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.

June 24, 2020June 24, 2020

COMIC RELIEF WITH MEGHAN & HARRY

I got a good laugh when I looked at my iphone this morning. It says Meghan moved to LA so she could run for president. Don’t you just love Harry and Meghan? They are the quintessential soap opera stars. They make us forget about covid-19 and police brutality. Just when we think we can’t stand the world we’re living in , we find comic relief with Harry & Meghan.

Meghan and Harry provide comic relief during these trying times. — Comic relief with Meghan & Harry. Their trials & tribulations keep us entertained during these trying times.

They’re full of drama and excitement. Beautiful Meghan from a dysfunctional, mixed race family.Handsome Harry, from an equally dysfunctional family. Not mixed race, but mixed up, for sure. And yet, they’re providing us with a glimpse of their struggles that are somehow entertaining and funny. As a result, those two have done the world a great favor the past three months. While we’ve been stuck at home during the coronavirus outbreak, they’ve taken our minds off of Donald Trump, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, covid-19, and the violent protesters who are hell bent on destroying our country.

Just like us, Meghan and Harry had the rug pulled out from under. When they left England, they thought it would be smooth sailing. Instead, they’re on this bewildering odyssey in search of their true selves. Lurching from country to country, trying to figure out how to function and thrive. And we have been with them every step of the way. Are they broke? Is Meghan desperately trying to revive her acting career? Is Prince Charles mad at them? Has the queen disowned them? It’s like this wonderful soap opera going on every day, and yet it’s real.

While standing in line at the supermarket checkout–sweating with my mask, feet aching– I look for distraction. Pictures of Harry and Meghan on every magazine cover take my mind off the discomfort of social distancing. Viva Harry and Meghan!

I guess they’re wondering about their next move. Here’s my advice. Ditch stuffy old England. Forget about finding causes or new jobs. A reality show would draw millions of viewers.

May 20, 2020May 20, 2020

Pelosi body shames Trump

As a dietitian, I had to agree with Nancy Pelosi when she went on TV saying that Trump is overweight. But is she qualified to say he’s “morbidly obese?” That’s the term for a medical condition, and I don’t think she has a license to practice. Anyway, I thought that body shaming was verboten in our modern society. Popular magazines like “People,” frequently interview overweight celebrities who describe the trauma when they were teased about their weight. Peloisi hit below the belt( as my Mother used to say) when body shaming Trump. Has he mentioned how many face lifts and botox treatments she’s had?

I suspect no one feels sorry for Trump, because he’s brought it on himself. He’s a master at putting down his critics with childish nicknames like “Crooked Hillary,” “Sleepy Joe.” Anyone who disagrees with him is fair game. But I never thought Nancy Pelosi would get caught up in the madness.

She gleefully celebrated his impeachment, but still tried to appear somewhat dignified. She’s always taken the stance of moral superiority when it comes to Trump. Why, then, would she stoop to his level? 70% of Americans are either overweight or obese. I’m wondering how those voters will react to a privileged, California Congresswoman body shaming the president during the covid-19 outbreak.

I never knew much about Trump until he ran for president, so I don’t know when his weight got out of control. He should probably hire a nutritionist to plan his menus. But he’d probably fire her after a week. She would undoubtedly cancel the hamburger and fries. Would he go for a fruit smoothie or grilled chicken salad for lunch? I doubt it. On the other hand, he looks and acts very healthy. (Hopefully the Hydroxychloroquine he’s taking won’t give him a heart attack.) It probably helps that he doesn’t drink or smoke. Apparently, he gets plenty of exercise on the golf course. Maybe it’s just his metabolism. Or perhaps he’s a “stress eater.” If so, he’s had plenty of stressful triggers.

Meanwhile, there are other obese people running their countries. Like England’s Boris Johnson & North Korea’s Kim Jong Um. In fact, I think Winston Churchill was kind of chubby. Most of us are acquainted with “heavies,” who are capable and sharp. She’ll probably never admit it, but I think Nancy Pelosi is going to regret body shaming Trump. I just wish that both of them would act like grown-ups.

April 27, 2020April 27, 2020

STAY AT HOME DIARY: WEEK 6

The #stayhome isolation is giving me a case of Covid-19 related hypochondria. A pulled muscle, cough or sneeze is not something alarming, under ordinary circumstances. But when I woke up with a sore neck last week, it had me worried until I realized I’d spent too much time reading my kindle. Consequently, I looked online and found that I could order a kindle holder, but it probably wouldn’t come very soon. Anyway, I’d never use it once the lockdown is over, because I prefer hard cover. Just wonder when that day will come. Stay At Home Diary: Week 6:

The closing down of meat processing plants has me concerned. Some of us lived through meat rationing during World War II, and it was not pleasant, unless you like Spam. I guess it’s popular in Hawaii, but to me it tasted like a combo of salt, fat, and rubber. I won’t eat Spam again, no matter what. I’ll go vegetarian with beans, lentils and other grains.

One high point of the week was a teleconference with our local Mayor. When people asked if all our city improvement plans were going down the drain, during the Covid-19 crisis, he had a great response. “We haven’t stopped, ” he said. “We’ve just slowed down.” I liked that slogan….a combination of caution and optimism, striking just the right note. Who said small town mayors from Indiana were dummies? He sounded far sharper than Trump, in my opinion.

On my weekly shopping trip, I noticed that fewer people are wearing masks. I can’t imagine why they are beginning to relax. Guess they’re just tired of it. Some grocery stores are doing a better job of following CDC guidelines than others. I won’t shop anywhere that doesn’t provide their clerks with masks and a Plexiglas barrier at checkout.

Major scare late Friday night. Got a call from a tenant in a property I manage that he had a leak in his bathroom that was spilling into the downstairs apt ceiling. What horrible timing! How many plumbers are available on Friday night? What if they weren’t working at all during the pandemic? Put in a call to my plumber, and had a fairly sleepless night. But he texted me next morning and said he would be out to fix it. Feeling fortunate to have a good relationship with this company, who has been there for me many times over the years. Plumber are first responders, too!

What would we do without plumbers during the covid-19 crisis — Plumbers are first responders, too. What would we do without them?

My oldest grand daughter’s birthday was Saturday. The night she was born seems like yesterday. Never thought I would live twenty-eight more years after that. I’ve been blessed with lovely grandchildren. They will always remember the spring of 2020!

It’s been a great week for gardening. Meijers had lilies on sale for half price, and I planted them right before the rain came down. Tomorrow, I’ll try to transplant some Hosta if the rain lets up. Notice a lot of people out working in their yards. We should see some pretty landscapes this summer.

Looks like we’ll have another week of grim statistics and politics, but as our mayor said. “We’ve just slowed down; we haven’t stopped.

February 19, 2020February 19, 2020

Can Bloomberg Buy America?

This is probably one of the scariest things I’ve seen in all my years of observing politics. Here is a man who is on the Democratic national debate stage tonight because he bought his way in. He didn’t campaign or talk directly to real voters. He just threw out a bunch of money that he had no other use for. Just as people who live on the interest and dividends from unearned income, he’s trying to win the election on unearned–bought and paid for–supporters. The question is: Can Bloomberg really buy America? Are we that gullible?

can Bloomberg buy the Deomcratic nomination for president? — Bloomberg can afford a great acting coach to teach him how to simulate compassion for women.

Bloomberg doesn’t even have to come up with a set a policies or beliefs. He can just hire some experts who will do that for him. They say he hasn’t been a strong debater. Money could change all that. Wearing an earpiece is illegal. But, with billions of dollars to spend, it’s highly possible he could acquire a high tech hearing device invisible to the naked eye. Watch and see If he pauses even slightly before answering a question. They claimed Hillary wore an earpiece in the debates with Trump, but it was never proven. Anything is possible when you can afford the best.

Former employees say that Bloomberg fostered a corporate climate that was degrading to female employees. As an example, in a lawsuit, one employee claimed that when a female employee got pregnant, he asked her “What the hell did you do a thing like that for?” . On another occasion, the lawsuit said, Bloomberg berated a female employee who had trouble finding a nanny. “It’s a f—— baby! . . . All you need is some black who doesn’t have to speak English to rescue it from a burning building.”

To overcome his appalling history of mistreating female employees, he could hire some great drama coach to show him how to fake emotions like empathy, compassion, and kindness.

Can Bloomberg buy America? It remains to be seen.

October 9, 2019October 9, 2019

THANK YOU, DANCING WITH THE STARS

Each morning upon awakening, I pick up my i phone The first thing I see. before unlocking the phone, are messages about all the unpleasant things going on in the world. My stomach is churning with anxiety even before getting out of bed. It continues all day and up until bedtime. Is it any wonder I have occasional nightmares? But last night’s television program offered a respite from all the bad news. Thank you, Dancing With The Stars, for a good night’s sleep, and sweet dreams.

Dancing With the Stars is America at it's best — MANY CONTESTANTS ON DANCING WITH THE STARS ARE WAY OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE.

What I love about Danicng With The Stars is its lack of perfection. Some of the contestants are awkward and out of shape. Many are way out of their comfort zone. But they’re gamely trying their best not to make a fool of themselves. Isn’t that where most of us have been at one time or another in our lives?

Dancing With The Stars has come a long way since it’s first season. Then, it was mostly about the dancing. The sets and costumes weren’t so spectacular. Later, they went through a time when the women were half naked in their revealing costumes. My husband liked that, but I thought it not so good for younger kids who might be watching. Now, they’ve gone all out with gorgeous, glittering costumes and glamorous sets. It’s like watching a Broadway show.

Best of all, for two hours, you don’t have to see television shows and news reports about murder, sex, gender issues, racism, politics. Better yet, you don’t have to hear about: impeachment, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Trump, Schiff, Pelosi, Isis, Turkey, or any of the other cringe worthy words or topics that make you grit your teeth and wish it would go away.

This show represents America at its best. It takes our mind off our worries and gives us two hours of dazzling entertainment. Thank you, Dancing With The Stars.

April 22, 2019April 22, 2019

SHAVED HEAD, GELLED HAIR? NO THANKS.

I know I’m going to sound like an old lady, but here goes. On a news discussion program that we watched the other night , the representative of one political party may have made some valid comments. But I can’t remember a word he said, because I was too distracted by his hair style. Shaved head, gelled hair? No thanks.

A news reporter with "regular" hair gains my respect more than one with a strange hairdo — NEWS REPORTERS WHO WEAR STRANGE HAIRDOS AREN’T TAKEN SERIOUSLY

A man from the opposing political party also sported gelled hair, spiked up in sort of a dome. This wasn’t quite as arresting as the shaved head guy, but It make you wonder what they have against what we used to call “regular.” haircuts.

I can’t take a person with a shaved head on one side, and gelled hair on the other side, as seriously as I take someone who looks like what my generation would call “normal.”

I can remember the evolution of many men’s hair style fashions. After World War II, the GI’s came back with burr cuts and for a long while, that was all the rage. Before Elvis Presley left for service, most young men were sporting a copy cat “duck tail,” hairdo. That was pretty sexy. For a couple of years in the late fifties, men went back to “regular,” haircuts. And then, in the sixties, young men started protesting the Vietnam War, and they identified themselves as hippies by their long hair and occasional beards. More recently, those wishing to make a statement against the status quo wear dreadlocks, the man bun, or shave their heads completely for the bald look..

nEWSCASTERS WITH REGULAR HAIRDO'S GARNER MORE RESPECT — GELLED HAIR STRIKES SOME PEOPLE AS AN AFFECTATION

During all these hairstyle changes throughout my lifetime, most television newscasters and journalists remained pretty staid. They wore suits and ties, black shoes and socks, and “regular” hairstyles. While we may not have always agreed with their comments, we respected them.

David Muir on ABC Is my favorite evening news anchors . Who can resist that dimpled smile and dynamic delivery?

Recently, I noticed David’s hair sticking straight up on one side, and thought maybe he had been caught in a windstorm. But since it’s begun to look that way every night, I have to believe he’s using gel. That’s not too bad. But please, David. Don’t shave your head.