OK, I don't deny it. I actually was the one who did it.
I knew as soon as I got out of the car and headed toward the medical building. The stares. The smiles. The people talking to each other behind a cupped hand. Yeah, I knew right away, "they were talking about me."
I wanted to shout at the top of my voice, "Don't think I can't hear you snickering!"
It was embarassing. When I was a kid, I didn't have an original thought in my head. If my parents had named me Lawrence - I'd have been known as "Larry the Lemming." I was always trying to please everybody else. I had no backbone.
I was a shy guy who thought everybody was talking about me - making fun of my acne. But, now, I'm no longer shy - and my wrinkles cover everything. However, the truth was clearly staring me in the face. I had to ask myself, "Did I overreact?"
I had defied convention and now I was paying the price.
Yeah, I did the usual senior thing first, once I saw all the people looking at me. I went back into the car and checked my fly. I was amazed that this time I had zipped up before leaving the house. Don't even know why I cared. My underwear was clean.
It was Wednesday, the day I changed from Sunday's underwear.
"What's to worry about?", I thought. Still the stares were unnerving. I walked faster trying to finish my task and get back into the car safely before some thoughtless person said something..
I could already hear the voice of my sainted Irish mother shouting in my ear, "Barry, what were you thinking?"
Whereas at first I was embarassed, soon it was a little like going through the stages of grief. I now realized I was in the anger stage. "What right did they have to judge me?", I thought.
What was the right way for me to protest? How could I tell them they were the ones out of step - not me? I glanced at my reflection from the plate glass window in the corridor of the medical building. I could see I was wearing my maniacal Jack Nicholson smile. I swore then I would come up with something that would even the score.
Finally, I had it. When I got home I would do the unthinkable. I'd throw the cover, sheets, pillows and the mattress cover "helter - skelter" onto the floor. I'd then rip the label off the naked mattress - and post pictures of me with the mattress tag in my clenched fist all over the wall of the community post office.
I wasn't just mad. I was "darn mad."
I blamed it on being a Senior. As everyone knows down here Bealls Department Store has turned "Timid Tuesday" into Senior days - the day of the discount. Yesterday I succumbed.
The 401 k be damned! Bealls had their Cargo shorts on sale. I bought three pairs then carefully studied the cashier to make sure I got my 15% discount on each. It was the right decision.
Unfortunately, this morning I made a decision that kept my good decision streak at "one in a row."
I decided to wear a pair of my new shorts as I headed up to my doctors office for blood tests.
Yeah - I did it. Three pair of shorts and I had the stupidity to wear the white ones today on October 27th.
Mom was right. You just don't wear white after Labor Day! I'll never be able to face them again up at the lab.
It's not that I didn't care. It just seemed the white clamdigger shorts were the perfect color to wear with my pink golf shirt in honor of The American Cancer Society's "Strides Against Breast Cancer" competition.
You live and you learn.
But, "Hey Mom - just like you said - "Confession is good for the soul."
"Think Pink, gang!" This is a battle we can win.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
The vetting process - side by side.
Yesterday the local Tampa affiliate broadcast a debate between three guys who are the primary candidates to become our next Senator in Florida..They all appeared to be quite personable and articulate.
I later learned that one of the three candidate apparently has garnered the most support. I thought they all did well. None used the term transparent.
I realize that the process of "vetting" - carefully examining the record of your possible candidate - looking in every nook and cranny (and bathroom stalls, apparently) enables each political party and NPA to reach a decision that you got the best guy or gal.
After all your investigative work you concluded they were squeaky clean , were not members of a coven - and would certainly best represent your interests. God bless you for doing this job. But, I hate to tell you, I'm still in the 1/3 of folks who are undecided.
Here's why.
Trying to determine the best candidate from the TV ads is like trying to determine which popular actress did not have a boob job.
One walks away from the ads with the impression that all three candidates are either previously convicted felons - or should have been. "You think they trashtalk in the NBA? You ain't heard nothin yet."
Which raises the question, "If any of these ads are true - who vetted these guys? Ahmadinejad?"
It's easy for outsiders to judge Florida as just a group of seniors joined together at the hip for a photo opt depiction of "a huddled mass" and who are still confused over hanging chads.
Like I said before,"tain't true" We're angry about politicians too. We do sometimes tend to forget who it was we decided we were going to vote for. But, I'm sure that will come back by November 2nd.
If not, we all have those sample ballots we could highlight with our Bingo markers and take into the polling place.
We're also upset about the ballot propositions or "proposed constitutional amendments". I can see why. I read proposition 5 and 6 several times and assume they decided to repeat #5 via # 6, just in case we dosed off while reading it. (I know. It was legislative versus congressional redistricting.)
California makes it easy. Either you want to legalize pot - or you don't. But, for a guy who studied and interpreted a lot of technical legal "stuff" - I can tell you that - after retirement I went downhill really fast. I needed the Dick & Jane versions of the propositions.
I couldn't come up with the right answer 50% of the time if they were true or false questions. I'd be about as accurate as I was in picking World Series opponents.
My suggestions to my Seniors peers is "Either you find Cliffnotes before Tuesday - bring a cheat sheet to the polls - or have a surplus of Gummy Bears and Depends to get you through this travesty. It's going to be a long day."
Now, let's say you don't have a clue as to which Senatorial candidate appears to be less guilty looking. Perhaps, you're even more clueless as to which special interest is paying for those outrageous attack ads you're trying to interpret. Just keep in mind that you're exercising your legal right as a citizen of this great nation.
Now, if you really want to have an impact, fill in the little geometric form on the ballot where it says - "none of the above". Can't find it? Damn! Time for a new "proposition".
Tis sad. If we could all do that we might finally bring some sense to this whole process. Somebody would actually be forced to tell us the truth. Until then we'll be like the guy below when our own "election" honeymoon is over.
I say this only because this years election process reminds me of a great video on Youtube. It shows an elderly guy - singing a song about his recent honeymoon - to the tune of "Side By Side:
"WE GOT MARRIED LAST FRIDAY.
MY GIRL WAS RIGHT THERE BESIDE ME.
OUR FRIENDS WERE ALL GONE.
WE WERE ALONE
SIDE BY SIDE.
WE WERE SO HAPPILY WED WHEN
SHE GOT READY FOR BED THEN.
HER TEETH AND HER HAIR
SHE PLACED IN A CHAIR
SIDE BY SIDE
ONE GLASS EYE - SO TINY
ONE HEARING AID SO SMALL
THEN SHE TOOK ONE LEG OFF
AND PLACED IT ON THE CHAIR BY THE WALL
I STOOD THERE SO BROKEN HEARTED
MOST OF MY GIRL HAD DEPARTED
I SLEPT ON THE CHAIR
THERE WAS MORE OF HER THERE
SIDE BY SIDE"
Hey, I'll be standing there with you at the polls - "Side By Side."
I later learned that one of the three candidate apparently has garnered the most support. I thought they all did well. None used the term transparent.
I realize that the process of "vetting" - carefully examining the record of your possible candidate - looking in every nook and cranny (and bathroom stalls, apparently) enables each political party and NPA to reach a decision that you got the best guy or gal.
After all your investigative work you concluded they were squeaky clean , were not members of a coven - and would certainly best represent your interests. God bless you for doing this job. But, I hate to tell you, I'm still in the 1/3 of folks who are undecided.
Here's why.
Trying to determine the best candidate from the TV ads is like trying to determine which popular actress did not have a boob job.
One walks away from the ads with the impression that all three candidates are either previously convicted felons - or should have been. "You think they trashtalk in the NBA? You ain't heard nothin yet."
Which raises the question, "If any of these ads are true - who vetted these guys? Ahmadinejad?"
It's easy for outsiders to judge Florida as just a group of seniors joined together at the hip for a photo opt depiction of "a huddled mass" and who are still confused over hanging chads.
Like I said before,"tain't true" We're angry about politicians too. We do sometimes tend to forget who it was we decided we were going to vote for. But, I'm sure that will come back by November 2nd.
If not, we all have those sample ballots we could highlight with our Bingo markers and take into the polling place.
We're also upset about the ballot propositions or "proposed constitutional amendments". I can see why. I read proposition 5 and 6 several times and assume they decided to repeat #5 via # 6, just in case we dosed off while reading it. (I know. It was legislative versus congressional redistricting.)
California makes it easy. Either you want to legalize pot - or you don't. But, for a guy who studied and interpreted a lot of technical legal "stuff" - I can tell you that - after retirement I went downhill really fast. I needed the Dick & Jane versions of the propositions.
I couldn't come up with the right answer 50% of the time if they were true or false questions. I'd be about as accurate as I was in picking World Series opponents.
My suggestions to my Seniors peers is "Either you find Cliffnotes before Tuesday - bring a cheat sheet to the polls - or have a surplus of Gummy Bears and Depends to get you through this travesty. It's going to be a long day."
Now, let's say you don't have a clue as to which Senatorial candidate appears to be less guilty looking. Perhaps, you're even more clueless as to which special interest is paying for those outrageous attack ads you're trying to interpret. Just keep in mind that you're exercising your legal right as a citizen of this great nation.
Now, if you really want to have an impact, fill in the little geometric form on the ballot where it says - "none of the above". Can't find it? Damn! Time for a new "proposition".
Tis sad. If we could all do that we might finally bring some sense to this whole process. Somebody would actually be forced to tell us the truth. Until then we'll be like the guy below when our own "election" honeymoon is over.
I say this only because this years election process reminds me of a great video on Youtube. It shows an elderly guy - singing a song about his recent honeymoon - to the tune of "Side By Side:
"WE GOT MARRIED LAST FRIDAY.
MY GIRL WAS RIGHT THERE BESIDE ME.
OUR FRIENDS WERE ALL GONE.
WE WERE ALONE
SIDE BY SIDE.
WE WERE SO HAPPILY WED WHEN
SHE GOT READY FOR BED THEN.
HER TEETH AND HER HAIR
SHE PLACED IN A CHAIR
SIDE BY SIDE
ONE GLASS EYE - SO TINY
ONE HEARING AID SO SMALL
THEN SHE TOOK ONE LEG OFF
AND PLACED IT ON THE CHAIR BY THE WALL
I STOOD THERE SO BROKEN HEARTED
MOST OF MY GIRL HAD DEPARTED
I SLEPT ON THE CHAIR
THERE WAS MORE OF HER THERE
SIDE BY SIDE"
Hey, I'll be standing there with you at the polls - "Side By Side."
Saturday, October 23, 2010
LEGALLY SPEAKING
We have one heckuva lot of really good people in this country. I've been priviledged to be friends with a lot of them. Obviously they were not real picky as to their criteria for the acquisition of friends.
We also have a heckuva lot of idiots in this country. Some are genetically induced and some appear to be environmentally created. Overly permissive parenting is the first thing that comes to mind as a rationale for the existance of the last group.
We have a lot of people out there who honestly do not think they can do any wrong - or at least a wrong for which the rules apply to them. Fortunately they are a small bunch. Unfortunately they are the ones that get the most press.
EXAMPLE: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently reported about a man from Uniontown who sought the help of the Pittsburgh Police.
It seems this lunkhead reported that the marijuana he purchased on the street tasted "nasty." He was outraged.
He asked the police to come and examine his purchase. When they arrived they found the green leafy substance laid out on a paper on a table.
The complainant was correct. What he had purchased - thinking it was marijuana - failed to pass a field test. Officers confiscated it but believed it to be a kitchen spice instead of an intoxicating weed.
No arrest was made - either of the distributor or the complainant. The latter did not purchase an illegal drug . Besides, the local Chamber Of Commerce would probably have filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) on behalf of the former - defending their right to conduct business on the streets of Pittsburgh.
Please. Please. If you know anybody in California who has any influence as to the many propositions that are part of their ballots - would you immediately encourage them to approve the one that advocates the decriminalization of the purchase and use of marijuana.
We absolutely need to stamp out this type of wrongdoing, now happening in Pittsburgh. You don't need a picket sign to protest. Anyone with a brain can see this is a clear case of Res Ipsa Loquitor ("the thing speaks for itself") Illegal drug dealers are unfairly taking advantage of the less educated among us.
There will always be good people. There will always be some who are not so good. There will always be some who are feeble minded. But, it just isn't fair when unknown parties are allowed to take advantage of a poor soul like this Uniontown lunkhead. What were they thinking? Have they no conscience?
The only answer is to legalize the purchase and distribution of pot so that, finally, we can control it- avoid a recurrence of this type of abuse - and who knows; maybe make a couple bucks in the process.
We must protect our citizens.
The lunkheads' mother supports my petition.
It's her legal right.
We also have a heckuva lot of idiots in this country. Some are genetically induced and some appear to be environmentally created. Overly permissive parenting is the first thing that comes to mind as a rationale for the existance of the last group.
We have a lot of people out there who honestly do not think they can do any wrong - or at least a wrong for which the rules apply to them. Fortunately they are a small bunch. Unfortunately they are the ones that get the most press.
EXAMPLE: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently reported about a man from Uniontown who sought the help of the Pittsburgh Police.
It seems this lunkhead reported that the marijuana he purchased on the street tasted "nasty." He was outraged.
He asked the police to come and examine his purchase. When they arrived they found the green leafy substance laid out on a paper on a table.
The complainant was correct. What he had purchased - thinking it was marijuana - failed to pass a field test. Officers confiscated it but believed it to be a kitchen spice instead of an intoxicating weed.
No arrest was made - either of the distributor or the complainant. The latter did not purchase an illegal drug . Besides, the local Chamber Of Commerce would probably have filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) on behalf of the former - defending their right to conduct business on the streets of Pittsburgh.
Please. Please. If you know anybody in California who has any influence as to the many propositions that are part of their ballots - would you immediately encourage them to approve the one that advocates the decriminalization of the purchase and use of marijuana.
We absolutely need to stamp out this type of wrongdoing, now happening in Pittsburgh. You don't need a picket sign to protest. Anyone with a brain can see this is a clear case of Res Ipsa Loquitor ("the thing speaks for itself") Illegal drug dealers are unfairly taking advantage of the less educated among us.
There will always be good people. There will always be some who are not so good. There will always be some who are feeble minded. But, it just isn't fair when unknown parties are allowed to take advantage of a poor soul like this Uniontown lunkhead. What were they thinking? Have they no conscience?
The only answer is to legalize the purchase and distribution of pot so that, finally, we can control it- avoid a recurrence of this type of abuse - and who knows; maybe make a couple bucks in the process.
We must protect our citizens.
The lunkheads' mother supports my petition.
It's her legal right.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
More Thunkin
The wife of Supreme Court Judge Clarence Thomas has attempted to get Anita Hill to recant her testimony as to the accusations regarding her husband in his confirmation hearings.
We've heard nothing from Judge Thomas and assume he was unable to reach Judge Scalia.
We've heard nothing from Judge Thomas and assume he was unable to reach Judge Scalia.
ME & PA KETTLE
Are you old enough to remember Ma & Pa Kettle? Ma, as played by movie star Marjorie Main was the active, strict caretaker, leader parent of their large family. Pa - actor Percy Kilbride - was inclined toward more passive activities, including a little imbibing from time to time.
In one of their many movies, one of the kids asked Ma. "What's Pa doing over there in the rocking chair all day. "Ma replied, "PA's thunkin - that's what he does best. He's just thunkin."
I think I got a little "PA' in me. Been doing a lot of "thunkin" about the $75,000 (belated) NFL penalty fine on Pittsburgh Steeler James Harrison due to two rather bruising hits last Sunday.
I say "belated" as none of the officials on the field called a penalty on either play despite having been schooled many- many-many times as to what the NFL contends is a "violent hit, worthy of a penalty."
Hey, all NFL officials can't be ranked in the top 5th of their graduating class. But, let's be honest. There are few businesses without a little "duplicity" in what they claim to represent.
Please trust me. The NFL is a business. In fact it's a monopoly. It even has it's own TV network. The NFL is a huge beneficiary of just about everything that has to do with professional football .
That includes all the merchandising - which - would not exclude the video games with the gore and violence emphasis in hopes adults and kids alike will buy them. The NFL was also big enough to coerce the networks to continue to pay them should the owners force a 2011 lockout. Prior to last Sunday, the big news in the football media has been the lockout possibility.
Fortunately, this week that was not perceived as a priority for ESPN columnist Rick Reilly, who no doubt includes several NFL owners and Execs on his Christmas card list. Rick would seem to have made one helluva ambulance chaser had he not chose "journalism" as his life long pursuit.
Reilly's all upset about this "new" development in football brutality and would like to see Harrison either retire or be suspended. The guy is downright funny. I loved his columns on the back of S.I. before he left for greener pastures.
Reilly is also rumored to be the face you see when you look up the term "smarmy."
He is a man of many and varied opinions. Based on his article in NFL.com , Reilly is also omniscient. He is "aware of all things"and advises us that Harrison "purposely lowered his head" into two Brown's wide receivers. Rick neglected to explain that one of them ducked and the other was playing the quarterback position when Harrison hit him - legally - as the rules explain.
One assumes that limited column space precluded a more detailed explanation . It could also get in the way of accuracy - something else rumored to not always be a priority for journalists.
According to the sideboard accompanying his column, someone at ESPN was kind enough to advise us that Reilly has been voted Sportswriter of the Year 11 times - or about as many times as someone with the first name of Kim has been elected North Korea's President.
Reilly confesses that with all the brutal hits (captured on film - and shown - over - and over -and over on ESPN - and one presumes The NFL Network) - "it makes you wonder what kind of person you are for sitting there watching" ( I suspect during the rest of the season Rick "will risk one eye".)
If TRicks (whoops) Rick's ESPN.com column on violence gains the circulation for which both Rick & ESPN are praying, he will no doubt come out with another book. Might even be one on "modern day" football violence.
One assumes it will have neither Y.A. Tittles bloody Polo Grounds picture on the cover or that one of Bradshaw after the hit by Turkey Jones many, many years ago.
Space is a factor here. So let's wrap up my "thunking". Nothing has changed my opinion
regarding the brutality of this sport and what it has meant to the many NFL veterans who still cling to the hope that someday they may regain the ability to walk erect.
That is still my stance. Regardless of why the NFL is now motivated to do something about it and the uncomfortable thought it does move the ridiculous comments by the owners about falling on hard times to the back burner- it's a timely cause. It would not be kind of me to remind folks that the owners want to extend those brutal hits by adding two more games. So, I won't.
OK, my real beef is with the hypocrisy of both the league, it's owners, and ESPN management- all of whom owe their fortunes to this brutal and debilitating game, and continue to promote it with an emphasis on violence. ESPN & Hockey apparently got a divorce.
My advice - or pleading - is not to overlook any of the violent hits but, "for God's sake - get your own houses in order. Even some of your best players - both recently retired and active - appear to know more about physics and the complexities in the interaction of two forces - than do the best minds in the NFL office."
Finally, please note there has been no attempt to defend what appears to be a non-exclusive pattern of violence on the part of Harrison - whether he's one of my favorite Steelers or not.
I'd have much more to say, but like Pa - "I'm getting a little tired and need to get back to my thunkin."
At first glance you have to conclude
In one of their many movies, one of the kids asked Ma. "What's Pa doing over there in the rocking chair all day. "Ma replied, "PA's thunkin - that's what he does best. He's just thunkin."
I think I got a little "PA' in me. Been doing a lot of "thunkin" about the $75,000 (belated) NFL penalty fine on Pittsburgh Steeler James Harrison due to two rather bruising hits last Sunday.
I say "belated" as none of the officials on the field called a penalty on either play despite having been schooled many- many-many times as to what the NFL contends is a "violent hit, worthy of a penalty."
Hey, all NFL officials can't be ranked in the top 5th of their graduating class. But, let's be honest. There are few businesses without a little "duplicity" in what they claim to represent.
Please trust me. The NFL is a business. In fact it's a monopoly. It even has it's own TV network. The NFL is a huge beneficiary of just about everything that has to do with professional football .
That includes all the merchandising - which - would not exclude the video games with the gore and violence emphasis in hopes adults and kids alike will buy them. The NFL was also big enough to coerce the networks to continue to pay them should the owners force a 2011 lockout. Prior to last Sunday, the big news in the football media has been the lockout possibility.
Fortunately, this week that was not perceived as a priority for ESPN columnist Rick Reilly, who no doubt includes several NFL owners and Execs on his Christmas card list. Rick would seem to have made one helluva ambulance chaser had he not chose "journalism" as his life long pursuit.
Reilly's all upset about this "new" development in football brutality and would like to see Harrison either retire or be suspended. The guy is downright funny. I loved his columns on the back of S.I. before he left for greener pastures.
Reilly is also rumored to be the face you see when you look up the term "smarmy."
He is a man of many and varied opinions. Based on his article in NFL.com , Reilly is also omniscient. He is "aware of all things"and advises us that Harrison "purposely lowered his head" into two Brown's wide receivers. Rick neglected to explain that one of them ducked and the other was playing the quarterback position when Harrison hit him - legally - as the rules explain.
One assumes that limited column space precluded a more detailed explanation . It could also get in the way of accuracy - something else rumored to not always be a priority for journalists.
According to the sideboard accompanying his column, someone at ESPN was kind enough to advise us that Reilly has been voted Sportswriter of the Year 11 times - or about as many times as someone with the first name of Kim has been elected North Korea's President.
Reilly confesses that with all the brutal hits (captured on film - and shown - over - and over -and over on ESPN - and one presumes The NFL Network) - "it makes you wonder what kind of person you are for sitting there watching" ( I suspect during the rest of the season Rick "will risk one eye".)
If TRicks (whoops) Rick's ESPN.com column on violence gains the circulation for which both Rick & ESPN are praying, he will no doubt come out with another book. Might even be one on "modern day" football violence.
One assumes it will have neither Y.A. Tittles bloody Polo Grounds picture on the cover or that one of Bradshaw after the hit by Turkey Jones many, many years ago.
Space is a factor here. So let's wrap up my "thunking". Nothing has changed my opinion
regarding the brutality of this sport and what it has meant to the many NFL veterans who still cling to the hope that someday they may regain the ability to walk erect.
That is still my stance. Regardless of why the NFL is now motivated to do something about it and the uncomfortable thought it does move the ridiculous comments by the owners about falling on hard times to the back burner- it's a timely cause. It would not be kind of me to remind folks that the owners want to extend those brutal hits by adding two more games. So, I won't.
OK, my real beef is with the hypocrisy of both the league, it's owners, and ESPN management- all of whom owe their fortunes to this brutal and debilitating game, and continue to promote it with an emphasis on violence. ESPN & Hockey apparently got a divorce.
My advice - or pleading - is not to overlook any of the violent hits but, "for God's sake - get your own houses in order. Even some of your best players - both recently retired and active - appear to know more about physics and the complexities in the interaction of two forces - than do the best minds in the NFL office."
Finally, please note there has been no attempt to defend what appears to be a non-exclusive pattern of violence on the part of Harrison - whether he's one of my favorite Steelers or not.
I'd have much more to say, but like Pa - "I'm getting a little tired and need to get back to my thunkin."
At first glance you have to conclude
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
THE CHICKEN DANCE
As long as the media exists we will always have humor in our lives. One headline today mentioned how mature Kobe Bryant was in responding to an observation made by Michael Jordan as to Kobe's place in basketball history. It was entitled "Kobe takes high road on Jordan slight."
This is a little like reading the letters to the editor page in People magazine and observing one lass vigorously defending the maturity of Justin Bieber.
Jordan apparently had the audacity to suggest that Kobe was in the top 10 of guards in the history of the NBA. Kobe responded, "It's an accurate statement. - - - - - - I'm definitely one of the top thousand."
Sunday, it was Steeler QB Ben Rothlisberger who was being asked in a TV interview why Terry Bradshaw was so critical of him . Bradshaw had suggested in the past that the Steelers "should have dumped" Big Ben and the league should have suspended him for more than -not less than - 6 games, after his alleged conduct in Georgia.
Big Ben's response? "You know what? I'm not sure where all the strong words and stuff came from Terry. I've looked up to him from the day I got here. He's the greatest quarterback in Steelers history."
Looks like both Stern and Goodell are making progress with the verbal abuse issues of their players as well as their encouragment for them to display some maturity.
Of course, it is a bummer for the antagonistic media.
The media - like attorneys - have to find a way to make a buck. The latter group have made it a truism that "anybody can be sued at any time by anybody else". You see. You have your law degree, passed the bar on the 8th try, and are staring at beaucoup law school tuition bills. Trust me, you'll sue your own mother.
The media have their own financial problems. They find themselves in the unenviable position of fighting a rapidly expanding growth of competition. They're seeing seemingly half the country publishing their opinion on some topic or another.
It's Twitter, Facebook, You Tube, etc. I blame permissive parents. Even those nuts who are writing blogs think they know what they're talking about. (and they have lousy grammar too.)
So, the media has to try and make a big deal over anything. Anything that is that might sell a newspaper - get a new viewer to tune in to the 11 o'clock news - or cause anyone over 25 to now desperately want to know just who the hell Justin Bieber is.
I've touched on this before. But, when I was a kid it was "de riguer du jour" (fashionable - I'm behind in my French lessons and need to practice) for at least one kid to stand on the outside of a quickly formed circle and shout at those within the circle.
In the circle were two reluctant kids who he is egging on to fight each other after one made a tackle with a mite too much enthusiasm during a sandlot football game. The critic even had the audacity to call each of them "chicken". Boy, talk about "dissing" someone." But, we were of Junior High age and acted accordingly, usually ending up in a fight.
Now, the guy doing the encouraging was usually tremendously out of shape. In between taunts he was shovelling Jujubes in his mouth , had two boxes of crackerjack as a backup -and definitely had no interest in participating in a fight, even if it was one limited to hurling marshmallows around a campfire. But he would argue to the end that the green M&M's tasted much better than either the tan or the brown ones.
Today, he's probably the editor of a struggling newspaper encouraging a repetition of his successful childhood strategizing. Sadly, in many instances he could also be a member of Congress or the Pentagon trying to identify another country for us to invade - and who has no kids eligible to serve in the armed forces.
So, why do we continue to read and watch while these poor souls play with our heads?
Maybe it's because we're sitting on the couch with a huge stash of jujubes - a gallon of ice cream and can't talk ourself out of repeating those Junior High traditions.
We "dig" that Chicken Dance!
This is a little like reading the letters to the editor page in People magazine and observing one lass vigorously defending the maturity of Justin Bieber.
Jordan apparently had the audacity to suggest that Kobe was in the top 10 of guards in the history of the NBA. Kobe responded, "It's an accurate statement. - - - - - - I'm definitely one of the top thousand."
Sunday, it was Steeler QB Ben Rothlisberger who was being asked in a TV interview why Terry Bradshaw was so critical of him . Bradshaw had suggested in the past that the Steelers "should have dumped" Big Ben and the league should have suspended him for more than -not less than - 6 games, after his alleged conduct in Georgia.
Big Ben's response? "You know what? I'm not sure where all the strong words and stuff came from Terry. I've looked up to him from the day I got here. He's the greatest quarterback in Steelers history."
Looks like both Stern and Goodell are making progress with the verbal abuse issues of their players as well as their encouragment for them to display some maturity.
Of course, it is a bummer for the antagonistic media.
The media - like attorneys - have to find a way to make a buck. The latter group have made it a truism that "anybody can be sued at any time by anybody else". You see. You have your law degree, passed the bar on the 8th try, and are staring at beaucoup law school tuition bills. Trust me, you'll sue your own mother.
The media have their own financial problems. They find themselves in the unenviable position of fighting a rapidly expanding growth of competition. They're seeing seemingly half the country publishing their opinion on some topic or another.
It's Twitter, Facebook, You Tube, etc. I blame permissive parents. Even those nuts who are writing blogs think they know what they're talking about. (and they have lousy grammar too.)
So, the media has to try and make a big deal over anything. Anything that is that might sell a newspaper - get a new viewer to tune in to the 11 o'clock news - or cause anyone over 25 to now desperately want to know just who the hell Justin Bieber is.
I've touched on this before. But, when I was a kid it was "de riguer du jour" (fashionable - I'm behind in my French lessons and need to practice) for at least one kid to stand on the outside of a quickly formed circle and shout at those within the circle.
In the circle were two reluctant kids who he is egging on to fight each other after one made a tackle with a mite too much enthusiasm during a sandlot football game. The critic even had the audacity to call each of them "chicken". Boy, talk about "dissing" someone." But, we were of Junior High age and acted accordingly, usually ending up in a fight.
Now, the guy doing the encouraging was usually tremendously out of shape. In between taunts he was shovelling Jujubes in his mouth , had two boxes of crackerjack as a backup -and definitely had no interest in participating in a fight, even if it was one limited to hurling marshmallows around a campfire. But he would argue to the end that the green M&M's tasted much better than either the tan or the brown ones.
Today, he's probably the editor of a struggling newspaper encouraging a repetition of his successful childhood strategizing. Sadly, in many instances he could also be a member of Congress or the Pentagon trying to identify another country for us to invade - and who has no kids eligible to serve in the armed forces.
So, why do we continue to read and watch while these poor souls play with our heads?
Maybe it's because we're sitting on the couch with a huge stash of jujubes - a gallon of ice cream and can't talk ourself out of repeating those Junior High traditions.
We "dig" that Chicken Dance!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Credible Observations
I've been reading some interesting quotes recently while doing blog research.
Here's one inscribed on a candy dish I recently purchased:
"All my life I wanted to be somebody. Now I realize I should have been more specific."
(Jane Wagner)
A few gems from Fritz Perls: - some previously published here:
"Nobody can stand the truth if it is told to them. Truth can be tolerated only if you discover it yourself because then the pride of discovery makes the truth palatable."
"You cannot achieve happiness. Happiness happens and is a transitory stage. Imagine how happy I was when I got relief from bladder pressure. How long did that happiness last?"
"Our dependency makes slaves out of us, especially if this dependency is a dependency of our self-esteem. If you need encouragement, praise, pats on the back from everybody, then you make everybody your judge."
And the logical follow-up?
"I do my thing and you do your thing. I am not in this world to live up to your expectations. And you are not in this world to live up to mine. You are you and I am I. And if by chance we find each other, it's beautiful. If not, it can't be helped."
Wish I had found them earlier.
Here's one inscribed on a candy dish I recently purchased:
"All my life I wanted to be somebody. Now I realize I should have been more specific."
(Jane Wagner)
A few gems from Fritz Perls: - some previously published here:
"Nobody can stand the truth if it is told to them. Truth can be tolerated only if you discover it yourself because then the pride of discovery makes the truth palatable."
"You cannot achieve happiness. Happiness happens and is a transitory stage. Imagine how happy I was when I got relief from bladder pressure. How long did that happiness last?"
"Our dependency makes slaves out of us, especially if this dependency is a dependency of our self-esteem. If you need encouragement, praise, pats on the back from everybody, then you make everybody your judge."
And the logical follow-up?
"I do my thing and you do your thing. I am not in this world to live up to your expectations. And you are not in this world to live up to mine. You are you and I am I. And if by chance we find each other, it's beautiful. If not, it can't be helped."
Wish I had found them earlier.
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