Good morning,
Today, a potpourri…
TRUMP’S MENTAL HEALTH
A pithy response I read a few weeks ago in response to concerns with Mr. Biden’s gaffes:
“We had more examples where Trump couldn’t complete a sentence and strung the fragments together incoherently. It’s worth noting that his demeanor changes dramatically at these moments. At one point, Trump was making nonsense sounds, struggling to form even a single word. At one of his events, he said “We’ll re-ve-du. Ohhhh.” At that moment, Trump took a long-defeated sigh, and looked up at the ceiling blankly, looking confused and de-energized. Finally, Trump is sometimes reduced to simply vocalizing nonsense sounds that are not words at all like an infant. For example, at a recent rally Trump said “Gang, boom. This is me. I hear bing.” Trump is literally babbling nonsensically and his followers at these rallies, or interviewers on right-wing media, are nodding their heads in appreciation like he makes sense. This is deeply disturbing. Maybe there is some benign explanation for these episodes. But the failure of so many media outlets, Salon excepted, to even inform readers about these episodes and discuss Trump’s mental function is inexcusable.”
BOOKS OF THE DECADES
I’ve had a number of suggestions of books I may have missed in my 100 year march of “best books evocative of the decades.” Sheila Silver reminded me of God’s Little Acre, just in time to include it for the 1930s!). Mark Greenfield notes The Kite Runner and A Thousand Pleasant Suns for the 2000s, neither of which I’ve read but both of which I’ve been told are excellent.
I have been unable to listen to hour upon hour of an audio book. I respect and even enjoy a human voice telling an interesting story and have found many podcasts that fill the bill. But I tend to read faster than other people talk and I will confess sometimes to skimming particularly dull chapters of books I just want to end. I don’t want to listen to someone going too slowly, nor do I want to speed up the tape and listen to a human voice speaking at break-neck speed. That said, I have heard people laud certain books as being “even better” in audio form. One of these is Project Hail Mary, which Ed Nahmias suggested, and whom others have verified as being particularly good.
CHUCK NORRIS, REDUX
Because so many people commented on the Chuck Norris jokes and shared their favorites, here are a few more:
When Chuck Norris does a pushup, he's pushing the Earth down.
Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding.
Chuck Norris doesn't wear a watch. He decides what time it is.
Chuck Norris does not get frostbite. Chuck Norris bites frost.
Chuck Norris doesn't shower; he only takes blood baths.
Chuck Norris can divide by zero.
When Chuck Norris was born, the only person who cried was the doctor. Never slap Chuck Norris.
GETTYSBURG, WOW
Not long ago, Mr. Trump stated that Washington crossed the Delaware and seized the airports. I’m going to accept that this was a gaffe akin to those often made by politicians (but none so often as Mr. Trump). This howler from his speech at Gettysburg, however, takes the cake:
“Gettysburg, wow. I go to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to look, and to watch, and, uh, the statement of Robert Lee—who's no longer in favor, did you ever notice that? No longer in favor—'Never fight uphill, me boys. Never fight uphill.’”
TIME TO “DIAL IT DOWN”
As I indicated a few weeks ago, I’ve decided it’s time to settle into a less hectic rhythm. Beginning in May, the Musings are going to THREE DAYS A WEEK. I think asking for your attention three days a week, rather than five, increases the likelihood you’ll stay interested. Also, by reducing frequency, I’m hoping to ensure that the Musings stay interesting.
Notwithstanding a desire to cut down, I reserve the right to add an additional Musing here and there when the news—or my mood—warrants it, but otherwise, let’s plan on meeting together on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays! Okay, and maybe an occasional Tuesday or Thursday…
Thank you, as always, for your support, your engagement, your commentary, and your occasional corrections and disagreements!
Have a great day,
Glenn
Thank you for the shout out Glen. Another book that is better in audio than reading yourself is My Name is Barbra, where Barbra Streisand narrates her own memoir. While is it a mega book and audio (48 hours) Barbra brings you into her world from her direct point of view versus what we think we know from the gossip sheets. What makes the audio so outstanding, beyond her narration, is that Barbra fills the story with recordings of her singing with some of the songs from that part of her life. We are up to the making of the movie A Star is Born and we have 25 more hours to go LA traffic never moves so quickly when listening to Barbra 😊
Oooohhhh My.....😄😄😄😄 I like the Chuck Norris Jokes for Sure... Can you imagine instead of the baby crying, The Doctor Cries🤩🤩 Please Glenn atleast a day in a week share with us the Chuck Norris Jokes