Justices Say Gun Rights Apply Locally. The New York Times reported today that “The Supreme Court held Monday that the Constitution's Second Amendment restrains government's ability to significantly limit ‘the right to keep and bear arms,’ advancing a recent trend by the John Roberts-led bench to embrace gun rights“.
The vote was close but close does not count in the battle to take back our streets. Another way of looking at it is that our High Court has decided that the killing on our streets is merely collateral damage from “ the right to keep and bear arms”.
The NRA has proven once again that it is more powerful than any government. There is no political party at the moment willing to rebuff the NRA’s literal interpretation of the second amendment and this is sad. It may take a full scale massacre or a gun right’s militia challenge to our democracy to provide a wake up call. In the meantime, don’t annoy your neighbor - he may have taken full advantage of the Supreme Court Second Amendment rulings.
6/28/10
58 And Counting
Fifty-eight years ago today, the high primal and I exchanged marriage vows. Reflecting on those vows it is uncanny that once the honeymoon was over the challenges lost no time in taking front and center. Blessings, disappointments and tragedies have been intertwined into bonds that bind us tighter together, making our marriage stronger today than it has ever been. “ for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; until death do us part”- longevity in a marriage makes it inevitable that all will be experienced.
As long as we have each other, life is not only bearable but welcomed. The “until death do us part” vow had little meaning fifty-eight years ago but burns in our minds today. Death must be contemplated but there is no reason why it should not be put off for a few more anniversaries.
(One big problem! After fifty-eight years , ideas for an anniversary gift become scarce, but it is a challenge I welcome and am grateful for.)
As long as we have each other, life is not only bearable but welcomed. The “until death do us part” vow had little meaning fifty-eight years ago but burns in our minds today. Death must be contemplated but there is no reason why it should not be put off for a few more anniversaries.
(One big problem! After fifty-eight years , ideas for an anniversary gift become scarce, but it is a challenge I welcome and am grateful for.)
6/26/10
Blow It Out You Know What
The USA was eliminated today by Ghana. Does that mean that third world countries have an edge in the competition for the World Cup. If we don't shake our economic doldrums, we'll be a third world country by 2014 and a cinch to win the World Cup.
6/22/10
Talking To God
I finally got God to talk to me. Don't ask how I did it, but Dewars isn't a bad scotch. I didn't understand everything he said but some words did get through.
" Save your money. Don't stick an Ipod in your ear! Don't bother praying either. The airways up here are clogged with prayers and we're at least a millennium behind in answering them. If you want ideas for blog posts you'll have to use that mass in your head called a brain. Just keep walking. Who knows what good things can come out of it. I know I'm supposed to know everything but I can't promise good things will come out of it, no more than my suggestion that a vote for Obama was a vote for change. On that one , just be patient. Incidentally, I did convince him to give up basketball in favor of walking and you know what the effects of that will be. While we're talking - excuse me , while you are listening - have you considered telling everyone who reads your blog that I never, never talked to Bush. The Iraq War was his own idea, although there are rumors that he did have a conversation with Satan. I really am too busy to spend anymore time with you. There are wars going on which need a referee. Did you like my call on that perfect game that turned out imperfect? Gotta go - I suggest you take a walk."
(Was that really God I was talking to? I must confess that I was surprised at his command of English. I didn't notice any evidence of an Arabic accent.)
I took God's advice and went out for a brisk walk without anything stuck in my ear. I thought that my walking was brisk but lately everyone has been overtaking me as I crawl along. It must be the thinking that is slowing me down. It takes a toll on the mental process and as a result there is a precipitous loss of energy. This loss of energy got me thinking about the energy crisis and our lack of a plan to effectively deal with it. I use “our” because we must all share the guilt. The more I think about it , its Washington’s lack of a plan. This reasoning is a direct result of the effect that walking has on logical thinking. Thinking of logical thinking, let me get back to walking and energy.
As walkers overtake me along the trail, I’ve noticed that many of them have Asian features. That got me thinking harder. People with Asian features have more energy than I have. Where have I heard that before. Its difficult to walk, think and recall all at the same time, but it finally came to me. The Chinese are kicking our butt on developing sources of renewable energy. The Chinese will have more energy than the U.S.A. in the near future.
That got me to step up my walking pace. I had to get home and Google, China and energy. Google referred me to a blog, Chicagoboyz, which did not mince any words in stating that the Chinese are going to kick our asses. Why? Here’s a sampling from the article”
“We have a culture that holds engineers and inventors in contempt and views new technologies first and foremost as threats to be mitigated. The Chinese nearly worship engineers and inventors and adopt new technologies with a reckless disregard of all but the most gross dangers.”
“The Chinese have become the lean and mean, energetic barbarians sweeping down on a fat, decadent and leaderless civilization. They have the same cowboy attitude towards technology and commerce that drove America to the top in late 1800s. They are going to do to us what we did to Europe in the pre-WWII era and for the same reason. The difference this time is that the Chinese share no cultural bond to the rest of the world as America did to Europe.”
That really got me thinking. I couldn’t wait until my next walk so that I could come to grips with this disturbing prospect.
Kick our asses! Hell no! The next day, I jogged past every Asian looking walker until I could no longer keep it up. I ran out gas and came to a complete stop. No doubt about it, those Asian looking walkers kicked my ass. They had more gas than I had. Walking has really affected my mental health after all. If I was thinking properly I would have realized all those walkers with Asian features were at least forty years younger than me. No wonder they have more gas!
There’s an epilogue to this tragic story. In preparation for the 2012 election, there will be all kinds of strategy planning by the political parties. Renewable energy sources will play a big part in the campaign. I fear that the only renewable energy source that will come out of the rhetoric will be the hot air as candidates stump along the country. It is rumored that China is ready to back the candidate that has the most hot air. They will stop at nothing to corner all the energy that is available.
" Save your money. Don't stick an Ipod in your ear! Don't bother praying either. The airways up here are clogged with prayers and we're at least a millennium behind in answering them. If you want ideas for blog posts you'll have to use that mass in your head called a brain. Just keep walking. Who knows what good things can come out of it. I know I'm supposed to know everything but I can't promise good things will come out of it, no more than my suggestion that a vote for Obama was a vote for change. On that one , just be patient. Incidentally, I did convince him to give up basketball in favor of walking and you know what the effects of that will be. While we're talking - excuse me , while you are listening - have you considered telling everyone who reads your blog that I never, never talked to Bush. The Iraq War was his own idea, although there are rumors that he did have a conversation with Satan. I really am too busy to spend anymore time with you. There are wars going on which need a referee. Did you like my call on that perfect game that turned out imperfect? Gotta go - I suggest you take a walk."
(Was that really God I was talking to? I must confess that I was surprised at his command of English. I didn't notice any evidence of an Arabic accent.)
I took God's advice and went out for a brisk walk without anything stuck in my ear. I thought that my walking was brisk but lately everyone has been overtaking me as I crawl along. It must be the thinking that is slowing me down. It takes a toll on the mental process and as a result there is a precipitous loss of energy. This loss of energy got me thinking about the energy crisis and our lack of a plan to effectively deal with it. I use “our” because we must all share the guilt. The more I think about it , its Washington’s lack of a plan. This reasoning is a direct result of the effect that walking has on logical thinking. Thinking of logical thinking, let me get back to walking and energy.
As walkers overtake me along the trail, I’ve noticed that many of them have Asian features. That got me thinking harder. People with Asian features have more energy than I have. Where have I heard that before. Its difficult to walk, think and recall all at the same time, but it finally came to me. The Chinese are kicking our butt on developing sources of renewable energy. The Chinese will have more energy than the U.S.A. in the near future.
That got me to step up my walking pace. I had to get home and Google, China and energy. Google referred me to a blog, Chicagoboyz, which did not mince any words in stating that the Chinese are going to kick our asses. Why? Here’s a sampling from the article”
“We have a culture that holds engineers and inventors in contempt and views new technologies first and foremost as threats to be mitigated. The Chinese nearly worship engineers and inventors and adopt new technologies with a reckless disregard of all but the most gross dangers.”
“The Chinese have become the lean and mean, energetic barbarians sweeping down on a fat, decadent and leaderless civilization. They have the same cowboy attitude towards technology and commerce that drove America to the top in late 1800s. They are going to do to us what we did to Europe in the pre-WWII era and for the same reason. The difference this time is that the Chinese share no cultural bond to the rest of the world as America did to Europe.”
That really got me thinking. I couldn’t wait until my next walk so that I could come to grips with this disturbing prospect.
Kick our asses! Hell no! The next day, I jogged past every Asian looking walker until I could no longer keep it up. I ran out gas and came to a complete stop. No doubt about it, those Asian looking walkers kicked my ass. They had more gas than I had. Walking has really affected my mental health after all. If I was thinking properly I would have realized all those walkers with Asian features were at least forty years younger than me. No wonder they have more gas!
There’s an epilogue to this tragic story. In preparation for the 2012 election, there will be all kinds of strategy planning by the political parties. Renewable energy sources will play a big part in the campaign. I fear that the only renewable energy source that will come out of the rhetoric will be the hot air as candidates stump along the country. It is rumored that China is ready to back the candidate that has the most hot air. They will stop at nothing to corner all the energy that is available.
6/21/10
Clogged Minds
The thought process during my daily walks has taken its toll on what was once a well oiled mind. Too many thoughts are fighting for my attention. Thoughts about religion, politics, the energy crisis, immigration, the oil spill, on and on. Its gotten to the point where I've even considered inhaling some WD4 oil hoping to free up some of the clogging of my mind's gears. The high primal thinker talked me out of it.
Suddenly one of the thoughts busted loose and communicated an idea. Why not take my walk during a rain storm. That should flush my mind since all I would be able to think of would be how soon could I get the hell out of the rain.
Tried it and it worked. As I walked everything became clearer except for the sky. Besides getting home,soaked to the skin, it became obvious that I had attributed the problem of a clogged mind to my walking. What was really damaging my mind was blogging. Whether I walked or not , I was constantly thinking of blog posts.
There is no doubt that walking is aiding my physical fitness. As for my mental fitness, the ultimate solution is to buy an Ipod and stick in my ear. That will cure the constant thinking about blog posts which have led to mental instability.
God knows where the next posts will come from. If he's such a benevolent God why doesn't he tell me. Maybe I could try praying while walking instead of thinking. No, no - I've decided on the Ipod.
Suddenly one of the thoughts busted loose and communicated an idea. Why not take my walk during a rain storm. That should flush my mind since all I would be able to think of would be how soon could I get the hell out of the rain.
Tried it and it worked. As I walked everything became clearer except for the sky. Besides getting home,soaked to the skin, it became obvious that I had attributed the problem of a clogged mind to my walking. What was really damaging my mind was blogging. Whether I walked or not , I was constantly thinking of blog posts.
There is no doubt that walking is aiding my physical fitness. As for my mental fitness, the ultimate solution is to buy an Ipod and stick in my ear. That will cure the constant thinking about blog posts which have led to mental instability.
God knows where the next posts will come from. If he's such a benevolent God why doesn't he tell me. Maybe I could try praying while walking instead of thinking. No, no - I've decided on the Ipod.
6/18/10
The Problem With Heaven
A brisk walk in the morning can do wonders for one's physical well being. Unfortunately, it can also raise hell with one's mental well being. Absurd? Not in my case.
On my daily walk I encounter all kinds of creatures. Most have an ear problem. An Ipod stuck in their ear, a cell phone stuck in their ear, a radio stuck in their ear or even a hearing aid. They seem content with their surroundings and generally are sociable with their wave or "good morning". Then there are those creatures like this writer who make their walk without the benefit of any ear paraphernalia. A quarter of a mile into the walk they start thinking and steaming. No music to calm them down, no friend to console them, no pundit to influence their political leanings - just those creaky wheels trying to stimulate their brain.
The thinking walker is trapped! He suddenly feels that he must resolve the problem of the day facing mankind. Heaven forbid, this morning the problem was heaven. A glance up at a calm. beautiful blue sky started the creaky wheels . Was that heaven on the fringes of that sky? Is there a heaven? Who goes to heaven? Is there an alternative to heaven? Does a GPS help a soul get there? Whats a soul?
There are answers to all these questions . Any church, mosque or temple has its version of heaven. Obviously this must mean that there is more than one heaven. Does that conflict with the concept of one heaven that we have always been taught? Not if your willing to believe that there are states of heaven. The representatives of these states must have met in a place like Philadelphia and organized The United States of Heaven. That's why we usually speak of heaven as though it was one place.
Now I was steaming. This concept of heaven makes sense but it was loaded with problems. Does each state of heaven pursue its own agenda? How does heaven deal with diversity? Are souls colorless? Is immigration to other states permitted? What happens to all those virgins after the suicide bombers are done with them? Are they sent to the Catholic heaven? Are whore houses legal there? If God rules heaven, is he elected? Is God a he? What about the trinity? Does a committee rule? If so , is heaven a communist state? Do souls get wings so that they can fly all over and save gas? Does a soul have any mass? Is everyone in heaven really good? If so why doe heaven boast about that guy called Archie or as some prefer Michael? Is my favorite pet permitted in heaven? Does heaven have a budget?
The questions about heaven were countless and as I neared the end of my walk I was sweating profusely. Not from the walking but the thinking. I finally concluded that in reality I was living in heaven. If heaven is full of problems and the good old USA is full of problems, I might as well save myself the trip. We may think we are living in hell on earth but really its heaven on earth unless you believe that heaven can be hell in which case you should stick an Ipod up your f#$@ing #ss. ( The foregoing is a good example of what a morning walk can do to your mind.)
I passed these thoughts along to my high primal thinker spouse who doubles as a pseudo shrink and was advised that for my own safety I should confine my walking and thinking to a treadmill in our home, away from those happy , thoughtless creatures with things stuck in their ears.
On my daily walk I encounter all kinds of creatures. Most have an ear problem. An Ipod stuck in their ear, a cell phone stuck in their ear, a radio stuck in their ear or even a hearing aid. They seem content with their surroundings and generally are sociable with their wave or "good morning". Then there are those creatures like this writer who make their walk without the benefit of any ear paraphernalia. A quarter of a mile into the walk they start thinking and steaming. No music to calm them down, no friend to console them, no pundit to influence their political leanings - just those creaky wheels trying to stimulate their brain.
The thinking walker is trapped! He suddenly feels that he must resolve the problem of the day facing mankind. Heaven forbid, this morning the problem was heaven. A glance up at a calm. beautiful blue sky started the creaky wheels . Was that heaven on the fringes of that sky? Is there a heaven? Who goes to heaven? Is there an alternative to heaven? Does a GPS help a soul get there? Whats a soul?
There are answers to all these questions . Any church, mosque or temple has its version of heaven. Obviously this must mean that there is more than one heaven. Does that conflict with the concept of one heaven that we have always been taught? Not if your willing to believe that there are states of heaven. The representatives of these states must have met in a place like Philadelphia and organized The United States of Heaven. That's why we usually speak of heaven as though it was one place.
Now I was steaming. This concept of heaven makes sense but it was loaded with problems. Does each state of heaven pursue its own agenda? How does heaven deal with diversity? Are souls colorless? Is immigration to other states permitted? What happens to all those virgins after the suicide bombers are done with them? Are they sent to the Catholic heaven? Are whore houses legal there? If God rules heaven, is he elected? Is God a he? What about the trinity? Does a committee rule? If so , is heaven a communist state? Do souls get wings so that they can fly all over and save gas? Does a soul have any mass? Is everyone in heaven really good? If so why doe heaven boast about that guy called Archie or as some prefer Michael? Is my favorite pet permitted in heaven? Does heaven have a budget?
The questions about heaven were countless and as I neared the end of my walk I was sweating profusely. Not from the walking but the thinking. I finally concluded that in reality I was living in heaven. If heaven is full of problems and the good old USA is full of problems, I might as well save myself the trip. We may think we are living in hell on earth but really its heaven on earth unless you believe that heaven can be hell in which case you should stick an Ipod up your f#$@ing #ss. ( The foregoing is a good example of what a morning walk can do to your mind.)
I passed these thoughts along to my high primal thinker spouse who doubles as a pseudo shrink and was advised that for my own safety I should confine my walking and thinking to a treadmill in our home, away from those happy , thoughtless creatures with things stuck in their ears.
Let's Run It Up The Flagpole
Legislation has to be run up the flagpole to see who salutes it before it ever gets out of committee. In order to get the required number of salutes it very often is cannibalized. The name of the game is you scratch my back and I'll scratch your back. After all, half a loaf is better than none (unless it has been in committee so long that it is moldy, in which case giving the opposition the finger is the better choice).
6/17/10
Italian Chicken
The high primal informed me that we are having Italian chicken for dinner. I guess its that chicken she bought in Little Italy. That's O.K., a Little Italian chicken will suit my diet fine.
6/14/10
Righties, Lefties And Common Sense
“Righties” and “lefties” love to squabble over the role of government. Some “righties” otherwise known as libertarians would all but dissolve government, while some “lefties” known as progressives would expand government’s role. The form of government provides even more fodder for debate.
Reading “ Common Sense” did not resolve today’s confrontation between “righties” and “lefties” but what Paine had to say about the origin and design of government did make a lot of common sense.
“Thus necessity, like a gravitating power, would soon form our newly arrived emigrants into society, the reciprocal blessings of which would supersede, and render the obligations of law and government unnecessary while they remained perfectly just to each other; but as nothing but Heaven is impregnable to vice, it will unavoidably happen that in proportion as they surmount the first difficulties of emigration, which bound them together in a common cause, they will begin to relax in their duty and attachment to each other: and this remissness will point out the necessity of establishing some form of government to supply the defect of moral virtue.”
These words I’m sure can be twisted and mangled to suit one’s views but the fact remains that we are an imperfect society and if we are to survive we must welcome government into our society. As long as we have the oppressed, the hungry and the poor , we will need a government to aid us in rectifying our lapses from compassion. Having said that, I guess it makes me a “leftie”. If I add that we must be mindful of the excesses and corruption of government, I guess it makes me a “rightie”. More properly, is it merely common sense?
Too bad there is not another Thomas Paine in this 21st century ready to lead us out of the wilderness of political confusion. In the meantime, I highly recommend “Common Sense” as food for thought.
6/11/10
My, My - The Brits Don't Like Our BP Bad Mouthing
“British investors in BP are growing increasingly frustrated with the White House’s involvement and comments about the company’s efforts to clean up the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and partly blame politicians for the sharp drop in the share price” according to a report in the New York Times. It appears that the United States government and victims of the worst ever environmental disaster are being too hard on the beloved British Petroleum of the United Kingdom.
Its all about money! As BP shares plummet, in Britain there is more concern about the poor stockholders and less concern about the environmental fiasco BP is responsible for. Some quotes to get your blood boiling or as the Brits say “ too get your tea boiling”.
The next step may very well be for the Brits to man a full court press in an attempt to get Washington to take it easy on poor BP. Barack should invite them to Louisiana to discuss the problem in a town hall meeting. The Brits may learn that it is not the word British that is BP’s problem, it’s the word petroleum and it doesn’t belong on the beaches and the marshlands.
Its all about money! As BP shares plummet, in Britain there is more concern about the poor stockholders and less concern about the environmental fiasco BP is responsible for. Some quotes to get your blood boiling or as the Brits say “ too get your tea boiling”.
- “BP has many problems in the U.S., One of them is that it has the word British in its title.”
- “It’s a totally over politicized situation. There is a disconnect between reality and BP being totally lambasted.”
- “We don’t have all the press coverage that’s over there and we’re further away from U.S. politics. We have a more rational view.”
- “What people forget is that if anyone breaks a pipeline, you’d thank god that it was a company that can actually pay for it”.
The next step may very well be for the Brits to man a full court press in an attempt to get Washington to take it easy on poor BP. Barack should invite them to Louisiana to discuss the problem in a town hall meeting. The Brits may learn that it is not the word British that is BP’s problem, it’s the word petroleum and it doesn’t belong on the beaches and the marshlands.
6/10/10
Pour Oil on Troubled Waters
While trying to stem the flow of oil from its Gulf Coast oil spill catastrophe, BP has been trying to pour oil on troubled waters by embarking on a massive PR campaign to convince us that they have our well being at heart. Its a wonder that they haven't put a spin on their problems by claiming that with the coming hurricane season their oil spill is actually a blessing since pouring oil on a turbulent ocean tends to calm the dangerous waves.
6/7/10
Writer's Block Strikes Again
My delete button has been working overtime. Once again writer's block has surfaced. Called the doctor and asked him if a drink before attacking the keyboard would help my writer's block. He replied, " It might help but drink in moderation". I looked for it in the liquor store but there was no such brand. Tried Jim Beam instead. Hope it helps. Be back soon.
6/4/10
Sleep Tight
Wishing someone to sleep tight makes no sense at all. Sleeping tight invites a night full of nightmares or worse yet a hangover in the morning. Wouldn’t it be better to sleep loose. It sounds more restful, but unfortunately it doesn’t rhyme with night. So, goodnight and sleep tight.
6/2/10
Growing Apart
6/1/10
Pain In The #SS
Browsing through a bunch of cliches, "pain in the #ss" caught my eye. After two seconds I realized that I was looking at some one's delicate way of writing "pain in the ass". Pain in the ass communicates the antics of someone who is a pain in the neck. Pain in the #ss communicates hypocrisy. The same person who delicately listed pain in the #ss as a cliche also had the balls to list this gem, " as horny as a three balled tomcat". A three balled tomcat can be a pain in the ass around 2 AM in the morning but never a pain in the #ss.
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