"STUCK INSIDE OF MOBILE WITH THE MEMPHIS BLUES AGAIN"

Stolen from Dylan obviously though I remain a bit pissed that he blew off both the Nobel committee and Obama because he was "too busy".  On the other hand I always thought this lyric referred to a mobile--you know the kind a baby has above their crib.  Somehow, I missed the fact/idea that it referred to a city in that god forsaken state of Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide (look it up).  Let's start with the soft and easy--kind of like slow pitch softball.

--The Globe as usual outdid itself this past two weeks with BIG TIME animal stories.  First, an aggressive coyote was spotted in Brookline causing the local gendarmes to suggest that kids travel in groups.  I am surprised the schools were not closed for the duration.  Then, the lead today was about Cod.  This despite the disasters going on all round us.
--Someone, please tell my wonderful Senator Warren that she does not want to run for President.  She needs to stay where she is and continue to be a thorn in every one's side especially the person whose name will not be mentioned.
--A sportswriter in the Times moved over to become the editor of the obituary pages.  Confirming for me that some of the best writers are in the sports sections of papers--sections which tend to be financially strong for the papers.
--Lindsay Schnell of  SI.Com wrote a great piece on the Oklahoma quarterback who sucker punched a woman and is still playing college football.  Defended by the coach.  Football in the South and Southwest is simply a culture un-understood by those of us up here.
--A series on Hulu called "Horace and Pete" started out quite humorously and then moved right into some very dark territory.  The strange thing is that it was written by Louis C.K.  who I do not even like.  He starred in it as well.  Disturbing but excellent.
--Speaking of disturbing, the Netflix movie "13"--about the rise in prison populations especially among young adults of color.  Ugh--and likely to get worse in the coming 4 years.
--Over the last 2-3 weeks, I have had the most touching and intimate conversations with 3 long standing friends/relatives that I can remember.  They strengthened me in terms of the historical ties I have with them.
CN, a friend from kindergarten, and I discussed our childhoods in a way that I could not do with anyone else on the planet.  JC, a cousin, and I wrote and spoke about families in a way that I do not remember doing with other relatives.  RS, a colleague, thanked me for something that I never thought was so important. These three (and my own family) give me the strength if not the courage to deal with the upcoming 4 years.  Which leads me to....
--The increase in anti-semitism and racist behavior is directly attributable to the man whose name will not be mentioned--if only because he does not criticize it.  He who has an Orthodox Jewish son-in law and daughter. It is as if he has given permission to the hate mongers to come out of hiding and join the mainstream.
--His appointment as Israeli ambassador is disgusting.  He opposes a two state solution, he wants to move the capital to Jerusalem, and he is a strong supporter of Netanyahu.
--Dershowitz and his crew were all over John Kerry who, in turn, sharply went after Netanyahu and the whole right wing Israeli government.  The Dersh is an ego maniac with no sense of balance in terms of the Middle East. He was joined by all sorts of American Jews who can hardly wait for the guy whose name will not be mentioned to take over.
--Be careful if you have insurance via the Affordable Care Act.
--I HOPE YOU AND YOURS HAVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND PEACEFUL 2017.

SPORTS TALK
--I knew Michigan would lose last night and can only hope Harbaugh can pull it together next year--but they do not do well against those faster Southern teams.  Mr. Thomas went off for over 50 last night--and yet I was left feeling like they should have blown out Miami but they struggled.  I am of the opinion that home field is important to the Pats and that is why their game tomorrow against the fish is important.

Adios

NOMINEES FOR AMBASSADOR

The following information has been leaked only to me.  I am proud to share this scoop with my readers. First the context.  Back in the olden days (to borrow a line from a close relative), I used to watch TV on Saturdays.  Sky King, Andy Devine, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Tarzan, and that kid on the elephant.  But then came wrestling shows.  So it was with much pleasure and, yes, surprise that I learned the following.  Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant are being nominated for Ambassadorships.  Oh joy, oh bestill my heart.  But, alas and alack, Andre has passed away.  But the Hulk will be the new Drug Czar because, well, he has a lot of experience with drugs.  So share the news especially those of you in my age range who just might have seen these folks way back when.  You do know our almost Commerce Secretary, the wife of the infamous Vince McMahon, was the COO of the WWF.  You knew that, right?  Which totally and completely explains her qualifications.

Then there is this (to steal John Oliver's intro):
--I love Mr. Zimmerman, the winner of this year's Nobel prize for literature.  But who the hell is he to both dis the ceremony and dis Obama in the same month?  C'mon, Bob.
--So Ben Carson, whose main claim to fame is that he is inarticulate, will be the Secretary of something or other as will that fine Texan Ric Perry.  And why not put someone who does not believe in climate change in charge of the EPA? That whole cabinet is dominated by white men who seriously have no experience in the fields they are now managing.  Our Secretary of State will be the former CEO of Exxon Mobil and has no international experience at all except in making oil deals.
--From my Baltimore correspondent:  An article in the Baltimore Business Journal analyzes the success of Obamacare in Maryland.  Success mind you just as the man who shall not be named goes about its reduction if not elimination.
--In the recent NY times mag, an article about the folks who are falling into the gap created by income limits on Obamacare and their states refusal to be flexible with their Medicaid dollars.  Do not ever ever move to Kansas.
--I love love love to read the wedding announcements.  Here is what I learned:  People hire dance instructors to choreograph their first dance.  Really, I guess they have nothing better to do with their money.
--I worry that the Syrian families my synagogue is sponsoring will be victims of the new administration and get stuck in the refugee camps they live in now.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU.  A WISH FOR A HEALTHY AND PEACEFUL YEAR.


SPORTS TALK
The Red Flops got a great pitcher in Sale and now look like they have 3 dominant starters.  But my Yanks signing of Chapman I am not sure about.  Even though they needed a closer since Betances is not the guy, I think Chapman is over rated and looked hittable in the world series.  Ah, but Mr. Brady wants to play until he is 45.  The other night he was nearly perfecto--and his offensive line is strong and stable unlike last year. They actually looked like Super Bowl material.

See ya.

I,M HAVING VERY UGLY THOUGHTS

And there is no way I'm giving that guy whose name will not be mentioned a break.  I will give him a point for being in touch with the anger of white Americans.  But if those angry folks think his cabinet, made up of a bunch of gazillionaires, cares about their economic woes, they are mistaken.  And don't mention the jobs saved at Carrier.  The state of Indiana made some significant concessions to get Carrier to change their minds about moving to Mexico.  That unnamed guy had diddly squat to do with it.  Do not, furthermore, tell me this had nothing to do with the race of the existing President or the gender of the Democratic candidate. It was just too much for those folks to follow up an African American President with a female President--so they voted for an idiot who lost the popular vote.

Other post-election thoughts:
--In the 11/13 NY Times, the film maker Ethan Coen had a op ed column derisively thanking a bunch of folks for the results.  Almost as sarcastic and nasty as some of my thoughts but not quite.
--A quote from a female West Virginia public sector employee:  "It will be so refreshing to have a classy beautiful dignified first lady back in the White House.  I'm tired of seeing an ape in heels."  Serious shit there.
--The New Yorker last week had 16 brief articles by 16 different people discussing the results.  So depressing.  I'm not super religious but I pray about the Supreme Court daily--especially the health of the 4 liberal justices and Kennedy.  I give up on Scalise's replacement.
--Jeff Sessions, that son of the Confederacy, opposes gay marriage, opposes protection of voting rights, and will be our Attorney General. The Treasury Secretary appointee is just the kind of guy all those angry folks were angry at--a Goldman Sachs Wall Street insider who I believe is a member of my tribe.  The Commerce Secretary is older than me and is a legit billionaire.
--No mas.

El Oriental is the original Boston Cuban restaurant and is in my neighborhood.  After Castro's death, the Globe showed the owner drinking from a bottle of Champagne to celebrate.  I will never ever set foot in that rotten place again.  OK, so Castro was a dictator.  Was he any better or any worse than Batista who he overthrew?  Who was in cahoots with the Mafia and all sorts of disreputable criminals.  Batista gets forgotten and also forgotten is that the peasants in Cuba supported and fought with Fidel.

This from the mouth of a talking head on a local sports talk show:  He calls a Celtic player a word that rhymes with itch and starts with a "B".  He then questions a second Celtic player who chose to skip a game to be with his wife after the birth of their daughter.  And, finally, he believes the man whose name will not be mentioned got elected because these are two good examples of how soft we have become.  He is Mike Felger and he is a prick.  I get stuck watching him when there are no good games on when i exercise--great excuse, huh?

Hope you had a good holiday.


SPORTS TALK
This just in:  Gronk needs back surgery.  Truth be told, I was almost relieved to know he would get a break. That hit on him in the Seattle game was brutal and clean.  Parents:  never let your kids play tackle football. We have two mediocre winter teams in the Celtics and the Bruins.  Could be ugly by the Spring.

Adios