TWEEDLE DEE AND TWEEDLE DUM

The night before our recent mayoral election, I had to ask again who I was to vote for.  And I am pretty sure I actually got it right and my guy (Walsh) won.  But let me tell you that the differences between these two guys is the width of a hair.  In fact, I truly believe they are twins separated at birth and were born with identical black pin stripe suits complemented with those red regimental ties.  They are so alike. But neither compares with that wild man who says he is the Mayor of Toronto.  As Jon Stewart might say, please don't resign--you give me too much material.  I mean the football jersey at meetings is the least of it.  And why should crack smoking have anything to do with the competency required of a Mayor. Poor C and M.

Nationally, we have cut food stamps for the poor which passed quite easily and reflects the sneering disdain our elected officials have for those among us who do not have enough to eat.  Please please let the recipients  who have lost food stamps remember this in 2014 and 2016.  One can only hope.  And remember this too:  John Boehner (he who has a perpetual tan) has decided there will be no vote in the House on immigration.  Really, he represents one fucking district in Ohio and was not elected by the rest of us to be dictator for life.  And remember this:  Ted Cruz's father (a Cuban immigrant himself) wants Obama to go back to Africa--this guy is now a minister and God has spoken to him on this.  Yup.

Speaking of dictatorships, I have decided that the following is not a sports story--so tough luck for you non sports folks.  This mess in the locker room of the Dolphins is a good example of both blaming the victim (and you can be a victim even if you are 6 feet 7 and weigh nearly 300 pounds) and bullying.  It is also about race and who can and cannot use the "N" word.  And Richie Incognito certainly cannot use it.  The coach and GM should be kicked to the curb--if this were in a non sports setting, they would already be looking for work. But football, intertwined as it is with the military, is a world unto its own and remains even more in the dark ages than the military. I could puke every time a game begins with jets flying over stadia (thank you Mrs. Reynolds for teaching me how to make a plural of stadium).  And, oh yeah, its a "war" out there on the field.  NOT.  I watch a show on ESPN called Pardon the Interruption with a white reporter and an African American reporter.  They have the most honest conversations about race that I have seen on TV--better than the so called news stations.

More ends than odds:
-Terrific article in a recent Boston Mag about why people hate those of us who live in Boston.  A lot of it has to do with our sports teams; but some of it has to do with our perceived snobbery.  Moi?
-Great documentary called "The Waiting Room" about an ER in Oakland and what it is like to receive your primary care in that setting.  Makes a strong yet unspoken case for Obamacare.  Which I cannot believe got totally fucked up by IT.  Boggles the mind.
-Ever try to renew a prescription which has expired?  Oh my--the calls between my doctor and the pharmacy and my doctor and the pharmacy.  Takes 3 days to fill the friggin things.  Got to be a better way.
-Put those gloves away, put the down coats away, put those Tibetan woolen hats away--folks it just ain't that cold and winter is literally a month away.  It will be in the 60's here this week.  Come on.
-Monday to Friday Centre St. is bumper to bumper with women pushing carriages--both nannys and presumably "real" parents.  Oh bless those new fangled carriages.  Lets them put their lattes in the cup holder, yak on the phone while pushing, and have the second baby on their chest facing out.  Forget walking if they happen to have a double wide (a la trailers) with twins.  Might as well walk in the gutter.
-I will not see a Boston casino in my lifetime after the recent votes.  I actually don't care but if it means Suffolk Downs will close because of the absence of a casino, I will be disappointed. Meanwhile NY state just approved 7 more casino licenses two of which might be in my old Catskill haunt.
-There was not an outpouring from you, my readers, in terms of my goal to reach 100--so I have upped the prize to whomsoever gets me past the century mark.
-If you stop reading here, I will give shout outs to Jake on his birthday, to John to get better, to Holly and Yvette for their strength, and to Anna on becoming a homeowner


SPORTS TALK
The Pats will have mucho trouble this coming Monday but I do believe they will win.  The Bruins have now traded 3 players (Thornton, Seguin, and Kessel) who are perceived to be too soft.  Now I am no fool and know they got something in return but is there no room on this team for guys who just happen to score.  All Thornton does is get 100 points a year and I am betting both Seguin and Kessel will each get 35 goals.  No one on the Bruins (except possibly Lucic) will get near that.  Am trying not to get too excited when the Celtics win--they are at best a .500 team and if we are lucky, they will get in the lottery.


Happy Hanukkah and Happy Turkey Day.
Sayonara