My 21st Annual Thanks/No Thanks List

When I was still writing this blog on a weekly basis, sometimes I would grasp at straws to find something to discuss. (My oldest blog entries are still on GameSpot, BTW. It's an uneven read.) Late in November 2005, almost six months into my weekly dispatches, I wrote two succinct lists expressing what I was thankful for (or not so much) ahead of Turkey Day. This is my 21st annual such list. 

Thanks: I don't have satellite radio in my new car anymore, so outside of commercial radio I listen to a fair amount of WLUW 88.7 FM, the Loyola University Chicago student-run station. In spite of losing SiriusXM, I'm thankful regardless for a new-ish car, a 2021 Hyundai Accent, that is running pretty well so far. I'm thankful sub work has been steady, even though I've seen an uptick in behavior issues so far this year. I'm also grateful that my roommate of 14 months is good with cats.

No Thanks: general cowardice and ambivalence about pedophilia, especially at the national level. Closer to home, I was disappointed to hear that Bob Stroud's "Rock n' Roll Roots," my traditional Sunday morning listen, is moving to a somewhat inaccessible streaming platform starting in December. The show has been on and off Chicago radio since 1980, and I first found it around 1998. However, WDRV-FM is steadily becoming what 97.9 FM The Loop used to be, they're phasing out ol' Bob as well as 60s/70s rock that isn't necessarily hard rock. Also, inflation and shrinkflation are both pains in the ass.

Happy Turkey Day!

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The Explain Game

 Conservatives don't seem to be very good at explaining things. They dismiss things they don't like as "too woke" without articulating what that means. I'll see someone on Twitter/X or Facebook post something about how Joe Biden was the worst president ever, but when I ask why, I get ghosted. That's just one example.

When Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson paused an order requiring the reinstatement of SNAP benefits during the six-week government shutdown, she used the delay to get a conservative lower court decision --and thus, the Trump administration-- to justify their reasoning. The shutdown was resolved with an ungainly truce by a split U.S. Senate; SNAP was reinstated, but Democrats couldn't deliver or concur on retaining ACA subsidies. The concession highlighted growing concerns about Charles Schumer's abilities as Senate Minority Leader.

Granted, the fissures aren't limited to the Dems. The Epstein files remain a canker sore in the GOP's mouth, and rather than explain why they can't be disclosed, President Trump begrudgingly allowed this MAGA grovelers to vote for the files' release on Monday morning. After months of fighting, he caved and signed the Epstein Act on Wednesday night; throughout all this, he tried desperately to change the subject. 

If anyone reading this disagrees with me, you're welcome to explain in your own words in the comments. It's always appreciated.

Next week: thanks and no thanks.

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Random Notes, October 2025

 Don't worry, I'm still here. I'm home sick today, so I'm catching up on my to-do list:

+ My new-ish roommate (she moved in last September) depends on SNAP and unemployment benefits. She's a substitute teacher like me, but she's been looking for more substantial work, especially during the summer. She's subbing for CPS at the moment, but with the government shutdown now in its fourth week, she's just barely getting by. It's the usual GOP gaslighting: they control every branch of government, but it's the Democrats' fault; everyone getting government handouts are bums; ACA subsidies don't need to be extended. Somehow Jeffrey Epstein is indirectly involved. The Republicans in Congress are still devoid of ideas; they're just pandering to the president as if their lives depend on it.

+ What's happening in Chicago hasn't directly affected me, but it's still scary. There's been ICE raids all over the area, inching closer to my neighborhood. One day after work my GPS directed me on a detour off 290 through Broadview, where I had the misfortune of driving past the regional ICE facility. I saw news vans, squad cars, and scattered randos; the apparent remnants of a protest. The incessant raids are barely within jurisdiction, terrorizing innocent people without much explanation beyond skin color. The presence of the National Guard to reinforce ICE has been left dangling in the courts, but I fear SCOTUS will eventually side with Trump.

+ My sister screwed up. She conflated our aunt's trust with her estate, and we didn't owe nearly as much money as we thought. We sold the house last September, but we only came out ahead $1,900; the feds thought we cut a much larger profit. The process to refile our taxes (including a corrected K-1 form) dragged on almost all summer, but I think I'm finally squared up with the IRS *and* Illinois Department of Revenue. Regardless, that was over $3,000 I didn't have sitting idly. The mess my aunt left had further ramifications than we thought. 

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An Obligation to Comment

I perceive social media predominately as an outlet for quick takes, so I use this particular platform to address more complex and convoluted issues. (I've had this blog for 20 years. If you just found this, hello, and better late than never.) I've been fairly transparent about some of the personal issues I've had over the last couple of years, but my blog is also where I can give a more articulate response to current events and complicated topics.

Outside of inadvertently irking a couple Republican high school classmates, I haven't said that much of the death of former Trump staffer and conservative pundit Charlie Kirk. I found out about the shooting while glancing on my phone at work. A student asked if I wanted to see the video of the shot; I said no, but he shared it anyway. I put my phone on airplane mode for my weekly chiropractor appointment; when I turned the Wifi back on, Kirk had passed away. When I turned on the car radio, the first song that played was "Dialogue (Parts 1 and 2)" by Chicago, an up-tempo number about political discourse that ends abruptly. I'm still figuring out to interpret that.

This is sad and appalling, but it's hard to mourn this guy. It is perfectly possible to believe that guns are a cancer on America, and that Kirk's rhetoric enabled that. It's not hard to find his opinions on an array of hot button issues, including gun control. I see no need to repeat them here.

I worked at a right-wing AM news/talk station for two years, and I noticed the commodity placed on younger talking heads to counter aging personalities like Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage. I was in the same office space as Guy Benson, and after I was let go, I saw from afar the football get passed from Guy to Milo Yiannopoulos to Tomi Lahren to Ben Shapiro to Kirk. Guy lost favor because he's a moderate conservative; the other four were more extreme, annoying at best and appalling at worst.

To be clear, I'm not celebrating his death. I'm also not trying to give credence to the inevitable conspiracy theories. He was a family man, after all. However, American society is polarized and all this will do is divide us further. 

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32 Teams, 32 Haiku: My 2025 NFL Preview

 

You know the drill:

*notes wild card

AFC NORTH

1. Ravens (12-5) Elite... until the/playoffs; rookie kicker is/only glaring concern.

2. Bengals* (10-7) Al Golden, new Vic/Fangio? Burrow-led O/can't win ten alone.

3. Steelers (8-9) Mister Rodgers' new/neighborhood; new O faces/contrast steady D.

4. Browns (5-12) Crowded QB room/among other issues; good/D-line stops pass rush.

AFC EAST

1. Bills (11-6) Allen to Kincaid/alone could carry the O/that new look D, though...

2. Dolphins (9-8) Locker room drama/makes Tua's head spin; can they/(Storm) Duck the friction?

3. Patriots (8-9) Vrabel is able/but to get this O going/it's gonna be... Maye.

4. Jets (4-13) Post-Aaron, Woody/is Field-ing a low risk bet/at QB ...for now.

AFC SOUTH

1. Texans (11-6) Low-key contender/if Stroud regains rookie form/and D-line still cooks. 

2. Jaguars (9-8) By-the-book Cats shake/it up with Hunter; patience/for Trevor wears thin.

3. Colts (5-12) Danny Dimes ponies/up; Taylor, Pittman, Warren/all stuck in first gear.

4. Titans (4-13) Stud O-line, Ward of/gifted young QB; Barton/sole vet linebacker.

AFC WEST

1. Chiefs (13-4) Mahomes isn't done/explosive plays needed to/make Worthy worthy.

2. Broncos* (10-7) Nix plays it safe as/top-tier secondary grinds/first downs to a halt.

3. Chargers* (10-7) Justin's pass stats mean/nothing without an O-line/Safety surplus helps.

4. Raiders (7-10) Geno inherits/gobs of weapons; will old Pete/right this motley ship?

NFC NORTH

1. Lions (13-4) New coaches, same Goff/Sonic & Knuckles tag-team/for elusive rings.

2. Packers* (10-7) Trading for Parsons/overshadows weak back end/like (not Love) the O.

3. Vikings (9-8) Recent draft picks aren't/impacting; heat on healthy/JJ, other kids.

4. Bears (8-9) On paper, new look/O could be entertaining/if Caleb makes strides.

NFC EAST

1. Eagles (14-3) High flying O keeps/soaring; Moro Ojomo/low-key sack leader?

2. Commanders* (12-5) Daniels, two-way threat/immediately elite/but old D might fade.

3. Cowboys (8-9) Parsons parses all/trade options; "all in" squad sure/looks like status quo.

4. Giants (5-11) Throwing (Jaxson) Darts/to see what sticks; good D-line/carries Blue burden.

NFC SOUTH

1. Bucs (10-7) Butchered Baker needs/playmakers; no edge pressure/means short playoff run.

2. Falcons (7-10) Young edges carry/patchwork D; Bijan and Drake/go hard for Penix.

3. Panthers (6-11) Which Bryce will show up/anxious ankle-biter, cool/mite or small wonder?

4. Saints (3-14) Bring back the paper/bag "hats," young Tyler isn't/ready for Shough-time.

NFC WEST

1. Niners (12-5) Brock needs receivers/Jauan wants a raise; question/marks on solid squad.

2. Rams* (11-6) McVay props up old/Stafford for another year/with bright young wideouts.

3. Seahawks (8-9) Gallant gulls, frugal/yet bold; Charbonnet becomes/Darnold's fave target.

4. Cardinals (7-10) Marvin is starvin'/to break out; healthy Kyler/makes Redbirds dark horse?

MVP: Jalen Hurts, Eagles

OROY: Ashton Jeanty, Raiders

DROY: Mykel Williams, Niners

First head coach fired: Brian Daboll, Giants

Super Bowl LX: Eagles 27, Bills 20

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Ruminations on 41

 I turned 41 two weeks ago. I celebrated twice, once with friends and again with my sister and a family friend. I let the Facebook wishes roll in, and I tried to respond or "like" to all 175 wall posts (I didn't finish). I barely have any family left, and I'm still feeling some post-pandemic social isolation, so having a "found family" of friends and colleagues means more than it ever has.

I'm trying to put time in perspective, but it's been coming out in random and esoteric ways. A child that was in third grade when the pandemic shut everything down is now starting ninth grade. Most of this year's incoming seniors were born in early to mid-2008, and the incoming sixth graders born in early to mid-2014. I remember sitting at a high school assembly in March 2022, where a group of Ukrainian-American students expressed their heritage as Russia invaded their homeland. They were mostly freshmen, and now they're college freshmen. It's the little things you notice when you're an over-glorified babysitter for teenagers.

Next time: my annual NFL preview.

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