Frodo, Keeper of the Ring

Saturday, February 3, 2007

And You Give Yourself Away, With or Without You
Mood:

smelly
Topic: "Small Gray Planet"(2)
For many years, after white men first arrived, the forests of the Shire became farmland. It was a meager existence, probably not much improved from that of the hunters and gatherers who left pieces of flint all about. The farms have now given way to houses, and schools, and shopping centers, and the value of the land now exceeds all that was earned off of it since the very beginnings of time. Frodo has seen much change.

When the school was built behind the Shire, the engineers decided that the land had to be lowered some thirty feet in order to establish a firm base for construction. One day, Frodo noted the farmer who sold the land for the school, and he had pulled a lawn chair out into the middle of the construction site, thereon smoking an unfiltered cigarette and observing the movements of the biggest bulldozers Frodo had ever seen. Frodo assumed that this was some sort of agrarian protest, and he shuffled on off to discuss the matter with the farmer, a veteran of the South Pacific during WWII.

The farmer pointed to the jagged edge of an apparent boulder, slowly being unearthed. He told Frodo that he was not out there in protest, but to contemplate a bit of revenge. The boulder, he noted, was in the main area of his annual plowing for over thirty years, and today it would be plucked from the earth, and no longer be of concern to the farmer, No more would he have to struggle, mule-and-plow, around that damned rock.

The rock stands today at the entrance to the school in the Shire, only a few feet from the spot it occupied for centuries. The farmer, whose name adorns the school, is no more. It would have been appropriate for his ashes to have been interred in that spot, so thinks Frodo.

Today, the hillside that grew back from farmland into pine forest is now being levelled; this time for upscale clustered homes and "green space." Frodo, Fiona, and Mick, the Wonder Dog, walked about the construction site, and looked for the hawk who nested annually in the tallest of trees thereabouts. Only blackbirds circled the winter sky. The farm pond that tempted Frodo to climb a fence after dark and cast a lure to Mr. Largemouth Bass has been drained. A single duck waddles about the muddy bottom, looking, Frodo supposes, for a final morsel in a lifetimes' feeding ground.

How green, thought Frodo, this Shire must once have been. Despite the comparative lushness of the Shire, it is distinctly the residence of human and halfling now, unlike, surely, what it was just 250 years ago.

In front of the Bank of the Shire there sits another great rock, saved from the construction of that edifice and exhibited for the curious. On that great rock there are spots where corn was ground into bread, and pieces of flint were sharpened, knife-like. There are also, for now, inexplicable designs and carvings.

Frodo thought about getting a lawn chair, smoking an unfiltered cigarette, and contemplating that rock. The parking lot was crowded however, and people would have thought that Frodo was crazy. Perhaps that, as scientists seem finally to acknowledge, is, indeed, the problem.

Posted by loveysdaddyga at 5:15 PM EST

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Thursday, February 1, 2007

I Knew You When You Were Lonely
Mood:

d'oh
Topic: "Bring Back Ross" (2)
Ross Perot founded one of the first great service companies. His theory was that by hiring the brightest young people, liberal arts graduates included, and given the problems placed in front of them, they could figure out solutions. It was not a requirement that one be computer literate in his employ, but the best soon figured out that they had to be computer literate in order to get the job done. The company, when sold, made Ross the multi-millionaire he deserved to be. Frodo has always admired the ability of Ross Perot to motivate and lead in the American business world.

That does not preclude Frodo from the opinion that Perot is a bizarre and perhaps crazy, old coot. It does emphasize an issue which is part and parcel of the next 600 and some-odd days of discussion. That issue is experience.

Frodo was reminded today of Ross Perot's infamous run for the White House. When asked, during that campaign, about his experience for the "highest office in the land," having no political office experience at all, Perot responded that he had absolutely no concern about that whatsoever. In fact, he said, it was actually an advantage to his candidacy. Perot pointed out that he had absolutely no exposure to the creation of a $5 Trillion deficit.

Given that perspective, a political candidate such as Perot would today have had no involvement in a pre-emptive war based on incomplete information. Such a candidate would be absolved of any responsibility for the governmental inertia which allowed the events of September 11th to have even taken place. This candidate would have had no experience with the dissolution of constitutionally-guaranteed liberties in the name of "security."

Frodo believes that the greatest disqualifier for political office may actually be experience. What occurred with EDS, the Perot company, may prove that we would all be best served by someone who was really smart, and who could tackle problems like he (or she) really had to do so. If not, they'd get fired. Wouldn't that be refreshing?

Posted by loveysdaddyga at 8:35 PM EST

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Wednesday, January 31, 2007

What Becomes of The Broken Hearted
Mood:

celebratory
Topic: "Thank You, Molly" (2)
If the small blue planet has known but one individual who had lower regard for George W. Bush than Frodo, it would certainly have been Molly Ivins. Born into Wartime, this literate, passionate, courageous wordsmith has succumbed during Wartime; the irony is not lost on those who shared her dreams of peace. The unconquered plague of the pink ribbon presents as formidable an obstacle as does the Black Gate entry to Mordor.

Frodo has no doubt that Ann Richards will be there to offer hugs and solace to her compatriot. Perhaps the two will share a toast to days gone by, and throw the glasses at a portrait of the President of the United States, conveniently tacked neatly above the entryway to The Seventh Circle of Hell.

Oh dear lady Molly, how you made them sputter and squirm when you could evidence the failings of a dysfunctional family named Bush. How you kept that rabbit George in your headlights!

Frodo will miss your bright eyes, and your smile.

Posted by loveysdaddyga at 8:26 PM EST

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Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Takin' Care of Business And Workin' Overtime
Mood:

not sure
Topic: "Pilot Wales" (2)
Forty eight years ago, the Federal Aviation Administration felt it necessary to require the retirement of commercial airline pilots at age 60. This, so the prevailing logic went, would lessen the possibility of disaster resulting from lessened reflexes or health problems. The result, for the benefit of military pilots moving into the civilian workforce, was increased flow of opportunity to move into the cockpits of the airline industry. The wisdom of the rule-making was not questioned seriously, for it was implemented around the world.

Ah, but the stick-jockeys themselves got very grumpy, and continued to raise the issue about forced retirement. Testosterone is a powerful sanity inhibitor, as certainly the Presidency of George W. Bush exhibits, and the depth of the pilots' chagrin grew annually. The Air Line Pilots' Association, their Union if you will, however took stance against the old fuds, opting to support the new guys.

Today, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, an inane political appointee, announced her support for raising the mandatory retirement age for commercial airline pilots to age 65. She cited the recent change by one of the foreign commercial carrier organizations to similarly raise the mandatory retirement age. She added that increased lifespan, and improved health, gave credence to this proposed action.

"Excuse me," said Frodo. "Is this not the same US Government that is railing against the increased obesity of Americans? Isn't it potentially even more dangerous to cram a bunch of fat guys into the cockpit?"

Sam actually came forth with a pretty good idea in response. Sam proposes that the Federal Aviation Administration should seek to limit the passengers to those over the age of 65. Not only would the flights be safer (how many potential terrorists over the age of 65 have you seen, dear reader?), but flights would be more serene (without one shrieking infant).

Frodo is going to write to his United States Representative, a squirrely little Republican physician with a scraggly mustache and the credibility of a kumquat. He supposes that Congressman Price could also be convinced that those seeking alternative means of transportation might actually walk or ride a bicycle.

Frodo doesn't really have anything against pilots wanting to do what they have always done best. He feels much the same way about doctors, lawyers, and tax accountants. He notes however that young doctors, lawyers, and tax accountants are hungrier, and willing to do more for less. Frodo sure would like to cut his next air fare by about $100 and get bumped into first class. Anybody listening Delta?

Posted by loveysdaddyga at 9:50 PM EST

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Monday, January 29, 2007

Poetry in Motion
Mood:

blue
Topic: "Frodo and Housman" (2)
With appropriate apologies to the late A.E. Housman for the substitutions, in part, by Frodo:

The time you won your town the race
We cheered you through the market-place;
Hobbit and man stood side by side,
Everyone cheered, no one cried.

To-day, the road all runners come,
Shoulder-high we bring you home,
And set you at your threshold down,
Townsman of a stiller town.

Smart lad, to slip betimes away
From fields where glory does not stay
And early through the laurel grows
It withers quicker than the rose.

Eyes the shady night has shut
Cannot see the record cut,
And silence sounds no worse than cheers
After earth has stopped the ears;

Now you will not swell the rout
Of steeds that wore their honours out,
Horses whom renown outran
And the name died before a van.

So set, before its echoes fade,
The fleet foot on the sill of shade,
And hold to the low lintel up
The still-defended Breeder's Cup.

And round that early-laurelled head
Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,
And find unwithered on its curls
The garland briefer than a girl's.

Godspeed Barbaro--Frodo has a broken heart this night.

Posted by loveysdaddyga at 7:46 PM EST

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Saturday, January 27, 2007

I'm Going Away With My Friend
Mood:

surprised
Topic: "Rubber Ducky" (2)

Tom Bombadil is Frodo's closest neighbor in the Shire. Some time ago, during a frenzy of garden landscaping, Tom placed a rather ordinary birdbath in the middle of his backyard. To encourage feathred visitors to take note, and to perhaps find a purpose for one of those items long saved and rarely used, Tom set a smal rubber duck afloat in the midst of the birdbath.

Frodo immediately recalled a talented, and busty, performer who danced a little dance to the tune "Rubber Ducky" at a certain nightclub on Printer's Alley in Nashville, years ago. Appropriately covered in shaving cream, she found opportunity in an appropriate squeezing of her prominent anatomy whenever the words "Rubber Ducky" made their way into the tune. Perhaps to our avian neighbors, Tom Bombadil's lure would similarly bring joy to an entire species.

One Sunday, not long ago, Frodo was accompanying Fiona and Mick, the Wonder Dog, to their early morning romp on the soccer field of the school in the Shire. Mick, the Wonder Dog, particularly enjoys the hot pursuit of a mini-soccer ball before it enters the net of the goal on either end of the field. Fiona merely searches for discarded cookies, candy, and other detritus which she assumes to be both edible and rewarding. Returning to the Shire after the romp, Frodo noticed several large and raucous crows in the barren trees of winter in the rear of Tom Bombadil's garden. One of the crows, near the top of a tall sweetgum, had something light-colored in its' beak. From that distance, Frodo was unable to ascertain exactly what the thief had garnered. Frodo was well aware that crows are brazen thieves, and that stories abound of car keys, wedding rings, and other precious objects found in discarded crows' nests. Frodo thought no more of it as he needed to tend to the roamings of Fiona, now gagging and disposing of her ill-gotten treasures from the same orifice as entry.

Later that day, while he labored in his own garden, Frodo happened to glance toward the birdbath in Tom Bombadil's backyard. Alas, the rubber ducky was no more. Investigating, Frodo walked into Tom's yard in order to pay greater attention. There, underneath the tree in which the robber crow had perched, Frodo found the errant rubber ducky. After closely examining the crime victim Frodo returned it to Tom Bombadil's birdbath. The crow had evidently found little purpose in either holding the rubber ducky for ransom, or having additional pleasure with her/it. In any event, the crime had been solved and all parties were back where they belonged.

When Frodo recounted the tale to Tom Bombadil, the two of them compared the events to the current state of affairs in the world of humans and halflings. "It is, I suppose," said Tom, "a reflection of the fact that you can't trust anybody these days."

"Well Tom, I think it's something more," said Frodo. "I think that once the crow found out that the rubber ducky had no intrinsic value, that it held little pleasurable potential, and that it wasn't registered to vote, that they spit him out and cast him aside."

The neighbors concluded, half in jest, that the ducknapping reminded them both of the disputed election of 2000. No one will ever know exactly what the crime was, and the criminals got away, with impunity.

Frodo is still thinking about all that shaving cream, and the tune wanders about in his temporal lobe.

Posted by loveysdaddyga at 10:16 PM EST

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Friday, January 26, 2007

Filled With Sadness, Filled With Gloom
Mood:

party time!
Topic: "Mississipp' Sippin'"(2)

Governor Sonny Perdue of the Great State of Georgia is a bald, born again, overweight, teetotaller Republican (Frodo recognizes that one of these tends to beget the others). Perdue has stated his personal opposition to the heavily-publicly supported legislation to allow Sunday sales of beer and wine. His exact words were that although the legislation may pass "it'll have a pretty tough time getting the last vote." This perceived threat to exercise his veto authority has given rise to discussion about the hypocrisy of those who argue for less "government interference," but have some sort of need to offer legislation relative to how every one should behave, whether they want to or not.

Frodo's favorite exhibition of true government leadership extends back to a gentleman known as Noah S. "Soggy" Sweat, Jr. who acceeded to the Mississippi State Legislature in 1952. Soggy gave a speech in that year commenting on distilled spirits in the Magnolia State (Frodo notes that friend "Verboten" is awash with anticipation at this moment).

He began, "You have asked me how I feel about whiskey. All right, here is how I feel about whiskey. If when you say whiskey you mean the devil's brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster, that defiles innocence, dethrones reason, destroys the home, creates misery and poverty, yea, literally takes the bread from the mouths of little children; if you mean the evil drink that topples the Christian man and woman from the pinnacle of righteous, gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation, and despair, and shame and helplessness, and hopelessness, then certainly I am against it."

"But;

"If when you say whiskey you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine, the ale that is consumed when good fellows get together, that puts a song in their hearts and laughter on their lips, and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; if you mean the stimulating drink that puts the spring in the old gentleman's step on a frosty, crispy morning; if you mean the drink which enables a man to magnify his joy, and his happiness, and to forget it, if only for a little while, life's great tragedies, and heartaches, and sorrows; if you mean that drink, the sale of which pours into our treasuries untold millions of dollars, which are used to provide tender care for our little crippled children, our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitiful aged and infirm; to build highways and hospitals and schools, then certainly I am for it.

"This is my stand. I will not retreat from it. I will not compromise."

Soggy served but a single term in the Mississippi State Legislature. It is to be noted that bootleggers and Baptist preachers have flourished ever since.

"Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio? Our Nation turns its' lonely eyes to you. . ."

Posted by loveysdaddyga at 9:13 PM EST

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Thursday, January 25, 2007

There's Plenty of Work And The Bosses Are Payin'
Mood:

incredulous
Topic: "Wyomin' Gloamin'" (2)
Dick Cheney stated on "Meet the Press" that he did not know who authorized the mission that resulted in Joseph Wilson being sent to Africa. Sworn testimony in Federal Court documents now that Cheney, himself, commissioned the mission. Dick Cheney also stated on the same television show that he did not have any personal knowledge of the identity of this Joseph Wilson. Sworn testimony today revealed that Cheney and his assistant, Scooter Libby, charged with perjury, were briefed at exactly the same moment by the same person that not only was Wilson commissioned by the CIA for the assignment, but that his wife, Valerie Plame, was an operating agent of the CIA.

What makes all of this important is that Cheney, and Frodo has no capacity to judge his motivations, directed others to reveal, surreptitiously, that Wilson's mission was authorized by Wilson's wife, who was an employee of the CIA. The concomitant result is that Wilson's report was not used to contradict the allegation that Iraq was seeking nuclear materials in order to build a bomb. Wilson's report, of course, has proven to be correct, and Plame's identification has totally compromised her capacity to perform as she has been trained.

Under the absolute best of circumstances, Dick Cheney, for whatever reason, suppressed information which could have been used to prevent the United States from initiating a Pre-Emptive War against the existing Iraqi government. Cheney, in his own defense, argued on CNN yesterday that the War was fully justified, and that the United States action is unquestionably in our best interest.

The facts are that 3,069 American troops are now dead. Dick Cheney has not attended one single funeral. More than 30,000 Iraqis died from combat-related injuries within the past year (note: every source reports figures higher than this, save one, so Frodo uses the most conservative figure possible). The length of time that US troops have been deployed in conflict has now exceeded the length of deployment experienced by American troops during World War II. Two American soldiers have received, posthumously, the Medal of Honor for their action against whomever it is that we are fighting in Iraq. Paul Bremer, George Tenet, and General Tommy Franks have all received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for their participation in the planning and implementation of this military disaster.

Frodo would make the assumption that the planning of the War, and the implementation of the Recovery, were superior to the performance of American troops. Surely, since the planners and implementers lead in medals three-to-two. It deserves a special Frodo note that the actual value-cost of a Medal of Honor is somewhat less than $20. The components of a Presidential Medal of Freedom, on the other hand, exceed $600.

Frodo might also assume from much of the factual data above that Dick Cheney bears much of the responsibility for both the initiation and the continuing conduct of the War which has cost the United States far more than $400 Billion, and has created an Anti-American animosity which unquestionably exceeds that of any other point in out national history.

He got pissed off at Wolf Blitzer because a question was raised about his personal relationship with his pregnant daughter, an avowed lesbian.

Isn't it about time somebody asked some questions about just what makes this character tick? In open testimony today, Senator Joseph Biden charged that Cheney has been proved wrong on every single statement he has made about this obscene disaster facing our nation. Similarly, Senator John McCain, a fellow Republican, charged that the President has been ill-served by his reliance on the advice of this Vice President.

Frodo has spent time considering what public servant exactly, in all of American History, has performed so unsuccessfully in his role as to compare to that of Dick Cheney. Given his limitations, Frodo can only come up with one other who has truly done damage to his country at a level which even remotely compares to what Dick Cheney has wrought.

Wanna guess? Gee, ain't we lucky? Two at the same time, and Rumsfeld is a close third.

Posted by loveysdaddyga at 10:03 PM EST

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Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Oh Stormy, Bring Back That Sunny Day
Mood:

irritated
Topic: "Is That in America?" (2)
"Mr. Snow, Frodo here, from the SHIRE STAR & ENQUIRER."

"Yes Mr. Frodo, I recognize you."

"Sir, I have a question about the Presidents' State of the Union Address to the American People last night."

"Before you begin Mr. Frodo, let me tell you that we now refer to that as SOTU, and it was presented by POTUS."

"Excuse me?"

"Yes, last night's address is now to be referred to as SOTU POTUS."

"Okay, well, if you don't mind I think many people were surprised by the fact that POTUS never made any mention whatsoever of the events surrounding Hurricane Katrina and the continuing effort to rebuild The City of Orleans, in his SOTU. Was that intentional, or merely an oversight?"

"Excellent question Mr. Frodo, for it is true that SOTU by POTUS was not a SNAFU, rather it was actually a deliberate act. POTUS is preparing to announce a new energy initiative which will also provide positive emphasis to our continuing economic growth."

"So, what does that have to do with what I guess you now call NOLA?"

"Very good Mr. Frodo, you're catching on."

"You see the POTUS is working on a plan for the displaced refugees from NOLA to apply their knowledge of the oil & gas industry in the AWRDP. High-paying jobs in energy exploration will be offered to these people from an energy-rich state, and this will help reduce our dependence on foreign oil. It'll help POTUS in the War against Terrorism."

"Excuse me, Mr. Snow, what is AWRDP?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you knew, it's the exploration for oil and gas deposits in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge as it is sometimes called. We refer to it as AWRDP."

"Are you serious? He's talking about sending a bunch of black people from the 9th Ward of NOLA to AWRDP in order to drill for oil?"

"Actually, the plan specifically calls for AADIP's to be housed in excess FEMA trailers while in the AWRDP as part of the effort by POTUS to expand upon the SOTU."

"I hazard to ask. AADIP's?"

"Yes, African-American Displaced Indigent Peoples, that is what is now known as AADIP's."

"Tony?"

"Yes Mr. Frodo?"

"Why didn't the POTUS mention this last night?"

"Well the TSA, which is, of course, part of the DHS, was concerned that without the AG present, the POTUS SOTU on AWRDP for AADIP's might come across as a SNAFU by FEMA."

"Sorry I asked."

"Well, frankly, that's exactly the response I was hoping to get."

Posted by loveysdaddyga at 9:15 PM EST

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Monday, January 22, 2007

Don't Be Cruel To a Heart That's True
Mood:

happy
Topic: "High Chair" (2)
Frodo dialed "911" at least three times over the years, for he was convinced that John McCormack was dead. With all due respect, the guy was a walking corpse, and sitting up there listening to all that crap as if he really cared, would be enough to take the measure of anyone. Tip O'Neill, despite all his political wisdom, had a bulbous nose, and he always looked as if he'd had a snoot full before the speech even started. Newt Gingrich and Dennis Hastert both looked as if they were shifting about in order to surreptitously pass gas. Nancy Pelosi should, by default, tomorrow night, be the prettiest thing to ever sit in that chair behind the President, and beside the (shudder) Vice President.

Frodo sincerely hopes that she not appear in a pants suit, for fear that George W. Bush may become distracted and mistake her for Laura. After all, the speech will begin right about the normal bedtime for the current version of Bonzo.

Further, Frodo recommends that the Speakeress keep her arms crossed throughout the speech, and that she remain seated at all times. Should the President, by some miracle, actually construct an intelligible sentence, which reflects any modicum of rational thought, by merely tweaking her nose (ala "Bewitched") the Members of the House and Senate can proffer polite applause in recognition. Otherwise, the gentlemen of the House and Senate would be in total confusion about when to courteously stand or be seated.

Frankly, Frodo is hoping that Ms. Pelosi tastefully exhibit jewelry. A small gold brick should dangle from her charm bracelet, to symbolize the accomplishments of the recently concluded 109th Congress. A yellow ribbon, over her heart, symbolizing those of us who wait for all our boys to come home. And yes an American Flag, perhaps on a necklace, with diamonds, rubies, and sapphires.

Tomorrow night, Nancy Pelosi will sit where no woman has sat before. You go, girl!

Posted by loveysdaddyga at 9:25 PM EST

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