Let's see...it's been about a month since I've posted anything here, or anywhere else for that matter; but now, seeing as how all sorts of new exciting things have been happening, it's time to put my two cents where I probably shouldn't.
There are so many things, one has to wonder where to start, I mean there were the first hundred days of the Obama administration; there was that whole Twitter phenomenon; the Miss California brouhaha, and whether or not Charlie Crist was going to run for the Senate seat that is being vacated by Mel Martinez. Apparently Mel wants to spend more time with his family. Oh...and let us not forget the Padre Alberto story that has South Florida, particularly, the Miami area all verklempt over the idea that a good looking priest might be in love with a woman who seems to be an adult.
Anyways...I'm going to try address each of these and maybe some other stuff, let's see how it all plays out. So here goes, in no particular order of importance:
- The first hundred days thingie really seemed like an exercise in idiocy, this administration is so new that to try and extrapolate what it may or may not accomplish is like wondering where the relationship is going after the first unchaperoned date to Sunday ten o'clock mass. It makes absolutely no sense. Let's ask that question in January 2010; we may have a better idea then if the last election was the change we all hoped for. I believe that when all is said and done, we will have seen progress in a way that will fundamentally alter the sense of of who we are as a nation and where we need to be as a people.
- I do not watch beauty pageants and care very little for them, and by beauty pageants, I include the various and sundry versions of beauty pageants; Dancing with the Stars, Survivor, American Idol (I know I will probably catch hell for that one)...I don't care who won Iron Chef America or Japan for that matter, I don't give a hoot who was booted off what island or apprenticeship. Don't care who got chopped, diced or whatever else happens to contestants. I especially dislike any and all pageants that involve children. The idea that women must strive to meet some idealized version of beauty is anathema to me. I say this as the father and grandfather of one daughter and three granddaughters. The opinions of this young woman on same sex marriage are about as relevant as mine are on quantum physics, and about as informed. When a story like this dominates the news cycles it makes wonder if we have already dealt with important stuff, and nothing else needs to be done...Universal Health Care...check...Stable economy....check...Troops are home and receiving the plaudits and care they deserve...check.
- Twitter...What can you say about an application that really has no socially redeeming values, I mean really, are you that important that I need to know what you are doing in 140 characters or less...if it's that important and you need to talk to me...try calling. I realize that this a radical idea, but those numbers on your Blackberry, LG, iPhone are there so that you too can experience what Alexander Graham Bell must have felt...a voice at the other end. A couple of years ago, my eldest son says to me..."Dad...I want you to join Twitter so that I can keep you up to date as to my comings and goings...". I could not see the need then, and I sure don't see the need now. Really...how many more electronic leashes do we need?
- Charlie Crist is running for the Senate, Mel Martinez wants to spend more time with his family, I wonder just what is going on here. Crists' approval ratings here in Florida are through the roof, but if you drill down as to the 'why', one has to wonder. Other than hitching his wagon to the President's star, Crist does not have a gubernatorial record to speak of. The first budget that he will sign is full of draconian cuts that will affect many state employees, schools will face deeper cuts, tuition at state universities will increase and counties are facing shortfalls that will impact first responders. State employees who have not had a raise in approximately three years will now face a two percent cut in pay for those making more that 45k a year. That is one hell of a record to run on...the only possible silver lining to the gathering clouds is that Alex Sink may end up being the first female governor of Florida.
- El Padre Alberto: Ok...this one is new to me...I had a doctor's appointment on Monday...he's a great guy, second generation Cuban-American from La Republica de Miami...he decided to bring me up to date on all things Miami. Disclaimer: I love Miami...it's like being in a foreign country without having to pass through Customs...I love all the different cuisines you find there...Haitian, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Brazilian. Great food from Ecuador, Argentina, Guatemala, although I must that I like New York Knishes better than Miami or Miami Beach Knishes. Anyhoos...so this Padre Alberto Cutie, a forty something hunky Catholic priest who has some sort of following among young Catholics has done the unthinkable...he fell in love with a thirty something women who is a good looking as he is hunky, at least that's what my Mom says...Well. the diocese has not wasted any time in punishing this priest for this seeming heresy...they have apparently stripped him of his priestly duties and have taken him off the air. He hosted a call in show on Radio Paz in Miami dealing with everyday issues concerning the youth in Miami.
- The swift response to this heretical behavior stands in contrast to the horrific and laggardly approach the real scandal of pedophilia in the clergy, Catholic or otherwise. Let's make sure we understand this correctly...a good looking forty-something man is in love with a good looking thirty something woman...the horror!!!
- I end with this thought...Twitter sucks...we have solved all the other problems in the world so that we can now focus on a clueless beauty pageant contestants, Miami is safe now...now we can focus on the troubles of two people who seem to be in love...and Charlie Crist is going to run on his gubernatorial record...such as it is.
