It's like, sooo extreme

Extreme. It would be hard to argue that this is not the most old and tired word of the last 10 to 15 years. It is constantly used to make something sound even more fun, radical or appealing than it used to be. Doesn't matter what it is referring to, call it extreme, and somehow it's more noteworthy.

I live in a city that actually has, and I'm not making this up, a large and successful car dealership called Extreme Motors. I swear. And this dealership must have a heavy sponsorship role in the local Indoor Football League team, because the name of our team is....yep, the Extreme. It's a freakin' car lot. Sponsoring a sometimes pretty decent Indoor Football League team. Yet, it's extreme. This is supposed to raise excitement levels over a car lot and a sports team few people care about? Ok, you get it. If it's referred to as extreme, that means it's another run of the mill thing.

That's why I was so amused this week by the adventures of the most honorable Senator Chuck Schumer from the great state of New York. If your paying any attention, you know that the good man got caught on a conference call that he didn't realize reporters were a part of as well. During this call, he revealed that he was directed by his caucus to always use the word extreme when referring to members of congress that had been elected with Tea Party support. The topic was the impending federal government shutdown over the budget dispute.(How much will that save us even if they shut down for, say 36 hours?) He outlined, in general, how they would easily blame the shutdown on the opposing party by painting them as extremists.(See statements this week by Howard Dean).

I have to insert this here. When there is a government shutdown, we are always told that non-essential personel were sent home, and non-essential services have been suspended. My question is...if they are non-essential, why do they exist in the first place? Sorry, once again, I digress.

Other questions. When did expecting our elected representatives to actually be responsive to the people who employ them, become extreme?
When did a desire to keep more of what one earns become extreme?
When did a desire to freely choose to distribute what one earns charitably become extreme?
When did the desire to hold our elected representatives to act in accordance with the Constitution of the United States of America become extreme?(That same Constitution that history has proven to be the most brilliant political document ever conceived and enacted upon). Oh yeah, and that same Constitution that they all took an oath to uphold.

Ok, I know you all know where I'm going here. Extreme has become nothing more than everyday, regular stuff. And most Americans will nod their heads in concurrence with the above stated basic ideas. So, obviously, it's Schumer and his like minded bretheren that are out of touch. Fortunately, for the rest of us, we have an election coming in only 20 short months. Let's hope and pray that it isn't too late.

I need an explanation

Can anyone tell me, why after about 60 years of a very strong and mutually beneficial alliance to Israel, our government seems to be going out of it's way to alienate that country?

Last night-techno

I was talking to Byers last night. On the phone. Not via text, email or skype. Actual comunication with a live human being, using a technology that is as old as Byers and myself combined. I know virtually nothing about new phones. I had to ask Byers what 4G meant. I said I must be old and out of touch. Byers agreed.

Here is what I do know. I was in a local establishment a couple weeks ago, the kind that serves beverages to the over 21 crowd and occasionally puts live music up on it's tiny stage.
The local Guitar Wizard was up there with his two buddies and they were playing their hearts out...giving it everything they
 got. And it was great

This place has a large bar, rectangular, that has about 20 stools around it. At least. All stools were occupied. Then I realized, there were exactly 4 of us occupying stools, that were actually watching the band. The rest were transfixed by a small black object that they held in their hand while they waved a finger over the top of it.
Hmmm, I thought.

I ordered up a second consultation with Dr. Smirnoff, and then it dawned on me. These things are the new cigarettes.

I live in the People's Republic of Illinois, so you are not allowed to have a smoke in your own bar, that you have probably worked in 80 hours a week to keep it running...but I am digressing now. But these small black things are the new bad habit.

Back in the day when this was still a free country, a person would walk into the bar, lay the pack of smokes down in front of them, and order a drink. They would take a drink, light a smoke, and begin to converse with the friend they walked in with, or watch the band ,or both.

Now, they walk in. The set the small black device in front of them, order a drink. Then they proceed to pick up the device and start waving their finger over the top. What, there's a band in here? My girlfriend is sitting next to me? Huh, didn't realize that. I had to check the air tempurature on my device. The same air I just came inside from. Wow, it's 42 degrees outside. Yep it felt less than 50.
Oh and there is a gas station 2 blocks up the street. Of course, I new that already, because I live here, but now I can see it on my phone.

Now I am definitely not a member of the Ted Kazcynski fan club, but I gotta ask...this is progress? Have we become so immersed in ourselves that social interaction is conducted through a small black device that we hold in our hand? I asked Byers this.  Byers said yes.

I felt bad for OD, Hill and Ganzer(the 3 guys on the stage). They were so great...but did anyone know?
.