STILL MORE "IDOL" THOUGHTS

As, in, "He's an idol in his own mind." NOTTTT!
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Loved the local dentist's message board up the street. One of the latest: "Naughty chickens lay deviled eggs."
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Watched the last quarter of the Ravens/Texans game on Monday night. Propped my chin on a fork to stay awake at first - but, what a finish. Down 28-13 at the beginning of the quarter Texas came back with 99 and 95 yard drives and added a two pointer on the last TD.

They were looking good in OT until the Texas QB - once more backed up close to the goal line - threw a 11 yard TD interception.

Hated the Ravens when living in Harrisburg and the local CBS TV channel would split the showing of Pgh Sunday games with those of the Ravens. Lot's of time you wouldn't know it ahead of time and I'd be standing there shouting at the TV - "You live in Pennsylvania, you @#$%^& .

Of course, I may have just called them "dummies." Yeah, right!

Have learned to respect the Ravens and their resilience. Their defense was dragging in the last 1/4 - but, they still pulled it out. Good sign of a good team.
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OK Pirate fans. Better cancel those orders for Cliff Lee Pirate Jerseys - He's going to Philly!
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Still wish they'd discover a "faulty fault line" around Philly that would take it and Jersey floating out to sea. But, don't get me wrong. Am not prejudiced. Watched my previous employer crunching numbers to try and explain why they were making a profit in Western and Central Pa - but lossing their "fasteris" in Eastern Pa..

Only city where if you rearended a bus loaded with 20 people you had a claim for injuries from 33. They'd jump on the bus when it stopped and the doors opened.
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I read friend Harry's blog today (http://www..harry2335.blogspot.com/ He was talking about people retiring with indadequate funds. Ironic, as that is a topic on my short list. I'll take a shot too.
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Sometimes I wonder what happened in other households when our parents were teaching lifes lessons to my two brothers and myself. One lesson was on the importance of saving. We seemed to understand how important it is.
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Time to switch gears on blog topics but, don't hold me to it. Just figure that folks are getting a little tired of reading over and over about the Pirates managment, the NFL monopoly/ Corporate greed/ and Diogenes looking for an honest politician.
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How about a Christmas story? A former female friend of mine told me one I'll never forget.

It happened in Pittsburgh when she and her youngest son were Christmas shopping in Pittsburgh's usual cold and dreary seasonal weather. They were standing by Kaufmanns Department store waiting for the light to change; probably close to the Forbes Ave entrance with the most famous Pittsburgh clock overhead.

The little guy was slight in stature but blessed with a sharp mind. Seeing all the Santa's around the Salvation Army pots and the various department stores, he got concerned.

He released his grasp of his Mother's hand and looked up at her before asking, "There is no Santa Claus - right, Mommy?"

Mom, paused for a long time as people weaved around the little guy and her when the light finally changed. Big decision for Mom. She had cautioned both her son and his older brother about the evils inherent in lying. She found herself in one heckuva quandry.

Finally she looked down and pausing between each word said, "You're-right-honey. There- is- no- Santa- Claus!"

The little guy started to cry copious tears. Now, new shoppers were queing up behind them and waiting for their light to change, as they wondered why the boy was crying so hard.

Finally, he looked back up at her sad face as she too was starting to cry - and said in a inconsolable but yet plaintive voice - "You're lying. Right, Mommy?"

Mom looked down at him and said, "You're right darling!" The little guy stopped crying and wiped the nose drippings above his lip with the back of his new mittens.

Then, the light changed once more and they walked toward the parking garage with their hands rejoined.
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MERRY CHRISTMAS

No crybaby here.

As a kid and young adult you soon learned if you wanted to play competetive sports not to cry about every hit you received nor any imagined prejudice you saw on the part of the referee and umpires in their officiating decisions.. They called you a crybaby.

No, it wasn't fair but I learned to play within the unspoken rules of the game.

Recently, before the Ravens game, it was said that Pgh coach Tomlin told his players in a language that they all could understand: "our goal is to win the game. Stop bitc---g".

Despite that, the calls on the Pittsburgh team in both the Baltimore game and that of todays win against Cincinatti defy logic. Even opposing players have acknowledged as much. In a recent survey, 73% of fans questioned about James Harrison penalties said "He is being picked on."

Before going any further, let me acknowledge that some of the plays and/penalties committed by the "reserve players" on the Pittsburgh side were richly deserved. They simply lacked the playing time and practice to hone their skills and allow them to avoid those "nasty" penalties.

But, it's not just the Steelers who have suffered a real loss of regular players. The Bengals apppear to be much worse off in that category than the Steelers. One would assume therefore, that the Bengals should well have been penalized even more than the Steelers

"T'aint so, Magee" - says wife Molly of Fibber Magee and Molly radio fame.

So, why am I complaining? The Steelers are winning.

First of all, I agree with Tomlins dictate to the Steeler players to put a "lid on it." He recognized that an excuse of any nature not related to their performance is like a cancer and will definitely take an edge off of their performance. He also recognized "It's just not the Steeler way".

And, he's right!

Secondly, I'm not a Steelers player and a century away from a time when penalties assessed against me are worth a hoot. I also recognize the difference between objective and subjective decisions in life.

So, what is my problem? I'm not concerned about today. But, I am concerned about the future and what clearly appears to be rules inconsistently enforced on the field - that could make a difference in the results of Steelers games as well as other teams down the road. It clearly appears to be a case of the NFL making up the rules as we play the game- and that's not right. It has also not been adequately defended by the NFL. And, why should they?

For that reason, all I am asking is, "How do we make the officiating of these games a 'level playing field'? " This is something that the NFL office swears they are doing. But, is this yet one more misguided effort of the NFL to achieve parity?

My answer? Turn the films of the games over to an independent reviewing group and let them make some decisions as to whether or not the Steelers or any other team are being treated different than the rest of the teams.

Is this simply a case of the NFL telling the Steelers with their penalties and fines, "You, above all should have known better?"

I would start the independent review with the number and nature of the penalties called against the Steelers and then contrast those with the ones for which the officials appear willing to let the opposing teams actions slide.

The capability is there. The NFL has enough precise technical information available to determine which of the back judges are wearing boxers.

I watched todays games at a place that lacked all the audio of my friendly home big screen Sony. However, I did notice CBS focusing on the number of plays where clearly Ben Rothlisberger was assaulted - with no penalty calls being enforced. I particulary became outraged with the knee to his face after he was clearly down with a broken nose, and no penalty was called.

The problem is where do you go to get the NFL to do the right thing? Apparently, their omnipotence cannot be challenged. Don't look for the weak and disorganzied NFLPA to step in here. They have problems of their own.

Next. Do the Steelers need the like of me and a lot of other Steeler fans to defend their honor?

Answer: No! They will play their best game with or without me - and with or without complaining about the outrageous officiating they are seeing.

My concern is, why at a time that every news source seems to find some paranoid/ conspirational theory in any news development that hits the headlines, do they not see the possiblity of something untoward going on here?

Is the NFL really that powerful that no responsible news organization is willing to take them on for fear of the repercussions that may include the NFL's own version of a lockout?

Or will that only happen if the trend shifts to either the Jet's or the Giants? God forbid!

Commissioner Goodell recently commented that the added two regular season games will not cause more injuries to the players. "Rog" apparently had a "b.f. and forgot that the regulars play much fewer minutes in exhibition games than they would be required to do in regular season games.

Even the owners know they can much more easily afford injuries to the scrubs than to their regulars. Of course, that is assuming that any performance bonuses would not come into play.

Goodell also said that at some point the players will understand what they can and cannot due to avoid being penalized or fined. "Hey, Rog-o, can we discuss the horse and the cart analogy? "

May we also suggest the NFL starts this educational effort with the officials who appear to be totally confused while extremely desirous of satisfying the wants of the front office. Folks, it's called job security.

After writing the first draft of this blog I watched part of the Philly/Dallas game in time to see Philly QB Michael Vick receive - not one helmet-to-helmet hit - but, two. And they were on the same play. Once more it was referee McAuley's guys and no penalty was called. One assumes this officiating crew is "grading on the curve."

So, maybe it's not a "Pittsburgh thing" - but, a "Pennsylvania thing"?

And would it be too much to ask the independent reviewers to look at the plays where the guys have been fined - and return the money to the ones who were victims of clearly perverse calls.
Oh, and take it out of Goodells checking account seeing as how he's the one who is supposed to be in charge and was assumed to have a plan before jumping headlong (but not helmet-to-helmet) into this debacle.

Actually, I pity those officials who are presently calling the penalties using a sliderule mentality accompanied with knee jerk logic, while the NFL has the sophisticated computers and a review system the officials clearly lack and whose contents the NFL is apparently unwilling to share.

C-mon Roger, let us in on the new game rules too. Please share your collective wisdom with all of us? That is of course, assuming it does exist. This is like some poor slob finding his wife in bed with another guy and being told, "Don't worry, we'll explain all of this to you later."

In the meantime: GO STEELERS!

No crybabies here. But, when it walks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck - maybe it is a duck.

But, apparently the NFL is the only one with a duck hunting license this year.

TANKS - BUT, NO TANKS!

Craig Wilson, a writer, both revered and often referred to here, has recently written a column on the subject of "thank you" notes.

Wilson contends that the use of these notes appears to be perceived by generations younger than his or mine, as one of those anachronisms that fit the definition of the word: "Something that is out of place in terms of chronology."

He states "I'd accept any sign of gratitude, any signal. I'd settle for smoke. Heck, I'd settle for Elvis: "Thank you - thank you very much." My wife and I agree. Anything, even a note tied to a rock they throw through the kitchen window. But, maybe not always.

Thank-you notes have become a lost art. This is definitely is not the time to cash in your 401-k and invest in a printing company that specializes in designing and manufacturing unique thank- you notes.

To clarify, I am not as consistent with my thank-you notes as I was in earlier years. Perhaps that is because we buried my mother in 1988 and she no longer looks over my shoulder on the occasions of my birthday or Christmas to see that I respond as a responsible young man should.
This is besides the fine efforts of my wife to get me back on track.

The lack of wedding gift acknowledgments remain among our pet peeve. One or the other of us will ask, "Do you think they got it? Maybe, the note we attached became loose and they don't know who sent the gift. Should we call her Mom and ask how they are enjoying their new lawn trimmer?"

In truth, we still have friends/relatives who thank us for something suggesting we're thinking of them. Thaat includes the small keepsakes we send out every Christmas. But, people do get busy, and honestly we don't do it in an effort to receive thank-you notes. It's a tradition that many people seem to like.

One friend, Harry, even included his thank- you note as a part of his blog: http://harry2335.blogspot.com/ But, then again, Harry has always been a "classy dude."

After reading Craig Wilson's blog I realized, while after a recent trip ,I only send an electronic thank-you note to my kids, I failed to do so to my hos. She drove my big butt all over Pittsburgh so I could see those kids and grandkids and celebrate some birthdays, too.

Oh yeah!, No "class dude" cudo for this blogger. Heck, in all the excitement I didn't even get around to filling the gas tank. I promise to rectify this lack of etiquette and plain common sense soon.

Now, saying "Thanks" can be misinterpreted also. Some may see it as being sarcastic or inappropriate. Some simply don't understand it simply means, "We're thinking of you."

In this century we've seen more and more signs of people dropping a gift certificate in the mail either as a thank you response or maybe, instead of flowers to which a family member may be allergic.

In one website: http://www.Mommyko.com/2009/03/how-to-say-thank-you-in-style, it described the etiquette of "when more than a note is appropriate." - and included the sending of a gift certificate - listing proper situations for sending same.

Apparently, it hasn't caught on everywhere as we discovered when we sent a gift certificate to someone out of state. We did so to acknowledge a truly magnaminous gesture - and one that was covered in the etiquette site above.

The modest gift certificate was to a restaurant we were led to understand was popular with the couple. There was no way we could match their benevolence, nor was there any indication they expected us to. It was simply something we've done for years for both family and friends.

The response was also not expected. The gift certificate was returned after a harsh e-mail with a nasty insinuation that our gift was in an inadequate amount to compensate for a rental of their home. We asked the recipient to reconsider but it was for naught.The recipient also returned the Christmas keepsakes we send to them and their family each year.

While their reaction was a shock, after reflecting for awhile, we realized it was not totally inconsistent with previous behaviors. Our gesture was clearly misunderstood.

Of course, not all gifts are perceived as appropriate. Sometimes it's just the nature of the gift received that can be bothering . Perhaps the recipient does not believe the sending of a thank-you note is appropriate - in view of the type of gift that was received. However, the gifter may have thought truly grateful people should appreciate a Christmas gift of argyle socks with embroidered kittens on the sides.

I was always taught the gift still deserves a thank-you note - but, perhaps not the inclusion of any real flowery stuff. I was told and have read ,"It's the giving - not the gift that's important."

Think about it. How many times did you want to send back Aunt Emma's annual Christmas fruitcake?

You probably didn't do it. Maybe you just buried it deep in the back yard where it could not harm either your children or other burrowing animals. But, you were always curious why that patch of grass high above the fruitcake had to be re-seeded each year.

Now, I see burying the fruitcake as a reasonable compromise in the whole thank-you notes and gift scenarios. However, I will now be more cautious about this whole thing of gift-giving.

Like the sending of thank-you notes, apparently not all folks would agree with my interpretation of proper etiquette.

Anyway. Interesting subject. And if you've read this far, "Thank You!" & "Merry Christmas."

SWITCHING GEARS

Let's say you're a small but ambitious automobile manufacturer. You couldn't afford Detroit wages so you build your car in Pastagoofus, Mississippi, and have done so for years.

You're corp of designers are flush with degrees from several community colleges across the land. Your engineers were trained by the Jobs Corp and have signed certificates to confirm this.

Your Marketing staff has at least three members who have never served time.

The local, state, & federal government politicians admire your efforts enough to dole out substantial manufacturing grants to your organization plus legislative earmarks.

One of the reasons for doing so is because you haven't outsourced any of your manufacturing functions to Alabama. Besides, you even added payroll by hiring several local bodyshop painters who still see the inclusion of Kem-Tone in the paint composition as a viable way to save cash.

The other reason for the politico's generosity is a willingness to overlook the fact sales are slipping but, they don't want you to leave. They feel you're basically a cottage industry with potential in Mississippi . You employ people who otherwise would be drawing either unemployment or welfare checks, and you are worthy of their support.

You have your outside critics but they truly love you in Pastagoofus. So much so that for the last ten years the city fathers have put your payment of taxes on a "pay as much as you can" basis.

A few years ago City council also raised substantial money through increased parking taxes and higher tariffs on pecan pie imports from Georgia. They did this to pay for a building that is as big as an indoor stadium - 10 times the size of your previous manufacturing plant. You are now contemplating a request for the addition of a sliding domed roof to allegedly release harmful paint fumes.

The City's rebuilding gestures impressed you primarily because each year you manufacture and sell about 5% less product than the previous year. Your big seller and, currently, your only model is a coupe with the engine in the back.

Your marketing staff has named it "Flatus". It can be fueled via a mixture of ethanol and legumes. (patent pending).

Despite all of the minor drawbacks, your car is the biggest seller in Pastagoofus. It's a sort of brand loyalty thing.

The citizens remember when your cars won design awards at trade shows in 1960, 1971, and 1979. As a result Pastagoofus was all the rage in the southern engineering magazines. The mayor and his brother in-law were even invited on the "Jack Paar Tonight Show" in 1960, the year your guys beat out the leading designing team from New York.

"Flatus" is also a big hit with legume and corn farmers throughout the state of Mississippi.

In other towns within the state the car is most often purchased at a discount by church organizations. They do so by raising money via congregational car washes and the sale of 100 proof "Holy Water." Their hopes and prayers are that each year they can send more and more "Flatus" to needy missionary groups throughout the Dominican Republic.

You continue to tour the State with each years new model - in various colors - making annual minor modifications to the headlights and the dash. You employ a sort of "Flatus" Caravan inspired by the Marketing department gurus who assure you it will increase sales throughout the State.

And yet, for years, folks outside the State of Mississippi and living in the non-auto manufacturing world wondered how you could continue to make it in the competetive world of automobile building.

Unfortunately, WikiLeaks papers recently revealed your secret.

It seems that since the election of President Obama his braintrust has annually assessed each of the wealthier carmakers: Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors, in order to keep your financial head above water - and, of course, to garner much needed votes in the South.

The carrot and stick routine is that, without this concession by the Big Three, they will never again be offered another government bailout. Even Mississipi Republican leaders are in agreement with the covert operation.

The monthly amount dispersed cannot be positively determined despite the new and increased transparency of the current government philosophy. However, it has been revealed that the assessments go directly to you and your highly trained staff . Of course, that is based on your promise that you and your Board of Directors will put all the money right back into "Flatus" manufacturing. And in truth, you have replaced those crank window thingabobbies with sliding windows on the driver's side.

The program has worked so successfully that you and the Board have decided it is time to branch out.

Not in the manufacture of cars. Instead, you have decided to float a bid to bring a Major League Baseball club to Pastagoofus by purchasing a losing team from the City of Pittsburgh.

If successful, your CFO assures you there should be little, if any, changes required in how you currently do business.

You might even think about switching gears and buy a ski resort down the road.

HEY, NOBODY ASKED - - - -

Hey, nobody never asked me neither, but:

If you have any doubts whether or not this country lacks proper exercise,visit almost any shopping plaza anchored by a grocery store - and count the # of carts abandoned on top of light stanchions, curbs, kidney shaped islands, small children and abandoned pets.

We met a buddy of ours recently returning a couple carts (besides his own) over by the local Publix. He said he saw a woman a few days earlier struggling to get hers to stay in place on the curb of an island about 10 feet from the cart return area.

Steve yelled in a loud voice , "Hey, what are you doing?" First embarassed she quickly fell back on that misplaced self-esteem Mom & Dad gave her. The woman replied, "Well, you know."

He said, "No, I really don't ", and walked away shaking his head.

We don't either. These people are the same ones who won't flush the urinals and commodes at Sams for fear of getting germs from the water vapor.

I still want to figure out a way to convince Super grocery stores, Walmart, etc into installing huge speakers on top of the poles of their shopping center. Each would be able to broadcast clearly for, say, a couple of city blocks.

Then I'd volunteer to sit with a few of my retiree buddies in a van that was equipped with a good amplified microphone. We'd drink our Dr. Pepper's and wear our Dr. Denton's while we each took turns coming up with appropriate critiques from a obscure parking spot location with the best visability.

Another idea was to install a strong but tiny magnet onto the front of each shopping cart which could be controlled by a remote so it would attach the cart to the rear of the culprits vehicle bumper as they attempted to leave their parking spot.

This would be followed up by the shopping center police making a citizens arrest at the parking lot exit . The charge, of course, would be "shopping cart lifting."

Maybe the cart could be rigged too so that it would self illuminate with those blinking Christmas tree lights. They could spell out :"HELP, I'M BEING CARTNAPPED."

Obviously, there are still a few bugs to be worked out.

See, what a Steeler victory in Baltimore will do for an old Pittsburgh guy with time on his hands.

Who cares if "nobody never asked neither?"

BEATING IT TO DEATH

For this blogger, reading the sports pages and TV accounts of the illegal hits controversy in the NFL is like Dracula being named to the YWCA summer camp staff. It's Manna from heaven.

The latest is the NFL Executive V.P. of football operations' Ray Anderson's response to the Steeler players assertion that James Harrison is being profiled by the league, the officials on the field, and whatever vitriol is left over is aimed at the entire Steeler's organization.

Anderson characterized the conclusion as "misguided and frankly, completely untrue" He continued, "Every team and every player, hopefully, will have the confidence that, if they play within the rules, we won't have this problem."

What rules? The ones whose interpretations are changed more frequently than the prices at Walmart?

"Taint so," says "Rain Man" who apparently is a "know all - see all", and who -not unlike Carnac - comes to us from the mysterious East - or as far East as the NFL offices are located.

It is old Ray and assistant Director Merton Hanks, a former NFL player, but not Commissioner Roger Goodell who have sole responsibility for making the illegal/fineable hit determinations.

Another NFL official, Michael Signora, said the reason Harrison wasn't suspended was "because it wasn't a flagrant hit." He added that although the hit was not flagrant, as a multiple offender of the rules in this area, Harrison received a significant fine.' (What area, Pittsburgh?)

So, let me see. Even if the hits by Harrison were examined several times and replays found at least two were found to be legal - they still are included in the accounting standards of the NFL?" This is like waiting for Mitch McConnells latest position on "earmarks" or giving approval to Bernie Madoffs math calculations.

We all watched the hit last Sunday. What we didn't see was the same thing that referee John Parry saw when he chose to penalize Harrison - precipitously. One assumes he recognized early on that in addition to a desire to hit the quarterback - James also had salacious thoughts about one of the female fans sitting in the endzone.

Rothlisberger - among others in the Steelers organization - states that Parry went for his flag even before Harrison hit the Buffalo quarterback. Why not? What's another $25,000 fine between friends?

Parry initially said, the penalty was called "for leading with the crown - or top- of his helmet." Replay definitely shows the top of Harrison's helmet never touched quarterback Fitzpatrick.

Perhaps the correct conclusion is the penalty resulted from a "self-fullfilling prophesy."

The explanations vary from week to week as to what the NFL "dynamic duo" believes comprises an illegal hit.

One of my favorites is "the offense was a 'full body' hit . It reminds me of the Hippos in Disney's -"Fantasia" - trying to dance carefully across the stage in their tutu's. It ain't going to happen - not even on "Dancing With The Stars." It's called football and big guys play it.

The NFL in it's final infinite wisdom declared they fined Harrison because "he made helmet contact to the chest of the Buffalo quarterback, who was in a defenseless position."

Yeah, maybe he was defenseless. Happens to a lot to quarterbacks who "stay too long at the fair" while exploring their options.

We got ''El Numero Uno" in Rothlisberger. He's often criticized for doing just that.

A couple of Buffalo players were trying to convince him of the evil of this fool hearted behavior by roughing him up after they sacked him this past Sunday. You probably missed the fines the NFL announced after that play. Let's not even go into the Finnegan/Johnson debacle.

Oh, and they just announced, Big Ben has a broken foot.

So who do you blame for the NFL's apparent inconsistency? The referee who's trying to hold onto his job by doing what HE thinks is consistent with the league's philosophy? The two guys who solely are responsible for making these omnipotent calls but, who in addition, apparently have found the time to examine every play committed by 32 teams (excluding bye weeks) and then determine whether or not they should result in a fine?

These guys give multi-tasking a whole new meaning.

Or do you blame Harrison for some of his foolish statements including the one that started this whole bruhaha by saying, in effect, "I'm just trying to put a hurt on them - not maim them"and now states,"I'm going to continue to play the same way and won't adjust my tackling technique"?

My conclusion? It's a gross miscarriage of justice, and the worst case of failing to develop an exit strategy since George W.

One suggestion: "Put a third guy in the booth. Add the guy heading up the TSA to the current team of NFL decision makers. He's also convinced he's always right - everybody else is wrong- and he's also really good at getting people pissed off."

Does it bother you that only two people can accurately interpret Rule 12 and it's variations as to what constitutes an illegal hit?

I'm done. On this subject, I sure don't want to be accused of "Beating it to death."

Things Are Looking Up

A couple of folks have been kind enough to send me E-mail references in The Washington Post, etc.

While out of town recently my E-mail backed up to about six figures, I think. And that's alright as I receive some truly funny ones as well as some that pull at the old heart strings.

One of those E-mails included a reference to a column by Cal Thomas, who I usually find amusing in his weekly debate column in the USA Today. Cal can be a little churlish - and looks the part.

His column suggested making Congress a part-time job. He quotes Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal who recommended that they should also never be allowed to become lobbyists, reasoning that "when they have to live under the same rules and laws they pass for the rest of us, maybe you'd see some more common sense coming out of Washington."

Obviously, this is not a new song sung by some members of the media. However it , along with a lot of other opinions being published, suggest that maybe - just maybe - the politicians are starting to get the message. If so, some of our prayers may be answered.

Some interesting observations: Jindal, a former congressman, said, "Once elected, too many lawmakers become entrenched in Washington and are transformed into the very people they campaigned against.(my very concern about the recent Tea-Party victors).

Thomas points out that several states have part-time legislatures that meet every two years to consider a budget as well as other truly important matters. One assumes that does not include "posturing themselves" on C-Span.

It is true that there does not appear to be a movement afoot asking Congress to pass any more laws. Under this premise Congress - like the part-time legislature - would be on call "should anything momentous occur."

Is this a viable idea? Let me just say that if this blog was more widely circulated there would be more dissents than the number of blogs I've written - and, that's saying something.

Like a drivers licence is advertised as a privilege rather than a right, Thomas argues that serving in Congress should be seen as just that: service as opposed to self-service. He pleads that serving should be as originally intended - a privilege - but, never a profession.

I've often felt there are two films that should be required to be shown in all school systems. The first is "Inherit The Wind" an examination of "The Scopes Monkey Trial." The second is the musical play turned into a movie, "1776".

A viewing of the latter enables one to understand the dissent and compromise inherent in the founding of our country as well as the events leading up to the signing of The Declaration of Independence."

Perhaps it should be required viewing by Congress. However, the sight of Mitch McConnell in a fright wig portraying John Adams while singing something by Eminen, kind of discourages a re-enactment.

Still, Thomas uses some historical data to advance his cause for more stay at home politicians. He speaks of the concern The Founders had over a Congress " divorced from the realities of the rest of the country."

He quotes one of the leaders, Connecticut's Roger Sherman, during the Constitutional Convention in 1787: "Representatives ought to return home and mix with the people. By remaining at the seat of government, they would acquire the habits of the place, which might differ from those of their constituents."

One of my pet peeves about Congress is addressed much more eloquently by Thomas.

He states "Returning home shouldn't mean flying home for long weekends and then coming back to Washington." He supports the alternative where members of Congress return to a 'real job', where the member cannot raise his own pay, receive top medical care at reduced or no cost, print and spend other people's money - or count on others to pay his retirement fund."

He ends his essay by quoting former Missouri Republican Sen. John Danforth: " I have never seen more Senators express discontent with their jobs. I think the major cause is that, deep down in our hearts, we have been accomplices to doing something terrible and unforgivable to this wonderful country.. We know that we have bankrupted America and that we have given our children a legacy of bankruptcy . . . .We have defrauded our country to get ourselves elected."

Most people admire people who espouse our own beliefs, and in some case, written opinions.

This humble blogger is no exception. If this is the beginning of a common theme to promote healing and common sense, then definitely, 'Things are looking up."