The Prez in Baltimore

President Obama accepted an invitation to speak at a Republican retreat in Baltimore. With TV cameras rolling the President took questions from Republicans and gave a masterful performance. With no notes, no teleprompter and no foreknowledge of the questions he debunked their facts and their arguments. He continually showed a knowledge of policy and legislation and using their own words gave a firm rebuttal to GOP arguments. He seemed to know and understand GOP talking points better than they did. Using a sense of humor he chastised the GOP for their scare tactic as unproductive politics and not leadership.

This was television at its best and a wonderful view of the President. He was like a law professor lecturing a group of students. If you missed this performance there might be a rerun on C-Span, I'm sure the GOP won't invite him again with TV cameras running.

Supremes

I have long stated we do not have a democracy in this country especially when special interest money, as we have seen in the health care debate, controls Congress. Now the Supreme court in a 5-4 decision, which really looks like "legislating from the bench", opened the doors to unlimited corporate money in political affairs. This is open season on bribery and will change the politics of this country.

As an individual it is difficult to be heard especially when lobbyist with their large bank accounts have much more access to Congress. Thirty years ago their were only a handful of lobbyist and now they are numbered in the thousands and when members of Congress retire or are voted out they join the payroll of lobbyist. Now the bank account of corporate lobbyist is unlimited, thanks to the Supremes.

Be aware in the next round of elections misinformation will abound. It will come from corporations intent on swaying public opinion and convincing them to vote for the corporate approved candidate.

Kiss your democracy goodbye it is now a plutocracy.

Weather

Wow, a first for California, at least in my life. I have seen the TV interrupted with weather warnings in the mid west but never on the west coast. Just a few minutes ago we had a weather warning for tonight and tomorrow, thunder, hail, high winds, etc. It has been raining heavy for the last two days and tomorrow will be worse. Roads are closed, trees are down, schools are closed, power was out all day and it is getting worse? I know we need the rain but I prefer a steady downpour to high winds and lightning.

Cat and Mouse

The cat dies in the morning and early the same night a mouse shows up in the loft. I'm beginning to think the mice know more about this house than I do. Unfortunately Mr. or Mrs. Mouse met an untimely fate caused by their taste for peanut butter. I tried to golf him but he was too quick and my golf swing is very rusty. So far no mouse search parties have been sighted.

Reading

Read to a boy, make him happy for the moment, teach him to read and make him happy for a lifetime. Reading is one of the great pleasures in life. So many books too little time. My personal preference is for nonfiction, I would like to think I've learned something after every read. I find a good author and then proceed to read all their books, I think I've read all of John McPhee's books. If I bought all these books I would be broke, the library is a great resource. I go to the book store, research interesting titles, then check them out at the library. Most of the time the library either has the book or is in the process of getting it. Sometimes the waiting period is a couple months but I'm patient. About once a month I'll buy a book from my favorite book store and then donate it to the library when I'm finished.

Last week was another fun read. A friend recommended a book, I happen to see it at the library and checked it out. It sat by the bed unopened a couple nights. Finally feeling very sleepy one evening I opened the book up expecting to read a few pages before dozing off. Four hours later and into the wee hours of the morning I was fully engrossed. Eventually I went to bed only to wake up, grab the book and continue reading. I finished the book within 24 hours. It is like the whole process picks you up and places you in some kind of neverland until the read is completed. Try it sometime and remember, outside of a dog a book is man's best friend and of course inside of a dog it is too dark to read.

A Curious Thing

I always have a book by the bed and like to read before turning the light out. This isn't about the book or reading it is about the strange occurrence of time. It has happened many many times. I decide it is time to put down the book and turn out the light and the time is 10pm, exactly. Now you are saying I'm peeking at the clock and know what time it really is but no that couldn't be further from the truth. I may read a couple pages, a chapter or several chapters, when the eyes start closing I fold up the book, look at the clock and bingo it is 10pm, exactly. Sure there are times when it is 9:50pm or 10:20pm but the number of nights when it is 10pm exactly is freaky or surreal and it has been happening for years.