Kati, you are the only one I can talk with. I am concerned that I am completely losing interest in most everything. I don’t know if this is simply a result of age or if it has something to do with what is actually happening (or not happening, as the case may be). When you live in a small town there are no psychiatrists, at best maybe a social worker or two, but in any case you know them personally and anonymity is not guaranteed. Similarly, when you live in a small town in which 90% or more are essentially right-wing zealots you really can’t discuss politics, unless, of course, you begin with the assumption that President Obama is a foreigner who does not belong in office, is a socialist, communist, homosexual, fascist, dictator, liar, anti-Christ, and all-around terrible guy who is having an affair with Beyonce.

Not only that, you are virtually at the mercy of the Main Stream Media, a conglomeration dedicated to making sure you will never, ever, get any real news other than what happens to be their most recent obsession. In this case it happens to be Governor Chris Christy of New Jersey. I confess I really don’t want to hear any more about the problems of New Jersey Fats, at least until he goes on trial, goes to jail, or in the most unlikely outcome happens to be exonerated. Personally, I have no doubt that whether he is linked to the bridge closure or not he has almost certainly used state and federal funds inappropriately, probably illegally, is a first-class bully, and represents the worst example of a state Governor. But I do not want a daily account of how many subpoenas have been served, what they are looking for, what their names are, and what this may or not mean for the ongoing investigation. Just let me know when and if this giant bag of protoplasm is found either non-guilty or guilty. While I admire and respect Rachel Maddow I think she has gone totally overboard on this particular subject. I refuse to believe there are not other news stories, both domestically and foreign that are not more important than the details of the fat man’s scandal. Don’t be surprised, however, if he ends up being the Republican candidate for President as the other possibilities are so appallingly awful there may be no other choice. You can’t set the bar much lower than George W. Bush, the worst President ever except, perhaps, for Saint Ronnie the Moron.

I guess if it weren’t for the problems of New Jersey Fats we might have to actually hear about the predictably failing Israel/Palestinian talks, maybe our meddling in the Ukraine (none of our business), meddling in Syria (none of our business), meddling in Afghanistan (none of our business) meddling in Iran (none of our business), meddling with China (none of our business), meddling in fact all over the world (none of our business). But such are the problems of empire (whether you can afford them or not).

And what’s with our badmouthing the Sochi Olympics? It’s as if we really want them to fail. “Sochi was a terrible choice,” “there won’t be any snow,” there are bound to be terrorist attacks, Gays will be discriminated against, the hotel rooms are terrible, you can’t drink the water, the games were far too expensive, and so on. While I cannot claim to “be in the know,” it seems to me the games are going fine. I suppose there are problems but athletes are still competing, winning medals, engaging in precisely the competitions they are supposed to be competing in, and the show goes on. Of course we can’t resist making fun of President Putin, bare-chested and all, spending foolishly on the Olympics, applauding the winners, Russian or not, and in general apparently making a success of the games. Why should we not appreciate the success of the games rather than wishing for their failure? Because, I guess, we are Americans, exceptional, and the Russians are Russians. Kati, does any of this make any sense to you? It doesn’t to me. Communism failed some time ago, Capitalism is failing now, it’s only a matter of time. Maybe we should try harder to get along?