What's in a Name? Hussein, Rodham, or Joseph

What a bunch of silliness. I have not yet declared my choice for President (except it won't be Mrs. Clinton), but this teapot tempest about trying to emphasize the Hussein middle name of Barack Obama is juvenile. As if he had any control over what his father's name was (Barack Hussein Obama, Sr.) The name comes from junior's Kenyan grandfather.

This, and the attempt to make Obama a Muslim (as if that is bad), the attempt to portray him as less than patriotic when he forgot to cover his heart during the Pledge, is all part of these political dirty tricks. I have forgotten the hand to heart once or twice and I consider myself a dedicated, stable, patriotic American.

I suppose this will go on as long as Mrs. Clinton thinks she has a chance at the nomination (she doesn't) because I doubt seriously that John McCain himself will stoop to that level of dirty politics. No guarantee, however, that some low-life in the party will see these kinds of things as fair game.

What's in a name? My middle name is Joseph. I am glad I am not competing for anything more important than maybe a Wal-Mart greeter position. I would hate to be have my name besmirched by associations with the likes of Joseph Stalin, Joseph McCarthy, or even Joseph Schmoe.

Our National Anthem Seldom Sounds So Sweet

I admit to being one of those Americans whose eyes well up during the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner. Our nations extant troubles aside, the opening drum roll and the rising crescendo of our anthem transcends the divisions and polarizations that will always be there in our country, a benefit of our unbridled freedom of speech.

On Tuesday, the New York Philharmonic on an invited tour to North Korea (one member of the Axis of Evil), belted out the Star-Spangled Banner after first playing the host country's anthem. It may be minuscule in terms of the detente we hope for with this rogue country, but it made me proud to hear that our orchestral ambassadors were not the least bit afraid to display the flag and show our musical colors.

And the Oscar Went To...

Well, I did a least as well as some in the biz (see below), getting three hits (Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor), two near hits (Best Picture, Best Director), and then a little off on Best Supporting Actress.

I am just happy that Juno didn't take the top prizes against some of these very intense dramas. One thing though, I am still not sure I understand the ending in No Country for Old Men

It's Academic - The Oscars Winners Are Chosen

After spending five days last week in Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and environs, it took me awhile to get back in the groove of blogging. However, given that the Academy Awards ceremony is Sunday night, I thought I'd shake a little tinsel off and give my take on the winners. Now hear this -- I said my take, my choices, not my predictions. The Academy with its eclectic membership can be hard to predict except in the most obvious cases.

Diana and I have seen most of the major films of this season without waiting for the DVDs to come out having had more time in our retirement. Here is how I would have voted if I were a member of the Academy. To see how far off the mark I might end up being, I have ranked the other nominees from top to bottom.

Best Picture-

There Will Be Blood

No Country for Old Men

Michael Clayton

Atonement

Juno

Best Female Actor -

Marion Cotillard La Vie en Rose

Cate Blanchette Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Julie Christie Away From Her

Laura Linney The Savages

Ellen Page Juno

Best Male Actor -

Daniel Day-Lewis There Will Be Blood

Tommy Lee Jones No Country for Old Men

George Clooney Michael Clayton

Viggo Mortensen Eastern Promises

Johnny Depp Sweeney Todd

Best Director -

Paul Thomas Anderson There Will Be Blood

Coen Brothers No Country for Old Men

Jason Reitman Juno

Tony Gilroy Michael Clayton

Julian Schnabel The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Supporting Male Actor

Javier Bardem No Country for Old Men

Philip S. Hoffman Charlie Wilson's War

Tom Wilkinson Michael Clayton

Hal Holbrook Into the Wild

Casey Affleck The Assassination of Jesse James...

Supporting Female Actor -

Ruby Dee American Gangster

Cate Blanchette I'm Not There

Tilda Swinton Michael Clayton

Amy Ryan Gone Baby Gone

Saoirse Ronan Atonement

Who knows how close I will be? I am just an American movie goer.

California Dreamin'

Well, we are on a short vacation to southern California to visit a nephew and his family as well as friends in Beverly Hills. I am not sure I can call this a vacation when one is already retired but I choose to do so. We are staying in Century City near Beverly Hills and we can see the Hollywood sign from our hotel window...once the haze clears.

We have been to L.A. and its environs many times but I am still awed by the mystique of this movie capital. Driving down Sunset Boulevard one cannot help be impressed by the very large, and very old mansions of the golden years. We drove up Benedict Canyon, Coldwater Canyon, and across Mullholland Drive to see how the other folks really live. We found that they live really close to each other. Other than those who can afford "estates", the homes are nestled snugly into the hillside for the most part. Too close for us.

With a day free before our dinner with friends at the Grill on the Alley in Beverly Hills, we drove up and over to Simi Valley to take in the Reagan Presidential Museum and Library. It was an impressive sight, and site. The old Air Force One is on display there where we took a walk through it. Compared to newer 747 AF One, this 707 was quite cramped. The museum was awesome and there is never enough time to do it justice. We ended with a trip to the memorial site where President Reagan is entombed. The view from there is breathtaking and is worth the trip alone.

The next morning we decided to breakfast near Rodeo Drive hoping for a glimpse of someone famous. Looking over the crowds we saw no one we knew, but then again I am sure that most were in the screen industry in some capacity. But who can identify a director or assistant director or assistant assistant director? Do you ever watch the end credits roll at the end of a film? All of those people work in the industry and likely go out to breakfast at the good places too. Very few will recognize the key grips, the riggers, the gaffers, the best boys and the like. But it is fun to rub elbows with those folk who work with the really big stars.

We did our first morning breakfast at The Farm of Beverly Hillls. The food was good but we saw no one noteworthy. The next morning we tried Nate 'n Al's Deli, a local favorite, and we spotted Larry King kibbutzing with a few of his cronies. We sat across from Larry but I avoided my "rube" behavior and did not stare...too much. By the way, the food was OK, but our waitress was a hoot. She argued with us on most things. I called her Miss Personality of 1964, but not to her face, poor dear.

We drove over to Long Beach to see our nephew, his wife and three year old. They live on the beach so again the view was spectacular and at dinner, we managed to get a view of the Queen Mary sitting majestically in her berth.

California, for all its foibles, is still a great place to visit. We will head back to Arizona soon and we hope to clear the area before the next earthquake.

Potomac Primaries - Is the Die Cast?

Six short months ago I could never have predicted where this presidential campaign is today. McCain was left for dead, and like the Phoenix, (appropos) he rose from the ashes to be the nominative candidate for the GOP. Governor Huckabee is fighting the valiant fight, but short of a major faux pas from Senator Mack, he may only get the VP consolation prize, if that.

Similarly, six months ago Hillary was swatting at the Obama gnats buzzing around, just biding her time until the early primaries would thrust her into the lead and then with a few more, she would be crowned the solid candidate of the Dems. Yet, not many would have predicted the tsunami of the Obama movement that now has left only a few state primaries to save the day for Mrs. Clinton. I am sure that she and Bill are shocked and annoyed that the American people could be so naive as to pass on her candidacy. She is pinning her hopes on Ohio and Texas, seeming to leave Wisconsin alone to go to Obama. He is already beginning to campaign in the Badger State, not wanting to alienate any possible constituency.

Of course it ain't over til its over, but the fat lady is standing in the wings.

RV Resort Olympic Winner!

I don't often bang my own drum, but this week is different. After my retirement as a Police Chief in October, Diana and I picked a very nice RV Resort Park in which to spend the winter. As it turns out, this was a very good choice this year - to get out of Wisconsin, that is. With record snowfalls and record low temps, we were happy to be warmly ensconced in our gated, 55+ community in Arizona.

The people here are wonderful, albeit a little more aged than we are, so we smiled at the quaint activities in the park such as bingo (every Wednesday), Men's Coffee, shuffleboard, dirty board, pickle ball, and the like. After a few weeks we deigned to play bingo (daubers ready) and even won a couple of times. We still smile as we pass the shuffleboard court, however.

This last week the park celebrated the Chinese New Year, complete with Chinese lantern contests on each street, an authentic Chinese dinner one night, and finally an international competition of sorts in a Park Olympics. The categories were many, from the aforementioned shuffleboard and pickle ball, to more sublime whooshing and smooshing (Don't ask, I haven't a clue).

With our athletic prowess, we signed up for a couple of events not wanting to be thought of as anti-social. We showed up at the appointed times, eying our adversaries in the auditorium. It began to get tense. The games began and we finally took our turns (it was all individual competition).

We waited with bated breath (whatever that is) for the Friday night awards. The opening ceremony for the Olympics was brief but poignant. We all sang O Canada, followed by the Star-Spangled Banner. The medals were displayed on the stage, hanging from a PVC pipe holder askew under the weight. We sat through the awards for best pickle baller, pocket pooler (really!), and shuffleboarder. We applauded the bean bag competitors (divided by age group, over 60, 70, and 80), the water volley ball spikers, and the best putters.

Finally, our events were about to be called. I looked at Diana and she smiled back nervously. Did either of us make the cut? In our first event, alas, we did not earn a medal. We were not fastest in the Cup Stacking competition. We smiled wanly and applauded graciously as three others took the Bronze, Silver, and Gold. One more event to be called and yes! I heard the announcer man call, "Jerry Jansen" and I marched to the stage to stand with the other winners as the camera flashes momentarily blinded us.

I was so proud as I bowed my head to allow the short little medal-giver lady place the Silver Medal around my neck. Second place in the Men's Crossword puzzle. Not bad, huh?

Dallas Firefighter Killed After Super Bowl

Living near Phoenix (and Glendale) during the winter, I was certainly dismayed at hearing of the two Dallas firefighters who were gunned down in drive-by shooting after the Super Bowl game. One of those public servants has now died from his injuries so this now becomes a homocide. It is also a blight on the hospitality of the area.

The latest news is that these firefighters might have been entrepreneurs as well, allegedly selling counterfeit NFL garb before the game. This is certainly illegal (got to protect the NFL after all), but it hardly is newsworthy in the same breath as a death by drive-by.

I have no idea if these men were "heroes" in Dallas, but if they were employed as firefighters and did their jobs day-to-day, then they were brave men who had risked their lives many times to save lives and property.

Their alleged indiscretion will be addressed, but it is not so heinous a crime that is shold blot out the work these men must have done serving the people of Dallas.

And Then There Were Two...or Three, or Four

Romney's denouement was a surprise to me. I took him at his word that he was marching on despite a poor showing on Super Tuesday. This changes the complexion of the campaign for the Republicans. McCain had started his meager attempt to bring every one into the tent. He saw this as necessary to combat the flogging he was taking not only from Romney, but from the radio right.

Now it seems that he has a choice. To continue the catering if he wishes, or to be true to his more moderate ways. He appears to not need the far right, unless there is an ABMc (Anyone But McCain) movement that Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh seem willing to join.

McCain was lambasted this past week with constant references to "McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy, and McCain-Lieberman" legislation. This was an attempt to "liberalize" the Senator, but I always saw McCain's efforts as a way to bridge that awful partisan gap that hamstrings our government. It looks like no good deed continues to go unpunished.

Movie Review - There Will Be Blood

This one's a must-see. Yes, there is blood, but the acting and the story are worth it. Daniel Day-Lewis should get the Best Actor Oscar for this one. He is superb.

The other nice thing often missing from some of the current movies is that the storyline is easy to follow. It has some convolutions at first, but all are eventually pulled together for the audience. We left very satisfied with a believable story line, that of an oilman from Wisconsin who makes it in the hardscrabble business. It is based on Upton Sinclair's novel, "Oil", and the real story is how Day-Lewis's character accomplishes what he does and the price he pays.

If I gave stars for this, it would be 4 out of 4. It leaves Juno in the West Texas dust.

Who Would Mind the Store - Hillary or Bill?

It looks like Bill Clinton might have toned down his rhetoric in the past week or so since he embarrassed his wife with his fiesty appearances. I'm sure she made it known to him that he wasn't helping her with his sarcastic blasts at Obama, so she put her foot down.

He may be a great asset to her in this election, causing some to believe that he will not only be the "co-president" but will actually be the one leading the nation should Hillary be elected.

I, for one, am not the least bit worried about Bill taking over and calling the shots when it comes to leading our nation. Hillary is her own woman, and, in fact, may have directed more of Bill's presidency that we would be comfortable knowing about. She has a great deal of power over her husband in so many ways. He needs her far more than she needs him these days, so although she will consult with him, the decisions that are made will be hers.

That is not to say two things. First, I am not saying that I want Hillary as our president. I haven't made up my mind yet, but lots would have to change for her to get my vote. Second, my comments are not to say that having Bill help lead the country would be bad. I have said many times, that were it not for his inability to control his urges and the inevitiable fallout it created, I think Bill Clinton had the opportunity to be a true statesman, particularly during these troubled times. But I cannot look at him without thinking of him slinking around the White House hallways and alcoves, doing what he will be remembered for most.

Even the ignominy of being impeached does not trump the thoughts many Americans have when they see Bill campaigning across the country. I did not favor impeachment at the time, as it is a weapon that should only be used for those high crimes and misdemeanors for which it was really intended. However, I still worry that Bill may not be able to control himself with even more time on his hands, and will further embarrass us all. Hillary is powerful and wears the pants, but she cannot watch the boy every minute.