Chief Wahoo Dying A Slow Death

I have concluded that Chief Wahoo (Cleveland Indians logo) has been sentenced to die a slow death. About the only places he is to be seen is on ticket sale advertisements and some baseball uniforms. It must be noted that in regard to the latter he has been relegated to a small patch. No one will acknowledge that he is on his way out. The Indians front office as well The Plain Dealer apparently have decided that slowly diminishing his exposure to baseball fans is the least controversial path to his eventual death. The Chief is in hospice and most certainly he will die a slow death! Last seen, Chief Wahoo looked very pale and was entering the Cleveland Clinic ( no self respecting Indian wants to be a paleface). Good luck Chief! Too bad you could not have gone out more ceremoniously but that's the Cleveland way.

LaPierre Distorts History

At the recent CPAC convention all sorts of crap spewed from the podium. The crappiest of all (Rush Limbaugh came in a close second) was Wayne LaPierre, CEO of the National Rifle Association. According to LaPierre " our founding fathers understood that the men with a gun make the rules". He must have confused our founding fathers with Al-Qaeda. His history books may have been written by extreme Muslims. La Pierre is the best argument there is for gun control.

Is The Plain Dealer Wimpy About Chief Wahoo?

Through a letter to the editor and an e-mail to readers representative Ted Diadiun ( who incidentally is more of a newspaper defender rather than an ombudsman) I have attempted to secure some comment as to whether or not the Cleveland Indians Chief Wahoo is a persona non-grata in The Plain Dealer sports pages ( my post Has The Chief Been Retired - 2/18/09). To date there has not been a hint as to what’s up. Mr. Diadiun is too busy defending comic strips and cartoons. The opinion pages are full of letters on earthshaking topics such as corrupt politics and rusting bridges. The sports writers pontificate about the Indians new digs in Goodyear , Arizona . No news of the Chief! No images of the Chief! Guess what? The script I has disappeared since I wrote my unpublished letter to the editor. Why is The Plain Dealer so wimpy about Chief Wahoo? Afraid of offending some baseball fans who hide their racism behind tradition? It is time for change (where have I heard that before?). Chief Wahoo must go to the Happy Hunting Grounds. It is time for The Plain Dealer to publish his obituary.

About Heaven

Search engine results do not abound with heaven based clichés as compared to hell based clichés. I suppose its because it is more difficult to get into heaven even for a search engine. There are however a few. Arsonists tend to favor a match made in heaven while visitors to an out house favor it stinks to high heaven. No one seems to know the origin of heavens to Betsy but I suspect it came from Harry Truman. To top it all off ( now there is a cliché if there ever was one) it has even been suggested that heaven is a cliché. Heaven forbid!

About Hell

We all know that the road to hell is paved with good intentions (and clichés) and that go to hell is one of the most popular clichés. If one were to comply it is best to go to hell in a hand basket and not hell bent for election. As you approach the gates of hell take heed of Dante’s admonition, “Abandon all hope, all ye who enter”. Retreat like a bat out of hell or there will be hell to pay. You may find yourself between the devil and the deep blue sea. If you think that is bad, keep in mind that hell has no fury like a woman scorned. That is one of the many reasons we have hell on earth. Until hell freezes over hellish clichés will proliferate.

More About Best Friends

Next to my spouse my computer is my best friend. I doubt that she would appreciate this type of competition but I know she appreciates the hours I spend at the computer rather then being underfoot. Contemplating the marvels of the computer I can’t help but think back to 1947 when John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley invented the point contact transistor. The invention of the transistor is regarded as the most important invention of the twentieth century and fanned innovations and inventions which revolutionized the electronics world and indeed our way of life. I’m proud to have been a part of this technological revolution . My friend the computer is but one product of this revolution. There are two other modern day phenomenon whose acquaintances I have yet to make; namely, the I-Pod and the I-Phone. The reason our paths have never crossed is that in spite of my love for new technology I have not been inclined to embrace these devices. The desire is just not there. I feel bad about this since I’m sure I have disappointed my grandchildren who always thought I was more hip ( that certainly dates me). On the other hand my spouse and my computer applaud my restraint.

Let sleeping dogs lie

Let sleeping dogs lie - Can dogs really lie while sleeping? Your guess is as good as mine. Be aware however that once awake they may tell the truth and upset the apple cart.
Animals and clichés make for problematic copy. We all know that there is more than one way to skin a cat . Yes, but why? Does the A.P.C.A. know about this? Wouldn't it be easier, and less bloody, to weigh alternatives ? How much does a cat weigh and why are they in harms way? Who let the cat out of the bag in the first place?

Has The Chief Been Retired

For the past two weeks The Plain Dealer sports pages have been full of Cleveland Indian stories ( Spring must be coming). I'm holding my breath - nary a sign of Chief Wahoo. The script I appears where ordinarily the Chief would appear. Has The Plain Dealer retired the Chief? Will the Cleveand Indians owner follow suit? Stay tuned.

Its not my cup of tea

"its not my cup of tea" is the disclaimer of choice when we decline an offer , beg off from an activity or proclaim a dislike for something. This is fine as long as you are a tea aficionado. What if you are not? Could a coffee lover get away with its not my cup of java ? If coffee doesn't do it would its not my brand of scotch suffice? Neither of these alternatives would cut it. They are not clichés and to shorten conversations or make a point, one must speak in accepted clichés even if they are a misrepresentation of taste.

Good Bye Saturn

It is reported that GM will reduce its lineup of brands to just four from eight. The survivors will be Chevrolet, Cadillac , Buick and GMC. I’ve never been a big fan of GM vehicles. I owned three Chevrolets which ranged from fair to poor. I owned one Saturn which was great. The junk will remain and the quality will be gone. The remaining brands will provide plenty of room for gas guzzlers if needed.

Auto Workers Retiree Health Care

GM and Chrysler will submit their scenario for justifying the billions of corporate welfare they received in January and will once again go to the trough for more bailout billions. It is interesting that at the last minute they are locked in intense negotiations with the UAW over ways to cut expenses for retiree health care. My first reaction to this was that the UAW was being unduly stubborn in not agreeing to modify an extremely generous retiree health care plan. Then the question arose in my mind as to why retirees should give up something that their retirement plans were based on. They had a commitment which now someone is reneging on. “Oops, we really didn’t know what we were doing. We shouldn’t have been so generous”. Of course the UAW is between the rock and a hard place. Compromise and do the right thing to help save the auto industry or play hardball and risk the very existence of the UAW. As for the retirees , where were you when universal health care proposals needed your support. I know, the provisions of universal health were not as generous as what you got from the auto companies.

Waiting for the other shoe to drop

I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop - What Bush said to Maliki after avoiding a shoe thrown at him by a journalist.

Shit or get off the pot

"shit or get off the pot" is perhaps a cliché which should be front and center as to our daily lives. There are certain things which can cause a temporary detour in our daily activities but agonizing over what could have been is counter productive. Navigate the detour , get off the pot and get on with life.

Is This The Year

The Cleveland Indians will finally win the World Series this year. Why this year? A surefire way to stimulate the economy in Northeast Ohio is for the Indians to have a championship year. To this end I understand that instead of adding a sorely needed pitcher to theit roster they added a lobbyist. The lobbyist was charged with getting stimulus money from Washington. Word is that the lobbyist was successful (don't tell Obama), and buried in the economic stimulus package is enough money for the Indians to buy a championship. What is that little voice telling me? Oh my, the lobbyist goofed! The money in the economic stimulus bill is not for the Cleveland Indians, its for The Iroquois Indians and its earmarked for a casino in New York State. Should have signed the pitcher. Wait until next year!

Bipartisanship

Bipartisanship is a noble objective and works well in times of war. Unfortunately, not so in times of economic turmoil. Do the Republicans really think they can regain power by sitting on the sidelines so that they can say "I told you so" if the Democratic economic stimulus initiatives falter. Its a strategy which bodes ill for the country.

Heaven A Step Closer

For Catholics, Revival of Indulgences Moves Heaven a Step Closer - so blared the headline in this morning's paper. Evidently one can secure indulgences which shorten their time in Purgatory. Exactly how this is done is not very clear. Securing the services of a lawyer is probably the only way to navigate the religious red tape. Indulgences had all but disappeared in the Catholic church. According to one bishop they have been brought back because sin exists in the world. The implication is that we went through an era when sin was not a problem. Do these religious leaders take us for fools! It seems to me that for Catholics the revival of indulgences moves Heaven further away as they connive to secure thier passports out of Purgatory. Limbo has already been declared as non-existent by the Catholic Church. As Purgatory empties itself of sinners via indulgences , is it possible that there will be no further need of Purgatory?

The Perfect Storm

"the perfect storm" is often used to explain the cause of our chaotic state of affairs.If you have read the book or seen the movie this cliché may seem appropriate. If so, the fact that all lives were lost on the fishing boat caught in the perfect storm should be sobering.

Baseball's Steroid Problem

Apparently A-Rod will join the list of superstars suspected of using steroids. The Hall of Fame doors are slowly shutting on the likes of Bond, Clement, McGwire and maybe even A-Rod . There will certainly be others. Baseball has a big problem when it comes to tainted record breakers and their election to the Hall of Fame. In lieu of election to the Hall of Fame, I humbly offer these possible solutions for celebrating the careers of steroid using superstars :

• establish a Steroid Era wing at Cooperstown reserved for players of the steroid era
• award honorary degrees for extraordinary research in the use of performance enhancing drugs
• establish a prize similar to the Academy Award for outstanding performance while under the influence of drugs

Let The Wine Breathe

Is “ let the wine breathe” a cliché? It is certainly overused and maybe even a questionable practice. Personally I prefer to aid the breathing by applying CPR to a glass of wine.

Camel's Nose In The Tent

The President signed an executive order on February 5th to create a new White House office for faith-based programs and neighborhood partnerships, building upon the initiatives started by the Bush administration to administer social services to people “no matter their religious or political beliefs.” Why do we need this? Is it a nod to religious zealots who want more voice in governmental affairs? Is it an election payoff ? So now we have a twenty-six year old Ayatollah overseeing the disposition of taxpayer’s money. Will he decide whether or not religious groups that receive federal money for social service programs hire only those who share their religion? Has'nt history taught us anything about the participation of religion in governmental affairs? I’m sure there are more questions than answers in the signing of this executive order. Perhaps reflecting on the story of the camel's nose in the tent might provide some answers.

One cold night, as an Arab sat in his tent, a camel gently thrust his nose under the flap and looked in. "Master," he said, "let me put my nose in your tent. It's cold and stormy out here." "By all means," said the Arab, "and welcome" as he turned over and went to sleep.

A little later the Arab awoke to find that the camel had not only put his nose in the tent but his head and neck also. The camel, who had been turning his head from side to side, said, "I will take but little more room if I place my forelegs within the tent. It is difficult standing out here." "Yes, you may put your forelegs within," said the Arab, moving a little to make room, for the tent was small.

Finally, the camel said, "May I not stand wholly inside? I keep the tent open by standing as I do." "Yes, yes," said the Arab. "Come wholly inside. Perhaps it will be better for both of us." So the camel crowded in. The Arab with difficulty in the crowded quarters again went to sleep. When he woke up the next time, he was outside in the cold and the camel had the tent to himself.

The First Robin Of Spring

It is popular to herald the arrival of Spring upon sighting the first robin. It is three degrees outdoors , the ground is covered with snow, it is February 5th , and as I look out the window I spot a fat robin frolicking in the snow. Spring is here! Hardly, Spring will not arrive until March 21st. That robin and his friends have been shivering in Ohio like the rest of us . They are not "snow birds" who head for Florida at the first sign of cold weather. So how will I know when it is spring? When I see that robin hopping around with a worm in its beak.

What goes around comes around

What goes around comes around - if a person does something bad, something bad will happen to him. If he does something good, something good will happen to him. If he does something half - assed he has no one to blame but himself and will probably find himself going around in circles.

What goes around comes around

What goes around comes around - if a person does something bad, something bad will happen to him. If he does something good, something good will happen to him. If he does something half - assed he has no one to blame but himself and will probably find himself going around in circles.

What goes around comes around

What goes around comes around - if a person does something bad, something bad will happen to him. If he does something good, something good will happen to him. If he does something half - assed he has no one to blame but himself and will probably find himself going around in circles.

Not Music To My Ears

I found myself in a waiting room recently and to my surprise I found a juke box prominently displayed. A juke box to me means the 40's, 50's and 60's. Surely this juke box sheltered some of my favorite music. Not the case! There was not a familiar tune there, nor an artist whom I recognized. After I got over my disappointment it dawned upon me that pop music has passed me by. As the years have piled on, I've done a fairly good job of keeping up with the new technology and life styles, but I must admit that since the 60's I have accumulated zilch knowledge of what music is the rage. Probably because it is not music meant for my ears - aging has taken a toll on my ears. I guess that makes me a musical dinosaur but so be it. I can still listen to big band music and crooners like Sinatra on my CD's ( I did upgrade from LP's and tapes, but have not graduated to the IPOD yet ). Age has its privileges and I've decided to continue to ignore rap and rock ( rock and roll also) . I don't feel bad about being ignorant about modern pop music but I do yearn for an IPOD for my Big Band music and opera) .

The First Black President

Referring to Barack Obama as the first Black President or the first African-American President is being overdone. Indeed his election was a historic event and one which African- Americans and for that matter all Americans should celebrate but it is time to relegate the racial part of Obama's election to the history books. It is time to become color blind in acknowledging his accomplishments and failures as President of The United States. ( Was George W. Bush the last WASP President?)

Breaking news- the Republican National Committee has elected the first Black Chairman of a political party. Here we go again. Again its great, ( probably too little to late), but I hope the pundits will lighten up on the race part of it or is that why the Republicans elected him.

Living The American Dream

Wall Street rewarding itself with exorbitant bonuses in the midst of an economic crisis has rightfully been called appalling. That this money was taxpayer’s money makes it almost criminal. Still these financial executives are living the American Dream. Yes, the American Dream! Traditionally the American Dream has stressed monetary gain. Of course the pursuit of monetary gain is laden with pitfalls. The poor Mafioso discovered that his pursuit of the American Dream ended in a Federal Prison. Ex- Governor Blagojevich’s pursuit of the American Dream ended in a disgraceful removal from office. Bernard Madoff achieved the American Dream at the expense of his greedy investors but may find himself buried in the pyramid he created. Wall Street need not worry. They will have to weather the public’s indignation and a wag of the finger from the White House and Congress but their billions in bonuses will be intact. Why do they act so greedily and irresponsibly - their motto is “never look a gift horse in the mouth”. Better that they should heed President Clinton’s words about the American Dream, "We need a new spirit of community, a sense that we are all in this together, or the American Dream will continue to wither. Our destiny is bound up with the destiny of every other American."

Baseball Salaries

This time of year I usually start warming up to the coming baseball season. This year however there is a bit of chill in the air. Apparently there is no abatement in the astronomical salaries being commanded by baseball's "stars" which includes almost everyone but the bat boy. It is a little difficult to stomach in the face of soaring unemployment figures , a crumbling stock market and increasing home foreclosures. Does a call by the President for more responsibility and less greed apply to the sports world? Baseball would like us to believe that it is an essential part of our daily life and that it provides a needed diversion in bad times. One of these days there will be a wake up call (would they have the gall to ask for a bailout), in the meantime I must confess that I'm looking forward to Spring training.

( Is reality beginning to set in? Abreu, others, might soon swallow pride -Buster Olney's SI blog)

The Wind At Your Back

As Barack Obama becomes our 44th President it might be appropiate to bestow upon him this Irish blessing:

May the road rise up to meet you,

may the wind be ever at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face

and the rain fall softly on your fields.

Kamikaze Geese

Did a bird strike bring down US Airways Flight 1549? Why were the birds on strike? Is Al Qaeda training Canadian Geese to be suicide bombers? Can Guantanamo hold birds? Don't birds have more rights to the sky ? Questions, questions, questions!

Coupon Nazis

Aside from rising prices at the supermarket I have noticed an increased surveillance of manufacturer’s coupons ( see previous post ) . Now one is subjected to a scrutiny of coupons at checkout which rivals that of the Florida election workers looking for chards during the Bush - Gore recount in 2000. The checkout clerks have morphed into Coupon Nazis. Apparently coupons have fine print, lots of fine print! If one has not read all the fine print with a magnifying glass they risk being brought up short by the Gestapo. A public lecture follows with the implication that the coupon passer is engaged in some sort of scam.

It is commonly assumed that a coupon applies to a single item. Bad assumption. Read the fine print and you will find that some coupons will require the purchase of two products. Gotcha! Save fifty cents and get two packages when you only need one. By far what irks the Coupon Nazi the most is a coupon that has expired. Most of the time an expiration date is prominently displayed but the trend is toward burying it in the fine print. Other than to annoy the customer I’m not sure what this accomplishes. Then there are the pictures on the coupon of the product the coupon applies to. Of course in some cases it is difficult to make out and a guess results. The most conscientious Coupon Nazis will go through your items that have been already checked out in order to assure herself or himself that you bought the right product. I said herself or himself only to be politically correct but I must admit the himself’s rarely question coupons. They are too lazy to make good Coupon Nazis.

Remember this, if your coupon backfires be sure you are Mirandized before submitting to any questioning by the Gestapo. Better yet it is best to get in a line that includes a lawyer willing to represent you pro bono in case you are accosted during checkout.

Raised in the Great Depression
Retired before the crash of eighty seven
Lived to see the Great Recession
Whoever said this would be heaven

The Stupidity Of War

The following excerpt from a NY Times article illustrates the stupidity of war:

"Amid the fighting in Gaza, Israel said the three-hour lull would be repeated every other day between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to allow Gaza’s population to seek medical help, buy food and receive humanitarian supplies."

A timetable to ease the ravages of war! It doesn't add up. The odds are overwhelming in favor of destruction. Twenty-one hours for destruction and three hours for humanitarian aid every other day. Why not prohibit casualties and hunger every twelve hours every other day! Will someone publish a schedule? Will there be a referee with a whistle to signal time out? Will Hamas issue a timetable for the delivery of rockets, say between 7:35 a.m and 3:45 p.m. every third day? Why not stop the fighting all together!

Santa Is A Politician

I've always been a little suspect of Santa Claus. I finally figured out why. Santa is a politician! A very successful one. No matter what the economic times are he is always smiling and assures everyone that as long as you have been good there is something in his sleigh for you. The problem is that he can't possibly deliver on his promises. Have you ever seen his sleigh? There's hardly enough room for Santa and one measly bag of goodies. So who gets the goodies? No one. They never leave his sleigh. All the goodies are recyclable. Santa returns them to the North Pole where Santa's elves will repackage them for the next year. This year they are being repackaged as an economic stimulus package and might actually be delivered. That is if Santa can get a Federal bridge loan to retool his crumbling workshop. How does Santa maintain his popularity- he smiles , waves , promises us better times and makes us feel good. He may be a con artist - oops, politician - but he is a lovable one.

Unbelievable

The use of unbelievable belongs in the category of trite and over used expressions. This is especially true among sports reporters. Case in point, with his back to the fence the center fielder leaps five feet into the air, arches his glove hand over the wall and robs the hitter of a home run. “Unbelievable!” shouts the baseball announcer. Too improbable for belief? Hardly, its what he is supposed to do. Besides we saw it with our own eyes - its fantastic but believable

Its Still Corruption

Rod Blagojevich has become the poster boy for political corruption but his sins pale as compared to the corruption exhibited in Washington. Put at the head of the table the widespread waste and mishandling of the Iraq War which has been placed in the 100's of billions. Seated close by is the mishandling of 350 billion dollars of TARP funds by the Treasury. Corporations and financial institutions have benefitted from this mishandling of funds. No U. S. Attorney is standing by to indict any Administration officials or CEO's but the mishandling of funds still smells like corruption is at play somewhere. No wonder scum bags like Blagojevich feel comfortable in engaging in "pay for play".

I know it like the back of my hand

I know it like the back of my hand - Interesting but which hand are we talking about, left or right? They are different. Do political leanings come in play if there is a choice? Besides whoever spent time becoming thoroughly familiar with the back of their hands? Is the back of your hand the same as it was a day ago, a month ago or a year ago? So what are you telling me when say you know something like the back of your hand. Your telling me that you don't know your ass from a hole in the ground. Enough for anatomy.

I know it like the back of my hand

I know it like the back of my hand - Interesting but which hand are we talking about, left or right? They are different. Do political leanings come in play if there is a choice? Besides whoever spent time becoming thoroughly familiar with the back of their hands? Is the back of your hand the same as it was a day ago, a month ago or a year ago? So what are you telling me when say you know something like the back of your hand. Your telling me that you don't know your ass from a hole in the ground. Enough for anatomy.

Sign Of The Times

A young man was killed during a convenience store robbery. When questioned about the crime a police lieutenant explained that it is the holiday season and people will use bad means to get money. It looks like we have another holiday tradition in the making.

Tolerance Has Its Limits

In a previous post I touted tolerance as the key to peace. After the terrorist attacks in Mambai on Wednesday I must conclude that tolerance has its limits. The Mujahideen who claim responsibility for these acts of cowardice do little to promote tolerance and do much to promote hate. Mujahideen (the members of a Muslim guerrilla force) claim divine authority for their activities. That claim is self serving. If these acts of terrorism continue there will be no hope of peace until Islam in no uncertain terms rejects violence as a divine act. The tolerance that Muslim nations have shown for gangsters like the Mujahideen is misplaced and invites suspicion and mistrust.

Better than nothing or grateful for something: the Cleveland Indians, the Cleveland Browns, The United Nations , CD interest rates , today’s shrinking newspapers, economic stimulus packages , " time horizon" for Iraq troop withdrawal, only fifty-nine more days of the Bush administration ! Better than nothing - part of a colon!

Better than nothing or grateful for something: the Cleveland Indians, the Cleveland Browns, The United Nations , CD interest rates , today’s shrinking newspapers, economic stimulus packages , " time horizon" for Iraq troop withdrawal, only fifty-nine more days of the Bush administration ! Better than nothing - part of a colon!

Back like a bad penny

I came across the expression “back like a bad penny” ( in reference to Robert Gates). I had not seen or heard the expression in some time. Did inflation render it obsolete? Probably not since I haven’t seen or heard the expression “back like a bad dollar”. In these troubled economic times every penny helps.

Back like a bad penny

I came across the expression “back like a bad penny” ( in reference to Robert Gates). I had not seen or heard the expression in some time. Did inflation render it obsolete? Probably not since I haven’t seen or heard the expression “back like a bad dollar”. In these troubled economic times every penny helps.

Key To Peace

On the forty-fifth anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy it is fitting to recall the commencement address he made at American University on June 10, 1963. Listening to that speech on NPR last night I was taken with how much can be applied to today’s world problems. In particular he pointed out that it is not paramount that we love our neighbors. Tolerating our neighbors would suffice. The suspicion with which we view one another must be replaced with tolerance. Kennedy also took this country to task when he said that the peace that we seek is “not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war”. Both objectives have escaped us over the years. Someone must carry the banner that Kennedy unfurled. Could it be that Barack Obama will be that leader? Let us pray that if he takes up the challenge, and he should, we will not see another November 22, 1963.

( As an aside, in Kennedy’s American University address he mentioned that “everyone knows that the United States would not start a war”. Unfortunately, after Iraq this is a claim we can no longer make.)

The question has been asked as to whether or not Congress should freeze the remaining bailout funds. The answer is yes as long as they use my freezer.

Recession Proof ?

Unemployment rates at record levels, home foreclosures at record levels, individual bankruptcies at record levels, bank failures increasing and once proud corporations on the brink of bankruptcy. Economic turmoil reigns - or does it. Apparently professional sport franchises think they are recession proof. There is hardly any talk of reigning in expenses. Ticket prices are on the rise. Player salaries are figures that no ordinary person can comprehend. How long before the insecurity of fans takes its toll on attendance. How long before cash strapped corporations drastically cut back on sponsorships and advertising. Is there a sports franchise bubble burst on the horizon?

Bail Out Auto Companies?

All the talk about bailing out the Big Three auto companies has left me with mixed feelings. As I recall the crappy vehicles they peddled to me years ago , I say no. As I think about the devastating effect on our economy, I say yes. If the latter, it should be done right. These are not people to be trusted. They are greedy, egotistical and and put their own welfare and that of their stockholders ahead of what is good for the country.

What to do? I think Thomas L. Friedman put it all in perspective in his Op-Ed New York Times article of 11/11/08, "How To Fix A Flat". Friedman advocates no blank checks to the auto companies. Any bailout should be based on tough conditions such as a new management team and board, together with a commitment to a business strategy based on conversion to fuel efficient vehicles on a timely basis. The government must strictly oversee the expenditure of funds.

To do less than Friedman advocates would be a betrayal of taxpayers.

Israel Will Test Obama

In my posting of 7/28/08, "Joined At The Hip" I questioned the apparent deep involvement of Israel in shaping our foreign policy. Today in a Reuters report I read that Israel's Foreign Minister cautions against Obama dialogue with Iran. The print on the newspaper headlines proclaiming Obama's election victory is hardly dry and an Israeli official is already lecturing Obama on foreign policy. During the course of the recent campaign Joe Biden warned “Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy." He knew what he was talking about. What he did not say and what is evident to me is that Israel will play a huge role in testing President - Elect Obama.

Bravo Barack Obama

Any thoughts I have on Barack Obama becoming the 44th President of The United States would only echo what is being said by the pundits. Suffice to say that I'm encouraged for the future of this country. My grandchildren and great grandchildren will live in a changed and greater America if Barack Obama lives up to his potential. Bravo, Barack Obama!

Sharia Law Flawed

Stoning victim 'begged for mercy'. “she was forced into a hole, buried up to her neck then pelted with stones until she died in front of more than 1,000 people.” Sharia law as applied by radical Islamists in Somalia is an abomination. Until Islam cleanses itself of barbaric practices in the name of Allah the religion will be viewed with suspect. It is time for Muslims to bring their religion into the 21st century. All religions have their shortcomings but the radical fringe of Islam has gone beyond shortcomings. A God that condones suicide bombing, beheading and stoning must live in Hades.

My Country First

After months of listening to the venomous attacks on Barack Obama by the McCain campaign to say nothing of witnessing McCain's hypocrisy's I'm ready to follow McCain's advice and put my country first. On November 4th I will cast my ballot for Barack Obama .

Corporate Welfare

Some economists call the recent economic stimulus checks a form of welfare. Now we have the spectacle of banks lining up for government cash. Aren't financial institutions accepting a form of welfare? Government programs designed to help individuals are smeared as welfare but the infusion of government cash to rescue financial institutions is couched in all sorts of benign economics jargon. Lets face it, cash infusions by the government to financial institutions is corporate welfare!

Colin Powell's Endorsement of Barack Obama

Lost in Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama were his comments on the rumors spread by right wing Republicans that Barack Obama is a Muslim. As Powell emphasized , Obama is not a Muslim , he is a Christian. If he were a Muslim - so what! Powell reminded us that this is America where people of all faiths live and serve this country. Muslims should not be confused with Jihadists, as Christians should not be confused with Crusaders. The candidacy of Obama is a wake up call for this country. The election of Obama will demonstrate to the world that this is a great democracy where religion, race and ethnic background do not play a dominant role in how we govern our country. He who can govern best is the only criteria for electing the next President of the United States and Barack Obama has amply demonstrated that he is that person.

The End Is Near

When I chose " the End Is Near" as a title I had in mind less than four weeks until Election Day. It could also indicate a nightmare where McCain/Palin emerge victorious. Then indeed the end will be near. On the more positive side, hopefully the next few weeks will fly by. I'm tired of Campaign 2008. Much too long. Too long on negative campaigning, too short on realistic programs. I anticipated that the Republicans would manufacture an October surprise . If Palin was that surprise I'll bet they want to put her back in the Cracker Jack box. The Republicans did however unintentionally generate a blockbuster surprise - the financial crisis! Try as they may, they can't put that back in the Cracker Jack box. Not surprisingly,the financial crisis has given Obama a chance to demonstrate to the country that good judgement trumps experience any time. Its beginning to look like Barack Obama will take up residence in the White House and that is what this country needs .

About Rewards And Coupons

Once upon a time one would go shopping and purchase goods - with cash - based on need, price and yes, loyalty to a merchant. A small wallet was sufficient and newspapers were primarily for news. Today goods are purchased based on discounts associated with a merchants “card”, the cash rewards on a particular credit card and more importantly the credit limit on a card. The expiration date of a coupon has bcome sacred and God forbid if a coupon is allowed to quietly expire. Newspapers are valued more for their coupons rather than their news. Where coupon clipping was once associated with wealth it is now a means of coping with the inflated price of goods. Wallets are now practically back packs in order to hold countless merchant cards , credit cards and coupons, with cash occupying little space. Merchant loyalty? Only if they honor double coupons and rewards. We have become a plastic and paper economy. Not satisfied with promoting unmanageable consumer debt and reaping profits thru the lure of large credit lines, the credit card companies keep hammering away with their message of spend, spend, spend and reap cash rewards. We live in a house of cards which the big bad wolf is waiting to blow down.

No Faith In Faith Forum

In my opinion the low point of Campaign 2008 will be reached this Saturday when Barack Obama and John McCain in their quest to gain the support of religious voters will discuss faith in public life, AIDS, the environment and other issues as guests of one of America‘s foremost evangelists, Rick Warren. Despite the traditional separation of church and state the candidates will be asked about how faith would fit into their potential presidencies. Their appearance as guests of Rick Warren is a mistake. They are both unwittingly encouraging efforts to inject the elements of a theocracy into our democracy. We are electing a Commander -in -Chief not a Pope, Pastor - in - Chief or Ayatollah. Their position on faith issues should play no role in the campaign.

What Are Allies For?

Russia invades Georgia, a staunch ally of the United States . So far our response has been a barrage of words. The problem is that our involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq has made our bark louder than our bite. (Bush responded to the crisis by cheering athletes at the Olympics -Putin responded by leaving the Olympics to be in Russia). Before this is over countries will have second thoughts about their status as staunch allies of the United States. Until the bleeding stops in the Mideast, obligations to allies will be put on a back burner.

Campaign 2008 & Racism

When this presidential election is over with we will either have put racial politics in the trash can or created an even more formidable racial divide. Not satisfied with having gotten us into a debilitating conflict in Iraq, the conservative right is determined to get us into a debilitating racial conflict by making Obama's color a major issue in this campaign. Then we have McCain who in a not too subtle way encourages this ploy. The world will be watching to see if indeed we are a great democracy.

Its Personality, Stupid

As Campaign 2008 rumbles down the road, the candidates massage their positions trying to capture votes. Positions are taken which bear little relation to reality and are vague at best. Promises are made which will be almost impossible to keep. It increasingly becomes oratory vs folksiness. Complicated issues are cast as black and white ( no race card intended). Vicious ads make their way into the media. So how do we choose? Personality stupid! Obama in a landslide!

Joined At The Hip

The presumptive presidential candidates are aggressively trying to gain the Jewish vote which requires the unqualified support and defense of Israel. This is consistent with what has historically been the position of this country in respect to a Jewish homeland. This advocacy has joined Israel and the United States at the hip and has always had the undertones of a distrust of the Muslim‘s. In spite of this distrust, Israel and the United States have laboriously come to the conclusion that peace in the Middle East is not achievable without the formation of a Palestinian state. Thus far the stubbornness of Israel and the extremism of Hamas has not resulted in any proposal resembling a viable Palestinian state. The obstacle? The Jews and Palestinians are mortal enemies. Left to their own devices the road to peace will be loaded with land mines. Until the United States tempers its unqualified support of Israel risking the ire of Jewish-Americans there will be no peace in the Middle East. Israel has a right to exist but the Palestinians also have a right to a homeland. The United States must insist ,not request, that Israel make meaningful concessions to the Palestinians in return for our support. Of course no candidate will openly take this position. In spite of campaign rhetoric, the successful candidate is to be forgiven if after taking office he performs surgery to separate the conjoined foreign policy of Israel and the United States. Only then will the peace process have a chance of succeeding.

About Patriotism

Innuendos about Barack Obama’s lack of patriotism lead one to muse about the real meaning of patriotism. Is it the wearing of a flag lapel pin? Is it plastering flag decals all over the rust spots on a car? Is it observing the proper etiquette during the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance? Is it wrestling with the singing of the Star Spangled banner at sporting events? Is it exhibiting a big flag, often the size of the playing field itself at big games. Is patriotism the exhibition of emblems and the warbling of songs? Not in my mind. That is the Madison Avenue approach to patriotism. At the start of the War On Terrorism flags could be found everywhere . Six years later they have all but disappeared - even on the 4th of July. Are we less patriotic than we were six years ago? Emblems and songs will not sustain patriotism. Deeds will. Patriotism is a commitment to good citizenship. Patriotism is activism to make this country a model for service to its citizens. Patriotism is holding the government accountable for its domestic and foreign policies.

Happy Birthday To The High Primal Thinker

A Call To Arms

Now that the Supreme Court has made it clear that it is the constitutional right of Americans to own a handgun for the purpose of self-defense how long will it be before a "gun fight at the OK corral" is an everyday occurrence. Self-defense is the act of defending one's person by physical force. One must assume it will rest with the gun owner to determine whether or not he is under the threat of bodily harm. Fair warning to those of us who choose not to own a handgun. Do not look at your neighbor with even the hint of disapproval, he may feel threatened and exercise his constitutional right to reach for his handgun. So where do we go from here? To arms, to arms - the baddies are coming!

Death Penalty Boutique

There must be something wrong with having the death penalty on the books. A lot of time is being spent in shopping around seeking the best fit for the death penalty. The latest shopping spree by the Supreme Court has ruled out the death penalty for child rape. Prosecutors trying to determine when a death penalty is proper are increasingly faced with tough decisions as to when the death penalty is the best fit. Not unlike shopping in a boutique - if it looks good go for it. If it turns out it is the wrong size let the Supreme Court tailor it. This is no way for a civilized nation to operate. Once and for all abolish the death penalty! (It is interesting that both candidates for the presidency of the United States have voiced their displeasure for the latest Supreme Court ruling. Not only is it interesting, it is disturbing. Anything for a vote, even a human life.)

Flip Fop - So What!

Barack Obama created a bit of a stir when he opted out of public financing for his general campaign. Predictably the media and of course the Republicans accused him of flip flopping (last November Obama indicated that he would participate in public financing). I must admit that at first I was disappointed that he had flip flopped. Upon further reflection I have concluded that too much is made of flip flopping. I would agree that a frequent change in opinions or policies is an indication of weakness and indecisiveness. But what is wrong if one changes course when new information indicates that a previous position was no longer the proper course of action. Such change may be characterized as flip flopping but so what. If it is the right thing to do so be it. Back in November Obama's tremendous ability to draw the financial support of small contributors was unclear. Today its a strength which makes it competitive with the Republicans ingenuity in circumventing the rules of public financing. Strength should never be abandoned even if it evokes accusations of flip flopping. Obama has proven that he can make hard decisions.

About A Dream Ticket

All this talk about a dream ticket of Obama/Clinton is pure nonsense. Clinton has made it clear that she has her own agenda. It almost appears that she is angling to being co-president, ala Bush/Cheney, rather than vice-president. She may even be looking forward to an Obama defeat which would give her a shot at the presidency in 2012. Barack Obama would be better off ignoring Clinton in favor of someone who would work their ass off to elect him. Obama/Clinton is not a dream ticket - it could be McCain's ticket to the White House. As Obama's people go through the vetting process for selecting a Vice- Presidential candidate, it would serve them well to remember " Hell has no fury like a woman scorned". How about William Cohen as Obama's running mate? That is my dream ticket!

Obama Is The Man

Barack Obama will be the Democratic Party's nominee for the office of President of The United States! I couldn't be more proud of my country or the Democratic Party. The last time I felt this way about the Democratic presidential nominee was when John Kennedy won the nomination ( just goes to prove that not only the younger generation is supporting Obama). Barack Obama is our best chance for producing a renaissance in this country.

The Melting Pot On Hold (Hyphenated Americans Re-visited)

Although we still refer to ethnic groups such as Irish-American, German-American, and Italian-American, it is largely symbolic. Education ,mobility and tolerance served to remove the taboos about marrying outside a particular ethnic group or religion and stoked the fires heating the melting pot so that increasingly the descendants of these groups are hard pressed to identify with an ethnic group. Where once they played an important role in shaping politics their modern day political influence as a voting bloc is greatly diminished - they have no political agenda. Any attention received from a political campaign is token at best. They are Americans! Not so with many other ethnic groups. They are Hyphenated -Americans and want to keep it that way.

The melting pot, a.k.a The United States of America, appears to have been put on low heat. Skin color, religion, and misplaced loyalty to a “father country” have doused the flames heating the pot. One has only to look at political campaigns and the rhetoric will convince you that the melting pot has seen its day. Candidates unashamedly court the vote of African-Americans, Jewish-Americans, Arab-Americans, Cuban-Americans and Hispanics, all of whom have a self-serving political agenda. The candidates promise far more than they can deliver and at the same time compromise their party’s social and foreign policy platforms. It even appears that we have added a new hyphenated American to the mix; namely, BC - Americans ( blue-collar Americans). If we believe the media, the latter group is devoted to keeping the other hyphenated Americans in their place.

The melting pot is what has kept this country from degenerating into a bunch of “ tribes”. Until we get it boiling again by developing more acceptance of inter-racial marriages, diminishing the influence of ethnic groups on foreign policy, shoring up the separation of church and state, and fostering education designed for Americans and not designed for a particular ethnic group, we will experience a fragmented society complete with "tribal warfare".

History Scorned

With so much to learn from history, why do we choose to ignore the lessons of the past? Is it a form of agnosticism? Is it egotism? Is it denial. The stink of wars has been well documented, yet we perfume our own wars with “ eau de patriotism”. The chasm between Islam and Christianity has been known for centuries, yet we insist on donning the armor of a crusader. The failures of nation building fill volumes of writings, yet we persist in trying to carve out nations in our own image. Misadventures in the Middle East are nothing new, yet we insist in perpetuating our own misadventure as a mission for democracy. History tells us that the Iraq War will never result in “ mission accomplished”. History tells us we may be able to declare a military victory but never a political victory. The Iraq War is eating away at the fabric of this country as a great democracy. Its time for an exit plan before we stand naked before the world.

Flim - Flam Man

Has anyone told McCain that he sounds like a flim-flam man ? He frequently prefaces his remarks with " My friends ...." - one almost expects the next words to be " I've got a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you". Is this in fact what his campaign rhetoric is all about? Like a true flim - flam man he is constantly re-packaging his views on issues like Iraq, climate warming and the economy in order to make a sale.

Equal Access To Power

Why after two hundred and thirty-two years of a democracy do we still look at various members of our society with suspicion because of their color, gender, ethnic background or religious affiliation as they seek political office? One of the pillars of a democracy is all members of the society having equal access to power but in our democracy it is a pillar that is badly in need of repair. What better way to demonstrate that the pillar of equal access to power has been shored up than to overwhelmingly elect our first African - American president or our first woman president in November - not because of color or gender but because one of them is best qualified to be President of The United States.

The Only Thing We Have To Fear .....

As Republicans prepare an assault on Barack Obama’s foreign policy views we must keep in mind ( with a nod to FDR) that the only thing we have to fear is the politics of fear - unreasoning, unjustified arrogant statements which paralyze the diplomacy needed to convert conflict into peace.

Is Soylent Green Coming?

A New York Times article on 5/5/08 contained a startling statistic - 9 of 10 who live into their 80s will wind up unable to take care of themselves either because of frailty or dementia. In response to this problem Dartmouth Medical School research came up with the concept of “ slow medicine", a medical treatment approach that encourages less aggressive - and less costly - care at the end of life. ( I‘m not quite sure who determines the “end of life”. Is it the Doctor, the patient , the patient’s family or a committee of the foregoing? Let us not forget the saying that a camel was designed by a committee.) The concept of slow medicine is not all bad . If applied when a treatment or treatments present high risk and limited rewards it can reduce needless suffering. It surely reduces health care costs and it make a small contribution to the problem of overpopulation. Which brings me to the movie Soylent Green.

The movie depicted a country suffering from overpopulation, global warming, widespread unemployment, poverty, a shortage of fruit, vegetables and meat. Pick up any paper today and you will find reports about the danger of global warming, rising unemployment, rising food prices, soaring health care costs, and the graying of the population. Not quite the country portrayed in Soylent Green but one aching for a cure of its ills.

In the movie the elderly “Book” chose to end his life through government-assisted euthanasia. Is this what “ slow medicine “ is preparing us for?

Pay For Performance

The Cleveland Indians are playing horribly except for their starting pitching. Unfortunately baseball victories require hitting also. Fortunately the Indians are playing in a division where no one shows signs of taking charge. My solution for the Indian's anemic hitting - pay for performance. Restructure contracts so that a failure to perform results in a substantial loss in pay or even dismissal. It works elsewhere, why not in sports. I realize this is naive, but somewhere in the thought there must be a shred of a solution. Why do teams have unlimited patience with poor performance? Of course the answer is that the player is in a slump and will eventually snap out of it - too much is invested in him to turn him loose. Fine, keep him but pay him his millions when he starts performing! (One thing I know that will not cure poor play is experimenting with facial hair. Sloppy looks go with sloppy play. The same applies to managers and coaches. I hate to say it but the Yankees have it right when it comes to grooming!)

Know Which Side Bread Is Buttered ON

The latest reports are that Barack Obama is losing ground because of the defection of white working class voters. I suspect that he never really had these voters in the first place and the media's exposure of Jeremiah Wright rantings has merely provided an excuse for these voters not to vote for a black man. That's unfortunate because these same voters don't know which side their bread is buttered on. Barack Obama, regardless of his color is their best bet to have their plight heard and acted on in Washington. John McCain has yet to utter anything which seriously addresses how the flight of manufacturing jobs can be stopped and how we can become more than a service economy. Clinton II is busy apologizing for the the too aggressive moves of Clinton I in embracing free trade without providing safeguards against greedy corporations. The best they can do is tag Obama as elitist which for unknown reasons is supposed to raise fear among white working class voters. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elitist - was the New Deal anti working class? The more I think about it, just what is an elitist? Someone who wears a suit and tie ( or in the case of Hillary a suit and scarf)? Some one who has a comfortable bank account? Someone who has a command of the English language? Someone who is educated? Someone who eats with a knife and fork? If the answer is yes, I'm glad all of our presidential candidates are elitists. Now we must decide who will really fight for the working class voters - white, black , yellow and brown. These voters must decide which side their bread is buttered on soon. Just a hint - Barack Obama is pretty handy buttering bread!

About Best Friends

One can have a lot of friends but only one best friend. Over the years one accumulates a number of best friends. Musing about best friends, I realized that someone I once considered a best friend was at best a good friend. After all a best friend is someone with whom one shares the strongest possible kind of friendship. The keyword is “ strongest”! That’s a tall order. Achieving the strongest kind of friendship involves a forgiving relationship as well as a lot of dedication. The only person that I share the strongest possible kind of friendship with is my high primal thinking spouse. Upon typing this out, my computer crashed. It was sure it was my best friend. After restarting it had to admit that the reasoning that led to my conclusion was correct. Both are fountains of knowledge. Both provide hours of relaxation. Both respond to my every wish. But only one is willing to share the strongest possible kind of love as well as friendship, and it is not inanimate.

Free Chief Wahoo!

The Cleveland Indians have new home uniforms to be worn on weekends and special occasions. Very stylish until one gets to the patch on the sleeve. Lo and behold Chief Wahoo rests there . Yet another opportunity missed by the wimpy front office to free Chief Wahoo! As an aside why have a special uniform for weekends? Is this another Midwest tradition - save your best outfit for Sunday? Has anyone told Barack Obama? As another aside it is rumored that the Chief has resorted to drugs and booze in order to get through the season. Does this mean that under Baseball's new drug policy he should be suspended for life? Lets hope so!

Sophia Maria Vindicated

Once upon a time in Sinopoli, Calabria there was a feisty young peasant named Sophia Maria Versace. Sophia married Antonio Rugari and bore him six children. Antonio and one son, Franciscantonio ,immigrated to America. After a short stay, Antonio returned to Calabria where misfortune struck him in the form of fatal pneumonia. It was now up to Franciscantonio to work his butt off in America and bring two brothers, a sister and Sophia Maria to America (for unknown reasons a brother and sister remained behind). Franciscantonio, Luigi and Giuseppe in time married. As offspring evolved from these marriages the honor of naming them fell to the husband. Over the not so quiet acquiescence of the wife, the first born female child was named after feisty Sophia Maria. Lo and behold there were three cousins within three years of each others age growing up with the same first, middle and last name. How to distinguish each during a family conversation? Simple, the eldest was Big Sophie, the youngest was Little Sophie. And the middle Sophie? Easy, Uncle Louie’s Sophie. Each of these Sophie’s grew up questioning the Italian custom that saddled them with such an unglamorous name. Nona Sophia Maria endured the slurs of her daughter-in laws and the disparaging remarks of three granddaughters named Sophia Maria. But Nona Sophia had a secret! Her name on her birth certificate was Maria Sophia. End of story , not quite. Sophia Loren made the name Sophia glamorous. So glamorous in fact that Sophia is one of the top ten names of choice for newborn females. Guess what? Sophia Maria Versace’s first great - great - great - granddaughter was named Sophia Marie. Somewhere in the “choir silent”, Maria Sophia ( a. k. a. Sophia Maria) is laughing her head off while her daughter - in laws take credit for having named their daughters Sophia. As for me, I couldn’t be more pleased to have a great granddaughter named Sophia Marie and for many other reasons a great grandson named Marcus.

If Managers attribute the poor performance of some baseball players in April to their history of being slow starters why start them?

Gun Control Enters The Campaign

Finally the issue of gun control has emerged in Campaign 2008. Just as quickly as it emerged it has been swept under the rug . When it comes to any meaningful discussion of gun control all the candidates are milquetoasts. Even with Charlton Heston giving them the opportunity to wrest the gun " from my cold dead hands" candidates do not want to tackle the NRA. It seems all the candidates are hunters, once hunted or merely have respect for hunters. As such the issue of gun control is reduced to protecting a "sport" . As it turns out protecting innocent citizens from the hunters of humans must take a lower priority.

A Very Religious Group?

A recent article in The Plain Dealer made much of the observation that poll after poll shows Americans want national candidates to talk about faith generally or their own faith. John Green, a religion and politics expert at the University of Akron was quoted as saying “ Americans --- are a very religious group. “They tend to like having religious people in office.” Voters “ want to know the values that motivate politicians and help them make decisions.” ( We found out in a bloody way that George - our born again Christian President- Bush’s values embraced preemptive warfare). The article points out that both political parties take these polls seriously and as a result candidates vie with another to convince us who is the true defender of the faith.
I could not avoid musing about Americans as a “very religious group”. Does this group, if indeed it exists, condone murder on the streets and in the halls of education? Does this religious group condone sexual crimes? Does it condone corporate greed? Does it condone violation of human rights in all corners of the world? Does it condone unjust wars? Of course Americans as a “ very religious group” would answer , no. Well then, we know that all of the foregoing evils exist. We also know that no self respecting religion condones these evils. Add to this the reluctance of Americans as a “ very religious group” to effectively address possible solutions for the proliferation of guns, hate crimes, sexual abuse, human rights abuse , ----- corporate welfare and one must conclude that Americans are not a very religious group. They are a very materialistic group. What they really want to hear from their candidates is how will the candidate’s agenda translate into more material wealth for the individual.

Let Them Eat Beans

Economists nitpick whether we are in a recession or close to one. Some even dare to hint at a depression. Presidential candidates see the whole mess as merely an opportunity for more campaign rhetoric. The average citizen visits the supermarket and the gas station and goes away wondering why our government has resorted to hot air rather than constructive programs to ease the hurt. Watching a superpower slowly meltdown is nightmarish. Which brings me to a nightmare I had recently . As I tossed in bed I could hear the President of The United States being interviewed . He kept the interview short since he had head of state business that evening at the opening game of the Washington Nationals . When the interviewer pointed out that the sick economy was causing problems for the average citizen he responded Ala his mentor Cheney, “ So, let them eat beans.” End of interview , end of nightmare. As I wiped the sweat off my forehead I went into shock when I realized that finally I could agree on something with Mr. Bush.. This Howdy Doody President may actually have found a solution for our ailing economy. Yes let them eat beans! Beans fit right in with the “hot air” coming out of Washington but they can also result in a constructive way to ease the hurt of rising prices. I speak from experience.

As a youngster during the Great Depression beans were an important part of our diet . So was pasta. Combine the two and you have Pasta e Fagioli ( a.k.a. Pasta e Fazooli)! For about sixteen dollars one can prepare an excellent vegetarian meal for eight - about two dollars a serving! I’m sure this is not what George had in mind but it is one way to keep the food budget in check. Of course all bets are off if someone finds a way to make ethanol from beans. As with corn, our patriotic farmers will divert beans from our kitchen table and Pasta e Fagioli will command premium prices. Until that day here is my recipe for a tasty, healthful, inexpensive meal. No frills , just darn good food.

Pasta e Fagioli
2 SLICES BACON
1 TBLSPN TOMATO PASTE
2 14.5oz CANS ITALIAN SEASONED DICED TOMATOES
1 SMALL ONION
4 GARLIC CLOVES
1 CELERY STALK
2 15 1/2 oz CANS GREAT NORTHERN OR CANOLLINI BEANS
3 TBLSPN OLIVE OIL
1 ½ qt HOT WATER
2 CUPS D’ITALINI

• IN A SMALL FOOD PROCESSOR MINCE BACON, ONION, GARLIC , CELERY TO A PASTE (BATTUTO)
• ADD BATTUTO TO STOCK POT WITH OLIVE OIL
• SAUTE AT MEDIUM HEAT UNTIL GOLDEN BROWN
• ADD TOMATO PASTE, DICED TOMATOES AND A SOME RED PEPPER - COOK APPROX. 3 MIN
• ADD HOT WATER, A LITTLE SALT, BEANS AND BRING TO A BOIL
• REDUCE HEAT - MAKE SURE BEANS ARE WARM
• CRUSH A FEW BEANS
• ADD PASTA - REMOVE FROM HEAT WHEN AL DENTE
• ADD WATER AS NECESSARY
• ADD PARMESAN CHEESE AND RED PEPPER WHEN SERVING
  
  BON APPETITO

al-Qaeda's Real Damage

al-Qaeda's blow to this country on 9/11/01 was more than the destruction of 3000 lives and some real estate. Unwittingly the terrorists set into motion a mentality of fear in the American electorate which ensured the reelection of George Bush and consequently provided the right wing policies which have brought the country to the brink of economic meltdown.

Politicians And Scandal

Eliot Spitzer is not the first nor the last politician to create a political crisis by being involved in a sex scandal. We tend to set some very high ethical and moral standards for our politicians. The problem with this is that we tend to forget that politicians have feet of clay like the rest of us. Those who take to the media to crucify a fallen politician do so because of political expediency not because they are more moral or ethical than the fallen politician. Spitzer's use of prostitutes should be treated no differently than any other John. His choice of sex life is a matter for him and his family to come to terms with. The only reason I see for Spitzer resigning is his hypocrisy in setting high standards for others and making himself an exception to those same standards.

Voting Can Be Dangerous For Your Health

In our household support for the Democratic presidential candidates is split. I support Obama while my high primal thinker spouse supports Clinton. I realize that this makes our household vote meaningless but nevertheless showing support in the ballot box is important. Early this morning preparations were made to cast our votes in the Ohio primary. In spite of a recent illness I felt well enough to go to the polls as long as my spouse drove me. The weather outdoors was miserable- rain and ice! Still it was worth the sacrifice for me to venture out and cast a vote for our future president. All the preparations were made when a sweet voice announced, " Honey, its awful slippery out there. I don't think you should take a chance on falling. Why don't you rest. I'll go vote then fix you a snack when I return." I couldn't believe my ears. A Hillary supporter making a case for my not voting because of my health. To make a long story short the tactic did not work. Although she parked in the iciest part of the parking lot I made it to the polling place and cast my vote for Obama. Unfortunately my loving spouse negated my vote with a vote for Clinton!

The Slaughter Continues

At Northern Illinois University on Thursday afternoon, a tall skinny man dressed all in black stepped out from behind a curtain on the stage of the lecture hall, said nothing, and opened fire with a shotgun . So far the death toll stands at six. The best we get from our politicians is comments such as we got from George W. Bush. President Bush commented on the shooting Friday morning, saying it was “obviously a tragic situation on that campus.” He said he was asking citizens across the country to “offer their blessings — blessings of comfort and blessings of strength” to the families of the victims. Better he had asked for legislation to curb the slaughter of innocent citizens in this country! What will our presidential candidates have to say besides offering condolences.

Valentine's Day Followup

My tiramisu cake was a success! Everyone said it was good. I thought so too.
Breaking news - another Valentine's Day gift for the high primal thinker, an optical wireless mouse to improve her "mouseing".

Happy Valentine's Day, Margaret!

My high primal thinker spouse deserves diamonds on Valentine's Day and at the very least a romantic dinner at Giovanni's. So what did I get her? Dessert! Dessert handmade by someone who who never even warmed a muffin in the oven. After scanning some recipes this one caught my attention - tiramisu cake, enjoy the taste of Italy's creamy treat without FUSSING. I actually baked a cake. Next challenge , was it any good. Stay tuned.

Congressional Hearings On MLB & Steroids

Listening to Roger Clemens answer questions at today's hearing on steroids in baseball I could not help but think that he doth protest too much. Never liked Clemens as a ballplayer - like him less now. It must be nice to be able to afford lobbyists to make your case! He is obviously scared stiff that the Hall of Fame will close its doors to him but he need not worry. I saw a cartoon today that that indicated that MLB will in the near future have a Hall of Fame reserved for steroid users and another for HGH users. I'm sure that Bud Selig will endorse this idea. ( Is someone lying when he licks his lips after answering a question?)

Why The Silence?

Deadly Friday! An angry shooter kills five at a City Council meeting in Kirkwood, Missouri. A 23 years old woman shot and killed two fellow students at a vocational college in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Missouri shooter is shot by police, the student turns her gun on herself. Add to these highly publizied shootings the countless other killings by guns which occur hourly. One wonders what our politicians mean by security for Americans. I guess its security from terrorists not security from gun toting deranged, digruntled and just plain stupid Americans. Why the silence in the current presidential campaigns concerning gun control? The answer of course is that the candidates dare not raise the ire of the gun lobby lest they lose a few precious votes. Gun control will never be achieved until the majority of the population decides that security is needed from thugs and lunatics as well as terrorists. One of these days instead of candidates running adds picturing their hunting skills , someone instead will have the courage to tell the National Rifle Association that their lobbying goes too far and threatens the United States not unlike Al Queada. By the way, when will our wimpy Supreme Court rise to the occasion and clarify the Second Amendment?

High Primals And Computers

High primal thinkers pride themselves in being very literate and politically astute. They do however have one flaw . They are computer illiterate. My high primal thinker only recently admitted that typewriters are outmoded. More importantly , in the spirit of AA she came before the family and proclaimed “I am computer illiterate”. Admitting any form of illiteracy is very difficult for a high primal thinker and it takes time to address the problem, a lot of time.
There are the usual excuses. The best one being that I am always at the computer. The implication is that if she had a computer of her own she could become computer literate. Once she was convinced that being a computer owner was not the first step to being computer literate we were able to proceed to less costly excuses such as “I can’t practice on the computer and do the washing and cooking at the same time”. I pointed out that all these tasks were sequential and could be organized. I guess I could have volunteered to do the washing and cooking but then I wouldn’t have time to play with my computer. Where have I heard that before? The problem was finally solved when she learned that she could do all kinds of shopping on the computer. Washing and cooking were put on the back burner and the high primal thinker was ready to “mouse”.

Teaching a high primal thinker the fundamentals of computer usage is a daunting task. One has to listen to how ill suited her hand is to manipulate the mouse. Bifocals of course are a detriment. The mouse pad is too small, if it were larger she could get from one end of the screen to the other much easier. "The icons are too small!" "I click but nothing happens." “I need to practice “mouseing” more but I might be practicing until I am 100.” It was agonizing to see her whole body move with the mouse to the point where she could easily fall off the chair as she moved the pointer from left to right. Moving the pointer to the top of the screen resulted in almost a standing position. To her credit she has diligently devoted 3 hours in the past week to maneuvering around the internet. All was going well until she asked “ How do I get to the front of the internet”. Translation - how do I get back to the home page.

Accessing a book store web site proved to be a major disappointment. The high primal thinker thought she would be in a virtual book store complete with aisles and stacks of books. Having to click away with a mouse to browse the site was a bummer. Once again she decided that she needed to practice more “mouseing”. Fortunately I found a web site devoted to mouse aerobics which looks like an ideal way to practice “mouseing". As soon as my high primal thinker finishes the wash and cooking we’re going to give the mouse a whirl.

If I Were A Republican

In the aftermath of the Florida primary, if I were a Republican I would be rejoicing that Giuliani bit the dust but I would be frustrated that the eventual candidate of my party might be McCain or even Romney. Neither of these gentlemen are class acts. McCain would preserve the militaristic legacy of Bush and Romney would preserve the economic legacy of Bush. As a Republican , I would swallow hard, forget about Roe v. Wade, forget about gay marriage, forget about the precepts of evangelism and forget about getting rich at the expense of others. Once I cleansed my mind I would embrace one of the Democratic candidates (preferably Obama). Of course , if I were a Republican I would do none of the above, I would merely realize that I'm critically ill and hope that Dr. Ron Paul had a cure in his bag. A Republican Party in disarray is just what the doctor ordered.

Democrats And Jackasses

I was drawn to a Reuter’s report that proclaimed “ A jackass will play a prominent role when Democrats meet in August to nominate their presidential candidate.” My first reaction was , Holy Monica, Bill hasn’t learned his lesson yet! My fears were allayed when I read further into the news release and realized that the jackass was Mordecai, a real live donkey. I’m sure that Bill’s reaction was that Hillary does not need a jackass to be elected, or does she?

Now Its Really Getting Messy

Just about a year ago I posted some comments relative to the Iraq War under the title " Another Nice Mess" . It seems that Bush and Cheney are still at it. The Iraq War, the Pakistan crisis, the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the credit crunch, the falling dollar, the loss of jobs, $100 per barrel oil, and waning consumer confidence are all feeding on one another to create yet another nice mess. We are either in a recession or about to enter one. Some legacy for the Bush administration! My early years were spent in the Depression era and its beginning to look like my golden years are going to get a bit tarnished.

Paradise Can Be Hell

Florida officials are pressing for a national insurance backup fund that would help cut insurance rates in Florida for hurricanes, tornadoes and other disasters. What is mind boggling is that the people seeking this welfare assistance are staunch Reagan Republicans devoted to cutting taxes for the wealthy and burying the middle class. Ask Floridians why they live on barrier islands and their response is that its like living in Paradise. Perhaps they should consider putting money aside for a rainy day before they go on the dole. Paradise can be hell!

President Bush Outlines Iran Threat

On Sunday January 13, 2008 President George W. Bush speaking in Abu Dhabi said "Iran's actions threaten the security of nations everywhere. So the United States is strengthening our longstanding security commitments with our friends in the Gulf and rallying friends around the world to confront this danger before it is too late".

There is something familiar about President George W. Bush’s Abu Dhabi remarks. On October 7, 2002 speaking in Cincinnati, President George W. Bush outlined the Iraqi threat and warned about a grave threat to peace , and America‘s determination to lead the world in confronting that threat. “ The threat comes from Iraq. It arises directly from the Iraqi regime’s own actions -- its history of aggression, and its drive toward an arsenal of terror.”

On March 20, 2003 the Iraq War started. Almost five years later the Iraq debacle continues. Is there any reason to believe that President George W. Bush has got it got it right this time?

About Small Talk

Small talk is defined as idle banter typically on innocuous or unimportant subjects. People engage in small talk to open conversations usually out of politeness. The problem with small talk is that it is rarely innocuous. Small talk can be irritating and offensive. Besides when is it polite to interrupt someone’s solitude with an attempt to start a boring conversation. Take the elderly gentleman who plops himself beside you on a shopping mall bench and announces that it’s a beautiful day. How are you supposed to respond? As far as he is concerned it is a beautiful day but you just dropped and damaged your cell phone and your wife maxed out her credit card. The best diplomatic answer you can give him is that the day sucks. End of small talk! Beware of whom you are trying to engage in conversation. An innocuous ( I love the word, it implies absolutely nothing) subject may be someone else’s flash point. So why do we have small talk? To be polite? Perhaps a little big talk would be more appropriate. A little big talk sounds like small talk. And that's what this musing is - small talk!

As the supreme court ponders whether or not lethal injection is cruel and inhuman punishment the court should seriously consider asking Justice Scalia to offer himself as a guinea pig for a lethal cocktail so that they may gain some first hand knowledge of the degree of pain suffered.

About New Years Day

Today’s paper is full of articles about making New Year resolutions and with predictions about what the New Year will bring. I have never succumbed to the practice of making resolutions so adhering to them is a burden I have conveniently avoided. I have been guilty however of wondering what a New Year might hold in store for me. Dallying with what might or might not happen was over within twenty-four hours. Wondering is not very productive but musing can have positive results. Musing about New Years Day led me to the conclusion that there is a time in life when every day is actually a “New Years Day”. Waking up in the morning and making the most of each day is resolve enough. Realizing that each day is not only a beginning but possibly an end is sobering and calls for celebrating each day. So Happy New Year today, tomorrow and the day after. Happy New Year all year long!