SHOULD A ROBOT RUN FOR PRESIDENT?

Have you ever said something stupid? Or done something irrational? If you’re a human being living on this earth, it’s safe to say you have a few regrets. However, if you’re a politician, the voters won’t cut you much slack. I can think of many cringe worthy moments and major mistakes made through the years with every single president of the United States, starting with FDR. It makes you wonder: Should a robot run for president?

Some scientists think artificial intelligence would make better presidential decisions — Using artificial intelligence, robots might make better presidential decisions.

For example: John Kennedy made a mistake during the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba . He made up for it during the Cuban Missile Crisis, But he was assassinated before he came up for re election. Harry Truman had a public hissy fit when someone made fun of his daughter’s singing. Richard Nixon was dumb enough to order a break in at the Democratic headquarters. Bill Clinton had an affair with an intern. Presidents are just way too human.

While you may think it sounds outlandish, a robot for president isn’t a new idea. Some scientists say politics is a “multidimensional, nonlinear problem of optimization.” Consequently, they believe we should put a computer in charge of the country. They’ve concluded that artificial intelligence could make big, complicated decisions better than a real live president.

Let’s take this idea a step further. I suggest that we have two robots running for president. Robot Dem and Robot Rep. Each party would key in the basic aspects of their platforms . The Democrats would tell their robot to make decisions favoring Medicare for all, and open borders Naturally , the Republicans would plug in closed borders, and private health insurance. Decisions on war and peace would be based on outcomes of conflicts throughout the ages. Mathematical statistics would decide the best economic policies.

Others things a robot president wouldn’t have to worry about:

Age. A robot is never too young or too old.

Hair: Orange hair, baldness, hair plugs—none of it matters. A robot has no hair at all.

Sexual harassment: Robots don’t smell women’s hair, have sex with interns, or get accused of raping a girl at a college frat party.

Health: Robots don’t suffer from back pain, heart attacks, cancer, high blood pressure. IT technicians can keep them in good working order.

Embarrassing relatives. Many presidents have had to deal with them. Remember Jimmy Carter’s brother, Billy Carter?

Emotions. Robots don’t have character flaws . They aren’t greedy, lusty, or narcissistic. They make decisions strictly on the facts.

Therefore, It seems as though the American people might be better off with a robot for president.

August 29, 2020September 2, 2020

ALMONDS TO THE RESCUE!

What has happened to your weight during this pandemic? It’s been a struggle for me, because I’m unable to walk or swim every day like I used to. The pool is open, but cases are skyrocketing in this city, so I’m afraid of taking a chance. And walking outside in 90 degree heat is not recommended at my age. The air conditioned mall used to be a good place to walk on hot days, but during covid-19, it doesn’t seem too wise . So, I’ve become a reluctant couch potato this week. Boredom leads to snacking. Things like cheese and chips are tempting, but there’s a healthier alternative. Almonds to the rescue!

According to the Harvard School of Public Health “ Almonds reduce heart disease risk by lowering total and LDL cholesterol, and exerting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Almonds also contain phytonutrients that support the growth of beneficial gut microbes. Controlled trials have shown that nut intake can decrease inflammation, promote healthy blood vessels, and reduce insulin resistance.”

In a word, Almonds are really good for you They’re nutritious and help control hunger. When you get those mid morning or mid afternoon cravings, just reach for a handful of almonds.. Although 10 almonds only have about 78 calories, you can overdo it. Don’t eat half a can! Chew them slowly , then firmly close the lid or fasten the bag and put them out of sight.

Some people shouldn’t eat almonds. Especially, if you’re a senior who has difficulty with chewing and swallowing. You sure don’t want an almond stuck in your gullet! Little kids shouldn’t have nuts because they don’t chew things up carefully.

Almonds are fairly expensive compared to less healthy snacks like chips and candy. However, they’re often on sale for half price at major pharmacies like CVS or Walgreens. That’s when I stock up for a monthly supply. Blue Diamond gives you almonds with different flavors like honey roasted, smokehouse, soy, and just plain lightly salted. You can get them unsalted, too, but those aren’t very interesting.

If you don’t like almonds, you could try peanuts, walnuts, or mixed nuts. However, they have more calories and don’t have as many nutrients.

If you’re unable to walk or work out some days, be sure you don’t overeat. Almonds to the rescue.!

August 26, 2020August 26, 2020

DC AWASH IN FAMILY DYSFUNCTION

Some of us have experienced more family dysfunction than we would care to admit. The façade of the “perfect family” is one that’s carefully nurtured and preserved. Politicians, especially, strive to present such an image. President Barack Obama and Vice President Mike Pence represent the ideal persona of happily married family men. Unfortunately, right now, Washington DC politicians are awash in a sea of family dysfunction.

Starting last year with Joe Biden’s son, Hunter. He’s the one who got kicked out of the Navy. Nevertheless, he made millions for doing almost nothing in China and the Ukraine while his dad was VP. Then, he got some show girl pregnant and refused to assume responsibility for the daughter she bore him. She had to go to court and get a DNA test to prove paternity. But that’s all water over the dam. He was proudly scheduled as a speaker at the DNC convention.

Things got really juicy in July when Donald Trump’s angry, disgruntled niece-from-hell, wrote a tell-all book about the dysfunctional Trump family. OMG! Senior Trump was a tyrant, an abuser, and Lord knows what all. Granny Trump opted out of motherhood—it was just too much for her. And to top it all off, the oldest son was an alcoholic, and his kids didn’t get any more in the final Trump will than the other grandkids. Well, Mary Trump got even. She went so far as to stir up some sibling rivalry, secretly recording big sissy Mary Anne complaining about baby brother. I guess all of us rant and rave about our sibs at times, but we don’t expect it to be recorded for public consumption.

Back to Biden. We know he likes to smell women’s hair. That seems weird, but not exactly immoral. What we didn’t know, until now, is that he had an affair with his wife , Jill, while she was still married to someone else. Her ex husband is writing a tell all book to be released in October.

Speaking of affairs with a married person. Vice Presidential candidate, Kamala Harris was 29 when she started an affair with 60 year old Willie Brown. His being Speaker of the California State Assembly made up for the age difference, I guess. Trouble was, he had a wife and three children.

DC awash in sea of dysfunction. Kellyanne Conway & husband George finally quit their jobs to become parents. — DC Awash in Sea of Family Dysfunction. Kellyanne Conway and her husband finally quit their jobs to become parents.

Next, we have the, most blatantly dysfunctional family imaginable with Trump advisor, Kellyanne Conway. Her husband started a Super Pack, called the Lincoln Project, to bash Trump. I guess they must have been living separately. We wondered where their four kids fit into all this, but last week, we found out. Their teenage daughter went online to accuse them both of being losers and abusers as parents. Consequently, both Kellyanne and her husband George quit their jobs and presumably are trying to salvage what’s left of their dysfunctional family.

Does it really matter to the voters? Bill Clinton had an affair with Monica Lewinsky and got impeached. He’s been seen at the secret hideaway of sex offender Epstein, but they still had him speaking at the DNC convention.

Reporters just love it all. It gives them something to rant and rave about. But after awhile, you wonder if politicians are a different breed. You’d have to have a hide like a rhinoceros to survive. Maybe all that family dysfunction toughened them up.

Remember the words of PT Barnum: “There’s no such thing as bad publicity.”

August 24, 2020August 25, 2020

FRONT PORCH IS A GODSEND NOW

Do you like old houses? If so, you’re definitely in the minority. Most realtors will tell you that they’re a hard sell. It’s amazing to see all the new subdivisions popping up all over town. And houses in every price range are selling like hotcakes. On the other hand, my husband and I live in a house that’s over 100 years old, and we’ve always loved everything about it. The beamed ceilings, pillared doorways, wooden floors. But now, one special feature of old houses has proved to be a blessing. The front porch is a godsend now, during this covid-19 pandemic.

A front porch is a blessing during the covid 19 pandemic — A front porch is a godsend during this pandemic. Friends can visit in fresh air, while social distancing.

For one thing, we’re not stuck inside the house all day—even if it’s raining. Except for the winter months, we always sit on the front porch and have a cool drink in the late afternoon. We live along a busy street, and simply watch the cars go by, or people of various ages and sizes jogging or strolling. It’s fun to see the different outfits people wear. Some are half-naked, sweat dripping off their shoulders. Others are covered in black workout clothes. And then, there are the babies in strollers, and families with little children. Until Covid-19, we didn’t realize how much we enjoyed this evening parade.

But the best thing about our porch during this pandemic is the opportunity to visit safely with family and friends who stop by . The porch is wide enough for social distancing if there’s only four of us. Right now, we’ve been starved for company and social interaction. But if a neighbor stops by to say hello, we feel safe inviting them to sit and chat for a few minutes while sitting in the fresh air. They may or may not wear masks. Sometimes we do, and sometimes we don’t, depending on how confident we are that they aren’t carrying the virus. We don’t invite them inside. But when they leave, we feel satisfied that we’ve seen and talked with someone we care about. Before the pandemic, we never appreciated how important that is. We took those random social interactions for granted.

Front porches are seeing a revival the past few years. Builders are beginning to include them in design plans. And if you’re lucky enough to have a front porch during this pandemic, put it near the top of your gratitude list.

August 22, 2020August 24, 2020

DID DEMS SQUANDER PRIME TIME?

What time do you typically go to bed at night? Eleven o’clock seems to be the favored hour for turning in. Of course, if you’re an octogenarian, you might begin to yawn around 10 p.m. Which means you’re not in the mood to watch speeches at a political convention. Prime time—when most people turn on the TV—is between 7 to 9 p.m. Consequently the voters most apt to view the convention last week were those who live on or near the West Coast. In preaching to the choir, did the Democrats squander prime time?

Voters in the blue states like California, Oregon and Washington got to view the convention during prime time. But what was the advantage to that? Those people already knew who they were going to vote for, so basically, Democrats were just playing to their base..

The battleground states at this time are defined as Arizona, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, and Florida. Look at the time zone map of the United States. Only one battle ground state—Arizona—was able to view the convention while they were most alert, during prime time.

I think if I were a political planner of either party, I wouldn’t really care how many people on the West Coast watched the convention. Those states are a done deal. They are going to vote Democratic, no matter what. Seems like you’d schedule the show to start at 8 p.m. central time. That way, you would reach more of the swing state voters while they’re still wide awake.

Actually, the conventions may not make much difference, in the long run. The DNC convention, overall, was somewhat of a flop, with viewership on the first night down 48% from 2016. I suspect the Republican convention next week will fare just as poorly. I don’t think anything is going to replace the excitement of live audiences, cheering, booing, shouting, waving and clapping in response to flaming oratory speeches.

August 19, 2020August 19, 2020

STRESS CALLS FOR COMFORT FOOD

Have you noticed that recipes in the media have grown more complicated during this pandemic? I guess they’re thinking that people have more time to fiddle around with unusual ingredients and longer prep time. But now, you want nostalgic dishes that remind you of happier times. Pandemic stress calls for comfort food , made without canned soup.

High on the list of comfort foods in the USA are soups and casseroles. What’s wrong with that? Nothing, if you make them with natural ingredients But here’s a list of additives you get in canned soups that really don’t give you that taste of home: Sodium phosphate, whey, soy protein concentrate, yeast extract, potassium chloride, lactic acid, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate and beta carotene. That’s just a few of the ingredients listed on the label of one can of store-bought Cream of Chicken soup.

Ham Potato Casserole is the Perfect Comfot food — The Pandemic Calls For Comfort Food. This easy Ham Potato Casserole is made with all natural ingredients.

One of my favorite comfort foods is Ham Potato Casserole. Remember when they served it at your school cafeteria? I can’t think of many restaurants that have it on their menu. Your mom may not have made it, but I’ll bet your granny did. At one time, it was a way of using up the left overs from a baked ham. That was when frugal people didn’t waste a smidgen of meat left on a bone. Not many of us bake a whole ham nowadays. But you can buy packaged, diced ham, which greatly simplifies things.

When you go on the net looking for Ham Potato Casserole recipes, you’ll find that many of them call for canned soup. But it’s so much easier to make it the old fashioned way, starting with a simple white sauce. You don’t really have to follow a recipe after that. Just throw in some cubed, cooked potatoes, cheese, diced ham, and green beans. Mix it altogether in a casserole dish, and bake, covered for 30 minutes. Your family will want seconds, I promise. So make plenty.

If you feel more comfortable following a recipe, here’s one that serves 4:

Milk: 1 1/2 cups

Butter: 3 Tablespoons

Flour: 3 tablespoons

Onion finely chopped: 2 tablespoons

Idaho potatoes, boiled for half an hour, then peeled & cubed: 2

Fresh green beans, trimmed and cooked while boiling the potatoes: 1 cup

Packaged diced ham: 1 cup

Shredded Cheddar cheese: 1 cup

Directions:

In saucepan, saute onion in butter. Stir in the flour, until blended. . Gradually whisk in milk until mixture has thickened. Turn off heat. Add cheese. Arrange potatoes, ham, and green beans in a baking dish and cover with the white sauce/cheese mixture. . Cover with foil. Heat in 350 oven for half an hour, or until bubbly..

Notice, I don’t add seasoning to the white sauce.. The cheese and ham are plenty salty and some people are allergic to pepper. Provide salt and pepper shakers for those who want it. . You can leave out the green beans, or serve another vegetable as a side dish.

Enjoy!

August 17, 2020August 17, 2020

WHERE HAVE ALL THE BAD GIRLS GONE?

If you were young and single in the fifties, there were a lot of bad girls out there. Unmarried females weren’t supposed to have much of a sex life. To do so, would be at great risk to your reputation. Intimacy allowed in unmarried relationships was limited and clearly regulated. Kissing was about the only thing a girl could do if she wanted to have a “good reputation.” If you were going steady in high school, pinned during college, or engaged after that, you might go a little further. But going “all the way” was verboten. Nevertheless, a lot of so-called trashy girls, did. But now, we’re into the 21st century, and you have to wonder. Where have all the bad girls gone?

Of course, the real reason for all the abstinence was the fear of pregnancy. If a bad girl did get pregnant, the young man responsible was expected to marry her. However, there was no DNA testing available. Consequently, If a man wanted to contest a paternity suit, all he had to do was take five of his buddies with him to court. That was the magic number. Five. If five males swore under oath that they, also, had sex with the pregnant girl, the man was off the hook. He didn’t have to marry her or pay child support. The assumption being that promiscuity precluded the ability to ascertain which man was the biological father.

In 1963, availability of oral contraceptives began to change all that. Girls could have sex without worrying so much about pregnancy. The pill was a far more reliable method of birth control than condoms. Then, ten years later , the most important thing happened: Roe Vs. Wade made it legal for women to get abortions. Finally, women were free to act like men always had. Call it free love, free sex, whatever. All of a sudden, girls and boys started living together even if they weren’t married. If a girl got pregnant and had a baby, it was because she wanted to, not because she had to. Now, 40% of all births are to single moms. There are no bad girls anymore.

Where have all the bad girls gone? Kamala Harris would have been considered one back in the fifties. — Where Have All The Bad Girls Gone? Back in the fifties, Kamala Harris would have been considered one of them.. The Times, They Are A Changing.

Which brings us around to the love life of Kamala Harris, the vice presidential candidate for the 2020 election. It’s public knowledge that she had a long time affair with Willie Brown, the former mayor of San Francisco, when she was twenty-nine and he was sixty.. Fifty years ago, a woman who had a very public affair with a married man would have been considered one of those “bad girls.” There were names for women who did such things—four letter words ending with T. Certainly she would not have been seen as fit for the 2nd highest office in the United States. The Times , They Are A Changing..

Where have all the bad girls gone? I’m not sure there ever were any.