COUNCIL MEETING AND LOCAL ELECTIONS

Unforeseen complications delayed this posting and I apologize. I do hope you read it before tonight.

The election  results locally were as expected except for the nonpartisan BOE w here the two members of the Campbell’s slate were selected plus as a residue, one of the three Mapp supported candidates. So much for the concept for an elected board. We can look forward to another year of public unfriend less, non-transparency, another Campbell selected superintendent, unexplained staff changes, questionable finances, Oy Veh.

As Dan Damon wrote: “This victory gives Mapp unstoppable support on the City Council with a reliable six-vote majority.”

It really matters little about the Council
where his present simple plus majority has been only marred by the two others who too often expound their own self-serving agendas.

The above is why I may not Attempt to attend tonight’s farcical combined agenda setting-business meeting. The available on line agenda is constructed as if the agenda setting session was not needed. There are several items that should bear discussion, including another legal fee to an attorney firm. What is our yearly legal costs including corporation counselor’s salary. What would it be if we had a full time Corporation Counselor aboard?

Also the Council will now vote to employ the earlier administration’s unbiased consultant for a predetermined plan to be in charge of the Muhlenberg site redevelopment.

Two others are first reading of ordinances increasing the Mayor’s salary to 75K and “Councilman/Woman” (note wording; does this mean any Woman or Councilwoman”?) to $25K.

Both are not justified although the Mayor’s will pass by 5:2 and the Council’s unanimously.

It matters not that Mapp has a full time 6 figure job in Orange and now receives 35 K for a part time position here where he has what I consider to be a too large staff to do the nitty gritty.

The Councilors already get ab out 10K for a position which requires very little time and becoming less each year with combined meetings.

These part time public service positions should not become an occupation or made into a substantial source of income.

THE DAY BEFORE ELECTIONS

Monday (with apologies to “twas the night”) is the day before elections and all through the house will be noise of the ringing of phones with electoral robot calls.

Too bad there are no candidates for state and county offices that truly merit a vote.

Nationally the news is once again depressing with the shootings at the Texas church. Will Congress do something about gun laws instead of paying lip service and not enacting anything constructive? There is no provision in the 2nd and 14th Amendments or SCOUSA decisions that prohibits laws to control access or weapon types.

Also Senator Rand Paul suffered broken ribs during a violent assault in his home. We live in a violent social era full of hatred and bigotry

Again history is a lesson we should know about the three intermediate periods in Egypt; the first about 2181–2055 BC perhaps reported in the Ipuwer Papyrus of that era. There is another one about how it was not safe to be out after dark or even in his home. That the youth were lawless.

Nationally we have learned that Mueller Has Enough Evidence to Bring Charges in Flynn Investigation. Leaked legal records show Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross shares business interests with Vladimir Putin’s immediate family, which he failed to disclose during his confirmation. Add to this the two already under house arrest plus the few known chirpers and the Russian influence investigation may become a repeat of Watergate.

Collateral damage could fall on the Clintons and their now being revealed Russian connections. Add the now surfing reports of Clinton buying control of the Democrat Party.

Other news which has spread into the Caucasian world falls in to the Boys will be Boys about sex category. The repercussions have not been limited to the casting couches of the USA but to Europe including political leaders in Great Briton.

In the Muslim world; in Saudi Arabia the Crown Prince has arrested over 50 elites in an attempt to consolidate his power. At least he wants to introduce reforms many related to the position of women in their society; bravo!

I have not mentioned the shadow of a nuclear crisis. Or the ever present terrorism.

Yes, despite what tomorrow’s election results are, we are going to be living in interesting times

ENJOY

I could have written several blogs this weekend but there was a great World Series, The Jets won  a game they were supposed to lose, and the Hoos for the first time in many years became bowl eligible.

After my daughter and son-in law's sudden visit last weekend  lasting to midweek I thought that I would have a free weekend but Wednesday eve I received an email from my Richmond grandson  that he his wife son and daughter (12 and 14) were coming up late Friday night for their annual 1 full day visit. They were being accompanied by Max a delightful Maltese who loves to wear a vest and also great-granddaughter  Madylin's (sic) best friend. The arrived at 12:30 Sat am as expected and it was a delightful day and half. When I finally opened my email Sunday afternoon this was  

from DC daughter was waiting for me and I am sure that you  will enjoy as much as I did. A seeeious blog can wait. 

Some good laffs.

Kulula is a low-cost South-African airline that doesn't take itself too seriously. Check out their new livery!
And get a kick out of the comments at the end of the photos. Notice the labeling on the planes.

WHAT A PITY KULULA DOESN'T FLY INTERNATIONALLY - WE SHOULD SUPPORT THEM IF ONLY FOR THEIR HUMOUR:

On a Kulula flight, (there is no assigned seating, you just sit where you want) passengers were apparently having a hard time choosing, when a flight attendant announced, 
"People, people, we're not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it!" 
---o0o---

On another flight with a very "senior" flight attendant crew, the pilot said, 
"Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants." 
----o0o---

On landing, the stewardess said, 
"Please be sure to take all of your belongings. If you're going to leave anything, please make sure it's something we'd like to have." 
----o0o---

"There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane." 
---o0o---

"Thank you for flying Kulula. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride." 
---o0o---

As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Durban Airport, a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: 
"Whoa, big fella. WHOA!" 
---o0o--

After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in the Karoo, a flight attendant on a flight announced, "Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as heck everything has shifted." 
---o0o---

From a Kulula employee: 
"Welcome aboard Kulula 271 to Port Elizabeth. To operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and pull tight. It works just like every other seat belt; and, if you don't know how to operate one, you probably shouldn't be out in public unsupervised." 
---o0o---

"In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child travelling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with more than one small child, pick your favourite." 
---o0o---

"Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but we'll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember, nobody loves you, or your money, more than Kulula Airlines." 
----o0o---

"Your seat cushions can be used for flotation; and in the event of an emergency water landing, please paddle to shore and take them with our compliments." 
---o0o---

"As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses." 
---o0o---

And from the pilot during his welcome message: 
"Kulula Airlines is pleased to announce that we have some of the best flight attendants in the industry. Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight!" 
---o0o—

Heard on Kulula 2 55 just after a very hard landing in Cape Town : The flight attendant came on the intercom and said, 
"That was quite a bump and I know what y'all are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight attendant's fault, it was the asphalt." 
---o0o—

Overheard on a Kulula flight into Cape Town, on a particularly windy and bumpy day: During the final approach, the Captain really had to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, 
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to The Mother City. Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!" 
---o0o—

Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing: "We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal." 
---o0o—

An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which required the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers exited, smile, and give them a "Thanks for flying our airline". He said that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally everyone had got off except for a little old lady walking with a cane. She said, "Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?" 
"Why, no Ma'am," said the pilot. "What is it?" 
The little old lady said, "Did we land, or were we shot down?" ---o0o—