I consider myself a fortunate being. Somehow, after working since I was 11 and paying into the system since I was 15, amazingly I am in this beautiful space of post-work, post-parenting (but not really), and pre-death. What I am NOT in is post-learning, post-participating, or post-protecting.
I am number 5 of seven children. My mother miraculously managed a household of 9 people and one (downstairs) bathroom with military precision. I think of Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball in ‘Yours Mine and Ours” (1968) with my mom being the OIC. Dad didn’t bring any children into the marriage but there were 5 of us when he signed up.
There were rules in our household; written and unwritten. One fast rule had to do with the prizes. Whether it be the cherries in the can of fruit cocktail, the little package on the bottom of the box of Cracker Jack or the “free inside” toy in the cereal box, all of these had the rule of oldest served first. Being low on the pole I was often left with an empty box, bag or can and a serious longing for whatever the older ‘winner’ was holding.
Recent events have led me to compare that cereal box decoder ring with our nation’s current administration and what is being referred to as “signalgate.” It has led me to the belief that maybe all our high ranking leaders need is a spoon, a bowl, a gallon of milk and a few boxes of good old fashioned CHEX cereal to secure our most secret of secret secrets.
The threat is not just to our national secrets. It is also a threat to our personal information and well being. There is a term called “scraping,” new to this old lady, that has invaded my mental space and aided in inducing constant doubt and suspicion of everything I see or hear. If the nation’s “finest” can get caught signaling than what is happening to my text messages as well? Should I be developing my own de-coder ring to communicate with my loved ones so that I will not be spied upon (by my own government), become a suspect, and be relocated to an undisclosed location in the deep south? Maybe. Can I befuddle the AI mind as much as it has befuddled mine?
This is a lot. And on top of all this is the real news that the FFOTUS has declared war on Big Bird and Elmo. WTF, man?! I need cute winter boots and a bowl of cereal. Help, Mr. Wizard!
swansroost 