New on the Global Warming Religion front today. That's right,'Global Warm Front', I peak not of the typical weather warm front we all know about. In the religion of global warming (well, we do have to take all the wild claims by global warmed advocates as based on faith, given there is no empirical evidence yet showing that humans cause a warmer climate) there is an ever increasing, often contradictory number of things that some claim are caused by "global warming".
The latest to make me smile is from a group of scientists (no doubt seeking attention and funding) at the Ocean Sciences meeting in Portland, US who claim..get ready for this one..who claim that the almost two centuries of whaling has caused the release of so much carbon earth temperatures have risen. Haha Whale induced global warming....it's an imaginative lame theory, for certain. Whales store carbon within their huge bodies and when they are killed, much of this carbon can be released. But if left to die naturally they take their carbon to the bottom of the ocean where it is stored. Ergo, those wacky members of the global warm religion deduce that global warming has been partly whale inspired.
Are you ready to put your whaling harpoons away? If so, how about giving me your reaction to some other "problems' "global warming" has caused here are a few of the things the Global warmers say are "caused by global warming": increase in agricultural land, decrease in agricultural land, more allergies, more air pressure, melting of the Alp ice cover, loss of the Amazon forest, arctic bog melting, more asthma, more avalanches, fewer avalanches, banana production increased, banana production destroyed, bird confusion, my confusion (I had to add that one, sorry), blizzards and snow increase, rising temperatures and more hurricanes, more brush fires, the re emergence of the bubonic plague, more cardiovascular disease, loss of the bees, caterpillar "confusion" (thank God I am not the only one confused!), vivil unrest, cloud increases, colder and warmer temperatures, coral reefs growing, coral reefs dying, dermatitis, desert advancing, desert retreating, desert life dying, destruction of the environment, diarrhea outbreaks (Yes I know I have long had diarrhea of the mouth but I never knew it was caused by global warming), disappearance of coastal cities, Dolomite mountains collapse, more diseases, drought, fewer ducks and geese, dust bowl in the U.S midwest, earlier spring and pollen season, Earth dying , Earth getting hotter, Earth wobbling or spinning out of control, Earth lopsided, Earth light dimming, Earth melting, Earth upside down, Earth about to explode, more erosion, Europe both colder and warmer (the Global warmers are still deciding which, I guess?), evolution accelerating (maybe I am the missing link?), extinction's of thousands of organisms, famine, better farming conditions, worse farming conditions, better fishing, worse fishing, floods, food poisoning, food price increases, decline of forests, growth of forests, frosts, fungi invasions, gene pool decreases, glacial decreases, glacial growth, death of the Great Barrier Reef, decline of the Great Lakes, greener north, Gulf Stream failure, loss of habitat, more hay fever, fertility in women reduced, human health decline, human health improvement, ice sheet growth, ice sheet shrinkage, islands disappear, invasion of midges, higher insurance premiums, itchier poison ivy, decline of krill, landslide increases, malaria epidemics, migrations of humans and animals, ocean acidification, ozone loss, ozone gain, personal carbon rationing, pest problems (not human pests like me...the animal kind), plankton gain, plankton loss, polar bears cannibalistic, polar bears starve or drown, psycho social disturbances (I am proof of it), more rain, less rain, salmonella problems, more sex changes (I have no idea why?), spider invasion of Scotland (they must like to bite below the kilt), tectonic plate movement, terrorism, tree decline, tree increases, wars over water..................
Ahhhhhhhh, after citing all that nonsense the whale news almost makes sense. Have a "cool" day.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Entitlement Mania
There are rumblings by some politicians that the time has come to revert the U.S. back to a free market capitalist nation. The age of entitlement is on us, and our self reliant days long gone. But the "government owes me" mentality has gotten so expensive it has threatened to bankrupt the county, and as a result, the same politicians who have been handing out money (in the form of credit, that is) to win votes, have suddenly started talking a fiscal responsibility game. But is is just for show?
I think the U.S. is at the crossroads economically between staying the wealthiest nation on earth or becoming a much poorer one. To remain economically sound the entitlement mentality must end. At this time 52 percent, up from 49 percent in 2000, of Americans receive significant handouts from government programs. To make matters worse, this year an estimated 50 million Americans (about 45% of the total eligible to pay taxes) will not pay any income taxes. This is up from 18 percent in 1980, and it reflects the lack of self reliance that has replaced the independence and self reliance that made the U.S. so prosperous.
Both Democrats and Republicans like to push tax exemptions for groups they see as their constituencies. They buy support and votes by handing out money as entitlements. The problem is made worse because those who receive the tax breaks almost universally believe they are just, while deductions for others are considered grossly unfair. Thus, "the government should take care of me" has become the mantra for all social and economic classes here. It's frighteningly similar to the socialist mess that Europe adopted after W.W. II and which
has crippled European so badly since. Americans need to re examine their priorities about entitlements.
If the percentage of those receiving income from government continues to increase along with the percentage of those exempt from taxation, fewer citizens will see any need to tax to pay for programs their government must pay for. Debt will continue to rise. The problem is the desire for more freebies from government keeps going up. What this country needs is for every person to pay some taxes, and for every entitlement program to be frozen reduced or eliminated until the U.S. is fiscally sound. But this is highly unlikely to happen.
According to the Heritage Foundation, about 1 in 5 Americans hold a government job or a job reliant on federal spending. Approximately the same number receives Social Security or a government pension. About 19 million get food stamps while another 2 million receive subsidized housing. Another 5 million get education grants there are limits on how much government can provide without impairing the economy. In 1950, only 28 percent of Americans received income from the government, but by 2040 it is projected to reach 60 percent! I think it not a reach to declare the U.S a socialist state.With the absence of taxes, deficit spending and debt, the ever expanding public payroll, I wondered if we are moving toward a day when children will be taken to visit an amazing curiosity, the Last Taxpayer.
Haha I hope it isn't me. Entitlements by far account for the majority of mandatory spending done by the government today. They are programs that require the government to pay benefits to people based on eligibility criteria established by law. There are over 200 entitlement programs, but only 21 of them consume 97% of all entitlement spending. Most of these are social welfare programs, which can fall into one of two categories, means tested and non means tested.
Means tested programs, such as Medicaid, Food Stamps, and family support programs, give out benefits to those "in need" (or alleged to be in need), to those who fall into a certain category of being of lower income. These programs comprise 20% of all entitlement spending. To receive benefits through non means tested programs you could be a billionaire or you could be homeless. Rich and poor alike get checks from the government through such programs as Social Security, Medicare, unemployment compensation, and retirement programs. These comprise 80% of federal entitlement spending, but seem impossible to cut because voters feel they are entitled to them and even demand unreasonable payments from them relative to what they have contributed in taxes or program payments.
Examples of some of the wasteful entitlements could fill a book the size of the great epic novel, War and Peace.
-The U.S. government will spend $2.6 million training Chinese prostitutes to drink more responsibly on the job.
-Health care fraud is estimated to cost taxpayers more than $60 billion annually
-It will spend $126 million in 2009 to enhance the Kennedy family in Massachusetts. Additionally, congress diverted $20 million from the 2010 defense budget to subsidize a new Edward M. Kennedy Institute.
-Fraud related to Hurricane Katrina spending is estimated to top $2 billion. From what I have seen here it could be even higher.
- Congress recently spent $2.4 billion on 10 new jets that the Pentagon insists it does not need and will not use because the military contractors are "entitled to it"
-The Conservation Reserve program pays farmers $2 billion annually not to farm their land. Farmers get rich on their entitlement to not farm.-A Department of Agriculture report concedes that much of the $2.5 billion in “stimulus” funding for broad band Internet will be wasted.
Those are just a few. Of course the biggest waste, excess in benefits is in the Medicare and social security programs. Those have become a treasure of votes for politicians who dare not be honest with recipients of those funds. They remind them of the great lie that they deserve far more in benefits than recipients earn in the small payments they made into those programs.
Unless the political structure is honest with voters and makes huge cuts in entitlements the U.S. is doomed to fall into insignificance in the decades ahead. Wanna bet if that happens? I think not.
I think the U.S. is at the crossroads economically between staying the wealthiest nation on earth or becoming a much poorer one. To remain economically sound the entitlement mentality must end. At this time 52 percent, up from 49 percent in 2000, of Americans receive significant handouts from government programs. To make matters worse, this year an estimated 50 million Americans (about 45% of the total eligible to pay taxes) will not pay any income taxes. This is up from 18 percent in 1980, and it reflects the lack of self reliance that has replaced the independence and self reliance that made the U.S. so prosperous.
Both Democrats and Republicans like to push tax exemptions for groups they see as their constituencies. They buy support and votes by handing out money as entitlements. The problem is made worse because those who receive the tax breaks almost universally believe they are just, while deductions for others are considered grossly unfair. Thus, "the government should take care of me" has become the mantra for all social and economic classes here. It's frighteningly similar to the socialist mess that Europe adopted after W.W. II and which
has crippled European so badly since. Americans need to re examine their priorities about entitlements.
If the percentage of those receiving income from government continues to increase along with the percentage of those exempt from taxation, fewer citizens will see any need to tax to pay for programs their government must pay for. Debt will continue to rise. The problem is the desire for more freebies from government keeps going up. What this country needs is for every person to pay some taxes, and for every entitlement program to be frozen reduced or eliminated until the U.S. is fiscally sound. But this is highly unlikely to happen.
According to the Heritage Foundation, about 1 in 5 Americans hold a government job or a job reliant on federal spending. Approximately the same number receives Social Security or a government pension. About 19 million get food stamps while another 2 million receive subsidized housing. Another 5 million get education grants there are limits on how much government can provide without impairing the economy. In 1950, only 28 percent of Americans received income from the government, but by 2040 it is projected to reach 60 percent! I think it not a reach to declare the U.S a socialist state.With the absence of taxes, deficit spending and debt, the ever expanding public payroll, I wondered if we are moving toward a day when children will be taken to visit an amazing curiosity, the Last Taxpayer.
Haha I hope it isn't me. Entitlements by far account for the majority of mandatory spending done by the government today. They are programs that require the government to pay benefits to people based on eligibility criteria established by law. There are over 200 entitlement programs, but only 21 of them consume 97% of all entitlement spending. Most of these are social welfare programs, which can fall into one of two categories, means tested and non means tested.
Means tested programs, such as Medicaid, Food Stamps, and family support programs, give out benefits to those "in need" (or alleged to be in need), to those who fall into a certain category of being of lower income. These programs comprise 20% of all entitlement spending. To receive benefits through non means tested programs you could be a billionaire or you could be homeless. Rich and poor alike get checks from the government through such programs as Social Security, Medicare, unemployment compensation, and retirement programs. These comprise 80% of federal entitlement spending, but seem impossible to cut because voters feel they are entitled to them and even demand unreasonable payments from them relative to what they have contributed in taxes or program payments.
Examples of some of the wasteful entitlements could fill a book the size of the great epic novel, War and Peace.
-The U.S. government will spend $2.6 million training Chinese prostitutes to drink more responsibly on the job.
-Health care fraud is estimated to cost taxpayers more than $60 billion annually
-It will spend $126 million in 2009 to enhance the Kennedy family in Massachusetts. Additionally, congress diverted $20 million from the 2010 defense budget to subsidize a new Edward M. Kennedy Institute.
-Fraud related to Hurricane Katrina spending is estimated to top $2 billion. From what I have seen here it could be even higher.
- Congress recently spent $2.4 billion on 10 new jets that the Pentagon insists it does not need and will not use because the military contractors are "entitled to it"
-The Conservation Reserve program pays farmers $2 billion annually not to farm their land. Farmers get rich on their entitlement to not farm.-A Department of Agriculture report concedes that much of the $2.5 billion in “stimulus” funding for broad band Internet will be wasted.
Those are just a few. Of course the biggest waste, excess in benefits is in the Medicare and social security programs. Those have become a treasure of votes for politicians who dare not be honest with recipients of those funds. They remind them of the great lie that they deserve far more in benefits than recipients earn in the small payments they made into those programs.
Unless the political structure is honest with voters and makes huge cuts in entitlements the U.S. is doomed to fall into insignificance in the decades ahead. Wanna bet if that happens? I think not.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Olympic Nationalism
You know what I hate about the Olympic games? It's the ritualistic nationalism, particularly waving the flag after a victory in an event. Is that necessary? I saw a Swiss skater who won an event in the Winter games grab the flag and start running around the skate track. Funny thing is she never unfurled the flag and looked ridiculous being unaware that her chauvinism wasn't totally showing. Isn't it a little irritating to wave the national banner at a sporting event that is pledged to be an attempt to unify the nations of the world. It's like spitting on the "losing nations". Winners should be humble in victory and let others wave banners for them, not promote oneself.
Ideally, I would like to see all country designations removed from the athletes clothes and name. Let them compete as individuals, being allowed to enter the Olympics based on performance during the previous year. Those with the best times/highest scores/best records, get to compete, regardless of national origin. This might remove some of the ugly nationalism that fuels so many conflicts today. Look at France! What a mess excessive the unfounded pride in itself has done to that nation. France has isolated itself largely because of the excessive nationalistic fervor. The Olympic Games reflects that kind of false pride.
Banning displays of nationalism at the games by participants would be a good idea. The fans will always show their enthusiasm with nationalistic displays, but athletes should not encourage that idea. Also, no national anthems should be played after an event. The underlying premise of international sporting events is to bring people together in a spirit of fair competition and good will. The Olympic flag interlaces five rings representing the five continents. Show that flag and play the Olympic anthem after an event, not the anthem of any individual nation.
Remember the "cold war" years when the Olympic medals were counted as if victories on battle fields. Nationalism from the Olympics help to fuel hatred and distrust among nations then. Much of the awful judging of the events that cheat so many athletes is the result of nationalistic fervor.
Judges score athletes from their own countries higher than other judges do, and they appear to vary their biases strategically in response to the stakes involved in what scores they give.
The scrutiny given the event, and the degree of subjectivity of the performance aspect being scored both have a big impact on how often judges cheat to satisfy the nationalism that permeates the Olympics. For example, figure skating judges appear to engage in vote trading and bloc judging that make that event more of a staged exhibition than a real athletic contest.
I say to the athletes, just put down your flags and compete as individuals.
Ideally, I would like to see all country designations removed from the athletes clothes and name. Let them compete as individuals, being allowed to enter the Olympics based on performance during the previous year. Those with the best times/highest scores/best records, get to compete, regardless of national origin. This might remove some of the ugly nationalism that fuels so many conflicts today. Look at France! What a mess excessive the unfounded pride in itself has done to that nation. France has isolated itself largely because of the excessive nationalistic fervor. The Olympic Games reflects that kind of false pride.
Banning displays of nationalism at the games by participants would be a good idea. The fans will always show their enthusiasm with nationalistic displays, but athletes should not encourage that idea. Also, no national anthems should be played after an event. The underlying premise of international sporting events is to bring people together in a spirit of fair competition and good will. The Olympic flag interlaces five rings representing the five continents. Show that flag and play the Olympic anthem after an event, not the anthem of any individual nation.
Remember the "cold war" years when the Olympic medals were counted as if victories on battle fields. Nationalism from the Olympics help to fuel hatred and distrust among nations then. Much of the awful judging of the events that cheat so many athletes is the result of nationalistic fervor.
Judges score athletes from their own countries higher than other judges do, and they appear to vary their biases strategically in response to the stakes involved in what scores they give.
The scrutiny given the event, and the degree of subjectivity of the performance aspect being scored both have a big impact on how often judges cheat to satisfy the nationalism that permeates the Olympics. For example, figure skating judges appear to engage in vote trading and bloc judging that make that event more of a staged exhibition than a real athletic contest.
I say to the athletes, just put down your flags and compete as individuals.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Another Celebrity Apology
Sometimes I wonder if this is really the 'Computer Age'. It might better be identified as the 'Celebrity Apology Age' because all the bad boys and girls are apologizing to everyone, especially people not in their lives, those who by all rights should take no offense for a transgression committed against someone else.
Golfing great Tiger Woods is the latest to appear in front of the world and eat crow, admitting that he loves sex and cheated on his wife many times because of that wanderlust. But why does he have to apologize to everyone? Is it necessary for a celebrity to tell the world "I'm sorry" when committing a wrong against other people? How sincere is that kind of apology anyway? Is it merely for career purposes or is it a sincere apology? If Tiger and other Celebs must apologize in front of strangers, should we apologize to everyone in the neighborhood when we do something wrong? At what point is a celebrity more liable and treated differently from the rest of us.
I could understand Tiger making a public apology if he was using steroids and cheated in golf because those things would have injured the public, but he had sex with women other than his spouse. Isn't that a personal sin, one that should be contained within his family with apologies confined to family members?
Woods has lost a fortune because of the disgrace caused by his bad boy behavior. The sponsors have deserted him and his sorrow is more broad than that. He is also dealing with the worst consequence of all- the dissolution of his marriage and family. No doubt his financial advisers have pushed hard for Tiger to "say the right things" (that the public and commercial sponsors want to hear) in order to win back the fans and endorsement deals. We all know that's what happens when we watch a naughty celebrity apology. Just look at their darting eyes and gulping and see the insincerity drip from the mouths of the "sinners".
Perhaps the public likes to see the mighty fall and feels better when the hero squirms and grovels. Surely the media thinks so, as it pours word after salacious word about what Tiger did to those ladies or Lindsay Lohan and the rest have become into newspaper columns, video and near stalking-like news reports about the celebrity's every private matter that might yet not have been publicly exposed. Why can't we just let the celebrity be like us? Why can't the celebrity privately deal with his or her own personal problems?
Who is more pathetic? The apologetic celebrity or the press that hounds and pursues the celebrity who has committed personal transgressions? Tiger grovels to save face and win back financial rewards lost through being caught with his pants down, while the media does what it does best in this age of "entertain-news". It covers car wrecks and ignores real news. Tiger broke no laws in his affairs with willing ladies.
Shouldn't this be a matter that is solely between he and his family?
Golfing great Tiger Woods is the latest to appear in front of the world and eat crow, admitting that he loves sex and cheated on his wife many times because of that wanderlust. But why does he have to apologize to everyone? Is it necessary for a celebrity to tell the world "I'm sorry" when committing a wrong against other people? How sincere is that kind of apology anyway? Is it merely for career purposes or is it a sincere apology? If Tiger and other Celebs must apologize in front of strangers, should we apologize to everyone in the neighborhood when we do something wrong? At what point is a celebrity more liable and treated differently from the rest of us.
I could understand Tiger making a public apology if he was using steroids and cheated in golf because those things would have injured the public, but he had sex with women other than his spouse. Isn't that a personal sin, one that should be contained within his family with apologies confined to family members?
Woods has lost a fortune because of the disgrace caused by his bad boy behavior. The sponsors have deserted him and his sorrow is more broad than that. He is also dealing with the worst consequence of all- the dissolution of his marriage and family. No doubt his financial advisers have pushed hard for Tiger to "say the right things" (that the public and commercial sponsors want to hear) in order to win back the fans and endorsement deals. We all know that's what happens when we watch a naughty celebrity apology. Just look at their darting eyes and gulping and see the insincerity drip from the mouths of the "sinners".
Perhaps the public likes to see the mighty fall and feels better when the hero squirms and grovels. Surely the media thinks so, as it pours word after salacious word about what Tiger did to those ladies or Lindsay Lohan and the rest have become into newspaper columns, video and near stalking-like news reports about the celebrity's every private matter that might yet not have been publicly exposed. Why can't we just let the celebrity be like us? Why can't the celebrity privately deal with his or her own personal problems?
Who is more pathetic? The apologetic celebrity or the press that hounds and pursues the celebrity who has committed personal transgressions? Tiger grovels to save face and win back financial rewards lost through being caught with his pants down, while the media does what it does best in this age of "entertain-news". It covers car wrecks and ignores real news. Tiger broke no laws in his affairs with willing ladies.
Shouldn't this be a matter that is solely between he and his family?
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Types Of Sports Fans
Watching the Winter Olympics on TV has again impelled me to observe not just the action on the fields of play, but also the fans watching the athletes. Yes, fan behavior is sometimes as interesting as some of the sports contests themselves. Take soccer, for example. Can anything be more dull than watching the aimless running about and kicking a ball in futility? "I keek zee ball"! But the dullness of soccer is for another day's discussion.
The fans at Olympic contests, with the exception of boxing and a few other more vigorous (violent) events, are docile in comparison to most fans at other events. The more violent games beget the more violent fans. You never see fans rioting at the Olympics, even when the best athletes are cheated by those nationalistic judges. The fact that the Olympic setting is supposed to be peaceful and loving prevents that. Too, the more affluent fans and best educated usually attend the Olympic Games, and those are not the rioting masses filed with beer that we see at soccer contests.
In contrast to the well behaved Olympic fans are the well informed but...uh...crude fans that can be found at many non olympic sports games. Those people know the game they are watching and let the players and coaches of the teams know it with boos when appropriate. They probably miss work often because they prefer to study their favorite teams. Take basketball as an example of the crude fan. Nearly every fan at a basketball game is loud, and thinks he or she can dunk and shoot 3 point shots better than Michael Jordan. I think parents of small kids should take ear muffs to basketball games in case they have to protect the little ones from rhetoric like "You're ------- bind, Ref!" Basketball fans shout that often when their favored team isn't doing well. But I never heard a fan curse at a figure skating event (though I will curse if forced to watch that mess).
There are also docile fans, some of whom are too quiet and, hence, turn an other wise interesting event into a dull one. Golf fans are that way. They don't even whisper when a player is hitting the golf ball. Why it is a hockey fan can scream at players who are executing their skills, but golf fans will be kicked off the golf course if they make noise when golfers are putting? Are golfers so sensitive that they can't bear normal enthusiasm from those watching them play?
Tennis fans are an altogether different breed....mostly a boring lot. They remind me of people who are constipated. They just don't seem to be having fun when watching. Yet they over-idealize their tennis favorites and give great importance to which player wins the contest. they are all style and no substance. Most tennis fans are more wealthy and privileged types. They set themselves apart from other sports fans and sometimes only watch tennis because those other crude sports don't measure up to the "gentleman's game" (Yes, it is called that).
And what about wrestling fans. The real wrestling, amateur style, as in the Olympic Games, is not choreographed and results not predetermined. Fan who watch amateur wrestling are well informed, enthusiastic and supporting of their favorites. I don't like wrestling, but I think wrestling fans are good fans. I appreciate their civility. As for "professional" wrestling, that great theatrical of steroid inflated thugs, it might have the worst fans of all. On close examination of the pseudo sport of pro wrestling I notice many of the fans have tattoos, no or few teeth, and due to a lack of basic educational skills a wholehearted belief that what they are watching is a real sport with real results.
I always worry about the future of the human race when I see wresting fans at the arenas. If any of those alien spaceman ever come to earth to take a human specimen I hope they grab a pro wrestling fan. It will baffle even their superior brain power and technology when they try to decode what they have kidnapped. This may make them decide that we humans are best left alone and of little worth, much less worth conquering and enslaving. Yep! A typical wrestling fan, kidnaped by aliens and examined might be prove the savior of humanity.
I hope you take my fan comments for what they are worth when watching your favorite sport. Yep, my remarks are worth nothing. Just enjoy your game and forget the stupidity I wrote.
The fans at Olympic contests, with the exception of boxing and a few other more vigorous (violent) events, are docile in comparison to most fans at other events. The more violent games beget the more violent fans. You never see fans rioting at the Olympics, even when the best athletes are cheated by those nationalistic judges. The fact that the Olympic setting is supposed to be peaceful and loving prevents that. Too, the more affluent fans and best educated usually attend the Olympic Games, and those are not the rioting masses filed with beer that we see at soccer contests.
In contrast to the well behaved Olympic fans are the well informed but...uh...crude fans that can be found at many non olympic sports games. Those people know the game they are watching and let the players and coaches of the teams know it with boos when appropriate. They probably miss work often because they prefer to study their favorite teams. Take basketball as an example of the crude fan. Nearly every fan at a basketball game is loud, and thinks he or she can dunk and shoot 3 point shots better than Michael Jordan. I think parents of small kids should take ear muffs to basketball games in case they have to protect the little ones from rhetoric like "You're ------- bind, Ref!" Basketball fans shout that often when their favored team isn't doing well. But I never heard a fan curse at a figure skating event (though I will curse if forced to watch that mess).
There are also docile fans, some of whom are too quiet and, hence, turn an other wise interesting event into a dull one. Golf fans are that way. They don't even whisper when a player is hitting the golf ball. Why it is a hockey fan can scream at players who are executing their skills, but golf fans will be kicked off the golf course if they make noise when golfers are putting? Are golfers so sensitive that they can't bear normal enthusiasm from those watching them play?
Tennis fans are an altogether different breed....mostly a boring lot. They remind me of people who are constipated. They just don't seem to be having fun when watching. Yet they over-idealize their tennis favorites and give great importance to which player wins the contest. they are all style and no substance. Most tennis fans are more wealthy and privileged types. They set themselves apart from other sports fans and sometimes only watch tennis because those other crude sports don't measure up to the "gentleman's game" (Yes, it is called that).
And what about wrestling fans. The real wrestling, amateur style, as in the Olympic Games, is not choreographed and results not predetermined. Fan who watch amateur wrestling are well informed, enthusiastic and supporting of their favorites. I don't like wrestling, but I think wrestling fans are good fans. I appreciate their civility. As for "professional" wrestling, that great theatrical of steroid inflated thugs, it might have the worst fans of all. On close examination of the pseudo sport of pro wrestling I notice many of the fans have tattoos, no or few teeth, and due to a lack of basic educational skills a wholehearted belief that what they are watching is a real sport with real results.
I always worry about the future of the human race when I see wresting fans at the arenas. If any of those alien spaceman ever come to earth to take a human specimen I hope they grab a pro wrestling fan. It will baffle even their superior brain power and technology when they try to decode what they have kidnapped. This may make them decide that we humans are best left alone and of little worth, much less worth conquering and enslaving. Yep! A typical wrestling fan, kidnaped by aliens and examined might be prove the savior of humanity.
I hope you take my fan comments for what they are worth when watching your favorite sport. Yep, my remarks are worth nothing. Just enjoy your game and forget the stupidity I wrote.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Mardi Gras Costumes
There is nothing better than donning a costume on Mardi Gras day and heading into the French Quarter are of New Orleans. The sights one sees stir the imagination, tickle the funny bone, and elicit more than a few wows. I think New Orleanians are pros at costuming and public partying. They are either clever in their outfits or imaginative, few where store-bought costumes and even fewer are shy about what they pretend to be on Mardi Gras day. Disputes and trouble on Mardi Gras day are the rare exception, not the rule. Fun is the operative word.
My costume ritual the past 15 years to so has been to wear a satirical one (this year it was a "Crooked Louisiana Politician" theme) and head into the Quarter early (parking in the area is hard to find after 8 am) to beat the 1 million or so who are on the streets Mardi Gras day. This ritual started long ago at the urging of a friend, now deceased, who also loved to photo the sights there and urged me to go with him one year. I haven't stopped going since. Most often I have brought a video camera , but this year my camera is not available. I used a still camera instead. Cameras tend to lighten the already light and fun loving mood in the Quarter Mardi Gras morning. They are like the a favorite dessert one is offered. They disarm and enchant.
There is something about costuming that both bind the wearer more strongly to fellow costumed celebrator and also to the non costumed voyeurs who walk about gawking at what they see. It's hard to not feel good about someone who is in costume. This year I even got a sexy proposition from one lady who thought my prison outfit was cute. The lady, also in costume, must have already been vodka filled when she grabbed me by the arm and uttered that she wouldn't mind being naughty with me. When one dresses in character for Mardi Gras he or she is a participant, not merely a spectator. Those who have never costumed can not quite understand the concept. It's sad what they miss.
The costumes this year were tamer than usual, given the colder temperatures we had for Mardi Gras day. On warm days sexy costumes are frequently spotted, but when the temperature starts at a little above freezing and stays cold most of the day those who will costume switch to "my winter costume". Veterans of the costume parade usually have a "summer costume" and a "winter costume" as a backup for unusually cold Mardi Gras days that was this Mardi Gras day. This is not to say that the fleshy types won't shed some or most of their winter wear later in the afternoon when the liquor makes the temperature irrelevant.
I didn't see either the tacit or blatant sexy outfits as much this year. Layered costumes and beautiful feathers and fur were more often the replacements for uncovered skin. There were also more humorous/clever costumes, and to my bewilderment, many more costumes I am still trying to decipher. It appeared those hard to define modes were the result of being quickly thrown together to beat the colder than normal temperature of Mardi Gras day. My satirical costume was a hit with quite a few locals and tourists, who stopped me frequently to pose or pose with them for photos and comment that their home city has corrupt politics too.
The most amusing satirical outfit I saw was the "Tiger Woods and Mistress" group. Tiger was there with facial injuries and a golf club embedded in his head from the beating wife Elin gave him after she discovered his cuckolding manner. The Woods' mistresses were less than gorgeous, blonde wigged, men in drag who sang a clever ditty about why a man shouldn't cheat and what happened to Tiger as a result of his naughty ways. It was funny and worthy of a comedy act on network TV. There were allot of men in drag this year, most of them hairy, bearded and un feminine in keeping with a good natured and humorous theme that Mardi Gras day was and usually is. The transsexual beauties who are so often seen barely clothed and prettier than most naturally born women, must have been discouraged by the cold. It is a pity.
Dirtiest costume (loved it though) was that of a very pretty lady and her man dressed....in minimum wear as she showed off her two best assets...her lovely breasts. The boobs were uncovered but painted with a simulated tattoo to avoid arrest for indecent exposure by police who roam the Quarter in case too much liquor takes hold on anyone and produces unruly behavior . Yes, the crowd of cameras around the lady was never ending, like school boys attending their first peep show. The gentleman accompanying her seemed embarrassed but she loved it. Runner up was the equally beautiful Dominatrix who wielded a pair of whips and posed menacingly for the men who drooled as she strutted.
The prettiest costumes were the many with gigantic feathered headpieces or rhinestones gowns that usually take month to construct and can cost as much as $10,000 each. The gay community here has always done that best. There were too many of those to select one favorite, but they are the costumes that bring the most wows from the crowd. This year we had many more locals on the streets, some say as many as before Hurricane Katrina in 2005. But quite a few tourists, some from other countries like Italy, Belgium, Slovakia and France asked to photograph me in costume. The locals know what to expect on Mardi Gras day....fun..and are less out of control than the tourists. Many of the tourists are vow to return, and that their French Quarter Mardi Gras experience was the most unusual and fun one they have had.
As we say here, yesterday we had Mardi Gras, and you just had Tuesday.
My costume ritual the past 15 years to so has been to wear a satirical one (this year it was a "Crooked Louisiana Politician" theme) and head into the Quarter early (parking in the area is hard to find after 8 am) to beat the 1 million or so who are on the streets Mardi Gras day. This ritual started long ago at the urging of a friend, now deceased, who also loved to photo the sights there and urged me to go with him one year. I haven't stopped going since. Most often I have brought a video camera , but this year my camera is not available. I used a still camera instead. Cameras tend to lighten the already light and fun loving mood in the Quarter Mardi Gras morning. They are like the a favorite dessert one is offered. They disarm and enchant.
There is something about costuming that both bind the wearer more strongly to fellow costumed celebrator and also to the non costumed voyeurs who walk about gawking at what they see. It's hard to not feel good about someone who is in costume. This year I even got a sexy proposition from one lady who thought my prison outfit was cute. The lady, also in costume, must have already been vodka filled when she grabbed me by the arm and uttered that she wouldn't mind being naughty with me. When one dresses in character for Mardi Gras he or she is a participant, not merely a spectator. Those who have never costumed can not quite understand the concept. It's sad what they miss.
The costumes this year were tamer than usual, given the colder temperatures we had for Mardi Gras day. On warm days sexy costumes are frequently spotted, but when the temperature starts at a little above freezing and stays cold most of the day those who will costume switch to "my winter costume". Veterans of the costume parade usually have a "summer costume" and a "winter costume" as a backup for unusually cold Mardi Gras days that was this Mardi Gras day. This is not to say that the fleshy types won't shed some or most of their winter wear later in the afternoon when the liquor makes the temperature irrelevant.
I didn't see either the tacit or blatant sexy outfits as much this year. Layered costumes and beautiful feathers and fur were more often the replacements for uncovered skin. There were also more humorous/clever costumes, and to my bewilderment, many more costumes I am still trying to decipher. It appeared those hard to define modes were the result of being quickly thrown together to beat the colder than normal temperature of Mardi Gras day. My satirical costume was a hit with quite a few locals and tourists, who stopped me frequently to pose or pose with them for photos and comment that their home city has corrupt politics too.
The most amusing satirical outfit I saw was the "Tiger Woods and Mistress" group. Tiger was there with facial injuries and a golf club embedded in his head from the beating wife Elin gave him after she discovered his cuckolding manner. The Woods' mistresses were less than gorgeous, blonde wigged, men in drag who sang a clever ditty about why a man shouldn't cheat and what happened to Tiger as a result of his naughty ways. It was funny and worthy of a comedy act on network TV. There were allot of men in drag this year, most of them hairy, bearded and un feminine in keeping with a good natured and humorous theme that Mardi Gras day was and usually is. The transsexual beauties who are so often seen barely clothed and prettier than most naturally born women, must have been discouraged by the cold. It is a pity.
Dirtiest costume (loved it though) was that of a very pretty lady and her man dressed....in minimum wear as she showed off her two best assets...her lovely breasts. The boobs were uncovered but painted with a simulated tattoo to avoid arrest for indecent exposure by police who roam the Quarter in case too much liquor takes hold on anyone and produces unruly behavior . Yes, the crowd of cameras around the lady was never ending, like school boys attending their first peep show. The gentleman accompanying her seemed embarrassed but she loved it. Runner up was the equally beautiful Dominatrix who wielded a pair of whips and posed menacingly for the men who drooled as she strutted.
The prettiest costumes were the many with gigantic feathered headpieces or rhinestones gowns that usually take month to construct and can cost as much as $10,000 each. The gay community here has always done that best. There were too many of those to select one favorite, but they are the costumes that bring the most wows from the crowd. This year we had many more locals on the streets, some say as many as before Hurricane Katrina in 2005. But quite a few tourists, some from other countries like Italy, Belgium, Slovakia and France asked to photograph me in costume. The locals know what to expect on Mardi Gras day....fun..and are less out of control than the tourists. Many of the tourists are vow to return, and that their French Quarter Mardi Gras experience was the most unusual and fun one they have had.
As we say here, yesterday we had Mardi Gras, and you just had Tuesday.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Happy Lundi Gras
Happy Lundi Gras! Right, I wrote "Lundi Gras", not Mardi Gras. The day before Mardi Gras is Lundi Gras, a largely unknown event outside of New Orleans. It's the err..mild warm up to hot Mardi Gras day, sort of like a baseball pitcher warming up in the bullpen before pitching. I shall mention a few things about Lundi Gras today.
It is a day of symbolism, capped off with the kings of the two biggest Mardi Gras day parades. Rex, the king of Carnival arrives on the river by boat and meets with the King of Zulu. They are greeted by the mayor of New Orleans who reads a proclamation. It becomes official that Rex rules over New Orleans for the next day and everyone is ordered to have fun. It's quite a ceremony with jazz , foods, dancing etc. Lundi Gras live music concert stages are set up on the Mississippi river in the Riverwalk and fireworks are shoot that night. Everything except the food is free to the public.
In my suburban parish we also have a similar Lundi Gras event along the Mississippi River and a huge parade here that night as well. These events are historic in the late 1800's but evaporated and were re started in the 1970's in order to liven up what had become a dull day before Mardi Gras. By Lundi Gras the city is also overflowing with people and the French Quarter area has been a mob scene every night for several nights before Lundi Gras.
Quite a few maskers show off their costumes on Lundi Gras. It reminds tourists to bring their cameras Mardi Gras day when costumes are more widely worn.
For me costuming is the best part of Carnival. It not only is great to look at but costumes give energy and enthusiasm to carnival. They are the WOW factor to Mardi Gras and add emotional appeal such as humor to Mardi Gras. Without masking and costumes Mardi Gras is just another big crowd of people milling about. I think the costumes are what most people most remember about the festivities.
Happy Lundi Gras!
It is a day of symbolism, capped off with the kings of the two biggest Mardi Gras day parades. Rex, the king of Carnival arrives on the river by boat and meets with the King of Zulu. They are greeted by the mayor of New Orleans who reads a proclamation. It becomes official that Rex rules over New Orleans for the next day and everyone is ordered to have fun. It's quite a ceremony with jazz , foods, dancing etc. Lundi Gras live music concert stages are set up on the Mississippi river in the Riverwalk and fireworks are shoot that night. Everything except the food is free to the public.
In my suburban parish we also have a similar Lundi Gras event along the Mississippi River and a huge parade here that night as well. These events are historic in the late 1800's but evaporated and were re started in the 1970's in order to liven up what had become a dull day before Mardi Gras. By Lundi Gras the city is also overflowing with people and the French Quarter area has been a mob scene every night for several nights before Lundi Gras.
Quite a few maskers show off their costumes on Lundi Gras. It reminds tourists to bring their cameras Mardi Gras day when costumes are more widely worn.
For me costuming is the best part of Carnival. It not only is great to look at but costumes give energy and enthusiasm to carnival. They are the WOW factor to Mardi Gras and add emotional appeal such as humor to Mardi Gras. Without masking and costumes Mardi Gras is just another big crowd of people milling about. I think the costumes are what most people most remember about the festivities.
Happy Lundi Gras!
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