Thursday, March 31, 2011

Traffic

Three years ago I did not know what traffic was.  We lived a couple of miles from work and made the trip in just a few minutes, regardless of road conditions.  Now we live 25 miles away and the drive to an from work takes 30 minutes on a good day, 45 minutes or much more on a bad day.  I usually don't mind the drive. 

I can enjoy the drive in to work.  It's early, the conservative talk radio has my attention, and traffic snarls are fairly rare.  The drive home is different.The first 5 miles of the trip are on a very congested section of interstate highway.  If I get an early start, I cruise right through.  Otherwise it can be an interstate parking lot.  Since I want to get home to spend time with my 53 year old woman, the going home traffic is aggravating.

There is one traffic phenomonon that I just don't understand.  I'm in the extreme left lane (fast lane) cruising at 50 mph.  All of a sudden, traffic slows to a complete stop for a few seconds, then picks up and accellerates to 50 mph again.  How can that happen? There are no left hand exit or entrance ramps.  Is there some moron a mile ahead that brake-checks everyone?  If you catch them can you perform your own special version of road rage on them?

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Opening Day

A couple years ago I was at at KC Royals versus Detroit Tigers game that rapidly got out of hand.  I left the stadium in the seventh inning with the Royals down 18-2.  On the way home I tuned into the ballgame on the car radio.  In the eighth inning the Royals scored 4 runs making the score 18-6.  In the bottom of the ninth, the Royals play-by-play guy made a statement that stuck with me.  He opened the inning by saying, "Well, a couple hits, a couple walks, an error or two, a balk, stolen base and a couple of grand slams and we're right back in this game."  The epitome of optimism. 

Tomorrow is Opening Day in Kansas City.  I am predicting the Royals will win the World Series this year.  No one can dispute they are due.  This perennial loser has been quietly saving up their wins so they can take the World Series in 2011.  Who knows.  A couple hits, a couple walks, an error or two, a balk, stolen base and a couple of grand slams during a hundred or so games, and we're are in the thick of the pennant chase.  Do it another 11-12 games and we win the series.  Now I am the epitome of optimism.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Stupid Letter of the Week

The stupid letter of the week goes to Danny Martin of Lathrop Missouri.  Danny also gets special mention for his Blinding Flash of the Obvious.  Danny correctly connects unrest in the Middle East with U.S. involvement. 

U.S. hand in unrest



Maybe it is time to look at our American government to explain why all the turmoil is happening in the Middle East. Possibly the American government is responsible for the civil unrest and protests that have spread throughout the Middle East.


It would not be the first time the American government has covertly started unrest in the Middle East. We only need to look at Iraq and Afghanistan to see our American government’s covert operations at work.


Now President Barack Obama has taken it to a new level. He quietly approved a multimillion-dollar deal, now frozen, to provide refurbished armored troop carriers to Gadhafi’s army before the recent fighting in Libya. Today we are supplying the rebel forces with small arms and ammunition.


That is proof the American government is more concerned with control of the Middle East oil market than it is with humans suffering through a revolution.


Danny Martin
Lathrop, Missouri

You are correct Danny. The U.S. has triggered the unrest in the Middle East. And they didn't do it covertly as you have implied.  They did it by installing fledgling democracies in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Nothing covert there Danny.

Mental midget that he is, Danny also made the leap from aid attempt to Gadhafi, and current support of the Libyan rebels to America's desire to control the Middle East oil market.  If America is controlling the oil market, we are doing an extremely poor job of it.

Danny must feel that our involvement has the Libyan rebels acting like mind numbed robots willing to suffer, not for their own freedom, but to follow their American master.  Get real Danny.  The rebels are following their own desire - freedom. They are not controlled by American wishes.  America is simply facilitating what would be in both our interests - a Gadhafi-less world. 


I Like to Watch - The Music Never Stopped

I took a personal holiday last Thursday to spend the day with my bride.  I had never spent an entire day with a 53 year old woman before and that is one of the things I want to do.  I also want to spend time with a 54 ..55 ...56  etc.  year old woman and expect to get that opportunity too, someday.  We started with a brunch at a new restaurant we recently discovered, ran a few errands and went a movie.  Since I was taking a valuable vacation day, I had the honor of selecting the movie.  I picked a brand new movie playing at the local eclectic movie house titled "The Music Never Stopped". 

I had seen previews and became interested because it featured music from one of my favorite bands, The Grateful Dead.  It seems the rest of the world is just now learning about their music - something I have known for nearly 35 years.  I also found the movie had a plot - another plus when selecting a movie.  Knowing that -T would never pick the movie, I did.  She rolled her eyes and agreed to come along.  The following is an abridged version of the movie's description.

"The Music Never Stopped," based on the case study named "The Last Hippie" by a doctor who also wrote "Awakenings", which led to a movie that starred Robin Williams. The stories are very similar.  "The Music Never Stopped," tells the story of a father (Henry) and prodigal son (Gabriel) adjusting to the son's cerebral trauma.

Set in 1967, after the father  forbids him to see a Grateful Dead concert, son Gabriel runs away from home. Nearly twenty years later, Henry, a straight-laced engineer and lover of big band music, is shocked to learn that his estranged son requires major surgery to remove a suddenly discovered brain tumor.  After the operation, it is found the tumor damaged the part of his brain that facilitates the creation of new memories.

For Gabriel, past, present, and future become indistinguishable, and he lives fixed in the era of Vietnam, acid trips, and psychedelic music. Determined not to let their son slip away again, Henry and wife Helen vow to connect with Gabriel, who is barely able to communicate effectively. Unhappy with Gabriel's lack of progress, Henry does his own research on brain injuries, which leads him to Dr. Dianne Daly. She is a music therapist who has used her methods to make significant progress with victims of brain tumors.

As Diane works with Gabriel, she realizes that he is most responsive to the music of the Rock and Roll era - The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and particularly the Grateful Dead. Even though he is unaware that the era of his music has long passed, the effect is remarkable, and he begins to be able to have conversations and express himself. Although Henry loathes rock and roll, he is determined to create new memories and salvage his relationship with his son. While his own health fails, Henry begins his own pilgrimage through the bands of the sixties. As he learns the songs that animate his son's soul, he indeed begins to form an unusual but emotionally vibrant bond with the child he thought he had lost.

While -T will have a different opinion, I absolutely loved the movie.  I connected with the plot on many levels.  I related as a son, as a father, and as a brain damaged deadhead.  -T was surprised that I could stay awake.  She had a difficult time doing the same.  She asks why I hated Ordinary People so much when I liked The Music Never Stopped.  Both had a similar emotional plot, (I think because I slept through Ordinary People).  Easy.  Play Grateful Dead music as the soundtrack to any movie and I'm there.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Earth Hour

Tonight between 8:30 and 9:30 PM, the clock tower at the campus I work at will be darkened in support of "Earth Hour".  They ask that "a little candlelight be the beacon that inspires you to get involved in a sustainable future for us all".  Symbology over substance.  Earth Hour is an invention by tree hugging, left wing liberal groups to make us either feel guilty for ignoring them, or if we participate, feel as if what we are doing something worthwhile.  The amount of energy saved by dimming or extinguishing your lights for 1 hour would result in a .2% reduction in our yearly energy usage, and that is if everyone fully participates.  Since hardly anyone will, the entire exercise is pointless.

This year, I will participate.  I plan to turn on my 5 flatscreen TV's for the entire hour.  I might even watch one.  My 50" plasma will be that beacon to inspire me.  My hope is to negate whatever energy savings is realized by the irrelevant action of turning the campus clock tower lights out for 1 hour.  Stupid meaningless stunts don't make a consequential difference. 

An I am not against energy conservation.  I just feel it is grossly idiotic to think that symbolism makes a difference or even helps.  This country needs an energy policy that contains major proportions of oil, natural gas and nuclear power, with thoughtful investments in alternative and renewable energy.  The country doesn't need stunts, we need intelligent thought leading to realistic policy.  And we really don't need green groups wagging their finger at us trying to shame us into conservation.  Join me tonight by making your electric meter spin.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Celebrate

Join me in celebrating the University of Connecticut's NCAA championship.  Premature you might say?  I don't know.  Just look at what has happened in this crazy tournament.  First, all the so called good teams in KU's bracket exited early.  Notre Dame, Georgetown, Texas A&M, Purdue, Louisville, and Vanderbult are all gone.  I suspect they did not relish the thought of being pounded by a clearly dominate KU team.  So instead of playing KU, they intentionally lost early to avoid the embarrassement.

So who remains on Connecticut's path to the national championship?  Tonight KU plays the vastly inferior team Richmond.  After that they will probably play VCU and Butler.  Not too much there.   The only real challenge remaining for Connecticut is the final against Butler.  Connecticut should be well rested by then.  I am thinking Connecticut only wins that one by 15 or 20.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Assasinate Gaddafi?

Question: If killing one man would save the lives of ten-thousand others, should we do it?

On Tuesday, the U.K. government claimed Muammar Gaddafi is a legitimate target for assassination.  They hold the position that killing the Libyan leader would be legal if it prevented civilian deaths as laid out in a U.N. resolution.  U.S. defence secretary Robert Gates countered, saying it would be unwise to target the Libyan leader, and that killing Gaddafi was not allowed under the U.N. mandate.

I say we should.  My reasoning is that Gaddafi is the military leader of the Libyan army and thus 'fair game' just like any other enemy soldier.  Actually, Gaddafi should be considered a high value target - higher than any 'command and contol' center targeted by our Tomahawk missles.  Killing Gaddafi  would bring this civil war to a rapid conclusion and would save thousands of Libyan and possibly American, Brittish, and other lives.

The world would shed no tears if Gaddafi was killed.  His country would prosper without him, and his neighbors sleep easier.  He is one crazy scoundrel in a place of immense power, and the world would be a better place without him.  So why would Britain mention this as a possiblity and the U.S. immediately stifle it?  Could it be that political correctness has spread to the military?  Is it no longer about the outcome of a war, but how we are preceived by other countries?

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

2011 NCAA Tournament

So far, this year's NCAA tournament has been memorable.  The Southwest bracket that includes KU as the #1 seed is amazing.  Every team ranked better than tenth has bowed out before the round of 16 begins.  I don't remember anything close to that happening in past tournaments.  That series of miracles has cleared the way for KU to again lose to a no-name team.

Everyone's brackets are in shambles.  Sunday brought a rash of upsets that were unforeseen by even the most knowledgeable.  Yet, a few facts remain unchanged.  Missouri wimpered and folded.  Kansas State underachieved.  My brackets are in slightly better shape than either of NILK's, and my daughter who doesn't follow college basketball at all is whipping us both.  Some things just don't change.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

What Would Frank Think?

It has been 11 days since I posted anything related to politics or world events.  Since then, much has happened.  The gigantic earthquake and tsunami in Japan and a civil war in Libya now dominate the headlines.  Surprising nobody, not much of anything has happened in the Congress.  Still no budget, little cooperation or civility.  Bickering continues on whether American can afford to cut spending by $2 billion a week while we are paying that much each day in interest on the national debt.

With my silence, many of you might be wondering what would Frank think?  For that reason, I will begin an occasional post on just what I think.  You can thank me later.

Frank thinks that president Obama acted far too slow  reacting to calls for a no-fly zone in Libya.  While he worried about how America would be perceived by the world if we used military force, rebel gains were lost as well as thousands of rebel lives.  Quick action might have limited what Gadhafi forces reclaimed and avoided consideration of sending ground troops to support the rebels.

Frank thinks it is hilarious that even after his dithering, America is still seen as leading the effort to oust Gadhafi.  Certain heads of state have asked the Nobel committee to strip Obama's Nobel Peace Prize in light of his support of the United Nations resolution calling for a no fly zone over Libya.  The most popular tweet today is that Obama has now fired more Tomahawk missiles in anger than all other Nobel Peace Prize recipients combined, (no, I still don't tweet).

Frank thinks it is preposterous that America let the French lead on the Libyan action.  Remember French are the ones who could get out of their own way fast enough in Iraq.  It is surprising that France will risk their soldiers at all to get Gadhafi out of Libya. After all, France didn't do much to get the Germans out of France during WWII.

Frank thinks that it is humorous that members of Congress are now criticizing Obama for allowing military action in Libya without consulting them.  I know it is constitutional to do so, but really, they belong to a legislative body that today has become so polarized that it is essentially useless.  If Obama had gone to Congress for permission, Gadhafi might be marching down Pennsylvania Avenue before those clowns authorized the use of force.  Still it is fun to watch them eat their own.

Frank thinks it sad the tragedy in Japan will be used by limp-wristed, tree-hugging, dope-smioking liberals everywhere to stop the building of new nuclear plants.  They may even use it successfully to shut down operational plants.  Fukushima does not equal Chernobyl.  There are so many differences between the two incidents.  Chernobyl was a Ruskie plant.  The Ruskies were inept and dangerous in their nuclear designs.  Chernobyl had a containment lean-to shack, not a containment vessel.  Chernobyl used carbon to cool the reactor.  Carbon burns.  Conversely, the Japanese have some of the best nuclear engineers on the planet.  The Japanese have performed heroically to limit the incident from becoming a disaster in spite of an overwhelming chain of events.  Yet, opportunists will use this event as their reason for eliminating the cheapest, cleanest energy source currently available on the planet.  All this to further their desire to make energy too expensive for mass consumption by common people.

Frank thinks tattoo parlors should be prohibited from giving tattoos to fat girls.  Have you ever noticed that every fat girl has one?  It's usually on the back of their neck or on the shoulder.  Start noticing.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Happy Birthday -T

You are not supposed to tell a woman's age.  She's 53 today.  Hard to believe that -T is 53.  That's old, but she doesn't look it.  I am a fortunate man to have a trophy wife that ages so well.  Soon people will begin asking me if she is my daughter.

Please wish my beautiful wife Happy Birthday, either by leaving a comment, or by emailing her at her new address: tbasehor@gmail.com





-T - I hope you have a wonderful day and an even better evening.  Let me know how I can help.  Happy 53rd Birthday.  Love you babe. -F

Friday, March 18, 2011

Get Out of my Head!

In the past I have posted of my love for music.  I like many different types of music, and those who know me understand that I was a guitar and a couple of lessons away from  becoming a famous rock star.  There is usually a lyric playing in my head - it's the background music of my life.  It is usually a song that I heard late the day before, or the first tune I hear that day.

This morning the alarm clock went off a 6:30 AM.  We have our alarm clock radio tuned to an oldies country station, but not because we enjoy that genre.  It is the station that gets the best reception at our house.  The music is pretty effective at rousing me to a point where I will turn it off to stop the pain.  This morning was especially brutal.

Spread your tiny wings and fly away,


Anne Murry's classic oldie, Snow Bird, was the song that woke me up today.  This means that I will have that melody and lyric running through my head all day.

And take the snow back with you where it came from on that day.

I absolutely hate that song.  So sappy, so quaint.

The one I love forever is untrue,

This is the price I pay by being so musically inclined.  I need to do something to get it out of my head. 

And if I could you know that I would fly away with you.

What can I do?  I could grab my shot gun and shoot the first bird that happens through our backyard - an unfortunate surrogate for the snow bird that infests my brain.  Or I could put on the headphones and blast it away with some better music.  Maybe a primal scream is all that is needed.   Aaaaarrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!
Spread your tiny wings and fly away

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Man vs. Wild - Urban Legend Series

Man vs. Wild is a favorite show of mine, however the survival techniques used by Bear Grylls are not that useful for an urbanite like me.  How many times have you needed survival tips while you were stranded in the Sahara, Scottish bogs, or Australian outback?  It hasn't happened to me yet but I am prepared if it ever does.  It would be far more useful to have an urban version of Man vs. Wild.  I could be your host, however the name Bear Bryant was already taken.

====================

In this episode, I will show you how to survive the menopausal woman.  Much like surviving in the wild, urban survival requires one to focus on 3 priorities - water, shelter and food in that order.  A man can live 10 days without food, but only a day without water.  Water is always your first priority, so I will show you how to take advantage of the menopausal woman's hot flashes to create a sweat still. 

First you will need to remove your boot lace which can serve as a wick to absorb and collect the sweat caused by menopausal hot flashes.  Simply wrap the lace around her arm or torso and place one end of the lace in a plastic bottle.  Be careful, it can get a bit slippy here.  Over the next few hours the sweat caused by the hot flashes will be collected by the lace and drip slowing into the bottle.  You can collect a pint or more of water per day using this technique.

With priority one accomplished, lets move on to priority two, shelter.  The biggest risk to your shelter is enraging the menopausal women and finding your belongings on the front porch.  You will never know when this danger is ready to strike, but here are a few tips.  If you hear a low pitched growl and stare into the blank eyes, do not make any sudden movements or speak.  Instead, slowly back away until you are no longer in her line of sight.   Anything can provoke an attack, so stay wary until the danger passes and you can rest assured to be sheltered this evening.

The final priority is food.  Carry out is your answer.  Whatever you do, don't ask what she is fixing for dinner tonight.  Your sense of smell is crucial here.  If you don't smell anything cooking, there probably isn't anything in the oven.  The smart survivalist will immediately ask what she wants you to get her for dinner tonight. 

That is the end of this episode.  I need to collect my things from the front porch.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

A Completely Unbiased Opinion

Tomorrow the NCAA Tournament begins.  To me this is the most enjoyable sporting event of the year.  The reasons are many.  It is a 3 week event.  For the players, it is not about money.  The most unexpected outcomes are fairly common.  So how will this year's tournament end? 

Odds are the KU Jayhawks will win it all.  They have the players to win.  They are the deepest team in the tournament.  Only one team, Ohio State, is ranked higher than KU.  All signs point to a successful tournament for the Jayhawks.  This means they can win, but will they win?  Probably not.  That is the beauty of the NCAA tournament.  Very rarely does the team who should win it actually win it. The odds of KU winning it are less than 50-50.  The same can be said for the other favorites, Ohio State, Duke and Pittsburgh. 

Th Odds makers have KU with the best odds of winning - 4-1, meaning the chance of them winning it all are about 25%.  Kentucky is a 20:1 (5%) favorite, while Kansas State is at 50:1 (2%) and Missouri at 200:1 (.5%).  The 65 through 68 teams that must play into the final 64 teams are all a 5,000:1 long shot.

But the attraction of this tournament is that every team has a chance to win, and something unexpected will happen.  I love it.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Stupid, Stupider, Stupidest, Part II

Diane Capps and Deby Johnson deserve to have their letters to the KC Star shown together.  I suspect they would get along well since they both have liberal ideals.  Diane believes that killing the unborn is a legitimate method of reducing welfare.  Wow!  How close is that position to the Nazi's who killed those they determined to be physically or mentally weak.  It also assumes that children from unwanted pregnancies will grow up poor and end up on the welfare roles, as if they have no control over it.  Cheer up Diane, that non-aborted fetus might someday grow into a conservative who believes in personal responsibility.  They could become your children's boss.
  Backward political logic on abortion

So the right-wingers want to stop funding Planned Parenthood. What a great way to swell the ranks of welfare recipients.


Diane Capps
Kansas City

Deby doesn't have too much faith in humans.  I am sure she believe the world would be a better place if dolphins were in charge.  Would she even equate Diane's desire to abort a child as destroying an animal?  I doubt it.  She probably supports abortion as a viable way to eliminate humanity.


Reforming humans



Why does man feel the sick need to destroy everything on our planet and for it to be acceptable? We murder every animal we have and pollute and destroy everything in sight.


Please have a soul. Please put humanity back in human.


Deby Johnson
Kansas City, Kan.

Monday, March 14, 2011

What is Your Color?

When first asked that, I replied "I didn't know you could own a color."  But wouldn't it be cool if you could?  I might want to own the color blue or green.  Imagine owning the color of the sky or the color of all vegetation.  I suppose one could somehow collect royalties whenever someone used the color that you owned.  That could be profitable.  So imagine my surprise when I found that you can own a color.  I learned this on my niece's blog, Kee Creative.

It was there that I found my that niece owns the colors grey and Moonlit Pool.  It annoyed her when a couple of strangers who write another blog used her colors in their house.  Okay, so that's how it works. 

I am hereby declaring that I own the color white.  I have selected white many times and painted walls or trim white in my home for years.  I own it.  Anyone who uses the color white in their home has 30 days to repaint or initiate payment to me of $5 per month for the use of the color white.  It is not your color, but being the nice guy that I am, I will allow you to rent it.


Is that white trim?

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Daylight Savings Time

I do love this time of year.  Tomorrow morning we magically transition from Standard (Winter) Time to Daylight Savings (Spring/Summer) Time.  As much as I like it, the Einstein doofus-screw-up who designed the transtion made a huge mistake.  Since I am all about improving the human condition, I have a proposal for a more well engineered transition to and from Daylight Savings Time.

First consider the current situation.  When we "fall back", we gain an extra hour of sleep.  When we "spring forward" we lose that hour.  Both occur at 2AM on a Saturday morning.  A better transition would begin in the fall.  Instead of gaining an hour at 2AM, we should gain that hour at 2PM on a Saturday.  The benefit would be an extra hour of weekend that would be enjoyed by all.

In the Spring, we lose an hour at 2AM Saturday morning.  That is one hour of weekend forever lost.  I suggest that we lose that hour at 2PM on a Friday.  Friday afternnoon is a low productivity time of the week, so magically zooming forward from 2PM to 3PM would have little impact, and would make the work week one hour shorter.

How is that for improving the human condition?  It's what I do.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Do the Math

Today the Senate rejected HR1, a bill passed in the house that would cut government spending by $61 billion in 2011.  That is a whopping 1.5% decrease, but still ensures that we will borrow over a trillion dollars this year.  Democrats are coming unglued. 
Sen. Patty Murray said the following about the 1.5% spending decrease:

“I am disappointed that at a time when middle class families still need some support to get back on their feet after the Wall Street Crisis, Republicans have proposed a highly politicized, slash-and-burn budget that would pull the rug out from under these families and their children.


..."Republicans are proposing a budget that would hack away at investments across the board and threaten our nation’s ability to compete now and in the future.”

“…not only will the Republican proposal devastate middle class families across the country—it would also halt the beginnings of an economic recovery that our families and small business owners desperately need to take root.”

Harry Reid said:

“H.R. 1 is a mean-spirited bill that would cut the heart out of the recovery that we have in America today,” said Reid. “It goes after little children, poor little boys and girls ... we want them to learn to read.”


Slash and burn?  Hack away?  Devastate the middle class?  Cut the heart out?  1.5%!!!!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Stupid Letter of the Week

First the manddate preamble.  There are no stupid letters, just stupid people who write letters.  This week I have chosen a non-politiacal letter from Patti Downing of Parkville Missouri.

Earth-bound duty



I am just going to say what everyone is thinking: It is selfish for Mark Kelly to go on his fourth NASA space flight. The health of his wife, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, could decline, or she could die in a flash.


I cannot believe that Mr. Kelly would think two weeks in space was that important.


Yes, we all know how boring it is to sit in a hospital day after day. However, he could have gone to his work there in Houston and helped the next guy get ready for the flight.


Mr. Kelly will be thousands of miles away, playing macho “space cowboy” to escape. But the reality of his obligation is here on this planet.


We all must learn to know what is really important and what is just ego.

Patti Downing
Parkville

I am visuallizing Patti as a self-centered, judgemental witch who has a very bad marriage and a god complex.  I suppose the though never crossed her mind that Mark Kelly's decision to fly on the shuttle is none of her business, and to judge his action only tells us much about her mental state.  She is likely a controlling wife of a timid man, and one who dominates the home.  She also seems to know Mark Kelly's mind when she states that he traded boredom in a hospital for the excitement of space travel.  I would bet the thought process was far more complex, too much so for Patti's simple mind.

She is judgemental in that she has no idea what relationship Mark Kelly has with his wife, but has deemed his actions as selfish by taking time away from his recovering wife.  Maybe Gabrielle fully supports the decision.  I suspect that she would, knowing that his service to NASA was also service to a flight crew who had trained for over a year to perform this mission.

Ms. Downing, any one of us could "die in a flash".  That fact is not a good reason to quit living your life.  Thank you God for giving me a women so totally opposite of Patti Downing.  Life might be unbearable with a woman like her.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Hand Out Anyone?

On Tuesday, CNBC reported that government payouts, which include Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance, now make up more than a third of total wages and salaries of the U.S. population.  This is a record figure that will only increase if action isn’t taken before the majority of Baby Boomers enter retirement.  In 1960, only 10% of the wages were hand outs.

I guess this makes us more humane and fair, but to who?  To the third that get a check, or the two-thirds that
write the check?  I would suggest to anyone this type of handout is not sustainable.  It is the reason that socialized countries, such as Greece, have had economic calamities in recent history.  It is our future if the tide doesn't turn.

While I certainly wouldn't withhold a hand up to anyone down on their luck or incapable of supporting themself, it is hard to imagine that a third of American families fit this mold.  Instead, I believe we have become too generous and made it possible for some to live a comforable life on the public dole.  Imagine the deficit reduction that we would see if the current government payouts were reduced to 1960 levels. We might have a balanced budget.  Instead, we hear that Constitutional responsibilities, such as defense, should be short changed  in order to spend less.  Absurdity abounds in Washington.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Whole Lot of Crazy Out There

The mid-East is in turmoil.  Hot issues such as the Wisconsin budget battle and Obamacare has the nation's attention.   This seems to bring the crazies up to the forefront. These people have nothing on Charlie Sheen or Jared Loughner.

Reverend Louis Farrakhan:

About Jews he said "They are the demons, not I. And they are the Satans, not I,"
"I am not a hater of the Jewish people, but I know the truth...My job is to pull the cover off of Satan so that he will never deceive you and the people of the world again,"

About Muammar Gaddafi: "no leader has been loved by 100 percent of his people and if Gadhafi is persecuted for crimes against humanity, the same should apply to former President George W. Bush for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Muammar Gaddafi:

'A small group of young people who have taken drugs have attacked police stations like mice... They have taken advantage of this peace and stability.

'However it is not their fault, these young people; they tried to imitate what happened in Tunisia ... However there is a small group of sick people that has infiltrated in cities that are circulating drugs and money.'

He says those revolting are "loyal to bin Laden ... This is al-Qaida that the whole world is fighting."

He says al-Qaida militants are "exploiting" teenagers, giving them "hallucinogenic pills in their coffee with milk, like Nescafe."

Michael Moore:


"Contrary to what those in power would like you to believe so that you'll give up your pension, cut your wages and settle for the life your great-grandparents had, America is not broke. Not by a long shot. The country is awash in wealth and cash. It's just that it's not in your hands. It has been transferred, in the greatest heist in history, from the workers and consumers to the banks and the portfolios of the uber-rich."

Wealthy people’s money is not their money – “It’s ours. It’s a national resource.”

Monday, March 7, 2011

Rights

I am getting very annoyed hearing so many people claim rights that simply don't exist. The victims of our society claim the right to choose, the right to health care, the right to collective bargaining, and on and on. It's as if by claiming a right to something, anyone who challenges them is discriminatory. Horse pucky!

I recently heard a good definition of a right.

A legitimate right is one that no one else is obliged to pay for.

I think it's a pretty good definition. The Constitution states that we have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Claiming these rights does not make someone else obliged to pay for them. A right to health care must be paid for by someone. A right to choose will be paid for by the unborn child.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

AI Season 10 - Week One

Going in to this week, I was looking forward to the first week of real competition.  The guys performed on Tuesday and I was extremely disappointed.  I did not think there was a single good performance.  Most of the competitors chose old ballads, and the show turned into a bunch of Tony Bennett wannabee's.  Not that I have anything against Tony Bennett, but come on, this is a show full of teenagers and twenty-somethings.

On Wednesday the ladies performed.  My expectations were even higher since in my opinion, there is more talent there than with the guys.  Immediately my hopes were dashed.  Same problem as the night before.  Ballads, ballads and more ballads.  Most were very old, which is humorous since several of the ladies are 15-16 years old.  Aside form the 15 year old Thia Megia for the women and Casey Abrams for the guys, week one was a complete waste of time.

And then there are the judges.  I have been critical of all 3.  This season, the feedback from the judges might as well be written by Paula Abdul.  That was wonderful, you are so talented, what an artist, you have a beautiful voice, blah, blah, blah.  It's all hype.  This season has started off as a disaster. 
 
What would Simon say?  You all suck, get off my show!

Friday, March 4, 2011

Stupid, Stupider, Stupidest

Finding a stupid person who will write a stupid letter to a newspaper is usually very easy.  Finding someone so moronic as Alan Harlbut of Wichita Kansas is completely unexpected, rare and spectacular.  Alan has found the bottom of the gene pool in his illogical logic about abortion.  Read on:

Abortion saves lives


Scattered over the Kansas landscape I see signs that read, “Abortion is murder.”


OK, but those who post those signs should consider that illegal abortions were often double murders.


Alan Hurlbut
Wichita

I guess I am supposed to rethink my position, in total awe of Alan's deep thought.  Ooooo, ahhhh.  Alan is such a philosopher. 

He believes that an unfortunate outcome of an illegal abortion is proof that abortion is a good thing.  By his logic, I guess we should believe that cigarette smoking is a good thing.  Although many people die from lung cancer, some people also die from the lung cancer treatment. 

Oh, wait, nobody starts smoking with the ultimate goal killing a baby.  That brings us right back to the sign Alan denigrates - Abortion is Murder.  That one thought is as deep as anyone needs to go.  If you can justify the murder, then abortion is okay.  You can't justify the murder of an unborn baby by saying it could (possibly) save the life of the mother if she were to pursue an illegal abortion. 

Alan makes no sense and may be beyond help.  He deserves the award for the stupidest letter I have every read.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Public Employees

On Monday, President Obama said the following: "I don't think it does anybody any good when public employees are denigrated or vilified or their rights are infringed upon. We need to attract the best and the brightest to public service."

I agree that public employees should not be denigrated or vilified.  I haven't seen any evidence that public employees are being denigrated or vilified, with the obvious exception of the state employee that holds the title of governor.  He is being denigrated by union bosses and liberal politicians every day.

I would also agree that public employees rights should not be infringed upon and would ask who is suggesting they should?  Is a change in the terms of employment considered to be an infringement of rights?  If so, where exactly would that be found in the Constitution?  Should public employees be afforded special rights that private employees do not receive.  I believe the Wisconsin unions are asking for exactly that - special rights - "you can't change the deal I have now".

Did you know what the Governor of Wisconsin is asking of the state public employee's union is the exact same deal the Feds give federal employee unions?  Does that mean that administrations from Obama back through Carter have been infringing on the rights of federal employees?

It would be nice if pubic and private entities could compete for employees on a level playing field.  Unfortunately, local governments have provided such a sweet deal in terms of retirement, salary and benefits, the playing field is not level.  For any individual, it is better to get the best government job one is qualified for than the best private sector job one is qualified.  Getting the best private sector job a person is qualified for means the benefits are not as good as the local government employee, and that you expected to help pay for the government employee's better benefit package in perpetuity.

While not the fault of the government employee, the politician and government bureaucrat has the advantage of spending the money (tax revenue) generated by the private sector to sweeten the deal for the public employee.  Without any form of restraint, there is no surprise that public job perks have become an incentive for job seekers.

But these perks can no longer be afforded by the private sector job.  In 2000, private companies began slashing budgets.  At first, employees were shielded from the effects as manager cut non-labor related expenses.  Those cuts were soon followed by salary reductions, lay offs and reduced benefits.  It would be unfair and painful to now ask those employees to pay more in taxes so that public employees can maintain their benefits and salaries. 

Obama seems not to understand this and chooses to do what he does best - pit one group of people against another.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

I Could Be a Reality Show Creator

New career opportunities continue to spring into my mind.  I find myself with choices I never believed would be possible.  Rock Star, Baseball player, Film Critic, Home Designer, and now Reality Show creator.  The latter occurred to me over the weekend.  Remember there are really very few new ideas brought to TV.  Most new shows are simply old ideas brought back in a new context.  So is my idea.

My reality show would be a hybrid of the A&E show named Heavy where morbidly obese people are put on a weight loss program for a period of 6 months.  I would combine that concept with Dancing with the Stars.  Imagine the excitement of watching Lindsay Lohen, Paris Hilton or Brittany Spears partnered up with a 500+ pound heavy?   To maintain the credibility of the show Heavy, the object of Dancing with the Heavies would be to lose as much weight as possible without injuring the star.  Of course, just as with NASCAR where the objective is to go fast and not wreck, accidents will happen.  The highlight of the season may well be seeing Lindsay found under the abdominal folds of a huge sweaty man, as if she were a lost Oreo cookie.

I think I could pitch the idea.  I would watch it, wouldn't you?

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

I Could be a Home Designer

Over a year ago I posted a blog that described what I want to be when I grow up.  Progress on that dream has been slow so I am now expanding the scope of my opportunities.  Last week, an educated home designer with the sheepskin to prove it, recognized my "mad skills" in that discipline, so I will exercise that opportunity. 

Over the weekend, -T and I watched the premiere of a new show on HGTV called Secrets of a Stylist.  We watched because we thought it would be about hair stylist (-T's strength), but it turned out to be home design (my strength).  I found the first episode to be pitifully weak.  I had to wonder just where the host received her credentials - maybe some third world country?  Definitely not in America.  Just look at the before and after pictures.


Before

After

My first rule of home design is this - If it ain't broke, don't fix it.  The before picture depicts a very nice space.  It is an example of elegant simplicity - something that should be celebrated and not changed.  While I admit the room can be improved, it did not need what the so called professional stylist did to it, which can now only be described as horribly gaudy.  We are talking Graceland African Room gaudy.  The wall color should be named Stomach Flu.

Using my mad designer skills, I would have only made a couple changes.  First, I would have gotten rid of the couch in favor of an 'L' shaped sectional complete with recliners and cup holders. 

Second change would be the placement of a 60" plasma.   That is all this room needs.  I would put my redesigned room up against the hoidy-toidy HGTV stylist anytime.  My result would be consistent.  At least 50% of the population would favor my design.

Which would you pick?