So Much for My Resolution

Well, so much for my New Year's Resolution. I vowed to write everyday. Today is Valentine's Day and I haven't written since January 9.

Winter is here. The wind is howling. And temps are supposed to be below zero tonight and lower tomorrow. I used to like it. Now I guess I hate it.

Took the picture below during the last full moon. That's "Billy's" house the moon is shining on. Julie thinks his house is visible from the International Space Station.

I'm in another play. The Guild is doing To Kill A Mockingbird and I'm playing Judge Taylor. It's not a very big part, but it's fun. "Remember, Mortimer. There are no small actors – only small parts."

We have three great kids in the show. Jamie Paschke is playing Scout. Leo Varitek is Jem. Peter Moore is Dill. They're going to be great. I'm violating one of my major drama rules by going on stage with them,  "Never go on stage with children. They'll steal the show everytime."

The New York Times

I subscribed to the New York Times digital edition. Three months for 99 cents. (I'm surprised there isn't an option-shift dollar sign. Maybe there is and I can't find it.) I have been enjoying reading the Times.

Here are some things I've liked.

Jessica Bennet wrote an article about autocorrect. Here's a quote. "But these days autocorrect is creating problems as it solves others. Tech companies like Google, Facebook and Apple employ dozens of linguists — or “natural language programmers,” as they are known — to analyze language patterns and to track slang, even pop culture. And they can do amazing things: correct when you hit the wrong keys (the “fat finger” phenomenon) and analyze whom you are texting, how you have spoken with that person in the past, even what you’ve talked about."

And this, from the same article.  "Your smartphone may now be able to suggest not just words but entire phrases. And the more you use it, the more it remembers, paying attention to repeated words, the structure of your sentences and tone."

Paul Krugman in an article titled "Voodoo Time Machine" this about the Republican party. "They’re claiming credit. Never mind the fact that all of the good data refer to a period before the midterm elections. Mitch McConnell, the new Senate majority leader, says that he did it, that growth reflected 'the expectation of a new Republican Congress.'"

"The response of the Democratic National Committee — “Hahahahahahaha” — seems appropriate. I mean, talk about voodoo economics: Mr. McConnell is claiming not just that he can create prosperity without, you know, actually passing any legislation, but that he can reach back in time and create prosperity before even taking power. But while Mr. McConnell’s self-aggrandizement is funny, it’s also scary, because it’s a symptom of his party’s epistemic closure. Republicans know many things that aren’t so, and no amount of contrary evidence will get them to change their minds."

David Brooks wrote a great piece titled "I Am Not Charlie Hebdo." Here's a quote.

"In most societies, there’s the adults’ table and there’s the kids’ table. The people who read Le Monde or the establishment organs are at the adults’ table. The jesters, the holy fools and people like Ann Coulter and Bill Maher are at the kids’ table. They’re not granted complete respectability, but they are heard because in their unguided missile manner, they sometimes say necessary things that no one else is saying."

"Healthy societies, in other words, don’t suppress speech, but they do grant different standing to different sorts of people. Wise and considerate scholars are heard with high respect. Satirists are heard with bemused semirespect. Racists and anti-Semites are heard through a filter of opprobrium and disrespect. People who want to be heard attentively have to earn it through their conduct.

The massacre at Charlie Hebdo should be an occasion to end speech codes. And it should remind us to be legally tolerant toward offensive voices, even as we are socially discriminating."

"The massacre at Charlie Hebdo should be an occasion to end speech codes. And it should remind us to be legally tolerant toward offensive voices, even as we are socially discriminating."

The times give great coverage to whole bunches of things. There covereage of the Charlie Hebdo incident has been outstanding.

Keep it up Times. I may take a regular subscription.

20,827 and Counting

The Lions lost to the Cowboys yesterday and their 2014-15 season is over. The last time they won a league championship was 1957. I was 23 years old and in the Army in Germany. I think it was 20,827 days ago.

The Lions led for a time, but it all unraveled in the last 10 or so minutes. A terrible call by the officials helped Dallas. One of their defensive backs had been called for pass interference. The penalty had been announced to the crowd. Detroit had a first down on the Dallas 29.

But, wait! Suddenly the flags were picked-up. The ball was returned to the original line of scrimmage. The referee is said, "There is no penalty on the play." It was fourth and one at the Dallas 46 yard line. Then, the Detroit punter shanked his kick and it only traveled 10 yards. Dallas scored. Ball game over.

So, it's 20,827 days and counting.

"The Lions, may they always win. But, the Lions, win or lose."

Yet Another Story

A long time ago, it was sometime in the mid-50’s, I was in NYC and was going to go see the stage production of “Seven Year Itch” starring Tom Ewell. We got to the theatre about two hours ahead of the curtain and popped into the bar next door. It was practically empty except for the guy sitting at the bar. We sat down next to him and began chatting. We told him we were in town to see the show. We chatted for a while. He left, telling us to “enjoy the show.” 

In the theatre, the curtain went up. There's a guy on a chaise lounge reading something I think. Suddenly, from the apartment above him, a flower pot falls, narrowly missing him. "Son-of-a-bitch!" It was Tom Ewell. Who knew?

He later appeared in the film version with Marilyn Monroe. Here's a famous shot from that movie.

Playing the Lottery

Until recently, I've spent quite a bit of money on the lottery. Of course, I've never "won," but you can't win if you don't play.

Tonight, MegaMillions is worth something like $205 million. FantasyFive is over $200,000. When the jackpots get that big, I usually play. A lot of people who have won big jackpots have had a lot of problems. Julie says, given my age, I probably don't have enough time to screw-up $205 million.

It's fun to contemplate what I'd do with that much money. I know I would give enough to the Guild to pay off the loan. Naturally, I'd give some to my kids. If I gave them $20 million each, that would leave me about $50 million. I probably couldn't spend that in whatever time I have left.

It is fun to think about.

Pope Francis

VATICAN CITY — When Pope Francis met before Christmas with Vatican employees, mostly lay people with families, he asked them to do 10 things. The list sounded remarkably like suggestions for New Year’s resolutions:

– “Take care of your spiritual life, your relationship with God, because this is the backbone of everything we do and everything we are.”

– “Take care of your family life, giving your children and loved ones not just money, but most of all your time, attention and love.”

– “Take care of your relationships with others, transforming your faith into life and your words into good works, especially on behalf of the needy.”

– “Be careful how you speak, purify your tongue of offensive words, vulgarity and worldly decadence.”

– “Heal wounds of the heart with the oil of forgiveness, forgiving those who have hurt us and medicating the wounds we have caused others.”

– “Look after your work, doing it with enthusiasm, humility, competence, passion and with a spirit that knows how to thank the Lord.”

– “Be careful of envy, lust, hatred and negative feelings that devour our interior peace and transform us into destroyed and destructive people.”

– “Watch out for anger that can lead to vengeance; for laziness that leads to existential euthanasia; for pointing the finger at others, which leads to pride; and for complaining continually, which leads to desperation.”

– “Take care of brothers and sisters who are weaker … the elderly, the sick, the hungry, the homeless and strangers, because we will be judged on this.”

I found this on FaceBook yesterday. I like this Pope. He seems to be "the real deal." Not long ago, he told a little boy who was grieving for his dead dog, that the dog went to heaven and that the boy would see him again there some day.

He has spoken out for gays and lesbians. 

He has railed about income inequality. Bernie Sanders quotes him a lot.

He has demoted Cardinals who disagree with him. He's gone after corruption in the Vatican.

I suspect someone will murder him someday.

Football and Greed

Yesterday, Michigan State scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, the last one with seventeen seconds left, to beat Baylor, 42-41. It was a very exciting game. My sons were texting each other and me all the way through the game.

Joanne Gerstner had an interesting piece about college football in the New York Times yesterday. Here are some excerpts.

"After taking a sociology exam, Cardale Jones, a quarterback at Ohio State, posted a message on Twitter that echoed across college sports: 'Why should we have to go to class if we came here to play FOOTBALL, we ain’t come to play SCHOOL, classes are POINTLESS.' "

Had I been the Ohio State Coach, I think Cardale might not have played for the Buckeyes anymore.

Gerstner went on to say, "Two years after publishing that provocative statement, Jones will be the starting quarterback on Thursday against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, (OSU won) the second semifinal game of college football’s new playoff system — and his words have renewed relevance. Never has the sport been so awash in money, a growth industry on campuses that some observers believe increasingly resembles professional football more than higher education."

"In some ways, even the N.F.L., that $10-billion-a-year enterprise, might be struggling to compete. The University of Michigan on Tuesday introduced its new coach, Jim Harbaugh, who left the N.F.L.’s San Francisco 49ers to join the Wolverines. His base salary — $5 million annually for seven years with 10 percent increases after three and five years — will eventually amount to more than what he was earning in the N.F.L."

I remember that several years ago I was critical of MSU's plans to expand their stadium to the point of writing the AD and complaining about it. His response was something like, "It's what the regents want."

Gerstner wrote, "Football is the main reason top-tier college programs have increased their revenue over recent decades at a rate that would make blue-chip companies blush. In constant dollars, the median Division I athletic department revenue in 1970 was $6.5 million, and in 2012, it was $56 million, according to one N.C.A.A.-commissioned study."

"And nearly every Big 5 program makes far more money than that figure. According to USA Today’s college financial database, Arizona State in 2013 had $65 million in revenue, Florida State $91 million, and Texas, one of the most marketable athletic departments in the country, made $165 million — 66 percent from football."

There have even been suggestions that college athletes should be able to unionize. In fact, the Michigan Legislature passed a law during their recent lame duck session that prohibits that from happening, at least in the public schools.

The whole phenomenon is a reflection of what's wrong with our society. Greed influences everything and causes us to want more, bigger, fancier, more comfortable, faster, shinier, and on and on. Look at U of M with their Schemblechler Hall complete with a big, bronze statue of him. Where is the statue of "the good professor," or "the famous scientist?"

Jeez. Maybe I've lived too long.

Here We Go, Again

Well, I said that I was going to try and write something every day. So, here I am on January 1 of 2015.

The furnace died yesterday and we've been heating the place with the gas stove in the family room and the oven and stove. It was cold when I got out of bed around 6:00am, but it's cozy in here now with the temperature in the kitchen at about 77. Julie says it's 57 in the bedroom.

In 2014 I turned 80. I find that hard to understand or accept. I remember talking about 80-year-olds when I was younger and bitching about their families letting them drive long distances. Yep. I drove to Atlanta, Georgia and back last week without any problems. Oh, I did get overly excited when I didn't know where I was supposed to go, but, generally it was all OK.

I never thought I'd live to be 80. In the Summer before Ernie Zenzen died he frequently said, "I won't see 80." He was 79 when he died. When I was younger I frequently said what Ernie said.  "I won't see 80." But, here I am. My Dad died at 67. Mom was 81. Why am I living so long?

I took one of those silly FaceBook tests the other day and it said I would live for another 19 years. Pretty funny.

I don't feel like I'm 80 ... although I'm not sure what that's supposed to feel like. I don't feel much different than I did when I was 50 ... except getting dressed is harder ... shooting baskets is almost impossible ... can't get the ball up there. My hearing is getting worse. Eyesight, too, especially in the night and in darker spaces in the house.

I'm not sure how far ahead I should plan. But, when I stop to think about it, I guess that's true for everyone. So, I plan for Mockingbird auditions, New York around Easter, and Maine next Summer.