I am getting hit with another gout attack even though I have been on my best behavior. I haven’t drank much. I haven’t consumed beef. I have been take Allopurinol for 12 days straight.

I consult Dr. Google and he tells me that Allopurinol is the culprit. It is working; therefore, I am getting a flare up before my uric acid level balances out. I hope this is the case.

I am out of commission again. No more rollerblading for a few days.

Roxane Gay writes in The New Yorker about the pet-eating ludicrous conspiracy theory:

This is all ridiculous to hear. It is ridiculous to even speak of. And it is ridiculous that Trump and Vance’s lies, which in another era would be disqualifying, have seemingly propelled them. Some prognosticators are even suggesting that by inflaming xenophobic passions, Trump and Vance have secured a victory in November. Politicians have always lied, but now they run for office—and hold office—while shrouding themselves in ludicrous conspiracy theories, and they are lauded for it.

What’s even worse is how this story has, so quickly, become a cultural punch line among people of every political persuasion. This is often how extreme conservative rhetoric works. Republicans soften the ground by making outlandish or incendiary claims. They do it over and over until their narrative breaches the perimeter of their little enclaves and bleeds into the mainstream. The bad actors keep repeating these statements. We hear them so frequently that they become part of our vernacular. We capitulate and treat the discursive dominance of the extreme right as an inevitability that we cannot resist, even though we absolutely can. And then we joke about red hats and making America great again and “fake news” and tiki torches and seasoning pets. There’s an endless parade of memes—further capitulation, letting Republicans know that you’re fine with allowing them to dictate reality. You’re letting them know that you, too, believe Haitians are acceptable targets for mockery. You’re welcome to play by their rules. Anything can be fodder for humor. But this is not about having a sense of humor. It’s about having a sense of decency.

In Real Clear Polling, Harris beat Trump in Virginia by more than 5 points (49% to 43.7).

Real Clear Polling’s Electoral College advanced Virginia and its 13 Electoral College votes toward Harris and predicted Harris led Trump by 221 to 219, with 98 tossup votes in 8 swing states.

In a survey from The Washington Post/Schar School, Harris beat Trump in Virginia by 8 points (50% to 42).

In a Virginia Commonwealth University poll, Harris led a significant 10-point lead over Trump (46% to 36).

Obviously these numbers are just forecasts and predictions. We need to show up to vote. If you haven’t registered, do it now. We need to beat Trump with votes—not bullets.

Mấy tháng nay tôi không ngủ bằng máy CPAP nữa, mà bằng tiếng nhạc nhè nhẹ ru từ chiếc loa nhỏ Bose qua Spotify trên iPhone. Nhiều lúc ngủ quên đến ba, bốn giờ sáng mà vẫn nghe tiếng nhạc.

Hôm nọ đang chập chờn ngủ bỗng nghe ca khúc “Ngày chưa giông bão” (Phan Mạnh Quỳnh) qua một tiếng hát êm dịu và đầy quyến rũ. Hơi lạ là cách phát âm của cô. Tuy cô ca tiếng Việt nhưng cách luyến láy của cô như tiếng Anh. Cách cô lướt chữ nghe hơi kỳ quặc nhưng có chút dễ thương.

Cô tên ngắn gọn là Trinh. Chỉ thế thôi. Tôi không biết gì về cô cả nhưng hiếu kỳ muốn nghe thêm. Với phong cách acoustic, cô trình bài “Mùa thu cho em” (Ngô Thụy Miên), “Xin lỗi“ (Hồ Tiến Đạt), và “Phố mùa đông“ (Bảo Chấn) rất có hồn.

Trinh chưa phát hành album nào cả, mà chỉ tung ra singles trên Spotify. Trong những bài thu âm của cô có một ca khúc tiếng Anh với tựa đề “Never Be the One”, lời Anh của ca khúc “Em về tình khôi” (Quốc Bảo). Cô hát tiếng Anh khá rõ lời và tôi đã hình dung ra được tại sau cô hát tiếng Việt theo phong cách của cô.

I was driving around town and spotted several yard signs with “Republican for Harris” message. It’s a high hope to see some Republicans put country before Trump. Not only they are rejecting Trump, but they are also making sure that he won’t return to the White House. They know he is a danger for democracy. Seeing the yard signs makes me want to do something similar. I want signs that would say, “Vietnamese-American for Harris.” It is probably a long shot because the majority of Vietnamese-American are still obsessed with Trump.

I responded to the LDHV parents:

Dear All,

Thank you Chị T and cChị K for your hard work, dedication, and perspective. Now, allow me to put my head on the chopping block.

After reading this email, my wife was furious—not at the message, but at me. I hardly took out the trash at home, and yet I went above and beyond as one of the trash guys for LDHV. All kidding aside, I appreciate the recognition, but I can’t take all the credits. Other parents whose names aren’t on the list had stepped up with the trash and the water as well.

Big shout out to all the parents for participating in the LDHV activities. As Trưởng BT always says, “Without your willingness to take your kids to our events, there would be no Pack.”

When my wife and I decided to sign our kids up for scouting, we went with LDHV because of its reputation and the unity between parents and leaders. It was true. In the first few meetings, I felt connected as being part of an extended family.

In contrast, I heard divisive stories within other LDs from classism to status to gossip. Being one of the longest parents in LDHV (since 2019), I can testify that LDHV is above those.

Let’s continue to set an exemplary example for our kids.

Regards,

Donny Truong

My third and youngest son had been asking me to take them to see Deadpool & Wolverine. I finally took them today. I thought it was just a comic film, but I was deadline. It was excessively violent and filled with profanity. The F-bomb was dropped in almost all of the dialogues. It was definitely a mistake for me to take them, and yet they enjoyed it. They even knew the characters. I knew Wolverine, but I had no clue the rest of the gang. I also fell asleep in parts of the movie. This is not my cup of tea.

Gun violence in America is way out of control and we still don’t have a solution. Even the U.S. government still has no policy to prevent mass shootings after mass shootings. Wait is Cuong Lu’s attempt to address the issue through love and compassion. The book is his love letter to the killers in hoping that they will treasure their lives and the lives of people they want to take. He points out in the prologue, “The moment the violence stops, peace is possible.” I hope this book will reach those who are in despair before they hurt themselves and other people.

Karrin Vasby Anderson, Professor of Communication Studies at Colorado State University, weighs in on the debate:

Trump’s own white masculine insecurity was on clear display throughout his debate against Harris. It was a different type of pathological masculinity than the aggressive and aggrieved toxic masculinity Trump perfected as MAGA stagecraft.

Trump’s performance in the debate illustrates why insecure white masculinity should be disqualifying for a presidential candidate. When triggered, it short circuits the candidate’s strategic thinking and elicits demagogic and dehumanizing arguments.

The debate between Harris and Trump revealed how vesting authority in an insecure white man is dangerous for democracy.

She nailed it.

Last week, I took my YF YouFu 110mm Three-Wheel Inline Skates to practice carving for skiing. My goal is to get my posture correct and to roll my knees and ankles to imitate carving on skis. The big wheels on the rollerblade allowed me to bend my knees and ankles and to follow through the C shape. I can’t wait to carve on my skis this winter. This is what I am aiming for.

I am still practicing my snowboard carving in the basement. I am using my son’s rental board and boots to practice my posi-posi stance and to tip the board on its edge for both toe and heel turns. I still couldn’t go as low as where hands can touch the ground, but I could dig the edge into the ground. My goal is to leave a thin line in the snow when I carve on snowboard this coming season.

Yes, my goal is to carve, carve, and carve. That’s all I wanted to accomplish this winter. I already put in my winter holiday break. I will take a month off during Christmas and New Year. I can’t wait. Please Mother Nature, give us lots of snow this year.