Monthly Archives: November 2024

Rollercoasters & Me

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In my young youth (I know – redundant. Don’t care), we lived in Orange County and we went to Long Beach every 4th of July. Now why did we do that? They had the best fireworks in the area of course. By the way, they also had a nice beach, which we made sure to use until we were well worn out and tanned. It was a blast. Wouldn’t really mind doing it today, but I would suspect that it is too crowded. Nonetheless, there was, maybe is, a very nice amusement park that had lots of fun rides.

Back then, we didn’t have much money, same as now. Mostly, we just walked around. However, we did go on a few rides and through a few fun houses. Thinking back over it, it was more fun than Disneyland and far less expensive. I just didn’t know better then.

In the park, they had a rollercoaster they called the Cyclone. I was too young to ride it. They had one of those signs, “You must be this tall to ride,” or something like that. I longed so much to ride that roller coaster. It looked like so much fun.

Finally, one year I was tall enough. I rode the coaster and it was the last time I ever rode any coaster. There are people who rode that thing with their hands up in the air instead of holding on. Seemed strange to me. However, I guess it does make sense. If that thing went off the track, holding on wouldn’t help much. And by the way, since I rode it, I heard on the news that it did go off the track a couple of times.

Even now, I can remember getting in the coaster. The operator pushed a lever forward and we rolled forward a little. Then there was the clanking. We were pulled by a chain to the top of the first hill. I think it was about worst part. By the time we got to the top, it was a long ways down up there. I think this is when I discovered I have this fear of heights.

There was a bit of an allusion. I knew at the other side of the hill, the track continued but it didn’t look like it. I held on for dear life hoping against hope that the track did continue. I mean I knew it was there. I had watched it hundreds of times. Still, there was that allusion.

I understand why people go on roller coasters. I really do. Some folks love the feeling utter fear. The more they fear, the more they love it. Me, I think I will remain happy to keep my feet on the ground and watch.

Other rides, as the Matterhorn at Disneyland, I’ll ride. That is different. Rollercoasters, never again.

Note, when it got good and dark, we were all entertained by a great firework show. Then it seemed forever leaving Long Beach. For some reason, it seemed everyone else decided to leave same time we did.

And yes, you can call me coward. Yes, when I went to Nam as a Marine, I was afeared, but not as much as when I was on that rollercoaster.

Shockwaves

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When Trump first decided to run for president, it sent shockwaves through the republican leadership. He was for things that the people were for, which was unusual. Only a small number of those running for the nomination made it near to the convention. I might add, most of the leadership of the republican party didn’t like it to the point that they withheld their support, publicly.

That made the next shockwave even more shocking. The dems just knew they had it all sewn up and there was just no way Trump could take out that powerful blue wall of the mid-west. Yet he did and it sent shockwaves, not only nationwide, but worldwide. Suddenly, the leaders were having to deal with a new type of president and many of them, such as, those in the Middle-East, the one in Russia, the one in China, and most notably, the one in North Korea.

The next shockwave was when the Republicans lost the big red wave of the mid-term. Many are still trying to figure that one out.

Still, there was no way that Old Joe could win against Trump, especially from the basement, but, somehow he did, I suspect with the help of those ballot counting. Nonetheless, it was another shockwave.

Finally, the dems figured they had a shoe-in for Kamala. I mean, didn’t she try using the same method as Old Joe. She did, at least for a while, try to run her campaign from her bunker.

Now, one after the other, I see well known dems speak in confusion. They realized that there was another shockwave. Some will say they lost because of this. Some say that. Naturally, none of them wants to admit that the reason they lost was because of the evil candidate they decided to run and the treacherous ideas that they were trying to sell.

Truthfully, I cannot understand the shockwaves completely, especially the ones where the dems won. I mean, who would vote for a worse form of education? Who would vote for wars where millions die. Who would vote for opening the border and closing the spigot of energy. I can’t understand any one of the reasons, let alone the bunch.

However, the voters have spoken again and removed those who liked such things. And so it was we had another shockwave. Trump not only won the electoral college, but the popular vote as well.

Still, considering what Kamala and the dems were in favor of, I can’t understand why she got more than a handful of votes. It seems to me the real shock is that she got as many votes as she did. I mean really, turning little boys into little girls. Allowing men on women’s sports, while requiring the women to share locker rooms and showers with the with the men. I would like to meet one person who would vote for such things, let alone the many other things.

I ask, is the right to abortion that important to them? If it is, that’s the real shocker. This is especially true considering that the goal is to have more abortions among the Black women. I think they have a word for that and it is not one I would want to live with.

It Is Official

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Christmas season approaches. I know this because someone played, “Grandma Got Run Over by Santa’s Reindeer,” on the music machine at Waffle House tonight.

Actually, I like the song, though it took me a while to warm up to it and the voice. My first impression of the song really did not leave Santa in a very good light. Also, the tune is very catchy. It just keeps bouncing around in my head for hours after I hear it, whether I want it to or not.

Thing is I wonder how many times that song gets played this Christmas before someone working at Waffle House figures a way to disable it.

Why Does That not Surprise Me?

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They say that whooping cough (pertussis) is on the rise. Believe it or not that makes sense. Consider all those coming over the border without any medical screening. Truthfully, I expected all diseases to be far worse, especially TB which we do not normally give immunizations for. At least most US citizens are given immunizations for pertussis or it would likely be far worse.

Problems

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A little over a week ago, I could not get my wife to eat anything. I wasn’t really concerned but I figured it was time to take her to the emergency room. It is a good thing I did. She was low on fluids and almost died.

That is far from the only problem I am having to deal with. It is as the sign I saw that said, “I try to take one day at a time; but here lately they have been coming at me in bunches.” For years things have been going along pretty smooth. I guess I got spoiled.

Nonetheless, maybe you can understand why my writing has dropped off. I have been spending a lot of time at the hospital. Apparently, she is through the worst of it, but it is far from over. I said all that to say this. Be careful about letting your fluids drop too low. It can permanently damage the kidneys. I am still not sure that my wife’s kidneys will fully recover.

It is kind of one of those things that will sneak up on you. The only real symptom was a drop off in diet over about a week. I still don’t understand all the ins and outs as she was still drinking a lot of water.

Also, again I want to thank the staff of Baptist Memorial, Desoto. At times when I lost my temper with my wife, they didn’t. They never lost their temper and they never complained to either of us, though they had many reasons. What a great job they did and I only wished I could tell more people how great they were.

Then again, the next time they see either of us coming, they might bar the door before we get there. I wouldn’t blame them.

Censors?

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At one time, movies were actually censored officially. Whenever a movie was produced, it had to be previewed by sensors and if it didn’t pass the sensor’s rules, it could not be released until it did.

I guess it was continued until some time in the seventies. Until then, the content was guarded, both visual and audio.

Even today, in theory, what goes out into the world of radio and TV is regulated. I get the feeling that many FCC regulators intentionally look the other way. I can’t imagine that it is legal for some of what is broadcasts meets specs. Moreover, they are all the time pushing the envelope, always just pushing it more and more, day by day. The swimsuits keep getting smaller; the language is getting worse; and the activities/subjects becoming more graphic.

That is not to say that we don’t still have sensors. Only the sensors have started limiting in other ways. Already, preachers are beginning to have some fears in preaching about homosexuality. If churches wonder into the politics, they stand in danger of losing their tax free status, unless it is a Black church. Then it is encouraged.

Worse, there is the unspoken censoring. Preachers aren’t kept from preaching on certain subjects, but when they do, the media launches assaults on them. They joke about them and they search for ways to make them look like hypocrites. Look how they went back into the pasts of the more recent judge appointments, also coined as Borking. Moreover, there is no shame, even when there is no proof. In the court of public opinion, none is needed. The allegation is all they need. Saying it enough makes it so.

These same methods are now used on preachers and conservatives. I am not proud of some the things Trump said and did, but no one gets called on any of it if they have a D after their name. Perfection is required for republicans only.

Moreover, politically incorrect things are not permitted on radio, TV and even on college campuses. This censoring is more powerful and stringent than any of the old censoring. Worse, things such as the Ten Commandments are not permitted in many places and it’s getting even more so disallowed over time.

Could it be that they will even be disallowed in our churches; or Bibles; or casual conversation, or thoughts.

I mean what is so objectionable about the words, “Thou shalt not bear false witness?” Why does anyone want to block the words, “Thou shalt not murder,” from our schools or courts? Why is it so bad to suggest that we encourage our nation to honor our fathers and mothers?

It would seem that there are those afraid of the words. If I put them out on my front lawn, I suspect that someone would sue me the next day to have it removed. They just can’t stand to have the words in their face reminding them daily of what they are doing wrong. If there is no God, why are they afraid of His law? Why to they fear His words?”

Why is it so important that they censor every word of the Bible? What harm does it cause them?

The Problem With Pseudo-Buttons

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My cell phone rings. I pick it up before it rings the second time. It’s easy. I carry it in my shirt pocket. However, I slip up and touch some part of the face of it. SUDDENLY, the pseudo-button I need to use to answer the phone is gone. For some reason, I am looking at some internet screen advertising something I have less than any interest in, and I start searching frantically for those elusive buttons.

I find it and I start to press it as I hear the last ring and the button disappears. It brings to mind another one of my pet complaints, the CEO affect. That’s the one I wrote about a long time ago. You remember it. It is when the CEO of the company never uses his product so he never knows the problems with the things he makes.

I can’t swear to it, but I’d guess the CEO of the company that makes my not so smart phone, does not use the phone he sells. Now I ask you, does that make sense?

I ask you, what is the problem with making the phone so as I can answer it any time it is ringing. Am I asking too much?

As an aside, I really don’t use my phone to surf the web. I have a computer and a pad for that. I have large hands and fingers. I do find it difficult to push those small buttons. Moreover, I am old. I have to wear glasses to read the screen. Some of the stuff on the screen is too small to see even with my magnifiers.

Hint for CEOs: Lock the screen on the phone while it is ringing, please. I don’t need to see some shoe ad while I am answering the phone. Actually, I don’t need to see shoe ads on my phone at all.

One more little thing on my wish list. Can we actually disable the screen while I am not using my phone. The batteries would last longer, you know.

Not All Changes Are Permanent

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There was an election. There was a winner. Old Joe did a lot of damage. Much of it is permanent. It cannot be reversed. People have died as a result of decisions that Old Joe made.

Among the minor things, many lives were ruined when they were forced from military for not taking a vaccine, which is still unproved. I called it minor but that is improper. That is to say it is not minor to them. Their lives and the lives of their families will be changed forever.

To be sure, some compensation might be given them, but the change is irreversible.

Then there are those that were imprisoned without a trial for years. Some have yet to be charged. It can and has been said they were guilty of this or that. The truth is, it was for what they thought even more than what they did. You see they were guilty of liking Trump.

I am sure, day 1, Trump will start reversing things he can. He will drive the price of oil down. He will cause peace in the Middle East. He will Cause China to back off as they did before while he was in office. Many things he will fix.

However, there are some disasters caused by Old Joe that is not reversable. The disasters he has caused, the lives he has cost, the dangers he has caused this country, the damage he has caused to the justice system… It is why I call him Old Joe. He has long passed any chance he has of me calling him president, ever. If I were to see him face to face, I’d still call him old Joe and I’d tell him why. I would tell him in a way that even he’d understand it.

Moral Decay

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Recently, I have been spending time at the hospital. They have signs posted in various places, which ask more-or-less those there to act like reasonable humans beings. The sign ask that we not hit each other, verbally abuse each other or damage hospital property.

I guess there are about 12 or so “please do nots.” I read each one with wonderment. I mean, why is that sign there? I know it seems to be a stupid question. Yet there was a reason for it. That reason is simple. Americans seem to have lost our moral fiber. In the 60’s I would have never seen a sign like that. There would have been no need for one.

Yet, quickly, we realize that each of those do nots is there because someone did them. There were assaults, in the hospital. There was inappropriate touching and language. The hospital had to put the sign up, if for no other reason than to keep from being sued.

Indeed, even with the signs, my guess is, there are those who must be escorted off the premises. They do have security guards there who can… or they can call the police.

I ask the question, have we degraded to such animals. I’m afraid I must answer myself with a solid yes.