PRIVACY? WHERE HAST THOU GONE?

 A little more than a year ago I purchased my first cell phone. Yes, I also have a home phone (used to be known as a land line). My home phone number is out there on my web site, has been for years, ever since I had NW Bell hook me up. They showed up less than two hours after I called to schedule service. But that was a holiday, so the tech apologized for the delay.

So I bought a cell two years ago so I could carry it as I get older. I supplied the number to a carefully drawn list of about 20 people, mostly family and a few important work associates. None of them ever call my android cell. But others do. I keep track, sometimes. Two weeks ago, between 8AM and 8PM on a single day my cell phone received 149 (!) calls. 

To be clear, I didn't answer any of them. The recorded message assures the caller I'll return the call if they leave a name and number. They don't. The calls come from all over the world. Based on my known number, I expect them to be scams; calls about the adventures of my non-existent nephew, or brother, or aunt. Or they are advertiser calls about my expiring warranties on everything including my false teeth.

My point? When your mobile phone is in your possession, you are accessible: in your home, your office or factory floor, the hospital and your doctor's office. Yes, there are laws about privacy. Ever know anybody who broke a law? 

Personally, I don't care if government or individuals can trace my movements by connecting  to my GPS or my cell. My point is that privacy except in specific treated locations, is gone. That horse has left the barn. Know that and live your life accordingly.

GOLDEN GLOBES

 After years of mistakes, missteps and slugfests, Golden Globes nailed it! Nikki Glaser is outstanding as the host. Should (will) be an outstanding show!

ANTI-VACCINES: SERIOUSLY?

 PLEASE CONSIDER THIS: 

History can be instructive. It's late spring in 1941. I lived with my parents, brother and sister in a small house in the Saint Anthony Park neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota. My sister got the measles. She later gave it to our brother and then on to me. The health department came with warning signs that were tacked to our front door. As summer dawned my brother developed Whooping Cough, later passed on to his siblings. Then in July, my little sister contracted Mumps. It too progressed from sister to her two brothers. And the front door was festooned with more epidemic warning signs from health officials. All summer we watched our neighborhood friends playing outside while we sat at upstairs windows. It was a terrible lost period of our youth. Today, there are vaccines, proven effective after careful development and study.  Vaccines are saving the lives of people all over the world. But you have to allow them. Consult your physicians. Follow their advice.   Protect yourselves,your children and your community.

KENNEDY CENTER HONORS

 SUNDAY, 12/22, CBS covered the Kennedy Center honors. It was great to see some older but well-known (at least to me) cultural leaders like Bonnie Rait and Dave Letterman and music from the Grateful Dead. Francis Ford Cupola was honored for his incredible (and ongoing) contribution to the culture and innovative of the film industry. It was also fascinating to see which politicians were present and (some) even participated: like several Senators, Nancy Pelosi and even President Biden.

DARK AND STORMY DEBUTS AT ONCE UPON A CRIME

When you are in south Minneapolis, meandering along Lyndale Avenue, you pas beyond the complex interchange of freeways into a mixed commercial neighborhood. When you arrive at 26th, if you look to the east, you'll see a large imposing sign at ground level beside  a canopied stairway. The stair lead down to a basement doorway. It's the basement level entrance to one of the finest bookstores in the state of Minnesota. In fact, ONCE UPON A CRIME is one of the best bookstores in the entire nation.

I don't go there too often. I can't afford it. Their inventory which focuses on mystery and other crime fiction, would bankrupt me in thirty seconds. Tens of thousands of crime novels and anthologies by just about every good crime novelist in the English language are ready for sale and on display in their bookshelves.

This Saturday I was there for the debut a a fine anthology presented by local members of the Twin Cities Chapter of Sisters In Crime. The eighteen stories in IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT, DONTCHA KNOW, by eighteen good writers will capture your attention, make you smile, laugh, nod in satisfaction, and even bring a tear to your eye. I'll have a more detailed review after I finish reading the anthology. Meanwhile, get over to ONCE UPON A CRIME. It they are new to you, you'll discover an amazing collection of careful thoughtful. excellent books for your definite reading pleasure. 

Happy Reading.

FREE SPEECH NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY

 William Cooper is the author of a thoughtful examination of the structure of America, especially our "freedoms." titled "How America Works. . . and Why it Doesn't" It's worth a read in our parlous times. His column carried by a news platform called "The Fulcrum" focuses on Free Speech and the current trends, especially on educational campuses to suppress free speech. We all understand that at times we are hard-pressed to not just scream SHUT UP at what we may consider idiotic and dangerous commentary. This is particularly true today on college and university campuses where threats of riotous behavior have too frequently been successful. One can understand how an administrator, faced either way with budget considerations, might quickly decide to avoid potential confrontation. And we should all remember, if we are talking across a table with an enemy, we aren't shooting or dodging bullets from the opposition.

FREEZING WEATHER IN MINNESOTA AND OTHER NORTHERN STATES

 It's a cold morning again here in Minnesota. If this is an unfamiliar season to you who may read this curmudgeonly comment  KNOW THIS: Ice on lakes and ponds is still way to thin. It will NOT hold an adult or most children. Icy water shocks. People drown in frigid water. Stay on land for at least two more weeks of below freezing weather.

Another thing: Driving normally on snow and icy roads can be a killer. SLOW DOWN. Learn how your vehicle responds to hard braking or attempts to make sudden turns. The number of fender benders and vehicles in ditches on the freeways is a good indicator of too many driving too fast for current condition!

Increases following distance and slow down. Stay safe as winder descends on all of us!

THE VIEW ON ABC AN UNUSUAL PACKAGE OF FEMALE CURRENT EVENTS VIEWS

 Got my vision back after weeks an two surgeries. So I'll be back to more regular writing/commentary. To bgin. If you have the time/interest and want to learn more about the mixed political attitudes of a few bright, accomplished women, watch THE VIEW daily on ABC 10 am locally. It can be frustrating, irksome, but they are bright and honest in their conflicting views. The first half-hour is the best current affairs piece.