The world, or segments of same - as we know it in this country- continues to become "curiouser" and "curiouser", to possibly misquote "Alice In The Looking Glass".
A guy who has Pittsburgh ties - Mike Rice - now Rutgers formerbasketball coach -is caught on camera kicking, punching, striking with balls, and using racial slurs against his players. His university's initial response?: a fine, suspension of three games, and a mandate to attend anger management classes.
Finally, the tape of his innovative coaching techniques makes it into the office of NJ Governor Christy, who apparently had run out of reruns of the The West Wing TV show.
The Gov. declares Rice's behavior to be a disaster - a favorite term (his handling of a recent weather "disaster" allegedly increasing his chances of being our next Republican President) and the university promptly decides to fire the coach.
It is alleged that Christy immediately becomes a darkhorse candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize - which doesn't have the same respect it once did since it became a political plumb instead of a well deserved honor.
The press loves it and complements Christy for his involvement. Even Christine Brennan, a sports reporter from USA Today, who abhors anything that has to do with colleges and universities and their involvement with sports, writes about the Gov's reaction in what some of her critics might conclude is really a thinly disguised effort to provide the first salvo in a bid for her to become a future Secretary of State in Christy's administration.
The Governor of Pennsylvania decides to sue the NCAA because of the lack of due process in penalyzing Penn State and he is made out to be a fool by the same members of the press who are outraged and suggest he supports child molestation.
So, what's going on?
Chipper Jones, a much respected athlete, notes what happened at Rutgers and writes a twitter announcing that he was insulted and berated by many coaches during his career and suggests it's time for today's modern athletes to man up.
To the best of my knowledge, none of the Rutger's ballplayers had a father who was a bigwhig in TV sports entertainment coverage powerful enough to get their coach fired nor rendered even one little whimper about Mike Rice's unconscionable actions.
Again, what's going on?
The Carnival cruise line continues to have a string of bad luck involving their ships and the safety of same - you know the same cruise line whose ads suggest - unlike some of their competition - that they can't wait to get all the kiddies on board for their cruises - one reason Seniors look elsewhere for the most part.
The latest mishap was weather related when a very strong storm took the same ship that was once filled with feces and other non-advertised germs and pulled it away from it's moorings to crash into something strong enough to leave a 20 foot hole in it's hull.
We will give you that it's not always possible to be 100% cautious about anything that could lead to bad publicity - especially when it comes from bad weather. But, doesn't a recent history that suggests Carnival was bought out by McHales's Navy suggest that there is a strong need to fire their entire Risk Management team?
And yeah, any chance someone will ask, "What's going on?"
NBC is about to "fire" Jay Leno - you say replace - I say fire - "you say 'neether' I say 'nyther' - suggesting a possible fire sale of vintage cars, trucks and motorcycles down the road .
They then hire a nice guy, Jimmy Fallon of SNL fame, who has yet to prove he can do anything to renew NBC's proud image of great Tonight show hosts and a show that proudly resembled adult entertainment with a proven goal of challenging our minds and testing our sense of humor - plus launching the careers of many in the process..
Now, the fact that everybody had already heard the rumors for over a week (and perhaps only Wolf Blitzer was ignorant of this change) - did not seem to bother the folks over at NBC - once a great network that seemed to know what they were doing.
Yet, at some point when NBC also eventually fires a guy named Burke (who we believe is currently in charge of their entertainment division) it will take him "maybe" the time required for you to brew a cup of coffee on your Keurig to start fielding multiple job offers - possibly with a higher salary attached.
And, how did a guy with an Irish sounding name like Burke rise to this position?
NBC's not the only one to get it wrong. HBO & Cinemax, a required pairing in our area, once led the country with it's collection of choice movies - often viewed for the first time by it's customers. Both now show flicks that struggle to get a rating higher than two stars unless it's something that was made about the same time as the same McHale's Navy mentioned above.
Instead, it goes into the movie producing business. It makes a movie portraying a fascinating time in modern music entertainment history and the criminal accusation against Phil Spector, hires two of our greatest actors, Al Pacino and Helen Mirren - to capture this but results in a presentation that resembles a three day old fish sandwich for our viewing delight - in a misthought out attempt to replicate "The Gin Game." - a serious dialogue between two great character actors.
I'm sure somebody over at HBO will blame the review of same on those critics (not on their payroll) and suggest we need to put all entertainment critics on a term limit hiring policy.
Hell, we can't even do that with our politicians for the most part.
Seriously, what's going on and where do we -who crave good entertainment and still have an ounce of common sense - go to hide?
Finally, the big news is that Lindsay Lohan - on tour in Brazil - one suspects somewhere out of house arrest limits - almost exposes a breast - and her embarassment (yeah, right) is rescued by her rather long and somewhat unkempt mane of hair - an event that sets the Huffington Post all a titter (pun intended).
Folks, is there a possibility that maybe we're being over informed just so a desperate media can write things and hold on to their jobs?
You say, "that includes you too!"
Heck I do this for nothing - probably what it's worth and I readily admit I can't figure out what's going on.
Enjoy this rainy day.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Saturday, March 23, 2013
GET REAL
I almost fell off my chair when a Facebook ad popped up in the margin this morning and solicited me for the opportunity to meet "older women" .
After all, living in a 55+ community - called Westwinds -I'm surrounded by them - and I do love them - particularly two who have passed the age of 90, are still active - and truly do "look good for their age."
Aggie and Phyllis - you go girls!
It was then the truism about "perception becoming reality" started to float around in my life challenged brain. You see, that last statement is a perfect example of the concept- a perception of Alzheimers novicius - or , "I'm sure it's just the beginning."
If, based on the opinions of other folks, we "perceive" that we have become old, mind addled, vain, rude, petty, egotistical , etc , it can become contagious and soon morph into our "reality".
A couple of weeks ago my wife Phyl ventured up to the Thursday night Bingo game and got a chance to talk to one of our "grand dames.".
She took a moment to respond to Phyl's inquiry as to how her day had been and then proceeded to describe a delightful day that included a non infrequent visit to the Moose that afternoon.
Apparently nobody had yet managed to convince her that she was old or even mentally challenged based on her insistance of taking her "lucky bear" to Bingo each week. God bless her!
If only life could be that simple - or is it?
We enjoy our community and the many people who make a point to speak to us when we're taking our little Chihuahua, Bella, on one of her Bataan marches around the neighborhood.
These folks watch and sometimes comment - when "Bell" conceivably stops to smell every blade of grass that suggests prior passage by other critters. Upon confirming the message she then lifts a leg and leaves her own mark in double-digit measurements, a practiced act which I am sure she believes is equally "tantalizing" to those she precedes on her journey.
She has no idea how silly she may look - and why should she? With that pea sized brain - (large in comparison with her body size) and an amazing capacity for love - she is clueless; and we wouldn't change any of it for a moment.
In some strange way Phyl and I feel better about ourselves, partially due to the attention Bella engenders as we walk her and hear the accompanied endearing comments from friends and strangers alike about her manners and friendly attitude. No animal enjoys a 'bum scratching" more than our doggie does.
We often joke that were it not for Bella we might never be noticed in Westwinds - not that this is always a good thing.
If you doubt me you might want to question friend Harry http://harry2335.blogspot.com/ about his experiences as past President of our little community - including the expectations that - in the middle of the night -his duties included resolving a plumbing problem one of our senior citizens was experiencing.
Now that's one heckuva opportunity to try to separate "perception from reality" and he appears to have handled it well.
Having him around was a real treasure for those of us with perhaps less grandiose expectations as to what Harry's duties included.
So next time when someone says mean things to you - don't internalize them - and allow "perceptions to become reality". You're better than that.
There are exceptions obviously, however.
When someone tells me how young and good looking I am, especially for a septugenarian, that's a completely different thing.
Clearly these people possess extremely good judgment skills and have absolutely warmed the cockles of my heart by exercising their penchant for honesty.
There is something to be said for - after many years of practice - acquiring the skill to shave this craggy face without looking in the mirror during the process.
Who wants that image looking back at me and disagreeing?
I mean, "C'mon - Get Real"!
After all, living in a 55+ community - called Westwinds -I'm surrounded by them - and I do love them - particularly two who have passed the age of 90, are still active - and truly do "look good for their age."
Aggie and Phyllis - you go girls!
It was then the truism about "perception becoming reality" started to float around in my life challenged brain. You see, that last statement is a perfect example of the concept- a perception of Alzheimers novicius - or , "I'm sure it's just the beginning."
If, based on the opinions of other folks, we "perceive" that we have become old, mind addled, vain, rude, petty, egotistical , etc , it can become contagious and soon morph into our "reality".
A couple of weeks ago my wife Phyl ventured up to the Thursday night Bingo game and got a chance to talk to one of our "grand dames.".
She took a moment to respond to Phyl's inquiry as to how her day had been and then proceeded to describe a delightful day that included a non infrequent visit to the Moose that afternoon.
Apparently nobody had yet managed to convince her that she was old or even mentally challenged based on her insistance of taking her "lucky bear" to Bingo each week. God bless her!
If only life could be that simple - or is it?
We enjoy our community and the many people who make a point to speak to us when we're taking our little Chihuahua, Bella, on one of her Bataan marches around the neighborhood.
These folks watch and sometimes comment - when "Bell" conceivably stops to smell every blade of grass that suggests prior passage by other critters. Upon confirming the message she then lifts a leg and leaves her own mark in double-digit measurements, a practiced act which I am sure she believes is equally "tantalizing" to those she precedes on her journey.
She has no idea how silly she may look - and why should she? With that pea sized brain - (large in comparison with her body size) and an amazing capacity for love - she is clueless; and we wouldn't change any of it for a moment.
In some strange way Phyl and I feel better about ourselves, partially due to the attention Bella engenders as we walk her and hear the accompanied endearing comments from friends and strangers alike about her manners and friendly attitude. No animal enjoys a 'bum scratching" more than our doggie does.
We often joke that were it not for Bella we might never be noticed in Westwinds - not that this is always a good thing.
If you doubt me you might want to question friend Harry http://harry2335.blogspot.com/ about his experiences as past President of our little community - including the expectations that - in the middle of the night -his duties included resolving a plumbing problem one of our senior citizens was experiencing.
Now that's one heckuva opportunity to try to separate "perception from reality" and he appears to have handled it well.
Having him around was a real treasure for those of us with perhaps less grandiose expectations as to what Harry's duties included.
So next time when someone says mean things to you - don't internalize them - and allow "perceptions to become reality". You're better than that.
There are exceptions obviously, however.
When someone tells me how young and good looking I am, especially for a septugenarian, that's a completely different thing.
Clearly these people possess extremely good judgment skills and have absolutely warmed the cockles of my heart by exercising their penchant for honesty.
There is something to be said for - after many years of practice - acquiring the skill to shave this craggy face without looking in the mirror during the process.
Who wants that image looking back at me and disagreeing?
I mean, "C'mon - Get Real"!
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
GOLF HUMOR
How often do we hear the golf jokes about Moses, Abraham, & Jesus - or a Priest, Minister, and a Rabii- or sometimes, a lawyer, an accountant, and a funeral director?
Actually, that last one was pretty funny; but certainly not one to repeat in these august ramblings.
Golf lends itself to funny jokes. Usually when females hear them they are quick to agree, "Yeah, that's men, okay!"
Here are a couple of my favorites:
A husband and a wife are on the 9th green when suddenly she collapses from a heart attack.
"Help me dear,", she groans to her husband.
The husband calls 911 on his cellphone, talks for a few minutes, picks up his putter and lines up his putt.
His wife raises her head off the green and stares at him.
"I'm dying here and you're putting?"
"Don't worry dear," says the husband calmly, "they found a doctor on the second hole and he's coming to help you."
"Well, how long will it take for him to get here? she asks feebly.
"No time at all," replies her husband. "Everybody's already agreed to let him play through."
-----------------------------------------
The bride was escorted down the aisle and when she reached the altar, the groom was standing there with his golf bag and clubs at his side.
She said, "What are your golf clubs doing here?"
He looked her right in the eye and said, "This isn't going to take all day, is it?"
__________________________________
But, sometimes the females get their chance too:
Police are called to an apartment and find a woman holding a bloody 3 iron while standing over a lifeless man..
The detective asks, "Ma'am, is that your husband?"
"Yes", says the woman.
"Looking at the battered body, he asks "Did you hit him with that golf club?"
"Yes, yes, I did ." The woman begins to sob, drops the club, and puts her hands on her face.
"How many times did you hit him?"
"I don't know - - - put me down for a five."
-----------------------------------------------------
Then we have the church related jokes. Here are two:
A young man and a priest are playing together. At a short par 3 the priest asks, "What are you going to use on this hole, my son?"
The young man says, "An 8-iron, Father. How about you?"
The priest says, "I'm going to hit a soft seven and pray."
The young man hits his 8-iron and puts the ball on the green. The priest tops his 7-iron, dribbles the ball out a few yards and is obviously disappointed..
The young man says, "I don't know about you, Father, but in my church, when we pray, we keep our head down."
--------------------------------------------------
A golfer tees up his ball on the first tee, took a mighty swing and hit his ball into a clump of trees. He found his ball and saw an opening between two trees that he thought he could hit through.
Taking out his 3-wood, he took a mighty swing. The ball hit a tree, bounced back, hit him in the forehead and killed him.
As he approached the gates of Heaven, St. Peter asked, "Are you a good golfer?"
The man replied: "Got here in two, didn't I?"
---------------------------------
Finally, the reason we men find golf so much easier than playing chess:
A gushy reporter told Phil Mickelson,"You are spectacular; your name is synonymous with the game of golf. You really know your way around the course.
"What's your secret?"
Michelson replied, "The holes are numbered."
-------------------------------------------
Enjoy your game and try to retain a good sense of humor.
Actually, that last one was pretty funny; but certainly not one to repeat in these august ramblings.
Golf lends itself to funny jokes. Usually when females hear them they are quick to agree, "Yeah, that's men, okay!"
Here are a couple of my favorites:
A husband and a wife are on the 9th green when suddenly she collapses from a heart attack.
"Help me dear,", she groans to her husband.
The husband calls 911 on his cellphone, talks for a few minutes, picks up his putter and lines up his putt.
His wife raises her head off the green and stares at him.
"I'm dying here and you're putting?"
"Don't worry dear," says the husband calmly, "they found a doctor on the second hole and he's coming to help you."
"Well, how long will it take for him to get here? she asks feebly.
"No time at all," replies her husband. "Everybody's already agreed to let him play through."
-----------------------------------------
The bride was escorted down the aisle and when she reached the altar, the groom was standing there with his golf bag and clubs at his side.
She said, "What are your golf clubs doing here?"
He looked her right in the eye and said, "This isn't going to take all day, is it?"
__________________________________
But, sometimes the females get their chance too:
Police are called to an apartment and find a woman holding a bloody 3 iron while standing over a lifeless man..
The detective asks, "Ma'am, is that your husband?"
"Yes", says the woman.
"Looking at the battered body, he asks "Did you hit him with that golf club?"
"Yes, yes, I did ." The woman begins to sob, drops the club, and puts her hands on her face.
"How many times did you hit him?"
"I don't know - - - put me down for a five."
-----------------------------------------------------
Then we have the church related jokes. Here are two:
A young man and a priest are playing together. At a short par 3 the priest asks, "What are you going to use on this hole, my son?"
The young man says, "An 8-iron, Father. How about you?"
The priest says, "I'm going to hit a soft seven and pray."
The young man hits his 8-iron and puts the ball on the green. The priest tops his 7-iron, dribbles the ball out a few yards and is obviously disappointed..
The young man says, "I don't know about you, Father, but in my church, when we pray, we keep our head down."
--------------------------------------------------
A golfer tees up his ball on the first tee, took a mighty swing and hit his ball into a clump of trees. He found his ball and saw an opening between two trees that he thought he could hit through.
Taking out his 3-wood, he took a mighty swing. The ball hit a tree, bounced back, hit him in the forehead and killed him.
As he approached the gates of Heaven, St. Peter asked, "Are you a good golfer?"
The man replied: "Got here in two, didn't I?"
---------------------------------
Finally, the reason we men find golf so much easier than playing chess:
A gushy reporter told Phil Mickelson,"You are spectacular; your name is synonymous with the game of golf. You really know your way around the course.
"What's your secret?"
Michelson replied, "The holes are numbered."
-------------------------------------------
Enjoy your game and try to retain a good sense of humor.
Monday, March 4, 2013
If You Can Find The Time.
If you are a music fan, but are not sure that classical is your music du jour choice, I would recommend picking up a music CD entitled "Tchaikovsky At Tea Time."
It is on the Philips label: #28945 44982 and is a compilation. If your memories of Tchaikovsky are primarily The 1812 Overture - a rather challenging piece - this CD will be like a breath of fresh air. It is recommended for nurseries of small kids, as well.
I often put this CD on out on the lanaii when I'm reading the paper or just musing like a Pa Kettle lookalike, rocking away in his rocker while Ma Kettle says, "Hush children - your Pa is thunkin."
In the Sullivan household the CD is a favorite of my wife Phyl and myself - but not Bella.
Apparently the opening bars of the andante cantabile (a really relaxing part of the String Quartet No.1 in D) was not meant for tiny Chihuahuas with delicate hearing.
Playing this selection when she's around never ceases to cause Bella to start her own sing-along with blood curdling moans.
Another recommendation, "If you can find the time" - and might be in a relaxing Bossa Nova mood is a CD by Stan Getz entitled "The Bossa Nova Years (Girl From Ipanema)" - one by Paul Desmond entitled "Bossa Antigua" - and finally one that son Bruce played for me in Pittburgh and later rewarded me with, entitled "Salsamba" - which was recorded in a Pittsburgh studio.
You will note that my recommendations so far are strictly musical. I would not dare to suggest a clothing style or particular fashion look. As you, who have read my blog, probably will recall, I was still wearing Knickers in the 5th grade.
--------------------------------------------------
Finally, I definitely endorse a reading on the health cost mystery.
Be prepared. It requires a judicious use of time and patience but will clarify for you (probably for the first time) just why we spend 20% of our gross domestic product on health care - twice as much as most other developed countries which get the same or better health outcomes..
If you like reality stories with heroes and villains you'll find them all here.
The biggest villain, and one which you probably never heard of, is "The Chargemaster"- which Time Magazine calls "the mysterious internal pricelist for products and services that every hospital in the U.S. keeps." (and which few hospital administrators can or will attempt to explain - partially because they don't understand it themselves).
However, it is the key ingredient in our disastrous health insurance costs and most responsible for the hospitals charging (as an example) a 10,000% markup for acetaminophen - and, that's only for a starter.
The story also makes clear why the hospitals - in true Pac-Man fashion- are eating up the smaller hospitals in your area as well as several physician practices - simply to keep your medical carriers from being able to negotiate substantial discounts on those bills you are receiving.
It is a fascinating story and one that my wife - a former large hospital bill negotiator for a large insurance company - can confirm is costing us one helluva lot of money - and it is doubtful Congress will ever step in to apply an anti-trust remedy.
Other villains uncovered are "the usual suspects": the grossly overpaid Hospital administrators, the manufacturers of hospital equipment, lobbyists, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, doctors who accept pay for being so-called drug company advisors - one political party that simply refuses to do anything about tort reform - and another party that the hospital and drug industry lobbyists all have in their collective hip pockets.
Spoiler alert: The identity of the real hero involved here will surprise you if you've been previously sucked in by all the media drivel.
It's called Medicare - and Brill reveals how they could actually do even more if Congress did not tie their hands by allowing them to only pay "the approximate costs" of care.
For all of us who struggle with the high costs of medical insurance it should be required reading.
It is a 24,105 word story that became my "segmental" reading choice in "Barry's Bathroom". It is also a incredibly clear explanation as to why our health costs are so outrageous.
The information resource here is the March 4, 2013 issue of Time Magazine which has a Special Report entitled "The Bitter Pill" by author Stephen Brill (the founder of Court TV). It is subtitled "The Free market in American medicine is a myth with or without Obamacare".
In your library it will be Vol. 181, No.8| 2013
Once more we have clearly been underserved by our elected officials - which is an enigma we appear unwilling to attempt to resolve.
Like the blog title says, "If You can Find The Time". (pun intended)
It is on the Philips label: #28945 44982 and is a compilation. If your memories of Tchaikovsky are primarily The 1812 Overture - a rather challenging piece - this CD will be like a breath of fresh air. It is recommended for nurseries of small kids, as well.
I often put this CD on out on the lanaii when I'm reading the paper or just musing like a Pa Kettle lookalike, rocking away in his rocker while Ma Kettle says, "Hush children - your Pa is thunkin."
In the Sullivan household the CD is a favorite of my wife Phyl and myself - but not Bella.
Apparently the opening bars of the andante cantabile (a really relaxing part of the String Quartet No.1 in D) was not meant for tiny Chihuahuas with delicate hearing.
Playing this selection when she's around never ceases to cause Bella to start her own sing-along with blood curdling moans.
Another recommendation, "If you can find the time" - and might be in a relaxing Bossa Nova mood is a CD by Stan Getz entitled "The Bossa Nova Years (Girl From Ipanema)" - one by Paul Desmond entitled "Bossa Antigua" - and finally one that son Bruce played for me in Pittburgh and later rewarded me with, entitled "Salsamba" - which was recorded in a Pittsburgh studio.
You will note that my recommendations so far are strictly musical. I would not dare to suggest a clothing style or particular fashion look. As you, who have read my blog, probably will recall, I was still wearing Knickers in the 5th grade.
--------------------------------------------------
Finally, I definitely endorse a reading on the health cost mystery.
Be prepared. It requires a judicious use of time and patience but will clarify for you (probably for the first time) just why we spend 20% of our gross domestic product on health care - twice as much as most other developed countries which get the same or better health outcomes..
If you like reality stories with heroes and villains you'll find them all here.
The biggest villain, and one which you probably never heard of, is "The Chargemaster"- which Time Magazine calls "the mysterious internal pricelist for products and services that every hospital in the U.S. keeps." (and which few hospital administrators can or will attempt to explain - partially because they don't understand it themselves).
However, it is the key ingredient in our disastrous health insurance costs and most responsible for the hospitals charging (as an example) a 10,000% markup for acetaminophen - and, that's only for a starter.
The story also makes clear why the hospitals - in true Pac-Man fashion- are eating up the smaller hospitals in your area as well as several physician practices - simply to keep your medical carriers from being able to negotiate substantial discounts on those bills you are receiving.
It is a fascinating story and one that my wife - a former large hospital bill negotiator for a large insurance company - can confirm is costing us one helluva lot of money - and it is doubtful Congress will ever step in to apply an anti-trust remedy.
Other villains uncovered are "the usual suspects": the grossly overpaid Hospital administrators, the manufacturers of hospital equipment, lobbyists, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, doctors who accept pay for being so-called drug company advisors - one political party that simply refuses to do anything about tort reform - and another party that the hospital and drug industry lobbyists all have in their collective hip pockets.
Spoiler alert: The identity of the real hero involved here will surprise you if you've been previously sucked in by all the media drivel.
It's called Medicare - and Brill reveals how they could actually do even more if Congress did not tie their hands by allowing them to only pay "the approximate costs" of care.
For all of us who struggle with the high costs of medical insurance it should be required reading.
It is a 24,105 word story that became my "segmental" reading choice in "Barry's Bathroom". It is also a incredibly clear explanation as to why our health costs are so outrageous.
The information resource here is the March 4, 2013 issue of Time Magazine which has a Special Report entitled "The Bitter Pill" by author Stephen Brill (the founder of Court TV). It is subtitled "The Free market in American medicine is a myth with or without Obamacare".
In your library it will be Vol. 181, No.8| 2013
Once more we have clearly been underserved by our elected officials - which is an enigma we appear unwilling to attempt to resolve.
Like the blog title says, "If You can Find The Time". (pun intended)
Sunday, March 3, 2013
High School Reunion
Anybody out there been receiving invitations to attend high school reunions?
Also, are there any of you who might go but the destination for the reunion is not something tht fits conveniently into your budget - or you have conficting
commitments like watching a grandchild participating in a marbles tournament that weekend?
Hey, these are all valid reasons for this writer.
But, what if the real reason is that you really weren't a big deal in high school - maybe even thought of as a nerd - and in your eyes you believe that not much probably changed in the minds of your former classmates after you graduated?
Hey, things may have changed. It happens. But, do you really want to have to use the occasion of a 25, 30, 40 or 50 year reunion to "find out"?
Probably not.
I responded to a few of these reunion invitations by making an innocent comment or two that apparently was not received as same. that was pretty much it for me. Sameo - Sameo.
Do you ever wonder why when those invitations to "reunions" arrive in your mailbox or computer, they never seem to come from a former class member who now says:
"Hey, I know I really was a true jagoff back then but now that my 3rd arrest for statuary rape has been dismissed I would love to get together with you guys - over at Vinny's Pizza and Car Wash Emporion" back in our home town - where I have finally found employment."
No, the ones I get are from a guy who makes self important allusions to titles, awards - the number of residences - the exotic trips etc that God has blessed him with.
Don't get me wrong - I truly do not wish them retirement status as a possible ex-felon nor as an entry level employee at the Pizza and Car Wash location.
Neither do I want to attend a reunion so I can be reminded of their personality inadequacies both in High School and now as a fellow senior.
OK, let's take a vote. Anything like that really take place with you since your high school graduation? Hmmm, not an overwhelming show of hands
Probably not - and that's okay. I guess this is just my own personal peeve and at my age I kinda figure I have a right to express it - in my own personal blog.
Probably - if you were not a member of the desired clique in your high school days - those invitations sent asking you to "reunion' are coming from somebody who mysteriously - back in the days - could never find the time to talk to you.
That is unless he or she asked you to do their homework, vote for them in some school office election, or accused you of taking or putting something in their locker.
There's a distinct possibility that you've really grown up tremendously - lost that inferiority complex along with the acne - but still go:
"Is this trauma something that I really want to renew? I mean, it was only after I escaped from this peer pressure and three months later went away to college. I had truly moved on and found who I was all about. When I did that I acquired the self-confidence I needed and recognized the potential that I had but which was never realized while in high school."
Honestly, those two years after I graduated from high school and went away to school before transferring to a school in my hometown were maybe the best two years of my life.
I was like a flower that had blossomed. I went from "nerd' status to "Cheers" status - where, maybe not everybody - but most of my college class mates knew my name and actually spoke to me.
Despite that new recogniton from strangers none of my former high school classmates tried to track me down to have lunch or share a beer with them.
But yet, the current e-mails (and you're wondering how in the name of God they got your e-mail address) that promise you the reunion will be "status free" - a no pressure affair.
See, this means - no possibility that those arranging the reunion will attempt to freeze you out again nor try to remind you that you are still a failure in their eyes or couldn't possibly match their so-called accomplishments since high school.
I think of it as sort of a reunion "leader board" that posts your scores and lists your comparative position in the reunion tournament.
It's not necessarily unlike retirement status in Florida.
C'mon, lets talk.
The first thing I found that you have to deal with in the retirement community you chose are the questions designed to indentify how you compare with them. You are quickly asked about your past employment - your accomplishments - your current residence location(s) - and whether or not you belong to a golf/country club in the area or back home.
And, if for some reason or another, you are able to skillfully avoid those questions, (because you're still basically a private person) do not be surprised if someone follows you outside to see the age and model of the vehicle you are driving.
If that sounds truly paranoia driven - please re-enter the real world. Honestly, it actually happens down here - and some graduate work in a psychology related field helped me to understand what it was all about.
Some - and definitely not all men - do not know how to relate to other men unless they know if their "superiority index" - can program you adequately on a continuom as equal - superior - or menial.
I had achieved some degree of success with a large company but after consistent questioning by a complete stranger aimed at determining the height to which I had risen in this company with which he had some familiarity - I finally responded to the guy, "Would you like to see my teeth?"
Does this all sound like something from a frustrated high school student who just didn't fit in 50 to 60 years ago? Yeah, maybe - but there's much more .
I can't possibly imagine why folks who seldom showed any interest in me suddenly recall my name (via Google?) and now want me to "reunion" with them.
Being somewhat of a cynic I ask myself this question "Is there a quorum goal these folks are desperately trying to meet similar to the votes they accumulated for class treasurer that is contingent on the number of people who respond to their entreaty and actually show up at the reunion?"
It's hard to imagine that these fine folks who contact us only in 10 year increments have had an epiphany and now want to know what we are all about in our old age?
Or, based on remarks from some friends who did cave in and attend their respective high schol reunions I wonder - based on their stories of regret- is this really "about" the "inviters" desire to see you or tell you what they're all "about"?
Obviously, from what I've written, you have gathered this is possibly not an overwhelming bucket list goal for me.
It's simply that I didn't want to play the game almost 60 years ago. I purposely did not dress like they did - get the requisite crew cut - talk the talk - drink the brew -smoke the hemp (or anything else) - wear the bucks - the button down sport shirts with the signature button in the back - the crew neck sweaters or the the khaki's with the belt in the back.
Of course, within a month after graduating I did most of those things.
Do you think that had anything to do with my new found popularity in college?
Anyway, it's been a good journey.
I have a lot that I'm proud of - good kids - an attractive loving wife - receipt of some praise - awards etc - in my business life - in short nothing that I feel compelled to share with folks who were once virtual strangers and whom I suspect haven't changed that much in almost 60 years witht he excption of their hairlines and waist size. Now here, we are equals.
I'd rather watch a video of a grandchild doing something really important - like learning how to explore the box their present came in - skip the reunion and just be myself with my new friends in Florida.
But, hey "Dude", it's up to you how - or whether - you respond.
Also, are there any of you who might go but the destination for the reunion is not something tht fits conveniently into your budget - or you have conficting
commitments like watching a grandchild participating in a marbles tournament that weekend?
Hey, these are all valid reasons for this writer.
But, what if the real reason is that you really weren't a big deal in high school - maybe even thought of as a nerd - and in your eyes you believe that not much probably changed in the minds of your former classmates after you graduated?
Hey, things may have changed. It happens. But, do you really want to have to use the occasion of a 25, 30, 40 or 50 year reunion to "find out"?
Probably not.
I responded to a few of these reunion invitations by making an innocent comment or two that apparently was not received as same. that was pretty much it for me. Sameo - Sameo.
Do you ever wonder why when those invitations to "reunions" arrive in your mailbox or computer, they never seem to come from a former class member who now says:
"Hey, I know I really was a true jagoff back then but now that my 3rd arrest for statuary rape has been dismissed I would love to get together with you guys - over at Vinny's Pizza and Car Wash Emporion" back in our home town - where I have finally found employment."
No, the ones I get are from a guy who makes self important allusions to titles, awards - the number of residences - the exotic trips etc that God has blessed him with.
Don't get me wrong - I truly do not wish them retirement status as a possible ex-felon nor as an entry level employee at the Pizza and Car Wash location.
Neither do I want to attend a reunion so I can be reminded of their personality inadequacies both in High School and now as a fellow senior.
OK, let's take a vote. Anything like that really take place with you since your high school graduation? Hmmm, not an overwhelming show of hands
Probably not - and that's okay. I guess this is just my own personal peeve and at my age I kinda figure I have a right to express it - in my own personal blog.
Probably - if you were not a member of the desired clique in your high school days - those invitations sent asking you to "reunion' are coming from somebody who mysteriously - back in the days - could never find the time to talk to you.
That is unless he or she asked you to do their homework, vote for them in some school office election, or accused you of taking or putting something in their locker.
There's a distinct possibility that you've really grown up tremendously - lost that inferiority complex along with the acne - but still go:
"Is this trauma something that I really want to renew? I mean, it was only after I escaped from this peer pressure and three months later went away to college. I had truly moved on and found who I was all about. When I did that I acquired the self-confidence I needed and recognized the potential that I had but which was never realized while in high school."
Honestly, those two years after I graduated from high school and went away to school before transferring to a school in my hometown were maybe the best two years of my life.
I was like a flower that had blossomed. I went from "nerd' status to "Cheers" status - where, maybe not everybody - but most of my college class mates knew my name and actually spoke to me.
Despite that new recogniton from strangers none of my former high school classmates tried to track me down to have lunch or share a beer with them.
But yet, the current e-mails (and you're wondering how in the name of God they got your e-mail address) that promise you the reunion will be "status free" - a no pressure affair.
See, this means - no possibility that those arranging the reunion will attempt to freeze you out again nor try to remind you that you are still a failure in their eyes or couldn't possibly match their so-called accomplishments since high school.
I think of it as sort of a reunion "leader board" that posts your scores and lists your comparative position in the reunion tournament.
It's not necessarily unlike retirement status in Florida.
C'mon, lets talk.
The first thing I found that you have to deal with in the retirement community you chose are the questions designed to indentify how you compare with them. You are quickly asked about your past employment - your accomplishments - your current residence location(s) - and whether or not you belong to a golf/country club in the area or back home.
And, if for some reason or another, you are able to skillfully avoid those questions, (because you're still basically a private person) do not be surprised if someone follows you outside to see the age and model of the vehicle you are driving.
If that sounds truly paranoia driven - please re-enter the real world. Honestly, it actually happens down here - and some graduate work in a psychology related field helped me to understand what it was all about.
Some - and definitely not all men - do not know how to relate to other men unless they know if their "superiority index" - can program you adequately on a continuom as equal - superior - or menial.
I had achieved some degree of success with a large company but after consistent questioning by a complete stranger aimed at determining the height to which I had risen in this company with which he had some familiarity - I finally responded to the guy, "Would you like to see my teeth?"
Does this all sound like something from a frustrated high school student who just didn't fit in 50 to 60 years ago? Yeah, maybe - but there's much more .
I can't possibly imagine why folks who seldom showed any interest in me suddenly recall my name (via Google?) and now want me to "reunion" with them.
Being somewhat of a cynic I ask myself this question "Is there a quorum goal these folks are desperately trying to meet similar to the votes they accumulated for class treasurer that is contingent on the number of people who respond to their entreaty and actually show up at the reunion?"
It's hard to imagine that these fine folks who contact us only in 10 year increments have had an epiphany and now want to know what we are all about in our old age?
Or, based on remarks from some friends who did cave in and attend their respective high schol reunions I wonder - based on their stories of regret- is this really "about" the "inviters" desire to see you or tell you what they're all "about"?
Obviously, from what I've written, you have gathered this is possibly not an overwhelming bucket list goal for me.
It's simply that I didn't want to play the game almost 60 years ago. I purposely did not dress like they did - get the requisite crew cut - talk the talk - drink the brew -smoke the hemp (or anything else) - wear the bucks - the button down sport shirts with the signature button in the back - the crew neck sweaters or the the khaki's with the belt in the back.
Of course, within a month after graduating I did most of those things.
Do you think that had anything to do with my new found popularity in college?
Anyway, it's been a good journey.
I have a lot that I'm proud of - good kids - an attractive loving wife - receipt of some praise - awards etc - in my business life - in short nothing that I feel compelled to share with folks who were once virtual strangers and whom I suspect haven't changed that much in almost 60 years witht he excption of their hairlines and waist size. Now here, we are equals.
I'd rather watch a video of a grandchild doing something really important - like learning how to explore the box their present came in - skip the reunion and just be myself with my new friends in Florida.
But, hey "Dude", it's up to you how - or whether - you respond.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
SCHOOL DAYS
Do you remember the much recorded 1907 song "School Days"?
An E-mail I had just read and listened to about a school answering machine in Australia led me to look up the song lyrics - part of which are repeated here.
School days, school days
Dear old Golden Rule days
Reading and 'riting and 'rithmetic
Taught to the tune of the hick'ry stick
One recording of the song was a twelve bar blues version - which based on teachers and administrators of the Australian school - would seem to be most appropriate. It sounds as if these folks are "feeling the blues".
They unanimously decided to introduce a unique school answering machine message.
This was due to their frustration with the reaction to their efforts to implement a policy requiring both students and their parents to be responsible for their childrens absences and missing homework.
In addition to failing to hand in homework many of the students had missed between 15 and 30 days - "a semester."
The high school's determination to fail those students who did not complete enough classwork to pass the class enraged several parents who promptly sued the school.
The school responded with the following answering machine message:
"In order to connect you to the right staff person please listen to all the options before making a decision:
Press # 1: to lie about why your child is absent.
Press # 2: to make excuses for why your child did not do
his homework.
Press # 3: to complain about what we do.
Press # 4: to swear at staff members.
Press #5: to ask why you didn't get information, that
has already been enclosed in your newsletter
and several flyers that have been mailed to you.
Press #6: if you want to raise your child.
Press #7: if you want to reach out and touch, slap
or hit someone.
Press #8: to request another teacher for the third
time this year.
Press #9: to complain about bus transportation.
Press #0: to complain about school lunches.
If you realize this is the real world and your child must
be accountable and responsible for his or her behavior,
classwork, and homework and it's not the teachers
fault for your child's lack of effort - please hang up and
have a nice day.
If you want this in another language move to a country that speaks it.
Thank you for your interest in public education."
My reaction? Maybe it's time to reintroduce the ''school days" song.
An E-mail I had just read and listened to about a school answering machine in Australia led me to look up the song lyrics - part of which are repeated here.
School days, school days
Dear old Golden Rule days
Reading and 'riting and 'rithmetic
Taught to the tune of the hick'ry stick
One recording of the song was a twelve bar blues version - which based on teachers and administrators of the Australian school - would seem to be most appropriate. It sounds as if these folks are "feeling the blues".
They unanimously decided to introduce a unique school answering machine message.
This was due to their frustration with the reaction to their efforts to implement a policy requiring both students and their parents to be responsible for their childrens absences and missing homework.
In addition to failing to hand in homework many of the students had missed between 15 and 30 days - "a semester."
The high school's determination to fail those students who did not complete enough classwork to pass the class enraged several parents who promptly sued the school.
The school responded with the following answering machine message:
"In order to connect you to the right staff person please listen to all the options before making a decision:
Press # 1: to lie about why your child is absent.
Press # 2: to make excuses for why your child did not do
his homework.
Press # 3: to complain about what we do.
Press # 4: to swear at staff members.
Press #5: to ask why you didn't get information, that
has already been enclosed in your newsletter
and several flyers that have been mailed to you.
Press #6: if you want to raise your child.
Press #7: if you want to reach out and touch, slap
or hit someone.
Press #8: to request another teacher for the third
time this year.
Press #9: to complain about bus transportation.
Press #0: to complain about school lunches.
If you realize this is the real world and your child must
be accountable and responsible for his or her behavior,
classwork, and homework and it's not the teachers
fault for your child's lack of effort - please hang up and
have a nice day.
If you want this in another language move to a country that speaks it.
Thank you for your interest in public education."
My reaction? Maybe it's time to reintroduce the ''school days" song.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Gun Control?
Honest, I've really been trying to keep quiet on this subject - for a number of reasons. Better, get a second cup of coffee.
First, my experience with shooting guns is rather limited. Second, I have never
enjoyed the bonding that takes place between son & his father, brother and brother, cousin and cousin, aunt and uncle, etc due to hunting together.
I'm sure there is much to recommend it.
Third, I agree there's one helluva lot of knee jerk reactions by non NRA members and politicos everywhere to the shooting of those innocent kids up in Connecticut.
We appear to be a country that is hell bent on finding that "one simple solution" that will end all discomfort. Gun control arguments are just one good example.
To me, they simply seem to capture the depth of our frustration as a nation.
Finally, it appears to me that the whole issue of gun control in which critics rationalize that those who object to reviewing anything having to do with this subject, may tell us that way too much needs to be re-examined.
By both sides of the argument.
Many argue that the "take no prisoner" stand of many males who fear gun control may simply be blamed as simply being a last stand for one helluva lot of males who fear further emasculation down the road.
Again - another one size fits all argument.
However, is it true that in the last 40 years, males have seen several areas - where men were historically supposed to have dominance? Do they now belatedly show signs of fear for future impotence for our male population? Is this accurate and accurately depict a driving force behind what appears to be a stubborn stand on the part of many males?
Don't know.
Is it true, however, that the "modern males" - many of whom have learned to give lip service to the theme that women have historically been neglected and should now be be treated as equals - may now have some second thoughts?
That is even while secretly assuring themself that in a time of war this country will turn to -armed "men" to bail us out - as opposed to a group of people whose dependability once a month - may or may not be incompacitated by Mother Nature - but make them ill equipped to defend our country in battle.
The critics who espouse this simplistic argument above appear to believe our "gun control' problem is based strictly on testosterone fueled male insecurity and a recurrent theme where they refuse to accept that they no longer are representative of that ancestral species who historically "went out and shot supper".
I confess I have no sure-fire conclusions here - just some observations. I also admit I'm processing as I write this.
For those who are sure that gun ownership will historically protect us in time of enemy attack, I invite them to book a flight down to San Antonio, Texas and take a good look at what Texas "claims" is the remains of the Alamo.
It was humbling - even for this old-timer.
The fact that the altar at which these desperate males worship -"The NRA" -( which could easily be understood to be confused with the IRA by some) - is making morons out of all of them - and us who love them, as well.
I remain convinced that if the Irish women/mothers/wives in northern Ireland had not finally taken a "enough is enough" stand there would still be daily reports of bloodshed in that beleagued part of the world.
Will history repeat itself here in our beautiful country that appears to be closing in on the idea of the need for respecting female equality?
Again, I don't have a clue, but I do know that there are one helluva lot of mothers in this country who are tired of watching their sons and daughters lowered into the ground because nobody could, or would, come up with an answer to gun violence.
Finally, for those lemming die hards who espouse the idea that universal gun checks are a waste of time - (a mind numbing stand) please help me to understand why, if it would save the life of just one of our babies, it would not be worth considering - or at the very least discussing - regardless of what some NRA official may be arguing in the media?
How the hell do we know? - We haven't 'truly' tried them? Yet the IRA (oops, NRA) "leadership" - and trust me that stuck in my throat for a while - are coming out with gun control positions that mock reality.
Once again - to paraphrase Jimmy Buffet's line about old men who identify life's issues by using sports analogies to explain them - perhaps it's time for us to move on - regardless of how strong one feels about gun rights from those on either side.
But, once more - my previous caveat. Let's not go nuts here.
Please don't get me wrong about these folks who are so protective of their amendment rights. My 70 plus years of experience suggests that, for the most part, these are good people who most of us would find they truly enjoy being in their company.
They are also most likely to be the ones who pull over on the side of the road in an effort to see if you need help changing a tire.
And yeah, I do have empathy for those who ask "why do so many of these good rational thinking men" decide to resort to a perceived mob mentality when the subject of making some changes in gun control comes up. Do I agree?
Again, that would take much too long to try to answer here and this blog is long enough already.
However, I admit those critics may be raising an interesting question similar to what I ask myself constantly about liberal legislators, ACLU attorneys and jurists who are up for re-election, as to how they would proceed on alleged rapists - amid the defense attorney's arguments of "well, she invited it really" - if it was their wife, daughter or grandaughter who was the alleged victim of rape?
Again, I don't have a solution, but know that I don't want myself or any of my kids to have to address that horrible situation down the road.
A logical follow-up question might also be, how likely the recalcitrant NRA officials would be to reject any and all attempts to find a compromise as to what we're doing in this country on the subject of gun control - that is, if someone near and dear to them was the victim of death by gun?
Would they be quick to accept their prior argument and proclaim that "guns don't kill - people do" - or instead conclude something else?
Worse yet, would their silent but ingrained thought process be: "Well that really was unfortunate - but I need this well paying job with the NRA - and I can do more for this country if I don't give up my position of power and influence" via my many years with the NRA by instead, saying or doing something stupid."
I'm not blasting the NRA or the many people who are defensive about the possible erosion of their gun rights. There are many of them whom I know and love (and believe) who will defend to their death (no pun intended) the right of gun ownership.
I am curious about one circumstance here - strictly in searching for clarity.
I will admit I'd like to see one or more of these non-profit gatekeeper groups
who measure and monitor Congressional morality and alleged transgressions while in office, to agree to publish the result of a survey that reveals how much money these politicians or jurists receive via the NRA and their many other hidden financial sources. Is it a checken and egg argument as the politicians would have you think?
Anyway, why the belated outrage now - or appearance of same - by me?
I just read in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about the murder of two individual outside of The Cozy Inn in Murraysville - a suburb of Pittsburgh. I really know nothing else about what happened. It is located not too far from where my kids grew up and my grandkids live now.
I know well where the Cosy Inn is located and may have even been in the area many years ago at 7:30 in the evening when these murders were committed.
It was a frequent stopping off place for us Saturday golfers and trust me - we sure couldn't possibly imagine that this little peaceful place would someday be the location for what just happened.
In our day this occurrence would have been so unheard of that it probably would have been on the front page of the Pittsburgh Press and Sun-Telegraph for weeks. I doubt if that will be the case here ( and not just because those two referenced newspapers are no longer in print)
So, again, why am I so upset? Perhaps it's because I read too much - including those writings from people with whom I generally do not agree.
Dwayne Wickham, is a contributor to the USA Today and definitely is not one of my favorite "opinionated' columnists.
The other day he wrote about the tremendous difference in the ratios of black men killed by guns as compared to Caucasions and Hispanics.
My first reaction was that possibly, somewhere, a possible cause for the disparity and ultimate responsibility might well rest with those so called leaders of the Afro-American community who simply are looking the other way.
And then, like those who seek to find a single and irrefutable rationale as to why stricter gun control measures should not be put in place, I thought, "Dammit Barry, you're doing the same thing. You're looking for an easy fix."
It was not until I read the last piece of his commentary suggesting that those Afro Americans who have fled the ghettos and urban life - to protect their families- may very well someday experience the same killing insanity for reasons not limited to urban sprawl - I paraphrase Wickham's question, "Then what's going to happen when it's going on in their backyard?"
I'm embarassed to admit this but I guess this latest incident in Murraysville was just too close to "home" - and, isn't that a sad fact?
However, despite that admission, I would encourage the same question be posed to those bastions of the philosophy "no gun control under any circumstances."
I really don't want any of folks on either side of this argument to experience the death of a loved one simply so the anti-gun lobby can say, with more self-assurance, "I told you so!"
I can personally attest to the fact that losing a child can truly change your life - and not for the better. I wouldn't wish this fate on anyone.
I'm just asking those critics who are so sure they have the perfect and only logical answer to the problem - as well as those entrenched in a refusal to take a deeper look at the issue of gun control : "Would you please think this whole thing through again?"
Thank you.
First, my experience with shooting guns is rather limited. Second, I have never
enjoyed the bonding that takes place between son & his father, brother and brother, cousin and cousin, aunt and uncle, etc due to hunting together.
I'm sure there is much to recommend it.
Third, I agree there's one helluva lot of knee jerk reactions by non NRA members and politicos everywhere to the shooting of those innocent kids up in Connecticut.
We appear to be a country that is hell bent on finding that "one simple solution" that will end all discomfort. Gun control arguments are just one good example.
To me, they simply seem to capture the depth of our frustration as a nation.
Finally, it appears to me that the whole issue of gun control in which critics rationalize that those who object to reviewing anything having to do with this subject, may tell us that way too much needs to be re-examined.
By both sides of the argument.
Many argue that the "take no prisoner" stand of many males who fear gun control may simply be blamed as simply being a last stand for one helluva lot of males who fear further emasculation down the road.
Again - another one size fits all argument.
However, is it true that in the last 40 years, males have seen several areas - where men were historically supposed to have dominance? Do they now belatedly show signs of fear for future impotence for our male population? Is this accurate and accurately depict a driving force behind what appears to be a stubborn stand on the part of many males?
Don't know.
Is it true, however, that the "modern males" - many of whom have learned to give lip service to the theme that women have historically been neglected and should now be be treated as equals - may now have some second thoughts?
That is even while secretly assuring themself that in a time of war this country will turn to -armed "men" to bail us out - as opposed to a group of people whose dependability once a month - may or may not be incompacitated by Mother Nature - but make them ill equipped to defend our country in battle.
The critics who espouse this simplistic argument above appear to believe our "gun control' problem is based strictly on testosterone fueled male insecurity and a recurrent theme where they refuse to accept that they no longer are representative of that ancestral species who historically "went out and shot supper".
I confess I have no sure-fire conclusions here - just some observations. I also admit I'm processing as I write this.
For those who are sure that gun ownership will historically protect us in time of enemy attack, I invite them to book a flight down to San Antonio, Texas and take a good look at what Texas "claims" is the remains of the Alamo.
It was humbling - even for this old-timer.
The fact that the altar at which these desperate males worship -"The NRA" -( which could easily be understood to be confused with the IRA by some) - is making morons out of all of them - and us who love them, as well.
I remain convinced that if the Irish women/mothers/wives in northern Ireland had not finally taken a "enough is enough" stand there would still be daily reports of bloodshed in that beleagued part of the world.
Will history repeat itself here in our beautiful country that appears to be closing in on the idea of the need for respecting female equality?
Again, I don't have a clue, but I do know that there are one helluva lot of mothers in this country who are tired of watching their sons and daughters lowered into the ground because nobody could, or would, come up with an answer to gun violence.
Finally, for those lemming die hards who espouse the idea that universal gun checks are a waste of time - (a mind numbing stand) please help me to understand why, if it would save the life of just one of our babies, it would not be worth considering - or at the very least discussing - regardless of what some NRA official may be arguing in the media?
How the hell do we know? - We haven't 'truly' tried them? Yet the IRA (oops, NRA) "leadership" - and trust me that stuck in my throat for a while - are coming out with gun control positions that mock reality.
Once again - to paraphrase Jimmy Buffet's line about old men who identify life's issues by using sports analogies to explain them - perhaps it's time for us to move on - regardless of how strong one feels about gun rights from those on either side.
But, once more - my previous caveat. Let's not go nuts here.
Please don't get me wrong about these folks who are so protective of their amendment rights. My 70 plus years of experience suggests that, for the most part, these are good people who most of us would find they truly enjoy being in their company.
They are also most likely to be the ones who pull over on the side of the road in an effort to see if you need help changing a tire.
And yeah, I do have empathy for those who ask "why do so many of these good rational thinking men" decide to resort to a perceived mob mentality when the subject of making some changes in gun control comes up. Do I agree?
Again, that would take much too long to try to answer here and this blog is long enough already.
However, I admit those critics may be raising an interesting question similar to what I ask myself constantly about liberal legislators, ACLU attorneys and jurists who are up for re-election, as to how they would proceed on alleged rapists - amid the defense attorney's arguments of "well, she invited it really" - if it was their wife, daughter or grandaughter who was the alleged victim of rape?
Again, I don't have a solution, but know that I don't want myself or any of my kids to have to address that horrible situation down the road.
A logical follow-up question might also be, how likely the recalcitrant NRA officials would be to reject any and all attempts to find a compromise as to what we're doing in this country on the subject of gun control - that is, if someone near and dear to them was the victim of death by gun?
Would they be quick to accept their prior argument and proclaim that "guns don't kill - people do" - or instead conclude something else?
Worse yet, would their silent but ingrained thought process be: "Well that really was unfortunate - but I need this well paying job with the NRA - and I can do more for this country if I don't give up my position of power and influence" via my many years with the NRA by instead, saying or doing something stupid."
I'm not blasting the NRA or the many people who are defensive about the possible erosion of their gun rights. There are many of them whom I know and love (and believe) who will defend to their death (no pun intended) the right of gun ownership.
I am curious about one circumstance here - strictly in searching for clarity.
I will admit I'd like to see one or more of these non-profit gatekeeper groups
who measure and monitor Congressional morality and alleged transgressions while in office, to agree to publish the result of a survey that reveals how much money these politicians or jurists receive via the NRA and their many other hidden financial sources. Is it a checken and egg argument as the politicians would have you think?
Anyway, why the belated outrage now - or appearance of same - by me?
I just read in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about the murder of two individual outside of The Cozy Inn in Murraysville - a suburb of Pittsburgh. I really know nothing else about what happened. It is located not too far from where my kids grew up and my grandkids live now.
I know well where the Cosy Inn is located and may have even been in the area many years ago at 7:30 in the evening when these murders were committed.
It was a frequent stopping off place for us Saturday golfers and trust me - we sure couldn't possibly imagine that this little peaceful place would someday be the location for what just happened.
In our day this occurrence would have been so unheard of that it probably would have been on the front page of the Pittsburgh Press and Sun-Telegraph for weeks. I doubt if that will be the case here ( and not just because those two referenced newspapers are no longer in print)
So, again, why am I so upset? Perhaps it's because I read too much - including those writings from people with whom I generally do not agree.
Dwayne Wickham, is a contributor to the USA Today and definitely is not one of my favorite "opinionated' columnists.
The other day he wrote about the tremendous difference in the ratios of black men killed by guns as compared to Caucasions and Hispanics.
My first reaction was that possibly, somewhere, a possible cause for the disparity and ultimate responsibility might well rest with those so called leaders of the Afro-American community who simply are looking the other way.
And then, like those who seek to find a single and irrefutable rationale as to why stricter gun control measures should not be put in place, I thought, "Dammit Barry, you're doing the same thing. You're looking for an easy fix."
It was not until I read the last piece of his commentary suggesting that those Afro Americans who have fled the ghettos and urban life - to protect their families- may very well someday experience the same killing insanity for reasons not limited to urban sprawl - I paraphrase Wickham's question, "Then what's going to happen when it's going on in their backyard?"
I'm embarassed to admit this but I guess this latest incident in Murraysville was just too close to "home" - and, isn't that a sad fact?
However, despite that admission, I would encourage the same question be posed to those bastions of the philosophy "no gun control under any circumstances."
I really don't want any of folks on either side of this argument to experience the death of a loved one simply so the anti-gun lobby can say, with more self-assurance, "I told you so!"
I can personally attest to the fact that losing a child can truly change your life - and not for the better. I wouldn't wish this fate on anyone.
I'm just asking those critics who are so sure they have the perfect and only logical answer to the problem - as well as those entrenched in a refusal to take a deeper look at the issue of gun control : "Would you please think this whole thing through again?"
Thank you.
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