Sunday, April 12, 2015

SUNDAY STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS

To my many friends who possess the Christian faith, it is not discrimination when people disagree with you . . . it is just "disagreement."  And yes, I went to Mass last night, before you dismiss that view as being agnostic or Atheistic.  Oh, and you louder atheists can shut up too . . . Oh, boy, are we ready for Hillary?  Or would we rather have semi-finalists with names other than "Bush" or "Clinton," especially in a world where the Presidential Sweepstakes victory carries a billion dollar price tag?  . . . Count LOST on the latter side, and let's back Bernie Sanders . . .  the planet's weather patterns are destabilizing, and still too many people are hiding behind the "I'm not a scientist (but I mistrust those commies who are) .  .  ." meme when it comes to doing something about climate change . . . here in California, the only pipeline we're interested is one from Oregon that could fill Nor-Cal Reservoirs . . . Yes, it's pretty, but the Masters is otherwise a bore . . .

Sunday, November 30, 2014

SUNDAY STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Hello Old Friend . . . really good to see you once again . . . so much has happened, and so much has been hyped . . . we're still here, the Blackocalypse has not happened, after 6 years of President Birth Certificate!  Shocking,  purely shocking . . . the LA Times reports today that much is needed to update the 30 year old Nuclear arsenal, including an incantation that the incoming (crazed) GOP Congress may consider this a great time to modernize the nukes.  Here's an idea,  people don't aspire to America to be near modern nukes.  They DO come here for the freedom, the choices, the conveniences we take for granted (think roads, power, water, and wastewater) and boy isn't it about time those things were invested in again as well? . . .  Rick Perry still thinks he's a Presidential candidate.  No, he's not talking about the Mickey Mouse Club, not even sure he should be . . . lower your expectations, Rick.  You are, after all, a textbook (you know, those things that you black out and burn in Texas) Doofus ... Why, at long last, won't Lindsay Graham come out of the closet? . . . Advent again, so soon?  Alll aging should be graceful,  not fraught with pain, uncertainly, clumsiness.  Unless that is part of the purification rite for the next level - whatever that may entail . . . My friend and former mentor Ronald G. was right:  "once again, Greed has reared its ugly head."  Greed has so many heads it might as well be the Hydra . . .  STFU, Glenn Beck and Alex Jones - you too, Savage.  Meds,  that's what you all need . . . Pope Francis, you're overdue.  You were needed back in the late 70's, so keep trying to make up for lost time.   Honor Christmas in your Heart and keep it all the year - that means live Matthew 25 - feed the hungry, house the homeless, clothe the naked, cheer up the prisoners, make the depressed laugh.  Most of all, do them all, right? Ain't that the challenge?  Intervene for the greater good ... everyone's calling, isn't it?

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

AMERICA READIES TO WAR UP THE MIDDLE EAST AGAIN, AND . . .

All the media outlets want to talk about is a twenty-year old nepotism beneficiary who took dirty dancing down into the depths on the teevee . . . oh and the outrage, OUTRAGE, over Ben Affleck as Batman. Well, okay, that's not the only things being discussed; there is the obsession with "ONLY 5 EPISODES LEFT OF BREAKING BAD!!!" It's a well written show, and extremely well-acted, but its a TV show, people, it's not a way of life. Seriously, the State Department and the Administration have apparently concluded that chemical weapons were used on Syrian civilians, now it's time to kick some Arab behind. Except for, whose butt is it, anyway? On one side, there is Assad, a beady-eyed, grinning little creeper who comes off worse than a car salesman, swearing it wasn't his regime. Yes, he looks dishonest, yes, untrustworthy, yes, he'd probably say anything to avoid cruise missile bombardment. But what possible motivation would he have for doing this now? What does he gain by dragging the US in to his dirty little Civil War - which he appears to be winning against rebels for now? What about those rebels? Several different factions, with a plurality having ties to terrorist groups and Islamic fundamentalism? Is that the group we want to aid by attacking Assad? Moreover, don't those same splinter groups benefit if someone with a lot of firepower suddently steps in and levels Assad's capabilities? Doesn't this same mindset look at lost lives with a more jaundiced eye than the West? So . . . in the absence of compelling, independent proof that Assad's henchmen unleased the chemical weapons, isn't at least more plausible that the rebels - if they had a hold of this awful stuff - would use it first and angle to blame the Regime in power? Going after the dictator here doesn't fit the mold of aiding that cliche definition of friendship oft referred to as "the enemy of my enemy." The consequences of an incorrect guess in these circumstances are devastating, and portend to be longstanding, too, in a region of the world not collectively well-renowned for either its shortened memories, or its willingness to forgive, let live, and move on. Perhaps, then, there is something to be learned from all the Pop Culture immersion after all? Perhaps, when it comes to what to do about Syria, the lesson for President Obama is - as Walter White admonished his brother-in-law nemesis Hank Schrader two weeks ago - "tread lightly."

Friday, May 31, 2013

MORE BANNED FROM HUFFPO?

In a fawning article about the last President, and his Vigorous mountain bike rides with wounded veterans - people whose injuries were the direct result of his decisions to start two lengthy wars, the author actually compared Bush's post-presidential life with that of Jimmy Carter, who has spent his post-presidency building houses for the poor and homeless all over the world. So, LOST posted this one at HP, and got the dreaded "This comment is pending review . . . blah blah blah . . . which HP frequently reserves for any article about Sarah Palin, Ann Coulter, and yes, this scarlet ibis former Preznit of ours. Offensive? Violative of "community standards?" You decide: This state of "not being haunted by demons" of his past decisions may also be explained by the utter lack of a conscience. And for what its worth, former President Carter isn't building homes for people whom his decisions made homeless. That's where the "comparison" stops. How about giving this President what he says he wants, and don't do any more stories about him ever again? Will it be scrubbed by the Huffers? We'll have to see. But it is not profane, and other than ruffling the opinions of some very myopic partisans on the right, it's not so offensive as it is factual.

Friday, May 03, 2013

FAST FOOD FOR THE MIND

On NPR yesterday came a story about coverage of this year's Casey Anthony story - some murder trial in Arizona. LOST had never heard the name Jodi Arias until a couple of weeks ago - in a conversation with a once erudite relative who had slunk into to media muck like some Mammoth in the prehistoric mid-Wilshire area, going off gleefully about salacious snippets of another's messed up existence. But Arias - or her trial at least - was center stage on NPR yesterday - even you, public radio? A line from an interviewed executive at a cable channel burned a spot in LOST's fevered brain, ". . . the public is hungry for stories like this" as a justification for while they'll continue to be flash frozen, quick-fried, wrapped, styrofoam boxed and shoved out the aural drive-through window that is our radio, or TeeVee, ad nauseum, in Jeebus' Reagan and Exxon's name, amen, hallelujah. That's when the light bulb went on. The public is no more "hungry" for this than it is for its next Cheesy Cool-Ranch flavor Gordita with Mystery Meat, or bread-less chicken sandwich with extra bacon and cheese (no apologies to you Yum Brands), unless by "hungry" you meant "acclimated." Food - even fast food - used to taste better, cost less, and be sold in something more moderate than gargantuan sizes. While it still takes the willing words of the ordering class to opt for what passes as sustenance, over the course of a generation or two this nauseating collection of deep fried fakeness has ingratiated itself into the culture, sort of like termites into the average wood frame home of a certain age. What are the end results? Obesity, diabetes, lethargy, dullness, and those may be the best qualities. Isn't the same really true for news and information? What used to pass as news has been beaten down - bashed repeatedly with loud inaccurate claims of partisan bias, turned weakly over to the entertainment divisions of the networks - which themselves have been purchased and combined into media monstrosities pursuing profit above all else, and for at least as long a time ago as that slow meander down the 405 of a particular White Bronco - really even longer than that - what has passed for news has really been one giant orgy of Big Macs and Velveeta nachos for the mind. How stupid are we for accepting this as the norm?

Monday, April 29, 2013

ON THE EDGE

On the edge of a career-changing event. Okay, so maybe extending the edge of a career-changing event allowed to slink away, in exchange for a few magic beans, or at least that's what it feels like. A tale of two friendships - one with whom I used to work, who held LOST in high esteem for the day job capabilities, notwithstanding our resolute differences of opinion when it came to governance, the direction of the country, and of course, choice in AM radio stations. In the other corner, wearing the blue trunks (ah, gawd, didn't need that visual) is the friend with whom LOST invested the last 14 years professionally. Good guy, funny, entertaining, charismatic, but truly awful at showing respect for learned opinion - especially when it differs from his own. Also very myopic when it comes to other close relations and confidants. In any event, when push came to shove, and LOST had the chance to opt for one over the other, LOST chose the latter, and the latter made some promises. Those promise are now, grudingly, joylessly being carried out, and it's abundantly clear. So much so that its time to call timeout and say, "thanks, but you're miserable, don't do this, since you don't really want to" change the name, add a partner, balance the equation. Desert doesn't enter in. Merit doesn't either. It's clear that the dissonance factor is simply too great, and LOST doesn't want the issue forced. Oh, for the chance to have a mulligan, and take the road less traveled by now . . .

Sunday, December 23, 2012

SUNDAY STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS - HOLIDAY EDITION

Few things sober up Holiday revelry, or bludgeon us with the reality of our earthly mortality like mayhem upon little children, or a serious health problem to a beloved brother - be well John . . . speaking of Holidays, LOST has no qualms about "Happy Holidays" as a greeting of choice - because it is inclusive, because "Merry Christmas" is too narrow, an implicit suggestion that all the outward bling and  allinner good cheer and charitable, heartfelt feelings must be shoved back in the same box come Boxing Day, never to return until Black Friday next, and what a world would that be, after all ? . . .  Saint Francis of Assisi had it right when he counseled, "Preach the Gospel at all times, use words when necessary" - and in case anyone was wondering, words used on a bumper sticker doesn't really count, either . . . Nothing more gratifying than passing tired horses in the back of the pack, is there, Chargers? . . . Wayne LaPierre, since you asked to be so designated on "Meet the Press" today, yes,  You. Are. Crazy.  Armed guards in every school in America is not only a costly overkill, it is no guarantee for solving the problem of  crazed shooters, any more than training one's emotionally disturbed son in the use and target-shooting of various firearms is a good idea, either . . . let's go over the "Cliff" Mr. President.  The  schlocks on the other side of the aisle have steadfastly refused to acknowledge that they lost the election, and that among other things, this election was a referendum on letting the tax cuts for the 2% - ers expire, so deal with it Boehner and McConnell . . . meanwhile in the Toy Department, Jim Mora turned out to be last years Christmas gift of the year - at least for Bruin fans, so Happy Holidays to all, and Happy Holiday Bowl to the Blue and Gold crowd, especially  . . .