Very Random Thoughts - February 2020

• Don't believe pro athletes when they say they don't play for the money. 
• It appears to me that you have to be overly hyperactive to be a college basketball coach. 
• I think Congress should spend time repealing or modifying laws, not just passing new ones. Same at the state and local level. 
• "Straight in a row" is redundant.
• The speaker gives a speech. English is confusing. 
• Several years ago when my Mom, after she and dad were retired, used to say she didn't have time to do ..., I rolled my eyes. You're retired, you have all day every day. Now, I think I realize what she meant. She didn't have enough time to get to all the things she wanted to do. I don't have enough time either. 
• Can singers who need numerous backup singers, a troop of dancers, and auto-tune turned up to max really be considered a solo act? 
• Being a critic of someone or something does not mean negative criticism. Siskel & Ebert were famous movie critics and sometimes they gave a movie or performer two thumbs up. 

• Maybe a way to reduce texting and driving. Eliminate automatic transmissions. Stick shifts require both hands and both feet. 
• Why do TV weather people spend half of their segment telling us about today's weather that has already happened? I want to know what's coming. 
• It seems that if something is done by more than three people, it is labeled an epidemic.
• Why do high school and college female sports teams still use "Lady" in front or "ettes" at the end of the mascot names? It is 2020 folks. 
• As soon as a self-driving car has a fender bender, everyone is outraged and the testing is shut down. Yet, we're OK with over 35K US highway fatalities a year caused by human drivers. 
• Hey folks, you didn't lose any money in your 401K or the stock market because of the recent coronavirus market downturn. You also didn't really make any money on the recent market runups. You only actually make or lose money when you cash out. So, chill. 
• Wash your hands. The coronavirus is not a Democratic host, it is real. 

wjh

Very Random Thoughts - January 2020

• A new year and decade but still very random.
• It is now the trend for good college football players to skip bowl games unless they are part of the championship playoffs. Afraid of injury prior to a big NFL signing. 
• I wonder how generals and admirals get so many ribbons and medals to wear on their uniforms. They haven't been on any front line in years. 
• Sometimes a word looks more correct when it is misspelled. 
• It's probably time to check all those subscriptions you have. Netflix, the digital newspaper, magazines, Hulu, etc. Most are $5 to $20 per month and easy to lose track of. Did any of those free trials automatically turn into monthly charges?
• Remember to pace yourself. MMXX is a leap year so there is an extra day to navigate. 
• I saw several ads for Flirty Dancing on Fox during football games. Is there really a big audience crossover for a reality/dating/dance show for those who watch football?
• Just like sports teams, God and Jesus are not on the "side" of any one country. It's people, not geographical or political boundaries that are important.
• How much would it cost to stream everything on TV worth watching? Local channels, basic cable, expanded cable, sports, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO/Max, Showtime, Starz, Apple TV+, Disney+, CBS All Access, etc. More are coming. They all have at least a program or two worth watching. It was so much easier and cheaper when there were only three over the air channels.
• I just realized that people born in 1970 will be 50 years old in 2020. 
• If you are going to commit a crime, make sure it is a white-collar crime. You can steal millions and get off with probation or minimal jail time. 
• It seems the new food buzzword is plant-based. It may displace gluten-free, which has had a good run. 
• Extinct species: liberal Republicans, conservative Democrats. Moderates on both sides are endangered. Our country is worse off for this. 
• Wouldn't it be great if the music and commercials on TV programs weren't 30 decibels louder than the dialogue?
• Halfway between the truth and a lie is still a lie. 
• Those who say the Iraq war was the worst foreign policy mistake in modern history may be forgetting the Vietnam War. They are both worst. Many American casualties in each one. Many dollars spent.
• Global warming seems to be becoming global hotting. 
• To be a politician, one must perfect fake indignation. 
• They also have to be able to change your beliefs 180° at the drop of a hat. 
• I just saw an advertisement for a backpack. One of the selling points is it is ANTI-THEFT PROOF. I don't think I want one. English is hard. 
• It's amazing how often a headline or TV tease is completely misleading. You gotta dig deeper.  

wjh

Very Random Thoughts - December 2019

• I'm so glad that Michael Bloomberg is running nationwide TV political ads for his presidential run. I was afraid we wouldn't have any political ads here in Texas before next year's primaries. 
• When is the last time you saw a tap dancer, not counting kids or grandkids recitals?
• Once again at Christmas, we had many advertisements for perfumes and colognes. I do not understand a single one. 
• A titmouse has nothing to do with a mouse or a tit. 
• It is starting to change, but I never understood why the home team in basketball wore white, usually rather drab uniforms, instead of the school colors. 
• One of the advantages of the digital age, fewer paper cuts.
• A related advantage, I no longer get newsprint all over my hands and everything else. I now read the newspapers on a tablet, phone, or PC.
• Does anyone send real Christmas cards via snail-mail? I got two this year, one from a dear friend with a personal note. Nice.
• Is Scientology still a thing?
• Is Catholocism still a viable religion? Do they have any moral capital left? 
• How many times in 2019 did a good guy with a gun stop a bad guy with a gun not counting law enforcement people?
• Almost every expert and talking head on TV should be required to preface their bloviating with "in my opinion".
• I always encouraged my kids to leave beer and cheese & crackers out for Santa. No milk & cookies needed while trying to assemble the kid's presents. 
• I'm always amazed at how sick people get when they have to go on trial or to jail. Bill Cosby went blind, Paul Manafort got gout and now has heart problems. Harvey Weinstein now needs a walker and or two assistants to walk. Many others too. The rich seem to get much sicker. 
• The term for flying the flag in respect and mourning is half staff. Half mast refers to a broken or incomplete mast on a ship. 
• If you put a fitted sheet and a fitted mattress pad in the dryer together, you will get one or two big balls of laundry at the end of the cycle. 
• I sometimes think that there is a central clearinghouse for questions journalists ask of politicians. They all seem to have the same questions framed in almost the exact same words. 
• I find it a little creepy that Jimmy Dean Sausage is still using Jimmy's voice and pictures in their TV commercials. He's been dead since 2010. 
• We probably should stop saying something is filmed or even taped. Nowadays, almost all video is digitally recorded. No film, no tape. 
• I'm always very suspicious when a product advertisement states not available in stores.
• I wonder how much the members at Doral or Bedminster hate it when Trump shows up to play golf? It has to be extremely disruptive. 
• What's the cutoff for something to still be Breaking News? Is it 15 minutes, an hour, four hours, a day, a week? 
• Sometimes it's not so much that "you can't go home again" as it is "I don't want to go home again".
• Between the holidays and being retired, I have no idea what day it is. 

wjh

Very Random Thoughts - November 2019

• Some guys and all women should not participate in Movember.
• This clock changing from daylight to standard time is not worth it. Pick one, we'll adjust. 
• Actually, the facts and the procedures matter for bad behavior. But mostly the facts. 
• Would anyone listen to a politician or talking head if they didn't say outrageous and usually untruthful things?
• How long after Trump is out of office will it take to restore confidence in the FBI, CIA, State Department, DOJ, and other agencies? 
• Fortunately, I will not live long enough to read the historian's account of the Boomer years. I suspect it will not be kind. 
• Same deal for the Trump years. Even less kind. 
• There is a rumor that Trump needs reading glasses but doesn't like to be seen wearing them. This is a hoax, Trump doesn't read. 
• Every cell phone service provider has one or more unlimited data plans. None of those plans is actually unlimited. All throttle down your data significantly after a threshold that is far less than infinity. So, unlimited actually means limited. 
• Right or wrong, truth or lie, no longer matters. The only test is someone a member of your tribe (party).
• The word is similar, not simUlar.   
• The word unicorn is vastly overused these days and has multiple meanings.
• When watching a politician being interviewed on TV, I often yell, "just answer the damn question." 
• I think we can all agree that there are way too many members on Congressional committees.  
• The new slur by millenniums "OK Boomer" pisses me off. No, not because it's a putdown but because my generation didn't do better. 
• Reinforced tonight. Dolly Parton is a national treasure.
• My hyperactive upstairs neighbor was especially active today. It's hard to believe a kid can gallop and jump for that long. 
• Writing is fairly easy, it's the rewriting and editing that is a bitch.

wjh

Very Random Thoughts - October 2019

• "Life is all how you remember it" Admiral William McRaven.
• Many businesses brag about being family owned and operated. That's only a positive if the family actually knows how to run a business. Many don't. 
• Most local TV anchors and reporters are pretty bad when they have to go off-script. Babble. 
• Nobody in movies or TV shows ever has to recharge their cell phones. I must have a bad phone.
• I have decided that I will never learn how to fold a fitted sheet. At my age, it really doesn't matter. 
• You do not want to be the guest star cast as the partner of a star TV cop. Like the Star Trek red shirts, you will not survive. 
• On episodic TV, we are supposed to remember the good characteristics of the ongoing characters but completely forget all the screwups from the last episode. 
• Custom-fit t-shirts are now a thing you can order on the web. I don't feel the need to buy any. 
• At what age should a girlfriend be called a womanfriend? Boyfriend vs manfriend? 
• Consider washing your hands before peeing, not after. Your genitals have been safely tucked in your knickers all day. Your hands have been touching filthy stuff out in the world.
• I recently broke a Pyrex pan and needed a new one. I bought a 14" enamel-covered cast iron roasting pan. Damn, that sucker is heavy. 
• Almost every cop show on TV seems just like all the other ones. Same plotlines, same high tech stuff, same look and feel. 

wjh

Very Random Thoughts - September 2019

• News reporters who ask officials after a tragedy if they can guarantee it won't happen again should have their press credentials revoked. There are no guarantees in life.
• Likewise, officials who say "this will never happen again" should be removed from office. 
• It seems to me that about half the celebrities have written children's books. How tough is that? Hire a good illustrator and write a 100-word story spread over 20 pages. 
• The sales commercials often say "the more you buy, the more you save". Actually, that means the more you buy, the more you spend. 
• Hopefully, you don't agree with every position of any political candidate. Think for yourself. 
• Maybe Thoughts & Prayers should be changed to No Thought and Preyers. 
• Some Amazon devices are named Fire. Now that half of Brazil is burning, Amazon Fire has a different meaning. 
• How Important can a piece of mail be when it is addressed to Current Resident or Occupant?
• It occurs to me that if I were a kid today and had the same toy gun arsenal I had as a youth, the police would probably shoot me. 
• There is an AFLAC commercial that features Nick Saban. Wouldn't that turn off most college football fans except those who root for the Crimson Tide?
• How times change. I watched some of the Emmys. It seemed that most of the commercials were for non-traditional networks like Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime, etc. Those networks also won most of the awards. 
• I also realized that I have seen hardly any of the shows and have no idea who many of the presenters or winners are.

wjh

Very Random Thoughts - August 2019

• We now have bulletproof school backpacks. Seems we are going in the wrong direction. 
• Do those Facebook, Twitter, and other social media petitions really have any effect or are they just clickbait to collect personal info? No, and yes.
• Why do politicians need my donation by some artificial deadline? Does my money expire at midnight? 
• Our stories are only memories unless they are told. 
• It seems to me that all the good writing and interesting characters are now on TV and subscription networks. Most of the movies are just special effects and one-dimensional characters.
• Assault type weapons and large-capacity magazines should be labeled weapons of war or weapons of mass destruction.
• I hate the phrase "you know what I'm sayin'". It has become another crutch like "you know", "I mean", and others. Why don't you just say what you're saying?
• I wonder when people ask a simple question on social media. Do they not know about the internet and Google, are they helpless, or are they just looking for company? 
• Does anybody play the drums with brushes anymore? It used to be a staple of jazz drummers. 
• Sometimes shit just happens without the benefit of any mass conspiracy. 
• Most stuff is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Real estate, stocks, art, etc. It's all subject to a burst bubble.
• I sometimes get stuff delivered that I forgot I ordered. Not so much the Amazon stuff that comes in a day or two. The items that standard (slow) ship from China or a Kickstarter product. It's a nice surprise. 
• We could ban the selling of guns right now and still have a more than adequate supply for the next 200 years. 
• Heard a guy on a food podcast mention cerveza beer. That's like pizza pie. Redundant.
• It's funny how much new stuff was going to ruin the world, especially music. Rock & Roll, the Beatles & Stones, boys with long hair, jazz, hip-hop, etc. Civilization usually survives just fine. 
• It's amazing how much technology you can accumulate. Chargers, cables, dongles, adapters, phones, tablets, etc. Technology changes leave a trail of obsolete equipment behind. 
• Every time a Tom Petty song plays, I still can't believe he is dead. Free Fallin' is playing now. 
• Shouldn't Rambo: First Blood Part II be named Second Blood or even More Blood? 
• It seems to me that stupid people get way more TV time than they deserve. 
• I'm always amazed at how may TV news and personalities are inarticulate and ill-informed. I might expect that is the 113th size market. DFW is the #5 market with over 7 million viewers. 
• It is almost impossible to have a logical disagreement with someone's religious beliefs. Regardless of how illogical those beliefs are. 
• Israel is a country that makes mistakes and has some questionable policies. Criticizing that country's government is not anti-Semitic.  
• Let's remember, when folks bring up religion as a point in an argument, the church excommunicated Galileo for saying the earth orbited the sun. 
• Why do politicians on news programs allow themselves to be shown patiently sitting by while the network says "coming up after the break" will be what's her name? It is often several segments before the actual interview takes place. 
• Gillette has some new spiffy razors that won't irritate or cut you. Just like all their previous versions promised. 
• My youngest son surprisingly replied to two of my texts that didn't absolutely require a response. One was "thanks" and the other was 👌. Short but it's the thought that counts. 
• Just saw Clint Black on TV. He looks like Roy Rogers reincarnated except for the black hat. 

wjh

Very Random Thoughts - July 2019

• A bug flew into my beverage the other day. It died immediately. Hopefully, it died happily.
• Gillette is recalling razors because they are too sharp. 
• How much great talent have we lost to drugs and alcohol? The answer is too many.
• Musicians who really play jazz are artists. Some who play classical music are technicians. The greats are both. 
• You can be almost 100% sure that any event, behavior, activity or speech will offend somebody. 
• If Steve Perry isn't in your band, maybe you should skip Don't Stop Believing. 
• People will eat almost anything if it is battered and deep-fried. Add bacon and it's a sure thing.
• Miller Lite has an ad that touts "No Sugar" as a selling point. No beer has sugar, the yeast converts it all to alcohol. More marketing BS.
• If Jesus rose from the dead, did he really die for our sins? A little confusing and ambiguous. 
• Is there a good reason to have short-sleeved hoodies?
• If Scotland is the home of golf, shouldn't the Scottish Open be the premiere golf tournament? 
• I wonder how rich I would be now if I hadn't smoked for about 45 years and never started drinking? 
• I'm a straight white old Europen descendant male. I can't help that but often I feel that I should apologize for my demographic. 
• Hardly any racists actually think they are racist. 
• What's with all these ads by TV networks and cable providers scaring viewers that programs will disappear unless their dispute is settled? Do your damn business negotiations in private.
• When a Texas weatherperson says a cold front is coming in July or August, take it with a block of salt. It really means that instead of 99° it will be only 96°. 
• Why do food companies make the Best By or Use By date so hard to find and read? Tiny print, black ink on a dark surface, smeared characters, etc. 
• How did the phrases "no, yeah" or "yeah, no" become a thing? It is often used as in introduction to a statement in a conversation. 
• I'm starting to figure out some of this old-age stuff. The instant something pops into my mind I need to take action. Otherwise, that thought is probably gone forever.
• Commas (,) can be very confusing. Do I need one or don't I? Even grammarians differ. The Oxford comma or not?
• You can be pretty sure that the guy playing the acoustic guitar in a rock or country band is the worst guitarist in the group.  
• It doesn't matter what you believe or don't believe; it only matters how you behave.
• I apparently have nothing near a normal 24 hour circadian internal clock. I bounce from early morning to a very late night creature. Neither is bad and both have their advantages. If I'm up at five AM, it could be either just up or still up. 
• Do you have a problem with some consumable in the fridge or pantry that you can't finish? Seems there is always just a smidgen too much to completely empty the container. 

wjh

Very Random Thoughts - June 2019

• Does anybody still use real Tupperware or is it now all cheaper semi-disposable plastic storage containers? That one piece you inherited from your mother doesn't count.
• I love these 64 team NCAA postseason sports tournaments. You get to see some big dogs knocked off by a small directional college. You also hear about schools you never knew existed. Basketball, baseball, and softball get it right. Do you know where Quinnipiac University is?
• How did Christian Scientists get their name? They disavow medical science. Should be called the Christian Non-Scientists. 
• How long should a product be able to put NEW on the label? 
• Wouldn't it be great if DVRs could tell when the program you want to record starts late, runs long or gets preempted? Like times when a sports event runs long or a breaking news update interrupts. Seems AI should be able to handle this now.
• Are weighted blankets really a worthwhile product?
• Bad singers like Taylor Swift and other stars should not appear on music competition shows like The Voice. All the contestants are much better singers. 
• Other people's bad behavior is no excuse for you to behave the same. 
• How badly do the Uber cars smell after making a few Uber Eats deliveries?
• Having .com as part of a company's official name doesn't have the same cache as it did 10 or 15 years ago. 
• How can the name StePHen be pronounced SteVan? Further drift from the PH as F mess. 
• Because of that bastardization, the usual nickname for Stephen is Steve. 
• Being discerning and critical of our government is not unpatriotic or treasonous. It is our duty.
• About 99% of Constitutional strict constructionists are Republicans. You know, people who want to return to the 18th century. 
• How come stuff never works as well in real life as it does in the promotional videos?
• Collusion and conspiracy are two different things. 
• I have never understood hunger strikes as an effective protest. You get weaker physically and mentally. Those you are protesting are doing fine.
• When a politician says "there are a number of ways to do that", what they really mean is they have no plan.
• "Only in America" used to be a positive phrase. Trump uses it as a negative especially when railing against laws and policies he disagrees with.
• I've never understood why the moderators don't control the microphones during political debates. Cut off those who talk out of turn.
• Are styptic pencils still a thing? 

wjh

Very Random Thoughts - May 2019

I'm amazed that in 2019 there are still so many male coaches of women's sports teams and so few female coaches of men's teams. 

How can you tell when blue cheese goes bad?

The actors in biopics are almost always considerably better looking than the people they depict. 

I have no idea how I have been able to survive all these years without tactical clothing.

Are we allowed to celebrate Cinco de Mayo these days? Is it a holiday that is legal in this country? 

In the US, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Yet at trial, defendants are found "not guilty". Innocent and not guilty are not exactly the same thing. 

Spinach is healthy. Spinach dip is not necessarily healthy.

How is it that The Spinners aren't in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?

When they say "he/she needs no introduction" it is always followed by an introduction. 

"Happy as a clam" - are clams really happy? How do we know?

It seems every business now delivers. Soon, half the population will be delivery drivers. At least until autonomous vehicles take over. 

If you bought all the stuff advertised on Golf Channel, you apparently would shoot between 18 and 36 for a round. 

Why is the action hero almost always a "reluctant" hero who just wants to live a quiet life? Same for old western gunfighters or ex-Special Forces or superheroes of today. 

Is there any way to transfer sugar or flour from the package to a canister without some spillage?

How often do you throw out the box before reading the preparation instructions? 100% or just 90% of the time?

Are Men Working signs on the roads sexist?

Also, they are often untrue. More accurate would be Men Standing Around or A Man Working While Several Men Watch.

If everyone who says "my vote doesn't matter" was to vote, it would matter. 

The news gets more and more like YouTube or America's Funniest Home Videos every day. Cute cat videos, stupid human tricks, royal weddings, royal babies, etc. 

Having never seen Game of Thrones, I wasn't disappointed by the ending which I also didn't see. 

Ben Carson, HUD Secretary, should make every neurosurgeon very angry. We used to think brain surgeons were smart. Now, not so much. 

DOJ policies, practices, and procedures are not necessarily law unless affirmed by the courts.

Are there any common sense restrictions on guns that the NRA would accept?

Legal and right or moral are not the same thing. 

I hate on a sports broadcast when the play by play and analyst have the same voice. Who is talking?

Have we gone too far? I just saw a Centrum vitamin commercial that points out that their product is GMO and gluten-free. How much gluten could you pack into a vitamin pill? 

wjh

Very Random Thoughts - April 2019

• Freedom of religion also means freedom from religion. It does not mean freedom to discriminate. 
• Does anybody have any free space on their refrigerator door shelves? 
• Apparently, smokers do not consider cigarette butts litter.
• I'm not a huge country music fan, but I enjoy a lot of it. I do not understand the Jason Aldean popularity. He just won the ACM Artist of the Decade Award. 
• Take note of all the presidential candidates. Check back a year from now when it will still be six months until the 2020 elections.  
• Apparently, April 10th is Siblings Day. Is there an only child day? 
• Turn signals aren't just for other cars. Cyclists and pedestrians would also like to know your intentions.
• Many times now when taking an online survey I only get to answer one question. When I indicate my age or that I'm retired, I immediately get the "thank you for your participation" or "you do not qualify" and the survey ends. 
• How can some evangelical Christians be so full of religion and so full of hate at the same time? Maybe a little less Old Testament and more New Testament would help.
• The drug and supplement commercials never mention which clinic conducts those "clinical studies".  
• Back in the old days, I rarely had to pee during a TV program and there were plenty of commercials. Now with Netflix, Amazon Video, HBO, etc., there are no commercials and I often need a break. Thankfully there is a "pause" button on the remote. 
• How come nobody on TV ever has to charge their phone?
• Easy Open Package is often a misnomer.

wjh

Very Random Thoughts - March 2019

• Can we get some rules about how many times a TV commercial can run in a specific time period? It's a big problem on lesser cable channels that have fewer different advertisers.
• I'm not a fan of the new practice of putting an advertisement in the middle of a video. It happens on YouTube and several other sites. 
• I have just about outlived my music. The original artists are either dead or retired. Or should be retired. Thankfully it was all recorded and I have the recordings. 
• Same vein, your most favorite musical groups, and artists are probably about five years older than you. 
• Let's give the anti-vaccine people a more appropriate name. How about pro-plague.
• How many products have packaging that costs more than the contents? Bottled water would for sure be one.
• If you take one of those stupid Facebook "tests" and it says you look 21 or 25 or 31 or 33, it is a lie if you went to school with me. You may look younger than your age, but not 20 or 30 or 40 years younger.  
• There is a difference between opinion and fact.
• Wouldn't it be nice if remote controls had a standard key layout? 
• I regret that I never learned to play a musical instrument. Although based on my youthful efforts it was obvious that there was little or no talent. 
• We need to spread out our holidays. Way too many at the end of the year and the beginning of the year. Very few in the middle. 
• How come during the blind auditions on The Voice, more people don't sing Turn Around? That is the object of the audition. 
• In religion, the more it doesn't make sense the better. That proves your faith. 
• Is it actually possible to watch four NCAA tournament basketball games at the same time? I try. 
• Same subject. Have you ever gotten all first-round games correct in your bracket? Me neither.
• Isn't it time to finally come up with new names for the NCAA basketball tournament regions? East, South, Midwest, and West have almost no relationship to the teams or game locations. 
• Smokey Bear's middle name is not "the". 
• During this time of year with the men's and women's NCAA basketball tournaments, the NIT, the CBI, and other sports, you can get some pretty bad TV announcers and analysts. Everybody doesn't get the A team. 
• With so many people now living together without getting married, we need a whole new category for some of our relationships to others. The term "in-law" does not apply.
• Not guilty does not mean innocent. 
• Not exonerated does not mean complete and total exoneration. 
• Didn't Estate Sale use to indicate the liquidation of a substantial dwelling and grounds? Now I see estate sale signs in front of modest, even run down, three-bedroom ranch style houses.
• Amazing. When I canceled AT&T U-verse, they cut off my internet and streaming authorizations at the exact second my contract was up. Too bad they weren't as prompt answering the phone or actually providing service. 
• When people, especially politicians, say about an issue, "it hasn't crossed my mind", you can be sure that it has crossed, crisscrossed, and occupies a prominent place in their mind.
• Am I getting more impatient or are pro golfers getting even slower? I find myself yelling "hit the damn ball" at the TV.

wjh

Very Random Thoughts - February 2019

• No one is truly self-made. Certainly not people like Donald Trump. 
• When did the response to "Thank You" become "Thank You"? I always thought it was "You're Welcome".
• Oh wait, sometimes the thank you response is now "no problem" which I find obnoxious. 
• Just in case I may have forgotten, the flu reminded me this month that it sux. Old and flu are a bad combination. 
• Remember when some places offered a discount if you paid with cash? Now some stores are trying to go completely cashless. 
• Why are weather people called meteorologists? They rarely if ever give us any information about meteors. 
• Whatever happened to Sarah Palin? 
• The latest BS marketing term is "tactical". We have tactical shirts, pants, belts, sunglasses, flashlights, etc. 
• Jeff Foxworthy has a furniture line. If you buy any pieces, you might be a redneck. 
• I'm noticing a new category of drugs being advertised on TV. These drugs don't actually cure or fix anything, they just make the numerous drugs you are already taking work better (allegedly). Drugs to help your drugs. Do we really need to be taking more drugs? 
• Stupid and ignorant are not the same thing. Many smart people are ignorant. 
• The new product called Sheex is marketed as performance sheets. That leaves room for various interpretations. Are these sheets an alternative to Viagra? How do they work?

wjh

Very Random Thoughts - January 2019

• Do GM workers get mad when the company offers the employee discount on their cars to the public?
• Speaking of cars, who would buy a used car from one of those internet sites that deliver them to your door. Don't you want to kick the tires before the purchase?
• Hasn't the Gatorade dousing of the winning football coach just about run its course?
• On January 1st, all those last chance year-end sales become last chance New Year's sales. 
• Common sense is not evenly distributed. 
• Personal injury lawyers (ambulance chasers) have some of the worst and most stupid TV commercials. I can't imagine choosing one of these clowns to represent me. 
• When did we need to have a slash on sevens? 
  
• Back in the old days when I had to send programming sheets to the keypunch department, we had to slash zeros (0) to distinguish from alpha O's. Believe me, computers really cared whether it was a 0 or O. When I looked back, I realized that was backward. There were far more zeros than O's in the programs source code.
  
• Have you noticed that junk food is way more often on sale or has coupons than the healthy stuff? Keep America fat.
• I have noticed a large increase in the number of memes and comments by the Trumpers that are derogatory toward Democrats since the midterms. They even dust off old Obama and Clinton slurs. Facts be damned. 
• Often times free stuff is way overpriced.
• Do the 800K federal employees who are either furloughed or working without pay count as employed in the Labor Department jobs statistics?
• Oxymoron: premium economy airline seating.
• It always seems strange to me when I see an advertisement for one TV channel like TBS or FX on another network like NBC or CBS. 
• The Texas Roadhouse steakhouse chain was founded in Indiana and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. False advertising. 
• The University of Oklahoma goes by the initials OU. Apparently, dyslexia is very common in amohalkO. 
• A local TV commercial for an eye surgeon starts out with the doctor saying "If you have cataracts, you are lucky". He then says something about many options. Really, you are lucky? I feel very unlucky that I don't have cataracts so I can have surgery and pay large medical bills. 
• If the #TrumpShutdown causes the IRS to delay tax refunds, can we also delay tax payments if we owe money? I'm guessing NO.
• Sometimes it is almost impossible to tell the fake from the real commercials on Saturday Night Live. A sad commentary on the real ones.
• Why do TV sports programs have aerial coverage of indoor events?
• It's amazing how prices and salaries have changed over the years. Some of the dollar figures spouted on old TV shows are really low. $50K was a fortune. 

wjh

Very Random Thoughts - December 2018

• Spring forward, fall back. Changing the clocks used to be a big pain in the ass twice a year. Not so much anymore. I only have one or two clocks that I use that don't adjust automatically. 
• Is it icing or frosting?
• Who decided that the football player who gets the hike and runs the team should be called QUARTERback? That makes him sound like the least important back.
• If Trump wants to start another branch of the armed forces, it seems to me our tax dollars would be better spent on a Cyber Force rather than a Space Force. 
• It appears that Beto O'Rourke might be on the national political scene for the next couple of years. Maybe as a presidential candidate. So, I think we should all pronounce his name correctly. It is not Bait-O, it is Bet-O, short E and long O, as in place a bet or you bet your life. Clear?
• If you think Google search is prejudiced against your political leanings or party, there is an easy solution. There are several other search engines. Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, Dogpile, WebCrawler, etc. Just do a Google search for search engines.
• How come people get to use their temporary government titles for the rest of their life? I'm talking about governor, ambassador, secretary, senator, etc. Once the gig is over you're just a regular Ms. or Mr. again.
• The entertainment industry awards aren't until next year but the promos for the shows are already airing. Unfortunately, I can't set my DVR for February. I may miss the Oscars. 
• The English language is dead. I was watching a late night talk show. One of the guests managed to say LIKE at least twice per sentence, often more. My ears caught fire and I had to mute the interview. 
• Have you ever noticed that in movies or on TV, when someone is looking for something they always initially look in the wrong direction when they enter a room? Then they can do a dramatic take or comedic doubletake when they look in the right direction. 
• Here's a variation on the old oxymoron jumbo shrimp. We now have jumbo popcorn shrimp. What is jumbo popcorn?
• Were parents able to navigate Christmas shopping without Toys "R" Us? 
• I like it when drug TV commercials say during the long disclaimers, "Do not take wonder drug if you are allergic to wonder drug." How would you know if you are allergic to a drug before it is prescribed and you take it? On the other hand, why would anyone take a drug they know they are allergic to? 
• How come men have to wear black, navy blue, or charcoal gray suits but women can wear almost any color. Seems unfair. 
• It's a little hard to digest, but if I say "back when I was growing up", that was about 60 or more years ago. 
• I have no recollection of whether I have ever had a white Christmas. Maybe when I was really young in New Jersey. 
• DVRs and TV remotes spoil us for movies at an actual theater. I sometimes want to rewind a few frames to hear what was said. Worst case is a desire for a pause button when nature calls. 
• I learned recently that mixed up phrases, such as boldface lie instead of the correct bald-faced lie, are called eggcorns. Relatively useless information that will not often be needed. 
• The good news for the lazy is that Nike will be drastically reducing the price of their $720 self-lacing shoes. The bad news is they still will cost $350. Think I'll continue to tie my own laces manually.
• How much do you think the big stars get paid for those hokey infomercials? Tom Selleck does reverse mortgages, Alex Trebek does $9.95 life insurance, William Shatner will sell anything. Besides, how believable are actors? They pretend for a living.
• There should be a law against TV reality shows using the words celebrity or star in the title unless there are actually famous people on the program. Dancing With the Stars, really. Celebrity Big Brother, not quite.
• A person and a people are two different things. One is an individual the other is a group. Don't judge the person by what people they belong to. 
• So what's your New Year's food? Black eye peas, tamales, pickled herring, greens, Hoppin' John?  

wjh

Very Random Thoughts - November 2018

• "Tactical" pants are now a thing. Do we need tactical skirts? How about tactical undies?
• I used to be able to tell which college football teams were playing by their uniforms. Not necessarily so nowadays. With all the Nike, Under Armour, and adidas "special" uniforms, it's no longer obvious. 
• It seems that every college football team I follow plays at the same time on Saturdays. 
• If you don't believe in facts, then everything is an opinion. My opinion is that facts matter.
• Mass shootings are so common now that even the politicians don't bother with "Thoughts & Prayers" anymore. Not that a thought or a prayer ever stopped a bullet.
• I have no hope that our government will do anything about the epidemic of mass shootings. At least not until the majority of the population is either a family member, friend, or surviving victim of a mass shooting. The dead ones can't vote.
• Is it just me or do text messages to our children seem to be on a one, two, three-day delay? Sometimes maybe a week or infinity. 
• Black Friday sales now start in October. Too early? 
• According to TV commercials, PD (Peyronie's Disease) is the new ED (Erectile Dysfunction).
• Trump thinks you need an ID to buy cereal at the grocery store. Slightly out of touch with the common woman and man.
• Just when all the political campaign emails end, the shopping emails go into overdrive. 
• Has anyone ever learned anything in a postgame news conference? Cliches-R-Us and we've heard them all before. 
• The only good thing about Joe Tessitore doing Monday Night Football is that he no longer does SEC games. 
• Whatever happened to the coffin corner punt in football?
• It has been 55 years since JFK was assassinated. The day is still vivid to me. 
• How many TV shows have used the plot where the star had a twin or somebody who looked exactly like them? The other one was always a bad guy. 
• There will be 40 college bowl games this year. One more than last year because 39 is just not enough. They start on December 15th. 
• Remember when Christmas tree tinsel was made out of aluminum? We sometimes would salvage what we could from the tree and use it the following year. I also remember gathering up the scraps and rolling it into a metal ball. Can't do that with the plastic stuff around now.
• Is it just me, or do a lot of those big college football linemen look like they are in their mid 40's or older?
• Speaking of college sports, it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell if it was a football or basketball game by looking at the score.

wjh