Throughout my life I have heard people say they can't take it anymore and are moving out of the US. I never had that feeling until Trump was elected. But moving to another country is not easy and it takes money. And what kind of reception would I get as an American if I moved to Europe let's say. And is it even necessary to move out of the US if you are lucky enough to live in a blue state. I always knew there was no place like the Big Apple and these days I miss NY more than ever

I disconnected from Twitter a few months ago and I don't miss it.

I have been following the E Jean Carroll case and her testimony is powerful. She is there to have her day in court and it's clear she has never gotten over what happened. Consevative pundits have been relatively silent about this case hoping it will go away. Thrump supporters all heard the Hollywood Access tape and it didn't matter. But I submit there is a cost to a country in supporting a bad leader and that bill could come due if Trump is reelected which is why he must be defeated in 2024

I am reading The Bride Wore Black by Cornell Woolich who was a famous noir crime writer from the mid 20th century. Woolrich was a troubled man as I understand but very talented. I have only read one prior work of his, a short story which I can't recall the name of but what a chilling ending.

CoSo Books

The good news is that Ron DeSantis is not going to be President. Whatever chance he might have had is gone and the polls reflect this.

The bad news for my fellow Florida residents is that we are stuck with him and that scares me.

But I am pleased that the entire country at least took DeSantis' measure and said no. Not having it. That gives me hope.

Almost finished reading Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte. I first read this novel about 20 years ago and didn't care for it but I am really enjoying the reread. Agnes Grey is not a very long book and it deals with a fascinating subject, the life of the governess in the 19th century. It was not an easy life and yet few options were open to women who needed to find a job to support themselves. Of course Anne Bronte's major classic is The Tennants of Wildfell Hall which I also highly recommend

DeSantis' toying with everyone about whether he is running is backfiring. He is now losing to Trump in the polls by double digits. I also think his fight with Disney: "we'll make sure we keep them in their pen, one way or another" is showing a very unpleasant side to him and the country is noticing. DeSantis should be worrying about hurricanes and housing costs here in Florida.

Wasn't today the day that everyone who didn't pay for their blue check on Twitter was supposed to have their blue check removed? Granted, the day isn't over but so far the blue checks are still on. Musk appears to be stalling and it's not hard to figure out why.

If the Dominion case had been settled for an undisclosed sum I might have said hat FOX scored a bit of a victory at the end. But the sum was disclosed and FOX has agreed to pay Dominion almost 800 million dollars. That's a huge settlement. And it's a reminder that being close to Trump, doing his bidding, never works out. Ask the Jan 6 capital rioters some of whom have prison records fighting for a man who does not care.

I am thinking there are two kinds of Trump voters. The 25 % (according to an ABC poll) who still approve of him and the additional 20 % who don't want to vote for Trump but will do so if he is the nominee. And it's the latter group that interests me. They are working under the " I can't vote for a Dem and how bad can Trump be?" theory of politics. They are counting on guard rails. But the idea that Trump held back in his first term knowing he would have to face the voters hasn't dawned on them

I am reading Matthew Perry's Friends, Lovers and The Big Terrible Thing and I am about 25% of the way through and wow I have never read a memoir where the writer is willing to be this revealing. about himself. Should he have been this open? I don't know but I am in admiration of the courage Perry had to write this book and I think his honesty will help others dealing with addiction.

I love to read but I stay away from science books because I was never any good with science as a subject. But I wanted to give at least one science book a try and so I decided on The Rise and Fall of The Dinosaurs by Steve Brusatte He's a well known paleontologist and his book has received glowing reviews and I heartily agree. The Rise and Fall of the Dinasours is well written and a wonderful introduction to dinosaurs who roamed the earth for about 150 million years. Wow! #CoSoBooks

Words of wisdom from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

"He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.
Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could".

Here is my response to those who are saying an indictment helps Trump. The sad fact is that Trump has a reasonably good chance to be reelected in 2024 regardless of where he is indicted. 74 million voted for him the last time.

But at least with an indictment on his record this is going into the history books so that future generations will know what we had to deal with and future Presidents will know they are not above the law and that they too can be indicted if they commit a crime.

I've been seeing articles about how American ex-pats are horrified by the TV series Emily in Paris. As the ex-pats tell us they have tried hard to lose their American accents and not be seen as a "typical American" but then along comes Emily to ruin it for them.

But maybe if after living 15 years in a country where you still feel you have to tone yourself down or risk being stereotyped the problem isn't with you but rather the country you decided to move to.

I have never felt DeSantis has plans to run for Pres in 2024. I could be wrong but I see two obstacles for him. Trump and Trump's supporters would never forgive DeSantis if he won the GOP primary and DeSantis knows this

Also even if DeSantis were elected President he would not be able to control the US the way he is running things here in FL. He wouldn't have a rubber stamp legislature and he knows this as well.

People are saying that indicting Trump may boost his chances of reelection. My reply is that he has a scary chance of being reelected anyway. But even if an indictment could help him in 2024 the prosecutors must go ahead with the indictment.

Not indicting Trump will make a mockery out of our system of justice. And under the new rules if Trump is not indicted why can't every government employee take home top secret documents and refuse to give them back? A President is not a King.

Piers Morgan interviewed Martina Navratilova today. She was talking about her recent cancer diagnosis. Fortunately the treatment is over and it looks like she is going to be fine. What a brave woman because her particular cancer was in two different parts of the body and it was difficult to treat. But it looks like it will be okay and I wish Martina Navratilova the best and the best to everyone dealing with a serious illness. May we one day in the near future find a cure.

Trump is saying he will be indicted on Tuesday but I would caution that we not get our hopes up that he is finally going to be held accountable.

Speculation is that Glenn Youngkin may run for President in 2024. I could live with Youngkin if the alternative is Trump which would be a nightmare.

Granted I don't know much about Youngkin but maybe that's
because he's not making the headlines the way Trump and DeSantis are with some new outrageous act or comment.

Ideally you want candidates in the general election that our nation can live with and Biden and Youngkin would be a normal election the way it used to be.