Just me, a hub, dad, grandad --who thinks young, acts like an adult (most of the time), who thinks technology is wonderful. A transplanted Canadian who has dual citizenship, but pays taxes to the US...works in DC lives in Northern Virginia.
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Every once in awhile you hear or read a story which really gets you to think about your own contributions to the world's welfare. I just saw one on CNN, and it has really got to me.
It is the story of RyansWell, about a young school boy who became so concerned about the lack of fresh water in African villages and set out to do something about it. Here is the link to a Readers Digest story written a few years ago; here is the link to the CNN story; and here is the link to the RyansWell website. Go take a look, my bet is that you will think about your own contributions to society---in my case, I think my contributions, compared to Ryan's, sink into oblivion....and I feel so very guilty and insignificant.
First-----good god no! The thought of another Trickie Dickie as President makes me ill...All I can say is "Impeach Them Both."
Second, there is one thing to be an "involved parent" when it comes to their involvement in their kid's sports, but this is ridiculous. Both of my kids were very much involved in sports when they were young. My daughter ended up going to college on a soccer scholarship. And we went all over the country attending their games from the time they were 10 and on their first traveling teams until they were through college. All of us loved it, the kids wanted to do it, but there were times I wondered if it was right. But I cannot understand the striving of parents to see their kids go through the kinds of extreme pressures that the kind of thing brought up in this article brings--especially to a 5 year old. I think much of it has to do with the vicarious desires of mom and dad, or, in the case of Jan Silva, the vicarious desires (with $$$$ in his eyes) of his coach. Isn't there a law against child cruelty?
And why I am not surprised by this.... Stevens has a reputation as being a pork barrel politician bar none...bridges to nowhere are just a tip of the iceberg.
This article in USA Today today....... yes, I have experienced the same thing online..... some people are just mean, online as in real life.
I have read a few articles along this line in recent days, and I have often wondered the same thing myself....with all the hullabaloo over Michael Vick and his dog-fighting episode, and the people screaming for his neck, I wonder if the same reaction would have occurred if, for example, he had murdered a human being instead of being involved with cruelty to animals? Don't get me wrong, I love animals and have had numerous pets in my lifetime.What Vick did was despicable . But I wonder about our priorities sometimes when some folks get more riled up with the cruelty to animals thing then we do when someone violently takes a human life.
Can anyone explain it?
Now fellow Motimers, please don't get all bent out of shape and rake me over the coals and presume that I think cruelty to animals is ok...far from it. I have always believed that anyone who is cruel to animals is capable of even worse behavior.
It first struck me---the absurdity of it all--when I heard an ad on the radio a few weeks ago from the SUV Owners of America (whoever they are) objecting to the proposed legislation that would increase fuel efficiency in automobiles. I am not sure why they would object, after all it wouldnt affect the dinosaurs they are driving now. But stupid me--- it really wasnt an association of SUV owners...it was really an organization in the minds of the US auto industry.
And the whole debate was again brought to my attention today in an article in USA Today which asks what is it that we don't know when the heads of the Big 3 auto companies also oppose such standards--especially in an era of $3+ gas prices, depleting stocks of petroleum, global warming, etc etc.
Well I am not sure what is they know that we don't, but I do know one thing..... and the answer lies in the fact that the American auto industry is dying....duhhhhh. With CEO's with pea brains (and that may be stretching it) is it any wonder?
Reason #532 as to why the idiocy of our security mavens is bad for the country....
My state, Virginia, has a reputation as being one of the best governed states in the country. I think much of that has to do with the fact that the Governor is only in office for one term and doesn't have to spend much time running for reelection. (Although when you do get a good governor, like Mark Warner, you do wish he could stay on for awhile.) But sometimes the state's elected reps are dumb as dirt. Witness the latest debacle of putting premiums on fines for various traffic offenses. For example, if you are convicted of drunk driving you could pay an extra $3,000 on top of the regular fine. To top it off, only Virginians will have to pay the premium. Drunk drivers from other states who commit the crime in Virginia don't have to.
Now I am not against throwing the book at drunk drivers. Hell, if I were god, I would throw them into purgatory forever! But the idea of putting on the premiums is based on the premise that this is the way to get money for the state's transportation needs, rather than raising taxes to pay for new roads, subways, etc. It was really a compromise between the Dems and Reps in Richmond to satisfy the crazy whims of right wing legislators who believe that government should be run for free, and better yet---believe that the best government is no government.
Well the whole idea is generating a lot of heat and it looks like someone is going to pay a price. An online petition is drawing thousands of signatures. My guess is that not only will the no-tax legislators get nailed in the next election, but Gov Kaine (D) may very well get in the neck as well. Now it appears that in other states where this has been tried, it has failed miserably.
Ahhh , politicians... why is it that all the dummies of the world follow that path?
The year was 1967...40 years ago (my gawd how time flies!). I was into my first job out of college and thinking about going to graduate school. It was the Canadian Centennial and in my job I was immersed in the various celebrations going on to celebrate the 100th birthday. I was young, single, full of vim and vinegar...and absolutely in love with the music of that year......they called it "The Summer of Love"...and yes I took my full share of that--hell, I had a brand new Mustang- that the ladies could not resist-what a car! Still was very hard to make out in the back seat though...
So my memories to that glorious year flooded back today with an article in the USA Today on 20 music albums that defined an era...and still influence music today. Who can forget The Doors, or Electric Music for the Mind and Body with Country Joe and the Fish; or Between the Buttons with the Rolling Stones, and my fave Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. For many of the songs of that year, I can still remember all the words...and impress the hell out of my own kids when I begin to sing them out.
And as an aside, just the other day I was in 3 different stores, and each one of them was playing the music of that era---- they must be trying to woo us baby boomers, because everyone my age that was in the store was humming right along.
Yep...some of the best music ever....today's hip hop, rap, and all the other junk that they now call "music" can't even compare!
There was a time when I could sit in the sun for hours and not even blink and eye--except if the sun was shining in it. I was a lifeguard during my high school and early college days, and sitting in the sun for hours was a piece of cake. But boy has global warming taken its toll!
The beach was great, the surf was wonderful, the sand was pure (well almost) white, but gawd was it hot. But I loved every moment of it. As long as I was under the umbrella and sprayed with liberal doses of spf 50---hey, something new, at least for me, a spray on sun blocker that isnt that creamy yucky stuff--it goes on clear, and one little spray covers lots...but expensive! That stuff and a tshirt kept me from getting a hell of a sun burn, so came back with a nice tinge of brown.
Went to Emerald Isle NC, first time there. Took the grandkids, plus had my niece, her hub and three kids as well. Finished Al Gore's Assault on Reason. Not enough time to read anything else. Took a ton (over 2,000) pics, and will be posting them on my flickr site soon.
And now it is back to work.....the worse thing about coming back is dealing with all the emails one gets while gone......read a short time ago where one guy declared email bankruptcy, told everyone he wasnt going to answer a single email, and would only phone those who needed some kind of response...sounds like a great plan to me....
More later...
It's off to the beach--Emerald Isle NC--for a week...can hardly wait! See all of you when I return...
Fourth everyone.....and a belated Happy Canada Day Cooper......and now to the bbq....great porterhouse steaks today!!! And I am going to try to get photos of fireworks--a challenge!
Has anyone seen Michael Moore's new movie Sicko yet? I haven't had a chance, but have read many articles and saw a fact check about it on CNN--why is it the news media uses "wait times" for medical services in other countries as a scare tactic...just like those in the health care. CNN should know better.
At any rate, if you have seen it what do you think?
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