How far should journalism, radio, TV, newspapers or magazines go? Reporting is good as we find out what's going on, we have an "open society." But should we give out information that could possibly be damaging, hurtful or used in an improper manner. Case in point: a police officer who specialized in narcotic busts for nearly a decade finds himself in a predicament when he moves to another part of the state and arrested the mayor's son for possession of methamphetamines. He then arrested a city councilman for driving with a bag of pot and a gun. Four years later our police officer has had enough of small town politics and quits.
On the other side of the police cruiser, he finds himself in a nasty divorce case where his ex brother-in-law, a constable, tries to remove his two daughters with a court order. He is even arrested for returning rental movies late and well as unlawfully carrying a gun. All the charges were eventually reduced or dropped. Our friend was angry and figured out a way to get back and make money at the same time. He makes a DVD showing how avoid arrest.
At this point the producer of the radio program should have stopped. You know all the particulars; the story has been laid out for you. Ah, but the show goes on to tell the name of the DVD, actually give some of the helpful tips and has a picture of the DVD cover on its website. It gives you everything but the ISBN number (or Library of Congress call number) the price and which stores you can purchase this. Dog bits man is not news, but man bits dog, that's news. It was done just as tacky as well.
I expect more from my radio station (and this was non-profit public radio to boot) I expect following a code of ethics, commonsense and decorum of decency. It was way more that the general public needed to know.
K.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Today's Crises is....
Parents of Adult Children. That is the name I would call it if I were starting a support group. It would consist of parents, who had children over the age of eighteen, who were running into problems with their kids. “Do I give them money to ease them over the tough times or do I let them slug it out by themselves?” “Do I give them advise about their “significant other” problems or do I stay out of it?” “Would advice on a career choice be wise?” Would the advice be heeded (I know the money would be readily accepted) or would I be considered a meddling parent? My grandfather used to say, “Don’t say anything and you would have given a reply as well—or no response is also an action.” It may lose something in the translation from German, but that is what he’d say. It seems to make sense to me now more than ever.
I dread receiving phone calls from the kid—my cell phone has a special ring tone for him alone. I don’t relish speaking with him; too much melodrama. It’s always, “I need”, or “Dad, I have to have….” I guess I inaugurated the 24/7 K. Bank & Trust. “You can bank on getting the money from Dad and he’ll trust you to return it.” LOL!
The support group I’m suggesting would help these parents find ways of dealing with their guilt. This is the guilt of not being at home during those “formative years” the missed baseball games, school concerts, the baseball/football father/son toss etc. Now we try to make up for it in our own way. Our monthly meetings would suggest ways in which we could feel better about the situation, to make it more meaningful, to make it a win—win situation. After all at one time we had the book by Dr. Spock, Baby and Child Care on the shelf and could thumb through it as needed. Then again, people thought Dr. Spock screwed up too. I envy parents whose adult children are always doing well, receive promotion after promotion and have happy marriages. Then again I’m only hearing only one side of the issue and that may be their defense mechanism—shade the truth.
K.
I dread receiving phone calls from the kid—my cell phone has a special ring tone for him alone. I don’t relish speaking with him; too much melodrama. It’s always, “I need”, or “Dad, I have to have….” I guess I inaugurated the 24/7 K. Bank & Trust. “You can bank on getting the money from Dad and he’ll trust you to return it.” LOL!
The support group I’m suggesting would help these parents find ways of dealing with their guilt. This is the guilt of not being at home during those “formative years” the missed baseball games, school concerts, the baseball/football father/son toss etc. Now we try to make up for it in our own way. Our monthly meetings would suggest ways in which we could feel better about the situation, to make it more meaningful, to make it a win—win situation. After all at one time we had the book by Dr. Spock, Baby and Child Care on the shelf and could thumb through it as needed. Then again, people thought Dr. Spock screwed up too. I envy parents whose adult children are always doing well, receive promotion after promotion and have happy marriages. Then again I’m only hearing only one side of the issue and that may be their defense mechanism—shade the truth.
K.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
You know you’re desperate when....
I find I'm doing more for myself now, as I've grown older. Not that I feel that I'm an old man but just that it has become more expedient for me to do more for myself. You don't have to wait on others to do things for you. Sometimes it works out quite well, and sometimes you find that in the process you've screwed things up. Case in point, I find that I'm doing more of my own laundry. I don't wait for my wife of forty-two years to do it for me any more. For one thing she is slowing down, doesn't like steps (the washer and drier are in the basement) and I'd like to help her out. I don't sort the clothes by white and colors because most clothes are colorfast and don't need that precaution (I've been caught short on that statement too).
Another problem occurred when Mrs. K. told me not to put the heavy bedspread in the washer, that we could that it to the Laundromat where they had commercial heavy-duty washers. What did I pay all that money for in a washer? Didn't mine say "heavy-duty" as well? I have learned that commercial grade and heavy-duty residential grade are not the same. The bedspread made it through the first time but not the second washing. It tore up a gear in the direct drive coupling. I wondered what I was going to do. You can't get a washer repairmen on a Saturday and in most cases the cost of the repairs comes very close to the price of a brand new washer on sale, including the ones with all the bells and whistles.
Soooo K took the washer apart, took out the damaged gear and decided to make a new one myself (remember it was a Saturday and the washer parts store was closed as well). It took about two hours and a lot of soul searching, cussing, and what have you but a came up with a reasonable facsimile. I put the washer back together flipped on the switch and it WORKED. It washed the clothes, wrung them out and made a soft, soon to become irritating noise for about two months (I must have made the gear parts slightly oversized). Lesson learned; wives do know what they are taking about. Had I paid attention to Mrs. K, I would have saved myself all that grief. Now the question is: do I take that bedspread up to the Laundromat or test out my new drive gear. Hmmm I wonder.
K.
Another problem occurred when Mrs. K. told me not to put the heavy bedspread in the washer, that we could that it to the Laundromat where they had commercial heavy-duty washers. What did I pay all that money for in a washer? Didn't mine say "heavy-duty" as well? I have learned that commercial grade and heavy-duty residential grade are not the same. The bedspread made it through the first time but not the second washing. It tore up a gear in the direct drive coupling. I wondered what I was going to do. You can't get a washer repairmen on a Saturday and in most cases the cost of the repairs comes very close to the price of a brand new washer on sale, including the ones with all the bells and whistles.
Soooo K took the washer apart, took out the damaged gear and decided to make a new one myself (remember it was a Saturday and the washer parts store was closed as well). It took about two hours and a lot of soul searching, cussing, and what have you but a came up with a reasonable facsimile. I put the washer back together flipped on the switch and it WORKED. It washed the clothes, wrung them out and made a soft, soon to become irritating noise for about two months (I must have made the gear parts slightly oversized). Lesson learned; wives do know what they are taking about. Had I paid attention to Mrs. K, I would have saved myself all that grief. Now the question is: do I take that bedspread up to the Laundromat or test out my new drive gear. Hmmm I wonder.
K.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
"The moon belongs to everyone, the best things in life are free."
Tonight there is a new moon; large and full it illuminates the darkened sky. It provides additional brightness for those living in the rural areas where streetlights are limited almost exclusively to major intersections. It provides that extra margin of safety to those traveling to their destinations at night. During wartime it would have been called a bomber's moon because of the light it shed on the landscape below, highlighting targets of opportunity. It would acted as a double edged sword for World War I dirigible crews as the light provided also made them visible to fighter aircraft who were defending their vulnerable land. It that case those lighter than air craft quickly headed for the safety of the clouds.
There have been blue moons when we have had more that one full moon in a month's time. The last one was on June 30th of this year; the next one won't be until May 2008 and then after that November 2010. There have been black moons when there was no full moon for the month of February. The next occurrence will be in February 2018. The importance of the moon on tides has been known since antiquity. It has aided sailors in easing their overloaded ships out of shallow harbors. Hence the expression "We sail on the high tide."
Motion picture films have been made about the moon; the earliest was a Jules Verne styled silent movie where the spaceship strikes the eye of the Man in the Moon. The most recent called Moon Struck discussed the effect of the moon on love and relationships. Hospitals know that a full moon will result in an influx of patents admitted to the emergency room.
Enjoy the beauty of the moon as it shines on you and lights your way outdoors. For it brings safety, assurance, and a promise for a brighter day tomorrow.
K.
There have been blue moons when we have had more that one full moon in a month's time. The last one was on June 30th of this year; the next one won't be until May 2008 and then after that November 2010. There have been black moons when there was no full moon for the month of February. The next occurrence will be in February 2018. The importance of the moon on tides has been known since antiquity. It has aided sailors in easing their overloaded ships out of shallow harbors. Hence the expression "We sail on the high tide."
Motion picture films have been made about the moon; the earliest was a Jules Verne styled silent movie where the spaceship strikes the eye of the Man in the Moon. The most recent called Moon Struck discussed the effect of the moon on love and relationships. Hospitals know that a full moon will result in an influx of patents admitted to the emergency room.
Enjoy the beauty of the moon as it shines on you and lights your way outdoors. For it brings safety, assurance, and a promise for a brighter day tomorrow.
K.
Monday, October 22, 2007
"...And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air...."
National anthems and other patriotic songs invoke much sentiment among its citizens. A tremendous uproar ensued after Roseanne Barr butchered the Star Spangled Banner at a San Diego Padres game in 1990. In the movie Casablanca, both German and French soldiers try to out sing each other with their anthems in this World War II era flick. There is a famous prizewinning photo showing a Frenchman trying to keep his composure, tears streaming down his face as he realizes that his La Marseillaise will no longer be sung as French troupes leave Toulon Harbour. To this day, German nationals do not sing the first or second verse of their anthem Deutschland Uber Alles due to the Nazi connotation of its troubled past. Only the third verse is sung giving it it's present name Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit. During the filming of the move Dr. Zhivago in Spain, residents rushed to their doorways thinking the dictator Gen. Francisco Franco had overthrown when The Internationale was played as part of the script.
After 911, national fervor peaked to its highest point ever as US citizens stood in a united front against terrorism and extremists. At the recent American League Championship Series games, two patriotic songs were sung. Then there are the extremists, terrorists, militants, or God knows what have you, whose only ideology is destruction, mayhem and carnage. They care little for any nationalism because they still have this ancient clan or tribe mentality of infighting and revenge. How could we possible being democracy to Iraq while the concept of nationalism so totally foreign? We are generations away from making any headway in this Catch 22 scenario.
K.
After 911, national fervor peaked to its highest point ever as US citizens stood in a united front against terrorism and extremists. At the recent American League Championship Series games, two patriotic songs were sung. Then there are the extremists, terrorists, militants, or God knows what have you, whose only ideology is destruction, mayhem and carnage. They care little for any nationalism because they still have this ancient clan or tribe mentality of infighting and revenge. How could we possible being democracy to Iraq while the concept of nationalism so totally foreign? We are generations away from making any headway in this Catch 22 scenario.
K.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Dumbledore Gay?
Oh my God, Albus Dumbledore, master wizard and Headmaster of Hogwarts, is gay. If Christian groups have alleged the Harry Potter books promoted witchcraft (remember this is the same group that doesn't like Halloween) news about Dumbledore, will give them one more reason to put a nail in the coffin. Would Richard St. John Harris or (after he died of Hodgkin's disease) Michael Gambon have played this character if they had known he was gay? Would they have played the character any differently? What about all the Christian Right families that purchased the books and gave them to their children to read? Will the American Civil Liberties Union join forces with the Christian Right to start a class action lawsuit on behalf of the duped families? Will the children who read the entire series exhibit latent homosexual tendencies as a result of this exposure? As the old time radio announcer of another generation used to say, "Stay tuned to this station for further developments."
The Harry Potter books have gained worldwide attention, won multiple awards, and sold over 325 million books. The last four books have been consecutively the fastest-selling books in history. The 2007 Sunday Times Rich List estimated J.K. Rowling, author of the mega-selling fantasy series that ended last summer, as the 136th richest person and the thirteenth richest woman in Britain. In 2006, Forbes named Rowling the second-richest female entertainer in the world and ranked her as the forty-eighth most powerful celebrity of 2007. Rowling has parlayed Harry Potter into a global brand worth an estimated $15 billion. She has also gained recognition for sparking an interest in reading among the young at a time when children were thought to be abandoning the book for the computer and the television.
Rowling explained that Dumbledore was infatuated with rival Gellert Grindelwald, whom he defeated in a battle between good and bad wizards. "Falling in love can blind us to an extent," Rowling said of Dumbledore's feelings, adding that Dumbledore was "horribly, terribly let down."
Is nothing sacred? Have you no shame Ms. Rowling? Did you have to spill the beans?
K.
The Harry Potter books have gained worldwide attention, won multiple awards, and sold over 325 million books. The last four books have been consecutively the fastest-selling books in history. The 2007 Sunday Times Rich List estimated J.K. Rowling, author of the mega-selling fantasy series that ended last summer, as the 136th richest person and the thirteenth richest woman in Britain. In 2006, Forbes named Rowling the second-richest female entertainer in the world and ranked her as the forty-eighth most powerful celebrity of 2007. Rowling has parlayed Harry Potter into a global brand worth an estimated $15 billion. She has also gained recognition for sparking an interest in reading among the young at a time when children were thought to be abandoning the book for the computer and the television.
Rowling explained that Dumbledore was infatuated with rival Gellert Grindelwald, whom he defeated in a battle between good and bad wizards. "Falling in love can blind us to an extent," Rowling said of Dumbledore's feelings, adding that Dumbledore was "horribly, terribly let down."
Is nothing sacred? Have you no shame Ms. Rowling? Did you have to spill the beans?
K.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Peck and Beckett forever. Not!
Danielle Peck, a country music singer, who also happened to at one time, date Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Beckett, sang the national anthem and "God Bless America' in game 5 in the American League playoff. "It's an incredible coincidence. Honestly," said Indians spokesman Bob DiBiasio. "She's from (Coshocton) Ohio. Her entire family are Indians fans. We did not know anything about her connections to Beckett. The next day, we find out the rest of the story," said DiBiasio.
With that kind of resolve, Beckett did everything right - 11 strikeouts, just one walk and five strikeouts which helped to give the Red Sox a 7-1 victory. Beckett's reaction after the game? "I don't get paid to make those (expletive) decisions," Beckett snapped. "Thanks for flying one of my friends to the game so she could be here for free."
Did any one know in the Indian's Front Office know that Peck and Beckett were ex's? "How are we supposed to know who Josh Beckett dates?" asked DiBiasio. Hmmm. Machiavellian style intrigue? It's like having your ex be the opening act at your concert début. A little heavy handed? Oh yes, especially if causes an extra surge of testosterone that cause them to want to kick ass. It backfired. Hey Indian's Front Office, how about little more investigative work before making those decisions; and don't call Roseanne Barr either.
K.
With that kind of resolve, Beckett did everything right - 11 strikeouts, just one walk and five strikeouts which helped to give the Red Sox a 7-1 victory. Beckett's reaction after the game? "I don't get paid to make those (expletive) decisions," Beckett snapped. "Thanks for flying one of my friends to the game so she could be here for free."
Did any one know in the Indian's Front Office know that Peck and Beckett were ex's? "How are we supposed to know who Josh Beckett dates?" asked DiBiasio. Hmmm. Machiavellian style intrigue? It's like having your ex be the opening act at your concert début. A little heavy handed? Oh yes, especially if causes an extra surge of testosterone that cause them to want to kick ass. It backfired. Hey Indian's Front Office, how about little more investigative work before making those decisions; and don't call Roseanne Barr either.
K.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
A day in the Life of K.
Writing in my Blog has become an obsession for me. I don't know why except for the fact that I can get it off my chest and write down the day's observations. To me it is my panacea; it is better (and safer) than going into a bar or paying money to a "Shrink." I gaze at the counter that tells me how many times my site has been visited which is more intriguing than anything else. Why anyone would want to read these expressions of venting my spleen I could never guess. At least my children can never say, "I didn't know how Dad felt." If someone saves this stuff electronically my grandchildren will have come to know me as well.
I've tried to tie the title of my writing with someone famous or well know in hopes that it would give more credence and value to these outbursts, but I'm not sure anymore if this is the proper method. Maybe I'll try making up my own titles for a while. I've also tried the three-paragraph technique. The first in my introduction, the second is the body and the third and last ties to sum everything up. Whether this method has appealed to you or not is difficult to say as most do not respond.
I'd like to encourage all to follow my example. It:
Lets others know how you feel
Gives you the opportunity to get something off your mind and perhaps out of your system. You don't bottle things up and cause some sort of medical condition. It's therapeutic.
Improves your writing and spelling. It's great for stimulating your mind as you organize your thoughts.
It's free. No postage money is spent.
K.
I've tried to tie the title of my writing with someone famous or well know in hopes that it would give more credence and value to these outbursts, but I'm not sure anymore if this is the proper method. Maybe I'll try making up my own titles for a while. I've also tried the three-paragraph technique. The first in my introduction, the second is the body and the third and last ties to sum everything up. Whether this method has appealed to you or not is difficult to say as most do not respond.
I'd like to encourage all to follow my example. It:
Lets others know how you feel
Gives you the opportunity to get something off your mind and perhaps out of your system. You don't bottle things up and cause some sort of medical condition. It's therapeutic.
Improves your writing and spelling. It's great for stimulating your mind as you organize your thoughts.
It's free. No postage money is spent.
K.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Attitude is everything.
Attitude
There once was a woman who woke up one morning,
looked in the mirror,
and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.
"Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today?"
So she did and she had a wonderful day.
The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror
and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.
"H-M-M," she said,
"I think I'll part my hair down the middle today?"
So she did and she had a grand day.
The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.
"Well," she said,
"today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail."
So she did and she had a fun, fun day.
The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.
"YEA!" she exclaimed,
"I don't have to fix my hair today!"
Attitude is everything. Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Live simply,love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and leave the rest to God.
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain! If you need help, askGod, if you don't, thank God; success is a journey, not a destination! Have a great day!
Submitted by Mrs. K.
Attitude
There once was a woman who woke up one morning,
looked in the mirror,
and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.
"Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today?"
So she did and she had a wonderful day.
The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror
and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.
"H-M-M," she said,
"I think I'll part my hair down the middle today?"
So she did and she had a grand day.
The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.
"Well," she said,
"today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail."
So she did and she had a fun, fun day.
The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.
"YEA!" she exclaimed,
"I don't have to fix my hair today!"
Attitude is everything. Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Live simply,love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and leave the rest to God.
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain! If you need help, askGod, if you don't, thank God; success is a journey, not a destination! Have a great day!
Submitted by Mrs. K.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Did Michael Richard die unnecessarily? Was he a "victim" of the Justice system?
Michael Richard knocked at the door of Marguerite Lucille Dixon, a 57-year-old nurse and mother of seven children, on the pretext of asking if her if a van was for sale. Dixon out of kindness, invited Richard into her home for a drink of water on that hot August day in 1986. When Richard left, he saw two of Dixon's kids leave right after him. He returned to the house, pulled a gun on the woman, raped and fatally shot her, took two television sets and left in their van. The two children returned home to find their mother's body in her darkened home. He went to Houston, about 30 miles to the southeast, and gave the .25-caliber pistol to a friend and swapped the TVs for some cocaine. A fingerprint on a sliding glass door led police to Richard, who confessed the shooting was an accident.
Richard was no stranger to violence; he had at least five felony convictions and had been released from his second prison term just eight weeks before the 1986 murder. This was not the first time Richard faced the executioner; on September 25, 2007 he was to be executed by lethal injection. He was finally executed on October 12, 2007.
The news media would have you believe that Richard was the victim of an overly stern, stubborn judge who had refused to allow extra time when Richard's lawyer's computer had crashed. The real truth is that Richard's time was finally up. It was his time to pay the final price. The possible procrastination of his lawyer in filling a stay may have been Richard's final undoing.
How many stays of execution, years of wasteful court petitions are necessary to keep a convicted criminal from meeting his death. Richard was a prisoner waiting on death row for the last twenty-one years. Justice was served and the news media should be more truthful with their readers and viewers and not lead them into false conclusions.
K.
P.S. in the process of writing this blog my computer began to "hang up."
Richard was no stranger to violence; he had at least five felony convictions and had been released from his second prison term just eight weeks before the 1986 murder. This was not the first time Richard faced the executioner; on September 25, 2007 he was to be executed by lethal injection. He was finally executed on October 12, 2007.
The news media would have you believe that Richard was the victim of an overly stern, stubborn judge who had refused to allow extra time when Richard's lawyer's computer had crashed. The real truth is that Richard's time was finally up. It was his time to pay the final price. The possible procrastination of his lawyer in filling a stay may have been Richard's final undoing.
How many stays of execution, years of wasteful court petitions are necessary to keep a convicted criminal from meeting his death. Richard was a prisoner waiting on death row for the last twenty-one years. Justice was served and the news media should be more truthful with their readers and viewers and not lead them into false conclusions.
K.
P.S. in the process of writing this blog my computer began to "hang up."
Friday, October 12, 2007
But it’s supposed to work
I tried to help my son install his new refrigerator but we ran into several problems. The new refrigerator was wider than the last one. This is not a problem in most instances but there were some very closely installed countertops. In order to get the new one in, a counter top had to be taken out and cut down. We wanted to install the icemaker but routing the water supply tubing proved to be an engineering project all in its own. Then all was ready and the supply line was tested, some minor tightening and we were ready to purge the line of air. However nothing happened; we heard water running but none came out of where it should have; however there was water on the floor.
A simple device—automatically filled ice cubes and cold water on demand should not been a problem but the machine didn't cooperate. Maybe it was trying to tell us "Go back to basics, fill the trays yourself." I started to think about other automatic devices that didn't work For example, the electric door locks on my car wouldn't open from the driver's side. I have to open it myself. My wife's' car has electrical heated windshield wipers when they're in the park position (I guess so they won't stick to a snow covered windshield). They don't work. My next neighbor's garage door opener doesn't work; he has to open it by hand. There's a video on YouTube which shows an Air France AirBus with the new flight computer that prevent the pilot from making extreme maneuvers. In this case the computer prevented in from gaining altitude too fast; a "fly-by-wire" if you will. The video shows the plane skimming across the runway and going past it into a forest of medium tall trees. You don't see the crash only the column of smoke from the impact site. Obviously that computer didn't work; and what was the most tragic, the pilot couldn't disengage it in time.
We put a lot of faith in gadgets that are supposed to help us get through the day—labor saving devices. Most of time they work and sometimes they don't. Here are some suggested automotive devices for the future:
1. Electrically operated brakes—the brake pedal only becomes a switch that when pressed transmits power to an electric motor which send brake fluid to all the wheel cylinders. There will be no direct contact with the brake fluid as there is currently. The "power brakes" of today are vacuum assisted from the engine.
2. Electrical steering—again little motors will push and pull the steering linkage in the direction we want to go. Currently we have a direct mechanical contact with our wheels, assisted by power steering fluid via a belt driven pump.
3. In order to operate all the extra electrical equipment, car voltage will be increased to 34 volts. The alternator will producing so much power that is will need to be cooled by antifreeze from the radiator via, you guessed it, an electric pump.
Now you can imagine when my electrical window lock wouldn't open I merely have to pull up on the door lock. When my neighbor's garage door doesn't open electrically he opens it by hand. When the ice cube maker doesn't work, you fill the trays with water and leave them to freeze. How do you steer a car or stop it with a failed single source electrical system?
K.
A simple device—automatically filled ice cubes and cold water on demand should not been a problem but the machine didn't cooperate. Maybe it was trying to tell us "Go back to basics, fill the trays yourself." I started to think about other automatic devices that didn't work For example, the electric door locks on my car wouldn't open from the driver's side. I have to open it myself. My wife's' car has electrical heated windshield wipers when they're in the park position (I guess so they won't stick to a snow covered windshield). They don't work. My next neighbor's garage door opener doesn't work; he has to open it by hand. There's a video on YouTube which shows an Air France AirBus with the new flight computer that prevent the pilot from making extreme maneuvers. In this case the computer prevented in from gaining altitude too fast; a "fly-by-wire" if you will. The video shows the plane skimming across the runway and going past it into a forest of medium tall trees. You don't see the crash only the column of smoke from the impact site. Obviously that computer didn't work; and what was the most tragic, the pilot couldn't disengage it in time.
We put a lot of faith in gadgets that are supposed to help us get through the day—labor saving devices. Most of time they work and sometimes they don't. Here are some suggested automotive devices for the future:
1. Electrically operated brakes—the brake pedal only becomes a switch that when pressed transmits power to an electric motor which send brake fluid to all the wheel cylinders. There will be no direct contact with the brake fluid as there is currently. The "power brakes" of today are vacuum assisted from the engine.
2. Electrical steering—again little motors will push and pull the steering linkage in the direction we want to go. Currently we have a direct mechanical contact with our wheels, assisted by power steering fluid via a belt driven pump.
3. In order to operate all the extra electrical equipment, car voltage will be increased to 34 volts. The alternator will producing so much power that is will need to be cooled by antifreeze from the radiator via, you guessed it, an electric pump.
Now you can imagine when my electrical window lock wouldn't open I merely have to pull up on the door lock. When my neighbor's garage door doesn't open electrically he opens it by hand. When the ice cube maker doesn't work, you fill the trays with water and leave them to freeze. How do you steer a car or stop it with a failed single source electrical system?
K.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana (1863-1952) philosopher/poet
We bought a new couch and in the process of moving the old one out, I came across material that had been trapped underneath. Outside of the dust bunnies, there was some material that brought back memories. “Why was I saving that?” “ So there is where that object went; I was looking for it.” “What is that?” if I couldn’t recognize it, it was automatically thrown away, and so on. It was a time capsule right under my very nose (err seat).
I reminisced of times gone by, of evenings fallen asleep on that couch, of the ends of TV shows never seen. I remembered having conversations with people that had visited us. There were recollections of unfinished projects. “Weren’t those the plans we were looking for?” After some thoughtful musings I snapped back into reality. Hey, if I didn’t miss it, I didn’t need it. Right? But why would I start to put my newly found treasures away in a safe place to be forgotten once again? Human nature? Hardly, some people are pack rats; others are very specific collectors, and still other save absolutely nothing. There is no universal description of the human nature.
I looked around the newly cleaned room and the empty space. Did we really need to spend THAT kind of money for just two seats? Ah, but culture and the times we live in demand it. We are but slaves to fashion and convention.
K.
We bought a new couch and in the process of moving the old one out, I came across material that had been trapped underneath. Outside of the dust bunnies, there was some material that brought back memories. “Why was I saving that?” “ So there is where that object went; I was looking for it.” “What is that?” if I couldn’t recognize it, it was automatically thrown away, and so on. It was a time capsule right under my very nose (err seat).
I reminisced of times gone by, of evenings fallen asleep on that couch, of the ends of TV shows never seen. I remembered having conversations with people that had visited us. There were recollections of unfinished projects. “Weren’t those the plans we were looking for?” After some thoughtful musings I snapped back into reality. Hey, if I didn’t miss it, I didn’t need it. Right? But why would I start to put my newly found treasures away in a safe place to be forgotten once again? Human nature? Hardly, some people are pack rats; others are very specific collectors, and still other save absolutely nothing. There is no universal description of the human nature.
I looked around the newly cleaned room and the empty space. Did we really need to spend THAT kind of money for just two seats? Ah, but culture and the times we live in demand it. We are but slaves to fashion and convention.
K.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Do not remove a fly from your friend’s forehead with a hatchet--Chinese Proverb
I walk my dog nightly and I see these little nocturnal creatures almost every evening. I steer well clear of them so as not to infuriate them. I don't need additional problems. I was quite surprised one day when I came home to find my neighbor knocking at my front door just as I sat down to watch TV. I hadn't even prepared my usual snack. "K. I need your help, this animal has been stuck trying to burrow under my garage wall, and it can't get out. It's been there all day—stuck," he gushed out. Now I like to help people, especially those who really need it and this guy was desperate. "Why don't you call the Animal Control Agency?" I thought out loud. "They wouldn't come out; they say I need an exterminator."
And then I saw this black and white kitty; its head facing outside; its waist caught by the wooden, clapboard siding. The "kitty" turned out to be my nocturnal skunk. At this point I had second thoughts about being so helpful. I remembered how frustrated I had been only minutes before trying to get my battery dead car started in order to get home. I hadn't much luck getting anyone at the office willing to assist me except for the most unlikely person. She and I had a difference of opinion a few days earlier and she was willing to help. I was really grateful and stifled all the unkind thought I had had up to that time. The car started, I came home and now faced my frustrated neighbor. How could I turn him down in a time like this? "Pass the good deed on to someone else." Wasn't that the Christian spirit?
I went into my garage and got out my long handled axe; both the neighbor and skunk looked at me with wide, terror stricken eyes. What they thought was not my intent. I placed the blade of the axe against the siding and pried it away from the animal. Bit by bit the wood released its strangling hold; the skunk wiggled its shoulders free backed into the garage and retreated into a darkened corner for solace and recuperation. We weren't in danger of getting sprayed; the animal was grateful, the neighbor was relieved and I had material for a new blog. All is well that ends well.
K.
And then I saw this black and white kitty; its head facing outside; its waist caught by the wooden, clapboard siding. The "kitty" turned out to be my nocturnal skunk. At this point I had second thoughts about being so helpful. I remembered how frustrated I had been only minutes before trying to get my battery dead car started in order to get home. I hadn't much luck getting anyone at the office willing to assist me except for the most unlikely person. She and I had a difference of opinion a few days earlier and she was willing to help. I was really grateful and stifled all the unkind thought I had had up to that time. The car started, I came home and now faced my frustrated neighbor. How could I turn him down in a time like this? "Pass the good deed on to someone else." Wasn't that the Christian spirit?
I went into my garage and got out my long handled axe; both the neighbor and skunk looked at me with wide, terror stricken eyes. What they thought was not my intent. I placed the blade of the axe against the siding and pried it away from the animal. Bit by bit the wood released its strangling hold; the skunk wiggled its shoulders free backed into the garage and retreated into a darkened corner for solace and recuperation. We weren't in danger of getting sprayed; the animal was grateful, the neighbor was relieved and I had material for a new blog. All is well that ends well.
K.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
I must have done something right to deserve a hug every morning and buttlerfly kisses at night.
We talk of butterfly kisses and we see a very pretty multicolors object sitting on a young girl's cheek with its wings outstreached as if to give kisses. Ah, the songwriter and singer's art by Bob Carlisle and Randy Thomas are very well crafted. Could we imagine this same scene with a large moth or perhaps in an earlier stage as a crawling caterpiller. It not quite the same and we would sherk in horror from the thought of it. We also imagine the ugly duckling that grows up into a beautiful swan.; given the opportunity the swan will shed in ungainly demeanor and become a graceful water borne creature.
But such things are what dreams and romantics are made of; the scenario does not always turn out like that. The beautiful baby doesn't always materialize; there are those with cleft lip or palate, Down Syndrome, spina bifida, heart defects, or hypospadias. According to the March of Dimes, about 150,000 babies are born with birth defects each year in the U.S. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says that 3% of the babies born in the U.S. have some kind of major birth defect. There are more than 4,000 different known mental or physical disabilities and birth defects ranging from minor to serious, and although many of them can be treated or cured, they are the leading cause of death in the first year of life.
It is very heart rendering to witness a baby with a cleft lip and palate trying to nurse from its mother. These children are very much beautiful creatures in their own right but may be leaning closer to the moth or caterpillar then we expected. They require and need our love just as much as that beautiful child.
K.
But such things are what dreams and romantics are made of; the scenario does not always turn out like that. The beautiful baby doesn't always materialize; there are those with cleft lip or palate, Down Syndrome, spina bifida, heart defects, or hypospadias. According to the March of Dimes, about 150,000 babies are born with birth defects each year in the U.S. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says that 3% of the babies born in the U.S. have some kind of major birth defect. There are more than 4,000 different known mental or physical disabilities and birth defects ranging from minor to serious, and although many of them can be treated or cured, they are the leading cause of death in the first year of life.
It is very heart rendering to witness a baby with a cleft lip and palate trying to nurse from its mother. These children are very much beautiful creatures in their own right but may be leaning closer to the moth or caterpillar then we expected. They require and need our love just as much as that beautiful child.
K.
Friday, October 5, 2007
If it weren’t for baseball, kids wouldn’t know what a millionaire looked like." Phyllis Diller
His name is Kenneth Lofton, he was born May 31, 1967 in East Chicago, IN. His career is an amazing history in itself: Lofton played for the Houston Astros (1991), Cleveland Indians (1992-96), Atlanta Braves (1997), Indians for the second time (1998-2001), Chicago White Sox (2002), San Francisco Giants (2002), Pittsburgh Pirates (2003), Chicago Cubs (2003), New York Yankees (2004), Philadelphia Phillies (2005), Los Angeles Dodgers (2006), and Texas Rangers (2007)and acquired for the third time by the Indians (July 28). His lifetime average is .299; during that period, he stole 622 bases in 2103 games. Quite impressive.
Lofton attended Washington High School in East Chicago, Indiana, where he was a standout basketball and baseball player for the Senators. He was particularly noted for his skills on the basketball court, averaging 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals per game in his senior year. He accepted a basketball scholarship to the University of Arizona.
In college, he was the backup point guard on an Arizona Wildcats team that made it to the Final Four of the 1988 NCAA Men's Division I tournament, and set season and school records for steals. He was the starting point guard the following year as Arizona made it to the Sweet Sixteen. Lofton is one of only two men to play in a college basketball Final Four (1988, the first for the Arizona Wildcats) and a Major League Baseball World Series.
Lofton decided to try out for the baseball team during his junior year. Although he did not see much playing time, his speed and potential were recognized by baseball scouts, and he was chosen by the Houston Astros in the 17th round of the 1988 major league baseball amateur draft. He played minor league baseball during the summer while completing his basketball eligibility at Arizona.
On July 27, 2007, Lofton was traded by the Texas Rangers back to Cleveland in exchange for catcher Max Ramírez, marking the beginning of his third tour of duty with the Indians. A surprised Jacobs Field crowd greeted Lofton with a standing ovation during his first at bat for this tour of duty with the Indians. Lofton noted, "I missed being in Cleveland. I enjoy Cleveland. It's the city that got me going." Welcome back Kenny and show them your stuff.
K.
Lofton attended Washington High School in East Chicago, Indiana, where he was a standout basketball and baseball player for the Senators. He was particularly noted for his skills on the basketball court, averaging 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals per game in his senior year. He accepted a basketball scholarship to the University of Arizona.
In college, he was the backup point guard on an Arizona Wildcats team that made it to the Final Four of the 1988 NCAA Men's Division I tournament, and set season and school records for steals. He was the starting point guard the following year as Arizona made it to the Sweet Sixteen. Lofton is one of only two men to play in a college basketball Final Four (1988, the first for the Arizona Wildcats) and a Major League Baseball World Series.
Lofton decided to try out for the baseball team during his junior year. Although he did not see much playing time, his speed and potential were recognized by baseball scouts, and he was chosen by the Houston Astros in the 17th round of the 1988 major league baseball amateur draft. He played minor league baseball during the summer while completing his basketball eligibility at Arizona.
On July 27, 2007, Lofton was traded by the Texas Rangers back to Cleveland in exchange for catcher Max Ramírez, marking the beginning of his third tour of duty with the Indians. A surprised Jacobs Field crowd greeted Lofton with a standing ovation during his first at bat for this tour of duty with the Indians. Lofton noted, "I missed being in Cleveland. I enjoy Cleveland. It's the city that got me going." Welcome back Kenny and show them your stuff.
K.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Speak well of the person at whose table you eat--German proverb
When my kids were younger we took them to a pediatric dentist. In order to allay their fears he had them stick up a finger whenever they felt that they had had enough. It was direct communication between doctor and patient. There are other times when we as a people have said "enough," like when Jane Fonda went to North Vietnam. Now as she is nears her senior citizen years she would like to win back the favor of her former fans. But Hanoi Jane, we have had "enough" Don't ever think that you will be the pinup girl of retired servicemen. Before they die, more than one serviceman will want to whiz on your grave.
We had "enough" of O.J. Simpson; and "enough" of Michael Vick and his dog abuse case. We had "enough" of Britney Spears and her role as a mother under the influence of drugs. We're tied of seeing high paid celebrities thinking that they are above the law and can do anything they want. They are not gods.
Then we have LeBron James who wore a New York Yankees cap at the opening game of the American League Playoff. The television producers seeing a media moment interview James who said he hoped the Yankees would win. Was LeBron that hungry for exposure? It would be as if the entire Indians team went to the Cavaliers/Knicks game on November 2 and rooted for New York. Bad taste, hell yes! If LeBron were trying to say in a subtle way that he would like to be released, let him go. He plays for Cleveland and if heart and loyalty are not there, who needs him. I'm sure there are budding, talented college players who would love to play for Cleveland at even a third of the price that we pay LeBron. Applications are being accepted.
K.
We had "enough" of O.J. Simpson; and "enough" of Michael Vick and his dog abuse case. We had "enough" of Britney Spears and her role as a mother under the influence of drugs. We're tied of seeing high paid celebrities thinking that they are above the law and can do anything they want. They are not gods.
Then we have LeBron James who wore a New York Yankees cap at the opening game of the American League Playoff. The television producers seeing a media moment interview James who said he hoped the Yankees would win. Was LeBron that hungry for exposure? It would be as if the entire Indians team went to the Cavaliers/Knicks game on November 2 and rooted for New York. Bad taste, hell yes! If LeBron were trying to say in a subtle way that he would like to be released, let him go. He plays for Cleveland and if heart and loyalty are not there, who needs him. I'm sure there are budding, talented college players who would love to play for Cleveland at even a third of the price that we pay LeBron. Applications are being accepted.
K.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
“It is better to look ahead & prepare than to look back & regret.” Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1962 - )
The motto of the Boy Scouts is "Be prepared." Americans have taken this very much to heart. "Prepare for all eventualities." Can you really do that? We winterize our cars in order to be prepared. We change the oil, check and/or change the antifreeze, check the tires and rotate them if need be, get a tune up and change the filters. Are the brakes OK? Is the battery good or is it just "so—so" Do we get an alignment before or after the chuckhole season? Just to be safe, maybe we should do both.
The real hidden danger of all of this is that we think we have covered every base. We really delude ourselves into thinking that we have anticipated every instance of danger and we are "covered." Like car insurance we think we have full coverage. Of course it's the thing we haven't prepared for that we cause us grief. Remember the tires that we were supposed to have rotated. It's not just the tire wear that we are trying to maximize by moving the front tires to the rear, but also to made sure that the tire lug nuts are not rusted on or that the steel wheel rim is rusted unto the axle. Did the winterization include checking the spare tire? Is it low on air and rusted into it's last position or is it all set to go? Do we even know how to change a tire or will we be stuck on the side of the road due to our lack of knowledge of the procedure?
It is difficult to prepare for every circumstance in which we could have had something that we needed. If we did have everything we ever needed, our cars would be weighed down with all sort of contrivances. Remember 20/20 hindsight is great. Perhaps it is the training activity alone that gets us prepared for some type of action that we will need to take. At any rate, we have taken the first steps toward affirmative action.
K.
The real hidden danger of all of this is that we think we have covered every base. We really delude ourselves into thinking that we have anticipated every instance of danger and we are "covered." Like car insurance we think we have full coverage. Of course it's the thing we haven't prepared for that we cause us grief. Remember the tires that we were supposed to have rotated. It's not just the tire wear that we are trying to maximize by moving the front tires to the rear, but also to made sure that the tire lug nuts are not rusted on or that the steel wheel rim is rusted unto the axle. Did the winterization include checking the spare tire? Is it low on air and rusted into it's last position or is it all set to go? Do we even know how to change a tire or will we be stuck on the side of the road due to our lack of knowledge of the procedure?
It is difficult to prepare for every circumstance in which we could have had something that we needed. If we did have everything we ever needed, our cars would be weighed down with all sort of contrivances. Remember 20/20 hindsight is great. Perhaps it is the training activity alone that gets us prepared for some type of action that we will need to take. At any rate, we have taken the first steps toward affirmative action.
K.
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