Now We Just Have to Keep Him Alive

After it became clear on election night that Obama had won, my next thought quickly became, "Now we just have to keep him alive." I don't think anyone has talked a lot about that, but on this 45th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, I thought I would bring it up.

Yep, 45 years have passed since that happened. For many of the people who voted for Obama, what happened that long ago seems like ancient history. And, yes, it should, because the speed with which things happen has increased since then. Those 45 years equal about twice that much or more now.

I turned 13 years old just a few days after November 22, 1963, so I remember it all pretty well. I lived in Dallas at the time. I had passed thru Dealy Plaza hundreds of times with my parents, so I felt pretty familiar with where it all took place. The Texas Schoolbook Depository had a time and temperature sign on top that you could see from Stemmons Freeway, and I always looked over there to check it anytime we went by on our way somewhere. The entire drama seemed close to home and far away at the same time. It happened downtown, while I sat in a classroom in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas, so it seemed far away. But, it happened in my home town and that seemed really, really close.

Back then I felt like Dallas got a bad rap. Folks from elsewhere called it an evil, violent, hate-filled place. A few years later, when I hitchhiked around Europe, I hesitated to say that I came from Dallas. Whenever someone asked where I came from, I'd just say "Texas." "Oh, cowboys, horses,..." they would smile and say. If I told them I grew up in Dallas, their whole tone would change, and they'd say, "Oh, bad place." I always felt obligated to defend my city. I'd say, "No, no, really it's not so bad. It's just like anywhere else." I usually didn't succeed in rehabilitating Dallas in anyone's eyes.

I still live in Texas, but I left Dallas about 30 years ago. Not because of it's evil or violence, but because my wife at the time wanted to attend grad school at the University of Texas in Austin. Once I left Dallas, I never wanted to go back. Again, not because of its evil, but because of its hyper-conservative attitude. I never knew how conservative and up-tight until I moved away.

Today marks 45 years since an event happened that put Dallas on the world's map. I don't want to move back there, but I still believe that Dallas has had to unfairly live down a reputation that Memphis, Los Angeles, and Silver Spring never did.

Let's remember our highest ideals, and try to bring them to life. And, let's pray that Mr. Obama stays alive to encourage us to do that.

Finally! No Need to Apologize to the World!

Well, I said in 2004 that Bush would lose and it wouldn't even be close. I overestimated the American public. Let that be a warning to me. You can never understimate the American voter. I think this time made up for it though. Even Karl Rove calls it for Obama in a landslide (338 to 200). Thanks for the good news, Karl, but it's good to see you leaving. It has turned out to be a good night.

I Voted Already

Yep, yesterday early voting began here in Texas and I voted yesterday. Likewise, so did everyone in my house. Today, I read that Dallas had a record-breaking number of voters, as did Chicago. In fact, Chicago had almost the same number of voters yesterday as they had in 2004 for the entire early voting period. Political wisdom says that a large voter turnout favors Democrats. God, I hope so! I have overestimated the "American People" so many times in the past thinking they could see thru the bullshit put out by the Republicans. I hope they (we) got it right this time.

Oh Those Crazy Floridians

Remember Mark Foley? The Republican Congressman who had to resign because he had some inappropriate conversations, IMs, and who know what else with male pages in the House of Representatives? Yeah, that guy. Well, guess who took his place. A Democrat named Tim Mahoney won the seat while promising to return morals to Washington.

Sidebar comment: I think I'll only vote for those people promising to bring more immorality to Washington since no politician ever keeps their campaign promises and often winds up doing exactly the opposite. Now, back to the story.

He began an affair with a 50 year-old aide while having a wife and kid at home according to ABC News who got the information from present and former staff members. Mr. Mahoney himself called for an ethics investigation into the allegations. His staff says the investigation will vindicate him. Hmm...I always thought the word vindicated meant confirmation that you had done something correctly. Maybe he really meant exonerated. No, maybe he meant vindicated since he thinks having an affair with a staffer shows good judgment ;-)

One more Democrat with his dick in the wrong place, but, hey, at least it was in the opposite sex! Republican men tend to want sex with men or, even better, little boys. And these guys think they have what it takes to legislate our morals?! Give me a break!

Everybody Hold Your Breath 'Cause, We're Gonna Be Sinkin' Soon

That's a line from the Norah Jones song Sinkin'

Soon from her CD called Not Too Late. Did she perhaps have a premonition of the financial debacle we're going thru? Just read the lyrics, and see if they don't fit. I think they do. In fact, that line about the captain who's too proud to say he dropped the oar seems right on target.

Besides that, I recommend the CD. I have it.

Why That's Longer than Lindsay Lohan's Been Alive!

Yep, I have worked for the people (ahem) of Texas for 25 years now. God help me! Couldn't I find anything better to do? And, besides, doesn't that mean I can retire now? Yes, it does, but I haven't finished with the people (ahem) yet.

Vote for Charlotte Dennett

Ms. Dennett has entered the race for Attorney General of the State of Vermont, and she has promised to prosecute George W. Bush for murder, if elected. After she gets him she should go after Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Cheney, et al. I wish I could vote for her, but I don't live in Vermont.

So THAT's Where She Got All Those Recipes!

Julia Child - spy. Yep, she worked for the OSS (forerunner of the CIA)) during World War II. She must have spied on the French to know all about French recipes. So, what did she really put in that chicken Cordon Bleu?

The Price of Taking a Vacation

Some poor guy at my office has a surprise waiting for him come Monday morning.

¡Felicidades a Todos los Secuestrados Anteriores!

No sé por qué, pero desde su secuestro por las FARC hace más o menos seis años, he tenido una fascinación con el destino de Ingrid Betancourt. Es algo que he seguido muy de cerca y les quiero ofrecer a ella y todos los secuestrados anteriores mis felicidades. Imagínate Sra. Betancourt sigue deseando servir al pueblo de Colombia como Presidenta. Increible. ¡Qué rijan la paz y la libertad en Colombia!

They Were Just Taking a Summer Vacation

For the second time a polar bear has arrived in Iceland. No, they didn't clear customs. Folks over there suspect that each of them floated on a piece of ice from Greenland. Then, they swam the last little bit. Authorities got in a lot of hot water (pun intended) with environmentalists and animal rights groups when they killed the first one. So now, they will send the second one to Greenland by airplane. Hey, they just wanted a little break from the normal routine. No reason to kill 'em.

Storms

Last night Round Rock, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, and Austin dealt with three waves of severe storms. The first one hit Cedar Park, Round Rock, and Pflugerville with high winds, hail, and tornados. One of the tornados walked a tightwire down the Travis - Williamson County line. It passed about 2 miles south of our house. Of course, we didn't know until it actually passed that it had missed us. We went downstairs and were just about to step into the bathroom and pantry (both in the center of the house), when I heard on the radio that it had headed a little south of us. We had high winds and hail, but no damage to our trees, house, or car. Lucky.

Later on, a second wave of storms hit Georgetown (just north of us). Then, shortly after that the third wave marched right through the center of Austin (south of us). In fact, it broke out some windows in the Capitol building. I saw quite a few tree limbs, and other debris on my way into the office. Exciting night.

88 Year-Old Shoplifter

My elderly father has had a cough for the past several days. He had tried some cough drops, but they didn't help much. He asked me what I thought he should do, and I told him to get come cough syrup. He and my mother went up to CVS and asked the pharmacist which cough syrup would work the best. She showed him a product and he went back out to the car and waited for my mother.

After they got home and he had taken some, he realized that he had never paid for the cough syrup. He told my mother that the lady had given it to him. My mother assured him that the lady had merely handed it to him, not given it to him. He said he knew they had him on video just walking out of the store, and he didn't want the police coming to the door in the middle of the night. So, we just drove back up there and paid for the cough syrup.

We live in Williamson County where no one goes easy on criminals. I'm surprised they didn't chase him out of the store, tackle him, and wrestle the stuff out of his hands! At least we've kept him out of Guantanamo for now.

Is That a Gun in Your Nose?

No, it's a neti pot. I have some pretty bad sinus problems that have flared up again with the oak pollen season. A couple of years ago, I had such a bad sinus infection that I lost my sense of smell for about 12 months. Well, this time around I bought a neti pot at the local CVS. Believe it or not, it works very well. When you buy the pot, it comes with 20 packets of powder that you mix with water, pour in one nostril, and let it drain from the other. That's the idea, but sometimes it doesn't flow so well because of all the uh, well, snot. Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and sodium chloride (table salt) make for the two ingredients. I hear that you can make your own powder, but the pot came with 20 packets so I haven't tried making my own.

You might imagine that pouring water into your nose and tilting your head so that one nostril is below the other and allows the water to run out the other nostril makes a mess. You'd be right! But, it sure does help, and I recommend it even if it makes a mess to administer.

Fitna

Geert Wilders, a right-wing member of the Dutch Parliament, has released his controversial film. I just finished watching it. It contains a lot of fiery rhetoric and gruesome photos. Interesting to see the comments that others have made about it. Have a look at it and see what you think. It lasts about 15 minutes.

Academy Awards

I heard that last nite's Academy Awards TV viewership fell below the previously least watched Oscars. Well, I haven't contributed to the viewing audience in quite some time. I don't like to watch awards shows because they get so self-congratulatory. And the "jokes"? Well, they suck along with their delivery. I find it fulfilling enough just to read about who won on the internet. Sorry, Oscar, but you have lost your panache.

A Gift for My Friends

You know who you are ;-) I have recently become popular in places where you can't see this stuff legally. As salaam aleykum.

Time for a Tune-Up

Vladimir Lenin will take a two month vacation soon and leave his place of business for some rest and relaxation. He will leave his mausoleum on February 18 and stay gone until April 15. Officials in Russia say that he needs "some work" (as in "having work done") to restore his looks. The methods used in his preservation remain one of the world's best kept secrets. If they would let the secret out, they could make some major money from some of Hollywood's brightest and dullest lights. I can think of a few that could really use it - think plastic surgery gone wrong.

By the way, what do you think he has in his right hand?

Which Is Worse?

Heating up fish in the office microwave, or burning popcorn in it?

WTF Do I Know?

Boy, my football ESP has taken a nosedive. Not only did the Giants win, but the game came down to the last few seconds.

1200 Calories in Snacks per Viewer

According to a study by the Council for the Control of Calories and the Snack Food Association of the US the average Super Bowl viewer will consume 1200 calories of snacks and hors d'ouvers during the game. That doesn't count the "regular food" that we'll eat, like pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers and God knows what else. No, the 1200 calories comes just from the chips and dips, pretzels, nuts a so forth. Hey, I'll do my part! I wonder if people eat more or less when the game gets close.

So many Super Bowls have turned into duds after the first quarter that I imagine lots of folks just head for the bar to get a few more beers. By the second half I've seen all the good new commercials, so unless we still have a close game, I go do something else. Funny that the biggest sports day of the year has become a debut night for the latest Madison Avenue productions. Yep, Capitalist Realism makes for more compelling TV viewing than the game itself. ¡Love Live the USA!

Rest in Peace: Alan Henning

Some things have such profound impact when they happen that you remember exactly where you were when you found out. You know what I mean: JFK Assassination, George Wallace Assassination Attempt, Ronald Reagan Assassination Attempt, John Lennon murder, 9/11, etc.

Well, I remember exactly where I was when I found out that Alan Henning had died. Yes, it is sad news indeed. I heard early this morning from Suzanne Kimmel that Alan had died. Needless to say, I felt like someone had punched me in the belly. It knocked the breath right out of me, and I thought I might faint

What a great guy! In his youth he left a swath of broken hearts all across North Texas, and I know tonight that those hearts have broken again.

Farewell dear Alan. Gone but never forgotten!