Random Thoughts

In no particular order...

The annual Rose Bowl Parade is a gigantic waste of time and money; tradition be damned.  It's a lovely example of corporate narcissism is all it is.  I would much prefer to see the corporate suits walking down the middle of the street, each holding up a mock check with the amount their firm gave to charity rather than on a float that will last two days, if that.

We all know this will never fly.

But here's something we might could change and that is the annual national embarrassment of Kathy Griffith and Anderson Cooper as announcers/emcees for the famed ball drop in Times Square, New York.

They are fatuous beyond belief.  This year's gig about Cooper's hair?  NO ONE CARES.  Griffith's insistence on exposing Cooper's sexual preferences is totally obnoxious, but he's such a pussy he just stands there and grins because after all, it is attention.

Banish them by using social media -- get out there and hash tag and twitter to your heart's content.  #GoHomeKathy would be a good start...

A side bar to the Rose Bowl Parade - the firm that did the opening and closing ceremonies is right here in Redondo Beach.  Assuming the trickle down theory, the beach cities may score a dollar or two out of this debacle and, trust me, I'm embarrassed.

This is a personal superstition and it's this - if you are a writer or painter or singer -- whatever talent it is that you cherish, make a point of doing some of it today.  Just write a paragraph or scribble a quick cartoon or give it your all in the shower (good acoustics.)  This will insure (in my mind only) that you will retain that skill all the rest of the year.

Off now to organize my shiny new 2015 calendar (Monet paintings this time.)  This is an annual tradition and one I love because it reinforces my mistaken belief that I have any kind of control over the new year. 

By coincidence, this column has 365 words.  You talkin' to me, God?