POLITICALLY CORRECT NONSENSE AND TIRESOME EXPRESSIONS

Remember when someone would be considered “fat” if they were short and weighed 400 pounds?  How about someone who refused to work and sponged off others being called a “bum.”  Let’s not forget the guy who would pick up your trash as the “garbage man” and guys like George Washington, Jefferson, Adams, etc. being known as the “Founding Fathers.”

Forget all that as we are now in the idiotic world of political correctness and are not supposed to use those terms.  I say “we” are in that world but in reality I am not a member of the political correctness society and I’m sure many of you aren’t either.

Today, in our liberal society that dreads the remotest possibility that someone may have their feelings hurt, that 400 pound guy would be referred to as having “an enlarged physical condition caused by a completely natural genetically induced hormone imbalance.”  To those of us who are from the old school he still is “fat”.  The “bum” is now a “homeless person” and the “Founding Fathers” are “The Founders”.  We can’t risk offending women of the 18^th century who might have pitched in!  As for the “garbage man” he is now a “sanitation engineer.”

I wonder where this "sanitation engineer" from the 
1950s received his degree.  Yale?  Harvard?

It’s all nonsense brought about by a clueless group of today that has no sense of reality.  I remember a few years ago when Tiger Woods hit a bad shot, the microphone picked up his voice muttering “I hit that like a retard!”  He caught hell over that even though not too many years’ earlier “retard” or “retarded” were common terms for someone with a mental disability.  Another no-no was from Barack himself when he proved on the bowling lanes that he has no athletic ability whatsoever and exclaimed that he looked like he was a member of the Special Olympics.

Philip Atkinson, author of A Study of Our Decline, says it best: "Political Correctness is merely the resentment of spoiled children directed against their parent’s values." 

It’s not just political correctness that is annoying today.  How about some of the popular expressions we have to hear continuously.  What better place to start on those than from Barack himself.  This guy is more repetitive than a Thompson machine gun but far less effective.  How many times have we heard him say “…but I won” and “It’s a problem that I inherited.”  My favorites are “Make no mistake.”  “Change isn't easy.”  “Let me be clear.”

Remember a few years ago when there wasn’t a teen age girl in captivity that didn’t utter “Whatever!” at least a hundred times a day?  It’s still around but like “awesome” and “dude”, is not as popular as it once was.

Our buddy Barack gets to take credit again for the term “fair share” as in “I want to raise taxes on the rich so they pay their “fair share” to support the bums on welfare.”

Then there is “not a problem” (what happened to O.K.?), home invasion (it sounds less crude than “break in”), “my bad” (sounds stupid even from a kid), “hone in” (are people so dumb they don’t know its “home in”) and many others of which I’m sure you are familiar.

Be patient; I’m sure more inanity is on the way.

THE GROWTH OF NARCISSISM

Psychiatrist Dr. Keith Ablow says that we are raising a generation of deluded narcissists:  “A new analysis of the American Freshman Survey, which has accumulated data for the past 47 years from 9 million young adults, reveals that college students are more likely than ever to call themselves gifted and driven to succeed, even though their test scores and time spent studying are decreasing.”

Dr. Ablow sees a tendency toward narcissism that has developed over the past thirty years.  He sees a “toxic psychological impact of media and technology on children, adolescents and young adults, particularly as it regards turning them into faux celebrities—the equivalent of lead actors in their own fictionalized life stories.”

Where does all this narcissism originate?  Dr. Ablow cites Facebook, Twitter, computer games, and MTV as four sources.

On Facebook, one can claim hundreds of “friends” while feeling they are actually connected to celebrities that they “like.”

With Twitter, the ego is aroused by the feeling that they actually have a “following” that cares what they do even if they have to explain it in 140 characters.

When playing computer games one “can pretend they are Olympians, Formula 1 drivers, rock stars or sharpshooters while “ they are really in dens and playrooms on side streets around America; that is after their hearts have raced and heads have swelled with false pride for being something they are not.”

I have a neighbor who is 60 years old.  She knows that I used to be a 200+ average bowler so one day she excitedly told me how her daughter in law had bowled a 298 game.  Needless to say I was impressed!  A 298 is only two pins away from a perfect 300.  When I asked what kind of ball she threw, I was informed that the score had been accomplished on a video game!

I didn’t know whether to laugh or shake my head in disgust so I just smiled and told her “good game.”  It was just another example of how people want fame the easy way.  It’s kind of like phony awards being given to losing teams and individuals in the never ending quest for someone to try and get their 15 minutes of fame although by false methods.

The original "veejays" on MTV in 1981.  L-R, Nina

Blackwood, Alan Hunter, Martha Quinn, J. J. Jackson,

(back) Mark Goodman

MTV shows kids on “reality” TV shows like "Jersey Shore" that are not even close to real life but kids suck it up and portray themselves in the same manner as people like Snooki and her friends.   

Does anyone remember when MTV came on the air in 1981 with “veejays” Martha Quinn, J. J. Jackson, and Mark Goodman?  Do you remember the first song they played?  (Click here for answer)  It was a great music network then.  Now, they do “Jersey Shore.”

I have said it before and will repeat it now:  I think a lot of the false ego trips and artificiality of younger people today, especially males, is that they never had to serve in the military.  Dropping the draft in 1973 was a huge mistake.  The military turned a lot of boys into men; much more than the young lifestyles of today where "responsibility" is just another word they can’t spell.

THE PHONINESS OF LIBERALISM

Middy was kind enough yesterday to post the clip of Michelle Obama wearing her new Walmart inspired 1968 Diana Ross wig while she stuffed her face at the inauguration.  In case you missed it, click here.  

She reminded me of some of the guys I knew in the Air Force who would eat like it was going out of style.  Meanwhile, she thinks school kids should starve on her idiotic diet.  When I say “school kids”, I am omitting her kids who eat hearty meals at their private school.

We now find out that Beyonce faked the National Anthem with lip synchronization.  That’s pretty gutless; I guess she hasn't the voice she thought she had.  Yes, Beyonce, you would have no career without electronic assistance.

My wife Barb taught elementary school for 22 years and draws an interesting analogy of how liberals might like to apply their philosophy to student grades.  Obama would probably applaud this method using his tired statement of how “It’s only fair” just like “it’s only fair that the rich pay a little more.”

The liberal grading system:  Child number one studies his butt off to get an “A”.  Child number two does nothing and gets an “F”.  Fear not, child number two!  We will take half of child number one’s “A” and give you a “C” so you can pass.  The other half of child number one’s “A” also becomes a “C” which he retains so he can also pass.

That's OK kid, have a nice nap, the good
students will cover for you.  Maybe!

What is the lesson learned?  The “A” student now realizes that no matter how many “A’s” he gets, he will lose half his grade to the loser kids who do nothing.  He now figures, “Hell, if I get an “A” I will only lose half of it to that kid sleeping at the desk next to me.  Like him, I’m going to do nothing and take my guaranteed “C”.

The “F” student loves this system.  He can sleep in class every day and still pass with a “C”.  Even if he decides to better himself by studying hard and getting an “A”, he knows he will only lose half of it to some other loser like himself so why bother?

The above is a good example of what Obama would love to have you think “is only fair.”  To him fairness is for someone to take risks, work long hours, become successful, and then give a large amount of what they earned to those without the same ambition.  It’s a wonder that anyone has initiative anymore.

In case you are someone who has initiative and is feverishly looking for a job in the still bad economy, I would advise you to take your resume very seriously.  If ever the term “watch your p’s and q’s” was in effect it is on a resume.  Bad grammar can get you tossed in the trash in a hurry.

With the number of resumes flooding employers, they have to be narrowed down somehow and grammatical errors are one way to do that according to CareerBuilder.

Checklist:  Know your homophones!  Those are words that are spelled differently but sound the same.  Too, to, and two are good examples.  I see a lot of writing where people don’t know what to do with “too.”

Keep tenses correct, proofread, and proofread again.  This is something I always do with the blogs.  If you find a mistake, it isn't because I'm not TRYING to get it right.

(Click here to read my latest blog on the AZC Politics blog from the Republic.  Thanks!)

ANOTHER LESSON LEARNED THE HARD WAY

The following story illustrates the importance of gun ownership and the need to have your weapon ready if the situation warrants it.  It’s too bad that being armed has become a necessity but that is the lifestyle we now face in the United States of America.

The headlines in the “Valley and State” section of the Arizona Republic shouted yesterday (January 14) that “17 YEAR OLD FATALLY SHOT IN FIGHT”.

The story goes as follows:  The 17 year old was shot to death at about 11:15 p. m. Saturday outside an apartment complex at 17^th Street and Indian School Road.

Responding officers found that the 17 year olds’ two 18 year old brothers were throwing large river rocks into an apartment occupied by a 19 year old guy, his girlfriend, and child.  One of the rocks had hit the 19 year old requiring medical attention.

Investigators determined that the 17 year old and his two brothers had been drinking and gotten into an argument with the 19 year old.  The 19 year old walked away and went into his apartment and shut the door. At that time the 17 year old went into his apartment and retrieved two knives.

When he returned with the knives, he and his brothers tried to force their way into the 19 year olds’ apartment while hollering threats.

The 19 year old repeatedly told them to leave and that he had a gun.  Fearing for his life and the lives of his girlfriend and baby, he shot the 17 year old dead.  The brothers retreated and began throwing the river rocks through the apartment window.

When push comes

to shove........

 When the police arrived, they arrested the two brothers.  The 19 year old guy was released on a self defense claim.

I wonder how many times a day this situation is re-enacted in the United States.  I wonder how many times the person being attacked doesn’t have a gun and winds up on the unfortunate end of the stick.

In this case, the guy had a gun and protected his family while the bad guy suffered death.  It seems only appropriate that it should be that way yet there are those who think all our guns should be taken away.

I never thought that I would have to carry a gun with me but I now go nowhere without it.  I like the above story in the sense that three guys were breaking into an apartment with a guy, his girl, and their baby and they were thwarted by firepower.

Maybe a few crooks will hear about it and think twice before attacking someone.

(I also write a weekly blog at http://azcvoices.com/politics/author/jimmcallister/.  Check it out!)

IN RETROSPECT, YESTERDAY IS LIKE A DREAM

It seems like the good old USA we used to know is coming apart at the seams.

We now have a president whose ego is bigger than all outdoors and suddenly people are coming out of the woodwork with guns ambushing kids in classrooms.

The president wants higher taxes to feed his welfare state as we have now gone through two or three generations of people who have never considered working any harder than to lift a free check.

The free enterprise system that made this country successful is being taxed more so a spend happy federal government can become a bigger yet unneeded and unwanted device to fleece the makers in favor of the takers under the guise of "I think it is better when the wealth is spread around."  Surprisingly, many have been gullible enough to believe such nonsense.

They are getting a course in reality lately though as there is quite a bit of ire concerning the rise in social security taxes.  Suddenly, losing about $70 per paycheck is not so pleasant.  Did they actually think that spreading the wealth around would not include contributions from them? (More on my blog at "azcvoices")

Let's take a moment and look back to a time when things made a bit more sense.  I'm not talking Huckleberry Finn times but more like things were when many of us were younger.

Can you identify the items from the past in the following photos?  Good luck!

What is it?

Any idea what these are?

Have you used one of these lately?













It's not a midieval torture device.  What is
it?












What is that contraption next to
Lucy and Ethel?















Remember these?  Very heavy!

What is grandma doing?


                                     

















What is this area on the house below called?                                                         

                                                                       

                        What are these two items?

      

THIS AND THAT TO START THE NEW YEAR

I watched a great film last night; one that I have seen many times but I never tire of it.  It was

“The Asphalt Jungle” from 1950 and starred many popular stars from that era like Sam Jaffe, James Whitmore, Sterling Hayden, Louis Calhern, and in a small part, a beautiful 24 year old unknown blond named Marilyn Monroe.

Two long ago policemen stand by their 1949 Ford 

I love classic films like “The Asphalt Jungle” not only for the better actors in general and the character actors in particular, but for the miscellaneous pieces of the past that I remember well as a kid and their value as examples of film noir art.  For example, the opening scene shows a 1949 Ford police car cruising the waterfront of a large unnamed Midwestern city.  I was a real car buff in that era of my young life and loved 1949-50 Fords for their sleek styling and design over the boxier 1948 and previous Fords of that era.

The Republicans have lost again to Obama but I don’t think they had much choice if they wanted to retain even a shred of viability for the future.  By allowing the cliff they have survived to fight another day while allowing it would have finished them in 2014.  It probably will anyway as giving up $660 billion in revenue for $62 billion in cuts doesn’t make much sense. 

Three pieces of good news though:  1. Many of the ones who supported this nonsense are going to see higher taxes anyway and jobs lost.  2. The public reaction in general contains a lot of anger toward Obama according to comments this morning in various news stories.  3. The best story is about last Friday when John Boehner told Harry Reid to “Go f-ck yourself!” not once but twice.

He will probably get overruled but a U. S. District Judge has ruled in favor of Domino’s Pizza tycoon Tom Monaghan who has protested having to cover the mandatory morning after pill part of Obamacare because of his religious beliefs.

Hobby Lobby has also sued for the same reasons.  If nothing else, these cases may arouse some public awareness.  It amazes me that any government in the USA would make employers pay for a morning after pill but that is the mentality we now live under.

Syndicated writer Kathleen Parker wrote a piece this morning that echoes and updates what I wrote in 2008 about the demise of hard copy newspapers.  When I wrote my piece in 2008, Twitter, Smartphones, and texting were in their infancy.  The biggest fear of the hard copy papers was readers going to their desk top computers to read the paper.

Now, there are so many other sources for news that many papers like the Arizona Republic have resorted to paid subscriptions to their online editions.  We’ll see how that goes at $10 a month cost.  I bought in but barely use it since I am stubborn and like the hard copy.

I think there is still a certain romance to waddling out to the driveway to get the paper in the morning then snapping it open next to a cup of Joe to see the headlines.

There is also a lot more excitement with the hard copy if you have a column printed in it.  Knowing that about 300,000 people all over Phoenix have a copy of something you wrote is exciting stuff; a lot more exciting than seeing it on a computer screen and wondering how many see it.

I hope the Smartphone people are not holding their breath waiting for me to buy one.  Ain’t gonna happen!

Happy New Year.........2013

Thanks for making 2012 a great blogging year.
See you after January 1.

JIM

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Another year, another Christmas.  They seem to come quicker as we get older!

Thanks to everyone for making this blog a success.  Although I have been writing it since 2005, the five year period between December 2006 and December 2011 was the AZ Central era where I met most of you loyal readers.

Unfortunately, AZ Central decided to be edited by Facebook at the end of 2011 and that essentially ended the blogs as we knew them.

As most of you know, I have continued doing blogs the same way I did them before AZ Central got involved.   To my delight, the blog has grown in popularity more than I believed it could.

By writing about several subjects over the years, I have received hits from around the world.  There aren't many key words that go into Google that won't send people my way.  If I had to name the blog that gets the most hits, it would have to be the one I did in November, 2008 about kids growing up too fast.  Number two would probably be the one about Alfred Hitchcock and the making of Psycho in 1959.

I now average well over 100 comments per blog. I thank everyone for their participation and wish Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all as we head into 2013.

PERUSING DRUDGE, 12-15-2012

A good enough response by Obama to the Newtown killings but he blew it with the fake tears.  C’mon, BO, you can do better than that.  You should have had stooge Carney wave an onion in front of you to get some real tears.  Your face was as dry as the AZ desert in July. 

Maybe since BO accepted border guard Brian Terry’s death without tears a couple years ago and thousands of abortions do not bother him, his PR guys felt he better try to look a bit more emotional this time even if it meant imaginary tears.

The founder of Domino's Pizza is suing the federal government over mandatory contraception coverage in the new health care law:

FROM THE AP:  Tom Monaghan, a devout Roman Catholic, says contraception is not health care and instead is a "gravely immoral" practice. He's a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed Friday in federal court, along with his Domino's Farms, which runs an office park near Ann Arbor.

Monaghan offers health insurance that excludes contraception and abortion for employees. The new law requires employers to offer insurance that includes contraception coverage or risk fines. The government says the contraception mandate benefits women and their role in society. There are similar lawsuits pending across the country.

This is really stupid.  Is the cost of contraception so expensive that it has to be covered by insurance?  How much can birth control pills and rubbers cost?  Also, “the contraception mandate benefits women and their role in society.”  What kind of phony liberal nonsense thought that up?  Women will be better citizens if insurance money pays for their sexual adventures?  Please tell me this foolishness is not happening in what used to be the greatest country on earth.  Good luck to Mr. Monaghan.

This has to be the quote of the week:  Tiny Mission College in California (where else?) has added a 50 year old, 6 foot 6 inch, 220 pound transsexual to its woman's basketball team comprised of girls 18, 19, and 20.  

Gabrielle Ludwig wants to be the first person to play college basketball as a man and a woman.

Needless to say, there has been a lot of controversy over this as one would expect except maybe Gabrielle who commented:  “I don’t want to be a distraction to the team.”  What?  Do you mean that this is not an every day event in basketball?  Well, maybe in California.

The Washington Redskins of the NFL have a great black quarterback in Robert Griffin III.  I watched him against the NY Giants a couple weeks ago and the guy can run like Emmett Smith and throw like Aaron Rodgers.  He also is not interested in being referred to by the color of his skin.  He wants to be defined by his work ethic.

That sounds like a real stand up guy to me.  Unfortunately some second string  columnist named Rob Parker does not agree with Griffin’s ideology.  Parker, who is black, wants to know if Griffin is a “brother” or just a “cornball brother”, whatever that means.

Parker teeters back and forth evaluating how “black” Griffin is and whether he is “not really down with the cause” or “not one of us”.   He says “We all know he has a white fiancé and there was this talk that he is a Republican.”

Oh, my God!  Griffin might be a Republican and have a white fiancé?  Mr. Parker  is clueless and is an embarrassment.      
                                Finally, a well dressed shopper in an Alaska Walmart!
                                (photo courtesy Ed Brown)

COLLEGE BOWL GAMES HAVE BECOME A SHAM

We live in a soft society where kids are taught that everyone is a winner.  Kid’s soccer teams don’t keep score because it might be “hurtful” to be on the losing team.  Everybody gets a trophy just for participating and everyone goes home feeling special.

Unfortunately, that type of thinking is not reality.  There are always going to be winners and losers.  Someone will always be better than the others regardless of how kids are coddled into thinking otherwise.  My advice is to deal with it.

A good example of receiving undeserved rewards is the college football bowl lineup for this year.  It used to be that a team had to have a good record of wins over losses to earn a coveted spot in a bowl.  Today? Not so much.

In the case of college sports it is more a case of greed than worrying about feelings.  The players are old enough to realize that all the coddling nonsense they got as kids about everyone being equal is silly.  Now, it’s a case of putting on a bloated show for someone to make a buck.

I remember when if a team lost more than two games they could forget about being bowl bound. But, in those days there were  not 34 bowls like there are now. 

The A-list bowls were the Orange, Cotton, Sugar, and Rose.  There were a few secondary bowls:  The Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, and the Sun bowl in El Paso.   Even those bowls usually required schools to have no more than three losses.

This year’s bowl lineup shows that teams can be actually awarded for ineptitude.  There is some justice though that some of these schools are being sent to bowls with names like The Belk Bowl, whatever that is.

Zurlon Tipton scores for Central Michigan as 

fans disguised as seats look on.

The Belk Bowl will match my old alma mater, Cincinnati (9-3) vs. the mighty Duke Blue Devils who boast a 6-6 record that includes losses by scores of 50-13, 41-20, 48-7, 56-20, 42-24, and 52-45.  It seems like the toilet bowl would be more suitable for Duke.

There are ten other teams with 6-6 records that will be going to bowls with names like the Little Caesar’s Pizza Bowl in Detroit, the Russell Athletic Bowl, the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl in Tempe, and the Heart of Dallas Bowl.

I wonder if I can still get tickets to that Little Caesar’s Bowl.  I have always wanted to see Central Michigan (6-6) play Western Kentucky (7-5) on the day after Christmas in a garden spot like Detroit in winter.   Let’s see; where did I put my .38?

ASU and U of A are both 7-5 and going to insignificant bowls.  With their records they certainly have as much right to a bowl as the 6-6 guys but when I watched Oregon beat ASU 43-21 in a game that could have been 100-0, I wonder how good these guys are.  It was men against boys that night.

The same goes for U of A:  They lost to Oregon 49-0 and UCLA 66-10.  Are those the kind of games that earn a bowl trip?  It will be interesting to see how many trudge to Albuquerque on December 19 to watch them play the mighty Nevada Wolf Pack.

What is my favorite bowl game?  It has to be the BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham, Alabama where Pittsburgh (6-6) plays Mississippi (6-6).   The only appropriate score of that one should be 0-0.

OBAMA DOESN'T WANT TO BARGAIN? REPUBS SHOULD CALL HIS BLUFF!

So, now the left and the right are slugging it out over the “fiscal cliff”.

President Obama and a good chunk of Democrats want to raise taxes on the nation’s highest earners even though the increase wouldn't amount to a hill of beans. Though the president says he also wants to have a conversation about reforming entitlements, he hasn’t put any type of proposal on paper. Nor is the president or his party interested in serious spending cuts, aside from cuts to the Department of Defense, something Republicans argue would hurt our national security muscle in a time when we need it the most.  Charles Krauthammer says it all with “Robert E. Lee was offered easier terms at Appomattox, and he lost the Civil War.” 

At the same time, Republicans have put forth plans to tackle the biggest driver of our debt—entitlements—and even had a presidential ticket that ran on those reforms. The House of Representatives has passed some version of these plans and Speaker John Boehner has adopted a Mitt Romney idea to eliminate certain deductions in order to raise revenue to pay down our debt. Raising taxes, however—on anyone—is not an option, they say. Unless one side caves, we’re slated to dive off the so-called "cliff" in December.

So why don’t Republicans just get out of the way and let it happen? It sounds crazy, but there is a case to be made.

Let Democrats bring a bill to increase spending on what Obama calls a second stimulus, raise taxes on high earners (including many small businesses) without doing a thing to fix Medicare and Social Security for current and future generations. Republicans can take a page of Obama’s playbook and vote present as he did when he was a senator. When the nation falls off the fiscal cliff, he can own it.

The tax increases that happen will be the Obama tax increases. When spending spikes, it can be the Obama tax and spend plan. And if we slide into recession with 9% unemployment and millions more out of work, as the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicts will happen, it will be the Obama recession. In other words, it's time for the right to call Obama's bluff.  Is he so hard headed as to risk his legacy because of his bloated ego?

Many who voted for Obama, especially low income people, would be hit the hardest.  A single unemployed person making $10,000 per year would see a tax hike of 55.2%.  An average married couple making $20,000 to $30,000 per year would see their taxes go from a $15 refund to paying $1,408.

If a majority of the country elected Obama to four more years in the White House, then let them have it their way without GOP support.  Perhaps our nation needs to dive off the cliff in order to realize how dire our debt problem really is.  Then maybe they'll support real change.

Plus, Republicans will get blamed anyway and probably get swept in 2014. The president’s current public relations tour across country on the fiscal cliff is designed for that exact purpose. It’s much easier than leading.

So, when January 2 arrives bringing whatever changes it may bring, Obama has plans to be in Hawaii vacationing for three weeks at a cost to taxpayers of $4 million.  This will be interesting.

Portions of the above courtesy of Andrea Tantaros

THERE IS AN ENDLESS LIST OF "ONE HIT WONDERS".

If you like music of any kind and have Cox cable, you need to sign up for the “Music Choice” channels.  There are 37 of them and they cover every genre you can think of whether it be reggae, solid gold hits, country, swing, hard rock, or anything else you prefer.

Lately, I have been listening to the solid gold stuff because I enjoy many of what we used to call in the days of the hit parade, “one hit wonders.”  That was a competitive time in the music business.  From the mid 50s on there were so many great songs that I figured the artists doing them would launch successful careers.  Alas, with the competition and the quality of stuff recorded, most of those tunes and the artists were one and done after their first and only success.

For example, In 1969 Norman Greenbaum had a gigantic hit with “Spirit in the Sky.”  It reached #3 on Billboard and stayed in the top 100 for 15 weeks.  Since its debut I have heard it as background in some commercials and in a couple films.  It was one of those songs that we used to say “Turn the volume up all the way and break off the knob.”

In spite of its popularity, I have never heard anything else noteworthy from Greenbaum.

Billy Ray Cyrus. "Achy Breaky Heart"

was huge for him in 1992

 If you like country, how about Billy Ray Cyrus and his one and only hit from 1992, “Achy Breaky Heart.”

I was doing DJ gigs at that time and because of the “Achy Breaky” dance craze and the catchy tune, it was my most requested song. (Click the link above)  Cyrus was a good looking guy and it was a decent recording.  It made it to #4 on Billboard and hung around for about five months.

That was pretty much it for Billy Ray who went on to some minor acting gigs.  His daughter Miley gained some teen fame when she was playing “Hannah Montana” on Disney.

In August of 1967, Bobbie Gentry had a huge hit with “Ode to Billie Joe”.  It held number one on Billboard for four weeks and stayed in the top 100 for 12 weeks.

She sang about Billie Joe and his jumping off the Tallahatchie bridge.  That plus a mourning tune as background kept that song alive for a while.

Bobbie was from Mississippi and had a couple minor hits with Glen Campbell later but “Ode to Billie Joe” was about it for her.  Today, she is 68 and probably still in Mississippi but she once knew fame.

Those are just three examples of one hit wonders but there are many more like Jeannie C. Riley’s “Harper Valley PTA”, Carl Douglas and “Kung Fu Fighting”, Devo with “Whip It”, and the great dance song “Macarena” by Los Del Rio.  The Macarena fell into the same hole as the Limbo, the Twist, and the Electric Slide.  Popular dance songs always have a limited life.

With YouTube, all these songs can be heard anytime you wish and they get thousands of hits from fans.  In fact, I think I’ll open a Stella Artois and check out Mungo Jerry with “In the Summertime”, a huge hit from July, 1970.  Then, there is Wild Cherry with “Play that Funky Music”, a number one biggie from 1976.

One hit wonders are great to remember and the list of them is endless.  Happy listening!

"YA GOTTA DO WHAT YA GOTTA DO!"

I keep hearing about how there are no jobs to be had because of the bad economy.  I’m not so sure there are NO JOBS to be had but here are plenty of jobs that people don’t want to take either because of their pride or that the job doesn’t pay enough.

I look at it from the point of view that if my family is starving I will do just about anything to make a buck.  When I hear someone say “I can’t do such lowly work because I have a college degree” I just laugh.  My wife Barb has a god line for those people:  “Ya gotta do what ya gotta do!”

When I graduated from college in 1969, I was concerned about making the most money I could.  I had been married for two years and the economy was decent so I didn’t care about the prestige of the position; I wanted the dough.  That’s how I got into the grocery business as a salesman.  I always had a gift of gab and going to school and being in the military gave me the nerve to ask for orders from sometimes grumpy buyers.

When I hear about the number of food stamp recipients going from 32 million to 46 million during Obama’s first four years, I shake my head in disgust that so many people who could probably have been doing SOMETHING productive have decided to jump on the government teat instead of doing something beneath what they consider their dignity.   Or, they could be just plain lazy!

It seems un-American to be that way.  But, is this the America many of us grew up in?  Absolutely not!  Many of us remember when a person in need was embarrassed to take any kind of welfare and if they did it was some place like a church.  Now, the government welfare lines proudly extend around the block.

Even as kids, my friends and I in Ohio always seemed to find some way to make our own money.  I had a job in the 4^th grade that paid me $1 to go around the neighborhood and put advertising circulars on porches (remember porches?) for a record store.

Later, at 16 I had a job in a neighborhood deli making deliveries, putting away returnable bottles (remember returnable bottles?) and clerking.  In the Air Force I had a job doing janitorial work for a few hours in the evening.  In the summer of 1957 I had a full time delivery job at 16 and on holidays delivered flowers for a local florist.  During two summers of college I worked on home construction for 60 hours a week.  Did I mention caddying at the Cincinnati Country Club where I would carry two golf bags for 36 holes and $20?  That was decent money in 1958.

Carrying doubles for 36 holes will keep you in shape

Okay, enough about my exploits in the teenage working world.  But, those jobs did teach me the value of a dollar and prepared me for a full time career in sales after college.  With what I see today, I wonder if a lot of applicants are prepared for success and a career.

I guess a lot of it has to do with initiative.  Welfare is so common today; it is an easy crutch for many.  A person can go that route if they wish but I believe in Barb’s assessment:  “Ya gotta do what ya gotta do!”

LOOKING BACK AT THE SCOTTSDALE OF DECEMBER, 2005

I'm taking a week off and re-printing a blog I wrote on December 14, 2005.  Those of you familiar with Scottsdale will surely remember the speed cameras on the 101, the Westworld tents with the American flags that were so controversial, and Scottsdale's flirting with light rail. That stuff is history now but was news in 2005.  

I have lived in Scottsdale since 1987 and I have never regretted the decision to leave the icy winter climes of Kansas City and Cincinnati for this oasis in the desert. It's not that those are bad places. I grew up in Cincy and lived in Kansas City for many years after being stationed there in the Air Force so I had to leave many good friends behind but I felt the time had come to make my move.

Sunset in Scottsdale 

I think it started when I was a kid in Cincinnati and would watch the football games from the west coast on television and see everybody in the stands in their bright colored clothes, laughing and having fun in the sunshine. As I watched the games it would be dark in Ohio, usually with icy rain beating against the windows, and the prospect of another thirty days without sunshine. Unlike the typical conservative Cincinnatian who would never leave their home town, all I could think about was the day I could live out west and fulfill my lifetime dream: to wear shorts and see lawn sprinklers operating on New Year's Day.

In December of 1979, I decided to run in the Fiesta Bowl Marathon in Scottsdale. A friend of mine who had run many marathons with me and I decided to drive from Kansas City to do the race. Well, that was that as I was hooked on the area as soon as I saw the flowers blooming in December. Eight long years later in 1987 I made the move and am glad I did.

As great as modern Scottsdale is, there are still some things that people here worry about which cause me to roll my eyes and shake my head: (1) Concerns about the speed cameras on the 101 freeway, (2) the "dreaded American flag" of Westworld's tent, and (3) light rail.

Why would anyone complain about speed cameras being anywhere? The speed limit is posted and that is the maximum you drive, period! If you do complain you are obviously in favor of breaking the speed limit and simply do not want to get caught. Isn't 75 MPH enough? I can't believe you are in that much of a hurry.

The Westworld American flag tent.  I loved it; a lot of 

spoiled people didn't

I don't want to hear this silliness about speed traps, big brother, and a loss of rights either. Ask the families of the people whose loved ones have been killed on that road about rights. Besides, Scottsdale has their ubiquitous little radar vans on the streets every day to catch speeders, I don't hear complaints about them. Admit it, you just want to fly down that freeway.

I like the Westworld flag. Note to complainers: You probably got on the bandwagon after the gulf war and 9-11 adorning your cars with flag stickers and banners. At that time you didn't seem to worry about the aesthetics of patriotism.

Of course, those flags are gone now as that is yesterday's news. Well, in case you haven't noticed, we are still involved in war and the protection of our country from people who would like to kill you and your family. I suggest you put those flags back on your cars and salute the Westworld tent every time you have the pleasure of seeing it. Don't tell me that it is unsightly and destroys the looks of your neighborhood. It is your country's flag plus it is not even close to you; it is surrounded by Westworld's barns, fairgrounds, ugly three story apartments, an ice rink, and an office park.

Scottsdale made the right decision by not approving

light rail

Light rail is nothing but a modern streetcar. Phoenix used to have those but disbanded them about 50 years ago for gasoline buses. They do need some type of public transportation and if they want to waste their money on light rail that's up to them.

As far as Scottsdale, I'm proud of the city council for shelving the idea of light rail. Of course, the idealists disagree. They think that the citizens of Scottsdale will actually ride light rail. Yeah, just like they ride the buses in Scottsdale: one at a time and that's the driver by himself. Do they really think that people who live in Troon or Desert Highlands are going to inconvenience themselves to save a couple bucks on gas and help the environment? The people who believe that are sadly lacking in knowledge of human nature.

Remember, this is the place where people sit parked in their idling $50,000, 8 miles to the gallon air conditioned SUV's, burning $3 per gallon gas and talking on their cell phones. They are not going to ride a streetcar and at a $54 million installation cost per mile plus subsidies this would be a folly of utmost proportions.


Yes, Scottsdale is wonderful but some of us are spoiled with our great lifestyle. Maybe we need to stop a moment and smell our Starbuck's coffee.

GEORGE WILL'S PARALLEL OF OBAMA AND BASEBALL'S FRANK ROBINSON

George Will wrote an interesting column about a month ago concerning the topic of race when it comes to liking or disliking Obama.

With Obama we have a guy who has flopped at about everything he has attempted and seems hell bent on continuing that mentality if re-elected.

His biggie at the moment is the screw up in Libya.  Also, as of August, real disposable income has again declined.  Recent figures show a 13.2% drop in durable goods orders and that “nearly 25%, the highest in three decades, of Americans between 25 and 55 are unemployed.”  Here’s more from Will:  “The second quarter growth rate was adjusted down from an anemic 1.7% to the stall speed of1.3%.”

How about his investments regarding the ever popular “green” mentality?  Tesla received $465 million from the Department of Energy for an electric car. Then, there is Solyndra’s $535 million lost while Fisker, another “would be maker of high-end rides for rich people” received $529 million.  All have floundered.

To put it mildly, “Obama’s administration is in a shambles” according to Will yet somehow he still maintains a high degree of popularity.  It seems inconceivable that anyone of normal intelligence would ever vote for the re-election of this guy.

George has a theory about why Obama remains popular in spite of his failures and that theory involves a parallel to baseball and race.

On October 3, 1974, Frank Robinson was hired by baseball’s Cleveland Indians as the first major league black manager.  Frank was one of the all time best as a player but he was unable to improve the Indians so he was fired on June 19, 1977; not even three years into the job. 

Frank Robinson was baseball's first black manager

after his playing days.  Like most managers, he was fired.

Although the firing of managers is common in baseball, firing Robby was the first instance of a black manager getting the axe thus allowing another racial barrier to fall.  However, after the Cleveland firing, Robby went on to greater success in managing four other teams. “Henceforth,” says Will, “African Americans could now enjoy the God given right to be scapegoats for impatient team owners” without relying on the old saying “He was fired because he was black.”  The trauma of a black man being fired was eradicated by future success elsewhere.

In Obama’s case, many thinking adults realize that he has failed but hate to give up on the first African American president in spite of his failures.  It’s a scary position for the country that there are those who would vote more with their heart than their head and re-elect this guy.   Those people are called liberals.

I would have no problem with a black president and once Obama is gone, there will be more room for a black guy who is actually qualified to lead.   I see more success coming from that direction for someone like Allen West.

Great comments department:  A guy from Scottsdale recently sent this to the Republic opinion page:

“Someone said voting for Obama this time would be like the Titanic backing up and then hitting the iceberg again.  But, if he should somehow prevail in November, just think of the awful mess he will inherit.”

From Jimmy Kimmel:  “I think that Apple keeps releasing new products just to see if there is anything they make that we WON’T buy.” 

EXTRA! EXTRA! DON'T FAINT; AZ REPUBLIC ENDORSES ROMNEY! (Sunday 10-21-12) edition)

Editorial Endorsement for President

ROMNEY CAN LEAD ECONOMY FORWARD

The last U.S. president to attempt transformative social change on the scale attempted by President Barack Obama was Lyndon B. Johnson, who in 1964 launched his Great Society.

Times were different then. At the end of Johnson’s term, the national debt stood at just $353 billion, representing an annual growth rate during the five-plus years of Johnson’s presidency of just over 3 per­cent.The nation’s debts then were under control.

Fair or not, the debt mon­ster since then has grown un­imaginably, forcing its harsh reality into every new dis­cussion about federal spend­ing.

Not counting long-term unfunded liabilities tied to Social Security and to many of those Johnson-era programs, the nation is more than $16 tril­lion in real-time debt, one of the greatest financial-debt burdens in modern history.

Our belief that Republican Mitt Romney should be elected the 45th president of the Unit­ed States is anchored in that tough reality. We believe the nation’s best opportunity to escape the com­pounding woes of spiraling debt and economic stagnation lies with a president who be­lieves in the free market’s capacity to heal its own wounds.

That leader is Romney. The nation’s economy now is in desperate need of the kind of jobs-creating animal spirits that President Romney would encourage.

The economy indisputably will benefit, perhaps signifi­cantly, from a flatter, fairer system of taxation along the lines proposed by Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan.

It will benefit, too, from a regulatory environment that does not smother small busi­nesses with punitive, anti­competitive, hoop-jumping requirements that favor their bigger competitors. We expect a Romney administration to foster that kind of growth ­oriented, business-friendly environment.

But, more to the point, we expect better job growth in a Romney economy mostly be­cause Mitt Romney does not fear or dislike a free-wheeling, growing, free-market econo­my.

We cannot say the same of President Obama.

In our judgment, the econo­my will not fully revive under Obama. Certainly not to the degree it would thrive if Wash­ington, D.C., would only get past its current “Dodd-Frank” frame of mind, its free-mar­ket- fearing sense that the terrible times will come crash­ing back if Washington lets those scalawags of the private sector loose again.

The president’s proposals for a second administration project scant hope that the economy will do much more than stumble forward at the current, anemic, sub-2 percent rate of growth. The 23 million Americans either unemployed, scraping by in part-time, low­paid jobs or not looking for work anymore need to see a commitment to revival. And, simply put, Obama isn’t of­fering them much. Not in his vision of the future as illus­trated in debates thus far. And certainly not in the record of his first term as president.

The reason Obama’s infa­mous “You didn’t build that” comment on July 13 in Roa­noke, Va., resonated among his political opponents wasn’t because it revealed some great secret.

It resonated because it vali­dated a suspicion that the president has done little to dismiss. He has consolidated federal power and reach in health care, banking, the auto industry and energy produc­tion. He has fostered the view that all good economic things flow from Washington.

Obama’s very first proposal to revive the economy — initi­ated in February 2009 when the economy was shedding more than 600,000 jobs a month — in fact was highlight­ed in large part by his plans for government-centric health-care reform. That, re­member, was when we learned how crises were too valuable to waste.

Mitt Romney, certainly, would not a perfect president make. But he is far, far re­moved from the grotesque caricature of the heartless plutocrat created by the Oba­ma campaign and its allies.

Democrats from Bill Clin­ton to Cory Booker defended Romney’s work at the much­maligned Bain Capital for a reason: because it has been financial engines like Bain that have helped power the American economy.

America needs a return to that kind of economic power, that kind of jobs-creating ener­gy.

The nation’s best chance for reviving those spirits lies with Mitt Romney.The Arizona Republic recom­mends Mitt Romney for presi­dent of the United States.



It looks like Benson, Valdez, and Montini aren't the only ones working for the Republic!

JM

THE DEBATE: ROMNEY V. OBAMA

The Romney-Obama debate of 10-16 was a bit of a snoozer for me.

I disliked the Town Hall set up and Candy Crowley.  She wasn’t extremely partial but like most CNN people, she had a special place in her heart for Obama.  That is probably why she gave him an extra three minutes for the night.

First we get a liberal in Jim Lehrer for the first debate but at 78 he was no match for handling Romney and Obama so it went well.

This time we got Candy who, instead of asking the questions and getting the hell out of the way, felt she had to interject her own opinions into the fray.   Like, who cares what she thinks?

Candy, Barack, and Mitt. Who is squeezing 

the hardest?

Both guys got in some decent licks.  For Romney it was pretty easy pickings as he only had to pick a few items from a large laundry list of Obama failings from his 2008 promises.

For Obama, he managed a dig at Romney’s Detroit comment about letting Detroit autos go bankrupt and got after him about outsourcing.

Obama also couldn’t resist getting in the obligatory 47% crack during his summation but Romney beat him to the punch as he mentioned it during his summation a couple minutes before when he said it was sad that 47% of Americans are on food stamps.  I thought that was a good move and a miss on Obama’s part.  Actually, Obama should have mentioned it in Denver but he didn’t mention much of anything else that night either.

One funny point that kind of diminished Obama:  On a couple of occasions, he followed Romney’s moves.  At one time, Romney got up from his chair and Obama followed.  Another time, they were standing next to each other when Romney took about four steps forward.  Like a good puppy, Obama followed again. 

Both instances may be more subliminal than anything but it came across as kind of odd to me.

There was a lot of bantering but not much new since the Denver debacle.  If I had to give the debate a score, I would say it was about 50-50.  Romney was about as good as the first debate in Denver but Obama improved enough that at least he didn’t look half asleep this time around.

I doubt if the prez will gain any ground from this round.  Romney matched up good with him at a time when Obama needed a knockout.

Next comes the third and final debate; this time from Boca Raton, Florida.  It will be Bob Schieffer of CBS moderating and the format will be the same as Denver.  Foreign policy will be dominate so expect some fireworks since the mere mention of Libya got some blood flowing tonight.

No word yet on whether Hillary will be there since she has taken the fall for Libya hence being dispatched to Peru.  How would you like to be a mouse in Bill’s house and hear his reaction to that move?

THE DEBATE.....

When Mitt Romney walloped Obama last week in their Denver debate, he was cordial and polite as he dissected the president and easily won the night.

Although Obama fans were not happy with the thrashing their man took, I didn’t hear anything about Romney being rude or impolite during the process.

There is no substitute for class and Ryan proved it. 

Unfortunately for Joe Biden, I think he set a record tonight for being one of the rudest, most ill mannered, boorish debaters I have ever seen in the political arena and I have been watching this stuff since 1960 when Nixon and Kennedy started TV debates.

The disrespect, interruptions, mugging to the camera, and laughing while Representative Ryan presented his side of the debate, was unconscionable.  It’s one thing to disagree with your opponent; it’s something else to exhibit your bad manners.

Fortunately, Paul Ryan held his ground and let Biden bloviate which was a good strategy.  It showed that he wasn’t going to let the guy get under his skin.  Instead the condescending Biden just dug himself further into a hole as the debate went on.

Whether Biden was trying to kick it up a notch after Obama’s lackluster performance and show what he might interpret as a “personality,” I don’t know.  He could have used some time with a good coach who I’m sure would have told him to “cool it.”

Notes:  The time each candidate got was about the same; approximately 41 minutes…..Funny moment:  After Biden complained that Ryan got 40 seconds more than he did on one item Martha Raddatz said , “No, he didn’t.”

 Some comments from left leaners:  MSNBC’s S.E. Cupp:  “Biden needs to laugh a little less through the Libya, Middle East, and nuclear Iran segment.”

Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza: “Ok. I have decided. I find the Biden smile slightly unsettling.”

PBS’ Jeff Greenfield: “Biden has always had a smile that at times is really, really inappropriate.”

Jennifer Rubin, “The Washington Post”:  “Biden’s laughing is losing the debate- obnoxious”

On the other side:  Chris Wallace:  “I’ve never seen a candidate as disrespectful as Biden.”

A CNN Poll gave the win to Ryan 48%-44% so it was pretty even by their reckoning.  Charles Krauthamer said if it was only on radio, Biden would probably be the winner.  If it was written on paper, it would be a tie, and if you watched it on TV, the winner was Ryan.

As far as personalities, I was pretty sure Joe would act the way he did.  That is his nature to be outgoing, loud, and garrulous.  He probably overdid his shtick tonight trying to save something for the two weeks after the poor showing of his boss.

Ryan was the soft spoken intellectual I expected and was a nice relief from Biden.  He had his facts down and disregarded the nonsense from his right as much as possible.

As far as how much this debate affected the election, I would say it was negligible.  However, the Democrats could have used a shot in the arm tonight which they didn’t receive. 

Next week its Romney-Obama again.   If Obama makes another showing like his last, he could be in big trouble.  

Comments?

SOMETHING NON-POLITICAL TO GIVE US A REST UNTIL RYAN-BIDEN NEXT THURSDAY

I rarely go to movie theaters anymore.  Not only do most films look too ignorant in the previews (How many times do we have to see a car explode) but I am so tired of the Hollywood phonies in films that I will not pay $7 to watch them.  Are you listening to me George Clooney, Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Alec Baldwin and the rest of you losers?  Not you Clint, You’re still a good guy and I will be seeing “Trouble With the Curve” soon.

Luckily, there are some good British films around.  Not only are the British stars superior in talent but they give us the opportunity to see stories enacted that don’t require sex or violence.

Has anyone seen “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”, “The King’s Speech”, or “My Week with Marilyn”?  They have all come out within the last few years and are great viewing with great casts.  You’ll spit in George Clooney’s eye after seeing those films and others from the UK.

Speaking of theaters, I recently ran across a list of things that an employee of a movie theater will not tell you but will tell me.

For example, have you ever wondered why popcorn smells so good when you are in a theater?  According to our snitch it’s because it is loaded with chemicals to make its aroma fill the theater.

Take it from a pro, you don't want 

these at your local Bijou!

Did you know that for the first month or two of screening, money from ticket sales goes to movie studios? Theaters rely on concession stands to make money. That’s why concessions are overpriced. Popcorn costs almost nothing to make.  

Theaters hate me.  I never buy anything there, popcorn or otherwise.  I laugh when I see people with barrels of popcorn and quarts of soda.  Are they there for the movie or to eat junk food?

Our snitch knows all the methods you may use to sneak in. He (she?) just doesn’t always care enough to kick you out for it, though.  Have you ever sneaked into an indoor show?  I haven’t but I snuck into many drive-ins.

Our snitch says that “The only foods I trust are the popcorn, drinks, and boxed candy. I wouldn’t eat the pretzels, hot dogs, or nachos.”  Me either!

“Chances are, if you complain to the manager and he sides with you, he’s just putting on a show to calm you down. The manager might pretend to yell at employees for a minute, but he’ll pat them on the back the moment you’re out of sight.”  Who would have thought?

“No, I can’t give you extra cups. Everything is inventoried at the end of the night” says our guy.  I’ve heard that happens at other places too.

If you think the ushers don’t always sweep out the theater, your suspicions are correct. Sometimes they sweep excess food under the seats. Movies often end every few minutes. Sometimes, three or more screenings end at the same time so they don’t always have time to clean everything up.

Do you ever wonder why movies start late?  Here’s why:   “Yes, movies start late. But they almost always end on time – otherwise, the ushers wouldn’t know when to clean up. Theaters tell you to come in early so you have time to watch commercials and previews.

Last but not least we are told that Popcorn keeps for a day or two. Many customers confuse warm with fresh.  Yum!

See you at the movies.  I will have my own provisions!