Shopping Trip, Part II

It is beginning to look like I can’t have a normal shopping trip anymore……

I was in the checkout line at Wisconsin’s very own Man Store (if you can’t buy it there, you don’t need it) and behind me a few spots was a 20 something male and a woman in her mid 50’s. I noticed them earlier shopping because they both were wearing dark sunglasses in the store, which I thought was odd. They were both wearing workout suits but it was fairly obvious from looking at them that neither wore them for that use.

The store had very few lines and consequently, the few lines were long. As soon as they got in line they began to talk with one another. The both had a soft southern accent that reminded me of a Tennessee or Kentucky drawl. After a few seconds of small talk, the 20 something started saying repeatedly “only in America” with a dismal tone in his voice. The woman asks what he means. He goes on about “only in America” would people be willing to wait in lines like this. He continued on, with a touch of smugness in his voice that no where else would people be willing to wait like this and he offered up Germany as an example. The Germans wouldn’t wait in line like this he stated emphatically. They just wouldn’t he said. He got back on to muttering “only in America” dismally.

The woman gave up a little “I know” with an air of understanding. She continued on that “that was why she was voting for Obama-he’s gonna change things”. She then added that the “McCain-fella scares” her.

Yep, “only in America” would someone link their Presidential vote to waiting in line at the Man’s Mall.

Politically Incorrect

Pronounciation (po li tic al ly in corr ect).

Generally not accepting commonly accepted ideals or having beliefs that others may find offensive.

Use in a sentence:

Although Tina Fey is funny, it is politically incorrect for me to not give a shit as to what she thinks about Sarah Palin or her political views in general.

Actorvist

Pronunciation (ak-ter-vist).

A theatrical proponent of activism, who relies heavily on their popularity as a performer in an attempt to advance their own personal political agenda.

Use in a sentence:

When actress Tina Fey commenting on the possible election of Sarah Palin as US VP states in a recent issue of TV Guide says "If she wins, I'm done. I can't do that for four years. And by 'I'm done,' I mean I'm leaving Earth" she actual meant to say "I'm an actorvist and if you like me you'll vote for my candidate."

Can't Take A Joke

Political parody has been around for centuries. Think Punch magazine satiring the UK and monachary in the mid-1800's

Modern political satire coming form Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Bill Maher and others encourages a healthy debate. Recently Tina Fey's dead-on rendition of Sarah Palin has been great. I can't seeing anyone disagreeing that a little political satire is fun.

To be sure, some of it is slanted. Humor usually is slanted, that is why we are amused. It tickles our funny bone because we were not expecting it. Yet, in most political satire there is a grain of truth.

On Saturday Night Live this past weekend, we saw a great skit in the tradition of the long history of their political satire. Watch here:

http://video.yourfindit.com/ViewVideo.aspx?fileid=2193

It seems though, this skit went too far by poking fun at major Democratic supporters George Soros and Herb Sandler. Apparently they can't take a joke. The clip is disappearing faster the the Packer playoff chances. After protests by both Soros and Sandler, it was taken off the NBC website. It disappeared from YouTube and Hula.

I like satire and political parody but it seems the new message coming from Democratic supporters is that it is all well and good to go after Republicans and Republican supporters but Democrats and Democratic supporters are off limits.

A Question of Morality

There has always been one deep, dark ethical question universal to mankind. It existed in prehistoric times the same as it exists today. The question is 'could I kill another human being?'

To be sure, we've all thought of the question. Some of us have probably even assigned the question to undergrads as coursework. If you served in the military, the question wasn't just an academic exercise. Many of us have probably waxed philosophical on the topic over a beer or coffee with friends.

I'd answered the question to myself years ago. To protect my family and loved ones? Yep, that is a no-brainer. In defense of someone else being harmed? Quite possibly. To defend my country? I guess so. To defend my personal property? I think that might be a stretch.

I'll admit that I hadn't really thought about it much until yesterday when I was shopping. I was in one of those big box stores I absolutely loath. I was in line waiting as usual, since they had too few checkers to handle the throng of shoppers.

The shopper ahead of me was attempting to buy some fresh produce among other things. Peppers to be exact. The clerk handled the bag of peppers and the exchange between the shopper and clerk went something like this:

Clerk: What are these?
Shopper: Peppers
Clerk: Yes, I see that. Do you know what kind?
Shopper: No.
Clerk: You don't know what kind they are?
Shopper: No.
Clerk: How come you don't know what kind of peppers they are? After all, you are buying them.
Shopper: How come you don't know? You work here.
Clerk: OK, let me get my produce book out to see if I can find them.
Shopper: Oh, maybe they are Hot Peppers.
Clerk: Hmmmm (scanning book), there are no 'Hot Peppers'
Shopper: That's what they are.
Clerk: They aren't in my book.
Shopper: So.
Clerk: Why don't I read the pepper names to you, tell me if anything sounds right.
Shopper: OK.

Well, the peppers in the book were arranged it seems alphabetically because she started with Bell Pepper-Green and followed that up with Bell Pepper-Orange quickly followed up by Bell Pepper-Red and Bell Pepper-Yellow. I realize that grocery clerking is generally not a profession populated by Mensa members but I thought even the most dense individual would realize that the small green things in the bag were not Orange Bell Peppers.

This exchange continued for minutes until the clerk got to 'serrano' peppers and the shopper delightedly cried out that these Unidentifiable Vegetable Objects (UVO's) were in deed 'serrano peppers' and the clerk was able get her little code out of the vegetable book to complete the sale.

See, it was during the debate between the shopper and clerk over who bore the responsibility of knowing what these UVO's were called that I began to ponder that age old question again. I decided right then and there that yes, yes I could kill another human being.

VP Debate

I watched, and enjoyed, the VP debate of last night. I tuned around after the debate to listen the various pundits give their take on it.

I'm left with one question after hearing the pundits: what the hell is on Keith Olbermann's head? Ye gods man, if you are going bald just let it go. That thing looked like a Halloween wig gone bad.

M.I.A.

Two of my favorite blogs are Missing In Action.

Wisconsinology http://wisconsinology.blogspot.com/ which boasts odd and offbeat stories from Wisconsin is really a fun read. From odd historical facts to more modern fare, it is a treasure trove of all things Wisconsin.

The Chief http://foxtrot-echo.blogspot.com/ blogs more so on national and local current events with attention to Oshkosh. The Chief links articles from all over the globe on the blog and comes at topics from all angles.

Both haven't blogged in quite some time and both are missed. If anyone knows where they are hiding, please tell them that they are missed!