Somewhere in California [Los Angeles] they are cutting down 400 mature trees to accommodate the passage of the space shuttle to it's new home at their museum. Why? Because it won't fit on the transport [lying flat] along the tree-lined road otherwise. This is such a travesty in a smog choked city that I am nearly speechless. Their response to people like me? 'Oh, we're planting new trees.' What planet do these idiots live on?  They will be moving traffic lights and power-lines already to further accommodate this proceeding sooooo___why not transport the shuttle in a, I don't know, more sideways or upright fashion? Is this beyond conceivable? Would it take away from the majesty of the slow and stately progress through the bleary, smog __I mean through the lovely streets of L.A.? Hell, no.

Ok, that rant over.

Football season has started. The political cartoons__I mean commercials__are going to cause mayhem if they are not curtailed during game time. The only thing anyone wants to hear from the candidates at game time is what kind of beer they like and how much they lost on their fantasy league last week. If Romney wants to humanize himself he would do well to lose a LOT. This also involves accommodation  Hmm. I'm beginning to sense a trend here.

Which brings us to that word [the one I keep having to correct because I keep spelling it accommodation __wait, I got it right that time]. Nevermind.

Accommodation: noun: 1.the act of accommodating; state or process of being accommodated; adaptation.

2.

adjustment of differences; reconciliation.

3.

Sociology . a process of mutual adaptation between personsor groups, usually achieved by eliminating or reducinghostility, as by compromise or arbitration.

4.

anything that supplies a need, want, favor, convenience, etc.

5.

Usually, accommodations.

a.

lodging.

b.

food and lodging.

c.

a seat, berth, or other facilities for a passenger on a train, plane, etc.

This is something it would seem that we, as a nation, need to be reminded of. That the concept exists and should be not only considered but utilized. Arbitration isn't just a word. It needs to be put into practice and much more often than litigation and confrontation. How did I get from there [looks up] to here? Those trees didn't need to be cut. Valuable $ doesn't need to be spent on empty words thrown into our homes over our communication devices. There are many more examples of the need for accommodation, arbitration and the utilization of the brain power and ingenuity of our people abounding. I chose a couple from different ends of the spectrum. But come on, folks, isn't enough, enough?