ScatterShooting: Random Thoughts This Week (25 Nov.)

RANDOM THOUGHTS THIS WEEK (25 NOV.)

(1) The best thing I watched all week was the CNN-produced “The Hunt for Planet B,” which debuted last weekend and is now airing in repeats. Please, seek this show out, it’s both informative and touching. Best part of the show (without giving too much away) is humanizing the scientists as real people who have their own problems and troubles but still strive in search of great discoveries. Sarah Seager’s story is incredible. There’s a wonderfully inspiring surprise ending to this show mostly about science — so be sure and watch all the way until the end. I came away from watching this program feeling smarter, happier, and more optimistic. How many shows can you say that about nowadays? My highest recommendation.

(2) Upon my return to Facebook from a self-imposed sabbatical, it took just 36 hours for me to get suspended for a TOS violation, Someone reported me for “foul language” …. which is sorta’ like giving out speeding tickets and the Indianapolis 500. So, that’s why I’ve been gone for the past 7 days, in case anyone noticed. O/U on my next suspension? One week?

(3) The redneck bad-ole-boy killers of Ahmaud Arbery were each found guilty, with some minor exceptions (not guilty) skewed amongst the bloody feast of felony charges. To those crowing, “the system worked!,” and “justice prevailed!,” think again. No, the system did NOT fucking work. Let’s remember these scumbags would NEVER NEVER NEVER have been indicted for ANY crimes were it not for three critical factors — the persistence of the family, the media, and (liberal) social activists. For those who constantly bitch that cases like this are “tried in the media,” you’re goddamned right they’re tried in the media. Thank goodness someone captured a video of the murder and the family’s attorney finally shared it with the media, long AFTER all other options were exhausted. Otherwise, the public would never have known about this case, there would have been no pressure to charge the killers with murder, and the neckbearded gun-gobbers would have skated free. Yes — be thankful the media is around to expose grotesque incompetence and corruption in these darkest corners because otherwise we never see it, or hear about it. Oh, and if you think this is an “isolated incident” of incompetence and misconduct, I have a Super Bowl ticket with the Chicago Bears team name printed on it to sell you. Cheap.

(4) This will surprise a few people but I thought William “Roddie” Bryan (he’s the dumbest-looking one with the really, REALLY bad haircut) deserved a lesser punishment than the two actual killers. From testimony and video, Bryan was inside the truck which was the pursuit vehicle and bears some responsibility in the case, but there wasn’t any evidence (I saw) that proved he fired any shots or encouraged the attack in any way. I understand the law states accomplices can also be charged with murder (such as charging the driver of a getaway car with murder if a bank robbery results in death), but I see vastly different degrees of guilt in this case. I hope Bryan gets a much lesser punishment than the other two. Even if he’s a dumb redneck, he necessarily doesn’t deserve to be tossed to the wolves.

(5) I’ve got an incredible PLUMBER STORY to share that will top anything you’ve ever heard. All homeowners have “contractor nightmare” stories, but this one is truly epic. I’ll tell this story when I have more time in the next few days. This plumber deserves his own column. It happened on Monday. Trust me, you won’t want to miss this.

(6) I admit to being totally perplexed about the COVID situation in Germany. Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke of “a very sad day” as her country surpassed 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Germany is the fifth country to pass that nefarious mark — after Russia, the United Kingdom, Italy and France. The long-time German leader, who is currently in office as a caretaker until her successor is sworn in, warned that hundreds of more deaths are likely on the horizon. Germany shows that even developed countries with well-managed vaccine efforts are still vulnerable. We’re not out of the woods, yet.

(7) Did anyone notice that people ut up their Christmas decorations much earlier this year? At least, that’s what I’ve seen here in The Lakes. The tradition was, Marieta had me outside stringing up lights the weekend AFTER Thanksgiving. This year, I did it the week BEFORE Thanksgiving and by that time three other houses on the block were already decorated. Maybe next year, I’ll have to put the Santa decorations out at Halloween.

(8) If it’s Thanksgiving, that means open thing — the floodgates of a mass shopping frenzy. Indeed, Black Friday is the unscrupulous grand design of the evil axis that exists between bankers, retailers, and the advertising-fueled media to guarantee the working class stays in hock up to their eyeballs. The most blatant example of this comes every year at this time when Lexus cars runs a series of grotesque fantasy commercials on television. The ads typically show some upscale suburban twentysomething giving the husband or wife a brand new $95,000 Lexus for Christmas. Meanwhile, the rest of us who bought our loved ones the spice rack on sale at J.C. Penney are made to feel like total shit. Black Friday is the antithesis of everything supposedly meaningful about the holiday season.

(9) On Friday, I’m working the Wynn Golf matchup between Koepka and DeChambeau. I’ll be out on the course, thanks for Bill Chen — yes, THAT Bill Chen. Not sure how much I can share about why I’m involved but this should be an interesting match given the rivalry between these two. The match airs live on NBC on Friday.

(10) Next week, I’ll be in New York City. Part of my plan is to walk on the field at the home of the NY Jets and NY Giants. I have a sorta’ “stadium fetish” — each time I get the chance I try to check off the football stadium, and if possible, walk on the field (done that at 20 NFL stadiums, and counting). The Meadowlands stadium is one NFL arena I’ve yet to visit. I promise to post pictures, and maybe video. If I can find a football, I’d like to try out as QB for the Jets. Second on my itinerary: At least one midnight dinner at Wo Hop. And seeing my dear friend and comrade, Mickey Goldfine. And at least one bakery in Little Italy. And….so much to do, so little time — much like living life itself.

‘Til next week,