Viral Vicissitudes

A Glowing report, a Glowering look... "What are you looking at?!" I mean has anyone, I mean ANY ONE taken a closer look at how these carved out heads feel, while all these masked faces look down at them? Of course, like anything else during this season, it's a tale of opposite perspectives. On the one hand..."take this glow stick and stick it where the sun don't shine...as inside this hollowed out head...now, don't it look jolly to you?" And, from across the aisle, "just take a Sharpie and put a permanent upside-down mouth, to reflect the results of the stock market" Together which when placed side-by-side, show how contrary to their grumpy mood about gas and groceries, US consumers are more-than-happy to spend on Halloween this year (expected to top 13B nationwide). "And they call US pumpkin heads?!"  Happy Halloween, and "Thanks for looking in on us"  🎃 

Smack and dab…the state of purple    What you get… as in equal amounts of red and blue…a whole other hue. And what the "Blues" may experience, in the rise of dread, or red, as it is written by their accountants. As one of the Big Three, that has gone from a double dose of blue to that of deep purple. While it sounds like a political statement to say "you can keep your doctor", if you're a salaried worker for GM it remains true if they take Aetna. Which, depending on your palate, their plans come in a panoply of purple. 😒 One of the reasons... for us here being in a state of confusion: while open season for deer, has already begun for bow hunters at least, open enrollment in our state starts on the day you are also reminded to turn your clocks back, a few days ahead of the deadline, for turning in your final vote (which, if it's late, my teacher tells me I can still get partial credit😌) The perks of purple... as it came to be scene in this morning's loc...

From the land of broken promises… Here, to keep my end of the bargain… I promised you full coverage of all important matters… Especially regarding the all-important run-up The results, tabulation of all the early voting, this election cycle So here it is… (at least from J-Z) Now, as far as who will join him, on stage at half-time, I'll bet you a half dollar, that after two quarters, CJJ III will make an appearance. Otherwise known as 50 Cent. Only makes sense, since it's a final rap-up, of the NFL season.   Now, "walk, don't run..." back to the run-up to what writers and columnists like to refer to as more pedestrian matters...i.e., back to "Dullsville"😔 

Civics lessons, come in threes, or so I’ve heard Kind of like… three branches or even better, in triplicate: 1) The high cost of transparency- even better when viewed as a plurality- if you want what is a staple to good governance you’ll have to pay more these days, as conveniently found in one of the many in a chain, easily called up from memory...the house of Staples😁 2) Timing of elections - is not as random as it appears...as overheard outside the conference room, it's timed to roughly coincide with when the confirmation hearings are finally completed😕 3) As far as Civic pride goes - at last check, they were going for just under 25K and, while historically imported from Japan, most are now made in what schools call a place where assemblies are held...up😔 Only 3 reasons that our schools are achieving failing grades. (next up for your mid-term exam: "how did we get to this state?"

2 X 4; Two good to miss Football follies, for your jollies: Two fumbles, two failed fourth down (calls)... that could have lost it for us Two dropped passes, missed field goals... that could have won it for them Too many bad calls to count... according to the two announcers But wait... the best, worse is yet to come, in the form of our star running back who, perhaps running out of steam, when running towards the end zone (isn't that the end game?) with plenty of daylight (sports term for lots of open field) sat his rear end down (unassisted!) on the home turf not once but TWICE! Perhaps the first was just for practice. Speaking of practice, as in "call ours" was it just co-incidental contact that this occurred during split screen for the "slip-and-fall" attorney ad? If so, it was the worse, most artificial example of "turf toe" I've witnessed. Guess it's just the age we're living in...   

  What's the point, of attack?!   Flash-back...  Mostly takes place around what’s best viewed as the line of skirmish, while…more traditionally called that of "scrimmage" - it sure resembled that...as in "a confused struggle or fight". A game within a game, as it's called. The ones that take place in where else, but the "trenches" where the "push" gives way to "shove", and even if you can get away with it, pull on the other player's jersey... with tear away jerseys getting ripped off by who else, but the officials. And while I'm at it, what's the point of having extra points, if the whole outcome being decided by what got invented, initially introduced as a "drop kick" variety. Which, of course, along with the goals posts, and the line where the ball is placed to attempt the "point after" keeps getting moved around. Which, I surmise, is what explains why a so-called "fast paced, high scoring ...

"Diamonds are a girls'..."   Play area. Pure and simple. Or, simply put, "pitching softballs versus hardliners" Sounds like the basis for a great debate, eh? The one that has continued to rage, even after Billy Jean beat Bobby Riggs...out at the court. The so-called "Battle of the Sexes" turned out to be anything but, as in "game set, match...a clean sweep!" But here we are, once again, trying to compare "Apples to...Apples" as it turns out. As in trying to compare, more frequently contrast, who has it harder, whose game is more physically demanding, even a bit violent at times. After already covering the one that had its "ho-hum" opener last night, here comes the women, circling the bases, slapping thighs, I mean high fives, after almost every single...play.  "Of all the underhanded..." Remarks that are made, back and forth, throwing barbs at one another, the key difference between the two games is found i is ho...

Celebrating our American violent past-time…a just-in-time delivery By George!… an update, with editorial license taken, on one of my favorite George Carlin routines, as in comparing and sharply contrasting baseball and football follies…and the folly that the former is more passive than... “Swing and a miss!” More like a near miss. One needs to look no further than the poster gifted to me by the pitcher-catcher combo (known to me as an aspiring photographer mother who framed her son's pitcher hand) captioned "A Pitcher's Arsenal" Violent enough for you? Two out of three pitches, when thrown too hard, can result in what's known in baseball, as a "violent overthrow" which might, on occasion result in the pitcher or guilty player being "benched...sent to the showers😢" and even, if they throw their arm right out of the socket, require surgical intervention (how did George not gorge on this?) But wait, here comes the one that is reserved for the spe...

"Under Surveillance"  Too much overhead  - was pretty much the conclusion of the town hall that the locals, excuse me, flocked to. "I mean, we already got hundreds of thousands of those buzzards circling overhead, whatever weird names Musk-et head is coming up with these daze. No wonder we're getting pulled over for distracted driving!" 😖 Feeling more secure... "now   that we go out, dressed in layers, in order to protect our identity, from those creeping cameras...it's like they're an invasive species around here" Steady your aims...   "here's mud in your aperture! That will teach them for looking down us, trying to make us feel inferior" Overheard... about where they went wrong, in attempting to fleece by flock.  (Talk about a perfect opening, for an eye opening "You'll shoot your..." Coming right at you, here next)

  Sign posts, if the times I took it, as a sign… that I might want to sign up… “Three cheers, for electioneers!” accompanied by, what else, but a QR code. That curiously made me want to do it in rapid response time. As in just in time for prepping me to “think outside the ballot box”…Whereas across the street, and a few houses down.,. “Debt to America!” with some fine print, that required, despite the “No Trespassing” sign, walk softly on the grass in order to read “send, export all of them here, as in what’s another few billion, when we’re already trillions deep” Which, I would guess, is sum type of commentary on the financial health system… "Sign of the Beefcarver" is coming down, due to the price of beef, shooting up. A sure sign that "pork barrel Politics" are here, to stay.... Whichever way you vote… all that matters is that you take your campaign signs down, within ten days, "or so" (depending on which municipality you are signed in) This, brought to...

Keeping pace, with the space race  Branded - the New Hunt for Red October As in accounting for the fourth force … as in my approach to group play, in forcing them, to respond almost instantaneously to…”if I only had more…” Followed, as in one out of three…”time, energy, and/or money…” But how did I miss the one other dimension…a place called space, filled now... There's stalkers and gawkers … the ones that pursue others or simply look in on us, when we’re not even looking…and a whole bunch of other categories of satellites…like the Russian owned Cosmos 2612 that was attempting to eclipse our ellipse…almost coming eye to eye with ICEYE-X36, almost close enough to do the Top Gun Mav maneuver, as in give them the birdie... Calling for shrouded skies … this Halloween…given the bats, and millions of sats, blocking out the moon beams…”Sputtering Sputnik Batman!” 

"It's a matter of a rounding error" (and a centrifuge) Taken out, of context...  as I, myself was taken out, at least what made me late. Early and often... as in starting with kindergarten round-up, an underestimate of what it would take to entice them in... it's as if they already learned their projected NIL value which, as it turns out, is no fault of their own, given the amount of praise we heap on them, for making it out of preschool... All the weigh up... to the military brass, and what it takes to call it..."one twenty-two thousandth of the total...what's 52 million when the total budget is around 1.5 trillion...nice round numbers make for nicer rounding errors"  Closer to home, a home groan... "Here we go again..." Is what I heard, as I tried to concentrate, find the right "take the next..." exit after daring to enter what's rated as the most decorated "malfunction junction" in our state. No accident it's loca...

The Ouster of Oberlin...Ouch! All about dooms-dayers.  "You think you got it bad...?"  Getting pressed about your press credentials, in your very first...how would you like to hear that you were being replaced, by the morning news? As Mr. Rob Oursler did, a coach in the town of Oberlin, a town in the state of Ohio. After which a public apology in the form of "communication regarding the situation fell short..." Only one thing more dramatic than reading about your demise in the morning tabloid, would be announcing it yourself in the newsroom or, better yet, simply walking off the set. There's doom scrollers, then there's doom slayers. As in walking off and showing the doom-sayers your backside.   

Dear droppings (not those, that plug your nose) A big hit, it turns out... as to why Leavitt left it all behind. An office in the White House and being able to be at the center of controversy, a few times each week. Finishing each conference with a flourish as in "did I leave anything out?" (hope so, as it will keep you so-and-so's coming back for more) - - parentheses and misquoting a generous courtesy extended to me from the one who managed to smile through it all and, on most occasions, out-dress the press. Who, after saying she was done with the rat race, stay home and play with the youngsters, signed on with Fox, which could, in another iconic irony, which is becoming the signature of this administration, put her smack dab, back inside. The ultimate, of course, could be, if she hosted "Meet the O-Pressor" (you watch, it's likely to become a weekly series on Netflix). The day that sweet Karoline dropped a line, as to why she truly never left. Talk about ...

The Great Digital Divide Whereas in Ancient Greece... this digit took on an archeological dig, as in a phallic symbol that, along with a lot of other legends ("Narcissus" for example) wound its way into the vocabulary of psychological diagnoses... While in Rome... they, of course, came up with a more legalistic sounding, "digitus impudicus"… Fast forward... to post civilization times, where we just, with minimal provocation, or even just as a matter of convenience, stick it up as a sign of "no love lost" as in, the other day, a comment on a play, the new "Moo-You" coach handed the official the universal bird call.  (for those not familiar with the in-state rivalry, "Moo-U" is a lighthearted slam on the ag school that is known for studying cows and their calls)

(UN)Do the Mass Or, in the rare case... "Why the Pope won't be in attendance today...at least a slight delay..." Mass hold-up... as in the case of the hundreds of thousands gathered in the Square and lined up outside, holding up prayers, for Leo's status to be upgraded from "we're just doing this as a precaution" back to a daily maintenance schedule of appointments, prayer time, and even a moment or two of political commentaries... Mass pile-up... of cards, from cardinals and other well-wishers, littering the whole Vatican City-wide...  Mass removal...   or, to be more exact, as in a video assist of the surgeon's steady hand...the lower lobe of the right lung. "I was, at the direction of Pope Leo, operating under the assumption he was just one of us" (kept me from getting the jitters) Mass reversal... which we've seen a few times now, where the one that had been elevated, brings himself down to our level and asks for our prayers. After ...

“In all IT’s finery”  Nope… not that It, the one we’ve gotten used to, hearing about, about every other sentence. What IT has brought us, as in a pig with lipstick…no matter how you dress it up…And a likely second's guess, given the time of year where we play dress up, followed by putting out our finest China.  Not quite. What we heard this morning in this regard is that, despite the oil flowing again, we will continue to see a bump at the pump…due to all the steps needed to refine it, as well as some other so-called “ancillary” costs that will ultimately be subsumed on your bill, as the dreaded surcharges. As in ”Sir, the reason for the increase is easily explained…” Aka better described as price gorging (they just can't get enough of my cash). Just-in-time delivery - "Roll out the Barrel" (known around these parts as the Beer Barrel Polka") is a staple around Oktoberfest's. 

"The   Social Reckoning" is wreaking social media havoc A face off with Face book?! I'm all in, but first I gotta' check in with, my daily round-up of those who I follow, and who, on the other side, may be viewing me and my preferences. It's called, in the old world of studying human behavior...what they''ll put up with, in order to get what they want, or at least think  they do. While the ones bringing all the ads at various intervals, based on our individually curated algorithm, have discerned we want, deeper down😳. It's as if they know us better than we know our selfie...But finally, here comes someone to "uncover the platform's hidden role in promoting extremist content, harmful algorithms..." That was, of course, well before, the newer version, where not even a human hand had a hand in determining the outcome. In the blend of psychology and philosophy, the continuing debate as to whether our behavior is freely chosen or fully caused...

We liked Mike... For bringing the Iron to the Grid...  he was the embodiment of what the Gridiron was made for, and why he was, among other well-earned awards, in 1988 selected to the "Al Madden" team. For bringing us so many moments that John's "BOOM!" was reserved for.  Da Bears and Dare fans... have their flags at half-mast...an irony in and of itself, given the amount of time he spent on the field, which could easily add up to a full game. Given that he played, as in the old days, a "two-way" player...both a tight, and defensive end. So, it turns, out, whether you, yourself, was playing offense of defense, you were likely to run into him "between the lines" which would, in turn, impede your progress to...wherever... Take it from "Da Comish"... as the chief rep of the NFL...if you want an Ai, he was the guy...as far as embodying Authenticity, as well as INTENSITY! Nothing artificial here... From his lips... the well-earned monike...

A "Yes or Nos" job   What's "up for debate"? It's what I asked myself, at several junctures, when the moderator tried his best to moderate, their responses... Gnome calling... is the best I could come up with, regarding the lack of creativity in the names they came up with..."Sock puppet versus a Glitchy AI Chatbot" It's the best they could come up with, along with their campaign committees?! NOW we're talking artificial intel... Add-monishment... my take on what Mr. Albin was trying to do...add some firmness to his reprimands..."gentleman...GENTLEMEN...would you WORK with me here?!" Wouldn't it have just effective and quicker to the point, to simply employ the time-tested subtle insult to adults acting as..."Now, children..."? OR, in the case of talking over the main talking points, as in just get to the point, Rick..."Will you shut up, man?!" Still resonates with me... "Final question...a simple yes ...

The vas deferens - a universe apart Between a vassal and vessel Venus malformations and Mars bars  Interplanetary comparisons between the sexes But what do you get Crossing Hamilton with Apollo? Vast interstellar exploration where man had not yet explored  AKA - if it weren’t for these female mathematicians who refused to stop at stereo typing, the space race wouldn’t have gotten off the ground. This just in...as in landing in my in box - -Margaret Hamiton (MIT mathematician whose work was instrumental in Apollo, lunar landings) has sadly left us, joining the ranks of another favorite of mine, that I grew to be in awe of, everyone I watched “Hidden Figures” (Margaret Johnson), and the likes of Gladys West (whose work was instrumental in getting us to where we want to go, even if men won't stop...for directions, whose work was instrumental to bringing us the GPS system). Each coming out smiling and humble, right up to the end.  So much for "women can't learn or learn to li...

A “Where You When” day has come and gone… Student count day... Parisian style..."another snow day, as students' strikes snowball across the nation" Red carpet rollout...  “I’ll be there as soon as the paparazzi is finished with me…”  Student holdout... As overheard in the teacher's lounge "Guess all those lectures about it's about time to strike out on your own, finally took hold".  Pssst! They say that showing up is 90% of the job, which is what your school will get marked down if you miss today...the first of two count days, with the first being more heavily weighted in the school funding formula 😳.

A call out for good governess, gentry-fication To the brat boys… “the case at hand notwithstanding, I’ll not hear any more of this…spit and polish time…" Time to tap the newest app,  "Super Nanny!" who is more than qualified to get these (Greek) houses in order…and across the way... Tri Delts... whose sorority sisters and sorties* would try the patience of most nannies, whose refinement may instead call for the French version...Au pair (usually a young lady who moves in with the host family, whose resume' usually reflects "lady like" character traits) *strategically defined as "an attack from a position of defense" (whereas a governess - - in the tradition of the UK, almost always a woman, who tutors and otherwise teaches children, until they are deemed ready... as in "hey gents, watch these tutorials prior to entertaining guests" 😒) (Gotta go old school if going back to Greek times)

Thermos Stat !  Retro-fitted:  As things get cooler it only makes cents to turn it down, in order to save. While temp is the order of the day, which is now in most houses auto controlled,  what we’re talking about here is Yeti another rediscovery of a brand that preceded Stanley’s steamers (the ones that not only keep things steaming hot but incorporated the technology of vacuum sealing and steel to replace glass insulation), which took them about eleven years after the Thermos brand was branded, which in turn was a result of earlier technology called "cryogenics" and assiduous effort from Sir James Dewar — both getting rebranded as something really 🆒 by those who are still too young to remember, who now act as if they have something "brand spanking new" in their hands. Of course, that was way before the brothers Roy and Ryan, got frustrated with stuff spoiling in the Texas heat, came out with what has become known as a "premium outdoor brand" of coolers,...

Gee whizzed! Pretty much... what I got from the half shaven, but traditionally clean talking coach ("I'm still trying to figure it out..."), while across the way (one state over where our state was being poorly repped), the clean-shaven one came clean with some more straightforward sports lingo ("...got our asses kicked!"). While "Gee Whiz" started as a minced oath, it is now considered as out-of-fashion, as in old school approach to situations that came as a surprise..."designed to arouse...use of clever...or sensational language..." Then came the combo word "Whizzbang" which collapsed experiences that are "conspicuous for noise...speed, and otherwise startling effects" (such as when the whole team collapsed under pressure) - - But now imagine the press conference when the coach is pressed to explain the poor outcome..."Oh Geez, the time has just whizzed by, time to go!"  Word play whizzardly. 

STAT ! Consensual validation  Stricter Definition - that we learned as grad students, in clinical psych that, a required course, that many aspiring social scientists would just as soon dispense with - included, when applied to personality assessment, for example, "a cross -observer agreement (where multiple people observe the same behavioral traits in an individual)..." which pales in comparison to more scientifically derived statistical models of validity, where we quickly learned, that one cannot have a truly valid assessment "sans" (French for "without") or, to put it in Latin terms (that we put in papers to boost credibility🧐), reliability was an "sine qua non" which, we eventually understood to be "an absolute must...a minimum condition for moving on...". Especially when approaching our doctoral committee for approval of the study we proposed to launch, and then eventually "defend" - - let alone when my professor-cum-me...

" Four Square and..."  Which gave way to five sides... With each being equal in length... and the angles being held constant (108 degrees😓) which pretty much sized up the Pentagon. So said the tour guide…”We are now entering the secular section where the church and state have a degree of separation”…separate and apart from what the departmental secretary decided to section off as "Office of Religios Affairs" which answers to on one but the Top Dog... Damage Control... It's well known that the Pentagon suffered severe damage on 9/11, and that the first Amendment guarantees that one is free to shoot, one's mouth off, to the point of looking and sounding like "nobody's fool". But here we have, in the form of one person, who has probably managed to damage at least the area of the Pentagon that covers intelligence...and probably has finally crossed the sometimes-blurry line between Church and Statehood. Which is the other part of the Amendment and...

Run on sentences  "It's what I ran on..."  and what you are now, sentenced to sit and listen to...  Said with great conviction... on behalf of our/his relationship with China   "We've never gotten along.........better" Easy for him to say, given his multiple convictions.   An also ran... that was run out, and then ran right back up, the Capitol steps... Keeping in step... no matter who was running in or out...came the eponymous troupe, initially made of  three Republican congressional staffers, eventually to be enjoined by some Demos, in order to maintain the illusion of balance...who sang and danced...more like quick stepping, and fast talking about everything happening in and around our US Capitol. Bringing out the best with "Lirty Dies" but any of them would be a most welcome departure from all the political commercials so to be running on every channel. The Capitol Steps, which had a great run, from 1981 to the ‘run up’ of 2020.