A few random thoughts...

I was under the impression that it was an extremely  bad idea to put your Social Security number on the Internet...for any reason. The cyber-pirates are just waiting to loot your accounts with that number. Do not let any fool tell You, "they can't". I'm advised, from some who should know, that getting into your personal crap on Government websites is "Child's Play".







The inevitable result of decades of
fruitless negotiations

Again our State Department is made to look idiotic and is saved from making a very bad deal with Iran at the last moment, by of all people...the French! Unfortunately they are going to try again later this week.  It just would not do to have the Secretary of State fail...even if we get nothing, less than nothing from it.

I called it. We made this deal,
or should I say appeasement, that
our Secretary of State should not
look bad. This makes only two
options for Israel, act unilaterally
or await a cowardly sneak attack
from those that have stated they
they will.









I have been watching a bunch of those old TV shows on some over the air stations off the roof antenna. Stations are now allowed to split their signals so 1 station now becomes 2 or 3 stations. I guess it's hard to come up with enough content to fill all these new hours of programing.

They have been running a great many of the old shows from 20, 30 even 60 years ago. Lots of these old shows are in the half hour format and this seems to fit the "Modern" version of attention span just fine. It seems to Me that they manage to fit so many damnable commercials into this old format that following the show itself is a pretty daunting task...by the time the commercials are done you have lost track of what you have been watching...very irritating.

Back then you could be quite an ugly person and still be employed as an actor. Today there are no ugly people to be seen on TV, this is just not realistic. Most of us are not that "pretty" and we enjoy seeing others like us (the unglamorous) making a living as actors. It's also kind of a hoot to watch some of the old sitcoms that were made in the 60's and 70's. The actors appear to be dressed like clowns and a child will ask, "why are they dressed like clowns?" Face it, back then we all dressed like clowns.

It is interesting reviewing all the old shows that I viewed as a child and see just how wretchedly bad most of them were, just how unfunny the sitcoms were. One thing has not changed, the stupid plots and situations are all the same, over and over again, as writers continue to steal material from one another. That these people have the gall to get together once a year to give each other "awards", is beyond belief. "Quality television" is a contradiction in terms.  I believe that 40 years from today people will watch today's pitiable fare and laugh at it...if they still watch TV in 40 years and if there IS another 40 years.

Now suppose, that the signals some have speculated are now being monitored by hypothetical "cold alien eyes", and have made their way to some hypothetical intelligent civilization out there in the Cosmos...We have given ourselves away! Not to worry, I surmise that these "cold alien eyes" will watch these old shows and this will act as a repellent. With the possible exception of "Green Acres" and "Gilligan's Island", truly the pinnacle of the television arts, What we watch will act as a buffer against invasion by Aliens everywhere...they simply will not come here, Not Ever.

I vow not to watch TV too often...it is truly a waste of life to sit in a chair, wasting the precious few hours you have to live on this planet being entertained badly (by those whom are mostly long dead)...the real world is far the better place.

 Stop living a fantasy existence...come out and play.


Iowa City: An art colony of misery. After seeing Iowa City touted as a great place to live, work or retire ad tedium, it was very refreshing to see this assessment. Read more. http://www.ranker.com/list/the-11-most-miserable-places-in-the-u-s-/ivana-wynn?format=SLIDESHOW&page=8 


The filibuster
An important check against the "Tyranny of the Masses"...goes by the wayside. Hopefully the villains responsible will come to regret  foolishly changing the rules. In an age of instant gratification and even more instant communication, it becomes doubly important to preserve checks on popular whims of the moment...and those who would manipulate them to remain in power. This was known as the "nuclear option" back when the Republicans wanted to do away with the filibuster so they might get their judges named quicker. This did not happen...it took Harry Reid to be crass enough to propose it after having opposed it.
The United States really could use more than two political parties, hopefully none would come to be a majority. These parties would be forced to co-operate each with the others.
We seem to be concentrating far too much power in the Executive Branch. I really did not think that the American People wanted a King. I do not want a King.
   

Here be Dragons

Global Warming vs. Global Cooling
I have been monitoring, on the Internet, the shrill back and forth between the Global Warming alarmists and the global cooling pixies. One thing seems clear.
The global warming enthusiasts will go to their graves still believing that the world is heating up and they will be buried in their parkas.
It is too soon to tell if the pixies are right as we seem to be on the cusp of what is yet to come...as for Me I hold with those that favor Ice, but for destruction either is great...and will suffice.