Playing Golf?

When angry, count four; when very angry, swear.
—     Mark Twain
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On This Day In:
2022	Do Good Works
2021	We Like To Believe So, Anyway
	More SoCal Sounds
2020	I’m Older Now
2019	Why #45 (#LazyDonald) Was Destined To Be A Failed Presidency
2018	Easter In Liverpool
	Star Guides To Destiny
	Growl
2017	Decisions
2016	Along The Path
2015	Make Mine Rare, Please
2014	Passion Flooding
2013	On Purpose
2012	Sans Gall Bladder, Day 4
	How Did You Spend Your Day?
2011	It’s Hammerin’ Time!!
	Convenient Auxiliaries

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Reveal And Conceal

Education:  that which reveals to the wise, and conceals from the stupid, the vast limits of their knowledge.
—     Mark Twain
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On This Day In:
2022	The Edge Of Today
2021	Why I’m Wrinkled With Age
	Is There A Generic Available?
2020	I Feel Noblesse Oblige
2019	Live For Something
2018	My Dogs Beat ‘Em Up
	Is Your Sky Falling?
2017	Unseen Here, Too
2016	Criticized Anyway
2015	Sometimes The Truth Hurts
2014	All Agreed, Say “Aye”
2013	Two Books, Two Movies
	Just Because
2012	God’s Requirements
2011	Greater Purity

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“You’re Fired!” (A Nice Letter)

I did not attend his funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.
—     Mark Twain
Today it was announced that as of last Friday (21 April 2023) Tucker Carlson has been “fired” from his evening “opinion” host gig at Fox (Faux) News.  He has now joined a growing list (Lou Dobbs, Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly, Ed Henry, and Roger Ailes) of senior staff who’s presence has poisoned cable “news” for decades.  In fairness to Beck, he was removed for “erratic” behavior, while the latter three were removed for alleged sexual “misconduct” / harassment.  Carlson (like Dobbs) was removed because the network is trying to avoid further legal liability from his repeated misstatement of “facts” (his opinions as if they were facts) and his on-air promoting of former President Trump’s lies about losing the 2020 election due to computer / voting fraud.  Carlson knew these statements were false and repeated them on-air anyway, because they buoyed up his show and his network’s ratings.
Now, before was all start celebrating Carlson’s “fall from grace”, let us remember Carlson has been getting paid millions over the last decade or so, and he will undoubtedly be enjoying his current unemployment by laughing all the way to the bank – or at least until one of the computer companies wins a civil suit against him and he has some financial penalty imposed on him for his (apparently) knowing disregard for the truth.
The Murdoch’s (the owners of Fox) will pay their penalty and go back to poisoning the minds of 15-20% of Americans who continue to believe their lies and misrepresentations – after all, they are an “entertainment company”, not a “news network” – and profit, not truthfulness is what matters at Fox.  As an aside, we don’t “really” know why Dobbs was cut from the network.  Fox has only said they do periodic reviews and change programs (and hosts) as they deem necessary.  Dobbs was shown the door shortly after Dominion (the voting machine company which recently settled with Fox for over $750 million) filed their liable / damages civil suit against Fox.
American “Conservatives” deserve better than Hannity, Carlson, O’Reilly, and Fox et. al.  In my opinion, although the current Republican Party does not represent or promote “Conservative” ideologies, there is a real need for those principles to be stated in the market place of ideas.
I was raised to honor and respect the Constitution, the “rule of law”, “equal justice under the law” and the general judicial policy of “stare decicis”.  Without a rational conservative minority to balance the vox populi, we risk a social anarchy as negative in its long term consequences as that proposed by the current religious / fascist / totalitarian Republican party.
In my opinion, Tucker Carlson’s firing is a small, tentative step towards the return to a rational, conservative Republican party.  And, I applaud it…
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On This Day In:
2022	The Grand Essentials
	Second 40
2021	Adding Spice
	Be Who You Must
2020	Mo, Cilla, Mushy Peas And Rain
	No New Wars
2019	An Epitaph For #45 (#LyingDonald)
2018	Before And After
2017	Verbs
2016	Not Too Tidy
2015	Little Understanding
2014	Open Early
2013	Movies And A Lifetime Of Lyrics
	This Truth
2012	Cheaper To Hold
2011	Resistance Is Futile
	One Great, One Enjoyable, One Terrible…
	Unfortunately, No Approval Is Required

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Actually, It’s The Other Way Around

With courage you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate, and the wisdom to be humble.  Courage is the foundation of integrity.
—     Mark Twain
[I believe integrity is the foundation of courage.    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2022	If That’s What You Mean
2021	Awakening The Glow
	I Remember
2020	Golden Eagle
	Like #45: Incompetent Donald
2019	#45: Who Lost By Three Million Votes
2018	Torn Between Two Loves
	A Girl And A Boy
2017	I Think They Are Starting To…
2016	Living There
2015	Bookin’ West
	Beyond My Reach
	You Never Call Anymore…
2014	Winning?
2013	Still Inventing
2012	Motivated
2011	Waiting In Line At Starbuck’s

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Or Failure (See: #45, For Example)

All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.
—     Mark Twain
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On This Day In:
2022	Guitar Music
	Yesterday
2021	Maybe Faith Is Based On Hope
	I Want To See You Smile
2020	Thank You (To Those Who Serve)
	Hanging In There
2019	Her Job, Too
2018	Just Another Song I Like
	Earlier Still
2017	Ten To Go
2016	Unstable Emergence
2015	88
2014	Some One-Liners Are Too Easy
2013	Greatness
2012	Memories Of Arlington
2011	Wake Up

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Happy Valentine’s Day – 2023!!

Out of the depths of my happy heart wells a great tide of love and prayer for this priceless treasure that is confided to my lifelong keeping.  You cannot see its waves as they flow toward you, darling, but in these lines you will hear…  the distant beating of its surf.
—     Mark Twain
[Happy Valentine’s Day, Hil!!  You are my priceless treasure…
All my love, Always, Your Kev XXX 00 X]
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On This Day In:
2022	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2022!!
2021	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2021!!
	Our Love’s No Mystery
	Backyard Narcissus
2020	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2020!!
2019	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2019!!
2018	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2018!!
2017	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2017!!
2016	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2016!!
2015	To My Special Lady
2014	Awakening
2013	Drowsy In Comfort
2012	Happy Valentine’s Day
2011	Own Your Bible

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I Honestly Don’t Remember

If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.
—     Mark Twain
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On This Day In:
2022	Slow Down And Don’t Break Things
2021	How Many Democracy Loving Conservatives Are In The Senate?
	The Fighter Still Remains
2020	Love And Charity
2019	Tomorrow Is Valentine’s Day
	Inverted U Curve
2018	Still More Prejudice
	A Well Trod Path Of Hopes, Expectations And Surprise
2017	…And With It Civilization
2016	Just Like My Mother
2015	All Omissions Are Mine
2014	Precise Order
2013	Uh, No. Not Really…
	Deep Regions
2012	A Pre-Valentine’s Day Message
2011	Easy Like Sunday Morning
	May I Have A Little More, Please…
2010	Valleys and Peaks

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And Pretty Viscous Without Review

The very ink with which history is written is merely fluid prejudice.
—     Mark Twain
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On This Day In:
2022	Going Beyond
2021	Shapely Ankles
	Beyond Thar Be Dragons
2020	Skyin’
2019	I Hope He Has A Lot Of Room Down There
2018	What Time Is It?
2017	Gifts
2016	30 Seconds
2015	Success
2014	Create The Fact
2013	Overpowering Curiosity
2012	On Planning The Invasion Of Iraq…
2011	This And That
	I’m Bettin’ On The Bible

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Faux “News”: Why Wait? We’re Entertainment, Not News

Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.
—     Mark Twain
[Why do viewers watch a channel that’s been demonstrated to lie to them.  Oh yeah…  Because they (the viewers) want to believe the lies.  Why does Faux do it?  …To laugh all the way to the bank.    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2021	Living At The Edge
	A Simple Song
	More Sounds (Guitar Review)
2020	Poor Proof
	Right From The Start
	You Voted For An Incompetent And Corrupt Business Person To Drain A Political Swamp
2019	I Wish This Were More True
2018	Used To Rejection
	Day 16: Looking Ahead (Just A Little)
2017	Tonight
	I Rejoice
2016	Conscientious Courage
	Speaking Of Which…
2015	The Beautiful Snow
2014	Nurtured By The Voices
2013	Précis
2012	Fear And Understanding
2011	Just Being Human

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Cheers, Mate / Cheers, Love!!

The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.
—     Mark Twain
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On This Day In:
2021	Is Your Life Rich?
	Until Then…
2020	Reincarnation Or Groundhog Day?
	Any Sunny Afternoon
2019	Four Days To Go
2018	No One Man
	Day 15: Tired (Again)
2017	Strongly Convinced
2016	Me, Myself & I
2015	God, Give Us Men!
2014	Got Any Bezzy Mates?
2013	On Being A Nerd – Awesome
2012	Writers Write
2011	And History Has Proved This Correct
2010	Fascinating Discontinuity
	Tasted Bacon?

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Discouraging Secrets

Do not discourage yourself with what you haven’t done, encourage yourself with what you will do.
—    Neale Donald Walsch
The secret of getting ahead is getting started.
—     Mark Twain
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On This Day In:
2021	The Joy Of Retirement
	Needles And Pins
2020	Too Frightening For Too Many
	Down At The Pub
2019	Just One
2018	And Not Be Just Vain, Greedy And Dumb
	Day 6: Tickin’ Badly
2017	The Soul Of Victory
2016	Getting Furrowed?
2015	Pretty Good So Far
2014	Still Learning?
	There Ain’t No Thing Like Me, ‘Cept Me!
2013	Little Lives
2012	Evolution
2011	Excellence At Performance = 10,000 Hours
2009	A Brief Poem…
	Crater Lake Trip with James

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So THAT’s Why…

God created war so that Americans would learn geography.
—    Mark Twain
[Just over a week ago, I was discussing the Ukraine (at that time the Russian threat of invasion) with someone who said, he didn’t want the U.S. to get involved in the problems of some “tiny, insignificant country in Europe that I can’t even point to on a map”.  I replied Ukraine is bigger than California (almost twice the size) and just smaller than Texas (roughly 90%), and you probably can’t find it because it was part of the U.S.S.R. when you were studying world geography.  I added the Ukraine President is the guy who stood up to #45 when he (#45) tried to extort them into a announcing a bogus investigation of Joe Biden in exchange for military funding for Ukraine’s defense.  The funding had already been authorized by Congress and #45 was withholding the funds to try to “buy” the U.S. election with a made-up scandal.  Maybe Twain was only part right.    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2022	So THAT’s Why…
2021	I Welcome The Questions
	6:00 AM
2020	Increasing Importance
	And Now Joe
2019	But Yours
2018	And Smile More Often
2017	He’s Keeping The Light On For Us
2016	The Results Of Trying Too Hard
2015	Make Me Look
2014	Fresh Drink
2013	Good Business
2012	Unsure Spirit
2011	A Lost Valuable

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Support For Ukraine Independence

It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.
—     Mark Twain
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On This Day In:
2022	Support For Ukraine Independence
2021	Right Up Until Armed Insurrectionists Attack Congress
	No Time
2020	Sometimes Human Nature Stays The Same
2019	Sometimes Too Subtle
2018	A Lot Like Teaching
2017	Wake Up
2016	I Like Dreaming
2015	Importance
2014	Unearned Humility
2013	Science Is Trial And Error
2012	Franklin’s Creed
2011	First Steps
2010	Home Ill…

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Putin Invades Ukraine To Recreate The Old Soviet Union

Schoolboy days are no happier than the days of afterlife, but we look back upon them regretfully because we have forgotten our punishments at school and how we grieved when our marbles were lost and our kites destroyed – because we have forgotten all the sorrows and privations of the canonied ethic and remember only its orchard robberies, its wooden-sword pageants, and its fishing holidays.
—     Mark Twain
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On This Day In:
2022	Putin Invades Ukraine To Recreate The Old Soviet Union
2021	Even If It’s A Nice View
	There’s A Calm Before The Storm
2020	First Steps – The (California) Primary Vote
	#IncompetentTrump Administration Faces A Pandemic
2019	Hearts Torn In Every Way
2018	Recently Seen On A T-shirt:
2017	Rhythmical Creation
2016	In The Beginning
2015	False Gods
2014	But Sometimes Careers Choose People
2013	Pretty Sure Of Uncertainty
2012	Face Reality
2011	Intelligent Luck

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Full Of It

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason.
—    Mark Twain
[Found at one of the blogs I follow:  “A Pondering Mind“
The site is located at:  https://aponderingmind.org/
The specific post is at:  https://aponderingmind.org/2020/05/17/politicians-and-diapers-must-be-changed-often-and-for-the-same-reason-mark-twain/
Please visit the original site if you have a spare moment.   —   kmab]
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On This Day In:
2022	Full Of It
2021	I’m Still Learning To Play
	What Are You Looking For?
2020	All You Can
2019	No Wall And Not One Dollar
	‘Cause It Makes Me Scratch
2018	Mirror, Mirror
2017	Keep On Keeping On
2016	Reflections
2015	Is It Time Yet?
2014	Ask Any Follower
2013	Cornered Or Surrounded?
2012	Escape
2011	Achievement
	Not Unreasonable Enough

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