The Electoral College Has Spoken

Trump as President

The killing of Russia's Ambassador to Turkey by a gunman at a museum exhibit underscores just how volatile and dangerous the world is today even apart from Donald Trump. We shall see to what extent he contributes to the instability. So far he hasn't given us any grounds to feel that he is willing or able to calm these roiling waters. On the contrary. But, he will have an opportunity to improve. Let us hope he avails himself of it.☐

Trump and Russia

Let me be clear. I'm not a Trump supporter. Au contraire. But I am slightly bemused by all the condemnation of Trump for advocating possibly cooperating more with Putin and Russia. Wasn't it Obama who, in 2009, inaugurated the now infamous re-set with Russia? And didn't Obama ridicule Mitt Romney when Mitt identified Russia as America's biggest geopolitical threat in a 2012 presidential debate? And wasn't it George W. Bush who, in 2001, talked about having looked Putin in the eye and having seen him to be trustworthy. 

Chill, people. There will be time to take Trump to task if he actually tries to weaken NATO or otherwise sacrifice America's interests to his own personal or familial interests. I'm not advocating supporting Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State or embracing Donald Trump as someone qualified to be President, which he is not. I'm just suggesting we keep a little perspective on things. 

Obama's Tightrope

Obama seems clearly to be walking a tightrope between, on the one hand, providing a smooth transition for President Elect Trump and not undermining the legitimacy of the election despite Obama's awareness of Russian hacking in support of Trump, and, on the other hand, expressing his views about the impact of birther racism spearheaded by Trump, the threat of fake news to our electoral process, and how Republican obstructionism thwarted many of his Presidential objectives. It's a difficult task, to say the least, and no doubt will leave no one completely happy, particularly Democrats.

Cookies, Computer Style

By now we're all familiar with cookies, computer style. Heck, these days we're blasted with display windows warning us of them and requesting that we acknowledge their existence.

But, Facebook in particular, perhaps because so many of us use it to connect with and keep track of friends and loved ones, seemingly continues to expand its "horizons". These days I'm not only greeted by a "memory" in the form of a photo posted years before but I'm welcomed with a weather report and bombarded with ads specifically targeting me based on my school affiliations, web searches and the like.

It really is getting to be too much but I don't see any respite going forward, other than turning it all off, which may be easier said than done.

Knotting My Sweatpants

It's that time of year in Southern California when it actually starts to get chilly. Time to wear some sweatpants around the house. 

But this year I finally decided to face up to the fact that I may be the only schnook who does not know how to knot the sweatpants' single loop drawstring. I mean for years I've struggled unsuccessfully with the challenge. So tonight I decided to face my demons, or at least this one, use modern technology — Google and YouTube — and try to learn how to do it. 

Well, it turns out I'm not the only schnook in town when it comes to this one. All kinds of videos and diagrams. It makes knotting a tie seem easy. But I think I'm on the road to a solution. Just a little more practice and who knows — maybe I'll be able to venture outside to retrieve the morning newspaper without worrying whether my sweatpants will fall down. 

On the Demise of Obamacare under a Trump Presidency

Mitch McConnell has apparently just announced that, now that there will be a Republican President, the Republicans will repeal Obamacare.

I will be interested in seeing the reactions of the white working class that brought Trump his victory when Medicaid expansions are eliminated, insurers may once again impose pre-existing conditions as barriers to coverage, subsidies for those who do not have health insurance through an employer and have never been able to pay premiums are eliminated, and healthcare costs and insurance premiums continue to increase under Trumpcare, a non-existent health insurance plan. But, then, the Republicans will make every effort to blame liberals for the catastrophe while assuring the white working class that trickle down economics, including massive tax rate reductions for the rich and businesses, will bring them incredible prosperity.☐