Sunday, March 17, 2013

To My Fabulous Readers


I will be away for two weeks travelling in Madrid and Paris so I may not have a chance or desire to rant and ruminate, but if I can, I will. In the meantime, let's will Spring in everywhere.  I want to return to buds and blossoms all over NYC.  

If you haven't paid attention to the AT&T commercials, slow down your DVRs and TiVOs.  I think they are the best series of commercials in years.  Haven't gotten tired of them yet.  

The Biggest Loser ends while I'm away.  Dancing With The Stars and The Voice begin again.  

Keep breathing.  Enjoy your friends and loved ones.  See you around the internet.  

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

The Least Educated State...


Makes the least educated legislative decision.  As a response to Mayor Michael Bloomberg's anti-giant soda law, the great minds of Mississippi passed a law that bans cities, towns, and counties from ordering companies to post nutrition information or modify portion sizes.  Really,  Mississippi?  This is where you want to go?  Look it, I'm not sure how I feel about Mayor Bloomberg's declaration against sodas over 16oz, but at least he's trying to do something.  He's trying to help the future of our children to make healthier changes, even if he is mandating.  Unfortunately, a judge halted this soda size ban and now will be appealed in a higher court.  Was Bloomberg's law perfect?  No, it wasn't. There were many loopholes, but it was something.  7/11's could still sell 32 oz. sodas.  You could still go to the market and buy the giant 2 liter bottles, but he's doing something.  Bloomberg has made many decisions that may be deemed progressive.  He has one of the severest anti-smoking laws anywhere.  He supported bike lanes (which I am not a fan of, but it is all part of his vision of a healthy future).

Obesity is one of the costliest health issues in this country.  If you were a Biggest Loser viewer, this year they had three overweight, out of shape young people on the show, from 11 years old to 16.  These children were given the tools and information.  The truth, they and their families had no idea about nutrition and healthy life choices.  These children weren't happy and their size was keeping them from doing what they wanted to do: baseball, cheerleading, etc. The trainers went to their homes, they brought in a pediatrician to give each a medical exam, a nutritionist to go through all the food in their homes, and, lo and behold, major changes occurred.  These three kids in eleven weeks have made gigantic life changes, as have their families.  Education is power and these people didn't have it until The Biggest Loser showed up in their lives.  

Which brings me back to Mississippi, the legislation has banned any entity from having to post info or modify any food or soda item.  Did I mention that Mississippi is not only the least educated State, but also the highest rate of obesity?  How do these people square this with their constituents?  I don't get it.  It feels that they want to keep their people down.  Why would they want that?  I have no idea, but on the heels of the Bloomberg decision, this is what they rushed to pass?  Bet they're against Obamacare.  Again, the State of Mississippi takes far more from the Federal government than they give back.  Maybe we should cut them loose, cut our losses, and not send any money to the State of Mississippi.

Sidebars:  I find the whole Conclave such a mystery.  If I hadn't read Angels and Demons by Dan Brown, I'd be even more confused, but I can't believe that all news in the United States is spending so much time on choosing the next Pope reporting.  I am not saying that it's not incredibly important to Catholics, but Catholics aren't a majority in America.  There is no equal to this event in any other religion.  It's very curious, all of it.  Thousands waiting in the rain for white smoke....Breaking news!!!!! There's white smoke.  There's a new Pope!!!  Don't know who it is, but they are going crazy in St. Peter's Square.  Stay tuned to your news stations.  

Please re-post or forward to a friend.

Monday, March 11, 2013

To Legalize or Not To Legalize....


Okay, people, who are we kidding?  The war on drugs has wasted both man power and billions of dollars with few results.  If you watched Rock Center Friday night, they did a piece on Camden, New Jersey.  Once a thriving town just across the river from Philadelphia, it is now a drug and gun infested bombed out shell from its heyday.  It's bleak and the future looks even bleaker.  Now, am I for legalization of all drugs?  Not sure about that.  I definitely think that we, as a country, are missing out on huge amounts of revenue from legalizing marijuana.  As a matter of fact, I have always wondered why the all powerful tobacco industry didn't lobby for marijuana.  They could corner the market easily and take complete control from all the independent farmers.  Not that I want that, but I just am surprised at the short sightedness.  If they wanted it legal, it would be.  I have no doubt about that.  Money speaks volumes.  Even without them, which I'd prefer and trust more, the vast amount of taxes that could be generated by allowing recreational use could only help this economy.  I don't understand why it's so opposed by the government.  It  will take a spine and a big commitment to take this stand, but I think that even the Tea Partiers could get behind it.  Revenue.  Money.  Liberty.  

Sports betting.  Come on, people.  Isn't it the most incredibly ludicrous and hypocritical behavior to keep it "illegal," but promote sports betting everywhere.  Every newspaper lists the odds for every game.  All the sportscasters talk about the lines of the games.  Every sports pundit talks about who they would wager on and how many points they are giving or getting.  If you just arrived in America, you would never think sports betting was illegal.  It is inescapable here and utterly ridiculous that States haven't figured out a way to legalize it and make it taxable.  In England, they have betting parlors.  They are clean, respectable, and busy.  We could have them here, too.  Make them accessible, keep records of wins and losses, and everyone pays taxes.  At the race track if you win, you can use losing tickets to counteract the win.  There is something here.  Someone needs to step up.  Everyone bets on sports in office pools, with bookies, friends, etc.  Why not make it more respectable.  Take it out of the shadows.  It's beyond time.  

Sidebars:  Did anyone see Justin Timberlake on Saturday Night Live?  He is superlatively talented.  His comic timing is fantastic.  Whether you are on board with his new album or not, he is an amazing musician and dancer.  He really knows his skits on the show.  One of the very few that doesn't appear to be reading each and every word off the teleprompter. Justin Timberlake is the Justin with talent.  Justin T. began as a teen and has grown up to be a fine man.  We didn't have to experience disgraceful growing pains as we are with JB. I wish the young girls would look up to JT and not JB.  I hope that worm has turned.  60 Minutes featured a segment on Sheryl Sandberg.  She is second in command at Facebook and a very accomplished woman.  She has written a book that has been ruffling so many feathers.  It's called Lean In.  She thinks women don't grab opportunities that men would do without thinking about all the ramifications, that the women's movement is stalled (which I wholeheartedly believe) and that women listen to all the  putdown "tapes" in their head that play.  I am so not able to do it justice, but listening to her speak as opposed to all the chatter this week, makes me think she has something very important to share.  Sunday night television on CBS was one of the best in a long time: Amazing Race, The Good Wife, and The Mentalist.  Tonight is the finale of The Bachelor.  Will he pick Catherine or Lindsey?  Hmmmm.  

Feel free to re-post or forward to a friend.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Too Stupid to Allow


Really?  The TSA is allowing small little pocket knives, no longer than 2 3/4 inches, on the plane starting in April?  Really?  The TSA is allowing golf clubs in all their voluminous bags on the plane?  What the hell are they thinking?  I don't get it.  Shouldn't the first thing allowed back on planes be bottles of water?  Shouldn't I be able to go through security without taking off my shoes?  Why, why would they make these decisions?  As I have often stated, my brain works linearly.  I am very practical and pragmatic so when things happen that don't make sense...my brain implodes.  

With the current budget problems, is this how the TSA is trying to relieve the crunch at security checkpoints?  Is this the best answer?  I just read that the TSA was approved for millions right before the sequester for new uniforms.  Good use of tax dollars?  I don't think so.  Can't they all wear jeans and a white shirt with a visible badge if there's a problem with the uniforms?  I am so sick of all the bull and nonsense going on throughout D.C.  This latest decision exemplifies the stupidity of the decision makers. Just ridiculous!  Let me keep my shoes on!!!  

There are so many little irritations, but I am just going to jump into the Justin Bieber fray.  Did you hear that he didn't come on until 10:20pm in his London concert?  He came on two hours after the start time. Children and parents were pissed, crushed, and disappointed.  Many had to leave early because it was so late on a school night and the trains stop running.  Who made this plan?  His apology was weak.  He had 3 scheduled opening acts.  Really?  3?  No one likes opening acts.  It gives many permission to come late to concerts.  But to have 3 acts for a concert with the majority of the audience being children is ridiculous.  This isn't the first time Justin Bieber was late.  He made them wait here in NYC at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn.  Who does he think he is?  He is not Judy Garland! I find him to be the most inauthentic teen idol ever.  Nothing about him seems organic from his ridiculous wardrobe to his tattoos to his partying. Justin Bieber's handlers better take control or he will be another asterisk in the annuls of music history. A ranter can hope, can't she?

Sidebars:  The Biggest Loser was the makeover episode.  Always a highlight.  The contestants all get to see how fabulous they look and get clothes they never imagined they'd be wearing.  The Bachelor: The Women Tell All was fantastic.  Always a treat but this year they showed "candid" moments before they were back "on the air." A lot of odd moments and contentious words. Tierra, this year's villain, continued the bad English found on The Bachelor and spoke of "Sean's and I's" date.  Oh, my God.  Can't Chris Harrison stop these people?  It's such a desecration of the English language.  Celebrity Apprentice lost 25% of their ratings from last year's premiere.  Please let them continue to tank.  American Idol is still snoozing along.  Talent has nothing to do with it.  It's become redundant week in and week out. New York City is bracing for another storm here.  The same storm that blasted the midwest.  Hope you have a great Wednesday wherever you are.

Here's a link to the Borowitz Report tackling the TSA.
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/borowitzreport/2013/03/new-tsa-rules-draw-praise-of-national-arbitrariness-association.html?mbid=nl_Borowitz%20(89)

Feel free to re-post or forward to a friend.