It was Veteran's Day and Harold W. Miller was taking his great-grandson Tyler on a day-long tour of the Nation's capitol.
Up and down the Mall they would walk, just the two of them. To the Jefferson and Lincoln and Washington Memorials, as well as to those honoring U.S. veterans, like himself, who had served in WWII and those who had served in the Vietnam War. Harold hoped if they got an early enough start, they'd make it to both the Capitol and the White House.
So, they lighted out of their hotel room as the sun broke up over the Potomac and stopped at the Mocha Hut, a little cafe on 14th & K Harold remembered for having the best almond bear claws he'd ever eaten. Plus, there was a pretty good view of the Capitol Building from the sidewalk tables; a good place for their day's journey to begin.
Harold had his usual, no matter where he was, coffee, hot, black. Ty, his grandson David's boy who would turn sixteen a week from Friday, ordered a large mocha. Grandad grabbed each of them an almond bear claw, and saw a table open beside the brick planter at the opening to the outdoor seating area. They grabbed it.
As the two looked over a map and list of sites they'd found at the conceirge's desk at the hotel, they heard two men sitting at the table behind them arguing. Each worked for members of the House of Representatives and one was trying to get one to vote for some Bill that was coming up on the floor.
"Come on...", the one man told the other. "This is a good bill and will help a lot of people".
"But what's in it for my guy?", the other asked. "Yeah, it'll probably be great for business start-ups in our district. But you know he's not just going to give his vote away. He's going to either want the Whip to come and do a fund raiser for him or get him at least ten grand in PAC money, otherwise, he'll shop the vote on K Street".
Ty looked at his great-grandad as he listened to the two men and was surprised Harold didn't turn around and give the two a piece of his mind. Ty had spent many hours with the old man since his dad had been killed in Fallujah, and knew he didn't have much use for politicians. But young man's the silver-haired surrogate just popped the last bite of bear claw into his mouth, folded up the map and said, "Well, let's hit it!". And off they went...
As they headed over towards the Mall, they passed by the Supreme Court building. There were about 200 protesters out in front, walking as Ty had seen on tv, in a big circle, carrying signs and chanting something in semi-unison. From what the two could gather, there was a case going on inside that had something to do with whether or not businesses should have the same rights as people. Before he retired, Harold had been a very successful corporate executive and remembered how in the raccous debates at family gatherings, he had heard this man take the side of business and in his big, booming, baritone voice, make the case that business was the heart that fed the economic blood to the nation, and without them, we would surely fall. But as the two invisibly passed by the gargantuan marble steps leading up to the columned halls, Harold said nothing.
The two men arrived at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial and headed straight for Panel 114, Section F. There, they found engraved in the glossy black marble stone, the name Harold W. Miller, Jr. Harold's son (Ty's grandfather) had been killed just outside of Saigon in 1968, and every year that the memorial had been here, Harold came to this very spot on Veteran's day, to remember and honor his son. Both his son and grandson had been lost in combat, and while Harold would give anything, including his life, to be able to have either one of them back, every day, and especially today, there could not, he thought, be a father more proud of his son or grandson, than he was of his.
On most mornings, as he pulled himself up and out from under the covers of his bed and sat on the edge of the mattress to collect his thoughts for the day, he always remembered that, no matter what this day would bring, he would accept if gratefully, because it had most likely been made possible because of the sacrifice made by his progeny.
As Ty and Harold sat on a bench near their section of the Memorial, two college students walked by.
"Man...look at all these guys who died for The Man, gave it all up so some Fat Cats in the Military Industrial Complex could get rich. Was like that in World War Two, In Vietnam, In Iraq. The Man sends our guys off to war for nothing. This country sucks!".
Ty's head jerked towards the man he immediately deemed an asshole and started to get up. Now he wa talking about his dad, who didn't die for nothing, and Ty was pissed.
Harold grabbed his great-grandson's elbow and looked up at the young man, smiled, and shook his head. "Naah, let it go, son", Harold said. We've still got a lot of ground to cover.
Throughout the remainder of the day, the Ty and Harold walked what seemed like the length and breadth of D.C. They had lunch on the back steps of the Jefferson, over looking the Potomac and the Pentagon as it sat, confidently, and stood guard like the old soldier it was, and enjoyed an old-fashioned tastee freeze swirl from the top step of the Lincoln, as they looked back along the length of the Reflecting Pool. Harold told Ty about the many great gatherings that had been held in this very spot; the Civil Rights March in August of '63, where Martin Luther King gave his "I Have A Dream Speech", and the numerous anti-war rallies while his father was serving in Vietnam. Ty could only think of the scene in Forrest Gump.
The day ended, as planned, with Ty and Harold taking a taxi to Arliington National Cemetery, where they visited the graved of Ty's dad and grandpa Hank. Harold always loved to come here on Veteran's Day, because the military and Park Service always had the grounds looking so taught and ship-shape, and he liked to believe they were always kept that way. Harold and Ty talked about each man as they stood at their headstones, remembering what was most special about each. It brought both to tears, but in the end they were nothing but proud as they headed back to the car.
As they walked, Ty mentioned how he was still angry with the guy who had been popping off aout his dad and the Vietnam War; how the guy had obviously never worn a uniform and if his dad were here today, 'he'd have kicked his ass'!
That was just as they were comming up on the graves of Jack and Bobby Kennedy and, as the sun began to lower itself into the wall of birch and willows that surrounded the cemetery like an evergreeen fortress, most of the visitors had left for the day, Harold placed a hand on the young man's shoulder and suggested they sit for a minute. Taking a seat on the stone benches just in front of the Eternal Flame that burned at the grave of the Nation's 35th President.
"No Ty, your dad wouldn't have kicked that guy's ass", he said, in a low, loving tone. "Something's bothering you", he stated. "Spill it".
Ty looked at his great-grandad half-angry that the old man wasn't as pissed as he was. "I don't understand you today, Sir...", Ty said. Ty had been raised right and regardless of whether or not he agreed with grandad, he always respected him.
"When we were sitting at that coffee shpo and those two guys were gong on about what they were going to trade for a vote on a Bill. I KNOW you Sir, I KNOW you don't agree with all that crap, that's what's WRONG with this country, eh damned politicians...I've heard you say it a thousand times. But you didn't say a word to them".
"Then that asshole, pardon my language, Sir, but...I so wanted to just kick that guys ass. How can he talk like that against the wars that you and grandpa Hank and Dad fought in, and they died for, and...how can yo not be angry about that? I just don't understand..." As his great-grandson finished his tirade and proceeded to calm down, Harold watched the flame illuminate President Kennedy's grave and noticed there was no one else there.
"Well...", he began. Harold sensed the solemnity of having the National Cemetery to himself and sat up a little taller as he felt he was not only speaking for himself but for the tens of thousands of others who ersted here...and for his sons.
I guess I don't get angry because, in the end, it doesn't really serve a purpose. You see, Ty, I've always believed, as my daddy believed and my son and grandson believed and as I hope someday my great-grandson will believe, that nothing, besides God Almighty, is stronger than America. Not just the physical land, or the people who live here, but the ideal of what America is all about.
Let's look at those guys at the coffee shop this morning. Underpaid staffers who aren't reall in a position to make any kind of a difference, just doing a job. And there are lots of them. Too many. But here's the thing...our nation was built with a set a principles and laws and people like those two will come and go, and yeah, our government has pretty much become a joke, but because of how it was put together, and how it is maintained, we'll always be able to keep it from going too far. You just have to have some faith.
As for the guy at the Vietnam Memorial, yeah he was an asshole. But instead of being angry at him, I feel sorry for the son of a bitch. He'll never know, never understand what we know. That there are two types of Americans; those that enjoy the freedoms and rights and opportunities our nation provides its citizens...and those who provide, protect and defend them. And that's as it should be. Our family's always been the providers. And that's not easy to do, because the most important thing those of us on the "provide side" have to remember is that in a lot of cases we're providing these things to the people we most disagree with.
You see Ty, being an American isn't an easy thing. It's advanced citizenship and it's tough. You gotta want it. You've got to be willing to stand up and shout at the top of your lungs, or go to war, to defend the rights of a guy who is shouting at the top of his lungs, in support of something you have fought against your whole life.
It's like with this whole thing about that Muslim Cultural Center they want to build in New York. Do I want it to be there? No, I'd rather it wasn't. Do I support the people who are speaking up against it? I understand why they feel the way they do, because I feel the same way. But here's where the difference comes in, Ty. While i don't want it there, I think it needs to be there".
Ty looked at his great-grandad, wanting to understand, but not quite getting it.
"The next time you get a chance Ty, take a couple of hours and read the Cosntitution. The Constitution, the Bill of Rights, none of our founding documents were written on behalf of "what most people want"; it was never intended to empower the majority. Our nation was created to protect the rights and freedoms of the minority, of the little guy. Why do you think we all love to see the underdog win? Because we were once ALL underdogs.
In the end, it's not important which party is in power, who wins an election, or any of that stuff. Yeah, people should all participate in the political process, should all voice their opinions and write letters and protest when they see someting they don't agree with. But after it's all said and done, the foundation of our country will always right itself and keep us on course.
"And in the meantime", he said as he stood and put his arm around the shoulder of his great-grandson and together they walked toward the cemetery's front gate, "people like my father and your grandpa and your dad and the millions of men and women over the years, and the millions more for years to come, forever and ever, will stand and fight. They'll defend what our country is all about. They'll stand up for the guy who hates what I and your dad did, and they'll stand up and fight for what you and your kids think and believe in, even if it's not what they do themselves.
It's not the little temporary results that's important, Ty. It's the process that's important, because it's the process that makes America special, it's what makes it work.
And, he said as the two men slowed when the reached the top of the cemetery hill, "it's what has and always will make us proud to defend it".
Harold Miller looked into the eyes of his great-grandson Ty and smiled. It was a prideful smile, that came from the knowledge that he had been raised and had raised his son, who raised his son, to believe that theirs was a calling of the highest order. To defend their nation, to continue to make the values of liberty and freedom accessible to everyone, and to defend those ideals against any who would lessen those freedoms by even an nth degree. And it was a smile that today came from the thought that maybe he had done his part in helping to instill that pride in Ty.
Looking at one another, Harold and Ty could feel the righteous dignity and honor that surrounded this hallowed ground, the way a mother eagle surrounds her young; fiercely protective and eternal. And Harold didn't have to wait long to find out if his words had hit home with his young charge.
Ty looked out from the vista at the tens of thousands of shimering white headstones, all neatly aligned as if ready for one final inspection. He had never been more proud; not only of his great-great-grandfather, or his great-grandfather, his grandpa, or his dad, but of every man and woman who had ever worn the uniform and stood to ptotect HIS freedoms. For the first time, he truly realized what it meant and how fortunate he was to BE an American, and maybe even more importantly, to be able to someday take his place among those to work and fight and sacrifice and die to help that continue for others.
"Thanks, grandad", he said as he looked at the old man who stood with a tear in his eye.
As they turned to leave, Ty glanced back at the cemetery and all of the fallen who now rested, and thought in his heart, to all who have served this great nation...
"Thanks guys".
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Good Games, Bad Games
Well, it's finally over...50+ years of great players on good teams, a few great teams, who just couldn't get over that last little hump. The San Francisco Giants are finally...the very best team in baseball. Bar none. A cast of incredible characters; good solid defensemen, some timely bats (NO Lazyboy recliners in the clubhouse), and a baby-face anchor behind the dish leading one of the very best top-to-bottom pitching staffs in the last 40 years (ALL under contract for at least another four years!) left no doubt. These boys are the real deal and will be around for many years to come...The Championship Parade begins at Washington and Montgomery at 11AM tomorrow, heads south to Market, then turns up towards City Hall, where Mayor Gavin Newsome will present the team with a key to the City. I'll be leaving for the festivities from the Pleasanton BART station around 9ish, so if you want to join me, meet me there...
Whiners beware...I have a few friends who simply refuse to give any teams other than their own the credit they deserve. At the end of the baseball season, one in particular provided constant FB posts were all about how the Braves were going to crush the Giants. Then after they manhandled the Braves and headed for Philly, it was "now you're going to face a real team", forgetting to acknowledge that his Cincinnati Reds were now couch-bound, having been swept three straight in the first round. During the entire NLCS, everytime a Philly passed gass, he was posting..."Yeah, now watch the Giants fold" and other such nonsense. Even last night, when a mutual friend posted "Now we've got a ring!", he posted "Yeah...1", as if to say, ONLY one, but look how many my team has. You just have to feel sorry for people who can't acknowledge accomplishment. Well, right now, and for the next year, MY San Francisco Giants ARE the best team going. Period...
From The 'Oh Yeah" Dept: In case it got lost among all the Championship hubub, today is Election Day. And those of you who visit the Lounge would probably call the paramedics if I didn't address this fact, so here are a few thoughts...
Ears Are Important Too...like many, I am so very tired of the staunch bickering, nay-saying, "I'm absolutely right / you're absolutely wrong" arguing. Debate is fine, disagreement is expected, even a little snarkiness every so often can be understood. But I believe the one biggest problem all of us, from the elected elites in D.C. to the milk men and accountants and everyday folk have is that we, almost by habit, refuse to listen to anyone who has a differing viewpoint. This continues, and we're all doomed...
Nostradamus Redux: It looks like Brown, Boxer, and McNerney will win. Porbably Pelosi too, although I'm holding out hope she gets rightfully bounced. I long ago accepted that most politicians are out for themselves, but she doesn't even hide it well and she wouldn't know well constructed law if it sucked all the Botox out of her forehead. Fortunately, if she does lose, she'll probably resign all-together, as her predecessors Hastert and Gingrich did, so that's an extra added bonus for voting against her. The Reid/Angle contest in Nevada is truly the hardest to call; not because it's close but because both candidates are so pitifully unqualified for the job, which is saying something since Hotel Harry has been the Senate Majority Leader for several years now. But while Reid is a straight partisan guy, which is exactly what every congressional district needs to get rid of, his opponent, Tea Party jack-wagon Sharron Angle is so woefully incompetent and unknowledgeable about anything past her soundbite talking points, she makes Sarah Palin look like a Stanfoo professor. God help us, every one...
The Final Countdown...there aer a couple of old, dear friends I have ben politically sparring with for the better part of six months, mostly through that nemesis of time management, Facebook. They are good Americans, who love their country and truly believe that their "just right of Atilla the Hun", Tea Party, anti-Government, hell-bent-for-leather political posturing is exactly what this country needs. And while I fully and vehemently support their rights to hold and express these opinions and would be the first person to stand beside them should anyone try to keep them from excercising these rights, the fact of the matter is that, people from either side of the political spectrum who, as they do, refuse to accept anything other than the complete annihilation of opposing viewpoints and policies, render themselves irrelevent and so, after long, arduous debate, I have decided to leave them to their dillusions.
That said, I would like to offer them a final note of reality, in the hope that it makes the inevitable a little easier to swallow...
The political game, be it in Sacratomato or Washington D.C., is past the point of no return. The job of the elected official in our country has de-evolved from one purpose (representing their constituents) to two (Getting elected and getting re-elected). The rest is all just window dressing. I do not offer this sad mea culpa as anything other than a precursor to what you will someday realize yourselves: Regardless of which party holds office, no matter what percentage of "professional politicians" get bounced to the curb today, even if the Dems were to lose control of both houses of Congress (not likely), nothing significant will change. For today's politicans are no longer made up with the intestinal fortitude of Washington, the "country before party" determination of Lincoln, or the "ask what you can do for your country" enthusiasm of Kennedy. Today, they are almost all born of the cloth of P.T. Barnum, believing there is a sucker born every minute.
And to follow blindly behind the rhetoric and chutzpah of the Karl Rovians of the Tea Party, just as those on the left drank every drop of the Obama kool-aid two years ago and let the solutions to the massive problems left us by the previous administration go unchecked, it will only further prove Mr. Barnum's point, and drive our nation further and further from where it began, all those many years ago.
Now...what's on YOUR mind?
Whiners beware...I have a few friends who simply refuse to give any teams other than their own the credit they deserve. At the end of the baseball season, one in particular provided constant FB posts were all about how the Braves were going to crush the Giants. Then after they manhandled the Braves and headed for Philly, it was "now you're going to face a real team", forgetting to acknowledge that his Cincinnati Reds were now couch-bound, having been swept three straight in the first round. During the entire NLCS, everytime a Philly passed gass, he was posting..."Yeah, now watch the Giants fold" and other such nonsense. Even last night, when a mutual friend posted "Now we've got a ring!", he posted "Yeah...1", as if to say, ONLY one, but look how many my team has. You just have to feel sorry for people who can't acknowledge accomplishment. Well, right now, and for the next year, MY San Francisco Giants ARE the best team going. Period...
From The 'Oh Yeah" Dept: In case it got lost among all the Championship hubub, today is Election Day. And those of you who visit the Lounge would probably call the paramedics if I didn't address this fact, so here are a few thoughts...
Ears Are Important Too...like many, I am so very tired of the staunch bickering, nay-saying, "I'm absolutely right / you're absolutely wrong" arguing. Debate is fine, disagreement is expected, even a little snarkiness every so often can be understood. But I believe the one biggest problem all of us, from the elected elites in D.C. to the milk men and accountants and everyday folk have is that we, almost by habit, refuse to listen to anyone who has a differing viewpoint. This continues, and we're all doomed...
Nostradamus Redux: It looks like Brown, Boxer, and McNerney will win. Porbably Pelosi too, although I'm holding out hope she gets rightfully bounced. I long ago accepted that most politicians are out for themselves, but she doesn't even hide it well and she wouldn't know well constructed law if it sucked all the Botox out of her forehead. Fortunately, if she does lose, she'll probably resign all-together, as her predecessors Hastert and Gingrich did, so that's an extra added bonus for voting against her. The Reid/Angle contest in Nevada is truly the hardest to call; not because it's close but because both candidates are so pitifully unqualified for the job, which is saying something since Hotel Harry has been the Senate Majority Leader for several years now. But while Reid is a straight partisan guy, which is exactly what every congressional district needs to get rid of, his opponent, Tea Party jack-wagon Sharron Angle is so woefully incompetent and unknowledgeable about anything past her soundbite talking points, she makes Sarah Palin look like a Stanfoo professor. God help us, every one...
The Final Countdown...there aer a couple of old, dear friends I have ben politically sparring with for the better part of six months, mostly through that nemesis of time management, Facebook. They are good Americans, who love their country and truly believe that their "just right of Atilla the Hun", Tea Party, anti-Government, hell-bent-for-leather political posturing is exactly what this country needs. And while I fully and vehemently support their rights to hold and express these opinions and would be the first person to stand beside them should anyone try to keep them from excercising these rights, the fact of the matter is that, people from either side of the political spectrum who, as they do, refuse to accept anything other than the complete annihilation of opposing viewpoints and policies, render themselves irrelevent and so, after long, arduous debate, I have decided to leave them to their dillusions.
That said, I would like to offer them a final note of reality, in the hope that it makes the inevitable a little easier to swallow...
The political game, be it in Sacratomato or Washington D.C., is past the point of no return. The job of the elected official in our country has de-evolved from one purpose (representing their constituents) to two (Getting elected and getting re-elected). The rest is all just window dressing. I do not offer this sad mea culpa as anything other than a precursor to what you will someday realize yourselves: Regardless of which party holds office, no matter what percentage of "professional politicians" get bounced to the curb today, even if the Dems were to lose control of both houses of Congress (not likely), nothing significant will change. For today's politicans are no longer made up with the intestinal fortitude of Washington, the "country before party" determination of Lincoln, or the "ask what you can do for your country" enthusiasm of Kennedy. Today, they are almost all born of the cloth of P.T. Barnum, believing there is a sucker born every minute.
And to follow blindly behind the rhetoric and chutzpah of the Karl Rovians of the Tea Party, just as those on the left drank every drop of the Obama kool-aid two years ago and let the solutions to the massive problems left us by the previous administration go unchecked, it will only further prove Mr. Barnum's point, and drive our nation further and further from where it began, all those many years ago.
Now...what's on YOUR mind?
The First of Novembeard...
This weekend at a social gathering of the "old guard" (read: pre-Live Nation) employees of Bill Graham Presents, the former head of Ambience Control, Lance Miller, asked if I had given up the Three Dot Lounge. With all the life changes in the last six months, I hadn't really thought about it much (except following a similar inquiry from my friend Coz a few weeks ago), but during my evening drive back from Coventry Grove, I did and have decided. The Lounge is now back open for business...
TRICK OR TREAT: Watching the Giants' telecast last night, I saw my favorite Meg Whitman commercial of the Fall Comedy Season; the one where she smiles and touts that "thirty years ago, my husband and I came to California, because it was the land of opportunity and literally anything was possible. THIS was why we came to California!", she offers with a glowing smile. I am guessing the formerly employed nudnik who wrote that ad forgot to check to see who was the Gov back when California was such a fantabulous place, full of promise and prosperity. None other than Jerry Brown!...A dear 'not-so-old' friend, Debbie Clair Liebert (of the Brentwood Lieberts), reports they had 1,473 trick or treaters come a knockin' at their door last night. So kibosh what they say about the failing education in our public schools. These kids were obviously taught the big lesson from the Watergate era: "follow the money"...
AND THE AWARD GOES TO: Speaking of tricks and treats, my favorite line of the night comes from a darling little thing who couldn't have been more than three. Knocks on the door, parents handily in tow, adorned in nothing ghoulish or otherwise special, carrying a medium sized beaded purse. Upon hearing her confident demand for "tricks or treats, please" (the politeness of which instantly made me fall in love with the little tyke and hand her three Reeses instead of a lone Kit-Kat), I inquired, "Where's your costume?". "I was a ghost, but I tripped and fell twice", she replied as she answered, somewhat annoyed. "It's wasn't working for me"...
A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION...Each year I try to pay attention and make note of the date on which I see the first Christmas ad on television. Requirements: it must show Santa, an xmas tree, use the word Christmas or have a familiar jingly holiday song in the background. In recent years, they have been popping up as early as the last week of September, but I saw this year's first last night, in between the 4th and 5th innings. Ho, Ho, No. Still too early...Hypocrisy 101: This year's big holiday item from The Music Store is a steal and they'll probably go quickly. It's an external hard drive filled with 1,000 of the all-time greatest rock and pop albums (including entire catalogues from most of your faves) and more than 250 direct-from-the-soundboard concert recordings of the top acts from the late 60's through the 70's and 80's, many recorded right here in NorCal. Also includes hundreds of blues, jazz and country recordings, but if you or someone you know is a lover of what is now referred to as "classic rock", this really is a must have. All (including the hard drive from which you can burn your own CD's or load up your iPod or MP3 players) for only $500. For more information, e-mail daj0410@gmail.com ...
FROM THE "IS IT JUST ME?" DEPT: I just received an FB missive from Stockton entrepreneur, positive thinker and all-around good gal, Suzy "Sunshine" Bowers, complaining about the "invasion of privacy" she feels from the incessant robocalls from the politicos. I read through the Constitution and found no provision for others being rude or bothersome, which these intrusions certainly are. Invasion of privacy is when a President directs his minions to listen in on your phone conversations without a warrant. Robocalls are simply a huge inconvenience. Both, however, are reasonable motivations to vote for the other guy, which in the case of the former, a lot of us did two years ago this week!...
HUMMMM BABY...I love my Giants. In fact, I am so supremely confident in their eventual success, I am rather hoping for the killer pitching duel were were promised in Game 1 from both team's respective aces, Messers. Lee and Lincecum, to go into extras but...with Texas coming out on top. Blasphemous? Traiterous? UnAmerican? Perhaps. But I just love watching these guys play ball and am not yet ready for the Season to end. Besides, while he hasn't gotten as much press as The Freak, I think Matty Cain has been the pitching stalwart all season long and I'd dearly love to watch him crush the Rangers to seal the deal AND I'd love to see him do it at home. So, hoping for a great game-tight loss tonight and then Wednesday night's Texas Cain-saw Massacre...
AND FINALLY...This was fun. It's nice to be back here at the Lounge and we're looking forward to continuing to serve up some tasty tidbits for your reading pleasure and contemplation. If you have any thoughts, ideas, suggestions or comments, please offer them up in the box below, and don't forget to tip your waitresses. Great gals all, but I don't pay them much. As always, please forgive the typos and...
What's on YOUR mind?
TRICK OR TREAT: Watching the Giants' telecast last night, I saw my favorite Meg Whitman commercial of the Fall Comedy Season; the one where she smiles and touts that "thirty years ago, my husband and I came to California, because it was the land of opportunity and literally anything was possible. THIS was why we came to California!", she offers with a glowing smile. I am guessing the formerly employed nudnik who wrote that ad forgot to check to see who was the Gov back when California was such a fantabulous place, full of promise and prosperity. None other than Jerry Brown!...A dear 'not-so-old' friend, Debbie Clair Liebert (of the Brentwood Lieberts), reports they had 1,473 trick or treaters come a knockin' at their door last night. So kibosh what they say about the failing education in our public schools. These kids were obviously taught the big lesson from the Watergate era: "follow the money"...
AND THE AWARD GOES TO: Speaking of tricks and treats, my favorite line of the night comes from a darling little thing who couldn't have been more than three. Knocks on the door, parents handily in tow, adorned in nothing ghoulish or otherwise special, carrying a medium sized beaded purse. Upon hearing her confident demand for "tricks or treats, please" (the politeness of which instantly made me fall in love with the little tyke and hand her three Reeses instead of a lone Kit-Kat), I inquired, "Where's your costume?". "I was a ghost, but I tripped and fell twice", she replied as she answered, somewhat annoyed. "It's wasn't working for me"...
A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION...Each year I try to pay attention and make note of the date on which I see the first Christmas ad on television. Requirements: it must show Santa, an xmas tree, use the word Christmas or have a familiar jingly holiday song in the background. In recent years, they have been popping up as early as the last week of September, but I saw this year's first last night, in between the 4th and 5th innings. Ho, Ho, No. Still too early...Hypocrisy 101: This year's big holiday item from The Music Store is a steal and they'll probably go quickly. It's an external hard drive filled with 1,000 of the all-time greatest rock and pop albums (including entire catalogues from most of your faves) and more than 250 direct-from-the-soundboard concert recordings of the top acts from the late 60's through the 70's and 80's, many recorded right here in NorCal. Also includes hundreds of blues, jazz and country recordings, but if you or someone you know is a lover of what is now referred to as "classic rock", this really is a must have. All (including the hard drive from which you can burn your own CD's or load up your iPod or MP3 players) for only $500. For more information, e-mail daj0410@gmail.com ...
FROM THE "IS IT JUST ME?" DEPT: I just received an FB missive from Stockton entrepreneur, positive thinker and all-around good gal, Suzy "Sunshine" Bowers, complaining about the "invasion of privacy" she feels from the incessant robocalls from the politicos. I read through the Constitution and found no provision for others being rude or bothersome, which these intrusions certainly are. Invasion of privacy is when a President directs his minions to listen in on your phone conversations without a warrant. Robocalls are simply a huge inconvenience. Both, however, are reasonable motivations to vote for the other guy, which in the case of the former, a lot of us did two years ago this week!...
HUMMMM BABY...I love my Giants. In fact, I am so supremely confident in their eventual success, I am rather hoping for the killer pitching duel were were promised in Game 1 from both team's respective aces, Messers. Lee and Lincecum, to go into extras but...with Texas coming out on top. Blasphemous? Traiterous? UnAmerican? Perhaps. But I just love watching these guys play ball and am not yet ready for the Season to end. Besides, while he hasn't gotten as much press as The Freak, I think Matty Cain has been the pitching stalwart all season long and I'd dearly love to watch him crush the Rangers to seal the deal AND I'd love to see him do it at home. So, hoping for a great game-tight loss tonight and then Wednesday night's Texas Cain-saw Massacre...
AND FINALLY...This was fun. It's nice to be back here at the Lounge and we're looking forward to continuing to serve up some tasty tidbits for your reading pleasure and contemplation. If you have any thoughts, ideas, suggestions or comments, please offer them up in the box below, and don't forget to tip your waitresses. Great gals all, but I don't pay them much. As always, please forgive the typos and...
What's on YOUR mind?
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Good Tuesday
IN THE RELIGION of Basketball, last night's barn-burner of a championship was akin to Moses' parting of the Red Sea or Jesus' feeding the multitudes with five loaves and three fish; proof positive to those who would see, that there is a power greater than our own, and with grit, hard fought determination, some class leadership by both coaches, and just enough "zebra wisdom" to let the boys play, that power produced one of the truly great and enjoyable basketball games in recent memory.
The CBS broadcast wasn't about Coach K and the Duke legacy, nor did it focus on the scandal d'jour or some overdone, heart-tugging insert with numerous camera shots at a nail-biting, single parent. This night was, from beginning to end, about the boys and the game being played on the hardcourt in front of us, and it was truly inspiring.
When I was growing up in high school, I worshipped in my own Church of Basketball. The "roundball godhead" of the day consisted of my own version of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; John Wooden, Bob Knight and Skip Mohatt, respectively. Most everyday, I would head down to the school blacktop that served as my chapel in my "church clothes" (ratty t-shirt, faded gym shorts and sweat-stained, white Chuck Taylor's) and do "the Lord's work"; working on off-ball movement, blocking out for rebounds, and good defensive positioning.
So many of those "team fundamentals" were evident last night in what was close to being, for the observer, the perfect basketbal contest. Throughout the night, I thought about the lessons I had been taught; at Wooden's camp, from Knight's videos, and during those endless, glorious hours on the hardwood, soaking up Skip's genius, offered with the deep, relentless tones of a loving taskmaster.
I am certain all three were, in one way or another, watching last night's contest. Coach Wooden was most likely disappointed with the lack of discipline in shot selection exhibited by the Butler Boys, but applauded their heart and team effort and most surely would have told them aftewards they played like champions.
Coach Knight was probably cheering on his former protege-turned-accomplished master, while hopping up out of his recliner everytime a Duke screen left a man open underneath and wasn't taken advantage of. I hope he didn't strain anything trying to toss his Lazy-boy across the room.
But mostly I thought of Coack Mohatt, looking down from Heaven. Through the raucous crowd, I could almost hear him barking at Butler forward Gordon Hayward to slide over and help out with Duke center Brian Zoubek, or for guard Shelvin Mack to pop that ball down into the post instead of forcing a drive into the paint. And I could see the short white towel fly back into the thrid row everytime the overzealous play of the Bulldog's center Matt Howard landed him another senseless foul.
But most clearly, I saw my beloved high school coach when the game was over. He was, I am sure, smiling. Not because of an exciting game, which it was, or for the hard fought battle waged by both teams, which they did. But rather for the same reason that both Coach K and Butler coach Brad Stevens were smiling as they shook hands after the game, and for the same reason that true lovers of this game were smiling, regardless of who they had in their pool or which team they supported...
because they had just witnessed, in an era of sports, that at all levels is influenced, and many believe tarnished, by PED's and ignoramous management and posse-laden players and all of the other unrelated distractions, a game played, perhaps as purely as any before it. No players arguing with referees, no coaches tantrums, no fights. A good, clean, well-played and intense battle, played the way it was supposed to be played. To the very last second.
The Duke Blue Devils last night were crowned the 2010 NCAA Division 1 Men's Collegiate Basketball Champions. At the end of the game, they had scored more points than their opponents and so it should have been. But think not for a moment there was only one team of championship caliber on that floor last night. I would have been every bit as proud to have been a Butler alum last night as a Dukie.
Maybe even a little more so.
The CBS broadcast wasn't about Coach K and the Duke legacy, nor did it focus on the scandal d'jour or some overdone, heart-tugging insert with numerous camera shots at a nail-biting, single parent. This night was, from beginning to end, about the boys and the game being played on the hardcourt in front of us, and it was truly inspiring.
When I was growing up in high school, I worshipped in my own Church of Basketball. The "roundball godhead" of the day consisted of my own version of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; John Wooden, Bob Knight and Skip Mohatt, respectively. Most everyday, I would head down to the school blacktop that served as my chapel in my "church clothes" (ratty t-shirt, faded gym shorts and sweat-stained, white Chuck Taylor's) and do "the Lord's work"; working on off-ball movement, blocking out for rebounds, and good defensive positioning.
So many of those "team fundamentals" were evident last night in what was close to being, for the observer, the perfect basketbal contest. Throughout the night, I thought about the lessons I had been taught; at Wooden's camp, from Knight's videos, and during those endless, glorious hours on the hardwood, soaking up Skip's genius, offered with the deep, relentless tones of a loving taskmaster.
I am certain all three were, in one way or another, watching last night's contest. Coach Wooden was most likely disappointed with the lack of discipline in shot selection exhibited by the Butler Boys, but applauded their heart and team effort and most surely would have told them aftewards they played like champions.
Coach Knight was probably cheering on his former protege-turned-accomplished master, while hopping up out of his recliner everytime a Duke screen left a man open underneath and wasn't taken advantage of. I hope he didn't strain anything trying to toss his Lazy-boy across the room.
But mostly I thought of Coack Mohatt, looking down from Heaven. Through the raucous crowd, I could almost hear him barking at Butler forward Gordon Hayward to slide over and help out with Duke center Brian Zoubek, or for guard Shelvin Mack to pop that ball down into the post instead of forcing a drive into the paint. And I could see the short white towel fly back into the thrid row everytime the overzealous play of the Bulldog's center Matt Howard landed him another senseless foul.
But most clearly, I saw my beloved high school coach when the game was over. He was, I am sure, smiling. Not because of an exciting game, which it was, or for the hard fought battle waged by both teams, which they did. But rather for the same reason that both Coach K and Butler coach Brad Stevens were smiling as they shook hands after the game, and for the same reason that true lovers of this game were smiling, regardless of who they had in their pool or which team they supported...
because they had just witnessed, in an era of sports, that at all levels is influenced, and many believe tarnished, by PED's and ignoramous management and posse-laden players and all of the other unrelated distractions, a game played, perhaps as purely as any before it. No players arguing with referees, no coaches tantrums, no fights. A good, clean, well-played and intense battle, played the way it was supposed to be played. To the very last second.
The Duke Blue Devils last night were crowned the 2010 NCAA Division 1 Men's Collegiate Basketball Champions. At the end of the game, they had scored more points than their opponents and so it should have been. But think not for a moment there was only one team of championship caliber on that floor last night. I would have been every bit as proud to have been a Butler alum last night as a Dukie.
Maybe even a little more so.
Monday, April 5, 2010
iQuit
THE iPAD RELEASED this weekend and more than 300,000 lemmings were up until all hours Easter morning, loading more than 1 milliom apps onto their new toys. That following a Good Friday evening when thousands who did not pre-order the latest techno-marvel in the "i" series, stood in line outside Apple stores nationwide, hoping to be among the first to own pied piper Steve Jobs' the latest creation . The real marvel though is, at a $499 retial price with a 51 per cent gross margin mark-up, that slides approx 75mil in black ink into the hands of Apple shareholders, in one day. Trying to remember the last thing Microsoft did that was exciting or innovative, am thinking it may be time to call my buddy, stock wiz extrordinaire and former AVHS compadre Jeff Oster, and slide the MSFT into AAPL...
iBULLDOGS...Tonight's finale between #1 seed Duke (Boooo!) and underdog Butler (Yeah!) will either be a disappointing blowout or one of the great sport stories of the new millenium. This was an amazing Tournament with top seeds falling like Republicans who fought the Health Insurance Reform bill. The only thing I'd change about this year's Tourney (other than CAL's early exit) would be that the NCAA move the start-date back so the Tournament can end in March. Not a big deal, but it's like the Super Bowl being played in February or The World Series in November, it's just not right...
iDO...Yours truly got played BIG TIME on April Fool's Day, soon to be re-named MY DAY. First my neice (or is it second cousin - once removed, I can never remember that stuff) Ashley Davison suckered me in, posting ever so subtley on her FB page, that, and I quote, "Can't believe we're getting MARRIED!!! I didn't think I could forgive him until he asked me to marry him!!!!!!! =)", then about an hour later, changed her status from "In a relationship" to "engaged'. I bow in deference to your youthful wit and hereby surrender...
iDON'T...Not to be outdone, former Princess turned SLS, Renee LeVeira Flores, daughter of AVHS '78 grads and highschool sweethearts Rob and Michelle, merely changed her status from "Engaged" to "Single" and left it there, for noodniks like moi to flip a nutty over. Nee tells me that several of her other FB friends called or wrote with concern, two actually offering to pay for counseling services to help bring the two back together. The kicker here was the big wedding shower was held the day before, so it was fresh on the minds of those who know. Touche', Miss Thang! My only response to both of you is to beware. For as the old axiom goes...sometime, someplace, when you least expect it.....BANG! I always repay a debt, including interest...
iWISH...I had never been such an idiot. These are the words that will most likely be rambling around inside the head of PGA pro and philanderer-par-excellance (if there can be such a thing, and pardon the pun) Tiger Woods, who jumps back into real life this week at Augusta, where on Thursday he will play his first competitive round in 144 days. Wise call on Eldrick's part, getting back inside the ropes here. This Tournament is run with such a tight fist and tix are so hard to come by (perhaps the toughest ducat in all of sports) it's unlikely much of a fuss about the former World's #1 player's sex scandal will seen or heard. Here's hoping for a great Tournament...
iLL BELIEVE IT when I don't see it. In a hastily called press conference yesterday, the Rolling Stones announced they will be touring in 2010, perhaps the and their largest concert tour ever. Hard to believe following their last go around which took more than two years and shattered attendance and gross rev records that would have had Bill salivating (and still figuring out ways to do it better). Because the band annouced plans to play virtually nothing from 64-72 (through "Exile...") on this go around, and that the show will include tributes to each of their former band mates, including a one-off song per show with former bassist Bill Wyman joining them onstage, word is that this will be the last hurrah for the Glimmer Twins. If Vegas lays odds, I'll lay 100 smackers that says no way. I can not imagine Keith agreeing to hang it up ever and if this were the Grand Finale, you can bet your bottom dollar Mick would have built up a much more grand presentation, including at least a 6-9 month build up to increase interest (and revenue). Plus, can yo imagine them walking off a stage for the last time withOUT having played Satisfaction? Just wouldn't be cricket, wha?...
iAM GRATEFUL...Yesterday was Easter. And while many get lost in the buffett brunches and egg hunts and chocolate indulgances (guilty on that last bugger!) that surround the day, I AM grateful for what the true meaning of the day signifies. That Our Heavenly Father sent down His only begotten Son, so that our unwise choices and unlearned lessons might be forgiven; that we may repent from our sometimes foolish and hurtful actions, that we too might rise again and be returned to His presence. A greater gift we could not receive and though perhaps undeserved, one we shall continue to strive to be worthy of.
iBULLDOGS...Tonight's finale between #1 seed Duke (Boooo!) and underdog Butler (Yeah!) will either be a disappointing blowout or one of the great sport stories of the new millenium. This was an amazing Tournament with top seeds falling like Republicans who fought the Health Insurance Reform bill. The only thing I'd change about this year's Tourney (other than CAL's early exit) would be that the NCAA move the start-date back so the Tournament can end in March. Not a big deal, but it's like the Super Bowl being played in February or The World Series in November, it's just not right...
iDO...Yours truly got played BIG TIME on April Fool's Day, soon to be re-named MY DAY. First my neice (or is it second cousin - once removed, I can never remember that stuff) Ashley Davison suckered me in, posting ever so subtley on her FB page, that, and I quote, "Can't believe we're getting MARRIED!!! I didn't think I could forgive him until he asked me to marry him!!!!!!! =)", then about an hour later, changed her status from "In a relationship" to "engaged'. I bow in deference to your youthful wit and hereby surrender...
iDON'T...Not to be outdone, former Princess turned SLS, Renee LeVeira Flores, daughter of AVHS '78 grads and highschool sweethearts Rob and Michelle, merely changed her status from "Engaged" to "Single" and left it there, for noodniks like moi to flip a nutty over. Nee tells me that several of her other FB friends called or wrote with concern, two actually offering to pay for counseling services to help bring the two back together. The kicker here was the big wedding shower was held the day before, so it was fresh on the minds of those who know. Touche', Miss Thang! My only response to both of you is to beware. For as the old axiom goes...sometime, someplace, when you least expect it.....BANG! I always repay a debt, including interest...
iWISH...I had never been such an idiot. These are the words that will most likely be rambling around inside the head of PGA pro and philanderer-par-excellance (if there can be such a thing, and pardon the pun) Tiger Woods, who jumps back into real life this week at Augusta, where on Thursday he will play his first competitive round in 144 days. Wise call on Eldrick's part, getting back inside the ropes here. This Tournament is run with such a tight fist and tix are so hard to come by (perhaps the toughest ducat in all of sports) it's unlikely much of a fuss about the former World's #1 player's sex scandal will seen or heard. Here's hoping for a great Tournament...
iLL BELIEVE IT when I don't see it. In a hastily called press conference yesterday, the Rolling Stones announced they will be touring in 2010, perhaps the and their largest concert tour ever. Hard to believe following their last go around which took more than two years and shattered attendance and gross rev records that would have had Bill salivating (and still figuring out ways to do it better). Because the band annouced plans to play virtually nothing from 64-72 (through "Exile...") on this go around, and that the show will include tributes to each of their former band mates, including a one-off song per show with former bassist Bill Wyman joining them onstage, word is that this will be the last hurrah for the Glimmer Twins. If Vegas lays odds, I'll lay 100 smackers that says no way. I can not imagine Keith agreeing to hang it up ever and if this were the Grand Finale, you can bet your bottom dollar Mick would have built up a much more grand presentation, including at least a 6-9 month build up to increase interest (and revenue). Plus, can yo imagine them walking off a stage for the last time withOUT having played Satisfaction? Just wouldn't be cricket, wha?...
iAM GRATEFUL...Yesterday was Easter. And while many get lost in the buffett brunches and egg hunts and chocolate indulgances (guilty on that last bugger!) that surround the day, I AM grateful for what the true meaning of the day signifies. That Our Heavenly Father sent down His only begotten Son, so that our unwise choices and unlearned lessons might be forgiven; that we may repent from our sometimes foolish and hurtful actions, that we too might rise again and be returned to His presence. A greater gift we could not receive and though perhaps undeserved, one we shall continue to strive to be worthy of.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Fool's Gold
EARLY REPORTS...are the city of Walnut Creek survived Tuesday's invasion of a "Spring Break Reunion" made up of women from the Amador Valley High School Class of 1978. With expats coming from as far as Davis, California, Thornton, Colorado, and Las Vegas Nevada, some city officials had predicted chaos and catastrophe similar to the infamous Castlewood Ice Blocking Incident of ''99. In two puzzling and perhaps related matters: a rash of thefts of John Mayer t-shirts and other memorabilia related to the pop & blues tabloid star were reported by retailers all along the 680 corridor and 27 pairs of "Dittos" hip-hugger-style jeans were reported missing from the Hidden Treasures Consignment Shoppe on Layden Avenue in Danville. The store's owner, Kitty Featherhead, told investigators that a dozen or so women came in together around 6:15 P.M. and tried on clothes for approximately 30 minutes. When the women left, only hangers for the missing articles remained in the dressing rooms, along with a used tube of rootbeer flavored lip gloss, a fish comb, a receipt for two orders of fries and a Diet Coke from the Pleasanton Jack-In-The-Box on Valley Avenue and a wallet-sized photo of former Amador Valley High typing teacher and freshmen baseball coach Steve Mortara. Police say an investigation is underway...
ONLY IN CALIFORNIA DEPT: The former Malibu beach house of pop-star-turned-mental-deficient Britney Spears was purchased by the SHHHH investment group for 11.3 million dollars. A closing date for the transaction was not announced by representatives of the Los Angeles law firm of Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe, who is handling the transaction for SHHHH, but stated that the palacial 3.5 acre estate includes a 16 bedroom, 11 bath mansion in addition to a 2-bedroom guest house, pool, sauna, and tennis courts, will be converted into a halfway house for sex addicts, and the primary investors, former President Bill Clinton, PGA golf proefssional Tiger Woods and reality tv star Jesse James hope to have the deal closed and all work completed on the property no later than August 1...In other news, the State Department announced today that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will begin a six week trip to the Middle East on July 30; Nike announced today that a massive "Respect" campaign featuring Woods, to be filmed in a secret location known only to Woods, the camera man and Woods' personal pilot, will start filming on July 31, and finally, Universal Studios today announced that Oscar winning actress Sandra Bullock will begin filming her next project, "Miss Congeniality III: What Are You Nuts?" in New York City between July 28 and September 10. Studio reps who requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak about the actor's personal life said that Bullock's formerly estranged but recently reunited husband, Jesse James would not be with Bullock during the shoot, as the reality star had "important business matters" in California to attend to...
MOSES IS SPINNING: Wayne LaPierre, head of the National Rifle Association was arrested in Wheeling, West Virginia today of several counts of child molestation, conspiring to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, and interstate trafficking of minors for prostitution. Asked by reporters as he was being escorted into the Wheeling County Courthouse for arraignment, LaPierre stated emphatically, "Ha! Ha! But they didn't get my guns!" LaPierre is being held for evaluation without bond in a pyschiatric ward...
THIS JUST IN: Idaho Falls School District 91 announced today that due to drastic state education budget cuts, ALL educational field trips, art, music, drama, and vocational training classes, and Advanced Placement courses have been discontinued and all Special Needs Educators, classroom aides, tutors, and school counselors have been dismisssed, effective immediately. In addition, the District has returned or cancelled any and all orders for new and supplementary text books, computer equipment, and classroom supplies. In two related stories, District Plant Facilities Manager, Chester Rooms, told members of the Education Is A Privelage, Not A Right Organization at a luncheon on Friday, that plans to install padded seating on both sides of Ravsten Stadium should be completed in time for October's Emotion Bowl game between Skyline and I.F. high schools and the new weight/sauna/athroscopic therapy room additions to the Grizzly Football Training Center should be ready for Fall practice, provided the installation team from Microsoft can have the new HD screens and digital breakdown software loaded and in place in the newly constructed Gridiron Support Complex and Training Facility by then...
THE SUPPORT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING: Former Alaskan Governor and Repugnant vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin was today unanimously selected as a representative of the Far West Region of Sigma Tau Delta, a philanthropic and social society, of which she has been an active member for more than 30 years. When informed of the honor, which will be bestowed upon her at a week-long celebration in Las Vegas in July, Palin stated "I have been a fan and ardent supporter of STD since I was first introduced to them in high school, and I will do whatever is necessary to share the STD gift with everyone I come in contact with. My mother was an "STD-girl" and I have no doubt that my girls will follow in my footsteps...
AND FINALLY...The San Francisco Giants today reported a monumental trade bringing Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter, third baseman Alex Rodriguez and former CY Young award winner CC Sabithia to the west coast team in exchange for $200,00 in cash and two fourth-round choices in both the 2014 and 2015 MLB draft. Humm baby!
ONLY IN CALIFORNIA DEPT: The former Malibu beach house of pop-star-turned-mental-deficient Britney Spears was purchased by the SHHHH investment group for 11.3 million dollars. A closing date for the transaction was not announced by representatives of the Los Angeles law firm of Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe, who is handling the transaction for SHHHH, but stated that the palacial 3.5 acre estate includes a 16 bedroom, 11 bath mansion in addition to a 2-bedroom guest house, pool, sauna, and tennis courts, will be converted into a halfway house for sex addicts, and the primary investors, former President Bill Clinton, PGA golf proefssional Tiger Woods and reality tv star Jesse James hope to have the deal closed and all work completed on the property no later than August 1...In other news, the State Department announced today that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will begin a six week trip to the Middle East on July 30; Nike announced today that a massive "Respect" campaign featuring Woods, to be filmed in a secret location known only to Woods, the camera man and Woods' personal pilot, will start filming on July 31, and finally, Universal Studios today announced that Oscar winning actress Sandra Bullock will begin filming her next project, "Miss Congeniality III: What Are You Nuts?" in New York City between July 28 and September 10. Studio reps who requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak about the actor's personal life said that Bullock's formerly estranged but recently reunited husband, Jesse James would not be with Bullock during the shoot, as the reality star had "important business matters" in California to attend to...
MOSES IS SPINNING: Wayne LaPierre, head of the National Rifle Association was arrested in Wheeling, West Virginia today of several counts of child molestation, conspiring to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, and interstate trafficking of minors for prostitution. Asked by reporters as he was being escorted into the Wheeling County Courthouse for arraignment, LaPierre stated emphatically, "Ha! Ha! But they didn't get my guns!" LaPierre is being held for evaluation without bond in a pyschiatric ward...
THIS JUST IN: Idaho Falls School District 91 announced today that due to drastic state education budget cuts, ALL educational field trips, art, music, drama, and vocational training classes, and Advanced Placement courses have been discontinued and all Special Needs Educators, classroom aides, tutors, and school counselors have been dismisssed, effective immediately. In addition, the District has returned or cancelled any and all orders for new and supplementary text books, computer equipment, and classroom supplies. In two related stories, District Plant Facilities Manager, Chester Rooms, told members of the Education Is A Privelage, Not A Right Organization at a luncheon on Friday, that plans to install padded seating on both sides of Ravsten Stadium should be completed in time for October's Emotion Bowl game between Skyline and I.F. high schools and the new weight/sauna/athroscopic therapy room additions to the Grizzly Football Training Center should be ready for Fall practice, provided the installation team from Microsoft can have the new HD screens and digital breakdown software loaded and in place in the newly constructed Gridiron Support Complex and Training Facility by then...
THE SUPPORT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING: Former Alaskan Governor and Repugnant vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin was today unanimously selected as a representative of the Far West Region of Sigma Tau Delta, a philanthropic and social society, of which she has been an active member for more than 30 years. When informed of the honor, which will be bestowed upon her at a week-long celebration in Las Vegas in July, Palin stated "I have been a fan and ardent supporter of STD since I was first introduced to them in high school, and I will do whatever is necessary to share the STD gift with everyone I come in contact with. My mother was an "STD-girl" and I have no doubt that my girls will follow in my footsteps...
AND FINALLY...The San Francisco Giants today reported a monumental trade bringing Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter, third baseman Alex Rodriguez and former CY Young award winner CC Sabithia to the west coast team in exchange for $200,00 in cash and two fourth-round choices in both the 2014 and 2015 MLB draft. Humm baby!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Spring Break Isn't
YES, MOST OF THE KIDS are gone and a week of quiet is always a nice respite. But unless you're a teacher, the much ballyhooed Spring Break isn't for most adults. In addition to trying to make a huge effort to finish mudding, taping and texturing CJ's room and repairing a dainty little chasm in the dining room wall (don't ask!), I have also decided to expand my blog empire.
Today I launched "Ahab's Revenge", a daily look into my seven-week "Targeted Excercise and Metabolism-Raising Menu Program, my effort to finally smote the great white whale I have become since I jumped behind the keyboard of a digital profession some 14 years ago. Tomorrow we will unveil "On Stage Tonight", a once-or twice weekly review of one of the 150 or more live concert recordings I picked up during my days in that industry and (gratefully and joyously) still find in my mailbox in my mailbox from time to time, compliments of friends I met along the way. This will, of course, necessitate a reduction in visits from The Three Dot, but hopefully not too much so. I do love my Lounge...
WHILE LAST FRIDAY marked the annual showing of "The Movie" for our EB 5th graders, the day before brought forth a celebration of another kind; the annual, District-wide, Fifth Grade Musical, "Let Freedom Ring" . Each year, fifth-grade students from all 12 Idaho Falls elementary schools plan, rehearse and prepare for a night of song, and commentary to celebrate the freedoms that being an American affords us all. These amazing young students, with the help of District Elementary Music Specialists Leo Eaton, Kathy Wells, Linda Jones, and Jennifer Korenke selected and performed 12 songs that provided a complete look at just how lucky we are to live in this great land. We'll get some video clips of a few of the highlights posted, hopefully tonight. Check back, because it really is inspiring to see that, all the party affiliation crap aside, our schools are still teaching our kids what is important...
BACKSTAGE PASS DEPT: Though there wasn't enough time to seep through the layers and procure passes for our pseudo groupies Patti and Pam, word is the two had a fab-o time from the sixteenth row at last week's John Mayer show at the HiP. The girls made it back safely to Patti's that night and plans are for a dozen-or-so AVHS Class of '78 grads, all women mind you (the guys never get invited to the good mini-reunions), are getting together tomorrow night at a top secret eatery in WC. Have fun gals, and drive safe...Next up on the Mini-Reunion schedule: '78 grads Rob and Michelle LaVeira-Flores' daughter Renee will be tying the nuptial knot in Lake Tahoe on June 19. Don't be surprised if an impromptu gathering of AVHS alums descend on the CHICAGO/DOOBIE BROTHERS show at the Harvey's Ampitheater that evening...
AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR...Early comments are that Duke 's win on Sunday saved the Final Four from becoming a class in mass boredome and a ratings disaster. I can understand the latter, as the ratings for the last weekend of Madness in March is made up casual fans and office "bracket watchers". The Devils being the only #1 seed to survive, it's a sure bet that without them, the Neilsen Numbers would equal the number of Harry Reid supporters at a Tea Party rally. But boring? Not on your life. That only one top-seed is still on the floor for the final songs at the Big Dance makes this one of the best closing weekends ever. So here's the deal: I'm taking Butler, and let slip the (Bull)dogs of war!...
Today I launched "Ahab's Revenge", a daily look into my seven-week "Targeted Excercise and Metabolism-Raising Menu Program, my effort to finally smote the great white whale I have become since I jumped behind the keyboard of a digital profession some 14 years ago. Tomorrow we will unveil "On Stage Tonight", a once-or twice weekly review of one of the 150 or more live concert recordings I picked up during my days in that industry and (gratefully and joyously) still find in my mailbox in my mailbox from time to time, compliments of friends I met along the way. This will, of course, necessitate a reduction in visits from The Three Dot, but hopefully not too much so. I do love my Lounge...
WHILE LAST FRIDAY marked the annual showing of "The Movie" for our EB 5th graders, the day before brought forth a celebration of another kind; the annual, District-wide, Fifth Grade Musical, "Let Freedom Ring" . Each year, fifth-grade students from all 12 Idaho Falls elementary schools plan, rehearse and prepare for a night of song, and commentary to celebrate the freedoms that being an American affords us all. These amazing young students, with the help of District Elementary Music Specialists Leo Eaton, Kathy Wells, Linda Jones, and Jennifer Korenke selected and performed 12 songs that provided a complete look at just how lucky we are to live in this great land. We'll get some video clips of a few of the highlights posted, hopefully tonight. Check back, because it really is inspiring to see that, all the party affiliation crap aside, our schools are still teaching our kids what is important...
BACKSTAGE PASS DEPT: Though there wasn't enough time to seep through the layers and procure passes for our pseudo groupies Patti and Pam, word is the two had a fab-o time from the sixteenth row at last week's John Mayer show at the HiP. The girls made it back safely to Patti's that night and plans are for a dozen-or-so AVHS Class of '78 grads, all women mind you (the guys never get invited to the good mini-reunions), are getting together tomorrow night at a top secret eatery in WC. Have fun gals, and drive safe...Next up on the Mini-Reunion schedule: '78 grads Rob and Michelle LaVeira-Flores' daughter Renee will be tying the nuptial knot in Lake Tahoe on June 19. Don't be surprised if an impromptu gathering of AVHS alums descend on the CHICAGO/DOOBIE BROTHERS show at the Harvey's Ampitheater that evening...
AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR...Early comments are that Duke 's win on Sunday saved the Final Four from becoming a class in mass boredome and a ratings disaster. I can understand the latter, as the ratings for the last weekend of Madness in March is made up casual fans and office "bracket watchers". The Devils being the only #1 seed to survive, it's a sure bet that without them, the Neilsen Numbers would equal the number of Harry Reid supporters at a Tea Party rally. But boring? Not on your life. That only one top-seed is still on the floor for the final songs at the Big Dance makes this one of the best closing weekends ever. So here's the deal: I'm taking Butler, and let slip the (Bull)dogs of war!...
Friday, March 26, 2010
Fear and Loathing in the Fifth Grade
After six predecessors and as many fearful, "longest walks of their lives" down that mile-long corridor to the library, today our family marks the final step across the threshold to adulthood and eternal uncertainty, as our eleven year old gets his turn at...The 5th Grade Sex Ed Movie.
Yesterday afternoon, our youngest, Charles, returned home from his day of matriculation, lost and bewildered, as though he had just watched a super-slow motion video of a family of chicklings being transformed into road kill by a Mack truck. After repeated inquiries I sat beside him and, putting my arm around his shoulder, said, "Charles, did something happen at school? What's wrong, buddy?" Looking up with tears streaming down both sides of his not-yet adolenscent face, he replied,
"They're showing that movie at school tomorrow, and I don't wanna see it".
I don't recall having the same abiding fear of "the movie", which was actually a filmstrip (complete with the "beep" to turn to the next graphic), when we got it 38 years ago. But things have changed quite a bit in regards to how the public education system helps our young men begin that journey from pre-pubescent lover of all things sports or action-film related to neighborhood studmuffin.
First off, where my sixth grade class got the whole shi-bang as a class in one 60-minute filmstrip, now they seperate the information into two years; 5th grade focusing on body changes and personal hygeine, 6th grade on sexual development and reproductive roles. The film/discussion class are now also seperated by gender and the parents are invited to come along for support and participation.
Looking back, I think both changes in teh presentation are excellent ideas. Not only does it break the information into more age appropriate levels, but the seperation of boys and girls serves two purposes; removing the uncomfortability of inevitible eye contact with the cute little red headed girl during a discussion on insemination and the more relaxed, gender specific audience making it a little more likely that questions will be asked instead of staring at the clock and hoping the torturous experience will end soon.
I also think it a stroke of genius to invite the parents to participate. This also offers two wonderful opportunities; to have some input into how this information is for presented to your child, and also to take what, as yesterday's conversation proved, can be a highly emotional and borderline terrifying event and transform it into a strong, positive bonding experience. The tradition in this household is that "The Movie" is immediately followed by an extended lunch period at the pizza parlor of the child's choice (although I think maybe Lisa and Caroline did Olive Garden, but I don't really remember, having completely erased both her fifth and sixth grade "movie days" from my mind for all time and eternity, having protested, to no avail, that she should have been made to wait until she was at least 30 to be exposed to such corruptably influential information).
Some things, however, have not changed. I recall during the summer in between 5th and 6th grade, some older kids on the block who had already been subjected to and survived "the filmstrip" told us tales of imagineable horror and eventual embarassment beyond description. That time honored tradition continues today. I asked Charles why he was so upset by having to see The Movie, imagining that instructions inside a box of tampons would prove more embarassing to an 11 year old boy than anything he would hear or see tomorrow, and that in fact, all the children had been made keenly aware of the content of tomorrow's class.
"Dad!", he bellowed, "I don't wanna see a movie of people...doing it! That's just sick!".
Explaining to him in excrutiating detail about what tomorrow would be about and how there would be little if any mention of sex or sexual activity and certainly no video of such things, he relaxed and a few minutes later was happy and smiling at the kitchen table attacking his math homework. Go figure.
Last night, I thought about my little guy's fear and loathing at even the ridiculous suggestion that he would be forced to sit with his class and watch two people having sex, and it made me think about when I was in the 5th grade. Our teacher, Mrs. Tout had us make these racing cars out of dish soap bottles, which we could decorate to our liking. The three self-ordained "top dogs", Bill Connelly, Mark Santos, and Shaun Reilly, adorned their racing machines with the number "69", making sure everyone in class knew that was the coolest number and then made a point of asking every boy in the class if they knew what it meant.
As I recalled this oddly memorable moment of my upbringing, I thought about how my youth was vastly different from that of my children. We didn't have MTV or network sex. When I was 11, Mike and Carol Brady were a big deal because they weren't in single beds. Our Madonna was Karen Carpenter, our Brad Pitt was Paul Newman. And where today, unsupervised children can pull up the Internet and find hardcore sex clips in an instant, we had the underwear section of the Sears catalogue.
That grimacing look of disgust on Charles' face as he explained the reason for his angst yesterday, at the moment made we want to laugh. Thinking back on it, however, I smile and am grateful.
Not that he will always find physical intimacy to be disgusting; there will be other "talks", and hopefully, the lessons of love and respect and privacy I have learned will override the "locker talk" he will no doubt overhear. But as I watched him eating his breakfast this morning, the daily commics dutifully splattered with milk and his hair loking as though it had never been introduced to the prickly end of a hair brush, I thought to myself...
He's 11. Maybe a year or so more filled with the fear of "girl cuties" isn't such a bad thing.
Yesterday afternoon, our youngest, Charles, returned home from his day of matriculation, lost and bewildered, as though he had just watched a super-slow motion video of a family of chicklings being transformed into road kill by a Mack truck. After repeated inquiries I sat beside him and, putting my arm around his shoulder, said, "Charles, did something happen at school? What's wrong, buddy?" Looking up with tears streaming down both sides of his not-yet adolenscent face, he replied,
"They're showing that movie at school tomorrow, and I don't wanna see it".
I don't recall having the same abiding fear of "the movie", which was actually a filmstrip (complete with the "beep" to turn to the next graphic), when we got it 38 years ago. But things have changed quite a bit in regards to how the public education system helps our young men begin that journey from pre-pubescent lover of all things sports or action-film related to neighborhood studmuffin.
First off, where my sixth grade class got the whole shi-bang as a class in one 60-minute filmstrip, now they seperate the information into two years; 5th grade focusing on body changes and personal hygeine, 6th grade on sexual development and reproductive roles. The film/discussion class are now also seperated by gender and the parents are invited to come along for support and participation.
Looking back, I think both changes in teh presentation are excellent ideas. Not only does it break the information into more age appropriate levels, but the seperation of boys and girls serves two purposes; removing the uncomfortability of inevitible eye contact with the cute little red headed girl during a discussion on insemination and the more relaxed, gender specific audience making it a little more likely that questions will be asked instead of staring at the clock and hoping the torturous experience will end soon.
I also think it a stroke of genius to invite the parents to participate. This also offers two wonderful opportunities; to have some input into how this information is for presented to your child, and also to take what, as yesterday's conversation proved, can be a highly emotional and borderline terrifying event and transform it into a strong, positive bonding experience. The tradition in this household is that "The Movie" is immediately followed by an extended lunch period at the pizza parlor of the child's choice (although I think maybe Lisa and Caroline did Olive Garden, but I don't really remember, having completely erased both her fifth and sixth grade "movie days" from my mind for all time and eternity, having protested, to no avail, that she should have been made to wait until she was at least 30 to be exposed to such corruptably influential information).
Some things, however, have not changed. I recall during the summer in between 5th and 6th grade, some older kids on the block who had already been subjected to and survived "the filmstrip" told us tales of imagineable horror and eventual embarassment beyond description. That time honored tradition continues today. I asked Charles why he was so upset by having to see The Movie, imagining that instructions inside a box of tampons would prove more embarassing to an 11 year old boy than anything he would hear or see tomorrow, and that in fact, all the children had been made keenly aware of the content of tomorrow's class.
"Dad!", he bellowed, "I don't wanna see a movie of people...doing it! That's just sick!".
Explaining to him in excrutiating detail about what tomorrow would be about and how there would be little if any mention of sex or sexual activity and certainly no video of such things, he relaxed and a few minutes later was happy and smiling at the kitchen table attacking his math homework. Go figure.
Last night, I thought about my little guy's fear and loathing at even the ridiculous suggestion that he would be forced to sit with his class and watch two people having sex, and it made me think about when I was in the 5th grade. Our teacher, Mrs. Tout had us make these racing cars out of dish soap bottles, which we could decorate to our liking. The three self-ordained "top dogs", Bill Connelly, Mark Santos, and Shaun Reilly, adorned their racing machines with the number "69", making sure everyone in class knew that was the coolest number and then made a point of asking every boy in the class if they knew what it meant.
As I recalled this oddly memorable moment of my upbringing, I thought about how my youth was vastly different from that of my children. We didn't have MTV or network sex. When I was 11, Mike and Carol Brady were a big deal because they weren't in single beds. Our Madonna was Karen Carpenter, our Brad Pitt was Paul Newman. And where today, unsupervised children can pull up the Internet and find hardcore sex clips in an instant, we had the underwear section of the Sears catalogue.
That grimacing look of disgust on Charles' face as he explained the reason for his angst yesterday, at the moment made we want to laugh. Thinking back on it, however, I smile and am grateful.
Not that he will always find physical intimacy to be disgusting; there will be other "talks", and hopefully, the lessons of love and respect and privacy I have learned will override the "locker talk" he will no doubt overhear. But as I watched him eating his breakfast this morning, the daily commics dutifully splattered with milk and his hair loking as though it had never been introduced to the prickly end of a hair brush, I thought to myself...
He's 11. Maybe a year or so more filled with the fear of "girl cuties" isn't such a bad thing.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Spring Cleaning 2.0
WE BEGAN A BLOG on Spring Cleaning back on the ninth, but somehow got sidetracked. With the unusually warm weather were experiencing (and thanks to Exxon/Mobil), and some outdoor space to temporarily move "stuff", today The Lounge cleans house of excess baggage, useless trinkets and assorted "ordures" form the land of the never-again-needed.
THE NO CAR GARAGE: As lamented earlier, more than seventy cardboard boxes remain setlled into that area of our home designed for automotive cover. From Fisher Price toys lovingly put through their paces by youthful trolls a decade ago to hurricane lamps I couldn't dump on eBay to three-wide car seats that have no car, our garage makes your community Goodwill store look like a well stocked Neiman~Marcus. Among the first items to go will be bikes; none of them in working condition, mind you. However, if you're in SE Idaho and need a bike part; frame, wheel, handlebars, chain, or sprocket, chances are you'll find it tossed, without thought, throughout this erfuge for rubbish. Then, with some floor space cleared, we'll go after the boxes. If you don't hear from me in three days, send in the Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne, will ya? Anything to get Chris a little closer to home...
OFFICE WITHIN AN OFFICE: When Caits moved out, Caroline took her room and Liney's room then became my office. Was a good little office too, until it began doubling as a storage area for event supplies. And painting supplies. And ornament supplies. And out of season clothing. And old computers. And old financial records. And...wouldn't this all look wonderful in the garage?
TECHNO SHUFFLE: With the advent of the MP3 and the external hard drive, I am thinking I can free up a lot of space in my office by transferring all my cd's (studio recordings and boots I've collected over the past 30 years) to digital format. So be looking for info here here in a few days about how you can pick up some wonderful, rare, and otherwise impossible to find pop, rock, hard rock, folk, blues, jazz, and country shows recorded during the last 50 years. A true-blue triple play this; You get some amazing live musical peformances, I get to move through my office without having to navigate an obstacle course, and together we'll all raise some much needed funds for the local students and classrooms here in I.F. that there just isn't enough of. Uh, classrooms and money that is. We always have plenty of students...
MRS GUMP WAS RIGHT: Stupid is as stupid does. A couple of years ago, I heard the tale about how my mother-in-law used to roll newspaper into logs, soak them in water, and when they dried out, would serve as long-lasting logs for the fireplace. At the time we had three paper routes eminating from our home so it seemed like a natural. 100 or so tightly wrapped, bound and soaked paper logs were soon neatly stacked alongside our house awaiting the coming winter, only to realize as large as we'd made them and tightly as they were wrapped, they wouldn't burn more than a few of the outside pages. So I am thinking this Saturday, the homeade logs will find their way to a nearby recycle bin and Huck will need to find something else to chew and spew forth over my slowly greening backyard. "Rits about rime, Raggy! Arf!"...
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER: Lots of talk about the Kindle, the iPad and other technologically superior replacements for the endless number of books that fill the shelves throughout our home. To borrow from the late and formerly great Charleton Heston..."From my cold, dead, hands!" I am all for efficient development and progress, but with the all-too-rapid life-style advancements of the past 20 years, books are one of our last connections to a civilized and elegant society. Call me a Norman Rockwellesque neo-realist if you must, but there are still few things I enjoy more, when I have the opportunity, than sitting in my great-grandmother's 100 year old birch-wood rocker with a large cup of cocoa on the hearth, and by the light of a well-stoked fire, burning an evening immersed in a well-penned novel. I apologize to those of you who recently ran out and bought the latest, over-priced version of "faster, sleeker, but not necessarily better", but the excitement of young Jim Hawkins eavesdropping from inside an apple barrel or the plaintive thoughts of Tom Joad as he meanders along a lonely country road just can't be fully appreciated from an LED screen, while you're sitting on your chrome-plated Crate & Barrel bar stool, waiting for your turn at Wii Bowling. What's next...reading our grandkids Winnie the Pooh via video conference? Here's hoping that out there in one of those boxes, somewhere, is the old Royal typewriter my grandfather had refurbished for me when I took up journalism in high school. I can't think of anything I'd rather recover from the carboard depths. I think Mr. Caen, who a week from Friday would have been 94, would doff his chappeau to it as well.
So...what's on YOUR mind?
THE NO CAR GARAGE: As lamented earlier, more than seventy cardboard boxes remain setlled into that area of our home designed for automotive cover. From Fisher Price toys lovingly put through their paces by youthful trolls a decade ago to hurricane lamps I couldn't dump on eBay to three-wide car seats that have no car, our garage makes your community Goodwill store look like a well stocked Neiman~Marcus. Among the first items to go will be bikes; none of them in working condition, mind you. However, if you're in SE Idaho and need a bike part; frame, wheel, handlebars, chain, or sprocket, chances are you'll find it tossed, without thought, throughout this erfuge for rubbish. Then, with some floor space cleared, we'll go after the boxes. If you don't hear from me in three days, send in the Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne, will ya? Anything to get Chris a little closer to home...
OFFICE WITHIN AN OFFICE: When Caits moved out, Caroline took her room and Liney's room then became my office. Was a good little office too, until it began doubling as a storage area for event supplies. And painting supplies. And ornament supplies. And out of season clothing. And old computers. And old financial records. And...wouldn't this all look wonderful in the garage?
TECHNO SHUFFLE: With the advent of the MP3 and the external hard drive, I am thinking I can free up a lot of space in my office by transferring all my cd's (studio recordings and boots I've collected over the past 30 years) to digital format. So be looking for info here here in a few days about how you can pick up some wonderful, rare, and otherwise impossible to find pop, rock, hard rock, folk, blues, jazz, and country shows recorded during the last 50 years. A true-blue triple play this; You get some amazing live musical peformances, I get to move through my office without having to navigate an obstacle course, and together we'll all raise some much needed funds for the local students and classrooms here in I.F. that there just isn't enough of. Uh, classrooms and money that is. We always have plenty of students...
MRS GUMP WAS RIGHT: Stupid is as stupid does. A couple of years ago, I heard the tale about how my mother-in-law used to roll newspaper into logs, soak them in water, and when they dried out, would serve as long-lasting logs for the fireplace. At the time we had three paper routes eminating from our home so it seemed like a natural. 100 or so tightly wrapped, bound and soaked paper logs were soon neatly stacked alongside our house awaiting the coming winter, only to realize as large as we'd made them and tightly as they were wrapped, they wouldn't burn more than a few of the outside pages. So I am thinking this Saturday, the homeade logs will find their way to a nearby recycle bin and Huck will need to find something else to chew and spew forth over my slowly greening backyard. "Rits about rime, Raggy! Arf!"...
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER: Lots of talk about the Kindle, the iPad and other technologically superior replacements for the endless number of books that fill the shelves throughout our home. To borrow from the late and formerly great Charleton Heston..."From my cold, dead, hands!" I am all for efficient development and progress, but with the all-too-rapid life-style advancements of the past 20 years, books are one of our last connections to a civilized and elegant society. Call me a Norman Rockwellesque neo-realist if you must, but there are still few things I enjoy more, when I have the opportunity, than sitting in my great-grandmother's 100 year old birch-wood rocker with a large cup of cocoa on the hearth, and by the light of a well-stoked fire, burning an evening immersed in a well-penned novel. I apologize to those of you who recently ran out and bought the latest, over-priced version of "faster, sleeker, but not necessarily better", but the excitement of young Jim Hawkins eavesdropping from inside an apple barrel or the plaintive thoughts of Tom Joad as he meanders along a lonely country road just can't be fully appreciated from an LED screen, while you're sitting on your chrome-plated Crate & Barrel bar stool, waiting for your turn at Wii Bowling. What's next...reading our grandkids Winnie the Pooh via video conference? Here's hoping that out there in one of those boxes, somewhere, is the old Royal typewriter my grandfather had refurbished for me when I took up journalism in high school. I can't think of anything I'd rather recover from the carboard depths. I think Mr. Caen, who a week from Friday would have been 94, would doff his chappeau to it as well.
So...what's on YOUR mind?
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
The Life Fix
Kids today have a generationally-expectant "LOLspeak" phrase, "FML" or "f" my life. And while I am nowhere near the point where that sentiment would be even remotely accurate, with the constant and ever-ramping up of contention in today's society, the child-like bickering of our national leaders, and the general unsettling in virtually every facet of life, I really am getting tired of it all.
Now fear not, there is no garden-hose-in-the-gas-tank in my future. There is however a big change a commin', because I have always been a huge believer that, while we are expected to struggle and overcome during our time here on earth, the God of my/your/our choice surely meant this to also be a time and place of great joy and excitement and of wanting anticipation about the coming day; and quite frankly, I haven't felt that in quite some time.
And I don't think I'm alone.
Therefore, as today is Hump Day, the day we here at The Lounge find something and "fix" it, today we are going to describe exactly how to fix...life.
Step 1: HAVE A REASON TO GET UP
I find having both a long term and a short term purpose most effective; the long term provides me a structure on which to base my beliefs and priorities, the short term helping to provide motivation and those priorities, to optimize productivity.
For me, the long term is my faith. If you do not subscribe to a particular spiritual belief, it could be planning a trip to the next Summer Olympics or retiring comfortably before you turn 60. (And yeah, if you're looking for a good spiritual path, I'd be happy to share mine, because it rocks).
The short-term could include anything from making your monthly nut or putting your kids through college, to things as basic (yet still important) as making a difference in your community or keeping a perpetual smile of the face of your Significant Other. Whatever it is that will motivate you each and every day and help you to buzz through that ever-changing list of tasks that will get you there.
Step 2: BUY A TANDEM BICYCLE
Life was not meant to be lived alone. To the contrary, I believe that a life suffered alone is not lived at all, but merely experienced, and even then, not fully. This does not suggest that if you find a partner with whom you share a mortgage, a bed, and turns taking out the trash that you are sharing your life. That means you have a roomate.
Find someone who means more to you than anything or anyone on the planet, and to whom you mean just as much. That is not to say that this person will override your love and priority for your children or your own individual interests (or you theirs), but rather that it will be important for them (and you) to be a part of the others. And no, this will not require your S.O. to be a part of everything you do, or visa versa; that would insure disaster and this is not a lecture for Co-Dependents Anonymous. What it means is that you want them to be a part of most of the elements of your life and for those activities that are yours alone, you're excited to tell your loved one about it...because you know they'll be interested.
Often in today's society, I think people get married for the wrong reasons; not wanting to be alone or needing to feel loved among the most common, and the most likely to end in heartache. There is nothing wrong with wanting to not be alone or wanting to feel loved. But make sure that you and your prospective paramour share common interests. Know that laughter you share now isn't forced, and that the "little things" you presume you'll get over or aren't a big deal won't end up as dealbreakers. Does this person criticize everything you do, or are they always making corrections about even the smallest thing? Are you always being told you need to pay attention because you never remember a conversation correctly? These attributes don't make this person a bad human being, not at all. But if you find yourself biting your tongue a lot, or needing to rationalize things this person does , it most likely means the two of you would be much better off being good, close, respectful friends and not looking to run off into eternity together.
3. REDUCE THE GUEST LIST
Neighbors. Family. Church Members. Co-Workers. Little League Parents. Spinning Classmates at the Gym. Now that you have set the priorities and goals in your life and you have someone with whom to share the journey, you need to free up some time and space so that you can not only reach your goals, but enjoy the ride. The old axiom says: "if you try to do two things at once, you will either do both poorly or neither well", and I couldn't agree more.
I am not suggesting you lead a "tunnel vision" life, focusing on one singular interest. If however, you find you need to have a bi-weekly meeting to coordinate schedules and rearrange your personal activities, chances are you have too much on your plate and nothing that you do accomplish will be anywhere near it's optimum level.
Do you have a dozen "best friends" in your church, or is it more like two couples that you really enjoy spending time with and ten others who are the "cool folk" that you just want to hang with? Do you have time (or even really want) to coach the youth soccer team this season, or are you merely afraid you'll look like an uninvolved parent if you beg off for a year? Do you head to the gym three days a week because you want to get yourself (and keep yourself) healthy and in shape or because of the really groovy people you've met there?
You have a have person at the top of your totem pole, and of course you each have your own friends to whom the other has no or little interest or involvement. But the two of you have a few close friends you like being with and maybe a couple of rug rats and all that comes along with them, and sure, you have to make an appearance at the company picnic, the Pee-Wee Football Fund Raiser and your annual high school reunion.
Do yourself a favor. Get a 3x5 card and write down a dozen or so plausible excuses why you can't make it to all 27 Christmas parties, serve on the next committee, or head over to your brother's house every weekend when he breaks out the bar-b-que. You have a life, and you have already determined who you want to share the bigger portion of that life with. Try to be a friend to and accommodate everyone, you're either going to be a poor friend to all of them, or not a very good friend to any of them.
STEP 4. GET OUT OF THE RACE
Plasma. iPod. Prius. Telluride. The E Series. There is nothing wrong with wanting nice things, until it gets to the point where you are so busy and angst-ridden trying to pay for it all, you don't have time to enjoy any of it. So, quit trying to keep up with the Joneses (except this one, because I'm easy!) and start being a much happier you.
Here are a few tips:
* You can get a nice 32" flat-screen plasma for around $400. If you need bigger, you're just compensating for something else that is smaller and hey, we love ya anyway.
* Let the bottle-bleach blonde with the new chest and inflatable lips down the block do the 8mpg SUV thing. If you need to cart your starting five to practice every day, save yourself 20k and hook up with a Dodge Grand Caravan; 22 mpg, roomy as all get-out @ half the price with tons of fun extras. Or just stick with the beat up Chevy step-side. The kids'll think it's cool to ride around town in the back anyway.
* The Touch Screen-iPod-Fantasy-Turbo-Mobile....IT'S A PHONE!!!! Please tell me when it because necessary for everyone to be accessible, 24/7, to every information and communication medium known to man? I swear, I am this close to proposing an amendment to the Constitution to make it illegal for a mobile phone to BE anythng but a mobile phone. TWO Motorola Moto340 phones - from Verizon - FREE. 1700 anytime minutes, no roaming charge, picture mail, unltd photo and txt mssging - $89.99/mo.
* You don't ski, catch cold easy, and suffer for vertigo. So why did you pay 12% over market for your "winter place" outside of Aspen? There are some very nice vacation spots...uh...anywhere in the world, with no leaky roofs or out of season vandalism to worry about. And if this summer comes quicker than you expected and you don't think you'll be able to afford the trip you've been promising, just put it on the Underhill's American Express card. Want the number?
Step 5. Burn The Mortgage
I don't mean to your home, although if you can make that one extra payment a year (which you should be able to easily now that you've gotten rid of all the CRAP in your life), you'll be able to torch that puppy in half the time and save yourself about 100k.
This step in about burning the mortgage to your life, because now YOU OWN IT! I'm dead serious Lounge Lizards, most of what I've proposed takes nothing more than a couple of hours of clear, uninterrupted thought and the unfortunate realization that far too many of us believe we exist on this big ball of dirt only because a few decades ago, our parents had too much tequilia.
Now I certainly do not claim to have all the answers. In fact, while I have a few of these things already figured out, more of them need, if not a do-over, then a serious remodel. But after literally months of deep-seeded soul searching, long nights that have lasted well into that coming day of prayer, and acceptance of the hard to accept, what I do know is this...
Give me a true and loving and righteous God with a fail-safe plan, a good, honest, vibrant, positive woman who will allow me to love and respect her and who can love and respect me right back, a vocation with which I can make a positive difference in the world, a couple of ankle biters to love and raise and worry about, a safe home in which we can all live, a few very good friends to enjoy every once in a while, a healthy dose of humility, the first three Jackson Browne lp's, and a DVD of Nicklaus winning the '86 Masters, and I'm a happy camper.
Because gratefully, I have learned, that when I am gone from this Earth and standing in line at the Pearly Gates, waiting to be judged...
all the rest of it will not have made a darn bit of difference.
Now fear not, there is no garden-hose-in-the-gas-tank in my future. There is however a big change a commin', because I have always been a huge believer that, while we are expected to struggle and overcome during our time here on earth, the God of my/your/our choice surely meant this to also be a time and place of great joy and excitement and of wanting anticipation about the coming day; and quite frankly, I haven't felt that in quite some time.
And I don't think I'm alone.
Therefore, as today is Hump Day, the day we here at The Lounge find something and "fix" it, today we are going to describe exactly how to fix...life.
Step 1: HAVE A REASON TO GET UP
I find having both a long term and a short term purpose most effective; the long term provides me a structure on which to base my beliefs and priorities, the short term helping to provide motivation and those priorities, to optimize productivity.
For me, the long term is my faith. If you do not subscribe to a particular spiritual belief, it could be planning a trip to the next Summer Olympics or retiring comfortably before you turn 60. (And yeah, if you're looking for a good spiritual path, I'd be happy to share mine, because it rocks).
The short-term could include anything from making your monthly nut or putting your kids through college, to things as basic (yet still important) as making a difference in your community or keeping a perpetual smile of the face of your Significant Other. Whatever it is that will motivate you each and every day and help you to buzz through that ever-changing list of tasks that will get you there.
Step 2: BUY A TANDEM BICYCLE
Life was not meant to be lived alone. To the contrary, I believe that a life suffered alone is not lived at all, but merely experienced, and even then, not fully. This does not suggest that if you find a partner with whom you share a mortgage, a bed, and turns taking out the trash that you are sharing your life. That means you have a roomate.
Find someone who means more to you than anything or anyone on the planet, and to whom you mean just as much. That is not to say that this person will override your love and priority for your children or your own individual interests (or you theirs), but rather that it will be important for them (and you) to be a part of the others. And no, this will not require your S.O. to be a part of everything you do, or visa versa; that would insure disaster and this is not a lecture for Co-Dependents Anonymous. What it means is that you want them to be a part of most of the elements of your life and for those activities that are yours alone, you're excited to tell your loved one about it...because you know they'll be interested.
Often in today's society, I think people get married for the wrong reasons; not wanting to be alone or needing to feel loved among the most common, and the most likely to end in heartache. There is nothing wrong with wanting to not be alone or wanting to feel loved. But make sure that you and your prospective paramour share common interests. Know that laughter you share now isn't forced, and that the "little things" you presume you'll get over or aren't a big deal won't end up as dealbreakers. Does this person criticize everything you do, or are they always making corrections about even the smallest thing? Are you always being told you need to pay attention because you never remember a conversation correctly? These attributes don't make this person a bad human being, not at all. But if you find yourself biting your tongue a lot, or needing to rationalize things this person does , it most likely means the two of you would be much better off being good, close, respectful friends and not looking to run off into eternity together.
3. REDUCE THE GUEST LIST
Neighbors. Family. Church Members. Co-Workers. Little League Parents. Spinning Classmates at the Gym. Now that you have set the priorities and goals in your life and you have someone with whom to share the journey, you need to free up some time and space so that you can not only reach your goals, but enjoy the ride. The old axiom says: "if you try to do two things at once, you will either do both poorly or neither well", and I couldn't agree more.
I am not suggesting you lead a "tunnel vision" life, focusing on one singular interest. If however, you find you need to have a bi-weekly meeting to coordinate schedules and rearrange your personal activities, chances are you have too much on your plate and nothing that you do accomplish will be anywhere near it's optimum level.
Do you have a dozen "best friends" in your church, or is it more like two couples that you really enjoy spending time with and ten others who are the "cool folk" that you just want to hang with? Do you have time (or even really want) to coach the youth soccer team this season, or are you merely afraid you'll look like an uninvolved parent if you beg off for a year? Do you head to the gym three days a week because you want to get yourself (and keep yourself) healthy and in shape or because of the really groovy people you've met there?
You have a have person at the top of your totem pole, and of course you each have your own friends to whom the other has no or little interest or involvement. But the two of you have a few close friends you like being with and maybe a couple of rug rats and all that comes along with them, and sure, you have to make an appearance at the company picnic, the Pee-Wee Football Fund Raiser and your annual high school reunion.
Do yourself a favor. Get a 3x5 card and write down a dozen or so plausible excuses why you can't make it to all 27 Christmas parties, serve on the next committee, or head over to your brother's house every weekend when he breaks out the bar-b-que. You have a life, and you have already determined who you want to share the bigger portion of that life with. Try to be a friend to and accommodate everyone, you're either going to be a poor friend to all of them, or not a very good friend to any of them.
STEP 4. GET OUT OF THE RACE
Plasma. iPod. Prius. Telluride. The E Series. There is nothing wrong with wanting nice things, until it gets to the point where you are so busy and angst-ridden trying to pay for it all, you don't have time to enjoy any of it. So, quit trying to keep up with the Joneses (except this one, because I'm easy!) and start being a much happier you.
Here are a few tips:
* You can get a nice 32" flat-screen plasma for around $400. If you need bigger, you're just compensating for something else that is smaller and hey, we love ya anyway.
* Let the bottle-bleach blonde with the new chest and inflatable lips down the block do the 8mpg SUV thing. If you need to cart your starting five to practice every day, save yourself 20k and hook up with a Dodge Grand Caravan; 22 mpg, roomy as all get-out @ half the price with tons of fun extras. Or just stick with the beat up Chevy step-side. The kids'll think it's cool to ride around town in the back anyway.
* The Touch Screen-iPod-Fantasy-Turbo-Mobile....IT'S A PHONE!!!! Please tell me when it because necessary for everyone to be accessible, 24/7, to every information and communication medium known to man? I swear, I am this close to proposing an amendment to the Constitution to make it illegal for a mobile phone to BE anythng but a mobile phone. TWO Motorola Moto340 phones - from Verizon - FREE. 1700 anytime minutes, no roaming charge, picture mail, unltd photo and txt mssging - $89.99/mo.
* You don't ski, catch cold easy, and suffer for vertigo. So why did you pay 12% over market for your "winter place" outside of Aspen? There are some very nice vacation spots...uh...anywhere in the world, with no leaky roofs or out of season vandalism to worry about. And if this summer comes quicker than you expected and you don't think you'll be able to afford the trip you've been promising, just put it on the Underhill's American Express card. Want the number?
Step 5. Burn The Mortgage
I don't mean to your home, although if you can make that one extra payment a year (which you should be able to easily now that you've gotten rid of all the CRAP in your life), you'll be able to torch that puppy in half the time and save yourself about 100k.
This step in about burning the mortgage to your life, because now YOU OWN IT! I'm dead serious Lounge Lizards, most of what I've proposed takes nothing more than a couple of hours of clear, uninterrupted thought and the unfortunate realization that far too many of us believe we exist on this big ball of dirt only because a few decades ago, our parents had too much tequilia.
Now I certainly do not claim to have all the answers. In fact, while I have a few of these things already figured out, more of them need, if not a do-over, then a serious remodel. But after literally months of deep-seeded soul searching, long nights that have lasted well into that coming day of prayer, and acceptance of the hard to accept, what I do know is this...
Give me a true and loving and righteous God with a fail-safe plan, a good, honest, vibrant, positive woman who will allow me to love and respect her and who can love and respect me right back, a vocation with which I can make a positive difference in the world, a couple of ankle biters to love and raise and worry about, a safe home in which we can all live, a few very good friends to enjoy every once in a while, a healthy dose of humility, the first three Jackson Browne lp's, and a DVD of Nicklaus winning the '86 Masters, and I'm a happy camper.
Because gratefully, I have learned, that when I am gone from this Earth and standing in line at the Pearly Gates, waiting to be judged...
all the rest of it will not have made a darn bit of difference.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
TEN TRUTHS ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM
My new friend at Politifact, a non-partisan, political fact checking organization, Angie Drobnic Holan, forwarded me this list of what she considered the Top Ten facts about the actual health care legislation that every voter should know. PolitiFact has read the bill from cover to cover and checked hundreds of claims about health care reform by politicians and special interest groups. They do not support or oppose the bill, nor do they align themselves with any party, ideology, or position.
Agree with the bill or not, here's what it intends to do and where the big unknowns are.
1. The plan is not a government takeover of health care like in Canada or Britain. The government will not take over hospitals or other privately run health care businesses. Doctors will not become government employees, like in Britain. And the U.S. government intends to help people buy insurance from private insurance companies, not pay all the bills like the single-payer system in Canada. The key parts of the current U.S. system -- employer-provided insurance, Medicare for the elderly, Medicaid for the poor -- would stay in place. The government would create health insurance exchanges for people who have to buy insurance on their own, so they could more easily compare plans and prices. This will help foster competition in a true "free market" and lower premiums.
2. Insurance companies will be regulated more heavily.
They will be told the minimum services they must cover, including preventive care. They will have to pay out a certain percentage of premiums for patient care. By 2014, when the exchanges open, insurers won't be able to deny customers for pre-existing conditions or cancel coverage for chronic illnesses.
3. Everyone will have to have health insurance or pay a fine, a requirement known as the individual mandate. The government intends to cap premiums for people who make below a certain income. For people who buy insurance on the exchanges, a family of four making $88,000 would have a cap of 9.5 percent of their income. Lower incomes would have lower caps. The fine for not having insurance would be a minimum of $695 per person per year, with exemptions for financial hardship and other special cases.
4. Employers will not be required to buy insurance for their employees, but large employers may be subject to fines if they don't provide insurance. But Congress wanted to encourage employers, especially large employers, to offer insurance. So they created a fine for employers with more than 50 workers: If those employees buy insurance on the exchanges and qualify for a low-income credit from the government, then the employer would have to pay a fine. Fines are calculated based on number of employees; for large firms, the fines could be significant.
5. The vast majority of people will not see significant declines in premiums. When President Obama talks about premiums going down, he usually means they won't go up as much as they would otherwise. For the 4-out-of-5 who get their insurance through their employer, the savings would land in the 0 to 3 percent range by 2016, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, or CBO. People who buy insurance on their own, but who don't qualify for government subsidies, could actually see their premiums rise by as much as 10 to 13 percent, but that's largely because they'll be getting beefed-up policies that would pay for more basic services, especially preventive care. Low-income people who qualify for new credits to buy insurance would see the biggest drops.
6. The plan might or might not bend the curve on health spending. Critics say there aren't enough provisions to reduce waste or fraud, but Democrats say they're not being given enough credit for new cost-saving pilot programs that could be rapidly expanded. The most recent estimate of the plan, released Thursday by the CBO, said that it would spend $940 billion over 10 years. But new taxes, penalties and cost savings would offset that spending, according to the CBO, so that overall the plan pay for itself, dropping the deficit by slightly $138 billion over 10 years. Obama has said the plan will save more than $1 trillion in the second 10 years, but that estimate, according to the CBO, is highly speculative.
7. The government-run Medicare program will keep paying medical bills for seniors, but it will begin implementing cost controls on health care providers, mostly through penalties and incentives. The legislation would reduce payments for hospital-acquired infections or preventable hospital admissions. For Medicare Advantage, the federal government intends to reduce extra payments, taking away subsidies to private insurance companies. Insurers will likely cut benefits in order to not lose profits. The bill does not address the "doctor's fix," an expected proposal that Congress usually passes to prevent doctor's Medicare payments from severe cuts.
8. Medicaid, a joint federal-state program for the poor, will cover all of the poor, instead of just a few groups the way it currently does. Right now, to qualify for Medicaid, a person has to be poor and also disabled, elderly, pregnant or a child. Under the new plan, all poor adults would qualify.
9. The government won't pay for elective abortions. But under the Senate plan, people will be able to buy insurance that covers abortion on the new health insurance exchanges, as long as the insurance company pays for the services with patient premiums, not taxpayer subsidies. Medicaid has an exemption for cases of rape, incest, or the life of the mother.
10. No one is proposing new benefits for illegal immigrants. Some House members had hoped that illegal immigrants would be able to buy insurance with their own money through the new exchanges, but that now appears unlikely.
Now, for those of you who came to The Lounge from my FB page, if you have a comment or question yo uwould like a response to, please make it here, as I no longer discuss politics via FB.
And for all of you, now that you've read through this...
What's on YOUR mind?
Agree with the bill or not, here's what it intends to do and where the big unknowns are.
1. The plan is not a government takeover of health care like in Canada or Britain. The government will not take over hospitals or other privately run health care businesses. Doctors will not become government employees, like in Britain. And the U.S. government intends to help people buy insurance from private insurance companies, not pay all the bills like the single-payer system in Canada. The key parts of the current U.S. system -- employer-provided insurance, Medicare for the elderly, Medicaid for the poor -- would stay in place. The government would create health insurance exchanges for people who have to buy insurance on their own, so they could more easily compare plans and prices. This will help foster competition in a true "free market" and lower premiums.
2. Insurance companies will be regulated more heavily.
They will be told the minimum services they must cover, including preventive care. They will have to pay out a certain percentage of premiums for patient care. By 2014, when the exchanges open, insurers won't be able to deny customers for pre-existing conditions or cancel coverage for chronic illnesses.
3. Everyone will have to have health insurance or pay a fine, a requirement known as the individual mandate. The government intends to cap premiums for people who make below a certain income. For people who buy insurance on the exchanges, a family of four making $88,000 would have a cap of 9.5 percent of their income. Lower incomes would have lower caps. The fine for not having insurance would be a minimum of $695 per person per year, with exemptions for financial hardship and other special cases.
4. Employers will not be required to buy insurance for their employees, but large employers may be subject to fines if they don't provide insurance. But Congress wanted to encourage employers, especially large employers, to offer insurance. So they created a fine for employers with more than 50 workers: If those employees buy insurance on the exchanges and qualify for a low-income credit from the government, then the employer would have to pay a fine. Fines are calculated based on number of employees; for large firms, the fines could be significant.
5. The vast majority of people will not see significant declines in premiums. When President Obama talks about premiums going down, he usually means they won't go up as much as they would otherwise. For the 4-out-of-5 who get their insurance through their employer, the savings would land in the 0 to 3 percent range by 2016, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, or CBO. People who buy insurance on their own, but who don't qualify for government subsidies, could actually see their premiums rise by as much as 10 to 13 percent, but that's largely because they'll be getting beefed-up policies that would pay for more basic services, especially preventive care. Low-income people who qualify for new credits to buy insurance would see the biggest drops.
6. The plan might or might not bend the curve on health spending. Critics say there aren't enough provisions to reduce waste or fraud, but Democrats say they're not being given enough credit for new cost-saving pilot programs that could be rapidly expanded. The most recent estimate of the plan, released Thursday by the CBO, said that it would spend $940 billion over 10 years. But new taxes, penalties and cost savings would offset that spending, according to the CBO, so that overall the plan pay for itself, dropping the deficit by slightly $138 billion over 10 years. Obama has said the plan will save more than $1 trillion in the second 10 years, but that estimate, according to the CBO, is highly speculative.
7. The government-run Medicare program will keep paying medical bills for seniors, but it will begin implementing cost controls on health care providers, mostly through penalties and incentives. The legislation would reduce payments for hospital-acquired infections or preventable hospital admissions. For Medicare Advantage, the federal government intends to reduce extra payments, taking away subsidies to private insurance companies. Insurers will likely cut benefits in order to not lose profits. The bill does not address the "doctor's fix," an expected proposal that Congress usually passes to prevent doctor's Medicare payments from severe cuts.
8. Medicaid, a joint federal-state program for the poor, will cover all of the poor, instead of just a few groups the way it currently does. Right now, to qualify for Medicaid, a person has to be poor and also disabled, elderly, pregnant or a child. Under the new plan, all poor adults would qualify.
9. The government won't pay for elective abortions. But under the Senate plan, people will be able to buy insurance that covers abortion on the new health insurance exchanges, as long as the insurance company pays for the services with patient premiums, not taxpayer subsidies. Medicaid has an exemption for cases of rape, incest, or the life of the mother.
10. No one is proposing new benefits for illegal immigrants. Some House members had hoped that illegal immigrants would be able to buy insurance with their own money through the new exchanges, but that now appears unlikely.
Now, for those of you who came to The Lounge from my FB page, if you have a comment or question yo uwould like a response to, please make it here, as I no longer discuss politics via FB.
And for all of you, now that you've read through this...
What's on YOUR mind?
Monday, March 22, 2010
That's Just The Way It Is...
OK...yesterday saw the passage by the House of the HealthCare Reform Act, helping to provide affordable insurance to 32 mil who were without. And with that came the expected whining session from rapid, anti-Obama conservatives, from the airwaves to the blogosphere. The Lounge's final word on this topic is, this was not a perfect bill, but the access and retention to quality healthcare is now better for the poor, the working middle class, and small biz owners than it has ever been. Besides, the bill still has to pass the Senate, and you can be sure there are a lot of insurance-fed Repugs in the upper house who will do anything they can to obstruct passage. The Lounge has two final thoughts on this...First, we don't care one way or the toher how this turns out, can we just get it done, one way or the other and move on? And lastly, What ever happened to the mantra during the Bush admin of "Elections have consequences"?...
MORE MADNESS: What happened to the NCAA? When I woke Saturday, I had 22 wins in the 32 games played thus far, my son was getting married, the weather was gorgeous and all was right with the world. I return home from a spectacular day and my bracket looks like a prop left over from the last Chuckie movie! But then, that's what makes the Tournament the unique sporting gem it is. The worse you do in your bracket, the better Tournament you have. This year, there are eight teams seeded 5 or higher advancing to the Sweet 16, including three who began play as a double-digit seed. Last year, there was 1. Let the Madness continue...
BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Last week brought with it a sad goodbye to a wonderful woman whom I admired and will always be grateful to, whom I will forever only think of as "Mrs. Smith". She was the mother of a dear friend from my Stockton days, and back during the three weeks or so during junior high, while suffering from a severe case of "the crushes" on her daughter, Mrs. Smith was kind and thoughtfull to this terrified and timid puppy when she answered the phone. My most sincere and heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to Carl, her husband of 61 wonderful years, her daughters Darla and Connie, and her three treasured grandsons, Matt, Vaughn and Alex, as they mourn the loss of this warm and tender soul. Fare thee well, Alma. The streets of Heaven are a little more crowded with Angels tonight...
A POT OF POURRI: Patti and Pam, two friends from AVHS a "few" years ago are headed to HP Pavillion this week to check out the John Mayer show. Two of the best natured and good hearted women I know, but given the history of this sweet-talker with the ladies, I am giving second thoughts to trying to score them backstage passes for a Meet-n-Greet. You know how them "musicians" can be. Have fun, girls...Congrats to Josh Miller of Pleasanton for being invited to try out for the Under-15 NorCal Lacrosse Team that will represent at the National Tournament in Orlando, FLA later this summer. Note to proud dad/sports journalist/editor Dennis: When he gets to Johns Hopkins or Duke in a few years, I'll be expecting tix to the collegiate chmapionships...
WELL IT'S ABOUT TIME: The Golden State warriors announced yesterday that owner Chris Cohan has officially placed the team on the selling block. It is all but assured that Oracle owner and CEO Larry Ellison, whose company already has their name on the arena where the Warriors play their home games, will replace Cohan, who was only a slight improvement over previous, long-time owner Franklin Meulli. This, Lounge Lizards, is a very good thing...
THE I'VE SEEN IT ALL DEPT: It was announced today that 80 year old Buzz Aldrin, the second man to step foot on the moon 41 years ago this July, will be a contestant on the upcoming "Dancing With The Stars". Next Up: Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former President Bill Clinton, and number 1 PGA Professional golfer Tiger woods will be co-chairing a National Town Hall Meeting on Marital Fidelity.
AND FINALLY: The Lounge would like to ask everyone to "pass the word" to all your friends. Whether you post a "Share" on your FB or MySpace or email a link to those in your address book, we'd really like you to invite everyone to our daily little get-togethers. And hey, while we're at it....in that little box at the bottom....
What's on YOUR mind?
MORE MADNESS: What happened to the NCAA? When I woke Saturday, I had 22 wins in the 32 games played thus far, my son was getting married, the weather was gorgeous and all was right with the world. I return home from a spectacular day and my bracket looks like a prop left over from the last Chuckie movie! But then, that's what makes the Tournament the unique sporting gem it is. The worse you do in your bracket, the better Tournament you have. This year, there are eight teams seeded 5 or higher advancing to the Sweet 16, including three who began play as a double-digit seed. Last year, there was 1. Let the Madness continue...
BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Last week brought with it a sad goodbye to a wonderful woman whom I admired and will always be grateful to, whom I will forever only think of as "Mrs. Smith". She was the mother of a dear friend from my Stockton days, and back during the three weeks or so during junior high, while suffering from a severe case of "the crushes" on her daughter, Mrs. Smith was kind and thoughtfull to this terrified and timid puppy when she answered the phone. My most sincere and heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to Carl, her husband of 61 wonderful years, her daughters Darla and Connie, and her three treasured grandsons, Matt, Vaughn and Alex, as they mourn the loss of this warm and tender soul. Fare thee well, Alma. The streets of Heaven are a little more crowded with Angels tonight...
A POT OF POURRI: Patti and Pam, two friends from AVHS a "few" years ago are headed to HP Pavillion this week to check out the John Mayer show. Two of the best natured and good hearted women I know, but given the history of this sweet-talker with the ladies, I am giving second thoughts to trying to score them backstage passes for a Meet-n-Greet. You know how them "musicians" can be. Have fun, girls...Congrats to Josh Miller of Pleasanton for being invited to try out for the Under-15 NorCal Lacrosse Team that will represent at the National Tournament in Orlando, FLA later this summer. Note to proud dad/sports journalist/editor Dennis: When he gets to Johns Hopkins or Duke in a few years, I'll be expecting tix to the collegiate chmapionships...
WELL IT'S ABOUT TIME: The Golden State warriors announced yesterday that owner Chris Cohan has officially placed the team on the selling block. It is all but assured that Oracle owner and CEO Larry Ellison, whose company already has their name on the arena where the Warriors play their home games, will replace Cohan, who was only a slight improvement over previous, long-time owner Franklin Meulli. This, Lounge Lizards, is a very good thing...
THE I'VE SEEN IT ALL DEPT: It was announced today that 80 year old Buzz Aldrin, the second man to step foot on the moon 41 years ago this July, will be a contestant on the upcoming "Dancing With The Stars". Next Up: Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former President Bill Clinton, and number 1 PGA Professional golfer Tiger woods will be co-chairing a National Town Hall Meeting on Marital Fidelity.
AND FINALLY: The Lounge would like to ask everyone to "pass the word" to all your friends. Whether you post a "Share" on your FB or MySpace or email a link to those in your address book, we'd really like you to invite everyone to our daily little get-togethers. And hey, while we're at it....in that little box at the bottom....
What's on YOUR mind?
Friday, March 19, 2010
Taking Out The Trash
OUR SON COLE is getting married tomorrow, in the Idaho Falls Temple, to the lovely, talented, and bright as a penny, Miss Heather Ann Hazelett. A wonderful edition to the family and cause for much celebration. So, because of the usual last minute details, running around, etc., that comes with such a blessed event, today in The Lounge, you get a veritable fountain of (mostly) useless information and some relaxing, lighthearted tunes from Mr. James Bartholomew Buffett. Always good for stress relief. And yes, photos will follow...
THE TURNING TIDE: I haven't been a big fan of the Nothing-but Corrupt Athletic Association since the olden, golden days when Marcia's dad, Ced Dempsey, was running the family...er..maf...er...organization. They did, however, do one thing right, when the NCAA decided to feed their benefactors (the fans who wach the Tournament) by making every single Tournament game available online...for free (http://mmod.ncaa.com). How good was this decision? The first three games of yesterday's opening round: #11 Old Dominion upsets 6-seed Notre Dame, 10-seed Florida takes #5 BYU into double-overtime before finally succumbing, and #15-seed Robert Morris and #2 seed Villanova (who yours truly has slated for the Final Four) ran their game into overtime before the 'Cats finally squeaked it out. By the end of the first day of play, a 3 seed, a 4 seed, an 8 and a couple of 6's were one and done, we saw two buzzer beaters, three games go into O.T. and there were enough other close games to easily double the number of upsets. And only half of the Tournament teams have played their 1st round games! In the 40-plus years I've been following the Tournament, this was one of (if not the) biggest day of 1st round upsets and otherwise great basketball; yet another testament to the iconic reminder of ESPN anchor Chris Berman: "THAT'S why they play the games"...
GAME OVER: It looks as though this weekend, the House will finally vote on the Healthcare Reform Act, it will pass, and the beginning of next week, President Obama will sign it into law. Not being able (or interested) to understand the incoherent gobbledy-gook spewing from the mouths of our useless representatives and the idealogues of the Tea Party and MoveOn.org, here's my final-final: This is by far a perfect bill. Partly because Dem leaders Pelosi and Reid are too busy playing politics to govern well, and partly because leaders on the other side of the aisle have been doing exactly the same thing, in fighting every provision of the bill from the get go, instead of accepting the good and proposing better alternatives for the bad parts. It can and will need to be amended as times goes on, but for now, here's the deal...The American Taxpayer, you and I, are already paying for the healthcare of the 32,000,000 people who can't afford insurance. When they need a doctor, they go to the emergency and you and I end up footing that bill. When this bill is finally encated, we will still be paying their medical bills, we'll just be paying a whole lot less. In addition, there are some excellent provisions that will benefit everyone, such as the absence of pre-existing conditions clauses in everyone's insurance, such as lifetime caps for those of us who have to face chronic or catastrophic illnesses. It not great, but it is better than the nation has ever had, and it is going to pass. So let's just move on, ok? Next up, bouncing the leaders of both parties' congressional delegations out on their ear in Nov...
FOUND (Fountain Of Useless Nowledge Dept): I learned today that actor Dick VanPatten (daddy dearest on the 70's tv show Eight is Enough) is the founder of Nature Balance Pet Foods...In 1995 the Republican House, led by supposed savior Newt "Sure I had Affairs, But Clinton Was Immoral" Gingrich, actually enacted the Houses much touted Contract With America using the same Pass and Deem procedure the Dems will use on Sunday to pass the Healthcare bill. "That which does not kill us surely come back to bite us in the a**"...That recent Nor'easter that knocked out power to thousands and killed at least six people in the metro NYC area, generated more calls to 911 than 9/11 did...General Mills does not sell Lucky Charms to the UK, but the majority of business done in a Baskin/Robbins ice cream parlour is for--vanilla ice cream...
YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK: Did you know that the White House will send your newborn a birthday card? All you have to do is send the following information: Baby's name, address, and birth date to: White House Greetings Office, Room 39, Washington, DC 20500 Or Fax Your Request To:202-395-1232. Am wondering if this doesn't belong in the section directly above...
BLAST FROM THE PAST: the other day I was perusing my FB Wall and who do I find but Walla2's Sally Barker Shafer, a stalwart from the Woodstick days and perhaps the most talented female guitarist-vocalist without a record deal. No joke, folks; imagine a brunette Bonnie Raitt with just a taste of Tina Weymouth. This gal is a five-tool player: Vocals, guitar, writer, cute as a bug, and cool as the other side of the pillow. I am still amazed someone hasn't put this sweetheart on vinyl (yes, I am old), but one thing's for sure, she'd kick tush in any club West of the Mississippi. If she wasn't so cool, I'd suggest she go after the next "Idol". Game over on the first night. Great hearin' from ya Sal...
And so concludes our daily scribbling (and pardon the typos). Here's hoping you all have a magnificient weekend, that your bracket picks all show up, that the weather stays clear, dry and sunny, and that you will each take one moment to "Share" The Lounge with your FB Friends. We always believe the more, the merrier. And while we're at it...that little box below...
What's on YOUR mind?
THE TURNING TIDE: I haven't been a big fan of the Nothing-but Corrupt Athletic Association since the olden, golden days when Marcia's dad, Ced Dempsey, was running the family...er..maf...er...organization. They did, however, do one thing right, when the NCAA decided to feed their benefactors (the fans who wach the Tournament) by making every single Tournament game available online...for free (http://mmod.ncaa.com). How good was this decision? The first three games of yesterday's opening round: #11 Old Dominion upsets 6-seed Notre Dame, 10-seed Florida takes #5 BYU into double-overtime before finally succumbing, and #15-seed Robert Morris and #2 seed Villanova (who yours truly has slated for the Final Four) ran their game into overtime before the 'Cats finally squeaked it out. By the end of the first day of play, a 3 seed, a 4 seed, an 8 and a couple of 6's were one and done, we saw two buzzer beaters, three games go into O.T. and there were enough other close games to easily double the number of upsets. And only half of the Tournament teams have played their 1st round games! In the 40-plus years I've been following the Tournament, this was one of (if not the) biggest day of 1st round upsets and otherwise great basketball; yet another testament to the iconic reminder of ESPN anchor Chris Berman: "THAT'S why they play the games"...
GAME OVER: It looks as though this weekend, the House will finally vote on the Healthcare Reform Act, it will pass, and the beginning of next week, President Obama will sign it into law. Not being able (or interested) to understand the incoherent gobbledy-gook spewing from the mouths of our useless representatives and the idealogues of the Tea Party and MoveOn.org, here's my final-final: This is by far a perfect bill. Partly because Dem leaders Pelosi and Reid are too busy playing politics to govern well, and partly because leaders on the other side of the aisle have been doing exactly the same thing, in fighting every provision of the bill from the get go, instead of accepting the good and proposing better alternatives for the bad parts. It can and will need to be amended as times goes on, but for now, here's the deal...The American Taxpayer, you and I, are already paying for the healthcare of the 32,000,000 people who can't afford insurance. When they need a doctor, they go to the emergency and you and I end up footing that bill. When this bill is finally encated, we will still be paying their medical bills, we'll just be paying a whole lot less. In addition, there are some excellent provisions that will benefit everyone, such as the absence of pre-existing conditions clauses in everyone's insurance, such as lifetime caps for those of us who have to face chronic or catastrophic illnesses. It not great, but it is better than the nation has ever had, and it is going to pass. So let's just move on, ok? Next up, bouncing the leaders of both parties' congressional delegations out on their ear in Nov...
FOUND (Fountain Of Useless Nowledge Dept): I learned today that actor Dick VanPatten (daddy dearest on the 70's tv show Eight is Enough) is the founder of Nature Balance Pet Foods...In 1995 the Republican House, led by supposed savior Newt "Sure I had Affairs, But Clinton Was Immoral" Gingrich, actually enacted the Houses much touted Contract With America using the same Pass and Deem procedure the Dems will use on Sunday to pass the Healthcare bill. "That which does not kill us surely come back to bite us in the a**"...That recent Nor'easter that knocked out power to thousands and killed at least six people in the metro NYC area, generated more calls to 911 than 9/11 did...General Mills does not sell Lucky Charms to the UK, but the majority of business done in a Baskin/Robbins ice cream parlour is for--vanilla ice cream...
YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK: Did you know that the White House will send your newborn a birthday card? All you have to do is send the following information: Baby's name, address, and birth date to: White House Greetings Office, Room 39, Washington, DC 20500 Or Fax Your Request To:202-395-1232. Am wondering if this doesn't belong in the section directly above...
BLAST FROM THE PAST: the other day I was perusing my FB Wall and who do I find but Walla2's Sally Barker Shafer, a stalwart from the Woodstick days and perhaps the most talented female guitarist-vocalist without a record deal. No joke, folks; imagine a brunette Bonnie Raitt with just a taste of Tina Weymouth. This gal is a five-tool player: Vocals, guitar, writer, cute as a bug, and cool as the other side of the pillow. I am still amazed someone hasn't put this sweetheart on vinyl (yes, I am old), but one thing's for sure, she'd kick tush in any club West of the Mississippi. If she wasn't so cool, I'd suggest she go after the next "Idol". Game over on the first night. Great hearin' from ya Sal...
And so concludes our daily scribbling (and pardon the typos). Here's hoping you all have a magnificient weekend, that your bracket picks all show up, that the weather stays clear, dry and sunny, and that you will each take one moment to "Share" The Lounge with your FB Friends. We always believe the more, the merrier. And while we're at it...that little box below...
What's on YOUR mind?
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Grateful Birthday Madness
HOT BIRTHDAYS: Extreme B-DAY wishies to my dear old friend, Jim McGuinn, the "Head Poop" and Walla Walla's Hot Poop, the world's only Bing Bang full service music store. When I first moved to WallyWorld some 18 years ago this May, I was a fish out of water. But the dam was soon opened the first time I walked into "the Poop", and found one of the finest Deadheads I'll ever know. Here's to ya, Jimbo...Also to Becky Redgwick Pounds (AVHS Class of '80), Bishop Steve Bates (one of my many spiritual mentors, but more importantly a good, dear friend, and to my nephew Duston Turner, all brought onto this big ball of dirt on this day, a good day, indeed...
EXECUTIVE MADNESS: As noted yesterday, I had intended to dedicate an entire blog to NCAA's, which begin this afternoon. 30 years ago, this would have been the lead story around the nation, but these days there's just too much going on. Suffice it to say that regardless of the routes we took to arrive there, including yesterday's disheartening announcement by CAL coach Mike Montgomery that starting power forward Omondi Amoke has been suspended for the entire Tournament for disciplinary reasons, Presidnet Barack Obama and I ended up with the same Final Four picks: Kansas, Kansas St., Kentucky, and Villanova, both of us picking Kansas to take Kentucky in the Final. And while we do agree on many things, including the madness of March, no, we don't agree on everything...
AIKO AIKO: Color me rainbow and call me Wavy Gravy...this week saw long time Grateful Dead / Dead bassist Phil Lesh turn the big 7-0. Beyond stunned as I picked up the news from Jess Barsotti's FB page, kudos to her big bro Dharma for the excellent floats he and his staff created for the inside of the BG Memorial Aud for the sold out shindig. Phil will always hold a special place in my heart. The last night of Winterland, I accidentally parked the Blue Bomb behind his car in the hall's underground garage and for a good portion of the evening, was continually reminded that a bounty had been placed on my head. Here's hoping there is a statute of limitations on such things. Belated Happy Birthday, Philly!...
IT'S ALWAYS GREENER: An old friend from Stockton (by way of Austin, TX), Cameron McDonald tossed me a quick FB chat this morning, noting that today starts the SXSW Music Conference, which he will be attending. The envy is all mine, kind Sir. Have a great time, take excellent pix and if you can get a directional mic in the joint, yes, I'd love a copy...Also from the FB front: I read from Jan Simmons' page today that during her gym workouts the last couple of months, she has found the Stones "Exile" lp a great musical motivator to get her through the elyptical. I responded that while that is an excellent choice, I really love my boot from the Stones Saturday show in '81 at Candlestick. For many years, Jan was Bill's right hand, perhaps never moreso than during that 81-82 US and European Tour, which we coordinated for the Glimmer Twins, et. al. So YEAH!...like she's going to need MY copy of that show. My apologies to Janny for my putz-like post and sure hon, if you'd like to upgrade my version of that show with a copy of your own, I'd be more than obliged...
THERE MUST BE A PILL you can take for this. Many March Widows have declared that sentiment ever since the NCAA started March madness, but I've never seen a case so desperately in need of medication. AVHS AND UCSB alum Mark Schellman seems to be posting a nutty after hearing the words of sports talkinghead Jim Rome, who yesterday predicted the Gouchos of Santa Barbara to upset the Numero Dos seed Buckeyes from THE Ohio State University in this weeks tournament opener. Hey Mark, I'll bet you those killer speakers you had in your apt. on Abrego against EVERY bootleg CD (more than 150) I own, that your boys don't get within 10 pts. Not meaning to spoil your fun buddy, but it's always a good idea to have a reality check before tip off...
AN EARLY GIFT: Less than an hour after yesterday's Lounge comments, encouraging Master Golfer of the Universe, Tiger Woods to get back in the game and play in the upcoming Masters Tournament, had hit the blogosphere, el Tigre released an announcement that indeed, he would be returning to the front lines of the PGA by teeing 'em up at Augusta. Now I don't really believe that Woods decided to play simply because the tourney starts on my birthday this year, but unless Lisa can find someone to watch the kids and is able to book the "Rio" room at the Destinations Inn (http://www.destinationsinn.com/), this is about the best way to celebrate the Big 5-0 I could have come up with.
EXECUTIVE MADNESS: As noted yesterday, I had intended to dedicate an entire blog to NCAA's, which begin this afternoon. 30 years ago, this would have been the lead story around the nation, but these days there's just too much going on. Suffice it to say that regardless of the routes we took to arrive there, including yesterday's disheartening announcement by CAL coach Mike Montgomery that starting power forward Omondi Amoke has been suspended for the entire Tournament for disciplinary reasons, Presidnet Barack Obama and I ended up with the same Final Four picks: Kansas, Kansas St., Kentucky, and Villanova, both of us picking Kansas to take Kentucky in the Final. And while we do agree on many things, including the madness of March, no, we don't agree on everything...
AIKO AIKO: Color me rainbow and call me Wavy Gravy...this week saw long time Grateful Dead / Dead bassist Phil Lesh turn the big 7-0. Beyond stunned as I picked up the news from Jess Barsotti's FB page, kudos to her big bro Dharma for the excellent floats he and his staff created for the inside of the BG Memorial Aud for the sold out shindig. Phil will always hold a special place in my heart. The last night of Winterland, I accidentally parked the Blue Bomb behind his car in the hall's underground garage and for a good portion of the evening, was continually reminded that a bounty had been placed on my head. Here's hoping there is a statute of limitations on such things. Belated Happy Birthday, Philly!...
IT'S ALWAYS GREENER: An old friend from Stockton (by way of Austin, TX), Cameron McDonald tossed me a quick FB chat this morning, noting that today starts the SXSW Music Conference, which he will be attending. The envy is all mine, kind Sir. Have a great time, take excellent pix and if you can get a directional mic in the joint, yes, I'd love a copy...Also from the FB front: I read from Jan Simmons' page today that during her gym workouts the last couple of months, she has found the Stones "Exile" lp a great musical motivator to get her through the elyptical. I responded that while that is an excellent choice, I really love my boot from the Stones Saturday show in '81 at Candlestick. For many years, Jan was Bill's right hand, perhaps never moreso than during that 81-82 US and European Tour, which we coordinated for the Glimmer Twins, et. al. So YEAH!...like she's going to need MY copy of that show. My apologies to Janny for my putz-like post and sure hon, if you'd like to upgrade my version of that show with a copy of your own, I'd be more than obliged...
THERE MUST BE A PILL you can take for this. Many March Widows have declared that sentiment ever since the NCAA started March madness, but I've never seen a case so desperately in need of medication. AVHS AND UCSB alum Mark Schellman seems to be posting a nutty after hearing the words of sports talkinghead Jim Rome, who yesterday predicted the Gouchos of Santa Barbara to upset the Numero Dos seed Buckeyes from THE Ohio State University in this weeks tournament opener. Hey Mark, I'll bet you those killer speakers you had in your apt. on Abrego against EVERY bootleg CD (more than 150) I own, that your boys don't get within 10 pts. Not meaning to spoil your fun buddy, but it's always a good idea to have a reality check before tip off...
AN EARLY GIFT: Less than an hour after yesterday's Lounge comments, encouraging Master Golfer of the Universe, Tiger Woods to get back in the game and play in the upcoming Masters Tournament, had hit the blogosphere, el Tigre released an announcement that indeed, he would be returning to the front lines of the PGA by teeing 'em up at Augusta. Now I don't really believe that Woods decided to play simply because the tourney starts on my birthday this year, but unless Lisa can find someone to watch the kids and is able to book the "Rio" room at the Destinations Inn (http://www.destinationsinn.com/), this is about the best way to celebrate the Big 5-0 I could have come up with.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Solution Stew - The U.S. Congress
THIS BEING HUMP DAY, I was looking for ingredients for this week's "Solution Stew"; a situation requiring a solution, preferrably one not connected with the federal government. Originally leaning towards offering my always stellar *cough* picks for the NCAA Tournament which begins on tomorrow, I was stopped in my tracks.
Yesterday afternoon, I read, sadly, that the Democratic Leadership, pushed to the brink by a non-cooperative, equally non-representative Republican House and Senate members, had delved into the depths of parlamentary procedure and discovered a way to pass the Healthcare Reform bill without even having to cast a vote. We'll get into the details in a moment, but for now let me say, as I have been saying to Republicans (at least the obstructionist buffoons among them) that the process is far more important than the outcome, and if all you can do is find little hidden tricks and subvertive measures to get things your way, then you should all be sumarily dismissed, replaced, and allow the Nation to continue as it was meant to.
OK...here's what happened. Some stories racing through the Internet have implied that there would not be a vote.
This is true in the sense that there would not be a DIRECT vote. But the health-care bill would be voted on INDIRECTLY, tucked into what's known as "the rule." The rule essentially outlines the rules for an upcoming vote -- in this case, it would be the vote on the package of reconciliation fixes.
By passing "the rule," the House also would "deem" the Senate bill passed (with a "hereby" statement. "We hereby deem..."). The House would then vote on the package of reconciliation fixes. But the Senate health-care bill would be considered passed even if they never vote on the reconciliation fixes.
The "rule" can be written several different ways to include passage of the Senate bill. Though no decisions have been made -- including whether or not the rule will be used -- there are two scenarios most often discussed, according to a Democratic aide knee-deep in the process.
Scenario No. 1: The Senate bill is deemed passed with the passage of the House Rule for debate. So once the House passed the rules for debating the reconciliation package, the Senate bill could immediately be sent to president for his signature.
Scenario No. 2: The Senate bill is deemed passed with the House's passage of the reconciliation bill. Since the vote on "the rule" happens before the vote on reconciliation, this would delay the bill being sent to Obama.
Under any scenario, the aide says, the bill must be signed by the president before the Senate takes up the reconciliation.
Now, there is a great deal more that could be said, a great many more points offered in support or opposition to this process. But for me, it ends here because the healthcare issue has now become secondary to what members of the House and Senate on both sides of the aisle have done, and continue to do, that would be far more harmful to our Nation than having to pay for the poor to receive access to adequate healthcare insurance.
Members of both parties are engaged, albeit for reasons they each believe righteous and good, in subverting not only the letter of the Constitution, but also the core principle on which this Republic was founded: honest, sincere representation of their constituency; the citizens of the United States of America.
And that is not something you mess with.
History
"Deem and Pass" has been used often and by both parties. Democrats point out that Republicans used it quite a bit in the 1990s for tax cuts for the wealthy and already profitable corporations, as well as for numerous lots of corporate welfare, a reduction of oversight for the financial sector, and little things like warrantless wiretaps and exemptions for certain companies to do business with countries like Iran, where such allowances were made a federal crime by the same Congress just months prior. In this Congress, Democrats used "Deem and Pass" for raising the debt ceiling, which was tucked into the PayGo bill. So both sides have played this card, and no one is blameless.
But once again, it is the incessant hunger for power, the inability to give and take for the good of all, and the unfortunate need of those in power to acquiesce to those interests who can and will fund their next campaigns, that has led us to the point where our representative government, of either fashion or flavor, in reality, no longer exists.
Yes, this country desperately needs and should be wholly embarassed for not having an optimal healthcare system that is accessible to every one of its citizens.
Yes, the elected officials who have been saddled with the daunting task of finding a way, the best way, to make this a reality have some tough decisions to make and yes, some of those decisions will put their congressional seats in jeopardy, because they will not be popular.
So what?
As per the Constitution, those representatives are required, by law, to represent the people in their Districts or States and vote in the light of what is in the best interests of ALL whom they represent.
Not just of those who agree with them.
Not just those who will vote for them in the next election.
Not just those who will donate funds for their next election.
And certainly NOT for their party.
The solution? It's a two parter, and quite simple really...
First: Each one of you reading this, pass it on to everyone you know. And as soon as you do that, send a letter to your Congressperson and to your Senators and explain to them what you believe is the right thing to do. Explain to them that you are embarassed by the manner in which their body has performed (or not) thus far and regardless of what the eventual outcome on this issue is, that if you see one hint of further political subterfuge and games being played and that if they do not start acting honorably, in the manner of our Founding Fathers, that come the next time their name is on the ballot, they will not receive your vote.
Second: Follow through. Regardless of how this ends up, if your elected representatives don't pull their collective heads out and start acting with the proper intent and motivation, they should become 535 added to the millions of unemployed they helped create the next time election day rolls around.
Oh and by the way...if you don't follow this procedure, or in some way let your elected officials know they are going to be held accountable for their actions...then please, and with all due respect...sit down and shut up.
Because this is no longer about healthcare reform, or about progressive vs. conservative.
This has now become about the preservation and sanctity of the foundation of our nation. This is about protecting that one unique element that makes America...well, America. This is now about maintaining a representative form of government, where We The People actually means something.
And if you're going to be silent now, you have no right to complain later.
Yesterday afternoon, I read, sadly, that the Democratic Leadership, pushed to the brink by a non-cooperative, equally non-representative Republican House and Senate members, had delved into the depths of parlamentary procedure and discovered a way to pass the Healthcare Reform bill without even having to cast a vote. We'll get into the details in a moment, but for now let me say, as I have been saying to Republicans (at least the obstructionist buffoons among them) that the process is far more important than the outcome, and if all you can do is find little hidden tricks and subvertive measures to get things your way, then you should all be sumarily dismissed, replaced, and allow the Nation to continue as it was meant to.
OK...here's what happened. Some stories racing through the Internet have implied that there would not be a vote.
This is true in the sense that there would not be a DIRECT vote. But the health-care bill would be voted on INDIRECTLY, tucked into what's known as "the rule." The rule essentially outlines the rules for an upcoming vote -- in this case, it would be the vote on the package of reconciliation fixes.
By passing "the rule," the House also would "deem" the Senate bill passed (with a "hereby" statement. "We hereby deem..."). The House would then vote on the package of reconciliation fixes. But the Senate health-care bill would be considered passed even if they never vote on the reconciliation fixes.
The "rule" can be written several different ways to include passage of the Senate bill. Though no decisions have been made -- including whether or not the rule will be used -- there are two scenarios most often discussed, according to a Democratic aide knee-deep in the process.
Scenario No. 1: The Senate bill is deemed passed with the passage of the House Rule for debate. So once the House passed the rules for debating the reconciliation package, the Senate bill could immediately be sent to president for his signature.
Scenario No. 2: The Senate bill is deemed passed with the House's passage of the reconciliation bill. Since the vote on "the rule" happens before the vote on reconciliation, this would delay the bill being sent to Obama.
Under any scenario, the aide says, the bill must be signed by the president before the Senate takes up the reconciliation.
Now, there is a great deal more that could be said, a great many more points offered in support or opposition to this process. But for me, it ends here because the healthcare issue has now become secondary to what members of the House and Senate on both sides of the aisle have done, and continue to do, that would be far more harmful to our Nation than having to pay for the poor to receive access to adequate healthcare insurance.
Members of both parties are engaged, albeit for reasons they each believe righteous and good, in subverting not only the letter of the Constitution, but also the core principle on which this Republic was founded: honest, sincere representation of their constituency; the citizens of the United States of America.
And that is not something you mess with.
History
"Deem and Pass" has been used often and by both parties. Democrats point out that Republicans used it quite a bit in the 1990s for tax cuts for the wealthy and already profitable corporations, as well as for numerous lots of corporate welfare, a reduction of oversight for the financial sector, and little things like warrantless wiretaps and exemptions for certain companies to do business with countries like Iran, where such allowances were made a federal crime by the same Congress just months prior. In this Congress, Democrats used "Deem and Pass" for raising the debt ceiling, which was tucked into the PayGo bill. So both sides have played this card, and no one is blameless.
But once again, it is the incessant hunger for power, the inability to give and take for the good of all, and the unfortunate need of those in power to acquiesce to those interests who can and will fund their next campaigns, that has led us to the point where our representative government, of either fashion or flavor, in reality, no longer exists.
Yes, this country desperately needs and should be wholly embarassed for not having an optimal healthcare system that is accessible to every one of its citizens.
Yes, the elected officials who have been saddled with the daunting task of finding a way, the best way, to make this a reality have some tough decisions to make and yes, some of those decisions will put their congressional seats in jeopardy, because they will not be popular.
So what?
As per the Constitution, those representatives are required, by law, to represent the people in their Districts or States and vote in the light of what is in the best interests of ALL whom they represent.
Not just of those who agree with them.
Not just those who will vote for them in the next election.
Not just those who will donate funds for their next election.
And certainly NOT for their party.
The solution? It's a two parter, and quite simple really...
First: Each one of you reading this, pass it on to everyone you know. And as soon as you do that, send a letter to your Congressperson and to your Senators and explain to them what you believe is the right thing to do. Explain to them that you are embarassed by the manner in which their body has performed (or not) thus far and regardless of what the eventual outcome on this issue is, that if you see one hint of further political subterfuge and games being played and that if they do not start acting honorably, in the manner of our Founding Fathers, that come the next time their name is on the ballot, they will not receive your vote.
Second: Follow through. Regardless of how this ends up, if your elected representatives don't pull their collective heads out and start acting with the proper intent and motivation, they should become 535 added to the millions of unemployed they helped create the next time election day rolls around.
Oh and by the way...if you don't follow this procedure, or in some way let your elected officials know they are going to be held accountable for their actions...then please, and with all due respect...sit down and shut up.
Because this is no longer about healthcare reform, or about progressive vs. conservative.
This has now become about the preservation and sanctity of the foundation of our nation. This is about protecting that one unique element that makes America...well, America. This is now about maintaining a representative form of government, where We The People actually means something.
And if you're going to be silent now, you have no right to complain later.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
These Days
SPIT AND POLISH: Last Wednesday's blog stated that ACES: The Premiere Northern California Golf Lifestyle Magazine will hit stands inside your favorite pro shop and high-end hotelier this summer. Editor/co-Owner Dennis Miller shot me a note, reminding me that the last week of May isn't quite summer. My bad, but even though it's early in the round, I'm taking a Mulligan on this one...Yes, and those of you who know were quick to respond. My friend Stacy Beintema who celebrated her 29th birthday for the 22nd time yesterday is in fact, the one and only Stacy Carmine, famed of song and story, who graduated from AVHS crosstown rival Foothill High in '77. That was the first graduating class from the now-perennial football powerhouse, whose gridiron program, by-the-by, has been led by former AVHS football and baseball standout Matt Sweeney for a quarter century. And no, loyalists of the Purple and Gold don't think of Matty as a traitor. When he wins (which is far more often than not) we simply refer to the school as "Amador West"...
POWER OF PRAYER: Good thoughts, a prayer, and a drop of oil to Cameron Carson of Thornton, Co., while he recovers from surgery for a torn achilles. There is an investigation looking into possible foul play by a rival ward, as the star power-forward's injury occurred just prior to the start of his stake's end-of-season tournament. I'd always heard the rumors about Church Ball being agressive, but c'mon guys. Hang in there Cam...On Saturday at a church Primary function, I noticed a young man about 8 years old whose face was scabbed from forehead to chin, and pulled him aside to inquire as to what had happened. He stated, matter of factly, "That's the blessing I got from falling off my scooter." Upon my asking how such a devilish injury could be looked upon as a blessing, the young lad smiled. Leaning in to whisper, he replied, "The next day at school, three girls came up and asked me if I was ok". Yesindeedee folks, Spring has sprung...
SPEAKING OF WHICH: Following the social networks' tiresome, whinny, bellyaching posts worthy of a 60 second Glenn Beck spot, coupled with the unusually low attendance in church on Sunday (both brought on by Saturday night's "springing forward" of our clocks by an hour), not a few Lounge Lizards have requested a petition be passed, eliminating the annual loss of an hour that could, should and would have been devoted to sleep. But not eager to give up the same skeepy-time interval gained in the Fall, IF's Ben Pickett suggests we lose the springtime adjustment, continue the fall resetting of the clocks, and every quarter century get an extra day off. Sitting next to Ben, fellow EQ member Matt Svedin clarified, "Yeah, a PAID day off!". Obviously not on the "management" side of the line of scrimage at the company football game...
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR: As I've opined here before, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a joke and will be as long as Rolling Stone publisher and Head "Suck-Up-to-the-Stars", Jann Wenner, is involved, but at least they got one thing right. At last evening's induction ceremonies from NYC, the Presentation Committee selected Carole King to hand out the Ahmet Ertegun Award to fellow songsters Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich, Jesse Stone, Otis Blackwell, and Mort Shuman. Deserving each, and a more appropriate presenter and quality songwriter than Carole there is not. See Jann, even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while...The top honorees at the suaree included ABBA, Genesis, The Hollies, Jimmy Cliff, and The Stooges. I suppose a case could be made for Genesis, Cliff, The Stooges, and even The Hollies, but ABBA? You know the HOF is nothing more than a POS when these artists are placed among the historical elite while groundbreakers like Dire Straits, Chicago, Yes, Heart, Neil Diamond, and Stevie Ray Vaughn have yet to be invited. A couple of years ago sitting backstage at a show in Blackfoot, Idaho with CHICAGO keyboardist/songwriter/lyricyst/arranger Robert Lamm, I asked the renowned author of CHI staples "25 or 6 to 4", "Saturday in the Park", "Beginnings", etc., if he was ticked off the band had not yet been inducted. After a solid fifteen seconds of from-the-gut laughter, RL smiled and politely said, "No, not at all". 'Nuff said...
ANOTHER RAINY DAY IN NYC: AVHS Alum and tennis standout Marilyn Morrell Kristal finally arrived in the Big Apple for a vist and week-long tourista run with her twin daughters. However, following a 3 hour delay in CHItown, where her girls karmically spent an overnight in the terminal the night before (more delays), Mo was, as of her FB post at 9:07PM zulu time, sitting on the runway, waiting for another carrier to clear her gate so her plane could disembark. I love that city that never sleeps, and would love to go back again, but the more I hear about the travails of air travel, the more I think, I'll wait for the movie...
FROM THE SANDBOX: Former Denver Air Traffic Controller extrordinaire Dave Baratta dropped me a note yesterday from Abu Dabi, where he has taken on a two year contract to keep the big metal birdies of the UAE from crashing into one another. He writes: "...didn't even know about Lebanese food a month ago. But now I am pretty sure they put crack in the garlic paste! This stuff is INCREDIBLE. Picture a dog going after a pudding cup."...
NORTH TOWER BLUES: A little birdie tells me that there is work afoot to open a new music club/restaurant in Mill Valley, following the farewell of the Sweetwater, one of Marin's oldest and most beloved hangouts. Known as a top spot for breakouts and medium sized acts to work out bugs, it was, for more than 30 years, the place where well known Marin-ites like Bonnie Raitt, Huey Lewis, Jerry Garcia, Bonnie and Chris Hayes (former of the Wild Combo, the latter one of Huey's News-mates), David Crosby, David Grisman, Merle Saunders, Sammy Hagar and others would pop-in and sit-in with whomever was on stage. More info as the birdie chirps...
THE LAST WORD: Less than three weeks until The Masters tees off and still no confirmation as to whether or not Tiger Woods will be ending his self-imposed exile and make a run at another green jacket. I've been pretty much mum on this, until now: Tiger old boy, you screwed up, BIG TIME (truly, no pun intended). But son, you seem to have done what you've needed to do with your family, and I wish you all the best on that end. So, with that said, it is time to get off your duff, dust off the webs, and get back in the ballgame. Best way to put this behind you IS to put it behind you, and the best way to do that is do what you do best. And if that ain't enough of a reason, opening day at Augusta is my birthday, the Big 5-0. So just grip it and rip it, Big Daddy.
POWER OF PRAYER: Good thoughts, a prayer, and a drop of oil to Cameron Carson of Thornton, Co., while he recovers from surgery for a torn achilles. There is an investigation looking into possible foul play by a rival ward, as the star power-forward's injury occurred just prior to the start of his stake's end-of-season tournament. I'd always heard the rumors about Church Ball being agressive, but c'mon guys. Hang in there Cam...On Saturday at a church Primary function, I noticed a young man about 8 years old whose face was scabbed from forehead to chin, and pulled him aside to inquire as to what had happened. He stated, matter of factly, "That's the blessing I got from falling off my scooter." Upon my asking how such a devilish injury could be looked upon as a blessing, the young lad smiled. Leaning in to whisper, he replied, "The next day at school, three girls came up and asked me if I was ok". Yesindeedee folks, Spring has sprung...
SPEAKING OF WHICH: Following the social networks' tiresome, whinny, bellyaching posts worthy of a 60 second Glenn Beck spot, coupled with the unusually low attendance in church on Sunday (both brought on by Saturday night's "springing forward" of our clocks by an hour), not a few Lounge Lizards have requested a petition be passed, eliminating the annual loss of an hour that could, should and would have been devoted to sleep. But not eager to give up the same skeepy-time interval gained in the Fall, IF's Ben Pickett suggests we lose the springtime adjustment, continue the fall resetting of the clocks, and every quarter century get an extra day off. Sitting next to Ben, fellow EQ member Matt Svedin clarified, "Yeah, a PAID day off!". Obviously not on the "management" side of the line of scrimage at the company football game...
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR: As I've opined here before, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a joke and will be as long as Rolling Stone publisher and Head "Suck-Up-to-the-Stars", Jann Wenner, is involved, but at least they got one thing right. At last evening's induction ceremonies from NYC, the Presentation Committee selected Carole King to hand out the Ahmet Ertegun Award to fellow songsters Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich, Jesse Stone, Otis Blackwell, and Mort Shuman. Deserving each, and a more appropriate presenter and quality songwriter than Carole there is not. See Jann, even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while...The top honorees at the suaree included ABBA, Genesis, The Hollies, Jimmy Cliff, and The Stooges. I suppose a case could be made for Genesis, Cliff, The Stooges, and even The Hollies, but ABBA? You know the HOF is nothing more than a POS when these artists are placed among the historical elite while groundbreakers like Dire Straits, Chicago, Yes, Heart, Neil Diamond, and Stevie Ray Vaughn have yet to be invited. A couple of years ago sitting backstage at a show in Blackfoot, Idaho with CHICAGO keyboardist/songwriter/lyricyst/arranger Robert Lamm, I asked the renowned author of CHI staples "25 or 6 to 4", "Saturday in the Park", "Beginnings", etc., if he was ticked off the band had not yet been inducted. After a solid fifteen seconds of from-the-gut laughter, RL smiled and politely said, "No, not at all". 'Nuff said...
ANOTHER RAINY DAY IN NYC: AVHS Alum and tennis standout Marilyn Morrell Kristal finally arrived in the Big Apple for a vist and week-long tourista run with her twin daughters. However, following a 3 hour delay in CHItown, where her girls karmically spent an overnight in the terminal the night before (more delays), Mo was, as of her FB post at 9:07PM zulu time, sitting on the runway, waiting for another carrier to clear her gate so her plane could disembark. I love that city that never sleeps, and would love to go back again, but the more I hear about the travails of air travel, the more I think, I'll wait for the movie...
FROM THE SANDBOX: Former Denver Air Traffic Controller extrordinaire Dave Baratta dropped me a note yesterday from Abu Dabi, where he has taken on a two year contract to keep the big metal birdies of the UAE from crashing into one another. He writes: "...didn't even know about Lebanese food a month ago. But now I am pretty sure they put crack in the garlic paste! This stuff is INCREDIBLE. Picture a dog going after a pudding cup."...
NORTH TOWER BLUES: A little birdie tells me that there is work afoot to open a new music club/restaurant in Mill Valley, following the farewell of the Sweetwater, one of Marin's oldest and most beloved hangouts. Known as a top spot for breakouts and medium sized acts to work out bugs, it was, for more than 30 years, the place where well known Marin-ites like Bonnie Raitt, Huey Lewis, Jerry Garcia, Bonnie and Chris Hayes (former of the Wild Combo, the latter one of Huey's News-mates), David Crosby, David Grisman, Merle Saunders, Sammy Hagar and others would pop-in and sit-in with whomever was on stage. More info as the birdie chirps...
THE LAST WORD: Less than three weeks until The Masters tees off and still no confirmation as to whether or not Tiger Woods will be ending his self-imposed exile and make a run at another green jacket. I've been pretty much mum on this, until now: Tiger old boy, you screwed up, BIG TIME (truly, no pun intended). But son, you seem to have done what you've needed to do with your family, and I wish you all the best on that end. So, with that said, it is time to get off your duff, dust off the webs, and get back in the ballgame. Best way to put this behind you IS to put it behind you, and the best way to do that is do what you do best. And if that ain't enough of a reason, opening day at Augusta is my birthday, the Big 5-0. So just grip it and rip it, Big Daddy.
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