Hello, I am ahead of schedule for the next update, but so many silly, stupid things have been happening in the
news that my list has grown too large, thus a commentary at this point. I shall start with a new blog feature, the "Hail, Prince of the Obvious!" mention in each update. This time the mention goes to Kevin Corriveau of CNN Int'l Weather, who breathlessly reported that "24 heat-related deaths in India were due to" (-- wait for it --) "the heat." Devastating insight, Kevin. CNN also ran a feature on how social networking is lowering morality, that people are becoming socially retarded due to the lack of real interaction rather than virtual interaction. The last part of that statement may actually be true. It reminds me of a science 
fiction book I read decades ago about a future world where one's entire life was lived in a small steel room and all interaction was done virtually. The novel went on to describe the utter chaos that resulted from a breakdown in the system and the necessity for people to leave their chambers and search for real food, real things and the utter bafflement and fear of having to actually interact with other living beings. The novel may even have been written by J.G. Ballard, who died this week at the age of 87 in his London home. He was also the author of the critically acclaimed autobiographical Empire of the Sun, another tale of foundering morality set in war-torn China. I think it is rather specious to blame social networking for our society's failing moral quality although it may certainly contribute. Overpopulation, capitalism run rampant, the alarmingly deep-seated roots of crypto-fascism, the willingness to abandon personal responsibility for State oversight, greed in all its forms, the failure of the concept of the Divine because by and large humanity can find none in itself, all of these and more contribute to the vast, inexorable and painfully slow-motion implosion of all of 
our societies, not just the Western version. E.E. Gibbon is shaking his head in his grave. We are not the only falling monolith. Islam was never meant to become what it is becoming thanks to radicalism and intolerance. This month the Taliban "executed" a couple for trying to elope and openly espoused the death of a young woman because she was seen dancing on television and we are not talking Pakistani pole-dancing here, people. She was just moving across a stage while she sang in a talent contest. The Saudi Arabian courts upheld a man's divorce from his wife, a divorce he accomplished by sending her a text message, "I divorce you." For those of you who do 
not know, a Muslim man may traditionally divorce his wife by saying to her, in front of three witnesses, "I divorce you" three times. Needless to say, women do not have this right. In another case, an 8 year old Saudi girl's marriage to a 47 year old man was upheld, even after two appeals (not the same case I have previously mentioned). The girl's mother had not even been apprised of the marriage, it had been arranged by other family members and the mother was threatened with flogging if she complained further. Iran has sentenced a female American journalist of Iranian descent to eight years in prison in a trial that lasted less than one day in a closed courtroom. The charges started as the buying of cigarettes, progressed to the buying of wine and finally became full-blown espionage. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad opened an United Nations Geneva conference on racism with a 
vitriolic attack on Israel and the "lie of the Holocaust" on the anniversary of Hitler's birthday this week. European delegates streamed out of the hall while the speech was wildly applauded by the Arab representatives. Pakistan continues to regress to a medieval warlord state and one can only surmise the colossal amount of corruption that must be present, while their nuclear capability remains intact and waiting as the Taliban edge closer and closer to control. It all just keeps on going and the heart, head and soul reel from the pre-apocalyptic vision of our world rushing toward the abyss. If Jesus, Mohammad (pbuh) and the Buddha are not weeping in unison, it is only because they have abandoned hope and are busily at work trying to save a planet more worthy of their efforts.It is not just the Middle East that is insane. The 41 year old CFO of
Freddie Mac, David Kellermann, committed suicide this week, just ahead of the revelation of a Securities & Exchange Commission investigation findings. Hang on to your hats, American mortgage holders. The president of Paraguay, a former Roman Catholic bishop, has acknowledged paternity of at least three illegitimate children during his years in the church and asks for understanding as he continues to hold power. Mexico continues its slide into full-blown barbarism along with the 
quaint reports that the peculiar slant on Christianity in that nation has produced two new narco-saints, Saint Death and Saint Jesus Malverde. The former is actually the Grim Reaper dressed up in the trappings of a saint and the latter is a fairly recent highway bandit know for his good looks and utter cruelty. People at large, drug cartel members in particular, pray to these two in scattered shrines across the country, making offerings of cigarettes, tequila and cocaine (it is conveniently placed in the Grim Reaper's nasal cavities). Castro of Cuba and Chavez of Venezuela are trying to chum up to Barack Obama, offering open discussions and paperback books, even though Mr. Chavez continues to blast America as an imperialistic power. He is right, of course, but not for the reasons he imagines, The 
United Fruit Co. is no longer a first-line policy arbiter. Wake up and quit dreaming of Carmen Miranda's hat, Mr. Chavez. A front row seat at the new Yankee Stadium now costs $2,625.00 USD. The last baseball game I attended I believe I paid $5 for a front row seat. Carrie Prejean, Miss California in the Miss America pageant, supposedly gaffed a question on gay marriage when she replied, "I don't want to dictate for other people, but I believe marriage is between a man and a
woman." Well, I find nothing wrong with that answer because she is certainly entitled to her opinion. What I DO take exception to is her "clarification" of her answer on a talk show that her answer was "biblically correct." Perhaps, but tell me, Miss Prejean, is it "biblically correct" to walk across a stage in front of thousands, televised to millions, wearing a genitally-molded bikini and a pair of towering white high-heeled shoes, exhibiting your charms in such a way that would make even Salome or Delilah blush with shame? Hypocrisy has a golden mane and a perfect tan. Texas is 
talking of leaving the Union, it seems. Even the governor of Texas is batting around the idea. Hmmm, aside from one really decent human being in El Paso (do not worry, my dear, we will relocate you), I say let them leave. They can throw open their border with Mexico while they are at it. While the idea of leaving the Union is patently ludicrous, it does throw light, if more is needed, on Texan mentality, akin to Alaskan mentality which 
supported the idea during a petrol crunch a few years ago (they had plenty) of "Let the bastards freeze in the dark!", a popular Alaskan bumper sticker of the time. What they are saying to the Union is, "What have you done for me lately?", helping bear the burden of hard times is the farthest thing from their minds.
In India, a month-long election is under way. Why so long? They have 714 million registered voters is why, more than twice the entire population of the USA, handwritten ballots and a list of political parties and candidates that is mind-numbing. Giving credit where it is due, they are still electing to try a democratic form of government with direct representation of, by and for the people. India's Maoist rebels are trying to disrupt the voting, of course, principally by means of transportation hijackings, but I do not think it possible to stop all 714 million, do you? By comparison, the USA had it easy in 2008. There are 25 political parties in South Africa, where the recent 
vote has (probably) elected Jacob Zuma, head of the African National Congress, a man suspected of vast bribery and corruption charges. His rallies typically consist of him dancing onstage to a Zulu beat while pumping his right fist in the air. I wonder if Nelson Mandela is weeping as his country slides away and continues to deny entry to the Dalai Lama because of Chinese economic pressure? Perhaps I shall form my own political party in the near future, the Crypto-Christian Islamic Solidarity Movement for Youth, the Aged and the Sexually Subversive, or CCISMYASS for short. I shall keep you informed when I develop the party platform.This month the Conspicuous Consumption Cup goes to Alexander Amosu, a fashion designer who unveiled his new $100K business suit. It has 22kt gold lining and diamond and gold buttons. It was immediately purchased by
someone from the Middle East (surprise, surprise). Perhaps the purchaser is the same man who bought an Airbus A380, the world's largest new plane, to have outfitted as personal transportation - normally it carries 550+ people. They have come a long way from the days when Prince Faisal, fighting for Arab independence during the first World War, declared, "We Arabs do not like the desert, we long only for green spaces and running water." Perhaps he meant most of England. One is faintly reminded, in mirror image, of a remark made by Gen. George S. Patton, who said, when asked his opinion of Morocco, "I love it. It's a combination of the Bible and Hollywood."To end at the beginning, I shall make a final double-barreled blast at CNN. They have been shamelessly
promoting Twitter© as the hot!hot!hot! new social networking tool (this despite their piece on failing morality of the masses). I checked it out and after an initial trial, can unhesitatingly say it is utter rubbish, useless to the nth degree. What is the point? What is wrong with already existing methods of communication such as e-mails, blogging, a telephone call or, God forbid, even a letter? Can everything worth saying be reduced to an 140 character squib? Failing marks on this one, both to CNN and 
Twitter©. A final failing mark to CNN for continuing to broadcast MainSail, their half hour presentation on a regular basis of everything going on in the world of yachting (very little sailing, mainly yachting). They inevitably piggyback the presentation on a news piece on the millions who cannot find drinkable water or a piece on the billions suffering during the economic collapse - but here, folks, let's all look at the glamorous world of multimillion dollar boats and their glittering jet-set ports of call. It is such an egregious slap in the face to their audience.Remember, friends, when in doubt, aim for the nerve stem. Until the next,
Leducdor
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