Watchin' And Listenin'

Did you know that President James Garfield could write, ambidextrously, Greek and Latin at the same time? Did you know that millions of Americans have never heard of James Garfield? Well, I've heard of him but what you may not know is I can watch television and listen to the radio simultaneously. Today, I am doing just that; radio and television. There must be something in the top of the hour radio newscasts called, "filler" news. It'd be an item strategically placed in a story to lengthen it. I might have heard one today. A convict is being transferred to Lucasville prison tonight. This is the "Big House" in Ohio where executions take place and criminals(can't remember his name) are sent there a day ahead to get ready to meet their Maker. I don't recall the nature of his crime or when it occurred. The event might have happened twenty years ago; appeals usually take that long before drugs perform their magic. I don't remember the names of the victims, either. What I do know is that, for his last meal, he requested steak and shrimp. Doesn't it seem like every media announcement about an execution includes a mandatory listing of the menu? Steak seems to be a very popular menu item. Now, if I was forced to take the chemical called "adios" I might have to take this freebie to the ultimate. I'd select every high cost item from California's Rodeo Drive and then some. Not too many of these dudes have eaten cavier. "Go for it", I'd say. Do they restrict champagne? Dom Perignon 1964 would be a starter. After this, a fine dinner wine topped off with a very fancy foo-foo drink. Obama's favorite beef is Wagyu at $100 a pound. Why mess around with chicken fried steak when they could have the very best of the best. Better yet, but this time going in the opposite direction, wouldn't it be a laughaholic story if the convict ordered, for his very last meal, Jenny Craig?
I'm watching Obama give his zillionith speech on health care. Today he's in Strongsville, Ohio. (Excuse me. I need to 'mute' the TV). Every time the Big Guy speaks there are scads of people standing behind him. I wouldn't want to be one of those 'plants'. I see a youngish looking kid, maybe 18. I think he's playing with a Game Boy. He keeps looking right, then left. He appears to be saying, "how do I get out of here"? Someone else is mouthing, "Can you take me back to the casino? Sometimes, at Sunday Mass when it's overly crowded, I get up and give my seat to a woman. I stand, she sits. Mass, on average, lasts fifty minutes. If the homily goes longer than twenty minutes I can go to the bathroom and not even the priest would notice.These "Standers" are stuck for the duration. What are they given for being there: a Subway, MacDonalds, nuthin'? Bummer!****
The weather is in the news----big time---again. Do you know why? Because it's all about global warming and the current El Nino. Follow me on this. We're getting many stories at this time about massive rain storms and flooding. In a month, April and early May, specifically, we'll hear a bunch about tornadoes. Two months after, in July, the news will be about the massive heat waves. The key word used will be 'drought'. A couple of months later the talk will be about early frosts and possible crop damage. And finally, in winter of all months, we're going to get hit with monstrous snowstorms. Then, this cycle will repeat itself again and again for decades to come. To illustrate, we need only quote Herb Morrisson as he watched the Hindenburg of 1937 burn when he said, "Oh, the humanity".
TV and radio: what would I do without!
****The numbers are in; 200 people attended the health care speech. The rest of the population were out looking for jobs.