A View Askew
(Or: Did the Dinosaurs See the Comet?)
Dec 2014 Issue
Last
From this . . .
Ah the beauty and bounty of fall
Ah the beauty and bounty of fall
To this . . .
The desolation and heart attack inducing hell that is winter
. . .To bossy clubs?
Only Six More Months til Spring!
View Askew News
View Askew News
Thank
you for wasting your time over the last year with me. Enjoy this last issue.
Mini Thoughts on the World
Health Care: That will be $38,000 - Please Pull Up to the First Window to File Bankruptcy
(Yet Another Thing Obamacare will not Help)
The wife of a friend of mine had a hip replacement recently. (All went well, thankfully.) Anyhoo, they, of course, received a number of invoices and were shocked to see that the bill for the surgery was $38,000. Of course they didn’t pay that much. In fact, nobody pays that much – UNLESS you don’t have insurance. The insurance company paid something on the order of $12,000. So why was the bill for $38,000? Because the hospital and doctors pulled the amount out of their butt! In America it’s legal for health care providers to charge different people different amounts for the same care. It’s like if two people, a white guy and a black, went into a car dealer and they double the price of the car for the black guy. The black guy is you if you don’t have insurance!
As if you need more convincing that something is seriously rotten in Denmark (and not too great here either) the GAO had some people pretend to be customers and called some providers here in high quality Minnesota to get a price for a hernia operation and a colonoscopy. Price range for hernia? $2970-9625, Colonsoscopy: $1733-5500. Any other business would be embarrassed to have pricing like this (or envious.) And, of course, this is why 60% of all bankruptcies filed in America are due to healthcare bills.
Luckily, our health care system has no conscience so it’s okay.
This Land Is My Land, This Land is No One’s Land
Follow up on Election Participation in the Last View (where Mr. DJ Tice wondered who is or should be voting, the informed or the uninformed (read: dumb.)
Continuing
the historical pattern of (even) lower voting in non-presidential years, nationwide:
38%
of voters showed up at the polls. Voters were 75% white, 12% African American,
8% Latino (actual eligible population 63% white, 13% African American, 16%
Latino)
Voters
were 37% over age 60, 12% under age 30 (actual eligible population 26% over 60,
22% under 30)
It
was an election generally dominated by older white folks who showed up at the
polls (as is usually the case). I have no idea which part of the electorate
these voters represent, the informed or uninformed (I was one of the old white
guys and I don’t even know which I am!) In any event, it seems pretty obvious
that our democracy is kind of running on fumes though.
For
an idea how Americans feel differently about the government - and which may account for why we're so divided - take a look at this
chart of spending by age group:
(Courtesy
of Barry Ritholtz, Big Picture Blog)
I
say listen to the younger folks – what about you?
(Surprisingly, the Star Tribune ran my letter on this very subject – who’d a thunk it?!)
Generational
Warfare?
The local west side fish wrap (per the
Commmon Man) had an article in the Variety section which was essentially a
bitch session by some Gen Xers (folks born 1965-1980) lamenting how they are
being ignored or forgotten because of societies focus on us babyboomers (1946-1964)
and the new darlings, the Millennials (1981-1995). These folks pointed out that
they are kind of the Dirty Harry generation (my analogy) because they are
always getting the poopy end of the stick.
They do make some great points. They were the
first generation to have the institution of marriage kind of self destruct
around them; they were among the hardest hit by the “Great Recession;” they are
the main taxpayers now (to the benefit of us babyboomers and the Millennials)
and the first generation to not do as well as their parents. They were even described
as “America’s neglected middle child.” Now that struck a chord with me. You
might remember a few Views ago I talked about a book called “The Fourth
Turning” which
described how generations repeat themselves over and over through the years.
Our gen Xers, according to the authors, are called the 13th Generation.
More importantly, they are also the repeat of “the silent generation” (born
1925-1942.) The characteristics of their lives and experiences are remarkably
the same even though separated by some 40 years. Listen to this description of
this earlier generation: “They came of age just too late to be war
heroes and just too early to be youthful free spirits. Midlife was an anxious “passage”
for a generation torn between stolid elders and passionate juniors.” Except for the current Xer’s declining living
standards relative to their parents, this describes them to a tee. Keeping in mind
the book was writing almost twenty years ago it’s pretty scary. (And their
prediction for the mid-00’s credit crisis, economic crash and terrorist acts
were almost eerie.)
So what does this all mean? Damned if I know.
I guess it proves there’s always some generational friction about which we can
do nothing. It also seems to prove that the authors of that book kind of knew
what they were talking about – it will be interesting to see how their
predictions for what happens next turn out.
But Gen
Xers Revenge - Millennial’s
Can’t Talk on Phones
In yet another article in
the paper, we find that
maybe the Gen Xer above can take some satisfaction from this little yarn. Apparently, some millennials are having some difficulty with old
fashioned skills. For example, talking on the phone. A young guy who was working for
a commodity firm was shocked to learn that he was being fired because . . . he
didn’t have any telephone skills (which were vaguely important since he was
supposed to talk to the clients on the phone.) Go figure.
I am not making fun of this young man. I’d
be willing to bet a lot of folks who were great on the telegraph weren’t too
good on the phone when it took over either so there’s that. I think what’s
important to note though is that this is just one of those skirmishes in the
battle of the generations. I suspect in ten or twenty years there won’t be a
lot of phone conversations and the young guy in this story will be the grizzled
boss who gets mad because the new generation can’t text, they can only write and
speak in full sentences.
It’s a brave new world out there and I, for
one, support it (now that I no longer inhabit it!)
What do Galileo and Creationism Have in Common?
The Pope! You might recall how the Catholic Church and
the Pope made a criminal out of Galileo for suggesting that the earth revolves
around the sun? Well recently the current Pope stated that people should believe
that evolution and science are not anti-religious: Pope Francis
God is Not a Magician. In essence he said that creationism is
nonsense, a stance – perhaps the only one – which I share with him. I’m not so
sure about papal infallibility but I think the old boy is right on this one!
On the other hand, it’s bad
enough that a bunch knotheads are trying get creationism taught as science in
school (including public schools) but unfortunately a few knotheads have also managed
to get themselves elected to congress. It’s a small group (I hope) and I hate to
say it but it’s mostly Republicans that hold these odd views (and please don’t
peg me for a damn liberal unless you think believing in science and facts is a
liberal cause.) In any event, there are congressmen and senators (including at
least one presidential hopeful) who not only do not believe in evolution, they
really don’t believe in science – period. And even that’s okay, I suppose – in America
you can be as ignorant as you want and even vote - but unfortunately, several
of these men (and as far as I can tell it is all guys, and white guys at that) sit
on congressional committees for science and technology like this doofus for
example: No
science for me! Paul Broun R-GA
What in the name of Ronald Reagan are we coming too when we allow people
who apparently didn’t get through 7th grade science to not only get
elected but to sit on committees for things which they don’t even believe in? I
know these guys don’t represent the whole Republican party but it makes me just
a teensy bit nervous that the party that wants to run the whole government has
people like this in positions of power. Let’s hope the sane Republicans can sit
on these guys . . . or we might all have to convert to Catholicism!
You know, if the Commies were
still around I’d say it was a plot by them to make us all look stupid to the
rest of the world (as if we needed any help.)
I got your separation of church
and state right here!
Some More Generational Irony - Money Can’t Buy Happiness . . . But Old
Age Can?
Two separate articles with a
twist only a devious mind like mine could enjoy! One from the business page (Lee
Schafer, Success is about more than what you own.) Reviewing several different
studies Mr. Schafer arrives at something that most of us know but seldom admit –
unless, of course, one doesn’t have much in the first place – and that is that
more money and things does not make us happier. Most revealing is that in
several studies it showed that the more money people had the more likely they
were to be . . . dinks. People with cheaper cars tend to respect pedestrians in
crosswalks; people more expensive cars tend to ignore them 46% of the time. In
a lab test the more affluent the person, the more likely they were to take candy
marked “For children” (the bums!) Getting more and more stuff and more
expensive stuff only temporarily makes people happy and then we start pursuing
more stuff (The Lexus Effect.) Ha – I knew that!
In a
separate article, “Happiness is U-shaped … which explains why
the middle-aged are grumpy” by Stephen
Adams, we find something that is kind of counter-intuitive; it’s not money that
brings happiness, it’s . . . getting old. Huh. To quote the article, “While young adults are carefree and full of hope for the
future and the over-50s have come to terms with the trials of life, the
research indicates that those in the middle feel weighed down by the demands on
them. The study found "a substantial dip in happiness during the middle of
people's lives is the equivalent to becoming unemployed or losing a family
member."
Oddly, other research shows that old age happiness can last all the way up
to your 80’s (to me that could be the result of drugs but that’s another
story.)
Okay so let me get this straight: money and things - which most
people pursue with a vengeance, especially in their middle age – do not bring
more happiness but simply getting older – which as far as I can tell requires
very little effort - does? In fact, making more money and getting more stuff
can turn us into a horse’s ass?
Seems like yet more irony handed to us humans by life; start out happy,
get grumpy because we can’t ever really have all the things we think we want
and then get happy again when we figure out that even if got it we can’t take
it with us so what the hell. (And also get all the Prosaic we want!)
Or maybe it’s just because the kids aren't living at home
anymore (hopefully.)
You pick your ending and I’ll pick mine.
And Finally . . .
Musical Bookends
As I was mucking around on the internet looking
for various old songs for this section (one of the truly great things about
Google) I managed to tumble back over forty odd years in one fell swoop. Surely you
can spare me a little reminiscing time (Yeah, yeah I know: no you can’t and
stop calling you Shirley!)
My first big trip (called a TDY in the parlance) in the AF as a 2nd Lt navigator was across the cold, dark Atlantic in 1971 and ended successfully with a
landing at Mildenhall AFB in England and not without a little luck, thank God -
there wasn’t any stinking GPS or fancy stuff. (I know, I know they landed a rocket on
a comet after 10yrs and 4 billion miles but give them a C130 and sextant and
see how
smart they are. In fact, I wasn’t
very far from using the same tools as Magellan and Columbus!).
During our six weeks of pounding around Europe and as my ancient pilot (he was 28 at the time) taught me the art of drinking martinis and generally how to act like a boorish aircrew member, this song, Maggie May Rod Stewart ,
was playing nonstop on the jukebox (how quaint!) at the Officer’s club which in
those days was a place where people went to drink and party, not a library populated by octogenarians like
they are today. Great sigh. Anyway, it's maybe not the greatest song ever but it just sort
of became seared into my soul and came to represent, for whatever reason,
the air force portion of my life.
Now fast forward (and I do mean fast!) 27
years and a very wonderful, terrible, difficult, delightful part of my life
ended with my retirement; a 22 year old kid goes down the gullet of the giant Blue
Creature
and a 50 yr old geezer is pooped out the other end (yuck!) – but guess who had
a song out just for me. Yup, good sir Rodney. OoH La la Rod Stewart - "I wish I knew what I know now, when I was younger, I wish I knew what I know now, when I was stronger . . ." Even without the ironic lyrics, having a Rod
Stewart song just seemed . . . symmetrical.
Thanks, Rod. And I do
wish I knew what I know now when I was younger. (Maybe
not, I would have just got into that much more trouble.)
I hope you can spare a few minutes to take a
jog down memory lane. Who knows maybe you’ll enjoy it and come up with memories
of your own.
Did the Dinosaur See the Comet?
There has been a huge groundswell of requests to explain
what I mean by the phrase “Did the Dinosaur see the Comet.” (Well actually, 2
people asked but that passes for a groundswell with me.) As much as I’d like to
tell you I’m
afraid you will have to wait for the book to get my answer. As I mentioned
before, this will be my last regularly scheduled View Askew. Disclaimer: If
something really juicy comes up and I can’t help myself from comments on its
apparent stupidness or irony then I will give you the opportunity to ignore me.(And
I will do my best to not comment further on texting while driving or
jeans and sneakers – but no promises.) Otherwise, I am going to spend whatever
free time I have putting together my book. (Free time – hmmm. Is time ever
really free? Doing one thing means not doing something else and in any event
it’s time that is forever lost. Yikes - makes a person stop staring at the
microwave timer!) But I digress.
Like
a lot of hack writers I really wanted to write a novel, one of those books with
a great story and characters that provides some timeless lesson like “Heart of
Darkness” or “Crime and Punishment.” Alas, I have neither the skill nor
patience to write such a book. So instead I am going to try to weave together
little essays like I have written here into some larger narrative (hopefully - I’ve
already been told that books of just essays don’t sell.) I have written a LOT
of stuff over the years that I hope to update and include and, yes, I might
very well pull some of “greatest hits” from past Views and throw them into the
hopper. I am going to give you some
teaser at the end on the kind of things I hope to write about.
I
am almost certain that it will be an ebook rather than a book book. It breaks
my heart because I love book books, but it isn’t financially practical. I have
been assured, however, that it should be available for download from a number
of popular ebook sites. We’ll see. (It also breaks my heart because I won’t be
able to include pictures – and I love my damn pictures!)
Soooo Speaking of Pictures
. . .
I just have so many I want to share
but I’ll leave it at these few.
Self Explanatory – politician
Self Explanatory – politician
Men, so predictable – giving dogs a bad name
Hurry up and get'em off, I'm on the tee!
Your Russian date eez here for vinter party - pass wodka!
What?! Babes love my expensive man purse and suspender.
Found in Rev. Pat Robertson’s Office - just kidding (Maybe)
Walmart fun . . . and floor cleaning?
Eeeeew!
God, I crack myself up!
Ending on a melancholy but somehow positive note . . .
Would that we humans had the attributes of a
dog - especially Loyalty
Big Things That I Think About
Elections . . . and other Entertainment
I do not
like to comment on politics or government (except to demean them) but I thought,
given the amount of excitement (or depression depending on your leanings,) I
should say something about the most recent national elections. Here’s what I say: who
cares? Yes, I am a known cynic. Yes, I am a known smart ass. And yes, I’m a
known know it all. For all those reasons I still say, who cares?
This sort of
back and forth has gone on for as long as we’ve had elections. (In fact in
EVERY election since WWII the party with the White House has lost seats in the
sixth year – and well deserved this year!) Has anything changed? Nooooooo.
Obama has been a terrible disappointment as president, saved from total
mediocrity only by his good fortune to follow possibly the worst president ever.
(A president whose policies, to a large degree, Obama continued – irony, thy
name is politics!) Again, so what? The Republicrats have taken over all of
Congress with much sound and fury signifying . . . nothing (sorry, William.) They may
even take over the presidency in 2016. In fact, I hope they do because that
will guarantee that they will do just as the Demlicans did: try to put their worst
ideas to work . . . and will be voted out of office in a few years starting the
whole sad cycle over again. (The exact thing happened in 2006. The vote was
totally anti-Bush policies but the Democrats thought that they were receiving
the people’s blessing for their dumbest ideas. Ha ha ha!)
I am of the
opinion that the entire federal government is not only totally corrupt but is
immutable and unchangeable like the ocean. Both parties, and by extension the
government, are owned by the big moneyed interests. (Yes, I am a populist - if you
can believe a guy who hates jeans and sneakers can be a populist.) Don’t take
my word for it – check out the amount of money spent and, more importantly,
where it all came from. Keeping the federal dollars flowing to those interests
IS the business of America. The big banks, big labor, the military industrial
complex, the agriculture industry, the Education industry, the healthcare
industrial racket – you name it, they run the government with ruthless
efficiency (for their benefit, of course, not ours.)
Both parties
talk about the change they want to bring about: quaint ideas like smaller
government or a healthcare system that works? Forget it! When confronted with
the reality that the American people don’t really want change (which would, of
course, require some sacrifice) they just want to bitch about change, the
ideologues in either party seem to take over and try to get their dumbest ideas
passed so that it seems like they are actually doing something (at least for their political base.)
So what great ideas did we get when the Demlicans
came in? Obamacare, Fast and Furious and not much else to
write home about. Ultimately though it's about Obama and what is clearly - at least to me - a failed presidency (and perhaps the third straight failed one? See my earlier post about babyboomer presidents - ugh.) He became a symbol of
real (and imagined) government over
reach – and in the end people were just pissed off
in general. (I happen to think it was because Obama and the worthless Congress did way too
much for the rich guys and not enough for the average Joe but that’s
just me.)
Damn golf elitist - a lefty on and off the course!
So 38% of the voters
decide to throw the bums out and in with the new (old) guys!
What should
we expect if (when?) the worst ideas of the new old lot take hold? I think it’s fairly
predictable.
An even more
cynical person might add:
- No more funding
for science, repeal evolution now!
- More prayer
in schools! (Christian, of course)
- More F35
fighters and invade Iran; less Medicare and Social Security!
- No more
death panels (end of life counseling) or hospice!
And thus it goes. (I have a whole, larger theory about this but modesty and space restrains me. Maybe in The Book.)
And thus it goes. (I have a whole, larger theory about this but modesty and space restrains me. Maybe in The Book.)
Does this seem cynical and pessimistic? Not at all! In fact it’s kind of optimistic (in a sad sort of way.) It means that in a larger sense the federal government doesn’t really matter that much to the lives of average Americans. We’ll do what
You won’t
believe this but I desperately hope that I will be proven wrong in my dyspeptic
view. If we could go through six or seven election cycles and actually see big
money interests being ignored and real work getting done I will be terrifically
happy. In the meantime, go ahead and vote, it’s your right and obligation.
Think of it as a form of entertainment - very expensive entertainment - but entertainment nonetheless. I’ll
see you in about 6 years when Democrats will look like saviors again.
Speaking of
peasants, if you want a REAL debate about government watch this!
Oh Yeah, One Last Thing About Politics
This is a
part of a larger thing that I will go in to in the Book: Do your friends assume
that you think about politics the same as they do? Look no further than your forwarded
emails to find out! (Personally, I have found that spam filters are a wonderful invention.)
But now for something totally different . . .
What, you may ask, do these pictures have to do with each other? Read on.
2014 Solstice Prayer – A New Tactic (No, I didn’t forget you, my people)
Don’t look now but daylight will be down to 9hrs and 25
min’s on Dec 21st. Doesn’t it make you pine for the 16hrs 37 min’s on Jun 21st?!
(Of course in Nome, Alaska the sun will rise at noon and set at 4:00 – now that’s
a seriously short day.) But hope for us is just a blog post away! It is my
sworn duty to assure that the sun hears our cries and begins its journey back
up here to our cold, windswept tundra.
For the past several years I have assumed the role of those
earlier Druids who pranced around Stonehenge; the Mayans peering at the setting
sun from atop a temple and the Romans drinking wine and celebrating Saturnalia
(which is kind of the blue print for my own efforts) all of whom were begging
the sun to halt its slide into the abyss. And apparently it worked.
As a part of my efforts, on the winter solstice it has been
my habit to and build a fire in our chimnea and cook s’mores for the local
kids. Parents are encouraged to bring their own adult beverages (for medicinal
and warmth reasons only of course.) Much hilarity ensues. In this way I hope to
assuage whichever gods are in charge of this horrible time of the year.
The Farmer’s Almanac, however, has called for another tough
winter this year so I think I shall have to up my game a bit to assure success. And don’t be silly, I’m not thinking of actually sacrificing one of the kids (although
a couple parents offered – that’s just wrong! )
I got to thinking (I know, a dangerous thing to start so
late in life): what do our brethren in the southern hemisphere do? I mean
everything is ass backwards down there with summer in our winter and vice
versa. What do they do in June that we could do in December? Well, apparently,
not much. As it turns out, Australia on Dec 21st is really pretty
hot so they kind of welcome the shorter, cooler days in June. (Goofs!)
But maybe the goofs are on to something. Maybe that’s a ruse
and they kind of use indifference to shame old Sol into returning. You know, a
reverse psychology thing: on their winter summer June solstice
they say, “We couldn’t care less if you stayed up there in the northern
hemisphere warming those pitiful people in Minnesota who have nothing to live
for for 9 months out of the year – ha, just stay up there!” And here we are
lighting candles, prancing around fires and generally making fools of
ourselves.
Well I say enough o’ that! We’ll give that pack of piss ant
prison descendants a taste of their own medicine this year! Instead of whining
about the cold and the dark and parkas and ten foot snow drifts and dangerous
wind chill and stalled cars and people pretending to enjoy winter sports . . .
we’ll just ignore it. In fact, I might even praise the virtues of this god
forsaken land as we shiver around the chimnea. The more I think about this, it
really plays into the hands of we passive aggressive Minnesotans who are so
great at fake friendliness. I believe I have hit upon the ultimate solstice
ploy!
So I hope you will join me in doing nothing this year. I
know, I know, it’s asking a lot but you can do it. Go outside on Dec. 21st
and urge the sun to just stay down there and then go back in and pretend like
this is your favorite time of the year. You can do it!
Back up plan: In case this doesn’t work you could also play
these songs over and over. (Won’t help but you’ll smile as you freeze your ass
off.)
So long, suckers, let me know if it
works when I get back from Florida in April – ha ha ha!
Amazed
and Surprised!
Yes,
You’ll be Amazed and Surprised by View Askew: The Book! Well, Maybe.
Among the things that I think I will talk
about in the book, in no particular order
(or cleverness):
The movie “The
Matrix” is based on real life? Collapse
of complex societies The
Dunning-Krueger Effect The myths
and dangers of Patriotism In
praise of big government Myths of the
free market In praise of small government Why I’m a
pacifist The myth of diversity Is there a God and if so, who
cares? More Wachowski bros Mortality – pros and cons Babyboomers pros
and cons More myths of time Where there’s evolution there is
devolution
Without luck
I’d be Rwandan Music and
Math More “death of truth” stories Time for humor and hope Just killing
time
I think there’s more but I’ll try to surprise
you. (I may even delve deeper into my very fortunate life and share for more
uplifting personal stories.)
Hopefully
these will all tie together to accomplish what even Einstein couldn’t do – a
Unified theory of Everything!
Later
D Roger P
New Songs
for Old Farts
Music group of the year finalist . . .One Republic All the Right Moves
Poems for You Know What . . .
The Shortest Day
So the shortest day came, and the year died,
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive,
And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us - Listen!!
All the long echoes sing the same delight,
This shortest day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, fest, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!!
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive,
And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us - Listen!!
All the long echoes sing the same delight,
This shortest day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, fest, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!!
Susan Cooper
Thanks for reading all this time, I
hope you will stay tuned for View Askew the Book (in fact I hope there is a View
Askew the Book!). And here’s also hoping I get my wish when I die: I always thought
I wanted to come back as Ben Affleck. Now I think I’ll settle for just being a
dog.
It’s a girl dog so it’s okay (I think).
So until we
meet again . . .
“Be a good citizen
of your world . . . and don’t be a dope.”
Quote Du Jour
"As democracy is perfected, the office
of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people.
On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
— H. L. Mencken
A View Askew is the sole property of D Roger Pederson, Mpls MN. You may forward without special permission but if you want to use anything here for your own purposes please send me a request at dpeders2002@gmail.com.
A View Askew
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