Nobody 820

Sunday, June 13, 2010
Nobody # 820

Nobody Asked Me But:

LOYALTY - To yourself and all those dependent upon you. Keep your self- respect. John R. Wooden (from his Pyramid of Success)

Suppose Meg Whitman had promised Republicans that, if elected governor of California, she would:

1. Increase state spending by 177%.
2. Set a record by raising taxes by 30%.
3. Be an active environmentalist - (1) By protecting the spectacular John Muir Trail in the Sierra from highway builders and Central Valley business interests. (2) By blocking dam building on the Eel and Feather rivers. (3) By signing legislation to create the California Air Resources Board, which will lead to the nation's first tailpipe emissions standards.
4. Promote abortion rights and gay rights.
5. Support amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Would she have won last Tuesday? Fat chance. The hard conservatives and the Tea Party bunch would have hated her right out of the race, which would have been both ironic and weird considering that each of these were actions taken by the hero of the Right, Ronald Reagan, when he was governor.

Isn’t it time to replace Reagan’s picture on Far Right three-dollar bills with Rush or Glen Beck?<<< Jim’s Ice Cream Rule: Better to order too much than too little. Better to eat too little than too much.<<<

A TALE OF TWO HYPOCRITES

Hypocrite # 1: Let’s see now - Rush, the right-wing radio king, got married for the fourth time last week. So who did this gay-unfriendly guy who has opined that same-sex marriage would lead to people marrying dogs hire to sing at his reception? Formerly openly gay married Sir Elton John.

Hypocrite # 2: Why would John accept this gig? Because he had $1,000,000 reasons.<<<

The answer please: In the world of bailouts, why are banks and brokers too important to be allowed to fail while teachers and school districts are not?<<<

Action: In a recent television ad, Meg Whitman said that – “The human cost of unemployment is tragic.”

Reaction: Then why did you lay off so many people at eBay?

Action: At least 11 states have passed laws this year regulating or restricting abortion.

Reaction: Teens are not going to stop having sex. Women are not going to take unwanted pregnancies to term. By trying to legislate abortion morality, you only bring back closed doors and coat hangers and too often lose both the mother and the fetus.<<<

Integrate people, not gravy – Texas A&M quarterback Jerrod Johnson’s favorite meal comes with white gravy on his chicken fried steak and brown gravy on his mashed potatoes.

And, by the way, Johnson comes from a town that cannot possibly exist – Humble, Texas.<<<

I am: Tired! Tired! Tired – of hearing people being interviewed using the “Royal We.” It even sounds pompous when royalty (and presidents) use it. If you are talking about yourself say I.<<<

ALL ABOUT MOVIES

“The Karate Kid.” I am such a sentimental sap for “the bad shall fail, the good prevail” endings. I think that is why I liked the first “Karate Kid” so much. And the new version, which I saw Friday, is almost as good. Actually, almost may be selling it short, but it is hard to live up to, let alone exceed, good memories. One special thing going for this one is the spectacular Chinese setting.<<<

When I first saw advance clips of “The Hangover,” I muttered, “How stupid can a movie be?” But, surprisingly, the reviews were very favorable as were the opinions of several people I know. So, when it came to HBO, I recorded it. I watched it this past week and agreed with family, friends and critics. It was a funny movie and was worth my time. It was not “laugh out loud” for me, that’s probably reserved for younger minds and sensibilities, but I smiled often and enjoyed it.<<<

CLASSIC MOVIE REVIEWS

From About.com, while reviewing Eclipse: “When I watched the first Twilight movie, I thought it was probably one of the best comedies I'd ever seen. Then I found out it wasn’t meant to be a comedy.”

Kenneth Turan in the LA Times on “The A-Team:” “I pity the fool who mistakes this for genuine entertainment.”<<<

FYI: Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. (Ken's last name is Carson.)

SPORTS PAGE

Action: UCLA wins its 11th softball national championship; defeating archrival Arizona 6-5 and 15-9.

Reaction: I love the innocence and joy of women's softball. The participants give themselves permission to get excited and laugh and have fun.

Reaction # 2: I am amazed at the number of Californians playing on every team represented in the College Softball World Series.

Reaction # 3: Yes, there were a lot of home runs, but I didn’t mind. I hate the slap and run of “little ball.” But I am curious about how the great pitchers of the past like Lisa Fernandez and Jenny Finch would do today.<<<

Action: USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett, refusing to be contrite over the severe sanctions placed on his Trojans, had this to say: "As I read the decision by the NCAA," he told the group, "… I read between the lines and there was nothing but a lot of envy. They wish they all were Trojans."

Reaction: Surely Mark Twain was referring to Garrett when he said, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”

Action: Celtics win game four.

Reaction: After another miserable performance from their bench, the Lakers should demand that the Celtics man up for a starters only game.

Reaction # 2: Shame on you Lakers. The Celtics wanted it more.

Action: Lakers and Celtics all even at two games apiece.

Reaction: UCLA stopped Glen “Big Baby” Davis in the 2006 Final Four. Why can’t the Lakers do the same?

Reaction # 2: Phil Jackson should use a 4-man offense with Ron Artest never touching the ball.

Reaction # 3: The Buss family should be found guilty of contempt of court (court – get it?) if they do not re-sign Derek Fisher who is an absolute class act in this championship series, no, make that in these playoffs, no, make that of this season, no make that for his entire career.

Reaction # 4: Should Fish have been awarded 6 free throws on that fourth quarter drive in game 3, where he was fouled by three different Celtics?

Reaction # 5: Lamar! Lamar! Are you still asleep?<<<

Explaining the pictures - from top to bottom:

#1 Sunset from our room in Lake Oswego, OR

#2 The grounds at Willows, our hotel in Woodinville, WA

#3 While driving south on Interstate 5 in Oregon, we passed a pickup with one black sheep in the back. By chance, we both stopped at the next roadstop, where I took this picture.

#4 Sunset from our room in Mill Valley.