Author Archives: 34orion

Unknown's avatar

About 34orion

Winston Churchill once said that if you were not a liberal when you were young you had no heart, and if you were not a conservative when you were older then you had no brain. I know I have both so what does that make me?

The Seven (or Eight) Habits of Highly Effective Presidents

Posted on June 8, 2025 by 34orion

Many years ago, I found myself at a companywide all-hands meeting. The goal? To meet our new president—a guy brought in to stop the corporate bleeding. Revenues were down, morale was lower, and most of us were already fantasizing about … Continue reading →

Posted in Trump Opposition | Leave a comment

TACOs Everyday, Musk’s Shiner, and the Perils of a Target-Rich Environment

Posted on June 1, 2025 by 34orion

This past week was a goldmine for those of us convinced that Delta Tango (DT) is not just unfit for office, but a genuine threat—to the country, global stability, and even our retirement plans. For those keeping score at home, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

RP and An Epic Hangover

Posted on May 25, 2025 by 34orion

At around 11 p.m. on November 4, 1980, I found myself drunk and stoned, sprawled across the hood of a red Ford Mustang in the parking lot of a two-star motel in Key West, Florida. No, I wasn’t trying to … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

32 Flavors, “86,” and Buying a New Hat

Posted on May 18, 2025 by 34orion

When I was 15, I landed a job at Baskin-Robbins on Beechwood Road in Summit, New Jersey. Honestly, I don’t remember how I got it. Maybe I walked in off the street. Maybe I found it on the high school … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

On Playground Politics, Bullies, and the Immigrant Experience

Posted on May 11, 2025 by 34orion

When I was ten years old, I immigrated to Summit, New Jersey from Berkeley Heights. It wasn’t far—just over five miles—but for me, it felt like crossing an ocean. I was leaving behind a pack of kids (a “gang” before … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Victory Day? Seriously? Well, F*.**

Posted on May 4, 2025 by 34orion

This week, Donald Trump proposed changing the name of Veterans Day to “Victory Day for World War I” and designating May 8 as “Victory Day for World War II.” His rationale? The United States, in his words, “did more than … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The MS St. Louis, Yom HaShoah, and Lessons Not Learned

Posted on April 24, 2025 by 34orion

In May 1939, as Nazi persecution escalated in Germany, a German ocean liner named the MS St. Louis quietly left the Port of Hamburg. Aboard were 937 passengers, most of them Jewish refugees desperate to escape the tightening grip of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Big Lies, The DOGE Dodge, and Unfunny Punchlines.

Posted on April 14, 2025 by 34orion

When I was in high school, there was a joke that asked, “What are the three great lies of man?” The joke was both racist and sexist, so I’m only going to share one of the “lies”: “I love you.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Being Unc-Adjacent, Hard Truths and The Myth of Elon Musk.

Posted on April 7, 2025 by 34orion

Your last text to me ended with the question: “Why all the hate for Elon Musk?” I’m tempted to respond with a question of my own: “Why all the love for Elon Musk?” But that would be a snarky way … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Rant, Being a Dutch Uncle, and Trump’s War on the Undocumented

Posted on March 31, 2025 by 34orion

Dear Nephew, Forgive the letter format, but it’s easier for me to type with all ten fingers than just my thumbs. Before I begin, I want to be transparent about my feelings regarding immigration. In 1936, my father and his … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment