Ravens' View

Okay, maybe the R.E.M tune isn't called for yet, but we're getting there bit by bit. Sort like the story of the frog in the pot of water, that doesn't notice the temperature gradually rising until it's too late. 

I watched the SOTU last night - AKA the State of the Union. It was a fantastic extravaganza, a reality TV show hosted by a master showman, a campaign rally targeting his base and anyone else with a preference for bumper sticker style politics. I was expecting at one point all the Republicans would be told to bend over and look under their seats for a prize. Unfortunately, they'd only see their own asses, which is where all too many of them have inserted their heads. I did appreciate that Nancy Pelosi followed up his theatrical bombast with a small gesture of her own - she tore up his speech. 

I'm getting tired of The Facebook. Yes, it is a good way to stay connected with people and discover interesting things.  And share them. However, the vast majority of people don't give you back more than a like or a handful of emojis. And of course, none of your data is safe, all your info, as well as anything you post, is sifted through and sold. Or lost in yet another data breach. Not that a personal blog is private of course. Today I won't bother posting there, I'll just keep my own list here of "stuff", including a bit of a catch up on me. 

(Edit - I may do more of these, so subscribe if you want. And feel free to comment or email me.)

Interesting NY article following the firing of Bill O'Reilly

"In 1998, Bill O’Reilly published his first and, so far, only novel: “Those Who Trespass: A Novel of Television and Murder.” The main character is a violently bitter journalist named Shannon Michaels, who, after being pushed out of two high-profile positions, takes revenge on four of his former colleagues by murdering them one by one."

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way . . . "
Chuck Dickens - A Tale of Two Cities