Nobody 747

Sunday, December 17, 2008
Nobody # 747

Nobody Asked Me But:

“It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a Stealth Bomber!” As we were driving through Pasadena Sunday, I glanced up and saw, moving away from me, what looked like a huge bird. I alerted my driver, and we both decided that it could be nothing other than a B2 Stealth Bomber.

But were we crazy? There was no Rose Parade on December 7. No reason that we knew for a fly-over.

There was a reason. The Stealth was there as part of a memorial service honoring former Secretary of the Air Force, Vern Orr.

As always, it was an awesome sight, even in miniature as, it flew away.<<<

ON THE HOME

Law of physics # 747 - A mass of unwanted/unneeded items in a home, minus items discarded at various times, retains its same volume.

Or in plain English, no matter how much we throw away, we still seem to have the same amount left.<<<

And here is the Golden Rule to avoid the mass mentioned above - you should have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.<<<

Make me God for a day, and I would give this gift to my wife for Christmas – the ability to go to sleep quickly and easily and sleep peacefully for the whole night.<<<

If you think my concerns about domestic spying are overheated, then how do you rationalize the listing of at least 53 innocent Americans as terrorists in a criminal intelligence database? Among those listed were two Catholic nuns, a former Democratic congressional candidate, a lifelong pacifist and a registered lobbyist.

This is not science fiction. This was an injustice that resulted from the Maryland State Police spying on groups that advocated against abortion, global warming, nuclear arms, military recruiting in high schools and bio-defense research, among other issues. Quakers and other peace groups were also targeted.

Yes, I am glad that I live in a country where this travesty was uncovered and exposed. But I wish that in my country it would never happen.<<<

As much as I hate corrupt politicians, I hate STUPID corrupt politicians like Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich even more. And, yes, arrogance can be an aspect of stupidity. It is like he wore a “catch me, catch me” sign front and back.<<<

And isn’t it sad that the most feared word in the vocabulary of too many politicians is illumination.<<<

Book review – “The Given Day” by Dennis Lahane

Lehane, the author who wrote “Mystic River” and “Gone Baby, Gone,” has written an Irish family epic set in Boston at the time of “The Great Red Scare.” Police captain Thomas Coughlin, an immigrant from the old sod, loves his job and his country. He has no use for those who challenge it, whether they are communists, anarchists or union agitators. A cop serves, he doesn’t strike.

Coughlin’s son Danny is different. His morality centers on fairness rather than tradition. When he becomes a leader in the transition of the Boston Social club to the Boston Police Union his family pulls away from him. That he loves an Irish servant girl who has been cast out by his family, makes the break is complete.

Luther Laurence, a black man who plays baseball with speed and grace, is the other focus of “TGD.” Luther’s story moves from the diamond to a thriving black community in Oklahoma and then, on the run from a killing, to Boston where his life becomes entwined with the Coughlin’s and their evil friend.

Lehane weaves real characters into his story, Babe Ruth, Calvin Coolige, Samuel Gompers, Jack Reed and a sinister Justice Depart attorney, John Lewis.

The culminating event that brings all elements together is the Boston Police Strike in 1919.

This was a tremendous read, perhaps even making my 10 best list. I give it a 10+++<<<

The BCS got it just right this year. Florida vs. Oklahoma should be a great game. I have been touting Florida as the country’s best for several weeks, but, just as the pollsters decide to agree with me, I am climbing off the bandwagon. Oklahoma to win an epic game.<<<

What do the Celtics have that my Lakers lack? Toughness. Hunger. A killer instinct. Commitment to defense. Just plain commitment. Choose one. Heck, choose them all. The Lakers had them all for the first nine games or so, as they remembered last season’s finals loss to the Celtics. But it turns out that they have short memories, and short memories lead to bad habits – and BAD defense.<<<

Question: Who is at fault for the failure of the bailout measure for the Big Three? Was it the Republicans who killed the plan in the Senate, or the UAW who refused to agree on a timetable for a reduction of their wages and fringe benefits?

Answer: BOTH! There is no doubt in my mind that Republican Senators are trying to use the crisis to strike a blow against unions, their life-long enemy. Nor is there any doubt that the UAW is recalcitrant beyond reason. Both sides are putting self-interest above the good of the country and so, I say…

A POX ON BOTH YOUR HOUSES!<<<

Upon further review, it seems that I was wrong. The UAW has traveled their extra mile, and it is the Senate Republicans who are willing to do more great harm to the economy in order to damage their ancient enemy.

So SRs, the POX is all yours!<<<

MOVIE REVIEW “Gran Torino.”

If I were doing a one-word review, my word choice would be WONDERFUL! But since I will write more than one but fewer than many, let me begin with the small quibbles. Some of the secondary acting is a little amateurish, and the climax is a bit over the top. But “Gran Torino” will make you laugh a lot until it is time for you to cry. What more can one ask of a movie? Not a great film, but wonderful! Or, as Kenneth Turan writes in closing his review, “anywhere Eastwood is, movie audiences are wise to follow.”<<<

With all the bailout jobs coming out of DC, one would hope that Congress would have the guts to try the impossible and rescue the Detroit Lions.<<<

And, finally, WOW (Women on the Web) just named their 50 sexiest men over 50 and left me off the list.

Go figure!<<<