A Rhode Island Yankee in King George's Court

Transplant Evaluation Update

2012-01-17T11:18:00.000-08:00

Sometime ago I posted that I was in need of a dual heart and kidney transplant. The heart transplant is due to congestive heart failure (likely a late effect of radiation therapy in 1978) and the kidney transplant is due to kidney failure following triple bypass surgery last May.

Last we finally got to meet the transplant coordinator (at Oregon Heath & Science University - OHSU) in person and we both feel reassured that the official evaluation process is occurring. Here's where we are now. Each time we come in we are seen by one of the three lead docs on the heart transplant team. This time we saw Dr. Mudd. He's the "cup is half empty doc" but of the three we feel that he is doing the best to manage our expectations carefully. Overall, I am much stronger now due to cardiac rehab and my mental health is greatly improved also. While my heart and kidneys will not recover, I am doing better and getting stronger. Dr. Mudd is considering switching out my pacemaker for a biventricular defibrillator to help better regulate my heartbeat and make my heart stronger.

To help you understand a little better - a little background. In order to have a heart transplant the pressures in the pulmonary artery have to be low - say closer to 25 - 35. Back in July my pulmonary pressure was above 90. My pressure is quite visible in my neck and the docs can see how high it is by my turning my head to the left and visually seeing the pressure or heartbeat in my neck. A little pressure on my abdomen and it picks up rapidly. The only way that we can help to control this is by removing more fluid through dialysis. Currently I go to dialysis 3x week and they remove between 2 and 4 kgs of fluid each time. In dialysis you have what is called a "dry weight" or the weight that is agreed to be the lowest they can get you down to. Each time I attend dialysis I am weighed before and after treatment. Originally when I started in July they set my target at 92 kgs after dialysis. This was hard to achieve because my blood pressure is very low. This is normal for final stage heart failure patients but the dialysis professionals don't always understand that. So they have been bringing my dry weight up - I am at 95 kgs now and my pulmonary pressures are remaining too high.

Unless we can get the pulmonary pressure down and my dry weight closer to 90 kgs, I won't be considered for a transplant. Its just not possible to match a healthy heart of similar weight and size when my pressure is running so high. So I may be starting start dialysis 4x a week in the hopes of getting more fluid off. The side effects are unbearable cramping (the kind where my hands contort in cramps and my legs cramp all night long) and exhaustion. I've had another catheter put in my abdomen in preparation for home peritoneal dialysis (PD) as opposed to the clinic hemodialysis which is what I am doing now. Once I am on PD I will do it 7 days a week at home. It will be less stressful on me physically and I can take the set up with me if we travel. Both my wife and I have to go through intensive training before that can start. We expect the training to be completed and hopefully I can begin the home dialysis in March.

Meanwhile, on the transplant side, I will complete various doctor visits and receive releases from the doctors and dentists. We will visit with the social worker and other members of the transplant team in coming months. It is expected that we will complete the evaluation process within the next several months. Once completed, our transplant coordinator will present our case to both the heart and kidney transplant teams and they will decide if I am a candidate for the transplant. Even if I do get on the list there is no guarantee that I will receive a transplant.

Health Update

2011-08-27T18:34:00.000-07:00

I have been reluctant to post any news regarding my health; I did not want to appear to be trying to elicit sympathy or just plain whining. Christina, who is a friend and neighbor as well another cancer survivor, suggested that I should update this blog with my recent news.

A quick recap: I was treated for Stage IIIB Hodgkins Lymphoma with chemotherapy and radiation during 1976 and 1978. I have been cancer free since. Late effects, however, began occurring in the late 1990’s, including congestive heart failure (1998) and atrial fibrillation (2003).

The fibrillation returned in 2010. A pacemaker was installed in November 2010, but the fibrillation continued and the CHF got worse. In April 2011, various tests confirmed that I had coronary artery disease. On May 17 triple-bypass surgery was performed. That was successful, but my kidneys failed shortly thereafter and I have been on dialysis since June. Also, the surgery indicated that I had severe radiation fibrosis further impacting my heart. Additional tests indicated that the CHF is very severe and that the best course for me will be a dual heart and kidney transplant within the next two years. Without the heart transplant, my cardiologist gives me a 50/50 chance of surviving for two years.

So, if any of you who read this have any experience with heart and kidney transplants, I’d welcome your comments!

2011-05-15T17:23:00.000-07:00

I've been quiet since February, trying to get healthy but not succeeding. Following a couple more stints in the hospital, it has been determined that I need a triple bypass operation, to occur on Tuesday 5/17. With any luck, I'll be out of the hospital come Saturday 5/21, just in time for the Rapture! Can't wait to see the look of disappointment on on the believers' faces. I wonder what the billboards will be changed to?

A RI Yankee's Tea Party

2011-02-03T23:04:00.000-08:00

Obviously, I am an unabashedly liberal conservative in the strict-constructionist camp of non-revisionist history, geography and baseball hagiography. Certain things mystify me; others just bewilder me. Really, I just do not understand. As Elvis Costello sings, “I used to be disgusted, now I’m just amused.”

Well-off, educated, employed, older mainly European-Americans (so-called white folks) are the vast majority of Tea Party members and call themselves “Patriots.” The “system” has worked for them: they are well off, educated and employed or retired! They want to take “their” country back… from themselves? If the Tea Partiers that I see on TV or those who watch Fox (not really the) News, or Glenn Beck or Sean Hannity, were aboriginal native Amerindians I would say “Go For It!” No, the Tea Party members are the actual Caucasian winners; so they want what? A bigger, better victory? A Marcus Garvey solution? A return to ante-bellum times?

The governors of Virginia (Bob McDonald) and Mississippi (Haley Barbour) are celebrating the memories of Confederate veterans. Virginia and Mississippi are part of the southern USA, an area that currently claims to be more American and patriotic than the east coast, west coast or the (Yankee) north. The Civil War (or The War Between the States, in the southern idiom) was not about slavery or rebellion against the greater United States, it was about “states rights.” In a narrow way I agree: a state’s right to allow slavery within its borders. Slavery is/was wrong, therefore the Confederacy was wrong to insist upon slavery as a state’s right and was wrong to rebel against the federal government. The Civil War was a treasonous, terrorist act against the United States. Treasonous, terrorist acts against the United States are sometimes punished with execution (see Eddie Slovik, Sacco & Vanzetti, and Timothy McVeigh, amongst others). The treasonous Confederate rebels were compassionately pardoned (for the most part) and went on to found such stalwart American patriotic institutions as the Ku Klux Klan, the spiritual antecedent to many of today’s militias. They believe that the second amendment is gospel but want to repeal the fourteenth amendment. They believe that the founding fathers were perfect, a group that thought that slaves were worth only 3/5 of a human being for representation purposes, but not human for moral purposes. WTF, indeed.

Many of these American Patriots that are members of the Tea Party believe that Barack Obama is a Muslim. It should make no difference what folly a person believes in, so long as that person is performing their duties. Many of the same folks believe that Obama was born in Kenya and is, thus, not an American citizen. Many of the same folks equate Obama with Adolph Hitler, while calling Obama a Marxist. (OK, they are not that well educated, confusing a Marxist and/or a Nazi with a centrist Democrat. If you listen to Hannity and Beck religiously enough, anything is possible.) This as they shout out to Obama to “keep the government hands off my Medicare!” Many of these folks are screaming about their taxes, without realizing that they are paying less in taxes than they did under their fiscal god Ronald Reagan and his illegitimate acolyte George W. Bush. Hey, Ayn Rand used Medicare and collected social security.

The common thread here, to me, seems to be racism; similar to the racism that dominated baseball and caused the game to be restricted between the careers of Moses Fleetwood Walker and Jackie Robinson. How could a black man play baseball with a white man? How could a black person be president over white people?

And now, Sarah Palin has a WTF moment (she said it, not me) and gets it all wrong about sputnik; Michelle Bachman just gets it all wrong and misinterprets her own chart. I rather like this Tea Party stuff. Reminds me of the Know Nothing Party of the mid-1800’s.

Damn, that rant felt good!

Moose Juice

2011-01-28T23:51:00.000-08:00

On our epic pilgrimage to Evansville IN in 1971 for the NCAA Division II hoop Elite 8 tournament, after learning what it meant to have the bridge freeze before the highway (see my post of April 2009), we did get to see some great basketball. In the first round, Assumption College and Southwest Louisiana State, despite both being ranked either No.1 or No.2 depending upon which national poll you read, played against each other. Of course, the tournament was held on the home court of the University of Evansville (they competed in Division II in those days) and as hosts of the tourney, Evansville, apparently, had some say in the pairings. In the second round, they got to play the winner of the AC / SWL bloodbath.

The AC / SWL game was a superb run and gun battle, with the Ragin’ Cajuns winning the slugfest 110-99 (if my memory serves me well). The next night, the Evansville Aces easily defeated the weary and spent Cajuns. Luck of the draw or canny scheduling?

But this is about the party after the Hounds’ defeat by the Cajuns!

The party was held in the hotel where some of the teams and many of the fans were staying (that hotel was converted later to some sort of residency – Ken Szymanski would know about this from his days as a city planner in Evansville). People and players were everywhere; bathtubs were full of beer and wine coolers. Cheerleaders were pouring beer down players’ throats (other teams’ players, of course). Someone had brought a mechanical hockey game and guys were sitting on the floor playing the game.

As I wandered about the hotel, it became apparent that I had run out of my beverage of choice that evening (scotch). I met some of the good folks from Old Dominion University (VA) who offered me some of the “punch” that they were drinking. I had a taste. Pretty sweet-tasting stuff without much kick, I thought to myself. “Have some more of the Moose Juice, y’all,” they said, “but be careful – it sneaks up on you!” “What’s in it,” I asked. “Fruit cocktail and grain alcohol,” they replied. Within the hour I was virtually blind.

At some point approaching midnight, it was decided that we had to head back to our motel. Jim could drive, but he did not know the way. Lou could not drive and also did not know the way, but he could (barely) read the signs. I could not drive and could not see, but I knew the way. So, Lou navigated, read the signs and I barked orders. Jim followed my directions and drove while John moaned “we’re all gonna die!”

We made it back to the motel. We did not die. But later that early morning as we attempted to sober up, we listened to Radio Havana (heard very clearly on the AM dial) break news of a wholesale retreat of US and South Vietnamese forces in the face of a furious Viet Cong and North Vietnamese attack. CBS, NBC, ABC and the Pentagon all spoke of a strategic withdrawal. History later informed us that Radio Havana was correct.

Yeah, we drank too much and maybe Jim was a little too “tired” to be driving, but it was 1971 and, damn it, we were in Evansville! Ken, did they really convert that hotel to a residence after that party?

Remembering Steve Morris

2011-01-27T15:56:00.000-08:00

It was Fall Semester 1970 at Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts. I had been thrown out of a Philosophy class because I was neither a major, minor, senior or junior. As I was departing that classroom, I encountered Professor Jim Barbato, from whom I had taken an environmental science class the previous semester. He had seats remaining in his current Oceanography class, so I quickly signed up and joined the first meeting of a class that would change my life in so many ways.

While I was familiar with Prof. Barbato, I do not remember knowing anyone else in the class that first day. Somehow I ended up sitting and becoming friends with Lou Boyatzi and Steve Morris. That led to friendships with several other folks, including Brendan Bierch, Ed (Chick) Chalmers, and a host of others.

A little over 40 years later, I am saddened to learn of Steve’s recent death in an email message from Brendan. I had not seen Steve in several years, but had remained somewhat connected via email and the Assumption College website. Most recently, I had emailed him complaining that the Phillies had stolen my birthday present by signing Cliff Lee. His reply: “Heh, heh!” I could hear his voice.

So many “Steve” stories. Most people addressed him as “Merc,” and the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, in its recent article on Steve’s death, remarked that the late Assumption College basketball coach Joe O’Brien nicknamed Steve “Merc” during a gym class. True, but the whole story of the naming reveals much about Steve and his character. I remember that day well.

It was a Monday morning, a Monday that followed a Sunday wherein the flamboyant, speedy and talented flanker/running back/kick returner Mercury Morris of the Miami Dolphins had ignominiously fumbled at least two kickoff returns. In the open gym class, we were engaged in a touch football game in which Coach O’Brien served as the designated quarterback for both squads. Somehow, Steve managed to sneak into the open several times and Coach hit him square on the numbers on each occasion. Somehow, Steve managed to drop each of Coach’s perfect tosses. “Just like Mercury Morris,” chortled Coach O’Brien. Of course, Steve was slightly less fleet of foot than the professional Mercury Morris, but the name stuck. Steve became Merc. Sure, Coach O’Brien had teased Steve by calling him Merc, but Steve saw all of the irony and humor and adopted his new name. “Merc72” was on his auto registration plates and "Merc" in his email address.

In the process of getting to know each other, Steve quickly found out that I was not only a fan of the hated New York Yankees, but that I rooted for the Chicago Black Hawks as well. Bobby Hull was my favorite player. One morning, upon my arrival at Zip’s (then the day-hop or commuter’s hangout) Steve solemnly informed me that Hull had been traded to the Bruins for chump change and a case of stale Narragansett beer. “I just heard it on WBZ,” he informed me. All day long I moped around campus, finding it hard to believe. As I was cutting through the gym on my way to a class, Coach O’Brien paused to speak with me, saying “Sorry to hear about Hull going to the Bruins, Mike. You must be heartbroken.” Later that day, Assumption’s All-American basketball payer Jake Jones stopped me to say the same thing. Of course, it was all a great practical joke set up magnificently by Steve. Steve’s comment the following day when I sheepishly acknowledged his yanking of my chain and pulling of both my legs: “Heh, heh!”

Steve got me a small position as a statistician with the athletic department. Mostly, I kept track of steals, rebounds and the like during JV and varsity basketball teams. I got to travel with the team on many trips, including Washington DC to take on Catholic University and Georgetown University and most games throughout New England and New York. It was great fun and I owe it all to Steve. One of the most exciting tasks I performed was to help compile and then deliver the halftime and final stats to the radio and television broadcasters. During the heyday of Assumption basketball in the 70’s, that meant hobnobbing with Tom Heinsohn and Bob Cousy.

When I was in graduate school at Western Kentucky University, I made it a point to meet Steve and his good pal Fr. Ed Chalmers at the old NCAA Division II tournament in Evansville, IN. Steve got me press credentials for the games.

So many memories of Steve: sports trivia contests, meatball grinders at his uncle’s pizza shop in Shrewsbury, word games, bad jokes, cold-cut grinders and root beer at Zip’s, driving Bentley College’s basketball coach to Robert’s Arena in Evansville, insulting Bobby Goldsboro in Evansville at the Executive Inn, Queen burgers at some god-forsaken diner in Reynoldsburg, OH (“Ya gotta go to the restroom and see for yourself…”).

Yesterday, Wednesday January 26, I spoke about Steve with Fr. Ed – Ed was in Worcester at St. Stephen’s parish and I was in Larkspur CA visiting my father-in-law. Our conversation started sadly, but ended in laughter as we reminded each other of the joy that we shared over these 40 years (more for Ed) of friendship with Mercury Morris. Ed and I made plans to visit the next time I am in Worcester. I am sure that we will talk about Merc.

See Ya 2010!

2011-01-27T15:49:00.000-08:00

2010 was not a good year. Too much unpleasantness, sadness and grief - never mind ill health and Wammo leaving the Asylum Street Spankers. And Carl Crawford signing with the Red Sox, Cliff Lee with the Phillies and the Bronx Bombers making do with the likes of Bartolo Colon, Rafael Soriano and Mark Prior. And I turned 60. Oy vey!

Joe wants to "Keep Your Team Out of My Book"

2010-04-19T19:38:00.000-07:00

I usually enjoy Joe Queenan's columns and essays wherever I encounter them, as well as his rare appearances on TV shows such as Bill Maher's Real Time on HBO. His essay in last Sunday's (April 18, 2010) New York Times Book Review is exceptionally funny, especially for baseball fans. Yankee-haters will laugh out loud love it. I have to say that even I laughed out loud several times; it is just a wonderful piece about cultural realities. A link to the essay is provided here. Enjoy!

Doctor Who?

2010-04-03T19:20:00.000-07:00

So the country has a new health care law in place. Note that I did not write that the "nation" has a new "health care reform" law. First, I submit to you that the USA is NOT a nation, especially if you consider the animosity we direct to each other as recently exhibited by the so-called patriots of the Tea Party ilk. The USA does not support the classic definition of a nation as is taught in political science and political geography courses (except in Texas, but that is another story for another tirade). Nor has health care been "reformed." A single-payer or universal health care law would be health care reform; the new law reforms only certain aspects of health care coverage and insurance company policy. Much more has yet to be done.

I read this morning in that drearily middle-of-the-road rag known as the New York Times that some doctor in Florida placed signage on his door demanding that Obama supporters go elsewhere for their health care. Not so unusual here in Corvallis, OR where a much respected physician has refused to provide health care to me because I am too ill and take too many medications (I'll give you his name if you ask offline). Health care in this country must be really reformed so that people in Florida and Oregon (and the other 48 states, also - assuming that Rick Perry hasn't led Texas to secede this weekend) can be treated by any and all physicians. No physician should be allowed to practice if she/he chooses to refuse care based upon politics and disease!

My Mosi Tatupu Story

2010-02-25T21:28:00.000-08:00

“What is Mosi Tatupu’s photo doing in the New York Times?” I asked myself this morning over a cup of coffee and some hot steel cut oatmeal. “Oh,” I answered aloud as I read the sad news of his death at only 54. This is my Mosi Tatupu story.

In the early 1980’s I worked as a clerk in a stereo and photo store (Audio Concepts) in the Attleboro Falls section of North Attleboro, Massachusetts. Due to the store’s proximity to Foxborough, the site of the New England Patriots home stadium (then called Sullivan Stadium, if I remember correctly), a number of the Patriots players lived in the area and shopped at the store for their toys. Amongst the players that I remember were Steve Grogan, Roland James, Larry McGrew, Lin Dawson and Mosi Tatupu. McGrew was a very nice man who once greeted me by name in a record shop near Boston. Dawson once approached the store with a pair of Bozak speakers, one under each arm. If you know Bozak (not Bose!) you know how strong Dawson was. Roland James picked up his repaired cassette deck just a couple of days after he had fumbled two punts and/or kickoffs in a game against the Miami Dolphins. One of the other clerks cautioned him not to fumble the deck. But my favorite Patriot was Mosi Tatupu.

Every time that he came into the store (or so it seemed) he was with his wife Linnea. One year they brought an early 60’s GM classic California car to the store to have a stereo installed. Another time, Mosi lusted after a new Sony Walkman (they were very much the hot item that year) and Linnea told him that he could get one if he scored a touchdown that Sunday. He did and he got his Walkman the next week. As was always the case, Linnea paid with a check. They always seemed so friendly, so serene and so approachable.

I do not watch much pro football these days and I cannot say that I know the players as well as I did when Mosi played special teams with aplomb and was a very reliable third-down addition to the backfield. I did get excited a couple of years ago when Mosi’s son Lofa joined the Seattle Seahawks. Whenever they play on TV, I try to watch a defensive series or two to see Lofa play linebacker. Next season, I’ll try to watch a little more.

A Letter From a Reds Fan...

2010-02-07T21:00:00.001-08:00

Several years ago, when Bubbie and I lived in Texas, I became acquainted with a newspaperman in Rockdale, Texas by the name of Mike Brown. Here’s the scoop.

Some historical cemeteries in Texas were being recognized for their esteemed contents and Bubbie’s father’s cousin in Israel had heard about it. A relative of Pop’s (Bubbie’s dad) was, apparently, buried in a cemetery in Rockdale and the Israeli cousin had contacted Pop and wondered if he (Pop) would attend the dedication ceremonies. No, he would not, but Pop contacted Bubbie who asked me to find out what the real story was.

I contacted the Rockdale newspaper’s office who put me in touch with an editor (Mike Brown) at the paper (The Rockdale Reporter) . Mike had recently written an article about the upcoming dedication and informed me that the cemetery was being dedicated as a repository of the remains of Confederate Civil War veterans. Coincidentally, Pop’s ancestor was also buried there, in the segregated “Jewish” section of the cemetery. Pop’s ancestor, a fellow with the last name of “Crown” had died in a fire at a local hotel, leading to his permanent residency in Rockdale.

Crown is actually the Anglicized version of the name “Crohn.” Another relative if this Mr. Crown is Dr. Burrill Crohn who described the disease named after him in 1932. Dr. Crohn was Pop’s uncle. All of this, however, is anther story for another time. This is about Mike Brown.

I e-mailed Mike after the Yankees clinched number 27 in November 2009. Because I know that Mike is a devout Cincinnati Reds fan, I teased him about being a Yankees hater. Here is his reply.

Gee Michael,

I don't know why anyone would possibly classify me as a Yankee hater.

Doesn't everybody use the term "bloated plutocrats?"

As I've previously told you I was rooting for the Yankees against the Phillies for obscure and cabalistic reasons of my own involving the 1975-76 Reds.

Since this is me, my reactions to the WSJ (Wall Street Journal) article are unique and several degrees off center.

I love the way the WSJ refers to "Mr. Sabathia (they spelled his last name
Incorrectly…), Mr. Rodriguez and Mr. Teixeira. " At this newspaper we only "Mr." somebody in obituaries. Guess you have to die to get any respect.

What a law firm that would make, Sabathia, Rodriguez and Teixeira. How many
people do you know who would have to take a pay cut to become an attorney?
Sorry, I guess that re-tort was out of line.

And, of course, that made me think of Groucho's law firm in "Animal Crackers."
Hungadunga, Hungadunga, Hungadunga and McCormick.

Then I got copied on a reply to you from Mr. Menard who referred to "doyens
of the Red Sox nation." Wow, have they ever fallen. I would have thought
it would have been hundreds instead of just doyens.

Which made me think about either Roger Angell or Roger Kahn who wrote about
trying to get the word "cerebration" into print three times and each time an
editor changed it to "celebration."

Probably a Yankee fan.

Mike

The End of Pain?

2010-02-07T17:02:00.001-08:00

The attached ad for a “Copper Magnetic Therapy Jesus Bracelet” was in this morning’s Red Plum coupon supplement to the Corvallis Gazette-Times (04/06/10). It just may be in your Sunday newspaper, also! Not only has Dream Products harnessed the power of copper and magnets for their reputed therapeutic powers, they apparently have contracted the services of Jesus Christ himself. Having much chronic pain myself, as well as being a noted pain in the ass at times, I am intrigued. The cynic in me, however, wonders if this item would be better as a dog-style collar. Maybe the fine folks at www.Mixedspecies.com will create something!

Travels with Bubbie: 11/27/2009 - 11/30/2009

2009-11-30T22:34:00.000-08:00

Bubbie and I went back and forth to/from Seattle to visit with Sarah and Gannet over the weekend. Gannet was lots of fun (so was Sarah!) and we took in the Seattle Aquarium, Pike Place and some Northwest seafood. We sampled Northwest-style clam chowder at Ivar's, Anthony's Pier 66, and and the hotel restaurant at the Waterfront Marriott. All OK and different, but maybe Ivar's white chowder was the better of the bunch. Their red was mediocre and their fish and chips would have been awful if the chips hadn't been acceptable. At least they offered malt vinegar. Being a Ye Olde English fan, I am rather finicky (OK, pissy) about F&C, and I really haven't been completely satisfied. Sea J's in Port Townsend, WA is consistently good and I had good F&C at the Word of Mouth in Salem, OR (although it seemed to be a one-time special on the day I was there).

The weather was decent and the scenery from the hotel room at the Waterfront Marriott was excellent, overlooking Elliot Bay. Gannet loved watching the ferries, container ships, tugs and gulls do their thing; Bubbie and I enjoyed watching Gannet do his thing!

News From the 9th Circle

2009-11-20T21:51:00.000-08:00

This morning I read in the Corvallis (OR) Gazette-Times that Texas had executed another post-birth human being. Nothing unusual in that for the Lone Star State, a political entity that values potential people far more than it does living, breathing humans. Be that as it may (I abhor abortion, but I abhor executions more). This particular case, however, is even more egregious than the usual callous disregard for human life and common sense that Texas Governor Rick Perry exhibits.

There is no question that the person who was executed (Robert Lee Thompson) was a criminal and deserved to be in jail. And because a clerk (Mansoor Bhai Rahim Mohammed) in the store that Thompson and his partner in crime (Sammy Butler) robbed was killed, Thompson received the death penalty.

Here is why Rick Perry has earned (not for the first time) my scorn. During the commission of the crime, Butler was the gunman and Thompson was the accomplice. Butler shot and killed Mohammed. Butler received a life sentence. I do not know the circumstances as to why there was such a difference in the sentences. In any event, the sentences were not Rick Perry’s doing or fault.

Thompson’s lawyer argued before the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles that Thompson’s punishment, compared to Butler’s, was unfair. The Board agreed in a 5-2 decision on November 18, 2009 and recommended that Thompson’s sentence be commuted to life. Perry disagreed and Thompson was executed on Thursday.

The callous disregard for human life and common sense that Rick Perry has exhibited since he became governor when W was appointed to the presidency by an activist Supreme Court is such that he should be booted out of office as soon as possible. Nine years is enough of this despicable man’s insane tenure. He should be retired to his appropriate Circle of Hell.

Number 27

2009-11-06T12:43:00.000-08:00

I did not write the following quoted comments about the Yankees (David Schoenfield of ESPN.com wrote it on November 5, 2009; see the Page 2 section). I just had to present it here for the Red Sox fan from the West Brookfield, MA area who gave me such a ration of effluent back in the spring. Since I could not have said it better, here are David's words:

“Remember back on May 12 when they were 15-17 and 6½ games out of first place? You were mocking them at the time, weren't you? You know you were. So, if you hate the Yankees, it's probably your fault they won. They took that mocking and spit it right back in your face.”

As I am fond of saying to Red Sox fans, "Talk to me in October." I saluted you and the Red Sox in October 2004 (especially that year!) and October 2007. I am listening...but there is no real need to say anything. You spoke volumes in the spring!

Capitalism is Dead!

2009-10-26T18:15:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, International Paper (IP) announced that it would close its Millersburg, OR Kraft paper plant in December. 240 people will be laid-off, bringing the total of folks who have lost their jobs at this facility in 2009 to 270.

A few days earlier, we viewed Michael Moore’s new documentary, “Capitalism: A Love Story” at the local Regal Cinema theater. There were about ten people in attendance.

A couple of weeks ago, we viewed another documentary, “Flow,” about how water companies such as Nestle and Vivendi are vying to control water distribution throughout the world.

Last weekend, we viewed an HBO documentary called “Schmata: Rags to Riches to Rags,” about the collapse of New York’s garment district.

Of course, we all know about Wall Street getting bailed out and we, the people, getting the shaft.

Indeed, it’s the end of capitalism as we know it, and I do NOT feel fine!

Michael Jackson Ruined My Life!!!!!

2009-10-26T17:17:00.000-07:00

I was supposed to be on the cover of People Magazine on February 5, 1996. Let me explain.

In June 1995 I started working for a Westfield, MA environmental engineering firm (Tighe and Bond) as a hydrogeologist and environmental scientist. On December 11, 1995 I was watching some unremembered television program on Boston’s channel 7 when the program was interrupted with live video from a fire at a factory (Malden Mills) in Methuen, MA. It was a very spectacular fire; “Story at 11” stated the excited reporter. The following Monday morning I arrived at work and was summoned to my boss’s office.

“Did you hear about that fire in Methuen?” asked Evan. I replied that I had. “Well,” he continued, “the job of monitoring the cleanup is ours. What are you doing for the next few months?”

The fire had destroyed several buildings of the Malden Mills textile complex, the damaged area covering approximately five acres. It was feared that hazardous materials had been released in the fire, and the buildings were known to contain various chemicals as well as sources of radiation. Over the course of the next nine months, until August 1996, I managed the environmental assessment and remediation of the site.

A major story associated with the fire and its aftermath was the above-and-beyond-the-call-of-duty response by the owner of Malden Mills (Aaron Feuerstein). He kept employees on the payroll and continued their health coverage as long as he could, winning accolades far and wide. President Bill Clinton invited Mr. Feuerstein to the 1996 State of The Union Address and acknowledged him as a model of corporate responsibility. Such was the fervor over Mr. Feuerstein’s actions that he was scheduled for a cover story in People Magazine.

A photographer arrived onsite in Methuen on a cold January morning. The Malden Mills environmental technician that was working with me (Fernando Cruz is his name) helped to apprise the photographer of the likely hazards on the property. The photographer already had shot lots of film in the corporate offices and needed some shots of the fire-ravaged area. Mr. Feuerstein wanted a photograph of himself with the iconic Malden Mills clock tower rising behind him amid the rubble.

The photographer felt that the pose was “too sterile” and suggested that Fernando and I get into the background. Dressed in our yellow Tyvek© coveralls, we hurried out into the rubble and got ourselves in the background of the photograph. Several days later, we were informed that the shot with Fernando and I in it was scheduled to be on the cover of the February 5, 1996 People!

Imagine our chagrin when Lisa Marie Presley walked out on Michael Jackson just in time to bump us off the cover of the February 5, 1996 edition of People Magazine!!! The full-page photograph, however, did make it into that issue, buried deep into the back of that worthless rag. You can look it up! (I still have copies!)

Now wait One...

2009-09-24T22:06:00.000-07:00

Have I converted to Judaism? No. I am still a non-believer, not just a doubter. When I presented Rabbi Alan with my feelings some time ago, he said (and I an paraphrasing here) "Forget about God for the moment. Judaism is about morals and ethics: how to live." We have had more than a few discussions such as this; and more talk about baseball. So this endeavor of mine is not an adoption of Judaism or an abandonment of atheism. It is part of my curiosity about religion(s).

So, what am I currently reading? I an re-reading Richard Dawkins "The God Delusion." And I recently completed re-reading Bart Ehrman's "Mis-Quoting Jesus."

Rosh Hashanah 5770

2009-09-24T21:56:00.000-07:00

My friend Alan Freedman is rabbi at Temple Beth Shalom in Austin, TX. I truly value his friendship, good humor and teaching. He is also a Phillies fan, which I know some of us will understand that he has done his share of suffering on this planet. Incidentally, Margot and I recently joined Alan's congregation. Yes, Temple Beth Shalom accepts Yankees fans and (severely) lapsed Roman Catholics. Here is his Saturday morning Rosh Hashanah adress for this year:

Rosh Hashanah 5770

Let me tell you at the outset that this is a very personal sermon. In sharing some of what is on my mind this Rosh Hoshanah, I hope it will help others who might be sharing the same theological struggles. This Rosh Hashanah morning, I find myself longing for an understanding of God’s will for me in this upcoming year. I want to know what God has in mind for my life and how I can live in accordance with that plan? I want to have the kind of faith that will allow me to entrust my life to God’s care. Now that may be a somewhat unusual expression to be heard in a synagogue. The idea that God has a plan for our lives and that we should entrust our lives to God is often associated with evangelical preachers.

Rarely, will you hear a rabbi address matters of faith. Rabbis deliver sermons concerning matters of duty. The reason for this is that the most prominent theology contained in Torah is that we express our love for God by obeying God’s commandments and in exchange God refrains from smiting us. Thus, the focus of the Jewish intellectual tradition, in which we rabbis are all trained, is that the access to God’s will is through better understanding of the laws, rules and regulations so that we might better observe them. Obedience results in blessing, disobedience results in curse. Moreover, behaviors are usually addressed on a community-wide basis. Blessings and curses in the Bible generally are dispensed on the entire people Israel and rarely, if ever, addressed to individuals.

Yet, I want something more. I want to believe that God knows of my existence and that God cares about me. The God that we encounter during the Days of Awe seems so remote, sitting off in heaven somewhere with a big book, deciding who shall live and who shall die. This morning, I feel confronted by the God of justice while I crave the God of mercy. I want to know the God in the prayer that we will utter in a few moments before the open ark: Adonai, Adonai, el rachum v’hanum; erech apayim v’rav hesed, v’emet—Adonai, Adonai, God who is merciful and gracious, endlessly patient, loving and true.

But where is that God to be found? The Judaism in which I was raised was always so demanding. Al shalosha devarim, the existence of the world depends on three things, the Sages tell us, al haTorah, obedience to the laws of Torah; al haavodah, ritual observance; v’al gimilut hasadim, and acts of loving kindness towards others. But how does that help me in moments of personal or family crisis, when I am weary, or when I am seeking meaning for my life? I long for a personal relationship with God. But what does that mean and where do we find it in Judaism?

Well, for one, we find it in the lives of two of our matriarchs, Sarah and Rachel, and in this morning’s haftorah, in the story of Hannah. While it is Reform practice on Rosh Hashanah to read the Akedah, the story of the binding of Isaac, the traditional text for this day is the story of the birth of Isaac. Why? Because the Talmud tells us that this is the day on which God pokaid, took note, of Sarah and opened her womb as the Holy One had promised. Talmud also tells us that on this day, God yiskor, remembered, another matriarch, Rachel, and granted her a son. For, the text tells us, God heard Rachel’s prayers and responded to them.

These two ideas, that God both pokaid and yizchor, takes notice and remembers, are combined in this morning’s haftorah, the story of Hannah. Hannah is a woman who is barren and prays to God for a child. In response, the haftorah text tells us, God yizkoreha, God remembers her and grants her a son, the prophet Samuel. But in the next chapter, since Hannah had fulfilled her promise to dedicate Samuel to the service of God, God pakod, takes note of her, and she is granted more children.

These two terms, pokaid and yizkor, are the foundation of why we are here today. We are here to seek God’s notice and to be remembered as God’s children. We see this in the three themes of the verses that are recited during the shofar service. Yes, there are the malchuyot, the verses that say that God is ruler over all the earth. But then there are zichronot, the verses that tell us that God remembers us, that we are worthy of God’s notice. And then the shofarot verses, calling us to teshuvah but also calling us to God’s attention.

It is important to note, however, that God’s remembrance and notice are not automatic. For we are told that Hannah cried out to God from morat nefesh, the anguish of her being. Hannah does not come before God demanding something to which she believes she is entitled, she beseeches God from the depths of her soul. Hannah appeals to the God of mercy, to relieve her from her pain.

Adonai, Adonai, el rachum v’chanun, erech, apayim, v’rav chesed v’emet: Adonai, Adonai, the One who is compassionate and gracious, endlessly patient, filled with kindness and true. It is exactly these elements of God’s being that we will appeal to in a few minutes as we recite God’s 13 attributes of mercy before the open ark.

We live unfulfilled lives, for no one’s life is without pain or regret. For some, the anguish is greater than others. Some among us today are struggling with illness or addiction, painful loss, broken relationships, shredded dreams. Many in this sanctuary are dealing with the loss of a job and the anxiety of hard economic times. Even for those among us who are fortunate enough to describe our lives as happy ones, there can be the sense that there is something more to life. We all have aspirations to be better people, better spouses, better parents, better children.

Let us bring our anguish, bring our pain, bring our fear and, yes, bring our hope to God. For today of all days, we are the object of God’s attention. In Man is Not Alone, Abraham Joshua Heschel writes that we are the object of God’s inexhaustible concern; that God does not judge the deeds of humanity impassively, but that God’s judgment is imbued with a feeling of intimate concern. Yet we learn from Hannah that in order to come into contact with God’s concern we must first reach out to God, to bring the longings of our soul to the Eternal so that God might take note and remember us.

In what might be the ultimate teshuvah, in the 12 Step recovery program, the third step is to make a decision to turn one’s will and one’s life over to the care of God, as God is understood by that individual. I would imagine that there are as many visions of God as there are people in this room. There is God the judge, God the lawgiver, God the parent and God the companion. God can be merciful or wrathful, judgmental or sympathetic. There is the Biblical God who intervenes in human affairs and the God who simply orders the universe, gives us free will and then stands back to see what happens. For some, God is a cosmic force and, for others, God is a real and constant Presence.

All of these are God, for the one thing that all of these visions have in common is that they encompass something beyond ourselves. We are here today to do teshuvah, to turn, but to where can we turn for the strength and the wisdom to change our lives? To where can we turn to still the anguish of our souls? To where can we turn for hope and for the vision of a better day? To ourselves? To each other? No, for we are only human and, therefore, share human shortcomings and limitations. To go beyond ourselves we must first turn to the One who is beyond us; to move beyond our daily lives into the world of the Eternal.

I cannot prove the existence of God but, for me, the alternative is too horrible to contemplate. A universe without God would be existentially lonely and desperate; humanity would be at the pinnacle of creation but with no place else to go. The idea that our existence is some sort of cosmic accident, rooted in nothing and to nothing do we return, is shattering beyond words. I want to know that there is a source of strength and wisdom that is available to me beyond my own. Particularly, as the years go by, I crave a belief that God has a plan for my life and that God’s plan for me is part of a larger plan that will provide meaning to my existence. I want to stop living my life as though I was in complete control and have enough faith to turn my life over to God.

I asked a member of our congregation who has shared with me his experience of turning his life over to God, what that concept meant to him. Here is what he wrote:

So, these days, when I doubt decisions I have made, when I’m scared that I’m always going to be alone, when I’m worried that I won’t be able to make my dollar stretch until the next payday, and that I’m always going to be in debt and struggling …… what I remember to do when I wake up, when I go to sleep, and anytime in between, is to turn it over to God, He’s in charge, He knows what He’s doing, He’s got an incredible plan for me – I just need to trust Him and this process… and in the end, it’s going to be ok, because I have abandoned myself to God.

My teshuvah on this Rosh Hashanah is that I want to be more like that guy. Faith alone is not enough and, believe me, the person who wrote that understands that faith must be accompanied by deeds. I still do thoroughly believe in the truth of Al Shalosha Devarim, that the existence of the world depends on our living in accordance with God’s will as expressed in Torah, in sincere prayer and ritual, and in performing acts of loving kindness towards others. But I no longer can find meaning in these actions as ends in themselves. I need more. I want walking in God’s way, as I understand it, to be a vehicle for faith; the kind of faith that allows me to say that I trust in God’s plan for my life. In contemporary terms, I want to do more this year to get over myself, to recognize and revel in my limitations, so that I might feel more of God’s concern and rely less on my own.

I have been much blessed in my life. I have the most wonderful wife in the world, three daughters of whom Lori and I are extremely proud, the continued presence of loving parents and great sisters. I also have the blessing of being able to serve you and to serve God as a rabbi. My Christian colleagues often speak in terms of having been called to the ministry, not an expression that I have used to describe my journey. To me, a calling implies living in response to God’s plan for one’s life. I always thought it was a little chutzpadik to claim that kind of attention, to claim that God has taken note of and remembered me. But now I am not so sure about that and I want to begin the journey toward finding a God that has a hand in my life as well as holds the universe in Her hands. Besides, if I don’t entrust my life to God, then how can I ask you to? I do not know where this path ultimately leads, but this Rosh Hashanah, here I go. Would anyone care to join me?

Why I Root For The Yankees

2009-09-04T11:28:00.000-07:00

I was born in Woonsocket, RI, in 1950, some 45 odd miles from Boston, MA. A reasonable person would assume that as a sports fan I would root for the Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics and Patriots. Well, no, no, yes and sort of. Let me explain myself!

My father was a proud New York Yankees fan. It was all Yankees all of the time in our house. As I recall, Dad’s allegiance to the Yankees stemmed from reading and hearing about Lou Gehrig and Bill Dickey as a youngster. Since Dad’s father was a Red Sox fan, I think that a lot to do with Dad’s love of the Yankees was his strong relationship to his Uncle Tom (Pothier) who was married to Dad’s mother’s (Elzia) sister (Aunt Ernestine – aka “Sitsit”). My siblings and I were brainwashed from birth to be Yankees fans. It stuck with my brother (Tim), nearest sister (Lynette) and me. The youngest sister (Jane) is a Red Sox fan, most likely just to piss off Dad. I have a photograph of me at 18-months-old dressed in a Yankees uniform!

When the Yankees were playing a night game Dad and I would often attempt to listen to the game on radio from a New York station. He would back the car part way out of the garage and angle the car just so in order to get acceptable reception on the car radio. On games from the west on a school night, we always ran the risk of it getting past my bedtime and incurring the wrath of Mom, not to mention running down the car battery. If the Yankees lost, especially if they blew a lead and some “crunchy” won it for the other team by blooping a cheap hit over a drawn-in infield or squibbling a “seeing-eye” grounder up the middle, Dad would get an awful headache that lasted until the next Bronx Bomber victory. Dad’s idea of a good game was when the Yankees would score 10 runs in the first inning and slowing pull away.

Needless to say, the Yankees were dominant in the Majors when I was a kid. I was there in body for Yankees World Series wins in ’51, ’52, ’53 and ’56, as well as a World Series loss in ’55. I do not remember these years at all. I remember the Yankees losing to the Braves in ’57, the Pirates in’60, the Dodgers in ’63 and the Cardinals in ‘64 and beating the Braves in ’58, the Reds in ’61 and the Giants in ’62. All in all, it was great being a Yankees fan then. As a consequence, however, I was hated for being a Yankees fan by all of the Red Sox fans in the neighborhood and at school.

I liked hockey a lot as a kid. We all rooted for the Bruins in the NHL as well as the minor-league Rhode Island Reds of the AHL. Most of the guys in the neighborhood had tabletop mechanical hockey games, akin to foosball table games of today. We had a league of sorts and drew straws to choose team names. Other guys got to be the Bruins and Reds, and I had to settle for the Chicago Black Hawks, who happened to be in first place that year. I began to follow the Black Hawks, becoming a fan and following the careers of Stan Mikita, Bobby Hull, Glenn Hall, Eric Nesterenko, Pat Stapleton, et al. While my interest in professional hockey has waxed and waned through the years, I still root for the forlorn Black Hawks.

Of course I root for the Celtics! I hate the Knicks, the Bulls, the Pistons and especially the Lakers!

In the 1950s the only professional football around was the old pre-AFC NFL. In Rhode Island, our choices were the New York Giants. Period. A few folks rooted for the Cleveland Browns – not the ersatz Cleveland Browns currently inhabiting the Mistake by the Lake, but the team that moved to Baltimore to become the Ravens. Some miscreants may have rooted for the Philadelphia Eagles but I do not remember them. The Colts were still in Baltimore, the Cardinals had only recently left Chicago for St. Louis and the Rams were in Los Angeles. In Woonsocket, you rooted for the Giants: Y. A. Tittle, Charley Conerly, Frank Gifford, Del Shofner, Rosey Brown, Dick Modzewleski, Sam Huff, Jim Katcavage, Dick Lynch, et al. They were pretty good, although they lost the NFL championship to the Colts in what may have been the greatest NFL game ever.

It was in the 1960s that things began to change with the advent of the American Football League (AFL) that morphed into the AFC after the merger. It was only in 1960 that the New England Patriots were born, originally called the Boston Patriots and actually playing some games at Fenway Park! In the AFL most of us rooted for the Patriots. Later, after the merger it became necessary to root for either the Giants or the Patriots. Old habits die-hard and I have remained loyal to the Giants, especially when the two teams played head-on in the Super Bowl. When the Giants suck, I root for the Pats!

2009-04-27T14:59:00.000-07:00

Jeff Woled sent me this via the internet and I present it here, warts and all!!!!

ROSIE THIBEAULT’S FRENCH-CANADIAN DYNAMITE

“I know you thought this was Italian, however the prize winning recipe below, taken from the (Woonsocket) Call, is obviously Canuck. Rosie Thibeault ran a luncheonette on Hamlet Ave. and supposedly invented it in 1939. Also, I learned that Dynamites are indigenous to the Woonsocket/Blackstone/Bellingham area. You couldn't, and may still can't, get one in North Smithfield. Bon appetit!” (These are Jeff's words).

3 pounds freshly ground beef (see Note 1)
1 large green pepper, diced, no seeds
1 large red pepper, diced, no seeds
2 medium onions, diced (or 1 Vidalia onion)
2 large vine-ripened tomatoes, diced
3 tablespoons butter to saute (see Note 2)
1 cup water (1 1/2 cups if using 5 pounds of beef)
2 -3 small cans tomato paste (or your own sauce from fresh tomatoes)
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

In a large saucepan, saute diced peppers, onions and tomatoes in butter until soft. Add the water. Cook for a minute or two until the vegetables are blended. In same pot, add ground hamburger and cook until evenly browned and most of the water dissipates. Using a ladle, spoon off grease from top of the meat. A little bit left is fine but you do not want a lot. Then, add the tomato paste or homemade sauce and seasonings. The consistency should not be too loose or mushy. Add just enough paste to coat the meat. Sample the dynamite. You may want to add a bit more seasonings to desired taste. The dynamite will be stronger if left to mesh overnight, so keep this in mind when adding more seasonings.

The dynamite must sit in the fridge (covered, in the same pot) for a day so that all of the spices blend. It tastes much better when this step is taken. The dynamite can be reheated in the same pot on the stove or on the side burner of a grill. Serve on torpedo rolls (see note 3).

Note 1: You can use up to 5 pounds of meat without the need to double ingredients.

Note 2: We also use 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or canola oil.

Note 3: Calise Bakery or Lil’ General Stores sell torpedo rolls.

The dynamite recipe can also be used as a topping on hot dogs.

Yield: Feeds a crowd.

My comments on this recipe:

I doubt that Rosie knew about Vidalia onions in 1939. Use good old yellow onions first. Vidalias are sweet and cost more than regular yellow onions. Remember, this is supposed to be cheap eats! Most of the homemade dynamites that I have seen also used celery – remember, this recipe is a depression-era attempt at stretching a little meat a long way. I use one or two stalks per pound of meat. Also, neither butter nor olive oil are needed since there is plenty of fat in the ground beef and this is supposed to be cheap eats (I know - I am redundant). Water is not necessary because the vegetables have plenty. I use more veggies than Rosie: equal pounds of peppers and onions to the ground beef (that is 3# of beef, 3# of peppers and 3# of onions). I would not dice the veggies - larger chunks are a better presentation and much more fun. I like to add fresh garlic, more tomatoes (or good canned tomatoes), less tomato paste and plenty of Italian seasoning. I leave out the salt because there is plenty in the tomatoes, beef, celery, peppers and onions. No way would I top a hot dog with this!

Here is what I do:

Start the beef in a cold pot on low to medium heat. As the beef cooks, crumble it into smaller and smaller chunks. Add peppers, onion, celery, tomatoes and spices all together at the same time and cook for hours until the whole shebang is reduced considerably in volume. I go easy on the red pepper flakes, because many folks (especially many older Canucks and children) are repelled by spicy food. I supply extra flakes on the table, as well as Tabasco and other hot sauces, to spark the flames on the tongue.

Alas, most of us have no access to Calise or L’il General stores outside of Woonsocket, so choose a good quality soft (but absorbent) submarine roll. It is important to find an un-sliced roll so that you can slice it on top. Something about side-slicing a roll burns my butt.

Bridge Freezes Before Roadway

2009-04-27T10:27:00.000-07:00

Sometimes simple concepts require an elaborate explanation. Sometimes they explain themselves.

In Spring 1971, the Assumption College Greyhounds got to go to Evansville! The basketball team was blessed with skill and luck that 1970-1971 season, beating Holy Cross and losing only to Providence College in Providence during the regular season. The New England Region NCAA Division II tournament was a breeze for the ‘Hounds as we (I was a sophomore) were headed for the National Tournament in Evansville IN. In its time, that season was magical and beating HC was of biblical proportions (all puns intended). You can look it up!

Because it was the first trip for AC to the Nationals (or “Evansville” as most of us called the tournament), much of the college community was scrapping for ways to get to Evansville. One of the faculty, Jim Barbato, announced that he was going and could fit additional folks into his VW bus. Not only was Jim my Geography professor, he was an AC grad himself and just could not pass on the chance to be on the first pilgrimage to Evansville. Somehow, I managed to get the last seat on Jim’s bus. The other five were Jim, Lou, Merc, John and Doreen.

Many stories have emanated from this epic journey. Strangely, all of them are true! This is but one of them. It will not be the last.

The plan was to drive all night to Evansville via I-90 (the Massachusetts Turnpike and New York Thruway) through Cleveland to I-71, then south to Columbus to I-70, west to Terre Haute to US 41 and south into Evansville. Somehow, in the middle of the night somewhere on I-90 near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, Lou was driving and I was sitting shotgun. I am fairly certain that everyone else was sleeping - dead certain that Jim was.

It was snowing lightly, maybe even sleeting. A sign loomed on the side of the road – it read “Bridge Freezes Before Roadway.” I noted the sign, turned to Lou and asked him “Exactly what does that mean?” “Not sure,” replied Lou. We crossed the bridge. If Jim had been awake, he would have answered the question. He taught Earth Science and Geography at AC. His CB handle was “Weatherman.” He knew about this stuff!

We crossed another bridge. I noticed that Lou, not an excitable person, had noticeably tensed, gripping the steering wheel tightly. I looked at the road, noted that we were driving over a bridge, and that the back end of the bus was approaching on the left (driver’s) side! Lou never said a word as the sweat beaded on his forehead. He eased off the gas and as we slowed the ass-end of the bus slowly receded from my sight. The highway resumed its correct position in front of the bus. Lou finally spoke: “Ya think that’s what the sign meant?” “Dunno,” I answered. “I suppose so.” We drove on into the night.

The Sorghum Queen of Hancock County

2009-02-28T16:11:00.000-08:00

The Sorghum Queen of Hancock County

Oftentimes, human beings act and react without undertaking a thorough analysis of the entire situation and circumstances extant at the time, and in the place, of the event. We take things out of context or place them in the wrong context or ignore context altogether. Worse, we fail to consider the consequences of making casual errors of omission or commission because of our shortsightedness. I am as guilty of this as any other schmuck, maybe more guilty, actually. I could benefit from heeding that old saw that it is better to keep one’s mouth shut and be thought a fool rather than to open it and prove it beyond all shadow of a doubt. In this case, I fell victim to a clash of cultures. As a student of Cultural Geography, I should have known better.

In the autumn of my senior year (1972-73) of college, I realized that I was not ready for the work-a-day world and on the advice of one of my favorite undergraduate professors (Jim Barbato) I began exploring the possibilities of graduate school. Through a series of Aristotelian accidents, I found myself at Western Kentucky University (WKU) in Bowling Green, Kentucky in August 1973.

Bowling Green was a classic central place, a crossroads of sorts, at least for south-central Kentucky. There wasn’t much in the way of urbanity to the east until Virginia or to the west until Missouri. It was 100 miles to Louisville to the north and 65 miles to Nashville to the south. For a graduate student without any spare cash or an assistantship, Bowling Green was Gotham City and you had to delude yourself into being Superman. (On my last trip through town in the mid-oughts of the 21st century, it appeared that not much had changed and that Virginia, Missouri, Nashville and Louisville had not gotten any closer.)

Early that first semester in 1973, it became readily apparent that I was quickly running out of money. My parents could not help and the economy in fair Gotham sucked. While contemplating a food-free existence, I found a job answering the telephone from 11 PM to 7 AM at the information desk of the very dormitory where I was living. The pay was minimal, but I calculated that I could eat, drink and be somewhat less miserable until December. I avoided any thoughts of paying for the spring semester.

The most important aspect of the job was to sound the alarm if there was an incident requiring an evacuation of the dorm and to alert the proper authorities. During my tenure, there were no such incidents at Bemis Lawrence Hall. I did, however, answer many calls from students trying to locate each other. The most memorable call was from the 1973 Sorghum Queen of Hancock County Kentucky.

I cannot remember her name. The sound of her voice escapes me. But I remember our brief “relationship.”

It probably was 2 AM when she called the dorm, asking for the telephone number of some guy who was in her math class. She could not remember his name his name, but she knew he lived next door to some other guy whose first name she did know. Somehow I figured out the last name of the guy she knew, called him, got the name of the fellow next door and relayed that information back to her. About an hour later she called back to thank me for helping her. She seemed rather sweet in a Southern Belle sort of way, with that fetching, enslaving accent women in Kentucky have. And she was intrigued with my accent!

“Where are you from?” she inquired.

“Rhode Island,” I replied.

“Where’s that?” she asked. “Back east somewhere?”

“Close to Massachusetts, near Boston,” I answered.

“Massatusetts?” she questioned. “Keep talking because I like the sound of your voice,” she implored.

I should have known right then that something was amiss (Massatusetts????), but I was 1000 miles from home, lonely, and lusting after that sweet syrupy voice. She was from Hancock County, near Owensboro, and had been elected the Sorghum Queen of Hancock County the previous summer. I’m sure I acted impressed, but being a rock-ribbed Rhode Island Yankee, I had no clue whatsoever what sorghum was beyond some kind of plant. I assumed that she must have been somewhat attractive being a Queen and all, so I kept on exuding my Yankee charm. We talked until 4 AM, finally agreeing to meet in a day or two at the campus amphitheater.

We met, we talked and neither of us was dissuaded from a second meeting. It did not dawn on me at the time that the competition for Sorghum Queen must have been rather weak in 1973, but that voice had me mesmerized (I confess to being desperate at the time, also). I can’t remember what we agreed to do for our first date, but it must have gone OK.

Homecoming was fast approaching and a Rock N Roll Revival show/sock hop was scheduled for the Diddle Arena. Jerry Lee Lewis, Freddie Boom-Boom Cannon, Chuck Berry, Gary U.S. Bonds, a couple of Girl Groups and a host of others were on the bill. My new buddy Ken had secured a date and suggested that the Sorghum Queen and I join them for the show. The SQ was amenable, tickets were purchased, and plans were made.

A sock hop…fifties/early sixties music…blue jeans…poodle skirts…Hush Puppies (the wearing kind, not the eating kind)…sneakers…stupid dances that I did not know all that well…liquid refreshments…some tasty snacks…good times!

On the magic night, I dressed for the sock hop, hiked to the SQ’s dorm, met her at the door and joined Ken and his date. Something seemed amiss, but I chalked it up to excitement and nerves.

The event started poorly. It seems as if no one had bothered to sign either Jerry Lee or Chuck to a solid contract, so the emcee stated that it was hoped that “…Jerry Lee and Chuck are one their way.” They never made it. The show, however, was very good, especially Gary U.S. Bonds and Freddie Cannon.

On the other hand, the SQ was not happy. Then, I noticed that she was rather overdressed for a Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival sock hop-type of affair. It quickly became apparent that she expected more of a show from me (like a suit on me and a corsage from me on her!!) since this was Homecoming Weekend. Sensing that the evening was not going to get any better, I quickly agreed to get her back to her dorm where I said good night to a cold, cold glare. I knew better than to call her again!

Soon afterwards, I lucked into a teaching assistantship for the rest of my tenure at WKU and was able to quit my position at the dorm. I never did speak with the SQ again, although I was very pointedly ignored the two times that we subsequently (and literally) bumped into each other on campus.

Two years later, being in the third year of an 18-month program, I answered the telephone at my apartment one evening to hear a charming female Kentucky voice. Stating that her name was Allyn, she said that she had heard from some unnamed friend that I was a Geography graduate teaching assistant and that she (Allyn) wanted to know more about Geography as a major. Being me, I obliged her for the better part of an hour. After hanging up, I dimly recalled hearing some muffled giggling in the background on her end of the line. On a hunch, I grabbed the WKU Directory (this was 1975 – we had no online resources) and began trolling for women named Allyn. Lo and behold, there was none with that first name. (Digression: I had a classmate in grammar and secondary school in Woonsocket whose first name was Allyn. So, I knew that it was, indeed, a female name and how to spell it!) There was, however, a woman whose middle name was Allyn and damned if her roommate wasn’t the SQ!!

I quickly dialed Allyn’s number, addressed her by her real first name, told her who I was and that I knew that her roommate had put her up to this. I dared her to ever take a Geography course at WKU.

At least I learned what sorghum is!

The right to be a stupid racisct punk

2009-02-25T11:14:00.000-08:00

The New York Daily News cartoon depicting a prone monkey killed by police is shameful, racist, despicable, and just plain wrong. I defend the right of the cartoonist to draw it, the editor to approve it and the newspaper to publish it. Whatever negative feedback, back flash, protest, contempt, lost subscriptions, ill-will, and other rhetorical kicks in the reproductive apparatus that News Corp and Rupert Murdoch receive come with the territory. If either you don't think that the cartoon is racist or you think that it is funny, then maybe you should educate yourself by reading the history of The Reconstruction, the Jim Crow era and the struggle for civil rights in this country despite the 13th and 14th Amendments.

The rancid whipped cream and moldy cherry atop this sundae of excrement and vomit (the cartoon) is the News Corp statement that offers an apology IF you were offended by the cartoon. Note that News Corp did not state that they apologize FOR printing a racist, shameful cartoon; they only apologize to those they offended. To my knowledge, I do not purchase any News Corp journals, magazines or newspapers. I admit to watching "The Simpsons" and "House" at times on Fox TV. I suppose that I can boycott all that is Fox, but that would have to include "Slumdog Millionaire" which was distributed by the Fox Searchlight division of Fox.

Most boycotts do not work as they are most often symbolic protests with little economic effect. Now that I am off that hook, I'll state that I will irritate News Corp in what little ways I can. If I succeed in any way, I'll let you guys, youse guys and y'all know!

RI Yankee on Mental Vacation

2009-02-25T10:16:00.000-08:00

I have been attempting to refocus this blog. In effect, I am trying to think but nothing is happening. I have started a series of memoirs, the first one being The Sorghum Queen of Hancock County. It's not complete, so I have decided to continue my nonsensical anti-Bush Republicanism, anti capitalism lunatic ravings for the time being.

Let's calculate: 8 years of Reaganomics; 4 years of Poppy Bush's kinder, gentler Reaganomics, 8 years of Clintonomics (moderate Republicanism with a Democratic Lite label) and 8 years of oil-field cheney-bushonomics equals 28 years of rendering of the gains working people made after WWII. Many of us no longer have good jobs despite our college educations; many of us have houses underwater in drought conditions; our 401k has become out of date Special K; crude oil prices fall and retail gasoline prices have started rising again; don't eat the peanut butter cookies; don't give your baby anything from China; my mattress is safer then Citi or BOA; Both get federal subsidies from us/US but neither will help us by lowering their usurious credit card interest rates.

Last night President Obama gave a rousing pep talk and Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) responded with the usual far-right-rhetoric, blaming all of the world's fiscal problems on Obama's stimulus package, somehow forgetting 28 years of trickle-down fiscal fiction and war-mongering fiscal excess at his own party's blood-stained hands. Just had to love how Jindal bloviated that Louisiana had financed its own post-Katrina recovery, somehow ignoring the some $175bb of Federal help. Jindal sounds suspiciously like Barbara Bush who thought that the accommodations of the Astrodome were quite comfy. Maybe the Gov. has been snorting some of the formaldehyde in those FEMA trailers.

As I write this, the DJIA is down 155 points. Thanks to all of those traders who have further destroyed our retirement funds for a quick profit after yesterday's 200+ point rise. I am so happy that the Bush plan to churn our SS money into 401K plans did not happen. Watch out, however, there is a bipartisan plan afoot to ditch SS for another rich-people-win scheme: see The Nation for 3/2/2008 - "The Man Who Wants to Loot Social Security (http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090302/greider?rel=hpbox)."

Un-Warren-ted

2008-12-17T21:23:00.000-08:00

The choice of Rick Warren to be the religious figurehead at the inauguration is an insult. Warren is anti-gay/lesbian and anti-abortion. Why is Obama pandering to the social conservatives with this strange choice? It's not as if many of these ideologues voted for him. Is Obama going to abandon the folks left of center who voted for him for obvious reasons? Is he going to be another Clinton and run to the center? At least it is less than two months until pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training!

Detroit Three Rescued By NY Yankees

2008-12-12T13:59:00.000-08:00

Hank and Hal Steinbrenner today announced that in order to get more mileage out of the NY Yankees newly revved up pitching staff, the Yankees have purchased GM, Chrysler and Ford, as well as Packard, DeLorean and Hudson. Hal emphatically stated that rumors that American Motors and Willys International have been recalled to the Majors were just that -- rumors.

Blagojevich Arrested!

2008-12-09T10:42:00.000-08:00

If guilty, this guy deserves prison time as in the fine tradition of Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Alaska, District of Columbia and Louisiana politicians (amongst others). Since there has been no trial or admission of guilt yet, I have to wonder if there is some sort of dirty trick going on such as has been documented in Alabama where the governor was framed by political opponents. It is interesting that many of the corrupt RIers are Republicans, whilst the Louisianans are usually Democrats.

Have You Driven a Ford Lately?

2008-12-05T12:42:00.000-08:00

I have taken the month off from blogging as a source of keeping my head shrunk, substituting the Alpha-Stim (AS) medical device to cool my fevered brain. The AS costs money; the blogging is free. Because I am still on the dole thanks to the miracle of modern technology (see if you can figure out what I really mean by that), money is always an issue. So I again implore you, youse guys, y'all or all y'all to continue to "support" the advertisers that glom onto my blog. Those pennies, while not adding up to anything, give me delusions of grandeur or future nouveau riche status, not unlike Joe the Plumber or any other of the hoi polloi who think that supporting the GOP will enhance their financial status (not unlike those ads for breast enlargers and penis enhancers).

Unemployment is at a 15-year high, my 401k is dying, no bank will let us refinance our mortgage to a lower rate, automobile dealers can't sell their inventory, Detroit is going the way of US Steel, small businesses (including several here in Corvallis) are failing daily, and baseball player salaries are rising at their lowest rate in years... and W's lame duck crew is going to fix things by giving money to the boneheaded perpetrators, architects, stewards, and leaders of this debacle.

The working class's zenith was reached prior to the the big con of Reaganism. Since 1981, the working class has suffered shafting after shafting while being told that it was a good thing. The pigeons have now roosted and we are trapped beneath the grate on which they roost. The aforementioned poobahs are not finished with their work, however. They will not be satisfied until all unions are broken, the working class have been restored to serfdom and the middle class reduced to fear and feality to their liege lords. Lewis Black, in his 2004 Black on Broadway rant, had it correct when he opined that the best fix for the fix we're in is to have massive public works projects. The roads and bridges need the repairs, the leaking water and sewer pies need to be plugged, people need the jobs, and if people have money they will spend it on stuff that will cause the capitalists to have more money.

Then maybe we can drive a new, fuel-efficient, union-built Ford.

Who'd A Thunk It!!

2008-11-04T20:15:00.000-08:00

And there was no fraud, no corrupt secretaries of state, no brotherly guarantees and no appointment by the Supreme Court.

A Curmudgeon's View

2008-11-03T21:41:00.000-08:00

Yes, I have been silent for several days now, enjoying Sarah Palin's and John McCain's comedy(?) routines during their SNL appearances. I just loved Ben Affleck's brilliant send-up of MSNBC's Keith Olbermann. Bill Maher's Real Time on HBO has been hilarious, not to mention Comedy Central's Chocolate News, Colbert Report and The Daily Show. Glenn Beck is off CNN and onto Fox (where he is one of their more centrist voices) and Lou Dobbs is still off his rocker. But what has fueled my indignation is the fact that 23% of Texans believe that Barack Obama is a Muslim. I am sure that many other states can boast(?) of similar ignorance, but Texas has often bragged of its education system and its enlightened stances on a myriad of subjects. Note that I have written the word "ignorance", not stupidity. Texans, as a whole, are far from stupid and those that I met in my four years there were anything but stupid. My point is not that something is incredibly wrong when this many folks believe fiction to be fact. The point is, what is wrong with being a Muslim? In my jaundiced view, being a Muslim is no different than being a believer in any of the many major or minor organized religions. So, I am appalled that someones actual or supposed religious beliefs are relevant or that it needs to be asked. A civilized society should be past superstition and myth and wholly focused on issues. Who one votes for should be a function of rationale thought, not ignorance, myths, fear or how many Joe the Plumbers or Ralph the Bus Drivers we have as our role models.

The Ballad Of John and Joe II

2008-10-23T12:13:00.000-07:00

What is the strange appeal of John McCain to the average Joe or Jane? McCain is a son and husband of privilege; Jane and Joe are working class folks generally making less than $50K per year. Somehow, McCain and the GOP have convinced the estimable J&J that they will be come rich like John and own many houses if only they will support John and the GOP. The fact is that since Ronald Reagan, the working class has gotten screwed and the Upper 1% have added to their winnings. McCain and Palin lie to us how things will be better if only we will trust them. Since 1980 we have trusted the GOP and its ally Bill Clinton and all we have gotten is an increase in the depth and duration of that red hot poker up our wazoos. I am not convinced that Barack Obama can make that poker instantly disappear, but at least he would appoint no Scalias, Thomases, Alitos or Robertses to the Supreme Court. McCain can only make things worse!

The Ballad of John and Joe The Plumber (or was it Joe Six-Pack?)

2008-10-16T22:41:00.000-07:00

The Obama campaign, the media and soft-in-the-head lefties such as me should lay-off John McCain on this one. (That one?) So Joe isn't really a plumber. So he isn't really buying the company he works for. So the company isn't for sale. So Joe made $40 some odd thousand last year. So the company didn't last year and won't this year make $250,000. So what?

Joe the Plumber and Joe Six-Pack have taken it on the chin and in the gut for so long that they are delusional about the reasons for their pain. They have seen hard work, blood, sweat and tears fail them as they get jerked around by credit card companies, mortgage brokers, banks, brokers, international corporations, big oil, the Supreme Court, and on and on ad nauseum. They must blame someone. For we white guys, the culprit is not the face in the mirror of self-delusion, it's not the broken promises of trickle-down economics, it's not what we refuse to acknowledge that is true (that we have been sucker-punched time and again by the GOP, their corporate allies and the sell-out by Bill Clinton). No, we blame Americans with different skin color, different names, different religions, different social experiences. We blame them for all the ills that the real culprits have brought upon us. We'd rather believe the lie that Barack Obama is an Arab terrorist who consorted with the Weather Underground than accept the fact that Todd Palin did consort with an anti-American fringe group and that Sarah Palin addressed the same group with the words "...keep up the good work and God bless you..."

Why? We love being ignorant of the facts because this excuses our belief in the phantasmagorical? We'd rather believe a talking snake or a burning bush than recorded data?

Just today I heard an interview with former MA Governor Jane Swift, a Republican, who is an education advisor to the McNasty campaign. Pell Grants will not be funded in the austerity economics program of a John McCain administration. No school for you unless you agree to borrow money from John's banker friends (Keating 5?). It costs too much. Well John, so does ignorance. Being ignorant is part and parcel of why we stupidly attacked Iraq. Not being trained to think for ourselves is part and parcel as to why we believe the lunatic ravings of Pat Robertson, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh.

No, let's shout for sanity, thoughtfulness, fair play, education, the Bill of Rights (all of them, not just #2), justice.

And by the way...what the hell is wrong with being an Arab? Or anyone named Joe?

Wave Those Flip Flop Sandals, McNasty

2008-10-12T21:12:00.000-07:00

John McCain, aiming to set a new record for flip-flops in a presidential campaign, will appear on Late Night with David Letterman on Thursday. Will this maverick ever get his game tactics straight? And speaking of the name Maverick, I read where the Maverick family of Texas, staunch Democrats for the most part, are rather insulted at the sullying of their name by Senator McNasty. They were just fine with Bret and Bart Maverick (of the old TV series) being fictional gamblers, but McNasty as a Maverick is a bit much for them. Turns out that this charter member of the Keating 5 is quite a gambler himself, reportedly screaming at a woman at the table when his luck turned sour. Sound familiar?

But Wait, There's More!!!!!

2008-10-09T18:41:00.000-07:00

Got to love George Will (sometimes): he described Sarah Palin as Sancho Panza to John McCain’s Don Quixote. That translates to an illiterate sword bearer and sidekick to an addled old man. Sounds good to me!

Flash: This is mental illness awareness week, and Cindy McCain has stated (in Marie Claire magazine) that enlisted men are more susceptible to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than “trained” officers such as John McCain. My fellow prisoners, indeed. Classism? Elitism? Or just stupidity? Oh, McCain also voted against better body armor for soldiers – twice. Indeed. Just how long will the McCain’s noses get?

In case you haven’t read the comments section of this blog, one erstwhile correspondent took me task for not stating that McCain voted against troop support in Iraq because that version of the bill contained a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. True. However, when Obama voted against another version of the troop support bill, Obama was voting against the lack of a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. So, they both voted against funding for the troops.

Got to love Sarah Silverman for commenting on NBC being trashed in tomorrow’s (10/10/08) New York Post: “Whatever happened to the liberal Jew media?”

Will the Bradley Effect raise its ugly racist head when we whites get into the voting booth?

After watching a McCain rally in WI today, I am wondering why those angry voters are blaming the media for McCain’s ineptitude? Are they blaming the media for reporting the news? If the media had accurately reported the Bush Crime Family’s actions in 2000 and 2004, the Supreme Court would not have had to appoint W president. What is very scary is that these crazies also are yelling for Obama to be killed, and that the McCain wing of the Bush Crime Family has refused to acknowledge this.

Sarah Palin has addressed the Alaska Independence Party on more than one occasion. This group is a secessionist organization whose founder (Joe Vogler) was virulently anti-American. Vogler once stated that he “…had no use for America” and he had the support of Iran in his anti-America work. Todd Palin is a former member of that group. Palin told the Party to “Keep up the good work….” She has also been supported in her campaigns by members of this Party. Why is Obama's "association" with Bill Ayers a cause celebre but this is not in the news? Why haven’t the media made an issue of this? I say that Palin has consorted with terrorist organizations and needs to be brought to task. If you doubt my reportage, please see www.palinspin.com or www.salon.com for more details.

My Fellow Prisoners...That One...Obama is a Liar...Not you, Tom

2008-10-09T00:17:00.000-07:00

More lies, bone-headed ideas and obfuscations from the McCain campaign (in addition to the above):

He sang “Bomb, Bomb Iran” at a fundraiser, not as a joke with another veteran.
He had his wife Cindy attack Obama for voting against funding for troops in Iraq. What Cindy did not say was that McCain also voted against funding for the troops.
McCain missed more votes on veteran affairs (6 of 9 votes) than Senators Tim Johnson (in a coma most of the year) and Ted Kennedy (brain tumor). He skipped voting on the new GI Bill for a San Diego fundraiser. His veterans voting record this session has been rated a D, while Obama and Biden each rated a B. Dennis Kucinich had a higher rating than McCain.
McCain shares the connection between Obama and Weather Underground founder Bill Ayers. The Annenberg family that sponsored the forum on which both Obama and Avery served in Chicago is supporting McCain for president. How many degrees of separation are there here between Obama and McNasty?
McCain surrogates in FL yesterday raised the Islamic fear factor by having a law officer refer to Obama as Barack Hussein Obama. I know that this is his name, but when a white cop in FL is talking about a black man, you just know what he is really saying. A PA McCain surrogate (head of the GOP in that state) today also used Obama’s middle name. This obviously comes from the same Swift Boat team that slurred McCain in SC in 2000, Gore in 2000 and Kerry in 2004.
McCain surrogates on the Hannity-Colmes FOX News show featured a right wing McCain supporter who is a known anti-Semite. And they expect us to believe this guy?
McCain wants the Fed to buy foreclosed mortgages from the failed/failing banks at the full price of the mortgages but then sell them at market prices. Not only is this incredibly stupid, but also an incredible socialist windfall for our failed capitalist system. Strange that a free-market, cut taxes, deregulation “maverick” is promoting socialism for his bank(rupt)ing cronies. The moral of this story, the hero of the Keating 5 fiasco wants to reward his banking buddies for being stupid and place the burden on the middle class. Thank you, Senator McNasty, for driving that red-hot poker into our posterior orifices.
McCain is in trouble with rock bands “Heart” and “The Foo Fighters” for inappropriately using their songs in his campaign. Does his campaign know anything about respecting the rights of intellectual property?

Red Sox Lose...

2008-10-05T23:57:00.000-07:00

Not that I am trying to get any one's goat (sorry Cubs fans) but I needed an attention getting headline. Since my beloved Yankees have failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1995 I have been hesitant to express my opinion about the 2008 season. So, in short, I have to say that I am following the Rays (AL East loyalty) and Dodgers (Joe Torre loyalty). I will, as always, root for the AL East and AL in general as the playoffs advance. I will hold my nose if the Red Sox make the Series, not because of the team, but because of Red Sox Nation firstly and the wild card system secondly.

Only people who insist that W has done a good job are more bizarre than those folks who are flaunting their Red Sox Nation-hood but wouldn't give the team a damn prior to 2004. True Red Sox fans understand suffering and are not just front-runners. Nightmares of Don Buddin, Ike Delock, Dr. Strangelove, Bigfoot, Bucky Dent, et al are the stuff of the dreams of true Sox Fans. They truly deserve the ride that they are on the past 5 years. I despise the wild card system; I dislike the designated hitter less.

Making predictions is stupid and a waste a time. Baseball is entertainment even though we all know that life imitates the World Series (thanks Thomas Boswell). Those so-called fans that get their knickers in knots are to be shunned. Ticket prices are too high.

Atlas Shrugged; bin Laden Laughed

2008-10-05T23:16:00.000-07:00

Back in the Reagan years, when I was corrupting young minds as an adjunct instructor of geophysical sciences, I would show a video of a PBS documentary to students of a Geography of the Soviet Union class. The video was about a trip to the USSR by a group of older USA citizens. One of the characters they met stated to the tour group that the USA was spending the USSR into bankruptcy. In truth, the USSR just could not compete financially against the capitalist forces of the western countries. Every time we spent a dollar on munitions or the like, the USSR felt compelled to do the same. The USSR blinked first. The USA claimed victory.

As one consequence of 9/11/2001, the USA has spent incredible amounts of money (can't be cash, since it doesn't seem to exist any more) on war against terrorists. Other fantasmagorical sums of money have been spent on who knows what. In the USA'a attempt to overcome terrorism, we have spent ourselves into insolvency. The Milton Friedman Chicago School of Economic Terrorism (masquerading as Libertarianism) just shrugs and bin Laden laughs. The attack on the World Trade buildings has lead to ecnomic defeat for capitalism.

My Debate Hangover

2008-09-27T11:41:00.000-07:00

I must admit that I am more concerned with Opus's impending doom than the outcome of any phony debates. The non-debate format and Jim Lehrer's lackluster moderator-ship gall me no end. The debates that were held under the auspices of the League of Women voters were much better than these farces staged by the Democrats and Republicans. Watching the pundits debate the debate after the debate was more illuminating than the actual debate! The talking heads whined and postured at least as much as John McCain did. Pat Buchanan was very entertaining and Chris Matthews was firing saliva all over the set! History tells us that in the 1960 Nixon-Kennedy debate, Nixon won on substance but Kennedy looked more presidential (what with Nixon's sweat, beard and used-car-salesman persona). McCain solidified his McNasty persona by being grouchy, rude, and condescending and refusing to look at Obama but once after the handshake. Obama appeared calmer and cooler. Sometimes, ala 1960, substance does not indicate the winner. Sometimes perception rules.

I must say that McCain surprised me with his overall performance, presenting himself better than I had expected. Obama appeared to let McCain off the hook several times by not hammering him on his numerous lies and stupid comments. In fact, a review of the fact checking sites and CNN's post debate analysis revels that McCain misspoke and distorted data far more than Obama did.

I so wish that Obama had pressured McCain into explaining how "Bomb Bomb Iran" shows leadership, diplomacy and good judgment. One last thing: what was McCain up to by his news bulletin on Ted Kennedy being in the hospital? By debate time, it had been determined that Kennedy had a minor reaction to a change in medication and had gone home.

Shock Doctrine???

2008-09-26T12:12:00.000-07:00

Several House and Senate Republicans apparently are of the opinion that Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson's proposal to bail the country out of its current financial crisis is not draconian enough. These Republicans want LESS regulation, believing (incredibly) that market forces will do the right thing! Time and time again, market forces have failed to do the right thing, resulting in successive financial calamities. Methinks that these GOP hardliners are actually disciples of Milton Friedman and the Chicago School of Economics. These yahoos want to see the whole system collapse so that they can institute an Ayn Rand-style unregulated economy upon the landscape. A lack of regulations lead to a series of recessions culminating in the Great Depression. De-regulation of the Depression-era reforms has lead to the current fiscal crisis. Ayn Rand was wrong and her Libertarian followers are wrong also. More regulation is needed.

As the World Turns (Or, As My Head Spins)

2008-09-26T11:25:00.000-07:00

As Prime Minister Putin of Russia invades Alaska's air space (or is it the space between Sarah Palin's ears?), John McCain is flying around the country (Country First, after all) aiding the airline industry's bottom line and single-handedly pulling the economy out of recession. No wait, he's trying to solve the current banking crisis (even though he's not on the Senate committee working on Czar Hank Paulson's takeover of the economy). Or is he just trying to avoid debating Barack Obama and emulating Sarah Palin's verbal ineptitude? By all accounts, McCain brought nothing of substance to the financial crisis discussion and was nearly incoherent in what he did say. He should have stayed in New York and appeared on Late Night With David Letterman.

If it weren't for the inherent racism of "we the people", Obama would be mega-points ahead in the polls. I am deliberately playing the race card here. So many white folks (I am one in case you consider it relevant) just cannot shake the fear that minorities are out to destroy polite society (is this what Fox Business News anchor Neil Cavuto really meant?). Remember that Thomas Jefferson - the god-king of the anti-government crowd - wrote that "...all men are created equal." Does this mean that those who hang on Jefferson's every word as slavishly as they hang on biblical verses believe that all non-whites are not human?

Sarah Palin's favorite (apparently) preacher chases witches out of whatever town he is in. Why hasn't Fox News made an issue of this? Is she really more of a disaster than Dan Quayle and W? Combined?

Merde!

Gordon Smith must go!

2008-09-06T21:45:00.000-07:00

On Saturday September 6, 2008 there was a small item published in the Corvallis (OR) Gazette-Times (G-T) titled Smith: Palin has 'right stuff' for job. If Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) really believes this, he is not fit for re-election to the United States Senate. In fact, that he said it should seal his fate. I strongly urge my fellow citizens of Oregon to send Smith back to work in his family food processing business. Jeff Merkley deserves our support.

Of further interest is the burying of this damnable statement by Smith deep into the newspaper by the G-T. Does this rag have a pro-Smith agenda?

Sarah Palin for VP??

2008-09-06T20:34:00.000-07:00

I have held off long enough on this matter so as to allow my initial ire to cool. Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK) was nominated by the GOP for one reason only: to appeal to the Christian-right, anti-choice, anti-gay, pro-second amendment, anti-tax, anti-education, pro-Iraq War, be afraid of foreigners, Republican base. If she dragged in some disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters from the Democrats, that would be a bonus.

Several women that I recently spoke with were intrigued with Palin, because she is a woman, a mother (as were they), outspoken, affable, and a wisecracker. All good things to them (and me, incidentally). That the GOP nominated her is admirable, but incredibly cynical. These women will not vote for her. Let's look at the facts.

As mayor of Wisilla, AK, Palin was a strong advocate of accumulating as much "pork" for her city as could be had, hiring a PR firm to work for the city. On the surface, that is not a bad thing, but it is hardly the record of a government reformer who is against earmarks now that she is a VP candidate. Indeed, she was a strong advocate for the infamous Gravina "Bridge to Nowhere" when the bridge was an earmarked project for Alaska. The earmark was dropped from the federal budget, but the money remained. Palin's administration spent most of the money on other projects before she "killed" the already terminally ill project. Of course, the $500 million bridge had only a reported $50 million left on the table. Nice flip-flopping, exaggerating, and, yes, lying!

Palin's speech at the GOP convention contained an anti-tax message, but she advocated a raise in sales tax for a sports complex while a public servant in Wasilla. Then there is the issue of the local librarian whom she (Palin) asked if she (the librarian) would ban books if Palin asked her to. No way, said the librarian. No job said then Mayor Palin. She is anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-sex education in schools (ditto), pro-creationism. While she brags about fighting against Big Oil to get more money for Alaska citizens, she advocates drilling anywhere and everywhere. (Her husband works for BP Oil; more work for him in the future if ANWR is opened?)

How about the public works director who would not fire Palin’s ex-brother-in-law (despite intense lobbying for his firing by Palin’s staff and family)? He was canned.

She also takes credit for a new pipeline that is to be built in Alaska. Okay, but the pipeline is a project developed by a previous administration and will not be started until 2018. But she did sign the paperwork!

I have no problem with her support of the second amendment, the so-called Right to Bear Arms. That she thinks that it is okay to hunt wolves from helicopters does seem strange to me. (If she gets to be the actual VP, I’ll want to have access to guns to protect myself when she comes looking for pointy-headed liberals such as me!) Based upon her record as a city councilor, mayor and governor, however, she does not seem to have much use for the rest of the Constitution or that it should apply to all citizens.

Somehow, I do not think that Senator Clinton’s supporters will vote for McCain because of Sarah Palin. Palin is a hypocrite, an extreme social conservative, who is an anti-gay, anti-choice, pro capital punishment, anti-education opportunist who will advocate whatever position will get her elected!

What's Goin On? (III)

2008-08-14T13:26:00.000-07:00

A guy walks into a UU church and shoots "liberals" because he (the shootist) can't find a job. A guy walks into the office of the chair of the Arkansas Democratic Party and shoots the chairman because he (the shootist) wants to volunteer. A swiftboat assassin publishes a book attacking Barack Obama and it (the book) shoots (pun intended) to #1 on the NY Times Bestseller list. Nevermind that most of the information in the book is unsubstantiated or an outright lie, or that the sales for this book are inflated by bulk-purchasing programs of right-wing hate/nut groups. It is open season on any and all who are not right-wing nutcases or haters. Here it comes - I'm going to clearly state it - a vast right wing conspiracy to drive anyone not a right wing nutcase or a liberal hater into hiding. I challenge all of us who are not nuts or haters to put a stop to this immediately.

Travels With Bubbie

2008-08-14T13:05:00.000-07:00

Bubbie's business has taken us "on the road" of late: one journey to Northern California and a second to Western Washington, both by automobile. Even at $4+/gallon, gasoline is less expensive than flying. The Bay Area and Marin County haven't changed much since our last jaunt there in the spring. Bubbie had her meeting in Emeryville, we hung out with family in Corte Madera and San Geronimo, and Pop and I ate oysters fresh at and from Drake's Bay. Cousin Jack was nowhere to be seen, heard or felt, neither in the town nor the city.

The trip back to OR via the Redwood Highway was spooky. The forest fires plaguing CA had driven many of the forest folk to seek shelter along the coast in and about Arcata and environs. All of the motels were full of desperate folks, as were the streets. Even though they roll up the sidewalks at 8 PM thereabouts, at that hour lots of sullen-looking people were sitting around every available table at just about every venue. We scurried home.

WA was more the usual. Again, Bubbie had business in Bellevue after which we headed to Port Townsend and Chimicum for more family revelry (and more oysters for me). The combination of tourists and trust-fund-babies in PT is always remarkable and this last trip did not disappoint. H. Bert Frank, like Cousin Jack, was conspicuous with his apparent absence.

What's Goin On? Part II / Oh, Blackwater...

2008-08-01T08:22:00.000-07:00

Unemployment is up; economic growth is down. The cynic in me states that it is now time to attack Iran, or North Korea, or Venezuela...let's make it Venezuela. Bush hates Chavez because Chavez was actually elected by his people, not appointed by his daddy's judges. Venezuela is close by, has lots of oil and we haven't already destroyed their oil-production infrastructure with a previous war. Nah! That just might affect the November election adversely. The following thought gives me chills...

It will be interesting to see what the Bushies do to maintain power come November if McCain is somehow behind in the polls despite all of the coming swift-boating and race baiting. Blackwater USA has announced that it is curtailing its Iraq operations and will concentrate on its security operations. Hmmm...Blackwater has approximately 30,000 operatives on its on-call list and its HQ (in NC) is a relatively short drive from Washington, DC. In keeping with the GOP's history of October surprises, wouldn't it be amazing if the Bush-Cheney crime family were to announce that since we are at war, al Qaeda is in the streets of DC, and our armed forces are otherwise engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Constitution (what little still remains 7.5 years after the coup) is herewith suspended and Blackwater has been deputized to defend the country. Science Fiction you say? Granted, but just keep in mind that the Bush-Cheney family also stacked the Supreme Court with toadies, arranged for the 2000 coup, ignored the Saudi connections to 9/11, ignored the "chatter" prior to 9/11, fabricated an Iraqi connection to 9/11, illegally and immorally attacked Iraq, botched the occupation, cemented the 2000 coup with the 2004 takeover of Ohio, outed Valerie Plame, set new standards for scandals and corruption that make even the Grant and Harding (mis)administrations blanch, set aside the constitution, violated the law at every turn, ignored the courts and congress, etc, etc, etc, etc. Going on will do no good for my disposition. When it happens, I told you so...If it doesn't happen, I will be very happy that I was wrong.

"What's Goin' On?"

2008-07-31T07:52:00.000-07:00

The latest presidential poll data has the race very tight, with Barack Obama's slight lead in certain "battleground" states getting slighter. I wonder why. Obama is bright, articulate, young, vigorous, inquisitive, intelligent, well-read, a teacher, a lawyer, etc. McCain is none of these. He may be intelligent, but has yet to prove it. But wait, he is experienced!! Yes, he was a prisoner of war and he was tortured. OK, what else? Experience? He was/is a member of the Keating 5. What else? He tells bad jokes. His picture is next to flip-flop in the illustrated dictionary of politics. He hired the infamous Swift Boat liars to help his campaign. His economic adviser was (and probably still is) former Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX) who thinks that there is no current economic problem and states that the country is composed of whiners. Of course, Gramm's wife was a director of ENRON and she and Phil have yet to be implicated for their malfeasance in that crime family. What else? He kissed W after he (McCain) was swift-boated by Rove and company. The upshot? I have to state what is on my mind...racism. The country still fears a black man. Remember the primaries in West Virginia and Kentucky?

Holy Incompetence, Batman!!

2008-07-28T07:52:00.000-07:00

So the nice lady at Social Security left me a message on our land line telephone stating that I needed to supply them with a certified copy of my birth certificate because I had lost my old copy in a basement flood. No, she said when I called her back, I could not provide copies of all of those documents that I have that are based upon previous presentations of the lost birth certificate. I had to re-prove my birth, in case I was trying to establish a false identity and steal my own meager benefits. So I contacted the City Clerk for my esteemed home town of Woonsocket, RI and found that I had to send a check via the USPS to get a copy of the birth certificate. No, there is no way to order via the internet or telephone or fax. No, a credit card payment is impossible. Send a check in the mail. OK. I received said birth certificate. Unfortunately, it had no birth date on it. How in the hell can a city clerk's office send out a birth certificate without a birth date on it? Of course, each person with whom I spoke at the clerk's office refused to take responsibility for omission and blamed a "part-timer" for the mistake. There was no answer as to who was supposed to check the "part-timer's" work. In any event, the clerk's office would get a complete copy in the mail, if I would just repeat my data to them. I offered to fax the date-less copy to them, but they stated that their fax machine did not always work. Would they send my new document via overnight mail? No, they do not have that capability. Because it was the city's mistake, however, the office would send two copies of the document in today's mail. Let's hope that they put the same date on each!

Who Framed Roger Clemens and the Fountainhead Follies

2008-07-16T14:27:00.000-07:00

Oh my god, they are trying to frame Roger Clemens!! Wait, maybe he did lie! What, a Texan lying? A Texan doing drugs? Roger is just like W??!!?? You mean that both of them are not holier than thou? (Dabottadem in RI-speak) You mean that they are as fallible as you and me? Say it ain't so, Joe!!!

As the economy continues to tank, even TV commercials are picking at the scab. Allstate insurance has their current spokesperson (the former President of the USA - at least on "24") mentioning a "recession" (it's on TV so it must be true). The upshot is that Ayn Rand's crackpot theories as expressed in her minor science fiction novels "Atlas Shrugged" and "The Fountainhead" have been shown to be the malarkey they truly are. That so-called leaders such as Andrea Mitchell's husband (didn't he used to be somebody?), Phil Gramm, W, Slick Willie, Robert Rubin and the rest of the Chicago School of Economics devotees and Ayn Rand boot-lickers should quickly and publicly apologize for their errors and withdraw from polite society. (Oh, there are many others, but space and hunger prevent me from naming them all, including the many so-called liberals among them.) Deregulation has been a freaking disaster: energy (remember Enron? Gramm's spousal unit was a Board member - any jail time for her? I think not); airlines; banks (remember the Hatch-St. Germain Act and its aftermath; plus the current Gramm sponsored debacle?); telecom; etc. Sure, telephone calls are cheaper than the 70's, but last I checked Ma Bell was re-assembling here dismembered parts and now these bums are beyond the law). I could go on, but low blood sugar is attacking me! But I rant and rave...and I saved another $100 in shrink fees!

Remember the Keating 5

2008-07-11T17:31:00.000-07:00

As IndyMac tanks and FreddieMac and FannieMae teeter on the brink of collapse, please remember this: Neil Bush (yes, W's brother) was bailed out and John McCain (yes THAT McCain) was absolved of complicity in the bank failure that was such a horror in Texas, Arizona, Ohio, Florida, Oklahoma and Rhode Island, amongst other places, in decades gone by. W does not want to see any lenders get bailed out this time (Oh, really!?!?!?!?!?) - after all, Neil and Jeb are into other things now and Happy Jack is running for W's seat. Interesting to note that McCain, a war hero, and John Glenn, a space hero, both managed to wriggle out of the Keating mess. Can't have our heros dripping in doo doo, can we??? C'est la vie!!

Stinkin' Excuses

2008-07-11T12:33:00.000-07:00

One of my not-so-humble correspondents who hails from Tejas claims that he cannot get past the password to respond to my blog. What is he talking about? Being the right-wing boomer that he is, he probably is semi-illiterate when it comes to computers. Maybe he needs to hire someone to figure this out. Even my sister figured it out. Tejas-man must be just too damned smart for this stuff. Since he could not respond to the blog, I have reproduced my pointy-headed, commie-pinko reply to his tirade against me..."...since you haven't read it, you have no right to lambaste me...yet...so are you stating that Jesse Helms was a lunatic lefty since he was racist, ignorant of economics, a mean-spirted character assassin, naive in foreign affairs and held in disdain all who did not agree with him?? Any password block that exists is on your system...I would not block anyone from replying. Air America failed (wait, it is still on the air...) because of lack of advertising revenue, which is controlled by polemicists such as you and your ilk.

OOO, that felt good..."

"And it's 1, 2, 3, what are we fighting for? Don't ask me I don't give damn, next stop must be Iran..." sorry Country Joe.

Is Anyone Reading This?

2008-07-10T21:23:00.000-07:00

Seriously. Of course, writing these little essays is better than therapy at $100 for 45 minutes (or so I think). Since I have not had any comments posted for some time now, I am guessing that no one is reading or that nothing that I am writing about strikes any of you in any way, shape or form. Please let me know via your comments on the blog itself. The self-gratification is good, but even brickbats, insults and bashing from right-wing, born-again Red Sox fans would be better. Oh, and how about those New York Football Giants!!! It was lovely to see those Dallas and New England fans sputtering and fuming. So, batter me back. By the way, what was your choice for the best rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" as presented on ESPN's Baseball Tonight? My 2-year old grandson Gannet (who knows the lyrics courtesy of his fanatical dziadziu) clapped and cheered for John Pizzarelli's entry. I voted for Gretchen Wilson (who made the final cut).

Profiles In Courage: July 2008

2008-07-10T21:12:00.000-07:00

1) Kudos to the director of a state agricultural laboratory in North Carolina who refused to place flags at half staff for Jesse Helms. Seems as if he did not want to honor the memory of one of that state's leading racists. For following his conscience, this man was asked to resign or be fired. Since he was able to, he took early retirement.

2) Kudos to the 28 senators who had the chutzpah to vote against the FISA bill. The Democratic majority and those who claim to be upholders of the Constitution (4th Amendment in particular) should be ashamed!

Has Success Spoiled the Red Sox Fans???

2008-07-08T07:54:00.000-07:00

There is no question that Yankee fans have a history of obnoxious arrogance. Some would say that the team's historical sucesses have spawned this reality. Also historically, the Red Sox and the Cubs, as well as their fans, have been deemed "lovable" by many. Having been verbally abused for being a Yankee fan by many a Red Sox fanatic, I have always felt that Boston fans are among the worst on the planet - Bill Russell is among the many who agree. However, sports pundits have acclaimed the Boston sports fan as among the best. Similar to WMD in Iraq or that Iraq was involved in the World Trade Center attacks or that W has been over-mis-underestimated by the left-wing media (short of The Nation and Mother Jones...Oh, they mean Rupert Murdoch, I guess), repeat these calumnies, canards and lies often enough and the muddled masses say it must be so! Sorry, brethren, but it ain't so! An example follows as written in the Boston Globe about a Cape Cod "Fanatic."

By Maddie Hanna
Globe Correspondent / July 8, 2008

A Falmouth man accused of using a bat to beat a man he allegedly thought was a New York Yankees fan pleaded not guilty at his arraignment yesterday in Falmouth District Court.

Robert D. Correia, who faces charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and malicious destruction of a motor vehicle, was ordered held without bail, pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for tomorrow.

On Friday, police said, the 20-year-old attacked a New York man, who police said was driving away from a Fourth of July fireworks display in Falmouth. When police arrived about 10 p.m., the fight had died down, Falmouth Police Chief Anthony Riello said yesterday. The initial investigation found that a group of young people from Falmouth had accused the man and his family of being Yankees fans because their car had New York plates, Riello said.

A Nashua man died in May after he was run over by a vehicle driven by a Nashua woman in what was called another fan dispute turned violent. Ivonne Hernandez, 43, was charged with reckless conduct, aggravated drunken driving, and second-degree murder. Police said she slammed into Matthew Beaudoin, 29, near a bar.

When the situation escalated Friday, police said, Correia hit the man with a bat. The man suffered injuries to his head and body. He was released from Falmouth Hospital, Riello said.

Riello said he did not know how many people were involved in the fight. He also did not know whether family members or bystanders had reported the Yankees taunts.

Robert Nolan, a Falmouth lawyer who represents Correia, said his client had been in his apartment nearby when the argument began. He grabbed a bat and went outside in an attempt to break it up, Nolan said. He dismissed the idea that Correia had swung at the man out of team rivalry.

"There's an awful lot of talk about this guy was attacked because he was a Yankees fan," Nolan said. Correia "never heard a word about Red Sox, Yankees, New York, anything like that."

Local authorities have withheld the name of the alleged victim. The New York Post has identified him as William Nestor, 29, of Northport, N.Y. The newspaper also reported that Nestor was in his car with his wife and parents when a group of rowdy young people approached.

"They were yelling, 'Yankees! Yankees!' " Nestor told the Post.

Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O'Keefe said what started the argument was "largely irrelevant." Still, he said it was appalling that violence would enter an argument about baseball.

"I think that the idea of introducing a baseball bat into a verbal argument that people are having over whether or not somebody likes one sports team versus another sports team is absurd," O'Keefe said.

Nestor could not be reached.

Riello said police would issue a warrant today for another Falmouth man suspected of being involved in the altercation. The man, who allegedly threw himself into and damaged the New York family's car, will probably be charged with malicious destruction to a motor vehicle, Riello said.

Maddie Hanna can be reached at mhanna@globe.com.
© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.

Southern Strategy Redux

2008-06-29T19:01:00.000-07:00

Seems as if the GOP is rolling out its time-tested race-baiting ways: Obama is "...John Kerry with a tan..." and I am still seeing/hearing references to Obama being a Muslim and that he may be killed after the Dems convention. Even one of my saner correspondents (Manny being Manny) has made references to assassination, as well as his (Obama's) inexperience. What the hell does experience mean and what does it get us? W was experienced running Texas (as Kinky Friedman asked when he was running for Gov in Texas, "How hard can it be?" ) and GHWB was probably the most experienced politico we've ever elected. Rap Master Ronnie was experienced? JFK? Look where LBJ and Tricky Dicky got us!!!

So let's cut the crap and admit that a large segment of the population is racist and will not vote for Obama even though he's less African-American than Derek Jeter and Mariah Carey. Remember, Obama senior was from Africa by his own choice, not as an economic commodity. So the crazies on the religious right are barking at the moon, just itching for a reason to vote against Obama , even to the extent of voting for an addled pre-Boomer whose flip-flopping has resulted in his photo being in my illustrated dictionary next to "you've got to be kidding me!" McCain is the biggest GOP joke of a candidate since Bob "I've just met a drug named Viagra" Dole (apologies to the Capitol Steps).

The GOP’s Southern Strategy and Ronald Reag

2007-12-15T13:19:00.000-08:00

Several Op-Ed pieces have appeared in the media this past month regarding the so-called “Southern Strategy” of the Republican Party and Ronald Reagan’s role in its success. The debate of late focuses on whether the strategy is racist and was Reagan a racist.

There is no question that following passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the GOP gained more and more political power in the southern states, until achieving a Republican “Solid South” resembling the old Democratic “Solid South”. Demographers, geographers, economists, historians, political scientists, journalists and pundits have offered a myriad of reasons for the change. One of my favorite Republicans, Kevin Phillips, wrote an excellent and prescient analysis of this trend in the late ‘60s: The Emerging Republican Majority. As good as this book is as a geography of political change, it, as well as most of the other analyses, misses the main point.

That point is racism. The Democratic Party in the South had its share of committed racists prior to 1964 (I am sure that many remain). Indeed, many of these racists stayed with the party until the 1980s, most likely due to local traditions. It was Reagan, however, in 1980 who won the racist votes for the GOP with his campaign speech in Philadelphia, Mississippi. At the urging of Senator Trent Lott (R-MS), then a member of the House, Reagan announced his candidacy for the presidency in Philadelphia and also stated his emphatic support for states rights. By so doing, Reagan sent a blatant message of support for racism, and he quickly was endorsed by the KKK (they were in attendance at the speech). For a more complete and erudite history of this event, please see http://www.gibbsmagazine.com/Reagan%20A%20Legacy%20of%20States'%20Rights.htm, as well as recent nationally syndicated columns by Bob Herbert, Paul Krugman and David Brooks.

The Reagan years, viewed with nostalgic awe by the GOP, was laced with race-baiting tactics and legislation, exemplified by Lott’s and Reagan’s attempt to grant tax-exempt status to the racist Bob Jones University (their efforts were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in an 8-1 decision). Note that Lott lost his Senate Majority leadership post by stating that the USA would b e better off if the avowed racist Strom Thurmond has been elected president. Just about every Republican in a leadership position in Texas, for instance, switched parties following Reagan’s endorsement of “states rights.”

Racism remains the most destructive domestic problem in the USA. We will not become a true “nation” until this is remedied.

Sherman, let's enter the Wayback Machine and return to the last century...

2007-11-11T21:24:00.000-08:00

Arrived in Boston in the wee hours of Sunday and headed to Cape Cod to sister Cape Cod Janie's house. My godmother (mom's older sister, Claire) is recovering from a fall and I surprised her in RI with a visit this afternoon. She is a WW II vet and was stationed in DC as a WAC where she met her future husband Tony. As a marine with the First Marine Division, Uncle Tony was in the attack on Guadalcanal in 1942. On this Veterans Day 2007, I honor all veterans of all wars for their sacrifices, including Aunt Claire, Uncle Tony, Uncle Bob, Uncle Harry, Uncle Rich, Dr. Rearick, Kim's dad, Betsey's dad, George, Bob Frisk, Norm Aubin, Donnie Marquis, Paul Durand, John, John, Joe, Cousin Jack (Jean-Louis), Max Clelland, Daniel Inouye, George McGovern, Kurt Vonnegut, Hank Bauer, Ralph Houk, Pat Tillman, Ted Williams, Phil Rizzuto, and so on. But most especially, my father MCPO Aldor D. L'Heureux, USNR(ret), who served from 1944 until 1987.

Thanks to all of you for your efforts, especially in those wars where the motives were/are despicable and the leaders morally and ethically bankrupt. Because his service was so honorable, I also thank George H. W. Bush. On the other hand, I cannot thank nor will I mention by name, those who dishonored these fine people with phony service appointments far from harms way doing political work.

Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose! (sorry Francophiles for any Joual-type grammar errors).

My Godfather's Folks were from Napoli!!!

2007-11-09T20:20:00.000-08:00

Remember Blazing Saddles? "We'll take the n...s and the c...s, but no Irish." They let my greatgreatgrandpappy Sweeney from Cork in anyway. I was never any good with riddles, so I won't attempt snappy repartees to comments when my counter comment may prove beyond all shadow of a doubt my blockheadedness. If you were from La Ville du Nord you would understand my lack of mental faculties beyond rote memorization of my Baltimore catechism. "Who made us? Dog made us. Why did Dog make us? Dog needed a best friend." I am also lesdyxic when I get tired.

I wonder if my Sweeney forbear was an illegal? So many of the Irish came to these shores for work and just stayed on. I know for a fact that until very recently Boston, Toledo, Detroit and Chicago still had their share. Probably still do. It’s so easy to pass when you just stay in the neighborhood where everyone speaks in the same dialect as you. I know that Polish Grampa Joe had his papers for steerage on that ship from Bremen and I am sure that Canadian French Great Grandpa Joe and Great Grandma Rose-Delima just hopped a train from Quebec.

So, with the Democratic-controlled House passing a free trade bill with Peru today, I guess that opens up more grape and lettuce picking jobs for all those folks who will get “laid-off” from their middling paying primary and secondary economic sector jobs. Remember, W has really grown the economy by providing millions of minimum wage and below jobs (many industries do NOT have to abide by minimum wage laws) for all those folks who are getting foreclosed on as their jobs evaporate into increased profits for the Upper 1%. But wait, there’s more! We get plenty of grapes from South America, so maybe those lettuce pickers will be kings until we can get well-preserved (anti-freeze?) lettuce from the Far East. Hey, I saw organic garlic at a well-heeled supermarket in Seattle a few months ago so I guess that the lettuce can’t be far behind. I saw a Tommy Bahama shirt for $185 at a Nordstrom store near Portland OR – made in China, of course. Got to be an obscene profit in there somewhere for someone! Now, I must state for the record that I own several Tommy Bahama shirts but there is limit even to my conspicuous consumpting ways.

I wish that I had thought of that...

2007-11-09T09:33:00.000-08:00

One correspondent referred to Rudy as "Ghouliani" in reference to kszyman's query. I like it. Next time, please comment on the blog O Exalted Commentator so everyone can share your wit!! Tomorrow, I will be heading east to Beantown and the Big Apple to visit family and friends as well as handling a job for one of the Shrewsbury Street Gang in Worcester, MA. Those of you unfamiliar with mobster lore may not know that the late head of the New England mob, Raymond L. S. Patriarca, hailed from Shrewsbury Street in Greyhound town. Oh, New England: home of the Red Sox, Patriots, the best baked beans, never-ending chicken dinners (the Woonsocket area), chowder and clam cakes, dynamites, Flo's hot dogs, Hot Dog Annie's, Saugy 's, Del's, more mayors, judges, governors and police in prison than even Louisiana, and the shenanigans of almost as many mobsters as the Big Apple ("Bullet-Riddled Body Found in Trunk of Car - Foul Play Suspected"). I will report on the gastronomic delights such as full-belly fried clams and Italian grinders ("Italians" in ME), washed down by coffee milk ("A Swallow Will Tell You"). Maybe a mocha cabinet...

Please, if you read the blog , send me a comment even if you hate it and are offended. "Somebody go back and get some dimes."

Mea Culpa

2007-11-08T15:56:00.000-08:00

OOO WEE BABY!!!!! My initial posting received generally positive reviews and comments. Those east of Eden liked it, those west of Eden liked it but politely cautioned me that Texans would be offended, and those in Eden (er, TX), so far, have been bloggingly quiet although one Dallas-ite orally exclaimed during a telephone conversation that he was not aware that I hated TX and Texans so much. Mea culpa, or for those of you not Latinized by a nun, priest, monk, or unmarried female Latin teacher in high school - OOPS! I do not hate…that is for Red Sox fans (they hate anything to do with Yankees, even such a fine soul as ARod), racists (everyone who isn’t them), Curt Schilling (anyone to his left – I bet he faked the bloody sock thing), and designated hitters (they hate themselves for being one dimensional).

Hey, get over it! This is bloviation, satire, silliness, and pontification (I get to pontificate because I was abused, I mean raised, as a Roman Catholic – I lost my religion at puberty, however). Man, some of my best friends are Texans…no, really!!! If I tried to name them all I’d be sure to forget someone. So suffice it to say that they run the gamut from A to Z and hail form Texas itself to Kenya, India, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Ohio, Louisiana, Iraq, Lebanon, California, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, as well as three other RIers (including another Woonsocket Rocket). Hope I didn't leave out a state.

More great things about TX: Austin Land & Cattle; Barbara Jordan; Texas Western beating Kentucky way back when; Earl Campbell; Buddy Holly; the Flatlanders; karst topography; kolaches in West (by far the best); Amy’s Ice Creams (she did learn the trade from Steve Harrell in Northampton MA); Hoover’s (oh, man those smothered pork chops on Saturdays with green beans, okra with tomatoes, iced tea and buttermilk pie are a death row denizen’s dream of a last meal before they stick it to her/him); Big Bend; following Cousin Jack through Beaumont, Houston, Austin, Fredericksburg, Ozona, Van Horn and El Paso (did not get to sleep on the ridge shelf, though); steak; gorditas and tamales at the Little Diner in Canutillo (even though I had to sit beneath a photo of W); sitting in John Maddens chair at Chuy’s in Van Horn (no kidding – check it out!!); dodging deer on I-10 west of San Antonio and east of Fort Stockton; steak; El Mercado and the Riverwalk in San Antonio; armadillos; Willie Nelson; steak; enchiladas pipian; brisket; Dublin Doctor Pepper; steak; Mexican Coca Cola; and the best company head honchos I have ever worked for. Again, mea culpa. And Janis and SRV, of course.

Since kszyman asked such good questions (see comments), I decided to place my responses in the main blog as well as blather on some:

(1) Now that Pat Robertson has endorsed Rudy Giuliani (NYC’s famous fire truck chaser, opportunist DA – see “The Five Families” book for details – and 9/11 liar) God is on Rudy's team and he (Rudy, not God) will need no more new money. Pat will change slot machine slugs into cash at Rudy's next fund-raiser (Rudy will wear the latest Donna Karan business ensemble). I do not harbor any bad vibes about lapsed Roman Catholics who do not attend Mass, especially those who support gay rights and a woman’s right to control all aspects of her own body and soul. So said, I have a problem with Rudy’s penchant for lying, exaggerating, claiming credit for others work (see “The Five Families”) and what he calls his constant praying to God and Jesus. This phony God stuff dripping from candidates’ lips must stop. In Rudy’s case, if you pray to someone or something but do not attend your professed mythology’s gatherings nor attend to its dogma, you are a hypocrite. (That goes for me, also)
(2) Mitt Romney’s hair is just too perfect and he is far too metrosexual for me. And, of course, he exhibits more religious and political hypocrisy. When in MA, Mitt professed gay rights and women’s choice. Hey, when in Rome (no that’s Athens actually)…Now Mitt seems to have been brainwashed (the apple doesn’t fall far from the supermarket shelf) and become a born again Latter Day Saint. He’s a Saul becoming a Paul or George I becoming a religious right stooge. Either way, he’s another hypocrite, but just too cute. I prefer the jowly Richardson, goofy Huckleberry (oops, Huckabee), or alien Kucinich look.
(3) Alas, I have not read Obama's book, so unlike an idiot such as Bill O'Reilly I do not have a stupid opinion to express. Hey, I was in a Hungarian restaurant a couple of weeks ago and darned if the people there spoke English like they were born here.

While I am making fun of the above magnificent intellects, let me dispense with other pretenders to the throne.

(1) Hillary Clinton: too W-like for me and too willing to attack some distant country to show she’s just one of the guys.
(2) Duncan Hunter: what a wack job.
(3) Mike Huckabee: a goofball and an ordained minister to boot (hey, I am one also - minister, that is - and all it takes is responding to the ad in the back of Rolling Stone or High Times).
(4) Dennis Kucinich: as far to the left as he is and as much as I agree with him on just about every issue, there is something about him that bewilders me. Not the UFO thing – Barry Goldwater saw them and he is regarded as a saint by the rapturous right – but it is his being so out of touch with humor. Bill Maher gave him several softballs to hit and Cleveland’s finest Roman Catholic Slav didn’t even swing. Very disappointing, and he plays the God card way too much.
(5) Mike Gravel: despite the fact that he and I went to Assumption College in Worcester, MA (20 some odd years apart) and that he speaks the truth, he does so only because he cannot win.
(6) Barack Obama: talks a spectacular game. His 2004 Democratic convention address had even Republicans mesmerized. But, his congressional record is weaker than either John Kennedy’s or John Kerry’s. I must say that it is far better than W’s pre-Governor of TX resume (W being Gov in TX was actually an uncredited and unintentional homage to Governor William J. Le Petomane in “Blazing Saddles.” Look up Le Petomane and learn what the name means!).
(7) Ron Paul: He is truthful, honest and certainly respects the Constitution (unlike any of the other elephantine candidates). Despite his claims to be a Libertarian, he is running as a Republican and his voting record, while not as dangerous as Hunter, clearly labels him as suspect.
(8) John McCain: His 2004 kiss on W’s cheek was the last straw for me.

Well, I have run out of gas and my new ultra low carb diet does not allow me beans, so I will have to stoke up on cabbage, Brussels sprouts and other green fartables. Other candidates that are running will just have to be patient. In the interim, please consider the words of the renowned Kinky Friedman who, when he announced that he was running for governor of TX, asked, “How hard can it be?”

For the record, I am currently re-reading "On the Road" and "A Child's Garden of Grass" with "Blackwater" on deck.

2007-11-05T23:34:00.000-08:00

Those of you who know me will understand the title of my blog. Some of you may remember my nickname in Bowling Green, KY as the Rhode Island Redneck. Since I spent 29 of my first 36 years in Little Rhody, I just cannot get the dynamites, fried clams, fish 'n' chips, Del's, chowder (never with cream or milk!!!) and clam cakes, and 'Gansett out of my system. So call me a RI Yankee or a RI Redneck...

Let me state this about TX: the Austin Lounge Lizards "Stupid Texas Song" sums most of my feelings about TX and Texans. First the cons: arrogance; ignorance; bad baseball teams; George H. W. Bush; George W. Bush; Neil Bush; Barbara Bush (the grandmother); Jeb Bush; Tom Delay; Dick Armey; Rick Perry; Lone Star Beer; summer; spring; autumn; winter; cedar fever; Alberto Gonzalez; Harriet Miers; tornados; overated colleges and universities; pickup trucks; SUVs; Dick Cheney (I don't care if he registered to vote in WY and he was their House Rep - he's a Texan by choice); Amarillo; Dallas; Houston; Beaumont; Port Arthur; Westlake; football mentality; I-35 in Austin; malls, shopping centers and cheerleaders. I could go on...

The pros: cheerleaders; The Salt Lick; Round Rock Express; Lubbock (for the great musicians from thereabouts); steak (oh my - yes yes yes); San Antonio; Louis Meuller; BBQ; Lost Maples; Fredricksburg; Dan Rather; Bill Moyers; Ron Paul's honesty and courage; Andy Pettitte; the Pedernales River; Shiner Bock; Christina Marrs; The Spankers; Anne Richards; Molly Ivins; Jim Hightower; Don Luis at Azul Tequila in Austin; Antone's; Waterloo Records; Cheapo Records; The Saxon Pub, The Mucky Duck; Bend Studio; Matt the Electrician; Wammo; The Spurs; and did I mention the steak? I could go on...

Further details will be forthcoming.