Zero Day
By my count, today is day 32 of the first 100 days of what more and more seems like an attempted bloodless coup d’etat.
I am simply one of the peasants wondering what to do – if I can do anything. I can’t sit idly by. There are at least 75,000,000 of us that did not ask for this fate, and the mantra “Do something” comes to mind. I’ve made my choice; I urge you to make yours. 100 days is somewhere around May 1. Focus on what you can do, not on what something someone else should do, or should have done. This is our country and our world. Don’t let it be stolen from us.
Yesterday I heard about a just-released series on Netflix entitled Zero Day. Its first episode was last night. I haven’t watched it yet, but will.
[Feb. 22: I did watch the first segment, and it is well worth the time. Feb 22, Marion wrote: “Thanks for the Netflix tip!“. Last night we watched episodes 2 and 3 (of 5), and found the film very worthwhile. We’ll probably watch the rest today. It is a learning and reflection opportunity at a time of genuine crisis in our country.]
Simply put in search words Zero Day, starring Robert DeNiro. It is political fiction, set in the present day, and production began in 2022, and you can doubtless find, already, any number of reviews, from must see to don’t bother. The story line, as I understand it, is plausible. Worthy of thought. That’s all I’ll say.
I’m going to watch it from a citizen point of view – where do I fit into this picture, now and in the coming days, months and years. The only advantage I have is that I listened to a few minute segment featuring the producer and the two folks integral to developing the concept and the production itself. I’ll say no more about the film. Whether you subscribe to Netflix or not, you can pay per view, and watch on your home computer. You don’t have to go out. Take the risk.
A companion book might be the new one from Chris Hayes, “The Sirens’ Call“, a New York Times bestseller.
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Separate news, locally. The candidate nominated by Gov. Walz for chair of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor Party (DFL) will be in Woodbury at 7:30 p.m. Monday Feb 24, 2025. E-mail me if you wish further information. An rsvp will be requested.
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There is an immense amount of credible factual information available about the implications of the ongoing ‘shock and awe’ emanating from the White House. It seems redundant to pass the play-y-play along. I have previously indicated sources which I consider very knowledgable and credible in this time of a daily avalanche of truly fake news, where rumors are passed along as fact. For those specifically requesting, I’ll send along a list of those sources which I consider well worth your time.
COMMENTS (more at end of post):
from Mary: I am not one of those many Americans who see the current scenarios as ‘blips’ with a good outcome eventually-amaller government, transparency, increased respect in the world, better living for most of us, etc. We are all in for a world of hurt.
from Claude: Dick, here’s one idea you can spread, a Feb 28 Economic Boycott. I received this from a post in Facebook by my French cousin! [NOTE: this one is going around. I reprinted the same list in the Presidents Day Post on Feb. 17. Worth doing. Neither list attributed its composition to anyone. Mostly I was interested in the content.]
The 24 hour Economic Blackout
from Joyce Vance (I’m a subscriber, access to this free): Civil Discourse Democracy Index.
Thank you for the tip on the movie. Sounds like something I must see. Found a quotation the other day by Hannah Arendt, author of “The Origins of Totalitarianism” – Totalitarian power invariably replaces all first-rate talent with crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is the best guarantee of the loyalty.” And to Donald J. Trump – as is with most Republicans but never before at the level we’re seeing today – loyalty trumps intelligence (no pun intended). The test of our democracy has never been administered to the current degree and with such viciousness.
Perhaps I am full up with seeing a news item derived from one sentence of an interview and blowing it up as significant…no matter who says it. The pages of any Thesaurus (if a book is still used) are likely falling apart, smeared with finger fodder or finding the best synonym in “search” is the most requested on all computers. As a result, I decided to watch a few documentaries on past leaders and events – just finished Lincoln, ready to start Washington. Plus, I am reading speeches and letters of Lincoln from a book published 100 years ago (McMillan NY) and it makes me realize our country has faced challenges solved by people who took positions, succeeded and failed and no doubt our Constitution will survive, albeit thru EO or Amendments.