that gave us the choice, that power has given us the individual power to choose and thus what is in the world is in us!
     And it is indeed a shame, a criminal act, an act of base immorality, when we have a government of the United States of America that now is appealing to the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, to make it official that bias and hatred will be the law of the land. One can only hope that these judges will be touched by the power within them, the responsibility within them, to do the right thing and not allow hatred to cover the land, to turn the land dark with prejudice and violence. This is not a question of conservative versus liberal, but a question of good vs evil. We are all the children of immigrants or immigrants ourselves. We must remember that and hope that the spirit of those that founded America remains with us, within us.
     Go see the movie. Go read some history. Go read the Bible. Check your inner soul and realize what we have all come to, when we demonize all those that differ from us be it in opinion, or skin color, or ethnic background or cultural ethos or religion or tribal affiliation or sect in the same religion. How petty and how dangerous and mean have we become. And I admit, it is sometimes very hard to hold back when one is the target of vitriol and lies, but why must there be that at all. Why can we not rely on truth and goodness, love, or at least not hate, perhaps call it cooperation if you must?
     We have not done too well of late in this area. One can smell the sulphur of the demon, the darkness of Heart of Darkness. We feel the eerie current of hatred and prejudice and the smoke from the ovens of Auschwitz can be seen again. We destroy each other's cultural symbols, do idiotic things such as banning the movie from Lebanon and other areas because Gal Gadot is Israeli. Pettiness that leads to larger areas and depths of hate and that hatred leads to death.
    Enough of this already. Enough. We can feel that we want to get off this world, but we cannot so let us try to cooperate to save it and mankind.
Let us all become Wonder People. The clock is ticking and I would bet that it is now about one minute to midnight.

THE DIE IS CAST TOMORROW

     Tomorrow morning we vote whether to give David Israel permission to sign on the dotted line for Atlantic whether they fix the missing details and questions or not. That means that Atlantic will still be able to switch channels on us without warning - and their selection already stinks, far worse than Comcast. They will be able to raise fees ANYTIME they wish. They will not hold themselves responsible for breakage of the lines or no service - and how many times do you think that will happen with only one line coming up from Miami - if it even gets here on time.
     Comcast has multi millions of customers or subscribers all over the country- the biggest footprint in this arena. And Atlantic? 1.5 million in twenty states. To compare is a joke - on us!! And as for people to service us? Atlantic has under 200 employees and Comcast - thousands upon thousands so who will have the numbers to service us? Uh huh.
     There are
some fairy tale numbers coming from Ed Black about how much service calls will be costing the Village. First of all, it does not cost the Village - it costs the individual who calls so to put it on the Village is incorrect. Second of all, it has been years since we have had service calls and that goes for many of my neighbors. Just check the numbers for service outrage from Atlantic's subscribers and even free it is worth nothing!! Besides the fact - who knows any service company that does not charge a service fee when they roll? Call for a fridge repair or air conditioning or whatever you want - always a service fee.
    Want more numbers? Okay. How about the value of the Xbox for free. That comes to about a million dollars a year if figuring the $10 per month times the 7,000 plus units times 12 months. Go figure that out and let us ask again - where are we saving the Villagers money and where is it just a number plucked from the air. Jack Adams knows his figures - listen to what he says and see who is right - him or Ed Black - Jack all the way.
     I could keep going, but people tell your delegates you want to say NO for Atlantic. NO for David signing a contract that sucks and royally screws us. Say NO to bad numbers. Say NO to signing a contract that is incomplete and when did you ever hear of that being done? Say NO to Atlantic.
    And notice, I am not calling anyone names who disagrees with me. They are just mistaken, grossly misunderstanding of what this contract will do to us and if doing this purposely then there are serious issues here to be discussed at another time. But this Atlantic is not good for us at all. SAY NO!!!!
Please note that I will be posting a new piece later on today. Thank you for your readership, here and abroad.