A dictionary definition of the word “hero” is: “A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life”.
Who is the Smartfella? to quibble with the dictionary? He does not, in fact, question this definition but he does have a problem with the way some persons out there use the word. He has been known to get very quibblie (how is that for inventing a word?) when he hears an athlete referred to as a “hero”. He admits he gets excited when an athlete throws a football through a hoop and hits, as they say, “nothing but net”. What he fails to see is the “courage or nobility of purpose” in performing such a feat.
Recently the Smartfella? was reading an opinion by a fellow unimportant person and he saw these words used and it caught his eye and his eye said, “Huh?”… “Political Hero”.
Just what is a “Political Hero”? The foolishness juices have began to flow and here is what is oozing out…
§ Is a “Political Hero” one who created such an well-oiled Misappropriation Machine that his staff can continue to misappropriate at a high rate of efficiency even while the “Political Hero” is off for two weeks on a fact-finding boondoggle to Paris?
§ Is a “Political Hero” one who has missed more votes on more critical issues than any of his fellow distinguished colleagues?
§ Is a “Political Hero” one who has never been late for, much less missed, a single happy hour in his entire career as a public servant?
The Smartfella? likes to think that Washington, Lincoln and Churchill would have been insulted to be called “Political Heroes”. Referring to people of their ilk (he still loves that word) as not wanting to be remembered as “Political Heroes” is one time that the Smartfella? is thinking that he is thinking pretty good.
"Senator, I served with political heroes, I knew political heroes, political heroes were friends of mine. Senator, you are a political hero."
Would I kid u?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Footnote: More Foolishness can be found at: http://www.northfulton.com/1bloglistingsbody.lasso?-token.blogref=6920.112113 AND/OR http://forii.blogtownhall.com/
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Friday, September 04, 2009
Let It Go To Voice Mail
When the Smartfella? was still in the working world, he became aware of a modern day phenomena whereby the people who were working around me had developed a habit of sitting at their desks and letting the phones on their desks ring until the voice mail system picked up.
They did not think that there was anything wrong with this technique. When it first started happening, I said something about their ringing phone, they would sometimes look annoyed and tell me something like, “I’m busy”.
I quickly realized that I was “old school” and I backed off. The thing I had difficulty getting my mind around was that they did not look busy. That is, unless you are willing to accept playing solitaire as a part of your definition of “busy”.
Now that I have been in retirement all these years it seems that there is less and less opportunity to talk to humans out there. Actually it has gotten worse than simply, “Let it go to voice mail”. Allow me to give you a recent example…
§ Called and got into a voice mail message that told me the person who’s recording I was listening to was out until the following Monday.
§ His slick message told me to call another person who would help me and he even gave me the other person’s number.
§ I called the other person.
§ She was out of the office till Tuesday and her message told me to call the person whose message had told me to call her.
Now am I just being an old geezer about this or is there a real problem out there?
Would I kid u?
They did not think that there was anything wrong with this technique. When it first started happening, I said something about their ringing phone, they would sometimes look annoyed and tell me something like, “I’m busy”.
I quickly realized that I was “old school” and I backed off. The thing I had difficulty getting my mind around was that they did not look busy. That is, unless you are willing to accept playing solitaire as a part of your definition of “busy”.
Now that I have been in retirement all these years it seems that there is less and less opportunity to talk to humans out there. Actually it has gotten worse than simply, “Let it go to voice mail”. Allow me to give you a recent example…
§ Called and got into a voice mail message that told me the person who’s recording I was listening to was out until the following Monday.
§ His slick message told me to call another person who would help me and he even gave me the other person’s number.
§ I called the other person.
§ She was out of the office till Tuesday and her message told me to call the person whose message had told me to call her.
Now am I just being an old geezer about this or is there a real problem out there?
Would I kid u?
Thursday, September 03, 2009
When Pigs Fly … or … Da Swine Flu
Recently the people who raise pigs successfully brought tremendous pressure to bear on the people in our government who are in charge of naming what we call things (otherwise called the US Department of Names).
The pig growers were very persuasive and made the following points…
§ The Swine Flu was hurting their businesses.
§ There were definite signs out there that the eating public was becoming afraid of eating pig meat.
§ The American public, being sly, cunning and alert, were fast coming to the conclusion that the Swine Flu could be gotten from eating swine.
It made no difference that the Swine Flu cannot be gotten from eating swine. The contrary is actually the case. The AP ran an article on August 31, 2009 which reported that the people who run County Fairs around the good ole USofA are having to take preventive measures because there is growing evidence that swine are in danger of getting the Swine Flu from being in contact with people with the Swine Flu.
The American Public, as always, does not want to confused by the facts. They want action! They want someone to do something about something or other.
The people who are in charge of naming what we call things decreed that the Swine Flu was dead and in quick order invented the H1N1 Flu.
What a stroke of genius! Who could be worried about eating an H1N1? Now we can all go eat a ham sandwich in complete confidence that we ain’t gonna be attacked by anything flulike.
Considering all of the above, the Smartfella? did think it was funny yesterday when he heard a intrepid member of our News Media say the following, “It looks like the H1N1 Flu, otherwise known as the Swine Flu, has the potential of becoming a major pandemic this fall”.
It appears this Talking Head did not get the Don't-Call-It-Da-Swine-Flu memo.
Would I kid u?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Footnote:
More Foolishness can be found at:
http://www.northfulton.com/1bloglistingsbody.lasso?-token.blogref=6920.112113
AND/OR
http://forii.blogtownhall.com/
The pig growers were very persuasive and made the following points…
§ The Swine Flu was hurting their businesses.
§ There were definite signs out there that the eating public was becoming afraid of eating pig meat.
§ The American public, being sly, cunning and alert, were fast coming to the conclusion that the Swine Flu could be gotten from eating swine.
It made no difference that the Swine Flu cannot be gotten from eating swine. The contrary is actually the case. The AP ran an article on August 31, 2009 which reported that the people who run County Fairs around the good ole USofA are having to take preventive measures because there is growing evidence that swine are in danger of getting the Swine Flu from being in contact with people with the Swine Flu.
The American Public, as always, does not want to confused by the facts. They want action! They want someone to do something about something or other.
The people who are in charge of naming what we call things decreed that the Swine Flu was dead and in quick order invented the H1N1 Flu.
What a stroke of genius! Who could be worried about eating an H1N1? Now we can all go eat a ham sandwich in complete confidence that we ain’t gonna be attacked by anything flulike.
Considering all of the above, the Smartfella? did think it was funny yesterday when he heard a intrepid member of our News Media say the following, “It looks like the H1N1 Flu, otherwise known as the Swine Flu, has the potential of becoming a major pandemic this fall”.
It appears this Talking Head did not get the Don't-Call-It-Da-Swine-Flu memo.
Would I kid u?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Footnote:
More Foolishness can be found at:
http://www.northfulton.com/1bloglistingsbody.lasso?-token.blogref=6920.112113
AND/OR
http://forii.blogtownhall.com/
Saturday, August 29, 2009
It's Nice To Be Nice
I've always thought that banks were really nice to set up Overdraft Protection for their customers. What a kind gesture on their part to go to such lengths to try and save their customers the embarrassment of having a check bounce!
In reading the Internet today I find out that the banks are not only nice but they are making a few extra coins while they are being so nice...
"The Financial Times recently reported that U.S. banks are set to earn $38.5 billion this year from overdraft fees alone, more than double the number from 1994."
I don't wanna tell you what to do but, if you are the person from whom they acquired their $38.5 billion, I think you ought to make a consciencious effect to rectify your spending and paying habits.
Would I kid u?
In reading the Internet today I find out that the banks are not only nice but they are making a few extra coins while they are being so nice...
"The Financial Times recently reported that U.S. banks are set to earn $38.5 billion this year from overdraft fees alone, more than double the number from 1994."
I don't wanna tell you what to do but, if you are the person from whom they acquired their $38.5 billion, I think you ought to make a consciencious effect to rectify your spending and paying habits.
Would I kid u?
Friday, August 28, 2009
How Much Waste Is Not Much Waste?
According to the New York Times on August 23, 2009, our Energy Department needs to pay attention to its own internal energy practices…
“WASHINGTON – The Energy Department strives to be a leader in championing energy efficiency. Its Web site lists energy-saving tips, while Secretary Steven Chu calls conservation one of the department’s most important goals.
But at many of the agency’s buildings, even at national laboratories where talented scientists seek technological breakthroughs to save energy, the department has failed to use one of the simplest, most effective tools available to any ordinary household – thermostats that automatically dial back the temperature when nobody is around.
A recent audit found that the Energy Department could save more than $11.5 million in energy costs by properly employing these “setback” controls to adjust the heat and conditioning at night or on weekends.
The inspector general reviewed 55 buildings at four department sites for the audit, finding that the Agency had either not used or not suitably maintained setbacks at 35 of those buildings.”
----------------------------------------------------------
The Smart fella? Is not an expert on Energy or on Europe but he has been to Europe and seen how they use energy. In some ways they are smarter than we are. I’ll give you a couple of examples below...
Ø When you drive into many parking garages, and if those garages are unoccupied by a moving object, all the lights are out. As soon as the nose of your car enters, all the lights come on.
Ø When you get out of an elevator in many hotels and apartment buildings, you see that the lights are out. In some cases there is a switch right next to the elevator with which you turn on the lights. In other cases, there is a motion detector that turns them on for you.
Try and imagine how much energy could be saved if only these two examples were employed in every hotel, apartment building and garage in the good ole USofA.
----------------------------------------------------------
I am aware that there are objections to anything and everything and I fully expect that some member of Congress would stand up and make comments like these below about the measly $11.5 million saving potential that the Energy Department could garner by going to Setback Thermometers…
Ø I fail to see why the honorable gentleman is so concerned about saving a mere $11.5 million.
Ø Why 11 ain’t much and .5 is even less.
Ø Does my friend realize how many times $11.5 million could be divided into $1 billion?
Ø I respectively submit that until my colleague can come up with a $1 billion saving, he should not take up this august body’s time with such minor considerations.
Ø I see where I have 20 seconds left in my allotted time and I would like to add that I fail to understand what’s wrong with having only 20 of 55 Energy Department buildings properly using Setback Thermometers (whatever that is). By golly, 20 out of 55 is .364 and in baseball that is good enough to win the batting title in any given year!
Ø Let’s go to Happy Hour!
Great Spirits Often Encounter Violent Opposition from Mediocre Minds
Would I kid u?
“WASHINGTON – The Energy Department strives to be a leader in championing energy efficiency. Its Web site lists energy-saving tips, while Secretary Steven Chu calls conservation one of the department’s most important goals.
But at many of the agency’s buildings, even at national laboratories where talented scientists seek technological breakthroughs to save energy, the department has failed to use one of the simplest, most effective tools available to any ordinary household – thermostats that automatically dial back the temperature when nobody is around.
A recent audit found that the Energy Department could save more than $11.5 million in energy costs by properly employing these “setback” controls to adjust the heat and conditioning at night or on weekends.
The inspector general reviewed 55 buildings at four department sites for the audit, finding that the Agency had either not used or not suitably maintained setbacks at 35 of those buildings.”
----------------------------------------------------------
The Smart fella? Is not an expert on Energy or on Europe but he has been to Europe and seen how they use energy. In some ways they are smarter than we are. I’ll give you a couple of examples below...
Ø When you drive into many parking garages, and if those garages are unoccupied by a moving object, all the lights are out. As soon as the nose of your car enters, all the lights come on.
Ø When you get out of an elevator in many hotels and apartment buildings, you see that the lights are out. In some cases there is a switch right next to the elevator with which you turn on the lights. In other cases, there is a motion detector that turns them on for you.
Try and imagine how much energy could be saved if only these two examples were employed in every hotel, apartment building and garage in the good ole USofA.
----------------------------------------------------------
I am aware that there are objections to anything and everything and I fully expect that some member of Congress would stand up and make comments like these below about the measly $11.5 million saving potential that the Energy Department could garner by going to Setback Thermometers…
Ø I fail to see why the honorable gentleman is so concerned about saving a mere $11.5 million.
Ø Why 11 ain’t much and .5 is even less.
Ø Does my friend realize how many times $11.5 million could be divided into $1 billion?
Ø I respectively submit that until my colleague can come up with a $1 billion saving, he should not take up this august body’s time with such minor considerations.
Ø I see where I have 20 seconds left in my allotted time and I would like to add that I fail to understand what’s wrong with having only 20 of 55 Energy Department buildings properly using Setback Thermometers (whatever that is). By golly, 20 out of 55 is .364 and in baseball that is good enough to win the batting title in any given year!
Ø Let’s go to Happy Hour!
Great Spirits Often Encounter Violent Opposition from Mediocre Minds
Would I kid u?
Thursday, August 27, 2009
While We Were Arguing...
Roosevelt The First (President Theodore) was determined to build the Panama Canal. He was getting a lot of resistance from Congress (things never change). The following is not a quote but it is close, so I will use single quotes ... 'It seems that Congress does not want to build the canal. They only want to argue about building the canal for fifty years. I'm going to build the canal and let them argue about me for fifty years.'
The same can be said about our current situation with the Health Care "Crisis"...
- We hear about how much it is gonna cost.
- We hear what it's gonna cost is too much cost.
- We hear that it is not gonna be that bad because "they" have found a way to save money that is currently being frittered away in waste, fraud and abuse in our current system.
- Various numbers have been thrown around (Congress is very good about throwing numbers around) ... $313 Billion or a Trillion or so (give or take a few Billions or so) ... "a significant sum" ... etc.
If Theodore were alive, he would be turning over in his grave.
Would I kid u?
Sunday, March 16, 2008
New Dynamic Duo
A new dynamic duo was created recently. Being the keen political observer that I am, I became aware of this happening instantaneously. Those of you reading this foolishness are not as keen as I am keen and surely missed it. That's why I am blogging you. I want you to be keener.
In the AJC 3/13/08, Eliot Spitzer mapped out his future..."In an appearance that lasted 140 seconds, the governor —- with his wife, Silda, at his side —- offered an apology to his family and to the public and said he would devote himself to serving "the common good.""
Here is where the keen comes in. This obviously means he is joining O. J. Simpson in his stalled, but never-ending, search for The Real Killers.
An arrest is expected any day now.
Would I kid u?
In the AJC 3/13/08, Eliot Spitzer mapped out his future..."In an appearance that lasted 140 seconds, the governor —- with his wife, Silda, at his side —- offered an apology to his family and to the public and said he would devote himself to serving "the common good.""
Here is where the keen comes in. This obviously means he is joining O. J. Simpson in his stalled, but never-ending, search for The Real Killers.
An arrest is expected any day now.
Would I kid u?
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Going To Need Al Jazeera Someday
One day terrorists are going to destroy a bunch of buildings somewhere in the U.S. and kill a whole bunch of us and, if it happens on a day like today, we will have to tune to Al Jazeera to find out what happened.
Have I lost it? Not really. Think back to what u saw on the news today, if u were unfortunate enough to have watched the news today. I was in the gym again. I sort of had no choice.
Today was Eliot Spitzer Day. There was nothing on the news in the gym except Eliot & Company...
- How much did he spend?
- How often did he do this sort of thing?
- How does this compare to the escapades of one Bill Clinton?
- Will his lost Super Delegate Vote cost Hillary the nomination?
- Where did he get the money?
- How was he found out?
- What does his wife think?
- Did you see how his wife bolted out of the SUV when they returned to their place of residence after the resignation news conference?
- Some say, "No big deal".
- Some say, "Big deal".
- Will he be prosecuted?
- Has he committed any prosecutable offenses?
- What prosecutable offenses has he committed?
- Why does his wife stand by him when he makes public appearances?
- Did his wife really tell him not to resign?
- Why did he resign so quickly?
- Is he being singled out because he is such a nasty guy?
- Why is he such a nasty guy?
- Etc.
- Etc.
- Etc.
Fox News had about 22 seconds of film coverage of Spitzer's comings and goings today. Fox News showed those 22 seconds of film footage over and over and over and over.
Heck, this might be one of those days like ... Everyone knows where they were when they heard Kennedy was shot.
Now we will have ... Everyone knows where he or she was when he or she heard about Former Governor Eliot Spitzer's Transgressions.
Dare I say this is going be known as SpitzerGate?
Would I kid u?
Carbon Credits & Beyond
I normally create my own Foolishness but this idea came to me on a radio talk show. Only the idea came to me. I have expanded the heck out of it. You might say I Foolished It Up.
We have all seen people who preach conservation but have a gigantic house, travel by private jet, own several big gas guzzling SUVs BUT portend that is not a problem because they have "Carbon Credits".
The person to whom they say this to says, "Oh, I understand". That person then goes home and says to their Spouse, Significant Other, Partner or whatever, "What's a Carbon Credit?"
If the person they are living with is Mr. Webster he informs them...
The word you've entered isn't in the dictionary. Click on a spelling suggestion below or try again using the search bar above. Suggestions for carbon credit: 1. carbonic acid 2. carbon-dated 3. carbon-dates 4. carbuncled 5. carbon cycle 6. carbuncular 7. carbon dioxide 8. corporatized 9. carbolic acids 10. carbon paper 11. Kerry blue terrier 12. carbon black 13. Khirbet Qumran 14. Christocentric 15. combinatorial 16. carbolic acid 17. carpentered 18. Khirbat Qumran 19. corpora delicti 20. carbamic acid
It has taken me awhile to get around to my Foolishness...Or Is It? but here it is...
Why stop at Carbon Credit? Why not expand this ingenious idea to...
We have all seen people who preach conservation but have a gigantic house, travel by private jet, own several big gas guzzling SUVs BUT portend that is not a problem because they have "Carbon Credits".
The person to whom they say this to says, "Oh, I understand". That person then goes home and says to their Spouse, Significant Other, Partner or whatever, "What's a Carbon Credit?"
If the person they are living with is Mr. Webster he informs them...
The word you've entered isn't in the dictionary. Click on a spelling suggestion below or try again using the search bar above. Suggestions for carbon credit: 1. carbonic acid 2. carbon-dated 3. carbon-dates 4. carbuncled 5. carbon cycle 6. carbuncular 7. carbon dioxide 8. corporatized 9. carbolic acids 10. carbon paper 11. Kerry blue terrier 12. carbon black 13. Khirbet Qumran 14. Christocentric 15. combinatorial 16. carbolic acid 17. carpentered 18. Khirbat Qumran 19. corpora delicti 20. carbamic acid
It has taken me awhile to get around to my Foolishness...Or Is It? but here it is...
Why stop at Carbon Credit? Why not expand this ingenious idea to...
- Adultery Credit?
- Assault & Battery Credit?
- Perjury Credit
- Embezzling Credit?
- Murder Credit?
- Child Molestation Credit?
- Cussing Credit?
- Bearing False Witness Credit?
- Dipping A Pig Tail In An Ink Well Credit?
Friday, March 07, 2008
Coming To You From Over The Hill
This is coming to u from Over The Hill cuz that is where I presently reside.
The USA Weekend Magazine this week has a listing of the Celebrity Birthdays this week. There were sixteen Celebrities listed. From the other side of the hill, I only recognized five of the people listed who are at present being worshiped by people who worship people. To further show you how far I am over the hill, there is only one of the five that I care to read &/or know anything further about (Shaquille O'Neal).
Don't feel sorry for me. I am still a good person. Just because I don't know or care about the likes of a Camryn Manheim (what the heck kind of name is Camryn?) does not mean I am a bad person.
Would I kid u?
PS: Spell check did not know Camryn either.
The USA Weekend Magazine this week has a listing of the Celebrity Birthdays this week. There were sixteen Celebrities listed. From the other side of the hill, I only recognized five of the people listed who are at present being worshiped by people who worship people. To further show you how far I am over the hill, there is only one of the five that I care to read &/or know anything further about (Shaquille O'Neal).
Don't feel sorry for me. I am still a good person. Just because I don't know or care about the likes of a Camryn Manheim (what the heck kind of name is Camryn?) does not mean I am a bad person.
Would I kid u?
PS: Spell check did not know Camryn either.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Severe As Opposed To Dire
I know you are all concerned about our North Georgia Drought. Thanks worrying about us.
Lake Lanier has risen 2.5 feet. It has been raining a lot. It has been raining so much that whichever department it is in the state government that is in charge of keeping us on edge about our water situation has decided that they are changing the current drought classification from something like Dire to something like Severe ... or is it from Severe to Dire? I forget. I got to pay more attention so I can worry as much as "they" want me to worry.
As my four-year-old grandson said to my daughter the other day, "This sure is a wet drought".
Would my four-year-old grandson kid u?
Oh, by the way, it is raining again today.
Update 2/24/14... California is having a drought. They say the worst kind of drought is classified as "Exceptional Drought". Really? Dire or Severe sound worst than that.
Lake Lanier has risen 2.5 feet. It has been raining a lot. It has been raining so much that whichever department it is in the state government that is in charge of keeping us on edge about our water situation has decided that they are changing the current drought classification from something like Dire to something like Severe ... or is it from Severe to Dire? I forget. I got to pay more attention so I can worry as much as "they" want me to worry.
As my four-year-old grandson said to my daughter the other day, "This sure is a wet drought".
Would my four-year-old grandson kid u?
Oh, by the way, it is raining again today.
Update 2/24/14... California is having a drought. They say the worst kind of drought is classified as "Exceptional Drought". Really? Dire or Severe sound worst than that.
Huntley & Brinkley Are Dead
I'm at the gym again. As I struggle to keep on keeping on, I watch TV. I got to wondering how the children of those men who would have had jobs on all the daytime news commentary shows are surviving now that their fathers do not have jobs. In the old days, when Huntley & Brinkley ruled, all these Talking Heads would have been male. Today these missing males are not just on the endangered species list, they are extinct!
I saw a panel of talking heads solving the world's problems and NOT ONE of the five was a man. They were all better looking than Huntley and Brinkley but I am worried about The Children of the Extinct Males Who Ain't There No More.
Regarding working out at the gym ... Keeping healthy is enough to kill you.
Would I kid u?
I saw a panel of talking heads solving the world's problems and NOT ONE of the five was a man. They were all better looking than Huntley and Brinkley but I am worried about The Children of the Extinct Males Who Ain't There No More.
Regarding working out at the gym ... Keeping healthy is enough to kill you.
Would I kid u?
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Snow Flakes Are Out To Get You
According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution 2/29/08 there is bacteria in snowflakes. This is serious stuff. I, a highly capable creator of foolishness, am ready to describe to you the future. Knowing what is to come will permit you to better prepare yourself to protect your loved ones. Listed below are news stories we are sure to see...
- Eight-year-old arrested & taken to jail for throwing a snowball at an unsuspecting playmate.
- Research has shown that ingesting a mere 3,217,412 snowflakes is the equivalent of drinking 17 gallons of milk from a Chernobyl Cow.
- Parents have their three children removed by social services for allowing their driveway to remain unshoveled for 48 hours.
- The tiny hamlet of Winnewaka, Minnesota is the first to construct Covered Snow-Deflector Walkways from every one of their school bus stops to every one of their school bus delivered children’s front doors. Demonstrations are increasing throughout the country for similar action to be taken by other local municipalities. Protesting parents in Whatize, New York were interviewed. Their responses below show how dire they regard SnowflakeGate to be:
- “If Winnewaka can do it. Why can’t we do it?”
- “Are our children not as precious as Winnewaka’s children?”
- “I see no recourse but to recall our useless mayor and every one of his cronies on the city council.”
You probably think I am over reacting. Go ahead and mock me. I am telling you now that I will expect an email of apology from each of you when my predictions come to fruition.
Would I kid u?
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Raising Children Again
I wish I were just starting out raising my children ... You just said to yourself, "Self, is he nuts"? Allow me to explain.
If we were just beginning to have children I now have a fool-proof way of getting my children to eat their vegetables. I would look each of them into their tear-filled eyes and threaten to send them to live the rest of their lives in Liberia.
The quote below comes from the Atlanta Journal Constitution on 2/22/08. Notice the use of the words "overrun", "pervasive", "half", "not", "uninhabitable", "little" & "no". After you finish using these words there is not much left to lament...
"The country is overrun with weapons, malnutrition is pervasive, half of children are not in school, and many buildings are uninhabitable. There is little running water or electricity and no sewage or landline phone system."
The Liberian Tourist Bureau is left with something like...
"Come join us in Liberia. Is it is a terrible place to live but you don't live long."
Would I kid u?
If we were just beginning to have children I now have a fool-proof way of getting my children to eat their vegetables. I would look each of them into their tear-filled eyes and threaten to send them to live the rest of their lives in Liberia.
The quote below comes from the Atlanta Journal Constitution on 2/22/08. Notice the use of the words "overrun", "pervasive", "half", "not", "uninhabitable", "little" & "no". After you finish using these words there is not much left to lament...
"The country is overrun with weapons, malnutrition is pervasive, half of children are not in school, and many buildings are uninhabitable. There is little running water or electricity and no sewage or landline phone system."
The Liberian Tourist Bureau is left with something like...
"Come join us in Liberia. Is it is a terrible place to live but you don't live long."
Would I kid u?
Picky Me
Here I go being picky again...I can't help myself.
What ticked me off today (2/22/08) was the News Media ... again. In the Atlanta Journal Constitution there is short article on page A4 that is headlined...
"Clinton tells fans to vote early"
What's wrong with that you ask? It's the word "fans". It's not supporters. It's fans. It's like this is some kind of sporting event or game. Some of us may laugh and say it is a game but this is serious stuff. It ought to talked about (by the media, anyway) as serious stuff.
It's the same as when a politician concludes a news conference and the media refers to how the news conference came off by referring to it as a "performance". This is not a stage play. It is politics. It may be shameful but it should be treated (by the media, anyway) as serious stuff.
Don't get me started about the congregation in our churches being referred to as "audiences". Oh my gosh! I am picky.
Would I kid u?
What ticked me off today (2/22/08) was the News Media ... again. In the Atlanta Journal Constitution there is short article on page A4 that is headlined...
"Clinton tells fans to vote early"
What's wrong with that you ask? It's the word "fans". It's not supporters. It's fans. It's like this is some kind of sporting event or game. Some of us may laugh and say it is a game but this is serious stuff. It ought to talked about (by the media, anyway) as serious stuff.
It's the same as when a politician concludes a news conference and the media refers to how the news conference came off by referring to it as a "performance". This is not a stage play. It is politics. It may be shameful but it should be treated (by the media, anyway) as serious stuff.
Don't get me started about the congregation in our churches being referred to as "audiences". Oh my gosh! I am picky.
Would I kid u?
The PolLight
There ought to be a law that a red light be surgically installed on the top of the head of any candidate running for office. The light would function as follows…
If the candidate were speaking a lie, the light would turn on.
Because of some politician’s propensity to lie unceasingly, the light would have to be rigged so that it would blink every 45 seconds. If this were not the case, voters might lose faith that the light was working properly.
Would I kid u?
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Not About John McCain
This is not a commentary about John McCain. It is a commentary about this guy Anonymous. He really gets around. He is sometimes a Senator or a Representative or a Staffer or an Insider or that old stand-by, Etc.
In the February 11, 2008 issue of Newsweek there is a large picture-on-the-front article about McCain. Senator/Representative/Staffer/Insider/Etc. Anonymous is all over this article...
- Page 31 - "says the aide, who declined to be identified speaking for Cornyn".
- Page 31 - "say a Pentagon official and an adviser to Rumsfeld who declined to be identified discussing a confidential meeting".
- Page 32 - "says a former aide who wished to avoid McCain's wrath by remaining anonymous".
- Page 32 - "who declined to be named discussing the internal workings of the campaign".
Since there have been incidents where entire articles and/or parts of articles have been made up (like that reporter for the New York Times did), I wonder if Mr. Anonymous is, in all reality, many times is Mr. Does-Not-Really-Exist-I-Just-Made-Up-All-This-Stuff-Cuz-My-Article-Needed-Some-Pizazz (not that there's anything wrong with that).
Would I kid u?
Saturday, February 02, 2008
My Fondest Wish
There is no way to unite a country as large as the USofA but my fondest wish would be that all of us refuse to answer any questions from any political pollster about anything political. This would drive the politicians absolutely nuts. Think of the positive results that would come out of an I-Ain't-Gonna-Tell-You-Anything America....
- It would prevent politicians from tweaking their latest campaign pitch to address how the public reacted to their prior campaign pitch.
- It would drive the politicians absolutely nuts.
- They would be forced to tell us what they really plan to do when elected, instead of telling us what they think we want them to do when elected.
- They would be forced to think out their positions and stick with them and hope for the best.
- It would drive the politicians absolutely nuts.
- It would put every polling company out of business. Since they are only interested in what's best for America (yea, right), they would then be free to join the Peace Corps (if such a thing still exists).
One final tirade...
The silliest one is when we are told the results of a poll done by a Democratic or a Republican Pollster. It is strange how the "results" always come out favoring their party's positions. I guess I could be made to believe that the poll did come out in favor of their party's positions but, you will never get me to believe, that any poll that did not favor their party's positions was just not published at all. It's sort of like them saying, "We are going to keep polling the American People until the American People get it right".
Would I kid u?
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
When will I learn to keep my mouth shut?
We have 4 children and 9 grandchildren. That means we buy lots of presents throughout the year for our 4 children and 9 grandchildren. The other day my wife tells me that our second daughter is having a birthday and she is concerned because she does not know what to get her for a present. I say, "Why don't you just take her out to a nice lunch?" My wife says that is a good idea, thanks me for my good idea and says that is exactly what she is going to do.
Today is the day. Today they are going out for a nice lunch together. After their nice lunch together, they are going to go shopping to pick out a nice birthday present. If I had only kept my mouth shut, I would only see a visa come through for a nice present, instead of a nice present and a nice lunch.
Oh well. I guess this is why I worked so long and reached the height of my mediocre automotive career. I can afford it. I hope they have a nice time.
Would I kid u?
Today is the day. Today they are going out for a nice lunch together. After their nice lunch together, they are going to go shopping to pick out a nice birthday present. If I had only kept my mouth shut, I would only see a visa come through for a nice present, instead of a nice present and a nice lunch.
Oh well. I guess this is why I worked so long and reached the height of my mediocre automotive career. I can afford it. I hope they have a nice time.
Would I kid u?
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Carbon Credits & Beyond
I normally create my own Foolishness but this idea came to me on a radio talk show today (12/18/07). Only the idea came to me. I have expanded the heck out of it. You might say I Foolished It Up...
We have all seen people who preach conservation but have a gigantic house, travel by private jet, own several big gas guzzling SUVs BUT portend that is not a problem because they have "Carbon Credits".
The person who they say this to says, "Oh, I understand". That person then goes home and says to their Spouse, Significant Other, Partner or whatever, "What's a Carbon Credit?"
If the person they are living with is Mr. Webster he informs them...
The word you've entered isn't in the dictionary. Click on a spelling suggestion below or try again using the search bar above.
Suggestions for carbon credit: 1. carbonic acid 2. carbon-dated 3. carbon-dates 4. carbuncled 5. carbon cycle 6. carbuncular 7. carbon dioxide 8. corporatized 9. carbolic acids 10. carbon paper 11. Kerry blue terrier 12. carbon black 13. Khirbet Qumran 14. Christocentric 15. combinatorial 16. carbolic acid 17. carpentered 18. Khirbat Qumran 19. corpora delicti 20. carbamic acid
It has taken me awhile to get around to my Foolishness...Or Is It? but here it is...
Why stop at Carbon Credit? Why not expand this ingenious idea to...
· Adultery Credit?
· Assault & Battery Credit?
· Perjury Credit?
· Embezzling Credit?
· Murder Credit?
· Child Molestation Credit?
· Cussing Credit?
· Bearing False Witness Credit?
· Dipping A Pig Tail In An Ink Well Credit?
Would I kid u?
We have all seen people who preach conservation but have a gigantic house, travel by private jet, own several big gas guzzling SUVs BUT portend that is not a problem because they have "Carbon Credits".
The person who they say this to says, "Oh, I understand". That person then goes home and says to their Spouse, Significant Other, Partner or whatever, "What's a Carbon Credit?"
If the person they are living with is Mr. Webster he informs them...
The word you've entered isn't in the dictionary. Click on a spelling suggestion below or try again using the search bar above.
Suggestions for carbon credit: 1. carbonic acid 2. carbon-dated 3. carbon-dates 4. carbuncled 5. carbon cycle 6. carbuncular 7. carbon dioxide 8. corporatized 9. carbolic acids 10. carbon paper 11. Kerry blue terrier 12. carbon black 13. Khirbet Qumran 14. Christocentric 15. combinatorial 16. carbolic acid 17. carpentered 18. Khirbat Qumran 19. corpora delicti 20. carbamic acid
It has taken me awhile to get around to my Foolishness...Or Is It? but here it is...
Why stop at Carbon Credit? Why not expand this ingenious idea to...
· Adultery Credit?
· Assault & Battery Credit?
· Perjury Credit?
· Embezzling Credit?
· Murder Credit?
· Child Molestation Credit?
· Cussing Credit?
· Bearing False Witness Credit?
· Dipping A Pig Tail In An Ink Well Credit?
Would I kid u?
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