This Week on This Space for Rent:
Politics! Blecccchh!!!
I really don't know what to think about this country's political landscape. The polls are long closed, the votes counted. The will of the electorate has been manifest. Already, there are people who say that more than half of the country is "conservative" according to the popular vote. Well, I don't know what to think about that ... Other than 117 million people voted, and the country's total population is roughly 295 million. I'd say it was more like 51 percent of 40 percent of the (total) population went conservative this time around.
I expect there to be at least one positive thing to come out of this. Back during the 50s, and during the hieght of the Red Scare back then, people were being called (some might say indescriminately) before the House Un-American Activities Committee. A lot of people were ruined by this committee (and some say a lot of unsavory people were eleminated from our society). One remarkable exception was a publisher of an independent horror comic.
The whole idea of calling comic book publishers before this committee was that warped ideas could come into contact with fertile young minds through these publishers' creations. The publisher of that horror comic, after facing the wrath of the people who wanted to control what he created, did not back down. In fact, he and his writers got together and created a comic book called "Tales Calculated to Drive You Mad." Of course, three generations know the shortened title of that magazine. The other was "Tales from the Crypt."
I have to admit. I haven't read a Mad Magazine in several years. Ever since I picked one up a few years back and found real advertising in it, I don't know that I ever will again. The whole idea behind this magazine was that the writers could do whatever they wanted without the threat of advertisers pulling out. Mad Magazine danced for no one..
Getting back to today's political climate; I can see the U. S. getting back to days like we had in the 50s. Only this time around, people will be called out for associating with Muslims. (Or is the word going to be changed to "Islamist?" I can't tell. A couple of words I grew up with have already been changed by our current administration.) So, in this climate, I have to wonder ... Did the situation that gave rise to the likes of William M. Gaines in the 50s repeat this time around? With the loss of Mad Magazine to advertising interests, I hope so. I really miss the way those folks used to tear into popular culture ... Even advertisers! I believe we might be headed for that again.
E-Bay Winner and Cold Sores
This week, I won my first item on E-Bay. It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that it was a Todd Rundgren CD. It came in the mail yesterday, and I've already listened to it all the way through three or four times. I've put it on my computer's hard drve (in case I ever loose the original) and on Mini-Disc so I could listen to it as I work out.
Working out has taken a backseat in my life this week. I woke up Thursday with a nice little cold sore, and feeling like I was going to come down with a full blown flu. I don't know what other people would think about sharing workout space with someone whose bottom lip has blisters, but I know I wouldn't like it. So, after getting off to a really good start this past week, I had to end it by staying home while this thing heals up. (I've already stayed away from swimming because on one of the warmer days last weekend, I wore a pair of sandals that rubbed a hole on my left foot. I don't want to get chlorine in that, and I don't want to gross out anyone sharing the pool with me. It's against YMCA rules to swim with open sores, anyway ... Great ... Just when the one on my foot heals, another shows up on my lip. This won't deter me, though. At the first opportunity I'm getting back to the pool, the weights, and the walking track.
Runtfan1974's Page Four