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Monthly Archives: March 2013

Parting With The Parties


The last 2 major elections have brought out the best and worst of America’s major political parties. We hear daily rants (and some truths) from each side via also rans, soon to runs and hope to runs. What is emerging are the same types of rhetoric updated but seeking the same long term, future impact results. In the future there will still be great changes in the medicare, Medicaid and social security, these changes may balance the budget but at what cost?  The Dupublican party with Conservatives at the lead are still proposing the same pre election changes because the facts do not support the proposals. This is not to say that the proposals are wrong or right, what is being revealed is neither party can take all proposals and evaluate both, taking the best of and creating something that while not perfect may be close to what is required. You can call yourself a Conservative, liberal or Tea Partyer but we are all American citizens and no single or combination of solutions will suit us all totally, just reasonably. There will be politicking from now until the next national election but the truth lies in the details not in what various high profile pundits write. Remember no matter what happens the high profile people are being paid and write books that we buy so their incomes are not affected by anything the Congress and President does or does not  agree upon. The middle class and lower income citizens are always the recipients for  better or worse of what ever legislation comes down the pike. The end game for the majority of Americans is to have an existence above poverty, to work, earn and have the best life their earnings can provide. We will never and shouldn’t trust our legislators as they have proven to be untrustworthy once they gain the office. It will require a change to our voting patterns to get control of the Congress (who we elected)  to make changes that could eliminate the endless debate and separatism we see now.

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Why Are We surprised?


Recently the Governor of Michigan appointed Kevyn Orr as city manager of Detroit. The surprise is that Detroit  has been in trouble for years since the decline of the motor companies. Strangely enough Mr. Orr is Black (African-American) or what ever you chose to call him and negotiated the  Chrysler bankruptcy. The surprise is your surprise (some of you)!  Why would anyone be surprised if they are as liberal or ethnically open as the purport to be? This would  fly in the face of longtime accepted ideas of the place in America for Blacks, Browns, other non whites and different gender  (preferenced) people. To get to the point, why are we surprised? Some of us are surprised because we have had and currently have an ill-conceived and learned  ideas of what other Colors and gender people are really like. Would any of them be surprised to know that the person who invented the improvement on elevators that prevents a car (cage) from plummeting to its lowest point (bottom) was Black? Or that Raymond Burr, Rock Hudson or  Liberace were gay? Why are we surprised? The surprise in rooted in our past upbringing, learned behavior and stubborn adherence to family lore which often is flawed. The surprise is that many people cannot realize their perceptions are wrong and require updating. The surprise is that many high profile legislators, industry Captains are so outmoded in their thinking. We of the modern(?) times have not evolved from the  ways that restrict the real growth potential of our citizens, which by association restricts the growth of our nation and economy.

Pope Smoke


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The  world’s Catholics patiently wait while the one hundred plus Cardinals meet in the Vatican to elect a new Leader. The indicator of progress is the release of smoke from a smoke stack erected for this single occasion. The smoke is black if no selection is made and white when a Pope is selected. One has to wonder how is this smoke created? Is it possible that the smoke is really “smoke”-especially the white smoke.

Defacto Legislation


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Many of the cuts in State and Federal budgets affect education, health and retirement. The people who are proposing these cuts seem to be exempt from the effects of these cuts. These proposals and actions get a lot of media attention yet the only people making any statements about them are the hardline conservatives who already feel the government spends too freely. There is nothing wrong with conservative spending by governments but not on the backs of education, pension and health. There is a median point where all parties can agree but political party bickering and electioneering get in the way. The ability to make rational choices in law making is supposed to be the expertise of the people we have elected, unfortunately we are not blessed or cursed with even a marginal amount rational thought. We are hammered daily by reports of one legislator or another  supporting or proposing a budget of some sort without solutions.  Can we afford to ignore the long term effects of education, pension and healthcare reforms that offer  vague short term  relief? The American education and social security system are broken yet we have a houseful of Representatives who do not appear to have the ability to resolve the problems. The Individual states and municipalities that receive their various shares of Federal funding are suffering from cuts and the inability to successfully raise enough local funds for these programs. The painful solution to this morass is the drying up of “vote by rote” elections and more voting for non standard candidates.

Dental History


Many years ago a s I remember our family Dentist was a Dr.Woodard (or Woodward), first and maybe last visit was an extraction (joy!). After that next encounters were in the military and at last I understood the value of regular Dental Visits. The true epiphany came when at the age of 30 plus I went through extensive oral reconstruction and repair, the start was the cool method of cutting back of gum tissue which eliminated the “pockets” that form when one does not floss daily. The pockets are essentially cut back   and a bandage of sorts is placed on the incised area for 2 weeks. This will sometimes cause a “long tooth ” look but the health of you mouth is substantially improved. Aside from the possible perk of some nice pain killers, I would not recommend the surgery. The prevention is flossing and brushing along with at least 2 dental visits annually.

It Is Spelled Wrong!!!


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After many years the word “boodie” as used in the “black” vernacular has been misappropriated into modern language as “booty”. This is totally wrong! The word is now mainstream (I guess) so it has to be spelled in an upscale way. No matter what upscale ,down scale or no scale it is pronounced “booodie” not “Booty”. A booty is footwear, whether for a tot or grown up , it is a booty. Let’s go over it again: “Boodie” is a part of the anatomy, “booty” is foot wear!

Recent Opinions


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2 recent Opinions in the local paper prompted my reply:

Two recent opinions on gay marriage address the biological and religious deficiencies of gay marriage, These opinions are after all just opinions and not fact. Being gay or different are not banned by any bible, this anti gay attitude was invented by humans and the sects they follow. The biological aspect while correct in its premise has nothing to do with two people of whatever gender making a life and family together. Before any  (so called) gay couples “came ou”. they were living (and still are) good “American” lives, contributing the same as anyone else to civic duties, serving in the Armed forces,etc. Every person of a different sexual orientation would love to have children of their own and as pointed out cannot due to biological disadvantages, yet many of them make and have made as good a parent as any accepted twosomes. the opinion providers should hope to be as good and dedicated parents as some of these folks and possibly as good a christian. After all”Gays” go to church also.

additionally: these condemning people need to “come out of the closet” and live and let live.

Not Retro-Just Recurring Style


 

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A recent revival of eye wear has arrived with the advent of what I call “Buddy Holly” style glasses. At one point they were nerd glasses, collegiate  and Jazz-be bop glasses. They are now called ‘”hipster” glasses”, the reality is that they are simply glasses that appeal to certain people. Remember the “cat eye” glasses of the 50’s and 60’s? All are styles were never out of style just out of favor as a current style but always destined to return with a new generation who “discovered” them in a movie, magazine or old photo. It would almost make sense to keep everything except for having the storage space which could place one in a potential “hoarders’ situation. To all who discover an old style or fad, I suggest that you do not take credit for something that is not new or even reinvented. The proper thing is to just rejuvenate a style for time that it lasts in another era. Except for automobiles most pre 80’s and above items are destined to return as “retro” using modern materials.

Donations


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I have elected to publish writings from  people who have submitted them to me, all of these will be the writers thoughts, just edited for correctness. To accomplish this, there is a donation space that appears at the bottom of each post to make a donation in any amount you like as long as it is not less than a dollar U.S. You just need to click on the link at the bottom of the page to access the Paypal section. Thanks.

The Trays of Alice


When Barb and I married among the many wedding gifts were a set of TV trays. My sister Alice hand painted a set of 4 wood trays with different motifs.We use these trays daily, we eat on them (except when we have company for dinner) and use them as small desks. This is one of the memorable gifts we received but unfortunately we are unable to use them all as much as we use the trays. This is  to not to say that the gifts are unusable but they have specific uses, primarily for entertainment (parties and such). The gifts are all gorgeous and worthy of use but they are more useful in a decorative sense but alas we have no space to do them justice in a display setting. One of my many projects is to devise a display method such as the wood rack I constructed for the Salsa plate, the hinderance is where to mount them so they can be seen and not touched. This is an ongoing project.

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Thank you Alice.