Tag: life

Back in My Young Man’s Days: Have We Really Learned Anything?

There’s an old Max Bygraves song called “Back in My Young Man’s Days” that most of you have probably never heard of. Unless, of course, you happen to be an aficionado of Turner Classic Movies or music from that era. I am both, proudly, and perhaps a little wistfully. As I go about doing the things that men my age tend to do, my mind wanders. It wanders to the news of the day, to memories of the past, and sometimes, more often than I’d like, to the sting of death. And then I put on a song like “Back in My Young Man’s Days,” and I can’t help but ask myself a hard question:Have we learned nothing?

The Same Old Story, Just Louder Now

If the leaders, the megalomaniacs, the dullards, the people who don’t seem to mind putting your life on the line, had to face the same risks as the soldiers who die by the tens of thousands every time someone rattles a saber, one has to wonder how differently the world might look. Then I open up X or scroll through some other social media platform, and what do I see? You’ve seen it too. People behaving badly. Or as one influencer bluntly puts it, “chimping out.”

It makes me wonder: is there something in the water? Something in the food? Some invisible force driving us back to the basic animal instincts of lions and tigers and bears …Go ahead. Say it. Oh my.

Seriously though, if you’ve ever watched one of those nature documentaries where the narrator calmly describes the lions stalking their prey on the savannah, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

The Camera in Every Pocket

Then it dawns on me. Back in my young man’s days, nobody had a video camera in their pocket. Back in my young man’s days, we barely had a Kodak, and heaven forbid, a Polaroid was a luxury. So I have to ask: What if we had? Would we have seen the same carnage back then that we see today? Would Andy Griffith and “Leave It to Beaver” have been the anomaly, or would they have been the standard?

I suspect the truth is uncomfortable.

The Mob Was Always There

Back in my young man’s days, I saw the mob mentality firsthand. I saw boys trying to prove they were men by picking on the timid, the frail, and the girls. Nobody was immune to the red-headed bully who was feeling his oats, or, as I now suspect, feeling his hormones running amok as curly hairs sprouted in places they had never been before.The cruelty was there. The mob was there. We just didn’t have the receipts.

25,000 Mothers a Week

But some things do feel bigger now. Heavier. More absurd. Do you ever think about simpler times? Do you ever wonder how leaders like Putin and Zelensky can be okay with 25,000 young men being killed each week?

Twenty-five thousand.That means 25,000 young mothers each week who have to live with the reality that their baby is never coming home. That’s not a statistic. That’s an ocean of grief we can’t seem to stop refilling.

Food for Thought

Were your parents like the Beav’s?

Mine weren’t. But they were both there, and looking back, that mattered more than I understood at the time. Maybe we didn’t live in a simpler time. Maybe we just lived in a time with fewer cameras, fewer platforms, and fewer megaphones for our worst instincts. But the questions remain the same ones humanity has always wrestled with: Why do we hurt each other? Why do we send our sons to die? And why, with all our progress, do we keep circling back to the same sorrow?Food for thought.

What do you think? Do you find yourself longing for simpler times, or just quieter ones? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Echoes of Tomorrow

When the world teeters on the brink of nuclear annihilation, a retired Air Force general is given an impossible second chance: to rewrite history.Sent back in time to 1962 by mysterious alien beings, he wakes up trapped in the body of his ten-year-old self, armed with decades of knowledge but stripped of his power and authority. With the Cuban Missile Crisis looming, global tensions rising, and secrets hidden in the shadows of the past, he must navigate a world that sees him as a child while carrying the burden of preventing humanity’s self-destruction.As he re-encounters his family, a young JFK, and the love of his life before they’ve even met, he discovers that saving the future isn’t just about stopping a war. It’s about proving that humanity is worth saving. Along the way, secrets buried deep in Area 51, a chilling conspiracy within the U.S. government, and the cryptic motives of the alien beings reveal that the stakes are higher than he could have ever imagined.Echoes of Tomorrow is a sweeping tale of time travel, love, loss, and redemption. With the weight of the world on his young shoulders, one man must face the ultimate question: can the future truly be changed, or is humanity destined to repeat its greatest mistakes?This gripping journey will captivate fans of thought-provoking science fiction, historical intrigue, and heartfelt stories woven through time and the fragile threads of destiny.

Get your copy here…

Investing in Our Youth: A Call for Change

I have been giving a lot of thought to the recent criminal trials in this country. Consider the Charlie Kirk trial, in which the defendant sits laughing in court with his lawyers, or the case of the child who killed another child at a track meet. Then I see the news, where we are trying to fix the world’s problems, and I note that we have brought in twenty million people from third-world countries who were unvetted. Something needs to be done, but what?

Walk through any high-crime neighborhood and you’ll find the same story repeated. A boy grows up with no father, a stressed or absent mother, a school that’s given up on him, and a street corner that hasn’t. The gang doesn’t recruit him with force. It recruits him with belonging, protection, status, and money — the very things every human being needs and that we failed to give him. Researchers point to the same root causes again and again: poverty, social isolation, discrimination, limited educational opportunity, and low parental monitoring.

These aren’t mysteries. They are the predictable results of communities we chose not to invest in.Here is the hard truth about how we’ve responded: we spend a fortune on the back end — after the damage is done. Locking up a young person can cost well over a hundred thousand dollars a year, often producing worse outcomes than community programs at a fraction of the price. We are paying premium rates for failure. As one blunt observer put it, there is no purely legal solution to gang violence — the only way to end it is to disincentivize the gang money and offer something better.

So let’s offer something better. And let’s pay for it by looking honestly at where our dollars already go.

The argument writes itself. We send billions overseas to prop up other nations’ security and development. Meanwhile, our own veterans sleep in doorways, our own addicts wait six months for a treatment bed, and our own kids are left with idle summers that gangs are happy to fill. As Americans debating this very question.

Op-Ed: Bring the Money Home — Rebuild Our Kids, Redeem Our Lost

We keep exporting stability to the world while our own communities burn. It’s time to invest in our people first.

Every year, America sends tens of billions of dollars overseas — to shore up foreign governments, fund distant development projects, and manage crises on other continents. Meanwhile, a fourteen-year-old three miles from my house is being recruited into a gang because it’s the only place offering him belonging, protection, and a paycheck. We have our priorities exactly backward.This isn’t a call to abandon the world. It’s a call to finally do right by our own — the wayward kids drifting toward crime, and the adults our system already lost decades ago. The money exists. It’s just pointed in the wrong direction.

The Failure We’re Paying Premium Prices For

Here’s the uncomfortable math. We spend roughly $80 billion a year incarcerating people, and a single juvenile detention bed can run $100,000 to $200,000 annually — often producing worse outcomes than community programs costing a fraction as much. We are paying luxury prices for failure.And it is failure. Research consistently shows the roots of gang membership are predictable: poverty, social isolation, discrimination, drug use, limited educational opportunities, and low parental monitoring.

And this figure does not include those with LEARING CENTERS scamming those who see a problem and toss tax dollars at it with zero audits or accountability.

We know the warning signs. We watch kids fall through the cracks in slow motion. Then we act shocked and reach for handcuffs.Even ordinary Americans see the connection. As one online commenter bluntly put it, we could fund real solutions “if we didn’t send all of our money to Ukraine and Israel and Palestine” — money that could instead go toward “better funding of education and funding of mental health programs” and “tackling the root cause(s) of why people join gangs in the first place.”

Why Gangs Win — and How We Beat Them

Gangs don’t recruit through force. They recruit by offering what we’ve stopped providing: family, status, protection, and money. The evidence is clear that there is no purely legal solution to gang violence — you can’t arrest your way out of it. As even blunt online debates concede, “the only way to end gang violence is to disincentivize gang money.”

That means offering something better. It works when we try. Structured activities and sports “keep children out of trouble and also give them something to work for,” though they require “extra resources and teachers willing to coach/mentor teams.”

It means encouraging kids to create positive goals — helping them build “realistic and attainable personal, educational, and career goals outside of gang involvement.”

And it starts at home: experts across law enforcement, schools, and community groups agree that educating and equipping parents with real skills “is necessary and critical if the growth of gangs is to be curbed.”

The framework already exists. Federal research distinguishes between prevention programs that “target youth at risk of gang involvement” and intervention programs that “provide sanctions and services” to pull kids already involved back out. We know what to build. We just refuse to fund it at scale.

The Group Everyone Forgets: The Lost Adults

Here’s what most policy debates skip entirely. The at-risk kid of today is almost always the child of the lost adult of yesterday — the one who never got the mentor, the trade, or the second chance twenty years ago, and who now cycles through prison, addiction, and unemployment. You cannot save the child while ignoring the broken adult raising him. Fix both, or fix neither.So a domestic-first agenda must do two things at once:

For the lost adults: fair-chance hiring, trade certification in fields that can’t be outsourced — welding, HVAC, trucking, electrical — and addiction and mental-health treatment available now, not after a six-month waitlist.
For the kids: full after-school and summer programming in every high-poverty zip code, family support, and credible-messenger mentors.

And here is the beautiful symmetry: the redeemed adult becomes the mentor for the next kid. The man who did his time, got clean, and rebuilt his life is the single most credible voice a drifting teenager will ever hear. He isn’t a lecture — he’s living proof. Foreign aid builds roads in other countries. This builds people in ours, and each rebuilt person rebuilds the next.

Answering the Critics — and Winning

Defenders of foreign spending will say aid is a small slice of the budget that buys strategic stability. Fine. Then find the money in the other 99 percent — the point stands that prevention at home is starved relative to its proven return. This was never about isolationism. It’s about a simple principle: put our own house in order first, and lead the world by example rather than by check.Public safety and human redemption aren’t opposing goals. Policymakers should prioritize public safety by curbing gang activity and restoring order to communities — for the sake of families “still living in fear” — precisely by investing in the opportunity that makes gangs obsolete.

The Bottom Line

We have the resources. We have the research. We have millions of Americans — kids and adults alike — waiting for someone to bet on them instead of writing them off. Bring the money home. Rebuild the kids. Redeem the lost. And watch the redeemed turn around and save the next generation.That’s not charity. That’s the smartest investment this country could possibly make.

Comment below if you have thoughts on this.

Main Street Didn’t Die of Natural Causes

When I wanted to use a mom-and-pop shop, I was chastised because they were more expensive than a big box store. The truth is that big box stores, and now companies like Amazon, are putting these folks out of business. When small towns turn into empty buildings and “antique shops,” you have yourself to blame.

The Real Cost of “Saving” Money at Big Box Stores

We’ve all been tempted by the lower price tags at big box retailers. But here’s something worth considering: what are you actually getting for your money?When you walk into a locally owned hardware store, nursery, bike shop, or specialty retailer, you’re not just buying a product. You’re buying decades of accumulated knowledge. That owner has likely used, tested, repaired, and lived with the products on their shelves. They chose each item deliberately because they believe in it.

Expertise You Can’t Put a Price Tag On

Local merchants stake their reputation on every recommendation. They live in your community. They’ll see you at the grocery store. They have every incentive to steer you right.They can troubleshoot problems because they understand how their products actually work in real-world conditions.They’ll talk you out of buying something if it’s not the right fit, something a commission-driven or undertrained big box employee will never do.

The Big Box Reality

Large retailers cycle through employees at staggering turnover rates. Many staff members received a few hours of computer-based training before being placed in departments they know nothing about. They’re reading the same box you’re reading. You’re essentially paying less to help yourself.

The Hidden Costs of Going Cheap

That “savings” evaporates quickly when you

buy the wrong product because no one guided you properly,
have to make return trips because of bad advice,
purchase unnecessary extras you didn’t actually need, or
end up replacing a cheap item sooner than expected.

It’s an Investment in Your Community

Every dollar spent locally circulates back through your neighborhood, funding schools, roads, and local services. When a mom-and-pop shop closes, that expertise leaves with it and doesn’t come back.

The few extra dollars you spend at a local shop aren’t a markup. They’re tuition. You’re paying for someone’s lifetime of knowledge, honest guidance, and genuine accountability. That’s a bargain at any price.

put your thoughts and comments below. “Am I right?”

250,000 Girls…You’ve got to be joking?!

I am not going to lie, these reports from the UK disturbed me to my core. How did this happen? What are we going to do about it now? Yes, I have given it some thought instead of sleeping. You might wish to share this…Our officials in this country need to respond.

Protecting Young Minds: Screen Time, Mental Health, and the Case for Comprehensive Education

Introduction

The digital age has brought unprecedented access to information, connection, and, unfortunately, content that poses serious risks to developing minds. From violent pornography to influencer misinformation, children today face threats that previous generations never encountered at such scale. These are not abstract concerns. They are urgent public health issues demanding thoughtful, evidence-based responses.This post examines the interconnected problems of harmful screen time, online exploitation, and mental health deterioration among young people, while proposing education-centered solutions that respect constitutional freedoms and empower the next generation.

The Scope of the Problem: Sexual Violence and Online Exploitation

Recent revelations from the United Kingdom have exposed a horrific reality: more than 250,000 vulnerable girls were groomed and gang-raped over the course of a decade or longer, while authorities, including police and social workers, failed to intervene despite having knowledge of the abuse . A whistleblower finally brought these atrocities to light, and the accounts are deeply disturbing.The United States is not immune to sexual violence. According to recent statistics, 127,527 rape cases were reported in 2024, at a rate of 37.5 per 100,000 inhabitants . The FBI reported an estimated 139,815 rapes in 2019, a figure 2.7 percent lower than 2018 but 10.8 percent higher than the 2015 estimate . One analysis indicates that reported rape cases have risen over the last decade at an annual rate of approximately 2.9 percent .Research suggests that pornography, especially violent content, plays a role in shaping attitudes and behaviors that contribute to sexual violence. However, it is likely one factor among many, including childhood experiences, peer influences, mental health, and substance use .

Why Age Matters: The Developing Brain

The prefrontal cortex, responsible for judgment, impulse control, and understanding consequences, is the last brain region to fully develop . This biological reality carries significant implications:

Children and teens are more susceptible to normalizing what they see.
They lack the cognitive tools to contextualize violent or degrading sexual acts.
Neural pathways formed during exposure can have lasting effects on attitudes and behaviors.

Effects on Children Ages Five and Up

The research on early childhood exposure to pornography is particularly alarming .

Immediate Emotional Responses: Children report feelings of disgust, shock, embarrassment, anger, fear, and sadness after viewing pornography. Exposure at young ages often results in anxiety, and these children can suffer all the symptoms of anxiety and depression .

Behavioral Consequences: Children may become obsessed with acting out adult sexual acts they have witnessed, which can be highly disruptive . One comparative analysis found that youth who committed sexual offenses had earlier exposure (between ages five and eight) to pornographic material compared to other delinquent youth. Notably, youth who offended against other children were exposed to this material most frequently .

Long-Term Developmental Harm: Exposure to pornography at a young age may lead to poor mental health, sexism, objectification, sexual violence, and other negative outcomes. When children view pornography portraying abusive and misogynistic acts, they may come to view such behavior as normal and acceptable .

General Mental Health Effects of Screen Time

Research demonstrates that excessive screen time carries significant mental health implications. A U.S. study found that teens who spent more than three hours per day on social media faced almost double the risk for mental health challenges, particularly symptoms of depression and anxiety . Regular social media use has been linked to feelings of anxiety, depression, and lower self-esteem in vulnerable youth .For children and adolescents specifically, over-digitalization can trigger a chain of negative physiological effects, including dysregulation of neural circuitry related to serotonin and dopamine, key neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation .

The Influencer Effect and Misinformation

Constant exposure to idealized versions of influencers can take a powerful toll on self-esteem and create unrealistic expectations that no one can achieve . What proves particularly troubling is how we process influencer content: even highly informed, alert individuals who know factually that they are not seeing every aspect of an influencer’s life do not process that information emotionally in the same way . When influencers present opinions as facts, especially incorrect ones, this creates a compounded problem :

Emotional processing overrides critical thinking: Viewers tend to absorb information emotionally rather than analytically.
Trust dynamics: Followers often develop parasocial relationships with influencers, making them more susceptible to accepting claims without verification.
Self-esteem damage: When incorrect advice about health, success, or relationships does not work, individuals may blame themselves rather than questioning the source.

Congressional Approaches That Respect Rights

Congress faces the challenge of balancing efforts to combat harmful misinformation while respecting First Amendment protections . Several constitutionally sound approaches have been proposed or could be expanded.

Promoting Media Literacy Education: The Educating Against Misinformation and Disinformation Act (H.R. 6971) provides a strong model. This legislation directs the Department of Education to study and promote media literacy, including methods to identify misinformation, evaluate context for information from different sources, detect manipulation of images or information on digital platforms, and understand how influencers target and manipulate audiences . The bill also authorizes competitive grants to nonprofits and institutions of higher education to develop educational materials and public awareness campaigns .

Funding Research and Developing National Strategy: Congress could mandate a national strategy for information and media literacy along with required reports containing recommendations for legislative or administrative action . This approach keeps the focus on empowering citizens rather than restricting speech.

Transparency Requirements: Legislation like the Honest Ads Act focuses on transparency in political advertising online, a model that could extend to requiring clearer disclosure when influencers are paid or incentivized .The education-first approach appears to be the most rights-respecting path forward, empowering people to think critically rather than deciding what they can or cannot see .

The Case for Tailored Mental Health Education in Schools

The evidence is clear: schools are uniquely positioned to serve as primary settings for mental health promotion for students in grades K through 12 . With the near-universal exposure of young people to harmful online content, social media pressures, and real-world threats, a comprehensive and tailored approach to mental health education is no longer optional; it is a public health imperative .

Why Tailored Education Matters

A one-size-fits-all approach fails children. Schools in different environments face distinct challenges: urban schools may need to address gang violence or drug abuse, while rural schools might focus on social isolation or limited access to mental health services . Similarly, age and developmental stage must determine what content is appropriate and how it is delivered.Young people themselves have indicated they believe educational institutions should provide information and raise awareness of mental health issues . This is their expressed need, and we should listen.Curricula must include medically accurate and developmentally appropriate information that addresses different health experiences and behaviors for youth of all ages and abilities . A tiered approach might include:

Ages 5 to 10: Foundational concepts about emotions, personal boundaries, trusted adults, and recognizing uncomfortable situations
Ages 11 to 14: Expanded education on online safety, manipulation tactics, healthy versus unhealthy relationships, and early warning signs of exploitation
Ages 15 to 18 and beyond: Comprehensive discussions including real-world case studies, digital literacy, consent, and understanding how predators operate

Should Education Include Difficult Real-World Examples?

The question of whether to include difficult real-world examples, such as the organized grooming gangs documented in the United Kingdom, deserves careful consideration.

The argument for inclusion (delivered in age-appropriate ways): These are not abstract threats. The UK grooming gang scandals, spanning cities like Rotherham, Rochdale, Telford, and others, involved the systematic exploitation of hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children over decades . Similar patterns exist globally. Children deserve to understand that such threats are real, not hypothetical.

Knowledge is protection. Many victims of grooming gangs have described not recognizing the signs of manipulation because no one had taught them what exploitation looks like . Education that includes real patterns of predatory behavior, such as being “befriended,” given gifts, isolated from family, or introduced to substances, can help children identify danger before it escalates.Such education also combats normalization. As discussed, exposure to violent pornography leads some children to view abusive behavior as normal . Counter-education using real cases demonstrates that such behavior is criminal, harmful, and absolutely unacceptable, regardless of how it may be portrayed online.

Responsible implementation requires:

Age-appropriate framing: Younger children do not need graphic details; they need to understand boundaries, trusted adults, and that some people try to trick children. Older students can handle more specific case studies.
Trained educators: Teachers should receive professional development workshops led by mental health professionals to recognize early signs of issues and deliver sensitive content appropriately .
Support systems in place: Any education on difficult topics must be paired with access to counseling and reporting mechanisms. School-based mental health support needs to be fully funded .
Empowerment, not fear: The goal is to build resilience and recognition skills, not to traumatize. Framing should emphasize that adults failed to protect these children and that systems are being improved to prevent future harm .

Integrating Mental Health with Safety Education

Effective programs combine classroom-level and student-level interventions to sustain educational, health, and mental health improvements . This means incorporating anti-bullying programs and socioemotional learning as core components, teaching children to communicate about mental health with trusted adults, addressing the impact of social media and digital platforms on mental health, and creating mental health champions within schools.The connection between online exploitation, pornography exposure, mental health deterioration, and real-world sexual violence must be taught as an interconnected reality, not as isolated topics .

Conclusion

Protecting children in the digital age requires acknowledging uncomfortable truths about the threats they face and responding with comprehensive, evidence-based education. By investing in media literacy, tailored mental health curricula, and trauma-informed teaching practices, we can empower young people to recognize danger, build resilience, and develop the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate an increasingly complex world.Our children are our greatest treasure. It is time our policies and educational systems reflected that truth.

I realize that this is not my normal material on this site. I usually showcase my writing via some short story or perhaps offer writing or publishing advice. This news brought tears, anger, and disgust. The prime minister resigned, and so should that worthless mayor, he knew. Anyone that looked the other way should face consequences. Comment below if you care to discuss this.-Best

When Silence Became My Only Frequency

Thirty-six months ago, I switched off the radios. Just like that, a hobby that had been woven into the very fabric of my identity went into hiding. The reason? One of my closest friends passed away. He wasn’t the first. Heartbreakingly, he wasn’t even the last to leave me. There have been so many others since. But this man—he was different. He was a father figure. He kept me grounded, kept me out of trouble. His absence left a void that static could never fill.Amateur Radio—Ham Radio—was my world from the time I was 13 years old. Through those airwaves, I didn’t just hear voices from distant lands; I connected with souls. Hours of late-night conversations turned strangers into friends, radio calls into coffee shop meetups, and eventually… into eulogies I never wanted to write.I became the youngest. The last man standing.

The Truth About #Grief No One Tells You

Here’s the thing about grief that catches you off guard: you never “get over it.” You don’t move past the loss—you learn to move with it.Yes, life goes on. The sun rises. Responsibilities call. But life? Life is never, ever the same. And that’s okay. It took me years to accept that this isn’t a flaw in healing—it’s the very nature of love. We grieve deeply because we loved deeply. The ache is proof that what we had was real. If you’re reading this and you’re in that dark place right now, please hear me: Your grief is not weakness. It’s not something to “fix.” It’s something to honor, to sit with, and eventually—when you’re ready, not when anyone else says you should be—to carry forward.

Finding My Way Back

I moved. Downsized from suburbia to the country, surrounded by open land and quiet skies. Every single one of those friends I lost would have loved it here. Plenty of room for antennas. Peaceful nights perfect for DXing.I finally built a shop—or as we hams call it, a shack.One by one, I began unboxing the old radios.Some I had purchased myself over the years. But many—so many—were bequeathed to me through wills I didn’t even know existed until long after my friends were resting. Each radio carries a memory. Each trinket, each piece of equipment, holds a story. One of them still carries the distinct scent of cigarette smoke. Its owner passed at 54. Smoking almost certainly led to his untimely demise. Every time I catch that faint smell, I hear his laugh, his voice breaking through the static late at night.

The First Transmission in Nine Years

Today, nine years after losing my dear friend, I finally turned one of the radios on.The crackle of static filled the room. It wasn’t the same. How could it be?But it was something. A small spark. A whisper of what once was—and maybe, just maybe, what could be again.

A Step Forward: Field Day 2026

As we approach another ARRL Field Day on June 27th, I’ve made a decision: I’m going to attend as a spectator.Ham conventions will never be the same without my friends. I suspect this event won’t be what I remember either. The voices will be different. The faces unfamiliar.But perhaps that’s the point.

The Battle Within

There’s a large part of me that wants to leave this chapter of my life buried—resting peacefully alongside those friends who made it so meaningful.But there’s also this quiet voice inside. A small but persistent whisper saying: It’s time.Time to embrace what is rather than mourn what was.Time to maybe—just maybe—become that person for someone else. The mentor. The father figure. The steady voice on the other end of the frequency who keeps a young ham out of trouble and shows them the magic of connection.

If You’re Grieving Too

To anyone reading this who has stepped away from something they loved because the pain of loss made it unbearable:

Give yourself permission to grieve on your own timeline. There is no “right” way or “right” amount of time.
Honor the memories, but don’t let them become a prison. Our loved ones wouldn’t want their memory to steal our joy forever.
Consider small steps. You don’t have to dive back in. Spectating, like I’m doing, is still showing up.
Talk about them. Say their names. Share their stories. They live on through us.
Seek support when you need it. Whether it’s friends, a counselor, or a community who understands—grief was never meant to be carried alone.
Know that honoring their legacy might mean continuing what you shared. Perhaps the greatest tribute is to keep going—and to be for someone else what they were for you.

The static crackles. The frequency awaits.I don’t know what comes next. But for the first time in a long time, I’m willing to find out.

73, my friends. 📻

If you’re curious about Field Day or want to find a local event to attend, visit: http://www.arrl.org/field-day

#FindingMyWayBack
#SmallStepsMatter
#StartingAgain
#EmbraceWhatIs
#GriefToGrowth
#VulnerabilityIsStrength
#MentalHealthMatters
#HonoringTheirMemory
#LastManStanding
#MentorsMatter
#CarryingTheTorch
#LegacyOfLove
#ConnectionMatters
#BeTheLight
#HamRadio
#AmateurRadio
#FieldDay2026
#ARRL
#73
#HamLife
#RadioAmateur
#HamRadioCommunity
#SilentKey
#GriefJourney
#GriefIsLove
#HealingTakesTime
#GriefAwareness
#LossAndLove
#GrievingProcess
#ItsOkayToGrieve
#GriefSupport
#HealingFromLoss
#YouAreNotAlone

Why Health Insurance Calls Are So Frustrating: A Personal Account

Have you noticed that when you call for help with a claim, you’re told that “call volumes are heavier than normal and wait times are longer at this time”?

Last week, I received a bill for a procedure that should have been fully covered. The bill was for $517.15.

I called the doctor’s office and was transferred to billing, where I was told, “You need to call the carrier and dispute it.”The old joke about needing patience to call HP for support pales in comparison to dealing with people working from home.The problem started at the doctor’s office. They need more training—or they need to care about their work.However, I didn’t know that at the time, so I called the insurance carrier. Even Job would have lost patience with these people. After hours on hold, multiple transfers, and being ignored by one agent (whose child screamed in the background), my call was left on hold and never resumed.Automated claim systems don’t think; they check boxes. A person could have reviewed the issue and prompted the doctor to submit the EOB to the correct group from the start.After hours of listening to terrible hold music, someone finally answered the phone. I could barely hear him, but the bottom line was that I needed to call another party.

After more time on hold, I reached the next party, who told me the doctor’s office needed to fix their billing system and resubmit the claim properly.Back to the doctor’s office—press 1 for this, 2 for that, 3 for something else, but no option for billing. I was told to leave a message and “have a blessed day.”

To their credit, they called back before closing and told me to call the carrier again.We were stuck in a loop, and I spent most of the day listening to commercials and tinny music.I insisted on speaking to the office manager, who took my information and commented, “People—they’re stupid.”I replied, “No argument from me.”This billing error from the doctor’s office took hours of my time to address, and I’m still not sure it will be resolved correctly.Working from home is not working—these people are clearly not working.The representative at the carrier was belligerent and curt. I’m sure she just hung up when her child screamed, “Mom!”

When you finally reach a person, they look for any excuse to transfer you.After hours of commercials and hold music, I wondered why I would ever do business with this group again.AI does not possess critical thinking skills.In my experience, people working from home lack the work ethic of those in an office, especially when a supervisor is nearby.Corrective action is needed:

A: Every denied claim should be investigated by a person. As a health insurance company, is it wise to make people in need of medical care navigate a maze of IVR and AI systems that don’t understand them?

B: Calls that are recorded, as announced, should be reviewed. You can clearly hear kids screaming, dogs barking, and TVs in the background. Let’s return to hiring people who want to work and cut the dead weight.

C: Wait times should never exceed a few minutes. Waiting for over two hours is unacceptable.Thank you for your attention to this matter.

The Decline of Personal Service: From Gas Stations to Grocery Stores

Considering that roughly 216 million people shop at Walmart, one might ponder the sheer number of stores. The number hovers near 4,500.I don’t need to tell you that Walmart is responsible for the death of many mom-and-pop shops in small-town America. Now Amazon is killing what is left.

Do you remember the friendly face behind the counter, the one that might ask you about your family or even know your name?

Not that long ago, I’d pull up to the filling station and, before I could even step out of my car, an attendant would be at my window with a friendly smile. They’d fill my tank for me, and if I asked, they’d wash my windows until they sparkled, check the air in my tires, and even pop the hood to make sure my oil was topped off. It felt like a small ritual of care, a moment when someone else looked after both me and my car.

These days, I do it all at the gas station. I’m pumping my own gas, washing my own windows, and if I decide to step into the store, there’s a good chance I might not even understand the person behind the counter.

After finishing my transaction, I think what irritates me the most is that cold, robotic “THANK YOU” that comes from some computer chip with absolutely zero agency.

It’s not a person expressing gratitude; it’s just a programmed response, a hollow echo of politeness designed to mimic human interaction. I know it’s just a chip running instructions, processing inputs, and spitting out outputs, but it feels so empty.

It’s as though the machine is trying to replace the human touch, and instead it just reminds me how far we’ve drifted from real, meaningful interactions.

I can still remember a time when going to the grocery store felt like a completely unique experience.

Back then, I’d push my cart through the aisles, and when I was done, someone would take it from me and handle everything.

They’d ring up my order, carefully bag or sack the groceries, and then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, someone would carry them out to my car. They’d even ask where I wanted them placed (trunk, backseat, wherever) and do it with a smile.

It wasn’t just about the service; it was the warmth of the interactions.

There were genuine pleases and thank-yous, and as I drove away, I felt appreciated, as though my business actually mattered.

It wasn’t just a transaction; it was a moment of connection, a small but meaningful exchange that made the whole experience feel human.

Now I can’t help but miss those days, when customer service wasn’t just a buzzword but something you could feel in every interaction.

Now they want $25 an hour to let you take your groceries and put them in the cart, or, like at Aldi, you get to box them or bag them after the sale.

Sorry, but where is the service in that?

Today, things couldn’t be more different. Now there’s an app for everything, even grocery shopping.

I’m expected to pull out my phone, open the app, and start scanning my groceries as I pick them out. I place them in my cart myself, and when I’m ready to leave, I just show the machine a barcode on my phone. And voilà, transaction complete.

It feels a lot like shopping at Aldi or one of those other stores where you’re left to bag, box, or otherwise pack your own groceries for the ride home.

As I glance around, I see several employees standing, not ringing people up or bagging groceries but instead directing traffic or helping someone with an item that refuses to scan properly.

Is it quicker? Sure, sometimes it is. But can it be slower? Oh, absolutely.

The entire process feels so detached. What used to be a personal, interactive experience now feels as though I’m just another cog in a self-service system, one in which the human touch has been replaced by machines and apps.

IKEA and many other stores are doing away with people to check you out altogether.

They just stand there chatting with one another, waiting for some beep from a machine so they can swoop in and push the correct button.

Are prices lower now that you are working for them?

Can we get on their company benefit plan, since we are essentially performing job functions that their employees should be doing?

Here’s the bottom line: H-E-B and Tom Thumb are the only places around here that still have full-service stores. So I’ve decided to run a brief experiment. I’m going to visit each one and rate them on three things: price, availability of products, and the overall customer experience. Because let’s face it, prices are already way too high, and shrinkflation is everywhere.

If I’m going to get screwed over, I’d at least like a little courtesy to go along with it.

Give me a kiss afterward, you know?

IKEA was the first one I checked on after this post, hence the rewrite.

Here’s the truth of it: I’m tired.

Tired of walking out of stores feeling frazzled, angry, and worn down by machines that don’t care and workers who were never given the chance to.

I don’t want a barcode.

I don’t want a beep.

I don’t want a chip chirping “THANK YOU” at me like I’m a vending machine that just dispensed a candy bar.

I want a person. A real, breathing human being who looks me in the eye, cracks a small smile, and says,

“Thank you, have a great day,” and actually means it.

Is that too much to ask?

Somewhere along the way, we traded connection for convenience, and I’m not convinced we got the better end of the deal.

So here’s my challenge to you.

The next time you shop, pay attention. Notice who greets you, who thanks you, who treats you like a customer instead of a task to be processed. Then vote with your wallet, because that’s the only language these companies still understand.

Take your business to the places that still remember your name, still bag your groceries, still bother to care.

And do me one favor: drop a comment below and tell me where the good ones are, the last full-service stores in your town that haven’t forgotten what service actually means. Let’s find them together, before they disappear for good.

“From ‘You Shithead’ to ‘Have a Nice Life’: A Journey in Self-Restraint”

Hey, happy Sunday night, wherever the hell you might be. So, I’ve been way too glued to social media lately. Honestly, people are losing their minds out there. Half of them are raging about TDS, and the other half look like they’d gladly watch the world burn if it meant kicking Trump out. It’s like everyone’s main hobby is being pissed off at each other. Grab some popcorn, because apparently, this is the new national sport.

Let me introduce you to something I like to call the “you shit head letter.”

Let me tell you about something I’ve perfected over the years. I call it the “you shit head letter.” It’s not trademarked or anything, but it damn well should be. The concept is simple: whenever some insufferable asshole—like the kind who makes you question if they share DNA with a brick wall—pushes you to the edge, you don’t respond right away. Nope. You take a deep breath, resist the urge to hit “send,” and instead, you write the most cathartic, profanity-laden masterpiece you’ve ever created. This isn’t just any letter. Oh, no. It’s a literary middle finger wrapped in words.

Let me tell you how this whole thing works. First, I write. And then, I write some more. Seriously, by the time I’m done, I’ve practically written a novella—just to explain, in excruciating detail, how fucking stupid someone is. And then, when I think I’ve exhausted every creative insult in the English language? I keep writing. Because why not?

Then what? Do I send it? Oh, hell no. I save it. Somewhere on my OneDrive, there’s a folder of these masterpieces. And honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if some government spy is sitting in front of a monitor right now, reading my rants and laughing their ass off. That’s fine. Laugh it up, buddy. Just don’t publish it, or I will absolutely sue under copyright law. I might be petty, but I’m not stupid.

Anyway, once I’ve exorcised the stupidity-induced rage from my system, I sleep on it. And when I wake up—calmer, slightly less homicidal—I go back and read the letter. That’s when I follow a little exercise in self-restraint that I like to call THINK.

Here’s how it works:

T: Is it the Truth?

H: Is it Honest?

I: Is it Inspiring?

N: Is it Necessary?

K: Is it Kind?

And let me tell you, the “You Shithead” letter absolutely fails this test. Every single time.

Is it the truth? Oh, most definitely.

Is it honest? You bet your ass it is.

Is it inspiring? Uh…no. Unless you consider inspiring someone to cry into their pillow a win.

Is it necessary? It felt like it last night, but in the cold light of day? Probably not.

Is it kind? Fuck no. It’s the opposite of kind. It’s downright savage.

So yeah, the “You Shithead” letter never sees the light of day. But damn, does it feel good to write.

But guess what I didn’t do?

Yeah, start a war with someone I disagreed with.

There is common ground out there. Somewhere. Probably buried under all the bullshit we keep piling on top of it. The problem is, we’d need to stop tripping over our own egos long enough to actually look for it. And let’s be real, that’s not exactly humanity’s strong suit. Here’s the kicker, though: searching for common ground? Not sexy. Not flashy. It doesn’t go viral, it doesn’t rack up likes, and it definitely doesn’t make you the star of some TikTok rant. You know what does get attention? Being a keyboard warrior.

Social media has basically turned us all into part-time gladiators, except instead of swords, we’re armed with shitty opinions, zero accountability, and a Wi-Fi connection. And let’s face it—it’s so much easier to call someone a moron online than to actually have a real conversation. Who needs nuance when you can just drop a snarky comment and rack up some imaginary internet points? Nuance takes effort. Snark is instant. And honestly, it’s addicting. You hit “post” and BAM—you’re a hero in your own head, even if you’re just shouting into the void.

But here’s where it all goes to shit. This constant stream of digital venom isn’t just harmless venting. It’s like dumping gasoline on a fire that’s already out of control. We’re not just creeping toward the edge of some global catastrophe, we’re practically sprinting toward a full-blown war with each other. Not, like, a nation-against-nation war. No, this is worse. It’s a war where empathy, understanding, and basic human decency are the first casualties. And for what? So you can roast someone who used the wrong “your/you’re” on Facebook?

So yeah, common ground exists. But finding it means doing the one thing most people on the internet absolutely refuse to do: shutting the fuck up. It means resisting the urge to win every argument, humiliate every stranger, and prove you’re smarter than some random person you’ve never even met. It means pausing for a second and remembering that behind every screen is another flawed, messy, probably-overcaffeinated human being. Just like you.

I’ve got a lot of people on my social media. If you’re on my “friends list,” odds are pretty good I’ve met you, shaken your hand, and wouldn’t mind grabbing a drink with you if the stars aligned. I mean, I don’t just friend random strangers—I save that kind of recklessness for impulse Amazon purchases and gas station sushi.

Now, writers? Writers are some of the most wildly diverse people I know. And by diverse, I mean they can range anywhere from “delightful conversationalist” to “I need a drink to survive this interaction.” I remember one left-wing loon in particular. Trying to find common ground with her was like trying to convince a cat to take a bath—it just wasn’t happening. In the end, the best I could do was agree that we both have red blood. That’s it. That’s all we had in common.

I have no idea where she was born, where she grew up, or what series of life events convinced her that she was right about absolutely everything and the rest of us were just walking disasters. But hey, she probably thought the same thing about me. That’s the fun of it, right?

At the end of the day, when we parted ways, we both managed to wave goodbye—using all of our fingers, mind you, not just the middle one. And that’s the point. The thing worth noting here is this: it’s not about agreeing on everything. The real effort, the thing that makes us human and keeps us from tearing each other apart, is striving to find common ground. Even if that ground is just, “Well, at least we’re both technically alive.”

Here’s one last piece of advice I’d offer, and it’s this: try arguing the issue from the other person’s point of view. No, seriously. Give it a shot. Pretend you’re them and make the case for whatever it is they’re so passionate about. Like, why 64 million abortions is biblical, or totally fine, or falls under “my body, my choice.” Hell, even try arguing why abortion up to the ninth month is perfectly acceptable.

Now, let me be clear—any sane person is probably going to struggle (read: fail spectacularly) at making a convincing argument for something they fundamentally disagree with. And honestly, you might not get very far. But here’s the thing: I’ve found it’s a pretty effective learning experience to at least try to see where the other person is coming from. Even if their logic feels like it was cooked up on a rusty waffle iron.

And if that doesn’t work? If, after all your mental gymnastics, you still can’t find a shred of common ground or even a glimpse of understanding? Well, that’s when you break out the trusty “you shit head letter.” Write it all down, every insult, every “how the hell do you function in society” thought that crosses your mind. Don’t hold back. But—this is key—don’t send it. Sleep on it.

Then, when you come back to it the next day, edit it down to a simple, “Bless your heart, have a nice life.” Trust me, it’s the perfect mix of passive-aggressiveness and closure. Plus, it saves you the headache of a long, drawn-out argument that neither of you is ever going to win.

While I’m sitting here typing this, just remember: this shit doesn’t write itself. Seriously. So how about throwing me a little love? A like, a share, maybe even a follow if you’re feeling generous. And hey, a comment wouldn’t hurt either—bonus points if it’s not spam or you telling me I’m wrong about something.

In case you didn’t know, I’m an author. And while this blog post was fun to write, let’s not kid ourselves—it’s also marketing. Gotta keep the hustle alive, right?

Anyway, have a great week next week. Or don’t. I’m not your boss.

-Best

#YouShitheadLetter
#SocialMediaRage
#KeyboardWarriorsUnite
#CommonGroundOrBust
#BlessYourHeart
#PassiveAggressive101
#RantTherapy
#DontHitSend
#ArgueBetter
#SocialMediaMeltdown
#ThinkBeforeYouPost
#FlawedButHuman
#WritingIsTherapy
#LetItOutDontSendIt
#WritersWithSnark
#StopKeyboardWars
#NuanceMatters
#StayPettyStayCalm
#InternetArgumentsSuck
#ShitDoesntWriteItself

Point Blank: Lessons I Learned on the Wrong Side of a Badge

A Book You Didn’t Know You Needed (But Oh, You Do)

Let me hit you with a question: Have you ever looked back on your life, shaking your head like, What the actual hell was I thinking? Ever had cops point guns at you like you just robbed a damn bank? Or been pulled over for speeding, on a bicycle? If you answered yes to any of that, welcome to the club. And if you didn’t, buckle up, because this book will give you a front-row seat to the kind of weirdness you didn’t know you needed in your life.

Now, take that “what the hell” feeling, crank it up to eleven, sprinkle in a heaping dose of stupidity, and slather it all with dark humor. That’s my life in a nutshell. Well, that, and now it’s also my book.

Point Blank isn’t just a catchy title, it’s basically the theme of my existence. It’s a front-row seat to the absurdity of growing up chasing lizards in Carrollton, Texas, and somehow ending up walking a tightrope between comedy and total catastrophe. And let’s be real—who hasn’t been there?

This book is my love letter to the moments that make life… well, incredibly dumb. It’s a collection of stories, life lessons, and the facepalm-worthy memories that prove one thing: no matter how much you think you’ve got life figured out, you don’t. (Spoiler alert: no one does.) But honestly, isn’t that where the fun is? In the ridiculous, the unexpected, and the holy-crap-why-is-this-happening moments?

So, What the Hell Is Point Blank About?

At its core, Point Blank is a comedic deep dive into life’s dumbest moments. But it’s not just that. It’s part memoir, part roast, part free therapy session (for me, not you). It’s the kind of book you pick up when life’s been kicking you in the teeth, and you need a reminder that you are not the only one out here navigating the chaos.

Here’s a little teaser of what you’re in for:

Lessons I Learned While Staring Down the Barrel of a Gun

Pro tip: Don’t try to argue your case with the cops on the side of the road. Just don’t.

How to Survive a Head-On Collision (And the Bureaucratic Circus That Follows)

Because apparently, getting hit by a drunk driver isn’t enough. Nope, fate has to throw in paperwork, insurance nightmares, and a side of complete nonsense.

The Great Paper Route Fiasco

Picture this: ink-stained hands, 5 a.m. bike rides, and a not-so-charming run-in with the local cops. (Spoiler: they weren’t impressed.)

“Arrest-Me Red” and Other Car Choices I’d Like to Forget

Fast cars, flashing lights, and one particularly chaotic road trip from Miami to Key West that felt more like a cop magnet convention.

Reinvention 101

From engineer to IT guy to sci-fi writer, because apparently, I like to keep my life as unpredictable as possible.

Why You’re Gonna Love This Book

Okay, I get it. You’re probably thinking: Do I really need another book about someone else’s ridiculous life? But hear me out, this one’s different. It’s not just about my life. It’s about our lives.

It’s about the universal stupidity we all encounter—the shared facepalm moments that remind us we’re all just winging it. You’ll laugh (hard). You’ll cringe (probably harder). You might even tear up a little, but only in that holy crap, this is too real kind of way.

Think of Point Blank as sitting down with that one friend who’s been through some serious shit, lived to tell the tale, and somehow managed to find the punchline in every disaster.

Who’s This Book For?

If you’ve ever made a decision so dumb it deserves its own monument, this book’s for you.

If you’ve ever looked at someone else’s life and thought, Well, at least I’m not that guy, this book’s definitely for you.

If you’re a fan of George Carlin’s brutal honesty, Douglas Adams’ absurd humor, or David Sedaris’ ability to find hilarity in misery, congrats—you’ve found your new favorite read.

If you just need a good laugh, a break, or a reminder that life’s most chaotic moments are often the most memorable, this book is 1000% for you.

Where to Read It

Picture this: You’re sitting on the toilet (don’t even pretend you don’t scroll or read in there), flipping pages or swiping through your phone, and suddenly you’re laughing so hard you almost fall off the damn seat. That’s what this book is for.

It’s for the bathroom, the waiting room, the coffee break, the long-ass flight, or those sleepless nights when you just want to escape the madness for a bit.

A Final Word

Point Blank isn’t just a book. It’s an experience. It’s a rollercoaster through the highs and lows, the WTF moments, and the laughs that make life worth living—and retelling.

So here’s the deal: Buy the book. Read the book. Laugh at the book. Share the book. And who knows? Maybe you’ll start seeing your own life in a slightly less serious, slightly more ridiculous light.

Because let’s face it, isn’t that what we’re all trying to do? Find the humor in the madness, make sense of the chaos, and keep moving forward, one hilariously stupid moment at a time.

Go grab your copy of Point Blank. Trust me, your life will be better (or at least funnier) for it.

Then do me a solid, give it a review from where you bought it, or even read it for free on KDP.

Is it him, or is it you?

Let’s talk about this mess we call political theater, shall we? Because holy shit, the amount of stupid shit happening on the world stage these days is staggering. It’s like watching a soap opera, but with worse scripts, uglier actors, and way more assholes. Social media, of course, eats this crap up. Every time a politician stumbles—physically, verbally, or just by existing—you’ve got the same lineup of Twitter warriors ready to pounce. They’re like rabid dogs foaming at the mouth, eager to unleash a fresh “buffoon” meme just so they can feel something inside their cold, dead hearts. But here’s the thing: how much of the shitstorm we see is real, and how much of it is just a big, steaming pile of manufactured chaos? Buckle up, because I’m about to take you behind the curtain of one of the dumbest political spectacles I’ve ever seen.

The UN Incident: A Shitshow for the Ages

Alright, so recently, our fearless president (pause for laughter) was at the United Nations doing his thing—you know, standing at a podium, attempting not to piss off the entire world. Pretty standard day for a world leader.But, oh no, the man looked a little wobbly at the microphone, and the internet collectively shit its pants. Cue the “He’s a moron!” comments. “What a buffoon!” someone shouts. “Did he forget how to human?” chimes in another. Honestly, it’s like a goddamn sport at this point, and these people are playing for the championship title of “Biggest Internet Dickhead.”But wait—because here’s the part no one talks about. You know, the part where the universe decided to fuck with him just to see if he’d break.First, the escalator incident. Picture this: the president and first lady are riding an escalator on their way up to the stage. Seems simple enough, right? WRONG. Because mid-ascent, some genius decides to turn off the goddamn escalator. Who the hell even does that?! I’m not saying it was a secret assassin-level mission to make them faceplant, but let’s be honest—it would’ve made for some killer viral footage. One wrong move, and we’d all be watching a slow-motion tumble meme for the next decade.But wait—because the shitstorm wasn’t done brewing.Next up, our guy makes it to the microphone, probably thinking, “Well, at least I didn’t fall on my face.” And BAM! The teleprompter dies. Just straight-up goes dark like someone unplugged it to charge their phone. Now, I don’t care who you are—when you’re standing in front of the world’s most powerful leaders and your script disappears, you’re gonna sweat a little. Hell, most of us would burst into tears and fake a fainting spell just to GTFO.But not this guy. Oh no. He decides to go rogue and wing it. He cracks some jokes, throws in a few ad-libs, and keeps the train rolling. Classic Trump. Of course, this makes his haters absolutely lose their fucking minds. Because God forbid he tries to lighten the mood when the teleprompter gods have clearly conspired against him.

The Double Standard: Could You Do Better, Karen?

Let’s take a moment to reflect: What if this shit happened to you? Imagine you’re at work, giving the most important presentation of your life, and suddenly someone yanks the PowerPoint out from under you. Oh, and they also turned off the elevator on your way up, so you had to awkwardly stumble into the room, already sweaty and pissed off.Could you keep your cool? Would you ad-lib your way to greatness? Or would you stand there like a deer in headlights while Brenda from accounting live-tweets your breakdown? Be honest—you’d fucking crumble. But when it’s a public figure, we just grab our popcorn and laugh like we’re watching a shitty sitcom.

The Reality of Political Theater

Here’s the thing: politics is one big circus. And not the fun kind with popcorn and elephants—it’s the kind where everyone’s drunk, the clowns are creepy, and someone’s probably going to get stabbed. What we see on social media is just the surface-level stupidity, carefully edited for maximum outrage. But behind the scenes? It’s a goddamn war zone. People are setting traps, pulling stunts, and spinning narratives like their lives depend on it.The escalator didn’t just “stop.” The teleprompter didn’t just “malfunction.” Shit like this doesn’t just happen. It’s all part of a bigger game, and we’re the idiots sitting in the bleachers, cheering for the chaos.

Final Thoughts: Humanity Is Exhausting

Look, I get it. Politicians aren’t exactly easy to love. Most of them are rich, out-of-touch, and probably don’t know how much a gallon of milk costs. But at the end of the day, they’re still human. They trip. They sweat. They get sabotaged by escalators and teleprompters from hell. And maybe—just maybe—we should cut them a little slack.Or don’t. Honestly, it’s more fun to watch people lose their shit over stupid things. Just remember: the next time you see a viral clip of someone “failing,” there’s probably more to the story. Or maybe there’s not, and they really are just a buffoon. Either way, political theater is just another chapter in the never-ending saga of stupid shit humans do.

Let’s get one thing straight: if you hate this president, there’s absolutely nothing—and I mean nothing—he could ever do to make you say anything remotely nice about him. Period. Full stop. End of story. He could personally save your dog from a burning building, hand you a wad of cash, and solve your student loan debt, and you’d still find a way to say, “Yeah, but he’s still a dick.”And don’t even get me started on the media. Those guys are like a pack of rabid hyenas, frothing at the mouth to tear apart every single thing he does. The coverage is, what, 97% negative? Ninety-freaking-seven percent. That’s about as close to unanimous hatred as you can get without someone sending out a “Destroy Trump” group email.

Meanwhile, Back in Reality…

Here’s the kicker: the country is actually doing better than it has in years. Let me say that again for the people in the back: things are going pretty damn well.Crime? Down. D.C., which is basically a madhouse on a good day, is somehow safer than it’s been in a while. Your dollar? Worth more. The economy? Chugging along nicely. But does any of that matter to the people who hate him? Hell no. He could literally cure cancer tomorrow—like, “Hey guys, I found the cure, it was in my sock drawer the whole time,”—and the haters would still lose their minds.“Oh, but why didn’t he cure it sooner?”
“This is just a distraction from [insert random scandal here]!”
“Sure, he cured cancer, but what about climate change?”
“Why is he even wearing socks?!”It’s like people are determined to hate him, no matter what. He could walk on water, and they’d just complain about how his shoes got wet.

The Bottom Line: Some People Just Wanna Hate

Look, I’m not saying you have to love the guy. Hell, you don’t even have to like him. But let’s at least be honest here: if you hated him from the start, you’re never going to give him credit for anything. It doesn’t matter what he does. He could fix the economy, solve world hunger, and rescue a kitten from a tree, and you’d still find a way to call him an asshole.And honestly? That says more about you than it does about him.So, go ahead and keep hating. But at some point, maybe take a step back and ask yourself: Am I mad because he’s actually terrible, or am I just mad because it’s trendy to hate him? Either way, congratulations—you’re officially part of the political theater circus. Grab some popcorn and enjoy the show.