JOHN RUBENS is no Mother Teresa.

The #StateBarCourtJudgeGee Met me at the elevator. She peered me in the eyes and finally asked “Are you going up or down?” I replied “Down.” She laughed and went into the UP elevator, which arrived first. #JudgeStories

More than an outlet to air grievances and opposition, the public is given the right to “act out” what goes on in their daily lives, living homeless #DTLA, in the Board’s hearing room. Sometimes expletives and associated off-color phrasing are censored to the televised version.

Predominately: Italian, Jewish and Latin among determined crowd. “Whackos” take the heat off “Legitimates” like the mentally ill man, the accused prostitute and LA Voice.

Meanwhile, in Arizona, the desert lizards watch my sun-drenched property, licking chops like wily coyotes.

Vault 7 is on the way. Be patient.

What can you do for me? “Mr. President: I can analyze. I used to practice law. I read George H. Ross’ book #TrumpStyleNegotiation.” @POTUS I like tv too.

Looking under rocks of #PotentialTreason. #RocksOfTreason #Snakes #Wombats and #Lizards sneak out from underneath and lie around on top self-camoflaged on sun-drenched days. #March2003 Three days after the New Moon.

“If I told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times. It’s fake news folks.”–fictional Donald J. Trump

#TheBigFigluzzi by John Rubens

#TheItalianHour

After an early supper complete, we sat in the parlor to have coffee and/or an after-dinner snifter of cream & brandy.

#BF: You get the guy?

#FB: Yeah, we got the guy. #Profile?

BF: Seen it dozens of times before.

FB: This one same? This one same?

copyright April 10, 2019

John Rubens

Or, “The Goose That Lays Golden Eggs”?

GOP: The DEMS may be expecting attrition of their presidential field of candidates. What would Bill Gates do?

Candidates may be imprisoned for treason or their backers like AT & T might not donate to their campaign[s].

Enron: We donate to them all.

CEO: Yeah, we got it covered.

INSURER: Have to.

LAPD: Have to?

speculative fiction by John Rubens

copyright April 10, 2019

Don’t cry.

Dear #PresidentDuterte: Please continue to spread the wealth with a standardized portion of your society [i.e., merit-based compensation]. Your swath of the Pacific looms large from now on. There’s an article I didn’t read saying what not to do in the #Philippines. Gen. MacArthur No work? It’s time for Jonesys Jukebox at 12 Bells.

#FICTIONALPRESIDENTDUTERTE: What is it the boy scouts say? Be prepared.

JOHN: Yes, I got ready real quick.

FICTIONAL CHARLES BRONSON: Real quick or dead.

FICTIONAL MORELLI: They won’t respect you.

JOHN: I don’t respect the rat race sometimes.

STEVE JONES: If Mick Jaggar doesn’t call you, work for your brother-in-law.

speculative fiction by John Rubens

Monday April 8, 2019

Dear #PresidentDuterte: Please continue to spread the wealth with a standardized portion of your society [i.e., merit-based compensation]. Your swath of the Pacific looms large from now on. There’s an article I didn’t read saying what not to do in the #Philippines. Gen. MacArthur Blogalot by John Rubens

April 8, 2019

joggers from the East splashing midway through the West.

Midnight Poetry

copyright John Rubens, April 6, compilation copyright April 8, 2019 @UCSDalumni @UCRegents @CommerceGov @nbcbayarea @raftofwater/John Rubens

Swath-PAC

“Russia has invaded Crimea and other parts of Ukraine and has tried covertly to destabilize European democracies. China has built artificial island fortresses in international waters, claimed vast swaths of the western Pacific, and moved to organize Eurasia economically in ways favorable to Beijing. And the Islamic Republic of Iran has expanded its influence over much of Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen and is pursuing nuclear weapons.”

“The New Containment, Handling Russia, China and Iran” by Michael Mandelbaum from The Rise and Fall of Peace on Earth (Oxford University Press, 2019) adapted to Foreign Affairs essay [MAR/APR 2019 at 123].