President* Trump, Somehow I doubt DT masks have been flying off the Amazon/Walmart/Target shelves this Halloween season since you continue to be the anti-example for kids and most (seriously, most) US adults can’t stand you. To be fair, I don’t think Biden masks are the rage either; he’s not got an especially interesting look and … Continue reading A Halloween harangue
Safety
Our duty
President* Trump, It’s been one of those jam-packed Sundays and I’m pretty toasty so planning to keep this short. My big news is that I finished printing the Declaration of Independence pieces (there are five panels) and can take them to get their pictures taken tomorrow afternoon if I can swing taking some time off … Continue reading Our duty
Declaring independence
President* Trump, I told you some months back that I planned to embroider the Declaration of Independence so that I can print from it and today seems like an appropriate day to give you an update. I still have about another week’s worth of work to do but I’m finally at the really good part … Continue reading Declaring independence
Words matter, a lot
President* Trump, Last night as I was trying to fall asleep, I realized that I closed out yesterday’s letter to you in a highly problematic way, one that betrays my implicit racial biases that, unfortunately, run parallel to the WP editors I called out earlier in the week. Here is the offending text: “This tree … Continue reading Words matter, a lot
Why now?
President* Trump, I’m 95% certain I’ve told you about this tree before – it’s the ancient chestnut tree a few houses North of the original 21st Buddha and I’ve walked past it at least once a week for about 10-ish years now. Because it’s sited at the end of the block its massive canopy shades … Continue reading Why now?
Breathtaking and heartbreaking
President* Trump, You probably love, love, love Mr. Mark Thiessen, conservative WP editorialist extraordinaire – he’s really your kind of guy. It probably doesn’t hurt that he seems to love, love, love you. I know it’s not very tolerant or open-minded of me, but I usually don’t even bother reading the titles of his editorials, … Continue reading Breathtaking and heartbreaking
A possible remedy for the problem of large, round numbers
Dear President Trump, Right this minute at 7:18am the Worldometer says that 99,883 people in the US have died from covid-19. I’m going to try to not check the website compulsively throughout the day as we close in on 100,000, but I’m not making any promises. Why do you think it is that big round … Continue reading A possible remedy for the problem of large, round numbers
“Fixing” curves and bringing history into focus
Dear President Trump, This morning I had nada for you. All I could muster was the date and the salutation – I was so blank I thought I’d probably end up just writing a haiku. Well, you’re in luck because that was the then but now I have not one thing to tell you about, … Continue reading “Fixing” curves and bringing history into focus
Covid charades and “The Betrayals”
Dear President Trump, I know you have (and take) plenty of opportunity to look in the mirror, whether directly at yourself or at one of your surrogates, but I thought we’d start the day with yet another (from the WP’s coronavirus updates): “Although the rate of infection shows no sign of slowing, Vice President Pence … Continue reading Covid charades and “The Betrayals”
Mayday, mayday!
Dear President Trump, Happy May Day. Happy International Workers’ Day. Happy (I guess….. not) First Day of the Fourth Month of Life As We Knew It No Longer Existing. And here we are. The stooped woman wearing the same brown corduroy pants and turquoise coat she wears every day is walking her (very) elderly chocolate … Continue reading Mayday, mayday!