Never once had I embraced the notion of a New Year resolution until I was a senior in high school. Okies never have such deliberate idealistic resolve. It’s been tough enough just keeping one’s hand me down faded blue jeans clean and knees patched up. Let alone toss out to your close friends, “I’ll never again spit on the sidewalk” and expect to keep the New Year resolution. Believe me, it wasn’t easy growing up Okie in East L A.
But as radio and TV became our major source of information and socialization, we Okies finally caught on to the current year-end trends. My first resolution was to stop cussing around girls. But I quickly discovered girls cuss more than boys. So, there goes my first resolution. Gone away in a blur of expletives from a small pack of fowl mouthed Amazon teens. “Resolve THIS,” as they stuck a finger in my face.
However, I was exposed do this New Year resolution thing by school peers. High school guys wanting to impress their girlfriends that they could easily stop smoking and start brushing their teeth. All done at the same time. All combined into one simple packaged resolution. Tossing aside one bad habit and taking on a new and better one. Two for the price of one. How cool.
So then, I decided to try another New Year resolution and see if it would possibly work. With some further thinking, I surmised it might be best to try something easier. Something I know I could do and continue to do for at least a week or two.
After taking an inventory of my bad habits, I concluded that taking a bath more than once a week could be the resolution I could handle. I got the idea from a Dial Soap commercial. The TV commercial would portray a man who just showered and got dress.
The Dial Shower man showed him being followed and pursued by Glamour magazine beauties. Remember, this was 1961 TV. Nonetheless, this is all after “Mr. Shower man” had earlier been told he had significant body odor. Certainly a bad habit. A habit I myself just might be able to stop with the same logic. Possibly by showering twice a week or more. “I know I could do this.” How much is a bar of Dial soap?
However, my next resolution was to get a job. Yes. Work for money. Gainfully employed. Working in retail at a store no less. All for the purpose of buying secret personal items. Deodorant, soap, and toothpaste. All to complete the bathing experience. Something not commonly practiced beyond once a week among we Okies.
I use to think bathing was a time waster. But as I grew to enjoy a good warm shower, I began to take longer and longer baths. For sure a time waster.
But anyway, since that one senior year I fell into a habit of bathing at least twice a week. It is most amazing how resolve and practice makes good habits. Happy bathing everyone!
Friday, December 30, 2011
P T Barnum would have been a great political stratigest
It is one thing to see tasteless political attack ads on TV. But it’s even a sadder thing to know there are clueless people out there who believe these reckless political advertisements. Who out there believes this stuff? Once again, “Viewer bewares.” There is no consumer agency in place to protect the naïve TV viewer.
Just as George W H Bush and George W Bush to their party opponents (Bob Dole and John McCain), Mit Romney is perpetrating the same on Newt Gingrich. Lies and exaggerations. I’m certainly not saying Newt doesn’t deserve everything he gets but to do this is almost immoral as well as unethical.
Law should forbid TV and radio attack ads. Just talk of your own accomplishments and attributes. Show the voter why they should vote for you. Come to think of it, some candidates have no attributes or reasonable resume. Just a slanderous monologue.
The federal government should require by law a disclaimer to be placed the beginning of every political ad. Just to lest the viewer or listener know that there just might be some over statement or under statement about an opponent. Here is an example to place as a disclaimer:
“The voice you hear and the person’s lips you see moving just might be redesigning the truth about his or her opponent.
Or:
“What you believe is what you get”
Anyway, good luck. Remember the “Grain of salt” rule. However, when it comes to cooking up an omelet, use plenty of salt and pepper. Whaaat!
Just as George W H Bush and George W Bush to their party opponents (Bob Dole and John McCain), Mit Romney is perpetrating the same on Newt Gingrich. Lies and exaggerations. I’m certainly not saying Newt doesn’t deserve everything he gets but to do this is almost immoral as well as unethical.
Law should forbid TV and radio attack ads. Just talk of your own accomplishments and attributes. Show the voter why they should vote for you. Come to think of it, some candidates have no attributes or reasonable resume. Just a slanderous monologue.
The federal government should require by law a disclaimer to be placed the beginning of every political ad. Just to lest the viewer or listener know that there just might be some over statement or under statement about an opponent. Here is an example to place as a disclaimer:
“The voice you hear and the person’s lips you see moving just might be redesigning the truth about his or her opponent.
Or:
“What you believe is what you get”
Anyway, good luck. Remember the “Grain of salt” rule. However, when it comes to cooking up an omelet, use plenty of salt and pepper. Whaaat!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Iowa? Where is it?
Gale Collins had a very interesting and head scratching Op-Ed in the NY Times today. She ass the question what about Iowa and why should we care. And she is talking about the Iowa Republican caucuses.
She points out there are about, on a good clear and sunny day, a hundred thousand caucus participants. A population less than Boise, Idaho. Mostly white. Mostly affluent. Mostly overly religious. Mostly old. A segment of the social spectrum that is quickly becoming a minority. Insignificant. Irrelevant. Unyielding and stodgy.
Will the African-American community care? Will the Hispanic community care? Will L A, New York, Houston, or Chicago care? No, no, no, and no.
So why are there thousands of TV, cable, and print news media hounds floating about and all those satellite trucks parked hither and yon all over Iowa? Well, just watch the nightly news. It sells ads. It fills in all the blank spaces in the news. It’s reality TV and it’s cheap to produce. Most of all millions of Americans have nothing better to do but watch mindless broadcast and cable news. And is better than Desperate Housewives.
Fifty years ago Iowa was billed as the first voter’s poll. Back then when a more moderate voter attended the caucuses. Sometimes giving a reasonable cross section of Middle America thinking. Not so anymore. It has not followed the sociological and ethnic trends. Thus rendering it out of touch. Caught in a political time warp. Meaningless and almost silly. Iowa! Get a life!
She points out there are about, on a good clear and sunny day, a hundred thousand caucus participants. A population less than Boise, Idaho. Mostly white. Mostly affluent. Mostly overly religious. Mostly old. A segment of the social spectrum that is quickly becoming a minority. Insignificant. Irrelevant. Unyielding and stodgy.
Will the African-American community care? Will the Hispanic community care? Will L A, New York, Houston, or Chicago care? No, no, no, and no.
So why are there thousands of TV, cable, and print news media hounds floating about and all those satellite trucks parked hither and yon all over Iowa? Well, just watch the nightly news. It sells ads. It fills in all the blank spaces in the news. It’s reality TV and it’s cheap to produce. Most of all millions of Americans have nothing better to do but watch mindless broadcast and cable news. And is better than Desperate Housewives.
Fifty years ago Iowa was billed as the first voter’s poll. Back then when a more moderate voter attended the caucuses. Sometimes giving a reasonable cross section of Middle America thinking. Not so anymore. It has not followed the sociological and ethnic trends. Thus rendering it out of touch. Caught in a political time warp. Meaningless and almost silly. Iowa! Get a life!
Saving your children's lives is a job killer
One could only conclude that the protectors of the old fashion incandescent light bulb personally must have lots to lose. Losing as in investments in the coal burning electric company. More like losses in coal and hydrocarbon types of dirty generated energy.
As most of us know, the old fashioned incandescent light bulb is to be phased out come January one. The Edison light bulb is to be replaced by a more efficient lesser electricity-consuming bulb. Consuming less energy at least by 25-percent.
However, the coal burning power companies and their Congressional representatives don’t want this to happen. It will cut into profits. Profits made by selling mega watts of electricity. Also cut into profits from the coalmines. All of which seriously pollute the air, water, and ground. Polluted smoke filled air saturated with mercury and other heavy toxic metal particulates.
And it seems that only the Republicans are the defenders of the old style bulb. The bulb, which is more heat than light. Thus drawing more electricity that a more efficient CFL or LED light.
And we can only conclude that the Republicans in Congress are receiving the lion’s share of coal burning power company lobby money. Right? Right!
Republicans have created legislation to stop the energy saving bulbs. Plus encouraging the usage of the old fashioned Edison energy draining bulb. All done by claiming the government is interfering in our lives. More like interfering with the profits of the coalmine and electricity company’s shareholder profits.
So what the Republicans are saying in actuality is they must pollute the air and risk your lives and the lives of your children in order to make a profit. Right? Right! How else could it be? “Inefficiency and Pollution trumps good health. Get over it.”
As most of us know, the old fashioned incandescent light bulb is to be phased out come January one. The Edison light bulb is to be replaced by a more efficient lesser electricity-consuming bulb. Consuming less energy at least by 25-percent.
However, the coal burning power companies and their Congressional representatives don’t want this to happen. It will cut into profits. Profits made by selling mega watts of electricity. Also cut into profits from the coalmines. All of which seriously pollute the air, water, and ground. Polluted smoke filled air saturated with mercury and other heavy toxic metal particulates.
And it seems that only the Republicans are the defenders of the old style bulb. The bulb, which is more heat than light. Thus drawing more electricity that a more efficient CFL or LED light.
And we can only conclude that the Republicans in Congress are receiving the lion’s share of coal burning power company lobby money. Right? Right!
Republicans have created legislation to stop the energy saving bulbs. Plus encouraging the usage of the old fashioned Edison energy draining bulb. All done by claiming the government is interfering in our lives. More like interfering with the profits of the coalmine and electricity company’s shareholder profits.
So what the Republicans are saying in actuality is they must pollute the air and risk your lives and the lives of your children in order to make a profit. Right? Right! How else could it be? “Inefficiency and Pollution trumps good health. Get over it.”
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Your guess is as good as mine, maybe.
What a pathetic sight. The more these presidential hopefuls talk, the deeper they bury themselves in muck and mire. It’s like tossing sludge on a man sinking in a swamp when they have ill advised pronouncements. Down and down they go. Into a lagoon of manure. Holy cow!
There best hope is to just shut up. Say nothing and just smile. Or perhaps simply say I don’t know. Which by the way is the best response.
What single presidential nominee really knows what will happen if elected? All the promises in the world seldom become reality. Mostly wishful thinking. So, the best response to any policy question is to just say, “We’ll try our best.” Always there to thwart any good or reasonable proposal is US Congress. Congress and the judicial always have their two cents to toss in the pot. And as President Obama knows congress has a mind of it’s own. Recalcitrant, capricious, self-serving, contrary, vociferous, bellicose, bumptious, bloviating, and just thoughtless buffoons. How can any president work with people like that? They certainly don’t get much done.
But anyway, good luck to all the naïve Republican Presidential candidates. I’m sure we can find you a shovel. You’ll need it.
There best hope is to just shut up. Say nothing and just smile. Or perhaps simply say I don’t know. Which by the way is the best response.
What single presidential nominee really knows what will happen if elected? All the promises in the world seldom become reality. Mostly wishful thinking. So, the best response to any policy question is to just say, “We’ll try our best.” Always there to thwart any good or reasonable proposal is US Congress. Congress and the judicial always have their two cents to toss in the pot. And as President Obama knows congress has a mind of it’s own. Recalcitrant, capricious, self-serving, contrary, vociferous, bellicose, bumptious, bloviating, and just thoughtless buffoons. How can any president work with people like that? They certainly don’t get much done.
But anyway, good luck to all the naïve Republican Presidential candidates. I’m sure we can find you a shovel. You’ll need it.
A rear end retrospection
Greetings All,
What a crazy and hectic year this certainly has been. Many delightful things and events have taken place with our family. More than I can write about in this brief annual Holiday newsletter.
So instead of boring you with countless splendid family events, I have chosen to focus on one or two captivating experiences. So, stay with me here.
It all begins with being thankful for Medicare. Medicare is a true blessing for my lovely spouse and me. Nonetheless, it surely has come in handy this past year.
Let’s quickly start the enthralling timeline. It all began with an unbearable lower stomach pain. A pain so severe, it almost brought me to tears. Possibly a muscular or intestinal pain. I wasn’t certain. All I knew is, it really hurt like heck. So, I called my doctor.
However, by the time I got to visit with my doctor (actually a physicians Assistant) the pain had subsided and mostly had gone away. Never the less, I had a very good Q and A with our PA. She was most helpful and I discovered she came from my neck of the woods. Southern California. We had a marvelous chat. Remember now, I now live in Oklahoma but enjoy talking to people who know what’s going on.
But anyway, after much discussion and speculation, and to be safe, she suggested a colonoscopy. So, after several calls to the colonoscopy factory (medical group) they agreed to take Medicare as total payment. Therefore an appointment was made.
This, my Holiday friends, is where the fun now begins. After numerous medical questions and more repeated medical questions, I received my colonoscopy appointment. Plus they gave me a box filled with bottles of powdered drink to take with further instructions. Stay with me here. The narrative gets better.
I was instructed that 24-hours before my appointment time to start the “cleansing” process. Now follow this:
My appointment time was 7:30AM. So, I was to start my “liquid diet” 7:30 the morning before. Okay? I could only drink clear juices. O J, lemonade, tea, etc. So far, doesn’t sound too radical. Right?
However, 12-hours before the appointment I was to start the powdered mixture. Powder plus water. Mixed in a half-gallon container. Instruction were to drink a cup every 15-minutes until container is empty. Then repeat the drinking process over again in six hours. Making the repeat at 3:30 AM. Wake up and drink again. Are you with me?
Now here is where it really gets interesting. The powdered mixture tasted something like a mix of Jet fuel and camel urine. And, please forgive me if I am misrepresenting the taste. But it is the best comparison I know. But, I will have to admit I have never drank either liquids. But if you can imagine this, my assessment might be pretty close.
Nonetheless, I almost gagged and coughed it up. Then I went to beg sympathy from my wife but she insisted I go back and drink it all down. Justifying by her saying she had done the same thing earlier this year. So, I must drink that horrid stuff.
So, by 7:00 Am I had drank a full gallon of that dragon venom. It was horrid. It was awful. It must had been life threatening. It was ruining my life. I knew I wouldn’t survive. I am toast.
All of this is not to mention what happened as a result of drinking this elephant whiz. So I won’t involve you with describing my bowel cleansing. Just use your imagination.
Now to finalize this Holiday story, after I arrived at the Colon camera shop and being interrogated even once more, I was placed on a gurney and all faded to black. Absolutely no recall of the procedure. Once the ‘look-see’ was finished, I can’t tell you how I got out of the surgical gown and into my street clothes. I have no idea how I got home. It was all a magical medical mystery. And, I am home and will never ever go back to that toxic torture tank again.
My oh my. It’s a wonderful life. Isn’t it?
I wish you the most pleasant holidays ever. Best wishes,
Chuck Ayers
What a crazy and hectic year this certainly has been. Many delightful things and events have taken place with our family. More than I can write about in this brief annual Holiday newsletter.
So instead of boring you with countless splendid family events, I have chosen to focus on one or two captivating experiences. So, stay with me here.
It all begins with being thankful for Medicare. Medicare is a true blessing for my lovely spouse and me. Nonetheless, it surely has come in handy this past year.
Let’s quickly start the enthralling timeline. It all began with an unbearable lower stomach pain. A pain so severe, it almost brought me to tears. Possibly a muscular or intestinal pain. I wasn’t certain. All I knew is, it really hurt like heck. So, I called my doctor.
However, by the time I got to visit with my doctor (actually a physicians Assistant) the pain had subsided and mostly had gone away. Never the less, I had a very good Q and A with our PA. She was most helpful and I discovered she came from my neck of the woods. Southern California. We had a marvelous chat. Remember now, I now live in Oklahoma but enjoy talking to people who know what’s going on.
But anyway, after much discussion and speculation, and to be safe, she suggested a colonoscopy. So, after several calls to the colonoscopy factory (medical group) they agreed to take Medicare as total payment. Therefore an appointment was made.
This, my Holiday friends, is where the fun now begins. After numerous medical questions and more repeated medical questions, I received my colonoscopy appointment. Plus they gave me a box filled with bottles of powdered drink to take with further instructions. Stay with me here. The narrative gets better.
I was instructed that 24-hours before my appointment time to start the “cleansing” process. Now follow this:
My appointment time was 7:30AM. So, I was to start my “liquid diet” 7:30 the morning before. Okay? I could only drink clear juices. O J, lemonade, tea, etc. So far, doesn’t sound too radical. Right?
However, 12-hours before the appointment I was to start the powdered mixture. Powder plus water. Mixed in a half-gallon container. Instruction were to drink a cup every 15-minutes until container is empty. Then repeat the drinking process over again in six hours. Making the repeat at 3:30 AM. Wake up and drink again. Are you with me?
Now here is where it really gets interesting. The powdered mixture tasted something like a mix of Jet fuel and camel urine. And, please forgive me if I am misrepresenting the taste. But it is the best comparison I know. But, I will have to admit I have never drank either liquids. But if you can imagine this, my assessment might be pretty close.
Nonetheless, I almost gagged and coughed it up. Then I went to beg sympathy from my wife but she insisted I go back and drink it all down. Justifying by her saying she had done the same thing earlier this year. So, I must drink that horrid stuff.
So, by 7:00 Am I had drank a full gallon of that dragon venom. It was horrid. It was awful. It must had been life threatening. It was ruining my life. I knew I wouldn’t survive. I am toast.
All of this is not to mention what happened as a result of drinking this elephant whiz. So I won’t involve you with describing my bowel cleansing. Just use your imagination.
Now to finalize this Holiday story, after I arrived at the Colon camera shop and being interrogated even once more, I was placed on a gurney and all faded to black. Absolutely no recall of the procedure. Once the ‘look-see’ was finished, I can’t tell you how I got out of the surgical gown and into my street clothes. I have no idea how I got home. It was all a magical medical mystery. And, I am home and will never ever go back to that toxic torture tank again.
My oh my. It’s a wonderful life. Isn’t it?
I wish you the most pleasant holidays ever. Best wishes,
Chuck Ayers
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Time to reflect and enjoy
The Holiday season is going well. So, why spoil it with politics. Plus let’s limit comments about computers, websites, and Geekdom in general.
Hopefully Mit, Newt, Rick, Michele, John and the other schmucks will stay out of the news. Perhaps give us some time to reflect on what is good about America. Americans who care about their neighbors. Americans, who take time to share a bit of food, candy and gifts with those who are struggling and out of work.
God bless us all everyone! Merry Christmas Mr. Scrooge. Happy New Year America.
Hopefully Mit, Newt, Rick, Michele, John and the other schmucks will stay out of the news. Perhaps give us some time to reflect on what is good about America. Americans who care about their neighbors. Americans, who take time to share a bit of food, candy and gifts with those who are struggling and out of work.
God bless us all everyone! Merry Christmas Mr. Scrooge. Happy New Year America.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Just breathe in that wonderful Ozone. Aah.
So for the Republican Party and its leadership, it is best to protect energy jobs than to bow to such radical organizations such as the American Lung Association. Who needs clean air anyway? Just breathe that carbon right into your lungs. Asthma is just an old wives tale. Isn’t it? Ozone is for real men! “Where’s my leaf blower?”
I’m sure it’s not in the Republican policy book but clean air is a job killer. Clean drinking water is a job killer. To stop mountain top exploding for coal mining is a job killer.
How about some mercury with your drinking water? Or maybe, some fracked gas? What say? Pretty good stuff. Don’t ya think?
So, who cares if your children get leukemia? No concern of mine. They shouldn’t be playing outside anyway.
Oh really?
I’m sure it’s not in the Republican policy book but clean air is a job killer. Clean drinking water is a job killer. To stop mountain top exploding for coal mining is a job killer.
How about some mercury with your drinking water? Or maybe, some fracked gas? What say? Pretty good stuff. Don’t ya think?
So, who cares if your children get leukemia? No concern of mine. They shouldn’t be playing outside anyway.
Oh really?
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Earthlink! You did it again.
One more time my web hosting service has failed me. Earthlink cannot seem to get it right. My main webs website will not update. A problem I have encountered many times. Many times I called the kids in India and every once in a while they momentarily fix the problem. However, it keeps coming back. “Won’t update.”
This has been going on since July of this year. Immediately after Earthlink revised their system in early July, things have been going quickly to hell in a hand basket. Earthlink can’t seem to get a handle on this reoccurring problem. Nonetheless, almost each time I call my buds in India they sometimes come up with a temporary fix. However, a few days later it crashes again. Won’t update.
So, what to do besides call India in the morning. A title for a lovely tune. Hmm. Why don’t they call me instead?
This has been going on since July of this year. Immediately after Earthlink revised their system in early July, things have been going quickly to hell in a hand basket. Earthlink can’t seem to get a handle on this reoccurring problem. Nonetheless, almost each time I call my buds in India they sometimes come up with a temporary fix. However, a few days later it crashes again. Won’t update.
So, what to do besides call India in the morning. A title for a lovely tune. Hmm. Why don’t they call me instead?
I knew Ronald reagan and quite frankly you are not Ronald Reagan.
If Ronald Reagan were to reincarnate himself and return to the office of the President, all the TEA partiers, libertarians, far right fundamentalist, and all extremists to the right would be horrified of Reagan’s moderate and compromising politics. They totally ignore Reagan’s tax increases he signed in the 1980s. The far right has ignored his compromises with congress.
My point here is I wish the Rightist would stop invoking the name of Reagan and stop using his name in vain. The far right fundamentalist Republicans has obviously not read Reagan’s history and politics. So, just stop-it! Your invocations of Reaganism as being parallel to your own are obscene and completely false. Just stop your vain comparison!
My point here is I wish the Rightist would stop invoking the name of Reagan and stop using his name in vain. The far right fundamentalist Republicans has obviously not read Reagan’s history and politics. So, just stop-it! Your invocations of Reaganism as being parallel to your own are obscene and completely false. Just stop your vain comparison!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)