"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

NOT NORMALIZING

Not one fucking thing am I going to normalize.  You don't get to say nasty, viperish, and mean spirited things one day and then ask me to treat you "normally" the next.  Won't do it.  And, oh by the way, more people voted for her than for him.  Don't know what I expected from Barack after his meeting with the man whose name will not be mentioned; but him asking me to be fair and give the guy some space and time was not what I wanted to hear.  OK, I get it--he has to be presidential but get this--I don't.  I get to be really pissed and very worried.  George Packer's article was predictive of what happened a week ago today.  People hate where I live, what I read, what I think, and possibly what my religious beliefs are.  Cannot go on. To quote John Oliver, then there is this:

--Be very focused on his Supreme Court nominees.  Ruthie, Souter, and Kennedy (the even more important swing vote) are all over 80.  Gotta assume his appointment to replace Scalise will be at least as bad if not terrible.  That is why an EMT (some of you may have heard me on this before) needs to be stationed 24/7 with each of them so they do not die while he is in office.  Like gay marriage? Like a woman's right to choose? Like voter rights protection? Like health care?  All at risk.
--Visited two oases in the midst of two red states in the last month.  Austin and Asheville.  They share so much but one has the residence of a certain relative which made it just a smidgen better!!  Austin is bigger but each has tons of youngish people, loads of tats, many dogs with kerchiefs, and bustling food/art scenes.
--But, of course, every bloody flight takes forever to board because of all that crap people insist on bringing on board.  First of all, boarding should be from the rear and from the windows--and people who must cheat should be forced to the back of the line just like in elementary school.  Second, airlines should charge people not for checking bags but for bringing them on board.  God damn.
--To quote another famous person (that would be FV):  "Happy wife, happy life".
--Read a monstrously hysterical book called "A Man Called Ove".  Did not see the recently released movie of the same name but the book is darkly funny.
--Another election thought:  A old CSNY song had a line something like this--almost cut my hair but would not give in an inch to fear.  About the fabulous 60's.  Feel just like that and wonder about all the positive gains which might now be lost.
--Louise Penny is an author we both love.  She had a great piece in a recent issue of the AARP mag about her husband's dementia.  Just powerful and then I learned he had passed away after she wrote the piece.
--Continuing to depress us all--Leonard Cohen and Leon Russell both died.  Loved Leon.
--Give some money (especially now) to Combatants for Peace.  This non profit was founded by former Israeli soldiers and former Palestinian "terrorists".  They will soon open an office in the states and deserve our support as they demand both governments reconcile.
--Finally, a shout out to a resident of Kalamazoo (that would be you JF).  He managed to turn the state of Michigan red and then, almost as bad, managed to allow his Hawkeyes to beat my Wolverines.  Yuk.

SPORTS TALK
Kudos to Theo and a big ha ha to Red Flop owners who kicked him to the curb.  And please do not ask athletes you love what their politics are--you might not like what you hear.  Belichik deserves all sorts of criticism for his play calling when they had 4 downs from Seattle's 2 and could not get a TD.


Adios

A QUICKIE

AWWW--get your filthy minds out of the gutter.  I figured I could drop you this note while the big silver bird warms up outside.  This is brief but it is filled with IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND SOME FACTS.

--First, thanks to Bob the Geek for getting my new printer up and running.  I had no clue.
--Yup, this is a quote from Terry Francona, a baseball manager.  His pitcher needed stitches on his pitching hand and was bleeding when he tried to pitch in the playoffs.  It goes like this:  "I think we've all, at some point or another, had a drone related problem".  Hysterical even if you are not a sports fan.
--Riding on the famous #39 bus at rush hour.  People with all sorts of equipment/paraphernalia.  The woman in front of us has her violin in its case and an enormous bag which occupies a seat while a bunch of standing people stare at her and glare.  The woman behind us is yakking on her phone REALLY LOUD and this is a paraphrase which we all get to hear: Yo, that's bullshit.  I'm ready for the next step in my life.  Never heard what it was but do not believe she should be trusted with top secret information.
--Three white guys got arrested in Kansas just before they tried to blow up an apartment complex occupied by Somali immigrants.  The man whose name will not be mentioned and his fervent supporters have provided the context for this.
--Great article/interview with Leonard Cohen in a recent New Yorker.
--Sitting in one of our favorite local restaurant where the tables are quite close together.  Twice the guy next to me joined the conversation to share his thoughts.  what the fuck?  And, no, I was not talking loud.
--I see where 15,000 lunatics went to see the man whose name will not be mentioned in Tampa.  That and a new legit poll from that sunblind state has gotten me more worried.  Yikes.


SPORTSTALK
Francona and Theo sitting in a tree k-i-s-s-i-n-g.  John, and Larry can go suck eggs about letting those two go.  The Pats are 6-1 and Mr. Brady is back but the talking heads continue to scream about one thing or another.

Adios

A CORNUCOPIA OF ASSORTED ALMOST ALWAYS FACTS AND OTHER DETRITUS

--I wonder what Mary Pat thinks of her hubby Chris Christie now.  She might want to flee to get away but not try to go over the GW Bridge since they might close some lanes to keep her in the Garden State.
--And Rudy, the angriest apologist in America.  He of the 3 wives.  He who announced his separation from one of them in a public news conference.  Kind of like Gingrich informing his wife of their divorce as she lay dying.  Seriously--who listens to him anyhow?
--A new rule.  I will avoid all restaurants that advertise themselves as "farm to table".  Too special for words and frequently overrated.
--New rule number two.  I want to require that any person who can afford a car costing more than $50,000 must take a driving test.  Plus, as an amendment, they have to see over the steering wheel.  I am tired of driving behind people I cannot see, driving big fat Mercedes', and going too fucking slow.
--Our public transit system, the MBTA, has a back log of repairs to the subways.  Get this:  If it spends $765 million a year for the next 25 years, it can catch up.  Which does not account for future repairs and, of course, there is not enough buckaroos to even do this.  Our "I do not believe in public transit" governor cares more about the money than the passengers.
--I have a new role model.  A colleague's father is 92 1/2 years old.  He recently moved out of his daughter's house to an apartment.  OK, so it is in a complex which offers a bunch of services and he has an aide but HE IS ON HIS OWN.  I want to be like him.
--Kelly Ayotte might still win but letting us all know she thinks the man who will not be named is a good role model for children was crazed.  And of course she walked it back five minutes later telling us what she really meant.  I hate those pseudo apologies.
--Speaking of which, the man who will not be named apologized for his "locker room talk".  And now more women are speaking up.  He is a liar and it is scary to know that he still has a consistent 40% of the vote in all polls. And that apology was a crock.  But still scary.
--Scarier still is that fool of a Governor in my favorite state of Maine.  Said he liked Trump because he might be an authoritarian.  Whoops, he too apologized.  Really meant authoritative.  Kick him down to the curb along with Kelly.
--Does Haiti and its citizens catch any break?  I mean come on.  And the country is so poor, it took weeks for some of the devastated areas to be reached.
--My man, Bobby Zimmerman, won the Nobel.  I love it and I hope it makes a lot of people mad.  Screw 'em.
--And on a more religious note.  To attract worshipers my synagogue offers apps and dessert to congregants on the night before Rosh Hashanah.  And the sanctuaries are still not full.  Maybe financial inducements would help.  But we are moving along with the plan to support two Syrian refugee families.
--Going into the heart of the beast (I'm talking Texas) in a week or so.  See ya in a month.

SPORTS TALK
Want to know about the South and football?  Both UNC and NC State played games last Saturday in monsoons created by hurricane Matthew.  Can't let an itty bitty storm stop us.  Oh my, it was only the Browns but Mr. Brady (and the boys) looked excellent.  Tomorrow will be a bit tougher.  I love Michigan football but that game against Rutgers was too ugly to watch.  But money talks.  Both Rutgers and Maryland joined the Big 10 for the moolah.  Yup, those red flops lost but Ortiz is very special. I'm rooting for Francona and Theo in the world series to send a message to John Henry and his acolytes that they are fools.

Adios

"DR. BERNS' 101 SECRETS TO MENTAL HEALTH"

These secrets are so secret they have been kept secret even from me.  Yet, the title comes from an ad in the Berkshire Eagle--the newspaper of record in Western Mass.  But, alas, I am not a doctor nor am I the idiot who headlined his ad with the phrase. Moving on.

The man whose name will not be mentioned was demolished this past week.  He sniffled, made faces, interrupted, and generally made a nuisance of himself.  All of you undecideds, or third partiers, need to seriously consider what this person might do if elected.  Then, he went on a middle of the night tweeter escapade in which he continued his verbal assault on women in general and Hilary in particular.  Nate's maps in the aftermath of that performance started going blue again.  Don't get me wrong. I do not believe this is over but we did get an insight about his response to pressure and what he might do if Angela suggest that maybe we should take in more refugees.

Speaking of which....I have very many mixed feelings about my synagogue.  Too much back slapping about how great we are and how unique we are and how special we are.  But every so often we are that and more. Once you kind of accept the minimal numbers of Syrian refugees this country will be taking (especially in light of our neighbors to the North), it was kind of neat to attend a meeting at my synagogue to discuss our sponsorship of two Syrian families, with children, who will be arriving here in the next few months.  We, meaning my synagogue, do a great job making our tent very big and inclusive. Was listening to a cd by the Byrds--must be 30 years old--and they are singing even then of the plight of refugees.  This is not new, folks. This country did not want too many Jews to enter during WWII even as they were being annihilated in Europe.

Other Items of Varying Import:
--Send money to democratic senatorial candidates and don't stop just in case you know who wins.  A great article in the recent New Yorker by Jeffrey Toobin (who is just excellent) about how the election of Hilary and a Democratic Senate might actually lead to the first liberal majority on the SCOTUS in a very long time. We will not have to squirm and wait while Justice Kennedy decides which side of the bed to get up on in the morning.
--My local rag of a newspaper does not have one article which does not trash any effort at change--this neighbor is fighting that; this community group does not want that; this issue must be fought.  I believe the horse and carriage will return soon--but then we will at least have horse shit for our organic gardens.
--I get it that utility and other workers who toil on our streets need protection and that is why we have police details.  I may not be sure if that needs to be provided by actual police but I am such a humanitarian, I will go with it (as if).  But please tell me why, when they are on details, they are on their cells, they are talking to the workers, and they doing everything but providing safety.
--That gutsy great Senator from Texas, Ted Cruz, has endorsed the man whose name will not be mentioned.  He is such an ass kisser.  Probably wants a job in the administration.  And Marco makes two--had no employment future and so decided to run again after saying he wouldn't.  And those fools from my former home state will likely elect him.\
--I know not how to react any more to the shootings of African Americans by the police.  I do know this:  No matter what else, I will never know what it is like to stand in their shoes--either the police or the men who have been shot. I am too scared to be a cop and I am not a person of color.  It is just different.
--One definition of retirement is that money does not come in; it only goes out.

SPORTS TALK
So, Phil Mickelson is another idiot and he is way past his prime.  But since he is the great white hype, we all MUST love him.  Me, not so much.  Steve Goodman (he wrote "City of New Orleans"), like a lot of folks, died way too early.  But he was a fanatic Cubs fan and a fanatic baseball fan.  After playing a set at Passim's on a Saturday night way back in the dark ages, he used to invite his audience to meet him on the Cambridge Common for softball on Sunday morning.  Oh, how he would be loving what his Cubs are doing.  Can we get real about BC football?  Wagner last week and Buffalo this week? Real tough.  No one up here gets it about the South and football--BC should have joined some other conference for football--perhaps the conference of the Great White North.  Watch the tv documentary "Last Chance U" to get a sense of what football means down yonder.

Happy New Year to those of you who share my religious persuasion.

Adios