0008 - 29OCT1012 - "Cold Civil War"

Sports… The Tigers were swept by the San Francisco Giants; the best pitcher in all baseball (Verlander) was pounded into submission in the first and only game he saw action in, and the best batter in several generations (Cabrera) stroke out looking, to make the last out of the last game… Who would have thought, after they seemed to be so strong against the A’ and Yankees? Oh well, the season was successful (better than 28 other teams) and there is always next year… The Gators lost and dropped from #2 to #8; nothing else is worth talking about in College Football… But in the Pros, brother did we have a weekend: Bucs, Lions, Dolphins and Giants all gave a good account of themselves… Good stuff!

Politics…New concept: “Cold Civil War”. Since the elections in the year 2000, when questions about 537 votes were left unanswered in Florida and bitterly contested elections results were never brought to proper closure for the benefit of the whole country, there has been this growing animosity, resentment, mistrust and plain old contempt between Democrats and Republicans, between Liberals and Conservatives, where they cannot stand each other and cannot ‘stomach’ the concept of working with each other, get something done, lest the other side get any credit for anything (oh no, that would amount to legitimizing them!). That ‘war’ is what has paralyzed the country, not Washington… We all blame Washington, as if “Washington” was this being with life of its own that comes out of an xBox, or Wii game; Washington is merely the tip of the iceberg which actually holds the whole Cold Civil War being fought on all 50 states, in all 2951 counties/64 Parishes (LA)/18 boroughs (AK), and in all the Federal Territories and Dependencies too numerous to name here… Now, how do we end this Civil War? I don’t know… All ideas are welcome…

Local… Went to the annual Hawks Bluff Halloween Extravaganza this past week-end… There were witches and warlocks, Bavarian Herr and Frau, French Courtesans, Country Singers, inmates, Ceasars, Cleopatras, busty country girls, pirates, gypsies, ‘cereal’ killers, grape bunches, etc… There were about six or seven types of soups, all delicious and perfect for the chilly weather, sausage and kraut, several types of cheese cakes (Pam’s pumpkin cheesecake was superb!); there was also live entertainment (country guitar music by Johnny Cash and ‘Captain Death’) and, overall, it was great! Thanks to the host and hostess and to all who contributed to make it a special affair…

On another subject, my thoughts and prayers go to the folks (some friends, some family, most unknown) in the North Eastern seaboard and wish them best of luck with Hurricane Sandy… One more reason I consider myself lucky to be living here where we live. Hope damage is minimal and recovery is fast!

Trivia… Of the 56 signers of the US Declaration of Independence, only two people signed on July 4th: John Hancock and Charles Thomson; most of the rest signed on August 2, and the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later. Only one was catholic, Charles Carroll, and seven were foreign born; 25 were lawyers and there was one scientist: Ben Franklin.

Food for thought… 
“You spend years wishing your parents would get off your back only to realize they are the only ones that ever really had your back.”

- Anonymous 

So, appreciate them while you have them, my friends…