Tag Archives: life

Who Cares?

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If I may, I would like to subtitle this Ignorance and Apathy.

Eons ago, a little exaggerated, I asked a programmer if he could teach me a little bit about Algol, a high level, structured programing language. He became thoughtful. He said that it would be difficult to do that. He said that in order to learn one part of the language, I would have to learn another part first. In order to understand that part, I would have to learn the other part first. It seems, in order to learn it, I would have to learn it all at once.

Since that day, I have been trained and I am very proficient at it. As I look back over what the programmer said, he was right. If I were to teach the language, I would have to teach it kind of all at once. I sort of guess that is why not too many people use Algol for programming. On the other hand, it is a very powerful language. I have heard that some people can almost write the whole body of the program in one line. Well, I must admit I am not that good but I can see how others could.

So. Here I am, I’ve written two big paragraphs and neither is about my subject matter. The reason is this. The subject is somewhat like Algol. I am having difficulty knowing where to start. There are 3 different places I need to start first. In order for me to start at point 1, I need to say some things about 2 and 3. In order to start at point 3, I need to say some things about 1 and 2. The word ‘conundrum’ does come to mind.

Let’s start with what you know, the little story where the old professor tells one of his students, “The problem with this world is that the youth is ignorant and apathetic.”

The young student shrugs and replies, “I don’t know and I don’t care.”

Okay. Ha, ha. Funny. I suspect you’ve heard it before. I’ve heard it a few times too. I do hope you liked it if it was the first time you heard it.

As with most of us conservatives, I have been trying to categorize democrats. I don’t know. It would seem that most fall into one of three categories. 1] The ignorant. 2] The Apathetic. 3] Both.

There are those that believed Old Joe was not feeble. There are those who didn’t care. Then there were those that didn’t know and didn’t care.

I suppose my categorizations might not be totally right. There might be those who might say, “Who cares?” There are those who do take that attitude, you know.

You look at the border. Some see the the rush of aliens across and don’t care. Some don’t believe there is a danger from the aliens. Some are completely oblivious to all the danger it causes.

This is of course, in spite of all the rapes and human trafficking that is going on. This in spite of the abuse of children that is happening. They turn their heads and pretend they know not of it.

When Old Joe gave the order begin the retreat in Afghanistan, some didn’t care about the deaths that resulted and the deserting of American citizens and friends left behind to fend for themselves.

We know that our women’s rights group care about women, but in this case, they pulled their heads in like the proverbial turtle and kept their noisy yaps zipped. This of course resulted in the torture and death of women that we liberated, befriended and educated. You can make up your mind. Were they unaware or were they apathetic. Or, on the other hand, could it be because the leadership of the dems told them to hold their complaints.

The dems complain, very loudly I might say, that Trump is apathetic to the poor aliens that are just seeking a better life. In truth, they were the ones apathetic to those that were killed or raped on the way to the US. Was it that they were ignorant to the criminal elements making their fortunes off of the pain and suffering of the aliens.

Could it be that the dems are completely ignorant to the death from the drugs made by the Chinese and distributed by the cartels. or is that they just don’t care.

When Obama pulled our forces out of Iraq, over a million were killed. Most if those tortured and killed called themselves Christian. Then when the dems were told, they said, “I don’t care!” Well, I guess some said, “I don’t believe it,” even though it was in the news for days. Now, that is apathy.

Before they start complaining about Trump being apathetic, I think it is about time to take a good look at the deaths and suffering in their own history. It’s time they look around and see what they are doing. It is time for them to stop being drastically apathetic.

It is time for them to stop saying, “I don’t care.”

Anonymous Source

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Any time someone quotes an anonymous source, it should not be believed. The tragedy is when someone bases a source on someone quoting an anonymous source. It is put forward as truth but it has no more validity than the original source.

So. Trump appoints Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense and immediately we hear quotes on anonymous sources. Soon after we hear quotes on the quotes and then more quotes based on those quotes. For all we know, they are all based on lies.

The fact is, we know not who originally said it or for that matter, if the quote was totally made up in the first place. I can’t say it’s all a lie. However, truth is, they can’t say it’s the truth.

It is the problem with trying a person in the court of public opinion. Nothing has any solid evidence and no one is giving evidence under oath. No one is obligated to tell the truth and no one will suffer a penalty should it all be proved a lie. No one will own up to the responsibility.

If you think it can’t happen, they said over and over that they had proof that Trump colluded with Russia for three years. in fact that impeached him over it. Not a word of it was ever proven. Not only was it eventually proved a lie, but no one ever paid for the lie. Moreover, there are people who still believe the lie, even now that it has been fully exposed.

The dems and the press tells lies on purpose without remorse or fear of retribution. Then the press quotes the lies, quoting the original lie as truth. Then the dem politicians quote the lies spread by the press. Then when the smoke clears, a man’s reputation is smeared forever and the original liar walks away unharmed.

It’s not right. For that reason, I suggest you don’t believe anonymous sources, no matter how much you want to. If you do believe the lies, then you are taking part in the lie.

Real Choices

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There isn’t a day goes by I don’t hear about the rights of women’s choices. To be sure, a person does need to be able to make choices that effect their lives. To be sure, people do make choices every day. Some are good. Some, not so good. Some inconsequential. The hitch, so many of our decisions are made without any idea how long term those decisions can be. We think that they will last for a while and then the consequences, good or bad, will last just a while.

Consider a person gets in a car and drives while under then influence. After a short time, they wake up in hospital room and the doctor tells you, you will never walk again… or see again. If you had planned on making a living using your eyes, you soon realize that isn’t going to happen.

Perhaps all you do is go swimming. You dive and then the only reason you’re still alive is because your friends came to your rescue. Then you get to try out all those experimental things, the robotic things that might allow you to walk again, but slowly. If that is successful, you’ll celebrate a ten foot walk across the room.

You might miss that off-ramp and you have to wait and get off at the next one. That one isn’t so bad. It cost, time, frustration, and, of course, fuel.

The thing is, of course, when a woman decides to go into a place to get an abortion, she should realize it is not as simple as she might think. She gets to make the decision but the baby gets no say in the matter. Of all people, the unborn is totally helpless. He can’t even cry out in pain. If the mother goes through with it, a child will suffer and then die. The child does not have a choice. What a horrible thing if the first choice you make concerning your child, is to kill it. What a horrible thing, you will never meet him or her. You will never see him take his first step or hear his first words.

Worst of all, choice might be made over nothing more than convenience, a means of birth control.

If you do make the choice to kill the baby, at least take a few precautions. What kind of clinic is it. What are the possibilities of infection. Will the doctor provide a follow-up exam? Every time I had a tooth pulled, the dentist had me back in the office a week later to make sure there were no complications. That’s right, complications are possible. Sometimes, odd as it might seem, the baby even might live. It has happened. On the other hand, the baby might have died but was not totally removed. This sort of thing is not common, but it does happen and the resulting infection can result in the death of the mother. A woman is rushed to the e-room with pain, temperature and infection, not realizing the source of the problem. Then, besides paying for the abortion, she has to dig deeper into that savings account to pay for the hospital visit.

Finally, one more caution. Before you make that choice, make sure it is one that you can live with. You will, you know. The rest of your life. Before you make that choice, you might check with a few who have made that choice. You might want to find out if they are having problems living with it. It is one of those permanent choices, you know. It has no backspace key. It has no undo function. Every morning for the rest of your life, you will be reminded. With some, I have heard, it never gets better. The memory only gets harder as you notice other women with children the same age as yours might have been.

You can, of course, just harden your heart. You can learn to live with it. However, is this something you want to force yourself to live with. Broken bones heal. I know. I have had a number of them. Contrary to the popular saying, time does not heal all wounds. Those emotional ones have a tendency to dig in and only grow worse over time.

Observation of Security Cameras

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About 2 or 3 times a year, someone will come by and try to sell me a security camera. Well, actually, they would love to sell me a complete thousand dollar security system. I don’t have the money for that. I have big car payments and a bigger insurance payments. A couple of thousand a year for my house, a couple of thousand for my car.

Maybe I should take my drill instructor’s advice and not buy things like that. Then, there would be no upkeep or insurance. Somehow, in the next few months, I will have to buy some real insurance. The tree at the corner of my house is starting to work on the foundation. It will likely cost me 2 K to bring that thing down and keep it from tearing up my home.

At any rate before you got me off subject, I tell them no. I can’t afford it. One guy got very indignant with me. I got the impression he thought I was lying to him. Like, what difference does it make. I don’t have to explain my decision to him. What in the world would make him think I owe him any kind of explanation.

At any rate, the latest salesman got me to thinking. Do the things work? I mean, if I put a bunch of cameras all over the place and someone steals something, will it help me recover my property?

That, in itself creates other questions. If the thief can find much worth steeling, I suppose I will have to tip my hat to him. I have an antitheft method that works good. I simply don’t don’t have enough to make someone want to break in.

At any rate, let’s say he breaks in and runs off with my old $100 dollar TV. Just what would be the chances of me ever seeing that particular TV again. Actually, my wife has a wedding ring he could steel. However, if he took it to a pawn shop, the guy would laugh it him. He might give him a ten dollar bill for it. It’s not gold and the stone is fake. The fake looks really nice but it’s fake. When we got married we couldn’t afford one. (That’s OK. I have a fifty year marriage instead)

So, here I am, still. Wondering how successful would I be in retrieving the TV. It makes me think about all those news reports on TV. They flash a picture up on the screen and they ask, “Have you seen this person?” “If you know this person, can you please call the police?”

Sometimes, I’ve thought about taking a copy of the photo around Memphis and see if I can find the culprit. Honest, it does make me want very badly to help. I know what it is like to have someone take things from me. It just is that most of the time, they guy has his face covered, usually with a hoody. (maybe we need to outlaw hoodies) The other half the time, if I passed the man on the street, I wouldn’t know it. I never was all that great at remembering faces, especially those I will likely never see again.

I would guess this world is full of folks as me, who isn’t good with faces.

And so, it makes me wonder, just how many people get phone calls when they put something like that on the TV. It makes me wonder, of all the times that a picture is taken of the thief, how many times is it that the thief is caught as a result?

If someone knows an instance or two when their security camera helped, maybe you could send me a comment. I don’t mean where the neighbor is caught but rather some stranger breaks in and you lose the family silver. Did you ever get it back because of the camera.

For quite a while, people steered clear of cameras. Not so much anymore. It would appear the crooks have come to the same conclusion as I have. I don’t think the things do much good.

I wish they did. Then I might buy one, just to keep people from breaking in, even if I have nothing.

Let’s Look at one of the Dem’s Biggest Problems

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Let’s see. Within months of Old Joe taking up his position behind the desk in the Oval Office, he assigned Kamala the problem of the southern border. I know. Some say she was giving the title of border tzar. Kamala and her cohorts are fighting with their last gasp of air to avoid the term. It doesn’t matter. And you know what that great philosopher, Murphy, said, “If it doesn’t matter, then it doesn’t matter.”

The fact of the matter is, that she was given the task and she failed at it. Well, actually, she was supposed to fail. Old Joe did not want the border fixed. Indeed, it was part of his campaign promise. Everyone remembers that, right? I mean most everyone, can remember back that far, right. I mean, I am almost 77 and I remember it. I’m the one who cannot remember why I went into a room and I can remember it all.

Supposedly, she went down south the fix it. The problem is that when she reached the border, she just kept going. She ended up in South America somewhere. You remember that, don’t you? You don’t need the news media to remember that.

Realizing her mistake she went to the southern border. This time she stopped a little short. I don’t know how many others noticed it, but the city in which she stopped, isn’t where the real problem was. You might say she was doing her best to avoid the problem. When confronted by the press, yeah, that’s when she said she hadn’t been to Europe either. Let me see. I think that was when she let out with one of those irritating cackles.

Now, when she is confronted with these facts, she says, that she was never appointed to border tsar. That would have required an act of Congress. Someone should point out to Kamala, responsibility doesn’t work that way. She was given the job and she didn’t do it. It matters not why. It matters not what her title is. She was assigned the job, she accepted responsibility for getting it done, and she didn’t do it. She never even tried.

That is called failure, regardless of the reason.

Indeed, it is one of the biggest problems of the dems. They just don’t know how to accept responsibility. When Obama withdrew from Iraq, millions died. Did you hear Obama accept fault. Did you hear any apologies. When Old Joe came up with that huge disaster in Afghanistan, did you hear him admit to failure. No, never. All you heard from him were efforts to put the blame on others. You remember him pointing fingers and saying it was his fault, never mine. When the bodies were brought back, he could barely take the time to meet them. I have not any idea what was so important to him, but obviously, he could not wait to get back to it.

When his foreign policies led to Russia attacking Ukraine, did you hear him accept responsibly? I didn’t. When Iran funded the attack on Israel by the Palestinians with American money supplied by Old Joe, did you hear anything close to an apology? Did you ever hear him say, “Oops.” You and I both know, it’s not going to happen. When illegal aliens enter the US and kill Americans, is there even the slight appearance of sorrow. Nope. Not anyone in and around the White House. They won’t even acknowledge they took part in the cause. Not going to happen either ever.

I would guess it is part of their plans – never say your sorry – even if you are at fault. Instead, deny, deny, deny. Eventually, of course, we will all forget. Right? I mean, how many even remember the disaster in Afghanistan? And it was just a few years ago. How many have already given Old Joe and his ilk a pass on the all the deaths.

One Word

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I should have been a comedian. With just one word, I can make them laugh, well sometimes two. Let me explain, please. The wife and I walked into the restaurant and the young lady behind the counter, asked, “How are you?” I know. For the most part it was rhetorical. It’s a greeting. Most of the time people say, “Fine,” or nothing at all. Some will reply to the question with another, “Fine, how are you?”

I like to do things a little different. I like to reply as if she means the question. I said, “Hungry.”

Not only did the girl behind the counter burst into laughter but also the three other folks behind me. As usual, my wife got angry with me and chastised me verbally and loudly. That got another laugh. That’s right. we’re a good team.

Actually, I guess my wife is right. One of these days, some one is going to hit me. To be truthful, not everyone likes my humor. Some have scowled at me. One or two have actually yelled at me. I guess, one day someone will actually hit me. I don’t know.

From time to time I get a little brave. The man says, “Excuse me.” I reply, “I’ll try.” Usually, he laughs and we go our separate ways. Then, of course, my wife yells at me. “One of these days, someone who is a little unbalanced is going to haul off and hit you.”

Well, in the meantime, I will bring smiles to many. Sometimes, I will get a little laugh or two. I can’t help it. It’s in my nature. I just like to see people smile, even when it’s because they are laughing at me rather than with me. I especially consider myself successful when it takes just one word.

On the other hand there are those who like to use one word… to make people cry. It makes me wonder why people want to do that.

I’m Retired

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So I’ll reply retroactively. Actually, unless my memory has deceived me again, I think I already said something about that. Well considering the number of posts I posted, it would stand to reason I did say something about it.

I used to have a really good job. I had checklist I had each night and I did what was on it. I started at 5:00 PM and left about 1:00 AM. Moreover, I worked alone. There was no one around to complain about what music I played or how loud. It was better than being at home where my wife complained about the sopranos and the volume. (singers, not the mob show) Also, sometimes I tried to sing along, which she would have really complained about.

I listened to show tunes, songs by John Gary, Ed Ames, Percy Faith, ABBA, Simon and Garfunkel, and kind of the whole pre-80’s things. I listened to some pre-1950’s things. I was constantly adding to my list of selections. It irritates me that I have lost a few of them.

Many of them were of special interest. Simon and Garfunkel produced the song, “Homeward Bound.” While I was in Vietnam, I was not the only one who liked that one. I know. It has nothing to do with those of us carrying around a rifle and wearing a helmet. Still, many of us did adopt the tune.

I listen mostly to same thing now. I have added a little. I listen when at home, sometimes while writing posts. I listen to them while walking. I listen to them while in the car. By the way, the car system has about the best sound, especially with it being electric. No engine noise to interfere.

There are two differences now that I’m no longer listening at work. I have to turn the volume down and I can’t sing along. My wife would complain and, maybe, the neighbors.

I wish I could listen while eating in restaurant, especially with some of what they play over their speakers. I suspect the management would complain. If they didn’t some of the customers would.

Daily writing prompt
What do you listen to while you work?
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We aren’t all sixth-graders

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Honest, I don’t remember exactly when it was, but it seems it was before I went into the Marines that I heard on the TV that commercials are designed for six-graders. Most people don’t like more complex things explained to them. So, if you hope to sell your product, you make sure the commercials are simple and don’t require a PhD to understand, even if your target sales is for PhDs.

I guess, in a way, we as commercial watchers are lazy. We really don’t want our minds taxed after working hard all day. On the other hand, maybe the PhDs are too smart too buy products they don’t need, especially the overpriced ones.

I suppose it does have one other side effect. It might actually make it so the commercials aren’t as expensive. After all, isn’t it all about that important bottom line?

I have taken writing tests before. I don’t know if they still have them, but according to the tests, I write at about sixth grade level. Now isn’t that convenient. My readers do not need to strain their brains in order to understand what I have to say. I guess I could say that it is convenient to be less intelligent.

Thing is, (Shouldn’t use those words so much. I’ve been trying to break myself of that.) I was considering what I heard way back then and associated it with something I heard yesterday. If it works better to write commercials for 6th graders, maybe it is good to write political ads for 6th graders.

I got to thinking, is this a good thing. Do we really want the politicians to talk to us as if we are all sixth graders? Yet it would appear It’s common practice. Reagan was known as the great communicator. Maybe it was because his ads didn’t require so much thought. As the guy said, “Keep it simple stupid.”

Just so there are no misunderstandings. it’s not my words. I did not mean to imply that my readers are stupid. However, the saying has been altered to a short abbreviation, KISS.

It is something of a disadvantage for Republicans. The dems make a simple statement that sounds good and it takes hours for us Republicans to explain why the statement isn’t true. For instance, the dems say how nice it is to tax the rich and provide for the poor. Sounds good. Doesn’t work. Never did. And yet we spend hours and hours explaining why and the general public still can’t understand it.

The same thing can be said of many things the dems try to tell us is good, open borders, weak military, and de-funding the police. (Hint: Since de-funding police, crime has sky rocketed. Since the border was opened, fentanyl has gone from about 50 thousand deaths a year to about 150 thousand a year. Tell me how that worked out, but it sounded good didn’t it. In a way, that is perhaps one of the most expensive decisions Old Joe made. It cost us more lives than Vietnam, both sides. It is why I don’t call him president. He will answer to God for all those deaths.)

It is why I don’t like what the dems are doing. It is especially why I don’t like the methods and the means of Old Joe.

At one time, Democrats and Republicans tried to maintained a closed border, a strong defense and strong law enforcement. Since Obama, not so much. Since Old Joe, even worse.

Then again, if they can successfully treat their followers as 6th graders, what can we expect.

May I Suggest College for All

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Carpenters, plumbers, and welders have no need of a 4 year degree. Professional baseball, football and basketball players have no need to go to college.

Even those in the field of computers don’t need a sheepskin, though it certainly helps.

However, no matter what line of work you go into, that sheepskin will come in very handy.

Let me explain. If I say a thing is so and someone with a PhD says it is not so, he is automatically right, even if he is wrong.

It is the nature of the American royal hierarchy. We do not have kings or dukes. We do, however have college grads, especially those who have graduated from one of those of special higher recognition.

10 say one thing, one person with a degree from Harvard says the other, the 10 are automatically wrong. There is no room for discussion. It is set in concrete.

Those of us without degrees stand no chance. Regardless, right or wrong, we will convince no one. We, none of us, know anything unless we have that sheepskin…or someone with a degree agrees

So, even though you become a millionaire, you know nothing until you go to college and get that sheepskin. So, if you want what you say to be respected, get the degree. Until then, the American royal hierarchy will consider you nothing more than rich and ignorant.

I am not saying it’s right. It is just the way it is. As far as I know, into the foreseeable future, that is the way it will be here in the US.

How-some-ever, God does not look on us that way. He has turned peasants into kings and kings into beggars. When you die and meet Him face-to-face, you show him that fantastic diploma, He won’t care.

When He asks, “Did you accept Jesus as your savior?”

If your reply is no, you will realize you overlooked the most important decision of your life. You will also realize you waited too long. There will be many in Hell that will have their degrees and their wonderful awards. They will provide no comfort.

Nonetheless, while we remain here on earth, we need the degrees for just a little while. If nothing else, the degrees just might help us convince others that they are overlooking the most important thing in their life.

In a Small Sense, I guess

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I know that light I’m aproaching will turn red before I get there. It’s difficult to deny years of experiece. You know. When that big 4×4 pickup next to me starts begins forcing his way in front of me, it never surprises me.

When I was in the Marines and a bad rumor circulates, I know it is true. On the other hand, I was never surprised when the good rumors never came true.

As far as believing in fate or destiny as a thing or force, nope. There is certainly no destiny that has a face or persnality. To be sure, when a certain set of cercumstances fall in place, it would only stand to reason something generally follows.

I have a saying, when I drop something, I am apt to say, gravity worked again. It would certainly surprise me if the object remained in mid-air.

I do believe God does exist and that He does take a personal interest in all of us, in me and this world. He is not fate or destiny. However, from the formation of the earth, He knew me. He knew every decision I would ever make. Whenever and wherever He chooses, He intervenes.

For instance, in the case of that obiect I drop, He knew I would drop it. If He chose he could stop me from droping it. Generally, He does not interfere with gravity but he can. In fact He has.

From time to time, I wish He would intervene in that man’s plans to pull over in my lane. On the other hand He just might have a lesson for me. It still gives my wife a fright when he tries to make his big pickup occupy the same space as my car.

If such a thing happened, it would be bad driving, not fate, not destiny.

As a side note, I do like the musical, “Kismet” which is, I think Arab for fate. Just cause I like the show, doesn’t mean I believe in it. Mostly I like the music. I did from the first I heard it. I especially enjoy the song Stranger in Paradise. I’ll never tire of it.

Daily writing prompt
Do you believe in fate/destiny?
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