Last night a majority of Americans told the men and women in Arlington and cemetaries across the country that they died in vain. That their sacrifice wasn't necessary, that their lives don't matter.
I've never been more ashamed of this country than I am now.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the greatest people in the world—I’m here to talk about something nobody’s ever thought of before, something so incredible, so amazing, only a true patriot could make it happen. I’m talking about something that will change the course of history, something that will make America prouder, stronger, and—dare I say—fluffier than ever before!
Now, listen up. I love dogs. Everybody loves dogs! They’re loyal, they’re brave, they’re always there for us, and, folks, let’s be real—they’re probably better judges of character than some people out there, if you know what I mean. The loyalty of a dog, folks, unmatched. And believe me, a lot of people have told me, ‘Sir, dogs are just fantastic Americans.’ And I said, ‘Well, why aren’t we treating them like it?’
So here’s what I’m pledging today: When I am re-elected, every dog in this great nation—yes, every good boy and girl—will become a full citizen of the United States of America! That’s right, they’re gonna have rights! They’re gonna have privileges! And get ready for this, folks, because you’ve never heard this before—they are going to have the right to vote!
I know, I know—some people will say it’s wild, that it’s crazy, that it’s too ambitious. But who would’ve thought a guy like me could become president in the first place? If we can make America great again, we can certainly give our canine friends a say in the future of our great country.
Think of the possibilities: dogs voting on laws that matter to them—on better parks, on more treats, on protection of their freedoms. It’s time we take care of the dogs that have taken care of us. And you can trust they’ll be voting for the right side of history. They won’t be swayed by fake news, folks. They see right through it! The dogs are sharp—they know who’s got their best interests at heart.
So let’s make this happen. Let’s make every dog an American, let’s get them to the polls, and let’s show the world that in America, loyalty is rewarded, citizenship is honored, and everyone—even our four-legged friends—has a voice! Thank you, God bless you, and God bless our American dogs!”
Having recently listened to a video non-debate between Matt Dillahunty and Destiny, I've revised my opinion on abortions.
I no longer think abortions should be the all-in-all argument.
It's bodily autonomy.
No one can do anything to another person that deprives that person of their bodily autonomy. Your body is your own. You decide what you do with it.
There are arguments to be made for exceptions to bodily autonomy. To defend that position does cause one to hold some very radical views.
Even so, I think the position is worth defending. We do need to cooperate with others in order to preserve a society. But that can be done while respecting our bodily autonomy.
In my 70 years I have:
We have a problem in this country that keeps us from enacting reforms that would make us safer and the planet more healthy.
NIMBY
No one is concerned about regulations on industries unless they're in those industries, then all of a sudden the government becomes Big Brother and the Deep State is after our freedoms. A minority of Americans don't care about the First Amendment but refuse to allow modifications to the Second. Self-interest combined with greed.
Reforms require sacrifice.
I have had many regrets in my life.
If there was a road that had two paths, I'd take the one leading toward disaster. When it came to bad decisions I was a pro.
Times I don't regret were times that other people kept me on the right track. Left to my own devices I could be counted on to fuck up, sometimes in very exciting ways. And yet, despite all that, or possibly due to that, I made it to my 70th birthday this year, and might even squeeze out a few more.
I always knew the person inside me wasn't much like the person outside. I grew up in the 50s, when the role of a man was well defined. I took on all the clićhe trappings of a "real man". I smoked, I drank, I didn't cry and never backed down from a fight. Got my ass well kicked a few times but never backed down. Only my sense of humor kept me sane at times.
The person inside was an animal lover, a romantic, someone who, as a Catholic, aspired to be like Saint Francis. Inside I was soft, inside I wanted cooperation instead of confrontation. But because of that early indoctrination, I could never let that person out.
Now I'm at an age where I don't give a damn what people think about me. I'm a bisexual atheist who avoids conflict and chaos.
I was afraid to expose my fear. I've always been, or tried to be, an intellectual. I've been blessed with a critical approach to everything. And I've always loved a particular style of humor one that's hard to explain. I once wrote stories and screenplays that were fun, crazy, and madcap.
And the greatest regret of my life is that I didn't let the inner me out ages ago. It could have saved me so much grief.
Now it's too late to enjoy the life I could have lead. It's too late to find a loving partner, an outlet for my writing, any expectation except knowing that I'm going to die in the near future. I don't know what will kill me, but it has to be something. And I hope it's something weird. My best friend died a few years ago riding his bike in Provincetown, struck by a car.
I'm only writing this (not very humorous) confession is in hope that someone who reads it might need to know they aren't alone, that to live their authentic life is the greatest joy they'll ever know. I don't have kids, so I'm giving my fatherly advice to anyone who needs to hear it.
Laugh often, love every day, keep your child-like sense of wonder. Don't let the outside world cause you to hide the real you. And I hope you all reach my age or beyond with no regrets at all.
Jack
It's pretty common for people to ignore those Terms of Service that run on and on. It's easier to just click "Agree" and get on with your life.
But when you get an app from the app store you may look and how much it costs or if there are in app purchases. Do you ever pay attention to the permissions the app requires? Most of us don't.
But when you download TikTok, you may want to.
Our generation invented the home computer, the Internet, the Web, graphical interfaces, laptops, cell phones... I think you had to be willfully ignorant to not see what was going on all around you.
We were also the generation of the 60s. We wanted a revolution, we wanted a fair and just society. The Internet promised that, but too many sat back and let the capitalists and scammers gain control. It's a shame.
