40 Years Ago We Let Science Blind Us.

On July 20,1969 the first human being set foot on the moon.

There are anniversaries of momentous events which will live in earth's history long beyond any time frame we can imagine. Thousands of years possibly?

There is only one event in human history which will live on forever and that is the first moon landing. This was and will always be so because this involves the history of not just one planet but the universe itself.

Many of the astronauts and other key figures of that event have written books recently about the mind boggling adventure.

I think Buzz Aldrin wrote the most touching book, "Magnificent Desolation" because it was about more than his participation in that moment. A recovering alcoholic,Aldrin also writes about his infidelity, divorce and and his depression. He lends a spiritual view to an event which unfortunately was anything but spiritual.

The flight would never have taken place if we were not racing Russia to land on the moon before they did. It was like a Super Bowl or a World Series. One group of humans trying to beat another group of similar creatures to an out of body experience.

Here are a couple of excerpts from Aldrin's book-

He writes about the mission’s iconic images, including the ones he shot of his footprint:

“Framed in the photo was the evidence of man on the moon—a single footprint. . . . That’s kind of lonely looking, I thought. So I’d better put my boot down, and then move my boot away from the print, but only slightly so it’s still in the frame. . . .

We were sightseeing, looking back and seeing the gradually diminishing size of the back side of the moon, and I think most everyone who’s seen it would say the crater named after the Russian pioneer Tsiolkovsky is probably the most unique feature that stands out. You gotta take our word for it,” he says, his voice becoming slightly mischievous, “because only 24 people have seen it, plus the cameras.

Some warm human reactions to an event controlled and smothered by scientists.

I like the comments from Andrew Chaikin, author of "Voices from the Moon"
Chaikin has interviewed 23 of the 24 Apollo astronauts - and all 12 who set foot on the lunar surface. I share his viewpoint of the tragedy of the moon landing.

"If there is one common thread I would say for the moon walkers, it's the fact that they really didn't have a lot of time while they were on the moon to stop and take in the experience," Chaikin said.

"They were so over committed, their timelines were so full, that it really was in kind of stolen moments that they were able to look around and absorb the awesome reality of being on another world."

"Seeing the Earth shrink to the size of your outstretched thumb is kind of put things in perspective - how you see the pluses and minuses of daily life," said Chaikin.

Why were these incredibly brave explorers so rushed?

Because the scientists and the politicians who paid the bill, insisted they send back hundreds of moon rocks so we could prove we were actually there.

As you know there are, to this day thousands, possibly millions of people who believe this whole event was staged in a NASA studio;that in fact, we never did go to the moon. It was all a gigantic hoax, even bigger that the Kennedy assassination and the holocaust reporting.

I think conspiracy theorists should be considered insane until they can prove they are sane. Sort of a reverse twist on the "innocent until proven guilty" credo.

Getting back to the moon landing, wouldn't it be great if the scientists could have at least put aside one hour for one astronaut. (there were three of them and they were on the moon for 7 hours)

To just let him sit with a tape recorder and meditate as he viewed the earth and recorded his thoughts for posterity?

Ask yourself. If we had such a recording of his meditation, would it be more inspiring to you than looking at the moon rocks in a museum?

WHAT YOUR DOCTOR IS NOT GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT VITAMINS .

The 5 most important vitamins and minerals you must take.Some others you should take and a few that are worthless..

Where you should buy them,Vitamin World,Vitamin Shoppes or GNC.

First some general information:

There are water soluble vitamins and there are fat soluble vitamins. You should use them in accepted dosages. Using water soluble pills in higher dosages than recommended are very unlikely to give you side effects. Using fat soluble supplements in higher than recommended dosages will quite likely cause side effects . Buyer beware!

Do not take the word of a clerk or owner in a health,vitamin or alternative foods, retail or Internet outlet. They are salesmen, not nutrition experts.

So who do I advise you to trust for the info you need?

Your number one source should be people , like myself, who have used these supplements for an extended period of time without any side effects at all. I recommend you do not believe anyone who has taken them less than 5 years and preferably much longer.

Most of the items I tout in this post will be products I have used for over 30 years. If I have used them for less than that I will specify the time frame.

I make no outrageous claims for them but will tell you my personal experiences.

Before we start let me distinguish between individual supplements and multi-vitamin and mineral products. I have never taken any multi-vitamins. I feel they are a waste of money. Billions of dollars go down the drain each day. There is not enough of any specific product in a multi to achieve the results they promise.

You should make an exception for children under 10; trying to get them to swallow any pill is difficult enough for a parent. The multi's will not help them much but won't hurt them. Starting them at a young age will introduce them to a healthy routine which may serve them well as adults.

Here are the top 5 you must take for your entire life:

The dosages listed are what I personally have settled on after decades of adjustments,see the labels for recommended dosages. Another important caution. If you are scheduled for upcoming surgery cut down on all these products for 2 weeks before.

Selenium

The MOST important of them all. If you only take one of these products,this is the one to take. Take no more than 200 Mg daily. A famous radio nutritionist, Carlton Fredericks, way back in the 1960's praised this product as the most powerful anti-oxidant.

I started taking it that time and have never stopped. Which disease scares you the most? Selenium is not a mineral which you can take for immediate benefits. In order to ward off life threatening cell destruction and possible malignancies, it must be taken all your life in small doses. I am sure medical science will establish this in the next few years.

B-50 Complex

Very crucial for your nerves. One tablet daily.

To prove to yourself this one works, ask any one over 70 to extend their right arm all the way out and see if their hand shakes or is steady as a rock . Mine is very steady

If it shakes, and assuming they do not have a nerve disease, you can be pretty sure they are not getting enough B-50. Ask them anyway. Put your doctor through this test as well.

Calcium

1200 mg daily for men, 1800 mg for women. This is the most vital supplement a woman can take. The surgeon general should be doing more to warn woman about calcium deficiencies.

When you see a woman stooped over ask her how many years she has been taking calcium. Very likely none. I recently took a bone density test. The nurse's aid who administered the test said I had the bone density of a man in his 20's.

Omega 3 Fish Oil-

Dosage depends on your age. I take 1000 mg daily but if you are middle aged, you can get by with 500. This is an important heart supplement. Even doctors recommend this so you know it is safe. Md's do not go out on a limb. Ask eskimos; even ask Sarah Palin.

Zinc

No more than 15mg a day. The immunity pill. Discredited recently in double blind studies but at this level it will do you a lot more good than orange juice and it's a lot less expensive.

Second tier of recommendations, again based on my personal experience only

Saw Palmetto -

For men only. After age 45 men should take about 250 mg daily, increasing to 500 after 60 and to at least 1000 after age 70. I have been taking 2000mg a day for last 10 years, substantially less when I was younger. I do not have to get up at night to go to the bathroom. All older men have enlarged prostates and could benefit by taking saw palmetto. I believe most doctors take this herbal extract but they could never admit it,not even to their wives.

Cranberry extract-

I take 500 mg daily but 100 is enough for most men. Women need a little more. Prevents bladder infections and relieves symptoms if you already have an infection.

Magnesium-chelated amino acid

Lots of controversy about this one so be safe and limit intake to 5 mg daily. At one time I took 20mg but when a supplement is involved in any controversy at all I err on the side of caution.

Chromium Picolinate-

Regulates blood sugar. Five years ago I tested borderline for high blood sugar. I started taking 400mg of this mineral daily and have been fine since; my blood is tested yearly.

Vitamin E-

No more than 200 iu daily. E has been discredited but I don't believe the data. In any event, at 200 iu dosage, it will never harm you.

Two new "wonder" pills. These are too new to confirm results after long term use but I take them both and can still write a blog post 4 to 5 times a week so go figure.

CoQ-10

A heart pill you will be hearing a lot about in the next decade if the pharmaceutical lobby doesn't hush it up. I take 50 mg a day;some people I know take a lot more but they have had heart problems. I walk 4 miles a day and have never had angina.

Quercetin

A bioflavenoid FOR MEN ONLY. Women and children should not take this until further studies are completed. It works for men by activating saw palmetto and reducing prostate enlargement.I take 50 mg a day but no dosage established as yet.

MSM and Glucosomine-

Both are for age related joint pain.i take small dosage of MSM but have side effects from glucosomine so i don't take any. Its the only one my doctor recommends I do take and the only one I don't. I think its no better than a sugar pill and too expensive for me anyway. Remember doctors are human and very much influenced by pharmaceutical detailers.


SNAKE OIL:

These are unproven "rage of the month" items. Don't waste money on these. Go out and buy a good brandy instead. You will feel just as energized.

Acai,ginkgo.milk thistle,red yeast rice,garlic (except in pasta).All work only as placebos.

All herbal teas. They will eventually render you comatose. See my recent post from the archives about the benefits of a dark,bitter,strong,bold coffee. Life is short. Why sedate yourself with these deadening ,life sapping witches brews. You might just as well take anti-depressants or tranquilizers if you want to sleep your life away.

Where to shop?

Vitamin World is where I have shopped for 30 years. Definitely the least expensive of the major chains.

Vitamin Shoppes has the largest supply but overcharges customers for the one stop convenience.

General Nutrition Co, GNC may be the oldest.They are very sparsely stocked,very very expensive and they cater to the pumping iron set.

I would never buy any of my stuff at drug stores or supermarkets. This is serious to me.You wouldn't buy your dog's food at a gas station would you? Humans are just as important as animals.

Hope I have helped you. If not, take two aspirins and call your doctor in the morning.

OP-ED MONDAY. Palestine Settlements, Julie & Julia, and Obama's favorite beer?.

Frank Rich- Right so often it's scary.

Small Beer, Big Hangover!

The title of this week's Rich column,of course, refers to the tete a tete President Obama arranged this week between Gates and Crowley, the policeman and the prof..No hard stuff here, just suds and pretzels.

Obama played to the masses and had a Bud Light.

In 2042, Whites will be a minority in this country. Rich says this is panicking the "Establishment"and they are coming at the first black president as if it were all his fault.

Ann Coulter and Bill O'Reilly don't think he was born here and not sure if he is even black but just in case they are staking their claim right now so no bridges can be named after him 10 years from now.

Glen Beck (the Breck gal) labeled Barack as a racist with a deep seated hatred for white people.

Cokie Roberts attacked him for vacationing in Hawaii, a foreign exotic place and said he should go to Myrtle Beach. Wow that got my attention as I live in the Myrtle Beach area and thought it was the most foreign place on earth.

Palin lashed out at those who doubt the President's citizenship. She said he definitely is an American but not a real American. God love her.

Lou Dobbs harrumphed and said I told you so; we shouldn't let anyone in this country.

Rich sums it all up by ending his usual great column with this:

"The one lesson that everyone took away from the latest “national conversation about race” is the same one we’ve taken away from every other “national conversation” in the past couple of years. America has not transcended race. America is not post racial. So we can all say that again. But it must also be said that we’re just at the start of what may be a 30-year struggle. Beer won’t cool the fury of those who can’t accept the reality that America’s racial profile will no longer reflect their own."

Maureen Dowd-That's why the lady is a champ.

Maureen reports on her interview with noted author and filmmaker, Nora Ephron. When Dowd does an interview it takes us a few paragraphs to be sure it is a real interview and not a hypothetical one. This week it's a real one.

Ephron has had some hot movie successes, Heartburn,When Harry Met Sally,Sleepless in Seattle and some not so hot ones,Hanging Up. Her new movie, starring Merle Streep is based on the famous chef, Julia Childs and a blogger cookbook fanatic.

"Julie and Julia" opens this Friday. Let's hope it revives Streep's career after the tragic "Mamma Mia" role.

The funniest Q & A's in Dowd's interview with Ephron:

"Q: Do couples that cook together stay together?
A: No. I have cooked with men I am no longer married to.

"Q: Do you consider any food a romantic deal-breaker?
A: I respect vegetarians, but I could never fall in love with one."

"Q: You told Ariel Levy of The New Yorker that your husband,the writer NickPileggi, has“some insane position about not eating standing up.” What’s that about?
A: He has nice ties"

"Q: How about the case of the South Carolina mother who got arrested for criminal neglect because her 14-year-old son weighed 555 pounds?
A: There is far too much arresting of people going on.Not just Skip Gates. A couple of weeks ago, some poor woman in Montauk was arrested in her bathing suit, marched off the beach and charged with a felony for forging a beach parking sticker."

Funny column.


Thomas Friedman-The world is flat but this writer is not.

Friedman offers Free Marriage Counseling to our country and the Israelis over the settlements issue. Obama has called for a freeze and Israel thinks he has been listening to the "self-hating jews" in his inner circle.

They also think American just doesn't appreciate how much they have already given up in South Lebanon and Gaza. This is no time for a freeze as they see it. Rabbi Yigael Shandorfi, in Nahliel, called Obama “that Arab they call a president.” Holy cow, even Lou Dobbs didn't call him that.

The part of this column I liked best was what Thomas Friedman's friend told him.
“People will give a lot if they think they are not guilty. My mother says to me: ‘Look, I am ready to give them Jerusalem, but don’t tell me that I started it.’” Darn,I should have told the moving company that mugged me on April 15th that they were innocent.

Friedman concludes his marriage counseling with this advice to our President, "Connect with them on a gut level that says you understand where they live, and you can take them anywhere. Don’t connect on a gut level, and you can’t take them anywhere.

An extremely complicated problem that very few columnists, other than this one, could clarify.

Would Allowing Priests to Wed Solve the Pedophilia Problem? (A weekend repeat)

No because priests don't want to get married!

Priests are gay. Of course, many do not know they are when they enter the priesthood.

The enforced celibacy they willingly sign on for is tantamount to undergoing a form of castration

A sane, heterosexual, straight men would not voluntarily submit to such a life. It is inhuman!It is against all the laws of nature.

Actually there is nothing wrong with gay men becoming priests.

There is everything wrong when these men are pedophiles and for obvious reasons most of these men are gay pedophiles.

Why? Let me give you my theory.

A gay man can find zillions of lovers outside of the priesthood, but if he goes into the priesthood he can have his cake and eat it too.

What I mean by that is that then he can can spend his life in a helping profession, find spiritual fulfillment and as an added bonus meet similarly inclined spiritual men rather than hanging in gay bars and meeting losers.

Not so with gay pedophiles.

They cannot find lovers on the outside because they aren't looking for lovers. they are looking for victims.

So celibacy is not the real problem.

The problem is the priesthood itself,and the Bishops and the Cardinals and the numero uno desperado,the Pope.

They are all involved in the greatest, most sinister cover-up in history.

The problem is organized religion and the tremendous amount of money which is needed to sustain it. The tax protection given to Churches should be eliminated as a first step.

Corruption always exists side by side with high finances. It's a lot more easy to look the other way on the pedophilia problem when there is so much money at stake. That's exactly why the church hierarchy has let this go on for so many hundreds of years.

Certainly they assumed they would never be found out.They never thought for a minute they could be caught. They could go to Sunday dinner at the home of the boys they were molesting. Why it would be sacrilegious for the boys parents to even entertain such a thought. They would got straight to hell.

What a weapon to hold in your hands.First understand human nature. We don't want to believe our fellow human beings are capable of such evil.

This is why we glorify criminals instead of believing their victims. It's why a surgeon can leave us crippled and we hesitate to press charges of malpractice.It is why women fall in love with vicious criminals on death row.

The fear of ever doubting the motives of a priest was taught in Sunday school, and has been shouted into the souls of men for centuries in sermons by these sexually frustrated men.

Go back into the archives of the daily Question Blog and read the June 30th post titled "Is God Dead" based on the book by Nietzsche "Thus Spake Zarathustra."

The essence of Nietzsche's thought is that God was killed by pity and that the murder was an inside job.

The first Apostles,who were in fact the first priests, set Jesus up as a mythological creator who suffered for us. If we would be saved from fire and brimstone in the life hereafter we must suffer here on this earth for him.

Now I am not a biblical expert but I know that is not what Jesus taught.

How easy to spread the gospel when you use pity as a tool. I read a classic novel many years ago dealing with the subject of pity, The Red and the Black by StendahL.

Pity and empathy are not the same. Pity leads to lack of empathy. It leads to suppressed anger and expresses itself ultimately as trivialization which is the opposite of empathy.

That is why religious pedophilia is being criminally trivialized to this day.

There is too much pity and trivialization in this world.Empathy has just about disappeared. There are people going around denying that slavery ever existed.They also contend that there was no holocaust.By 2020 They will obliterate the history of these molesting priests in a similar manner.

Will close with this:

The Catholic church, according to an editorial comment in the Sunday NY Times, is presently investigating whether "nuns (women) are living in fidelity to religious life".

How's that for changing the subject.

Are they implying the nuns are lesbians? Centuries of indifference to gay priests and now suddenly the problem is the Sisters?

Hypocrisy.

PS: some updates on this topic since this post was originally published:

Since 2002, a government-funded compensation board has paid out more than euro900 million ($1.25 billion) to about 12,000 people abused in church-run facilities for children since the 1930s.

In May, a 2,600-page report into that scandal concluded that Catholic orders of nuns, priests and brothers who ran state-funded orphanages, workhouses and reformatories for Ireland's poorest children were guilty of shielding hundreds, if not thousands, of known abusers within their ranks. Crimes documented included ritual beatings, rape, and lying to children that their parents were dead. The last of those church-run facilities closed in the 1990s.

James Patrick Grady, Pastor of St. Raphael The Archangel in south St. Louis, was arrested Wednesday night by local police and the FBI after he showed up at a secret location somewhere in St. Louis County. Grady, 57, had been exchanging emails with an undercover investigator, and had agreed to pay $80 for oral sex from a 16-year-old girl, court documents allege.

And here is as expected a typical reaction from the church school official at Grady's parish:

Ann Perryman, the school board president, emerged saying, "It was a completely isolated incident, I believe." She added, "I think he had a moment of weakness

Friday excerpt from S'mothered. Eleven year old Johnny Orlando's first day at work

"I started working just after the war broke out. I should say I thought I started working. I wanted to be a caddy at the County golf course so I went there one morning and asked the Caddy Master if there was a test I had to take or forms to fill out.

He looked at me as if I was retarded and said “no tests kid and no forms, just sit there until I tell you I have a bag for you. Are you sure, you can carry a bag? You look like a runt.”

I replied in a shaky voice “I’ve never carried a bag on a real golf course for a real golfer but I have carried my Uncle Sal’s bag around the yard.”

My Uncle Sal was a great amateur golfer and had won some County Tournaments. I told the Caddy Master my uncles name and pretended he sent me here to get a job caddying.

He sarcastically shot back, “Listen kid I don’t care if your Uncle is Bobby Jones as long as you can carry a bag when I get you one, so shut up and go sit in the caddy shack until I need you.”

I was puzzled why he referred to my Uncle Sal as Bobby Jones and wondered who Bobby Jones was.

As for being called a runt, I had been called a lot worse than that by my own relatives, so why should I care if a stranger called me that?

My cousin Larry had started caddying here a few months ago and I thought maybe I should mention his name to the Caddy Master but decided to quit while I was behind. I should have asked Larry about the terms they use here. Like what did they mean about getting me a bag? I thought golfers bought their own bags. My uncles did.

Well I waited two or three hours and it was time for lunch. Grandma had made me a spiced ham sandwich on white bread with mustard and put it in a brown bag with a banana. I bought a coke at the refreshment stand and started eating the sandwich.

A caddy was coming off the course and asked me if I had gotten out yet”

I didn’t know what “gotten out” meant but answered “yes.”

“How many bags you carried and how much did the cheap skate pay you?” he asked.

I could see I was getting in over my head now so I changed the subject and offered him half my sandwich.

He could tell I was new and helped me interpret the golf lingo they used here.
“The main thing ,” he said “is to watch where the guy hits the golf ball. Most of the golfers will put up with anything except if you lose their ball. You lose their ball Johnny and they will have a shit fit.”

Oh boy, I thought to myself, this job is going to be tougher than I imagined it would be.

After lunch, I sat around and waited for another two or three hours but the Caddy Master never did call my name. I walked home somewhat dejected, I had already spent what I going to earn. At least in my mind I had spent it. I needed a new tire for my bike after getting three flats in two weeks. The tube was made of more patches than rubber by now. On top of that, I needed fifty cents for the Captain Marvel club dues.

Anyhow, the next day Larry went with me to the course. We signed up with Jack, the caddy master. I was impressed Larry knew his name. We went to the shack and waited, shot some marbles and played a game with our penknives.

Two hours passed and Jack called Larry’s name, he used last names so he shouted out, “Villani, get over to the first tee, you got a bag, ask for Mr. Giardano, get a move on, quick!”

I figured Larry had seniority since he worked here a few months already. I assumed my turn was next and sat down. Two hours later I ate my lunch, a baloney sandwich, except my Grandma forgot to put mustard on it. After lunch, I resumed waiting and when it was 4:00 p.m. I realized I was not getting any bags again. Since it got dark at seven and a round of golf took at least four hours, no golfers would tee off after four o’clock.

I walked home alone. Larry was still caddying for Mr. Giordano. When my mother got home from work, she asked how much money I made.

When I told her none, she said “how come Larry brings home five dollars every time he goes to caddy and you bring home nothing Johnny?”

By now I had figured out how the system worked, the Caddy Master picked caddies by age first, then seniority and then strength or height and then finally he would pick the runts.”

So I answered my mother sarcastically, “I guess it’s because Larry’s Mother gives him milk and cereal for breakfast and I get soda.” I was really telling the truth although in a flippant sort of way. We never had milk in our house and the only cereal Grandma ever made was pastina, which I hated.

My Mother never yelled at me or threatened to hit me, never once in my life. She hurt me with words instead and I learned to reply in kind. “Well junior,” she said.” that isn’t my fault, I go to work every day and give Grandma money every week for food. Anyhow, what’s that got to do with caddying?”

I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of finding out I was classified as a runt at the golf course so I walked away, cursing under my breath.

Finally, on Friday, my third day of being a gainfully employed caddy, the course was very crowded. Every available caddy had been used. I was the last one left.

Jack called out “OK, Orlando you got a bag, get over to the tee and ask for Mr. O’Hara. Look for a big heavyset guy, any questions?”

“Nope” I said back to him, and ran over to the first tee, which was up a very steep hill. When I got there, I asked another caddy to point out the golfer I was caddying for. Mr. O’Hara turned out to more than heavy set, he was obese. When I went up to him, I was out of breath from running up the hill.

He noticed it and said “what’s the matter kid.We haven’t started yet and your out of breath. You ever loop before?”

Larry had clued me in on the golf terms the previous day, so I knew “loop” meant 18 holes. I thought of lying but figured he would know by the end of the first hole that this was all Greek to me, so I told him “no, Mr. O’Hara, but I’m a fast learner.”

He smiled and said “I’m not worried about you learning kid, all you have to do is stay out of my line of sight when I’m swinging and then carry my bag to where the ball lands, you don’t have to be Albert Einstein to be a caddy, just don’t lose my ball. What I am worried about though is if you can carry the bag? How much do you weigh?”

I exaggerated a little and said “one hundred and five.”

I could tell by the way he looked at me that he didn’t believe me. He joked, “well the bag weighs more than you do so good luck.”

I didn’t believe he could even swing the club, that’s how fat he was. He got up on the first tee, put his ball on a wooden tee and sunk it into the ground. Then he swung so hard he almost fell down.

I was so fascinated with watching him swing the club; I forgot to watch the ball. I had absolutely no idea where it had gone. “Oh my God,” I said to myself; now I was in trouble. I thought quickly, I’ll just walk behind him and follow him to the ball.
No such luck, he hadn’t seen it either and asked “where did it go kid?”

I looked the other way so he couldn’t see my face, meanwhile thinking, what do I do now? I figured it could have gone left or right so if I just guessed, thinking I had a 50 per cent chance of being right.

I said, “it went left Sir.” We walked down the left side of the fairway. He couldn’t see his ball and neither could I.

I thought even quicker now and told him “it went into the rough.” When you hit a ball, in the rough where the grass is quite high, the player doesn’t hold the caddy responsible. I was off the hook for now.

The other three golfers in the foursome came over to help us look for the ball. Mr. O’Hara said his ball was a brand new Wilson. The five of us searched for the ball for about 10 minutes with no luck. Just as he was putting another ball down to hit from where his lost ball should be, one of the other caddies called from across the fairway.

Your ball’s over here Mr. O’Hara, a Wilson right? Damn, I said under my breath it’s all the way over on the right side of the fairway. I should have said right.

He gave me a dirty look and said “look kid, you keep this up and I am kicking your ass off this course and the Caddy Master’s as well. Why in hell does he always stick me with the runt of the litter?”

Oh boy, I whispered, there’s that damn word again.

Well I may be a little slow on the draw, but when I start concentrating, I pick things up fast, as I had proved the past year in school. I watched every shot the rest of the loop and, being blessed with great eyesight, I never lost another ball.

At the end of the 18 holes, he said “good job, kid, you had me a little worried at the beginning but you’re not bad.” He handed me a five-dollar bill and said “spend this on food and put some meat on those bones.”

With the most money I had ever earned in my pocket, I practically floated home to tell my Mother. I could tell she was impressed but she didn’t say anything.

I said nothing about the first hole, to her, or to Larry, or to anyone else in the town, state or country."

Whats up? There are forty nine male authors in this top 50 list and only one woman?

A recent survey by Modern Reader listed the top 50 novels of all time. The results are listed in a box further down this page.

There is only one female author listed, Virginia Woolf.

That is astonishing. There are forty nine male authors in this top 50 list and one woman?

Please understand that I am not a chauvinist male. I am not posting this list to demean female writers or females of any profession. I feel women are every bit as good,if not better than men in every art,craft or skill I can think of.

I am as puzzled by this oddity as I think most of you readers are.

I have pondered this for a very long time. As a voracious reader of classical literature I have deliberately sought out books written by women, to try and spot some shortcoming which would explain this.

Some of the authors I have read in this project are very well known, Ann Beatty,Ann Tyler,Gertrude Stein, Virginia Wolfe, Flannery O'Conner,Joyce Carol Oates,Toni Morrison,Marilynne Robinson,Alice Walker, Willa Cather, Louise Erdrich,and Nadine Gordimer.

They are great writers, no doubt. I enjoy some more than others. Flannery O'Conner would rank as my favorite except I feel she overuses the N word for no useful purpose.

It is hard to explain why none of these excellent writers qualify among the top 50.

Here is what I have concluded and I hope I do not offend anyone, particularly women who write novels.

I find the work of all the authors mentioned above to be entertaining,informative and sometimes quite exciting.

For some reason, however when I finish these books I feel something is missing.

I am almost sure it is because of the endings.

I think women write as well as men from start, to almost, but not quite the end. They leave this reader feeling somewhat cheated.

I also suspect that women who read these authors do not have the same reaction. I believe most male readers do.

What I am trying to say, probably in a convoluted manner, is that women unconsciously write for other women.

Observe two women carrying on a conversation and two men doing the same. One women very seldom has to completely finish her thought before her companion interrupts her and says "I know just what you mean." The variation of that phrase used so commonly today is "know what I mean?"

A man,meanwhile, most of the time doesn't know what in the heck the other guy means and asks him to repeat his thought.

So, isn't it fair to conjecture that female novelists assume they do not have to spell out the conclusion of their writing? Male authors seem to just naturally assume they won't be understood unless they do.

Lets take an example and compare how two great authors, Toni Morrison and Charles Dickens each ended one of their most celebrated books.

Morrison ends "Beloved" twice and has drawn criticism from both blacks and women for the ambivalence of the endings.

As one respected critic,Mary Paniccia Carden, said in her review in 1999, "Beloved ends first with the construction of new domestic arrangements at 124 Bluestone Road, and then with the deconstruction of Beloved.

"That these two endings with their contradictory movements--coming together and flying apart--sit so separately together indicates the novel's ambivalent investment in the heterosexual couple as the site where history assumes its shape and meaning."

I am easily confused by these type endings. I leave unsure whether the focus of the novel was why black women have historically been secondary or invisible.

Or was the focus on the projection of a happily-ever-after romance scenario for Sethe and Paul , with possibilities for both resistance and re inscription of the gender role expectations that have consistently failed them ?

Consider on the other hand, the ending of Charles Dicken's novel "Hard Times"

Mrs. Sparsit and her arch rival, Mr. Bounderby confront each with a climactic, scathing discussion which leaves little doubt in the reader's mind where each stands.

The next to last page bids farewell to Louisa, Mr. Gradgrind,Rachael. Dicken's uses the literary goodbye to each character to sum up their pasts and presume thier futures.

So, I feel male authors choose eiither a happy ,sad or tragic ending, but always a conclusive finish. Women writers leave some loose ends.

I am just theorizing about this puzzling list along side of my post, I concede however, that your guess is as good as mine.

Or maybe not?

"Flaky, Ignorant Demagogue." ???

I agree with Carl Bernstein who is one of the most reputable newsmen in the country; the man who broke the Watergate story.

However I don't think he went far enough. He said McCain committed an "unpatriotic act" when he selected Sarah Palin as his VP running mate last year.

Bringing this person to an office one heartbeat from the Presidency is not merely unpatriotic. Desecrating our flag is an example of an unpatriotic act. What John McCain did borders on treason.

Sarah Palin is a dangerous person. Let's examine the terms Bernstein used.

Flaky?

This is obvious. Just watch her stomp up the steps, pounce on the microphone, click her heels,and lick her high gloss lipstick. Before she utters one word we know we are in the presence of a flake.

Ignorant?

One question from Katie Couric forever stigmatized the former Governor as spaced out. This makes her more, rather than less, dangerous. To understand that ambiguity you have to understand conservative white American men. They find vacuous women fascinating.

Demagogue?

A demagogue is one who appeals to and manipulates mass prejudice.

Palin appeals to the whole spectrum of the prejudiced, Those who cannot tolerate the existence of Non-whites,. Her followers don't trust non-Alaskans or gays,. They would stuff religion down our throats. They are gun toting fanatics,and detest those who would let women decide on their own whether they want to have an abortion.

Actually she cannot manipulate anyone because manipulation is an art or a skill. Palin has no skills. She is gorgeous and she is dumb and that is where her great appeal originates.

This is a Capitalistic society. Wealthy white men of influence run it. These men love dumb beautiful women.

Typically these men are very insecure about their sexuality. The Sanfords,Craigs, Foleys, Spitzers, Maddoffs,Haggards see the Sarah Palin type as non-threatening to their macho natures.

She it too dense to manipulate anyone, but she appeals to these dumbed down Kool-Aid followers..

So there you have it. Finally a man of great substance,Bernstein, this morning, stepped up and told the truth.

Millions of influential Democrats feel the same about Palin but you won't see them offering their remarks for publication. They must protect their own hides at all costs.

This is how we live these days.

"See no evil, hear no evil ,speak no evil monkeys," running the Zoo, while the really dangerous animals run wild.

HOMELESS VETS.TRULY, A NATIONAL DISGRACE!

The latest estimates of homeless veterans range from 230,000 to more than 750,000, about two-thirds of whom served since the beginning of the Vietnam era.

Let's own up to the truth.

It was mostly the poor and uneducated who were drafted to fight the Vietnam War, it should come as no surprise that so many are now on the margins of society.

Admittedly, the Veterans Administration provides many benefits, including educational assistance, job training, disability compensation, pensions, readjustment and job counseling, housing loans, and medical care. But few of the homeless veterans receive all the benefits they deserve or need.

The situation is going to get a lot worse and soon. Thousands of Iraq vets will soon be swelling the homeless ranks. It usually takes a year or two before the returning troops suffer the delayed shock of what they have seen in this horrifying war

I voted for Obama but I am getting very discouraged on this issue. Barack, the candidate made a big point of the Veterans problem, terming it "intolerable and unacceptable." McCain said much the same thing as did G.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

The cruel reality is our leaders do very little to address this situation after they are elected. Why?

Because it flies beneath the radar. Bank bailouts,unemployment etc, all legitimate concerns, grab the headlines. It does not fly beneath my radar. Every time I see a homeless vet I get a lump in my throat.

I served in the Korean War. The nation at the time was tired of wars since the War to end all Wars had just ended a few years earlier. Still, while there were no parades for returning Korean vets, their reception can in no way be compared to what has happened after Vietnam and what is happening to the returning Iraq vets today.

THIS IS A DISGRACE !

Saluting these men and women on July 4th, Memorial Day and Veterans Day does not cut the mustard. Its almost like the people who call themselves spiritual because they don't beat their children. Heck, animals do that.

Veterans deserve more than we can ever give them because without their service those who never served could not be enjoying what they have today.

Two homes,one for each season, bowling alley size master bedrooms, home theaters in the basements and four cars and 5 dogs in every family. We spend more on our dogs and veterinarians than we do on veterans. I have no figures to back that up but I know I'm right.

Wake up America , veterans make up 11 percent of the adult population, but they make up 26 percent of the homeless according to a National Alliance report report. That's insane.

Wake up Mr. President. Fly out to San Diego this week and talk to these homeless vets gathered there for 3 days to receive their annual dental checkups from a volunteer organization called Stand Down. The military term, stand down refers to time out from combat to allow rest and re-equipping.

Stand Down started 21 years ago here in San Diego and is duplicated on a smaller scale in other cities. It still draws a preponderance of Vietnam-era men, many fighting alcohol and drug problems.

''Vietnam veterans have never been able to resolve the questions that a person needs to answer to have a healthy psyche, like, 'What did I do that for?' and 'What was the fighting about?' '' says Michael Leaveck, a spokesman for the Vietnam Veterans of America. Jeers Instead of Cheers

Leaveck goes on to say that the war left many veterans with alcohol or drug problems, or the mental illness called post-traumatic stress disorder. According to the organization, one-third of the homeless veterans have substance abuse problems and another third have mental or physical disabilities.

We need dramatic efforts and legislation to bring this sad story on to the front pages.

Specifically, our veterans should not have to get their health care from volunteer organizations. They should receive lifetime coverage equivalent to what our Senators receive.

EVERY VETERAN WHO LOSES A LIMB should receive 1 million bucks from the govt; 1 million for each limb lost. In other words a quad amputee would receive 4 million and so forth.

Every vet who is emotionally crippled by post traumatic stress syndrome should receive a lifetime pension which would keep him or her from living on the streets.

And every single vet who served in Iraq itself during the past 7 years should receive a free home,minimum of 3 bedrooms. Their can be absolutely no rational reason why any of these brave young returnees should ever be homeless!

Not in a rich country like this. No way!

P.S. Tried google and other search engines for photos of amputee vets. I could not find any for this article. Amazing how even our search engines protect our sensitivies. We all choose to buffer ourselves from reality when it shames us.