I do feel sorry for Trump (sorrier for us, of course). He will never know the joy or satisfaction of a job well done. He will never see the small delights I see on my morning and evening walks with my dog. To him, everything is a transaction with a winner and loser.
I don't feel sorry for him, either. Lots of people have had shitty parents, and shitty upbringings, and have learned from it, and risen above it. I just want to add to the "He will nevers," and note that he will never know what it's like to have a real friend.
I too (and I believe I mentioned this somewhere around the Pool before) met Demento. Must have been just PM (post-Marla) or about to be PM since His Orangeness was all over the Daily News and Post. For some reason I was in the Tower of Babble as he was getting off the infamous escalator. I glanced at him, and obviously basking in recognition from a complete stranger (it all counts for him), he came over and asked if I would like him to sign something. I believe I managed a smile and said something to the effect that I had enough worthless stuff. At which point I recollect he mumbled something about my mother. Surprising since he never met her.
I met the worst person last fall, the day before the presidential election, while walking my two dogs at an off-leash dog park in Lake County, IL.
That Monday (4 November) I stopped a pleasant young-middle-aged man to ask the ancestry of his very cute little dog (a Freagle, it turned out -- French Bulldog + Beagle). He described the road trips he and the dog intended to embark on soon, and how glad he was to have his trusty canine friend because he had given up on people. Most of his family and friends no longer spoke to him. I ventured, "Oh? I'm sorry. That's really hard."
"Yeah, politics sure does divide people. They don't like that I support Trump."
"Oh. ... "
Since HE had brought up the subject, and didn't seem inclined to declaim his viewpoint further, I added, "Well, I don't plan to vote for him either. Here's my main reasoning: If we were playing poker with friends, and one of them who was losing suddenly jumped up yelling 'I won!', turned over the poker table, grabbed the pot and headed out the door ... would you ever play poker with that person again?"
I had thought that was a fairly neutral opportunity to find common ground about game-playing, or at least for the guy to critique my metaphor. Wrong. Before I even could finish the last sentence, the man sneered, "Oh, you're a LIBERAL!" and stomped away, yelling over his shoulder "You people HATE America!"
Well! Before leaving the park I described the encounter to another regular who wryly remarked, "No wonder that guy has no friends!"
But wait -- there's more! Two months later in January, the dogs and I ambled through the park's wooded section. They dropped well behind me to bark up at squirrels, and a man passing them yelled forward to me through the trees not to worry where my dogs were because he could see them. I yelled back, "Thanks!"
When his little dog ran ahead near me, I thought it looked familiar. (I recognize dogs more readily than their owners.) The man, wearing a Chicago Bears hoodie from which issued loud music, caught up to his dog, giving me a chance to ask, "Is that the Freagle?"
That was all I said. But apparently he recalled our previous encounter, because he passed me, turned around on the trail, grinned triumphantly and called out, "Ha Ha! You didn't win. WE WON!" And he sped on ahead, music drowning out any potential reply.
It grieves me that an adult who is allowed to vote remains so juvenile that he doesn't regard the right as anything more than the opportunity to participate in a team sport. A higher competition score justifies gloating that his team (and thus he) are "superior" to the "losers." I wish I could have asked why a short senior woman so terrified this mope that he felt compelled to escape before any words from her could contaminate him. Talk about a snowflake ...
I have a question for you and I mean no disrespect to Colorado voters (or, at least, I don't think I do). What do these voters see in Boebert? Do they just go to the polls and choose whoever happens to have an "R" next to their name? If I was forced to to say thank you to Donald Trump for ANYTHING, I'd admit to being somewhat grateful that his endorsement seemingly helped to defeat Bob Good in his Virginia primary. I always question the choosing of people like Boebert, Marjorie Taylor Green, Andy Biggs and a number of others. I just don't get it.
The same thing people (sic) see in Trump. I know some like her unpolished, I would say vulgar, personality. And you’re right—for some, it’s anyone with an R by their name.
The worst person I ever met turned out to be a killer. We were in the Army years ago, and he fell in love with someone where we were doing our training. We went overseas a few months later, and he went a little nuts, ended up going back to the States AWOL, and got kicked out of the Army that summer. A few years later he and another guy robbed a bank and killed three people. Definitely the worst I've known.
I trespassed a guy for being a jerk from a party at my house. Months later he killed his partner and child. (I still picked Ollie North, though I'm not sure. Maybe should have said Reagan)
For a number of personal reasons both Memorial Day and Veteran's Day are "most meaningful," although I find Halloween the most satisfying. It provides for a warm fuzzy feeling seeing all the ankle biters' faces light up when they get Peeps, while simultaneously allowing for the responsible disposal of the by then fossilized left overs from Easter. Bwahaha!
Speaking of um...Popes...and a poem about a dog. There is Alexander, of course, the master of the couplet. He was also a lover of canines and they were often referenced in his poetry. One of his more famous epigrams was inscribed on the collar of a Great Dane pup he gave as a gift to the Prince of Wales. "I am His Highness’ Dog at Kew;/Pray tell me Sir, whose Dog are you?"
The worst person I ever met? Objectively, I have to say serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Killing 7 men in cold blood ranks pretty high on the list. I interviewed her on Florida's Death Row about a year before her execution.
Having said that, there was a certain psychopathic honesty to her. There are others I have contempt for who have done much to screw up multiple people's lives that fall short of murder.
I will just say this about Louis Prevost: he is wearing a cheap shirt. I base that conclusion on the fact that, although the plaid is matched across the front, it is not matched at the side seams, nor does the plaid of the pockets match the front of the shirt. An easy cure for the pockets would have been to cut them on the bias so that matching was not necessary.
Have you never heard that "clothes make the man"? We're advised not to judge a book by its cover, but we do. And in this case I have no basis for my opinion beyond his photo and his reported online postings, so obviously a snap judgment, but those pockets (which seem unusually large--make something of that if you will) just jumped out at me.
Ah well, I believe as a devout Catholic he took a Vow of Goodwill in sympathy with Brother Pope, along with being a follower of Maganus of Capernaum, who might have made it as the 13th Apostle had he not been denied entry to The Last Supper for spreading the conspiracy theory that it was a false flag operation.
My favorite is Thanksgiving. I don’t have to buy gifts and fight the crowds. I only have to cook or I used to, my husband does it now. I don’t have to visit family, our parents are gone and the rest of us couldn’t care less about traveling for the holiday. It’s a win-win for my family!!!
When my daughter was a newborn, I had a powerful craving for a souvlaki, and the only place in town to get a good one was in a shopping mall. Ollie North was doing his RV tour for his 1994 run at the Senate. For some reason, he picked Patrick Henry Mall in Newport News for a lunchtime stop. Cameras, lights, and reporters were setting up while I was stuffing my face. I realized why when in walked Ollie. After looking around a bit in the food court he visibly brightened: a baby! In front of cameras! He walked over with his entourage while I tried to subtly pack up to leave, but he got to me first. He leaned over the baby carriage and a demon voice came out of me: "GET AWAY from my daughter."
And just as visibly, he deflated. The camera crew pcked up and left.
I would have to say the worse person I ever met was a guy named Ron (Ronnie) Kliner. He was the son of my wife's stepfather. Ronnie was convicted of being hired to kill a young woman by the name of Dana Rinaldi, in Palatine, IL back in the mid 90's. He was hired by his friend who was married to Dana. Apparently, he did not want to be married anymore, so he hired Ronnie and another friend (a Chicago fireman) to kill Dana and then split the insurance money. Ronnie was the hitman, and the fireman was the getaway driver. The killing was especially heinous to me because Ronnie waited for her to come home and shot her point-blank as she was attempting to get into her house. As I understand it, she actually put her hands up to shield her face and he shot her through her hands into her head, a true execution. They found out about this because Ronnie was in Cook County Jail for beating up his baby momma and complaining to other inmates about not get his share of the insurance money. Someone turned him in because of his big mouth. Eventually all three of these guys got convicted, the other two got life in prison and Ronnie got the death penalty. That was commuted to life in prison back in the early 2000's by former convicted governor of Illinois George Ryan (all death row inmates were commuted to life). Of course, Ronnie claimed to be 'innocent' and had groups working to get him out of prison, but it never happened. Fittingly, he died in prison a couple of years ago. The world is a better place.
I do feel sorry for Trump (sorrier for us, of course). He will never know the joy or satisfaction of a job well done. He will never see the small delights I see on my morning and evening walks with my dog. To him, everything is a transaction with a winner and loser.
His is a sad and pathetic worldview. That said, I do not feel the least bit sorry for him. He chose that view.
I don't feel sorry for him, either. Lots of people have had shitty parents, and shitty upbringings, and have learned from it, and risen above it. I just want to add to the "He will nevers," and note that he will never know what it's like to have a real friend.
My real favorite is Halloween.
Totally agree!
I too (and I believe I mentioned this somewhere around the Pool before) met Demento. Must have been just PM (post-Marla) or about to be PM since His Orangeness was all over the Daily News and Post. For some reason I was in the Tower of Babble as he was getting off the infamous escalator. I glanced at him, and obviously basking in recognition from a complete stranger (it all counts for him), he came over and asked if I would like him to sign something. I believe I managed a smile and said something to the effect that I had enough worthless stuff. At which point I recollect he mumbled something about my mother. Surprising since he never met her.
What goes around comes around.
1960: Will a Catholic John Kennedy be influenced by the Pope?
2025: Will an American Pope be influenced by his raving lunatic MAGA-nut brother?
I don't know either man, but I'm willing to bet Pope Leo XIV will not be influenced in the least.
My sister has gone full-MAGA. On the other hand, the older I get, the more liberal I become.
I still love her. She, after all, is still my sister. We just do not ever discuss politics. It's a sort of pact we made. It works for us.
I met the worst person last fall, the day before the presidential election, while walking my two dogs at an off-leash dog park in Lake County, IL.
That Monday (4 November) I stopped a pleasant young-middle-aged man to ask the ancestry of his very cute little dog (a Freagle, it turned out -- French Bulldog + Beagle). He described the road trips he and the dog intended to embark on soon, and how glad he was to have his trusty canine friend because he had given up on people. Most of his family and friends no longer spoke to him. I ventured, "Oh? I'm sorry. That's really hard."
"Yeah, politics sure does divide people. They don't like that I support Trump."
"Oh. ... "
Since HE had brought up the subject, and didn't seem inclined to declaim his viewpoint further, I added, "Well, I don't plan to vote for him either. Here's my main reasoning: If we were playing poker with friends, and one of them who was losing suddenly jumped up yelling 'I won!', turned over the poker table, grabbed the pot and headed out the door ... would you ever play poker with that person again?"
I had thought that was a fairly neutral opportunity to find common ground about game-playing, or at least for the guy to critique my metaphor. Wrong. Before I even could finish the last sentence, the man sneered, "Oh, you're a LIBERAL!" and stomped away, yelling over his shoulder "You people HATE America!"
Well! Before leaving the park I described the encounter to another regular who wryly remarked, "No wonder that guy has no friends!"
But wait -- there's more! Two months later in January, the dogs and I ambled through the park's wooded section. They dropped well behind me to bark up at squirrels, and a man passing them yelled forward to me through the trees not to worry where my dogs were because he could see them. I yelled back, "Thanks!"
When his little dog ran ahead near me, I thought it looked familiar. (I recognize dogs more readily than their owners.) The man, wearing a Chicago Bears hoodie from which issued loud music, caught up to his dog, giving me a chance to ask, "Is that the Freagle?"
That was all I said. But apparently he recalled our previous encounter, because he passed me, turned around on the trail, grinned triumphantly and called out, "Ha Ha! You didn't win. WE WON!" And he sped on ahead, music drowning out any potential reply.
It grieves me that an adult who is allowed to vote remains so juvenile that he doesn't regard the right as anything more than the opportunity to participate in a team sport. A higher competition score justifies gloating that his team (and thus he) are "superior" to the "losers." I wish I could have asked why a short senior woman so terrified this mope that he felt compelled to escape before any words from her could contaminate him. Talk about a snowflake ...
Worst person nominee: I didn't shake her hand or anything, but I've been in the same room as Lauren Boebert. I am, sadly, a citizen of Colorado's CD4.
Hello neighbor. When I moved to Colorado I was in her district. She has since moved and I have the other feckless republican. Never met her though.
Yeah, she nearly lost so she moved to CD4, which trends more red. Fingers crossed to give her the boot in 2026!
I have a question for you and I mean no disrespect to Colorado voters (or, at least, I don't think I do). What do these voters see in Boebert? Do they just go to the polls and choose whoever happens to have an "R" next to their name? If I was forced to to say thank you to Donald Trump for ANYTHING, I'd admit to being somewhat grateful that his endorsement seemingly helped to defeat Bob Good in his Virginia primary. I always question the choosing of people like Boebert, Marjorie Taylor Green, Andy Biggs and a number of others. I just don't get it.
The same thing people (sic) see in Trump. I know some like her unpolished, I would say vulgar, personality. And you’re right—for some, it’s anyone with an R by their name.
Somehow they've got to realize that the "R" doesn't at all mean what it once did.
And no disrespect taken! I live here. I see the huge, permanent Trump signs in front yards.
How about another poll, with choices of Beltane, Litha, Lughnasadh, Samhain, and Yule?
And Father's Day?
The worst person I ever met turned out to be a killer. We were in the Army years ago, and he fell in love with someone where we were doing our training. We went overseas a few months later, and he went a little nuts, ended up going back to the States AWOL, and got kicked out of the Army that summer. A few years later he and another guy robbed a bank and killed three people. Definitely the worst I've known.
I trespassed a guy for being a jerk from a party at my house. Months later he killed his partner and child. (I still picked Ollie North, though I'm not sure. Maybe should have said Reagan)
For a number of personal reasons both Memorial Day and Veteran's Day are "most meaningful," although I find Halloween the most satisfying. It provides for a warm fuzzy feeling seeing all the ankle biters' faces light up when they get Peeps, while simultaneously allowing for the responsible disposal of the by then fossilized left overs from Easter. Bwahaha!
Speaking of um...Popes...and a poem about a dog. There is Alexander, of course, the master of the couplet. He was also a lover of canines and they were often referenced in his poetry. One of his more famous epigrams was inscribed on the collar of a Great Dane pup he gave as a gift to the Prince of Wales. "I am His Highness’ Dog at Kew;/Pray tell me Sir, whose Dog are you?"
My favorite is Easter.
I would have chosen Easter as well.
The worst person I ever met? Objectively, I have to say serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Killing 7 men in cold blood ranks pretty high on the list. I interviewed her on Florida's Death Row about a year before her execution.
Having said that, there was a certain psychopathic honesty to her. There are others I have contempt for who have done much to screw up multiple people's lives that fall short of murder.
I will just say this about Louis Prevost: he is wearing a cheap shirt. I base that conclusion on the fact that, although the plaid is matched across the front, it is not matched at the side seams, nor does the plaid of the pockets match the front of the shirt. An easy cure for the pockets would have been to cut them on the bias so that matching was not necessary.
And your point is?
I guess that I value his opinions as much as his couture?
It may be a boy-girl thing, it would just never occur to me to judge a guys clothes.
Have you never heard that "clothes make the man"? We're advised not to judge a book by its cover, but we do. And in this case I have no basis for my opinion beyond his photo and his reported online postings, so obviously a snap judgment, but those pockets (which seem unusually large--make something of that if you will) just jumped out at me.
You wouldn't think much of me then. Lack of money has me in cheap clothes, mostly 4 or 5 years old.
Mine are also cheap and some of them 20+ years old.
Ah well, I believe as a devout Catholic he took a Vow of Goodwill in sympathy with Brother Pope, along with being a follower of Maganus of Capernaum, who might have made it as the 13th Apostle had he not been denied entry to The Last Supper for spreading the conspiracy theory that it was a false flag operation.
My favorite is Thanksgiving. I don’t have to buy gifts and fight the crowds. I only have to cook or I used to, my husband does it now. I don’t have to visit family, our parents are gone and the rest of us couldn’t care less about traveling for the holiday. It’s a win-win for my family!!!
When my daughter was a newborn, I had a powerful craving for a souvlaki, and the only place in town to get a good one was in a shopping mall. Ollie North was doing his RV tour for his 1994 run at the Senate. For some reason, he picked Patrick Henry Mall in Newport News for a lunchtime stop. Cameras, lights, and reporters were setting up while I was stuffing my face. I realized why when in walked Ollie. After looking around a bit in the food court he visibly brightened: a baby! In front of cameras! He walked over with his entourage while I tried to subtly pack up to leave, but he got to me first. He leaned over the baby carriage and a demon voice came out of me: "GET AWAY from my daughter."
And just as visibly, he deflated. The camera crew pcked up and left.
I would have to say the worse person I ever met was a guy named Ron (Ronnie) Kliner. He was the son of my wife's stepfather. Ronnie was convicted of being hired to kill a young woman by the name of Dana Rinaldi, in Palatine, IL back in the mid 90's. He was hired by his friend who was married to Dana. Apparently, he did not want to be married anymore, so he hired Ronnie and another friend (a Chicago fireman) to kill Dana and then split the insurance money. Ronnie was the hitman, and the fireman was the getaway driver. The killing was especially heinous to me because Ronnie waited for her to come home and shot her point-blank as she was attempting to get into her house. As I understand it, she actually put her hands up to shield her face and he shot her through her hands into her head, a true execution. They found out about this because Ronnie was in Cook County Jail for beating up his baby momma and complaining to other inmates about not get his share of the insurance money. Someone turned him in because of his big mouth. Eventually all three of these guys got convicted, the other two got life in prison and Ronnie got the death penalty. That was commuted to life in prison back in the early 2000's by former convicted governor of Illinois George Ryan (all death row inmates were commuted to life). Of course, Ronnie claimed to be 'innocent' and had groups working to get him out of prison, but it never happened. Fittingly, he died in prison a couple of years ago. The world is a better place.