BP's Greed

It is said that there are 3 evils that we must overcome in order to better ourselves, both physically and spiritually....they are Greed, Envy and Ignorance. A current example of what can happen when one or more of these are overlooked, the BP oil catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico. Greed ...because in order to earn greater profits the company cut corners by decreasing qualified staff and using inferior equipment. Ignorance....by not thoroughly exploring all the aspects of drilling at such great depth and for not having proven back-up plans in case of failure.. These principles also apply to the bodies that diminished regulations, oversight and previous " mishaps"......they didn't learn a damn thing from history and so it goes....the ruination of the environment,wildlife and livelihood of thousands for generations to come.

Author Stieg Larsson (Spoiler)

(Rare editorial comment: WARNING SPOILER)

In view of the horrors that are occuring in our world today, this may seem to be trivial to the max....but, what the hell, we all need a diversion....mine is an addiction to Mysterys and novels of Suspense/Intrigue......and some of the best that I have read lately are those of Stieg Larsson..I just finished his last book and was left with such a profound sense of loss after reading the final paragraph.....knowing that the characters are to be gone forever. The author had completed 3 books before his untimely death and the situations/plots were so well thought out and his characters so interesting you couldn't help being invested in them that Larsson's demise became personal..It was reported that he had planned a series of 10 novels based on "the girl" and had left notes on the proposed books, but even if the publishers found someone else to complete them,it would be impossible to recreate his style..Too often writers of this genre are overlooked,,more's the pity.

Obama: All the Right Things But Incomplete

 After listening to our President's "Oval Office" speech last night I was left with a feeling of disappointment.....altho he said all of the "right things" it was not complete.....he didn't mention the heavy handed approach that BP has used in the clean-up efforts that should have lead to the Coast Guard taking command. .He was quite right to call our attention to the hazards of our dependence on oil and the urgency to find more environmentally safer energy sources,but in the current climate of this country, I fear that's not going to happen in the near future..There are people out there today who are fighting the moratorium on deep sea drilling, saying that it is taking food from their tables.....this disaster is going to effect the Gulf for 10 to 20 years....another such event would, perhaps, effect them forever!

Pray For Sarah

 As to Keith Olbermann's remarks about Sarah Palin being an "idiot".....in my opinion she is just ignorant and is too stupid to realize it. We should pray for her and God will heal her....just as she recommends for the oil disaster in the Gulf.

~ Comments by Skazski

Odious Comparisons

 Isn't it odd that most of the people who criticize President Obama and compare him to Hitler weren't even born when Hitler came to power? Maybe if those people were more knowledgeable about History they wouldn't make such odious comparisons!

~ Comments by Skazski

Not a Tea Party Adherent But Damn Angry

Altho I am not a Tea Party adherent I, too, am very, very angry.....not with the Federal government in general but with the Congress in particular.. It is a body of either comfortably ensconced old men who have enjoyed being re-elected for decades due to the apathy and ignorance of the voters, or a body of newcomers whose only focus is getting re-elected. . .The fault lies partially with us for not paying enough attention to what they are doing. Perhaps term limits is the answer...and instead of the smears and lies that are the base of modern campaigning....the only criteria would be the publishing, for all to see, of their voting record on every issue that comes before them..Maybe that would diminish the roles of the lobbyists and the corporations that they represent.

~ Comments by Skazski

Underwear Bomber vs. hotel maid

This is another thing that really bothers me....on one hand we have groups of young men entering our country from known "terrorist" countries (Somalia, Afghanistan and Pakistan) who seem to have no problems obtaining visas, in traveling back and forth between their birthplaces and here, in becoming citizens of the USA,are able to buy firearms with impunity....and whose mission in life seems to be the destruction of our country. On the other hand we have people who come to us from across the border in hopes of making a better life for themselves and their families. Who work hard and aid in our economic growth, yet they are subjected to discrimination and rigorous barriers to achieve citizenship......so why the disparity in our attitudes and laws???? Car Bomber vs. field worker, Underwear Bomber vs. hotel maid,....the choice seems clear to me.

~ Comments by Skazski

In Vampire Mode, and Nadal's Nike Curse: The Clown of the Courts

Time for Spring Break..aka...The Monte Carlo Tennis Tournament. Since there is a 9 hour time difference, that means going into "Vampire" mode,....up all night and sleeping until noon. This will also be the time to see if the Nike Curse,on Rafa Nadal, will finally be broken. Ever since Nike began tinkering with Nadal's tennis attire the guy hasn"t won a title...even the Sports Commentators have taken to critizing his "horrendous" costumes! Nike has taken a great young player and turned him into the Clown of the Courts....shame on them. This young man has won 5Grand Slams and 35 other championships, all by the age of 23...you would think that Nike would have more resect for him.....but obviously they are too busy trying to polish up Tiger's image.

Oy Vey! Nike is still at it.......as one sport's announcer said..."these (blue and white plaid) shorts would look right at home on a Scottish Links, but at Monte Carlo,NO!" Nike should spend their time and energy(?) on making Rafa a pair of tennis shorts that actually FIT rather than how outlandish, and ugly, they can be! He is a brave lad for even appearing on court in those disgraceful rags!

Tiger Woods, Morality and Money

Is anyone else as sick of the Tiger Woods saga as I am? Every damn TV show spends more time on this self-centered,egotistical bozo than they do on real news! So he can hit a hole with a golf ball...its not as though he has done anything to benefit the world...enuff already!

Do you think that the United States of America, as it is today, will still be in existance in 100 years?

When Money walks in the door, morality and ethics join hands and fly out the window.....case in point....the latest ad from Nike regarding Tiger and his deceased father. Apparently going to the uttmost extreme to refurbish the tarnished image of their money making "idol" is just fine and dandy. Morality be damned!.

Poker is NOT a Sport!

Can we get real?....Poker is a "sport"? By what criteria does that make sense? It requires no athletic ability, acuity or physical prowess....if all of those things don't matter then, taking into consideration all the years I've spent playing gin rummy and solitaire, I must be a great sportswoman.....even if I can't walk 50 yards to my mailbox and have the eye to hand coordination of a newt....Ha or rather, Bah! Humbug!!

Health Reform Bill: Know the Facts

For God's sake, know the FACTS! I heard one woman's angry response to the passing of the Health Reform bill in which she ranted "I don't want anyone (i.e. government) coming between my f---ing doctor and me"...doesn't she realize, or understand, that the final say-so about her health care is NOT in her doctor's hands but that it lies solely with the accountant at her insurance company? ..If you are going to protest at least know what the facts are!..

Utterly Bizarre Do-Nothings

A new Party in town...."The Do-Nothings"......does anyone else find this utterly bizarre? An ex-governor, who quit half way through her term is campaigning for a senator, who recently said that he wasn't going to do anything, in the senate, for the rest of his term. . . How little those two must regard the intelligence of the voters. 

Storm Troopers

Do the words "Storm Troopers" ring any bells?? Now a far greater danger is rising in our country.....no, it is not the GOP...it is the lunatics who would take over the asylum.....they are the ones who do not believe in the democratic process but instead embrace the policies of fear and intimidation, who advocate overthrowing the government by criminal acts. Based on half-truths and utter lies they are conning the gullible and naive into civil disobedience......it reminds me of prewar Nazi Gernany and of what followed. Are we going to sit passively by while this happens??!

Where is Civility?

What the hell has happened to this country? Not only has common sense fallen by the wayside but civility has met its demise and we are all the worse for it.. Children in Middle School tell their teacher to "F___ off" without fear of reprimand, members of Congress shout insults to each other like kids on a playground and grown up(?)people throw bricks through the windows of those with whom they disagree! there is a vast difference between freedom of speech and hate mongering and incitement to violence.

A Ray of Hope

A few days ago I was about to give up and call this exercise quits.... but then Congress finally got something done and a ray of hope is now showing on the horizon. The Health Care Bill that is now, after more than fifty years, is in effect....it is far from ideal and needs a lot of adjustment but at least it is a step in the right direction....and for that I am grateful and encouraged.Maybe that "Change we believed in" is now on its way! 

Tax on Smokers Unfair

Whenever a governmental body needs money the first thing they do is raise taxes on cigarettes..to be fair..why not raise taxes on alcohol? Alcohol is far more injurious to ones'own health as well as the side effects on others.....such as domestic violence, time lost from work, property damage, DUIs and the list goes on.. Air pollutants are every where and to blame smokers is hypocrisy....but wine drinking has a certain snobbish charm appeal that is hard to fight with reason.. Drinking is considered to be more socially acceptable and sophisticated.....ergo,let the common folk/smokers bear the tax burden. That is unfair taxation! I protest! 

Racism in the Republican Party

Is former Congressman(R) Tancredo a Native American? Unless his ancestors were here to greet the Pilgrims, what language did his forefathers speak when they arrived on our shores?...and just how perfectly did they speak or write English? More appalling than Tancredo's remarks was the applause he got for making them! It is obvious that racist attitudes are still thriving in the Republican Party.

The Spirit of Christianity: Where the Hell is it?

Along with calling ourselves "the worlds richest nation" we also pat ourselves on the back for being a "Christian Nation". We make a big deal about our generousity to other countries when disaster strikes....but here at home it is a different story......one political party sees helping our fellow citizens as a "handout" that encourages lack of responsibility and fight tooth and nail to stymy any legislation that would improve their lot.....where the hell is the spirit of "Christianity" in that?

Bet on Health Care

 As unpleasant as taxes are they are a necessary part of life......no money in, no money out....this is how our government gets funds for projects that provide services and jobs..Sometimes it takes money to make money......you will never win the lottery if you never buy a ticket..We are a Nation of gamblers....whether it is space exploration, planting crops, having a family, buying a new car, playing the Stock Market,...it is all a risk that we take every day......so why not bet on health care? The odds of a universal health care system are in our favor over the long run....if we get rid of the Health Care monopolies, their lobbyists and Senators who are on the take.....level the playing field,so to speak.


~ Comments by Skazski

Tea Baggers, the Other Meaning

There is a lot of anger out here against those who have, time and again, been elected to represent us in the Federal Government and who have, year after year, served their own political interests/gains......and now there is a faction who has seized on this anger to build a political platform that goes far beyond all reason....the Tea Baggers. I wonder how many of them are aware of the other meaning of that phrase? The real issue is not too much government but the incompetence and corruption of those IN government.

~ Comments by Skazski

Sarah Palin: "You Cannot Be Serious!"

In the immortal words of Johnny Mac......." you cannot be serious!"....The very idea of S.Palin even being considered as a Presidental Candidate is enough to make us the laughing stock of the entire civilized, diplomatic community! Under that cutesy,"just plain folks" facade of "you betcha" and using "ya" instead of "you" lives an absolutely incompetent woman who has a certain amount of cleverness but no amount of intelligence or intellect..... if this is an example of the Tea Partie's ideology we are in deep trouble if they gain momentum!

Rush and Health Care: Get Real!

Health Care at its best!!! So Rush Limbaugh says that our health care system "is just fine" and that he wasn't given any special treatment...really? Not to belittle the health care in Hawaii, which is about as good as it gets in this country, but I worked as a health care professional in hospitals for many years and know how the system works...when a wealthy celebrity is admitted, for care, you can bet your bottom dollar that no time, or effort is spared seeing to his every needs.....and the fact that Limbaugh said he didn't get special treatment shows how delusional he is.....he didn't have to worry about seeking medical attention when he felt ill, because he knew he could afford it....unlike thousands of his fellow Americans who aren"t millionaires! Get real,Rush!

Dial It Back A Bit Rush

OMG!....just how far will that racist hate-monger, Rush Limbaugh, have to go before his GOP fan club says "tsk,tsk,maybe you should dial it back a bit"...but,of course, nary a word of reproach to their front man......but then, he isn't a Senator or the Speaker of the Senate. The very idea that our President is sending help to those in Haiti because he wants to influence black voters is so outrageous that it is an affront to every sane person in this country. Democrat, Republican, and Independent,alike.

Time to Change The Way We War

Modern warfare has changed...why haven't we? Somehow the idea of using large armies to invade other countries in order to vanquish small, mobile terrorist groups seems like a waste of lives and funds. Wouldn't those resourses be better used by overhauling, and improving,"intelligence"? Establishing a world-wide network of "police forces" in one unified system, and maintaining smaller more mobile task forces whose sole agenda would be the eradication of terrorist cells all over the world rather than occuping sovereign nations seems more plausible....fight the terrorists with their own tactics.

~ Comments by Skazski

False Modesty vs. Safety

Making Air Travel Safer.....false modesty vs. safety? A child of 3 could answer that question in a flash! When standard "pat-downs" will not detect the type of device that the would-be underwear bomber was sporting and only a full body imaging is that capable....why such a hue and cry about "invasion of privacy"? After all the images are not going to be shown on a large, Multi-plex screen, complete with popcorn and a soda! What the hell is the problem...and why is it even being argued!

~ Comments by Skazski