It is decidedly early in the morning, 5:51 to be exact. I am pursuing Instagram and also looking at emails. Waiting in my inbox was an Any Borowitz satire straight from The New Yorker to me to you. It was the last line that set me to laughing out loud. It is entitled: DeSantis Bets That Republicans Want a Stupider Version of Trump. “As he explores a bid for the 2024 Republican Presidential nomination, Governor Ron DeSantis is betting that G.O.P. voters are looking for a stupider version of Donald J. Trump. According to a source close to DeSantis, the Florida Governor has decided to “run to the stupid of Trump” to pick up the support of voters who now consider the former President too intellectual.”
People considering Trump too intellectual is funny, no doubt. But it was the last line that brought out serious lonely guffaws. By the way, a guffaw is a loud and boisterous laugh. Wikipedia tells us more about laughter. “ Laughter is a pleasant physical reaction consisting usually of rhythmical, often audible contractions of the diaphragm and other parts of the respiratory system. It is a response to certain external or internal stimuli. Laughter can arise from such activities as being tickled,[ or from humorous stories or thoughts.[ Most commonly, it is considered an auditory expression of a number of positive emotional states, such as joy, mirth, happiness, or relief. On some occasions, however, it may be caused by contrary emotional states such as embarrassment, surprise, or confusion such as nervous laughter or courtesy laugh. Age, gender, education, language, and culture are all indicators ] as to whether a person will experience laughter in a given situation. Some other species of primate (chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans) show laughter-like vocalizations in response to physical contact such as wrestling, play chasing or tickling.
Laughter is a part of human behavior regulated by the brain, helping humans clarify their intentions in social interaction and providing an emotional context to conversations. Laughter is used as a signal for being part of a group—it signals acceptance and positive interactions with others. Laughter is sometimes seen as contagious, and the laughter of one person can itself provoke laughter from others as a positive feedback. The study of humor and laughter, and its psychological and physiological effects on the human body, is called gelotology.
I learned two things not known before. 1) that other primates laugh and 2) that the study of humor and laughter is called gelotology. But back to Andy and the line that caused the belly laugh. “When Trump recently said that he got the booster, that was the last straw,” the source said. “In the eyes of a lot of Republicans, Trump is basically Fauci now.”“Trump’s surrender to science is a slippery slope,” the source added. “It’s only a matter of time before he starts flirting with geography and grammar.” As DeSantis stakes his claim to the dumber-than-Trump lane, he spoke at a fund-raising event over the weekend.“Donald Trump believes that one plus one equals two,” the Governor told his audience. “I think the American people should be free to decide for themselves what one plus one equals.”
Americans “should be free to decide what for themselves what one plus one equals” is hilariously funny. What makes it funny is that it is true – as a species Americans do think that such decisions should be left up to them – that is is their constitutional right to be able to make such decisions. Those folks are not mindful of the famous statement by Patrick Moynihan: “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.” Most Americans do not know the difference between facts and opinions these days, it is unfortunately true. Just discovered that Patrick Moynihan also said “Secrecy is for losers. For people who do not know how important the information really is.” A person, an important person, his asking me to keep a secret. Do think that I shall convey this to him. Perhaps I just have, do think he reads my blog.
I am thinking about the Wikipedia information on laughter and that “age, gender, language and culture are indicators of whether one will laugh.” My driver, SAD (Sheikha Awesome Driver) laugh constantly as we drive about Abu Dhabi. We do not have age, gender, culture or language in common – he does speak English but that is his second language. We did not see each other yesterday as I stayed at hotel for a change, but we texted.
Me: I seem to be getting rid of the pesky grandchildren. But you are a son, right?
He: Hahahaha sweet dear.
Me: And a driver and a body guard and traffic controller, crowd dispenser, food for me buyer sometimes and photographer. You have many jobs. Oh and great emoji giver as well.
He: Thank you so much for giving me all those jobs.
When ever we go somewhere, like the Yas Mall, he changes clothes. Rather like Clark Kent in the Superman outfit, he gets out of his taxi uniform and puts on a sweater – then he becomes the body guard.
He: Now I am body guard, Shiekha Fatimah
Me: That is good, I need protection.
Well actually I do not, it is so safe in Abu Dhabi. For some reason many uniformed police come to the restaurant of this hotel to eat. Yesterday I said:
Me: Thank yo for making me safe. In the United States I was persecuted by the police for being a Muslim woman. Here you make me safe. Thank You!
They: You are welcome!
Yes, those Central Marin Police did cause me grievous harm. One in particular, Officer Mendes,
But his actions were ratified by his superior Hamid Khalili who promised justice but did not deliver and left me in jeopardy. Hamid said he was Muslim, from Iran, his mother active in the faith. She is going to be lonely in Jannah without him.
It is very strange living here, particularly at this moment. The prior hotels were most posh, most luxurious – marble floors with views of the sea, grand buildings. It was very obvious that I was in a foreign country, a long way from my birth place and the land Ialled home for fifty years. But this is an ordinary hotel – could be (and is) found in the United States and Canada. I was laughing with Son from Morocco, a man of some import in this hotel.
Me: I lived in a hotel in Vancouver for four months in 2017.
He: Really?!?! How was it?
Me: Oh it was great. I had a great view, high on the 19th floor. But it got messy because the Multibillionaire Owner got interested in me – everyone was jealous and afraid of my power over him and told lies about me. So it was best to leave. But I have no problem here. The owner of Premier Inns does not live here.
He: But he is coming to visit here soon.
Me: I hope you are joking. I will hide in my room. But it is ok as he is probably not a Muslim.
He: He could convert.
Me: You are definitely making me laugh! Good night! I am going up to my room.
Read last night on the Internet that the Trump Hotel and Tower in Vancouver closed after being open only three and a half years. The Tiahs declared bankruptcy, not only the Holburn Canadian Group, but also implications for TA Global. In the words of those that know me well DNEFWMMCB. The Vancouver folks coined this after first meeting the pleasant, affable friendly me., who is affable( if treated well) – but not so when not treated properly. Affable is friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to: It has scores of synonyms: amiable, genial, congenial, cordial, warm, pleasant, pleasing, nice, likable, personable, charming, agreeable, sympathetic, benevolent, benign, good-humored, good-natured, kindly, kind, courteous, civil, gracious, approachable, accessible, amenable, sociable, outgoing, gregarious, convivial, jovial, clubbable, comradely, neighborly, welcoming, hospitable, obliging, easygoing, informal, open, communicative, unreserved, uninhibited, natural, relaxed, easy; chummy, pally; matey, decent; clubby, buddy-buddy. I am all of that: open, buddy-buddy, gregarious, amendable, jovial etc. etc. But if you mess with me – bad things happen to you. Do look at Joo Kim Tiah and his parents’ lives? I clearly was not responsible – probably it was the pandemic and, of courseI am not responsible for that.
By the way, I am thinking of getting the fourth jab. It is accessible here and science is reporting that it can be effective in keeping the omicron at bay.
This is what is happening in Marin, according to the Marin IJ. “ Staffing shortages fueled by the latest COVID-19 surge are forcing some health care employees and first responders in Marin to continue working despite being infected themselves.
“It’s definitely a last resort,” said Dr. Matt Willis, the Marin County public health officer. “You’re really trying to pick the lesser of two evils.”The California Department of Public Health issued an advisory on Jan. 8 saying the fast-spreading omicron variant has caused “critical staffing shortages” in the health care field. As a result, the department said, health care workers who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are asymptomatic may return to work immediately without isolation and without testing. The department said health care workers who have been exposed and are asymptomatic may also return to work immediately without quarantine and without testing.” The frightening situation is further explored with the Nurses’ Association and Professional Firefighters Association providing more information. : “Gov. Newsom and our state’s public health leaders are putting the needs of health care corporations before the safety of patients and workers,” said Cathy Kennedy, the association president. John Bagala, president of the Marin Professional Firefighters union, said, “It absolutely does not work for the fire service. We have communal living spaces. There is virtually no way for a COVID-positive firefighter to not directly expose other firefighters in the workplace.”In Marin, firefighters are also responsible for providing paramedic service.“I don’t know if anybody is letting the public know if they’re getting serviced by a firefighter who is COVID-positive,” Bagala said.”
When I left Marin in the middle of November 2021 – everything was under control. I thank Allah I am here, in the safest place in the world. Well, except for the Yemeni drones. Read briefly that the Security Council of the UN is being called in. Not that the UN every does anything but who knows? ANTONYMS
I pictured the fabulous loaded hamburger on Instagram with the following caption.
Me: The best hamburger in the whole world. It is loaded as you can see. It is here at the Nuevo. The staff is so amazing. I came down for a late lunch and the gracious waitress told me that I had my jacket on inside out. I laughed so loud. Took off my headscarf and my jacket and turned it around. Sometimes it is difficult being me. Hahaha. I did suggest to the manager that the waitress get a raise. I did.
The other photograph is my arm – it looks like a hamburger, That was done by the Central Marin Police Department. It seems that members of the force might be forced to work despite testing positive, that the spread of the virus is rampant… Could this be a case of DNEFMMCB??? I rest my case.!
