The Best Revenge

Nobody Told Me There’d Be Days Like These

It’s strange. I do not blog for two years and the world goes crazy. I suppose you can blame me for the madness........ “Why don’t you write about what is going on anymore?” I have heard that from several of my friends regarding world events. Well, I tell them when they sober up, I really can’t add to the state of the world with my words and do it justice. It is all there for us to see and feel. The world of these last few years is better than any fiction Hollywood could create. Take the new plague - COVID 19. I have seen movies with the theme of a deadly disease haunting the population, and it looks like camp fun compared with our reality. Tinseltown has heroes and villains that move around in a plot line. You know, the brave man who fights for humanity, slays the evil bureaucrats that want to profit from misfortune, saves the world, and gets the gal in the end - where, they will live happily ever after until the sequel and another disease aimed at the box office dollar. Usually, the savior for the world is played by Tom Cruise, but, if he is out playing Scientologist, Bruce Willis can fill in and be our guardian...... But, as I’ve said, today’s world doesn’t need screenwriters to embellish things. It is all in our lives, a nagging fear not only that we can become sick but that reality has become unreality. A nightmare dream where no matter how much you struggle to wake yourself up, you just can’t. I thought 9/11 was the biggest thing in our lifetime. It sure was ( and, still is, a game changer). However, COVID dwarfs 9/11 by far. When things do, hopefully, calm down, picking up the pieces of the world will also be an eye opener. Examples do not immediately present itself to the mind but we all know things we used to be able to do will not be regular form anymore. I’m talking safety procedures. How we must still practice a reduced way of social distancing and health care....... And, then, there is the work issue. During the pandemic, working from home was the new norm. Most businesses shifted to not having their employees come in and, instead, stay in the comforts and safety of their abodes. This was sound advice, safety practiced and rewarded. But, it also gave a glimpse into the future of the work force and how business will be done. Before COVID, business’s were already fleeing from the office to everyone’s front porch. If you can work from home, do so. We don’t mind. Well, there are good and bad sides to this way of commerce. The good is that with less employees at a traditional business site, the risks of problems and arguments and lawsuits decrease. Economically, it’s cheaper to have less people around. Yes, the bosses know that home bound workers screw around a lot when they should be technically working. But, it is “ out of sight, out of mind”. Plus, on bad weather days, who the hell wants to get in their cars or take the train to come into work. Just stay home, the axiom feeling is, and be comfortable......... Now, the downside of working from home is just as obvious:people are losing their jobs. I’m talking the salesmen and the retail people. The secretaries and the office people. The older worker out of date with modern practices and the teenager looking for their first job. All of these people, plus, many faceless others, are squeezed out by the convenience of having business owners seeing the P & L on their monthly reports and realizing that not seeing John or Betty actually increases their profits. We know that Amazon and few other companies are co-conspirators in this way of doing things. Yes, I know that ordering online is easy and requires no effort from the buyer other than using your fingers. No hassle shopping, no crowds to bug you, you immediately get what you want and it will be there tomorrow. I’ve done it but when I shop online, I do it gingerly and after I have exhausted all of the other options of actually going out into the world and seeking my desires. I’m old-fashioned. I like to support business - especially, when they are small. But, I would never tell anyone what to do. That would be presumptuous. However, a warning I must dangle : be careful what you wish and shop for. You may, one day, find yourself being expendable......... And, this leads me into my job racket. Education. While I am not a teacher, I am Support Staff. I do the Study Halls at the school I work with. It is a good, honest job, with no strings attached when I leave for the day. Good people surround me, both students and staff. Pleasurable to come to work. In the last few years, technology has caught education in its vise and the process of e-learning, home learning, is fast coming up. Again, like regular business, it has its good and bad parts to it. It will be the wave of the future - the future is actually here and breathing heavily - and I wonder if my younger co-workers see the handwriting no longer on the chalkboard but on the virtual wall. I’m 54 and I’m playing out the string until retirement, but, someone coming into education in their twenties and thirties now has to be realistic, I’m hoping. Because, like the Mom-and-Pop store on the corner that Amazon and Walmart just ate up, e-learning will soon make brick-and-mortar schools obsolete. Very soon, the days when having ten or more teachers teaching history will be history. Why have all of them on the payroll when, with home schooling, you only need one or two of them in the department to communicate and educate the students? It will be a mass disappearance of traditional teaching. And, the Support Staff and school security and kitchen and maintenance industries will fall by the wayside also. It will be the proverbial domino effect, a chain reaction. It is already starting. The COVID virus lit the match with home learning being the way things will be done. The toe in the water moment. And, many will have their jobs drown. Not now. I give it within the next ten or fifteen years.......... So, I guess the connecting tissue with all of this must be the COVID virus. Not only health issues but the boomerang echoes. Our collective ears are ringing from this sound. I purposely have stayed away from writing about the divisions and debates that have raged since Day One. In social media, rantings and arguments raged. What the scientists and politicians are doing and the people being pro or con with these actions. Of course, with Free Speech, we all have the right to express our opinions. A healthy and respectable dialogue is always welcome. Still, I have seen the darkest side. Some people, whom I considered rational, acting very irrational. Despite solid evidence supporting a fact, you run into a wall of defiance and a lack of common sense. To each his own. The younger me - a little brasher, definitely thinner - would have taken them on in a spirited debate ( usually, when alcoholic spirits were present). I’ve given up trying to do this. I will argue a viewpoint when asked but I no longer argue with my mouth pressed against an opponent’s ear. Let them believe what they want. One insight I’ve also learned with age is that I have not walked in the other person’s shoes in their walk through life. Whatever ideas they may have - whatever biases, whatever views - they formed through the roads they traveled in this world. They have brought back life’s experiences to form judgments and thoughts that I may not share, but, I must indulge. I just hope those views aren’t warped by bitterness and hate. Those people, whom I do pity, will never see the light of reason in their minds. It will always be a darkened tunnel they live in, a blackness of the soul........ I can be cynical but I am not a cynic. I like to see, as Lincoln famously said, the better angels of our nature. It is there in humans. With many, you have to dig deeply into finding that well of goodness. I do believe in God’s plan. I am not arrogant enough to try to explain that plan. I just believe it firmly. And, I love how God dishes out Karma! Don’t mess with the Almighty! All of these bad recent moments are happening for a reason. Again, I do not pretend to know that reason. I am NOT supposed to know. But, I am firm in my belief that we will get through this and fight another day....... Until that day, I wish you all good luck and, mostly, good health. And, I look for more musings from me, if it interests you. I remain faithfully yours.........Stay Gold, Ponyboy........

Cosby

The routine had to deal with Noah talking to God. Noah had a nervous timber in his voice, like someone who was about to be smited. But, God was reaching out, wanting a favor from the poor soul. The favor was simple: build an Ark, collect two of every animal species, and board them on the vessel to save Mankind. Does not sound like a difficult task, eh? Well, Bill Cosby saw the humor in this famous tale from the Bible and gave a welcome rendition of the conversation between the Almighty and his Chosen Ark Driver. And, with everything Mr. Cosby did, he did it sidesplittingly funny........... I grew up listening to Bill Cosby albums. His bit about Noah was just a slice of the truly inventive mind of a genius stand-up comedian. His records sold in the millions. These were the days of the Great Cult Comedy Albums. Performers from all walks of comedy--- from Bob Newhart to Redd Foxx to George Carlin to Steve Martin--- presented their special wit on vinyl and the records sold in the volume numbers of rock records. But, somehow, Bill Cosby stood out. Partly, because of his observational view of life [which, consists on looking at everyday life threw a skewed eye and reporting back those visions to the masses for comic recognition], and, partly because of his appeal as an engaging, comfortable presence. In a time of unrest and upheaval, Cosby was the gentle comic, friendly and approachable in demeanor, as comfortable and cozy as a pair of old slippers. Parents could leave the room when Cosby was on TV because his act was ''clean'', meaning no profanity or hot topics to scare the parents. And, he used that clean humor as a social commentator. A decade before Jerry Seinfeld and his peers arrived on the scene, Bill Cosby had the national funny bone easily within reach. He crossed racial and gender lines and age groups. But, underneath all of this, he was a funny man that we welcomed into our homes........ No kid who grew up after 1970 can never say that they never watched ''Fat Albert'' on Saturday mornings. It was required viewing for children. ''Fat Albert'' was a comic invention from Cosby through animation. Cartoon humor via a ghetto setting. But, Cosby was smart. He did not use the background of his characters for political and social statements. No, he aimed the show where it belonged: kids, just waking up on a Saturday morning after the grind of a weeklong school headache, laughing as ''Fat Albert'' encountered various people in his life. If there was a message in the show, it was a special lesson of tolerance and diversity. For many white kids watching [like me] ''Fat Albert'' was the first contact with someone of another color. And, Bill Cosby knew this and exploited this opening in most positive ways. He could have easily caved in and made the show all about race but the man knew his audience did not want this. Little kids are color-blind and accept their fellow playmates at face value [a shame adults do not practice this]. ''Fat Albert'' was just as the name sounded: a fat kid who faced friendly teasing. But, he overcame this bias and triumphed through pure goodness of heart. While there was humor at his expense, it was never mean-spirited. More like you would tease your sibling or best friend. Cosby was smart enough to see that ''Fat Albert'' was the underdog that appealed to all children. ''Fat Albert'' was signpost for the emerging generation of TV watching kids. And, that sign said: ''Love Your Neighbor''....... Bill Cosby continued to be popular as the years rambled on. He toured the country and made us laugh on talk shows and specials. He also made prime time his home from his breakthrough role in ''I SPY'' to his gym teacher drama/comedy vehicle ''The Bill Cosby Show''. Somehow, though, Cosby at night did not click on television. While the shows were well-done and in no way failures, something was missing. It was like he was surrounded by a concept that did not measure up to his talent. Bill Cosby was always ''Family''. He needed that support around him in a sitcom....... Of course, he found this in 1984 with ''The Cosby Show''. We all watched this program, I really do not need to elaborate on how wonderful the show was or the chemistry between the cast members. You just tuned in on Thursday night every week at 7:00 pm. Millions did and Bill Cosby grew even bigger in the national consciousness. He was ''Dad'' for an entire country, a comic that reached a plateau few performers ever truly reach: A BELOVED FIGURE. Through eight seasons he reigned untouched in the public's mind. We knew his TV family and his real-life family. He talked about his kids and his wife, Camille. He sold himself like the Jello pudding product he pitched: as an All-American Good Guy......... Well, we know now that there was the Other Side. And, this side was repulsive. He cheated on his wife [not a shocking revelation usually for a public figure, but it was for his reputation]. And, he drugged many of these women and raped them. This shocked and stunned his legion of fans. Again, infidelity is old news in show business. But, to take advantage of these women by forcing himself on them, whether they were conscious or not, threw us all. Some of these women were paid off with their silence, some just suffered silently. You can have a debate among yourselves about the timing of these disclosures and the reasons behind many of them coming out after decades of saying nothing. But, these incidents DID happen and in alarming frequency. Bill Cosby preyed on these women and took advantage of their trust [and, I'm sure in some of the cases, their naivete]. This is FACT, not a canard. While Cosby now concedes that he was a serial philanderer, he denies that anything was not consensual. This is hard to believe, given the volume of his accusers. You can write off one or two accusations. Not dozens and dozens. The man did this. And, today, in a courtroom, he was found guilty of 3 counts of ''Aggravated Indecent Assault''. He is 80 years old and could face the rest of his life in prison if the judge so sentences him. And, he should......... We always have to be very careful when we pick our heroes in life. Most times, they do not deserve exulted status. They are public figures who have achieved a certain notoriety, whether good [or, in some cases, they are celebrated for the bad] and are put on a pedestal in the culture. Their foibles and dark sides are not exposed [at least at first] because we want the HERO to be everything good and wholesome. They are nice on TV or in the movies, so, therefore, they must be nice and wonderful in real life. We feel that we KNOW them, so, we make excuses for any bad behavior or transgression. Or, we refuse to believe they did such a thing. The older I get, the less shocked I am when someone is exposed for their true self. But, every once in a while, there is a revelation that is a communal public shock. Bill Cosby and his lifestyle is the latest. At first, we all did not buy it. But, as story after story was aired in sordid detail, it was hard to shake off. He is a scumbag piece of garbage who deserves everything he gets....... When Bill Cosby does die, he will hear the Voice Of God, sounding like his long-ago routine about Noah and God. But, this will not be a Voice born out of comic invention. No, this Voice From Above will be his final Judgment. And, God will not be laughing..........

A Royal Toast

''Dear Harry and Meghan...... Let me be among the many that wish you two kids the best in your upcoming nuptials!!! Like hundreds of millions of mere mortals, I want the best for both of you. Young couples are struggling all over the world with new matrimony and I expect you two rascals to walk that fine line of the beginner and the novice. Naturally, money will be a constant worry. Most couples start out slowly. Perhaps, you two can make do with a small apartment by where you work. Rents are high in England, from what I hear. Hell, you might be forced to share a flat with another couple of Royals just to make ends meet. Or, you may have to move in with the in-laws. Harry, I've heard that your family has a few extra rooms in that old clunker of a subsidized house that your family has somehow managed to hold on to for generations. Maybe, just maybe, Mom and Dad Windsor will let you sleep in the basement. Sure, it will be chilly come wintertime, but---- wink!!! wink!!!---- I'm sure you lovebirds can create your own warmth!!!........ On that subject--- sleeping together---- I'm sure that you both are virgins because you have never been married before and I know you do not want to go against your sainted religion. Take it slow, kids. I know you two have the hots for each other. Young people and their hormones!!!! But, just think back to the sex education you two learned in school. Meghan, you were raised American, so, I know what you learned. Harry, the history of English education is legendary, with public schools being very tolerant and encouraging to their youngsters. Why, I've even heard of headmasters actually feeling bad after breaking a cane over the head of a misguided demon child. So, I'm positive that the sex talk was done with the utmost care. Take it from an old unmarried man like myself: take your time with The Virgin Meghan Markle. She will not disappear from your sight if you wait until she is ready. Treat her with respect, kindness, a keen sense of awe. She loves you and your pauper ways. She is in love with you!!!! That is all she wants!!!! When genuine love rules the ranch, sex is the cherry on the cake!!!! So, take it easy with her cherry. Treat her like a Princess!!!!!...... Another matter you two should be aware of is when you both feel comfortable enough with each other to start farting freely. Come, come, we all do it, kids!!!! Nothing to be ashamed of!!!! I'm sure it was never mentioned during the pre-nup, but, it will happen and you will release the glorious freedom from your insides. The sign of commitment is the loud raspy rip first thing in the morning. At first, Harold, you will think someone is sounding revelry by bugle. But, reality will tell you that she and her bowels are awake and, also, what she had for dinner. Hold her close, after the odor disappears. Tell her to pull your finger so you two can be as one.......... I assume you two have talked children. This is the most important part of any marriage after discussing doing a threesome. You both look like you are kids at heart. Harry, you have that imp look that your Father/Cousin has. Meghan, I don't know your heritage but I know you come from Los Angeles, that great city of sincerity and good feelings and real body parts. You must have been raised well by your Mom and Dad, Tad and Bambi. With both of you being raised by good stock, I'm positive that, by osmosis, your offspring will be prized children. Perhaps, they may even grow up and not have to worry about the normal things we all have to deal with. But, take it slow!!!! You do not want multiple children around the same age group!!! That would put a strain on your finances, and Harry, you might have to get a second job at WalMart......... Your wedding will be small, I'm positive. The neighborhood church that seats but a few. A video photographer that is a family friend. Be careful on not going over the limit on whom you invite!!! And, keep track of the gifts and who gave you what. That way, when you go to other weddings, you will have the proper amount to give. Sigh. I hope, since you are registered at Target, that you do not get a lot of toasters......... And, then, dear Meghan, you have your new in-laws. Do not be blinded by their beauty and electric personalities. Believe it or not, they have a hidden side. From Queen Elizabeth and her notorious nude wrestling pool parties, to Prince Charles and his famous love affair with the kid from ''Deliverance'' , the Windsors are a randy bunch. Sure, they can be a sporty crew--- like when the Queen likes to get drunk on ripple and show strangers her balls. But, please have some patience with this fun-loving bundle of dreamers. Take a cue from the sainted Princess Diana on how to handle them..... Ah, maybe, not with this last thought. You do not wanna die ''accidently'' in a Paris tunnel..........  There is more, so much more, to your marriage that you will experience. Take time and smell the roses. Look around at the wonder of your union and how you are everyone's fairy tale life!!!!!........ One more thing to look around at if you have time. Look around at what is going on in your home country of England. Take a family chauffeured drive around the cities and countryside. See what life is really like. Look at the poverty, which has grown worse as the decades have gone on. Look at the starving children, many of them still abused by the corporate punishment being given out in the sadistic school system. Look at the men and women who struggle mightily every day, as little by little, their health and spirits are shattered by continual gloom. Look at the horrible health care that these people do get--- waiting for their turn to have quality care in what passes for hospitals. And, then, look at your family history, Harry, and see how the Windsor Family--- the so-called ''Royal Family''---- have done nothing to stop the suffering. Your vast fortune was built on the blood of others, the so-called ''masses'' of your country. You know, the people who are not the ''beautiful people'' that you have been raised to believe you are. The ones that you tax and take from without any thought of what it is doing to their lives. The people who you pose for and egotistically court their adulation, putting yourself on pedestals because you feel you are so much better than the poor unwashed....... Well, I've got news for you both: you are nothing to me. I have forever wondered why the ''Royals'' have gotten away with murder for centuries of abuse. Yes, I get the schoolgirl fantasy of marrying your Prince Charming, but it does not hold water to reality. Why this country of Britain--- with more working class than even America----has not risen up and overthrown these charlatans and their caste system is beyond me........ So, you two will have to excuse my indifference at all of the hoopla at the engagement news. I do not care, as, I'm assuming, most people do not. Perhaps, you two are decent people---I hope so. Maybe, you will be the generation that wipes away the tyranny of the past and present. Maybe, you two will lead a revolution, kinda like what we did when we separated from the Mother Country in 1776. But, I do not think so. It is an endless cycle of abuse, the classic example of the very rich taking advantage of the rest of the population. You two are photogenic, I grant you that. Many people will follow your every move. For those poor souls, I have to question the pathetic state of their lives that they follow with interest the very people who represent the family who have shattered their dreams....... Piss off!!!!....... Jim Scoleri, American''............

Random Thoughts: November 2017

I have not written in a while. I'd like to say that it is because I have been very busy trying to solve the world's problems, inventing cures for diseases, or, getting laid a lot. The last one has some ring of truth to it, but, on the whole, the reason I have not written is simple laziness. Oh, I excel in this department!!! Happily!!! Joyfully!!! If I could skip like I did when I was younger---- which kept me out of the military--- I would be skipping around and singing to the highest mountaintops my joy of laziness. But, since I am lazy, I will not be doing this. Laziness takes a lot of work........ We are a little over a year since Donald Trump was elected President, in an election that surprised everyone [including, I'm sure, Mr. Trump himself]. So, what has happened with him being in the White House and the fallout? About what I expected. I voted for the weasel knowing full well that it was gonna be a shitshow. Why? Well, I did not want HER. I could not look myself in the mirror if I voted for Hillary Clinton. And, I would not change that one year later. That does not mean, however, that I am a fan of President Trump. Far from it. When I write that his Presidency is turning out like I thought it would, it gives me no satisfaction, just the sad and fearful truth that I was right about him all along. His Presidency, so far, has become a national car crash of scandals, unfounded statements, and scary thoughts that this man is quite unstable. I do not know if the Russians played a part in the election results. It would not surprise me if they did. Until some strong and unbiased evidence is brought forth against him, we have to assume his victory is legit. Still, Donald Trump as President Of The United States does not warm my heart. The fact he is ruthless and self-centered and egotistical is not fresh news. Name me someone in politics who isn't? My deep concern is his temper and his unfiltered mouth. Some applaud this cowboy behavior, as if it is a sign of his macho demeanor. It is not. He is on the Bully Pulpit and he enjoys swinging his animus at real and perceived enemies. Just because you act tough doesn't mean that you are tough. but, please, someone take away his Twitter account!!! In the middle of the night, when he is taking a dump, our President has his insecurities and phobias inflamed and he takes to social media. I do that too, but, I'm writing a fucking blog, not running the most powerful country in the world. His ramblings, which can sound deranged, are of a frightening nature. It stuns me that a man this smart [and, I do believe he is smart] cannot just let criticisms roll off his chest and talk about how well things are going. The economy is going gangbusters, investments are up, the Stock Market is rocking and rolling. Since people usually vote with their wallets, try telling the world about how well they are doing. But, no. He attacks with venomous rage, like a 1st grader, and scares the shit out of everyone who does not adore him. And, the media is no help to him. They hate him and have an all-out war against every move that he makes. And, he falls for their antics, hook, line, and sinker. Let us hope that the next few years are of sound mind and body from Trump. It has to get better. I fear it will not......... Hollywood is taking a big blackeye with all of the sexual misconduct and harassment claims being leveled almost daily now. First, it was the deplorable Harvey Weinstein. Then, Kevin Spacey was next on deck. Louis C.K. followed quickly. And, now, the politicians like Roy Moore, George H. W. Bush, and Al Franken are this week's fodder. There will be more, perhaps, even more shocking from what we have heard. But, is anyone TRULY surprised to hear this? You may be shocked to hear that a favorite movie star is not a Knight In Shining Armor. I will not be. I long ago gave up on public people being saints. Many are vipers, doing anything they can to further themselves. Not all, but, quite a few. And, with power comes corruption of values that you are supposed to hold in your soul. That Kevin Spacey would force himself on young boys, that Weinstein [ a true terror of human behavior] would take advantage of women is old news. What I worry about, though, is the men and women who are coming out now to jump on the gravy train. They are out there, hucksters who see the money and fame and notoriety and can't resist themselves. The Jerry Springer audience who are misguided enough to accuse an innocent person just so they can feel large. Reputations may be ruined, careers tarnished. It takes away from the true victims of abuse [both famous and mere mortals] . Like anyone else, I want the guilty punished. But, I also want the accusation liars to be punished also. It is a dangerous minefield to accuse someone of improper behavior. If it did happen, justice must be served. Still, with my cynicism of some of my fellow men and women, I see situations and lives that may explode. Years ago, I worked with a guy who put 40 years into the company we worked for. Side by side with him for most of those years sat his loyal female assistant. One day, they had a furious fight over business. It fell over into the personal area. The next day, this 40 year veteran was called in on sexual harassment charges. It was complete nonsense. Long story short, he had to get a lawyer and six months went by before his assistant admitted that her charges were false against him. He was cleared by the company but he had a dark cloud following him until he finally retired. People whispered about him, no longer could he kid around and tell a woman that her new haircut looked nice. He left the company a broken man. There are many stories like this in the world. In today's society, accusations go hand in hand with guilt. Again, I want the abusers punished. I also want the innocent to not be fed to the wolves........ Charles Manson is dead. The most notorious murderer of modern times finally met his Maker. It was a long time coming. The fact that he lived as long as he did is something God can only explain. It is an affront to us all that we even know his name and story. A scumbag who ''preached'' his half-ass mantra to a bunch of smelly, drop-out hippies--- many of them sharing the murderous rage that flowed within him. The Gospel According To Charlie stated that a blacks against the whites revolution was brewing. Charlie and his ''Family'' would hide in the desert until after this revolution. Charlie believed that black people would triumph but they would need a leader to guide them to world domination. Enter Charles Manson and his ''Helter Skelter'' scenario. Of course, this made no sense, but, try explaining this to his disciples and their acid-soaked brains. The gullible believed Charlie and followed his every whim. That the real story of the Manson Family murders---- the music business rejecting Manson as a recording artist---- meant nothing to these animals. Charlie was their ''Jesus Christ'' and they followed his lead exactly. And, murdered for him. Popular belief has it that Manson was one of the killers on the nights of the Tate-LaBianca slayings but Charlie never killed anyone those nights. He just planned them. That is not to say, though, that Manson never murdered anyone in his life. Charlie always claimed to have put ''five in the ground'', meaning bloodshed. Possibly, he killed more than that. We will never know. One persistent rumor for years was that he murdered singer Bobby Fuller [''I Fought The Law''] in 1968, a year before the Sharon Tate slayings. Whatever his murder history is, he is forever a blight on our existence. Sadly, Charles Manson will never be forgotten. Ask the average person on the street to name his victims. Chances are, they cannot. But, everyone knows Charles Manson. It is wrong, I know. But, it is fact. There is an old theory that one reason why we are all fascinated by murderers is that we sit comfortably and safe in our homes while we read about the terrible exploits of these killers. You are nice and snug and safe in your home, not at all in danger. But, as we all love horror movies, we love the stories of the macabre. From a safe distance. Leno and Rosemary LaBianca felt that same serenity the night Charles Manson broke into their home, tied them up, and then left while his ''Family'' bludgeoned them to death. There is a small but loud lunatic fringe that has always embraced Charles Manson. They see him as anti-establishment, a true rebel. And, he is celebrated by this frightening group of outcasts. Guns N Roses has even recorded a song by him. To tell these misguided fools what Manson really is would be a waste of breath. People will believe what they will believe. The important thing right now is that he is dead. Long may he roast in Hell........ The 2017 ''Mark Twain Award'' has been given to the great David Letterman. It is a lifetime achievement honor bestowed to a comedian that has made a mark on the national consciousness. They sure picked a winner with Dave. His influence on comedy has been enormous for the last 35 years. Every talk show host on TV now owes an enormous debt to Letterman and his skewed sense of the absurd. Also, stand-up comedy. Dave played the wise, smart-ass observer of the everyday foibles of the population. He became a spokesman for the masses, the Mark Twain of modern times. So, it is richly deserved that he has received such an honor. Miss you, Dave........ I also miss the Chicago Cubs. Partly, I miss seeing the boys playing exciting baseball. And, also, because the Bears and Hawks and Bulls look dead in the water. The Hawks still have fire and might go far this year if their veterans start kicking it into gear. Lets hope, because the other two winter sports teams in town already look like they lost before they hit the playing arena. The Bears have a highly-anticipated prospect in Mitch Trubisky as QB. He has been spotty so far but that is to be expected, at first, from a rookie. He needs to keep playing and then we will see what we have after this season. The real fear in the Bears--- besides having no wide receivers or secondary--- is an befuddled coaching staff led by John Fox. Every time they show Fox on the sidelines, he looks like a dementia victim. He looks clueless out there, like he doesn't understand how the game is played and what city he is in. And, only the Bears can not just lose a challenge call but also the possession, as happened recently against the Packers. The organization drafts lousy, there is infighting among the inbred McCaskey family, and a dwindling interest in the NFL overall. The Bears will always be the Number 1 team in town. However, the Cubs have always been nipping at their heels in terms of popularity. The Bears better watch out or they could be overtaken. As for the Bulls, start playing ''Taps''. They look so bad out there that the ''Little Sisters Of The Poor'' could kick their asses. Long ago I stopped watching the NBA when it became a hoodlum sport, so, I am no expert on teams. However, I know a bad team in sports and this Bulls team is awful. So, now, we must look to spring for more than just the nice weather that will be awaiting us. The Cubs should be strong again, and, the White Sox may be the sleeper team in baseball. I am still hoping for a future World Series between them. That would be wild. Even John Fox could not screw that up...... Well........

A Boy Not Born

It was just not in the cards for me. Becoming a father. It seemed to, for some unexplained reason, slip through the cracks of life for me. I always wanted to be a father. I thought it would happen. And, at various times in my life, there were a few women who seemed to want to be the mother of my children. But it did not happen. I have comes to terms with this loss. Even at my age of 51, if, by some chance, I would become a father tomorrow, my child would be graduating with a father who would be 69 years old [this statement is not meant to draw a laugh]. Just about everyone who knows me well has stated on several occasions to me that they thought I would be a terrific parent. Perhaps, I would have been. While I certainly would have made the standard mistakes all novice parents make, I believe that my innate love of family would overcome the obstacles that are par for the course. Alas, these words ring hollow: it will not happen. I have reconciled and accepted life's verdict on this subject. But, at night--- you know, the dark night, when sad thoughts and broken dreams speak most loudly--- I wonder about the child that never was to be......... I see the child in my Mind's Eye. The child is a male. He would be named after my own Dad--- the child's proud ancestor who will forever be the standard of a fine human being. The name is James Martin Scoleri. But, in family tradition, he will be called ''Jimmy'' by all who come into contact with him. The child will inherit strong features: a shock of thick brown hair, dark eyes, a good nose, and a strong mouth that flash teeth any shark would be envious of. The child, as he grows into a man, will grow to average height, nothing overpowering, nothing too dominant. But, that would be down the line. For now, he is a child and child's world he would encompass....... In that world, there would all of the joys that a child must enjoy. There would be friends, there would games. There would be fun, there would be laughter [for what better sound in the world is there than a child laughing?!!]. And, more than anything, that child will enjoy the increasing rare existence of JUST BEING A CHILD!!! There would be no outside influences to taint the innocence. His own father [whom will always be called DAD] would giving all of his energy to ensure that the little boy is protected from the cruelties of life--- even though the bubble will burst eventually....... The boy will be raised with respect and manners. In a world that seems to forget these practices, the boy's Dad will teach these most basic kindness traits to the boy until they become an unconscious part of his nature. But, the Dad will be conscious himself on how much to put on the young boy's plate. The Dad realizes that children must not have deep pressure--- maybe, a gentle kick in the pants, once in a while. The child would be raised to not fear or disrespect his parents. The child would be taught right from wrong, good from bad, kindness given and received. And, when the boy makes a mistake, as all children [and, crucially, parents] do, the boy will learn from those mistakes and not be scolded or put down. The child will never feel the sting of embarrassment or a sense of failure. Insecurity, common to all human beings, will be dealt with through optimism and encouragement to feel good about yourself. And, the child will never seek out other children to bully or pick on. This will be one of the paramount lessons taught the boy by his parents. Unacceptable behavior and cruelty will not come close to the child. The Dad will never permit it........... After teaching the child the first years of life, the Dad, mostly, along with praying for good health for the boy, will stand back and survey his work and hope that the boy is on the right road to becoming a good human being. Some things, naturally, will have to be corrected. No person is perfect. Hopefully, the fruits of the Dad's labor have not been in vain......... The boy will come into focus. Personality will be blossoming. In the fine tradition of the boy's family, a strong sense of humor will be pronounced. This is key becomes this will serve the boy in good stead in the coming years. This, along with being a kind person, will connect him with the people in the outside world. A good sense of humor walks miles in people's hearts and minds. It makes someone feel good about themselves and the person serving up the laughs. It will also make vast armies of friends for the boy. As the boy becomes active in the outside world---- and, his personality becomes stronger and more forthright---- the collection of friends through good feelings will bond the boy with people who will become his secondary family, a family that he can sail through life with....... But, the boy will know to make the right kind of friends. Because he has been taught this task from his first flicker of memory. The boy will be taught whom to accept and whom to stay away from. The boy will know to stay away from danger and trouble. The boy will not become in any way involved with someone who will do him or anyone else any harm. And, the boy will know when to tell his Dad if the situation becomes a problem. Open door communication--- the feeling the boy innate knows that he can tell his Dad anything---- will be a benchmark to their relationship......... The boy will respect school and his teachers. Sure, the Dad will say to the boy, there is a lot of unnecessary nonsense to going to school. But, it must be tolerated and schoolwork will always be honored. The boy will never be pressured to get straight ''A's''. That is the unwelcome bridge to putting too much pressure on a child. A simple staple of trying your best will be good enough. The Dad will be close by, not only to monitor that the work that will be done, but also, to be a helping hand when the boy gets stuck. This will always be another hallmark to their relationship: the Dad will always be there. Its a lifetime job that he proudly signed up for........As the boy grows older, the familiar feelings of unrest that invade all teenagers will come to the surface. The Dad knows this is a very tricky time--- judgment day for all that has come before. All previous rules are thrown out of the window because the rules have changed. In fact, a new set of rules will be thrust front and center. Conflict, almost unheard of in the formative years, will rear its ugly head and become Public Enemy Number 1. The Dad will grasp this and try to ride the unsteady wave of teenage moodiness. Both child and man will be swimming in these treacherous waters, each trying to keep the other's head above high water. There will be times when both will be sinking. But, with a spot of luck---- and balls of iron in both males--- the storm of puberty will blow away and a deepening bond between the two will be the welcome end result........ And, then, there are girls. Talk about a LANDMINE!! No rule book has ever been written about the most complex of all relationships: the male/female dynamic. Oh, yes, there are books and so-called helpful guides, but, the Dad will tell the boy that, quite frankly, all bets are off when love comes into your life. The only thing the Dad can tell the son in all certainty is the plain fact that you treat a woman like a rare jewel, a wondrous creature from God's hands. They are to be worshipped and adorned, treated with kindness and respect. They must be given freedom and no restraints. They are allowed to disagree with you and you are allowed to learn from them. A successful relationship must not have a dominant partner. Everything is equal. However, the man must never stop protecting the woman. It is a man's job, the Dad tells his son, to always be there for his love and to never abuse her or let someone else abuse her. You must never cheat on her, you must never strike your hand to her. You must listen and you must give solid advice. And, never stop adoring her.......... Finally, after the long road of childhood is over, a man emerges from the child. Hopefully, all the years of constant quality parenting has formed a successful young male human being. If the Dad has been somewhat successful in his role, the young man in front of him will make great strides in the world. The Dad----- with the equal partner is his life, the Mom---- will beam with pride on this creation of loving parents.......... In these dark musings that I sometimes have, I picture the son that I will never have. He is in the Other World, the world of the Unborn. At times, I feel he is so close to me that I can reach out and touch him and bring him to life. But, that touch will never be. He is my great What Might Have Been. There is a small part of me that feels guilty that I have not brought him to life. But, I also know that it is for the best. Perhaps, my life is more rewarding and successful without him here by my side. When my destiny was planned by Someone, it was decided that parenthood was not gonna be in my life. That is fine....... But, I cannot help but be moved by the image of a boy somewhere, in some form, waiting to play catch with me........

Let's Put On A Happy Face

God, it seems so long ago!! Another time, another place. A different life altogether. But, it was a magical time, all innocence and rapture. We were young then, too young. Yes, I am remembering the golden era when Facebook was fun........ So you love President Trump. So you hate President Trump. I've seen it. And, seen it. AND, SEEN IT!!! Good God almighty, when did Facebook become the dumping ground of political rantings and ravings? I cannot ever go on there and not be assaulted by the pro and con of Trump. Yes, you are most welcome to share your thoughts---that is why we are friends on FB. But, when it becomes so burdensome to read EVERY post on the subject of this man, I begin to reevaluate whether I can continue to have this social media communication going. Yes, I've done the same kind of rants. But, they are on a marginal-need-to-know-about-the issue-basis. It is not my every consuming thought of the day. Again, you have the right to espouse. I also have the right to not care........ I also do not want to see abused animals and deformed children. I know you care. So do I. However, we do not ----- I'm speaking for your audience of friends---- need to see the suffering and your outrage. It is a given that you are offended and saddened by the cruelty. What decent person would not be? But, with some I have a sneaky suspicion that part of posting this pain is to draw attention that they care. You know, in a macabre and dark way, they are using the subject of abuse to paint themselves as the caring sufferer of those abused. A saint who feels their pain. Well, I like to think it is true for most people that their outrage is a selfless act of human kindness. Most people I know are not so vain that the menace of abuse becomes their crutch to beg for applause. Still, I know a select few who practice the misery of others so they can spotlight themselves. These are the same people who have a loved one that is inflicted with a deadly disease and it curiously becomes about how hard it is on THEM instead of the patient......... I like fun people on Facebook. Someone who is as goofy as me. I like posts that make me laugh. I do not mind an educated post---- I like to learn something everyday. Even, if I do not agree with the post, a refreshing breeze of originality also goes a long way with me. Be creative. Tell me a funny observation or joke. Or, mostly, a poignant pang from the heart that will stay with me. I like the inspirational musings of a mind different from mine. I like to hear the stories of love. I love to see the baby pictures and the videos of first steps taken. I take pride in the pride of my family and friends. See, I like warm feelings and thoughts from the soul. It feels a hell of a lot better than someone's hard-on against a political candidate........ Too much free reign of thoughts and ideas can be costly. I have heard the stories about friendships broken in half over this last Presidential campaign. Violent, bitter words exchanged, forever separating decades of royal companionships. Personal attacks that should stay as friendly differences of opinion. I have never met a human being who agrees with every thought and feeling of mine. Nor do I seek such a person--- I have me to agree with. A lost art in our modern times is the joy of difference of expression. ''Viva La Difference!'', as the French proclaim. When a different wavelength of thought opens up, sometimes, a wonderful avenue of discovery of a new facet of life emerges. Something that you were quite sure of on Monday may be completely new territory on Friday. The joy of discovery. Not a day goes by that I am not wrong about something. Hopefully, it is a small mistake easily corrected. And, that correction is not a shot to the vanity of the speaker. Instead, it is an instrument of growth---human growth---a marvelous gift bestowed on all of us in our brains. But, the joy of new chapters of knowledge in life seems to be stifled in neutral, alarmingly, on Facebook. It is ''MY WAY IS RIGHT AND IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH ME, THEN YOU ARE A SIMPLETON!'' Those people [thankfully, in short supply in my orbit] are not my friends. Why would I or anyone else put up with such abuse? Stop polluting your hate and bitterness........ I have a secret weapon on Facebook now. I know I can trust you not to tell anyone. I am ''unfollowing'' people, while keeping them as ''friends''. Why? Well, it is because I feel that they are essentially good people to have around--- they are just going through a trough of bad moods. Hopefully, they will see the light and come back to the Fun Zone. So, I am giving them a temporary time-out without their knowledge. In time, I will check up on them and see how they are doing and if the bounce is back in their step. If so, I will ''follow''. If not, then sadly, I will delete. Call it a ''silent suspension'' of their rants........ I just want the Facebook brethren to be fun again. Show me your vacation photos [ Oh, on that. One item must be addressed: when you are vacation, get off of Facebook or any social media and ENJOY THE MOMENT!! It is not necessary to check in from every location or spot you are visiting. Save that for the ride home]. Lets all agree to leave the negativity about this last election in last year. What is done is done, whether your side won or lost. Go forward with good feelings. Leave the rants and down feelings to those who write blogs. Clearly, any idiot can write one........