First this title: It is in caps because it is stolen. Barbara and I were at Jacob's Pillow this past Saturday and heard a pre-dance talk. During the talk I had one of those "A-HA" moments. I know that rabbis drive me crazy when they believe they need to mediate my relationship to God--whomever that might be. Sermons especially make me nudgy. The a-ha moment this week was that I realized I don't like any kind of mediation--not just rabbinic. So, in the course of the speech, this person used the above captioned phrase to describe the dance we were about to see. I wanted to fall out of my seat--but being mature and all I kept it together and got to the point of actually having the following insight--I want to enjoy the dance or the music or the temple service without having the professional tell me or interpret for me what it is I am about to see or hear. I want it unfiltered on my terms not theirs.
Moving along. A friend reminded me of the website fivethirtyeight.com--this is the very nerdy guy's website (name is Nate Silver I think) who predicted every state accurately in the 2008 presidential election. We need to keep an eye on the website as we approach November. Right now, for instance, he is predicting that the Dems will hold onto majorities in both the House and Senate. Specifically, he even has Barbara Boxer beating Carly Fiorina in California. What is especially interesting for you past or present Floridians is that he has Charley Crist beating that tea bagger Rubio. Anyway, check him out.
Barbara is in Pennsylvania with her brother and sister helping break up their mother's apartment. Which is very important to them and has had the following unexpected impact on me. I get up every day with her and we breakfast together in the salon. In her absence, I have found myself sleeping later which means it is now almost lunch time and the morning is nearly over--feels very odd. One of my readers who refuses to give feedback electronically has given me feedback in person. Wants to know how I spend my time and other factoids about a retiree's life--the last few sentences are for you and Gus, my friend.
No word on Elizabeth Warren and I am not sure how to interpret that--either Geithner is killing her chances or Barney and the boys are fighting hard to get her in that consumer position. Obama and his crew have us over a barrel (us meaning any sort of person even slightly to the left of center)--he knows we will vote for him so he is really going after the middle. I would fire Summers along with Geithner but it will never happen since Wall Street loves them both and Obama needs Wall Street.
So the casino bill died and the gutless wonders escaped town without even voting on it stuck in some sort of stalemate. Meanwhile, the lottery had its best year ever. One of you suggests that if the lottery were new and just now coming up for approval, you would vote against it. As my mother would say, you cannot get blood out of a rock. And you cannot get revenue out of taxes since those same gutless wonders will not increase them. So huh--where does it come from? I'm over it until the next time!!
I know how important this is to you so I will share--I am doing quite well (thanks) avoiding all talking head shows. Withdrawal without any meds.
SPORTS TALK
The Yanks have stopped hitting and have only two consistent starting pitchers--cc and hughes. Then they have riviera and actually may have solved their bullpen woes by getting rid of joba. The hits are not coming but the rays are and they are real. Also (hello, up there in Canada)watch out for the jays who are very hot and this guy bautista almost has 40 home runs. Not sure about the red flops. They certainly are within reach but have big starting pitcher problems after bucholz and lester. and dont tell me about beckett and lackey--they are the equivalent of vazquez and burnett on the yanks.
rich rodriquez and the Michigan president spent a day in Seattle having their hands slapped by the NCAA--I hope they kick the shit out of him and maybe he will be fired--I'm even willing for those mighty wolverines to have another losing season if it leads to his dismissal. he is lucky he is not in jail.
More later. Go Pats. Sayonara
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
NO DECISION IS A DECISION--OF SORTS
So one of the columnists in today's Globe asked the following question: If slots are so bad, why don't we also get rid of the lottery? Sound familiar? Hate to say I am all knowing or so so brilliant but my thoughts exactly in one of these blogs a while back. I think this is what has just happened on Beacon Hill with respect to casinos. The gov said no slots. The House wants two sites for slots not necessarily tied to casinos. The Senate (being oh so magnanimous) is willing to consider one site for slots. Neither the governor nor the Senate want to simply hand over the key to slots to existing race tracks--they want competitive bids. The house wants to give the slot business to existing race tracks--preferably the ones in the district of the Speaker of the House. I admit I may have some details wrong but I believe this is the gist. If so, here is what I think--didn't we elect these people to vote and make decisions. We did not elect them to moan and groan about how tough this is. Plus liberals (presumably like me) are described as against all forms of this gambling business. While worker bees especially the unions are in favor. Oh so simple and oh so simply in error. Sure there are jobs involved but there is also revenue for cities and towns involved and implicitly this kind of vote is a hell of a lot easier than a vote to increase taxes which is another source of the revenue. And now they have gone home and publicly are refusing to come back until after Labor day. I think they should just stay home and shut up.
In other VERY IMPORTANT NEWS:
I understand (from the pundits) the President should not have gone to Maine for 3 days because he should have gone to the Gulf region. Can he not do anything without Fox and the other right wing big mouths taking him to task. Get ready--he will also be on the Vineyard but I think he has agreed to hold Bobby Jindal's hand for a day or two also.
What I don't understand about Mr. Obama is why he won't just appoint Elizabeth Warren to that consumer position just approved in the Wall Street bill. If you have seen her on either Charlie Rose or Jon Stewart, you know she is both brilliant and funny. She apparently is not a fave of Geithner who I think needs to go back to New Yawk. Just saw Capitalism--A Love Story which is not one of Michael Moore's best but does skewer Mr. Geithner pretty badly for his non oversight of Wall Street when he was at the Fed. This Warren woman is just wonderful. And I do think there will be a message in Obama's decision for all of us--one way or the other.
Does anyone care about John Kerry's yacht and where he berths it. He and Teresa have more money than god and obviously can pay the taxes. The Globe did all of us a great service by getting so worked up about it.
Liev Schreiber paid a visit to Jon Stewart this past week. They spent much time discussing how they were both "Semites" and what that meant. Stewart is very good about being "out" there in a Jewish sense. Makes for some very funny stuff--Schreiber could not even plug his movie. The other big item on Stewart's agenda was the oil spill and his outrage at BP. As I have said, I get my TV news from him now and skip the yakkers.
Curt Schilling (no this is not about baseball) got 38 million buckaroos to move his video game company to Little Rhody. Has not made one thing yet--glad the wise state of Mass. passed on this great opportunity. Hope he takes his bloody sock with him (A little baseball!).
Babs and I took our second walk on the Greenway--for those who don't know it, it is the park land covering up the Big Dig. Still not fully landscaped or developed because of the economy but we walked 3/4 of it and took a left to the Institute of Contemporary Art. Saw a wonderful exhibit (Ledray is the guys name) involving miniature replicas of clothing--but identical to regular sized stuff. So a wall full of 35 hats--each the size of my fist but perfectly identical to real hats. All made by hand and from found objects. Anna says he is coming to the Whitney in NYC soon.
SPORTS
Gotta love Wes Welker--just also gotta worry someone will hit that knee and it will be all over. I do believe Brady and Kraft will get the deal done.
I'm the one who does not talk about baseball until after July 4th--well lets go. I am a bit worried about my Yanks who seem to have stopped hitting just at the time that they have really gotten good pitching. Except of course for Joba who is a lunatic that I would not trust in any tense situation. Logan and Robertson seem to have replaced him as set up men for Mariano. And if Tampa keeps getting this kind of pitching, watch out. I also have to admit the red flops are not out of it but they cannot keep waiting for 9th inning heroics. Plus their bullpen is as shaky as the yankees.
Addendum: I find myself perversely attracted to Madmen though I cannot stand any of the characters. Don especially stirs up very ugly memories of my father.
That's it. Sayonara.
In other VERY IMPORTANT NEWS:
I understand (from the pundits) the President should not have gone to Maine for 3 days because he should have gone to the Gulf region. Can he not do anything without Fox and the other right wing big mouths taking him to task. Get ready--he will also be on the Vineyard but I think he has agreed to hold Bobby Jindal's hand for a day or two also.
What I don't understand about Mr. Obama is why he won't just appoint Elizabeth Warren to that consumer position just approved in the Wall Street bill. If you have seen her on either Charlie Rose or Jon Stewart, you know she is both brilliant and funny. She apparently is not a fave of Geithner who I think needs to go back to New Yawk. Just saw Capitalism--A Love Story which is not one of Michael Moore's best but does skewer Mr. Geithner pretty badly for his non oversight of Wall Street when he was at the Fed. This Warren woman is just wonderful. And I do think there will be a message in Obama's decision for all of us--one way or the other.
Does anyone care about John Kerry's yacht and where he berths it. He and Teresa have more money than god and obviously can pay the taxes. The Globe did all of us a great service by getting so worked up about it.
Liev Schreiber paid a visit to Jon Stewart this past week. They spent much time discussing how they were both "Semites" and what that meant. Stewart is very good about being "out" there in a Jewish sense. Makes for some very funny stuff--Schreiber could not even plug his movie. The other big item on Stewart's agenda was the oil spill and his outrage at BP. As I have said, I get my TV news from him now and skip the yakkers.
Curt Schilling (no this is not about baseball) got 38 million buckaroos to move his video game company to Little Rhody. Has not made one thing yet--glad the wise state of Mass. passed on this great opportunity. Hope he takes his bloody sock with him (A little baseball!).
Babs and I took our second walk on the Greenway--for those who don't know it, it is the park land covering up the Big Dig. Still not fully landscaped or developed because of the economy but we walked 3/4 of it and took a left to the Institute of Contemporary Art. Saw a wonderful exhibit (Ledray is the guys name) involving miniature replicas of clothing--but identical to regular sized stuff. So a wall full of 35 hats--each the size of my fist but perfectly identical to real hats. All made by hand and from found objects. Anna says he is coming to the Whitney in NYC soon.
SPORTS
Gotta love Wes Welker--just also gotta worry someone will hit that knee and it will be all over. I do believe Brady and Kraft will get the deal done.
I'm the one who does not talk about baseball until after July 4th--well lets go. I am a bit worried about my Yanks who seem to have stopped hitting just at the time that they have really gotten good pitching. Except of course for Joba who is a lunatic that I would not trust in any tense situation. Logan and Robertson seem to have replaced him as set up men for Mariano. And if Tampa keeps getting this kind of pitching, watch out. I also have to admit the red flops are not out of it but they cannot keep waiting for 9th inning heroics. Plus their bullpen is as shaky as the yankees.
Addendum: I find myself perversely attracted to Madmen though I cannot stand any of the characters. Don especially stirs up very ugly memories of my father.
That's it. Sayonara.
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