I'm at a loss for words

What is worse than despicable?

Uneasy About the Future, Readers Turn to Dystopian Classics - The New York Times

Makes you want to read again!

Profound Weekend in January 2017 - YouTube

Wonderful!

We Are Dissidents; We Are Legion - The New York Times

We'll see soon enough.

After the US, far right says 2017 will be the year Europe wakes up | World news | The Guardian

We have to keep a global perspective on all of this as the fringe is weaving itself together.

Carla Hayden Thinks Libraries Are a Key to Freedom - The New York Times

Super!

Rohrsbach test!

I love the idea of asking readers how they react to this! One can see almost anything!

Transcript And Analysis: President Trump's Inauguration Speech : NPR

An important contribution to understanding the message.

Germany’s Extreme Right Challenges Guilt Over Nazi Past - The New York Times

There is so much worry today.

How Chickens Shifted From Sacred To Diet Staple : NPR

Great story.

How The Systemic Segregation Of Schools Is Maintained By 'Individual Choices' : NPR Ed : NPR

I could not agree more!

Illinois Congressman: Poverty Plays A Large Role In Chicago Gun Violence : NPR

I want to write more about this in support of his point that there are just too many guns.

‘James Bond of Philanthropy’ Gives Away the Last of His Fortune - The New York Times

I think he accomplished great things and saw all of them happen while still alive!

Only one editor defended the Irish in the era of “No Irish Need Apply” | IrishCentral.com

Good for him!

To Make the World Better, Think Small - The New York Times

This makes a lot of sense.

How to Know What Donald Trump Really Cares About: Look at What He’s Insulting - The New York Times

Really well done.

Why I Will Not Cast My Electoral Vote for Donald Trump - The New York Times

I admire his courage.

NC elector: People want me to change my vote, but I'll vote Trump :: WRAL.com

We surely need a better system.

‘Saturday Night Live’ and Trump Spar Once Again - The New York Times

Let the rough and tumble begin! (And cry a lot!)

Apologizing

I am going to start a little essay here on the decline of apologies in everyday life - especially as a customer of something.....
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Yesterday, I called the Herald-Sun to say that we had not received our paper for two days. I had gotten a phone message that our card did not "go through", so I mentioned this. After giving the woman my credit card, she said I could not do this - i.e., give her my card number. So I asked to be transferred to someone who could resolve this and please don't send me to someone's voice mail. She could not do that either, she said. Not once in this whole exchange did she utter the words, "I am sorry for your inconvenience" until I noted that she had not said this. Grudgingly, she mouthed the words, almost as though she was saying them for the first time!