Category Archives: Important things

Helmets

Posted in Important things, Safety, Uncategorized by

Seems every time I turn around, they are coming up with new safety requirements. For some time, I wondered why we are not yet required to wear helmets while riding in cars. Without a doubt, they would help safety. Not only would they save lives, but they would cut down on concussions and eye injuries.

The hitch of course is that it would be necessary to keep a few helmets handy, perhaps in the trunk. You would want to make sure you had helmets for all your passengers, as if they would want to wear them.

For years, my question was, just why haven’t they started having requirements for them. Then it came to me. Wish I could say I thought of it, but I heard it on the radio. Made perfect sense. I mean there are some things that take priority even over safety.

As of yet, they have not come up with a helmet that will not mess up a woman’s hairdo. Until they do, the helmet will remain an option for cars, one rarely used.

Examples

Posted in Abuse of Power, Being woke, Biden, Bribes, Christian values, Elections, FOC, Important things, Lawyers and Representation, News media, Obama, Pelosi, Politcal Opinion, Reporters, Truth by

I wish I were a better writer, especially when it comes to what I am writing. Maybe, I will get a little help from the Lord. The problem is that it is such a broad topic, and it is so easy to go chasing rabbits down trails instead of staying on topic. And to be sure, I am one who easily goes chasing rabbits.

I borrow the following partial definition from Miriam Webster of the word example. “1 : one that serves as a pattern to be imitated or not to be imitated a good example 2 : a punishment inflicted on someone.” I literally copied and pasted this into to my post. I hope they won’t mind.

We use the term so regularly that we sometimes overlook the meaning behind the word. Or maybe I should say the thought behind it. After all, words do represent thoughts. May I reword the above?

We point to good or bad examples to tell us what might be good or bad. That is to say, when our parents told us not to play in the street, they just might be able to point out what happen to the boy that was hurt. Sometimes, our parents point out what happened to an older sibling. In some cases, the sibling did something bad and that the example is not to be followed. In some cases, maybe the sibling did something good and went on to achieve wealth and fame. In some cases, it is impossible to live up to the example but at least we should strive to the goal.

We live in a world of examples: NY, NY; LA, CA; Chicago; SF, CA. They are all cities where the crime and murder rate is high. I certainly would not want to walk down the streets of NY, NY alone in the middle of the night. San Francisco is no longer the model city it was in yesteryear. The Windy city has some of the most stringent gun laws in the country and yet, hardly a day goes by where people there are shooting people. Sometimes, a person dies of an errant bullet simply because they happen to be standing where the bullet happens to be going.

I ask the question: Do we really want to follow the example of these cities? Is there a program that they are using, a plan that they are following that should serve as an example for the rest of the nation? I suggest the opposite is true. They have laws, regulations, and programs that should be held up to the world that should not be followed. They are horrid laws, and the cities are being led by incompetent people. They are not spending money in the right places, and they are giving monies to the wrong people. Their governments are corrupt, and they do not make decisions based on the good of the city or its citizens.

Yet, year after year, the same type people are elected to office. One might hang a sign outside their city halls, “Intelligent people need not apply.” Those who are honest have long given up the concept of trying to straiten out the mess the dems have created.

One can set off from afar and ask, “Why do they do that to themselves?” I mean, the people do get to vote in their choice and then they choose as they choose. Why is that? I don’t know. I have tried to figure it out but my feeble mind simply is not up to the task.

We can look at the states as well. We look at Florida, a really pretty good example of how to have a successful state. Then we look at NY and hopefully realize it is an example of how not to run a state. Or, perhaps we can use the state as an example of how to destroy a state. Yet we must assume it is what the people of NY want. It is what they voted into office.

Personally, I don’t understand it. New York used to be the most populus state. Next census, it might be fourth or fifth. CA is pretty much in a nosedive too despite their ideal weather. Is it their purpose to decrease the cost of living so all the elite will be able to get a good deal when they move in?

However…, being a poor example is not new. God had it all planned out. He would build a big powerful nation that would love Him, His law and follow His leadership. The idea was that the rest of the world would look at the Children of Israel and see how God built the nation up because they did as God commanded.

Well, at least in the short term, the plan failed. Don’t get the wrong idea. God knew the plan would fail from the start. Yet He decided to give Israel a chance and a short time later, the world looked on Israel and saw the example God wanted. Kings came from far and wide to see Soloman and the kingdom that God built.

And then it started falling apart. It’s not that I’m smart. A sixth grader can follow the pattern. Israel broke off from Juda and never did really follow the God. God issued warning after warning until he finally sent a king from the north in to take over. Israel became an example of what happens to a nation when they do not follow God.

Juda on the other hand, lasted a little longer. They followed a pattern. First, they would fall into sin and rebellion, and then they would repent, and God built them up again. I don’t remember exactly how many times that happened, but the last time was different. They fell into sin, and regardless of multiple warnings, they refused to repent. God raised up the nation of Babylon and they took over Juda.

Israel, that is to say, the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Juda, became an example of what not to do. For seventy years, Israel lived under captivity. Even then, they were never restored to their former glory. They lived under the control of Greece and Rome. The Jews had their kings, but they never were autonomous again. Now, today, when people talk about the Jews, there is no respect. They are disparaged and belittled. They are an example of what happens when people don’t do as God tells them. They had a free choice. God did not force them to follow Him. They made their choice and now we all see the example of what happens when man refuses to follow God.

Now. One day, likely soon. The world will once again see what happens when a nation will not follow God. People will look at the history of our once great nation and point and say, “They were once a great nation. The US was once undefeatable. But then they turned away from God.”

Then we will be the example, and not for good.

I suspect I did not do the subject justice. As I said, I am not that great with words. Yet, there are those who have read this are good word smiths. Feel free to use my words and thoughts to further my feeble efforts.

Riot?

Posted in Gathering false infomortion, Important things, January 6, law enforcement, Liberals, Pelosi, Politcal Opinion by

Former VP Pence alluded to Jan 6 being a violent riot. He just lost my vote. Can’t say I was leaning his way anyway but now I suspect that he likely believed that Pres Trump was behind it.

Sorry. Can’t agree with him on either count. The only one hurt was an unarmed woman that was shot as she was lying down. Can’t believe that she was much of a threat to anyone, certainly not the policeman that shot her.

As for Trump instigating it, he did all he could to stop it. Pelosi absolutely stood in his way. She refused to accept the federal troops he offered days in advance. More than that, it has the smell of being instigated by the dems. (Anyone seen Epps, the one waving encouraging the crowd into the building. Is he or any of the others who encouraged the crowd to enter the building FBI agents. Or maybe they’re just agents hired by the Dems.)

I figure it all out. Why can’t VP Pence? Nope. Can’t vote for him. Actually, I wonder why he is even running. Surely, he does not imagine he’ll get close.

Possible Solution for Robocalls or Telemarketers

Posted in Computers, experience, Fantasy, Important things, Lawyers and Representation, Respect by
  1. Check caller ID. If not recognized, don’t answer.
  2. When phone stops ringing, call back. If busy, it is likely robocaller or telemarketer attempting there next call. If they answer, if it is a business they will likely answer with 1. A recording 2. A business reply identifying their business 3. Some poor college kid might reply with no idea what to do. They generally are not trained to receive calls. Your choice as to what to do, most probably tell them to stop calling. Alternatively, you can simply hang up.
  3. Of course it could be Mom on a borrowed phone wanting some help. Apologize and tell her you’re on the way.
  4. If it is a telemarketer, refuse to do any business with them. It is the ultimate solution. If telemarketing doesn’t work, they will stop doing it. My guess is the phone companies will be the losers. They know when these guys set these things up & they know they are going to make a bundle on it. As. Long as the phone companies permit it, it will not stop, especially from foreign shores.

How Much is Enough?

Posted in Abuse of Power, Biden, Bribes, FOC, Important things, Lawyers and Representation, Liberals, Lobbyists, Obama, Politcal Opinion by

I once had a hope of having a million dollars… at which time I would retire and never again work. To be sure, 10 millions wouldn’t last some more than a week. I suppose there are a few people who spend more than a million dollars in a day and think little or nothing of it.

It prompts the question, just how much is enough?

At one time, I actually had hopes of approaching the million dollars but then came Obama care. That soaked the funds out of my savings about 10 times faster than I could replenish it. I thought I had enough. Suddenly I was begnning to think I would have to work 10 years beyond my death.

There was a comedian who said it well. “I’m not selfish. All I need is enough to pay for all I need and all I want.” I guess the definition of all we want varies vary much. Moreover, some people don’t even make enough for their needs, let alone what they want.

There are many who ask if this is right. They think if we just take money from those who have more than enough for their needs and many of thier wants and give it to those who don’t have enough for their needs, it would make the world into a utopia.

Those who think that way simply don’t live in the real world. Their reasoning has been blinded by their idealism. Moreover, they started handing out cell phones to people who don’t need them. Believe it or not, cell phones are not necessities. A person can easily survive without them. Yet, socialists called them a basic need and took money away from those like me. In order to get my cell phone, I had to give up other things.

Then again, Obama and his friends had no interest in me. I was paying my way, plus a huge 1000 dollar a month health insurance premium. I never was rich and it seems the dems are determined to keep me from it.

Which actually brings me to my point. The wealthy are wealthy and are likely to remain so, due to the laws written by the friends of criminals and of course the wealthy bribing, aka lobbying, aka payoffs. Also, those not wealthy are likely to remain, as me, not wealthy. They don’t want the likes of me joining those with big bank accounts.

It seems, in reality, the government has a really hard time determining what is enough, that is to say, the difference between needs, wants and outright freebies. In addition, they don’t seem to know the difference between those down on their luck and the folks with their hands out.

If the truth be told, the FOC are not out to help the poor but rather themselves. They know that out of every dollar going through government control, some of it indirectly remains in the hands of the legislators and those who provide the payoffs aka lobbyist. It is why poor legislators become rich without any other apparent income other than the checks they draw in exchange for supposedly representing us.

QUESTION: Just what does the word lobby, as in large room, have to with bribes, as in payoffs.

New & Old

Posted in Crime, FOC, guard duty, gun control, Important things, law enforcement, Truth, Vietnam war by

A while ago, I noticed a new shooting range nearby. For a number of weeks I drove by looking from a distance. Yesterday, I went in, just to look around. I must say, I was very much impressed.

First, it was well stocked. They had a wide variety of new and used. Yes, they had many varieties of the AR15, the civilian version of the M16. To my surprise, they even had an M14.

Came close to buying it. It had been over fifty years since I touched one. I was surprised to realize that it felt quite familiar to me, if you’ll permit, as a long lost friend. Even so, I was reminded of its nine pound weight. I reluctantly decided against the purchase. I could afford the gun but not the hobby. Also, it would be a magnet to many a thief who might find out I have it.

Secondly, the staff was friendly and knowledgeable. It didn’t take long for me to realize it. If a person is going to buy a gun, it is good to know they are buying from someone who knows his wares.

Finally, it seemed a good business. It is modern, clean and well organized.

I suspect they are the type that would seek out complaints, but there aren’t likely many.

Why can’t all businesses that way.

As for the M14 I much prefer it over the M16. I qualified with both and, though the M16 is much easier to tote and fire, I have far more faith in the M14. It might be older. It might have more kick. I am sure that it is more accurate and lethal. And that is what a rifle is for.

Competition is a Wonderful Thing

Posted in Abuse of Power, Biden, Bribes, Christian values, Communism, Controllers, CRT, Fear, Important things, Lawyers and Representation, Liberals, Lobbyists, Plutocrat, Religion, Socialists, Unions by

Let’s go back to the days of yore. Let’s imagine 3 cobblers set up shop. Which one will have the most success. To some degree, the one that is the fastest. However, the cobbler who makes a thousand shoes will never succeed unless he can sell his shoes. Therefore, his shoes need to be of good quality and the proper sizes. No one will buy shoes that are too small or will fall apart in a week.

If there were just 1 cobbler, we’d be stuck with whatever he wanted to make. The footware would be ugly, ill fitting and they wouldn’t last. The instant a second cobbler opens up shop, and then a 3rd and fourth, the quality would go up and the cost would go down.

It’s the way competition works and it’s wonderful. For well over 200 years, it has turned the USA to the greatest nation ever. There is no other country where people are willing to risk everything to get in. Moreover, as badly as the illegal aliens are treated, they hide in fear of being sent home.

Yet we prevent fair competition in one of the most important parts of our society. Of course private schools have a hard time competing with public schools. The government is picking up the tab for public schools.

Yet, there are thousands of parents willing to make great sacrifices to put their children in private schools. The why is quite simple. Public schools lack quality. They simply lack good teachers, good curriculum or good results.

The libs brag about public schools but, take away public funding and they would instantly go away. I know this is true because the libs themselves have said as much. They have said if monies are diverted to private schools, the public schools would go away. They actually live in fear of it.

Well, maybe they should go away. It is the way of competition. Only the better schools would survive. Only the best teachers would continue to teach. It is the American way. It is what made America great. Why in the world should we settle for a less than a mediocre education system when we are paying for the best?

Settling for mediocre schools is worse than Settling for mediocre shoes. And yet we stand by and watch our public school funds being poured down the proverbial drain…without results.

A Little Story

Posted in Important things, Religion by

I have a little story.  Very few have heard it.  I hope you’ll take a minute or two to read it.  By the way, I guess I should tell you, it’s fiction.  As an author, my stories are almost all fiction.

It is an interesting fact that fiction stories can sometimes illustrate things even better than true stories.  Jesus frequently used stories we call parables.  He was expert at it.  Sorry.  I am not one bit as good at stories as He is.  I’m not even very good at writing.  I’m sure most have figured that out by now.

Nonetheless, I’m writing this story because I do believe it needs to be told.  It needs to be told over and over until all have heard it, or something similar.

It seems a number of decades ago; a man was stranded on a desert island, sort-of like “Robinson Caruso.”  Only my story isn’t as good.  I’m no Daniel Defoe.  On the other hand, it will not take as long to read.

I’m not going to explain how the man was stranded.  I don’t know.  It matters not anyway.

What really matters is what he did after he was stranded.  The first thing he managed to do was to chop down one many trees on the island.  It had some kind of fruit on it which provided him food.

Then, he chopped the tree into two halves.  With one half, he built a fire as it was it beginning to cool.

The other half of the log, he carved into an idol.  The night was long and he simply had so little to do in the dark.  He certainly didn’t want o go wondering off in the night where some dangerous animals might attack him.

So now, from the same tree, he had both warmth and a god.

He sat the god up and saw how nice it looked.  So he began praying to the large piece of wood.  He asked the wood to save him from his predicament.  He fell asleep while praying.

In the morning, the fire was just embers and the idol remained.  It said nothing.  It saw nothing and it did nothing.  As would stand to reason, it just sat there like… well, like a big piece of wood.

Some might say the man was stupid.  On the other hand, some would say my story is stupid.  There is simply no way a person can express how ludicrous it is to expect a piece of wood to do anything but sit there.  Well, if the tide came up high enough, it just might float away.  That might be the best end of this little story.

Those of you that are Bible readers might have figured out that I borrowed parts of the story, I mean besides the Caruso thing.  I would suggest that you read the passage in the Bible, Isaiah 44:9 to 20.  If you don’t want to; or if you don’t have the time, let me quote one chapter from it, verse 10:

Who but a fool would make his own god – an idol cannot help him one bit.

It seems so casual to the most obvious observer that a living gods cannot be made from wood, or gold, or silver, or bronze.  My question is, why do men keep trying?

I have heard a number of preachers say that we don’t see anything in the Bible about idols until after the flood.  Personally, I remember the mention of idols while Jacob is running from his deceptive father-in-law.

Of course, idols might have existed before the flood, but, for a few reasons I suspect not.

As an aside, I might mention, the first two commandments deal with idols.  The first says that we are not to have any other gods before God.  The second, that we should not make idols and that we are not to worship them.

If worshiping idols is so stupid, why is it that people do it?  Just what prompted God to include the first two commandments?  I mean, men are reasonably intelligent beings.  Why should any of us be so dumb that we think we can form things with our hands that can hear us and do things for us?  Why is it that people think that the sun, moon and stars can do one single thing for us?

They cannot hear or see.  They certainly have no empathy or sympathy for us…or any emotion.  In the case of our little story, if the stranded man must rely on the idol to be rescued, he’s going to have to wait a long time.  He would be better off using the thing as a floating device and try for another nearby island.

Yet we find that mankind has worshiped idols on every continent but Antarctica. (Maybe there too.  Maybe before the flood.)  And, oh yes.  Some have worshiped volcanoes, tides and the earth itself.  Indeed, the modern green earth movement is a form of earth worship—mother earth, really?

In order to really understand this desire for men to worship idols, we really need to go back to when Cain’s offering was not accepted by God and why it was rejected.  This gave me problems for a long time, until I really understood it.  Cain was not satisfied with the religion God set up.  He had requirements for the offering and Cain decided to ignore it.  You see, he wanted to start his own religion.

From that day until now and it will continue on, man has never settled for the way God set things up.  Throughout known history, men have been trying to set up their own religion, which, of course, did not include the one true God.

As I have said before, manmade religions have an advantage.  Man gets to set up all the rules.  Naturally, in the past, many of these rules were for the benefit of those making the rules, like multiple wives.  This can easily take me off on dozens of rabbit trails.  However, in this case, it is the concept I want to center on.  I mean all the rabbit trails are different and yet they’re all the same.

Unlike proper worshiping of God, men following manmade religions end in one thing, death, eternally and forever.  I believe the redundancy serves the purpose to drive the point home.

Now let’s change the story a little.  Let’s pretend he is stranded on the island for a year or so.  Someone comes along in a ship or yacht and finds him.  He’s saved, right?  Wrong.  He does something else that’s really dumb.

The island is surrounded with really hungry sharks and the man wants to swim the first ten miles.  That way he can brag that he helped with his salvation.

I don’t think the man will make it ten miles.  I don’t think he will make it one mile.  Besides, he will slow the vessel, which will have to wait for the would-be survivor.

Of course, no one would do something so stupid.  Yet, every day people do something far worse.  They try to help Jesus Christ with their salvation.  They like the idea of swimming the first 10 miles (or add their good works toward their salvation) and as such, they destroy all chances of their salvation.  It demonstrates a lack in faith that Jesus ability and desire to do it all.  Faith alone is the only thing that Jesus will accept.  Everything else is as filthy rags.  Do you really want to offer God filthy rags?  That’s dumb

My hint to one and all, don’t try to help Jesus.  He can do it without your help.  You can’t and He will not accept anything you have to offer.  God only accepts the blood sacrifice of Jesus’ blood for your salvation.  If you try to add to it, you will nullify it.  More than that, why should you even try?  It is far more ridiculous than our stranded man relying on that chunk of dead wood to save him.

$10 Dollar Gasoline???

Posted in Abuse of Power, Biden, Crazy Nuts, Electectric vehicles, FOC, Going Green, Important things, Lawyers and Representation, Liberals, New Cars, Politcal Opinion by

In the 70s an unexpected problem arose. The price of gasoline went to over a dollar. Well yes, it was a problem that caused many problems, especially in a world of approximately 30 cent fuel.

Suddenly, people were playing over 3 times as much, when they could find it. But it caused an odd, unexpected problem for those selling it. I remember it first hand. I was there.

Some dealt with the problem by selling gasoline by the liter. Some simply painted a one in front of that portion indicating the price and the cost of the sale.

Of course, now, very few expect $10 gasoline. However, that would only require a little more than doubling. Back in the 1970s, it more than trippled. One day it was 30 cents. 6 or 7 months later, it was 1.10 and climbing.

That was when we could find stuff. With it going up so fast, I suspect some held onto it as an investment comodity. They could not resist holding onto a few thousand gallons knowing the price will go up 3 or 4 percent in a month. In itself, this would drive the prices up.

Those of us buying the gas, dealt with the problem in three basic ways. We drove less. We pumped our own gas and we stayed away from name brands. Before, I bought only Standard and Chevron gas. After, all I looked at was the price.

Then again, frequently, we settled for accessibility. Many stations were out of gas or claimed to be. Some stations had 2 hour lines. Then they’d sell out on the car 2 cars in front of me.

In the long term, we bought smaller cars with smaller less powerful engines. It meant putting up with rougher rides in cramped environments and much less trunk space.

So now, the price of gas flirts with 4 dollars a gallon, we lack these methods we used last time around. I already buy Mapco gas. I pump my own fuel and my little 100 hp motor has problems with steep grades and I can forget toeing even a small trailer. A boat or travel trailer is out of the question. I’m already considering one of those Flintstone cars powered by foot power.

I suspect most of us would prefer that gas stay down perhaps to the 2 dollar range. For that reason, if nothing else, I’d strongly suggest firing all those dems in Congress, House and Senate. Most of them like the thought of 10 dollar gas. They want us to buy the more expensive, smaller electric cars, which do little or nothing to decrease “green gasses.” Actually, they’d prefer we walk, ride bikes, buses or trains while they ride in chauffeured luxury cars or fly around in private jets.

So, unless you like bicycling &+ buying gas by the liter, you might want to vote Republican. You might want to encourage your friends to vote Republican. You might even want to encourage your advisories to vote Republicans.

Paying 10 dollars a gallon is more than crazy. It’s crazy nuts. Then again, $2.50 a liter might sound better, but it won’t help the budget one iota. Indeed, just as I saw in the 70s, the price of everything will go up to match the increase in the cost of energy.

Robo-umps Inevitable?

Posted in Computers, Important things by

Maybe. Likely. My guess is that it will become common within the decade.

My logic is that it’s all about the dollar, or more accurately, the thousands of dollars.

You see, we’re not talking Little League. Even in the early days of baseball, one call did not make that much difference. Nowadays, one bad call call can lead to the loss of tens of thousands of dollars.

One can argue that it all averages out. However, sometimes it doesn’t work that way. Can you imagine if it is the last call of last pitch of the World Series? We’re talking millions of dollars based on one call being right or wrong.

I would expect that the methods will go through changes and adjustments. I read it will be a slightly larger strike zone. That likely would increase the strikes and decrease the hits. In turn, that would reduce scoring, which might not be desirable.

i don’t know. It’s not really a guess. I’m just saying that the fans might not like it. There is simply no way to totally be sure of the results until they try it out live, perhaps in the pre season.

I do wonder how it’s gonna effect Las Vegas. I mean I do wonder. I suspect they’re already considering it, though. It will likely change things but just how is anyone’s guess.

Bottom line, it’s only important to those who hurl the ball and those who try to hit it. I guess to them it means the world. To me, not so much.