All the News that fits

 Wasn't that the "tag line" for Rolling Stone Magazine?  I stopped reading them in the late 1980s'   I gave up my subscription when I had my daughter.  They had become less relevant to my daily life and I subscribed to Parents  and other child-friendly magazines, although I DID subscribe to "George" ( remember THAT, I found it well written and entertaining.  I was sorry when it folded)   I currently receive Newsletters from my Union, which I scan, AARP magazines and Westways.  I just renewed Vanity Fair and I have a pile of Smithsonian Magazines that I keep "meaning to read" but am way behind.   I was thinking this morning about taking a day off, shutting myself in my bedroom and just reading and napping.  AHH sounds good.  It won't HAPPEN mind you, but it's a goal.

I was thinking about two news events this week.  I am not watching the Olympics, which is unusual for me, but the time difference and the huge amount of work I have these days has made it impossible.  we see the results on social media and NBC is doing a piss-poor job of coverage, the usual single minded American-centric reporting, and while I AGREE we need to support our athletes, when we are not in contention, they SHOULD show some of the other Gold medal competitions.   After all the symbol is FIVE interlocked rings, not one ring to rule them all.

I applaud the courage of Simone Biles, who was able to place her own health above the  "need" of people who demanded she perform for them.   If she had a broken arm or a broken leg, would we be yelling that she should "suck it up " ( Remember Keri Strug, who was forced by her coach to perform in pain?   She was hailed as 'courageous" when in fact, she was just a scared teenager who was pressured by someone who was a bully who needed HER victory to enhance HIS status.  He was and is a pig)  The stigma of issues with mental health are still there and we do not seem to accept that is is the same as any other health condition and not a weakness.  My own medical provider is guilty of this.  When I get a message, reminding me of my appointment, They leave out the name of the doctor of what office she is with.  THEY are perpetuating the stereotype that caring for your mental well-being is somehow shameful and needs to be hidden. It shouldn't.  I applaud Biles and Naomi Osaka for their openness regarding their mental health and the fact that they are doing something to heal.  Both young women are wonderful role models.

I was looking at the Senate today and wondering if the sudden push by the Republican Party to pass the infrastructure bill is meant to take the focus of the January 6 commission.  We ALL saw what happened, if we were watching the news.  The fact that the Former guy says they were "hugging and kissing the police is a travesty.  If he thinks what went on was "hugging and kissing, that goes a LONG way to explaining why he is divorced. Twice.   I am looking forward to the testimony of others.  I was crying when I heard the police officers and ashamed to hear the Rethuglican branch of their party call them "crisis actors"  They are POLICE OFFICES  Please do not wave your "back the Badge" banner in my face, if THIS is how you act when they are not doing what you want them to do. And whatever is in the Kool-aid that they serve at those committee meetings that makes every Republican forget how they were cowering  in fear in a secret hold somewhere in the building while Trump's Tourists hunted for them in the halls must be some powerful stuff.  Mike Pence is the worst.  They would have HUNG him if they had gotten hold of him, but there he is, licking Trump's boots.

I am heartened by Adam Kinzinger.  He put Country before Party.  It may be the end of his career, IF the current Republican Ruling class has it's way. Although I do not agree with most of their platform- WHEN THEY HAVE ONE ( they currently only have slogans and advertising) I believe we need both sides of the coin to have an effective government.  The current Republican Party is being run by the Mean Kids from your Junior High School.