The stand up routine by comedian Neal Brennan (currently on Netflix) has an hysterical bit about a contest between 100 average Americans with all their weapons and 1 guy in the U.S. military . It is truly laugh out loud funny.

What you need to understand is that we Americans are raised in a tsunami of propaganda. It’s pounded into us from birth onwards. And you can see it when people who should know better start parroting the words of their overlords. That’s what was driving the anger of people who responded to you. Realizing that you’ve been lied to and manipulated your entire life is a bitter pill to swallow. “We’re the greatest country on earth!” “Our health care system is the best!” “We are so lucky to be Americans!” “Anyone can achieve the American dream!” It’s all bullshit and we really, really need to face that.

I have a step-granddaughter who is a very, very troubled kid. Just a laundry list of problems and my heart aches for her. My daughter (her step-mom) and I talk often about ways to help her. She’s a terrific artist and we tell her that but this gives me ideas about doing more. Thanks!

A couple of years ago I contracted a norovirus which was extremely unpleasant and causes a person to violently expel from both ends. (Such a charming experience.) I ended up being taken to the ER because the expelling would just not stop. They put in an IV to re-hydrate me and to give me antiemetic drugs. They also put in a nasogastric tube - a very thin, soft tube that goes in through the nose, down the throat, and into the stomach. They were concerned that the uncontrollable vomiting might start up again and suffocate me. The tube had to remain in for 24 hours, though I’ve read that often patients have to endure it for a lot longer. And “endure” is the right word. That skinny little tube hurt like a bitch. It put the whole “get Covid and wind up on a ventilator” in perspective. I cannot begin to imagine how awful a ventilator feels.