Monthly Archives: August 2023

Progress

Posted in Abuse of Power, Biden by

I’ve been doing some thinking. I know. As my wife says, “That is dangerous.”

However, I have lived quite a while and I’ve seen a lot of changes over those years. You might find this strange, but when I was in grade school, passenger jetliners were something talked about in Popular Mechanics. Few figured we would soon be flying coast to coast non-stop in about 6 or 7 hours. Would you believe now, a person can get on a plane in New York and fly non-stop nowadays. I actually looked up the travel time but forgot. In the days of the prop jobs, a flight between California and Hawaii was just about as far as a plane could go.

Color TV existed but it was very rare and flesh tones were often yellow or green. The grass in the football and baseball games was generally some shad of gray or even black. A color TV, at best, was about 60 or 70 pounds. It was just as well. There were very few color shows in color.

It was a time before movie ratings. All movies had to be decent. Now we have a rating. And of course, very few of them are rated G. Those that are rated PG are always pushing the envelope. On the other hand, some producers seek the R rating in order to draw more to the box office. I guess some call that progress.

Then we came up with cable, which allowed the R and X rated into our homes. I am sure there are those who call that progress.

The schools can no longer teach creationism. Instead, they must teach the religion of atheism. To be sure, the country is full of those who think of this as progress. To me, it is more like progressing in the wrong direction.

The newest, the most talked about progress these days, well, let’s just do away with the Constitution, especially the Bill of Rights. It is just a bunch of old antiquated ideas anyway that were thought of centuries ago. All they do is get in the way of the new ideas. It would seem that all they do is get in the way of progress. They are simply out of phase with the bright new idea of communism.

And of course, we have changed who makes the decision. The mother can chose if the baby lives or dies instead of the baby.

How horrible the progress.

Missing the Point

Posted in Abuse of Power, Biden, gun control, Uncategorized by

There is a lot of hoopla about the way that hunter’s plea deal was thrown out. The point is that Hunter Biden was standing ready to admit to committing three major crimes. The fact that it was thrown out had not one thing to do with those three things but rather other things that he has not yet gone to court for.

This tells me two things. One, he is guilty of other things. That is why that was part of the deal. Two, that he is guilty of the three things to which he admitted, though he was not going to get anywhere near the punishment he deserved. One of those laws is a gun control law, for which the dems have been seeking. The law serves no purpose if it is not enforced, for poor and rich; for the small and highly influential. Why is it the Hunter get a break. We keep hearing no body is above the law. I guess I must assume then that Hunter is the no body they reference.

Bottom line, in essence, he is an admitted criminal, with friends in the Justice Department and a Dad in The White House.

My Motive to Write

Posted in Controllers, Important things, Liberals, Politally Correct by
Daily writing prompt
What do you enjoy most about writing?
View all responses

I found this prompt intriguing.  When I was a kid, I hated writing.  Now I have several full sized books.  Some people actually enjoy reading them.  However, it has gotten to the point I would write if no one read any of it.  Needless to say, hardly anyone does.

I originally started writing posts in hopes of bringing some to my author’s page.  Then, of course, the idea was that I would start selling books by the millions.  Unfortunately for me, it didn’t happen that way, although I have had some success in getting a few more to read my books.

My first book, “The Secret of the Ring,” I began in the mid eighties in hopes that I might discourage people from abusing drugs.  The hope that someone might enjoy it was somewhat secondary.

Some people liked the book and encouraged a sequel.  Now I have about 35 and I am working on two more.  Unfortunately, I don’t have the money for a good professional editor.  I have problems with words like there, their, and they’re.  I know which ones to use but if I am not really careful, I’ll use the wrong one.

Then I see this question, “What do you enjoy about writing.”  I’ll tell you.  I don’t know.  I simply did not realize till now I had not thought about it.  I guess, to some degree, it is in hopes of doing some good, but it’s more.  I just sit down at a keyboard and, next thing I know, words start appearing on the screen.

The hitch is that they are not always the right words.  Worse, sometimes I leave words out or I use too many of them.  I have a tendency to use 12 words when 8 are better.  There have been a few times, while proof reading, I can’t figure out what I was trying to say.  I end up having to rewrite a page or two.  No one, not even I will know what my original thought was.

Then there are times it simply does not turn out the way I want it.  I restarted “The Other Mission” many times, throwing away 50 or 60 pages at a time.  One time I have it starting out one country.  The next time, I started out in another country.  I’m still not really happy with it, but, if you like a story twist, you will like this one.  As I wrote, even I didn’t believe it.  Yet it all worked out perfectly.  I wish I could say it was as I intended.

I guess, in a way that is one reason I write.  I rarely use outlines.  As I write, the story unfolds before my eyes somewhat as if I were reading the story.

Also, strange as it may seem, I try to take on the characterization of each character.  It means, at times, I must think as a villain.  It sort of scares me to realize how much I enjoy it.

When I started the posts, I explained from the beginning that I had no intention of writing on any one thing.  Sometimes, it’s politics.  Other times, it’s Christianity.  I have hoped to do some good on both subjects.

Then, of course, there are the advertising and advertisers.  Sometimes they can be really dumb.  I guess one of my latest subjects I’ve been hammering on is the advertising of marijuana products on TV and radio.  Some would consider that progress.  Many of the same people like the idea of letting dangerous criminals out without bail.  It is sort of a pattern with them.  The never want to take a good look at the consequences.

It has likely done little good for me to get on my soapbox and write.  However, it doesn’t stop me from trying.  If somehow, maybe by accident, I do some good, I’ll settle for that.

I know I didn’t really answer the question.  Then again, when I don’t understand it myself, how can I.

Oh, just before posting this, I thought one reason to write.  Legit complaints.  I hope, some of those CEOs will read what I wrote.  Then maybe, just maybe they will stop packaging things so we need a butcher knife to open them.  (That is dangerous you know)

I found this prompt intriguing.  When I was a kid, I hated writing.  Now I have several full sized books.  Some people actually enjoy reading them.  However, it has gotten to the point I would write if no one read any of it.  Needless to say, hardly anyone does.I originally started writing posts in hopes of bringing some to my author’s page.  Then, of course, the idea was that I would start selling books by the millions.  Unfortunately for me, it didn’t happen that way, although I have had some success in getting a few more to read my books.My first book, “The Secret of the Ring,” I began in the mid eighties in hopes that I might discourage people from abusing drugs.  The hope that someone might enjoy it was somewhat secondary.Some people liked the book and encouraged a sequel.  Now I have about 35 and I am working on two more.  Unfortunately, I don’t have the money for a good professional editor.  I have problems with words like there, their, and they’re.  I know which ones to use but if I am not really careful, I’ll use the wrong one.Then I see this question, “What do you enjoy about writing.”  I’ll tell you.  I don’t know.  I simply did not realize till now I had not thought about it.  I guess, to some degree, it is in hopes of doing some good, but it’s more.  I just sit down at a keyboard and, next thing I know, words start appearing on the screen.The hitch is that they are not always the right words.  Worse, sometimes I leave words out or I use too many of them.  I have a tendency to use 12 words when 8 are better.  There have been a few times, while proof reading, I can’t figure out what I was trying to say.  I end up having to rewrite a page or two.  No one, not even I will know what my original thought was.Then there are times it simply does not turn out the way I want it.  I restarted “The Other Mission” many times, throwing away 50 or 60 pages at a time.  One time I have it starting out one country.  The next time, I started out in another country.  I’m still not really happy with it, but, if you like a story twist, you will like this one.  As I wrote, even I didn’t believe it.  Yet it all worked out perfectly.  I wish I could say it was as I intended.I guess, in a way that is one reason I write.  I rarely use outlines.  As I write, the story unfolds before my eyes somewhat as if I were reading the story.Also, strange as it may seem, I try to take on the characterization of each character.  It means, at times, I must think as a villain.  It sort of scares me to realize how much I enjoy it.When I started the posts, I explained from the beginning that I had no intention of writing on any one thing.  Sometimes, it’s politics.  Other times, it’s Christianity.  I have hoped to do some good on both subjects.Then, of course, there are the advertising and advertisers.  Sometimes they can be really dumb.  I guess one of my latest subjects I’ve been hammering on is the advertising of marijuana products on TV and radio.  Some would consider that progress.  Many of the same people like the idea of letting dangerous criminals out without bail.  It is sort of a pattern with them.  The never want to take a good look at the consequences.It has likely done little good for me to get on my soapbox and write.  However, it doesn’t stop me from trying.  If somehow, maybe by accident, I do some good, I’ll settle for that.I know I didn’t really answer the question.  Then again, when I don’t understand it myself, how can I.Oh, just before posting this, I thought one reason to write.  Legit complaints.  I hope, some of those CEOs will read what I wrote.  Then maybe, just maybe they will stop packaging things so they can’t be opened without t butcher knife.  (That is dangerous you know)

Goals and Hopes

Posted in Uncategorized by
Daily writing prompt
What do you love about where you live?
View all responses

It was not my plan to stay here. The plans were temporary. At the time I knew little or nothing about Mississippi. I settled in here for two reasons. It was affordable and it was near the job I had in Memphis. I had hopes of getting my feet back on the ground after my discharge from the Marines. It took close to 6 months to get a good paying job and my wife had to work for a while to help me out. In addition, we did have a small loan we needed to pay off.

It seemed every time it looked like we might get something larger, we had a reversal. So, here I am, in the home that we purchased on a temporary basis.

Nonetheless, it has been a good home in a good neighborhood. We have had good neighbors who have been helpful from time to time. I certainly can’t say I have much to complain of other than the explosion of population. The traffic is growing faster than the highways and every time I turn around, they are building new houses or apartments.

Until the China virus, there was a wide selection of places to eat. There are still many places, but not as much. Moreover, the quality has taken a big hit. Then again, I am sure that can be said of most places.

IF we do need something from the big city, for instance an airport, we are not far away. I guess about 30 minutes away and much of that is getting to the interstate. We have baseball, basketball, college football and some really nice Little League fields nearby.

There are many churches and each one is nicer than the other. Many of them teach the Bible right, though I must admit some are errant in their doctrine.

The crime rate here south of the state line is still relatively low. I have no fear of going out after dark but I am a little more alert these days. I like to walk in the evenings in the summer. It’s not quite as hot.

Perhaps one aspect of the area is the schools. They are, I would guess some of the best in the country. I’m not just talking academics. They have been safe and much better about what the teach. We did have a few issues but they were quickly resolved. However, my sons are now 49 and 53. It has been a long time since I had a child in school. I can only go by what I see going on around me, which seems good. Apparently, the parents in Memphis like Desoto County Schools too. Though illegal, they keep bringing their children down here to get the better education.

Would I move away if I could. I don’t know. The people are nice here. The big problem is that attic. I’d have to employee a small team to bring all that stuff down and find something to do with it. Nonetheless, mostly all the goals and hopes are gone. Now, it’s simply a matter of hanging on a few more years.

Eating Out of the Palm of His Hand

Posted in Controllers, Uncategorized by

It is an old saying. I am sure most don’t really understand the meaning. It is easy to get a wild animal to eat that which is left on the ground. They catch on very fast. On the other hand, it will take time and patience to teach an animal to eat out of the palm of your hand. I know. I’ve tried it. Dogs, cats, squirrels take time to train to eat out your palm. I suppose you could even train bears but I don’t think I want to go there.

It’s kind of like that with humans too. Actually, I believe that was where it originated. The wild independent soul is quickly tamed when fed by hand. And of course, he is tamed when he looks for the handout. Then, the final step, the government has completely tamed the people when we all expect the handouts from Uncle Sam, especially when we eat right out of the palm of his hand.

The question you ask folks, is that what they want, and they hesitate not, to be dependent on the government dole? They will generally reply yes. It sure beats working.

Best TV Ad of the Year

Posted in Advertising, Uncategorized by

Yellow Wood has my vote for turning out the best advertisement of the year. They always are medium to good, but this one was particularly good.

A bunch of beavers sitting around a campfire. They all have sticks with marshmallows on them. Once they have marshmallows roasted, they take them off the sticks and toss them over their back. And then, of course, they eat the sticks.

I don’t know about you, but I didn’t see that one coming. It’s a shame I don’t have any reason to buy a bunch of wood. For sure, if I did, I’d make sure it’s Yellow Wood.

Flight

Posted in Fear, Fight or Flight by

If you are like me, you have noticed you cannot get withing 20 feet of a bird before he takes flight. Sometime, he will go a few hundred feet and land again. Other times, he jut flies completely out of sight. I’m not saying anything new. It’s common knowledge.

So, one day when I walked into my bosses office, he asked me to come over to the window. I did and he said, “Look at the bird sitting on the sign.” He paused. “Those cars are going by him less than 10 feet away at forty and the bird never moves.”

At first, I thought nothing of it. I wonder, are there any bird psychologists out there, or is it psychiatrists. Don’t know which would have the answer. For that matter, I don’t even know if there are such things.

At any rate, why are they afraid of a man afoot but the have no fear of the car going 40 mph. I mean, you and I can figure it out. We know the cars are not after the bird. But how is that the bird know that.

Then lately, a fly landed on my TV screen; this while the screen is in constant change. I’m not even going to ask for a fly expert. However, it is obvious the fly does not fear the object coming at him from the screen behind him. He is not deceived by the image. However, get within two feet of the fly, and he takes flight.

You may find this strange, but I did take this thought one step farther. A gnat landed on my computer screen. The movement of the screen had no effect on him. However, when I put the mouse pointer near him and kept making circles around him, he seemed to fall from the screen. Then he regained whatever it was he lost, and he flew away.

Is there such thing as an insect behaviorists, if one is out there and reads this, just maybe he can explain it for us. On the other hand, maybe he doesn’t know either.

On the other hand, you don’t need to have a degree. I am accepting anyone’s guess.

What Recourse?

Posted in Abuse of Power, Crime, Lawyers and Representation by

It is a question I have mauled over in my mind a few times. What happens when a person is charged with a crime and he has to mortgage the house and the wife’s wedding to pay for the defense. Then after it is over, the jury says “Not guilty,” what recourse has the man got.

He’s still left with the mortgage and, of course, he likely no longer has a job. The district attorney might send you a nice impressive apology letter, I don’t know. Just maybe it can be used to apply for another job.

So, people, like President Trump can afford the costs of lawyers. If one of those runaway district attorneys came after me, I’d have to rely on one of those lawyers provided by the state. Then, of course, if that’s not enough, then that won’t be enough.

There is a lot of power in the hands of a DA. He can break a man, though he be innocent. He can walk in and say, “Sign on the dotted line or get yourself a good lawyer; cause this is going to cost you a bundle.”

In theory, that is the purpose of the grand jury but you and I know, that rarely works. Pre-trials can help a little, but even that requires a lawyer.

Perhaps, if they come and knock on my door and tell me I’m under arrest for something I didn’t do, I’d just plead not guilty and sit there and wait for them to prove that I am. That way, I may end up in prison, but at least they won’t make me spend my last dime on the impossible.

Actually, that’s not the point. The state pays the bills for the DA. When he loses a case, he’s not out a dollar. He doesn’t lose his house and boat. He shrugs his shoulders, smiles and says, sorry. I really thought you were guilty.

I don’t know the answer to that. Like I’ve said, I have mauled it over for a while now. Maybe we need a third option for a jury. If the person charged proves his innocence, then the jury ought to come up with a decision of innocent. If that happens, the state must pay all the lawyer bills, plus 10% for the inconvenience.

Moreover, if a man can go back out into society proved innocent, he just might be able to get another job.

I’m open to suggestions. It is the best idea I have. However, we really do need to make these DAs be a bit more careful the way they throw their power around.

Please don’t get me wrong. Most DAs bend over backward in an effort to keep from putting the wrong guy in prison. It’s kind of like what I heard all the way through high school. It’s always the 10% that ruins for all the others.

Precipice

Posted in Abuse of Power, Being woke, Bribes, Cancel Culture, Communist Takover, Crime, FOC, Uncategorized by

Precipice : a very steep rock face or cliff, especially a tall one. As many English words, it was borrowed from the French. From the word, we have developed the saying, on the precipice, which might not actually have anything to do with the lay of the land. That is to say, we might use the phrase to indicate that we are near a massive change, should we continue on. We might also say, if we keep going that way, we just might fall off a cliff.

Some of us, when we are told that we are headed toward a dangerous precipice, we will take note. This is true regardless if it is a physical or a figurative danger. Some simply will not heed the danger. Some go on and when they go off the cliff, they wonder why didn’t someone tell me?

Well, right here, right now someone is here to tell you. If you keep going, it’s your fault.

There are thousands of counties in the US. Each county has a prosecuting attorney of some kind. Of course, each county has a court and the means to try people who disobey the law. Sometimes these prosecutors get things wrong. Sometimes, they prosecute the wrong people. Sometimes, they prosecute when there is no crime.

Hopefully, we have judges and juries that keep such prosecutors in check. Then again these prosecutors can become determined to lock up someone simply because he dosn’t like the guy. Maybe he doesn’t like the way he combs his hair or what kind of cap he wears. Sometimes it does become political. That is the precipice of which I am writing.

When a man is elected to office, be he Republican or democrat, there are thousands of prosecutors that are of the opposite party. And so, the Republican is in danger of being charged by the democrat and the democrat is in danger of being charged by the Republicans. Hence, there is danger whoever is sworn in.

It is likely the reason that the forefathers wrote the Constitution so that the only way a president can be removed from office is by impeachment. It is why they were careful as to how this can be done. It would appear the democrats have found an end around process. Now, they not only charge President Trump, but also everyone who has been around him. It is the Midas touch in reverse.

Then, of course, should Trump regain office, just maybe he is going to start charging democrats with crimes. I don’t think so, but he might. It is a dangerous precipice. If we continue in this direction, we just might see the downfall of the greatest nation that ever was. More over, it might come suddenly. Those doomsday preppers just might want to re-check their supplies.

Our court systems are going to be filled with people being charged with being democrats or Republicans. The criminals will be ecstatic. No one will be paying any attention to them. Well, actually, the communists will be even more thrilled. They will just walk into to the mess and take over everything.

Plan Goals?

Posted in Growing Old by
Daily writing prompt
How do you plan your goals?
View all responses

Planning goals? Now that’s a new one. I thought they just sort of happened. I mean, what you do is you put your shoulder to the, now let me see. What is it that we are supposed to put our shoulder to.

Well. It doesn’t matter. One thing I do know. If you plan goals, stand by. Those goals are just very likely going to be obliterated. I mean look at those folks over in Hawaii. Many of them had goals. A lot of them thought they were going to see their dreams come true. I mean, they were living in a tropical paradise. Then, whoosh. In less than a night, they see those dreams literally go up in flames.

Actually, I have been trying to avoid the subject of that fire. I hear enough of that on TV and radio. I couldn’t help it though. It just kind of spilled out. Yes, I do make plans. I do set goals. The thing is reality keeps stepping in the way.

When I was still reasonably young I hoped to buy one of those nice motor homes and I’d just go around from city to city and state to state and see this country. Well, as I said, reality got in the way. It is wonderful how computers have grown small, inexpensive and reliable. However, my job used to be fixing the things and I made a good living at it. Then one day the boss called me in and told me my services would no longer be needed.

I was actually quite good at fixing the things. I could tell you stories, but it would just bore you.

After that, for three years, I had one one of the best jobs in the world. I taught electronics at the Navy base. Now that was wonderful. It didn’t pay that well, but it combined two things I really, really liked, electronics and teaching. I dare say, I got good at it.

However, one day, President Reagan said tear down this wall, so they did. Suddenly, peace broke out. Don’t get me wrong. I like peace. It is far better than war. However, out of the 11 instructors, they they kept 4. Almost everyone there had been there longer than me. The odds were against me. A few months later and I was again looking for a job.

The point I am trying to make, not so eloquently, is that sometimes, it is not enough to have goals. Sometimes you have to be ready for that day when reality hits you in the jaw and the goals are shattered. The ones who really succeed I guess are the ones who succeed when their goals don’t

Almost bought one of those motor homes a few years ago, a used one. In a way, I wish I had. Then again, I figured if I did, and something went wrong with it, it would just be another case of reality getting in the way.

Nowadays, as old as I am, my goals are simple. Hold on till I die, and do what I can to help others ovoid the little mistakes I made. And, oh yes, sell a few books; maybe a million or two. Maybe then I could get my motor home.