SNL: What Still Works

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Cold Open, SNL, What Still Works

Sunday Smiles ~ Bernie’s Mittens Part 2

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Bernie Sanders Mittens, Sunday Smiles

While our country is still struggling with the concept of unity, one thing we all seem to agree on is how much we love Bernie and his mittens. They’ve inspired memes, merchandise, a poem, and a song parody. So, once more I’ve scoured the internet in search of the best. I present, “Bernie’s Mitten’s Part 2.” (I need to write a children’s book about this!)

You sat there, quite comfy, in your home-made mittens

We all took one look, and were suddenly smitten

You unintentionally became a work of art

You warmed your hands, and warmed our hearts

What you’ve accomplished, no one could dream

You united a country under a blanket of memes

Just sitting there, you set us on an upturn

You gave us what we needed, and we all feel the Bern

~ John Haber ~

Real Time With Bill Maher ~ New Rule: The Baldy Awards

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Real Time With Bill Maher

Domestic Terrorism Alert

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Domestic Terrorism Alert

Three days ago, the US Department of Homeland Security issued its first ever terrorism alert against violent DOMESTIC extremists. 

While you may have already heard about the bulletin, I wanted to share an experience my husband and I had a couple of days after the inauguration. We were out shopping and noticed a man dressed head to toe in fatigues, combat boots and wearing a balaclava that obscured most of his face. Keep in mind it was a 70 degree day. My husband is very well-versed with firearms and it seemed to him that the man was either carrying a large frame handgun in his cargo pants, or a brick. People in the state of Alabama are allowed to carry with a permit, but the way this person was dressed, and strolling leisurely around, not shopping, certainly gave us pause. Nothing happened and it wasn’t long before he left the store. We noticed when we left shortly after, one police cruiser parked near the entrance, and two others slowly driving around the parking lot. This was a wake-up call for us, which is why I’m writing this. Please remember that there are violent extremist groups as well as lone wolves out there, and they’re using their dissatisfaction with the outcome of the election and other things to justify their agendas. When you go out, whether it’s for work, shopping, dining, or anything else, please, please, PLEASE be aware of your surroundings and be careful.

Crimson Phoenix (Victoria Emerson #1), By John Gilstrap ~ 3.0 Stars

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Adult Fiction, Apocalyptic Fiction, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: February 23rd, 2021

320 Pages

Synopsis: Victoria Emerson is a congressional member of the U.S. House of Representatives for the state of West Virginia. Her aspirations have always been to help her community and to avoid the ambitious power plays of her peers in Washington, D.C. Then Major Joseph McCrea appears on her doorstep and uses the code phrase Crimson Phoenix, meaning this is not a drill. The United States is on the verge of nuclear war. Victoria must accompany McCrea to a secure bunker. She cannot bring her family. 

A single mother, Victoria refuses to abandon her three teenage sons. Denied access to the bunker, they nonetheless survive the nuclear onslaught that devastates the country. The land is nearly uninhabitable. Electronics have been rendered useless. Food is scarce. Millions of scared and ailing people await aid from a government unable to regroup, much less organize a rescue from the chaos.

Victoria devotes herself to reestablishing order—only to encounter the harsh realities required of a leader dealing with desperate people…

I have to be honest and say, despite me being a fan of John Gilstrap, Crimson Phoenix left me frustrated. The premise was exciting, but the actual story wound up being surprisingly formulaic. For the most part, I found the characters to be rather flat and uninspiring, and the dialogue awkward and a few times, even cringy. The chapters alternate between three povs: the stereotypical politicians in the bunker and the sketchy soldiers who are supposed to be protecting them; Victoria, the major and her two youngest boys; and her older son Adam and his girlfriend who are attempting to meet up with his family at a predetermined rendezvous point. While I appreciate a strong female character, Victoria came off a little too perfect and almost robotic at times, and as for the other characters, well, I just finished this last night and I’m already forgetting their names. For all that, I did keep reading, mainly because I kept believing things would improve, but alas, it didn’t. It wasn’t all bad though. The breakout of the war was well done and given the current political climate completely believable. The apocalyptic landscape was also well written and very descriptive. But in the end, there just wasn’t anything or anyone memorable here, and I think the best word I can come up with to describe my feelings is “meh.” However, my opinion is very much in the minority as I’ve been seeing mostly 4-5 star reviews, so if you are a fan of Gilstrap, or enjoy apocalyptic fiction, I recommend you check this out.

Coronavirus Update From New York City: January 28, 2021

Here’s the latest pandemic news from Brendan in NYC. If you’re in the US and you’re wondering what the hospitalization stats are in your area, be sure to click on the the helpful link he’s provided at the end of his post.

Blind Injustice

I hope all of my readers, regardless of where you are, remain healthy and safe during these challenging times. My family, thankfully, continues to remain healthy and safe.

I was talking on here last week about how the United States had recently surpassed 400,000 deaths. Now we are approaching 425,000 deaths. Such is the rate with which people are dying. Needless to say, the new Biden administration has their work cut out in terms of trying to save lives.

In my area, the test positivity rate has upticked slightly to just over 14%. At least it’s not rising as it was around the holidays, but the rate is still concerningly high. That being said, the COVID hospitalization numbers in my area look less bleak than they did even a couple of weeks ago–the hospital closest to where I live is at 85% of overall hospital bed capacity and 79% of…

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R.I.P. Cicely Tyson ~ December 19, 1924 – January 28, 2021

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R.I.P. Cicely Tyson

Oh my goodness. It’s difficult to know what to say in regards to this tragic news. Cicely Tyson may have been 96-years-old, but she was someone I never pictured leaving us. A civil rights activist and multi-award winning, pioneering icon, she just released her memoir “Just As I Am,” on Tuesday. To be honest, I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact that she’s gone.

I think when you begin to think of yourself as having achieved something, then there’s nothing left for you to work towards. I want to believe there is a mountain so high that I will spend my entire life striving to reach the top of it.

She made her mark on this world and there will never be another one like her. Rest in Power.

R.I.P. Cloris Leachman ~ April 30, 1926 – January 27, 2021

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R.I.P. Cloris Leachman

Let whatever’s going to happen, happen. Don’t judge it before you do it. Sure, sometimes it will be terrible, but sometimes it will just be amazing. That’s where the gold is.

 

Dare to Dream!

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Dare To Dream, Imagination, Inspirational quotes

Join the Sue Vincent Rodeo Classic #blogginghero #writingchallenge #review

Thanks to Robbie for sharing this. Sue is a blogger who is always there for others, and now is the time for us to be there for her!

Robbie's inspiration

Sue Vincent is one of those special bloggers that inspires people all over the world. Readers have long been galvanized by her posts about mythology, about ancient ruins and medieval churches, and her daily #midnighthaiku. Even more have participated in and grown as a result of her #writephoto prompts. In addition to posting her prompts, Sue has tirelessly supported other bloggers by sharing others’ responses to her 19,000 and counting followers.

Recently, Sue has been faced with a new and difficult challenge: lung cancer. You canfollow her blogto find out more directly from her. The Covid pandemic has served not only to pose a specific threat to a person with a severe respiratory illness, but it has caused loss of human connection through self-imposed quarantine.

Now it’s time for Sue to receive something back from the community she’s been a cornerstone of for a decade. Let’s bring the…

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