Marlin Brando's words as Colonel Kurtz

The news last night that the game show host is going to run again....reminded me of this moment from Mr. Coppola's film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKcAYMb5uk4

And then to break the mood try this......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAEJKg0lSPk

I could link both of these but by doing the work you become involved in the process.

I fully realize that some won't bother to copy and paste just like some won't bother to accept that Donald J. Trump is a self-centered, bombastic, lying, con-artist asshole who was single handily responsible for what took place on January 6 2020. 

It's one thing to be a sore loser....it's another entire thing to believe you didn't lose....and then attempt to destroy our free election process.....as well as ONE of the most important things American is about.......

A PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER.

And the fact that we now have to listen again to his bullshit

 really 

makes

 me

 sad.

AND EVEN MORE DEPRESSING IS THE FACT THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE VERY EXCITED THIS MORNING BECAUSE OF HIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

THE HORROR

Another VOTE that really matters

 On November 8 2022 the United States of America will once more address major issues across many dimensions of our society.  I use the word dimensions because this mid-term election is not simply about politics and who gets to represent people and ideas from different geographical locations.

THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT HONOR, TRUTH AND ACCEPTING OR REJECTING THE ART OF LYING.

We've always made references to politicians telling us what we want to hear but never before has a society been faced with the width of distribution regarding information and how we receive that information.

It doesn't seem to matter that a very large percentage of information is being transmitted by people who not only aren't telling the truth but who intentionally are attempting to make truth irrelevant.

TRUTH CAN NEVER BE IRRELEVANT

BUT IN REALITY IT HAS BECOME SECONDARY TO THE ABILITY TO CREATE A STORY LINE THAT IS BOTH FLAMBOYANT AND ENTERTAINING....WHILE AT THE SAME TIME NOT EVEN CLOSELY RESEMBLING THE FACTS.

The Trump effect absolutely stuns me in so many ways.  From the beginning when he was at the end of the line during the GOP's first debate and he started name calling his GOP opponents, THE GAME HAS CHANGED.

It's actually ok to call your rival anything you want and make up any story you want and then simply say, "that's what I heard," when confronted by a reporter or an opponent.

(If you think capital letters are an indication of yelling you are correct)

DENY THE LIE and then TELL ANOTHER LIE and then deny that lie and so on and so forth.

I DON'T FAULT HIS ABILITY TO MANIPULATE PUBLIC OPINION

I FAULT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO STILL THINK WHO HE IS DESERVES TO BE IN THE PUBLIC SPOTLIGHT AND EVEN RETURN AS A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY SCARY!

74 MILLION PEOPLE VOTED FOR DONALD J. TRUMP IN 2020 and here is the real scary part...apparently 85 percent of those people would do it again.

With 12 days left before the mid-terms I have no idea if the POLLS are accurate.  The opinions I read from both sides indicate that no one is really sure what will happen on November 8.

THE SIMPLE FACT THAT THERE ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE WATCHED THE TAPES OF JANUARY 6 2021 AND STILL DON'T BELIEVE THAT DONALD J. TRUMP INCITED THE ACTION THAT FOLLOWED PROVES TO ME THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH REALITY.   

THEY JUST WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED AND THEY LIKE BEING FOOLED!

A prime example of trickery is simply to look at the Supreme Court and NOT know that Clarence Thomas is a foolish man or a perfected liar.  

He doesn't know what his wife stands for??????? And millions of people believe him.

IDIOTS ARE RUNNING AMOCK

IT'S TIME TO 

REDUCE 

THE IDIOT COUNT

If the GOP takes over the Senate and the House then I truly believe that something is contaminating the water in every water table in America.  

And it might be Kool-Aid.

God help us....

Seriously!

Vacation in an odd sort of way

 This might be one of the longest breaks I've taken on posting to Mind Jazz since I started it in 2006.  So to refresh a bit I'm inserting the first post....https://mindjazz.blogspot.com/2006/12/, which you will cut and paste if you want to read it. The entanglement of my first and most recent post are related to the latest Nobel prize....and thus related to each other.

"Related to the latest Nobel Prize" is quite a statement which in truth is a theory and MAYBE not a reality.

If you want to understand the reference than simply Google (or whatever search engine you prefer) John F. Clauser.  Alain Aspect and Anton Zeilinger are the other two gents.

The category for this award is Physics (other categories are medicine, chemistry, literature and economics)  No, there is no award for art.

The reason John and two other gentlemen won the prize is because they honestly believe they uncovered or discovered or proved that...... 

                                   QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT

                                               IS A REAL DEAL

The world of quantum has to do with little tiny tiny tiny tiny tiny aspects of nature that behave in ways that Einstein basically said was not possible.  Neils Bohr basically claimed otherwise and the three above mentioned gentleman won $900,000 because they claimed to have proved that Neils was right and Albert was wrong.  Albert referred to the issue as a "spooky action at a distance."

As I try to explain in laymen's terms what they are claiming, I keep thinking of the phrase....

"Everything is related"  A very important phrase, by the way, to the person who is responsible for Neo-Illumination.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064850254749

The distinguished gentlemen use a phrase quite often when talking about Quantum entanglement.

"We don't have the slightest idea why this happens, but it happens."

You might be asking yourself at this stage....what happens?

If you aren't confused by now then this next quote from Professor Clauser (I presume that title exists) will help to cement your confusion.

"I have no idea how it works, but entanglement appears to be very real.:

The word APPEARS jumps out and smacks me right in the frontal lobe of my small brain.

It's like when the doctor prescribes a medicine and says...."this probably will work"

When dealing with quantum realities the world of theory is king, queen and all their subjects combined.

Imagine a proton or a photon (just try that for awhile) is in one location and then it gets separated and the other proton or photon travels millions of miles away (which it will because we are all traveling extremely fast {you do know our galaxy is going 130 miles per second} and is STILL LINKED.

Apparently this is the fundamental principle behind quantum computers that are nowhere near being created. 

By the way the prize was for an experiment that Clauser did in 1972.  It also seems funny that one of the award winners name is Aspect.

Those three dudes already won the Wolf Prize from Israel in 2010...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_Prize

So it only took 12 more years for Nobel to join the party and since I'm not fully convinced that metaverses,  parallel universes and anything that Brian Greens says is factual, then I'm just going to relax with what Albert said.

Spooky action at a distance is also a great name for a band.

In the meantime the reality of our current earthly problems seem to be growing because of that nut in Russia and that loser in Florida who both by the way admire each other to a level that helps make everything going on even that much weirder.

AND YOU'VE GOT TO ADMIT

THINGS ARE GETTING WEIDER

but

I'm also a firm believer that the human species can correct flaws that are definitely based in the human thought process.

JUST NEED TO TRY HARDER and learn to recognize when someone isn't being truthful.

And it is not that hard to see when someone isn't being honest.

But of course that just might be a theory.....or appears to be a theory.

It actually might be very hard for some people to recognize bullshit.

I wish that wasn't true but it does explain a lot of nonsense, as does..........

SPOOKY 

ACTION 

AT 

A 

DISTANCE

No excuses but there are reasons

 I've  never used this sentence before......

Those of you who read me, obviously know I haven't been using Mind Jazz very much over the last few months. 

 My spare (non-art) time has been spent reading and studying.  Reading is focused on fiction and studying is focused on fictional science subjects such as Black Hole theorizing, space/time conundrums, string-theory, metaverse nonsense and of course more Quantum situations that invariably have no answers so as they appear to be non-fictional exposés but in truth they are just more glamourous fictional theories.....

The fiction that has absorbed me belongs mainly to Daniel Silva.  His hero is an art restorer Israeli assassin who always has a female heroine involved in the central plot. His research is comprehensive and his time lines balance on the actual edge of reality.  

Our library in Santa Monica stopped charging late fees about six months ago so I pulled Mr. Silva's earlier work and caught up.  I now prefer to purchase his latest work, which I just did yesterday so while I'm waiting I will start reading the latest James Lee Burke novel that I also bought a few weeks ago. 

I hate the idea of buying books on Amazon but cheaper and next day free delivery is really hard to ignore.

James Lee Burke is one of the few authors that make me get a pad so I can write down words that I either don't know or want to use in the future. His paragraphs are beautiful.  His descriptions of nature are stunning.

*********************************************

The recent thrill of viewing the Webb images is truly notable.

The fact that I have to read Donald Trump's name every day in the newspaper is also truly notable but not enjoyable by any means.

The 60 million dollar settlement against Alex Jones is some of the best news I've read in a long long time.

The Dodgers MIGHT have the best hitting team in their history.....comparable to 1953.  When you add bench players I think they are absolutely the best.

I find it almost impossible that the international community is allowing Russian to do what they are doing. When you think that Hitler's generals tried to take him out more than 5 times....how come Putin's people are letting him get away with this?   The only answer is that they also want Russian territory restored.....and that's exactly how bigger wars get started.

I pray that the Universe gets a little more involved and somehow alters Russia's aggressive attitude....before somethings happens that makes Earth even more shaky........

I know one thing for sure.......

THERE ARE TOO MANY WEAPONS ON THIS PLANET

PERIOD!!!!!!!!

More than a memory

I was born in Hollywood, California at Queen of Angles hospital in 1946.  First year of baby boomers. My love for baseball didn't really exist for the first 8 years of my life.

 It started in 1955 ( I was 9) when Sister Mary Margaret ( They were all Sister Mary Margaret) at St. Ferdinand's grammar school brought a small black and white TV into the classroom and announced...."Today we are going to watch the 7th game of the World Series between the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Yankees beat the Dodgers every time they play and I am a Yankee fan."

I immediately became a Dodger fan and I had no idea what a Dodger was.   By the end of the game SMM was bummed out and I was thrilled.

Three years later in 1958 I played my first and only little league season and the Dodgers played their first season in Los Angeles. Every evening I would be in the back yard with my portable radio listening to a guy named Vin and his partner Jerry. I would hold a bat and whichever side the batter hit from I would practice swinging.

In 1958 the Dodgers finished 7th in the division and I probably hit 100 doubles and 30 triples in my back yard as a fast skinny 12 year old who couldn't hit a curve ball in real life. The year he retired in 2016 I stood in my living room with my bat and hit 50 home runs because I learned to wait on the curve ball.

THAT IS 58 YEARS OF SOMETHING I LOVED THAT DIDN'T CHANGE.

The thing about Vinny was once the pitcher had the ball in his hand the description would begin.

"Drysdale looks in and gets the sign, gets set and the 2-2 pitch, swung on and missed....STRIKE THREE.!"

He painted the picture in detail EVERY AT BAT.  And that was his baseball announcing.

I still believe he was the best golf announcer I ever heard.  When someone in the Masters would putt Vinny would whisper like he was standing on the green.

He also announced some great football games.  The Catch by Dwight Clark has the Vin mark.

Today on the radio they played a Vin story that he told about when he was 14 years old.  It was 1941 and he was underneath his big radio in the living room listening to a New York Giant football game.  They suddenly announced that JAPAN had just bombed Pearl Harbor.  He walked into the kitchen and asked his father where Pearl Harbor was.  His Dad said it was in the Pacific and why was Vin asking.  Vin looked at his dad and said "Japan just bombed it."  It was the only time he ever heard his father swear in his life.  He said the swear word and then said....."That means we are at War." That truly explains a lot of what Vincent Edward Scully was about.

This lost of Vin Scully isn't like the lost of Kobe.

He was 94 and completed a lifetime of perfection.

A life lived well is a life well lived....and he is the greatest Dodger EVER.

And it's not even a close vote.

I'm so glad I recorded numerous games over the years.  They are on cassette tapes....and I have a cassette player in my car.  I think it's time for a drive......... 

.......and

TIME FOR DODGER BASEBALL and a bit of Vinny.

Sportswashing and Jan 6

While watching the hearings on CSPAN regarding Jan 6, I flipped over to Fox just to see if they were covering it.  Not only were they not covering it but the announcer was talking about how the entire proceedings was a sham and that the time frames and the videos were not correct. I could only take one minute but knowing that they have a huge audience I was suddenly very pissed off and then I got sad.

Do those people who watch FOX news still believe the election was stolen from DJT?

HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?

I know the GOP has taken a stand of only talking about inflation and gas prices because the midterms are only a few months away.  

The Republican Party does not think the January 6 attempt to overthrow the Government of the United States was anything to fret over and they believe the investigation is simply an attempt to make sure Donald Trump doesn't run again in 2024.  

If you ignored a subpoena how long do you think it would take for the Marshall's to show up at your home?  And yet there have been more than 5 people who have refused to appear after having been ordered to do so....and none of them have been arrested.

It turns out that William Barr is a reasonable man with common sense values while Rudy Giuliani keeps looking like a complete idiot.

Mike Pence will start his run to the White House within the next few weeks....and if he would testify it would really kick start his campaign.

Don't think for one minute that I want him to be President but when he said no to The Donald it was obvious what his plans were for his political future.

SPORTS WASHING

Look up the definition

Current example of sports washing is the LIV golf tour.  The Saudi's are throwing money at golfers in staggering amounts.  Rumors have put Tiger at being offered one billion and Jack the same for attaching his name.  Both have said no at the current moment.  Phil apparently got 200 million.

The ultimate sports washing will come when they try to buy a franchise in MLB, NHL, NBA or the NFL.

Pretend that you are Jerry Jones and the call goes like this.....

"Hello Mr. Jones this Sheik Salon Abdul Azziz and we met at the Kentucky Derby last year. We have decided to offer you 500 BILLION dollars for the Dallas Cowboys."

KEEP IN MIND THE COWBOY FRANCHISE IS VALUED AT 9 BILLION DOLLARS.

The only problem is the other owners would have to approve but in reality they would probably say...."How much is our share?"

500 billion is a silly number because in truth 50 billion will probably get it done.

I have one question

How much if we just sold them the whole country?

Check out the Debt Clock and then add a few more zero's.

https://www.usdebtclock.org/

By the way have you looked at the profit in the first quarter for Chevron?   I always claimed that as more electric cars hit the road the higher gas prices would be and that is now and forever our reality.

I will never buy a Tesla but a Ford Volt sounds cool.  Does Aston Martin make an electric car?

Imagine how boring it would be if you went to the Indy 500 and they were all electric?

BY the way the Saudi's have already SportWashed Auto Racing, Horse Racing, Soccer and Military weapons.

The simple answer to a free enterprise capitalistic system of government

is

EVERYBODY HAS A PRICE

and to quote The Dude in the Big Lebowski

"America abides"

50 GOP Senators

 Steve Kerr

44

 44 and it still seems impossible......but forever is a really long time

Every year since 2006....

 There's a soul in the life of the land where we live

IT'S CLEAR

IT’S CLEAN

IT’S FRESH

AND IT’S OURS

IT DOESN’T CARE WHERE WE’VE COME FROM

IT DOESN’T ASK WHO WE ARE

JUST

DO WE LOVE

WHERE WE STAND

AT THIS TIME

WE CAN DRINK ALL ITS WATER

AND MINE ALL IT’S COAL

BUT WHEN WE MIX THE TWO TOGETHER

IT TROUBLES HER SOUL

WE CAN TEST ALL THE BOMBS

AND DESTROY EVERY LAST TREE

AND THE ONLY THING IT REALLY DOES

IS ELIMINATE YOU AND ME

THE HARM THAT WE BRING

DOESN’T BOTHER THE LAND

WE ONLY HURT OURSELVES

BY FAILING TO UNDERSTAND

THAT THERE’S A SOUL IN THE LIFE OF THE LAND WHERE WE LIVE

IT’S CLEAR

IT’S CLEAN

IT’S FRESH

AND IT’S OURS

IT DOESN’T CARE WHERE WE’VE COME FROM

IT DOESN’T ASK WHO WE ARE

JUST

DO WE LOVE

WHERE WE STAND

AT THIS TIME

WE ARE GIVEN ALL THE TREASURES

THAT ANYONE COULD USE

BUT IF WE DON’T HAVE VISION

THEN ALL WE DO IS LOSE

WE DUMP OUR PROBLEMS

IN EVERY OCEAN, RIVER AND STREAM

WE LIVE BY A CODE OF CONSUMPTION

THAT DARKENS EVERY DREAM

WE THINK THAT OIL IS OUR GOLD

BECAUSE IT MOVES MACHINES AND MAN

AND ALL IT REALLY DOES

IS REMOVE THE SPRINGS OF LAND

WE NEED THAT SPECIAL CRUDE

BECAUSE WE’VE IGNORED OTHER WAYS

AND ALL WE’VE ENDED UP WITH

IS COUGHING THROUGH A HAZE

OUR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN

WILL REALLY PAY THE PRICE

AND JUST THAT THOUGHT ALONE

DOESN’T MAKE US VERY NICE

AND WHEN THE DUST HAS FINALLY SETTLED

AND ALL THE BILLS HAVE BEEN PAID

IT IS ONLY THE SIMPLE FACT

THAT’S THERE’S ONE MISTAKE WE’VE MADE

WE THOUGHT WE CONTROLLED THE EARTH

BY DOMINATING THE LAND

AND IT SIMPLY COMES DOWN TO ONE THING

THAT WE JUST DIDN’T UNDERSTAND

THAT THERE’S A SOUL IN THE LIFE OF THE LAND WHERE WE LIVE

IT’S CLEAR

IT’S CLEAN

IT’S FRESH

AND IT’S OURS

IT DOESN’T CARE WHERE WE COME FROM

IT DOESN’T ASK WHO WE ARE

JUST

DO WE LOVE

WHERE WE STAND

AT THIS TIME

Teach your Grandma to suck eggs

I think the expression "teach your Grandma to suck eggs" could be used in many, many current situations throughout the world.

I was watching The Big Country this morning  and toward the ending Burl Ives uses the expression while talking to  the Jean Simmons, who was standing next to Chuck Conners, who in turn was talking to Gregory Peck.   Mr. Ives won the Academy Award for Best Supporting actor that year (1959) but the film was not nominated for Best Picture.  The musical score also won an Academy Award.

It's a classic BIG production movie from Hollywood and if you haven't seen it I highly suggest checking it out.

 Back to the expression: "Teach your Grandma to suck eggs.

 I was listening to the Chinese Ambassador to the US last week and after 15 minutes of the interview I wish the interviewer from Face the Nation had simply and calmly said....

........"Teach your Grandma to suck eggs"

The other night I happen to be flipping channels and watched Tucker Carlson for 8 minutes and all I wanted to say to him was....

......"Teach your Grandma to suck eggs"

There was a clip of Mr. Putin from two months ago talking about NOT going into the Ukraine when President Biden was warning everybody about the troop buildup on the Ukrainian border.  Again I wish I could tell the Czar.....

......."Teach your Grandma to suck eggs"

I was listening to Cody Bellinger (Dodger Center fielder) the other day and he was explaining how he was working on his swing and not to be worried about the fact that he has struck out 95% of the time this spring....while taking humongous swings with two strikes.  I just want to tell him.....make contact and........

.......Teach your Grandma to suck eggs"

Sticking with the Dodgers for a moment.....

Dave Roberts, the Dodger manager, actually PREDICTED that the Dodgers would win the World Series in 2022.  Anyone who loves baseball knows there is no PREDICTING results of baseball games. I heard him get a chance to clarify and he continued with the PREDICTION.  I want to quietly tell Dave to....

......."Teach your Grandma to suck eggs"

*************************

Slightly off point but this might be the best season of American Idol, ever.  The talent is stunning and the variety of original songs is simply incredible.  {Of course I only watch the really good ones}

***********************g

The Will Smith/Chris Rock episode is creating a storm of interest....on both sides.

I've learned one thing and that's never make hair jokes until you learn everything about the situation....and did anyone notice that Will was starting to laugh until he looked at his wife?

The best line was later when Chris said..."I just got punched by Muhammad Ali and I don't have a scratch."

Imagine if Chris had been training with Jason Staham and grabbed Will's hand in mid-air.   And if Jason Momoa had made the joke, would Will have gotten out of his seat?

With everything going on in the world right now it probably wasn't a good idea to use violence to make your point.

It would have been so much cooler if Will had stood up and said........

TEACH YOUR GRANDMA TO SUCK EGGS!

The Ukraine situation

 First and foremost economic SANCTIONS aren't going to cut it.  

Second, and equally as important, The United States has already done more than cheap talk.

The United States has committed an increasing amount of foreign assistance to Ukraine over the years — with no other European or Eurasian nation receiving more since 2015, according to data from ForeignAssistance.gov.

The big picture: When it comes to military support in particular, the U.S. committed to more than $600 million just last year — and more than $2.7 billion since 2014. With the current threat from Russia, Ukraine — and Congress — are now pushing for more.

Since 2014, ​the U.S. Departments of State and Defense have committed over $2.7 billion in training and equipment to help Ukraine preserve its territorial integrity, secure its borders, and improve interoperability with NATO.

I'm repeating the last statement to emphasis that the United States is not standing off to the side.

My question is....

....is that equipment and training being used to fight back against the Russians?

I've been switching back and forth between CNN and FOX News and the coverage is exactly opposite.

All  FOX does is blame BIDEN from their studio

CNN is actually on the ground in the Ukraine

I also wonder how many Russians are rooting for Putin to expand the Motherland?

The overall picture demands attention

IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF A LARGER GOAL BY PUTIN?

IF THAT IS TRUE, THEN A MILITARY RESPONSE MUST BE ON THE TABLE.

NATO NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE

IT APPEARS THAT PUTIN NEEDS TO BE CONTROLLED AND IT DOESN'T HELP THAT OUR FORMER PRESIDENT, DONALD J TRUMP CALLS HIM SHWRED, SAVVY AND A TALENTED STATESMAN.  HE EVEN USED THE WORD GENIUS TO DESCRIBE HIS ACTIONS.

Republicans need to stop bashing Biden and focus on condemning the actions of a world leader who has placed the entire world on the edge of another large scale war in Europe.

And they need to tell the 45th President to shut the fuck up!

Short period of time

 First we lose Kobe in early 2020 and then we gain Covid...and then we get sports trifecta.

Within a very short period of time ( 17 months) Los Angeles wins 3 major sports championships.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

LOS ANGLES RAMS

Before we get too cocky it is best to remember that streaks reverse......winning seasons go away and great players move along.

I'm in the moment and fully enjoying the current run.

But I sorta feel sorry for Detroit.

Rams represent

 Super Bowl 56

Rams vs Bengals

Big Horn Sheep vs Bengal Tiger

Doesn't really sound fair

The motivation

 I haven't written anything in awhile because of certain personal (not necessarily mine) situations taking place. I've been observing but not recording.

To add to the plot...I just wrote a piece and was halfway through when it deleted.

I'll try to reconstruct it but since I'm the only one who saw the original it actually makes little sense that I am informing you of this situation.  

The motivation behind this piece rests entirely in the genius of The Beatles and of the incredible ability of Peter Jackson to create a condensed interpretation of what The Beatles did for 21 days while preparing for their final public appearance, which took place on the roof of the Apple Studios in London in 1969.

Mr. Jackson spent four years utilizing 60 hours of recorded audio and video and creating a 9 hour documentary entitled Get Back which is available on Disney Plus only.

The pleasure of watching how two of the greatest songwriters in history, Paul McCartney and John Lennon, construct a song is truly a wonderful piece of musical history.  Knowing that they had been creating songs since they were 15 years old just adds to the story line.  

The addition of George Harrison, who was on the verge of creating his own path to musical immortality adds perfection to the endeavor.

Ringo Starr is simply a perfect drummer and perfect personality to solidify the legend of The Beatles.

The fact that Billy Preston became part of the event is another magical element.

The tobacco industry will probably show this film at every board meeting for the next 100 years.(when you watch you will get my point)

We are so fortunate to have Paul and Ringo still creating their art to this very day.

Even if you aren't a Beatle fan (which is weird) the Get Back doc will captivate you simply based on the creativity involved....and knowing that this was their last public performance simply makes this a must watch show.

I actually spread the 9 hours over two weeks so that I could prolong the experience.

Could easily watch another 9 hours.

Get Back

Japan has WHAT?

 On December 7 2021 we honored the people who lost their lives 80 years ago when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and brought the United States (officially) into World War 11.

The same day I read an article about the size of Japan's military.

They rank 5th behind US, Russia, China and India....and they call it Japan's Self Defense Force.

Apparently they don't have nuclear capabilities except for the 54 nuclear power plants spread throughout the island.

It's probably a good thing that the majority of people who fought in WW11 are no longer with us.....it might be hard to explain the rationale after observing Japan since 1900. 

They actually formed their Self Defense Force in 1954.....which is only nine yeas after we dropped two atom bombs on them.

Their navy consists of:

1 Light Aircraft carrier 19 submarines 2 helicopter carriers 26 destroyers 10 frigates 6 destroyer escorts 3 landing ships 30 minesweepers 6 patrol boats 8 training ships (21 auxiliaries)

The United States has 50,000 military personnel in Japan.

I realize how strategically important Japan is in the region.....but the fact that we maintain a large presence on the island makes me wonder if we fully trust their culture.  Other than Germany the last 100 and 20 years have witnessed some pretty bizarre behavior from  our dear friends in Japan.

Of course I don't drive a Toyota or own a Sony TV but I have watched all the Godzilla movies.

DIVERSION

ALL THE FOX NEWS BASHING (it's 24/7) OF JOE BIDEN IS SIMPLY

A DIVERSION TACTIC 

TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE INVESTIGATION OF JANUARY 6 ASSAULT ON THE CAPITAL.

Talk to Republicans and you realize it is working.

NO REPUBLICAN EVER WANTS TO TALK ABOUT JANUARY 6.

When it comes up they start talking about Joe....immediately!!!!!!

Bob Enyart, Marc Bernier, Phil Valintine, JimmyDeYoung and Dick Farrel

 Doonesbury today ran these five names  in his "comic" strip.  Each one of these men is a conservative talk show host from different parts of the country.

What they have in common:

    ANTI-COVID VACCINE ADVOCATES

    ANT-MASK ADVOCATES

    AND

         ONE

              MORE

                        THING.........

ALL DEAD FROM COVID

Just a reminder.........

2020

Both 109 and something ends tonight and Vin chimes in......

 Both Dodgers and Giants have won 109 games this season.  The Giants won one more game when they played each other.  

NONE OF THE MATTERS TONIGHT

One game to decide who keeps going and if the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers lose then in two weeks someone else will be World Champions BUT right now at this moment THEY are the World Champions.....and I love having heard that all season long.

Dave Roberts made a decision today that will either make him look like a genius or a complete idiot.

He has the only 20 game winner in baseball ready to go and suddenly he decides to start one of his relief pitchers.

IF THIS BACKFIRES it will be the greatest WORSE decision in modern day baseball history.  If it works and Julio comes in after two and goes seven and gets the win DAVE ROBERTS will be elevated to mini Timmy Lasorda status.

My feeling?

The Dodgers have a great bullpen so why not DO what you have DONE up to this point?

I vaguely remember a decision with Clayton a few years ago that had people wondering?

HOPE THIS ISN'T ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS THAT WE REMEMBER FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS.

I picked Cody Bellinger's number for my golf cart today because I saw him choke up the other day and get two hits.  He can make everyone forget his 2021 regular season with a few timely swings.  He's already responsible for them winning the second game of this series so why not keep the mo going.

With the superstars on this team why not add Gavin Lux's name to that list?  Do you realize that 20 years from now he could be retiring with an Hall of Fame career?  3 time batting champ so on and so forth.

Vin Scully was quoted today.....

"To my knowledge, tonight's game between the @Dodgers and @SFGiants is the most important game in the history of their rivalry. With nearly identical records, and so much at stake, I believe this to be the case."

AND THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.......He predicts nothing , just points out how important this game is.

And knowing how important this game is....Dave Roberts has added a twist that probably didn't need to be added.

Go BLUE 

p.s.

By the way....imagine what Fernando would have said in 1981 playoffs if Tommy had decided to start Bobby Castillo instead of him.

First time in their history

 Dodgers vs Giants for the first time in the playoffs.

There have been final games of season events but never in a playoff.

I was 12 when the Dodgers moved to LA and the Giants moved to San Francisco.  The broadcast options then were limited to radio and televised away games in San Francisco. The radio was perfect because of a gentleman named Vin Scully.  The televised games in SF were generally night games so watching them wasn't a guarantee considering bedtime was in the 8 to 9 range.  My tiny portable radio was easily my best friend.

I can't say that I ever hated the Giants because they really had some amazing baseball players and to be truthful it's hard to say you hated Willie Mays when Vinnie would tell you he was the greatest baseball player he had ever seen.

The episode that stands out in my mind was the Juan Marichal, Sandy Koufax and John Roseboro moment because it's not very often you see a player use a bat as a weapon

.DODGERS GIANTS

History goes out the window and the only thing that matters is that the two best teams in baseball have five games to figure out who moves on.

11 more wins to win World Series....for all the teams involved.

I'M EXCITED but nervous.  They want a split in SF and then come home for two.

Always remember there are two seasons.  Regular 162 season for actual baseball fans and then Post season for people who only like the playoffs.  Dodgers and Giants are the only teams in history to both win 100 games in the same division......I think.

There is also no predicting in the post season.   Anything can happen in a short series.

All we can do is hope for exciting baseball games and moments that will be remembered for years to come.

Ask Chris Taylor about that feeling.

Go Blue.

Been a little lazy and less focused

 The last line of Neo-Illumination #6 is....

                Happiness might be based on much truth one can ignore.....

I've tried to reduce my intake of information, somewhat, over the last few months just to see if it made me any happier.....( I still read the paper cover to cover every day but I don't digest the stories as much)

Not much difference in level of happiness.

Following certain sports teams (Dodgers, Trojans, Rams and Lakers) creates absolute perfect moments of happiness and satisfaction along with disappointments and frustrations...so there will always be those emotional moments.  I feel sorry for cities where their teams never deliver the positive side of that equation.

I'm generally not an unhappy person even though my daughter would say that my outbursts of anger indicate overwise.

I could elaborate the reasons for raising my voice but I won't at this time.  Suffice to say it comes down to chores not done and responsibilities not accepted.

Some of you out there know my situation at home and keep wondering why I let it continue.

I guess I compare moments from the past to the present...…and where being happy sits on the grand scale.

Of course there are moments of reflection that hold no room for the word happy to exist.

Getting loud doesn't have anything to do with being happy.....in fact my father swore that it helped to relax him.  The secret is not to hold on to that anger and let it alter your personality.  Most of my loud behavior takes place between 3 and 4 o'clock in the morning.   It's not fun being woken up in the middle of the night and I currently experience that "event" 4  or 5 times EVERY week.

Interacting with my beautiful 4 year old granddaughter should be a highlight of my life.

My daughter and her mother go out of their way to make sure that doesn't happen....even though she and I do manage to extract some lovely moments.  She made me a musical instrument the other day with rubber bands that was completely precious.....and I got her a new Tablet with a pink cover that she really really loves....so we have our moments but they should be much more numerous.

The Covid lockdown can be explained for some of the behavior.....but not all of it.

Enough with the personal stuff...let's get to the grit.

THE BORDER situation is 24/7 news for FOX.....please look at this chart

(click on the chart to expand)

Look at the years and remember who was President each year.

Also keep in mind that these figures are apprehensions ONLY.

I keep asking the question...."If you were in a third world country and saw an opportunity to go to America, what would YOU do? And keep in mind the opportunity will be dangerous.

My other question I keep asking is.....how did all those Haitians get off of their island?  Who took them to the mainland and how much did it cost?  That country is one of the poorest in the world so how did 28,000 people manage to get off?

The GOP and FOX News have really found an issue with which to attack Joe Biden.  They claim the Trumps years controlled the border and made it much harder to get here....and that the WALL really helped.  THERE WAS ONLY 80 MILES CONTRUSTED WHILE HE WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

Keep in mind that the GOP keeps claiming that January 6 2021 wasn't that big of a deal.

DONALD J. TRUMP TRIED TO UNDUE 250 YEARS OF DEMOCRACY

HE PERSONALLY HAS CREATED A NATIONAL DISTRUST OF THE UNITED STATES ELECTION SYSTEM 

AND 70 MILLION

PEOPLE

HOLD

THAT

DISTRUST

WHEN THE ELECTION PROCESS IS QUESTIONED THEN AUTHORITARIAN IDEALS TAKE ROOT

AND COMPARED TO THE PRESENT BORDER CRISIS

THE DANGER

OF

QUESTIONING THE VALIDITY OF

FREE ELCTIONS

IS

A MILLION TIMES

MORE DANGEROUS

LOOK BACK THROUGH HISTORY AND SEE HOW ASSHOLES ROSE TO POWER

SEE HOW IT STARTED

IN EACH

SITUATION

QUESTION THE PRESS

QUESTION THE ELECTIONS

QUESTION

EVERYTHING

THAT 

PREVENTS

THE

ASSHOLE

FROM

BEING

IN

CHARGE

and

yes

CAPITAL

LETTERS

MEANS

YELLING

I think border issues have been going on a very long time and they will continue....but only once in history has a standing President tried to overthrow 

our

system

of

Democracy

We can't let

the

GOP

and 

FOX

downplay

that

day

by

diverting

us

to

the

border

I REFUSE TO FORGET

What

about

YOU?

Larry who

 California is a Democratic State........PERIOD!

Interesting unless you don't care

 I had a nightmare last night and woke up sweating.

Donald Trump and Larry Elder formed a third party to compete for Presidential ticket in 2024.

I got called for Jury Duty and they want me to go downtown LA

Seems silly but then again it might be a trick to find out why I don't own a cell phone.

Nobody seems to care about new QB for Rams having off season right thumb surgery.

Yes, he throws right handed.

The Dodgers have won 8 division titles in a row...baseball is a game of streaks.

San Francisco Giants are doing everything they can to end that streak

The Lakers just signed Larry Bird and Magic Johnson to one year contracts.

I might be exaggerating but probably not by much.

Dwight Howard only played 17 minutes a game last year for 76r's.

But he averaged 8.4 rebounds a game...which would have led all Lakers in RPG except for Drummond who only played in 21 games.

The Dodgers won the World Series with Mookie Betts being the leadoff batter.

I don't care how great Trea Tuner is....put Mookie back where he is most comfortable.

I hope the GOP's attempt to restrict voters in RED and BLUE states backfires.

Voters decide to camp out for three days in those certain states....but they will need their own supplies.

Four times I have gone into CVS in the last 10 days and they told me to make a Covid appointment.

I ASKED EACH TIME WHY THEY HAVE WALK IN VACCINES AVAILABLE SIGN ON FRONT DOOR. AND NOBODY IS IN LINE AND THE STORE ISN'T BUSY.

THEN I go into Malibu CVS that has a sign that reads...NO WALK INS.....RESERVATION ONLY

I ask and they say...."sure, we have extra, sit on down."   First Pfzir DONE.

I wear double masks everywhere and don't go out except to play golf and to try and get vaccine.

Gavin Newsome can't possibly be recalled.

Richard Nixon couldn't possibly be forced to resign.

Christopher Moore, James Lee Burke, Dean Koontz, Kipling and Poe are my favorite fiction writers.  

You should read the critiques that Poe wrote on other writers.

You can reduce your cable bill by simply switching to all streaming with the same carrier.

Last but not least...The USC Trojans play my alma mater San Jose State on Saturday.  I'm masking up and I'm going to sit in top row at Coliseum to see if Mr. Solvis can elevate his game to the next level.

(does it matter if you didn't graduate to call a school your alma mater?)

Summary of 2020 Toyko Olympics held in 2021

 I can summarize the Tokyo Olympics in one statement....

VERY QUIET CROWDS

Peacock (NBC) and YouTube have all the highlights but be sure to check out

Kevin Hart and Snoop Dogg on Peacock.

You will laugh out loud or be very offended.

Nice range, huh?

Biggest star of the games?

Sydney

Paris in 2024 and the LA in 2028

Seriously hope I'm around to enjoy, which is simply a practical observation for someone

born in

1946

Great article in today's LA TIMES

Martha Minow, former dean of Harvard Law School and Newton Minow who served as chair of the Federal Communications Commission under JFK have an op-ed piece in today's LA TIMES entitled 

WHY GOVERNMENT HAS A DUTY TO SAVE THE NEWS INDUSTRY

I've written a few pieces over the last several years about the reduction regarding INVESTIGATIVE reports.

The Minows start off their article with "Only one private institution is mentioned in the Constitution: THE PRESS."

The acquisition of small papers that then get rid of their more expensive employees (reporters) is a very large problem.

The reduction of INVESTIGATIVE reporters by large newspapers, and broadcast media, is beyond a large problem....and to be truthful if no-one is doing in-depth reporting than silly things can happen like a TV GAME show host getting elected as President of the United States.

I KNOW THAT SOUNDS SILLY BUT IT'S POSSIBLE.

I'm sure the article is syndicated and I highly advise doing the research to read it.

IT WON'T TAKE LONG and it will be worth the effort.