Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The Lion of the Senate is dead. Senator Ted Kennedy succumbed to brain cancer last night, shortly before midnight. The Kennedy's are my favorite political family. I have a deep respect for all of them in spite of their human frailties. Ted Kennedy will go down in history as the most successful United States senator of the last 100 years. He was a liberal. He was a staunch supporter of those less fortunate than he and his family. He never feared to negotiate with the opposition for the betterment of the people of the United States. He was a true leader. He was an eminently successful senator. In his personal life, he grew and developed into a great example of overcoming adversity and doing the the right thing. The right thing in regards to human life, well-being and atonement. I can't help thinking about the family reunion he is currently having with the deceased members of his clan. Well done Teddy. 

Rush Limbaugh, if nothing else, is a masterful speaker. He has the gift. The gift of taking his political views, applying those views to his political opponents, and making his political opponents great because of Rush's own views. Of course these opponents must be dead or otherwise debilitated for Rush to succeed. You see the dead can not defend themselves. That's the core of Rush's plan. Listening to his afternoon radio program one may erroneously perceive Rush as eulogizing Ted Kennedy. He was saying that Ted Kennedy was great because of his desire to live. To live free from government control because of his private health care plan. Rush took this fact and concluded that the Democrat's attempt to reform health care was erroneous. What a louse. The Democrat's health care plan is being misinterpreted and attacked by the Republicans for one reason. The reason being that they want the plan and President Obama to fail. Most of them have no desire to negotiate with the Democrats. This is a mistake. The Republicans are holding Americans hostage for perceived future political gain. Shame on the conservative, right wing Republicans.

Big Brother is gearing up for the final five. Jeff seems to have the power, but he made an irreparable mistake by using the POV and putting Russell on the block. My prediction is that Jeff will fall from power quickly. If either of his two adversaries win HOH tomorrow night, he will be evicted next Thursday. He should have kept the nominees status quo. Thus, assuring the eviction of one of his original adversaries. His best chance of winning the game would have been to be in the final two with Russell. I think Jeff made a fatal blunder and will be disgraced. The next few weeks should be very interesting. Of course anything can happen and situations change quickly, but my most educated prediction is that Michelle will win the game. If Russell is evicted tomorrow and Jeff next Thursday, then that leaves Jordan, Natalie, Kevin and Michelle. According to my prediction, of the final four Michelle is the most competitive. We will see what happens. 

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

At the end of Big Brother on Sunday the announcer made reference to the effect that a houseguest was removed from the game. He said that details will be revealed on the Tuesday show. I just knew that Chima had to be the one. I did a search on Goggle. Yes, Chima had been removed from the show for not following the Big Brother rules. Live feeds are available 7/24 from the web for a fee. Viewers who subscribe to this feeds know what's happening instantaneously. Drama queen Chima released a statement saying that she had quit the show. For my money, I would bet that she was suspended for her selfish, egotistical, and childlike behavior. She is not a good sport, an understatement for sure. We'll see Big Brother's spin on the show tonight.

A day ago there were 3 named tropical systems, now there is one. Tropical storms are definitely unpredictable. The first storm fizzled out then reformed to be named Claudette. She played havoc with the Florida panhandle. Ana has diminished, no more storm or updates. And then there is Bill. No, not the former president. Hurricane Bill is gaining strength and is predicted to be a major hurricane. It looks like Bill is not setting his sites on Florida. Hopefully the northeastern Unites States will be spared, too. Nothing is for sure. Wait and see.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Big Brother is on tonight. I wouldn't miss it for anything. I just hope I remember to watch it. Last year I miss a game changing episode just because I forgot to turn on the TV. I'm going to write a note and post it on the TV so I remember. One of my favorite houseguests, Jeff, has the power of Coup D'etat. Tonight at the eviction ceremony Jeff has the power to upset the house and knock the houseguests on their butts. I don't know what he is going to do, but I'm sure it will be exciting. I can't wait.

Hurricane season is in full swing. Tropical disturbances are brewing in the Atlantic. The local weather reports are all a buzz about the impending potential tropical storms. It's been calm for the first two months of the season. Is it any wonder why the weather people are playing the current developing tropical activity to the max? They need something to talk about. It's hurricane season for goodness sakes. School starts in a little over a week. If history proves me right, the storms will follow soon after. Let the games begin.

More about weather, the heat is excruciating. It is so hot in South Florida this summer. August and September are the hottest months, but this is ridiculous. The pool is like a sauna bath. Get this, they actually heat the outside pool in my community. I knew they heated the pool in the winter. I could almost understand that, but during the summer months? The pool temperature in the winter gets down to in the 70's, much like the water temperature in Pennsylvania rivers, etc. in August, but I digress. Personally I prefer to be cooled off, if you will, when I go for a swim in the pool. But I still can understand the winter heating. The other night a long time condo owner told me that they set the temperature of the pool to a particular degree and leave the heater on all year. What an idiotic practice. Not only does that waste electricity and money, it is unnecessary. In the summer the pool temperature reaches the high 80's and even the low 90's. We do not need the outside pool heated during the summer months. These people are crazy. The bottom line to all this, living in a 55 or older community is a real challenge. These nouveau retired, for the most part, have nothing else to do but complain. And I do mean complain. Each resident thinks that he or she has the answer for everything. Yes, they have their own answers. The answers that appeal to their personal, unique situation, but they live in a community with other people many of which do not share their perspective. A group consensus is needed for fair and equitable solutions. Too many times a few people rule the majority. Most times people become disenchanted with the going-on's of the condo police, so they fold and settle. That's me. I refuse to get involve with the association for a variety of reasons. Some of which are better left unspoken. In the long term, my particular condo association although controlled by a few of the better than thou's, those who lust for the power and control, they do a pretty good job of maintaining the community. In all fairness, at least they do the job and do it with financial discretion. So, let them control the power and the responsibilities. But heat the pool during the summer? 

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Washington D.C. is a little calmer right now. Congress is on summer break. However, the town meetings across America are exploding with protests. What is the origin of these protests? Some of the protests are grassroots. Ordinary people like you and me are upset because of the misconceptions of the Obama health care plan. I do think most of the protests are contrived. Contrived by whom you may ask? The conservative, right wing, Republicans. It is no secret that in general Republicans want Obama to fail. They want this health care plan to be his Waterloo. Many Republicans are openly admitting such biases. This will hurt them in the long term. Once the plan is written and explained in truthful, understandable language, the American people will realize that the President and Democrats are working for their benefit. The American people will come to terms with the facts. They will see the Republican right wing shenanigans as they are in reality - nothing more than smoke screen, deceit and selfish actions on the part of the conservatives to gain the thing that that value most in this world - power. The final health care reform will be beneficial to the average American. Republicans do not like this result. They want to be seen as the "savior" for a God fearing electorate by using hate and fear as their weapons. We the electorate are God fearing and God loving people, but we demand true, relevant and compassionate leadership, not fear provoking biased heretics using the concept of God to their selfish ends.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is ready to go to work. Justice Sotomayor will be an excellent Supreme Court Justice. Another glass ceiling has been broken. All Americans should feel validated by this action. This is truly the United States Constitution at work. This should be one of the reasons that we are proud to be Americans. We have much to be thankful. We must show this appreciation in our daily lives. How do we do show this appreciation? By living our lives with respect and concern for our fellow man and woman. 

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

I'm blogging, so it must be Wednesday. I have been quite busy lately. I'm not much of a social character. In fact I probably wouldn't even make the cut for USA. You know, the cable channel USA, they are always looking for characters. This week I've had quite a bit of social activity. Lunch here, birthday party there, lunch again, pool visits, drop ins- the list goes on and on. What's a retiree to do?

My one and only reality show, Big Brother is in full swing. I'm still involved with watching it, so far. The housemates seem to have developed a serious game play early in the season. I do have my favorites. It is easy for me to see the big picture watching from afar. The housemates seem to be doing a great job this year in their respective game plans. Tomorrow night one of the houseguests will be receiving a mystery power determined by the American viewers. The person chosen will be a secret and that person will be able to use the power during this week's eviction ceremony or next week's. The person that I really want out of the house is Ronnie. He is obnoxious. He has played each houseguest. He lies, cries and schemes as if he has always been playing the game. Maybe this is normal for him. Perhaps he lives his life in this manner. In any case, he needs to go. At the beginning I despised Russell, but now I've come to respect and even admire him. I can't stand Lydia. Michelle is OK and quite possibly will be in the final three. Jordan and Jeff are a cute team, but this may change very soon. Jessie is a twist this year. He's from the last show and is simply sickening. There is no one in the world who admires Jessie as much as Jessie does. Enough said. Natalie is a schemer. I have no feeling for Natalie one way or the other. She will fall when he boys fall. Chima, the token black...ugh. Kevin, the token gay, too. The houseguests are playing the game extremely well. The first eviction, a egotistical surfer, was the best choice. It allowed a respectable game to be played. At least until now. The game goes on. Anything is possible. 

Saturday, August 1, 2009

It's the weekend. Give me a break. I don't have the time to blog right now. Catch me later.