We're not ok

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/03/pennsylvania-lawmaker-islamophobic-prayer.amp

Aside from praising Donald Trump's "support" of Israel, I fail to see how a call to self improvement in the name of a religious leader who has had incredible impact over the last apprx 2000 years can be called disrespectful to anyone.  The criticism that the prayer "divides" us is just stupid.  We as individuals, regardless of timing and placement, are not synchronized in thought and feeling.

Hope

God is for "us" but who is "us?"  As far as my eye can see, i do believe.  But i have minimal inclination to act on that faith and the promise of salvation is conditonal; if you don't blaspheme the Holy Spirit you're eligible but you lose it if you fail to forgive others.  People try to spin that around replacing the breathe of God with words not found in any Bible translation.  Jesus says HEAVEN AND EARTH SHALL PASS AWAY BUY MY WORDS WILL NEVER PASS AWAY. 
And i do recall the apostle Paul talking about churchgoers arriving who are destined for destruction.  He even seems to be referring to mutations such as myself at one point; saying something about a coming day when gluttenous arrogant people know the Word but are unaffected by it.  Jesus didn't say anything about miniscule spiritual growth.  He said BEAR MUCH FRUIT.  He also said His desciples will be recognized by the ability to cast out demons and perform miracles but not everyone who does these things will enter Heaven.
I guess I do have a backlog of crap to clean out.  25 years isn't "old" but is "a long time"....i was almost 30 before I wisened up to the reality that I don't have a say in the existence of life after death or what that existence is. 

Deep paper cuts

You'd think this article was about child abuse from the tone of it.  I imagine it is anxiety inducing for these people but middle class families should be grateful that they can afford to move.

The federal government has been given too much mercy and not enough disciplining.  People who are obviously untrustworthy almost always win elections and even those that almost win are not any more qualified.  It's no wonder Bill Clinton removed the federal deficit.  He came about two hairs away from stripping the military of its existence.  Osama Bin Laden attempted an attack on the twin towers the year Clinton took office.  We had our warning.  It's not like the Islamic terrorists were being inconspicuous.  We chose to ignore the issue and reelect all who joined in allowing us to do so.  We should have been studying our enemy and figuring out a method of counter terrorism most cost effective.  So yeah Bill Clinton ended his 2 terms with no deficit.  Bush jr undid all that by trying to adequately fund the military. Obama could've at least attempted to cut some government spending but instead he went the complete opposite direction.  All 3 of these Presidents got reelected.  And how many congressmen have drafted laws that nobody can find on the world wide web of all places??  That's reason enough to kick everyone out.  Maybe then it'll seem less appealing to make pacts against constituents.

So the government is in a tough spot.  If we don't reduce our deficit, we won't be able to handle adding anything to our plate of any grave importance like ISIS gaining traction to flourish, the effects of global epidemics on our communities or any number of possible scenarios.  We owe too much money.  If the government can't keep up, taxes will indeed increase.  This scenario here is just an appetizer.

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/tax-return-2019-salt-deduction-cap-middle-class-homeowners-hit-by-the-new-tax-law-this-is-going-to-wipe-us-out/

Wow; my mistake

Seriously all these years I thought Anna Paquin was in the movie QUILLS (2000) but as it turns out that the character of Simone was played by a much lesser known actress whose name I've already forgotten.
I saw QUILLS about 13 or 14 years ago.  Pretty rousing entertainment.  Basically a rallying cry against censorship.