THE VIEW FROM LUDDITEVILLE

Apparently Luddites were people who refused to believe in new developments and were kid of stuck in their real or symbolic caves.  In  our family, I am referred to as that "Luddite"--and I happen to spend a lot of time in my basement "man cave" office.  Got a cell phone but it stays in the car unless I go to Jess' and am with the kids.  Don't text and don't want to.  Can barely manage my way around the computer.  Need Bob for virtually all computer fixes/problems/confusion.  Barbara, Anna, and Jess (and pretty soon Lilli) are all way too advanced for me and it is ok--if and only if I were not being asked regularly to move on up to the 21st century.  But today, I am quite proud to make the following announcement.  I successfully managed to close both my Face book and Linked-in accounts.  Done/gone/see you later.  Ta Ta.

Now to the important stuff.  I thought the President's speech in the aftermath of the Newtown murders was excellent.  I was in tears by the time he finished--especially as he read the names.  One of the names of the children was Jessica and one was Ana.  Too close.  I am also not interested in motive--even if it turns out this person was mentally ill and because of my chosen profession, I am supposed to understand the behavior.  Nope just won't/can't.  Went to Tedeschi's (kind of like a 7/11 for those not up here) to get the NY Times with the front page in black showing a list of the victim's names.  The clerk and I always chat but rarely understand each other--he is from South Asia and has a command of English as good as my command of his language whatever it is.  I did understand him as I looked at the Times when he said:  "Why, Americans are happy people--why this happen?".  I had no answer.  Finally, on the CNN website--a piece by a BU Religion Professor by the name of Steve Prothero.  Titled "Six Things I Don't Want to Hear".  Just terrific.

Not that I think anything will change, but the NRA position of having schools staffed with security guards who are armed is so callous and out of touch, it is hard to believe.  Hard to know what they are thinking but I worry that a whole bunch of people are right there with them.

The guy who is a member of my tribe (Cantor) and the guy with the perpetual tan (Boehner) nearly ran us off the cliff since they cannot control the freaks and geeks in their own party.  But they seemed blissfully unaware or uncaring of the implications.  At least I cared even if I had no clue what the fuck it all REALLY meant.

I am so pissed that Kerry is to become Secretary of State (I am also quite worried about Hilary and her blood clot) since it means yet another election and yet another chance for Scottie.  And I can assure you that Ed Markey does not excite me in the least.  If he gets nominated I will have to hold my nose and work for him but not with the same fervor I felt for Elizabeth.  And did you see that Jim Demint the foolish senator from the great state of South Carolina is leaving office.  Leave it to those folks in that great state--they found an African American Tea Party guy to replace him--Tim Scott.  I have daydreamed about his first conversation with Barack--what can it be about?

Lincoln is a terrific movie and the politics contained it made it seem quite relevant today--in a bit over 100 years the Republicans and the Democrats sure have changed their roles.  Loved This is 40 also but thankfully in a much lighter vein.

Had a great visit with that young woman from Austin.  Don't see her nearly enough (same with Jess and her family) and Texas is at least in sight of the end of America if not the end itself.

SPORTSTALK

So the Pats get a bye which is really important.  There is no way they win with McCourty at cornerback.  He has to stay at safety.  The 49er game was bizarro and even when they tied it I had no faith the Pats could hold on.  Then they just played out the string with the Jags and the Fins--two sucky Florida teams.  I really would love them to avoid Peyton but I also cannot see either the Pats or the Broncos losing before the AFC Championship.

I would seriously worry about the Celtics.  Avery Bradley's return will help but as far as I know he is not Michael Jordan and also does not walk on water.  He also is not a rebounder.  They need Kevin Love is what they need.

Happy new Year to all of you.  Hope it is peaceful and healthy for all.

Sayonara