Memorial Day is not a day for respectful quiet and public mourning. It's a *half-day* for respectful quiet and public mourning.
By law and custom, the US flag may fly at half-staff from dawn until noon. At noon, the flag may be boosted again to the top of the pole and then, as usual lowered at sundown.
This makes sense. We should be a respectful people, but we should not be dour. All old nation's have "revenge holidays," where they open old wounds, teach their children the old enemies to hate, and promise that, next year, those fucks over the fence will get what's coming to them.
America will be truly lost if we develop a "holiday" like that.
But to me it seems right that by law and custom, Memorial Day in any community by spontaneous action (and not state coercion), people can choose to gather in the morning of the last Monday of May to remember the wardead and take from that practice any honest lessons that reveal themselves. That in the afternoon they might spend their time with family and friends engaged in a Pursuit of Happiness -- the purpose and goal of life on this planet, be it in a backyard, or at the beach, etc. seems as appropriate.
US Memorial Day is *both* a mourning ritual and a celebration.
A week ago I met the lovely and talented J at an open mic/karaoke show. I told her about my favorite, and to my surprise she came. She's the first woman of maybe 25 asked if she knew Gregory Porter's Insanity who knew it. We sang that and Cruisin together, so much fun.
We tried to meet up at this community event Saturday, but it didn't work out. Tried again to hear a band play at the Forest Park Boathouse, but the park was really busy with an African Arts Fest, and parking was impossible, and we called it off.
Third try this eve to hear a wedding band play outside kicking off a summer park concert series.
Maybe the used car company was Roy L. Fuch's Previously Owned car lot. If you've seen Used Cars you'll know what I mean, and if you HAVEN'T seen one of the great film parodies of American politics, well, I shall not detain you.
I need to find a new therapist. I do have a psychiatrist that I see every 3 months, but we started under awkward circumstances, in that she was originally seeing my (now) ex-partner, and then we did some sessions together, and then I continued to see her individually. The main problem, I think, is that my ex described me in such glowing terms that the psychiatrist thinks I was/am awesome, so she hasn’t accurately assessed how I’ve devolved over the years.
Anyway, I used the Psychology Today online screening tool, and found a therapist with an office not far from me, who takes my insurance, and who specializes in anxiety/depression issues, particularly in women. Sounds perfect, right?
But the big red flag for me in her bio is that she graduated from Liberty University. Which is just, ugh.
I know I’m fortunate to even live in an area that is large enough to have options, but… ugh.
LOL. It’s also possible she’s changed her views as a result of that experience?
Political issues and women’s rights are deeply important to me. The thought of another Trump presidency greatly contributes to my depression and anxiety, so I can’t have a white nationalist Christofascist as a therapist.
But maybe it’s worth reaching out to confirm her current views.
Memorial Day is not a day for respectful quiet and public mourning. It's a *half-day* for respectful quiet and public mourning.
By law and custom, the US flag may fly at half-staff from dawn until noon. At noon, the flag may be boosted again to the top of the pole and then, as usual lowered at sundown.
This makes sense. We should be a respectful people, but we should not be dour. All old nation's have "revenge holidays," where they open old wounds, teach their children the old enemies to hate, and promise that, next year, those fucks over the fence will get what's coming to them.
America will be truly lost if we develop a "holiday" like that.
But to me it seems right that by law and custom, Memorial Day in any community by spontaneous action (and not state coercion), people can choose to gather in the morning of the last Monday of May to remember the wardead and take from that practice any honest lessons that reveal themselves. That in the afternoon they might spend their time with family and friends engaged in a Pursuit of Happiness -- the purpose and goal of life on this planet, be it in a backyard, or at the beach, etc. seems as appropriate.
US Memorial Day is *both* a mourning ritual and a celebration.
Hey, there, Wonketariat! Wanted to share a YouTube channel I discovered just today. The scripted dialogue can get a lil' cringe, but the facts seem to be well-researched, and spot-on. They do a series called "This Fuckin' Guy", which is what I've watched so far
Those are about Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson, respectively. Take a look if you're so inclined--you might leave thinking even less of those two than you already do.
I am a huge fan of This Fuckin' Guy. The cringe part is only one of the hosts. The other is clearly the one doing the real work and she's purely interesting and fun. I'm not fact checking them but I'm old as hell and haven't noticed a single error. I have gotten context and much better understanding of lots of fucking guys.
Eg, This explanation of how Elon Musk is "making America worse."
" Take a look if you're so inclined--you might leave thinking even less of those two than you already do."
Then I'm not sure what's the point
We already know they need to be contained and defeated -- and it's not like we don't have a few other things to do with Greg Abbott freeing convicted murderers but also trying to put people in jail who just want to vote
We have enough information, so I'm honestly not sure what the point is
Palm Beach Post trying hard at damage control for its favorite citizen
“Trump honors U.S. war dead, wishes 'Happy Memorial Day' to 'human scum' in legal cases
A mid-morning missive on his Truth Social platform exclusively focused on those leading the civil and criminal prosecutions against him in New York state.”
I got close enough to state-sponsored violence that I could see that it's terrible. Never saw a shot fired in anger but I got the idea. So many have given so much and suffered and died. I just can't figure it out.
I did see a faux xeet about all of the scumbags and animals that are living in TFG's head this minute. Today's stream of what passes for TFG's consciousness was heavy on insulting fellow Americans and very light on "Thank you for the ultimate sacrifice, loser" I couldn't make a worse ad if I tried.
I was once gifted a small TV that came out of a friend's camper, ran on batteries and AC. About the size of 2 dollar bills. I remember my mom laughing at me when I told her I was going to be watching the Boston Pops 4th fireworks- in B&W. Then the big digital switchover happened and it became useless.
Beloved fiancé Meccalopolis and I spent a lovely afternoon at the Met with Berkeley Cousin and his ladyfriend, whose sister curated an exhibit contrasting ancient weaving (mostly Peruvian) and modern weaving. It closes in June, and I recommend it highly. Motley (the painter) and Moody (the sculptor) were the highlights of the Harlem Renaissance exhibit. We had lunch in the members' dining room, watching the rain on the slanted glass windows; we were seated right next to them. At times the rain was heavy enough to obscure the obelisk in Central Park. We also visited the jade exhibit in the Asian art section; made it there right before they started closing the museum. A very good day.
Your persistent, buoyed yet ebullient positivity is a balm. Love seeing your comments here and it’s cool to inhabit them for the moment. Thank you for sharing these.
I too couldn't find the ad anywhere, so instead allow me to offer up what I consider a stupid and dangerous ad -- political of course -- the "Daisy" ad from LBJ's 1964 campaign:
A final word, this Memorial Day:-day
Memorial Day is not a day for respectful quiet and public mourning. It's a *half-day* for respectful quiet and public mourning.
By law and custom, the US flag may fly at half-staff from dawn until noon. At noon, the flag may be boosted again to the top of the pole and then, as usual lowered at sundown.
This makes sense. We should be a respectful people, but we should not be dour. All old nation's have "revenge holidays," where they open old wounds, teach their children the old enemies to hate, and promise that, next year, those fucks over the fence will get what's coming to them.
America will be truly lost if we develop a "holiday" like that.
But to me it seems right that by law and custom, Memorial Day in any community by spontaneous action (and not state coercion), people can choose to gather in the morning of the last Monday of May to remember the wardead and take from that practice any honest lessons that reveal themselves. That in the afternoon they might spend their time with family and friends engaged in a Pursuit of Happiness -- the purpose and goal of life on this planet, be it in a backyard, or at the beach, etc. seems as appropriate.
US Memorial Day is *both* a mourning ritual and a celebration.
Of course Reagan waved the flag.
What he didn't do is see combat in WWII.
He & John Wayne won WWII on the back lots of Hollywood and they became more gung-ho nationalist than Yankee Doodle so no one remembered.
A week ago I met the lovely and talented J at an open mic/karaoke show. I told her about my favorite, and to my surprise she came. She's the first woman of maybe 25 asked if she knew Gregory Porter's Insanity who knew it. We sang that and Cruisin together, so much fun.
We tried to meet up at this community event Saturday, but it didn't work out. Tried again to hear a band play at the Forest Park Boathouse, but the park was really busy with an African Arts Fest, and parking was impossible, and we called it off.
Third try this eve to hear a wedding band play outside kicking off a summer park concert series.
Sigh . . .
Maybe the used car company was Roy L. Fuch's Previously Owned car lot. If you've seen Used Cars you'll know what I mean, and if you HAVEN'T seen one of the great film parodies of American politics, well, I shall not detain you.
Slim Pickens could have pulled it off.
I need to find a new therapist. I do have a psychiatrist that I see every 3 months, but we started under awkward circumstances, in that she was originally seeing my (now) ex-partner, and then we did some sessions together, and then I continued to see her individually. The main problem, I think, is that my ex described me in such glowing terms that the psychiatrist thinks I was/am awesome, so she hasn’t accurately assessed how I’ve devolved over the years.
Anyway, I used the Psychology Today online screening tool, and found a therapist with an office not far from me, who takes my insurance, and who specializes in anxiety/depression issues, particularly in women. Sounds perfect, right?
But the big red flag for me in her bio is that she graduated from Liberty University. Which is just, ugh.
I know I’m fortunate to even live in an area that is large enough to have options, but… ugh.
There's a distant chance she studied there to observe abnormal psychology on a large scale.
LOL. It’s also possible she’s changed her views as a result of that experience?
Political issues and women’s rights are deeply important to me. The thought of another Trump presidency greatly contributes to my depression and anxiety, so I can’t have a white nationalist Christofascist as a therapist.
But maybe it’s worth reaching out to confirm her current views.
I'd email and ask
But I have overdeveloped curiosity as a survival instinct and from time to time I've been called confrontational
So that's just me
A final word, this Memorial Day:-day
Memorial Day is not a day for respectful quiet and public mourning. It's a *half-day* for respectful quiet and public mourning.
By law and custom, the US flag may fly at half-staff from dawn until noon. At noon, the flag may be boosted again to the top of the pole and then, as usual lowered at sundown.
This makes sense. We should be a respectful people, but we should not be dour. All old nation's have "revenge holidays," where they open old wounds, teach their children the old enemies to hate, and promise that, next year, those fucks over the fence will get what's coming to them.
America will be truly lost if we develop a "holiday" like that.
But to me it seems right that by law and custom, Memorial Day in any community by spontaneous action (and not state coercion), people can choose to gather in the morning of the last Monday of May to remember the wardead and take from that practice any honest lessons that reveal themselves. That in the afternoon they might spend their time with family and friends engaged in a Pursuit of Happiness -- the purpose and goal of life on this planet, be it in a backyard, or at the beach, etc. seems as appropriate.
US Memorial Day is *both* a mourning ritual and a celebration.
Hey, there, Wonketariat! Wanted to share a YouTube channel I discovered just today. The scripted dialogue can get a lil' cringe, but the facts seem to be well-researched, and spot-on. They do a series called "This Fuckin' Guy", which is what I've watched so far
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y40RU5Nx6U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO9QAx2-Twc
Those are about Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson, respectively. Take a look if you're so inclined--you might leave thinking even less of those two than you already do.
I am a huge fan of This Fuckin' Guy. The cringe part is only one of the hosts. The other is clearly the one doing the real work and she's purely interesting and fun. I'm not fact checking them but I'm old as hell and haven't noticed a single error. I have gotten context and much better understanding of lots of fucking guys.
Eg, This explanation of how Elon Musk is "making America worse."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y40RU5Nx6U&t=3s
" Take a look if you're so inclined--you might leave thinking even less of those two than you already do."
Then I'm not sure what's the point
We already know they need to be contained and defeated -- and it's not like we don't have a few other things to do with Greg Abbott freeing convicted murderers but also trying to put people in jail who just want to vote
We have enough information, so I'm honestly not sure what the point is
I’m a life long “news junky”, altho lately roll to non-political YouTube unless “Attack Imminent” sirens are wailing.
I just can’t stand what passes for “News” in this version of America.
Palm Beach Post trying hard at damage control for its favorite citizen
“Trump honors U.S. war dead, wishes 'Happy Memorial Day' to 'human scum' in legal cases
A mid-morning missive on his Truth Social platform exclusively focused on those leading the civil and criminal prosecutions against him in New York state.”
TFG is pure trash.
No. The holiday is not about “happiness”.
It a time to remember people who made great sacrifices.
The people that cretin called “suckers”
The PAB has sacrificed NOTHING.
Gold Star families have already said so
I was behind a guy wearing a black t-shirt with lots of red, white, and blue flag imagery and the words:
WE THE PEOPLE... HAVE HAD IT!
It was pretty obvious what his political persuasion was, but I could get behind that message.
I got close enough to state-sponsored violence that I could see that it's terrible. Never saw a shot fired in anger but I got the idea. So many have given so much and suffered and died. I just can't figure it out.
Conservatives like the idea of a military. Individual soldiers, not so much...
They are OK with soldiers, as long as it's not them.
I did see a faux xeet about all of the scumbags and animals that are living in TFG's head this minute. Today's stream of what passes for TFG's consciousness was heavy on insulting fellow Americans and very light on "Thank you for the ultimate sacrifice, loser" I couldn't make a worse ad if I tried.
I know that on Memorial Day especially, my thoughts inevitably turn to scumbag judges out to get me.
Inevitably? I submit that the creep cannot have thoughts about anything else while conscious.
I was once gifted a small TV that came out of a friend's camper, ran on batteries and AC. About the size of 2 dollar bills. I remember my mom laughing at me when I told her I was going to be watching the Boston Pops 4th fireworks- in B&W. Then the big digital switchover happened and it became useless.
Moms: infuriatingly right about most things. .
The guy with the jelly beans, right? And Giuliani-Before-Giuliani hair dye? I didn't know Nancy was his cousin!
Beloved fiancé Meccalopolis and I spent a lovely afternoon at the Met with Berkeley Cousin and his ladyfriend, whose sister curated an exhibit contrasting ancient weaving (mostly Peruvian) and modern weaving. It closes in June, and I recommend it highly. Motley (the painter) and Moody (the sculptor) were the highlights of the Harlem Renaissance exhibit. We had lunch in the members' dining room, watching the rain on the slanted glass windows; we were seated right next to them. At times the rain was heavy enough to obscure the obelisk in Central Park. We also visited the jade exhibit in the Asian art section; made it there right before they started closing the museum. A very good day.
There is a lot in the City.
Your persistent, buoyed yet ebullient positivity is a balm. Love seeing your comments here and it’s cool to inhabit them for the moment. Thank you for sharing these.
Doktor Zoom,
I too couldn't find the ad anywhere, so instead allow me to offer up what I consider a stupid and dangerous ad -- political of course -- the "Daisy" ad from LBJ's 1964 campaign:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riDypP1KfOU
It only ran one time, like Apple's Super Bowl ad riffing on "1984," but like the Apple commercial, once was enough to burn itself into my memory.
fnord
Even parodied on THe Simpsons.