That is if you believe everything you read in the newspaper. I believe this one that I will summarize. Two very bright folks brought some body parts to a Boston medical conference hoping to sell them to the medical researchers. OOPS--they did not know how to preserve them and the head that they brought was infected. Really. Seriously. People are so fucking stupid.
Along with that truth is this one--I am about to enter my 8th decade and will shortly celebrate a big birthday ending in a zero. (You math whizzes can figure that one out--right, JF?) I am determined to celebrate it for the next 11 months and already have a number of excellent adventures planned. But, speaking of truth, it is very weird to think of myself at this age. It cannot be true--I was just in High School and just turned 18.
Upstairs, in my head, I do not feel old yet my body belies that fantasy. The obituaries that I read daily do not lie either. Enough.
Ends and Odds
--Visited LA a while back and I am here to say you can have it. Except for what might have been the best museum I have ever been in--that would be the Broad. Eli Broad had a massive collection of the best modern art which he had either in his home, on loan, or in storage. He tried to negotiate with existing museums to place these works. But after getting screwed around a bit, he just built his own place--with free admission. Gorgeous space and right next to the Disney Hall designed by Frank Gehry. And the art--oh my, so hard to describe. This is the same guy who donated 100 million to create the Broad Institute in Cambridge to support medical research. A real mensch. BTW, gas is $2 a gallon more out there
--So let's be clear. The impact of NH and Iowa in these primaries is disproportionate to their impact in the general election. I mean, no offense, but no one lives in those places. So who cares. Talk to me after Labor Day and after the conventions.
--The news from Israel gets worser and worser. Settlers in Hebron, with governmental support, have taken over 370 acres formerly belonging to Palestinians. Palestinians attack Israeli civilians. Yet more Jews are fleeing France to live there and are just the ones more than likely to support that villainous Netanyahu.
--What state do you think arrests more African Americans than White Americans for not wearing seat belts? It would be in the South of course. and the "winner" is Florida. Can they fuck things up any more--I mean the state is sinking and they got a jerky governor who does not believe in climate change and are stuck with Marc Rubio who is is an intellectual wasteland.
--Bully for the old U.S.A.--we have taken in nearly 2,500 Syrian refugees. Out of hundreds of thousands who have fled that disaster. And according to the Donald and the Cruiser, those of us not on the Mayflower would not get into America today.
--And if you think the Cruiser is dangerous, check out his father who is absolutely berserk, is campaigning in Iowa, and is a "minister". The Cruiser has managed to collect not one Senate colleague to support him--he is detested by them. And he is scary mean.
--They saved money in Flint, you betcha. And now a generation of children may have been intellectually damaged because of the lead in the water. Michael Moore (who I can only take in small doses) finally opened up his yap and started some sort of drive to support the residents of Flint--after all he is from there.
--Strongly recommend "Straight Outta Compton" mainly because it gets to the social implications behind the music. In the olden days (as a bright grandchild refers to my past), I took 4 adolescent girls to see NWA and the Beastie Boys with instructions to stay far away--I obeyed but boy was it loud.
--Brian Wilson, with the backing of the Boston Pops, will be playing the entire "Pet Sounds" album at Symphony Hall in June. Gotta get tickets--it is one of the greatest albums ever made.
SPORTS TALK
I am not into finger pointing--the Pats got their asses kicked and if Mr. Brady is not still in rehab after the beating he took, I would be surprised. Having said that, I do think the Eagles game and the Dolphins game hurt real bad--because I do believe they win at home. Home is where the Bruins suck and I am getting tired of watching them. Not so the Celtics. I love watching them play because of how they play.
Adios
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
WHINE, WHINE, WHINE
I re-read my last screed and realized how whiny it sounded. ENOUGH. I have to get back in touch with my inner anger which I always thought and still believe has an anger supply which is inexhaustible. Ready?
--I am sick and tired of PIN numbers and call centers. I have too many PIN numbers, cannot remember them all, and end up using the same one for everything--which I realize is stupid but is also easy to remember. Now the call centers are another story. The most difficult part is that the folks I am speaking with are generally not in this country, do not understand me, and I have a hard time understanding them. I am aware that this nearly smacks of some sort of racist attitude. But really, if I am about to spend (let's say)$2,500 on a trip, shouldn't we both understand each other. Just in case I end up in Mongolia when I wanted to be in Montreal?
--Got some articles from close friend CN about the anti democratic trends in Israel. Those articles combined with the Frontline documentary on Netanyahu leave me pessimistic about any change in Israel and any two state solution as long as he and his party is in charge. His rigidity and his denigration of the Palestinian people combine to make the situation virtually hopeless. And he has a lot of support.
--Have not heard one word from those fucking anti immigration Republicans about the Cubans held up in Central America. They got out of Cuba and ended up stuck in Central America. They are about to be airlifted here and because of long standing agreements will immediately be issued green cards. Cruz, Rubio, Trump--not a peep. I guess because they have escaped from that Communist island. Syrians are different, don't you know.
--I already miss the humor of Lindsey Graham and the idiocy of Ben Carson.
--A judge in Alabama (I believe on their Supreme Court) has instructed court clerks to issue no licenses for gay marriages. And you think the South isn't different?
--But then again--the guy who replaced Jindal in Louisiana just signed into law an expansion of Medicaid--something that good ole boy refused to do (well actually he is not really a good ole boy being how he is from a family of Indians--and not the Native American version either).
--Frank Bruni had a great editorial in last week's NY Times about Cruz and Trump and how their language is so hateful. Speaking of which, I love it that Trump has now decided that Cruz may not qualify for the Presidency because he is not really an American. Just like Barack?
--The internal politics of my synagogue apparently sunk the candidacy of two candidates for senior Rabbi because they were perceived as too young (they were in their upper 30's). I am so disaffected that I actually do not give a shit. But it is kind of pathetic.
--Now we get to the real big issue of the day--the Boston Globe. It had already become a shell of its old self since it was bought by the owner of the Red Flops. Have any of you seen it's Saturday edition? If it has 20 pages, it would be a surprise. Then, to save more money, they changed their home delivery company. And royally screwed things up. No papers delivered; papers delivered that were early editions so that even scores from the East were not included; reporters sent out in the night to deliver papers; and it continues two weeks after the change. Get this: they offer you credits not in the form of subscription reductions but in the form of extensions. So instead of having a reduced bill, I will get two weeks added if and when I cancel. I have already informed them that I am finished with exxtensions and will reduce my next payment. They can cancel me if they want. Screw 'em.
SPORTS TALK
I worry about the Pats playing the Chiefs. I am not a believer in the "turn it on when you want" school of thought. And apparently there is supposed to be a monsoon on Saturday. While I enjoy the Celtics, they are in a bad funk. Couple that with the Bruins continued inability to score (and their stupid coach's unwillingness to play younger players) and we have a winter drought of pro team excitement.
Adios.
--I am sick and tired of PIN numbers and call centers. I have too many PIN numbers, cannot remember them all, and end up using the same one for everything--which I realize is stupid but is also easy to remember. Now the call centers are another story. The most difficult part is that the folks I am speaking with are generally not in this country, do not understand me, and I have a hard time understanding them. I am aware that this nearly smacks of some sort of racist attitude. But really, if I am about to spend (let's say)$2,500 on a trip, shouldn't we both understand each other. Just in case I end up in Mongolia when I wanted to be in Montreal?
--Got some articles from close friend CN about the anti democratic trends in Israel. Those articles combined with the Frontline documentary on Netanyahu leave me pessimistic about any change in Israel and any two state solution as long as he and his party is in charge. His rigidity and his denigration of the Palestinian people combine to make the situation virtually hopeless. And he has a lot of support.
--Have not heard one word from those fucking anti immigration Republicans about the Cubans held up in Central America. They got out of Cuba and ended up stuck in Central America. They are about to be airlifted here and because of long standing agreements will immediately be issued green cards. Cruz, Rubio, Trump--not a peep. I guess because they have escaped from that Communist island. Syrians are different, don't you know.
--I already miss the humor of Lindsey Graham and the idiocy of Ben Carson.
--A judge in Alabama (I believe on their Supreme Court) has instructed court clerks to issue no licenses for gay marriages. And you think the South isn't different?
--But then again--the guy who replaced Jindal in Louisiana just signed into law an expansion of Medicaid--something that good ole boy refused to do (well actually he is not really a good ole boy being how he is from a family of Indians--and not the Native American version either).
--Frank Bruni had a great editorial in last week's NY Times about Cruz and Trump and how their language is so hateful. Speaking of which, I love it that Trump has now decided that Cruz may not qualify for the Presidency because he is not really an American. Just like Barack?
--The internal politics of my synagogue apparently sunk the candidacy of two candidates for senior Rabbi because they were perceived as too young (they were in their upper 30's). I am so disaffected that I actually do not give a shit. But it is kind of pathetic.
--Now we get to the real big issue of the day--the Boston Globe. It had already become a shell of its old self since it was bought by the owner of the Red Flops. Have any of you seen it's Saturday edition? If it has 20 pages, it would be a surprise. Then, to save more money, they changed their home delivery company. And royally screwed things up. No papers delivered; papers delivered that were early editions so that even scores from the East were not included; reporters sent out in the night to deliver papers; and it continues two weeks after the change. Get this: they offer you credits not in the form of subscription reductions but in the form of extensions. So instead of having a reduced bill, I will get two weeks added if and when I cancel. I have already informed them that I am finished with exxtensions and will reduce my next payment. They can cancel me if they want. Screw 'em.
SPORTS TALK
I worry about the Pats playing the Chiefs. I am not a believer in the "turn it on when you want" school of thought. And apparently there is supposed to be a monsoon on Saturday. While I enjoy the Celtics, they are in a bad funk. Couple that with the Bruins continued inability to score (and their stupid coach's unwillingness to play younger players) and we have a winter drought of pro team excitement.
Adios.
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