Jen Psaki Has Certainly Pissed Off Somebody.

Twice, now, I have seen a particularly unflattering picture of Ms. Psaki posted as a thumbnail over a click bait title. The first title made mention of some luxurious home she has (I don't recall the exact adjective)--because I guess living in a nice house makes her a hypocrite for supporting social programs that help the poor. The other click bait title (which I am NOT about to click on) shows up on my Huffpost feed and reads: "Take a look inside Jen Psaki's repulsive life." "Repulsive life" ?! Why don't they just come out and say she has cooties?

The picture chosen to make her look bad shows her with very large breasts and despite the way it is cropped, I suspect she may have been pregnant when it was taken.

Mind you, I'm not saying that pregnant women are unattractive--much less "repulsive"--but a woman carrying all that extra weight may feel ungainly which affects posture and mood and thus result in photos that are less than stellar. And of course, that is the point.

Psaki is attractive, in a polished, professional way--unlike the painted dolls of Fox News. The way she handles herself and her job is also polished and professional, so people gunning for her, her boss and the current administration need to dig out photos that make her look as bad as possible and attack her on whatever grounds--however flimsy--that they can find.

The whole thing is childish, ridiculous and obviously sexist. And, in a way, it highlights just how competent Psaki is. Because if they had anything substantive to work with, they would use it.

Where is THEIR Proof?

One of those blindingly obvious thought came to me the other day. My first response to my insight was self-congratulatory. Then I realized how non-original my "insight" was.

But here it goes:

Flat Earthers-- I can understand to a degree why you are skeptical of proofs regarding a round world if the proof involves pictures of our planet taken from outer space. I, myself, have ooohed and aahed over NASA images only to note the fine print in the caption advising that I was looking at an artist's impression. I can admit that some types of images can be faked.

I am more saddened by your inability to accept circumnavigation of the world when it has been done so many times for so many centuries. But hey, it's not like you were traveling on one of those ships yourself and even if you were aboard ship, you probably couldn't actually see the curvature of the earth from your vantage point.

But speaking of ships and vantage points, surely one of your vast and enlightened numbers has the impetus and resources to get on a boat, (or plane or helicopter, whatever), and whip out a smart phone and take a friggin' picture of the edge of the earth.

Where is YOUR proof flat-earthers? However it is that you picture the contours of our planet that differs from the many, many images of sphere-shaped planetary bodies in addition to our own home, why hasn't anyone provided any visual evidence for an edge or other discernable end to what you insist isn't a wrap-around world surface?

I'm not going to ask why no one has fallen off, (though you should), and I won't ask for pictures, because we know those can be faked. I just want to know why some member of your cohort hasn't gotten in some sort of transport vessel and gone there to see whatever you think there is there to see. Surely someone who has seen the magnificent Truth with their own eyes can report back whatever the hell is supposed to mark the non-curved starting or stopping point of a Flat Earth.

Of course, maybe somebody has provided a vivid description of the outer edges of our non-spherical world on one of the many Youtube videos devoted to the discussion of Flat Earth Beliefs. I can't say that I've ever managed to watch one all the way through. Guess I am just an ignorant fool caught up in a worldwide conspiracy that spans the edges of our disk-shaped planet. (Are the edges crimped or fluted? I'm picturing a lumpy apple pie here.)

Amber Ruffin Rules! As sweet as Kermit and as sassy as Miss Piggy.

What I really want to spotlight here is her poignant--but understandably angry--song at the end of this video. I don't know how to time sort/stamp/code whatever, but you can skip to around minute nine to get to the best part by sliding the red line from left to right until you see Amber walking away from her desk.

Anyone a Fan of Brooklyn Nine-Nine?

The trailer for the eighth and final season dropped today.

I am really going to miss this show. It was always a guaranteed mood-lifter. I love the diversity of the cast, the 180 turn on stereotypes, (Is there any human less flamboyant than Raymond Holt?) and the loyalty-except-for-Halloween-heist evident within the squad.

Intellectually, I understand why it seems so tough to make a cop comedy right now with the ugly truth about systemic police brutality finally being communicated (a little) to White, mainstream America. But the show managed to thoughtfully approach some sensitive issues during earlier seasons. Ending this television series isn't going to make police in this country any better, but it will make television a little worse.

Just my two-cents, for what it's worth.

(Two-cents, I guess.)

Chocolate-covered cicadas available for those willing to wait.

And pay! This Maryland-based company, https://chouquette.us/, is selling the little critters dipped in milk or dark chocolate at $22 per dozen.

Being a Maryland native, I learned to clean my own crabs when I was only four years old. I am in no position to call bug-eating--covered in chocolate or otherwise-- into question. But I'd rather spend my money on a dozen crabs than a dozen cicadas.

And You Thought That Drumpf Was Going To Plunge The World Into Chaos

Honoring Dr. Ben Barres

A lot of people are responding to Caitlyn Jenner's recent talk about running for Governor of California and other things that she has had to say in media outlets and interviews.

I'm NOT a fan of Jenner's, but it bugs me that people always swing around to her transgender status in an effort to criticize the many, many stupid and tone deaf things she has to say. Maybe regarding one or two key issues, her status as a person who transitioned from one gender to another is relevant, but most of the negative comments don't relate to her positions or opinions, only on her physical change.

My point of view is that her biggest problem is being a member of the Kardashian Entertainment Troop. They don't sing or dance, but they need your attention so badly that they will do almost anything to get it, including "acting".

That nasty dig of mine leveled, I would like to present for everyone's general edification the story of Dr. Ben Barres. Dr. Barres was born as Barbara and transitioned in 1997. To quote this article from The Stanford Daily, "Barres doesn't like having his picture taken or speaking in public. . ." which makes the late neurobiologist the furthest thing from Caitlyn Jenner that I can imagine.

I first learned of Barres in a Charlie Rose interview (yeah, I know, but I enjoyed many of his broadcasts). Barres spoke of his commitment to supporting women in the sciences. He mentioned how one man came up to him after a lecture and complimented him by saying that he was more impressed by [Ben]Barres's work than his sister, Barbara's,[Barres] work. The fan, of course, had no idea that Ben and Barbara were the same person.

During his appearance on Rose's program, Barres also mentioned how much happier a person he was since he no longer thought about killing himself all the time. That really spoke to me. I am not transgender and other than being overprotected and "under-groomed"* for success as a girl, I haven't suffered from a lot of oppression in my life. But for one reason or another, I have struggled with suicidal ideation for as long as I can remember. It broke my heart that a person could feel so disconnected from their own body and socially constructed identity that they would have preferred to die than live in what to them was somehow an alien form.

Barres's life ended far too soon, at age 63, from cancer. But he did important work as a scientist and he put in the effort to help other scientists achieve their goals. As a former female, he could have shrugged his shoulders and thought, "Not my problem anymore." But he didn't.

He wrote an book, The Autobiography of a Transgender Scientist and I think that perhaps Caitlyn Jenner has read a book? But Jenner does have great hair and looked fabulous in that bustier, so why shouldn't the world know about her rather than Dr. Ben Barres?

(Writer of this post freely admits that she is jealous of Jenner, who--despite being born male and being eight years older--is prettier than her. Writer's petty feelings stem from insecurity and not transphobia.)


* Not precisely a thing, but it kind of is.

How To Explain Monty Python. . .

To a young person who has never heard of them before?

After you have finished bemoaning what the world is coming to and feeling very old, where do you start the process?

I chose "The Spanish Inquisition" and gave the example of the comfy chair.

I also listed a few of their movies. Life of Brian strikes me as an excellent starting place, because Christianity's broad sway gives a point of reference for most viewers. Holy Grail should be fairly accessible, but someone completely unaware of Monty Python may not have heard of King Arthur.

What do you think?

Favorite Late Night/Talk Show Host

Colbert is my first go-to guy, then I switch to Seth Meyers. My house doesn't get HBO any longer, so I can't see full on broadcast episodes of John Oliver's show.

I enjoy Trevor Noah--or is it Noah Trevor--the guy is so versatile vis-a-vis his accents and dialects, it's fitting that his name works both ways. Samantha Bee is also amazing. She's the coolest Nasty Woman on TV. And Amber Ruffin is the most adorable. I don't have streaming capabilities but I catch her on Youtube. And when she is featured on Late Night With Seth Meyers, my TV stays tuned in after the monologue and A Closer Look.

I only pick up Kimmel on occasion, but that's mainly because he airs at the same time as Colbert. Fallon is my least favorite, but I don't hate on him the way some people do. He's just not my preferred cup of tea.

Anyone else keep a list?

"Tell Me That You Are A Woman Without Telling Me You Are A Woman"

A little "game" that I have seen different places online.

One of the saddest responses relates to doing that "keys-between-the-knuckles thing".

My way of telling someone that I'm a woman with using the exact words-- "Between the ages of 12 and 54, I had a three-tiered underwear system." Never met a woman yet who doesn't employ at least a two-tiered system.