Thoughts On ‘Chuck Norris vs. Communism’

This is not a movie review: You can find a good one here, or just google the title for several choices.

At the height of the cold war in Romania, mid 1980's, Western action films were voiced over into Romanian and shown to eager audiences willing to pay and take a risk. The interviews all show people who were greatly impressed and moved by Western society compared to their own: The freedom displayed as well as our opulence compared to what they had, made a big impression.

One ironic thing was that this was capitalism in practice: The people who arranged viewings, did so in their own apartments and had to acquire expensive (like the cost of a car) VHS machines. They charged guests to see films and hence recouped their investment as well as turned a profit.

The main thing that struck me was a kind of hope/despair dialectic: We are not such a beacon now. Does this mean we in the West have stagnated and are no longer in the vanguard of Human civilization? Or is it that the world is just more free now and so many more people are catching up to what we've had for so long?

Consider The Alternative

President elect Trump has come under some fair criticism for his New Year's Day tweet:

Happy New Year to all, including to my many enemies and those who have fought me and lost so badly they just don't know what to do. Love!

The most common criticism I've seen is that Trump should refer to people who disagree with him as opponents or something less harsh than "enemies". Sure, okay. But you realize that the only likely alternative to Trump was Hillary Clinton, who famously said in response to an Anderson Cooper question:

You've all made a few people upset over your political careers. Which enemy are you most proud of?"

Hillary:

Well, in addition to the NRA, the health insurance companies, the drug companies, the Iranians. Probably the Republicans.

Nice! 4 groups of Americans that oppose her agenda and one foreign enemy.

You Had One Job

Semi Day-Off activities

Roast coffee.

Go for a run--8.8 miles barefoot: First barefoot run of the year, still not under 8:00 but I'll get there, still have post vacation slows.

Ordered some green coffee beans--remembered we were all out when I got them out for the earlier roasting. Remembered that the vendor had a deal on shipping, so I will get 35 lbs delivered for $7.99.

Took Dahlia to the oral surgeon for a follow up on her root canal. This place is great! The waiting room looks like a nice home library/sitting room and she has little dogs that want to snuggle (and will fall asleap on you while you are being operated upon.

Made some ham and bean soup for dinner.

Took Jemma to dance lessons.

Logged into work and put in 2.5 hours.

NOTE: These items are not in order.

Chichen Itza

I did not leave my heart in Chichen Itza, others were not so lucky...

The standard understanding is that the Human sacrifice was done at the top of the pyramids, most was but some were killed and thrown into the cenote, which was their only source of water. Gee, I wonder if this is why they died out? This settlement was abandoned before the Spaniards arrived.

Christmas in Mexico

Forgotten Middle Child