Those Who Practice To Deceive

 It comes as no surprise that the same people who have supported and perpetuated the falsehoods regarding an alleged fraudulent 2020 election are now rallying around the notion that somehow Russia is justified in invading the sovereign nation of Ukraine. Each instance has required a level of submission to deliberate attempts to misinform, obfuscate, distort, and downright lie about otherwise knowable facts surrounding the respective cases. It also gives grim testimony to the extent to which human beings will engage in the practice of deception in the service of dubious, misplaced, and sometimes evil endeavors. Shame on those who would abandon the opportunity to embrace the independence of Ukraine and its people in favor of pursuing narrow and spurious political ends. You’re correct Tucker Carlson, we are speaking directly to you and your ilk...here and around the world.

Physician Heal Thyself

 Note to self and to those listening: Instead of judgement, try appreciation; otherwise, engage in silence and await inspiration.

America’s Special Day

Enjoy this year’s Super Bowl as it presents a clear insight into the current state of Americana: the fly over represents our ongoing love affair with militarism, the TV commercials celebrate an enduring culture of consumerism, the halftime show always seems to outdo itself in terms of a gaudy, over-the-top entertainment spectacle, the game itself allows us to witness careful strategic planning in a context of controlled and sanitized violence, and the seemingly endless procession of pyrotechnics exalt our beloved bombs bursting in air! In brief, the Super Bowl is the embodiment of the unique American mentality in all its raging, hilarious, and grotesque glory. Love it, leave it, embrace it, critique it...see it for what it is and then wake up Monday morning to somehow carry on yet again.

The Matter At Hand

 As predicted, the dinosaur’s destructive tail of a dying culture, in the ensuing years after Trump’s rise to power, has left a wasteland in which encroaching fascism seeks to establish a permanent foothold. We are now confronted with the question regarding how best to turn back the dark tide of authoritarian rule and thereby preserve the democratic experiment here in America. Erstwhile policy issues will now have to yield to preserving the basic institutions of free and fair elections, basic human rights, and an impartial judiciary. Recent experience has demonstrated with chilling effect that a democratic mode of political existence is not guaranteed but rather must be cultivated, nurtured and actively practiced through the real-time application of its principles. A failure to do so will certainly give rise to the merchants of hate, fear, division, and cynicism that have emerged from their hiding place and are now presenting themselves as a very real threat to an otherwise vibrant and emerging multicultural society.

In Defense and Praise Of Jimmy G

 To all the writers and critics (especially those residing in LA) who really think that they have landed on some special insight here when proclaiming the end of the Jimmy Garoppolo Era....talk about total command of the obvious!

Everyone associated with the San Francisco 49ers, including Jimmy G, have known that Trey Lance was the heir apparent and that Garoppolo was playing on borrowed time. That is one of the reasons that he is such an inspiration...a player that could garner the universal respect of his teammates while mentoring his replacement without a hint of resentment, anger, or ill-will. Not to mention is ability to play this year with a strained throwing shoulder, a broken thumb and a detached ligament on his right hand to lead his team to the conference final. And finally, it might be useful for these writers to quickly glance at Jimmy’s overall record as a starter in the NFL: 35-13. In his only two complete seasons with the Niners, he’s taken his team to the conference final and the Super Bowl. He’s a proven winner as a player and a person, something his critics can only dream about becoming. The team that eventually signs Jimmy will be lucky to have him as their leader.