Random Thoughts and Observations

 

This week I thought I’d just jot down some random thoughts and observations. So, here’s some of what’s rolling around inside my head these days.

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Joe Biden did better than most people expected at the first Presidential Debate last week. Of course, expectations were pretty low. I still question his cognitive state (as in a previous blog - https://rdperryauthor.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-real-reason-joe-needs-to-go.html). He was more articulate than I expected, although he did stumble and mutter a bit a few times. Regardless, I still have huge policy differences with Biden. Even with his frequent flip flops, he rarely lands on a position I can agree with! But it was good to see him out of the basement. LOL!

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Speaking of the debate, the media continues to spread FAKE NEWS. Good example?

Chris Wallace: Mr. President, are you willing tonight to condemn White Supremacists?

Trump: Sure.

Mainstream Media Headlines – “Trump refuses to denounce White Supremacy.”

(If you don’t believe me, go back and watch it.)

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Just my opinion, but if you celebrate, rejoice, or make jokes about someone testing positive for a potentially fatal illness, then you are a horrible excuse for a human being. (Or as my younger self would have put it, you’re a POS.) I don’t care how much you hate the man. What’s wrong with these people?

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Don’t know about you, but I’m excited about this week’s Vice Presidential Debate. We don’t really get to see enough of Mike Pence, and he’s an impressive guy! Also, more people need to see Kamala Harris and hear her policies. If she’s willing to answer the questions (and not refuse to answer like Biden). Or if the liberal moderator even bothers to ask any legitimate questions. Should be interesting!

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The NBA Finals are going on and nobody cares. I know I don’t. I guess King James will very soon have successfully arranged himself another championship. After all, nobody plays the free agency system like LeBron. (I have a previous blog on that subject as well - https://rdperryauthor.blogspot.com/2018/07/how-lebron-james-ruined-nba-update.html)

Not watching the NFL either. (I do watch some highlights afterwards occasionally, but definitely not tuning in to watch any pregame nonsense.) The Cowboys lost again, so it was a good week. So, if you’re quarterback is worth $40 million a year, should he end every game by throwing an interception? Asking for a friend.

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And finally, The Walking Dead is back! Well, sorta. Finally got to see the season finale from last year, and the new series World Beyond, which was incredibly boring for the first 45 minutes until the kids finally made it outside. And Fear the Walking Dead returns next week.

What Exactly is a Liberal?

 I saw a recent Facebook post of someone who claimed to be a proud Liberal and he included the following definition of the term:

 

As I read this, I wondered where all the Liberals have gone. I certainly don’t see many of the characteristics above displayed by the so-called Liberals in the media and the Democratic Party today. And I also wondered how anyone who actually fits the definition above could have anything to do with the radical leaders (or policies) of the Party.

Consider the definition. Really think about it. When I see the vile, disgusting, hatred for the President (and other Conservatives) that my “liberal” friends post openly on social media, I don’t think “free and generous heart” or “broad and enlightened mind.” I don’t think, here’s someone who “advocates liberty of thought or speech.”

The definition above sounds like a really nice, thoughtful person. I know some people like that and appreciate those qualities, but I certainly don’t see much of that in today’s politics. Or in the political views of the Party that is supported by so many proud Liberals.

People with “free and generous hearts” shouldn’t be okay with the murder of millions of unborn children. People with “broad and enlightened minds” shouldn’t be so afraid to have a civil discourse with others who might have different views on social issues. People who “advocate liberty of speech” shouldn’t be so quick to condemn the rights of others to exercise their free speech. Nor should any of these “liberals” be okay with the destruction of our country at the hands of “protesters” who want to “tear down the system.”

Where in the definition does it say liberals should advocate violence and stir up racial and class warfare? Some of the most narrow-minded, bigoted people I know are proud Liberals. Makes me wonder if they even know what the word liberal means. Maybe they need a new label for themselves.

I am obviously not a proud liberal, certainly not in today’s sense of the word. When I consider the anti-American, anti-second amendment, anti-God, anti-Capitalism, anti-unborn, etc, etc, I see nothing of the above definition in the Democratic Party. You know, the party that is supposed to be the liberal alternative to the Conservative Republican Party.

So maybe we need a better definition of liberal. Or maybe we need to stop thinking of Democrats as liberals. A Liberal like the one described above shouldn’t be a Democrat. Not today.

The Great Computer Crash of 2020

 

Well, of course, my computer crashed recently. It’s 2020! I blame it on the notorious Windows Update, a feature that Windows 10 forces on its users, whether they want it or not!

In the old days, you could opt to have Windows automatically download and install any and all updates, or you could have them download and ask if you wanted to install updates, or you could just have them notify you if updates were available and let you decide what to do next. Either way, it was nice to have options.

But since Bill Gates and Microsoft know more than the rest of us, they've decided to just go ahead and update us and we just have to go with the flow. Unfortunately, the updates have a bad habit of occasionally crashing your computer. It happens frequently enough that it doesn’t even scare me anymore. I have some skills and usually I can keep the system running long enough for Microsoft to send out the next patch/update (without, of course, ever acknowledging that the update may have caused problems for some users).

So, a few weeks back, shortly after a recent Windows update (coincidence, I’m sure), I began seeing the infamous Blue Screen of Death! Incidentally, if your Operating System has such a well-known term for crashing, you might want to think about creating a more stable system that doesn’t cause so many crashes. Using my phone, I googled all the strange new error messages I was seeing and managed to limp along until the next update. And then, everything just quit working!

I tried everything I could before making the call for help. (If you’re local, check out Tiner Tech Solutions!) On the good news side, the hardware tested fine, and I was able to recover all my files. (Word of warning to my fellow writers – Back up your work!!!) I do have a copy of my writing files safely tucked away and I try to keep it current. And it was nice, to have my important documents restored.

But the bad news – I lost every program and app that had been installed. With my puny internet connection, I have been downloading for a week now to restore everything. And worse? Passwords! Who remembers those? Not me apparently.

What Exactly is the New Normal?

I keep hearing people use the phrase “the new normal,” and wondering if any such thing exists. I don’t know that the new everyone is talking about will ever really feel normal. Not to most of us anyway. I’ve begun to think (pessimistically for me, sadly) that we will never get back to what we once defined as normal or even close. So what changes should we “just get used to” and learn to accept? 

Social Distancing 

I guess handshakes and hugs and other forms of physical contact with others are just gone. This really bothers me a lot. I tend to be a touch/tactile person. I need to feel some human contact every now and then! It seems weird to lose that. And even the term bothers me. Since when is being distant from others socially supposed to be a good thing? 

Masks 

I guess the whole world has become a bunch of germaphobes. Why? Haven’t we always been surrounded by an endless supply? Now, I don’t mind the extra emphasis on hand-washing, and improving general hygiene is a good thing, but the masks don’t feel at all normal. And honestly, if you’re not using a medical grade device, you're probably doing more harm than good (according to the CDC). And if that’s the case, aren’t we really just talking about a new fashion accessory? An uncomfortable one at that! Oh well, maybe it won’t be so bad when the weather turns cold. 

Lockdowns/ Shutdowns 

You do realize that cold and flu season is coming, right? And whether it’s the flu or the common cold, every time somebody sneezes, everyone within a block is going to freak out. And the lockdowns are normal now, right, so now every time the disease of the month affects a higher number of folks than the average, we all have to stay home and businesses have to shut down and the whole country’s economy has to suffer? What a crock! 

Hateful Politics 

Okay, so this one actually predates the virus, but now even health issues have become part of the ugly world of politics. And I guess there is no such thing as civil discourse anymore. And why are people so ignorant about the way government works? You do know there are actual mayors and governors who have a lot more control over your daily lives than the politicians working in Washington DC. And the vile and nasty things said frequently about the leader of our country by political opponents and the mainstream media continue to get worse each and every day. And sadly, the Office of President apparently deserves no respect anymore. Most of you, I hope, understand what I’m talking about. The actual position, not the man, should be granted the respect the title deserves (regardless of your opinion on the current holder of the office.) 

Professional Athletes and Celebrities as Political and Social Activists 

I am a firm believer in freedom of speech, but the idea that somehow pro athletes or movie stars or pop singers are considered experts in regard to politics or social issues is just crazy. Especially when, as a group, they tend to be so extraordinarily uninformed. If all you can do is repeat the media talking points and blast that out to your millions of social media followers, you certainly have that right, but it would be nice to see you put some of your (considerable) money where your mouth is. And I don’t mean by contributing campaign funds or bailing out protesters. 

Violence in the Streets 

Or what the mainstream media and the Democratic Party like to call “Peaceful Protests.” Despite the daily efforts by the media to portray the violence as the fault of the President, you do know that it is the Left who are doing all the burning, looting, and destroying of property, right? And you can justify it all you want, but opposition to another political party or their elected leaders does not excuse the nonsense that is happening. (Sponsored and paid for by some serious Anti-American organizations!) 

Don’t know about you, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to consider these things normal. 

Labor Day

Labor Day – A Time for New Beginnings

Well, it’s the first Monday in September, so that makes it Labor Day! So what exactly does that mean? Other than an extra day off from work or school, many people have no idea what the holiday is all about. Honestly, I didn’t really know myself.

A federal holiday since 1894, Labor Day is a celebration of the American worker. (You can read all about it at the History Channel’s webpage https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/labor-day-1) Promoted by the unions at a time when hours were long, wages were low, and conditions were brutal, the idea was adopted by several states before becoming a national holiday when it was signed into law by President Grover Cleveland.

Strikes and walkouts and protests had become increasingly common (and violent) and Congress acted to appease the labor unions and honor the working men and women of the country. It was a small gesture, but a meaningful one that has lasted. Thankfully, the other issues have been improved upon as well. Laws are in place to protect against the abuses that prompted the rise of the unions long ago.

Today, most Americans just appreciate the break, the “unofficial end of summer.” The older generation can remember starting school after Labor Day, and the holiday also signaled the beginning of many fall sports’ seasons. Even fashion was affected – “no wearing white after Labor Day” – right? Whatever the day means to you, most of us see it as a fresh start of sorts. And don’t we need those on occasion?

But seriously, hats off to the hard-working Americans who certainly deserve a day off now and then! So, enjoy the day and let’s remember to pray for our country, today and always.

Labor Day Part 2 Another Look

Last week I wrote about Labor Day, a celebration of the contributions and achievements of the American worker. To stay positive, I cut out all the political comments which resulted in a pretty short message, but that’s okay. Here’s the rest of the story.

Despite the absolute crazed hatred of the President by the media and the Left, the economy is booming and unemployment is lower than ever for many segments of our population, particularly women and minorities. Black and Hispanic unemployment is at record lows. These are great reasons to celebrate and praise a growing number of American workers!

The reality, however, is that there are still way too many people in our country who are not working. Unemployment is supposedly 3.7%. A lesser known stat, the Labor Force Participation rate is 63%. (Basically 37% of the civilians who are able to work are actually not working or looking for work.) So, which statistic is accurate? Mark Twain is often quoted as saying “There are three kinds of lies – lies, damned lies, and statistics.”

The truth is that both statistics are true and they represent good and bad news. It’s good to see the low unemployment figures, but it’s also sad to think that there are so many non-working people in our country, as many as 96 million. (https://money.cnn.com/2018/01/10/news/economy/95-million-out-of-workforce/index.html) Sadly, these are Americans between the ages of 16 and 64 who are healthy and able, but have given up on even looking for employment. That’s a staggering number.

It also explains why there are so many people on welfare, in one form or another. Why work when you can live off the government and the sweat of others? Statistically, “21% of Americans participate in at least one government assistance program.” That amounts to over $445 billion in welfare programs in the US, which includes 79 different programs. (https://www.lexingtonlaw.com/blog/finance/welfare-statistics.html)

Now, I have no problem with the government using tax dollars to help the unfortunate, but that seems somewhat excessive. Especially if 96 million of those people are choosing not to work. Or if those people are not even citizens of this country. “63 percent of households headed by a non-citizen reported that they used at least one welfare program, compared to 35 percent of native-headed households.” (https://cis.org/Report/63-NonCitizen-Households-Access-Welfare-Programs) I know some of those people are in desperate need of assistance, but we’re talking about money that is being taken from tax-paying workers. American workers.

Sadly, it will only get worse, unless we do something. Every one of the Democratic candidates for President can hardly wait to give away more “free” stuff. Meanwhile, hardworking American citizens are footing the bill. So, while a lot of non-workers and non-citizens are lining up for their “free” stuff, many US workers are still paying more than their fair share for programs for which they never seem to qualify. One way or another, the middle class always seems to get a bill in the mail.

If you raise people’s taxes (as all the Democrats propose) to give them “free” healthcare, or college tuition, or a universal basic income, or whatever, then it’s not really free, is it? It’s a losing proposition and the biggest losers are always the working class. So now, even more strongly I say, hats off to the American worker! Labor Day was great, but maybe one day of praise and appreciation is not enough. So, once more - Thanks for all the hard work!

  

The Latest Liberal News Network

Welcome to the inaugural issue of America’s latest online news channel! Follow and support the Liberal Young Intellectuals News Group, the LYING Network, where just like Joe, we choose Truth over Facts! Let’s begin with some political news.

Mean, nasty, horrible President Trump bypassed Congress and used an executive order this week to ban Goodyear Tires and the NBA. Long-time basketball super fan Ben Apathetic responded by saying, “I’m sorry, were they even playing games this year?” Trump has indicated the possibility of further action to ban both the NFL and MLB. “I’m actually helping the players out by giving them more time to pursue their social justice activities.” The President also acted this week to send a pair of hurricanes to devastate our country! Being the racist that he is, he made sure that the storms intentionally avoided the homes and businesses of white people and targeted only poor and minority populations. Undocumented citizens were hit particularly hard by the wind and rain.

On the other side of the aisle, Democrats announced plans to rename their Party. Leadership is hoping to avoid the increasingly negative opinion of the party by a complete rebranding. “We’re going to start over with a whole new name and since our membership is too slow to realize nothing else has changed, we think our approval numbers will show an immediate upward trend.” The new All Liberal Political Organization, ALPO, is not concerned with possible confusion with the well-known pet food company. “The crap we feed you is better than dog food!” is being touted as the party’s new slogan.

Presidential favorite, Joe Biden has announced his plans to begin a complete remodel of the White House basement on his first day in office. “Who needs an Oval Office when you can easily and safely run the government from the basement? Besides Jill and Kamala have committed to bringing me all the snacks I need while I stay safe and out of sight.” Kamala Harris fully supports her running mate and had this to say, “Well, of course Joe is a racist and a segregationist, always has been, but since he picked me, I can’t think of a better choice for President. And hey, he can sniff my hair all he wants, if it gets me into the White House!”

In other news, the NBA has joined forces with Antifa and BLM to raise money to rebuild cities destroyed by all those peaceful protests. Players are encouraged to donate a penny for each million dollars they earn to help those less fortunate than themselves. Bazillionaire athletes and celebrities LeBron James, Colin Kaepernick, Robert DeNiro, Taylor Swift, and Alyssa Milano will host a Prime-Time Telethon later this month so that middle and lower class citizens can contribute some of their hard earned income for the cause. (You know, instead of those rich celebrities actually giving away any of their money!)

And finally, in book news, look for these new releases from the New York Times Bestseller List! From Al Sharpton, How to Get Away with NOT Paying Your Federal Income Taxes, with a foreword from Willie Nelson entitled “White Privilege and the IRS.” From Michelle Obama, a new children’s pop-up book about her husband entitled The (Former) President Who Wouldn’t Go Away, and yes, he does pop up on every page! Lastly, don’t miss Ivanka Trump’s new biography of her father called It’s Good to Be the King.

And that’s all folks! Come back next week for more all new and completely untrue news!

The Trouble with Writing #159

I’m having motivation issues this week! I know, Boo Hoo. According to my notes, I have posted 158 previous blogs! I have another ten or twelve that are started, but not finished, and then, there’s today. And I’m just not feeling it!

As with any hobby or profession or obsession, there is a need to believe that what one is doing is worth the time and effort expended. Some days, the answer is just NO! Most writers get discouraged on occasion. I guess this is just my time.

Months ago, I chose to stop writing my latest book, so that I could concentrate on editing and publishing my previous novel, Return to Eastlake. (There is also another completed one waiting for revising and editing.) That sounded like a good plan at the time, but in the last several weeks, I have avoided working on that book as well. I still plan to have it published by Thanksgiving, but I don’t know how I will do that unless it starts to work on itself!

Let me confess that I never expected to make any money from my books. I really just wanted to share some stories and I hoped that someone out there might find them interesting. I’ve been pleased with how well the books turned out and honestly, I’m proud of the accomplishment, but it’s hard not to be discouraged when you get a royalty check for less than a dollar! Yes, that happened this week!

It would have been less painful to just go yet another month with zero sales! But no, I had to get an email telling me that my latest royalty would be deposited in my account this week. Exciting, right? Until I checked my bank account and experienced the phenomenal feeling of success that accompanies a $0.26 deposit!

Anyway, enough of the pity party. I have work to do, so have a great week and I’ll try to be more enthusiastic next week!