2 Phones

I have two phones now, and not because I need them, or because my life is all that complicated. I was simply bequeathed one from work; it's a smart phone, unlike my personal phone, the one I now officially call my "spam phone," which is exactly what it excels at. Lately, the calls have progressed from Medicare benefit inquiries to those of the funeral service variety. Since I never quite persevere long enough (if at all) to avail myself of what exactly they're offering, it's still endearing to know they constantly have my best interests in mind...

I'm just sorta worried about them is all, they've kinda painted themselves into a corner. I mean what's possibly left after my funeral concerns? Maybe something to do with... wills!? I can't seem to think of anything else- perhaps I should pass that on to them! 

Wait, I'm getting a call...

On Every Cylinder!

This video exposes, describes and breaks down America's complete fascination and devotion to the cult of the gun. And I must confess... it's most blatantly obvious and central tenet- the gun's socio-economic hold on a seemingly dispossessed, disempowered populace is one that I never fully realized till now. The causes may be somewhat conflated, the consequences- brutally destructive. And, not surprisingly, it's Chris Hedges, once again, offering the frank, concise and drop dead insightful analysis... 

Anyone With...

Those possessing the very slightest acquaintance with human nature and common sense should now realize that Donald Trump is/and always has been the most perfectly transparent con man who ever grifted the American political stage (even if it took this painfully long to get to such a woefully evident insight). And that still excludes all of his MAGA Faithful who purposely ignored any of the Jan. 6 investigative hearings. When facts no longer matter, and mere whim rules the day, it's impossible to accurately judge where any society currently stands, other than the most obvious of assessments- that it's in severely-deep-shit!

As if to prove my point:  Jim Banks of Indiana... said that if the hearings have done anything, "they've exonerated President Trump and the people supporting him."

And the irony is... he's 100% percent correct! He and his ilk are no longer bound by the rules of reality; they have broken free into the realm of their own delusional making! And we're the ones left to deal with their maniacal fantasies, and policies...

66 And Counting...

Photo: © Stan Banos

At my age, I'm: not on any medication, weigh almost half an average American, and can outwalk most 30 yr. olds. So, at times my head can actually tend to unconsciously swell up a bit and think I'm all that- despite the fact that I've consciously seen far too many bits and pieces of me fall to the wayside these past few years... like the latest tooth, which after becoming infected, has to be extracted. The dentist first gave me a prescription for penicillin, and after the infection cleared, the tooth would be pulled. One of the possible side effects was diarrhea, and sure enough, I met it head on and dealt with it for a good week. I took the photo above on a drop dead gorgeous Sunday afternoon and on the way home started to feel some cramps in the area of my small intestines (or so I'm guessing). They became progressively more severe, and by late evening they felt like a Gurkha was fiercely stabbing his was through my lower midsection- and then the diarrhea really hit! Excruciating pain followed by a fierce run to the john every twenty minutes like clockwork- the whole entire evening into daylight next day.

Sleep deprived, severely dehydrated and still throbbing in pain, I contemplated dialing 911 for an ambulance to the ER that morning. Never been in one in my life. But an ambulance for... diarrhea? Ridiculous. So, got dressed, walked out the door and was too weak to make it halfway down the hall; 911 it was. They arrive at the door, and I'm so exhausted, I can't answer all their questions (like I did on the phone) as to why I called for an ambulance. And I see them looking at me like- you need an ambulance for... diarrhea?

Far as I know, I'm covered for the ambulance ride- but somehow, I fully expect a notice any day now that says, well, not exactly... And still got an infected tooth to deal with, that's a tad more swelled than my head at the moment.

Pure... Coincidence?

 Who can best retrieve erased texts? The very people who erased them!

Tone Down The Starburst Filter!

   Photo- © NASA

Like anyone else, I too am thrilled and amazed by the new Webb telescope photos of our distant universe. Then again, there's something that kinda rubs me the wrong way about some of 'em- and for reasons well beyond tangential. For whatever reason, they just remind me of all those many, many photos out there of super sharp, super colorful, super detailed, beyond realism postcard landscapes (slot canyons, anyone?) that are so universally popular and ubiquitous these days. Fair comparison, absolutely not- not even a valid analogy, just the association that somehow prevents me from fully enjoying the new Webbs...

Strike While The Iron Is Hot!

With enough shit floating about his neck (that he himself shat out) to convict him six ways to Sunday thanks to the remarkable effort invested by the Jan 6 Senate Select Committee, it's about time someone, anyone jolts Merrick Garland awake, have him perform his duly appointed duty, and throw the seditious son of a bitch in jail where he has belonged (long before he ever set foot in the White House). 

And that said, why won't Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson make the criminal referral to the DOJ? What in the hell is going on with both of these guys!?! There's precious little time before Nov '22 (and '24)...

Steve Bannon- Political Mastermind!

MAGA Mastermind Steve Bannon has unequivocally proven why he is the political strategist of... All Time- we're talking GOAT, baby!!! Back against the wall, when most people would fold and crumble into a babbling, helpless heap- Steve Bannon rises, stares directly into the eyes of those who would do him ill, and... and ever so confidently, pulls out a note penned by his BFF explaining exactly why he was Ausente. Pure, indisputable G-E-N-I-U-S!!!

The Face Of Insanity

Photo: © Stan Banos

They say a picture's worth a thousand words, you know, the usual bromide. And for quite some time now I've tried to describe to people what it's like walking many a street of today's San Francisco. The deterioration, depravity, hopelessness- people not only without a home or resources, but without a working mind even capable of bettering those circumstances. People whose profound mental illness forever bars them from any semblance of normality on their own. And if you live anywhere near the downtown area, you need not search it out, it’s all around you, right next to you, in front and behind you- not just in the streets and sidewalks, but in your bus, subway car, local convenience store... 

Sometimes, people think you're exaggerating for effect, or they just dismiss it as a generic, nationwide problem, and you want to say- no, this is a bit different, on another level, this is truly out of hand... and in one of the richest cities in the land! This is not the first time I've seen someone babbling to themselves, laughing aloud, encased in their own shit. It's horrible to witness, beyond imagining having to live it- and yet, it is a horror that is allowed to continue and metastasize... right beneath the tech built, luxury condos that helped create it.

If...

...you can shoot on the street- you can shoot anything.
-Mary Ellen Mark

Anders

The guy is just so-damn-fuckin'-good! And yet, how come his name doesn't automatically come up in the same breath when one mentions master portrait photographers? It's more like... oh yeah, that guy! Perhaps because he doesn't take studio portraits, or maybe because his photographs go so far beyond mere portraits! Each a masterwork slice of life personified. And he's so damn prolific.

I look at all those incredible images hanging on the gallery walls, and it's truly humbling. Makes my meager stuff look so two dimensional and superficial; I suppose that's at least in part because the guy has such endless amounts of genuine empathy for his fellow man and the human condition. I like to think I have a fair amount of empathy- competing with equal amounts of aversion to and outright disdain of my fellow human beings...

Right vs. Left (Conspiracies)

Conspiracy Theory from the Left:  More than one person was involved in the assassination of JFK.

Conspiracy Theory from the Right:  JFK, Jr. will reanimate, reappear and usher Donald J. Trump triumphantly back into the White House.

Back in the day, most conspiracy theories came from the Left; conspiracies were one of the few venues of communication available to those who were not in power in such a Conservative nation. But things are considerably different today, no one trusts the government, what was once mildly Left is now center Right, and the Radical Extremist Rightists are in control and getting stronger by the day. And one of the ways they maintain and strengthen their hold on power is through their use of: lies, innuendo, rumor and conspiracy. And give credit where credit is due, they have raised the level of conspiracy theory to a whole different art form- to the degree that it no longer need be based on any semblance of reality. Hillary Clinton runs a child sex ring from a pizza parlor- fortunately, a true believer was stopped by police in the nick o' time before he shot up a most ordinary pizza parlor he believed the offending party! Certainly, that example was the epitome of outrageous inanity, nothing could possibly top that for sheer audacity and ridiculousness. I-was-wrong...

Yeah, the JFK, Jr. one! Personally, I couldn't decide which was the more insane proposition- JFK, Jr. reanimating and reappearing or switching parties for no explicable reason in order to somehow, someway lead Trump back into the White House! Total, complete off the wall insanity- and yet, and yet... the faithful came by the hundreds and dutifully assembled at Dealey Plaza to witness just that (and then refused to leave till they actually witnessed it)! That is the epitome of ignorance, the zenith of gullibility that sways today's Republican base. But have faith true believers- I was fooled once, the best is yet to come...

"Hey! That's what I hear- that's what they're sayin'..."  Happy Fourth!!!