October, 2020

"That's how I really feel." Durand Jones & The Indications (2020)*

You have found XP's Terrific October Blog. As always, thank you for visiting. America remains in crisis - we have issued a Call To Action on October 22nd. Keep checking back!

We're not gonna try to tell you who to vote for (okay, we probably will try), we're not gonna remind you to vote (we probably will), and we're not going to try to lecture you on how important this election is (um, we might actually do that). You have already decided for whom you will vote, you will vote of course, and you certainly understand everything that is at stake in the election, right? 

The Nitty Gritty

LIVE Coronavirus Pandemic Counter

Thursday, October 1st @ 8:00 am PST 211,805 Dead in Donald Trump's America.

UPDATE Wednesday, October 7th @ 10:30 am PST 216,160 under Pence's COVID Task Force

UPDATE Monday, October 19th @ 7:30 am PST 224,757 with the Republicans in charge

October's Words-Of-The-Month

Hypocrite [hip-uh-krit] Noun 1. A person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs. 2. A person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, especially one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie his or her public statements. Real-life examples include: Mitch McConnell (The New Republic), Lindsey Graham (CNN), Donald Trump (NY Daily News), and Republicans (Facebook). Find Synonyms at Thesaurus.com

Autocracy [ôˈtäkrəsē] Noun A system of government by one person with absolute power. 1. A country, state, or society governed by one person with absolute power. 2. Domineering rule or control. Google Dictionary

HOT!  Election & Debate Props

Will Donald Trump Or Joe Biden Win The 2020 Presidential Election?

Will Kamala Harris Make Mike Pence Cry During The VP Debate?

UPDATE Thursday, October 8th, 2020 @ 6:10 am PST Kamala Harris did not make Mike Pence cry during the debate so if you had "No," you won this prop. People without feelings don't cry.

Thursday, October 1st, 2020 @ 8:00 am PST XPB is pleased to offer not one, but two props for the 2020 US Presidential Election. First, who will win, Trump (+145) or Biden (-175)? If you would like to signup for BetUs to invest in this prop, please contact me and I will refer you (you get a great bonus, I get a great referral fee). The second prop is, um, not real and just for fun (we gotta find some kind of fun in this mess). XP predicts Joe Biden will win the election (-140)* and Kamala Harris will make Pence cry (-350). Good luck!

NEW BONUS Prop: Will Trump Die Before The Election? Yes -120 No +130

"NOTE: Odds are subject to change. Current/updated odds are at OddsShark

FBI Public Service Announcement

I Remember...

Thursday, October 1st, 2020 @ 8:00 am PST I'm old, but every now and then I can still remember a few things. I'm sharing here a memory of a past event that seems pertinent now. I'm of course changing names, dates, times, locations, and any other possible identifying information for the protection of others. There is no relationship between anything in this memory and any event or person, living or dead.

Once, in the last twenty years, I was invited to visit and to spend the weekend with a coworker at his huge spread near the coast. He was a big landowner, a very rich person, a true One-Percenter. I had come to consider him to be a friend as we had worked closely together for a few years. It sounded like a fun getaway weekend so I said, "Sure, it sounds like fun." I showed up early on the Saturday afternoon. We went out four-wheeling for awhile, exploring his vast territory. Later, we came back to the estate, enjoyed some cold beverages, and started barbecuing wild boar.

Then he brought out his arsenal. He brought out at least five weapons. There were a few rifles, including a .30-06, .270, and a .22 caliber. Then there was the AR-15. Apparently it was time for some extreme entertainment.

He encouraged me to have some fun shooting. He told me his land was filled with "varmints" and it was true - they were everywhere - gophers, rabbits, and squirrels. He told me I should "try" to shoot one. "See if you can," he chided.

I would estimate it to be about 150 to 200 yards across the ravine. On the vast hillside, there they were, probably about 100 or more of these "varmints," just standing there next to their holes and/or skampering around. My ex-friend repeated, "Go ahead, see if you can shoot one. They're just varmints, you'll be doing me a favor." He sat back in his chair and began reading his paper while sipping on his drink, apparently expecting this folly to last awhile.

So I took the AR-15, carefully rested it on the wooden fence post, and aimed through the top-of-the-line scope about 1-1/2 inches above this poor varmint's head to account for drop. I of course aimed right between the eyes as I wanted no suffering. I gently squeezed the trigger, watched the varmint drop (well, to be more accurate, it was violently slammed down into the ground), then I safely returned the weapon to rest on the fence.

After I fired, he didn't even look up from his newspaper, he laughed and said, "Go ahead, try again, we have all day!" He had expected me to wildly fire off hundreds of rounds, madly spraying the hill with lead, I guess. I said, "I don't have to, I got him, right between the eyes. Remember, I'm from Wyoming, I know how to shoot, and I only need one shot." He looked across the ravine, witnessed the sprawled carcass, and looked at me.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION...

Two Possible Post-Election Scenarios

As always, I hate to be a bummer but our problems aren't going to magically end on November 4th. It could be a long winter. Related links: Denazification (Wikipedia); Trump's Executive Order (FreePress.net); Trump's Executive Order (whitehouse.gov). Photo credit: DOD/Public Domain.

2020 Best In The West Jet Rally

Saturday, October 3rd, 2020 @ 5:15 am PST I plan to attend this annual RC event this week. I've been aware of it for years but I've never been able to fit it in to my schedule. It's only about a 20 minute drive from my house and it could be fun. Link to the event page (RCFlightDeck.com)

UPDATE I went to the Rally on Thursday. I saw three jets flying, it was kind of cool. There weren't very many people there, probably due to the pandemic, and it was kind of anticlimactic. There will probably be more people and jets on the weekend.

Monday, October 5th, 2020 @ 10:50 am PST I've recently retired and I can tell you your Medicare, Retirement, and Social Security systems and processes have brought daily surprises and much agony trying to wade through the red tape and bureaucracy. One would logically think that all the new retiree would need to do is press a button, write a letter, and sign a document or two and, viola, off into the sunset. But no. I started enrolling in these programs over a year ago and I'm still struggling to get all the i's dotted and t's crossed. Maybe I'll share a few horror stories in the future but today I want to briefly talk about your Social Security Windfall Elimination and Government Pension Offset Provisions for Public Employees (WEP).

Now I'm not a lawyer or a politician or a historian so I'm not going to try to explain all the specifics (I'm still trying to understand all this mess myself); instead, I'll provide pertinent links for the interested reader. And you probably aren't interested in this topic unless it directly applies to you. It applies to people who have worked both in the public and government sectors. According to Federal News Network, [it is] "estimated to impact 1.9 million senior citizens reducing their monthly social security benefits by as much as $480. For many that is a huge financial hit."

Before I entered the pretend world of education (government), I spent several years working in the real world. I worked long enough to earn a monthly social security check and a retirement from education. Apparently, someone thought this was bad that I could receive what I rightfully earned: a pension from both. So what do you think they did? They invented this WEP process to take away half (almost all) of what I rightfully earned from Social Security. And they'll do it to you too.

In real language (again, I'm not an economist), let's use some fictional data to explain. Let say, for example, I was to receive $1000 per month from social security (some earn a lot more and some earn a lot less - this number is just for illustrative purposes)... do you think I'm gonna get that, my rightfully earned monthly social security check? Nope, I'm gonna get a call from someone at SSI who is going to gleefully notify me that my check goes from $1000 to $500 because it's a "windfall" or something. I worked my ass off for forty years earning not one, but two, pensions and now I'm gonna be punished for that. And then this person who obviously loves his job is gonna tell me about $300 of that remaining $500 is gonna have to pay for my Medicare. And then I'm gonna have to enroll in a new private plan (of about $20 per month out of social security) to pay for my life-sustaining meds because apparently Medicare only covers emergency hospitalizations and hospice or similar things. And then I'm going to have to pay about $150 a month to an outside vendor to get Plan F or G or something and that plan covers, uh, everything, well, except vision, dental, and meds.

I guess I'm not the only one who is a little bit steamed about this. Texas apparently tried to initiate some legislation seeking fairness by eliminating the WEP - I don't know where they are at in that process (but obviously WEP is still here). I'm definitely going to write a few letters to my Representative (I know, that probably won't change anything and it's probably a moot point). I hate to state the obvious but I've been worried they [you-know-who] would take away my social security... but not to worry, they've already taken it away. I have healthcare that is not covered through Medicare but instead a private vendor - but it's not cheap - it covers almost everything except, well, vision, dental, and pharmacy. And I'm still signing forms, visiting government websites, and making desperate calls trying to get this all straight. I don't know who's to blame for this mess, but I'm going to keep gathering information. I've only been officially retired for about three months and already -- okay, I'll stop there for now. What a great system America has. In addition to many other necessary changes, the Windfall Elimination Provisions needs to go.

Troubled Sleep

Friday, October 9th, 2020 @ 1:30 am PST Here I am, up in the middle of the night. Troubled sleep. I have a bad feeling about today. I'll go back to bed and try to get some sleep.

UPDATE Sunday, October 11th, 2020 @ 6:15 am PST Well, Friday didn't end up being that bad, not worse than any other day under the present president.

Boating Day

Introducing...

Monday, October 12th, 2020 @ 6:00 pm PST Okay, quite obviously Amy Coney Barrett will be railroaded into the Supreme Court by the Republicans. The Democrats, no matter how hard they try, simply don't have enough votes to stop this from happening. I'm not going to argue as to whether she's the best or the worst or anywhere in between pick of all time - history will make that determination. History will also document, for all time, the Republican's hypocrisy. Five years ago they argued (and won) that Obama couldn't replace anyone on the Supreme Court during the last year of his presidency - now they're putting their pawn in place with just a few weeks to go in Trump's presidency - because they can. I understand both parties place SCOTUS judges along partisan lines. More than anything I resent the lying and hypocrisy of the Republicans. On a side note, I once thought "Justice is Blind." I guess I've been living in a bubble all these years; obviously there is no justice - only the Republican or Democrat political judgements by the court. We won't forget. WTF.

XPB Press Release

Monday, October 12th, 2020 @ 6:35 pm PST Negotiations have been ongoing for the past month but have a hit a snag with Miss D's team walking out early this morning. According to a source who reported under the condition of anonymity, the main point of contention remains that Miss D wants to name names while the XPB insists that names and events must remain confidential. The source said both sides seem unwilling to compromise on this issue at this time. We will continue to provide updates as they occur.

The Twenty Percenters...

With up to 20 percent of American males having been diagnosed with ADHD (to this day there remains no scientific or medical proof that this condition even exists and if it does, there is no reliable and valid method of assessing it) and placed on Adderall or other such medications, how many “future Trumps” are being trained? Women keep asking, “Where have all the good men gone?” Well, they were placed on meds at age seven, usually by their mothers. For the record, I have never, not even once, diagnosed anyone with ADHD nor have I ever prescribed or recommended medications (psychiatrists, doctors, mental health therapists, social workers, and some school nurses [and a few others] are the ones who routinely feel free to do that). Plenty of societies (such as the French) don’t “believe” in ADHD and therefore don’t drug up 20% of their population. And indeed, ADHD remains a “belief” and except for the placebo effect, benefits of pharmaceuticals have not yet been proven effective. I could go on with a lot more but the bottom line is, no matter what I say, no matter what the research says, everyone is gonna believe what they’re gonna believe. I’ll be back again in ten years repeating the same message. See you then. Have a great day.

A Few Links...

Evidence and Belief in ADHD from NCBI (National Center for Biotechnical Information)

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) generates controversy. Some believe that it does not exist, whereas others see the reluctance of clinicians to diagnose and treat it as denying effective health care to children. Epidemiological studies show that 3-5% of children of school age may be classified as having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. NO VALIDATED DIAGNOSTIC TEST EXISTS TO TO CONFIRM THE CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1118810/

In Real Language https://www.xpsych.com/inreallanguage.htm

Drugging of the American Boy https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a32858/drugging-of-the-american-boy-0414/

Side Effects https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325188#uncommon-side-effects

There are a lot of issues with prescribing meds… you can read the entire APA article from 2012 but the issues remain the same (or just read the fine print [links] at the end of the article, which nicely sum up everything) https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/06/prescribing

More research needed on the effects medications have on children

APA treatment guidelines are being formed

“Five to one baby, one in five… no one here gets out alive.” Jim Morrison**

CALL TO ACTION

You Got A Better Idea?

After Trump Comments, Top Army General Defends Military’s Leaders

Reuters, September 8th, 2020

Military leaders would only recommend sending troops in to combat when it was in the interest of national security or as a last resort.

"The military should remain out of politics, especially this close to an election."

US Army Chief of Staff General James McConville

Areas of disagreement have also arisen between Trump and Pentagon leaders including Trump’s threats to deploy active duty troops in response to a wave of protests against racial injustice and police brutality. Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Army General Mark Milley, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, both oppose. Meanwhile, retired generals who Trump initially appointed to senior positions in his administration but later replaced, including his former Chief of Staff John Kelley, and Defense Security Jim Maddus, have remained silent.

XPB's CALL TO ACTION:

Thursday, October 22nd, 2020 @ 8:30 am PST

I’m going to ask for something to happen that I really don’t want to happen.

I’m going to advocate for something for which I don’t want to advocate.

I wish I didn’t have to do this.

I’m forwarding an idea that’s a bad idea but it’s maybe the best idea.

It shouldn’t need to happen but it needs to happen...

The military needs to take over the White House on November 4th, 2020.

There, I said it.

Call it what you want, call it a coup if you want. Maybe it is a coup.

It’s a coup.

Yes, I’m calling for a military coup of the White House.

It's in the interest of national security. It's a last resort.

It doesn’t have to involve violence and I hope it doesn’t.

Hopefully it will be a peaceful coup but there may be no choice.

Just take control long enough to enable and insure a smooth transition to the new administration.

Don’t overstay your welcome, just stay long enough to protect the Constitution.

The military will never turn their weapons on the citizens, but will always protect the Constitution, right?

Just protect peace in the streets and communities.

Make sure Trump and his family aren’t allowed to flee the country before facing charges.

Round up the fascists, terrorists, supremacists, and members of the present administration for trial.

We know who they are, this mission shouldn’t take that long.

This mission should be accomplished by January 21st.

I never thought I’d be the one calling for a military coup in America.

Like I say, I wish I didn’t have to do this, but I never foresaw this kind of a situation, did you?

But it’s better than the alternative - allowing a defeated Trump to remain in control until January 21st.

That can’t happen.

You got a better idea?

Gen. Mark Milley’s Keynote Address to National Defense University Class of 2020 Graduates

Joint Staff Public Affairs, June 11th, 2020

“We have much work to do.”

“We cannot tolerate anything that divides us.”

"We come from the people of the nation."

The US military finds itself in a conflict - an urgent existential crisis: either remain apolitical or uphold the Constitution. It has to be one or the other -- but it can't be both.

Make the right choice. The XPB thanks you in advance for your service.

Terrific content is always being added... be sure to check back often. See you soon!

Letters To The Editor

Any opinions expressed are opinions only and are not necessarily approved or endorsed by, um, anyone else, including the XP Blog Editor. On the other hand, any facts expressed or implied are indeed, facts. Just as is true for everything else in this world, you get to decide what you believe is opinion, what is fact, what is research based, and if and how they may or may not all fit together, but a fact is still a fact. Please note that just because something is research based doesn't necessarily make it a fact; and not all facts are research based. Some opinions are factual and research based. Some opinions are not facts, yet are still research based. Just because something is research based does not necessarily make it factual or ethical. Some facts are facts for some but seemingly not for others, yet a fact is still a fact; the same concept holds true for opinions and research. The same can be said for humor, satire, parody, and serious statements. Some opinions are just opinions. Ultimately, free speech is protected by the first amendment and one thing is always certain... Everything Is.

No Trump, No KKK, No Fascist USA.

*Thanks to Darnell Atkins tor suggesting the September Video.

**Um, 20% = 1/5... that's one in five.

We would like to thank Mary Lynch for suggesting that we write a blog.

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Don’t underestimate the spiteful chaos Trump’s defeat and sociopathology can unleash on an ungrateful America after the election.

by Peter Andre Globensky

RawStory.com

September 24th, 2020

From the article, "On the cusp of a pandemic with all of its pending social and economic dislocations, November 3rd will begin a 77-day “inter-regnum” the likes of which American history has never experienced. We can only hope that some degree of normalcy will greet the end not of the American dream, but of its long national nightmare."

If Trump wins the election, there will be HUGE problems, even more than there are now, if that's possible. In fact, we might all die. If Biden wins the election, that will solve one problem - the biggest problem - the one in the White House, but let's be honest. The USA has a lot of problems with almost every institution and across and within almost every social boundry. We've always known that, way before Trump ever took office (hey, I'm just trying to be fair here). By definition, Biden will be better than Trump (anyone would be) but he is not a Miracle Worker... no miracles coming.

He can't pull a rabbit out of his hat and without divine intervention or some type of help from aliens, America will remain in crisis no matter who wins the election until there are some pretty significant changes. Sorry to be a bummer but there are a lot of problems that need solving. I have a few ideas, maybe you do too? Maybe there's hope?

God Commands You To Vote Biue

Photo of God by jokesoftheday.com

The World's Greatest Steaks Ever

Okay, we can quibble over whether it's narcissm or an antisocial personality or both or something else or none. The label itself doesn't really matter that much to me. Here's what matters, the bottom line: He's UNFIT for office (and we've known it for a long time). Still, I recommend the video, especially for anyone who thinks he's fit for office.

Art by Dutch Artist Seigfried Woldhek

Fun With Gifs Quiz! The above is a fun optical illusion. Your brain probably perceives the image as Donald Trump committing suicide just like Hitler, his role model, but nope, that's not what's actually happening. That would be fake news. See if you can figure out what is really happening. The answer will be in November's XPB. Good luck! Note: we don't encourage anyone ever to commit suicide for any reason - help is always available.

"No Trump, No KKK, No Fascist USA."

Photo Of The Month

The fly on Mike Pence's head now has a Twitter Account. Kamala Harris won the debate, the fly won immortality.

Contribute to XPB!

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Quick Link...

Click here or the box above for a quick link to find and contact your state's representative. We tell them what they need to be doing - they don't tell us.

Important Date

Mark your calendar for October 23rd. That is the day Borat 2 is available for streaming on Amazon Prime. Link to Free Trial.

Meet Poppy, My Best Friend

WIN A Jeep Wrangler!

WIN a 2020 Jeep Wrangler (unless you live in New York, Florida, Rhode Island, Alaska, or Hawaii). Contest is offered by E-Z Trunk and expires on July 31st, 2021. Click here to enter.

WIN $1 Million!

You Could Win $1 Million at DraftKings

WIN A Free Ticket!

Okay, Scratchers are fun to play, but we don't recommend them. Most Scratchers have 1:3 or 1:4 odds for small prizes (like a free ticket or $2.00 or so, and 1:Millions to win the big prizes). Sports investment, on the other hand, provides much better odds and opportunities for a win. At the very least, a sports wager is 50-50 if you just toss a coin and can be significantly higher if you do your homework (i.e., you have a say in the outcome, it's not just random luck). So you can keep going to the local convenience store every day and putting down your $1 to $30 for a ticket hoping for the big one... or you could do something terrific right now: go to XP Sports and begin testing your skills, not your blind luck, through sports investing.

WIN This!

Enter Now! Contest ends October 28th.

"Hand out the arms and ammo..."

Thunderclap Newman, 1969

USA Final Grade for October

D+

Data has been gathered and analyzed. The USA earned a Final Grade of D+ for October, howerver, the USA has a real opportunity to significantly raise their grade on November 3rd. Citizens are encouraged to study hard for this upcoming test.