Category: Fourre-tout

The 2016 US Presidential Election is too important a subject to neglect or slip under the rug.
The future of America hinges on the person who will next occupy the Oval Office and set the course of American politics for the next 4 or 8 years, and beyond.

It is therefore every citizen’s duty to vote for a cool, rational, experienced individual, rather than a thin-skinned, fly-by-night dilettante.
We need to pick somebody who will make us proud, not ashamed to be Americans.
When he was first elected, Barack Obama greatly enhanced Americas’ status abroad; if anointed, Donald Trump will resuscitate the image of the Ugly American and make us an object of derision around the world.

The November election depends on the “little people”. The millions of socially unimportant persons like you and me.
Seldom heard or consulted, this is our chance to have our say.

At the Democratic Convention, some of Bernie supporters looked miffed, even angry. By endorsing Hillary, their candidate betrayed them they said. Some even indicated that they would not vote for her. Big mistake.
By abstaining, or voting for anybody but Hillary, they are making it easier for Trump to capture the White House.
Regardless of their preferences, Bernie’s supporters must be pragmatic and support the Democratic candidate to defeat the “creature”.

I am fully aware that Hillary is not perfect (who is?) but in November you will have to choose between an imperfect but experienced woman and a bombastic, misogynist amateur.
What will it be?

In a democracy, the role of the president is to represent the electorate and try to improve the living conditions of his constituents, not to cater to the elite or the super rich.
Hillary will try to do this, her opponent won’t.

Unlike Trump who inherited his fortune, she is a self-made woman.
Trump was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and was never in a position to understand the plight of the underprivileged.

Why vote for a self-proclaimed billionaire who does not give a hoot about your problems?Trump likes “big deals” and you are definitely not a big deal to him.

It is wise to remember that the past predicts the future and Trump’s field of dreams is littered with broken promises.
Why would he be different once in office?

A good politician seeks accommodations not confrontation with his adversaries.

We need somebody who will deal with things sensibly and realistically and not by rattling sabers.

I saw with my own eyes “the man who would be king” calling himself humble on television. Humble?
“I am very smart, I am very rich, I always win.”
What unmitigated chutzpah! Nobody but the Donald would dare utter such baloney.

In November, renounce Satan and all his works and cast your vote for a smart, experienced, safe candidate.

May the Farce not be with you!

Alain

If you want to know more about Trump, please click on the link below.

The New Yorker

“Don’t wait for your ship to come in, swim out to it” – Cathy Hopkins

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I could not have said it better.

If you resolve to participate in a discipline, you need to be proactive and clearly indicate that you want to be involved.
When people gather on the pétanque field, would-be players need to come forward and clearly indicate a willingness to play.

Then teams must be assembled. But it seems that team coordinators are few and far between.
When somebody finally endeavors to do the job, you need to pay attention to the proceedings.
You cannot lollygag on the sideline and pursue a private conversation while significant decisions (concerning you) are being made.

If you neglect to pay attention, you are showing a definite lack of respect for the people who labor to organize the teams.
These individuals don’t owe it to you to rearrange everything for a second time because of your lack of attention or because you showed up late.

The field rules are longstanding and they are very simple: first arrived first served. There is no obligation for anybody to wait for latecomers.
Teams cannot (and should not) be reorganized each time somebody shows up late or takes a siesta after lunch.
Nobody but you is responsible for being included in a game.

And once teams have been configured, it is up to each individual to find out who his/her teammates are.
Babysitting is not a part of the club’s charter.

As a club we should strive to include everybody, but this is a two-way street.
To be included you need to show up in a timely fashion and pay attention to what organizers are saying.

Socialization on the field is not prohibited, on the contrary, but during games private conversations should be kept to a minimum.

This is my take on the incident that happened last Saturday on the field.

Alain

“The straight line, a respectable optical illusion which ruins many a man.” 
Victor Hugo

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Decision-making: the process of resolving what to do about something or somebody.

Every day someone somewhere has to make a decision. It could be something trivial or vitally important. But regardless of the seriousness of the matter, one must remember that he will have to live with the consequences of his actions for a long time.

The decision-making process should be based on facts. The more informed you are about a subject, the easier the decision. Or so it seems.
But decisions are more and more tainted by emotions such as fear, anger, envy, jealousy, rather than by a sober analysis of the facts.

Nowadays, when considering a candidate most voters rely on sound bites or video clips to make up their mind. And it is the most outrageous pronouncements that get the front page. It is the passion “the fire in the belly” of a candidate that often sways voters. Especially those who seldom bother to open a book or a newspaper.

With a pathetic disregard for truth, facts are doctored, distorted, negatively amplified to the point of becoming grotesquely inaccurate.

The Cleveland Republican National Convention looked eerily reminiscent of the Nuremberg Rally.
Ill-informed participants wildly acclaiming a narcissistic egomaniac promising to regenerate a “dying country” and make it great again… (just for party members.)
Barely missing was the raised right arm salute.

“The play was a great success, but the audience was a disaster.”
OSCAR WILDE

The election process has become a highly choreographed Hollywood telenovela where the main character (regardless of his obvious shortcomings) is more important than the plot.

But American elections are a deadly serious business watched with fear and astonishment by people all over the planet.
The results of the November plebiscite might possibly change the fate of the world… for the worst.

Ultimately, is it going to be Austerlitz or Waterloo?

Alain

PS: I have started to build a personal bunker, just in case…