Tag Archives: history

White House Walk of Shame

President #48 Walk of Fame to Oval Office, redesignation of TRUMP PLAQUE

Framed Photo: Trump condoms “I’m Huuuuuge!

Donald J Trump was elected twice. A convicted sexual predator, he sullied the nation by being the first White House occupant convicted of multiple (34) felonies, who encouraged his children to follow his example by shaking down world leaders and rich folks with business before the U.S. government for money to vastly enrich his family personally; thus contravening our Constitution, laws and presidential norms.

He proudly brought overt hatred of everyone not a rich, white, heterosexual, Republican, Christian male into the White House and therefore, American revisionist history. His abject loathing of all (but subservient) women, Blacks, minorities, the disabled, veterans and all Democrats was foisted on the American people as acceptable and desired behavior.

Notoriously thin-skinned as  late-in-life politician, he spent most of his second term exacting retribution against anyone who might have once crossed his path and irked him in any way. Military heroes, astronauts, comedians, no-one was safe from his IRS, DOJ, Pentagon, mortgage lending arms or FCC. Entire states were denied federal funds because they had a Democrat as a governor, and he took great pride in his efforts to divide our country against itself

He brought his real estate expertise to bear, changing Washington, D.C. regardless of zoning laws, historical considerations, funds needed or how his changes affected the American people who own all these structures. His particular style blends rococo and tyrant chic and while he would never admit to having been inspired by anyone, his muses include worldwide wrestling, Liberace and in his “Je ne sais quoi” attitude, Marie Antoinette.

Early influences were mob lawyer Roy Cohn and the most notorious pedophile the world has ever known, Jeffrey Epstein, he knew in his “gut” to only learn from the best. Known for rewarding loyalty over competence, both his terms courted disaster for the nation’s democracy and rule of law.

To experience Trump’s Washington, visit the newly-gilded Trump-Washington monument, the Trumponian Institution (formerly the Smithsonian) and the Arc de Trump. The Trump Ballroom, his signature work, was nearing completion when a giant sinkhole suddenly ate it, all 875,000 sf of it. The current administration has invited all Americans who have lost their Medicare, Medicaid and SNAP benefits to pan for gold in the sinkhole (all the gilded Oval Office decorations were tossed in for good measure). When every last shred of gold is gone, the former East Wing will be rebuilt under the guidance of historic preservationists and a Blue Ribbon panel of former First Ladies.

Peace At Any Price

I commend the choice of Ms. Machado for the Nobel Peace Prize. There is a vast difference in wanting peace and solely wanting a peace prize.

Ms. Machado is a champion of her people, trying to bring democracy to a dictatorship while hiding in fear for her life. No doubt the prize money will be used to help in her herculean efforts.

Donald Trump wants the Nobel Peace Prize for any number of reasons, the ones I can think of offhand are that: Obama has one; he wants another picture on his wall and if the prize is not solid gold, to gild it so it’s a matching set with all his other Oval Office tchotchkes; and he wants to be able to say that the Nobel Committee supports with its “sponsorship” his tacky ginormous ballroom that 99.9% of Americans will never see, and that has no place on the White House grounds.

Lasting peace is something world leaders (many not elected) work tirelessly to attain, then to keep. Trump sees it as a five minute effort with perhaps a handshake and details to be ironed out later, that includes a big personal pot of gold for him and his equally greedy family.

“Winning” a Nobel Peace Prize while bombing countries, also boats in international waters, unconstitutionally tossing out the U.S. Constitution when it’s nettlesome (habeas corpus, free speech) and instilling fear in Americans everywhere apparently doesn’t fly with the Nobel powers that be. Bullying and outright lobbying for the honor is tacky and beneath the office of the presidency. So does alienating our neighbors and other allies, and leaving sick and hungry people in poor countries to die of disease and starvation after years of consistent support. Our president demeans our great nation and all Americans when he acts this way.

He’s not in it for the peace, he’s only in it for a prize. What a shame. Namaste, Dee

Belonging

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Winnie-the-Pooh_characters#Piglet

We had moved twice from our family home in a year. Ten miles down the road, different school district and easier for Dad to get to work.

This was high school. Battle. Brawn, cheerleaders and brains. I was good at English Lit and Algebra, Alex on Geometry, we all studied together.

We came up with names from A.A. Milne, and we were all supporting characters. I remember two. Alex was Tigger. I was Piglet, a tiny girl. I realize now I was probably the leader of the group. They named me as such and when a situation comes up, I just deal with it.

I had a crush on Tigger but had never dated nor wanted to do so. After all, we had to go through Geometry after Algebra. He was my saving study grace there. I wonder what he’s doing now. Probably a home and wife and kids, perhaps grandkids, I wish him well.

Twenty years ago I was a consultant for an impoverished neighborhood striving to educate their children. We had an event one day and I was given an opportunity to assess one of the parent seminars, and I learned algebra all over again. This teacher should have made Teacher of the Year nationally. I remembered! It was so easy, that I wish math and science would have been recommended for girls back in the day. In my day it was Home Economics, and I protested it by leading the team and making our theme chocolate for everything, pancakes, whatever. I wanted to take Shop but I was a girl and even went to the Principal but was disallowed because of my gender. I could make a pie, but not a lamp.

That was years ago but if we had a lot of money I’d toss it in a foundation for math and science and reward the teachers, then the students with impartial judges as to teacher and student qualifications. The emphasis would be for women to learn early on that they can write software, do any job guys do for three times more than you can make. Thank you Mr. Burgoon (grade school), and Tigger, for a bit of math. Cheers, Dee

ps Many thanks to my husband, who is great at physics lessons on the road (what kind of smoke is this and what does this factory make) who makes me admire the math geeks. Hey, I’m married to one and try not to take long car trips with him, the dog is more quiet and in back…… D

 

 

TripAdvisor “Reviews”

Well, so much for being a Top Contributor, or now “level 6,” whatever that means. This was a first person review and I sang at the structure now being torn down fifty years ago this summer. I know where I stood and sang Panis Angelicus. If memories don’t count, why do you have a travel blog? Why just not have an “I’m planning to go to Bora Bora sometime” site? Think about it.

Yes, my father worked there 40 years ago and moved on. I worked there for three summers to put myself through college and I moved on so  that is first-hand information. I beg to differ with your decision not to air my views as there was a Board of Trustees decision to demolish earlier this month.

When I’m seventy years old, will your “guidelines” prevent a review of something I recently visited that someone I knew experienced 90 years ago? What is the moratorium? I suggest you review your guidelines. If your new monetized site that is using my nearly 80K reviews (for free) shrinks from controversy, say it. You’ve been disingenuous in having me write free reviews for you for years. Now it’s a travel site and you don’t want any sticky bits getting in the way, like the hamburger tasted like a hockey puck and the decor was awful 70’s and filthy. But I would never eat at a place like that. Change the guidelines, a former Top Contributor.

Dee, “Level 6”

On Sep 29, 2015, at 9:14 AM, TripAdvisor wrote:

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Dear TripAdvisor Member,

Thank you for your review. We have opted not to publish your review as it does not meet our guidelines for traveler reviews. We have listed the guidelines below; you may also view them at:

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——original review——-

Subject: Chautauqua Institution

Location: Chautauqua, Chautauqua County, New York, United States, North America

Title: The Amphitheater, Gone

ID#: 314145900

I must share my experience, as the Board and President have just commandeered the distruction of its’ Amphitheater, the heart of the Institution with hard wooden benches and a few bad sight lines but provides orchestra, dance, religion, speakers, music, it is the original Chautauqua and now they’ve voted to eviscerate its heart.

Next summer, try it for a week or few days or for the summer and format your opinion of these grounds and its offerings.

I am very sad at this decision as I pulled weeds at the clay tennis courts, worked at a cafeteria then in program where I was on duty for 80 hours per week, about $1 an hour. I was in college and worked as hard as I could summers to make money for my college tuition. I met some wonderful folks there, but I know exactly where I sat and stood to sing at Chautauqua’s Amp and have remembered being so scared then we kids came home with 2nd place. Never had I been to a “cathedral” so beautiful and I think it made our voices ring out because of the great echoing sound in this old and beautiful place.

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 Proof of the pudding? http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2015/08/preservation_group_criticizes.html

I can get the Board decision as well. This is one nasty organization that will not even respond to a Top Contributor with nearly 80,000 viewers.

Chew on that, TripAdvisor. Dee