AN HISTORIC DAY IN THESE UNITED STATES

Monday, January 20. It's an important day in America. Yes, it is the day of inauguration of our 47th president. It is also a day to honor the memory of one of the great humanists of our age. This is a national holiday to honor the memory of the Reverend Martin Luther King. He distinguished himself as one of the greatest  advocates of equal human recognition and rights for all of us. Take a moment to remember him, an advocate for ALL human equality, as we recognize the inauguration of President Donald Trump..

BITTER C0LD AND A FAMILY OF KILLERS

 It never got to zero degrees in my backyard today. Now I'm sitting at my computer in my workroom in front of a nice warm fireplace ablaze with well-dried oak. Yeah. No snow to speak of so if this low temp continues , thawing next Spring will be long and tedious. My current read is a novel from an Aussie named Benjamin Stevenson. I'm only a third of the way into this so haven't formed in-depth opinion yet. Good read so far. Karin Slaughter liked it. Title? Sure: EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE. Intrigued? Yes, I am. So far so good. Stay tuned.

MN LEGISLATURE MEMBERS BETTER??

 Tonight on Almanac (channel 2) four former legislators went toe to toe over the legislature's political power fight. Two dems and two Repubs argued about what power the sec. of State might have over calling a flawed legislature with at least one empty seat, to order. The only former elected legislator attempting to offer rational ideas as  Karla Bigham. She said, more than once the legislature ought to forget about arguing over who get the Speaker's gavel in the House and just get to work on the mating issues--what they were elected for!  What a novel and unusual idea! Do the work you were hired for! Our political parties across the nation and here in Minnesota are focused on POWER. They should be working on solving national and state problems. It is the weakness and corruption of the American political parties that is the root of all our ills! Bring back the North Dakota model of EFFECTIVE POLITICS,  THE NON-PARTISAN LEAGUE.

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!