An interesting development in American politics is the complete non cooperation of every Republican Congressional member with the Democratic majority from day one of the current administration. Absolutely nothing is likely to happen legislatively, for the rest of the Obama administration, whether it's three more years or seven.
I wonder if they have considered that when, at some point in the future, the Republicans gain control of Congress and perhaps even the Presidency, there is likely to be a similar lack of cooperation on the Democratic side. They will need to have a greater than 2/3 majority in the Senate to pass even a single piece of legislation and they will need to maintain that majority forever. They will have to maintain the support of every single Republican legislator on every piece of legislation they hope to pass. How likely do you think that will be?
I, for one, couldn't care less if Republicans have good ideas or valuable legislation to offer. As long as they offer even the smallest amount of lip service to the fundy, Christer cranks, I will support a policy of complete non cooperation. I will support any disruptive and blatantly false neo birther, slur campaigns against whatever Presidential candidate they might elect. I will agitate for the non acceptance of any Supreme Court nominee that President makes, no matter how moderate they may be. I will bend over backward to support the most odious and corrupt Democratic factions, even to the detriment of the nation, in order to stop the Republicans from gaining any legislative success.
It's the same as they have done. It's the only fair response.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Your Bible Lesson For Today
Christians get a bad rap a lot of the time. Just because Christianity has been a dominant force in Western society for two thousand years, people want to blame Christianity for everything bad that happened. If that were really the case, then Christianity is also responsible for everything good that happened.
The truth is, that it's people that made everything happen, good and bad. People are also the ones that made up Christianity in the first place, to help them make things happen. Not God, Jesus, his mother or any of the hundreds of saints that have been proclaimed had anything to do with anything and if they did, it was because they were people acting the way people do and not divinely inspired in any way.
I'm not saying that a lot of Christians, especially the leaders, aren't total assholes because they are but they are assholes first and then become Christians when they realize that Christianity can help them to be even bigger assholes than they already are.
So, what do Christianity really mean, Mr Natural?
Don't mean shit, Kid.
The truth is, that it's people that made everything happen, good and bad. People are also the ones that made up Christianity in the first place, to help them make things happen. Not God, Jesus, his mother or any of the hundreds of saints that have been proclaimed had anything to do with anything and if they did, it was because they were people acting the way people do and not divinely inspired in any way.
I'm not saying that a lot of Christians, especially the leaders, aren't total assholes because they are but they are assholes first and then become Christians when they realize that Christianity can help them to be even bigger assholes than they already are.
So, what do Christianity really mean, Mr Natural?
Don't mean shit, Kid.
Maple Leaf Forever
The Canadian Women's Hockey Team won the Gold Medal in Vancouver yesterday. After they won the final match, they squatted down on the ice, smoked cigars and drank champagne until they were shit faced.
Some people are saying this was in poor taste. Some are pointing out that it's illegal in Canada to drink in public and smoke indoors.
I'm guessing these girls are mostly in their early to middle twenties. They probably haven't done anything much for the last couple years but play and train to play hockey. They probably could have just as well showered, changed clothes and gone someplace else to get shitfaced after the game, if that was what they wanted to do.
What the fuck. They were in the moment. It will be a great story to tell for the rest of their lives. It's what I would have done, probably you too.
Some people are saying this was in poor taste. Some are pointing out that it's illegal in Canada to drink in public and smoke indoors.
I'm guessing these girls are mostly in their early to middle twenties. They probably haven't done anything much for the last couple years but play and train to play hockey. They probably could have just as well showered, changed clothes and gone someplace else to get shitfaced after the game, if that was what they wanted to do.
What the fuck. They were in the moment. It will be a great story to tell for the rest of their lives. It's what I would have done, probably you too.
As Long As Your Enemy Is Beating A Dead Horse, He's Not Shitting On Your Door Step
Last year I declared the abortion war over, at least for me. I am satisfied that a woman's right to abortion will not be threatened, at least in my lifetime. You may not notice because of all of the continuing rancor but it's true. The anti abortion movement has changed. There is no more talk of reversing Roe and recriminalizing abortion, except in their fondest fantasies. The movement has been toward keeping federal funding of abortion out of health care and making sure all women have the appropriate information available to make an informed decision about abortion. I'm living with that OK.
The Gay rights movement is also coming to an end. Most people in this country are perfectly happy to coexist in every arena of society, with a Gay community that is out in the open about their sexual preferences. Every legal barrier that the Gay community used to face and there were many, has now come down. It didn't take long. Why should it. Gay people are the same people that they have always known and interacted with, in the neighborhood, at work, at church, in the family. The only difference is that now they can openly be who they already were. This can only be an improvement. I don't know how Gay marriage will come out. I've never been friends with anyone that was Gay married. I've only met a few people that say it is something they think they might like to do. I think in the end, if Gay society really embraces the ideal of Gay marriage it will become a reality, at least most places.
I will say again that I am in no rush for the rancor on the Right Wing against both abortion and Gay rights to quiet down. They may think they are doing themselves some good with it but they are not. It uses up a large portion of their available supply of both human and financial resources. It rallies only the unsavory, intolerant and ignorant to their ranks. Just as many people on the Right have abortions or are actively homosexual as on the Left. Everyone realizes this and also recognizes the terrible hypocrisy involved in the never ending fight that the Right constantly puts up about them.
The Gay rights movement is also coming to an end. Most people in this country are perfectly happy to coexist in every arena of society, with a Gay community that is out in the open about their sexual preferences. Every legal barrier that the Gay community used to face and there were many, has now come down. It didn't take long. Why should it. Gay people are the same people that they have always known and interacted with, in the neighborhood, at work, at church, in the family. The only difference is that now they can openly be who they already were. This can only be an improvement. I don't know how Gay marriage will come out. I've never been friends with anyone that was Gay married. I've only met a few people that say it is something they think they might like to do. I think in the end, if Gay society really embraces the ideal of Gay marriage it will become a reality, at least most places.
I will say again that I am in no rush for the rancor on the Right Wing against both abortion and Gay rights to quiet down. They may think they are doing themselves some good with it but they are not. It uses up a large portion of their available supply of both human and financial resources. It rallies only the unsavory, intolerant and ignorant to their ranks. Just as many people on the Right have abortions or are actively homosexual as on the Left. Everyone realizes this and also recognizes the terrible hypocrisy involved in the never ending fight that the Right constantly puts up about them.
Getting Back To Scratch
From the Ascension of FDR to the Presidency in 1932 until the end of the Eisenhower administration in 1960, there was a consolidation of power within the Federal government in America and an increasing acceptance of this power by Americans. Also during this time the population of America became more homogeneous. The waves of immigration that had characterized American growth for the previous century slowed, replaced by the pattern of undocumented demographic influx that we see today. Large, active population shifts, within the country were completed. The movement from rural to urban areas was completed and the movement from urban to suburban areas was established as a large demographic trend.
What's been happening since 1960 has been interesting. While the Federal government has remained strong, confidence in it has slowly ebbed along with economic strength and productivity. Social class distinctions re solidified. Regional cultures have strengthened.
It seems to me that America is on the verge of some new changes. We have the strongest military in the World but can't maintain its cost. America is losing the World leadership position that it has held since the end of World War II. The Federal Government is about to lose its vast powers. It will lose these powers not because the populace takes them back but because it can no longer foot the bill for them. It cannot maintain the infrastructure, it cannot continue to fund the vast bureaucracy it has amassed, it cannot subsidize the social safety net that the populace has come to depend on. The next period of American history will be characterized by the deterioration of the military establishment and all of the other institutions that the vastly powerful American federal government has built up to sustain itself.
People think that America will be able to reform and rebuild the institutions that are necessary to continue on as a premier state. There is no unity of purpose among the people to do this and even if there was, there is no vision of what a new America would look like and how it would function. There is no immediate potential for the generation of revenue in the amounts that it would cost. Currently all anybody is interested in, is how they can salvage or patch up the individual elements of the government that benefit them the most. That is not a recipe for growth or renewal.
Big changes ahead. They will be interesting to see. If you are a big tea bagging fan of the return of governmental function to local control, you may be very happy. More control may be returned to local governments than you like.
America may become a great nation again. Probably will but it may need to be rebuilt from scratch. Getting back to scratch is going to be a very interesting chapter in our history.
What's been happening since 1960 has been interesting. While the Federal government has remained strong, confidence in it has slowly ebbed along with economic strength and productivity. Social class distinctions re solidified. Regional cultures have strengthened.
It seems to me that America is on the verge of some new changes. We have the strongest military in the World but can't maintain its cost. America is losing the World leadership position that it has held since the end of World War II. The Federal Government is about to lose its vast powers. It will lose these powers not because the populace takes them back but because it can no longer foot the bill for them. It cannot maintain the infrastructure, it cannot continue to fund the vast bureaucracy it has amassed, it cannot subsidize the social safety net that the populace has come to depend on. The next period of American history will be characterized by the deterioration of the military establishment and all of the other institutions that the vastly powerful American federal government has built up to sustain itself.
People think that America will be able to reform and rebuild the institutions that are necessary to continue on as a premier state. There is no unity of purpose among the people to do this and even if there was, there is no vision of what a new America would look like and how it would function. There is no immediate potential for the generation of revenue in the amounts that it would cost. Currently all anybody is interested in, is how they can salvage or patch up the individual elements of the government that benefit them the most. That is not a recipe for growth or renewal.
Big changes ahead. They will be interesting to see. If you are a big tea bagging fan of the return of governmental function to local control, you may be very happy. More control may be returned to local governments than you like.
America may become a great nation again. Probably will but it may need to be rebuilt from scratch. Getting back to scratch is going to be a very interesting chapter in our history.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Child Sex Tourism Recommendation
If you're one of those people that like to have sex with twelve year old children, you should go to the Vatican. Twelve is the age of consent there, so it's perfectly legal.
The Vatican is so much nicer to go to than Zimbabwe, Angola, Mexico or the Philippines, which are other places in the World where sex with twelve year old children is legal. Don't go there if you're a homosexual pedophile though. That's not legal. That's nasty. Jesus doesn't like it, although a lot of Catholic priests do.
The Vatican is so much nicer to go to than Zimbabwe, Angola, Mexico or the Philippines, which are other places in the World where sex with twelve year old children is legal. Don't go there if you're a homosexual pedophile though. That's not legal. That's nasty. Jesus doesn't like it, although a lot of Catholic priests do.
Gold Update.
Gold and gold stocks have been in the doldrums and trending vaguely lower since Thanksgiving. I tell you what though, given the weakness of other markets and the strength of the US Dollar, gold and gold stocks have both held up much better than I expected. I thought back at the beginning of December that gold might eventually sink to around $900 an ounce on this leg down and I thought that if it got to $900, then it could go lower.
I don't think that gold is going anywhere near $900 anymore. I may start buying next time it gets much below $1000. I do think that it might not bottom before sometime in May, so I'm in no big rush.
I'm no currency and central bank maven but I have not changed my mind that most of the World's currencies are in big trouble and that eventually they will all be caught in a World wide inflationary cyclonic storm of huge dimension.
The place to be long term is precious metals and the most basic and necessary large consumption commodities. Energy, cereal grains, and fertilizer would be my three favorites. If you can afford to buy farm land, now's the time. I'd recommend North Dakota. Precipitation is up, growing seasons get a little longer every year up there and the mean temperature is down. I don't give a shit about the politics of Global Warming or whether we need to control green house gases. It's a documented trend. It's good for the farmers. Go with it.
I don't think that gold is going anywhere near $900 anymore. I may start buying next time it gets much below $1000. I do think that it might not bottom before sometime in May, so I'm in no big rush.
I'm no currency and central bank maven but I have not changed my mind that most of the World's currencies are in big trouble and that eventually they will all be caught in a World wide inflationary cyclonic storm of huge dimension.
The place to be long term is precious metals and the most basic and necessary large consumption commodities. Energy, cereal grains, and fertilizer would be my three favorites. If you can afford to buy farm land, now's the time. I'd recommend North Dakota. Precipitation is up, growing seasons get a little longer every year up there and the mean temperature is down. I don't give a shit about the politics of Global Warming or whether we need to control green house gases. It's a documented trend. It's good for the farmers. Go with it.
It's Official
The Catholic Church is run by crazy people. At least in the PI it is.
The PI without prostitutes is like a day without Sunshine.
The PI without prostitutes is like a day without Sunshine.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Long, Long Trail A' Winding
I read another article today about the passing of one of the last few WWI veterans. He was 109 years old. The ones I knew are all long dead. I knew a lot of them decades ago. I liked a lot of them. They were men who knew hard times for a lot of their lives. They were a lot less likely to be judgmental than some who were of a younger age. I don't mean to say that they were men who rewarded or respected failure. They just realized that a man who failed after giving it everything he had, maybe didn't have the intelligence or personal endurance to prevail. They weren't so likely to kick around and make a joke of someone like that. They realized that the failure itself was usually more than enough punishment for a man who had gone through it. A lot of them had maybe gone through that kind of experience and lived to play the game again another day. Maybe even chalked up a win or two before they turned out the stadium lights. I find no fault with that kind of thinking.
A lot of the WWII generation have little tolerance for failure. They like to think of themselves as get it done at any cost or die trying kind of guys. Hard men for hard times. They don't have any time for those that don't measure up. There's something to be said for that but I always found them hard to take and still do. I won't miss them as much when they are gone. I probably won't have to. Many will undoubtedly outlive me.
A lot of the WWII generation have little tolerance for failure. They like to think of themselves as get it done at any cost or die trying kind of guys. Hard men for hard times. They don't have any time for those that don't measure up. There's something to be said for that but I always found them hard to take and still do. I won't miss them as much when they are gone. I probably won't have to. Many will undoubtedly outlive me.
Investment Advice
Give it to me. If you're making money off something, tell me what it is. I don't see anything I like. I'm sitting in dollars and I hate dollars.
Stocks, bonds, commodities, real estate, precious metals all look like shit to me, at least for the foreseeable short term.
For now, the best I can come up with is dollars.
Stocks, bonds, commodities, real estate, precious metals all look like shit to me, at least for the foreseeable short term.
For now, the best I can come up with is dollars.
Something Fishy
When I was a kid, small cans of tuna were 8 ounces, cost about 8 cents and there was a little bit of oil in it. Mix in a little mayo and you could make a couple of sandwiches out of one can. I just noticed today that the small can of tuna is 5 ounces. When I opened it, there was closer to 2 ounces of water in there than one. I cut a slice of bread in half and made a half sandwich. There was enough for that.
So now, for 79 cents or a dollar, you get about 3 ounces of actual tuna.
At what point, I wonder, does the tuna content of a can of tuna become nutritionally insignificant?
So now, for 79 cents or a dollar, you get about 3 ounces of actual tuna.
At what point, I wonder, does the tuna content of a can of tuna become nutritionally insignificant?
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
A Dream Shattered
When I joined the Navy, it had just become the "All Volunteer" Navy. They had raised the pay for enlistees, a lot. It still wasn't shit. I'm not complaining. I knew what it was when I signed up. I'm just saying how it was. How it probably still is. Married guys did better, especially with kids. They were really trying to attract family men and change the public's image of those in the Armed Forces. It was still tough, even for those guys. Inflation was rampant and prices went up every time you turned around.
It was during those years that I started going to Long John Silver's Fish and Chips. Whenever I was hanging out with my married shipmates and going off base for a meal with their family, there was a good chance it would be to a Long John Silvers. It was about the only place at the appropriate price point that wasn't sandwiches. I ate at a lot of Long John Silver's. A person misses family time when they're in the Navy, even someone like me. I had good times eating greasy fish and chips at Long John Silver's. I get a warm feeling when I go in one, even today. It helps that they haven't built a new one or renovated the old ones in thirty years, so they all look just the same as they did then, only even seedier and with more cockroaches. I still like to go there sometimes, even though the closest one is several miles from my house.
They have a big TV ad campaign right now. You get two crunchy breaded fish with fries and hush puppies for $3.99. How can you beat that?
So I convince the old Lady to go with me. It's not that easy. LJS doesn't give her any warm, fuzzy feeling. We drive over there, even have to go a couple miles on the freeway.
They don't have the special on the menu and deny any knowledge of the TV ad. I have to pay a dollar more and all I get for it is a scoop of their runny, guaranteed diarrhea inducing coleslaw.
Fuck it.
It was during those years that I started going to Long John Silver's Fish and Chips. Whenever I was hanging out with my married shipmates and going off base for a meal with their family, there was a good chance it would be to a Long John Silvers. It was about the only place at the appropriate price point that wasn't sandwiches. I ate at a lot of Long John Silver's. A person misses family time when they're in the Navy, even someone like me. I had good times eating greasy fish and chips at Long John Silver's. I get a warm feeling when I go in one, even today. It helps that they haven't built a new one or renovated the old ones in thirty years, so they all look just the same as they did then, only even seedier and with more cockroaches. I still like to go there sometimes, even though the closest one is several miles from my house.
They have a big TV ad campaign right now. You get two crunchy breaded fish with fries and hush puppies for $3.99. How can you beat that?
So I convince the old Lady to go with me. It's not that easy. LJS doesn't give her any warm, fuzzy feeling. We drive over there, even have to go a couple miles on the freeway.
They don't have the special on the menu and deny any knowledge of the TV ad. I have to pay a dollar more and all I get for it is a scoop of their runny, guaranteed diarrhea inducing coleslaw.
Fuck it.
Chosen Folk
Here's a real interesting chart from Arianna. Jews, Hindus, Eastern Orthodox and Buddhists are the wealthiest faith groups in America by far. Way better than faith groups with bigger demographics. Muslims don't do very good at all, neither do Atheists. The biggest losers are members of traditionally Black churches and Evangelical Christians.
Does anybody see the hand of God in this anywhere? I don't but I'm an Atheist and that's about all you could expect from a guy like me.
I gotta tell ya. I was surprised the Mormons weren't doing any better. They are an abstinent, thrifty and hardworking bunch. Not a lot of brainiacs there though, you gotta admit.
Most of us can at least be grateful we're not Jehovah's Witnesses. That would really suck. They must get mostly Food Stamps and crushed aluminum cans in the collection plate.
Does anybody see the hand of God in this anywhere? I don't but I'm an Atheist and that's about all you could expect from a guy like me.
I gotta tell ya. I was surprised the Mormons weren't doing any better. They are an abstinent, thrifty and hardworking bunch. Not a lot of brainiacs there though, you gotta admit.
Most of us can at least be grateful we're not Jehovah's Witnesses. That would really suck. They must get mostly Food Stamps and crushed aluminum cans in the collection plate.
Glass More Than Half Full
I look at this a different way. 65% of Americans now have high speed internet access at home. 20 years ago most people didn't even have a computer at home and there was no internet to have access to.
Couple of more years, why so many people don't have high speed internet isn't going to be the big question being asked.
Couple of more years, why so many people don't have high speed internet isn't going to be the big question being asked.
We Won't Be Back For Years And Years And Then
I see it here in the Navy Times. They're finally doing it. Women on Subs. We'll see how that goes. I don't think it matters whether it works out good or not. Once they change over, they will never be able to change back, it's a matter of political correctness.
Sub sailors are pretty adaptable. They'll probably make it work.
With "Don't ask don't tell" set to fall, that pretty much brings the Navy into the modern age. It only leaves one group of Americans shut out of the opportunity to serve their country, without discrimination, in the Armed Forces.
You know who I'm talking about, too. Us, old people. The Navy used to be a life long endeavor. There was an overgrown old cemetery on the South end of Mare Island, where I was stationed, that dated back to the middle of the 19th century. I was amazed by how many sailors buried there, died on active duty in their 80s and even a few in their 90's. I'm only 58. I might could do another hitch. Maybe two or three. I can still move pretty good if I need to. I'd be glad to take GCTs again. I'm sure I'd do better than most of the young whippersnappers. I've got useful skills and experience out the ass, unlike the last time I was in and I don't drink nearly as much. Be a good deal for everyone.
I'd love to go to sea again. What about you, Old Gary? Up for another WESTPAC?
Sub sailors are pretty adaptable. They'll probably make it work.
With "Don't ask don't tell" set to fall, that pretty much brings the Navy into the modern age. It only leaves one group of Americans shut out of the opportunity to serve their country, without discrimination, in the Armed Forces.
You know who I'm talking about, too. Us, old people. The Navy used to be a life long endeavor. There was an overgrown old cemetery on the South end of Mare Island, where I was stationed, that dated back to the middle of the 19th century. I was amazed by how many sailors buried there, died on active duty in their 80s and even a few in their 90's. I'm only 58. I might could do another hitch. Maybe two or three. I can still move pretty good if I need to. I'd be glad to take GCTs again. I'm sure I'd do better than most of the young whippersnappers. I've got useful skills and experience out the ass, unlike the last time I was in and I don't drink nearly as much. Be a good deal for everyone.
I'd love to go to sea again. What about you, Old Gary? Up for another WESTPAC?
Everybody gets a private jet
The President rides around in a huge private Boeing 747. I think the President has had his own private airliner since Truman. Admirals and Generals often ride around in private jets. Congressional bigwigs get private jets.
I think it's a stupid idea, even for the President.
Has anybody here seen the TV show "Criminal Minds"? In this show an FBI team that investigates serial murders around the country, routinely travels around in a luxurious private jet. The fact that this is portrayed as a routine occurrence on the show makes me really mad for some reason. What the fuck is that all about? They could get wherever they need to go just as fast flying economy or even business class, if economy isn't good enough.
I always travel as cheaply as possible. Everybody should, especially civil servants, unless it is some kind of real national emergency. If the FEEBs need to get somewhere quick they can bump me off my economy flight out of Dulles or JFK. I'll understand. They'll get wherever they're going just as quick as on a private jet, 9 times out of 10, without the extravagant expense.
I think it's a stupid idea, even for the President.
Has anybody here seen the TV show "Criminal Minds"? In this show an FBI team that investigates serial murders around the country, routinely travels around in a luxurious private jet. The fact that this is portrayed as a routine occurrence on the show makes me really mad for some reason. What the fuck is that all about? They could get wherever they need to go just as fast flying economy or even business class, if economy isn't good enough.
I always travel as cheaply as possible. Everybody should, especially civil servants, unless it is some kind of real national emergency. If the FEEBs need to get somewhere quick they can bump me off my economy flight out of Dulles or JFK. I'll understand. They'll get wherever they're going just as quick as on a private jet, 9 times out of 10, without the extravagant expense.
Monday, February 22, 2010
I Used To Know These Twins Named Fatima And Yasmin, They Always Knew What The Other Was Thinking But Nobody Else Ever Did
Turkey is an interesting country. It is the most stable, secular country in the Middle East and at least nominally, a democracy. The reason for this phenomenon, in the Middle East, is that in reality, the country is controlled by a military junta. This has been the case for more than a hundred years, when Army officer Kemal Ataturk led a military coup that dismantled the remnants of the Islamic Ottoman Empire. Whenever things get politically out of whack, the military steps in and restores order and balance. It's often been bloody, even genocidal. Hey, welcome to the Middle East.
The Turkish people have now elected a strong majority government that is Islamic fundamentalist. The government is starting to roll back some of the secular freedoms that Turks have long had. This would normally be the time that the military steps in, makes some religious leaders disappear and scares some secular tolerance into the government.
Maybe it won't happen this time. Over the last few days, the government has placed dozens of highly placed military leaders and their influential civilian supporters under arrest. There may be no coup this time. Islamic fundamentalism may soon get a grip on secular Turkish life.
Most of the reason that Turkey is prosperous is that it is a secular outpost in the Middle East. One where Western businessmen are comfortable doing deals. That may soon no longer be true. Turkey is a strong Allie of the United States for the same reasons. That may be coming to an end as well.
Turkey will be fun to watch for awhile. The geopolitical life of the Middle East is fascinating. Nothing is as it seems and not too many people understand what's really going on, even the major players.
The Turkish people have now elected a strong majority government that is Islamic fundamentalist. The government is starting to roll back some of the secular freedoms that Turks have long had. This would normally be the time that the military steps in, makes some religious leaders disappear and scares some secular tolerance into the government.
Maybe it won't happen this time. Over the last few days, the government has placed dozens of highly placed military leaders and their influential civilian supporters under arrest. There may be no coup this time. Islamic fundamentalism may soon get a grip on secular Turkish life.
Most of the reason that Turkey is prosperous is that it is a secular outpost in the Middle East. One where Western businessmen are comfortable doing deals. That may soon no longer be true. Turkey is a strong Allie of the United States for the same reasons. That may be coming to an end as well.
Turkey will be fun to watch for awhile. The geopolitical life of the Middle East is fascinating. Nothing is as it seems and not too many people understand what's really going on, even the major players.
Church Burning Gay Commandos Nabbed.
You probably saw in the news that they arrested a couple of young guys for burning down all those Thumper churches in East Texas. I saw pictures of them. They looked like the same kind of black dirt ignorant, meth snorting, redneck scumbags that Texas is full of. The kind whose parents go to exactly the type of churches they are accused of burning down.
You can never tell about these things though. There's been a lot of speculation that these guys are members of the same Gay Liberation Commando organization that burned down Sarah Hivehead's church in Alaska last year and everyone knows they are wicked clever with disguises and such. It's easy for them. They all have advanced degrees in cosmetology, hairstyling and urban warfare from various Commie beauty schools of the Castro district in San Francisco. There's thousands of them training there to terrorize our homeland and force everyone, even your old white haired mother, to become analsexuals. Mexicans help smuggle them to their terrorist targets, because they hate us almost as much as Homos do. How can you guard against something like that?
I'm sure when the full truth comes out, everyone will be surprised and God's good traditionally married, heterosexual, White people, will rise up and reclaim their birthright of a young Earth, creationist paradise. It'll happen. As sure as the Earth is flat, Mary was a virgin and God has a long white beard.
You can never tell about these things though. There's been a lot of speculation that these guys are members of the same Gay Liberation Commando organization that burned down Sarah Hivehead's church in Alaska last year and everyone knows they are wicked clever with disguises and such. It's easy for them. They all have advanced degrees in cosmetology, hairstyling and urban warfare from various Commie beauty schools of the Castro district in San Francisco. There's thousands of them training there to terrorize our homeland and force everyone, even your old white haired mother, to become analsexuals. Mexicans help smuggle them to their terrorist targets, because they hate us almost as much as Homos do. How can you guard against something like that?
I'm sure when the full truth comes out, everyone will be surprised and God's good traditionally married, heterosexual, White people, will rise up and reclaim their birthright of a young Earth, creationist paradise. It'll happen. As sure as the Earth is flat, Mary was a virgin and God has a long white beard.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Ron Paul
If you want some idea of where the Republican Party is going, you need to look at last week's CPAC convention straw poll for Presidential candidates.
Last year, Mitt Romney won, as he had other times in the past. This year Romney tied for third with Sarah Palin, down in the mid single digits. Dr Ron Paul from Texas, was the head and shoulders winner with an astounding 31%, largely unsolicited popularity overall.
Google the results, they will blow you away.
Part of the so called conservative movement in America is fixated on bigoted and exclusionary Christian fundamentalist social issues, reminescent of the 1950s Red and race baiting mix of super patriotic nationalism. More and more, the educated, thoughtful members of the Right Wing are moving straight toward positions based on small government Libertarianism.
The party leadership and the Christers have been jeering at and denigrating Dr Paul for almost 30 years. They have done everything they can to deny that he has any mainstream appeal. Dr Paul is now in his late seventies and the activity level required to maintain his seat in Congress and lead his national movement is taking a toll on him. He gets no money or support from the National party structure.
There he stands, the most resonant Republican voice in America today. I'm not suggesting he will be the Party's candidate in 2012 or ever. I am saying that the Republican party is heading for a change.
Last year, Mitt Romney won, as he had other times in the past. This year Romney tied for third with Sarah Palin, down in the mid single digits. Dr Ron Paul from Texas, was the head and shoulders winner with an astounding 31%, largely unsolicited popularity overall.
Google the results, they will blow you away.
Part of the so called conservative movement in America is fixated on bigoted and exclusionary Christian fundamentalist social issues, reminescent of the 1950s Red and race baiting mix of super patriotic nationalism. More and more, the educated, thoughtful members of the Right Wing are moving straight toward positions based on small government Libertarianism.
The party leadership and the Christers have been jeering at and denigrating Dr Paul for almost 30 years. They have done everything they can to deny that he has any mainstream appeal. Dr Paul is now in his late seventies and the activity level required to maintain his seat in Congress and lead his national movement is taking a toll on him. He gets no money or support from the National party structure.
There he stands, the most resonant Republican voice in America today. I'm not suggesting he will be the Party's candidate in 2012 or ever. I am saying that the Republican party is heading for a change.
Differently Abled
I've always tried to be honest, at least with myself, about myself. There may be advantages in lying to others at times but what good does it do to lie to yourself? Realizing that you have certain strengths allows you to better use them to your advantage and admitting your weaknesses can keep you from being taken advantage of by those who are, for the most part, inferior to you.
A person reaches a certain age and begins to realize that they aren't as strong, in many ways, as they once were and that these developing shortcomings are going to be progressive, not a pleasant realization. There are a lot of areas of life where competitiveness becomes only adequacy and some where adequacy becomes a pattern of intermittent failure.
Age has it's compensations. Even a chronic loser builds up, over time, a wealth of experience that allows him to not fall helplessly into some of the traps that life sets. It's not the same as actually prevailing against adversity but it's something.
I wonder sometimes if it's not better for the maintenance of mental health, to just ignore the fact that you're getting old and failing. People that do that often seem to get the most out of their later years or maybe some people simply retain more of the nimble grace of youth much longer than others. Neither of these things is true or possible in my case, so I guess it doesn't matter.
I try to go about my business the best I can and keep a good thought. If I no longer have some of the attributes I once had, I console myself that I have developed some different skills and abilities that allow me to compensate.
An older person needs to be careful though. Differently abled is the euphemism we have come to use to describe the mentally retarded. A person needs to keep that in mind too.
A person reaches a certain age and begins to realize that they aren't as strong, in many ways, as they once were and that these developing shortcomings are going to be progressive, not a pleasant realization. There are a lot of areas of life where competitiveness becomes only adequacy and some where adequacy becomes a pattern of intermittent failure.
Age has it's compensations. Even a chronic loser builds up, over time, a wealth of experience that allows him to not fall helplessly into some of the traps that life sets. It's not the same as actually prevailing against adversity but it's something.
I wonder sometimes if it's not better for the maintenance of mental health, to just ignore the fact that you're getting old and failing. People that do that often seem to get the most out of their later years or maybe some people simply retain more of the nimble grace of youth much longer than others. Neither of these things is true or possible in my case, so I guess it doesn't matter.
I try to go about my business the best I can and keep a good thought. If I no longer have some of the attributes I once had, I console myself that I have developed some different skills and abilities that allow me to compensate.
An older person needs to be careful though. Differently abled is the euphemism we have come to use to describe the mentally retarded. A person needs to keep that in mind too.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Alexander Haig Is Dead
Some people didn't think much of Alexander Haig. You have to evaluate him from the context of him being a military guy. He might seem to most to have been a fascist but in the context of his military background he was a relative moderate
When Watergate broke, Alexander Haig was working in the White House, very close to President Nixon. To many in the White House at the time, it didn't seem like that big a deal. He understood the situation right away. He got the Hell out of there quick and he took his friends with him.
Never waste time fortifying an indefensible position. You never leave a buddy behind. The rules of a soldier are simple, what's hard is remembering to follow them in a crisis.
When Watergate broke, Alexander Haig was working in the White House, very close to President Nixon. To many in the White House at the time, it didn't seem like that big a deal. He understood the situation right away. He got the Hell out of there quick and he took his friends with him.
Never waste time fortifying an indefensible position. You never leave a buddy behind. The rules of a soldier are simple, what's hard is remembering to follow them in a crisis.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Tiger Says He's Sorry
Tiger Woods is going to apologize to the American people on Friday. Do you feel you deserve an apology from him?
I don't. He didn't do anything to me.
I guess he could buy me a drink, if he wanted to but I don't drink. He could introduce me to some of his pretty young friends. That would be even more of a waste of time than buying me booze. I don't think his friends would like me.
I'd kind of like to meet his Mom. Do you think he'd like to introduce me to her?
I don't. He didn't do anything to me.
I guess he could buy me a drink, if he wanted to but I don't drink. He could introduce me to some of his pretty young friends. That would be even more of a waste of time than buying me booze. I don't think his friends would like me.
I'd kind of like to meet his Mom. Do you think he'd like to introduce me to her?
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Who Gets The Second Chance?
I know a lot of guys who maybe had a little problem when they were young. Maybe drug smuggling, maybe robbing a liquor store, maybe just a lot of drunk driving within a short period of time. The point is that these guys weren't hardened criminals, they weren't prone to violence, they weren't security risks but for the rest of their lives they never could get a civil service job, bonded by an insurance company, a security clearance to work in the defense industry or a lot of other stuff. They're screwed.
Amy Bishop never had any of those handicaps to overcome. She had a clean record. She was dangerous though. She was a serial killer and mad bomber. There were people in authority that knew all about it and just let her slide along with a clean record. She not only had a second chance, she had a third and fourth. There were people not nearly as much a threat to society as her doing life without parole under the three strikes provision.
Amy Bishop never had any of those handicaps to overcome. She had a clean record. She was dangerous though. She was a serial killer and mad bomber. There were people in authority that knew all about it and just let her slide along with a clean record. She not only had a second chance, she had a third and fourth. There were people not nearly as much a threat to society as her doing life without parole under the three strikes provision.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Flying Circus
There is a lot of discussion these days about air travel. Who should be allowed to fly and under what circumstances. I've always been a pretty good traveler. Not much bothers me. I took a short flight a few days ago on a very small commercial jet. The pressurization system didn't function very well. There were fluctuations.
A couple rows behind me a young couple was traveling with a little toddler girl. I probably wasn't seated more than four or five feet away. The little girl probably had an ear infection involving some kind of inner ear blockage and inflammation. From takeoff on, this little girl started to emit a series of piercing screams, increasing in volume. Shortly after that she voided her bowel and bladder, then projectile vomited. In the enclosed passenger compartment, the stench was unbelievably foul. I thought to myself that it was remarkable one small child could contain that much bad smell.
I have spent a lot of time in places where strong excretory smells abound. It didn't bother me that much. I just block that kind of stuff out. I could tell it was getting to a lot of the other passengers. A lot of seat creaking, coughing and audible gagging.
The flight had been delayed, as is often the case these days. It had been a long wait at the airport. I was just glad to be on my way.
A couple rows behind me a young couple was traveling with a little toddler girl. I probably wasn't seated more than four or five feet away. The little girl probably had an ear infection involving some kind of inner ear blockage and inflammation. From takeoff on, this little girl started to emit a series of piercing screams, increasing in volume. Shortly after that she voided her bowel and bladder, then projectile vomited. In the enclosed passenger compartment, the stench was unbelievably foul. I thought to myself that it was remarkable one small child could contain that much bad smell.
I have spent a lot of time in places where strong excretory smells abound. It didn't bother me that much. I just block that kind of stuff out. I could tell it was getting to a lot of the other passengers. A lot of seat creaking, coughing and audible gagging.
The flight had been delayed, as is often the case these days. It had been a long wait at the airport. I was just glad to be on my way.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Monday, February 08, 2010
Irresponsible Journalism
The New York Post sent a reporter all the way to Las Vegas, to review the services of the first male prostitute at a legal brothel. She paid $500 dollars for the two hour deluxe and then just moped around refusing to have sex with him. In the end, she gave the guy a bad review and dissed him because he felt like he had failed her somehow. This is like paying for a deluxe sushi repast, refusing to eat any and then writing about how you're not willing to consume raw fish.
They should have sent a girl that really likes sex, had her buy the 40 minute standard offering for $200, go in, lay down and say "go boy, we haven't got all night". Then do an objective write up of value received for money. 40 minutes should be plenty of time to establish exactly what this guy has to offer.
It's whores, not E Harmony. Am I wrong here?
They should have sent a girl that really likes sex, had her buy the 40 minute standard offering for $200, go in, lay down and say "go boy, we haven't got all night". Then do an objective write up of value received for money. 40 minutes should be plenty of time to establish exactly what this guy has to offer.
It's whores, not E Harmony. Am I wrong here?
Child Sodomy In The Land Of Der Volk
It's acknowledged by the Catholic Church that sexual abuse against children and young adults has frequently occurred within institutions where the Church was acting in loco parentis for minor children. It has happened for as long as anyone now alive can remember and likely much longer. Maybe hundreds of years. Maybe a thousand.
With each new revelation of large scale abuse, the Church claims that it has admitted the problem and will no longer shield abusers, lie about the occurrence of abuse or cover up past abuse. The Church claims it has instituted reforms that will effectively stop the cycle of abuse. They have claimed this in many countries around the world, over more than a generation now. They have claimed this to be true in America, only to promote high Churchmen who covered up abuse and who may even have been part of it to higher positions within the Church. Most recently they claimed this in Ireland where the most extensive and grievous culture of child sexual abuse yet revealed, existed unchecked for generations.
Now, just weeks after they claimed to have come clean about Ireland, reports of widespread, systematic sexual predation in German Catholic institutions are starting to leak out. The cases reported so far, while in excess of a hundred, some of which were quite recent, may only be the tip of the iceberg. If the pattern with which abuse has been exposed elsewhere is any indication, it almost certainly is the case. It is all the more damning that this is the home country of the current Pope, who has repeatedly expressed ignorance of priestly sexual abuse and profound anger at hearing of it for the first time. It is all but certain that with Pope Benedict's intimate contacts, high and low, within the German Church, that he knew of this abuse, it's nature and prevalence for thirty years or more. Who can the people trust once they know the Pope is a liar?
How long will Catholics tolerate a clergy that repeatedly engage in this kind of behavior?
With each new revelation of large scale abuse, the Church claims that it has admitted the problem and will no longer shield abusers, lie about the occurrence of abuse or cover up past abuse. The Church claims it has instituted reforms that will effectively stop the cycle of abuse. They have claimed this in many countries around the world, over more than a generation now. They have claimed this to be true in America, only to promote high Churchmen who covered up abuse and who may even have been part of it to higher positions within the Church. Most recently they claimed this in Ireland where the most extensive and grievous culture of child sexual abuse yet revealed, existed unchecked for generations.
Now, just weeks after they claimed to have come clean about Ireland, reports of widespread, systematic sexual predation in German Catholic institutions are starting to leak out. The cases reported so far, while in excess of a hundred, some of which were quite recent, may only be the tip of the iceberg. If the pattern with which abuse has been exposed elsewhere is any indication, it almost certainly is the case. It is all the more damning that this is the home country of the current Pope, who has repeatedly expressed ignorance of priestly sexual abuse and profound anger at hearing of it for the first time. It is all but certain that with Pope Benedict's intimate contacts, high and low, within the German Church, that he knew of this abuse, it's nature and prevalence for thirty years or more. Who can the people trust once they know the Pope is a liar?
How long will Catholics tolerate a clergy that repeatedly engage in this kind of behavior?
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Mexican Girls Were Cheap And Plentiful
I knew this guy one time, hot shot surgeon. He was Chinese, well, kind of Chinese. One of his ancestors had come to California during the Gold Rush from Canton. The family lived for several generations in the San Joaquin Valley. In the old days, a Chinaman had a hard time getting a wife. Chinese girls were few, expensive and even those of poor provenance cost a lot of money. Getting a White girl wasn't easy and would be the same as committing suicide, in any case. The original old guy wanted to get married, so he got a Mexican girl. Worked out OK for him. Nobody seemed too offended.
As the family settled into California life, it became a family tradition. The girls married Chinese. The family got good money for them and valuable family alliances were made. The boys married Mexican girls. They were cheap and plentiful, hard workers and it didn't hurt to have family in the Mexican community.
So my friend grew up in Fresno. He spoke Spanish, English and Cantonese. He was an athlete, played the piano and a good student. Things had changed from the old days. He got a scholarship to UCLA and stayed on for Medical School. He was a very good surgeon. He's not so good anymore but still does it. Surgeons never quit while they're ahead. His Mexican wife is very nice and their three sons are the smartest Chinamen you'll ever meet and their wives the hardest workers.
He told me the story about his family early one morning. I had called him in for a surgery and it was too late to go home when he had finished. I always called him in if I could find an excuse to, no matter who was on call, or one of the duffers in his group and then called him to assist. Self preservation. Nobody wants a belly gone bad in their ICU in the middle of the night, if they can help it. He always came and never complained. He came by my office to shoot the breeze and get a cup of coffee. Tickled me. Everybody thought he was Chinese and he was 63/64ths Mexican. His sons are 123/124ths. When people see other people, they see what they want to see, in every detail. Every time. No matter what is really there. It makes me wonder sometimes if anybody ever sees what's really there, no matter what they're looking at.
As the family settled into California life, it became a family tradition. The girls married Chinese. The family got good money for them and valuable family alliances were made. The boys married Mexican girls. They were cheap and plentiful, hard workers and it didn't hurt to have family in the Mexican community.
So my friend grew up in Fresno. He spoke Spanish, English and Cantonese. He was an athlete, played the piano and a good student. Things had changed from the old days. He got a scholarship to UCLA and stayed on for Medical School. He was a very good surgeon. He's not so good anymore but still does it. Surgeons never quit while they're ahead. His Mexican wife is very nice and their three sons are the smartest Chinamen you'll ever meet and their wives the hardest workers.
He told me the story about his family early one morning. I had called him in for a surgery and it was too late to go home when he had finished. I always called him in if I could find an excuse to, no matter who was on call, or one of the duffers in his group and then called him to assist. Self preservation. Nobody wants a belly gone bad in their ICU in the middle of the night, if they can help it. He always came and never complained. He came by my office to shoot the breeze and get a cup of coffee. Tickled me. Everybody thought he was Chinese and he was 63/64ths Mexican. His sons are 123/124ths. When people see other people, they see what they want to see, in every detail. Every time. No matter what is really there. It makes me wonder sometimes if anybody ever sees what's really there, no matter what they're looking at.
Mrs Tebow and Little Timmy
I'm not a big fan of Dr Jim or his Focus on the Family ministry. That said, after watching the Superbowl ads, I didn't see anything wrong with them.
They may be pro life but they are also very pro choice. I'm not a huge proponent of abortion per se, I just think women get to choose. Seems to me all they are doing in these ads, is promoting motherhood and encouraging women to have their babies if they can. That's OK with me. Who doesn't like motherhood and babies?
I don't think the real hard core anti abortion types are going to like these ads at all. They'll probably think they are a big waste of money.
These ads are likely to be really good PR for Focus and convince people that they aren't really hard line Christian wackos after all. In that sense they are false advertising. Maybe that's all they wanted out of them, good PR. If so, they are pretty smart.
They may be pro life but they are also very pro choice. I'm not a huge proponent of abortion per se, I just think women get to choose. Seems to me all they are doing in these ads, is promoting motherhood and encouraging women to have their babies if they can. That's OK with me. Who doesn't like motherhood and babies?
I don't think the real hard core anti abortion types are going to like these ads at all. They'll probably think they are a big waste of money.
These ads are likely to be really good PR for Focus and convince people that they aren't really hard line Christian wackos after all. In that sense they are false advertising. Maybe that's all they wanted out of them, good PR. If so, they are pretty smart.
Rich People, Go Figure.
There are very rich people that live completely anonymous lives. I knew this very old man once. When he was a little boy, back before World War I, in New York City, he was a street urchin, scrambling for money. One of the things he did was hawk bags of peanuts at Yankee games. He got the idea that he could sell other stuff and made a deal with the management to do so. He started out with team pennants on bamboo canes, which he had made up at a local sweat shop. They sold well. He hired other little kids to sell them and gave the management a cut. Eventually he was selling all sorts of cheap shit to the fans. He made a decent living for several years. Other teams soon copied what he did and he was never able to cash in on his imitators.
He started to get rich when pro football started up. He managed to convince the NFL that they should only allow the sale of "official" curios and got the contract to be the sole provider. Eventually, a large proportion of the profits of NFL teams came from his operation. He also pioneered giveaway nights, where attendance could be boosted by giving everybody some piece of shit souvenir.
As the decades rolled by, all of the professional sports leagues had official products and he became the official provider for all of them, pro, semi pro, even some college sports. A lot of these products, jerseys, hats and warm up jackets, bobble head dolls, became so popular that they were sold in huge volumes at special stores in the stadiums, off site, and through mail order. Eventually, he became one of the richest men in the country and nobody ever heard of him. He was able to keep his competitive edge by going overseas for production and direct shipping to distributors. No infrastructure, few employees, the cheapest possible crap. He never had any plan to pass the business on to his children. He didn't think they could hold on to it. He was probably right. He sold out in the early Nineties to Nike. They paid top dollar. He was a Billionaire. More even than that.
I met him after he had got the cancer that would kill him. He donated a wing to the best cancer hospital in SoCal. He had his own suite and they kept him alive a long time. He would go home as much as possible, long weekends, holiday seasons, special occasions. His wife would bring him home late in the evening and I would often go out from the Visiting Nurses Association, to get him set up. I liked visiting him. Rich people are more demanding and his was always an inordinately long visit but he was an interesting guy. I'd do the assessment admission packet. Get him into bed. Clean him up. Get his Gastric tube feeding going and he'd be good for the night. They had a home aide that would come in the morning.
They lived in a relatively modest one bedroom townhouse in a Newport Beach golf course community called Big Canyon. As those kind of places go, it's OK but not nearly as expensive or exclusive as the top tier. The golf course didn't have country club amenities. It wasn't close to the water or even in a really nice area. I was surprised that people with that kind of money and such a limited end of life horizon would choose a place like that to live. I thought it was cool. They were a cute old couple, both in their nineties, very independent. I liked to think I was their friend. I got a kick out of it.
So, one time I'm out there really late on a Friday night after the wife had brought him from the hospital. He was getting sicker and wasn't really doing very well. I probably spent 2 1/2 hours there. $35 flat rate visit, not even worth my time. He probably shouldn't have been home at all but I knew he really wanted to be and he was going to die soon anyway, so I took my time and made sure he was OK. I set the feeding rate a little lower than was ordered because I didn't want it to back up on him, give it time to absorb. I was on call weekend nights so I gave the old lady my home phone and beeper number so she wouldn't have to go through the answering service if there was an emergency. She seemed relieved and very grateful.
Just before I left I got a beep from my boss at the office in Irvine. That meant he had someplace else for me to go. I asked the lady if I might use her phone to call in and she said certainly. I didn't have a cell phone. They were a new thing and the VNA was too cheap to reimburse the cost, so I just had a beeper and a company phone credit card. So I called in, got the info on the next visit and was off to put a new dilaudid cartridge into the portable IV pump of a malingering junkie woman, abusing the home health care system in Dana Point.
My supervisor told me the next week that the wife had called to file a complaint against me for not using my credit card on the phone call. Newport to Tustin, 35 cents. I got mad but I was embarrassed too. I should have used the credit card. You had to go through a whole routine and punch in about twenty digits. It never occurred to me that they would care. I guess it should have. They still needed evening visits and sometimes even late night visits after that, he didn't die for a few more months. I would never go. I made Gerald, my supervisor go. I never got along with Gerald that well. He was afraid they would give me his job. Let him waste his time for no money with the old rich people. It wasn't out of spite. I knew if I went back, I would give the old lady a buck to reimburse her for the call and a little extra, for the trouble I put her through and that would just be mean.
He started to get rich when pro football started up. He managed to convince the NFL that they should only allow the sale of "official" curios and got the contract to be the sole provider. Eventually, a large proportion of the profits of NFL teams came from his operation. He also pioneered giveaway nights, where attendance could be boosted by giving everybody some piece of shit souvenir.
As the decades rolled by, all of the professional sports leagues had official products and he became the official provider for all of them, pro, semi pro, even some college sports. A lot of these products, jerseys, hats and warm up jackets, bobble head dolls, became so popular that they were sold in huge volumes at special stores in the stadiums, off site, and through mail order. Eventually, he became one of the richest men in the country and nobody ever heard of him. He was able to keep his competitive edge by going overseas for production and direct shipping to distributors. No infrastructure, few employees, the cheapest possible crap. He never had any plan to pass the business on to his children. He didn't think they could hold on to it. He was probably right. He sold out in the early Nineties to Nike. They paid top dollar. He was a Billionaire. More even than that.
I met him after he had got the cancer that would kill him. He donated a wing to the best cancer hospital in SoCal. He had his own suite and they kept him alive a long time. He would go home as much as possible, long weekends, holiday seasons, special occasions. His wife would bring him home late in the evening and I would often go out from the Visiting Nurses Association, to get him set up. I liked visiting him. Rich people are more demanding and his was always an inordinately long visit but he was an interesting guy. I'd do the assessment admission packet. Get him into bed. Clean him up. Get his Gastric tube feeding going and he'd be good for the night. They had a home aide that would come in the morning.
They lived in a relatively modest one bedroom townhouse in a Newport Beach golf course community called Big Canyon. As those kind of places go, it's OK but not nearly as expensive or exclusive as the top tier. The golf course didn't have country club amenities. It wasn't close to the water or even in a really nice area. I was surprised that people with that kind of money and such a limited end of life horizon would choose a place like that to live. I thought it was cool. They were a cute old couple, both in their nineties, very independent. I liked to think I was their friend. I got a kick out of it.
So, one time I'm out there really late on a Friday night after the wife had brought him from the hospital. He was getting sicker and wasn't really doing very well. I probably spent 2 1/2 hours there. $35 flat rate visit, not even worth my time. He probably shouldn't have been home at all but I knew he really wanted to be and he was going to die soon anyway, so I took my time and made sure he was OK. I set the feeding rate a little lower than was ordered because I didn't want it to back up on him, give it time to absorb. I was on call weekend nights so I gave the old lady my home phone and beeper number so she wouldn't have to go through the answering service if there was an emergency. She seemed relieved and very grateful.
Just before I left I got a beep from my boss at the office in Irvine. That meant he had someplace else for me to go. I asked the lady if I might use her phone to call in and she said certainly. I didn't have a cell phone. They were a new thing and the VNA was too cheap to reimburse the cost, so I just had a beeper and a company phone credit card. So I called in, got the info on the next visit and was off to put a new dilaudid cartridge into the portable IV pump of a malingering junkie woman, abusing the home health care system in Dana Point.
My supervisor told me the next week that the wife had called to file a complaint against me for not using my credit card on the phone call. Newport to Tustin, 35 cents. I got mad but I was embarrassed too. I should have used the credit card. You had to go through a whole routine and punch in about twenty digits. It never occurred to me that they would care. I guess it should have. They still needed evening visits and sometimes even late night visits after that, he didn't die for a few more months. I would never go. I made Gerald, my supervisor go. I never got along with Gerald that well. He was afraid they would give me his job. Let him waste his time for no money with the old rich people. It wasn't out of spite. I knew if I went back, I would give the old lady a buck to reimburse her for the call and a little extra, for the trouble I put her through and that would just be mean.
Friday, February 05, 2010
The Greatest Healh Care System In The World
Why does everyone whine about the health care system in this country? If you get real sick, you only have to pay everything you have, then you can wait six months to get on Medicaid and the absolute worst doctors will misdiagnose you and treat you in hellhole hospitals, absolutely free. What could be fairer than that?
Go To The Superbowl?
This might be a good year to go to the Superbowl. I hear you can get shitty tickets, last minute, for about $1400 dollars each. Figure two people, coach tickets across the country, a motel for a few nights and expenses, prob'ly wouldn't cost you more than $5000, $6000 if you live it up. That seems cheap compared to what it's been in the past. I think the Superbowl isn't what it once was. Besides that, it's stormy down in Florida right now. Neither the Colts or the Saints are exactly America's team but there ought to be enough guys my age or older still out there that remember Johnny U in Baltimore and would shell out some money. It's like the American Haj, everyone needs to go at least once before they die.
I'm not lining up for tickets. We're going to Mac World in San Francisco next week, four days worth. Plane tickets and hotel from Priceline, a little pocket change for Bart and the Metro, eat a little dim sum in Chinatown, bowl of spagetti in North Beach, won't set us back more than $6-700. More my speed.
I'm not lining up for tickets. We're going to Mac World in San Francisco next week, four days worth. Plane tickets and hotel from Priceline, a little pocket change for Bart and the Metro, eat a little dim sum in Chinatown, bowl of spagetti in North Beach, won't set us back more than $6-700. More my speed.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Waiting For The Storm
Is anyone besides me wondering why the Bible thumpers and rednecks aren't already screaming bloody murder about Barry's plan to abolish don't ask don't tell? Since homosexuals are abominations against God and criminal perverts to boot, you'd think they'd pipe up right away.
It's gotta be a tough call for them. I'm sure they don't want to be seen as doing anything that didn't "support the troops". Everybody knows there are lots of Gays in the military. It was never any secret on my boat who was Gay. They're a little different. Even the tattoos. Never was a problem that I could see. I knew a couple of Gay guys that I considered unsuited to military service but not because they were Gay. Besides that, deciding who was suitable for military service was never part of my military qualifications.
This has been a long drawn out transition, nothing like when Truman racially desegregated the military, at least on paper, overnight. I doubt there will be a lot of problems.
One thing I would really like to see changed in the military is the officer/enlisted divide. It isn't the fact that it perpetuates an antiquated class system that bothers me. The system enables people in both sides to reach positions of authority for which they have no aptitude and were never competent.
It's gotta be a tough call for them. I'm sure they don't want to be seen as doing anything that didn't "support the troops". Everybody knows there are lots of Gays in the military. It was never any secret on my boat who was Gay. They're a little different. Even the tattoos. Never was a problem that I could see. I knew a couple of Gay guys that I considered unsuited to military service but not because they were Gay. Besides that, deciding who was suitable for military service was never part of my military qualifications.
This has been a long drawn out transition, nothing like when Truman racially desegregated the military, at least on paper, overnight. I doubt there will be a lot of problems.
One thing I would really like to see changed in the military is the officer/enlisted divide. It isn't the fact that it perpetuates an antiquated class system that bothers me. The system enables people in both sides to reach positions of authority for which they have no aptitude and were never competent.
He Never Traveled With A Board. He Just Carved A New One, Wherever He Was.
So Fuckin' Cool.
Duke Kahanamoku was born 120 years ago. He was still alive when I was a young man. He was famous like a rock star in his day. He is one of my favorite Americans.
He was hands down the best in the World at what he did, for a long time. He enjoyed being able to travel the World, see new sights and meet different people. These were the things his fame brought him. I don't think he was ever poverty stricken but he never had or saved any money. He could have. I guess it never interested him.
The things that impressed me about him were that he was a friend to anybody that wanted to be his friend and an enemy of no one. After his fame had passed, he never became embittered, reclusive or a drunk. He lived his life the same, doing the things he liked with his friends, from the time he was a little boy until he was an old man. He lived in a racial time but he was never a racial man and did it in a seemingly casual manner. That can't have been easy. He was one of the heroes of all the little boys in my area. Everybody wished they could live their life like Duke.
I'm not going to go into all the stuff he did. It wasn't that earthshaking. The stuff of boyhood heroes. The impressive thing was that it was all good stuff. Greed, anger, envy, lust, he didn't seem to be touched by any of them and he had ample opportunity to become intimately acquainted with all of them.
There's a lot I don't know about him. I don't know if he was religious. I don't know his sexual orientation. I don't know about his political views. I don't know if he was what a lot of people like to call "a patriotic American". He served as a military policeman in World War II, whatever that's worth. He had to be in his fifties at the time. I like to think Duke didn't care about any of that shit but I don't really know.
He must have been quite a guy to know. If I could pick any person to get to be, it probably would be him. He had a great life. He had a lot of great times and never got caught doing anything bad, as far as I know. I wish I could say that.
Duke Kahanamoku was born 120 years ago. He was still alive when I was a young man. He was famous like a rock star in his day. He is one of my favorite Americans.
He was hands down the best in the World at what he did, for a long time. He enjoyed being able to travel the World, see new sights and meet different people. These were the things his fame brought him. I don't think he was ever poverty stricken but he never had or saved any money. He could have. I guess it never interested him.
The things that impressed me about him were that he was a friend to anybody that wanted to be his friend and an enemy of no one. After his fame had passed, he never became embittered, reclusive or a drunk. He lived his life the same, doing the things he liked with his friends, from the time he was a little boy until he was an old man. He lived in a racial time but he was never a racial man and did it in a seemingly casual manner. That can't have been easy. He was one of the heroes of all the little boys in my area. Everybody wished they could live their life like Duke.
I'm not going to go into all the stuff he did. It wasn't that earthshaking. The stuff of boyhood heroes. The impressive thing was that it was all good stuff. Greed, anger, envy, lust, he didn't seem to be touched by any of them and he had ample opportunity to become intimately acquainted with all of them.
There's a lot I don't know about him. I don't know if he was religious. I don't know his sexual orientation. I don't know about his political views. I don't know if he was what a lot of people like to call "a patriotic American". He served as a military policeman in World War II, whatever that's worth. He had to be in his fifties at the time. I like to think Duke didn't care about any of that shit but I don't really know.
He must have been quite a guy to know. If I could pick any person to get to be, it probably would be him. He had a great life. He had a lot of great times and never got caught doing anything bad, as far as I know. I wish I could say that.
Scott Brown Believes In God
Scott Brown, the new Republican Senator from Massachusetts goes to this Church.
Doesn't sound that bad to me, if you want to go to Church. I don't but a lot of people seem to find some comfort there and I think that's a good thing.
They say they fall somewhere center right on the political and social values spectrum but it also sounds like they leave the specifics of how you live your life up to the individual.
The Pope recently said that no dissent from the church is allowed and that Catholics should think, act and vote exactly like the church says, otherwise there is no place for you at the potluck in the basement or Heaven up above. Even James Dobson over at Focus on the Family isn't that strict. Jimmy really isn't so terrible when you put him in perspective. He does say that an important part of raising a son is making sure he sees your penis a lot. That kind of puts me off. Seems kind of creepy. At least he's honest and open about his sexuality. He claims to be hetero and no meth snorting Gay hookers have shown up out of his past to besmirch his escutcheon yet. I wish the Pope would be more honest about his sexuality. He needs to discuss openly and often exactly what his sexual orientation is and how he expresses it in his activities of daily living. Everyone should, don't you think? The World would be a better place. I know it always makes me feel better and it helps the people around me to know what they're dealing with. I'm real shy about who I show my penis to, I think it's real brave of James Dobson to tell the truth like that.
Maybe I'm just old fashioned.
Doesn't sound that bad to me, if you want to go to Church. I don't but a lot of people seem to find some comfort there and I think that's a good thing.
They say they fall somewhere center right on the political and social values spectrum but it also sounds like they leave the specifics of how you live your life up to the individual.
The Pope recently said that no dissent from the church is allowed and that Catholics should think, act and vote exactly like the church says, otherwise there is no place for you at the potluck in the basement or Heaven up above. Even James Dobson over at Focus on the Family isn't that strict. Jimmy really isn't so terrible when you put him in perspective. He does say that an important part of raising a son is making sure he sees your penis a lot. That kind of puts me off. Seems kind of creepy. At least he's honest and open about his sexuality. He claims to be hetero and no meth snorting Gay hookers have shown up out of his past to besmirch his escutcheon yet. I wish the Pope would be more honest about his sexuality. He needs to discuss openly and often exactly what his sexual orientation is and how he expresses it in his activities of daily living. Everyone should, don't you think? The World would be a better place. I know it always makes me feel better and it helps the people around me to know what they're dealing with. I'm real shy about who I show my penis to, I think it's real brave of James Dobson to tell the truth like that.
Maybe I'm just old fashioned.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Who Loses, Who Gains?
Is it only me that thinks this or was Scott Brown, the newly elected Senator from the State of Massachusetts, hiding his light under a bushel before election day? I got the feeling during the campaign that he was an empty suit, a pretty boy shill for the party leaders, who would do their bidding in every important way.
I don't get that feeling any more. He seems like a strongly progressive guy on cultural and civil rights issues and mainly interested in pursuing fiscal austerity in government. I don't think he has any intention of rolling over for the pedochristers. You know the kind I'm talking about. The ones that teach Sunday school but who you wouldn't trust to help your little child in a bathroom stall. My Congressman is exactly like that. I really hate them.
I like Scott. I'd trade guys like him one for one with the kind of Republicans in Congress now, all day long. Hell, I'd trade away a lot of the welfare state Democrats we have now for guys like him.
I don't get that feeling any more. He seems like a strongly progressive guy on cultural and civil rights issues and mainly interested in pursuing fiscal austerity in government. I don't think he has any intention of rolling over for the pedochristers. You know the kind I'm talking about. The ones that teach Sunday school but who you wouldn't trust to help your little child in a bathroom stall. My Congressman is exactly like that. I really hate them.
I like Scott. I'd trade guys like him one for one with the kind of Republicans in Congress now, all day long. Hell, I'd trade away a lot of the welfare state Democrats we have now for guys like him.
Charles Darwin
When I was in school I certainly heard a bit about Charles Darwin and The Origin of the Species. I never actually read the Origin of the Species, did you? Most of the references I learned were about the adaptation of birds on the Galapagos Islands to different ecological niches. I know he also did some studies of marine invertebrates and worms. Mostly he was an observer who made speculative observations. His education was mostly in Anglican theology and geology and his work was done under the auspices of a geographical society. He was not a biologist by training, as far as I know.
I never heard that he theorized that humans descended from apes. I never heard that he was an atheist or ever uttered any sentiments against the existence of a creationist God. I never heard that he theorized about or advocated for any type of eugenics or birth control. Malthusianism was very popular during his lifetime among those of his social class. He was not one of them. The concept of Social Darwinism wasn't developed during his lifetime. I never heard that he engaged in activism or even radical thought of any type.
Charles Darwin was from a rich family against whom he never rebelled or was estranged from. He was very well behaved during his student days, received high marks and was popular with professors, students and the Anglican clergy that administered his college. I don't think he ever made any money from his research or publications, which never sold more than a few thousand copies although he got pretty famous in academic circles. He was ill for much of his life and became reclusive. He married his cousin and with her raised several sickly children. By all accounts they loved each other and the sickly children deeply. I don't think he ever was interested in influencing public opinion about politics, philosophy or religion at all.
Where do the fucking wingnuts get all this shit about Darwin? Do they just make it up?
UPDATE: I just want to clarify. I'm not saying that I don't believe that man didn't evolve from common ancestors with other primates. Go back far enough and we have common ancestors with sea slugs. I'm just saying that Charles Darwin never said so.
I never heard that he theorized that humans descended from apes. I never heard that he was an atheist or ever uttered any sentiments against the existence of a creationist God. I never heard that he theorized about or advocated for any type of eugenics or birth control. Malthusianism was very popular during his lifetime among those of his social class. He was not one of them. The concept of Social Darwinism wasn't developed during his lifetime. I never heard that he engaged in activism or even radical thought of any type.
Charles Darwin was from a rich family against whom he never rebelled or was estranged from. He was very well behaved during his student days, received high marks and was popular with professors, students and the Anglican clergy that administered his college. I don't think he ever made any money from his research or publications, which never sold more than a few thousand copies although he got pretty famous in academic circles. He was ill for much of his life and became reclusive. He married his cousin and with her raised several sickly children. By all accounts they loved each other and the sickly children deeply. I don't think he ever was interested in influencing public opinion about politics, philosophy or religion at all.
Where do the fucking wingnuts get all this shit about Darwin? Do they just make it up?
UPDATE: I just want to clarify. I'm not saying that I don't believe that man didn't evolve from common ancestors with other primates. Go back far enough and we have common ancestors with sea slugs. I'm just saying that Charles Darwin never said so.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
A Cautionary Tale
I took this post down. Too much bad stuff about a guy that doesn't deserve it.
I'm not a nice guy.
Sorry.
I'm not a nice guy.
Sorry.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Is It Alright To Like Two Man Luge If You're Not Gay?
NBC says it will lose big money televising the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC because nobody will watch. I grew up and lived all my life in a warm, Sunny place. I find Winter sports very exotic. I will watch a lot if it's the stuff I like. They play too much figure skating. I don't like it that much. I really like the stuff that mostly consists of free falling and sliding downward at steep angles and high speeds.
They should make it so that multiple contestants in these types of events compete at the same time, like at a track meet and if they lost control, they would crash into each other, then continue tumbling helplessly to the bottom of the course.
Their ratings at NBC would really increase then.
They should make it so that multiple contestants in these types of events compete at the same time, like at a track meet and if they lost control, they would crash into each other, then continue tumbling helplessly to the bottom of the course.
Their ratings at NBC would really increase then.
Roeder Guilty in Kansas.
For some people no amount of punishment is ever enough. I feel that way about Scott Roeder. It isn't that I have a particular problem with him. He's just some sad, pathetic, crazy asshole. He represents the entire pro life community though and as such deserves a horrible, lingering punishment culminating in death. Just the way I feel. I'm sure it's not universal.
I don't know how the death penalty got taken off the table with him. I guess killing an abortion doctor doesn't satisfy the special circumstances requirement in Kansas.
I don't know how the death penalty got taken off the table with him. I guess killing an abortion doctor doesn't satisfy the special circumstances requirement in Kansas.
Franny and Zooey in the Rye
I never read any JD Salinger. He was a spoiled rich kid, older than my own parents. Why would I want a guy like that's opinion on how and why to be an alienated and disaffected youth? That's one thing I never had any trouble with on my own.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Hear the Band. See The Crotches of Baton Twirling Cuties.
I remember when I was in high school, the Superbowl was a recent phenomenon. I think it was in 1968 they made the theme of the event "Up With America" and featured a super patriotic half time extravaganza. This was a time when the country was extremely polarized politically and the Vietnam War and and the protest against it were both at their peek.
This year they are going to have Carrie Underwood sing the National Anthem and then Queen Latifah, "America the Beautiful". At half time, the Who will hobble out and sing all the CSI theme songs. It's hard to find words to express what I think about this. They always say times change. I think maybe what they really do is melt.
This year they are going to have Carrie Underwood sing the National Anthem and then Queen Latifah, "America the Beautiful". At half time, the Who will hobble out and sing all the CSI theme songs. It's hard to find words to express what I think about this. They always say times change. I think maybe what they really do is melt.
Pimp Mama
Mother Teresa plucked homeless orphans off the streets of Calcutta. She raised them Catholic. She steered them into religious vocations. She sent them off to Europe to do the mundane work of the Church and care for the ever aging generations of European priests and nuns, vowed to lives of poverty. If they try to escape they are deported back to India, to starve on the streets of Calcutta, which is where they would have been anyway, if not for Mama T.
How does this fail to qualify as human trafficking of the most reprehensible type?
How does this fail to qualify as human trafficking of the most reprehensible type?
That's Why They Say Choose Life
Sarah Palin and her daughter are quite vocal about choosing life. Tim Tebow and his Mama are going to be on the Super Bowl and talk about why she chose life. They are proud they chose. Are they going to say they wish she hadn't had a choice? Are they going to say that they wish no woman would have that choice?
I don't think so.
I don't think so.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
SOTU
Did you like Barry's SOTU speech? If you are a Dem, you probably did, if you're not maybe not so much. I thought it was a pretty good speech but that's all it was, a speech.
The last time I was moved by a political speech was Jesse Jackson, at the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco. I was 33 years old. I guess that was still just young enough. New day commin', ya know. If I watched that same speech today, I wonder if it would have any effect on me?
So far, I still like Barry. I'm still with the Dems. I'll keep voting for them. That just means that nothing has changed in America.
I wouldn't read anything else into it, either way.
The last time I was moved by a political speech was Jesse Jackson, at the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco. I was 33 years old. I guess that was still just young enough. New day commin', ya know. If I watched that same speech today, I wonder if it would have any effect on me?
So far, I still like Barry. I'm still with the Dems. I'll keep voting for them. That just means that nothing has changed in America.
I wouldn't read anything else into it, either way.
Bigger Balls
So, we know JD Hayworth is going to run against McCain for Senate in Arizona. I don't think he can beat McCain but he might.
Hayworth is a posterboy socon. He's a birther, a warhawk, homeschooler, fetus worshipper, woman hating, immigrant bashing racist. He wears the big flag pin.
If Janet Napalitano doesn't go on the Supreme Court, she could go back to Arizona and beat Hayworth in the general election. Arizonans like her. She's smarter than Hayworth. She has bigger balls.
Hayworth is a posterboy socon. He's a birther, a warhawk, homeschooler, fetus worshipper, woman hating, immigrant bashing racist. He wears the big flag pin.
If Janet Napalitano doesn't go on the Supreme Court, she could go back to Arizona and beat Hayworth in the general election. Arizonans like her. She's smarter than Hayworth. She has bigger balls.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
We're Not In Kansas Anymore
We had quite a storm system come through here last week. Not record breaking rainfalls but some of the valleys and canyons got flooding. Some tornados formed off the coast. No big damage that I heard about. Unusual.
This one is threatening Huntington Harbour, one of out trendier neighborhoods.
Waterspout off HB Pier
I wish it had clipped Ruby's Cafe at the end of the pier. It's a Gyp joint. $12 burgers and $7 shakes. The view is just ocean. You can get the same one outside for free.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Subverting Our Right To Deliciously Preserved, Wholesome, Pork Byproducts
Something is very wrong here. To make the favorite foods of my people, you don't need cleanliness. You don't need refrigeration. No use by dates are required.
You just need a Barnyard, a big tub, a big knife, a source of low, smokey heat, a pig, and something to macerate it's flesh with. One more thing. You need small but adequate amounts of nitric acid compounds. This is as it ever has been, is now and always shall be. Amen.
Preserved pork is a religion to the men of the West. In America, it is the glue that binds us all together and that glue is loosening for lack of a proper chemical binder.
The government strictly limits the use of nitrates and nitrites in the preparation of the preserved pork products we all love and desire. Who gave them the right? I don't remember any sausage plebiscite. There is nothing about it in the Constitution.
People buy the pork products they need in good faith, only to find them corrupt. The people sicken and die. Is it Arab terrorists that have done this? Godless Atheists? No, it is meddling, big brother government.
Let us fight to restore the honored meat curing preservative substances of our forefathers!
You just need a Barnyard, a big tub, a big knife, a source of low, smokey heat, a pig, and something to macerate it's flesh with. One more thing. You need small but adequate amounts of nitric acid compounds. This is as it ever has been, is now and always shall be. Amen.
Preserved pork is a religion to the men of the West. In America, it is the glue that binds us all together and that glue is loosening for lack of a proper chemical binder.
The government strictly limits the use of nitrates and nitrites in the preparation of the preserved pork products we all love and desire. Who gave them the right? I don't remember any sausage plebiscite. There is nothing about it in the Constitution.
People buy the pork products they need in good faith, only to find them corrupt. The people sicken and die. Is it Arab terrorists that have done this? Godless Atheists? No, it is meddling, big brother government.
Let us fight to restore the honored meat curing preservative substances of our forefathers!
Old Dogs, New Tricks
Have you been watching any NBA Ball? I follow the Lakers. On paper, they're the best team in the league but they're kind of disappointing this season.
You know what they need? They need a couple of young guys, brand new to the league, with really short contracts, for not much money. Guys like that are hyper, crazy and take a lot of chances. They aren't worried about getting hurt. They aren't worried about maintaining their rep. They're worried about being back on the street next month. They're like the fizz and crushed ice in a Highball. The booze may be the active ingredient but it's the fizz and ice that makes the drink go down quick and produces the desired result.
The Lakers have a lot of talent. They aren't old. The problem is they are too professional. They pace themselves too much. They need a couple of crazy boys on the floor to speed up the action and spur them on. When they lose, it's because the other team has a couple of real aggressive young players, who hope that in a year or two, they'll be playing for the Lakers. Some of them will probably even make it. The problem is, once they get there, they start counting the money and pacing themselves.
You know what they need? They need a couple of young guys, brand new to the league, with really short contracts, for not much money. Guys like that are hyper, crazy and take a lot of chances. They aren't worried about getting hurt. They aren't worried about maintaining their rep. They're worried about being back on the street next month. They're like the fizz and crushed ice in a Highball. The booze may be the active ingredient but it's the fizz and ice that makes the drink go down quick and produces the desired result.
The Lakers have a lot of talent. They aren't old. The problem is they are too professional. They pace themselves too much. They need a couple of crazy boys on the floor to speed up the action and spur them on. When they lose, it's because the other team has a couple of real aggressive young players, who hope that in a year or two, they'll be playing for the Lakers. Some of them will probably even make it. The problem is, once they get there, they start counting the money and pacing themselves.
Best Guy For The Job
A lot of people are starting to think that Ben Bernanke shouldn't be allowed to continue on as Fed Chairman. I'm not one of them. He seems to be holding up pretty well in the job. Admittedly, he's not very believable but given the line he's got to spout, who would be?
The last thing anybody wants right now, is someone who will tell the truth and advocate the kind of policies that would do some good. We all just want to pretend things are under control and will soon get better. For that, Ben is our guy.
Why change horses in the middle of the stream? All you're going to accomplish is drown more horses than you already have to.
The last thing anybody wants right now, is someone who will tell the truth and advocate the kind of policies that would do some good. We all just want to pretend things are under control and will soon get better. For that, Ben is our guy.
Why change horses in the middle of the stream? All you're going to accomplish is drown more horses than you already have to.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Towel Heads
Apparently, Americans do not like Muslims.
I usually like Muslims better than those of other religions. They are friendly to me. They don't criticize my beliefs. They don't proselytize.
You always hear that Muslims want to impose their religion on others. That they want Sharia Law. That they despise America and Americans. I've never seen much evidence of that. Most of the ones I know are clean, well mannered, mind their own business and have respect for other people and their property. I have not met many Muslims who are afflicted with progeny that fall victim to drugs, crime, idleness or violence. I know a lot of Christians that you can't say any of these things about. I'm sure there are Muslims that are real scumbags. Probably a lot of them. They must be the ones everyone else meets.
Muslims have a different culture than I do. They dress funny. They are very strict about their behavior and the way they raise their children. Does this make them bad? I don't know.
Maybe all the Muslims I know are on their best behavior. Ya know, stranger in a strange land kind of thing. Maybe if I lived in a country or city that was mostly Muslims, their attitudes toward me would be different and I would feel differently about them. So far though, they seem OK. If I was a Jew I probably would feel differently. The Muslims I meet don't like Jews at all and they hate Israel and Israelis. It's not uncommon that immigrant groups have cultural, political or religious enmities that they bring with them when they come here. Mostly they keep them under control and that's the case with Muslims but it's not real attractive. On the other hand, if I was them, I'm not sure I would feel any different than they do.
I usually like Muslims better than those of other religions. They are friendly to me. They don't criticize my beliefs. They don't proselytize.
You always hear that Muslims want to impose their religion on others. That they want Sharia Law. That they despise America and Americans. I've never seen much evidence of that. Most of the ones I know are clean, well mannered, mind their own business and have respect for other people and their property. I have not met many Muslims who are afflicted with progeny that fall victim to drugs, crime, idleness or violence. I know a lot of Christians that you can't say any of these things about. I'm sure there are Muslims that are real scumbags. Probably a lot of them. They must be the ones everyone else meets.
Muslims have a different culture than I do. They dress funny. They are very strict about their behavior and the way they raise their children. Does this make them bad? I don't know.
Maybe all the Muslims I know are on their best behavior. Ya know, stranger in a strange land kind of thing. Maybe if I lived in a country or city that was mostly Muslims, their attitudes toward me would be different and I would feel differently about them. So far though, they seem OK. If I was a Jew I probably would feel differently. The Muslims I meet don't like Jews at all and they hate Israel and Israelis. It's not uncommon that immigrant groups have cultural, political or religious enmities that they bring with them when they come here. Mostly they keep them under control and that's the case with Muslims but it's not real attractive. On the other hand, if I was them, I'm not sure I would feel any different than they do.
How Often Do You Wash?
Really frequent bathing is a relatively recent innovation. Neither one of my parents grew up in families where daily bathing was commonplace. The tub would hang on a hook at the back of the house. Before a bath, the tub had to be taken down, water had to be heated on the stove and the tub filled. Usually, everyone in the family bathed one after another and used the same water. This usually happened on Saturday night, so that everyone was clean when they put on their church clothes, Sunday morning. My Grandfather never even bathed that much. Nobody was certain just how often he did bathe. I don't think it was very much. He did smell a little different than most people but not bad.
My parents never required me to bathe more than once a week. Sometimes I bathed daily. Sometimes I didn't. During the time I was growing up in the '50s and '60s, society changed. Everyone started to bathe every day. Soap and toiletry manufacturers advertised the fact. People expected they would and expected everybody else would. So I ended up bathing every day. Also, in the '50s and '60s people started to take showers more than tub baths. So I ended up showering every day. In high school, we all showered after PE. So I got used to showering twice a day. Sometimes, I'd do two a day workouts or go to the beach. Eventually, three or more showers a day didn't seem that unusual.
In the Navy, they teach water discipline. You get wet, soap up, scrub, even shave if you need to and then sluice off. Saves time as well as water. I got used to that pretty quick. I mostly still do it that way.
I'm old now. I bathe whenever I feel like it. Sometimes I miss a few days. Sometimes more than a few. Who gives a shit. Most people bathe every day now but dissidence is good for the soul.
My parents never required me to bathe more than once a week. Sometimes I bathed daily. Sometimes I didn't. During the time I was growing up in the '50s and '60s, society changed. Everyone started to bathe every day. Soap and toiletry manufacturers advertised the fact. People expected they would and expected everybody else would. So I ended up bathing every day. Also, in the '50s and '60s people started to take showers more than tub baths. So I ended up showering every day. In high school, we all showered after PE. So I got used to showering twice a day. Sometimes, I'd do two a day workouts or go to the beach. Eventually, three or more showers a day didn't seem that unusual.
In the Navy, they teach water discipline. You get wet, soap up, scrub, even shave if you need to and then sluice off. Saves time as well as water. I got used to that pretty quick. I mostly still do it that way.
I'm old now. I bathe whenever I feel like it. Sometimes I miss a few days. Sometimes more than a few. Who gives a shit. Most people bathe every day now but dissidence is good for the soul.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
I Can't Help Myself
Whenever I'm watching CNBC's financial commentator Maria Bartiromo, I can't help but think what a natural she would be on MTV's Jersey Shore.
Pass the dipper brother. I'm a feelin' thirsty and we've a long way to go.
The stock market bottomed last March. The rebound essentially ended in November. Since then, it has been in a trading range. The last month it's been looking like it wants to make further moves up. Looking isn't doing. The last two days of declines, are showing that it probably will fail to do so. Time will tell the story.
This is a change in market momentum. It may not be an auspicious time for further investment. If you have been raising cash. You're probably smiling.
This is a change in market momentum. It may not be an auspicious time for further investment. If you have been raising cash. You're probably smiling.
Without Ma Ingalls, The Little House On The Prairie Stands Empty
A lot of people characterize the Republican Party as the party of angry White men. That may not be entirely true but there is some validity there. I think an increasing number of their women are moving on. Maybe not most of them, maybe not right now but they are shuffling closer to the door, even while passing around the coffee and delicious home baked cookies.
If they leave, the Republican party will turn into a wake.
If they leave, the Republican party will turn into a wake.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
New Republican Party?
If a victory by Scott Brown in Massachusetts today is going to herald in a new Republican party, a couple of things are going to have to be true. Republicans can't run on on Bush's failed neocon agenda. Most voters have soundly rejected it. Except in the Southern and South leaning border states, candidates can't run on the toxic mix of racism and religious zealotry commonly labeled as social conservatism. Most people everywhere else are repelled by it. The Republican platform is going to have to be all about smaller government and austerity budgeting.
I think that's good. Whether they can sell that in the midst of an economic depression and monetary meltdown remains to be seen. It's worth a try.
How will they keep the neocons and wingnuts in the fold? They still need their votes. I will never vote for them while those guys are still on the inside, singing their song of war and hate. Sorry.
I think their best bet is to back way off on military interventions and push all the hot button social issues into a States Rights plank of their platform. Then they can devote all their efforts to cutting away government spending. Just that one thing alone is enough to keep government busy for a couple decades.
I think that's good. Whether they can sell that in the midst of an economic depression and monetary meltdown remains to be seen. It's worth a try.
How will they keep the neocons and wingnuts in the fold? They still need their votes. I will never vote for them while those guys are still on the inside, singing their song of war and hate. Sorry.
I think their best bet is to back way off on military interventions and push all the hot button social issues into a States Rights plank of their platform. Then they can devote all their efforts to cutting away government spending. Just that one thing alone is enough to keep government busy for a couple decades.
Monday, January 18, 2010
A Good Holiday?
Do you think having a holiday celebrating Martin Luther King Jr's birthday is a good idea? I'm not that crazy about it. It isn't because he wasn't a really admirable guy who did great things. It's because he really doesn't encompass what the Civil Rights movement is all about. There were a lot of leaders in the Civil Rights movement during the time MLK was active. Millions of people participated. A lot of them suffered. More than a few died. They came from different places. They had different motivations. Each of those people was just as big a hero as Martin Luther King Jr.
The Civil Rights movement is about the equal protection under the law and equal opportunity for participation in society for all people. It's not about any one race, culture, religion, age or sex. It's not about any one time period.
Civil Rights for all is a goal that can never be achieved but that the quest for is never in vain.
I'm not singling out MLK for exclusion. Most of the heroes, whose lives we celebrate, are inappropriate.
The life of every person and every society should be a journey of discovery and change. Minds open to all possibilities and the ability to discard mistaken assumptions are the most valuable resource humanity possesses.
Idolized past heroes too easily become roadblocks to future growth and discovery.
The Civil Rights movement is about the equal protection under the law and equal opportunity for participation in society for all people. It's not about any one race, culture, religion, age or sex. It's not about any one time period.
Civil Rights for all is a goal that can never be achieved but that the quest for is never in vain.
I'm not singling out MLK for exclusion. Most of the heroes, whose lives we celebrate, are inappropriate.
The life of every person and every society should be a journey of discovery and change. Minds open to all possibilities and the ability to discard mistaken assumptions are the most valuable resource humanity possesses.
Idolized past heroes too easily become roadblocks to future growth and discovery.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Playin' A Mean Voo Doo Fiddle
Here's an interesting flip side to the earthquake devastated Haitian Capital, Port Au Prince. Does anybody have a problem with this? I don't.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Walk Like An Eygptian
One of the things that gives a generation comfort and support as they age and pass from the scene, is the ability to maintain the look and style of their glory days. It lets other people know where they are coming from and establishes their place in the passing parade. I have seen this phenomenon among the generations that came before me. My grandfather wore railroad striped overalls, lace up, black leather, high top shoes and carried a railroad watch until the day he died.
It is very frustrating to the members of my generation not to be able to do this. Have you seen that crap we used to wear, in the Sixties and Seventies? You can't walk around in public wearing that kind of shit unless you're a circus clown or an Old Elvis impersonator. What a bummer.
It is very frustrating to the members of my generation not to be able to do this. Have you seen that crap we used to wear, in the Sixties and Seventies? You can't walk around in public wearing that kind of shit unless you're a circus clown or an Old Elvis impersonator. What a bummer.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Life, Liberty and the Pusuit of Happiness
Divorce is not the worse thing that can happen to you.
I don't want to get all personal and introspective about this, so I'll just hit the high points and you can fill in the blanks.
When people get married, they make their relationship official. The two partners usually have mutually agreed upon roles. Sometimes the relationships change, sometimes they don't but the changes are mutually agreed upon.
When a marriage is broke, it's broke. If it gets fixed, there is a winner and a loser. From that point on, the balance of power is irrevocably tipped in favor of the winner. The game is over. That's no way to live, especially for the loser. I know many people whose marriages have been "saved". They are pitiful wretches, zombies of love.
Divorce is not such a bad thing. People move on, it's for the best. Sometimes they try again and remarry. Sometimes they don't. The goal is to maintain personal integrity.
People who say that marriage should be for life, at all costs are evil.
I don't want to get all personal and introspective about this, so I'll just hit the high points and you can fill in the blanks.
When people get married, they make their relationship official. The two partners usually have mutually agreed upon roles. Sometimes the relationships change, sometimes they don't but the changes are mutually agreed upon.
When a marriage is broke, it's broke. If it gets fixed, there is a winner and a loser. From that point on, the balance of power is irrevocably tipped in favor of the winner. The game is over. That's no way to live, especially for the loser. I know many people whose marriages have been "saved". They are pitiful wretches, zombies of love.
Divorce is not such a bad thing. People move on, it's for the best. Sometimes they try again and remarry. Sometimes they don't. The goal is to maintain personal integrity.
People who say that marriage should be for life, at all costs are evil.
Massachusetts Heats Up In The Dead Of Winter
Republicans are already proclaiming the victory next Tuesday of their candidate Scott Brown, in the special election for United States Senate from the State of Massachusetts. He's doing really well in the polls.
The Democrats brought this on themselves. They changed the rules in order to have this election, otherwise the Governor would have appointed a replacement to serve the rest of the term.
I think the Republicans do themselves a disservice with their actions. They should keep their heads down and keep campaigning vigorously as if the result was in doubt. In that way, even a close defeat for such a long held Democratic seat could be advertised as a victory. As it is, if they lose, it will be a big let down for their supporters and it will be said that they couldn't even win with a carefully groomed RINO ringer.
I'm looking forward to the election results next week. I'm sure the whole country is likewise.
The Democrats brought this on themselves. They changed the rules in order to have this election, otherwise the Governor would have appointed a replacement to serve the rest of the term.
I think the Republicans do themselves a disservice with their actions. They should keep their heads down and keep campaigning vigorously as if the result was in doubt. In that way, even a close defeat for such a long held Democratic seat could be advertised as a victory. As it is, if they lose, it will be a big let down for their supporters and it will be said that they couldn't even win with a carefully groomed RINO ringer.
I'm looking forward to the election results next week. I'm sure the whole country is likewise.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
A Good Christian Girl
This is a personal statement of Christianity by a young woman in the Bay area of California. It seems completely appropriate for our World today. You should read it and let me know if you find anything untoward because I don't.
Who says I hate Christians?
Who says I hate Christians?
Hold The Smoke In As Long As You Can But Don't Hold Your Breath
California may become the first State to legalize the general use of Marijuana. It'll be fun to watch. It may speed up the cause. In the end, it will fail. I don't think that the drug cartels will let it happen.
Everybody likes the Marijuana laws just the way they are except people that smoke a lot of it and even they are pretty mellow about it most of the time. How could they be otherwise?
Everybody likes the Marijuana laws just the way they are except people that smoke a lot of it and even they are pretty mellow about it most of the time. How could they be otherwise?
Death Dance in Port Au Prince
I knew some Haitian creole aristocrat emigres to this country once. It's more than a generation ago now. They left everything behind and got legal status during Reagan's surrender of citizenship debacle. None of them pined for the old days at home or regretted coming here. They were all starting from scratch, working hard, at the kind of jobs they were ill used to, with me, in the dark hours between midnight and dawn. They did fine.
Anybody with brains and opportunity left Haiti a long time ago. It is a feral state, with no hope for improvement. Now an earthquake has destroyed much of what little urban infrastructure is left. Poor Devils.
Anybody with brains and opportunity left Haiti a long time ago. It is a feral state, with no hope for improvement. Now an earthquake has destroyed much of what little urban infrastructure is left. Poor Devils.
Trolling the Bay State
I think that running Brown against Coakley in the Mass Senate race is a good move. It seems to me like what the Republicans have done is take a very well cut and empty suit and filled it with just enough talking points to make it attractive to the voters. Kind of like a shiny, twirly, fishing lure with big, barbed hooks all over it. The race won't be long, so it won't cost them much. There's a small chance they might even get him elected. I'm puzzled though.
So what was all that hype about Conservative ideological purity in the Scuzzapalozza race in upstate New York last November? Does this mean Micheal Steele and his posse of RINOs carries the day?
So what was all that hype about Conservative ideological purity in the Scuzzapalozza race in upstate New York last November? Does this mean Micheal Steele and his posse of RINOs carries the day?
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
A Supreme Court We Can Be Proud Of
Some people think the Supreme Court is too conservative. I don't even know what that means anymore. I think the Supreme Court is OK. The two guys W put in, Roberts and Alito, are nice, polite, Gay, Catholic Boys. What could be better than that? The two most reviled members of the Court by modern Progressives, are Thomas and Scalia. Those guys are all about individual rights. Man, they're my homies. Got my back. There isn't a single member of the court that I have any problems with although Ruthy may be getting frail and senile. She really should consider hanging it up. I wouldn't have minded if Bork had got on the Court. I never thought that he was the intellectual giant he was touted as, like Thurgood Marshall was but he would have been a nice addition.
The only balance I would like to see redressed is sexual. The Court should have more women.
The only balance I would like to see redressed is sexual. The Court should have more women.
Red State Wet Dreams Can't Stand Up To The Light Of Day
Republicans want to reduce government spending without raising taxes. It's OK with me if they do. I'd welcome it. The overwhelming majority of spending comes from three things. The military, including the cost of the Middle Eastern wars. Entitlements, for the old, sick, poor and education. Finally and most expensive of all, huge numbers of redundant government employees with bloated salaries, benefits and retirement, that nobody else gets. Does anybody out there dispute this? They're never going to cut any of this stuff and the people that get it always want more. This spending, fueled by huge deficits power what's left of our economy. Cut it and the house of cards collapses. Virtually every voting member of society either is or aspires to be a recipient of this spending.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sarah Moves Up To The Show
No matter what you think of his ideas, there is no question that Roger Ailes is a savvy guy. He doesn't make many missteps. He's going to let Sarah Palin into his stable of Stars at Fox News. This says a lot about what he thinks about her. It says she has more going for her than most people think. It doesn't say she isn't a polarizing and controversial figure in American culture but it says he, at least, believes she can hold her own in the big leagues. There are a lot of major figures on the Right that you never see on Fox News. You don't see Victor Hanson Davis or Deal Hudson on Fox News a lot and these guys have huge followings and a lot to say about almost everything. These exceptions are never simply oversights.
I'm surprised. We'll see how it goes. Sometimes you see people on Fox a lot for awhile and then they disappear.
I'm surprised. We'll see how it goes. Sometimes you see people on Fox a lot for awhile and then they disappear.
Strom and Harry
Do you think that Trent Lott saying Strom Thurmond was a great man and that if he had been elected President on the segregationist Dixiecrat ticket in 1948, the country would be a lot better off and Harry Reid saying that Barry O is a gifted orator with light skin and no Negro dialect are similar things?
If they are, the American people can evaluate the information and draw a conclusion. I think that's what they're doing. I think it's a good thing. Different types of people will undoubtedly evaluate the comparison differently and draw different conclusions. That's the way these things always go.
I don't think Strom was a racist in the sense that he thought people of color were inferior. Strom lived intimately all his life, with many in the Black community. It's unlikely a man as intelligent as he was, would harbor beliefs that they were in any way inferior. He just believed that White people should remain in control of society and government. Harry was conjecturing positively on the idea that Americans were disposed to elect a President of color based on his exceptional communication skills and the fact that his affect minimized the perceived differences between Black and White culture. These two statements seem fundamentally different to me but neither are, in fact, about racial prejudice.
I found many things to admire about Strom Thurmond personally. He was quite a guy. I didn't agree with him much on the subject of race relations. I also find much to admire in Harry Reid. It's a struggle though. Growing up in the West, I was raised to distrust Mormons. I still have to fight against that prejudice all the time and many others I was raised with. Sometimes I have not treated Mormons with the respect they deserve. We all have our prejudices. I do. I may have more than most. I'm glad that society is becoming more accepting of diversity and that most young people today are not being raised with the degree and multiplicity of prejudice that I was. I find in many of the young today, an example for myself.
If they are, the American people can evaluate the information and draw a conclusion. I think that's what they're doing. I think it's a good thing. Different types of people will undoubtedly evaluate the comparison differently and draw different conclusions. That's the way these things always go.
I don't think Strom was a racist in the sense that he thought people of color were inferior. Strom lived intimately all his life, with many in the Black community. It's unlikely a man as intelligent as he was, would harbor beliefs that they were in any way inferior. He just believed that White people should remain in control of society and government. Harry was conjecturing positively on the idea that Americans were disposed to elect a President of color based on his exceptional communication skills and the fact that his affect minimized the perceived differences between Black and White culture. These two statements seem fundamentally different to me but neither are, in fact, about racial prejudice.
I found many things to admire about Strom Thurmond personally. He was quite a guy. I didn't agree with him much on the subject of race relations. I also find much to admire in Harry Reid. It's a struggle though. Growing up in the West, I was raised to distrust Mormons. I still have to fight against that prejudice all the time and many others I was raised with. Sometimes I have not treated Mormons with the respect they deserve. We all have our prejudices. I do. I may have more than most. I'm glad that society is becoming more accepting of diversity and that most young people today are not being raised with the degree and multiplicity of prejudice that I was. I find in many of the young today, an example for myself.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Who Goes To Church?
When I was a kid growing up 50 years ago, no more than a third of the families in my neighborhood went to religious services regularly. Maybe another third were religious enough that they had a church that they were affiliated with in the area and went a couple times a year. The last third never went to church. Most would claim some kind of religion if asked but they weren't really interested.
Nobody in my neighborhood now goes to Church regularly. A few go on big holidays. I know a lot of people from work that go regularly. Black Ladies are big church goers, immigrants too. It's clear that religious observance is declining. I think it's just happening on its own. Religion isn't the glue that holds society together anymore. Religion doesn't get you any concrete benefits, socially, vocationally or any other way. Church isn't a good place for young adults to find prospective mates. Children don't see other kids they know there. It's rare for people at work or living on the same street or apartment complex to attend the same church. You don't really know the people at church with you. You can't really trust them more than anybody else. They always want money at church and there's never enough to go around as it is.
My parents are still alive. They're real old. Church is only a couple of blocks away. They know everybody there. They've known them all their lives. There's a shuttle bus. They don't go. They say they've been to all the church a person needs to go to in their lives. My sister married a Catholic guy. They go to an Episcopalian church, the kind that lets Gay women be bishops. They always took the kids. The kids don't go any more. Of all the kids in that generation there is one girl that always liked church. She married a Jewish guy who grew up in Russia, came here when he was about twelve. They have two children. They may have more. They just started going to church. Unitarian Universalist. Does that even count? So out of an extended family of three generations, maybe thirty people, six go to church. Two where they have Gay, lady bishops and four where you don't have to believe in God.
I'm sure there are other families where they have a stronger religious tradition. On the other hand, my family went to church every single Sunday, the whole time I was growing up. I don't think my family is that atypical. We're not lowlife scumbags or anything, except for me. Church never had a chance with me. I never believed any of that stuff. I don't think anybody much does, especially the people that go to church. They lie, cheat, steal and fornicate more than anyone. Especially the preachers. I hate being in a church. Occasionally I have to go to funerals. I have to contain my anger even then. It's pretty pathetic.
Do you go to church? What do you get out of it?
Nobody in my neighborhood now goes to Church regularly. A few go on big holidays. I know a lot of people from work that go regularly. Black Ladies are big church goers, immigrants too. It's clear that religious observance is declining. I think it's just happening on its own. Religion isn't the glue that holds society together anymore. Religion doesn't get you any concrete benefits, socially, vocationally or any other way. Church isn't a good place for young adults to find prospective mates. Children don't see other kids they know there. It's rare for people at work or living on the same street or apartment complex to attend the same church. You don't really know the people at church with you. You can't really trust them more than anybody else. They always want money at church and there's never enough to go around as it is.
My parents are still alive. They're real old. Church is only a couple of blocks away. They know everybody there. They've known them all their lives. There's a shuttle bus. They don't go. They say they've been to all the church a person needs to go to in their lives. My sister married a Catholic guy. They go to an Episcopalian church, the kind that lets Gay women be bishops. They always took the kids. The kids don't go any more. Of all the kids in that generation there is one girl that always liked church. She married a Jewish guy who grew up in Russia, came here when he was about twelve. They have two children. They may have more. They just started going to church. Unitarian Universalist. Does that even count? So out of an extended family of three generations, maybe thirty people, six go to church. Two where they have Gay, lady bishops and four where you don't have to believe in God.
I'm sure there are other families where they have a stronger religious tradition. On the other hand, my family went to church every single Sunday, the whole time I was growing up. I don't think my family is that atypical. We're not lowlife scumbags or anything, except for me. Church never had a chance with me. I never believed any of that stuff. I don't think anybody much does, especially the people that go to church. They lie, cheat, steal and fornicate more than anyone. Especially the preachers. I hate being in a church. Occasionally I have to go to funerals. I have to contain my anger even then. It's pretty pathetic.
Do you go to church? What do you get out of it?
Shit Happens
Some people believe that the nation is polarized politically. Some people are worried about it. Things like this are relative. The left and right aren't that far apart compared to where they were in the past. Both are now true populist movements. They both give at least lip service to the concept of freedom and equality for all people. Neither side is keen on cutting back education, or social safety net spending, or the military. The status quo rules, until it's not the status quo anymore. If you think about it, the modern President who advocated the most radical philosophical changes was Carter, he was awhile ago and didn't get too far.
To find a third party candidate who was truly odious, you have to go back to John Schmitz in 1972 and he had very little support.
I'm not a big war guy. I didn't like the Vietnam War. It's hard to say who really got the ball rolling on Vietnam, Eisenhower or Kennedy but Johnson really escalated it. I think it would have happened no matter what, whether Nixon was elected in '60 or Goldwater in '64. I don't think we would have gotten out much earlier if Humphrey had won in '68. We lost a lot of good boys. I knew some of them. Maybe you did too.
All of the Middle Eastern wars have been stupid and they have been Republican wars but the Democrats went along and Obama is doing nothing to end them today.
The economy is totally screwed up. The truth is, that the present economic meltdown has its roots in the deficit spending of the Depression and WWII but was helped along greatly by Eisenhower's escalation of the Cold War, Nixon's abolishing of the gold standard and the universal adoption of the American dollar as international medium of exchange. Most responsible is the modern American mantra that the superiority of our system can only be demonstrated to the World, by an ever increasing and unsustainable standard of living. There's no use arguing about it. What's done is done. There is no way to lessen the pain of what is to come and our elected leaders, right and left, wouldn't even if they could. They will continue to push the final reckoning back as long as possible because that's exactly what the people want.
You can argue that particular Presidents or Congressional majorities did good or bad things but for the most part they only made real change when they were forced to because the country was moving in that direction anyway. The country itself has a way of moving along the way it wants to, regardless of what leadership wants. I think that's been true in the past. I think it will be true in the future. The real motto of the United States should probably be, "Shit Happens".
To find a third party candidate who was truly odious, you have to go back to John Schmitz in 1972 and he had very little support.
I'm not a big war guy. I didn't like the Vietnam War. It's hard to say who really got the ball rolling on Vietnam, Eisenhower or Kennedy but Johnson really escalated it. I think it would have happened no matter what, whether Nixon was elected in '60 or Goldwater in '64. I don't think we would have gotten out much earlier if Humphrey had won in '68. We lost a lot of good boys. I knew some of them. Maybe you did too.
All of the Middle Eastern wars have been stupid and they have been Republican wars but the Democrats went along and Obama is doing nothing to end them today.
The economy is totally screwed up. The truth is, that the present economic meltdown has its roots in the deficit spending of the Depression and WWII but was helped along greatly by Eisenhower's escalation of the Cold War, Nixon's abolishing of the gold standard and the universal adoption of the American dollar as international medium of exchange. Most responsible is the modern American mantra that the superiority of our system can only be demonstrated to the World, by an ever increasing and unsustainable standard of living. There's no use arguing about it. What's done is done. There is no way to lessen the pain of what is to come and our elected leaders, right and left, wouldn't even if they could. They will continue to push the final reckoning back as long as possible because that's exactly what the people want.
You can argue that particular Presidents or Congressional majorities did good or bad things but for the most part they only made real change when they were forced to because the country was moving in that direction anyway. The country itself has a way of moving along the way it wants to, regardless of what leadership wants. I think that's been true in the past. I think it will be true in the future. The real motto of the United States should probably be, "Shit Happens".
Dead Is Dead
One of the things I used to do at work, was pronounce people dead. It's a responsibility but it's not that hard. Dead is completely different from alive. It's hard to mistake one for the other and after several minutes, it's impossible. Little children can tell. Dogs and cats can tell. Nurses don't always notice for quite awhile. They get bogged down with the minutia and don't take in the big picture sometimes. It's an occupational hazard.
I always went through the drill. No heartbeat or breath sounds. Check a whole minute for pulse and chest expansion/contraction. Pupils fixed and dilated. Everybody deserves that, even if they are dead as a doornail.
The most important thing about pronouncing, is knowing whether or not to call the Coroner. There are several automatic flags that require notification. Any unusual or unexplained circumstances leading up to a death merits a call. If the Coroner is not notified, the body is released for burial, the medical record gets archived and you can literally get away with murder. At most hospitals, the protocol requires that the doctor be notified of a patients death and they state whether or not they are willing to specify a cause of death. If they are willing to do so, the shift supervisor can pronounce and if all other conditions are met, release the body for burial.
Sometimes a lot of interesting situations go unexamined.
I always went through the drill. No heartbeat or breath sounds. Check a whole minute for pulse and chest expansion/contraction. Pupils fixed and dilated. Everybody deserves that, even if they are dead as a doornail.
The most important thing about pronouncing, is knowing whether or not to call the Coroner. There are several automatic flags that require notification. Any unusual or unexplained circumstances leading up to a death merits a call. If the Coroner is not notified, the body is released for burial, the medical record gets archived and you can literally get away with murder. At most hospitals, the protocol requires that the doctor be notified of a patients death and they state whether or not they are willing to specify a cause of death. If they are willing to do so, the shift supervisor can pronounce and if all other conditions are met, release the body for burial.
Sometimes a lot of interesting situations go unexamined.
Friday, January 08, 2010
What, Me Xenophobic? Too Late.
My Ancestors have been in this country awhile. Even the most recent arrivals were already here at the time of the Civil War. For all their being a mixed bag, they pretty much were all Christian, Northern Europeans. Like most families, we lay claim to the proverbial Indian princess, the odd Jew and always whispers of some few who had "Negro Blood". By American standards though, a lily White, Jesus proclaiming crew.
That's all changing though. In the last twenty years, we've added a few more Jews, some Hispanics and one Pakistani, Muslim man, all in unions with multiple offspring. Given the number of the most recent generation who still haven't settled down and the rate of out marriage so far, I think there will be a lot more diversity added soon. From what I can see, most families are like this.
You read a lot of Winger screeds about how we are going to be out bred by the bad aliens, whoever they are. It's clearly not true. Long before we are overrun by them, we gonna BE them.
Cool. I like those man dresses and little beanies that the old Arab men wear around town. Loose. Nice airflow. I think I'll pick up a few but maybe a little more colorful. Aloha shirt materials in a loose cotton weave would be nice. Hula Girls. Grass Shacks. Woody Willies with surfboards hanging out the back. Big pair of Ray Bans. Yeah, Baby. Stylin'. Head on down to the Hookah Lounge. Flirt with the nautch girls awhile.
That's all changing though. In the last twenty years, we've added a few more Jews, some Hispanics and one Pakistani, Muslim man, all in unions with multiple offspring. Given the number of the most recent generation who still haven't settled down and the rate of out marriage so far, I think there will be a lot more diversity added soon. From what I can see, most families are like this.
You read a lot of Winger screeds about how we are going to be out bred by the bad aliens, whoever they are. It's clearly not true. Long before we are overrun by them, we gonna BE them.
Cool. I like those man dresses and little beanies that the old Arab men wear around town. Loose. Nice airflow. I think I'll pick up a few but maybe a little more colorful. Aloha shirt materials in a loose cotton weave would be nice. Hula Girls. Grass Shacks. Woody Willies with surfboards hanging out the back. Big pair of Ray Bans. Yeah, Baby. Stylin'. Head on down to the Hookah Lounge. Flirt with the nautch girls awhile.
Republicans, Enjoy It While You Can
I just read a very interesting article yesterday. I forget where I saw it but you can probably find it through the wonders of Google if you try.
The gist of it was that almost all of the Southern states have or will have soon, a majority of minor children within their population, who are both poor and racial or cultural minorities. What that means is Blacks and Hispanics. I had not realized this change was taking place so rapidly.
Another demographic feature of the Southern States is that large numbers of national and international businesses are moving into the Southern states because of its cheap work force and relatively inexpensive cost of living. Many highly skilled and educated people from other parts of the country are moving South all the time and assuming leadership positions. Population wise, they are the fastest growing of all the States.
Many Southern states are getting near the tipping point between Red and Blue. It's possible in 8-12 years there may be very few Red States left. Hopefully in 8-12 years, the complexion of politics will have altered radically into something more reality based.
The gist of it was that almost all of the Southern states have or will have soon, a majority of minor children within their population, who are both poor and racial or cultural minorities. What that means is Blacks and Hispanics. I had not realized this change was taking place so rapidly.
Another demographic feature of the Southern States is that large numbers of national and international businesses are moving into the Southern states because of its cheap work force and relatively inexpensive cost of living. Many highly skilled and educated people from other parts of the country are moving South all the time and assuming leadership positions. Population wise, they are the fastest growing of all the States.
Many Southern states are getting near the tipping point between Red and Blue. It's possible in 8-12 years there may be very few Red States left. Hopefully in 8-12 years, the complexion of politics will have altered radically into something more reality based.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Maybe They'll Throw In Claudine Longet And A Bass Boat
Don't you agree, that if Jay Leno moved to Branson and opened a Comedy Club/Automotive Museum, he would have a great future there? I think he'd really enjoy it too. If I ever went to Branson, I'd pay a few bucks to get in, especially if it was lunch time and they served up a steaming hot basket of catfish and fries, maybe a cold beer or two. Ya know, like a Tom Sawyer Special. Ha Ha. Maybe have some Keno waitresses, in short sexy skirts. He could buy Andy Williams' property cheap and renovate it. Nobody under 80 remembers who Andy is anymore and he must be about ready to die. His kids could use the money to bury him and move to Leisure World.
Jay could take Conan O'Brien along to act as emcee. He's so charming and contemporary. I'm sure he would be real appealing to the younger folks, who remember him from Saturday Night Live in the Eighties. I bet everybody at NBC would wish them well.
Jay could take Conan O'Brien along to act as emcee. He's so charming and contemporary. I'm sure he would be real appealing to the younger folks, who remember him from Saturday Night Live in the Eighties. I bet everybody at NBC would wish them well.
Neighborhood movie rentals
I think it was 1981 when I first had a VCR. Not too many people had them them then. I would never have bought one but my girlfriend had a rich brother who bought a new model with many features and gave us his one year old model that worked perfectly well. Since then I've always had a VCR and then a DVD player. I don't have Blue Ray and I guess I won't get one.
Wherehouse Records was the first place in my area to rent tapes and they ran frequent specials. A lot of times you could rent two or three for a buck. It was a good deal. I used to rent a lot. I don't rent many movies anymore. I stopped about the time I quit drinking. I wonder if there is a connection.
I always have rented movies someplace in the neighborhood. Most people subscribe to an online mailer service now, mostly Netflicks. Up until the last few years there was a Blockbuster close by, a couple even. No more. The only place around now is a Hollywood video store and it's having a going out of business sale. I guess it's going to be Netflicks or nothing. It will probably be nothing for me. I never liked mail order media services. I joined a record club once thirty years ago and it was a nightmare. They were crooks and almost impossible to get rid of. Finally I just kept sending everything back return to sender, unopened, including their bills and threatening letters, after a couple of years they stopped sending me stuff.
Things sure change quick. Brick and mortar video rental stores only started thirty years ago and became a huge industry. Now they're gone. Think about all the commercial enterprises that were institutions in most communities, book stores, music stores, Dry Goods, travel agencies, trading stamp redemption stores, frozen food lockers, news stands, shoe repair, drive in movies, bus stations, that you rarely see. What kind of places did you go to that don't exist anymore?
Wherehouse Records was the first place in my area to rent tapes and they ran frequent specials. A lot of times you could rent two or three for a buck. It was a good deal. I used to rent a lot. I don't rent many movies anymore. I stopped about the time I quit drinking. I wonder if there is a connection.
I always have rented movies someplace in the neighborhood. Most people subscribe to an online mailer service now, mostly Netflicks. Up until the last few years there was a Blockbuster close by, a couple even. No more. The only place around now is a Hollywood video store and it's having a going out of business sale. I guess it's going to be Netflicks or nothing. It will probably be nothing for me. I never liked mail order media services. I joined a record club once thirty years ago and it was a nightmare. They were crooks and almost impossible to get rid of. Finally I just kept sending everything back return to sender, unopened, including their bills and threatening letters, after a couple of years they stopped sending me stuff.
Things sure change quick. Brick and mortar video rental stores only started thirty years ago and became a huge industry. Now they're gone. Think about all the commercial enterprises that were institutions in most communities, book stores, music stores, Dry Goods, travel agencies, trading stamp redemption stores, frozen food lockers, news stands, shoe repair, drive in movies, bus stations, that you rarely see. What kind of places did you go to that don't exist anymore?
It's all about the coalition, stupid!
One of the things that you read a lot out in the Winger blogs is that a majority of Americans don't support federal funding of abortion in a health care bill. That's not exactly true.
Some people don't support abortion funding as part of an acceptable comprehensive health care bill and some people don't support a comprehensive health care bill at all. Together, these two groups probably constitute a narrow majority.
The question is, are there enough people for whom abortion is really the only stumbling block to passage of meaningful health care reform to make a difference in the final outcome if abortion language is excluded?
Maybe, I kinda doubt it. The one issue, true believer, anti abortion people are a small group of weak sisters, tools and cranks, whom everyone else holds in contempt. Eventually they will figure that out and drink the Kool Aid.
Some people don't support abortion funding as part of an acceptable comprehensive health care bill and some people don't support a comprehensive health care bill at all. Together, these two groups probably constitute a narrow majority.
The question is, are there enough people for whom abortion is really the only stumbling block to passage of meaningful health care reform to make a difference in the final outcome if abortion language is excluded?
Maybe, I kinda doubt it. The one issue, true believer, anti abortion people are a small group of weak sisters, tools and cranks, whom everyone else holds in contempt. Eventually they will figure that out and drink the Kool Aid.
3DTV?
I don't think 3D television is going to be a big hit with consumers. I tend to be a skeptic and very late adopter of new technology, so I'm not a good predictor of these things. Still, it seems a singularly bad idea.
I always thought that HDTV was a good idea, the industry has just been years too slow perfecting an acceptable product at an affordable price. These things take time, as anybody who remembers the fifties and the kind of reception we used to get on very small screen black and white TVs knows.
I would prefer that they continue to work on getting the clearest, most natural looking picture possible. They still have a long way to go.
Would any of you be interested in buying a 3DTV? Would you be willing to spend a lot of your time lounging around with those funny glasses on? I wear glasses anyway, so this would require an even more augmented life experience than I already have. I'm going deaf too, so augmented hearing can't be far in my future.
If they want to work on something good. I would like to see virtual reality audio/video, where you wear a helmet and it seems like you're there. How about direct inputs plugged right into your brain? If they were any good and the experience interactive enough, I'd go for that, in a second. The porn industry would really come into it's own. Old folks like me could enjoy hyper realistic travelogues and saccharin depictions of days gone by that never really were.
I always thought that HDTV was a good idea, the industry has just been years too slow perfecting an acceptable product at an affordable price. These things take time, as anybody who remembers the fifties and the kind of reception we used to get on very small screen black and white TVs knows.
I would prefer that they continue to work on getting the clearest, most natural looking picture possible. They still have a long way to go.
Would any of you be interested in buying a 3DTV? Would you be willing to spend a lot of your time lounging around with those funny glasses on? I wear glasses anyway, so this would require an even more augmented life experience than I already have. I'm going deaf too, so augmented hearing can't be far in my future.
If they want to work on something good. I would like to see virtual reality audio/video, where you wear a helmet and it seems like you're there. How about direct inputs plugged right into your brain? If they were any good and the experience interactive enough, I'd go for that, in a second. The porn industry would really come into it's own. Old folks like me could enjoy hyper realistic travelogues and saccharin depictions of days gone by that never really were.
Big Bowl Swirls Today
So, do you like the Crimson Tide or the Longhorns today. I guess somebody thought it would sell a lot of plane tickets, hotel rooms, over priced booze and restaurant meals. I'm hoping for a seismic event that opens up the Arroyo Seco and sucks the whole mess in with a belching, sulfuric, magma flush.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Stand Off In San Sebastion
The priests of a Catholic diocese in Northern Spain have overwhelmingly rejected the bishop sent to them by the Vatican. This is a different situation than what occurred last year in Linz, Austria. In Austria it was a conservative bishop sent into a liberal diocese. In the case of predominantly Basque San Sebastian, Spain it is a Spanish bishop that has been sent.
The Catholic Church supported the Royalists in the Spanish Civil War and greatly benefited when that side won and set up dictatorial rule for the next 35 years. The exception was in the Basque region in the North. The Catholic Church there, as well as the populace, supported the Republican cause. During the War, many Basque Catholic priests were persecuted and some were killed. After the war, the Catholic Churchmen in the North continued to lead the opposition and armed insurrection against the reviled Generalissimo, Francisco Franco. The Basque Catholic Church and the Church in the rest of the country have never been friendly since. The Basques see this new bishop in terms of being asked to take a viper to their bosom.
The Pope seems disposed to push the issue and force the North to accept his choice of a Spanish man to lead this Basque diocese. The upside for the Pope is that he hopes to finally heal the rift in the Church between the North and South. The downside is that he runs the risk of more deeply alienating Basque Catholics. Basque Catholics are the most devout and traditional of all the Catholics in Spain. The Basque lands are also the most prosperous areas in Spain and the population the most educated and affluent.
It may not be simply an exercise in debate. The Basque Churchmen are still the political leaders of the Basque separatist movement and largely responsible for the autonomy of the local government. They have great influence in that government. They also have great influence with the partisan movement, who are very skilled with the knife, gun and bomb. This new bishop may not be disposed to spend much time at his new home in the North.
The Catholic Church supported the Royalists in the Spanish Civil War and greatly benefited when that side won and set up dictatorial rule for the next 35 years. The exception was in the Basque region in the North. The Catholic Church there, as well as the populace, supported the Republican cause. During the War, many Basque Catholic priests were persecuted and some were killed. After the war, the Catholic Churchmen in the North continued to lead the opposition and armed insurrection against the reviled Generalissimo, Francisco Franco. The Basque Catholic Church and the Church in the rest of the country have never been friendly since. The Basques see this new bishop in terms of being asked to take a viper to their bosom.
The Pope seems disposed to push the issue and force the North to accept his choice of a Spanish man to lead this Basque diocese. The upside for the Pope is that he hopes to finally heal the rift in the Church between the North and South. The downside is that he runs the risk of more deeply alienating Basque Catholics. Basque Catholics are the most devout and traditional of all the Catholics in Spain. The Basque lands are also the most prosperous areas in Spain and the population the most educated and affluent.
It may not be simply an exercise in debate. The Basque Churchmen are still the political leaders of the Basque separatist movement and largely responsible for the autonomy of the local government. They have great influence in that government. They also have great influence with the partisan movement, who are very skilled with the knife, gun and bomb. This new bishop may not be disposed to spend much time at his new home in the North.
Big Rain Down Under
North Eastern Australia has been getting rain, ending a drought that has lasted a decade. It's a good thing.
I think global warming will be a good thing for Australia. Warmer temperatures in the surrounding seas will mean more evaporation and probably more rain, which has always been rare there. Australia is well positioned to become a supplier of agricultural and mineral commodities for Southern Asia as its population and productivity burgeons. If I was younger, I would seriously consider making myself eligible to migrate there. I have always heard good things about temperate Perth, in the far West but tropical Brisbane might not be bad either.
I still like Southern California though. Things are pretty bad here. I think that unemployment figures, vis a vis the undocumented population, are woefully under reported and the real estate meltdown here still has a long way to go. Demographics are shifting and will continue to shift rapidly but that may not be a bad thing. In some ways it's better here than it ever has been. The people are friendly and hard working. Everybody gets along pretty good. The State government will surely go bankrupt soon and that will undoubtedly precipitate hard times for a lot of people and speed up the movement of some people in and some people out of the area. I think I'll stick around. A lot of good ethnic restaurants, the girls are pretty and dress lightly. Good place for an old man. We need better public transportation. The Bay area and San Diego have done it, no reason we can't too.
I think global warming will be a good thing for Australia. Warmer temperatures in the surrounding seas will mean more evaporation and probably more rain, which has always been rare there. Australia is well positioned to become a supplier of agricultural and mineral commodities for Southern Asia as its population and productivity burgeons. If I was younger, I would seriously consider making myself eligible to migrate there. I have always heard good things about temperate Perth, in the far West but tropical Brisbane might not be bad either.
I still like Southern California though. Things are pretty bad here. I think that unemployment figures, vis a vis the undocumented population, are woefully under reported and the real estate meltdown here still has a long way to go. Demographics are shifting and will continue to shift rapidly but that may not be a bad thing. In some ways it's better here than it ever has been. The people are friendly and hard working. Everybody gets along pretty good. The State government will surely go bankrupt soon and that will undoubtedly precipitate hard times for a lot of people and speed up the movement of some people in and some people out of the area. I think I'll stick around. A lot of good ethnic restaurants, the girls are pretty and dress lightly. Good place for an old man. We need better public transportation. The Bay area and San Diego have done it, no reason we can't too.
Monday, January 04, 2010
Your Eminence
Here is the latest press release concerning one of our local Southern California Roman Catholic bishops. He was arrested a few days ago. As far as I know, while there have been many allegations, this is the first that he has confessed to any wrong doing.
This story will continue to unravel, I am sure. It is a story of narcotic use and trafficking, theft, gun violence and sodomy/rape. Dashiell Hammett could have turned it into a nice serial contribution to Black Mask Magazine, in his day. It makes you wonder how long this kind of thing has been allowed to go on by the Church and civil authorities and just swept under the rug.
Nice, Your Eminence.
UPDATE: It turns out this guy was a Catholic priest until 1993 and then kicked out. Now, he has his own church and calls himself a bishop, when he's not indulging in mayhem and degeneracy.
This story will continue to unravel, I am sure. It is a story of narcotic use and trafficking, theft, gun violence and sodomy/rape. Dashiell Hammett could have turned it into a nice serial contribution to Black Mask Magazine, in his day. It makes you wonder how long this kind of thing has been allowed to go on by the Church and civil authorities and just swept under the rug.
Nice, Your Eminence.
UPDATE: It turns out this guy was a Catholic priest until 1993 and then kicked out. Now, he has his own church and calls himself a bishop, when he's not indulging in mayhem and degeneracy.
Brit Hume, A Christian Paragon
Brit Hume says Tiger Woods should become a Christian because only Christianity offers the scope of forgiveness that Tiger needs to regain his place in society and continue his career. Well, Brit should know.
I think Brit should share with us the sexual infidelities and profound personal failings in his life and there have been many. Then he could better illustrate to Tiger how the Lord's forgiveness works.
What an asshole.
I think Brit should share with us the sexual infidelities and profound personal failings in his life and there have been many. Then he could better illustrate to Tiger how the Lord's forgiveness works.
What an asshole.
Friday, January 01, 2010
Republicans Need A Broader Brush
The statesmen on the Right are wackos. Dick Cheney, Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachman, Victor Hanson Davis, Deal Hudson, name some more if you like. They continue to claim we are threatened by "enemies". Religious enemies, cultural enemies, political enemies, name some more if you like. They don't mention any military enemies. They don't mention any economic enemies. They tell us we need more war, more imprisonment without trial, more torture, more domestic surveillance, more restrictive laws, more fundamentalist Christianity.
Where are the elder statesman on the Right that command universal respect? Where are the concrete plans, outlining what we need to do over the next twenty years? When do we get to the part where we all agree on some basic truths and solutions to problems?
Say what you like about Barry O but he's clearly trying to steer a middle course, when it would be easier for him not to. Liberals don't know why he is still supporting the wars. They don't know why he hasn't rammed through health care legislation that covers everyone and protects abortion. They don't know why he hasn't turned over most of the leaders of the last Bush administration to the Hague, for trial on charges of crimes against Humanity. People would be a lot happier with him if he did.
Republicans think they are headed for big midterm electoral gains. If they moved to the center politically and started to talk seriously about fiscal austerity, that might even be true. They are determined to keep the conversation on the Deity and why he wants abortion and birth control outlawed, so that there can be more White people in the future. They want to keep talking about the need to protect Israel and kill Sand Niggers. They want to keep ragging on Homos. They want to keep talking about why rich people are the only endangered ecological niche worth protecting and nurturing. That will get them some votes but they are votes they already have. It's not enough. Even rich people and the Jews won't vote for them. They might even drive the Homos away and they're about the only educated, literate block left in the Republican party and from whom they draw most of their elected politicians and successful candidates for office.
Where are the elder statesman on the Right that command universal respect? Where are the concrete plans, outlining what we need to do over the next twenty years? When do we get to the part where we all agree on some basic truths and solutions to problems?
Say what you like about Barry O but he's clearly trying to steer a middle course, when it would be easier for him not to. Liberals don't know why he is still supporting the wars. They don't know why he hasn't rammed through health care legislation that covers everyone and protects abortion. They don't know why he hasn't turned over most of the leaders of the last Bush administration to the Hague, for trial on charges of crimes against Humanity. People would be a lot happier with him if he did.
Republicans think they are headed for big midterm electoral gains. If they moved to the center politically and started to talk seriously about fiscal austerity, that might even be true. They are determined to keep the conversation on the Deity and why he wants abortion and birth control outlawed, so that there can be more White people in the future. They want to keep talking about the need to protect Israel and kill Sand Niggers. They want to keep ragging on Homos. They want to keep talking about why rich people are the only endangered ecological niche worth protecting and nurturing. That will get them some votes but they are votes they already have. It's not enough. Even rich people and the Jews won't vote for them. They might even drive the Homos away and they're about the only educated, literate block left in the Republican party and from whom they draw most of their elected politicians and successful candidates for office.
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