Random thoughts while traveling halfway around the world
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Years ago, I wrote an occasional column called "Random Thoughts."
It was a stream of consciousness column that I had stolen from the great sports columnist Jimmy Cannon.
It had no real theme, was easy to write and people seemed to enjoy the short takes.
On Tuesday, my trio jetted off to points west to carry out the wishes of Gillian and have her ashes spread in Hawaii. It was a final gift to us.
It is the second year in a row we will be embarking on this task. Last year it was Gillian's sister Josephine.
So while we are traveling and recovering from our jet lag, I offer up some random thoughts from our week in New Orleans and around the world.
As the sun was setting on Black Friday, I noticed an extraordinary sunset from the living room of our place in downtown New Orleans.
I considered for a second that none of us take enough time to appreciate the beauty around us.
Happy holidays and thank you for reading.
Smoothie King?
The NBA game between the Toronto Raptors and the New Orleans Pelicans last week was a one-sided affair and we struggled to maintain our interest in the second half.
In the middle of the third quarter, we set out for the concession stand to get a smoothie. There was line and when we finally got to the cashier, he announced they had run out of smoothies.
The name of the arena was the Smoothie King Center.
Kind of ironic.
Elevator please
On Thanksgiving night, we set out for Yulman Stadium to watch No. 17 Tulane take on Memphis State.
My brother had hip replacement surgery several years ago and climbing stairs can be tough so I looked for an elevator to get him to our seats in the upper deck.
One person sent me one way, then another person sent me another way.
Finally, I approached a security guard to ask where the elevator was while at the same time another man who worked at the stadium interjected that the elevator was to our right.
The security guard said it was to our left.
The security guard seemed to take offense that the man had butted in on his directions and they exchanged words.
I thought there might be a fight.
The security guard finally turned to me and pointedly asked me, "Who did you ask for directions?"
"Hey, I just want to find an elevator," I said.
Finally, we retreated to look for other help where a kindly woman walked us to the elevator.
Chapman event
Dr. Stan Cianfarano, president of the Warren County Historical Society, and Teri Rogers, executive director of Warren County Historical Society, will present the program
"Dr. Joseph Warren: Namesake of our County" at the Chapman Museum on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.
They will present an overview of the life and historical significance of Dr. Joseph Warren, the patriot and founding father for whom Warren County, New York is named. The program will cover his childhood in Roxbury, Massachusetts; his career as a physician in Boston; his role as a propagandist and leader of the colonial rebellion against the British in the mid-18th century; his martyrdom at the Battle Bunker Hill; and the historical legacy of his life.
The program is free but requires registration by calling (518)793-2826.
An advanced country
While the United States can't seem to move forward on the assisted suicide issue, England did last week.
Parliament voted 330-275 to approve assisted suicide with these guidelines:
- Applicants have to be over 18.
- Diagnosed with a terminal illness and given no more than six months to live.
- Two doctors and a judge are required to give their approval.
- Fatal drugs have to be self-administered.
None of us want to think about such things until it is too late.
The state of New York needs to enact similar guidelines.
Keeping track
Here is an excellent suggestion if you want to improve your citizenship in the coming year.
Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo suggested Americans keep a scorecard of the country's economic numbers for things like inflation, unemployment and gross domestic product at the end of Biden's term and compare them to a year from now.
Marshall predicted Trump will claim credit for all Biden's redevelopment projects from the CHIPS act and the Inflation Reduction Act and this would one way to ensure credit goes to the right policies.
Common sense down under
While just one local school locally that has banned cell phone in schools, Australia has taken an enormous step forward by imposing a ban on social media for children under 16.
The bill passed both houses of Parliament last week with bipartisan support.
The New York Times reported "Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that it puts Australia at the vanguard of efforts to protect the mental health and well-being of children from detrimental effects of social media, such as online hate or bullying."
The law requires that social media companies could be fined up to $49.5 million Australian dollars for "systemic" failures. Neither underage users or their parents would face any punishment for violations.
Says it all
Substack writer Robert Hubbell summed up some of Donald Trump's recent cabinet appointments perfectly this past week:
"First, Trump's nominees are individually and collectively an insult to the American people, the Constitution, human decency, science and education, and the rule of law. On the whole, Trump's nominees have been unqualified, dangerous, and odious. Several have histories of sexual abuse—like the president-elect. They are anti-heroes in a time of crisis who have been chosen because they seek to undermine and destroy the Constitution they will take an oath to defend. Few imagined how bad Trump's nominees would be."
Then on Monday, the Poynter Institute's Tom Jones wrote this about the danger the appointment of Kash Patel as FBI director might have on journalists:
The Washington Post's Ruth Marcus wrote: “It’s important to understand that a new president picking the FBI director of his preference is not the norm — it is an aberration, and a dangerous one. Presidents are generally entitled to political appointees of their choosing, but the FBI director is supposed to be insulated from politics. That is one reason the director is appointed to a single 10-year term, spanning two administrations.”
CBS News’ Kaia Hubbard wrote that Patel “is a controversial figure even within Trump's world, and a former U.S. official described him as ‘by far the most dangerous pick’ Trump has made. ‘There is no there to him,’ the official told CBS News. ‘He'll literally do anything.’”
Hubbard added, “John Bolton, who served as national security adviser in Trump's first term and was Patel’s boss, compared the nomination to Joseph Stalin’s secret police chief. ‘Fortunately, the FBI is not’ Stalin's secret police.'"
Chilling words indeed.
Ken Tingley spent more than four decades working in small community newspapers in upstate New York. Since retirement in 2020 he has written three books and is currently adapting his second book "The Last American Newspaper" into a play. He currently lives in Queensbury, N.Y.
Hubbell's words about all the appintments capture Trumps needs for total loyalty and the danger of each unqualified appointment, especially Patel. I think Biden's decision to pardon his son was his clear sense of the vindictive "retribution" that Trump and Patel and Maga would inflict on Hunter. I thought of Bolton as very problematic...as I did of Dick Cheney.. Interesting how these "dangerous" people are now so much less dangerous than Trump's chosen ones.
Have a good journey to Hawaii---may it provide a space of peace, love, and beauty along with the sadness of deep loss of a loved one. Take care,.
Yes! Assisted Suicide needs to be legitimized in New York State. Now!