Nobody # 782

Sunday, August 30, 2009
Nobody # 782

Nobody Asked Me But:

The Health Insurance Guy

If I can tell
That you are well
Then I will sell you
Hope - for cash.

Should you get sick
Then I'll be quick,
Use every trick,
To let you crash.

And if you die
No time to cry
Or say goodbye,
I've got this guy
Who wants to buy
Hope.

For cash.


THE SAN DIEGO TRIP or “SOME LIKE IT HOT!” (But we do not!)

Would you believe we delayed New York City until next month to escape the heat and instead went to San Diego (the world’s greatest climate) where it was 88 degrees at 8pm on my birthday? It was in the 90s all week and much of our time was spent seeking shade and a cool breeze – mostly in vain. New York City, by the way, had a week in the 70s.

So much for the low. Here are the highs of an excellent trip:

The Julian Pie Company. Tom ordered Julian pies for Christmas two years ago and they were delicious, so we took the inland route to SD and stopped at their Santa Isabel bakery for pie. My pecan with whipped cream was a 10++ AND was not as good as Barbara’s boysenberry-apple. We also bought a couple dozen of their delicious small pieces of cinnamon piecrust shaped like little hearts and apples.

As most of you know, Jim’s and my birthdays are exactly one month apart, his is September 26, and we always celebrate with a meal. Tuesday he and Vicki drove down from Hemet, and we had an excellent time with lunch at a Mexican restaurant a block from our hotel and then our usual fun trip to a bookstore – this one about two blocks from our lunch place.

We tried three new restaurants that we had read about or seen on The Food Network.

HODADS is a hamburger spot on the beach that came with high recommendations from the “Hamburger America” book and also from a couple we talked to the last time we were in La Super Rica. It was crowded, noisy and about 300 degrees. Barb liked the hamburger a bit better than I did. It was about 8 inches tall and loaded with too much of everything – and that was their single. However, their fries and onion rings were great.

We went to Café 222 in downtown SD for my birthday breakfast. Feeling daring and reckless, I had the French toast stuffed with peanut butter and bananas that had been recommended by Bobby Flay. It was good but so rich that I thought I had one the mega lottery. Half was all I could manage. Barb had a cornmeal waffle that was quite good.

On our last night, the Hob Nob diner provided us with good food and a thrill getting there. We had Map Quest directions and were almost there when we had to move into the right lane to allow an arriving Southwest 737 to land. Or so it seemed. We heard a roar, looked up and there it was right beside us as it skimmed the top of our hill just before touching down at SD International. No wonder pilots consider landing at Lindberg Field a dangerous undertaking.

Our room was small but nice at the Glorietta Bay Inn where we have always wanted to stay. It is the former Spreckels’ Mansion, and I loved sitting on the terrace between 6 and 8 am, drinking coffee and reading an excellent book (Rickard Russo’s new novel - “That Old Cape Cod Magic.”)

One afternoon we crossed the street and had a very good time wandering through the Del Coronado accompanied by the ghosts of Jack Lemon and Marilyn Monroe. But they “liked it hot” more than we did.

QUICKIES

The view of the San Diego skyline from Coronado remains one of my favorites.

In a small Coronado grocery story I was surprised and honored to discover a wine named in my honor. It is called Fat Bastard.

Speaking of wine, – two or three Christmases ago, Barb gave me a Trader Joe’s gift card so that I could buy a case of Two-Buck Chuck. But when I was ready to make my buy the card was missing. We search everywhere but to no avail and finally wrote it off as a senior “lost and never found.” So imagine both our surprises on my birthday when I found it in the glove compartment of my wife’s car. Happy drinking!

We had lunch in this (pictured) Mexican walk-up in the middle of fifty miles from nowhere. The food was very good, so if you are ever in the neighborhood, try it.

We could not believe the number of large casinos we saw on this trip. Are these good for the owners or the patrons? I have my reservations. (Sorry but I couldn’t resist.)

TED KENNEDY

The San Diego Union Tribune described the late, great Senator as “prodigiously skilled – and flawed.” But then, – aren’t we all? Especially flawed is the Union Tribune, which is the poorest excuse for a large city daily (San Diego is the nation’s 8th largest) that I can think of. It can best described as a very few pages containing very little.

Was Ted the greatest Senator of the 20th Century? He is certainly in my top 4 along with LBJ, William Fulbright and Robert Marion La Follette. More on this next week.<<<

New USC basketball coach Kevin O’Neal said recently that the person he would most like to trade places for a day with is Johnny Cash. Since both Cash and USC basketball are dead, O’Neal gets his wish.

BACK TO HEALTH INSURANCE

Did you know - that in a recent customer satisfaction survey the only business that ranked lower than health insurance was cable television?

Did you know – that the average American household spends $15,000 on health? This includes premiums paid by employers, but much of that is diverted from wages and salaries, which makes it an expense. So nobody is getting their current coverage for free.<<<

And finally, another gun rant. Shortly after we arrived home on Friday we heard sirens. Going outside Barbara was surprised to find 7 police cars and 4 fire vehicles. A 17-year-old neighbor boy, whom we did not know, had shot himself in the head. Think of all the life that he will never live. No, the gun by itself didn’t kill him. But it sure made his decision easier.

(These two picturew are of my birthday eating places - breakfast on balcony and dinner at sunset.)

Nobody # 781 - Slouching towards 75

Sunday, August 23, 2009
Nobody # 781

Nobody Asked Me But:

SLOUCHING TOWARDS SEVENTY-FIVE

On Nearing My Fiftieth Birthday

No one ever told me I'd be fifty,
I always thought I'd stop at forty-nine.
No one ever told me I'd be fifty,
If they had, they wouldn't be a friend of mine.


Sixty-five

Sixty-five is just a number,
That is plain to see,
And I am not at all quite sure
How it pertains to me.

I'm sixty-five today, you say.
“You cad! Get out the door!”
My body, mind and spirit feel
No more than sixty-four.

Actually that's not wholly true,
My body feels the pain
Of aging joints and pressure points
In places quite arcane.

But in others not the slightest sense
Of slowing down is there.
I'm good as new, well, almost true,
But close enough to swear - a guarantee.

A day with me
Can be a special time.
We'll talk and laugh and even cry
As thoughts and feelings rhyme.

So sixty-five, what do I care
As long as most things work.
Between me and you, they really do,
And that's an added perk.

Because you see at sixty-five
I thought I'd be well done,
But I'm still rare, still on a tear,
Still having lots of fun.


Seventy-five

I wrote a rhyme at 50
And again at 65,
Now it’s ten years later
And on most days still I thrive.

I’m up by six each morning,
My get up’s good to go,
My brain says pain’s the price of gain,
My body says “Oh no!”

But please don’t think this birthday is
My signal just to quit,
I will fight with all my might
To keep my body fit.

Every week, at least three times,
I head off to the gym
To watch and cheer the lovely ones
Trying to stay trim.

I haven’t slowed the slightest bit,
I still feel fit and able,
I never miss my daily sprint
When dinner’s on the table.

On most days you will find me
In the backyard pulling weeds,
Well, maybe on not most days
When once a year is all it needs.

I’m still a sunny person,
My days are filled with joy,
The man in me remains, you see,
Tempered by the boy.

I will not stop at seventy-five
When so much more I need,
If need to you self-serving seems
Go ahead and call it greed.

Greedy may be sinful
But I don’t believe in sin,
If you’re keeping score I want ten more,
And then ten more again.

Nobody 780

Sunday, August 16, 2009
Nobody # 780

Nobody Asked Me But:

I SCREAM! YOU SCREAM! WE ALL SCREAM! FOR ICE CREAM

I don’t have to tell you how much I love ice cream, but even I take a pass on certain exotic flavors. For example:

We sampled some very good ice cream at Morelli’s in Harrods, London but passed on the bangers and mash flavor and wanted no part of haggis ice scream – based on Scotland’s traditional dish made out of sheep’s innards.

At Fenoccio’s gelateria in Vieux Nice you can get black olive, tomato basil and lavender. The latter doesn’t sound terrible, although one person described it as tasting like “my grandmother’s armpit.”

In Turkey you can order fox testicle ice cream, which is so chewy that you can eat it with a knife and fork. No, it’s not really made of those, but with a name like that, I’ll pass.

Here’s one for Elizabeth. In Rustico Restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia you can order “brew pops,” popsicles made with beer.

Garlic ice cream in Gilroy, Ca, is no surprise but bacon ice cream at the Ice Cream Store in Rehoboth, DE is a bit of a stretch. Better than their pulled pork flavor though, especially if you have one of the 10 bacon malts that they sell each day.

And now we come to the two worst flavors.

At Ice Cream City in Tokyo, you can buy basashi vanilla. Well, that doesn’t sound too bad until you know that it contains raw horseflesh. You get your sushi and your dessert in one scoop.

And, if you care enough to try the very worst, (and are willing to fly to Venezuela), go to an ice cream shop called Heladeria Coromoto, which holds the Guinness record by offering 900 flavors. But forget the first 899 and try, if you dare, their vivid aqua-colored Viagra ice cream. Warning: IF YOU ICE CREAM STAYS HARD LONGER THAN THREE HOURS, CALL YOUR DOCTOR!

LIARS, DAMNED LIARS AND STATISTICIANS. This saying is out of date and should be changed to change to LIARS, DAMN LIARS AND THE FAR RIGHT.

Even in politics there are rules of decency and morality, and the Rush nuts have gone too far. Common decency says that you don’t even think of trying to defeat something like Obama’s health proposal by using terms like Nazi and Hitler. Those who do have no shame and deserve nothing but scorn. Give me a chance to spit in Rush’s face and I will do it – with great pleasure!<<<

LIAR OF THE WEEK

"On Fox News Sunday," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, speaking about the mobs at health care town halls, said: "I think attacking citizens in our country for expressing their opinions about an issue of this magnitude may indicate some weakness in their position on the merits.”<<<

But do you know who I think is the most despicable of all? The mainstream media - because they know the lies and the liars and yet they refuse to call them out in plain words. That is just gutless.

And, while we are at it, the President could show some passion and do a little of the same.<<<

LET’S ALL SING

When I read in the NY Times that President Barack is being kept on the defensive about his health care reform, I was reminded of that old Johnny Mercer/Harold Arlen song:

You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between.<<<

ASK ME MR. REE

Question: Mr. Ree, can you tell me why so many independents who voted for Obama now turning against him?

Answer: Because they love the concept of change but hate the reality of it. Talking about a better society feels good. Creating one takes sacrifice.<<<

FACING REALITY

Americans are well advised to fear a rationing of health care services. But thanks to dishonest Republican scare tactics, their fear is misdirected. The government is not the enemy. Insurance companies and the whole for-profit health care system are to be feared, because they are the ones who ration. The quantity and quality of your health care today is based on (1) your ability to pay, (2) your employment status, (3) any preexisting conditions you might have, (4) the capacious whims of insurers and (5) the effect your care will have on their profits. NOW THAT’S RATIONING!<<<

AIN’T IT THE TRUTH

Bush trampled individual rights and conservatives yawned. Obama wants to regulate property rights and conservatives scream.<<<

RIDDLE ME THIS

Someone named Wang Chung wrote an anti-immigrant letter to the Arizona Daily Star last week.<<<

BAD BARACK

I know that getting his health care bill passed involves some give and take, but cutting out the government insurance option is giving too much.<<<

EUTHANIZE IGNORANCE: (But NOT ignorant people!)

Diane Campbell, a Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owner from Kingstown, N.H - “Hitler killed six million people; he killed everyone who wasn’t perfect.” I have an elderly mom and a severely handicapped sister, and I fear for their lives if this plan goes though.”

Ben Hershenson, at the same meeting, - “Hey America, You want Change? Hitler did too!”

Like Lincoln, when I read this stuff, I don’t know whether laugh or cry. But mostly I cry.<<<

IF IT AIN’T BROKE

You know the old saying, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Well, guess what. Our health system is broke. Not for me but for millions who are not as lucky as I. And if I don’t care about them, who will?<<<

Nobody # 779

Sunday, August 9, 2009
Nobody # 779

Nobody Asked Me But:

THREE TO START

This fast food stop in Bridgeport is my kind of place. I’ll take a chiliburger with fries and a massage. But alas, no time, so I’ll just have an ice cream cone – soft chocolate please.<<<

I have to tell you that I am finally convinced. I have seen all the conflicting birth certificates but the latest, which shows that our President was really born on a train from Paris to Istanbul to a KGB mother and a CIA father, seems like the real deal.

And just between you and me, don’t you think that all this hyper-hatred of Obama is framed in black?<<<

What are the chances of Barbara and I putting in a swimming pool? About the same as winning $1Billion in the lottery or giving up retirement. But if we ever did, we would choose one of these two designs. Which one would you recommend?<<<

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

WANTED: Political agitators – Must be angry, white, male Republicans, willing to travel on short notice. Loud and obnoxious behavior is an absolute requirement. *

We will supply the issue and the placards. You supply the intimidation. Note: While calling Democrats Nazis is encouraged, we recommend violence only as a last resort.

Those who helped steal Florida in 2000 will be given preference.

*This is not intended to discriminate against women, but any woman hired will be gene-tested. The presence of empathy or fairness genes is cause for disqualification.

Seriously, most of the anti-health-care protesters belong in a horticulture greenhouse. They are plants – plain and simple. I thought that, except for a brief return in 2000, we had outgrown the politics of intimidation so rampart during the early days of our nation. But the Republicans have brought it back. It is alive and well and scary.<<<

SARAH PALIN IS A STUPID, VICIOUS, CORRUPT LIAR? (And I am being kind.)

On Facebook Friday, Sarah Palin called the President’s health plan “evil,” and said it would create a “death panel” to deny care to the needy. Clearly Palin is the reincarnation of Joe McCarthy. Now all we need is Joseph Welch to ask, “Have you no sense of decency madam?”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTwDUpbQHJg

OVERHEARD IN THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP CAUCAS

We don’t like this “cash for clunkers” program.

Why not?

Because it’s working.<<<

HEALTH INSURANCE FOR ALL

Here is my suggestion for paying at least part of the cost for the President’s health plan. End all tax exemptions for religious organizations. If they can afford big-ticket churches and cathedrals, they can afford to pay their fair share towards a better America.<<<

Did you know - that a Canadian television series was developed to identify the people’s choice as the Greatest Canadian? Among the nominees were leaders in politics, business, sports and entertainment. And the winner was………..Tommy Douglas, the founder of the Canadian health care system.

Gee, do you suppose they are doing something right up there with their single-pay system? They have a longer life expectancy and lower infant mortality rate than the U.S. No one is turned away because of a pre-existing condition.

Nah. I’ll stick with the American system dominated by private business with their slogan – “Either we make a profit or you die.”

And did you know that the finalists for the health insurance “Gatekeeper of the Year award” are:

1. An agent from Florida who denied cancer surgery to a plan member because he failed to include the fact that he had acne treatment as a young man on his application form?

2. An agent from Arizona who denied coverage to a healthy young woman because she briefly saw a psychologist after breaking up with her boyfriend?<<<

NORA

Nora Ephron does not just make good movies (“When Harry Met Sally,” “Sleepless In Seattle”). She also makes good sense as shown by these two answers in a NY Times interview:

Q: Do you consider any food a romantic deal-breaker?

A: I respect vegetarians, but I could never fall in love with one.

Q: Is noshing in bed always wrong?

A: Not if it’s ice cream.<<<

ACTION/REACTION

Action: Pa. Man Kills 3, Himself; Web Page Describes Plans.

Reaction: That’s my America! We do love our guns.

Reaction # 2: I have to admit that the NRA has a good argument when they say that the guy could just as easily have killed with a sharpened pencil.

Action: Right-wing critics wasted no time in attacking Clinton’s visit to North Korea as rewarding hostage-taking and conferring legitimacy on a rogue regime.

Reaction: Perhaps a shot of compassion in their nightly tonic would help.

Reaction #2: I’m with Elizabeth in wondering whether they would feel the same if it was their daughter in that North Korean prison.

Reaction #3: Given their track record for compassion, the answer is probably yes.<<<

WOODY

Picking up from last week, had there always been 10 Best Picture nominations, here are at least 7 more Woody Allen films that would almost certainly have been nominated. As it was, four of them received Best Director nominations. (Shown with an asterisk)

Interiors – 1978*
Manhattan 1979
Broadway Danny Rose 1984*
Crimes and Misdemeanors 1989*
Bullets Over Broadway 1994*
Match Point 2005
Vicky, Christina, Barcelona 08

Factor in his BP win for “Annie Hall” and his BP nomination for “Hannah And Her Sisters,” and Woody, despite his numerous minor efforts, is one of the greatest directors of all time.

Nobody 778

Sunday, August 2, 2009
Nobody # 778

Nobody Asked Me But:

The picture post card above shows the Martha Washington Hotel in New York City where my mother and grandmother stayed during World War II when they bussed from Michigan to see my two uncles who were in the Navy.

Here is the caption, which delights me:

For Women. 29 East 29th Street. Modern. Fireproof. Ideal for women and girls traveling alone. Hostess and chaperone in attendance. Rooms with running water $1.50 a day up. With private bath $2.00 a day up. Splendid restaurant for men and women.<<<

REPORT FROM RENO

My son had a roller coaster week. The first half was mostly a down but he ended up, feeling better physically and with an excellent progress report from his doctor. Greg goes back into the hospital tomorrow for his second chemo week. Hopefully it will go as well or even better than the first session.<<<

DOW ENDS BEST JULY IN 20 YEARS

Now there’s a headline I like. Gain’s 9%, so do we credit the President or the business cycle? Mostly the President, since the turn-around is much too quick for the cycle. So Go Obama and Keynes!<<<

HISTORY WILL NOT BE KIND

To a party who turns its back on the poor and the sick – who deliberately tear huge holes in the safety net that names our humanity. To a people who view taxes and responsibilities as something to be avoided at all costs. Or to the enabler governor who spouts homilies and allows this to happen.<<<

LOOKING AT VICK

Now that Michael Vick has served his sentence for blatant animal abuse, does he have a right to a second chance in the NFL?

Looking at it from a different perspective, if Vick had been a teacher would his teaching certificate be returned and he welcomed back into the classroom? The answer to the second question is NO. I believe that same answer applies to the first.

Yes, he served his time and deserves a second chance in society, but he has no vested right to a particular profession, especially one in which he has role model responsibilities.<<<

GOODBYE AND HELLO

I love a morning drink while I write and surf (the web). Some come and go as my tastes change. Others just come and go – like Cinnabun. Last week I drank my last can of Starbuck’s iced coffee. Alas, they stopped making it. Thank goodness I have a replacement. (See picture.) For you that are sheltered, Caribou Coffee Shops are widespread throughout the East and Mid-west. But their iced coffee in cans invaded the West over a year ago. It is at least as good as Starbuck’s was – and the cans are BIGGER!<<<

THE RESURRECTION - PARTLY

At the risk of shocking my liberal world, George Bush keeps climbing in my estimation. First term Bush is still one of the worst presidents ever. Bad advice and a big ego led him to make some unconscionable and disastrous decisions.

But second term Bush, out from under the spell of the evil twins – Cheney and Rummy - was much improved.

And Post-President Bush has been the picture of grace. So even though GB deserves plenty of blame, let’s give him some credit where credit is due.<<<

HERE’S MY FOLLOW-UP ON THE HEALTH PLAN

I think the odds on having one signed by the President this year are about 60% to 40%. If there was no August recess, I would raise it to 70% - 30% but since the Republicans have been allowed to control the message with negative propaganda, I am afraid that too many in Congress will go home to voters who have been frightened into opposition.

I think it would have been better had Obama sent a simple, specific, incremental plan to Congress and, at the same time, sold it to the people. With this approach he could have countered Republican propaganda point by point.<<<

THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

Police Sgt. James Crowley was dumb in arresting and handcuffing Harvard Professor Louis Gates Jr.

That said, it is also true that Gates Jr. was overreacting in the lead-up to his arrest.

As for the President, it was not a good time for him to pull a Joe Biden.

Was there racism in the whole thing? Probably – at least a little. <<<

SPEAKING OF RACISM

I try to see the best in everyone, so when Boston cop Justin Barrett says that the E he sent out in which he refers to Louis Gates Jr. as a "banana-eating jungle monkey” doesn’t make him a racist, I tend to agree. It doesn’t make him one. It simply verifies that he is.<<<

BILL MAHER SAYS 'BIRTHERS' MUST BE

Maher – “Which raises the question (of Obama’s birth certificate): Why, in this country, is it always the religious right that won't take anything on faith?”<<<

(I borrowed a Mike Luckovich cartoon to illustrate the point. I think he is the best political cartoonist in America.)

CONNIE MACK

Do you want to know how old I really am? When I was a boy, Connie Mack was still managing the Philadelphia Athletics. And Mack was born DURING THE CIVIL WAR!

And yes, I remember that he always wore a suit in the dugout – never a baseball uniform.<<<

BEST PICTURES

Had the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences always nominated ten movies, rather than five, for their Best Picture Award, here are eight that would, or at least should, have been nominated:

“The General” – Buster Keaton’s greatest work
“Animal Crackers” – The Marx brothers
“Meet me In St. Louis”
“East of Eden”
“Rebel Without A Cause”
“Night of the Hunter”
“Psycho”
“The Candidate”

And this list doesn’t even include Woody Allen films. I will name them next week.<<<