“What the heck is going on”? 

This is my daily round up of all of the stories that are sent to me through FaceBook, Twitter and e-mails. These stories will be the ones that I find interesting or informative.

Warning: The sarcasm meter is off the charts!

The world is going crazy and while it is in the process of so doing, and before it reaches its final destination, of “CrazyLand,” I am going to continue to be informed.  Feel free to join me, but be warned, as Margo Channing memorably declared in “All About Eve” – “Fasten your seat belts. It is going to be a bumpy night” – or day!

Variations of verbiage for today:

Beginning with the good stuff – Happy 236^th  Birthday “My” Marines! For those unfamiliar with my claim to the Marines, here is a synopsis. One day, in a mood of retrospection, I took a look at myself and realized that I was/am an undisciplined coward. The saying that “opposites attract” is somewhat correct in this scenario, except that I am the only one with the attraction, and  I am definitely opposite. Although I totally admire the Marines for their bravery, physical fitness, exquisite dress blues, and I could keep going, I am not fit to carry their boots. J

Poor Turkey. At least this earthquake was far less destructive then the recent one. Still,  any loss of life is tragic.

An earthquake of a different configuration, hit Penn State. This too will have aftershocks and damage long after the initial eruption. Students are rioting because of the abrupt firing of Coach Joe Paterno. I am wavering between starting a petition to have castration become the punishment for molestation of children,  leaving vengeance in God’s hands, and justice in the hands of the justice system.  The following sums up what many of us are probably feeling:

"I'm shocked that in the name of saving the prestige of a football program, young children were raped and it was covered up," she said. "I got teary-eyed just saying that."

At TheStir.CafeMom, one question that is being asked is what did the wife know. When I heard about the story, for whatever reason, I automatically assumed that this man was not married. I guess I was looking through the narrow lenses of my thinking that no spouse could be allegedly feasting on boys with a wife waiting at home. Then I found out that he has six adopted children? I wonder of what gender and what is their status.

This story is going to be one of how one man not only allegedly raped young boys, but ultimately raped the reputation of an institution and an icon. Maybe something can be learned from this. When an underling walks in on an “unusual” scene, call the police/911. Actually, take whatever deterrent is close at hand, and stop the act, something like taking a fire extinguisher and trying to put out a fire. No jury would convict a person trying to put out the fire of rape, I would think.

I almost wanted to label this article “sex, lies and videotape,” except that description does not fit. There is no sex in the tale of the e-mails about Solyndra. There is no videotape. But, could there be lies? Who does one believe anymore? These hotshots meet and greet, wheel and deal, and we get screwed?  I like this exchange:

"BTW, a couple of weeks ago, when Ken and I were visiting with a group of Administration folks in DC who are in charge of the stimulus process (White House, not DOE) and Solyndra came up, every one of them responded simultaneously about their thorough knowledge of the Solyndra story, suggesting it was one of their prime poster children

Mr. BTW should have been a psychic. Solyndra has indeed become a “prime poster” child! But, of course, many who should be informing “we the people” will try their best to ensure that it does not continue to be.

Forgive me ahead of time, but I have to use this cliché. This situation could be a recipe for disaster for Chef Mario Batali. Occupy Wall Street is working the bankers, and the bankers are working Chef Mario. This could be a classic case of “mouth opened (of its own volition), and story jumped out.” I have a suggestion for Chef Mario. If those bankers in the 1%, succeed in driving away a lot of business, he may want to consider trucking in free food to the 5% in the 99%. He should be careful though. There could be repercussions if the free food is stopped.

This is definitely a feel good story: Immigrant entrepreneurs succeed without English. Here we have English-speaking immigrants working to immerse themselves in Americana, when all they had to do was to move here, make sure that they do not speak English, and amass a fortune? I missed the boat on that one. I came here speaking flawless English, and writing it, if I say so myself, and I have not amassed a fortune? May I have a redo? I am glad for anyone, English-speaking or not, who succeeds in this life.

However, the message that I am getting is that immigrants can come here, have no desire to become American, but want to be economically robust. They set up their own private enclaves and succeed beyond belief, even while the rest of the country is falling around them? What happens next, to them and to the fortunes?  I guess that they will keep doing as Mr. Sanchez did:

For Mr. Sanchez, who became an American citizen in 1985, one anxious moment came when he had to pass his naturalization test. The law requires that applicants be able to read, write and speak basic English.

But Mr. Sanchez and other entrepreneurs said that the test, at least at the time they took it, had been rudimentary and that they had muddled through it.

Maybe my pride in becoming a US citizen, passing that “rudimentary” exam, and waving the Flag, was no big deal after all? Now if those tests in college could be made “rudimentary” the graduation rate could quintuple, and those new graduates can go on to amass their own fortunes, and not have to Occupy Wall Street and all over the US?

Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez’ article Librarian's words are binding is a sobering look at the future of libraries, and maybe why we all may no longer need English to amass a fortune. I will be the last person visiting the library, if it comes to that. I am an Internet faithful, but that does not mean that I feel that libraries should go the way of the dinosaurs.

Can we be sure that Christmas trees will not be joining the dinosaurs – or libraries, any time soon? White House sidelines Christmas tree tax could be the best Black Friday news! “Some” in the industry who supported this new board and tax may need historical glasses. Their idea of “promotion” in the hands of government, could have soon turned into coercion. As for me, I am done with the real trees. The fake trees do not need watering. The leaves are not shed. There is even a fake scent to make them smell real. With so much else in life that is becoming fake, why not Christmas trees? “Got milk, Christmas trees”? J

Now, can we also bypass the inevitable attacks on Christmas, when those who are unhappy with their lives, strive to force us to join them in “Unhappiness Lane.” We want to be in Candy Cane Lane and celebrating Christmas. They want us to drop the “C” word. I pass. I am a Christmas kind of gal. Merry Christmas, ya’ll!