Headline: School shooting in USA. Students killed. USA: That's the price of freedom. The 2nd amendment protects us from a tyrannical government. World: What is tyranny? USA: The government rounding up disfavored people off the streets & locking them up. World: So how's that working out for you?

I let the person behind me, with only a tub of ice cream, cut ahead. After he leaves, the female cashier said: Imagine being married to a woman who sends you out in this weather for ice cream. Me: Imagine being married to a man who loves you so much that he does. Its all in the perspective!

Took my vehicle in for service at the dealer. Dealer: Would you like a complimentary car wash? Me: of course. Why do you even have to ask? D: Some people keep their vehicles really dirty to try and defeat plate readers. They get upset when we clean them. So now we always ask everyone.

Today I had my 1st pushback in a while for wearing a mask Early 20s F, kept messing up my food order complaining she couldn't hear me. Created quite a scene, slowed down the line, got everyone's attention. Handing me my food, said if I would not wear a mask, things would go better Payback time...

What is the hardest think about practicing medicine? The answer may come as a surprise to most. This doctor sums it up perfectly in 45 seconds. Sadly, this applies 100x times worse to veterinarians😢 youtube.com/shorts/_RFYT...

I loved this insight from Galen Druke: People do not turn out to the polls to say "Thank You" They turn out to say "Fu<k You"

At the eye doctor. Tech: We need to check your BP. Me: Go ahead (wondering wht they want to do that). Tech: Your BP is 175/78. Is this normal for you? Me: No. I am usually around 115/75. Yech: OK. I will put down 115/75 in the chart. Seriously? What is the point? Required by EMR software?

1/3 From a conversation with a GOP insider about yesterday: In 2024, people were sick of the economy. Many felt others were doing well, not them. They saw Biden as sincere/caring, but ineffective. They did not see things getting better for them. Many took a chance on Trump because it was a change.

In Salt Lake City for a few days. I remember my first trip here exactly 4 years ago. I didn't like it & was so utterly miserable. So much has changed since then -- all for the worse. Those were the good days and I'd give anything to have them back. Appreciate today; it's tomorrow's good old days.

At the signing of the "peace plan" I saw leaders from lots of countries. What I did not see were any representatives from Israel or Palestine. Am I the only one who sees the echoes of the Balfour Declaration here?

Currently in Salt Lake City. Based on waste water analysis, right now, it has the highest COVID rate in the country. Taking a Lyft. Driver: Cough, cough... (deep, wet, productive coughs). COVID is over. Why do you still wear a mask? Cough, cough... What can I say to someone like this?

In a nutshell, MAGA to Pope: Stop lecturing us on morality. Just shut up and pray.

To whom a lot is given, a lot is expected. Many believe nothing was "given" to them. They earned what they had with their hard work. That may be true. But it happened only because they were given the physical and mental capability to be able to work hard enough to achieve what they have achieved.

I recently discovered this young artist: Lucy Thomas. She has an amazing and polished voice, even though she is only 21. This collection of 5 covers of popular songs is a good introduction: youtu.be/CoePwCrWkdc?...

Looking through old papers, I found a ~30 year old note from an older colleague and a "dating mentor" She gave me a bottle of cologne as a birthday gift with the note: "Use just barely enough so she can feel it, but not smell it." Best direction on how to use cologne!

As end-of-empire scenarios go it is so much more dignified to get your capital city sacked by the Visigoths than to have a bunch of illiterate rich people in their 70s doing it through a series of incomprehensible tantrums because their brains were defeated by their phones.

An acquaintance, ~60 male, died suddenly of a heart attack. He was having "heartburn" for 6 hours before collapsing. He refused to go to the ER because the last time he went, they told him he was wasting their time. Basically, a poor interaction over something trivial ended up costing him his life

Person describing their dog: When it comes to men, he either loves them or hates them. There is no 3rd choice or in-between. If he loves you, he will die for you. If he hates you, he wants you to die for him and will try his darn best to make it happen right away. 🙂

A relative from Canada visiting Dubai had to go to the ER with chest pain. Was released after a full workup. Both of us were impressed by the quality of service & professionalism. We were equally shocked by what it cost. Him by how much & me by how little That's the dichotomy of our healthcare!

One of our dogs is having some behavior issues, and we have been texting with vets and trainers about starting him on zinc. The problem is that half the time, I type Zynq, and the other half, it tries to auto-correct zinc to Zynq. If you know what I am talking about, you are my kind of people🤗🫂

Sir Hartley Shawcross, the chief British prosecutor at the Nuremberg War Crimes tribunal, said in his opening statement: "There comes a point when a man must refuse to answer to his leader if he is also to answer to his own conscience" Republicans: Are we at that point yet in the USA?

This phrase from the musical "The Man of La Mancha" has always stuck with me: "He lays down the melancholy burden of sanity..." Oh, how close so many of us are to reaching this point!

Went to pick up takeout. There's a row of restaurants on the ground floor, apartments on the floor above, with stairs/doors in between. One of the doors was open. A woman, mid 20's, was sitting at the foot of the stairs, staring into space with tears running down her face. In years past... 1/2

An insightful conversation, if can spare an hour of listening time. Historian Heather Cox Richardson looks to America's history, NOT Germany's, to paint a hopeful future from our dark present: Been there, done that, here's how it can work out well again. youtu.be/ieAwLyEDHqE?...

Client asked for help repairing a board. I provided guidance. Today, I got the email: "We went TACO on this. We are shipping FedEx overnight. How quickly can you get it back?" Apparently, TACO is becoming a general purpose expression for chickening out. How nice.

Caller: I am from Publishers Clearinghouse. You have won $15M Me: How quickly can I get it? Caller: The same day you pay $5K in taxes. Me: I don't have $5K. We spent the next 30 minutes brainstorming how I could raise the money. Me: I've arrived at my destination. It was fun wasting your time😁

Poor conservatives support policies favoring the rich because they hope they can be rich one day. Well to do liberals support policies favoring the poor because they fear they can be poor one day. That is the state of American politics in a nutshell.

As the administration increasingly targets a wider swath of immigrants, I urge Natural Born Americans to heed the words below. Their author, Martin Niemöller, was a highly decorated WW1 submarine captain, Christian pastor & initially a strong supporter of Nazism. He soured on Nazis because... 1/3

Cashier at store: COVID is over. You don't have to wear a mask anymore. Me: If your spouse was severely immunocompromised, would you wear a mask to protect them, or would you let them die because you don't like being harassed by some cashier? Him: Err... Me: It's OK. Some people are born selfish.

If you can spare an hour of listening time, I encourage you to listen to this podcast. It explains the real costs of some of the current administration's policies, not by partisan dogma, but by easy to understand economic logic. youtu.be/uKLdzBun4sk?...

Prople says, "MAGA should realize that one day they will be out of power and everything that are doing can be directed at them" MAGA does realize that. That's why they will do everything to never lose the reins of power.

Dietrich Bonheffer (1906-1945) was a German pastor and intellectual. He was an anti-Nazi dissident who was executed by the Nazis in 1945. Below is his explanation for why good, intelligent, educated Germans accepted Nazism. Does any of it apply to the USA today?

I thought Francis was the best pope I would see in my lifetime. Leo is turning out to be even better. Thank you, Pope Francis, for giving us Pope Leo.

"I am not on medicaid. Medicaid cuts are not my problem." Think again. A majority of $$ coming into rural hospitals come from Medicaid. Cut it, and many will close. With no local hospital, an hour ride to the ER for a heart attack, stroke, or a serious accident means much ⬆️ likelihood of ⚰️ RIP.

Yesterday, I ran into someone I've known a little for 25 years. I asked how things were. She talked about her kids' problems, her husband & father's health issues. Me: How are you doing? Her: OK. Me: Really? Her: I'm great. Me: I can see that. But, how are you DOING? She started bawling. 1/2

J. F. Roxburgh, Headmaster of the Stowe School, described his goal for his students to be "acceptable at a dance and invaluable in a shipwreck" I think that beautifully sums up the minimum life goals for anyone.

Auschwitz did not fall from the sky. It comes step by step. Evil comes step by step. And therefore you shouldn't be indifferent. Let's start by reducing hatred and trying to understand other people. Martin Turski (Holocaust survivor)

I am sick and tired of these scams that start with a text to a supposed wrong number, which they use to try and start a conversation with the goal to develop into a crypto or romance scam. I get 2 or 3 a week. I have decided to use them to exercise my creative writing skills. Here's the latest!

This 7-minute speech is worth your time. It explains where the 3.5% figure comes from, what it really means and more. You can watch it on Twitter: x.com/politicsusa4... or directly on TickTock if you have an account there: vm.tiktok.com/ZNdYfBNtX

Ages ago, my mom said that people in her peer group starting to die was a real in-your-face reminder of her mortality. Today, I learned of another person on my peer group retiring. That's no less of an in-your-face reminder of my age. I remember talking about our first jobs. Where did time go?

To add to what Kat For Congress said. Everyone knows about the 6 million Jews killed by the Nazis. But remember that before the Jews Nazis started with gays, transgender and other "deviants" There's a playbook for this. Recognize it. Don't concede on step 1 or any step. youtube.com/shorts/WZ-l0...

There is a crazy notion going around that prices will increase as companies pass on some of the cost of the tariffs to consumers. Seriously? Companies will pass ALL the cost of tariffs, plus more. When everyone expects prices to rise, companies can hike prices to increase profit margins.

I am not a Christian. I do not belong to any religious tradition. But I do claim to belong to the fraternity of "all people of good will" If you do too, I invite you to read this letter from Pope Francis, ponder its message, and see if it guides your actions: www.vatican.va/content/fran...

This woman highlights the real danger for ALL women from the current ICE abductions. With no ID, no badges, no warrants required, how long before groups of men start abducting women off the streets? x.com/davenewworld...

A manager at a diner in a bright red part of the USA reports that even high tipping customers have significantly cut back on tips. They say that since there are no longer any taxes on tips, they don't need to tip as much. Servers who wrote "Vote Trump to end taxes on tips" are beside themselves.

The Save Act is the dumbest Republican self-own there can be. If only those citizens who have a passport and have not changed their name are allowed to vote, Democrats will win even in reddest districts. Why? A lot more Ds own passports than Rs. Far more R women take their husband's name than D.

Remember, this is how this works: "First they came for.... and I remained silent. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak up." Pastor Martin Niemöller Head of German Protestant Church's "Pastors League", Inmate of Sachsenhausen and Dachau, Germany 1938-1945

If you are having a rough time, remember that others have it worse, and that could be you a week from now. Appreciate today because tomorrow is never guaranteed. Really appreciate today because yesterday, today was not guaranteed.