SYSTEM OVERLOAD!!!

My best friend made a good analogy today. Both of us have had some really, really tough financial times for about six years. The Recession that is “over” according to the press is still residing in our houses. I believe it remains an unwelcome houseguest in many, many more people’s lives as well. The financial vacuum that the aforementioned recession has created in my life is a load I carry with most days with a minimal amount of grumbling. I try to disassociate myself from the reality and trust God to handle all of it. However, some days, that load, in combination with a certain sphincter here and pain in the neck there, coupled with personal heartache just gets to be overwhelming. So, I had a serious meltdown, which brings me back to the analogy. We take turns with giving each other pep talks and his turn consisted of this: “You have had a whole loaf of crap sandwiches. I know that just when you think you are at the end of the loaf, someone brings a fresh batch for you to finish.” How very well those words describe the situation. I believe that my generation and parts of others bear the scars of this economic boondoogle created by the banks and the greediness of those who were in a position to profit from the decline of our entire infrastructure. It may not be labeled, per se, as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but it is exactly that condition.

Goodbye Harold Ramis

I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Harold Ramis. I fell in love with him and the characters he created when he was Bill Murray's best friend, Russell, in "Stripes." He was just the intellectual type I go for in real life. He was a writer and member of the cast of "SCTV." This was the show that employed John Candy, Catherine O'Hara, Harold Ramis et al. It was hilarious and I loved to watch it. SNL was funny, but SCTV had it's own unique appeal like no other. The last role I saw Harold Ramis play was that of a doctor on the movie, "As Good As it Gets," with Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear, and Jack Nicholson. He played a physician who still did house calls. He visited Helen Hunt's character to care for her son. He had a special way about him, confident, with a dry wit that made you feel like he was always up for a prank, or ready to punk one of his friends. His writing was superlative. He was one of the good ones. As Pete Townsend would say, one of "my generation's" finest entertainers, off and on the screen. So, in the scene from "Stripes" where Russell was ineffectively teaching English to as a second language, let us sing together: "There she was just a walking down the street, singing Do Wah Ditty, Ditty Dum, Ditty Doo!" Go in peace Harold. Join John Candy and the others that went before you. I will be wanting to see the show when Heaven calls and I enter the next life.

An Impossibility?

Does anyone ever wonder if it is possible to have an honest elected official? One with an altruistic heart who is willing to serve for the sake of the common good. Does this type of person still exist? I believe that many go to serve with the greatest of intentions. They have ideals and goal, promises they have made. Reality sets in and crushes some of the ideas. That is understandable, as reality is great at crushing. Some things just aren't feasible. Sometimes, the politicos find that they owe "their soul" more or less to the contributor that ponied up the most money. If someone invests $ 200,000.00 or more in you, this person expects a big return for their investment. I have read that the peers of the elected are often to blame. They have the habit of accepting gifts and favors. If one of their peers does the right things, it makes them look bad. They will ostracize the one who doesn't follow the status quo, applying social pressure. So, we lay out that is is difficult to remain honest and altruistic. Do we even expect them to try to work for us? I think we still expect them to listen to us and try to do as best they can. I believe that the average person's expectations are not ridiculously high. The average person would probably be satisfied with a few kept promises, a couple of days out of the month really applying themselves to the wants of their constituency and showing up to vote everytime the roll is called. The average person works daily for a lot less, they expect their representatives who draw an extremely high salary for the rest of their lives to at least show up at the office. So, why is that so hard? Is it because they cannot or because they will not? Washington and the Beltway are fairly set in their ways and beliefs. They firmly believe that they know best. They believe we need them to run our lives as we are incapable. They are pretty sure they are just a little bit better than the rest of the great unwashed, i.e. John Q. Public. They are elected to represent their districts. Many people are calling for that representation in a firm voice. The people are insisting that they do their jobs. Is that an impossiblilty?

Go ScarJo

I have to give a huge tip of the hat to Scarlett Johanssen. Sometimes, I am not so sure about her judgement. I mean, who would exchange Ryan Reynolds for Sean Penn? Not me, for sure, I only liked Sean Penn in one movie. I think it was his signature role as Spikoli on Fast Times at Ridgemont High. He nailed that one, but I have not been impressed since. The girl of the hour has done a great thing. She has resigned her position at Oxfam Global International due to a "fundamental difference of opinion." This company says that her support of a company that operates in Israel's West Bank is incompatible with their position. Oxfam International supports the rights of the "Palestinian people" who work in the West Bank area. I admire ScarJo for her stand. I admire those who will stand with the rights of the Israeli's to their homeland. The rest are just violent posers. Thank you, my dear, you are beautiful, talented and responsible. I can't wait to see you in Avengers II! Oh, and Fox News, what is up with you? It is starting to look like you can't take the heat. Stay out of the kitchen and don't pretend to be conservative. http://www.ifcj.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=41377&news_iv_ctrl=1481&s_src=EN1&s_subsrc=EN11402XXEXXX

This is the Real State of the Union

Everyone should listen to this video. These voters are telling it like it is for them and for all of us. It is refreshing to see and hear the truth. That is something you will not find in the Beltway or the White House. I believe the administration should be forced to listen to these people over and over again. They are so right. Job creation is the only thing that will save the economy. Not a higher minimum wage, not a new handout, JOBS, JOBS, JOBS! People crave the independence and self respect that comes from an honest day's work. Again I say: JOBS, JOBS, JOBS!!!!! http://conservativevideos.com/2014/01/devastating-black-activists-chicago-tell-obama-just-quit-watching-state-union/

Much Ado about Something

We here in Atlanta have felt the wrath of Mother Nature. Two inches of snow has paralyzed the city. I spent Monday afternoon creeping home. A commute that last 25 minutes took me 4 and 1/2 hours. I was blessed to arrive. Many spent the night in their cars on the expressway. A baby was even born on the roads with the help of the father and a policeman. The worst part was the children that went to school Monday. Many had to spend the night in the schools as their parents could not get to them due to heavy traffic. Worse, many spent the night in school buses stranded on the road. Buses with no heat, no food or water, no bathroom facilities. The fingers of blame are resonating with the governor and the mayor, but I think the school boards should be the first flogged in this event. They call off school for minor reasons all the time. This winter storm was correctly and ably predicted by all the local news and their meteorologists. Why was school allowed in session? My child's school was open, but I made the decision to stay out on Monday. I am so glad I did. We are not prepared for this kind of inclement weather. We know this very well. It is rare, but the government has a responsibility to the public. We pay taxes to purchase and maintain proper equipment for public emergencies. I do tip my hat to the law enforcement, fire department, the National Guard and the employees of Atlanta and all the Metro area municipalities that worked long, hard, cold shifts to try and alleviate the pain this anomaly created. Their work done on our behalf was stellar. Thank you, one and all.

Only In New York

The rude and thoughtless ones in New York are once again showing how crass and unacceptable their ideas and behavior can be. It seems that McDonalds is calling the cops to remove seniors from the restaurant if they sit in the establishment and socialize for more than 20 minutes. Good idea guys, don't worry, you will never get old. You will never need to have respect in your advanced years. You will stay young forever, especially in the light of how you know everything and tell us all how to live. I was taught to respect my elders. We all will age,it is inevitable. We slow down. We need help in doing things that used to be easy. We begin to truly value the friends we have left to us. I have owned restaurants. I have worked in restaurants, both as a manager and as an accountant behind the scenes. Here in Georgia, I have never heard of the cops being called to round up a rowdy bunch of seniors drinking coffee and having a bite in a dining establishment. I hope I never do. To forget and devalue the ones who came before you is to lose humanity and knowledge. Our seniors are one of our greatest assets. We would do well to remember their contribution and give them the respect they so richly deserve. http://money.msn.com/top-stocks/post--mcdonalds-resolves-standoff-with-lingering-elderly