Banned, From Boston?

Could it be I'm banned in Russia?  That would be a coup.

It would mean they've noticed all the Putin rhymes I do.

They're not very flattering; I think the man's a thug...

But it seems that someone there has pulled the Iron Plug.

Blogger breaks it down by countries where my rhymes get read

And, until 2 weeks ago - although the U.S. led -

Russia was my second largest audience, by far...

Now there's not a single hit.  They've dropped the Iron Bar.

Maybe Mr. Putin doesn't like it when he's mocked.

Add me to the growing list of other sites he's blocked.

'though I'm only speculating and cannot be certain,

I suspect that Putin has brought down the Iron Curtain.

The Doctor is Out

Next few days are busy ones, so I will not have time

Nor the inclination to sit down and write a rhyme.

I'll be back on Monday so I hope you'll check back then;

'though I'm on vacation, I have not put down the pen.

Seussilitis Interruptus

Have to get my butt in gear; I'm running out of time.

Happens to me every year, so I can't blame a rhyme.

Well before this Dr. Seussilitis bug took hold

I'd begin to hibernate whenever it got cold.

Christmas always sneaks up on me; my attention drifts.

Somehow, I am always searching for last minute gifts.

Once I get my act together I'll be back...  'til then

Wish you jolly holidays and peace on earth to men.

Summertime, and This Living Ain't Easy

In the summer, other things preoccupy my mind;

Then this Dr. Seussilitis blog becomes a grind.

Seems a rhyme about the news won't come as easily

When I've gone to parties and awaken queasily.

Posts become sporadic with vacation almost here...

(We're returning to The Lookout, where we stayed last year.)

Boys are home, we're busy, and tomorrow is the 4th,

Then we're in a tournament with golfing friends up North.

Looking back, I see this current trend is nothing new.

Last year, in the summer, I had other things to do.

Thus, I make no promises that I'll be up to date

Or that rhymes I do get to are gonna be that great.

Hope that you'll bear with me 'cause my record also proves

In the Fall, when life slips into its accustomed grooves,

I'll get back to politics - for me they're like a drug -

But, in summer, my brain starts behaving like a slug.

Thank You WBUR - My Local NPR Station

 WBUR is at 90.9 FM in the Greater Boston Area

Every day, whenever I am driving in my car,

Guarantee the station's always set to BUR.

Programs keep me well informed; there's always something new.

Frankly, without them, I can't imagine what I'd do.

Having Dr. Seussilitis is already bad

But, without the news to rhyme, I'm sure that I'd go mad.

Thus, I have to thank them for they've saved my sanity.

Without them and NPR, what's left? Sean Hannity?

Happy Fathers' Day

Photo credit:  Getty Images

 I don't envy fathers.  I wouldn't want their jobs

(Meaning those who do it right and not the worthless slobs).

Those who haul their tired butts up off the couch and go

Off to coach their children's teams - despite the ice and snow.

Those who do their part each day to keep the family fed,

Make the efforts to insure that their kids get ahead.

I've been very fortunate; the fathers that I know?

Every day there's something makes my admiration grow.

Husband, brother, father, and my sister's husband, too;

Their kids have it pretty good.  I hope that's true for you...

Hoping that your off-spring wash your car or mow your lawn

Giving you a little peace...  The U.S. Open's on.

Tiger's looking dangerous - I'm sure he'll make the cut.

Bubba and Phil Mickelson are way behind now, but

Watson's a new father and - as fathers can attest -

Best way to be celebrating Sunday?  Get some rest.

You Get What You Pay For?

As of 10:00 on Monday morning, Facebook is down about $4.00 from its initial price...  Just sayin'.

 I just do not understand the Facebook I.P.O.

Can't see how investors think the profits there will grow

Big enough (100 times what Facebook made last year)

To make their purchase worth it... We plan on steering clear.

"Put it into real estate", my father always said.

Glad we didn't listen to him now, 'cause we'd be dead.

Summer place I wanted then? About a quarter mil...

Watched the prices tumbling the last 6 years, until;

We could buy that same place now for half what it was then.

But, with college for 2 boys...  Excuse me - 2 young men -

And a kitchen, screened in porch, and deck we want to build

I think our financial dance card is already filled.

Across the Pond - Birthplace of Democracy (Yikes!)

A supporter of Golden Dawn, the Greek Neo-Nazi party; just one of the losers who were winners in recent elections...  In the end, everyone lost.  (Photo credit: Reuters)

Greeks, who'd like to have their cake and also get a taste,

Failed to reach a compromise; election was a waste.

Have to do it all again; their coalitions failed.

Want restructured bail-out terms... That ship's already sailed.

When a Neo-Nazi party looks for common ground

With some far left radicals, the only thing - I've found -

Both sides can agree upon is that the other guys

Are a bunch of lunatics and, thus, it's no surprise

That (with their economy contracting by the day,

And a massive debt the country's still obliged to pay)

Citizens of Greece are angry... But, I find it sad;

Birthplace of democracy - elections went so bad.

hmmm...

Maybe I should take a lesson. We are in a mess;

And I'm also guilty of some bias, I confess.

Wonder if the FOX and Friends and I could get along

If I just ignored the fact they're almost always wrong?

Life Gets In The Way

Sister's having surgery and so I don't have time

To sit down and think about the latest news to rhyme.

I'll be at the hospital to hold my sister's hand.

Should be back tomorrow, though. I hope you'll understand.

JPMorgan Chase and Dodd-Frank - Remember the Titanic

Jamie Dimon - looking surprisingly cheerful after reporting $2B in company losses.

 

Jamie Dimon (he's the head of JPMorgan Chase)

Has revealed a problem, I think, makes the Dodd-Frank case.

Hedging on derivatives; $2 Billion, plus, in losses.

His solution to the crisis? Firing 3 bosses.

Plan was barely understood with little oversight.

Took a while for him to see that something wasn't right.

Wonder if the folks at Chase are wishing that they had

Got behind the Volcker Rule before things got so bad.

Seems to me this news is proof that Wall Street hasn't changed.

Drive into an iceberg? Get the deck-chairs rearranged!

Have to shift their current course; stop fighting tooth and nail.

Europe's looming up ahead...  We're not too big to fail.

Bankers and Republicans and major CEOs

All agreed to stall on legislation they oppose.

Think it's time we got together; implement Dodd-Frank.

Don't forget; the last time something couldn't sink...?  It sank.

"Untergang der Titanic" by Willy Stöwer, 1912 (artist's conception)

Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mother's Day to my mom; Laurel.

Wishing Happy Mothers' Day to those of us with kids...
Even those, like me, who wish (at times) to open bids;
Sell the rotten child who's talking back to me... And then,
I remember why I love the stinker once again.

May be something simple like an extra hug or kiss...
Thank yous you do not expect; the fact they didn't miss
Telling you, on Mothers' Day, how special that you are.
Little things like that (with mothers) get you pretty far.

Hope your children don't forget... And, for the rest of you;
'though I'm not your mother and can't tell you what to do,
Still, I'd strongly recommend that you take my advice;
Call your mothers Sunday... And, some flowers would be nice.

This Week in Boston Sports

Perhaps we were a (trifle) too cocky?

Summing up this week in Boston sports is not much fun.

Only good news to report is that the Celtics won;

Beat Atlanta's Hawks to make it to the second round.

They're the only Ray of light, in Boston, to be found.

Carl Beane - he's the Voice of Fenway - died; a heart attack.

Matt Light just retired; Brady's sure to feel his lack.

Seau's dead.  The Red Sox are imploding.  Holy crap!

Watched the news the other night and saw Josh Beckett snap.

He is taking lots of heat for playing golf when he

Should have been recovering from recent injury.

Fenway's Faithful booed him off the field and he was mad.

Can't say that I blame him; stuff like that makes me feel bad.

No team out there wants to lose.  Let's give the guys a break.

Not dissect their every foible, error, and mistake.

Give them time to work it out; watch basketball instead...

Thank God for the Celtics and the fact that you're not dead.

Carl Beane; the Voice of Fenway for the last 10 years, dead at age 59.

Race for the White House - Profiles in Courage

President Obama expresses personal support for gay marriage in a recent interview with ABC.

In a recent interview, Obama said that he

Had been reassessing his views on equality.

Said that his opinion now's that marriages are for

Everyone who is committed - whether rich or poor,

Sick or well - 'til death do part... No matter if your mate

Has the same anatomy as yours.  Whatever. Great!

President has made me proud and has my full support.

Disagree with those who say his words have fallen short.

Presidents don't go there; think he's showing leadership.

Can't go any farther when the Nation's in the grip

Of a massive culture war...  And that  road we've been down.

If he'd called for federal law they'd run him out of town.

And, in related news...

Wondering if Shepard Smith still has a job today?

Pretty sure that FOX employees aren't allowed to say

Anything that's positive about the President...

Last night though, Smith (like Obama) set new precedent.

Phrases like "courageous" and "historic" crossed his lips.

Careful Shep! I don't think Murdock likes those kinds of slips.

He prefers his guys just shy of foaming at the mouth

Fomenting another war between the North and South.

In Memoriam - Maurice Sendak

Maurice Sendak (1928 - 2012)

Rolled my eyes and gnashed my teeth and voiced a saddened roar

Hearing Maurice Sendak isn't with us anymore.

Although other Maxs will command the rumpus "Start!"

Losing such a gifted man has kinda broke my heart.

In an interview I heard on WBUR

Terry Gross paid tribute as I listened in my car.

Sendak had released a book about a year ago

And the things he said to her made my eyes overflow.

Maurice was then 82 and he'd just lost a friend;

Spoke about the knowledge that his life was near its end.

In the light of recent news I'd recommend that you

Take the time to listen to this brilliant interview.

God Bless The CIA

CIA just foiled a plot to bomb a U.S. flight...

Warning to the terrorists; they've got you in their sight.

Still, what is the deal with bombs in underwear? It's strange;

I would bet that  detonator's tricky to arrange.

Credit, though, where credit's due and thus, I have to say;

Job well done! They kept us safe. God bless the CIA.

(Bet they never worry how a bomb like that would feel

Sewn into their underwear, 'cause they've got balls of steel.)

Plus, have guys in Yemen never heard; the TSA

Took away our privacy on airplanes anyway?

If you're wearing diapers now - and past the age of 4 -

You'd have very little chance of getting through the door...

Not without a pat-down that would make a sailor blush

And, if someone starts in to complaining; tell 'em "Hush!

(Even those with leaky bladder syndrome like my aunt's)

"Sorry, but some morons wear explosives in their pants."

Across the Pond - Elections

French voters celebrate François Hollande's victory. (Photo credit: BBC.com)

 

Very busy weekend for our European friends;

Several key elections that reflect disturbing trends.

Nicolas Sarkozy lost in France, across the pond;

President's now Socialist.  The first since Mitterrand.

Greece has also voted and they're facing quite a mess.

Parliament's divided so there's no chance of success

Implementing anything.  They'll have to try and make

Allies out of enemies... Won't be a piece of cake.

Putin's Russia's President - again.  He took the oath.

Germany and England held elections where they both

Saw that parties now in charge are losing their support.

E.U. is in trouble, I am sorry to report.

British do not like the cuts their government has made.

Merkel's in hot water for extending German aid.

Seems that Europe isn't thrilled with being so austere.

Worried 'cause what happens there effects what happens here.

Markets will not like this news, I bet... You wait and see.

They believe that those across the pond want lunch for free.

Can't blame hungry Europeans voting for a break;

But I'm still afraid they've made a terrible mistake.

Race for the White House - Guantanamo Bay

Photo credit: Associated Press

 Some folks say Obama lied; they say he broke his word.

Didn't close Guantanamo - I think that that's absurd.

Every time he tried to shut it down he faced attacks.

Congress wouldn't let him move it to a Super Max.

But the hardest job right now, for military men,

Is the JAG's who has to step into the lion's den

And provide a strong defense for guys the CIA

Have detained, while classifying everything they say.

Have to give a trial that's fair to every detainee

O.B.L. is dead and gone - they buried him at sea.

Anything that these guys know is old, outdated stuff.

Give the JAG Corps guys a break; their job is tough enough.

Across the Pond - Chen Guangcheng

Chen Guangcheng says he wants to leave China.  (Photo credit: ABC.com)

Have you heard what's happening in China? What the heck?

Talk about confusing...  For, when Clinton made the trek

Over there for meetings, found herself the center of

Major controversy after push came down to shove.

Chen Guangcheng's an activist for Chinese women's rights

Who escaped imprisonment and fled.  He set his sights

On the U.S. Embassy; of course, we took him in.

That is where the problems Mrs. Clinton has begin.

Politburo wasn't thrilled the U.S. got involved

But, when Chen said he'd go home, we thought the problem solved

Brought him to the hospital - united with his wife...

Felt we had agreements he could get on with his life.

There it gets confusing 'cause, in less than half a day,

Chen Guangcheng began to claim we'd made him go away.

Said the Chinese had reneged and now he wants to fly

Out on Mrs. Clinton's plane.  What is it with this guy?

First he's blowing kisses; then he says we let him down.

Now he wants asylum; 'Can we get him out of town?'

Can't say that I blame him though for, just because he's blind,

Doesn't mean he isn't smart enough to change his mind.

The New England Patriots - In Memoriam; Junior Seau

Junior Seau (1969 -2012) in happier times.  Photo credit: Reuters

Chargers, Dolphins, Patriots (the team for which I cheer)

Mourn the loss of Junior Seau; loved when he played here.

At the age of 43 - with 20 as a pro -

Seau's not the first to take his life this way, you know.

Football fans around the world, when told how Seau died,

Saddened - but not really shocked - to learn by suicide

(Junior, not too long ago, had driven off a cliff)

Faced the truth that penalties for players are too stiff.

Seau must have thought so too; he left his skull intact.

Pretty sure the autopsy will show that it's a fact

After one has played the game as long and hard as he

Almost every tackle does the brain an injury.

Don't know how we fix this; only know it must be done

Before other players blow their chests out with a gun.

I love football just as much as any other fan

But we have to change the game...  We owe it to the man.

Race for the White House - Across the Pond

Photo credit:  Associated Press

President Obama has received some recent flack;

Once again, the target of a partisan attack.

Romney says the choice to kill Bin Laden was a snap...

Angry that Obama seemed to take a victory lap.

I did not see any ships or flight-suits on the man,

Just a simple speech he gave while in Afghanistan

Where, again, he thanked the troops; saluted SEAL Team 6.

While, at home, Republicans got in some dirty licks.

Romney once claimed capturing Osama wasn't worth

U.S. forces trying to move heaven and the earth

Going into Pakistan; but - now - he says he would.

Won't acknowledge that the President did something good.

Mr. S. accuses me of favoring a side.

It is his opinion every politician's lied.

Says the fact Republicans, of late, have made me nuts,

While forgetting Democrats all hated Bush's guts,

Means I'm being partisan; as bad as FOX and Friends.

I think he's too cynical, for one side clearly bends

All the facts to "talking points" they parrot endlessly.

"Spiking footballs"? They should check the mirror, seems to me.