I’m back from vacation, and pumped up to illuminate the minds of my 2-3 viewers !     Had to share this photo I snapped last week outside a pub midday in Lynmouth, Devon, U.K.      Yeah, you’ve seen them, overpaid, lazy unionized public road workers eating at the trough of the working public, standing on the side of the road watching  one poor schmuck working in the hole on the ground.  Makes me proud to be a taxpayer.

In England, to heck with the formalities and the pretending.  After a long morning supervising and ruminating over their assigned shovel ready public works project, there’s nothing like a chilled frosty pint on the public dole.  Come on American public union dudes, get with it !                                          WHAT THE HECK !

Just back from vacation with my bride, and have to comment on the ease with which we were ushered thru U.S. Customs in Tampa.  Instead of the never-ending lines, concluding with the ever-present stupid re-entry questions (how long were you gone, what was the purpose of your trip, how many automatic weapons are you bringing back as souveneirs), we were met by plentiful automated machines that asked the normal questions, then a very brief encounter with a friendly customs agent who provided us with the day’s football scores.  All in all, about a 5-7 minute duration from start to finish of the process.  Someone at Customs got it right, providing the U.S. public with a bit of unique government efficiency.

The cynic could question whether the newly returned U.S. citizen – turned ISIS fighter will find it easier to return to the States, but that’s a discussion for another day.  For today, kudos to the government.        WHAT THE HECK !

Just when things couldn’t get any worse, when hope is all but lost, along come the Scots to rally the troops and restore confidence to the world order and the future of the planet.   Having seen  yesterday’s dramatic 55% to 45% repudiation of independence from the United Kingdom by a huge turnout of Scottish voters, I take back anything bad I may have ever said or thought about the Scots.  And with the voting age gerryrigged to capture impressionable voters down to the age of 16, I recant any and all rantings I may have ever made about teenagers.

Nationalism by a subgroup within a larger group can be a very productive belief or feeling (Welsh within UK, Texans within USA, Flanders within Belgium).   But when flamed by the easy allure of socialism, as prodded by First Minister Alex Salmond in Scotland, nationalism can produce a really dreadful outcome.   Kudos today to the Scots for rejecting the easy money, the easy promises of politicians offering goodies and free stuff to be paid for by someone else.  Think I’m headed out to buy a tartan skirt.                                                          WHAT THE HECK !

Trying to maintain a sense of humor now that I’m entering my 61st year, particularly about health.  I’ve always disliked hearing old people whine about their ailments and their drugs.   I personally have only experienced good luck and positive health surprises since that milestone birthday.  My back hurts pretty much all the time, so no one ever asks me to help them move into a new house/apartment any more.   Yes, I got shingles, but they were the kind that went on my roof.   And yes, I did have a bit of a heart attack a few years back, but fortunately I wasn’t playing charades when it happened.  All good stuff.                                     WHAT THE HECK !

Thank goodness for the Wall Street Journal, and for the handful of news organizations that actually cover the news fairly  today.  In ten days, the “Council of the Princeton University Community” will likely approve a faculty disciplinary policy denying due process to those accused of on-campus sexual shenanigans.  Essentially, allegations of sexual offenses will no longer require “clear and persuasive evidence” to be proven.  I can only guess the future impact of such a “conviction” on the falsely accused.  Defendants would have no right to confront their accuser, and would be permitted legal counsel that could confer with the accused but  not to speak or advocate at the proceedings.

No civilized human being tolerates sexual bullying, sexual innuendos, or any form of sexual abuse.   Gentlemen know where to draw a line.  But in our overly politically correct society, we tend to go overboard to correct an issue.  Such is the case here.   Princeton University is shirking its responsibility to protect all its students while away from their homes.

Odd that a Proglibocrat institution such as Princeton, so intent in its curriculum in promoting equal rights and equal opportunity and equal incomes and equal almost everything, would obviate its obligation to protect everyone’s rights.   Just confirms to me that I wouldn’t send a child to any Ivy League school except Penn, which at least with its highly regarded business school, turns out some graduates with usable skills.         WHAT THE HECK !

On the eve of the historical vote for independence in Scotland, I am astounded that the vote is actually up for grabs and in doubt.   Yeah,  I get the allure of the bagpipes and the air conditioned kilts and the cool Irish Spring soap, but WHAT THE HECK is wrong with these people ?  What has  polluted their drinking water ?

Prior to 1707, when Scotland entered into a political union with England to create the single Kingdom of Great Britain, seems like it was all rough sledding for this beautiful region occupying the northern half of the isle of England.   What I recall from my extensive research into Scottish history are famine, assorted plagues, constant  invasions from Ireland, the Romans and the Vikings, religious intolerance and cruelty, feudalism (slavery), and such outrageous barbaric general behavior that required the Romans to build Hadrian’s Wall in A.D. 90ish to keep the Scots “in”.   It took the coronation of Mel Gibson in 1995’s Braveheart to put a somewhat civilized face on the olden days Scottish culture in general.

Since its inclusion into the United Kingdom, it seems that it has been all clear sailing for the Scots.    By the 1740s, French Enlightenment writer Voltaire mused, “we look to Scotland for all our ideas of civilization.”  Under the wing of England, Scots earned the reputation of reserved politeness, honesty, forthrightness, boldness and strong spirituality.   Bolstered by the 19th century Industrial Revolution, Scots became regarded as particularly hard-working, practical, and careful with their money (some would say cheap).  Deodorant was introduced I believe in the late 1970s.

So why go back to the olden times.  A columnist in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal noted that “the 13th century wasn’t all that good”.   As usual, the Liberal humps for independence (Scottish National Party head, Alex Salmond,),  tout additional social spending and lots of free stuff upon independence. Everyone with half a brain today knows how that works (America).  So keep your kilts, play your annoying bagpipes, and just put up with the snooty Brits and their smelly tea,  and enjoy life.                           WHAT THE HECK !

Christina Burke of BelAir , Maryland, long time fan and season ticket holder of the fake Baltimore NFL team (should still be the Colts), said today while adorned in her  official purple Ray Rice jersey that she was still 100% supportive of her hero.  “I just don’t believe one action or mistake should define a person.”  And Sandra Mattocks of Essex, Maryland, another misguided season ticket holder, told ESPN today that Rice had been condemned and further punished only because of the public outcry that the video stirred. “I have a problem with that”, Ms. Bullocks proclaimed.  Duh !     I say that they’re eating too many crabs there in Charm City.    WHAT THE HECK !

“To begin withdrawing before our commanders tell us we are ready would be dangerous for Iraq, for the region, and for the United States. It would mean that we’d be risking mass killings on a horrific scale…..  It would mean we’d be increasing the probability that American troops would have to return at some later date to confront an enemy that is even more dangerous.”      George W. Bush  7/12/07

WHAT THE HECK !

I watched with interest this past week the nationwide demonstrations, orchestrated by the SEIU, in support of a $15 per hour “living wage” for fast food employees.  Attempting to be my normal flexible self, I grappled to find a rational argument in favor of, or against the idea.  Kept coming up with the phrase, “is there an argument for…….”, as a launching point for my eventual conclusion.

Is there room to argue whether the uniqueness and marketability of a professional baseball player warrants $10 million per year, as opposed to a more pedestrian salary in line with a doctor or a lawyer ?  Yes, I could argue both sides there.  And could I rationally argue that teachers deserve heftier compensation given their importance in our kids’ development, and then argue the next minute that they are wildly overpaid, since they only work nine months per year, benefit from all the little rugrats’ holidays and vacations, and after all, how hard is it to teach math to a gang of nine year olds ?     Yes, again both sides have merit.  Lastly, could I postulate that a big corporate chieftain deserves no more than 10-15 times the salary of the company’s lowest paid worker, and then concoct a perfectly rational, economically-based argument supporting multi-million dollar pay packages ?  Yep, I could.   In all these cases, and many more, there is merit for discussion from both sides of the table.

Now, let’s go to the case of the fast food worker making minimum wage, which for 50 hours per week at $8.25 per hour translates to about a $21,000 salary.  Can any of my readers put together a rational case for bumping that income to $39,000  ($15/$8.25 X $21,000) ?   I’ll print it if you put it forth.  What are these demonstrators thinking ?  They are just getting their arms twisted with wild promises by  the SEIU, which by the way I think expanded translates to “Sucking Union Dues From Everyone In a Uniform”.                               WHAT THE HECK !

Just returned from picking up my dog from Melanie’s Mutt Hutt, where she had her once-every-three-week cut and trim and blowdry.    Suddenly, I realized that I spend approximately three times as much on dog hair cutting than I invest in my own hair.   WHAT THE HECK !