A man for our time

The commotion led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been dominating the news since the weekend. We all know the basic story by now and nobody in the media knows any more than we do about what is going on behind the scenes. Yevgeny seems to be quite the character. We have needed a face to attach to the war. A con man or a Russian patriot? He looks like he came out of central casting to play the rogue general. A man who would cut off a man's balls for the fun of it but who may be useful to the West. Perhaps some of the freed soldiers defected to the Ukranian army? Nobody knows.

This whole story should make a good movie. However, they should do something about his name. It may be hard to fit on the cover of Time's Man of the Year issue. 

Editor's note: A tragic accident.

Help Sally find a liver

 

I came home from the store yesterday and found stuffed in my mailbox a one page flyer. On it read " Help Sally Find a Liver". I'd have to say that this was a new one. I've been asked for money so a man can ride a bus home, feed his sick mother, keep America well, and keep America well informed, but no one has ever asked me for a liver before.

I thought about it. I have become accustomed to my liver. It has served me well and I have not been an ideal partner. I like to drink and I'm sure beer, white wine and Jack has not been kind to my liver over the years. I'm afraid my liver might not even be that serviceable. Sorry but if you need a liver you will have to look elsewhere. 

the chair

In honor of Father's Day, I have a new post in my Sixties blog. 

the Phoenix Economy

I have gotten into the routine of listening to Slate Money every Saturday morning. Last week, the host, Felix Salmon, was promoting his new book.  I find the show fun and informative and thought I'd take a chance on it and bought it on Amazon for my Kindle. 

I have been expecting a series of books to start coming out on the pandemic. "September 11" and Afghanistan have produced a few good books, as well as a few forgettable coffee table dust collectors. This is the first book on covid, at least that I have noticed, that comprehensively deals with   the economic, social and political ramifications of the disease. 

The book is an easy read and has some information that I did not know. However, oftentimes, what is presented as fact is often closer to opinion. This book is full of Salmon's points of view. Although it tries to be somewhat encyclopedic in its breadth, I feel it shortchanges covid's effect on education. I also suspect some eyebrows were raised when he talks about the babysitting aspects of teaching.

Editor's note:  Librarians also become unwilling babysitters.

Prince Andrew

First we had the Trump presidency, then we had covid, soon we might have the US defaulting on its debt. But the news most of us are  concerned about involves Prince Andrew. Apparently the king wants to move him and his family (they are divorced but still...) out of the Royal Lodge and into Frogmore Castle. Frogmore Castle looks like a nice place from its website. Still it is making money now as a museum. Having Andrew there  might be an added attraction. Tourists will be able to spy on a pregnant Eugenie sunbathing in the garden or the prince entertaining a group of Americans on their junior year in Europe. 

Ron DeSantis and the battle of trans rights

 

Recently I went to my old job to attend a retirement buffet for my old boss. At some point I had to answer nature's call. I mentioned it and got giggles. I was warned that the bathrooms were all cross gender. I.E., there were no men's rooms or women's rooms. There were only rooms. Upon entering, I noticed that there was no difference in the facility since I worked there. Of course, the sign on the door was different. It said, "all gender restroom." I wonder how women navigate the urinals? 

It is this type of politically correct activism that the governor of Florida wants to save us from. He would not allow such travesties in Florida or the USA. Ron DeSantis has discovered the weakness in political correctness that he can exploit. In the old days he could fight against gay marriage. Unfortunately, gay marriage has entered the mainstream even in red states. Of course, there is women's rights. Again, equality for working women is now generally accepted. Cash poor states are allowing legal marijuana. That issue again waning. interracial marriage? Again, becoming mainstream.                 

The next frontier of liberalism that might scare the behooves out of suburban housewives?  Trans sexualism. He reads about a school in Philadelphia that has a drag queen story hour for kids. Trans gender rights. Here is a topic that is entering the political conversation. And one that people are ambivalent about. Most people never thought about this topic until recently, but Ron has instilled the fear in parents of girls who will have to compete in sports with boys who have sex change operations. There goes that scholarship. 

One of the great arts in politics is teaching the public to fear things that they never thought about before. It should be an interesting two years. 

He was brought down by a woman

 

"History repeats itself, first as a tragedy then as a farce" Karl Marx

We are now entering the farce stage of the Trump saga. Brought down by a woman, Donald Trump will forever be linked in history to

Stormy Daniels. The next stage is beginning. I predicted riots on this day. I think I will be wrong. There will be some excitement, staged for the television cameras, but I suspect the Donald like the Harry is starting to wear on the short attention span of Americans. People are getting tired of the soap opera of Donald and Stormy like they are tiring of Harry and Meghan.