1. Stinkies
Our Representative, Roscoe Bartlett (R:Maryland), has managed to garner a grant of money to try to find a way for farmers to rid themselves of the dreaded stinkbug. These odiferous rascals have been causing havoc with Maryland produce this year. They also killed my squash and cucumber plants.. and feasted on a lot of my tomatoes. I'm sure that the money that Roscoe has obtained will help our farmers. Great job, Roscoe!
For many years, Representative Bartlett has reigned this Republican enclave, in the midst of Democratic Maryland. I'm not sure about what he has done to be elected every two years for ages, but I guess it must have been of benefit to his constituents. My only knowledge about his activity in Congress has been listening to some of his one-minute Republican speeches at the beginning of Congressional Sessions.
I did try to contact him once to tell him I didn't agree with something he had said in Congress. Someone from his office wrote me that the Congressman was pleased to see that I agreed with him on the issue.. whatever it was that I can't remember. I guess they sent me a form of the "bedbug letter," hoping that I would give up and not contact him again. Well, it worked.
I kind of feel sorry for Representative Bartlett now because the Maryland Democrats are about to Gerrymander his district so that he would have powerful Democratic opposition in the next election.
2. Hey, Dude!
I've talked a number of times about the phrases that people use in everyday communication, and how some of them clang in my ears.. such as, "like" and "I mean, you know". There are other phrases and words that people use that can let others know when they were brought up, such as:
"23 skiddoo!" .. popular in the 1920's and early 1930's
"Katey, bar the door!" .. popular in the 1930's and 1940's (I have a friend who is in his '80's that still uses that phrase when he is excited by something....which isn't too often)
"Cool!" .. came into usage by musicians in the 1940's.. and resurfaced in the '60's.. and is used even today, mainly by people under 30. I have heard people in their 50's and 60's using this word and feel that they should let the younger folks use it.
"Dude!" .. Once again, used by musicians many years ago. I believe that it popped up into common usage in the 1970's. Besides it's usage by Michael Moore and other celebrities, it is very popular with folks under 30. (Recently, at the local hospital, Elaine was being transported by a 24 year old guy named Jordan. Every few feet, someone would yell at him: "Hey, Dude!")
Of course, I could be wrong about all of this.. but as a curmudgeon, I am allowed to comment on everything, even without doing appropriate research.
3. Alzheimers
The Week magazine mentions a new study by the Mayo Clinic that found it is possible to greatly reduce the chances of developing Alzheimers Disease by lifestyle choices.
a. Become more physically active.
b. Treat depression.
c. Stop smoking.
d. Exercise your brain.
4. Pretty Betty
Good news for us old timers: Betty White topped Kate Middleton and even Oprah to become the most trusted popular celebrity, according to a recent poll. At 89... she's still going strong. I'll bet she joins Bob Hope and George Burns in the Comedians' Centenary Club.
5. Dick's Book
As I've mentioned before, I'm reading Dick Cheney's book: In My Time. I'm over half way through and have spent a lot of sleep time with the book in my hands. BORING! But that is my opinion. I lived through all of the events and thought about all of the issues he has brought up. He tells us why he did some of the things he did.. and I still don't agree with him. However, from his words and his numerous pretty color pictures, he has always been a dedicated family man, when he wasn't working 20 hour days in the West Wing. He probably would be a nice guy to have a beer with. But frisk him first.
That's enough, my hour is up. See ya!
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