Any given night in Aurora, Il - "The City of Lights."
RED WHITE AND BLUE POLICE LIGHTS FLASHED a few months back, like an episode of COPS. A fine, young gentleman with a marijuana hoodie & pants below his ass had gotten into a fight at our local liquor store, over the price of a vape. I chuckled as I watched this. I had actually seen the dude before, a white kid who was pretending to be a gangsta', and he looked absolutely ridiculous. I smiled as he was cuffed (ahem) and stuffed into the squad car, while the officers tried to keep a straight face. Things like this are common in Northgate Plaza, an aging 1950s-era shopping center near my house, a deteriorating strip mall with a liquor store, pawn shop, several greasy take-out places, a big thrift store - and a long-defunct Carson Pirie Scott that's being converted into self-storage. The center is kind of a dump actually, and I'm surprised that it hasn't been torn down yet. I heard rumors that WalMart wanted to buy/raze the property, but our local politicians didn't want a discount Supercenter because it would bring the "wrong kind of people in the neighborhood." (Again, ahem.) How could a 24-hour superstore be any worse than this?
The scene unfolded through the Family Dollar window as I stood at the cashier, paying for my purchase. The store is near my house, and I often stop there for cheap razors and emergency cat food. The cashier was a nice black lady, who joined me in grinning as the punk was arrested. We watched him amusedly when the police car pulled away, then I paid for my litter and left. I thought about the experience on my way home, and I was saddened by the fact that *this* is the state of many youth today. I kept thinking about his sweatpants, and how much I hate how people purposely pull their pants down, so you can see their underwear. (I mean, it doesn't make sense to me; if you're wearing jeans around your knees, wouldn't that restrict the movements of your legs when you're running from police?) I couldn't help but remember Steve Martin in The Jerk, waddling around towards the end of the movie, holding a chair in his bathrobe. In the 17 years I worked for Barnes & Noble, I'd often get angry when applicants arrived to the interview wearing concert T-shirts & wrinkled jeans as their *first impression*. My parents taught me to wear a shirt & tie when applying for a job, and to present myself as professionally as possible. I was the hiring manager at my last B&N, and I sometimes sent applicants home when they showed up wearing flip-flops:
"Thank you for being on time, but the way that your dressed is inappropriate for an interview. I'll happily reschedule of course, but if I do, I expect you to dress like you want to work here."
It was funny to watch their expressions sink. Clearly, I had been the first adult to ever tell them such a thing. When I was a teenager in the 1980s, Father taught me to always dress for the job I wanted, even when asking for a fast food application. Over the past two decades, I've watched everyone's grooming standards slip; at my last B&N (which was located in upscale Naperville), one of our store's managers routinely came to work wearing untucked flannel shirts, wrinkled khakis, and the dirtiest pair of New Balance sneakers I'd ever seen. I often got into altercations with this person. He was so unprofessional, he actually told hourly booksellers that he'd been given a Not-At-Standards review, while getting drunk with them at a bar after his shift. Hearing that made me realize just how LOW our standards have slipped, as our company's managers - like the modern Democratic party - have settled for mediocrity, at best. In addition, I've learned that the store's entire management staff has been openly talking about my alcoholism - a gross violation of HIPPA rules - after I had chance encounter with our store's janitor, at Home Depot. If standards like this are accepted by a large corporate retailer, what must they be like within the country's present administration? Judging from our current President, I'm afraid they aren't very high.
Well, unless you count Hunter ...
The scene unfolded through the Family Dollar window as I stood at the cashier, paying for my purchase. The store is near my house, and I often stop there for cheap razors and emergency cat food. The cashier was a nice black lady, who joined me in grinning as the punk was arrested. We watched him amusedly when the police car pulled away, then I paid for my litter and left. I thought about the experience on my way home, and I was saddened by the fact that *this* is the state of many youth today. I kept thinking about his sweatpants, and how much I hate how people purposely pull their pants down, so you can see their underwear. (I mean, it doesn't make sense to me; if you're wearing jeans around your knees, wouldn't that restrict the movements of your legs when you're running from police?) I couldn't help but remember Steve Martin in The Jerk, waddling around towards the end of the movie, holding a chair in his bathrobe. In the 17 years I worked for Barnes & Noble, I'd often get angry when applicants arrived to the interview wearing concert T-shirts & wrinkled jeans as their *first impression*. My parents taught me to wear a shirt & tie when applying for a job, and to present myself as professionally as possible. I was the hiring manager at my last B&N, and I sometimes sent applicants home when they showed up wearing flip-flops:
"Thank you for being on time, but the way that your dressed is inappropriate for an interview. I'll happily reschedule of course, but if I do, I expect you to dress like you want to work here."
It was funny to watch their expressions sink. Clearly, I had been the first adult to ever tell them such a thing. When I was a teenager in the 1980s, Father taught me to always dress for the job I wanted, even when asking for a fast food application. Over the past two decades, I've watched everyone's grooming standards slip; at my last B&N (which was located in upscale Naperville), one of our store's managers routinely came to work wearing untucked flannel shirts, wrinkled khakis, and the dirtiest pair of New Balance sneakers I'd ever seen. I often got into altercations with this person. He was so unprofessional, he actually told hourly booksellers that he'd been given a Not-At-Standards review, while getting drunk with them at a bar after his shift. Hearing that made me realize just how LOW our standards have slipped, as our company's managers - like the modern Democratic party - have settled for mediocrity, at best. In addition, I've learned that the store's entire management staff has been openly talking about my alcoholism - a gross violation of HIPPA rules - after I had chance encounter with our store's janitor, at Home Depot. If standards like this are accepted by a large corporate retailer, what must they be like within the country's present administration? Judging from our current President, I'm afraid they aren't very high.
Well, unless you count Hunter ...
"With talent on loan from God" my ass; Rush didn't have *talent* - he had a GIFT. RED WHITE AND BLUE STRIPES were waving over Rush's shoulders, in the Drudge Report headline photo on the day of his death. I loved Rush Limbaugh, and I haven't been the same since he died. I believe I started listening to him in 1992, back when I worked for Handy Andy Home Improvement Centers in Joliet, Il. I had been working an overnight shift, a massive reset to introduce Dutch Boy's "Renaissance" line of paint - a new product that introduced Ultra Whites, hues that rivaled the color of the sun, itself. For whatever reason, I was searching my boom box's AM radio band, and I stopped when I heard Paul Shanklin's song parody: "The Leader of Iraq": "I met him in the baklava store ... he had that big, fuzzy mustache - you get the picture ... That's ven' I fell for da Leader of IRAQ ... VROOM! VROOM!" The song blurred into "A BOMB, BOMB, BOMB ... BOMB, BOMB IRAQ!" and I was hooked. I learned the station rebroadcast Rush's shows to fill their overnights, so I started listening to Limbaugh in the days that followed - and continued for the next twenty-seven years. Rush was hysterical. Not only did he share my political views, he had a *very* dark sense of humor that you had to listen closely to hear (unless you count the Caller Abortions - KER-FLUSH!). His wit was razor-sharp, he was a genuinely kind man, he was a staunch believer in both God & conservatism, and he was such a gifted broadcaster, he could hold an audience's attention for three hours - without a single guest. Liberals hated him of course, but few actually took the time to hear his point of view. Rush made so...much...sense. And he did it in a way that was both intelligent and fun to listen to. It got to the point where I planned my weekdays around his show, I read both of his books of course, and I even subscribed to The Limbaugh Letter. I also remember Rush's brief television program, back when he got in trouble for calling Chelsea Clinton "the White House Dog." Considering that happened around the time Bill Clinton bombed the baby aspirin factory (on the day Linda Trip's story/tapes went public), it's no wonder that "Wag the Dog" was probably on his mind.
The 2nd time I drew Rush, in 1996. Chuckling. When I got my first iMac in 1999, the very 1st email I sent was to Rush's old Compuserve address. It was a parody of a Denny's commercial, told with the same un-PC whimsy that Shanklin used in his song parodies. I loved Rush's humor. It was subtle, intelligent, and deliciously-absurd. (Remember "KOOKS" - Keep Our Own Kids Safe? - and how many liberal callers fell for it?) I can still hear his vocal teletype - Da-da-da-dut! Da-da-da-dut! - as well as his catch-phrases: "With talent on loan from God! - With half my brain tied behind my back, just to. make it fair!" No matter what was happening in the country/world, Rush always found a way to deliver his Conservative message with relentless optimism. But even more importantly, Rush genuinely believed in American excellence, and that God chose the United States to set a world standard. He preached the *need* to strive for our own personal potentials, no matter what the obstacles, no matter what the odds. Rush told his listeners that if we pursued what we LOVED with our lives, we'd always be happy. I could still hear his voice when I wrote When People Go Away, and I know that he's proud of me - as my own standards are as high as his. My heart's been in knots since Rush's death.
Carrying the torch of EIB light. RED WHITE AND BLUE STRIPES splashed across Sean Hannity's latest book - Live Free or Die - as I placed it on the New Release table, at my last Barnes & Noble. I've followed Hannity since the early nineties, back when he used to sub for Rush's vacations - in the same way that Johnny Carson always used Joan Rivers. The first time I heard Hannity, I was actually a little surprised; he was a *diamond in the rough* so to speak, and his delivery wasn't as polished as it is today. That's actually why I turned the radio UP when he subbed: "If Rush has the confidence to give Sean free reign of his show, he must really trust his message." Hannity was young, talented, and full of Conservative passion - and it saddened me when he joined Fox News because my cable at the time didn't yet carry the channel. But I did get to listen to him for a couple of years, and I heard him grow into a skilled communicator, which was exactly what Fox needed in it's infancy - back when Steve Doocy read the weather. When I finally got The Fox News Channel in the 2000s, Hannity was already a solid fixture on the network. I waited tables at the time, so I taped Hannity & Colmes to watch when I got home. I was pleased to see that Sean was as gifted on television, as he was on the radio.
In Live Free or Die: America on the Brink, Hannity explores the issue discussed in my last blog post, and how modern Liberalism is destroying our country from within. Reagan used to say, "Freedom is but one generation away from extinction," an issue Limbaugh trumpeted daily on his show. I rarely read political books as they tend to cover topics of which I'm already familiar, but I made an exception for Hannity's work - as its content hit so close to home. (As a fellow author, I also wanted to give him the sales.) Sean's book was chilling. I'll spare you the Amazon synopsis, but what I liked about the work was how it covered our country's slow decline (and eventual demise) from radical Democratic policies that are weakening this nation in front of our eyes. The book's tough-love message is delivered with GET OFF YOUR ASS urgency, like a family's intervention for an alcoholic who's liver is starting to fail. But all interventions come from a place of love, and Sean clearly has his mentor's deep love of country. I watch Hannity's show on Fox, and I can see his desperation as he PLEADS for Liberals to listen to him. It infuriates me when I discuss political correctness with Democratic friends, as Liberals can't seem to grasp that the *reason* we have the luxury of such ideological disagreements is because past GOP administrations have given us an umbrella of protection (by securing the borders and strengthening the military), which allows everyone the freedom to have such arguments to begin with! What I really liked about Sean's book was that it brimmed with faith - Let not your heart be troubled. Hannity has followed Limbaugh's footsteps, a master trained by The Master, a man who - as far as I'm concerned - now carries the torch of golden EIB light.
In Live Free or Die: America on the Brink, Hannity explores the issue discussed in my last blog post, and how modern Liberalism is destroying our country from within. Reagan used to say, "Freedom is but one generation away from extinction," an issue Limbaugh trumpeted daily on his show. I rarely read political books as they tend to cover topics of which I'm already familiar, but I made an exception for Hannity's work - as its content hit so close to home. (As a fellow author, I also wanted to give him the sales.) Sean's book was chilling. I'll spare you the Amazon synopsis, but what I liked about the work was how it covered our country's slow decline (and eventual demise) from radical Democratic policies that are weakening this nation in front of our eyes. The book's tough-love message is delivered with GET OFF YOUR ASS urgency, like a family's intervention for an alcoholic who's liver is starting to fail. But all interventions come from a place of love, and Sean clearly has his mentor's deep love of country. I watch Hannity's show on Fox, and I can see his desperation as he PLEADS for Liberals to listen to him. It infuriates me when I discuss political correctness with Democratic friends, as Liberals can't seem to grasp that the *reason* we have the luxury of such ideological disagreements is because past GOP administrations have given us an umbrella of protection (by securing the borders and strengthening the military), which allows everyone the freedom to have such arguments to begin with! What I really liked about Sean's book was that it brimmed with faith - Let not your heart be troubled. Hannity has followed Limbaugh's footsteps, a master trained by The Master, a man who - as far as I'm concerned - now carries the torch of golden EIB light.
Trump, waving "hi" to Rush in the Heavens. RED WHITE AND BLUE STRIPES are seen on the flags, shirts, hats, banners, and *waving* in the hands of the MAGA supporters at every Trump rally that I see on television. Chuckling...I'm obviously a Donald fan, and one of my biggest dreams is to get a photo with him: ME - in leather & red MAGA hat, and HIM - in a black suit w/red tie & wearing my Muir. The next time he visits Chicago, I'd love to take him for a drink at Touche (though he'd have to pay, as the bar won't take a LINK card; Also - I want to ride in the limo). I'd love to show the guys the man that *I* see, a genuine Rush/Hannity Patriot, a President who loves our country enough to speak to us with tough love. More importantly, I'd want Mr. Trump to sit at the bar with a crowd gathered around him like a Kids in the Hall "Buddy Cole"-monologue, and explain why he believes in American excellence - and why it's important that the Left should as well. We all need a harsh reminder of how dangerous the world has become, and why a strong United States is necessary - and how easily our freedom can Go Away. I'd like to hear Donald discuss how "special interest" groups are treated in other countries. (Russia immediately comes to mind, as Putin openly punishes "Homosexual Propaganda" - and how weak Liberal policies have allowed the Russian President to threaten our freedom from overseas.) More importantly, I'd like to see if Trump has his own Liberalism *Gasp* moment - like the "gasp" I described in my 3/6 "The Color Purple Rain" blog post, where I discussed Perceived White Racism.
Complex problems often have simple solutions, and I know that there's an answer to this predicament. It just...doesn't...make...sense that Liberals can't see how their actions are hurting our nation, and if it continues, we'll have no country left. Democrats like to quote history, especially when calling Trump supporters "fascists," and accusing us of intolerance, because we refuse to accept mediocrity. To me, Donald Trump is the epitome of success stories, and he's literally gambled *everything* he owns to bring this message to all Americans - in the same way I've done with When People Go Away. I admire President Trump as much as I do both Hannity & Limbaugh, and I strive to be like them when I live my daily life. All three men not only fought tooth & nail to reach the pinnacle of their professions, but to spread their word of HOPE - by living the American Dream. We've totally forgotten that the Constitution guarantees, not the *right* to freedom, but the right to pursue freedom & happiness - and that is something we must actively work towards ourselves.
Complex problems often have simple solutions, and I know that there's an answer to this predicament. It just...doesn't...make...sense that Liberals can't see how their actions are hurting our nation, and if it continues, we'll have no country left. Democrats like to quote history, especially when calling Trump supporters "fascists," and accusing us of intolerance, because we refuse to accept mediocrity. To me, Donald Trump is the epitome of success stories, and he's literally gambled *everything* he owns to bring this message to all Americans - in the same way I've done with When People Go Away. I admire President Trump as much as I do both Hannity & Limbaugh, and I strive to be like them when I live my daily life. All three men not only fought tooth & nail to reach the pinnacle of their professions, but to spread their word of HOPE - by living the American Dream. We've totally forgotten that the Constitution guarantees, not the *right* to freedom, but the right to pursue freedom & happiness - and that is something we must actively work towards ourselves.
Obi-wan, you're my only hope. RED WHITE AND BLUE STRIPES wave within the opening credits of Fox & Friends every morning, when I get up at 5am. Like footage from a Trump rally, I watch Steve, Lawrence, Ainsley, and Brian, as I settle down in front of the TV, with my computer, coffee, and cats. I've been playing a lot of catch-up lately, as I stopped following the news for a few months when finishing When People Go Away. I've been doing deep-dives on China, Russia, North Korea, the Middle East - and our current administration's relationship with Israel & Palestine. The first thing I noticed was that the *venom* was back; the Democrats have again coordinated with the media to attack Donald Trump with more fervor than 2016. It's also been many years since I've drawn a cartoon, so I've been going through my pens & pencils, and I have two comics planned for Fox - which I'll do as soon as I can afford new art supplies. I've stopped listening to Talk Radio sadly; my Bose seems hollow without Rush's optimism. But with 29 years of Limbaugh's voice in my memory, I can still feel his presence today. And despite the precarious position that we find ourselves in now, I can't help but feel...happy.
"Take this - you can use it," my Mother told me, as she gave me a winning $5 Scratch-off ticket back in November, 2022. That was followed by her telling me to "just walk down to Northgate and grab the first job that you see in the window." After she left my house, I stared at the Lotto ticket - before turning my eyes towards my computer. That was the day I decided, rather than accept a minimum wage job, I was going to do what I truly loved to do - and to write the book I've always wanted.
For the next twelve months I sat at my iMac, and wrote When People Go Away - with Fox News in the background. As the country crumbled on television, I saw a *miracle* unfolding on my computer's screen, and I watched the curser leave a trail of unexpected words - with a message I did not write, myself.
It's amazing the JOY that achieving one's potential can bring, and I often thought of Rush when I was writing. Like a Prophet with a Bible, Limbaugh was a God with a Golden Microphone, and even though he's gone, I can still hear hear his voice in the faithful ... ✨
And no matter who they are, they always say the very same thing:
Strive for excellence, make America great again, and - - -
"Let not your heart be troubled." 🇺🇸
- Sir Dave
"Take this - you can use it," my Mother told me, as she gave me a winning $5 Scratch-off ticket back in November, 2022. That was followed by her telling me to "just walk down to Northgate and grab the first job that you see in the window." After she left my house, I stared at the Lotto ticket - before turning my eyes towards my computer. That was the day I decided, rather than accept a minimum wage job, I was going to do what I truly loved to do - and to write the book I've always wanted.
For the next twelve months I sat at my iMac, and wrote When People Go Away - with Fox News in the background. As the country crumbled on television, I saw a *miracle* unfolding on my computer's screen, and I watched the curser leave a trail of unexpected words - with a message I did not write, myself.
It's amazing the JOY that achieving one's potential can bring, and I often thought of Rush when I was writing. Like a Prophet with a Bible, Limbaugh was a God with a Golden Microphone, and even though he's gone, I can still hear hear his voice in the faithful ... ✨
And no matter who they are, they always say the very same thing:
Strive for excellence, make America great again, and - - -
"Let not your heart be troubled." 🇺🇸
- Sir Dave