The issue was once again with my ISP (internet service provider). They use a function called Turbo to help their users get more speed out of the network. Unfortunately, this function messes with the WordPress code; it’s not compatible somehow. The fix is simple; I just disable the Turbo function. What I found yesterday when speaking with tech support at the ISP is that their system will disable the Turbo, but will automatically turn it back on after a period of time. So, I have to go back and toggle it off whenever I start having problems signing in. A big PITA, but at least now I know what to do when it occurs again…..

It’s a big relief, let me tell you, and it was nice to be able to go catch up on at least a few sites I’ve been missing out on. In the next few days I will try to get to everybody I follow at least once, so I’ll be busy. That’s a good thing, as retirement gets a bit slow when one is handicapped financially. I’m really looking forward to it….

And now that my ‘owee’ is all better, has been kissed and had a bandaid applied, I can concentrate on the Pearls. Shall we dive on in? Yes…..

“Here, pigs will fly, lightning will strike twice, hell will freeze over, and eventually, things will get really interesting…” — Smart Bee, regarding this blog….
___________________________________

Congresswoman:  “Well, Mr. Dallas… we’ve heard your smut masquerading as songs… and we’ve heard how teen prostitution pregnancy, drug use, cults, runaways, suicide and poor hygiene are sweeping this nation.  We thought you might like to share with the committee any particular causes you might see for those latter problems…”

Steve Dallas:  “I dunno.  Maybe the proliferation of narrow, suffocating zealotry masquerading as parenting in this country.” — Bloom County

When I first saw this in the paper, several years ago when it was first published, I literally almost fell out of my chair, laughing. It is just such a perfect description of how those Congressional hearings go, I couldn’t help it. This is a very accurate portrayal of how our society is in the habit of placing blame for problems, rather than finding solutions. At the same time, it delivers a strong punch to the gut of America, by placing the blame squarely on the shoulders of those who deserve it, to wit: ourselves.

“Narrow, suffocating zealotry”. What a wonderful use of adjectives and logic! It perfectly describes almost all of the people who complain about such things; they would rather cry, and moan, and cast about for a scapegoat, when the solution to their issue resides in their own hands. They are constitutionally unable to accept responsibility for how their own actions are creating the very issues they complain of, and generally will spend a lot of time trying to find someone, anyone, else to blame. It’s rather pathetic, when one stops to consider it….

Other than the environmental cataclysm that is imminent on our planet, I can’t think of any solutions to this problem. The difficulty in fixing it lies in human nature, and the changes that our species needs to make in that arena. Yes, having the environment crash around our ears, putting us on the brink of extinction will solve the issue. But, will it wait to happen until we can make the needed changes, or will it catch us with our pants down? I have a feeling the latter is more likely than the former, and I’m formulating my plans with that in mind…. Not that I think I can get out of it, but, hey, it’s worth a shot….

During the time when Congress was holding those hearings on the effects of music on teen issues, Frank Zappa was asked almost the same question. His reply was to the effect that, he had written and performed a number of songs that praised tooth brushing. He asked the committee if they had noted any significant numbers of teens had improved their dental hygiene…. which I thought was very relevant. The committee, however, was not amused…..

At the end of the movie “The American President”, Michael Douglas, as the President, makes a speech to the press corps wherein he states “We’ve got serious problems, and we need serious people to solve them. And I promise you, Dick Rumsen (the fictional candidate; in real life we have Mitt the Twitt in that role) has no interest in solving those problems. He’s interested in two things, and two things  only: making you afraid of it, and telling you who’s to blame for it. That is how you win elections….”  It’s a perfect example of Art imitating Life…. and that is exactly what we have going on today…..

We have a bunch of narrow-minded zealots trying to force the public into believing that the current administration hasn’t done anything. Of course, they don’t mention how hard they have worked to throw up obstacles to getting anything done. The House of Representatives has already voted to repeal the health care reform bill that was just upheld by the Supreme Court; it now must go to the Senate. They (the Republicans) don’t care that millions of Americans have already been helped by the bill’s provisions. They don’t care that it was originally THEIR idea. It was passed by the opposition, and that is all they care about, so they will fight it, no matter how many of their constituents don’t want them to do so…..

“It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged.” — G. K. Chesterton, The Cleveland Press, 3/1/21

This is the state of American politics today, and it SUCKS big time. Unfortunately, if I don’t vote, then I’m giving in to their pressure, and handing them carte blanche to screw with me. So, I’ll go vote for the lesser of two evils (yes, two…. this President has done the best he could do, and has been pretty good about transparency. But, he IS a politician, and we don’t know ALL of what he has done, or hasn’t done. ), and hope that we don’t end up with someone in office that will cause me to consider taking a more active part in providing a solution…. I’ve got better things to do than having to impeach a sitting President, or even to take other, more drastic measures…. Let us hope it doesn’t come to that…..

“It’s OBVIOUS..  The FURS never reached ISTANBUL..  You were  an EXTRA in the REMAKE of “TOPKAPI”..  Go home to your  WIFE. She’s making FRENCH TOAST!” — Zippy the Pinhead

(Well, it makes as much sense as anything Mitt has said lately…. and is just as pertinent as his remarks…..)
___________________________________

We’re taking a comedy break….

ACHTUNG!!!

Das machine is nicht fur gefingerpoken und mittengrabben.  Ist easy schnappen der springenwerk, blowenfusen und corkenpoppen mit
spitzensparken.  Ist nicht fur gewerken by das dummkopfen.  Das rubbernecken sightseeren keepen hands in das pockets.  Relaxen und
vatch das blinkenlights!!! — Smart Bee, pidgin Germanic version
—–

Balance the budget.  Declare politicians a game species! — Smart Bee
———-

Weather

Once I dipt into the future far as human eye could see,
And I saw the Chief Forecaster, dead as any one can be–
Dead and damned and shut in Hades as a liar from his birth,
With a record of unreason seldom paralleled on earth.
While I looked he reared him solemnly, that incandescent youth,
From the coals that he’d preferred to the advantages of truth.
He cast his eyes about him and above him; then he wrote
On a slab of thin asbestos what I venture here to quote–
For I read it in the rose-light of the everlasting glow:
‘Cloudy; variable winds, with local showers; cooler; snow.’

Ambrose Bierce
——

“A little nonsense now and then, is cherished by the wisest men.” — Willie Wonka

Okay, all done….. back to our regularly scheduled program….
___________________________________

“Boys become men by watching men, by standing close to men. Manhood is a ritual passed from generation to generation with precious few spoken instructions. Passing the torch of manhood is a fragile, tedious task. If the rite of passage is successfully completed, the boy- become-man is like an oak of hardwood character. His shade and influence will bless all those who are fortunate enough to lean on him and rest under his canopy.” — Preston Gilham

This is a wonderful piece of insightful observation. In many ways, the problems our society faces today can be traced back to this process being degraded. No matter what kind of nuclear family one is speaking of, this process of teaching boys to become men has been almost completely eliminated from our family process. There are a lot of reasons for this; social interaction is a very complex matter. But, the fact of its demise is not as complex, and is plain to anyone with any sort of discriminating intelligence. There are far too few men today who are following this example, and our society is suffering for that lack.

Again, I don’t know the answer. Or rather, I know the answer, for it is the same as I mentioned above; human nature must change. The policies and structures our society has adopted over time have become unsuitable, and counter-productive to our survival. The question is, how do we change human nature? I can only wish I knew….

Our future, as a species, and as a culture, is in serious jeopardy, and time is not slowing down to allow us to figure out how to deal with it. It is a frightening but unavoidable fact of life, at this point, with very little to be done. One can only hope that enough people wake up in time to at least make an effort…. but my hope of that is growing smaller every day…. I hate being a doom-Sayer, but the problem isn’t going to go away just because we ignore it…. so pay attention, please, and pass the humility…..

And as she looked around, she saw how Death the consoler,
Laying his hand upon many a heart, had healed it forever.
— Henry W. Longfellow (1807-1882) — Evangeline, Part ii
___________________________________

As we all know, time goes by quickly when we are having fun, and this just zipped on by…. It’s long, it’s wordy, it’s relevant, and it’s done…. Y’all take care out there, and May the Metaphorse be with you…..