Thursday, February 28, 2008

ch ch ch changes blog

WFB
The death of William F. Buckley caused me to think: comedians used to do impressions of him. He was a highly public figure, familiar enough to Americans that his mannerisms as imitated by others were immediately recognizable. Aside from Rush Limbaugh, maybe, who has that recognizability any more? On the right, or left?

Odd.

WFB was a key figure in reinvigorating conservatism in American politics. But, if he were coming into the field as a young man, I suspect he would be appalled at what now passes as conservatism.

Castro
Years ago, I had a very smart friend who cited as a reason not to commit suicide: he wanted to see what would happen in China when Mao died. Not that I’m suicidal, but I’m very curious to see what will happen in Cuba now that Fidel has stepped down.

Some CIA guy once said that the effect Fidel has on America is the same effect a full moon has on a werewolf. It always amazed me how he could play us. The Mariel boat lift was my favorite. We demanded that he free his prisoners. He said, “Fine. You take them.” This resulted in that excellent movie, SCARFACE. Thanks, Fidel!

Obama
What is up with the photograph? You know, the one where he’s wearing African garb? Are we supposed to be alarmed or something? Politicians have a long history of donning sombreros, headdresses, yarmulkes, etc. If we now see a vice president, say, wearing feathers do we have to worry about Custer’s Last Stand, redux? Well, with Cheney, you never know.

Yarg
The wee wife spent the last month recovering from a hysterectomy. She is fine, and has gone back to work. (Thank God! Daddy needs new shoes!)

She spent much of that down time on the couch, exploring the wondrous world of daytime television, which I do not generally explore. Judge shows. Man alive, there are dozens of them! Who knew? Who knew that there were that many angry ex-girlfriends trying to get their deadbeat bfs to cough up their share of pre-breakup utility bills? And willing to share their trauma for a national audience?

Judge Judy is my very favorite. I do a Byrd impression, if you know what I mean, and if you’re a Judge Judy fan I think you do.

Double Yarg
My mother found herself in the emergency room over the weekend, with severe abdominal pain. It turned out she had an ulcer, which had to be operated on immediately. She is recovering nicely (she’s 83), but the main concern is Dad (87), who has mild dementia (mild? wtf does that mean?), and rather depends on her for the taking of meds, attention to personal grooming, remembering to eat, etc. Fortunately, they are both in a managed care facility, but this situation may require amping up the “managed care” part. Cripes. It’s always something.

It’s strange to watch how the circle of activities becomes increasingly narrow as one grows older. First the job goes away, if one has one, then the home, flying, the car, the day trips….

Unless you’re Fidel, of course. The world is still his oyster. Why would you want the world to be an oyster?

CBC
On AS IT HAPPENS, Barbara Budd recently mused about the dream cast for the movie version of THREE’S COMPANY: Daniel Day-Lewis, Meryl Streep, Dame Judy Dench, and Mickey Rourke as the landlord. Though grateful, I wonder why would Canadians muse about this? Isn’t this America’s problem?

Screwed
Reading between the lines, it seems to me that the United States is screwed, but doesn’t know it yet. It will be interesting to see what happens when that knowledge sinks in.

Word that pops up everywhere that I’m sick of already.
Rebranding.

5 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Word that pops up everywhere that I’m sick of already.
Rebranding


Next time it happens, just imagine that a cowboy will be employed to rebrand the appropriate people.... Perhaps with the very logos they've been foisting on us!

-D.E.
P.S. Should we be concerned, with the U.S. is screwed thing?

2:06 PM  
Blogger Merle Kessler said...

Should we be concerned? No. We're doomed! Get used to it.

2:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Big surprise. ANOTHER A-list celebrity steps in front of the camera with a tax deductable contribution. Promoting her latest multi-million dollar project in the very same segment. Using her 'humanitarian' image as an excuse for her own incredible greed. As an excuse to concentrate the world's wealth and resources in her own back yard. As an excuse to live an extravogant, power-hungry, jet-setting, global warming lifestyle. Traveling the world in the name of 'humanity'. WAKE UP PEOPLE. DREW BARRYMORE IS JUST ANOTHER FILTHY RICH MULTI-MILLIONAIRE HOLLYWOOD HUMANITARIAN. THIS LITTLE PR STUNT WILL MAKE HER EVEN RICHER IN A MATTER OF WEEKS. ITS JUST BUSINESS. Say thet reminds me. Don’t believe one optimistic word from any public figure about the economy or humanity in general. They are all part of the problem. Its like a game of Monopoly. In America, the richest 1% now hold 1/2 OF ALL UNITED STATES WEALTH. Unlike ‘lesser’ estimates, this includes all stocks, bonds, cash, and material assets held by America’s richest 1%. Even that filthy pig Oprah acknowledged that it was at about 50% in 2006. Naturally, she put her own ‘humanitarian’ spin on it. Calling attention to her own ‘good will’. WHAT A DISGUSTING HYPOCRITE SLOB. THE RICHEST 1% HAVE LITERALLY MADE WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. Don’t fall for any of their ‘humanitarian’ CRAP. ITS A SHAM. THESE PEOPLE ARE CAUSING THE SAME PROBLEMS THEY PRETEND TO CARE ABOUT. Ask any professor of economics. Money does not grow on trees. The government can’t just print up more on a whim. At any given time, there is a relative limit to the wealth within ANY economy of ANY size. So when too much wealth accumulates at the top, the middle class slip further into debt and the lower class further into poverty. A similar rule applies worldwide. The world’s richest 1% now own over 40% of ALL WORLD WEALTH. This is EVEN AFTER you account for all of this ‘good will’ ‘humanitarian’ BS from celebrities and executives. ITS A SHAM. As they get richer and richer, less wealth is left circulating beneath them. This is the single greatest underlying cause for the current US recession. The middle class can no longer afford to sustain their share of the economy. Their wealth has been gradually transfered to the richest 1%. One way or another, we suffer because of their incredible greed. We are talking about TRILLIONS of dollars. Transfered FROM US TO THEM. Over a period of about 27 years. Thats Reaganomics for you. The wealth does not ‘trickle down’ as we were told it would. It just accumulates at the top. Shrinking the middle class and expanding the lower class. Causing a domino effect of socio-economic problems. But the rich will never stop. They will never settle for a reasonable share of ANYTHING. They will do whatever it takes to get even richer. Leaving even less of the pie for the other 99% of us to share. At the same time, they throw back a few tax deductable crumbs and call themselves ‘humanitarians’. Cashing in on the PR and getting even richer the following year. IT CAN’T WORK THIS WAY. Their bogus efforts to make the world a better place can not possibly succeed. Any 'humanitarian' progress made in one area will be lost in another. EVERY SINGLE TIME. IT ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT WORK THIS WAY. This is going to end just like a game of Monopoly. The current US recession will drag on for years and lead into the worst US depression of all time. The richest 1% will live like royalty while the rest of us fight over jobs, food, and gasoline. Crime, poverty, and suicide will skyrocket. So don’t fall for all of this PR CRAP from Hollywood, Pro Sports, and Wall Street PIGS. ITS A SHAM. Remember: They are filthy rich EVEN AFTER their tax deductable contributions. Greedy pigs. Now, we are headed for the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time. SEND A “THANK YOU” NOTE TO YOUR FAVORITE MILLIONAIRE. ITS THEIR FAULT. I’m not discounting other factors like China, sub-prime, or gas prices. But all of those factors combined still pale in comparison to that HUGE transfer of wealth to the rich. Anyway, those other factors are all related and further aggrivated because of GREED. If it weren’t for the OBSCENE distribution of wealth within our country, there never would have been such a market for sub-prime to begin with. Which by the way, was another trick whipped up by greedy bankers and executives. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. The credit industry has been ENDORSED by people like Oprah, Ellen, Dr Phil, and many other celebrities. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. Now, there are commercial ties between nearly every industry and every public figure. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don’t fall for their ‘good will’ BS. ITS A LIE. If you fall for it, then you’re a fool. If you see any real difference between the moral character of a celebrity, politician, attorney, or executive, then you’re a fool. WAKE UP PEOPLE. ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. The 1% club will always say or do whatever it takes to get as rich as possible. Without the slightest regard for anything or anyone but themselves. Vioxx. Their idea. Sub-prime. Their idea. NAFTA. Their idea. Outsourcing. Their idea. The commercial lobbyist. Their idea. The multi-million dollar lawsuit. Their idea. $200 cell phone bills. Their idea. $200 basketball shoes. Their idea. $30 late fees. Their idea. $30 NSF fees. Their idea. $20 DVDs. Their idea. Subliminal advertising. Their idea. The MASSIVE campaign to turn every American into a brainwashed credit card, pharmaceutical, love-sick, celebrity junkie. Their idea. All of which concentrate the world’s wealth and resources and wreak havok on society. All of which have been CREATED AND ENDORSED by celebrities, athletes, and executives. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don’t fall for their ‘ good will’ ‘humanitarian’ BS. ITS A SHAM. NOTHING BUT TAX DEDUCTABLE PR CRAP. Bottom line: The richest 1% will soon tank the largest economy in the world. It will be like nothing we’ve ever seen before. and thats just the beginning. Greed will eventually tank every major economy in the world. Causing millions to suffer and die. Oprah, Angelina, Brad, Bono, and Bill are not part of the solution. They are part of the problem. EXTREME WEALTH HAS MADE WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. WITHOUT WORLD PROSPERITY, THERE WILL NEVER BE WORLD PEACE OR ANYTHING EVEN CLOSE. GREED KILLS. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL. Of course, the rich will throw a fit and call me a madman. Of course, their ignorant fans will do the same. You have to expect that. But I speak the truth. If you don’t believe me, then copy this entry and run it by any professor of economics or socio-economics. Then tell a friend. Call the local radio station. Re-post this entry or put it in your own words. Be one of the first to predict the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time and explain its cause. WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE.

5:38 PM  
Blogger Merle Kessler said...

Huh. Was this in response to something I said? Oh, sorry, wait a minute.... WAS THIS IN RESPONSE TO SOMETHING I SAID! WAKE UP PEOPLE!
We're doomed.

5:47 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

well, hey, Merle, good to know you're still out here and capable of inspiring a TRULY HIGH CLASS RANT OHMYFUCKINGODWEREDOOMED...that was kinda fun. I can't maintain as long as that last guy, though. I'll need a hell of a lot more drinks and a bad day on the job to work up that level of frenzy.
I used to catch you and the Iowa boys back in Iowa City & at the State Fair, but then I got bored & had to leave Iowa myself. Still, good to know you're still out there, hope your delivery is still terse and edgy, will try to stay up drunk for the QED thing.

11:06 PM  

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