I GOT STUPID WHEN I RETIRED

First the context:  This is not about whining.  I am always trying to avoid presuming to know what it means to be in someone else's shoes.  I would never presume to know what it means to be an African American man stopped by the police.  More to the point, I would not try to pretend that my life is like that of a traditional "housewife".  And yet there is this.  I am not asked to comment on the work a day world since I do not work and therefore must be clueless.  While I am an expert on laundry detergent, no one seems interested in my opinion about the "outside" the home world.  Perhaps if I was a volunteer, there might be some inquiries.  But in the absence of that, most folks are simply stumped when I tell them that I love being retired and love the unstructured routine of my life.  But in groups, or even one on ones, very few people think I have the wherewithal to render opinions about the "world".  In many ways, and without trying to put myself in other's shoes, it makes me feel like those traditional housewives many of us grew up knowing and seeing.  I frequently feel invisible as the conversation whirls around me.  Enough.

ENDS AND ODDS:

--My takeaway from the last Republican debate is that all the candidates are trying to scare the shit out of the electorate.  Some are worse than others--like the Donald.  But they are all playing to fear and it is pathetic.  What is worse is that it seems a lot of people are buying it.
--Speaking of the Donald, he just cannot help himself.  Hilary used the restroom--"its disgusting".  Like he never got caught in a line (actually maybe he never did).  She got "schlonged".  For those of you not conversant in Yiddish, he pretty much is saying she got fucked.  And people love it. I am in the camp that says if he is the nominee, it is great news.  But a close relative is very nervous.
--Last year when we had feet of snow, the ski resorts loved it since they could keep their stupid resorts open well into April.  Now, in the midst of a snow less stretch, we have to listen to their whining about the lack of snow.  Okay, if you open a business that is totally dependent on weather, you knew going in the risks and the rewards.  One more article about it and I might puke.
--The Globe, bless its heart, sent its Catholic reporter around the world to let us all know the status of Catholicism in various places.  Mind you, they do not send anyone to cover the immigration mess in Europe and rely on wire services; but it is important we know how the Church is doing in Kenya.
--On the other hand , the movie Spotlight was just terrific and was able to get me enraged yet again about the damage done by priests.  and of course the leader of that pack, Cardinal Law, got himself a nice promotion inside the Vatican.
--And then this week, they changed delivery service providers and screwed up the entire system.
--Elizabeth Kolbert is tough to read.  She writes about environmental issues in the New Yorker and won a Pulitzer last year.  She is tough because she is so depressingly accurate about how fucked we are in terms of climate change.  If any of you fine readers live in south Florida, you better get high rubberized boots and perhaps a boat because water is about two feet under you--and it is salt water not fresh water.  The Everglades is rapidly becoming brackish if not downright salty.  And the Republican leadership in the state does not believe in the science behind climate change.  You get what you deserve.
--In the big apple, we took a Uber to the train station and I ended up in the front seat with the driver.  He was a young Tajik who came here on his own--his siblings and parents still resided in Tajikistan.  And boy did he miss them.  He was working not to bring them here but to get his ass back there.  A great ride and a fun conversation.
--Very happy to actually have all my family in one room no matter how brief.
--Happy New Year to all of you.  I hope your Hanukkah or Christmas or whatever was pleasant and joyous.

SPORTS TALKS
So now the Miami game is big for the Pats since playing both playoff games at home is important.  They already have the bye which means their walking wounded should be ready.  But home games help.  I am enjoying the Celtics.  Not sure how good they really are but they are fun and I am betting Mr.  Ainge will pull a trade or two before this year is over.  The Bruins are yecch--cannot score and diminish the role of all the younger flashier players.

Adios

"HYSTERIA ABOUT REFUGEES; BLINDNESS ON GUNS"

That is a Nicholas Kristof quote from either the Globe or the Times.  Here are some sobering factoids based on the time period from 2012 through September of 2015.  The U.S. with a population of 300 million absorbed 2,000 Syrian refugees.  German, much smaller, took in 90,000 Syrian refugees.  Canada, smaller still, will take in about 25,000 Syrian refugees.  Our President had the temerity to propose taking in 10,000 Syrian refugees (or about 7,500 more) and the Republicans trashed him.  Five minutes after the President's speech regarding the San Bernadino murders, the CNN anchor chose not to talk about the murders or guns--but the possibility that the shooters were immigrants.  And, since the Prez never addressed that piece, she judged his address as inadequate.  She is an imbecile but was playing to her audience and especially playing to their fears.  Just saw the movie "Trumbo" about the blacklists that hit the movie community in the 50's. They were led by Joseph McCarthy the demagogic Senator from Wisconsin.  The film had actual news clips of McCarthy speaking and interviewing witnesses.  What scared me was how similar some of today's Republican candidates are to McCarthy.  They play to the fear of "the other" and want boots on the ground to fight ISIS not withstanding the fiasco of Iraq or Afghanistan and the deaths of the many men and women who fought there. The male shooter in San Bernadino was an American citizen.  Talk is cheap in any event--these men (and one woman) have cheapened it further.

From the campuses of America.  The President of Liberty University (he being the son of Jerry Falwell) wants to have all his students armed.  And down there in Texas--the Legislature passed a law last year (to be implemented this summer) which required any public university to develop policy and procedure to allow for students (over 18) and staff to carry concealed weapons.  I have been told that it is to be implemented on the 50th anniversary of the mass murders on the Austin campus committed by someone with an automatic weapon who was a red blooded American.  Despite the opposition of University leadership, that law will be implemented on the Austin campus.  One can only hope academics will think twice about teaching there and those academics, with a chance, hit the bricks.

Locally, our mayor is still fighting the casino approved to be built in a contiguous city.  So far, despite a tight fiscal situation, he has managed to spend a million bucks to fight it only to lose--and has promised to appeal. Said it before--be careful about someone who is an "ex-anything".  They tend to be moralistic, rigid, and intolerant.  Our Governor is showing his Republican side--wants no part of Syrian refugees and is cutting way back on public transportation.  We are supposed to accept this because he is pro choice and very moderate on social issues.  I accept none of this bifurcated shit.

A must read:  "Deep South" by Paul Theroux.  Takes a car trip through the South without taking any interstate highways or staying in any motel chains.  Finds poverty worse than anything he saw in Africa. Finds that nearly every independent motel is managed/owned by Indians from the same province in India and who have the same last name:  Patel.  Also consistently trashes Clinton and Gates for spending all their money in Africa when there is so much poverty right under their noses.

A final thought on Vietnam:  the people were wonderful, welcoming, generous, hard working, and young.  I am very lucky.

SPORTS TALK
Am very wary of the Bruins who are way too inconsistent and struggle to score.  Love the Celtics who are exciting, young, athletic and much more fun to watch.  The money paid to Price is mind boggling but the Red Flops have the dough and it appears other teams are equally crazy.  The Gronk is back though two more players are gone for the season.  Their win over a pathetic Houston team was neat and clean and Brady was much more cautious which is how they may need to play going forward.

Adios