A great day despite gloomy, rainy weather. I think great because my Buddy made me laugh out loud today, a pretty rare event the last two years. But that story will be last.

To loosen up my writer's-blank fingers, I usually scan news on TV and the Net to see what's up. At the very beginning of the process tonight I was pretty sure I'd be considering how I felt about Marco Rubio's statement: “Welders make more money than philosophers,” Mr. Rubio said. “We need more welders and less philosophers.” (Cut and paste from the Net)

My head explodes. Ignoring the multiple levels of wrongness in those sentences, one still has to ask—And what do we need more welders for, Mr. Rubio? For those jobs that the people who back you (and every other politician) sent overseas or replaced with robots? Jobs that the greedy pigs (my apologies to pigs) at the top redistributed in order to increase profit for them and theirs. I can, however, see why you would prefer more welders than philosophers. A welder without a job is not a happy camper but a philosopher used to sitting on his/her butt is still more dangerous to you as a political figure because they are trained to think and analyze, neither of which is likely to do you any favors.

I'm feeling the outrage gush (as it so frequently does during my news reviews) and accept that once again I will be awash in indignation until sitcoms come along later, when I run in to this ad by Bloomingdale's. 

The text reads: Spike Your Best Friend's eggnog when they're not looking

Who the hell was paid a single dime for that ad? (Rape anyone?) If the people involved in the creation of this ad get bonuses, they should be forced to give the money to domestic abuse prevention organizations. (The Emperor out here says so.) Then a really scary thought intrudes: What if the ad's true intention was to get this explosion of attention and condemnation all along? What if, Bloomingdale's, knowing how much most people are bombarded by things demanding their attention, figured this was one way to cut through all the noise? Can't be. Surely our society hasn't fallen to such a point that they promote sexual abuse because it's "good for business." Oh wait. We do all the time.

Just at a moment I think human stupidity can't surprise me anymore, I run across an article on the Net about marine scientist Sylvia Earle out in California who is profiled in a documentary called Mission Blue. Ms. Earle says "The oceans are dying." She should know. She has been studying the oceans for years. After I finish reading about her efforts to save the oceans, I come across this:

"Last May, a small story on page six in The New York Times reported that Chinese ships, as observed by Greenpeace, had been fishing illegally off the west coast of Africa. The coastal waters of China have been so gravely depleted that Chinese vessels must now go much farther from home. Off Africa, their bottom-trawling methods ripped up the ocean floor and took fish without regard for limits or species, Greenpeace said." (Cut & Paste)

The info generates a sigh of sadness. Have a family member who fished commercially (one guy in a small boat, not a giant fishing factory).We've been watching it happen. The fish are disappearing. We are too voracious a species. (As our food runs lower you will see more and more info on how it's a good idea to eat bugs.) We've depleted life in the oceans to our detriment and the detriment of the whole planet. We need vibrant oceans. (Someday they may have to be our drinking water.)

Plus, the oceans are just plain cool. There is so much mind-bending stuff to learn. For instance: "The lobster, which has changed little over the last 100 million years, is known for its unusual anatomy. Its brain is located in its throat, its nervous system in its abdomen, its teeth in its stomach and its kidneys in its head. It also hears using its legs and tastes with its feet. One of the few things lobsters have in common with humans: They tend to favor one front limb, meaning they can be right-clawed or left-clawed." (Don't remember source.)

Bet you didn't know that. (Maybe proof that one doesn't need a telescope to see an alien!)

The last thing from the news I decided on was about iPhones. This information is from thrillist.com.

There's a terrifying, possibly sentient map hidden inside your Settings menu that plots every location you've ever visited, when, and how often.

To find this hidden tracking map:

Step 1: From the main Settings menu, select Privacy

Step 2: Select Location Services

Step 3: Scroll aaaall the way down to the bottom to System Services

Step 4: Scroll about three-quarters of the way down to Frequent Locations. Note: this is where you turn this feature off. Which, just wait for it, you'll definitely want to do.

Check it out if you have an iPhone. 

Was planning on further news pontification except this is probably enough for tonight. That means I have a head start on tomorrow night's material with two space items and the tale of Buddy's Mouse Hole.