Read a book -- don't watch TV

Hi neighbors. I hope everyone is enjoying the nice weather we have been having. It's a good time to sit on the porch in the sunshine and curl up with a good book in the evening.

I've been reading a great book by former Nevada Daily Mail editor, Lynn A. Wade. The book's title is "The Suspects" and it is a fast-moving crime novel featuring an investigative reporter, Adrienne Hayes, and a detective, Sgt. Joe Gracziano, who find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Set in New Orleans, the book offers a real feel of the city's seen and unseen aspects.

Pursued by the good guys wanting to catch them and the bad guys wanting to shoot them, these two get little rest while trying to clear their names and bring the actual miscreants to justice.

It is a fast read because of the point-of-view changes by the author and because of the need of the readers to see what happens next! Prepare for a quick ride on this one folks! It is available on www.amazon.com.

Other than reading I've been busy tending to my house and family. I find simple pastimes keep me placid. Watching the news is not good for my blood pressure. I happened to catch it once this week. It seems another terrorist group, ISIS, is growing in numbers and in hatred for all things and people not-ISIS.

Sick and tired of terrorist groups in general, the world has apparently decided to band together to eliminate this particular wasp hive. As Barney would say, "Nip it!" However, I think ISIS is beyond its childhood development stage and is now a common street gang of angry youngsters packing guns, tanks and missiles.

The news show I watched showed people fleeing Syria where American missiles and bombs were dropping on oil rigs; hoping, no doubt, to find a place of peace and quiet and some degree of safety. Apparently the war that ISIS inserted itself into has been going on for a few years now.

President Obama might have some job options there after his current gig is over. The people were asking for Obama to come and fix the situation. Obama was speaking to the United Nations where all seemed to be agreeing with his rhetoric. Maybe he can become the next UN leader, or run for president in Syria -- they certainly feel a need for change.

Some of the Syrians speaking were young men who had seen their families to a safe distance from the fighting and were going back to resume the fight for Syrian freedom from ISIS. The trend of comments heard were "America should come here and get rid of ISIS!"

Well, OK. Or, we could just stop buying oil from countries that are run by hate mongers and dictators. Are all oil-rich countries run by dictators?

All I see on television news these days are people killing each other or children starving. Where do all of these starving children come from? Haven't we been hearing about starving children for several decades? I completely empathize with suffering children; no child should go hungry, be abused, or not get an education. However, I think we are treating the symptom not the cause. Shouldn't a mother with three starving children have the option to say, "No more!"

Perhaps parental education could be the first step in putting an end to the starving children crisis. But I suppose if they survive to at least their teens, they can get guns and go to war somewhere. Even ISIS feeds their troops I guess.

We don't have too many starving children in America; but we do have some. Probably more than there are in China. If the economy continues on its cobbled downhill path, there may be even more starving children, adults, seniors and pets needing assistance. I wonder what groups will request money from the rest of the world for starving people in America?

Maybe instead of churches and other concerned organizations helping children around the world, we should put a well-known retail store in charge of feeding starving children. That plan has worked well for China.

Well, the presidential election is looming. No matter who runs or who wins, they better have some lucky charms, and a few miracles in their pockets. There is hope though. Maybe the Martians will invade before the election.

Sorry to sound so negative this week my friends. Maybe I just need more porch time ... no TVs on the porch!