Can the Country Actually Head in any Direction?

During the contentious midterm election here in Alaska, I received more pollster telephone calls than any human being should be expected to endure. Some days there would be 2 or 3 calls a day form various polling companies. Some of these polling agencies admitted their alliances to a political candidate or party--others did not. But even when they didn't want to say who was funding them, a dead giveaway was the question: "Do you feel the Country is headed in the right direction?" In other words, I can decode this to mean--"don't you just hate Obama?"

And if they mean: do you like what's happening in the country today? That too is a ridiculous question. At any given moment there are millions of conflicting ideas, opinions and attitudes that vary across every state, town, and household in the US. So is there even a common direction to begin with? I think not. Each political party feels the other yanks everyone in the wrong direction.
Why not just ask people for real examples of what is "wrong" about the country in their opinion?? (Before the biased folks asking this question get a chance to implant their well known sound bites : government over-reach, loss of freedom...blah, blah.)

The same people who have been trained to chant these phrases and misspell them on signs, would be the first to freak out if you really just "allowed" capitalism to happen. In other words, you would have a huge gap between rich and poor (goodbye middle class), economic decline and job loss before any economic improvements were seen. Deregulate everything and you have a country driven by people's darkest desires: greed, porn, fast food and flat screen TV's. Because that's all the people really want and that's what they will buy. Not to mention the splendor of no government over site so we have more contaminants in our products, pollution and other fun greed inspired consequences.
I personally don't like the direction of the country myself. But it has nothing to do with Obama. I feel if Obama had been allowed to let his elitist star shine--then the country would have had a chance to thrive..
I see a country that no longer has the attention span to read good books or listen to a symphony. Culture is quickly becoming a grunting super-bowl party or mass sex-tape viewing. People don't research facts, but listen only to annoying sound bites. They don't foster the arts or garden, they play silly little computer games on Facebook as if all adults have become 14 again. There is general apathy and disinterest for anything intellectual or cognitively challenging. Children no longer want to grow up to be astronauts and doctors, but rappers and basket ball stars.
And who do I blame for this "direction"? I can't say if it is democrat or republican, but instead of fearing a loss of freedom, I feel we have been given too much. Give the people free will and they will choose to be apathetic, unread, wanna be rock stars-- full of sugar and fat.

Alaska Canine Insanity

We really have a canine mental health issue going on in our household right now. It started with these weird power flickers two days ago. I guess they are called brown outs or whatever. But they freak my dog Dinga out like the end of the world is near.
Because the lights flash and the appliances click..to mention a few of the weird sights and sounds that happen with each flicker. And then Dinga just freaks out. She hides behind chairs, under desks, shakes and shivers by the door. Even walks into the bathroom with me--which is just strange and annoying.
Then we go to bed and the real fun starts (it has been 2 nights now). A few hours after we are asleep Dinga starts whining by the door--I take her out to pee. But she keeps whining, and then barking. Last night (after only sleeping for 2 hours the previous night) my husband gave up and slept on the couch with her next to him (as she is not allowed in the bedroom). This finally settled her as well as the Enya CD I put on. But in the meanwhile she started peeing blood clots.

Now I know most doggy lovers would run to the vet with this-and maybe we should. But as we have seen Dinga suffer from anxiety before, this too isn't surprising. She has actually on more than one occasion managed to give herself bloody diarrhea from anxiety alone (she keeps forcing herself to go). I am hoping that is what the blood pee is as well, because of the correlation with the panic attacks, and I noticed her most recent pee a few hours ago was just fine.

On top of this nonsense is the usual Alaska fun. The temperature rose 50 degrees in two days (did this freak the dog out as well?) From -10 to 40 degrees today. So my hubby is outside with the tractor, trying to move wet snow. But then he gets stuck and I go out and help push...And a moose trampled our little ice skating rink. But I guess I don't really want to trade these weird annoyances for a tamer life in the suburbs.

My Prediction for 2011 or Maybe 2021

I want to write something here about social networking. Granted, I am no expert about anything regarding technology nor do I engage in social networking. Nevertheless--that's exactly why I have a strong opinion about it--I don't see social networking as being very gainful.
I regularly receive these little "join Facebook emails" (regular email I do like) or "check my profile on Facebook".
Well the more I learn about Facebook the more I am disinterested in it.
Why do I find it discouraging?
A) People seem to use it only for their own cheap narcissistic gain, not to spread anything useful (unless you consider cyber bullying useful).
B) Why is the age of privacy over? Instead, everyone allows greedy marketing companies to track their individual likes and dislikes. Facebook has become a tool of "the man"as it encourages you (for free!) to advertise where you shop and which movies you like.
C) The age of gentile correspondence seems to be over. I can't get individuals to reply to emails anymore, because I "should" instead check their updates on Facebook. Like everyone is a rock star now without five minutes for a reply or phone call anymore?

So my prediction for Facebook is that the empire may just come crashing down. I saw that their stock is soaring currently--never a good thing. (remember that over-inflated real estate market?) The type of person who enjoys social networking also seems to be a bit fickle. They jump to the next new and terrific thing. Isn't everyone finally going to be sick of looking at other people's photos? I still can't get over all the photo Christmas cards I get now, and then everyone still checks each others pics on a weekly basis on top of that? I mean come on people.

The Wasilla Windbag Speaks

I know the taping of Sarah Palin's Alaska happened already over the summer, so her little "I feed my kids smores " comment to protest Michelle Obama's (horrid!) recommendations against childhood obesity are already way outdated.....But nevertheless, I need to comment.

This again is like the millionth example of why Sarah P. has absolutely no critical thinking skills. It is a fact that Palin lives in Wasilla--surrounded by a huge population of people struggling with obesity. As I know locals bump into her at the Wasilla Wal-Mart, she must be aware of this. She does not pretend to surround herself with the well-off or well-educated.

So in Sarah's brain the obesity epidemic looks something like this: "well these poor folks choose to eat lots of chips, cakes and soda, yet don't exercise. Bless them and their future health problems, because it is their choice as Americans, you betcha!".

Here's where her thinking stops. Just stops I tell you. She can't comprehend what's next. Does she think low income obese people just disappear? Or do they all have some kind of magical free-market health plans that take care of life-style related illnesses and pay for them?

Back to reality--I worked for two years in low income disability services in Wasilla Alaska. Sarah's precious town. Does she have any idea how many people in WASILLA apply for Social Security Disability payments due to lifestyle related illness? A conservative estimate would be about 1/2 of those applying for SSDI had lifestyle disability. Heart disease, Diabetes II, lung cancer. Not to mention the Medicare & Medicaid payments.

So in Sarah's world, the Government has no right to recommend what to eat--just pay the disability $$ later on? Oh no, that's right -the Tea Party feels we should slash SSDI payments and Medicaid, etc....Those non-constitutional entitlement programs. So the answer for Sarah is: (if you can swallow this) "Eat what you want precious child. Get diabetes and heart disease--then I will make sure your government never pays to care for you, ha, ha!"

So is she just dumb, or EVIL?

Does Sarah Palin Have the Guts?

Recently an article in the Atlantic about Ron Paul called him the "brain" behind the Tea Party. Assuming he's the brain, then Sarah Palin might be the mouth, the body or maybe just the legs?
Nevertheless, I have always thought Ron Paul isn't a complete dumb ass and I even approve of some of his ideas--but absolutely hate others.
Nevertheless, Ron is a big fan of the Austrian Economic school of thought--that the markets should be allowed to just fail and rebuild themselves. (As opposed to what Bush and Obama did with the government bailouts). Ron Paul's quote is: "Obama should have just stepped aside and let the economy fail".
I find that comment hysterical. So if Queen Sarah (and does she even GET this?) becomes president (if pigs fly)-- as the Tea Party candidate she will be expected to allow the US economy to fail!!???
Funny, funny stuff. First off, when she was McCain's wing-gal in 2008, she supported the bailouts (of course her supporters are too brain-fogged to remember this) secondly, the secret behind Sarah is that she loves to be popular. She is still in High School mode, always looking for approval and adoration....and she knows how to make a crowd happy.

Now imagine her being like: "Ok, now sit back folks and enjoy this! We are going to have a wild economic ride and some job losses here...." Actually increasing unemployment, and no one knows for sure if this will work well, and when we'll recover...but.....
Obama should actually dare her!!

Alaskans Are So Over Sarah Palin

Lisa Murkowski beating Palin's pick Joe Miller in the Alaska senate race states loud and clear: Sarah's voice means nothing in this state.
Face it: only 34% of people who voted in this election cared about the Palin endorsement. About 50% of the Alaskan population voted, so the end result is more like 17% of the state.
Reading message boards and listening to the people in the Great North you get a good sense where most Alaskans stand. They remember pre-fame Sarah and they know who she really is. The Sarah parading on the TV every day is foreign to them. A celebrity with a new dialect, fierce politics and obsessed with fame. In other words a big phony. Secondly, most Alaskans have never forgiven her for quitting her job as Governor -especially to pursue self serving financial interests.
I am guessing the reason Lower 48 folks are still impressed by her is the "Alaska thing" or just the pretty political face. But nobody in Alaska, is impressed by anyone else living in Alaska--so that's a strike against her. And maybe the pretty face is wearing off too. Just look at the latest silly "Facebook war" between the Palin's kids friends. The topic of the fight is that some teens in Alaska don't like the Palin-centric reality show! gasp!
That's the thing... Alaskans are over her, not fascinated at all. When will the lower 48 get it and get bored as well?

This Just in: Joe Miller Explodes

Update: 12:30Pm AKST.
Joe Miller was seen this morning at the Ted Stevens Anchorage airport. He had arrived in his usual manner, driving a large souped up Hummer, sporting an American flag and AK47. His mission appeared to be airport pick up of minions and lawyer goons. Scores of paranoid and vindictive Miller associates were expected to arrive any minute to help Joe with his fight against fellow Republican , Lisa Murkowski.
Due to wet snow and ice in the Anchorage area, the flight was delayed. Joe became visibly angry. As his face reddened he stomped around the airport screaming: "The Federal FAA needs to be dismantled-- It is our constitutional right to fly in bad weather."
In order to appease himself, Joe handcuffed a ticket agent to a chair- for being an enemy of the state. This quick fix didn't last, as the television monitors announced more write-in votes coming in amongst absentee ballots. The lamestream media was reporting they were most likely for Lisa Murkowski.
Joe began hyperventilating and barricaded himself behind the ticket counter screaming: "Those votes are all for Mickey Mouse, I will read every damn ballot myself and fight it!--stop with the conspiracy!" "Alaskans can't spell--they shouldn't even be allowed to vote ! repeal the 17th!"..............then KABOOM!
He simply imploded into 4000 little pieces. Right there in the terminal. Full story on the 10:00 news.