If we travel back in history we remember Teddy Roosevelt as the nation's leader who put his presidency on the line in the early 1900's to break up massive monopolies which threatened the welfare of the everyday consumer.
Today, however, I would think that Roosevelt is doing the proverbial "turning over in his grave" routine as we are bombarded by merges, or potential merges, that put big businesses in cahoots with each other, thus endangering the competitive balance that has made prices competitive for the consumer market.
The most recent merger was a big one. Delta Air Lines and Northwestern Airlines agreed to a $5 billion joining that could produce as much as $35 billion in revenue a year. That sounds wonderful for the upper level management and the stockholders. But for the common everyday traveler this could spell doom. Seat prices, already elevated by the growing cost of fuel, could become even more costly as the merger manages to eliminate some of the competition.
However, there are other pending mergers that concern me greatly. Perhaps the one that concerns me most is the joining of XM Radio and Sirius.
As an XM subscriber I am fretful about what this merger might mean. I love my XM Radio. In fact, its one of the real consistencies of my life. If I am in my car, XM is on. Honestly, I cannot remember the last time I had anything but XM coming through the speakers. Thats right, no AM, FM or CD has polluted the music and comedy that comes through my speakers from XM.
Now I sit back and wonder, "what will become of my XM Radio when it merges with Sirius?"
My second concern in the world of merging is the desire of Microsoft to take over Yahoo. I am a Yahoo fan. Yahoo is the source of much of my email and has continually been my homepage since I became somewhat computer literate. I don't like Microsoft and really don't want it messing with my Yahoo.
Finally, it now appears that Arby's has purchased Wendy's. Don't mistake my feelings here. Unlike my feelings of disdain for Microsoft, there is no hatred of Arby's or Wendy's. In fact, when it comes to roast beef, I firmly believe that nobody does it better than Arby's. And Wendy's has by far the best chili, fresh salads and baked potatoes of any of the fast food eateries. I seriously hope that the merger doesn't lead to this new entity screwing up what is good about each of them separately.
The idea of bigger is better has long been a way of thinking in this world. But based on these business mergers, or potential business mergers, I am anything but sure about that idea.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Déjà vu All Over Again!!
Yogi Berra has long been noted for his somwehat twisted famous quotes. These statements have ranged from such notables as "You can see a lot just by looking" to "Nobody goes there anymore…. its too crowded." I have, many times, laughed at the convoluted fashion in which the New York Yankee great would twist his words in a way that seemed crazy, but ultimately made a lot of sense.
One of my all time favorite Yogi Berra utterances was "It déjà vu all over again." I was reminded of this recently as I watched debate concerning the Democratic Party and its dilemma concerning the contentious nomination battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. While Obama has won 28 state primaries to Clinton’s 14 victories, the race is still very close. He presently leads in the delegate count by about 150 and in the popular vote by around 700,000. Polling shows Obama with a slight 49-47 percentage point edge over Clinton.
I, like many, feel that Clinton cannot win the nomination based on primaries. Who would have thought, last fall, that Clinton would be in this position? She was seemingly ordained as the Democratic candidate in-waiting. Nobody appeared worthy as an opponent within her own political party. And, then came Barack Obama. He captivated audiences, attracted people back to the Democratic Party in droves, and was compared by the Kennedy family as a near-reincarnation of John Kennedy. He was even endorsed by a former Bill Clinton cabinet member Bill Richardson who said Obama was a "once-in-a-lifetime leader." And, most importantly, he began winning primary elections and stomping across the remains of a Clinton candidacy.
Still, the Democrats face a quandary in choosing a presidential candidate. Unlike the Republicans who use a "winner-take-all" strategy in most of their primaries, the Democrats use proportional delegate division based on percentage of votes won. Thus, while Obama has won 28 primaries compared to 14 for Clinton, she has won big states and thus has stayed statistically very close to the front-runner.
This leads us to Yogi Berra. His comment, "It’s déjà vu all over again," haunts the Democrats. I say this because the Democrats, in addition to electing delegates to its national convention, also have something called Super Delegates. Super Delegates includes Congressmen, governors, mayors, and party leaders within the political party. They number 795 and account for about 20 percent of those that will be voting at the Democratic Convention in Denver. These folks, seeming mightier than a "regular" delegate, are awarded voting privileges at the national convention with no-strings attached. Their job is to see that the Democratic nominee is the "right" candidate for the party.
The scary part of this is it reminds me of the smoke-filled back rooms of political machinery days of Tammany Hall and its ruthless manager, Boss Tweed. This political machine that dominated New York City politics for close to 60 years, determined what was best for the city, the Democratic Party and the election process--the voters be damned. Now, "Its déjà vu all over again." The Super Delegates, while operating in much more open circumstances than Tammany Hall might have, is potentially going to determine the Democratic nominee regardless of who wins the popular vote in primaries.
Hillary Clinton is waiting for this to happen, Hillary Clinton is hoping and praying this will happen. Hillary Clinton pleads, seemingly on a daily basis, for the Super Delegates to stand with her and swing their considerable power her way. If enough of them do so, they will likely overturn an apparent decision by common, everyday members of the Democratic Party. In making such a decision, the Super Delegates would be acting like a political machine of old—ignoring the wants, wishes and desires of the electorate. And that, would be "Déjà vu all over again."
Or as Yogi Berra might say, "It ain’t over till it’s over."
One of my all time favorite Yogi Berra utterances was "It déjà vu all over again." I was reminded of this recently as I watched debate concerning the Democratic Party and its dilemma concerning the contentious nomination battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. While Obama has won 28 state primaries to Clinton’s 14 victories, the race is still very close. He presently leads in the delegate count by about 150 and in the popular vote by around 700,000. Polling shows Obama with a slight 49-47 percentage point edge over Clinton.
I, like many, feel that Clinton cannot win the nomination based on primaries. Who would have thought, last fall, that Clinton would be in this position? She was seemingly ordained as the Democratic candidate in-waiting. Nobody appeared worthy as an opponent within her own political party. And, then came Barack Obama. He captivated audiences, attracted people back to the Democratic Party in droves, and was compared by the Kennedy family as a near-reincarnation of John Kennedy. He was even endorsed by a former Bill Clinton cabinet member Bill Richardson who said Obama was a "once-in-a-lifetime leader." And, most importantly, he began winning primary elections and stomping across the remains of a Clinton candidacy.
Still, the Democrats face a quandary in choosing a presidential candidate. Unlike the Republicans who use a "winner-take-all" strategy in most of their primaries, the Democrats use proportional delegate division based on percentage of votes won. Thus, while Obama has won 28 primaries compared to 14 for Clinton, she has won big states and thus has stayed statistically very close to the front-runner.
This leads us to Yogi Berra. His comment, "It’s déjà vu all over again," haunts the Democrats. I say this because the Democrats, in addition to electing delegates to its national convention, also have something called Super Delegates. Super Delegates includes Congressmen, governors, mayors, and party leaders within the political party. They number 795 and account for about 20 percent of those that will be voting at the Democratic Convention in Denver. These folks, seeming mightier than a "regular" delegate, are awarded voting privileges at the national convention with no-strings attached. Their job is to see that the Democratic nominee is the "right" candidate for the party.
The scary part of this is it reminds me of the smoke-filled back rooms of political machinery days of Tammany Hall and its ruthless manager, Boss Tweed. This political machine that dominated New York City politics for close to 60 years, determined what was best for the city, the Democratic Party and the election process--the voters be damned. Now, "Its déjà vu all over again." The Super Delegates, while operating in much more open circumstances than Tammany Hall might have, is potentially going to determine the Democratic nominee regardless of who wins the popular vote in primaries.
Hillary Clinton is waiting for this to happen, Hillary Clinton is hoping and praying this will happen. Hillary Clinton pleads, seemingly on a daily basis, for the Super Delegates to stand with her and swing their considerable power her way. If enough of them do so, they will likely overturn an apparent decision by common, everyday members of the Democratic Party. In making such a decision, the Super Delegates would be acting like a political machine of old—ignoring the wants, wishes and desires of the electorate. And that, would be "Déjà vu all over again."
Or as Yogi Berra might say, "It ain’t over till it’s over."
Monday, March 17, 2008
Issues That Matter
Us old folks frequently hear from an organzation that goes by the name AARP. For those not acronimically astute, that means the American Association for Retired Persons. While I joined the organization when I turned 50 (don't worry, you will get a chance to do the same) since last July, I am a full-fledged member. My original reason to join was of course the discount card that comes with membership. Since then I have enjoyed the publications that show up in the mailbox on a regular basis.
The most recent mailing included an article on the issues voters will be considering as they go to the polls during the primary and general election cycles. AARP included the 16 top issues that voters have identified as important to them.
I was not at all surprised to find certain issues on the list. For instance, the current home mortgage crisis was cited by 48 percent of would-be voters. I can't help but feel sympathy for those seeking a mortgage in today's market. On the other hand, the crisis has had to have had a major impact on the declining price of houses.
Other issues that made the list were economically motivated. These included national deficit (69%); increasing energy costs (69%); job growth (66%); and inflation (64%). There seems no doubt that in the words of Bill Clinton first presidential campaign, "Its the economy, stupid."
Analyzing those categories, it seems like taking a turn for the worse has been a trend. During the Clinton year's in office we were operating at a surplus, thus paying off the national debt. However, with each day/month/year in Iraq the national debt has risen monsterously. That, coupled with the profits Iraq has made on its oil in recent months has soured many people since that war-torn nation doesn't seem to be footing its share of the financial burden. And, the rising/soaring cost of gasoline has sickened many of us and has had a direct impact on inflation.
Education almost always appears on these types of surveys and again, with a 76% identification rate, it ranks high on the list. It is joined by another long-time issue--health care. Rising health care cost checked in with 79% or the respondents identifying it as an issue, while 73% cited the lack of health care coverage and 70% pinpointed high prescription costs.
The war in Iraq checked in with 79%, terrorism at 74% and immigration was on the list of 63% of the respondents. These issues may never go away. We have one presidential candidate that claims we will stay in Iraq for 100 years if necessary and we have two potential candidates who want to get out, but still recognize the need to secure the area to some degree. Personally, I am not sure how long we need to be there, but I still believe that no matter when we leave the problems of that country will multiply. Terrorism is now a way of life and one that must be considered at all times. And immigration isn't going to go away as long as we have an unsecured border.
Naturally, Social Security and expanding access to Medicare were on the list. Social Security (80%) isn't going to go away soon, and that applies to Medicare (56%) as well. We live in a nation that is aging--and aging rapidly. More and more baby boomers will be knocking of the doors of Social Security and want what they see as rightfully belonging to them. Those of us edging closer and closer to the magic age do not want to be the generation that suffers the loss of Social Security after footing the bill for those that came before us for so many years. And, its understandable that younger voters are concerned whether they will ever see and form of Social Security as they approach retirement age down the road.
The final two items on the list are somewhat related. One is political ethics and scandals (49%). We have all watched politicians destroy their careers and their personal lives by operating in a corrupt fashion. The most recent, Elliot Spitzer of New York, took one of the most promising careers and will probably never, ever serve the public again. Heaven only knows what will happen to his family relationship.s
The other, checking in at 82% and on the top of the list is government competence. Unfortunately, we have reached a point in our history where we have become distrustful of government. I guess its partially an outgrowth of political distrust of the lawmakers and leaders who share office. Instead of working together, they work to destroy the other. As a result we now have a somewhat disfunctional government. Yes, is operated with majority control, but frequently it shows little respect for minority rights.
The hatred between the two political parties must end, or this country will suffer immeasurably down the road.
The most recent mailing included an article on the issues voters will be considering as they go to the polls during the primary and general election cycles. AARP included the 16 top issues that voters have identified as important to them.
I was not at all surprised to find certain issues on the list. For instance, the current home mortgage crisis was cited by 48 percent of would-be voters. I can't help but feel sympathy for those seeking a mortgage in today's market. On the other hand, the crisis has had to have had a major impact on the declining price of houses.
Other issues that made the list were economically motivated. These included national deficit (69%); increasing energy costs (69%); job growth (66%); and inflation (64%). There seems no doubt that in the words of Bill Clinton first presidential campaign, "Its the economy, stupid."
Analyzing those categories, it seems like taking a turn for the worse has been a trend. During the Clinton year's in office we were operating at a surplus, thus paying off the national debt. However, with each day/month/year in Iraq the national debt has risen monsterously. That, coupled with the profits Iraq has made on its oil in recent months has soured many people since that war-torn nation doesn't seem to be footing its share of the financial burden. And, the rising/soaring cost of gasoline has sickened many of us and has had a direct impact on inflation.
Education almost always appears on these types of surveys and again, with a 76% identification rate, it ranks high on the list. It is joined by another long-time issue--health care. Rising health care cost checked in with 79% or the respondents identifying it as an issue, while 73% cited the lack of health care coverage and 70% pinpointed high prescription costs.
The war in Iraq checked in with 79%, terrorism at 74% and immigration was on the list of 63% of the respondents. These issues may never go away. We have one presidential candidate that claims we will stay in Iraq for 100 years if necessary and we have two potential candidates who want to get out, but still recognize the need to secure the area to some degree. Personally, I am not sure how long we need to be there, but I still believe that no matter when we leave the problems of that country will multiply. Terrorism is now a way of life and one that must be considered at all times. And immigration isn't going to go away as long as we have an unsecured border.
Naturally, Social Security and expanding access to Medicare were on the list. Social Security (80%) isn't going to go away soon, and that applies to Medicare (56%) as well. We live in a nation that is aging--and aging rapidly. More and more baby boomers will be knocking of the doors of Social Security and want what they see as rightfully belonging to them. Those of us edging closer and closer to the magic age do not want to be the generation that suffers the loss of Social Security after footing the bill for those that came before us for so many years. And, its understandable that younger voters are concerned whether they will ever see and form of Social Security as they approach retirement age down the road.
The final two items on the list are somewhat related. One is political ethics and scandals (49%). We have all watched politicians destroy their careers and their personal lives by operating in a corrupt fashion. The most recent, Elliot Spitzer of New York, took one of the most promising careers and will probably never, ever serve the public again. Heaven only knows what will happen to his family relationship.s
The other, checking in at 82% and on the top of the list is government competence. Unfortunately, we have reached a point in our history where we have become distrustful of government. I guess its partially an outgrowth of political distrust of the lawmakers and leaders who share office. Instead of working together, they work to destroy the other. As a result we now have a somewhat disfunctional government. Yes, is operated with majority control, but frequently it shows little respect for minority rights.
The hatred between the two political parties must end, or this country will suffer immeasurably down the road.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
“It’s déjà vu All Over Again!”
I took a month off from writing. Its a long time when you think about things. I worked a lot, did some car shopping (to no avail), went to the movies once, worked a lot of basketball games and sort of loafed.
But then last week, " “It’s déjà vu all over again!” as baseball great Yogi Berra would say. I am back to writing my blog thanks to one of those moments. While out driving somewhere, I don't know where, I flipped through my XM channels and heard Chicago singing one of my favorite tunes, "Harry Truman."
I have always been a Harry Truman fan. I have his autographed picture and think of him as a true American hero. Here is a man that led his nation bravely and intelligently and while we maybe didn't recognize it when he was in office, we now see him as one of the greatest presidents of all time. Even George Bush has read a Truman biography and probably goes to bed every night hoping that history will treat him as well (fat chance).
So as I reminisced about my historical remembrances of the Truman presidency (I was only 2 when he left office, but I have long studied and read about him), I wondered how he would do in the present political climate. My first reaction was that if people think Bill Clinton is out of line in his comments supporting his wife's presidential run, they would be appalled at the frank fashion in which Truman would approach his candidacy. He called it like he saw it, and did so with a blistering tone of voice capped off with some flowerly language.
I actually wished Harry Truman was around today. He would have been a great president even today. And most importantly, he would have been a legitimate candidate that would have left no voter ever second guessing if they had really voted for the right person. Honestly, regardless who I vote for this November I will mentally question whether or not I voted for the right person.
So the reference by Harry Truman in the lyrics sang by Chicago kick-started my brain. I thought about Harry Truman as I watched the news and read the newspapers. And then, out of nowhere, “It’s déjà vu all over again!” As I was flipping through USA Today the same evening, a headline jumped out and slapped me in the face. It read, "Truman did it all--author, singer, host."
Above the story was a picture of my political hero, Harry Truman, planting a fatherly kiss on his daughter's cheek. Nice picture. A father's love for his daughter. Could the story be as enlightening...well no. Margaret Truman, the only child of Harry and Bess, had died the day before.
Margaret has long been in view by the American public. As the headline read she had been a singer, a tv/radio host and a celebrated author. Her father had come to her defense during his presidency when he threatened a newpaper reporter for his not so glowing review of Margaret's singing. Margaret, however, needed no defense from her father for her hosting and writing--especially her writing.
During her career she published nine works of non-fiction and 23 mysteries. Her mysteries were what first attracted me to Margaret Truman. Each was based on murder, with the crime taking place in a famous Washington D.C. location. The series had its debut in 1980 with Murder in the White House. That book was eventually converted into a movie, "Murder at 1600" featuring Wesley Snipes. Other locations where murder took place included the CIA, the Library of Congress, the Pentagon, Union Station, Capitol Hill, FBI, Georgetown, the House, Watergate, Havanna, Foggy Bottom, the Opera, on the Potomac, Ford's Theater, the Washington Tribune, National Gallary, National Cathedral, Smithsonian, Supreme Court, Embassy Row, and the Kennedy Center. The series ended with Murder on K Street in 2007.
Margaret Truman's death closes a chapter of history that I cherish. Her father was my political hero, and she was an author that I dearly loved to read.
But then last week, " “It’s déjà vu all over again!” as baseball great Yogi Berra would say. I am back to writing my blog thanks to one of those moments. While out driving somewhere, I don't know where, I flipped through my XM channels and heard Chicago singing one of my favorite tunes, "Harry Truman."
I have always been a Harry Truman fan. I have his autographed picture and think of him as a true American hero. Here is a man that led his nation bravely and intelligently and while we maybe didn't recognize it when he was in office, we now see him as one of the greatest presidents of all time. Even George Bush has read a Truman biography and probably goes to bed every night hoping that history will treat him as well (fat chance).
So as I reminisced about my historical remembrances of the Truman presidency (I was only 2 when he left office, but I have long studied and read about him), I wondered how he would do in the present political climate. My first reaction was that if people think Bill Clinton is out of line in his comments supporting his wife's presidential run, they would be appalled at the frank fashion in which Truman would approach his candidacy. He called it like he saw it, and did so with a blistering tone of voice capped off with some flowerly language.
I actually wished Harry Truman was around today. He would have been a great president even today. And most importantly, he would have been a legitimate candidate that would have left no voter ever second guessing if they had really voted for the right person. Honestly, regardless who I vote for this November I will mentally question whether or not I voted for the right person.
So the reference by Harry Truman in the lyrics sang by Chicago kick-started my brain. I thought about Harry Truman as I watched the news and read the newspapers. And then, out of nowhere, “It’s déjà vu all over again!” As I was flipping through USA Today the same evening, a headline jumped out and slapped me in the face. It read, "Truman did it all--author, singer, host."
Above the story was a picture of my political hero, Harry Truman, planting a fatherly kiss on his daughter's cheek. Nice picture. A father's love for his daughter. Could the story be as enlightening...well no. Margaret Truman, the only child of Harry and Bess, had died the day before.
Margaret has long been in view by the American public. As the headline read she had been a singer, a tv/radio host and a celebrated author. Her father had come to her defense during his presidency when he threatened a newpaper reporter for his not so glowing review of Margaret's singing. Margaret, however, needed no defense from her father for her hosting and writing--especially her writing.
During her career she published nine works of non-fiction and 23 mysteries. Her mysteries were what first attracted me to Margaret Truman. Each was based on murder, with the crime taking place in a famous Washington D.C. location. The series had its debut in 1980 with Murder in the White House. That book was eventually converted into a movie, "Murder at 1600" featuring Wesley Snipes. Other locations where murder took place included the CIA, the Library of Congress, the Pentagon, Union Station, Capitol Hill, FBI, Georgetown, the House, Watergate, Havanna, Foggy Bottom, the Opera, on the Potomac, Ford's Theater, the Washington Tribune, National Gallary, National Cathedral, Smithsonian, Supreme Court, Embassy Row, and the Kennedy Center. The series ended with Murder on K Street in 2007.
Margaret Truman's death closes a chapter of history that I cherish. Her father was my political hero, and she was an author that I dearly loved to read.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Oh What a List!!
Well, its Jan. 2, 2008. This makes us another year older. But not necessarily another year better.
Sometimes, I ask myself, "What's wrong with this world?"
We live in a seemingly unending era of controversy. The war rages on in Iraq; we hint at possible war with Iran; the hubris between North Korea and our nation seemed to settle, but now a deadline dealing with increased nuclear activity hasn't been met; the dollar is rapidly dwindling in value on the world market; the economic dilemma in the USA is complicated by an unheralded increase in foreclosures and a decline in the housing market; an entirely new set of "clowns" are attempting to run for president; global warming (and yes it does exist, some people just like having their head buried in the sand) continues to threaten our existence but the most serious contributor to that problem (USA) has a leader who has his head buried in the sand. Need I go on?
I don't like to make this sound like gloom and doom. There have been many other times when a litany of items showed up on a list like this and the American people overcame, persevered, moved on and prospered. But, I guess I worry when we seemingly have no apparent concern for the future. Sometimes I feel like we act like that gambler who believes just one more roll of the dice will solve all of his problems.
Where do we go from here? I honestly don't know. As I look over that list I begin to wonder how can these problems be solved.
Well, to start with, we are in Iraq and I see no easy way out. I supported the military push to rid the world of Saddam, but the growth of military action in that country has been shocking. And, despite the Bush White House ideal of leaving Iraq with a democracy brings me to a state of uncontrollable laughter. If, when we do leave, that country's "democracy" doesn't collapse 15 minutes after the last soldier is out, then it surely will fall exactly one minute later.
Dealing with people like Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is like dealing with an uncontrollable baby with a bad case of the "terrible twos." There is absolutely no way to reason with a person that is so out of touch with his own surroundings as to believe homosexuality doesn't exist in Iran. He is a nut case that brings a new perspective to "the blind leading the blind."
North Korea isn't going away anytime soon. The people of North Korea are desperately in need of energy sources and nuclear power is the obvious answer. Still, with a leader like Kim Jong-Il in the driver's seat, don't look for that nation to ever fully abandon its desire for nuclear weapons.
What has led to the decline of the dollar? I wish I had an answer but economics wasn't my strong suit in college. I have heard many economic leaders criticize Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, but I am not certain of the merit of that criticism. However, I do remember just a few years ago going to Canada and turning over $200 US and getting $300 Canadian. Those numbers have virtually reversed making our dollar significantly less valuable. The strong economy that we boast about has some obvious weaknesses.
The housing market is especially frightening on the home front. More and more people are losing their homes because they can't pay the mortgage payment after the "balloon" interest kicks in an ups their house payment by hundreds of dollars. That puts them on the foreclosure track and it puts another house on the already flooded market. One problem, as I see it, is the desire to have massive houses. True, we all like our individual space, but the word "mansion" is a word seldom used in our vocabulary anymore since homes have become so large. And, of course, the larger homes cost more money than many people can afford.
And please, somebody tell me who these people are that are running for president. More importantly, tell me what leadership qualities they have. I sometimes wonder if we have elected a worthy president since the era of John Kennedy. And the present list of potential candidates doesn't change my mind.
Finally, enjoy the cold spell. To those that believe global warming doesn't exist because its snowing right now and its cold I simply say "get your head out of the sand." Watch the icecaps melt and slip into the ocean water; notice, that despite cold stretches of winter, the average temperature of the earth is climbing; watch pollution pour out of plants and our car exhaust systems and ask yourself how long we can continue to mistreat our earth. Even if you don't want to believe in global warming, whatever happened to the old saying, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Oh well. Its Jan. 2, 2008. Have a Happy New Year!!!
Sometimes, I ask myself, "What's wrong with this world?"
We live in a seemingly unending era of controversy. The war rages on in Iraq; we hint at possible war with Iran; the hubris between North Korea and our nation seemed to settle, but now a deadline dealing with increased nuclear activity hasn't been met; the dollar is rapidly dwindling in value on the world market; the economic dilemma in the USA is complicated by an unheralded increase in foreclosures and a decline in the housing market; an entirely new set of "clowns" are attempting to run for president; global warming (and yes it does exist, some people just like having their head buried in the sand) continues to threaten our existence but the most serious contributor to that problem (USA) has a leader who has his head buried in the sand. Need I go on?
I don't like to make this sound like gloom and doom. There have been many other times when a litany of items showed up on a list like this and the American people overcame, persevered, moved on and prospered. But, I guess I worry when we seemingly have no apparent concern for the future. Sometimes I feel like we act like that gambler who believes just one more roll of the dice will solve all of his problems.
Where do we go from here? I honestly don't know. As I look over that list I begin to wonder how can these problems be solved.
Well, to start with, we are in Iraq and I see no easy way out. I supported the military push to rid the world of Saddam, but the growth of military action in that country has been shocking. And, despite the Bush White House ideal of leaving Iraq with a democracy brings me to a state of uncontrollable laughter. If, when we do leave, that country's "democracy" doesn't collapse 15 minutes after the last soldier is out, then it surely will fall exactly one minute later.
Dealing with people like Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is like dealing with an uncontrollable baby with a bad case of the "terrible twos." There is absolutely no way to reason with a person that is so out of touch with his own surroundings as to believe homosexuality doesn't exist in Iran. He is a nut case that brings a new perspective to "the blind leading the blind."
North Korea isn't going away anytime soon. The people of North Korea are desperately in need of energy sources and nuclear power is the obvious answer. Still, with a leader like Kim Jong-Il in the driver's seat, don't look for that nation to ever fully abandon its desire for nuclear weapons.
What has led to the decline of the dollar? I wish I had an answer but economics wasn't my strong suit in college. I have heard many economic leaders criticize Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, but I am not certain of the merit of that criticism. However, I do remember just a few years ago going to Canada and turning over $200 US and getting $300 Canadian. Those numbers have virtually reversed making our dollar significantly less valuable. The strong economy that we boast about has some obvious weaknesses.
The housing market is especially frightening on the home front. More and more people are losing their homes because they can't pay the mortgage payment after the "balloon" interest kicks in an ups their house payment by hundreds of dollars. That puts them on the foreclosure track and it puts another house on the already flooded market. One problem, as I see it, is the desire to have massive houses. True, we all like our individual space, but the word "mansion" is a word seldom used in our vocabulary anymore since homes have become so large. And, of course, the larger homes cost more money than many people can afford.
And please, somebody tell me who these people are that are running for president. More importantly, tell me what leadership qualities they have. I sometimes wonder if we have elected a worthy president since the era of John Kennedy. And the present list of potential candidates doesn't change my mind.
Finally, enjoy the cold spell. To those that believe global warming doesn't exist because its snowing right now and its cold I simply say "get your head out of the sand." Watch the icecaps melt and slip into the ocean water; notice, that despite cold stretches of winter, the average temperature of the earth is climbing; watch pollution pour out of plants and our car exhaust systems and ask yourself how long we can continue to mistreat our earth. Even if you don't want to believe in global warming, whatever happened to the old saying, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Oh well. Its Jan. 2, 2008. Have a Happy New Year!!!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
And So This Is Christmas!!
"And so this is Christmas. I hope you have fun. The near and the dear one. The old and the young." Those were the words of John Lennon and yes, this is Christmas, 2007. It is a day of joy and happiness. It is a day to remember our religious heritages, to eat the turkey and ham; to share a cup of eggnog; to sit down with family and share the joys of so many Christmas days that have passed by. And a day to remember.
Christmas was always a special day in my family. My dad was a product of the Great Depression and Christmas was a day to forget the trials and tribulations of the hard world created by the collapse of the economy and to be joyous for what you did have.
My dad was one of the fortunate people during the depression. He was a man that wasn't afraid of work and so when the WPA began looking for workers in the Parkersburg area, he was in line and managed to procure a government job. This meant a steady income when others had little if anything. And, Dad was a saver. He could find a way to put away 50 cents or a dollar each pay period, insuring that Christmas gifts would be plentiful on that joyous day.
He always bragged that my brother, Ed, always had a Christmas. Dad would frequently talk about buying Ed a bicycle during the Great Depression and hiding it for several months so that it could be "delivered" by Santa on Dec. 25.
Of course, I came along much later in life and didn't experience the frugality of a Depression-era Christmas. Still, Dad kept Christmas the most important day of the year. As October and November came along, his nightly commutes from Cleveland to Aurora would grow a bit longer as he would stop at a store along the way and make that giftly purchase for Mom or me.
And, until later in life, he wasn't much of a gift wrapper. He would hand you a bag, or most certainly several bags, and there was your Christmas from him. Those of you who might have received a gift from me now know why I have such an appreciation for brown paper sacks.
But it is the many Christmas Days in earlier life that I so often think about. Dad was always the first one up on Christmas morning. And, we are talking EARLY. His job made him an early-riser anyway, so crawling out of bed on Christmas morning at 4 a.m. was easy for him. I honestly don't remember him getting me up that early, but I do remember the 5 o'clock hour being the moment of reckoning.
Dad would shake me awake. I have to admit that sometimes I was already awake. Other times he succeeded to getting me out of bed to see what Santa had left for me. And it was always a treat. Dad and Mom so frequently went overboard. But, as Dad would say, "It's okay, it's Christmas."
Those days have come and gone, and needless to say I miss them. I miss seeing Dad's face beam with joy as he watched Mom and me open our presents. It didn't matter whether he got anything or not (trust me, he always did). The most important thing on Dad's agenda on Christmas Day was that those he loved were happy and well taken care of.
Yes, I was a very lucky child. And I miss Christmas with Dad like nothing else in life. Merry Christmas!!!
Christmas was always a special day in my family. My dad was a product of the Great Depression and Christmas was a day to forget the trials and tribulations of the hard world created by the collapse of the economy and to be joyous for what you did have.
My dad was one of the fortunate people during the depression. He was a man that wasn't afraid of work and so when the WPA began looking for workers in the Parkersburg area, he was in line and managed to procure a government job. This meant a steady income when others had little if anything. And, Dad was a saver. He could find a way to put away 50 cents or a dollar each pay period, insuring that Christmas gifts would be plentiful on that joyous day.
He always bragged that my brother, Ed, always had a Christmas. Dad would frequently talk about buying Ed a bicycle during the Great Depression and hiding it for several months so that it could be "delivered" by Santa on Dec. 25.
Of course, I came along much later in life and didn't experience the frugality of a Depression-era Christmas. Still, Dad kept Christmas the most important day of the year. As October and November came along, his nightly commutes from Cleveland to Aurora would grow a bit longer as he would stop at a store along the way and make that giftly purchase for Mom or me.
And, until later in life, he wasn't much of a gift wrapper. He would hand you a bag, or most certainly several bags, and there was your Christmas from him. Those of you who might have received a gift from me now know why I have such an appreciation for brown paper sacks.
But it is the many Christmas Days in earlier life that I so often think about. Dad was always the first one up on Christmas morning. And, we are talking EARLY. His job made him an early-riser anyway, so crawling out of bed on Christmas morning at 4 a.m. was easy for him. I honestly don't remember him getting me up that early, but I do remember the 5 o'clock hour being the moment of reckoning.
Dad would shake me awake. I have to admit that sometimes I was already awake. Other times he succeeded to getting me out of bed to see what Santa had left for me. And it was always a treat. Dad and Mom so frequently went overboard. But, as Dad would say, "It's okay, it's Christmas."
Those days have come and gone, and needless to say I miss them. I miss seeing Dad's face beam with joy as he watched Mom and me open our presents. It didn't matter whether he got anything or not (trust me, he always did). The most important thing on Dad's agenda on Christmas Day was that those he loved were happy and well taken care of.
Yes, I was a very lucky child. And I miss Christmas with Dad like nothing else in life. Merry Christmas!!!
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Two Stories That Caught My Eye!!
Everyone knows of my infatuation with Cleveland. You have heard me say many times, "Cleveland, the best location in the nation." I am more than proud of the fact that such notable characters as Bob Hope, Drew Carey, Halle Berry, Alan Freed (the original Rock & Roll disc jockey), Hector Boiardi (Chef Boy-ar-dee), Tim Conway, Wes Craven, Joel Gray, Arsenio Hall, Henry Mancini, Elliot Ness (the Untouchables), Jesse Owens, Debra Winger, George Stephanopolous (political advisor and pundit) and Don Shula all hail from the lakeside city.
Additionally, I marvel at the downtown improvement that has occurred since I was a child. The ugliness of pollution created by the steel mills is gone and the renaissance of a great city has occurred.
Now, I am flabbergasted by a legal confrontation that has thrust Cleveland into the limelight of judicial interpretation.
Bob Kitts is a contractor in the Cleveland area. Whether or not he is a good contractor is not for me to determine. I have never seen his work, but I can safely say that at this point in time I will certainly not hire him to hang a door, plaster a ceiling or replace a window. And, most definitely, I would never give him a chance to look behind my walls.
Kitts was recently gutting a bathroom in an 83-year old home that is owned by Amanda Reece, a former classmate of Kitts. In the process of tearing out a wall, Kitts came upon a box below the medicine cabinet. Inspection of the contents led to the discovery of some $25,000.
Giving Kitts the little bit of recognition that he deserves in this matter, he contacted Reece who came home and further investigation led to the finding of more than $100, 000 additional money in two other boxes. The value of the money was multiplied by the fact that it was depression-era Federal Resereve bank notes that proved to increase the value to about $500,000.
Ms. Reese generously, and perhaps ethically, offered Kitts the standard 10% finders fee. But, greed reared its ugly head and Kitts demanded 40% of the take. Feeling as though she was about to be the victim of a shakedown, Reese has dug in and it appears as though the case will head to court.
Kitts and his lawyer claim that Ohio has a long-standing precedent of "finders keepers" rulings that boost his chances of gaining more than the offered 10% finders fee. These rules kick in when its unlikely an owner will reappear to claim a lost item. The original owner of the money may have been Peter Dunn, the owner of the house during the depression. His whereabouts are unknown, but he has likely passed on.
But, my logic says that once Ms. Reese purchased the home, she became the rightful owner of whatever was in that house. Under those circumstances she has been fair in offering the 10% finders fee and I can only hope that the judicial interpretations will work in her favor. If not, we could all be victimized by our neighborhood handymen that might just find something hidden inside our walls.
+++++
Seldom do I dip into the sports world to write about, but I want to send out a real quick congratulations from me to George Mitchell and his report on the use of performance enhancing drugs by professional baseball players. His rather long (409 pages) and encompassing report, listed 88 former and present players that may have participated in the use of steroids and human growth hormones.
Certainly the most notable of these players is Barry Bonds, who has long been suspected of being a steroid user, and Roger Clemens.
Bonds has not been good for baseball, I don't care how many homeruns he slugged, the records he broke or the denials he has long made about steroid use. He is arrogant and snotty. He has long demonstrated the attitude that the rules don't apply to him.
The sad part about his participation in the use of illegal substances is that he took what was a certain Hall of Fame career and turned it into a baseball sideshow.
Clemens has been a dominant pitcher in baseball for the past 20+ years. His exploits in Boston and New York are monumental in baseball history. However, in recent years his comeback efforts, his special treatment demands (not having to come to the ballpark if he's not pitching) and his numerous injuries have detracted from the record he established for himself during the prime of his career. Now a connection to illegal substance use drops him down even further on the ladder of respectablity.
Ironically, both Bonds and Clemens could be just five years away from election to the Baseball Hall of Fame. And most certainly they will be scrutinized like no other player has been. The test of deservability might not be their accomplisments which were established in the early stages of their careers. Their right to belong to the elite of baseball might be based on what they did at the end of their career. And in my mind, I hope to see them standing on the outside of the fence along with Pete Rose as they watch lesser-talented but more reputable people earning their way into the annals of sports history.
Additionally, I marvel at the downtown improvement that has occurred since I was a child. The ugliness of pollution created by the steel mills is gone and the renaissance of a great city has occurred.
Now, I am flabbergasted by a legal confrontation that has thrust Cleveland into the limelight of judicial interpretation.
Bob Kitts is a contractor in the Cleveland area. Whether or not he is a good contractor is not for me to determine. I have never seen his work, but I can safely say that at this point in time I will certainly not hire him to hang a door, plaster a ceiling or replace a window. And, most definitely, I would never give him a chance to look behind my walls.
Kitts was recently gutting a bathroom in an 83-year old home that is owned by Amanda Reece, a former classmate of Kitts. In the process of tearing out a wall, Kitts came upon a box below the medicine cabinet. Inspection of the contents led to the discovery of some $25,000.
Giving Kitts the little bit of recognition that he deserves in this matter, he contacted Reece who came home and further investigation led to the finding of more than $100, 000 additional money in two other boxes. The value of the money was multiplied by the fact that it was depression-era Federal Resereve bank notes that proved to increase the value to about $500,000.
Ms. Reese generously, and perhaps ethically, offered Kitts the standard 10% finders fee. But, greed reared its ugly head and Kitts demanded 40% of the take. Feeling as though she was about to be the victim of a shakedown, Reese has dug in and it appears as though the case will head to court.
Kitts and his lawyer claim that Ohio has a long-standing precedent of "finders keepers" rulings that boost his chances of gaining more than the offered 10% finders fee. These rules kick in when its unlikely an owner will reappear to claim a lost item. The original owner of the money may have been Peter Dunn, the owner of the house during the depression. His whereabouts are unknown, but he has likely passed on.
But, my logic says that once Ms. Reese purchased the home, she became the rightful owner of whatever was in that house. Under those circumstances she has been fair in offering the 10% finders fee and I can only hope that the judicial interpretations will work in her favor. If not, we could all be victimized by our neighborhood handymen that might just find something hidden inside our walls.
+++++
Seldom do I dip into the sports world to write about, but I want to send out a real quick congratulations from me to George Mitchell and his report on the use of performance enhancing drugs by professional baseball players. His rather long (409 pages) and encompassing report, listed 88 former and present players that may have participated in the use of steroids and human growth hormones.
Certainly the most notable of these players is Barry Bonds, who has long been suspected of being a steroid user, and Roger Clemens.
Bonds has not been good for baseball, I don't care how many homeruns he slugged, the records he broke or the denials he has long made about steroid use. He is arrogant and snotty. He has long demonstrated the attitude that the rules don't apply to him.
The sad part about his participation in the use of illegal substances is that he took what was a certain Hall of Fame career and turned it into a baseball sideshow.
Clemens has been a dominant pitcher in baseball for the past 20+ years. His exploits in Boston and New York are monumental in baseball history. However, in recent years his comeback efforts, his special treatment demands (not having to come to the ballpark if he's not pitching) and his numerous injuries have detracted from the record he established for himself during the prime of his career. Now a connection to illegal substance use drops him down even further on the ladder of respectablity.
Ironically, both Bonds and Clemens could be just five years away from election to the Baseball Hall of Fame. And most certainly they will be scrutinized like no other player has been. The test of deservability might not be their accomplisments which were established in the early stages of their careers. Their right to belong to the elite of baseball might be based on what they did at the end of their career. And in my mind, I hope to see them standing on the outside of the fence along with Pete Rose as they watch lesser-talented but more reputable people earning their way into the annals of sports history.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
A Pair of Folk Legends Pass On!
We all know it will happen. As certain as we are of our next breath, we are also certain that eventually there will be our last breath. From the beginning of life we edge closer and closer to death. And so it is recently, that two icons of the 60's and 70s' have surrendered to the call of nature. But oh, what a legacy they left.
Dick Wilson....oh what a common name! Who would ever think of him as anybody but the guy next door. But his legacy will live on as long as the children of 60's and 70's are around. His tombstone might read Dick Wilson, but in our hearts and minds he will always be "Mr. Whipple."
Charmin toilet tissue hit a home run when it put Dick Wilson on the payroll. A common man in appearance, he played the role of a genteel grocery store operator who did not want his Charmin display tinkered with. The ever vigilant Mr. Whipple was on guard constantly waiting for the shopping ladies (most shoppers during that generation were women) to pick up the soft package of Charmin and begin to squeeze it.
Pouncing like a father protecting its young, Mr. Whipple would always say, "Ladies, please don't squeeze the Charmin." Of course, his reprimand fell on deaf ears because Mr. Whipple was squeezing the Charmin more vociferously than his customers.
Dick Wilson passed away several weeks ago and his death was memorialized in USA Today by a full page ad in honor of Mr. Whipple by Charmin--a nice touch by a large corporation for a man who was the face of the company for so many years.
While Mr. Whipple was a gentle character, the other death of recent note was that of Robert Craig Knievel, Jr., more notably recognized as Evel Knievel.
Evel Knievel put the "dare" in dare devil. He always denied that he was a hero, but quickly claimed that he was a guy who could ride a motorcycle. And with a little bit of business savvy, he turned his riding skills into a sideshow of mega-proportions.
Jumping objects in his path was the gig that Knievel sold to the masses. From an initial jump over a mountain lion and some snakes in cages to the somewhat aborted attempt to leap across the Snake River, Knievel used his salesmanship skills to become a well-known character who had tremendous influence over the youngters who grew up watching him and attempting their own dare devil style jumps in their own backyard. It would be interesting to know exactly how many broken bones can be attritubuted to the influence of Evel Knievel.
True as it is, death doesn't wait for anyone. And these two folklore giants have passed into the anals of time. But its safe to say the two won't soon be forgotten.
Dick Wilson....oh what a common name! Who would ever think of him as anybody but the guy next door. But his legacy will live on as long as the children of 60's and 70's are around. His tombstone might read Dick Wilson, but in our hearts and minds he will always be "Mr. Whipple."
Charmin toilet tissue hit a home run when it put Dick Wilson on the payroll. A common man in appearance, he played the role of a genteel grocery store operator who did not want his Charmin display tinkered with. The ever vigilant Mr. Whipple was on guard constantly waiting for the shopping ladies (most shoppers during that generation were women) to pick up the soft package of Charmin and begin to squeeze it.
Pouncing like a father protecting its young, Mr. Whipple would always say, "Ladies, please don't squeeze the Charmin." Of course, his reprimand fell on deaf ears because Mr. Whipple was squeezing the Charmin more vociferously than his customers.
Dick Wilson passed away several weeks ago and his death was memorialized in USA Today by a full page ad in honor of Mr. Whipple by Charmin--a nice touch by a large corporation for a man who was the face of the company for so many years.
While Mr. Whipple was a gentle character, the other death of recent note was that of Robert Craig Knievel, Jr., more notably recognized as Evel Knievel.
Evel Knievel put the "dare" in dare devil. He always denied that he was a hero, but quickly claimed that he was a guy who could ride a motorcycle. And with a little bit of business savvy, he turned his riding skills into a sideshow of mega-proportions.
Jumping objects in his path was the gig that Knievel sold to the masses. From an initial jump over a mountain lion and some snakes in cages to the somewhat aborted attempt to leap across the Snake River, Knievel used his salesmanship skills to become a well-known character who had tremendous influence over the youngters who grew up watching him and attempting their own dare devil style jumps in their own backyard. It would be interesting to know exactly how many broken bones can be attritubuted to the influence of Evel Knievel.
True as it is, death doesn't wait for anyone. And these two folklore giants have passed into the anals of time. But its safe to say the two won't soon be forgotten.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Anyone Else??
Everything seems to be coming together as we surely trek toward the end of 2007. Christmas and New Years are rapidly approaching; the NFL playoff season is just around the corner; the NCAA football bowl season is upon us; and for school age kids, college and high school, the season of semester tests is beckoning. But maybe, just maybe, the most intriguing season of all is the presidential primary season which is just about to open.
For some strange reason the politicos have decided to move the decision making primary season up to early January instead of waiting another month or so. Thus, as we bake the Christmas ham, root for our favorite professional and college football teams, and prepare to move ahead in the educational system, we must partake of numerous political advertisements and the television talking heads as they analyze a race that is still 11 months away.
Why are we in such a hurry you might ask. Well its simple, at least in my mind. The two most electable people in the USA--Bill Clinton and Al Gore--are not running for office. So the political shakers and movers believe we need all this extra time to determine who the best person is for the presidency. And this is a unique presidency since for the first time in many years (maybe 1929) that a seated president or vice president wasn't seeking the top prize.
And, I think its safe to say, we have a wide range of candidates and numerous questions about the qualifications of the whole lot. Measuring reasons why someone should not be president might be easier than assessing reasons why they should be.
Perhaps the most controversial candidate is Hillary Clinton. She certainly lacks the political skills her husband possesses. He was a centrist--not a liberal-- and he used that quality to assure his reelection in 1996. Hillary appears to be much more liberal, cold, calculating and not nearly as personable as her husband. I would quickly agree that she has the organization skills, intellect and intestinal fortitude to be president. But, it also appears that she lacks the confidence of others as to whether she can win the 2008 general election. Needless to say, electing a woman to the presidency would be a first and this might be the wrong woman at the wrong time. It would probably be easier to vote against her than for her.
Barack Obama is certainly an interesting candidate. The Democratic senator from Illinois has burst on the scene and is legitimately the most electable African-American candidate to ever seek the presidency. He, of course, is plagued by the idea that he is not experienced enough to hold the highest office in the land. Then too, I do believe he is plagued somewhat by a name that might be disadvantageous in this era of Mid-Eastern terrorism and being Black also serves as an obstacle to overcome if he wants to be president.
John Edwards, who appeared to be an up-and-comer during the 2004 election, seems to be the odd man out in this race. Plagued almost from the beginning with the unfortunate issue of his wife's health, along with a $400 haircut, Edwards seems to be floundering in third place wherever he goes. Still, he has a great delivery, looks presidential, and has the experience of a national campaign under his belt. But, that might not be enough in 2008.
The remainder of the Democratic field--Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, Bill Richardson, Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel--have no chance and will gradually disappear from the primary rosters.
While Republicans might look with glee on the issues that Democrats have with their presidential hopefuls, all they have to do is look at their own roster and begin to start worrying themselves. Looking presidential is not one of the better qualities of the right-wing contingent either. Each candidate carries a set of positive and negative qualities that will play a role in their electability.
Rudy Guiliani, former mayor of New York and the person most likely to wave his credentials in fighting terrorism, has held the early lead in the Republican race. But, as election days creep closer, Guiliani looks creepier and creepier. He has a somewhat dysfunctional family, perhaps because he is on his third wife, and she came into his life as his "mistress" according to one news report I heard earlier this week. He also has a relationship with Bernie Kerik, the former police commissioner of New York City. Financial irregularities led to Kerik's involvement with the legal system, stopped his nomination as Director of Homeland Security, and are now plaguing Guiliani who remains loyal to his old friend. Guiliani also is pro-abortion, welcomes immigrants and favors some gun control. I frequently wonder how Republicans can even consider him one of their own, let alone favor him for in the White House race.
Mitt Romney seems to me to be the most professional candidate in the race, regardless of party. He simply looks presidential. Still, despite his organizational skills and the ability to win the governor's race in highly liberal Massachusetts, he is not without a list of problems. First and foremost is his Mormon faith. While that doesn't bother me, others consider it nothing more than a cult and have said they could not support him. Additionally, he is a flip-flopper on the issue of abortion.
Fred Thompson, the actor who some compare to Ronald Reagan, is no Ronald Reagan on the campaign trail. First he hesitated entering the race, and everyone knows that "he who hesitates is lost." That delay was impacted by the fact that his early campaign style was not exciting. Thompson is hampered by the fact that he looks old and has what some refer to as a "trophy" wife who appears to be pulling the strings on this political campaign. While Thompson appears to be conservative enough to be a true Republican (unlike Guiliani and Romney) he seems to have miscalculated his candidacy and may never overcome that early error.
Mike Huckabee is the candidate that might be gaining the most notoriety, at least recently. As of Sunday (12/2) he appeared to have captured the lead in Iowa polls despite being short on funds. Huckabee is a respectable conservative, comes across well, hails from the city of Hope, Ark. (which seems to carry some weight since the presidency of Bill Clinton) and appears to be a long-term candidate in the primary race. Still, Huckabee has a very deliberate delivery and some wonder if he has enough fire in his belly for the presidency.
John McCain was recently endorsed by the New Hampshire Union Leader--the only statewide paper in that small New England state. A win in New Hampshire has been big in presidential politics and McCain will surely need one if the Iowa polls, which presently show him in fifth place with only seven percent of the voters favoring his candidacy, are right. McCain is perhaps the most interesting person in the race right now. A former Vietnam war POW, he is an honorable man with perhaps more of a centrist view than most conservative Republicans. That would make him more appealing to moderates and liberals. Still, at 71 years of age, if elected he would eclipse Ronald Reagan as our oldest president. Reagan became president just shy of his 70th birthday.
Ron Paul, Duncan Hunter and Tom Tancredo are also-runs in the Republican race.
So who will win the nomination? After writing this, I am looking for somebody else. There is enough listed here to make me wonder why any of these people would seek the presidency. And, more importantly, begs us to ask why we as voters might willingly support any of them?
For some strange reason the politicos have decided to move the decision making primary season up to early January instead of waiting another month or so. Thus, as we bake the Christmas ham, root for our favorite professional and college football teams, and prepare to move ahead in the educational system, we must partake of numerous political advertisements and the television talking heads as they analyze a race that is still 11 months away.
Why are we in such a hurry you might ask. Well its simple, at least in my mind. The two most electable people in the USA--Bill Clinton and Al Gore--are not running for office. So the political shakers and movers believe we need all this extra time to determine who the best person is for the presidency. And this is a unique presidency since for the first time in many years (maybe 1929) that a seated president or vice president wasn't seeking the top prize.
And, I think its safe to say, we have a wide range of candidates and numerous questions about the qualifications of the whole lot. Measuring reasons why someone should not be president might be easier than assessing reasons why they should be.
Perhaps the most controversial candidate is Hillary Clinton. She certainly lacks the political skills her husband possesses. He was a centrist--not a liberal-- and he used that quality to assure his reelection in 1996. Hillary appears to be much more liberal, cold, calculating and not nearly as personable as her husband. I would quickly agree that she has the organization skills, intellect and intestinal fortitude to be president. But, it also appears that she lacks the confidence of others as to whether she can win the 2008 general election. Needless to say, electing a woman to the presidency would be a first and this might be the wrong woman at the wrong time. It would probably be easier to vote against her than for her.
Barack Obama is certainly an interesting candidate. The Democratic senator from Illinois has burst on the scene and is legitimately the most electable African-American candidate to ever seek the presidency. He, of course, is plagued by the idea that he is not experienced enough to hold the highest office in the land. Then too, I do believe he is plagued somewhat by a name that might be disadvantageous in this era of Mid-Eastern terrorism and being Black also serves as an obstacle to overcome if he wants to be president.
John Edwards, who appeared to be an up-and-comer during the 2004 election, seems to be the odd man out in this race. Plagued almost from the beginning with the unfortunate issue of his wife's health, along with a $400 haircut, Edwards seems to be floundering in third place wherever he goes. Still, he has a great delivery, looks presidential, and has the experience of a national campaign under his belt. But, that might not be enough in 2008.
The remainder of the Democratic field--Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, Bill Richardson, Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel--have no chance and will gradually disappear from the primary rosters.
While Republicans might look with glee on the issues that Democrats have with their presidential hopefuls, all they have to do is look at their own roster and begin to start worrying themselves. Looking presidential is not one of the better qualities of the right-wing contingent either. Each candidate carries a set of positive and negative qualities that will play a role in their electability.
Rudy Guiliani, former mayor of New York and the person most likely to wave his credentials in fighting terrorism, has held the early lead in the Republican race. But, as election days creep closer, Guiliani looks creepier and creepier. He has a somewhat dysfunctional family, perhaps because he is on his third wife, and she came into his life as his "mistress" according to one news report I heard earlier this week. He also has a relationship with Bernie Kerik, the former police commissioner of New York City. Financial irregularities led to Kerik's involvement with the legal system, stopped his nomination as Director of Homeland Security, and are now plaguing Guiliani who remains loyal to his old friend. Guiliani also is pro-abortion, welcomes immigrants and favors some gun control. I frequently wonder how Republicans can even consider him one of their own, let alone favor him for in the White House race.
Mitt Romney seems to me to be the most professional candidate in the race, regardless of party. He simply looks presidential. Still, despite his organizational skills and the ability to win the governor's race in highly liberal Massachusetts, he is not without a list of problems. First and foremost is his Mormon faith. While that doesn't bother me, others consider it nothing more than a cult and have said they could not support him. Additionally, he is a flip-flopper on the issue of abortion.
Fred Thompson, the actor who some compare to Ronald Reagan, is no Ronald Reagan on the campaign trail. First he hesitated entering the race, and everyone knows that "he who hesitates is lost." That delay was impacted by the fact that his early campaign style was not exciting. Thompson is hampered by the fact that he looks old and has what some refer to as a "trophy" wife who appears to be pulling the strings on this political campaign. While Thompson appears to be conservative enough to be a true Republican (unlike Guiliani and Romney) he seems to have miscalculated his candidacy and may never overcome that early error.
Mike Huckabee is the candidate that might be gaining the most notoriety, at least recently. As of Sunday (12/2) he appeared to have captured the lead in Iowa polls despite being short on funds. Huckabee is a respectable conservative, comes across well, hails from the city of Hope, Ark. (which seems to carry some weight since the presidency of Bill Clinton) and appears to be a long-term candidate in the primary race. Still, Huckabee has a very deliberate delivery and some wonder if he has enough fire in his belly for the presidency.
John McCain was recently endorsed by the New Hampshire Union Leader--the only statewide paper in that small New England state. A win in New Hampshire has been big in presidential politics and McCain will surely need one if the Iowa polls, which presently show him in fifth place with only seven percent of the voters favoring his candidacy, are right. McCain is perhaps the most interesting person in the race right now. A former Vietnam war POW, he is an honorable man with perhaps more of a centrist view than most conservative Republicans. That would make him more appealing to moderates and liberals. Still, at 71 years of age, if elected he would eclipse Ronald Reagan as our oldest president. Reagan became president just shy of his 70th birthday.
Ron Paul, Duncan Hunter and Tom Tancredo are also-runs in the Republican race.
So who will win the nomination? After writing this, I am looking for somebody else. There is enough listed here to make me wonder why any of these people would seek the presidency. And, more importantly, begs us to ask why we as voters might willingly support any of them?
Sunday, November 25, 2007
I Joined the Mess!!
For the past month I have been in search of new tires for my truck. I had priced tires at Sears several weeks ago, and walked away a bit disillusioned that the prices for the circular chunk of rubber could be so expensive. Yes, I have bought tires before and yes, I have had the same disillusioned feelings about the upcoming purchase.
My train of thought had me looking at a pair of BF Goodrich all-terrain tires. I have never been a fan of Goodyear tires; abhor General tires; feel Uniroyal tires were made of soft rubber; feared Firestone after its problems several years back. Those heartfelt reasons limited my selection. I had priced Cooper and Bridgestone (which I eventually purchased) and considered Michelin (which I have run many times). However, the Goodrich tires have long had an appearance that seemed appealing.
So on Friday morning--YES, BLACK FRIDAY--I ventured out at 5 a.m. (awake due to my never-ending insomnia) to see if the Sears advertisement, with many tires being shown as on sale, included the Goodrich tires of my desires. When I arrived, Larry greeted me by name and began the search. To my dismay, the Goodrich tires weren't on sale, because they are a DAILY SPECIAL. Hmmmm...pretty expensive tires to be labeled as a "Special."
The Bridgestone tires were some $40 less per tire (a total savings of some $160 which eliminated any appeal I had for Goodrich). The installation process would begin eventually, but the typically quiet garage I am familiar with when I arrive at the usual 8 a.m. opening time, was flooded with patrons who had the same "beat the crowd" idea I had.
So, what do you do on Black Friday at Grand Central Mall at 5:30 a.m. A quick look out the auto center entrance showed me that lots of people were shopping at Sears, so I decided to take a walk through the mall.
Sears was bedlam. It seemed to the untrained retail eye that there were way too many customers standing in line to pay at the way too few functioning cash registers. And this was a storewide dilemma. People were lined up eight to 10 deep at every cash register--and it wasn't even 6 a.m.
A 10 minute walk out of Sears (which should have typically taken maybe 3 minutes) put me on the extreme north end of the mall. A quick look led me to believe that 90 percent of Wood County was up before the sun began to climb on the eastern horizon. And, surprisingly, only a small percentage of the mall establishments were scheduled to open prior to the 6 a.m. chimes.
People were standing at store portals, staring through chained off entrances, salivating at the possible purchases that were pending when those stores did open. The big stores--Sears, Penney's, Belk, and Elder-Beerman were taking in consumer cash hand-over-fist. Smaller stores, such as Bath and Body Works were jam-packed and the food court was serving "breakfast" to a large contingent of shoppers.
Certainly the start of the Christmas shopping season was well underway. Case in Point. A national tracking agency said sales were up in 50,000 establishments by some 8.3 percent on Black Friday, 2007. The monetary count was $10.3 billion this year as compared to $9.5 billion last year.
At least at the outset, the retail segment of the economy was ready to have a Merry Christmas! And to think, I was a part of that hysteria.
My train of thought had me looking at a pair of BF Goodrich all-terrain tires. I have never been a fan of Goodyear tires; abhor General tires; feel Uniroyal tires were made of soft rubber; feared Firestone after its problems several years back. Those heartfelt reasons limited my selection. I had priced Cooper and Bridgestone (which I eventually purchased) and considered Michelin (which I have run many times). However, the Goodrich tires have long had an appearance that seemed appealing.
So on Friday morning--YES, BLACK FRIDAY--I ventured out at 5 a.m. (awake due to my never-ending insomnia) to see if the Sears advertisement, with many tires being shown as on sale, included the Goodrich tires of my desires. When I arrived, Larry greeted me by name and began the search. To my dismay, the Goodrich tires weren't on sale, because they are a DAILY SPECIAL. Hmmmm...pretty expensive tires to be labeled as a "Special."
The Bridgestone tires were some $40 less per tire (a total savings of some $160 which eliminated any appeal I had for Goodrich). The installation process would begin eventually, but the typically quiet garage I am familiar with when I arrive at the usual 8 a.m. opening time, was flooded with patrons who had the same "beat the crowd" idea I had.
So, what do you do on Black Friday at Grand Central Mall at 5:30 a.m. A quick look out the auto center entrance showed me that lots of people were shopping at Sears, so I decided to take a walk through the mall.
Sears was bedlam. It seemed to the untrained retail eye that there were way too many customers standing in line to pay at the way too few functioning cash registers. And this was a storewide dilemma. People were lined up eight to 10 deep at every cash register--and it wasn't even 6 a.m.
A 10 minute walk out of Sears (which should have typically taken maybe 3 minutes) put me on the extreme north end of the mall. A quick look led me to believe that 90 percent of Wood County was up before the sun began to climb on the eastern horizon. And, surprisingly, only a small percentage of the mall establishments were scheduled to open prior to the 6 a.m. chimes.
People were standing at store portals, staring through chained off entrances, salivating at the possible purchases that were pending when those stores did open. The big stores--Sears, Penney's, Belk, and Elder-Beerman were taking in consumer cash hand-over-fist. Smaller stores, such as Bath and Body Works were jam-packed and the food court was serving "breakfast" to a large contingent of shoppers.
Certainly the start of the Christmas shopping season was well underway. Case in Point. A national tracking agency said sales were up in 50,000 establishments by some 8.3 percent on Black Friday, 2007. The monetary count was $10.3 billion this year as compared to $9.5 billion last year.
At least at the outset, the retail segment of the economy was ready to have a Merry Christmas! And to think, I was a part of that hysteria.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Cleaning Off The Desk, #4
Welcome back to "Wild, Wonderful," West Virginia!!!
It took three years, but "Open for Business" in no longer the slogan tourists are confronted with then they enter the portals of West Virginia. Gov. Joe Manchin claimed the "Open for Business" slogan was designed to let the business world know the state was anxious to invite industry to locate here and, of course, become part of the tax base.
That "Open for Business" placard, however did not paint a pretty picture for West Virginians. They hated it and made their feelings known. But Manchin, a respected but obviously stubborn politician, refused to be budged.
Now, with an election year approaching, Manchin has done an about face and through two separate Internet voting opportunities the population has opted to return to the classic "Wild, Wonderful" moniker that seems much more fitting.
#########
Congratulations are in order for Michael Symon of Cleveland. The young chef was the winner of Food Network's The Next Iron Chef. Symon, a former high school wrestler at Cleveland St. Edward, who saw his athletic career shortened by an injury, was anything but short in his performance as he climbed over seven other opponents on his way to joining such notable American chefs as Mario Batali, Bobby Flay and Cat Corra.
Symon, along with his wife, operates Cleveland's Lolita restaurant. A perusal of the menu has made me decided that if I can't get to a Bobby Flay or Emeriel Legasse eatery, than Lolita has to be on my to do list. During the competition to name a new Iron Chef, Symon won at least three of the challenges and was named on the ballots by all three of the present Iron Chefs that assisted in the judging of the finals. Many of their comments centered on Symon's dishes being of Iron Chef quality both in presentation and substance.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that I am a big, big fan of Cleveland. Growing up there I was always thrilled to hear the descriptive phrase. "Cleveland, the best location in the nation." Michael Symon is just one more reason why that phrase is so completely accurate.
######
Many of us have had the opportunity to stop at a Starbucks. Better yet if we have visited a Barnes & Noble or a Borders bookstore we have found a coffee shop on site. Now the idea of a coffeehouse has gone a step further.
Centennial High School in Franklin, Tn, has opened a coffee shop on campus. Located in the library area, the coffee shop has proved quite profitable for the school. Averaging about $200 per day, the coffee shop will potentially give the school an extra $10,000 over the course of a school year. And, more importantly, that chunk of money will be utilized to provide scholarships for the students who are working in the coffee shop.
Naturally, the issue of health was addressed. But, an on-site viewing of the number of kids who were stopping off-campus to buy coffee, lattes, cappuccinos and other caffeinated drinks, made the decision to open its own coffeehouse easier for the school.
In addition to the entrepreneurial advantages for the students and the school, the coffee shop has had an added positive impact. Case in point. Prior to the coffeehouse operation, the library was averaging about 6,000 visits per year while checking out about 3,000 books. Those numbers have grown to 65,000 visits and the checking out of 45,000 books.
It took three years, but "Open for Business" in no longer the slogan tourists are confronted with then they enter the portals of West Virginia. Gov. Joe Manchin claimed the "Open for Business" slogan was designed to let the business world know the state was anxious to invite industry to locate here and, of course, become part of the tax base.
That "Open for Business" placard, however did not paint a pretty picture for West Virginians. They hated it and made their feelings known. But Manchin, a respected but obviously stubborn politician, refused to be budged.
Now, with an election year approaching, Manchin has done an about face and through two separate Internet voting opportunities the population has opted to return to the classic "Wild, Wonderful" moniker that seems much more fitting.
#########
Congratulations are in order for Michael Symon of Cleveland. The young chef was the winner of Food Network's The Next Iron Chef. Symon, a former high school wrestler at Cleveland St. Edward, who saw his athletic career shortened by an injury, was anything but short in his performance as he climbed over seven other opponents on his way to joining such notable American chefs as Mario Batali, Bobby Flay and Cat Corra.
Symon, along with his wife, operates Cleveland's Lolita restaurant. A perusal of the menu has made me decided that if I can't get to a Bobby Flay or Emeriel Legasse eatery, than Lolita has to be on my to do list. During the competition to name a new Iron Chef, Symon won at least three of the challenges and was named on the ballots by all three of the present Iron Chefs that assisted in the judging of the finals. Many of their comments centered on Symon's dishes being of Iron Chef quality both in presentation and substance.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that I am a big, big fan of Cleveland. Growing up there I was always thrilled to hear the descriptive phrase. "Cleveland, the best location in the nation." Michael Symon is just one more reason why that phrase is so completely accurate.
######
Many of us have had the opportunity to stop at a Starbucks. Better yet if we have visited a Barnes & Noble or a Borders bookstore we have found a coffee shop on site. Now the idea of a coffeehouse has gone a step further.
Centennial High School in Franklin, Tn, has opened a coffee shop on campus. Located in the library area, the coffee shop has proved quite profitable for the school. Averaging about $200 per day, the coffee shop will potentially give the school an extra $10,000 over the course of a school year. And, more importantly, that chunk of money will be utilized to provide scholarships for the students who are working in the coffee shop.
Naturally, the issue of health was addressed. But, an on-site viewing of the number of kids who were stopping off-campus to buy coffee, lattes, cappuccinos and other caffeinated drinks, made the decision to open its own coffeehouse easier for the school.
In addition to the entrepreneurial advantages for the students and the school, the coffee shop has had an added positive impact. Case in point. Prior to the coffeehouse operation, the library was averaging about 6,000 visits per year while checking out about 3,000 books. Those numbers have grown to 65,000 visits and the checking out of 45,000 books.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Yeah, I Cried!
I cried Tuesday morning. I still cried some Tuesday evening. Not a lot, but I still cried.
Owning pets is a wonderful thing. If I had my way I would have a puppy by my side right now. But it doesn't work that way. Still, there is some resemblance of contentment in my life with the kitty cats in the house.
The trouble is, there is one less kitty cat today. Claudia has left this life and in so doing, has taken a little bit of life out of me. Claudia was a great cat. Claudia was a wonderful cat. Claudia will be sorely missed and I am not ashamed to say that as the chemicals coursed through her tiny body ending her rather short life Tuesday morning , I was hurting. I didn't want to let that little girl go. She had all those qualities that any living creature would love to have.
Claudia showed up on the door step several years ago. She was a frail little thing who was just begging for attention. It didn't take long for her to work her way into the house. A trip to the vet revealed that she had been exposed, unfortunately, to feline leukemia. It didn't matter. She stayed. She was quickly assimilated into the household routine and gave so much more than she ever took.
Claudia had that panache that we learn to love in the underdog. Despite the exposure to feline leukemia and the smallness of her stature, she was a winner. She had the greatest personality of maybe any animal I have been associated with. She was a cat that loved people. In my adult life I have owned two dogs--Oscar (a German Shorthaired Pointer) and Coach (a Border Collie). I miss them both, terribly. Oscar was an athlete -- strong, rugged and durable. Coach was as adorable as they come. And, they each loved people--maybe too much. But Claudia, a cat who shouldn't act that way, loved people even more.
She knew no bounds in becoming the most active animal in the household. She was the youngster. Christine is the older, wiser cat and set in her ways. Its Christine's way or the highway. But, Christine took a wide path around the playful Claudia. Bobby, my bobtail cat, is a real he-man. He wants attention only when he wants it. Claudia goaded him each and every day into the chase. And when they were done she crowded in beside him wherever he decided to nap.
But then the feline leukemia reared its ugly head. Claudia became lethargic. A trip to the vet showed that her red blood cell count was down and her white blood cell count was virtually non-existent. A Columbus animal cancer center was a possibility even though radiological exams did not show any tumors. Finally, the vet suggested a round of antibiotics to see if an infection might be lurking in Claudia's frail little body. On Tuesday morning, attempts to kick-start the life back into little Claudia had come to an end.
After the terrible deed was done I came home. Lost and alone despite the presence of two other cats, none met me at the door. No cat crawled up into my lap for attention. No cat sat on her little perches scattered all over the house overlooking human activity--her way of being close to people. No cat crawled under my feet as I washed dishes.
Yes, I cried Tuesday morning. And I am not ashamed to say, I cried Tuesday night too.
Owning pets is a wonderful thing. If I had my way I would have a puppy by my side right now. But it doesn't work that way. Still, there is some resemblance of contentment in my life with the kitty cats in the house.
The trouble is, there is one less kitty cat today. Claudia has left this life and in so doing, has taken a little bit of life out of me. Claudia was a great cat. Claudia was a wonderful cat. Claudia will be sorely missed and I am not ashamed to say that as the chemicals coursed through her tiny body ending her rather short life Tuesday morning , I was hurting. I didn't want to let that little girl go. She had all those qualities that any living creature would love to have.
Claudia showed up on the door step several years ago. She was a frail little thing who was just begging for attention. It didn't take long for her to work her way into the house. A trip to the vet revealed that she had been exposed, unfortunately, to feline leukemia. It didn't matter. She stayed. She was quickly assimilated into the household routine and gave so much more than she ever took.
Claudia had that panache that we learn to love in the underdog. Despite the exposure to feline leukemia and the smallness of her stature, she was a winner. She had the greatest personality of maybe any animal I have been associated with. She was a cat that loved people. In my adult life I have owned two dogs--Oscar (a German Shorthaired Pointer) and Coach (a Border Collie). I miss them both, terribly. Oscar was an athlete -- strong, rugged and durable. Coach was as adorable as they come. And, they each loved people--maybe too much. But Claudia, a cat who shouldn't act that way, loved people even more.
She knew no bounds in becoming the most active animal in the household. She was the youngster. Christine is the older, wiser cat and set in her ways. Its Christine's way or the highway. But, Christine took a wide path around the playful Claudia. Bobby, my bobtail cat, is a real he-man. He wants attention only when he wants it. Claudia goaded him each and every day into the chase. And when they were done she crowded in beside him wherever he decided to nap.
But then the feline leukemia reared its ugly head. Claudia became lethargic. A trip to the vet showed that her red blood cell count was down and her white blood cell count was virtually non-existent. A Columbus animal cancer center was a possibility even though radiological exams did not show any tumors. Finally, the vet suggested a round of antibiotics to see if an infection might be lurking in Claudia's frail little body. On Tuesday morning, attempts to kick-start the life back into little Claudia had come to an end.
After the terrible deed was done I came home. Lost and alone despite the presence of two other cats, none met me at the door. No cat crawled up into my lap for attention. No cat sat on her little perches scattered all over the house overlooking human activity--her way of being close to people. No cat crawled under my feet as I washed dishes.
Yes, I cried Tuesday morning. And I am not ashamed to say, I cried Tuesday night too.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Menu for a Last Meal
A look at a person's last meal has been a part of culture throughout history. Many early civilizations granted a last meal request for those sentenced to die and, artisitically, DaVinci recoreded Christ's last meal on canvas. In recent years the Texas Department of Criminal Justice posted a convict's last meal request on its website--a practice that no longer occurs.
Many people over time have been enthralled with what a convict, slated for execution, wanted for their last meal. Meal requests have ranged from the very basic to the extravagant. Pork chops, steak and chicken are obvious choices from the basic list. The extravagant has included 12 candy bars and some ice cream (Dobie Gillis Williams); two pints of Ben and Jerry's chocolate-chip ice cream (Timothy McVeigh); a single olive with a pit still in it (Victor Feguer); and two pepperoni and sausage pizzas, three servings of chocolate ice cream and 15 cans of Coke (William Bonin).
The thought of a last meal was highligted in a recent issue of Time (Oct. 29, 2007). The magazine interviewed a number of chefs to find out what would be on their list if they had to choose a last meal. The key to many of the selections was the ingesting of comfort food.
Nearly all of the chefs had comfort food on their list. Perhaps America's greatest chef, Mario Batali (my apologies to those who love Emeril), chose "a lot of food." Being a chef that deals in Italian food, he was heavy on the idea of pasta along with cooked and uncooked vegtables and seafood. Other chefs selected items included Krispy Kreme donuts, bread and wine, steak and lobster chowder, linguine with white clam sauce, salmon and tuna.
So, what would you choose as a last meal?
What a dilemma. Case in point! I agree that comfort food is the way to go. I am not sure I would want 15 candy bars. Certainly, pizza is a comfort food, but I think I could do better. I like seafood, but I am not a "fancy" seafood eater, preferring the more homestyle type fish dishes. Sweets aren't a high priority, either. Yes it must be comfort food. It must be food that you have grown up with and know not only as a meal but as a friend. It must be food that takes you back in time and reminds you of the good things in life; a victory celebration, a holiday extravaganza, or a birthday memory.
When I think of comfort food, I quickly think of my mother's cooking. I try, several times a year to recreate my mother's homemade chicken noodles. She had the knack and I don't. Yes my noodles are good; her's were great. She knew as she made them whether they were "good" or whether they were good. Notice the first good has quotation marks. When her homemade noodles were "good," they were actually "great."
One of my mother's best dishes was what I call Paprika Beef. She heisted the recipe from a pot and pan door-to-door salesman in the 1950's. Her agreement was she would buy the pots and pans if he would give her the recipe of the sample dinner he prepared in the commerically available pots and pans. He said "no." She said "No." A few days later the recipe was handed to her and I still have those pots and pans on my shelf and cook my redition of Paprika Beef in one of them several times each year.
Now we are talking comfort food.
Of course there are so many other comfort foods that I grew up with. Mom made great Beef Stew and a rather spicy Hot Dog Sauce. Dad and I shared many bowls of Wilted Lettuce. My grandmother made a wonderful dish she called Spanish Noodles. My aunts, Patty and Juanita, made the best Liver and Onions and Chicken Stew, respectively. And, YES, Liver and Onions is a Comfort Food (how else would you classify it?). My cousin's wife, Jo, made the best Potato Soup and Hot Rolls.
Making a decision would be difficult. Making a decision would be impossible. Making a decision might be more torturous than knowing it was your Last Meal.
Many people over time have been enthralled with what a convict, slated for execution, wanted for their last meal. Meal requests have ranged from the very basic to the extravagant. Pork chops, steak and chicken are obvious choices from the basic list. The extravagant has included 12 candy bars and some ice cream (Dobie Gillis Williams); two pints of Ben and Jerry's chocolate-chip ice cream (Timothy McVeigh); a single olive with a pit still in it (Victor Feguer); and two pepperoni and sausage pizzas, three servings of chocolate ice cream and 15 cans of Coke (William Bonin).
The thought of a last meal was highligted in a recent issue of Time (Oct. 29, 2007). The magazine interviewed a number of chefs to find out what would be on their list if they had to choose a last meal. The key to many of the selections was the ingesting of comfort food.
Nearly all of the chefs had comfort food on their list. Perhaps America's greatest chef, Mario Batali (my apologies to those who love Emeril), chose "a lot of food." Being a chef that deals in Italian food, he was heavy on the idea of pasta along with cooked and uncooked vegtables and seafood. Other chefs selected items included Krispy Kreme donuts, bread and wine, steak and lobster chowder, linguine with white clam sauce, salmon and tuna.
So, what would you choose as a last meal?
What a dilemma. Case in point! I agree that comfort food is the way to go. I am not sure I would want 15 candy bars. Certainly, pizza is a comfort food, but I think I could do better. I like seafood, but I am not a "fancy" seafood eater, preferring the more homestyle type fish dishes. Sweets aren't a high priority, either. Yes it must be comfort food. It must be food that you have grown up with and know not only as a meal but as a friend. It must be food that takes you back in time and reminds you of the good things in life; a victory celebration, a holiday extravaganza, or a birthday memory.
When I think of comfort food, I quickly think of my mother's cooking. I try, several times a year to recreate my mother's homemade chicken noodles. She had the knack and I don't. Yes my noodles are good; her's were great. She knew as she made them whether they were "good" or whether they were good. Notice the first good has quotation marks. When her homemade noodles were "good," they were actually "great."
One of my mother's best dishes was what I call Paprika Beef. She heisted the recipe from a pot and pan door-to-door salesman in the 1950's. Her agreement was she would buy the pots and pans if he would give her the recipe of the sample dinner he prepared in the commerically available pots and pans. He said "no." She said "No." A few days later the recipe was handed to her and I still have those pots and pans on my shelf and cook my redition of Paprika Beef in one of them several times each year.
Now we are talking comfort food.
Of course there are so many other comfort foods that I grew up with. Mom made great Beef Stew and a rather spicy Hot Dog Sauce. Dad and I shared many bowls of Wilted Lettuce. My grandmother made a wonderful dish she called Spanish Noodles. My aunts, Patty and Juanita, made the best Liver and Onions and Chicken Stew, respectively. And, YES, Liver and Onions is a Comfort Food (how else would you classify it?). My cousin's wife, Jo, made the best Potato Soup and Hot Rolls.
Making a decision would be difficult. Making a decision would be impossible. Making a decision might be more torturous than knowing it was your Last Meal.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Speaking English
I have long said that if you found yourself in "Merry Ol' England," you might have difficulty understanding the English language.
Now don't get me wrong, English is English. But, is English really English?
The wonderful people on the other side of the big pond have their way with the English language, and they should. After all, its their creation. They still have their own unique way of spelling words, using what we as American see as unnecessary letters such as "colour" for "color."
But the differences go much further than that. For instance, the British might say "anti-clockwise" for the good old American phrase "counter clockwise." Where we might say "good bye," the British might say "pip up."
Granted, that's just a small sampling of the differences between what I call "British English" and "American English." I suppose the differences would be startling and scary if you were an avid traveler, but seldom would the majority of our population be in a "tizzy" over the differences they could come in contact with.
On the other hand, I am and have always been disturbed with the use of language in the USA that violates one of the components that I believe has long made us a strong country. We have fought side-by-side taking on all-comers because we could understand what the guy next to us in the foxhole, on the sidewalk, at the next work cubicle, in Row 3 or on the bus said/asked.
We have long been a nation without a true national language, yet different races and different nationalities accepted English as the spoken word in the USA and were assimilated into our culture.
Today, however, that doesn't seem to be the case. Urban dialogue and foreign tongues are as common as good old American English. It is disturbing to walk through the downtown of a large city and feel like you as an American citizen are in a foreign country.
Not too long ago I made a phone call to a business and the automated answering machine said something like, "If you would like this phone call to proceed in English, please press one." Needless to say I was furious. I pressed one, did my business, and waited for the option that would allow me to comment. When the beep opened up the dialogue option to me I said, "I have been an English speaking resident for 57 years. Let those that don't speak English push number one."
Maybe I am old fashioned, but I always thought and grew up believing that when you live in a country and adopt it as your home, you learn to speak the language of that country. But, that doesn't seeem to be the case in the USA. We have Latinos singing the National Anthem in Spanish. We see directions for things we bought being printed in English and perhaps five or six other languages. We have signs posted in multiple languages
You can tell me to get a life; that this is the way of the modern culture; or that in the land of the free, these people have the right to speak their language of choice. I won't argue, but why must it be forced on me, a 57-year old ENGLISH speaking American citizen.
And then, the Urban dialects that come out of the inner city of America is just about as appalling. Case in point, even Bill Cosby has attacked members of his own race for speaking a "language" that freightens a vast portion of the population and is undefinable to most people.
I mention the the Urban dialects because I received an intersting e mail the other day. Since there is no reference to who should be credited for this creation, I apologize and ask forgiveness for publishing it here--but I think it makes clear the point I am trying to make.
********
TENJOOBERRYMUDS"... This is a hoot .... sad, because it is TRUE ..... but a hoot!!!! By the time you read through this YOU WILL UNDERSTAND "TENJOOBERRYMUDS"...In order to continue getting-by in America (our home land), we all need to learn the NEW English language!
Just Practice by reading the following conversation until you are able to understand the term "TENJOOBERRYMUDS".With a little patience, you'll be able to fit right in. Now, here goes...
The following is a telephone exchange between maybe you as a hotel guest and call room-service somewhere in the good old U S A today......
Room Service: "Morrin. Roon sirbees."
Guest: "Sorry, I thought I dialed room-service."
Room Service: "Rye . Roon sirbees...morrin! Joowish to oddor sunteen???"
Guest: "Uh..... Yes, I'd like to order bacon and eggs."
Room Service: "Ow July den?"
Guest: ".....What? ?"
Room Service: "Ow July den?!?... pryed, boyud, poochd?"
Guest: "Oh, the eggs! How do I like them? Sorry.. scrambled, please."
Room Service: "Ow July dee baykem? Crease?"
Guest: "Crisp will be fine."
Room Service: "Hokay. An Sahn toes?"
Guest: "What?"
Room Service: "An toes. July Sahn toes?"
Guest: "I... don't think so."
RoomService: "No? Judo wan sahn toes???"
Guest: "I feel really bad about this, but I don't know what 'judo wan sahn toes' means."
RoomService: "Toes! Toes!...Why Joo don Juan toes? Ow bow Anglish moppin we bodder?"
Guest: "Oh, English muffin!!! I've got it! You were saying 'toast'... Fine...Yes, an English muffin will be fine."
RoomService: "We bodder?"
Guest: "No, just put the bodder on the side."
RoomService: "Wad?!?" Guest: "I mean butter... just put the butter on the side."
RoomService: "Copy?"Guest: "Excuse me?"
RoomService: "Copy...tea..meel?"Guest: "Yes. Coffee, please... and that's everything." RoomService: "One Minnie. Scramah egg, crease baykem, Anglish moppin, we bodder on sigh and copy ... rye??"
Guest: "Whatever you say."
RoomService: "Tenjooberrymuds."
Guest: "You're welcome"
Remember I said "By the time you read through this YOU WILL UNDERSTAND 'TENJOOBERRYMUDS' ".....and you do, don't you?
Now don't get me wrong, English is English. But, is English really English?
The wonderful people on the other side of the big pond have their way with the English language, and they should. After all, its their creation. They still have their own unique way of spelling words, using what we as American see as unnecessary letters such as "colour" for "color."
But the differences go much further than that. For instance, the British might say "anti-clockwise" for the good old American phrase "counter clockwise." Where we might say "good bye," the British might say "pip up."
Granted, that's just a small sampling of the differences between what I call "British English" and "American English." I suppose the differences would be startling and scary if you were an avid traveler, but seldom would the majority of our population be in a "tizzy" over the differences they could come in contact with.
On the other hand, I am and have always been disturbed with the use of language in the USA that violates one of the components that I believe has long made us a strong country. We have fought side-by-side taking on all-comers because we could understand what the guy next to us in the foxhole, on the sidewalk, at the next work cubicle, in Row 3 or on the bus said/asked.
We have long been a nation without a true national language, yet different races and different nationalities accepted English as the spoken word in the USA and were assimilated into our culture.
Today, however, that doesn't seem to be the case. Urban dialogue and foreign tongues are as common as good old American English. It is disturbing to walk through the downtown of a large city and feel like you as an American citizen are in a foreign country.
Not too long ago I made a phone call to a business and the automated answering machine said something like, "If you would like this phone call to proceed in English, please press one." Needless to say I was furious. I pressed one, did my business, and waited for the option that would allow me to comment. When the beep opened up the dialogue option to me I said, "I have been an English speaking resident for 57 years. Let those that don't speak English push number one."
Maybe I am old fashioned, but I always thought and grew up believing that when you live in a country and adopt it as your home, you learn to speak the language of that country. But, that doesn't seeem to be the case in the USA. We have Latinos singing the National Anthem in Spanish. We see directions for things we bought being printed in English and perhaps five or six other languages. We have signs posted in multiple languages
You can tell me to get a life; that this is the way of the modern culture; or that in the land of the free, these people have the right to speak their language of choice. I won't argue, but why must it be forced on me, a 57-year old ENGLISH speaking American citizen.
And then, the Urban dialects that come out of the inner city of America is just about as appalling. Case in point, even Bill Cosby has attacked members of his own race for speaking a "language" that freightens a vast portion of the population and is undefinable to most people.
I mention the the Urban dialects because I received an intersting e mail the other day. Since there is no reference to who should be credited for this creation, I apologize and ask forgiveness for publishing it here--but I think it makes clear the point I am trying to make.
********
TENJOOBERRYMUDS"... This is a hoot .... sad, because it is TRUE ..... but a hoot!!!! By the time you read through this YOU WILL UNDERSTAND "TENJOOBERRYMUDS"...In order to continue getting-by in America (our home land), we all need to learn the NEW English language!
Just Practice by reading the following conversation until you are able to understand the term "TENJOOBERRYMUDS".With a little patience, you'll be able to fit right in. Now, here goes...
The following is a telephone exchange between maybe you as a hotel guest and call room-service somewhere in the good old U S A today......
Room Service: "Morrin. Roon sirbees."
Guest: "Sorry, I thought I dialed room-service."
Room Service: "Rye . Roon sirbees...morrin! Joowish to oddor sunteen???"
Guest: "Uh..... Yes, I'd like to order bacon and eggs."
Room Service: "Ow July den?"
Guest: ".....What? ?"
Room Service: "Ow July den?!?... pryed, boyud, poochd?"
Guest: "Oh, the eggs! How do I like them? Sorry.. scrambled, please."
Room Service: "Ow July dee baykem? Crease?"
Guest: "Crisp will be fine."
Room Service: "Hokay. An Sahn toes?"
Guest: "What?"
Room Service: "An toes. July Sahn toes?"
Guest: "I... don't think so."
RoomService: "No? Judo wan sahn toes???"
Guest: "I feel really bad about this, but I don't know what 'judo wan sahn toes' means."
RoomService: "Toes! Toes!...Why Joo don Juan toes? Ow bow Anglish moppin we bodder?"
Guest: "Oh, English muffin!!! I've got it! You were saying 'toast'... Fine...Yes, an English muffin will be fine."
RoomService: "We bodder?"
Guest: "No, just put the bodder on the side."
RoomService: "Wad?!?" Guest: "I mean butter... just put the butter on the side."
RoomService: "Copy?"Guest: "Excuse me?"
RoomService: "Copy...tea..meel?"Guest: "Yes. Coffee, please... and that's everything." RoomService: "One Minnie. Scramah egg, crease baykem, Anglish moppin, we bodder on sigh and copy ... rye??"
Guest: "Whatever you say."
RoomService: "Tenjooberrymuds."
Guest: "You're welcome"
Remember I said "By the time you read through this YOU WILL UNDERSTAND 'TENJOOBERRYMUDS' ".....and you do, don't you?
Friday, October 19, 2007
Government vs. Industry
Sitting through a high school debate recently allowed me to compare notes on how the issue of global warming should be addressed. Let me first say, to those of you who don't believe that global warming exists, please take your head out of the sand. Your indignation is disgusting. Your methodology of manipulating the system is failing our society and you are unwilling to admit it. In your opinion, its better to take the world down than to admit a mistake.
Pictures of sheets of ice plummeting to ocean level, the rapid loss of the icecap on the island of Greenland and the sadness associated with a polar bear drifting away to death on a tiny piece of ice is nothing short of appalling. The increase of world temperatures coupled with many devastating weather events leads to serious concern about the future. Yet, we seem to be making little or no progress in solving this problem.
The high school debate centered on government regulation vs. market mechanics. And the overriding question was "Which is better suited to help solve the global warming issue?"
An educated guess says the student vote favored the arguments presented by the side representing government regulation. I, for one, see no way the nation could ever depend on industry to take the necessary steps to begin the global warming reversal process. After all, it is industry, assisted obviously by the population which demands bigger and better and more energy powered devices, that has led us to our present dilemma.
Sure, industry will flaunt a few token ideas that will convince some that help is on the way. But, ultimately, the idea of profit making will filter back into the conversation. At that point, with even more profit to be made, it will be full speed ahead, damn the torpedoes, and to hell with global warming. Industry will sustain itself at the cost of every human being on the surface of the earth. It will squeeze every bit of loose change out of a poor man's pocket regardless of what that means in the big picture of our existence.
Profit making can be the equivalent of greed. Industry has, justifiably, always been concerned with making money. But, I yearn for that long-ago day when the industrial tycoon owned a business all to himself. While he certainly made a profit and lived much more comfortably than his employees, he also frequently gave back to society in a big way. Today, so many industries are publicly owned and there are numerous stockholders wanting to make money. And, making money is a natural desire of ownership, but certainly not the kind of behavior necessary to turn the global warming dilemma around.
On the other hand, government is equipped to deal with all sorts of dilemma. We as a species learned the necessity of government many centuries ago when we discovered that we could not live peacefully together. Some question whether we live peacefully together today, even with the existence of government. Still, as our nation views government, it is designed to allow for our existence in a fashion that is fair to all.
The high school debaters, to their credit, discussed the Environmental Protection Agency and its regulatory abilities to use government to fight the global warming problem. I have no problem with their arguments.
However, I want to put global warming on another level. I want a logical explanation why government is the route that needs to be followed to fight global warming rather than our profit-making industries.
The Preamble of the Constitution is a complex set of goals for our government. We have heard about "a more perfect government" the need to "establish justice," and the idea that government should "insure domestic tranquility" and "provide for the common defense." But I believe the other two goals of the Preamble are ideally designed to deal with global warming.
The Preamble ends with the final two goals, "...promote the general welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity..." It seems to me that the general welfare of our nation is threatened by global warming. And, it seems necessary for our government to act if we are going to pass on our system of government and the existence of our nation to future generations.
I am a firm believer that the US government is charged by the Constitution of the USA to deal in the best way possible with global warming. Yes, its going to cost money. Yes, our taxes will raise. And, yes, people will be upset. Case in point. There are no free rides in this world. We helped cause the problem and we will have to pay for it.
And, if we don't fix this problem of global warming, regardless what those with their head stuck in sand say, we are rapidly watching ourselves bring this world to an early demise.
Pictures of sheets of ice plummeting to ocean level, the rapid loss of the icecap on the island of Greenland and the sadness associated with a polar bear drifting away to death on a tiny piece of ice is nothing short of appalling. The increase of world temperatures coupled with many devastating weather events leads to serious concern about the future. Yet, we seem to be making little or no progress in solving this problem.
The high school debate centered on government regulation vs. market mechanics. And the overriding question was "Which is better suited to help solve the global warming issue?"
An educated guess says the student vote favored the arguments presented by the side representing government regulation. I, for one, see no way the nation could ever depend on industry to take the necessary steps to begin the global warming reversal process. After all, it is industry, assisted obviously by the population which demands bigger and better and more energy powered devices, that has led us to our present dilemma.
Sure, industry will flaunt a few token ideas that will convince some that help is on the way. But, ultimately, the idea of profit making will filter back into the conversation. At that point, with even more profit to be made, it will be full speed ahead, damn the torpedoes, and to hell with global warming. Industry will sustain itself at the cost of every human being on the surface of the earth. It will squeeze every bit of loose change out of a poor man's pocket regardless of what that means in the big picture of our existence.
Profit making can be the equivalent of greed. Industry has, justifiably, always been concerned with making money. But, I yearn for that long-ago day when the industrial tycoon owned a business all to himself. While he certainly made a profit and lived much more comfortably than his employees, he also frequently gave back to society in a big way. Today, so many industries are publicly owned and there are numerous stockholders wanting to make money. And, making money is a natural desire of ownership, but certainly not the kind of behavior necessary to turn the global warming dilemma around.
On the other hand, government is equipped to deal with all sorts of dilemma. We as a species learned the necessity of government many centuries ago when we discovered that we could not live peacefully together. Some question whether we live peacefully together today, even with the existence of government. Still, as our nation views government, it is designed to allow for our existence in a fashion that is fair to all.
The high school debaters, to their credit, discussed the Environmental Protection Agency and its regulatory abilities to use government to fight the global warming problem. I have no problem with their arguments.
However, I want to put global warming on another level. I want a logical explanation why government is the route that needs to be followed to fight global warming rather than our profit-making industries.
The Preamble of the Constitution is a complex set of goals for our government. We have heard about "a more perfect government" the need to "establish justice," and the idea that government should "insure domestic tranquility" and "provide for the common defense." But I believe the other two goals of the Preamble are ideally designed to deal with global warming.
The Preamble ends with the final two goals, "...promote the general welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity..." It seems to me that the general welfare of our nation is threatened by global warming. And, it seems necessary for our government to act if we are going to pass on our system of government and the existence of our nation to future generations.
I am a firm believer that the US government is charged by the Constitution of the USA to deal in the best way possible with global warming. Yes, its going to cost money. Yes, our taxes will raise. And, yes, people will be upset. Case in point. There are no free rides in this world. We helped cause the problem and we will have to pay for it.
And, if we don't fix this problem of global warming, regardless what those with their head stuck in sand say, we are rapidly watching ourselves bring this world to an early demise.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
A Principled Man!!
From January 1977 until January 1981, James Earl Carter served as President of the United States. Was Jimmy Carter a good president? You would be hard-pressed to find someone who would say he was. Was he a bad president? Personally, I don't believe so. Was he a misunderstood president? There is little doubt about that; he certainly was.
Jimmy Carter rode to the presidency on the tail of an animal known as "corruption." The USA had survived the audacity of Watergate and the Nixon presidency, when personal power and hatred became more important to the man in the White House than the Constitution of the nation. Then, Nixon's hand-picked successor issued a pardon to Nixon. I fully understand Gerald Ford's logic in issuing the pardon, but the country wanted more retribution handed down to the former president than a slap on the wrist.
Thus, in rides Jimmy Carter on his white stallion. He is considered a good Christian man. He is an engineer who attended the US Naval Academy and rose to the rank of lieutenant. And, most importantly as the 1970's were coming to an end, he was a Washington D.C. "outsider."
We frequently hear politicians running for national office label themselves as "outsiders." Take note! If they are really outsiders we should not elect them. Washington D.C. doesn't take well to outsiders. True outsiders lack the necessary connections that makes Washington D.C. work for them. True outsiders don't understand the inner workings of the government. And true outsiders aren't trusted by others in power who fear their way of doing things could be compromised.
So Jimmy Carter, an outsider, became president and his presidency is considered by most to be a failure--much of that failure is associated with the Iran Hostage Crisis and an energy crisis. Don't get me wrong. The nation survived and there were some positive accomplishments such as the Camp David Accords. But Jimmy Carter, the outsider from Plains, Ga., was destined to be a one-term president.
Recently Jimmy Carter was interviewed by Time in its "10 Questions" feature. Carter has become a world-renowned humanitarian in his post-presidential life. He founded the Carter Center in 1982 and that agency has spent the past two decades working to improve the quality of life for millions around the world. In 2002, Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Additionally, Carter has served as an international observer of elections, has been a valued participant in Habitat for Humanity, and has been critical of the unseemly behavior of other presidents--most notably Bill Clinton and his pardon of Mark Rich and George W. Bush for his overall approach to the presidency.
The Bush White House, following the Carter rebuke, referred to the former president comments as irrelevant. That certainly isn't the way I perceive things. Case in point. Carter was principled enough to criticize presidents from both political parties. He did not show partisanship, but called it like he saw it. He chastised presidents whom he felt had crossed the line in abuse of power.
Would I want Jimmy Carter as president again. The answer is a resounding NO. His lack of inside knowledge of government power left him just as ineffective as an outside like Ross Perot would have been. But do I respect this man who has devoted his past-presidential days to the good of society and the world. I have often said that "Jimmy Carter was not a good president. But, I believe him to be the BEST ex-president we have ever had."
Jimmy Carter rode to the presidency on the tail of an animal known as "corruption." The USA had survived the audacity of Watergate and the Nixon presidency, when personal power and hatred became more important to the man in the White House than the Constitution of the nation. Then, Nixon's hand-picked successor issued a pardon to Nixon. I fully understand Gerald Ford's logic in issuing the pardon, but the country wanted more retribution handed down to the former president than a slap on the wrist.
Thus, in rides Jimmy Carter on his white stallion. He is considered a good Christian man. He is an engineer who attended the US Naval Academy and rose to the rank of lieutenant. And, most importantly as the 1970's were coming to an end, he was a Washington D.C. "outsider."
We frequently hear politicians running for national office label themselves as "outsiders." Take note! If they are really outsiders we should not elect them. Washington D.C. doesn't take well to outsiders. True outsiders lack the necessary connections that makes Washington D.C. work for them. True outsiders don't understand the inner workings of the government. And true outsiders aren't trusted by others in power who fear their way of doing things could be compromised.
So Jimmy Carter, an outsider, became president and his presidency is considered by most to be a failure--much of that failure is associated with the Iran Hostage Crisis and an energy crisis. Don't get me wrong. The nation survived and there were some positive accomplishments such as the Camp David Accords. But Jimmy Carter, the outsider from Plains, Ga., was destined to be a one-term president.
Recently Jimmy Carter was interviewed by Time in its "10 Questions" feature. Carter has become a world-renowned humanitarian in his post-presidential life. He founded the Carter Center in 1982 and that agency has spent the past two decades working to improve the quality of life for millions around the world. In 2002, Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Additionally, Carter has served as an international observer of elections, has been a valued participant in Habitat for Humanity, and has been critical of the unseemly behavior of other presidents--most notably Bill Clinton and his pardon of Mark Rich and George W. Bush for his overall approach to the presidency.
The Bush White House, following the Carter rebuke, referred to the former president comments as irrelevant. That certainly isn't the way I perceive things. Case in point. Carter was principled enough to criticize presidents from both political parties. He did not show partisanship, but called it like he saw it. He chastised presidents whom he felt had crossed the line in abuse of power.
Would I want Jimmy Carter as president again. The answer is a resounding NO. His lack of inside knowledge of government power left him just as ineffective as an outside like Ross Perot would have been. But do I respect this man who has devoted his past-presidential days to the good of society and the world. I have often said that "Jimmy Carter was not a good president. But, I believe him to be the BEST ex-president we have ever had."
Thursday, October 4, 2007
The Wonders of Medicine!!!
During my daily visit to USA Today , an advertisement recently caught my eye. It was a simple question with an obviously complex answer. The headline on the advertisement read, "Are We Overmedicating Our Kids?"
The advertisement went on to point out that in 1983 the Center for Disease Control (CDC) called for children to receive 10 vaccinations before the age of six. Today the CDC mandates 36 vaccinations for our children.
The reasons for the change in numbers is rather obvious. Foremost among those reasons is the idea that medical advancements have made it possible for new vaccinations to be created to ward off deadly diseases that have wreaked havoc in the past. But, there have to be other reasons that might include the easy spread of diseases today that has evolved because our transportation systems have made the earth so much smaller.
The old motto, "an ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure" has always made sense. Why wouldn't you prevent something before it starts instead of allowing it to root and grow and create even more problems in the elimination process? But, have we gone too far? The advertisement goes on to point out that during that same time period, roughly 24 years, that we have upped the vaccination requirements we have had an enormous growth in such neurological disorders as autism and ADHD. Of course, that leads me to ask, "Are we overmedicating our kids?"
Autism is a creature unto itself and one that I truly do not understand. The complexity of that disorder makes me shutter. Might it be Aspergers, Rett's Syndrome or Kanner's Syndrome, the visual I get when I think of autism is not a pretty picture. Granted, I know that some autism victims are rather high-functioning and can deal with society as we have created it. Others, however, are in their own little world and, while I have no desire to visit that world, it is curiosity that makes me wonder, "What is going on inside their head?"
ADHD is another animal that bewilders me. Yes, I know it exists. But, does it exist in the huge numbers that seem to be reported? I don't think so. I have long dreaded the student generated phrase "I am ADHD," when that student simply didn't want to comply with a command or do an assignment. Knowing full well that prior to the expectation of that student, things were fine, I have long suspected that the ADHD label has frequently been used as an excuse.
But I also feel that using that label as an excuse is hereditary. It has long been my belief that many parents have sought out a label for their child because they couldn't/wouldn't deal with the behavior issues of their child. Fine and dandy. But, by securing an ADHD label for their child they put them in direct access to medication that can have some troubling outcomes and it conceivably creates an unrealistic excuse system that might follow that child through life.
Mood swings, confusion, high blood pressure are just some of the side effects of these ADHD medications, especially if they are abused. Perhaps the most commonly known is methylphenidate, better known by the brand name Ritalin. Also on the list is amphetamines such as Adderall and dexamphetamines such as Dextrostat or Dexedrine.
The advertisement went on to point out that in 1983 the Center for Disease Control (CDC) called for children to receive 10 vaccinations before the age of six. Today the CDC mandates 36 vaccinations for our children.
The reasons for the change in numbers is rather obvious. Foremost among those reasons is the idea that medical advancements have made it possible for new vaccinations to be created to ward off deadly diseases that have wreaked havoc in the past. But, there have to be other reasons that might include the easy spread of diseases today that has evolved because our transportation systems have made the earth so much smaller.
The old motto, "an ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure" has always made sense. Why wouldn't you prevent something before it starts instead of allowing it to root and grow and create even more problems in the elimination process? But, have we gone too far? The advertisement goes on to point out that during that same time period, roughly 24 years, that we have upped the vaccination requirements we have had an enormous growth in such neurological disorders as autism and ADHD. Of course, that leads me to ask, "Are we overmedicating our kids?"
Autism is a creature unto itself and one that I truly do not understand. The complexity of that disorder makes me shutter. Might it be Aspergers, Rett's Syndrome or Kanner's Syndrome, the visual I get when I think of autism is not a pretty picture. Granted, I know that some autism victims are rather high-functioning and can deal with society as we have created it. Others, however, are in their own little world and, while I have no desire to visit that world, it is curiosity that makes me wonder, "What is going on inside their head?"
ADHD is another animal that bewilders me. Yes, I know it exists. But, does it exist in the huge numbers that seem to be reported? I don't think so. I have long dreaded the student generated phrase "I am ADHD," when that student simply didn't want to comply with a command or do an assignment. Knowing full well that prior to the expectation of that student, things were fine, I have long suspected that the ADHD label has frequently been used as an excuse.
But I also feel that using that label as an excuse is hereditary. It has long been my belief that many parents have sought out a label for their child because they couldn't/wouldn't deal with the behavior issues of their child. Fine and dandy. But, by securing an ADHD label for their child they put them in direct access to medication that can have some troubling outcomes and it conceivably creates an unrealistic excuse system that might follow that child through life.
Mood swings, confusion, high blood pressure are just some of the side effects of these ADHD medications, especially if they are abused. Perhaps the most commonly known is methylphenidate, better known by the brand name Ritalin. Also on the list is amphetamines such as Adderall and dexamphetamines such as Dextrostat or Dexedrine.
The use of drugs has long scared me. Case in point. I am a product of a pregnancy when thalidomide was widely prescribed for pregnant mothers. Fortunately I wasn't one of the some 10,000 children that wound up with severe body deformities. Then, while in college, a research paper opened my eyes to that tragedy and set the stage for my reluctance to use medicine and my concern that the long-reaching side effects might be worse than the disease/ailment being treated.
Those two events have created in me an abhorrence to drugs. I seldom take them even when I am in pain. I would rather naturally work my way through it and not feel like I could be "overmedicating" myself.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Bad Boys, Bad Boys, What you gonna do?
A recent column in USA Today suggested that O.J. Simpson, since his most recent brush with the law, needed to be removed in some fashion from the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
I don't necessarily disagree with the idea, but I found myself questioning the differences between O. J. Simpson, Pete Rose and Barry Bonds and their impact on the social fabric of our culture. Each, in their own way, present a unique situation that their respective sports of choice must deal with.
O. J. Simpson got away with it. Though one of my dear friends feels to this day that he was innocent of the murder of his wife and Ron Goldman, the majority of America was flabbergasted by the decision of the jury. And the followup civil case determined that O. J. was responsible and he is financially indebted to the Goldman family for the death of their son and brother.
O. J. was anything but a sympathetic client for his legal team. I have often wondered if they believed in his innocence. I just don't see how an educated, logical, reasonable person could believe he wasn't guilty (my apologies to my dear friend). But innocent of murder he is and even his book "If I Did It" doesn't change that. Today, O. J. garners very little respect from any segment of the nation. He is castigated for what we believe he did and got away with.
But, should he be removed from the Football Hall of Fame? Interesting question that is debatable from many points of view. I was in Canton, Ohio that day in 1985 when O. J. was inducted into the Hall of Fame. And what a list of inductees it was. Joining O. J. was Roger Staubach, Joe Namath, Frank "Gunner" Gatski, and Pete Rozelle, the former NFL commissioner. Arguably, it was the greatest class of inductees ever.
Now the big question. Does O. J. belong in the football Hall of Fame. My take is simple and I am sure debatable. But I say he stays. His accomplishments on the football field that won him that honor took place long before his legal difficulties. His legal difficulties had nothing to do with, nor in anyway, were connected to his football prowess.
That of course, forwards the issue of Pete Rose and Barry Bonds.
I agree wholeheartedly with the decision that keeps Pete Rose out of the baseball Hall of Fame and separates him from any activities associated with Major League Baseball. He is significantly different that O. J. in that his betting records indicate he was active in that activity while he was still playing and managing. Despite his denials, we have no guarantee that his betting didn't play a role in his managerial decision making. His marvelous career will always be in question and the vision of "Charlie Hustle" barrelling over Ray Fosse in the All-Star game will never erase the questions marks from what seemingly appeared to be a Hall of Fame career.
Barry Bonds is a story unto itself. He is unique. He is an enigma. I honestly don't know what to do with him.
Case in point. We all have to accept the fact that he is innocent until proven guilty. But all the warning signs are there. His immense body change that comes with the use of steroids is disturbing. His contempt of the media and his unwillingness to talk to the fans through the media is bothersome, though its not much different than the behavior of his father who was a great baseball player in his own right. And the constant fear that his record was not achieved fairly is worrisome. It seemingly takes away from the greatness of Hank Aaron who set the record, certainly, in a fair fashion--with only the hard work that he put in and the gifts that God gave him.
I don't necessarily disagree with the idea, but I found myself questioning the differences between O. J. Simpson, Pete Rose and Barry Bonds and their impact on the social fabric of our culture. Each, in their own way, present a unique situation that their respective sports of choice must deal with.
O. J. Simpson got away with it. Though one of my dear friends feels to this day that he was innocent of the murder of his wife and Ron Goldman, the majority of America was flabbergasted by the decision of the jury. And the followup civil case determined that O. J. was responsible and he is financially indebted to the Goldman family for the death of their son and brother.
O. J. was anything but a sympathetic client for his legal team. I have often wondered if they believed in his innocence. I just don't see how an educated, logical, reasonable person could believe he wasn't guilty (my apologies to my dear friend). But innocent of murder he is and even his book "If I Did It" doesn't change that. Today, O. J. garners very little respect from any segment of the nation. He is castigated for what we believe he did and got away with.
But, should he be removed from the Football Hall of Fame? Interesting question that is debatable from many points of view. I was in Canton, Ohio that day in 1985 when O. J. was inducted into the Hall of Fame. And what a list of inductees it was. Joining O. J. was Roger Staubach, Joe Namath, Frank "Gunner" Gatski, and Pete Rozelle, the former NFL commissioner. Arguably, it was the greatest class of inductees ever.
Now the big question. Does O. J. belong in the football Hall of Fame. My take is simple and I am sure debatable. But I say he stays. His accomplishments on the football field that won him that honor took place long before his legal difficulties. His legal difficulties had nothing to do with, nor in anyway, were connected to his football prowess.
That of course, forwards the issue of Pete Rose and Barry Bonds.
I agree wholeheartedly with the decision that keeps Pete Rose out of the baseball Hall of Fame and separates him from any activities associated with Major League Baseball. He is significantly different that O. J. in that his betting records indicate he was active in that activity while he was still playing and managing. Despite his denials, we have no guarantee that his betting didn't play a role in his managerial decision making. His marvelous career will always be in question and the vision of "Charlie Hustle" barrelling over Ray Fosse in the All-Star game will never erase the questions marks from what seemingly appeared to be a Hall of Fame career.
Barry Bonds is a story unto itself. He is unique. He is an enigma. I honestly don't know what to do with him.
Case in point. We all have to accept the fact that he is innocent until proven guilty. But all the warning signs are there. His immense body change that comes with the use of steroids is disturbing. His contempt of the media and his unwillingness to talk to the fans through the media is bothersome, though its not much different than the behavior of his father who was a great baseball player in his own right. And the constant fear that his record was not achieved fairly is worrisome. It seemingly takes away from the greatness of Hank Aaron who set the record, certainly, in a fair fashion--with only the hard work that he put in and the gifts that God gave him.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Cleaning off the Desk #3
Oh how much fun it used to be. We would sit around in groups and shout out in our loudest teenage voices, "Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun."
The McDonald's Big Mac, a creation of Jim Delligatti, a McDonald's franchise owner in Uniontown, Pa., is now 40 years old. Who can believe it? I am not a regular visitor to McDonald's, or for that matter any fast-food restaurant, but the last time I did eat there, it was a Big Mac that graced my plate. After all, it is the sandwich of my generation. When I first purchased a Big Mac it was a whopping 45 cents. I think its safe to say the prices have changed but the burger is very much like the original.
The numbers are staggering. It is estimated 550 million Big Macs are sold by McDonald's each year--and that's just in the USA. That's about 17 Big Macs per second. Nutritionally, Big Macs are about a half-pound in size, with 540 calories and 29 grams of fat each. Certainly not the kind of item in your diet that will promote weight loss.
But, if you are out anytime in the next few days and have this burning desire to eat at McDonald's, just order a Big Mac and say, as loudly and quickly as you possibly can "Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun."
**************
Have you ever heard of "junk sleep" A small item in The Week dated Sept. 14, 2007, referred to junk sleep as a damaging part of the lifestyle of many teenagers.
Junk sleep is that "rest" obtained while a teenager (although I am not sure it is limited to teenagers) is "hyperstimulated" by the many electronic devices that have overtaken our lifestyles. These include video games, IPods, and the Internet. This hyperstimulation keeps many teenagers from going to bed when they are tired. Then they doze off in front of the electronic device and partake of "junk sleep."
As one doctor claimed, this type of rest is not nourishing to the needs of the brain, thus resulting in many "zombie" like children in our schools today.
******************'
The new TV season is underway and I can say that I am marginally excited. For the first time in years, I plan to check out a comedy. Yes Davis is going to watch a new comedy. Fox will be presenting "Back to You" with Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton. Heaton, a native of Cleveland (yes, Cleveland, Ohio-- "The best location in the nation"), seemed to me to be the heart and soul of the "Everybody Loves Raymond" series...and I thought that before I knew she was from Cleveland. And Grammer has always been a steady comedic performer going back to his days on "Cheers."
Also new this year will be another segment of "Survivor." You don't have to like it, but I do. Its the original reality show in the modern era and its always got some surprises and is always different. Sometimes the bad guy wins, sometimes the good guy wins. Each segment has its own personality and this segment is even more thrilling to think about since it originates in China.
Okay, there are my two series for the year. I hope they are each enjoyable. After that, I don't hold much hope for television, except for syndicated programs of the past. And, yes, I know the lines before they are spoken.
The McDonald's Big Mac, a creation of Jim Delligatti, a McDonald's franchise owner in Uniontown, Pa., is now 40 years old. Who can believe it? I am not a regular visitor to McDonald's, or for that matter any fast-food restaurant, but the last time I did eat there, it was a Big Mac that graced my plate. After all, it is the sandwich of my generation. When I first purchased a Big Mac it was a whopping 45 cents. I think its safe to say the prices have changed but the burger is very much like the original.
The numbers are staggering. It is estimated 550 million Big Macs are sold by McDonald's each year--and that's just in the USA. That's about 17 Big Macs per second. Nutritionally, Big Macs are about a half-pound in size, with 540 calories and 29 grams of fat each. Certainly not the kind of item in your diet that will promote weight loss.
But, if you are out anytime in the next few days and have this burning desire to eat at McDonald's, just order a Big Mac and say, as loudly and quickly as you possibly can "Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun."
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Have you ever heard of "junk sleep" A small item in The Week dated Sept. 14, 2007, referred to junk sleep as a damaging part of the lifestyle of many teenagers.
Junk sleep is that "rest" obtained while a teenager (although I am not sure it is limited to teenagers) is "hyperstimulated" by the many electronic devices that have overtaken our lifestyles. These include video games, IPods, and the Internet. This hyperstimulation keeps many teenagers from going to bed when they are tired. Then they doze off in front of the electronic device and partake of "junk sleep."
As one doctor claimed, this type of rest is not nourishing to the needs of the brain, thus resulting in many "zombie" like children in our schools today.
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The new TV season is underway and I can say that I am marginally excited. For the first time in years, I plan to check out a comedy. Yes Davis is going to watch a new comedy. Fox will be presenting "Back to You" with Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton. Heaton, a native of Cleveland (yes, Cleveland, Ohio-- "The best location in the nation"), seemed to me to be the heart and soul of the "Everybody Loves Raymond" series...and I thought that before I knew she was from Cleveland. And Grammer has always been a steady comedic performer going back to his days on "Cheers."
Also new this year will be another segment of "Survivor." You don't have to like it, but I do. Its the original reality show in the modern era and its always got some surprises and is always different. Sometimes the bad guy wins, sometimes the good guy wins. Each segment has its own personality and this segment is even more thrilling to think about since it originates in China.
Okay, there are my two series for the year. I hope they are each enjoyable. After that, I don't hold much hope for television, except for syndicated programs of the past. And, yes, I know the lines before they are spoken.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Questionable Priorities!!
After 35 years in the classroom I have developed certain attitudes about what happens in the public school system on a daily basis. In some cases, my attitudes are very positive, while in others I am just thoroughly disenchanted.
A recent editorial in The Parkersburg News pointed out that West Virginia State Superintendent of Schools Steve Paine identified six "skill sets" that were vital to our youth. These included information and communication skills, civic literacy, thinking and problem solving, interpersonal and self-directional skills, global awareness and financial, economic and business literacy coupled with entrepreneurial skills.
That sounds wonderful. No, its not as easy as the old "reading, writing and arithmetic." But, the world is a much more complex and education has to adjust to those complications.
Honestly, there isn't much I disagree with on that list. But, the delivery and the intensity of what it entails might go past what I believe is necessary or right. Several years ago the school systems began requiring students to choose a major field of study. I laughed, went about my merry way, and told kids to choose their schedule and try to rearrange their majors to fit the schedule they wanted to take. And, I thought seriously to myself, "Surely they (the powers that be) don't think a 15-18 year old student knows what direction they want to head in their careers.
In fact, I consider that plan somewhat counter productive. A student winds up corralled in a field that they have declared as their high school major and then they have very little contact with other possibilities that might open up different doors to them as they mature.
But, what do I know? After all, how many people change their majors two or three times in their college career and change professions several times in the course of a lifetime. The number is staggering. Ask them if choosing a major in high school would have been meaningful to them. I am certain the majority would look at you with a bewildered expression on their face. Yes I know some people know from the get-go what they want to do (I am one of them). Still, I think high school education would be more meaningful if we allowed the student to explore the whole gamut of career possibilities instead of concentrating on just one.
As for Dr. Paine's list, I find very little to disagree with in general, but have some specifics that concern me. I have always been an advocate of civic literacy and was appalled that for a number of years government class was an elective, not a requirement. I taught government for years, registered voters, held mock elections in school and supported elected officials regardless of whether I voted for them or not. Additionally, I believe that one area where we have been negligent is in pushing economic literacy. However, I am not sure these two disciplines can be taught together and that is what the new Civics program is doing. I just do not see how a Civics teacher is going to successfully teach the nuances of our government and political system and do all that really needs to be done to help make students economically knowledgeable.
Case in point. I certainly believe that successfully handling a household economy can be a major task and many marriages fall victim to the inability to manage money. Checking accounts, certificates of deposit, mutual funds, stocks and bonds, interest rates, income tax--the list of economic pitfalls is monstrous. Still, we have lumped that learning skill in with civics. I just don't see how there is enough time to teach and practice economic skills and still learn the intricacies of our political system.
And, I haven't even begun to mention the one area not on the list that I think has been totally overlooked. Can you guess what it is? Here's a pretty blatant hint--The Arts. Oh well, that is another story sometime.
A recent editorial in The Parkersburg News pointed out that West Virginia State Superintendent of Schools Steve Paine identified six "skill sets" that were vital to our youth. These included information and communication skills, civic literacy, thinking and problem solving, interpersonal and self-directional skills, global awareness and financial, economic and business literacy coupled with entrepreneurial skills.
That sounds wonderful. No, its not as easy as the old "reading, writing and arithmetic." But, the world is a much more complex and education has to adjust to those complications.
Honestly, there isn't much I disagree with on that list. But, the delivery and the intensity of what it entails might go past what I believe is necessary or right. Several years ago the school systems began requiring students to choose a major field of study. I laughed, went about my merry way, and told kids to choose their schedule and try to rearrange their majors to fit the schedule they wanted to take. And, I thought seriously to myself, "Surely they (the powers that be) don't think a 15-18 year old student knows what direction they want to head in their careers.
In fact, I consider that plan somewhat counter productive. A student winds up corralled in a field that they have declared as their high school major and then they have very little contact with other possibilities that might open up different doors to them as they mature.
But, what do I know? After all, how many people change their majors two or three times in their college career and change professions several times in the course of a lifetime. The number is staggering. Ask them if choosing a major in high school would have been meaningful to them. I am certain the majority would look at you with a bewildered expression on their face. Yes I know some people know from the get-go what they want to do (I am one of them). Still, I think high school education would be more meaningful if we allowed the student to explore the whole gamut of career possibilities instead of concentrating on just one.
As for Dr. Paine's list, I find very little to disagree with in general, but have some specifics that concern me. I have always been an advocate of civic literacy and was appalled that for a number of years government class was an elective, not a requirement. I taught government for years, registered voters, held mock elections in school and supported elected officials regardless of whether I voted for them or not. Additionally, I believe that one area where we have been negligent is in pushing economic literacy. However, I am not sure these two disciplines can be taught together and that is what the new Civics program is doing. I just do not see how a Civics teacher is going to successfully teach the nuances of our government and political system and do all that really needs to be done to help make students economically knowledgeable.
Case in point. I certainly believe that successfully handling a household economy can be a major task and many marriages fall victim to the inability to manage money. Checking accounts, certificates of deposit, mutual funds, stocks and bonds, interest rates, income tax--the list of economic pitfalls is monstrous. Still, we have lumped that learning skill in with civics. I just don't see how there is enough time to teach and practice economic skills and still learn the intricacies of our political system.
And, I haven't even begun to mention the one area not on the list that I think has been totally overlooked. Can you guess what it is? Here's a pretty blatant hint--The Arts. Oh well, that is another story sometime.
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