The Anxiety of New Years' Resolutions

Every year we hear the same old story - "I'm going to create some New Year's Resolutions and I'm going to stick with them."  The second part is where people get it wrong.  Haven't they learned anything from politicians?  It's perfectly fine to create a set of promises - whether they be to others or to ourselves, but its an absolute no-no to plan on keeping them.  What's wrong with you people, anyway? Why buck the system?  Why set yourselves up for disappointment and disaster?

Here are some of the resolutions that often abound, with a side of commentary, of course:

Resolution: I'm going to lose weight. 
Reality:  Liar!  You've just spent the last three weeks eating like you've just entered the Dittsville Pie Eating contest and oh - now - now you plan on dropping the weight?  I bet you have a refrigerator full of ice cream, cheese-cake, pies, cheeses, cookies, and tons of other stuff that doesn't exactly make Body for Life's top 10 foods for a healthy lifestyle.  Oh, and don't forget to throw in an unattainable goal while you're at it, like planning to lose 30 pounds by June!  Live in a house with others?  Oh, good luck with that - I bet they all look forward to a diet of salad and tofu? Hmmm. Yeah right!

Resolution:  I'm going to find a new job.
Reality:  I like this one myself.  But, easier said than done.  Hell, losing weight is easier to achieve than making this one come true in an Obama-economy, and for those in Connecticut  - an Obama-Malloy-economy, hell it will be a two-for!  The problem with this one is that you have to be willing to enter the fray of new style resume writing (whatever "fashion" HR types are looking for this year), schedule management, answering stupid questions, and the desire for humiliation and rejection based on the slight of gamesmanship from the moronic-HR team.  After all, they need to pretend to look busy and strategic too, you know.  No HR job is safe unless they have a million appointments on the calendar, thousands of unreturned phone calls, and a line out the door longer than any ride at Disney. Am I saying, keep your crappy job - no, I guess not.  Just don't go into the job finding effort half-hearted or you'll be worse off from wasting time going in no direction with lots of aggravation in return, feeling 10x more miserable than before.

Resolution:  I'm going to take up _____.
Reality:  This could be anything from golf, to playing a musical instrument, to learning to cook like Betty Crocker.  As someone who could have a world class tag sale based on bits and pieces of nearly every hobby imaginable, you might want to invest in a hobby that is - nearly free, so that when you quit, you won't feel more depressed than necessary, and you can cheekily say you gave it the old college try.  And you won't have even more clutter than necessary laying around reminding you of the day when you tried Polo, or Scuba Diving.

Resolution:  I'm going to get outside more.
Reality:  This isn't such a bad idea, but the problem is that New Year's Resolutions are made in January when its minus 16 degrees outside, and after about five minutes of breathing like Jack Frost you realize that your lungs have crystallized and that man was made for better things like sitting inside the warm house watching reruns of Sanford and Son or the Food Network. With any luck, you'll resort to this resolution in June, when the sun is warm and you can't slip and kill yourself on the ice.

Resolution:  I'm going to be a better person.
Reality:  This only worked for Ebenezer Scrooge.  And remember his case was special; if a dark robed scary skeleton-looking guy brought you into a graveyard at 3 am and threatened you with death by pointing to a gravestone with your name on it in ALL CAPS - I bet you'd promise to make big changes too.  I think you are born how you are, bad genes, personality and all,  and you can make some changes here and there, but a wholesale personality change looks and smells of severe metal illness.  The friends you have like you for who you are, or else they wouldn't be your friends.  And if you don't have any friends do you want to win over some new ones by pretending you're Elton John or Jerry Seinfeld? C'mon get real. 

I guess I could go on.  And on. And on.

So here is what I recommend. 

Don't make ANY New Year's Resolutions about ANYTHING.  If you have an inclination to make a few modifications to your life, some by choice, and others by circumstance, than make them life-long changes and commit to them.  If they don't work, abandon them and go with what feels right.

Obviously, there is one place I do deviate from this check and tongue entry - if you have health problems and the doctor tells you to give up the gallon of ice cream you inhale each night, then find a way to get it done. You can start by throwing out all the empty calories in your refrigerator and stop shopping for food filled with salt, sugar, mega-carbs and fat. 

Other than that.  Like Mr. Roger's said, "I like you just the way you are."  If you're good enough for Rogers, than you are good enough for everyone else. 

So be it resolved, no more resolutions. 

Merry Christmas from The King

First, I want to thank all of my friends who've been knee- deep this past year in the fight, working to keep America free.  While Connecticut's results were beyond disappointing, at least the encroachment of Socialism on the National level was - for the most part - halted by our friends in other states.

But we have a long way to go. 

There is still a lot of undoing of what Obama and his cronies have passed that needs to be REVERSED and STOPPED.  Note that I didn't write amended, or retooled or make reference to anything that remotely mentions keeping his socialistic bills in place in some other form. 

The economy is in shambles, and taxes are at an all time high.  Things may appear somewhat stable, but the double digit unemployment figures tell the tale of what things are really like.  Make no mistake, things could unravel further if Obama gets his way.

The next two years will be harder than this year.  The wicked witch Pelosi and that SOB Reid were easy demons to expose by their own words and and deeds.  Starting next year, the bullseye will be on us.  The so-called President, and his Democrat buddies will spend 90% of their time working with their friends in the media to make Republicans and Tea Party members out to be cruel, heartless, and the party of "no" even if the bills we are trying to reverse - should have never been introduced, let along passed, in the first place.

Remember, if we cave a little or compromise a little - we still lose.  Republicans who talk about amending the Healthcare Reform Bill are just a stupid as those who put the whole ridiculous thing in place.  The only option that makes sense in a Capitalist Society is repeal.  Anyone uttering the word "replace" should be accosted publicly.

If we aren't going to be strong, than we are wasting our time.  I suggest we look at root causes to solve issues, and control the dialogue, instead of playing the reaction game and letting the far left dictate our every move.  The one thing we lack is coordination within the Party.  I'm hoping we find a voice in the crowd (other than that ridiculous Sarah Palin) or we are going to be doomed.

In liberal Connecticut, we really have problems.  We lack a principled Republican party, we have no organization, and a lot of angry people, divided and worn.  Chris Healy has got to go.  I don't care where.  But he must go NOW!  If we settle on an establishment, big money tycoon who lacks charisma and leadership skills, then we continue to be on the verge or losing Party status in Connecticut.  It's a disgrace and an embarrassment!  The last election was evidence of pure INCOMPETENCE of the Connecticut Republican Party.  Oh sure, we sort of tried - well effort is admirable, and success is valuable. 

So, conservatives, libertarians, Republicans - all of you - take a few days to rest up!  Have a Great Christmas with your families and friends!  The King will be back in full force next year! Hope to see many of you on the battleground!

Lastly, a quick note of thanks to those serving in our Armed Forces and sacrificing so much for the rest of us.  For you guys - we just can't pay you back enough for all you do!

Again, Merry Christmas from the King!  May God Bless you!

Good Bye Chris Dodd!

Dodd: disgraced like his father

Lately, there's been a lot of revisionist history about Chris Dodd's so-called acheivements and alleged legacy floating around in print and in his farewell interviews on TV. What's missing is the fact that Chris Dodd didn't run for re-election because he became tired of the job or he had better offers elsewhere.  No. I instead like most of those with 20-year tenures, he's feasted upon the system like a rat in a cheese factory, and eventually got caught in its trap of corruption.  Dodd leaves the United States Senate on a sour note - if not disgraced - having been caught up in the Countrywide Scandal and having been involved in payoffs to AIG and other executives through the course of his banking committee tenure.  It's ironic that Dodd follows in the footsteps of his father, Thomas Dodd, who also served in the United States Senate, and was censured by the Senate in 1967 for using campaign funds for personal purposes... something that is not being repeated by his friends in the media -  as Dodd gets a free ride by the likes of Dennis House and others who have been serving  if not cheerleading his interest for decades.

Chris Dodd would still be running (and likely re-elected even if he ran against Linda McMahon) and we'd be looking at six more years of Dodd's continued advancement of a socialist state which given his votes is Dodd's true legacy. Never once did Dodd either recognize or stand up to the corruption of his party or of Washington because he has been a steady recipient of its self-serving policies. Dodd was a liberal loyalist who was in the pocket of big labor unions his entire life, as they rewarded him with steadfast support, he never once wavered in filling their pockets with benefits and rewards.  Dodd and labor is a sweetheart story that never subsided.  He spent 30 years of public service dedicated to taxing Americans and expanding Government involvement in our lives.  Much as a leader of his party, exposing hypocracy at every turn.

A revelaing article on Chris Dodd's corrupt activities can be found here. It's interesting reading backed full of citations and factual references which even Dodd and his cronies won't deny.  Dodd's guilt is so clear that even the biased Connecticut press or his party collegues could not find a way to keep him in office for six more years.  The evidence of his crimes was too damning, and too obvious.  Just like his father, Thomas Dodd, he leaves the U.S. Senate under a dark cloud, and instead of taking accountability, is heard murmuring against the very system of bribe and con that he helped to forge.   

The biggest irony came last week in his admonishment of the Congress during his farewell speech on the Senate floor where he claimed that Government at the Federal Level had become ineffective, and partisanship has paralyzed Government.  Yet not once did he make the point that the Obama Presidency has been clearly the MOST partisan in the history of our nation.  Like a loyal Democrat, he wouldn't dare criticize his own party, or his own President.  Here was the disgraced Senator from Connecticut lecturing his peers on morals and effective Government.  What an joke by one of the Senate's longest serving hyprocrites.  I can't image what his colleageus were thinking of this incredible shrinking character and his stammering indignation.

But we all know, Chris Dodd will leave the Senate to the spoils of his victories at the expense of taxpayers.  Retiring with millions in campaign donations, homes all over the world, and endless connections through favors and patronage.  What a life.  A life of corruption and shame - a tale that history won't hide.

Don't let the door hit you in the arse on the way out, Mr. Dodd.  So glad you are gone!  I pray that history records you as just another corrupt Senator feeding at the troth, corrupt and indignant to the end.

The King's View on Social Networking

Social Networking Addiction

www.thekingsview.blogspot.com

If you're on the internet these days, you're most likely involved in some form of social networking whether its Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Foursquare or the dozen other sites used for connecting with people. For months I've wanted to write about this all consuming portal which has invaded our lifestyles, and charged our habits to probably the same extent that microwave ovens altered meal preparation.

And before I get on my high horse, I should fully admit that I'm no different than the the punk kids with their baseball caps on sideways that you see banging away on their cell phones to shoot virtual objects in the sky or pretending to race the Grand Prix, or what-have-you.  And for the record, any jab I take at users of social media also applies to me as well.  So if I can take the heat, so can you.

First, let's look at Facebook.  Back about two years ago, as if out of nowhere - Facebook caught like wildfire.  It became almost like a game to see if you could connect with as many people as you knew (or didn't know - and I'll get to that later).  And at first, the majority of users never realized the implications of bringing together work associates, high school buddies, and even neighbors together in the same place.  It's sort of like a terrible seating arrangement at a wedding.

Not that it would surprise anyone, but my original Facebook friends were like-minded college- based political friends who stayed in touch with each other well beyond our college years.  So after some time I began to receive requests from high school friends, and junior high school friends, and others - and that's when things began to get weird.  First it was sort of fun to find out what people had become after 15-20 years of elapsed time.  And I have to admit - it was interesting to find out who ended up married, divorced, or never got married at all. After a while, the novelty became sort of old - and it occurs to you why you never kept in touch with some people, and why you did keep in touch with others.

Fast forward to the present.  After a few years of using Facebook, I've come to some hard and fast rules about its use.

1.  Much like email, tone and inflection can be misinterpreted
2.  People can be fickle. Roll with it.
3.  Don't put work friends on your page, ever. People at work have no need to know your business.
4.  You can learn a lot about people from their writing. Including how smart or how stupid they are.
5.  Facebook is best used among friends and associates whom you've actually met.  (I think I have a handful few contacts whom I haven't met in person on my list).
6.  Adding family to Facebook is a bad idea - almost worse than putting work associates on Facebook.
7.  It's your wall, and your page.  You don't have to appease anyone, so if people unfriend you because they don't like what you write or think - don't worry about it.
8. Don't expect your real-life friends to support your politics or positions on Facebook because some aren't as courageous as you.
9. Weed out your friend list once in a while.  Social Networking means actually socially interacting and networking.  Lurkers not wanted.
10. If you go on vacation, you don't need to tell your Facebook friends. Remember the phrase "Loose lips sink ships"?  Well, they also share gossip about friends not being home.  And there have been a few cases where bragging led to break ins.  Be smart.

And that's that!

Twitter.

Twitter is a twilight zone of sorts.  And I like it a lot for a variety of reasons.  First and foremost, for information gurus - like myself - its a wealth of information at your fingertips.  Enter any topic preceded by a hash sign and your likely to get the most up-to-date, unfiltered stories or updates in seconds!  Further, ask any question with the right hash sign and you're more than apt to get several answers back on your query from product questions, to what stain to use on decks.

Twitter allows you to participate in group conversations in an inconspicuous manner.  Unlike Facebook where your name and face appears on group pages along with your comments, you can be one-hundred percent anonymous.  I think this is particularly important since there are no privacy settings on Twitter, and anyone can follow you or look at your feed to determine what and when you send things.

There is nothing dishonest about being anonymous.  But there is something moronic about giving everyone your real name, sharing your every move, and taking the risk by assuming that some jerk might not use your tweets as a weapon against you in some unexpected form.  There are a lot of weirdos out there waiting for their chance to prey upon some victim so try to mitigate the risks by not being too revealing of your own personal information.  The whole world can read your tweets, and some people can query where you are, by running location queries on cell towers. After a while, anyone who puts their mind to it can figure out your usual tracks through hints and details over a period of time.  Humans are creatures of habit, and sometimes it can lead to their demise.

All in all, my experience with Twitter has been enjoyable.  It's fun to watch sports games, debates and shows with Twitter on hand.  You make "twitter friends" pretty quickly, and find you have a lot in common with people down the line on a variety of topics. And it can become pretty entertaining if not challenging to be clever within the limited 140 characters.

During the Chesire Home Invasion Trial, I met some great people who shared the same mindset about what should happen to the evil creep Steven Hayes and his cowardly associate.  It can be refreshing to come across like-minded people through group connections like this.  A bunch of us formed a congenial relationship and continue to chat now and then about less serious stuff.  That's a benefit of Twitter. 

I think you also have to have a tough shell to play on Twitter.  People follow and unfollow you without warning.  It's a good lesson in recognizing that these relationships are temporary and you can't take it personal if someone drops you because they don't like your point of view, or even if they do, they may find you too verbose, one dimensional, or simply boring. 

Twitter is a tool that allows you to see the best and worst in people. There isn't much of a filter, and people don't need to hold back because there isn't much risk in typing what you think behind a phony persona.  Twitter is less visual than Facebook, so I know some people simply hate it for that reason. Many of these people are that types that need to see everything, and leave little to the imagination - like a little kid that hates books without pictures. Oh well, to each their own.

Driving and Social Networking

Yep, this topic has everyone buzzing.  With the advent of the new mobile phone products, you can not only talk while driving, but you can also type or message on social networking sites.  Social networking is damn addicting!  Checking in with your tweeps, and sending out useless information as if its the most important thing in the world to do at THAT VERY MOMENT is part of the habit and addiction.  Some think it has to do with rewiring of the brain so that you need to multitask at a constant rate, and tweeting, listening to music, talking or what have you satisfies the urge to do so much at once.

The problem with the driving and texting or surfing or whatever is that we now have a ton of distracted drivers doing everything except driving and focusing on the road.  Admittedly, I'm not much different than some of the teenage punks, although I've become better over the last few months.  Of course, it only takes a second, and better isn't part of the equation if I smash my car into a thousand pieces and end up like roadkill.

So that's my take on social networking.  What can I say.... tweet, tweet, tweet.