Anthony Fauci Vs Rand Paul!

 The calling of American hero Anthony Fauci before a Senate hearing led by his arch enemy, a moss haired "libertarian" named Rand Paul (Neighbor-Ky) was bad enough, but when Paul and his fellow blowhards decided to simply use it as an opportunity to appeal to the anti vax, Covid was a hoax, anti-mask morons who make up the GOP base it was a shitshow.

Fauci gave a statement, calling Paul unhinged, and then clammed up, invoking the 5th for the rest of the hearing because he understood it was nothing but a trap to satisfy Paul's weird ass obsession with the good Doctor. Now Paul, a so-called libertarian who hates the feds overreach, did what most "libertarians" do when pushed, they turn into pro federal government thumb breakers ready to throw everyone in prison. Paul warned Fauci of "repercussions" for zipping his lip. I guess that means Paul will go home, dress in his Prussian military threads and think of ways to define "repercussions".

Meanwhile the screeching monkeys of the Senate committee got all their sound bites in. Senator Pussy, aka Senator Hawley, asked Fauci what day it was. Hawley, a fist pumping anarchist, then proceeded to get in his campaign shorts before yielding. Typical Hawley performance. A laughable high school theater production of All The Presidents Men. But in this case, the pussy from Missouri is on the crook's side.

Senator Bernie Moreno, a used car dealer and crypto prick. dropped the F bomb to get the attention he craves. Who the fuck do you think you were? Migawd, these assholes could ask the same questions of their cult master. The irony is out of sight.

But the worst moment was when the "Libertarian" Rand Paul, had Fauci's lawyer, David Schertler, removed from the proceedings for having the gall to bring up the Bill of Rights. Schertler left and Paul lost all libertarian cred. Again.

Look, Fauci is a national hero. He aint perfect, but he saves lives. Which is more than I can say about the libertarian, the pussy and the used car salesman. 

A contempt of Congress vote will come next week which I'm sure that Senate idiots like Tommy Tuberville and the bag of hair Marsha Blackburn will vote yes. Then Fauci can join the list of contempt of Congress folks still to be dealt with. Ya know like Jim Jordan (Greasy-Oh). Christ Ohio, what the fuck is wrong with you electing sex crime cover up artists, couch fuckers, used car salesmen and that wife beater Max Miller (DV-OH). Stop trying to become Alabama, that's Nebraska's job.

Paul released portions, very carefully, of Dr Fauci's diary (Gawd they love diaries over there on the fascist side of the aisle) that would intend to make Fauci look start struck. What Paul left out, I'm sure it was just an oversight, was Fauci's views on what a dangerous idiot Donald Trump was. Fauci was baffled by the President and his obsession with ratings and covering up Covid, which of course Trump thought would make him look bad. You know like the Covid will be over by Easter and the churches will be filled. 

Dr Fauci is 85 years old. He is retired. He has Fuck You money. And he's using it.

Rand Paul is 63 years old going on 126. Unfortunately, he still has a job. And he will use it to grandstand and roll his eyes and blather on. Fascinating!

Oh, and come on Kentucky. Your senators are this dweeb Rand Paul, and some guy who may not even be alive. You can do better than reelecting a "libertarian" fascist or a turtle on life support. Don't try and become Louisiana, that's Nebraska's job.

Yukking It Up With Fascists!!

 There she is, Meet the Press' Kristen Welker, yukking it up with Joseph Goebbels Stephen Miller at the White House Correspondents Dinner last week. This is proof that journalism is deader than Lindsey Graham. When the so called "free press" laughs it up with the very fascists who would jail them for saying bad stuff about the Fascist in Chief, it is deader than Tommy Tubervilles brain. The usual nonsense that is the WHCD usually consisted of a gathering of the Washington "journalists", they jerked each other off, and then the current President would get up and give a funny speech. Clinton was funny, W was funny, Obama was funny and then came the least funny man in the world, no not Greg Gutfeld, but Donald Trump. Trump refused to show up, keeping up his image as a press hater with his foolish followers. until last week. 

Well of course he was supposed to be there in June, and was, but some guy busted in with a weapon, and attempted to "assassinate" uhhhh hell I don't know. So the event failed to launch. RFK abandoned Cheryl Hines, Vance rushed out without Usha, Miller ran out feeling up Katie and Trump peered out from behind a curtain like "wow my fake assassination attempt seems to be going well". Thus, the event was cancelled and rescheduled because the WHC never misses an opportunity to praise themselves.

It was last Friday night. Trump sat there looking glum and playing with his mouth thing, whatever that was. The journalists getting awards, much to the anger of Trump, walked up to him and shook his hand with a fuck you smile. Kaitlan Collins did that, but had no idea what was coming.

Trump's speech was misogynistic, xenophobic, racist, homophobic and included his obsession with transgenders (whats with these weirdos?). He compared Collins to Dylan Mulvaney, called other politicians clowns, stated his hate for Adam Schiff (very Christian of you), went after late night talk show hosts, and even tried to joke about RFK's penchant for eating roadkill. Silence except from Trumps clapping monkeys in the cabinet. The problem, Donnie, is that your lame ass shit doesn't play with an audience not wearing red hats and being easily amused.

But back to the beginning. Laughing it up by "journalists" with the very people who would put you in a camp as soon as they get Supreme Court permission is a bad image. Independent press? Oh, I know it's ALWAYS been a reach around jerkfest with the politicians and the press, but the threat of Reagan or Bush or W was nothing comparable to this guy, Trump. Those presidents had a sense of humor, gently chided the Fourth Estate and even were self-deprecating. This guy is incapable of anything but lame jokes and jabs at others while comparing himself to Jesus, Lincoln and Einstein. 

I don't know what's going to happen. Journalism may not survive as heads of networks and news organizations cower in fear that Trump could cost them money. So, they kiss his ass, back off on reporting on the crimes he's committed, settle lawsuits, appoint Bari Weiss like sycophants who fire anybody who gets too close to the truth. It is disgraceful what this maniac has done to the cowards of the "free press". And it's disgraceful that the Fourth Estate turns out to be such chickenshits. It is a perfect storm for fascism. November will tell the tale.

Meanwhile the only saving grace is the reaction of the crowd to Trump's attempt to be Bob Fucking Hope. Including his cabinet members after he brings up their weirdness of eating dead whales.

Yuck Yuck!

Trump Regime Math!

 They are from the top left

1) Lt Tyler Feehan of Hawaii' 25 years old

2) Sgt Michael Swinton of North Carolina 30 years old

3) Pvt Isabella Gonzales of Texas 19 years old

4) Sgt Angel Rampersad of New York 28 years old

These four soldiers died due to Iranian missiles and drones hitting them in Jordan and Iraq, respectively.  

This last week, the Pentagon, led by Low T Pete Hegseth, removed them from the casualty list because, ta daaaaa, Trump had declared a ceasefire in April so therefore, they aren't really dead or whatever. Translation....18 dead looks worse than 14 dead so if we just ignore those last 4, everything is kosher ad lets Trump brag that we "only" lost 14 souls in the Iran War as opposed to the "200,000" we lost in Vietnam. Too bad Prez bone spurs wasn't one of them.

These four young people died for the ego of an 80-year-old maniac from the USA, a 76-year-old monster from Israel and a 77-year-old Thumbreaker from Iran. These 3 old men have caused such suffering in the world to satisfy their own ego, insanity and political madness, that they are the Putin, Xi and Kim of the so-called free world and a religious theocracy.

But when it all comes down to it, I don't give a rat's ass about any of the aforementioned creeps. The sooner they are gone, the better. What will the warmongers and whackos whose solution to everything is to bomb the shit out of anybody, do when those 3 are just a footnote in history. Probably try and find a new war criminal to kill more people. But whatever, all political leaders who act like those 6 are pieces of shit and deserve whatever happens to them. Think Khadaffi.

What I do care about are those 4 dead kids, along with the 14 others who died in the Trump/Netanyahu Folly. All should still be alive and those 6 should be in prison.

But they aren't, the 18 are still dead and those last 4 are erased by Whiskey Pete Hegseth from the killed in action list. Hegseth is a despicable human being who prances around a Navy boat like he's auditioning for the Joffrey Ballet. He claims Low T is a problem for troops. No, getting fucking blown up is the problem. The only thing Hegseth ever blew up was the Fox News bathroom. 

Hegseth had to make "sacrifices" to satisfy his evil master. And I guess two women, a black guy and a white guy were cool to bump.

Fuck Pete Hegseth. Fuck Trump. Fuck Netanyahu. Fuck the Ayatollah.

Those heroes deserved more gratefulness from their leaders.

I for one thank them for their service.

Mat Franco!

 Magician Mat Franco won America's Got Talent 12 or so years ago and has a residency at the Linq in Las Vegas. Now years ago, I gave up trying to figure out magic because I don't really want to know. Years ago, Dirk Arthur gave a box. It was a box. The box was empty. Then Abra Cadabra the box got heavy and he pulled a duck out. Where the hell did the duck come from? I was holding the damn box the whole time. It freaked me out and from then on, I don't even try.

Franco is personable, charming, self-deprecating and can zing you with a gentleness that you don't even know you've been zinged. Trust me, he saw me sitting there with folded arms and I regretted it as soon as he commented on my apparent cynical view of his magic. Tip-don't sit in front row unless you are aware he can see you. Oh yeah, I ended up with 3 bags of ramen noodles. 

His magic is absolutely baffling. Now we've seen Dirk Arthur, Penn & Teller numerous times and they were all great. But this guy? Wow. He does card tricks, makes things disappear, finds phones inside of tables, banters with volunteers and much like Penn & Teller calls you out if you screw up his instructions (for instance he asked a volunteer to roll imaginary dice and the guy said he rolled a 14 much to Mat's and the audience's amusement). He calls up a lot of people, kids (a young boy was called up and was funny and quick), adults, men, women, everyone. They say its "Magic Reinvented Nightly" and I imagine it is as volunteers are very unpredictable. This guy is a pro.

I cannot recommend this show enough. It's reasonably priced and if you buy the cheap seats in the back and the front is not sold out you just may get upgraded to the front row. This happened to us. But just don't fold your arms or else.

The Wizard Of Oz At The Sphere....Finally!

I am a cynic. Nothing really impresses me. The hype is always too much and I end up disappointed. Then came this.

After my hospital stay was over, and I was placed on meds, Max's Mom contacted the Sphere to see if the unused tickets could be transferred to Thursday. They graciously said yes.

Off we went to the Sphere to see this classic event. The staff there was helpful in not making us walk up steps but instead let us in the VIP entrance and take the escalator up to the nosebleeds.

The place is phenomenal. Full of distractions, entertainment and things to pose for selfies in front of. The escalator seems to go on forever as you head for steerage. The steps are steep and getting to row 13 was not fun for these old fogies. But we made it and sat, hoping to never get up again. WRONG! Being on the aisle meant constant standing and stepping out onto the steep staircase. Ok great.

The movie begins right on time which is good but also means the late arrivers will bug the shit out of you for a good half hour. What is so hard about being on time? Pet Peeve #1! The place is full of every type of person, the most diverse crowd Ive ever seen. The people in back of us spoke no English. There was a healthy pot full of blacks, whites, Asians, Hispanics, men, women, children, old people, young people, people dressed as characters. It is great to see. However, why is a small percentage of any crowd such narcissistic assholes? They get up to leave during the film, they come back climbing over everyone to get back, they show up late and climb over everybody. Christ its annoying.

The film experience itself is stunning. This cynic was in from the get-go. The huge screen, the special effects, the tornado scene where the leaves fall, your seat shakes, and the wind blows. It's unlike anything I've been to. And I loved it. The apples fall from the ceiling when the trees pelt the 4 characters. Yes, Max's Mom got one dropped right in her lap. Finally, the poppy scene where it starts snowing drops dishwashing liquid on you. Too bad it almost immediately melts or I'd have preserved it and taken it home. And Margaret Hamilton is the greatest screen villain of all time and I'm not going to argue about it. She just is.

Despite the fact the movie has maybe a half hour cut from it (Its very obvious) it is still as great as ever and the Sphere screen makes it like seeing a concert.

It ended and I wanted to see it again. We sat there to allow the crowd to disperse. I relived my old drunken bar days as workers started yelling you gotta leave. However, it was worth every penny when I saw Max's Mom crying happy tears during Somewhere Over The Rainbow. That made my irregular heart soar like a hawk.

One tip. Do not walk outside. It'll send you into A Fib. Walk thru the Venetian. It's all inside. Had we known that, the hospital stay may have been avoided, however, I'd have never known of my problem.

Would I go again? Of course.

But quite frankly, I would kill to see Metallica st the Sphere. I would only wound to see the Wizard of Oz again.

Go if you can. You will be happy AF.

The Veg!

 Little did I know as the ambulance pulled up to the ER bay at Sunrise Medical Center what I was in for. Rolled in on a stretcher, a staff of people began to immediately take vitals, told me I was still in A Fib and looked for a room. Wheeled into trauma room 12 to be dealt with I was thinking well this will go away and I'll be back at the hotel in no time. Across the hall was a lady who was not happy she was there and let the nurse know in no uncertain terms. The nurse, Aurora, with the patience of a saint took my blood and a chest x-ray and all the time dealing with the lady who was demanding Tylenol every 5 minutes. I was not really scared, tho Max's Mom was, cuz ya know I am indestructible (haha). Hours went by and it became apparent I was going to be stuck there for a long time. This place was a madhouse. Then it got madder and madder until it appeared to be Arkham. 

The lady across the hall was wheeled out of the room as they had a patient coming in with life threatening problems. A nurse came in and closed the curtain so I couldnt see out into the hallway. The insanity began as a man on a stretcher was wheeled into the room with a paramedic on top of him doing emergency CPR. I heard a conversation right out of the Pitt. Adrenaline, Epi, CPR, blood pressure of 47 over 21 and the inevitable time of death call. The man was found on the toilet and was there for 20 minutes I guess. He was obviously dead from the get-go. It was very freaky to listen to. 

Ya think that was all? Nope. I was wheeled out of my room into a hallway. A friggin hallway with about 50 people also laying there. I had a view of the ambulance bay for hours. I saw what was coming in. It WAS the Pitt. It was ER. Migawd those shows are realistic. The place was so full, the ambulance crews had to wait their turn, turning the ER into a traffic jam. The ambo folks brought people in so often we saw the same ambo crews numerous times. Yes we there that long.

A man was brought in by a male and female paramedic. He began to hit on the female.

"Hey baby you got a boyfriend?"

"No I have 3 girlfriends"

" Wow now that's a party, I wish I had 3 girlfriends, Imagine all that pussy"

"Hey now no P words"

He eventually was wheeled in to sober up I assume. 

A man was brought in puking very loudly into a trash bag. It never seemed to end until he was wheeled into the ER to sober up, I assume.

A female in a party dress was wheeled in counting from 1 to 4 constantly. She was flirting with the very same female paramedic who the drunk man was hitting on. Eventually when was wheeled in to sober up I assume. 1 2 3 4 she eventually got all the way to 10. The male paramedic asked her what lesson she learned this night and she blurted out " not to drink after 7". I had no idea if she meant the time of day or the number of drinks.

A man was wheeled in hitting himself in the face. The cops were with this guy. Eventually he was wheeled in to go to jail.

A woman was wheeled in with a bloody face. She had been beaten up by I assume her significant other. She was eventually wheeled in to probably go back to the son of a bitch.

Remember the woman across the hall who was taken out to make room for a dead guy? She was laying in the hallway right within my eyesight. The nurse, who was also my nurse, who said her name was I don't know it sounded like RageAgainstTheMachine gave the Tylenol lady a shot of Ativan. Within a few minutes suddenly the Tylenol Ativan woman fell out of her bed and face planted as she seized. Allergic to Ativan, I guess. I reacted with an "oh shit".

There were so many people wheeled in it was just like seeing a Vegas show, but the cover charge is way too expensive.

Ok back to me. I laid in the hallway, with Max's Mom all night long. In the hallway of a Vegas ER. Drunks, homeless, heat strokes, domestic violence victims and the mentally ill seemed to be the norm. AND THIS WAS A TUESDAY NIGHT! What must it be like on Fridays or Saturdays? I was laying there in front of the nurse's station where I heard the graveyard shift complaining about other departments, doctors, nurses, and patients. They love their job as much as most people. They don't. The swearing was intense. Fuck you.. I'm pissed...he's a motherfucker ...all came out of these nurses' mouths. It amused me.

Meanwhile a young man laid on a bed in front of us in a hospital gown. He was very polite to everyone. But when he got up to go to the bathroom it was ass crack city. He tried to hold it shut behind him but failed. He apologized constantly. My suggestion was he should pull his black boxers UP so his crack would be gone. He did not.

I am not kidding when I say the Pitt is not preposterous. It's truth. I didn't have a hospital gown; I was still in my sweaty clothes. I hope my ass crack didn't show up but I cannot guarantee it.

My room eventually came thru at about 7 in the morning, so I'd spent 15 hours laying in the hallway of the Sunrise Hospital ER. Hey, I aint any better than anybody else so I didn't get too frustrated. I saw how busy these people were treating the sick people no doubt worse off than me. But man, if this health care system is the best we have, we have failed miserably. It sucks. I do not know the answer, but basic health care should be at least a goddamn right. In this nation it's a privilege and luck of the draw for the rest of people. That's wrong. We can do better.

My inpatient stay was uneventful. Private room in the heart unit. Bland food. Constant attention from nurses named Nikki and Briana who were great and constant doctors explaining my problem to me. But I was there way too long mostly due to the fact I am not special, nor should I be. They finally let us go around 7 pm or so. So, 15 hours in the ER hallway, and 12 hours in a private room. As frustrating as it was, I appreciated the care and dedication of these damn saints. They do the work, they put up with me, and they do it with a smile and jokes. THEY are the greatest. The system sucks.

Anyway, after a silent UBER ride back to the hotel, we crashed. Vending machine pizza, subs and a piece of cake (Yes, the machine made the pizza, and it was good as was the sub) we bought some water and caffeine and zoned out. 

One more day in Vegas to redeem itself.

By the way, this is a picture of the Sunrise ambulance bay on a Wednesday night at 6pm,

We're Off To See The Wizard....Oh Yeah???

 We came to the city I really cannot stand, Las Vegas, Sin City, The City Where What Happens There Stays There, to fulfill Max's Mom's fantasy of seeing the Wizard of Oz at the Sphere. It's a fucking 110 degrees here AND the goddamned humidity on Tuesday was Omaha-like. So as much as I despise the Midwest and it's 77 dew points well guess what? Yep, the luck continues and the "dry heat" became Omaha plus 20 degrees. So of course, a 25-minute walk to the Sphere was a minor inconvenience. Yeah, until it wasn't. About 75% of the way I began to feel sick. I had to sit. I walked a bit farther and had to sit. I felt like I was gonna either pass out, puke or drop dead. Or all three. We got to the Sphere and sat on the steps. The security staff, who had initially refused to provide us with any water, suddenly decided that was a bad idea. The cold water that Max's Mom poured over my head woke me up fast and I felt rejuvenated. Ready to go. Right? RIGHT? Here come the paramedics and they insist I get checked out. So this old man, me, gets wheeled on a stretcher into the Sphere and into the first aid room. This is where it all got complicated. They did all the vitals and I was ok. Right? RIGHT? Uh no. The fine paramedics, Michael and Perry hooked me up to the EKG or whatever it is and Michael said "Ive got good news and some really bad news. Oh, for chrissakes, what now? You are NOT having a heart attack, cool, BUT you are in atrial fibrillation and we suggest you go to the nearest ER because you could have a blood clot AND have a stroke and die! What? No, I'm here to take the trip up the Yellow Brick Road and no flyin monkeys gonna stop me. The Sphere medical staff, saints named Michael, Perry and Breann, pounded away at the seriousness of A Fib. 

A Fib. Where your heart valve looks like a used car dealer with the dancing things and the blood aint flowing right. Ok guys, you convinced me and they called the ambulance. Christ, here we go again. Nebraska Wesleyan football game (2022 pass out and trip in ambulance to hospital). Omar and Denise showed up to transport the old geezer, me, to Sunrise Hospital. Pizza boxes between the seats (good for you guys) the ride was smoother than the Lincoln ambo which felt like an old VW bus on a gravel road. They were great. Off I went to the Emergency Room. On a stretcher. Jesus H Christ I hate being old. The doctors checked my vitals and a security guard (looked like Michael Fanone from J6) was suddenly patting me down for weapons. I told him I left them at the hotel and he laughed and offered me  brass knuckles if I needed them. Huh? I soon found out what he meant.

Wheeled thru a Vegas ER is quite the experience. More about that next time.

Little did I know the dead witch under the Sphere was ME.