Carolyn's Opinions - November 2014

* Comedian Bill Cosby is in a mess. So many women eager to talk about his unchecked libido forced on them. He has never been charged with any of the allegations of rape and sexual abuse some forty-five years ago, and the statute of limitations has expired. So why did comedian Hannibal Burress bring it up in his comedy routine? Why hasn’t anyone asked him why he did it? If it was part of his act, he should say so and diminish some of this controversy. Why is he being left out of the fray?

But now it’s too late. The hounds have picked up the scent, and women are coming from everywhere to accuse Poor Bill of his past decades of indiscretions. All unproven to date. Even the money we’re told Cosby paid to many of them on a monthly basis is on the word of one man who claims he was the one who mailed the money orders.

Bill Cosby’s tour dates are being canceled left and right. And, there are others who will suffer in this situation right with Bill Cosby. TV Land and other networks have taken his family show off the air. I’m sure Cosby won’t miss the residuals. Even from his canceled live shows. But what about the other cast members? Some of them are probably living off the residuals. If so, they too, will never recover from such short notice of termination.

* In Massachusetts, the Methuen Police Department used the Veterans Day holiday to conduct a practice drill in a high school. The practice carried out drills for cases in which a school shooting takes place. The first of its kind, how to track a shooter. Excellent idea.

* National crime sprees are up: Breaking into cars at shopping malls, stolen cars, gun robberies, people attacked for their money, stolen clothes and tools. All are indications of the poor economy.

* Mental illness needs to be addressed on a national level. There has been an epidemic of mentally ill people abusing, handicapping and killing others. School and campus shootings are becoming commonplace as children as well as adults are killing our future. Teachers are sexually assaulting their pupils. Pupils are sexually assaulting their teachers.

There needs to be an increase in public service announcements to educate and take away the stigma of mental illness. Get help for these people before they suffer a personal health crisis and take it out on others. They need help, not shot down in a hail of police fire after the fact.

* I am not in favor of drones. The use of drones is an idea that is a disaster waiting to happen. We can’t even navigate highways without accidents, let alone drones flying in the air. Now we’ll have to watch out for cars running into us on the ground, as well as drones falling on our heads. There have already been near accidents with anonymous drones and airplanes in the air. I wish the Powers that Be would reconsider its use.

* The NoNoPro hair removal system: This product costs $270 plus s&h. WTF! Are we that cursed with unwanted hair on our bodies? What about using the plastic razor blade that we use under our arms? Those still work….

* I heard Patti LaBelle sing on The View. Even in her seventies, she still has a beautiful multi-ranged voice, clear, and controlled.

* I hope I never do anything ‘interesting’ that shows up in the natural news. I would definitely be embarrassed or extremely angry. The series “Law and Order - SVU” did a program on the Baltimore Ravens football player Ray Rice domestic dispute fiasco, where he allegedly punched out his wife in an elevator. I was embarrassed for the attention the portrayed TV wife received on the show with her “Stand by Your Man” at all costs attitude.

* Although the offices of Vogue have moved into One World Trade in New York City, Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour refuses to until the rats are exterminated from the building. Sounds like a reasonable request to me, although the building is so large, it may never happen. However, what does it say about Wintour who still has her employees work there while she works elsewhere? Hmmm….