Untethered From Reality...

Folk #1: That's what I would call this era we are living in now, the "Untethered From Reality," era. Oh, you know, reality, gravity, truth & consequences, the cycle of birth & death, these things actually all still exist, we live in a material, physical world, no doubt, but much of our culture, our politics, our collective consciousness, our head-space, the zeitgeist, is consumed with, and swimming in, the "unreal." There is a deep denial in our embrace of unreality. I guess it could explain how the richest, most envied Democracy on the planet elected a  Sexual Predator & Convicted Felon currently embarked on a revenge tour, a wanna-be dictator, who is dismantling our government and unleashing a war on everyday American Citizens. Madness. Idiocy. There is also the AI boom, the crazy, edge-lord Tech Bros, video game culture, the social media landscape. The world of business too seems to be smoking crack. The stock market is disconnected from anything tangible. Our brains are being pickled & fermented by the unreal. You know, it's kind of crazy-ass unreal. Makes one want to unplug, sit on a bench, breathe deeply, stare at the lake, the trees, the grasses. Be a Human Being, alive, aware, awake. Real. One thinks "this can't last." Every morning, looking for signs, seeking out the cracks in the firmament. "Isn't this all going to come crashing down on our heads, like, you know, some time soon?"

Learning from the Real...

Life it's a sticky-wicket. Being Human is not a dinner party...

My own powers of self-delusion are strong, but at the same time, I use these powers sparingly. Self-delusion can be an effective tool to propel yourself forward into a hostile world. You can use it to fortify yourself as you conjure up a positive vibe and jump into the breach. But, yes, it's important to know when, and how, you are deluding yourself.  You should only do it with purpose. And you must just as easily be able to drop that delusion in the blink of an eye.

I find great joy in surprising myself, in changing my mind, in being in touch with reality, and learning from the real. Clarity. It's a cool drug. And, of course, long-form improvisation is the best way forward. 

So yeah, I can go bleak when I see bleak. I can also find the Light in the Darkness. I don't mind trying on new ideas. I don't mind admitting being wrong. I don't mind being the Devil's Advocate. 

Being wrong, and changing my mind might have been a hard to do when I was younger, but not really anymore. I really try not to cling to falsities, or disproven theories & ideas. Dropping the bullshit can be a powerful and joyful experience.

What do I hate? Blind certainty. Racism. Cruelty. Bullies. Lies. Religious Hypocrisy, Rich & Powerful People Lording over the rest of us. I just vicerally hate that shite. These are essential touchstones in my life. Reacting to, and opposing those "sins," against an Enlightened Humanity. 

Always be morphing, evolving, open-minded, open-hearted, always seeking, and wondering, and yes, leaning to the Light. Sticking to the Real...

The ZEN, the Light, the Darkness, the Duality of the Human Thing...

Sure lots of turmoil and hurly-burly. But then little moments of ZEN every day. 

The above photo was taken on my ususal late morning jaunt in the hood. It's a beautiful neighborhood that I navigate. Gorgeous day. Beautiful Lake Michigan. What was totally weird and disconcerting, helicopters were passing overhead quite frequently. Coming and going from the Great Lakes Naval Station. Thinking those copters had something to do with the heavy hand of ICE and Immigration atrocities across Chicago.

So even in those moments of ZEN, the darkness flies past. Talk about the duality of the Human Thing.

Ah... well... sitting quietly in the kitchen this morning, typing into my Chromebook, wondering if any interesting, pithy, brilliant, or maybe decently pedestrian thoughts pop into my head. Nope. Not really. It feels like the Titanic is taking on water. The whole shebang is about to sink, but not sure if that's just an illusion, or a misreading of the tea leaves. I am all about uncertainty this morning. More of a phase of "wondering what's next?" But even that thought is just out of a certain habit, a sort casual impulse, pointing to "wondering." 

My fellow Human Beings, I just don't know what to think. I want to lean to the Light, but the Darkness never seems to go away. It's a complicated, tricky picture.

The Children's Crusade...

 

"Earlier in the day students from Little Village Lawndale High School held a walk out to protest recent immigration enforcement actions in the area."

This is happening in the streets of Chicago. Maybe the kids are gonna rise up and save us? Show us the way? That would a good and necessary development.

The Resistance Here is Strong...

Folk #1: Yes. It is outrageous that the U.S. Government is at war with Blue Cities (see previous post). Of course it is a war ginned up & based on lies, stone-cold right-wing propaganda. There is no crisis in Chicago. We are happy here. We know our city is a jewel, a beautiful congregation of humanity. We love our multi-racial and multi-cultural populations. The immigrants here are by and large hard-working families trying to live the American Dream. ICE is an abomination. This assault on our city is wrong-headed, immoral, and ultimately futile. The Hearts & Minds will not be conquered. The Resistance here is strong. It includes the Common Folk, The Governor, State Senators & Reps, The Mayor, The Alderman, The Clergy, The Unions, The Business Community, etc. Anyone here, on the streets knows, that this Fascist/Authoritarian Regime led by Trump & his Thugs is Anti-American. Their attacks on the populace is cruel, pointless, and disgusting. They will be defeated, no doubt. We expect things will get worse, we are prepared to stand and resist as the evil-doers get more desperate to prove they are all powerful. Of course, they are not; it's all a blizzard of lies, a horror-show, total bullshit. It just won't fly in our lovely City & State.

Turns Out the Guns, the Zip-ties, the Armour Can't Win the Hearts & Minds...

Folk #1: "Tentative, uncertain idea here. We are winning the vibes here in Chicagoland. Neighbors helping neighbors in the face of ICE assaults & terror. We love our city, our communities, the surrounding suburbs. This ugly adminstration, Trump's thugs, and their strong-arm tactics can't change the character of the folk.  Our hearts & minds cannot be easily swayed. We grew up in a much different America, and we won't easily or willingly give that up. We know that America and the American Dream is not just for White People, it is for all of us who have arrived here. That's what was affirmed at the No Kings rallies and protests on Oct 18. That joy, that positive affirmation, the disciplined determination was real, and we carry it with us now. Talk to the folk they will tell you they hate what is happening with these attacks on families. It doesn't matter what color skin these folks wear. An attack one of us, is an attack on all of us. We are united in our love for each other. We know that America is better than this lawless regime. They can't change the character of our America. We loom much larger than them. They may have tear-gas, zip ties, big guns, masked faces, the armour of war, but we have love, grace, kindness, our voices, and each other.  We also have truth and reality on our side. We will not break. We will stand up and oppose. We actually found out to our own surprise that we are not afraid, we won't be intimidated or derailed, or denied, we are BRAVE. Funny how that works. Yes. The people rising to the moment. Yes. We own the vibes, the good vibes. They are real, they connect us. We shall overcome..."

The Crimes of ICE: Cruelty, Pointless, Heartless, Nihilistic Cruelty...

Folk #1: "We know people, who know people, who are being terrorized & assaulted by ICE here in our beautiful town, and surrounding localities. ICE is acting like a lawless force, snatching folks off the streets: Mothers, Fathers, hard working folks, carried away to god knows what gulag-hell-hole, leaving young children Motherless & Fatherless, crying and alone. Totally ripping families apart. This is madness. It's happening out on streets blocks away from our home. It's happening in beautiful Chicago Neighborhoods like Little Village, Pilsen, Lakeview, and yes, our sleepy little Town, Evanston. Such cruelty, pointless, heartless, nihilistic cruelty, with no purpose. Really, just raw power imposed on the defenseless Humans. Very, very sick. 

ICE is an obscene abomination. Of course, it should be abolished. It is being used as a tool for this Facsist/Authoritarian regime. It is ugly, counter to everything we hold dear here in America.

We spent time at a little art-space last night. A shaggy, friendly room, well-lit, and comfortable, filled with creative, engaged, intelligent Human Beings. The Crimes Against Humanity out on the streets loomed over us all. We are the kind of people who see an attack on one of us as an attack on all of us. We see ourselves as part of a beloved community, a collection of beings that includes folks of all colors, creeds, & persuasions. We are diverse & inclusive. We open our arms and hearts to all. We talked of the pain, the sadness, the disgusting displays of power being inflicted upon our Brothers & Sisters, and how we are all deeply wounded, but at the same time absolutely firm in our opposition.  

Folks are rallying to help the children. Folks are out on the streets witnessing & filming the atrocities, and voicing their deep contempt of the actions & crimes of the ICE thugs. Last night we played music, we gathered together as a community of souls. We think of this creative pursuit as the good work, soul-work, enriching & life affirming, we think it is the antidote to the tragedies unfolding across our country. We are filled with sadness and righteous anger. We oppose this super-charged cruelty with all of our hearts and heads. A disciplined non-violence. and a dedicated, deep in the bone, opposition to this terrible shite."

Was that Joy and Unbridled Happiness Real? Can We Carry it Forward? Yes, We Can...

This conversation, published this morning, between Paul Krugman and Erica Chenoweth is just the tonic I needed: https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/talking-with-erica-chenoweth...

Maybe you need it too? 

Remember that Joy & Unbridled Happiness you felt standing in the middle of that NO KINGS rally & protest on October 18? That was "cognitive liberation," surging thru your body & consciousness. You and so many other folks could feel it. It is essential & important, and it is a pathway forward to throwing off the oppressors: 

"a few things happen at the same time; the first is that there’s a collective understanding that the situation can be changed. There’s a collective understanding that it’s intolerable and there’s a collective understanding that each individual must do something about it, but also can do something about it. Then there’s an understanding that now that we all know this information, there’s no going back to the previous status quo where it felt like the situation was permanent, only going to get worse, and there’s nothing we can do about it."

Yes. HOPE. It lives in the hearts and heads of the folks standing against Tyranny. Folks can throw off the shackles of Tyranny & Authorianism. How to do it? People Power. Really. Galvanizing folks to stand up and oppose, to demand change. If enough us gather together as a united front, we truly can change the world. There is history and data to back that up. Not a pipe-dream. 

The resistance is alive and well in America. From all walks of life. That is what NO KINGS showed us all. We need to continue, "disciplined nonviolence," yes. We change the world via peaceful protest! Yes. It can be done, it has been done all over the world many times in the history of humanity.

"Here’s something that will make you feel hopeful. We have more information, more history, more knowledge, more perspective, more manuals, more guide books, more research, into how people mobilize effectively against authoritarianism than anyone in human history has ever had."

Be sure to read the whole thing. My take: "A change of consciousness can happen in an instant." It is the first step in forging a new reality. Yes. Brothers & Sisters, we shall overcome...

Just Refuse to Give in or Give Up to this Sick Madness...

 Folk #1: I'm not a doomer or a fatalist. I just don't roll that way. Still all of this turmoil & destruction unleashed by the current adminstraiton is overwhelming. We spent yesterday warning folks in our neighborhood that ICE was roaming the streets, grabbing innocent people, hard-working people, and disappearing them into newly-constructed American gulags. Yes. This is happening in our bluest of blue bubble communities. Our Governor & Mayor and all of our U.S. Senators and Reps are against this assault on the citizens here. It is all ugly, very, very ugly. Hard to imagine that this new American Dystopia is real. Hope lies in the hearts & heads of our fellow Humans who know that that kind of thing is absolutely wrong, soul-killing & inhumane.  How are we going to stop all this sick madness? Not sure. I suppose it's important to just say, "We are against it." We should all stand up and say it.  Stand in opposition with every fibre of our beings. Then, march, protest, vote. Refuse to give in, or to give up. No time for doomerism or fatalism. We can defeat this illness in our country. I do believe we can, and will...

The Onslaught of Bad News...

 

Folk #1: Good Lord. I think of myself as strong-willed, strong-minded, not easily rattled. But I must admit that the unrelenting onslaught of bad news, one day after another, is taking it's toll on my well-being. This latest atrocity, Trump's destruction of the East Wing of the White House is not the worst story out there, it's not as life-threatening as kidnapping & disappearing hard-working folks off the streets of America and into gulags, or blowing up fishing boats & murdering fisherman in the Carribean, or dismantling American's healthcare for a large section of the populace, or taking food from needy children, or slapping tariffs on imports like a drunken idiot making everything more costly, or looting our government from the top down, but symbolically you couldn't come up with a better single image of the impact of this immoral, lawless administration on the traditions and well-being of the USA. You know. What the fuck...

Slim Pickings...

Well. The sky isn't falling on our heads. We have that going for us. Beyond that, yikes, things seem to be hurtling out of control. There are no steering wheels, or brakes. The momentum seems to be picking up speed, always going forward towards a brick wall, or a precipice. Can cooler heads prevail? Can we adjust trajectory before it's too late? An Imagined God only knows. There are no big daddies to save us. We are on our own, muddling about. Seriously, not sure what to think about it all. I look around for a bit of wisdom or insight, and it is all meager portions & "slim pickings." Be Here Now. One Step at a Time. Breathe. Don't forget to Breathe. Beyond that? Well. Your guess is as good as mine...

Trump is Literally Destroying the White House...

 

Folk #1: "Can this be real? Yes. It is really real. This lawless, immoral, very corrupt and stupid President is literally overseeing the destruction of the White House. WTF?! We were still riding the good vibes of the No Kings rallies across the USA on Saturday, and then we see the latest atrocity from Trump. What a terrible scourge & plague on the land. This is a perfect encapsulation of what this very unworthy President is doing to our beautiful country. Destroying one of the key symbols of our nation, destroying the "people's house," to construct some hideous, Mar A Lago type, dictator-chic monstrosity. Holy fuck, the mind reels. This photo, my fellow Americans, pretty much sums up this time & era. Yikes. Fuck. It is going to take a major new movement to fix all the shite, & wreckage that this clueless, malevolent fucker has unleashed upon us."

The Dream is Still Alive in Many Hearts & Heads...

Folk #1: "I don't want to make more of it than what is was, but what it was, was magnificent. Saturday's No Kings rally & protest, near & far, & across the land, was a beautiful, wonderful, inspiring gathering of the beloved community. No doubt. It was so soul-enriching, and life-inspiring to stand shoulder to shoulder with folks from all walks of life, all ages, all creeds & all colors. These were folks who all had the same vision of America still in their heads and hearts. A country of Freedom, of Democracy, the Rule of Law, Empathy, Justice; a country founded and built by immigrants. A generous, giving, empathetic & progressive view of the USA and our place in the world. We stand in opposition to the MAGA movement, which is hateful, stupid, and a dead-end. No Kings was thrilling, satisfying, joyful. If only we could bottle that energy. Where does it all go from here? Not sure, but so happy to see that folks, the common ones, the people, young, old, in-between still care, still want to live the American Dream we conjured up together."

One of the Largest Mass Mobilizations in American History...

Ah... well... that's the America we know & love...

What happened yesterday? "One of the largest mass mobilizations in American history," that's what, and it was freaking glorious.

What about our little, sleepy college town on the North Shore? 

No Kings rally & protest in Fountain Square, Evanston, IL. October 18, 2025. It was just one of 2500 of these around the USA.

Was it amazing, beautiful & inspiring? Yes, it was, indeed. Indivisible Illinois!

And what about Grant Park, in Chicago, IL? Crowd estimate? 100,000 beautiful souls!

Navigating the Wonder & Horror...

Folk #1: "The Wonder and the Horror. The Goodness & the Terribleness. That's the Human Thing. You have to somehow navigate through it all. How to make sense of it? Beats me.  Maybe, doing the best one can? You know, Spike Lee's idea: Do the Right Thing. I do think we Humans have a made a total hash of things. We are not a very intelligent species, we are also very selfish, short-sighted, and can be brutally vicious to each other. It makes one tend to want to cultivate silence. Step back into a state of Mystery & Grace. Seems like a retreat, but, you know, maybe, probably, a necessary retreat? Aware. Alive. Awake. Living in the Moment. Cautiously seeking the Wonder & the Goodness, turning away from the Horror & Terribleness. That's all I got this morning. Looking forward to our local No Kings rally & protest later this morning. It's a sleepy, prosperous, generous town. We will be standing shoulder to shoulder with our fellow citizens. A small gesture. Thinking everything hinges upon it. Who knows?!"

Let's Reclaim the Dream...

 

We were sitting on our favorite bench yesterday. Mid-afternoon. Watching the clouds drift across the sky, watching the waves crashing into the sandy shore. The beach was deserted, except for a few seagulls, flying low, and a few prancing across the sand.

Two fellows came trekking down the path. They stopped at our bench and handed us the No Kings handbill. We all talked about the big event coming this Saturday. Supposedly there will be around 2500 gatherings throughout the USA. 

Think of it as the sprawling "Beloved Community," coming out to stand against tyranny. Are we a bunch of paid radicals? Nope. Just concerned citizens. The common folk. It seems the Trumpers are a bit worried about this event. They should be. I do think we will show the world, and America, that there are more of us than them.

We will celebrate the Constitution, Freedom, Democracy, the Rule of Law, Immigrants, Workers, Diversity, Inclusiveness. All walks of Life. Humans of all kinds. This is foundational stuff. Important. Find a local Indivisible gathering and stand up to be counted. This is our America. Let's reclaim the Dream.

Too Far, Either Way...

Folk #1: "Don't think too far ahead, or too far back. I think that's good advice. I mean, I am not saying I have it all figured out, no way, that would be complete & total vanity, I just think it's a good rule of thumb to try to live in the moment, as close to the present moment as possible. It's the only place you can actually do something, you know, in the present moment. Think too far ahead, well, you are dead, think too far back, there are way too many unfortunate, embarrassing and humbling events to review. Life: a series of unfortunate events. Remember, thinking is another one of those double-edged swords. Too much thinking makes the baby go blind. Ha. And too little thinking makes you a very stupid person; a fool, an idiot, a dolt. It's tricky."

Life Coach: Rules for Better Living...

Be Hopeful.

Be willing to Dream. 

Keep your feet on the ground.

Love Truth.

Hate Hatred.

Be willing to change.

Be open-minded.

Be open-hearted.

Be disciplined.

Don't freak out.

Fuck fear.

Fuck ICE.

Live your life to the fullest.

Don't be afraid to be you.

Improvise.

Evolve.

Lean to the Light.

No Kings Rallies on October 18, 2025 All Across America!

Simple, compelling message. Nothing radical here. This is a movement of people who love America and love American Democracy, the Rule of Law, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, & Human Rights for all. It is not "pie in the sky" utopia shite. Nope. This is about the people caring about the country, and how government should work for the people.  No Kings, instead, Public Servants. We are the folks who helped make this country a unique example to the world. Not perfect by any means, instead an intense, always on-going & morphing work in progress. Sometimes the progress is stymied, or derailed. We take a few steps forward, and  then a few steps back. Democracy is messy, and only as good as the People. There are always disagreements, competing ideas. See the previous post, it's always "One Battle After Another."

At the moment the grifters, the con-men, the corrupt ones, the power-seekers, the greedy fucks, the toxic forces seem to be in the ascendent. Maybe some of us took too much for granted. It is time for the People to rise up and declare their own power & agency. Peacefully, of course. This Saturday, October 18 there will be No Kings rallies all across the county. It is time for us to stand up and be counted. Come on out. Find a rally in your town and join the cause. It will be a celebration of the best of America. This beautiful American experiment is under threat, we must reclaim the initiative, the conversation, the momentum. No Kings, baby!

Yes. America: One Battle After Another...

We took a break from the madness yesterday, and went to a movie in a beautiful thriving, neighborhood in Chicago, anyone telling you that this fine city is a "war-zone," or a "hell-hole," is seriously delusional and lying to you. The streets were alive with folks from all walks of life; all sizes, all genders, all colors, everyone lively, communing, and basking in the energy of a surging humanity, and the glorious October sunshine. 

We went to a mid-afternoon showing of "One Battle After Another," the new film by the master filmmaker PT Anderson.  Is it a fabulous, engaging, intelligent, beautifully filmed, perfectly-pitched entertainment? Yes, indeed. It was playing at the Music Box Theater, a classic movie-palace which, believe it or not, opened in 1929. It's been updated and refurbished with comfy seats, a great sound system and the capabilty of showing films in 70mm. Astonishing & good.

The film actually is totally of the moment, it is based on a Thomas Pynchon novel, but it is brought forward into the days and vibes of our new Fascist Dystopia in America. It's a rollicking action-movie with a sense of humor, grace, bold style & intelligence. A rare good thing.

What is the take away? America is bigger than the Fascist/Racist vision being shoved down our throats by the Trump Administration. We have always had to battle for progress & inclusion. It's just the way America rolls. The good news, we outnumber these Fascist Fuckers, and their agenda is based on lies, hate, racism and stupidity. 

We shall overcome... 

We Can Do So Much Better...

ICE is an abomination. It should be abolished. They are on the streets, in our neighborhoods, terrorizing hard-working, peaceful citizens. Super-Nazified Tactics. Crimes against humanity. No doubt. This needs to stop. We can do so much better.

seeking love, wild abandon, living life to the fullest...

We did a show last night. Before our set we did a reading from Roberto Bolano's "Amulet," (1999).

From our introduction: “Roberto Bolano often wrote about human beings living under a heavy boot. Sort of an echo, a foreshadowing of our new American Dystopia. He emerged as a writer at a time when people no longer believed in utopias, when paradise had become a sort of living hell. People disappeared off the streets, mothers and fathers taken away in the dark of night, children left to fend themselves. Of course, as an antidote and response to the cruelty and horror of the authoritarians, there are always the artists, the poets, the storytellers, the musicians, all of us seeking love, wild abandon, living life to the fullest. Truth-seekers. Truth tellers. Always searching, & remembering.”

We Love the Big City & all it Contains...

 

We are so lucky & happy to have a great Governor, J.B. Pritzker, who is not afraid to stand up and defend Illinois & Chicago from our "Criminal in Chief." Yes. J.B. is a truth-teller, a no-nonsense Governor commited to representing the good people of the "Land of Lincoln." We are smack dab in the middle of the country, and Chicago, the city of "broad shoulders," is one of the great cities of the world. It is a beautiful, thriving, multi-cultural stew of Humanity. Yes. JB. is right, this President "says a lot of crazy things," he is unhinged from reality, out of touch with the truth, and the streets. Yes, there is something seriously "wrong with him."  This crazy, manufactured war on the cities of the USA is an unfolding crime & tragedy. So happy that good, sensible, brave and articulate folks are standing up in opposition. We value honesty here, we value common sense, we love the big City and all that it contains. We are the best of America. Right here. Right now.

Really, We Are Not That Dumb...

What is Antifa? "Antifa is a contraction of "anti-fascist" and refers to a decentralized, left-wing political movement primarily focused on opposing fascism, racism, white supremacy, and other far-right ideologies."

So now they want us to believe that Antifa is bad?

Remember Indiana Jones? Antifa!

Remember Rick & Ilsa in Casablanca? Antifa!

Remember all those World War II movies? All those U.S. soldiers aligned with our Allies, fighting in Europe? Antifa!

Oh yeah and don't forget, John Wayne in the Longest Day? Antifa!

Frank Sinatra in Von Ryan's Express? Antifa!

Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan? Antifa!

Brad Pitt in Inglorious Basterds? Antifa!

Someone is trying to re-write the script. We are not that dumb! Or, well, at least some of us aren't that dumb. Those viewers over on FOX News, well, let's just say, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste..."

ICE Terrorizing Chicago...

Folk #1: "We stand with our Governor. We cannot back down from the bully. So yes, these very corrupt, evil people that are in power at the moment, want to do maximum evil & corrupt things, and to hang onto their power forever. But, you know, we don't have to go along with the program. We can choose to oppose with all our hearts, heads & spirits. Life goes on, the country is bigger, bolder, more interesting and soul-full, than those soul-less fucks trying to impose their oppressive bullshit on us. We can stand up, raise our voices, protest their cruelty. ICE is here in the Chicago area terrorizing innocents folks; hard-working men & women, folks doing their best to make a living, and support their families. ICE is raiding apartment buildings, man-handling folks, zip-tying little children. Anyone not paying attention should start fucking paying attention. This is not the America we know & love. Something has gone terribly, terribly wrong. The folks who know what is right, good, & true, must rise up and demand a better day & better way.

Optimism vs. Pessimism...

Folk #1: "Where does the optimism come from?  Hmmm.... that's a mystery, for sure. It bubbles up, unbidden. It's close to the chest. It is ascendent with a guitar in hand, or a cup of cofee close by, or this morning, by spinning the Rolling Stones classic 'Beggar's Banquet' CD on the stereo. The optimism doesn't travel far. About as far as I can spit. A good night's sleep, an uncommonly good meal, a sunny morning. Circumscribed. I guess that's what I'd say. My optimism is quite circumscribed. If my thoughts or awareness drifts too far afield, you know casting my thoughts outward, thinking about the world, or the planet, or humanity in general, the optimism vanishes in the blink of an eye. Then it's a deep, in the bone pessimism that rears it's ugly head. If I think of all those terrible people out on the horizon, causing other humans beings pain & suffering, things quickly turn bleak. I have to play a trick of the mind, I have to imagine them dead; stone-cold dead, and buried in the ground. You know, I conjure up an accident, or a heart attack, some unfortunate incident that fortunately strikes down the stupid, corrupt, hateful ones. That kind of positive therapeutic imagining is a quick hack back to optimism. I tell my myself: 'The evil-doers will die someday. They will get what they deserve. The karma-train comes for us all." Those cheery thoughts brings a smile to my face, and then, that little bubble of optimism rises once again like a Phoenix from the ashes."

J.B. Pritzker is the Man...

 

This statement is from our Illinois Governor J.B. Prtizker. He is a tremendous leader. A great Governor. We love how he has stood up against Trump & Miller and their stupid war on Blue States. We stand in solidarity with our Governor. We do not need troops here. The Trump cabal is a lawless hostile administration, run by thugs & criminals. Oh, yeah, by the way RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!!!!

Filling Our Days with Poetry, Beauty, Joy & Fun...

We lean to the Light & to Beauty. Even if there is ugliness in the air. It is essential to keep our heads together. We are lucky. We know so many beautiful, soulful, creative folks. We can easily lose ourselves in the good work of our creative journey & to fill our days with poetry, beauty, joy & fun. It is truly the best of us. We are the antidote and solution to the Fascist Dystopia flowing out of D.C. We think they are weak, ugly corrupt, immoral, whiny, stupid, people. It is a pleasure to turn away from them. They must be defeated.

Figure they Are Lying To You...

Yes. Simple rules. Figure this administration is lying to you. Trump can't help it. He lies like air escaping from a punctured tire. He has set the tone for everyone else in his administration. Who can lie more forcefully, more idiotically, more enthusiastically?

If the say they are going after "gang members," figure they are going after innocent, children, mothers, fathers, hard-working people.

If they say they are killing "narco-terrorists" in the Caribbean, figure they are killing innocent fishermen, you know, more honest, hard-working people.

If they say the are sending troops to Portland to stop the war that is happening in the streets there, figure there is no war, just another American City full of people working, playing, living.

If they say they are at War with Democrats, Blue States, Blue Cities & Antifa, well, figure they are telling you the truth. They have hallucinated enemies around every corner. These are not healthy minds. 

Sure, call them Nazis & Fascists. Why? Because they are doing  ugly, nasty, immoral, Nazi and Fascist things. It's the Big Lie, repeated daily, over and over, and over. These are really sick, twisted fucks. We can do so much better dear America!

"What do I tell my kids? I can't tell them they are fucked, I have to be positive for them."

We sat on our favorite bench and watched the waves yesterday, late afternoon. One of our favorite activities, or is it a glorious in-activity? Another perfect Autumn day, blue skies, summer-like temps, a golden fading of the light. Folks were out, swimming, sailing, walking, biking. A little scene of perfection.

We should have been chill and full of peace, love & understanding, but, of course, all is not well in paradise. My partner & I were swirling down a dark tunnel in our minds. Our conversation was all about the raid & brutal assault on the residents in an apartment building on Chicago's South Shore. The current very corrupt, unwell, President is at war with Blue State America,  with the Big Cities, & with Immigrants. Agents zip-tied little children, moms, dads in a disgusting & immoral raid. We are the kind of people, who believe an assault, an attack on "those people," is an attack on us too. You know, solidarity with humanity.

Hard to believe this adminstration has decided to make America a fascist, rat-fucking Dystopia. Yes. A dark fascist turn, no doubt. We have lived through bad Presidencies before, especially: Nixon, Reagan, Bush II, but this has gone so bad, so quickly, it is hard to believe, but it is  undoubtably true, this is the New Ugly America, and we are under the thumb of the worst of us. We have a hostile President & Adminstration that is at War with Americans.

We struggled through a conversation. How to keep our heads above water? How to keep calm & carry on when atrocities against our fellow human beings are being carried out by our Governement just south of our beautiful vista?

A fellow traveller came riding by on his bike, he stopped at our bench. We exchanged "Hello's," and then he talked about the horror that was on his mind too. Funny. It's was an oddly-uplifting conversation. It was strangely gratifying to know that someone else was also consumed with thoughts & feelings of disgust, dismay, & Helplessness. At least we knew that someone else was Awake too.

Our friend is a father of three children. "What do I tell my kids? I can't tell them they are fucked, I have to be positive for them."

Then we reviewed the reality of our collective situation. What to do? March. Protest. Write. Speak up. Alive. Aware. Awake. Be a Witness to the atrocities. And denounce them. And, of course, Vote when & if we can. We all still want to live in the country we grew up in, even if it seems to be vanishing right before our eyes & ears.

Our fellow traveller wished us well, and then he went on his way. We got up from the bench, & walked down the path, wondering to ourselves, what fresh fuckery will be next? And how the hell do we live with it?

A Very Unwell Person (actually two), Ranting at the Generals...

Tracking with the madness. It's getting harder to do. Keeping up. Seems everyday, we are spinning faster & faster, threatening to spin out of control. Luckily, you can check in with Paul Krugman each morning. He has his finger on the pulse. Here is the main headline of the last few days in this morning's post:

"If America still had a fully functioning democracy, Donald Trump’s speech Tuesday to the assembled generals would have ended his presidency. Trump treated the event like a political rally and was clearly taken aback by the refusal of the audience to applaud or laugh at his jokes. Delivering a nakedly partisan speech to a mandated assembly of military officers was a gross violation of the Hatch Act. The content —telling the officers to be ready to use force against U.S. citizens — was clearly an impeachable offense. In an earlier era, Trump’s incoherent ranting would have paved the way for his immediate removal from office under the 25th Amendment."

Yep. No doubt. Seems we don't have a functioning Democracy, because the Republicans just turn away, and pretend not see or hear a thing. The madness just keeps flowing. We all scramble trying to keep up. We think it's our duty as concerned citizens, but, then, again, I think we all need to pause, catch our breath, take care of our own sanity in the face of the over-amped crazy.

We are trapped in the claws of the worst of the worst amongst us. Trump's hiring practice: "crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty." Yikes. We are good & royally fucked! Have a nice day!

Ok, back to Krugman. Let's praise the hope that maybe wrapped up in their incompetence: "In a perverse way, we can be grateful that Trump and his minions are so incompetent, because that is forcing the dormant parts of our country to push back. Let’s just hope that the pushback is strong enough and fast enough to save us all."