Trump for President?

"The Donald" is considering a bid for President of the United States, as a Republican (Tea Party) candidate, I assume.  Forgive my ignorance, but I didn't realize bankruptcy and divorce were considered qualifications for that office.  I should probably add marriage, because he did wed women after each of his two divorces, each of whom produced one child to add to his family of three delivered by his first wife. 

Mr. Trump does not enjoy great popularity in the Tampa Bay area where I live, because of the manner in which The Trump Tower Tampa project was handled.  At first, it garnered a great deal of interest and units sold rapidly.  It then devolved into a "he said/she said" nightmare which the courts must sort out.  Similar situations have occurred in other projects bearing his name, and, despite his fame, his tactics leave a well-informed citizen with many unanswered questions.

His only announced platform thus far aligns with the Birthers who believe that President Obama was not born in the United States, and, therefore, should not serve as President.  This infamous group ignores the copy of the birth certificate produced by the state of Hawaii and testimony from officials of the state as proof of citizenship.  Certainly, we have more pressing problems to deal with, like returning to a modicum of economic prosperity.  John Boehner consider the matter of Presidentt Obama's citizenship closed, stating that he believes that Obama was born in Hawaii.  Isn't it interesting that the Birthers never questioned John McCain's citizenship, for, after all, he was born in Panama.  This nonsense is a thinkly-velied attempt to discredit a sitting president, and Donald Trump has jumped on that bandwagon.

Trump does know how to assemble an interesting cast of characters for Celebrity Apprentice. but that hardly qualifies him to run for office.  He has faced repeated financial problems in his career and hasn't demonstrated an interest in serving the public, insofar as his past record indicates.  Plus, two divorces and three wives doesn't bode well for his chances in the heartland.  Mr. Trump will fare better if he stays in the realm where he can reign rather than govern, and our country will be better served with candidates who understand the difference.

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Ham on Wry Award of the Week

Many of you have been waiting breathlessly for this week's award winner, so exhale deeply, because here he is.  Representative Paul Ryan, Chairman of the House Budget Committee, authored the budget proposal approved by the House earlier today.  Clearly, Mr. Ryan has a firm grasp on how to solve the hunger problem in America.  He proposal slashes the food stamp program and severely limits those who would qualify for it.  The United States must bring the deficit under control; however, to do it on the backs of the neediest population segment shows a callous disregard for these people.  Having enough to eat is a right as well as a need, and neglecting that basic tenet of humanity places us in the ranks of the many countries in Africa whose people are starving.

A friend of mine who served as an elementary school principal for many years told me that she was shocked when she transferred to a school with an extremely high percentage of students on free and reduced lunch.  Many of them had little to eat except what they received at school.  Their plight moved her to tears, and she stocked her office with snacks and easy-to-eat foods at her own expense that she would give to any student who asked for something to eat.  One of her students told her that his family ate dry spaghetti noodles because they didn't have money to pay for electricity to cook them.

Maybe it's time for Representative Ryan and his Republican colleagues who voted for the proposal to take a field trip to schools in high poverty poverty areas in their home states.  They could then experience the effects of hunger first-hand.  Students have trouble concentrating and lack energy when their stomachs grumble for food.  I know that abuse exists in the use of food stamps, but, instead of chopping the program to bare bones (pun intended), finding ways to reduce abuse would better serve us.

Cut non-essential programs, not basic needs programs, Representative Ryan.  Ham on Wry "honors' you for authoring the worst idea of the week.  Congratulations!

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"I Get by with a Little Help from My Friends"

For those of you from my era or slightly younger, you need no explanation of the blog title and who sang them.  For the younger crowd, I have included a link you can use to hear a rendition of the song on YouTube.  No matter who you are, we all need friends to get through the day.  No, I'm not talking about obtaining drugs; I'm talking about having people who will not ask questions when you ask for help.  True friends listen with an open mind, ask what you need, and then deliver it, if they can.

Yesterday, I was tempted to throw my computer from the loft and free myself of the frustration I had experienced after several hours of trying to export this blog to Facebook.  Finally, I sent an e-mail message to my friend Chuck Taylor, asking him to rescue me.  He didn't admonish me or say he didn't have time.  He immediately began solving the problem.  I'm happy to report that his solution has succeeded, and I'll have more proof of that, if this post appears on my Facebook page in a few minutes.

I could share countless stories with you about close friends who have been there for me, but I'd like to hear some of yours.  Feel free to leave a comment telling me about a special friend in your life.  I'll choose one or two to post in my blog.

Stay tuned for my Ham on Wry award of the week post later today.

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Our Children, Our Future

Isn't it odd that so many people place focus and energy on preventing abortion, yet stand by as millions of children go hungry each day, suffer abuse or neglect at the hands of caregivers, or lack access to health care?
Our nation has failed to nurture the children already born, a stunning indictment against our lack of emphasis on our greatest resource. Hundreds of non-profits work to close the gap between have and have not, but, despite their efforts, the gap grows ever larger.

We face mounting financial problems that shroud the real issues facing this nation.  Like the "little lost sheep", we have lost our way.  Our founding fathers established a nation that embodied freedom as its rallying cry.  Who is ensuring our children's freedom to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness", established in The Declaration of Independence?  Who must take that responsibility?  Parents, teachers, businessmen, social workers, scientists, politicians, janiors, bus drivers, musicians, artists, clergy, atheists---every citizen in this country must do so, for we reap the benefits of well-educated, healthy children who grow up to benefit society and suffer the consequences of those who can not function as productive adults.

Let's not worry so much about the unborn, until we take proper care of those who live among us now.

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Fame and Talent Part Two

Two talented artists who have attained fame in their genres warrant some space in a commentary on the connection between fame and talent.  While they are not household names, their respective talents are noteworthy.  One, my close friend, Chuck Taylor, spent many years as an editor and columnist for Billboard Magazine.  His clever interviews and insightful reviews earned him a degree of fame in the music business.  He has created a visually mind-blowing blog devoted mainly to entertainment.  If you like keeping up with the latest in pop culture, visit thesmokingnun.com and prepare for a jaunty romp through the latest in entertainment news.

I don't know the second artist, Juan Diego Florez, personally, but I witnessed his performance as the lead in Le Compte Ory Saturday via a live satellite feed from The Metropolitan Opera.  His pure tenor voice and skillful dramatic interpretation won praise from the audience in the form of thunderous, prolonged applause.  Mr. Florez showed that opera is his true calling by rushing to The Met shortly after his first son was born, arriving appoximately a half hour before he had to sing.  His flawless performance is all the more amazing when one factors in a sleepless night waiting for his son to appear. 

Kudos to both of these talented professionals whose fame is well-deserved.

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Fame and Talent

Do fame and talent go hand-in-hand?  I think not.  We have only to consider the reality shows that focus on people behaving badly to answer that question.  Contrast the likes of Snooky or any of the "Real Housewives" with that of Meryl Steep, Jack Nicholson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Natalie Portman and James Franco.  On the one hand, we have people who gain fame by showing the worst of human behavior, and, on the other, we have talented artists who are famous because we willingly pay money to watch their performances.  I could also have listed talented people in the fields of music, painting, sculpture, stage, etc., but you ge the picture.

I am at a loss to explain our culture's obesession with reality shows, but, at least, we have a few shows in that genre that expose us to undiscovered talent, such as American Idol and America's Got Talent.  Some, like Dancing with the Stars, have a mix of stars that have proven talent in their fields and "stars" that are merely famous.  Other reality shows deal with subjects like gardening, cooking, decorating, buying houses, etc., which do feature people that have talents of a more practical nature and serve a useful purpose.

But, please, spare me the trash and bring on the talent!

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Welcome to my blog!

Ham on Wry offers something for everyone.  We live in a wacky world, and my posts will deal with the realm of the weird, ironic, and sometimes just plain idiotic.  Please continue reading to discover the first “Ham on Wry” award.

This week’s winner is Florida’s governor, Rick Scott.  Mr. Scott, better known for his tenure at Columbia/HCA, has already axed a number of popular initiatives in the state.  One of the most widely supported of those, a high-speed rail line, had garnered over $2 billion in support from the federal government and would have added many new jobs to Florida’s faltering economy.  However, the “no” governor nixed it, saying it would cost taxpayers a substantial amount of money to realize the completion of the project.
It seems to me, Mr. Scott should naturally align with high-speed rail. With the speed of a bullet train, he has railroaded budget cuts to programs, such as one that serves tens of thousand of disabled Florida citizens, with the flourish of a pen and little advance notice.  As a result, his approval rating has dropped precipitously.
Congratulations on winning the first ever “Ham on Wry” award, Governor Scott.  I’m certain it won’t be your last.
After I wrote this, I learned that the Florida legislature will fund the program for the disabled, despite Governor Scott’s misplaced zeal.  Perhaps the citizen’s wrath has finally penetrated their official ”chop, chop” approach to governance.

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