Nobody 809

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Nobody 809

Nobody Asked Me But:

Question of the week: If I’m an optimist, why do I look like I am carrying such a heavy burden?

Answer of the week: Because it is not easy being an optimist in today’s America?<<<

One of the reasons I read is to remind myself of who I am. This happened again last week. As I was reading the very excellent “The Information Officer,” by Mark Mills, I came upon this quote: "Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men." Although I make no claims to excessive wisdom, I have always known instinctively that authority likes it easy, and if too seldom challenged, becomes authoritarianism.

In my life I have bent or broken many rules that deserved such treatment and a few that didn’t.<<<

Incidentally, Sir Douglas Bader, the man whose quote this is, was England’s greatest RAF hero in WWII, despite the fact that he lost both legs in a pre-war plane crash.<<<

“Theirs not to make reply/Theirs not to wonder why/Theirs but to do and die.” The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred Lord Tennyson

I suppose that Tennyson’s presentation above of the opposite philosophy is as good as anyone’s. It is stirring, yes, but a little too authoritarian for me.<<<

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Democrats ignoring the polls that show a majority of Americans opposing the health care bill: "They think they are smarter than the American people."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Republicans ignoring the polls that show a majority of Americans favoring a public option in the health care bill: "We are smarter than the American people."<<<

THE SINS OF OUR FATHERS

In Friday’s excellent column, linked below, David Brooks compares the New Left of the 1960’s and the Tea Party movement. He finds both to be “imprudent, self-righteous, naïve, and radical.” He says that populist groups like these two are forever present and lingering on the fringe of American politics.

This comment especially interested me: “Conservatism is built on the idea of original sin.” Does this mean conservatism has to be religion-based or can our sin simply be the tie that binds us to our animal heritage?<<<

http://www.nytimes.com//2010/03/05/opinion/05brooks.html?hp

If you don’t live in Southern California, or for some, even if you do you may not have heard about Sandy Koufax and Joe Torre being interviewed last week by LA Times columnist T. J. Simers at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. The event was to raise funds for Torre’s special charity, the Safe Home Foundation. Unlike when Vin Scully and Coach Wooden were together on the same stage two years ago, we didn’t go this year, which was a mistake, but we watched it on Fox Sports West. Hearing these two great athletes and good men made for a warm and fascinating evening.

The highlight for me was when Koufax talked about the person he most admires, his grandfather, who told him: "Don't waste your time, don't be frivolous with your time.”

Then Sandy added: “As I get older, I've developed an attitude, spend your money foolishly and your time wisely. It's a lot easier to know what's in the bank than the time you have left."

That is Sandy Koufax, ladies and gentlemen, a great pitcher and a very wise man.<<<

And is there ANY excuse for Dodger owner Frank McCourt not showing up for this event? I don’t think so.<<<

STILL ON BASEBALL

In a NY Times review of the new Willie Mays biography: This account of Willie Mays’s career concentrates on the baseball brilliance, reminding us of a time when the only performance-enhancing drug was joy.<<<

THOUGHTS ON COLLEGE BASKETBALL

My choice for College Player Of The Year: Ohio State’s Evan Turner. (No relation.)

My pick as most overrated soon-to-be All American: Kyle Aldrich of Kansas.

ACTION/REACTION

Action: The Sporting News on Tim Tebow: “He is faster than most all current NFL quarterbacks.”

Reaction: Faster than most? Faster than all? So is it most or all? Make up your mind already.<<<

Action: Starbucks will continue to allow customers to carry legal firearms.

Reaction: Among the “advanced” nations of the world, are any more immature than we?

Reaction#2: Stopping by my local for a shot has taken on a whole new meaning.

Action: The terrible earthquake in Chile caused a permanent change in the length of an Earth day. Each day will be 1.26 microseconds shorter.

Reaction: No wonder I am not getting things done on time.

Action: Senator Kent Conrad, Democrat of North Dakota and chairman of the Budget Committee, said it might be possible to use the reconciliation procedure for “a set of relatively minor matters that have a budget impact.”

Reaction: Why are so many Democrats so gutless?

Action: One of CNN’s recent poll questions was: How religious are you compared with your parents?

53% answered less,

30% answered the same,

17% answered more.

Reaction: There is hope after all.<<<

Did you ever wonder how much the clergy really believe in all the ceremony and the sacraments vs. how much they see it as smoke and mirrors designed to, at best, comfort people or at worst persuade them to surrender wealth and power?<<<

ACADEMY AWARDS

I saw four of the ten movies nominated for this year’s Oscar – “Up,” “Up In The Air,” “Avatar” and “An Education.” All of them were excellent and worthy of their nomination. Only one, however, has a chance of winning, and that, of course, is “Avatar,” which, I suspect will be edged out by “The Hurt Locker.” But do not be surprised if “Inglourious Bastards” pulls off the upset.

Also, watch for Sandra Bullock to edge Meryl Streep for Best Actress in a “we love you both but it is about time we rewarded Sandra” vote.<<<

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Three things I ate as a kid that I wouldn’t eat now - rabbit, horse, pig’s feet.

Three things I wouldn’t eat as a kid that I still won’t eat – liver, beets, cauliflower.

Three things I wouldn’t eat as a kid that I gobble up now – spinach, carrots, peas.<<<