THE GOOD: Flashing lights convey a message for theatre goers, curtain time is rapidly approaching or intermission is nearly over. It’s time to go back to your place for the rest of the show. These are probably my favorite flashing lights. Let’s watch the show.

Flashing lights are used to convey a variety of messages. Morse code flashes of dot, dot, dot, dash, dash, dash, dot, dot, dot is widely known as a call for help. “Save Our Ship” and “Save Our Souls” often given as the words behind the acronym. This distress signal is widely known.

THE BAD: Fire trucks, ambulances and police cars use flashing lights to indicate public service activity. Accidents, fires, inujuries and criminal activity are a few of the events which initiate flashing light (and siren) response. Utility trucks, wide-load vehicles and occasionally automobiles use flashing lights to indicate a need for caution. I appreciate all these flashing lights, they keep me alert.

THE UGLY: There are also flashing lights that frustrate me. They seem to demand, but certainly at least suggest, that action should be taken. Talking with friends indicates that the frustration is common. I would guess that it has happened to nearly all of us when the power goes out.

I woke the other morning to see the bedside digital clock flashing 12:00. Thinking what that meant for the morning brought forth a sigh. Oh well, I’ll just have some coffee and then . . . oh, electric coffee pot. That’s alright I’ll just heat some water to . .. . oops, electric range. Good time to catch up on the news . . . oh, maybe I’ll just read . . . wait, no lights. No way to do anything productive. Might as well take advantage of the situation and go back to sleep. When I get up I know I’ll find clocks all over the place flashing away.

After my nap I see that power has been restored as the clocks now all flash 12:43. So I began the obvious chore – resetting the clocks. With cell phone in hand I make my way to the digital clocks, the thermostat, the microwave, the range, the coffee pot, the VCR. After oversleeping and completing these unscheduled chores I decide that I’ve done enough work for one day. Think I’ll go to the theatre and enjoy the aftermath of the flashing lights there.

Lyrics from that song from Cabaret by Kander and Ebb (on Broadway in 1966) make me think of our current political system. Our government is being purchased – probably to some extent at all levels from city and county officials to the highest levels of office. Unnamed individuals make up Super PACS and corporations are identified as individuals solely for the purpose of enabling large sums of money to be given to candidates. In this, my first political statement, I am not aiming at either major party. With some notable exceptions I believe this goes for the whole shebang. Certainly seems so, especially in Kansas.

“Sorry school kids, folks with physical or mental disabilities, struggling families, unemployed and under-employed, we can’t help you.” Meanwhile billions (yes, billions with a “b”) of dollars are spent to fill the offices of elected officials who then cater – not to ‘all the people‘ but to ‘the people‘ who wrote the checks, hosted the fund-raisers, bought the ads. Many of those elected use their positions to promote passage of legislation favoring their financial supporters and in doing so increase their own wealth and ultimately that of the funders. While they are supposed to be working for all they seem to grow their own wealth by garnering speaking fees higher than many of their constituents make in an entire year, writing books, enjoying lavish ‘perks’ from the moneyed. The primary motive – “get re-elected” – is the first priority regardless of needs of constituents. Some, I’ll admit, have altruistic motives, especially in their early years in office. However, after a time many seem to let altruism be outweighed by the “get re-elected” mentality. If I remember my history correctly the government offices held by those elected were not expected to be life-time positions.

Meanwhile as taxes are being cut ensuring that those who ‘have’ will ‘have more’. Individuals and companies avoid and/or lower their tax obligations through inane tax codes, off-shore banking, mammoth ‘loopholes’ and semantic manipulation as the gaps in income and economic status widen.

It is now less than five months before Americans go to the polls to elect a president and some members of Congress. We have already been inundated for over a year with campaigns, announced and unannounced. Speeches, rallies, meetings and pundits filling the airways with chatter. Unfortunately, there isn’t much worry about truth. Commentators are only beholden to the media outlet which employs them. Some purport to know what the candidates are thinking, what ‘hidden agenda’ they may have. And of course, all this takes money. Money that could be used for improving schools for all; establishing and supporting education and training programs for the disabled, unemployed, challenged citizens; for sorely needed improvements to our infrastructure and for giving everyone the opportunity for medical care that could lead to a healthy life. What happens instead? Time and money are spent looking at ways to enhance personal agendas.

A household budget relies on common sense. Those dealing with household budgets know that a lower income will not improve circumstances and that spending more than you are taking in leads to a dangerous financial situation. Why do elected officials fail to understand this logical progression. They don’t need to understand. They are supported with incomes high enough to live comfortably, with enough time to pursue other paid activities, with perks and gifts to enhance their lives, with excellent health care, with the possibility of high-paying jobs after their terms (e.g lobbyist) and the promise of a lucrative retirement.

There must be a better way. Please vote.

Valentine’s Day brings us new and more alluring commercials. More perfume, more candy, more flowers, even an ad to indicate that the couples pictured should “Get A Room”.

Ahhh, commercials. Did you ever wonder who writes these things? Who approves them? Are there so few bright, intelligent individuals in that business that stuff gets to broadcast before anyone sees the unintended messages being sent?

I remember doing a local radio commercial once where the premise was a female character as stuck in a ditch somewhere wanting to get to an event. I mentioned to the producer that only the day before a woman had been found dead in her car in a ditch along the highway in that same town. She had been injured but her car was not visible from the road and help didn’t get there in time. Perhaps this wasn’t the best premise for a local commercial. A change was made.

One recent commercial shows a man driving golf balls off a high rise terrace in a large city. Well, wonder how many folks down below might have been greeted with a knock on the head.

At one time I saw back-to-back commercials both featuring the same drug. The first was the basic lawyer’s ad for a class action suit pointing out the danger in the side effects that people had suffered. The second was the ad promoting the positive efficacy of the very same drug. Hmmm, who should I believe.

I’ve written before about the ads proclaiming “real people, not actors”. I presume that is meant to impress the viewer of the authenticity of the product. But, the advertisers will use well known actors for products, assuming we believe that this particular STAR takes some pill, uses some lotion, drinks a certain beer, etc. The underlying message to my mind is: Real People (not stars) and Real Stars (not people?) are the people who will make the best impression. The fact behind the hype – a paid spokesperson – whether well known or just well paid, will say what they are paid to say. The question is, would I? In almost every case, the answer is yes. (I have a few scruples.)

So, watch with a discerning eye, chuckle at the more inane ads. Many are more interesting than the commercial programs they accompany.

Signed: A person not real enough to land a commercial.

As the new year approached you may have received anywhere from one to one dozen calendars from various businesses. You may have received a calendar as a gift. While calendars are handy I find I can usually keep track of the season, year, month, day, and perhaps even the time of day, by watching ads and programming on television.

What season is it? For the most part, I can pretty well guess by whatever sport is being broadcast. If it’s early in the baseball season, must be spring. Mid-season baseball means summer and as the World Series approaches you can count on it being fall. Three seasons easily identified by baseball. The football season starts before baseball is finished so there is some overlap. But, as the football season gets well underway I know we are moving into winter. The Super Bowl is a winter event and by Super Bowl time basketball is moving rapidly to its championships as well. What do you know, another overlap. Basketball is waning, baseball has started and we are back to spring. Not to discount the timeliness of soccer, racing, croquet, badminton, beach volleyball, ping pong, archery, and all those other exciting sports left unnamed but, the seasons have been clearly defined for me by the three initially mentioned.

But, what month is it? Well, again, I can often name the month by just watching commercials. I rely on sports for most months as well as seasons but also recognize commercials. Inane perfume ads fill the days before Christmas. Automobile ads follow in January along with vacation and hotels ads and what seems like millions of ads for new drugs. Whether or not you are sick, please “. . .ask your doctor if ^&#$ is right for you.” Each month has a major product offered just as each has a named flower, gemstone.

But, what day is it? Again, I simply turn on the TV and the majority of programming lets me know. College games? Must be Saturday. Pro sports afternoon games? Probably Sunday. Mid-week? Usually no sports but just look at the weather report, it will tell you what happened yesterday and if you know what day of the week yesterday was you will know today and tomorrow.

What time is it? Early morning, so-called news shows present me with a chance to catch some celebrity touting his/her latest movie, a book signing, a concert, etc. A little later in the morning I often find some locally produced time fillers, children’s programming or game shows . Much of the rest of the day is filled with various judges handing out final decisions to people who don’t seem to mind looking foolish in front of millions of viewers. Then, as late afternoon approaches, it’s time for the lawyers to tell you why you might be owed large sums of money for some injury you may have suffered. Then, as the dinner hour approaches the focus seems to be on personal issues of hygiene, disfunction, personal cleanliness, etc. I’m sure I needn’t elaborate on the products represented.

These observations work for me. However, if you must absolutely have a more precise determination of the season, year, month, day and hour – just check your cell phone.

Bonita

CAVEAT: Methods mentioned above will be nullified in 2016 as it is an election year. I will probably avoid as much television as I can. I am not a fan of politicians and their ads. In my mind the majority appear to believe their suitability for the jobs they seek is best evidenced by demeaning their opponents. And I could happily live the rest of my life without the overworked phrase: ‘I have a plan to remedy the problem of *#*&@. (I’ll be happy to explain it after I am elected.)” Is that really having our country’s best interests at heart?