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Mark McNease On Topic (Substack)
Subscribe to Mark McNease On Topic HERE
Tis the season for stockings full of crap
Who doesn’t want to end the year with a Trump-ordered impeachment of President Biden, the man who kicked his ass once and will kick it again?
Who doesn’t want to see Ukraine abandoned in the manger while Jesus, Mary, and the Republican House head off for selfies and sleigh bells?
Who doesn’t look forward to a continuation of all-Trump-all-the-time media coverage of the only man whose obituary I long every day to read?
Who takes comfort in knowing even monsters die?
Me! Me! Me!
Can we stop calling them ‘Supreme’?
Unsurprising, to say the least. The Republican justices (for that’s what they are, not “conservative”) are political hacks through and through. They lie and deceive and live lavish, kingly lives bought and paid for. We can’t do anything about their unaccountable power at this point, but we can stop pretending they deserve the least bit of respect, no matter how they decide. America is so broken, in so many ways. It all appears to have been a very long-lasting fiction that is now threadbare and exposed as the corrupt-from-to-to-bottom smoke and mirrors it always was.
From Dahlia Lithwick in Slate:
“With each new peek behind the curtain, this fantasy becomes more difficult to buy into, even for those desperate to believe. It turns out that the justices—at least five of them on the right—are functionally indistinguishable from cynical partisan lawmakers making deals in the Senate cloakroom. It turns out that abortion rights vanished in America because five conservatives barely tried to hide the fact that they could do that, simply because they could do that. And it turns out that they’re increasingly bad at covering their tracks.”
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Dreamshaping: Name Your Poison
Narration provided by Wondervox.
Dreamshaping: On Shaping Reality and Living Our Dreams is a feature at LGBTSr on the ways we create our lives.
Mark McNease
Observing the current cultural and political climate, I’m reminded of a scene from the westerns once so popular with American moviegoers. A bartender in a grimy, dusty saloon, says to a weary customer, “Name your poison.” The customer asks for whiskey—they all drank whiskey in the movies, with names like Rot Gut and Dead Eye—and the bartender serves him from a bottle on the shelf. The customer throws back a mouthful from a greasy shot glass, grimaces as it burns its way down his throat, then smiles, slaps the glass on the counter and orders another one. That sure felt good.
Today we have many things to choose from besides whiskey as we name our poisons. We have twenty-four hour cable news channels to make sure we’re alarmed, angry and indignant. We have addictions of a breathtaking variety, from sex to nicotine to apps making us feel special with every little balloon bursting on our smartphone screens, while data miners dig further and further into what remains of our privacy. But like that weary cowboy in that filthy saloon, we like the way it feels going down and we order another one.
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Cat Talk Radio with Molly DeVoss and Dewey Vaughn: Feeding Your Senior Cat
Senior cats, those seven years and older, require a different diet than younger cats. With the right nutrition, cats can live long, healthy, happy lives. Tune in to find out what you should be looking for in your senior cat’s food.
Cat Talk Radio is all about cats, what makes them do what they do, why they occasionally misbehave and what cat guardians can do to fix it. We educate you on how to modify unwanted cat behavior by providing the proper environment and stimulation, enabling cats to express their natural behaviors in ways that are preferable for both the humans and cats. You will learn how to have fun with your cat, fascinating cat facts and be inspired to try new things, which will lead to a happier relationship and closer bond with your cat. We’ll also call attention to the plight of cats in our country, feel compassion for their challenges and share the message.
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Now You Can Leave a Voice Message Directly for LGBTSr!
Now you can leave a voice message directly for LGBTSr, telling us what you like or making suggestions. Just CLICK HERE and record! It’s that simple. We hear you!
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Subscriber Giveaway! Enter to Win a LGBTSr Coffee Cup – the Perfect Stocking Stuffer
I’ll be giving away TWO LGBTSr branded coffee cups to two lucky subscribers. Enjoy your favorite beverage while you read your weekly LGBTSr email. All you have to do is subscribe HERE. I’ll be pulling two emails/names at random on December 25. It may take a week or two for shipping, but you’ll be cruising into the New Year with a lovely cup from a website dedicated to embracing age and celebrating life.
You can also browse all my branded merch at my MadeMarkShop.com site, should you wish to support all my projects with a purchase!
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One Thing or Another Column: So You Think That Hurts?
Narration provided by Wondervox.
A lighthearted look at life, aging, and the absurdities of it all.
By Mark McNease
Somewhere after our fiftieth spin around the sun our conversations begin to center less on our plans for the future, and more on our aches, pains, and possibly debilitating side effects of the medications many of us take. “What did you think of your weekend in the Poconos?” becomes, “Can this really cause crippling flatulence? My doctor said it’s rare.”
I never really wanted to know about sleep apnea, or bad cholesterol, or Restless Leg Syndrome. Yet here I am, finally enjoying the benefits of turning 65—Medicare card, Social Security, a near-complete indifference to the opinions of others—while I visit one specialist or another for all these ailments. Need a new CPAP machine? Have to get another sleep test! Wondering why my legs have ached for months? Here’s a prescription that probably won’t harm you in the short term. It’s also used for Parkinson’s, but I don’t have that, so no worries. It’s just twitchy, achy legs. And that cholesterol drug you’re only supposed to take for a few months? It’s been five years.
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The Weekly Readlines December 1
The Weekly Readlines (rhymes with headlines!) is a feature at LGBTSr offering news you can use every week.
BIG CUP: THE WEEK’S TOP STORIES
Santa comes through early: Florida GOP Chair Christian Ziegler, husband of Bridget Ziegler, notorious co-founder of Moms for Liberty, has been accused of sexual assault … by the woman they’ve enjoyed a three-way with for years! Apparently no children were indoctrinated in the process.
Tiring of his own act, Tommy Tuberville has signaled he’ll lift his block on military promotions, with the exception of “woke” higher-ups, assuming someone can define a word no self-respecting woke person uses.
In her new book, Liz Cheney says Kevin McCarthy told her Trump knew he’d lost, and that his trip to Mar-a-logo shortly after the failed coup was an effort to get poor depressed Donald eating again.
The Koch network endorsed Nikki Haley, while the Mercers prepare to back Trump, guaranteeing Republican voters a choice between heinous and horrible.
Garden gnome-slash-Speaker of the House Mike Johnson declared Trump’s two impeachments “meritless,” and Hunter Biden agreed to testify before Congress providing it’s a public hearing. Fearing they’ll melt like vampires in the sun, Comer and his clown committee are not having it.
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Savvy Senior: Smart Home Devices to Help Seniors Age in Place
Narration provided by Wondervox.
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
I’ve been talking to my mobility challenged mother, who lives alone, about automating her house with some smart home products to make it more convenient. She’s very interested but we’d like to get your opinion as to which types of smart devices are most helpful for seniors aging in place.
Searching Daughter
Dear Searching,
If your mother is game, smart home products – such as smart lights, video doorbells and voice-activated speakers – can be very useful for aging in place. These devices can add safety and convenience to a home by providing voice and app-controlled operation, which is extremely helpful for seniors who have mobility issues or reduced vision.
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Video Trailer for ‘A House in the Woods 2: The Devil’s Due’
I have so much fun making these! A House in the Woods 2: The Devil’s Due, is now available widely. You can get it on Amazon HERE.
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Where Do Gays Retire Podcast, with Host Mark Goldstein: Uvita, Costa Rica with Joe Studer and Keith Foley
I’m pleased to bring you episodes of Mark Goldstein’s ‘Where Do Gays Retire?’ Podcast. We’ll start with the most recent, and you can expect new episodes to be shared here at LGBTSr.com. You can find all of his podcasts at his site HERE.
CLICK TO LISTEN IN A NEW WINDOW!
Uvita, Costa Rica with Joe Studer and Keith Foley
Keith and Joe moved to Costa Rica after many years of living in Arizona. They have been together for 16 years. They both had a dream of living in Costa Rica and running a small hotel. 3 years ago, they finally made it come true, finding the perfect hotel in Uvita Costa Rica. They sold their home in Arizona and bought Nature’s Edge Hotel in March 2020. The US borders shut the exact week that they planned to move due to Covid, so they had to manage a major hotel renovation project remotely from the states. The borders finally opened in September 2020, allowing them to finally arrive in Costa Rica. Their first hotel guests arrived in December 2020.
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Savvy Senior: How a Health Savings Account Can Boost Your Retirement Savings
Narration provided by Wondervox.
Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
I’m interested in contributing to a health savings account to help boost my retirement savings but would like to better understand how they work. What can you tell me?
Almost 60
Dear Almost,
A health savings account, or HSA, is a fantastic financial tool that can help you build up a tax-free stash of money for medical expenses now and after you retire. But to qualify, you must be enrolled in a high-deductible health insurance plan. Here’s an overview of how they work and how you can open one.
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Kapok Aging and Caregiver Resources: The Best Vacations for Seniors with Limited Mobility
Narration provided by Wondervox.
Reprinted with permission from Kapok Aging and Caregiver Resources
By
There is often a misconception that your life becomes dull and monotonous as you age. On the contrary, the itch to be a globe trekker only gets stronger with age, as you become eager to cross off items off your bucket list.
You may be discouraged because of mobility issues or, as a caregiver, may feel that the idea of traveling with a loved one with a disability may be more stressful than relaxing. The good news is you shouldn’t refrain from enjoying the beautiful years post-retirement or miss the opportunity to explore new cultures.
While it may require some planning, there is no shortage of vacations for seniors with limited mobility and their caregivers. In this article, we share some of the best vacation spots, along with ideas about how to get the most out of your travels.
Vacation Spots and Ideas to Consider
Philadelphia
A beautiful city with plenty of accessible museums, restaurants, historic sites, hotels, and restaurants, Philadelphia has plenty going for it. When you’re getting around in the city, you can choose to reach your destination via the transportation authority offering wheelchair-accessible buses with lifts and ramps.
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EVENTS: Author Lucas Hildebrand Discusses His New Book, The Bars Are Ours: Histories and Cultures of Gay Bars in America, 1960 and After (December 5)
When: December 5
Where: Zoom and Facebook
Time: 6:30 p.m. EST
Virtual via Zoom and FaceBook Live
Registration required:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kcI9GBaiR0CF4nZ4e8Tz1A#/registrationConversation Series Hosted by Stonewall National Museum, Archives and Library
Author Lucas Hilderbrand’s new book The Bars Are Ours: Histories and Cultures of Gay Bars in America, 1960, will be released on November 21 and at 6:30pm EST on December 5, 2023, Hilderbrand will be live on Zoom and Facebook to discuss and answer questions.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kcI9GBaiR0CF4nZ4e8Tz1A#/registration
