Thursday, October 18, 2007
Knee surgery
My darling bride had knee surgery this morning to "clean up" arthritis that has been increasingly uncomfortable and debilitating. When finished, her doctor came out and told me the prognosis; there isn't much cartilage left, he had to repair the meniscus, and it's basically bone on bone. At the outside, she's got 5 years or so until a knee replacement will be necessary. I've known a number of people who've had that procedure. To a man, they all say they wish they'd done it 15 years earlier. They walk pain-free for the first time in years. With Kim's other health issues, I'm not sure it would be that simple, but it appears to be an inevitabilty. Anyway, she came out of anesthesia just fine and did just great getting into the car after the surgery and from the car to the house afterward! I'll tell you - she's a trooper! The only problem I've had is getting her to sit still and let me wait on her! She keeps jumping up for this or that, telling me all the while that she doesn't do "sit still" very well. She's taking a nap now, and a well-deserved one at that. If you're reading, please pray that God will help her heal quickly and delay the necessity of the artificial knee for a long time! - Dan
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Well, we lost AGAIN!!!
If you happen to be one of my players reading in - please stop reading now....
Have you stopped yet?
If you haven't stopped yet, why not? Didn't I tell you to stop?
If you're one of my players, and you're still reading, please forgive me in advance for what I'm about to say. We're not very good. We don't tackle well. We don't block well. We're not very fast, not very strong, and not very physical. We don't play with much passion for the most part, and we don't play very well together. What's worse is the fact that we're not very smart, either. I've got a pretty extensive stunt and scheme package that I usually put in, but I haven't been able to put much of anything at all in this year - we're just not smart enough to pick it up and run it. We've won one game all year and I'd be surprised if we win another. Our one victory was against the perennial doormats of our league, and we just barely beat them. I'd like to think that I'm a pretty good coach, but kids without much talent and very little desire are a pretty tough sell.
Here are some of the sideline quotes from the game tonight (names changed to protect the innocent):
Coach B (my partner) - "Smith! Stop tip-toeing through the tulips and hit the hole! (to me) Dan, I'm getting really tired of these guys running like they think they're Barry Sanders or something!"
Me - "Yeah, I'm afraid we don't have Barry Sanders over here anywhere. COLONEL Sanders we got - but no Barry!"
Coach B - "Jones (an offensive tackle)! What're you doing 15 yards downfield?! My running back's getting killed behind the line of scrimmage and you're 15 yards downfield!"
Me - "One of the guys on the other team hollered 'donuts!' and he went down there to look, coach!"
Coach B - "Dan, I'm going to burn a time-out. I think we're out of gas."
Me - "Yeah, I'm seeing cleat-marks on tongues - it's probably time!"
Well, if you're not winning, you may as well have a good time with it. We have three games left, and then basketball season starts. Here's the sad news. As bad as our group in 8th-grade is, the 7th-graders are even worse. I coach the 7th A and B and, based on what we've got out for football, it's going to be a VERY long basketball season. Well, maybe some kid will come out of one of the PE classes and surprise me.
I sure hope so!
Dan
Have you stopped yet?
If you haven't stopped yet, why not? Didn't I tell you to stop?
If you're one of my players, and you're still reading, please forgive me in advance for what I'm about to say. We're not very good. We don't tackle well. We don't block well. We're not very fast, not very strong, and not very physical. We don't play with much passion for the most part, and we don't play very well together. What's worse is the fact that we're not very smart, either. I've got a pretty extensive stunt and scheme package that I usually put in, but I haven't been able to put much of anything at all in this year - we're just not smart enough to pick it up and run it. We've won one game all year and I'd be surprised if we win another. Our one victory was against the perennial doormats of our league, and we just barely beat them. I'd like to think that I'm a pretty good coach, but kids without much talent and very little desire are a pretty tough sell.
Here are some of the sideline quotes from the game tonight (names changed to protect the innocent):
Coach B (my partner) - "Smith! Stop tip-toeing through the tulips and hit the hole! (to me) Dan, I'm getting really tired of these guys running like they think they're Barry Sanders or something!"
Me - "Yeah, I'm afraid we don't have Barry Sanders over here anywhere. COLONEL Sanders we got - but no Barry!"
Coach B - "Jones (an offensive tackle)! What're you doing 15 yards downfield?! My running back's getting killed behind the line of scrimmage and you're 15 yards downfield!"
Me - "One of the guys on the other team hollered 'donuts!' and he went down there to look, coach!"
Coach B - "Dan, I'm going to burn a time-out. I think we're out of gas."
Me - "Yeah, I'm seeing cleat-marks on tongues - it's probably time!"
Well, if you're not winning, you may as well have a good time with it. We have three games left, and then basketball season starts. Here's the sad news. As bad as our group in 8th-grade is, the 7th-graders are even worse. I coach the 7th A and B and, based on what we've got out for football, it's going to be a VERY long basketball season. Well, maybe some kid will come out of one of the PE classes and surprise me.
I sure hope so!
Dan
Monday, October 15, 2007
I'm liking this series!
Hello, baseball fans!
I like the way the LCSs are shaping up! In the NL, two expansion (and NOT big market!) teams are playing; well, one of the two is playing - the D-Backs have been doing a lot of watching so far and come into play tonight down 0-3. The Indians are poised to take a 2-1 on the Red Sox with two more to play at "The Jake" before heading back to Beantown (if necessary). How could it get any better than that? I don't know about anyone else, but I really like it when small market, small payroll teams advance. It proves that you don't have to have a $200+ million payroll to compete AND it proves that buying every free agent with Scott Boras as an agent doesn't necessarily guarantee success. Hey, this is GOOD for baseball!
What would be better? If baseball could guarantee that all of the players on the field were NOT drug-affected and if baseball would establish drug-testing guidelines to ensure that no player will ever be juiced up again! Okay...I know that's a tough one. As fast as tests are devised, bathroom chemists come up with ways to defeat the tests. What about this? Any player who suddenly gains 50 pounds of pure muscle and goes from 35 homers a year to 70 AUTOMATICALLY comes under suspicion! Uhh...how about a hat size test? Any player who goes from 71/4 to 9 automatically comes under suspicion! Okay; not reasonable. Perhaps, when the next CBA is reached, baseball will insist upon tough drug-testing as part of the agreement. I hope for the sake of baseball it comes to pass.
This year's LCSs have been good. They could be better in the future.
I like the way the LCSs are shaping up! In the NL, two expansion (and NOT big market!) teams are playing; well, one of the two is playing - the D-Backs have been doing a lot of watching so far and come into play tonight down 0-3. The Indians are poised to take a 2-1 on the Red Sox with two more to play at "The Jake" before heading back to Beantown (if necessary). How could it get any better than that? I don't know about anyone else, but I really like it when small market, small payroll teams advance. It proves that you don't have to have a $200+ million payroll to compete AND it proves that buying every free agent with Scott Boras as an agent doesn't necessarily guarantee success. Hey, this is GOOD for baseball!
What would be better? If baseball could guarantee that all of the players on the field were NOT drug-affected and if baseball would establish drug-testing guidelines to ensure that no player will ever be juiced up again! Okay...I know that's a tough one. As fast as tests are devised, bathroom chemists come up with ways to defeat the tests. What about this? Any player who suddenly gains 50 pounds of pure muscle and goes from 35 homers a year to 70 AUTOMATICALLY comes under suspicion! Uhh...how about a hat size test? Any player who goes from 71/4 to 9 automatically comes under suspicion! Okay; not reasonable. Perhaps, when the next CBA is reached, baseball will insist upon tough drug-testing as part of the agreement. I hope for the sake of baseball it comes to pass.
This year's LCSs have been good. They could be better in the future.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
More thoughts on Presidential politics
Hello, again!
Inquisitive minds want to know - why do so many people seek the Presidency, why is there almost always such a nasty debate about who should or should not win the office, and why do people have the perceptions they do about this office?
The office of the President of the United States is the most powerful on earth. People do not seek it because of the pay. Most highly placed executives, or for that matter, JUNIOR executives in America, make more money than the President. People seek it because they want to be seen as "the guy in charge;" they want to be the one who hears "Hail to the Chief" when they enter a room; they want to be the one who fingers the nuclear football; they want to be "the man." Why do people care who becomes President? Well, there's another question, isn't there? The fact is, the President establishes the agenda and sets the pace for whatever legislation is pending before Congress. The President can veto whatever he dislikes, and it usually dies when he does. Perhaps more importantly, the President nominates SC justices, and THEY are the real power in Washington! If he gets his nominee through Congress, the political tone is set for a long, LONG time by whoever sits on that bench! More than any other reason, THIS is why people care about who gets to be President. So, the President has a lot of power, but the SC has more. Why do we care, then, if the SC is pretty much set for the time being? Well, people want Congress to DO things! They send people to Washington who they believe will represent their interests. If we have some dimwit President running a personal agenda that has little to do with anyone's interests other than their own, Congress gets bogged down and can't get anything done AT ALL. This is one of the reasons that Hillary would be such a bad choice. She wants to nationalize health care. Anyone tried to get surgery in Canada lately? It's a freakin' nightmare! We need LESS government in health care, not more! Reasons for the high cost of prescription drugs? It's because Medicare has the pricing structure for drugs so messed up everywhere they control it that prescription drug companies seek to make up their losses anywhere the prices are not controlled! If government would get out of the health care business altogether, pricing for the rest of us would normalize as market forces take over. Anyone remember Capitalism? You know...supply and demand, that sort of thing? It doesn't exist in health care, which is why it's so screwed up already! If government would get out of the health care business and let doctors, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies compete on even ground with one another, health care would once again be affordable and Hillary could stop worrying about it!
Has anyone ever noticed...anytime something goes wrong, it's the President's fault? If it goes well, he's not usually given credit! Poor old Herbert Hoover. The Great Depression was blamed on him, but he just happened to be the guy at the wheel when the tires blew out. It wasn't any more his fault that the man in the moon, but he got blamed. A lot of people have tried to blame 911 on Bush - his intelligence agencies were asleep at the wheel, not communicating with one another, not forwarding important stuff to the right people, forwarding unimportant stuff instead, etc. Uhh...when did Bush establish the hierarchy of intelligence agencies? When did HE decide that the FBI, CIA, NSA, etc., should not talk to one another? 911 wasn't his fault; he just happened to be the one driving when the wheels fell off. Now, has anyone noticed the fact that there hasn't been a terrorist attack on American soil SINCE 911? Well, there hasn't been! Thanks, Mr. Bush. Your folks got it right. Here's one voice who WILL thank you for your service to our country.
Who ought to be President? I don't know, and I don't think it really matters all that much, as long as it's not Hillary. Most of the other candidates I've heard speak have pretty much the same agenda; get out of Iraq; smooth out the bumps in health care; provide for the common defense; promote the general welfare. As far as I can tell, there all pretty much the same. They want to be the one who hears "Hail to the Chief" when they walk into a room. I think maybe it's time we elected a President who cannot hear. maybe then we'd get someone who would serve the best interest of the country first and foremost. - Dan
Inquisitive minds want to know - why do so many people seek the Presidency, why is there almost always such a nasty debate about who should or should not win the office, and why do people have the perceptions they do about this office?
The office of the President of the United States is the most powerful on earth. People do not seek it because of the pay. Most highly placed executives, or for that matter, JUNIOR executives in America, make more money than the President. People seek it because they want to be seen as "the guy in charge;" they want to be the one who hears "Hail to the Chief" when they enter a room; they want to be the one who fingers the nuclear football; they want to be "the man." Why do people care who becomes President? Well, there's another question, isn't there? The fact is, the President establishes the agenda and sets the pace for whatever legislation is pending before Congress. The President can veto whatever he dislikes, and it usually dies when he does. Perhaps more importantly, the President nominates SC justices, and THEY are the real power in Washington! If he gets his nominee through Congress, the political tone is set for a long, LONG time by whoever sits on that bench! More than any other reason, THIS is why people care about who gets to be President. So, the President has a lot of power, but the SC has more. Why do we care, then, if the SC is pretty much set for the time being? Well, people want Congress to DO things! They send people to Washington who they believe will represent their interests. If we have some dimwit President running a personal agenda that has little to do with anyone's interests other than their own, Congress gets bogged down and can't get anything done AT ALL. This is one of the reasons that Hillary would be such a bad choice. She wants to nationalize health care. Anyone tried to get surgery in Canada lately? It's a freakin' nightmare! We need LESS government in health care, not more! Reasons for the high cost of prescription drugs? It's because Medicare has the pricing structure for drugs so messed up everywhere they control it that prescription drug companies seek to make up their losses anywhere the prices are not controlled! If government would get out of the health care business altogether, pricing for the rest of us would normalize as market forces take over. Anyone remember Capitalism? You know...supply and demand, that sort of thing? It doesn't exist in health care, which is why it's so screwed up already! If government would get out of the health care business and let doctors, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies compete on even ground with one another, health care would once again be affordable and Hillary could stop worrying about it!
Has anyone ever noticed...anytime something goes wrong, it's the President's fault? If it goes well, he's not usually given credit! Poor old Herbert Hoover. The Great Depression was blamed on him, but he just happened to be the guy at the wheel when the tires blew out. It wasn't any more his fault that the man in the moon, but he got blamed. A lot of people have tried to blame 911 on Bush - his intelligence agencies were asleep at the wheel, not communicating with one another, not forwarding important stuff to the right people, forwarding unimportant stuff instead, etc. Uhh...when did Bush establish the hierarchy of intelligence agencies? When did HE decide that the FBI, CIA, NSA, etc., should not talk to one another? 911 wasn't his fault; he just happened to be the one driving when the wheels fell off. Now, has anyone noticed the fact that there hasn't been a terrorist attack on American soil SINCE 911? Well, there hasn't been! Thanks, Mr. Bush. Your folks got it right. Here's one voice who WILL thank you for your service to our country.
Who ought to be President? I don't know, and I don't think it really matters all that much, as long as it's not Hillary. Most of the other candidates I've heard speak have pretty much the same agenda; get out of Iraq; smooth out the bumps in health care; provide for the common defense; promote the general welfare. As far as I can tell, there all pretty much the same. They want to be the one who hears "Hail to the Chief" when they walk into a room. I think maybe it's time we elected a President who cannot hear. maybe then we'd get someone who would serve the best interest of the country first and foremost. - Dan
Thursday, October 11, 2007
If you're reading here...
You're one of the few! LOL! I blog a lot more now than ever before, mostly because I have more time now, being married to the most wonderful woman on planet earth, and all.
I like to go on about the things I'm passionate about; politics, education, Jesus, sports, trucks (might as well say "Ford trucks;" anything else is a truck "wanna-be"), and my darling wife Kim. Now, most of you might have a hard time prioritizing that list, but mine goes like this: Jesus, my darling wife Kim, everything else. Naturally, Jesus comes first (please note: I say God occasionally, but I find that many Christian sects are timid about saying the name of Jesus, opting to say "God" instead. Now, I'm not against speaking the title of God, but the Father gave the Savior a name; it's JESUS! So, I try NOT to shy away from talking about Jesus when I can!). Why's that? My soul is satisfied because of my salvation in Him. Without that salvation, I would be a basically unhappy person; unhappy with myself and eventually, unhappy with everything around me. If one is not happy with oneself, one cannot be happy with much of anything else or find long-lasting satisfaction in much of anything else. Therefore, my relationship with Jesus is pre-eminent. Such being the case, everything else falls in line and I CAN be happy elsewhere in my life! Praise God for that! Kim comes a close second. Now, I've been married twice now. The first time, even though it went on for 25+ years, was basically unhappy. Looking back from a perspective of shear joy now, I can see how unhappy I truly was! Kim has brought many good things into my life! She's sweet, caring, compassionate, giving, loving, considerate, kind, honest, funny, beautiful, sexy, positive, fun to be around, fun to talk to, and a great kisser! I know anyone reading here will think I'm making this up, but I've not found one thing about her that I do not simply ADORE!!! I love her in every way! She has totally completed me and I've been so completely blessed by her that I will never fail to thank Jesus every moment for bringing us together and allowing us to fall in love!
You can read back to previous posts if you want to find my views concerning politics, education, or sports. Hopefully you can tell from this post (and previous posts) that I love Jesus with my whole heart and consider myself a blood-bought, born-again believer in Him. However, I think this may be the first time I've shared my views about trucks.
I'm a Ford truck guy. Any other truck is a wanna-be. Oh, I know there's Chevy guys out there who'd try to tell you that their truck is the real deal, but I've always bought Fords (Oh, I've DRIVEN Chevys, but I always leave the experience shaking my head going "what on earth do people see in these pieces of garbage?"). Several years ago, one of the maintenance guys at work bought a new Dodge. He was pretty proud of it. I showed up a couple of weeks later in my new Ford F-150. It was a pretty basic model, but it had the 4.6 V-8 and it had an automatic transmission. He asked if he could drive it; I agreed. He took off, and reappeared several moments later, shaking his head and muttering "I KNEW I should have bought the Ford! I KNEW IT!!!" At the same job, the company bought a Suburban that was rigged for towing. It had the 454 V-8 (the largest V-8 that Chevy produced), a limited slip differential, and all the suspension tricks GM can put on one to make it stable. We hooked up a 24' box trailer and took off to College Station. It burned up not one, but two tanks of gas round trip and NEVER got above 65 MPH even though it was floored the whole way! My freakin' RANGER could have pulled it better! Time after time, I see some slow-moving trailer or another moving down the road. When I get into position, I find that there's a Chevy pulling it. Let's face it - Chevys simply do not pull worth a darn and they never will! They're built for looks alone, not for work. Now, I can hook my new F-150 up to either my 16' flatbed or my 24' boat trailer (with my 8,800 Lb boat on it) and pull it like its not there! Well, there's my tesimonial for Ford trucks. No money was solicited or accepted for this ad. I just like Fords and I've always had great fortune with them.
Let's recap. Dan loves Jesus, Kim, my job, Ford trucks, and sports. Kim is the love of my life; Jesus the lover of my soul. 'nuff said! - Dan
I like to go on about the things I'm passionate about; politics, education, Jesus, sports, trucks (might as well say "Ford trucks;" anything else is a truck "wanna-be"), and my darling wife Kim. Now, most of you might have a hard time prioritizing that list, but mine goes like this: Jesus, my darling wife Kim, everything else. Naturally, Jesus comes first (please note: I say God occasionally, but I find that many Christian sects are timid about saying the name of Jesus, opting to say "God" instead. Now, I'm not against speaking the title of God, but the Father gave the Savior a name; it's JESUS! So, I try NOT to shy away from talking about Jesus when I can!). Why's that? My soul is satisfied because of my salvation in Him. Without that salvation, I would be a basically unhappy person; unhappy with myself and eventually, unhappy with everything around me. If one is not happy with oneself, one cannot be happy with much of anything else or find long-lasting satisfaction in much of anything else. Therefore, my relationship with Jesus is pre-eminent. Such being the case, everything else falls in line and I CAN be happy elsewhere in my life! Praise God for that! Kim comes a close second. Now, I've been married twice now. The first time, even though it went on for 25+ years, was basically unhappy. Looking back from a perspective of shear joy now, I can see how unhappy I truly was! Kim has brought many good things into my life! She's sweet, caring, compassionate, giving, loving, considerate, kind, honest, funny, beautiful, sexy, positive, fun to be around, fun to talk to, and a great kisser! I know anyone reading here will think I'm making this up, but I've not found one thing about her that I do not simply ADORE!!! I love her in every way! She has totally completed me and I've been so completely blessed by her that I will never fail to thank Jesus every moment for bringing us together and allowing us to fall in love!
You can read back to previous posts if you want to find my views concerning politics, education, or sports. Hopefully you can tell from this post (and previous posts) that I love Jesus with my whole heart and consider myself a blood-bought, born-again believer in Him. However, I think this may be the first time I've shared my views about trucks.
I'm a Ford truck guy. Any other truck is a wanna-be. Oh, I know there's Chevy guys out there who'd try to tell you that their truck is the real deal, but I've always bought Fords (Oh, I've DRIVEN Chevys, but I always leave the experience shaking my head going "what on earth do people see in these pieces of garbage?"). Several years ago, one of the maintenance guys at work bought a new Dodge. He was pretty proud of it. I showed up a couple of weeks later in my new Ford F-150. It was a pretty basic model, but it had the 4.6 V-8 and it had an automatic transmission. He asked if he could drive it; I agreed. He took off, and reappeared several moments later, shaking his head and muttering "I KNEW I should have bought the Ford! I KNEW IT!!!" At the same job, the company bought a Suburban that was rigged for towing. It had the 454 V-8 (the largest V-8 that Chevy produced), a limited slip differential, and all the suspension tricks GM can put on one to make it stable. We hooked up a 24' box trailer and took off to College Station. It burned up not one, but two tanks of gas round trip and NEVER got above 65 MPH even though it was floored the whole way! My freakin' RANGER could have pulled it better! Time after time, I see some slow-moving trailer or another moving down the road. When I get into position, I find that there's a Chevy pulling it. Let's face it - Chevys simply do not pull worth a darn and they never will! They're built for looks alone, not for work. Now, I can hook my new F-150 up to either my 16' flatbed or my 24' boat trailer (with my 8,800 Lb boat on it) and pull it like its not there! Well, there's my tesimonial for Ford trucks. No money was solicited or accepted for this ad. I just like Fords and I've always had great fortune with them.
Let's recap. Dan loves Jesus, Kim, my job, Ford trucks, and sports. Kim is the love of my life; Jesus the lover of my soul. 'nuff said! - Dan
Was there a nuclear accident around here about 13 years ago?
Hello again!
I have a theory; there was a widespread release of nuclear material around here about 13 years ago, very hush-hush, of course, and it affected the unborn children of that generation in ways unfathomable and, physically, inperceptible.
Why do I think this? Several reasons. This generation of kids, starting last year, has little or no common sense. They have brains that they are not being challenged to use. They have no work ethic, and they have strange maladies that are used as excuses for all of the above. If I hear "ADHD" as an excuse for poor academic performance one more time, I think I'll scream! Ma'am, your kids not as ADHD as he is L-A-Z-Y!!! Not only that, but many more times the norm are kids with hearing deficits, seeing deficits, some sort of physical malady that prevents normal ambulation, or some off the wall thing or another that just prohibits normal activity. It's a freakin' epidemic! Something must have been released, or added to the water, or something. Too much strangeness going on for any other explanation!
I was talking to my buddy across the hall awhile ago. She told the story or how one of our hatchling ducks was allowed to perish because it was not strong enough to free itself of its shell. It was decided that it would always be the weak one; it would be picked upon, starved, and would perish in any case. She was sad about it, but I explained that it is nature's way. Natural selection prevents defective genes from being passed to future generations by weeding out the sick or defective in the species. The human animal does not do this, however. We are compassionate, defending those who are less able. What's the outcome? Defective genes are passed on!
Am I advocating genocide? Of course not! I AM trying to explain why, all of a sudden, we seem to be getting an overflow of kids who are incapable of performing up to expectations. Is that the answer? I don't know, but I guess its as good as anyone else's guess!
I think I'll stick with the nuclear accident theory. Not as plausible, but easier to stomach.
I have a theory; there was a widespread release of nuclear material around here about 13 years ago, very hush-hush, of course, and it affected the unborn children of that generation in ways unfathomable and, physically, inperceptible.
Why do I think this? Several reasons. This generation of kids, starting last year, has little or no common sense. They have brains that they are not being challenged to use. They have no work ethic, and they have strange maladies that are used as excuses for all of the above. If I hear "ADHD" as an excuse for poor academic performance one more time, I think I'll scream! Ma'am, your kids not as ADHD as he is L-A-Z-Y!!! Not only that, but many more times the norm are kids with hearing deficits, seeing deficits, some sort of physical malady that prevents normal ambulation, or some off the wall thing or another that just prohibits normal activity. It's a freakin' epidemic! Something must have been released, or added to the water, or something. Too much strangeness going on for any other explanation!
I was talking to my buddy across the hall awhile ago. She told the story or how one of our hatchling ducks was allowed to perish because it was not strong enough to free itself of its shell. It was decided that it would always be the weak one; it would be picked upon, starved, and would perish in any case. She was sad about it, but I explained that it is nature's way. Natural selection prevents defective genes from being passed to future generations by weeding out the sick or defective in the species. The human animal does not do this, however. We are compassionate, defending those who are less able. What's the outcome? Defective genes are passed on!
Am I advocating genocide? Of course not! I AM trying to explain why, all of a sudden, we seem to be getting an overflow of kids who are incapable of performing up to expectations. Is that the answer? I don't know, but I guess its as good as anyone else's guess!
I think I'll stick with the nuclear accident theory. Not as plausible, but easier to stomach.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Presidential politics
Hello again!
The President of the United States is the most powerful office in the world. It is, easily I think, also the most misunderstood. People tend to give the President credit where credit is not due, and, more importantly, tend to affix blame where none is warranted or earned. This is where most Presidents fail - the battle of public perception.
Bill Clinton was, in the minds of most people, a successful president. Were his policies responsible for the successes of his administration? I doubt it. Most would give credit for his successes to the policies of previous administrations, the Ronald Reagan administrations for the most part. He was just smart enough to leave it alone and take all the credit. The failures or successes of the Bush administration can be left on Clinton's door as well. Have we fought a battle on terror for the last 6 years because of Bush? No. Clinton had Bin Laden in the palm of his hand, and he let him go. Those chickens came home to roost on 911, and we've been paying the price in the blood of Americans every since. Is Iraq as important to the war on terror as the Bush adminstration says? That will remain to be answered by the subsequent adminstration. If we pull out of Iraq before the Iraqis are prepared to run their own country and the forces of militant Islam take over, Iraq was an abject failure. If we ARE able to intall a government that is friendly to America and play that chess peace in the broiling board that is the Middle East, then I'd say Iraq was a success. A stable, America friendly Iraq is a valuable peace in that game. If we can make it so, it is an object much to be wished for.
So, what's to come? A Democrat administration, doing what Democrats do best, will poll the public and find out that Americans are against the war in Iraq. They will pull our forces out prematurely, and all of those lives given will have been lost in vain. Hopefully, a Republican administration will be more cautious, understand exactly what is at stake, and remove troops at a slower pace. Troops will be removed, one way or the other. The outcome depends upon how quickly they are removed and how good a job we do preparing Iraquis to take over the reigns when we do leave.
I have a feeling that Americans, understanding little other than what happens between their thigh and mid-chest, will insist upon a Democrat. Hopefully, that Democrat is someone with a brain in his head and not a pollster who seeks power for power's sake, like HRC. I wouldn't be surprised if it is Hillary, but I would lose a lot of faith in the collective intellect of the American public if that power-monger ever becomes President. Who's to say that she's smart enough to leave it alone and take the credit for the former adminstration's efforts like her husband did.
The President of the United States is the most powerful office in the world. It is, easily I think, also the most misunderstood. People tend to give the President credit where credit is not due, and, more importantly, tend to affix blame where none is warranted or earned. This is where most Presidents fail - the battle of public perception.
Bill Clinton was, in the minds of most people, a successful president. Were his policies responsible for the successes of his administration? I doubt it. Most would give credit for his successes to the policies of previous administrations, the Ronald Reagan administrations for the most part. He was just smart enough to leave it alone and take all the credit. The failures or successes of the Bush administration can be left on Clinton's door as well. Have we fought a battle on terror for the last 6 years because of Bush? No. Clinton had Bin Laden in the palm of his hand, and he let him go. Those chickens came home to roost on 911, and we've been paying the price in the blood of Americans every since. Is Iraq as important to the war on terror as the Bush adminstration says? That will remain to be answered by the subsequent adminstration. If we pull out of Iraq before the Iraqis are prepared to run their own country and the forces of militant Islam take over, Iraq was an abject failure. If we ARE able to intall a government that is friendly to America and play that chess peace in the broiling board that is the Middle East, then I'd say Iraq was a success. A stable, America friendly Iraq is a valuable peace in that game. If we can make it so, it is an object much to be wished for.
So, what's to come? A Democrat administration, doing what Democrats do best, will poll the public and find out that Americans are against the war in Iraq. They will pull our forces out prematurely, and all of those lives given will have been lost in vain. Hopefully, a Republican administration will be more cautious, understand exactly what is at stake, and remove troops at a slower pace. Troops will be removed, one way or the other. The outcome depends upon how quickly they are removed and how good a job we do preparing Iraquis to take over the reigns when we do leave.
I have a feeling that Americans, understanding little other than what happens between their thigh and mid-chest, will insist upon a Democrat. Hopefully, that Democrat is someone with a brain in his head and not a pollster who seeks power for power's sake, like HRC. I wouldn't be surprised if it is Hillary, but I would lose a lot of faith in the collective intellect of the American public if that power-monger ever becomes President. Who's to say that she's smart enough to leave it alone and take the credit for the former adminstration's efforts like her husband did.
Monday, October 08, 2007
I have the most wonderful life in the history of the world!!!
Dear Reader (From the number of replies I get....there's only one! LOL!)
I thought I'd take a moment to tell y'all how wonderful my life is! I have a job most guys would kill for. I teach science (pretty cushy, by most standards; certainly more cushy than jobs I've had in the past!), and I coach (an occupation that most of the guys in the world THINK they can do, but few ever get the opportunity!). I live a very comfortable, middle class lifestyle that many would simply die for. Granted, I don't have "personal assistants" waiting on me hand and foot, people doing my yard, pool, etc., for me, or that sort of thing, but that's not my dream anyway, so I'm happy as a clam doing my own yard, my own car maintenance, routine maintenance, home repair, and that sort of thing anyway. So, to sum up, I've got a great job and exactly the lifestyle I love, so who could want more?
Well....I did. I had no one to share my joy with, at least not until recently. I met the woman of my dreams in February. It was truly love at first sight! We spent practically every spare moment together for several months, and were married on June 7th. I know a lot of people think they're happy, but think somewhere deep inside that something's missing. I used to be that way before Kim. Now, with Kim by my side, absolutley NOTHING is missing!!! She's the most awesome person ever, and I love her with every ounce of my being! Now, I truly have it all, and I thank God for watching over me, hearing my prayers, and giving me the desires of my heart. I have found the love of my life, and I have never (and I doubt I ever will!) been happier!
Here's the good part! Kim feels the same way about me! She thinks I'm the greatest, and she loves me as much as I love her! She's truly the most awesome person ever, and I am truly the most blessed man ever to walk the earth!
How could it ever get better? Stay tuned! Who knows what God has in store?! All I know is that God has blessed me beyond measure and I shall praise Him forever for all of His blessings!
Dan
I thought I'd take a moment to tell y'all how wonderful my life is! I have a job most guys would kill for. I teach science (pretty cushy, by most standards; certainly more cushy than jobs I've had in the past!), and I coach (an occupation that most of the guys in the world THINK they can do, but few ever get the opportunity!). I live a very comfortable, middle class lifestyle that many would simply die for. Granted, I don't have "personal assistants" waiting on me hand and foot, people doing my yard, pool, etc., for me, or that sort of thing, but that's not my dream anyway, so I'm happy as a clam doing my own yard, my own car maintenance, routine maintenance, home repair, and that sort of thing anyway. So, to sum up, I've got a great job and exactly the lifestyle I love, so who could want more?
Well....I did. I had no one to share my joy with, at least not until recently. I met the woman of my dreams in February. It was truly love at first sight! We spent practically every spare moment together for several months, and were married on June 7th. I know a lot of people think they're happy, but think somewhere deep inside that something's missing. I used to be that way before Kim. Now, with Kim by my side, absolutley NOTHING is missing!!! She's the most awesome person ever, and I love her with every ounce of my being! Now, I truly have it all, and I thank God for watching over me, hearing my prayers, and giving me the desires of my heart. I have found the love of my life, and I have never (and I doubt I ever will!) been happier!
Here's the good part! Kim feels the same way about me! She thinks I'm the greatest, and she loves me as much as I love her! She's truly the most awesome person ever, and I am truly the most blessed man ever to walk the earth!
How could it ever get better? Stay tuned! Who knows what God has in store?! All I know is that God has blessed me beyond measure and I shall praise Him forever for all of His blessings!
Dan
Sunday, October 07, 2007
The War
One of the coaches at work has been watching "The War" with some interest. His father fought in WWII and was held prisoner in a German Stalag for two years or so before being liberated. He theorizes that, if placed in a similar situation today, we would never again be capable of fighting a global conflict like WWII; I am forced to agree.
My colleague argues that kids today have had things too easy. They are unwilling, in fact, UNABLE, to sacrifice the way people did back then. They'd rather be overrun by Japanese or Germans than fight for their freedom or give up any of the luxury they've come to depend on to keep their liberty intact. I find that argument compelling, because all of the evidence I've seen in the classroom tends to support it. I don't think that it's the main reason we'd lose another global conflict if involved, though. I think we'd have a hard time competing in such a conflict because we are no longer the industrial giant we once were. One thing has been true in every war since the cavemen; the combatant nation with the greatest industrial output wins. In WWII, our tanks were not the best. They probably came in third in fact, behind those of the Germans (the Tiger was arguably the best) and those of the Russians. The deciding factor was the fact that we made so many of them and constructed ships to have them delivered at an astonishing rate ("Liberty ships"). That combined with overwhelming air power that decidedly reduced the industrial capabilities of our adversaries gave us the edge in Europe. Our ability to produce warships at an equally astounding rate overwhelmed Japan in much the same way. Would we have the ability to do so again if the need arose? I don't know, frankly, but I sincerely doubt it.
"But Dan," you say, "we don't fight wars that way anymore. We lob cruise missiles from hundreds of miles away. We fly stealth planes and disable advance radars before we overwhelm our opponents with smart bombs and satelite-guided missiles. We don't need numbers like we once did." Oh, really? If we ever fought another multiple theatre war like the last big one, our military would have to quadruple or perhaps quintuple in size and the numbers of planes, bombs, and missiles produced would have to rise exponentially. I'd have to argue that we don't have the capability to meet such production demands any longer and we definitely don't have the will to fight for a righteous cause like WWII any longer.
How can I think that we don't have the will to fight that way anymore? During WWII, this was predominantly a Christian nation. We tended to see things in terms of good versus evil much moreso than today. Hitler was seen as evil incarnate, a demon who needed to be defeated at all cost. I don't think he'd be seen in such black and white terms today. We'd adopt our usual "if it doesn't affect us, let's leave them alone" attitude, just like we did with Rwanda, and Bosnia in some ways. Would we eventually join the fight? Well, even in 1939, when Germany invaded Poland, we didn't join in immediately. During 1940, when Germany overran all of Europe except for England, we still had no direct involvement. Not until late 1941, when Japan attacked us directly, did we join the war against the Axis. Much like with our more recent national outrage at 911, the nation joined together against the evil Axis. Would we react similarly today? Let me ask this; have we remained outraged at the AlQaida attack on American soil on 911, or have we mostly forgotten that day and our short-lived resolve to fight terrorism, tired suddenly of fighting when body bags start coming home? I think it's more the latter; we're already tired, yet terrorism isn't gone. It's as big a threat now as it was then, if not moreso.
Could we win another global struggle if we were to be involved in one? I'd assert that we ARE involved in just such a struggle and we've already lost our taste for it.
I pray that God will bring us peace, but I believe that wars and rumors of wars are our fate from now till the day that Jesus returns. - Dan
My colleague argues that kids today have had things too easy. They are unwilling, in fact, UNABLE, to sacrifice the way people did back then. They'd rather be overrun by Japanese or Germans than fight for their freedom or give up any of the luxury they've come to depend on to keep their liberty intact. I find that argument compelling, because all of the evidence I've seen in the classroom tends to support it. I don't think that it's the main reason we'd lose another global conflict if involved, though. I think we'd have a hard time competing in such a conflict because we are no longer the industrial giant we once were. One thing has been true in every war since the cavemen; the combatant nation with the greatest industrial output wins. In WWII, our tanks were not the best. They probably came in third in fact, behind those of the Germans (the Tiger was arguably the best) and those of the Russians. The deciding factor was the fact that we made so many of them and constructed ships to have them delivered at an astonishing rate ("Liberty ships"). That combined with overwhelming air power that decidedly reduced the industrial capabilities of our adversaries gave us the edge in Europe. Our ability to produce warships at an equally astounding rate overwhelmed Japan in much the same way. Would we have the ability to do so again if the need arose? I don't know, frankly, but I sincerely doubt it.
"But Dan," you say, "we don't fight wars that way anymore. We lob cruise missiles from hundreds of miles away. We fly stealth planes and disable advance radars before we overwhelm our opponents with smart bombs and satelite-guided missiles. We don't need numbers like we once did." Oh, really? If we ever fought another multiple theatre war like the last big one, our military would have to quadruple or perhaps quintuple in size and the numbers of planes, bombs, and missiles produced would have to rise exponentially. I'd have to argue that we don't have the capability to meet such production demands any longer and we definitely don't have the will to fight for a righteous cause like WWII any longer.
How can I think that we don't have the will to fight that way anymore? During WWII, this was predominantly a Christian nation. We tended to see things in terms of good versus evil much moreso than today. Hitler was seen as evil incarnate, a demon who needed to be defeated at all cost. I don't think he'd be seen in such black and white terms today. We'd adopt our usual "if it doesn't affect us, let's leave them alone" attitude, just like we did with Rwanda, and Bosnia in some ways. Would we eventually join the fight? Well, even in 1939, when Germany invaded Poland, we didn't join in immediately. During 1940, when Germany overran all of Europe except for England, we still had no direct involvement. Not until late 1941, when Japan attacked us directly, did we join the war against the Axis. Much like with our more recent national outrage at 911, the nation joined together against the evil Axis. Would we react similarly today? Let me ask this; have we remained outraged at the AlQaida attack on American soil on 911, or have we mostly forgotten that day and our short-lived resolve to fight terrorism, tired suddenly of fighting when body bags start coming home? I think it's more the latter; we're already tired, yet terrorism isn't gone. It's as big a threat now as it was then, if not moreso.
Could we win another global struggle if we were to be involved in one? I'd assert that we ARE involved in just such a struggle and we've already lost our taste for it.
I pray that God will bring us peace, but I believe that wars and rumors of wars are our fate from now till the day that Jesus returns. - Dan
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Interesting couple of days
Hi, again. My "one man and a dolly" service went back to work today, moving my youngest from her apartment back to her mother's place. This is the same daughter who, not too long ago, begged to move into my place because her mother was going to charge her rent to stay with her. Of course, since then, she moved back out of my place to her own place in Houston. I have since moved myself; it seems to be an ongoing theme. Earlier in the week, she called and asked me to help her move that very night. I explained that I had to work the next day and could not help her that night; I could help her this weekend. We just finished a little while ago - I'm beat!
I have to admit it - I'm confused. What's going to be different THIS time at the house of sand and fog? I give it about 6 months at the outside. My baby girl does not get along with her mother for long periods of time and mom almost ALWAYS finds a way to make one unreasonable demand or another that puts their relationship on hold for a period of time. I hope baby girl will do whatever's necessary to further herself and build a life for her and her daughter.
Meanwhile, the love of my life was AWESOME, as usual. I introduced her to my oldest daughter (who also lives with mom), and they seemed to get along quite nicely. I asked my ex if she'd like to meet Kim, but she declined. It's probably best. Kim's not petty, small-minded or vindictive and she might not have reacted to her negativity the was my ex expected her to. After we finished moving all of KK's stuff into the house of sand and fog, my oldest asked if they could borrow my dolly. I told her that I would love to leave my dolly for them, but could not. The house of sand and fog is a black hole for Dan's stuff, I explained, and every time Dan loaned something for use over there, it never comes back. I told her that, more than several months ago, I loaned my fishing rod to my oldest son and it fell into the black hole and did not come back. Fool me once, shame on you; fool my twice, shame on me! Anyway, my darling was proud that I stood my ground. Not only that, but my oldest found my fishing rod and returned it! Woo-Hoo!
Anyway, if anyone has the ability or desire, please pray for my youngest. She needs to get on with her future. I covet your prayers. Please pray that she goes back to school and sticks with it this time. Please pray that she gets along with her mom this go around and does not base her happiness on her relationship with some guy this time, but finds happiness in her relationship with Jesus. Also, please pray that whoever went to look at my house this afternoon liked what they saw and makes an offer.
Dan
I have to admit it - I'm confused. What's going to be different THIS time at the house of sand and fog? I give it about 6 months at the outside. My baby girl does not get along with her mother for long periods of time and mom almost ALWAYS finds a way to make one unreasonable demand or another that puts their relationship on hold for a period of time. I hope baby girl will do whatever's necessary to further herself and build a life for her and her daughter.
Meanwhile, the love of my life was AWESOME, as usual. I introduced her to my oldest daughter (who also lives with mom), and they seemed to get along quite nicely. I asked my ex if she'd like to meet Kim, but she declined. It's probably best. Kim's not petty, small-minded or vindictive and she might not have reacted to her negativity the was my ex expected her to. After we finished moving all of KK's stuff into the house of sand and fog, my oldest asked if they could borrow my dolly. I told her that I would love to leave my dolly for them, but could not. The house of sand and fog is a black hole for Dan's stuff, I explained, and every time Dan loaned something for use over there, it never comes back. I told her that, more than several months ago, I loaned my fishing rod to my oldest son and it fell into the black hole and did not come back. Fool me once, shame on you; fool my twice, shame on me! Anyway, my darling was proud that I stood my ground. Not only that, but my oldest found my fishing rod and returned it! Woo-Hoo!
Anyway, if anyone has the ability or desire, please pray for my youngest. She needs to get on with her future. I covet your prayers. Please pray that she goes back to school and sticks with it this time. Please pray that she gets along with her mom this go around and does not base her happiness on her relationship with some guy this time, but finds happiness in her relationship with Jesus. Also, please pray that whoever went to look at my house this afternoon liked what they saw and makes an offer.
Dan
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Anybody got any "mean" pills?
Well, we lost again tonight; this time 24-12. We scored on the opening play of the game, kicking off to the other team, causing a fumble, and running it in for a touchdown (conversion failed). Then we kicked off, and they drove the ball right down the field and scored. Game tied at 6. That's the way the first half ended, so not so bad, so far, right? We took the opening kickoff of the second half and ran it back for a touchdown (conversion failed), so now its 12-6, our lead. Good news, right? Well, apparently, our guys thought that the game should have been over at that point, because that's when they quit playing football. We kicked off, they took it down and scored, game tied. We got the ball back, went 3 and out, then kicked a punt about 13 inches. They took over and drove down and scored. 18 to 12. Still not out of reach, right? We got it back, went 4 and out, giving them the ball back on our 25. They went in and scored - 24 to 12. That's where it ended, folks. I'm sorry, but our guys just don't like 3s and 4s. They don't play the third or the fourth quarter, and its killing us. We're now 1 and 3, and we have the monsters of the district coming up next week. About this time next week I'll probably be writing obituaries for several of my players and talking about our 1 and 4 record, so stay tuned.
Its never a good sign when your team physician is Jack Kevorkian.
Its never a good sign when your team physician is Jack Kevorkian.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
I missed the memo
Sorry; I missed the memo. Tonight was apparently "drive 15 MPH below the speed limit" night, and I didn't get the word. It was pretty obvious from the funeral procession down 517 that about 350 other drivers didn't get correspondence, either. Seriously, at one point, I was tempted to call the SPCA; there was a dog relieving himself on the lead car's back wheel, or at least that's what I thought. When I got closer, it was apparent that the driver of the lead car was blind and the dog was leading as fast as it could. People, I'll say this as nicely as possible. If the speed limit is 60...DO 60! Have some consideration for people who have better things to do than drive for hours on end!
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Professional sports forgot why we loved them
For as long as I can remember, I've been a fan of professional sports; football, basketball, and baseball. I'm losing my taste for it, however. I'm just not interested in watching a bunch of drug-affected freaks get paid millions to do what isn't even possible, let alone within the norm of human experience.
I got tired of pro basketball first. The NBA has been unwatchable for years. Unlike college ball, they pretend that they restrict their defenses to man-to-man only, and then do whatever they can to disguise the zone they're playing. Uhhhh....why not just let them play a zone if they want to? It doesn't hamper the entertainment value of college ball. That's one. Two, if you're a so-called "superstar," you could pull out a gun and murder someone on the floor and they'd never call it. That finals replay they love to show of M. Jordan sinking the game-winning shot to win the championship makes me sick. They pass him the ball, he travels with it, then he pushes off, then he takes the shot. There's at least three turnovers on that one play, but no official who values his job is going to call anything on a superstar at any time, let alone a game-winning situation like that. Shaquille O'Neal should foul out of every game he plays in within about 3 minutes. He basically just bulldozes over the top of whoever guards him, but he's a superstar, so they don't call offensive fouls on Shaq. Nevermind the fact that he never touches the ball without travelling with it, but that's another story. I'll start watching the NBA again when they: 1. let teams play whatever defense they like; 2. Call the game equally, regardless of whoever's on the court; 3. Start policing the behavior of players (enough "wrist-slaps" for drug violations - fire them! And enough "so and so's got a baby in every city." I'm not the morality police, but the employers of these players SHOULD be! Whatever happened to team curfews?)
Of course, everyone knows why I'm fed up with baseball. One word: steroids. Okay, so fans were really exercised when the greed of players allowed them to strike and cancel the world series. Baseball decided to look the other way as M. McGuire and S. Sosa, just as juiced up as they could be, had that little home run race that "saved" baseball. Then baseball looked away as B. Bonds, his head 3 sizes larger than it used to be, hit 73 and further reinvigorated the game. Frankly, it's a huge disservice to the players who're clean - it diminishes their accomplishments and makes it harder for them to compete without juicing up as well. Frankly, I think they should test ever Major League player unannounced every other month or so and fire anyone who's caught cheating. That's what would happen to someone in any other workplace and that is what MLB should do. Otherwise, they should stop pretending that "the sanctity of the game" isn't being tarnished, put Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame, and let pro wrestlers in for 7th-inning stretch entertainment - one-steriod manufactured freak entertaining another.
As far as I'm concerned, football is the least affected of all pro sports so far. I mean, guys like Lyle Alzado or Brian Bosworth happen from time to time, but they're pretty much summarily dismissed when they're unearthed. What get's me about football is the whole character-issue thing. When a guy's making several million dollars a year to play a game, why does he feel it necessary to kill dogs, beat his wife, burn blunts, race cars down the freeway, get into bar fights, kill ex-girl friends, turn his ex-wife into a Pez dispenser, or all of the above? Look, I know that no one is a saint, but come on! is it too much to ask for you not to kill dogs, ex-wives or girl friends, and to stop setting up drug deals? I may just stop watching televised sports altogether and simply watch reruns of my 7th-graders playing. At least I know they're pretty good kids for the most part and they're not doing anything illegal - just having fun.
I thought that's what sports were all about - having fun. I guess that just goes to show what I know. Anytime there's as much money involved as there is in pro sports, there's always going to be someone who's trying to find an edge. I hope everyone stops watching - maybe then it'll go back to what it's supposed to be - Fun.
I got tired of pro basketball first. The NBA has been unwatchable for years. Unlike college ball, they pretend that they restrict their defenses to man-to-man only, and then do whatever they can to disguise the zone they're playing. Uhhhh....why not just let them play a zone if they want to? It doesn't hamper the entertainment value of college ball. That's one. Two, if you're a so-called "superstar," you could pull out a gun and murder someone on the floor and they'd never call it. That finals replay they love to show of M. Jordan sinking the game-winning shot to win the championship makes me sick. They pass him the ball, he travels with it, then he pushes off, then he takes the shot. There's at least three turnovers on that one play, but no official who values his job is going to call anything on a superstar at any time, let alone a game-winning situation like that. Shaquille O'Neal should foul out of every game he plays in within about 3 minutes. He basically just bulldozes over the top of whoever guards him, but he's a superstar, so they don't call offensive fouls on Shaq. Nevermind the fact that he never touches the ball without travelling with it, but that's another story. I'll start watching the NBA again when they: 1. let teams play whatever defense they like; 2. Call the game equally, regardless of whoever's on the court; 3. Start policing the behavior of players (enough "wrist-slaps" for drug violations - fire them! And enough "so and so's got a baby in every city." I'm not the morality police, but the employers of these players SHOULD be! Whatever happened to team curfews?)
Of course, everyone knows why I'm fed up with baseball. One word: steroids. Okay, so fans were really exercised when the greed of players allowed them to strike and cancel the world series. Baseball decided to look the other way as M. McGuire and S. Sosa, just as juiced up as they could be, had that little home run race that "saved" baseball. Then baseball looked away as B. Bonds, his head 3 sizes larger than it used to be, hit 73 and further reinvigorated the game. Frankly, it's a huge disservice to the players who're clean - it diminishes their accomplishments and makes it harder for them to compete without juicing up as well. Frankly, I think they should test ever Major League player unannounced every other month or so and fire anyone who's caught cheating. That's what would happen to someone in any other workplace and that is what MLB should do. Otherwise, they should stop pretending that "the sanctity of the game" isn't being tarnished, put Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame, and let pro wrestlers in for 7th-inning stretch entertainment - one-steriod manufactured freak entertaining another.
As far as I'm concerned, football is the least affected of all pro sports so far. I mean, guys like Lyle Alzado or Brian Bosworth happen from time to time, but they're pretty much summarily dismissed when they're unearthed. What get's me about football is the whole character-issue thing. When a guy's making several million dollars a year to play a game, why does he feel it necessary to kill dogs, beat his wife, burn blunts, race cars down the freeway, get into bar fights, kill ex-girl friends, turn his ex-wife into a Pez dispenser, or all of the above? Look, I know that no one is a saint, but come on! is it too much to ask for you not to kill dogs, ex-wives or girl friends, and to stop setting up drug deals? I may just stop watching televised sports altogether and simply watch reruns of my 7th-graders playing. At least I know they're pretty good kids for the most part and they're not doing anything illegal - just having fun.
I thought that's what sports were all about - having fun. I guess that just goes to show what I know. Anytime there's as much money involved as there is in pro sports, there's always going to be someone who's trying to find an edge. I hope everyone stops watching - maybe then it'll go back to what it's supposed to be - Fun.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
The Drive In
My drive is a little more elongated than it used to be, and it's a whole lot more frustrating. Here's how it goes:
Dan leaves the house at around 6:10 or so and drives down the neighborhood road (speed limit 25) onto the long road that goes out to the highway. The speed limit on the long road to the highway is 30, even though it's mostly 4 lanes and goes through nothing but businesses all the way. The speed limit should be 40 at least, but Alvin can't make any money on it if the speed limit is 40, so there you go. On this road, there are not one, not two, but THREE unecessary stop signs, two traffic lights that really aren't necessary (one of which changes on a timer and NOT an "underneath the pavement" pressure switch like most of the lights that have been installed since 1962), and a light that probably is necessary, but is green just long enough to allow about 2 1/2 cars through before it goes yellow! Such being the case, a drive of 3 miles that should take about 5 minutes usually goes at least 15 on a good day and more like 35 on most days (just kidding! My darling bride is giving me a hard time for hating on Alvin, but it's a nice place if you can ever get off of South St!) Not kidding now; it takes twice as long as it should, but I'm going to try and see the bright side here. I must be getting 45 MPG while driving 30 on the road that should be 40. From the long road, I have to take a short jont onto a freeway of sorts, which isn't too bad; the speed limit is 55 and it's 4 lanes that are divided, so no real road blocks there. The next is the worst. From there, I turn onto an FM (Farm to Market) that is only two lanes along some stretches and three (a middle turn lane) for most of it. The speed limit is 60 for most of the way, but it always seems like I find a way to get behind someone who's confused by this; either they think that there's a school zone in force, or they think that "60" is not the miles per hour that they are allowed to travel, but the upper limit of engine RPM they are permitted. I can't tell you how many times I find myself saying, "FEEL AROUND ON THE FLOORBOARD!!! IT'S THE TALL SKINNY PEDAL ON THE RIGHT!!! Passing is permitted along the two-lane stretches (if there was ever an opening!), but NOT permitted when the road goes to three lanes, which is the majority of the road. Some folks seem to think that double-yellow stripes are merely a suggestion; they pass in the turn lane regardless. One day, there is going to to a HORRIFIC accident on this road as some ignorant, blind, or stupid person tries to pass in the turn lane and rear-ends someone who is using it for its intended purpose; to make a left-hand turn without disrupting the flow of traffic! Honestly, as frustrated as I get following somone doing 35 in the 60 mph stretch, I don't think I'll ever fall far enough behind in my busy schedule to kill someone else with my lack of patience.
Once I get off the FM, I turn onto the Interstate and head north. Usually, the Interstate runs pretty well, at least until you get on into town a bit. Right about where the Clear Lake traffic enters, all three lanes just basically shut down. Now, here's something I've never fully understood; how on earth can the traffic just STOP when there's no visible obstruction or other obstacle to prevent it from continuing?! It amazes me! I've got it figured out, though. Right after the Nasa Rd 1 debacle (they're putting in some sort of fly-over bridge to Nasa 1 to soothe the congestion there...), the traffic in the fast lane just magically stops (no reason, mind you; it just stops), so you have to move from the fast lane to the far right-hand lane and then back to the middle when you approach the entrance for the Clear Lake City Blvd entrance ramp - it's the only way to keep moving.
The drive typically takes about 45 to 50 minutes - that long if no one does anything ignorant AND if it's not raining. You know, it never rains here, so no one here knows hows to drive in it without shutting everything down and CRAWLING!!!
Oh well, thank the Lord for safe trips and for keeping me sane in less than optimal conditions! - Dan
Dan leaves the house at around 6:10 or so and drives down the neighborhood road (speed limit 25) onto the long road that goes out to the highway. The speed limit on the long road to the highway is 30, even though it's mostly 4 lanes and goes through nothing but businesses all the way. The speed limit should be 40 at least, but Alvin can't make any money on it if the speed limit is 40, so there you go. On this road, there are not one, not two, but THREE unecessary stop signs, two traffic lights that really aren't necessary (one of which changes on a timer and NOT an "underneath the pavement" pressure switch like most of the lights that have been installed since 1962), and a light that probably is necessary, but is green just long enough to allow about 2 1/2 cars through before it goes yellow! Such being the case, a drive of 3 miles that should take about 5 minutes usually goes at least 15 on a good day and more like 35 on most days (just kidding! My darling bride is giving me a hard time for hating on Alvin, but it's a nice place if you can ever get off of South St!) Not kidding now; it takes twice as long as it should, but I'm going to try and see the bright side here. I must be getting 45 MPG while driving 30 on the road that should be 40. From the long road, I have to take a short jont onto a freeway of sorts, which isn't too bad; the speed limit is 55 and it's 4 lanes that are divided, so no real road blocks there. The next is the worst. From there, I turn onto an FM (Farm to Market) that is only two lanes along some stretches and three (a middle turn lane) for most of it. The speed limit is 60 for most of the way, but it always seems like I find a way to get behind someone who's confused by this; either they think that there's a school zone in force, or they think that "60" is not the miles per hour that they are allowed to travel, but the upper limit of engine RPM they are permitted. I can't tell you how many times I find myself saying, "FEEL AROUND ON THE FLOORBOARD!!! IT'S THE TALL SKINNY PEDAL ON THE RIGHT!!! Passing is permitted along the two-lane stretches (if there was ever an opening!), but NOT permitted when the road goes to three lanes, which is the majority of the road. Some folks seem to think that double-yellow stripes are merely a suggestion; they pass in the turn lane regardless. One day, there is going to to a HORRIFIC accident on this road as some ignorant, blind, or stupid person tries to pass in the turn lane and rear-ends someone who is using it for its intended purpose; to make a left-hand turn without disrupting the flow of traffic! Honestly, as frustrated as I get following somone doing 35 in the 60 mph stretch, I don't think I'll ever fall far enough behind in my busy schedule to kill someone else with my lack of patience.
Once I get off the FM, I turn onto the Interstate and head north. Usually, the Interstate runs pretty well, at least until you get on into town a bit. Right about where the Clear Lake traffic enters, all three lanes just basically shut down. Now, here's something I've never fully understood; how on earth can the traffic just STOP when there's no visible obstruction or other obstacle to prevent it from continuing?! It amazes me! I've got it figured out, though. Right after the Nasa Rd 1 debacle (they're putting in some sort of fly-over bridge to Nasa 1 to soothe the congestion there...), the traffic in the fast lane just magically stops (no reason, mind you; it just stops), so you have to move from the fast lane to the far right-hand lane and then back to the middle when you approach the entrance for the Clear Lake City Blvd entrance ramp - it's the only way to keep moving.
The drive typically takes about 45 to 50 minutes - that long if no one does anything ignorant AND if it's not raining. You know, it never rains here, so no one here knows hows to drive in it without shutting everything down and CRAWLING!!!
Oh well, thank the Lord for safe trips and for keeping me sane in less than optimal conditions! - Dan
Friday, September 21, 2007
call me McAuley Culkin (hope I spelled that right)
because I'm home alone! My darling bride went to the ladies retreat this weekend, so I'm typeing on a keyboard and watching "The Unit" reruns! LOL! Good news, though! I got a call this afternoon and someone else is looking at my house this evening! Pray that God grants favor and I get an offer!
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Buy American
I just read an article that made me somewhat upset. It reminded me of why this country is losing the economic battle on a worldwide scale to Japan, China, and India, and I can sum it up in one word; unions.
Since the dawn of capitalism, industrial might has been based not upon the availability of cheap natural resources, the ability to move those resources from the point of inception to the mill, or the existence of infrastructure to move finished goods from production to market, even though those factors all play a part in the total package. The largest factor by far in any industrial enterprise (or agricultrual enterprise, for that matter) is the availability of cheap labor. Inexpensive labor leads to competitively-priced goods and allows the country of inception to compete on the world market on an even basis. The country with the lowest labor costs will inevitably win that battle, because no other expense adds or subtracts more from the cost of the finished product, regardless of what that product is.
The article I read talked about labor negotiations between GM and the UAW and the greatest sticking point in the talks is the provision of health care costs for retirees. For years, American auto makers have been bound by contract to pay retirement pensions for retired employees, including health care expenses. Japanese auto makers have no such expense, which means that they can produce a car for much less than their American counterparts and sell that car for whatever the market will bear. What that means is a much larger profit per unit than what American auto makers can expect. Since the Japanese make much more per car, their total revenue is huge compared to that of GM, Ford, or Chrysler, giving them the ability to reinvest in their plants and improve the product and the machinery that produces it. The costs of production for the Japanese therefore are reduced while costs to produce an American car keep going up. It's a negative spiral for America, and Japan is reaping the reward. Are American cars as good as their Japanese rivals? I think they are, but the perception is that Japanese cars are produced with higher quality standards, get better fuel economy, and last longer than American cars. It's time for the UAW the wake up and realize something very simple; if you kill the cow, you won't have milk any longer! The UAW needs to make significant concession to American auto manufacturers and it needs to happen now, or there won't BE any American automobile manufacturers left to pay those contracts! No cow equals no milk!
Cheap labor is hampering the American economy from every angle of the economic spectrum. China and India are two great examples. Now, don't get me wrong. I don't advocate employing slave (prisoner) labor in factories like the Chinese or paying people 0.25/hr like the Indians, but we've got to realize who the competition is and understand that any industrial giant MUST have labor costs that allow manufacturers to compete on the global market or the competition will be skewed toward those who have low costs against those who do not. Traditionally, the United States has always had a source of cheap labor, typically from immigrants who seek to better themselves in this country. African slaves were the first, but they were supplanted by wave after wave of others; Chinese, Irish, other Europeans, and now Mexicans. When Mexican immigrants better themselves and rise above the level of entry-level worker (unskilled labor), who will supplant them? Frankly, it may be too late. Manufacturing concerns have been moving oversees for years because of the very factors I describe here. Oh, we call them unAmerican or unpatriotic, but the fact is that they cannot compete on the global market without cheap labor, so they move to where cheap labor is available and then "import" the goods produced to sell on the American market. Oh, sure, some American laborer lost a job because of the move, but without the survival of the enterprise, that laborer would have been without a job anyway. There are certain basic facts that do not change. The law of supply and demand waits for no man. Lower production costs mean lower prices. The least expensive goods are the ones most in demand. Higher demand creates a diminished supply and drives the price up. When Americans are willing to swallow their pride and work for the good of the whole rather than the wealth of the individual, we will be able to compete on the global market and then those very economic facts that work against us now will work in our favor.
Make those concessions, UAW, and make them now, before the cow is dead and all of the milk has dried up. - Dan
Since the dawn of capitalism, industrial might has been based not upon the availability of cheap natural resources, the ability to move those resources from the point of inception to the mill, or the existence of infrastructure to move finished goods from production to market, even though those factors all play a part in the total package. The largest factor by far in any industrial enterprise (or agricultrual enterprise, for that matter) is the availability of cheap labor. Inexpensive labor leads to competitively-priced goods and allows the country of inception to compete on the world market on an even basis. The country with the lowest labor costs will inevitably win that battle, because no other expense adds or subtracts more from the cost of the finished product, regardless of what that product is.
The article I read talked about labor negotiations between GM and the UAW and the greatest sticking point in the talks is the provision of health care costs for retirees. For years, American auto makers have been bound by contract to pay retirement pensions for retired employees, including health care expenses. Japanese auto makers have no such expense, which means that they can produce a car for much less than their American counterparts and sell that car for whatever the market will bear. What that means is a much larger profit per unit than what American auto makers can expect. Since the Japanese make much more per car, their total revenue is huge compared to that of GM, Ford, or Chrysler, giving them the ability to reinvest in their plants and improve the product and the machinery that produces it. The costs of production for the Japanese therefore are reduced while costs to produce an American car keep going up. It's a negative spiral for America, and Japan is reaping the reward. Are American cars as good as their Japanese rivals? I think they are, but the perception is that Japanese cars are produced with higher quality standards, get better fuel economy, and last longer than American cars. It's time for the UAW the wake up and realize something very simple; if you kill the cow, you won't have milk any longer! The UAW needs to make significant concession to American auto manufacturers and it needs to happen now, or there won't BE any American automobile manufacturers left to pay those contracts! No cow equals no milk!
Cheap labor is hampering the American economy from every angle of the economic spectrum. China and India are two great examples. Now, don't get me wrong. I don't advocate employing slave (prisoner) labor in factories like the Chinese or paying people 0.25/hr like the Indians, but we've got to realize who the competition is and understand that any industrial giant MUST have labor costs that allow manufacturers to compete on the global market or the competition will be skewed toward those who have low costs against those who do not. Traditionally, the United States has always had a source of cheap labor, typically from immigrants who seek to better themselves in this country. African slaves were the first, but they were supplanted by wave after wave of others; Chinese, Irish, other Europeans, and now Mexicans. When Mexican immigrants better themselves and rise above the level of entry-level worker (unskilled labor), who will supplant them? Frankly, it may be too late. Manufacturing concerns have been moving oversees for years because of the very factors I describe here. Oh, we call them unAmerican or unpatriotic, but the fact is that they cannot compete on the global market without cheap labor, so they move to where cheap labor is available and then "import" the goods produced to sell on the American market. Oh, sure, some American laborer lost a job because of the move, but without the survival of the enterprise, that laborer would have been without a job anyway. There are certain basic facts that do not change. The law of supply and demand waits for no man. Lower production costs mean lower prices. The least expensive goods are the ones most in demand. Higher demand creates a diminished supply and drives the price up. When Americans are willing to swallow their pride and work for the good of the whole rather than the wealth of the individual, we will be able to compete on the global market and then those very economic facts that work against us now will work in our favor.
Make those concessions, UAW, and make them now, before the cow is dead and all of the milk has dried up. - Dan
Friday, September 14, 2007
Life is good!
Without a doubt, this is my very favorite time of the year. Of course, I'm busier than a one-legged man in a jump rope contest, but that's part of what makes it fun. I don't do "sit around and relax" very well, so busy is more my style.
Naturally, THIS year is even better than year's past since I remarried this past summer. My wife is absolutely the most wonderful woman EVER!!! In addition, though, I was given the pre-AP classes this year and it's been a lot of fun so far. It's hard to describe how much energy you get from teaching a bunch of kids who're excited to be there, engaged in the learning process, asking intelligent questions, doing the work, etc. It's a blast so far. Also, football season is in full swing and my coaching partner and I got some halfway decent kids to work with this year, so we're trying to make the most of it. Although our first game was against one of the traditionally weaker teams in the district, we DID beat them! The 8th grade game was called at halftime because of lightning, so we only won 12-0, but it could have been 35-0 just as easily. The 7th-grade game was a little closer.
7th grade games are a little strange, especially the first several. Our district allows the coaches to be on the field with their teams during these first few games to help the players get into position, etc. I coach the defense for both grade levels, so I take a lot of pride in the kid's performance on the defensive side of the ball especially. On the other team's first possession, we stopped them cold on three consecutive downs. We had them 4th and 14. Few teams at this level ever punt - they just don't kick that well at the 7th grade level - so the other team went for it on fourth down. Even though we hit their ball carrier about 5 times in the backfield, nobody wrapped him up, and he went about 75 yards for a touchdown. They ran in the conversion to make it 7-0 (extra point kicks are worth two points; runs or passes into the end zone on a conversion are worth one point in our district). We got the ball on the kick-off and started a drive that ended with the end of the half and a last-play touchdown and extra point to tie it at 7 apiece. Then the defense went to work. We stopped them cold on their next possession and took over on downs. Again we scored on our next possession to make it 14-7. Then we stopped them again. When time expired, we were driving again, but the kids were really happy to get a win in their first game!
You know, coaching at this level doesn't pay a whole lot. In fact, when the time spent in practice and at games is weighed against the monetary gain, it wouldn't be worth it to most people, but I wouldn't trade it for anything! I remember very few of my 7th-grade classroom teachers, but I'll always remember my 7th-grade football coach - Coach Campbell. I don't remember much at all about my 8th grade classes (except my honors English class - THAT was a hoot!), but I'll never forget Coach Teutsch. I think what I do matters a lot to a lot of young men, and those guys are our future, so I think I'll stay with it as long as I can!
Next week we've got a little tougher opponent, so here's praying for success and no injuries! LIC, Dan
Naturally, THIS year is even better than year's past since I remarried this past summer. My wife is absolutely the most wonderful woman EVER!!! In addition, though, I was given the pre-AP classes this year and it's been a lot of fun so far. It's hard to describe how much energy you get from teaching a bunch of kids who're excited to be there, engaged in the learning process, asking intelligent questions, doing the work, etc. It's a blast so far. Also, football season is in full swing and my coaching partner and I got some halfway decent kids to work with this year, so we're trying to make the most of it. Although our first game was against one of the traditionally weaker teams in the district, we DID beat them! The 8th grade game was called at halftime because of lightning, so we only won 12-0, but it could have been 35-0 just as easily. The 7th-grade game was a little closer.
7th grade games are a little strange, especially the first several. Our district allows the coaches to be on the field with their teams during these first few games to help the players get into position, etc. I coach the defense for both grade levels, so I take a lot of pride in the kid's performance on the defensive side of the ball especially. On the other team's first possession, we stopped them cold on three consecutive downs. We had them 4th and 14. Few teams at this level ever punt - they just don't kick that well at the 7th grade level - so the other team went for it on fourth down. Even though we hit their ball carrier about 5 times in the backfield, nobody wrapped him up, and he went about 75 yards for a touchdown. They ran in the conversion to make it 7-0 (extra point kicks are worth two points; runs or passes into the end zone on a conversion are worth one point in our district). We got the ball on the kick-off and started a drive that ended with the end of the half and a last-play touchdown and extra point to tie it at 7 apiece. Then the defense went to work. We stopped them cold on their next possession and took over on downs. Again we scored on our next possession to make it 14-7. Then we stopped them again. When time expired, we were driving again, but the kids were really happy to get a win in their first game!
You know, coaching at this level doesn't pay a whole lot. In fact, when the time spent in practice and at games is weighed against the monetary gain, it wouldn't be worth it to most people, but I wouldn't trade it for anything! I remember very few of my 7th-grade classroom teachers, but I'll always remember my 7th-grade football coach - Coach Campbell. I don't remember much at all about my 8th grade classes (except my honors English class - THAT was a hoot!), but I'll never forget Coach Teutsch. I think what I do matters a lot to a lot of young men, and those guys are our future, so I think I'll stay with it as long as I can!
Next week we've got a little tougher opponent, so here's praying for success and no injuries! LIC, Dan
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Fan of "colored" teams
Hi! This is Dan. I've been a fan of "colored" teams for as long as I can remember. What are "colored" teams? Well, it's not a racial thing, if that's what you think! I was born in Ohio and was raised a Reds baseball fan and a Browns football fan, so if Brown and Red are colors, I'm a fan of colored teams!
Being an Ohio sports fan isn't easy. The Reds haven't had a successful season since 1990, when they won the World Series somehow. That was when Marge Schott owned the team and brought shame on anyone and everyone who cheered for the Reds because of her overt racism. Even worse, being a Browns fan has been a nightmare! The Browns' last championship was in 1964. The team packed up and moved to BALTIMORE of all places, and then the new Browns were born several years later. Uhhhhh....they're not very good! I just watched them get beat by the Steelers again. Now, the Steelers aren't very good - they'll probably finish 8-8 again this year and get left behind the playoff buss one more time - so what does that say about us? Uhhhhh....we're REALLY bad, that's what!
Oh well - life is more than pro team's wins and losses. I lose more sleep over the performance of my 7th and 8th graders than I do the Browns. After all, I have a lot more to do with their performance than I do with the other!
In any case....Go Browns! I still cheer for them even if they do play really poorly! LIC, Dan
Being an Ohio sports fan isn't easy. The Reds haven't had a successful season since 1990, when they won the World Series somehow. That was when Marge Schott owned the team and brought shame on anyone and everyone who cheered for the Reds because of her overt racism. Even worse, being a Browns fan has been a nightmare! The Browns' last championship was in 1964. The team packed up and moved to BALTIMORE of all places, and then the new Browns were born several years later. Uhhhhh....they're not very good! I just watched them get beat by the Steelers again. Now, the Steelers aren't very good - they'll probably finish 8-8 again this year and get left behind the playoff buss one more time - so what does that say about us? Uhhhhh....we're REALLY bad, that's what!
Oh well - life is more than pro team's wins and losses. I lose more sleep over the performance of my 7th and 8th graders than I do the Browns. After all, I have a lot more to do with their performance than I do with the other!
In any case....Go Browns! I still cheer for them even if they do play really poorly! LIC, Dan
Saturday, September 08, 2007
My life....
Here's a glimpse into my life (which is pretty fabulous right now, BTW):
A couple of months ago, Bank of America sent me notice via snail mail that my BoA Visa was being cancelled because my credit report said I was a poor risk. I called them up and queried as to why, on an account that has never been paid late, NEVER been partially paid (always paid the entire balance every month), and never had any other problem of any kind, would be closed by them. They said that my credit report was poor. So I pulled up my credit reports and, sure enough, my ex did me dirty and failed to pay any of the accounts that were left with her (she got the house, so she got the electric, gas, cable, etc., accounts). I asked them what kind of people they were looking for - I mean, anything that's MINE has been paid on time, in full, every single month. They said sorry, no sale. So I contacted the electric company and told them that the unpaid debt they were reporting on my credit report was not mine. I sent them copies of the divorce decree, the "marital agreement" (strange name for that document - it's the property division agreement), AND the warranty deed I had to file that surrendered any right or responsibility I had for my former residence. They basically said, thanks for the info - we're tacking the unpaid balance onto YOUR electric bill at your new home. Uhhhhh...I know english is a second language a lot of places in this country nowadays, but where's the common sense? Well, I've sent a complaint to the PUC and I'm waiting to find out if ANYONE in this picture has a brain in their collective head, so more to come on that story. Anyway, back to the original thought - BoA cancelled my credit card because of poor credit that wasn't even mine, right? That was a month and a half ago. Yesterday, I got a bill from them. Mind you, I have paid every bill I've ever gotten from them the day I received it IN FULL, so there shouldn't be any bills coming now, right? Well, the knotheads sent me a bill for the annual fee on the card despite the fact that the card has been cancelled and the account closed BY THEM two months ago, so I called them. I was treated to the usual phone puzzle - dial one for english, two for spanish, three for french, four for german, five for lithuanian, etc. I think I chose "one" but I'm not sure. After the usual barrage of elevator music and infomercials, I got a real live human on the line. Of course, I had to go through five more "dial one for blah blah blah, two for golbidy gook, three for brain aneurism, four for instant power of attorney" menus first. The real live human said "this is blah blah blah, how can I give you excellent Bank of America service today?" I said "Well, that's a really good question. You all sent me an bill for an annual service fee on an account YOU closed two months ago and I really don't understand why that is." Blah Blah Blah said, "Sir, I'll be happy to investigate that for you, can you hold a moment?" I said, "sure - I was really enjoying the elevator music and the infomercial - I can hold." After another lifetime on hold, she finally came back and said "Sir - the charge for annual service fee has been removed, but I'll need to forward you to another department to have the fee for credit protection taken off." I said, "thank you; I'll wait." FINALLY, another real live human being came on the line and asked what he could do to help me. I explained the situation for the ten thousandth time and he finally got back on the line and said "Sir, the charges for annual service and the charge for credit protection have been removed. I have a confirmation number for you." I thanked him and wrote down the number and hung up the phone.
Now, I KNOW things are more complicated today than they were twenty, or thirty, or fifty years ago. Back then, you drove to a bank, spoke face to face with a banker, and reached agreement (or disagreement) on whatever business you had to do. If there was ever a problem, you went to that same guy and dealt with it PERSONALLY. Now, things are much less personal and your word is only as good as the electronic number they assign to you based many times (my situation especially) on things that are beyond your control. I have to believe that a real live human being would listen to what has happened in my case and say, "you know what - your ex has done you dirty. None of this stuff is yours - in fact, everything that IS yours has been taken care of and paid on time. I think you're credit worthy."
I think I liked things better the way they used to be.
Meanwhile, I've been blessed beyond measure! I'm now married to the love of my life and she treats me like a king! I have a great job that I love, eternal life when I die, and I'm loving what my life has become! I know that these little inconveniences will go away eventually and I've got another twenty or thirty years of happiness in front of me! Praise God forever! LIC, Dan
A couple of months ago, Bank of America sent me notice via snail mail that my BoA Visa was being cancelled because my credit report said I was a poor risk. I called them up and queried as to why, on an account that has never been paid late, NEVER been partially paid (always paid the entire balance every month), and never had any other problem of any kind, would be closed by them. They said that my credit report was poor. So I pulled up my credit reports and, sure enough, my ex did me dirty and failed to pay any of the accounts that were left with her (she got the house, so she got the electric, gas, cable, etc., accounts). I asked them what kind of people they were looking for - I mean, anything that's MINE has been paid on time, in full, every single month. They said sorry, no sale. So I contacted the electric company and told them that the unpaid debt they were reporting on my credit report was not mine. I sent them copies of the divorce decree, the "marital agreement" (strange name for that document - it's the property division agreement), AND the warranty deed I had to file that surrendered any right or responsibility I had for my former residence. They basically said, thanks for the info - we're tacking the unpaid balance onto YOUR electric bill at your new home. Uhhhhh...I know english is a second language a lot of places in this country nowadays, but where's the common sense? Well, I've sent a complaint to the PUC and I'm waiting to find out if ANYONE in this picture has a brain in their collective head, so more to come on that story. Anyway, back to the original thought - BoA cancelled my credit card because of poor credit that wasn't even mine, right? That was a month and a half ago. Yesterday, I got a bill from them. Mind you, I have paid every bill I've ever gotten from them the day I received it IN FULL, so there shouldn't be any bills coming now, right? Well, the knotheads sent me a bill for the annual fee on the card despite the fact that the card has been cancelled and the account closed BY THEM two months ago, so I called them. I was treated to the usual phone puzzle - dial one for english, two for spanish, three for french, four for german, five for lithuanian, etc. I think I chose "one" but I'm not sure. After the usual barrage of elevator music and infomercials, I got a real live human on the line. Of course, I had to go through five more "dial one for blah blah blah, two for golbidy gook, three for brain aneurism, four for instant power of attorney" menus first. The real live human said "this is blah blah blah, how can I give you excellent Bank of America service today?" I said "Well, that's a really good question. You all sent me an bill for an annual service fee on an account YOU closed two months ago and I really don't understand why that is." Blah Blah Blah said, "Sir, I'll be happy to investigate that for you, can you hold a moment?" I said, "sure - I was really enjoying the elevator music and the infomercial - I can hold." After another lifetime on hold, she finally came back and said "Sir - the charge for annual service fee has been removed, but I'll need to forward you to another department to have the fee for credit protection taken off." I said, "thank you; I'll wait." FINALLY, another real live human being came on the line and asked what he could do to help me. I explained the situation for the ten thousandth time and he finally got back on the line and said "Sir, the charges for annual service and the charge for credit protection have been removed. I have a confirmation number for you." I thanked him and wrote down the number and hung up the phone.
Now, I KNOW things are more complicated today than they were twenty, or thirty, or fifty years ago. Back then, you drove to a bank, spoke face to face with a banker, and reached agreement (or disagreement) on whatever business you had to do. If there was ever a problem, you went to that same guy and dealt with it PERSONALLY. Now, things are much less personal and your word is only as good as the electronic number they assign to you based many times (my situation especially) on things that are beyond your control. I have to believe that a real live human being would listen to what has happened in my case and say, "you know what - your ex has done you dirty. None of this stuff is yours - in fact, everything that IS yours has been taken care of and paid on time. I think you're credit worthy."
I think I liked things better the way they used to be.
Meanwhile, I've been blessed beyond measure! I'm now married to the love of my life and she treats me like a king! I have a great job that I love, eternal life when I die, and I'm loving what my life has become! I know that these little inconveniences will go away eventually and I've got another twenty or thirty years of happiness in front of me! Praise God forever! LIC, Dan
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Another call...
I got another "showing service" call today; an agent wants to show my house! It's been on the market for about 3 weeks, and it's been shown 3 times. If you're reading, please pray that God will send the right someone who will make an offer on it. I'd like to make a modest profit, but it's getting to the place where I'd almost be happy with a "break even" just so I can stop LOSING money on it. I think I'll contact my agent and ask about a price reduction.
It's funny. I paid $48,000 for it over two years ago, paid $5,000 to get the foundation levelled, put about $1200 into the garage project, around $2000 into the storage building in the back, about $500 in the dog kennel and patio cover, and about another $1000 or so into interior improvements. That's about $58000 altogether - I'm only asking $65,000, so it's not like I'm looking to become the next Donald Trump or anything - I'd just like a fair return on my investment. Of course, all of that's not funny. What IS funny is the fact that, no sooner than I put my house on the market, the housing market goes into the toilet and builders are practically GIVING new houses away; no closing, no down payment - just move in! Oh well...like I said, please pray that God sends someone who will love it to buy it!
Lord God,
I don't often ask for things just for myself. I usually pray for others or merely for guidance and protection. This time, though, I need something just for me and Kim, Lord. I'm asking that You send a buyer to buy my house. Please send someone who will love it for what it is - an inexpensive home in a great neighborhood; a home that has been well taken care of and has provided me with shelter and warmth during a very trying time in my life; a place where I've been alone, and a place where I've entertained family, friends, and the one true love of my life. Lord, I ask it in the name of Jesus - Amen!
It's funny. I paid $48,000 for it over two years ago, paid $5,000 to get the foundation levelled, put about $1200 into the garage project, around $2000 into the storage building in the back, about $500 in the dog kennel and patio cover, and about another $1000 or so into interior improvements. That's about $58000 altogether - I'm only asking $65,000, so it's not like I'm looking to become the next Donald Trump or anything - I'd just like a fair return on my investment. Of course, all of that's not funny. What IS funny is the fact that, no sooner than I put my house on the market, the housing market goes into the toilet and builders are practically GIVING new houses away; no closing, no down payment - just move in! Oh well...like I said, please pray that God sends someone who will love it to buy it!
Lord God,
I don't often ask for things just for myself. I usually pray for others or merely for guidance and protection. This time, though, I need something just for me and Kim, Lord. I'm asking that You send a buyer to buy my house. Please send someone who will love it for what it is - an inexpensive home in a great neighborhood; a home that has been well taken care of and has provided me with shelter and warmth during a very trying time in my life; a place where I've been alone, and a place where I've entertained family, friends, and the one true love of my life. Lord, I ask it in the name of Jesus - Amen!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
