As a golden rule kinda guy very little of a very lot makes any sense to me. But I’ll tell you what did make sense. Demonstrating against our wannabe authoritarian regime (bad leg and all) with childhood friends and a quarter of a million like minded people in Chicago Saturday. That 7 million people @ 2,600 places did the same, peacefully, throughout the country sends a message.
I’ve been doing this since Vietnam.
According to the White House the demonstrations were “very small and very ineffective”. 22 arrests, all of which were MAGA followers attacking protesters. Most counterprotests were online with the bots not at the rallies. We showed up and it felt right. Miles more than a strongly worded letter or bitching on Facebook.
The presidential response to our message was an AI generated video posted by and staring Benedict Donald wearing a crown flying a fighter plane and deluging protesters in diarrhea. Since he always projects, this Freudian flight is an apt analogy. Childlike and vulgar. More damaged pubescent boy than president of the United States. “A one man hate rally” in the words of Steven Colbert.
Asked about it at a press conference Speaker Mike Johnson had this to say: “The president uses social media to make the point. You can argue he’s probably the most effective person who’s ever used social media for that.”
They can’t not agree with everything he churns from his bowels, real or imagined. “Thank you sir, may I have another?” There’s no need for the video though. He shits on Americans in real life everyday.
All this in order to protect wealthy pedophiles. What a job.
While the House is recessed and government shut down they did manage to find nearly $200 million for 2 top of the line private Gulfstream jets for Kristi Noem’s personal use/deportation crusade, and $20 billion for Argentina. The vast majority of managers of our nation’s nuclear arsenal were just bought a round of furloughs as well. Not a good one to see eliminated, but hey, no one is stopping them.
Demolishing parts of the White House for a $250 million dollar ballroom is another nice touch for the lay back and enjoy it contingent. It’s landmark status and therefore highly regulated in what can and can’t be done in a remodel.
At least that’s how it is for the rest of us. I lost a lucrative consulting gig once because changes that needed to be made on a project that had landmark status weren’t allowed.
As written in Project 2025, the shutdown is a plan to consolidate power in the executive branch. Fewer checks and balances means bullshit like the above still comes with all the outrage but less resistance.
“No bounty for their crimes” was Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s response to an outraged Trump who urged him to accept terms and cede the Donbas region or be “destroyed by Russia” like Vlad told him to on the phone the day prior.
In one last quick knife jab to the eye, his A-Holeness commuted George Santos’ prison sentence. Meaning besides a get out of jail free card, he got to lie to Congress and doesn’t have to pay damages to the people he committed wire fraud and aggravated identity theft against. Donors all, including disabled veterans who he stole charity funds from.
“Trump’s treatment of George Santos shows that the only free
speech he believes in is lying” Andy Borowitz
Ignoring this is what the Germans did.
Chef/percussionist/writer/reprobate and lover of all things beautiful & delicious, Chef Alan Lake’s culinary career includes East Bank Club in Chicago; Sunset Marquis in W. Hollywood; Izakaya Hiwatta in Ichinomia Japan and legendary nightclub Purpur in Zurich, Switzerland. Working all around the world for over four decades, he's won numerous awards, professional competitions and distinctions. He’s the author of Home Cookin'- The Stories Behind The Food and The Garlic Manifesto- the history of garlic going back to 10,000-year-old Neolithic caves and contains facts, fiction, folklore, myths and legends (besides 100 recipes).
A lifelong musician that plays 70+ percussion instruments, he coined the term “Jazzfood” to describe his cooking style i.e. “solid technique coupled with tasteful improvisation.” He views his food as he does his music and writing and has been known to bust a pout if subpar in any way.