Science Fiction

The first book I ever bought for myself was City at World’s End by Edmond Hamilton. It was Science Fiction and introduced me to the “space-time continuum” (no, Spock didn’t make that term up for Star Trek!). I was 10 years old. The book was used and cost 5 cents. I’ve liked science fiction ever since. The library was filled with Sci-Fi books. I enjoyed most.

Then one day I found The Skylark of Space by E.E. (Doc) Smith and my life was never the same. It was a “Space Opera” which is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes space warfare, risk-taking space adventures and chivalric romance. Looking for more Doc Smith novels I soon found his “Lensmen” series and WOW the immense space battles were overwhelming. I used to imagine winning the lottery and having enough money to make a movie of the Lensmen books.

Turns out I didn’t have to – J Michael Straczynski did it for me when he wrote and filmed the TV series Babylon 5. It debuted in 1993 and was the first series to introduce viewers to the concept of a five-year arc, with a defined beginning, middle and end. The series launched in 1994 and ran for five seasons and 110 episodes. It was Huge; it was Space Opera on a grand scale, and I am so pleased that J. Michael was allowed to do it and I was able and can STILL watch it.

In college I expanded my horizons to Tolkien, Alan Drury Political novels, and Ayn Rand Individualism novels. I will admit to only buying Atlas Shrugged because it was the biggest book on the rack at 1083 pages. Today my “to Read” pile includes Hunter S. Thompson Songs of the Doomed; Charles Krauthammer Things That Matter (Charles is a master wordsmith); Michael Hastings The Operators and Word Press for Dummies (9^th Edition). These days, most of my Sci-Fi I listen to in the car. I no longer go to sleep thinking about an alien landing nearby and giving me his ship. I kinda miss those dreams.

The Paradox Box

In my younger years, I enjoyed a good Paradox. They were usually thought provoking and could always start a lively discussion. I enjoyed lively discussions; not so anymore. I’m too impatient to do the proper verbal setups and traps and all the usual argumentative tactics. Your opinion is cool with me. I don’t even argue politics anymore. But like a good cigar, a good paradox is good to share every now and then. And today, I’m sharing a few:

.A paradox is a self-contradictory statement or argument. Sometimes, a paradox seems to contradict itself, but it can in fact be true.

The Liars Paradox

This sentence is false.

The God Paradox:

Can God create a rock too heavy for God to lift?

The US Voters Paradox:

How can exactly half the country vote for Donald Trump and exactly half the country vote for Joe Biden? How could HALF the COUNTRY be so stupid and WHICH half depends on how you voted!

The Kelly Ripa Paradox:

Can you have the job that you always wanted and hate it?

The Heap Paradox:
A single grain of sand is certainly not a heap. Nor is the addition of a single grain of sand enough to transform a non-heap into a heap. Therefore, we agree we have a collection of grains of sand that is not a heap, and adding one single grain will not create a heap. And yet we know that at some point we WILL HAVE a heap. This one always brings to mind the “Straw that broke the camel’s back” line (which I never saw as a paradox).

Here are some more thought-provoking paradox examples:

Save money by spending it.

If I know one thing, it’s that I know nothing.

This is the beginning of the end.

Deep down, you’re really quite shallow.  (a favorite of mine)

Note from kongoboken: Don’t think too hard on these, unless you’re young. In that case, think long and hard.

So let me get this right: a submersible craft with 5 older very wealthy paying customers on its way 2.4 miles below the Atlantic surface stops communicating with its Mothership. The best the authorities can do is send flying vehicles out to search the surface of the ocean for the craft. There might be 2 days of air remaining in the craft. You KNOW Hollywood is already working on at least 3 scripts and Tom Hanks has gotten the call. It will be a BOOM for all older stars and agents are burning the cell networks working deals.

We can also be sure there are offices FILLED with lawyers for  OceanGate Expeditions, all the craft equipment manufacturers, the software writers and the families of ALL crew and especially those very wealthy paying customers. Ironically, even if the Craft were to rise to the surface, the crew inside cannot open the hatch –  there are 17 bolts holding it closed and they can only be accessed from the outside. Where’s Jason Stratham when we need him !

It’s possible OceanGate Expeditions with its colorful brochure of a visit to the Titanic got a little ahead of itself in terms of thinking through the safety implications of its journey down and up. President Biden’s handlers are VERY happy to have the news diversion at this time.

My friend Norman

My friend Norman died on Father’s Day. Norman wasn’t a father that anyone was aware of, but it was not through lack of trying. Norman was the whitest black guy I have ever known. He could be equally at home in a Harlem Barbershop or a White House Reception. He lived a full life with no discernable source of income. When you saw Norman, women were not far behind. He regaled them, he rejoiced in their presence, he told story after story after story after story.

Norman introduced me to Leslie who came to the beach in July in black – both clothes and mood. I never liked Leslie, but my son has observed that he never heard me laugh as long or as hard as when Leslie was next to me at our kitchen table eating or drinking or both. I love hating Leslie.

Norman brought Anne to my parents’ house to pick up some furniture he had agreed to rediscover. As we were carrying the stuff to his car, he mentioned Anne’s husband had recently shot himself dead in front of her. I was unusually silent. At another event, Anne dissed a chocolate cake my friend Josephine had made, and she (Anne) later died a horrible death. Josehine was rumored to be a Haitian Voodoo Queen; there is a lesson there, somewhere.

I met Barbara through Norman. She is a loving, earthy person who is daughter-abused and proud of it. Barbara was given little yet has achieved contentment and wisdom envied by many.

There will probably be a gathering of all Norman’s women to celebrate his life and I will be there. I will miss his stories. To honor Norman, I will plan to come hours late to his party. Black-Time, dude!

A Few Loose Ends:

Okay Okay Okay, I have reached out to Jessica and an Epilogue to Jessy’s Story is a week away.

This evolving mess is not meant to be a stock blog, but I bow to the volume of Stock Market questions and will add a “Last Updated” note to the Stock Korner Drawer and keep the dialogue going. (It does feel good to know where things are!)

I’m putting together a “Vacation Cities” Drawer and will move the Key West post there and add lovely places I have been. I’ll even include Chicago because the Second City is a great place to visit – well, it WAS a great place to visit.

The problem with the Covid Girls’ Chronicles stories is having to first find and then piece together the different threads of conversation taking place in an on-line poker waiting room. Jessy was easy since it was mostly messages between, she and Sammy, who turned out to be a – opps, no spoilers here!! I’m working on the “girls” for many reasons.

About the latest Trump indictment: In my senior High School year, I ran for Class President. I was basically a smart-ass, class clown, incorrigible cut-up and all-around pain in the butt to the school teachers and staff. I was accepted by the cool crew and the jocks although not in either group. The goths and the nerds tolerated me because I didn’t pick on them. In my own Madonna way: I just wanted to have fun.

The school Administration called an assembly the day before elections and the subject of the assembly was how important your vote is and how important it is to vote for responsible candidates. During the assembly, a Thunderstorm struck allowing yours truly to yell from the bleachers: “ Even God is against this blatant attempt to besmirch my intent to bring the voice of ALL seniors to the attention of the Administration.” I won election and accomplished very little unless you include abusing every perk the office of President of the Senior Class allowed. Trump will use the Thunderstorm and let’s hope the outcome is the same. (I mean he gets elected, not accomplishes very little, silly!)

2024 Election Outlook

So far we’ve got several old white guys, a giggling near-black VP and a fake Indian literally “in the running” to lead my country. As my Aunt Betty would say: “Jesus Frick ‘in Christ what’s happening?”

I could not vote in 1964 but I would have voted for Barry Goldwater. I could vote in 1977, and I voted for Jimmy Carter. I’m an Independent voter. I have rarely voted for the winner. I did vote for Trump and am proud of it. Yes, he is a narcissistic social fool, but he is exactly what my country needs right now. I pray each evening that Trump will somehow convince Nikky Haley to be his VP in 2024. Think of what 12 years of Republican Executives could accomplish.

Key West

My Lovely wife and I first visited Key West in 1989. We went for my birthday in November. Capt. Tony Tarracino was elected Mayor by 32 votes over incumbent Tom Sawyer ( no relation, but it is that kind of town!). We stayed at the Marriott Casa Marina because I used Marriott points – a lot of Marriott points! We had Margaritas at Capt. Tony’s Saloon: rated 5 out of 10.

Casa Marina was a good walk from the wild side of Duval, but we were young and didn’t mind. We were stopped and bribed with free dinner tickets to attend a Condo-Timeshare sales pitch; which we promptly accepted. The sales pitch did not end happily for the salesman and he literally threw our dinner tickets to me. Not a problem – we were introduced to Louie’s Backyard and have been going back ever since.

Lovely J hadn’t enjoyed the small plane ride from Miami so for our next visit in 1990, we rented a car in Miami and drove to Key West. It was a pleasant enough drive but we have NOT done it again. When the purpose is to get to a place – GET TO THE PLACE QUICKLY!! We sampled Margaritas in all the right (and wrong) places. None rated more than a 7 and that was Jimmy Buffet’s place.

In 1991 we were entertaining a 3 month old son on my birthday so our Key West visits were delayed (with no regrets) until 2015 when we quietly returned without fanfare on a direct flight from Newark, NJ. We stayed here and there and eventually found a place with a porch and a view and big enough for us to invite two friends from Florida (mainland) that we don’t see as often as we’d like. Sun, food, drinks, friends and a porch are all old people need to be happy. BTW, I make my own Margaritas these days (8.5).

Covid and now family issues have put a damper on our Key West visits lately, but I still have a few birthdays left (I’m an optimist!) and Key West with friends is a lovely lovely place.

4 Questions to the new improved Microsoft Bing AI:

Sent message. What happened to the money the former mayor of NYC, Bill de Blasio’s wife received to address homelessness?

Searching for: Bill de Blasio’s wife received money to address homelessness

Generating answers for you…

In 2015, Chirlane McCray, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s wife, was entrusted with running a new initiative in the city called ThriveNYC, a program that attempted to address issues of homelessness, substance use, depression and suicide, all centered around mental health and with a price tag of $250 million per year in tax payer dollars¹.

There have been concerns and calls for official inquiries into the program because no one can determine if it’s actually been successful. Due to a general opaqueness when it comes to the program’s budget, ThriveNYC has apparently left that nearly $900 million unaccounted for¹.

Is there anything else you would like to know?

Learn more:

1. redstate.com2. nytimes.com3. theblaze.com4. welovetrump.com

Sent message. does anyone care about ThriveNYC’s inability to account for its expenses?

Searching for: ThriveNYC’s inability to account for its expenses

Generating answers for you…

Yes, there have been concerns about ThriveNYC’s inability to account for its expenses. City Councilman Ritchie Torres said he’s not ready to scrap the entire ThriveNYC initiative, but wants each of its 41 programs studied with an eye toward dropping those that miss their targets. “There’s no evidence it’s working,” Torres (D-Bronx) said of the overall initiative¹.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said he’s all for more mental health services — but wants to know where the money’s going. “We have yet to get a good analysis of where the money was spent and whether we should be adjusting as we move forward,” he said. “You have to be asking those questions when you’re using government money”¹.

Is there anything else you would like to know?

Learn more:

1. nypost.com2. nypost.com3. nyc.gov

Sent message. is ThriveNYC still receiving money from the city

Searching for: is ThriveNYC still receiving money from the city

Generating answers for you…

Mayor Bill de Blasio has quietly moved to rename and make permanent first lady Chirlane McCray’s embattled billion-dollar ThriveNYC mental health initiative, shifting the program into City Hall and creating the Office of Community Mental Health to house it¹.

Learn more:

1. nypost.com2. nypost.com3. city-journal.org4. nydailynews.com

Sent message. What is the budget and leaders of the NYC Office of Community Mental Health

Searching for: NYC Office of Community Mental Health budget and leaders

Generating answers for you…

The Office of Community Mental Health is led by Susan Herman¹. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t find any information about the current budget for the Office of Community Mental Health. Is there anything else you would like to know?

kongoboken says: Sorry, I cannot let this go. This tiny not so good lookin’ nigga got away with BIG TIME taxpayer robbery because she’s married to a powerful white guy. And no one seems to care. How big does the dollar amount have to be before it becomes important?. Yes, I’m purposely being crude and crass. What else is left to me? If her house were a convenient walk I’d be thinking about rocks and windows, or nails and tires, or pissing on the grass to form words. There should be some form of punishment. BUT… that’s just me! k