Happiness Thing

 I sat for a while looking at this 'headline'.....it implies various thoughts.

What exactly do you mean by 'good life'?

How does one define a 'happy life'?

Where exactly do you find something that is meaningful?

I grew up in the rural aspects of Alabama in the 1960s/1970s.  You could ask locals in that period about a happy life, and they'd respond if you had a decent tin roof, plenty of firewood, a bit of whiskey occasionally, fireworks for the 4th of July, and some  decent minister for Sundays who didn't keep you past noon.....things were meaningful.

If you brought the topic today?  Folks would respond that that it was a blessing to have cable-TV (without HBO because it's got so much porn), that the beverage shop maintains plenty of cheap Mexican beer, that you gave up the church minister business because of a anti-Trump sermon he gave five years ago, that the county fair is still the most remarkable experience you can have, and that you wish the meth lab three miles over would be shut down by the county sheriff.

I don't think people know how or when to be happy anymore.  They get all hyped up over pronouns, or biased news, or being corrected by some kid with a fake college degree.  

People whine over just about anything....even the answers given off some Jeopardy show, or how some movie they spent $16 on for the ticket and beverages was so disappointing.

So doctors want a way to explain this inability to find happiness. 

I got this feeling that doctor thing might turn into a lecture....where you MUST find happiness.  

My Ten Humble Views On This Alien Chatter

 1.  What if aliens interfered in the 2016 election....to help Hillary lose, or Trump to win?  Would that worry folks?

2.  The longer that aliens hang around humans.....do they also get more stupid?

3.  Can aliens (10,000 years more advanced) get 'woke'?

4.  Are aliens watching episodes of 'Lost' and 'Better Call Saul' and getting addicted to our TV series?

5.  Are aliens NCAA-football fans?

6.  Are aliens confused by society....to the point that they require 'rehab'?

7.  Do aliens play 'World-of-Warcraft', and buy imaginary ponies or swords?

8.  Are aliens into 'curvy-models' as much as American guys?

9.  Are aliens gaining weight as they eat Earth fast-food?

10.  After a couple of years.....do aliens give up on their own lifestyle, and get stuck on Earth dramatics? 

How The Hunter Court Episode Fell Apart

 When Hunter Biden arrived at the court house with his lawyers....he had this idea that there were four groups in the court (the judge, Hunter  himself, the prosecutor team, and the defense team).

So when things unfolded....the judge went to an odd question....if the 'deal' was set and agreed upon....was this the end of investigative trouble?

I think Hunter and his lawyers assumed so.

Well....the prosecutor answered 'NO'.  There were more investigations going on. 

I would imagine Hunter's lawyers were a bit shocked because they felt they had this at a end-phase.  Hunter?  He might have wondered....what the hell.

There were actually three more parties involved, but not in the room.  There was Joe Biden (dad), his lawyers, and the DoJ bosses (probably three levels of people working deals).

In a matter of ten minutes, the deal was gone.  Hunter had to address the court and say 'not guilty' on the charges.

Then they (Hunter and the lawyers) left.

I would assume they went to some quiet office area and openly discussed what the rest of this investigation was about, and Hunter called 'dad' at some point and asked what was going on.

Dad probably acted stupid.

Why they needed this appearance and the deal of some guilt?  It would appear that this would draw attention off dad's financial dealings (at least for a period of time). 

Now?  Well....this case will now open and potentially....Hunter could end up guilty and sent off for a year of prison.   Or....another deal might be worked up.  More charges?  That's Hunter's biggest fear.

The fact that the judge told Hunter to start looking for a job?  Yeah, that was odd.  The judges words to no drugs or booze?  That was odd too.

If you were looking for some low emotional turmoil, and the potential to get all drugged-up.....I'd say Hunter is at that moment presently.  

The other funny thing?  If you actively listen to NPR or read WaPo.....you probably got about 4 lines of text over the event. 

Movie Review: Barbie

 I ended up at a Mainz kino (theater) this week and attempted to watch 'Barbie'.  So I'll make ten observations:

1.  It was a waste of money.  I actually felt silly.

2.  I walked out somewhere around the 50-to-55 minute point.  I've probably done this three times now in my life where the movie just never made sense (last time was around 2012, with 'Jackass').  So I really don't know the end.

3.  Funny?  I'd say it hit some peak in the first to ten minute point.  From that point on.....it seemed like a 'lecture' than entertainment or a comedy.

4.  There were probably forty people in the theater....mostly young women (18 to 25). If you asked me whether some six to ten year old girl would have any interest in the movie....I'd ask 'how'.  Maybe some girls in the 12-to-18 range, and college-age ladies.   Boys?  NO.  Young college guys?  NO.  

5.  I think Barbie will peak at the 10th day, and most people will  have wrapped up the viewing audience.  

6.  Script?  Barbie-land is under a threat, and Ken seems to be a enemy or marginal bad-guy.  I started to imagine that what Barbie-land needed was some Greek hero like Achilles, or some badass guy like Nic Fury (Marvel, Samuel L. Jackson).  

7.  If there ever was a movie where you needed a bit of cannabis prior to viewing?  Yeah, this would be the movie.

8.   Designed as a theme or message or brand?  I just don't get that impression.  Maybe the writers were told that 'something' has to deliver a Barbie brand, and sell the clothing/style.  Maybe the script changed forty times before the production stage?  I left the place wondering how they got this far into the making of it....without anything of real interest.

9.  Will there be a Barbie II?  Maybe this Ken-character could get a re-make, maybe adding a buddy ('Marvin').  

10.  I suspect Barbie-land will be long discussed this summer and some people will state they feel like we live in a fake reality (like Barbie-land).