It's a MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD ... WORLD!

Why hasn't the human race already self-destructed, given the stupidities and eccentricities that betray us in every moment?

We continue to ruthlessly pollute, and then deny that we are. We think in racist/sexist/anti-intellectual ways, and then absolutely refuse to be blamed for it all. We practice being cruel, inhumane and woefully cruel towards others, and then pretend we are not at fault. We are our own slow death rattle!
We prescribe our own destruction by our own willful stupidity.

We vote for Trump, and hope for the best. We give up on politics, and then are "shocked" to learn politics is a ridiculous mess. We refuse to vote, and then wonder why laws, regulations, and future government programs turn out so badly. Whatever happens, we are never culpable. We cannot be held responsible; it is never our fault; someone else (everyone else?) is causing the chaos. Not us.
Never us.

Finally

The weather over the next few days will finally be warming up into the 70's -- some spring rains, but mostly clear most days.  So relieved that "global warming" is finally returning to Savannah.

The shore -- Tybee Island and Hilton Head et al -- have had flooding from high tides and El Nino weather patterns over the past few weeks --- not the time to buy any kind of shoreline properties; that's for sure.  Last year's ocean rise has not yet been promulgated by NOAA (based locally on Skidaway Island) but it promises to be a rather big one -- 6 inches or more in the past few years.

Life beyond the weather is teaching, teaching, teaching during the week.  And trying to fit it short trips to do interviews on weekends. I'm still taking rental cars out to do my "interviews" rather than my own car -- less wear and tear on it that way. This weekend may find me trying to get to Atlanta -- to do some work there, as long as there weather is snow/sleet/ice free. We shall see.  

America the Sometimes Beautiful

In the middle of the political debate season for President, often called the "silly season" in the USA -- it is wise to take stock of all we have. Even if, God forbid, Trump should eventually become President -- we will survive. The power of the President is limited -- and the rest of the government should be able to keep even "bad manners" in check.

But America is still a wondrous place to live. We have food; we have amongst people as a whole -- common sense; we have peace in our own homeland; we have love and empathy for the world in need. We are uncommonly blessed by... whatever power or powers that look after things.

We have diversity, variety, spice, uncommon kindness, and the will to try to keep it all together. We survive bad weather, and bad politics, and bad people! And we will continue to do so. We are indeed ... sometimes "beautiful" but always wanting to be more so.

Warmer Today; House Being Shown

I worry about my realtor.  They "show" my house regularly but do not really differentiate it from all other houses they show. They understand the differences. But they do not express them clearly to other realtors.

So visitors might want to know why is "the house so cold." I am not running the heating and air systems while I am the only one living in the house. I know that; but it never gets communicated to the client by my realtor. And so the clients think the house is much more primitive that it is -- mainly because communication is lacking.

People are viewing my house who could not quality for a loan big enough to buy it -- why is that? Does anyone "prequalify" buyers anymore?

The Great Blizzard of 2016

For Savannah, Georgia -- the Blizzard amounted to "snow flurries" on Saturday morning (and then only for about a half hour). But, nonetheless, we survived!

It is "cold" however -- hovering about 10 degrees below seasonal averages.  And that is a bit strange for us -- who, usually by now are expecting "spring" to happen almost immediately.  NYC, Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and even Cape May are suffering and cleaning up from flooding, snow-covered roads, sidewalks, other -- and a transportation schedule (planes, trains and automobiles) that will take a week to get up and running.

At least the sun is out today in Savannah, GA. I take some small comfort in that.

Let's Talk About the American Stock Market

The "market" was down today -- why? Price of oil dropped below $27 per barrel. So? Does "oil" command so much of the American GDP that it's lack of profits "fuel" a major 500 point drop in ALL stocks?

No, the answer is "NO" and resoundingly so. Then, why the drop in the market? Manipulation maybe -- keeping money away from "green energy" --- keeping the focus on the huge "oil companies" and their problems, thus keeping the public's mental attention on oil! (What's good for oil refineries is good for the USA; what's good for coal shale miners is good for the USA; what's good for oil refiners is good for the USA!!!) But, it ain't necessarily so, is it?

One More Day of Cold

It was in the 20's F last night and this morning but today promises full sunshine and a warming of sorts. We will get back to our "norms" -- 40's F overnight and about 60 during the day. Relief -- and no snow (but some rain) coming up soon.

The Northern half of this warming "change" will have a huge snowstorm for the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions -- and then a midwinter thaw for all of us.  We shall see.

Bureaucracy Run Amok

So, today I got an email asking for a "physician's excuse" for my work absences last week. I emailed back that "I had the stomach flu -- and was visited by a friend of mine, a retired physician who confirmed that fact." He told me that I should stay home until the symptoms (vomiting, etc) were gone plus 24 hours.

We'll see if the "bureaucracy" demands more than that of me.

Powerball Lottery

So, I am here to announce that I am one of the "winners" in the Powerball Lottery. $4 is what I won.

Guess I won't be retiring today!

The Story of "Desire"

Somehow yesterday a "faculty" discussion around the water cooler (actually no water cooler, just the "break room") revolved around the rather intimate discussion of "desire." Does "desire" end when one marries -- " most thought it diminished." Does it recede when one hits a certain age -- "I was of the majority opinion that it does NOT."

Women, more than men, mostly thought that "desire" diminished if one was unmarried, especially as a person aged! (That was a surprise to me.) Men thought that "desire" was all sexual (something I do not agree with) -- and women thought that, after a certain age, "men were more of a 'bother' than anything else." Yikes, who knew?

I may have to stay away from the "break room" for a few days -- I may be the only romantic idealist left at Savannah Tech (who isn't gay).

Taking Shape

As the semester is beginning to take shape -- I too am trying to "shape up." A little more exercise, a closer attention to "good eating," and a much stronger focus on life are all my plans for this term.

My students are coming forward -- lots of variety; lots of diversity; lots of ambition!  More "dual-enrolled" high school students that ever before -- 16-year-olds in my college classroom-- and they will probably be the strongest students in my classes! How life has changed.

More to come as the week and the term ensues!

I am planning some short trips on my "weekend job" but wanted to get the house repairs started  first -- we shall see.  

Slowing Getting Healthier

Recovering from the flu take a bit of time -- my body is telling me.  I cannot yet duplicate the actions "pre-sickness" in terms of doing multiple things at the same time, or going for an extended period of time without eating, or just plain having unlimited stamina.  "Recovering takes time" because a virus actually affects lots of different systems throughout one's body -- and each of them has a different impact on metabolism, body (sleep/awake cycles), eating habits (hunger/satiation) -- and so all of this "correcting" takes time.

Back in Harness

After a week or so with the "Norovirus" I am back teaching at Savannah Technical College for the beginning of the Spring Semester, 2016.  I am somewhat happy to be back, sorry that I did not win the lottery, and otherwise just plain joyous that the Packers and the Marquette Basketball team both won over the weekend.

I have lots to do today -- including teaching 3 classes and preparing for 4 tomorrow. Last week, including the weekend, I really could not muster the energy to do much of anything.  I will be recovering for several weeks (I am told) as my immune system and my regular energy flow -- return to normal.  I will try not to allow myself to get too weak so that I lapse into another bout of the flu.  That was the worst.