If the Castro brothers have their hands in everything in Cuba, taking control of most of the wealth on that island after the revolution, then one can see them never losing power. I heard some say, that relations with the U.S. will “infuse” the island with the spirit of democracy. We had relations with Cuba before Castro, and none of that spirit took hold. I think the Cuban people would love democracy, but Fidel will never let it take root. With renewed relations with the U.S., the Castro brothers will only grow wealthier and will pick successors to their seats of power. We will support those successors to maintain stability. The money will flow, the tourists will play, and everyone will be happy– as long as you did not have your heart set on a new democratic Cuba. Hopefully, the wealth entering the nation will flow down to the people. However, the Castro brothers, like Batista before them, will make certain the people get only the bare minimum. The U.S. supports only dictators in Cuba; democracy takes a backseat once again.

Who is still buying Madonna concert tickets? Why is an audience waiting to be disappointed by Madonna’s ridiculous tardiness and antics after her arrival? If she had reinvented herself, a new act with new vigor, one might be interested. Walking around the stage in the same old lingerie outfits with some vulgar outbursts as embellishment is tedious and painful to watch.  It wasn’t all that provocative twenty-five years ago. Sober or drunk, it does not matter; the whole act is a waste of time. She is not a star. Media hype keeps her afloat, but folks should stop buying tickets to her shows. Perhaps then , Madonna will come to her senses. The laughter is only growing louder.

I see now Donald Trump is a Nazi. A man who speaks ever too bluntly, Trump is still a man grounded in common sense. That is his appeal. As more and more people listen, his opponents are more worried than ever that this  outsider will be elected President. The left has resorted to demonstrators attacking Trump’s listeners. The German Nazi’s in the Thirties used that to great effect, silencing the whole dialogue through intimidation. Not many people will attend the next rally, if they were harassed, assaulted or injured at the last rally. The right has decided that Donald Trump does not reflect true American values.  He is un-American. Again, those German Nazis relished labeling who was a true patriot and who was a traitor.  Trump is moderate with a common sense backbone.  People love the simple beauty of common sense. Common sense tells you, that no one likes a Nazi.

 

I recently heard of a recommendation by some health professionals that a routine physical should include a “depression survey”. I can’t think of anyone who would be enthusiastic about the final “examination” of the check-up. I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t lie, and tell their doctor that life has never been better. Leaving that doctor’s office with your low self-esteem intact is the only sensible course of action. Allowing  your doctor to unearth and bring to light your sadder nature, can only bring about one outcome; you will have to be medicated. Now you won’t know if you are truly sad or not. Better to hold on to your sadder dispositions, and a couple of doses of low self-esteem along with them, than to become a medical zombie of sorts. Doctor Caligari will see you now.

Now we have a new show about another league of comic book superheroes. Ever since the original “Batman” movie, there has been no end to these movies or television series centered around comic book heroes. If one works, then they all will work. Years ago, the television shows “Superman” and “Batman” were easy, campy. Now, these new television shows and movies explore the depths of the superhero’s soul and psyche. A couple of frames in the comic book took care of displaying the hero’s emotions. Now it takes two or three hours, and in the case of television, years to explore it all. We need superheroes who are above all angst; otherwise, they are only too human. Man strives to be a superhero, if only in his own mind. Why strive for more of the same?

The big news of the day–Sean Penn and his secret meeting with El Chapo. Shaking hands with the drug cartel leader, Sean has a look of supreme accomplishment on the front cover of the New York Post. A great coup for Rolling Stone magazine, hiring Mr.Penn to find El Chapo and conduct an interview. Now they only need to find readers to read this riveting piece. I suppose the capture of El Chapo will only diminish Sean’s effort. El Chapo, incarcerated, now has an abundance of time for interviews, when he is not fighting extradition to the U.S.. Sean will not be on the list of interviewers, seeing as he most likely led the police to the druglord. Now, Rolling Stone magazine will have to send someone to locate Mr.Penn. Those druglords play for keeps.

In the woods in Alaska

If Donald Trump is not elected president, it will still be great fun watching political correctness attacked with such vigor. We have all been conditioned to filter our thoughts, then dilute what is left. Sometimes, self-preservation requires that limiting thought process, but limiting it still is. I believe we are all big boys and girls and can easily speak freely. Unfortunately, many of us prefer to not listen freely. What they miss, we still hear.

Our economy

Here in our United States, I wonder if our economy will ever be real again. Contrived and corrupted, good news passes for bad and vice versa.  Factory production contracted, reflected in a figure not seen since 2009. The Dow rose 166 points. All bad economic indications are merely excuses to keep interests rates low and propel this charade forward. If CEO’s are polled and return a gloomy outlook, that can only be ignored. In Europe, they speak of negative interest rates. Yet we who live this economy are unsettled, and our underlying anxiety only grows. Fantasy worlds exist within real worlds.; the laws of economics are based on humans behaving in real conditions. Set aside and dismissed by self- seeking politicians, those laws will return, and  ruthlessly remind us that fantasies can have bad endings. Our economy will surely be only too real then.

        I wonder why when you see the radar for the southwest section of the U.S., you see rain moving across, as occurred this morning , yet never mentioned on the news. Any rain in a drought would be welcome news, yet you never see it broadcast as such. It is ignored. If the rain comes down too heavily and flooding occurs, Texas and the High Desert region this past week, the flooding and “violent nature” of the storms is emphasized. Climate change proponents control the media and tailor the news to fit their needs. We need the whole weather report. I am happy to see rain falling where it is needed. Those climate change guys must be a real drag.