It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!

Here in the Los Angeles area, no sign of snow, but it has been raining. For many of you readers, snow is on the ground and with that snow comes annoyances having to do with scraping it off your car, shoveling it from your driveway, etc., etc. My adopted home is St. Louis, Missouri and when I was there for almost all of the 70's, I experienced all the snow stuff and I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss it.

Okay, we have rain where I am and snow where a lot of you are. But what prompted me to write the headline you see for this week's blog, is all the people I see walking in this bad weather while carrying packages. Packages of Christmas gifts. Bad weather does not stop people from getting ready for the arrival of Santa. Never has and never will.

Like I said....It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Have you done all of YOUR shopping yet?

I'm aware of the fact that a lot of you have holiday plans to prepare for so my intention is to write a few short stories and observations in this week's blog.

And here goes...

GAS PRICES...

They're still going up, there's a lot of talk about electric cars, if they can be made at an affordable price, we'll also need thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of "power stations" or whatever it is they will call where we would have to go to "recharge" the battery in the car we would be driving. Folks, if something workable could be made to happen regarding electric cars, our need for oil would be next to zero and we could tell those turban wearing potentates to stick their oil where the sun don't shine.

VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN...

I don't know how many times I've gotten emails or have been told in phone conversations about how much of an incompetent hack Joe Biden is. Biden is constantly putting his foot in his mouth, etc., etc.

But who did Mitch McConnell make the recent behind closed doors tax deal with? Joe Biden. Folks, you don't stay a United States Senator for 36 years if you're an uncontrollable dimwit.

DONALD TRUMP...

Did you hear what Donald Trump said recently? He's thinking about running for the 2012 presidential election, he thinks President Obama has been a bad president and he (Trump) is in favor of having a trade war with China.

Short response commentary: Quite frankly, because of some unfair advantages they seem to currently have, I would be in favor of having a trade war with China too. One big problem and apparently Mr. Trump didn't think of this; If we begin a trade war with China, what do we do when China says they want all the money we owe them and we (China) want it NOW!?!

JOHN BOEHNER, "THE WEEPER OF THE HOUSE?"

As opposed to "The Speaker of the House"? Television talk host Joy Behar came up with that line after Boehner was seen crying on "60 Minutes".

I have no problem with men crying in public when they are big time disappointed or big time happy or grateful about something.

But in Boehner's case, his tears seem to be contradictory. Tears because of good fortune he's had after some hard work, but seeming to vote against things that would give others the same opportunities he had.

BIRTHERS...

You probably heard about the results of the court-martial involving a military doctor (Lt. Col.)who refused to obey orders to go to Afghanistan because he contended any orders from the Commander In Chief, President Obama, were illegitimate. Why? This military doctor is what is known as a "Birther" and he was demanding that President Obama appear at his (the doctor's) court-martial and show his signed birth certificate or prove to all of us that he (Obama) is an illegitimate president.

To make a long story short, President Obama didn't appear, the doctor ended up apologizing and what happened after that is something that is still being considered by the court-martial judge. A sentence that will involve time in the brig, the Lt. Col. being ordered to go to Afghanistan again, the Lt. Col. being dishonorably discharged? Any of those things are possibilities up to and including, perhaps, time in a mental institution.

I'll say this for you "Birthers"; You are believers but for the life of me, I don't understand what you think your basing this belief ON!?!

SARAH PALIN...

I can't have a blog without something having to do with Sarah Palin, can I?

In the December 20 issue of Time Magazine there is a 7-page story about Governor Palin that is headlined, "WHAT DOES SHE WANT?"

It's a good read. Check it out.

ENTERTAINMENT STUFF:

On the cover of the new STAR Magazine is this headline: "I CAN'T STOP LOVING BRAD!"

Yes, it's about Jennifer Aniston who apparently said this in a long "woe is me" conversation with Chelsea Handler while the two of them were vacationing somewhere.

Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt split up almost 6 years ago. My first thought when I saw this new headline was, isn't there a statute of limitations on crying over a guy or girl who leaves us?

Believe me when I tell you that I'm very familiar with the pain of having someone leave me. In the more than 30 years I've lived here, TWO women who left me affected me greatly. No, it wasn't at the same time. One was the hands down love of my life and the other was a girl I had the most fun with in my life.

The "fun girl" was someone I managed to get over in a few months. The "love of my life girl" took a little longer to get over. Like two years or so.

But SIX YEARS?!? C'mon Jen! You're still very attractive, you're a movie star, you....

Jen, you probably had the sympathy of a lot of people for a while, but Jen? This whining about Brad has gotten old. Older than old. Statute of Limitations time, Jennifer Aniston! Do yourself a favor. The next time Brad calls you, don't answer the phone or return his call. Trust me. If he ever wanted to get back with you, you'd know it. There are a lot of guys out there who would love to try to make you happy. Give them a chance to do that.

Okay, no more Dr. Phil stuff...

Golden Globes: I've had the pleasure of being at The Golden Globes a few times. It's the best party of the year. Their new film and television nominations were announced yesterday. I'm just going to mention two films that didn't get nominated. "True Grit" and "Never Let Me Go". I'm hearing mixed views about "True Grit" and it's possible that film isn't as good as a lot of people thought it would be. When it comes out, I plan to see it and make that judgment for myself. I have seen "Never Let Me Go" and I understand why the Golden Globe voters wouldn't get behind this film but I'll be shocked if the Oscar folks don't give it some "love". Yes, "Never Let Me Go" is probably what a lot of folks would call an "Art House Film" and I wouldn't argue with that. But damn, "Never Let Me Go" is a VERY good film and at least three of the actors in that film are deserving of Oscar nominations. Andrew Garfield has been given a Supporting Actor nomination by the Golden Globes for his performance in "The Social Network". To me, Garfield is deserving of a Best Actor nomination from the Oscars for "Never Let Me Go".

Television shows: The "Dexter" 5th season finale was great! All the major characters were given a chance to shine and that added to how good the finale was. I can hardly wait for season 6 of "Dexter" to begin, but a couple of days ago, a big "Uh, oh!" reared it's ugly head. Michael C. Hall plays the role of Dexter. Jennifer Carpenter plays the role of Deb who is Dexter's sister. In real life, Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter are married to each other. A couple of days ago it was announced that Jennifer Carpenter has filed for divorce from Michael C. Hall. You see what I mean about the big "Uh, oh!"?!?

For those of you who don't know, Michael C. Hall's Dexter character is a serial killer. Jennifer Carpenter's Deb character is a Miami police detective. In episode 1 of season number 6, we're not gonna see Dexter put a knife to.....???

Nah. We wouldn't see that! WOULD WE?!?

After the "Dexter" season finale on Showtime, I watched the "Brothers & Sisters" Christmas show on ABC.

Yo, ABC executives! FIRE those "B&S" writers you have! Every damn one of them. What was once the best show on television has now become the dumbest show on television!

Speaking of the best show on television, how about Tuesday night's episode of "The Good Wife"? There are so MANY reasons that Tuesday night's show was as great as it was. The writing, the acting, the directing is.....Well, it's damn off the charts gooder than good is what it is.

CRN PLUG: It will be my pleasure to again sit with CRN owner Mike Horn and his cast of characters on CRN this coming Friday afternoon from 4-5pm, Pacific Time. If you'd like to check us out, all you have to do is click onto www.CRNTalk.com Besides the 4-5 time on Friday, this show will be heard throughout the weekend.

THOUGHTS AND OR COMMENTS? Please write to me at scottstjames@sbcglobal.net and I will respond to you as quickly as possible. Don't write to the blog because there's no way for me to know your email address which means I wouldn't be able to respond to you. All "Anonymous" emails are ignored.

THE NEXT BLOG? Barring unforeseen circumstances, late Wednesday night, December 22 or early Thursday morning, December 23.

Have a great rest of the week and I hope you're able to find that special gift you want to buy for that special person in your life.