Things to Come

US Airways has a pilot who is not only a hero, but a magician. When I trained as a flight attendant for CO Air in EWR, the unspoken joke was that no one would ever survive a water landing. Jetliners are made of aluminum, while strong, landing in water scoops water into the engines, and that pulls back on the wings, other (underneath) shock hit make the airliner break or fracture and result in a situation where there is no option. Landing in sub zero or even 41 degree water? Death at best.

The floating wings of fuel were what kept those who made it out afloat, dry, and warm (as opposed to freezing).

They ALL lived. A friend of mine in NYC hopes this is a good start to the Presidency of Obama.
This is a year of hope. No one would ever expect that an airliner would come down in freezing water and have everyone live, but it HAPPENED. I hesitate in my own mind to cave in and think it is a miracle.....but it IS. A Miracle. The wings should've shorn off. They didn't. They provided the relative warmth of a place to stand until help arrived. It saved lives. Lest we forget.


Obama and taking Oath


Yes it will be a wonderful day. A momentious and memorable one. Next day.

The problems facing Obama are daunting at best. The very foundations of our economic systerm are at jeapordy. It's not so much the people who overextended themselves so much, but those gluttons who allowed it to occur, knowing in full what they were perpetuating.

The erosion of faith in our system is fading. We need help--- bad. Any new idea is a good one.
Most are worn down. Israel is baitng Iran. Are we still there for them given our circumstances?

Idealogically, sure thing. Realistically, can we afford yet another 'front on terror'? We are in two wars that most Americans have become tired of. Bush himself on the way out, admitted mistakes. Perhaps logistically it was behoofing to him to not admit Iraq was a mistake, but he in essence admits it was.

Obama has some big shoes he may not be able to fill. He is my guy, but the given events even may be too big for him.

I honestly hope not. I really want him to succeed. This has only just begun.....

So much, so long no blog...

To capsulize as best I can (which isn't very good).

Israel --- WWA = War Weary Americans

Basically trying to justify a disproportionate death rate in the Gaza Strip is a great P.R. move. WRONG.

This past few years and especially this past year has been nothing but bad news for most Americans. Now comes this?! How are we supposed to digest this?

Death toll is Gaza is 660 including 215 women and 98 children. Read: 313 innocents. Out of 660 this is just under half (313)! And I heard on the radio today that Israel "Is doing the best they can to make sure the civilian casualty level is kept as low and as safe as possible". Who the fuck are they kidding? This is a humanitarian tragedy. In proportion to the Israelis who have been affected even over a long period of time, this is far out of proportion and for a people borne of 'suffering' almost macarbreonic (macabre + Ironic). My own word yes. Not being light here, but just can't find the words to describe this injustice and illogical and lopsided use of force. While one side flings bombs aimlessly, the side that is supposed to have the wherewithal to use it, doesn't!

The overkill is nothing short of appalling. People are tired and war weary in the US. After all, we have two wars we're fighting now, and one of our "strongest allies" in the Mid East decides to pull at stunt like this in the middle of a very obvious power transition in the United States. It seems like a hideous and unwanted stunt to most Americans...including me.

This is a cheap trick and no one is buying it. The death toll in Gaza far outweighs that in Israel.

We're not anti-Israel, we're tired. We have been in Iraq far longer than WWII, and with the exception of the outgoing President, most here do not define the Iraqi incursion against terrorism as a 'success'. It involved the same dynamics. David vs. Goliath, supposed to be a 'slam dunk'---cut to now. It wasn't.

500+ dead in Gaza and we're all supposed to believe that a similar troop invasion mistake that the US made in Iraq is going to squash terrorists? We already know first hand that this so-called failed tactic is useless. Failed=useless. Yet the Israelis are more than anxious to repeat our mistakes? Or are they baiting Iran during the transition in a bid to get a first run bombing session going on in Iran before Bush swears out of office--at least officially. Bait Iran, get a reaction, then get a shot at them once they do one thing to protect themselves. I am not for Iran taking control of the region either, but hitting the Gaza Strip as a ploy is sickening. If you wanted Iran just go THERE! Whomever thought of this should be hung upside down by their balls or boobs. This is sooo fucking annoying in it's stupidity.

All this is so transparent to even a casual person who keeps up on current affairs.

Is Israel baiting Iran in hopes of getting Iran involved into a world stage in this stage of transition? One has to wonder. After all Iran has called for Israel's destruction and Israel is chomping at the bit to get at the budding Iranian nuclear program....something that an Obama administration will look down upon.

One thing for sure now is that Israel is suffering a poor image crisis and it seems to be getting worse after every Israeli who or prominent American Jew who has never ever found fault in anything Israel does (Rabbi Marvin Hier/Durshowitz, et., al.) take the mic and do what they've been doing....forever it seems. The Hier's and Durshowitz's are voices we've heard over and over, and hardly are the objective viewpoint most Americans want to hear. We're not stupid. Get us someone who has told Israel at one time or another that yes, they can make mistakes too! How is it that no one can seemingly wrap themselves around THAT flag! Arrrrggh!

Its a tired message for a war weary world and it is not RESONATING. People are tired of these armed conflicts that could possibly involve a much larger context. This, at a time when the world is fully preoccupied with their own very personal financial problems. Can a worse time for this shit be picked? Is it me?

A Wall. A line in the sand. The US has tried these things. On the Mexico border and in Iraq and Afghanistan. Both have been failures. Why the Israeli offensive against a known terrorist group should yield different results is indeed an unrealistic and fanciful thought. We had those too at one time.....now we know better. It's time Israel did.

We're tired, and broke.

Mumbai and Terror in US?

My response to this article about a supposed plan to put US troops in domestic cities to prevent terrorism from occurring.

Is this nebulous "War on Terror" solvable with more troops on US soil?

I've always thought that was the National Guards job, the police and swat teams, etc. Is seeing the military on every corner with an AK 47 going to be a new way of life? The terrorists are a sneaky bunch (as was demonstrated in Mumbai). While a bunch of quite visible armed troops standing around is impressive, terrorists seem to have figured out covert ways to coordinate their complicated plans without officials knowing. Putting more US troops on the ground will help, but the so-called feared terrorist "incident(s)" should be prevented.

Someone mentioned Posse Commitatus which is a valid concern because we've become a knee jerk reaction society. Just when is the line crossed and a military entity is called in vs. the city police? Who makes that decision, based on what?

During the early part of the war on terror wasn't it a UK military unit that ran into a subway and killed a Brazilian man, thinking he was a Middle Easterner terrorist? What did that solve or prevent? There were incidents after his murder.

Are we just along for the ride or do we have a say in these things?

The last time US troops were used (I believe) was for a CIVIL disturbance.
Is that the real reason? Military presence on the ground sounds like it will do little to no good to PREVENT these things from happening.

Dare I say, intelligence, not troops is key to this idealogical war. As we get closer to the terrorists they change from Afghanistan, to Pakistan and now taking runs into India. This seems like an intelligence, not ground troop issue to me.

But then, what do I know?

The World Today

Here is an article about my local area and the things we worry about here in Santa Monica, CA. 

Dog Danget! We can't have freeloading fatasses farting away their fat on our 4th Street center island median!  This is our territory!  All 20 of us and 200 of them.  

Here is the article, and then my viewpoint on this.  

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/us/25santamonica.html?em

Now my viewpoint as an email to some friends and family.  

hese are the things we worry about in "Uncle Steve's" neighborhood......
Stephen Martin to dad, David, Jeffrey, Fran, John, Lauren, Linda, Mark, Monica, robert, Robert, Scott, steve, Steve, Sven
show details 12:21 AM (11 minutes ago)

Reply

Read this article and my own comments as this is an area about 4 blocks away from me. I can't believe this is even a real issue here but it is. BTW I voted for Bobby Shriver good people those Shrivers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/us/25santamonica.html?em

I run up and down those stairs sometimes. But I rarely notice the trainers with their people on that lawn.
I usually am looking straight ahead when all of them pause and notice me athletically making the straightaway
as I dash down the stairway at ever increasing speeds!!!!!!.....Only to stop after I've exceeded the heart to body ratio and have
exceeded human speed expectations and all time records!

LA and Detroit are different places. Only in Santa Monica does doing sit ups on the end of a quiet street where there is barely any traffic gets you some kind of ticket. More trainers are using that spot. Brooke Burkes husband David Charvet is a trainer (actor) type that has clients there. He used to be on Baywatch. I've stretched out in that area and it is not as bad as the article makes it out to be. It's not a big health club out there. Most of the people are staring at me anyway so it doesn't matter. Besides I'm gassy a lot when I first get galloping along so I don't notice the commotion.

These things are the THINGS THAT MATTER PEOPLE!!!!!!

Obama's Election did not start this mess
Bailout of Auto Industry

Lately it seems that the conservative pundits who are still smarting over McCain's loss
have resorted to blaming everything under the moon to this "Marxist" and "Socialist" soon to be President Barack Obama.

I was getting my haircut the other day, and this woman walked into the salon. She looked like a big toe. She was heavy, had a not too attractive face and just was a big (literally) big loudmouth. She went on and on about how Obama is going to make this a socialist or Marxist nation. I didn't say anything, as it was more interesting for me to listen to this heavily weighted hind quartered heffer basically fart out of her mouth.

It occurred to me that some actually have misplaced their reality. In their minds, it is BECAUSE of the elections, we have found ourselves in the situation we are in both domestically and internationally. Her rant is about 8 years late, but looking into her baggy eyes, I could see getting into a political discussion with this woman would've been an exercise of futility.

When I left the salon she was talking about her last attempt to get mounted. (A date.)

Back to the point I was making. I find it so parochial that people have it in their heads now that since the election, Obama has been blamed for so much, and he HASN'T EVEN BEEN SWORN IN YET! He doesn't take oath until January. Wake up people, the mess we are in took years to create, and will take a few years (at least) to pull out of.


Bailouts/Assistance Packages/Help...et. al.

When I have to agree with the Republicans, it pains me dearly. It is in this regard I agree we cannot postpone the pain of ineptitude, inefficiency, indifference in a free market economy. First it was the financial sector which crashed and burned because number crunchers on Wall Street became so fixated on meeting loan quotas and inviting people to join the real estate party that was 'never going to end'. People who actually bought homes to live in are not the ones to blame. It was the rampant speculators. Some made money in the market. A person I am familiar with bought his home in the mid 90's here in Southern California for approximately $185,000. He and his excited nurse/wife decided to sell when their home reached $350,000. With the extra $165,000 they pulled up stakes in LA and moved to another CA. hotspot, Sacramento. They bought and sold at the "right time(s)".

Perhaps their home in Sacramento has depreciated substantially. I don't know what became of he and his wife and family after they left LA. But even not being speculators, it is hard for me to imagine that he is not affected by this downturn in one way or another. Did they refinance like a closer acquaintance of mine, and start using their home as a piggy bank?

Is he like the droves who couldn't afford a home that could not resist the tug of the real estate agents who put ideas into their heads, like "NO MONEY DOWN, ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGE GETS YOU IN, YOUR HOME WILL APPRECIATE ALONG WITH THE LOAN TERMS..forever and ever. So many bought that. Literally.

I could have. But then I was suspicious of the whole real estate movement of the early 2000's. Why would one buy at a time when home prices were escalating so steeply? Wasn't that a sellers market? So why would a buyer get so hard in the pants during a sellers market? I didn't get that. Oh, I had a friend who asked me why am I not buying. I was made to feel silly. "How much money are you going to have to retire on?" And, "You know your home will appreciate more and more, and then you can refinance again, and use the profits...blah blah blah..." His house has fallen in value since he purchased it. I'm not sure how his job is doing since as an IT person his job could easily be outsourced to India or elsewhere. Looking up his addy on Zillow, I noticed it was suspiciously overpriced in comparison to the other homes in his entire area. Methinks he CONTACTED Zillow because he still believes this was a good decision. He bought no money down, Adjustable rate mortgage. He hasn't called me back lately. Usually he has alot to say.

Another friend refinanced. She did so on terrible terms...she just didn't know it at the time. When a $3,000.00 tax bill showed up unexpectedly in her mailbox one day, she knew she had been duped. She marched down to the B of A office to find the man who helped her refinanced. She was told he was no longer with B of A. When she pleaded her case to them they lent her their ear but little else. The loan was a done deal, and that was that she was told. Nothing could be done. She had used her "line of credit" to survive since she has found it also necessary to lease a 2008 Mercedes, and recently lost her job.

I have not bought a home even when "everyone else" was doing it and it was the "right time". I didn't refinance a debt to get my dreams on borrowed money. I was very fiscally responsible and actually SAVED and INVESTED. Right now, I don't need a bailout. I have cash on hand, and even with these crazy markets have managed to keep my boat from taking on too much water.

I'm a big nobody. I don't have a degree in finance, nor do I claim to have magical powers. My only known magical power (that I am aware of) is common sense.

All this to explain why I am against bailouts. Bailouts to me is an artificial resuscitation of carelessness, greed, or lack of foresight. It does nothing to change underlying problems. It forces the government to print out more money, which almost always results in inflationary pressures.
The only thing keeping inflation in check, I believe is the low cost of fuel, making goods and products cheaper...for now.

But bailouts do nothing to change the underlying causes of what is supposed to weed out the weak during an economic shakedown. This has become evident when you look at the AIG jaunts to spas and resorts EVEN AFTER the government has promised them money to help them. But nothing in the internal culture has changed. So we artificially resuscitate them so they can do the same thing 10 years from now?

Homeowners who read/or didn't read their loan paperwork before signing it are being taught a lesson. Something too good to be true usually is. Duh. That one is as old as the fucking hills. They got conned. But should those who didn't get themselves into a funky fix be the one's to bail them out? Who's going to bail me out for signing up to a rip off Health Insurer who sent me bills for "fees" and other costs that weren't spelled out to me?!!

I want a bailout. I want to recoup medical costs that weren't explained to me in the fine print when I bought my policy. But I know it's not going to happen in this lifetime, and I don't EXPECT it either, cause I know that's life kid.

Now comes the big three. It pains me to see my hometown going down the tubes like this. But the big three have been long been slow, inefficient, and unwilling or unable to adapt to change in a way that the Japanese and even the Koreans have done. Toyota already has a hydrogen vehicle ready to go. Why doesn't Detroit have the equivalent of the Toyota Prius already on the road? No, not an SUV, a passenger hybrid. Let me know, my dad has been looking for one now for two years to no avail. He's a retired teamster. He still drives a Saturn, but wants an American passenger hybrid. Can't find one. Do we reward Detroit for this idiocy for not keeping up with Toyota? Do I get rewarded at work for inefficiency, non performance and ignoring the market place? Why should they? Is not the goal of the free market economy to have competition, weeding out those who can't compete? Who is the real Marxist here then, Obama or Henry Paulson who crafted this whole notion of bailouts.

This leads me to a personal quandary. I personally know people, family and friends in the Detroit area that are hurting. If the auto industry fails, or we allow it to, what becomes of those who rely indirectly on the auto industry to fuel adjacent jobs, industries, and other economic posts of Detroit? What will the loss of millions of dollars in tax revenues do to the entire S.E. region of Michigan? It is already terrible, the only thing for people to do, would be to move. But to where? What is the next industry that will promise the American Dream to the unskilled but eager labor force?

I think our country is in for a long term readjustment of our general standard of living. Although people will be eager to blame the new administration, it is the current outgoing administration that will leave the footprint on this turning point for America and Americans.
As much as I don't want to believe we are in for a long, hard ride with stops and starts, I think that is what we are going to get.

Tomorrow

Today's post is in response to this article in today's New York Times:


The Reagan era is officially dead. The Republicans haven't changed with the times and are paying the price. They've allowed the extreme right and Christian conservatives to set the hateful and intolerant tone. That was seen during one of McCain's famous town hall meetings when an elderly woman mentioned that Obama was an Arab. McCain to his credit, told the lady, "No, ma'am. He's a decent family man [and] citizen.." Obama was cited incorrectly as a terrorist, Muslim, and constantly as 'the other'. This started disenfranchising Republicans like Fazal Fazlin, Andy Gomez, and Colin Powell..amongst others.

Just where did these people get their information from? I believe it is because of this tone, many Americans were troubled by this movement which was taking hold (and is still in place) within factions with the Republican party. What about those of us who are not, white, conservative, Christian, wealthy, or are Muslim? Isn't this supposed to be a nation for all? What about the Muslim Americans who have given their lives during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars? How do people forget this? Why don't they know these things?

The tone of these town hall meetings had become threatening with the fear, hate and ignorance all cultivated and manufactured by the extreme right wing.
This kind of divisiveness and ignorance was implied and encouraged by McCain's supporters via e mails, flyers, or AM talk radio shows, and a certain news network which has become the implied newsletter for the Republicans. Many of the ill informed comments from these terrible town hall meetings were lifted talking points of this wholly irresponsible identity that fancies itself as a news network.

It is as outdated as Karl Rove. It doesn't serve our nation well to allow a political discourse to degrade into a Jerry Springer type fracas. Obama is obviously able to capitalize on, and speak to issues that will make a difference. It's the important, tangibles like the economy, healthcare, and the inclusive nature that has always been America that Obama speaks to. McCain said he wouldn't go dirty, but was the first to do so.

Not only does America want to see America reborn as a symbol of hope and freedom for all, but so does the world. I was in Australia during the 2004 election when Bush was re-elected. Everyone in the Darlinghurst area of Sydney was in shock as I was when we picked up the morning paper. I was in a taxi the moment it was announced, and the taxi driver was glum, and people calling into the AM talk radio show that was on in the taxi were asking "What is wrong with those Americans"? I thought about moving there.

Obama drew tens of thousands in Berlin. Are they a city in America? Even they crave a true leader for America after the last eight years of decrepit judgement and perceptions. Because of the botched up nature of the 2000 elections and the controversial 2004 election millions of eyes will be watching not only in America, but in the rest of the world.

Joe the Plumber Isn't
Wall Street goes Sucky Suckee Pooée

Madonna The Divorcée

Joe the Plumber

Let's get this goofball out of the way first. McCain mentioned him and berated Obama's plan to "spread the wealth". He sneered at the very mention of spreading the wealth in of all times, the current state of our economic spiral. McCain even went so far to say in a very mocking, sarcastic tone, "spread the wealth"--as if he was talking about the worst thing imaginable. It was at that point, I imagined myself and my friends in the same room, and had we been in the same room, we would've looked at each other in disbelief. "Did he just say what I heard him say?" I could not believe he spoke of "spreading the wealth" like it was the anathema to making our economy better. Or did he just mean it was a stupid idea? That was one of those "I can't believe he said that the way he said that" moments. It is because our economy is so top heavy we are having contractions and a hard labor. Does he still believe in the trickle down theory? What is his economic theory? I'm sure it's big business oriented and facing in the same direction we've already been in. We didn't fall into this hole because consumers were spending money that they had SAVED. It was because to keep up they borrowed (heavily) to keep up with the Jones and couldn't pay it back. The American dream of owning a house has caught on fire for many. If the American dream has suddenly been erased by a new and uncertain future is spreading the wealth to get the economy rolling again such a terrible thought? WTF?

It turns out "Joe the Plumber" isn't a licensed plumber. He works for a plumbing concern in Toledo, Ohio and with all the shameless innuendo compared Obama with Sammy Davis Jr. He's voted Republican in the past and is not in the $250,000.00 tax bracket. I too hope to make $250,000 someday maybe 2 million to 500 million a year, but for the time being, I'm not there. I am not concerned about it at the moment since there are so many REAL LIFE issues to deal with NOW. He admits he's still got a lot to learn about the plumbing business. Joe Plumber in all his unintentional ignorance is unfortunately not uncommon in the Republican party. They get all their news from talk radio and FOX. Yep, you betcha. Oh and this Joe owes $1,000 in back taxes. This from a man who told Obama, "I'm getting ready to buy a company that makes $250,000 to $280,000 a year. And apparently if his gross receipts were $250,000 and not his taxable income, he would be eligible for a tax cut under Obama's plan. Joe the plumber sounds like a dreamer and I don't want to take that away from him. I'm sure there will be more to come....

Uptight McCain

If he had a pencil last night, John McCain would've broken it whilst flashing his tightly clenched smile. And no it wasn't your imagination, we didn't get any magic bullets from either candidates on the topic of the moment: how to control the spiral that is the economy these days.

As the debate wound up, I flipped to FOX, CNBC, CNN, and PBS to get the round up. You know, the talking heads that analyze each grimace, movement, eye contact and talking point. When I turned to FOX, Brit Hume was talking about how McCain did.. I wasn't listening. Instead I was focused on the news ticker which was drabbing on about Ayers....STILL. I noticed Barack and his wife left the venue, and McCain stayed and spoke on with supporters in the audience. Unlike his quick exit from the town hall meeting (with regular folk) he stuck around this debate. But he was dwarfed by the venue (large auditorium) and as the camera pulled back lost in the crowd. FOX tried to stay on him, but it wasn't a town hall, and Joe The Plumber was nowhere to be seen. It looked like he was talking to "his people", you know the "just like us" monied crowd. No average Joe's in this audience....even Hillary was there. Dare I repeat no average Joe's were there?

A commentator on PBS noted that neither candidate came up with a magic bullet as to how to solve the current economic ailment. I thought it would be commendable and extraordinary to have a President with more than what has been proposed (Rescue Package..etc.). ANYONE with the crystal ball/magic bullet for this situation please stand up and head straight to the front of any room. We need you to referee the coin toss casino known as Wall Street.

Instead the candidates spoke primarily about taxes, healthcare, Judicial appointments, Ayers, and a few other familiar talking points. To this viewer, style precluded substance. I know all their talking points by now. So I was impressed by Obama looking into the camera and talking to the viewers instead of the moderator or McCain. McCain at some points during the debate seemed like he could barely contain himself. He had this uptight clenched teeth smile and had he had a blood pressure monitor on, the meter would've cracked and shorted out....so positive and transparent was this terrible angst/pent up anger. The only time he seemed to look into the camera was when he was caught blinking and being uptight. As for Obama, he kept his cool. I thought his smiling during McCain's explanations could have been misconstrued as dismissive, but no more dismissive than McCain not making any effort to even look at Obama during the first debate.

What was also interesting is how well Obama was prepared. This being the last debate could've very well been "Joe the Plumbers" first and only time to see any the debates, and Obama spoke to those people. What occurred to me was what I thought was repetitive last night very well could've been someone's first and only time to hear Obama's talking points. Obama spoke to the camera and went over his plans again as if it was the first time. Given the current state of affairs, and how little people devote to these things, he very well could've gotten someone the first time last night. On the topic of repetitiveness then I guess it would be up the the eyes of the beholder. What was repetitive to me was new news to someone else.

When the topic of abortion came up, McCain (once again) distorted Obama's stance on late term abortion apparently forgetting that Obama was sitting across from him and would be allowed to explain WHY (regard to the woman's health) he opposed the particular bill that McCain mentioned. It made sense. And to many women to whom Roe vs. Wade is just not about abortion, but the right of a woman to decide about who does what to her body..Woman's Rights, and I think Obama came out ahead. Many adult women today grew up with that right to decide and take it for granted. To rescind the right of choice would create major problems when the nation doesn't need any more than it has. The earlier debates got high ratings, but many people do wait until the last debate since to many things right now are overwhelming and a news diet is in order.

Oh, and McCain thinks Sarah Palin would make a great President should something happen to him. To that....*ahem* TOPIC CHANGE! I can't even start there. We all know that answer...YOUR'RE ROOTIN TOOTIN RIGHT! wink wink.

Fall of Wall?

Wall Street dropped 730 points Wednesday only to rise 401 points on Thursday. What our comeback will look like is up for debate. The consensus is generally gloomy...dare I say there is opportunity for those who were/still are waiting on the sidelines? I think right now there is a lot of confusion fueling the tightening of purses and wallets, further creating the self fulfilling prophecy of deep recession.

I think many of us are in fear, uncertain how the reorganization of the credit and banking industries will trickle down to each of us. To be certain, this is a big reorganization of our economy never seen before. Everybody knows that. No one wanted to blow the whistle on the big loan, banking and credit party. October 16th, 20o7 the Dow closed at 14,164 today it closed at 8,979. The whistle has blown -- on it's own. The Fed has been pumping money to pump up the stock markets all year. The big rescue plan came later. Our economy is so large, that the effects are only starting to be felt. Just how far it will go is anyone's guess. My point is, I am not a guru. But we have had economic twists and turns before and have come through them. When I moved to NYC in 1986 Manhattan was on the brink of bankruptcy. It was all doom and gloom. It was supposed to be the end of New York. Now even with our depressed economy, a two bedroom apartment on the Westside will still cost about $900,000. Two bedrooms. And it's still there.

Our nation's news stations are great at sensationalizing and pulling in the ratings.
It rains in LA, and we are under STORMWATCH! Everything is BREAKING NEWS.
It's Yellow Journalism all over again. MATT DRUDGE. So all things considered the news has been very good at scaring the daylights out of people for sure.

I remember hard times in the 70's. My parents struggling to make ends meet...and we passed through that. And I remember just after 9-11 feeling angry. But we've passed through that crisis as well. We still carry on. The point is our human nature is survival. We adapt and change to survive. We must. I know we will be just fine. In the meantime it's heaven for us bottom feeders. There are many underpriced viable companies out there. Homes will become more affordable to those who have waited and lo and behold...saved. The broken greed of Wall Street will be replaced by a government bureaucracy and will change the way business is done, but hopefully in the future we will be spared the kind of thumpdown we are now faced with. I think there are many under valued companies and inflation hopefully will tempered by lower energy costs. Call me Pollyanna the Plumber...the gay plumber. WEEEEEE!
Let me go to Wall Street with some pixie dust and my magic wand....no seriously--

Life will be different...but it will go on.

NEXT!

Madonna Divorce (this is chewing gum for the brain)

In yet another transformation from a British married woman to a turned out single American, Madonna and Guy Richie are divorcing. I used to like Madonna, then she turned into this big bitch and got lost into it. The icing on the cake for me was "Truth of Dare" (yes I know it was a long time ago) when she treated her old friend from Michigan like shit. For the sake of Abraham and Issac, her own brother turned against her! Wrote a book about it. She, in turn cut him off. Meowww

When I liked her, I liked her a lot. Being from Michigan and knowing which Detroit suburb she came from, I knew her picking out food from garbage cans was all BS and part of her gritty persona. Like her, I knew the Motor City as home but unlike her I was from the 'other side' of the tracks. Years ago, I remember her performing at a gay club (Menjo's) and passed on it. It was just too crowded and I really thought at the time that there was nothing remarkable about her or her voice. Even then, she had become one of those Gay icons that the boys flocked too like white on rice. I was wrong. I wish I had gone in to see her perform: "Burning Up For Your Love"....and all her other gay dance songs. I didn't want to deal with parking, crowds, and some singer who was going to be a nobody in two months.

I was wrong.

When I moved to New York, I walked the same East Village streets she did, and actually lived in one of the buildings she lived in on the Upper West Side. Once, while walking down West 59th, I noticed paparazzi running down 59th toward Central Park West towards the Plaza.
I ran with them (1 block) to see who they were going to photograph...this little thing (5'1"?) gets out of a limo and enters on the side door to the Plaza. It was her. Remarkably small. All that energy in such a small woman?! Back then '87? A Madonna sighting was gold. But I was often put off by her pissy demeanor in articles and onstage. I remember her coffee table book where she spread her lips (bottom ones) while straddling over a mirror. That didn't make me like her more.

Fast forward to 1993/Los Angeles/Kabbalah Center Robertson Blvd. Beverly Hills)

I was dating a guy who worked very closely with Sandra Bernhard. He was really into the Kabbalah and I was really into him. He introduced me to this mystic way of thinking and I was hooked. Then SHE made it famous. SHE put her stamp on it and it really took off. Then it became 'trendy' and not secret anymore. As much as I liked it/the teachings/beliefs I was put off at how readily the Kabbalah Center was able to make celebrities their spokemodels of this and felt it was being compromised. Suddenly it felt like a trinket. Not special to me. Lost my interest in it because of her.

I heard Rabbi Berg speak once before it was taken over by celebrities, and then I left it unfinished. I was done with anything that superficial. Madge popped her head serendipitously into Kabbalah. Oh well.

So why do I care about her divorce? In one sense she revolts me by her crass and shallow view of the world that she has more or less conquered. One thing I always hear about when I talk about her is how "shrewd" she is, etc. They don't say, oh so sexy. Or what a voice/ or great actress!

It always is about her perceived entertainer and business acumen. Some even say her divorce was timed around her NEXT TOUR for the free publicity! I wish I could be that cold and calculating but even for all that money, to me it wouldn't be worth it in the end. It makes me wonder how happy this icon can be with a failing marriage, her past confidant and brother turning her into the public by writing a book about her. Sandra Bernhard hated on her in the past. What bridge doesn't Madge unscrew from both ends? Now that's a Maverick....the name of her failed record company. Nice to know she's human.