just a marine

2012-01-23T10:41:00.004-06:00

Great change is underway

I always wondered what it was like to live and think during the time of the American Revolution. Now I think I get my chance, again, like during my lifetime which began in my birth year, 1948.

Now this time is different, like all times, since the people and circumstances are different today than in our past. But the similarity strikes me as normal, like humans and how they live and think in their times. It is the common humanity that crosses great divides of time and circumstances and history.

Great problems abound, like normal, I think. What is coincidental, is that many of these problems affect me as well as my descendents. Hence this post.

And much of the turmoil, fear, and worse casing of things, exceeds well beyond the new world USA, or so I believe. Said another way, great change is coming to the whole World, not just the new world USA.

But in the same vein, is the solution, all prompted by the new world migration that brings so many sharp people here. In this great change will come, or so I believe. There is something magical about the new world and hope for our descendents.

Let me be practical, like not just talk the talk, but walk the walk.

Totalitarianism will fail, in the end. Many humans will be attracted to this idea to solve their problems in the short term, but reject it in the long term. Along the way, many extra people will die, often in wars, both domestic and foreign.

The human birth rate will decline. Now women are in charge in this area, I believe.

The great practicality of humans will predominate over time. How people live in Mongolia will still be different from how people live in Nebraska (USA) for example.

The urban/rural divide will tilt towards the rural, like living on rural land has cultural and family advantages that will be reinforced. This idea sounds so typically human, though not popular in 2012.

We humans may evolve towards some kind of one world government, but that is probably 500 years away. Much personal and cultural migration and cross-breeding needs to go on first, and that is on autopilot, I believe.

2012-01-20T11:26:00.000-06:00

On the nature of change

I think most Americans want change, mostly in those elected, vice a change in the system of government we use. This idea applies locally (like city, county, and school boards), state, and federally, I also think. And I think most want to use the vote to make this happen, vice a civil war, which even I detest, though it does happen in human history.

If you buy this line of thought, let me go forward. A lot of Americans voted for change in the federal elections of 2008, and they still want change.

Unfortunately, Obama at the federal level is not the one. We do have other choices.

Now a lot of people may disagree with me. So be it. And hopefully at my age going on 64, I don't even have to live with the consequences, assuming I die in my time. Others can live with their consequences.

But the nature of change continues, as always.

That we are still the new world USA really appeals to me.

2012-01-19T11:13:00.000-06:00

She's a slut and he's a dumb ass

It has always bothered me that if a guy has an affair while he is married, then he is guilty of something. But in the same vein, the girl is never accused of the same standards...that is what bothers me.

Now we all know this kind of thing goes on, for a myriad of reasons.

But my question to myself is why do such people want to be President of the new world USA, and why should we vote for him, and her, I guess.

In this question is also the answer in our new world USA. Things are gonna change, probably beginning in the federal elections in 2014 and 2016.

Of course, others may take charge, in the meantime.

I'm just glad I live in rural America on the Cumberland Plateau in East Tennessee if my guesses are correct.

2012-01-18T10:51:00.001-06:00

Have you ever been cold and hungry?

Well, I have.
Here's a post from a local newspaper a couple of months ago.

Op Walker Talks Oatmeal Medicine

By Dr. Opless Walker

Oats for breakfast…nothing at lunch…and oats for supper! Oats were cheap and they came with a dish inside the box.

For many families residing in Monterey in the 1940s, life was a day-to-day struggle. Being the youngest of twelve children reared in poverty, I remember days when the opening sentence above was a fact. Families ate what they could obtain and had very little money, if any, for the supplementation of their diets by purchasing from the grocery store. Many households had gardens supplying fresh vegetables in season, and preserving by canning was widely practiced.

Although I didn’t realize the advantages of being poor in my childhood, I have since learned that it was a blessing to have had little on which to dine. Thankfully, we couldn’t afford the processed foods available from the local grocery.
While viewed as ‘food,’ garden produce had hidden within “nature’s medicine” – powerful cures with little or no side effects!

Our understanding of the medicinal power of the vegetable garden began (scientifically speaking) in 1978 in Germany. Not until the year 1998 did the United States get serious about medicine from sources other than a chemistry laboratory. The first edition of the Physician Desk Reference for Herbal Medicine was published that year, and mainstream medicine could no longer ignore the value of nature’s cures.

Institutions highly respected, such as the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic and Harvard are publishing verifiable data on the value of the medicinal chemicals taken from the plant and herb kingdoms.

It is now possible to ascertain the advantages of growing up poor in Monterey in the 1940s:

Exercise: with no vehicle, we walked everywhere we went. With no television, we “played” outside all four seasons. Only lightning rain us indoors.

House with cracks and no insulation: with plenty of ventilation, indoor air pollution did not exists with the possible exception of the coal oil lamps, the coal stove in the “front’ room, and the woodstove in the kitchen. I have often said that the ‘only difference in the outside temperature and the indoor temperature was the wind chill factor.

Well water: water for drinking was safe with little or no ground pollution.

Garden Vegetables:

Cabbage: known as the poor man’s medicine, cabbage is one of the most powerful cancer fighters and preventatives known to man. Canned kraut was common in early Monterey, and is the most powerful anti-cancer form of cabbage. In addition, cabbage is beneficial for preventing and treating stomach ailments, rheumatism, arthritis, and cardiovascular disease.

Onions: Nature’s antibiotic. Controls asthma and blood sugar. Onions strengthen capillary walls, break up mucous in the lungs allowing for easier breathing. They are anti-cancer with yellow onions being the most medicinal of the common garden variety.

Cucumbers – Alkalizes the human body, thus preventing many diseases, especially diseases of the small and large colon. Excellent for healthy skin.

Tomatoes – Red tomatoes are the most medicinal. Lycopene is the ingredient that makes a tomato ‘red,’ and is the medicine component of the tomato. Lycopene prevents cancer, boosts the immune system, and helps maintain health hair and nails.

Remember the nuts gathered in the fall of the year and the cracking of the shells on an old iron shoe last? Walnuts are the healthiest of nuts, and provide high protein levels for muscle strength and endurance as well as providing for brain power and cardiovascular health.

And then there are the oats. Oats are known as a complete body overhaul, inside and out. They prevent and/or treat depression, provide for skin health, decrease wound healing time and establish a healthy gastrointestinal tract. Oats are anti-stress and low in calories.

The two major causes of disease and death are:

1) too many calories and

2) too much stress in one’s life

Now we have scientific proof that growing up poor was a blessing. What wonderful memories! We had our medicine with each meal, be it ever lacking in other ways.

PS Opless is a doctor of pharmacology at the local hospital. He is also an amateur historian, and the brother of the late Oscar Walker

2012-01-18T10:21:00.001-06:00

Human foibles

For me, the subject means human flaws, like design defects in the way we are made.

The classic ways I was taught were things like: which came first, the chicken or the egg? The other was: which came first, the horse, or the cart?

Since I joined the Marines, I have also been taught that: taking casualties up front usually saves lives in the long run.

Now I do not offer to convince anyone of what I think. Rather I just note what I have been taught, not in school, by the way.

So now I even wonder about whether Marshall Tito in Yugoslavia was just a communist, or a national leader who knocked heads given his part of the world?

Last, even the Herbert Hoover book has come out after five decades about events in his time. My take is that at least he suggests there were other courses of action. And I don't apologize for using hindsight, since I do have that advantage to see how things have sorted out.

2012-01-17T11:06:00.002-06:00

Short changing our children

To me it is a sacred responsibility to provide our kids an education that will give them every advantage in life. After that, they are on their own.

Having been a teacher, too, I recognize there are only so many hours in the day, and so many days in the year, that time exists to educate our kids while they are growing up. And I also recognize that some teachers will "get even", usually using grades, against some kids that do not agree with them.

As an opinion, I believe in public education, funded by citizens through taxes, and controlled by elected school boards. And as an opinion, I think many of these boards are doing a bang up job, like getting their kids educated to give them advantages in life. And as an opinion, I believe one size does not fit all, hence local control of our children's public education.

Now I recognize how important a school board member job can be. Where my recent kids attended public school in Gwinnett County, a suburb of Atlanta, last year's school board budget was $1.4 billion dollars. That's a lot of money, and influence.

But as an opinion, the basic mission remains the same, and it is a sacred mission, that is educating our children to provide them every advantage in life. Secondary are things like an adult jobs program, and other such considerations.

Two examples come to mind to me. One is of an elected representative in Michigan who did not know Texas shares a border with Mexico. The other is of a person at a McDonald's drive through outside of Atlanta that could not make change, even having a machine to help her. My opinion is that both these people have been set back in life by their poor educations.

Now, and last, right now it seems popular to try solve many of our culture's problems by indoctrinating our children at the expense of teaching them things like the 3R's, doing simple taxes, home economics (to include balancing a check book), or wood shop to help young people do simple plumbing or car maintenance later in life.

What ever we Americans do, at the school board level, I should hope it enhances our kids first, and all other considerations come second. My vote will be so influenced, and I suspect many other voters will think this way, too.

2012-01-13T09:38:00.001-06:00

On the nature of atrocities during war

Now we have another example, that to me, shows why war is so terrible, to include revolt, revolution, and civil war. I myself prefer the vote, and time, for the politicians to sort things out.

The recent example is US Marines peeing on dead enemy in Afghanistan.

That being said, atrocities happen, all the time, and throughout history.

And atrocities are often culture based, like cutting off a person's head with video is OK, but using the wrong hand in greeting is not (the left hand is "dirty"). Even in Japan I remember running without a shirt top was gross, but peeing in a ditch was OK (for a male).

And since so many Americans are fighting and deployed around the world, they are often exposed to these cultures that are just different from theirs, including atrocities.

Just one personal atrocity story from me. Iraqis during Desert Storm, on the way out of Kuwait City, killed some Kuwait women, gutted them, and hung them naked upside down from telephone poles with entrails hanging out. Now even that disgusted me, and many local Kuwait people I knew. I doubt that was reported in the USA...hence my thoughts about cultural differences.

So war and humans are tough against opponents. Native Americans were harsh against their captured tribal enemies, like burning sticks into their skin, and later against Europeans. Even during WWII I have stories of the Japanese cutting off male privates and stuffing them in the dead Marine's mouths. Hopefully, this was done to dead Marines, but I don't know. Even during the American Civil War, read about what went on at Andersonville, as an example.

Now we American soldiers and Marines do have a reason to keep captured people to exploit them for information that can be turned into intelligence. That's one reason "officers" were invented to make this happen.

But in the same vein, atrocities will occur in all cultures, at least historically speaking. Just how our culture handles it, is in the end, culturally dependent. I just hope my culture doesn't use a double standard against these fellow Americans.

2012-01-10T09:44:00.001-06:00

The silliness of it all

It doesn't have to happen this way, but it is.

What do I mean by "silly"? To me it means where I live a lot of people are going to go cold and hungry, and probably worse, like die from malnourishment, disease, or crime from humans just trying to survive their criminal way. And we humans did it to ourselves, mostly by voting in people who are bringing our coming problems down around our and their heads, usually with the best intentions in their mind. Of course this is multiplied by the world financial problems, too, ultimately human caused, too (and in my opinion).

Now, in fairness, some places have elected some politicians (at many levels) that are trying to change things another way. Good on 'em.

Unfortunately, where I live, the time for arguing till I am blue in the face is over, and now the consequences are beginning to kick in already. I, myself, am in that planning mode now, as embarrassing and disappointing as it may be about accepting reality.

But life and society in the new world USA is not over...maybe being changed, resurrected, or whatever.

So wherever you live, consider what is valuable and important to you, and reinforce that by whatever means, including voting at all levels if one still can, or otherwise influencing your political leaders, who also will be cold and hungry, and have families, too.

Now change, to me, usually means changing our elected leaders, but it also means reinforcing those leaders we want to represent us. In this idea is the coming future, I think.

And hopefully, we begin to take the silliness out of the equation. I myself still think forced air heat and running water is privilege, not a "right". So good on all the people and their families who work so hard to make this happen! And let us elect people who will support them, and the benefits they provide to we common people.

None of this is automatic.

2012-01-07T12:16:00.002-06:00

Descending into anarchy

The Occupy "movement" reminds me of this idea of the patients are in control of the asylum. I myself don't won't these people representing me. I can do better than those presently in the "movement". I suspect most people agree with this idea.

I still believe in the rule of law, vice something like the king's opinion, and his hired minions opinions. While I don't doubt their intentions, I do doubt their methods. So I still prefer the new world USA method of ruling and "electing" political leaders, as imperfect as it may be. I am now old enough to know the alternatives can be worse. And, yes, I still prefer to be a citizen than a serf. Said another way, I want an opportunity to influence my future through a vote.

So what happens if we, the new world USA, descend into anarchy. The quick answer is that I don't know.

The longer answer is that I am becoming some kind of survivalist if times get hard. I am even making my own electricity, and powering a security light so I can help defend myself, and my Family and friends. And I have many yard dogs to help defend. They make better biological alarms than most infrared stuff I can get these days. And I have plenty of clean water, and waste water treatment, all gravity powered. Now the "vegetable garden" idea sucks since the local soil is historically acidic and poor for growing things, though they do grow. I suspect it will all sort out, worse case.

All this suggests just how weird I may have become. But in my defense, I, like all of us, have to plan ahead. And all in all, being in a rural area with clean water and waste water stuff is not a bad place to be.

So why do I suspect we are descending into anarchy? The quick answer is that I listen to what is being said. The old time expression that "actions have consequences" seems to apply. Also I think we have a crummy set of elected political leaders that are changing things that will lead to anarchy. Hence let's change the leadership, or if they refuse to go, then revolt against them.

Now even I don't want to go through revolt. While it may be a fashionable term, the idea really sucks in its application. I prefer the vote, and the probable consequences, which I can live with. That course of action appeals to me.

So, to me, the time for change has come. You figure it out where you live.

2012-01-06T11:25:00.002-06:00

The inevitability of it all

Even the basic tea leaf reader could see it coming.

When fellow humans quit loaning the new world USA money, and we have to live within our means, then great change will come. The two national federal parties over the last century have failed us, and another party of Americans will probably arise to help sort out this mess.

After all, nobody wants to be cold and hungry, and all want to help their Families as best they can. And the USA is a pretty nifty place.

As I read the tea leaves, this is already going on, though many may not know it. That many will probably die is inevitable, but the time for talk and last minute change ended a couple of years ago. Hopefully, out of all this, will come resurgence in our new world USA, like this is a good place to be in during hard times.

But along the way the best intentioned people will have to live the consequences of their beliefs. And some will die.

Now I am not sure if even we in the new world USA will descend into totalitarianism, or in the end reinforce the idea of our Constitution. I sure hope it is the latter. I, myself, prefer to be a citizen than a serf.

Just what we Americans do to preserve the status quo I hope is more long term thinking than short term thinking, but I can't predict that right now. Most people don't like change, so preserving the status quo is a big deal.

There is every good reason to promote the progressive agenda. There is also every good reason to pay for it. These ideas often take time, and conflict, too.

And given the time idea, let's take the time to get it right. Drawing down the well of our prosperity implies eventually the well might go dry. Hopefully we don't get to that state, but the tea leaves I read suggest it may happen, probably around 2020.

There are other courses of action that will keep "this well" providing sustenance for us all. Yet there is little discussion of it that I read.

So why is it inevitable that we humans have to suffer first? That is crazy, but seems to be what happens, historically speaking.

And we elected these present political leaders, federal, state, and local. Go figure.

2012-01-03T10:33:00.001-06:00

The pace of change

Change is constant, which is normal.

Like our children will simply not think like we do, like it or not.

But in the same vein, we older people, like parents and other relatives, owe them our experience and wisdom, which is often rejected or ignored, which is also both normal, and frustrating to older people giving their free advice.

I've been a kid, too. And I remember the experience, too.

Now maybe even I am fateful, like will accept whatever happens, often because I can't change that much anyway. For example, I have had two dogs die over the holidays, and I can't change it, either way. Maybe that is just how I handle my grief.

So it seems to me that the pace of change is changing, like speeding up compared to like even twenty or thirty years ago.

Now that normally doesn't bother me.

But now I think elected lightweights and their appointed minions are in charge, and they are doing a crummy job.

So what to do. My suggestion is to vote to change change. If our vote is taken away, then I suggest revolt.

Revolt is objectionable to me, but I think sometimes that is what it may take. Hopefully, not.

So use your vote to change things, locally, state, and federally.

2011-12-30T09:55:00.001-06:00

This is a good time to be a political propagandist

After all, you can say about anything, even lie; and more often than not, apparently lazy reporters today will reverberate all this "as news".

If the 24/7 news cycle, or something else, has led "reporting" to this state, then this is not healthy for any society of people wanting to be informed.

Now I also suspect political propaganda has always worked, most recently under the Nazi regime in Germany. But the techniques are alive and well in most advertising today, and even the USA Friday night news dumps.

Now one can vote with their pocket books, which I have done over time. My subscriptions to Time and Newsweek, and all print newspapers, are long gone. Even my addiction to TV channel FoxNews is being abandoned by me do to the voiced ignorance of their newsreaders (cookie cutter blondes and pretty boys) and apparently their producers, mostly in New York City, too.

So as we common citizens go forward in life, how are we going to be influenced in our vote, assuming we can still vote?

I myself am most interested in the facts, and not the opinions of many "reporters" and pundits, who often have their own agenda. As my now deceased father used to say, I only believe 10% of what I read, and 50% of what I see. And all too often, it seems opinions are now published or broadcast as news. Now this is different in the last half century, and morally wrong, to me.

And all I want to do is make an informed vote, locally, state, and federally.

And I recognize that many fellow citizens are too busy working and raising a Family to be informed enough to their satisfaction. But I have the time, and inclination, to be informed, like not having or wanting to take out the time to filter out the propaganda.

2011-12-29T09:31:00.002-06:00

Scourges of humanity

Disease and famine are scourges of humanity.

Now many scourges are caused by mother nature, but we humans have done our bit, too. Much famine I read about is often human caused, for example.

And my perspective is influenced by having lived around the world, and most recently in rural east Tennessee.

For example, where I live now there are plenty of poor people, almost all white. Many choose to be poor, whether on purpose or not knowing better. Often they are from broken homes, which is another scourge of humanity. Drugs and alcohol are often involved. It's hard to generalize about so many humans. It is my opinion that this is just a sad fact of life for a relatively small percentage of our total population.

Here's one local example. A single mother (age 30) of two, overdoses on illegal drugs, and dies. Her two kids are forced to live with relatives.

Here's one more example. A single male, age 41, never really knew his father, refuses to work a steady job, and lives off of local government handouts, charity food banks, and his relatives and few friends. Some get insurance payments, too. He is obviously not starving, and tolerates that life style. So do many of his relatives.

So I didn't "fall off the turnip truck" yesterday, an old fashioned phrase.

It's been a remarkable trip through life for this fellow, born in 1948.

If one buys the polls (I do), then American culture is at a crossroads of sorts.

I think about this a lot. Mostly how to define what is going on, and what is important to me.

Several things keep popping up in my mind. Here they are:
1) Why is government involved in charity? Obviously, to me, that is a voter decision, and we have seemed to elect people that want to get government more involved in charity, and are willing to pay taxes for this involvement.
2) How about my group rights, vice my individual rights? Both are defined, to me, in our USA Constitution. In a nutshell, can one individual shut down a group for their own reason(s).
3) Schools should exist to teach the 3R's; and skills for life, like filling out tax forms, balancing home budgets, and making things. The rest of life's education of our children should occur at home, to include ethics.
4) One of government's jobs is to promote a man and a woman raising any children that result. I think of this as so fundamental. This old fashioned idea can be as simple as tax advantages to living together when raising kids. Just one dumb example for me. I remember getting in a fight around age 13, and the other kid got a broken arm out of the fight. Well the reactions from my mother and father were totally different, so having a mom and a dad around helped influence my upbringing.

So do we want to descend into an historical scourge of humanity where the rabble and riff raff run things into the ground? Of course not. But it does take leadership and action, and one sales pitch is to start where you are to impose standards, and maybe in twenty or thirty years our descendents will get the benefits. To me, I can't tell anyone what to think, but we sure can impose standards of behavior.

2011-12-18T09:48:00.002-06:00

Just the facts, ma'am

I recall this line from the old Dragnet TV series. It was delivered by Jack Webb, as I also recall.

Now we Americans are pulling out of Iraq, thank goodness. Now this is a hint as to my politics.

The facts, if you will, are pretty simple.

After we invaded and won the war in Iraq, the Department of Defense (DOD) took over winning the peace. DOD appointed a retired Army General, Jay Garner as I recall, to be in charge. Earlier Jay Garner had led the effort in Kurdistan (northern Iraq) after Desert Storm when we imposed a no fly zone. His stated objective was to leave Iraq within six months, and let them (the Iraqi's) sort it out.

Well, again as I recall, a big political battle went on in Washington, D.C. The State Department (led by another retired Army General, Colin Powell) ended up winning the political battle, and a well regarded bureaucrat, Paul Bremmer, took over winning the peace.

And now nine years later, many dead and wounded Americans later, and $840 billion dollars later, we are finally out.

One opinion, too.

Back in the late 1800's a bunch of Russian and European diplomats drew colonial boundaries, mostly in Africa and the Caucus areas. I wish they had made a Kurdistan, and a Baluchistan, and a sub-divided Sudan (which is pretty much was has happened). Now I suspect, in the case of Kurdistan, most local political leaders in Turkey, Iran, and Iraq, will disagree. And many people are now dying for these decisions, and the decision makers are long dead. Go figure.

2011-12-12T09:31:00.001-06:00

The value of ethics

I heard another hope for our new world USA culture today. It mentioned ethics.

Now this subject can be taught in schools, but to me it is best taught at home over time by a Mom and a Dad for it to be imbued into our psyche and culture. And it is being "imbued" by so many Moms and Dads throughout our world, so good on them!

Now one can even define their ethics, usually along the lines of right and wrong, the golden rule, or respect for others; and in the end, self respect. Each of ourselves are usually our own worst critic.

Another key point, to me, is that an ethical background makes one better able to make day to day decisions on the fly, as in quickly. It happens all the time.

So let us just reinforce those who imbue ethics in our descendents.

And let us reject those who have just been shortchanged in their ethical upbringing. Now to do so will probably takes decades, but one does have to start somewhere.

I buy the idea that if an idea takes decades to take place, it will probably take decades to change course. Along the way, people will have to die, usually of old age. After all, one can't teach ethics to old dogs, and these "old dogs" just need to die off.

2011-12-07T09:47:00.001-06:00

Mission First

The mission of government is to represent the people being governed. The people are the rulers, in the end.

Now there are variations of this idea in human history. Be it dictatorship, royalty, tribal chiefs, parliamentary, republican, all these ideas in the end need the people to support it, or at least put up with it. Sometimes it takes a war for others to impose their system. Sometimes it takes a revolt or revolution to accomplish the mission. And then, here in the new world USA, think local, state, and federal since there are many governments. Though many, the mission is singular.

Now in the new world USA it appears we have a new group at the federal level who want to change the mission. Now the mission cannot be changed since it is a human right that the people are the rulers. But the friction is nevertheless going on in the new world USA. Only time will tell how it sorts out.

Most hope it only takes a vote, vice fighting among ourselves.

And most only have so much "time in the barrel" before they are replaced by their children. In the meantime, since their children cannot vote and are generally not ready to fight, adults are pretty self-sacrificing in representing themselves, their Families, and their children.

Like the title suggests...mission first.

2011-11-27T10:15:00.001-06:00

Rights and privileges are different

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is a right, to me.

Flush toilets and forced air heat is a privilege, to me, and I appreciate it. So is national defense. Some countries don't have a national defense.

I will fight for both rights and privileges, if that is what it takes. Hopefully the vote is the best way to fight for me.

Now many politicians and voters can claim privileges are rights, but that doesn't change things even in the new world USA. The two are different, and many of us recognize this, and will probably vote that way as a consideration.

Many fellow Americans work hard to make sure we have clean tap water, waste water treatments, and public electricity. Other fellow Americans work real hard to make sure we make it through the winter time like with ice free roads and reliable heating and cooking infrastructure that works. Even I like turning a light switch on during the dark times of the day, and expect it to come on instantly. These are examples of privileges, to me. This includes even times after a storm that damages our infrastructure.

I don't want to live like Abraham Lincoln, but I can if I need to.

And I am now perceiving many Americans think many of these privileges are automatic, and don't need to be supported, reinforced, nurtured, or whatever. I respectfully disagree. Many of those providing our privileges are much of the basic purpose of governments at all levels. And I thank them, and their Families. And I will support them and those that provide their services by my vote, my pocket book, and whatever else it takes.

I know the difference between rights and privileges, and appreciate it. And I also know the difference between idealism and practicality, and the need to balance it all for the benefit of us all.

I've seen and lived the difference, and sure like what we have in the new world USA.

Good on us!

2011-11-23T11:10:00.000-06:00

Hit 'em in the pocket book

Why humans suffering is often what it takes for change to happen seems to be, well, human. What a shame. Even I will have to suffer, too.

Now I personally figure I can guess what will probably happen, but the timing I usually screw up.

For sure, I believe a third USA national party will arise, and there will be a civil war in China.

Now just when, I don't have a reliable way to guess that I trust. I usually guess things will happen before they actually do. I am usually off by two or three years. But I consider myself an informed citizen, which probably works against my timing guesses.

Well Plan B suggests most USA people don't have time to worry about more than their near future. They are usually hard workers, and often busy raising a family. Only when they are threatened, in their mind, will change probably occur.

If this guess, theory if you will, is correct, than what a shame.

2011-11-21T13:03:00.001-06:00

Americans still want change

It sure likes like the present financial federally caused problems are not going to be solved by our present elected federal Congress and President.

After all, we all do enjoy wonderful federal benefits right now, generally speaking.

So what is change at the federal level going to take?

My guess is a third party will arise, and work on paying our federal bills, simply. I myself prefer any new name than whatever the opposition uses to describe it right now, like the Tea Party.

In this change, there will be pain, including to me.

And only in America can our vote still count, vice something else like a revolt or revolution. After all, we as a Country were conceived in a revolution, but my guess is we have evolved in the new world USA to voting since then.

But for sure, change is coming because we Americans want it. And I sure hope we use the vote, and the outgoing types go along with the results.

Now what would you do? And I still have to deal with State and County issues, too, like my kid's education.

2011-11-17T11:35:00.003-06:00

Great change is underway

And it will affect most of us. And it is mostly human caused, which is normal, unfortunately .

The obvious things are our USA and world-wide financial problems, which will probably get worse. For those with money to invest, good luck in the next two years or so.

The less obvious thing is what is going on in the real human world. There are lots of smart people who know what is going on in their part of the world, but few can connect the dots in the whole world, so to speak. Hence a guess is that things will get worse because of poor decision making, and it will affect me and my family.

This idea is most probably exacerbated by the poor elected leadership in the USA, and the people they have hired. In the end, they will bring their era to an end, again a great change time, too. The time between 2011 and 2020 should be really exciting. The dinosaurs (so to speak) will fight back, like to preserve their status quo and way of life.

And there are alternatives to the present courses of action now taking place by elected and appointed leaders throughout the world. I think Obama, and his hired minions, are a good example of a poor leadership during this time of great change.

Along the way, expect great political change in the USA. The 100 year+ era of two national political parties is coming to an end, and a third national party will arise. All this will probably happen in the 2016 time frame, but who really knows in 2011.

After all, most just want to survive, have a family, and promote their kids' futures, where ever they live. Being fed and warm is a big deal. And most still want to be citizens, vice being a serf.

What I fear today is the consequences and how it will affect you and me, like down range nuclear weather patterns seldom reported in today's media.

Nobody, with exceptions, is reporting how bad things are in China, for example. I don't count on our USA media doing a good job reporting all this, or many other things that will affect my life, and my family's lives.

And all this during a time of great change.

2011-11-16T11:48:00.002-06:00

We are going to be all in it

It seems obvious to me. We are unilaterally disarming.

The old days' questions like where are the carriers, or the Marines, or the airborne forces, are going to be gone. They (and their gear) simply will not exist.

Is that what you want?

Many may, for their own logic. And many won't, for their own logic, too. But for sure, we are going to be all out of enough troops, too.

Now even fundamental things like can we defend our own country and way of life come up.

And if we are not a policeman in the world, then others (mostly regional leaders) may fill the vacuum, like start local wars that might drag in future USA leaders in the future.

Like the title suggests, we are going to be all out of projection military power if things continue on. Is that what you want?

It is kinda like pay me now, or pay me later.

Bummer.

2011-11-10T09:32:00.001-06:00

What's going to happen if Obama is not re-elected?

The quick answer is I don't know.

But I sure can guess, and so can you.

I use the connect the dots method, since the psycho babble method tends to be a waste of most people's time.

Now normally, the outgoing President is gracious and helpful to the new inbound President. And our Congress tends to be the same way.

But in these times, things seem to be different. Said another way, is our present federal President wanting to go another way, like even be a dictator, or king, or something similar?

Can executive orders be similar to a king's edict, for example? Does our election process to elect our Congress people still give us citizens a way to help decide our future and fate? Are we subjects, or citizens? Do we as Americans want to take the present situation as a way to change our Constitution? And last, do we want a new form of government led by a not so smart person attended to by minions (he hired) seeking their own influence and power in influencing our American future?

So all this turmoil in my mind is also influenced by the idea of embarrassment.

Are we citizens, including our military and law enforcement types, going to do some or both; like respond to his orders; or even do the dirty deeds necessary to remove him from office, like "dig him out" in the old vernacular.

Last, given the advantage of hindsight, we can say and think anything we want to about our own parents. But for sure, I am glad I did not have him and his wife as my parents.

2011-11-07T10:30:00.006-06:00

Vigilance must be constant

During WWII 200 federal Congressman voted themselves an exception to the war rationing all of us had to participate in. Once discovered, this federal law was rescinded. Come one, come all, so to speak.

Now I hear my military retirement benefits may be retroactively changed to reflect the terrible economic situation in the USA today. I can even live with that these days, as long as I think the decision makers are applying these rules to themselves, too. Hence the vigilance.

Two more thoughts. My military retirement benefits were an incentive to stay in when I though seriously about getting out. I won't bore you with the details. Now I can imagine some years in the future when we can't retain enough Americans for the military to defend us. A line I borrow is that while we may recruit an American, we retain his family. Sounds like a future problem for future politicians to vote on in a conventional way of thinking. But how about a Plan B, like think ahead, consider our priorities, our ability to pay, and vote for people who will represent this?

Last, here is a Plan C that appealed to me, warts and all.

Warren Buffett, in a recent interview with CNBC, offers one of the best quotes about the debt ceiling:

"I could end the deficit in 5 minutes," he told CNBC. "You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election.

The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months and 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971 — before computers, e-mail, cell phones, etc.Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven took one year or less to become the law of the land, all because of public pressure.

This is one idea that really should be passed around.

Congressional Reform Act of 2011
1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives noPay when they're out of office.
2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into The Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.
3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
5. Congress loses its current health-care system and Participates in the same health-care system as the American people.
6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void

Effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract. Congress made these contracts for itself.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers Envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their Term(s), then go home and back to work.

Vigilance must be constant, and come one, come all.

2011-11-06T09:50:00.001-06:00

How much bathing is the right amount?

The quick answer, I think, is that most Americans think once a day is good. Now whether it is a shower or a bath, I will leave that question for other thoughts.

Now is that healthy; and the quick answer is that I don't know. After all I suspect most of our ancestors settled on less than once a day (mostly because they had to), and they did OK I think. We're here, after all.

For the record, my own personal record is 39 days without a bath, and then I had to sneak into a Palestinian work camp (occupied by Marines but off limits to me) to gain a warm shower. Yep, even I like warm water when I can get it. Also, there are ways to survive, in a healthy manner I think, without a daily bath. Baby wipes are one way. I suspect our ancestors had their ways, too.

So what is the standard, like best for our health? I don't know, but suspect it is less than a shower or bath a day. The thought of bathing in publicly provided clean water with chlorine (a poison at a reasonable level) in it bothers me. And I used to do some pool maintenance (using typical chlorine which also burns our eyes), too, so that is what provides me my question about our health.

Last, I suspect most who want to sleep together (including sex) would like a clean smelling spouse or partner. But is that also healthy, again the frequency of bathing is the basic question, like smelling clean? And again, I don't know the answer, but suspect it depends on where you live, and what you do.

2011-11-01T10:43:00.002-06:00

How do you find the news where you live?

The quick answer is I don't know, as even I get frustrated at my own level in east Tennessee, USA.

Now there's many things published in most media that, in my opinion, is just the person's personal opinion, published as news. This idea is new in the last three decades, I think. Heck, I can go to the local Hardees for breakfast to hear the same kind of opinions.

I even had a commie pinko liberal friend ask me the same question, by the way, like how does one find out what is really going on?

Now I have gone out of my way to even read foreign journals (daily), and even reading an intel weenie providing his interpretation of the foreign reporting. Right now, that is the best I can do. What a sad state of affairs, I think.

So good luck, if you want to know the news where you live these days.

2011-11-01T09:50:00.001-06:00

It will never happen, but

It might happen these days.

Long standing assumptions about cultures, and trust and faith in them paying their bills, is now up for grabs in so many places.

So many of our political and financial leaders may not be right for the present situation. Now some are "right", too. And every culture and nation state has its own problems, too. For example, I would rather be in the new world USA than the old world China we think of.

Now our present political leaders are a voter decision in the USA, and we voters have contributed to the problem we face today. Yea, we can say many of our elected leaders are failing us, but in the end, we did put them in power. Hence the people's part of the present situation. Now for the poor investors, well, that is their problem as to picking their leaders.

And as to wondering, I am slowly coming to think the Democratic National Party has become a criminal conspiracy, in the traditional way of history thinking. And the present Republican National Party is not too far behind. But who is going to say this in a RICO type of way, or even spend the prosecutorial time given the sponsorship and rewards system presently in effect (at all levels, federal, state, and local). The key way of thinking to me, is that the Party is still more important than the Country to so many members of their Party. Why, I still don't know?

But now serious issues are a stake, like our lives and well being.

So quicker change in our status quo is due, and really is already underway. Just how it will happen in the next 10 or 20 years is up to us, we citizens. Nope, we are not subjects.

The good news is that the future world in the USA will be pretty good for our Families and our kids. But whatever "it will never happen" means where you live, you can make a difference. Go for it!

2011-10-31T09:53:00.003-06:00

Voting with our pocket book

No matter what anyone in our leadership class says about things today in the USA, all of us know about our pocket books. And we vote that way, as in what we buy, or don't buy. And many also vote with their feet, as in where they choose to live, work, and raise a family. Again, no one from our leadership class (who I used to deal with, and they are often fine people, too) can convince most otherwise. And along those lines, the recent Euro deal that causes many to take a 50% bath (like invest $100...get back $50) is widely reported in the USA as a good deal, though I suspect those taking a bath would not agree, as in voting with their pocket book.

One can imagine much friction and change coming to the western societies.

Thank goodness a place like the new world USA has the best of all worlds (like the West and the East combined), but even things have to sort out here, too. For example, I think many people in the new world USA want change (the federal vote for President in 2008 being an example), and that thirst and goal is still around. And by golly, the change will happen, be it pocket book, moving, or voting, and yes, maybe even a revolution.

It sure looks like it is going to take change to the old status quo to make that happen, like the two dominant national parties will decline as a third party arises. Yep, this is an exciting time, comparable to the 1776 revolution period, though our own version in this decade, like from 2010 to 2020. My thoughts are historical, that is while the times and technology certainly has changed, we humans have not changed that much.

So in conventional wisdom from our USA past, one might plot a political campaign like a military campaign. But lying does not win battles when things like our pocket books, and integrity, come into play.

So I have made up my mind that I will enter the political process, as much demand that makes on my time. And along the way, I just want to be happy for me and my Family.

2011-10-30T09:27:00.006-06:00

The friction continues in the new world USA

Been there, done that, is an old time expression. This expression continues to work today.

The present day Tea Party, to me, is a movement, and not a "party". It is kinda like the Hippie movement decades ago. Yet today, its opponents continue to try define it, as if it is reported in the press, then it must be true. For me, being a child of the 60's, I think otherwise. What surprises me is that a lot of other fellow citizens think the same way, more than I ever thought so. Yep, the times they are a changin'.

There was a time in my youth, kinda like the present day folks who think differently than I do, that I bought their line. "Lee Harvey Oswald, where are we now that we need you" comes to mind. And even I thought about going out to Taos, New Mexico, getting naked, growing corn in the desert, and living in a cave. Instead I joined the Marines, which pretty much did the same thing, with a better quality of life, if you don't mind going in harm's way part of the time. Neither approach will get you rich, or even well off.

Yep, Marines are Americans, too.

So I now fear many people will die through the do-gooder intents and efforts and federal government practices today. It's the classical debate about do good intentions count, or does practically count?

What has gotten my attention is the effect on my remaining life. I am age 63, and don't want to die cold and miserable. I live in a rural part of America, and pretty much live (at least 1/3 or more) off the land. I would say 100%, but I do go to the local grocery store to get food, including dog food. Now some of it all sounds glorious, like the noble Indian idea, until you get to live this Hippie way. Yep, I don't want to be a Taos Hippie type. Presently, I wear long johns as I write, and time my farm maintenance work to the local weather.

So the present friction about the future of our new world USA has earned my attention, like time and effort. And, you know what, for the first time in my life, I am going to get politically involved. My military background has always taught me to not vote in federal elections so I could claim (sincerely) I will serve any Commander-in-Chief. Now, I am going to change, like vote.

So as part of the friction, am I a subject, or a citizen?

2011-10-29T09:54:00.001-06:00

Just a report from an old person

For the record, I am a male, age 63, and presently live on the Cumberland Plateau in east Tennessee. I moved here from Atlanta to an old Family place. And my father introduced me to the idea of reporting what is happening to my body as I age. As a Rambling Wreck engineer from GaTech, I also use the engineering approach, which is sort of scientific, too. My favorite movies are mostly from my youth and younger years, like "The Searchers", "Jeremiah Johnson", "The Outlaw Josey Wales", and even later "The Sand Pebbles". I also like some more modern movies, mostly directed by Lasse Hallstrom, a Swede. The "Cider House Rules", "An Unfinished Life", and even "Dear John" come to mind.

For me, I would report in two ways, since both affect me. One is the physical side of things, and the other is the mental side of things.

First, the physical side of things. I have run a bunch of marathons, like 17, but that pales by my belief back then that until about age 55, it was my life style getting me down; after that age kicked in. Add to that idea is that the hormone testosterone production is probably declining over time in my body, and now I am not as strong at age 63 than I want to be. This hurts my feelings. That is my observation today. Plus my time to heal from simple injuries is not what it used to be. While I do heal, it generally takes longer.

Second is the mental type of things. My last time in Okinawa (about 25 years ago) during a HASH run, a gal from MIT, serving as a Marine aviation supply officer, asked me the old joke about did I know what a "nooner" was. Well, of course I did, but then she said something like "it was a cup of soup and a nap", and that appealed to me as much as it hurt my feelings, too. Later she asked me "if I lived in menopause manor", which also hurt my feelings. Of course, I did live there, and was happy to be there.

One more mental type of thing I have thought about a lot, and tried to analyze the best I can. The subject is motivation.

I can report, for me, that the repeating of normal human things, like parental type things, is getting tiresome. I think I am becoming more "tough love", which I define as brutal honesty. Now in this case, some may listen, and some may not, but mentally I can accept the results more I could decades ago.

So, and last, I always heard that old people like me always wish they could impart their experience to their younger people growing up. I think now, again mentally, that most younger people don't want to listen, and such is the nature of humanity and history.

2011-10-28T12:39:00.001-06:00

Knowing the difference between politics and the politician

While I may agree with a lot of the "progressive" politics in America, I also think we have a crummy federal president of the USA.

I also think our present federal President is not too smart, nor is his wife. They are a case of affirmative action gone bad. The evidence is out there for anyone who wants to think independently. Now I also think both are hard working, and often well intended, but, again, both are not that swift. And now we Americans get to suffer the consequences of this poor leadership during this time of great turmoil, which is obvious to most.

Another obvious thing to me is that the two major National political parties have failed our Country. After 100 plus years, they have had their chance, and they have done a poor job. It bothers me to think the status quo is such that their Party may be more important than our Country in 2011. It's time for a change, one might suggest.

Now I have always wondered what it was like during the 1770's American revolution from England. I always assumed great turmoil, kinda like today. Even the conventional wisdom people will suggest not to mess with the status quo, like even an American third party might split the vote and get Obama re-elected. So be it.

Even he, Obama, will get old and die off. Such is the nature of change in this vast wonderful land called the USA.

So what is a new American Party going to be called? I don't know.

But for sure, I think, is that the focus will be on us, Americans, and not the Parties of the last 100 years. All this will take time, like until maybe 2020 or later.

Great change is underway, and what a wonderful time to live and observe it all, and maybe even influence it in the new world USA.

2011-10-21T09:39:00.002-06:00

Great change is underway in the world

The end of the beginning is past. The beginning of the end, our new future, is well underway. Those humans who resist change in the status quo are on the way out. Some don't recognize it and will resist in all ways they know how. This is where we are at now in the USA, and in much of the West. Use your own eyes and judgment and experience in making up your own mind.

The best example I can imagine is our human birth rate. In the West rates are dropping, probably due to collective instincts about what is best for we humans. It doesn't take a dictator or royalty to dictate what we do about enjoying sex. In the East, things are different as to timing, but a reasonable forecast is that similar patterns will follow in the next two decades as quality of life improves.

Now even most have seen, or perceived change, which is normal, like our children having different values, to include music and clothes (kinda like a peer uniform). Sounds normal to me. But what is appalling to me is the amount of poor education which has failed so many of our kids, who I think are well intended and often hard working and self-sacrificing, and woefully poorly educated. This is part of the change period friction. And any education is not a way to help those cold and hungry at any age.

Even I have had to study and form opinions about all the anti-war and other such isolationist and pacifistic and idealistic efforts that went on before WWII. Half the college students protested, for example. Our Congress passed Neutrality Laws, and the President signed them. It was a big deal. And funny, but most of all this effort disappeared once America was attacked. So our ancestors, all collectively, had something worth defending, and went forward in their own way. Families moved in together, rationing was introduced and reinforced, and generally we all worked together.

So during this time of present great change, two thoughts come to mind. One, the obvious one, is how is the present group of humans going to do? The other thought is will we humans go forward on our earth, or will some other alternative predominate?

Now is a time for true leadership, not political leadership. Just who steps up to the plate, and when they do it, is still up for grabs.

Now here in the USA, often this means reinforcing some, and canning others. After all, it is our fate and our children's fate, if we present adults do step up to the plate, and influence our future.

Hopefully in the USA we will use the vote. Others may use revolt or use revolution.

And lord hope we don't descend into anarchy during this great change time.

2011-10-16T09:03:00.001-06:00

In war, one can take casualties

And probably will, since that is the nature of the game. Now I suspect most of them serving our Country in the military and supporters know it, and even I have a kid who will go in harm's way, so this is not some academic subject to me. It is real world.

And we have something in our new world USA worth defending, for our own reasons. There is a lot to be proud of, or even pleased with as to the quality of life we have for ourselves and our Families. It didn't happen by itself.

Yet so many seem to think otherwise, even take what other fellow Americans are doing in their way, and often disagree. In this is the beauty of our new world USA. We can decide our future paths, as a people. I say this during a time of turmoil and great change, but so be it. It was obviously coming, but now it is here and not fun to go through.

I suspect many people will die, some in horrible ways like starvation and freezing and terrible human caused diseases. So be it. We have set all this up...now we have to go through it. What a shame.

The good news is that the other end will be healthy and good for the survivors, especially for those humans in the new world USA. Not too shabby for the survivors, I would suggest.

But also, probably within one or maybe two centuries, all this present day turmoil will be forgotten and influenced by the present day human problems then. Such is the nature of the human game and influence. Here we go again, I would say.

But also, in the new world USA today, is hope for a better path for our descendents.

So back to the title of this post. One can take casualties as sorry it is to report will probably happen.

2011-10-14T09:07:00.004-06:00

Why not hunker down in the USA these days

Let integrity and honesty reign!

Yes, when people quit loaning us in the new world USA more money, and we have to live within our means, which are considerable, then times will get hard during the transition. In this is hope for our American future; also the worlds' future.

The obvious things, to me is knowledge about how to reign, and our USA self defense. There are a lot of poorly educated and politically naive people around these days. They might even think they are educated, but for sure they are hired. And I think most are well intendended, and hard working, in their mind.

For example, on the how to reign idea, if one does A, then B will probably happen, eventually. So it appears to me we are unilaterally disarming the USA, and now local regional despots will arise, kind of like we humans always do, and use their own local judgments about how they want to go forward. Think Iran, or China, as examples. The new world idea is do we want to do this these days? Do we humans still count, or is it just the human leaders who affect us, with their own goals, and pasts, and problems, by the way.

In the end, Families count.

More on the idea of if one does A, then B, will happen. Our recent (2011) in the USA Congress and Executive have enacted a new federal law about overt homosexuals wanting to join and serve in the military. I think the intent was pretty idealistic, like equality for all. But I also think the enlistment rates and retention rates will suffer in the end. After all, we may enlist Americans, but we retain families. This belief will start right now, but may take decades to become obvious. Just what do the regular people think when the vote with their feet, and now how do they express it in their way and their places they live. Bottom line question, do these presently elected federal congress people, and their hired minions, now represent us?

So back to the title.

For example, our own federal staffers (who serve our federal Congress) have built their own individual gyms in D.C. at our expense. One house cannot enter the other's gym.

So back to the title. It is time to hunker down where ever you live, mostly for your Families sake, and go from there.

Lord hope we Americans these day still use the vote, vice a revolution kind of thing. I even have a local commie pinko liberal type of younger than me friend who suspects a revolution is coming, though I argue with him vociferously.

2011-10-07T08:14:00.003-06:00

The sum is greater than the whole of the parts

I suspect most have heard this expression in one form or another. And at age sixty-three, I still wonder about our academic fascination with dividing a problem into the parts for analysis. That method I must live with, but, again, I still wonder why most humans don't try to analyze the whole? That would help me where I live.

To make things sound too simple, the idea of operations analysis was created in WWII just for this reason. So this idea is not rocket science.

Now some do try analyze the whole...it is often called the vote, or whatever method exists for people to assert themselves wherever they live.

Another usual expression one hears is "that there is something wrong with this picture." That's another way to say the idea of seeing how it all sorts out. And most have heard the forest and the trees ideas.

The other amazing thing to me, is the obvious consequence to me is so often ignored by others. After all, I am old, and going cold and hungry and dying off might be OK to others, but not to me. Said another way, we all do think differently, and one way or the other, one ought to get a chance to voice our view. Of course, in the end, we will. The main question is how.

But if it comes down to physical violence, like revolt or civil war or whatever, then what a shame. Again, and as a reminder, I live in the new world USA.

So back to the title of this post, and the idea of looking at things as a whole.

In my view, I think our present Federal executive is a crummy President, and has hired many like him. In the same vein, I agree with many of the ideals, but the pace of change and the basic competent management I have serious issues with, like give someone else a chance in this wonderful new world USA to make us "happy".

Now I don't need some academic to tell me what to think about his or her values, though I am confident they are hard working and well intentioned, too.

But so am I.

Hence "there is something wrong with this picture", and I will assert myself the best I can in our new world USA.

2011-10-06T10:56:00.001-06:00

Hang the guilty bastard

Now let's have a trial, and then hang the guilty son of a gun. Sounds American, to me.

But in the same vein, I hear and read that many other Americans think in more a judicial mentality than a military mentality. So be it, though it does drive me nuts. I suspect many Americans will have to die in this process...what a sad state of affairs.

Yep, it is already happening both in America, and throughout the world. Again, what a sad state of affairs! So many people alive today don't have to die, though they probably will.

Just ask the people in Syria, Libya, Dafur, or other such friction places.

Now any change is tough, but what grates me is the idea that dumb or even inexperienced people have influence that bring this about. That seems to be what is happening these days.

So if I am on to something, do we vote them out, which is my preference, and try to do something better. Plan B is to just hang the guilty bastards, which is probably counter-productive.

After all, I wish the best for my Family, and their future here in America.

2011-10-05T09:03:00.003-06:00

Congratulations parents...you do make a difference in your child

I've made my peace. All of us are partly the way our genetics made us, some may say the way God made us; and also partly the way our influential people in our lives made us, mostly our mothers and fathers.

And this post focuses on why fathers, males if you will, matter in the upbringing of children.

And bringing up children, the future of the human race wherever you live is a big deal, bigger than things like individuals and their rights and problems.

And boys and girls are different, thank goodness. Can't live with 'em and can't live without 'em is an oft common expression I hear.

And the sum is greater than the whole of the parts, so to speak in more scientific terms. Hence, kids benefit by having a mother and father "expressing" their points of view and values as children grow. Said another way, most of us are not born knowing "it all". We do have to be taught.

In my case, getting chewed out in the 8th grade over some infraction (OK I was in a fight where the other boy got his arm broken) was different between how my Mom handled it and my Dad handled it. But I paid attention, and learned some values along the way.

One more story. In the 2nd grade I led a playground fight for reasons I truly have forgotten, but the female yard monitor (a teacher) chewed me out really bad and changed my personality, in the process. I think she forget it, but I did not forget it.

So back to my point, that moms and dads do make a difference in our lives. I call it their influence on our lives. Good on 'em, too. Most grandparents will often chuckle under their breath to see their kids have their time in the barrel since it is often not fun.

So here's a sales pitch. Why don't we common citizens have rules, practices, and laws, that promote this kind of thinking that promotes Moms and Dads raising their children, as best they can?

Now these days in the new world USA, I don't hear much about this idea. So be it. But in the same vein, having a Mom and Dad at home sure does make a difference in how we turn out.

2011-10-02T10:52:00.002-06:00

A cathartic episode for America

In this episode there is much friction throughout the land. What will the screen writers write about the next episode, and in a way they can. But also we new world USA types can also write the script for the episode, too. Even we have indirect influence, too. These days the main influence is often the ratings, and the amount the advertisers and those paying the advertisers make off of an episode. Maybe we even are able to influence the script for the next episode, too. After all, we voters, new world USA types if you will, can vote with our pocket books, too. So a good script usually gets a good financial gain.

And I guess the next episode is still being decided, written if you will. Now maybe even that idea is more for next year's episodes.

The key point for me is that we people still are in charge, one way or the other. And the idea of "we people" is still changing, and so are the probable episodes that will entertain us. But one thing is constant, I think, in script writing. In the end, the people are in charge, and I sure hope the future scripts reflect this idea.

2011-10-02T09:55:00.006-06:00

Some things are timeless...

Times and technology has changed, but we people may not have changed as much...like the friction between brothers and sisters that his nifty cartoon suggests.

Now I suspect we all are familiar with what happens when hormones kick in.

2011-09-30T11:52:00.001-06:00

The coming Global Superstorm

This title borrows a title from a decade old book, but things are much worse than just a mother nature natural event. This time political people are involved, hence the idea of things can be worse than they are today, and may be in our near future.

The level of such coming change is analogous to what went on after World War II, which was pretty profound to those affected, which was pretty much the whole world.

Then, in simple terms, the West, and mostly the USA and Russia dominated the immediate future of the world, as any victor with responsibility and future intent would do. In my opinion, we (USA types) did "good", like succeeded in what our ancestors wanted to accomplish after the "big war". How well the Russians did is another discussion.

But then was then, and now was now, and we have a new set of "us" and our leaders. Now even today in our world, not all leaders are elected, and many leaders are still basically dictators, or tribal leaders, or some variation in between, to include economic leaders. When I hear of the idea of "failed states", I still wonder why we (and the present UN) are enforcing some practical method of defining the world our ancestors from the 1800's defined. The simple term is colonialism, as least to me. And I don't feel personally obligated to perpetuate what they did during their time. I have enough problems in my time.

So back to the title of this post.

If we had similar leaders to those of our recent past, then perhaps our present leaders could guide our future OK. Now if, call it bad luck, then if we have poor leaders who do a bad job, then times may get tempestuous, in Shakespearean terms.

So back to the title of this post, again. This time imagine some kind of mother nature event, like the Yellowstone caldera letting go. It's overdue. Even it's probable downwind patterns will affect where I live like I will have up to 6 inches of ash that will pretty well shut down a lot of life.

So am on my own, or can I count on future leaders to help the process along? Right now I don't know what to think. I just want to be warm and fed.

Given all this uncertainty, two thoughts come to mind. One is trust and faith, like in our leadership. Second is belief in their integrity and honesty about enhancing me and my Family.

So if all else fails, it is time for change, like the old time status quo will change. I suspect even science will come into play.

I am always astonished at the human tendency to want to join a "party", since I am not that way, though I realize I am in a minority on this idea. Even I would not be a part of a high school clique. But in the same vein, parties do have their value, mostly in getting things done.

2011-09-29T08:32:00.003-06:00

Our unique American culture

I still think we are a melting pot. That, and time, has made us unique. I have been around the world, like in living "over there", and I recognize this probably more than others who have not traveled as much. I also think our Constitution and way of government have also helped in the new world area we live in to make us different.

Two old time comments come to mind. One is "Americans always do the right thing, after exhausting all other possibilities". The other is that "democracy is not perfect, but compared to the alternatives, it is pretty good".

Now one can say all cultures are unique, and I would agree. But I would add that all cultures are not equal, that is some are more successful than others, and my experience has led me to this belief.

And by luck and circumstance, I think our American culture is one of the more successful cultures, especially compared to the alternatives. I choose to take advantage of it, mostly for my and my Family's benefit. That's American, too, in my opinion.

And "unique and American to boot" has some obvious examples to me. Now I think of myself as Scotch-Irish, but when in rural Scotland decades ago I and the Scottish farmers, though both were speaking "English", could not understand each other. Obviously, and in spite of our common ancestry, countless generations apart had brought this about. Yep, I was an American, not a Scottish person.

My historical guess is the fusion of all the cultures in this new world America has brought this unique American culture about. Just look at our standards of dress, music, favorite foods, moral standards, Family expectations, married names, etc, and make up your own mind. I even had a buddy from North Dakota who spoke Norwegian until he was five, and had never seen a Negro until he joined the Marines. Yet he always thought of himself as an American. I did, too.

For those so inclined, go back to "your" mother country; many will not recognize the culture they enter, depending on how many generations you may be removed from your Family's original immigrants into new world America. Like it or not, you are an American, and from new world America.

Now this idea of a unique American culture is not generic. Even decades ago American Spanish was different from Castilian Spanish (the mother country's language), but the people I hung around with (from both areas) could communicate, with effort. But it was also obvious, both groups were from different cultures.

And one more personal story. Not too long ago I was president of a land company that owned a 23,000 acre bobwhite quail plantation in SC, and was offered an opinion by a PhD (Princeton) from WV about the "swept yard" idea there, where many homes had bare dirt yards, which was an African good way to keep out reptiles and even help protect the kids. While I never did it (had a swept yard), I would have expected most of these local people to say (if I had asked) this is just the way they were brought up, as in this idea is now an American idea; cultural to me, though practical, to them.

Last, maybe I am becoming an old fuddy duddy, like in resisting change. To me, this is kind of funny, since as a Marine, I embrace change and all the opportunities it presents for those willing to exploit it. But even I don't like all the cultural change I see going on, but our unique American culture (and our Constitution) also gives even me a chance to assert myself, and I will, in my way.

This idea is unique in the world, and so new world American. I am confident in this report, too, as an American.

2011-09-27T08:49:00.002-06:00

The power of ideas

Powerful ideas are different from political, economic, or religious beliefs, which are influential in their own right. One might decide to combine them if they choose, and for their good reason since both often do prompt actions. This authors intent is not to have some academic dissertation, but to remind all that always there are powerful ideas all around us.

The present third party movement in the USA is analogous to the hippie movement decades ago. It's a powerful idea.

The new world USA is more inclined to vote than revolt. Other cultures are more inclined to revolt than vote. Like boys and girls, we are all different, to include our powerful ideas.

Integrity and willingness to try and fail is still a powerful idea. The results of failure are often harsh, but also still a powerful idea.

Pursuit of happiness for self and Family is a powerful idea, and world-wide. Being warm and fed is both a simple and a powerful universal example of happiness for self and Family.

Bad ideas are powerful, too, but often do fade away for another day. Examples might be slavery and cannibalism.

When pushed into a corner, perceived or otherwise, physical fighting is often still a course of action. Even the USA had a revolt and a civil war long ago.

Humans cannot legislate peace, as much as many want to. USA culture tends towards isolationism and pacifism, a powerful idea.

Humans have long memories. Often cultures promulgate these memories. These memories are often powerful in the present world.

The new world USA, and its Constitution, are powerful ideas.

Throughout human history every type of ruling and governing has been tried. Many types still exist today. Some have proved to be better types than other types. In the end, the need and desire to be ruled is a powerful idea.

Recognizing our human foibles is a powerful idea. Such things as astrology, fascination with some numbers, witchcraft , and even pursuit of conspiracies provide such examples of recognizing our human foibles.

Powerful ideas cannot be eradicated. They may be suppressed for a while, too.

2011-09-26T10:54:00.001-06:00

The happiness factor

This post is about how to think, mostly what is important to you, and your Family, to include your influence on your Family.

To me happiness is good health and self respect.

No where is money or political power in the equation.

I always remember a visit by my older brother years ago when we shared a meal at the local restaurant. He, a multi-millionaire, went out of his way to report another group at the restaurant he observed was obviously poor, but also happy. I have never forgotten his observation.

Now a perennial human happiness problem is trying to live forever, or even preserve eternal youth, which is normal, though a fantasy, too. Even our machines wear out, too. This "problem" seems to affect our females more than our males, but in the end all do grow old and die, like normal.

There's obviously many unhappy boys and girls, too, and today in the new world USA. I offer the reports of the divorce rates as an example. And my idea to think about divorce is that it often brings about introspection, mostly about what makes you happy. And I still wonder why the divorce rate was less many decades ago? After all, I suspect even our ancestors did have their frictions in their time, too.

And then there are the religious ideas, too. In this area, I am out of my league, but respect the impact of religion on the happiness factor. It's real.

Last, I recognize that many still associate happiness with their money and their political power. So be it.

And for those who have bad health (vice old age), I also understand that impact on happiness. Most humans don't have bad health, by the way. One can even think of bad health as advancing our deaths, which will happen anyway. Dying with dignity is a noble goal, at whatever age or circumstance.

And thankfully, dying of old age stuff doesn't always affect the happiness of our living and remaining relatives.

But, and to conclude, this post is still a how to think article with no sales pitches or conclusions. Now just what makes you happy, and how happy are you when you die, and live? Nothing can dictate what we think, though we may have to say certain things while we live wherever we live.

After all, life, and the pursuit of happiness, does go on.

2011-09-25T11:05:00.001-06:00

The power of spices

I like 'em in cooking, but that is just my preference. Mostly I like the combinations that don't have much sodium stuff, but that is just my preference, again.

The alternative I actually bought earlier was to enjoy the basic flavors in organically grown food, even store bought food flavors. Those promoters have a point, too. But I don't enjoy it as much.

So I still added some spices to what I am cooking today.

And you know what, I look forward to the output.

Now, being an amateur historian, I even buy the line that many spices were imported by our western ancestors as a way to mask the pungent/rotten smell of food in our past. Now in the West so many have refrigeration provided by public electricity that suggests we humans still like the flavors from our spices in the food we cook. Others in the East/third world may still like the masking aroma where the food is more pungent/rotting. In the end, nobody will want to get sick, or have their Family get sick.

Well, I will go back to making a local goulash on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee, with some chicken and other things, to include some locally bought spice combination, in my Japanese rice cooker made in China, to boot. Then I will get on my John Deere tractor with bush hog just to do some work that makes me happy, and hopefully some of honey bees, too. Later I might come back to the local NFL football game delivered over my satellite TV.

But in the end, I sure like the spices I am using.

2011-09-22T09:25:00.003-06:00

A difficult subject to talk about

The subject is Negros in America.

I am also prejudiced by my Marine Corps experience. There are many Negro Marines the other side does not want on our side. I am proud of them, and they count, too, like all the other Marines. And even in my Marine Corps time, I had a buddy (from North Dakota) who had never even seen a Negro until he joined the Marines. Plus I have been a recruiter during the 1970's in Kentucky, and anyone who made the minimum requirements (mental, physical, and moral) was good enough for me. Talk about diversity.

Later I was an officer recruiter of sorts as the Marine Officer Instructor at Naval ROTC at Georgia Tech, and Atlanta University. Back then we had a double standard, like if you were Negro you did not have to have as high an SAT score to qualify to be a Marine Officer candidate. Well that resulted in many young men totally frustrated when they got mixed with peers who were just better qualified. Later one common standard got instituted, thank goodness.

I even got a phone call once from one of my best Atlanta University grads (Morris Brown), who got frustrated during his Basic School time when he got selected to go into the transportation specialty. He took it as racial prejudice. Well to make a long story short, I chewed his rear end because (and I was proud of him) he could not write at all (his wife did most of his writing), and I had forcefully told him to take a basic course in reading and writing while at Morris Brown. He ignored me. And after he got out of the USMC he got hired by Macys in Atlanta, but even they expect performance and writing skills, too. And I have not kept up, too.

So in my experience, and prejudice I guess, I too am influenced by my experience. Plus I consider myself an OK amateur historian. Where I live today on the Cumberland Plateau suggests much of this. Right or wrong, I am sincere.

So here's a sincere idea. Negros are pretty good Americans as born. Now other cultural and tribal influences are poor. And I think most people suspect some tribes are more successful than others. Plus even as former Senator David Moynihan (now dead) suggested in our USA our best efforts to provide welfare may have unintended consequences. Families are key, and any program that takes the males out of the Family equation is just a poor idea, to me. Hence much of the horrible racial attacks, often coordinated by flash mob technicality, may reflect such a terrible situation in these days.

And I live in a kind of poor Scotch-Irish area, and the way we live is better than some of the alternatives I read about. Hence government programs do make a difference, some good, and some bad, all for our future of course.

So in my mind, America is still more a melting pot than some kind of academic idea diversity area. And we Americans living today still have to go through the process, that is the evolution of our American culture. Now just how long that will take is up for grabs, but I suggest it may be longer than most guess, like decades, and maybe a century.

But born American Negros are pretty good and smart humans, to me.

2011-09-21T10:04:00.001-06:00

We still want change

I think our present Federal President hasn't delivered.

Here's a sub from Victor Davis Hanson:
At some point, Barack Obama and those around him grasped that utopian rhetoric and progressive intentions made discordant facts irrelevant. They appreciated that they could do pretty much what they wished and could outsource the rationalization to enthralled intellectuals, academics, and activists, without worry of much media scrutiny. That they thereby helped to destroy the reputations of the bamboozled media was of no concern.

So I think we Americans still want change.

And change does take time, it turns out.

It will be interesting how it sorts out as all levels, but like the 2008 election suggested at the Federal level, we Americans still want change.

2011-09-20T10:05:00.002-06:00

Idealism versus practicality

This post is mostly about how much I like public electricity, and all the wonderful widgets it powers and benefits it brings to me. And in retrospect, public AC electricity has only been available in the last 100 years, though around this rural place on the Cumberland Plateau, the time has been less. Even this old time place is still wired (in places) for the old time DC method of providing private electricity.

So don't mess with my public AC electricity, period. And all my present electric machines are AC based...to go DC means buying another set of machines.

Now gas energy for cars is another thing, but again, don't mess with my public electricity.

Obvious examples pop up to me, like frozen and refrigerated food at grocery stores, available gas from the public pumps, hot water including electric thermostats, interior lights after the sun goes down, security lights to protect me from the criminals and wild critters, and energy to heat and cook by. Even most natural gas systems use some electricity in various modes, as do our public clean water and waste water treatment systems. And never assume washing and drying machines are energy free. The list can go on and on. I don't see many clothes lines around these days, for example.

So, like most, I am concerned we may run out of the energy that makes my electricity while I am alive, and while I can influence the action. Said another way, will my public electricity run out for human caused reasons that, in theory, we can do something about. After all, I do like the benefits it provides me.

Now I will just touch on the global warming discussions/debates. There are two elements I seldom read about, as in reported. One, is it in fact occurring, and two, is our human influence part of the problem? Two more ideas come out of these questions. One is that this GaTech grad has been studying this for decades, and thus have my own opinion, heavily influenced by the many Danish studies. Two is that the historical dilemma of all scientists, including Galileo, is in seeking sponsors. Even President Eisenhower's famous writ often quoted about the military industrial complex had a scientific industrial complex second half, seldom reported, though valid to me. I would suggest read it and make up your own mind. After all scientists have to make a living, too, to include getting married and supporting their own families, and government money spends just as well as private sponsor money.

As a quick summary, I think our present fossil fueled world economy will eventually run out of fossil fuels. But I also think it will be in the far future, like in the latter centuries from now.

So hence, I choose to balance my idealism with my practicality, and to me that means let time sort it out; let's muddle through, as in to do anything other than what some politician wants to do in a much shorter time frame. Let me say it another way, there are still bigger influences going on than the human influence in 2011. And I still trust we humans, in general, to do the right thing, whatever that is in our interest, than what some politicians say to do.

Of course most politicians are savvy enough just to say what the people they rule say to do, but then some politicians (be they elected, or tribal, or dictatorial, etc.) are not as savvy in their time. And too often it comes down to idealism versus practicality, and the time frame for change.

In the meantime, I sure like my public electricity, like I will fight for it.

2011-09-19T09:26:00.002-06:00

Trust and faith in our Federal President

We have a crummy Federal President. There, I've said it again.

Now even I can distinguish between a political position or even a political theme, often called an ideology these days, and the politician. And we Americans can argue all we want about what is best for our Country, but I choose not to waste my time in this area. I leave that to others.

Also, the old military idea of deciphering capabilities, though hard, is much easier than trying to decipher intents, like reading the "others" minds. That gets into psycho babble stuff, and the nuclear program training stuff about certification that I have had in this area is enough for me. And it was pretty good, at least to me and my GaTech mind.

And the old time military idea when you want to fire somebody is just to say you've lost trust and faith in the person you are firing. There is plenty of review built into the system to account for this, too. For most USA people these days, it is the vote.

And my last lead in to this post has to do with a visit by a very liberal friend, age 25 and an announced southern Democrat. He wanted to watch on TV the President's speech to the collected Congress last week, and I declined, saying why should I listen to him lie. So I put on something else.

Now maybe I have become a recalcitrant (age 63), but I sense, as a political junkie, that the times have changed, and lying to rule a country is more accepted today by our society. Fine, but I don't accept it. That idea is just wrong. That method is fraught with problems that only voters can decide at that Federal level.

And even reading a lot of online stuff, an awful lot of Americans still believe our Federal President, like take him at his word. Count me among those that don't.

Now is he is lying outright, like being an immoral person. I don't think so.

Rather, and of more concern for my future, is that he is simply kinda dumb and doing what he thinks is right, and has the courage and ego to follow his convictions. Hence, I think rather than lying, it's worse than that. He actually believes what he is saying. And he is still being influenced a lot by his hired minions. Now that is a scary idea, too.

Hence I have lost trust and faith in our present Federal President.

Even I can live with that, after all we the people elected him, and maybe I am wrong, but in the same vein we have an immediate future to deal with.

So I, again, have lost trust and faith in our present Federal President in being an American President. That includes all who he has hired, be they Secretaries or Czars, or lessers. And they have the keys to the kingdom, so to speak, and what they do affects me and you. And they have over a year to do their thing before we voters either reinforce what they are doing, or elect them out.

So how will they react, or act, in the near future. I don't know, but worry. And only time will tell.

2011-09-18T10:51:00.002-06:00

Time and money seems to sort out most things

This is just my latest report from the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee.

My latest charity failure is now back in county jail for 200 days for parole violation. He's a nice guy who will not work, and now 40 years of age, and losing sponsors from his past. Even his age and background will catch up, in my opinion. I suspect this idea will also apply to the women who have sponsored him recently, even with their insurance money payments. Bottom line, even they are dropping him, again, at age 40. I'd rather die of old age in my case, with dignity. In his case, the scourge of drug addiction is even affecting him.

Another "small" rockslide was discovered yesterday in Verble Hollow. I went out to take zoomed in pictures today (from above and about a mile away), but did a crummy job. I blamed it on the angle of the sun about the time of the pictures, 1030 local time. This small rockslide was about 50 M wide by about 150 M in length, but that is just a guess. So I added it to my GIS map, and will go back in the fall after things cool down and the leaves fall down. In the meantime, the creek is full of siltly water when it even flows on top of the ground. Often it just disappears into the local underground caves and sieves, depending on the rainfall.

My latest dog bitch just had her fourth litter under the Honda ATV shed. This litter may be 8, though the first three litters were 12, 13, and 12. I take care of them all, but realistically also have to even budget for the food now that they are getting weaned. I have a well intended niece in the city who tells me to fix her, but when I suggested she spend $400 of her money to do so, well, she has not responded.

It almost seems like a political metaphor. One who has good intentions often does not want to pay for them...rather someone else like me has to pay for their good intentions. Now there is a plan B, just shoot her (the dog) in the head and throw her over the 80 foot bluff to recycle.

Even an old time place on the Cumberland Plateau (1905) needs maintenance. Bummer. I choose to do it these days. It does cost me money. I even have a tractor in for maintenance I can't do.

Last, and as reported to me by email, boys and girls still want to "get it on". I just hope they practiced safe sex! The after action reports were interesting, too, speaking as a grandfatherly type these days.

2011-09-18T05:52:00.007-06:00

We Americans are different from the rest of the World

And what does that mean for the next few years?

As a start I think mutts, the old fashioned term for run of the mill dogs, are generally genetically superior dogs. And in much the same way we Americans are a polyglot of cultures and peoples that make us genetically superior humans. I'm generalizing, of course.

And as part of this post's beginning, I also believe our present Federal President is not too smart, and poorly educated. Now not being smart is not necessarily bad, but being poorly educated on top of that can be a show stopper, especially if he can't grow into his job. I think of him as a case of affirmative action gone bad...and there are plenty of cases where it has gone right, too. And I use his years of words and not his educational pedigrees as my evidence to myself of a poor education.

What worries me, and I can be a worry wart, too, is that he is a lightweight and has hired a lot of lightweights to help him rule. Plus he gives pretenses of acting like royalty, including that method of ruling.

Now in today's America, he can't rule by himself. Hence, our two National parties have something to do with the mess we are in today, and potentially how we will react to possible future problems.

The obvious future possible problems include the terrible future economic situation (it is bad enough now), the possibility of future regional wars, and the possibility of a future mother nature wild card event.

Yet I am optimistic in a silly sort of way. Said another way, no one, including me, would wish any of these possible problems on us or the world. But if they occur, America is probably a good place to live and "be". Here's why I believe this.

America will change the way it governs itself over the next decade and at all levels: Federal, State, County, City, and School Boards. Most change involves new people (and maybe parties), but sometimes it means keeping the good people, too. And probably it will include the vote as in we the people can change our rule and rulers without the violence of a revolt or civil war.

And if during this change period, one or more of my worry type events also occur, then our American response will probably be better than anywhere else might respond. Of course, there will be much friction, too, but somehow we Americans will work together better than other humans might do.

Now I may end up cold and hungry, but I will survive, and my Family will survive, too. And in that case, it will be part of a bigger American effort.

Hopefully, we will have new "management" then, so as to help the effort along. Worse case, we Americans will still push a response along, though it might lack the unity of effort a good executive provides at all levels.

The key point is that we Americans are a different kind of human, and in that belief, hope springs eternal for our future in a world of adversity.

2011-09-14T09:46:00.003-06:00

Can a country be "run down"?

There are obviously two points of view. One is yes, and one is no.

The reason I pose this question occurred during a local doctor's visit yesterday, and I was reading a novel while waiting that included what was going on in Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia).

Now I have buddy I respect a lot; he even served in the 82nd Airborne, who says no one or party can run a country into the ground. He just laughs off my renditions about my worry, because I think it is very possible, and have said so to him.

In the novel, Mugabe, the popular revolutionary turned dictator eons ago, and his minions, have turned his wonderful country into a failing state. By that I mean many people who live there are now going cold and hungry, like starving. And all this has taken decades to happen...it did not happen overnight.

So into today's new world USA, can Obama and the Democratic Party run our country down?

I think not, but please hear my logic.

Basically, we USA types are going to "nip it in the bud". That includes Democrats who just don't go along with other fellow Democrats. Hopefully we can still vote, though if that is taken away, then we might even revolt if need be. Nobody wants to starve.

So my forecast is that things will sort out to our benefit, like good health and success and hope for our Family's futures.

I also suspect much friction will occur, which is kind of like normal. Change is always a tough process.

Now change is always going on, but it sure seems like the rate of change is increased these days. And not just in the new world USA, but the whole world. So who even knows what the future world will look like, but I suspect we humans will be happier in the end. That includes, in my opinion, the rise of a third party in the new world USA.

Right now it can be labeled a "Tea Party" by its opponents, even though it is a movement, kinda like the "hippies" movement decades ago. But like Bob Dylan's song suggested, the times they are a changin'. And this today's movement is based on an idea, not some individual.

And so to my 82nd Airborne friend, I still believe a country can be "run down", but here in the new world USA I suspect we will survive just fine for the normal human reasons. And along the way here in the new world USA, much change will occur, one way or the other. There will be much friction, though less than the Civil War time here in the USA when even Families got divided, politically/ideas speaking. I live in such an area, now over a century later, but still hear about it, to include in the present music and poetry.

So even yesterday my local country doc (who did two years in Mexico reading like Abraham Lincoln did), asked me how much I liked eating acorn flour. Well I answered I still prefer to go to the grocery store, but if need be, I will survive.

And he and his wife have a daughter working on her PhD in English at Ole Miss, by the way. But that is another story.

2011-09-12T12:15:00.002-06:00

Just wondering some more

Why is the federal government even involved in local schooling for our parents' decisions about their children's public education? I don't know.

This question is seldom even reported these days.

And I can accept the federal involvement in our federal highways, but again, question why is the federal government even involved in local schooling decisions.

A good guess is answered by the money the federal government provides to help the education effort. Said another way, if we "the people" go our own more local way, then I suspect taxes to pay for all this schooling for our kids will not go down, overall. Said another way, if federal monies decline, probably state and local taxes will go up. I would expect so, but also with that comes more control over kids' educations.

Keep in mind the massive federal income tax payments paid and returned to the states in the form of block grants. For those who think they can get something for nothing, also keep in mind the federal payroll taxes you pay (like social security and Medicare) go to the general fund, not to your future benefits. Said another way, you are paying, too, and are working for the same, every day you work.

Any decline in federal taxes and block grants to states will probably be replaced by more local tax increases, like state and county. Educating our kids is not free, but hopefully public education is still a thriftier way to educate our kids than private means. Obviously if public education ends up costing more than private education, then things will change rather quickly. We seem to be on that path.

One size does not fit all. Hence educating our kids should be a local decision, to include the funding. It is not that I don't trust fellow Americans in D.C. to decide about my kids' education where I live, but I trust my local Americans more where I live.

Now we have now decades of federal school funding (and rules to qualify) that skews the whole affair. Hence any change over the patterns and methods of the last few decades will take time, like even more decades. There predictably will be much turmoil, too.

And maybe I am wrong, like local people where I live like the way things are going. I can live with that, mostly because I have too, but also suggest that change is even happening here, too.

And it will be painful to we adults, too. Kinda like any change is.

I expect the education of our kids will benefit, too. Like they will be happier as adults (like good health and self respect), and say thank you mom and dad; as adults, of course. And educated people tend to make better decisions about their future in America than the less educated.

2011-09-11T09:27:00.004-06:00

What a waste of American brain power

Been there...done that. I've lived and worked in Atlanta, Atlanta University, and Washington, D.C. All are full of hard working and dedicated individuals who would benefit by some real leadership and management skills, and a smart mission statement to provide unity of effort. Add in factors like poor education at all levels and little overseas experience and respect for other ways of living and thinking, and it seems we Americans have reached a crescendo of wasteful abuse of our best asset, our American brain power. And this abuse has been going on for a long time, like for at least half a century.

It is not limited to the present federal government in D.C. Rather that seems to be a culmination of past decades of advancing mismanagement, acceptance of failure, repeating past failures, and a simple ignorance of confusing monetary obligations with actual results. Blame our education system for our present day leaders if you will. And after all we Americans do have good intentions. And in fairness, we voters have had a lot to due with this present state, too. Even parents paying money get some recognition, too.

Four things gall me these days.

First is that the USA military has somehow let itself get hoodwinked into nation building in the middle east and the many tribal areas there. I got into the turf on this one too, when one of my GaTech students filled a State Department quota a few years ago (they could not fill it). He was a DOD fellow at the time (a Marine), and went to Afghanistan for a deployment from his chicken farm in Georgia. We could sure use his expertise up here on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee, but our "leaders" decided otherwise.

Second, I am galled by our infatuation with the Ivy League Schools. One person I know related that a Mechanical Engineering Degree from GaTech took a lot more work than getting an MBA from Harvard. Yet I believe our Federal government still has a preference for hiring Ivy League types. Now I also think the moms and dads of such Ivy League students are sharp, but I question how much of that "sharpness" gets passed on to their kids; and then why they even get a preference over some other American, like a Utah State grad? Like the title suggests, we have a lot of brain power in our wonderful country, and it ought to be rewarded. Even common sense says that is to our advantage.

Third, a lot of our smart young Americans also work to our advantage at levels below the Federal level, and should be rewarded as such. Now whether it is monetary rewards, or just voter rewards, well that is a local decision (like state, county, city, or school board). After all the mission is to benefit our future, and our Family's future in this wonderful Country. Hopefully, and somewhere along the way, even the light bulb will go on for our present local leaders recognizing and rewarding success.

Fourth, and finally, our "reporting" tends to be skewed towards and by our education system. That education of those Americans tends to focus on the various wonderful means to employ the media assets. Along the way things like "old fashioned reporting" seems to be denigrated, and even having "producers" decide what to "report" is different from even three decades ago. And all I want to do is think I know the news. Said another way, somebody else's idea of their opinion now printed on the front page as news vice on the editorial page is something I won't pay for, or even read on the internet. I would rather go to the local Hardee's in this case. Or Plan B is that I read open source news reports from other newspapers, not in the USA. Now that can be an eye opener.

So, bottom line, we have a lot of sharp Americans growing up, and I sure hope we older people help put them in the right place to benefit ourselves, and our Families. This sure sounds like a bottom up approach these days.

2011-09-08T10:30:00.000-06:00

The value of schooling

I suspect all of us have been educated sometime earlier. It could have even been public or private schooling. Even some have had college training/education, and even some more later job oriented training.

The key point to me is that we are not born knowing a lot of stuff one later gets through education and training. Let me say it again, one is not born knowing a lot of stuff that must be later taught for a culture and even a business to be successful. And much is taught at home in a Family environment...things like self respect, respect for the law, honesty, and other such Family taught things. But then there are other things to be taught, like how to do tax statements, balance a check book, or even pick and cook food for a Family.

Now once we grow up most of us specialize, like be good at something. Especially if you want to make a living and have a Family. And that usually takes some more training...i.e., most are not born knowing how to do whatever it is we do, including raising a Family.

And this idea is not just for we humans. For instance our dogs are often trained to do special things that help us humans. Yep, they are not born naturally to be whatever their task is later. As I post this, I think of all the wonderful dogs who did their work after 911, or even perform now in combat. Good on 'em, and the humans who worked with them, and those who trained them.

So while I am throwing roses, I also recognize the value of training and education, and those who work hard in this effort, to include moms and dads. Good on you, too.

But for sure, educate and train your young people the best you can to give them an advantage. After all, they are not born knowing a lot of what you know, and most don't want them to learn the hard way, though that happens, too.

I call it graduating from the school of hard knocks.

2011-09-07T07:29:00.005-06:00

Does it bother you that...

The USA seems to be having a lot of crises recently, like in the recent past.

The latest "crisis" I read and hear about is the US Mail, like the Postal Service may shut down for lack of funds, and other reasons.

But before that we have had other crises, too, like the also recent budget crisis.

What bothers me is two things. One is simply reacting to bad consequences is poor compared to acting to prevent bad consequences. Now something as simple as running a postal system meets that criteria, to me. And second is the seemingly preferred method to rule by crisis management. Now that is a poor method to rule by, again, to me.

And I don't fault the present rulers in charge. Rather some of these simple things like running a postal system take serious management over decades. Even the fellows who created our Constitution mandated a postal system, and I guess assumed there would be responsible people to enact and manage their mandate after they passed on.

To pile on, I still wonder why over the last century we in the USA have voted for politicians who seem to have as a main job requirement to create more things that they can spend on, rather than "fight" over priorities within budgets to make our country, and us, better off (like public electricity and running water, and maintenance thereof). And for that matter, our federal politicians haven't been able to even pass a budget in the recent past (they have passed continuing resolutions, which is no way to run a country).

And another "rub" for me, is that it bothers me that unelected Americans, like appointed and hired bureaucrats, can in effect (de facto) create new taxes (often called regulatory mandates that come with new expenses) without any vote from me. Examples include what the federal EPA is doing, as well as the federal National Labor Relations Board is doing.

And another "rub" is that it seems commonly accepted that both elected politicians and appointed bureaucrats can say what laws they will and won't bother to enforce, all without any objection from "we the people". It truly bothers me that people like that become the judge and jury, even though we have other legal means to make this happen for good reason. Now I also understand that in the last half century it has been popular for our legislatures to create new laws without any funding to enforce these laws, which is also an option not pursued, including by the voters.

I bothers me how easy it is for lazy Americans (who won't work) to filch off the poor. My obervations where I live on the Cumberland Plateau in east Tennessee is that this method involves manipulating the government and food bank methods designed to help our truly poor. Lot's of lazy local Americans do this kind of manipulation routinely, and breed more during their time.

And last, for me, it always bothered me, and it still does, that our federal taxes are so large that huge grants of federal money are passed back to the states in the form of block grants. This system was expanded back in the 1970's as I recall, and at the time seemed like a good way for state legislators to get money without taxing their citizens with state taxes. But now we are going to "pay the piper" so to speak. If federal funds are reduced, so may state taxes have to go up, or wonderful services reduced. And add in the friction of the federal patronage system and who gets limited block grants and who does not, and depending on who controls the federal purse strings, also anticipate much friction in these next five years, or so.

Now I think many others have their own "bothers", too. And there is never a good time to start or even join in any period of change. But for sure changes to the status quo of the last half century are coming, and now is as good a time as any to start. The finish can come later.

And that finish is other courses of action. The present path we are on is not the only path we can take. Now that is another post for me, but here is a hint. How about we all be responsible for ourselves and our Families, and then our society second. Here in the new world USA, we still have that opportunity, I think.

2011-09-06T07:54:00.004-06:00

Thinking ahead

Using hindsight is easy. Forecasting the future where you live is a lot tougher if you want to be comfortable with your guess about your future.

Yet I too live in the real world, and so have to plan ahead, anticipate if you will.

And most of our futures are more locally based than nationally based.

As a retired Marine, I have been taught to focus more on capability, and less on intents. Practically, that means spending more of your mental time thinking about what can happen, vice the psychology of those in charge, commanding if you will.

Add in all the normal distractions, like poor reporting, and the difficulty is amplified.

And so in the USA, really the Western world, I worry about what our present leaders are capable of doing. And depending on where you live, these leaders may be elected, appointed, dictators, inherited, tribal, etc. And in the annals of human history, we seem to have more than our fair share of poor leaders these days which adds to the excitement factor.

Now the obvious thing to worry about is our economic health, mostly jobs to support our Families. But I also worry about some other human caused things like regional wars and nuclear weapons...think Chinese civil war, the Middle East, or even a war between India and Pakistan. Add in mother nature's wild card events, and I can become a real worry wart.

But what I most worry about is how our leaders will react, especially if I believe that we have so many poor leaders these days. Said another way, having a problem is one thing, but how you handle a problem is another thing.

Now in fairness, some leaders are doing a pretty good job, and need to be recognized and reinforced by whatever means.

So when planning ahead, think about this idea. It has taken we humans decades to get into this mess, and will probably take decades to finally correct it all, that is, to make things better for our Families.

Let me provide one example. Think ahead when your kids get married and want to start their own home, but figure out they have to work two or three months each year in the USA just to pay the interest on the national debt created by this generation, and thus cannot afford to buy a home with its payments. Well I know what I would do, like default on the debt. My point in this example is that we are setting up future problems decades out just by our leaders' actions today.

Let me provide one more example. A few months ago, the USA President ordered the military into the Libyan civil war. What was not reported was that the USA was pretty thread bare in the Med, and so these immediate forces came from the Iraq and Afghanistan theater of operations. That amounts to a drawn down in that theater. Now that might be OK to many, but did you know and even get a chance to acquiesce. Now I think the decision was popular, but a USA President and his minions acting like old fashioned royalty will have its consequences, too. And for us, we the people.

Especially if you enjoy the luxury of thinking ahead.

2011-09-05T11:35:00.002-06:00

Are we ever different

A Chinese worker at a construction site falls off of the bamboo scaffolding to the ground, and lives, though injured. The time is post WWII and a real story. Well do gooder Americans take him to a hospital to help him. And the local hospital wants to know who among the Americans will pay for his treatment?

This example suggests we Americans and we Chinese just think differently, or even have different values. Said another way, one culture meets another, and maybe both are amazed.

Here's another story more recent. Air quality in industrial and urban China is very poor, and the adverse reports are being manipulated by the leadership class at many levels. You can read all about it, but the bottom line is that the interests of the leadership class is reigning over the ruled class these days, though obviously all will suffer in the end.

So what happens when a civil war in China erupts for their own reasons, or even if all these wonderful things built in China are no longer available to us. It might be even more simple, like the cost of transportation to bring these things to the USA is just too high. Who knows. Make up your own scenario.

So now I wonder if any kind of the aforementioned disruptions happen, just what are we humans going to do? After all we are different, even though we live on the same earth.

PS For example, I enjoy cooking with a simple "Japanese Rice Cooker" (1957 style), which Americans who cook with slow cookers or crock pots will make comparisons, all good. I use both, though for most of my cooking I prefer the Japanese Rice Cooker. Most are made in China these days. And I used to call my father cheap... now I call him thrifty.

PPS This clash of cultures can be a two way street.

2011-09-04T09:54:00.013-06:00

Stream of consciousness

Most in the new world USA people still expect a rosy future. Now that might be a easy future, but many also hope for their Family's happiness in today's times, and when working for their rosy future, may find this goal tougher to achieve.

As one who tries to figure out the disease, vice the symptoms, then I perceive a clash of cultures, mostly the idea of nation states vice tribal ways of ruling. And of course it depends on where you live, like in the new world USA I perceive a coming friction between the rural people and the urban people. But I can't ignore the whole world, because that affects me in the USA, too.

What a mix of conflicting ideas and human problems.

And I perceive the present ruling classes, in general, are doing a crummy job in handling today's problems. I still believe in the idea of electing representatives, but now have growing doubt of the method we are using to represent ourselves. Maybe it is us and our culture, but maybe something else too. Now in fairness, some of our rulers during this time of change are doing a good job, and need to be reinforced, be they in the Sri Lanka, Romania, or even the USA. Just how we reinforce them depends on where you live, and how you do it...be it voting or local revolution. And if change is needed, then I still trust we humans to make it happen wherever you live.

Now I fear today how many present human leaders will react in our human future. World Wars are often started by things as simple as regional power leaders using their judgments, actions and even reactions; and just rolling the dice. And millions of us have to die as a result. Local wars I have to live with, whether I like it or not (think of Darfur as an example). And even being drafted or using coupons for rationing seems to be something that will have to happen for at least this 21st century.

And then there are our economic problems, probably mostly human caused, in the end. Just how we deal with these problems, and even handle some human leaders who want to change us in their vision and time frame, is in the end, a human decision, I think. Just how "we" handle them is up for grabs in 2011. And I don't even think of just the new world USA, but also China with its rural/urban frictions and history, to boot. Use your own imagination where you live. Turmoil and change is pretty constant when it comes to human involvement.

But in my stream of consciousness, I am still very hopeful for our human future. For sure the status quo is changing, and probably for the better. And the beauty is that we humans will make it happen. Now it will be at most levels,not just federal or national, but like even state, or province, or prefecture; or even more local. How much depends on where one lives

So in my stream of consciousness, and like going down a rapids, we humans are in for some turbulent times; but, like paddlers, will come out safe and sound for our Families when we get to calmer waters. But also like going down a rapids, it will be exciting, and some are better prepared than others.

And like the paddling idea, those who do it is because they want to. But also in my stream of consciouness ideas, I have to do it for my Family's sake.

2011-09-03T12:05:00.001-06:00

The beginning of the future

This idea is pretty simple. The present adults in the USA are no longer in charge. Amplifying this idea is a principle I agree with. Other fellow humans in our world also have a say in their future, and their family's future.

What may happen depends on them, but, I suspect it will be about their quality of life, and their family's future. And, I would add, what their Families decide to do.

All the rest of what is going on in now the early fall or late summer of 2011 is just (in the USA), at best, a prelude.

The future is about us, and some may not like it for their own reasons.

The "fun" part to enjoy is to see the actions, and even results, of those who want to design our future another way, in their vision, of course.

I think they will fail, and another way for we humans will evolve. Lord hope it not be a present day westerner with even do gooder intentions.

What ever happens, in the end, I still believe we humans are in charge of our future.

2011-09-02T10:15:00.001-06:00

Stand by for heavy rolls

I was predicting all this kind of change of the status quo to happen around 2016, but it seems it may happen before then in the USA.

By the way, the term "stand by for heavy rolls" is a Navy expression. One always hopes when their ship rolls from heavy seas it will always right itself.

Now one can think about whether this idea is about the USA, or Europe, or the other World. And they can use their own experience to argue and lead their own way.

But for sure, change is coming, often to me called the status quo, and change thereof.

I still wonder why we have elected our present leaders in the USA who seemingly have done a crummy job? Perhaps it is ignorance on part of the electorate, or just poor education and basic ignorance. I really don't know, but for sure I have my own opinion.

Here's the good news. We Americans will do the best we can for our own families, period. This idea applies at any education level, and where ever you live with your own Family.

Imagine applying this idea to the world, where there are other forms of governments.

While nobody can predict reliably, one can guess that most people will assert themselves in a family sort of way, where ever they live.

So much friction will probably happen at all human levels in the next decade or two. Like the title suggests, standby for heavy rolls.

Again the good news, is that our humanity, and our Families, will go forward in our own ways. This idea is not our own governments dependent, by the way.

2011-08-29T09:14:00.003-06:00

Enough is enough...again

Just what do I mean?

Enough lightweights have tried their bit in the USA, and it is now affecting my life. They have simply failed in the effects on my life, though well intentioned I am sure. But there is no sympathy vote from me when they will adversely affect my life, like I will go cold and hungry. After all, I do have other courses of action.

It's time to vote for other people with other options in the USA, or even revolt if that is what it takes. Now I prefer the vote option, but for sure have become intolerant of do gooders who I think will do me in. Like this title suggests, enough is enough.

I still like the Churchhill comment that we Americans will always do the right thing, after we have exhausted all the other possibilities.

Now this post suggests lightweights are in charge. Here's my examples.

We elected some of them, and then they appointed others like them, mostly bureaucrats, to rule us. Many are at the federal level these days, but there are plenty more of these types existing at lower levels, like State, County, City, and even School Boards.

We still are the new world USA, which still advances the best of humanity, while acknowledging the worst of humanity.

To me this idea means having laws, policies, and practices that support the idea of humans doing well. Now this idea is not some construct of some academic idea of a perfect world, but just practical application of what is best for our new world USA humans. For example, why are not our elected politicians who rule us not building more jails and courts to handle our ever increasing population.

Two thoughts flow from this question.
If ones does A, then B will happen, eventually. So for example one reads that the State of California is releasing criminals back on the street for budget reasons. Well use your imagination as to what is going to happen in the next year or two.

I still believe in the idea of public governments at all levels that I still pay for, but dang it, they are supposed to serve our intents, and budget according to priorities that is still their income source.

So I guess we are going to have to change them, one way or the other. And depending on where you live, you may have to reinforce some of them, too.

2011-08-27T11:36:00.002-06:00

You don't want to get Malaria

Right now, like in 2011, there is no known cure for the disease. Now there are many preventive measures which have been around for decades.

For the record, I don't have this disease. but I did take my preventive stuff.

Even our present publicly elected governments seem to be promoting wetlands preservation or even restoration , which basically breeds mosquitoes which give us humans malaria.

Even an old time grandma (to me) encouraged me to put oil in a pond for snapper turtles just to keep the mosquitoes down. She knew.

So what is it going to take? Be it trendy type things that may infect people, or something else?

My guess is the latter, that is we present USA humans will have enough relatives get sick to change our governments. What a shame, to me, that may have to happen to promote change.

I suspect our ancestors, dead and gone, may be disappointed.

2011-08-23T09:23:00.002-06:00

Utopia is not free

So far throughout thousands of years of history all utopian ideas have failed. Now why we can argue all we want, but alas, these ideas have all failed in the end. And by utopian ideas, I mean those imposed on others.

My guess about failure is the simple humanity of it all. The workers (and providers) eventually get fed up with the freeloaders, and move on to other alternatives, like the Family unit, and the bigger human world.

All this is just theory, spiced up with some experience throughout the world. In general all we humans are pretty much the same when it comes to hopes, aspirations, standards, and raising a Family. After all we are humans, one and all.

And continuing to generalize, we humans do have freeloaders, that is fellow humans who want to get something for nothing. One might say they are lazy or have a drug habit, and are willing to lower their standards as long as they get sex, and can eat and be warm. Some even become criminals and thugs. Now that is just an observation, not just where I live in the USA, but in other places throughout the world where I have been, too. It is a sad state of affairs, but that is just how we humans are, I believe.

Now it is upsetting seeing youngsters getting screwed over by the sins of their parents just where I live in the USA today. It is also upsetting seeing hard working people get frustrated, and even hacked off, and believing the freeloaders are getting by where I live. Said another way, why should I be cold and hungry so that they freeloaders can be even better off.

Now if I believed all this utopia stuff, then I would go and join one, and go from there. But alas, there are not many around. Perhaps others have arrived at this conclusion in their own way.

And in that vein, sometimes communal living makes sense to me, though at the small clan level, like in some remote region of the world where being warm and fed is hard. But communal living is not utopia, to me.

And I live in a bigger world than a small clan, like 20 to maybe 200. Along the way we humans have come up with towns and cities for some reason above the clan level.

So why do I object to those fellow humans who want to impose their utopian ideas on me. Mostly it is because it will make me cold and hungry, and when my assets and others like me with assets are run out, then all humans will be cold and hungry, and that is simply not a reasonable goal. What really bothers me is the impact on my Family.

We really don't have to do this utopian idea to ourselves. There are other courses of action that will both promote humanity, and our Families, to boot. The key point to me, is this...all of us are willing to work in our own way to advance our Families and their future Families; but not necessarily those of humanity in general, and freeloaders, specifically.

There is a better way, mostly because we humans are savvy about our future, and the best way to go forward. For example, most will sacrifice and pay to educate their kids in a college environment. And I suspect even our grandchildren will act in their own best interests, too. That includes the earth and where they live, too.

Now one can take this aforementioned example as that any utopia is not free, and if there is not enough money to go around to even help the freeloaders, then most will probably prioritize on their own Family.

Said another way, utopia is not free, and there are other courses of action to enhance our own Families.

Now that idea gets my vote here in the new world USA. It even gets my revolutionary spirit going, too, though I hope to avoid that for my own convenience. I would rather vote.

Dang I guess I am an old guy now. I even used to call my old man cheap, now I call him thrifty. Apply this idea to "utopia is not free", if you will.

2011-08-19T08:23:00.014-06:00

Vagaries of life from the Cumberland Plateau

There is usually only one real reason, and many good reasons. Trying to figure out the real reason can be tough.

Advancing an argument with a degree of truth is much tougher to respond to than an outright lie.

Everyone is an expert on everything, from being an arm-chair general to a financial advisor to a earth science expert. Hence trust your own advice and counsel, too. And it sure is easier to give advice than follow your own advise.

Defrosting an old fashioned GE refrigerator (1928 I think) is easy, if you know how to do it. The design is pretty much like an icebox with a compressor substituted for the ice box on top.

Some people are speculators, some people are investors.

Life has more elements of a high school clique than most want to forget.

As bad as life seems here, the USA is still a good new world USA place to live and raise a family. Just try the alternatives.

The old fashioned ideas of food, shelter, and clothing are timeless. In the same vein, it is kinda embarrassing if we have to even think about it.

Thugs and other low lifes exist, and have always been around. And this is in spite of all the good efforts extended throughout history to reduce the numbers in terms of a percentage of population.

Most thugery is human based. All cultures and races seem to suffer from their thugs.

Now some human efforts to improve things have made this thugery problem worse, it seems by observation.

We USA humans have lost a lot of old time skills that might still help in our near future. We have not lost our humanity, though. My guess is the skills we have lost are more for our convenience; and of course, food, shelter, and clothing.

Just because you are born a male, doesn't mean you know how to drive a tractor, use a chain saw, or work on mechanical things like an engine or plumbing. Somebody still has to teach you, and most schools don't teach these kind of things. And why do many think females are born knowing how to cook?

Boys and girls are different. If predicting the weather is tough, try predicting how a fellow human of the opposite sex will act.

The old fashioned societal concept of shame has changed. Girl's having a child out of wedlock is no longer embarrassing. Like it or not, girls are still in charge of birth control in the new world USA.

The idea of it takes a village to raise a child is silly. Most adults appreciate having a mom and dad at home, as periodically painful as it probably was and is from both sides.

We humans need governments at all levels for traditional reasons, like our self-defense ( I even have a child at West Point right now); and the basics again, like food, shelter, and clothing. And this idea is at all levels, federal, state, county, city, and school board. I would add local government things like police (protection from our thugs), fire, clean water, and waste water things as a big deal that most will have as a consideration when they vote.

Last, and to reinforce what things are wherever you live, one will have to "work" just to do what you think is important. Often your Family will come into play. Go for it I would say, but also don't be surprised by the unexpected outcomes.

To many, I think, the idea of "work" sounds just like it is in the new world USA.

There are many truly poor, and then there those who filch off of the government programs.

A trip to the local big flea market shows a lot of obese, tattooed, and pierced people with a lot of kids, and new vehicles to boot.

I would rather have too many lawyers than a government that does not follow the rule of law.

Why do we humans generalize so much? I always resent being categorized by someone I don't even know.

Am I having puppies stolen or do they just otherwise disappear?

Why won't my postman walk the last 20 yards to my house (from his USPS car), while the maid, and UPS and FedEx people do the same? The postmaster suggests there are union rules involved. My having a heart attack doesn't count, it is suggested.

The population is growing, so why do governments not expand our police protection, to include the amount of police, jails and courts?

I bothers me when politicians and appointed bureaucrats announce what laws they will and won't enforce. I still believe our legislatures and our votes decide what laws we want to have. And if it turns out we have a crummy law, then it is the legislature's job to improve it, or get rid of it. If necessary, then the people change the politicians and the legislatures. Now this does take time.

Most of the things that affect my quality of life are more local than federal. And so the votes will go, also. And the emphasis will go more towards the basic responsibilities of governments when not all good ideas can be funded.

Such are the present observations and thoughts from this new world USA person on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee.

2011-08-15T07:54:00.003-06:00

I can live with the outcome

Mostly because I have to. This is what change is all about...and often the unexpected consequences.

Here in the new world USA the conventional wisdom is probably right. The two National Parties of the last century will try to go on, and any effort to "change" things may split the Republican vote, and allow a Democrat to have undo influence, like get elected. So be it for the time in the near term, like until the next election.

Change does take time, and the aforementioned is one example.

Another obvious example that upsets so many is that many of the "outs" during the change period will simply draw a retirement. So be it. But even these people will get old and die, and hence lose their retirement check. This example is just another example of why change takes time.

Of course those in a hurry might opt for the revolution method, which is certainly satisfying to the leaders, though in the long human run takes about as long to effect its ideas, again in my opinion.

So for the short term thinkers, go for it, and you may be satisfied during your time in power.

For the long term thinkers, settle back and advance at the snail's pace you might observe or think, as frustrating at it is. But for sure change is coming, and actually has already begun.

Anyway, I can live with the outcome, which is obvious and predictable; that is change will creep along. Though still today, the method and timing are not predictable, though many may try, mostly in their short term way of thinking.

My idea and vote is still to go for the future you think is best, and then live with the consequences, which will probably be middling to many.

And hope you live long enough to influence the action where you live, or even get wiser in the same time.

2011-08-14T09:57:00.003-06:00

I wish I had another choice

The first time I heard this expression was during the USA federal Presidential election in 2008. Back then we had two choices selected by the two USA National Parties.

Even my older brother, who I think is a savvy investor type person, asked me years ago what I thought. Even back in 2009 I predicted the rise of a third party, i.e., Americans wanted more choices than the two national parties provided. And to me, even the 2008 elections were about change, and change does take time in America, like about a decade.

In that time many political dinosaurs will go away. They may not be able to see change coming, or will resist it to the best of their ability. They are used to the status quo they grew up with, I guess. If you buy this idea, then it probably applies to all levels, from federal down to school boards.

I myself count on it, but that is just my opinion. In the inverse, if the two national parties fight back successfully, then that will postpone the inevitable American people's domination about what they and their families futures are here in the new world USA.

Yep the times they are a changin'. And you get to make it happen, wherever you live.

2011-08-13T08:34:00.000-06:00

Mrs. Ravioli comes to visit her son, Anthony, for dinner. He lives with a female roommate, Maria.

During the course of the meal, his mother couldn't help but notice how pretty Anthony's roommate is. Over the course of the evening, while watching the two interact, she started to wonder if there was more between Anthony and his roommate than met the eye.

Reading his mom's thoughts, Anthony volunteered, "I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you, Maria and I are just roommates.''

About a week later, Maria came to Anthony saying, "Ever since your mother came to dinner, I've been unable to find the silver
sugar bowl. You don't suppose she took it, do you?"

"Well, I doubt it, but I'll email her, just to be sure." So he sat down and wrote an email:

Dear mama,

I'm not saying that you "did" take the sugar bowl from my house; I'm not saying that you "did not" take it. But the fact remains
that it has been missing ever since you were here for dinner.

Love, Anthony

Several days later, Anthony received a response email from his Mama which read:
Dear son,

I'm not saying that you "do" sleep with Maria, and I'm not saying that you "do not" sleep with her.
But the fact remains that if she was sleeping in her OWN bed, she would have found the sugar bowl by now.

Love, Mama

Moral: Never lie to your mama .

2011-08-13T08:10:00.008-06:00

Present day thoughts from rural America

I am beginning to think, really realize, a whole lot of Americans are thinking this way. Here's tidbits.

A wife recently approached me, an old male ex-Marine, about what do I think. She expressed concern about our future, and even she and her husband, a doctor, assumed things would get worse, and that they would have to defend themselves from raiding of their place by the riff raff who will come when they run out of their "low hanging fruit".

I am even making my own electricity (using gravity and spring water, which I have) anticipating when public electricity runs out. I won't live high on the hog, but will still be able to power my refrigerator/freezer, a couple of interior lights so I don't have to live like Abraham Lincoln, and one security light so I can take better aim at trespassers. I even have begun to put the word out that I am still a good aim, but sometimes I "can miss" since I don't want to really hurt somebody. You should have seen the eyes of probable riff raff look like saucers when I told this story. I assume they will talk and spread the word.

And last, as I even mentioned to the "wife" mentioned earlier, I assumed that public electricity would come back, but urban areas would get priority, so in the rural area where I live, I expect to go a year or more without public electricity. That's what I would do if I were in charge. After all, one does have to have priorities.

Imagine life without public electricity for an extended period of time. For example, gas stations can't pump gas without electric pumps, or grocery stores will fail for their perishable products. When my gas chain saw runs out, then I will have to cut wood the old fashioned way.

I have already enured myself to having to accept lower standards than I have become accustomed to. For example, I will have to use acorn flour vice grocery store food eventually. But in the same vein, I will still have wood floors and flush toilets, and my own independent water and waste water systems.

And I don't think of myself as a survivalist, either. Rather, I think I am just trying to anticipate, plan ahead if you will, if things turn south.

Let me say it another way. We humans will survive, though our standards will change. And many who cannot or do not want to change, will die early. Said in even another way, if all this dooms day kind of worry comes to pass, the new world USA is not a bad place to be.

In the near term future, like the next two or three years, I worry the most violent change will occur.

For example, I expect a lifetime of work, sacrifice, and savings will go down the tubes. I have even told one of my financial advisors I expect my own wealth to decrease by half. He assured me otherwise, by the way and a while back. He is young enough to have not lived through inflation of our money and expenses, though I am old enough to have lived through this period, which I did not like. Mostly it was the impact on my Family.

Just imagine if it you costs you and your Family more to be warm and fed for the same thing. In the meantime, your pay does not go up. That is one definition of inflation. Like the title says, this is a present day thought from rural America.

So now I wonder, think if you will, just what kind of change is going to happen in my near future. As a start I have government bought food in cans in my barn from my last charity failure, still sitting there and paid for by tax payers. Now I wonder when he, a 40 year old male with good skills who just simply does not want to work (but still got the aforementioned food), and has lived OK in his lifetime, suddenly has to change his style. Well in my mind the similarly low life women who also provide him sex, will be the types of riff raff who I have to defend from.

Last, and against all the animal rights and PETA stuff over the last decades, I still have yard dogs. They provide me and this place better biological alarms than modern day wireless infrared detector stuff which I also use. What really upsets me is what happened to last litter, when all three golden puppies disappeared at the same time. That occurrence gave me a hint that maybe thieving is still going in today's times. Plus the surviving dogs do seem happy, as I imagine dogs might think.

So what is the local rural idea today. Mostly it is just to influence future things in your way and where you live, be it the vote, or Lord helps us, a revolution.

2011-08-10T09:23:00.002-06:00

Order versus chaos

I've been thinking this for decades, and now offer my opinion about our future courses of action. Like many, I have been quiet for a long time.

First it will get worse before it gets better, and then it will get better, like in ten or twenty years. The reason I think it will get better is because we
humans want it to, and will sort it out to our advantage, both foreign and domestic.

Now to put things in perspective, I think of myself as an investor, vice a speculator. Take this idea into your account, too. I also have time in the Marines, so I think I understand why any country has a military, and the underlying human instincts of our political leaders. One old time expression is that war is just politics by another means has some validity, at least to me.

So why do I think it will get worse before it gets better, which it will, I believe.

Others have already predicted this idea, but I expect regional wars to erupt, like Iran nuking Israel. Maybe there will just be other escalations, like the whole region going nuclear. And then there are ideas about civil wars, like in China when the bubble there bursts, and when it goes nuclear and the probable downwind contamination occurs in Japan and even Hawaii, what are we to do? One old time expression bothers me. It goes, for lack of knowing what to do, we do what we know.

Three thoughts.

Hopefully where ever you live in the world, we have future leaders who do the best they can, mostly in policy kind of things that help the situation. Along the way, I sure hope they also help our progeny, like our kids, since they are our future.

My expectation is introducing order, not chaos. After all we humans do have a minority of our population who are criminals, thugs, and just anarchists. And like normal, one cannot tell people what to think, but we can sure dictate behavior. Hence some of these people just need to be shot, like go away. After all, I have a family to protect, too.

Last thought. Where ever you live, the status quo of the past is going to change, mostly because of the past performance of our politicians. If that is the case, then I encourage all, whether they live in Sri Lanka, or Romania, or Nebraska in the USA, to be more like investors than speculators when you do change the status quo in your way.

My encouragement is to go with order versus chaos, as difficult as it might be in promoting your family's future.

And I think it will take years, really decades. But one has to start somewhere and sometime.

2011-08-09T11:32:00.002-06:00

Balancing one person's smarts comes into question

Said another way, one does not have to be smart to be a leader. More likely traits like perseverance and hard work count, too. Even recognizing this is a big deal to me, and I speak of the leaders we either elect or they appoint.

Even back during the Vietnam War, our President appointed a West Point Army General to lead our war effort in Vietnam. Well look what happened, and make up your own mind if you like the results. And he was a sharp good looking and well dressed person, to boot.

Now I wonder just how do American elected officials at all levels (federal, state, county, city, and school board) sort things out, like they have always done in the last decades. Mostly I think in my election decisions do they want to rule the world, or just my little place where I live? And what if a fellow who still gets county money for his food (which I pay for in the end) causes my local firefighters or police to provide me less service that truly does affect my life?

Well this kind of thinking does truly affect how one votes in American these days. Now if we lose our ability to vote, then it is time to revolt, however you choose how to do it where you live.

But in the meantime, being smart or dumb doesn't count much, to me.

What does count is principles, and knowledge of them, and willingness to do one's best to enforce them. The old days of propaganda, now called spin, and even speeches, is passé.

Now that idea doesn't take much education or smarts, but it does take one's idea of the way things ought to sort out, for all interests of course.

My guess is the USA World is changing, and I encourage everyone to vote, and let it sort out. And it will not take necessarily smart people to rule in the future, but for sure being an honest and hard working leader is a good start.

2011-08-08T11:36:00.006-06:00

Whites Ferry Landing

First here one a link to read about it: http://www.howderfamily.com/travel/maryland/whites_ferry.html

And then there is nostalgia, which old people like me think about ( I am age 63 and have been there a lot). My nostalgia includes bike trips down the C&O canal towpath, back when it was pretty rough to me, a 10th grader on an Explorer Post trip (did it twice, like 184.5 miles). I learned a lot, including ideas like tow path trance that even came in handy decades later in Saudi Arabia. Even back then I learned other things that also helped me later.

Even more recently than the 1960's, back in the mid 1980's, I met a fellow who had paddled by canoe with his brother the whole way from the South Platte River (near Denver as I recall), unto the Missouri River where they learned to dodge river barges that sucked up the river when they were paddling, and then onto the Mississippi River and down to New Orleans. Well, I was impressed, and we shared stories, and it was all around Whites Ferry Landing. Back then I was leading a Scout Troop from Harpers Ferry down to Georgetown. They were pretty much in canoes.

Even back then (in the 1960's it was roughly about 100 years from the USA Civil War). I even learned the names of Battles, depending on one's heritage. Simply said the northern tradition is to name about a creek, like Antietam, and the southern tradition is to name it after the local town, like Sharpsburg. Even I went to local commercial museums back then to find out there were still body parts being uncovered (then called preserved or petrified). I was grossed out, but that is just my personality. So we biked back to the campground about 5 miles away, and the rest of trip to D.C. proceeded later.

So what is my point? Mostly it is remind all that other Americans have been around, too.

2011-08-07T10:31:00.002-06:00

I do not want to be a serf

I enjoy my public electricity, and my internet stuff, and going to the grocery store for my food. Our local governments and fellow Americans do a good job at providing these services. So I guess that makes me weird these days since I know it does not happen by itself. I even like being warm in the winter, and even I wear long johns inside my house to boot. Of course I do try to keep the temperature for the pipes above freezing, just to keep them from bursting if they freeze. I use a combination of wood stoves (and I cut and stack fallen wood), and public electricity. That makes me living like a deployed soldier and Marine, like many Americans do. Yet I am living in east Tennessee. Like I said I don't want to be a serf.

Now what does it take these days to be an environmentalist? Mostly my observation is just to hang out a sign saying that is what I am and care about. Even lawyers get involved, and hire lobbyists to boot on their noble effort. How all this gets financed is still beyond me. But land owners like me also believe I can be a good steward of the land, without any coercion, to boot. Not that I am idealistic, mostly it just makes me happy if I do good for myself and the land, and make some money to boot to help pay my energy bills and my taxes for the foreseeable 50 year future. Like I said, I just want to be a good steward of the land I live on, about a square mile by the way.

So what is going to happen to people like me. Right now I do not know. I have already worse cased things, and am pretty sure I can survive, kinda like a serf.

But I choose not to be a serf.

There are better courses of action.

2011-08-06T12:25:00.002-06:00

Conflicts of interest

I was motivated today to hear this idea is still alive and well.

At the local girls camp where my kid goes this summer, mothers are not allowed to go camping with their daughters. For obvious reasons I would say. Such was the report I got today.

Even three decades ago, as a federal purchasing person, I had to sign an annual statement that I understood what a conflict of interest was, and would avoid it.

Even back then we all took oaths, and actually applied them.

Words mean things, and still do.

And a conflict of interest was against the best interests of our Country. Business is business, one can think and say, especially when in a position to look out for the best interests of our Country, or even in the case of the local girl's camp; growing our young daughters compared to their Family influence most of the year. I suspect most Mom's and Dad's will be surprised when their kid is not in their making.

Now I also accept that elected politicians, and those who even run for elected office, go through this moral dilemma, too.

But my vote will be influenced by what I think is their moral turpitude. So be it. And there are many I think who think this way, too.

2011-08-05T08:50:00.001-06:00

Quid pro quo

Just copying from some emails today.
The subject, to me, is about the future of our country.
Here's the two posts.

Do you think it's possible to have a limited government and also meet the needs of minorities, environmental issues, and social services along with as much socioeconomic equality as possible?

Quick answer...of course.
Let me expand on one of your subjects, the needs of minorities, just to provide an example.
I used to teach at Atlanta University for three years, and truly believe in the diamond in the rough idea. The key idea is “harvesting diamonds”. But decades ago even the USMC had dual standards for qualifying, and the result was more minorities that could not compete with their peers, and got real frustrated, and bitter to boot. They told me as much, since I can connect. Now even I assumed they had been screwed in education because of their race. But in the same vein, all I wanted to do was defend the USA. On another occasion a Morris Brown college graduate (Morris Brown is part of the Atlanta University Complex) failed the ASVAB test to be a private in the Marines. Well I coached him on how to cheat the test, and you know what, he failed on the second test, too (there was a six month wait between tests). And he ended up crying in my office. I took it as an example of the college ripping off his parents as one consequence, and he was a bitter young man.
Later the USMC went back to one standard, and that worked better in the short term, the medium term, and the long term I think (since the long term is still happening around us).
One more thought. Why is government even involved in ideas like socioeconomic equality? You and I have one common knowledge of a person who filches off of the poor, in my opinion. His name is Adam Henry. I think there are better ways to help him, like keep him from starving and forcing him to work at minimum labor rates. And I don’t think the government is the best way to do this. There are alternatives I prefer. I even have some of government provided food saved as cans for when he ever comes back here.
Last I was already thinking about all this in composing my often daily post to my blog about my beliefs, based on my observing history as a history nut.
When things change, like the various future governments run out of money, and priorities change, then it might be a good time to review all this. What I predict for the next 10 to 15 years is that the various government services (school board, city, county, state, and federal) will have impacts that the voters, or revolters if it comes to that (I hope not) will make the changes. For one example, schooling our kids. To me the 3R’s are more important than teaching social theories, given that there is only so much time in the day, and school year. And I have lived other places that think this way, and even kids wear uniforms in public schools, which are 5 and 1/2 days a week to boot.
So nothing personal, but your exposure is somewhat limited, both in age, experience, and where you have lived.

2011-08-03T10:57:00.002-06:00

Welcome to our future, and the coming changes

Imagine this. Inflation kicks in in a year or two, and we cannot borrow enough money to finance our various debts. Inflation has happened even in my lifetime, so it can happen again. Then we may have to live within our means, like our tax collections, which are considerable. In the meantime we have a lightweight President who has hired fellow lightweights to advise him.

Now I worry about the consequences for our future, and what they might do.

I have often thought our present President is not too smart, in spite of all the prognostications otherwise. There are plenty of reasons to think this, but I add in why does his position seem to change a lot? One good guess is that he is responding to the latest brief he got. But I really don't know, of course. It appears to me he is a classical case of affirmative action gone bad.

In the same vein, are his lightweight advisors trying to take advantage of him, and impose their own will or ideas about what is best for the USA?

Even more I fear if we have serious national problems, or international problems. What will this lightweight President and his hired minions do?

So I am now into "fears", like letting my imagination take hold. I normally do not do this, since it is mostly a waste of time.

But these days I do worry about our future, and the possibility that many humans may die because of what is going on these days. Actions have consequences, as they say.

For example, and to conclude, what do you think our President and his hired minions will do if North Korea launches a nuclear armed Musudan ballistic missile onto Guam?

2011-07-30T09:25:00.001-06:00

It is time for a third party

I know the conventional wisdom, call it the status quo. All third parties fail in the end I am taught. And such is the record for the last century, I would report. Both present National Political parties say this, as well the National Media, which generally reports federal type "news".

But this time is different. This third party effort is based on an idea, not an individual, and his money. And I think this third party idea will come from all Americans, former democrats, republicans, independents, all.

That all this in under reported, or not recognized; sounds normal, like even during the times of the First American Revolution. Now we seem to be in a similar period. Call it "I wish I had another choice", maybe even a Second American Revolution. After all we are still the New World, which has shrunk, of course, but all we humans have left, which is still pretty good.

If this prediction is correct, then it will take time, like two or three election cycles, which I think of as two years per cycle. Some places are different, too. And this change I can guess at is at all levels, federal, state, county, city, and school board. For those impatient as to the pace of change, well do it your own way if you choose, and see what happens. I too am impatient, but know my own thoughts about the pace of change. And I am more interested in the change at more local levels, like county, city, and school board. Call this a bottom up effort to change things.

And the times they are a changin'. I suspect what Bob Dylan wrote now decades ago would apply today.

So I can also imagine I may have guessed wrong about outcomes...so be it. But I am confident that the times they are a changin'.

Mostly I want to help my Family anyway I can. I don't want to "share the wealth" with others, based on my lifetime of work and sacrifice which continues today. I especially am offended at others who want to do this. And since the government has gotten into the charity business with all it's rules, a lot of low lifes have filched off of the truly poor. I just prefer the more also established way of charity and helping the truly poor. And even this idea will probably take a third party. Where I live, I actually resent a 40 year old male who refuses to work, and still survives off of the government, and gets plenty of sex off of other low life local women.

So what is too happen. Even I don't know.

What I fear is that the voters, we Americans, may lose our choices, like what we want our future to be, to include our Families' future to be.

Hence, in my mind, the status quo will change, and it will be a painful process that will affect all of us, including me. Such is our place in life during such a time, but at least our future Families will come out OK in the end, I hope and think.

Like the title suggested, it is time for a third party...in the USA.

2011-07-29T10:58:00.001-06:00

Just another hope for our future.

2011-07-27T09:00:00.009-06:00

It is easier to figure out what you do not like than what you do like

Said another way, most of us know what doesn't work, but trying to figure out what will work is tougher.

This an universal idea, I think. Many have heard expressions like "this dog won't hunt". Or in the military I often heard "reinforce success, not failure". In politics I have heard ideas like "politicians keep doing the same thing over and over hoping for a different result". And another idea is that we are tired of hearing good theories with no proven track record. Last one hears things like success has many sponsors, while failure has none.

And of course I am now hearing we in the new world USA just can't afford it right now, whatever "it" is.

The idea I like is that how we think about our Families and our Nations is closer to we humans than reported these days. Mostly, most don't have much time to think about these things since we are busy running own own lives and Families, especially putting thinking about Nation things but on a lower priority level; and for sure know we want to take care of our Families, and indirectly, our Nation, mostly for selfish reasons I think. So what's new?

The older one gets, the more time to think, or have past thoughts add up, I also guess.

The more difficult thing to most, I think, is how to be a good parent, and there the results and opinions are all over the place. One just does the best they can, and see how it sorts out, and often helping their progeny along the way. I myself have seen a lot, like Families indulging their children, and Families who practice tough love. Like I said, what we parents do is all over the place.

And this idea seems to be universal, whether it is the new world USA or Okinawa or Turkey, which is my experience level. And yes, I have been to many other places, but I consider my time in Sweden or Denmark, or Saudi Arabia or Kuwait, or Korea, or the Philippines, or Scotland, more a snap shot picture which I know not to trust.

So now I wonder, since I think of myself as a political junkie, just what is going to happen in both our new world USA future, both near term (like the next few years), and far term (like the next few decades)? Mostly I wonder for the basic reasons, like how does it affect my Family, and also how does it affect our Nation's future?

So back to the title of this post. I sure have confidence in what I do not like, and also what I do like, though less.

That sure seems like a funny way to think or rule, but that is just the way we humans are, I think. Savvy rulers know this. Less savvy rulers don't know this.

So can we run a Country a savvy way. I sure hope we can, as in we common citizens voting to influence our future, at all political levels (like federal and state and county and city and school boards), albeit as flawed as we humans can be. The alternatives are less attractive to me, or so I think.

2011-07-26T08:05:00.001-06:00

The status quo is changing

Now in fairness, nothing remains constant. Things like cultural values, empires, governments, business models, and even food preferences change routinely. In the same vein some things are probably more constant, like having retailers, feminine beauty products, and having to eat, and the desire to be warm with a roof over our heads. The obvious connecting link is we humans. And most humans want to be happy, which means good health and self respect to most.

But the rate at which the present status quo is changing appears to be quicker these days, and throughout the world. If you buy this line, then there are plenty of older examples, and plenty of opportunities to influence the change. Mostly the change is due to humans, but there are mother nature's wild cards, too.

And last, and as part of this primer, change can be both gradual, like evolutionary; and catastrophic, like a comet hitting the earth, or even a revolution. Both ideas introduce turmoil, and often many will die, though many will survive to emerge on the other side and the status quo then. And of course all this will go on ad infinitum.

So in a macabre sort of way, it is "interesting" to observe what is going on around the world, today. Certainly old western models are changing, to include the ideas of nation states, existence based on natural resources, and the results of governments over the last century. And certainly older world models are changing, too. This includes respect for older institutions, tolerance of the present forms of governments, be it tribal or dictatorial, as examples; and giving a higher value to deceitfulness than more western types value. I guess you have to live "over there" to believe this or even just observe this.

So what are we, whoever we are, to do? I suggest survive, and vote if you can to influence the action. If you can't vote, then use the other old time tried and proven ways to influence the action. Either way, the status quo is changing, and this is a good time to be alive just to be able to influence our human future.

Because for sure the status quo is changing. And the rate is quicker now than in our recent past, and probably will be in the near future, like until 2030 and later, when the rate of change may slow down.

2011-07-25T10:28:00.003-06:00

The downstream side of the pipe

Much change is going on around the world, including the USA.

This change may affect me, but for sure it will probably affect my children and grandchildren. Such is life I guess.

The status quo of the last 100 years or so is changing, both politically, and business style.

Just how the present dinosaur political parties adjust is what is going to be different. Friction to change takes time, and time is on the side of those who want to live, and adjust. Think long term, like 10 or even 30 years.

The present friction in our elected Federal politicians in the USA is a classic example. They don't agree much, and it will impact us in the next few years, I think. After all, there are two visions for how the new world USA should go forward, and I sure hope we common citizens can still vote about what we think. I just hope no one side tries to dictate their opinion and rule kind of like a dictatorship or royalty. Then things will hit the fan, so to speak.

So what is it going to be like on the downstream side of the pipe in the next 100 years?

The quick and obvious answer is that nobody knows.

But here is a guess.

The way the world has run will change, mostly in good ways.

The bad ways include things like nuclear wars in many places, to include Asia, and the downstream side of things will be bad for a long time. Sometimes this friction will come from civil war, vice country war. And many people will die.

And then there are proverbial things like what the earth and space may do to the earth. Call them wild card type things.

So my bottom line is to respect our progeny, and let them sort it out as best they can. And I sure hope they also still have a vote in the new world USA. At the end of the pipe, of course.

2011-07-24T08:40:00.001-06:00

Change is in the air

Like my normal style, let me define change. To me the times they are a changin'.

Most humans don't like change, especially the change in the status quo.

Yet it is going on which makes these times exciting both good and bad depending on your point of view. I still think there are good comparisons to the time of the American Revolution circa the early 1770's.

And part of this change is one's beliefs about short term and long term. Like I used to say in the Marines, I can dictate behavior, but I cannot dictate what people think, though some may try.

And the change I personally detect is mostly USA cultural. And it seems to be mostly generated from young people growing up in America. Maybe they have different standards from old people.

Here's one indicator. Low life subjects are beginning to fade in Hollywood movies after decades, especially the financing, and other more USA patriotic type subjects tend to be arising. Maybe people will spend their money on new kinds of movies and even music?

Another obvious indicator to me is how dysfunctional our Federal government has become, and we elected them. Said another way, there has to be a better way, and it will take change. Lord knows, it does not take another American Revolution. I still like to think my vote still counts, and won't be taken away. And I never forget many things that affect my life, and my kids and grandkids lives, are more local than Federal.

Another indicator to me is how we take care of our poor. Let me define American poor. Down and out from no fault of their own. And I feel a sense to help them out. And I sense how we take care of them, and those who filch off of this government involvement in charity is also changing. I myself have eaten government (tax payer paid) food just to prove I can do it. And all this food, and attitudes has helped them breed more poor young children (and they get plenty of sex), which is a terrible state of affairs right now. There is hope, even in the present system, by the way. Food banks may change "their" rules to recognize all this. The best way to help our American poor is more private charity oriented than government oriented, I think, and I sense this change is also in the air. Only time will tell of course, and I am thinking long term, like 2020 or later.

I sense that so many Americans think there is a "black" problem, though that is changing, too. Anyway, from my USA Marine point of view, I think this attitude is naive. There are plenty of African Americans in the USMC and the rest of the military who the bad guys don't want on our side. Said another way, those who think this way are probably thinking based on where they live and their experience and what they read. Well I live on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee, and there are plenty of similar low life types who are not African American. Let me say it another way, we have low life problems, and all are not always from black heritage. And even in this idea, I think the times they are a changin'.

Last it is pretty obvious that again immigration is changing the new world USA, kind of like normal, like our past. Some may not like it, either right now it is in our meal choices, later it may be in our female beauty choices, like at Walmart. But for sure change is happening. And so a current decades old fad idea of multi-culturalism may fade back to what is happening anyway...which I call another term, a melting pot, an old time term, by the way.

2011-07-22T11:31:00.002-06:00

Hope for our American future

2011-07-20T08:48:00.001-06:00

Short term gain...Long term loss

This post is about the USA.

I suspect many are fed up with what they read and hear and see going on. Apparently the status quo of two national parties seems to be a guiding factor is how things sort out these days. And the way I read the tea leaves, most USA types still think short term. This idea still assumes elected politicians think they run the USA, vice influence the action with their judgments.

And in the present status quo, skills at debating, posturing, playing poker with our future, and even lying to advance one's point, seems be appreciated in our national media.

These are exciting times for many. Even it is kind of like the time during the American Revolution begun in 1776. Obviously, the times and circumstances are different, but the human aspects are probably similar. Enough is enough.

I personally have the advantage of having a financial advisor that I consider to be aggressive, hard working, and short term thinking. I personally like him because he does sports, too.

But suppose others who loan us money to finance our wonderful USA way of life quit loaning us money. One example is if inflation kicks in, then if loaning the USA 10 billion USD's for a 300 million USD's interest income results in the principle being returned, but thanks to inflation only has maybe 7 billion USD's value, then that is a dumb deal most would not take. My long term guess is that the USA is about a year or two from that point.

So can we live without borrowing to finance our wonderful federal benefits? The simple answer is yes, mostly because it is going to happen, anyway. Call this more long term type of thinking.

The more interesting thing, or idea, to me, is how do we USA citizens react, since most will suffer some way. I don't know, but here is a guess. We'll vote for politicians at all levels (school board, city, county, state, and federal) who help this process along. If the vote is taken away, then a revolution will probably occur. My guess is that a fighting revolution will not occur, but at all levels of political ruling (school board, city, county, state, and federal) a new group of politicians will arise to do what we citizens want to happen, where ever we live.

My "another" guess is that a third party will arise to help this process along. I don't know what it will be called, but I am pretty sure it will be made up of former democrats, republicans, and independents who want to change all things, including the status quo.

So think longer term, like 2020 or so.

And let me define my "longer term". It is my kids, and their kids.

2011-07-15T08:58:00.001-06:00

The world wonders?

This title applies today, though it was born in WWII, if you believe the history, which I do.

Why does the world wonder today?

I don't know for sure, but this is still what I think. The USA is still a big deal in the world in all ways. What happens here still affects others throughout the rest of the world. This effect will probably last for another two decades or so, I think.

The new world USA electorate is still focused on many other things, like raising a family. Much of the "nuance" reflects this. Whatever happens here will probably be more family oriented, and often reflective of what our present politicians are and will do in the near future. A cynical individual, like I am, would suggest that many of we serf people are used to the status quo, as it affects them. And when the status quo changes, then the electorate will rise up and change their politicians, or so I think. What hurts my feelings, is that it will take family hurt and pain to have this happen. So much for "chattering".

Many in the next few years will be threatened as to their USA benefits, too. Like most, they want something for little contribution, and will use their vote to say so.

So why am I wondering? Because it did not have to happen as I sense things are unfolding today. Nobody wants to be cold and hungry, especially when it affects their kids. All want something for little contribution, but if and when it ends, then they go cold and hungry, burden their children, and in general, be unhappy campers, still with a vote.

So why is the "chattering class" even bothering to do their bit. I suspect mostly it is because that is a good job these days, and also they care about their families, too.

So why is the other class, kinda like the serfs, going on about their way. I don't know, but can guess. Of course it depends on where one lives, but in general one has many more problems than the upcoming 2012 elections in the USA.

So why is the new world USA still up for grabs?

Here's the good news. Compared to other places in the world, this is still a better place to be, and have a family.

I just hope our political leaders can influence the future decisions, vice the money makers when things turn sour, who after all, have families and have to make a living, too.

Like the title suggests, the "world wonders"?

And I wonder, too. Does it take family and societal pain to make change happen?

2011-07-13T09:38:00.001-06:00

Great change is already underway

The present debate about the spending limits in the USA federal government budget is a symptom, not the disease. Now that is the bad news.

The good news is that the new world USA is probably a good place to be during this great change time. There are worse places to be.

What is sad is that many decisions that affect our lives have already been made months ago. Most are financial, and most are made by humans at all levels I think. In other words, anything done now on the debt limit by politicians and their appointed minions is too late. Decisions have already been made, and are being executed on by others also with families who are also not politicians.

Now I also think there are two ways of evolution. The usual way is gradual evolution, like a lot of the Darwin stuff. But there is also catastrophic evolution, like a comet hitting the earth.

I believe this time that affects we humans is more the catastrophic side of things, and human caused vice something like a comet.

I also believe I will suffer too during this change time. Not just a change like in playing musical chairs in kindergarten, but being cold and hungry, and without public electricity. I will survive, though, or so I think.

Now I also think most USA citizens want and sense change is needed here. Hence the various elections, local (like school board, city, and county), state, and federal in the recent past. Change was a theme in the 2008 USA federal election, for example.

And I suspect the new world USA Constitution will emerge as a reinforced way of governing ourselves. I also suspect most people would rather decide their human fate than those that govern where ever they live.

Why others still impose their ideas on ruling those below them I still wonder about. I guess it is a human instinct.

Most want the best for their Family they have made, and it should all sort out about happiness, and confidence in their future.

But the change period is going to be painful, or so I imagine.

2011-07-09T10:15:00.003-06:00

Thoughts of a recalcitrant

Who would have thought it might end up this way. For sure, I did not. I even used to call my father a cheapskate...now I call him thrifty.

Said another way, again as a recalcitrant, people are just going to have to die to get the ideas I and others have for free. At age 63 I can think that it is now their turn in the barrel (new world USA citizens), and they will probably figure it out just fine, whatever that is. Most of the people I think about are family oriented, by the way. But this person thinks a lot of pain will also go on in the interim, and people will die in the process. What a waste! It did not have to happen. And it seems we have elected those that are doing it to us in the USA.

Now the World is a big place, so other governments and the people that they rule are also around...like in big numbers. And they count, too.

I still think the new world USA is the best hope for the world's future, but that is just an opinion in 2011. The idea of a people's Constitution still works throughout the world. Most places in the World work other ways, by the way.

Are we willing to fight for our way of life? I don't know these days, but I think so. I also wonder do we in the new world USA have to be backed into a corner to make it happen. I think that is what it will take. What a shame. But there is good news, too. A lot of young Americans already recognize this, and will act in their own way.

So regional powers like in Iran, or Russia, or China, will also act in their self interest according to their leaders ideas, but so will the new world USA. Some will be dumb enough to try conquer their neighbors. How many people may die from this friction worries me. And all this recalcitrant wants to do is live in peace. What a waste I think for those trying to conquer others. It will come to friction, and war, and death, to sort things out for maybe a century.

Now we can unilaterally disarm, too. The reasons could be our national character, or even financial.

But there is no free lunch. One can either disarm and go pacifist, or go to war, like fight for our new world USA way of life. To this recalcitrant, it is the future generation of new world USA citizens who will decide. Nobody wants to be attacked, or backed into a corner, or so I think. Whether we as a new world USA nation get to that point is a future decision, or so I think.

Last, much is up for grabs, and in a way others that are younger than the older generations will now rule the future.

2011-07-08T11:45:00.001-06:00

We're already ahead of the power curve

Here's the good news. We in new world USA America are still in charge.

The present economic problems will be solved by we new world USA people, not the present lightweights in charge. This idea probably applies to both the two present USA national political parties, but only time will tell.

Now in fairness, we in the USA did elect our lightweights, and they in turn appointed their own lightweights to help them rule.

Two ideas predominate. One is that the new world USA is still a better place to be than other places in our world. The other idea is that all this will take time, like until 2016, or even later. But for sure, change is coming.

I still imagine the change in the status quo will be resisted, often and by any means. But for sure, change is coming.

After all, we love our Families, and few will put up with those who will hurt our Families.

And I still believe change will come through the votes, rather than a revolution.

Hence, please vote, at all levels, be it school board, city, county, state, and federal.

And let's see what happens to our satisfaction, or maybe dissatisfaction.

2011-07-05T11:20:00.001-06:00

Letting go

It is a painful process when our kids leave the nest, and go out on their own. It is especially painful when the kids enter the USA military, which has it own pretty professional training in its own right. After all, parents and kids are both in distress, too.

My only unsolicited suggestion is to not bring any untoward attention to them, since they have enough problems already. This assumes they will grow in their own right beyond what parents have already done, which is pretty normal to most. And, having been through boot camp, I understand and respect what was going on, at least as it was to me back then. Now it is my kid's turn.

You can tell them till you are blue in the face, but in the end, they have to learn, too.

So let "em go. And wish for the best. Some will fail. Even most will not like it, and bail out. That's normal, too.

It's fun being an old guy these days. I suspect most moms and dads will die along with me in our time, and our kids will inherit the earth in the USA that they grew up in.

So good luck in letting go, or doing whatever you may want to do.

2011-06-28T08:14:00.007-06:00

Leading from the front

Most parents know this idea. Sometimes it comes down to tough love. The idea suggests most think our being is both inherited from our ancestors, and also conditioned by our upbringing. Along the way mother nature gets a vote, too. Most think boys and girls are different, too, and it begins at birth. Later mother nature's hormones will kick in, too.

If you buy this thought, then good policies help the "conditioning by our upbringing". Said as an example, government programs in the USA that promote families probably help our society.

Here's one example...the recent Caribbean Festival unrest in D.C. this last weekend. Other examples abound, like flash mob stuff around the USA that includes criminal action, and even just such common criminal behavior as beatings and robberies in Chicago.

Mostly many observers will think things like the blacks are lawless.

I think otherwise. Mostly I think these people need simple leadership, and standards taught by their parents. This idea is way beyond some government solution at the near term practical level. This is at a parental level, or a leadership level; and good policies and practices can promote this better behavior.

Examples abound, but how about promoting the family as a unit. I am old enough to report to the readers that many decades ago, this was a given, but now it is not. It seems our American culture and those we have elected in the last decades have changed all this, over time of course.

For those that still maintain a family unit, good on ya, since the USA needs these kind of people these days.

And Lord knows, such people still exist, in vast numbers it seems.

I am a retired Marine, and I can report there are plenty of sharp African-Americans who the "enemies" don't want on our side. Said another way now that I am retired, while recruiters can pick and choose the best, I think we as Americans still need to promote good policies that benefit USA society overall.

One little bit of humor, to me. I went thru the civil rights soft revolution in the USA decades ago (like I was in the 9th grade). Even back then I thought it would take generations for change to really happen as regards racial equality, but I never thought it would affect me.

Now the times have changed, and this includes me. I guess I need to die off for others to take charge. Fine.

But I sure hope others will step up to the plate in their time and lead from the front.

It is so obvious to me that good policies and practices will help our USA society in so many ways. The results will probably take decades to take effect, but one has to start somewhere.

2011-06-27T10:18:00.002-06:00

A way to go forward

We in the new world USA have advantages...let's exploit them, like be ourselves. Said another way, let's reinforce success, vice failure. Seems pretty common sense to most, but then some fellow Americans still haven't come to this conclusion. It does happen, including to our political leaders at all levels, it seems.

How about we practice what we preach. Good policies will ultimately be rewarded. In this idea one must think long term, like one or two decades, vice short term like yesterday or next year. And I think to do this we will have to elect like minded individuals at all levels (like school board, city, county, state, and federal), and they in turn will hire the fellow Americans that can make all this happen. Anyway, this is a course of action that can work, I think. And in this scheme the goal is our future, like our kids' future. Forget us, I would say.

In my case, I expect to lose half the wealth I have come up with over decades. So any change sounds better than that. That is the present status quo, in my mind.

And what do you expect in this present day roller coaster type of ride as to our future?

For me, the times they are a changin'. And I hope I can have some influence in the process. And I sure hope the new world USA is a best case example of what we citizens will do to enhance our kids futures in this new world USA.

The process is typical for a country as big as the USA. This is not rocket science, in the old time vernacular. And this process should go forward at all levels to enhance our kids and our futures. We can make it happen, whatever we decide by our votes.

Last, I just hope we can still vote, vice something like anything else. I really don't won't to take up arms just to force or suggest my opinion on others. Hence this sales pitch and post.

And why the sales pitch. Well, I would prefer we citizens influence our future than those who might loan us money in both the short term, and the long term. After all, they have to make a living, too. But I don't want them in charge of my future.

Who knows, maybe they won't even loan the new world USA money for a while, be it the near term, or the long term.

Back to things in perspective. Many, and most new world USA citizens still have jobs, and do a mighty fine job of paying their taxes at all levels. So, things in perspective again, how about we adjust down to what we can pay for, which is pretty significant. Now that is a way to go forward, too.

2011-06-25T08:31:00.001-06:00

When will results and performance come back?

I suspect it will be sooner than many think...like 2020 or maybe 2025.

Said another way, paying public money for good intentions is a poor way to evaluate politicians performance, like vote for them. As examples, just look at the education of our children where you live, or the rise of the poor out of poverty about anywhere, or the success of our American effort in the Middle East. In the latter case it is not just money, but blood and family lives of those involved.

In my case, I have a 9th grade daughter that spells psyched as siked, which again I offer as an example. And I know a local dead beat person who filches off the government programs to help the poor. He is age 40, and won't work, like get a steady job. But he is well fed and alive and well and gets plenty of sex, to boot.

What is "appealing" is the performance question, and even more simple questions. For example, why has the government been involved in the charity business since the 1960's? Are the past choices the best for the mission, for example? Or why can't we do all energy things that benefit us, not just "green" things that simply can't benefit us in the next two or more decades? Why is the government even involved?

More and more it sure seems like we are in one big high school clique, whose rules shift with the wind. Maybe that is tolerated in high school because it always happens anyway, but is that anyway to run a new world country like the USA?

With age comes wisdom is often said. I would add some experience, too. Hence, while things may be crummy here, just live elsewhere to compare, and you know what, things are better here in the new world USA than most other places in the third world I have lived. Just look at emigration patterns to make up your own mind.

Said another way, seeking a perfect new world USA ought to be tempered with practices that promote good results and performance. Now that is a voter decision, not some present day politician's decision. Hopefully by the vote, maybe by revolution, we come up with politicians who can do this kind of thing. And performance and results should be considered.

In the meantime, we get what we've been electing.

And the times they are a changin'.

2011-06-22T14:29:00.003-06:00

Much telephone friction is underway

I happen to live in a rural part of east Tennessee.

I also happen to had been without phone service (including DSL) for going on five days. In my case, like all cases I suspect, I have my bitches, too. In my case it has to do with heart stuff appointments, plus getting my kid into West Point paper work stuff (doing fax stuff, for example), plus helping map a local girls' camp (including horseback riding trails allowed to overgrow), for which I need internet access to make a pretty map, plus I just do my business and email and shopping this internet way these days. And I pay for all this.

Now I don't mind living like a common citizen, since I am one of them these days.

And my phone and internet provider is Frontier, which has a local monopoly for reasons I do not know why, though I can guess.

What I finally got out of them (after five phone calls through my cell phone) is that there is an area wide problem, which at least I can understand. But what I do not accept is the priority given we common citizens in rural east Tennessee. What I heard today is a bucket truck may be needed, and is not available right now, like I have to wait days. And Frontier chooses to keep me in the dark in the meantime.

More than a day without service is unusual. Now I am up to five days. And this area has not suffered some terrible storm damage other Americans have suffered. And my electric and satellite TV service is just fine, and we have had our share of bad thunderstorms. For example, last week I went without electricity for about two hours during the day.

Hence it is time to ask my local politicians to introduce phone company competition to this rural area. If Frontier can't fix their phone problem with their monopoly in five days, maybe somebody else can. I have already started that process, by the way. That process includes local politics to take away their monopoly. And if no one else will bid on land line service, so be it. At least I'll know my choices.

It upsets me that this present day Company has paid leaders who influence my life in an adverse way these days, and kept me in the dark, without service for five days, about whatever the problem was.

Now I also accept that other phone and internet providers may not do as well, especially since the problem may be above their level, sometimes.

At least give me a choice. Then the levels who need to hear might hear. Right now I don't even have a choice. So back to using my cell phone just to gain and verify a heart check appointment (echo sonogram). And, of course, I have shared all this with the Frontier people I can speak with.

And I do have a choice, in the end. I will shop elsewhere, vice having to use my cell phone just to get and verify a heart check appointment. The cell phone service up here is pretty good. And there is competition there for my money. And we have had terrible weather, too, during which the cell phone service did just fine.

Now I assume Frontier's business model includes going into rural areas "with a monopoly" in order to provide rural service. But I also assume that business model is now decades out of date. I "assume" this based on my experience. And if I am supposed to get a message from Frontier, I do.

The message I get "is to go elsewhere", which I will do.

And I used to live in Atlanta, and moved back up here to get away from all this. And I have experienced phone service in various third world countries, and I can report this is poor service here in rural east Tennessee, at least compared to where I used to live in the various third world countries I lived in.

Living on about a square mile of land is a benefit that will probably keep me up here until I die. But lack of land line phone service is something I will not tolerate for going on five days. Thank goodness technology provides me choices not available even ten years ago.

And instead of just complaining, I am now just giving Frontier enough rope to hang itself, like report all this to the various newspapers, and the local politicians. In the old vernacular, I will sing like a canary if they even pick it up. Having been a Marine recruiter, I know how to do a "news release", for example.

Only time will tell. This will be a multi-year effort I assume. But this will be another mission in life, I assure the readers. No future American citizens should put up with this. More than a day or two without phone service is unusual, like something else is going on. Especially if you pay for it.

PS Just the facts, mam. After 5 plus days, a nice repairman showed up and did a 1/2 hour repair job at my house area. And I am back online. Hence this post I can now do.

PPS I have done some homework, and think to hook up my Microsoft home network through wireless is still not an option right now. I do think I can routinely hook up one computer thru wireless, though that is not my objective. Hence my main choice is to try get some land line competition up here, like take away Frontier's monopoly. Hopefully, the timelines of competition and technology changes may converge in the next year or two to my benefit.

2011-06-10T08:34:00.004-06:00

Dialectical materialism

Now that's a phrase one does not hear too much these days. But in the 19th century it was part and parcel of Marxist Theory. Especially the dialectics part.

Yet even today in the 21st century I read the Dalai Lama says he is a Marxist. Now I wonder, does he mean what he says, or has the definition changed, or more likely, is he just educated and experienced enough to be dangerous? I don't know myself, and won't waste my time guessing about him.

I have moved on.

Now I also wonder just how trapped we are by our ancestors' decisions during their time in influence. For example, are we always bound by their choices for borders (like the Durand Line), or creating nations out of tribal areas (in Africa and Asia), or even creating some Nations and ignoring others, like Baluchistan.

My point is that we are in charge, and not bound by our ancestors' past, though that should certainly be taken into consideration. After all, they have left us their best efforts in their time's definitions. Said another way, are we going to send our military men and women to some foreign land to fight for some old idea?

My vote, or unsolicited opinion, is that any peoples will always act in their local interests (perceived or otherwise), to include protecting their women. I would. And that is often not the same interests as the outside "invader". Now that could be a recipe for just going along or doing nothing, but that is also incorrect. There are good reasons to invade, but it had better be in the national interests' of the invader, whose citizens will accept the consequences, like the death, maiming, or injury to their children who serve in the invading military force.

So back to the title of this post.

Are we acting in today's time, or just reinforcing decisions and theories our ancestors had?

2011-06-08T11:05:00.006-06:00

Every man and woman for themselves

Don't take the bait, though many will.

The logic is simple, if you buy it.

Western leadership over the last decades has led the world to bad things happening to we common world citizens, today.

The best way out, I think, is the new world USA, and whatever we come up with. After all, we all want to survive, men and women, and have our progeny succeed, to boot.

Now how we pick our governments, be it feudal like the old Europe, or tribal or royalty or dictatorial, like much of Asia and Africa, or more often like governments in evolution, like South Africa, or the Philippines, or hopefully like the new world USA where we common citizens still have a chance to vote, and influence our futures, and our kids futures, too, is always up for grabs.

Again, one must just buy this logic line.

In this logic line, buy what the new world USA people are doing, I hope. Now this logic line will also be 10 or 20 years long, I also think.

The counterweighing way of thinking is to support the status quo, where ever you live. Many USA people have voted this way.

Good luck in how you influence things where you live.

Whether it is dictated to we common citizens, or decided, in the end, by we common citizens, is also still up for grabs, in my mind. At least this is what I think and observe in the new world USA.

2011-06-07T08:29:00.002-06:00

Just what does civil unrest mean?

I can't believe it has come to this in our new world USA. By that I mean, it is difficult to even imagine the idea. Certainly, I hope, we never get to this state of affairs. Yet I have read the question or statement in our National Press that civil unrest may arise.

The answers I imagine include the seeds of a civil war, or a revolution. In that I mean people taking up arms, deciding loyalties, and simply defending themselves and their Families. In the multiple choice academic world, it could be answer "D", "all of the above".

Now I have some friends around the world who already have to put up with this lawlessness. One is a former South African SAS fellow, one is a Venezuelan Marine, and many live in the Philippines.

So back to the basic question as it pertains to the new world USA.

What does civil unrest mean? Only time will tell, if it even happens.

Here are some hints. News articles like "borderline riots". How about Park closes early to prevent worse things happening. How about gangs shutting down events in lake front areas in Chicago? How about where you live?

We all have a commonality and community to work together for our common good. In that this idea includes dictating standards of behavior that all must hold to. If that is not happening where you live, then one just has to go work, to include voting, to reinforce ways to "make it happen". Hopefully we don't have to take up arms to do what our local governments and charities are supposed to do. And expectedly, we should have a place to make our Families safe and able to succeed, as in be happy.

So what does civil unrest mean? To me, where I live, it is time for the majority to go to work, at least more than they have done in the last few decades. Hopefully, the vote is still a good tool in the bag of tricks to make this happen.

2011-06-06T10:26:00.003-06:00

Culture and feminism

It's kinda funny reading the national press about our culture here in the new world USA, especially about feminism.

Even today I have been presented with three things to challenge me.

1) Women make up half the human world, and want to be treated equally. Even political correctness (PC) pretty much supports this idea.

2) I saw an advertisement of a young female dressed seductively (and on purpose to appeal to males and impress fellow females, I think), so I also think men and women are still different. The dichotomy is real, as much as many don't want to talk about it. But we can have it both ways, if we want to.

A) I have been a military recruiter, and there are plenty of American females who will accomplish the mission, and make my quota easier to make, by the way.

3) Who pees in the public pools more? Even today, I don't think anyone knows, though there are many guesses. My guess is more males pee in the pool than females, but I don't really know.

So the subject also comes up, to me, about affirmative action. Having taught at Atlanta University, I pretty much believe in the "diamond in the rough" idea. But I have also observed kids and their parents being taken advantage of by this idea. After all, who wants a lawyer or doctor who advanced by an idea and not being competent. Or how about a Morris Brown graduate who can't even qualify to be a Private in the US Marine Corps. Watching him cry in front of me was especially memorable. He was a good guy who got screwed, in my opinion.

So here is hope for our new world USA. We citizens of our future will change it, one way or the other. And by citizens I mean those willing to work for their future, and their children's future. Is that human enough?

2011-06-05T09:31:00.002-06:00

Vote locally

It is the local votes that affect my life, and my families lives, most often.

Now that hard times are coming, here is a chance to affect our lives, like who we vote for and the priorities they (those we elect) assign to their future budgets. For example, do they continue the status quo as best they can, or give priorities to those who still pay taxes. In my case in Putnam County in Tennessee and the City of Monterey, can I expect similar police and fire protection, for example, over feeding deadbeats through the food stamp program. Or are the old status quo's still applying to me and them in their decisions. Now this is a voting issue, to me.

Now these kinds of decisions may be tough to those used to dispensing funds, vice deciding priorities and defending their decisions. Like I said, vote locally, since, especially, the times they are a changing.

Having been a Marine, there is a tradition I tried to follow of not voting so as to be able to say I serve the USA Commander in Chief. Now that I think I, or my Family, may die early because of politicians, has changed my attitude. I just hope I can vote all the time, and have it count. If that fails, well, there are other alternatives in the new world USA. Lord knows it does not come to that. That idea is probably the best reason I still appreciate where I live. Now I have lived around the world, too.

So vote locally, I would say. And see what happens. Some places will be different from others, and let the voters sort that out, too.

Much change is going on, thank goodness.

The next decade or so will be interesting from an historical point of view. Will the new world people in the USA actually be able to vote to affect their future, or will other means arise? I don't know right now.

2011-06-04T11:04:00.001-06:00

I'm not going to take it anymore.

This classic line from the movie Network still applies, at least to me.

For me, if I am PO'd or frustrated, I just know to sleep it off, and things will generally be better in the morning.

So now another report to others. After 7 days, I am still not going to take it anymore. I am still PO'd, and I have slept on it.

In my case in Putnam County on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee, I had vandals now do thousands of dollars of damage to me. I consider this a new level never approached before, at least in my local history, which goes back decades.

Now I assume the County and local City will take this as usual, which may or may not be correct. After all, I am just a tax payer.

But, I will not let this become usual. Let their mom and dad pay for all this when I hopefully catch them. That ought to begin to change things here locally. And I will actually prosecute criminally and civilly, and see what a local jury decides, rather than listen to some County local attorney. After all, we do need to be protected from vandals.

Like I said, I am not going to take it anymore.

By the way, in my past I have had bullets going by my head in this same area, but times have changed. Now I will "shoot" back, so to speak.

2011-06-03T09:09:00.000-06:00

The inmates are not in charge

Of course, it depends on where you live. I live on the Cumberland Plateau in east Tennessee, USA, and this is my report to you. I am age 63, by the way.

The philosophical part is "are we humans all equal"? My opinion and vote is no. Many just need leadership, and behavioral standards to comply with, like work for a living and suffer the normal consequences of responsible life. Now I think most know we humans always have a criminal class around us, but there seems to be another class arising, at least around here.

It has taken decades to happen, but in my mind it is certainly going on.

Here locally the scourge of drugs is a factor. And almost all locals are "white", by the way. Nothing like hearing the old time movie "Jeremiah Johnson" in French, by the way at 0100 in the morning by some drug induced fellow who I tried to help by my charity means. He has since been kicked out since he chooses not to work, but has since moved on to a better option, like local sex and food. And my local government and food banks continue to feed him, I think.

Well, the times they are a changing, in the old Bob Dylan song vernacular. Where ever you live, I encourage you to "change things" in your own way, of course.

Like the title says, the inmates are not in charge. You are.

And more responsible humans will have to act, in their own way, too.

2011-05-25T09:41:00.003-06:00

Flowers of the Forest

And other laments and poetry, to boot.

In 1765 the wit and socialite Alison Cockburn published her lyrics to the Flowers of the Forest beginning "I've seen the smiling of Fortune beguiling" said to have been written before her marriage in 1731 . It concerns a financial crisis that had ruined the fortunes of a number of the Selkirk Lairds. Later biographers, however, think it probable that it was written on the departure to London of a certain John Aikman, with whom Alison appears to have had an early attachment.
*all this above is from Wikipedia

The first verse runs

I've seen the smiling
Of fortune beguiling,
I've tasted her pleasures,
And felt her decay;
Sweet is her blessing,
And kind her caressing,
But now they are fled
And fled far away.

Here's some Rudyard Kipling taken from a poem "The Young British Soldier"

When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier.
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
So-oldier of the Queen!

And last (some more) here's some Tennyson (circa 1889) that might also appeal to the reader:
It is from a poem called "Crossing the Bar".

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.

And here's one more from the WWI timeframe:

The first chapter of In Flanders Fields and Other Poems (a 1919 collection of poems by John McCrae) gives the text of the poem as follows:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

An autographed copy of the poem (reproduced at the start of this same book) uses grow (instead of blow) in the first line. The book includes a note seeking to explain the discrepancy by saying "This was probably written from memory".

2011-05-20T09:06:00.010-06:00

Propoganda today

Here's a primer I use and believe in.

What is it? In my KISS (keep it simple stupid) method, it is saying black is white enough times to where people start believing it. And it is a technique, a method if you will, to influence fellow humans.

Is it an ancient "thing"? Yes. It has been going on as long as humans lived on the earth.

Who tradionally practices it? Usually governments of all stripes, as a way to influence "their" populations, use this method.

Is it about the same or different now?
A) It's worse now, and in my lifetime. I am age 63. By worse I mean its practice. Said another way, it is being used more often by governments and institutions than even 50 years ago.
B) Now an institution, the 4th Estate if you will, or the reporters, or the media, seems to practice this method, too. I suspect most of the younger ones don't even recognize this. They (and probably the parents who paid for their education) don't know how bad they have been screwed). Hence a lot of other people are going to other sources for their "news".
1) When reporters casually accept conflicts of interest, then things have changed from even decades ago. Conflicts of interest are a big deal to so many. Even I have signed "conflict of interest" statements, and avoid the obvious things, too. Most of us do avoid the obvious things, I think.
C) The method is deliberate, in other words, the practicer is attempting to influence our thoughts. Even go back to the "Yellow Press" who helped get the USA into the Spanish American War, as an example.
1) Lying is immoral, period. Selectively distorting the facts is immoral, too.
2) High school cliques and debating methods and sales pitches are understandable. I've been a recruiter for the Marines, and understand sales pitches. Propoganda is different.
3) Lying to get elected is one thing that most voters accept. Lying to rule, or report to the ruled, is another matter. Back to the immoral idea about lying as a method.

Does propoganda work? To those who use it as a technique or method, I guess they think it does.

What are the implications these days.
A) People around the world are becoming more jaded than in the last half century. Depending on where you live, one may call it cynical. All I know about, or think about, is where I live; and propoganda, or the hint of it, is a wasted effort. It has a bad connotation because of its association with Nazi's. Most where I live on the Cumberland Plateau in east Tennessee also know there is no free lunch, or "no body gets something for nothing", in the end. And there are a lot of deadbeats who live on the government dole these days. But even they know "the times they are a changin".
B) It doesn't work in the long run.
1) Even the more recent Nazi's who used this method in their bag of tricks lost WWII.
2) People will change their views of the integrity of the present system. Hence the status quo is changing.
3) People aren't stupid all of the time.
C) Reporting what others want you to hear, like what the terrorists want one to hear, is a manifestation of how bad the problem of how propoganda has become these days. It seems to me to be the height of laziness to even "cover" such obvious things. Yet it is going on, right now at least.

"Would you like fries with that order?" may increase as an often used phrase.