Thursday, December 1, 2016

An #OpEd from a Loyal Listener of The Eclectic Chair

I received this opinion via email on November 19th, 2016 from a ​loyal listener and constant supporter of The Eclectic Chair Podcast. As most listeners of the program know by now, I try to let the music I air speak for me. My show never set out to air anything but music. But that is what Page Two is all about now. I gained permission to anonymously publish the email below. - Trish Lewis

Subject: 
The Revenge Of The "Anybody But A Woman" White Men

My Dad would be rolling over in his grave knowing so many individuals would vote for Donald Trump.  I'm certain Mom and Dad never voted for any Republican candidate for president of the U. S., especially not one with supporters juggling signs imprinted "TRUMP THAT BITCH" or the candidate himself yelling "LOCK HER UP" and suggesting that his opponent's Secret Service guards should dispense with their weapons and "see what happens".  One who, when asked if could say he respects women responded, "No, I couldn't say that".  One who is thrice married, proudly pays no federal income taxes, and bragged about sexually assaulting women.  He said he would not accept the results of the election unless he won.  A man whose business dealings have generated 3,500 lawsuits against him resulting in numerous fines for hiring illegal immigrants, polluting, making illegal campaign contributions, not renting to African-Americans, and including an open charge he still faces surrounding the now defunct Trump University (Donald Trump goes on trial for fraud Nov. 28 in a class action suit).
    From an article in the literary The New York Review of Books:  "It is true that Trump appalls with the baroque flagrancy of his vanity and self-obsession....."  His victory means "[t]hat a reality television star and businessman con artist devoid of public office experience and proudly ignorant of public policy, of braggadocious and offensive and unstable character, given to the most bald-faced race-baiting and misogyny and demagoguery, could nonetheless be elected by our fellow citizens president of the United States."
   From a TIME magazine editorial: "[Donald Trump] is personal freedom gone off the rails.  Trump is about all that has gone wrong in our society, and nothing of what has gone right.  He doesn't read.  He doesn't have the patience to be briefed--or worse, to discern between reality and crazy conspiracy theories, between propaganda and truth.  Those who would put Clinton's failings in the same league as Trump's depravities are delusional."
      Hillary has won the popular vote, though Donald won the electoral college vote (the same way Geo. W. Bush beat Gore in 2000, with a little help from the Supreme Court) so maybe he was right about one thing---the system IS rigged!  Can you imagine what he would have said if the situation was reversed?
   I saw a sign for pizza shop employment the other day.  It included the words "EXPERIENCE REQUIRED".  No such words are included in the U. S. president job description. Previous presidents had legal or military experience Not this one. He does not read books, and despite what you might think, he hasn't written any, either (the books attributed to him were ghost-written by others).   
    It's a good thing many places legalized recreational marijuana during this election.  We're going to need a lot of weed to get through this administration.

Monday, June 27, 2016

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Talk Music USA Premier Episode

Robert Lee Balderrama is now of the band The Robert Lee Revue was the guitarist in Question Mark and The Mysterions, his latest venture is cyber animation talk show host! http://www.talkmusicusa.com/

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Fear of change can kill or at the very least maim

My hometown of Flint, Michigan 
was inspiring in so many ways. 
This blight has been razed, but much remains.
Permanent damage deposits are never returned. 

Friday, August 8, 2014

My Dad alway said the Past is Prologue

I moved back to Flint, Michigan from NYC on 6/6/86. Shortly after, I dropped a firecracker down my beloved 8th Street Capezio gray cowgirl ankle boots on the Fourth of July. I spent a month in Hurley Hospital's fabulous burn unit recovering from the burn, infection and two skin grafts (first pig skin then a peel off my hind end) on my right foot and ankle.

When I returned to my Dad and Stepmom #2's apartment to finish recuperating, I found my belongings had been searched and one of my eight hand written composition book journals had disappeared. My roommate was one of two step sisters whom I never saw in person again, thank heavens. Sadly, I never got the journal back even though my Dad said he questioned her.

Since that happened, I have always been scared of really keeping a journal again. It changed the course of my life more than any other occurrence I can remember. I learned to do many other things to replace the creative hole left by not writing. Even now that all those people are dead or at least dead to me, I still lament the residual fear of ever sharing my thoughts in writing.

I know I need to forgive and forget. I only hurt myself. 28 years of time is enough to waste. 

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Last Week Flew By Already

Like so many folks who start with good intentions to keep up a blog; I am already behind. Perhaps it's spring. Have been out walking many mornings with a neighbor. Will post a couple photos of birds both alive and otherwise I've spotted at my home and on the rail trail in Bay City during these walks to at the very least keep the dust off this new blog. 

The first short story I was going to post has been redlined by me again to keep editing. Hard to get used to less being more when every word I write is a revelation of late.
 Not One or Two, but Three Robins of Spring!
What kind of dead bird is this? 
Looks like a gull or a magpie 
but has no white feathers, so I ruled out the magpie.