Mixed Emotions?

Mixed emotions: you see something and think “that is really awful” and “good, the bastard deserved it”.
Taliban dead and Marines alive: The bastards deserved being dead; Nobody deserves being pissed on when dead. See? Mixed emotions.
I have never been in a firefight, a sniper group or killed an enemy. I don’t know how the howling terror of war feels, and I don’t want to know. I don’t want anyone to know, but somewhere sometime it always seems to happen. In Africa, children have limbs cut off; women have breasts cut off; men have their genitals cut off. In other countries, torture is common and accepted; beheadings (slow and terrifying) are applauded by onlookers; women are stoned to death. All terrible things and for some of them I would kill the perps myself. I would piss on them first and then kill them.
They deserve being pissed on. But alive, not dead.
And for a Marine to piss on a dead enemy? More shameful than almost anything else. Many more people, innoncents, will die because they were stupid and thoughtless enough to do it, and even stupider to video it.
Image: http://static.lifeislocal.com.au/multimedia/images/full/1646205.jpg

The sun sets in Florence, Finally.,

"The transaction has been effected with success. Dear User,We comunicate that the transaction had a positiv outcome.Your position had been settled. Thank you and we send best regards"(sic the whole thing)

And so ends the saga of the traffic fine in Florence. The whole thing pissed me off for reasons already raved, but there is no doubt I did the crime, unintentional as it might have been. At least now we can go back to Italy without being arrested at the airport for “criminal avoidance of obligation” or some such charge. I have logged thousands of miles overseas, and this is the first fine. I figure it works out to something like a penny a mile. I can live with that.
You know the “Don’t drive like my brother” line? Well mine is “Don’t drive in Florence” (or like MY brother either for that matter). And another thing is this. I have not had a traffic ticket since 1960. That’s 55 years y’all. I cannot plead never having broken a law, just never got ticketed. Can’t say that anymore. Crap. Maybe Italy doesn’t count. I’ll make up a new rule: Countries where they don’t speak English don’t count in the ticket department because you can’t understand the rules of the road.
Whew!. I still have “recordo intacto”. Easy when you can make up the rules.

Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/0065_-_Firenze_-_Tramonto_sull'Arno_-_Foto_Giovanni_Dall'Orto,_28-Oct-2007.jpg

“Arrivederci Firenze” is My Advice to You

What a great way to start off the New Year. Today in the mail a notice from the Comune di Firenze (Florence) that in December, 2010, I drove the wrong way into a cul-de-sac, (you see the logic here?) temporarily closed due to the proximity of the US consulate building, and was photographed by a traffic camera. The direction of traffic on this road changes with the time of day when it is open and not closed to through traffic and that information is posted on a small sign in Italian.
The roads and traffic patterns in Firenze are a nightmare at best, and incomprehensible on a good day. We were looking for our hotel, made a few wrong (obviously) turns, and finally found it. Catch the date? December 2010. A year ago.
The fine is 117 euros, exchange rate today equals $151. Imagine if I had been doing something really stupid like driving on the wrong side of the road, or speeding. I did have fun on an earlier trip with the Carabinieri (http://searchesworld.blogspot.com/2011/01/tales-of-firenze-getting-in.html) , and could have gotten into some trouble, but didn’t.
Not so this time. So “Arrivederci Firenze” is all I have to say. Next time we go to rural Calabria or maybe Abruzzo. There you only have to deal with the Mafia. I must say, though, despite these petty annoyances, Sally and I do love to drive around Italy. Great people, places, food and wine. Just stay out of Firenze.
Image: http://cbswpbz.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/traffic-chaos.jpg?w=600

The Year: Thumbs Up or Down?

Another year comes to an end with mixed reviews, but the majority are not very satisfying. Political posturing resulted in little progress on the home front, and crises abroad brought the world closer to collapse. The war in Iraq ended today, that is a good thing, but the war in Afghanistan continues apace. The American economy is in shambles, as is the situation in most of the rest of the world, and the “American Dream” looks remote for many.
There were some highlights: (here I pause: just what are the good news items? Hmmm. Killing Osama? Killing someone shouldn’t be a highlight, should it? The Euro not collapsing? Damn, this is tough.) So, the highlights: (here I pause again.) Ok friends, help me out here. What do YOU think are the highlights? How about Tallahassee finally getting a brewpub.(Momo’s Pizza in Market Square.) I know: The Duggars had a miscarriage. One less mouth to feed in the world. No, you say, not a highlight.
I know: The population crossed the 7 billion mark. Lots of souls to sing “Hosanna”. Too bad so many of them are starving to death.
So friends, help me out here. I am looking for world class positives.

Image: http://geekdose.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/facebook-like-stamps.jpg
Momo’s: http://momospizza.com/market-street-brew-menu/

Santa and Christmas: Dangerous Frauds?

Ok, so you will think I am being a curmudgeon. Not so. Let’s get rid of Christmas first. The day and season specifically celebrated the birth of the Christian savior, Jesus. Nobody can convince me that it is or should be considered a secular holiday. It is pure and simple a religious festival. No doubt “merry merchants” around the world, Christian or not, are quite happy for the season. Many make a large portion of the year’s profit in the run-up to Christmas. For many people and cultures it has morphed into a gigantic sales pitch. Ooops. I have just crossed my own logic. So it really is a secular holiday primarily benefiting the “merry merchants” and banks, and putting many people deeper into debt. And for what? Did Jesus command “Go Out and Buy!!” or “Give Gifts in Memory of Me!”? If you find that in the Bible let me know. It is a bastardized mishmash of events and cultures. I say “Happy Holidays” and take the time off gladly.
On to Santa Claus. Santa is in the same category as the Tooth Fairy. Pure Fiction. An old dude in a sled with flying reindeer who carries all the gifts for the whole world made by elves at the North Pole? Give me a BREAK. This teaches kids that lying is not only ok, but can be fun. Pisses me off for a kid to be thankful to “Santa” for a bike, when her parents went without to buy the damn thing. Given the cachet of a Saint locks Santa into the religious angle of the season; putting him on a can of Coke makes him a shill. Making him a white man, though. What is that all about? Well, he started out as a white man, and as more politically correctness came on the scene people started asking for black Santas, and brown Santas and yellow Santas so children could more easily “relate”. Relate to a lie. Ahh, you ask. But what is the harm?
Listen to the Santa songs and you will quickly see the harm. The below lines are from “Hear Comes Santa Claus” written by Gene Autry:

He’s got a bag that’s filled with toys
For boys and girls again
He doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor
He loves you just the same.

Yeah, but what about the millions of poor kids that hear the song and get nothing from Santa? The drumbeat for Christmas starts in September and ends with a disappointed child, again. Now what about the song “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”?

You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town - - -
He sees you when you’re sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
He knows if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake! O! You better watch out!- - -

Clearly Santa is spying on kids (is he a voyeur?) and making a judgment about what is nice and what isn’t. Big brother is watching you and you won’t get toys if you are bad. Never mind that no one knows exactly what “Bad” is. Just don’t be it. Santa is a kind of behavior Nazi. So in a sense we are teaching kids to be wary, secretive and distrustful. Don’t tell me we are teaching them to be nice. It doesn’t take a fat old man in a funny costume with booze on his breath to teach kids to be nice.
Kids soon figure out or get told that Santa is a lie, and most aren’t traumatized for life. These “innocent” lies just piss me off, that’s all. Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, and Sand Man. Sooner or later they all realize they have been lied to.
And what about Jews, Moslems, Wiccans, Jains and the other x-thousands of religions, major and minor? And atheists. Their kids get sucked into the Santa Scandal too. Santa, it’s time to retire and let the world alone. Oh, I forgot. To quote Tom Leher “Angels we have heard on high; Tell us to go out and - - BUY” and “God rest ye merry merchants may ye make the yuletide PAY” (1). It really is too late. We are in the black hole of Christmas and we know the “reason for the season”, don’t we. And it ain’t just a birthday any more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas (A good history and commentary on Christmas)
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtZR3lJobjw
Image: http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20061216104705/uncyclopedia/images/thumb/1/1d/BLACK_SANTA.JPG/250px-BLACK_SANTA.JPG

Santa Claus: Dangerous?

A new post coming soon on Santa Claus and the awfulness of the propaganda about Christmas. Not for believers in SC.
You might want to refresh your memory on some lyrics:
http://www.41051.com/xmaslyrics/herecomes.html
http://www.41051.com/xmaslyrics/isawmommy.html

http://www.tsrocks.com/t/tom_lehrer_texts/a_christmas_carol.html
Maybe you can see where this will be going?

Image: http://www.thetoque.com/images/mommy_kissing_santa.jpg

Barney Frank is Leaving Congress? So?

First, if you don’t know who Barney is, shame on you. Second, the “So?” is a very big deal. As an outspoken liberal, Barney was never timid about taking on anyone he believed were wrong-headed or wrong-thinking.
He is a clear voice for Liberal views and is a staunch supporter of women’s rights, gay rights and the welfare of everyone who isn’t rich. The 99%. Us.
I can only hope that Massachusetts voters elect another liberal. There are far too few already to counterbalance the massive shift to the Right. Not much chance of Florida Democrats doing anything to get rid of the conservative ideologues who they elected in the last election by NOT VOTING!!!
Ooops, I guess I just came out of the closet again.

http://www.fletcherarmstrongblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Liberal-vs-Conservative.jpg

Thank You

Not too hard to say, after all, is it? Thank you.
Say it when a wait person (PC again - don’t you hate it sometimes?) fills your water glass, or when the arm at McDonalds drive through hands you your bag of goodies. When you get change at a convenience store or when you get your parcel at a store, say “Thank You”. It really doesn’t take much energy or effort to be polite.
Thankfulness comes in many forms and from many directions. During these very trying days of local regional worldwide problems there are many things I am thankful for. Putting aside the angst of the past for a moment, let me just observe this: every day I wake up in my home, next to my wonderful wife, looking forward to the day I am thankful. Not to any particular source, not to any specific power that/who has granted me the day. To the farmers, truckers, sailors, merchants, construction workers, doctors of people and animals, teachers, police, fire fighters, public employees, students, engineers of all stripes, veterans, soldiers, talkers, listeners, readers and the list goes on. Each of us is beholden to these often faceless and nameless people who make our lives a bit better and safer.
I got a hug from a homeless guy in Boston for a small donation. I gave him less than the cost of a pint of good beer, and got a hug. “Thank you man”, he said. I told him “No, thank You for the hug.” As was said in Dances with Wolves, “good trade”.
So for the moment, put aside the angst and worry, and just say “Thank you” to whomever you want. Give somebody a hug. It really feels good, and it goes a long, long way in a world weary of angst.
Image: http://images.mylot.com/userImages/images/postphotos/2171375.jpg

No Guts, No Balls

This morning I heard a well presented rational discussion of the origins of the current “debt crisis”. Not surprisingly the conclusions of conservative and liberal analysts were consistent with common sense: The initiation of two wars without any revenue increase to cover the costs, and the massive tax cuts which failed to stimulate the creation of jobs to cover the reduced income to the Federal Government are the direct causes of the ballooning debt. The legacy of these two actions remains with us today. Further, they agreed that if the Bush era tax cuts are not allowed to sunset on schedule, an additional minimum of 2.5 trillion dollars in debt will be piled up in the next ten years. That is IN ADDITION to the already substantial increase projected as a result of the weak economy.
The causes and results are clear, and the action needed to correct the problem is also clear: cut spending where possible, increase taxes from the current low rate to higher rates, and let the tax cuts expire.
The problem is this: congress doesn’t have the will to act. “Why” is a more problematic question. I think the answer lies in the corrupt relationships between members of congress and the very powerful financial interests that fund their reelections in the case of people like the Koch brothers, or threaten to oppose them in the case of Grover Norquist and his ilk. In other words, many in congress have no balls, no guts and no concern for the electorate. Only themselves and their handlers.
What a sad and poor way for a wonderful country to fail.
Image: http://www.lpstuff.com/shop/images/uploads/535congressmen.JPG

Sexual Abuse of Children. Again

It has probably always happened, is happening and probably will always happen. That doesn’t make it right. It is always wrong. WRONG. Get it? Wrong.
My thoughts on what should be done to those adults who abuse children are not the point here. I have very strong views on that, and may talk about them at a later time.
No, my point here is based on the attorney interviewed the other day msnbc. This guy represents at least one victim of the Penn State scandal. And here, in a nutshell, is my issue: the victim is expressing feelings of guilt about the effect of his revelations on the football program. ON THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM!!!. This man, once a child who was abused is worried about the god damn football program when his life has been indelibly changed by a predator when he was 10 or so years old. He and many others were repeatedly raped and fondled by this predator. He is the victim. Guilt for victims of sexual abuse goes with the territory and it is hard to deal with. But come on people. Guilt for the football program?
Ahh. But I understand this, I think. I have had many friends over the years, and some now, who think the football programs of their chosen Universities, not necessarily one they attended, are somehow the most important aspect their lives. They hang on every game, every play, every utterance of the coaches and players. They don’t seem to care when massive numbers of players get arrested for felony crimes, or when coaches ignore cheating scandals while at the same time milking the academics of millions of dollars. (I know, the old “Football is a profit center” crap. Personally I don’t buy it but that too is for another time.) The coach gets millions and the President of the University gets a few hundred thousand. Bullcrap.
Football becomes so important that anything that might threaten it brings on anger and guilt. Comments like letting JoePa finish the season make me sick. How many children were abused because JoePa failed to protect them? Finish the season my ass. He should have been shot. (Ooops. Shouldn’t let my emotions out.)
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45286628/ns/today-today_people/
Image: http://www.sexualfuturist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/child-abuse2.jpg