We recently hosted a family barbecue. As I usually do, I took out my digital camera and started shooting at whatever moved or looked like an interesting grouping. The kids run around so much, most of my pictures are puzzlingly vapid. Especially in digital photography, there is a delay between when you depress the shutter and when the image is impressed on the electronic sensors so that I get many shots that come out like the drawing of cows eating grass, where the grass is already eaten and the cows have left.
Roll back the scene about 80 years or so. I have a large shoebox filled with photographs taken by my father from the late twenties through the seventies. The pictures taken after 1965 don't interest me too much because I have my own pictures of the same events and because I have living memories of those depicted in the photos, and, although interesting in their own right (see how young we were) they don't convey the same sense of continuity I get from the pictures of people I never knew.
There are pictures of my dead cousins dancing at some celebration or other, pictures of my aunts' weddings, random pictures of dinners and hikes and groupings of people who were related to me before I was born but didn't manage to be contemporary with me, and also pictures of young people whom I did manage to meet when they were older. I think about all of them, these personalities flitting in and out of my consciousness, as I go through the piles of photos. I think, here are people, like me, with likes and dislikes loves and hates hopes and disappointments triumphs and failures. They are mostly, if not all, gone now and we have taken their place. I long for the opportunity to interact with them.
Back to the twenty-first century. I sent my children a random shot of four of my adult children at the above mentioned barbecue; one is asleep in a chair, the other three are busily engaged in eating a corn or a hot dog concentrating on the matter in hand and oblivious to each other, sort of like Hopper's "Soir Bleu." I asked them what they think one of our descendants would think when coming across this picture in 50 years.
Here are some of their answers;
"why would anyone have saved THIS picture?"
"why would anyone have taken this picture?"
"what's Dr. Brown soda?"
I guess they don't think like me.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Happy Birthday
I had birthday this week. ( I know, A birthday, its a German thing, let it go). Lovey really gets into birthdays and thinks it is funny to tell everyone she sees that it is my birthday. So we were in an old age home visiting some relatives and she announced to everyone that it was my birthday (I only think about a third of the people heard it, though.) One man standing there perks up and says " hey, its my wife's birthday too!" so I go over to the wife and say " Happy Birthday" and she responds " Yes, my birthday is August 28th".
I felt that at this point it was just best to smile all around.
I felt that at this point it was just best to smile all around.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Travels in America
Any place that has a population density of less than 6 people per square mile is considered by the US Census to be uninhabited. I don't know if this is an average figure over a large region or if this applies to every square mile in the country. By the latter standard, I have been traveling in a largely uninhabited area. Every mile or two one does spot a farmhouse and some outbuildings upon a knoll or somewhere behind a stand of tall corn.
I have been driving hundreds of miles in western Minnesota and eastern South Dakota for the past few days and the word "uninhabited" keeps popping into my consciousness. Not that the land is desolate. On the contrary, it is miles and miles of verdant, rich, productive cropland giving proof to human intervention on a grand scale. Some of the towns along my route are little more than trailer parks (figuratively, the houses are all real and permanent) while others have lovely tree lined and canopied streets in a region not distinguished by trees of any sort.
Minnesota is known by its self-dubbed nickname as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes." There are a lot of lakes here but eastern South Dakota, as I have often noticed while flying across it, is riddled with one lake after the other, large and small. At ground level these lakes appear to be large holes filled with water with no accessible shoreline other than thick healthy bullrushes leading to the water's edge. I am told they are filled with fish and I even saw some water birds frolicking in their dark blue waters. Some are quite deep. But on the whole these lakes are, for the most part, featureless. Many are just round without coves and most are surrounded by flat land making the distinction between water and land a matter of only color change. The usual pattern of gently sloping wooded hills forming a bowl containing the water does not hold here.
Today, I drove more than 400 miles fronted on both sides as far as the eye can see by waves of light and dark green soybean leaves rippling in the wind, seas of brownish-yellow tasseled corn carpeting the land, golden swaths of harvested wheat and green lawns of newly mown hay fields. Depending upon the level of the fields relative to the roadway the views change, sometimes showing an incredible symmetry of rows and sometimes only showing an unbreakable surface of one color or another. All this accompanied by the redolence of livestock and other farm odors which is even more pronounced when traversing the region in an open convertible.
Of all the millions, possibly billions, of ears of corn I passed today, the one I bought for dinner this evening was the worst I have ever tasted.
Go figure.
I have been driving hundreds of miles in western Minnesota and eastern South Dakota for the past few days and the word "uninhabited" keeps popping into my consciousness. Not that the land is desolate. On the contrary, it is miles and miles of verdant, rich, productive cropland giving proof to human intervention on a grand scale. Some of the towns along my route are little more than trailer parks (figuratively, the houses are all real and permanent) while others have lovely tree lined and canopied streets in a region not distinguished by trees of any sort.
Minnesota is known by its self-dubbed nickname as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes." There are a lot of lakes here but eastern South Dakota, as I have often noticed while flying across it, is riddled with one lake after the other, large and small. At ground level these lakes appear to be large holes filled with water with no accessible shoreline other than thick healthy bullrushes leading to the water's edge. I am told they are filled with fish and I even saw some water birds frolicking in their dark blue waters. Some are quite deep. But on the whole these lakes are, for the most part, featureless. Many are just round without coves and most are surrounded by flat land making the distinction between water and land a matter of only color change. The usual pattern of gently sloping wooded hills forming a bowl containing the water does not hold here.
Today, I drove more than 400 miles fronted on both sides as far as the eye can see by waves of light and dark green soybean leaves rippling in the wind, seas of brownish-yellow tasseled corn carpeting the land, golden swaths of harvested wheat and green lawns of newly mown hay fields. Depending upon the level of the fields relative to the roadway the views change, sometimes showing an incredible symmetry of rows and sometimes only showing an unbreakable surface of one color or another. All this accompanied by the redolence of livestock and other farm odors which is even more pronounced when traversing the region in an open convertible.
Of all the millions, possibly billions, of ears of corn I passed today, the one I bought for dinner this evening was the worst I have ever tasted.
Go figure.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Doctor, here's where it really hurts!
Issues in the health care debate boil down to the following:
If the puchase of health care insurance becomes mandatory, and there is no public option, the industry will acquire a stranglehold on the health care system, It will furthermore be greatly enriched by 47 million people forced to buy their products at rates that can be arbitrarily set. There is no possible way that such a scenario will not be more monopolistic than the wildest imaginings of the muckrakers of the early 20th century. Our lawmakers will be handing the health insurance industry a munificent windfall without receiving much in return.
If there is a public option it may serve as competition to the industry but with the possibility of a large increase in costs to the government and the public. Also at the cost of bureaucratically administered health care rationing. The fact that the Senate even considered a "death panel" is proof of how much personal liberty health care reform will eliminate. And this will only be the first step on the slippery slope to dictatorship.
If congress tries to limit the cost of health care for the masses by increasing the co-payment and deductible burden on a mandatory minimum health policy holder then the poor will have to shoulder close to half their medical costs plus the insurance premium. This is bad enough for those who are sick, but it is vastly more unfair for those who don't get sick who will be forced to buy a piece of junk that they don't need..If the purpose of this reform is to help the poor then how does this help them? Heads I win, tales you lose.
The most evil part of this plan is the mandatory clause. Administration spokespeople are lauding the health insurance industry for their agreement to insure those with preexisting conditions. Obviously if insurance purchase is mandatory then even the sick will have to buy it and if private insurance providers don't agree to insure the already sick it would leave the government no choice but to have a public option.
Never in this country's glorious history has one been forced to purchase anything. I have nightmares of shouting guards and barking dogs herding innocent people into boxcars.
The best solution to this fake crisis is to do nothing. The system isn't perfect, but it works. Tweak it a bit if you must but use gradualism. Write your congressman and senators and tell them that they should vote against any and all the bills for massive health care reform.
The levelers in Washington have taken control and I fear for our inalienable rights.
If the puchase of health care insurance becomes mandatory, and there is no public option, the industry will acquire a stranglehold on the health care system, It will furthermore be greatly enriched by 47 million people forced to buy their products at rates that can be arbitrarily set. There is no possible way that such a scenario will not be more monopolistic than the wildest imaginings of the muckrakers of the early 20th century. Our lawmakers will be handing the health insurance industry a munificent windfall without receiving much in return.
If there is a public option it may serve as competition to the industry but with the possibility of a large increase in costs to the government and the public. Also at the cost of bureaucratically administered health care rationing. The fact that the Senate even considered a "death panel" is proof of how much personal liberty health care reform will eliminate. And this will only be the first step on the slippery slope to dictatorship.
If congress tries to limit the cost of health care for the masses by increasing the co-payment and deductible burden on a mandatory minimum health policy holder then the poor will have to shoulder close to half their medical costs plus the insurance premium. This is bad enough for those who are sick, but it is vastly more unfair for those who don't get sick who will be forced to buy a piece of junk that they don't need..If the purpose of this reform is to help the poor then how does this help them? Heads I win, tales you lose.
The most evil part of this plan is the mandatory clause. Administration spokespeople are lauding the health insurance industry for their agreement to insure those with preexisting conditions. Obviously if insurance purchase is mandatory then even the sick will have to buy it and if private insurance providers don't agree to insure the already sick it would leave the government no choice but to have a public option.
Never in this country's glorious history has one been forced to purchase anything. I have nightmares of shouting guards and barking dogs herding innocent people into boxcars.
The best solution to this fake crisis is to do nothing. The system isn't perfect, but it works. Tweak it a bit if you must but use gradualism. Write your congressman and senators and tell them that they should vote against any and all the bills for massive health care reform.
The levelers in Washington have taken control and I fear for our inalienable rights.
BIAS!
I am trying to recall a special catastrophic historical event which, in hindsight, was the primary cause for the assumption of absolute power by a dictator. The assassination of Kirov? The bombing of Cambodia? No matter. There aren't too many cases of homegrown dictators in 20th century history and before that, monarchy and absolute power were the norm. I have previously blogged about crises becoming the excuse for power grabs but what follows is a description of a manufactured crisis and we do have to be careful that once the "crisis" becomes fixed in the public's mind, it will be hard to counteract.
The news media needs to exaggerate and hype everything out of proportion in order to sell its product. I once called the Wall Street Journal when they used to sponsor a few minute recap of the financial news on WQXR regarding a program headlined by, "Oil prices soar!" when the price of petroleum went up a few cents. I pointed out the apparent contradiction between the headline and the story and was told that after all, they needed to attract attention.
So when they characterize the recent spate of spiteful town hall meeting rhetoric as organized mob activity and nazi-like behavior it should be taken with a grain of salt, but I think this time it's a product of their collective socialist bias.
Let us examine the facts. Yes, booing and jeering isn't very civil or mannered behavior but mob activity is more sinister, employing clubs, brass knuckles, knives and a considerable amount of pushing and shoving. The people, like the media, just crave a bit of attention.
What is really annoying the politicians and their news media supporters is that the people are angry with, and distrustful of, their elected representatives and that they see the threat the Obama administration poses to individual freedoms and rights. The public feel entitled to voice their disapproval to their elected representatives. For years, politicians have been using the so called "Town Hall Meeting" construct to conduct a one-way, staged, indoctrination of the citizens who misguidedly attended these affairs under the impression that they would be able to influence or at least have a meaningful exchange of ideas with their elected representatives.
Well, no longer. Congressmen and Senators are consequently shocked that they can't get away with it this time.
I have listened to some of the public's remarks at these town hall meetings and they seem to me to be calm and reasoned arguments, albeit oppositional and delivered emotionally and feelingly. Politicians don't like to hear from their constituents unless they represent a substantial number of voters or control a lot of campaign money.
I just read a letter in USA today which presents the following argument against the claim that health care reform protesters are the storm troopers of organized right wing opposition. There are two pictures, one showing the conservative opposition holding long winded hand written signs and the other showing supporters displaying professionally designed and printed posters. The letter writer asks: Which is more likely to be the "organized" group and which the true grass roots protest.
Hussein (III), the honeymoon is over.
The news media needs to exaggerate and hype everything out of proportion in order to sell its product. I once called the Wall Street Journal when they used to sponsor a few minute recap of the financial news on WQXR regarding a program headlined by, "Oil prices soar!" when the price of petroleum went up a few cents. I pointed out the apparent contradiction between the headline and the story and was told that after all, they needed to attract attention.
So when they characterize the recent spate of spiteful town hall meeting rhetoric as organized mob activity and nazi-like behavior it should be taken with a grain of salt, but I think this time it's a product of their collective socialist bias.
Let us examine the facts. Yes, booing and jeering isn't very civil or mannered behavior but mob activity is more sinister, employing clubs, brass knuckles, knives and a considerable amount of pushing and shoving. The people, like the media, just crave a bit of attention.
What is really annoying the politicians and their news media supporters is that the people are angry with, and distrustful of, their elected representatives and that they see the threat the Obama administration poses to individual freedoms and rights. The public feel entitled to voice their disapproval to their elected representatives. For years, politicians have been using the so called "Town Hall Meeting" construct to conduct a one-way, staged, indoctrination of the citizens who misguidedly attended these affairs under the impression that they would be able to influence or at least have a meaningful exchange of ideas with their elected representatives.
Well, no longer. Congressmen and Senators are consequently shocked that they can't get away with it this time.
I have listened to some of the public's remarks at these town hall meetings and they seem to me to be calm and reasoned arguments, albeit oppositional and delivered emotionally and feelingly. Politicians don't like to hear from their constituents unless they represent a substantial number of voters or control a lot of campaign money.
I just read a letter in USA today which presents the following argument against the claim that health care reform protesters are the storm troopers of organized right wing opposition. There are two pictures, one showing the conservative opposition holding long winded hand written signs and the other showing supporters displaying professionally designed and printed posters. The letter writer asks: Which is more likely to be the "organized" group and which the true grass roots protest.
Hussein (III), the honeymoon is over.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Its Hard to Soar Like an Eagle......
I had the misfortune of actually mentioning to the pest who was on the highway with me that I posted about him. He has taken the term pest to a completely new level. Let me tell you about this person. He works in my office, and thinks he is the boss. This means that he really doesn't listen to anyone, and wants everyone to listen to him, including the scintillating story of how he burnt his feet. ( I have been trying to avoid the details of this riveting story, but I think that he will corner me and tell me anyhow.)
Anyhow he has become completely hung up about this, and the idea that anyone would blog in the first place. He keeps coming in to my office to give he his cumulative knowledge about the world in general (all 22 years of his experiences) and his opinion on blogging specifically. I think it is probably jealousy since English and writing is occasionally a second language to him.
Now you can imagine what it is like to deal with someone like this on an every day basis. Root canal looks more and more appealing each day (" I have to go out for a few hours and have my head drilled, to take away the hammering in my brain from you"). Unfortunately, most people have similar issues in the work place. Sometimes it can be an annoying co-worker, in worst case scenarios it can be a supervisor or even the head person in the office. There really is not much that can be done about it except grin and bear it.
And blog about them.
Anyhow he has become completely hung up about this, and the idea that anyone would blog in the first place. He keeps coming in to my office to give he his cumulative knowledge about the world in general (all 22 years of his experiences) and his opinion on blogging specifically. I think it is probably jealousy since English and writing is occasionally a second language to him.
Now you can imagine what it is like to deal with someone like this on an every day basis. Root canal looks more and more appealing each day (" I have to go out for a few hours and have my head drilled, to take away the hammering in my brain from you"). Unfortunately, most people have similar issues in the work place. Sometimes it can be an annoying co-worker, in worst case scenarios it can be a supervisor or even the head person in the office. There really is not much that can be done about it except grin and bear it.
And blog about them.
Monday, August 10, 2009
The Throne, or the power behind it?
We were coming back from visiting day in the mountains and a pest who works in my office was driving behind me. He noticed that I was a passenger and Lovey was driving. He (of course) felt compelled to question the hierarchy at my house, since, in his silly little single mind, the MAN has to drive, or he isn't a man.
Without getting into his psyche too much, or telling him that it is usually more a burden then a joy to have to drive all the time, I still felt compelled to inform this misguided youth that the fact that I was not driving had nothing to do with my lack of standing in the house, ( actually, a case could be made that I insisted that I do not drive, so I am clearly in control, but to say such a thing in a blog that may or may not be read by a significant other is dangerous, so I will just posit it as a hypothetical) and more to do with my not sleeping the night before. ( I could also add the fair division of labor in the household, but that could cause more problems than the previous statement, so I will leave it as another hypothetical).
Actually, on a quick tangent, I know of certain households where the distaff side does all or most of the driving, sometimes because the male does not drive, and sometimes because it is not worth taking a stand with a female who insists. But I indeed digress.
Staying on the division of labor theme, as well as who is ultimately in charge of the house, leads to an interesting episode at Chez Greunkern that might just indicate how the residents see things. At the table over the weekend, there was a discussion as to who would do the dishes. Lovey decided that I should do them, and expressed her opinion accordingly. Not wishing to gainsay her, I looked to one of the children (house servants?) and told him that he should do the dishes.
Not missing a beat, he immediately started to say "But she told...." Then he caught himself. ( Smart boy)
Having not been born yesterday, I knew the end of the statement. I also was not going to let it go. So a quick discussion ensued that I am not part of the sibling pack, where that line will get you out of a job, and I indeed do have the right to delegate any job I choose, including those assigned to me by Lovey. However, it did show me exactly where the children think the true power in the house lies.
I have to go now and hide all my pants.
Without getting into his psyche too much, or telling him that it is usually more a burden then a joy to have to drive all the time, I still felt compelled to inform this misguided youth that the fact that I was not driving had nothing to do with my lack of standing in the house, ( actually, a case could be made that I insisted that I do not drive, so I am clearly in control, but to say such a thing in a blog that may or may not be read by a significant other is dangerous, so I will just posit it as a hypothetical) and more to do with my not sleeping the night before. ( I could also add the fair division of labor in the household, but that could cause more problems than the previous statement, so I will leave it as another hypothetical).
Actually, on a quick tangent, I know of certain households where the distaff side does all or most of the driving, sometimes because the male does not drive, and sometimes because it is not worth taking a stand with a female who insists. But I indeed digress.
Staying on the division of labor theme, as well as who is ultimately in charge of the house, leads to an interesting episode at Chez Greunkern that might just indicate how the residents see things. At the table over the weekend, there was a discussion as to who would do the dishes. Lovey decided that I should do them, and expressed her opinion accordingly. Not wishing to gainsay her, I looked to one of the children (house servants?) and told him that he should do the dishes.
Not missing a beat, he immediately started to say "But she told...." Then he caught himself. ( Smart boy)
Having not been born yesterday, I knew the end of the statement. I also was not going to let it go. So a quick discussion ensued that I am not part of the sibling pack, where that line will get you out of a job, and I indeed do have the right to delegate any job I choose, including those assigned to me by Lovey. However, it did show me exactly where the children think the true power in the house lies.
I have to go now and hide all my pants.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Brooklyn moves Upstate
What is it with lack of courtesy and shopping carts? Do people have a genetic disposition to become obnoxious and rude as soon as they touch one? is it like kryptonite to good manners? I wonder.
I was recently in a shopping center in Monsey. We had sent off Big Sister and Lovey and me were alone for a day. ( More like 16 hours, but we take what we can get.) So we did what we always do on an off day, shop.
In this strip mall there is a lane for driving in front of the stores, and then double rows for parking. I am on the sidewalk in front of the stores and I see this woman loading her van. As she finishes, she pushes the cart in the vague direction of the sidewalk while she is still at the back of her minivan. The cart goes about 10 feet and stops on a rut in the road.
In the middle of the road.
The woman looks at the cart, and gets into her car.
I just stood there, amazed.
I was recently in a shopping center in Monsey. We had sent off Big Sister and Lovey and me were alone for a day. ( More like 16 hours, but we take what we can get.) So we did what we always do on an off day, shop.
In this strip mall there is a lane for driving in front of the stores, and then double rows for parking. I am on the sidewalk in front of the stores and I see this woman loading her van. As she finishes, she pushes the cart in the vague direction of the sidewalk while she is still at the back of her minivan. The cart goes about 10 feet and stops on a rut in the road.
In the middle of the road.
The woman looks at the cart, and gets into her car.
I just stood there, amazed.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Square and level
I can't get over the liberals' naked power hunger. I felt it strongly in 1993 when the Clintons were hatching their nefarious health care reform proposals and feel it again as the same issue is being debated. This time it may be worse.
I recently heard a radio program which featured, as a guest, a Professor Gruber of MIT commenting on a new proposal by some in either congress or the administration ( I'm not sure which ) to tax employer provided health insurance as income to those who have superior health care plans. The proposal singles out plans where everything is completely covered, sort of a Cadillac of health insurance plans.
In the course of his comments, Dr. Gruber opined that surely excessive health care coverage should be taxed because americans are getting too much health care and also because the third party payment system encourages a lack of financial responsibility (presumably to other citizens) by not involving the receiver of health care in the decision to use what health care is available. He felt that people should have to think twice or more before availaing themselves of a doctor or hospital. In short, and the moderator caught him out on this but he sidestepped the question, it seems he was for rationing of health care. Or maybe he was a leveller and felt that everyone should suffer equally.
I wondered why, if he was advocating that everyone should have to weigh when and whether to see a doctor, he was championing health care reform in the first place. From what I have heard, it is just the necessity for the 46 million un or underinsured to have to make such decisions which is the reason healthcare cries out for reform.
You would think a professor from MIT would be able to discern such a tautology.
Many years ago, before most of you were born, there was a radio program called "The Shadow," which featured a debonair man-about-town who, while in the East, had learned the secret to the power to "cloud men's minds."
I think power hunger does the same thing.
I recently heard a radio program which featured, as a guest, a Professor Gruber of MIT commenting on a new proposal by some in either congress or the administration ( I'm not sure which ) to tax employer provided health insurance as income to those who have superior health care plans. The proposal singles out plans where everything is completely covered, sort of a Cadillac of health insurance plans.
In the course of his comments, Dr. Gruber opined that surely excessive health care coverage should be taxed because americans are getting too much health care and also because the third party payment system encourages a lack of financial responsibility (presumably to other citizens) by not involving the receiver of health care in the decision to use what health care is available. He felt that people should have to think twice or more before availaing themselves of a doctor or hospital. In short, and the moderator caught him out on this but he sidestepped the question, it seems he was for rationing of health care. Or maybe he was a leveller and felt that everyone should suffer equally.
I wondered why, if he was advocating that everyone should have to weigh when and whether to see a doctor, he was championing health care reform in the first place. From what I have heard, it is just the necessity for the 46 million un or underinsured to have to make such decisions which is the reason healthcare cries out for reform.
You would think a professor from MIT would be able to discern such a tautology.
Many years ago, before most of you were born, there was a radio program called "The Shadow," which featured a debonair man-about-town who, while in the East, had learned the secret to the power to "cloud men's minds."
I think power hunger does the same thing.
Friday, July 24, 2009
And when they came for me...
I can be silent no longer.
As much as that statement may seems a little strange, considering I do a fair amount of pontificating and ranting herein, I am referring specifically to our esteemed commander in chief, who has truly shown himself to be the First Jackass.
Forget what I read in a magazine that-shall-not be named, that his AG is thinking of prosecuting the Bush Administration for "excessive torture tactics", which is by itself a most dangerous precedent for any President to set, in that it would severely compromise the ability of all future presidents to effectively do their job, if they knew that as soon as their party was out of power, all their staffers and perhaps the president as well would be subject to criminal charges by a partisan which hunt.
And let us further put aside the Socialist leading to Communist plans of this administration with regards to health care. Nationalization of health care has never worked for any other country, so why shouldn't we ram it through Congress here? What really ticks me off is the statement of TFJ that he won't sign it if it will increase the deficit. How absolutely disingenuous. I assume taxing the hell out of the remaining people in this country who still have jobs and businesses doesn't count. But when they lose their jobs and businesses, and the government has to pay with unemployment benefits, stimulus money, and lost tax revenues, how does that not increase the budget? Beats me. But then again, I am not as smart as the genius we have in the White House, but I digress.
Well, with all that being put aside, as well as all the other issues, the part that I cannot get past today is the most powerful man in the world has shown the entire world just how absolutely petty and stupid he is, to make a comment on a local matter concerning one arrest, without having all the facts, and in the process demeaning and insulting the people who are charged with protecting us, the police. ( Another post on the silliness of the entire issue later.)
Now those of you who know me know that I am not a big fan of police in general, and I sincerely believe that they have a tendency to abuse their power, but nevertheless, you would think that a president would not get involved in something so silly.
Obviously, the overriding agenda of TFJ is to foster racial hatred in this country, something that the country itself showed it is trying to move beyond by electing him. Not for him. He has continued his agenda to completely destabilize this country, financially, racially, economically, and militarily.
How long before the left wing press realizes that they cannot cover for him anymore?
As much as that statement may seems a little strange, considering I do a fair amount of pontificating and ranting herein, I am referring specifically to our esteemed commander in chief, who has truly shown himself to be the First Jackass.
Forget what I read in a magazine that-shall-not be named, that his AG is thinking of prosecuting the Bush Administration for "excessive torture tactics", which is by itself a most dangerous precedent for any President to set, in that it would severely compromise the ability of all future presidents to effectively do their job, if they knew that as soon as their party was out of power, all their staffers and perhaps the president as well would be subject to criminal charges by a partisan which hunt.
And let us further put aside the Socialist leading to Communist plans of this administration with regards to health care. Nationalization of health care has never worked for any other country, so why shouldn't we ram it through Congress here? What really ticks me off is the statement of TFJ that he won't sign it if it will increase the deficit. How absolutely disingenuous. I assume taxing the hell out of the remaining people in this country who still have jobs and businesses doesn't count. But when they lose their jobs and businesses, and the government has to pay with unemployment benefits, stimulus money, and lost tax revenues, how does that not increase the budget? Beats me. But then again, I am not as smart as the genius we have in the White House, but I digress.
Well, with all that being put aside, as well as all the other issues, the part that I cannot get past today is the most powerful man in the world has shown the entire world just how absolutely petty and stupid he is, to make a comment on a local matter concerning one arrest, without having all the facts, and in the process demeaning and insulting the people who are charged with protecting us, the police. ( Another post on the silliness of the entire issue later.)
Now those of you who know me know that I am not a big fan of police in general, and I sincerely believe that they have a tendency to abuse their power, but nevertheless, you would think that a president would not get involved in something so silly.
Obviously, the overriding agenda of TFJ is to foster racial hatred in this country, something that the country itself showed it is trying to move beyond by electing him. Not for him. He has continued his agenda to completely destabilize this country, financially, racially, economically, and militarily.
How long before the left wing press realizes that they cannot cover for him anymore?
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Are the Redwoods Superannuated?
I recently heard a piece on the BBC's Newshour which confirms the newsmedias' insidious biases. It was a story on a group of scientists mapping all the trees in a sequoia forest where the trees, some of which are over 3000 years old are dying prematurely.
First of all, I don't understand why they think that if the trees in this forest have started dying during the past 50 years it signals premature death. If the trees are indeed 3000 years old, what makes scientists think that this is premature death. Maybe they are dying of Sequoia old age. OK, so maybe there are some older trees, but as you see in human life, some people die in their late 80's and no one considers that premature even though there are plenty of ambulant, robust people in their high nineties living alone and doing all the things people in their 50's do and maybe not even more slowly. I personally know, and know of, many people like that.
But back to my point on bias. The lead up to the piece, by the announcer, went something like this..... "Scientists are mapping a forest of ancient trees which are dying prematurely due to climate change."
I thought to myself that it seems that scientific research is now directed by political agendas rather than by a desire for truth. That would have been a blog post by itself (and it may become one - a pathologist acqaintance of mine insists that all science today has a definite agenda [religious, not political in his case]).
But upon listening to the article, and I listened very carefully, nowhere was there even a hooded reference to climate change. The scientists were only describing their tribulations in camping out and doing the work and what it will mean when it is finished and that its significance will only be noted 25 to 100 years in the future.
At the risk of becoming like Cicero I must reiterate that environmentalism is the single greatest threat, past or present, to American freedom, liberty, capitalism and democracy.
First of all, I don't understand why they think that if the trees in this forest have started dying during the past 50 years it signals premature death. If the trees are indeed 3000 years old, what makes scientists think that this is premature death. Maybe they are dying of Sequoia old age. OK, so maybe there are some older trees, but as you see in human life, some people die in their late 80's and no one considers that premature even though there are plenty of ambulant, robust people in their high nineties living alone and doing all the things people in their 50's do and maybe not even more slowly. I personally know, and know of, many people like that.
But back to my point on bias. The lead up to the piece, by the announcer, went something like this..... "Scientists are mapping a forest of ancient trees which are dying prematurely due to climate change."
I thought to myself that it seems that scientific research is now directed by political agendas rather than by a desire for truth. That would have been a blog post by itself (and it may become one - a pathologist acqaintance of mine insists that all science today has a definite agenda [religious, not political in his case]).
But upon listening to the article, and I listened very carefully, nowhere was there even a hooded reference to climate change. The scientists were only describing their tribulations in camping out and doing the work and what it will mean when it is finished and that its significance will only be noted 25 to 100 years in the future.
At the risk of becoming like Cicero I must reiterate that environmentalism is the single greatest threat, past or present, to American freedom, liberty, capitalism and democracy.
Monday, July 20, 2009
We're in second, and MOVING UP!!
I don't believe that competition among family is right or necessarily healthy. I think that you should love your family without limitation, and should always be happy for all their successes.
However,
We here at the Soup are happy to announce that we have passed a secret blog of a family member in hits. This could be because we actually post from time to time, and the other blog has been curiously silent ( a shame) , or it could be that we have two different contributors, or it could be that the people running the blog are just going back to the page again and again to pump up the numbers. ( vehement denial)
Nevertheless, we are thrilled that we have managed to achieve this result, considering our counter went up later, and started at a lower number. Now we are hot on the trail of another one, and only have about 3,500 hits to make up.
Stay tuned, and keep checking back for updates.
many, many times.
However,
We here at the Soup are happy to announce that we have passed a secret blog of a family member in hits. This could be because we actually post from time to time, and the other blog has been curiously silent ( a shame) , or it could be that we have two different contributors, or it could be that the people running the blog are just going back to the page again and again to pump up the numbers. ( vehement denial)
Nevertheless, we are thrilled that we have managed to achieve this result, considering our counter went up later, and started at a lower number. Now we are hot on the trail of another one, and only have about 3,500 hits to make up.
Stay tuned, and keep checking back for updates.
many, many times.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Where are America's guts?
The world as we know it has gone nuts, or we are truly heading for an apocalypse. I saw this article on the Bloomberg website. The Chinese are suing U.S. companies for patent infringement! This completely boggles my mind.
For years and years, the Chinese have been illegally knocking off our products, and we have been completely powerless to stop it. I guess now with the new policy of the United States of apologizing for everything to everyone, the Chinese feel emboldened enough to have the audacity to come to our country, use our courts to try and enforce our laws to their benefit.
Personally, I think the trial should follow along these lines.
Yes China, you are correct, you finally had an original thought, and you should be protected. We will award you damages, but first, we are going to calculate the counterclaim of all the American companies that you have ripped off for all this time.
Then we can go back to the tried but true MaterCard commercial formula.
Award to China: $4.6 Million
Award to American Companies: $7.3 Trillion
Finally giving China a taste of their own medicine: Priceless.
For years and years, the Chinese have been illegally knocking off our products, and we have been completely powerless to stop it. I guess now with the new policy of the United States of apologizing for everything to everyone, the Chinese feel emboldened enough to have the audacity to come to our country, use our courts to try and enforce our laws to their benefit.
Personally, I think the trial should follow along these lines.
Yes China, you are correct, you finally had an original thought, and you should be protected. We will award you damages, but first, we are going to calculate the counterclaim of all the American companies that you have ripped off for all this time.
Then we can go back to the tried but true MaterCard commercial formula.
Award to China: $4.6 Million
Award to American Companies: $7.3 Trillion
Finally giving China a taste of their own medicine: Priceless.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Sahara Obama
Fresh from his triumphs in Italy where he and 7 other national leaders laid out their demands to G-d insisting that they would not accept a global temperature rise above 2° (C or F? - not sure) he has gone on to visit his native continent with a stop in Ghana. Ghana is a democracy on the shores of the Atlantic with a history of being a gathering point for slaves going to the new world and is the Africans' Auschwitz, so to speak. They talk about them being chained, naked, in dungeons beneath the forts guarding the coastline. This is billed as being the white man's persecution of the black man but they don't mention that the slaves were taken captives and forced into slavery by African slave traders who offered them for sale. Sort of like the drug trade. The producing countries blame the consuming countries for creating the demand.
Obama is immensely popular in Africa (local boy makes good) but I heard a pro African analyst questioning the honesty of Obama's campaign promises in that his first priority as President of the United States of America should have been the succor of Africa, and it wasn't. But lest you think he is blaming the continent's golden boy, think again. This analyst had the effrontery to suggest that it wasn't Obama's fault since he is getting bad advice from his advisers. We all know who his closest advisers are, according to Jeremiah Wright, Obama's former mentor, it is "them jews."
This does not bode well for Jewish - Black relations, which have never been easy. To some extent the jews will be the scapegoats for Obama's inability to deliver on some of his more radical promises. In the end, Obama himself is going to be torn between loyalty to this country and loyalty to his masters in Africa and the muslim world. It should be interesting to see how this plays out.
Now that the stimulus money is beginning to come into the economy the sheer stupidity of the Democratic congress in drafting the original bill is coming to the fore. Although billions are being released, it has become abundantly clear that much of it is going to social services where there is no multiplier effect and although the money is being introduced into the economy it is like giving food to someone with dysentery; it doesn't do any good. Social services, health research and the like, although very commendable and legitimately in need of funding, cannot grow the economy and any extra funding for this purpose has no business in the stimulus package. Funding for these things don't affect the economy in any meaningful way. and if they were to be cut or kept at current levels nothing would change in the economy. The only effect the stimulus money will have in this sector is to fatten those feeding at the public trough.
What the economy desperately needs is a boost to the manufacturing economy which is about to get another whammy from the proposed control of carbon emissions, a bill for which has already been passed by the House. I think the stimulus is conceptually the right way to go in a near depression but it must target the right things. Infrastructure constrution and all capital projects, in addition to increasing employment also increases manufacturing and commodity purchases which further increases employment and brings some confidence to the entire nation.
Not that this concerns Obama much. He's too busy making friends among his father's countrymen.
Obama is immensely popular in Africa (local boy makes good) but I heard a pro African analyst questioning the honesty of Obama's campaign promises in that his first priority as President of the United States of America should have been the succor of Africa, and it wasn't. But lest you think he is blaming the continent's golden boy, think again. This analyst had the effrontery to suggest that it wasn't Obama's fault since he is getting bad advice from his advisers. We all know who his closest advisers are, according to Jeremiah Wright, Obama's former mentor, it is "them jews."
This does not bode well for Jewish - Black relations, which have never been easy. To some extent the jews will be the scapegoats for Obama's inability to deliver on some of his more radical promises. In the end, Obama himself is going to be torn between loyalty to this country and loyalty to his masters in Africa and the muslim world. It should be interesting to see how this plays out.
Now that the stimulus money is beginning to come into the economy the sheer stupidity of the Democratic congress in drafting the original bill is coming to the fore. Although billions are being released, it has become abundantly clear that much of it is going to social services where there is no multiplier effect and although the money is being introduced into the economy it is like giving food to someone with dysentery; it doesn't do any good. Social services, health research and the like, although very commendable and legitimately in need of funding, cannot grow the economy and any extra funding for this purpose has no business in the stimulus package. Funding for these things don't affect the economy in any meaningful way. and if they were to be cut or kept at current levels nothing would change in the economy. The only effect the stimulus money will have in this sector is to fatten those feeding at the public trough.
What the economy desperately needs is a boost to the manufacturing economy which is about to get another whammy from the proposed control of carbon emissions, a bill for which has already been passed by the House. I think the stimulus is conceptually the right way to go in a near depression but it must target the right things. Infrastructure constrution and all capital projects, in addition to increasing employment also increases manufacturing and commodity purchases which further increases employment and brings some confidence to the entire nation.
Not that this concerns Obama much. He's too busy making friends among his father's countrymen.
BAGEL STORE REVIEW
I have heard it said that in order for an eating establishment to be successful, 2 of three elements must be met. Good Food, Good Price, Good Service. i agree with this and feel that if you hit 2 out of 3, you have a chance to be successful. 3 out of 3 is even better, but less than 2, forget it.
Which brings me to a new feature here at the good Doctor, restaurant ( if they can all be called that) reviews! ( You lucky lucky readers!)
So the establishment is question is the bagel store in Passaic. We have friends there, Lady G, (who has been mentioned before) and her husband, Someone ( more on his name later). Over the years, we try to meet on legal holidays for breakfast. Usually we would meet in Monsey, since that is where the bagel stores were. Recently, one opened in Passaic, and they couldn't really get away for long , so we agreed to meet there.
Now, I have been there before, but fortunately, I have a short memory for unpleasant events, so I didn't remember much about it. This time, however, I think I will remember.
We got on line with one person ahead of us. Keep in mind that it was a holiday weekend, and many people were off. Our friends ordered first. I was next up. Now, I usually go for a breakfast special, since those are relatively difficult to mess up. However, having has experience with these as well, they usually don't have the potatoes, which make the whole deal. Even better is a HOBO, which is less egg, ( 1 vs. 2) less potato, all on a bagel for less money.
So I was prepared to order the HOBO, but alas, it wasn't on the menu. So I was about to order the special when I saw the second guy behind the counter make up 2 breakfast specials, and i realized there were not a lot of potatoes left on the grill. I ordered it, for almost six dollars (much more than the Monsey price) and the man at the counter told me that I was the last one. ( since they were out of potatoes at 10 AM , apparently). Lovey ordered a wrap, that they were at least smart enough to prepare beforehand, so that we took right off the fridge shelf.
Well, I went to get the coffee that comes with it and my friend said I should probably wait, since speed is not a strong point in this place, and I would probably have to wait. I have also heard since from others that if they want to stop for a quick sandwich even in the middle of the day in the middle of the week, this place is NOT the store to go to. So I waited. And waited. And sat down with our friends, who's order was finally ready. And waited some more.
It was during this time that I realized my friend's real name was Someone, as in " Someone was supposed to fix the sink" and "Someone was supposed to deal with the camp."
Finally, I went to the counter and asked what had happened. Did they have to wait for the chicken to lay the egg? Had they sent someone out to hoe some potatoes? Was the grill in fact on?
Better.
I was told that he had told me that there were no more breakfast specials available. To which I replied in the negative, relating our conversation to him. he just lost the order in the 3 feet from the counter to the grill, apparently.
Now since I had to run to a funeral, I told him to forget it, and just refund the money I had paid for it, less the coffee I have finally poured. We worked it all out, and we left.
So here is the review. Its a holiday weekend, with lots of customers coming in, realize this and have more or better help. If you mess up something, at least comp the coffee. This eatery could seriously use some competition to hopefully whip it into shape.
Price, lousy ( higher than Monsey prices)
Service, even worse.
Food, I have no idea, since I didn't get it ( I tasted the wrap, it wasn't bad, though).
I would not recommend this place, unless you have an entire day for breakfast or a sandwich, aren't really hungry, or have something to eat in the car, just in case.
Which brings me to a new feature here at the good Doctor, restaurant ( if they can all be called that) reviews! ( You lucky lucky readers!)
So the establishment is question is the bagel store in Passaic. We have friends there, Lady G, (who has been mentioned before) and her husband, Someone ( more on his name later). Over the years, we try to meet on legal holidays for breakfast. Usually we would meet in Monsey, since that is where the bagel stores were. Recently, one opened in Passaic, and they couldn't really get away for long , so we agreed to meet there.
Now, I have been there before, but fortunately, I have a short memory for unpleasant events, so I didn't remember much about it. This time, however, I think I will remember.
We got on line with one person ahead of us. Keep in mind that it was a holiday weekend, and many people were off. Our friends ordered first. I was next up. Now, I usually go for a breakfast special, since those are relatively difficult to mess up. However, having has experience with these as well, they usually don't have the potatoes, which make the whole deal. Even better is a HOBO, which is less egg, ( 1 vs. 2) less potato, all on a bagel for less money.
So I was prepared to order the HOBO, but alas, it wasn't on the menu. So I was about to order the special when I saw the second guy behind the counter make up 2 breakfast specials, and i realized there were not a lot of potatoes left on the grill. I ordered it, for almost six dollars (much more than the Monsey price) and the man at the counter told me that I was the last one. ( since they were out of potatoes at 10 AM , apparently). Lovey ordered a wrap, that they were at least smart enough to prepare beforehand, so that we took right off the fridge shelf.
Well, I went to get the coffee that comes with it and my friend said I should probably wait, since speed is not a strong point in this place, and I would probably have to wait. I have also heard since from others that if they want to stop for a quick sandwich even in the middle of the day in the middle of the week, this place is NOT the store to go to. So I waited. And waited. And sat down with our friends, who's order was finally ready. And waited some more.
It was during this time that I realized my friend's real name was Someone, as in " Someone was supposed to fix the sink" and "Someone was supposed to deal with the camp."
Finally, I went to the counter and asked what had happened. Did they have to wait for the chicken to lay the egg? Had they sent someone out to hoe some potatoes? Was the grill in fact on?
Better.
I was told that he had told me that there were no more breakfast specials available. To which I replied in the negative, relating our conversation to him. he just lost the order in the 3 feet from the counter to the grill, apparently.
Now since I had to run to a funeral, I told him to forget it, and just refund the money I had paid for it, less the coffee I have finally poured. We worked it all out, and we left.
So here is the review. Its a holiday weekend, with lots of customers coming in, realize this and have more or better help. If you mess up something, at least comp the coffee. This eatery could seriously use some competition to hopefully whip it into shape.
Price, lousy ( higher than Monsey prices)
Service, even worse.
Food, I have no idea, since I didn't get it ( I tasted the wrap, it wasn't bad, though).
I would not recommend this place, unless you have an entire day for breakfast or a sandwich, aren't really hungry, or have something to eat in the car, just in case.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Sap and Fade
The current debate about "climate change" revolves around control of carbon emissions (read fossil fuel particulates) since there really isn't anything else that has been identified as humanly produced causes for the apparent warming of the planet. Climate change as an idea has created a worldwide hysteria far surpassing the hysteria over swine flu. In the american debate, industry and its supporters are claiming carbon control will lead to permanent injury to the industrial foundations of the nation and supporters of carbon control are claiming that lack of control will cause irreparable worldwide disaster.
I recently heard Henry Waxman state that he thinks industry is exaggerating the costs and results of his carbon control bill.On the program I listened to (NPR of course) corresponding claims that environmentalists are exaggerating the results of doing nothing about carbon emissions were completely absent.
I think this point needs to be stressed in the ongoing debate. I think it is no accident that the same forces which proclaim that carbon emissions are warming the planet also claim that these emissions are causing more frequent storms. In fact, it seems that every force of nature that historically has generally been considered to be the exclusive purvue of G-d is now considered to be controllable by human beings. This explains the impetus behind environmentalism. The desire by atheistic individuals to deny the power of G-d in the world translates into a philosophy that puts humans in charge and incidentally gives the movement's leaders the political power which is their ultimate goal.
I recently heard Henry Waxman state that he thinks industry is exaggerating the costs and results of his carbon control bill.On the program I listened to (NPR of course) corresponding claims that environmentalists are exaggerating the results of doing nothing about carbon emissions were completely absent.
I think this point needs to be stressed in the ongoing debate. I think it is no accident that the same forces which proclaim that carbon emissions are warming the planet also claim that these emissions are causing more frequent storms. In fact, it seems that every force of nature that historically has generally been considered to be the exclusive purvue of G-d is now considered to be controllable by human beings. This explains the impetus behind environmentalism. The desire by atheistic individuals to deny the power of G-d in the world translates into a philosophy that puts humans in charge and incidentally gives the movement's leaders the political power which is their ultimate goal.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Wildlife I
To continue the theme of (ones) human interaction with wildlife, I present to you the riveting story of a cat and his domain.
Next door to us lives a cat, a huge heavy lumpy thing which we shall call Lumpy. I have never seen him do much more than lumber about from resting place to resting place. Well, a couple of weeks ago, we were looking out the window at the neighbors, and saw Lumpy in the front yard. When we looked into the back yard, we saw another cat, obviously a stray, which we shall call Grey Stray. ( There seems to be a family of them about recently, and they looooove my garbage cans, but that is for another day.)
Well, we watched Grey slowly make his way towards the front of the house, wondering if this would rouse Lumpy from his usual torpor. his ears pricked up.... then Grey advanced to the side of the car....
OUT CAME THE POPCORN!!!! THIS WAS BETTER THAN A MOVIE!!!!
Lumpy was definitely engaged now, but it was still too much effort to get up completely, Grey continued under the car....
THE PLOT THICKENS!!! MORE POPCORN FOR ALL!!!!
We were a little concerned for Lumpy, that this interloper might cause some damage to him, and i was wondering if the usual feline instincts concerning territory would kick in. We were wondering if we should tell the neighbor sitting on the front stoop ( and not able to see around the house and car) of the impending potential showdown, but felt this would prove that we were snooping on them, so we decided not to, and to let the fur fly on its own.
All of a sudden, Lumpy leaps up! ( after a fashion) and takes off after Grey. I was so amazed I threw the popcorn container into the air. He actually ran towards him under the car.
At this point, the neighbor caught on, and with our hearts in our throats (and popcorn in our hair) we watched the neighbor go after the cat.
Then to our extreme relief, we saw Grey take off back into the yard, with Lumpy hot on his heels. I ran through the dining room onto the deck to follow this riveting National Geographic worthy story, but by the time I got outside, Grey was gone and Lumpy had collapsed into an exhausted, albeit happy, heap in the back yard, secure in his prowess as the king of all he sees.
I went back in to clean up popcorn.
Next door to us lives a cat, a huge heavy lumpy thing which we shall call Lumpy. I have never seen him do much more than lumber about from resting place to resting place. Well, a couple of weeks ago, we were looking out the window at the neighbors, and saw Lumpy in the front yard. When we looked into the back yard, we saw another cat, obviously a stray, which we shall call Grey Stray. ( There seems to be a family of them about recently, and they looooove my garbage cans, but that is for another day.)
Well, we watched Grey slowly make his way towards the front of the house, wondering if this would rouse Lumpy from his usual torpor. his ears pricked up.... then Grey advanced to the side of the car....
OUT CAME THE POPCORN!!!! THIS WAS BETTER THAN A MOVIE!!!!
Lumpy was definitely engaged now, but it was still too much effort to get up completely, Grey continued under the car....
THE PLOT THICKENS!!! MORE POPCORN FOR ALL!!!!
We were a little concerned for Lumpy, that this interloper might cause some damage to him, and i was wondering if the usual feline instincts concerning territory would kick in. We were wondering if we should tell the neighbor sitting on the front stoop ( and not able to see around the house and car) of the impending potential showdown, but felt this would prove that we were snooping on them, so we decided not to, and to let the fur fly on its own.
All of a sudden, Lumpy leaps up! ( after a fashion) and takes off after Grey. I was so amazed I threw the popcorn container into the air. He actually ran towards him under the car.
At this point, the neighbor caught on, and with our hearts in our throats (and popcorn in our hair) we watched the neighbor go after the cat.
Then to our extreme relief, we saw Grey take off back into the yard, with Lumpy hot on his heels. I ran through the dining room onto the deck to follow this riveting National Geographic worthy story, but by the time I got outside, Grey was gone and Lumpy had collapsed into an exhausted, albeit happy, heap in the back yard, secure in his prowess as the king of all he sees.
I went back in to clean up popcorn.
Friday, June 26, 2009
GEESE IV
Well, there I was, once again, on the day of rest for some religions, ( Saturday, for those who might not know.), walking through what I shall from now on refer to as Goose Field. However, this time, I was coming from the other direction, having tried to meet Soupeater somewhere on the road, and having missed him. As I came down the hill, I could see my usual flock ( gaggle?, gang?) of geese ahead of me. They were sort of spread out between the two ball fields.
I was late, and decided to cut the corner, and save the time where it curves around. However, I realized that I would end up walking right through them. Now, as I had a wee bit of liquid courage in me, coupled with the fact that I am a human, and felt that we should be in charge here, I would walk right through them.
So once again, I found myself heading for a showdown with this gang, yo. I put on my best strut and just headed right for them. ( They were NOT in takeoff position, and they were on the wrong end of the runway in any case.) There was a bit of an opening between two factions of the gang, and I felt that I had ample room to go right through the group.
As I got closer to them, my steps began to falter a bit, and I thought about going to the side, since I had visions of having my ankles pecked into bloody messes by these hoodlums. However, I thought " this is ridiculous, there is no reason to be afraid of some geese", even if they move around in a pack, and stare at you balefully.
So I kept going, straight for the opening between the two main sections of geese. As I got closer, a few of them ( I guess the lookouts) pick up their heads, give me a stare, and start to honk a bit.
Not to be deterred, I continued on.
As I passed through the opening, the geese closest to me sort of slunk away, shooting me annoyed glances before looking away, and muttering quietly. If I understood Goose, I would assume they were saying "the nerve of this guy, interrupting my meal of grass and constant bathroom time. Why can't he go around like the rest of the pesky humans?" I then safely emerged on the other side, and continued on my way.
Thankful to have both my ankles and my dignity intact.
I was late, and decided to cut the corner, and save the time where it curves around. However, I realized that I would end up walking right through them. Now, as I had a wee bit of liquid courage in me, coupled with the fact that I am a human, and felt that we should be in charge here, I would walk right through them.
So once again, I found myself heading for a showdown with this gang, yo. I put on my best strut and just headed right for them. ( They were NOT in takeoff position, and they were on the wrong end of the runway in any case.) There was a bit of an opening between two factions of the gang, and I felt that I had ample room to go right through the group.
As I got closer to them, my steps began to falter a bit, and I thought about going to the side, since I had visions of having my ankles pecked into bloody messes by these hoodlums. However, I thought " this is ridiculous, there is no reason to be afraid of some geese", even if they move around in a pack, and stare at you balefully.
So I kept going, straight for the opening between the two main sections of geese. As I got closer, a few of them ( I guess the lookouts) pick up their heads, give me a stare, and start to honk a bit.
Not to be deterred, I continued on.
As I passed through the opening, the geese closest to me sort of slunk away, shooting me annoyed glances before looking away, and muttering quietly. If I understood Goose, I would assume they were saying "the nerve of this guy, interrupting my meal of grass and constant bathroom time. Why can't he go around like the rest of the pesky humans?" I then safely emerged on the other side, and continued on my way.
Thankful to have both my ankles and my dignity intact.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Hits and Missives
What is our fascination with Hit Counters? I see that here at Dr G we are approaching the next level in the decimal system, and that brings me a wonderful feeling. So I thought to explore the issue a bit.
To continue what Soupy has recently stated with great erudition, it could be that we feel vindicated knowing that people are interested in what we have to say, and they come back to see what new pearls of wisdom have formed in the oysters of our minds?( darn, that is a good one!)
Or in a slightly different vein, it could be a validation of our selves, and the fact that we are relevant ( to some people at least) and they want to keep up with us due to other social ties.
Maybe it goes back to old rivalries of our youth, and the need to be "better" than someone else for ridiculous reasons. ( "MY bedtime is ten minutes later than yours. so there!" " Oh yeah, well I have THREE baseballs, and you only have TWO!") Especially when there are family members with different blogs, and counters on each, then it goes right into sibling rivalry, which, as many of you know, has been SOOO much fun to follow here.
To continue what Soupy has recently stated with great erudition, it could be that we feel vindicated knowing that people are interested in what we have to say, and they come back to see what new pearls of wisdom have formed in the oysters of our minds?( darn, that is a good one!)
Or in a slightly different vein, it could be a validation of our selves, and the fact that we are relevant ( to some people at least) and they want to keep up with us due to other social ties.
Maybe it goes back to old rivalries of our youth, and the need to be "better" than someone else for ridiculous reasons. ( "MY bedtime is ten minutes later than yours. so there!" " Oh yeah, well I have THREE baseballs, and you only have TWO!") Especially when there are family members with different blogs, and counters on each, then it goes right into sibling rivalry, which, as many of you know, has been SOOO much fun to follow here.
All these reasons could be why some bloggers feel the need to start their counters at an artificial number, either to justify the time before a counter on the site, or to make them feel EVEN better about themselves. (That being said, there is of course the usual potential for abuse, where a blogger hits his or her own site many many times to get the number up. I don't mean checking it to see that a post looks good, if there are old comments, etc, which can be ten times in a row, or something of that nature, I mean just driving up the numbers. )
Either way, thanks for your continued interest and support.
And keep coming back, we have people we need to pass!!!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Speakin , writin, and ....
Us bloggers write as much in order to get our views publicly aired as we do to satisfy our need to create a work of art - a word painting for lack of a better simile. A real neat turn of phrase, a pleasing juxtaposition of long and short words creating a natural rhythm while artistically expressing a thought or concept or criticism or praise. A poem in prose form. That is the true goal; expressing our opinions in style.
Not wishing to adopt false humility, I can state that I think I have this area covered quite well. However, when it comes to speaking in public, I am envious of just about anyone who gets up behind a lectern or a microphone and lets loose a stream of words no matter how banal or inane. The problem is that when I speak, I sound like the word painting I was just talking about. That doesn't go over well at all. The two disciplines don't mix or even come close to each other.
Yes, a speech needs, first of all, to be written out so that the speaker can practice its delivery or sometimes just thought out and with experience the speaker doesn't need to actually see the words on paper. The content is all important, the style less so. A speech must convey a message in the simplest form and catch the listeners' attention from the first moment. Fancy phrases won't do it unless you are really aiming for your speech to be read and understood only 50 years in the future, and even so, it must be relevant and interesting now.
So how do you deliver a speech that will energize your audience, be reasonably erudite and grammatically correct? I don't know and am hoping for some helpful hints from our readers.
Not wishing to adopt false humility, I can state that I think I have this area covered quite well. However, when it comes to speaking in public, I am envious of just about anyone who gets up behind a lectern or a microphone and lets loose a stream of words no matter how banal or inane. The problem is that when I speak, I sound like the word painting I was just talking about. That doesn't go over well at all. The two disciplines don't mix or even come close to each other.
Yes, a speech needs, first of all, to be written out so that the speaker can practice its delivery or sometimes just thought out and with experience the speaker doesn't need to actually see the words on paper. The content is all important, the style less so. A speech must convey a message in the simplest form and catch the listeners' attention from the first moment. Fancy phrases won't do it unless you are really aiming for your speech to be read and understood only 50 years in the future, and even so, it must be relevant and interesting now.
So how do you deliver a speech that will energize your audience, be reasonably erudite and grammatically correct? I don't know and am hoping for some helpful hints from our readers.
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