It’s been a long time since I did a “Here’s the ‘articles’ I read” kind of entry. I used to do a lot of them but that was because there was so little to do sometimes and I… well, even then I didn’t want to be alone with my thoughts and come face to face with some obvious upsetting truths. Many of which have since been faced. Some of which have since been fixed. Many of which simply still remain. BUT I had a period at work today where I could literally do nothing at work (computer issues; than computer download issues; and then more and more computer issues..... the computer today gets to take a great deal of blame for why I have to come back here this weekend!)..... so I figured- do something like this since I have to be here to babysit the computer for if/when problems crop up or if/when I can actually get work done!
ARTICLE ONE:
A medical doctor dated to open his mouth about Trump’s health and the White House response left the internet watching a meltdown in real time
(wow, pick a wordier title!)
The article is essentially describing what we see from Trump and his minions all the time. There is no such thing as a legitimate concern or reasonable criticism if leveled at Trump in anyway! There must always be an illusion of God King Hero! Thus even simple, reasonable questions get massive push back. It goes on to say that CNN’s medical analyst believes Trump to be exhibiting signs of hypersomnia which essentially means Trump can’t control when he sleeps. He’s awake and ranting on Truth Social at 3 a.m. He literally can’t stay awake in a Cabinet meeting. He’s calling reporters at 2 a.m. to tell them how extraordinary he is. He falls asleep at Arlington National Cemetery during Memorial Day observances. Frankly… the evidence stacks up. In light of this reporting, the White House social media did what Trump always does. DARVO. Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender. It isn’t that an almost 80 year old man who can’t control when he sleeps, shows up with strange rashes and bruises, has had recent CATscans that he claims not to know why, and has had 3 visits to Walter Reed in 13 months without disclosing why.... according to MAGA- that man is a fit 220, 6‘3 Adonis in the prime of his life and, as God’s chosen, can never get sick or have an illness of any kind. And anyone who suggests differently is a terrorist America-hating pig-stupid evil biased journalist with TDS! Yeah...... when the reaction to genuine medical concerns is to throw a tantrum? REALLY makes me think that Trump totally is the peak perfection of healthy manhood. <- sarcasm.
ARTICLE TWO:
10 unpopular opinions that might actually be right
Being Nice Will Not Get You Ahead.... well, duh. I hate to say it but this has become obvious in a world that literally prints interviews about “the sin of empathy!”
You Do Not Have to Love Your Job… this is one that is definitely how the older generations lived. And I would agree with it… with a caveat. If the job is actively destroying you, providing a hostile work environment, being unsafe.... if the reason you don’t like the job is because it is actively detrimental to your life? That’s one thing. But “I don’t like my job. It’s boring and I don’t feel like I’m doing anything important”?? Yeah. Your job isn’t your entire heart/life. Sometimes a job is just what you do to stay alive while you’re actually living.
Social Media Does More Harm Than Good… I think we can all probably agree with this one. By now, I know there are actually peer-reviewed scientific studies pointing to this same conclusion!
Talent is Overrated.... this one I actually learned in swimming in High School. You’d watch some kid come in with raw talent. Able to smoke everyone around him on the first day. But as he slacked off at practice, the hard workers were catching up. MASSIVE ASIDE: This is also an unpopular opinion- hard work alone cannot make you the best. If you have ZERO natural talent and work 6 hours a day at something? You’ll still get thrashed by the person with lots of raw talent who worked 4 hours a day. I learned that, too. But that’s why (as much as you can) when considering talent.... find yours, hone your abilities, work hard.... and only compare your success to yourself. Was my 1:07 100 butterfly time the fastest in the State? It wasn’t even the fastest on my team! It wasn’t even one of the 3 fastest to qualify for Varsity! But it was a fucking beast considering my first 100 Fly time was something like 3 minutes. Despite my genetic heritage for swimming, when my brother was in swim team at 5… I didn’t even try for any swimming competitions until I was a freshman in High School. And I knew I was never going to get close to a 52 second 100 Fly. But consistently placing in Top 3 for JV Meets? Talent is overrated but cannot be discounted. Hard work is necessary but cannot force miracles into being.
Some Friendships Are Not Meant to Last.... it’s sad but it’s true. I think any adult in this world knows that already but it can be a hard thing to deal with as a child. The friend you made at Bible Camp? He became a Pilgrim for God and you’ve begun deconstructing. The chill dude that got high every day? He’s still living in his parents’ basement getting high everyday and you’ve got your medical doctorate and are leading an entire division of doctors in a Cardio-oncology unit. Sometimes… people take different paths!
Not Everyone Should Buy a House… okay, this would have been “good advice” fifteen years ago. Now? BUYING A HOUSE is almost completely price-locked as an unattainable goal for 1, maybe 2 entire generations! So, while it is VERY TRUE that not everyone should buy a house… you should live within your means and in a situation you are comfortable with… telling 20-somethings “It’s okay if you don’t buy a house” is how a Stand Up starts their tight five!
Success Does Not Always Mean Happiness… this one is fun for me because I got this lesson with double barrels. CHURCH: Money is important but the accumulation of wealth does not bring happiness. FAMILY: Your uncle is massively successful… but do you see how he spends holidays on the phone and is flying around the world all the time away from his family? ........ yeah, this is another one of those levers of “Happiness is relationship with others” that is kind of fucking me up these days.
Most People Do Not Actually Care What You Are Doing… hundred percent true. This is absolutely a message we should (and are) giving to teenagers. Of course I default to a lesson from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but when she could hear everyone’s thoughts in “EARSHOT”? Yeah, people will think about you now and then. Drop the dishes, scream in a quiet theater… but most people have too much of their own shit going on to obsess about what you’re doing.
Traveling is Not for Everyone.... nope. As a general statement, I’m going to disagree with this. Everyone should travel to expose themselves to different cultures and different ways of living. You don’t have to be a rugged camper to travel. Which, admittedly, is why traveling can be very paywalled. But… if you dedicate your life to never having a solitary moment where your comfort is challenged? You missed some super important growth opportunities.
Cutting Off Family Can Be the Right Choice… tragic and painful but absolutely true. And I think much more acceptable and much more common this decade than almost any other time before!
ARTICLE THREE:
11 compliments women secretly wish men said more often
I am not a woman but I am very curious to hear what women have to say about this list!
1) “You’re so much smarter than you give yourself credit for.”
2) “I love the way your mind works.”
3) “You’re genuinely funny.”
4) “I notice how hard you work.”
5) “You made me feel better just by being here.”
6) “I feel like I can tell you anything.”
7) “Your kindness stands out.”
8) “You handle pressure really well.”
9) “You’re a good friend to people.”
10) “The way you think about things surprises me sometimes.”
11) “I’m proud of you.”
ARTICLE FOUR:
12 things women can’t stand about modern men
I am not a woman but I am very curious to hear what women have to say about this list! Albeit, I already sense there are some of these that I might feel a need to defend.
1) Lack of Emotional Availability
2) Poor Communication Habits
3) Lack of Initiative
4) Overreliance on Apps and Passive Dating
5) Extended Adolescence
6) Entitlement Without Self-Improvement
7) Weak Boundaries and No Direction
8) Distorted Expectations from Social Media
9) Inconsistent Behavior
10) Lack of Accountability
11) Neglecting Hygiene and Self-Care
12) Fear of Commitment With Desire for Benefits
ARTICLE FIVE:
I read the Pope’s 240-page encyclical. I’m astounded by what he wrote.
I actually won’t leave a commentary on this one. I just… Pope Leo’s encyclical is worth reading and if you can’t read it, you should read about it.
ARTICLE SIX:
20 subtle ways women flirt that most men completely miss
I am not a woman but I am very curious to hear what women have to say about this list! Though I will also probably chime in with an occasional “oh yeah, I would never notice that!”
1) She mirrors your energy, not your words
2) She finds small reasons to be near you
3) She remembers details you forgot you shared
4) She asks questions that go slightly deeper than necessary - this one I have actually noticed it’s absence uniquely but… that stems from being married to a woman that seemingly had zero interest in my life or me. And I’ve noticed women do not ask questions on the apps and even less so on any of the dates I’ve gone on!
5) She teases you gently without breaking boundaries- this one… Nancy was actually pretty good at when we were dating. A mix of supportive and teasing to really hit the right balance.
6) She laughs before the punchline lands.
7) She makes eye contact, then breaks it first- yeah, I wouldn’t notice this. I was raised to look people in the eye… then this decade I’ve noticed it makes people uncomfortable, so I default to “bouncing eyes” make eye contact, then break it, look around the person or through the person, make eye contact, repeat
8) She softens her voice when talking to you
9) She finds reasons to text that don’t need a reply
10) She compliments you in practical, specific ways
11) She notices when you’re off before you say anything- this is one I deeply appreciate and it seems… I’ll just say it’s not something I’ve seen much of, but I cherish the times I have experienced it.
12) She adjusts her appearance around you
13) She shares small personal vulnerabilities
14) She stays in conversations longer than necessary
15) She defends you when you’re not around
16) She uses your name more than needed
17) She shares things just with you
18) She notices your absence
19) She supports your ideas before anyone else does
20) She creates emotional safety before physical signals.... this is one where my own issues have made it rare to impossible… I’ve tended to date women that fed into the co-dependency of “they need me!” which meant that it was less about whether I felt emotional safe with her and more does she feel emotional safe with me? Another significant reason why singleness has lasted and will last for me is that.. I’d really like to break that cycle. But… I also know that “being emotionally safe for men” is a triggering concept for many Online Women who get upset at the idea of being emotionally safe for men because of the various reasons why “all men are trash” or “all men are rapists” or “never trust a man for any reason” and all the other things drenching the internet spaces out there. Again- Social Media Does More Harm Than Good
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