Call it, “What you will”

I Call it,

“what you will”:

Don’t say

“Department of

Government

Efficiency”.

That would

rerquire

dishonesty.

Instead,

go rogue

and call it

“DOGE”,

and cut

aid

to the most

needy.

And pretend

that

“DEI”

means

something

that will

intensify

rejection

of quality

and equity

for the

hypersensitivity

of the white guy

who somehow

now

needs inclusion.

Never say

all the words

in the acronym

because

the antonym

is the strategy.

It is beyond

tragedy.

Say

what you will…

When DEI

is removed

to comply,

civil rights

still apply.

They say

what they

will

to instill

their project

to reject

what they

can.

Say what

you will

and fill

your legislator’s

voicemail

and email.

Pique Performance

In winter,

the state

of our union

is televised

and glamorized

spectacle,

political

and sartorial,

along with

a few

surprise

guests.

The congress

of Americans-

not bipartisans,

but football fans-

entertained

but not sustained

by each

30 second ad,

had their wings

and things—

what the neighbor

brings—

to the Super Bowl

party.

The game

is the same

as America;

unrivaled

in extravaganza.

Brutal

and balletic,

overtly athletic,

aggressive,

possessive,

even regressive,

while somehow

always

most impressive.

The big game

adds a name

to it’s half-time

show.

Is it possible

that spectacle

could get

boring?

Ignoring

real lives

to ensure

the game

survives

as the

brass

contrives

some

current

theme

for a

social

media

meme,

has become

a fever dream.

Peak

performance

is measured

by pique

performance;

a curiosity

turned

monstrosity

destroying

our democracy.

This is not

a sporting

event.

Do not relent.

They are hell

bent;

committed

to their pique

performance

of slashing

and retribution.

Your calls

and emails,

posts and shares

are expressions

of constituent

cares.

I learned yesterday

that an excellent

defense

was the winning

way.

Change of Life

Get rid of our Tesla.

Get rid of our Kindle.

Drive much

much further

than Whole Foods,

which is closer

than the other

grocer.

Get rid

of delivery

from Amazon

Prime,

though

I can’t find

basic stuff

as there

isn’t enough

stock;

and what is

present,

locked

away

in every

brick

and mortar

store.

Get off

Facebook,

so the Zuch

can’t monetize

what I publicize

only to

my friends.

The ends

may justify

the means

against

the mean

guys,

but I realize

the compromise

has already

given them

the prize.

Blue Sky’s

attraction

as the alternative

faction

needs

to be

fun,

which,

in the long

run,

is why

we comply

in the

viral

virtual

spaces.

Meanwhile,

with traces

of plastic

everywhere

in everything

we are consuming

and doing,

abandoning

plastic

may seem

drastic,

but it’s fantastic

to think

we’ll not sink

further,

as we murder

our only

home.

Our way

of life

that you

see dismantling

quickly

by Elon’s

Department

of Government

Efficiency

is theatrical

cruelty

and insufficiency,

when

the way we

live

is also

driven

corporately.

The real

collusion

is the intrusion

of his

and his

and his………

businesses

in our government

when they

have no

business

doing so.

These seemingly

adolescent

guys

with whom

we’re forced

to compromise,

have their

eyes

on the prize

of unending

wealth

and power.

But they

won’t stay

fertile

forever.

Their periods

will stop.

They’ll get

the sweats,

as is characteristic

of the climacteric

time.

Past

their prime,

they’ll decline,

but we must

begin

to refine

and change

the way we

engage

while

they’re on

and in

the current

stage.

Strip Tease

In addition

to deportation

threats

and ridiculous

tariffs,

then paying off

and laying off

professional

civil servants;

cutting off

contagion

deterrents,

the Gaza plan

to rid

each Palestinian

from the strip

is bound to please

no one.

So why the tease?

To create unease

from the diseased

mind

of this president.

As Elon

steals

private data,

and the country

reels

from threats on

Gaza,

there’s buy in

on the buy outs

by the louts

who think

they’re dude-licious.

They are malicious

and they revel

in their level

of audaciousness.

Stripping

government

agencies

of employees,

money,

and people’s

tax ids,

seem to be

terrible

policies,

much less

an incredible

display

of heinousness.

He knows

how slowly

our system

moves

as he proves

he can force

the course

of events.

The remnants

of the GOP

in congress

abide

willingly.

It worked

with Dobbs,

as he robs

the country

of morality

and integrity,

in the name

of liberty,

stripping

down

to barely

function,

claiming

victory.

It’s only

early

February.

The master

of mutual

approval

loves

removal

to show

he’s

the boss.

The loss

is ours

if we

just watch

him peel

each article

away.

The Brutalist (No spoilers here.)

Don’t read

the reviews.

Choose

to experience

without interference.

As adherents

coherence,

we try

to make sense

of the nonsense

that cruelty

induces

and reproduces

incessantly.

Patterns

familiar,

despite

the particular,

the resolute

brute

is a weed

at the root

who seeks

repute

and power

above all.

The pall

ever thickening,

ever sickening,

ever quickening

the fall

that seems

impossible

for survival,

whose revival

is always

somewhere

here

and there

sometime

within the

rhyme

of history.

is it

organic

matter

that’s the

matter?

Like yeast,

the brutalist

beast

is like

a fungus

that lives

among us

fermenting.

Resenting

and unrelenting,

misrepresenting,

circumventing

convention,

the contention

of reinvention

and prevention

of dissension

will always

play

a part

for the brutalist,

whose

opposite

is the humanist.

With creativity

and resolve

we solve

for the time

being,

as humanely

and sanely

as possible.

Get comfortable

with selflessness.

It may not

be painless,

but much less

painful

than the brutal

creeps

that creep

back

and attack,

when we slack

off.

You don’t

need a review

to understand

this new

iteration

of the old

intention

of the brutalist.

The cruelest

abide

on the side

of hate

or remain

indifferent

to the stain

of the persistent

brutalist

illusionist.

That’s What She Said

In a play

of morality

the other

day,

a display

of truth

entered

the interfaith

service;

a great

service

to the country

and to

humanity,

but not

to the mendacity

of the new

administration.

Bishop Budde

plead

for mercy

on behalf

of those

threatened

by executive

orders.

In the corridors

of religion

her decision

to confront

the affront

to decency,

magnificently

reflected

with clarity

the necessity

of and for

dignity,

honesty,

and humanity.

Obviously

aggrieved,

Vance

shook his head,

disagreed,

as his boss,

ever

resentful

and always

peeved,

later

demanded

an apology.

Christian

conviction

finally

gave voice

when Trump

had no

choice

but

to hear

her

(and our) prayer.

His greatest

care

was being

dissed,

his ring

not kissed,

and boy,

was he

PISSED!

Also amidst

the insanity

that is officially

this presidency

the “MAGA GRANNY”,

as she

has been

dubbed,

snubbed

the president

and his pardon,

speaking

truth

to power.

A rioter

on 1/6/21

she received

a pardon

for her conviction

after serving

60 days

behind

bars.

Pamela Hemphill

has endured

the horrible,

after suggesting

that Trump

is a criminal.

She admitted

she committed

a misdemeanor

to which

she plead

guilty.

She served

her time

for her crime,

and now

suggests

she was

gaslit.

She thought

she knew

what was

true,

until

she broke

from groupthink.

Out from

the clink

she warned

others

not to drink

the Koolaid.

Unafraid,

she shared

her story

and continues

to face

the daily

onslaught

of anger.

The real

danger

to Trump

and MAGA
is truth

and authenticity,

and the critically

powerful

women

unofficially

(politically speaking)

speaking out.

No doubt,

they and others

will receive

threats

or tests.

They spoke

the truth

and invoked

a spark

of inspiration.

This administration

will fail,

because truth

will prevail

even when

hushed

or temporarily

crushed.

(Even in Russia!)

Just remember:

that(’s)

what

she said.

His Truth is Marching On

The Golden Age

of guiltless

gilt

is again

the rage

as the pendulum

tilts

away from

moderation.

The pull

of bull*#@!

and excess

never felt less

tension

in an ongoing

extension,

despite apprehension,

of our historical

monarchical

attraction.

It’s the trappings

and happenings

of power

and endless

stuff

that make

it so easy

to declare,

“enough

with compromise!

Super size

me!”

is better.

Greed is

good.

Look

what’s

happened

the neighborhood.

Intrinsic

to our politics

and capitalistic

society,

is all consuming

consuming

all

mixed with

hypocritical

piety.

It always

feels worse,

this curse

of ours,

wanting

to store

or spend

at the expense

of innocence.

Alongside

the tide

of excessive

pride

and greed

is our

profound

need

for individual

priority.

And now

notoriety

is an identity

politics

crisis.

Attempts

at opportunity

for historically

oppressed

minority

communities,

is seen

as threatening

the integrity

of the

majority

impending minority.

And how

best

to best

the rest

of us?

Outrage

with outrageousness

and muss

with the truth

regardless.

Some youth

know this;

others don’t

access

facts,

much less

analysis.

And as youth

would

have it,

an easy

fix

is to nix

what’s been

and fall

in line

with rebellion.

Anger

is simple

and made

pure

being sure

of owning

the truth.

Maybe

it’s not

youth

so much

as the immature

who wield

such power,

led

by that

towering

inferno.

Battle him!

For the sake

of the republic!

Remaining

democratic

is not automatic.

It requires

an all hands

on deck.

King

The King

from Queens

is such

a drag

with his

endless

brag

and swag;

even taking

credit

for peace

in the Middle

East,

before taking

office

again,

when

in fact,

tact

and negotiation

not merely

inauguration

justify

celebration.

This MLK

Day

is certainly

ironic,

as the iconic

King

of nonviolent

protest

is bested

by the guy

whose cry

to make

America

great

again

will again

be sworn

as POTUS.

Not lost

on us

is the oath

taker’s

Oath Keepers

and other

creepers

who violently

stormed

The Capitol,

now watch

triumphantly

as Trump

ceremoniously

takes the oath

of the presidency

half

heartedly

under a

rotunda

so famously

seen

as the scene

of desecration.

It’s an

inauguration

I won’t watch

or care

to see

as the frigid

air

envelopes

more than

DC.

Maybe

it’s

good

that we should

still celebrate

the great

MLK
today,

despite

the awkward

juxtaposition

with

this inauguration.

This once

upon a time

I bend

to the real

King

to bring

me inspiration;

not the aspiration

of a wannabe-

get outta jail

free-

king-like

presidency.

We learn

from

this history;

the good,

bad, and

ugly.

Reservations Confirmed

I try to imagine

the equivalent,

and I’m ambivalent

at best.

I try

to be fair

as I try

not to stare

at what

looks like

a precipice.

I have grave

reservations

about

what’s ahead,

when the future

head

of defense

is on defense

while evidence

points

to questionable

conscience.

It’s not

rocket science

to be in

compliance

with the chief

of defiance

and greed.

The demagogue

will be installed

to an enthralled

half

of the nation.

Among my

reservations,

are tariffs

and deportations,

incompetence,

and cruelty

throughout

the administration.

Confirmation

hearings

are media

sensations.

This theatrical

viewing

of political

screwing

by the cynical

to the critical,

seems more

kabuki-like

than before.

The qualification

for the new

administration

is disruption

(and corruption)

without

having to pay.

To say

I have

reservations

beyond

protestations

is confirming

my polite

squirming

and yelping.

Real people

need helping.

Assurances

without

insurance is

ridiculous,

yet the outrageous

persists

despite

conflicts

of interests.

Meanwhile,

as LA

is still

in a hurricane

of fire,

an insane

situation

for any administration,

my reservations

have been

confirmed

once again,

as the verbal

arsonist

provokes

and stokes

while folks

have literally

lost everything.

It’s sickening.

and terrifying,

but ordinary

citizens

are helping

and you

too

can be

among

us.

FInd ways

to donate,

and contribute

to help

those most

in need.

Our reservations

confirmed,

don’t just yelp;

Find ways

to help.

Gulf Club

A deep ravine

between

sides

abides

enflaming,

blaming,

renaming

gulfs.

Engulfed

in fire,

raging

politcal

and actual,

as of now

uncontainable

and utterly

unsustainable,

what

are you doing

to be helpful?

The worst

disaster of the

catastrophe

era

in which

we live

in fear

is here.

Renaming

gulfs

as flames

engulf

LA,

while some

sneer

at the wealthy

who have lost

their homes,

and others

blame

diversity

policy

in the current

polity-

this climate

calamity

is a conflagration

of such

enormity

and each

abnormality

is a part

of the new

normal.

Meanwhile,

lou sight

Looking at Culture, Politics, and other stuff

Current Events

Call it, “What you will”

Pique Performance

Change of Life

Strip Tease

The Brutalist (No spoilers here.)

That’s What She Said

His Truth is Marching On

King

Reservations Confirmed

Gulf Club

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