Sunday, May 23, 2010

The end of the road for Lost, 24 and Simon Cowell of American Idol. Who cares? A lot of people care, but I don't. I've never watched Lost or American Idol (with or without Simon Cowell). I did enjoy a few episodes of 24 a few years ago, towards the beginning of it's run, but got bored. So goodbye and I can't wait for the replacements. 

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Wow, what a night! Primary Tuesday, what else? Yesterday primaries were held in Pa, Kentucky, Arkansas and Oregon. A special election for the seat of deceased Congressman John Murtha was held in Pa. The outcome of the primaries: Incumbents Beware. Regardless of party, the people voting yesterday told incumbents to take a hike. It was an anti-Washington vote - including Democrats as well as Republicans. Overall I think the vote was a positive for the Democrats by virtue of the Democrat winning the open congressional seat in Western Pa. If the Democratic incumbents are voted out in the remaining primaries, then Democrats may have a better chance of keeping the House in their control in November. In any case, the midterm elections in November will be great political sport. In fact it will be the best game in town. It's all a game to the politicians. If the American electorate thinks it's proving anything by voting out incumbents, then they will find out that the joke is on them. Politicians are only doing their job. The new congress in January will continue in the same manner as the current congress as well as all the previous 111 congresses in American history. It's a game. Politics is a job. Democrats, Republicans and Independents are just doing their respective jobs. How do you approach your job? I would be willing to bet that most American workers approach their jobs with the attitude, "How can I achieve?" or "How can I make more money?" or "What's in this job for me?" I believe these sentiments cross all strata of the American workforce. Why should it be any different for the politicians? It isn't.  

Monday, May 17, 2010

It's the end of the 2009-2010 network TV season. I don't care much about network TV, except for Brothers and Sisters, Law and Order, et al. and The Big Bang Theory. Law and Order has been cancelled after 20 years. I believe Criminal Intent is gone, too. Law and Order Special Victims Unit remains active. I've really enjoyed watching Sharon Stone this season. Perhaps she is part of the reason for the return of SVU. We can catch all the reruns of any of the Law and Order varieties on USA and other cable channels probably for years to come. Thank goodness. Law and Order Los Angeles is new for the next season, but I don't think I'll like it. LA is just not NY.

The Big Bang Theory is still one of my favorite TV shows, possibly my number 1 favorite. Why? They are so cool. I love to mimic the geeky geniuses. Their interaction with Penny is priceless. I think the show will be on TV for years to come and in reruns probably for the rest of my life. What a way to go. 

Every Sunday night I tell myself that I am going to watch something different as opposed to Brothers and Sisters. Time: 10:01 and the TV is positioned at ABC. Before I know it 60 minutes has passed and I'm dying for more Brothers and Sisters. Robert is gone. It seems that he dies as a result of a multi-car pileup not far from the Walker's Ojai Foods vacation home. It was announced that Rob Lowe will not return to the show, so, duh, I guess his character died in the wreck. The show is comedic for me, but so sad at the same time. Sometimes so sad that I feel like not watching it, but I always return. One more year? I think so.

The Miss U.S.A. 2010 was great. I started watching it with zeal, then I lost interest. You know it was on for an entire two hours. Nonetheless it was very engaging. A lot of energy and, well, substance. I felt the questions were very appropriate. The hosts on the fourth hour of the Today Show seemed to think that the question answering category was outdated. I don't think so. Two questions that I remember had to do with the BP oil spill and the Arizona illegal immigrant law. Seems contemporary to me. A Miss USA should be able to discuss political, cultural and current affairs in an intelligent manner. 

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Will Solicitor General Elena Kagan be confirmed as the next Supreme Court Justice? I'm not sure, but I've had a gnawing feeling that she would experience the same defeat as Harriet Miers, a nominee of former President Bush. When the announcement was made I sensed that something was missing. The missing link: Appropriate Experience. She is an academic, an observer. Criteria of a Supreme Court Justice? I think not. She appears to be anything but a representative of the "everyman" or every woman. I think President Obama could have done a better job in selecting a nominee. The President does have an unique manner in his selections and appointments, this one as with many others, I just don't understand. Ever since the announcement I've been waiting for the other shoe to drop, the one signaling her waterloo. This morning on MSNBC it may have dropped. Morning Joe spent an inordinate amount of time discussing a picture of Elena Kagan appearing in The Wall Street Journal. The picture showed the supreme court nominee playing softball. Yes, the entire situation including the discussions on MSNBC reeked of innuendo, out dated cynicism and outright bigotry, but this kind of talk makes for good cable news. The question of her sexual orientation was explored. I have the feeling that this will snowball and become a stumbling block for the nominee. I feel that it will ultimately derail her confirmation. MSNBC was very respectful in covering the situation. They made a great point, "Why should sexual orientation make a difference". It shouldn't, but it gives conservatives the fodder that they need to destroy President Obama's nomination. Again, it's good copy. 

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

There was a terrorist attempt in NY, NY last weekend. The perpetrator was caught within 53 or so hours of the incident. That's great, but it's scary. Life is becoming a series of perplexing and extremely dangerous situations. Just getting up in the morning seems to open us up to potential danger. I guess that's life in 2010. Younger people may be accustomed to this new lifestyle. They may not even flinch at the dangerous and life altering prospects of this dangerous world. Society has changed a lot, and not for the better in my opinion. Priorities have changed. People have changed. The threat and reality of natural disasters have changed and are increasing. Are we in the final days? I don't know about that, but life has changed. Will the world end on December 21, 2012? I don't think so, but life has certainly made a change for the worse and will never return to those simpler times. I guess we must embrace life as it is and survive. We can try to go back to the way it was, but that is an impossibility. We must live in the present. The present is all we have. We must try to make things better even though we sense the inevitable. Change is all we have. So, we must make the best of it and survive. 

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Florida's governor (previously Republican) Charlie Crist is running for the United States Senate as an Independent. Will he do it? Well, it's Florida isn't it? Anything can happen. I'm leaning Crist's way on this one. I'm a staunch Democrat, but I may abandon ship and vote for the best candidate for the job. Wonders never cease.

Oil spill in the Gulf. A BP oil rig explodes, sinks and thousands of gallons of crude oil a day spurt into the Gulf headed for the Gulf coast. This is a problem of monumental proportions. The implications of this oil drilling accident is mind-boggling. Environmental as well as commercial concerns are staggering. The fishing industry along the Gulf coast will be devastated by this misfortune. As I watched the cable coverage last night, I couldn't help thinking that I was watching the preparations for a terrible hurricane. Acts of nature are unpredictable. What do we do? We clean up and keep on going. What about the oil drilling dilemma? What dilemma? We must find other sources of energy. We must break our dependence on foreign oil. This is a national defense issue.  

Side splitting, laugh out loud, hilarious movie, Death at a Funeral (2010). Zany, crazy, crass, foul-mouthed movie, but so funny. It is purely comedic relief. The movie has no purpose except to profoundly entertain. And it does. All the characters were great, especially James Marsden and Tracy Morgan - phenomenal.