POLITICAL GARBAGE FLOODS THE INTERNET

We've been watching the news and we are horrified by the tragedy in Iowa, where so many homes have been washed out and so many families are now trying to pick up the pieces after losing everything they had to mother nature. Of course, faulty levees built by unscrupulous engineering firms, and cheap construction collaborated in this demise. Our hearts are with these suffering people and we hope that the Bush administration redeems itself from the other catastrophic event during Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans 2 years ago. That said I will remit to a different type of flood that is happening on a daily basis on the Internet. THE POLITICAL GARBAGE FLOOD. There isn't one single day that I don't open my email and find a piece of garbage forwarded to me by friends or family, who unbeknown to them (and this is the real problem) they also forward to other people. A geometrical progression occurs and all of a sudden thousands of people receive the same garbage.



These are emails generated by cowards who have a way to hide within the vast world of "Planet Cybernia" with phony names and undeliverable email addresses to avoid a reply from people like me who investigate all the lies they try to choke us with. They have a political hidden agenda, but the only way they know and choose to persuade us is by fabricating or using false material as truth. I would like to mention 2 names which I have seen now quite often as generators of false information. One of them is Gary Hancock, and the other one Joanna Shager Hocker. I don't even know if these people exist or these are invented names, like the information they send. The only Gary Hancok I knew was this mediocre baseball player from the late 70s and early 80s who played for the Red Sox and Oakland A's. As for Joanna Shager Hocker, the only thing I could find out in Google was a Psychologist somewhere with the same name. Both characters who send this political garbage have probably different names, and their cowardice can only be matched by their sick desire to spread their lies through the Internet.



If you read this blog I strongly recommend you do like I do every time I receive an email from a friend or a family member,which contains political information to demean or disgrace a political figure, generally degrading either a Democrat or democrats in general. I click on http://www.snopes.com/ and verify the authenticity of the article. I must say that so far, 100% of all the emails I have checked with http://www.snopes.com/ containing political information they are "so nicely sharing with us", are totally FALSE.

It is unfortunate that some people don't know how to accept defeat and the only thing left for them is to send us unsolicited garbage against a democratic candidate or a bill passed by the democratic majority in Congress, or to blame Bill Clinton for the mess created by George W. Bush and Dick Cheney and his corporate cronies in the last 7 1/2 years.

If you happen to be a Republican, please don't take offense, this is not directed at you, unless you are a right wing extremist fascist who believes women are second-rated citizens, and all Hispanics should be deported, whether illegal or not. Then do, please, BE OFFENDED. My pleasure.

Tim Russert and the lesson

Tim Russert is dead but not his legacy. It was a shocking news, as it happened suddenly without any warning. He was 58.

I am not going to talk about Mr. Russert, or Tim, as everyone used to know him, because the TV media, especially NBC and its affiliates is doing that and with great love and admiration. I cannot top that, although in my thoughts I think of a million things why this man was examplary to all of us.

The lesson he gave us in life is what I would like to talk about. We have to disect this Tim Russert 101 class into two different courses, the lesson in humanity and the lesson in professionalism. With him, these two subjects never collided, in fact they blended very well and made him what he was.

What I learned from him as a person is that the basic things in life are the ones we tend to neglect as we take them for granted. We take for granted our family; we don't get passionate enough about our sport team (avoiding to cross the line into fanatism); we don't stop to look around and see where and how we live, we take for granted the smell of recently cut green grass; we keep our money (if we have any) in the bank, instead

of using it to live more comfortably; we don't help those in need because we are selfish. I don't go on for fear of being categorized as a "daisy picker" and that I am not.

TV OR NOT TV

Yes. Pretty corny, but I could not think of another title that denotes how confused I am about this incredible device that controls our lives.



I can't deny that I enjoy PBS when they have a rerun of the Doo-Bops. I don't know why since I am only 35. Family and friends...shut up!

I also like Animal Planet for its scientific value, not because I am an animal person, you know what I mean. Some sports, like the World Cup Soccer or the Eurocup; the 162 games played by the Marlins, which my wife watches religiously and I have to deal with it whether they win or lose. I hate to continue watching a game when my team is losing. Too stressful. And I also like science fiction. Anything with science fiction, even of the caliber of "Q"!



OK, so now you know , in my case, the first part of that Shakespearean famous quote. The bad part, the "Not TV" one includes the Local News, where all the non-sport news are about who got killed, raped, and crashed on the road; and the sports news about some who-cares-high-schools teams winnning or losing to other who-cares-less-team schools. Well, maybe the players parents are very proud, but... correct me if I am wrong...Aren't we ripped off by the Cable Company or the Satellite Network providing us with the audio and images just as those proud parents are? How about if some of the Local News could add a daily segment regarding Old Farts pride achievements, like...

"How to go to the bathroom at least 3 times a week without causing hemorrhoids pain"...or "Sex in the Rocking Chair"?

Here is more of the "NO TV"....Reality Shows. reality for whom? To me a reality show should be more something like how to survive with the economy crisis or how we are being held hostage by the gas companies and their providers; or what to do when you can't continue payments on your mortgage. Those are REAL topics for REALITY SHOWS. The other garbage they show on TV is just that...GARBAGE. Please keep in mind that this is my blog and I only reflect my opinion. You are entitled to yours, and you could tell me off in the "Comments" section...or start your own blog!

More on the "NO TV"? Oh, yes! The INFOMERCIALS! The infamous infomercials. The ones that force you to keep switching chanels at 3 o'clock in the morning if you are an insomniac like me, in order to find
something to put you back to sleep.


I have been listing all these NO TV culprits in reverse order of annoyance. Now comes the second annoying reason of why I would not have a television set: Senior Citizens dish out just about 10% of their social security check for a package of forty five thousand chanels (or fifty thousand, I am not sure), when at their age, after one program they are already asleep. The rest of the population need to work to earn a salary. They also need to commute, and to sleep. Those are basic and irrefutable requirements to have a job and to maintain it. Thus...how many hours are there left to watch TV? Why can't those cable and satellite companies allow people to select chanels, like we do when we go to a restaurant to eat? Imagine if we ordered lasagna and we would be told we also had to pay for chicken cacciatore and eggplant parmigiana as a "package deal"?

And now...the number one reason why I HATE Television!....

THE LOUSY COMMERCIALS during any program. They are the worst I have ever seen since 1961, They are false, mainly lies, loud, low class, stupid, lacking originality and subliminal with the intention of brain washing. They all insult our intelligence. Well, there are a very few exceptions, but just a number you can count with your fingers. Worst of all...WE ARE PAYING to watch those awful commercials! Unless, of course, you master the art of muting them by being the Quick Draw McGraw of the remote control. Nevertheless, even if you could pull the trigger faster than Doc Holiday, do we need all that stress in order to watch TV? Here is an idea to all of you lying and malicious companies...Since you've been bombarding us for years and years with a bunch of lies and deceptive advertising and we already know that you exist, unfortunately, why don't you save all that money that you waste and use it for instance...to lower the cost of your products? It would be a win win proposition. Who knows, perhaps we would even start liking you!

Definitely :"NO TV" outweighs "TV".

PREDICTABLE PREDICTIONS BY NOSTRODAGONAMUS

Sometimes I get these incredible feelings about the future. I see things happening as a consequence of this weak economy. I am neither an expert on the subject, nor I pretend to be. Let us say I try to see it in a logical way and that I have the virtue, among all my mistakes, of directing my instincts instead of letting them flow on a mere emotional basis. In other words, I think. Excuse me for my arrogance.



Given that introduction and without further adieu (ado?), like it is routinely said, here are my PREDICTABLE PREDICTIONS:



1. Gas will hit the $4.00 a gallon average price before Labor Day

2. The remaining of 2008 will bring more foreclosures to the point of
creating an economical chaos in the country. Various Banks will lay off
thousands of employees, which will cause a domino reaction in other
related fields, thus contributing to a dramatic increase in the
unemployment rate. At least to 7%, although we will be told that
it is no more than 5%.

3. All food products will average a 15% increase, at least through May
2009, with Milk, vegetables and fruits suffering the highest hike to
about 25%

4. The following stores will be either reducing their presence or going out
of business in the next 9 to 12 months:
Albertson's Supermarkets
Miami Subs
Gateway Personal Computers
Blockbusters
Carvel Ice Cream Parlors
Bealls
Best Buy
Joann's Craft Stores
Little Caesar Pizzerias

5. Most USA airlines will be charging extra for window and aisle seats.
Duh!


I have more in my list but enough with depressing news. Now some
good predictions, although totally unrelated to the economy, or should
I say...Precisely because they have nothing to do with the economy?:


1. There will be no major hurricanes to worry about in Florida from June
through December 2008

2. The housing market will begin its recuperation around April of 2010.
It will be a gradual improvement, which will reach its zenith sometime
during 2014. However this recovery at its highest point will be at
least 5% below the overinflated house market we experienced before
we started the plunge.

3. At least 50 % of our troops in Iraq will start the return home in the fall
of 2009. That in itself is a victory, although no one can define what is
victory in that war/invasion.

4. Both the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks will be in contention
for the playoffs during the 2008-2009 season. Laugh all you want.

5. This one is more believable...The Yankees will finally win it all in
2008. Sorry Mets fans!
6. I, therefore predict that Yankees fans are now liking me; while Mets
fans think I am an asshole. I can take it.

We now come to the end of my predictions with a Grand Finale...
I predict that no matter how bad Obama or Hillary may perform during their mandate, either one will make us forget George W. Bush. Thank God! (Yes, I am discarding McCain. Please! You didn't think I was going to predict he would be our next President!)

THE END

DEEP THOUGHTS

I am aware that George Carlin is the master of "quotes", thus I will not even attempt to come close, but here are some of my "deep thoughts".

1. If the Market drops 300 points, why are those morons up there
applauding at closing time?

2. If Mouth to Mouth Resuscitation is now considered useless and no
longer adviced (The latest report says that only CPR should be applied
to victims)...can someone caught giving mouth to mouth be sued for
sexual harassment?

3. If the excuse given by the big oil companies on their profits is that they
are looking for the welfare of their share holders...should we make
those shareholders pay $5.00 for a gallon of gas and reduce the rest of
the citizens cost to $3.00/gal.?

4. If an item costs $999.99...why do we get a rebate after purchase of
$50.00, and not of $49.99?

5. If most basketball games are won in the last 3 minutes....why don't
we just turn the TV on to watch say...only the last 5 minutes?

6. If a razor blade is so good that it can last forever (TV commercial tells
us "you don't need to buy another one ever!")...why do they tell you
"You get the second one for free?"

7. If the doctor prescribes a medicine for dizziness...why does the label
indicates "warning, it may cause drowsiness".

8. If the newest photo cameras are called "Digital"...what did we use to
press the button on the old cameras? Was it not a finger, also known as
a digit?

9. If we are worried about security in our country...why do we keep all our
forces in other countries?

and...

10 If we only use our feet in 2 isolated occasions (field goal and
punting) during a Football game...why do we call it "FOOTball" and
why do we call it SOCCER when we use our feet most of the times?
Also...do we throw a bowl down the alley or is it a ball?

Alright, alright, Carlin has nothing to fear from me, but I just wanted to share these thoughts with the 2 or 3 persons who read my blogs.

AND NOW...TV HOME INTERIOR DECORATING SHOWS!

I finally succumbed to this plague! They are all over, at all times, in every channel! Credit goes to HGTV for being the first one.

These decorating shows are the revenge provided by television to sports programs widows. Actually, in my humble opinion, they have gone overboard. I personally like the ones where they take a mediocre to bad kitchen and convert it into a super deluxe room with major new appliances, all the latest models in features and expensive stainless steel. Granite counters, complete new wooden cabinets, and a center island, fully equipped. Additionally, a tiled backsplash and wooden laminated floors. All that for only $35,000. My question is this: If you own a home with an original kitchen needing all those changes, isn't that because you could not afford a house with a kitchen as the new one to begin with? Where were you hiding those $35K? Or a few years ago you found out about a new type of fuel for your car that costs much less than gas and no one else knows?

Here is another one of the unlikely unbelievable things in those programs...They are running out of time! They only have less than 2 hours before the make-believe surprised owner gets back to the house, and they still have not even cut the wood for the new wall to wall unit, plus
someone is half way through a non-personality non-character painting on a 8 x 6 canvas that also needs framing. Miracle! Just before the bell rings
the last nail is in place, all paintings are hanging in the right place, and the customary basket or bowl shines proud on the living room table with real fruit! Wow! what a team of decorators!

How about the one where two couples exchange homes for a day to convert each other's home into something unrecognizable, with the help of decorators, of course. Fortunately they only destroy one room of their homes. This one gets worse when one of the decorators, who wears black all the time and high heels during her "performance", decides to glue toilet paper and brown bags onto the walls, with an even all over sprinkle of pheasant feathers for the final touch. That's classy my friends!

But the best of these shows is how much you learn. First you learn that you cannot give a shit (oops, sorry) about your place; then you learn that with only $35,000 you previously robbed from a Bank you can change your kitchen; and finally, you also learn that with a few key words you may sound like you are also a decorator! DECADENT, FAUX, STRESSED and VINTAGE being the 4 cardinal words of decoration.

I would write more about this, but there is a soccer game on GOLTV in half an hour and I need to get ready for it!

THREE WRONGS MAKE A BIG WRONG

I had threatened that my next blog would deal with TV Home Decorating Shows, but I also had the wit to claim I reserved the right to change my mind. SO I am (so in capital letters has a double meaning which you will find out at the end of this blog).

Michigan and Florida are ignored by the Democratic Party. Over two million people who took their time to cast their ballot will probably not be counted because The National Democratic Party is punishing both States or both Democratic candidates. They are being " punished " because both States moved their primaries ahead of scheduled time. Are they really punishing the two democratic candidates or are they punishing us, the voters? After all, the right to vote is an undeniable right of any American citizen and we are being deprived of it. Yes, we voted, but the Democratic party considers our vote Null and Void, like a bad check.
This action only proves one thing to me: WE DON'T COUNT. All these political machines are controlled by laws that were thought of without taking the voter into consideration, like anything else most laws are concocted for.

While this saga of allowing our votes to count, or agreeing into a Primary re-do, or a mail-in vote, or doing nothing at all and maintaining a "status-quo" is taking its toll in time and in candidates efforts to map their strategies for the next States Primaries, John McCain, Bush's self assigned temporary Middle East Ambassador now, is telling us that Iran is training Al-Qaeda to send them back to Iraq to continue terrorism. Fortunately for him, Senator Lieberman (the Democratic traitor) whispered to his ear that Iranians are Shiites, and Shiites do not train their enemies the Sunnis (Al-Qaeda terrorists are Sunnis). McCain corrected himself after his pursuit to confuse more the issues, in order to confuse us. One must conclude that the only experience he has in this war (invasion) is probably the same he had in Vietnam, where the poor guy spent 5 miserable years as a prisoner of war, tortured and alien to the combat field. He survived that, thank God, and he made it to the US Senate, showing good judgement in most of his contributions, including being against the war, until he decided he wanted to run for President. He will not survive this coming election if he keeps showing us his ignorance about the Middle East, being comfortable with a 100-year war (invasion) in Iraq.

And the third wrong...Darth Cheney, founder of the Dark Side, was asked
how he felt about the majority of US citizens finding the war in Iraq to be a gross mistake, not worth fighting. His answer to that question was: SO? which translates into: WHO GIVES A DAMN ABOUT ANYONE,
AS LONG AS I, MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE AND OWNER OF A GIFT BOAT BY THE SULTAN OF OMAN CAN GO FISHING WHILE OUR TROOPS ARE DYING FOR THE WRONG CAUSE.

There are many more WRONGS in the current political scenario we are all engulfed in, but it would take exactly 8 years to tell them all.