NOWHERE IN A VAST SPACE

I've been reading about a guy in what can be a scarily empty vast field -- Chinese artist, Ai Weiwei -- the big praise in a London Gallery for his "100 Million Porcelain Seeds." And Ai Weiwei's disappeared, maybe in a detention center somewhere, because he publicly denounced the 2008 Beijing Olympics as propaganda.

Ai Weiwei's art -- bronze replicas, animal heads -- will be on display outside Central Park nest month. He's got 78,000 followers on Twitter. He says that he asks questions through objects he creates. Communist China's officials do not like questions.

Weiwei's disappearance has focused international attention on the current bout of repression in China.

That photo is of a guy arranging leaflets for a one of Ai Weiwei's canceled exhibits. My blog's supporting or putting down this and that -- bashing Beck, Trump, and silly shoe styles, worrying about Muslims, please-and-thank you civilities, Oprah , fracking, etc. -- sometimes I feel like the guy in that empty field arranging leaflets for an exhibit that people can't-won't-don't attend.

But Aii Weiwei's famous for coming back, each time he's been criticized -- his criticisms of Communist China can be heard louder now that he can't be heard at all.

Maybe my ideas won't be noticed or make any difference, or change what people say or do, but the subjects I've written about are in the air, and that breeds thoughts -- breeds words that impel some kind of action -- so nowhere is ... well, it's more or less somewhere, isn't it?

MILEY CYRUS IS EIGHTEEN

In case you don't know who she is, Miley Cyrus is a "Disney" television series star, who has become very famous.

I watched a film clip of Miley Cyyus, as she was leaving the 1011 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards , just after her fans voted and chose her as their favorite actress.

It was Miley's sixth win of this award, since she debuted as "Hannah Montana," a Disney series, back in 2006. In the show, Miley played a 15-year- old, who was living a secret double-life as a teen pop star.

After last year's awards show, Miley wept. This year, she swept out grandly in a high-fashion gown, while hundreds of her fans reached up, hoping just to touch her or her skirt.

What I saw on the film clip (attached below), got my professional, show-biz adviser brain sparking -- yelling, "Hey Miley, for Godssake -- you're playing Hannah Montana in real life! The way you said, 'duh' and 'awesome' -- there was boredom, and a brush 'em off condescension in your facial expressions and tone.

Yesterday I saw photos of you showing off your new tattoo -- number five -- and read about the "just breathe" tattoo inked on your rib, the word "love" inside your ear, a tiny heart on your right hand, and I remember the furor, the scandal when Vanity Fair published a topless-looking photo of you, though you swore you weren't topless.

Yes, you're too "old" to continue being a "teen star," but why not share this with your audiences? Throw away Hannah Montana. And share an aspect of the real, sometimes tremulous, sometimes not confident you, with us.

The word for what's missing is "vulnerability." It's sad, that at eighteen, you are already too grown up to let us see or hear what makes you vulnerable.

You've recorded hit albums, singles, been in a movie, performed in huge venues, have millions of fans, been nominated 71 times, and won 59 awards. At the end of this month, you are embarking on a world tour that you've named, "My Gypsy Heart Tour."

I know you're hoping that the songs that you wrote, songs you've created, will launch you, and establish you as a star for adult audiences all over the world -- not just for teens. That's a very big undertaking, -- it will take a lot of courage to let your "Gypsy Heart" take the stage night after night, and express who Miley Cyrus has become.

Leave Hannah Montana home, Miley. As this clip, and other film clips show, you don't need her.

BOO FOR BUSH THE ELDER

Early this morning, I started reading about George Herbert Walker Bush, the father of George Walker.

I picked this picture -- "I know what I'm doing," says the look of the elder Bush in his starched, neat, white shirt.

Yes, he was the 41st president and his son was number 43, and that's quite an accomplishment for a family that's not a political dynasty, though the potential has been mentioned.

Using various writer's techniques -- research, concentrated thought, and the stream-of-conscious words that float into my mind .-- I keep bumping into IRAN-CONTRA, RON REAGAN, DAN QUAYLE, OLIVER NORTH, NORIEGA and COVER UP.
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I find myself picturing Barbara Bush -- her stern face. She has always made me feel sorry for her husband -- to me she looks more like a grandma than a wife.

And whoosh -- thoughts about son George, our 43rd president's wars, and the omnipresent Cheney, who worked for Daddy -- the lies, wrong laws, the endless list of wrong things son George's administration did that we are still paying for.

We are stuck with Republican Boehner fronting a House of Representative that's accomplishing nothing -- no laws, no new legislation -- just a presentation by Republican Senator Ryan of his plan for repealing health care, for reducing the size of government. and paying off the national debt that could negatively affect the lives of 70% of our population.

And so we have blame news. naming this guy or that guy, but blaming President Obama, for not doing something, NOT being decisive. NOT getting something done, though everything Obama says, does, or suggests gets a NO from the Republicans, as per their plan to stop Obama from winning a second term.
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The main reason I don't like George the elder is because he fathered Georg W. Also, he fathered Jeb, and on and off over the years, Bush 41 has smiled proudly, beneficently, at the whispers about a political dynasty, (while I cringe).

The IRAN CONTRA COVER UP did involve President Reagan, but we'll never know how, or to what extent. The scandal ended with 14 people indicted, including then-Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger -- 11 convictions resulted, some of which were vacated on appeal. The rest of those indicted (or convicted), were all pardoned in the final days of George H. W. Bush's presidency. Some, who were convicted of felonies, and subsequently pardoned, later became members of the administration of our43rd President, George W. Bush.

And Congress is hell bent on paying off a debt that was created by the elder's son George 's tax abatements for the wealthy, which include Goerge H.W. Bush, his son George, and the omnipresent Dick Cheney. (Though experts agree that cutting the tax abatements and renegotiating the repayment of the interest on the debt could pay off the debt.)

My fingers freeze. (I'm having trouble writing about this.) Obama awarded Bush 41 the Medal of freedom, praising Bush’s humility and decency; his career of service that spanned seven decades, saying, “We celebrate an extraordinary life of service and of sacrifice. This is a gentleman, inspiring citizens to become points of light in service to others.”

Bush wiped his eyes. Barbara sat proudly with Michelle. George,43 smiled. Jeb Bush tweeted: “Just left White House where the President honored my dad with the medal of freedom. Wow!”

If I could, I'd take away the medal -- I feel we are paying for the elder Bush, our 41st President's mistakes, that were compounded our 43rd president, his son.
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SWIVEL SWEEPER WOES (video)

Swivel sweepers don't work -- that's what Em feels. Em feels all the appliances they've bought in the past few years -- appliances that guaranteed to make housework, easier, faster, more efficient -- DON'T REALLY WORK THE WAY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO.

Why? Because they are batteried. And no matter how you cherish the tool, watch over it, clean it, and carefully recharge the battery -- the battery wears down.

The Cullums' two Swivel Sweepers -- even the one with a new battery -- is not doing as well as John's old-fashioned, Pullman porter's sweeper. It's like a Bissel Carpet sweeper -- an 8 x 8 inch square, easy to push back and forth -- John bought it from a stagehand, who used it to clean the stage at the St. James Theater every night.