What is the meaning of life, the purposed of life? You really don't have to go to the Oracle of Delphi to find out. Having been off a number of days during the Christmas and New Year's holiday, and now being back at work, I've learned a few things—about life. It's nothing as lofty as you might think. It's very simple. Life needs a purpose, a goal in order to work effectively. Without a goal, or purpose, life is much more aimless; there is no direction. We wander, we are listless, and we wallow in self-pity. We become uncomfortable in our situation.
So where do we start? When we're in school, out goal is to finish, to graduate. We have a goal and purpose. After graduation there is another goal, to get a job and become successful, so we seek that out. It is necessary to always have purpose in order to have direction. We must always have another one at hand as we finish up our first. It fact it is possible to have several working out at one time.
That is why people seem to waste away when they're out of work for a while, either retired or downsized. They are crushed with self pity or remorse. There is no goal or purpose to guide them, period.
K.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
And just when you thought you had seen it all....
While the Screen Writers Guild strike is still on and you’re sick of looking at reruns and syndicated reruns, you must log on to YouTube.com if not for the fun of it at least for the education. There you will find an eleven year old girl field stripping her father’s semi automatic AR15. In today’s day and age it may not be her father’s civilian version of a military rifle but her very own. She was damn good at it too; she took it apart and put it back together in time that would make a Marine recruit blush. Imagine a drill instructor saying, “Its’ so easy an eleven year old girl can do it.” I also saw an anorexic, ninety-pound bikini clad girl shoot her boyfriends Desert Eagle. The recoil was so violent (or she was so under nourished) the barrel of the gun flew back and hit her in the nose.
Another young women discussed the nuances of the 1911 model semi automatic pistol. I didn’t know that several manufacturers made the same gun to government specifications or that it came in single or double action versions; it also it available with single or double stack magazines in various calibers. And still a forth young woman (possibly the older sister of our eleven year old field stripper) pointed out the features of daddy’s AR15 and shot off a few rounds for emphasis.
The most dramatic scene however, was when “dad” showed off his home modified, totally automatic AR15. He proceeded to demonstrate its ability to fire off 300 rounds in less than a minute, which included 3 magazine changes. Now that’s “protection.” If you’re a hunter you could feed the whole city with the rapid way you could knock down a gaggle of geese. You would need a kennel of dogs to fetch the carcasses to bring them home. I really wouldn’t call that type of hunting a “sport.” But hey this is America and he does have the right to bear arms. What is even more interesting is that he transported all this equipment to the gun range in his car with his family. Restrictions, what restrictions? This is America and he can do whatever he damn well pleases. Wouldn’t you feel safer living in the house next to his? “Look Dad, more geese.”
K.
Another young women discussed the nuances of the 1911 model semi automatic pistol. I didn’t know that several manufacturers made the same gun to government specifications or that it came in single or double action versions; it also it available with single or double stack magazines in various calibers. And still a forth young woman (possibly the older sister of our eleven year old field stripper) pointed out the features of daddy’s AR15 and shot off a few rounds for emphasis.
The most dramatic scene however, was when “dad” showed off his home modified, totally automatic AR15. He proceeded to demonstrate its ability to fire off 300 rounds in less than a minute, which included 3 magazine changes. Now that’s “protection.” If you’re a hunter you could feed the whole city with the rapid way you could knock down a gaggle of geese. You would need a kennel of dogs to fetch the carcasses to bring them home. I really wouldn’t call that type of hunting a “sport.” But hey this is America and he does have the right to bear arms. What is even more interesting is that he transported all this equipment to the gun range in his car with his family. Restrictions, what restrictions? This is America and he can do whatever he damn well pleases. Wouldn’t you feel safer living in the house next to his? “Look Dad, more geese.”
K.
The NRA and Your Rights -the Right to a Safe Work Place
I must admire the tenacity of the National Rifle Association. They have a very specific agenda, protecting the Second Amendment rights of Americans— namely the right to bear arms when ever, and wherever they choose to do so. Case in point twelve workers at a Weyerhaeuser Company plant in Oklahoma were fired in the fall of 2002 because they violated a company policy of bring guns onto the plant property. The guns were kept in their cars or trucks in the company parking lot. Two thirds of the fired employees challenged their firing, saying it violated their right to bear arms. The court and the appeals court ruled in favor of Weyerhaeuser. For the life of me, I can’t figure out why twelve guys would want to bring guns to work even if they didn’t bring them into the plant. Was getting the jump on hunting season that important or were they planning on attending a gun show or gun meet right after work?
“Should people who lawfully possess firearms be able to leave them locked in their motor vehicles, on business property? Common sense would say, ‘yes.’ All 50 states allow the transportation of firearms in motor vehicles for all lawful purposes and 48 states allow the carrying of firearms in vehicles for personal protection, in some manner. More than one of every four of America’s 65-80 million gun owners carries a firearm in his or her vehicle for protection.” Copyright 2008, National Rifle Association of America, Institute for Legislative Action.
I like the part in the paragraph above saying “common sense would say, ‘yes.’” If they’re not company security they should leave their toys at home and not bring them to work to show off to their friends or worse, take out the boss or co-workers when they get pissed off. If you’re in a plant and you need “protection” are you going to run out to your car, load your gun (hopefully you had enough sense to leave it unloaded when you hit road bumps) and run back into the plant to protect someone or something? “Hey man, I saw how you looked at my girl.” I also like the part of 25% of the gun owners carrying guns in their cars. It gives a new meaning to road rage.
On January 16th the Georgia legislature will consider parking lot stored guns on company property. I hope they choose wisely. If I had my way the only gun(s) an individual could own would be the kind that the Founding Fathers of the Constitution were familiar with. These would be the smooth bore, flintlock, single shot, black powder muskets and pistols of 1776. Nothing more would due. Keep it up NRA, I’m “gunning” for you.
K
“Should people who lawfully possess firearms be able to leave them locked in their motor vehicles, on business property? Common sense would say, ‘yes.’ All 50 states allow the transportation of firearms in motor vehicles for all lawful purposes and 48 states allow the carrying of firearms in vehicles for personal protection, in some manner. More than one of every four of America’s 65-80 million gun owners carries a firearm in his or her vehicle for protection.” Copyright 2008, National Rifle Association of America, Institute for Legislative Action.
I like the part in the paragraph above saying “common sense would say, ‘yes.’” If they’re not company security they should leave their toys at home and not bring them to work to show off to their friends or worse, take out the boss or co-workers when they get pissed off. If you’re in a plant and you need “protection” are you going to run out to your car, load your gun (hopefully you had enough sense to leave it unloaded when you hit road bumps) and run back into the plant to protect someone or something? “Hey man, I saw how you looked at my girl.” I also like the part of 25% of the gun owners carrying guns in their cars. It gives a new meaning to road rage.
On January 16th the Georgia legislature will consider parking lot stored guns on company property. I hope they choose wisely. If I had my way the only gun(s) an individual could own would be the kind that the Founding Fathers of the Constitution were familiar with. These would be the smooth bore, flintlock, single shot, black powder muskets and pistols of 1776. Nothing more would due. Keep it up NRA, I’m “gunning” for you.
K
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Remember When We had TV Writers?
When I first moved into my house, the neighbor across the street was on strike; he worked for 3M Vinyl Coatings Division that made walnut style coatings used in automotive manufacturing. While he was on strike, the company decided it was not going to cope with a strike and put money into renovating an outdated facility, closed its doors forever. Nobody really won in that stalemate.
On August 3, 1981 nearly 74% of the 17,500 Air Traffic Controllers walked off the job. President Reagan responded with an ultimatum to return back to work within 48 hours or face termination. 1,200 controllers crossed the lines and went back to work. The results were: non-striking workers, supervisors and military personnel helped out with reduce airline traffic. Within a few months, the flying public found 80% of the amenities were back to normal. By October of that year the Federal Labor Relations Board decertified the union. The union had lost its battle with the government, its entire dues paying membership and millions of dollars in fines.
The Writers' Guild of America strike began November 5, 2007. Dire forecasts predicting loss of good television never materialized. The longest WGA strike to date was for five months during 1988. Television produces not wishing to become overly dependant on writers began to develop some interesting "reality" styled programs. Among them have been "Cops," "Court TV" and my favorite "Chases on the Los Angles Freeway."
Then came "Style Court," "Judge Wapner" and "Judge Judy" staring Judith Sheindlin, former supervising family court judge in Manhattan, NY. Judge Judy's famous un-scripted remark was "no point talking about how best to approach the problem (of needle exchange) since the solution is simple. Give them dirty needles, and let them die. I don't understand why we think it's important to keep them alive."
Of course we still have "Oprah" and "Doctor Phil" and the game shows, which are all un-scripted, all popular. Among the Reality shows were "The Bachelor," "The Bachelorette" and the "Real World" series. And then there are the reruns, err Syndication and then syndication of reruns where we can watch the good old days.
Writers Guild of America members, stay home, or keep picketing, who cares; maybe you will become one of those lost bygone features of ancient television. I'm having too much fun watching YouTube.
K.
On August 3, 1981 nearly 74% of the 17,500 Air Traffic Controllers walked off the job. President Reagan responded with an ultimatum to return back to work within 48 hours or face termination. 1,200 controllers crossed the lines and went back to work. The results were: non-striking workers, supervisors and military personnel helped out with reduce airline traffic. Within a few months, the flying public found 80% of the amenities were back to normal. By October of that year the Federal Labor Relations Board decertified the union. The union had lost its battle with the government, its entire dues paying membership and millions of dollars in fines.
The Writers' Guild of America strike began November 5, 2007. Dire forecasts predicting loss of good television never materialized. The longest WGA strike to date was for five months during 1988. Television produces not wishing to become overly dependant on writers began to develop some interesting "reality" styled programs. Among them have been "Cops," "Court TV" and my favorite "Chases on the Los Angles Freeway."
Then came "Style Court," "Judge Wapner" and "Judge Judy" staring Judith Sheindlin, former supervising family court judge in Manhattan, NY. Judge Judy's famous un-scripted remark was "no point talking about how best to approach the problem (of needle exchange) since the solution is simple. Give them dirty needles, and let them die. I don't understand why we think it's important to keep them alive."
Of course we still have "Oprah" and "Doctor Phil" and the game shows, which are all un-scripted, all popular. Among the Reality shows were "The Bachelor," "The Bachelorette" and the "Real World" series. And then there are the reruns, err Syndication and then syndication of reruns where we can watch the good old days.
Writers Guild of America members, stay home, or keep picketing, who cares; maybe you will become one of those lost bygone features of ancient television. I'm having too much fun watching YouTube.
K.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
The Golden What?
Well I did it; I borrowed my wife's computer and crashed it. You have to understand, my wife is very possessive of her property and doesn't want anyone borrowing it without her permission or worse, wrecking it. An that is exactly what I did, I screwed it up and it took hours, several phone calls to my IT employed son and a network download to get it back into operation. You'd think that by now I would have learned.
Since we all make mistakes you would assume that we would have learned by them. The smart ones of us do, the rest of us keep making the same mistakes over and over again. What is it with us and why do we do this? To the alcoholic, it requires intervention via Alcoholic Anonymous, a sponsor and meeting attendance to make it work or they'll keep getting into trouble. The chemically dependent they have a similar organization and for the minor criminal, its jail time and /or shock probation. Some how we just don't learn until it's too late.
Of course the best idea is to never do the incorrect thing in the first place. By now, as adults, we should have learned to treat others, as we would like to be treated. It's called the Golden Rule. Most of us ignore it completely, we're looking for that instant response, that short cut, the get rich quick scheme, or that idea that rules are for other people and not really for us. We are our own worst enemies and the trouble is we haven't caught on to the consequences of our actions. Well, practice makes perfect, and perfection would be to put ourselves in that other person's position each and every time we're about to do something—outrageous or stupid.
K.
Since we all make mistakes you would assume that we would have learned by them. The smart ones of us do, the rest of us keep making the same mistakes over and over again. What is it with us and why do we do this? To the alcoholic, it requires intervention via Alcoholic Anonymous, a sponsor and meeting attendance to make it work or they'll keep getting into trouble. The chemically dependent they have a similar organization and for the minor criminal, its jail time and /or shock probation. Some how we just don't learn until it's too late.
Of course the best idea is to never do the incorrect thing in the first place. By now, as adults, we should have learned to treat others, as we would like to be treated. It's called the Golden Rule. Most of us ignore it completely, we're looking for that instant response, that short cut, the get rich quick scheme, or that idea that rules are for other people and not really for us. We are our own worst enemies and the trouble is we haven't caught on to the consequences of our actions. Well, practice makes perfect, and perfection would be to put ourselves in that other person's position each and every time we're about to do something—outrageous or stupid.
K.
Those who cannot learn from the past are forced to relive it (over & over).
If you had predicted this, I wouldn't have believed that I would have written nearly 100 blog comments. I couldn't explain why I started this in the summer of 2007. Was it merely to have expressed an opinion, to test my skills as a writer or some other reason? I don't know. At one time I was ready to cash it all in and give up completely. A friend at work, who reads most of these blogs, encouraged me to continue. "Give it time," was his comment. So far I've had over 2000 "hits" which is very surprising as well.
Topics written about include my aversion to the wide spread use of guns and our total apathy to stricter gun regulation (notice I didn't use the word control). I still would like to see greater national gun regulation. For example, just a few days ago, a cop was killed in Mansfield, OH by no less than his own brother, a corrections officer. Both were licensed to own and carry guns as part of their job. Is there nothing that could have been done in this instance? It has been reported that the murdering brother was on medication for being bipolar. He was bipolar and allowed to carry a gun? What gives here? Where was the doctor who prescribed the drugs, the superior officer of this brother who must have known about his condition, and the family of the brothers in this example? Was everyone just nodding his or her head, sleeping? Didn't anyone have any foreside as to what could have happened? This young police officer didn't have to die and leave a mourning wife and child. It is totally unacceptable.
Gun regulation will only occur when all of us are so fed up with this carnage that our voice will become loud enough for legislator to hear across the country. This is a political year; the politicians want your vote and will promise almost anything to get it. Make sure that your opinions are heard. Write, phone or email your politicians on the local, state and national levels to let them know how you feel. Remember, your voice can, will and should be heard.
K.
Topics written about include my aversion to the wide spread use of guns and our total apathy to stricter gun regulation (notice I didn't use the word control). I still would like to see greater national gun regulation. For example, just a few days ago, a cop was killed in Mansfield, OH by no less than his own brother, a corrections officer. Both were licensed to own and carry guns as part of their job. Is there nothing that could have been done in this instance? It has been reported that the murdering brother was on medication for being bipolar. He was bipolar and allowed to carry a gun? What gives here? Where was the doctor who prescribed the drugs, the superior officer of this brother who must have known about his condition, and the family of the brothers in this example? Was everyone just nodding his or her head, sleeping? Didn't anyone have any foreside as to what could have happened? This young police officer didn't have to die and leave a mourning wife and child. It is totally unacceptable.
Gun regulation will only occur when all of us are so fed up with this carnage that our voice will become loud enough for legislator to hear across the country. This is a political year; the politicians want your vote and will promise almost anything to get it. Make sure that your opinions are heard. Write, phone or email your politicians on the local, state and national levels to let them know how you feel. Remember, your voice can, will and should be heard.
K.
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