Looking Backward: 2000–1887

In the wikipedia article covering the novel, Looking Backward: 2000–1887 ,by journalist Edward Bellamy, is described as a "Utopian science fiction novel". Utopian is an accurate description, but calling the novel science fiction is stretching the term a bit much.

Published in 1888, the novel tells the story of a young man who falls into a deep hypnotic trance and awakens in the year 2000 to find the United States has been transformed into a socialist utopia where war, poverty, crime, prostitution, corruption, money, or taxes no longer exist. Ownership of private property is a thing of the past and the national government owns and operates all businesses.

Bellamy's vision of the year 2000 AD bears no resemblance to the way things have actually turned out. Although many have wished socialism upon us, the Federal government, as it exists, does not have the control Bellamy's fictional government has.

Of course, Bellamy has no way of knowing of the two world wars that happened between his 1887 and the real 2000. His future has no airplanes, or radio, or automobile, not to mention cell phones, computers or television. He was not even able to imagine musical recordings. In his novel, households do have access to music 24 hours a day, but the music comes from live performances transmitted over the telephone - the only piece of "modern technology" already invented in Bellamy's time.

Unfortunately, there is very little action in the novel; it's mostly conversations between the hero, Julian West, and two people he meets - Doctor Leete and his daughter, Edith.

Edward Bellamy may have had good intentions - as did the hundreds, if not thousands of members of the various Bellamy Clubs that popped up in the U.S. following the publication of the novel. Unfortunately, Bellamy's hope for the future was based on wishful thinking regarding human nature. We are not as self sacrificing and altruistic as the folks in Bellamy's year 2000.

Benito Mussolini With Trump Hair.

I included in yesterday's post [Trump - Benito Mussolini with (Bad) Hair] a photo featuring Donald Trump as Mussolini. I had used GIMP to paste Trump's face onto an image of the Fascist dictator in uniform.

After I had published that post, I came across a photo where someone had pasted Trump hair onto Mussolini. I liked that photo so much, I had to fetch it and post it here.

I wish I could say it was my work, but it's not. On one of Il Duce's lapel, we find the words "The Pixel Factor". I did an Internet search, hoping to find other great images. Sadly, nothing else lives up to Mussolini with Trump hair.

Trump - Benito Mussolini with (Bad) Hair.

Saturday, when I praised National Review for pointing out the obvious, - that Donald Trump is not a Conservative - I remarked that "If there's any politician who reminds me of Benito Mussolini, it's Donald Trump".

Now that Mr. Trump has made it clear that he will not be a part of the latest Republican debate should Fox News' Megyn Kelly remain a debate moderator, I need to revise my statement.

Donald Trump is, most definitely, Benito Mussolini with bad hair.

Trump's appeal is short on substance and long on personality. Like Mussolini, a lavish cult of personality has centered on Trump.
Obama's critics have correctly pointed out that the President's speeches revolve more on himself than the issue he is supposedly discussing. With apologies to Bachman–Turner Overdrive, should Trump replace Obama as POTUS, you ain't seen nothing yet.

Sadly, it would be exactly like the American public to exchange one narcissistic sociopath for another.

Arthritis

I have arthritis.

Years ago, when I first sought treatment, a doctor told me, after medical tests were done, that my back, neck and spine were overrun with arthritic joints. Strangely enough, over the years, my neck, back and spine have not presented a problem. Instead of the areas listed by the doctor, most of my arthritic symptoms come from my right wrist.

Not having a proper computer desk has not helped. Using either the keyboard or mouse has aggravated the soreness in the wrist and carpal tunnel.

Now, I have something else causing havoc with my right hand; dumbbell, free weight exercises.

The, so-called, "pushing" exercises for chest, shoulder and triceps don't appear to be as big a problem as the "pull" exercises for back and biceps. It's usually the day following the "pull" that gives me the most pain. The grip required when doing these can be pretty intense.

I hate that this is making writing with the keyboard so difficult. I don't want to abandon my free weight exercises. Aspirin and acetaminophen have helped relieve some of the pain, but it looks like I'll need to find for ways to modify the exercises.

Mary Noailles Murfree's, "His Unquiet Ghost".

As I first mentioned in a post from August 2014, I managed to destroy my Kindle on the flight from the United States to Philippines. Before downloading a couple of apps for my Android, I had to borrow my son's Kindle to read e books. I rarely use his Kindle now, as I'm able to use either the Kindle app or, more likely, the FBReader.

Unfortunately, the battery life on my Android isn't nearly as long as I'd like it to be. Because of the differences in voltage levels between electrical devices made for Philippines versus outside Philippines, I don't charge my Android directly into a wall socket here. My wife does that with her phone - it's probably OK - but I continue to charge mine with a voltage adapter. The point of that, I may not have anything to read while my phone is charging.  It's not within easy reach. That's when I may borrow my son's Kindle.

Yesterday, while on the Kindle, I came across an e book which I don't remember downloading - His Unquiet Ghost  by Mary Noailles Murfree - aka Charles Egbert Craddock.

The e book was downloaded from Project Gutenberg, although I don't remember when I did that or why I thought Ms Murfree might be an interesting read. I've read half the e book - it's not a complete waste of time, but I doubt I'll download any more of her books; I'm not a big fan of "moonshiners vs. revenuers" literature.