A Random Note, December 2024

After all the headaches this year, things seem to have stabilized. The drama in my one school district is settled; I'd elaborate, but even I don't fully understand what happened. My new roommate is settled, and the cat I inherited is getting along (read: tolerating) another cat in the household. My aunt's estate still has some paperwork to be settled, including 2024 taxes. On a national level, the GOP still has control of the House, but by another slim majority; at least any dangerous MAGA legislation will potentially get defanged right at the gate. 

I'm keeping this post short. This week, I want to relax a bit, but also catch up on my to-do list.

In a few days, my annual music recap. Happy holidays.

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My 20th Annual Thanks/No Thanks List

Happy Thanksgiving. Regular readers and good friends know I've had a challenging year. For a blog that used to be weekly, you would think I'd have enough strife to write more regularly, but I haven't had the time and energy. Considering that this blog turns 20 next Spring, you'd think retrospection would come easily, too.

For my newer readers, every November since 2005 I've been writing a concise "thanks/no thanks" missive. Gratitude is something our society struggles with, and sometimes even I need to step back for a second and count my blessings.

What am I thankful for? What's left of my living family (my sister, and some scattered cousins) and friends that regularly check in. I feel a little less isolated when people reach out. I'm grateful that my 2014 Ford Focus hasn't fallen apart, though I'm closer to the end with that car than the beginning. I'm having drama with one of my school districts, so I'm thankful for my backup district giving me ample sub work. The Royals' playoff run this year, only their third in 35 years, was a much-needed distraction. Last but not least, you, the reader.

What am I not thankful for? Well... read most of my posts from the last year. There's a lot to catch up on.

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Mourning in America

Glad tidings to those of you who stuck around!

It wasn't just the electoral college-- he won the popular vote, too. Apparently, serious character issues, naked bigotry, and old age doesn't faze 51% of American voters. Trump galvanized the uninformed in 2016, and did so even more in 2024. In hindsight, now I see why Trump's Nuremberg-like rallies devolved into open mics and impromptu dance parties: he knew he had it in the bag.

Why did Kamala Harris lose? Exit polls suggest she lost support from Black men and especially Latino men, and never found footing with white men. Even though the economy improved under Biden and inflation gradually stagnated, it was hard to ignore the administration's overly patient approach to immigration, as well as a clumsy response to the Israeli-Hamas war. Progressives grew frustrated with Secretary of State Blinken (Biden's point man in the Middle East) in a no-win situation, but there's even more disappointment in Attorney General Merrick Garland. The administration's crown jewel, a sprawling infrastructure improvement program, will probably be left to rot. 

I had hoped that we were turning a chapter in American history. Instead, the worldwide pattern of totalitarianism has found footing where the international sport of soccer never quite has: the United States. In lieu of Messi, we have messy. I don't know what the next four years behold. On one hand, Trump is so notoriously distracted that he seldom follows through on threats and promises; on the other hand, he now has a legion of lapdogs that can do that for him. 

I've let the news settle in my head for over a week now, but it still feels noxious. To no one's surprise, most of Trump's cabinet appointments have been almost exclusively yes-men and bootlickers. If your instinct is to resist, keep resisting. The battle is lost, but the fight isn't over. 

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The Teeter-Totter of Democracy

I'll be succinct:

I've been writing this blog for almost 20 years. This is my 10th election cycle, presidential, midterm or otherwise. I have always believed in the democratic process and the distinctly American necessity of voting. Since my first impassioned plea in 2006, my biannual pep talk has steadily grown more partisan, and not by choice. Even then, the necessity of voting in elections --primaries, midterms, or in the general-- remains pivotal. I voted early this year, but with days to go, I'm still on pins and needles.

To paraphrase one wise writer: Donald Trump is a poor man's idea of a rich man, a moron's idea of a smart man, and a failure's idea of a successful man. Nothing about him has changed since 2015, give or take some old age memory loss. I don't need to reiterate all the awful things he's said and done, and that he's never truly been qualified for the job. His ardent supporters couldn't care less; this election cycle has become less about this antics and more about a blind, confounding hatred for his opponent. The "death of democracy" talk is not blown out of proportion. 

Holy f***, vote for Kamala.

If you disagree, we don't have to communicate or interact ever again. Vote for Kamala.

To everyone else, I'll see you in November.

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Apples and Oranges

The two recent debates were an intriguing contrast. The presidential showdown was what I expected; Vice President Harris knew exactly how to prod Donald Trump, and he took the bait. The vice presidential debate, however was so contrasting in energy that it almost felt like a relic from decades past. JD Vance was poised the whole way but couldn't help but lie to augment his argument (again, *almost* a throwback); Tim Walz looked a little out of place at first, but held his own the rest of the way. 

With three-plus weeks until the election, the contrasts go well beyond how the candidates present themselves on TV. The Trump misinformation machine is in high gear, accelerated by Vance, who isn't afraid to make crap up if it supports his argument. Joe Biden is making the most of a lame-duck presidency, and the Harris/Walz campaign (for better or worse) is an avatar for staying the course. 

As I write this, the presidency, US House, *and* US Senate are all up for grabs. Polls suggest Democrats hold a razor-thin lead in all three, and the aftermath of 2016 should remind everyone nothing is guaranteed. The anxiety is palpable. 

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32 Teams, 32 Haiku: My (Slightly Delayed) 2024 NFL Preview

Due to circumstance, I did not finish my annual pigskin forecast until after the Chiefs-Ravens game was completed, but just before the Packers-Eagles Brazil tilt. Regardless, to my small but loyal legion of readers (and short-form poetry enthusiasts) I didn't want to let you down.

*asterisks note wild cards

AFC NORTH

1. Ravens (12-5) One toe over the/line, sweet Jesus; next time, give/the ball to Henry.

2. Bengals* (10-7) Young and well-scouted/a full season of healthy/Joe really matters.

3. Steelers (7-10) About average/(again), assuming Wilson/has anything left.

4. Browns (5-12) Stefanski, sous chef/cooks with odd ingredients/but these Dawgs eat bones.

AFC EAST

1. Dolphins (11-6) Still feasting on bad/teams; do they have the Wright stuff/to really contend?

2. Bills (10-7) Wide right? Wide left? Give/Allen some targets first, *then*/rebuild special teams.

3. Jets (8-9) Improved on paper/but Rodgers is 40 and/he's not Tom Brady.

4. Patriots (3-14) Maye day, Maye day! These/Yanks are spiraling; pass rush/only saving grace.

AFC SOUTH

1. Texans (11-6) Say it's loud, they're back/and it's Stroud; healthy targets/augment the danger.

2. Jaguars (9-8) Beyond Trevor, these/cats are mid; blond bomber needs/a full top-tier year.

3. Colts (8-9) On paper, Tony/and Taylor should feast; they're dark/horses if healthy.

4. Titans (7-10) New pass-happy O/compliment corner upgrades/but Levis still stinks.

AFC WEST

1. Chiefs (12-5) Super Bowl three-peat/seems imminent, but yes, let's/fixate on Taylor.

2. Chargers* (10-7) History versus/Harbaugh; salary cap curbs/progress or fortunes.

3. Raiders (8-9) Defense… to the Maxx!/Receivers carry slapdash/O; in short, middling.

4. Broncos (6-11) Nix takes his licks; quick/release, book smarts turns fillies/into dark horses.

NFC NORTH

1. Lions (12-5) Outside receiver/sole concern; the claws are out/at long last, Motown!

2. Bears* (10-7) Caleb, golden boy/the elite QB they've dreamed/of, or next Cutler?

3. Packers (8-9) Nice try, Romeo/Love has other options; new/D scheme is X-factor.

4. Vikings (7-10) No JJ? Oh boy/this O is only as good/as Darnold serves up.

NFC EAST

1. Eagles (11-5) Mere thoughts of last year's/collapse still Hurt(s); with Saquon/there's no room to fail.

2. Cowboys (9-8) No changes, all in/win a title or rebuild/like Jerry Jones' face.

3. Giants (7-10) Dimes or Cutlets, this/O is boom or bust; pass rush/carries wobbly D.

4. Commanders (4-13) Patchwork O-line sinks/Beltway betterment; Jayden/will miss LSU.

NFC SOUTH

1. Falcons (10-7) A healthy Cousins/hears London calling; middling/D overt setback.

2. Buccaneers (9-8) Baker and Evans/a fun combo, but can they/establish the run?

3. Saints (7-10) A gumbo of "ifs"/O-line attrition, aging/D, and so-so Carr.

4. Panthers (4-13) Wee Young, next Flutie/sings “Mingo was his name-o”/as rebuild protracts.

NFC WEST

1. Niners (12-5) The next team with a/Super Bowl hangover; one/fears how they'll falter.

2. Cardinals* (11-6) An O starvin' for/Marvin; if all goes right, eat/drink, and be Murray!

3. Rams* (10-7) Avila carries/soft O-line; aging Stoddard/has one good year left.

4. Seahawks (8-9) Good receivers, doomed/in strong West; top-tier ST/keeps birds from crashing.

NFL MVP: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
OROY: Caleb Williams, Bears
DROY: Laiatu Latu, Colts
First head coach fired: Brian Daboll, Giants
Super Bowl LIX: Chiefs over Lions, 30-20

Thoughts?

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