Viral Vicissitudes

  My Add-vice, whether or not (to weather the storm clouds) A direct turnaround, unprecedented comeback... is it technically as in directionally, doing a 180, 360 or, in our case, “we’re more than halfway- no turning back now…” In spite, or de-spite... depending on how you term the terms, of (dis)engagement... Vacate the premises... or take a vacation, by leaving the area...getting a fresh start, a new venue, or even spend it cleaning house...might as well, while I wait for the cloud cover to lift... "Is it me...?" Or are there 100 million going the wrong way, on the expressway...which features "express" lanes (aren't they all designated as such?) Turncoat! It’s a reversible condition… turn it inside out or…More like “Turn tail and run!” in the other direction from where I’m going… Mist me yet?  Unlikely, as long as I have this proverbial black cloud following around… Sunny dis-position: Is the best I can do, under these cloudy circumstances...  t rying my best...

Coming apart, at the seams…or so it seems. “Ceases to amaze” for example, how much blood, sweat, and tears, that had to accumulate prior to arriving at a “cease fire” agreement, after which even the slightest innuendo fired in the wrong direction, can be the undoing as if coming unglued… Unseamly - And after all that we had done, accomplished, on behalf of the same people(s) that we had brought together, in a sense of comity -- as in "mutually beneficial for the two (or more) nations..." representatives of which had assembled here, and there, after being invited by "host" nations... Disassembling - as in an undoing of what had been built, assembled, or constructed…the former usually being accomplished at warp speed after the latter taking what has become, for some, several generations, growing up as displaced people…who have been too preoccupied to even think, of such a thing (hosting, let alone toasting a lasting cease, let alone peace, that lasted more than... Res...

Dees, Dems, and DOGE...fiddle-de-dee!  Explain the ex-claim: "Why are you so surprised...why the OMG to the OMB representative, whose slogan... "We're here to execute..." Which is exactly what we're doing, in doing away with... "Hey, Mr. D.J.🎤!”  shortened for efficiency sake...just ponder how much fonder many will be not to have to address him as Mr. President"...  Paring down... "You're the weakest link....better yet, you're fired!" Talk about a natural pairing, when a few game show hosts who are known for ridding themselves of excess baggage (both on, off the air, with five divorces between three hosts) and otherwise an acerbic, snark, sarcastic edge to their personalities. It's now part of the job description... "DOGE-ing a bullet": The new reality show, that's becoming a reality at a national level, along with "Drain the Swamp" which now double as a D.C. comic...strip.

Clan-destiney made Manifest- potential energy re-served  Go West, head Easterly: It's where you'll find your future, fortune, one and old...so he told...U.S. Manifestation, Desti-nation  - spreading out, in all directions…all the way to the new, old Gulf. And the ever popular Mars bar. As in the one raising the bar…the old “the skies the limit” routine - which these daze is anything but… "No huff, no puff, no more House falling..."  - as it no longer matters which way the wind blows, given one of the signed, Presidential sealed, and soon-to-be delivered exec. order regarding renewables...that he approached with what sure appeared to be renewed vigor and vitality that seems to evoke visions of youth "You know I have a sun, that stands much taller, is brighter, our future..." If we could just tap into this, unending source, the so-called... Fountain of Youts ...both of dem, that 'My Cousin Vinny" called upon, in the eponymous film, perhaps the rest of...

Home groan, self-defense coarse  We are under know grand illusions… What can take years…as in a massive buildup…”Great Expectations”…a Dickens of a tail… Can take a sudden turn (ouch, should have stretched this out first) as in a “Tail of two cities…”  And even a sudden departure…which around our home and even the room we warm up in what's warmly called "The Den", (those lucky duckies who get to sit, mostly stand, in a 'sectional' that resides in Section 236 at Ford Field) can result in what our family let alone our guests experience as a rude awakening, let alone a premature exit, as being shown the door…(“loser!”) Familiarity breeds contempt - we don’t have to like this even though we have groaned to be used, to it… “The Lions have left, the building” (but UR welcome to stick around, sulk it all in…)

Our (2) Hours of Need: The hand-off - A Chafing Peace (part 3) It (took) two, too: As in turns out. As I was not only dumb-founded, but in awe-struck. Adding up to humbled, upon reflection, in retrospect. Gaining a whole lot of new respect, admiration even, after I had casted him off as an ineffective leader, as in President. But, upon further reflection and intro-spection... Critical crucibles: That I heard and then learned about, after I thought I had heard and knew it all, which led to a severe degree of miss-judgement, on both counts. Early and often, throughout the recounting of one man's legacy, on behalf of another... "Funeral for a Friend" - From...1973...an instrumental that by the accounts I reviewed, was written as the famous composer, Elton John, contemplated what kind of music he would want to be played at his own funeral. Eight years before two former presidents and avid adversaries found themselves at another funeral, at the request of another, then current...

  A Peace, of the action  - Impart 2: Establishing a Heading... Mast, letterhead:  on which you will find, in both bold and fine print, headings and foot-notes ... announcing and otherwise de-noting the essential elements, that will be discussed. Sometimes, simply referred to as "what's your agenda, here?" Inquiring minds, they are... Talking heads : usually, “Of State”….as in Secretary, ambassador, other dignitaries…that could pose and posture, diplomatically…and interact “thereof, therein, on behalf of"…a state, region, nation, a whole people...including attaché’s as well as those that carry them, such as the couriers - who always seem to be in a hurry...did I miss anyone? Turning heads:  "Talk is cheap..." Wanna bet? Have you ever even estimated the price tag that all the prep work, advance visits in order to what's called "advance" even a pro-log, of "coming events" prior to actually sitting down as a dyad, triad, group...thinker...

Commercial-ism and add-verse reactions. Coach-a-billity: Comes for more pay, every day...so much for a free agent! Coaches dream: While we scream, then stream... “Make the cut!” As in commercial shoot, to make more loot... N ame I n L ights: "Whose bright idea was that ?!" On, “Off!” The field of play, comes the new signal caller... Capping it off: Hatter hater, the rude dude with the red head (color coded cap so we can pick him out, of the line-up of other color-full characters)...with the tip of his hat, can bring things to a screaming halt... “Time out!” For what has made "past time" a reality in what's supposed to be an action packed, contact sport. The cause for us losing contact with reality, for more frequent and longer pauses..."we'll be right back after another word from yet another in a long line-up of sponsors..." These commercials along with their breaks, in the action, necessitated, in order to bring you this "LIVE!" (ish) te...

Soft wear engineers and pocket liners It's where you'll find UR future, fortune...  Engine-earrings and designers of tomorrow... "The future's in...and out" Text-tiles, and other one-liners...which was only one takeaway, from what the incoming signed in to action, deleting, then returning...the mouse is gonna be real tired of running up, and down the Tik Tok clock, that's for sure..."He told me, my son of mine, I better get in gear and go see Joe before it's too late...Rogan and all the other social media types, if I'm going to get back to the future..." Pocket savers:  If you want to be part of what used to be called the nerd herd, who are now out in front, as in the ones now looking out for us, saving time and money...may as well look the part... Technically speaking…$500 Billion is halfway to a trillion, the in-vestment ….nothing Artificial about that, if you ask me, this operation Stargate that rumor has it, will be fueled artificially by...

Lions' lore and gore -   Fan Duelers, Droolers... Wound lickers:  Wear they usually wind up the season, after taking one…a licking, that is… Battering Life : Takes a licking, keeps on ticking… Bruised, battered (not that it mattered) …”no one’s going to feel sorry for us”  Lions and their lair : “We’ve got the best fans, and home field advantage” So to speak. Lions' lament: "We fell like cement...or. like a ton of bricks...no matter how it comes out, it works out, pretty much the same...turf toes, broken bones and dreams..." Passed down : As in throwing the pass, into the turf, and all the stories of yesteryear and the so-called Halcyon daze, that get passed down generationally…about “The Lion and the Bears” Meet, Greet : To ensure the newest cubs have what the Kings of the Jungle fondly fawn after…”fresh meat”😛 Preferential seating : Available to what are in Fan-dumb lingo, referred to as "all comers", for what are  ”premium prices” (a subtle, even decepti...

Peacers, Pleasers, and Teasers…caste of characters, out-casters  Throw (or cast, whichever is easier) a wide net…if you want to catch any… En-durable materials: As in making sure, if you’re casting a wide one that is likely to bring in a big catch, as well as hold onto it. This, from the returning Chief Executive (AKA President Elect) who saw the net effect of what he had accomplished, accompanied by a strong cast, reduced in size and scope... Geo-politically speaking… And a wide angle lens, as the case may be — based on how large a photo it took to capture, for example, all the Israeli cabinet members gathered around their own table to discuss even the “preconditions” of a cease fire…which could, even rise to the level of “provisional”, which could in turn earn the distinction of a “mutual agreement” to dis-engage, gracefully with both saving face.  Peace meal- sounds like another condition but actually refers to the universal first course of  “breaking bread together” a...

"Gotta hand it to you..." "Hand it over..." Hand over fist… "What are you handing me, here?!"    I'm talking about a smooth transition, a "peaceful transfer of power" as scene, metaphorically, as handing over the reins of government, in a democratic society...prior to making peace elsewhere, frequently featured as handing out an olive branch. Gotta start somewhere, may as well clean up our own act, prior to telling others... "Repeat after me..." Even though he, as an individual who is representing U.S. as chief executive, may readily recall the words, passage, from eight years ago, this peace-full process is predicated on protocol. A show, of hands... which, in the course of a meeting which follows either Robert's Rules or parliamentary procedure is one way to show approval. Or dis- as the case may be. Which, when accompanied by other acts of "civil disobedience", as MLK demonstrated -- whose memories and lessons in hi...

 Same old, same old, a story re-told… Dousing our flame,  just short of fame… Lions out gamed… Underdog tamed… Key starters, came up lame…otherwise pretty much the same… Press-boxers - adding insults to injuries… “Goff was…way off” But no cause for shame. You got us back in the game…  Put us back on the map…”don’t believe all that crap!” Life in the D - even the un-certainty… What it will take, the curse finally taking a break… Eternal optimism abound - as long as Lion’s fans are around. 

 If you full-fill it, they will come…and go. And sit around it…more like laid out, as in a whole a-ray... Bubbling up all around, as in conversations, while on vacations... Results, are a mixed, bag...Bougie, Boggs, depending on age of handler... Bottom-less😔...better to hide the contents, from what are referred to as "prying eyes'... Behind photochromic, a whole gradient, including those who live in the rose-colored world... Takes...in, all types, of (un)movers, shakers (half bakers, is more like it, which prompts a roll over)... Towel dry...to avoid a hair fry, frizzle, it's starting to drizzle... Feeling warm all over, while looking cool...by the pool... Baring witness, to what happens in Hollywood...As in Florida... "All wet?" You bet, and I was the only one on many an occasion, when the temps hit a balmy 69, that was actually en-gulfed completely, in what was advertised as a "swimming pool" about a half hour, from the actual Gulf... What I had to ...

  "Let's get Physique-all!"🎝  " Yeah, let's..." 😒  A kind of understated statement of enthusiasm in response to, or in trying to keep up with, the trainer or other "motivational coach" you paid to at least get you off, to a strong start...even after you viewed the earlier video, of Olivia Newton John, scantily clad, next to a lad, even more so... "False start!" How would you like to have your number called, as the one who, after thousands of coming to what's in American Futbol termed the "line of scrimmage", one that moves from paly to play, throughout the game, one that to the viewing audience is shown quite clearly, clear across the field, but not so easy peasy, when you have someone of equal size and strength lined up across from you, using what’s termed in all competitions as “every trick, in the (play) book” to get you to simply move prematurely or otherwise pull you “offsides !” Which, regardless of whether you are g...

"Blessed be (may they be blessed) the Piece Makers" The language and action of a-peace-meant Part 1: Ceasing the opportunity. Piecing together talks, and the talk of peace: Such a huge task, in and of itself, that I decided to pick apart, one piece at a time, given its critical nature, and its critics (many of whom have become cynics, over time)... (dis)Order of Operations: As they rarely go smoothly, as in a predictable sequence. And even then, it's many times what's inside the parentheses that reflect what's really (rarely?) going on...as in a Peace that's subjected to many provisions, conditions, "qualified" by either or both sides, that the best on might hope for ends up being a "provisional peace", subject to many pauses, and clauses and... Ceases to amaze: How many drafts, as in a general outline, followed by a rough draft, a final copy that is read (at least in what's termed a "cursory" fashion, if not cursed!), often t...

 Feeling, all congested, stuffy, otherwise nauseated?  (Un)join the crowd! While initially an invitation to wider, open lanes and spaces, it’s increasingly a topic of government ordering, an edict even…co-muter lanes, followed by the return of user fees…depending on when and where you go in or out, of various clogged up areas, you will pay what we all got used to paying as a ‘fuel additive’ — not one adding quality but one just boosting the price you paid, at the pump. Now, despite pumping our own, you’ll still feel the bump, in the road… Keep your eye out for explosive materials...  Not tarrif-ic news: that the future is in, as Mr. Robinson said, “one word…plastics” And the future, as it turns out, is YOU…as we all have traces of all kinds of foreign materials in us...as in parts per million, or so…so says the FDA…Whereas the EPA…another arm of government that looks out, for us…regulates what goes in the tank and how far it might take us, when, and now where, as it turns...

"Fan, Fair (?) for the Common man..." Re-envisioned. "A-h-h-h...Inspired" While the original version was written, in response to the entry of our country into WWII, inspired by a speech by a VP, composed by Aaron Copland, it played out over and over and VE Day, in Times Square and "the world over..." Which only makes sense and strong symmetry, since the original speech by Henry A. Wallace proclaimed the dawning of the "Century of the Common Man". Awe inspiring, as it turns out, played at so many types of celebrations, such as those "heralding something exciting...occasions where dramatic persuasion and heroic trumpet notes inspire collective pride and determination..."   "Rock on!" As in when one of my favorite groups, that incorporated orchestral themes, earliest memes, into their rock arrangements -- Emerson, Lake and Palmer's adaptation, in 1977... Ice is Nice: Proving adaptable, even for such a cool event as when the C...

 I’ve fallen off… My workout routine… Fell off the proverbial wagon…more accurately rolled of the bench (un)intentionally…but sure made it look good… Stuntman workout - my newest and brightest idea yet…at least early in the morning of the new day of the last day of the week of the first month… Roll before the bowl...effect. That is, in both the language of resolutions and revolutions, as in "gym rats" -- the former of which tend to stick around until, just a co-incidence, the time the Super Bowl is scheduled, and the latter who stick it out, and jump up and down, when they leave... Sheer…stoop-itidy - what I gotta' learn to do before jumping up so fast… So much, for getting what in fitness formatting frame…   ”getting a jump start on the competition” Whereas, only an eternal optimist or one trying to keep up with their own resolve reference…”stumbled upon a new workout this morning “😆💪

Puller opposites: bye directional magnetism. Affects of effects: "as in before, except..." Lots of exceptions, these daze, given what has been touted as either "strange phenomenon of poles trading places, effects of global...or plain old rotten luck, but well deserved" as in "must have been something you did to tick off...MSN (Mother Super Nova, who else?). I mean, what else would X-plain... "Wintering in Florida" While Flo Rida was icing the crowd in the northern climes, at the "International Auto Show", in the coldest, darkest month of the year -- some of which were actually featured with tops down (used to simply be called "convertible" but...now some sort of "high bred" or another) -- the few (hundred thousand if the so-called X-press-weigh were any indication) that decided to drive south, in order to beat the rush of "snow birds" flying down, ...only to see the temps beat us to the punch...to the so-called ...

  Eye shutter to think, hardly slept a wink...as Wimpy gone Lumpy! Curb repeal: You Reddit right..."a network of communities that can dive into their interests..." including some, so early in the year, that have gotten smaller, in size and/or scope...those whose popularity and/or financing, have taken, a dive, a plunge even... Where's the $%*# beef?!  I mean, what is the matter with them, what did we do to offend them, what do we have to do to fend off our creditors...??? Looks as if the "Hamburglar" has come and gone, done his nasty deed..."Where Wendy went...Hardee hardly feeling hardy...BurgerFi fried, DQ's deep 6'd!"   Tossed Cookies?! Following the main course, in due course..."If you don't eat your meat...you can't have any..." Now, even if I belong, to what our folks fondly featured "the clean plate club" and invited outside to sit around the campfire, where the favorite meme, "I want s'more..." ...

Friendly farewell, friend and foe alike. A collective pause, for a worthy cause: As in the nation and most of the "free world" -- many of which will show respect, reverence, by flying flags at half mast, as well as putting government offices, services on a brief hiatus, pause...a bit ironic, considering this 39th President of the United States of America, who not only served in the service, but whose major love language -- "acts of service" went way beyond, what he took the oath to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States". Upon reviewing his now countless acts of service, most done on behalf of thousands of beneficiaries he would never come in contact with, nor expect an expression of gratitude. Part of his own constitution, as it turns out... Hammering home the point: While he has already been lifted up through many songs and hymns of praise and patriotism, and though I never met him in person, I am confident that "Jimmy...

 Logging 1,000….miles - it’s so…Boeing… It became plain…the fore and aft shadowing of what might Wright his…never lost sight as in “forest for the trees…” Being a logger, by nature…flew the coup… Cost cutting- dollars and sense…Value Jet…Air Bust… Ana-gram scam… Palin-drones...as in 747, 707...Radar...bet it made you...look it UP! Why Oh Why: as in using the seven forward and back...best I can tell, it was to one UP the 666...who would even think of boarding such a flight, stacked deck...?  Let alone belting yourself in…Talk about getting deep 6’d!  All settled in? "We'll be reaching cruising altitude..." Have you even ever thought, let alone cared, what heights your current air-liner is aspiring to? And whose piloting this ship? Based on most recent air-line analytics, coming out of the mouths of the now, at least temporarily mollified line workers, we might want to pay closer attention to those so-called "boots on the ground" who are hanging out but where else...

I- conic Ironies, in no particular order of best, worst, just for once… "I-75": hardly.  As once we got on what’s popularly called a “free-weigh” we crawled as much as we ran, up to the speed limit…speaking of… “Slow down and chill…” so many snow birds sure seem to be in a hurry, if the numbers of vehicles in the curiously named "fast lane" was any indication...of the crowd going to a place seeking the annual "re-set" button, that weirdly ends them up in a state of..."It's getting too crowded down here...mass migration, 700 more per day, 8,014 per week since the last census, have we lost our senses?!" Speaking of pressing the re-set button... “Cool down” - so it says - my personalized digital Alexa readout that followed me all the weigh into the fitness center. And this, just as I was starting to feel all warmed up…just can’t satisfy this Sirius bunch…in this special place of opposing forces…where the more weight you add, the more you, depend...

 “Warning, warning, warning, warning...” Labels ahead...  Attach-meants: Attaching, or in label lingo, “affix” with some sticky substance so not easily re-pealed, and in a place of prominence, or at least conspicuous enough to get us to notice…all this prior to… Emptor, empty: A cautionary statement prior to consuming. digesting…and probably ruining your appetite for…whatever…"Snickers stickers?!?!" Annualized returns: As soon as many seem to coincide with beginning of each calendar year, before you can even begin to enjoy some of the funner things in life…before you can even think about breaking your resolutions...about which there ought to be a warning... Label-us: "Litigious" by nature...we're here, liable to assist you through the process when you, yourself, claim to have been inappropriately labeled or otherwise "tagged, you're it!" -- Slander us and we'll happily file a libel suit on your behalf...talk about "sticking it to 'em!...

Here YUGO, making Balkan-eyes again... An Inside-US process...  Adjectively speaking: nouns, subjected to adjectives, compounded by... Hyphen-nation: As in "when used to join, to reflect a combined meaning, a dual heritage..." Can also indicate a division  of a word (e.g., "house-holder") "What kind of American are  you, what kind of America do you want to shape to-gether, pull a-part?"  Fragment-ation nation: One byte at a time...breaking down the enamel, leading to...  Epi-Genesis: how this insidious process might begin, its inception... German-nating, hating... calling or grouping people in such a way that an other-wise civil society can resort to... Demon-eyes: Look at them, they're to blame, for our condition. On to weaponizing... Victim-I-zation nation: We can all  fall victim to this, let's be honest...which, for US, can be like pulling teeth... Ex-cavate: To get to the root, of the cavity... "Good, bad riddance!" as in how the d...

(What does a) Road Show? Post (non)Civil War post "Back, on the road again..." Where else but the one that inevitably leads one, back home again, after vacationing, participating in the annual pilgrimage, or even to pay homage... "The road to Damascus" Which deserves the quotation marks, given how many times it's been quoted to, for example, convey, a dramatic conversion of a former persecutor-turned-proselytizer, eventually even canonized as a "Saint"...Paul. Or, in current times, in a highly dramatic version, what one might encounter, if one dared to look... Syrian soil spoiled: With, what in post wartime talks, amount to the "spoils" of war -- property, profits, warring parties -- which now litter the landscape. After the 13 years, or so, of civil war (a common, simple way to distinguish it from warring spirits between nations, as opposed to the other definition of what "civil" behavior might look like) have ravaged and damaged n...

My Word(s)! "Don't look surprised" "It's early"  "As of late" Thrice is nice: (Three) Words ("It's" being what's known as a com-pound of two, too) that put together in phrases that when put together, can eventually, if crafted correctly, by a crafty writer, can convey more than one meaning, depending on context, prior knowledge (plot or "spoil alert!"). "Banish the thought" Which when boiled down, to just one word...list of ten, will, for the coming year, according to the annual survey of Lake Superior State University, due to their miss-usage, over-use, and/or general use-less-ness, add up to... Banishmeant: Everyone has their (least) favorites, that have either personal, professional, or universal (non)appeal. I argue, appeal, plead my case that the one they missed, that should have, could have, surely, they meant to forever banish (thus, the word of intro to this partial post) from the list...one that if the...

Project(ions) 2025: Heavy and liter side.  Strong start, after... Stated with a byte of resolve, mixed in with a tinge of sarcasm..."So, what's new?!" As you, me, we once again resolve to finish the un-finished business of the prior year. Why, even our incoming heads, of state, have stated, that it's their first order of business. As our un-finished projects we started in 2024, become just one of the items we re-resolve to tick, off the list, for this year (likely to tick off many). This, according to all projections of a long so-called "laundry list" of things we, with the best of intentions -- now that  would have been a cool list of the "best of" for the last year which, based on this being the first of the first of 25, I project will have to wait, I can put off, until...I may as well, along with the rest of you well-intended, get off to a good start, on my "2025 Projections" which already accomplishes one, which is to turn all those t...