Though the title of this post refers to the oft cited belief that famous deaths come in threes, my focus is instead about the lives. After Ed McMahon passed, we didn't have to wait long for Farrah Fawcett and even less time for Michael Jackson to follow.
Focusing on Jackson, I have long felt sorry for him, as I feel he was another young star who, like many, proceeded to have a very difficult life. He was such a good singer and dancer, and undoubtedly the king of pop for a long time, but we're all aware how his life seemed such a tangled mess.
After very successful careers, Ed McMahon and Farrah Fawcett experienced great difficulties later in life, but all too frequently it seems in popular culture that those who soar the highest at a young age find they are floating up there with no real support, no connection to reality. Their fall back to
Earth is all the more perilous than the mere mortals around them. Michael Jackson was an enigma in life. In death, I hope he rests in peace.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Hurry up and waste
Beginning, at least, with the fiasco which was the TARP bailout last October, the Federal Government has undertaken a series of initiatives which can not wait. The stimulus package a few months ago had to be passed so quickly that no one could even read it before they voted on almost 800 billion dollars. That bill alone was almost $3,000.00 for each and every man, woman and child in the United States. They would most likely have been better off in stimulating the economy if they had just given that amount to each person in the U. S.
Instead, the money went to a wide variety of special interest projects, many of which won't kick in for a couple more years. And, like the TARP last year, we don't even have any idea where much of it is going.
Now, at the same time that we are told Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor has the largest amount of experience of any recent nominee to the court, the Democrats insist the vote must take place soon. Any delay is obstructionist. And healthcare reform has to happen now, regardless of the cost, which may be between one and two trillion dollars, according to the OMB (the president's Office of Managemnent and Budget) and the CBO (Congressional Budget Office). This while we are looking at having a budget deficit which might approach two trillion dollars this year alone, and twelve trillion dollars total.
This approach, of pressing everyone into panic and rushed votes without time to investigate and debate the merits of opposing ideas, is used when someone feels that the light of day and the scrutiny that debate would bring will not serve their purposes. Everyone needs to slow it down and take a breath, look into what is being proposed and cast an educated vote. Then, may the best ideas win.
Instead, the money went to a wide variety of special interest projects, many of which won't kick in for a couple more years. And, like the TARP last year, we don't even have any idea where much of it is going.
Now, at the same time that we are told Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor has the largest amount of experience of any recent nominee to the court, the Democrats insist the vote must take place soon. Any delay is obstructionist. And healthcare reform has to happen now, regardless of the cost, which may be between one and two trillion dollars, according to the OMB (the president's Office of Managemnent and Budget) and the CBO (Congressional Budget Office). This while we are looking at having a budget deficit which might approach two trillion dollars this year alone, and twelve trillion dollars total.
This approach, of pressing everyone into panic and rushed votes without time to investigate and debate the merits of opposing ideas, is used when someone feels that the light of day and the scrutiny that debate would bring will not serve their purposes. Everyone needs to slow it down and take a breath, look into what is being proposed and cast an educated vote. Then, may the best ideas win.
Good bye Ed
The passing of Ed McMahon reminds me of all the times my mom and I would sit up and watch the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and McMahon as his sidekick. They may have beat a few routines to death but, in my mind, they were the best of the late night talk shows and were representative of that other era many cherish and miss. Good bye, Ed and God bless.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Good for you Letterman
Monday night, after a week of playing around with the jokes he made about Sarah Palin and whichever daughter he thought he was joking about, David Letterman finally made the apology he owed to them. He did it right and that should be that.
Some others such as the National Organization for Women, who are normally critics of Palin and her politics, have criticized Letterman's jokes and they deserve credit for not being hypocrites, as they apparently recognized that the truth is the truth, whether the jokes were about a conservative and her family or a liberal and her family.
Others, such as a host of MSNBC commentators and thousands of bloggers and commenters on the Daily Kos or Media Matters or such, attacked Palin and defended Letterman's remarks and may have given us more evidence that they do not recognize truth, even when it is universal.
Some others such as the National Organization for Women, who are normally critics of Palin and her politics, have criticized Letterman's jokes and they deserve credit for not being hypocrites, as they apparently recognized that the truth is the truth, whether the jokes were about a conservative and her family or a liberal and her family.
Others, such as a host of MSNBC commentators and thousands of bloggers and commenters on the Daily Kos or Media Matters or such, attacked Palin and defended Letterman's remarks and may have given us more evidence that they do not recognize truth, even when it is universal.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
A game of feet
Providing a great contrast to my post on the National Hockey League Championship (below), the National Basketball Association championship final game saw the LA Lakers walk away with the championship, 99-86, over the Orlando Magic, and it was anything but exciting. There was none of the truly inspired play of the college March Madness, and the play seemed to be dominated by a lot of pushing, fouling and taking at least three steps on a drive to the basket without dribbling, so that I don't even recognize it as the game I used to play, rule-wise. I suppose they make a lot more money, than I did (Zero dollars), so they can be given the "benefit of the doubt". But they have stretched it too far for me to understand. The entertainment value is what I feel has fallen.
Friday, June 12, 2009
A game of not even an inch
I just watched the end of the game 7 deciding match for the Stanley Cup between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings. The Penguins led 2-0 late in the game, but Detroit started pounding the goal and scored with less than six minutes remaining to make it 2-1. Detroit then increased their offensive blitz and at 2:07 remaining in the game a shot went past the Pittsburgh goalie and bounced downward and back out off the top iron bar of the goal. This means if it had been less than an inch lower it would have most likely clicked off the bottom of that crossbar and into the goal.
The Red Wings continued to control the puck and fire shots at the goal right up until the game ended, with the Penguins holding on to win, 2-1. A truly exciting finish to a great seven game series. I noticed that the general manager of the Penguins is the son of Fred Shero, who coached the Philadelphia Flyers to two Stanley Cups in the 1970's. I still remember running up Broad Street during the victory parade, wearing a Flyers jersey and holding my hockey stick high. How many Pittsburgh fans will relive this excitement this week?
The Red Wings continued to control the puck and fire shots at the goal right up until the game ended, with the Penguins holding on to win, 2-1. A truly exciting finish to a great seven game series. I noticed that the general manager of the Penguins is the son of Fred Shero, who coached the Philadelphia Flyers to two Stanley Cups in the 1970's. I still remember running up Broad Street during the victory parade, wearing a Flyers jersey and holding my hockey stick high. How many Pittsburgh fans will relive this excitement this week?
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Time to look in the mirror?
As I believe I have mentioned on this blog, I listen to and watch wayyyy too many news and political shows from all sides of the political spectrum. I am constantly amazed at how it is those on the left who sincerely ask me how I can possibly listen to the shows which are on the conservative side, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, etc. They tell me these commentators just preach hate and they never listen to them or watch their shows. I usually waste my time telling them that I don't think you can really know what the person says if you never listen to them. The most recent person told me they know because Keith Olbermann plays clips from their shows.
However, this post is about how the same side which tells me what I should never watch or listen to is also the side which would tell you they are the most tolerant and want diversity. Unfathomable how they can call this logic. And this same side, the left, or liberals, have told me for years how they are for womens' rights, for women being able to do anything a man can do....unless they are a conservative, of course. I have seen at least a dozen long and short interviews with Sarah Palin and, though you might not agree with her political opinions, she is not a stupid woman. Yet she has been belittled and slandered for the past year by those who are so tolerant, so supportive of women.
The onslaught of reporters and comedians trying to find anything they can use to ridicule Palin before the election and since has been disgusting. The left has trashed her daughters, something which I've never heard conservatives do. I've even heard the crude remarks about her daughters defended, since Palin is "using them for political publicity". How would these same people react if conservatives had been so vulgar about Chelsea Clinton, or if they choose to speak so crassly about Obama's daughters.
What I have learned about the left in the past 10-20 years is that, if you disagree with them politically, it is worse for you if you are a woman or a minority, for you must be some kind of traitor or idiot and you are definitely a threat, since people might realize that not all women or minorities have to agree on everything; they can think for themselves. Now it seems it's also bad news to be a child of a woman or minority who dares to disagree with the correct political dogma.
However, this post is about how the same side which tells me what I should never watch or listen to is also the side which would tell you they are the most tolerant and want diversity. Unfathomable how they can call this logic. And this same side, the left, or liberals, have told me for years how they are for womens' rights, for women being able to do anything a man can do....unless they are a conservative, of course. I have seen at least a dozen long and short interviews with Sarah Palin and, though you might not agree with her political opinions, she is not a stupid woman. Yet she has been belittled and slandered for the past year by those who are so tolerant, so supportive of women.
The onslaught of reporters and comedians trying to find anything they can use to ridicule Palin before the election and since has been disgusting. The left has trashed her daughters, something which I've never heard conservatives do. I've even heard the crude remarks about her daughters defended, since Palin is "using them for political publicity". How would these same people react if conservatives had been so vulgar about Chelsea Clinton, or if they choose to speak so crassly about Obama's daughters.
What I have learned about the left in the past 10-20 years is that, if you disagree with them politically, it is worse for you if you are a woman or a minority, for you must be some kind of traitor or idiot and you are definitely a threat, since people might realize that not all women or minorities have to agree on everything; they can think for themselves. Now it seems it's also bad news to be a child of a woman or minority who dares to disagree with the correct political dogma.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
An example
As an example of my point of view on terrorism and terrorists, I offer the following. If two people are neighbors and they have a great disagreement over something, anything, they may decide to fight over the issue. They may sue each other, or they may have a fist fight out in the street, perhaps even using weapons to "settle" their argument. One might not like to see the violence, but they are facing off, sometimes referred to as mano a mano.
On the other hand, if person one instead waits until person two has left their home to go to work, etc. and then sneaks over to the other house and murders the family of person two, person one is a terrorist, with no honor and no right to claim any of humanities defenses.
Some may view this as equivalent to the British marching in formation while the American revolutionaries hid behind trees. Is it just playing by Marquis de Queensbury rules, while your opponent wins at any cost? If this approach is embraced by the nations and societies of the world, they invite the beast into their own houses, for their is no limit to the depths this type of fighting can sink to. The American Revolutionaries did not sneak behind trees to blow up children at school or British familes while they attended church. They fought against an army to whom they were opposed.
International laws, such as the Geneva Conventions, have made this distinction for good reason. It is in no nation or societies' best interests to coddle those who care not for common decency, who intentionally injure the innocent. Those laws have allowed the summary execution of such terrorists. In the interest of protecting the innocent, I support this approach.
On the other hand, if person one instead waits until person two has left their home to go to work, etc. and then sneaks over to the other house and murders the family of person two, person one is a terrorist, with no honor and no right to claim any of humanities defenses.
Some may view this as equivalent to the British marching in formation while the American revolutionaries hid behind trees. Is it just playing by Marquis de Queensbury rules, while your opponent wins at any cost? If this approach is embraced by the nations and societies of the world, they invite the beast into their own houses, for their is no limit to the depths this type of fighting can sink to. The American Revolutionaries did not sneak behind trees to blow up children at school or British familes while they attended church. They fought against an army to whom they were opposed.
International laws, such as the Geneva Conventions, have made this distinction for good reason. It is in no nation or societies' best interests to coddle those who care not for common decency, who intentionally injure the innocent. Those laws have allowed the summary execution of such terrorists. In the interest of protecting the innocent, I support this approach.
Another political act of terror
The killing of a security guard at the National Holocaust Museum today was one more example of a murder conducted by someone due to their political beliefs. It was another act of terror, just as the killing of the abortion doctor and the army recruiter were, and should be viewed as such. Though anyone may have sympathies to the left or right of the political spectrum, those who kill as terrorists do nothing to promote their supposed causes, and they are a scourge of society.
As I have discussed in this blog previously, someone who intentionally kills innocents is like a rabid beast, a threat to decent humans, and should be dealt with as such, to prevent them or others from doing further harm to innocent men, women and children. The terrorist's political leanings should not matter, left, right or in-between; they are devoid of any characteristics which have been protected by international laws. The society which allows rabid beasts to roam freely out of some misplaced sense of nobility and pride in its' tolerance, is a society which will die of its' own arrogant folly. It is a society which protects the beast and throws the innocents to the wolves.
As I have discussed in this blog previously, someone who intentionally kills innocents is like a rabid beast, a threat to decent humans, and should be dealt with as such, to prevent them or others from doing further harm to innocent men, women and children. The terrorist's political leanings should not matter, left, right or in-between; they are devoid of any characteristics which have been protected by international laws. The society which allows rabid beasts to roam freely out of some misplaced sense of nobility and pride in its' tolerance, is a society which will die of its' own arrogant folly. It is a society which protects the beast and throws the innocents to the wolves.
Pure muscle
Though I've lived in Carlisle, PA (the home of Cars at Carlisle car shows) for five years, last Saturday was the first time I've gone to one of the car shows at the fairgrounds. I took my nephew Nathan, who will be fourteen soon, because he is in love with Mustangs, and this was Ford Car Show weekend. There were certainly well over 1,000 Mustangs on display, from every year and style, plus racing Cobras and GT's. There were also hundreds of Cougars, Gran Torinos and anything else Ford from over the years.
Not only did we both love walking around seeing it all, but it brought up the subject of how all of the car companies and their divisions had their own distinct models. Not only did the cars have real style, they had their own unique look, assets which are becoming harder and harder to find. I was also struck by the hundreds of vendors selling parts of all kinds. I gather all of the shows are like this and, as such, are certainly a great day out.
Not only did we both love walking around seeing it all, but it brought up the subject of how all of the car companies and their divisions had their own distinct models. Not only did the cars have real style, they had their own unique look, assets which are becoming harder and harder to find. I was also struck by the hundreds of vendors selling parts of all kinds. I gather all of the shows are like this and, as such, are certainly a great day out.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Troubling
I find it troubling that so many who are so upset and expressing their outrage at the murder of the late-term abortion doctor George Tiller, including President Obama, are silent on the murder of Army recruiter, Private William Long, in Arkansas. A number of news outlets are not even mentioning Private Long's alleged killer's name, Abdul Hakim Mujahid Muhammad, or that he was a convert to Islam, though they find it important that Doctor Tiller's alleged killer, Scott Roeder, reportedly held extreme Christian views.
Both instances are murder, originating from the perpetrators' beliefs, and the biased reporting of news reporters or organizations serve only to lessen the esteem and trust which the public will have for such slanted sources of information. How smart do you really have to be to understand that fundamental reality? The President's double standard is difficult to explain, and I fear any explanation might be troubling.
Both instances are murder, originating from the perpetrators' beliefs, and the biased reporting of news reporters or organizations serve only to lessen the esteem and trust which the public will have for such slanted sources of information. How smart do you really have to be to understand that fundamental reality? The President's double standard is difficult to explain, and I fear any explanation might be troubling.
More of the same
Though I can understand why some are happy that President Obama chose a Latina woman as his choice for supreme court justice, I fear the choice was not inspired and more of the same. Regarding Sonia Sotomayor's leanings, there is no surprise that she is a liberal, or that, as with most of the liberal justices, she seems more inclined to view her job as an opportunity to decide the direction the law should head, rather than simply apply the law as written by the legislature. In addition, Judge Sotomayor is a graduate of Yale Law School and, as such, would join a court made up of seven other judges from Harvard or Yale. Only one justice is from any other law school, Northwestern. None of this will stand in the way of her being confirmed, as the Democrats have enough votes to see to it that she is and the Republicans would not stand in her way without extreme reason, as they have repeatedly demonstrated with nominees of past Democrat presidents.
Judge Sotomayor has made other comments which have raised concerns as to her objectivity on the bench but, barring some terrible revelation, she will be confirmed. I only hope she will see the wisdom in interpreting the laws' application to each case, not trying to make law. The legislature should make law and judges should apply it or decide when a passed law is unconstitutional. I would also hope she will remember that justice is supposed to be blind, basing any decisions on the law, not who a judge favors, for any reason other than the application of the law in question. Lastly, I would like any Supreme Court Justice to remember that those who wrote our constitution favored the states and individuals having powers, unless the power in question was expressly granted to the Federal Government, not the other way around.
If Judge Sotomayor follows these approaches, Republicans will be correct to raise no objection to her confirmation.
Judge Sotomayor has made other comments which have raised concerns as to her objectivity on the bench but, barring some terrible revelation, she will be confirmed. I only hope she will see the wisdom in interpreting the laws' application to each case, not trying to make law. The legislature should make law and judges should apply it or decide when a passed law is unconstitutional. I would also hope she will remember that justice is supposed to be blind, basing any decisions on the law, not who a judge favors, for any reason other than the application of the law in question. Lastly, I would like any Supreme Court Justice to remember that those who wrote our constitution favored the states and individuals having powers, unless the power in question was expressly granted to the Federal Government, not the other way around.
If Judge Sotomayor follows these approaches, Republicans will be correct to raise no objection to her confirmation.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Memorial Day - now that we've partied
A happy Memorial Day to every one. My father and his father both did what they had to do in World Wars II and I. My brother, sister and were fortunate enough to not have to go through the human agony of war. I wish all who have gone before and all those serving for the United States armed forces at this time the best and especially those severely injured or the families of those lost in battle. Many suffer in the extreme long after they have left the battlefield and some do not receive all of the care they need and deserve.
I offer the following places I have donated to as possible places you could assist in helping our soldiers and their families. Disabled American Veterans can be reached at P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250, or at http://www.dav.org/spring.
The Freedom Alliance helps the children of fallen soldiers, and features concerts at theme parks in the U.S. each summer. Sean Hannity and Oliver North host the events, which will be held at Houston, Dallas, San Diego, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Cincinnati, Atlanta and Jackson, NJ (Six Flags) this summer and feature performers such as Lee Greenwood, Michael W. Smith, Charlie Daniels and Billy Ray Cyrus and the cost, at Six Flags New Jersey at least, includes a day in the amusement park. You can donate, even without attending the concerts at Freedom Alliance, 22570 Markey Court, Suite 240, Dulles, Virginia 20166 or at http://www.freedomalliance.org/.
I offer the following places I have donated to as possible places you could assist in helping our soldiers and their families. Disabled American Veterans can be reached at P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250, or at http://www.dav.org/spring.
The Freedom Alliance helps the children of fallen soldiers, and features concerts at theme parks in the U.S. each summer. Sean Hannity and Oliver North host the events, which will be held at Houston, Dallas, San Diego, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Cincinnati, Atlanta and Jackson, NJ (Six Flags) this summer and feature performers such as Lee Greenwood, Michael W. Smith, Charlie Daniels and Billy Ray Cyrus and the cost, at Six Flags New Jersey at least, includes a day in the amusement park. You can donate, even without attending the concerts at Freedom Alliance, 22570 Markey Court, Suite 240, Dulles, Virginia 20166 or at http://www.freedomalliance.org/.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
What's missing from this salad?
Hey, how did I miss planting cucumbers? I think I realized cucumbers were missing from my garden when I helped my nephew, Nathan, transplant his cucumber plants which he had raised in little pots inside his house. I love cucumbers, so this is unforgivable, except that I can now plant them in mid-May and still have them. With lettuce, tomatoes, onions, peppers and cucumbers, the basics are covered, and my continuing love affair with soups and salads can continue.
Like puzzles?
Though I'm not a puzzle solver by nature, I found a site which could be interesting.
http://statspuzzles.blogspot.com/
I think the reason I'm not a puzzle solver is much like why I prefer certain types of computer games; I am not a person who likes to go through a maze, which is what most preformed games amount to. I like a game where you have many options and possible approaches, which I feel is most like real life, rather than a path, which must be traveled successfully. In computer games, most are the latter, where you must travel down a chute, with minor variations, and a relative few allow you the freedom to try an unlimited number of approaches which may lead to victory. Still, there are many ways to be challenged, and most articles I've read about avoiding Alzheimers speak of trying new things to keep your brain active to stay healthy.
http://statspuzzles.blogspot.com/
I think the reason I'm not a puzzle solver is much like why I prefer certain types of computer games; I am not a person who likes to go through a maze, which is what most preformed games amount to. I like a game where you have many options and possible approaches, which I feel is most like real life, rather than a path, which must be traveled successfully. In computer games, most are the latter, where you must travel down a chute, with minor variations, and a relative few allow you the freedom to try an unlimited number of approaches which may lead to victory. Still, there are many ways to be challenged, and most articles I've read about avoiding Alzheimers speak of trying new things to keep your brain active to stay healthy.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
What I've sown, will I so reap?
Nothing deeper intended here than a one-inch planted seed and some dug in potting soil and plants, as my garden is all planted and growing. I finished this morning with some bell peppers and three kinds of hot peppers, some more tomatoes, yellow squash, okra, pole beans and radishes. Things are looking good, but the proof is in the output.
My problem in my small backyard is getting enough sun, but I think that should be okay. I did some minor weeding today and will try to mulch soon as the plants grow a little bigger. The lettuce and collards are growing well, thanks to all of the rain we've had recently. It will be nice to go out and pick some things to eat.
My problem in my small backyard is getting enough sun, but I think that should be okay. I did some minor weeding today and will try to mulch soon as the plants grow a little bigger. The lettuce and collards are growing well, thanks to all of the rain we've had recently. It will be nice to go out and pick some things to eat.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
My new found political correctness
In reading another blog, which I have had a link to under my "exit stage left" section on the side of my page, I found that the author of the Daggatt Blog was chastising those who would dare question global climate change, evolution, his torture opinion or whether our approaches to economic depression in the 1930's or now were for the best. His posting suggested that those who hold opposing opinions are doing so without any facts and only a few kooks disagree with what is obviously the truth about these subjects.
This is truly what I have been talking about in my comments about political correctness and an unwillingness to engage in honest debate. Anyone who disagrees is an idiot and should be quiet.
Therefore, I left the following comment on his blog.
I must apologize for not having paid attention when the theory of evolution was declared gospel and, oh, that's right, Al Gore did tell me there could be no further discussion about 'global climate change'. Didn't the word warming have something to do with that at one time? Therefore, I must also be wrong about having the right to debate things such as the best way to combat economic depressions, etc.
Since it is now obvious to me that you have all the answers and can determine when everyone else is no longer permitted to dissent, I'll just check in with your blog and our new government when I need to know what to think. Thanks for correcting my objectionable behavior.
This is truly what I have been talking about in my comments about political correctness and an unwillingness to engage in honest debate. Anyone who disagrees is an idiot and should be quiet.
Therefore, I left the following comment on his blog.
I must apologize for not having paid attention when the theory of evolution was declared gospel and, oh, that's right, Al Gore did tell me there could be no further discussion about 'global climate change'. Didn't the word warming have something to do with that at one time? Therefore, I must also be wrong about having the right to debate things such as the best way to combat economic depressions, etc.
Since it is now obvious to me that you have all the answers and can determine when everyone else is no longer permitted to dissent, I'll just check in with your blog and our new government when I need to know what to think. Thanks for correcting my objectionable behavior.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Some thoughts
I would think that most people have thoughts from time to time about their own mortality or why they are here or even questions about the universe, all creatures great and small and the meaning of it all. What comes after we close our eyes for the last time is something I've thought about often and, though I believe in God and Jesus Christ, I have struggled over the years with what I really believe beyond that.
Perhaps in pursuit of an answer to the question of what I believe, I have spent a good deal of time these past few years in discussions with people about their beliefs, their religions. I respect all who have come to a belief for what they hold to be good reasons. I do not happen to respect those who feel it is their job to force their opinions or beliefs on others.
Occasionally, moments of rare feelings have occurred. Though I have often felt I have much to be thankful for, just the other day I experienced a full blown feeling of appreciation for God having given me the opportunity to have lived my life. It is difficult to explain what this felt like, but the feeling reinforced both my beliefs and my awe of a universe which defies understanding.
Perhaps in pursuit of an answer to the question of what I believe, I have spent a good deal of time these past few years in discussions with people about their beliefs, their religions. I respect all who have come to a belief for what they hold to be good reasons. I do not happen to respect those who feel it is their job to force their opinions or beliefs on others.
Occasionally, moments of rare feelings have occurred. Though I have often felt I have much to be thankful for, just the other day I experienced a full blown feeling of appreciation for God having given me the opportunity to have lived my life. It is difficult to explain what this felt like, but the feeling reinforced both my beliefs and my awe of a universe which defies understanding.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Life's lessons
This is something I thought you might like to read.
There was a Chemistry professor in a large college that had some Exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab the Prof noticed one young man (exchange student) who kept rubbing his back And stretching as if his back hurt.The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist government.
In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and asked a strange question. He asked,'Do you know how to catch wild pigs?'The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line.The young man said this was no joke. 'You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyday to eat the free corn. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in the last side. The pigs, who are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat, you slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd. Suddenly, the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity.
The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening to America.The government keeps pushing us toward Communism/Socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, etc. while we continually lose our freedoms- just a little at a time.One should always remember 'There is no such thing as a free Lunch!' Also, 'You can never hire someone to provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself.
My thanks for the above to Stormin' Norman at http://normanhooben.blogspot.com/
There was a Chemistry professor in a large college that had some Exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab the Prof noticed one young man (exchange student) who kept rubbing his back And stretching as if his back hurt.The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist government.
In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and asked a strange question. He asked,'Do you know how to catch wild pigs?'The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line.The young man said this was no joke. 'You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyday to eat the free corn. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in the last side. The pigs, who are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat, you slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd. Suddenly, the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity.
The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening to America.The government keeps pushing us toward Communism/Socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, etc. while we continually lose our freedoms- just a little at a time.One should always remember 'There is no such thing as a free Lunch!' Also, 'You can never hire someone to provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself.
My thanks for the above to Stormin' Norman at http://normanhooben.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Torture? Really?
Simply put, this is a prime example of a sliding scale..... Not only is flipping a lit cigarette butt in your direction and uncomfortable positions and situations now considered torture, but techniques long considered "rough handling" are now called torture by those who are really either trying to reap political hay or have been against the U.S. war stature all along. In addition, lawyers are suddenly threatened with criminal prosecution for giving their opinions to the President and a sitting judge on the ninth circuit of the Federal Appeals Court finds himself threatened with the same for his opinions when he was a lawyer for the President.
This is not only the work of fanatics, who have only political ends in mind, but also the fantasies of those who have not thoroughly thought out the results of their actions..... namely the undermining of our defenses, for no good purpose. To actually consider our actions during the last eight years, when we were dealing with non-uniformed illegal combatants, to rise to the level of Nazi concentration camps or other countries' true butchery or tortuous activities is, to my thinking, a farce not to be taken seriously. The fact that our country is taking these accusations seriously and airing them publicly is either a desperate attempt to discount the accusations or a foolish move which will weaken our ability to defend against enemies who will not appreciate our apologies and would never respond with decent treatment of our troops who are captured. This is not a war against countries or leaders who share any of our higher values. It is a war against non-uniformed illegal combatants; terrorists.
Abu Ghraib was an example of stupid and silly treatment of prisoners, who were ill treated and embarrassed without any legitimate purpose, and those who participated in the mistreatment were prosecuted. Those who act in obviously illegal ways should be dealt with. Otherwise, we now seem to think we must look at every action of every individual while at war, and look back at those actions to determine whether they should be prosecuted. Whether this is done to soldiers' battle actions or lawyers' opinions, it is guaranteed to intimidate many from performing their duties to previous levels of excellence. So we are doing this for what purpose?
This is not only the work of fanatics, who have only political ends in mind, but also the fantasies of those who have not thoroughly thought out the results of their actions..... namely the undermining of our defenses, for no good purpose. To actually consider our actions during the last eight years, when we were dealing with non-uniformed illegal combatants, to rise to the level of Nazi concentration camps or other countries' true butchery or tortuous activities is, to my thinking, a farce not to be taken seriously. The fact that our country is taking these accusations seriously and airing them publicly is either a desperate attempt to discount the accusations or a foolish move which will weaken our ability to defend against enemies who will not appreciate our apologies and would never respond with decent treatment of our troops who are captured. This is not a war against countries or leaders who share any of our higher values. It is a war against non-uniformed illegal combatants; terrorists.
Abu Ghraib was an example of stupid and silly treatment of prisoners, who were ill treated and embarrassed without any legitimate purpose, and those who participated in the mistreatment were prosecuted. Those who act in obviously illegal ways should be dealt with. Otherwise, we now seem to think we must look at every action of every individual while at war, and look back at those actions to determine whether they should be prosecuted. Whether this is done to soldiers' battle actions or lawyers' opinions, it is guaranteed to intimidate many from performing their duties to previous levels of excellence. So we are doing this for what purpose?
Sunday, April 19, 2009
You say tomato, I say we got 'em
I have tomatoes! As of April 17th, one of my tomato plants had three very small tomatoes. At this rate, I should have edible tomatoes by May. I have been bringing the plants in most nights, as the temperatures have dipped into the mid-thirties. Usually, I don't see tomatoes on my plants until July, so this method is great.
I tried putting mothballs around my garden to keep the possum, or whatever, from eating my young collards and lettuce and it seems to be working. before I put out the mothballs, I was losing one plant a night.
I tried putting mothballs around my garden to keep the possum, or whatever, from eating my young collards and lettuce and it seems to be working. before I put out the mothballs, I was losing one plant a night.
Why lawyers shouldn't be protected by the Geneva Convention
The title to this post is simply to note how those who engage in legal language, whether at the local, state, federal or international level, rarely state things in a clear concise way. This obfuscation is the main cause of never ending debate over the real meaning of laws and treaties and is a disservice to all.
Such is true of the Geneva Conventions, the documents which have been referenced repeatedly in relation to the questions of the status and treatment terrorists and non-uniformed fighters in recent years. However, the documents do have enough clarity to settle one question. To make this as simple as I possibly can, it is my opinion that the following Geneva Convention passage applies to these terrorists and would mean they are not given protections under the Geneva Convention.
Prisoners of war, in the sense of the present Convention, are persons belonging to one of the following categories, who have fallen into the power of the enemy:
Such is true of the Geneva Conventions, the documents which have been referenced repeatedly in relation to the questions of the status and treatment terrorists and non-uniformed fighters in recent years. However, the documents do have enough clarity to settle one question. To make this as simple as I possibly can, it is my opinion that the following Geneva Convention passage applies to these terrorists and would mean they are not given protections under the Geneva Convention.
Prisoners of war, in the sense of the present Convention, are persons belonging to one of the following categories, who have fallen into the power of the enemy:
- Members of the armed forces of a Party to the conflict as well as members of militias or volunteer corps forming part of such armed forces.
- Members of other militias and members of other volunteer corps, including those of organized resistance movements, belonging to a Party to the conflict and operating in or outside their own territory, even if this territory is occupied, provided that such militias or volunteer corps, including such organized resistance movements, fulfil the following conditions:
- That of being commanded by a person responsible for his subordinates;
- That of having a fixed distinctive sign recognizable at a distance;
- That of carrying arms openly;
- That of conducting their operations in accordance with the laws and customs of war."
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Sailing into the pirates
I, for one, was glad to see President Obama give the green light to the Navy to go after the pirates who held the captain of the Maersk Alabama. However, this brought about an unusual situation for me and a dilemma for the president.
The evening after the Navy Seals rescued the captain, I found myself disagreeing with Sean Hannity, of Fox News, when he said he thought that President Obama jumped too quickly to take credit for the rescue, when his approach was the natural course for a president to follow. As I am used to agreeing with most of Sean's points of view, his opinion troubled me, but I believe he is actually upset with Obama's overall approach to the security of our nation and our approach to countries such as Iran and North Korea and that he found that the notion of complimenting Obama stuck in his throat.
The same evening, I agreed with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, when she said if President Obama was right to close Guantanimo Bay and oppose long confinement of detainees without access to a court's ruling on the legality of their confinement, then the Obama must be wrong to insist on confining detainees without the same rights at Baghram Air Force Base in Afghanistan. Obama's administration has now appealed a judge's ruling that detainees at Baghram must have access to a court to test the legality of their confinement. Maddow, an Air America talk show host, is usually miles to the left of me, and I found her good for the goose, good for the gander approach to this subject refreshing. I don't agree that we have to give such rights to terrorists, but I agreed with her that the president should be consistent in his approach.
As much as I appreciate the work of the Navy Seal snipers in killing the pirates and rescuing the captain, this is a very complicated situation and is already escalating in ways which cannot be thrilling Obama. Should we attack the pirates bases on land in Somalia, which is a large country with a huge seacoast? There is virtually no government of Somalia to speak of, and the pirates are almost certainly living among the general populace.
At present, sea laws and the laws of some countries complicate the arming of these large vessels' crews. Getting cooperation to attack the pirates hideouts or arm the crews would be very difficult. But the pirates have received hundreds of millions of dollars in ransom in recent years and some of that money may be going to fund terrorists.
The best solution I have heard is similar to the air marshall plan we use on airliners. The armed sea marshalls would board random transport vessels, so the pirates would not know if a ship they were trying to hijack was protected by sea marshalls or not. I would have more than one marshall per team, so that there would be enough "firepower" to defend against pirate attacks. It may not be a perfect plan, but it should cost much less than defending so many ships with Navy vessels and crews. It might also avoid the need to attack the pirates' bases.
The evening after the Navy Seals rescued the captain, I found myself disagreeing with Sean Hannity, of Fox News, when he said he thought that President Obama jumped too quickly to take credit for the rescue, when his approach was the natural course for a president to follow. As I am used to agreeing with most of Sean's points of view, his opinion troubled me, but I believe he is actually upset with Obama's overall approach to the security of our nation and our approach to countries such as Iran and North Korea and that he found that the notion of complimenting Obama stuck in his throat.
The same evening, I agreed with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, when she said if President Obama was right to close Guantanimo Bay and oppose long confinement of detainees without access to a court's ruling on the legality of their confinement, then the Obama must be wrong to insist on confining detainees without the same rights at Baghram Air Force Base in Afghanistan. Obama's administration has now appealed a judge's ruling that detainees at Baghram must have access to a court to test the legality of their confinement. Maddow, an Air America talk show host, is usually miles to the left of me, and I found her good for the goose, good for the gander approach to this subject refreshing. I don't agree that we have to give such rights to terrorists, but I agreed with her that the president should be consistent in his approach.
As much as I appreciate the work of the Navy Seal snipers in killing the pirates and rescuing the captain, this is a very complicated situation and is already escalating in ways which cannot be thrilling Obama. Should we attack the pirates bases on land in Somalia, which is a large country with a huge seacoast? There is virtually no government of Somalia to speak of, and the pirates are almost certainly living among the general populace.
At present, sea laws and the laws of some countries complicate the arming of these large vessels' crews. Getting cooperation to attack the pirates hideouts or arm the crews would be very difficult. But the pirates have received hundreds of millions of dollars in ransom in recent years and some of that money may be going to fund terrorists.
The best solution I have heard is similar to the air marshall plan we use on airliners. The armed sea marshalls would board random transport vessels, so the pirates would not know if a ship they were trying to hijack was protected by sea marshalls or not. I would have more than one marshall per team, so that there would be enough "firepower" to defend against pirate attacks. It may not be a perfect plan, but it should cost much less than defending so many ships with Navy vessels and crews. It might also avoid the need to attack the pirates' bases.
Of tea parties and mad hatters
I have to admit I have gotten a kick out of most of the media's approach to the tea parties which are being held around the country today (April 15th). The same reporters and networks who, in the past, have marveled at turnouts for causes they supported, are absolutely beside themselves with loathing for the tea parties. I've heard numerous references to the tea parties not being grass roots, being instead funded by the very rich, or conservative foundations, or the republican party. Not once did I see any reference to who exactly was supposedly doing the funding. Details don't seem to matter in this case, just the smear.
What a surprise that the talking heads who went so far out of their way to impugn the reputations of anyone who opposed Barack Obama last year would express disdain for Americans who actually might disagree with the economic policies of the federal government, not just this year, but in recent years. Many of those who are speaking out against the rampant spending and debt and power centralization by the federal government were also complaining about those same things last year when the president was named Bush. Most republicans have voted against the huge spending bills beginning last fall and almost all democrats have voted for them. Many republicans, democrats, independents, liberals and conservatives are concerned about the massive deficit spending and what it may do to our dollar, our country and future generations.
None of that matters for those self-appointed guardians of Obama as they make it more obvious every day that their focus is not the truth or the well being of Americans; rather it is to prop up their ideological commitments at any cost. If someone is right simply because they support one person's policies and wrong simply because they oppose the policies of that person, then it is a question of whose team you are on, not who actually happens to be right or wrong at that given moment. You can keep that approach. I reject it, whether it is the approach of liberals or conservatives. More accurately, it seems the approach of a mad hatter.
What a surprise that the talking heads who went so far out of their way to impugn the reputations of anyone who opposed Barack Obama last year would express disdain for Americans who actually might disagree with the economic policies of the federal government, not just this year, but in recent years. Many of those who are speaking out against the rampant spending and debt and power centralization by the federal government were also complaining about those same things last year when the president was named Bush. Most republicans have voted against the huge spending bills beginning last fall and almost all democrats have voted for them. Many republicans, democrats, independents, liberals and conservatives are concerned about the massive deficit spending and what it may do to our dollar, our country and future generations.
None of that matters for those self-appointed guardians of Obama as they make it more obvious every day that their focus is not the truth or the well being of Americans; rather it is to prop up their ideological commitments at any cost. If someone is right simply because they support one person's policies and wrong simply because they oppose the policies of that person, then it is a question of whose team you are on, not who actually happens to be right or wrong at that given moment. You can keep that approach. I reject it, whether it is the approach of liberals or conservatives. More accurately, it seems the approach of a mad hatter.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Planting a garden?
If you live in Florida, gardening began months ago, and this post is too late for you. In Pennsylvania though, this is the time to start preparing and even planting. If you've never planted your own garden, there are a few reasons you might find it worthwhile. This post will talk about those reasons and go over a few gardening tips.
Picking vegetables from your own garden can give you that feeling of accomplishment experienced only after having built something of which you can be proud. And it's true that it is difficult to find anything as juicy or tasty in the supermarkets, who sell products that have been grown to survive packing and shipping long distances. I've enjoyed the smell of tomato plants as I pick through (or weed around) them.
In our modern life, we not only don't take the time to grow our own foods, we are completely losing the knowledge and ability to grow our own foods. If things get really bad, we might regret being this vulnerable. It's not that difficult to figure out the basics, practice a little, weed a bit and, before you know it, enjoy a garden of your own.
In determining when to plant, it does matter where you live. There are a number of zones, shown on the back of seed packs and planting too early can risk frost damage or plants that don't grow well in weather too hot or cold for them. In Pennsylvania, now is a good time to start things like tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers in starter pots, so they can be planted outside in May. Lettuce, onions and cool weather crops like broccoli, cauliflower and spinach can be planted now and will do better than if you waited until later. Last frost in Pennsylvania can be as late as some time in May.
Most plants like a lot of sun, but some things, like lettuce, tolerate a good bit of shade. Seed packs usually tell you this kind of information. You may prefer buying little containers of plants already started, which can be more dependable than growing from seed and onion sets can be purchased about this time giving you scallions and eventually full onions. You can even plant every couple weeks to spread out when the vegetables mature.
You don't have to plant a huge plot, but don't crowd too many plants in your space if you can avoid it. Some tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, radishes, beans, squash and peppers (bell and hot) are the most popular and seem to grow best. Carrots from the garden are good, but I've found them difficult to grow and definitely don't transplant them from starter pots. Melons and pumpkins can also grow well, but take a lot of space. Pumpkins and other cooler crops should not be planted until mid-summer, so they don't take too much heat.
Beans and cucumbers may like growing on support stakes or strings, but this is a learning curve, since each plant is different, so I usually have just let them grow without support. If you are planting corn, you need a good number of plants in at least several rows, like a block of plants, to improve the pollination by bees. Without a correct approach on this, corn planting is a frustrating experience.
Soil acidity is not usually a problem, but vegetables usually like a soil ph of 6 to 7. Inexpensive soil acidity testers can be purchased if this is a problem, such as planting where evergreen needles have created a very acid soil over the years. Using compost and even composted cow manure, peat moss or good topsoil mixed in the garden can produce a soil rich in nutrients and moisture holding qualities. Fertilizing helps and the stores all have products which could be applied moderately every few weeks.
Lastly, I try to mulch, especially since weeding can be a chore that discourages many gardeners. Straw and grass clippings can be placed between and around the plants to keep the ground moist and the weeds down. Strips of black plastic can work, but I prefer the more natural approaches. A mulched garden works better, takes less weeding and helps keep gardening fun.
Picking vegetables from your own garden can give you that feeling of accomplishment experienced only after having built something of which you can be proud. And it's true that it is difficult to find anything as juicy or tasty in the supermarkets, who sell products that have been grown to survive packing and shipping long distances. I've enjoyed the smell of tomato plants as I pick through (or weed around) them.
In our modern life, we not only don't take the time to grow our own foods, we are completely losing the knowledge and ability to grow our own foods. If things get really bad, we might regret being this vulnerable. It's not that difficult to figure out the basics, practice a little, weed a bit and, before you know it, enjoy a garden of your own.
In determining when to plant, it does matter where you live. There are a number of zones, shown on the back of seed packs and planting too early can risk frost damage or plants that don't grow well in weather too hot or cold for them. In Pennsylvania, now is a good time to start things like tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers in starter pots, so they can be planted outside in May. Lettuce, onions and cool weather crops like broccoli, cauliflower and spinach can be planted now and will do better than if you waited until later. Last frost in Pennsylvania can be as late as some time in May.
Most plants like a lot of sun, but some things, like lettuce, tolerate a good bit of shade. Seed packs usually tell you this kind of information. You may prefer buying little containers of plants already started, which can be more dependable than growing from seed and onion sets can be purchased about this time giving you scallions and eventually full onions. You can even plant every couple weeks to spread out when the vegetables mature.
You don't have to plant a huge plot, but don't crowd too many plants in your space if you can avoid it. Some tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, radishes, beans, squash and peppers (bell and hot) are the most popular and seem to grow best. Carrots from the garden are good, but I've found them difficult to grow and definitely don't transplant them from starter pots. Melons and pumpkins can also grow well, but take a lot of space. Pumpkins and other cooler crops should not be planted until mid-summer, so they don't take too much heat.
Beans and cucumbers may like growing on support stakes or strings, but this is a learning curve, since each plant is different, so I usually have just let them grow without support. If you are planting corn, you need a good number of plants in at least several rows, like a block of plants, to improve the pollination by bees. Without a correct approach on this, corn planting is a frustrating experience.
Soil acidity is not usually a problem, but vegetables usually like a soil ph of 6 to 7. Inexpensive soil acidity testers can be purchased if this is a problem, such as planting where evergreen needles have created a very acid soil over the years. Using compost and even composted cow manure, peat moss or good topsoil mixed in the garden can produce a soil rich in nutrients and moisture holding qualities. Fertilizing helps and the stores all have products which could be applied moderately every few weeks.
Lastly, I try to mulch, especially since weeding can be a chore that discourages many gardeners. Straw and grass clippings can be placed between and around the plants to keep the ground moist and the weeds down. Strips of black plastic can work, but I prefer the more natural approaches. A mulched garden works better, takes less weeding and helps keep gardening fun.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Just the facts, please
This is not a post about President Barack Obama. Let us assume we can take him at his word concerning his relationship with William Ayers, the present day professor who admits to being a member of the Weather Underground and to bombing buildings.
This is a post about William Ayers. There is no statute of limitations for a murder charge. Please read this http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2219320/posts and comment as you see fit.
This is a post about William Ayers. There is no statute of limitations for a murder charge. Please read this http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2219320/posts and comment as you see fit.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Why expose my eyes and ears to that?
Someone asked me why I am posting (on the left side of the page) internet links to the right and the left? It is really as simple as that I believe in hearing both sides of any story. I pray that any and everyone of us can see the difference if given the chance. My concern about echo chambers and group think has much to do with those who never risk hearing those they have been told are wrong.
I have twice been told that I am wrong because "You've been listening to Rush Limbaugh". I told them that I listened to a wide variety of opinions, but was sure they never listened to Rush Limbaugh. I have also heard and read a large number of left leaders and talk show hosts say they "never watch Fox News, because fox just lies and pimps for the right". They "never watch" and I'm supposed to believe they know what they are talking about. Sorry, but that tactic lost its effect in junior high school and if someone never watched a left-leaning show and said they knew what was on them, I'd be just as skeptical.
Left-right is not the real issue. I recently found myself amazed that I agreed with William Greider of The Nation when he wrote that "If Wall Street gets its way, the "reforms" may further consolidate power and ratify a corporate state--a grotesque hybrid that combines the worst aspects of socialism and capitalism. The reform ideas announced by Geithner (Treasury Secretary Geithner) would plant the seeds by creating a "systemic risk" regulator, presumably the Federal Reserve, to oversee the largest, most politically adept banks and financial firms that qualify as "too big to fail."
Greider felt we were risking much by consolidating the power of the government and Wall Street. He is on the left and I believe those thoughts are respected on the right. The important point is not right or left, rather it is right or wrong.
I have twice been told that I am wrong because "You've been listening to Rush Limbaugh". I told them that I listened to a wide variety of opinions, but was sure they never listened to Rush Limbaugh. I have also heard and read a large number of left leaders and talk show hosts say they "never watch Fox News, because fox just lies and pimps for the right". They "never watch" and I'm supposed to believe they know what they are talking about. Sorry, but that tactic lost its effect in junior high school and if someone never watched a left-leaning show and said they knew what was on them, I'd be just as skeptical.
Left-right is not the real issue. I recently found myself amazed that I agreed with William Greider of The Nation when he wrote that "If Wall Street gets its way, the "reforms" may further consolidate power and ratify a corporate state--a grotesque hybrid that combines the worst aspects of socialism and capitalism. The reform ideas announced by Geithner (Treasury Secretary Geithner) would plant the seeds by creating a "systemic risk" regulator, presumably the Federal Reserve, to oversee the largest, most politically adept banks and financial firms that qualify as "too big to fail."
Greider felt we were risking much by consolidating the power of the government and Wall Street. He is on the left and I believe those thoughts are respected on the right. The important point is not right or left, rather it is right or wrong.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
On liberal bias
In our culture, as I noted in my introductory post, it was 50 years ago when we moved from conservatism being politically correct toward and now into an opposite state of liberal political correctness. This has become especially obvious in our media and higher education.
A number of polls taken by institutions such as Pew since the 1990's have invariably shown professors and teachers to identify themselves as liberals and democrats at rates from 60 - 90 per cent. On our college campuses conservatives invited to speak have been shouted down, hit with pies and even refused the right to appear. Though some have protested the speaking appearances of those on the left, this level of censorship of their speaking engagements has not occurred.
The overall status of the media bias has been similar, with polled journalists considering themselves liberals and democrats by wide margins. Studies of the reporting done on politics in the media have also reflected this bias.
Bernard Goldberg has written a couple good books on the subject. Like myself, he states that 50 years ago he considered himself a liberal and has changed his point of view over time. He also shares my concerns over the danger this bias poses. Repeatedly over time I have read headlines on news stories which have a left tilt. In addition, Associated Press and New York Times articles not identified as opinion pieces are loaded with the reporter's opinions.
This is just bad journalism, inserting opinions when the who, what, when, why and how are called for and some believe this shabby approach accounts for a lot of the loss of newspaper circulation. The editorial and opinion pages are fair game, as are talk and opinion shows on television. But TV news reporters are more and more frequently inserting their opinions into their reports.
I had so much respect for Tim Russert, because he resisted the urge to wear his opinions on his sleeve. Instead he thought about what were the best questions to ask each guest and was widely respected as a result. This seems even more important in the classroom, where facts and opinions should not be confused, especially considering the relationship teachers have with their less experienced students. We've objected when youth movements have been propagandized by evil regimes. We should not look the other way because we are sure the propaganda is benign.
A person whom I view in an opposite light from Russert is Keith Olbermann, who though he is exercising his right as a talk/opinion show host to give you his slant, insists he is only giving you the true facts, not opinions. In addition, each show he has a number of guests. I have never seen him have one guest on who was not in tune with his echo chamber. Al Gore's approach to global warming is the same. He only speaks at places friendly to his point of view, will not debate those opposed to his views and has frequently stated there is no debate, the science is settled.
I have noted my concern over echo chambers, where everyone agrees on the issues and no one dares to challenge the accepted mantra. Once you believe you know all you need to know, you will guarantee you learn nothing more and are frozen in time with your opinions. If that wasn't a good idea 50 or 100 years ago, why is it a good idea now?
A number of polls taken by institutions such as Pew since the 1990's have invariably shown professors and teachers to identify themselves as liberals and democrats at rates from 60 - 90 per cent. On our college campuses conservatives invited to speak have been shouted down, hit with pies and even refused the right to appear. Though some have protested the speaking appearances of those on the left, this level of censorship of their speaking engagements has not occurred.
The overall status of the media bias has been similar, with polled journalists considering themselves liberals and democrats by wide margins. Studies of the reporting done on politics in the media have also reflected this bias.
Bernard Goldberg has written a couple good books on the subject. Like myself, he states that 50 years ago he considered himself a liberal and has changed his point of view over time. He also shares my concerns over the danger this bias poses. Repeatedly over time I have read headlines on news stories which have a left tilt. In addition, Associated Press and New York Times articles not identified as opinion pieces are loaded with the reporter's opinions.
This is just bad journalism, inserting opinions when the who, what, when, why and how are called for and some believe this shabby approach accounts for a lot of the loss of newspaper circulation. The editorial and opinion pages are fair game, as are talk and opinion shows on television. But TV news reporters are more and more frequently inserting their opinions into their reports.
I had so much respect for Tim Russert, because he resisted the urge to wear his opinions on his sleeve. Instead he thought about what were the best questions to ask each guest and was widely respected as a result. This seems even more important in the classroom, where facts and opinions should not be confused, especially considering the relationship teachers have with their less experienced students. We've objected when youth movements have been propagandized by evil regimes. We should not look the other way because we are sure the propaganda is benign.
A person whom I view in an opposite light from Russert is Keith Olbermann, who though he is exercising his right as a talk/opinion show host to give you his slant, insists he is only giving you the true facts, not opinions. In addition, each show he has a number of guests. I have never seen him have one guest on who was not in tune with his echo chamber. Al Gore's approach to global warming is the same. He only speaks at places friendly to his point of view, will not debate those opposed to his views and has frequently stated there is no debate, the science is settled.
I have noted my concern over echo chambers, where everyone agrees on the issues and no one dares to challenge the accepted mantra. Once you believe you know all you need to know, you will guarantee you learn nothing more and are frozen in time with your opinions. If that wasn't a good idea 50 or 100 years ago, why is it a good idea now?
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Please post your comments
As I post on more topics, please comment on them, as this can become a thread of discussion on the topic of the post. I believe in the value of a variety of viewpoints and in what I may gain from hearing them.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Friends and family
Though this post isn't about a cell phone payment plan, as with that plan, these are the people closest to us as we travel through our lives. Blood is thicker than water, and I have wondered at those who do not maintain close relationships with their siblings, parents or children. What do they miss out on, and of what treasures do they deprive their family members?
Still, I'm afraid in even this I can not be certain. For there are nearly seven billion of us living our lives on this planet and how many have lived throughout the ages? Each of us has seemingly lived our own unique existence and I have often wondered how we can truly understand what and why anyone else has felt, or what they believe. Many have been put upon in horrible ways by their closest family from a young age and others have been deprived by fate of ever experiencing a family and the benefits I, and others, have come to cherish.
From the time I can remember considering my good or bad fortune concerning family, I have believed that I have been incredibly blessed and have been thankful to the God I believe holds such fates in his hand. I have tried to be a good member of my family, deserving of the love and decency which has surrounded me. In many ways I feel I have failed, and I could not tell you whether this is just an example of my being too hard on myself or a necessary honesty. Yet, I know I have done some things right and for that I am grateful. For it is said that whom the gods would destroy, they would first make mad, and I feel that my disregard for or bad treatment of my family would be a sign of my insanity.
Perhaps similarly, Emerson said that the only way to have a friend is to be one. Again, I believe I can recognize quite a few failures on my part over the years mixed with genuine efforts to be a good friend to a number of souls I have met. These people have rewarded my efforts. I look back fondly at times, but also have moments where my thoughtless behavior haunts me.
Friendship has never meant finding a duplicate of myself and I don't think that would work well even if I did. But shared principles matter and almost must play a role in why friendships develop between people. Still, it has always seemed wise to me to try to remember a line from an old Pink Floyd song.... "If I was a good man, I'd understand the spaces between friends." This may actually explain a point I made in my introductory post where I am not looking for friends who are merely echo chambers for my point of view. In fact, I've often envied the idea of being able to have long conversations with a friend who at times challenged my beliefs and left me with something to ponder.
Such would be a good and worthy use of this blog.
Still, I'm afraid in even this I can not be certain. For there are nearly seven billion of us living our lives on this planet and how many have lived throughout the ages? Each of us has seemingly lived our own unique existence and I have often wondered how we can truly understand what and why anyone else has felt, or what they believe. Many have been put upon in horrible ways by their closest family from a young age and others have been deprived by fate of ever experiencing a family and the benefits I, and others, have come to cherish.
From the time I can remember considering my good or bad fortune concerning family, I have believed that I have been incredibly blessed and have been thankful to the God I believe holds such fates in his hand. I have tried to be a good member of my family, deserving of the love and decency which has surrounded me. In many ways I feel I have failed, and I could not tell you whether this is just an example of my being too hard on myself or a necessary honesty. Yet, I know I have done some things right and for that I am grateful. For it is said that whom the gods would destroy, they would first make mad, and I feel that my disregard for or bad treatment of my family would be a sign of my insanity.
Perhaps similarly, Emerson said that the only way to have a friend is to be one. Again, I believe I can recognize quite a few failures on my part over the years mixed with genuine efforts to be a good friend to a number of souls I have met. These people have rewarded my efforts. I look back fondly at times, but also have moments where my thoughtless behavior haunts me.
Friendship has never meant finding a duplicate of myself and I don't think that would work well even if I did. But shared principles matter and almost must play a role in why friendships develop between people. Still, it has always seemed wise to me to try to remember a line from an old Pink Floyd song.... "If I was a good man, I'd understand the spaces between friends." This may actually explain a point I made in my introductory post where I am not looking for friends who are merely echo chambers for my point of view. In fact, I've often envied the idea of being able to have long conversations with a friend who at times challenged my beliefs and left me with something to ponder.
Such would be a good and worthy use of this blog.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
This second part of my first introduction (below) is simply to add that I have found that most of my old friends live in an echo chamber. I still consider them friends, but they have told me that they rely on a select few sources for their news and opinion. Those sources have all been liberal.
If someone only listens to Rush Limbaugh and gets their info and opinions from that source, they will be a conservative. The opposite is also true, but my friends from the old days do not seem to see this.I did some work for a person who worked at a big hospital research facility. After our discussion of politics, he told me he had heard that people held my views, but he had never met anyone who did. Still, he did not feel he was only hearing one side of the story.
I will not be surprised or offended by people's views expressed here. I only hope the people who express them have not just repeated something without having tried to see if there was more to the story. This is not personal, rather it is important for the same reasons it was important in late-1700's America.
If someone only listens to Rush Limbaugh and gets their info and opinions from that source, they will be a conservative. The opposite is also true, but my friends from the old days do not seem to see this.I did some work for a person who worked at a big hospital research facility. After our discussion of politics, he told me he had heard that people held my views, but he had never met anyone who did. Still, he did not feel he was only hearing one side of the story.
I will not be surprised or offended by people's views expressed here. I only hope the people who express them have not just repeated something without having tried to see if there was more to the story. This is not personal, rather it is important for the same reasons it was important in late-1700's America.
My generation
I came of age in the middle of the United States' "cultural revolution", the late 1960's and early 1970's. Though the 'revolution' has continued since then, this was the heart of the rebellion. Sex, drugs and rock-and-roll and not trusting anyone over thirty were the mindsets and I have to admit that not many were able to resist the groupthink.
Abortion had just become legal due to Roe v. Wade and the pill had just made the scene. "I am curious yellow" was actually shown at your neighborhood movie theater and Timothy Leary became an almost acceptable university professor. Revolution was indeed in the air and no one seemed willing to continue with the 'status quo'. I was totally immersed in this revolution.
As we move into the 21st century, it is easy to see some of the results of this revolution, and this will be part of the focus of this blog as we go forward. But, there is an angle relative to the sixties and this time which I feel is overlooked. Prior to the sixties, political correctness existed from the other side, the conservative side, and no one could break any of the taboos about a list of social facets without suffering greatly at the hands of the majority. The reason most often given for our revolution of 40 years ago was that we could think for ourselves; we did not need to all follow the same marching orders, choose your own hair length and points of view.... in short, there was no need for us to regurgitate the same 'groupthink'.
My problem in 2009 is that I believe my generation rejected the politically correct guidelines they felt were repressive and embraced the opposing views in our society, which happened to be those of the left. At that point they rested and have not tried very hard to be sure they are on the right page. They are now part of the "new flock" and content that they chose the 'right' direction years ago.
This would all be okay if you could trust anyone implicitly, but just like hackers or hustlers of any kind, when you fix one leak they will come at you another way, with the goal of taking advantage of or controlling you. I have been on a constant media and financial market scouring mission since the mid-1990's and, truthfully, I do not know anyone else who has taken this approach. I understand why others do not try to access a constant variety of opinions and aspects of what is going on, but I have found they are then subject to the same few voices to tell them what is going on.
This may indeed show how I am crazy, but it also allows me to hear many points of view. I listen to the Air America types and the Fox News team, as well as MSNBC, Rush Limbaugh, CNN, Glenn Beck, Larry Kudlow and PBS (like NewsHour with Jim Lehrer or the BBC). I hear things most people never hear, and I'll finish this piece with an example of this. Several days after the 9/11 attacks I was listening to Terry Gross (the show Fresh Air) on National Public Radio and she had Michael Moore on as a guest. He was saying we should not attack Afghanistan (the Taliban) over Osama bin Laden, because we would just be trying to control pipelines through Afghanistan and we should exercise "restraint". In 2003, when we were going to invade Iraq, I heard Michael Moore on the Howard Stern Show, saying that he was against the invasion of Iraq, but reassuring Howard that, indeed, he had been all for the invasion of Afghanistan, as it was justified. This baloney was most likely heard by few considering the different shows on which Moore had been on.
I welcome any comments on this and future posts. The process here will be to deal with general philosophies as well as current events. The goal will be to truly understand life, overall and how it is immediately playing out. Rob
Abortion had just become legal due to Roe v. Wade and the pill had just made the scene. "I am curious yellow" was actually shown at your neighborhood movie theater and Timothy Leary became an almost acceptable university professor. Revolution was indeed in the air and no one seemed willing to continue with the 'status quo'. I was totally immersed in this revolution.
As we move into the 21st century, it is easy to see some of the results of this revolution, and this will be part of the focus of this blog as we go forward. But, there is an angle relative to the sixties and this time which I feel is overlooked. Prior to the sixties, political correctness existed from the other side, the conservative side, and no one could break any of the taboos about a list of social facets without suffering greatly at the hands of the majority. The reason most often given for our revolution of 40 years ago was that we could think for ourselves; we did not need to all follow the same marching orders, choose your own hair length and points of view.... in short, there was no need for us to regurgitate the same 'groupthink'.
My problem in 2009 is that I believe my generation rejected the politically correct guidelines they felt were repressive and embraced the opposing views in our society, which happened to be those of the left. At that point they rested and have not tried very hard to be sure they are on the right page. They are now part of the "new flock" and content that they chose the 'right' direction years ago.
This would all be okay if you could trust anyone implicitly, but just like hackers or hustlers of any kind, when you fix one leak they will come at you another way, with the goal of taking advantage of or controlling you. I have been on a constant media and financial market scouring mission since the mid-1990's and, truthfully, I do not know anyone else who has taken this approach. I understand why others do not try to access a constant variety of opinions and aspects of what is going on, but I have found they are then subject to the same few voices to tell them what is going on.
This may indeed show how I am crazy, but it also allows me to hear many points of view. I listen to the Air America types and the Fox News team, as well as MSNBC, Rush Limbaugh, CNN, Glenn Beck, Larry Kudlow and PBS (like NewsHour with Jim Lehrer or the BBC). I hear things most people never hear, and I'll finish this piece with an example of this. Several days after the 9/11 attacks I was listening to Terry Gross (the show Fresh Air) on National Public Radio and she had Michael Moore on as a guest. He was saying we should not attack Afghanistan (the Taliban) over Osama bin Laden, because we would just be trying to control pipelines through Afghanistan and we should exercise "restraint". In 2003, when we were going to invade Iraq, I heard Michael Moore on the Howard Stern Show, saying that he was against the invasion of Iraq, but reassuring Howard that, indeed, he had been all for the invasion of Afghanistan, as it was justified. This baloney was most likely heard by few considering the different shows on which Moore had been on.
I welcome any comments on this and future posts. The process here will be to deal with general philosophies as well as current events. The goal will be to truly understand life, overall and how it is immediately playing out. Rob
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