For my sanity’s sake I’ve been trying to avoid the news. No more reading/ listening/scrolling 3-4 hrs a day for the latest turd in a punchbowl in our 24 hr news cycle. But some toilet droppings manage to get flushed my way that are personal. That the majority of our fellow Americans felt inclined to vote a convicted felon in order to “own the woke libs” and decrease the price of eggs- something they care about more than treason- well they’ve been played by a guy who bankrupted a casino and is on a mission to complete Vlad’s wish list.
How do they not see the grift?
In spite of pulling back from a lifelong news and current events addiction some leaked through. I got a call from the director of the after school mentoring program I teach at. Some of the kids were crying (as was she) which I heard over the phone. Turns out they were afraid. Most have birthright citizenship and undocumented parents. Right or wrong they were told ICE was coming to schools and would take them or worse, they’d go home and find their parents gone. They were terrified of both. Mothers were called and some of the kids were mollified to a degree but a roomful of crying kids leaves an impression.
She said it was her worst day in 42 years.
Then a gentleman I’ve been working with since the Afghan airlift fiasco called to ask about the Go Fund Me page we’ve been working on for the rest of his family to join him here. There he taught women and children how not to blow themselves up if they come in contact with a landmine.
For his efforts the Taliban nearly killed him and his remaining family are targets as a result.
He’s here legally with an SIV (special immigrant visa), helped our troops etc… but there’s not much use for those skills here in the States so is struggling. He’s got a son he’s never met (his wife was pregnant at the airport and didn’t get through) so with survivors guilt he watches him grow up via Zoom. How do you tell a parent that if they ever want to hold their child it may be better to relocate to Canada rather than wait it out in the formerly United States of America? I couldn’t believe the words I was forced to say.
How unlike what I’ve always thought of our country. You know, that “bring me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses” thing we grew up with.
Not anymore.
The next day, with all the new anti-trans and gay policies embraced by Republicans that care more about what’s going on in your bedroom than theirs, I called a dear friend of 50 years to check in and see how she is. A respected tenured professor that speaks at international symposiums, authored numerous scientific papers and brings in boatloads of money for research. She’s also trans and broke down while thanking me for my concerns about her very real fears of losing her position at the conservative university she’s taught at for 20+ years.
The chaos is intentional and cruelty is the point.
A purge of the FBI. Cop killers pardoned. A clueless braggart’s expansionist posturing, a manufactured trade war with trusted allies that’s guaranteed to cause us “pain” besides being political malpractice.
Elon and his minions are in possession of America’s payment system- one that requires security clearances they don’t posses. He has your social security number, home address and medical history and it’s hard to write 500 words on anything more important.
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.