Migrant Crisis

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Migrant Crisis

SUPER BOWL CITY

Good example of the "haves and have nots." I decided yesterday to check out the Super Bowl hoopla at the Ferry Terminal/Justine Herman Plaza. Security was a little like airports. Walk through a detector. One funny thing where I went through, I recognized a "street person" that I actually knew and actually talked to her lots. She is a regular, right in front of the Ferry Building. I recognized her mainly as she has no teeth. Now, she is one of the security guards. I could only think, "good for her."

I didn't see what all the hype was about. Maybe it all happens at night. Kind of reminds me of the NC State Faire when I was growing up, without the animals. I will have to say this, the "tonish"  of the SF Police Department, which was there in force (overkill), was substantial. Don't they have a "Weight Control Officer." Oh well. 

I doubt the City (San Francisco) will get much out of it all. High rollers and even those who aren't will zero in on Santa Clara where the actual game is played. Personally I am a little sad. I think Frisco (I am in a movement to bring back the 150 year old name) has lost its way and the Super Bowl hype is an example. To hide the homeless/street people, they have moved them out of sight down to Folsom and 3d or fifth. This is something that might happen in LA or Chivago or Seattle or NY but not San Fran. SF has always accepted those on the fringes, the margins. The old rap on Frisco is that you could come to the City and be what you want. During the summer of love, Vietnam," if you are coming to San Francisco, wear a flower in your hair". No more. Open your billfold and if you ain't got it, get the hell out of here. It is now, "what is expensive in San Fran?" Everything. F..k. 

Hand Made Sign by a homeless person just outside the Super Bowl City in San Francisco

Come on guys, give an old man a few coins, you won't even miss it. 

GIVING MOST OF AMERICA THE FINGER

Watching Trump fly in on his private jet and helicopter made me sick. His name, TRUMP, emblazoned on the side of the plane. This sorry arrogant trailer trash MFer simply by showing his ostentatious wealth was giving most in America the finger--those supposedly angry people still touting Trump and they barely can put food on the table. Maybe Trump will give them a ride on his plane, now that a less arrogant type has kicked his ass in Iowa. Sorry MFer. 

POLITICS

My interest in the present political posturing is equal to how many gays on Castro Street support Cruz/Trump. LOL. Like 0!!!!!!

I am going to pretty much ignore politics from here on out. I don't find any real use in it. My prediction which I have said before: I am a Democrat and think that what will happen is the same as last Presidential election. The "demographics" just favor the Democrats. Their (1) base, (2) far left, (3) hispanics, (4) blacks and if they vote, (5) millennials. The President only won by 5 million votes in the last election. 

The Republican sideshow is like a bunch of 7th graders and is unlikely to catch fire, I believe; but anything could happen. Who would have thought that someone like Trump who has insulted most everybody, is still around, in all his obnoxious self. I am nonplused.

Politics is corruptive by its very nature, I believe. I don't mean we are like some 3d world country even if we act like it occasionally. A politician gets in office. He/she loses the concept of public service. Reelection is the goal. Think of it, someone running for office, say Hillary: She will shake your hand, "please give me your vote." Once elected, they would not give you the time of day. 

I support Bernie and have long before he began to get traction. Bernie offers the only possibility of change as I see it. Will it happen? I doubt it. But, Bernie's new. Hillary and Bill have had their chance. 

QUALITY OF THE MILITARY

Recently, I joined a vet buddy of mine who was the guest lecturer at the local Community College.  I will have to say that I was very impressed with their interest in  Vietnam vets, origins of war, etc. Before class, I chatted in general with the instructor: his goal, what he hoped to achieve with his class. Pretty much with these college kids, the same as the general public. They love the soldier, appreciate what he has done but don't have plans to join him. Herein lies the rub so to speak. We have an All Volunteer Force of good soldiers, we think. They haven't really been tested and Americans that care (not all do) have a tendency to think as I read somewhere that we have a military made up of "Seal Team 6," types. Bullshit. Ideally, we would like a Force, representative  of our country, it is what a democracy is. Bottom line, we have a military that is by in large unproven with a leadership vacuum of too many generals and a Secretary of Defense, much more interested in being PC than the quality of the "Force." As these kids would probably say, we are F..K!!!!!!!!!!

SUPER BOWL

It is on to the Super Bowl. The hype begins. Tickets are dirt cheap, however, $4500 for the nosebleed seats. To be honest, I am not the greatest of football fans as it is. I don't know what has happened to me. (Actually went to college on a football scholarship till I failed out) I am pulling for the Broncos. Why? Several friends to include my son-in-law, are passionate fans. 

To be honest, San Francisco doesn't get much from the Super Bowl, based on who you believe. I listened to the two sides and in typical politician style, “don’t confuse me with facts, I have my mind made up.” Supervisor Kim I believed more. Well, what about issues like hotels, those great places for $1500 a night minimum. Supervisor Kim says, “the hotels would be full anyway.” The most telling thing to me, however, had to do with arguments of the benefits of the “Super Bowl. “ The Mayor for instance. Rosy picture. He should have been a general in Iraq, those rosy reports of how great we are doing only to be run out later. Mayor talking about the dough rolling in based on analysis. Guess who did the analysis, marketing firms. True academic studies told a different picture. How will we ever know the truth.? We won't , think the mayor or any politician will ever admit it. Please! Give me s break. 

Many San Franciscans are ticked off with the NFL because they will not reimburse Frisco for the $5 mil they are spending. (I am joining a movement calling SF, Frisco, like they did a 150 years ago). Of course, many San Franciscans will be enjoying all the parties (streets already blocked off), musical groups, and round the clock entertainment which the NFL has promised. 

Nobody is interested in my views, especially a dyed in the wool football fan but let's face it, football is a brutal game. I can still remember my coaches saying, "until you get your bell rung", you weren't hitting anybody. No telling how many concussions we got, really. 

I haven't seen it yet but am going to see this movie called “Concussion.” I think that I saw where one in four NFL players will, at some time, be diagnosed with TBI (traumatic brain injury), resulting in early Alzheimer's/dementia). Pretty sad. I am not going to quit watching football but will see it a little differently from now on. 

LET THEM GO

When someone walks away from you, consider their part in your story over. Let them go. 

                          Anonymous 

PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN

Recently, I was at one of my favorite  coffee shops in the "white bread" town of Sausalito, California and beside me is some guy working on his laptop. Suddenly he says to me, "What do you think of Donald Trump?" Without thinking I say, "I think he's an idiot." 

The guy goes ballistic. You would think I called his Mother a "lady of the night. . 
"What is an idiot, how can you say that?" I don't feel like engaging any MFer who would give Donald Trump the time of day. I immediately say, Sorry, it really was a euphemism, just off the top of my head." He continues to babble on. I ignore him. Finally he gets the message and I depart the AO (area of operations. 

As I think about it, this is what we face during this political season. For my taste, even though on a different political team, I really like the governor of SC. Here is a comment after the Prez's State of the Union talk. "I am the proud daughter of Indian immigrants who reminded my brothers, my sister and me every day how blessed we were to live in this country."

For what it's worth, I do think Donald Trump is an idiot. 

REVENANT

"Revenant." Fabulous. When I compare to "Hateful 8." ("Hateful 8," one of the worst movies I've seen. "Revenant," the best by miles). 

I actually had never heard the word, "Revenant." So, goggled it naturally. Means someone who comes back from the dead. 

Fascinating movie and held my attention all the way. (And, I am ADD) Never seen such scenery. Filmed, says Goggle, in Canada, Argentina, Mexico, British Columbia, etc. Remind me never to go to those cold places. Such a good movie, hard to even evaluate. Really can't. (Fits right up there with my all time best 3--"Scent of a Woman, From Here to Eternity, Good Fellas." 

It is a movie of revenge and survival. Whew! Grace Dove, the accompanying pic. I don't even remember this scene. 

IS DAVID BOWIE IN HEAVEN

Danged if I kmow. With Bowie's death, much has been made of him. I don't know his music or have paid scant attention over the years.  

But, yesterday at Starbucks,  this lady asked me what I considered a related question, "Do you think when someone is sick, they get more religious as they get sicker?" David Bowie for instance. He was sick, did he get religious before he "hit the road" as my buddies would say. I haven't heard any word that he did. 

In my view, I don't have any evidence that it happens with people who are sick. I can tell you this though in my experience, very much a related subject, at least to me. What can become significant is some sort of concept of heaven. Not everybody but a significant number of people I've met. They can be irreligious, have no faith, atheists, whatever. They live with the idea that there is something else. This is not the end. They find comfort in the fact that somehow in some mysterious way of which we are not sure, we will see the person again. 

Will David Bowie be up there, somewhere dressed in an outlandish way. I don't have a clue. My suspicion is that things like that won't matter. The idea of heaven, where it exist or not, is comforting. Will David Bowie be there. I think so. 

HATEFUL 8

The movie, "Hateful 8." In Korea in 86, when anyone saw a bad movie. The comment, "2 hours off our DEROS." (date expected to rotate from overseas). 

It is not the worst movie I've ever seen but it's close (in my opinion, could have been a good movie). The story was OK but thick with themes of gratuitous violence, use of the "N" word constantly and other socially unacceptable language. "MF" repeated over and over. 

How Tarantino gets away with it is baffling to me. I would think his peers would be raising hell. Must be the money. 

The sound effects, scenery and authenticity of a "place" were good. But, if there was any redeeming value in the story or characters, Escaped me. Well yes, song at the end. "Many Won't Come Home." I bought it, thoughts of war. 

The one female, slapped around lots, never could figure that one out. Why? Jennifer Jason Leigh plays interesting roles. I saw her years ago in "Last Exit To Brooklyn" where she gets raped about 20 times, really. 

I've seen most of Terratino's movies. They all have a theme. In this movie all the characters were good actors but the hot button issues were really hard to take. Samuel Jackson's diatribes in turning the table but not to talk about injustice--a long diatribe about felatio. 

If you saw his movie, "Pulp Fiction," a little of the same technique. Have to wait till almost ending to grasp how it comes together. 

The movie is in bad taste, let's face it. There must be a reason there were few people in the movie with me. 

TAKING THE GUILT OUT

Not much of a "foodie." I grew up on a farm and nobody had any interest in things like "presentation." Here is the chow, eat up. And, I've read/heard, we either "live to eat or eat to live." I am definitely the latter. However, recently I started following a blog called the Food Archivist. The best looking food and good explanations. Great. Anyway, kind of got me interested in one aspect. Taste. The combination of tastes. Here is a great discovery. Banana bread and olive oil. My wonderful friend who is the world's best cook, gave me banana bread. I was eating it constantly. Feeling a little guilty as I am a physical fitness nut, positively addicted to running, working out. And, staying pretty trim, I might add. 

How can I do this and eat all this great "banana bread." It really is a  psychosomatic thing. Who knows what is related. I have buds who are skinny and more or less eat everything that doesn't eat them. Then others can walk by food and the pounds pile on. 

What conclusion I came to: eat banana bread and make believe it is healthy. It is in a sense, great carbs. 

Fate, however, intervened. One day I've just cut myself a couple of mouth watering slices of banana bread. It is to die for. Suddenly my eyes rest on a bottle of olive oil. Everybody knows that olive oil is good for you. A breakthrough. Wow. Here it is. Put olive oil on the banana bread--a fabulous taste. Perfected, I soak banana bread in olive oil, put in the microwave for one minute. A wonderful combination of taste. I must let the Food Archivist know.

Rhymer in the Sunset

Recently I met with a few of my buddies from my old unit in Nam to commemorate the life of our Battalion (1/501 Infantry, 101st Airborne Division) poet, Phil Woodall,  whose poetry is "on line" at Amazon. Phil's poetic express of the Vietnam war is a keeper. Thanks Phil. 

CONNECTED

This day is significant for lots of reasons but two, for sure.  My brother Raz, who is in the next life--today is his birthday. He left this life a couple of years ago and I still miss him, terribly. He was the patriarch of our family and took the position seriously. Always getting together, being there for us in a crisis. A Marine on Guadacanal, he never ceased living the Marine motto, Sempi Fi. Happy birthday, Brother. 

Then there is my best buddy from Vietnam, Phil Woodall. He was a poet. I can still see him in my mind's eye, sitting  or leaning back on his "ruck sack," writing verse. Phil never left Vietnam. I don't mean physically but emotionally.  Regardless, Phil always stayed upright. A renaissance man. I loved him. We all loved him. 

He was an infantryman and after he'd been in Vietnam a year, decided to stay for another one. To no avail, I tried to talk him out of it. 

After Vietnam, he had a good career. Not sure exactly what. However he was absolutely devoted to his Vietvet buddies and kept us ever alert to being there for each other. He singlehandedly was responsible for honouing his brother vets at the dedication of the Vietnam Memorial. He called wanting me to go and would not take no for an answer. 

Phil stood before "The Wall" and touched those names of our unit, 1/501 Airborne Infantry Battalion, who paid the ultimate price. Because the names are on "The Wall" on the day they died, Phil knew every single one and recounted the battles and events surrounding their death. I was awed at his knowledge. I shouldn't have been. It was Phil. 

Thanks Sergeant. God bless you my brother. In his honor, I am downloading his book of poetry, "Rhymer In the Sunset," Geronimo, Phil. 

A last thing. I have always believed that this life is not the end. Not exactly sure how the afterlife works but it is comforting to me. Consequently, I have to think that my brother Raz and Phil have connected. They are probably both somewhere telling war stories. 

DOWNTON ABBEY

The 6th Season of Downton Abbey is off and running. And, I like millions of "Mericans" were glued to the TV. It is really perplexing to me to know why we are so enthralled with a way of life that we fought a war to escape. What the f..k! I don't get it and am slapping myself. That whole idea of servants and privilege is abhorrent to most Americans who care or even think about it. Yet, here we are, hanging on every word. 

Suddenly, we know Mr Carson and Miss Hughes who are older and have decided to marry. It is so sweet. Mr Carson, the epitome of bowing and scaping/ Miss Hughes smart and insightful. This servanthood life is what they've known. 

Downton Abbey is a soap opera any way you cut it. Dozens of stories/family drama. We don't give a f..k if their behavior is the very thing we rail against. 

The writer of the show is a genius--wrote every bit of it himself. Amazing. But, here he deals with war, relationships, personality, change--every area of life. 

In the opening segment and the impending marriage of Mr Carson and Miss Hughes, they dealt with sex. Is their marriage going to be one of good friends, mutual respect or what they consider the complete marriage, which includes sex, maybe. I died laughing. 

Before we get too smug, most Americans don't even talk about such things here in 2016 even.  Downton Abbey is set I think, in 1929.  Priceless. What the hell, I am not giving up Downton Abby. 

EMPATHY

My Seminary professor use to say, "empathy is when you feel so much for a person that you can be inside their skin." I saw this in our president. The President has touched me a couple of times with his empathy--this appeal for gun control where he chocked up. Quite a picture. And, at the Charleston memorial for those murdered and his singing "Amazing Grace." 

His very human response won't make any real difference. It is politics. And, the electorate continues to be stupid (putting back into office the same ones). What I can't get--where is America's empathy? Who knows if more gun control will stop more senseless killings. With a country of 330 million, there are enough crazies to go around. 

 But, empathetic Americans can mirror the President. Simply said, empathy means this: what if it was our child dead because of gun violence? 

RAINING IN CALIFORNIA

Rain like we have not seen. Has to effect the drought. When I first came to San Francisco, Jan 83, rained constantly for weeks. I thought, "this is like Vietnam." During the monsoon in Nam, rain was like little "shards" coming down, felt like little needles. Oh well, thank you Lord for the rain. 

STAR WARS and FOOTBALL

RNot much of a SWs fan; where I come down on it is the amount of money "Mericans" spend seeing it, translated that Disney makes. 

We have six million kids in America that go to bed hungry every night and Star Wars is making so much money they need a deuce and a half to take the cash to the bank. 

Obviously this is merely a philosophical rant on my part. If people quit seeing "Star Wars," does that mean the kids get fed? Of course not. I feel the same way about bigtime sports. Same principle. Look in those stadiums, they are full of mostly whites. How can they afford it? I keep hearing about these angry white men. What are they so f..king angry about? Most of them are watching football and discussing "Star Wars." 

KEEPING THE MEMORY ALIVE

Recently, our really good friend died. After the initial shock, we are thinking of what we might do to keep his memory alive. 

Here's an idea:  maybe we could do an e-book of experiences and dedicate to our friend. In the old days,  publishing was tough. Most who wanted to do it, like us, had to publish themselves.  Getting an agent was a dream, sending a manuscript "over the transom" as it was known back in the day, was like a drop of water in the Pacific Ocean. Without contacts or celebrity, forget it. It was money. Some celebrity could be a dope head with the people skills of a tree and he could tell someone about his sordid life and it would sell millions or so we thought. 

Most of us write because we have too. We are positively addicted to it. My walls were plastered with rejection. I have tried it all. I actually had an agent, Shirley Burke. She was wonderful, loved all her authors and constantly told us how great we were and were a mere step away from the big time. Then I sold a book on my own. Travelled to NY to talk to my new editor. Great man and woman team. "We want more books like yours. Great war story with a purpose." I left the wonderful team at Manor Books sky high. My feet would not touch the ground. I was on my way. I never heard from them again. 

Now, with e-books, available on line, pretty simple, relatively speaking. We all have amazing stories or stories that jangle our chimes. We can honor our friend by publishing our stories and dedicating to his memory. Smash words and Amazon have levelled the playing field and publishing is limited only by our imagination. 

SAN FRANCISCO

When I was on the way to Vietnam in 68, I had a couple of days to kill before my flight from Travis(AFB). Somebody talked me into going into San Francisco. We ended up on Broadway Street, with place after place of stripers, bars., etc. I was enthralled. I could hardly believe it. My joke was that I had only been wearing shoes for a year or two and here I was suddenly in Sodom and Gomorrah. 

The truth is that I was just out of Seminary and to say I was naive isn't even close. I was just speechless. We went in one bar and my buddy ordered a beer. I got a Coke. Heck, I was a Southern Baptist even. The bartender asked to see our IDs. With the old ID, across the back of mine was a big "Cross" that said Chaplain. The bartender held up my ID and said, "Hey look everybody, we got us a priest." I could have died. I wanted to get out of there ASAP. I gave the scantily clad waitress a twenty. I never saw her again. I could hardly believe she kept my $20. 

Regardless, that experience, began my love affair with San Francisco. It was the most beautiful place I'd ever seen. I can't leave it. Relatively speaking, I never have. 

EVERYTHING CHANGES. San Francisco has changed, probably several times. Back in the day, it was a place where you could count on running across two or three characters on every street corner. San Fran has seen the hippies, the "Beat Generation," whoever they were. They have known the Pranksters, the jokesters, the "Summer of Love." (Us vets would love to have been on Haigh Ashbury rather than dodging bullets in the Nam.) 

Now the techees. What has happened in the present is different, I think. Technology has brought money. Mostly in the City (the locals call it The City). It was the late Herb Cain, a newspaper columnist, who made it a crusade to call it San Francisco/or The City. Sometimes just to be obstreperous, I will call it Frisco which the old timers did. 

MY TAKE. It looks like San Fran has lost the artists. Greed  has run them off. The Board of Supervisors (Town Council) appear to be pretty impotent and offer no real help. When I first got here, what was emphasized were the neighborhoods. In reality, Frisco is just a bunch of little neighborhoods stuck together. 

It is hard to know how many of the techies will stick. I think lots. The money will drive out some. But, many non techees will figure it out. I hope so anyway. Regardless, FRISCO ain't going nowhere. 

THE BIG SHORT

This is one of those movies that you know the ending and you don't like it but nothing you can do about it. Cleverly done and holds your attention. 

My view and what we have is a bunch of crooks betting on it all coming down around the heads of the poor; and, scant attention is paid as they don't give a s..t about anything or body but themselves. 

The movie is cleverly done. When it is over you wonder how did they hold your attention this long on a movie that you lived. Every American who cares should see the movie. Lots of culprits who should have gone to jail but didn't. I think if "The Big Short" has any fault it is that it should have spent more time showing the people who lost homes and jobs, the poor, the marginalized. 

My big thing as of late is that nothing changes. Nothing f..King changes. 

I've seen "Spotlight, Truth, etc. During and before and after some good books and movies showed the stupidity of the Iraq war, what happened--didn't  make any difference: the country went ahead with its stupidly. Think Afghanistan. Billions of dollars wasted and the country is no better, worse after all these years. Nothing makes a difference. 

There are no answers but at least it would be nice to see some politician say, "f..k, we can change this. We can but I don't have much faith that we will. See the movie. 

EVERYTHING CHANGES

A Sad Day

The Lucky Penny is closing in favor of high rises, just what we need in Frisco. I am here eating as a personal memorial. Lucky Penny is one of those disappearing diners, a hang out place for old guys usually. They lie,  tell jokes and get the Morning Special for five or six bucks. It is the never ending coffee and water, amidst the war stories as most are vets. 

I first started coming to the Lucky Penny when I was in the military stationed at the Presideo. Most military types would view a PSF (Presideo of San Francisco) a choice posting. For me, it was and can any place be more beautiful? No, throw in the Lucky Penny. Enough said, thanks for the memories. 

Christmas Memory

When you are old, kids and grandkids doing their thing, what are you left with? Memories. And, let's face it, Christmas is more a cultural holiday than a religious one and so most celebrate the day, regardless of their faith. 

I was in Seminary before the Army. Next door, was Bill Stebbins. I recall his name as it is a chance to honor his memory. A really great guy. A “Yankee” from Boston. Bill was an engineer and had enjoyed a meteoric rise in his profession but along the way, he got the “call,” and here we were, Divinity School buds. It is Christmas eve. My daughter has her heart set on a "play stove" that actually glows and has a small amount of heat and a 5 year old can pretend to cook. Meg is asleep, sugar plums dancing in her head. I have to put the stove together. How hard can it be. Two hours later, I am no further along than when I began. All the parts are laid out, no sweat. 

Admitting I have no abilities, I call in my back-up plan, my next door neighbor, Bill, the engineer. A “piece of cake,” he says. Five hours later just as the sun is coming up, we get it together. A great Christmas but not nearly as great as the story told over and over. Here we had an engineer and it took him five hours. What chance does a mere mortal have? A great Christmas. Lesson learned, “Is this already assembled? 

“No.“

“Forget it” !!!!!! 

 abilities I. This area. 

Getting Fired

In my not so illustrious career, I was fired 4 times. In the military, you can't be fired like in the civilian world but your career can be ended, many things can happen: being relieved from duty is no fun but I will have to admit that I took a somewhat pride in my four firings and still survived. Here is one of them. 

The Chaplaincy had been sued in the courts as unconstitutional. The chief of chaplains had hired the rabbi, who was also a lawyer, to represent the chaplaincy and their interest. I didn't even know him. We were having a big conference at the Presideo. I was merely an attendee. At the last moment, the chaplain, who was running the conference at 6th Army, asked me to step in and give a devotion. 

"Sure." 

I made a few remarks and led with an illustration that in the "City" we had a business called "Class Act." They would cater parties, deliver flowers, anything you wanted and with "class." It would cost you big time but they themselves were a "class act." Then I said, the Chaplaincy ought always to be a "class act." And then I used the chaplaincy constitutional issue as a good example. We could not let that issue effect our ministry. We had to be a "class act." If we were Baptist, Presbyterian, Jewish, Mormon, whatever, (at that time, Muslims were not on the score card.), we had to do our job, we couldn't slow down or pretend we were something we weren't.  

Devotion over, thought I had done a good job. Pat, pat, pat

About an hour later, I get a call to come to The Deputy Commander's office.  The Deputy Commander was a great guy. I go to his office, the Rabbi is there with his general's star, etc., shining. Pete was kind of pale as I remember. The Deputy Commander began to dress me down. It was a couple minutes before I realised what was happening. When I tried to explain, he cut me off. A tirade. Finally, I got an opening and said, "I don't know what you are talking about." 

"Your remarks at the breakfast about the Constitutional issue. You degraded it." 

I said, "I just gave an illustration." 

The Deputy tried to jump in. The Rabbi would not let him. He finally ran down and to my credit I was pretty calm and tried to apologise. 

He then said, "I will destroy your career. I am going to recommend that you be given an article 15." By this time, I knew he was out of his league and none of those things could happen, anyway. I was already on everybody's "s..." list anyway. I said something like, "Rabbi, (He already had emphasised that he was a general). "Rabbi, I don't care what you do. And the way you come across to me is that you are a classic asshole and you can just kiss my ass." I departed the area.  I don't recommend this course of action. 

The Rabbi and a buddy of mine went on to write a book about the Constitutional issue. 

SPOTLIGHT

Movie review. SPOTLIGHT. Good movie, about the child abuse scandal in Boston. Movie showed all the difficulties of the "Boston Globe" in breaking the story, going against all the powers that be in the Catholic Church. The Priests, over 90, abused hundreds of kids. Usually they were poor kids from poor families who blindly believed. What amazed me is that the scandal has hardly dented the church. 

Michael Keaton's character was the catalyst. His best movie and still very appropo, "Clean and Sober."  Good movie about how a young up and coming business type got caught up in drugs. The movie opens with one of the most "grabbing" movie scenes I've seen. He and this girl are in bed and he is getting up and tries to awaken her but she has overdosed and is dead. 

Spotlight was good but didn't quite seize you like, The Big Short. 

BEATING HIS CHEST

I've always liked the president. I think he has tried to be president to all and with this "route step" Congress, not easy, to say the least. 

Seeing him/Secdef talking about the great strides we are making against ISIS makes me wonder. First of all, we don't know if the claims of the Air Force/the generals are true. It is not that they lie but have an uncanny ability to deny reality. 

Bullshit, on more involvement in the Mideast. We have been there and done that. Think of all the rosy reports from Iraq. Give me a break. Reminds me of Vietnam. The "body parts" fiasco. One North Vietnamese bites the dust. We are fighting a war. Suddenly, the one becomes several. A finger is one, how many parts you could count, equal how many bodies. Not much has changed. 

The predident has a decent course, no large forces in the Middle East is the best. The Air Force, whatever but let's stay realistic. We have sorry Middle East allies. It is their fight, let us stand tall.  

These comments of defeating ISIS IS BULLSHIT. Am I the only person in America who knows you can't defeat an ideology. So, you knock them off in one spot, they pop up in another. Keep doing what we are doing but forget this bullshit of defeating which is stupid and false. 

HOW TO DIE

My good friend went in for a knee replacement. His body shut down. For a couple of days, he was kept alive, hoping to save him. He died. 

Instead of lamenting what happened, we need to rejoice. A wonderful transition: live a long (84), rich life (Army Chaplain for 30 years. Touched scores of young soldier lives. Wonderful musician. He and his wife Shirley were known throughout the military for their entertaining); go in for routine operation, unforeseen complications, unrelated to original problem. Goes into a coma and dies in a few days. No lingering, acceptance of death. 

What a wonderful way to do it. For one who has anticipated heaven all his life, when he got a chance to go, never hesitated. HooAhhhh Lamar, you did it. God bless you on your journey. 

GREAT CHAPLAIN

TRIBUTE. A few days ago, one of my best friends from Army days, died. It was really weird. He went in for a fairly routine knee replacement and died. He was a Chaplain. I remember many things about him. So unselfish: Vietnam, Germany, other assignments where paths crossed. Hands down, He should have been the Chief of Chaplains (A General). What prevented him? Mainly, he never played politics or forgot that he was a pastor. 

A few weeks ago, he called me out of the blue. Left a message. Just wanted to chat. I called him back. We had the best talk and once again I thanked him for being a mentor and setting me on a pathway. He loved to chide me about living in San Francisco and being on the "left coast.”Maybe he was saying goodbye and didn’t know it. 

What I hope for with the funeral, the family will go all out. Lamar always loved a big show, a big extravaganza. He was the master of the grand gesture, making everybody happy to be around him. If it were up to me, I would do a massive 82d Airborne Division parachute drop just for show. Everybody at the “Service” will have a Lamar story and I am doubly sorry I am going to miss it. I hope the tribute is an all day affair with dinner on the grounds. If there has ever been a life to celebrate, Lamar's is it. God bless him on his journey.      

Prostate

I am in the bathroom washing my hands. This old guy comes out of the stall. The old guy says, "Today is my birthday and  where are we going to lunch?"  

I say, "well, not sure." 

He says, "you aren't my friend. The gray hair and glasses fooled me." Then he says, " you don't have prostrate problems do you?" I said "no." Then jokingly, I say to him, "I am still blowing it out." He gives me the puzzled look. I say, "you know, sex." He laughs. "Well, he says, "I kept telling my wife that we had to keep doing it. She agreed but didn't help, got it anyway but had a lot of fun." "Well, I hope you aren't giving it up are you?" 

"I am 93, I think not."  

TRUMP

Let's put it in terms SC voters can understand. 

TRUMP IS RICH WHITE TRASH!!!

PREZ'S Speech

I thought it was good. In a way, nothing new. I think, in a sense, it is like 9-11. We have to protect ourselves the best we can and go on with our lives. Not much choice. 

What is pretty scary to me now is Ted Cruz. He's cunning and the "Donald" will fade--too much of an idiot, even for the Repubs. 

I love the magazine, "The Economist." It is good to me because it is written by the Brits but much about America. No PC stuff. Here's a quote from them about the people who follow Trump, "middle aged or white or older, rather poorly educated and awed by a shoutee billionaire." 

Also, this is an original thought if there is such a thing. I think that the Pasadena shooters did the rampage on the "spur of the moment." One of the guys they killed, a coworker, was a Zionist/Jewish, a zealot. From the pictures of his wife and him, both rather large persons. The coworker was outspoken, maybe even bullied the shooter. Who knows, only speculation but doesn't make sense, based on the arsenal they had amassed, that something didn't happen to get them ahead of their plan. It could have been much bigger.  

BROOKLYN

Recently I had a couple of hours to kill and went to see the movie, Brooklyn. I read the little excerpt and it seemed like something I wanted to see, mainly because of my fondness for Brooklyn. I lived there a couple of years while I went to grad school at LIU (Long Island University). LIU was a great fit for someone just back from Nam. Originally LIU was supposed to be one of many schools spread throughout NY. It never happened. I didn't know why. The locals called it Jewish University. I choose not to see that as derogatory as when they called me Cracker. A term of affection. 

My MA was in Sociology and part of our thesis project was a survey of the Bedford Stuyvesant area and the NY City welfare system. We (my fellow student) had to devise questions, go house to house for a couple of blocks and then stand on a corner and see if we could get a few people to talk with us. 

This doesn't sound so out of the ordinary when you just looked at it on paper. What made it downright funny was the timing. It was 1972, the Vietnam war was winding down and here were two college types, one white with a deep southern accent and the other black. Both of us were Vietnam vets and angry. It could have been comical, not to mention dangerous, but as I remember it, several street hoods as my bud called them, answered our questions and pronounced us dumb as dirt or something like that. But, for me, I developed an admiration for Brooklyn. It was the epitome of blue collar, lots of Irish, Italians and Jews. They didn't seem to mix but from my perspective, they got along well.

 Brooklyn was the first place I ate real pizza and discovered bagels. 

Going to see the movie, “Brooklyn,” was a chance to maybe recognized some of the things I remembered. It didn't work out that way. “Brooklyn,” the movie was incredibly timely, however. A young Irish girl comes to NY. The experiences of homesickness, finally meeting a love although Italian. Sister dies, she goes back to Ireland and it has changed. She had secretly married her sweetheart but the temptations to remain in Ireland were immense but through some crafty insight, she regains her composure and returns to Brooklyn. 

A sweet little movie, coming of age, the emigrant experience. The movie didn’t capture what I hoped, places that I wanted to recognize, as it wasn't about Brooklyn even though the title implied it. But, what the begingles, see the movie. 

WOMEN IN COMBAT

“Pentagon Will Open All Combat Roles to Women.” Good. Anybody who has paid any attention and most don’t, have no doubts women can do the job. As a Vietnam vet, even in that sorry war, women faced combat and more than did themselves and the country proud.  What irritates me are those like the SecDef who don’t take into account the psychological effect of women in combat. I’m not sure if it would make any difference anyway. Example: I was once a teacher in a military school.You have 49 men in a class. Introduce one woman, everything changes. It isn’t the woman’s fault. It is us sorry men. What we should be asking ourselves is how good is our military? 

Because most Americans are uninvolved and you get Ash Carter, the SecDef and the generals view which is about as credible as George W. and Iraq. What can you trust from them? PC BULLSHIT. A high percentage of recruits drop out of basic training even. As always happens, those who fill the ranks come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.  Americans think, "Seal Team 6, Special OPs," etc., that ain’t it. The regular soldiers are going to be these elusive “boots on the ground,” both men and women and we don’t know the what/how. 

AN AVERAGE AMERICAN's VIEW OF LATEST MASS SHOOTING

I got all caught up on the latest regarding the San Bernadino attack. I did not know the couple had a child. And I discovered a few more details. Such as what was going on at the facility prior to the attack. 

Regardless, no matter the details, what an awful, senseless, stupid, needless, selfish, crazy act. I just don't know what else to say Brother. 

I still don't know if it's a terrorist act or not but it's looking more and more like it is. If the FBI says it is I'll believe it is. 

Of course, there is no good time for an event like this to happen. But from a political standpoint it could not have happened at a worse time.  Think any Syrian refugees will have a snowballs chance in hell of getting into this  country now?  

And then there's Trump. He's riding this for all it's worth and no one will call him out on it. He lies, he makes inflammatory statements, he's downright mean-spirited and yet people just let him bluster on. No one takes him on; everyone seems afraid of him. 

God help us Brother. 

US of A

"Being in a country as a nobody, where everybody thinks they can be somebody, is infectious." 

Freddy, a character in the British TV drama, "The Hour," talking about his trip to America. 

SHOOTING

Been reading about latest mass shooting in San Bernadino. Baffled, I'm sure, like most Americans who care. Absolutely floored that a couple with a young child could be this misguided. What mother would leave her baby to go with her husband to kill people, knowing they are probably going to die. Unfathomable!!!!

CHRISTMAS BIRTHDAY

One of the great things about growing older is that you get a chance to be a little more outrageous. Example, yesterday at the Post Office, I was behind this very pregnant female. She says to me, "go ahead, I am not ready." 

"Are you sure? I have nowhere to go." She says, very happy that she is getting this done. (Mailing her packages) 

I am silent, to be honest, I don't want to engage her as I have other things to do and this might take awhile (if we start talking). I don't know her but there are all kinds of questions I might asked: (1) Why is it so important that you get packages mailed? (Actually none of my business but she did start talking to me). She is pregnant, very pregnant). She says to me. (2) “My baby is being born on Christmas Day”). Now that is an opening.(3) could say, "is there a Dad or Grandpa that goes with that baby." This could have elevated a casual conversation. 

“Congratulations,” I did say. Then, without thinking I comment, “You know your baby will have to always compete with Christmas (Could have said holidays but am on a personal crusade about all this "political correct" bullshit. It is Christmas. 

She says, "yes, hadn't thought of that." Again, without thinking I say, “here is a plan, give him/her (him she says). Give him a half birthday in June or July. Make a big deal out of it. The real birthday comes at Christmas.” 

My business with post office was done. I departed after saying “good luck.” 

GI CHRISTMAS PAST

In the military, Christmas seems a special time, especially to soldiers away from home. 

One Christmas that sticks out to me is one in Germany. I was a young Captain, maybe 26 and assigned to a Nike Hercules Missile unit. We had this crazy Sergeant Major who pretty much ran everything. One day he says to me “Chaplain, it is Christmas, we need to get a project where the troops can feel like they are in the spirit of Christmas. What about finding us something like an orphanage and we’ll get some presents and visit.” I go to several German Orphanage type places. Other American military units had the kids locked up. OK, let’s do something else. I found this old folks home we could visit. 

The Sergeant Major rounds up a bus load of troops to go with me. We bring presents for the old folks. We get there in early afternoon. Bunch of American GIs, maybe twenty. We are met by the Director of the home who says something like, "I hope you aren’t going to be disappointed. The men and women don’t get much attention, seldom are they visited. They mostly just sit." 

There were about 39 or forty grandmas/PAs. The GIs don’t speak a word of German other than eine beer bitta. The Germans don’t speak English. 

The old folks, men and women, began dancing with the GIs or with each other. I guess they didn’t need language They were all having such a good time. The Director was flabbergasted. Finally it was time to go. We loaded all the troops in the bus. The director said, "I’ve never seen anything like this. Most of the patients refuse to do anything and here they have been dancing and having a ball. 

We pulled out of the driveway and the oldsters were following us waving goodbye with their handkerchiefs. What a good time. Two days later I discovered that the soldiers had spiked the punch. All the old people were pretty soused by the time we left. Oh well, we gave them a great Christmas. 

COMMO

Recently I had a tête-à-tête with a friend. He is from my perspective, the worst communicator I've ever known--interrupts, makes these declarative statements, essentially shutting down the dialogue. Drives all of us crazy. I thought of this musing  by George Bernard Shaw, 

"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” George Bernard Shaw 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Have a blessed Thanksgiving. My favorite holiday. As "Mericans" we have so much. Recently I asked a friend who is Irish, successful business person and desperately wants to emigrate to America. I definite get it for the really sad Syrians trying to find peace and safety. But, hard to say about my friend and I asked him why does he want to emigrate. His answer: you Americans have no earthly idea of how fortunate you are. You are safe. You have, even the poorest, a measure of what you want and you don't even think about it.  

However, even Thanksgiving can't take away these random thoughts. (1) Best treatment of the whole ISIS issue I've seen in the "Economist." (2) Very disingenuous to watch the Prez beating his chest like I saw him last night about how we are going to destroy ISIS. THEY HAVE US BY THE GONADS, let's face it. (3) If you saw 60 Minutes last night and the episode on Iraq, amazing. We are still pouring millions into that operation; some American general is claiming great victories. I think that we are at the stage where they outright lie. (4) Or, maybe it is downright perception. And, what we know is that a person's perception is his reality, regardless of the facts. I've always thought they bear some of the blame to where we find ourselves. Rosy reports, how we are kicking ass when out here in the hinterlands, we are not seeing these great victories. The examples are everywhere. Think Paris. It is a mess. 

God bless, Have a blessed Thanksgiving. My favorite holiday. 

Coilition

Can we or will we go for an effective coalition. NO, mainly because it has to be done by an effective and "cool" leadership. And that appears to be missing or in short support. It is not that it is not our fight but it is not something that we can do or should do, alone, if at all. Countries like the Saudis, Iran, all have to come together. (Good luck with that). I heard on one news outlet that there are Saudis who are actually contributing financially to ISIS. Saudi is a country where they behead citizens who are not Muslim. What the f..k. 

I have been an Obama supporter but he has of late f..ked up. I see nothing that we are involved in that is working. What is that saying. Something like, "To continue doing what we have always done and expecting different results mean that you get what you've always done." As a country, we know how to be stupid. 

I can't "get" this on our attitude toward Russia. This is, by any estimation, dumb, dumb, dumb. To tame Syria, Assad is the key. Take care of the problem (ISIS) and then sort it out. 

The prez and his choir say our strategy is working. WHAT STRATEGY IS THIS?

ZAPPING ISIS

Any amateur military tactician can tell us what we have to do to defeat ISIS. (1) OVERWHELMING  Force,(100,000)

 much like we defeated Saddam in Kuwait. Surround wherever ISIS is concentrated. (2) Cut off their supply routes, no one in or out, outside activity suspended (hauling oil). (3) Close off escape routes. (4) Bring lethal force, which means being prepped with air strikes by the dozens, tanks, mortors, reducing the ISIS space to rubble. Invade with ground forces, from every direction, two weeks max to kill or capture ISIS fighters. Mission accomplished. Not simple but the only way to defeat them for the present. 30 days max. 

Will we do it? NO! The reason Gulf War One worked is because we had a coilition and did not disguise what we were doing. It is complicated and the last thing we want to see is America, alone or with Europe, take up a fight that is not ours. 

Maybe We Ought To Think About The Draft

I don't feel safe in Paris and am emigrating to Israel. I feel safe there. Although they live with danger, they feel safe. Maybe it is because everybody in Israel has to serve in the military and they learn how to handle themselves. 

A Parisan Interviewee 

JUST FELL OFF THE TURNIP TRUCK

A couple of weeks ago some AF type said we were killing thousands of ISIS fighters. How does he know? Well, the targets, drones, whatever, are effective. Then some Colonel says yesterday that we have now targeted/destroyed 16 gas trucks. Yet hundreds are lined up getting oil. Then some government money guy estimated that we have seriously hurt the fanatics in the pocketbook. They are only making millions. Some Bloomberg reporter says, "let's try billions." The rosy, make that over optimistic, Alive in Wonderland spokesmen/women take us for a bunch of idiots. What ever it seems they need to tell us to float our boat, they do. The bottom line is that we are supposedly killing the leaders, defeating them in every way and we still have "Paris" and ISIS is stronger and more lethal than ever. 

We don't want to think our leaders are selling us a bill of goods, the equivalent of the Brooklyn Bridge. I say again, ISIS is as ruthless and powerful as ever, despite our chest beating. I think it is time that "Americans that care" are told the unvarnished truth or just accept the fact that we just "did fall off the turnip truck". 

REFUGEES

I confess upfront that Bernie is my man. He has new ideas and my independent nature likes him. He thinks that to deny refugees is unAmerican. Our country was built on immigrants, to include all of us. For us to deny helping people who have struggled for the very basics in life goes against all that we are. 

Are there terrorists among the refugees? Probably. Any young man or woman will have to be vetted throughly. It is another wrinkle in the great security apparatus. 

The politicians, grandstanding on the backs of trying to do the right thing, is counter productive, to say the least.  

SYRIA

We have said some stupid things but failing to coordinate with Russia on getting ISSI IS CRAZY. THIS IS A CHANCE; wanting Assad to go? Where is he going to go?  

Retribution and revenge against ISIS is what we want. Let's wake up and smell the roses. Syria has changed and we have to deep six (get rid of) our demand that Assad go. He has nowhere to go. And, we are not going to get anybody to the peace table or any table without him. 

PARIS

Already politics is entering the scene.  According to Senators McCain and Lindsay; naturally, it is all the Presiden's fault,  And, I get so tired of hearing; the "American People." Bullshit. It is not American People. We should say, "Americans that care." Let's face it, many Americans don't care, don't give a s..t, one way or another. 

RUTHLESS

The Paris terrorism reminded me of 9-11. My daughter called me then and said, "Dad, are you watching TV?" Afterwards, I was glued to it for days. Now, with the terrorist attacks on Paris, the same emotions have evolved. Just so happens that I was on a pheasant hunting trip with a few of my buddies, mostly vets. 

We have talked, postulated from the very beginning of news of the attack: what to do? In a sense we admitted that there is nothing to do unless we are willing to be ruthless. One of my buddies called to mind the Clint Eadteood movie, "Unforgiven." Clint has killed the corrupt Sheriff and he gets on his horse and looks at his good buddy, Ned, in a casket on display for all to see. (Morgan Freeman.) Clint stops and says something like, "You better give Ned a proper burial or I am coming back and will kill you and then I will hunt down your families and kill them." This is what we call "ruthless." It is the only way to confront ISSI. 

One of the aspects of what we are seeing is that ISSI doesn't mind showing us and telling us who they are because they are counting on our value system to keep us from being "ruthless." We will do limited retaliation but not much. We don't have the heart for "ruthless". 

In other words all we can do is react and not much of that. Do we have it in us for "ruthless." I don't think so. Are we ready to deport/blame families for their terrorist children. What about torture, water boarding. This is the way you get information, water boarding, profiling, listening in on conversations. What about it? Can we be "ruthless?" I DON'T THINK SO. 

TRUCK

 SOME STORIES ARE SO GOOD THAT YOU HAVE TO SHARE (slightly edited)

Yesterday we decided it was time to get another dog. Our beloved died in late September. 

 

Saturday morning we got an email from a breeder in Aiken, South Carolina. We had sent her our previous dog's obituary, which included pictures of him, and asked if she had a "Jack Russell."

 

With this email was a picture of a long-legged rough-coated male Jack Russell in many ways similar to our departed. This dog was a year old, had not been neutered and lived outside with 5 other Jack Russells, so that both he and his coat were thin.  The breeder warned he would be a project, having never been on a leash nor socialized. But, he was adorable, calm, and loveable and that closed the deal.

 

On the trip back to Atlanta, we stopped at a truck stop in Madison so everybody could go to the bathroom. My wife slipped a leash around the dog's neck. Never having worn a leash, he spooked, tightening the leash around his neck. With that he panicked and went berserk, biting her as she tried to grab him, and pulling the leash out of her hands.  The dog ran off to the trucks parked overnight.

 

Our turn to panic.  It was dark, this dog did not know and trust us, and would not come when we called...he didn't even have a name for us to call.  

 

We chased him as he darted around the trucks in this huge truck stop in the dark with his leash dragging behind. Fortunately he is white so easily seen by the big rigs that kept pulling in.  Then two guys in a pickup truck came to try to help...every time we would get even close to him he would sprint away. They were at least able to help us keep him in sight as he ran next door to Lowe's and on beyond to the Chick Filet.  The chase went on for over an hour.

 

Then two more people joined the chase...young guys, string bean thin, one wearing a cowboy hat. The boys were 17 and seniors in high school in Madison. 

 

 Our fear was he would head to the highway in front and sure enough he did.  At that point nobody could see how this would have a happy ending. Either he would be hit on the highway or would run off into the woods never to be seen again. We were as traumatized as well as the dog.

 

Suddenly one of the young guys ran up and said "We got 'im."  Turns out the two of them had chased him around the car dealership across the street and finally managed to corner him and step on his leash.  He, of course, bit the guy who grabbed him and pooped on his shirt but he managed to hang on. 

 

There was elation all around and I gave the two guys what money I had.  The dog calmed down immediately as if nothing had happened. As we drove home he stayed in my wife’s lap and peed on her pants to show his appreciation. It took us much longer to calm down. Once home he slept soundly on the foot of our bed, hard to say which of the three of us were most exhausted.

 

By today the dog and my wife have bonded. He still growls when I come into the room.

 

Oh yes, we named him.  Truck.

TRUCK

ONE RESPONSE

Talk about a laugh, I had it. Don't tell The owners (thanks to them for sharing) but "Truck," I am afraid, would have been history with me. My lack of patience and a realization that Truck was a dog would have done it. LOL. Now, if Truck had been a six year old child, I would have hung around.  

I guess that pets for those who don't have children become their children. Our upstairs neighbor who is now gone,  grieved/cried over her dead cat for months; she spend thousands of dollars on "Henry" to keep him alive. I blame the Vet. It was a money thing for him. Even after he died, she erected a shrine. So...LOL. I don't mean to be laughing. Thanks for sharing. I love pets. My daughter is fostering two cats that were abandoned in a fire. 

But, dang, good story and writing. 

TRUTH

Robert Redford) and "60 Minutes" producer Mary Mapes (Cate Blanchett) get in hot water after the network broadcasts a report about President George W. Bush and his military service. Good movie to me. Kate Blanchett reminds me of my daughter. 

The big overall story is about Bush using influence to get him out of Nam. When a rival network, ABC questioned  documents like OERs (Officer efficient reports), CBS caved. Dan Rather retired. CBS fired the Blanchett character who was the hero of the movie. 
Good movie, showed how the behind the scenes work; power, nobody tells the truth. Surprise surprise!! Historically, makes me think way back to Al Gore. What if he had hung in. Or, for Bush 2nd term,  CBS had not caved but said "F..k you very much," to the right wing. John Kerry, the Democrst at least went to Vietnam. The Swiftboat vets were "used" and did him in. 
Let's face it, the country would be a different place today. 


I liked the movie. A good story about something meaningful. George W., was not all that bad, just a little on the dumb side and easily manipulated by Rumsfelt and Chaney. Let's at least, give him his dues, he had to deal with 9-11. 


Can't give Chaney or Rumsfelt or CBS any slack. Chaney couldn't go to Vietnam, his own statement, he had "other priorities." Rumsfelt altered the military, making it less effective by closing posts and creating generals. CBS went for the bottom line, money. My personal protest is that I am not watching CBS anymore. Ever! MFers!!!!! 

SICKENING

Donald Trump has a house worth 100 million. Most of the Republivans are way up there. Milk Huckaby, a preacher lives in one that costs 3 million. Sorry MFer. The average ones of these assholes' size houses, 4440 square feet. Average American size of house, 1800 sq ft. 

What ticks me off to the max is that we keep electing such MFers or that we even give them a forum. . San Fran, my town, for instance, didn't do shit for the poor in the election. The rich and developers won on every hand. The poor don't vote and until they do, they are going to take it in the shins. 

Ramblings

One night recently, I found myself at night deep into the heart of the

San Francisco's mission district. What I noticed were the scores of mothers/grandmothers with small kids, with their backpacks waiting for the bus. It is pitch dark--what an interesting phenomena to me, a life that most of us don't think about. A mother, children in tow heading home, probably been at work, maybe cleaning houses. Minimum wage you can count on it. Hardly the American Dream. Created a kind of sadness. WTF

Mystery

Yesterday, I was boarding the bus and in front of me were two females, I guessed Brits. They asked the driver if the bus went to San Francisco. The very large African American female said, "No and you need to get off the bus." I started to jump into it but didn't F..King coward. The bus did go to San Francisco. Why the driver did this is beyond me. The mystery, If you think about it, how often had this bus driver been discriminated against/denied, whatever and yet she does the same thing to others. A mystery. 

VOTER RANT

My political rantings about SF. Big money won and as some columnist I read, said,  "if you don't think money rules the day, I want to sell you a nice bridge painted golden with a nice view." The people are stupid acting. And we knock out prop F on the strength of $6-8 mil poured into the campaign. We are stupid beyond words as overall even in liberal SF, we vote against our own interests. 

And then we are enhancing our democracy by not voting and as my late brother, Raz, use to say, "if you don't vote, keep the f..k out of this conversation." We need some more high rises in the City, anyway. 

HOOKED ON DRUGS

A "Sixty Minutes" story shook me to my toes. As a grandpa, the scariest 70 Minutes program I've seen. I couldn't help but project: Projection from all these kids that are hooked on drugs telling their stories to the pain of their parents. Here's just one. Google 60 Minutes and read the full transcript of the segment. 

"All of these parents say they wanted to talk to us (Bill Whitaker, the interviewer who is terrific) because too many other families are embarrassed, in denial about their kids' heroin use. 

These parents say the stigma and shame are compounding the epidemic. Here's a sad, sad comment. "So, for us, we were in total shock when it happened. But, the struggle was the stigma.

Lea Heidman: She passed away, (overdosed) the day after Saint Patrick's Day and she posted on Saint Patrick's Day a picture of her on her laptop, studying, doing homework, saying, "No partying for me, not even a single drink, I'm staying in and I'm-- and I'm working." The next day she used herion and that was the last time she used. She died. 

Prop F

I am not a San Francisco voter but It portends a lesson for us all. Prop F is yes and no. The NOs are spending 6-8 million on defeating the Prop, plus have brought in all the big guns. The other side has only $350,000. As a voter, does that tell you something? 

A Stupid Pill

Sometimes, I have jokingly said that teenagers, in particular, get up every morning and take a stupid pill. Now we can say this about our government. What the F..K, "they get up every morning and take a stupid pill. Here it is: US PLEDGES $100 Million to opposition fighters ." What opposition is this? Already, we spent millions and ended up with fourteen fighters. We are spending 10 million a day bombing without any real knowledge we are doing shit. Unless, of course, you have been to the American Generals "school of spin." Throw in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is endless; cruelty of war that is like a NC goat rope. "Nobody stands still and impossible to tell who the players are." 

We have a great "out" with the Russians in Syria. Assad has literally nowhere to go and we are not like some High School kid in a rivalry. I have always supported the Prez but might have to step away. 

Hello! Hello! John McCain wants to invade everybody. Does he have no memory of our stupidity in Vietnam. He was a POW for God's sake and should be the first to point out that Syvia is a "fast train to nowhere" for us. STUPID!!

The pundits are hinting oneupmanship to our leadership as opposed to the Russians. I sure as hell hope so. Maybe eventually the Russians will realize as we should have, get the f..k out. But, we've taken a stupid pill.  We can't win, we can't tie and by sending in a few Special Forces solders, we invite disaster. Stupid is the only answer I can come up with.