Bake’mm Bagels

07/16/2024

“The first [truth] is that political violence, of any kind, is horrific and obscene. Despite the widespread moral confusion evident on social media, the attempted assassination of former President Trump was simply a tragedy for our country. And in response to this truth, we must do whatever we can to restore civility and basic decency to our politics.

But there is a second truth, now all but unutterable, and it is this: No one has done more to destroy civility and basic decency in our politics than Donald Trump. No one, in fact, has done more to increase the threat of political violence. Unlike any president in modern history, Trump brings out the worst in both his enemies and his friends. His influence on American life seems almost supernaturally pernicious.

The problem for Democrats is that any observation of this second truth—a truth that seems likely to darken and expand in the aftermath of yesterday’s attack—will now be condemned as rancorous and immoral—or worse, as an incitement to further political violence.

Every necessary criticism of Trump’s authoritarianism, fondness for dictators, fraudulence, personal corruption, hostility to the rule of law, and fathomless dishonesty—will be mistaken for (or cynically construed as) a symptom of the very political disease we must cure. Telling the truth about the actual risks that Trump and Trumpism still pose to our democracy just became much more difficult.”

Sam Harris, July 14, 2024

07/12/2024

For some this might really resonate…

From Brooklyn Dad Defiant
When I cast my vote for President Biden, I wasn't expecting much. I just wanted trump out of office.

I knew he was old.
I knew he had a stutter.
I knew he had a rep for "gaffes."
I didn't care. Just wanted trump gone.

Four years later, things are different.
I wasn't expecting that President Biden would be the most legislatively successful President in my lifetime.

I wasn't expecting him to help expand NATO.
I wasn't expecting him to lower insulin & inhalers.
I wasn't expecting him to create & recover 15m jobs.
I wasn't expecting him to bring manufacturing back.
I wasn't expecting him to forgive student debt.

But he did ALL those things, and more.
He surpassed my expectations by a lot.
And he has more planned for 2025-2028.

He's not a master orator,
He doesn't move so smoothly
But neither did FDR from his wheelchair.

Meanwhile, trump is STILL a threat.
He wants to be a dictator.
He wants to stay out of prison.
He wants revenge on his enemies.
He wants to take away from the poor and middle class and give to the ultra wealthy.
His Project 2025 will enable a national abortion ban to criminalize women seeking safe and legal abortions.
His Project 2025 will take away the rights of our LGBTQ family and friends.
His Project 2025 will transform the government into a loyalty pledge, not to America but to him ALONE.
We might never have another free election.

THAT is what is at stake in this election.

We can continue to progress with Biden policies, or we can let trump destroy democracy as we know it.

If you're looking for someone who's young and athletic, go watch a fu***ng movie.

I'll take the old guy who needs a nap while saving democracy over the old guy trying to overthrow democracy who needs a legal team.

04/03/2024

Enough is enough. The actions of Netanyahu in Gaza must stop. I’ve been respectful of Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas terrorists and their attack on innocent Israelis on Oct 7– I cannot continue to be silent. Enough is enough. US support of Israel must end. Stop funding the genocide of Gaza. Stop funding the massacre of aid workers. Stop looking away as Israel continues to expand occupation in the West Bank.

Please support the aid organizations working to ease (if even possible) the suffering in Gaza.

Discover and donate to highly rated charities providing disaster relief and recovery services for affected communities in Israel and Gaza.

03/29/2024

Update: I am home from rehab (UVA Encompass Health) where I spent the last eleven days in occupational and physical therapy— learning how to use a walker to move about, given the weight limit on my left side where most of the eight crush fractures to my pelvis are. My right flank, knee, and foot are still very swollen, though I can’t visualize how the car made its journey across my body… probably better not to over analyze. I am alive and my recovery, while long and arduous, will eventually be complete.
A huge shout out to the therapy team, nurses, caregivers and techs who do their best everyday and night. It can’t be easy. Thanks to everyone who has sent and continues to send best wishes, cards, flowers and food. I am a little better with each and every thought and healing vibe coming my way. Special thanks to my wife Cynthia Viejo # who goes above and beyond (I hope she doesn’t kill me for being a pain in the ass sometimes).

03/05/2024

Dear Virginia— primary today is open. No matter your affiliation, pick up a republican ballot and vote for Nikki Haley.

02/01/2024

Florida, Florida why-fore art thou?

"...she believes the book may be "harmful to minors." She was worried that if a "5-year-old picks up this book and has never seen a picture of a pen*s… [t]he parent wouldn’t be able to discuss this with the child."

WTF? If parents cant talk to their children about pen*ses, they've got bigger problems than these books.

Since its initial publication in 1970, millions of children have read In The Night Kitchen, the classic picture book by celebrated author Maurice Sendak. The book is about a young boy who has a surreal dream about baking a cake that needs to be finished by morning. It was named a

07/24/2023

LaManior for our last day in England. Luxury on steroids and organic farm to table dining by the preeminent Chef Raymond Blanc.

07/23/2023

Markers date back to the 1200s at this village church at Rousham House & Gardens. A millennia of history.

07/20/2023

The only photographs permitted were at the car park— King Charles is quite the garden enthusiast.

07/17/2023

Two beautiful gardens— Borde Hill and High Beeches. We rest here for the night. Tomorrow’s a spa day. Cheerio…

07/16/2023

A great day, though windy, touring the gardens at Great Dixter (the oldest timber built house in England— first recorded in 1220 with the earliest surviving bit from 1450), the English Channel, and back to Rye.

07/15/2023

The trunks of KewGardens