Another day of deadlines. Another day of minimal posting. But to stall getting to the paying work for a few more minutes…
I thought Obama's speech last night was pretty good. Maybe it's wishful thinking but I have the feeling the "everything this man does is evil and wrong" campaign is starting to lose steam; that people who were convinced the U.S. would be a Commie wasteland ruled by Sharia Law by now are noticing that hasn't quite happened and are starting to feel a bit manipulated by those predictions. Jonathan Chait has up an interesting theory that Obama's problem is that Conservatives don't like him because of what he's accomplished — increased health insurance for some needy folks, for instance. But Liberals don't love him because of what he hasn't accomplished — no Single Payer Health Insurance, for example. He's going to leave behind a pretty impressive record of accomplishments, especially given the opposition he's faced.
Mr. Chait, by the way, has penned a brief summary of what's happened in the last twenty-four hours with Iran taking U.S. sailors captive and then releasing them.
I do not care who plays football where as long as it doesn't create traffic jams where I want to go. There is no male in this country less interested in football than I.
It doesn't matter to me one bit if the Chargers move to Los Angeles along with the Rams. What I want to do is get the Padres to leave San Diego. Then maybe we could use their stadium for Quick Draw! during Comic-Con.
Still enjoying the Carson reruns on Antenna TV. The other night, they ran one with Flip Wilson and George Carlin, and at one point the two men did a fake newscast sketch together. I always knew just how funny Mr. Carlin was — sometimes with brilliant material, sometimes with silly material but always funny. I had forgotten how likeable Flip Wilson was without ever being very funny at all. An interesting study in contrasts.
Last night, I had a fascinating conversation with an Uber driver — a young man who's going to school to become a Restaurant Health Safety Inspector for the city. His family owned a restaurant and as he grew up, he became well aware that while his folks' eatery was always in compliance, many others weren't and he decided to get into that line of work. He said the "A," "B" and "C" ratings that the board assigns in this city are insufficient and he wants to reach the point where he can propose some ideas to improve them. I told him that I agree the ratings are inadequate. I've found that in Los Angeles, I only feel really safe when I'm dining in a place that's posted an autographed photo of Howie Mandel.
Back later. Or tomorrow. Or whenever I reach page 22.