Kindle Sets Records

Amazon has reported that its Kindle (an electronic book reader) has become the most gifted item in their history.

For the first time ever, on Christmas Day, buyers purchased more Kindle books than physical books.

It appears, Sony's reader is going to end up a distant second. And Barnes and Noble's "Nook"? Many of the customers who actually wanted a "Nook" could not find one because of " availability" issues.

Is this the end of books as we know them? Confer November 23rd archived blog, "Kindle vs. 'Real' Books."

Over 30 Million Tennis Players

For the first time in over 20 years, tennis participation exceeded 30 million players. (USTA/ITA Survey). "With 30.1 million people hitting the courts, tennis participation grew 12 percent over 2008 and 25 percent since 2003." (RSI, January, 2010) Nearly 15 percent of those who identified themselves as tennis players, also consider themselves "regular players."

The reasons for this increase are probably quite varied, but one theory is: in a recession, tennis provides excellent physical activity in a competitive situation with a small financial investment. To participate, all one needs is a $3 can of balls, a tennis racquet which lasts for years and years, an opponent, a public (free) tennis court, and one can play every day the weather permits. Compared to golf, it's "no-brainer." By comparison, golf, even on a public course, is quite expensive-- not to mention the cost of equipment. In addition, a golfer must invest much more time, and in return receives much less in terms of physical exercise.

Women Religious Standing up to Vatican

According to the "National Catholic Reporter," many U.S. Catholic nuns are not answering the questions, or at least not all of the questions, being asked by the infamous Vatican study of U.S. women religious.

"Several women said canon lawyers told the women they were not required to answer all the questions. Religious, unlike bishops, priests and deacons, who make up the clergy, are not officially part of the church's hierarchical structure. According to this reasoning, women religious are responsible to their congregation leadership and to their constitutions."

One must wonder what motivates the Vatican. Why are they harassing the nuns who have dedicated their lives to following the gospels? The phrase, "control freaks," comes to mind.

And then to top it off, they are asking U.S. Catholics to pay millions of dollars to pay for this witch hunt.

Jennifer Brunner in Holiday Spirit

Although she is running for a U.S. Senate seat from Ohio, Jennifer Brunner, contacted her supporters by e-mail and suggested that instead of donating money to her campaign at this time of the year, we use that money to buy presents for family , relatives, or those in need.

A refreshing approach for a politician, but as I am learning, she is not the usual "politician."

Malodorous Gothic Cathedrals

This belongs under the category: what I learned while looking up something else.

Having grown up Catholic and serving as an altar boy for many years, I always wondered: why all the incense? I really disliked it and considered it a source of air pollution.

Now I understand why the Church used it. It seems that in the Middle Ages, personal hygiene was not a top priority, and when hundreds of people gathered in a church, the combined odors became a major distraction. Incense was the Church's answer.

I am not sure why the Church still uses it today. In fact, since perfume and cologne had a similar origin, why do we still use them today?

Mark Wagoner - Responsible Leadership

Representing one of Northwest Ohio's conservative districts, Mark Wagoner ( R., Ottawa Hills) demonstrated courage, integrity, and leadership by casting the deciding vote to delay an income-tax cut (4.2%) until 2011. This was necessary to avoid $851 million budget deficit. As Matt Szollosi (D., Oregon) said, "He was looking to do what was in the best interests of the state of Ohio and the students of our schools." During this "Great Recession" Governor Strickland has cut almost everything possible. It was either delay this tax cut or take the money from Ohio's school children. Mark and four other Republicans stood up to the plate and did the responsible thing.

Perhaps his remarks to his fellow Republicans will get their attention: "If we all were storming the beaches of Normandy right now, very few in our caucus would have gotten off the boat."

Lobbyists vs. Voters

A recent poll concludes that voters want a health care bill that includes a public option and a Medicare buy-in. 57% of Independents, 88% of Democrats, and 22% of Republicans favor that kind of bill. But the bill Americans are going to get from Congress does not include either option. Is it that the politicians do not care what the citizenry wants? Quite likely. It's not the will of the people, it is the will, and more importantly the MONEY, of the insurance/pharmaceutical industries and their lobbyists. All too often, when it's voters vs. lobbyists, it is the lobbyists who who carry the day.

I doubt that this what our Founding Fathers had in mind.

Susan Boyle

Susan Magdalane Boyle (1961-

Congratulations to Susan Boyle, a Scottish coal miner's

daughter! In November she released her CD,

"I Dreamed a Dream." In the first three weeks, it sold

over 1.8 million copies in the U.S, and will continue to

set records throughout the Christmas season.

Prior to appearing on "Britians Got Talent" last year,

her singing occurred either in church or in karaoke

pubs. Nine days after her appearance, her videos

were seen over 100 million times on the internet.

But wealth and fame have not turned Susan's head;

she still lives in the four-room family home in Balckburn.

When asked what she was going to buy herself, she

said she needed a new refrigerator and sofa.

Shame on Obama and the Dems

When the Republicans turned down a effort to allow Americans to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada and Western Europe, the Democrats, including Senator Obama, raised all kinds of hell. Now that Democrats control the Senate and the White House, such a proposal was turned down 51-48, nine short of the 60 votes needed. The Obama administration and various Democratic senators, are now opposed to it in in an effort to curry the favor of the Big Pharmaceutical Companies who control significant amounts of money going to key legislators. Are not the interests and needs of the citizenry more important than the Pharmacuetical/Insurance cabal?

It seems the President and the Democratic leaders in Congress are more interested in getting any health care bill passed than in passing a good health care bill. If it passes, it is going to, once again, benefit the health insurers and the pharmaceutical companies, and if there is any benefit for the uninsured public, that is coincidental. Perhaps, Howard Dean, the Democratic National Chairman, is correct; this bill has been "gutted" to the point that it is not worth the effort. It's time to start over and to forget about the insurance and pharmaceutical interests and a 60 % majority. Do it this time with a 50% and forget about Lieberman and Nelson. They like the whole Republican party are obstructionists and will try to prevent any meaningful reform.

Lieberman Makes Health Care Bill an Insurance Company Bill

Thanks to Joey Lieberman, the petulant child of the Senate, real health care reform is not going to happen. Now that he has been able to remove the "public option" and the early buy-in to Medicare, the Senate Health Care Bill is worthless. It requires individuals to purchase health insurance, but allows the health insurance monopoly to charge whatever they like for said insurance. Wow! What a deal! By law you have to buy our product; and since we are a monopoly, we will charge you whatever we like. No wonder the insurance companies like Joey. Contrary to what he said to get elected, he is now taking care of his contributors. And why do the Democrats allow him to chair a Senate committee?

Lieberman: A Spoiled Brat?

When Joey Lieberman was running for the Senate in 2006 against Ned Lamont, he said: "I can do more to make health care affordable and to get universal health care insurance than Ned Lamont." But in fact, we have learned, he doesn't want health care reform or universal health care insurance. Apparently, since he was campaigning in 2006, his handlers, the large insurance companies, have told him not to go there. And Joey has been doing everything he can to prevent a "public option."

In an effort to prevent the "public option" which would have been competition for his insurance buddies, Joey suggested a Medicare buy-in for people over the age of 55. Now that the Democrats are seriously considering such a proposal, he now announces that he will join a Republican filibuster of the health-care bill--albeit, he was the one who suggested it as an alternative to the public option.

Such a flip-flop in a few months time indicates a total lack of integrity. Obviously, he threw out the "Medicare buy-in" as a diversionary tactic, and now is revealing what he is all about--being a puppet of the insurance industry. Or is it that Joey just likes being the center of attention, and he wants the Democrats to kiss his posterior? In other words, he is acting like a spoiled brat.

Like all spoiled brats, he should be spanked and sent to his room without dinner!

Chad Johnson, Chad Ochocinco, Chad Hachi Go

Most wide receivers in the National Football League have a reputation for being "divas," but the wide receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson wants to be the "diva among divas." Even when the Bengals for years were known as the "Bungals," Chad developed a whole panoply of ways to attract media attention, whether it was an ostentatious celebration in the end zone, putting the football with the goal line marker, wearing a pretentious golden blazer on the side line, or offerring an official a one dollar "bribe." It was all about attracting attention to Chad.

Then, last year he generated a ton of publicity by changing his las name to "Ocho Cinco," but because he listed the name on official documents as "Ochocinco" (one word), the NFL insisted on it being listed that way on his jersey. (But that was cool with Chad because that discussion also generated media attention.)

This season (2009), he seems to have become a team player, perhaps because the team is doing well; but now in the beginning of December, Chad has announced that he is going to change his name again, this time to the Japanese for 85, "Hachi Go." (Dugout Sports Show) It seems that Chad was not receiving enough ink, and he needed something to get the press's attention. Why not another name change? Perhaps next year he can change to "The player Formerly known as Ochocinco." (That will require 2 lines on the Jersey, and he will be delighted to be the first NFL player to require 2 lines for his name.)

I must admit that some of Chad's antics are funny; but if I were one of his teammates, I would prefer that he was a "a little" less self-centered.

Tax Wall Street Bonuses

The arrogance of Wall Street institutions is beyond belief. They screw up big time and throw our country into the "Great Recession," which could have become another "Great Depression" had not the taxpayers bailed them out. And now at the end of the year, they want to give themselves huge bonuses whereas in fact they are fortunate to have jobs at all, let alone receive bonuses on top of their already-large salaries.

Since it is the government's money they are using, it is only just and appropriate that, if they give themselves these bonuses, the bonuses should be taxed as windfall profits, if not more. The poor grocery clerk who has the good fortune to buy a winning lottery ticket is taxed over and above her normal tax, the windfall profits tax, but these guys who have been bailed out by the government insist that they should not be taxed for these windfall bonuses they are giving themselves.

And the really disgusting aspect is that apparently neither the Obama administration nor the congress is willing to step up to the plate and require such a tax.

Meanwhile, Great Britain, in a similar situation, is quite willing to tax such arrogant behavior.

"Alistair Darling, the U.K.'s Chancellor of the Exchequer -- sort of like a Treasury Secretary, but with more pluck -- announced today that he will impose an immediate, one-time 50-percent tax on bonuses of more than 25,000 pounds (about $40,800). That's on top of regular income taxes." (Huffington Post)

If our financial institutions are not forced to play fair now, they will do as they please and run rough-shod over the interests of our democracy.

NFL Costs Too Much -- For Me

After reading that the average cost of attending an NFL game for a family of four was $412.64 and season ticket holders have to purchase personal seat licenses for $2000 or more, I intended to write that the cost of attending NFL games was excessive. But, since there are obviously many fans out there who are willing to pay that much, I have second thoughts.

I would not purchase a seat license just to have the opportunity to spend more money for season tickets to sit in the second or third tier and have to watch the large screen monitors to see what really happened on a particular play. I would rather sit in the comfort of my home and watch it on HD TV. I suspect there are many fans like me, but observing sell-out audiences, I realize that many are willing to spend big bucks to be a part of the crowd.

And, if that is how those people choose to spend their money, NFL tickets are worth the cost--at least for those fans.

What Is Happening To Our Country?

The boisterous radio personality, Rush Limbaugh, uses our country's radio frequencies to hope that the President of the US fails.

But then various "Christian" preachers have gone further; they have publicly prayed for the President's death.

The mayor of Arlington, TN, goes into a racist, anti-Muslim rant on his Facebook page because President Obama was addressing the nation about the war in Afganistan, thus preventing the mayor from seeing another repeat of the "Charlie Brown Christmas" program, and oddly enough, suggesting that somehow Charlie Brown is a real Christmas character.

Where is all of this hatred and racism coming from? How can Christians pray for the death of our president? Why do Americans fear the Muslim religion? What has happened to the vision of our Founding Fathers?

Tiger's Woes Are His, Not Ours

We as a nation, at least based on the press attention surrounding Tiger Woods, appear to enjoy watching the rich and famous fall from grace. The married father of two appears to have had an affair with two women (a third one identified in the press denies such a relationship), and was beaten about his ears by his wife, Elin, with a golf club.

Tiger has admitted his "transgressions" and is seeking atonement for his "personal sins." But apparently that is not enough for the press. They want him to hang his personal dirty laundry out on the line in explicit detail. They want to ask him and his family embarrassing questions in front of TV cameras. They want TV footage for their evening news programs because they think the public loves to see the rich and famous fall, and fall hard.

But the bottom line is that it is none of our business. Tiger Woods and his family have always cherished their privacy. Their 155 foot yacht is named "Privacy." On the other hand, when it comes to golf, Tiger is more than willing to share with the public and the press, but he has always insisted on his family's privacy. He has never been like other celebrities or politicians who are eager to parade their families and their private lives onto the big stage. When he is on the big stage in golf tournaments, he belongs to us, but only as a golfer. If he screws up his private life, that is of his own making, and not any of our business.

Although the temptation is to "set the record straight," I hope Tiger and his family resist that temptation and continue to protect their privacy.

Cheney: Still in Denial

Have you noticed that Dick Cheney can't bring himself to use the phrase, "President Obama"? In fact, his usual reference, as in his most recent tirade, is to "that guy." Apparently, he still has not come to terms with the resounding results of the 2008 election.