2016 first "article"......

 I've been creating "articles" on Mind Jazz since Christmas of 2006 and I call them "articles" because it makes more sense than saying "columns."  I have 1193 of them, whatever they might be called.

I have a certain style that can't really be duplicated in print media unless it's my own book or some unique art/literary magazine.....and then it would only be one or two pieces at the most.  My spacing is a major problem for print media but matters very little when publishing on-line....and in fact is very important when stressing a
certain
point.

When I would write my "articles" before doing it on line I would refer to them as columns because I created actual columns in order to condense information onto one page.  To go a bit further into the self revelation game...I admit that "columnists" always held a fascination for me.  Jim Murray, while focusing mainly on sports, was a cornerstone of my daily routine growing up in the Los Angeles area. Then when I moved to Northern California in 1970 Herb Caen was a absolute must read.

I've always thought being a columnists was the coolest job....especially five columns a week, with weekends off.

It turns out that in nine years I average 2.3 "articles" a week.....which, when one considers my pay scale, one has to either conclude that I'm independently wealthy or just flat out....nuts.

Independently wealthy ain't the answer.

There aren't many of us left but I'm pretty sure if I didn't have the newspaper to read in the morning I might not be able to start the day.

I understand that people now turn to places like the Huffington site to read  different "columns" but I don't like the way the site makes me stay and maneuver so I avoid it...completely....just like you avoid the daily newspaper.

Enough with the personal stuff....let's get to issues in the news.

As 2016 starts there are so many "VOLATILE" issues facing mankind that I'm not sure where to start.

One positive note this morning on the front page of the LA TIMES BUSINESS section.

The EPA officially announced that the pesticide IMIDACLOPRID does "potentially" create a risk for BEES.

THIS IS A MAJOR STEP TO HELPING STOP
COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER....COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS CCD.

Now let's just see how elected officials who get donations from pesticide companies respond to this information.  I'm not confident that enough members of Congress are aware of the problem to start passing laws regarding the use of certain pesticides.

Organic farming has grown by leaps and bounds in the last ten years so hopefully that healthy trend will interest the CORPORATE FARMING communities.

And then I turn my attention to Saudi Arabia and Iran and I pause to reflect on whether the loss of BEES will really matter if that situation escalates to the next level.

The Sunni vs Shiite conflict has quite quickly become a global issue.  It already was a global issue but it seemed to have been somewhat limited.  (Limited as far as Americans being interested)

If Saudi Arabia, which is a Sunni country and Iran, which is a Shiite country decide that enough is enough and involve their military, which are two of the largest military in the region, then we officially have a situation that has no sensible or peaceful solution.....

We, The US, back Saudi Arabia, for obvious reasons and Russian backs Iran, for less obvious reasons, and then the verbiage and action moves to another level.

And by the way....side bar.  Doesn't China have any interest in controlling North Korea?

Can you pause for a second and wonder where CCD stands on priority list of important issues for Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia, North Korea or China?

And then I turn my attention to the 2016 Presidential Election.

At this point I really have no idea what might happen.  Usually by now it becomes apparent that 4 people have a chance to be elected in November......usually.....seriously it's January and Iowa and New Hampshire primaries are right around the corner.

I ask people, from both sides, if the ballot in November says....Clinton vs Trump.....who gets the vote?

THERE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE A LONG PAUSE...WITH NO DEFINITIVE ANSWER BECAUSE IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE TO ANYONE WITH COMMON SENSE THAT OUR ONLY OPTION IS THOSE TWO PEOPLE.

And...I've yet to hear anyone of the 17 candidates mention CCD 
so I'm pretty sure all the people running for President 
are bats**t crazy.

I think Bernie might have mentioned the issue on the Bill Maher show but I'm not sure.

AND THAT BRINGS ME TO TO A PERSONAL DECISION THAT I HAVE MADE.

A MIND JAZZ ENDORSEMENT.....so to speak.

I'M VOTING FOR BERNIE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY....WHICH WILL BE HELD IN CALIFORNIA ON JUNE 7.

I love the posting on Facebook, from unknown source, that says "The last time a socialist was President he got elected four times."

I'm not sure that a conscientious objector 
can be elected President of the United Military States but  in 2008 I didn't believe that a black man could make it and two terms later we have a President leaving office that will be missed.

To be honest the only reason I would vote for Hillary is because of Bill and that's not a sensible reason....is it?

Another side bar.....

The other day in the LA TIMES the people who own Sea World said, "Orca's are safer in captivity."

Do they really think that a creature of such grace and power is better off locked in a cage or do they think that we are so stupid that we would believe something so stupid?

I believe that they think the SPIN game is in full throttle mode.

THEY ARE MAKING MY HEAD SPIN.........

I wonder how they feel about CCD?

Please keep in mind that I brought up the good news first....and when the EPA is the center of my good news then you know everything's going to be ok......

OK.

(one last side bar......how can OK not be a word in scrabble.....that's just not
ok

OK?

Welcome to the new year.

Michael Timothy McAlevey