JOE CASPER - South Boston Tribune

IT’S ALL TALCUM POWDER!

John Tirrell used to publish a City Hall Newspaper entitled, “Times In The Heart Of The Hub.” I found him to be a very unique and unusual man. Whenever anything didn’t go quite right, John would simply say, “IT’S ALL TALCUM POWDER.”

Think about it. If you toss talcum powder in the air it makes a bit of a puff but then it lands and someone then has to sweep it up. John’s point was, that whatever seems important to us now, won’t be that important later on.

John would say that the only important thing in life is your basic values and who knew who you were. It’s not what people think you are, it’s what YOU know you are.

John would always wear a black suit; white shirt; black string bow tie and a black derby hat. He knew everything about the goings on in City Hall and would write about it. If you bought an ad in his paper you would fare more good than bad. If you didn’t buy an ad, then get ready to duck.
Basketball player Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, before each basketball game, would load up his hands with talcum powder and then toss both hands up into the air. People would cheer. However, It was not quite the same point John Tirrell used to make when he talked about people who believed their own act.

People who believed that they were... LEGENDS IN THEIR OWN MIND!

You learn a lot about people by the way they treat others. Many of the politicians would treat John as their joke, their punch line. Everyone has to find a place and John found his at City Hall. John knew who he was and he was simply a Good Guy.

I used to like to sit and talk with him and he knew everything about everyone. He would talk about it but he didn’t always... WRITE IT DOWN!

He wasn’t like comedian Hal Roach who after every very funny line would encourage the audience to... WRITE IT DOWN.

The more I thought about John Tirrell, who is long gone, the more I thought about his “Talcum Powder” view of life.

I particularly remember one time in Boston City Hall when John was having a particularly bad day, especially from a lot of those “Legend” politicians, many of whom too are... LONG GONE!

He stood in the entrance and put his arms in the air and said in a loud voice, “IT'S ALL TALCUM POWDER! IT’S ALL TALCUM POWDER!”

What happened ten minutes ago is gone forever. The things you thought were important are gone forever. Every second that passes is... GONE FOREVER!

New happenings; New thoughts; New adventures; New problems and New resolutions. What was a little while ago is gone. People ask me, “What did you write about two weeks ago? (and even though “I WROTE IT DOWN”) I couldn’t remember.

Like I’ve said, “The Present is a gift you give to yourself. Choose wisely and wrap it well.”

Our value system is very curious indeed. We go places and we take out paper; we give it to people and in return they give us food,

We go places and we take out plastic; give it to people and they gives us... THINGS!

PAPER AND PLASTIC! It sounds like the question they ask you at the checkout counter at the supermarket. The wise shopper says, “I’d like to have both!”

Gee! That sounds pretty much like everyone. They want Paper (Money) and they want Plastic (Credit Cards). These are two classic examples of 2010... TALCUM POWDER!

The paper (Money) is backed up by... WHAT? The security (Credit Line) for the (Credit Card) is backed up by... WHAT?

The reason more people are able to get more goodies and go more places than others is because they have more... PAPER! The reason people buy more “THINGS” is because they have more... PLASTIC.

What backs up the value of the paper and what secures the value of the credit card? I truly don’t think anything does.

When you use up the paper in your pocket you have to go and get more paper. That’s... TALCUM POWDER!

If you use your credit cards a lot they will give you more credit. That’s... MORE TALCUM POWDER.

Paper and Credit Cards aren’t exactly on the... GOLD STANDARD. The more America goes into debt the less the dollar is worth and the more likely they are to “Shut Off” your credit cards.

I was late on a credit card payment and they charged me a $39.00 late fee; raised my interest rate; and reduced my credit line. I now have less... TALCUM POWDER!

During the past year I lost one cell phone and another was damaged. I had insurance on the phones. They were covered and I had to pay a $50.00 deductible. I didn’t think much about it until I received a letter that since I lost two phones my insurance coverage insurance has been... TERMINATED. One more toxic example of less for us and more for them.

Look Around! I bet you have similar examples too. It is all getting... VERY SILLY!

John Tirrell was a prophet. A man ahead of his time. He saw then what we are seeing now. You have to look up to see what’s coming down. In the words of the late, great, Prophet the John Tirrell ... IT’S ALL TALCUM POWDER!

IT’S ALL TALCUM POWDER! John Tirrell used to publish a City Hall Newspaper entitled, “Times In The Heart Of The Hub.” I found him to be a very unique and unusual man. Whenever anything didn’t go quite right, John would simply say, “IT’S ALL TALCUM POWDER.” Think about it. If you toss talcum powder in the air it makes a bit of a puff but then it lands and someone then has to sweep it up. John’s point was, that whatever seems important to us now, won’t be that important later on. John would say that the only important thing in life is your basic values and who knew who you were. It’s not what people think you are, it’s what YOU know you are. John would always wear a black suit; white shirt; black string bow tie and a black derby hat. He knew everything about the goings on in City Hall and would write about it. If you bought an ad in his paper you would fare more good than bad. If you didn’t buy an ad, then get ready to duck. Basketball player Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, before each basketball game, would load up his hands with talcum powder and then toss both hands up into the air. People would cheer. However, It was not quite the same point John Tirrell used to make when he talked about people who believed their own act. People who believed that they were... LEGENDS IN THEIR OWN MIND! You learn a lot about people by the way they treat others. Many of the politicians would treat John as their joke, their punch line. Everyone has to find a place and John found his at City Hall. John knew who he was and he was simply a Good Guy. I used to like to sit and talk with him and he knew everything about everyone. He would talk about it but he didn’t always... WRITE IT DOWN! He wasn’t like comedian Hal Roach who after every very funny line would encourage the audience to... WRITE IT DOWN. The more I thought about John Tirrell, who is long gone, the more I thought about his “Talcum Powder” view of life. I particularly remember one time in Boston City Hall when John was having a particularly bad day, especially from a lot of those “Legend” politicians, many of whom too are... LONG GONE! He stood in the entrance and put his arms in the air and said in a loud voice, “IT'S ALL TALCUM POWDER! IT’S ALL TALCUM POWDER!” What happened ten minutes ago is gone forever. The things you thought were important are gone forever. Every second that passes is... GONE FOREVER! New happenings; New thoughts; New adventures; New problems and New resolutions. What was a little while ago is gone. People ask me, “What did you write about two weeks ago? (and even though “I WROTE IT DOWN”) I couldn’t remember. Like I’ve said, “The Present is a gift you give to yourself. Choose wisely and wrap it well.” Our value system is very curious indeed. We go places and we take out paper; we give it to people and in return they give us food, We go places and we take out plastic; give it to people and they gives us... THINGS! PAPER AND PLASTIC! It sounds like the question they ask you at the checkout counter at the supermarket. The wise shopper says, “I’d like to have both!” Gee! That sounds pretty much like everyone. They want Paper (Money) and they want Plastic (Credit Cards). These are two classic examples of 2010... TALCUM POWDER! The paper (Money) is backed up by... WHAT? The security (Credit Line) for the (Credit Card) is backed up by... WHAT? The reason more people are able to get more goodies and go more places than others is because they have more... PAPER! The reason people buy more “THINGS” is because they have more... PLASTIC. What backs up the value of the paper and what secures the value of the credit card? I truly don’t think anything does. When you use up the paper in your pocket you have to go and get more paper. That’s... TALCUM POWDER! If you use your credit cards a lot they will give you more credit. That’s... MORE TALCUM POWDER. Paper and Credit Cards aren’t exactly on the... GOLD STANDARD. The more America goes into debt the less the dollar is worth and the more likely they are to “Shut Off” your credit cards. I was late on a credit card payment and they charged me a $39.00 late fee; raised my interest rate; and reduced my credit line. I now have less... TALCUM POWDER! During the past year I lost one cell phone and another was damaged. I had insurance on the phones. They were covered and I had to pay a $50.00 deductible. I didn’t think much about it until I received a letter that since I lost two phones my insurance coverage insurance has been... TERMINATED. One more toxic example of less for us and more for them. Look Around! I bet you have similar examples too. It is all getting... VERY SILLY! John Tirrell was a prophet. A man ahead of his time. He saw then what we are seeing now. You have to look up to see what’s coming down. In the words of the late, great, Prophet the John Tirrell ... IT’S ALL TALCUM POWDER!