- A board member: Mr. Chairman, are we ready to launch our latest Wonder Drug Zxyjrza? (Have you ever noticed how often these drugs have J or X or Y or Z in their name?)
- Chairman: Before I answer that question of yours, Ed, how many times have I told you that it is against Federal Law to address me as “Chairman”? You know darn good & well that my title is “Chairperson”.
- Chairperson: That having been said, the launch delay is that our launch commercial team is stuck at 50% Bad Effects on the huperson body. We all know that we will not get the attention of the American Drug Buying Public if we launch a commercial that is not at least 80% chock full of Dire Catastrophic Warnings.
- Chairperson: If we launch with less than 80% God Awful Devastating Content, we would be forced to talk about the benefits of taking this drug. You all are well aware that we have many highly successful drugs on the market for years that we have yet to come up with any good reason why they ought to be taken.
- Chairperson: We know from past experience that, if we don’t put at least 80% Catastrophic Content in our commercials, the American Buying Public will pay no attention to us & we all are well aware of what that can do to our bonuses.
Enjoy my mind wanderings. Thought provoking. Serious humor. Stimulating thought since 2006. Nathaniel Hawthorne-"Easy reading is damn hard writing." Tertullian-"Credo quia absurdum", I believe it because it is absurd. John Lennox-"Nonsense remains nonsense, even when talked by world-famous scientists." George Burns-"Someone who makes you laugh is a comedian. Someone who makes you think and then laugh is a humorist." Willy Wonka-"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men."
Monday, December 14, 2015
Sudden Death & Other Bad Things
Saturday, December 12, 2015
The “Must Read” Requirement...Again
- Go read the news in your morning newspaper or the news section of the Internet for 5 minutes.
- That ought to be long enough to come to a full realization of How People Think.
- Do you still think it is a good idea for computers to Think Like People?
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Is The Fella Smarter Than Many State Governors?
This commentary is not about Muslims or Syrian Refugees or Immigration Policy. It is about Common Sense. Do you remember Common Sense?
Saturday, December 05, 2015
Hate Thy Neighbor
I like watching football but I think our announcers getting carried away with their Game Day Hysteria. This year’s Georgia vs. Georgia Tech game is a good example of why I think we are not in danger of falling in love with our neighboring football player anytime in the near future.
The catch phrase of the day on this game broadcast was “Clean Old Fashioned Hate”. They said this phrase over & over. I would be willing to bet they said it more than they said, "15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance."
Do the players want to score more points than the opposition? I certainly hope so! But do they really hate their opponents? I hope not.
Would I kid u?
Smartfella
Tuesday, December 01, 2015
Love Your Lawyer
A Line From Shakespeare: ''The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers”.
Here are the first 3 paragraphs of an article out of the Wall Street Journal on November 6, 2015. Those of you who have been with me for awhile will think I made this foolishness up. Those of you who reading your first Foolishness...Or Is It? will think I made this foolishness up...
The First Thing We Do, Let’s Love All the Lawyers
For a profession sometimes held in contempt, it was a plaintive plea: Lawyers were looking for love.
“WHEREAS, Lawyers have consistently been the target of verbal bashing, derogatory portrayals and literature is rife with lawyer bashing dated back hundreds of years,” reads the preamble of a resolution unanimously passed by the American Bar Association’s law practice division last month.
“Lawyers throughout the nation,” it said, “are urged to celebrate ‘Love Your Lawyer Day’ to help promote a positive and more respected image of lawyers and their contributions to society.”
The First Friday in November (this Foolishness is intended to be an annual celebration) has come & gone. Did any of you hear of anything happening on The Big Day? I certainly have not.
How about all you lawyers out there who are addicted to reading Foolishness...Or Is It?. Did anyone make love to you on November 6? If so, submit a comment to this blog posting & tell us all about it.
If no one made love to you, I am here to tell all of you why. It’s because of those silly law suits you are clogging up our crack judicial system with, that why!
Here are just a few of the law suits that made you feel so unloved on November 6th...
Ø A Hardware Store was sued because it sold a Trash Can without trash in it. The plaintiff’s lawyer said his client had to go to all the trouble to create and/or buy his own trash.
Ø A company dumped a humongous amount of toxic waste in a stream but it was not sued by the Federal Government. Another company on a different stream was sued for all the toxic waste that the not-sued company had dumped. The plaintiff’s lawyer argued in court, “Your Honor, the company that did the dumping is in a precarious financial condition. If we had sued the dumping company, we would not have gotten enough damages to cover our exorbitant fee”.
Ø A Mom & Pop Novelty Store was sued out of existence because a shopper slipped on a banana peel in a Big Box Store seven blocks away from Mom & Pop’s little establishment. The Big Box’s Lawyer successfully argued in court that the Bog Box Store was important while the Mom & Pop Store was not.
Ø A Big Box Store was successfully sued in court for paying an hourly wage that was not a Living Wage by an employee that did not work at the Big Box Store. The plaintiff’s lawyer contended that, if his client had actually worked at the Big Box Store, he would not have been able to support his Nine Children, put gas in his Speed Boat or even gas up his Motor Home, which he uses to drive to his Ski Home Getaway in Idaho each winter.
A spokesman for the American Bar Association jumped into fray by saying Love Your Lawyer Day may not be necessary. He came armed with statistics that say 21% of Americans like lawyers. A spokesman for The Fella (me) has this to say about that, “21% isn’t much. Heck a baseball player who batted only 21% would only be able to sign a contract for $4 Million!”
I predict that the successful implementation of Love Your Lawyer Day could very well change the national perception of lawyers in the Good Ole USofA. No longer will Lawyers be upon as Sleazy. In the future they will be seen as Silly & Sleazy.
The Fella’s Question of the Day: What’s next, National Nacho Maker’s Day or National Oboe Player’s Day or, more logically, National Fella’s Day?
Would I kid u?
Smartfella
Lagniappe One: If you want to read the WSJ whole article, click here: http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB22518117221366974746504581337521970654338
Lagniappe Another: After all the slamming I did about lawyers in this Blog Posting, I will now attempt to make up with all my loyal lawyer readers. This comes from the New York Times...
'Kill the Lawyers,' A Line Misinterpreted
Published: June 17, 1990
In reference to the review of ''Guilty Conscience,'' (May 20) Leah D. Frank is inaccurate when she states that when Shakespeare had one of his characters state ''Let's kill all the lawyers,'' it was the corrupt, unethical lawyers he was referring to. Shakespeare's exact line ''The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers,'' was stated by Dick the Butcher in ''Henry VI,'' Part II, act IV, Scene II, Line 73. Dick the Butcher was a follower of the rebel Jack Cade, who thought that if he disturbed law and order, he could become king. Shakespeare meant it as a compliment to attorneys and judges who instill justice in society.
DEBBIE VOGEL
Westbury
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Funny Things Come In Twos
My Blog is named Foolishness...Or Is It? The first of my two twos is going to strike many of you as shear unmitigated silly foolishness because it is so far out that you are going to shout at your computer, “He made that up! That could not have happened!”
------------------------
- I was crossing a street yesterday on a four lane road.
- There were two cars stopped on my left waiting for the light to change as I walked by.
- Both cars were occupied by young good looking ladies.
- Since they were both young good looking ladies, I looked at them.
- Neither one of them was talking on or pecking at their Smartphones.
I just heard the mockery out there in Blog World. Many of you are jeering at me for daring to think that I could make you think it is possible to find two drivers of automobiles anywhere in the Good Ole USofA who are not on their Smartphones.
This is a cross I have to bear. If I am going to be world famous as a Blogger of Note, I have to accept the fact that, no matter how true what I peck out is, there are many that will not believe me.
------------------------
The second of my twos (actually it is two twos) is easier to believe because each of you will instantly see the absolute necessity of spending this two.
My sources in Washington, D.C. have told me on the Condition of Anonymity that President Obama is preparing to issue an Executive Order outlawing all use of Cell Phones in the Good Ole USofA.
He is fully cognizant of the biggest problem his action is going to create & he is borrowing from China the sum of Two Billion Dollars to teach Americans how to again drive with two hands on their steering wheels.
Would I kid u?
Smartfella
Monday, November 23, 2015
Oh Darn! I Violated My Warranty!
The above paragraph may have confused you but imagine how confused I was when the following happened to me after I opened the packaging that contained my new Widgit & found I had a problem because I was missing a component.
I called Widgit Customer Service & the call went something like this...
- Widgit: “Widgit Customer Service. How may I help you today?”
- Me: “Hi. I sure hope so. After I opened the packaging containing my new Widgit I found I was missing the charging cable.”
- Widgit: “Excuse me, sir. Would you repeat that?”
- Me: “After I opened the packaging containing my new Widgit I found I was missing the charging cable.”
- Widgit: “Sir! That is impossible. We go to great expense to make sure that our packaging cannot be gotten into. This is the first time I have ever heard of anyone breaching our packaging. Our Penetration Prevention Engineers are going to be devastated by this news!”
- Me: “Well it was not easy but with the help of a set of channel locks, a jig saw, a scissors & my next door neighbor who is a professional wrestler I got in there. It took an hour and a half but I got in there.”
- Widgit: “Sir, because of your rash actions, I must inform you that you have violated the terms of your Widgit Extremely Limited Warranty. You, sir, are up the creek without a paddle.”
- Me: “I don’t understand. Am I not within my rights to use the product I paid good money for?”
- Widgit: “Of course not! If we had wanted to allow you to actually use this product, we would not have gone to all the trouble & expense to design packaging which is obviously intended to be bullet proof & which you & your burley neighbor went out of your way to destroy! Sir, I would like to help you but you have made you bed & now you are going to have to lie in it!”
OK, I admit I made up this whole call to Widgit Customer Service...Or did I?
Would I kid u?
Smartfella
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Coffee Coffee Everywhere But Not A Drop To Drink
There was a time when we in the Good Ole USofA just drank our coffee & we paid no attention to our coffee.
Then Coffee Experts started telling us Coffee Was Bad for Us & later Coffee Will Kill Us.
This went on for decades.
Earlier this year we were told that coffee might not be bad for us after all.
Now we being told if we don’t drink coffee we will die. Click here... http://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/50629897-story
Next time I meet up with a Coffee Expert I just might punch him in his smart nose.
Would I kid u?
Smartfella
Lagniappe: If you have not had enough of me for the day, read 2 other Blog Postings I did about Coffee...
http://forii.blogspot.com/2012/02/dont-take-me-there.html
&
http://forii.blogspot.com/2010/06/little-mr-starbucks-asks-his-father-for.html
Sunday, November 15, 2015
I Can’t Believe What That Talking Head Just Said To Me Through My TV
This is not a quote but it went something like this... It is a shame that this country, with all its wealth, does nothing for the poor.
I have heard in the past that there are 82 Federal Programs that are intended to help the poor. I did some research & could not find a link to 82 Federal Programs but I stumbled upon a listing of Aid Programs in the State of Rhode Island.
As further explanation, I added small print to those programs where the name gave little or no hint as to what the program actually does...
Ø Head Start
Ø Supplemental Nutrition Program
Ø Summer Food Service Program
Ø Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children
Ø Other Food Assistance...Meal Sites & Food Pantries around the state.
Ø Dental Care
Ø Emergency Medical Assistance...Individuals that meet the eligibility criteria for one of the Medical Assistance Programs (seniors, people with disabilities, children and parents) but who are ineligible for benefits because of immigrant status (including undocumented individuals,
Ø Free Clinics
Ø Katie Beckett Program... Provides medical coverage through the Medical Assistance Program to children with serious disabilities so they can live with their parents instead of in an institution.
Ø Medical Assistance for Women with Breast or Cervical Cancer
Ø Medicare Premium Payment Programs
Ø Medicaid - Adults 65+ and people with disabilities
Ø RIte Care/RIte Share... For families with low income, all family members may be eligible for RIte Care/Rite Share (Medicaid). For families with moderate income, children will be eligible for Rite Care and the parent(s) may be able to enroll in coverage through HealthSource RI and receive federal and state assistance to help buy a commercial health insurance plan. Similarly, pregnant women may be eligible for Rite Care/RIte Share if income is within the limits or for help purchasing commercial coverage.
Ø RI Pharmaceutical Assistance for Elderly Program
Ø Hospital-based Primary Care
Ø Community Mental Health Centers
Ø Other Health Coverage... residents who are not eligible for other health insurance can purchase family or individual health and/or dental coverage directly from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI).
Ø HealthSource RI... Affordable Health Coverage Property Tax Relief Circuit Breaker Program.
Ø Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
Ø General Public Assistance (GPA)... Time-limited cash assistance to individuals who are disabled.
Ø Rhode Island Works Program... Cash assistance to families with children up to age 18 and work readiness services for enrolled parents.
Ø Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Ø Temporary Caregiver Insurance Program (TCI)
Ø Temporary Disability Insurance Program (TDI)
Ø Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
Ø Telephone Assistance Lifeline Program
Up until I researched for this blog posting, I did not realize that Nothing could be So Many.
Would I kid u?
Smartfella
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
I Ought To Post This One Every November 11th
This posting refers back to two separate Foolishness...Or Is It? postings on the same subject. The first reiterates the Ignorance of Mankind & the second asks you to think about a Very Sobering Question.
First Posting...
The day humankind proved it is not too smart … again.
When did the First World War end? Many of you just said to yourselves…The 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month of 1918. It sounds like that was scripted by Hollywood.
The most awful part of the story is that the armistice was signed at 5am on November 11th but was not effective until 11am and the fighting continued for those last six hours between 5am and 11am.
After the war, in a Congressional Hearing, General Pershing blamed Marshal Foch but many said that, at the time, Pershing appeared to be gung ho about the last assaults.
These were full frontal assaults as vicious as any on any other day of the war.
The Germans were shocked when the assaults started but defended against them with all that they had.
During these six hours, thousands of men were wounded or killed fighting for land on which they could have casually strolled smoking a cigarette at 11:01am on the 11th Day of the 11th Month of 1918.
I wish I were kidding you.
Smartfella
-------------------------
Second Posting...
No Foolishness, As My Mind Wanders Through This One
After you read below, I will invite you to ask yourself a very sobering question.
I published “The last day of World War One” commentary on April 23, 2008. It was about how WWI continued for six hours after the armistice was signed at 5 A.M. on November 11, 1918.
At present I am reading a book by Joseph E. Persico entitled 11th Month, 11th Day, 11th Hour. The quoted excerpt that follows is from page 3 of this book…
"The captain read the message twice. It must be a mistake. True, the night before, the U.S. 26th Division had received Field Order 105 to attack at 9:30 this morning. But at 9:10, just as they had been checking their ammunition and fixing their bayonets, word came that the armistice had been signed. Hostilities were to cease at 11 A.M. The attack had been cancelled. And here was another message telling the captain that the assault had been reinstated. His watch showed 10:30. A half hour remained in the war."
Now for the sobering question ... If you were this captain, what would you have done?
Would I kid u?
Smartfella
Monday, November 09, 2015
Would You Believe...This Is The Reason We Did What We Did?
The above Subject was put together in loving memory of Maxwell Smart from the TV Show, Get Smart. If you did not accept his explanation about something (a lie) he would say, “Would you believe...?” & then present you with an alternative explanation (another lie).
Our Federal Bureau of Prisons eliminated Roast Pork from the menu of its 122 prisons (decision reversed a week later). Immediately many in the Good Ole USofA jumped on this decision as a concession to Muslim Prisoners who might be offended if anyone anywhere in the dining hall was eating Roast Pork, especially if that anyone was actually enjoying the Roast Pork &, therefore, insulting the prophet.
Warden Maxwell Smart immediately issued a statement saying the reason for the removal had nothing to do with Muslims, Enjoyment &/or Prophets but, “Would you believe, the prison population had been surveyed & pork was their least favorite food?”
I don't mean to be picky (I really do) but, if you continued to take surveys of what foods prisoners like to eat, there would always be a least favorite food. If you always eliminate the least favorite food from their menu they would eventually get down to a single food item.
The last 2 would probably be Steak & Lobster.
Let them pick one of the 2 & the remaining one would be their favorite (& only) food. The prisoners would then be treated to their favorite food at every sitting & we would be happy too because we do want our prison community to be happy & eating their favorite food would make them very happy...Or would it?
This Single Selection would also save a lot of confusion in the kitchen. Can’t you just see this happening in the kitchen?...
- Nestor: OK, Cookie, what are we going to prepare to serve today?
- Cookie: Steak.
- Nestor: That’s the same thing we have served for the last 1,212 consecutive days for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
- Cookie: Our Prison Community was offered a choice between Lobster & Steak & they said they hated Lobster.
- Nestor: They did not say they hated Lobster. They were offered a choice between Lobster & Steak & they chose Steak.
- Cookie: That’s the same as saying they hated Lobster.
- Nestor: Oh, I understand.
That last bullet above is why Nestor has been the 3rd Assistant to the 5th Assistant Cook for the last 22 years.
Would I kid u?
Smartfella
Lagniappe: Partly because the Muslim Community said they were against elimination of Roast Pork, the Bureau of Prisons has decided to bring back Roast Pork. The Muslims did not want to be blamed for the demise of Roast Pork. Now someone has to protest on behalf of our porkless prisoners to bring back the other pork products that our prisoners are being deprived of... "Edmond Ross, a spokesman for the prison bureau, said that during the past two years, bacon, pork chops, and sausage had been removed from the prison menus."
The Fella personally believes that having to live without sausage is Cruel & Unusual Punishment.
Saturday, November 07, 2015
How To Get Elected President Of The United States
Here is what happens...
- In the early months of the year before the actual election, Dudley Do Right
announces his candidacy for President of the United States. - Hardly anyone pays attention except lots of articles are written telling the voting public that no one is paying attention.
- Dudley works very hard to get the voting public to pay attention to him.
- One day his campaign catches fire & he starts moving up in the polls.
- Land O Goshen! all of a sudden the voting public pays attention & Dudley is declared The Front Runner!
- The next day the attacks start & the voting public is told that he is an awful person, he did awful things in grammar school, he was not popular in high school, he was seen by an unnamed source jumping over a turnstile in the New York City subway, he dipped Peggy Sue’s pig tail in the ink well on his desk on multiple occasions & one time he stole a Twinkie for a convenience store.
- The next day he loses his Front Runner Designation either because he vehemently defends himself which we are told proves he is guilty or because he says nothing which we are told proves he is guilty.
Oh yea, back to the Subject of this Foolishness, I need to tell you How To Get Elected President Of The United States...
- Wait till 2 days before the election itself to announce your candidacy.
- Hope to catch fire the next day.
- Get elected the next day before the news media finds out about Peggy Sue.
There you are! You are now the most powerful man in the world. You are smart. People step aside as you approach & stare admiringly as you walk by. You are POTUS!
The next day the news media finds out about Peggy Sue & you become Snidley Whiplash
& you are officially declared Toast.
The next day the Impeachment Proceedings start.
Have I just squashed your heretofore lifelong desire to be Dudley?
Would I kid u?
Smartfella