Wednesday, June 14, 2017 – FLAG DAY. Stand Up, Sing Along and Celebrate the Freedom
You’re a Grand Old Flag and Forever in Peace Shall You Wave…
You’re a Grand Old Flag was written by George M. Cohen.
Bet you did not know this. You’re a Grand Old Flag is the fight song of Oak Ridge North High School in Conroe, Texas.
Tuesday, June 13, 2017 – The Pentagon Papers – Leaking and Lying in Modern Times
Time for your daily history lesson, Boys and Girls.
On this day in history the New York Times began publishing The Pentagon Papers by Daniel Ellsberg. The Pentagon Papers were officially titled United States – Vietnam Relations, 1945–1967: A Study Prepared by the Department of Defense. The year? 1971.
“Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara created the Vietnam Study Task Force on June 17, 1967, for the purpose of writing an “encyclopedic history of the Vietnam War“. McNamara claimed that he wanted to leave a written record for historians, to prevent policy errors in future administrations. McNamara neglected to inform either President Lyndon Johnson or Secretary of State Dean Rusk about the study.”
The huge volumes of sensitive, secret, sort of secret, and real secret information about the US government was revealed to the public. Notice the appropriate word is “revealed” and not “leaked.”
For example, it revealed that presidential administrations had been and were systematically lying and/or secretly keeping activities from the media. Even more damaging, the papers revealed that the US military had secretly engaged in expanding the scope of the Vietnam Conflict.
Ellsberg was charged with conspiracy, espionage and theft of government documents. (Aka leak of such documents) Then came newly elected in 1968 Richard Nixon. The charges against Ellsberg were later dropped when Tricky Dick tried to restrain the press. Tricky Dick then ordered White House officials to dress like plumbers and to use unlawful and unethical efforts to discredit Ellsberg.
Fast forward to the end – the publication of The Pentagon Papers kicked off a new phase in politics with secret, covert and illegal (aka leaking and lying) actions by the Executive Office and all for public consumption on the social media of the day – print, radio and TV.
There were break-ins and burglaries at The Watergate Hotel and the US became embroiled in the largest constitutional crisis to date. And there were tapes of meetings with The POTUS. It all came crashing down like a House of Cards. The POTUS resigned before impeachment charges could be brought. The plumbers and lots of others went to prison. “I am not a crook” turned out to be one.
And that brings us to the present and the irony of history repeating itself. Here’s what I’m thinking. When revealed to the public The Pentagon Papers were over 1000 printed pages. Trumpet’s Twitter rants are going to be much shorter in length, but perhaps the results will be the same.
Class dismissed.
Posted in Education, humor, Misc., Native Texan, Politics
Tagged Daniel Ellsberg, Donald Trump, Richard Nixon, The Pentagon Papers, Watergate
Monday, June 12, 2017 – Make-up Monday. Beer, Bubbles, Bats and Aggies
I know I have been a slacker for a couple of days and did not post my profound and often profane thoughts for the merriment and amusement of all 48 people who might read Here’s What I’m Thinking.
So to make up here’s what I thought starting with Friday, June 9:
I thought I had enough beer for the first Regional game between Texas A&M and Davidson. But noooo, I had to drink almost all of it because it took 17 innings for the Aggies to finally get the winning run.
Saturday, June 10 – Fortunately there was enough beer left for the Aggies to defeat Davidson in the second Regional game that send the Aggies to the College World Series (CWS). Here’s to Davidson players who gave every pitch, catch, throw, hit and play their ultimate talent. Your fans were great and we hope you enjoyed Aggieland. (Except for the score parts).
To the ESPN2 Announcers: Yes, the campus of Texas A&M University is very big. Even you, Jay Walker were impressed. FYI, Jay, there is NO 10th Man! WE ARE THE 12TH Man in all sports. Next time learn more about the school you are covering. Also, the bubbles burst, so they are not a distraction to the batter!
After game I went to a bookstore and bought It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis. It was first published in October 1935. Descriptor from the book jacket: … a political satire with the chilling realistic rise of a president who becomes a dictator to save the nation from welfare cheats, sex, crime and a liberal press.” I am into reading scary horror books. I just finished 1984 and The Handmaiden’s Tale.
Sunday, June 11 – Watched LPGA and vowed never to wear an outfit like this. I do not care if she is one of the best golfers in world.
While reading scary book I got this picture from Niece # 1. 
That is Sister # 1 (wait I only have one sister) in front of a giant Louisville Slugger. It’s a baseball bat for the uninformed and sports challenged. Sister, Niece#1 and Gniece #1 are touring the sights and sounds of Gniece # 1’s home of Louisville.
Speaking of Louisville and bats, I do hope my sister is placing a curse on the baseball bats of the Louisville Cardinals – the upcoming opponent of Texas A&M. Gig ‘Em Aggies.
BTHO Louisville! WHOOP!
Friday, June 3 – Yesterday
Yesterday the internet was down. That probably accounts for the five provider trucks in my hood all day. So here is yesterday’s HWIT.
Friday, June 2, 2017 – The Great Tom Leher
Listening to Tom Leher this morning. I thought the songs were about social and political issues and happening in the 1950’s and 1960’s. I did not realize it was a dystopian futuristic view of The United States in 2017. Thank you Donald Dumbster. I’m going with Paris Agreement.
Posted in Education, humor, Misc., Native Texan, Politics
Tagged climate control, Donald Trump, Paris Agreement, Pollution, Tom Lehrer
Wednesday, May 31, 2017 – “Despite the constant negative press covfefe”
Good morning, boys and girls,
Our new word for the day is: Covfefe. It appears to be a new word for the world made up by the Tweeter in Chief. Currently there seems to be no exact definition or translation or history of usage on this planet. However, Fake News, Inc. reports it is possible this is the translation from the Russian term “covfefenski” which means “highly disliked reporters and people smarter than me.” (sic)
Other unknown and unidentified and made up sources think the word is proof the alien Pod People from the Planet Denial were successful when they said “Take me to your leader.”
Other more credible sources, including but not limited to the FBI believe the word “covfefe” means “The Truth is Out There.” This slogan worked well for the agency when files were known as the X-Files.
Like most of the world we really do not know what President Twitter meant in his morning twitter rant. But since he is giving his cell number to everyone, I will try to contact him later. I hope he does not have one of those burner phones.
Meanwhile, how about a nice tune for Ivanka and Jared today? Here’s Call Me, by Blondie. Such fun lyrics. Roll me in designer sheets too. And call me for your lover’s alibi. I think the lyrics are now available in Chinese.
Posted in Education, humor, Native Texan, Politics
Tagged Blondie, Blondie Call Me, covfefe, Ivanka Trump, Jared Trump
May 30, 2017 – Turn Out the Lights; the Party’s Over!
“Turn out the lights; the party’s over;
They say that all good things must end;
Turn out the lights: the party’s over;
And tomorrow starts the same old thing again.”
I doubt that the wonderful country singer Ray Price was talking about the government. Yesterday was sine die for the 85th Texas Legislature. The day of adjournment until called again. Or until Governor Abbott checks his vacation calendar.
So how did the 85th Legislature end? In protest of SB 4 – Immigration. There was the 3 AM singing at the Governor’s Mansion protests. A Republican House member called Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to remove protestors in the capitol. Note: these protesters in red should not be confused with the women dressed in red as in The Hand Maiden’s Tale. These were in The Senate Gallery. These and others were protesting almost every piece of legislation. In fact, it is difficult to know your protestors in Austin without a program.
Then there was the floor shoving match in the House of Representatives which resulted in a threatening language to a colleague with words like “gun” and “bullet” and “your head” in the same sentence. This was followed by the Governor signing new gun legislation. Do not go ballistic; I happen to like guns. Just saying PR people need to do better at press releasing timing.
And that is just the tip of the dome. According to The Houston Chronicle, it will cost about $800,000 for one special session. But it will be so worth it for Dan, The Evangelical to lead the Bathroom Brigade of Buffoonery into Texas Public Schools. Because there is one thing every Texas school child needs to know and that is where to go to the bathroom. Biology textbooks will soon show diagrams that show is it is not just “the outside” junk that counts in gender, but also “the inside junk.” We all know the only places that transgender people hang out are public schools.Designating a special place to urinate in schools should be the highest priority of the Texas legislature.
Here’s what I’m thinking. When Dan the Evangelical gets his way and the idiots are called to leave their villages, the Texas bathroom bill will pass. Therefore every bathroom that is designated “The Different One” should have a poster size photo of Dan, the Evangelical falling on his sword.
Keep your voter registration card current.
Posted in Education, humor, Misc., Native Texan, Politics
Tagged Dan Patrick, Texas bathroom bill, Texas Legislatue, Texas SB 4, transgender bathrooms
Monday, May 29, 2017 – Memorial Day OKC TAMU WCWS and Sine Die, but Hold Your Bladders!
Today let us pause at 3:00 PM local time for a moment of silence for all who sacrificed for our freedom to pursue life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. You are not forgotten.
Thank you vets that my pursuit of happiness is headed toward Oklahoma City (OKC) to see the Fighting Texas Aggie (TAMU) softball team win the Women’s College World Series (WCWS). No, I am not going. There are certain advantages to attending. For example,
Of course there are advantages to staying home. For example, (in order they come to mind)
The WCSW begins in Oklahoma City on Thursday, June 1 on ESPN. FYI – These ain’t your church softball games. Watch some incredible athletes. Bet you haven’t seen girls throw like this before!
But wait, the lusty month of May is not yet over – especially for public schools. There are still more buses the public institution can be thrown under.
Today is Sine Die or the last day of the Texas Legislature. 
But hold your bladders. We, Texans, still do not know where to go to the bathroom. So Dan, The Evangelical, is calling for a Special Legislative Session. Of course, he is blaming it on the Speaker of the House, Cajones Straus because Speaker Straus will not play with stupid legislation or those who support it. This of course is the Abbott and Castello Show of Texas. Could we just sine die both of you without assigning a day for a further meeting or hearing?
Am I the only one who finds irony in tax payers’ dollars funding a special legislative session regarding property taxes and where to potty places in public schools?
Thursday, May 25, 2017 – Goodness. Gracious. Great Balls of Fire!
I found this item on Twitter this morning from the Austin American Statesman. I want to ensure my friend, Howard sees it. Howard, if you do not have a Loud Mouth Billy Bass fish for your roosters, let me know and I will get you one, deliver it to you and take pictures of the roosters’ responses. And that is only the first part of the story below.
I also want to ensure my friend, Joan Allen sees this item. Joan, I wonder if there is a demonstration of an oral castration of hogs. Is this Castell Festival sponsored by R. Perky?
Christmas is six months from today. Just so you know… I do not want to find tickets to the testival in my stocking.
Anyway, click on the link for a good Thursday laugh. Thought for the day: Don’t order the cow fries or mountain oysters.
Austin Statesman (@statesman) tweeted at 9:30 AM on Thu, May 25, 2017:
The Castell Testicle Festival was last weekend: Nuts, we missed it … https://t.co/kMT8ZQuvqb https://t.co/uU7Aiv4UsV
(https://twitter.com/statesman/status/867749674337398784?s=09)
Posted in humor, Misc., Native Texan, Politics
Monday, May 22, 2017 – Global Update and Texas Public School News
Good Morning Civics Class.
Our vocabulary word for the day is: ultracrepidarian. (uhl-truh-krep-i-DAIR- ee-uh-n) It is an adjective noting or pertaining to a person, who criticizes, judges or gives advice outside the area of his or her expertise.
Let us explore some examples of persons who might be described as ultracrepidarian.
At the global level The United States’ ultracrepidarian Potus is sword fighting with Saudi royalty. Talk about sabre rattling. They all went to the Toby Keith Testosterone Concert, part of the Hand Maiden’s Tale Tour. Meanwhile, Malaria the Silent and Blondie Anorexia are showing a great deal of leg for an Arab country that covers their women in sheets.
I really do not know what to think about that glowing orb thing. It is creepy. I think it is three billionaires contacting the Mother Ship for further details. It is also possible the sheiks told POTUS it was the newest thing for penile dysfunction and is available for only $19.95 (easily converted to rubles) via the Internet.
Today Trumpet is to visit the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Fake New, Inc. reports he is exploring moving the wall to Laredo, Texas or somewhere in Arizona. FYI – Do not even think about putting the words “wall” and “Big Bend” in the same sentence.
“But in Texas the talk turned to outlaws, like Willie, Waylon and me.” (David Allen Coe. 1976) Other outlaws now include, but are not limited to: the entire Texas Legislature. What is happening in The Lone Star State of Texas?
There is one week of public schools left in the year and one week left in the Texas Legislature. Of course that fat lady is not warming up to sing and Saint Dan, The Evangelical can still hold bills in the Senate hostage and call special sessions until he gets his way. But he might be content to throw the entire public school system and its children under the big yellow legislative bus.
First, the bathroom bill. Am I reading this correctly? This now only applies to K-12 public schools? And the lower chamber pot (The House) stuck this in the bill as amendment for the requirements for an ISD’s for emergency preparations?
The Texas House passed bathroom restrictions for transgender students.
…An amendment was added to school districts’ emergency plans and added language requiring K-12 schools provide single-stall restrooms and other public areas to a student “who does not wish” to use facilities designated by “biological sex.”
What happened to “local control?” or as we say in Texas, “by God Independent School District.” Is there funding in the school finance bill to make these accommodations or is this an “unfunded mandate?” Why not add an amendment to make the “other bathroom” a pay toilet and name it the Dan Patrick Potty ? If you are going to discriminate, then go all out. This might pay for the required upgrades the school has to make or at least increase custodial pay for those who have to clean up when everyone pees on the floor.
School Finance. The upper chamber pot did approve the school finance bill. But only if it included Voucher Language. Let me translate. If your child is disabled you can use my tax dollars that take away from the public school system and can be used for private schooling. It also reads as though my tax dollars can go to parents educating their children at home.
The Senate put a voucher-like program in House Bill 21, the school finance bill.
The upper chamber early Monday morning approved a bill that would simplify the formulas for funding public schools and allow parents of kids with disabilities to take state money to leave the public system for private schools or homeschooling. HB 21 now includes a provision the House hates and Patrick wants: state subsidies for parents who want to send their children with disabilities to private schools or need money for services to educate them at home.
In summary, here’s what I’m thinking. Please protect the public school system from ultracrepidarian politicians. And please protect all Texas children and especially those in foster care, who are transgendered, and with disabilities from the Texas Legislature.
Posted in Education, humor, Misc., Politics
Tagged Dan Patrick, Donald Trump, public schools, satire, School finance, Texas bathroom bill, Texas Legislature, TX HB 21
Friday, May 19, 2017 – Stella! Hey Stella! A Street Car Named Desire in 37 Words.
NOLA – 2017 – Copyright Delia R. Duffey 2017
They told me to take a streetcar named Desire and then transfer to one called Cemeteries and ride six blocks and get off at Elysian Fields.
Stella! Hey Stella!
I’ve always depended on the kindness of strangers.
The Desire Line Streetcar is named after Desire Street in New Orleans. The Pulitzer Prize winning play by Tennessee Williams is Southern Gothic at its finest. New Orleans. Crazy people.
In the South we are proud of our crazy people. In fact, we like to sit on the front porch with them and have cocktails. Howeveh, many of us do not like to elect crazy people president of the United States. We prefer that governor of a state is plenty politics for crazy people.
Here’s what I’m thinking.
I bet when Trumpet said “I’m going to drain the swamp,” he forgot to check and see how many alligators lived there.”
I doubt Trumpet will repeat Blanche’s line as she is carted off to the looney bin. But he could tweet it at 3:00 AM.
Posted in Education, humor, Misc., Native Texan, Politics
Tagged Donald Trump, humor, NOLA, Streetcar Named Desire
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