Harry and Meghan with Oprah

Harry / Meghan Interview Changed my First Impression

How many watched the big interview last night? I must say I was hooked from the outset and I am not usually big on celebrity chatter. Kudos to Oprah for landing the big one and for the way she handled it.

I have to admit that I had pre-judged the entire thing and was negative on Meghan. This had nothing to do with race or any of that but just a negative feeling about the manner in which many Americans - Nancy Reagan for example - tend to behave towards the Brits and Royalty in particular. I was also influenced by the entire King Edward / Mrs. Simpson scandal decades ago.

I was totally wrong and found Meghan to be an utterly charming and poised young woman. Harry was also on his best behaviour. One had to admire the way he quickly shut down any probing into who discussed skin color with him and also what was said. I would go so far as to say that if either one of them was acting someone has to define a new Oscar category and they should each receive one. I did not see a moment of insincerity in the entire two hours.

It was very notable that both went out of their way to exonerate The Queen - their grandmother. She was apparently warm and welcoming to Meghan - hard to imagine but great to hear. It was very interesting to hear them distinguish between The Family, and The Firm. Both have treated them badly.

I was left with only two closely related questions. Since both protection and title were extended to other great grandchildren, why were both denied to this particular grandchild?

THAT one deserves an answer.

Here is wishing them and their present and future family a prosperous, happy, and safe life.

#thebrewsterblock

Rotator Cuff Problems? Read on ...

 Listen to the experts then listen to your body

Change of topic today - no CNN, Trump, Biden. This is personal - hopefully for many of you also. I suffer from sore shoulders that keep me awake at night. I have also overindulged in analysis of the problem - analysis paralysis - worse than the injury.

Many people who are north of the equator in years suffer from this - many from activity and many from lack of same - others from age. With the net, social media, Google etc. there is a ton of information out there - just look. Amateurs immediately say "Rotator Cuff" - not always the case. The people I have researched acknowledge that this is a very general term and the pain I feel could be one of many things, all part of the shoulder.

I printed out PDF's from Chiropractors, medical groups and associations and other places. I now have more exercises and therapy to try than there are hours in the day. There is a set of 18 I did religiously for about two weeks which took a good 1 1/2 hours to complete - made things worse. I even went to my GP who has worked with pro sports teams.

Here is one thing I am passing on today. I heard from several people who were where I am now but have recovered - I am overdoing things. The first reaction if you normally work out at a gym is that using no weight or working up to 3-5 pounds seems ridiculous when you might normally lift 25-35 lbs. with your arms. It is not.

Many of the legitimate websites say the same thing - for a long time light weights only , if you use any at all. We tend to forget that over-lifting probably hurt us in the first place. So here is an unprofessional list of 10 conclusions:

1. At all times if it hurts - STOP. Use less weight or no weight. If it still hurts ignore this exercise until you start to feel stronger and there is no pain...

2. From the many exercises you will collect choose only a dozen or so that did feel good. Maybe they relaxed things or let you know there are muscles you have NOT been including before.

3. No more than 30-40 minutes per session.

4. Include any stretches first.

5. Vary them up a bit each session.

6. Do not lift any heavy weights even if you think your shoulder is not involved. For almost anything above the waist or involving lifting with the hands, your shoulders are involved.

7. Many gym rats develop the large shoulder muscles for appearance but are not even aware of the others or how to strengthen them. This ADDS to the problem and might be what hurt you. It is like driving a car with one tire way over-inflated. It will lead to trouble.

8. It will take weeks to get better, if you ever do.

9. Go to a professional to see if you are trying to fix the wrong problem. It could just be arthritis for example.

10. Posture is important. Many years ago I focused on walking tall - shoulders back and not slouching. Since I have retired and am at a PC many hours daily, I am not as focused on this.

Lastly none of this will work without the willpower to do them regularly.

Here are a few of the sites I visited:

Best Rotator Cuff Strength Routine At Home - YouTube  (Dr. Kristie Ennis)

10 Best Rotator Cuff Exercises for Strengthening - Ask Doctor Jo - YouTube

Rotator Cuff and Shoulder Conditioning Program - OrthoInfo - AAOS

#thebrewsterblock

Class Action Suit against Trump and the GOP

 Why not Sue Trump and Co.? Lots of others are.

After the CPAC puppet show how about a class action lawsuit against Trump and his party for The Big Lie? Millions of Americans and the reputation of the country have been damaged by this fabrication.

Lots of others have filed against The Donald - what is one more? Since he has not been able to prove a stolen victory why not turn the tide against him? It should be easier to prove his lies than for his puppets to prove the opposite - he and his lawyers have failed time after time.

It could be worth hundreds of millions. Even Mitch McConnell said he is liable for legal action now that he is a private citizen. Maybe THAT'S why he wants to run again - four more years of protection.

#thebrewsterblock

Climate Change and Very Nasty Consequences

Where will the new Atlantis happen?

This is not an academic question. The only difference between the mythical (?) underground city and today's reality is that today the water is coming up to meet the city and not the other way around. If the polar caps and glaciers keep melting the way they are this meeting has to happen. Bury your head in the sand about this and soon it will also be under water.

Perhaps a climate expert - not an armchair denier - could answer something here. Let us assume that mankind and its nations finally get their acts together and convert to all renewable energy with very minor carbon and other types of emissions. By the time that happens most of the glaciers and a lot of the polar ice will have melted. So if - and that is a BIG if - average temperatures start to fall again will the polar caps increase in size or just slow down their disappearance? If they grow will the coasts start to emerge again?

One thing seems certain to me - when the glaciers have gone they will not return just because average temperature falls. That is like using all the ice cubes in your freezer and hoping that tomorrow you will have more cubes in the trays without filling them (assuming no ice cube maker). Glaciers took millions of years and one or more ice ages to form.

I am going to buy Bill Gates new book on the subject. Say what you will about him he has the IQ to understand this and suggest solutions.

This is my biggest concern:

We already know that obscenely rich and powerful people can be very greedy. Add a total lack of sympathy for others and an American gun mentality and you have a very bad climate indeed. What happened on January 6, 2021 is nothing. Imagine all of the most expensive houses on coasts - everywhere - being totally useless under several feet of water even if you can still see part of them. Millions of former inhabitants will be looking for the best places to live elsewhere. How will they get that existing real estate? The same way nations have in the past - war. They will attack people, and TAKE the land and houses they want. If they succeed WE will probably be looking for a place to live.

I won't be around to see this - nor will Bill Gates. It is sad but millions of others in our generation don't seem to care. As long as they live their rich greedy lives contributing to the problem it will be left to others - their kids and grandchildren.

#thebrewsterblock

CPAC is worse than the GONG Show

Some Current GOP Leaders don't have an ounce of Morality in their Body

What kind of person can stand and make fun of over 500,000 Americans who have died in the last year? You saw one at the CPAC puppet show yesterday. It was bad humour and not remotely funny.

The answer? The same guy who left town when his Texas constituents were facing a climate disaster. The same guy who decided to go to a warmer climate. The same guy who blamed it on his kids. The same guy who then lied about intending to return the same day - after he was caught. The same guy who kept silent when Trump told the country that Covid would magically disappear - The same Trump (there are more of them don't forget) who made mask wearing some kind of cowardly thing to do - hence the disgusting reference to mask wearing yesterday. Once a puppet, always a puppet.

In the link below you will see a video of such a guy.

Cruz unloads with epic takedown of 'pathological liar,' 'narcissist' Donald Trump - CNN Politics

He rants about a horrible person called Donald Trump. In it he calls The Donald a pathological liar - he says that practically every word that comes out of Trump's mouth is a lie. He also says Trump is a narcissist and "utterly amoral." He calls him a bully - says he understands people who are angry at being lied to by politicians! Really? Attendees at this conference all have PhD's in prevarication.

Such people are now part of the The Big Lie - as they scramble to kiss The Donald's butt!

The Disney Corporation should sue for some form of intellectual property violation because the current CPAC is another Fantasyland.

#thebrewsterblock

American Dictatorship

 History is Repeating Itself

In the primaries before 2016, everyone including many of Trump's so-called backers now in power was appalled by his statements and behavior. Senators like Graham, Rubio, and Cruise were very explicit in their condemnation. Now they suck up to him every chance they get. Everyone knows the man thought he could run Washington like a corporation making himself a King or Emperor.

Since America fought a famous war to prevent that in the new world you have to wonder why those same people and many others are still letting Trump conspire to accomplish such a goal. He already hinted at both staying in office longer than two terms and changing laws so he could do it. If he ever gets back into power with a majority, he will - just like the Chinese leader.

Countries around the world with a little more salt and pepper in their temples than upstart America have all been through this. Evil men (seldom women) appeal to peoples' worst instincts to get into power and then stay there.

This is happening in The United States. The main reasons are similar to those in other nations. This is not a poor American revolutionary army ousting a tyrant. This is a man with rich and powerful allies who want to preserve the status quo - white privilege and domination.

Trump was guilty - even McConnell of all people admitted that. America had a taste of internal violence and regime change and it will get worse.

American citizens, don't let the lion out of the cage. In this case perhaps it is a snake. America has often attempted to bring about regime change in some of those countries mentioned earlier - often by force. When the time comes - and it will the way things are going - who will come to America's aid when she needs it? Nobody.

Americans - be careful what you wish for!

#thebrewsterblock.

Republican Senators. How Could You?

 Trump's Republican #Traitors

Anyone with an ounce of integrity and any knowledge of what America represents knows that the real traitors in the country are Donald J. Trump; his Republican puppets who continue to refuse to condemn him; and those in the January 6th mob intent on violence, destruction, and murder.

It is only the 2nd day of presentations in this impeachment but how could anyone view the evidence presented by the Democratic side and not be totally repulsed by what they saw? For Republican Senators to be so cavalier about what happened you have to wonder if one of them is "Q" and if all of them knew in advance that they would not be touched by the mob. Was there a secret code word?

I don't know how any Republican Senator can still in good conscience vote against convicting Trump. A few have already switched and recognized how vile the former President and his actions were. Most of them will still side with one of the biggest liars on the face of the planet. From that day forward how can they ever face their children or the mirror and not feel shame? Such a vote will demonstrate that they are just as racist as the white supremacists themselves.

Not only will they will be aligning themselves with potential murderers but also with people who spread feces on the capital walls - FECES no less! Did they bring it in a bag? If so you can't deny that had to be pre-planned.

Does that officially make them all shitheads? Let's have a vote on that!

#thebrewsterblock

Is Violence Acceptable in America?

Since When are Beheadings, Hangings and Bullets to the Head OK in America?

Last night I watched as a reporter showed footage he had taken as a member of the audience in a QANON meeting. The other attendees, except the leaders, were just "ordinary" Americans. The statements made and the group's almost unanimous agreement was shocking.

At one point one of the leaders suggested that the non-violent part of America's values should end. Violence should be a normal part of the culture (I am paraphrasing.)

So today instead of focusing on the past - things said and done by Trump, Taylor Greene, Lindsey Graham, Mitch McConnell etc. and previous administrations, let's look to the future.

What should the alternative to the status quo in Washington be? I was never a fan of Trump's classless and disgusting behaviour but I could see why many people wanted to shake up Washington politics. I always thought Trump would indeed do that but for his own well being, not anyone else's. I was right. I know - here I go again with the past - hard to escape.

So what is the form of government that the ultra-right wants? Is it really NO government - total anarchy? Surely raids on the capital; calls to destroy public property; and to EXECUTE American leaders because you don't like them or their policies, is NOT a democracy - of any kind. Do Americans want a two bit dictatorship with Trump or anybody else? What is it going to be? Survival of the most ruthless? Might is Right? You disagreed with me - bang you're dead. You too - bang!

Will there be a pillory in the square for stoning? A guillotine? Firing squads? Gallows? Revolutions every four years or less if some people are not happy?

It is obvious that America has to change. Should it be to a very dark past or a bright future? Should it be for every man/woman/child to fend for themselves or something a little more civil?

America is acting like a spoiled child. Compared to civilizations elsewhere in the world who have gone through all of these forms of turmoil for hundreds of years, America was supposed to be the guiding light. Above of all of that. Those other societies across the oceans are America's parents - her forefathers. Has she learned nothing from them?

American leaders who are NOT in power - the ones currently on the right who still have a functioning brain in their head and a spine - can still call this off. Sadly they won't. They will let people die a brutal death so they can keep their jobs, pensions, and perceived power. That power will only be as strong as their puppet strings.

#thebrewsterblock

Traitors in America

 Just Who are America's Traitors?

I couldn't count the number of times I have heard someone at the Capital Building on January 6, 2021 screaming the word "TRAITOR" into an American journalist's microphone. Just like their overuse of the word Socialist and Jihad, do they really know what it means?

Looking at online dictionaries such as Webster's, Oxford, and Google Online I found: one who betrays another's trust or is false to an obligation or duty; one who commits treason; a person who betrays a friend, country, principle, etc.; a person who gives away secrets about their friends, their country, etc.

The only betrayals of trust I have seen were committed by Donald Trump and his puppet Republicans telling the big lie about the election being stolen. The part about "is false to an obligation or duty" also applies since they are all sworn to tell the truth and uphold and defend the Constitution.

On the other hand when I look up treason, the act mentioned above as an act carried out by a traitor, I see: the crime of doing something that could cause danger to your country, such as helping its enemies during a war; the crime of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to kill the sovereign or overthrow the government; the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance or to kill or personally injure the sovereign or the sovereign's family.

It is primarily Democrats and legitimate journalists who are using that word frequently and it is exactly what those invaders were doing.

This makes both Trump and the invaders traitors and certainly makes the latter guilty of treason. In times of war those are crimes often punishable by death, carrying out one's duty as leaders in a democratic government is only punishable by losing the next election, or Impeachment.

As for those who were screaming that the building and all its contents belonged to the people, that is true but they forgot to include that it belongs to ALL of the people including those inside and those who happen to disagree with the invaders.

Now hauling people who were carrying out their sworn responsibilities outside to hang, behead, shoot or via any other means MURDER them is not ANYBODY's right. People acting as judge, jury, and executioner have always been found guilty of a heinous crime.

But we all know these are wasted words. I am guilty of being logical. How dare I? Just listen to Marjorie Taylor Greene - Miss(ing) IQ, 2021. She must have won the IQ golf tournament at some time where lowest score actually does make you a winner. It is sad but people actually voted her into Congress, and its GOP leaders put her on committees that affect people's lives.

That is almost as scary as Covid. The GOP already has a vaccination for all of this. They just have to roll up their sleeves

.

#thebrewsterblock

Make America Great Again. Which One?

 What does a Great America look like?

From the beginning Trump's slogan was "Make America Great Again." Many suggested it was code for making America white again. Events over the last four years and the last four weeks make it pretty clear that the suggestion was accurate.

Biden's slogan is "Build Back Better". What does better mean? Presumably whatever he does will simply be better than what Trump promised, but did not deliver. Let's repeat that - did NOT deliver. We never did see the long awaited, "just around the corner" replacement for the Affordable Care Act or any cheques (checks for some) from the Bank of Mexico.

A recently revealed rant by Marjorie Taylor Greene told some to go back where they came from because they were ruining the great country that "we" built. One has to question her own contribution to that build but that is another story.

And to those who just love to scream, what is it that you have to "take back" that gives you the right to murder and destroy?

What America are people talking about?

- The one in which the oh-so-holy Jim and Tammy bilked their "congregation" out of tens of millions of dollars?
- Maybe the one where parents have to dread the day when they go to pick up their kids only to find that once again some dingbat exercising his gun rights slaughtered those kids? Yeah we know - it's not the gun's fault.
- Perhaps the one that is proud of the Jonestown mass suicide or the Branch Davidian suicide in Waco?
- The one where two famous brothers in the Kennedy family might have a question or two about the greatness of America and some of its citizens?
- In a city where those who have lost their jobs, are hungry and possibly freezing on the street who probably resent the family of four down the block hunkered down in their 15,000 square foot mansion with its three furnaces and two swimming pools on ten plush acres?
- The dogs and horses put down or left to die because they can't race or fight anymore? Good thing they can't speak up.
- Poor students who had the marks but were denied entry to famous schools because some rich celebrities bumped them for their own dumb kids using bribes?
- Lots, Lots more examples.

Or is it This America? The one where:

- Every citizen has equal rights and opportunities?
- A black boy grew up to become the President and a black girl The Vice President?
- Superior technology and will built great companies providing millions of jobs and some of the world's greatest products?
- There is still ample untapped wealth for all to enjoy their lives in relative prosperity?
- The country is willing to go to bat for other people in the world and often lend a helping hand?
- It is possible to come to the country LEGALLY to enjoy those same opportunities?
- You can practice your religion of choice or none at all?
- Truth is still preferred over lies?
- Political parties and politicians work FOR the people - ALL of them?

I know which one I hope re-emerges. Too bad the citizens themselves don't.

#thebrewsterblock