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Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Yes, and for sure Trump has an Enemie's List. He and Nixon share some things in common. Love, Joanie

Glen Hirose

I think to this day Joseph Stalin still holds the record for the longest most up-to-date Enemies List.

"Uncle Joe" adding last minute touches to his list...

Jack Mallory

Don’t tell Trump, Glen. You know how he likes to be #1. 

It occurred to me that if, as per the Weiner article I referenced earlier, “Somewhere Richard Nixon may be looking up and smiling,” the Devil's not doing his job. 

Jack Mallory

So somebody help me out here. For those who don't somehow already know what everone reads, this is from a fascinating news article in today's NYT (https://nyti.ms/2ON7tR0). All about amateur professional wrestling—again, some of you will have to read the article to find out that that means, some of you can somehow know without reading. 

Not something I normally have any interest in, but the combo of photo and written journalism sucked me into reading about the Cajun Catfish, among others. I'm of the naive opinion that a good news article is designed to inform, not indoctrinate. That's what I see in responsible NYT news, and this article certainly does that, unless some subtle indoctrination is subliminallly operating. 

Much respoible, effective journalism informs us about important current events, like political lies and malfeasance. How, or if, that modifies our politics is up to us. Taking in any information—reading Charles Dickens, for example—may alter our beliefs, political or otherwise. A lot of really great journalism is like great literature, or photography, or anthropology. Like this piece, it exposes us to realities we are unaware of, which as human beings gives us the opportunity to change our way of thinking, or not. Reading Catch 22, seeing David Douglas Duncan's photos, or understanding the Yanamamo has changed the way I see and understand war, for example. What I DO with that understanding is something Heller, Duncan, or Chagnon have no control over. 

I have no idea if the authors and photographers of this article want me to go out and protest a brutal sport, buy tickets, or just enjoy reading about it. Like many of the articles in the Sunday NYT, It just seems designed to inform in a well written, and photographed, way—about any number of topics, from politics to food to sports.  What we do with information, how it affects our politics or daily lives, is up to us. 

Here's another NYT article from today's edition. Clearly about something with political implications. Can anybody tell me HOW, towards which party, in favor of or opposed to the war, to what purpose, is it intended to influence our politics? Or is it just meant to inform? Nora?

Robert Hall

Jack Mallory

Did we read 1984 in high school?

Orwell, or Trump and his Ministry of Truth?

“Truth is not truth”

“War is peace”

“Any negative polls are fake news”

“Freedom is slavery”

“2+2=5”

“What you're seeing and what you're reading is not what's happening”

“Our press secretary gave alternative facts”

“Ignorance is strength”

It really was Orwell who said that the test of a party member was “the loyal willingness to say that black is white when party discipline demands this. But it also means the willingness to believe that black is white, and more to know that black is white and to forget that one has ever believed the contrary.”  I guess this is why 1984 remains so relevant. 

*********

It doesn't end, it just gets nuttier. The Miami Herald has endorsed a Republican primary candidate who claims to have been taken aboard a flying saucer by space aliens. The Herald applauds her “plausible conservative ideas.” I couldn't make this shit up. 

Glen Hirose

We didn’t abduct any person from Miami; this lady is delusional, lying, or out to make a fast buck...

Jack Mallory

The scariest thing, Glen, is that these people not only believe each other, they believe THEMSELVES! That's what Orwell was talking about, I guess. Black IS white! It's ALWAYS been white!

*********

BTW, Glen, I’m sure Trump thinks you speak perfect English too. Why would anyone think he's a racist?

https://www.vox.com/2018/8/20/17761426/trump-speaks-perfect-english-cbc-cbp

Jerry Morgan

Sorry Glen but I think this guy might have the record for the longest Enemy/Nasty List...

Jerry Morgan

Glen Hirose

Jack,

Odd; my California cousins feel that I have a NOGO Bethesda accent. It could be the effect of a constant 40db traffic din, or the result of chronic sinus problems.  Whatever the case, honestly it is not the Queen's English.

My enunciation did take a dramatic turn when my braces were removed (no more annoying whistle after words ended in “Sss”).

Jack Mallory

I'm pretty good at acronym interpretation, but NOGO as an accent? 

Maybe it was the immigration officer’s braces and not his skin color or Hispanic name that suggested to Trump that he needed to reassure the audience about his English. 

Glen Hirose

Jack,

North of Old Georgetown Road; fossil evidence points to a less developed hominid species from this region with only primitive vocal capability they were original thought to have gone extinct fifty  thousand years ago however anthropologists now believe these prehistoric Bethesdians learned to stand upright, master the art of fire making, and ultimately texting from their cell phones while driving.

Agent Anzaldula may have benefitted from Invisaligns.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Jack Mallory

The descendants of Homo chevychasianus believe they are part of a completely separate evolutionary line from H. bethesdianus. There is even some question about retaining bethesdianus in the genus homo. 

Jack Mallory

Proof positive that age, drugs, and alcohol have drained my memory: in my reflections on the parallels between the Trumpublicans and 1984, I completely overlooked the “Two Minute  Hates.”  As the photos suggest, the similarities to the rabid “Lock Her Up” chants are frightening.

​The upper picture is from a stage production of 1984, the lower from yesterday as Trump led  the “Lock Her Up” chant to divert attention from the incipient lock-up of his colleagues Cohen and Manafort. 

Damn. I may have confused which is which—maybe it's the other way around. 

Glen Hirose

Jerry,

Thought you might like this:

                                                                   The “Chili Cheese Tater Tot” 

  Mainlander’s version of  Loco Moko…No decent Bowling Alley snack bar would omit this from their menu.

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Trump is implicated in a crime. He is referring to people as rats etc. like mob language. This is another sad day for our Country. When you think of all the criminals that Trump has picked to surround him it feels dark and dangerous. By the way, the press are not the Enemy of the People as Trump loves to say. We need the free press for a thriving democracy. You don't get to pick only the stories favorable to yourself in a Democracy. I hear that more and more people are becoming concerned with what is going on. Congress needs to act to protect the Mueller investigation and to do oversight hearings on these recent revelations. Unfortunately its hard to bet on that happening.  Love, Joanie

Jack Mallory

Joanie—

https://www.vox.com/2018/8/21/17766218/michael-cohen-guilty-plea-trump-impeached-indicted

But those of us of a certain age remember those words, “unindicted co-conspirator” that put Nixon on that last helicopter ride away from the White House.

I wonder how it feels for those who voted for both Dick (maybe twice!) and Trump? Do you think they ever question their own judgement? Or do they just blame everything on “the Left?”

Jack Mallory

Off to see if the rain really does fall mainly on the plain. Nora will understand. 

Nora Skinker (Morton)

Jack, you’re SO cute! I may understand but am not sure Al Lerner would, since his lyric is “...IN the plain..”

Glen:  howzabout Z’s walk off!? The air was a tad chilly at my house last night 😜

Robert Hall

Jack Mallory

I refuse to be bound by someone else's errors. A liquid can't fall IN a flat surface, only ON it. 

Nora Skinker (Morton)

Yes. What Robert said. 🙏

Jack: there you go again, winning the  “most literal” award to go with your cabinet of “final word” trophies. It’s  called creative license. Joyce Hill would understand. 💋

Jack Mallory

Literal is good. Keeps one from speaking claptrap like “truth isn’t truth” or “alternative facts.”

Or characterizing wars as “beautiful” and the dead as jackals. I'll stick with literal. 

Glen Hirose

Nori,

Zim's homer was awesome, but Strasburg's performance worries me, and the trade of Murphy to the Cubs, and Adams to the Cards make me nausious. Even worse today the Nats did it again to poor Max; how could they be so cruel?

"Hope is a good breakfast but a poor supper"