Good-bye Mayberry

Several years ago, there was a television show called Family Ties.  It was a big hit with Michael J. Fox as a young, straight-laced kid.  I knew right off the bat, I was that kid.

Back in the late 60's, I was in junior high school.  In the news would be pictures of war protesters being beaten by the police.  My position at the time, "Damn hippies deserve it."  I had no idea what the war was about but I trusted government.

Then, one day, while I was attending a party at a park, my whole view of authority changed.  It was a party thrown by my ship, one that I had just been assigned to so I knew none of the players.  Anyway, the port police show up and start spraying Mace at everyone.  I saw the unprovoked attack from the start and there was nothing that could be said other than...it was unprovoked - totally.

My ship's captain showed up and a whole bunch of rental cops lost their jobs on the spot.  However, the damage had been done.  I had seen authority; I had seen men with badges and they were wrong.

For the first time in my life, I had seen that the King had no clothes.  Authority does not equal right.

For the first time I thought, "maybe those hippies from the 60's had been right all along."

My world view was forever changed.  There was no Mayberry.  The world was not run by highly evolved apes in suits.  It was run by un-evolved apes in suits.  We used our opposable thumbs to sew in order that we may appear civilized.  But in the end, an ape in a suit, is still an ape.

Now I am much older and have taken on "cynical" as a second middle name.

I have watched as religious leaders cry, "I have sinned," while holding out a hand for tithing that will be used to put their mistresses up in free housing.  I have seen politicians impeach each other for "indiscretions,"  while failing to pay taxes or while maintaining several extra-marital affairs themselves.  I have seen Governors go to jail.

But at no time have I ever seen anything as tragic as the true story of the banking crisis of 2008 as told by Michael Lewis.   This is the guy the wrote MoneyBall and The Blind Side.  It is a true store called The Big Short.

Read this book!

It should be as mandatory to read and discuss as Catcher in the Rye or To Kill a Mocking Bird.

The scariest part of the story is that we are continuing to be ripped off by the same people that made this all happen in the first place.  I'm not talking about a $250 toilet seat for the army.  I'm talking about the end of democracy so a few can have it all in the short run.

In America, our greatest strength is our economy; not the number of tanks on the ground or planes in the air.  We make up about 30% of the world's economy.  Two years ago, that nearly changed.  Today, the gun that we shot ourselves with is still smoking and ... it's still in the hands of those that pulled the trigger to begin with.

If you don't want to read the book go to the following link and watch a 60 minutes section on it: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6298082n&tag=related;photovideo

I am still on vacation so have been away from the news lately.  Apparently, North Korea has yet to unleash the Mother of all Deaths.  American politics is still filled with "You shut up; no you shut up," and the department of Homeland Defense is still at threat level orange, whatever that means.

As for me, I am relaxing.  I went snowboarding for three days and survived.  It's freezing here in Hungary but I have a wife that makes sure I dress in layers.  My Peanut M&M intake is way down but only because I have other sugary treats to fill the gap.  I have not been writing but I will finish one book by March and a second in the Spring.

I have one more week here before I head home.  I can see that there is a world to save and I am nearly rested up enough to do just that.

Up, up and away...

jim

Last minute holiday notes

It's been over a week since my last post.  Usually I don't go that long but things have been very busy.

I like it that way lest, "Jim becomes a dull boy."

I have almost completed my holiday shopping.  My wife likes magazines in the checkout line so, I bought a bunch of those for stocking-stuffers.  That was way more embarrassing that I had anticipated.

I am a big-time carnivore, however, I am thinking of changing my ways.  I have recently been eating Morning Star Foods vegetarian things and they are great!  Try the riblets or the chipotle/bean burgers.  Way better than meat.

The Republican party is faced with the Start Treaty.  This is an agreement to limit nuclear arms. It has been through 17 committees since last April.  Every living Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and National Security Adviser supports this treaty.  What do the Republicans say about this bill they have had on their desk for 8 months?

"We don't like this being pushed down our throats at the last minute."

You have got to be kidding me!!!

This is not the same as their stance on health care which is basically: Let the poor die.  Nor is it the same as their stance on extending tax breaks: More money for the rich using borrowed cash.  Nor is it the same as their stance on the dream act: Let them fight our wars but "No citizenship for you!"  Nor is this the same as the overall hypocrisy of: Lower spending but give money to the rich while building up the national debt in spite of what 100% of economists think.

No, this is about the End of the World.

That's what nuclear arms promise.

Albert Einstein said, "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

Christmas is just around the corner.  I love this time of year.  My kids are coming over this Wednesday night.  Everyone has to bring some Christmas candy/cookies that they made.  Then, when we are all sufficiently buzzed from all the sugar, we'll sit and watch It's a Wonderful Life.  We do this every year.

Christmas day I am off to Hungary.  From there, I go to Austria for three days of snowboarding.  Sounds exotic but Austria is really only about 4 hours away ( 2 hours to they border).

I watched a great movie yesterday.  The Fighter.  I give it four out of four stars.  Christian Bale will win the Academy Award for best supporting actor.  You heard it here first.  However, I expect Jeff Bridges to be over the top in True Grit for Best Actor of the year.

As for acting, I have a pretend world to save.

Up, up and away...

Jim