Burgers, Raisins and Other Inedibles

Seen on our drive from the Pittsburgh airport to my father’s town – a billboard for a restaurant named Burgatory.

What? Hell is McDonald’s and Big Macs? Heaven is one of Bartley’s Burger Cottage’s hilariously christened gourmet burgers?

Burgatory’s a fun name but it’s not much of a recommendation for the food. What’s the tag line “Hey, we could be worse!”
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Raison d’être
is French for “reason for being” or purpose. Not to be confused with raisin bread, cookies or pudding, K?

Let's use it in a sentence!

Trump’s raison d’être is to destroy Democracy. Hopefully he’ll, ultimately, show himself to be as hopelessly untalented at this as he is in business.
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Reading the news this morning I saw that the NRA is facing a probe that could end with them losing their non-profit tax status.

Pardon my ignorance but the NRA’s a non-profit??? A terrorist organization, yes, but a non-profit? Huh, I didn’t know gun shilling, Russian conspiring, fear mongering, alarmist goons could be non-profit.

While we're at it, let's tax the never-heard-of-no-Sermon-on-the-Mount evangelical churches into oblivion.
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Gaslighting
verb
to cause (a person) to doubt his or her sanity through the use of psychological manipulation:.

The term originated with the play, then movie, Gaslight where a woman’s brand new husband (with a big bad secret) slowly manipulates her into believing that she's losing her mind. This heinous tactic entails making the target question, doubt their own sense of reality. It’s a common ploy of abusers, narcissists, dicktaters and cult leaders.

 Yes, we, as a country, are being gaslit by a dimwitted grifter. How embarrassing!

Psychology Today has a handy dandy list up (plus brief explanations) – 11 Warning Signs of Gaslighting. I’ve taken six of their points and provided linkies to illustrate and highlight.

     1) They tell blatant lies.
Ya know, it’s hard to keep up with 45’s constant pork pie whoppers. Here's a link to few of his flaming fibs on the environment.
     2) They deny they ever said something, even though you have proof.
This is now beyond ridiculous.
     3) They use what is near and dear to you as ammunition.
Ya know, like children
     4) They wear you down over time.
Not in our case. We may be tired but we are unbowed! 
     5) Their actions do not match their words.
Gee. RILLY now?
     6) They tell you everyone else is a liar.
HEY, that’s FAKE NEWS! 
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Possibly I need to find a better way to start my day than by reading the news?