Friday, February 20, 2009

A SHORT COMMENT!


Observation of the Day!

Does anyone but me think it is time to march on the Congress? Every other group of angry and oppressed people have marched on Washington. Why don't we fools who played by the rules do the same? These self-centered windbags no longer represent the American people.

Actually, I believe the best way is to attend every local town hall meeting our representatives hold. Attend those who we voted for and have actually represented us pretty well to let them know we are watching them and to warn them about being consumed by the bright lights of the beltway. Keep writing them at every opportunity, even though it does no good.

I am mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore.

Have a nice day!

Samuel C. Arnold.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

THE BEACH CLUB!


Observation of the Day!

The Beach Club at Coronado Shores is right on the ocean, looking out to Point Loma. It is truly one of the premiere locations anywhere on Earth. It is a place where residents can gather for Happy Hour, the Friday night dance,Bridge games, Gin games and many other community events. The club has also been described as God's waiting room.

On Sunday Susan and Judy put on an old fashioned Jewish brunch. It was a delightful carbo loading meal. I felt I could have run a marathon fueled by these rich carbs.

The entertainment was the San Diego Gay Men's ensemble. They were quite good. Most of them looked pretty straight until they started to sing, then some of the effeminate features came out. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

The audience loved them. As you know, most of the residence of the Shores are are golden aged. When the director chided the oldest member of the group about being the oldest, he responded that he was going to move to the Shores the next day. Was that a cheap shot? Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Yesterday was a stormy rainy nasty day. Even the ocean was angry. I went to the Club in the afternoon, as I often do, to read. I waited until the really hard rain subsided before I ventured out. When I got there, I found the Gin group (they play everyday) was hard at work at their usual table. It wasn't until I sat down on the couch that I realized that two of the players were playing in their boxer shorts, their pants hung to dry on a chair. Neither rain Nor snow will keep the Gin players from there game.

Have a nice day!

Sam

Thursday, February 5, 2009

AN ERROR ON MY PART!

I received a comment from the keeper of Home of Heroes Website. I am always interested in how people find my little blog. Must be Google. I said he could not find John Mckinny's name on the list of Navy Cross recipients. I apologize because I had spelled John's last name wrong. It is John Blackhall Mckinny. He is a recipient of this distinguished reward for serving our country. He is one of only 6,900 + in history of the medal.

Sam

Sunday, February 1, 2009

WHAT A WONDERFUL EVENING IN NIRVANA!


Observation of the Day!

Last evening was a most wonderful evening for me. Paul Payne, my best Coronado friend, held a dinner party at a very fine Coronado Italian restaurant. There were fourteen people invited. They were all golfing buddies and wives. The occasion was to celebrate the sale of Paul's Mexican business. As his golfing partners, we were all subject to Paul's whoa is me and moans about the sale of his business. He got less sympathy from Ingrid. This was payback for our patience. He really didn't have to do this payback because we all enjoyed the needles we placed in his body, whenever the subject came up.

I was honored to be included. I love my golfing life and golfing friends. I am so proud of being accepted as a part of the group, even though to date I am only here five months a year. I love my life in Coronado.

I arrived on time at the appointed hour of six o'clock to find that eleven were already seated and on their first drink. I was surprised, but should have known that old people eat early and on time. I guess going to the bank and driving around the block to kill time so I wouldn't arrive too early cost me an early drink.

Since I was a single, my "date" was my wonderful friend John McKinney. John is truly a hero to us all. He won the Navy Cross for sinking a Japanese carrier in WWII. He tells of flying high, waiting for the order to dive bomb the target. He remembers being just above the flack and thinking that in a few minutes he would be diving through it. He was 22.

John actually survived two other close calls. He was in a hotel fire in Atlanta and fell out of the window, saved by the pile of bodies, some of them his buddies from a perty that he was to attend on the thirteenth floor. He also survived being in the back seat of a car that skidded backward into a river in Lousiana. I believe his pilot training saved his life. John has been blessed. He is not well, but still has lunch at the golf course a couple of times a week. He has trouble remembering even his last bit of conversation. The fun is that he gets a special twinkle in his eye as he laughs about his difficulty in remembering. He is a hero and a wondeful man. God bless John McKinney.

The food and company made for a wonderful evening, an evening to remember. Thanks Paul for bringing us together.

Have a wonderful day and go Cardinals.

Sam

Saturday, January 31, 2009

RANDOM BORING THOUGHTS!


Observation of the Day!

What can I say? I have not been posting my cogent observations for some time. Am I lazy? Yes. Have I observed any observations? None to write of. I spend time playing golf and hanging around in the best weather we have had in January since we have been coming. Life is a glorious routine in Coronado, while Minnesota is enjoying its sixth coldest January. See, weather talk gets to be boring, especially to those in the cold.

My golf game sucks, but that is not news.

I shipped my car out. With the pneumonia recovery program in effect, I didn't feel I was up to the drive, especially alone. It only cost $875. The plane ticket cost $119 and only four and a half hours of my time. I figured I saved me about $500 in hotels, gas and food. It also saved me mileage against the third year of my auto lease. Overall it was a real good deal. BTW. My health is back. My defib is in place and my lungs are clear. What more can I ask?

Yesterday, I had lunch with an old friend, Dave Stafford, his wife and Tom and Konnie. I know he is a good friend because after not seeing each other in probably twenty years, we picked up just where we left our relationship. Shot after good natured shot was launched across the bows. Old friends are wonderful because they are old. And the stories never get old.

They still don't get it in Washington. The current bill on the table does little to get the economy back. They do not know anything about priority setting and the different between wants and necessary needs. I am still floating a balloon on a march on the capital to shout out,"I'm mad as hell, and I am not going to take it anymore. I urge all of you to write your legislators more often.

Super Bowl Sunday tomorrow. I saw a show and tell on Super Bowl memorabilia this morning. The had a Ticket from the first Super Bowl. It wasn't even called the Super Bowl then. It was the World Championship. Green Bay won and the cost was $12.oo. I know I was at the game, and didn't save my ticket stub of buy a souvenir because I could barely afford the $12.00. With the cost today, I still can't afford it. I am rooting for the Cardinals.

As you can see, I have become boring. I will do my best to find some humor in everyday life here in Nirvana. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to take a nap by the pool.

Have a nice day!

Sam

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Observation of the Day!

Is this a great country, or what? Barack Obama became our 44th President today. The transition from one administration passed peacefully, as it has since the founding.

I thought the ceremony was very moving. The first inauguration I can really remember was John F. Kennedy. I had the feeling today as I did then that the torch had truly passed to a new generation. The only difference was I was part of the receiving generation. Now like my vote fo John McCain was voting for the past and my generation.

From a previous post I had no trouble after the election of Barack Obama becoming my President. I have been very surprised and pleased with his come together to solve the problems of our country. In my life time I have never seen the country is such bad shape as it is. I still believe that the sixties and the Viet Nam era was the worst period of my time, but the issues of that day, were not the same as the troubles of this era. We are really talking about our survival as a world power.

Having said that, I have the feeling today is a turning point in our history. I have been around long enough to know this country can solve these problems in the long run. Every element of our society contributed to the situation. Our own greed and our overpowering craving for instant gratification has been the rope from which we hang.

Obama is a genuine leader in the mold of Ronald Reagan and FDR. His oratory can inspire us to get it done. It will not be quick, and I am sure we will have many set backs along the way. Obama cannot do it alone.

I sincerely hope Obama can put an end to the rancor of partisanship. Respect and tolerance is at the center of making it all work. The Congress must work together. If the cannot, I suggest a march to the steps of the capital by the public loudly declaring that we are mad as hell and we aren't going to take in anymore. I am going to write my Congressman and Senators more often, letting them know how I feel on the issues.

It is a new day. It is a new beginning. Let us pray for the success of President Obama.

Have a nice day!

And God less the United States of America.

Sam

Sunday, January 18, 2009

THIS JUST IN!


News You Need To Know, or Not!


Natalie Dylan, 22, claims her offer of a one-night stand has persuaded 10,000 men to bid for sex with her.

Last September, when her auction came to light, she had received bids up to £162,000 ($243,000) but since then interest in her has rocketed.

The student who has a degree in Women's Studies insisted she was not demeaning herself.

"I think me and the person (Nice grammar)I do it with will both profit greatly from the deal."

She added: "It's shocking that men will pay so much for someone's virginity, which isn't even prized so highly anymore."

I guess she can't get a job in Woman's Studies.

*****

Performing two Google searches from a desktop computer can generate about the same amount of carbon dioxide as boiling a kettle for a cup of tea, according to new research.

While millions of people tap into Google without considering the environment, a typical search generates about 7g of CO2 Boiling a kettle generates about 15g. “Google operates huge data centres around the world that consume a great deal of power,” said Alex Wissner-Gross, a Harvard University physicist whose research on the environmental impact of computing is due out soon. “A Google search has a definite environmental impact.”

This doesn't quite make sense to me. Google is going to run their computers whether or not anyone is doing searches. They aren't like lights that Google shuts off when nobody uses them.

I wonder who paid for this research, Al Gore?.

*****

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne spent $236,000 to redecorate the bathroom in his office, The Washington Post says. The paper reports that taxpayers paid for "a new shower, a refrigerator and a freezer and buying monogrammed towels."

KTVB-TV says the department denied that it purchased monogrammed towels.

In this economy we must all sacrifice, except government of course. Gives new meaning to throne room. What a bunch of crap.

*****

A funeral home might be a place for eternal rest, but police say an Arkansas man saw an opportunity to build a methamphetamine lab undisturbed by the living.

There was just one problem—the funeral home was across the street from the sheriff's office.

Officers say Robert Lee Lewis left the light on in the basement of the Higginbotham Funeral Home in Walnut Ridge on Dec. 3. Officers noticed the light on after hours and walked into the funeral home through an open door.

Inside, police say they found all the components necessary to build a meth lab. Officers arrested the former funeral home employee when he returned.

*****

The wobbly video shows a group of adults mulling inside Chuck E. Cheese's restaurant in Susquehanna Twp. Suddenly it pans left and captures a fight breaking out.

The 22-second clip, uploaded Sunday to YouTube, is the latest example of what police describe as a disturbing and bizarre crime trend: escalating violence among adults at a place designed for children's birthday parties.

Susquehanna Township police have been called to the restaurant on Union Deposit Road 12 times in the past year for reports of disorderly conduct, assault and theft. Those calls have resulted in 13 arrests, including six women -- five adults and a juvenile -- charged with disorderly conduct in a Saturday-night brawl.

"It's madness, absolute madness," Susquehanna Twp. Police Chief Robert A. Martin said.

Martin said he believes much of the violence stems from ongoing disputes among people who bump into each other in the restaurant. "They see each other at Chuck E. Cheese, and before you know it an argument turns into something physical."

The assaults also could be attributed to separated or divorced parents who attend a child's birthday party, he said. Such was the case in an April 4 incident, when police accused a man of slapping his estranged wife in the head at their child's party.

The violence at Chuck E. Cheese's isn't isolated to the Susquehanna Township restaurant. Last month, the Wall Street Journal published an article about a growing number of adult melees at locations in Brookfield, Wisc.; Topeka, Kan.; Toledo, Ohio; and Flint, Mich.

Can't we all just get along?

*****

Here’s another entry for the annals of noteworthy winter weather: The dogsled race near Frazee, Minn., has been canceled because there’s too much snow.

Too much fluffy snow that keeps drifting and therefore made it impossible to maintain a groomed trail.

That poses a safety risk to the dogs, supercharged canines whose mushers need a groomed trail to drop a hook to stop when necessary.

“We can’t pack it,” race organizer Eddy Streeper said Monday. “We just can’t get it packed. We had to speak up on behalf of the dogs.”

A dog sled race where the snow is not good enough???

*****
Mega-orgy in Tel Aviv cancelled due to public pressure

Sex fest scheduled to be held on 'International Orgasm Day' and seeking to promote world peace called off after owner of venue meant to host event caves in to threats

After weeks of preparations for the largest sex event of its kind in Israel, organizers were forced to cancel it this week due to public pressure and threats exerted on the owner of the venue where the sex fest was to take place.

The orgy was organized by the Raelian movement, a UFO religion whose followers believe humankind was created by aliens.

"The purpose of the event was to try and bring world peace through mass orgasm, this by experiencing consensual sex and natural, uninterrupted pleasure. It was important to make love without feeling guilty or shy," he explained.

Now there's a peace movement!!!
*****

A crumbling economy, more than 2 million constituents who have lost their jobs this year, and congressional demands of CEOs to work for free did not convince lawmakers to freeze their own pay.

Instead, they will get a $4,700 pay increase, amounting to an additional $2.5 million that taxpayers will spend on congressional salaries, and watchdog groups are not happy about it.

“As lawmakers make a big show of forcing auto executives to accept just $1 a year in salary, they are quietly raiding the vault for their own personal gain,” said Daniel O’Connell, chairman of The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), a non-partisan group. “This money would be much better spent helping the millions of seniors who are living below the poverty line and struggling to keep their heat on this winter.”

In this economy everyone must sacrifice, except the government of course.

*****

Burger King Corp. may have just the thing. The home of the Whopper has launched a new men's body spray called "Flame." The company describes the spray as "the scent of seduction with a hint of flame-broiled meat."

The fragrance is on sale at New York City retailer Ricky's NYC in stores and online for a limited time for $3.99.

Smell like a Whopper? All you will attract is supersized females.

*****

LIMA, Peru — Drug agents in Peru say they have seized 3 tons of cocaine mixed into a shipment of guano bound for Spain.

Police delayed announcing the Dec. 4 raid because it was initially impossible to calculate how much cocaine was mixed with the guano, the nitrogen- and phosphate-rich droppings of birds and bats.

Cortijo said the cocaine was destined for Barcelona, Spain.

This cocaine smells funny!

*****

MEXICO CITY — A well-known U.S. anti-kidnapping expert has himself fallen victim to the wave of abductions in Mexico as unidentified assailants snatched him from a street in the northern state of Coahuila.

Local authorities say American Felix Batista was in Mexico to give talks and offer advice against kidnapping. The former U.S. army officer sometimes serves as a negotiator with kidnappers.

I guess his days as an "expert" are over.

*****

In a poll conducted by the Marion Chronicle Tribune, 56 % of its citizens were not dreaming of a white Christmas in Marion IN.

Have a nice day!

Sam