Tuesday July 13, 2010 — Sometime ago I wrote in a blog about going home. As I recall, it was an opinion of mine about how one could go home again and that it was basically a myth that one could not do so. I am about to prove the truth of what I wrote then...I am going home.
Karen and I are about to leave for a good ol' fashion family reunion in Le Mars, Iowa where I was born and where the roots of my family are planted firmly. This is where my Mom and Dad were raised, met each other in a small country church, and began their life together. The branches of the family that have grown from those roots extend far and wide today and that is as it should be.
I am the youngest of eight children and there are three of us siblings surviving today. Those that have passed on before us and some of their children that have done so also will be at this reunion in spirit. They will look down on us and know that it is GOOD STUFF!
I will get to see and get reacquainted with many family members that I knew well as a child and as a young man. Time and distance have separated us for far too long and that all is about to be wiped away by this reunion...this going home.
I am excited beyond words. I do know that I am blessed to be part of a loving, caring family and I cherish that with all my heart...I cherish this going home...it's what really matters!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
What is Goin' On
Sunday June 20, 2010 - Just where does the time go? Here it is again a month since I last blogged. So much has been happening in that time. I went home to Abilene on the occasion of a grand nephews graduation from high school. I saw all my Abilene family there and spent a wonderful evening with them. Even took my youngest son and one of my grandsons with me. It was a great time.
I have spent an immense amount of time over the past two months in working on a veterans project that is near and dear to my heart. In 2005 the Texas State Legislator unanimously passed a resolution allowing a monument to the Texas veterans of the Vietnam War to be erected on the state Capitol grounds. This monument is to be built and maintained with private donations only. We are undergoing a tremendous effort to raise in the area of $1.3-$1.5 million to get this done. You can find out more by visiting our website www.buildthemonument.org.
My youngest son is on his way to getting down the right road in his life. Oh there are stumbles along the way, but all of us that know him see a change that is good and all so encouraging. My prayer is that he will win his battle and become the man he is suppose to be.
Karen and I are getting ready for the event of our summer and that is our Burkett Family reunion in Iowa in July. We look forward to being with so many family members that I have not seen in so many years...far too many to count. It will be a grand time for all.
I hope you are into and enjoying your summer wherever you are. It is hot for sure here in Austin, TX but not like it was this time last year when we had sizzling days in 100's that went on for over 65 days.
Life is good if I only let it be so. Family, friends, and veterans issues and activities...it's what really matters.
I have spent an immense amount of time over the past two months in working on a veterans project that is near and dear to my heart. In 2005 the Texas State Legislator unanimously passed a resolution allowing a monument to the Texas veterans of the Vietnam War to be erected on the state Capitol grounds. This monument is to be built and maintained with private donations only. We are undergoing a tremendous effort to raise in the area of $1.3-$1.5 million to get this done. You can find out more by visiting our website www.buildthemonument.org.
My youngest son is on his way to getting down the right road in his life. Oh there are stumbles along the way, but all of us that know him see a change that is good and all so encouraging. My prayer is that he will win his battle and become the man he is suppose to be.
Karen and I are getting ready for the event of our summer and that is our Burkett Family reunion in Iowa in July. We look forward to being with so many family members that I have not seen in so many years...far too many to count. It will be a grand time for all.
I hope you are into and enjoying your summer wherever you are. It is hot for sure here in Austin, TX but not like it was this time last year when we had sizzling days in 100's that went on for over 65 days.
Life is good if I only let it be so. Family, friends, and veterans issues and activities...it's what really matters.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Taking Time...Because It's What Really Matters
May 23, 2010 — My goodness it's been over a month since I last blogged here. It's not that during that time there were not things that mattered to me because there certainly have been. It's just that I have not taken the time to stop and blog about them. For those that have been reading my blog you know that I do write about the things that really matter to me. We all have those special things that matter. For me it has usually been about my family, my pets, being a veteran, or some current issue we are all faced with. Today's blog is no different and I am so glad that I am now taking the time to write.
My wife Karen went through some oral surgery this past week and is now sporting a new set of "choppers." She had quietly suffered through many humiliations and not being able to eat properly for longer than any of us have cared to remember. I and her two oldest sons waited for over 2 hrs as the dentist did his work. When I was allowed in to see her she was just coming out of the gas they had used on her and laying in the dental chair she tried to smile and show me her new teeth while tears rolled down the side of her face. It grabbed my heart and I was so thankful that finally she would suffer no more.
In the days following, she has been simply over joyed. As she told me the other morning over coffee together about looking at herself in the mirror and being over whelmed with joy and how she cried again out of happiness. Anyone that knows Karen knows what a beautiful and good person she is...how caring and giving she is. Finally now she has a reward for all of her love and caring. I stand in awe of her sometimes and I am so elated that she is showing a beautiful smile and feeling so good about herself. I love her dearly!
Several blogs ago I shared with all of you a letter I had written my youngest son. Some things have changed since I wrote that blog and all of them have been good as they relate to him. He has come home to live with Karen and I and started down the road to being an active member of our family. There is no doubt a long way to go for him. He faces many trials and tribulations in struggling with issues that have plagued him before. But, I am encouraged by what I see and hear. How he is beginning to take responsibility for his word and deeds...how hje is bringing out the joy of being young...how he is looking at life with a sense of humor...and mostly how he is beginning to see and understand who he really is and where he comes from. As I wrote before, I have always known who he is and where he comes from and my belief that those are the undeniable traits we all possess...a truth we cannot deny...that brings us home again and to the goodness of life. Again, I am thankful for this new beginning.
Now I have taken the time I have been needing to for some time. I have done what helps me understand who I am...and it's what really matters!
My wife Karen went through some oral surgery this past week and is now sporting a new set of "choppers." She had quietly suffered through many humiliations and not being able to eat properly for longer than any of us have cared to remember. I and her two oldest sons waited for over 2 hrs as the dentist did his work. When I was allowed in to see her she was just coming out of the gas they had used on her and laying in the dental chair she tried to smile and show me her new teeth while tears rolled down the side of her face. It grabbed my heart and I was so thankful that finally she would suffer no more.
In the days following, she has been simply over joyed. As she told me the other morning over coffee together about looking at herself in the mirror and being over whelmed with joy and how she cried again out of happiness. Anyone that knows Karen knows what a beautiful and good person she is...how caring and giving she is. Finally now she has a reward for all of her love and caring. I stand in awe of her sometimes and I am so elated that she is showing a beautiful smile and feeling so good about herself. I love her dearly!
Several blogs ago I shared with all of you a letter I had written my youngest son. Some things have changed since I wrote that blog and all of them have been good as they relate to him. He has come home to live with Karen and I and started down the road to being an active member of our family. There is no doubt a long way to go for him. He faces many trials and tribulations in struggling with issues that have plagued him before. But, I am encouraged by what I see and hear. How he is beginning to take responsibility for his word and deeds...how hje is bringing out the joy of being young...how he is looking at life with a sense of humor...and mostly how he is beginning to see and understand who he really is and where he comes from. As I wrote before, I have always known who he is and where he comes from and my belief that those are the undeniable traits we all possess...a truth we cannot deny...that brings us home again and to the goodness of life. Again, I am thankful for this new beginning.
Now I have taken the time I have been needing to for some time. I have done what helps me understand who I am...and it's what really matters!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Consensus
April 22, 2010 — An online dictionary definition of "consensus" results in the following: (1) majority of opinion, and (2) general agreement or concord; harmony. How often have you been involved in an organization or committee or business where decisions were to be made by "consensus?" I have found that everyone I have been associated with that is the case except those where it is explicitly dictated that such things as Robert's Rules of Order or Demeter's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure are to be followed.
All to often I find that the word "consensus" is used for convenience sake especially in what many profess to be a "teaming" environment. It looks good to say that "the team" reaches decisions by consensus. It makes one feel good doesn't it? Balderdash! In my opinion it makes for endless debate and rehashing of an issue over and over ad nauseam. A team has to have a leader...right? Every team I have been a part of that has been the case. Is it not reasonable then that the team leader sets an appropriate time limit for debate and the reaching of consensus. The answer is Yes and Yes again! Is it not reasonable that the leader steps up to the plate and having heard all the arguments...oops I meant discussions...makes a decision? Yes it is! If that leader then wants to say that the decision was reached by consensus then so be it. However, it is the facts that should dictate the decision...not consensus. Let's remember that consensus can be defined as a majority of OPINION. Opinions...including mine...can be dead wrong and a persuasive speaker can lead a team/group down the wrong path or just ignore the opinion of others.
It is my military background and my general distaste for meetings that has led me to this blog topic. I am all for being a part of a team, but being a part of one that is dynamic and moving forward in a timely manner. Consensus often gets in the way of that movement. Let's make a decision and get on down the road...it's what really matters!
All to often I find that the word "consensus" is used for convenience sake especially in what many profess to be a "teaming" environment. It looks good to say that "the team" reaches decisions by consensus. It makes one feel good doesn't it? Balderdash! In my opinion it makes for endless debate and rehashing of an issue over and over ad nauseam. A team has to have a leader...right? Every team I have been a part of that has been the case. Is it not reasonable then that the team leader sets an appropriate time limit for debate and the reaching of consensus. The answer is Yes and Yes again! Is it not reasonable that the leader steps up to the plate and having heard all the arguments...oops I meant discussions...makes a decision? Yes it is! If that leader then wants to say that the decision was reached by consensus then so be it. However, it is the facts that should dictate the decision...not consensus. Let's remember that consensus can be defined as a majority of OPINION. Opinions...including mine...can be dead wrong and a persuasive speaker can lead a team/group down the wrong path or just ignore the opinion of others.
It is my military background and my general distaste for meetings that has led me to this blog topic. I am all for being a part of a team, but being a part of one that is dynamic and moving forward in a timely manner. Consensus often gets in the way of that movement. Let's make a decision and get on down the road...it's what really matters!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
I Know Who You Are
April 12, 2010 — The following is both therapeutic and hard for me to blog. I have felt for sometime that I needed to do this, but wondered just how I could best present how I feel without it seeming like I was wallowing in self-pity which I am not. So, what follows is an open letter to my son...
Dear Son:
I have known for sometime now that I needed to write this letter to you. I do not know if you will ever read this, but I do know that it will be here if you choose to do so. It was almost 19-years ago that your mother and I divorced. You were barely 2-years old and I knew then that I would have a presence in your life. Your mother and I never really bickered over sharing the responsibilities of raising you and we did so as best we could given the circumstances. Oh, there is not doubt that mistakes were made on our part. There always seemed to be this issue or that we had to get through and we did. I knew as you got older that there were challenges to be met and for my part I did so and again not without error. I know now what those errors were...and I also know that I cannot go and undue them.
As you began your journey through your teen years we shared a lot. We made some trips together and we played some golf together. There were many joys and some sorrows. I was so proud and tried to be very supportive of your involvement in the Drum Line. It was a great experience for us both. I realized that you wanted very much to begin making your own decisions about things and I knew this was a process that you must learn and be able to exercise. I also knew that you did not possess the life experiences to help you make good and healthy decisions right away and there were often times I felt it my responsibility to protect you from things I felt that you were not quite ready to handle. To this day I feel that was right and what a father that loves his son should do. But you persisted and as I now realize you were not ready and you did make some decisions that have led you to where you are now.
As we both know today there are things that I cannot protect you from as much as I may want to do so. That want is there because I am your father. That wanting to protect never seems to change for a parent that cares and loves for their children. God intended for it to be that way...it never, ever changes!
I have been given so much advice over the past several years concerning our relationship. Most of that advice has been good and sound. I know the immediate future for you holds many scary and challenging situations. They are necessary because that is the law of this land and it must be obeyed. Without the Rule of Law we have chaos and it is my fervent hope that you will begin to change your attitude about the law and realize that what I say is true...that you cannot remain on a path of doing your own thing and that everybody else must adjust to your ways...it is my hope that you begin to realize that your belief that as long as you are not doing something to hurt others that it is perfectly okay for you to do what you want. Surely you must realize that you have been lying to yourself about that. It is undeniable that what you have been doing not only hurts yourself, but indeed does hurt others.
And now comes the accountability and the taking of the responsibility for your actions. I know this...accountability and responsibility are undeniable. It is a life long journey in learning about them. Oh, there are those that will profess that they know all about it, but in my opinion they are in denial of some sort. One does not just simply wake up one morning and know it all. It is not possible because we are not done at any set time in experiencing life except when death comes. Each new day that we live presents new and interesting challenges...and along with those challenges comes accountability and responsibility for our actions in meeting them.
I also know this...at the very heart of my soul I know this...I know who you are and I know where you come from. I know that down deep inside you there resides a man that has a goodness about him. I know that down deep there is that something special that will allow you to rise above your bad decisions, own up to your mistakes, that something special that will teach you and guide you along in your years. That something special comes from the goodness of your family, of our caring, and of our unconditional love for one another. It is my prayer that this something special inside you will soon be ignited and soar like a rocket...it is what really matters!
Love,
Dad
Dear Son:
I have known for sometime now that I needed to write this letter to you. I do not know if you will ever read this, but I do know that it will be here if you choose to do so. It was almost 19-years ago that your mother and I divorced. You were barely 2-years old and I knew then that I would have a presence in your life. Your mother and I never really bickered over sharing the responsibilities of raising you and we did so as best we could given the circumstances. Oh, there is not doubt that mistakes were made on our part. There always seemed to be this issue or that we had to get through and we did. I knew as you got older that there were challenges to be met and for my part I did so and again not without error. I know now what those errors were...and I also know that I cannot go and undue them.
As you began your journey through your teen years we shared a lot. We made some trips together and we played some golf together. There were many joys and some sorrows. I was so proud and tried to be very supportive of your involvement in the Drum Line. It was a great experience for us both. I realized that you wanted very much to begin making your own decisions about things and I knew this was a process that you must learn and be able to exercise. I also knew that you did not possess the life experiences to help you make good and healthy decisions right away and there were often times I felt it my responsibility to protect you from things I felt that you were not quite ready to handle. To this day I feel that was right and what a father that loves his son should do. But you persisted and as I now realize you were not ready and you did make some decisions that have led you to where you are now.
As we both know today there are things that I cannot protect you from as much as I may want to do so. That want is there because I am your father. That wanting to protect never seems to change for a parent that cares and loves for their children. God intended for it to be that way...it never, ever changes!
I have been given so much advice over the past several years concerning our relationship. Most of that advice has been good and sound. I know the immediate future for you holds many scary and challenging situations. They are necessary because that is the law of this land and it must be obeyed. Without the Rule of Law we have chaos and it is my fervent hope that you will begin to change your attitude about the law and realize that what I say is true...that you cannot remain on a path of doing your own thing and that everybody else must adjust to your ways...it is my hope that you begin to realize that your belief that as long as you are not doing something to hurt others that it is perfectly okay for you to do what you want. Surely you must realize that you have been lying to yourself about that. It is undeniable that what you have been doing not only hurts yourself, but indeed does hurt others.
And now comes the accountability and the taking of the responsibility for your actions. I know this...accountability and responsibility are undeniable. It is a life long journey in learning about them. Oh, there are those that will profess that they know all about it, but in my opinion they are in denial of some sort. One does not just simply wake up one morning and know it all. It is not possible because we are not done at any set time in experiencing life except when death comes. Each new day that we live presents new and interesting challenges...and along with those challenges comes accountability and responsibility for our actions in meeting them.
I also know this...at the very heart of my soul I know this...I know who you are and I know where you come from. I know that down deep inside you there resides a man that has a goodness about him. I know that down deep there is that something special that will allow you to rise above your bad decisions, own up to your mistakes, that something special that will teach you and guide you along in your years. That something special comes from the goodness of your family, of our caring, and of our unconditional love for one another. It is my prayer that this something special inside you will soon be ignited and soar like a rocket...it is what really matters!
Love,
Dad
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Maybe The Rule of Law Does Not Suck
April 7, 2010 — In my last blog I took a healthy swipe at The Rule of Law. Anyone that knows me realizes that I do have a complete respect for the laws of this land. It was not my intention to indicate otherwise in my last blog. Since writing that story the picture it painted has changed.
When my friend and his wife completed their 2009 tax return, they did so under my guidance. In fact I completed the forms including the Injured Spouse Allocation. In signing the return they indicated that I was a Third Party Designee on the return so that if problems arose then the IRS would have to talk to me. We are so glad we did this and their is value to you in our story here.
In a call I made this past Monday to the IRS, I was able to ascertain that the return was not adjudicated properly. The IRS Customer Service Rep I dealt with over the phone was extremely helpful. In her examination of the record in the IRS system it was clear to her that the Injured Spouse Allocation form was ignored by the adjudicator even though it was present and available to that individual. This resulted in the applicable IRS code not being applied appropriately...my friends refund being incorrectly applied to his wife's debt and all sort of ill feelings being generated.
Here is my point. Don't ever take No for an answer until you have exhausted all legal recourse. Question everything that does not make sense to you until you are provided with a sound answer irregardless of whether it is one you want to hear or not. My friends return has been given back to the original adjudicator who must now apply the appropriate IRS codes, make the necessary changes, do the right thing, and do so within 30-days. This story will have a much more happy ending.
So, my faith in the system...my respect for The Rule of Law is restored...and again I must note that I never really thought that The Rule of Law sucks because it doesn't...it is what really matters!
When my friend and his wife completed their 2009 tax return, they did so under my guidance. In fact I completed the forms including the Injured Spouse Allocation. In signing the return they indicated that I was a Third Party Designee on the return so that if problems arose then the IRS would have to talk to me. We are so glad we did this and their is value to you in our story here.
In a call I made this past Monday to the IRS, I was able to ascertain that the return was not adjudicated properly. The IRS Customer Service Rep I dealt with over the phone was extremely helpful. In her examination of the record in the IRS system it was clear to her that the Injured Spouse Allocation form was ignored by the adjudicator even though it was present and available to that individual. This resulted in the applicable IRS code not being applied appropriately...my friends refund being incorrectly applied to his wife's debt and all sort of ill feelings being generated.
Here is my point. Don't ever take No for an answer until you have exhausted all legal recourse. Question everything that does not make sense to you until you are provided with a sound answer irregardless of whether it is one you want to hear or not. My friends return has been given back to the original adjudicator who must now apply the appropriate IRS codes, make the necessary changes, do the right thing, and do so within 30-days. This story will have a much more happy ending.
So, my faith in the system...my respect for The Rule of Law is restored...and again I must note that I never really thought that The Rule of Law sucks because it doesn't...it is what really matters!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Sometimes the Rule of Law Sucks!
April 4, 2010 — I have been so busy lately that I just have not had time to do much "blogging." But something happened yesterday to a friend of mine that points out the injustice and inequality of some of our laws and legal codes. It has driven me to the title of this blog that Sometimes the Rule of Law Sucks. Now just what do I mean here.
My friend received a letter from our friends at the Internal Revenue Service informing him that he and his wife's joint 2009 tax refund was being tagged by the State of Texas Attorney General Office for payment on back child support owed by the wife in a previous marriage. My friend had known that this was a distinct possibility and had taken the steps to file the appropriate IRS Form "Umpty Squat" titled Injured Spouse. He knew, as the IRS advised, that the filing of the form would delay he and his wife's return by some 8-11 weeks. They waited patiently knowing full well that the IRS would adjudicate the matter in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas. Boy are they getting screwed!
No one is beyond the letter of the law (do you hear that those of you in Congress?)...oh I digress...so back on topic! The wife was wrong in falling behind in child support and had signed an agreement drawn up in 2005 by her former spouse wherein she acknowledged a child support payment of so much a month. However, her former spouse never filed the agreement with the court until 2009 and then went to the State AGs Office and filed a complaint for lack of payment. All of this allegedly legal within the laws of the state. But why did the former spouse wait to file with the court? Prior to April 5th 2008, the former spouse knew my friends wife had little means of supporting herself as she was going through some difficult personal issues which she got through with flying colors and then she married my friend on the above date. This apparently woke up her former spouse who knew that my friend worked a good job and decided in 2009 to pursue the back support. Again, all allegedly perfectly legal...but it smells really, really bad!
I will inject here that my friends wife is an excellent mother to her three children. I know this because I observe it daily and I have good reference and that is my own wonderful Mom. Her husband, my friend, is good to all three kids and has never argued why he has to help support them. He is there for those kids!
So what sucks here. Why is the State of Texas grabbing my friends income or more correctly his portion of the tax return refund to pay towards this debt? How does the state figure that is right and just. Please remember that all of this situation occurred outside their marriage except when (2009) the former spouse filed with the State Ags Office for back support. It apparently is because the State of Texas is a community property state...such nonsense! Community property has its place in Family Law...but in my uneducated opinion...not here. I am not a lawyer versed in any law much less Texas Family Law, but this just does not make good common sense...in fact it SUCKS! We are not talking about a small amount of money here folks. These kids were counting on this large refund knowing it was going to reduced by some amount because the wife did have income in 2009 that she alone earned. They were counting on it to support their growing family and to use for the child that is a part of this mess. They do not separate their children...they view and treat them all equally and as theirs!
It took me awhile to settle my friend down and help his wife through her well deserved cry over this. It was my advice that they should do as the letter they received from the IRS suggest...contact the Texas AG Office for help and explanation and what, if any, recourse they might have. They cannot afford an attorney...that is well beyond their means. But I advised that if they take immediate action and stay within the law that they might come to a better conclusion. I will help them do that...not because I think I am smarter that anybody else, but because they need my help.
In the meantime, how the IRS reached this decision and how the matter was interpreted needs to be examined, explained, and brought in-line with reality....it's what really matters!
My friend received a letter from our friends at the Internal Revenue Service informing him that he and his wife's joint 2009 tax refund was being tagged by the State of Texas Attorney General Office for payment on back child support owed by the wife in a previous marriage. My friend had known that this was a distinct possibility and had taken the steps to file the appropriate IRS Form "Umpty Squat" titled Injured Spouse. He knew, as the IRS advised, that the filing of the form would delay he and his wife's return by some 8-11 weeks. They waited patiently knowing full well that the IRS would adjudicate the matter in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas. Boy are they getting screwed!
No one is beyond the letter of the law (do you hear that those of you in Congress?)...oh I digress...so back on topic! The wife was wrong in falling behind in child support and had signed an agreement drawn up in 2005 by her former spouse wherein she acknowledged a child support payment of so much a month. However, her former spouse never filed the agreement with the court until 2009 and then went to the State AGs Office and filed a complaint for lack of payment. All of this allegedly legal within the laws of the state. But why did the former spouse wait to file with the court? Prior to April 5th 2008, the former spouse knew my friends wife had little means of supporting herself as she was going through some difficult personal issues which she got through with flying colors and then she married my friend on the above date. This apparently woke up her former spouse who knew that my friend worked a good job and decided in 2009 to pursue the back support. Again, all allegedly perfectly legal...but it smells really, really bad!
I will inject here that my friends wife is an excellent mother to her three children. I know this because I observe it daily and I have good reference and that is my own wonderful Mom. Her husband, my friend, is good to all three kids and has never argued why he has to help support them. He is there for those kids!
So what sucks here. Why is the State of Texas grabbing my friends income or more correctly his portion of the tax return refund to pay towards this debt? How does the state figure that is right and just. Please remember that all of this situation occurred outside their marriage except when (2009) the former spouse filed with the State Ags Office for back support. It apparently is because the State of Texas is a community property state...such nonsense! Community property has its place in Family Law...but in my uneducated opinion...not here. I am not a lawyer versed in any law much less Texas Family Law, but this just does not make good common sense...in fact it SUCKS! We are not talking about a small amount of money here folks. These kids were counting on this large refund knowing it was going to reduced by some amount because the wife did have income in 2009 that she alone earned. They were counting on it to support their growing family and to use for the child that is a part of this mess. They do not separate their children...they view and treat them all equally and as theirs!
It took me awhile to settle my friend down and help his wife through her well deserved cry over this. It was my advice that they should do as the letter they received from the IRS suggest...contact the Texas AG Office for help and explanation and what, if any, recourse they might have. They cannot afford an attorney...that is well beyond their means. But I advised that if they take immediate action and stay within the law that they might come to a better conclusion. I will help them do that...not because I think I am smarter that anybody else, but because they need my help.
In the meantime, how the IRS reached this decision and how the matter was interpreted needs to be examined, explained, and brought in-line with reality....it's what really matters!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Just What Do You Mean?
March 14, 2010 — My oldest grandson is almost 17-years old and really a pretty good guy. He is bright, likes to be involved, plays in the school band, and many other things. But, he is just almost 17 and is just down right perplexing sometimes in what he says. He is an avid user of the social media Facebook as I am and that is where my concern for him arises.
Now I'll be the first to admit that I am far removed from the language and in many cases the thought processes of young people today. Having just helped raise my own son who is now 20-years old through his teen years, I realize I did some things right and then there were some things I did not do correctly. That is okay and I certainly can't change any of it, but I can learn from it and use the experiences in my relationship with my grandson. One thing is for sure...I did not understand a good deal of what my son was often saying and doing and I find that to be the case again with the grandson. It is important for me to approach these issues with him differently.
I am not wanting to spend a lot of time in learning how young people of today think and feel...I know it is different then when I was there age. I do, however, owe them a measure of respect in being willing to listen. There has been and is much said about respect...that it cannot be demanded and has to earned is one thing that stands out. I am of the "old school" view on this though. If I am the Dad or the Grandad, then by virtue of that fact I deserve respect. I deserve to hear yes sir and no sir, please and thank you, those common courtesies I was taught as a young man that demonstrate a measure of respect. I deserve the courtesy of not being talked back to and answers to my questions when I ask some thing like...Just what do you mean? At the same time, I know I must show and share my experiences with the young in a respectful manner. Unfortunately, this is an issue that I am far apart on with my grandson or it is becoming increasingly apparent that is the case.
I am also of the "old school" on the issue of responsibility. My life experiences have taught me that having to take responsibility for my word and action is inescapable. This more then anything else in today's world is what young people do not understand and consistently demonstrate they have little tolerance for. As it was with my son, it is also the case with my grandson. He feels he can say whatever pops into his head whether or not it is rational, factual, or truthful. He quite often shows that he does not care whatsoever if his words hurt or could be misunderstood. More times than not he is not very forthcoming in an explanation when asked what he means. Okay he is young and he certainly does not yet have the advantage of many life experiences. But now is the time to start learning those sometimes hard lessons of life...that words and actions do hurt sometimes more then the cut of a knife...that you do have to take responsibility.
I cannot demand that my grandson learn these things. However, I can continue to ask the questions when I do not understand...to continue to attempt to have active dialog with him albeit long distance...to share my experiences with him...to listen to his side of the story. To do otherwise would be irresponsible on my part. I am bound and determined to help and show him how much I care...it's what really matters!
Now I'll be the first to admit that I am far removed from the language and in many cases the thought processes of young people today. Having just helped raise my own son who is now 20-years old through his teen years, I realize I did some things right and then there were some things I did not do correctly. That is okay and I certainly can't change any of it, but I can learn from it and use the experiences in my relationship with my grandson. One thing is for sure...I did not understand a good deal of what my son was often saying and doing and I find that to be the case again with the grandson. It is important for me to approach these issues with him differently.
I am not wanting to spend a lot of time in learning how young people of today think and feel...I know it is different then when I was there age. I do, however, owe them a measure of respect in being willing to listen. There has been and is much said about respect...that it cannot be demanded and has to earned is one thing that stands out. I am of the "old school" view on this though. If I am the Dad or the Grandad, then by virtue of that fact I deserve respect. I deserve to hear yes sir and no sir, please and thank you, those common courtesies I was taught as a young man that demonstrate a measure of respect. I deserve the courtesy of not being talked back to and answers to my questions when I ask some thing like...Just what do you mean? At the same time, I know I must show and share my experiences with the young in a respectful manner. Unfortunately, this is an issue that I am far apart on with my grandson or it is becoming increasingly apparent that is the case.
I am also of the "old school" on the issue of responsibility. My life experiences have taught me that having to take responsibility for my word and action is inescapable. This more then anything else in today's world is what young people do not understand and consistently demonstrate they have little tolerance for. As it was with my son, it is also the case with my grandson. He feels he can say whatever pops into his head whether or not it is rational, factual, or truthful. He quite often shows that he does not care whatsoever if his words hurt or could be misunderstood. More times than not he is not very forthcoming in an explanation when asked what he means. Okay he is young and he certainly does not yet have the advantage of many life experiences. But now is the time to start learning those sometimes hard lessons of life...that words and actions do hurt sometimes more then the cut of a knife...that you do have to take responsibility.
I cannot demand that my grandson learn these things. However, I can continue to ask the questions when I do not understand...to continue to attempt to have active dialog with him albeit long distance...to share my experiences with him...to listen to his side of the story. To do otherwise would be irresponsible on my part. I am bound and determined to help and show him how much I care...it's what really matters!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
I Need A Doctor Because I Am Sick of the Health Care Reform Issue
March 7, 2010 — I was recently inspired to read this editorial in the New York Times (NYT) http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/opinion/07sun1.html?pagewanted=1&ref=opinion by a well intentioned post on Facebook from a friend. The editorial piece, while it does have some merit, is nothing more than an ad for what the administration and most Congressional Democrats want in the way of reform. It takes direct slaps at the Republicans using such descriptors as "paltry proposals", "small dent", "happily fanned those fears", etc, etc. It does an excellent job of presenting big numbers about this and that such as the number of uninsured in the country as of 2008 and the expected uninsured in 2019...how cost of health care has risen in recent times. And, it goes on to point to what is happening in that foreign country known as California and how Anthem Blue Cross is planning on hiking premium rates by 35-39% for nearly a quarter of those it insures. It notes we should be alarmed by this and hints that this is the sort of thing that will happen to all of us if health care reform fails. Well I truly have a few questions:
1) How is the program (the proposed reform) fully paid for and how should it actually reduce the deficit over the next two decades? Here is the quote from the editorial that prompts my question: "But, despite what the critics charge, this is not a government takeover. And the program is not only fully paid for, it should actually reduce the deficit over the next two decades."
2) What is the estmated penalty if I do not purchase insurance under this proposal? The editorial states: "Under the new system, all people would be required to have health insurance or pay a penalty."
3) The Congressional Budget Office estimates that at the current rate there will be 54 million uninsured by 2019. The Senate's reform bill would reduce that number by an estimated 31 million by 2019. Now lets see...using my elementary arithmetic... 54 million minus 31 million leaves a remainder of 23 million uninsured. What are they chopped liver? What happened to coverage for all?
4) How will those individuals that by their own insurance or work for a small business that currently cannot afford to cover their employees health insurance be able to get a better deal if they can purchase their insurance on a competitive exchange? What is the estimated cost of such a policy? The editorial says: "All of these groups should be able to get a better deal if they can buy their insurance through new, competitive exchanges."
5) What is the estimated subsidy (in hard dollars) that would be forthcoming to help low- and middle-income people pay their premiums. The editorial says: "Reform would help them by setting minimum standards of coverage and providing subsidies to tens of millions of low- and middle-income people to help pay their premiums."
6) Here is another editorial statement: "Pending reform legislation, specifically the Senate bill, would launch an array of pilot projects to test reforms in delivering and paying for care. It would also create a special board to accelerate the adoption of anything that seemed to work. That seems a reasonable way to go and a lot better than standing by as costs continue to spiral out of control. The Republicans’ proposals — including their call to cap malpractice awards — would make only a small dent in the problem." What are these arrays of "pilot projects" they claim will test the reform provisions? Who would sit on the "special board" that would accelerate the adoption of anything that works? (geesh that is an incredible way to put it)
7) How does the Senate bill reduce the deficit by an estimated $132 billion in the first ten years and more in the next decade? The editorial states: " The truth of the matter is that the pending reform legislation has been designed to generate enough revenue and savings to more than offset the substantial cost of expanding Medicaid and providing subsidies to the middle class."
"The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the Senate bill would reduce deficits over the first 10 years by $132 billion and even more in the second decade."
While I can agree that maintaining the status quo on health care is not sustainable, I need answers to the above questions before I can do the right thing. If anyone reading this blog can provide factual and sane (dare I say that) arguments to the questions proposed, I will welcome them in the light of honest debate.
The editorial left out one line at the bottom of the article. It should have stated: "The preceding editorial was paid for by the Democratic Party of the United States and we approve its content."
Now I am heading to the Drs office in the morning and get some meds for this bad case of "I Am Sick of the Health Care Reform Issue" bug I have...it's what really matters!
1) How is the program (the proposed reform) fully paid for and how should it actually reduce the deficit over the next two decades? Here is the quote from the editorial that prompts my question: "But, despite what the critics charge, this is not a government takeover. And the program is not only fully paid for, it should actually reduce the deficit over the next two decades."
2) What is the estmated penalty if I do not purchase insurance under this proposal? The editorial states: "Under the new system, all people would be required to have health insurance or pay a penalty."
3) The Congressional Budget Office estimates that at the current rate there will be 54 million uninsured by 2019. The Senate's reform bill would reduce that number by an estimated 31 million by 2019. Now lets see...using my elementary arithmetic... 54 million minus 31 million leaves a remainder of 23 million uninsured. What are they chopped liver? What happened to coverage for all?
4) How will those individuals that by their own insurance or work for a small business that currently cannot afford to cover their employees health insurance be able to get a better deal if they can purchase their insurance on a competitive exchange? What is the estimated cost of such a policy? The editorial says: "All of these groups should be able to get a better deal if they can buy their insurance through new, competitive exchanges."
5) What is the estimated subsidy (in hard dollars) that would be forthcoming to help low- and middle-income people pay their premiums. The editorial says: "Reform would help them by setting minimum standards of coverage and providing subsidies to tens of millions of low- and middle-income people to help pay their premiums."
6) Here is another editorial statement: "Pending reform legislation, specifically the Senate bill, would launch an array of pilot projects to test reforms in delivering and paying for care. It would also create a special board to accelerate the adoption of anything that seemed to work. That seems a reasonable way to go and a lot better than standing by as costs continue to spiral out of control. The Republicans’ proposals — including their call to cap malpractice awards — would make only a small dent in the problem." What are these arrays of "pilot projects" they claim will test the reform provisions? Who would sit on the "special board" that would accelerate the adoption of anything that works? (geesh that is an incredible way to put it)
7) How does the Senate bill reduce the deficit by an estimated $132 billion in the first ten years and more in the next decade? The editorial states: " The truth of the matter is that the pending reform legislation has been designed to generate enough revenue and savings to more than offset the substantial cost of expanding Medicaid and providing subsidies to the middle class."
"The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the Senate bill would reduce deficits over the first 10 years by $132 billion and even more in the second decade."
While I can agree that maintaining the status quo on health care is not sustainable, I need answers to the above questions before I can do the right thing. If anyone reading this blog can provide factual and sane (dare I say that) arguments to the questions proposed, I will welcome them in the light of honest debate.
The editorial left out one line at the bottom of the article. It should have stated: "The preceding editorial was paid for by the Democratic Party of the United States and we approve its content."
Now I am heading to the Drs office in the morning and get some meds for this bad case of "I Am Sick of the Health Care Reform Issue" bug I have...it's what really matters!
Monday, March 1, 2010
12 Steps To A New Life
March 2, 2010 — There have been two significant periods in my life when I thought alcohol was just what I needed to make everything right...to make me feel accepted...to ease my worries...to you name it...I thought during these periods that alcohol was the answer. During these times there was always something that came along that was better and I was able to temper my use of alcohol...I guess I never became truly addicted...and I guess I was just plain lucky in that.
For others the story is not so lucky. For some their addiction runs deep. Whether it is an alcohol or meth or other substance addiction, they are in a battle to survive. I have been fortunate to know several recovering addicts. I say fortunate because their story of recovery is truly remarkable and it all centers on Alcoholic Anonymous' 12 Step Program. It is a story we can all learn from.
Karen and I know a married couple that are good friends. This couple has been in successful recovery for the past sixteen years. They have never been reluctant to talk about their story of addiction...how their life while in the grip of drugs and alcohol was worthless...how they felt that they were not worthy of anything. Even with two children the most important thing in their life for so long was just when were they going to be able to get high again. It took its toll until they found AA and sobriety. The wonderful thing about this recovery is it has been going on for sixteen years and they remain committed to AA and the 12 Step Program. Today they own their own successful business and enjoy being grandparents. Theirs is a great story.
I have had family members that have gone into recovery from an addiction. With these family members the story is much like our married couple friends. Something led them to find that there is a better life than the one they were leading in their addiction. Each found the 12 Step Program, each found a way to combat their addiction, and each found a way to keep from dying.
Now comes another family member that is battling addiction. This hits close to home to one that is in a close knit family and so many of us are. We look for easy answers and there are none. We may seek ways to help and there are many. Love and understanding are the most important of these. I recently visited this family member where they are going through rehab and was struck by two things. First I saw a determination in this person's eyes that said volumes about what they need to do. Secondly, I asked what their plans were after rehab. They grabbed hold of the AA book in front of them and said..."it's all in here." It's all in the 12 Step Program and within them self. My family member needs the love and understanding that only a family can give to help them along their recovery road. They need the love and understanding of others that are recovering. With all of this support, their story of recovery will also be a successful one...it's what really matters!
For others the story is not so lucky. For some their addiction runs deep. Whether it is an alcohol or meth or other substance addiction, they are in a battle to survive. I have been fortunate to know several recovering addicts. I say fortunate because their story of recovery is truly remarkable and it all centers on Alcoholic Anonymous' 12 Step Program. It is a story we can all learn from.
Karen and I know a married couple that are good friends. This couple has been in successful recovery for the past sixteen years. They have never been reluctant to talk about their story of addiction...how their life while in the grip of drugs and alcohol was worthless...how they felt that they were not worthy of anything. Even with two children the most important thing in their life for so long was just when were they going to be able to get high again. It took its toll until they found AA and sobriety. The wonderful thing about this recovery is it has been going on for sixteen years and they remain committed to AA and the 12 Step Program. Today they own their own successful business and enjoy being grandparents. Theirs is a great story.
I have had family members that have gone into recovery from an addiction. With these family members the story is much like our married couple friends. Something led them to find that there is a better life than the one they were leading in their addiction. Each found the 12 Step Program, each found a way to combat their addiction, and each found a way to keep from dying.
Now comes another family member that is battling addiction. This hits close to home to one that is in a close knit family and so many of us are. We look for easy answers and there are none. We may seek ways to help and there are many. Love and understanding are the most important of these. I recently visited this family member where they are going through rehab and was struck by two things. First I saw a determination in this person's eyes that said volumes about what they need to do. Secondly, I asked what their plans were after rehab. They grabbed hold of the AA book in front of them and said..."it's all in here." It's all in the 12 Step Program and within them self. My family member needs the love and understanding that only a family can give to help them along their recovery road. They need the love and understanding of others that are recovering. With all of this support, their story of recovery will also be a successful one...it's what really matters!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Let's All Just Kick Tiger Woods
February 19, 2010 — First and foremost this is not about Tiger Woods (TW) the golfer. It is about TW the human being. It is absolutely laughable and appalling at the same time the way that the main stream media, TW's golf peers, and some of his so called friends have treated him since this scandal broke this past Thanksgiving. There has been much condemnation and shame cast his way from many parties. People have demanded that he should do this or that and in particular make a public apology. Well he did that today and look at what is happening.
When TW announced this week that he was going to make his public apology today at PGA Tour headquarters, the first thing his critics (news media and golf peers) accused him of was taking a slap at a former business sponsor Accenture for having dropped him as a spokesperson after his problem became public. How idiotic! Not only do these people think they can tell him what to do, but when to do it. Oh and the Golf Writer Association of America (GWAA) made a big point of the fact that they were boycotting the apology because they were not going to be allowed to interrogate TW with their probing questions. Gee, you won't play my rules TW so I am taking my golf ball and going home. I say...GO HOME and stay there! Immediately following his very public apology, the question has been raised by the critics as to whether or not TW is sincere in his apology. These people don't want an apology...they want TW on public display so they can kick him time and time again...so they can write their sensational articles full of pure BS. Oh I forget that they do have to make a living don't they regardless at whose expense.
Some of TW's golf peers have made very public statements about his problem. Golfers like Tom Watson, Jesper Parnavik, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Johnny Miller, Frank Nabilo have made public statements condemning TW in many ways. Each of these men have lost a measure of my respect. They each should have taken a lesson from the great Jack Nicklaus and his statement early on that this was a family issue and one that should be handled as such. But no, they could not and will not do that because they see a chance to kick a man that has beat their brains out on the golf course.
To all of these "pundits" I would remind of a verse from the Holy bible..."Let He Who Is Without Sin Cast The First Stone" John 8:7. But know, they don't care about such things and only want to keep chucking those stones.
I am not a psychologist, but it appears that what TW has is an addiction much like an alcoholic. It is a very private matter of his and his family. What has gone on between TW and his wife Elin is exactly that...between himself and Elin and is no business of anybody else. And shame should be cast on those that pursue and stalk Elin and their children...all for sensationalism sake. How traumatic they (the media and "papapizza" boys) are making this for their children. It is disgraceful and scary. What TW did today is part of his therapy...it is part of the 12 Step Program in dealing with addiction. It is the right thing to do.
The Tiger Woods Foundation has helped and continues to help millions of kids. TW apologized to those involved in the foundation and clearly stated that this important work will go on. He clearly apologized to the parents and their children who have idolized him and that he would work hard to gain back their respect. Most importantly he clearly stated that the discussions going on between himself, Elin, and the rest of his family will remain private...and that is as it should be. So, all you critics need to learn something here...there is more to life than sensationalism, reality TV, American Idol, and all your other cravings to satisfy your own desires. Practice forgiveness if you will...practice tolerance if you will...practice love for a fellow human being. Just quit kicking TW...it's what really matters!
When TW announced this week that he was going to make his public apology today at PGA Tour headquarters, the first thing his critics (news media and golf peers) accused him of was taking a slap at a former business sponsor Accenture for having dropped him as a spokesperson after his problem became public. How idiotic! Not only do these people think they can tell him what to do, but when to do it. Oh and the Golf Writer Association of America (GWAA) made a big point of the fact that they were boycotting the apology because they were not going to be allowed to interrogate TW with their probing questions. Gee, you won't play my rules TW so I am taking my golf ball and going home. I say...GO HOME and stay there! Immediately following his very public apology, the question has been raised by the critics as to whether or not TW is sincere in his apology. These people don't want an apology...they want TW on public display so they can kick him time and time again...so they can write their sensational articles full of pure BS. Oh I forget that they do have to make a living don't they regardless at whose expense.
Some of TW's golf peers have made very public statements about his problem. Golfers like Tom Watson, Jesper Parnavik, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Johnny Miller, Frank Nabilo have made public statements condemning TW in many ways. Each of these men have lost a measure of my respect. They each should have taken a lesson from the great Jack Nicklaus and his statement early on that this was a family issue and one that should be handled as such. But no, they could not and will not do that because they see a chance to kick a man that has beat their brains out on the golf course.
To all of these "pundits" I would remind of a verse from the Holy bible..."Let He Who Is Without Sin Cast The First Stone" John 8:7. But know, they don't care about such things and only want to keep chucking those stones.
I am not a psychologist, but it appears that what TW has is an addiction much like an alcoholic. It is a very private matter of his and his family. What has gone on between TW and his wife Elin is exactly that...between himself and Elin and is no business of anybody else. And shame should be cast on those that pursue and stalk Elin and their children...all for sensationalism sake. How traumatic they (the media and "papapizza" boys) are making this for their children. It is disgraceful and scary. What TW did today is part of his therapy...it is part of the 12 Step Program in dealing with addiction. It is the right thing to do.
The Tiger Woods Foundation has helped and continues to help millions of kids. TW apologized to those involved in the foundation and clearly stated that this important work will go on. He clearly apologized to the parents and their children who have idolized him and that he would work hard to gain back their respect. Most importantly he clearly stated that the discussions going on between himself, Elin, and the rest of his family will remain private...and that is as it should be. So, all you critics need to learn something here...there is more to life than sensationalism, reality TV, American Idol, and all your other cravings to satisfy your own desires. Practice forgiveness if you will...practice tolerance if you will...practice love for a fellow human being. Just quit kicking TW...it's what really matters!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Potpourii
February 15, 2010 — Its been almost two weeks since I last blogged in this space. It hasn't been because I haven't wanted to write. Writing is good therapy I suppose. It affords the opportunity to coherently put one's thoughts down in a printed space...be that hard copy or online. It's also an opportunity to work on grammar and spelling skills, both of which I need much improvement on or so it seems.
So, what have I been doing with my time that has taken me away from Unc's What Really Matters? Here is the quick and well...dirty:
– I am working on a number of web sites. Two of these are live at http://www.vfwpost3377.org/ and http://www.texasvfw.org/. The other two are in the early design and setup stage. All of this is very time consuming. I really enjoy doing these web sites as sort of a hobby.
– Spending time with my family. I just can't get enough of this. Karen and I took care of two of our grandsons this past weekend. There ages being 2-mos and 4-yrs they are high maintenance, but great fun. Karen was in her element as Grammaw with the baby, but realized it was not as easy as it was with her own children. The 4-yr old was my charge and I set him up to play age appropriate games from nickjr.com on the computer. He had a great time. I am not a computer gamer, but I suppose this helps somewhat with eye-hand coordination and it does introduce him to the environment (have to be careful with that though).
– Spending time with MollyB our dog. Today is MollyB's birthday. What a joy she has been for Karen and I. She had been so sick just before we got her from the rescue group Gold Ribbon Rescue http://www.grr-tx.com/. These are fantastic people taking care of great dogs. She is full of life and loves people and other dogs. At her young age she still has much to learn about social behavior, but we work on that daily. MollyB is attentive and curious about her surroundings and a very intelligent dog. Playful and loving are two descriptors that best apply to her. We are so blessed to have her in our lives. If you have ever considered adopting a rescue dog, I strongly encourage you to follow through. It is a great experience!
– I am still trying to substitute teach a few times each week. It is getting harder to do though because of health issues. So far though it has been a very enlightening experience and one that I enjoy overall. These sub jobs do consume an entire day.
– Some things have changed health wise. I have more medical appts then I care to talk about and juggling those is a full time job sometimes. I am awaiting mods being done to a foot brace that the VA is providing me along with knee braces for each knee. Once I am wearing those, I expect I'll be "braced up" pretty well. I have a history of blood clots, so take the blood thinner Coumadin. In doing so my blood needs to be checked frequently for something called my International Normalized Ratio (INR)...a standard measurement for expressing blood clot times. Normal INR is between a value of 2-3. A high INR your blood is too thin and bleeding events can occur; a low INR your blood is too thick and clot events can occur; here is a good explanation http://www.clotcare.com/clotcare/ptinr.aspx.
I need to have my abdominal aortic aneurysm checked again via ultra-sound. Getting a timely appointment with my Vascular surgeon though is like trying to get in to see the Queen. I will be working in that issue this week.
Okay, that is the sick call report for this blog...GEESH!
In fact that's about it and as always... it's what really matters!
So, what have I been doing with my time that has taken me away from Unc's What Really Matters? Here is the quick and well...dirty:
– I am working on a number of web sites. Two of these are live at http://www.vfwpost3377.org/ and http://www.texasvfw.org/. The other two are in the early design and setup stage. All of this is very time consuming. I really enjoy doing these web sites as sort of a hobby.
– Spending time with my family. I just can't get enough of this. Karen and I took care of two of our grandsons this past weekend. There ages being 2-mos and 4-yrs they are high maintenance, but great fun. Karen was in her element as Grammaw with the baby, but realized it was not as easy as it was with her own children. The 4-yr old was my charge and I set him up to play age appropriate games from nickjr.com on the computer. He had a great time. I am not a computer gamer, but I suppose this helps somewhat with eye-hand coordination and it does introduce him to the environment (have to be careful with that though).
– Spending time with MollyB our dog. Today is MollyB's birthday. What a joy she has been for Karen and I. She had been so sick just before we got her from the rescue group Gold Ribbon Rescue http://www.grr-tx.com/. These are fantastic people taking care of great dogs. She is full of life and loves people and other dogs. At her young age she still has much to learn about social behavior, but we work on that daily. MollyB is attentive and curious about her surroundings and a very intelligent dog. Playful and loving are two descriptors that best apply to her. We are so blessed to have her in our lives. If you have ever considered adopting a rescue dog, I strongly encourage you to follow through. It is a great experience!
– I am still trying to substitute teach a few times each week. It is getting harder to do though because of health issues. So far though it has been a very enlightening experience and one that I enjoy overall. These sub jobs do consume an entire day.
– Some things have changed health wise. I have more medical appts then I care to talk about and juggling those is a full time job sometimes. I am awaiting mods being done to a foot brace that the VA is providing me along with knee braces for each knee. Once I am wearing those, I expect I'll be "braced up" pretty well. I have a history of blood clots, so take the blood thinner Coumadin. In doing so my blood needs to be checked frequently for something called my International Normalized Ratio (INR)...a standard measurement for expressing blood clot times. Normal INR is between a value of 2-3. A high INR your blood is too thin and bleeding events can occur; a low INR your blood is too thick and clot events can occur; here is a good explanation http://www.clotcare.com/clotcare/ptinr.aspx.
I need to have my abdominal aortic aneurysm checked again via ultra-sound. Getting a timely appointment with my Vascular surgeon though is like trying to get in to see the Queen. I will be working in that issue this week.
Okay, that is the sick call report for this blog...GEESH!
In fact that's about it and as always... it's what really matters!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
My Passion As A Veteran
February 4, 2010 — On a number of occasions I have blogged about veterans and veterans issues. Anyone that knows me will tell you that I am a passionate advocate for veterans. I will go anywhere and do anything for a veteran in need. I served my country in the U.S. Navy for 22+ years and retired in 1986. In 1993 I joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3377 Manchaca, Texas as a Life Member and have been an active member since that time. I have served in many post positions and currently serve as the Post Webmaster at http://www.vfwpost3377.org/. I will soon become the manager/administrator for the VFW Department of Texas web site at http://www.texasvfw.org/.
This VFW year 2009-2010, I was nominated by VFW Department of Texas Jr. Vice Commander John Spahr for appointment as a VFW National Aide-de-Camp. Those nominated as Aide-de-Camp have demonstrated strong support of the goals of the VFW and it's motto of Honoring the Dead By Helping the Living. Each VFW state department is allocated so many Aide-de-Camps by VFW national headquarters and the top three officers in the state (Dept Cmdr, Sr. Vice Cmdr, Jr. Vice Cmdr) each make nominations and of course rank has it's privileges, so being nominated by the junior of the three officers my nomination did not survive. It was, however, an honor to have been nominated and I am very proud of that fact. Especially coming from a man who one day is predicted to be VFW National Commander-in-Chief.
Being a veterans advocate has many responsibilities. Our greatest responsibility and challenge is seeing that our government is held to the promises it has made to all veterans and active duty personnel on health care, housing, job training, and a multitude of other issues. It was not to long ago that the government did not own up to it's end of the bargain. In the last several years that has started to change thanks to the tens of thousands of veterans such as myself that have said...you will not turn your back on us. The Department of Veterans Administration (VA) is making great strides in meeting the needs of an ever growing veteran population. They still have a long way to go and are working very hard. The VA is now the only government department that by law must be fully funded come the start of the governments fiscal year on Oct 1st. The VA budget has been and continues to be increased each year. This must continue as the War on Terrorism extends longer than any of us care for and the thousands of military men and women and their families need the government's support through departments such as the VA once their service is complete. This is especially true for those wounded and maimed or mentally scarred because of their service. It is especially true for those families whose military member paid the supreme sacrifice and lost their life.
These are but a few of the reasons why I am passionate about being a veteran. As I said, I will go anywhere and do anything to help a fellow veteran and their family in need. I am also dedicated to ensuring that our government and my fellow citizens never forget the sacrifices made by veterans...it's what really matters!
This VFW year 2009-2010, I was nominated by VFW Department of Texas Jr. Vice Commander John Spahr for appointment as a VFW National Aide-de-Camp. Those nominated as Aide-de-Camp have demonstrated strong support of the goals of the VFW and it's motto of Honoring the Dead By Helping the Living. Each VFW state department is allocated so many Aide-de-Camps by VFW national headquarters and the top three officers in the state (Dept Cmdr, Sr. Vice Cmdr, Jr. Vice Cmdr) each make nominations and of course rank has it's privileges, so being nominated by the junior of the three officers my nomination did not survive. It was, however, an honor to have been nominated and I am very proud of that fact. Especially coming from a man who one day is predicted to be VFW National Commander-in-Chief.
Being a veterans advocate has many responsibilities. Our greatest responsibility and challenge is seeing that our government is held to the promises it has made to all veterans and active duty personnel on health care, housing, job training, and a multitude of other issues. It was not to long ago that the government did not own up to it's end of the bargain. In the last several years that has started to change thanks to the tens of thousands of veterans such as myself that have said...you will not turn your back on us. The Department of Veterans Administration (VA) is making great strides in meeting the needs of an ever growing veteran population. They still have a long way to go and are working very hard. The VA is now the only government department that by law must be fully funded come the start of the governments fiscal year on Oct 1st. The VA budget has been and continues to be increased each year. This must continue as the War on Terrorism extends longer than any of us care for and the thousands of military men and women and their families need the government's support through departments such as the VA once their service is complete. This is especially true for those wounded and maimed or mentally scarred because of their service. It is especially true for those families whose military member paid the supreme sacrifice and lost their life.
These are but a few of the reasons why I am passionate about being a veteran. As I said, I will go anywhere and do anything to help a fellow veteran and their family in need. I am also dedicated to ensuring that our government and my fellow citizens never forget the sacrifices made by veterans...it's what really matters!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
State of the Union...Or Disunion
January 27, 2010 — Unfortunately I did not watch the President's State of the Union address on TV this evening. I have, however, poured over the full text of his speech and the text of the Republican response delivered by Gov. McDonnell of Virgina. In the days leading up to this speech I thought that it might become historical given the dire issues we face in this country...issues that have been there for some time. I have read nothing in the President's speech that makes me believe that it will have historical impact. That aside it is worth examining the points the President made and the Republican response.
The Economy
As expected the President made the economy his central theme and rightly so. Polls indicate it is of greatest concern to Americans. The points made about government bailout are not new. Was it necessary? I agree with the President that it was necessary although it has caused a one trillion dollar increase in the deficit. From everything I have read and heard, if the government had not acted as they did then we would have slid into a much more critical state and most likely a deep depression and that could yet happen. I support his administrations move to impose fees on major banks in the payback of the government support they have received especially those that continue to ignore the fact that they should not be giving outrageous bonuses to executives simply because they are CEO or other high officer of the bank. This should and must extend to all of corporate America. Reasonable bonuses are well and good if they are based on solid performance, but history shows this not to be the case. They are paying those bonuses with our (taxpayer) money and we deserve a payback.
Jobs (Recovery Act)
The only thing the President said here that made sense to me was the talk about money and tax incentives for small business that use those incentives to create more jobs. I believe this is help at the grass roots level. That help should not come with ever tightening strings of the government. The President clearly noted that the Congress needs to work in a partisan fashion to help create more jobs. An unemployment rate of 10% nationally is just not acceptable. But, as usual the Congress is reluctant to work in a partisan fashion for the good of the people. I see nothing that indicates to me that anything will be different here.
Education
For a long time the federal government has provided states with monies through various programs for use in their public schools. Often times there have been strings attached to that money. It should always be the right of the state and not the federal government to decide on matters relating to how their children are educated. But there in lies part of the problem. We often think that testing should be the sole measure of how well our children are learning. That is certainly the case in the state of Texas and it's Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). I have looked at text books used in this state and it is crammed full of how to take the TAKS relating to that subject instead of emphasizing what is really important to learn. Teachers have no choice because their jobs are on the line. That is unfortunate because it is the student that suffers. This must stop or our children will fall further behind in competition with their peers in the world.
I applaud the President's comments about stronger support for community colleges...the increased support in Pell grants and easing of loan requirements. I also agree that universities need to take action in reigning in the horrendous increase in the cost of a four year degree and advanced degrees. They need to take responsibility for turning this around. Did the University of Texas really need to expand their football stadium? Could the money there have been better spent in helping students obtain a good education? The answer to me is a simple YES! If we do not find answers to these education issues then it will not matter how many jobs are created in this country...there will not be enough educated people to fill those jobs.
Healthcare Reform
There was absolutely nothing in the President's speech that was new. It is the same old rhetoric that has been going on for months and it is sickening. He stated several times about stepping back and taking another look at "our" proposal. Well whose proposal? Is that his administrations, the House bill, or the Senate bill? It is as unclear as ever. The bipartisanship is rampant as ever and the Congress cares less about what the public wants. Real reform is a long way off in my opinion and we the American taxpayer will continue to suffer until we send people to Washington that are firmly committed through action and not word to working together in partnership with the taxpayer and the political parties. It is our (the taxpayer/voter) responsibility to make this change for the good of us all.
Government Spending and Transparency
It's a good call to put a freeze on frivolous spending starting in 2011. But why just three years? Isn't frivolous or unnecessary spending always a bad thing especially if it is heavily influenced by lobbyist. It is good that the freeze will not affect national security, medicare, medicaid, and social security.
How could the President talk about transparency in government with a straight face? Nothing could be further from the truth in his administration so far and the current Congress. There is no transparency and all one has to do to prove that is to look at what the Senate, House, and his administration's leaders, including himself, have done to try and reconcile differences in healthcare reform. The President and the Congressional leaders in the Democratic party are clearly talking out of two sides of their mouth when it comes to transparency in government.
Veterans and Public Trust
It is necessary that we send our men and women in the armed services into harms way especially in the fight against terrorism...unfortunate...but necessary. Yes we are finally developing a 21st Century Veterans Administration. I see it every time I walk into a VA facility. I also applaud that the President and Congress recognizes that we have to take care of the vets when they return home. They are also recognizing that the military family has needs and require special attention also. This is vitally important and I hope it continues and improves.
Any administration and Congress has the undeniable responsibility to gain and nurture the public trust. What has been going on recently does nothing to help them meet that responsibility. It is the publics responsibility to hold them accountable through our vote.
The Republican Response
Gov. McDonnell of Virginia delivered the Republican response to the President's address. It was totally uninspiring to me. Oh it's good that he owned up that there was agreement in this or that...a half-hearted stab at partisanship. But where is the beef! It's just a continuation of the same ol' political rhetoric and talking the talk and not walking the walk. The Republicans are just as a much a part of the problem as the Democrats and it is time we in this country realize that. It is time that we all realize that regardless of our political beliefs we must find common ground and move forward to find cures for our ills...it's what really matters!
The Economy
As expected the President made the economy his central theme and rightly so. Polls indicate it is of greatest concern to Americans. The points made about government bailout are not new. Was it necessary? I agree with the President that it was necessary although it has caused a one trillion dollar increase in the deficit. From everything I have read and heard, if the government had not acted as they did then we would have slid into a much more critical state and most likely a deep depression and that could yet happen. I support his administrations move to impose fees on major banks in the payback of the government support they have received especially those that continue to ignore the fact that they should not be giving outrageous bonuses to executives simply because they are CEO or other high officer of the bank. This should and must extend to all of corporate America. Reasonable bonuses are well and good if they are based on solid performance, but history shows this not to be the case. They are paying those bonuses with our (taxpayer) money and we deserve a payback.
Jobs (Recovery Act)
The only thing the President said here that made sense to me was the talk about money and tax incentives for small business that use those incentives to create more jobs. I believe this is help at the grass roots level. That help should not come with ever tightening strings of the government. The President clearly noted that the Congress needs to work in a partisan fashion to help create more jobs. An unemployment rate of 10% nationally is just not acceptable. But, as usual the Congress is reluctant to work in a partisan fashion for the good of the people. I see nothing that indicates to me that anything will be different here.
Education
For a long time the federal government has provided states with monies through various programs for use in their public schools. Often times there have been strings attached to that money. It should always be the right of the state and not the federal government to decide on matters relating to how their children are educated. But there in lies part of the problem. We often think that testing should be the sole measure of how well our children are learning. That is certainly the case in the state of Texas and it's Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). I have looked at text books used in this state and it is crammed full of how to take the TAKS relating to that subject instead of emphasizing what is really important to learn. Teachers have no choice because their jobs are on the line. That is unfortunate because it is the student that suffers. This must stop or our children will fall further behind in competition with their peers in the world.
I applaud the President's comments about stronger support for community colleges...the increased support in Pell grants and easing of loan requirements. I also agree that universities need to take action in reigning in the horrendous increase in the cost of a four year degree and advanced degrees. They need to take responsibility for turning this around. Did the University of Texas really need to expand their football stadium? Could the money there have been better spent in helping students obtain a good education? The answer to me is a simple YES! If we do not find answers to these education issues then it will not matter how many jobs are created in this country...there will not be enough educated people to fill those jobs.
Healthcare Reform
There was absolutely nothing in the President's speech that was new. It is the same old rhetoric that has been going on for months and it is sickening. He stated several times about stepping back and taking another look at "our" proposal. Well whose proposal? Is that his administrations, the House bill, or the Senate bill? It is as unclear as ever. The bipartisanship is rampant as ever and the Congress cares less about what the public wants. Real reform is a long way off in my opinion and we the American taxpayer will continue to suffer until we send people to Washington that are firmly committed through action and not word to working together in partnership with the taxpayer and the political parties. It is our (the taxpayer/voter) responsibility to make this change for the good of us all.
Government Spending and Transparency
It's a good call to put a freeze on frivolous spending starting in 2011. But why just three years? Isn't frivolous or unnecessary spending always a bad thing especially if it is heavily influenced by lobbyist. It is good that the freeze will not affect national security, medicare, medicaid, and social security.
How could the President talk about transparency in government with a straight face? Nothing could be further from the truth in his administration so far and the current Congress. There is no transparency and all one has to do to prove that is to look at what the Senate, House, and his administration's leaders, including himself, have done to try and reconcile differences in healthcare reform. The President and the Congressional leaders in the Democratic party are clearly talking out of two sides of their mouth when it comes to transparency in government.
Veterans and Public Trust
It is necessary that we send our men and women in the armed services into harms way especially in the fight against terrorism...unfortunate...but necessary. Yes we are finally developing a 21st Century Veterans Administration. I see it every time I walk into a VA facility. I also applaud that the President and Congress recognizes that we have to take care of the vets when they return home. They are also recognizing that the military family has needs and require special attention also. This is vitally important and I hope it continues and improves.
Any administration and Congress has the undeniable responsibility to gain and nurture the public trust. What has been going on recently does nothing to help them meet that responsibility. It is the publics responsibility to hold them accountable through our vote.
The Republican Response
Gov. McDonnell of Virginia delivered the Republican response to the President's address. It was totally uninspiring to me. Oh it's good that he owned up that there was agreement in this or that...a half-hearted stab at partisanship. But where is the beef! It's just a continuation of the same ol' political rhetoric and talking the talk and not walking the walk. The Republicans are just as a much a part of the problem as the Democrats and it is time we in this country realize that. It is time that we all realize that regardless of our political beliefs we must find common ground and move forward to find cures for our ills...it's what really matters!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
What Is Wrong With This Picture?
January 20, 2010 — My most recent blog concerned the debate that is going on right now in the Texas State Board of Education concerning revisions to the social studies curriculum taught to our children. To briefly and generally summarize, the debate is centered on a push to have the curriculum take a more theocratic slant toward studying history. It is my view that the study of history needs to be based on fact regardless of whatever ideologies, environmental factors, or whatever have had influence. Keep in mind that revisions decided upon will have an affect for at least 10-years.
Yesterday, while substitute teaching for a 7th grade English teacher at a local middle school, I had cause for further concern about what is going with the state board of education and revisions to social studies curriculum. In every class I teach I take a few moments to give the students a brief overview of who I am. I figure it is important because here I am a stranger in their classroom and they have the right to know a little about me. This always includes that I am a 22+ year veteran of the U. S. Navy and that I am very proud of that fact. This always leads to some questions about my experiences while in the Navy and of course I like to talk about those experiences. So, yesterday came the question from one student in this form, "Were you at Pearl Harbor?" I literally stopped for a moment and then quickly answered back with a question of my own (is it fair to do that), "How old do you think I am?" This then led to me asking this student when Pearl Harbor took place. He did not know and guessed something like 1954. Two other students chimed in with responses not even close (one in the 60's and the other in the 70's).
So, what is wrong with this picture? Here we are talking about one of the major events of the 20th Century, an event that had and still has great meaning in the history of this country and of the world. These three students did not know when this world shaking event occurred. I asked further if they had studied about Pearl Harbor in school. The answer was yes. Well they must have not been paying attention that day in class (a distinct possibility) or possibly the curriculum is lacking in emphasis.
Here is my point: If even one student does not know when a significant event in the history of this country and the world occurred, then how can they understand how we have gotten to where we are today and where we need to go in the future...after all these students are the future of this country. Revisions to curriculum which should most definitely include a study of this event in our history should be dealing with the facts and not be influenced by any one particular viewpoint. We must remember that this is the future if this country we are dealing with here...it's what really matters!
Yesterday, while substitute teaching for a 7th grade English teacher at a local middle school, I had cause for further concern about what is going with the state board of education and revisions to social studies curriculum. In every class I teach I take a few moments to give the students a brief overview of who I am. I figure it is important because here I am a stranger in their classroom and they have the right to know a little about me. This always includes that I am a 22+ year veteran of the U. S. Navy and that I am very proud of that fact. This always leads to some questions about my experiences while in the Navy and of course I like to talk about those experiences. So, yesterday came the question from one student in this form, "Were you at Pearl Harbor?" I literally stopped for a moment and then quickly answered back with a question of my own (is it fair to do that), "How old do you think I am?" This then led to me asking this student when Pearl Harbor took place. He did not know and guessed something like 1954. Two other students chimed in with responses not even close (one in the 60's and the other in the 70's).
So, what is wrong with this picture? Here we are talking about one of the major events of the 20th Century, an event that had and still has great meaning in the history of this country and of the world. These three students did not know when this world shaking event occurred. I asked further if they had studied about Pearl Harbor in school. The answer was yes. Well they must have not been paying attention that day in class (a distinct possibility) or possibly the curriculum is lacking in emphasis.
Here is my point: If even one student does not know when a significant event in the history of this country and the world occurred, then how can they understand how we have gotten to where we are today and where we need to go in the future...after all these students are the future of this country. Revisions to curriculum which should most definitely include a study of this event in our history should be dealing with the facts and not be influenced by any one particular viewpoint. We must remember that this is the future if this country we are dealing with here...it's what really matters!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Texas State Board of Education...I Guess
January 14, 2010 — The Texas State Board of Education is currently undergoing an examination of what revisions are to be made in social studies curriculum for Texas school children over the next 10 years. The board will take action on recommendations from a panel that the board appointed and will make final decisions by March. In an editorial by the Editorial Board of the Austin-American Statesman titled "Another trip down biblical lane thanks to State Board of Education" states that the panel has members that "...are pushing a theocratic view of American history, taking the line that the founders had a vision of a country based on biblical principles." The editorial board correctly points out that history is influenced by many factors and to ignore some of those facts over others is folly. I could not agree more. For those interested in the editorial boards piece it can be read here http://www.statesman.com/opinion/another-trip-down-biblical-lane-thanks-to-state-173977.html.
To deny our children a fair and unbiased reading of history (American or World) based on fact is just flat out wrong! Do we do this in English, math, science curriculum...I don't think so. It is this sort of biased and ultra-conservative thinking that is strangling the abilities of our children to understand the world around them. It is one reason why our kids have difficulty in competing with other children of the world. It risks the danger of causing long term problems when these children become adults and don't understand how a world war came about or how civil rights were enacted or what were the influences on heath care reform to name just a few.
Whatever happened to just the facts? The very good 50's/60's TV actor/producer Jack Webb seem to always included a line in the script of his TV series Dragnet where he would say to the little ol' lady "...the facts ma'am...just the facts." It matters not whether a historical event was influenced by a theology, the weather, someone making a wrong turn, someone stubbing their toe, or whatever...if it's factual then it should be included in a study of that event...it's what really matters!
To deny our children a fair and unbiased reading of history (American or World) based on fact is just flat out wrong! Do we do this in English, math, science curriculum...I don't think so. It is this sort of biased and ultra-conservative thinking that is strangling the abilities of our children to understand the world around them. It is one reason why our kids have difficulty in competing with other children of the world. It risks the danger of causing long term problems when these children become adults and don't understand how a world war came about or how civil rights were enacted or what were the influences on heath care reform to name just a few.
Whatever happened to just the facts? The very good 50's/60's TV actor/producer Jack Webb seem to always included a line in the script of his TV series Dragnet where he would say to the little ol' lady "...the facts ma'am...just the facts." It matters not whether a historical event was influenced by a theology, the weather, someone making a wrong turn, someone stubbing their toe, or whatever...if it's factual then it should be included in a study of that event...it's what really matters!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Magic of Flight
January 10, 2010 — This past November I was on trip with my niece through the south to visit some specific spots that interested us both. One such place was the Naval Aviation Museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. NAS Pensacola is the home of naval aviation and home to the Navy's Flight Demonstration Team known as the Blue Angels. I of course had to purchase a Blue Angels "hoodie" which I love to wear and along with it came a DVD set titled The Magic of Flight.
This video was produced for the museum by Macgillivray Freeman Films for exhibition in the museum's IMAX theater. The film is wonderfully narrated by Tom Selleck. I did not view the Windows Media version of this film until last night and after doing so I wondered why it had taken me so long to do so. It is simply...terrific!
The film chronicles what we have known for some time...that their is magic in flying. Mankind has observed the flight of birds since the beginning of time on earth and history is full of the attempts of how man pursued that which a bird could do and we could not. The camera work is spectacular and the documentation of birds in flight and how they accomplish this miracle is done so simply and accurately. Then comes man's pursuit of flight...the most notable attempts of Samuel P. Langley in 1903 and his failures followed quickly by the success of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. I did not realize until viewing this film that the Wright Brothers actually made four flights that day in December 1903..the longest lasting 59 seconds. They had finally solved some of the mystery of flight and we began to slip "...the surly bonds of earth¹."
All of the film of course is then tied to the Blue Angels. Since 1946 they have thrilled millions of spectators with their precision aerobatics...the taking of a high performance aircraft and demonstrating its capabilities and the abilities of its pilot to perform what are really basic maneuvers. The U.S. Air Force has its flight demonstration team known as the Thunderbirds an equally capable team and there are also international flight demonstration teams.
Well by the 21st Century we have moved far in our fascination with flight. We fly farther and faster it seems everyday. In the 1970's we went to and landed on the surface of the moon and then returned safely. Space shuttle operational flights began in 1982. We continue to look to the stars and know that we can one day travel to distant planets. Our technology continues to advance and man keeps pace with it all. Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the hero of USAirays Flt 1549 on January 15, 2009 that ditched in New York's Hudson River, wrote in his book Highest Duty that "Even when the controls are being manipulated through automation, pilots have to back up the computer systems with their own mental math." (Highest Duty, pg. 18). Why should we continue this fascination and exploration of flight...one only need reflect on our countries exploration of the western frontier and of Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery to find the answer.
I have always been fascinated with flying. My first flight was long ago from a small private airfield near my Mom's house in Abilene, Texas. I was probably eight or nine years old at the time. I flew with a man just going up for flight time in a Piper Cub type aircraft. He saw my interest in flying as I was always hanging around that small airfield. I was thrilled beyond words and memories of that day are still vivid in my memory. There was my brother-in-law Ed Robbins...a navy fighter pilot that I simply idolized. He took me under his wing and stoked my desire and dreams of flying. He once told me about the thrill it was to take an aircraft and soar through a hole in the clouds and the blue sky beyond. They were words that have forever been etched in my memory. I was fortunate enough to spend my 22-year naval career as a Naval Aircrewman and I learned what Ed Robbins really meant about the thrill he felt.
So every time I see a film such as The Magic of Flight or even Hollywood's Top Gun or read a book that has flying as its central theme I am completely taken by the moment. John Gillespie Magee, Jr., a young American flying for the Royal Canadian Air Force in Great Britain in 1941 found inspiration for and penned his poem High flight after completing a high altitude test flight in a new version of the British Spitfire. After returning from the test flight he wrote his parents and included the poem on the back of the envelope. The poem is included below. Anyone that has flown and enjoyed the thrill of flying has felt what Magee expressed so long ago...it's what really matters.
¹ High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
— John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
This video was produced for the museum by Macgillivray Freeman Films for exhibition in the museum's IMAX theater. The film is wonderfully narrated by Tom Selleck. I did not view the Windows Media version of this film until last night and after doing so I wondered why it had taken me so long to do so. It is simply...terrific!
The film chronicles what we have known for some time...that their is magic in flying. Mankind has observed the flight of birds since the beginning of time on earth and history is full of the attempts of how man pursued that which a bird could do and we could not. The camera work is spectacular and the documentation of birds in flight and how they accomplish this miracle is done so simply and accurately. Then comes man's pursuit of flight...the most notable attempts of Samuel P. Langley in 1903 and his failures followed quickly by the success of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. I did not realize until viewing this film that the Wright Brothers actually made four flights that day in December 1903..the longest lasting 59 seconds. They had finally solved some of the mystery of flight and we began to slip "...the surly bonds of earth¹."
All of the film of course is then tied to the Blue Angels. Since 1946 they have thrilled millions of spectators with their precision aerobatics...the taking of a high performance aircraft and demonstrating its capabilities and the abilities of its pilot to perform what are really basic maneuvers. The U.S. Air Force has its flight demonstration team known as the Thunderbirds an equally capable team and there are also international flight demonstration teams.
Well by the 21st Century we have moved far in our fascination with flight. We fly farther and faster it seems everyday. In the 1970's we went to and landed on the surface of the moon and then returned safely. Space shuttle operational flights began in 1982. We continue to look to the stars and know that we can one day travel to distant planets. Our technology continues to advance and man keeps pace with it all. Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the hero of USAirays Flt 1549 on January 15, 2009 that ditched in New York's Hudson River, wrote in his book Highest Duty that "Even when the controls are being manipulated through automation, pilots have to back up the computer systems with their own mental math." (Highest Duty, pg. 18). Why should we continue this fascination and exploration of flight...one only need reflect on our countries exploration of the western frontier and of Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery to find the answer.
I have always been fascinated with flying. My first flight was long ago from a small private airfield near my Mom's house in Abilene, Texas. I was probably eight or nine years old at the time. I flew with a man just going up for flight time in a Piper Cub type aircraft. He saw my interest in flying as I was always hanging around that small airfield. I was thrilled beyond words and memories of that day are still vivid in my memory. There was my brother-in-law Ed Robbins...a navy fighter pilot that I simply idolized. He took me under his wing and stoked my desire and dreams of flying. He once told me about the thrill it was to take an aircraft and soar through a hole in the clouds and the blue sky beyond. They were words that have forever been etched in my memory. I was fortunate enough to spend my 22-year naval career as a Naval Aircrewman and I learned what Ed Robbins really meant about the thrill he felt.
So every time I see a film such as The Magic of Flight or even Hollywood's Top Gun or read a book that has flying as its central theme I am completely taken by the moment. John Gillespie Magee, Jr., a young American flying for the Royal Canadian Air Force in Great Britain in 1941 found inspiration for and penned his poem High flight after completing a high altitude test flight in a new version of the British Spitfire. After returning from the test flight he wrote his parents and included the poem on the back of the envelope. The poem is included below. Anyone that has flown and enjoyed the thrill of flying has felt what Magee expressed so long ago...it's what really matters.
¹ High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
— John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Wake Up America
January 5, 2010 — I just don't get it. The leaders in the Congress and the Obama administration are taking advantage of us because of their power and we are letting them get away with it. This story http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34692080/ns/health-health_care/ indicates that the Democratic leaders of both houses of Congress intend to prevent any Republicans from being on a committee to work out the differences between the House and Senate versions of health care legislation. The article states, "Democratic aides said the final compromise talks would essentially be a three-way negotiation involving top Democrats in the House and Senate and the White House, a structure that gives unusual latitude to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Navada and Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California." Now that is a narrow minded bunch that will resolve reportedly hundreds of differences between the two pieces of legislation. Apparently the purpose of this is so that a reform bill can be signed by the President before his State of the Union address in early February. Oh ya, let's just keep rushing through what is probably the most significant piece of legislation since the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
I am not arguing here the good and the bad of this reform. There is good and bad in both the House and the Senate legislation. The final outcome will undoubtedly hurt some and benefit others. My hope is that the hurt does not come upon the children and the elderly in this country.
What I am arguing about is the lack of cooperation in both political parties and the lack of transparency in how all of this is being handled. The article reports this, "...officials said there are no plans to appoint a formal House-Senate conference committee, the method Congress most often uses to reconcile differing bills. Under that customary format, a committee chairman is appointed to preside, and other senior lawmakers from both parties and houses participate in typically perfunctory public meetings while the meaningful negotiations occur behind closed doors."
"In this case, the plan is to skip the formal meetings, reach an agreement, then have the two houses vote as quickly as possible. A 60-vote Senate majority would be required in advance of final passage."
What's wrong with that picture you might ask? Well, several things: (1) it is totally partisan politics with little care shown for the all of the citizens of this country, and (2) the way negotiations will be conducted, i.e., behind closed doors! I'm not at all sure that anything would be different even if Republicans were included as the article states that such a committee would conduct "typically perfunctory public meetings" while the real stuff is done behind closed doors. In case you are wondering, and I mean no insult here to anyone's intelligence, one definition of perfunctory means "lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; indifferent or apathetic." And we let them get away with this sort of stuff. Shame on us!
It's time we wake up in America, take our government and our democracy back and again make it one that our founding fathers intended it to be and one so clearly articulated by Abraham Lincoln..."Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people." It's what really matters!
I am not arguing here the good and the bad of this reform. There is good and bad in both the House and the Senate legislation. The final outcome will undoubtedly hurt some and benefit others. My hope is that the hurt does not come upon the children and the elderly in this country.
What I am arguing about is the lack of cooperation in both political parties and the lack of transparency in how all of this is being handled. The article reports this, "...officials said there are no plans to appoint a formal House-Senate conference committee, the method Congress most often uses to reconcile differing bills. Under that customary format, a committee chairman is appointed to preside, and other senior lawmakers from both parties and houses participate in typically perfunctory public meetings while the meaningful negotiations occur behind closed doors."
"In this case, the plan is to skip the formal meetings, reach an agreement, then have the two houses vote as quickly as possible. A 60-vote Senate majority would be required in advance of final passage."
What's wrong with that picture you might ask? Well, several things: (1) it is totally partisan politics with little care shown for the all of the citizens of this country, and (2) the way negotiations will be conducted, i.e., behind closed doors! I'm not at all sure that anything would be different even if Republicans were included as the article states that such a committee would conduct "typically perfunctory public meetings" while the real stuff is done behind closed doors. In case you are wondering, and I mean no insult here to anyone's intelligence, one definition of perfunctory means "lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; indifferent or apathetic." And we let them get away with this sort of stuff. Shame on us!
It's time we wake up in America, take our government and our democracy back and again make it one that our founding fathers intended it to be and one so clearly articulated by Abraham Lincoln..."Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people." It's what really matters!
Friday, January 1, 2010
Sometimes We Are Our Own Worst Enemy
Jnauray 1, 2010 — This is not the best way to start out this blog in the new year, but I just cannot let this story of the intelligence failures concerning the Nigerian who tried to blow up the Delta flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day pass.
The President has called this "human and systemic failures" and that those failures led up to this terrorist attempt to kill innocent people. Gee, no kidding Mr. President. What that really means is someone didn't do their job and the system they work in does not readily support them in doing their job. This story (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34637190/ns/politics-the_new_york_times/) from MSNBC.com and first reported in the New York Times readily points out some of those human and systemic failures and brings to light what always happens and that's the finger pointing that goes on in our government. Little Johnny saying..."I didn't do it, he did!" Please, give me a break.
If it is known that there were "humans" that had responsibility for knowing that this Nigerian was a terrorist threat and that the information should have been shared, then those people should be immediately and without question fired! End of story on the human part of it, but there is still a larger problem to be fixed and that's the system.
There is no doubt in my mind that this country possesses the greatest capability in the world to collect human, electronic, photographic, and communications intelligence. And yet we can't get out of our own way. This is not a new systemic problem Mr. President...it has been there, I am betting, since the collection of intelligence data began. I don't pretend to know the ends and outs of our intelligence gathering activities and all the agencies that do this work. It has, however, been pointed out in the not to distant past that those agencies do not readily share their information. It's like my friend Little Johnny telling me..."I know something you don't know, nah, nah!" There have been attempts in the past to fix this systemic failure, but obviously only band-aids were applied and no real fix was employed.
As long as we continue to allow one intelligence agency or another to hold their secrets, then we are going to continue to have the potential for another disaster to occur such as the one attempted on Christmas Day. The system must be fixed and it is we the people that have the power to do that. We must demand that it be fixed. Islamic terrorist are not going to cease what they are doing and we have to have a system of whatever in place that functions to meet the threat of terrorism at every turn. To do otherwise is to run the risk of the contiuned slaughter of innocent people.
Let me state this again. We the people have the power to fix this system. It's not just the Obama administration or the Congress that will get this done, but each and everyone of us caring about our freedoms and the right to exist in a world with little or no fears...it's what really matters!
The President has called this "human and systemic failures" and that those failures led up to this terrorist attempt to kill innocent people. Gee, no kidding Mr. President. What that really means is someone didn't do their job and the system they work in does not readily support them in doing their job. This story (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34637190/ns/politics-the_new_york_times/) from MSNBC.com and first reported in the New York Times readily points out some of those human and systemic failures and brings to light what always happens and that's the finger pointing that goes on in our government. Little Johnny saying..."I didn't do it, he did!" Please, give me a break.
If it is known that there were "humans" that had responsibility for knowing that this Nigerian was a terrorist threat and that the information should have been shared, then those people should be immediately and without question fired! End of story on the human part of it, but there is still a larger problem to be fixed and that's the system.
There is no doubt in my mind that this country possesses the greatest capability in the world to collect human, electronic, photographic, and communications intelligence. And yet we can't get out of our own way. This is not a new systemic problem Mr. President...it has been there, I am betting, since the collection of intelligence data began. I don't pretend to know the ends and outs of our intelligence gathering activities and all the agencies that do this work. It has, however, been pointed out in the not to distant past that those agencies do not readily share their information. It's like my friend Little Johnny telling me..."I know something you don't know, nah, nah!" There have been attempts in the past to fix this systemic failure, but obviously only band-aids were applied and no real fix was employed.
As long as we continue to allow one intelligence agency or another to hold their secrets, then we are going to continue to have the potential for another disaster to occur such as the one attempted on Christmas Day. The system must be fixed and it is we the people that have the power to do that. We must demand that it be fixed. Islamic terrorist are not going to cease what they are doing and we have to have a system of whatever in place that functions to meet the threat of terrorism at every turn. To do otherwise is to run the risk of the contiuned slaughter of innocent people.
Let me state this again. We the people have the power to fix this system. It's not just the Obama administration or the Congress that will get this done, but each and everyone of us caring about our freedoms and the right to exist in a world with little or no fears...it's what really matters!
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