Archives for 2023

Although I have seen this quote attributed to others I know it from Herman Melville in Moby Dick. 
“To know how to grow old is the master work of wisdom, and one of the most difficult chapters in the great art of living.”

It’s no secret.  Eat healthy and exercise daily.  In other words: “Do as I say, not as I do!”
“Piece of cake!”  I am full of useful quotes, or something, today.

The United States Military is tracking a high-altitude surveillance balloon over the northern US.  Pentagon spokesman Brig. General Patrick Ryder said they are confident it is from China.  Senior officials told President Biden the balloon does not present a significant intelligence gathering risk even though its path does go over sensitive areas.  They have advised not to shoot it down as falling debris might be dangerous to people on the ground.  

So I guess we are to ignore the security risk from China as we have in the case of Russia’s spy network where we allow a walking, talking soviet surveillance balloon to float around the golf course in Palm Beach, Florida.

So for those of you who learned everything you know about Groundhog Day from Bill Murray in the 1993 film, one of my favorites btw, you know this means 6 more weeks of winter weather.  The National Weather Service begs to differ and claims Phil’s prognostications from Gobbler’s Knob are accurate only about 48% of the time.  There are other groundhogs such as Charles G. Hogg, better known as Staten Island Chuck, that are said to have an 80% accuracy rate.  

I have a fail-proof method and claim close to a perfect record by paying attention to the National Weather Service.  I listen to their forecast and then plan for the exact opposite.  Not perfect but close.  I then applied this method to my investments in the stock market.  I listen to Warren Buffet and then do the opposite.  I have not had the same success rate.

It makes no sense.  Where did I go wrong?

I’ll just get right to it:

• Birthdays:
• Clark Gable: People Magazines “Sexiest Man of the Year, 1934” ( I Think).  That’s when he put up a curtain between himself and Claudette Colbert in the Capra film “It Happened One Night,” but we all know what really happened that night.
• Langston Hughes: Poet, novelist, playwright known for his insightful depictions of the Black Experience.
• Mme. Adrienne Levin: 3 Star Michelin Chef; Beloved Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother, to some of the most accomplished Educators and Titans of Industry; Creator of the quintessential “Sunday Dinner: that has been copied by many but never equaled.  
• Rhonda Rousey:  Inexplicably sexy MMA Fighter, with whom many would like to “go a few rounds!” 
• Rick James:  Musician and star subject of Dave Chappelle’s most famous skit on the Chappelle Show.
• Harry Styles:  Boy band heart throb, previous doer of Jason Sudeikis’ ex-wife Olivia Wilde and some guy in “My Policeman.”  

Incidentally February 1, 1865 is also the date Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment outlawing slavery.  And while you hear endless misguided rants about the second amendment, many still do not understand the freedoms granted by the 13th.  They can be easily identified by their red MAGA hats or having been appointed to The Supreme Court by #45!

JANUARY 31st!!  Already?  What up wit dat?

It seems like only yesterday I wrote down a whole new set of resolutions.  I haven’t quite got around to implementing them yet.  I am just giving myself until next Monday and then “Look out World!”

“Hope springs eternal in every human breast!”  POPE.  (Alexander, not Jorge Mario Bergoglio)

So Jon and Pam were married for twelve days in 2020 and Pam says it wasn’t even a legal marriage.  But they remained friends and Jon told People Mag he is leaving her $10 Million in his will.  He is 77 but we know 70 is the new 50 so who knows when she’ll collect?  There is no rush, that’s not the point.
And we all know the story of George Clooney giving each of his closest friends a suitcase containing a million dollars cash.  Beautiful gesture George!  Also, let’s not forget the reclusive millionaire John Beresford Tipton who charged Michael Anthony with surprising total strangers with a cool million bucks, (but to be historically accurate there was a 90% tax bracket in those days so it may not have equaled Jon and George’s largesse).

It all does beg the question, “Where’s mine?”  I want to put it out there that I will marry you for 12 days, (not legally and with Linda’s permission, of course; all genders welcome), will accept all suitcases and will maintain the secrecy of a reclusive millionaire if that be his, or her, wish.

Please don’t misunderstand, this is not about money!  Hahahahahahahahaha!  Sorry, I couldn’t say that with a straight face! 

Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” 
Is that the dumbest thing you ever heard?  What Einstein came up with that idea? 

Oh really…Albert?  The E = mc²  guy?

Actually, it makes sense…I imagine.

     I received an email from my hosting service informing me today, January 28th, is Data Privacy Day.  Is data privacy really a thing?  Between Siri, Alexa, every social media account and any on-line service we see daily examples of just how un-private all of our data has become. 
     In fact, isn’t the term “Data Privacy” a perfect example of the primary definition of an oxymoron? 
Ox·y·mo·ron:
/ˌäksəˈmôrˌän/
1.  A figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction.
2.  A person who really believed Billy Mays when he said Oxiclean gets out tough stains.
3.  A couple’s portmanteau of the brain’s Occipital Lobe and Donald Trump.

The sign of Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese culture. 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope.  According to my limited knowledge of Chinese astrology, Rabbits are predicted to be gentle, quiet, elegant, and alert as well as quick, skillful, kind, and patient.
People born in a year of the Rabbit are called “Rabbits” and are believed to be vigilant, witty, quick-minded, and ingenious, all of which leads me to believe that out of 435 Representatives and 100 Senators in Washington, DC, not one of them was born a Rabbit!

You know what might be more interesting?  Let’s discuss The Year of the Rat!

Our government has a terrible record when it comes to rebuilding the infrastructure of the nation.  We have made 1% of our population billionaires from our massive war spending, but now find our roads, power grids, sewage systems and many other projects are crumbling and need to be upgraded or replaced.  We have to start somewhere and while I may have chosen a different item to receive government assistance, I am happy for those with worn out harps and hope the program expands to the woodwinds, percussion and brass as well.

And for those of you that think the obvious misunderstanding of the acronym HARP is cheesy and not worthy of a true wordsmith;  someone so clever and erudite as myself, I say tough toenails and I’m rubber and you’re glue so whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you! 

You’ve been schooled!