I have declared a National Day of Mourning at my house, because an idiot is returning to the White House. He hired some old rappers to perform, get their money, and leave. I don’t wonder much who Dave Chappelle voted for in November.

Michelle Obama will not attend. Me neither. We have our reasons.

The next four years will be difficult. Many people will suffer greatly, including those who naively believe they will suddenly be able to buy groceries, and housing.

Frederick Douglass wrote about the deep division among the people after the Civil War. Perhaps James Baldwin was accurate in referring to “these yet to be United States.” Perhaps starting a “new nation” by professing a love of freedom while engaging in genocide and slavery has wreaked indelible damage on the national character.

It seems like a good day to STFH.

Long White Con: The Biggest Score of his Life (2011) by Iceberg Slim, describes the well-known fact that a mark must be at least slightly greedy, to fall for the con.

U.S. voters have been the subject of a great con job, the apparent promise that the White faithful shall get their birthright, that White men shall have good-paying jobs, White women will be able to stay home and have White babies, that immigrants of color will be held back from White neighborhoods, and we will all be able to pretend, temporarily, that this is a White nation, from sea to sea, like the olden days.

Alas, it is already quite clear that a clown has been re-elected; he has no vision except to install his buddies in a clown cabinet, and plot revenge against his enemies; and Congress is locked into the same pattern of political favor-mongering, with no concern for the lives of the people.

Let us gather strength for a short time, before surviving the next four years.

I did not vote for Trump.

I have no control over anyone else’s vote.

I do not wear a blue bracelet.

…

With no apology to JAMES BALDWIN.

I tried to watch “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” and “The Menendez Brothers.” I only managed to get halfway through each, as the story is too triggering for me.

There is a well-known pattern of abuse which begins with sexual abuse at a young age, then changes to severe verbal, physical and emotional abuse. There is another horrible human dynamic which results in two survivors getting involved, without ever discussing their issues. The children of these pairings are in grave danger. Both patterns occurred in my own family.

When abuse occurs, is denied, is buried, is silenced, the process can generate intense rage. Males may turn this rage outward; females may often turn it on themselves. Then the course is set to duplicate the abuse in yet another generation.

Society must do more than merely parrot the idea that not everyone acts out their abuse. Thankfully, this is true. Children need adults outside the family to talk to, as the family dynamic is too strong, and too firmly rooted, for a child to combat on their own.

Last week I was in New York City with a friend of mine, Delilah. Delilah is tall, beautiful, and definitely Black. All week she wore a baseball cap with a head wrap underneath, hiding her grey hair, so she looked much younger than me.

Within five hours, I was confronted four times by African-Americans in their twenties, who were exceedingly polite and gave approval to Delilah, then showed me hostility. I didn’t know why, exactly. The current presidential election might be making people uneasy; P.Diddy was in jail; the mayor, Eric Adams, was arraigned that morning on corruption and bribery charges. Or they thought Delilah and I were a butch lesbian couple. Or I looked old, or perhaps like a Trump voter.

Every time I looked at them, analyzing their behavior, motivation, mental state, possible childhood trauma, and family background. Every time they quickly disappeared. It was disturbing, and I spent the rest of my vacation in East Orange, Hoboken, and Montclair, where we were treated in a more friendly manner.

On the other hand, in Chatham, New Jersey, I was overcharged by $3 on a small item (clearly marked) at a novelty store. Just another greedy small business owner, or was it because of Delilah? I will never know.

“Keep Sharp” (2021) by Sanjay Gupta, MD, provides scientific support for the well-known recommendations to exercise, eat fruits and vegetables, and sleep well.

The rate of Alzheimer’s/cognitive decline is increasing, as the world population ages. Clinical trials of treatments designed to attack beta-amyloid plaques have largely failed. We need healthy versions of beta-amyloid and tau protein. If these components become damaged, they can misfold into sticky clumps, morphing into rope-like structures that interlock like the teeth of a zipper, sealed and difficult to pry apart.

Some people have plaques, but no cognitive decline. They may have a “cognitive reserve” which resists the effects of Alzheimer’s for a longer time.

Toxic substances such as lead, tetanus toxin, mercury, pesticides, insecticides, substances in plastic, food additives, and chemicals in general household goods, may increase the chances of developing dementia. Gupta warns against the use of benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax) and OTC formulas such as benadryl, Nyquil, and PM products, all of which increase the risk of dementia.

Dr. Jeffrey J. Iliff (2012, Oregon Health Sciences) describes the “glymphatic system” of the brain, where sleep allows the system to cleanse brain cells and scrub away metabolic refuse. Dr. Gary Small (2018, UCLA) found significant improvement in memory and attention abilities after 18 months of taking 90 mg of curcumin twice daily. Curcumin is a component of turmeric, widely used in East Indian curry.

Self care now can make your brain behave better for a longer time.

I went to a club, Milk, on Saturday night, for a birthday party. I’m a senior citizen, and the honoree, Ernie, is even older than I am. I had to be helped up to the stage. I have certain rules: one foot on the floor at all times; Aunty can get low, but she can’t get back up. It is still fun to dance, even with restrictions.

It is important to give support. The LGBTQ+ community here in Utah is frequently targeted to whip up fear. Transgender persons are told they are delusional, and should be eradicated.

Sexyy Red is targeted for other reasons, equally ridiculous. After 50 years of male rappers saying everything possible about women, sex, and violence, it is still frightening for a woman to speak honestly about her own body. This goes back to the idea that women should be clean, and provide an example of high morality, to encourage men to get better. Men should encourage themselves to get better.

As I left the club early, like 11:00 pm, Sexyy Red could be heard, loud and clear. Give us your thoughts, Ms. Red, all over everywhere, even in the far reaches of Salt Lake City. We appreciate you.

Powder Mountain is becoming a public/private hybrid, reserving thousands of its 12,000+ skiable acreage for private homeowners who can afford to pay $2 million+ for a vacant lot, and $30,000 to $100,000 in annual membership fees.

Reed Hastings (along with his $5.98 billion) is carving the dangerous slopes of public demands and private expectations. Hastings has two seats on the six-person board of directors, and has pledged $100 million of his own money to make improvements. Weber County is receiving regular payments on the $18 billion bond it issued to support the project. General manager Kevin Mitchell admires Hastings’ abiliity to make decisions “almost unilaterally.” (Salt Lake Tribune, 9/6/23).

Hastings wants a profit on both public and private sectors, so despite earlier promises, has made public lifts private, and removed the previous cap of 1,500 season passes. Prices have already increased up to 862% (Salt Lake Tribune, 3/29/24). The day pass limit of 1,500 is still in place, with “dynamic pricing” to be decided later.

Powder Mountain may remain “public forever,” as promised by Hastings, but with steadily increasing costs, and a crowded public space, while private owners can delight in more fresh powder while visiting. Summer mountain biking is on hold for now, and the El Doce race has been cancelled.

When people show you who they are, believe them. Maya Angelou

Andrew P. Altholz, California Bar No. 152713, was disbarred in February, 2024, after the State Bar Court found he stole over $300,000 from his client trust account.

I used to work with Andy. After one project, I sent him a bill for $300, which he never paid. I didn’t like his phony voice, his fake smile, or his moccasins (shudder), so I never spoke to him again and refused all further inquiries. Never trust someone who asks you to do more work, without paying their outstanding bill.

I’m glad I never got caught up in his schemes, and I feel sorry for his clients who lost their money. It is very wrong for an attorney to steal money from clients.

Where did the money go? I really don’t know. Whatever it was, it wasn’t worth it.

Honesty is the best policy.

-Baltimore Afro-American, May 30, 1936

Carter G. Woodson viciously attacked W.E.B. DuBois for allegedly stealing his ideas for an Encyclopedia Africana, although Woodson claimed his ideas originated in 1921, and DuBois started his plans in 1909. (www.blackpast.org) Woodson received his Harvard degree after DuBois, and professional jealousy may have been involved.

DuBois had other problems, especially his reputation as a radical, pushing his own agenda. The Carnegie Corporation, and others, failed to provide the $225,000 estimated cost of the project. DuBois eventually moved to Ghana in 1961, and died in 1963, before his project was ever realized.

Three volumes of biographies were published in Ghana before the end of the 20th century, a partial fulfillment. “African American Lives” (Gates and Higginbotham, eds.) was published in 2004. The online Encyclopedia was established, and its progeny thrive today.

Writers can often think ahead of their time. Many writers feel the conflict between writing what they want to write, and writing to please others. (Virginia Woolf) DuBois didn’t get everything he wanted, but his writings, and reputation, are long-lasting. May his ghost be satisfied.