The Zuckerburg's vrs the Winkelvi

I have friends who think Facebook is stupid. When I have asked them..."are you on facebook?" they say rude things. One friend told me that facebook was for kids. Another told me that facebook was for people with no life. John told me to, "fuck facebook." How nice was that?

I think facebook is a tool. I have told all of them that when Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1439, 98% of Europe was illiterate. In my view, there is a direct link between the invention of the printing press and the American, French, and Russian revolutions. Gutenberg made it possible to share ideas. These ideas, some of which may be silly, led to enlightenment and democracy. Likewise, facebook is a tool. Young girls can talk about boys at high school and Egyptians can use it to change their country. It is just a tool for social interaction.

So, because I think facebook is powerful, I saw the movie "the social network". The movie was equally powerful. It explains how a person with an idea can change the world. It also shows a clear distinction between the two key ways to develop a business. I need to tell you that I identify with Mark Zuckerberg. I feel his pain as Bill Clinton would say. I know what it is like to say the wrong thing when I believe it is the truth, and have everyone around me upset. I know what it is like to be driven and obsessive about silly little things. I also know what it is like to work at odds with the "system". Mark Zuckerberg is everyman. Likewise the brothers Winkelvoss represent the establishment. They are the suits.

I was amazed that the "Winkelvi" never considered a formal agreement necessary with Mark Zuckerberg. Likewise they did not ask him to sign a confidentiality agreement. These are smart guys from a rich family who went to Harvard. Were they really that stupid? If you have a good idea.....protect yourself...duh? Or, maybe it wasn't their idea after all. I was very pleased when Zuckerberg said, "you can stand on my shoulders and pretend you are tall."

Business is really developed by the guy with a good idea. The suits can take an idea by stealing it or buying it, and build it into something bigger, but they almost never create it. The big companies I have work with were good at having meetings but really bad at creating value. I loved the movie the social network because it was a movie about the guy with an idea and his vision for its development. I really hate to think what facebook or the Harvard Connection would have been like under the direction of the Winkelvoss brothers. In the end business is really summed up as the Zuckerbergs versus the Winkelvi. Gutenberg would be happy.

BIG GOVERNMENT

We keep hearing that government spending is out of control. Something really needs to be done. Congress and President Urkel seem reluctant to make the critical cuts needed to get spending in line with tax revenue. I think over spending is our number one national security issue.

For all the talk about cutting spending nobody seems willing to discuss the money spent on National Defense or Social Security. You can cut Amtrak and NASA to the bone but the real cost of BIG GOVERNMENT is in Defense and Social Security. I have a couple of suggestions which I have written about numerous times in the past....long before this issue boiled up to the top. First, we need to end these Wars in Iraq and Effenstan [That's my way of saying f'ing Afghanistan]. Second, we need to pay Social Security tax on ALL earnings. Today Americans only pay Social Security tax on the first $106,800 earned each year. This means that everyone earning OVER this amount stops paying Social Security tax once they earn $106,800 in the calendar year. All of Wall Street and 99.9% of all CEOs earn more than $106,000 per year.

Regarding the Wars, how long does this need to continue? We spend billions per day on these wastes of time countries chasing so called terrorist who have long ago moved to Pakistan or Yemen. It's well past time to end this farce and cut the cost of killing low level rag head soldiers. The recent revolution in Egypt proves that there are other Arabs out there who want a better life and we need to support them. Our Wars in Arab / Muslim countries send a bad message about Amerika, and they cost too much. The troops must be tired of this never ending mess. Let's stop the War.

Regarding Social Security, I'm in favor of us having a national safety net for old people like me. The system was set up a long time ago and it needs to be revisited. The idea of people NOT paying into social security who earn over $106,800 per year seems crazy given the lack of funding for the program. This is an easy fix and the right thing to do.

Say NO to BIG SIS

I read today the comments of Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security. She said, "The terrorist threat facing our country has evolved significantly in the last ten years -- and continues to evolve -- so that, in some ways, the threat facing us is at its most heightened state since those 9/11 attacks," I cannot help but thinking that these comments are designed to create more fear among the population and to justify increased "police state" spending and abuse.

It is important to keep the threat of terrorism in perspective. The US death Rate is about 2.4 million people per year. The single biggest cause is heart related disease with about 800,000 deaths due to heart attack and stroke. Cancer is a big killer too, with over 500,000 deaths per year. Tobacco kills about 400,000 and our old friend alcohol kills 100,000. Auto accidents kill 40,000 and Homicide kills about 18,000. Terrorist kill less than 20 US citizens per year with the exception of 9/11. There seems to be a greater chance that you would die of a heart attack, while smoking and driving your car, than from any act of terror. Even airplane deaths are more common with nearly 1,000 aviation deaths per year and most of those are private plane deaths. Drowning kills 3,000 per year.

So we need to ask: Why all the scare tactics about Terrorism? In the 1950s we heard similar scare tactics about the Russians bombing America. This lead to huge increases in spending to "keep us safe." Turns out the Russians weren't going to bomb us after all. Now the new "threat" is terrorism. To keep us safe...we need to spend more Tax Money on scanners, and TSA agents. All this spending is justified because we need to be Safe.

Life is not safe. There is a risk just getting up each day. The biggest threat to America is bankruptcy and we need to cut spending. Creating a huge Orwellian Police State and spending Billions will not keep us safe. If safety is what we are seeking we should close our borders and prevent potential terrorist from walking into the United States. Paying more to search little old ladies at the Airport is not keeping us safe.

Is it just me...or does HP suck?

I have an HP Desk Top computer and it drives me crazy. I think it has some secret "back up" program on it in case there is a crash it can go back to a previous time and rebuild all my files. I guess that's nice, but the hard drive runs for about an hour each afternoon while it is backing up. I have tried fifty things to get this to stop. I already use CARBONITE as my back up [Thanks again Jay] and I don't need the computer "thinking for me." HP service tried to tell me this is my fault. Thanks.

As part of all this, HP sends me great little suggestions from time to time via email. I REALLY hate that too and have tried to stop it as well. I am on a one man WAR to end all Junk Mail and Spam. Today HP sent me a note about their new Touch Pad due out this summer. Does the photo look like anything you have seen or bought before? I think HP is saying: "We can't invent anything new but we sure can copy stuff made by other people."

I am fed up with my HP Desk Top and the Printer that jams. Why would I want to buy a clone of the iPad from these guys?

The Adventure

Life is an adventure. As I watch my son Jack grow up, I see the stages he is moving through much better than I saw them for myself. Now, I am making the transition to another stage in my own life and I can't help but look back. Some part of each change is the need to let go of the things you are leaving behind. I see Jack letting go of his infancy as he becomes a "boy". He is not a baby anymore. In the same way, I am letting go of being the "man of the house". I am no longer the financial support for our family that is was just five years ago. Likewise, Pam is moving from being a "kid" to becoming a real adult. She has people working for her who are, in many ways, the same as she was when she began her career. Now she is more serious. More focused on the numbers. More like I was, for far too many years.

It's good to let go of some of this crap. For years I worried about "work" and the future. Pam calls it "being on the wheel," chasing the dime, going for the brass ring. My view is that I am moving on to things that are more important. In April, we will have a new baby. My job will be child care for the next two years...and maybe rest of my life. Jack will be in First Grade and I will be home with "Paddy" [Michael Patrick May] every day. I already buy the groceries, cook the food, clean the house, wash the clothes, and take Jack to school. When you stop, as I have done, and think about it, isn't what I am doing more important work than all the P&Ls, gross margins, business meetings, and office politics? I think so. Maybe I am rationalizing these changes. Trying to compensate my ego for the loss of a career or position. Nope.....I'm not.

My life, on the edge of change, is just part of the big adventure. I could not be happier. I don't miss any of the idoits for whom I worked. Stanley Allen stands alone as the only person I ever respected whom I called my boss. All the others, from Bill Hyer to Ned were short sighted dumb ass morons. I had my share of real career success and I am over it. My goal now is to work every day to teach my sons the things I learned growing up. How to build stuff and fix stuff. How to skip a rock across the lake four times. How to pick up a snake and not get bit.

This next stage sure looks like fun. I had the Kaiser health check up and passed all the tests. My face is starting to look ten years younger. I'm going for a walk. I need to build up my stamina. I will have two little Ninjas to fight starting in April, and I need to get myself in shape. The adventure continues.

Black Eye, Please

Like nearly everyone on Earth I watched the Super Bowl. I was a Packer Fan and wanted Aaron Rodgers to win the game so as to be vindicated from his history as a "bridesmaid". Aaron is the guy who never seemed to get the credit or attention due his remarkable talent. I think he was drafted into the NFL in the 900th round. Playing second to Brett Favre must have been demoralizing with constant comparisons being stuffed in his face. I was also happy to see that the Black Eye Peas were going to do the half time show. These half time shows have been a joke for the last several years and I really thought BEP would return the half time show to a new high. Guess I was wrong about that.

I knew things would not be what I expected when Christina Aguilera could not remember the words to the Star Spangled Banner. Next Year, let's ask Christina and Rosanne Barr to do a duet. Then came half time. As the Show began I thought the sound was off on my TV. I kept trying to find the music....I heard none. Then it went terribly wrong. These robot dance numbers with TRON light suits just plain suck. I felt like we went back to 1999 and after the second guest appearance [UGHSHER] I fully expect Janet Jackson to come out and join in the silly dance line.

How could a Group as good as the Black Eyed Peas screw up a Half Time Show? My expectations were so high and the show was so tired and out dated that I can only blame their Producers. Who ever thought the light suits and LOVE stage was a good idea misunderstood the NFL fans and the expectations of the audience. I fully expected a pumped up show and we got a tired old rerun from the past, doing all the choreography from every Michael Jackson video. Moon walk? Were they serious? Was this show rehearsed and did anyone say....Maybe we should rethink our direction here?

So, it was the Best Super Bowl ever. Aaron Rogers is the new star of the NFL. The Black Eyed Peas with be playing at an Indian Casino near you this summer. Their Show ended their Career.

å min gud i himmel

Two things happened in the last two days to make me embarrassed to be a US Citizen. I am reminded of the term used by my German friends "the ugly Americans".

Today Canadian Prime Minister Harper was in a news conference with President Obama. I was watching CNN as they took questions from Journalist. A Canadian Journalist asked Prime Minister Harper to comment and also asked that he reply in BOTH English and French for Canadian viewers. The feed from CNN stalled and I switched to FOX News [for some crazy reason] to continue to watch. When the Prime Minister began to speak in French, the Fox News Anchor Idiot yelled, TURN THAT OFF. Then he turned to the camera and said, "I'm sorry I can't stand to listen to him in French." I was stunned.

Most of the world speaks multiple languages. I can get by speaking German in most social situations and Pam can speak enough French to save us in Paris. Nearly everyone in the United States came from someplace else and most spoke a language other than English. When we refuse to speak other languages or we are just too stupid or arrogant to try, we tell the world they are right about America. We are self centered and narrow minded.

The second situation is about the Movie, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." The movie is based on the very popular Swedish book by Steig Larsson. The movie was made in Sweden and produced in Swedish. Nearly everyone in Sweden speaks perfect English and at least two other languages like German and French. The Swedes like the Norwegians realize that their language will not become very popular internationally like English, Spanish or Chinese. The Movie was made in Swedish, even though all the Actors speak English, because the Book and Story are Swedish. To change the language is to change the context of the story about Swedish Culture.

Now the Movie is being remade by Hollywood in English. The original Actors in the Swedish version have been replaced with English and American actors. To make the damage worse, the new English version of the film is being shot in SWEDEN! å min gud i himmel [Oh, my god in heaven...in Swedish]

We live in an ever smaller world and as Amerikans we need to learn to fit into the world we live in. It is NOT always about us. I do not know anyone who can name the capital of Canada or Sweden. How can we expect them to respect us?

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

I think the United States, President Obama and Hilary Clinton have done a good job in dealing with the crisis in Egypt.

Over the last 60 years the US has supported all sorts of crazy Right Wing Dictators. We did this in Cuba, Vietnam, and elsewhere only to have popular democratic uprisings develop. In most cases we supported the wrong side until the Dictators were expelled from power. I'm proud to say we are not doing this in Egypt. In Egypt, we appear to be supporting the people and not the Dictatorship. This is good for Egypt and for the United States.

Please try the Kool Aid

Have you seen the TV Commercials for SCIENTOLOGY? Is it me or are they just too weird?

Let's clear the air....I am a non believer, with the one exception for Santa. [He brought me a bicycle] All other gods, ghost, bogey men, aliens, and assorted myths are just crap and the fabrication of the human mind. I live in a real world with more than enough bad guys and unexplained events. I don't try to dream up imaginary friends or some invisible man in the sky. I also do not try to "prove" I am right. It is impossible to prove the non existence of people or things.

Back to Scientology. I think they are classified as a religion. The word CULT comes to mind as I listen to their commercial and read their information. It's like having a commercial with Jim Jones selling Kool Aid...just too strange. Please, when the commercial comes on your TV, please explain to the people in the room that this is a CULT designed to steal your money with promises of false hope and personal enlightenment. I read that these commercials are banned in Europe.

FREEDOM of the PRESS

Last night I watched the 60 Minutes interview with Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks. Frequently we listen to news reports and develop opinions based on the thinking of those who report the news. I made this mistake regarding Julian Assange and Wikileaks. However, the 60 Minutes interview with Steve Kroft was very powerful and surprisingly informative. Julian Assange is NOT a crack pot or terrorist. He is a PUBLISHER much like Rupert Murdoch or William Randolph Hearst. If you missed the interview you can watch it on 60 Minutes.com.

Assange's point is that the free flow of information is critical in a free society. He believes that the so called "Free Press" is not free and that the raise of internet publishing creates the opportunity for Global Free Press. Assange says, WIKI LEAKS does not solicit information. They only publish the information sent to them. They do not edit the information but only publish it for others to evaluate. Assange gives an example: He says WIKI LEAKS does not take a position on whales. They publish all the information sent to them so that informed people can make informed decisions on whaling. Likewise, Assange believes that support for WIKI LEAKS and he, is based on those who send him information and those who donate money to his organization. In his view, he is working for them and Global Freedom of the Press.

As I listened to him discuss his views calmly, in spite of Steve Kroft's belligerent style, it became clear that Julian Assange is really on to something important. Freedom of Speech and Free Press are critical to free society. If Assange is wrong, society will stop reading his site. BUT, like Matt Drudge before him, I think Julian Assange has created a whole new wave of Free Press beyond the bounds of traditional print or broadcast journalism. It seemed almost silly to watch Steve Kroft of 60 Minutes attempt to discredit Assange. 60 Minutes has made its reputation on doing exactly the same thing Assange is doing but using an older form of publishing, TV.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzC9invn4Ko

CHECK ENGINE

If you have ever been driving your car and the Check Engine light comes on, you know the feeling. UGH, what does this mean to me? Likewise as you reach your "golden years", you need to go in for the 60,000 mile check up. In my case, a growth developed on my shoulder and it served as my "CHECK ENGINE" light.

I first noticed the rough spot on my skin about 60 days ago. I believe strongly in self care and home surgery so I attempted to sand the rough spot off my shoulder. That did not work. It bled and became infected. Then I tried all kinds of chemical treatments to kill the growth. Nothing worked. Pam quietly watched over about a week as I kept trying to cut the growth off. Then, well after she was near crazy watching me, she suggested I go see a "DOCTOR".

We have the BEST Health Coverage on Earth, KAISER. Kaiser Permanente is an integrated managed care consortium found by Henry Kaiser to cover his employees. Today Kaiser covers over 8 million people with full service integrated healthcare. We have been in the Kaiser system for eight years but.....I have never seen a Doctor. I did get my eyes examined once but I did not have a Doctor assigned to me. So I went to Kaiser and saw Dr James Sandys. I picked him because he is an old white guy who can identify with my style.

Dr Sandys looked at my shoulder and asked if I had been "messing with it." I told him I tried home surgery and he asked what I did for a living. I told him I sold food. He said, "I promise I won't try to sell food if you let me take care of the surgery." He sent me to the Lab for some Tests. They cut the growth off my shoulder and I waited for the results.

Turns out I am in great shape. See test results below. The growth was a simple keratosis and not cancer. I need to end my all bacon diet to bring my lipids down a little but I passed the 60,000 mile check up.

My test results:

PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (PSA)
Component Your result Standard range Units
PSA 1.18 < or =" 4.5">

Component Your result Standard range Units

CHOLESTEROL 205 <200>

TRIGLYCERIDE 159 <150>

HDL 44 >/=40 mg/dL
LDL CALCULATED 129 <100>

COP KILLERS RUN FREE ......details at 11:00

I grew up with a very healthy disrespect for authority. Authority figures, like teachers and the police did not seem to be very smart. Their strategy was to use force or threat of force to motivate people. I never understood why they could not earn the respect they demand through the use of force. In my view, society selected these persons to teach us and keep us safe. Why did they need to then threaten the society in order to gain respect and support?

On January 19, there was a report of a Police Officer shooting in a suburb of Los Angeles. The Officer, Jeff Stenroos, was on School Patrol at El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills. The shooting occurred at about Noon on Wednesday. The LAPD reacted very quickly. It must have been a slow crime day. 350 police officers responded closing off seven square miles and "locking down" nine area schools. The Children in those schools were prevented from leaving their class rooms....even to use the toilet. For eight hours the LAPD searched for the shooter. He was described as a white male in his 40s with a bomber style jacket.

They did not catch the shooter. They searched door to door with police dogs. The LAPD used multiple helicopters to sweep the area. The next day they held a press conference and showed a composite sketch of the shooter. A $100,000 reward was offered to catch the guy. Parents who complained about their children being locked up for hours were told, "WE NEED TO TAKE THIS ACTION TO KEEP YOU SAFE." Parents and children just don't understand how the Police need to work...for our safety.

Turns out...It was all a hoax. The dumb stupid Cop shot himself playing with his gun and made up the whole story. He was arrested today for making a false report. Really, I'm not kidding. This would be a great joke if it was not so very sad. By best guess, the police spent well over a million dollars trying to catch the shooter. Nine schools were locked down and perhaps 10,000 families were worried and upset about their children.

My healthy disrespect for authority remains safe. Moreover, my question continues: Why do we hire morons to do this important work of teaching children and keeping us safe? How can the Los Angeles Police Department face the public after such a stupid over reaction to a false shooting?

The Teachers Unions, Police Unions, and Homeland Security would have you believe that you are not nearly smart enough to understand how they work. Really? You need to continue to question authority and hold these people accountable.

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs has taken a medical leave of absence from Apple. My wife thinks I talk too much about all things Apple/Jobs related, but this news isn't good. It's not good for Steve Jobs. Not good for Apple consumers. Not good for America.

Steve Jobs is a real American entrepreneur. He is visionary and he has changed the way we think and work. There are almost no words big enough to explain his impact on civilization. Think for just a minute of anyone you know with his history. Steve Jobs was adopted. He dropped out of College in 1972 after just one semester. He got a part time job to save money to take a retreat in India where he became a Buddhist. He shaved his head and took LSD while working part time on a Video game at Atari. Any kid today with this profile would be called a "burnout" or Loser. Then in 1976, four years out of high school, no college, and a Buddhist acid freak, he helped to found Apple Computers. By 1984 Apple had built the Macintosh, while PC computing was still using DOS, C: run.

Jobs was fired from the company he helped to create. Apple we were told, was doomed. But Jobs went on to invent Pixar and digital cartooning. Today Steve Jobs is on the Board at Disney and one of their biggest stock holders. Then Jobs went back to Apple. The company was in trouble and Jobs helped to create the iPod. This led to a shift in the way we buy and listen to music. After inventing the Macintosh Computer, Pixar, and the iPod some people would have quit. But Steve Jobs went on to invent the iPhone and recently the iPad. Both are revolutionary new products that have changed our lives. I believe the iPhone created the entire Smartphone App based hand held business for Blackberry and Android. Now the iPad is creating the digital tablet business for others to follow.

Steve Jobs has the ability to see the potential in things we cannot even imagine. Apple announced their quarterly results for the period ending December 25, 2010. They had record earnings of $26.7 billion up 70% from the same period last year. If Apple were a German or Japanese company we would be studying, "how they did that." But Apple is an American company with a driven visionary leader who did not go to MBA School or climb the corporate ladder.

This is a remarkable American story and I only hope it ends well.

Get to Know China

Today the Chinese President, Hu Jintao comes to America to visit Washington. Much has been written about the "Raise of China" and its competition with the United States. Before you begin to think that China is an advisory, take the time to get to know China. What do you really know about China? Most people know nearly nothing or worse, only what they are told by FOX News.


China, [The People's Republic of China] is over 1.3 Billion people and the second largest country in area. Chinese civilization is the world's oldest, dating back nearly 6,000 years. The Chinese invented gun powder, but only used it to make fireworks. The Chinese invented noodles or pasta and shared this with Marco Polo to bring back to Italy. The Chinese, much like the Irish, Mexicans, and others came to America seeking opportunity. There are many Chinese American families who have lived in the United States for over 150 years. Chinese food, as we know it, is not served in China and is a product of the Americanization of real Chinese cuisine. China has never attacked or invaded another country. The Chinese have spread around the globe, but in every situation the Chinese are peaceful, respectful and model citizens. During the twentieth century China transformed itself from a farming economy into the world leader in manufacturing. Today, China is one of America's best trade partners. More General Motors automobiles are sold in China than in the USA. The Chinese are not Muslim. Officially, China is non religious. Buddhist and Taoist make up nearly 90% of those who identify a religious preference. The largest English Speaking population on earth are the Chinese.

China is America's friend and partner with a similar relationship to that of America and Europe. The Chinese have problems and they prefer that America not try to tell them how to run their country. Take time to learn more about China. It is important that you know and understand this country and their culture.

Comic Books, Blue Jeans, and Mom

Sometimes things are just what they appear. As a kid in grade school at Our Lady of Holy Bingo, I was repeatedly told two things by the "Nones" who taught me:
• Reading comic books was bad because it wasn't "Real Reading"
• Wearing Blue Jeans was bad because it "made" you a juvenile delinquent.

After 50 years of observation I call tell you today that reading is reading and all reading is good for you. Moreover, you can wear jeans to church and you will not be struck by lightning.

The shooting is Tucson has everyone out beating the drum for their own favorite cause. Many say this is a result of one or all of the following:
• Rush Limbaugh
• Republicrats
• Demopublicans
• TV
• Video Games
• Rap Music
• Skateboarding
• Gun sales

Again, I am 99% sure this tragic shooting is a result of a crazy kid who needed attention and did not get help sooner. If there is a lesson here, it is that when you think someone is crazy....they might be crazy. Don't talk about them. Do something to get them help. My mother, Saint Mary-Helen, used to tell me she "would rather go to jail for beating me to death with a broom handle than let me turn out badly." She was "engaged" in child development. She was a "hands on mother". Common fear of her disapproval was enough to keep me from shop lifting, smoking, and staying out after the street lights came on.

The shooting is Tucson is a result of not enough people stepping in to stop this crazy kid sooner. Blue Jeans and Comic Books had nothing to do with this.

CARDS & LETTERS, The Becky Saga continues....

It has been over a year since we last saw Pam's "family". In all honesty, it should not be called a family. Regardless, the good news is we have not visited them and they have not come to visit us.

The bad news is that Becky has sent cards. Becky is Pam's "mother." Again she is only a mother is the very strict biological definition. Becky resents Pam, and their unresolved conflict is at the heart of our dispute. So, Becky sent a card at Valentine's Day to Jack. I got the mail, saw the card, and decided it was more stupid bullshit from Becky. I put the card away thinking I would do something with it later. I did not. Months passed and I forgot about the card. It is very easy for me to put Becky out of my consciousness.

Then after months of happiness came Mother's Day. Pam felt like she had to call her Mom for Mother's Day. I was opposed to any contact. In my view Becky and the Ebola virus need to be handled the same, the less contact the better. Pam called Becky for a very short conversation that met all the requirements of "A call on Mother's Day". Again, on Father's Day, Pam felt like she needed to call her Dad. I like Pam's father, Jim, and feel sorry for him. He is married to Becky after all. I did not agree with calling him for Father's Day. Regardless, Pam called, Becky was screening calls, and Pam went to voice mail. Pam left a message and never heard back. Jim either feels he has no role as Pam's father or was fearful of calling back. It is difficult to understand, being a father myself, how Jim views this situation.

Then Jack started Kindergarten. Becky sent another card. Crap! I took the card and put it away with the Valentine card for Jack. I still did not have a resolution as to how to handle these cards. Like spent nuclear fuel rods, I decided out of sight was out of mind. I was committed to dealing with them later, whenever that was.

Next came "The Birthdays". Jack and Pam have the same date for their Birthday, October 12. Becky called our home phone which was linked and transferred to my mobile phone. We were at the Ritz Carlton on Maui for "The Birthdays". Jack answered, "Hi Becky". I was so proud of him. Jack has almost forgotten who Becky is. I refer to her as "Becky" and he knows the name much like small children know that Satan is evil even if they have never seen him. Pam and Becky talked briefly and Pam told Becky we will be having a second son next April. Then good bye. No card was sent and nothing more happened.

Yesterday, a Christmas card came for Jack from Becky. Crap, again! I found the card and decided that I needed to resolve this card issue. I had a choice of hiding this card with the others, or, discussing this with Pam. I believe, as mentioned above, that zero contact with Becky is the best course of action. I see these cards as Becky's attempt to use the emotion of a holiday or event to continue to make her point. That is: She is unwilling to discuss Pam's concerns and will continue to gossip about us among family members. The cards come addressed to Jack or Pam with no mention of my name. It is Becky's way of saying that I do not exist. But, I do.

Becky makes this dispute about me. It is not. Pam had conflicts and concerns with Becky prior to meeting me. I have only provided the support for her to voice these concerns. I see Becky for the self centered, status seeking gossip that she really is. In pointing out Becky's obvious character flaws, I have given Pam the confidence to express her own concern. Becky refuses to discuss these concerns with Pam.

So I gave the cards to Pam. I told her she needs to resolve this dispute with Becky. Pam agrees and is sending a letter to Becky asking her to meet and talk. Now it is up to Becky. Is she half the mother she thinks she is?

A Day that will live in infamy

Roosevelt, like Lincoln at Gettysburg, picked a short speech to deliver the impact of situation. Pearl Harbor had been attacked and we were at war with the Empire of Japan. December 7, 1941, a day that will live in infamy. My Dad and millions of other Americans could never forget the day and what they were doing when they heard the news. It changed their lives our country and the world. It was 69 years ago today. Like 9/11, this is a day for all Americans to remember.

On the other hand..............

In an odd way, I enjoyed the recent Wiki Leaks because they show me that BIG Government is not as stupid as it appears.

In the past, every time there is an international crisis, like the recent shelling by North Korea, I waited to see the reaction by BIG Government. Over the last fifty years Amerika, through BIG Government, has repeatedly been on the "wrong" side of international issues. Amerika supported numerous dictators going back to Batista in Cuba. In almost every case these were bad guys who exploited their citizens. In my view our support was always at odds with our founding principles. Doesn't Amerika stand for self determination and popular democracy? Why did we always side with the minor league "Hitler" clones? Vietnam, Iran, Panama, the list is long and completely stupid from my point of view.

Now, along comes Wiki Leaks and we discover that our leaders have better sense than we thought. Our elected leaders seem to see many of these foreign politicians as the dolts they really are. I am especially pleased to see that Hillary Clinton is asking the right questions and directing the State Department like General Patton.

Yes, I know the Wiki Leaks are terrible and they are embarrassing etc. But really, isn't it good to know our leaders are not as dumb as they appear?

BE PREPARED

I have been watching The Walking Dead on AMC since it began on Halloween. I am not usually captivated by Zombie shows but this one is so well written that I think it should be a MUST SEE for everyone.

There have been other post apocalyptic zombie shows. Dawn of the Dead from 1978 established a cult following and The Walking Dead uses Dawn of the Dead as a starting point for its plot. Zombieland took the same basic concept but made it into a dark comedy. In The Walking Dead there is the familiar global epidemic and people are dying, only to become reanimated as flesh eating Zombies. It is a farfetched idea. But, given the spread of viruses, this not a completely crazy idea. In most of these movies the zombies attack and the remaining humans try to escape. In The Walking Dead it's more complicated and far more interesting.

In The Walking Dead the writers have expanded the characters to create a morality play about the meaning of life and the choices we all make. The Zombies are a back drop for bad decision making and evil. At the core of The Walking Dead is the idea that to be human is to be selfless. Team work, sharing, planning, and cooperation are essential to survival. Deputy Rick Grimes explains this with the line, "We don't kill the living".

Regardless of the Zombie premise, The Walking Dead is a great morality lesson. It teaches the importance of being prepared, team work, and doing the right thing because, it is the right thing to do. It reminds me of the Boy Scouts is an odd way. There is nothing wrong with being prepared. Mom always said, "You need to buy a hand gun BEFORE you need a hand gun. You don't want to try to buy one the minute you need it." Mom would have liked The Walking Dead.

OUR SUITCASE

It was 47 years ago today. We went to see a movie and suddenly the lights came on. A Captain walked out in front. He said, "The president has been shot in Dallas Texas. All Military personnel are to report for duty. We are on full alert. Dependents are restricted to housing."

Not a word was said. Everyone knew their job. I walked home to meet my parents. Dad had brought out "Our suitcase". He told me he had to report for duty and Mom was in Charge. Then he handed me the suitcase. We all knew this was bad. In the suitcase was $500 in cash, $500 in Deutsche Marks, our passports, medical records, other documents and a loaded 32 automatic hand gun. Dad said he would call us with more information, but we were prepared to drive to France. The East German border and Russian Tanks were just 40 kilometers away. We had often discussed with our German friends that nothing could stop the Russians if they wanted to invade Western Europe. Kennedy's assassination was seen by many as the first step in World War III.

In the hours that followed we waited and listened to AFN and the BBC. By morning Dad came home. The base returned to standby. We joined the world grieving for John Kennedy. It wasn't War. The Russian Tanks did not cross the Border.

That was the day I grew up. I was never a kid again after 11/22/63. Life became bigger and more real. Tonight I checked "Our Suitcase". Passports, $20,000 in gold, $5,000 in cash, and a loaded Sig 40. Dad taught me to be prepared.