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Always Positive, Sometimes Right - October 2007

Sea Monkeys and Mallomars and Nigerian Fortunes

October 29th 2007 14:24
As I get older, I realize the things that I will never see or enjoy again and, more importantly, those things that my grandchildren will probably never know.

For example, I can cite Walnut Cake from Pepperidge Farms. This sublime, fantastic cake shouted out for a cold glass of milk in its journey down the gullet. The Walnut Cake had just the correct amount of sweetness and smoothness and could always be counted on to make the day's troubles, instances of unrequited love or undone work at the office, disappear. Naturally, when such a delight appears, the creator realizes that too much happiness is not good for community morals and the product disappears. I am certain it is George Bush’s fault, or, more likely. Karl Rove



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Ann Coulter – Redux.

October 28th 2007 17:16
Last July, I submitted a post on Orble discussing Ann Coulter and her foul mouth. Really Long Link I could not have anticipated her ability and willingness to sink to even greater depths of indecency and insensitivity. As I noted in the previous post, Ms Coulter has suggested that John Edwards was a homosexual, that Senator Edwards should be assassinated, and the surviving spouses of those killed on September 11, 2001, were enjoying not being required to pick up the socks of a dead husband. (The constant explanations of the Right zealots are twofold: First she was only kidding and, second, liberals can’t take a joke.


The most recent incarnation of her so-called humor was manifested on a show in which she proclaimed that Heaven was like New York during the Republican convention, except for the presence of Jews who required conversion to Christianity to be “perfected”. Even some of the most rabid conservative “talking heads” balked at this


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Demonizing the Opposition

October 27th 2007 15:04
Years ago, while employed by the state of Florida, Joan and I decided that we could use some extra income; I began work for the Tampa Tribune. I remember one person to whom I had called saying, "The Tribune? Isn't that the Commie paper?" I answered, much to the discomfort of my supervisor, "No, that's the St. Petersburg Times. We're the Fascist one."

That was, no doubt, a rather harsh and simplistic analysis, but in the Tampa Bay area, the Tribune is far more conservative and GOP oriented. I rarely agree with the Tribune's editorials but that published on October 26, 2007, was right on point


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Let's Put on Clean Underwear, Matey, and Stomp a Weasel

October 27th 2007 12:27
Once upon a time, Congress was the source of non-binding resolutions honoring this or that but the practice was just about ended in 1995. Meanwhile, state governors and local authorities are forever granting keys to the city or ornate parchment proclamations in support of some idea or product. In addition, manufacturers of products and just fun-folks create holidays to celebrate life (except for Plan Your Epitaph Day, which is celebrated on November 2nd of each year). [www.hardiehouse.org/epitaph]

If one has a sweet tooth, nothing beats the celebration of items of candy and other treats. I like candy and the number of special "days" designated to honor candy products throughout the year is vast indeed


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I made a promise. . . darn it.

October 26th 2007 23:31
A few days ago I promised a writer of many posts on this site that I gave up; I would no longer try and engage her in any sort of dialogue because all it accomplished was my being denigrated as a person who cannot read, will not think and is devoid of values – in other words, a liberal! When I came across a posting that suggested a cookie company had conspired to attack Christmas, a charge that had been debunked by everyone as a falsehood, I could not resist answering. I was, quite accurately, called out for breaking my promise.

“Uh... Jim...? Are you related to John Kerry or Hillary Clinton? You said on another of my blogs today that you would "no longer" attempt to "debate" with me. And here you are. Trouble making up your mind, or what?”

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The Realities of Infirmities and Aging and How to be Prepared

October 26th 2007 17:48
Joan and I fulfilled some sober and somber responsibilities the other day, ones that gave us a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment, if not pleasure. A friend of ours had just passed away, after a long period of illness. His wife and he had chosen cremation in lieu of a formal funeral and internment and had, several years ago, made advanced arrangements to reduce, if not eliminate, the survivors’ burdens. When our friend died, we observed the manner in which matters were automatically accomplished. As a result, we signed contracts assuring our children will be spared the necessity of making decisions and arrangements.

These events brought to mind other realities that we have addressed but which may require review


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The Cloudy Crystal Ball

October 23rd 2007 23:57
With the President suggesting that World War III is around the corner and the Vice President justifying a war with Iran, the following statements of Mr. Chaney in 1994 seem worth noting. It seems that either Mr. C has not grown wiser from age or that he is simply picking a fight he once would have decried.

Q: Do you think the U.S., or U.N. forces, should have moved into Baghdad?

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Common Ground: Book Explores the Future of American Politics

October 22nd 2007 17:59
For those out there who think of me (and anyone who has the temerity to disagree with their “conventional wisdom”) as an irrational and, perhaps, unpatriotic Democrat/Liberal, I want to freely acknowledge reading and delighting in the politically slanted opinions of William Buckley, George Will and Cal Thomas. These advocates for their positions and viewpoints are, always, temperate and literate; they nearly always leave me with better insight into the American political scene. The columns of Messrs Buckley, Will and Thomas are not even in the same universe as the blathering of Bill O’Reilly, Ann Coulter and, indeed, many writers on this very site!

While I appreciate and enjoy those partisan writings, I deplore those who can see no value in the “other side’s” positions, who ascribe lack of patriotism to the other guy and whose aim is to divide us and destroy the opposition. These dividers are of both political extremes, have no hesitation about stretching the truth, picking and choosing isolated facts and misstating facts to justify their positions, but more important, to utterly destroy the opposition. On the right, Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter and Mary Matalin are obvious examples, O’Reilly and Coulter being the most irresponsible and simply mean. On the left extreme, Michael Moore and James Carville stand out. It is not enough for these “dividers” to challenge the opposition’s positions; the opposition has to be utterly destroyed


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Some people are simply unliked

October 22nd 2007 01:20
From that which I know, T. Merrell Williams is a decent, kind and honorable man who loves little children, puppies and his fellow man.

I don’t like him


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In the olden days…

October 20th 2007 15:05
My very favorite 21 year old granddaughter, Jessica, send us a booklet entitled “1956 Memories”, a collection of news items and prices from that year. Jessica suggested that this material would recall what was going on when I was her present age.

I still recall some of the vintage advertisements. The Nash Rambler was a car that brought snickers to high school lads: reclining seats that could become a bed. The ad proclaimed that the Rambler was a car that offered “complete new luxury that rivals $5,000 cars


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A Matter of Courtesy and an insistence on Confusing Political Views with Respect

October 20th 2007 13:42
Some time ago, I had sent a personal message to an author of some note for her postings on Orble, asking for her comments on an post I had written. She replied,

“Hi Jim. No problem with the comment, I'll be glad to do it. Can I ask you a question?? Why don't you leave comments on my blogs instead of sending these messages? Just curious.”

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Lord Timothy Dexter, a Genius, an Eccentric of just simply Nutty as a Fruitcake?

October 16th 2007 16:08


I grew up in Haverhill, Massachusetts, a city about 40 miles north of Boston, just across the New Hampshire border. My paternal grandparents lived in Newburyport and, as a child. I went to that city with my father to visit. One day, I remember, my father drove along High Street and pointed out a huge strange looking mansion, the yard surrounded by a white fence. The building itself had a cupola and the most unusual and unique architecture that could be imagined. As I look back on the memories, I am reminded of the buildings of Oz in the 1939 MGM motion picture


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A Northern Hamburger place comes to Florida – and Five Guys Famous Burgers is certainly welcome

October 14th 2007 13:59
Hamburgers, great fries and more!

I love food, all types, all levels of “gourmetdom”; I will gladly scarf down a big bowl of spaghetti, meat sauce and sausage or a filet mignon or grilled wild salmon. I will love them all but, nothing, no nothing, measures up to a hamburger, rare, juicy, seasoned with a bit of salt and lovingly covered by slices of tomato and raw onion and, perhaps, sautéed peppers oozing from between the top half of a fresh roll. I have catholic tastes, however, and I also worship at the shrine of the Double Whopper at Burger King (“heavy all


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Passive Smoking and the Efforts to Protect our Children.

October 12th 2007 21:07
Many people who sit at the extreme left or right of the political spectrum extend their beliefs to the point that accepted scientific opinion is disregarded because it conflicts with the political positions adopted by fellow extremists.

Moreover, whatever valid arguments that could be made are, often, weakened by the predilection of using disrespectful nicknames and slogans. For example, I feel that the present president is not acting appropriately, I am opposed to many of his political decisions and I did not and would not vote for him; yet he is due the respect of his office and I refer to him as “President Bush” or “Mr. Bush”, never “Bushie”. A fellow writer at Orble, who has a site far more popular than my own, on the other hand, refers US v to Senator Clinton as “Billary”, Mrs. John Edwards as “Queen Liz” and dem-libs as if we were an unwelcome and certainly inferior part of the American fabric


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Carrabba's Italian Grill: Not the Usual

October 8th 2007 18:17
I have the desire -- no, need -- to share some dining experiences; this will show that all of my thoughts are not centered on politics and the only weighty issues involved are the increasing numbers on the scale!

I have shared my views on Rossi's Italian Restaurant in a previous post. Now I'd like to discuss a "chain restaurant" that stands head and shoulder above the genre


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Rossi’s of Elfers, New Port Richey, Florida, provides Italian Treats in an unexpected locale.

October 7th 2007 14:02
I read in the Forum that restaurant reviews are posts that are appropriate and might generate interest. This fits in quite well with my love of food, eating and reasonably affordable restaurants, So here’s a start!

Last October, I mentioned in another location, Rossi’s restaurant in Elfers, Florida, a community on State Road 54, north of Tarpon Springs. I suggested that they were home to some of the best pizza in the area and, also, had fine Italian food generally. Readers of my pieces here and elsewhere, are aware that I like food and we enjoy eating out, although Joan is one really fine cook. In any event, out granddaughter Jessica had her 21st birthday last May and, since she is usually hungry and now lives in Holiday, near Elfers, we invited her and a friend to Rossi’s for dinner


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I’m going to be away for a while.

October 1st 2007 18:02

As many folks know, after retirement I realized that I needed a part-time job so that I wouldn’t become old. The money was welcome, also; I am still getting old, however.

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