barbara friedland

Can someone please explain the worship of Ronald Reagan?  For a bunch of Christians, it borders on idolatry.

Republicans, and sometimes others, warble and weep at the mere sound of his name.

Let's get this right out on the table.  Alzheimer's is a terrible disease, both for the person suffering from it as well as his family.

I don't want to sound harsh but those afflicted by such should not be Chief Executive of this or any other nation.

Speaking of harsh, except for The Secret like way of governing by basically spewing out aphorisms, this was a stern man.

Someone who could watch a disease wildfire through the gay community and then lurch into the general population.  Or allow ketchup to qualify as a vegetable for children waiting for the gruel to trickle down.

I contend that the genesis of most of our problems today either began or were augmented during Reagan's administration.

Just like Alfred E. Neuman, why should this President worry?   

Where to even begin?

Hypocrite, or simply inept manager? Unkind man or totally isolated from reality?

For someone who campaigned on a overriding belief in family values, the Reagans had little.  Kith and kin were ignored and only Nancy and Ronnie could seem to manage mutual affection.  I am certain he was not the only horrible father in the White House, but history and memory seem to serve that the other men truly loved their children.  And regretted not be able to spend more time with them.

But such a character flaw is simply that.  A chink in the armor of a man.

Following the Carter administration, that had long gas lines and problems with Iraq, this President did not take remedial actions toward these or other issues.  Simply stating with a twinkle in the eye that America will always have its energy needs fulfilled, is not the answer.

In Reagan's defense, he could not have imagined a craven and evil incompetent such as George W. who basically torched the remnants of his failing policies.

Supply side economics, trickle down wealth and tax breaks for only the rich, does not work. Deregulation, again, does not work.

Anyone from Wall Street, or those who lost their retirement care to disagree? Mortgage industry?

Airlines? 

The seminal start of present day economic collapse is rooted in Reagan's attempt to husband money into the hands of very few and then remove any level of control or official oversight.

His verbal and actual attacks on governmental institutions have begotten the elimination of much needed services.

It also ushered in a cynicism toward the public sector that is wrong.  

Events keep demonstrating that we need the proper bureaucracies to handle problems of our citizenry.  The private sector solutions invariably cost more and are less effective.

Also, why do I even have to point out that Communism fell from under its own weight, including excess military spending.  Something the hawks in this country love.  I wonder if a person in another part of the world wagged a digit at the United States and demanded that we stop all the spending and now is taking credit for the ongoing collapse.

From where I sit, Reagan represented wrong fiscal initiatives, cruel policies and an asinine approach to government.  Just an aside, all the folks who deride the public sector, please leave. Stop running for political office, privatizing and destroying everything in sight and then retire to collect a federal pension.

Recently, the lumpen Fred Thompson was given a shot in the early primaries, not due to any accomplishment, but because he was perceived as the most like this beloved- by some- leader.

George W. Bush, traditionally a lazy underachiever has managed to torch his legacy and Reagan's simultaneously.

Clinton years- the good old days.

Remember back, say a little more than eight years ago, to the now bucolic and innocent era known as the Clinton years.  Or before the world was destroyed by George W. Bush.  Rush, Sean, Bill et. al., I did not say that our planet was ruined beyond repair.

When Clinton was President, besides long periods of peace, prosperity, and jobs, the cogent issues of the day included whether or not oral sex would count in assessing adultery.

Oh, the hours of time, the endless number of staff and millions of dollars devoted to that very question.  

The outrage when Clinton, upon leaving office, pardoned, among others, wealthy fugitive Marc Rich.  The anger and venom that came spewing from the likes of Fox News and other reprehensible folks.  I guess the problem was the administration did not hand over large chunks of money, ala Halliburton and Blackwater.

The philosophical debates concerned the word is.  So quaint, so fey.

Now the moot questions swirl around torture, its definition and sadly whether or not this great country should sanction and execute it.

Yes children, the scandals that rocked the Clinton years.  When the new administration arrived in Washington following a dozen years of sodden and stupid Republican rule, people were fired.  Staffers from the Travel Office were replaced by partisans.  

Oh the shock!  Had denizens of our Capitol Building ever seen such horror?  Yes, every time a new President is elected.

Yet the Bush administration vengefully releases the name of a covert agent.  Institutes and legislates eavesdropping.  Plans a war on a whim. Ignores hurricanes and their aftermath, to the yawns of a nation.

Can you imagine if Bill Clinton had been President, even for a few months, and our was nation attacked?

And, contrary to his nature, the former Governor of Arkansas was on his third vacation that month and had not seemingly read any intelligence briefings.  He would have been lynched.  Bush was called a hero.  And then used the blood of the victims and the tragedy writ large to enact his own, evil and selfish agenda.

The teeth clenching rage and vein popping venom when the newly elected Clinton proposed allowing gays in the military.  Contrasted against a Commander in Chief who threw away lives on an invasion that was not only not necessary but diverted energy and manpower from our important tasks.  Mr. Bush had a war without planning, intelligence or sense.  If people died, so be it.  Amen.

Oh the tranquil times of the 1990's.  When the Congress had time to impeach a President for extra marital shenanigans.  Hear that Jefferson, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson- the latter one, Roosevelt- again the latter one- and who knows who else.  Possibly Bush, the former one.

I wish I could once again hear the misogynist cries about Hillary wanting to work hard and be part of the team..  Not much talk of ability in this administration of either gender.

Apparently Bush likes to bike, work out and take too many vacations.  While the country is attacked, drowns or fails economically.

Give me a President who can multi-task.  Chase women and run the the country.

Indict Bush.

20/20 Sorry

Officer, I did not see you.  Or your car.  Ditto for the flashing red lights.

I just came from the opthamologist.  My eyes are bleary and clouded.  Why are there legs protruding below my vehicle?

But I jest.

Apparently one can get behind the wheel after a half an hour of people touching one's eyes, as well as a series of drops and constant light shining directly into the retina. 

At the police station, such is regarded as an intense interrogation.

Recently, I had a colonoscopy.  Actually, it was not difficult fasting the day before the procedure.  I did not physically exert myself, refraining from spinning classes and the like and enjoyed reading as well as other quiet pursuits.  The day of the probe, so to speak, was a little harder to quit all liquids, as the instructions demanded.  I was so dehydrated.

I solved that little problem by just drinking a few small glasses of water and not telling the doctor.  I reasoned that the liquid was clear and I defied him to prove anything.

Upon arrival I was able to lay down on a very comfortable bed, begin the anesthesia and awake rested and content.

I was advised, warned and threatened with being sent home to fast some other time if I did not arrive at the medical office with a ride in tow.

Someone else to operate the car.  Not even a cab would suffice.  Would my capacities or judgement be so compromised that I could not recite my address for someone who ferries people around for a living?

Apparently so.  I did have someone with me. After the procedure I felt renewed, alert and extremely energetic.  I wasn't even hungry and only wanted a piece of fruit and lots to drink.

I felt clear headed and ambitious, poised to do anything.

Yet, I stumble out of the eye center, half blinded and dazed and no one worries how I will transport myself.  As in moving my car from here to there.

My vision is perfect and my eyes are healthy.  But a recent exam necessitated multiple eye drops and actual contact between my eye and a q-tip. By the way, the most recent medical advice is to not be

hit or kicked in the head.  Bad for one's vision.

Once back at the office, I have to squint to properly discern numbers and still have a haze around my irises.  And not the plants.

Hey, even William Kristol's latest analysis seems almost reasoned.  But perhaps my eyes are playing tricks on me.

One thing is perfectly clear.

To restore the integrity of our great nation, the criminal who stole the office of President and has occupied the position for the last eight years, must be indicted.

Hallmark moment

Greeting cards were once a thriving industry.  When I was in college, eons ago, I had a friend who spent $150 annual on such things.  Exclusive of  postage.  

Now, I view them as a waste.  And then as well.  I always hear my mother's voice, saying buy what you need and like but only what is necessary and not wasteful.

As cards inched up to costs dollars, plural, I always decided to kick the extra money into the present.

Which I wrapped in newspaper.  The comics section usually.  Bright and colorful, already paid for and good for the environment. 

Now I barely can bring myself to wrap anything.  Since I am Jewish, my gifts are not co-mingled under a tree prematurely hewn from the outdoors.

I often just hand presents to the lucky recipient.  But I agonize over what to give.  I just don't understand why forests have to come down.  Both for Christmas and wrapping paper.

But I digress.  Back to Hallmark et. al.

The industry tried to come back.  After decades of treacly sentiment, humor is the focus.  It did not matter what the occasion.  In the hospital?

Here's a joke for you.

Recently, Dario bought me a slice of rich, chocolate cake. He place it in the refrigerator with a card on top of it.  I forget what it said but remember thinking that he could have bought twice as much cake if he wrote his thoughts on a scrap of paper.

Which brings us to the horrifying prose and verse that I associate with cards.  Anyone, writer or not, who composed from their heart would certainly offer a better sentiment.

But the real reason that the industry is in trouble, apart from the fact that with new technology anyone can create their own cards, is the matter of relevancy.  

The scenarios that I encounter in my life are not reflected in the broad categories displayed in stores.

To wit:

Sorry your father is ill, but if you had called me and not just my cousins, I could have done something earlier.

Or, I know that you are upset that your accomplished daughter has scuttled a promising career as an architect to pursue bar tending but she is a very talented writer.

My sympathies on the death of your husband, but didn't you leave him for your avatar/spouse?

Your cat has passed away and the mourning period has been extended another month?  Go adopt a kitten about to be put to sleep.

Come on greeting cards.  It is about about being pertinent.

Indict Bush.

Now there is a missive that our country hopefully will never need again:

You wanted to be President, as evidenced by the two stolen election.  There is still several weeks

left of your hijacked administration.  The country, and world is in economic meltdown.

DO SOMETHING.

Let us give thanks

As the annual holiday heads toward us, I have taken it upon myself to note the reasons for appreciation for other people.

No thanks is necessary.

There was an article in today's Washington Post about John McCain's subdued return to the Senate.  But he has much to be thankful for today.

He is still rich.  

As most of the country, nay the world plunges into economic loss and uncertainty, McCain is financially fine and he certainly married well.

His family seems relatively happy and healthy.  

McCain still has his "feisty" mother, who is well into her nineties. 

His good bud- Joe Lieberman was not punished by the Democratic leadership in the Senate, although it is still to early to guess what the people of Connecticut might do.  As in, retire him from office.  They might actually complete the job this time.  Lieberman could lose in the primary, again, and in the general election as well.  See ya.

Back to JM.  Besides his survival as a POW at the Hanoi Hilton, McCain has enjoyed a long and fairly pleasant career as first a military aide and then an elected official. 

For most of that time, he was regarded as a moral man and independent thinker.  He might be young enough to try to mitigate the self inflicted damage to his reputation.

Unlike most of the country, McCain has a job, home- several, a car- ditto, health insurance and a private jet.  Gee, just like the auto industry folks who are coming a begging for taxpayer dollars.

McCain should be grateful that he never served any role in the truly Stygian Bush/Cheney administration.

The senator should also be glad Cheney did not attempt to drink McCain's blood to extend his own mortality.  I joke. But what is keeping Cheney alive after suffering numerous heart attacks and having just completed 8 years as the Chief Executive of the country?

McCain has his other legacy, his children, who are presumably not tarnished by his relentless and amoral pursuit of the Presidency.

As the Senator counts his blessings, he should include certainly one of the most important one of all:  Ted Stevens, corrupt, disgraced and arrogant politician, lost his trail and also reelection.  

Because if Stevens had won, ambled back to Washington, been censured and removed, there would be an opening for one of the Alaskan Senate seats.  Who would make this decision?  Why, the Governor of the state, what is her name......Sarah Palin.

She could have viewed this a God, subtle as always, giving her a sliver of an opportunity to claw into- and thus appointing herself.

Then, John McCain, America would be reminded of your woeful, scary and unpatriotic decision to include her on your ticket. Every day.  

Whew.  Close one.

Impending problem

I see a problem looming on the horizon.  I should fix the situation now but it would require dozens of phone calls and hundreds of hours.

As my friend Beth used to say:  Millions of dollars and thousands of lives.

Wait, that is the toll of the Bush administration. But I digress.

I teach at a state university and get my health care coverage from there.  Thus I am able to purchase a policy designed for Maryland employees.  It is excellent and coupled with a dental HMO plan.  My fab-u-lous Dentist, Dr. Michael Collins is part of the network for the dental insurance so I am quite happy.

Just an aside, St. Agnes Hospital keeps referring to a defunct policy that I had with the same carrier several years ago.  I have to call each time I access the facility, from some minor elective surgery to my own doctor, to correct the billing. 

That is not the problem at hand.

When I initially completed the paperwork at TSU, someone entered the final digit of my birth years as a 7 not a 1.  They also spelled my name incorrectly, but that is a story for another day.

I discovered this when I changed my password to access my university email and student information. Making several calls I discerned the problem and solution, so I know to use the new date which makes me 6 years younger. And corresponds with everyone's records, just not reality.

Just an aside,  at the school, we have to change our passwords every few months to protect privileged information.  I am not certain why.  Data can be sold within minutes of accessing it.  Altering our entry 3 or 4 times a year offers absolutely no protection.  

But I digress. Again.

After teaching for a few semesters, I decided to enroll in the health coverage.  Of course, my wrong birth date was transferred by the administrative personnel.  

Let me state, that I am legally insured.  I have not tried to misrepresent my age, which has no bearing on anything.  I would still teach and my premiums would be the same, even if I was assessed at my actual age.  Remember I am part of the state network.

Every day I promise myself I will resolve this issues.  But I am completing the renovation on my house, and the roof is beginning to leak.

My son visits and I enjoy talking with him.  My second novel is almost complete.  Work is ratcheted up at the agency.  The department chair has another survey to fill out.  Exams to grade and class presentations to prepare.

And so on.

To fix this small error inevitably falls to the bottom of the list.  And gets ignored.

One day, some hospital will come gunning for me.  It will end well but I will be forced to not only deal with the consequences, but change the year of my birth.  

Speaking of addressing important issues, when is George W. Bush going to be indicted?  And will we, the American citizenry, have to pay for his private attorney, just as we are doing for Alberto Gonzalez?

Dan Savage is mean and well, somewhat feral.

" A canned ham dropped from a great height." ...  was the way that syndicated sex columnist Dan Savage described female genitalia.

Dan, don't sleep with us.  You are gay.  I get it.  But stop denigrating our bodies.  This smashed pork product is an important part of a womas's persona and sexuality. Straight and lesbian.

For an admitted homosexual who writes an outre Q and A about outlandish sex, Savage appears to be rather  unknowledgeable and prejudiced.

Sort of like the counterpoint to Sarah Palin. In a strange bizarre shift.

Disclosure:  Savage, when appearing on Real Time with Bill Maher insulted my Buddhist organization and by his words proved he knows nothing about the Soka Gakkai International.  It is a group dedicated to Buddhist principles, helping others under the broad mission of peace, culture and education.

Another time, while on Maher's HBO program, Savage seemed to be surprised to learn that Elliott Spitzer is Jewish.  He is a sex columnist.  New York Governor, married, using prostitutes.  It is a story with sexual themes.  Get the facts Dan.

Thus, Savage has impugned my body, my faith and displayed alarming ignorance about my culture/religion.

But he must apologize for his ongoing columns about Ashton Kutcher.  Savage trivializes and sexualizes this Hollywood celebrity with a mean undercurrent and a callous disregard for mores.

Esquire, Maxim and magazines of their ilk have learned to glorify women in toto; their beauty along with accomplishments.  All hell would break lose if a famous actress or model was framed with the same spite and nastiness, as well as some hot panting, that Savage employs for Kutcher.

It does not matter that Kutcher is straight, married to a woman.  Regardless of his orientation, he deserves some respite from the bitter verbal doodlings of Dan Savage.

If people are in any type of minority, they should be especially sensitive to prejudice and narrow stereotypes.  Of course the world should be a big tent, with all folks welcoming everyone. 

However, groups that have seen discrimination and hate must not become like those oppressing them.

So, Dan. learn about religious groups and faith based organizations before wielding sweeping generalities or erroneous facts.

If you are not attracted to women, then don't sleep with them, but again, stop with the demeaning appraisals.

And read a newspaper once in awhile, especially if tasked to appear on a program focused on current events.

Lastly, be thankful that you are writing about sexual queries not asking if the customer wants fries with his order.

Too cool for school

Okay people calm down.  I understand why most of the country is giddy.  Deliriously happy.  Overjoyed.

Dumb and evil are leaving the White House.  If only I could be so confident to say power  As in exiting forever.

Who knows.

Dumb, unprepared and mean together with violate any moral principle for the Presidency won't be taking office.

All I can think about when I envision the Obama Administration is peace, prosperity and jobs.  And undoing 

and/or fixing everything that Bush did.  Gitmo.  Wiretapping.  Iraq.  Billions of dollars in bailouts with a coherent plan.  

As Harry Truman's campaign would sing:  Happy Days are here again.

But to riff off of Bill Maher and other comedians, pundits and commentators, I do not care that our newly elected

Chief Executive is cool.

To me, that is an eyelash removed from selecting a President on the basis on a bar stool.  Sharing a beer.

Senator Obama ran an excellent campaign with most of the execution flawless.  He comes at the end of

two hijacked terms run by folks who are missing either morals, intelligence, compassion or all three.

No one from the horrific Bush years boasts much character.  There are several characters, but again, like

drinking and cachet, not legitimate credentials for leadership.

I do not care if the President elect is charismatic, cool or has cachet.  He has demonstrated intelligence, 

discipline, hard work and frankly, enjoyed some luck.  He is who I want to lead this nation for 8 years.  

But let's face it, he is not the coolest head of state today.  There is a homely, middle-aged man who married an international super model.  And he is the leader of France.  

Calling someone in a position of power cool is almost an insult.  I agree, that the Obamas appear to be the most photogenic first family since the Kennedys more than 45 years ago.

But that is not why he has been chosen.  Obama comes at a time when country reached a nadir and our democratic ideals lie in shatters.

We, the American people, have been swindled, cheated, lied to, used and ignored.  Our safety has been compromised and the national debt is beyond reasonable levels of calculation.

Criminals, financial and war, were running our government.  Lives were lost, personal financial security destroyed. 

America, once synonymous with liberty and hope became an unbridled aggressor who ignored the Geneva Convention.

To list all the ethical, moral, military and economic blunders of the Bush administration would take about 8 years.

Suffice it to say that Senator Obama should have won by a greater margin.  A double or tripe popular vote landslide.

To imagine the reasons that some people did not support him, is simply not cool.

Plenty of time to indict George W. Bush.  Now that has panache.

Bring it on.

I hesitate to use the word superstitious- but I am reluctant to put something out there unlessI am prepared to deal with the consequences.

Growing up I would ask my mother if something could get worse and she would respond that of course it can.

And probably will.  She was something of a pessimist.

I think of the war criminal whom other people regard as the 43rd President of the United States. 

No, I am not hopscotching over to "bring it on."  Which was an imbecilic thing to say when our

soldiers were in harms way.  Bush, of course, was safely ensconced over here, protected

by a phalanx of security personnel and terrified of any citizen who criticized him or his policies.

Last Fourth of July, 2007, the anniversary of our nation's independence, a couple were arrested

for trying to attend Bush's speech wearing tee-shirts.  Each raiment had the word "Bush"

lying under the universal symbol of No.  As in No Smoking.

They, he a Republican, were asked to leave and our valiant couple were detained by the law

when they insisted they had the right to be there, and their clothing fell under freedom of

speech.  Maybe they just opposed shrubbery.

But I digress.

Of course the war criminal has declared Mission Accomplished when it was not

and no one really understood the extent of our obligation.

He has threatened to arrest folks in New Orleans, during the aftermath of

Katrina, who were looking for food and water. Except for "heck of a job,

Brownie,: none of his other, certain to be moronic utterances were

recorded for posterity.

But what is problematic today is that this traitor and craven incompetent

keeps protesting that history will refine his legacy and over the years,

his policies will be valued.

Bush constantly reiterates this thought, or perhaps wish, so often that

the universe felt compelled to reply.

As in, really Mr. Bush, you believe that someday your administration will

crawl out of the bottom two Presidencies to what?  surpass Harding?

Never.  

And to prove it, here is a recession and economic woes that the United 

States has not seen since 1929.

Legacy? 

Bush has failed on every tenet of his actions.

Protecting our country.  NO.

Fighting the group who attached us.  NO

Even waging an elective war well.  NO

Handling, or even preventing/mitigating a national disaster.  NO

Working to offset danger signs in the economy.  NO

Actually even winning election either time.  NO

Protecting our Constitution.  NO

NO.  NO.  A millions time no.

And just in case this self deluded evil little man harbingers, even for a 

nano second that there will be a positive appraisal of him years hence let's prove him wrong. Again.

Indict him.  War crimes,  Fiduciary misconduct.  Treason.  Pick one.

540-767-7800 scammers.

Not again.

Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice- but I wasn't.

In my Buddhist practice there is part about changing poison into medicine and 

creating value from everything.

I was almost scammed two weeks ago. I am ashamed to admit it, but I was carried 

along for almost 12 hours.

By taking action, I was able to save myself thousands of dollars.

I did have some debt and I know now that I have absolutely paid everything off. 

The last several years have been a problem coupled with an ongoing renovation. 

Chaos reigned. I will be finished before year's end and the last room to be

completed is the office.

I will have copious and organized records and take painstaking review of all of

my accounts.

No matter how painful, I will study my investments every month.

The monies have to increase at some point, right?

I also realize that if my son did something in my name as a minor, I have rights.

If something occurred after the age of 18, he needs to take responsibility.

If my child did secure some credit, he probably generated debt

under his name, not mine.

Disclaimer, I am not laying anything at his door, but I will not be momentarily 

disarmed again.

I received a call on my cell phone this morning. 

A law office they say. A MasterCard that has been delegated

to attorneys.

I calmly informed the scammer that was not my account and I was almost fooled

two weeks ago, but took action, including contacting the police.

His manager was summoned. I repeated that I will do everything I can to bring down

such people.

I have learned that many are not in this country; the phone numbers are rolling over,

to anywhere on the planet. An accomplice picks up their ill gotten goods;

the checks that good people send them.

Oh, a mistake had been made. They wanted a Barbara but not me. 

An address was supplied, miles from where I live. They were so sorry.

I guess such people believe that law enforcement can not find them.

But technology is improving. More and more of these heartless thieves will be caught, tried

and sent to prison.

After all, they are bottom feeders. To steal big and get away with it, you have to head of a

large financial institution.

This time I googled the phone number. 540-767-7800 does belong to a law office.

But a attorney with seemingly a laundry list of ethical issues.

Scammers. Scammers. Scammers. Scummy scammers.