Two films

Two films on HBO (free sample this weekend) passed the fanny test. I sat through both of them without rectal discomfort. They were Life of Pi and Argo. First born had to explain the double meaning of Pi to me, because I really loved the tiger and wanted that to be the story. I do have a little trouble with the concept of a Canadian filmmaker being fluent in Farsi, but I enjoyed both of them, which is mildly unusual for me and modern films.

Testing plus

My grandson, who is older than nine, still remembered enough to instruct me how to do this. Let's see. I created the above on my LG Optimus G as a draft, and am now trying to post it the old fashioned way. I also want to include the following that I phoned into the E-R because it's one of the clearer thoughts I've had, and I may never be able to post again if I can't master the phone. "Restaurant dining is, for the most part, a voluntary activity. Some of us may barely be able to afford such a tasteful dining experience, which we ask to have unspoiled by fellow patrons. Nursing mothers should develop enough sensitivity to realize that we may find a public feeding ritual embarrassing to see, and arrange to accomplish it in a more private location before they join us in our carefully chosen social setting."

Stuff

Due to first born's propensity for dropping cell phones in the toilet, we now have two new LG Optimus devices. They purport to give us unlimited everything except fixing dinner and washing the dishes. So far, I have been unable to access much of anything. Tiny keyboard, giant fingers, impatience. . . all conspire against me. Have yet to enter my password (which I recently changed after Yahoo shut me down because, God knows why.) Wish me luck. Someone told her it's hard to get started, but we'll love it when we figure it out, even though there are minimum instructions. I even had to guess how to charge the battery. This is a machine for those who speak fluent computer. They printed my letter criticizing space exploration and drug companies, so I may add one about weather speculation and nutrition nonsense. In the meantime. I have one working which explains to columnist Esther Cepeda that parents are the primary educators, and not "surrogates."

Bad news, good news

California has passed a law to allow K-12 transgender students to pick whichever restroom they want.  That's trouble waiting to happen.  In our day, Jack, the class clown, and I would have flounced into the girl's room, and he might have announced, "I'm feeling like a girl today,"  Of course, that was pre-PC, and the girls would have giggled at his overweight, prematurely balding body, because it was funny.  He wouldn't do it today, because he has become a pompous rich guy, and he and most of the rest of world have lost their sense of humor.

First born has sold four yearlings at the CTBA sale for almost $30,000.  Hard work pays off.

A couple of quickies

1.  Pay no attention to Oprah when she complains about being a victim of racism in a store.  She's a pompous ass.

2.  The word "numbnuts" is now perfectly acceptable on prime time network TV. So, don't complain when you hear Jane Curtin say it, Numbnuts.

Spoiled

(Excess words that had to be cut out to meet the 250-word Letters to the Editor limit.):  "When I went to Briggs Stadium [in Detroit], and saw Stubby Overmire, a short pitcher with an even shorter career, lose 1-0 to the perennial cellar-dwelling Washington Senators, I knew I had to keep watching.  .  .  that things had to get better,"

Unfortunately, greed, free agency and performance-enhancing drugs are threatening to destroy the traditional Great American Pastime.  And the foolish liberal concept of children not keeping score will not improve it either.

Another charming tradition continues to be bastardized by government.  The Burning Man festival will be invaded by 68,000 (emotionally and financially) overcharged slobbering fools this year.  So much for the little, counterculture, laid-back. loving song-fest that the founders enjoyed.

CLARIFIED:  Author Timothy Beal, respected Professor of Religion at Case Western Reserve University, in his book, Biblical Literacy, 2009, has said, "Moses convince[d] God to repent of [His] destructive intentions."  So, who created whom?

Scientific idiocy (plus)

The other day, the news aired a simulation of a camera supposedly orbiting the planet Saturn which they had turned around to photograph the Earth.  Being a gazillion miles away, all we saw was a tiny pin prick of (reflected) light.  "There it is", they said.

On Earth, subsequently, NASA convinced a large number of complete idiots to go out into a field and wave at the camera for TV.  Is there any hope for the human race?

RECOMMENDED:  "Ballad of Cable Hogue," 1970.  Jason Robards, Jr. at his best, is paired with Stella Srevens, and complemented by the unmistakable voices and quirky behavior of Strother Martin and Slim Pickens (Louis Lindley).  David Warner also appears as a sleazy preacher (as they all apparently were in the Old West).  Actually, this is set in the newer West, partially populated with early motor vehicles.  Robards almost always delights.

PRESIDENT OBAMA said. "35 years ago, I could have been Trayvon Martin."  Too bad he wasn't, or he might not have been here today to spew his racism.

TODAY a royal was born and Dennis Farina (69) died,  Which event impacts your life more?  Did I hear you ask, "Who are these people?

TIME may be accessed at 1-888-247-2425

FOR A GOOD TIME call Trixie at  XXX-XXX-XXXX, accessible on men's room walls at places like the Chinese Smorgy in Woodland.  Neither the food nor the men's room have changed there in over thirty years, but the food is tasty.  .  .  and cheap, and  there don't seem to be any cats or dogs wandering around outside.