Archives for 2025

It will reopen when America does.

I can suggest a few appropriate tunes:

• • • U.S.  U.S. Uber Alles!  (Perhaps more appropriate in Russian).
    • Heil to the Chief!
    • America the Fearful.
    • Fight the Power.
    • American Woman (Forget about those rights).
    • I’m Livin’ in Shame By The Supremes
    • Bad Moon Rising.
    • The Monster Mash.

Or perhaps a moment of silence is more appropriate as the flags are at half-staff.

Until the recent turn of the century there was a seemingly universal respect for the “old” ways.  We were civil to each other regardless of political or religious affiliation and we always said please and especially “Thank You!”  When Linda and I were married in June of 1976, she drew up the card below and we sent handwritten thank you notes to everyone who attended our wedding.

                                                           

The basics of a civilized society have changed.  Hand written thank you notes are gone.  We never received even an acknowledgement of gifts from two of the last three weddings we attended.  It is not that big of a deal in and of itself,  but with the waning of all the bits of non-electronic communication comes a coldness in society that makes me nostalgic for the good old days when we spoke instead of texting and wrote sincere notes instead of perfunctory emails.

I believe we are seeing the results of this lack of intimate connections all around us.  We are a scared population that voted a hate-filled narcissist to the highest office in the land; a man who spends more time issuing threats to his enemies that he does planning how to make life better for everyone in our country, especially those from other political affiliations, U.S. citizens.  Without any understanding of economics we blame others for everything and let ourselves believe purging people that don’t look like us from our country will somehow make us safer and bring down naturally inflated prices.  It will allow our government to raise the national debt to falsely lower prices and leave our children and grandchildren the crushing debt we created.  We are pathetically ignorant with regard to economics and easily manipulated by fear having turned over the reins of power to the rich oligarchs that now populate positions of ultimate power.  The new American Dream is to  join the wealthy elite by hitting the lottery.  About 295 million to one odds…but Hope!

As Winona said: “They call it progress, but I don’t know!”  I miss silly thank you notes and politicians referring to their opponents as “my learned colleague.”  You will too someday.  Hope it won’t be too little, too late.

My apologies.  I forgot to plug myself in last night so I am at 6% and need a day to recharge.
It won’t happen again as I have upgraded to a later model Fred 14 and ordered a wireless charging pad from Best Buy allowing me to charge while asleep without having to remember to plug in.

Wow! Technology Rocks!

The story you are about to read is true, or so I am told by a reliable source; one who can always be counted on to lie. But truth is overrated, (see president elect and fact-checkers on Facebook).

St. John Frogbottom IV counted the days until he was old enough to change the name that he so deeply hated.  For some reason his father St. John Frogbottom III loved it and relished in telling anyone his name, always heavily accenting each of the three syllables, FROG-BOT-TOM. He also took pleasure in correcting those who mispronounced his first name; “NOT Saint John but sin-juhn!”

I am not sure exactly when and what precipitated the change of heart but at some point before adulthood SJF IV decided he too loved the name and came up with a new and better way to celebrate his good fortune.  He founded and proudly served as the first President of the “Silly Names Society!”  The Rose became the society’s symbol in homage to Shakespeare’s “What’s in a Name” quote from Romeo and Juliet.

Almost immediately the Society was inundated with applications for membership.  There are no dues, no meetings, no time commitment; just peace and contentment in knowing you are not alone and the pride that goes with being special!  We welcome the following new members to THE SILLY NAMES SOCIETY:
Nello Penello – E. Jack Cuelant – Polly Pigtrotter – Herbert Brakewind
Cedric Papshmearing – Lucille Hariballs – Harley & Carly Knightly-Hummers
Ivan Grczynskwikkno – Bella Daball – Spin Wrottencrotch – Hiram Bhuttsucker
Barnhardt Skidmarks – Adolph Turdstirrer – Soar Bong Whole Epidermis
Robert Jones (No one had the heart to tell him).

Be Proud – Own It – Embrace It: It Makes You YOU! 

I have conclusive proof.  I did everything correctly.  By employing my acute deductive reasoning skills in addition to the fact you had motive, opportunity and the forensic evidence, your fingerprints, were found all over the site, I am 99.9999% sure you are the perp!  Show me your hands,  get down on the ground and put your arms behind your back.  I can’t make any promises but if you give up ever being able to clear your name and confess, I’ll speak to the A.D.A. on the case and see if she’ll go easy on you (There’s a pretty good chance she will say yes as I am doing her regularly and that’s nothing she wants to end as I am quite skilled in the ways of love).

On another note, Linda thinks I might be watching too many police procedural dramas on Television.  Is that even possible?  Can you have too much of a good thing?

We are so happy you made the choice to join us in our quest to unite the world and bring peace and prosperity to all people, everywhere.

Find a comfortable surface and sit cross-legged with your palms up and your thumb and F.U. finger touching, forming a closed O representing the unending circle of life.  Close your eyes and fill your heart with love and compassion for your fellow souls throughout the world.  OOHHHHHMMMMMMMMMMMM!   
Now open your eyes.  Is trump still the president elect?  DAMN!  

Back to Square One on the peace and prosperity thing!

Interesting fact:  Nostradamus was born December 14, 1503.  447 Years later on the exact same day I was born.  Coincidence?  I don’t need no stinking badges…I mean I don’t believe in coincidences! (Sorry, I mixed up my movie quotes).

I channeled a quick thought from the French astrologer, apothecary, physician, and reputed seer, who is best known for his book Les Prophéties, a collection of 942 poetic quatrains allegedly predicting future events.

His exact words: “You are screwed!”  I think that says it all!

We all know about the Nigerian Prince that is offering millions of dollars if you help him get some of his vast wealth out of his country and into the United States.  Even I saw through this scam after sending money three times and getting nothing in return.  The AARP, protectors of the weak and ancient population warns scams are becoming much more sophisticated and harder to spot. 
Beware of the following popular scams currently fleecing us open and trusting Baby Boomers!

1. Phony “work from home” job offers.
2. Crypto Currency Scams: promising big returns on small investments.
3. Celebrity Scams like Kelly Clarkson offering the secret to losing 50 lbs. in 3 days.
4. Computer Virus – Tech Support asking for money.
5. Your Credit Card has been declined: You will be asked for an alternate card.

Don’t be too worried because there are legitimate offers out there that can be beneficial to you.  For example, I recently I invested $1,000 in Crypto with Elan Mask and it grew to $10,000 over night.  I immediately cashed out and although the promised cashier’s check has not yet arrived, I am sure it will tomorrow.

You simply need to rely on a bit of common sense!

The Pinball Wizard has a tremendous amount of physical challenges and yet is still able to master his craft because he had no distractions; could not see the flashing lights, hear the buzzers buzz or the bells ring.

We are about to swear in a president whose biggest challenge is ignorance exacerbated by narcissism.  His existence is one big distraction filled with rage, fear and hate, having sworn vengeance on all that opposed him.  Does not seem to me to be the best way to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure, make healthcare and affordable education to our citizens and see that no child in our nation goes to bed hungry.  It is a great way to widen the economic disparity and crush the middle class and ignore the needy while our national debt turns us into a second, possibly third world nation. 

We Boomers loved the Rock-Opera “Tommy” and watched with dread the first performance of “Donny.”   We thought it was over but there were no new ideas so the producers brought it back for another four-year run.  Let’s hope the theater can withstand another performance fraught with ignorance and narcissism. I can’t imagine what the tickets are going to cost us but it will be soul-crushing.

Enjoy!