Before we get into the news, I thought you might enjoy this:
One of the things trending in the news of late is the lack of any real gun control legislation coming from a recent Senate session.
Here is what Stephen Colbert had to say to the senate:
Senate! You couldn’t pass a bill if it was coasted in Ex-Lax. But if you ever did pass a bill it would say ‘Be it resolved: No kissing and the NRA should just leave the money on the dresser’!
To read more of Stephen’s comments from a recent show, visit Daily Kos.
In Trumster news this week, there are a couple of interesting items. First the announcement that Apple, Wells Fargo, Walgreens, Ford, UPS, Motorola and JP Morgan Chase are pulling their sponsorship of the Republican National Convention. According to an article on Credo, the business said they object to Trump’s hate-filled rhetoric.
Not only are corporations pulling away from the convention, CNN has reported that a number of high profile Republican politicians are considering skipping the convention because they’re “fearful of a potential melee in Cleveland this summer.
Secondly, it appears that Trump is running out of campaign money, and is now soliciting donations. When he started his campaign he said he had enough money to pay his own way, but a recent report shows he is way behind Hillary in campaign finances.
And where has some of his campaign money gone?
According to a story on NewsMax, he has put at least $6.2 million back into Trump corporate products and services, a review of Federal Election Commission filings shows. That’s about 10 percent of his total campaign expenditures. His campaign even buys Trump bottled water and Trump wine.
Writing Wisdom
There was a terrific post by Sarah Madison on her blog the other day. It was a commentary about people who expect things for free – Dear Broke Reader, You’re Killing Me. She listed all the reasons that people feel entitled to freebies: I work hard. I deserve my reward. And I’m broke.
I had to laugh when Sarah said, she’s broke, too. She then went on to point out all the way people can get a free read without resorting to the Pirate Sites that have popped up that are basically stealing an author’s bread and butter. We’re mostly broke, too. Well, except for James Patterson and J.K. Rowling. LOL
Anyway this was the best part of Sarah’s commentary:
Besides, there’s this marvelous thing called a public library. You can go there and check out books, movies, and music for free! The best part is the library already paid for these things! And because it’s a loan which you will then return, it’s not stealing. Also, the library paid for these things out of a portion of the taxes you give to your community. So not checking out books from your library is like paying for Netflix and never using it.
But you want to read stories in your favorite genres and the library doesn’t carry them. Ask them to. If there is enough demand, the library will look into getting the stories you want. It can’t hurt to ask.
Since a few of my books are in libraries; in paper, e-book, and audio, I am a great supporter of library use. And unlike the pirate sites, libraries buy the books instead of stealing them.
Another thoughtful post at Writer Unboxed was written by Porter Anderson posed the question of when and how writers should respond to acts of terror, and what is our responsibility to do so, or not. He admits that taking a public stand for or against gun control, homosexuality, or any of the issues that divide us can be tricky for an author. How will our stands affect our readers? Will they be angry? Anger seems to be so common today, especially in social media. And one angry reader can influence countless others.
So, do we sit back and never speak up? Porter suggests that we do not.
Writers are our most eloquent speakers, at least writers of talent and skill are. If anyone can find the grace to say what needs saying when the depravity of human evil is revealed to us and our weaponry is turned on innocent people, shouldn’t it be good writers?
That is precisely why I have used my blog to make public statements to support the causes I believe in, as well as point out the absurdities that abound. Has it cost me readers? Maybe, but I can’t let that hold me back.
What about you? Have you risked the public outcry by talking opening for or against an issue?
Friday’s Funnies
Only a few this week, as this blog ran pretty long.
1. Where there’s a will, I want to be in it.
2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you … but it’s still on my list.
3. Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
4. If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong.
5. We never really grow up — we only learn how to act in public.
6. War does not determine who is right, only who is left.
7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Here’s hoping everyone has a great weekend. If you care to comment about anything here, please do.
I think an individual’s blog is the perfect place for him or her to explain their views on the issues. I just wish folks didn’t do it on Facebook and Twitter — the amount of misinformation and unreasonable responses on social media sites is depressing.
One comment related to Trump’s expenditures to date — since he financed his own primary campaign, I’m not sure why it’s considered shocking that he would buy products for events from his own companies or with his own brand. Why wouldn’t he? I don’t agree with everything Mr. Trump says or does, but that one is another case of media hysteria over nothing.
You made a good point about Trump buying products from his own companies. I’m guessing that is ok as far as campaign ethics go, since it was his money to begin with. Not sure what the accounting has to be when he is using outside donations, though. I think a candidate cannot personally benefit financially from campaign donations.
I also agree with you about the misinformation on social media. I try to be very careful there about what I post. Not only is there misinformation, but there is too often a lack of a civil response if someone doesn’t agree with you.