SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER

I know how you feel.  I have that same baited breath (and what the fuck is baited breath anyway?) feeling as I wait each month for my Social Security check to be deposited.  I say to myself will it be there, will it be accurate, what do I do if it is not deposited?  That is exactly how you must feel twice a month (oh gosh, twice the anxiety) as you await my amazing words.  Well tough luck, campers.  We are off for a month and you won't be hearing from me until mid September.  But I will be keeping a list and checking it twice to be sure  I keep track of all the high and low lights in the world.  And lest I forget--Happy Labor day to all and, to those of the Jewish persuasion, Happy New Year--it comes very early, so get ready.

Where to start?  How about this direct quote from the Globe.  On an episode of "Face The Nation, John Boehner (he who has a perpetual tan) said:  "Congress ought to be judged on how many laws we repeal" not by how many laws we pass.  This is one of our leaders, third in line for the Presidency.  And they get all the help they need from the Supremes.  Beside everything else, he simply has no clue what leadership is and/or how to be a LEADER--and of course there is no outrage from any of his colleagues over this bit of nastiness.

Anthoney Weiner won't drop out?  What's wrong with that picture?  And his wife still is supportive.  People really are out of touch and so full of themselves that it boggles the mind.  Then we have the sad and pathetic tale of the city of Detroit.  Though it takes an average 60 minutes for police to respond to 911 calls, they are going ahead with a $400 million dollar arena plan for downtown.  And the conservative put in charge of the city by the Gov thinks it is a brilliant idea.  This in a city with 40,000 abandoned but standing houses.  Pathetic.

Elizabeth Warren is turning into one helluva Senator--plus she is actually doing what she promised which is going after Wall Street and protecting middle Americans.  Even going against her party at certain times.  And little Eddie Markey is following in her footsteps--what a turnaround.  But those wonderful House Republicans have not reversed their decision about eliminating food stamps even as they continued farm subsidies.  Next on their agenda--another vote to overturn Obamacare.
Nothing better to do especially with Boehner (he who has a perpetual tan--oh, I did say that once already, huh?) wanting more not fewer repeals.

A few words (a day late and way more than a dollar short) about George Zimmerman.  Jurors now saying he really was guilty but the law prevented them from finding him guilty.  I cannot bear it or hear it and want them to just shut up and go away.  The best piece I saw or read on this travesty was on the Jon Stewart show which is being hosted over the summer by John Oliver.  I saw it on You Tube and he was both funny and enraged--just terrific.  And oh, by the way, he is British where even the police do not carry guns.

Watch out:  The Popester had some semi normal things to say about gay folks.

A confession, I am starting to have sympathy for the devil.  The devil being Whitey Bulger.  Not exactly sympathy but they guy is 83 and is going to prison for the rest of his life no matter what.  I think the judge should just call it quits, let the victim's families give impact statements, and get it over with. Send him off. And if you don't think Whitey will be running a few little things from prison, you are nuts--he still has plenty of influence in that new yuppie world of Southie. Plus the much more important trial of  the Marathon bomber is going on in the same building and is deserving of much more of our attention.

Getting all sorts of communiques about my 50th HS reunion--one of which opened with "I am a widow"--what do you say in response to someone you have not seen in 30 years--seems a bit too intimate for our first conversation, no?

"The Bridge" on FX is excellent.

SPORTS TALK

Not getting too carried away with the US men's soccer team.  Though I did read someplace that part of their improvement is the greater involvement of Hispanic players especially those raised in Southern California.  Check out some of the names the next time they are on TV and then maybe someone should discuss immigration reform since most of them were not born here.

You heard it here first--two Buckeyes under Urban Meyer's blind oversight have already been arrested.  More surely will follow.  He is a thug coach with a proven track record of being just that at Florida.  On the other hand, when our prisons are disproportionately filled with men of color, should we expect anything different in the "real world"?  It is a very fine line and I have no answers; just questions.

See you soon Lilli and Oliver.
Sayonara