"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