TRUMP'S 100 DAYS OF BEING THE SWAMP KING of DC

No one ever imagined a 100 day nightmare like the one we are being tormented by from Swamp King Trump and his kingdom of marsh-infested transgressors. In just over three months he has managed to create more ethical, political, and constitutional crises than any of his predecessors combined. Here is the short list of his 100 day swamp agenda:
-Nominated the longest list of cabinet hopefuls with strong ties to Russia, oil, and business interests which conflict with existing Federal law but certainly line their pockets with shady business contracts. 
-Refuses to release his tax returns which would most likely show conflicts of interest.
-Is representing Mar A Lago as the southern White House ethically causing huge overrun costs entertaining and playing golf.
-Lies consistently about everything from his inauguration numbers to Paul Manafort.
-Is a misogynist who never did apologize for his past assaultive and predatory behavior with women. Works hard against women's rights and healthcare.
-His failed diplomacy with our allies-hanging up on them and acting like a bully instead of a leader. In 100 days he has alienated us from most of our former allies.
-Believes purging our country of immigrants looking for sanctuary like Hitler did with the Jews. 
-Has unofficially moved his daughter and son-in-law in the White House as 'special assistants' (aka nepotism), giving them responsibilities outside the scope of their competence.
-Is setting us up for a nuclear encounter with North Korea.
-Sees himself as invincible, believes he is above the law, and threatens to dismantle our legislative and executive branches to get what he wants.
-Tweets like an ADD adolescent on cocaine with the coherency to match.
-Believes the US is the center of the universe and this gives us sovereignty to do whatever we want to the environment to enlarge the fortunes of his cabinet and donor friends.
-Denies climate change, science, and the need for tolerance. Is giving Pol Pot competition as the most anti-intellectual despot the world has ever had.
-Thinks alternative facts are not lies or delusions.
-Spins more stories through Sean Spicer than Rumpelstiltskin spins gold.

The silent majority who are supporting him are even scarier. For a student of history, all one has to do is read about what led to the rise of Hitler to see the similarities. Trump supporters actually believe Trump's actions are making America Great Again. I wonder what the Germans who supported Hitler now think of themselves.

France, Don't Make the Same Mistake as We Did with Trump

Dear France,
         Your election on May 7th will determine more than your political future. What is at stake is your identity and integrity as a nation. Populism, or neo-fascism as I refer to it, is egocentric, anti-science, racist, sexist, and poses a great danger in isolating itself into thinking it can function on its own.
         Take a lesson from our disastrous Trump presidency. A man with no political experience, whose main objective is to make Trump great again, is running our country like a madman. He constantly lies, uses his power to smash ethical concerns about his business dealings, and treats those of the rest of the 99% of us as indentured servants to his business interests. There is no doubt the Russians contributed to rigging the election promoting this despot who is wrecking havoc with every system which made America great. Trump is lining he and his billionaire friend's pockets by giving them free reign over dismantling tough environmental laws, allowing them to cash in on government contracts, and lying about all of it.
         The worst of it is his leadership is though is exemplified by his adolescent intimidation and bullying. Because he lacks the intellectual capacity to adequately debate or defend his demagogue position, he sends out tweets succinctly demonstrating his total ignorance on whatever gets his goat. For those of us who knew this would happen if he got elected, this has been a disgraceful, immoral, and frustrating time. To watch the earth melt while Trump denies climate change is like hearing about Nero fiddling while Rome burned. To see innocent immigrants who have lived in this country peacefully for decades be picked up and deported while taking their child to school is inhuman. To watch his billionaire friends rape our society by placing them in cabinet positions which enlarge their fortunes is reprehensible. And to witness a new culture evolving where women are seen as pussy to grab and have no rights to birth control or healthcare is horrific.
       Yes, France, you will soon have a choice. Listen to those moderate voices, for populism is exactly how Hitler came to power. No single drop of water wants to believe it's responsible for a flood. The choice you make could stop the insanity that being self-protective is the solution. Remember the lessons of Hitler well and just look at its beginnings with the Trump presidency. We now have an American Hitler. Fighting this has been a tremendous battle. Learn from how America is changing into a country filled with hate. This doesn't have to happen to your great nation.

With great respect,
From a loving French descendant

SCIENCE VS TRUMP: THE MARCH FOR SCIENCE

Bye, Bye Bill O'Reilly

Dear Bill,

       Trump may be president, populism may be the new Fascism, but women are no longer going to subject themselves to self-righteous Catholic hypocrites who think women are sexual fodder for their workplace boredom. The thirteen million Fox paid in sexual harassment lawsuits proves the former emperor of conservative hyperbole has no clothes and now no job.

REMEMBERING THE CURSE OF APRIL 20th's VIOLENT HISTORY

This week in history marks many tragic events in American history:
the Columbine massacre, the Branch Davidian inferno, the Boston Marathon bombing, the Randy Weaver/ATF battle in Idaho, the West Virginia Tech siege, and the Oklahoma City blast. Of this week, April 20th seems to attract the worst violence and it is also Hitler's birthday. 

April historically is also associated with more suicides and increased bi-polar episodes than any other time of year. The working theory is that for people experiencing depression, the increasing light raises chemicals in the brain giving energy to people who have felt psychologically stuck due to being emotional obtunded. This energy is channeled into underlying pathology motivating those paralyzed by frozen rage into constructing a symbolic plan which makes an indelible (usually) deadly statement. 

This is the week to watch those who have been desperately struggling, have lacked support, have been bullied or targeted, and are emotionally disconnected.  In this Trump age of self-absorption, we now have many who could find good reason to jump, pick up a gun, act out, and feel they have nothing to lose. Those are the ones all of us need to reach out to. These events do not happen in a vacuum. At some point along the way, the perpetrators of these horrific events were given a choice. 

Maybe this year we can recognize those people in our lives at a critical juncture and offer solace, kindness, and support instead. Many years ago working in Workers Comp, I spent time with a deeply depressed man just talking about his burdens. After his claim was finished, he wrote me a letter saying he had intended to commit suicide that day until he spoke with me. Something I had said convinced him to wait, to not act, to give himself time to work things out. And it did for him-he was grateful that I helped avert an impulsive act. I honestly don't remember what I said but whatever I did, it convinced me we all have these opportunities to change a course of a life. 

So this week, remember stress affects us all but it does not take much to reach out.

WHAT IS THE SOUND OF ONE CATFISH CATFISHING?

For those social media neophytes who have never experienced online dating, a catfish is a con artist posing as a prince on a dating site to extort or pray upon a vulnerable woman. Usually their masquerade involves pretending they are good, moral, upstanding men who have had the misfortune of losing a wife or family, have to travel frequently (so they are not around), and happen to have had the bad luck of a financial loss. They are so charismatic and knowledgeable about eliciting sympathetic emotions from women that frequently they are successful at fleecing their victim's finances. 

Recently I was catfished twice. However, since I know the drill I actually had some fun keeping them writing to me until I got bored with their excessive platitudes and flowery flattery. What astonished me about these two was that their modus operandi was similar. Both claimed to be widowers, had good moral values, wanted a strong committed relationship, frequently traveled, and swore they were deeply in love with me based on my picture. I never did meet these two but thought their prose would be worth some laughs.

The first one was named Steve. He claimed he was from Finland. Here is an example of his sincerity:

"Hello my beautiful Queen, 

I always feel blessed and happy each time I'm with you on phone. You made my life complete and also a happy place for me. I can't wait to be with you, cuddle you, kiss your soft wet lips and also drive you crazy, I really can't wait to see you scream my name out, you're more than a gold and diamond to me. you are one in a million, Heaven sent precisely.
 I love you not to be loved, because nothing pleases me as much as your happiness.
The moments when i look in your eyeballs in your picture, are the best. Because I know, I definitely love you More than any other.
As love is the most noble and divine passion of the soul, so is it that to which we may justly attribute all the real satisfactions of life, and without it, man is unfinished, and unhappy.
Love is the wine of existence. When you have taken that, you have taken the most precious drop that there is in the cluster.
Distance may keep us apart but i will not stop loving you.
I spent a whole night awake then learned to value a single minute of sleep. I cut a rose and realize that  garden felt missed her. i grew very fast and then i missed the innocence of being a child. I hastened to reach the top of the stairs and did not give the first important steps that were actually the most important. And before that my life pass without noticing I wish you knew how much YOU is SPECIAL in my life I LOVE YOU.
I can lost everything i have but i never want to lost someone like you in my life, your the reason why i laugh, i breath and love.
Before you came into my life, I thought that love was a distant fantasy, now that you showed me what true love is, I hold on tight and never want to let you go because loving you has made me complete."

The second one, Sam, came from Norway. He was younger and more sophisticated in his fishing scheme. As a skilled fisherman in real life, I would say Sam had a slightly better presentation with his lure. I believe he suspected I was on to him. 

   "Just a start but things I look for.  It's not the sex,because that's the icing to a life shared completely with someone that is completely ready to share everything with me.Thank you for given me the opportunity to feel like this again,I am for real and ready to take this journey with you! Not minding the risk...Taking the chance of been your one and only would be the happiest thing ever happened to me all my life because have never felt like this in a long time .We are both Angel of our likeness and happiness,its will be great to have us mixed together to become one ..."

Reading these I feel like Helen of Troy. Who knew a single photo could inspire such passion and devotion without a single phone call or meeting? It made me feel like Trump on election night. Not really, but I did enjoy making these miscreants dance for awhile. 

No, Cuck You Bannon!

There's seems to be a family feud brewing at the Mar A Lago home away from home vacation palace, otherwise known as the White House. The combative spawns of Trump are sparring over what white rich men love to fight over: who has Daddy Trump's attention. Will it be the old, KKK-like, gin-blossomy Fool or the Prince of Darkness son-in-law? Either way, it is humorous to see an inbred family move into the White House, given special assignments equal to their incompetence, and know they are obtunded by their avaricious edicts. Where is Kellyanne when you need comic relief to explain all of this? Oh, that's right, she disappeared in the family rancor, too.

Trump's political Cirque du Soleil act is proof of the phrase 'crazy from the top down'. Maybe all of you who voted for this man actually believing he would make 'America Great Again',will now realize that Trump is only interested in letting his gang of miscreants run the show while he spends millions golfing. 

THE FULL PINK MOON IN LIBRA April 10

"Full Pink Moon – April This name came from the herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. Other names for this month’s celestial body include the Full Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and among coastal tribes the Full Fish Moon, because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn."  -The Farmers Almanac

For people on the West Coast, the full moon in Libra arrives April 10th @ 11:08pm (PDT). This is an energetic full moon with a grand cardinal cross formed by eight planets. With a Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Pluto, and Saturn all being in retrograde, expect volatility, ugly communications, shocking behavior, and surprising stress. The bright light of this airy Libra lunation will shine on the emergence of numerous psychological, intellectual, and/or mental tribulations. It will feel like we have both receptive and expressive aphasia-is it the information going in or the response coming out that is the problem? You can bet there will be issues of fairness or justice which will also come into play.

But this is also a transformative time. The chaos of the mind makes us realize we are not so sure of our plans, creating the space for change. This allows us to be uncomfortable with the status quo and light a fire under new intentions. We are also being called to be more kind, patient, and understanding as we are being inundated with powerful cosmic forces pressuring us to get going. The hard part will be surfing through the astrological retrograding planetary waves.

April is always a transitional month. Winter does not give way to spring easily. Just when the crocuses are coming up, an unexpected winter storm arrives. But we know the sun is shining longer and the temperatures are warming bringing renewed life. Hang in there, things will smooth out toward the end of the month.