Charest Family on the Web Posts

Published November 8, 2024 by

So What Will It Take?

beating my head against a wall, Photo by Ba Tik from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-punching-gray-wall-3754243/
Beating My Head Against A Wall

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Just like clockwork, I’m hearing Democrats mouthing the tired old tropes of “if Trump and the Republicans screw up badly enough, people will start electing Democrats.”

Oh, Really? So, what will it take?

Continue…So What Will It Take?

Opinions & Commentary

democrats trump Wishful Thinking

Published November 7, 2024 by

We’re Losing The Messaging Wars

Woman kneeling in a desert screaming, titled "Furiosa"
Furiosa

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

I’m still trying to process Tuesday’s election loss to Trump by an actual majority of American voters. I’m also watching the inevitable Democratic circular firing squads looking for someone to blame. “Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan [1].” So, Democrats are busy looking for that orphan.

Meanwhile, I see one major cause for this horrible defeat. Democrats lost this election, and lost so badly, because too many American are not getting our message. For a variety of reasons, we’re losing the messaging wars.

Continue…We’re Losing The Messaging Wars
  1. J.F. Kennedy, The Socratic Method [↩]

Opinions & Commentary

Elections Social Media

Published November 5, 2024 by

Judgement Day

Scales of justice. Photo by Sora Shimazaki: https://www.pexels.com/photo/judges-desk-with-gavel-and-scales-5669619/
Judging Ourselves

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Today is the last chance American’s have to vote for our future and our President. Do we want a fascist-lite morally corrupt convicted felon who was sued over 4000 times for not paying his bills? Who went bankrupt four times, each time profiting while his investors lost everything. Banned from running charities in New York after stealing from a children’s cancer fund. Who has credibly been accused of multiple counts of rape and pedopillia. A man showing clear signs of malignant narcissistic personality disorders and age-related dementia?

Or do we want a woman who is an accomplished former prosecuting attorney, former California State Attorney General, former Senator, and current Vice President to one of the most successful Presidents in our generation? Who also happens to be a black lady and daughter of immigrant parents.

Amazingly, according to polls, as of last week one third of our nation’s voters had not yet made up their minds.

Continue…Judgement Day

Opinions & Commentary

2024 Election Kamala Harris YouTube Video

Published October 29, 2024 by

Your Institutions Will Not Save You

Crumbled democratic institutions. Photo by Uğurcan Özmen: https://www.pexels.com/photo/ancient-stone-monuments-in-historical-site-29055855/
Our Democratic Institutions

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Way back in 2016, after Trump “won” the presidential election through minority vote, there were a number of experts on authoritarianism speaking out on the results. One particular writer, Masha Gessen[1], summarized three principles:

  1. Believe the autocrat.
  2. Don’t be taken in by small signs of normality.
  3. Your institutions will not save you.

Gessen was absolutely correct, and his predictions are still playing out eight years later. Especially, “Your institutions will not save you.”

Continue…Your Institutions Will Not Save You
  1. Gessen, M. (2020). Surviving Autocracy. Riverhead Books. [↩]

Opinions & Commentary

American Institutions Democracy trump

Published October 17, 2024 by

A Reunion in Seattle

Ron and Winnie Charest at Pikes Market, Seattle, Washington
Ron and Winnie Charest at Pikes Market, Seattle, Washington

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Winnie and I recently returned from a week’s vacation in Seattle, Washington. It was a great week. We had a chance to visit with one of our nephews, explore Seattle and the lovely surrounding parks, and attend another Navy reunion. The reunion was the primary reason for making this trip.

Continue…A Reunion in Seattle

Family Stories In the Navy

Deep Submersibles Navy Reunion

Published October 2, 2024 by

Review: Native Watercraft Slayer Max 10

Ron performing Sea Trials of A Slayer Max Propel 10 Kayak
Ron Performing Sea Trials of A Slayer Max Propel 10 Kayak

Estimated reading time: 14 minutes

Last October Winnie and I added a Native Watercraft model “Slayer Max Propel 10” pedal-drive kayak to our fleet. We’ve used this kayak several times since, enough for me to post a review.

Although these pedal drive kayaks are designed for serious fishing, my review will not be on the fishing capabilities of this boat. My review is written for kayakers who are pedal-curious and thinking about expanding their kayaking fleet.

Continue…Review: Native Watercraft Slayer Max 10

On The Water Reviews

kayaking Reviews

Published August 20, 2024 by

A Musical Interlude with Blondie

Debbie Harry, By Private Stock Records - Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=127961384
Debbie Harry, Lead Singer for Blondie

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

We can’t always be walking around outraged about all the bad stuff in the world. Once in a while, we need to refocus on the good things that come along. Even if those things are few and far between. So, for today’s focus on the good, I present a musical interlude with Blondie.

Continue…A Musical Interlude with Blondie

Just For Fun

Blondie YouTube Video

Published August 10, 2024 by

When A Prostitute Is Better Than A Protestant

The inside of a beautiful Catholic church. Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/empty-cathedral-seats-and-hallway-with-lights-turned-on-208277/
The Hollow Splendor of A Catholic Church

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Recently I answered another Quora question on religion. While the answer dredged up another hurtful memory, it also seemed to resonate with numerous Quora members. So, for the pleasure of my many readers I will report my answer here, with additional bonus commentary.

My answer relates how a Catholic Priest once compared being a prostitute to a Protestant, knowing I was attending his Mass and knowing I was a Lutheran.

Continue…When A Prostitute Is Better Than A Protestant

Family Stories Quora Re-Posts

Catholics Protestants quora

Published July 22, 2024 by

A Dog Catching The Car

Vice President Kamala Harris, Official Portrait
Vice President Kamala Harris, Official Portrait

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

A few years ago, during the depths of our Covid 19 pandemic, I published a post on Republicans being careful what they wished for. That specific post was how, by destroying the moderate left of center politician Hillary Clinton during her Presidential run, Republicans destroyed their own futures.

Now, we once again have a serious case of “careful what you wish for” by the Republican Party. This time, with more burn and Karma on steroids. I’m talking about President Joe Biden dropping out of the presidential campaign after Republican operatives, including their friends in our so-called liberal media, have pilloried Biden as being too old to be President.

Republicans are like the dog who just caught a car and don’t know what to do next.

Continue…A Dog Catching The Car

Opinions & Commentary

Donald Trump Joe Biden Kamala Harris

Published July 12, 2024 by

Moving To Charlotte

Moving Away From Virginia
Moving Away

Estimated reading time: 15 minutes

We’ve moved. Over the past several months Winnie and I have made the complex transition from living in Northern Virginia to living in Charlotte, North Carolina. This transition involved buying a house, selling our house, moving our extensive collection of household goods, and reorganizing my ongoing professional life. Not to mention shifting all our necessary professional support services we developed during the eighteen years we lived in Virginia.

But we now live in Charlotte. In the great scheme of life adventures that’s happened to Winnie and me, this was just another speed bump.

Continue…Moving To Charlotte

Family Stories Ron Charest

Charlotte Moving Out North Carolina