Jesus Christmas...

...APOLOGIES FOR THE LAYOUT BELOW (ALL THAT UNUSED SPACE AND HUGE GAPS) ..FORMATTING PROBLEMS WITH BLOGSPOT HAVE ARISEN AGAIN AND THIS LUDDITE IS CLUELESS AND HELPLESS.  HOPE TO SOLVE BY NEXT YEAR

Before I take to the skies and shuffle off to warmer climes where family festivities will fill the days and nights remaining before the Gregorian Calendar celebrates its 431st (assuming Pope Gregory XII gets first dibs on the credits) --I thought I might offer a shout out in honor of some other events and individuals that/who made their mark/entrance on one of the December 25ths according to our relatively new-fangled time logging ledger. 

                                                                                    1492  

Columbus' ship Santa Maria docks at Dominican Republic

1642 

 Isaac Newton, Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth, England, (d.1727)

1651
Massachusetts General Court ordered a fine (five shillings) for "observing any such day as Christmas"

1851 painting by Emanuel Leutze

1776 

  

George Washington and the Continental Army cross the Delaware River at night to attack Hessian forces serving Great Britain at Trenton, New Jersey, the next day.

Updated version by Mort Kuntsler.

Last year, New York Historical Society in Manhattan unveiled updated interpretation more in keeping with historical record showing  GW  aboard a flat-bottomed ferry big enough to carry cannons and horses. The new painting shows Washington holding onto a cannon, bracing himself against the fierce snowstorm that had swept in that night .

1818 1st known Christmas carol ("Silent Night, Holy Night") sung (Austria)   1821  Clara Barton, Oxford Mass, nurse/founder (American Red Cross), (d. 1912) "Economy, prudence, and a simple life are the sure masters of need, and will often accomplish that which, their opposites, with a fortune at hand, will fail to do."

"The very essence of instinct is
that it's followed independently of reason."

1832 - Charles Darwin celebrates Christmas in St Martin at Cape Receiver

1833 - Charles Darwin celebrates Christmas in Port Desire, Patagonia

1834 - Charles Darwin celebrates Christmas on Beagle at Tres Montes, Chile

1835 - Charles Darwins company celebrates Christmas in Pahia, New Zealand

1868 

Despite bitter opposition, President Andrew Johnson grants unconditional pardon to all persons involved in Southern rebellion (Civil War)

1886 

Kid Ory, American musician (d. 1973)                                                                                               

Soyer.  Not just depression era scenes. 

1899

Raphael Soyer, artist. (d. 1987)

1907

 Cab Calloway, Rochester, bandleader (d. 1994)

1908 Jack Johnson KO Tommy Burns and becomes 1st black heavyweight champ 1922 Lenin dictates his "Political Testament" 1939 -  Montgomery Ward introduces Rudolph the 9th reindeer 1984 New York Knick Bernard King scores 60 points

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.  HAPPY NEW YEAR.  SEE YOU IN '13

Today's post is dedicated to the memory of Martin Weinberg who...oh, wait a minute, he's not dead.

Sorry Marty, I know you're sorry too.  

Awhile back, the NY Times reported that:

"The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (due out in 2013, and known as DSM-5) has eliminated five of the 10 personality disorders that are listed in the current edition. "

And one of them is Narcissistic Personality Disorder.   Apparently, it's too prevalent.  Really? Does that mean prevalence begets normalcy?  Or acceptance?  Or tolerance?  If the argument is that  you can't call that which is the order of the day a disorder, then what happens when the topic at hand is racism, anti-semitism, sexism or out of control weapons of mass destruction (read: gun) ownership?  I don't get it, but maybe I need to learn more--besides, who am I to argue with the distinguished diagnosticians (who, I'm only guessing, include a few NPDisorderlies ) charged with the daunting task of compiling this comprehensive compendium of Kookiness?  

How many...free white males, free white females and slaves?

After some cursory exploration,  I've learned that  as recently as 1840 the national Census included a question under the heading “Idiocy/Insanity” in which one would provide a checkmark...? and/or brief summary of ....?which could be interpreted  as….?  for purposes of….?  Today the DSM has over 300 separate and distinct disorders.  The last DSM ran to 943 pages.  So on balance, it seems we’ve come a long way in the un-balanced business.  But maybe, not far enough.   

I submit that the following should be considered for immediate inclusion.

Preparkwaydysplasia: A fear or anxiety arising from the feeling before you even leave the house that you are going to forget something and not remember it until you're very, very far away.  

Subset: Among those with flaky families and round the bend relatives with whom there is repressed and residual guilt/resentment concerning early childhood memories of abandonment, the condition may  be accompanied by the more severe : Dissociative Homealonia.

Automagicalism: Marked by the chronic belief that things (all things) will take care of themselves.  Marked by severe anxiety, discomfort, or impatience when, for example-- the attaching of an e-mail attachment requires the attaching of the attachment, or a pickle jar resists opening.    Can be treated by repeated  practice at acquiring necessary skills, but most effective short term solution is a spanking. 

Polymorefuss Paranoia: Condition marked by fear of being overcome by a multitude of minor annoyances.  Often most pronounced in high stress situations such as when:  person other than oneself  is speaking; person other than oneself  is stirring the soup;  person other than oneself is replacing the toilet paper (the wrong way--again!), person other than oneself is choosing to be with person other than oneself etc…

Brewhahania:  A paralyzing and debilitating condition brought on by the belief  that everyone is laughing at the coffee you make. In some cases the condition can be promptly treated by switching to the making of Tea. However, in some rare cases this has brought on symptoms of the related disorder: Teaheeheedia.  

Schizophonic Technophobia: Confusion, despair, sense of hopelessness brought on by too many options, features, buttons, icons, apps and other elements related to the use of cell phone technology. Successful treatments include spending 12-16 hours a day in movie theaters (with phone in off mode), or hiring an under 30 year old full time personal assistant. 

D.R.R. or Digital Retail Retardation.  An online shopping related condition marked by inability to ignore, avoid, or exit online retail websites until one has proceeded to checkout with at least enough items to qualify for free shipping.   

Omigodaphobia:  Sufferers of this disorder become impatient and sometimes openly antagonistic when in the presence of those who use the expression "Oh my God" (or "Omigod" ) frequently, inappropriately or both. In cases when the expression is used to describe something  totally devoid of any qualities that could even warrant the thought of  invoking an all powerful deity, some sufferers are known become physically ill. 

Petroprojectism. Marked by inclination to project upon a household pet one's own personality with shared world-view. Also strong tendency toward frequent worry about  the pet's emotional well-being and physical comfort -- as well as the posing of questions to the pets regarding their personal preferences and opinions.  In extreme cases -- condition may even manifest itself in a concern that pet is experiencing ambivalence about what to wear to the party on Friday.  

Compensatory Petroprojectism:  Specific subsidiary disorder related to the above.  High incidence among empty nest parents who regard their pets as replacement progeny, and find the total lack of verbal responses to questions posed to the pet  provides nostalgic reminder of what they had previously been able to elicit from their children. 

Lactomangulation Disorder:  A tendency and sometimes chronic need to channel violent impulses and repressed anger into the process of  aggressively opening a container of milk whereupon the entire spout is rendered useless due to severe shredding, bending or perforations resulting in leakage. 

Pseudo Polymathic Blogomania: Often found  among those with both access to the Internet and multiple opportunities to shirk more pressing responsibilities.  Afflicts the easily bored, compulsively curious and chronically preoccupied with multi-disciplinary molehills out of which the sufferer fells compelled to construct mountains of musings on such things as imaginary personality disorders. 

Tis the week before Christmas, and the city is hopping

The tourists are touring, the shoppers are shopping

The lights at Rock Center are showering white 

on the skaters below gliding round in the night

A Department store Santa tossing stuff from a bucket
beckons me over but I think "Ah, just fuck it"
If Jesus were here he'd most likely concur
If he walked by Saks 5th and saw all of that fur

And I'd say "Hey JC, betcha couldn't foresee
that you'd be the excuse to kill an 80 foot tree
Now get back on the curb, or you'll land on your Keister
those cabbies don't care if you don't make it to Easter" 

 But hey it's all good, we got plenty and freedom
Those sins that you died for? Forget em, don't need em.
The M&M store is three stories tall
and the Kingdom of Disney makes yours look-- well, small.

On the subways the doors can scarcely close shut

riders packed nose to nose, cheek to cheek, butt to butt

In Times Square they're dueling it out on the street

 Cars,Taxis and Buses versus millions of feet

Obama condom vendors and hawkers of Hats

that say Lion King, Phantom, Mama Mia and Cats

On the corners the food trucks line up--take your pick 

Wanna Taco? Falafel?  Grilled pig on a stick?

High above in the towering office you'll see

 some TV land worker bees who look just like me

From above we look down on the circus below

if the windows could open we'd all shout hello

'Cause despite all the excess, the crowds and the noise

there is something about it that reflects back the joys

of the spirit and heart that go hand in glove 

that for most (though not all) is really 'bout love.

HEY SUSAN L.*  THIS IS FOR YOU. 

HOMONYMS  sound alike but have different meanings. 

HOMOPHONES  also soundalike with different meanings, but have different spellings.

HOMOGRAPHS are words that are spelled the same but have different meanings. 

HETERONYMS are a type of homograph that are also spelled the same and have different meanings, but sound different.

WORDS THAT BOTH SOUND THE SAME AND ARE SPELLED THE SAME are both homonyms (same sound) and homographs (same spelling). Example: lie (untruth) and lie (prone); fair (county fair), fair (reasonable).

SUMMARY CHART

HOMONYM WORDS SOUND	HOMOPHONE WORDS type of homonym
same sound	same sound
same OR different spelling	different spelling
fair (county fair)   fair (reasonable)   pear (fruit)   pair (couple)	pear (fruit)   pair (couple)

HOMOGRAPH WORDS SPELLING	HETERONYM WORDS type of homograph
same OR different sound	different sound
same spelling	same spelling
lie (untruth)   lie (lie down)   tear (in the eye)   tear (rip)	tear (in the eye)   tear (rip)

Source:  http://www.magickeys.com/books/riddles/words.html

* Susan:  Go here for Homographs aplenty:   http://www.opundo.com/homographs.htm

Can't quite move on yet, as the tragedy lingers in the mind and feels to me no less heartbreaking than the events of 9/11.  And in some ways this one seems worse because it cannot be explained or better understood through mitigating arguments about religion, history or politics. It can only be explained as an act of evil by the deranged made possible through the negligence of the deluded.  

 I'm hoping this will be the catalyst for meaningful action and reform.  And also feeling hopeful that Obama will take advantage of the benefits of a second term to aggressively push through long overdue legislation with strict enforcement requirements. 

That's all I'll say and hope I can resist saying more in coming days --since the few readers I have need another online opinion site like FOX NEWS needs another Tea Partying Pundit--

So, time to get back in the swing of the sophomoric silliness that, for me at least, provides some momentary relief from the un-abating grief. 

A.D.D. Entertainment 

In Association with Andy Warhol Productions

Proudly Presents

 Nine15 Second Plays 

(in search of an offer)
by A. Drifter

(Consulting room at Berggasse 19,  Vienna)

Sigmund F.: Our suffering stems from the fact that we are ruled by our unconscious and we cannot be conscious of the unconscious all the time.

Carl J.: So, other than trying to be conscious of the fact that we are ruled by an unconscious that we cannot be always conscious of--what more can we do? 

Sigmund F: Sorry, your time is up.

(Offices: Globe Theatre, Stratford on Avon)
Producer: This Hamlet guy, what's his problem?

Will: He's conflicted

Producer: Whaddya mean?

Will: He can't make up his mind.

Producer: And then what?

Will: He dies.

Producer:  That's the plot?

Will: I can put in a ghost...
Producer: I dunno...
Will: A poisoning...
Producer: Hmm...
Will: And sword fighting at the end!

Producer: I'll call you.

(Livadia Palace near Yalta, Crimea)

Franklin:  Joe wants Poland.

Joe: I want Poland.

Franklin: Okay with you Winston?

Winston: I don't trust Joe.

Franklin: Me neither, but we gotta give him something. 

Joe: I want Poland!

Franklin: Ah c'mon, Winston, it's just Poland.

Joe: I want Poland!!

Winston: Alright. But just Poland Joe.

Joe: Yes. Just Poland. 

(Breakfast nook, Graceland, Memphis Tennessee)
Bob: Dig this new chord.

Bruce: Wow. What is that?

Bob: It's got a D and a B and-- what's this one?

Bruce: I don't know.

Bob: It's a phantom note.

Bruce: A mystery note, a shadow note.

Bob: Like me, it is unknown and unknowable.

Elvis: Can one of you geniuses pass me the peanut butter.

(Locker-room, Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta Georgia)
Tiger: Phony

Phil: Adulterer

Tiger: Bogey Face

Phil: Choker

Tiger: Man-boobs

Phil: Has been

Tiger: Never was

Phil: Whoa, here comes the press...

Tiger: Nice seein ya buddy.

Phil:  Same here. Good Luck. 

(Lincoln Bedroom, White House, Washington DC)
John: I got a hot date tonite, if Jackie asks, I was with you.

Teddy: Me too, if Joan asks.

Bobby: Same here if Ethel asks.

John: What if mom asks?

Bobby: Tell her we went sailing. 

Teddy: And what if Dad asks?

John:  Oh, just tell him the truth.

(Two characters bathed in white spotlights on opposite sides of a bare stage)

Lee Harvey: Why'd you do it?
John Wilkes: Pride

Lee Harvey: Whose pride?

John Wilkes:  Southern Pride

Lee Harvey: Was it worth it?

John Wilkes:  Who knows.  Why'd you do it?

Lee Harvey:  I didn't.

(Library/Study in Monticello, Charlottesville VA)

Sally: What's that Tom?

Thomas: A Declaration.

Sally:  Of what?

Thomas:  Independence.

Sally: Who's?

Thomas: Ours. 

Sally: Independence from what?

Thomas: Tyranny, taxes, injustice, despotism, you name it.

Sally: Slavery?

Thomas: Well, I wouldn't go that far.

(On the Road to Nowhere. Heaven)
Issac: To every action there is an opposite and equal reaction.
Galileo:  Try telling that to the Pope
Issac:  Force is mass times acceleration.
Galileo: Ever hear of  The Inquisition?
Issac: A body at rest tends to stay at rest.
Galileo: Four words buddy, keep it to yourself.

 SignOn.org is posting a petition to The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Barack Obama which reads in part:

"Our second amendment rights are long overdue a reevaluation. How many more senseless and entirely PREVENTABLE shootings have to occur before we do something about Gun Control.

As a citizen and constituent of this great country, I am asking that you take a firm stand and make a positive change by restricting access to guns and saving lives.

You can read more at link below and add your signature. 

http://signon.org/sign/gun-control-now

Thanks!

As of this writing they have 297,563 signatures.  They need to reach 300,000. 

THANK YOU TEDDY VEGAS http://www.randomactsofcommentary.com/

FOR PASSING THIS ALONG .  

We've all probably heard and seen enough by now, but if you're still searching around for related reading, here's a few I looked at on this mournful Monday:

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/08/02/did-gun-control-work-in-australia/

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-lakoff/the-price-of-our-freedom_b_2314658.html

Following sent to me by good buddy Steve L.  Don't know who Patty Meyers is other than a concerned and informed citizen, but we could use more like her in the halls of Congress. 

Alan Simpson, Senator from Wyoming , Co-Chair of Obama's deficit commission, calls senior citizens the Greediest Generation as he compared "Social Security" to a Milk Cow with 310 million teats.

Here's a response in a letter from PATTY MYERS in Montana ... I think she is a little ticked off! She also tells it like it is! 

"Hey Alan, let's get a few things straight..

1. As a career politician, you have been on the public dole for FIFTY YEARS.

2. I have been paying Social Security taxes for 48 YEARS (since I was 15 years old. I am now 63).

3 My Social Security payments, and those of millions of other Americans, were safely tucked away in an interest bearing account for decades until you political pukes decided to raid the account and give OUR money to a bunch of zero ambition losers in return for votes, thus bankrupting the system and turning Social Security into a Ponzi scheme that would have made Bernie Madoff proud..

4. Recently, just like Lucy & Charlie Brown, you and your ilk pulled the proverbial football away from millions of American seniors nearing retirement and moved the goalposts for full retirement from age 65 to age 67. NOW, you and your shill commission is proposing to move the goalposts YET AGAIN.

5. I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying into Medicare from Day One, and now you morons propose to change the rules of the game. Why? Because you idiots mismanaged other parts of the economy to such an extent that you need to steal money from Medicare to pay the bills.

6. I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying income taxes our entire lives, and now you propose to increase our taxes yet again. Why? Because you incompetent bastards spent our money so profligately that you just kept on spending even after you ran out of money. Now, you come to the American taxpayers and say you need more to pay off YOUR debt.
To add insult to injury, you label us "greedy" for calling "bullshit" on your incompetence. Well, Captain Bullshit, I have a few questions for YOU.

1. How much money have you earned from the American taxpayers during your pathetic 50-year political career?

2. At what age did you retire from your pathetic political career, and how much are you receiving in annual retirement benefits from the American taxpayers?

3. How much do you pay for YOUR government provided health insurance?

4. What cuts in YOUR retirement and healthcare benefits are you proposing in your disgusting deficit reduction proposal, or, as usual, have you exempted yourself and your political cronies?

It is you, Captain Bullshit, and your political co-conspirators called Congress who are the"greedy" ones. It is you and your fellow nutcases who have bankrupted America and stolen the American dream from millions of loyal, patriotic taxpayers. And for what? Votes. That's right, sir. You and yours have bankrupted America for the sole purpose of advancing your pathetic political careers. You know it, we know it, and you know that we know it.

And you can take that to the bank, you miserable son of a bitch.