South Of Someplace: September 2015

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

The Sound Of Music

I hear the hills are alive with the sound of music. Has anyone else heard this?

Thursday, September 24, 2015

The Real Reason for the Papal Visit?

Is it a coincidence that Pope Francis and President Obama are spending September 26th in New York, the same day that Apple starts selling the iPhone 6s?

Maybe they both wanted to upgrade to a better camera! ;-)

Pope Francis will be arriving in New York later today. Personally, I'm finding this to be very exciting. I admire this man very much. He cares deeply about people - all people - and he is open and frank about his concerns for our well being.

The Pope is in his late seventies, and this is the first time that he has ever visited the United States of America. I'm thrilled that we're having such nice weather. We want to leave him with a good impression. :-)

The Pope will be speaking a few blocks from my office and staying close to where I live. He'll be speaking to 19,000 people at Madison Square Garden and passing by countless fans and curious bystanders in Central Park.

I won't see the Pope, and that's fine. I don't like to deal with crowds. It's enough to know that he's out there doing what he does, like "The Dude" from "The Big Lebowsky" - except older, clean shaven, and better educated, but still just as cool. :-)

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Irritated By Idiots

Do people irritate you? Does it seem as though you're constantly dealing with idiots? Maybe it's time to admit that you have a problem. Maybe you're allergic to idiots.

Ben Carson and Muslims for President

Dr. Ben Carson says that a Muslim shouldn't be President - even though the Constitution says that faith cannot be used to disqualify someone for public office.

When criticized for these remarks, Dr. Carson blamed his favorite scapegoat: political correctness.

Well, Dr. Carson, here is a politically incorrect statement that I'm sure you'll enjoy. Religion is frequently misused in an attempt to control people and perpetuate ignorance.

If your faith is as important to you as you claim that it is, maybe you should avoid using it to encourage distrust of a law abiding and productive minority.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Planned Parenthood - Critics and Lies

Carly Fiorina's impassioned remarks against Planned Parenthood shocked me and made me take notice. I thought that I had better see this video for myself. Is Planned Parenthood really doing the horrible things that she described?

So, I did some research, and it turns out that the video doesn't exist. There are some videos showing some horrible things, but the footage wasn't shot at Planned Parenthood. Ms. Fiorina's accusations are a complete fabrication.

Unfortunately, the damage is done. Lots of people believe her, I'm sure, simply because they want to believe that Planned Parenthood is really that awful.

Here's a little tip for candidates from both sides of the aisle. If you have to lie in order to make someone else look bad, accept the fact that they're not the bad actor - YOU are.

Saturday, September 19, 2015

New York Minute 17 - Body Paint

While walking through Times Square earlier this week, I noticed one of the body painters scratching her rear end with her thumb. Keep that image in mind the next time one of them asks you to pose for a photo.

For the record, the lady who is pictured here is NOT the one who was committing the offensive act. (It was one of the chunkier girls.) As far as I know, this lady's hands are spotlessly clean.

I tipped this performer after I snapped the photo, and I would encourage others to follow the same practice.

Body Paint Performer in Times Square

Friday, September 18, 2015

New York Minute 16 - Ghostbusters

While walking home the other evening, I saw the car from the Ghostbusters movies driving down the avenue followed by a truck with a boom-mounted camera.

Who you gonna call?

Thursday, September 17, 2015

The Sad State of Debate

Congratulations to CNN for reaching a new low. That wasn't a serious political debate. It was the Real Housewives of the Republican Party.

"Candidate A, Candidate B says that your deficit reduction plan won't work, you're a total loser, your wife is ugly, and your momma is fat. What do you have to say to Candidate B?"

Saturday, September 12, 2015

The Sociology of Idiots

Facebook has taught me a useful lesson in sociology. Idiots tend to cluster together. When idiots gather in clusters, they reinforce each others' stupid ideas.

When you un-friend an idiot, the first benefit is that you don't have to read their daily idiotic comments any more. But there's another benefit that you might not expect - you no longer have to read the idiotic comments of their idiot friends. Win-win!

Friday, September 11, 2015

Making Deals With Iran

Any President who makes a deal with Iran is EVIL! Unless his name is Ronald Reagan, he makes the deal in secret, and gives guns to Central American death squads in the process. In that case, an Iran deal would be acceptable. But only in that case.

Today

You have only one chance at today. By midnight, the opportunity will be gone. Spend part of this day doing something worthwhile, something that you'll look back on and think, "I'm glad that I spent my time that way. That was a good choice."

Thursday, September 10, 2015

How To Write Dialog Like A Successful Professional

A Master Class in Dialog Writing, by George Lucas:

"I've got a bad feeling about this!" - Han Solo

"Oh, dear! We're not going to make it!" - C3PO

"Bleep a bleep bleeeeep!" - R2D2

"Waaaaaaaahhhhhh!" - Chewbacca

Friday, September 4, 2015

Why the Right Fears Immigrants

I just had an epiphany as to why the Right is so steadfastly anti-immigrant. It has nothing to do with jobs. Small business owners employ most of the immigrant labor for the purposes of cost savings, and the majority of small business owners are Conservatives.

It has nothing to do with crime. The right wing has converted crime and the threat of crime into a profit center with their private security firms and prison for profit system. More crime would just mean more money for these businesses.

It has nothing to do with benefits. Illegals don't get benefits. They often travel back to their home countries when they need extensive medical treatment. (It's less expensive there.)

The problem with immigrants is that they are well informed.

The Right survives by perpetuating dogmatic idealism - global warming is a hoax; pollution controls cut jobs; when we cut taxes on the very rich, they give the money back to everyone else; owning a gun makes you safer; domestic labor costs so much that we can't hire American workers and still make a profit.

Right wing politicians depend on an electorate that believes these things to be true. People who are well informed - like immigrants - realize that these ideas are not supported by empirical evidence. As a group, immigrants cannot be manipulated by fear into following the right wing agenda. Therefore, from the viewpoint of right wing power bases, immigrants must be marginalized and treated like a malignancy on our society and our way of life.

This also may explain why the Right mistrusts intellectuals and routinely cuts funding to universities.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Just Walk Past The Sinks

Most people wash their hands after using the toilet. However, occasionally I see someone emerge from a bathroom stall, walk right past the sinks, and go straight out the door into the general population.

I always make an attempt to remember a non-hand-washer's face. If I encounter a situation where I'll be expected to shake this person's hand, I may break down and do it in order to be polite. But you can bet that I'll be racing back to those sinks at first opportunity, and I will not go lightly on the soap!

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Recent Poll of Republican Voters

I saw a fascinating report on a recent poll of Republican voters. The top four candidates were Trump (30 percent), Carson (15), Bush (9), and Fiorina (8). Not big surprises there.

But the poll asked some additional questions.

- Do you believe that President Obama is a Christian?

Yes: 14 percent, No or Don't Know: 86

Fact check: Obama is a Christian

- Do you believe that President Obama was born in the USA?

Yes: 29 percent, No or Don't Know: 71

Fact check: President Obama was born in Hawaii, which was a state in the USA in 1961.

- Do you believe that Ted Cruz was born in the USA?

Yes: 40, No or Don't Know 60

Fact check: Ted Cruz was born in Canada

Summary: More Republicans believe that Ted Cruz was born in the USA (he wasn't) than believe that Obama was born in the USA (he was). And a whopping 86 percent of Republican voters incorrectly identify their president's religionists.

Conclusion: Large numbers of Republican voters are either poorly informed or have effectively been brainwashed by right wing media. I don't know which is the more likely scenario, but the prospect of such poorly informed people electing officials who make policy decisions is absolutely terrifying. America is on the verge of re-entering the Dark Ages.

South Of Someplace