Nobody 736

Sunday, March 16, 2008
Nobody 736

Nobody Asked Me But:

ADHD

Out of control
Prescribed medication
Just what you need
To achieve relaxation
Mental collapse
Insightful distortion
Taking its toll
The perfect proportion
Swallow the pill
Suppression of thought
Slowly calm down
Just what you bought

Children

The born infestation
Mini-van generation
The blind leading blind
Corrupting the mind
The gang of conformists
Numbers enormous
With each year that passes
They join the masses
Think that you’re old
You’re losing your hold
Kids so polite
Once so contrite
Now they have changed
Horribly deranged

Last minute change: I was going to write about educational reform, in the space above, but I would be repeating myself. Instead, I will use this space as a showcase for young writers; in this case 14-year-old poet/song writer Ryan Thomson - who just happens to be my 14-year-old grandson.

Home schooling – Governor Terminator says:

"Every California child deserves a quality education and parents should have the right to decide what's best for their children." And "Parents should not be penalized for acting in the best interests of their children's education.”

I say: Parents do not rule their children by divine right. Schooling is one of several areas where the government must act in loco parentis to see that the best interests of the children are protected.<<<

Here are the answers to last week’s questions.

What is something that you always used to love to do that during the last few years you feel like you have “outgrown” or simply lost interest in?

Clean and dust.

Get serious, Jim! I wouldn’t say lost interest but rather declining interest. My desire to go to fancy restaurants has diminished. I still like the experience once in a while, but most of the time I would rather go simple and familiar – a place where I know I will love the food.

What song has the power to bring you to tears faster than any other?

Edelweiss, from The Sound Of Music, although it is more the moment – when Captain Von Trapp is reunited with his children - than it is the song. Remember, he comes into a room where the children are singing and realizes that they need his love more than his stern discipline. And he needs theirs. His daughter hands him his guitar and he sings “Edelweiss, Edelweiss.” I have watched the scene many times and never without tearing up.

For a song alone, my answer is: “Yesterday when I was young.” The strange thing is that I am rarely nostalgic for yesterday except when I hear this song.

“Yesterday, when I was young,
The taste of life was sweet as rain upon my tongue,”

George: The one song that always brings me to tears, and did the first time I heard it, is "Nasun Dorma" the great opera aria by Puchini, especially the version by Pavoratti.<<< “

Virtually all of the windows facing Centennial Olympic Park on the Omni Hotel, which is attached to CNN Center, were shattered. One employee said visitors to the hotel were being evacuated.”

WOW! We were staying in one of these rooms and looking out its window just over a
year ago.<<<


PAC-10 champions! Pac-10 Tournament champions! 31-3! 19-2 against PAC-10 teams this year! Bring on the NCAA Tournament! GO BRUINS!<<<

From a Pew survey, did you know:

That among American immigrants, Hindus are Among the richest and best educated?

Which only goes to show that staying away from Ruth’s Chris Steakhouses can be good for you.<<<

Yes, there is a heaven. (see picture)

Barb just finished a series of British crime novels and took great pleasure in the frequent colloquialisms. I am finding the same thing in the excellent novel “Lush Life.” While hers national-regional, mine are regional-street smart – NYC version.

Example - “An Arab twenty-four hour”

CNN Headline: Girl seen in Clinton's '3 a.m.' ad supports Obama.

It seems she awoke and found that her choice might have to be Clinton or McCain and got scared.<<<

I was thrilled last week to read about the impulsive gambler who is suing the casino for not cutting her off. This opens up so many possibilities for me:

Sue the ice cream store.
Sue the tee-shirt department at Macy’s.
Sue Starbucks – actually only the mocha-maker.
Sue my wife (for too-large portions).<<<

AND DID YOU KNOW: That Wonder Woman turns 66 this year?<<<

THE YEAR OF LIVING BIBLICALLY: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible As Literally As Possible. A. J. Jacobs.

No, I haven’t read it, but I love the title. However, I would admire Jacobs more without the safety net, or as he describes it: “If I wanted to understand my forefathers, this year would let me live like they did, but with less leprosy.”<<<

Here’s Hillary the candidate:

“Every so often I just wish that it were a little more of an even playing field.”

Here’s petulant President Hillary:

“How come you’re not asking Ahmadinejad these questions first?”<<<

Here’s Hillary on November 10, 2000, on democracy vs. the Electoral College: "I believe strongly that in a democracy, we should respect the will of the people and to me, that means it's time to do away with the Electoral College and move to the popular election of our president."

Here’s Hillary in March, 2008 on the Electoral College vs. democracy (and I am paraphrasing without changing her meaning): I am winning the big states with the most electoral votes, so I deserve the nomination.”<<<

“Kansas woman sat on boyfriend's toilet for 2 years; didn't want to leave bathroom.”

Now do you see what I meant last week about Kansas?<<

Next week's questions

Which month of the year do you think would best describe your personality?

Suppose that you still lived in an age when Kings and Queens ruled the lands. If you were crowned an absolute monarch, what is the very first law you would impose on your kingdom?