So, summer is coming to an end and life will return to "normal". The Big Event of this past summer was Meredith's tantrum over being talked with like an adult. She much prefers to be treated like a child when it comes to frank or honest discussion. Maybe we all do.
More about Meredith later. For now I want to discuss the lack of quality laundry services. I have spent much of the summer trying to find a Cleaners who can starch and iron shirts. Growing up with Dad in the military meant that I learned to wash, starch, and iron shirts at an early age. I am really good at it but it takes time and it is hot work. I prefer to have a "Cleaner" do my shirts and return them to me on hangers.
For the last five years we took our "cleaning" to Rich at Martinizing. The shirts were fair and as time wore on I tired of Rich. His son, Richard, was the better contact but he could not work with his Dad and moved to Denver. That left me dealing with Rich. It was too much work. When we moved to our new Home last October, I decided to switch "Cleaners'.
During the winter, Pialago was acceptable. They were close by and the shirts were fair. As warm weather began the limp shirts just did not work. I asked them for EXTRA HEAVY Starch. Each time I came to pick them up I was less impressed. Turns out they use spray starch on the shirts. I told the Manager, Crystal, that I wanted real starch in the wash water. For about four weeks it went well.....then Crystal went on vacation.
I have tried other "Cleaners" they all suck. In almost every case they tell me the price for shirts. I told them, I don't care about the cost, I want them starched. Today I pick up my "cleaning" form the newest trail "Cleaner"
Why can't I get what I want? Hmmm, that leads back to Meredith. I would really like her to discuss her issues with me like a grown up. As I told her during her recent rant: "I may not be perfect. Please tell me who the better father is out there. I want to call the mother fucker up and learn how to improve." She hasn't got back to me on that yet. Now she is back at school. All I want is to be understood and appreciated.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
White Men
About 12,000 years ago immigrants from Asia crossed the Beringia [Bering land bridge] into present day Alaska. There is genetic evidence that these migrant tribes were the foundation from which all American native populations descended. The Navajo and Apache Indians of the Southwest speak an Athabaskan language similar to that of natives in Alaska and Western Canada.
These first foreigners were the original immigrants to come to America. Over the next 11,500 years they spread throughout North, Central and South America forming tribes. Some of these became Inca, Aztec, Mya, Sioux, Apache and hundreds of smaller tribes. Beyond America, they set a drift from Peru and Chile to populate Polynesia including Hawaii, and other Pacific Islands. As the original settlers, America became their land. By our year of 1500, this all began to change.
The arrival of Europeans brought new technology and a change of ownership of the land. Vast areas of the Americas were claimed for Spain, England and France. Settlements were built and villages renamed using European terms. Conflicts developed between the Europeans over land ownership and by 1850 these had been resolved into the present day countries we know as America.
Some of the best examples of these changes took place in the Southwest United States. The land and it's human settlements had been named by the Indians who first arrived. The Spanish came and renamed many of these places for christian saints only to lose the land to the new United States in the Mexican-American War of 1846. The Mexican states of Alta California, and Nuevo Mexico were taken from Mexico by the treaty of Hidalgo. Today, great American cities like Los Angeles, [ The Angeles] and Albuquerque [The Cork region in Spain] have Spanish names. Albuquerque was originally the Navajo [Dine'] city of Bee'eldiildahsinil, long before the Spanish came. Ancestors of the Kumeyaay, who lived in present day San Diego, today operate the Barona, Sycuan, and Viejas casinos.
Many of these original native Seri, Cucapa, Opata, Yaqui, Kumeyaay, Paipai, and Cochimi have been renamed as "Mexicans". These people are seen as immigrants or worse as "illegals" and foreigners who have invaded the United States. The reality is their ancestors have lived in this region for over 10,000 years.
When we read about the "Illegal Immigrant problem" we should ask ourselves; Who are the illegals and who has the original right to the land? The people we call, "Mexican" or other Hispanic names are really 90% native Indians who have lived the Americas long before Christ. The "white man" is not native to the Americas.
These first foreigners were the original immigrants to come to America. Over the next 11,500 years they spread throughout North, Central and South America forming tribes. Some of these became Inca, Aztec, Mya, Sioux, Apache and hundreds of smaller tribes. Beyond America, they set a drift from Peru and Chile to populate Polynesia including Hawaii, and other Pacific Islands. As the original settlers, America became their land. By our year of 1500, this all began to change.
The arrival of Europeans brought new technology and a change of ownership of the land. Vast areas of the Americas were claimed for Spain, England and France. Settlements were built and villages renamed using European terms. Conflicts developed between the Europeans over land ownership and by 1850 these had been resolved into the present day countries we know as America.
Some of the best examples of these changes took place in the Southwest United States. The land and it's human settlements had been named by the Indians who first arrived. The Spanish came and renamed many of these places for christian saints only to lose the land to the new United States in the Mexican-American War of 1846. The Mexican states of Alta California, and Nuevo Mexico were taken from Mexico by the treaty of Hidalgo. Today, great American cities like Los Angeles, [ The Angeles] and Albuquerque [The Cork region in Spain] have Spanish names. Albuquerque was originally the Navajo [Dine'] city of Bee'eldiildahsinil, long before the Spanish came. Ancestors of the Kumeyaay, who lived in present day San Diego, today operate the Barona, Sycuan, and Viejas casinos.
Many of these original native Seri, Cucapa, Opata, Yaqui, Kumeyaay, Paipai, and Cochimi have been renamed as "Mexicans". These people are seen as immigrants or worse as "illegals" and foreigners who have invaded the United States. The reality is their ancestors have lived in this region for over 10,000 years.
When we read about the "Illegal Immigrant problem" we should ask ourselves; Who are the illegals and who has the original right to the land? The people we call, "Mexican" or other Hispanic names are really 90% native Indians who have lived the Americas long before Christ. The "white man" is not native to the Americas.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Time has come today.........
In 1675 the Royal Observatory at Greenwich established GMT [Greenwich Mean Time] and the system of Longitude to aid mariners. This system divided the world into 360 degrees with 15 degrees equal to one hour of time.
The issue was less a concern about time, [all time was called "local time" and kept by a town clock], but more about location of ships at sea. A prize was awarded for the solution to finding accurate longitude within 30 nautical miles. This was the Longitude Prize of 20,000 pounds [about 6 million Euros today]. The prize was won in 1827 by John Harrison with the invention of Marine Chronometer, the first accurate marine clock. Setting the clock to GMT on board ship allowed the Captain to know how far east or west of London he was compared to local time at noon, solar mid day. If the local time was Noon but it was 3 PM in London then he was 45 degrees longitude west of London. The Earth is divided into 24, 15 degree zones.
By 1847 British Railway had adopted GMT as "Railway Time" to maintain the schedule for trains. In 1880 it became Britain's legal time. Time keeping on American railroads was much different with each railroad keeping their own time based on their headquarters. Large railroad stations had multiple clocks for each railroad. In 1863, Charles Dowd purposed a system of one hour Time Zones the first centered in Washington 75 degrees west of Greenwich.
The railroads adopted a similar system with local resistance until 1918 with the Standard Time Act.
However, Sanford Fleming proposed a single world time zone with a 24 hour clock in 1876. Such a "universal day" was widely discussed and in 1884 The International Meridian Conference agreed to the use of the 24 hour clock beginning at Greenwich at midnight but also agreed .."shall not interfere with the use of local or stand time where desirable"
In effect we are using GMT, now called UTC [Coordinated Universal Time], today and converting to local time to accommodate custom. As we become more global and through use of the internet, the use of UTC will increase until we all accept Universal Time as the standard. The US Military has switched to Zula Time, UTC, as their global standard.
The issue was less a concern about time, [all time was called "local time" and kept by a town clock], but more about location of ships at sea. A prize was awarded for the solution to finding accurate longitude within 30 nautical miles. This was the Longitude Prize of 20,000 pounds [about 6 million Euros today]. The prize was won in 1827 by John Harrison with the invention of Marine Chronometer, the first accurate marine clock. Setting the clock to GMT on board ship allowed the Captain to know how far east or west of London he was compared to local time at noon, solar mid day. If the local time was Noon but it was 3 PM in London then he was 45 degrees longitude west of London. The Earth is divided into 24, 15 degree zones.
By 1847 British Railway had adopted GMT as "Railway Time" to maintain the schedule for trains. In 1880 it became Britain's legal time. Time keeping on American railroads was much different with each railroad keeping their own time based on their headquarters. Large railroad stations had multiple clocks for each railroad. In 1863, Charles Dowd purposed a system of one hour Time Zones the first centered in Washington 75 degrees west of Greenwich.
The railroads adopted a similar system with local resistance until 1918 with the Standard Time Act.
However, Sanford Fleming proposed a single world time zone with a 24 hour clock in 1876. Such a "universal day" was widely discussed and in 1884 The International Meridian Conference agreed to the use of the 24 hour clock beginning at Greenwich at midnight but also agreed .."shall not interfere with the use of local or stand time where desirable"
In effect we are using GMT, now called UTC [Coordinated Universal Time], today and converting to local time to accommodate custom. As we become more global and through use of the internet, the use of UTC will increase until we all accept Universal Time as the standard. The US Military has switched to Zula Time, UTC, as their global standard.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Kids
I like children. I have four daughters and one son. Jennifer isn't really my daughter but I love her like my own. She was Connie's daughter, who was living with her grandmother when I brought her to live with Connie and me. She was about 8 years old when she started living with me. Kate is my "real" daughter. She is very similar to me in the way she is social and has a temper. She almost knocked me out once with a punch. Kate never really lived with me full time. Her mother and I separated when she was a baby.
Kate and Jennifer spent several summers growing up in St Louis. Kate would come to visit for the summer and Jennifer would play big sister for 90 days. One summer is bought them a computer and sent them to computer camp. Jennifer was old enough to drive and they skipped camp and drove around. I tried every summer to take their picture and it almost always ended in a fight. They never understood how much I wanted to save those summers. Kate and Jennifer are great mothers.
Meredith and Colleen are also my daughters. They grew up living with me and Julie. I remember all the times we played tickle fish in the pool. I have hundreds of photos of them growing up. I taught them to swim, ride a bike, and swing on a rope swing. They are great kids and will soon be adults.
Two years ago, Pam and I had Jack. His real name is William Jack May and he is very much like me as a boy. Jack is sweet and hateful. He is very vocal and doesn't miss much. His verbal skills at two are as good as most adults. His personality is like Kate's, Colleen's, and my own. Jack is all boy. He loves to wrestle and fight. Almost every night he and I roll around on the bed while he try's to climb on me. Then as he gets tired, he snuggles next to me before he falls asleep.
I love these children. I miss Jennifer and Kate. They never call or come to visit and it hurts me. Meredith is in San Francisco going to school. Colleen is really busy with work and school. I think about them every day and wish they still lived with me. Jack does, and that is very special.
Kate and Jennifer spent several summers growing up in St Louis. Kate would come to visit for the summer and Jennifer would play big sister for 90 days. One summer is bought them a computer and sent them to computer camp. Jennifer was old enough to drive and they skipped camp and drove around. I tried every summer to take their picture and it almost always ended in a fight. They never understood how much I wanted to save those summers. Kate and Jennifer are great mothers.
Meredith and Colleen are also my daughters. They grew up living with me and Julie. I remember all the times we played tickle fish in the pool. I have hundreds of photos of them growing up. I taught them to swim, ride a bike, and swing on a rope swing. They are great kids and will soon be adults.
Two years ago, Pam and I had Jack. His real name is William Jack May and he is very much like me as a boy. Jack is sweet and hateful. He is very vocal and doesn't miss much. His verbal skills at two are as good as most adults. His personality is like Kate's, Colleen's, and my own. Jack is all boy. He loves to wrestle and fight. Almost every night he and I roll around on the bed while he try's to climb on me. Then as he gets tired, he snuggles next to me before he falls asleep.
I love these children. I miss Jennifer and Kate. They never call or come to visit and it hurts me. Meredith is in San Francisco going to school. Colleen is really busy with work and school. I think about them every day and wish they still lived with me. Jack does, and that is very special.
Chicken Liver
Imagine not liking something and then having it forced upon you. Like Chicken Liver. You don't like it and it is everywhere. Regardless of where you turn, somebody is trying to get you to eat it or accept it, or "just try it".
I don't discuss chicken livers very much. I don't like Chicken Livers. Even the smell of cooked chicken livers can make me feel like I am going to spit up. If I am at a party and they serve chicken livers, I don't say anything, I just pass them up. In general, we keep our distance and this seems to work well for me and the chicken liver. Still, somebody always wants me to try them.
Just because I don't like Chicken Livers doesn't mean I carry on about them. I rarely mention chicken liver and this is the only time I have ever written about them. For me, Chicken Liver is like God.
I know you think I am crazy, but think this through with me. I think God is a myth. It's a carry over from primitive human development. The old Sun God thing reworked into the invisible man in the sky idea. Clearly, if there were a real god he would not hide out. You would be able to prove his existence just like you can prove a chicken has a liver.
Like Chicken Liver, somebody always seems to be pushing to get me to try god. Over the last 50 years it has been exhausting. Recently, as a result of these increased incidents, I have become outspoken. Not that I was ever very shy, but I used to handle god like chicken liver. I would just pass or make an excuse. Anything to be polite and avoid the stigma of being an ATHEIST.
Eight years ago, my boss took me to lunch and asked about my relationship with Jesus. This is 100% true. He came by my office and said, "do you wanna get some lunch?" I said OK and off we went. We were talking and he stopped in the middle of a bite. He told me he wanted to speak with me about something important. Then he said, "Tell me about your relationship with our lord jesus christ." I almost gagged. I looked him in the eye and said, " I'm Irish and was raised catholic. We believe in drinking to solve our problems." He did not say another word. 60 days later I quit.
Last October we moved into our new condo. In December our new neighbors stopped by to introduce themselves. They didn't have curtains on their windows when they moved in and we could see their life size christ on the cross hanging in their dining room. I was polite. We did see Ray looking at my copy of American Atheist magazine like he had just seen the devil. Since then we see them about once a week, going in or out. Ray always tell us, "We are going to church." Or, he will say, "We just got back from church." It seems like they go to church really far to much.
Is it necessary to express our beliefs publicly? Do I need to say, "I don't like chicken livers?" Why do people who believe god myths insist upon pushing their views on to others? Ray seems to be warming up to a discussion with me regarding his faith. I can hardly wait. I will keep you posted on the outcome.
I don't discuss chicken livers very much. I don't like Chicken Livers. Even the smell of cooked chicken livers can make me feel like I am going to spit up. If I am at a party and they serve chicken livers, I don't say anything, I just pass them up. In general, we keep our distance and this seems to work well for me and the chicken liver. Still, somebody always wants me to try them.
Just because I don't like Chicken Livers doesn't mean I carry on about them. I rarely mention chicken liver and this is the only time I have ever written about them. For me, Chicken Liver is like God.
I know you think I am crazy, but think this through with me. I think God is a myth. It's a carry over from primitive human development. The old Sun God thing reworked into the invisible man in the sky idea. Clearly, if there were a real god he would not hide out. You would be able to prove his existence just like you can prove a chicken has a liver.
Like Chicken Liver, somebody always seems to be pushing to get me to try god. Over the last 50 years it has been exhausting. Recently, as a result of these increased incidents, I have become outspoken. Not that I was ever very shy, but I used to handle god like chicken liver. I would just pass or make an excuse. Anything to be polite and avoid the stigma of being an ATHEIST.
Eight years ago, my boss took me to lunch and asked about my relationship with Jesus. This is 100% true. He came by my office and said, "do you wanna get some lunch?" I said OK and off we went. We were talking and he stopped in the middle of a bite. He told me he wanted to speak with me about something important. Then he said, "Tell me about your relationship with our lord jesus christ." I almost gagged. I looked him in the eye and said, " I'm Irish and was raised catholic. We believe in drinking to solve our problems." He did not say another word. 60 days later I quit.
Last October we moved into our new condo. In December our new neighbors stopped by to introduce themselves. They didn't have curtains on their windows when they moved in and we could see their life size christ on the cross hanging in their dining room. I was polite. We did see Ray looking at my copy of American Atheist magazine like he had just seen the devil. Since then we see them about once a week, going in or out. Ray always tell us, "We are going to church." Or, he will say, "We just got back from church." It seems like they go to church really far to much.
Is it necessary to express our beliefs publicly? Do I need to say, "I don't like chicken livers?" Why do people who believe god myths insist upon pushing their views on to others? Ray seems to be warming up to a discussion with me regarding his faith. I can hardly wait. I will keep you posted on the outcome.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Natural Born Killer
Yesterday was Memorial Day, May 26, 2008. All the TV coverage reminded me of my Dad. He was the closest contact I have had to a real veteran who served in combat. He was very tough guy.
Growing up with my Dad in the military, we spent a lot of time watching "war movies". My Dad always thought they were silly. I would ask him about the War, he served in the Army as a Tank Sergeant on a Flame Throwing Tank. He landed on the beach at Okinawa. Dad told me about the Japanese fighting to the death, hiding in caves and refusing to surrender. He told me his tank shot napalm flames into to these caves and it either burned the Japanese or burned all the oxygen for them to breath. He was pretty matter of fact about killing Japanese soldiers. In his view, they deserved it.
My Dad's tank was hit by a hand grenade or mortor and it damaged the track. The tank was struck and could not move. My Dad and the other crew decided to abandon the tank. It was sitting still and full of napalm, an easy target. As they ran back to the US lines my Dad was attacked by a Japanese soldier with a sword. My Dad shot the soldier and the sword is in my home. Again, Dad never bragged about what he did, he just talked about it very matter of fact.
Years later when I told him I was going to buy a Japanese car he told me not to bring it to his house. His one big disappointment was not killing more Japanese. I asked him once if he was ever scared in the war. He said, "Yes, I was very scared. We sailed on a ship from San Francisco to Okinawa. The Japanese tried to sink our ship. And, I never learned to swim." He never said he was scared of fighting or of being killed. From what I read one US soldier out of three was killed who landed on Okinawa.
My Dad never had a sleepless night. Never looked back on what he did. He never bragged. He never carried on about how the War had "changed" him or gave him bad dreams. He never joined the VFW or participated in Parades. Dad, said there were two kinds of soldiers. Some were killers and others marched in Parades. Dad was a killer who did not look back. He is buried at the Jefferson Barrack's National Cemetery with thousands of other heroes.
Happy Memorial Day, Dad. I still have the sword.
Growing up with my Dad in the military, we spent a lot of time watching "war movies". My Dad always thought they were silly. I would ask him about the War, he served in the Army as a Tank Sergeant on a Flame Throwing Tank. He landed on the beach at Okinawa. Dad told me about the Japanese fighting to the death, hiding in caves and refusing to surrender. He told me his tank shot napalm flames into to these caves and it either burned the Japanese or burned all the oxygen for them to breath. He was pretty matter of fact about killing Japanese soldiers. In his view, they deserved it.
My Dad's tank was hit by a hand grenade or mortor and it damaged the track. The tank was struck and could not move. My Dad and the other crew decided to abandon the tank. It was sitting still and full of napalm, an easy target. As they ran back to the US lines my Dad was attacked by a Japanese soldier with a sword. My Dad shot the soldier and the sword is in my home. Again, Dad never bragged about what he did, he just talked about it very matter of fact.
Years later when I told him I was going to buy a Japanese car he told me not to bring it to his house. His one big disappointment was not killing more Japanese. I asked him once if he was ever scared in the war. He said, "Yes, I was very scared. We sailed on a ship from San Francisco to Okinawa. The Japanese tried to sink our ship. And, I never learned to swim." He never said he was scared of fighting or of being killed. From what I read one US soldier out of three was killed who landed on Okinawa.
My Dad never had a sleepless night. Never looked back on what he did. He never bragged. He never carried on about how the War had "changed" him or gave him bad dreams. He never joined the VFW or participated in Parades. Dad, said there were two kinds of soldiers. Some were killers and others marched in Parades. Dad was a killer who did not look back. He is buried at the Jefferson Barrack's National Cemetery with thousands of other heroes.
Happy Memorial Day, Dad. I still have the sword.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
I heard the news today
I heard the news today....oh boy. The Beatle song...a day in the life, makes me think that Hilary is just about done. Down for the count. Kaput.
But wait, do you really think America is going to elect a left wing black man President? I don't, and I'm not alone. Thomas Sowell agrees and he's black and smarter then me. In his recent [May 7, 2208] article called Random Events Sowell says:
"Like everyone else, I have also been hearing a lot lately about Jeremiah Wright, former pastor of the church that Barack Obama has belonged to for 20 years. Both men, in their different ways, have for decades been promoting the far left vision of victimization and grievances-- Wright from his pulpit and Obama in roles ranging from community organizer to the United States Senate, where he has had the farthest left voting record. Later, when the ultimate political prize-- the White House-- loomed on the horizon, Obama did a complete makeover, now portraying himself as a healer of divisions.
The difference between Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright is that they are addressing different audiences, using different styles adapted to those audiences. It is a difference between upscale demagoguery and ghetto demagoguery, playing the audience for suckers in both cases."
So the question for voters is, are you smart enough to see through the Obama [Wright, Jesse Jackson, etc] left wing agenda. In a country where everyone is a victim, who will pay the taxes to provide all the free stuff?
You can read more about Thomas Sowell at: http://www.townhall.com/columnists/thomassowell/archive.shtml
Thomas Sowell was born in North Carolina and grew up in Harlem. As with many others in his neighborhood, he left home early and did not finish high school. The next few years were difficult ones, but eventually he joined the Marine Corps and became a photographer in the Korean War. After leaving the service, Sowell entered Harvard University. After graduating magna cum laude from Harvard University (1958), he went on to receive his master's in economics from Columbia University (1959) and a doctorate in economics from the University of Chicago (1968).
But wait, do you really think America is going to elect a left wing black man President? I don't, and I'm not alone. Thomas Sowell agrees and he's black and smarter then me. In his recent [May 7, 2208] article called Random Events Sowell says:
"Like everyone else, I have also been hearing a lot lately about Jeremiah Wright, former pastor of the church that Barack Obama has belonged to for 20 years. Both men, in their different ways, have for decades been promoting the far left vision of victimization and grievances-- Wright from his pulpit and Obama in roles ranging from community organizer to the United States Senate, where he has had the farthest left voting record. Later, when the ultimate political prize-- the White House-- loomed on the horizon, Obama did a complete makeover, now portraying himself as a healer of divisions.
The difference between Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright is that they are addressing different audiences, using different styles adapted to those audiences. It is a difference between upscale demagoguery and ghetto demagoguery, playing the audience for suckers in both cases."
So the question for voters is, are you smart enough to see through the Obama [Wright, Jesse Jackson, etc] left wing agenda. In a country where everyone is a victim, who will pay the taxes to provide all the free stuff?
You can read more about Thomas Sowell at: http://www.townhall.com/columnists/thomassowell/archive.shtml
Thomas Sowell was born in North Carolina and grew up in Harlem. As with many others in his neighborhood, he left home early and did not finish high school. The next few years were difficult ones, but eventually he joined the Marine Corps and became a photographer in the Korean War. After leaving the service, Sowell entered Harvard University. After graduating magna cum laude from Harvard University (1958), he went on to receive his master's in economics from Columbia University (1959) and a doctorate in economics from the University of Chicago (1968).
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
An hour later you are hungry
The old joke about Chinese Food is that you eat, and an hour later you are hungry. The same may be true for China. Over the last few months the Chinese have been quietly eating up, buying, American companies. China is the world's largest holder of US Dollars.
As the dollar has been devalued, China faced a big decision. Should they sell dollars or use dollars to buy America. Selling dollars would have led to futher decline in the global value of the dollar and made their remaining dollars worth less. Instead they have decided to spend dollars to buy US companies or buy stock in US Companies. China was a big investor in the newly formed VISA Corporation.
Globalization takes many strange turns and increasingly the things we believe to be "American" are becoming multinational. Likewise, things we always thought of as foreign are being produce in America. The best example of this are the BMWs produced in South Carolina...not in Germany. That Visa card in your wallet is owned by the folks in Beijing.
It's time to begin thinking less about what defines America in terms of physical things and more about what America really is all about. From our beginning America was about ideas. We are an extension of a philosophy that began in Europe and took root in North America. These basic ideas about freedom and government are the foundation of America.
Today, people are protesting the Chinese Olympic torch relay in San Francisco. People, many who were not born here, say that China is wrong in the handling of Tibet. Protest is an American idea. It would seem that China has bitten off more then it can chew and in the process of buying America it is helping to spread America, the idea, globally.
As the dollar has been devalued, China faced a big decision. Should they sell dollars or use dollars to buy America. Selling dollars would have led to futher decline in the global value of the dollar and made their remaining dollars worth less. Instead they have decided to spend dollars to buy US companies or buy stock in US Companies. China was a big investor in the newly formed VISA Corporation.
Globalization takes many strange turns and increasingly the things we believe to be "American" are becoming multinational. Likewise, things we always thought of as foreign are being produce in America. The best example of this are the BMWs produced in South Carolina...not in Germany. That Visa card in your wallet is owned by the folks in Beijing.
It's time to begin thinking less about what defines America in terms of physical things and more about what America really is all about. From our beginning America was about ideas. We are an extension of a philosophy that began in Europe and took root in North America. These basic ideas about freedom and government are the foundation of America.
Today, people are protesting the Chinese Olympic torch relay in San Francisco. People, many who were not born here, say that China is wrong in the handling of Tibet. Protest is an American idea. It would seem that China has bitten off more then it can chew and in the process of buying America it is helping to spread America, the idea, globally.
Friday, April 4, 2008
40 years later and how much has changed?
It was 40 years ago today that the Rev Martin Luther King was shot in Memphis, Tenn. Reverend King was an important leader in the civil rights movement largely because he offered a non violent alternative to the teachings of Black Supremacist, like the Black Panthers. In short, King was acceptable to white America due to his non violent approach and he was acceptable to Blacks because he promoted equality and justice. You may not remember the riots or the call by Black Panthers to kill white Americans. Martin Luther King was a much better alternative to Eldridge Cleaver.
Kings efforts changed America for the better and created true equality for Blacks who had been living a second class life throughout the South. Today, Black voters have exercised these rights to install Black Politicians in numerous offices. Barrack Obama would not be running for President today had it not been for Martin Luther King. This is just one of many examples of how King's life changed America for the better.
Regardless, of the profound positive change, Black America still has not cast off the "victim mentality" promoted by many Black Leaders. Today, 40 years later, there remain many within the Black community who see themselves as victims of prejudice. The reality is that some prejudice does remain but Blacks are no longer victims and they need to move on, to fully realize the King Legacy.
Most white Americans are just plain tired of hearing about Blacks as victims of prejudice, or racial profiling. The harsh facts are that Blacks are no different then any other minority who have experienced similar prejudice. The Italians, the Irish, the Chinese, and Hispanics have all faced similar situations. Regardless, they all have worked to become mainstream participants in the greater society. Today, there are no "special" circumstances for these groups. No National Association for the Advancement of White or Asian People. No Miss Chinese America pageant, or White Entertainment network. These minorities have become mainstream while holding on to their ethnic background. Black America needs to cast off the victim mentality and become mainstream.
So why, after 40 years of incredible social change haven't Blacks become mainstream? The answer is complicated, and very simple. They don't want to be mainstream. They like playing victim and insisting of special treatment. And, if you discuss this subject, you are a racist. They cry about racial profiling and then create "gangsta rap" videos that promote racial stereotypes. They will call each other "nigga" but if a white person says "nigger" those are fightn words. In short, they want it both ways. They want R E S P E C T but refuse to address critical social issues of crime, drugs, and illegitimate child birth within their own community.
Martin Luther King significantly improved equality for Black America. It is time, 40 years after his death, for Blacks to reject the victim ideology and become mainstream.
Kings efforts changed America for the better and created true equality for Blacks who had been living a second class life throughout the South. Today, Black voters have exercised these rights to install Black Politicians in numerous offices. Barrack Obama would not be running for President today had it not been for Martin Luther King. This is just one of many examples of how King's life changed America for the better.
Regardless, of the profound positive change, Black America still has not cast off the "victim mentality" promoted by many Black Leaders. Today, 40 years later, there remain many within the Black community who see themselves as victims of prejudice. The reality is that some prejudice does remain but Blacks are no longer victims and they need to move on, to fully realize the King Legacy.
Most white Americans are just plain tired of hearing about Blacks as victims of prejudice, or racial profiling. The harsh facts are that Blacks are no different then any other minority who have experienced similar prejudice. The Italians, the Irish, the Chinese, and Hispanics have all faced similar situations. Regardless, they all have worked to become mainstream participants in the greater society. Today, there are no "special" circumstances for these groups. No National Association for the Advancement of White or Asian People. No Miss Chinese America pageant, or White Entertainment network. These minorities have become mainstream while holding on to their ethnic background. Black America needs to cast off the victim mentality and become mainstream.
So why, after 40 years of incredible social change haven't Blacks become mainstream? The answer is complicated, and very simple. They don't want to be mainstream. They like playing victim and insisting of special treatment. And, if you discuss this subject, you are a racist. They cry about racial profiling and then create "gangsta rap" videos that promote racial stereotypes. They will call each other "nigga" but if a white person says "nigger" those are fightn words. In short, they want it both ways. They want R E S P E C T but refuse to address critical social issues of crime, drugs, and illegitimate child birth within their own community.
Martin Luther King significantly improved equality for Black America. It is time, 40 years after his death, for Blacks to reject the victim ideology and become mainstream.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Geert Wilder
In the last five years there has been considerable debate regarding "What to do about radical Islam". Here in the United States, Muslims are a small portion of our society. In Europe this is different. Just as America has experienced an influx of immigrants from Latin America, Europe has had a similar migration of Muslims. Like in the US, these unskilled workers came to fill jobs that nobody wanted. It is common to see Muslims working in foodservice and lodging in all European cities just as it is common to see Hispanics in the same jobs in America.
The good news for America is, our illegals are Christians. Europe has been flooded with Muslims who have taken nearly all the unskilled jobs and become a critical part of European society. Worse, this group is discriminated against by many Europeans as not being white or European. The response has been increased violence between traditional Europeans and the new immigrants.
It is therefore of no real surprise that Europe is very sensitive to the "War on Terror". In part this is why they did not embrace the Iraq invasion. They do not want to alarm or incite their own Muslim communities who may well raise up against their French, German or Dutch neighbors. In Holland, [The Netherlands] this situation has reached a boiling point. You may remember the Cartoons drawn to show the Prophet Mohammad and the riots that followed. Recently, a new crisis has developed regarding a film by Geert Wilder, a Dutch member of Parliament.
Try to keep in mind that Europe has been VERY ethnocentric in the last 500 years. Here is a short aside: The English and Irish have been fighting each other for 400 years and the are both lily white. The Germans and French fought two World Wars in the last 100 years over something that nobody can recall. If you live in an area, say in Holland, it is very different from America. Everyone around you in Dutch and they all speak the same language. Or, they did for the last 1000 years until the new Muslims showed up and refused to speak Dutch. Resentment and prejudice is everywhere but it is really strong in Europe. Again, Germany killed 6 million Jews because they were different.
By comparison, America is much better at handling multicultural and multi ethnic societies. Any major city in America is 12% Black and 20% Hispanic. Of the so called "white" people there are Irish, German, French and Italians. With few Norwegians and Russians thrown in. On the West Coast, or here in my neighborhood, Asian make up the majority of the population and they include Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Thai. Only Paris is similar in diversity among European cities.
So Europe has a large Muslim population who are treated badly by native Europeans. This would just be a bad case of discrimination except for......Osama Bin Laden. In the last five years European Muslims have become militant. Remember the 911 Hijackers came from Hamburg, Germany. Europe is under constant fear that some wrong move by their government will spark a local terror attack. London and Madrid have both had such attacks.
In Holland, they have had enough. The new film "Fitna" is a 15 minute indictment of the Quran. The premise is that Islam is a violent religion and anti Western. Passages from the Quran are used to point to examples of intolerance and violence. The film can be seen on the Internet by Goggling Fitna. Geert Wilder is being called crazy and a provocateur by his follow Dutch. His life is in danger and the lines have been drawn between the native Dutch and the new Muslims in Holland.
I agree that it is time for all rational people to take a position on radical Islam. This includes all Muslims. You are either supportive of the violence, or you stand against it. Geert Wilder is brave to point out the situation and demand a resolution. Western civilization is depending on the answer.
The good news for America is, our illegals are Christians. Europe has been flooded with Muslims who have taken nearly all the unskilled jobs and become a critical part of European society. Worse, this group is discriminated against by many Europeans as not being white or European. The response has been increased violence between traditional Europeans and the new immigrants.
It is therefore of no real surprise that Europe is very sensitive to the "War on Terror". In part this is why they did not embrace the Iraq invasion. They do not want to alarm or incite their own Muslim communities who may well raise up against their French, German or Dutch neighbors. In Holland, [The Netherlands] this situation has reached a boiling point. You may remember the Cartoons drawn to show the Prophet Mohammad and the riots that followed. Recently, a new crisis has developed regarding a film by Geert Wilder, a Dutch member of Parliament.
Try to keep in mind that Europe has been VERY ethnocentric in the last 500 years. Here is a short aside: The English and Irish have been fighting each other for 400 years and the are both lily white. The Germans and French fought two World Wars in the last 100 years over something that nobody can recall. If you live in an area, say in Holland, it is very different from America. Everyone around you in Dutch and they all speak the same language. Or, they did for the last 1000 years until the new Muslims showed up and refused to speak Dutch. Resentment and prejudice is everywhere but it is really strong in Europe. Again, Germany killed 6 million Jews because they were different.
By comparison, America is much better at handling multicultural and multi ethnic societies. Any major city in America is 12% Black and 20% Hispanic. Of the so called "white" people there are Irish, German, French and Italians. With few Norwegians and Russians thrown in. On the West Coast, or here in my neighborhood, Asian make up the majority of the population and they include Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Thai. Only Paris is similar in diversity among European cities.
So Europe has a large Muslim population who are treated badly by native Europeans. This would just be a bad case of discrimination except for......Osama Bin Laden. In the last five years European Muslims have become militant. Remember the 911 Hijackers came from Hamburg, Germany. Europe is under constant fear that some wrong move by their government will spark a local terror attack. London and Madrid have both had such attacks.
In Holland, they have had enough. The new film "Fitna" is a 15 minute indictment of the Quran. The premise is that Islam is a violent religion and anti Western. Passages from the Quran are used to point to examples of intolerance and violence. The film can be seen on the Internet by Goggling Fitna. Geert Wilder is being called crazy and a provocateur by his follow Dutch. His life is in danger and the lines have been drawn between the native Dutch and the new Muslims in Holland.
I agree that it is time for all rational people to take a position on radical Islam. This includes all Muslims. You are either supportive of the violence, or you stand against it. Geert Wilder is brave to point out the situation and demand a resolution. Western civilization is depending on the answer.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Codgers -2 Whipper Snappers - 0
I watched the primary returns last night from Ohio and Texas. It felt good to see both McCain and Clinton win. From the beginning of this drawn out campaign I have picked these two as my favorites. They are both tough fighters who have been in this process for the long term.
As I watched, I began to think about why I do not support Obama. Life for me is made up of codgers and whipper snappers. Codgers are older people, usually guys, who have been around and done that. They know the score and can't be fooled easily. In the Westerns, John Wayne always played the Codger. A whipper snapper is an impertinent, usually a young man, whose lack of proper respect for the older generation is matched only by his high sense of self worth. Obama seems like a whippersnapper to me.
I'm looking forward to a fall Presidential campaign with Clinton and McCain. Such a match up would define for America what is important to us....the old struggle between guns and butter. Do we spend money on a world wide war to fight terror, and destroy our own economy? Or, do we pay for universal health care. To date, we have spent 3 trillion dollars on the War in Iraq. In the process we have borrowed to pay for the war and driven our economy into recession. How much more war can you afford? Everybody wants free or low cost quality health care but it just isn't that simple. Doctors go to school for a long time and expect to be paid well for their knowledge. Regardless of our expectations, health care is a business and it has to make money to continue to attract people to med school. There is no cheap or free solution to this problem.
I'm hoping for a Clinton vs McCain election. These are both strong well educated professionals who have devoted their lives to government. Regardless of the outcome, I can support the Codger who wins.
As I watched, I began to think about why I do not support Obama. Life for me is made up of codgers and whipper snappers. Codgers are older people, usually guys, who have been around and done that. They know the score and can't be fooled easily. In the Westerns, John Wayne always played the Codger. A whipper snapper is an impertinent, usually a young man, whose lack of proper respect for the older generation is matched only by his high sense of self worth. Obama seems like a whippersnapper to me.
I'm looking forward to a fall Presidential campaign with Clinton and McCain. Such a match up would define for America what is important to us....the old struggle between guns and butter. Do we spend money on a world wide war to fight terror, and destroy our own economy? Or, do we pay for universal health care. To date, we have spent 3 trillion dollars on the War in Iraq. In the process we have borrowed to pay for the war and driven our economy into recession. How much more war can you afford? Everybody wants free or low cost quality health care but it just isn't that simple. Doctors go to school for a long time and expect to be paid well for their knowledge. Regardless of our expectations, health care is a business and it has to make money to continue to attract people to med school. There is no cheap or free solution to this problem.
I'm hoping for a Clinton vs McCain election. These are both strong well educated professionals who have devoted their lives to government. Regardless of the outcome, I can support the Codger who wins.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Tell that to Al Gore
I'm reading about the weather in China. Reports of temperatures below zero and blizzrds stranding travelers trying to go home for Chinese New Year. The weather here has been pretty cold too. Chicago has had snow three times this last week. Does anyone reading this think maybe this whole Global Warming story is a hoax?
In China they are saying this is the worst winter they have had in over 100 years. Wouldn't you expect it to be getting nicer given all the hype about warming and ice melting? Not a week goes by that we don't see a picture of a penguin or polar bear stranded on a shrinking iceberg. How is it getting warmer at the poles but colder in Bejing and Chicago?
I think somebody with a brain has to call out Al Gore and find out what the hell is going on.
In China they are saying this is the worst winter they have had in over 100 years. Wouldn't you expect it to be getting nicer given all the hype about warming and ice melting? Not a week goes by that we don't see a picture of a penguin or polar bear stranded on a shrinking iceberg. How is it getting warmer at the poles but colder in Bejing and Chicago?
I think somebody with a brain has to call out Al Gore and find out what the hell is going on.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Our own Margaret Thatcher
I have voted Republican since Reagan won in 1980. I beleive in an expansive agressive Presidency. This year my first choice is John McCain but Hillary Clinton is second. I wrote earlier, back August 2007, regarding my support for both candidates.
I was very happy they both won the New Hampshire primary. Both seem like serious leaders who have proven themselves over their careers. They are DOERS not talkers. Hillary worked as a volunteer on the 1964 Barry Goldwater Presidential Campaign. In 1974, after graduating Yale Law School, she worked as a researcher for the House Judicary Committee on the impreachment of Richard Nixon. She taught Law at the Univeristy of Akansas and helped shape policy for her husband's white house.
John McCain is the grandson and son of two Navy Admirals. He graduated the Naval Academy at Annapolis and learned to fly fighters off of aircraft carriers. He was shot down over Hanoi and broke both legs and an arm in the crash landing. He was tortured and refused early release. His father was US Commander of Naval Forces in the Pacific. The Viet Cong offer him release and he refused unless all other prisoners would be released with him. He spent over 5 years as a prisoner of war.
The last five years have been tough for Americans. We are hated throughout much of the world. Our Economy is hurting and our enemies would like us to fail. We really need a tough President to lead us into the next four years.
I guess I'm saying this: If you look at a candidate and you say to your self.." I can kick his or her ass". Then don't vote for them. We need a hard ass President if we expect to survive and I don't see anyone tougher then McCain or Clinton.
I was very happy they both won the New Hampshire primary. Both seem like serious leaders who have proven themselves over their careers. They are DOERS not talkers. Hillary worked as a volunteer on the 1964 Barry Goldwater Presidential Campaign. In 1974, after graduating Yale Law School, she worked as a researcher for the House Judicary Committee on the impreachment of Richard Nixon. She taught Law at the Univeristy of Akansas and helped shape policy for her husband's white house.
John McCain is the grandson and son of two Navy Admirals. He graduated the Naval Academy at Annapolis and learned to fly fighters off of aircraft carriers. He was shot down over Hanoi and broke both legs and an arm in the crash landing. He was tortured and refused early release. His father was US Commander of Naval Forces in the Pacific. The Viet Cong offer him release and he refused unless all other prisoners would be released with him. He spent over 5 years as a prisoner of war.
The last five years have been tough for Americans. We are hated throughout much of the world. Our Economy is hurting and our enemies would like us to fail. We really need a tough President to lead us into the next four years.
I guess I'm saying this: If you look at a candidate and you say to your self.." I can kick his or her ass". Then don't vote for them. We need a hard ass President if we expect to survive and I don't see anyone tougher then McCain or Clinton.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Caucus Schmacus....let's vote on-line
The Iowa Caucus will be held on Jan 3, 2008. Can you think of a single thing....other then CORN, that Iowa knows anything about?
I have watched and listened to all the talk about the upcoming Iowa Caucus. I've been concerned that some idiot like Mike Wannabee might float to the top of this septic tank of Presidential hickabees. Then I read the story about the process.
The TOTAL turnout for the Iowa Caucus is expected to be about 200,000 persons. This means 120,000 democrats and 80,000 republicans. The "winner" might win with as few as 1,000 votes over the second place finisher. Does this make any sense? Here in California the absentee ballots from a typical election often pass 500,000. More people in California went to Starbucks today then will vote in the Iowa Caucus.
Why are so many people concerned about what people in Iowa think? When I think about Iowa, I think Corn, not political enlightenment. Moreover, there is nothing in America that we value in which we use the opinion of Iowa to make the decision. You can't think of Iowa as a good place for Fashion or Music. Name a really big town in Iowa that has produced something remarkable in the last two years............Nothing. You get my point. Iowa is a good place to grew corn not good ideas about our future.
So in an age of Instant Messaging and Google, why are we still listening to the view of some farmers in Iowa or even New Hampshire? I think we should have a National Caucus On line at Google or Yahoo. Let all Americans with an email address log on and vote for the candidate they think would be the best President. It's time to call an end to the old fashioned waste of time politicking as usual in Iowa. I say save the money and run an On-Line Primary.
I have watched and listened to all the talk about the upcoming Iowa Caucus. I've been concerned that some idiot like Mike Wannabee might float to the top of this septic tank of Presidential hickabees. Then I read the story about the process.
The TOTAL turnout for the Iowa Caucus is expected to be about 200,000 persons. This means 120,000 democrats and 80,000 republicans. The "winner" might win with as few as 1,000 votes over the second place finisher. Does this make any sense? Here in California the absentee ballots from a typical election often pass 500,000. More people in California went to Starbucks today then will vote in the Iowa Caucus.
Why are so many people concerned about what people in Iowa think? When I think about Iowa, I think Corn, not political enlightenment. Moreover, there is nothing in America that we value in which we use the opinion of Iowa to make the decision. You can't think of Iowa as a good place for Fashion or Music. Name a really big town in Iowa that has produced something remarkable in the last two years............Nothing. You get my point. Iowa is a good place to grew corn not good ideas about our future.
So in an age of Instant Messaging and Google, why are we still listening to the view of some farmers in Iowa or even New Hampshire? I think we should have a National Caucus On line at Google or Yahoo. Let all Americans with an email address log on and vote for the candidate they think would be the best President. It's time to call an end to the old fashioned waste of time politicking as usual in Iowa. I say save the money and run an On-Line Primary.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Reeling in the Years
The Steely Dan song isn't about getting old as much as about time spent together. Still, it makes a good title for this piece. Lately, I have been "reeln in the years".....thinking about the stuff I have done. I can't say for sure....but I am 99% positive that it's been all good.
This Saturday I turn 60. As a kid we thought that 60 was OLD. That was before 50 became the new 40 and Social Security pushed up retirement age. Today 60 may just be the new 50...what ever that all means. Here are some thoughts about 60.
First....I do not feel any different then when I was 17. All this means that either I was a stupid kid or that once your opinions are set about things, they really do not change much over the rest of your life. At 17 I would listen to stuff and think....that is fucking stupid. Today, I say it. Not much real change there, except diminished consequences. At 17 I cared more about how people would react to my opinion. Now I just don't give a shit.
Second.....I have done a lot of stuff and been a lot of places. I raised two families and I'm working on number three. I owned 14 motorcycles and was married 4 times. There is no correlation between those two facts. They are mutually exclusive. I lived all over, in Texas, Alaska, Utah, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, California and Germany. The big difference in location is humidity. I do not like it when it is too humid. Over 20 summers in St Louis almost killed me.
Third.......I should have lived in California my whole life. When I came here for the first time in 1978.........We rode my motorcycle from St Louis to San Francisco and back...........it was like heaven. Connie's mom had a little one room apartment downtown San Francisco. After riding all the way out to visit, she told us we would have to find a place to stay. I asked around and a guy told me to stay at the YMCA. It was great. They let us park the motorcycle inside the back door. They still provide rooms at the Central YMCA Hotel 220 Golden Gate Avenue San Francisco, CA. Today, my daughter Meredith, attends San Francisco State University. Big wheel keeps on turning.
Fourth.....I have learned you can not change people. You are what you are. My single biggest flaw has been that I see people for their potential. They fail to achieve that potential and I lose respect for them. Stanley asked me....."why do you turn on people you called friends?" The answer is: They failed to achieve their potential and I lost interest. As a result I have been married four times. I could not change Pattie, Connie, or Julie. They would agree, I tried. Pam does not need to change. She is perfect. I don't agree with her 100% but I know she is smarter then me and I try not to tinker with her.
Fifth.....You can not turn 60 without an end game. My parents weren't smart but they saved half the money the earned. They had an end game. They both died at home in their own beds. This was how they planned it. They knew they were getting old and they discussed it and planned for it. I live in the Condo that is the last place I will live. My end game depends on Pam taking care of me and Jack being there to take care of Pam.
So I'm turning 60. Things are going well. I have never been happier and I'm looking forward to 80.
This Saturday I turn 60. As a kid we thought that 60 was OLD. That was before 50 became the new 40 and Social Security pushed up retirement age. Today 60 may just be the new 50...what ever that all means. Here are some thoughts about 60.
First....I do not feel any different then when I was 17. All this means that either I was a stupid kid or that once your opinions are set about things, they really do not change much over the rest of your life. At 17 I would listen to stuff and think....that is fucking stupid. Today, I say it. Not much real change there, except diminished consequences. At 17 I cared more about how people would react to my opinion. Now I just don't give a shit.
Second.....I have done a lot of stuff and been a lot of places. I raised two families and I'm working on number three. I owned 14 motorcycles and was married 4 times. There is no correlation between those two facts. They are mutually exclusive. I lived all over, in Texas, Alaska, Utah, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, California and Germany. The big difference in location is humidity. I do not like it when it is too humid. Over 20 summers in St Louis almost killed me.
Third.......I should have lived in California my whole life. When I came here for the first time in 1978.........We rode my motorcycle from St Louis to San Francisco and back...........it was like heaven. Connie's mom had a little one room apartment downtown San Francisco. After riding all the way out to visit, she told us we would have to find a place to stay. I asked around and a guy told me to stay at the YMCA. It was great. They let us park the motorcycle inside the back door. They still provide rooms at the Central YMCA Hotel 220 Golden Gate Avenue San Francisco, CA. Today, my daughter Meredith, attends San Francisco State University. Big wheel keeps on turning.
Fourth.....I have learned you can not change people. You are what you are. My single biggest flaw has been that I see people for their potential. They fail to achieve that potential and I lose respect for them. Stanley asked me....."why do you turn on people you called friends?" The answer is: They failed to achieve their potential and I lost interest. As a result I have been married four times. I could not change Pattie, Connie, or Julie. They would agree, I tried. Pam does not need to change. She is perfect. I don't agree with her 100% but I know she is smarter then me and I try not to tinker with her.
Fifth.....You can not turn 60 without an end game. My parents weren't smart but they saved half the money the earned. They had an end game. They both died at home in their own beds. This was how they planned it. They knew they were getting old and they discussed it and planned for it. I live in the Condo that is the last place I will live. My end game depends on Pam taking care of me and Jack being there to take care of Pam.
So I'm turning 60. Things are going well. I have never been happier and I'm looking forward to 80.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Magic underwear and other crazy ideas
Let me be clear up front. I do not believe the god-myth.
I grew up in a Catholic Family and went to mass nearly everyday for my first 12 years. I went to Catholic grade school and was taught by Nuns. In December 1960, we moved to Europe and that ended Catholic schools for me. Throughout the entire period, I didn't "get it". I never understood why everyone else believed that god was watching us or controlling our lives. I did not understand why we ate fish on Friday or any of the other odd Catholic beliefs. Most of those changed during the 60s. As unusual as Catholic dogma may seem, it does have a foundation in rational thought. Still, believing some of those things required a leap of faith that I did not possess.
Years later, in college, I became interested in History. As part of American History we read about the Mormon migration to Utah and the great salt lake. I did not know much about the Mormons but I understood that they did not fit well with communities in the east and moved frequently as a result of local pressure. There were conflicts between Mormon and traditional Christian beliefs. Since I did not really believe any of that stuff, I never looked into it for details.
Then, in the last 10 years or so, I went to Utah on business. It was really clean but hard to buy a drink. I read up on Mormon history and began to see some of the reasons why they were run out of town in the 1800s. In general, Mormons believe in the Book of Mormon which is thought to be plagiarized from the writings of Solomon Spaulding. The book and how it came to exist is a bizarre story. The teachings are even more crazy. I will let you do your own research and come to your own conclusions regarding the details. In short it involves special underwear, the planet Kolob, and dead baptism.
I think people can believe anything they want as long as it doesn't involve me. I live in California and there are all kinds of crazy people with weird ideas hanging around the Santa Monica Pier. They don't bother me and I don't bother them. The same would be true for Mormons except that one of them wants to be President. Yikes.
The question is not one of faith. It is really about judgment. Can a person who believes the teachings in the Book of Mormon be President? I think not. I know I am not a believer in the general sense but a person who believes the Book of Mormon is delusional and out of step with reality. Such a person does not have the judgement needed to lead our country. It is just that simple for me.
I grew up in a Catholic Family and went to mass nearly everyday for my first 12 years. I went to Catholic grade school and was taught by Nuns. In December 1960, we moved to Europe and that ended Catholic schools for me. Throughout the entire period, I didn't "get it". I never understood why everyone else believed that god was watching us or controlling our lives. I did not understand why we ate fish on Friday or any of the other odd Catholic beliefs. Most of those changed during the 60s. As unusual as Catholic dogma may seem, it does have a foundation in rational thought. Still, believing some of those things required a leap of faith that I did not possess.
Years later, in college, I became interested in History. As part of American History we read about the Mormon migration to Utah and the great salt lake. I did not know much about the Mormons but I understood that they did not fit well with communities in the east and moved frequently as a result of local pressure. There were conflicts between Mormon and traditional Christian beliefs. Since I did not really believe any of that stuff, I never looked into it for details.
Then, in the last 10 years or so, I went to Utah on business. It was really clean but hard to buy a drink. I read up on Mormon history and began to see some of the reasons why they were run out of town in the 1800s. In general, Mormons believe in the Book of Mormon which is thought to be plagiarized from the writings of Solomon Spaulding. The book and how it came to exist is a bizarre story. The teachings are even more crazy. I will let you do your own research and come to your own conclusions regarding the details. In short it involves special underwear, the planet Kolob, and dead baptism.
I think people can believe anything they want as long as it doesn't involve me. I live in California and there are all kinds of crazy people with weird ideas hanging around the Santa Monica Pier. They don't bother me and I don't bother them. The same would be true for Mormons except that one of them wants to be President. Yikes.
The question is not one of faith. It is really about judgment. Can a person who believes the teachings in the Book of Mormon be President? I think not. I know I am not a believer in the general sense but a person who believes the Book of Mormon is delusional and out of step with reality. Such a person does not have the judgement needed to lead our country. It is just that simple for me.
Solstice is the reason for the season
It's the most wonderful time of the year. They have been thinking this for over 4,000 years. The main reason for this Holiday period has always been about the Sun.
Winter solstice is the time when the earth tilts the furthest away from the sun. The result is the shortest day light hours for the northern hemisphere. This day is December 22 on modern calendars but it was December 25 on the original Roman calendar. Here is a link to wiki regarding the event: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solstice
For early humans this event was a BIG DEAL. Their lives depended on growing food and that required sun light. In northern Europe, the days were extremely short and the nights were very long and cold. Many myths developed around this single event. For some it meant the sun was dying and they sacrificed to make the sun come back. Druids burnt yule logs and the Norse brought burning trees into their cave to light up the dark night. For others this was a time of rebirth as the new sun would be born and the process would begin anew.
In Rome two festivals took place at this time, Saturnalia and Sol Invictus. Saturnalia was the week long festival to Saturn which led up to Sol Invictus, the day of the unconquered sun. Sol invictus was on December 25. This was one of the most important Roman holidays and it followed the festival week of parties and gift exchanges.
Christmas, the Christan holiday, did not exist until the 4th century when the early Christians set December 25 as the day to celebrate Jesus birth. The actual date is unclear. Many believe this date was selected because it was already a pagan Roman Holiday that nobody wanted to give up.
Regardless, it remains clear that this wonderful time of the year is a result of Winter Solstice and the numerous traditions associated with the period. Merry Solstice to all and goodnight.
Winter solstice is the time when the earth tilts the furthest away from the sun. The result is the shortest day light hours for the northern hemisphere. This day is December 22 on modern calendars but it was December 25 on the original Roman calendar. Here is a link to wiki regarding the event: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solstice
For early humans this event was a BIG DEAL. Their lives depended on growing food and that required sun light. In northern Europe, the days were extremely short and the nights were very long and cold. Many myths developed around this single event. For some it meant the sun was dying and they sacrificed to make the sun come back. Druids burnt yule logs and the Norse brought burning trees into their cave to light up the dark night. For others this was a time of rebirth as the new sun would be born and the process would begin anew.
In Rome two festivals took place at this time, Saturnalia and Sol Invictus. Saturnalia was the week long festival to Saturn which led up to Sol Invictus, the day of the unconquered sun. Sol invictus was on December 25. This was one of the most important Roman holidays and it followed the festival week of parties and gift exchanges.
Christmas, the Christan holiday, did not exist until the 4th century when the early Christians set December 25 as the day to celebrate Jesus birth. The actual date is unclear. Many believe this date was selected because it was already a pagan Roman Holiday that nobody wanted to give up.
Regardless, it remains clear that this wonderful time of the year is a result of Winter Solstice and the numerous traditions associated with the period. Merry Solstice to all and goodnight.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving
I have to start out by saying, I cried like a baby. I was at work and had to go to the men's room and get control of myself. I have waited 30 years for this news.
1966 was a very long time ago. Connie and Dave lived in suburban Chicago. They were seniors in high school. It was a typical teenage 60s high school story. Connie's parents were weird. Her mom was crazy, and her dad was a fireman who worked odd hours. Dave's mom was a little more eccentric, and his brother was gay. Dave and Connie were in love and in 1966 Connie was pregnant.
Their parents understood and Connie dropped out of high school short of graduation to go away to have the baby. It was a girl, and she "gave it up" for adoption. This would be the end of another typical high school romance but for one thing; Connie got pregnant a second time.
So, Connie and Dave got married. They were way too young and they got married for all the wrong reasons. Connie did not finish high school and Dave worked to support her and their new baby, Jennifer. It was tough being young, poor, and having a new family. Still, they thought they were doing the right thing.
In 1972 they went on vacation to Colorado and the next year they moved to Denver. Dave got a job with a linen company and Connie worked at Target. Things were still rough. Money was short and both Dave and Connie felt trapped. Jennifer spent far too much time alone, at babysitters, or unsupervised. Finally, in 1973 Dave and Connie separated.
I met Connie at Target. My own marriage was not going well. We went out and had fun, laughed, and for a few hours forgot about our problems. Connie told me the story about her and Dave, and how Jennifer had an older sister. The daughter she "gave up", Jennifer's "Big Sister".
Over the next ten years I helped raise Jennifer. She never really saw me as her Dad. Dave was her Dad and she loved to go visit. He had all the cool new stuff. I taught Jennifer to tuck point, took her to get her jaw fixed, and explained birth control. I sent her to Computer Camp to learn how to use a PC. I leased her a new car. I took her to Wally World and moved her to College. Over that time we often talked about her Big Sister. Connie was tormented by the past and wanted closure.
Connie and I separated. We were great friends but poor spouses. Jennifer lived with me until she graduated College and got married. The issue of her Big Sister was never resolved. Connie called in 1985, I think, to tell me she had begun the process of trying to get in touch with her daughter. The one she "gave up". She had notified the agency that she would accept communication from her daughter. Time passed. Then I heard that Connie had gotten a letter. her daughter was fine, but wanted to remain private. We all understood.
Until today. Jennifer called me to say her Big Sister....Odessa, had contacted Connie and would be interested in communicating. Wow! It has been 41 years since Connie and Odessa last saw each other. No promises. Who knows what will happen..............Happy Thanksgiving.
1966 was a very long time ago. Connie and Dave lived in suburban Chicago. They were seniors in high school. It was a typical teenage 60s high school story. Connie's parents were weird. Her mom was crazy, and her dad was a fireman who worked odd hours. Dave's mom was a little more eccentric, and his brother was gay. Dave and Connie were in love and in 1966 Connie was pregnant.
Their parents understood and Connie dropped out of high school short of graduation to go away to have the baby. It was a girl, and she "gave it up" for adoption. This would be the end of another typical high school romance but for one thing; Connie got pregnant a second time.
So, Connie and Dave got married. They were way too young and they got married for all the wrong reasons. Connie did not finish high school and Dave worked to support her and their new baby, Jennifer. It was tough being young, poor, and having a new family. Still, they thought they were doing the right thing.
In 1972 they went on vacation to Colorado and the next year they moved to Denver. Dave got a job with a linen company and Connie worked at Target. Things were still rough. Money was short and both Dave and Connie felt trapped. Jennifer spent far too much time alone, at babysitters, or unsupervised. Finally, in 1973 Dave and Connie separated.
I met Connie at Target. My own marriage was not going well. We went out and had fun, laughed, and for a few hours forgot about our problems. Connie told me the story about her and Dave, and how Jennifer had an older sister. The daughter she "gave up", Jennifer's "Big Sister".
Over the next ten years I helped raise Jennifer. She never really saw me as her Dad. Dave was her Dad and she loved to go visit. He had all the cool new stuff. I taught Jennifer to tuck point, took her to get her jaw fixed, and explained birth control. I sent her to Computer Camp to learn how to use a PC. I leased her a new car. I took her to Wally World and moved her to College. Over that time we often talked about her Big Sister. Connie was tormented by the past and wanted closure.
Connie and I separated. We were great friends but poor spouses. Jennifer lived with me until she graduated College and got married. The issue of her Big Sister was never resolved. Connie called in 1985, I think, to tell me she had begun the process of trying to get in touch with her daughter. The one she "gave up". She had notified the agency that she would accept communication from her daughter. Time passed. Then I heard that Connie had gotten a letter. her daughter was fine, but wanted to remain private. We all understood.
Until today. Jennifer called me to say her Big Sister....Odessa, had contacted Connie and would be interested in communicating. Wow! It has been 41 years since Connie and Odessa last saw each other. No promises. Who knows what will happen..............Happy Thanksgiving.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Too bitter?
Pam says I am too bitter. No, she did not say bitter....let me think ...she said "your blog is too ....harsh? vicious? no, vitriolic" I forget. But I think she is saying I am too negative about the things I write.
I don't think I am negative or bitter. I don't get too many comments back so it is hard to tell. Roger did email me about my views on the god-myth. I respect Roger and his opinion. He may be right. [doubt it] I guess something has to be important before I write about it. There are lots of things that happen that I just skip. My motorcycle needs washing...but I don't think it is important enough to write about.
There are things that happen that are wonderful. I wrote about the fire and how our home was saved. I was very happy and impressed with the fire department. I have explained how I feel about illegal immigrants. That reminds me of the joke about the married couple from Arkansas who move to Missouri....it's a legal question. Are they still cousins after they cross state lines? Anyway, I like immigrants and think they make the country stronger, just as the Irish, Germans, and Italians did a century ago. I don't think that is negative. I also have a strong positive attitude about humanity. We have faced some tough stuff over the last 10,000 years. War, plague, and christianity did not stop us. My guess is we will go on and beat global warming and terrorism.
The big positives in my life are my wife and kids. I love them and I am really proud of them. Pam has done very well from our first meeting at the Onion to her sale today to Sysco San Francisco. "At a girl", as a drunken Scotsman would say. Jennifer has a new job and her hands full with four kids. Kate is a great mother and she has two wonderful children. Meredith is off to San Francisco. She has a job and she is getting good grades. Colleen has two jobs and goes to College. Jack is becoming a "buster"....stop it Daddy be nice. If I have'nt said it, I am very proud of my family and they make me happy, each in a different way.
So, if I sound negative or vitriolic [you can look that up] it is only because I haven't been writing about the good things as much as I should. I will work on that. Send me your comments. You too Cody.
I don't think I am negative or bitter. I don't get too many comments back so it is hard to tell. Roger did email me about my views on the god-myth. I respect Roger and his opinion. He may be right. [doubt it] I guess something has to be important before I write about it. There are lots of things that happen that I just skip. My motorcycle needs washing...but I don't think it is important enough to write about.
There are things that happen that are wonderful. I wrote about the fire and how our home was saved. I was very happy and impressed with the fire department. I have explained how I feel about illegal immigrants. That reminds me of the joke about the married couple from Arkansas who move to Missouri....it's a legal question. Are they still cousins after they cross state lines? Anyway, I like immigrants and think they make the country stronger, just as the Irish, Germans, and Italians did a century ago. I don't think that is negative. I also have a strong positive attitude about humanity. We have faced some tough stuff over the last 10,000 years. War, plague, and christianity did not stop us. My guess is we will go on and beat global warming and terrorism.
The big positives in my life are my wife and kids. I love them and I am really proud of them. Pam has done very well from our first meeting at the Onion to her sale today to Sysco San Francisco. "At a girl", as a drunken Scotsman would say. Jennifer has a new job and her hands full with four kids. Kate is a great mother and she has two wonderful children. Meredith is off to San Francisco. She has a job and she is getting good grades. Colleen has two jobs and goes to College. Jack is becoming a "buster"....stop it Daddy be nice. If I have'nt said it, I am very proud of my family and they make me happy, each in a different way.
So, if I sound negative or vitriolic [you can look that up] it is only because I haven't been writing about the good things as much as I should. I will work on that. Send me your comments. You too Cody.
Free our Park
About eight months ago we bought a new condo. At the time it was a drawing and the lot was full of weeds. Across from the lot was a new Park. It wasn't quite finished so it had a fence around it while they work on the landscape.
Over the last eight months we went to look at our new Condo during construction. We went almost every week. We drove by the Park over 25 times during thee visits. As near as I could tell, nothing was being done to finish the Park.
In October we finally moved to our new condo. Jack wanted to go play at the park, but the fence was still up. Checking, we were told the Park had been vandalized and was being repaired. The fence would come down soon. A week ago, the fence was down and we took Jack to play in HIS PARK. he was very excited.
The next day....the fence was back up. I began calling trying to find out what was going on. As near as I can tell, the Park was completed too soon. It was vandalized or so they say, and then repaired. The Park is owned by the Irvine Company not our community. The Irvine Company won't let kids play there because it is not insured for play. The community assoication doesn't have the money to pay for upkeep on the park because the construction is not finished near by and taxes have to be paid by home owners to pay for the Park.
So the Park is captive. It makes no sense to have a Park with a fence around it.
Over the last eight months we went to look at our new Condo during construction. We went almost every week. We drove by the Park over 25 times during thee visits. As near as I could tell, nothing was being done to finish the Park.
In October we finally moved to our new condo. Jack wanted to go play at the park, but the fence was still up. Checking, we were told the Park had been vandalized and was being repaired. The fence would come down soon. A week ago, the fence was down and we took Jack to play in HIS PARK. he was very excited.
The next day....the fence was back up. I began calling trying to find out what was going on. As near as I can tell, the Park was completed too soon. It was vandalized or so they say, and then repaired. The Park is owned by the Irvine Company not our community. The Irvine Company won't let kids play there because it is not insured for play. The community assoication doesn't have the money to pay for upkeep on the park because the construction is not finished near by and taxes have to be paid by home owners to pay for the Park.
So the Park is captive. It makes no sense to have a Park with a fence around it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
