Nobody 672

Sunday, November 12, 2006
Nobody # 672

Nobody Asked Me But:

Wonderful news:

Congratulations to Sheena and Gary. On Friday they had their first baby, (Sheena, as you may have guessed, did the actual having) a girl child whom they have tentatively named Abigail - yes, they do have a tough time making decisions. Special parents, lucky child!<<<

On the opposite side of life’s story, this past week marked the 11th anniversary of my mother’s death. I think this quote says it all:

"The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom." - Henry Ward Beecher.<<<

Step one: Terrell Owens, the bad boy wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, said last week that he has a condition that induces him to sleep through meetings.

Step two: Child psychologists will give the condition a name – something like Can’t Help Falling Asleep In Class.

Step three: The name will be reduced to appropriate initials – CHFAIC.

Step four: Children in school who doze off in class will labeled as CHFAIC and schools will be required to provide them with electric stimulators to buzz them awake every 30 seconds or so.<<<

When we got home from Pasadena Friday night my new ESPN Magazine was waiting. It is their college bb issue and they pick Arizona (6) ahead of the Bruins (9). I immediately threw it away. Who wants to fill their mind with trash?<<<

On Election Day the NY Times asked its readers to submit reasons for why they voted the way they did.

Here is my answer:

1. Iraq - a wrong war conducted incompetently.
2. The arrogance of the executive branch - in both foreign and domestic matters, and its accompanying "right to secrecy."
3. The erosion of individual liberty in the name of safety.
4. Conducting the people's business as if "the people" were the wealthy, business class.

I forgot the fifth, and probably most important, reason. With the Democrats controlling Congress during the last of the Bush reign, he will not be able to appoint any more Samuel Alitos to the Supreme Court.<<<

The morning after:

Press Secretary Tony Snow said that the election outcome was “not what we would’ve hoped,” and, in a rebuke to congressional Republicans, added that the burden was now on the Democrats “to work with the President in ways that those losers never did.” "

This has been the most disappointing race in my political lifetime," said conservative activist Paul M. Weyrich, as he eyed twin Seppuku knives sent to him by an admirer.<<<

Republican Senator Jon Kyl, (AZ) after winning his hard-fought battle for reelection said, "Republicans have made some mistakes." He went on to name list three of them – “Bush, Cheney and Rummy.”<<<

President Bush had this to say: “Loser, how can I be a loser? I thought Karl said I wasn’t even running.”<<<

Here are two more losers among the “moral” majority: Rep. Don Sherwood (R-Pa.), lost largely because of allegations that the lawmaker had tried to choke his mistress.

Rep. John E. Sweeney (R-N.Y.) was hurt by reports that his wife had called the police to complain he had been beating her.<<<

George Allen, who lost his Senate seat to Jim Webb had this to say: “All our trouble in this state and this country began when we let those nig, ah, I mean colored, ah, I mean black, ah, I mean African Americans vote.”<<<

Reactions from around the world: “It’s time for a Clinton government again, where U.S.A. was liked and respected throughout the world. Come on Hillary, get your hat in the ring.” (A teacher in the F Building at Hale Middle School just lost his lunch.) “

Europeans have tended to look at the U.S. as being synonymous with Bush.” (A resident of Granada Hills just lost his lunch.)<<<

Former Major League pitcher Johnny Sain (left) died last week. Sain's best year was 1948, when he and Hall of Famer Warren Spahn led the Boston Braves to the World Series. It was during that season when the famous saying was born: "Spahn and Sain and pray for rain." If you are old enough to remember that then buddy you’re just as old as I.<<<

The grim reaper was busy last week. Too bad the movie experts for the Associated Press weren’t. They couldn’t even get an obituary right. The AP had this to say as part of their report on the death of that good, great movie villain, Walter Jack Palance:

“In 1953, the Academy nominated him again for his role as Jack Wilson, the swaggering gunslinger who bullies peace-loving Alan Ladd into a barroom duel in the Western classic Shane."

Jack Wilson (Palance) didn’t instigate the classic barroom gunfight. Shane did the provoking in order to rid the homesteaders of this out-of-their-league menace and give them a chance to keep their land and live in peace.<<<

A 700 page report from a UK commission warns that at our present rate of recklessness, by the mid-century, heavier floods and more intense droughts could displace 200 million people. The report said unabated climate change would eventually cost the equivalent of between 5 percent and 20 percent of global gross domestic product each year.

Official reactions varied:

From 10 Downing Street – Tony Blair called for "bold and decisive action" to cut carbon emissions and stem the worst of the temperature rise.

From 1600 Pennsylvania – George Bush said, “What do I care, I’ll be dead by then anyway.<<<

Our tortured Vice President:

When asked last week by a right-wing radio host whether the debate over waterboarding was “silly,” VP Cheney answered, “I do agree.” “It’s not like we are breaking any new ground here,” the VP went on. “It has been used by the Gestapo, the North Koreans, and the Khmer Rouge.”<<<

Staying with the Gestapo for a moment, here’s a news item of interest: CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Part of a speech by World War II Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels was played over the public address system before a high school soccer game, prompting an apology by the home team's principal, who claimed that there was a mix-up somewhere.

“We thought the sound clip was from Hitler speaking at the Nuremberg rally.”<<<

Remember that song from Oklahoma that went, “Oh, the Demos and the Repubs can be friends”? It’s true even in politics. Hugh (who had an uncle and a cousin who were judges in Texas) and I adamantly agree that to keep the judicial branch independent, judges should neither be elected nor subject to referendum. That’s why I voted a straight yes for all incumbent judges listed on my ballot.<<<

And speaking of straight, yes, I voted a straight party line. And I suspect most Republicans (Hugh excepted) vote a crooked one.<<<

News release: The White House denied that Saddam’s conviction and sentencing two days before the election was mere coincidence as was the fact that gas prices dropped in the weeks immediately preceding November 7th.

Reaction: He’s my born-again President, so if he says that it must be the gospel truth.<<<

When he was a boy, Vince Carbino, a principal in South L.A, was taught a wonderful motto by his mother. It applies not only to his chosen field but to politics as well: "Excellence fears no observation."

When asked about this the President and the Vice President had identical and almost simultaneous responses, “Yah, but that only applies to excellence.”<<<

Did you know: That Iran is that it is only 51% Persian?<<<

My quote of the week belongs to Senator Barack Obama: When asked about his short résumé, Obama said that judgment is more important than experience. However, he acknowledged, “President Bush has given learning-on-the-job a bad name.”<<<

Just wondering: Could this election be an indication that the national Republicans, by playing to their far right wing, are marginalizing themselves in the same way as has the party in California?<<<

If you check out the link below it will lead you to today’s sports column by Mike Lupica (left) in the NY Daily News. The piece itself is worth reading, plus we met the columnist Friday in Pasadena at a signing of his new teen novel. The man is funny, nice, interesting and excellent, both in his regular profession - he has written his column in the News for over 20 years – and his new love, writing teen fiction.<<<

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/v-echo/story/470407p-395922c.html

Don’t forget your red wine today. It keeps you lean and long-lived.<<<