OMM: Sunday Newsletter – November 2024 – #2

~ a curated selection of discoveries ~

::: The Open :::

Dear Reader,

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With Gratitude,

~ Mark

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::: Personal Notes :::

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Heather Cox Richardson’s ‘Letters from an American’ is a terrific resource. So good, in fact, that I worry she may need armed security. Sadly, I’m not joking.

“Today, when I received a slew of messages gloating that Trump had won the election and that Republican voters had owned the libs, I could not help but think of that earlier era when ordinary white men sold generations of economic aspirations for white supremacy and bragging rights.” (HCR)

People, marginalized or not, who express views not in line with MAGA or go negative about Don The Con are being attacked—even before Trump returns to office.

I’ve experienced this firsthand already.

Frankly, I’d rather people take shots at me (though not literally).

While it’s tempting to “feed the trolls” a bit right now (because tolerating bullies is worse than tolerating fools)… it’s also dangerous.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not looking to feed them for no reason… my intent would be to let them blow off steam. Unfortunately, these bullies will happily spend all day making snarky and threatening statements to anyone they please and all the while be gaining a little self-esteem boost. So, it’s a moot errand.

What I’m really after is a psychological inroad to discussing what is going on with these people—and by people, I’m mostly talking about men (and women) who say horrible things on the internet, harass people online, hold horrible views in real life and force those views on others, and may even go so far as to commit hate crimes. But I’m focusing on the men (and women) who are full of rage, and seemingly need to vent that rage at innocent people on the internet. These are people who are brainwashed by hate but we may be able to reach them without more vigorous interventions.

Where is this anger coming from? What would it take for these individuals to show some vulnerability and get them to tell us what they really need?

It’s truly terrible that turning to Trump has felt like a salve to some people.

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::: Trump 2.0 :::

What can I say? Trump is back.

Trump will be the first convicted felon to hold the office of the presidency.

The trolls wish to remind me, here, that Trump has already held office and I personally survived and so what am I so afraid of. Sigh. Well, I think they know. Or, perhaps they don’t. The reins are off. Trump has both everything and nothing to lose. The walls are closing in. He’s at the end of his life which, psychologically speaking, often makes people (especially those far on the narcissist spectrum) feel like the world itself is ending. Trump’s goals include enriching himself in the near-term and creating a legacy (being “notorious” is fine by him). For Trump, this is an opportunity for revenge and he is frothing at the mouth.  

Trump intends to commit many more crimes. Very few people will benefit.

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I was originally going to call this section “America & Trump (aka. DJ “The Felon”)” … The “joke” being, in part, can he retain the nickname of “The Felon” and not require “The Fascist”. We’ll find out.

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Red Wave?

Yes, that did happen.

It’s become increasingly clear that Americans do not actually “deep down” hold the same ideals and values.

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Is the American Experiment over?

No, but it’s not going well at the moment.

The “experiment” just elected a Strongman who admires Hitler.

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Do we need a new experiment?

Probably.

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What’s wrong with America?

It’s too large to be governed by one figure, in the Executive Branch, on the East Coast, in Washington DC.

Don’t other large countries have a similar problem?

Yes. Russia and China.

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What if Trump dies in office?

That would be ideal.

JD Vance is less of a threat to Democracy. How much less? No way to know yet.

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Here’s a bit about Ranked Choice Voting (RCV)

I see the appeal (in certain respects) …

Sadly, I think this is simply too complicated for your average American.

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Want to really be confused about alt voting concepts (such as RCV)?

Take a deep dive into Social Choice Theory.

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How bad was Trump’s first term, really?

Dave Eggers: “In late 2023, historians Brandon Rottinghaus and Justin S. Vaughn surveyed 154 historians and political science professors for the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project. The respondents included current and recent members of the American Political Science Association, along with scholars who had recently published peer-reviewed academic research in key related scholarly journals or academic presses. This survey was also conducted in 2015 and 2018.”

“These 154 scholars were asked to rate every president on a scale from 1 to 100. Lincoln was ranked highest, at 93.87. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was next at 90.83. Washington’s average was 90.32, putting him in third place. At the bottom of the list, at 10.92, was Donald Trump.”

“It’s important to note that the survey included scholars who identify themselves as conservative and as Republicans. Among those scholars, the ratings and rankings differed a bit from those identifying as liberal or as Democrats. They ranked Washington first, for example, and Lincoln second. And yet even these Republican and conservative scholars ranked Trump last. Everyone ranked him last.”

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There are many articles and podcasts circulating on the subject of “The End of Liberal Democracy in America” (or something to that extent). Both liberalism and progressivism are on a downward trend globally while populism and authoritarianism have been on the rise. There has also been a major trend towards unseating incumbents (and their parties) globally which is one of the many reasons that it did not bode well for Democrats in the 2024 presidential election.

I listened to a conversation with British philosophy John Gray on the matter of our current state of affairs, liberal democracy, and historical framing. It was disturbing… to say the least. Gray has written a good deal on post-liberalism, societal apocalypses, and a kind of updated Hobbesian leviathan. I’d share the listen but I don’t know that it’s valuable so much as depressing.

More on the state of liberal democracy in future, I’m sure.

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Trump loves to fire people…

… but first he does have to hire them.

His first prominent hire is Susie Wiles, his campaign manager, as his chief of staff    .

Ironically, it’s Trump that has broken a glass ceiling here by hiring the first woman to the chief of staff position. Trump does like making these “statements” as a way of pointing to something and saying “SEE!” – how could I be misogynist or racist or hateful? Anyone with critical thinking skills can see that he thinks this is The Apprentice.

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‘Fact Check: Did 15 Million Democrats Not Show Up in This Election?’ (Newsweek)

We’re going to have to get used to fact checking more and more as misinformation and disinformation has become common and will inevitably get even worse under Trump 2.0.

It’s not entirely clear why there was less voter turnout.

As predicted, there is a gender problem. This isn’t new. Trump and his team took advantage of men with grievances or those seeking guidance and twisted their arm into voting for him.

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‘What's Next for Tim Walz?’ (Town & Country)

He wasn’t ready, but part of me wonders what would have happened if Walz was at the top of the ticket.

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Bernie Sanders wishes to remind Democrats that they should have expected to lose by ignoring the Working Class as if Republicans don’t also ignore anyone below (or aiming to climb towards) the nebulous Middle Class.

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‘The Lesson’ (Robert Reich)

Lots of good points in this piece.

“On Tuesday, according to exit polls, Americans voted mainly on the economy — and their votes reflected their class and level of education.”

The economy and immigration… those as you’ll learn from other sources… people did not know what they were voting for. There are plenty of examples of minority groups voting for Trump thinking he would benefit the economy while somehow not being aware that their own family members would be in jeopardy of being deported. The ignorance here is stunning. Again… another reason RCV and other more complicated styles of voting seem impossible for Americans.

The above example is just one of many and particularly tragic. Awareness would have allowed people to make cost-benefit (pro/con) analysis and determine which party and candidates would most be in service to them.

In a world filled with misinformation and disinformation this is difficult. Muddying the waters of information, fact and truth, has created such a level of confusion that it’s allowed for Trump to RTO in spite of all the allegations, horrific statements, and terrible agendas.

Trump is a truly evil and insidious person. Shame on anyone helping him achieve his nefarious goals.

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Again, Heather Cox Richardson’s substack ‘Letters from an American’ is going to be an invaluable resource as we approach another Trump presidency.

Check out this recent post.

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“In The New Republic today, Michael Tomasky reinforced that voters chose Trump in 2024 not because of the economy or inflation, or anything else, but because of how they perceived those issues—which is not the same thing.” (HCR)

And back to RCV…

“Republican strategist Sarah Longwell, who studies focus groups, told NPR, “When I ask voters in focus groups if they think Donald Trump is an authoritarian, the #1 response by far is, ‘What is an authoritarian?’”

These are reminders why Ranked Choice Voting is not going to work any time soon in America.

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::: ONE ART :::

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Thursday, November 14 — 7pm (Eastern)
Featured Poets: Betsy Mars, Tina Barry, Jane Zwart, Hayden Saunier
Tickets available here (Free or Donation)

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::: Podcasts :::

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‘Does being "woke" do any good?’ (The Grey Area)

Fascinating! Cannot recommend this episode enough.

I certainly learned things. And I’m confident so will you.

I’m looking forward to reading Musa al-Gharbi’s book – We Have Never Been Woke: The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite

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What We Get Wrong About Our Midlives (NPR’s 1A)

Recommended to anyone over 30.

Discussion that age is just a number, the importance of maintaining friends, perimenopause, not being afraid of the term “geriatric”, and general positivity regarding life quality being about how you feel, your mobility, and your station in society.

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‘How to Build a Secular Country – Maggie Ardiente’ (Beyond Atheism)

Fascinating conversation. Interesting to hear about Maggie Ardiente’s origin stories. I suspect most atheists (and humanists) have a story about why their life took this direction.

Important discussion of the importance of separation of church and state and organizations dedicated to ensuring freedom of religion (and being nontheistic).

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::: Music :::

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I wish I could say music was helping right now.

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::: The Literary Community & Beyond :::

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‘Look for the Helpers’ (James Crews)

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Check it out poets.

Brecht De Poortere is already coming through—

https://x.com/brecht_dp/status/1854845577202135123?s=43&t=6o7oa0nxwGVHVyWMT9u4yQ

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‘Grants Are Out There for Editors and Writers. Here’s How I Found One.’ (Jessica Whipple, LitMagNews)

“Think broadly and creatively about the ways you’re making an impact.”

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‘Don’t Demonize Print on Demand’ (Jane Friedman)

The potential to never run out of stock. Efficient and not something to undervalue.

Shoddy quality is a problem. Of course, everything has tradeoffs.

At the end of the day, easy access to your book is key.

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‘A good place to have bad ideas’ (Austin Kleon)

“So I’ve been spending more and more time in the pages of my notebook. Talking in black ink. Letting the pages absorb any poison. Scratching out thoughts if I can’t stand to look at them. Underlining the thoughts I want to save, to share, maybe even, God forbid, tweet.”

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‘Our stories help us make sense of a chaotic world, but they can be harmful and restrictive. There’s a liberating alternative’ (psyche)

“So, what does it mean to reject a narrative?”

“Perspectives, it turns out, don’t have a linear, ordered structure.”

“Poems, particularly lyric poems, are inherently perspectival; they unify words, images, thoughts and feelings to express value. Poetry captures a way of seeing and feeling, not just a sequence of events.”

“As Sartre warned, everything changes when you tell a story. Narratives limit our potential. Though we are complex beings, living in a chaotic universe, our stories create the illusion that our lives are ordered, logical and complete.”

“We might never fully escape the narratives that surround us, but we can learn to change the perspectives behind them. And so, we are never bound by stories, only by our ability to understand how our beliefs and values shape the way we perceive and engage with the world. We don’t need better narratives; we need to expand and refine our perspectives.”

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‘The Problem With The “Sad Girl,” In Literature’ (The Zillennial Zine)

“Once users have interacted with these videos in any way that is the content that Tik-Tok will regurgitate back to them. This creates an unhealthy cycle for many users that impacts their mental health in a negative way.”

“There shouldn’t be a genre that becomes so redundant even the characters reflect that.”

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Are these really the best inventions of the year?

The Yondr pouch is one I’ve heard buzz about and seems noteworthy.

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::: Health & Wellness :::

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‘Women & trans people are stockpiling abortion pills & hormones in the wake of Trump’s victory’ (LGBTQ Nation)

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America’s Most Common Nutrient Deficiencies and How to Spot Them

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::: Small Explorations & Deep Dives :::

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‘We are what we celebrate: America's holiday calendar is increasingly diverse’ (AP)

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‘What's so special about the human brain?’ (Nature)

A very cool visual presentation.

Digestible while also being educational.

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‘Everyday Philosophy: Can you self-identify as a different generation?’ (Big Think)

The answer is, of course, “No, that would be illegal.”

Ok… not really the case.

Psychologically speaking, sure, you can feel like you are more aligned with the vibes /values of another generation.

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In some instances, when it comes to search, Google is getting a run for its money.

Enter ChatGPT. (Tom’s Guide)

It’s not at all shocking.

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Brief research (source: Stat Significant) indicates a good movie might be: a black & white film set in 1950s New York City about the fall of a high school running back who, post-injury is taken under the wing of Neil deGrasse Tyson and discovers that a person (read: superhero) who can run fast enough would be able to travel through time (magic rules TBD)… which then brings in a romantic element—superhero must choose training over love to remain capable of time travel to do good.

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‘Gen Z and young millennial employees are missing the equivalent of one day’s work every week due to mental health concerns, research shows’ (Fortune)

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Chicken emotional states.

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‘Fashion Is Losing the Middle Ground’ (marie claire)         

“The middle class of this middle class—the independents—has it the hardest.”

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‘At all costs’ (Seth Godin)

Plenty of life applications beyond the business world.

“If one of your principles is, “win at all costs,” then you have no other principles.”

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‘Our Target Obsession is Out of Control’ (The Zillennial Zine)

“Not only do I find it a little disturbing that Target is glamorizing a job at their company to little kids, and intertwining it with their concept of fun so that they are indoctrinated to like the company even as adults, but that the popularity of such items reflects a loss of creativity in our society. Most kids love shopping for toys, but the point is to love the toys, and the experience of picking them out, not the store itself.”

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “Social media is doing harm to our kids” and has proposed a ban for those under age 16 using social media platforms.

If only it was that easy.

I am looking forward to seeing how each country call roll back social media usage in teenagers, pre-teens, and children, as evidence is clear that these platforms are developmentally harmful, predatory, and, in many instances, do far more harm than good.

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In breakdancing news…

‘Raygun says she's done with competitive breaking after viral Olympic fame’

This is sad.

Fame is overrated. So is celebrity. Many lives ruined in the limelight.

I’m a big fan of breakdancing as an artform. I was excited that it was in the Olympics. And then… they decided it will not be in future Olympics…

Admittedly, they do not seem to have figured out how to score breaking dance-offs.

Quick shout-out to my weird love for the hilariously so-bad-it’s-good You Got Served.

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‘Touchscreens Are Out, and Tactile Controls Are Back’

More interesting than it sounds.

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The median age of a first-time homebuyer is now 38. The average age is 56.

These are all-time highs.

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“Elwood Edwards, one of the most famous men you’d never recognize on the street, died this week at the age of 74. Edwards voiced the iconic America Online “You’ve got mail” catchphrase—along with “Welcome,” “File’s done,” and “Goodbye”—for $200 in 1989. He got the job through his wife, who worked in customer service for the internet company, and recorded the greeting in his living room (pre-podcast mic era).” (Morning Brew)

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::: News of the Weird :::

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“He’s fast, feisty and could play Quidditch. Meet the bat that won a beauty contest” (AP)

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Consistent Recommendations:

Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American – daily news with historical context

ONE ART: a journal of poetry – daily poems

Verse Daily – daily poems

Chill Subs – down to earth submissions resource

** Want to subscribe? Get a discount using this ONE ART exclusive affiliate link.

Becky Tuch’s LitMagNews – literary community news & essential resource

Trish Hopkinson – resource for the literary community

Erika Dreifus – resource for the literary community

C. Hope Clark’s Funds for Writers –weekly email newsletter contains invaluable short essays

Jane Friedman – blog, email newsletter, resource for the literary community  

The Poetry Space_ with Katie Dozier & Timothy Green (podcast)

Commonplace: Conversations with Poets and Other People (podcast hosted by Rachel Zucker)

The Gray Area with Sean Illing (podcast)

Hidden Brain (podcast)

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