I have always wondered at the about the enigma of rude questions. They are valued by tabloids but eschewed in the polite society that buys them. I decline to name the source of these inquiries but here's an example: What do you look like without makeup? Like this:
What, is it noticeable?
Another rude question: Have you ever argued with an HOA, Draft Board or other authoritative committee? Yes, here's how it went (with help from two of the finest actors on Earth, Alfonso Bedoya and Humphrey Bogart): Bedoya&Bogart
Third question: How far do you feel, ideologically, from the President of the United States?
I decline to comment on the current misadministration, but will compliment the January 21st, 2nd Inaugural Address of Ronald Reagan --my political antipode except where he saw reason and allowed it to obtain. I met him personally 3 times while he was governor here, and he was just a real nice guy. On that day in 1985, he was building a future. I was building our barn.
When Carter left office, we were paying 16% on a house loan. When Reagan came in, all that changed. We paid off the loan, could buy Christmas presents for our kids. Love Reagan.
No stinkin' badges. Where have I heard that before.
"No stinkin' badges" you probably heard on the same great film I did: "Treasure Of Sierra Madre"(1948). As for Reagan, he used to come out to Elk Grove Park when I was a teenager and he was running for Governor. I liked him but didn't agree with everything he brought to the conversation --just glad he didn't treat me like a stupid kid. He became a right-Centrist and I became a Democrat, but I could never impugn his character.
I don't need makeup, Geo. I need embalming fluid - - but that's beside the point. Did you really meet Reagan three times? I met him once when I was fourteen, in Pomona, CA.
Dear Jon, my encounters with Reagan were while he was busy here at the capital. He'd come to Elk Grove to talk with us in the park, and once or twice to ride a horse in the Western Festival parade. But his real invites were when he sent a bus to pick us up for talks in a capitol conference room. He liked talking with high schoolers and was always his soft-spoken, likeable self. So maybe more than 3 times. And my friend, Johnny Perez, was his favored chef at Rosemont Grill.
My response to rude questions is "what?"..if they are stupid enough to repeat it, well then, they deserve what they get. And I won't need any 'stinkin' badge' to handle the situation either lol.
I think the future Reagan was building was the one that Newt Gingrich, the tea party, now the GOP and trump are putting the finishing touches upon; a future when the social programs that FDR used to save the country when it was ready to collapse, and the social reforms that LBJ initiated, voting reform, civil rights, are abolished. The future we're seeing today. I never met him, but yes, I heard he was a pleasant person to meet. So was Ted Bundy from what I understand. Take care, hope you are well.
I get your point, and marginally agree. But Bundy was a psychotic multi-murderer and necrophilac. Much as I disagreed with Reagan and never voted for him, I'd much rather spend time with him than with Bundy.
I'm not sure makeup would take care of that first situation, Geo.!!
I never paid much attention to U.S. politics until the current resident of the White House was running. I've been watching in horror ever since, but the upside is that I've learned a lot more about the U. S. system of government and policies since then.
One final comment: it's a sign of confidence to be sitting, mid-air, on something one has put together with mere wood and nails, is it not? I wouldn't have such confidence, and I would be right not to, but you clearly were comfortable with your handiwork!
Indeed, O_Jenny, that photo was a product of a camera that Norma never got control of. It had too many special effects! She immediately gave it to someone who could coax it to normalcy and returned to her simpler camera. Good thing too! As to January 21, 1985, we were all trying to build lives and worked hard at it --made mistakes but sometimes ended up straddling a beam in the sky.
To me "rude" equals "stupid". They say: "There is no such thing as a stupid question." … whoever "they" are … but in any case, "they" are wrong, friend Geo. Love, cat.
And yet, dear Cat, and yet some of my most enjoyably stupid conversations have begun with stupid questions. I believe I have just defined childhood --which persists.
Haven't worn make up for many years, since leaving the television job. My shirt collars are no longer ruined. I made a career of arguing with authoritative agencies, often seeking information the public had a right or need to know, but that for some reason the authoritative agency or person wanted kept out of public view. I feel quite distant from the rogue president. I think he lacks an ideology and is motivated simply by selfish needs, impulses and ignorance. While I think he is a victim of a malignant narcissism, he is none the less a repulsive and loutish human being. And as for the photos, I humbly suggest that riding barn rafters does wonders for your looks, as compared to that top photo!:)
Tom, I have to agree with your take on "rogue president". His divisive tweets and idiotic alarms about immigrants sets off something, some further psychosis, in xenophobes. The whole administration is rife with firings, replacements, more firings --keeps everything unbalanced and accountability illusive. Public security and sanity suffers.
I never had the pleasure of meeting Reagan, but I have a feeling I would've liked him. He came across as a caring person who genuinely wanted what was best for this country... and for the world...and he sure knew how to deliver an uplifting speech. Great sense of humor, too. I didn't agree with a lot of his political viewpoints, but I'd much rather have someone like him in the Oval Office than its current occupant. I wonder... will the political pendulum ever stabilize in the "center" again? The extremists on both side are tearing us apart. Or trying to, anyway.
Nice look on you on that rooftop. You kinda look like a slim Gene Shalitt. (Not sure how to spell his last name... and come to think of it, I'm not even sure that's the guy's name at all, HA!)
The pendulum simply HAS to re-stabilize, Susan, or (according to the great Pat Paulsen) this country, with one wing stronger than the other will just fly around in circles. Mr. Shalit is still with us at age 93 and handsome as ever.
When Carter left office, we were paying 16% on a house loan. When Reagan came in, all that changed. We paid off the loan, could buy Christmas presents for our kids. Love Reagan.
ReplyDeleteNo stinkin' badges. Where have I heard that before.
"No stinkin' badges" you probably heard on the same great film I did: "Treasure Of Sierra Madre"(1948). As for Reagan, he used to come out to Elk Grove Park when I was a teenager and he was running for Governor. I liked him but didn't agree with everything he brought to the conversation --just glad he didn't treat me like a stupid kid. He became a right-Centrist and I became a Democrat, but I could never impugn his character.
DeleteThe best answer to stupid questions is, " Why would you ask me that?"
ReplyDeleteDear Emma, I must agree --which is why I only answered three of them.
DeleteI don't need makeup, Geo. I need embalming fluid - - but that's beside the point.
ReplyDeleteDid you really meet Reagan three times? I met him once when I was fourteen, in Pomona, CA.
Dear Jon, my encounters with Reagan were while he was busy here at the capital. He'd come to Elk Grove to talk with us in the park, and once or twice to ride a horse in the Western Festival parade. But his real invites were when he sent a bus to pick us up for talks in a capitol conference room. He liked talking with high schoolers and was always his soft-spoken, likeable self. So maybe more than 3 times. And my friend, Johnny Perez, was his favored chef at Rosemont Grill.
DeleteMy response to rude questions is "what?"..if they are stupid enough to repeat it, well then, they deserve what they get. And I won't need any 'stinkin' badge' to handle the situation either lol.
ReplyDeleteSensible method, dear Delores. I generally skip the "what?" and go right to not listening. But some interest me.
DeleteI think the future Reagan was building was the one that Newt Gingrich, the tea party, now the GOP and trump are putting the finishing touches upon; a future when the social programs that FDR used to save the country when it was ready to collapse, and the social reforms that LBJ initiated, voting reform, civil rights, are abolished. The future we're seeing today. I never met him, but yes, I heard he was a pleasant person to meet. So was Ted Bundy from what I understand.
ReplyDeleteTake care, hope you are well.
I get your point, and marginally agree. But Bundy was a psychotic multi-murderer and necrophilac. Much as I disagreed with Reagan and never voted for him, I'd much rather spend time with him than with Bundy.
DeleteI'm not sure makeup would take care of that first situation, Geo.!!
ReplyDeleteI never paid much attention to U.S. politics until the current resident of the White House was running. I've been watching in horror ever since, but the upside is that I've learned a lot more about the U. S. system of government and policies since then.
One final comment: it's a sign of confidence to be sitting, mid-air, on something one has put together with mere wood and nails, is it not? I wouldn't have such confidence, and I would be right not to, but you clearly were comfortable with your handiwork!
Indeed, O_Jenny, that photo was a product of a camera that Norma never got control of. It had too many special effects! She immediately gave it to someone who could coax it to normalcy and returned to her simpler camera. Good thing too! As to January 21, 1985, we were all trying to build lives and worked hard at it --made mistakes but sometimes ended up straddling a beam in the sky.
DeleteTo me "rude" equals "stupid". They say: "There is no such thing as a stupid question." … whoever "they" are … but in any case, "they" are wrong, friend Geo. Love, cat.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet, dear Cat, and yet some of my most enjoyably stupid conversations have begun with stupid questions. I believe I have just defined childhood --which persists.
DeleteHaven't worn make up for many years, since leaving the television job. My shirt collars are no longer ruined.
ReplyDeleteI made a career of arguing with authoritative agencies, often seeking information the public had a right or need to know, but that for some reason the authoritative agency or person wanted kept out of public view.
I feel quite distant from the rogue president. I think he lacks an ideology and is motivated simply by selfish needs, impulses and ignorance. While I think he is a victim of a malignant narcissism, he is none the less a repulsive and loutish human being.
And as for the photos, I humbly suggest that riding barn rafters does wonders for your looks, as compared to that top photo!:)
Tom, I have to agree with your take on "rogue president". His divisive tweets and idiotic alarms about immigrants sets off something, some further psychosis, in xenophobes. The whole administration is rife with firings, replacements, more firings --keeps everything unbalanced and accountability illusive. Public security and sanity suffers.
DeleteI never had the pleasure of meeting Reagan, but I have a feeling I would've liked him. He came across as a caring person who genuinely wanted what was best for this country... and for the world...and he sure knew how to deliver an uplifting speech. Great sense of humor, too. I didn't agree with a lot of his political viewpoints, but I'd much rather have someone like him in the Oval Office than its current occupant. I wonder... will the political pendulum ever stabilize in the "center" again? The extremists on both side are tearing us apart. Or trying to, anyway.
ReplyDeleteNice look on you on that rooftop. You kinda look like a slim Gene Shalitt. (Not sure how to spell his last name... and come to think of it, I'm not even sure that's the guy's name at all, HA!)
Stay cool, dude.
The pendulum simply HAS to re-stabilize, Susan, or (according to the great Pat Paulsen) this country, with one wing stronger than the other will just fly around in circles.
DeleteMr. Shalit is still with us at age 93 and handsome as ever.
I should watch the "Treasure Of Sierra Madre" again. It was a good movie.
ReplyDeletewww.thepulpitandthepen.com
One of the best, Sage.
Delete