.
The court actually coined the term "Protected Class" and defined who would be a part of of that category. And the term truly meant "Hands Off" or "King's X" as it pertained disqualifying applicant for hire. The LAPD was ordered to bring their labor force into parity with the LA demographics fast, no matter what. But, it went even deeper. To retain those protected classes that were hired, LAPD did everything they could to promote them, not discipline them, never assign them to less desirable assignments, and keep them happy at all costs.
Before the days of Affirmative Action, in 1976, Officer McCreedy, a White male, would snag a 25-cent newspaper from a lawn on his beat to take with him to the donut shop to read most every morning. When a resident complained, he was fired. It all had to do with what LAPD called a violation of Moral Turpitude. The Moral Turpitude list included, any theft, any sex crime, any lie, no matter how petty, and anything else that embarrassed the City.
In 1998, an officer's boots disappeared from the locker room. Posters were placed in the hall ways of the station, and announcements were read aloud about the missing boots at roll call for several weeks. The facts that the boots had custom soles and the officer's name inside were not released. Several weeks later, the officer recognized footprints from his boots left on a wet sidewalk by a peer, Officer Williamson. Williamson was summoned to the station, but insisted the boots he wore were his. When he was ordered to take the boots off to allow further inspection, he refused. A search warrant was obtained and the boots were removed revealing that they in fact were the stolen boots. Following an investigation, the Captain recommended that Williamson be terminated. However, the Chief reduced that penalty to a written reprimand. Williamson was a "Protected Class" and was retained, despite the still written policy about Moral Turpitude. It was also revealed that Williamson had convictions for theft and marijuana use, prior to his appointment to LAPD. But those, once automatic disqualifiers had been removed when AA began to take hold.
About the same time, Sergeant Smitson, a protected class employee, performed a strip tease routine in a male only tavern while wearing his police uniform. He was terminated, but the court ordered his reinstatement with back pay. Although the LAPD had rules regarding wearing a uniform while off duty, the court ruled that because Smitson didn't wear his pistol during the routine, it was not a uniform. In 2001, Officer Turndale, another protected class employee, posed nude for Playboy wearing only an LAPD uniform shirt and badge. The LAPD didn't even pursue that one.
Your comments.. How do you think these actual incidents affected the quality of law enforcement in Los Angeles? Please keep in mind that the names that have been used in this, and all posts, have been changed to protect the protected.
Tomorrow.. More things from the Thought Dock about what the LAPD did to comply with AA.
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Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Meeting Court Quotas
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During the late 70's, the LAPD lost several court battles related to the hiring of police officers. Back then there was only the Equal Employment Opportunity law, which was very vague. I'm not certain, but I believe Affirmative Action (AA) came as a result of the LAPD lawsuits.
In essense, the court created AA and stated that when ever two "equally" qualified canditates applied for a single position, weight would be given to the minority candidate. AA applied to gender and minority races, and most everyone supported the logic of AA, including myself.
As the years passed (now over 20), new cases were brought before the court claiming that the LAPD was still not hiring minorities in sufficient numbers. The LAPD argued that there were not enough minorities even applying for a position, and not enough of those that did, could meet backgound, education, and experience requirements; therefore, the LAPD could not comply.
The court responded by further defining and expanding the "protected classes" to include, sexual preference, religion, national origion, and almost anything else. Left out was the White Male class. The court also ordered that the ultimate goal of AA was to bring the LAPD into parity with the people it served, no matter what. That meant within the timeline set by the court, LAPD would have to be comprised of 44% women, 18% Black, 27% Hispanic, and the rest divided among gays, immigrants, and White males. The court put on record that there would be no acceptable reasons for the LAPD not to reach the goals within the timeline.
In order to comply, the LAPD realized that they would have to level the playing field to ensure that almost anyone qualified for employment. Since short and unfit people could not climb a wall, or carry a weight, most physical requirements were removed. Since a large portion of LA residents were criminals and gang members, the LAPD reduced it's background requirents. Since most women applicants seldom had any work experience related to police work, work experience was elliminated. And immigrants speaking a foreigh language were bonus applicants, even though they could barely speak English.
So how has Affirmative Action affected the LAPD? In the following posts during the week, I'll give you only first hand experiences in the matter. Please comment with your thoughts. I have placed a Poll near the top of this page, but ask you not to cast your vote until after reading the final post and comments on the subject which will conclude this Friday. The poll is anonymous, but you can vote only once. I don't care about the results, but I thought it would be fun and inlightening. I only want to promote a Thought for the Dock.
.
During the late 70's, the LAPD lost several court battles related to the hiring of police officers. Back then there was only the Equal Employment Opportunity law, which was very vague. I'm not certain, but I believe Affirmative Action (AA) came as a result of the LAPD lawsuits.
In essense, the court created AA and stated that when ever two "equally" qualified canditates applied for a single position, weight would be given to the minority candidate. AA applied to gender and minority races, and most everyone supported the logic of AA, including myself.
As the years passed (now over 20), new cases were brought before the court claiming that the LAPD was still not hiring minorities in sufficient numbers. The LAPD argued that there were not enough minorities even applying for a position, and not enough of those that did, could meet backgound, education, and experience requirements; therefore, the LAPD could not comply.
The court responded by further defining and expanding the "protected classes" to include, sexual preference, religion, national origion, and almost anything else. Left out was the White Male class. The court also ordered that the ultimate goal of AA was to bring the LAPD into parity with the people it served, no matter what. That meant within the timeline set by the court, LAPD would have to be comprised of 44% women, 18% Black, 27% Hispanic, and the rest divided among gays, immigrants, and White males. The court put on record that there would be no acceptable reasons for the LAPD not to reach the goals within the timeline.
In order to comply, the LAPD realized that they would have to level the playing field to ensure that almost anyone qualified for employment. Since short and unfit people could not climb a wall, or carry a weight, most physical requirements were removed. Since a large portion of LA residents were criminals and gang members, the LAPD reduced it's background requirents. Since most women applicants seldom had any work experience related to police work, work experience was elliminated. And immigrants speaking a foreigh language were bonus applicants, even though they could barely speak English.
So how has Affirmative Action affected the LAPD? In the following posts during the week, I'll give you only first hand experiences in the matter. Please comment with your thoughts. I have placed a Poll near the top of this page, but ask you not to cast your vote until after reading the final post and comments on the subject which will conclude this Friday. The poll is anonymous, but you can vote only once. I don't care about the results, but I thought it would be fun and inlightening. I only want to promote a Thought for the Dock.
.
Monday, June 1, 2009
It Was Me Who Got Beat
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A young female police officer, whom I'll call Judy, was on patrol in Los Angeles. It was March 3, 1991, and Judy's third day on the street with her Trainer after graduating from the academy. Judy and her partner responded to an Officer Needs Help call (the Department's highest priority call) and subsequently stood by and watched the beating of Rodney King. Remember him?
LAPD policy, at that time, and as it is today, requires a new police officer to complete six months of academy training, then an additional 12 months of field training before becoming a permanent officer. But, Judy was taken from the streets the day following the beating, and was assigned to work the desk in the Station where I worked until the conclusion of the trial against the officers, nearly two years later. Coincidental, Judy was the State's star witness and her testimony helped send two of the officers to prison, and a third to the unemployment line.
I lost track of Judy, until the Spring of 1995. It was then that I competed for a promotional assignment to Detective. Judy, having only three years seniority, never having completed her formal required training, and with only a few months working some bicycle patrol at Venice Beach, was awarded the position. Now I wondered, how could someone with her limited background be selected over a 20 year veteran, having years of training officer experience, traffic, gangs, narcotics, and even an undercover detective assignment of for 5 years? Was it a reward for her testimony? But I let it go, until....
A week later, I was summoned to meet with one of the three Board members that conducted the promotional interview. I had never met the guy before the interview and he was of significant rank within the LAPD. He explained that he was troubled over Judy's selection and showed me the original score cards of the three Board members. Each member scored me 100% and recommended that the Chief promote me. Of the 30 or so candidates for the job, none had scores of 85% or higher, and Judy's score was 77.5%, the lowest of all. He told me that he would retain that evidence and would testify in my behalf if it went further.
Well, after thinking about things, and obtaining legal advice, I filed suit in Federal Court alleging reverse discrimination. During the investigative stage mandated by the court, a recent Federal Court Ruling was uncovered from a similar case. In that case, the Court ruled that to support a discrimination charge, an "Unqualified" candidate had to be selected over a "Qualified" one. Since each one of the candidates had scores of 70% or above, all were qualified. Therefore, the court ruled that there was no discrimination in my case, and it was dismissed.
As a side note, Judy, after giving her new job a try, surrendered it and went back to the bike detail. And I obtained my promotion on my next attempt.
What is now referred to as Affirmative Action actually got it's roots in Los Angeles. And I've always supported the intent of the law, even though I knew it would never benefit me. In many instances I can see the positive results that has been accomplished. But over the years, the law has been changed, and it might be time to go.
In the days following, I intend to discuss this Affirmative Action further, only because it is a concern of the upcoming Senate confirmation to the Supreme Court. I'll warn you in advance that I will be frank, but I'll speak only about incidents that I know of first hand. Some of you will likely be offended because it is a sensitive subject, especially if you have been touched by it directly. Feel free to comment appropriately if you want, or not read my blog if you choose.
Or wait for the next post from the Thought Dock.
.
A young female police officer, whom I'll call Judy, was on patrol in Los Angeles. It was March 3, 1991, and Judy's third day on the street with her Trainer after graduating from the academy. Judy and her partner responded to an Officer Needs Help call (the Department's highest priority call) and subsequently stood by and watched the beating of Rodney King. Remember him?
LAPD policy, at that time, and as it is today, requires a new police officer to complete six months of academy training, then an additional 12 months of field training before becoming a permanent officer. But, Judy was taken from the streets the day following the beating, and was assigned to work the desk in the Station where I worked until the conclusion of the trial against the officers, nearly two years later. Coincidental, Judy was the State's star witness and her testimony helped send two of the officers to prison, and a third to the unemployment line.
I lost track of Judy, until the Spring of 1995. It was then that I competed for a promotional assignment to Detective. Judy, having only three years seniority, never having completed her formal required training, and with only a few months working some bicycle patrol at Venice Beach, was awarded the position. Now I wondered, how could someone with her limited background be selected over a 20 year veteran, having years of training officer experience, traffic, gangs, narcotics, and even an undercover detective assignment of for 5 years? Was it a reward for her testimony? But I let it go, until....
A week later, I was summoned to meet with one of the three Board members that conducted the promotional interview. I had never met the guy before the interview and he was of significant rank within the LAPD. He explained that he was troubled over Judy's selection and showed me the original score cards of the three Board members. Each member scored me 100% and recommended that the Chief promote me. Of the 30 or so candidates for the job, none had scores of 85% or higher, and Judy's score was 77.5%, the lowest of all. He told me that he would retain that evidence and would testify in my behalf if it went further.
Well, after thinking about things, and obtaining legal advice, I filed suit in Federal Court alleging reverse discrimination. During the investigative stage mandated by the court, a recent Federal Court Ruling was uncovered from a similar case. In that case, the Court ruled that to support a discrimination charge, an "Unqualified" candidate had to be selected over a "Qualified" one. Since each one of the candidates had scores of 70% or above, all were qualified. Therefore, the court ruled that there was no discrimination in my case, and it was dismissed.
As a side note, Judy, after giving her new job a try, surrendered it and went back to the bike detail. And I obtained my promotion on my next attempt.
What is now referred to as Affirmative Action actually got it's roots in Los Angeles. And I've always supported the intent of the law, even though I knew it would never benefit me. In many instances I can see the positive results that has been accomplished. But over the years, the law has been changed, and it might be time to go.
In the days following, I intend to discuss this Affirmative Action further, only because it is a concern of the upcoming Senate confirmation to the Supreme Court. I'll warn you in advance that I will be frank, but I'll speak only about incidents that I know of first hand. Some of you will likely be offended because it is a sensitive subject, especially if you have been touched by it directly. Feel free to comment appropriately if you want, or not read my blog if you choose.
Or wait for the next post from the Thought Dock.
.
Friday, May 29, 2009
At the Top, but I Can't See Down
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Long before computers and the Internet, the Sears catalog was my biggest source of information to the outside world (outside of my world anyway). In Those Days, Sears sold everything from socks to boats. I would dwell for hours at a time in that catalog. My Mother would laugh and say I was dreaming. Well, a dream which one pursues is a plan, and I was planning. From my early teens, I've always had a plan.
Long before the days of Easy Rider, my plan was to explore this Country in a free spirited way, alone, on a motorcycle. Only then, my plan was to ride the newly imported Honda-50 moped, and I didn't care if it's top speed was only 28mph.
I planned to get a motor boat someday, something my Dad had only dreamed of. I planned to be an auto mechanic and to own a junkyard or a hardware store, to join the Army for the fight in Vietnam, and to have a family of my own. But I knew, even then, to have back up plans. Many of my plans were modified or eliminated, but many more were realized.
Now, for me, the Thought Dock is the top of my world. It's not the highest peak, nor is it near the artic circle. But, if you rotate your globe to the right, the Thought Dock is at the top. And that is the way my world is - to the right.
As I look across the water from the Thought Dock, the memories of just how I came to be me appear as visions. My mistakes. My successes. It wasn't easy at times. I guess I could have taken the easy way to fame just by selling autographed portraits of myself (extra for the nude ones), or charging people for my wisdom. But, in my own eyes, I'm proud of how I came to be me.
But, when I look down into the water from the Thought Dock, my visions are only reflected to the Heaven above. And I realize that I didn't achieve this all by myself. I am incapable to understand why, but the Lord has blessed me in so many ways, and many I've yet to recognize. He has blessed me with family, with friends, with teachers and mentors, with good health and sound wisdom, and even with enemies. All of which have been instrumental to me being me.
So, I strive to look up from the Thought Dock. Into the blue skies by day, and into the vastness of the stars at night. I'm really not sure where Heaven actually is. But I sure feel better looking up where I believe it waits for me.
Ok... Ok...Enough...With my next post, I'll take a break from the recent recipes and mushy stuff. I had to go there because some of my Followers couldn't take it and felt like crying, while others have Teflon coated brains and my wisdom just slides off if I serve them too much at a time. But, I know there are others that yearn for the real, thought provoking and stimulating crap produced from the Thought Dock. So, stand by..
Enjoy your weekend!
Long before computers and the Internet, the Sears catalog was my biggest source of information to the outside world (outside of my world anyway). In Those Days, Sears sold everything from socks to boats. I would dwell for hours at a time in that catalog. My Mother would laugh and say I was dreaming. Well, a dream which one pursues is a plan, and I was planning. From my early teens, I've always had a plan.
Long before the days of Easy Rider, my plan was to explore this Country in a free spirited way, alone, on a motorcycle. Only then, my plan was to ride the newly imported Honda-50 moped, and I didn't care if it's top speed was only 28mph.
I planned to get a motor boat someday, something my Dad had only dreamed of. I planned to be an auto mechanic and to own a junkyard or a hardware store, to join the Army for the fight in Vietnam, and to have a family of my own. But I knew, even then, to have back up plans. Many of my plans were modified or eliminated, but many more were realized.
Now, for me, the Thought Dock is the top of my world. It's not the highest peak, nor is it near the artic circle. But, if you rotate your globe to the right, the Thought Dock is at the top. And that is the way my world is - to the right.
As I look across the water from the Thought Dock, the memories of just how I came to be me appear as visions. My mistakes. My successes. It wasn't easy at times. I guess I could have taken the easy way to fame just by selling autographed portraits of myself (extra for the nude ones), or charging people for my wisdom. But, in my own eyes, I'm proud of how I came to be me.
But, when I look down into the water from the Thought Dock, my visions are only reflected to the Heaven above. And I realize that I didn't achieve this all by myself. I am incapable to understand why, but the Lord has blessed me in so many ways, and many I've yet to recognize. He has blessed me with family, with friends, with teachers and mentors, with good health and sound wisdom, and even with enemies. All of which have been instrumental to me being me.
So, I strive to look up from the Thought Dock. Into the blue skies by day, and into the vastness of the stars at night. I'm really not sure where Heaven actually is. But I sure feel better looking up where I believe it waits for me.
Ok... Ok...Enough...With my next post, I'll take a break from the recent recipes and mushy stuff. I had to go there because some of my Followers couldn't take it and felt like crying, while others have Teflon coated brains and my wisdom just slides off if I serve them too much at a time. But, I know there are others that yearn for the real, thought provoking and stimulating crap produced from the Thought Dock. So, stand by..
Enjoy your weekend!
Razor Clamming
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In Those Days, my father would pick up a bucket of claims from the pier at Sheeps Head Bay, on the Right Coast. I'm sure he would have preferred the lobster and crab, but he got the clams most of the time because they were the cheapest things around then. Sometimes he would slice them open and slide the goo into his mouth because he just couldn't wait while my mother steamed them. I really never cared for them and would only venture for a bowl of chowder every now or then.
Now that I have returned to coastal living (although it's the left coast), clams are a very popular choice in the local diners. So I tried a bite of a deep fried Razor clam from the plate of Lisa G a while back, and it was very, very good. And that got my interest up.
I've seen many people digging for clams in the estuary near my house. For you landlockers, an estuary is where a fresh water river meets the ocean. Sometimes, like around here, the ocean tide actually flows 15 miles inland, and up stream. Anyway, that's where Razor clams come from, but I think they are also on the ocean's beaches away from the estuary.
So the other day, I tried it. After waiting for low tide, I climbed down the river bank, and sunk a few inches into the muck. Actually, it's the same crap that I bought a few weeks ago for topsoil, but at the garden supply, they call it loom. I realized this wasn't going to work, so I returned home and got my boots (about 12" tall) and tried it a gain. This time I wandered out about 50 feet and sunk about 8 inches. The river is about a half mile wide there and I needed to go another 200 feet to where I had saw people clamming on a previous day.
But, with each step, I sunk even further. The hardest part was to pull your foot out of the sticky yucky muck without leaving the boot behind, and before your other foot sunk even deeper. You'd think that someone would invent a snow shoe type gadget for this.
How could a clam even taste good after living in this yucky muck? And, the yucky muck stinks as well. I soon feared that the muck would devour me and my body would never be found. I tried to run back to the river bank, but after nearly falling into the yucky muck face first, I realized that wouldn't work and I'd have to take it slow, step by step. So it took me about a half hour to walk the 50 steps back to the bank. I was pooped.
I learned I'm not a crabber, and I could just buy them at the local market, without risking my life. So, I'll just do that. Might even tweek my recipe and whip up a Clam and Snow Pea Pasta.
But now, I got to check out the kayakers on the Lake with my Stargazor - Wildlife spotting telescope that my udda sista got me for Christmas. Could be just tourists or vacationers, or they could be terrorists or illegal aliens. I'll get to the bottom of it.
I'll be back with some more wisdom from the Thought Dock another time.
.
In Those Days, my father would pick up a bucket of claims from the pier at Sheeps Head Bay, on the Right Coast. I'm sure he would have preferred the lobster and crab, but he got the clams most of the time because they were the cheapest things around then. Sometimes he would slice them open and slide the goo into his mouth because he just couldn't wait while my mother steamed them. I really never cared for them and would only venture for a bowl of chowder every now or then.
Now that I have returned to coastal living (although it's the left coast), clams are a very popular choice in the local diners. So I tried a bite of a deep fried Razor clam from the plate of Lisa G a while back, and it was very, very good. And that got my interest up.
I've seen many people digging for clams in the estuary near my house. For you landlockers, an estuary is where a fresh water river meets the ocean. Sometimes, like around here, the ocean tide actually flows 15 miles inland, and up stream. Anyway, that's where Razor clams come from, but I think they are also on the ocean's beaches away from the estuary.
So the other day, I tried it. After waiting for low tide, I climbed down the river bank, and sunk a few inches into the muck. Actually, it's the same crap that I bought a few weeks ago for topsoil, but at the garden supply, they call it loom. I realized this wasn't going to work, so I returned home and got my boots (about 12" tall) and tried it a gain. This time I wandered out about 50 feet and sunk about 8 inches. The river is about a half mile wide there and I needed to go another 200 feet to where I had saw people clamming on a previous day.
But, with each step, I sunk even further. The hardest part was to pull your foot out of the sticky yucky muck without leaving the boot behind, and before your other foot sunk even deeper. You'd think that someone would invent a snow shoe type gadget for this.
How could a clam even taste good after living in this yucky muck? And, the yucky muck stinks as well. I soon feared that the muck would devour me and my body would never be found. I tried to run back to the river bank, but after nearly falling into the yucky muck face first, I realized that wouldn't work and I'd have to take it slow, step by step. So it took me about a half hour to walk the 50 steps back to the bank. I was pooped.
I learned I'm not a crabber, and I could just buy them at the local market, without risking my life. So, I'll just do that. Might even tweek my recipe and whip up a Clam and Snow Pea Pasta.
But now, I got to check out the kayakers on the Lake with my Stargazor - Wildlife spotting telescope that my udda sista got me for Christmas. Could be just tourists or vacationers, or they could be terrorists or illegal aliens. I'll get to the bottom of it.
I'll be back with some more wisdom from the Thought Dock another time.
.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Fresh Seafood Pasta in Heavy Cheese Sauce
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My wife works late at the clinic every Wednesday. So that means, in addition to all the things I do around the house every other day, I have to feed the five pet critters as well as myself.
So, I'm always looking for ways to lessen my load, and try new things that she would not likely take a liking to if she were here. And last night, I think I outdid my previous best food creation. I only dirtied one sauce pan and one fork while doing it. Since doing the dishes is not my chore. I'm sure my wife will be grateful for that.
So, I'd like to share my easy 12 minute gourmet recipe with you that would cost less than a dollar a serving:
Follow the directions to boil up the pasta in the cheapest store brand box of Macaroni & Cheese (or even better yet, the military combat pack version). Drain and stir in the powdered cheese mix, but instead of using milk, use extra butter. Then stir in the previous night's scraps (some call them left overs) of meat. In my creation I used a several day old piece scrap salmon, which was moistened up by the steaming pasta. Top it all off with a squirt of honey mustard, or I even like Ketchup. Eat it directly from the pan to save on dishes. Don't worry that the box says it makes 4-6 servings, because you'll eat it all yourself. It's meant to be a single serving for a stay at home husband. And you wake up promptly the following morning for your duty. Ahhh..
Yummy...Yummy!!
My wife works late at the clinic every Wednesday. So that means, in addition to all the things I do around the house every other day, I have to feed the five pet critters as well as myself.
So, I'm always looking for ways to lessen my load, and try new things that she would not likely take a liking to if she were here. And last night, I think I outdid my previous best food creation. I only dirtied one sauce pan and one fork while doing it. Since doing the dishes is not my chore. I'm sure my wife will be grateful for that.
So, I'd like to share my easy 12 minute gourmet recipe with you that would cost less than a dollar a serving:
Follow the directions to boil up the pasta in the cheapest store brand box of Macaroni & Cheese (or even better yet, the military combat pack version). Drain and stir in the powdered cheese mix, but instead of using milk, use extra butter. Then stir in the previous night's scraps (some call them left overs) of meat. In my creation I used a several day old piece scrap salmon, which was moistened up by the steaming pasta. Top it all off with a squirt of honey mustard, or I even like Ketchup. Eat it directly from the pan to save on dishes. Don't worry that the box says it makes 4-6 servings, because you'll eat it all yourself. It's meant to be a single serving for a stay at home husband. And you wake up promptly the following morning for your duty. Ahhh..
Yummy...Yummy!!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The Fishy Beggar
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Well, this morning I ventured away from the safety of the Thought Dock and went into town. After taking care of some routine banking business, I grabbed a burger combination from an unspecified business, and went to the dock for a vehicle picnic (That's where you park and eat your food in your truck).
The dock, is the public dock on the river in Old Town of this Central Oregon Coast community, and is far different than the Thought Dock that I'm used to. Different, but not in a bad way. There, away from the solitude of the Thought Dock, I find more real world things to watch and think about.
Like today, I saw a man clad in fishing garb, complete from the black boots with red soles and the yellow heavy weather rain suit. Just like they wear on Deadliest Catch! He was carrying a fishing pole and his skin was leathery. Actually, he belonged in a museum.
I'd seen him before in the area, but never really gave him much Thought. Not today. Today, I realized something more about him. Today was a beautifully clear and calm day, and no need to wear that heavy rain coat. And there were no commercial fishing boats docked, or puddles in the streets, so there was no need for the boots. And even if he were going fishing on a commercial boat, he would have no use for a fishing pole designed to catch trout. And, I've never even seen anyone fish the river from the dock outside of Salmon season (which it is not yet). And then he disappeared among the maze of tourists eating their ice cream cones while strolling Old Town.
Just about the time I finished my last sweet potato french fry (really yummy), he approached my window and asked me for a few bucks. I didn't even answer him. I guess he saw my eyes roll back just a bit and left on his own. Either that, or he was scared of the ketchup dripping from my chin.
Now, I had never seen a Fishing Beggar, and actually I think his pole never gets used. But he had a great costume that I'm sure does him well. If he had any motivation he could simply pose among the tourist for a photo and really take in the dough.
Just thinking about the dock from the Thought Dock.
.
Well, this morning I ventured away from the safety of the Thought Dock and went into town. After taking care of some routine banking business, I grabbed a burger combination from an unspecified business, and went to the dock for a vehicle picnic (That's where you park and eat your food in your truck).
The dock, is the public dock on the river in Old Town of this Central Oregon Coast community, and is far different than the Thought Dock that I'm used to. Different, but not in a bad way. There, away from the solitude of the Thought Dock, I find more real world things to watch and think about.
Like today, I saw a man clad in fishing garb, complete from the black boots with red soles and the yellow heavy weather rain suit. Just like they wear on Deadliest Catch! He was carrying a fishing pole and his skin was leathery. Actually, he belonged in a museum.
I'd seen him before in the area, but never really gave him much Thought. Not today. Today, I realized something more about him. Today was a beautifully clear and calm day, and no need to wear that heavy rain coat. And there were no commercial fishing boats docked, or puddles in the streets, so there was no need for the boots. And even if he were going fishing on a commercial boat, he would have no use for a fishing pole designed to catch trout. And, I've never even seen anyone fish the river from the dock outside of Salmon season (which it is not yet). And then he disappeared among the maze of tourists eating their ice cream cones while strolling Old Town.
Just about the time I finished my last sweet potato french fry (really yummy), he approached my window and asked me for a few bucks. I didn't even answer him. I guess he saw my eyes roll back just a bit and left on his own. Either that, or he was scared of the ketchup dripping from my chin.
Now, I had never seen a Fishing Beggar, and actually I think his pole never gets used. But he had a great costume that I'm sure does him well. If he had any motivation he could simply pose among the tourist for a photo and really take in the dough.
Just thinking about the dock from the Thought Dock.
.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The Enforcer
.
Seems everyone today questions authority. And everyone questions the Enforcer's use of force to enforce their authority.
Many moons ago, the people ruled that Enforcers could not use a fire hose to quell a street riot. It was actually the court that made that decision but I use the term "people" because the court represent the people. So the Enforcers employed tear gas, which the people also thought was excessive. So the people gave the Enforcers helmets, shields, and night sticks to defend against the bricks and fire bombs thrown at them. And the people charged the Enforcers with brutality when they beat the aggressors with their sticks. Sound funny?
In LA, a bank robber took a teller hostage and placed a gun to her head as he attempted to leave the bank. An Enforcer shot the gun from the robber's hand and took him into custody. The people gave lots of money to the hostage because fragments from the Enforcer's bullet penetrated her cheek. And later that year, a burglar being chased from a victim's home by an Enforcer, ran through a closed sliding glass door, and nearly cut his head off. The people that guy money too, ruling it was the Enforcer's fault. Sound crazy?
A few years later, in Texas, a bank robber shot an Enforcer that was chasing him though an alley. The robber claimed self defence and was exonerated of the attempted murder charge because the people said that the Enforcer would shot the robber first if he had the chance. But he was convicted of the robbery. Believe it?
A suicidal man fell to his death when an Enforcer used a taser to try and save him from jumping off a roof. And another man that was threatening suicide with a gun to his temple, was injured when an Enforcer tried to save his life by shooting the gun out of his hand. The people chastised each of these Enforcers. Comical?
An Enforcer was sent to prison for beating Rodney King into submission after chasing him all over the SoCal freeways. And another time, LA Enforcers were brought to trial because the felons that they were chasing crashed into an innocent's car. Really?
And in Iraq, a military Enforcer was tried for shooting a 12-year old kid that was levelling an AK in his direction. The people expected to let the kid shoot first. And many more are now facing prosecution for interviewing their prisoners too harshly. Pretty nuts?
You might find these stories to be funny, crazy, unbelievable, comical, and nuts. But our Enforcers don't think so. Enforcing is not what it was when I was one. Now days many Enforcers worry more about losing their jobs, or going to prison, than they do about being injured or even killed. And I don't blame them.
What would an Enforcer have to lose if he/she just let the idiots burn their own city, let a deranged person kill himself, or let a felon escape rather that involving an innocent in a car crash. Why not just let Rodney go? Why volunteer for Iraq? Why bother to even question your prisiner? Is this what the people want? I am so glad that I don't make these kinds of decisions any longer, and I pray very often for those that do.
Now, I'd rather be lost on the Lake than found at home.
.
Seems everyone today questions authority. And everyone questions the Enforcer's use of force to enforce their authority.
Many moons ago, the people ruled that Enforcers could not use a fire hose to quell a street riot. It was actually the court that made that decision but I use the term "people" because the court represent the people. So the Enforcers employed tear gas, which the people also thought was excessive. So the people gave the Enforcers helmets, shields, and night sticks to defend against the bricks and fire bombs thrown at them. And the people charged the Enforcers with brutality when they beat the aggressors with their sticks. Sound funny?
In LA, a bank robber took a teller hostage and placed a gun to her head as he attempted to leave the bank. An Enforcer shot the gun from the robber's hand and took him into custody. The people gave lots of money to the hostage because fragments from the Enforcer's bullet penetrated her cheek. And later that year, a burglar being chased from a victim's home by an Enforcer, ran through a closed sliding glass door, and nearly cut his head off. The people that guy money too, ruling it was the Enforcer's fault. Sound crazy?
A few years later, in Texas, a bank robber shot an Enforcer that was chasing him though an alley. The robber claimed self defence and was exonerated of the attempted murder charge because the people said that the Enforcer would shot the robber first if he had the chance. But he was convicted of the robbery. Believe it?
A suicidal man fell to his death when an Enforcer used a taser to try and save him from jumping off a roof. And another man that was threatening suicide with a gun to his temple, was injured when an Enforcer tried to save his life by shooting the gun out of his hand. The people chastised each of these Enforcers. Comical?
An Enforcer was sent to prison for beating Rodney King into submission after chasing him all over the SoCal freeways. And another time, LA Enforcers were brought to trial because the felons that they were chasing crashed into an innocent's car. Really?
And in Iraq, a military Enforcer was tried for shooting a 12-year old kid that was levelling an AK in his direction. The people expected to let the kid shoot first. And many more are now facing prosecution for interviewing their prisoners too harshly. Pretty nuts?
You might find these stories to be funny, crazy, unbelievable, comical, and nuts. But our Enforcers don't think so. Enforcing is not what it was when I was one. Now days many Enforcers worry more about losing their jobs, or going to prison, than they do about being injured or even killed. And I don't blame them.
What would an Enforcer have to lose if he/she just let the idiots burn their own city, let a deranged person kill himself, or let a felon escape rather that involving an innocent in a car crash. Why not just let Rodney go? Why volunteer for Iraq? Why bother to even question your prisiner? Is this what the people want? I am so glad that I don't make these kinds of decisions any longer, and I pray very often for those that do.
Now, I'd rather be lost on the Lake than found at home.
.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Is that Right?
.
Last summer our County placed an initiative on the ballot to increase taxes specifically to preserve the then mostly free parks system. The County threatened to close about half of the parks and lay off workers if the initiative failed. Well, it failed. Nobody got laid off, and none of the parks closed, but the County did put usage fees on every park. Is that right?
Like everywhere, there is a huge push to conserve energy. But in our State, now that people are buying hybrids and stuff to save fuel, the State collects less money from the gasoline tax. Now the State wants to put a use fee, based upon the miles you drive, in addition to the gas tax. And they threaten to double our motor vehicle registration fees if we don't agree. Is that right?
Our State also added a deposit on water bottles. (Seems odd that there is no deposit on all the other plastic bottles like Windex, or liquid soaps). The deposit, which is about ten times greater than the value of the bottle, can only be refunded at the place of sale. The bar code prevents you from trying to get the refund anywhere else. So if you're travelling, forget about the deposit. We have mandatory recycling for our rubbish collection. So, even if you separate the stuff for them, they keep the recycle deposits and value of the scrap. It's all planned as a means to turn the deposits into an outright tax for the State. Is that right?
Our published City budget revealed that a significant portion of their income was derived through traffic fines. In looking at the yearly comparisons, as the City budget grew, so did the traffic fines. Is that right?
I'm sure that each of you can site similar examples of this in your government. Here is my point:
Fees enacted by our government are not identified as "Taxes" and do not need the approval of the people. Fees can be collected by the City, County, or State administrator, pretty much at their will. Fees are actually worse than taxes because most of the time you can't even write them off as income. Is that Right?
Times are tough. Unemployment is above 12% nationwide with some areas double that. Those figure are based upon unemployment claims, and do not include Welfare or unemployment claims that have run out. Yet there are very few layoffs in government. The government, to ensure their jobs, just continues to tax us more.
Is that right, or am I right? Good day from the Thought Dock.
Last summer our County placed an initiative on the ballot to increase taxes specifically to preserve the then mostly free parks system. The County threatened to close about half of the parks and lay off workers if the initiative failed. Well, it failed. Nobody got laid off, and none of the parks closed, but the County did put usage fees on every park. Is that right?
Like everywhere, there is a huge push to conserve energy. But in our State, now that people are buying hybrids and stuff to save fuel, the State collects less money from the gasoline tax. Now the State wants to put a use fee, based upon the miles you drive, in addition to the gas tax. And they threaten to double our motor vehicle registration fees if we don't agree. Is that right?
Our State also added a deposit on water bottles. (Seems odd that there is no deposit on all the other plastic bottles like Windex, or liquid soaps). The deposit, which is about ten times greater than the value of the bottle, can only be refunded at the place of sale. The bar code prevents you from trying to get the refund anywhere else. So if you're travelling, forget about the deposit. We have mandatory recycling for our rubbish collection. So, even if you separate the stuff for them, they keep the recycle deposits and value of the scrap. It's all planned as a means to turn the deposits into an outright tax for the State. Is that right?
Our published City budget revealed that a significant portion of their income was derived through traffic fines. In looking at the yearly comparisons, as the City budget grew, so did the traffic fines. Is that right?
I'm sure that each of you can site similar examples of this in your government. Here is my point:
Fees enacted by our government are not identified as "Taxes" and do not need the approval of the people. Fees can be collected by the City, County, or State administrator, pretty much at their will. Fees are actually worse than taxes because most of the time you can't even write them off as income. Is that Right?
Times are tough. Unemployment is above 12% nationwide with some areas double that. Those figure are based upon unemployment claims, and do not include Welfare or unemployment claims that have run out. Yet there are very few layoffs in government. The government, to ensure their jobs, just continues to tax us more.
Is that right, or am I right? Good day from the Thought Dock.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
You're a Guest in my House
.
Since many of you are new to this blog, and some of you haven't review the older posts, I thought I'd just recap a few things. Most of which that follows here should not be news to you, because I've written about it before. But it seems I must say it again.
I designed this blog first and foremost as a means for me to learn who I am, and how I came to be me. Secondly, I made it a place for you and I to discuss our Thoughts. As some of you know, I frequently present sensative subjects in order to promote further discussions through comments. Although I have made remarks regarding the numbers of my followers, I really don't care if anyone reads my blog. Writing is simply a tool that I've found to explore my inner Thoughts.
That said, let me help you understand how things work here. You see, I am the author of this blog, and you have chosen to be a reader. I make the rules and moderate the blog. You are here because you chose to come. But you will remain here only at my discretion. I really do have the authority to do that.
I'll be blunt. If you don't like what you read here, then read somewhere else. If I offend you, then leave if you like. But if you offend me, you will leave. That's the rules folks. You are a guest of my Thought Dock, and that is what it is.
So stick around a bit if you like. I actually enjoy hearing your views if they at least have some basis. Most of your comments have been great. Although I've not always agreed, I've not yet X'd anyone. Or should it be, I've not X'd anyone yet?
That said, I hope you can find this blog interesting and will continue to visit. Enjoy your weekend!
.
Since many of you are new to this blog, and some of you haven't review the older posts, I thought I'd just recap a few things. Most of which that follows here should not be news to you, because I've written about it before. But it seems I must say it again.
I designed this blog first and foremost as a means for me to learn who I am, and how I came to be me. Secondly, I made it a place for you and I to discuss our Thoughts. As some of you know, I frequently present sensative subjects in order to promote further discussions through comments. Although I have made remarks regarding the numbers of my followers, I really don't care if anyone reads my blog. Writing is simply a tool that I've found to explore my inner Thoughts.
That said, let me help you understand how things work here. You see, I am the author of this blog, and you have chosen to be a reader. I make the rules and moderate the blog. You are here because you chose to come. But you will remain here only at my discretion. I really do have the authority to do that.
I'll be blunt. If you don't like what you read here, then read somewhere else. If I offend you, then leave if you like. But if you offend me, you will leave. That's the rules folks. You are a guest of my Thought Dock, and that is what it is.
So stick around a bit if you like. I actually enjoy hearing your views if they at least have some basis. Most of your comments have been great. Although I've not always agreed, I've not yet X'd anyone. Or should it be, I've not X'd anyone yet?
That said, I hope you can find this blog interesting and will continue to visit. Enjoy your weekend!
.
Friday, May 22, 2009
1907
.My youngest brudda, whom I call "My Binkie Bro", passed this on to me. So, Ill share it with you.
Roosevelt 's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907. The caption reads:
"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American....There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people." Theodore Roosevelt 1907
It was about the time of this photo, that my grandparents arrived at Ellis Island. It didn't take them long to become the Americans President Roosevelt was talking about. They learned English as best they could, and never really passed along their native language to their own children. The raised a large family and soon their sons were off at war fighting the very country that they immigrated from.
How things have changed. Most immigrants no longer give up their language or sacrafice their culture to blend in and become Americans. Some Americans even take on the culture and fly the flags of their of their ancestors from 200 years ago, a culture and a country none have ever even seen.
So, where are we going from here? I'm heading for the Thought Dock! Come with me, so you can see.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Prices
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A long while ago as a young cop, I taught a junior high school class entitled, "Rights and Responsabilities." The class was designed to illustrate that the Rights we have as Americans are not free, but have Responsabilities attached. And I always closed the class by repeating some one else's saying, "But our hard earned Rights will be the very thing that destroys us."
The Rights we have were not free. My father, and each of his brothers fought to preserve the Rights that were given to us by past generations. Close to 20% of my high school male friends, and one brother-in-law died while at war, not to mention my other brother-in-law, and my many other friends that returned from war with less than what they had taken. Our son, our nephew, and many of our friend's sons and nephews, are or have served in the armed forces overseas. Some have completed their tours and returned home, some have not yet, and some will never. Those that serve do so because it is their responsability.
So many have paid the price to win and preserve the Rights and Freedoms that we seem to take forgranted. The war is not over, and will likely not ever be over. We complain that over 4000 of our loved ones have paid our price in Iraq. Not to minimize their lives, but we lost that many soldiers on the beaches of Normandy in the first 3 hours! Today, Americans are complaining that our troops in Afghanistan killed 27 civillians during a firefight with the Taliban. What about the 50,000 we killed in a split second at Hiroshima?
Now, I'm not a war lover. But I believe in what Americans have fought for. From our Revolutionary War, to the Civil War, to World Wars, Vietnam, the Middle East, and all the ones in between, there was a price. And I believe they were all worth that price, what ever it was. But I always pray for peace.
In the beginning, our Fathers fought and paid the price for religious freedom, which we are about to lose. Our Fathers fought to end slavery, have equal rights for women and minorities, and to protect our homeland, which were are about to lose. With a Half-White President that has benefitted dearly by the prices our forefathers paid, now giving away our National secrets, shaking hands with terrorists, and de-emphasizing Christianity and it's values, I feel very concerned for the future of my grand children, and their children. The very Rights which were fought for are being used from within and against us.
I post this now, as Memorial Day nears, to encourage you to plan time to thank those that you can for paying our price, and for those that you can't thank, thank their parents, or just say a prayer.
I'll be praying for those, and for America, from the solitude of the Thought Dock.
.
A long while ago as a young cop, I taught a junior high school class entitled, "Rights and Responsabilities." The class was designed to illustrate that the Rights we have as Americans are not free, but have Responsabilities attached. And I always closed the class by repeating some one else's saying, "But our hard earned Rights will be the very thing that destroys us."
The Rights we have were not free. My father, and each of his brothers fought to preserve the Rights that were given to us by past generations. Close to 20% of my high school male friends, and one brother-in-law died while at war, not to mention my other brother-in-law, and my many other friends that returned from war with less than what they had taken. Our son, our nephew, and many of our friend's sons and nephews, are or have served in the armed forces overseas. Some have completed their tours and returned home, some have not yet, and some will never. Those that serve do so because it is their responsability.
So many have paid the price to win and preserve the Rights and Freedoms that we seem to take forgranted. The war is not over, and will likely not ever be over. We complain that over 4000 of our loved ones have paid our price in Iraq. Not to minimize their lives, but we lost that many soldiers on the beaches of Normandy in the first 3 hours! Today, Americans are complaining that our troops in Afghanistan killed 27 civillians during a firefight with the Taliban. What about the 50,000 we killed in a split second at Hiroshima?
Now, I'm not a war lover. But I believe in what Americans have fought for. From our Revolutionary War, to the Civil War, to World Wars, Vietnam, the Middle East, and all the ones in between, there was a price. And I believe they were all worth that price, what ever it was. But I always pray for peace.
In the beginning, our Fathers fought and paid the price for religious freedom, which we are about to lose. Our Fathers fought to end slavery, have equal rights for women and minorities, and to protect our homeland, which were are about to lose. With a Half-White President that has benefitted dearly by the prices our forefathers paid, now giving away our National secrets, shaking hands with terrorists, and de-emphasizing Christianity and it's values, I feel very concerned for the future of my grand children, and their children. The very Rights which were fought for are being used from within and against us.
I post this now, as Memorial Day nears, to encourage you to plan time to thank those that you can for paying our price, and for those that you can't thank, thank their parents, or just say a prayer.
I'll be praying for those, and for America, from the solitude of the Thought Dock.
.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Seventh Inning Stretch
.
At every Dodger game in Los Angeles, "Take me out to the ball game" is played at the start of the 7th inning to give the fans a chance to stretch their legs. That's what we all ought to do right about now.
The State of California is at the brink of brokeness because it can not meet it's budget obligation. The State claims that because so many have lost their income, it takes in less income taxes.
Ask Manny Ramirez how that works. He lost 3.3 million in wages for his 50-game suspension, which calculates to a 1.5 million dollar loss of income taxes to our government (of course that is a combined state and federal tax estimate).
Ask Vice President Biden about his brother's and maybe even his son's federal investigation of a 86 million dollar investment fraud scheme in California. That's a big loss of California income tax owed not only by the Biden company, but by the individual investor's earnings.
As more and more of those California millionaires lose their earnings, whether derived through corruption, fraud, or the raping of the real estate and financial sectors, the State receives less and less income. So now California is asking the Federal government to bail them out.
Stretch your legs folks! California voters themselves defeated several tax initiatives today, refusing to pay any more money to their State, and saying "Enough is enough." So we, (everybody living outside of California) are supposed to support their lifestyle, which they refuse to pay for? Give me a break!
This Country is well beyond the Seventh Inning Stretch! Come take a stretch with me at the Thought Dock.
.
At every Dodger game in Los Angeles, "Take me out to the ball game" is played at the start of the 7th inning to give the fans a chance to stretch their legs. That's what we all ought to do right about now.
The State of California is at the brink of brokeness because it can not meet it's budget obligation. The State claims that because so many have lost their income, it takes in less income taxes.
Ask Manny Ramirez how that works. He lost 3.3 million in wages for his 50-game suspension, which calculates to a 1.5 million dollar loss of income taxes to our government (of course that is a combined state and federal tax estimate).
Ask Vice President Biden about his brother's and maybe even his son's federal investigation of a 86 million dollar investment fraud scheme in California. That's a big loss of California income tax owed not only by the Biden company, but by the individual investor's earnings.
As more and more of those California millionaires lose their earnings, whether derived through corruption, fraud, or the raping of the real estate and financial sectors, the State receives less and less income. So now California is asking the Federal government to bail them out.
Stretch your legs folks! California voters themselves defeated several tax initiatives today, refusing to pay any more money to their State, and saying "Enough is enough." So we, (everybody living outside of California) are supposed to support their lifestyle, which they refuse to pay for? Give me a break!
This Country is well beyond the Seventh Inning Stretch! Come take a stretch with me at the Thought Dock.
.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
One Finished - Another Coming
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The Rhododendron Festival has passed. It was a mad house, so I understand. I have to go on second hand reports because I was not there for most of it.
My brudda, and his wife Kathy, joined me, Jim G, and his wife Lisa, Jerry, Don B, and his wife Becky, and Don M, and we all left town on our motorcycles. Unfortunately, my wife stayed in town to man the food booth at the Festival to raise money through hotdog and hamburger sales for her favorite charity.
The ride was a loop of about 200 miles through the inland wine country and farm lands. Just beautiful, and the weather was perfect. It consumed most of the day as we just had to stop and eat, stop and drink, and just stop to take in the views.
Following the ride, my wife and I hosted an unplanned barbecue from the deck over looking the Thought Dock. It was our first shindig ever on the deck. Jerry's wife, Dianna, and my brudda in law, Jim, joined in pushing the total to about a dozen. It went well for something spur of the moment. I creamed the burgers, but the whole sockeye salmon that my brudda brought, and the dogs and sausage were great. That went well into the evening and I was pooped out.
Sunday was the finale of the Festival. My wife marched in the parade in support of her charity. It was her first time ever to be a part of a parade. She was excited and did well. I watched from the sidewalk. And then it ended and we took naps.
And now, the Memorial Day weekend is upon us, and a 4-day ride is in the works. So now I've got to get to the Thought Dock to figure that out.
The Rhododendron Festival has passed. It was a mad house, so I understand. I have to go on second hand reports because I was not there for most of it.
My brudda, and his wife Kathy, joined me, Jim G, and his wife Lisa, Jerry, Don B, and his wife Becky, and Don M, and we all left town on our motorcycles. Unfortunately, my wife stayed in town to man the food booth at the Festival to raise money through hotdog and hamburger sales for her favorite charity.
The ride was a loop of about 200 miles through the inland wine country and farm lands. Just beautiful, and the weather was perfect. It consumed most of the day as we just had to stop and eat, stop and drink, and just stop to take in the views.
Following the ride, my wife and I hosted an unplanned barbecue from the deck over looking the Thought Dock. It was our first shindig ever on the deck. Jerry's wife, Dianna, and my brudda in law, Jim, joined in pushing the total to about a dozen. It went well for something spur of the moment. I creamed the burgers, but the whole sockeye salmon that my brudda brought, and the dogs and sausage were great. That went well into the evening and I was pooped out.
Sunday was the finale of the Festival. My wife marched in the parade in support of her charity. It was her first time ever to be a part of a parade. She was excited and did well. I watched from the sidewalk. And then it ended and we took naps.
And now, the Memorial Day weekend is upon us, and a 4-day ride is in the works. So now I've got to get to the Thought Dock to figure that out.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Dinosaurs, Oil, Coal 'n' Diamonds
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I really don't know much about Dinosaurs or Diamonds, and how they relate to oil and coal.
I do remember learning in school that coal comes from plant material that has been under great pressure over long periods of time. And, when coal is compressed even more, a diamond is formed. And I know that diamonds can be created by man by duplicating what it took nature thousands of years to do.
And I remember watching Exxon commercials on TV in the 70's where a giant boot thumped the ground to locate dinosaurs that had been trapped beneath the surface many years before and somehow were turned into oil. So, I've heard that oil is formed by decaying animal matter under pressure, and since dinosaurs were the biggest animals around, they got all the credit for being turned into crude. But I suppose any animal's matter would work.
So, if I were to agree with the scientists about the age of the earth, and the existence of dinosaurs and such, I could be convinced that plant matter turns into coal, which then turns into diamonds. The natural ones we wear on our fingers and necks, and the man made ones are used to build tools and machinery, or if you like wearing imitation (cheap) crap, you can wear those also.
But the dinosaurs to crude concept is a bit harder for me to understand. Now, we've been pumping crude out of the ground for a hundred years. I wonder how many rotten dinosaurs trapped beneath the surface to fill just one of those gigantic oil tankers that traverse the globe by the hundreds every day. Were there really that many dinosaurs around? And some of the largest oil field lie in Russia and Alaska in very cold climates where I didn't think dinosaurs ever roamed. And, why isn't there man made crude? All we'd have to do is grow some animals, then cook them down under pressure and Whaalaa, Presto, we should have crude. Sure would need a lot of animals though.
So, I'll visit the Thought Dock again for these answers, but it might be a lot easier if you (in particular my oldest daughter's only son) could help me out here.
Enjoy the weekend!
.
I really don't know much about Dinosaurs or Diamonds, and how they relate to oil and coal.
I do remember learning in school that coal comes from plant material that has been under great pressure over long periods of time. And, when coal is compressed even more, a diamond is formed. And I know that diamonds can be created by man by duplicating what it took nature thousands of years to do.
And I remember watching Exxon commercials on TV in the 70's where a giant boot thumped the ground to locate dinosaurs that had been trapped beneath the surface many years before and somehow were turned into oil. So, I've heard that oil is formed by decaying animal matter under pressure, and since dinosaurs were the biggest animals around, they got all the credit for being turned into crude. But I suppose any animal's matter would work.
So, if I were to agree with the scientists about the age of the earth, and the existence of dinosaurs and such, I could be convinced that plant matter turns into coal, which then turns into diamonds. The natural ones we wear on our fingers and necks, and the man made ones are used to build tools and machinery, or if you like wearing imitation (cheap) crap, you can wear those also.
But the dinosaurs to crude concept is a bit harder for me to understand. Now, we've been pumping crude out of the ground for a hundred years. I wonder how many rotten dinosaurs trapped beneath the surface to fill just one of those gigantic oil tankers that traverse the globe by the hundreds every day. Were there really that many dinosaurs around? And some of the largest oil field lie in Russia and Alaska in very cold climates where I didn't think dinosaurs ever roamed. And, why isn't there man made crude? All we'd have to do is grow some animals, then cook them down under pressure and Whaalaa, Presto, we should have crude. Sure would need a lot of animals though.
So, I'll visit the Thought Dock again for these answers, but it might be a lot easier if you (in particular my oldest daughter's only son) could help me out here.
Enjoy the weekend!
.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Rhododendron Days
For those of you who don't know, pictured at the right is a Rhododendron bush in bloom. My research has revealed that there are over 1000 species of this plant, so this one might not look exactly like the ones you've seen. I guess they grow most everywhere, except in the drier regions.
Our Central Oregon Coast town is the Rhododendron Capital of the World. So, we are having our Rhody Days Festival this weekend.
Now most every small town has some type of a gig. We went to the Corn Festival in Northern Colorado, and the Strawberry Festival on the Coast of California, and the Apple Festival in the Tehachapi Mountains, and a Peach Festival and an Almond Festival in the SoCal desert. Been to a bunch of them, and I don't want to take away from any of them, but the Rhody Festival is the best.
My youngest brother, and his wife, will visit me and my wife, and my other sister, and her husband, right here in this town. Many more will gather in the like and this town's population will increase from the normal 8,500 to over 40k for the weekend.
There will be a parade complete with the Rhody Queen, and most of the prior Queens dating back 40 years. A car show, a carnival, scores of dances and other presentations by the youth and various organizations from around the community, marching bands from all over, motorcycle clubs from everywhere, will be non stop. The 3 traffic signals in town will be overwhelmed, the diners packed, the hotels booked, our Manor full, and the casino popping. The weather is forecast to be clear and near 70's.
So what better time to visit the Thought Dock than now? So come on, hope a flight, and have some fun with me and 40k other people just like me.
.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Must be a Colore Condition
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During some of my visits to Colorado, Utah, and Arizona, I've encountered times where the Skies were bright blue clear, and the wind calm. Then almost with out warning, near gale force winds emerge, the sky darkens, and it rains like heck for 20 or 30 minutes before the still, sunny, blue skies return. It's really pretty weird I think.
Well, that is how the weather has been today on the Central Oregon Coast. We've had several bouts of it, and each time according to my weather station we get almost a quarter inch of rain.
Pretty strange for this area, so I've come up with a name for this weather phenomena, "Colore Condition." (That was taken by combining 3 letters each from Colorado and Oregon, if you hadn't noticed) Pretty crafty, eh? Maybe it should be The Coloreutaona Condition now that I think about it more.
Silly me, you say? No, it's straight forward wisdom from the Thought Dock.
During some of my visits to Colorado, Utah, and Arizona, I've encountered times where the Skies were bright blue clear, and the wind calm. Then almost with out warning, near gale force winds emerge, the sky darkens, and it rains like heck for 20 or 30 minutes before the still, sunny, blue skies return. It's really pretty weird I think.
Well, that is how the weather has been today on the Central Oregon Coast. We've had several bouts of it, and each time according to my weather station we get almost a quarter inch of rain.
Pretty strange for this area, so I've come up with a name for this weather phenomena, "Colore Condition." (That was taken by combining 3 letters each from Colorado and Oregon, if you hadn't noticed) Pretty crafty, eh? Maybe it should be The Coloreutaona Condition now that I think about it more.
Silly me, you say? No, it's straight forward wisdom from the Thought Dock.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mom's Missings
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You know, I never really thought much about my Mom until her latter years, and now I find myself thinking about her more than ever.
She taught me so much. The little things that I do almost daily; Like how to mix a can of tuna, sharpen a knife or whittle a stick without cutting myself, shoot an arrow and fire a rifle, catch a ball or a fish, ride a bike and drive a car. She taught it all to me.
More than that, she taught values; Values I try to use every day; Like mean what you say, stand up for what you believe, help those that you can, be proud of America, pay your taxes, and repay what you borrow. She was always there for me.
But I was not always there for her and I regret that now. I could make excuses, but it simply boiled down to selfishness on my part. Too selfish to call her on her birthday, too busy to tell her I love her on Mother's Day, and too selfish to take time from my life to visit with her more often and share my children with her.
I know all that now, but I am glad to have had the opportunity to recognize my errs and to make ammends with her before it was too late.
I'm sorry to bore you guys with this stuff. I'm sure that most of you loved your mothers as well. But on this Mother's Day, I only wish I would have loved my Mom more when I had the chance.
I love you Mom!
.
You know, I never really thought much about my Mom until her latter years, and now I find myself thinking about her more than ever.
She taught me so much. The little things that I do almost daily; Like how to mix a can of tuna, sharpen a knife or whittle a stick without cutting myself, shoot an arrow and fire a rifle, catch a ball or a fish, ride a bike and drive a car. She taught it all to me.
More than that, she taught values; Values I try to use every day; Like mean what you say, stand up for what you believe, help those that you can, be proud of America, pay your taxes, and repay what you borrow. She was always there for me.
But I was not always there for her and I regret that now. I could make excuses, but it simply boiled down to selfishness on my part. Too selfish to call her on her birthday, too busy to tell her I love her on Mother's Day, and too selfish to take time from my life to visit with her more often and share my children with her.
I know all that now, but I am glad to have had the opportunity to recognize my errs and to make ammends with her before it was too late.
I'm sorry to bore you guys with this stuff. I'm sure that most of you loved your mothers as well. But on this Mother's Day, I only wish I would have loved my Mom more when I had the chance.
I love you Mom!
.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
I got Mine for Free!!
.
While watching the morning news (Fox News with the beautiful Megyn Kelly of course!), two consecutive commercials came on.
The first depicted a man who had apparently over indulged in a life time of potato chips and Fat Burgers and developed diabetes. He was happy to say that he got a new blood glucose machine that was provided to him for free by Medicare.
The second commercial had a woman sitting on an electric wheel chair while she folded her laundry. Her thighs smothered the contraption to the point that I couldn't even tell what color it was. But the nearly flat tires looked like they were white walls. She was excited to tell me about how the machine had changed her life and exclaimed, "And I got mine for free!"
Let me tell you folks, "There ain't nothing for free!" But there is something called Socialism, and these are but just two examples of it. "There isn't anything wrong with spreading the wealth around." That's what Obummer said. And that's why those things are free for some people. They are not free for everyone.
So someone had to pay for those machines, and it was the someones like me and perhaps, you. Now, I am usually a very caring and giving person. Need help, just ask and I'll chip in more than my share for a good cause. But I don't like the government taking my money, without asking, to redistribute it as it pleases, especially to those that have created their own problems.
I just don't have much sympathy for those that have never contributed, or dug themselves into their own pit, and then expect help. It is free to them because they have never contributed anything. And these are just two people that I'm talking about. I won't go on. but just look around. And now they're even talking about giving the Gitmo terrorists welfare if they are not convicted and released into America.
Sorry, I need to get away from the TV and out to the Thought Dock. It's depressing in here!
.
While watching the morning news (Fox News with the beautiful Megyn Kelly of course!), two consecutive commercials came on.
The first depicted a man who had apparently over indulged in a life time of potato chips and Fat Burgers and developed diabetes. He was happy to say that he got a new blood glucose machine that was provided to him for free by Medicare.
The second commercial had a woman sitting on an electric wheel chair while she folded her laundry. Her thighs smothered the contraption to the point that I couldn't even tell what color it was. But the nearly flat tires looked like they were white walls. She was excited to tell me about how the machine had changed her life and exclaimed, "And I got mine for free!"
Let me tell you folks, "There ain't nothing for free!" But there is something called Socialism, and these are but just two examples of it. "There isn't anything wrong with spreading the wealth around." That's what Obummer said. And that's why those things are free for some people. They are not free for everyone.
So someone had to pay for those machines, and it was the someones like me and perhaps, you. Now, I am usually a very caring and giving person. Need help, just ask and I'll chip in more than my share for a good cause. But I don't like the government taking my money, without asking, to redistribute it as it pleases, especially to those that have created their own problems.
I just don't have much sympathy for those that have never contributed, or dug themselves into their own pit, and then expect help. It is free to them because they have never contributed anything. And these are just two people that I'm talking about. I won't go on. but just look around. And now they're even talking about giving the Gitmo terrorists welfare if they are not convicted and released into America.
Sorry, I need to get away from the TV and out to the Thought Dock. It's depressing in here!
.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
National Prayer Day
.
This morning, bright and early (even before I collected my thoughts from the Thought Dock), I attended a community meeting on Natural Prayer Day. Several hundred Christians representing most of our area's churches attended. It was amazing to see the clergy of our community, not competing against one another, but united with each other toward one common goal; introducing God's love to people who don't know Him. Following a pancake/sausage breakfast, we prayed for the leaders of our great Country.
By Executive order, National Prayer Day, has all but been eliminated. Now how is it that President Obama, a man who says he is proud of his Christian faith, turn his back to those of us that pray for him? Does he not think he needs it? He says he prays privately; So what? He needs to remember the thousands of Christians who have been persecuted for spreading God's word, publicly.
.
This morning, bright and early (even before I collected my thoughts from the Thought Dock), I attended a community meeting on Natural Prayer Day. Several hundred Christians representing most of our area's churches attended. It was amazing to see the clergy of our community, not competing against one another, but united with each other toward one common goal; introducing God's love to people who don't know Him. Following a pancake/sausage breakfast, we prayed for the leaders of our great Country.
By Executive order, National Prayer Day, has all but been eliminated. Now how is it that President Obama, a man who says he is proud of his Christian faith, turn his back to those of us that pray for him? Does he not think he needs it? He says he prays privately; So what? He needs to remember the thousands of Christians who have been persecuted for spreading God's word, publicly.
.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Plant Your Garden
.
We live on the Central Oregon Coast. Gardens don't do very well here, I think in part because there seems to be a lack of sunlight and fertile soil. Yet, somehow pine trees do well. Just to get a few flowers planted, I had to buy mud. Actually, they call it river silt loam here, and it's imported from the Central Oregon Valley where there are many farms and gardens. I think that's because there is more sunlight and mud there.
Anyway, my favorite sister-in-law (K) lives along the Central Oregon Valley, and loves to garden (she gets the plug because she is my only living sister-in-law). She is quite good at it, and last year, she raised some squash that were as large as what ever was in those Spamelot dancer's tights!
Getting closer to the point now. Well, K sent me instructions for a garden that will thrive anywhere, even here, and even where you live. I'll share it with you now..
HOW TO PLANT YOUR GARDEN
First, come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. (I'll substitute Rhoddys in mine because the deer ate my roses that I had planted last year)...
FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING
Plant Three rows of peas:
1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul
Plant four rows of squash:
1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness
Plant four rows of lettuce:
1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another
No Garden is without turnips:
1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another
To conclude your garden, ou must have thyme:
1. Thyme for each other
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends
Water freely with patience and cultivate with love. There is much fruit in your garden because you reap what you sow.
.
We live on the Central Oregon Coast. Gardens don't do very well here, I think in part because there seems to be a lack of sunlight and fertile soil. Yet, somehow pine trees do well. Just to get a few flowers planted, I had to buy mud. Actually, they call it river silt loam here, and it's imported from the Central Oregon Valley where there are many farms and gardens. I think that's because there is more sunlight and mud there.
Anyway, my favorite sister-in-law (K) lives along the Central Oregon Valley, and loves to garden (she gets the plug because she is my only living sister-in-law). She is quite good at it, and last year, she raised some squash that were as large as what ever was in those Spamelot dancer's tights!
Getting closer to the point now. Well, K sent me instructions for a garden that will thrive anywhere, even here, and even where you live. I'll share it with you now..
HOW TO PLANT YOUR GARDEN
First, come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. (I'll substitute Rhoddys in mine because the deer ate my roses that I had planted last year)...
FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING
Plant Three rows of peas:
1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul
Plant four rows of squash:
1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness
Plant four rows of lettuce:
1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another
No Garden is without turnips:
1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another
To conclude your garden, ou must have thyme:
1. Thyme for each other
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends
Water freely with patience and cultivate with love. There is much fruit in your garden because you reap what you sow.
.
Monday, May 4, 2009
First Thought - Birthday
.
I think I was conducting some heavy duty Internet research a few days ago, when my wife announced that she was taking me to Spamelot for my birthday. I replied, "Uh OK," and simply returned to my work.
I was at the Thought Dock sometime later and I wondered Now, where did she say we were going? Sandlot? No, that was a baseball movie and I didn't think it was filmed in Oregon. Salem lot? No, although Salem is kinda close, I think that's something witchcrafty and that couldn't be. What did she say? Shamalot? No, that's the Sham Wow as seen on TV. I just couldn't remember.
So, on Birthday morning, I had to ask her what the agenda was. She said the plan was that after church, we were going to Eugene to see the matinee showing of Spamelot. "A movie?" I asked as I hadn't heard of it. "No," she said, "it's a play!" She described it as a musical comedy spoof about King Arthur and said that we were driving there with our friends, the G's.
Holy crap! Now, that's what I've always wanted to do for my birthday. A dream I thought that would never come true. But it had.
Actually, I enjoyed the costumes, sets, singing, and some of the dancing. The only thing is, was that all of the actors were dressed in their bright colorful leotards, with socks or such stuffed in their crotches, to give them an appearance of a manly and studly Knight of the Round Table. I just don't care for that crap.
Soon, it was over though, and we went to dinner. Now, that's what birthdays are for! It was great. And following dinner, we stopped at my favorite Do it Yourself store (aka Lowes). We could have just celebrated my birthday there!
All in all, it was a special day that I will not likely soon forget (or should it be forget soon). Sorry, I'm still got that song from the play, "I'm not yet dead," going through my head. Or was it, "I'm not dead yet?" Whatever it was.....
So, now that I know how to do special things for birthdays, I think I'll take my wife fishing for hers. I know she will just love it!
The Thought Dock.
.
I think I was conducting some heavy duty Internet research a few days ago, when my wife announced that she was taking me to Spamelot for my birthday. I replied, "Uh OK," and simply returned to my work.
I was at the Thought Dock sometime later and I wondered Now, where did she say we were going? Sandlot? No, that was a baseball movie and I didn't think it was filmed in Oregon. Salem lot? No, although Salem is kinda close, I think that's something witchcrafty and that couldn't be. What did she say? Shamalot? No, that's the Sham Wow as seen on TV. I just couldn't remember.
So, on Birthday morning, I had to ask her what the agenda was. She said the plan was that after church, we were going to Eugene to see the matinee showing of Spamelot. "A movie?" I asked as I hadn't heard of it. "No," she said, "it's a play!" She described it as a musical comedy spoof about King Arthur and said that we were driving there with our friends, the G's.
Holy crap! Now, that's what I've always wanted to do for my birthday. A dream I thought that would never come true. But it had.
Actually, I enjoyed the costumes, sets, singing, and some of the dancing. The only thing is, was that all of the actors were dressed in their bright colorful leotards, with socks or such stuffed in their crotches, to give them an appearance of a manly and studly Knight of the Round Table. I just don't care for that crap.
Soon, it was over though, and we went to dinner. Now, that's what birthdays are for! It was great. And following dinner, we stopped at my favorite Do it Yourself store (aka Lowes). We could have just celebrated my birthday there!
All in all, it was a special day that I will not likely soon forget (or should it be forget soon). Sorry, I'm still got that song from the play, "I'm not yet dead," going through my head. Or was it, "I'm not dead yet?" Whatever it was.....
So, now that I know how to do special things for birthdays, I think I'll take my wife fishing for hers. I know she will just love it!
The Thought Dock.
.
Friday, May 1, 2009
What's in a Dock?
.
I never ever dreamed that I would ever, ever live in a place like this. A waterfront home on a quiet lake nestled in a forest.
But it was The Dock that intrigued me most. It was the icing on the cake. My very own private dock where I could fish from, launch a boat, or bake in the sun. Some of you know The Dock personally.
I believe The Dock was built many years ago from lumber harvested on the site. The wood was cut from heavy logs, which became water logged and springy. It extended only about 20 feet from the shoreline and the water was less than a few feet deep at the end. It seemed unsafe to even walk on, and there was no way I could get my ski boat to it. I couldn't even fish from it because the Lilly pads consumed the water just in front of The Dock. I thought it was rickety and just had to be rebuilt.
Now that the house is mostly finished, I've been spending more time on The Dock. I've learned that there is much more to The Dock. I've found how to cast over the Lillies to fish, and now have a flat bottomed fishing boat that will handle the shallow water. We also have a peddle boat to go out and watch the Ospreys fish. And I've realized I'm too old to water ski, so we'll likely trade that for some other toy.
I've enjoyed The Dock more lately even though I have not fished or boated from it recently. It has become my special place. A place where I can be alone, among the solitude of God's creations, just to think and thank. The drive to rebuild it is not so great now, because it is perfect to me just the way it is (but I still might fix it up some day).
I know some of you have learned as much about me as I have learned about me in the past few months. I owe the brilliance in me that you see to the "Thought Dock." Like Mount Sinai was to Moses, the Thought Dock is to me.
.
I never ever dreamed that I would ever, ever live in a place like this. A waterfront home on a quiet lake nestled in a forest.
But it was The Dock that intrigued me most. It was the icing on the cake. My very own private dock where I could fish from, launch a boat, or bake in the sun. Some of you know The Dock personally.
I believe The Dock was built many years ago from lumber harvested on the site. The wood was cut from heavy logs, which became water logged and springy. It extended only about 20 feet from the shoreline and the water was less than a few feet deep at the end. It seemed unsafe to even walk on, and there was no way I could get my ski boat to it. I couldn't even fish from it because the Lilly pads consumed the water just in front of The Dock. I thought it was rickety and just had to be rebuilt.
Now that the house is mostly finished, I've been spending more time on The Dock. I've learned that there is much more to The Dock. I've found how to cast over the Lillies to fish, and now have a flat bottomed fishing boat that will handle the shallow water. We also have a peddle boat to go out and watch the Ospreys fish. And I've realized I'm too old to water ski, so we'll likely trade that for some other toy.
I've enjoyed The Dock more lately even though I have not fished or boated from it recently. It has become my special place. A place where I can be alone, among the solitude of God's creations, just to think and thank. The drive to rebuild it is not so great now, because it is perfect to me just the way it is (but I still might fix it up some day).
I know some of you have learned as much about me as I have learned about me in the past few months. I owe the brilliance in me that you see to the "Thought Dock." Like Mount Sinai was to Moses, the Thought Dock is to me.
.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
An Untold Benefit
.
There are many reasons to have frequent medical and dental visits.
And, I'm sure that most of you know most of the reasons.
But here is one that comes to my mind that you might not have thought of:
The absence of current and accurate medical and dental records make it very difficult for law enforcement to identify your remains in the advent of a natural disaster, murder, or just plain "lost in the woods."
Support your local Police. A reduction of the hours spent on your identification could result in a reduction of taxes for your heirs.
Meanwhile....Back to The Dock.
.
There are many reasons to have frequent medical and dental visits.
And, I'm sure that most of you know most of the reasons.
But here is one that comes to my mind that you might not have thought of:
The absence of current and accurate medical and dental records make it very difficult for law enforcement to identify your remains in the advent of a natural disaster, murder, or just plain "lost in the woods."
Support your local Police. A reduction of the hours spent on your identification could result in a reduction of taxes for your heirs.
Meanwhile....Back to The Dock.
.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
She is Back
.
That lovely, loving, funny, comforting, and cuddling wife of mine has returned home. Our home. I missed her, but she doesn't think so. She missed me even more, but won't admit it. And so things go. I didn't get a chance to thoroughly clean the house while she was gone. There were just too many movies and ball games to watch. But I did make a dent in it.
Aside from the ever growing annoyances of air travel, she had a nice time. Time with her old family, and time with our new family that was brought to us through her son's marriage. She said the visit itself was incredible and was the best ever. But she has come to realize that SoCal, aside from family, friends and memories, is no longer for her. I feel the same as well.
Anyway, she is gratefull to those that made her trip so nice, and regrets not having the time to spend time with more of our SoCal friends.
Now, she's back at work while it drizzles at The Dock.
That lovely, loving, funny, comforting, and cuddling wife of mine has returned home. Our home. I missed her, but she doesn't think so. She missed me even more, but won't admit it. And so things go. I didn't get a chance to thoroughly clean the house while she was gone. There were just too many movies and ball games to watch. But I did make a dent in it.
Aside from the ever growing annoyances of air travel, she had a nice time. Time with her old family, and time with our new family that was brought to us through her son's marriage. She said the visit itself was incredible and was the best ever. But she has come to realize that SoCal, aside from family, friends and memories, is no longer for her. I feel the same as well.
Anyway, she is gratefull to those that made her trip so nice, and regrets not having the time to spend time with more of our SoCal friends.
Now, she's back at work while it drizzles at The Dock.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Torture Poll
.
Well, the Torture Poll is closed and I want to thank you all very much for taking part in it by giving your honest answer. In case you did not see the results before I removed it, there were a total of 7 votes cast; 6 of which were in some form of the "yes" category.
Now, a yes is a yes, no matter how you condition it. So it came out that 86% of you would torture someone to save someone else's life. Now, at first glance, I thought my poll was flawed because it is nearly opposite of what the American people publicly express.
But it is not flawed. The fact is that when asked publicly for their opinion, by far most Americans condemn any kind of torture. But they all know, deep inside, that they would do it without hesitation to save a loved one, and most any other innocent human being.
But the same is true about so many other of our feelings. People cried out publicly when they saw the cops beat Rodney King into submission, but at their dinner table most said they would have shot him to death.
People cried out publicly when they heard about the teacher duct taping her out of control grade school student to his chair, but in their living room, they laughed about it and said the child probably deserved it.
People cry out publicly when they hear about a family of four that were killed by a drunken driver, but drive home in private after slurping their cocktails in a tavern.
People contribute publicly to the mentally ill lady begging for help in front of the grocery store, but sneer as they walk away and hope that she would just leave their neighborhood. And people are kind to the autistic child while in public, but know they would abort an ill fated birth of their own.
And so it goes. Not always is what one says in public is what they will do in private. You know I'm right. And I know I'm right because I've been there and have had the time to study my inner self from the privacy of The Dock.
.
Well, the Torture Poll is closed and I want to thank you all very much for taking part in it by giving your honest answer. In case you did not see the results before I removed it, there were a total of 7 votes cast; 6 of which were in some form of the "yes" category.
Now, a yes is a yes, no matter how you condition it. So it came out that 86% of you would torture someone to save someone else's life. Now, at first glance, I thought my poll was flawed because it is nearly opposite of what the American people publicly express.
But it is not flawed. The fact is that when asked publicly for their opinion, by far most Americans condemn any kind of torture. But they all know, deep inside, that they would do it without hesitation to save a loved one, and most any other innocent human being.
But the same is true about so many other of our feelings. People cried out publicly when they saw the cops beat Rodney King into submission, but at their dinner table most said they would have shot him to death.
People cried out publicly when they heard about the teacher duct taping her out of control grade school student to his chair, but in their living room, they laughed about it and said the child probably deserved it.
People cry out publicly when they hear about a family of four that were killed by a drunken driver, but drive home in private after slurping their cocktails in a tavern.
People contribute publicly to the mentally ill lady begging for help in front of the grocery store, but sneer as they walk away and hope that she would just leave their neighborhood. And people are kind to the autistic child while in public, but know they would abort an ill fated birth of their own.
And so it goes. Not always is what one says in public is what they will do in private. You know I'm right. And I know I'm right because I've been there and have had the time to study my inner self from the privacy of The Dock.
.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Chickening it
Well, my beautiful bubbling wife has left me in the dirt (actually it's sand here) once again. She's gone to SoCal to visit family and party. So, I'm left here doing all the things I normally do. You know, things like feeding, grooming, and cleaning up after the critters, dusting, cleaning floors, windows and toilets. Everything, except the cooking for her. So, I'll get a little break there.
In Those Days, I loved my Mom's pan fried chicken. She would cook it for my birthday every year. Made me feel really special, but thinking back about things, I think we had it about once a week anyway. It must be kind of a dying fad though. I don't know anyone who cooks chicken that way now. Apparently it was pushed aside by BBQ, baked, rotisserie, roasted, or deep fried.
My first exposure to the deep fried stuff was KFC, and then later at Popeye's. KFC is not truly deep fried. I think it is first pressure cooked, then fried, or maybe fried under pressure. And I really liked it....until I saw saw their kitchen while investigating a robbery years ago. Don't think I've eaten much of it since, but I still think it is the best tasting.
Now, when She's gone, things change, and I eat fried chicken. Because She can't stand the smell of it, let alone eat it. So, as planned, almost as soon as I dropped her off at the runway, I headed for Freddy's to get some fried chicken. I ate it for both lunch at the river, then again for dinner. It's almost gone. Might finish it off for breakfast and might even get some more after that. I think I'll even get some of that cheap macaroni and cheese to make up.
So, sorry to all the health conscience Lisa types out there. You know who you are (because you might even be named Lisa)! The next few days will be filled with low fiber, all fat, high salt, no exercise (except for my everyday normal chores), and maybe an A&W Papa Burger combo (substituting onion rings for fries and adding a large root beer).
Now, that's "Chickening it."
.
In Those Days, I loved my Mom's pan fried chicken. She would cook it for my birthday every year. Made me feel really special, but thinking back about things, I think we had it about once a week anyway. It must be kind of a dying fad though. I don't know anyone who cooks chicken that way now. Apparently it was pushed aside by BBQ, baked, rotisserie, roasted, or deep fried.
My first exposure to the deep fried stuff was KFC, and then later at Popeye's. KFC is not truly deep fried. I think it is first pressure cooked, then fried, or maybe fried under pressure. And I really liked it....until I saw saw their kitchen while investigating a robbery years ago. Don't think I've eaten much of it since, but I still think it is the best tasting.
Now, when She's gone, things change, and I eat fried chicken. Because She can't stand the smell of it, let alone eat it. So, as planned, almost as soon as I dropped her off at the runway, I headed for Freddy's to get some fried chicken. I ate it for both lunch at the river, then again for dinner. It's almost gone. Might finish it off for breakfast and might even get some more after that. I think I'll even get some of that cheap macaroni and cheese to make up.
So, sorry to all the health conscience Lisa types out there. You know who you are (because you might even be named Lisa)! The next few days will be filled with low fiber, all fat, high salt, no exercise (except for my everyday normal chores), and maybe an A&W Papa Burger combo (substituting onion rings for fries and adding a large root beer).
Now, that's "Chickening it."
.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Where did that come from?
.
I wonder about where that came from all the time, especially when I think about people. You know, things like telling lies, cheating, stealing, and being mean to someone.
I really don't think these things are always "learned traits" although I'm sure some are. I remember asking my first born, when she was barely old enough to speak, whether she had pooped in her diaper, and she lied to me. So, where did that come from? There was no one around that could have taught her to lie.
During most of my childhood, I was the eldest sibling. I remember a few times sitting on the chests of my brothers and sisters while holding their arms to the floor with my knees. Then, in order to get back something they had stolen from me, I'd tickle them, or threaten to let a drop of saliva fall from my mouth and into their face. Now, who taught them to steal my stuff, or who taught me how to torture them? I'm not sure about the stealing part, but no one taught me to torture. I think it was just something I figured would work, and it did! So where did that come from?
And the time I placed a gift-wrapped, dead clam into the desk of my 4th grade classmate on a Friday knowing that it would be very stinky when he returned to his desk on Monday. And the time I threw dirt clods at a girl that came to play with my sisters. To this day, I don't even know why I did these things. So where did that come from?
I think we call all attest to incidents such as these at one time or another, especially during our childhood. So then, why did we do it?
I've always been taught that unlike animals, humans don't have instincts. I think that is hogwash. We have many natural reactions to sudden instances, which for the most part, can not be controlled effectively. And that is an instinct. In other words, our instinct would make us duck at the sound of a gunshot.
I also think that we are born with the ability to lie, cheat, and be mean. That's not to say that some of those traits are also learned or are improved with experience. But, I think we are inherently born with these things and must be taught to overcome them. Your thoughts?
By the way, relaxing by Sittin' on the Dock of the Lake is a learned trait. And I learn fast.
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I wonder about where that came from all the time, especially when I think about people. You know, things like telling lies, cheating, stealing, and being mean to someone.
I really don't think these things are always "learned traits" although I'm sure some are. I remember asking my first born, when she was barely old enough to speak, whether she had pooped in her diaper, and she lied to me. So, where did that come from? There was no one around that could have taught her to lie.
During most of my childhood, I was the eldest sibling. I remember a few times sitting on the chests of my brothers and sisters while holding their arms to the floor with my knees. Then, in order to get back something they had stolen from me, I'd tickle them, or threaten to let a drop of saliva fall from my mouth and into their face. Now, who taught them to steal my stuff, or who taught me how to torture them? I'm not sure about the stealing part, but no one taught me to torture. I think it was just something I figured would work, and it did! So where did that come from?
And the time I placed a gift-wrapped, dead clam into the desk of my 4th grade classmate on a Friday knowing that it would be very stinky when he returned to his desk on Monday. And the time I threw dirt clods at a girl that came to play with my sisters. To this day, I don't even know why I did these things. So where did that come from?
I think we call all attest to incidents such as these at one time or another, especially during our childhood. So then, why did we do it?
I've always been taught that unlike animals, humans don't have instincts. I think that is hogwash. We have many natural reactions to sudden instances, which for the most part, can not be controlled effectively. And that is an instinct. In other words, our instinct would make us duck at the sound of a gunshot.
I also think that we are born with the ability to lie, cheat, and be mean. That's not to say that some of those traits are also learned or are improved with experience. But, I think we are inherently born with these things and must be taught to overcome them. Your thoughts?
By the way, relaxing by Sittin' on the Dock of the Lake is a learned trait. And I learn fast.
.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Colorings
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We got our first color television in about 1964. They had only been out just a few years then and there were very few television shows in color. It was really primitive, and sometimes it was better just to watch the show in black and white.
Soon thereafter, most anything in grey scale seemed to go by the wayside. Gone were the movies, comics, snapshot film, stripped suits, and saddle shoes. Most anything black and white was gone.
Except......Newspapers. It was not until about 1972 that a newspaper appeared on my doorstep with its first color photograph on the cover. Why then did something so seemingly simple to do, take so long? After all, we even got color magazines, and coloring books long before the newspapers adapted to color.
Well, it's because they just refused to improve, and it's for that very same reason that so many newspapers have gone broke in recent years. And, I hope the all go broke. They are so arrogant. In this fast paced world, new is obsolete even before it can be printed. No one lists their wares in the classified section because it is so expensive and reaches so few people. But there is still room for newspapers, but they need to change their ways, and I don't think they will.
That's just what happens when you become stale and arrogant. Wake up General Motors and the like. It might be sad; but you're next.
Bright blue skies above The Dock today.
We got our first color television in about 1964. They had only been out just a few years then and there were very few television shows in color. It was really primitive, and sometimes it was better just to watch the show in black and white.
Soon thereafter, most anything in grey scale seemed to go by the wayside. Gone were the movies, comics, snapshot film, stripped suits, and saddle shoes. Most anything black and white was gone.
Except......Newspapers. It was not until about 1972 that a newspaper appeared on my doorstep with its first color photograph on the cover. Why then did something so seemingly simple to do, take so long? After all, we even got color magazines, and coloring books long before the newspapers adapted to color.
Well, it's because they just refused to improve, and it's for that very same reason that so many newspapers have gone broke in recent years. And, I hope the all go broke. They are so arrogant. In this fast paced world, new is obsolete even before it can be printed. No one lists their wares in the classified section because it is so expensive and reaches so few people. But there is still room for newspapers, but they need to change their ways, and I don't think they will.
That's just what happens when you become stale and arrogant. Wake up General Motors and the like. It might be sad; but you're next.
Bright blue skies above The Dock today.
Monday, April 20, 2009
The Bainbridge Account
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I received the following from a source within law enforcement. I have not verified the authenticity, but thought it was both interesting and accurate. Sorry for all the acronyms, but I think you can sort them out enough to figure out the context. Enjoy as I did.
Having spoken to some SEAL pals here in Virginia Beach yesterday and asking why this thing dragged out for 4 days, I got the following:
1. BHO wouldn't authorize the DEVGRU/NSWC SEAL teams to the scene for 36 hours going against OSC (on scene commander) recommendation.
2. Once they arrived, BHO imposed restrictions on their ROE that they couldn't do anything unless the hostage's life was in "imminent" danger.
3. The first time the hostage jumped, the SEALS had the raggies all sighted in, but could not fire due to ROE restriction.
4. When the navy RIB came under fire as it approached with supplies, no fire was returned due to ROE restrictions. As the raggies were shooting at the RIB, they were exposed and the SEALS had them all dialed in.
5. BHO specifically denied two rescue plans developed by the Bainbridge CPN and SEAL teams.
6. Bainbridge CPN and SEAL team CDR finally decide they have the OpArea and OSC authority to solely determine risk to hostage. 4 hours later, 3 dead raggies.
7. BHO immediately claims credit for his "daring and decisive" behaviour.
As usual with him, it's BS. So per our last email thread, I'm downgrading Oohbaby's performace to D-. Only reason it's not an F is that the hostage survived. Read the following accurate account.
Philips’ first leap into the warm, dark water of the Indian Ocean hadn’t worked out as well. With the Bainbridge in range and a rescue by his country’s Navy possible, Philips threw himself off of his lifeboat prison, enabling Navy shooters onboard the destroyer a clear shot at his captors — and none was taken.
The guidance from National Command Authority — the president of the United States, Barack Obama — had been clear: a peaceful solution was the only acceptable outcome to this standoff unless the hostage’s life was in clear, extreme danger.
The next day, a small Navy boat approaching the floating raft was fired on by the Somali pirates — and again no fire was returned and no pirates killed. This was again due to the cautious stance assumed byNavy personnel thanks to the combination of a lack of clear guidance from Washington and a mandate from the commander in chief’s staff not to act until Obama, a man with no background of dealing with such issues and no track record of decisiveness, decided that any outcome other than a “peaceful solution” would be acceptable.
After taking fire from the Somali kidnappers again Saturday night, the on scene commander decided he’d had enough. Keeping his authority to act in the case of a clear and present danger to the hostage’s life and having heard nothing from Washington since yet another request to mount a rescue operation had been denied the day before, the Navy officer — unnamed in all media reports to date — decided the AK47 one captor had leveled at Philips’ back was a threat to the hostage’s life and ordered theNSWC team to take their shots. Three rounds downrange later, all three brigands became enemy KIA and Philips was safe.
There is upside, downside, and spinside to the series of events over the last week that culminated inyesterday’s dramatic rescue of an American hostage. Almost immediately following word of the rescue, the Obama administration and its supporters claimed victory against pirates in the Indian Ocean and [1] declared that the dramatic end to the standoff putpaid to questions of the inexperienced president’s toughness and decisiveness. Despite the Obama administration’s (and its sycophants’) attempt to spin yesterday’s success as a resultof bold, decisive leadership by the inexperienced president, the reality is nothing of the sort. What should have been a standoff lasting only hours — as long as it took the USS Bainbridge and itsteam of NSWC operators to steam to the location — became an embarrassing four day and countingstandoff between a ragtag handful of criminals with rifles and a U.S. Navy warship.
.
I received the following from a source within law enforcement. I have not verified the authenticity, but thought it was both interesting and accurate. Sorry for all the acronyms, but I think you can sort them out enough to figure out the context. Enjoy as I did.
Having spoken to some SEAL pals here in Virginia Beach yesterday and asking why this thing dragged out for 4 days, I got the following:
1. BHO wouldn't authorize the DEVGRU/NSWC SEAL teams to the scene for 36 hours going against OSC (on scene commander) recommendation.
2. Once they arrived, BHO imposed restrictions on their ROE that they couldn't do anything unless the hostage's life was in "imminent" danger.
3. The first time the hostage jumped, the SEALS had the raggies all sighted in, but could not fire due to ROE restriction.
4. When the navy RIB came under fire as it approached with supplies, no fire was returned due to ROE restrictions. As the raggies were shooting at the RIB, they were exposed and the SEALS had them all dialed in.
5. BHO specifically denied two rescue plans developed by the Bainbridge CPN and SEAL teams.
6. Bainbridge CPN and SEAL team CDR finally decide they have the OpArea and OSC authority to solely determine risk to hostage. 4 hours later, 3 dead raggies.
7. BHO immediately claims credit for his "daring and decisive" behaviour.
As usual with him, it's BS. So per our last email thread, I'm downgrading Oohbaby's performace to D-. Only reason it's not an F is that the hostage survived. Read the following accurate account.
Philips’ first leap into the warm, dark water of the Indian Ocean hadn’t worked out as well. With the Bainbridge in range and a rescue by his country’s Navy possible, Philips threw himself off of his lifeboat prison, enabling Navy shooters onboard the destroyer a clear shot at his captors — and none was taken.
The guidance from National Command Authority — the president of the United States, Barack Obama — had been clear: a peaceful solution was the only acceptable outcome to this standoff unless the hostage’s life was in clear, extreme danger.
The next day, a small Navy boat approaching the floating raft was fired on by the Somali pirates — and again no fire was returned and no pirates killed. This was again due to the cautious stance assumed byNavy personnel thanks to the combination of a lack of clear guidance from Washington and a mandate from the commander in chief’s staff not to act until Obama, a man with no background of dealing with such issues and no track record of decisiveness, decided that any outcome other than a “peaceful solution” would be acceptable.
After taking fire from the Somali kidnappers again Saturday night, the on scene commander decided he’d had enough. Keeping his authority to act in the case of a clear and present danger to the hostage’s life and having heard nothing from Washington since yet another request to mount a rescue operation had been denied the day before, the Navy officer — unnamed in all media reports to date — decided the AK47 one captor had leveled at Philips’ back was a threat to the hostage’s life and ordered theNSWC team to take their shots. Three rounds downrange later, all three brigands became enemy KIA and Philips was safe.
There is upside, downside, and spinside to the series of events over the last week that culminated inyesterday’s dramatic rescue of an American hostage. Almost immediately following word of the rescue, the Obama administration and its supporters claimed victory against pirates in the Indian Ocean and [1] declared that the dramatic end to the standoff putpaid to questions of the inexperienced president’s toughness and decisiveness. Despite the Obama administration’s (and its sycophants’) attempt to spin yesterday’s success as a resultof bold, decisive leadership by the inexperienced president, the reality is nothing of the sort. What should have been a standoff lasting only hours — as long as it took the USS Bainbridge and itsteam of NSWC operators to steam to the location — became an embarrassing four day and countingstandoff between a ragtag handful of criminals with rifles and a U.S. Navy warship.
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Saturday, April 18, 2009
Ethics, Christianity, Civil Liberties, and Justice
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Many years ago as a young police officer, I was competing for a promotion. During an interview, I was asked whether I would torture a captured kidnapper for ransom suspect to learn the hidden location of five school children that would die within hours if not rescued. Without hesitation, I said, "Yes!" Well, not only did I not get the promotion, but I scored near the bottom of the candidate list. It was years before I ever tried to promote again.
Today, in public (like for a promotion), I would answer that question quite differently, but in my heart I know that I would not hesitate to torture anyone if I knew it would save an innocent person's life.
Certainly, Ethics, Christianity, Civil Liberties, and Justice all play a significant weight in a very difficult personal decision. Should 24's Jack Bauer, torture some one to save the President, or countless other innocent Americans? Should anyone torture an admitted radical Islamic terrorist to prevent a future strike?
Why is it that we publicly chastise the CIA for torturing a terrorist by putting a bug into his cell him to get him to talk; while at the same time, we praise the naval sharpshooters who took the lives of three pirates to save one American, and call them heroes?
I just don't get it. Is it not the responsibility for our government to provide us with security? Our laws are founded upon Ethics, Christian fundamentals, Civil Liberties, and Justice to give us the absolute right to self defense. So what's the difference when a local cop shoots a deranged person holding a knife to an Innocent's throat, or choking a person to get him to tell you about his accomplices's plan to plant a bomb at Dodger Stadium?
What say you? Since most of you will not comment publicly, please take the poll to the left. I won't look to see who you are. I'll just wait out by The Dock.
.
Many years ago as a young police officer, I was competing for a promotion. During an interview, I was asked whether I would torture a captured kidnapper for ransom suspect to learn the hidden location of five school children that would die within hours if not rescued. Without hesitation, I said, "Yes!" Well, not only did I not get the promotion, but I scored near the bottom of the candidate list. It was years before I ever tried to promote again.
Today, in public (like for a promotion), I would answer that question quite differently, but in my heart I know that I would not hesitate to torture anyone if I knew it would save an innocent person's life.
Certainly, Ethics, Christianity, Civil Liberties, and Justice all play a significant weight in a very difficult personal decision. Should 24's Jack Bauer, torture some one to save the President, or countless other innocent Americans? Should anyone torture an admitted radical Islamic terrorist to prevent a future strike?
Why is it that we publicly chastise the CIA for torturing a terrorist by putting a bug into his cell him to get him to talk; while at the same time, we praise the naval sharpshooters who took the lives of three pirates to save one American, and call them heroes?
I just don't get it. Is it not the responsibility for our government to provide us with security? Our laws are founded upon Ethics, Christian fundamentals, Civil Liberties, and Justice to give us the absolute right to self defense. So what's the difference when a local cop shoots a deranged person holding a knife to an Innocent's throat, or choking a person to get him to tell you about his accomplices's plan to plant a bomb at Dodger Stadium?
What say you? Since most of you will not comment publicly, please take the poll to the left. I won't look to see who you are. I'll just wait out by The Dock.
.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Stocks vs Slots
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Well there have been a heck of a lot of people, who had a heck of a lot of money, invested in their retirement accounts. And a heck of a lot of those people lost a heck of a lot of their money. And there are a heck of a lot of people that have been forced from retirement to return to work (if they can find it). And there are a heck of a lot of people that can not retire as they had planned.
But, there are a heck of a lot of people that moved their investments from the stock market to liquid savings accounts, and those people still have a heck of a lot of money that they are itching to re-invest.
Interest rates have dropped very low, but the banks still refuse to make new loans. And because the banks now have too much money on hand, they pay those heck of a lot of people who have a heck of a lot of money in the back, next to nothing in interest.
One can not just sit on their heck of a lot of money and let it lose value to inflation. So, there are a heck of a lot of people lined up to jump back into the stock market. And as they do, the stocks will be driven up rise once again and a heck of a lot of people will make a heck of a lot of money.
But when nothing else but the sheer volume of stocks sales drives the price, the market becomes a bubble, and it will burst again. And that circle will go unbroken.
So, if you have a heck of a lot of money, and you put it into stocks again, be prepared to exit quickly. And exit well before the balloon shows a sign of bursting, or you will lose a heck of a lot of money, again..
So, you might ask, "W what will I do?" I'm going to the local casino to invest my heck of a lot of quarters ($20). For me, it's less stressful than the stock market, has about the same odds, but offers more fun!
So, I should be at The Dock within this hour.
,
Well there have been a heck of a lot of people, who had a heck of a lot of money, invested in their retirement accounts. And a heck of a lot of those people lost a heck of a lot of their money. And there are a heck of a lot of people that have been forced from retirement to return to work (if they can find it). And there are a heck of a lot of people that can not retire as they had planned.
But, there are a heck of a lot of people that moved their investments from the stock market to liquid savings accounts, and those people still have a heck of a lot of money that they are itching to re-invest.
Interest rates have dropped very low, but the banks still refuse to make new loans. And because the banks now have too much money on hand, they pay those heck of a lot of people who have a heck of a lot of money in the back, next to nothing in interest.
One can not just sit on their heck of a lot of money and let it lose value to inflation. So, there are a heck of a lot of people lined up to jump back into the stock market. And as they do, the stocks will be driven up rise once again and a heck of a lot of people will make a heck of a lot of money.
But when nothing else but the sheer volume of stocks sales drives the price, the market becomes a bubble, and it will burst again. And that circle will go unbroken.
So, if you have a heck of a lot of money, and you put it into stocks again, be prepared to exit quickly. And exit well before the balloon shows a sign of bursting, or you will lose a heck of a lot of money, again..
So, you might ask, "W what will I do?" I'm going to the local casino to invest my heck of a lot of quarters ($20). For me, it's less stressful than the stock market, has about the same odds, but offers more fun!
So, I should be at The Dock within this hour.
,
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Coffee, Tea, and Me.
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It's my blog and I want it to be "and me" instead what you say is the proper way "or Me?" in my title.
So, what's all the protests all about? I don't think the protesters themselves knew why they were there. Then you got some CNN bimbo shoving a microphone in some dummy's face while she fired tax statistics at him. He didn't know what to say because he didn't know why he was even there. She was as much as an activist as anyone there. What happened to just reporting the facts? Many showed up simply because they had no jobs and were tired of searching for one. Others thought it would be nice just be a part of some historic march against the government. Kinda like the marches led by MLK. Fox News set it all up very cleverly as an attack on Obamamamma and Nancy Pelosi thought that was unfair. But it was fine for her to hammer Bush and the Gop. Could you imagine being married to her?
Well, I prefer coffee anyway. Leave the tea for the Brits. And I'm all for hammering Obamamamma, but for the right things. Like apologizing for America's arrogance toward other countries, until he took over.
Like telling the middle east countries that my Country was not founded on Christianity.
Like overturning a law that prevented medical personnel from doing an abortion against their religious beliefs.
Like opening the door to cloning a human life, only to then kill it in order to extend the life of another.
Like agreeing to help France determine whether the United States conducted torture inappropriately, and place the then US Attorney General on trial for it. And all of a sudden we are to be friends with Iran, North Korea, China, Russia, and Cuba.
Like admitting that under his plan, 44% of Americans don't pay Federal taxes at all,so that the remaining 56% can carry them.
Like all of the past administrations were wrong, and only he has the answers?
He needs to sink his head for a long while at The Dock.
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It's my blog and I want it to be "and me" instead what you say is the proper way "or Me?" in my title.
So, what's all the protests all about? I don't think the protesters themselves knew why they were there. Then you got some CNN bimbo shoving a microphone in some dummy's face while she fired tax statistics at him. He didn't know what to say because he didn't know why he was even there. She was as much as an activist as anyone there. What happened to just reporting the facts? Many showed up simply because they had no jobs and were tired of searching for one. Others thought it would be nice just be a part of some historic march against the government. Kinda like the marches led by MLK. Fox News set it all up very cleverly as an attack on Obamamamma and Nancy Pelosi thought that was unfair. But it was fine for her to hammer Bush and the Gop. Could you imagine being married to her?
Well, I prefer coffee anyway. Leave the tea for the Brits. And I'm all for hammering Obamamamma, but for the right things. Like apologizing for America's arrogance toward other countries, until he took over.
Like telling the middle east countries that my Country was not founded on Christianity.
Like overturning a law that prevented medical personnel from doing an abortion against their religious beliefs.
Like opening the door to cloning a human life, only to then kill it in order to extend the life of another.
Like agreeing to help France determine whether the United States conducted torture inappropriately, and place the then US Attorney General on trial for it. And all of a sudden we are to be friends with Iran, North Korea, China, Russia, and Cuba.
Like admitting that under his plan, 44% of Americans don't pay Federal taxes at all,so that the remaining 56% can carry them.
Like all of the past administrations were wrong, and only he has the answers?
He needs to sink his head for a long while at The Dock.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2009
All Men Are Created Equal
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Have you ever wondered why Thomas Jefferson chose those words for the opening of our Constitution? Things could have been much different had he thought a bit more about such a strong statement.
Ever since, men have been struggling to prove them better than the other. They knock each other out in a ring, compete to see who is the faster swimmer or runner, the highest jumper, the better golfer, the more brilliant chess player, or who can drink the most beer. The competition never ends.
Now, had it been written, "That all men are created beautiful," there would have been far fewer wars, competitions and hangovers. Because that is a finite statement and would not be argued among men.
Look at the world around you. Recently, right from the comfort of The Dock, I've observed ducks, geese, deer, and now today, a wild turkey. Now, I know that men have in the past consumed Wild Turkey while debating whether they were better than the other, but for me, watching that turkey drove the point home that men are beautiful. It's true and evident where ever you look.
But the wild turkey shows it best. Although the male Mallard duck, Canadian goose, Coastal Deer, or the Red Headed woodpecker, are much prettier than the female of the species, none show it better than the Wild turkey.
With his bright blue head held proudly above his plump body, his bright red feet strut in a perfectly timed cadence, while his female follows a few paces behind. And when those feathers spread, there is no doubt who is beautiful.
So call me a turkey if you want. There will me no fight though. No arguments. No competition. Because I am beautiful!
.
Have you ever wondered why Thomas Jefferson chose those words for the opening of our Constitution? Things could have been much different had he thought a bit more about such a strong statement.
Ever since, men have been struggling to prove them better than the other. They knock each other out in a ring, compete to see who is the faster swimmer or runner, the highest jumper, the better golfer, the more brilliant chess player, or who can drink the most beer. The competition never ends.
Now, had it been written, "That all men are created beautiful," there would have been far fewer wars, competitions and hangovers. Because that is a finite statement and would not be argued among men.
Look at the world around you. Recently, right from the comfort of The Dock, I've observed ducks, geese, deer, and now today, a wild turkey. Now, I know that men have in the past consumed Wild Turkey while debating whether they were better than the other, but for me, watching that turkey drove the point home that men are beautiful. It's true and evident where ever you look.
But the wild turkey shows it best. Although the male Mallard duck, Canadian goose, Coastal Deer, or the Red Headed woodpecker, are much prettier than the female of the species, none show it better than the Wild turkey.
With his bright blue head held proudly above his plump body, his bright red feet strut in a perfectly timed cadence, while his female follows a few paces behind. And when those feathers spread, there is no doubt who is beautiful.
So call me a turkey if you want. There will me no fight though. No arguments. No competition. Because I am beautiful!
.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Harley Harmony
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The Model Flhtcu, better known as the Harley Davidson Classic Ultraglide, has been cleaned, polished, and tuned. It's ready to ride and I'm ready to ride it. The weatherman says it will be clear and near 70 soon and will remain so through the weekend. I'm not waiting for the weekend. I'll ride tomorrow.
So many country roads to ride. The warm tan colored sands of the beach will quickly turn to green as I ride the back roads through the forrest pass into Eugene. Actually it's part business trip because I have to go to Lowes (yes one just opened here a few weeks ago) to measure the modular metal cabinets I'll use to build my workshop. Don't have the funds to buy them now, but with the measurements I can build around them, then slide them in on a Sumday.
No time for The Dock tomorrow. Ride on!!
The Model Flhtcu, better known as the Harley Davidson Classic Ultraglide, has been cleaned, polished, and tuned. It's ready to ride and I'm ready to ride it. The weatherman says it will be clear and near 70 soon and will remain so through the weekend. I'm not waiting for the weekend. I'll ride tomorrow.
So many country roads to ride. The warm tan colored sands of the beach will quickly turn to green as I ride the back roads through the forrest pass into Eugene. Actually it's part business trip because I have to go to Lowes (yes one just opened here a few weeks ago) to measure the modular metal cabinets I'll use to build my workshop. Don't have the funds to buy them now, but with the measurements I can build around them, then slide them in on a Sumday.
No time for The Dock tomorrow. Ride on!!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Why do the Math?
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From my limited knowledge of general math, I know that math is finite. One can not debate whether 2+2=4. One can only question whether the formula used derive the conclusion is correct, and that the calculations were performed accurately. Although I am amazed with math, I really prefer less finite subjects. So, why do the math?
I've been a paid investigator for 87% of my adult life (check the math). And I am a skeptic. Now, I've learned that some things people testify to are fact, other things are lies, and some (most) are a perception (Point of View).
Most of the time, I never saw the incident occur. And, even if I did, I know what I saw could still be my perception. So, in an effort to determine what really happened, I had to do the math to determine the weight and credibility of the witnesses account. Then I would compare the accounts to one another and consider the evidence before making my conclusion. And then, a jury would do their math by studying my methods to come to their conclusion.
A seemingly credible witnesses statement that he/she looked through a window to see the act occur could be proved a fact, perception, or even a lie by doing the math. You assess the validity by asking the time of day, lighting conditions, whether he wore glasses, and visiting the area to determine whether the window offered an unobstructed view of the incident.
So you ask, "What is your point with this?"
I am the author of this blog, and I love to promote debate. I write only what I believe to be fact, but admit some of what I write could be perception. I have never written anything that I know to be a lie. My writings are designed to make you think, and to create dialogue.
As an example, if I describe an incident that occurred 53 years ago, and you are but 50 years old, then it should be obvious why you can't remember things the way I do. But you can still form a conclusion by doing the math. If you were there, ask yourself how could it be that our perspectives differ. Consider the evidence, my credibility, and anyone else's perspective. If you were not there, ask others who were. Consider any evidence present, and then come to your conclusion.
Discussions are healthy. Bring your conclusions to the Dock for discussion, but please do your math first. This Dock is for more than just fishing.
.
From my limited knowledge of general math, I know that math is finite. One can not debate whether 2+2=4. One can only question whether the formula used derive the conclusion is correct, and that the calculations were performed accurately. Although I am amazed with math, I really prefer less finite subjects. So, why do the math?
I've been a paid investigator for 87% of my adult life (check the math). And I am a skeptic. Now, I've learned that some things people testify to are fact, other things are lies, and some (most) are a perception (Point of View).
Most of the time, I never saw the incident occur. And, even if I did, I know what I saw could still be my perception. So, in an effort to determine what really happened, I had to do the math to determine the weight and credibility of the witnesses account. Then I would compare the accounts to one another and consider the evidence before making my conclusion. And then, a jury would do their math by studying my methods to come to their conclusion.
A seemingly credible witnesses statement that he/she looked through a window to see the act occur could be proved a fact, perception, or even a lie by doing the math. You assess the validity by asking the time of day, lighting conditions, whether he wore glasses, and visiting the area to determine whether the window offered an unobstructed view of the incident.
So you ask, "What is your point with this?"
I am the author of this blog, and I love to promote debate. I write only what I believe to be fact, but admit some of what I write could be perception. I have never written anything that I know to be a lie. My writings are designed to make you think, and to create dialogue.
As an example, if I describe an incident that occurred 53 years ago, and you are but 50 years old, then it should be obvious why you can't remember things the way I do. But you can still form a conclusion by doing the math. If you were there, ask yourself how could it be that our perspectives differ. Consider the evidence, my credibility, and anyone else's perspective. If you were not there, ask others who were. Consider any evidence present, and then come to your conclusion.
Discussions are healthy. Bring your conclusions to the Dock for discussion, but please do your math first. This Dock is for more than just fishing.
.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Easter Memories
In Those Days, Easter was a very special time for me. It was Spring and always seemed to be the most beautiful day of the year. It was my Mother's favorite day as well. Every year she made my sisters a new lacy pastel colored dress, and the boys usually got a new shirt or shoes, and a fresh haircut. My Mom would sometimes get a new bonnet, which made her the most beautiful person in my eyes.
We would awake early to search for our very own Easter Basket, and then search for colored eggs to fill the baskets. I was the eldest sibling at home during that time, so naturally I found the most eggs. It was hard to give them up to the youngers as Mom insisted. So they got the ugliest eggs from my find, unless I had found the egg with their name on it.
When I was about 11 or so, after questioning the Easter Bunny's existence for a few years, I announced to Mom that he was just a fake, because I knew that a rabbit could not lay eggs, let alone colored ones. Her response, "Those that don't believe, won't receive," rings in my ears even today. Because that year, I didn't get a basket, and had no where to put the eggs that I found. I cried until the afternoon of that Easter, when Mom called me to the kitchen, where while fixing dinner, she found a basket hidden in the oven. It was mine!!
Then it was off to church where the months of my mother's work paid off for her. She paraded us all in front of everyone. I absolutely hated people pinching my cheeks, and telling me how handsome my bow tie made me look. She was so proud of her children. And then, to a parade if one was held nearby.
Those Easter traditions carried though to my family. Mom tried hard to make each of my daughters a dress, and I bought their Mom a new bonnet, that she never wore. And the family Easter traditions continued, except for that bonnet, which remained in its case, on a shelf in the closet, to make me wonder whether she would wear it the following year. From the beginning, she said she would never wear it because she didn't like it, but I always thought it was as beautiful as the ones my mom wore. Perhaps that was the reason.
Enjoy your Easter in your way. No more baskets, bunnies, or bonnets for me (I'll miss the deviled eggs). We'll praise the Lord in our way, and watch as others celebrate their way. It's all good if you include the Lord in your life.
We would awake early to search for our very own Easter Basket, and then search for colored eggs to fill the baskets. I was the eldest sibling at home during that time, so naturally I found the most eggs. It was hard to give them up to the youngers as Mom insisted. So they got the ugliest eggs from my find, unless I had found the egg with their name on it.
When I was about 11 or so, after questioning the Easter Bunny's existence for a few years, I announced to Mom that he was just a fake, because I knew that a rabbit could not lay eggs, let alone colored ones. Her response, "Those that don't believe, won't receive," rings in my ears even today. Because that year, I didn't get a basket, and had no where to put the eggs that I found. I cried until the afternoon of that Easter, when Mom called me to the kitchen, where while fixing dinner, she found a basket hidden in the oven. It was mine!!
Then it was off to church where the months of my mother's work paid off for her. She paraded us all in front of everyone. I absolutely hated people pinching my cheeks, and telling me how handsome my bow tie made me look. She was so proud of her children. And then, to a parade if one was held nearby.
Those Easter traditions carried though to my family. Mom tried hard to make each of my daughters a dress, and I bought their Mom a new bonnet, that she never wore. And the family Easter traditions continued, except for that bonnet, which remained in its case, on a shelf in the closet, to make me wonder whether she would wear it the following year. From the beginning, she said she would never wear it because she didn't like it, but I always thought it was as beautiful as the ones my mom wore. Perhaps that was the reason.
Enjoy your Easter in your way. No more baskets, bunnies, or bonnets for me (I'll miss the deviled eggs). We'll praise the Lord in our way, and watch as others celebrate their way. It's all good if you include the Lord in your life.
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Intervention
During the last week of August 2008, my wife and I visited Colorado. Since our eldest daughter-in-law had just spent a week or so with us in Oregon, we chose to stay with our eldest daughter for our Colorado visit. As it turned out, our eldest daughter in law joined in on the fun and stay several days with us at our daughter's house.
It was during that visit, that I was asked to pose for a photo with my grand kids. I thought that was a bit odd (just me and the grand kids), because the grand kid's grandmother, and the grand kid's mothers were also present. So, the picture was taken, and it turned out really nice.
Let me back up a bit. For those of you that don't know, I started smoking when I was about 15, and have smoked for 35 of the last 40 years (I did quit for five years about 15 years ago). Each time I went for a physical, my lungs checked clear, which for me, served as an incentive to continue on. I've always enjoyed smoking, except for the times I've burnt my self, my clothing, or my furniture.
Now I have also been aware that my eldest grand daughter has been praying every day for the past 5 years, that I stop smoking, although she has never mentioned it to me. And my eldest grand son entered a anti-smoking poster contest, and his entry was subsequently selected to become part of a published calender.
Then on October 1, 2008, I get this package in the mail. In it was the a framed photograph taken with my grand children. And attached to it was a caption asking me to extend my life with them by quitting smoking. And included in the package were handwritten notes from my daughter, my daughter-in-law, and each of the grand children. My wife then placed the photo inside the new house, where at that time, I worked on it most every hour I could.
I have to admit that the photograph and letters brought tears to my eyes, but it also really pissed me off. But an intervention is designed to shock the conscience of the subject. I know that because I've orchestrated one my self in the past.
Not a night did pass that I didn't think about the photo and the letters. Every day for 92 days. Then on New Year's Day, I made the effort. I slipped on Day 3 when I found a pack of smokes that I forgot to smoke, so I smoked them over a period of 3 days. Now, it's been 93 smoke free days.
So, thank you guys for doing The Intervention, and thank you everyone else who have been supportive of my efforts to quit.
I'm well on my way to recovery now, but I must admit, a smoke and a cup of coffee at the Dock seems like a good idea right now. I'll just say, "No. No. No."
It was during that visit, that I was asked to pose for a photo with my grand kids. I thought that was a bit odd (just me and the grand kids), because the grand kid's grandmother, and the grand kid's mothers were also present. So, the picture was taken, and it turned out really nice.
Let me back up a bit. For those of you that don't know, I started smoking when I was about 15, and have smoked for 35 of the last 40 years (I did quit for five years about 15 years ago). Each time I went for a physical, my lungs checked clear, which for me, served as an incentive to continue on. I've always enjoyed smoking, except for the times I've burnt my self, my clothing, or my furniture.
Now I have also been aware that my eldest grand daughter has been praying every day for the past 5 years, that I stop smoking, although she has never mentioned it to me. And my eldest grand son entered a anti-smoking poster contest, and his entry was subsequently selected to become part of a published calender.
Then on October 1, 2008, I get this package in the mail. In it was the a framed photograph taken with my grand children. And attached to it was a caption asking me to extend my life with them by quitting smoking. And included in the package were handwritten notes from my daughter, my daughter-in-law, and each of the grand children. My wife then placed the photo inside the new house, where at that time, I worked on it most every hour I could.
I have to admit that the photograph and letters brought tears to my eyes, but it also really pissed me off. But an intervention is designed to shock the conscience of the subject. I know that because I've orchestrated one my self in the past.
Not a night did pass that I didn't think about the photo and the letters. Every day for 92 days. Then on New Year's Day, I made the effort. I slipped on Day 3 when I found a pack of smokes that I forgot to smoke, so I smoked them over a period of 3 days. Now, it's been 93 smoke free days.
So, thank you guys for doing The Intervention, and thank you everyone else who have been supportive of my efforts to quit.
I'm well on my way to recovery now, but I must admit, a smoke and a cup of coffee at the Dock seems like a good idea right now. I'll just say, "No. No. No."
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Finally a Final
Woo Hoo! Yahoo! Cool! Rad! Mad! Fab! Bitchin'! Groovy! Chillin'! Grillin'! Wow! These are just a few of the words that popped into my head yesterday as the County inspector drove away from our new home.
Our home is done as far as he is concerned. Everything that is required by the local building code has been satisfied. So Finally he gave us a Final inspection.
Actually the home is not finished completely. But really, does that ever happen? Seems not. For me there seems to always be a new project, even when I've been in the same place for lots of years.
Structurally and mechanically it is done. But there is still lots of finish stuff to do, like vanity mirrors, sliding closet doors, a linen cabinet, in the master bath, and an upper cabinet in the laundry room, some shelving, and the workshop benches and stuff. We still need to unpack fully, and get some more furniture for each of the bedrooms, dining, and living room (just about the whole house).
And that is why I'm jazzed to Finally get a Final. With that, we will try to get a home loan to finish things off. Our lack of money has been the big holdup in progress for the last few months.
But it will get done. Today is a rainy day, so I think I'll just think about what I have to do next.
Our home is done as far as he is concerned. Everything that is required by the local building code has been satisfied. So Finally he gave us a Final inspection.
Actually the home is not finished completely. But really, does that ever happen? Seems not. For me there seems to always be a new project, even when I've been in the same place for lots of years.
Structurally and mechanically it is done. But there is still lots of finish stuff to do, like vanity mirrors, sliding closet doors, a linen cabinet, in the master bath, and an upper cabinet in the laundry room, some shelving, and the workshop benches and stuff. We still need to unpack fully, and get some more furniture for each of the bedrooms, dining, and living room (just about the whole house).
And that is why I'm jazzed to Finally get a Final. With that, we will try to get a home loan to finish things off. Our lack of money has been the big holdup in progress for the last few months.
But it will get done. Today is a rainy day, so I think I'll just think about what I have to do next.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
That Old Fisherman
Across the Lake from the Dock is another dock that serves a group of six homes. Those homes appear to be owned by snowbirds because no one lives in them during the winter. Well, now they are returning, and one is that old fisherman that I spoke about yesterday.
I like watching people, and I'm watching him as we speak. The dock from which he fishes, is newer, better, and longer, than the Dock. I dream of rebuilding the Dock like the other dock.
Here's what I find odd..... After arriving at his dock, he sets up his combination chair/tackle box (almost like the one I got for my birthday) at the dock, near the shore. The fisherman then carries his fishing rod out to the end of his dock, which extends about 40 feet into the Lake. Then, he casts his line even deeper toward the center of the Lake. That part makes sense..
But after casting his line, he makes slack in the line as he walks back to his combination chair/tackle box where he sits quietly waiting for the big one. What I don't understand is why he just doesn't sit and wait for the big one at the end of his dock. The water is calm, not very deep, and the dock has a railing. Yesterday, he spent 4 hours fishing in the morning, must have taken a nap, and then returned for a few more hours in the evening. I have yet to see him reel one in.
But then again, I've sat for hours at the Dock and did absolutely nothing. He must also be retired.
I like watching people, and I'm watching him as we speak. The dock from which he fishes, is newer, better, and longer, than the Dock. I dream of rebuilding the Dock like the other dock.
Here's what I find odd..... After arriving at his dock, he sets up his combination chair/tackle box (almost like the one I got for my birthday) at the dock, near the shore. The fisherman then carries his fishing rod out to the end of his dock, which extends about 40 feet into the Lake. Then, he casts his line even deeper toward the center of the Lake. That part makes sense..
But after casting his line, he makes slack in the line as he walks back to his combination chair/tackle box where he sits quietly waiting for the big one. What I don't understand is why he just doesn't sit and wait for the big one at the end of his dock. The water is calm, not very deep, and the dock has a railing. Yesterday, he spent 4 hours fishing in the morning, must have taken a nap, and then returned for a few more hours in the evening. I have yet to see him reel one in.
But then again, I've sat for hours at the Dock and did absolutely nothing. He must also be retired.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Do You Know That Feeling?
Now, if you have just gotten home from work you'll know what I mean. That feeling when all the kids greet you at the door, and the pets are wagging their tails at your feet, and the smell of the home cooked meal that soon will be served, and that soft kiss from your spouse, and time to wind down from a busy day with a glass of wine. Do you know that feeling?
Well, that's the feeling I've had ever since we moved into our home. These last few days were really like that. Fresh pancakes with blueberries for breakfast. Burning some downed trees, and I mean logs, kinda like a beach bonfire. It was an all dayer, but so relaxing watching it burn from the Dock. A spring tune up of my bicycle (only because my Harley wouldn't start), and a few other small chores, but only those that I wanted to do, and then dinner out with my wife and friends. Today, I've watched an old man fishing on the dock across the lake. I don't think he's caught anything, but I'm sure he feels much like I. He reminds me of my daughter's grand father. And now, there is a made from scratch chocolate chip cake coming out of the oven!
There is nothing like retirement. It's kinda like coming home from work, but it never starts and it never ends. I hope those that haven't all ready, get the chance to know that feeling someday themselves.
So, what will today be like, you ask? I really don't know. Probably much like yesterday, and kind of like tomorrow, I spoze. What day is it anyway? Rockin' at the Dock..
Well, that's the feeling I've had ever since we moved into our home. These last few days were really like that. Fresh pancakes with blueberries for breakfast. Burning some downed trees, and I mean logs, kinda like a beach bonfire. It was an all dayer, but so relaxing watching it burn from the Dock. A spring tune up of my bicycle (only because my Harley wouldn't start), and a few other small chores, but only those that I wanted to do, and then dinner out with my wife and friends. Today, I've watched an old man fishing on the dock across the lake. I don't think he's caught anything, but I'm sure he feels much like I. He reminds me of my daughter's grand father. And now, there is a made from scratch chocolate chip cake coming out of the oven!
There is nothing like retirement. It's kinda like coming home from work, but it never starts and it never ends. I hope those that haven't all ready, get the chance to know that feeling someday themselves.
So, what will today be like, you ask? I really don't know. Probably much like yesterday, and kind of like tomorrow, I spoze. What day is it anyway? Rockin' at the Dock..
Lotsas Lisas
Not since junior high school, have I become friends with anyone named Lisa. Until recently.
Soon after arriving in this coastal town, my wife me Lisa G. They hit it off, and before long, we were doing things as couples. Lisa led us to church, which has been a blessing. We've have dined out together, camped out together, rode Harleys together, played games together, shared Christmas and Thanksgivings together, and laughed together. Some of my Followers have all ready met Lisa G. and the rest of you will too when you visit the Dock.
Lisa N's father lived in the house across the street from us. After his passing two years ago, Lisa and her family began sharing the summer months at the house. More recently, she has been using it as a get-a-way from the city. She bought a duck spotter's book and spends time trying to identify the various species of ducks on the Lake. She has 7 cats and two dogs, so my wife invited her to visit the Humane Society in town. She loved it, especially the cattery. It's nice to have neighbors once in a while.
Most recently, we met Lisa O. while redeeming freebee coupons at the local casino. She, somehow, recognized my last name when her husband spoke about me some 25 years ago. Although we had never met before, she remembered that I once worked with her husband in SoCal. He left the jobs many years ago. We had breakfast together, and I'm sure that they will also make good friends.
You all know, I am a loner. I could be perfectly happy lazing on the Dock, or building stuff, or exploring things all by myself. These Lisas encourage me to do stuff with others, which I have learned I actually like. And they have led us to meet even more friends, which I have learned we actually need. Thank you Lisas!
And now I'm going to the Dock, by myself.
Soon after arriving in this coastal town, my wife me Lisa G. They hit it off, and before long, we were doing things as couples. Lisa led us to church, which has been a blessing. We've have dined out together, camped out together, rode Harleys together, played games together, shared Christmas and Thanksgivings together, and laughed together. Some of my Followers have all ready met Lisa G. and the rest of you will too when you visit the Dock.
Lisa N's father lived in the house across the street from us. After his passing two years ago, Lisa and her family began sharing the summer months at the house. More recently, she has been using it as a get-a-way from the city. She bought a duck spotter's book and spends time trying to identify the various species of ducks on the Lake. She has 7 cats and two dogs, so my wife invited her to visit the Humane Society in town. She loved it, especially the cattery. It's nice to have neighbors once in a while.
Most recently, we met Lisa O. while redeeming freebee coupons at the local casino. She, somehow, recognized my last name when her husband spoke about me some 25 years ago. Although we had never met before, she remembered that I once worked with her husband in SoCal. He left the jobs many years ago. We had breakfast together, and I'm sure that they will also make good friends.
You all know, I am a loner. I could be perfectly happy lazing on the Dock, or building stuff, or exploring things all by myself. These Lisas encourage me to do stuff with others, which I have learned I actually like. And they have led us to meet even more friends, which I have learned we actually need. Thank you Lisas!
And now I'm going to the Dock, by myself.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
In Just a Very Short Time
Uh Oh..... You Know...
In just a very short time, I have gone from just reading other persons blogs, to other persons writing about me in their blogs. Some Followers even go so far as to ask me to blog more often. I think they urn for my wisdom.
Now, I really can't attest to the number of other people writing about me because for me to get that account, I'd have to read millions of other blogs to see who wrote about me. And that would take away my time to blog, and starve my readers, including you, from receiving my wisdom.
Now, I do know of one particular Follower who has asked for more. And, I know where there is one, there are more. So, that puts me in parity with President Obama's popularity.
As a side note, I tossed and turned all last night. Not only because my wife had a return of her dreadful whooping cough, but because of what I had written in yesterday's blog. At issue, was whether I should apologize or retract my opinions due to the risk of offending someone? Absolutely not. People love smut. Now maybe I'll lose Obama from my fan base, but I'll gain many more in return, simply by speaking true.
Speaking of Truth... I'm off to church, but I'll be back at the Dock soon..
In just a very short time, I have gone from just reading other persons blogs, to other persons writing about me in their blogs. Some Followers even go so far as to ask me to blog more often. I think they urn for my wisdom.
Now, I really can't attest to the number of other people writing about me because for me to get that account, I'd have to read millions of other blogs to see who wrote about me. And that would take away my time to blog, and starve my readers, including you, from receiving my wisdom.
Now, I do know of one particular Follower who has asked for more. And, I know where there is one, there are more. So, that puts me in parity with President Obama's popularity.
As a side note, I tossed and turned all last night. Not only because my wife had a return of her dreadful whooping cough, but because of what I had written in yesterday's blog. At issue, was whether I should apologize or retract my opinions due to the risk of offending someone? Absolutely not. People love smut. Now maybe I'll lose Obama from my fan base, but I'll gain many more in return, simply by speaking true.
Speaking of Truth... I'm off to church, but I'll be back at the Dock soon..
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Here We Go!
Thanks to you that took part in my poll. From it, I was able to verify that what I had suspected, was true. I have many thousands of readers, but only about 5 or so true Followers. Just like I thought, my numbers are close to that of our President's.
Speaking of Obama, I found a most interesting article in the news. Although his name was never mentioned, his influence was everywhere. Here are some of the highlights, but you can actually read it for yourself here: http://theroot.com/views/even-further-behind-joneses?GT1=38002
My responses are in Italics.
For every dollar of wealth owned by the typical white family, the African American family has only one thin dime. That makes sense because only 10 percent of Blacks actually work for their wealth. The statistics likely do not include wealth derived by stealing, selling dope, or committing welfare frauds.
At a two-day conference called the Color of Wealth summit, it was stressed that our future depends on the inclusion of all Americans in opportunities to build wealth. Obama himself must have picked the name for the summit.
The biggest predictor of the future economic status of a child is the net worth of the child’s parents. Historically, white families have enjoyed more government support and tax-paid subsidies than Blacks. Really? How did the summit conclude that? Pass along the bong and see what else they conclude. But, if true, my children might become wealthy.
For example, in home ownership, during the Depression, the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation was formed to rescue families whose homes were in foreclosure. Not a single loan went to a family of color. That's because Blacks didn't own homes in the first place.
After World War II, of the 67,000 mortgages issued under the GI Bill, 66,900 went to white veterans. And today, White families are five times as likely as a family of color to have a bank account. I would think that to get a mortgage or a bank account, one would have to earn sufficient assets by working. I'm sure that home purchases obtained through narcotic sales are not included in the summit's findings.
Rules in our tax code have strengthened the hand of those who already have assets. You can get a tax deduction for the interest paid on home mortgages. But if you own a home and make too little to itemize, the Home Mortgage Interest Deduction does not help you at all. So, how is this disparity, as it seems to imply? It equally applies to all. There really are some White home owners that can't claim the deduction, namely me!
We need a Financial Product Safety Commission, to act against discriminatory lending policies. We need to revise the mortgage interest deduction so low-income homeowners (Black) are able to benefit. And mandating that new schools, transportation and commercial projects, be located only in areas with racially inclusive zoning policies (Black) would do much to create and grow neighborhoods of opportunity (Black).
Building wealth is essential to the American promise of opportunity regardless of the accident of one’s birth. And a disproportionate number of Black births are by accidents.
It’s time to start an honest game with a new deck. All of our futures depend on it. The Insight Center for Community Economic Development in Oakland, Calif. organized the Color of Wealth 2009 Policy Summit, held in Washington on March 23 and 24.
I've walked so far to see that my children (at least one of which was planned) can receive my wealth, which was passed to me by my wealthy father, and his wealthy immigrant father. I now only need to sit on the Dock and cool those aching feet in the Lake for a bit.
Speaking of Obama, I found a most interesting article in the news. Although his name was never mentioned, his influence was everywhere. Here are some of the highlights, but you can actually read it for yourself here: http://theroot.com/views/even-further-behind-joneses?GT1=38002
My responses are in Italics.
For every dollar of wealth owned by the typical white family, the African American family has only one thin dime. That makes sense because only 10 percent of Blacks actually work for their wealth. The statistics likely do not include wealth derived by stealing, selling dope, or committing welfare frauds.
At a two-day conference called the Color of Wealth summit, it was stressed that our future depends on the inclusion of all Americans in opportunities to build wealth. Obama himself must have picked the name for the summit.
The biggest predictor of the future economic status of a child is the net worth of the child’s parents. Historically, white families have enjoyed more government support and tax-paid subsidies than Blacks. Really? How did the summit conclude that? Pass along the bong and see what else they conclude. But, if true, my children might become wealthy.
For example, in home ownership, during the Depression, the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation was formed to rescue families whose homes were in foreclosure. Not a single loan went to a family of color. That's because Blacks didn't own homes in the first place.
After World War II, of the 67,000 mortgages issued under the GI Bill, 66,900 went to white veterans. And today, White families are five times as likely as a family of color to have a bank account. I would think that to get a mortgage or a bank account, one would have to earn sufficient assets by working. I'm sure that home purchases obtained through narcotic sales are not included in the summit's findings.
Rules in our tax code have strengthened the hand of those who already have assets. You can get a tax deduction for the interest paid on home mortgages. But if you own a home and make too little to itemize, the Home Mortgage Interest Deduction does not help you at all. So, how is this disparity, as it seems to imply? It equally applies to all. There really are some White home owners that can't claim the deduction, namely me!
We need a Financial Product Safety Commission, to act against discriminatory lending policies. We need to revise the mortgage interest deduction so low-income homeowners (Black) are able to benefit. And mandating that new schools, transportation and commercial projects, be located only in areas with racially inclusive zoning policies (Black) would do much to create and grow neighborhoods of opportunity (Black).
Building wealth is essential to the American promise of opportunity regardless of the accident of one’s birth. And a disproportionate number of Black births are by accidents.
It’s time to start an honest game with a new deck. All of our futures depend on it. The Insight Center for Community Economic Development in Oakland, Calif. organized the Color of Wealth 2009 Policy Summit, held in Washington on March 23 and 24.
I've walked so far to see that my children (at least one of which was planned) can receive my wealth, which was passed to me by my wealthy father, and his wealthy immigrant father. I now only need to sit on the Dock and cool those aching feet in the Lake for a bit.
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