GETTING & GIVING SMILES

It came to me in a recent day dream that even our votes, sermons, political contributions, and second amendment rights may not change a world imploding with madness and misery. Therefore, I dreamt a little vision to make my world a little nicer place.

Now, at the conclusion of a business transaction or passing conversation with a stranger I smile, thank them, and use their name. Thanking Howard, Edith, Jose, or Mohammad for my 7-11, retail, fast food, haircut or liquor store purchase has solicited giggles, grunts, but mostly smiles. A very wise person once said that the sweetest sound is hearing someone say your name. It's true. Most clerks, government employees, and business people wear simple name badges or fancy lanyards bearing their name and job title. In my unscientific testing, using a strangers name once or twice seems to cause good eye contact and percolate a warm smile.

Too often in our day to day rush we may consider clerks as human extensions to a cash register. We may consider them our temporary servants unworthy of simple courtesies. I know from astonished and bemused looks that many clerks are surprised to hear their name mentioned in greetings or thank yous.

In my opinion, its a nice and decent thing to do. Using someones name may not end all the problems of our society and world, but its a small way to try. To get a smile, give a smile and name names !

                          AFTER & BEFORE A "HELLO CHARLIE" GREETING !                                  

   

  

GIFT A MILITARY MEMBER, EMT, FIREMAN OR COP

Traditionally we gift those we consider our lovers, special friends or beloved kinfolk. This is A SIGN OF friendship marked by gifts and cards. I suggest in addition to the regular people we honor we consider a new practice directed at total strangers.

At your local restaurant, grocer, or retail store consider gifting the purchase for a uniformed military member or cop next in line or nearby. Do it quietly while thanking them for their loyalty and service.
In addition to their pleasant surprise, your simple gesture may give you a joyful moment well beyond the value of the things you gift.

We have thousands of military personnel and police in the Tidewater Area (Hampton Roads, Virginia) and if a small percentage of folks would extend small kindnesses what a special statement we could make. Many of our military neighbors and cops are young people far from home and friends. None are ever paid enough for their 24/7 commitment and your modest gift and kindness will represent a small and unexpected surprise.

Occasionally, random acts of generosity or thanks to an individual or group are reported by the media. Wouldn't it be wonderful if a shower of small anonymous events swept the area with little or no publicity. Perhaps Hampton Roads could trigger a nationwide flood of simple kind acts for our military citizens.

Just do it, and consider making it a weekly or monthly habit !

FREE TUITION ..... REALLY !

If you still believe all the stuff Santa Claus delivered each Christmas was free or if you still believe tooth fairy money and Easter Bunny candy was free, than the latest Bernie, Warren, Harris etc. outlandish  promises of free college will make sense.

Fact is most grownups have long known that nothing of any material value in life is free. They know the "buy one get one free" bag of cookies are not really free. They realize deep down that spending grocery or rent money on more lottery tickets is a fools way to the poorhouse. Somebody, somewhere pays for every single thing that is advertised or promoted as free.

Every penny democrats and socialists in Congress tell us they are giving away, came from someone paying taxes or fees to the federal government. The government has never made money and exists only on taxing from citizens and businesses.  As Democrats and progressives live to give more stuff away in exchange for votes, the only place to get more money is from individuals and corporations that earn money. So the free phones, college tuition, rent money, and food stamps are paid for by other people who earn money and profits. Naturally, these smart workers and corporations will cut back on their spending, hiring, and business expansion when their taxes are increased. Taking from the rich and giving to the poor is socialism which the Democratic party employs while preaching class warfare to create an illusion of "fairness". The fifty year old government sponsored "War on Poverty" was a colossal failure that costs trillions and only increased poverty. Democrats scheme to save mankind by spending other folks money. This mal practice simply entraps millions of Americans into a cycle of dependency on government handouts. Sadly, it also sucks the life out of capitalism, the free market, and individual initiative. Any wonder the exodus of rich people from high tax states such as New York and California.

Free stuff offered by any politician is simply a lie aimed at getting favor and votes. Anyone with an IQ higher than butterfly should understand nothing of value is ever free.  If government was truly  dedicated to providing less expensive college, why hasn't it challenged the ridiculous tenure and salary system of college instructors and sky rocketing tuition rates ?

As the democrat party clown show of competing candidates escalates expect more breath taking giveaway schemes to get your vote and hike your tax bill by trillions.

PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS GET RIGHTER EVERY DAY

Every day,  after a few minutes of television and newspaper news, I wander/wonder if my parents and grandparents were more right than wrong about many things.

I remember 60 years ago hearing stories of their "good old days" and how the modern world would send us all "to hell in a hand basket". I used to dismiss their negative views as so much old people poop talk. Also, I marveled at how brilliant I was at 10, 12 and 14 years old. By 17 I was amazed at my brilliance and great judgement about everything. I wondered why my poor elders were hopelessly wrinkled with a sad world view. I saw the future as a rainbow of sparkling possibilities where peace and happiness would  burst forth at anytime. I knew just another Joan Baez ballad, John Kennedy speech or march for peace would trigger a Utopian world of harmony, full bellies, and no diseases. Unfortunately, my good old days of peace, love, and eternal optimism got swallowed up by Vietnam, getting an education, job, and being a man with financial and family responsibilities. For me the bright world view never totally disappeared, it just faded a little with each year and tragic turn of history.

My parents and grandparents are long time gone, but with each passing year it seems their world view was more right than wrong. Wish they were still around to thank. Now that I approach their senior age, it's obvious they were much smarter and wiser than all their children and grandchildren.

Perhaps, as the brain and body soften from decades of life's harsh realities there is a natural tendency to find comfort in yesterdays which were etched in vitality and boundless optimism ? Maybe our final lap is more of a loop where we revisit the past and learn to better understand and appreciate ourselves and our parents and grandparents. .

C SPAN EXCITEMENT and A NEW IDEA

On occasion I enjoy the gavel to gavel coverage of Congress provided by C Span.
Recently a show involved the first day of the 114th Congress. All the new House members along with family members and children filled the seats and aisles. The first business was to elect a Speaker of the House for the new Congress. Clerks carefully called out names and votes were recorded electronically. Other House clerks dutifully tallied votes with eraser topped pencils. A simple majority vote, which could have been one and done in seconds by electronic means, stretched into an hours long litany of name calling and recalling. All the while, C Span cameras filled the screen with smiling politicians and squirming politician class children and babies. Finally, a winner was announced. Not surprisingly, the winner had been predicted by every network political wonk and weatherman months ago. Then, a series of self serving and congratulatory proclamations were made. Speeches promised a new age of political cooperation and harmony between elephants, donkeys, and tea drinkers. I say, yawn, yawn to all that malarkey !

As I absorbed all the silliness a capital idea dawned on me to control the Capitol confusion which burdens us with unneeded new laws and taxes every political season.

Since voting and making speeches are the most popular and well attended activities in Congress by congress people let it forever be their main business. I can recall in past sessions, half dead members being wheeled in to cast votes, make speeches, and pose for photos while supporting or opposing legislation. Unfortunately, most laws passed in Congress either cost taxpayers more money or take away more of our liberty. In my opinion, to provide politicians a means to vote and make flowery speeches let us give them harmless new legislative missions. By using poll numbers and exaggerated emotions political people can be tricked into doing anything.

Therefore, I propose that each legislative day the Senate and House of Representatives introduce laws with supporting arguments and appropriate committees to legalize the official United States color and number for the upcoming month. This legislation would provide grist for speeches, press conferences, and incredibly long unread bills. If an energetic Congress needed more material for new laws they could be directed to legalize a new national fish, reptile, insect, flower, bird, rock, tree, mineral, and animal for each upcoming month. This new lawmaking agenda would save Americans trillions in wasted spending and thousands of unnecessary laws. In addition to new lawmaking themes give Congress and all their aides and lobbyists 10 or 11 months of extra holidays.

Moving on, a new role for all the zany characters that waste air and natural resources at the United Nations might be employment as test laboratory animals or crash car dummies.   

A TIME TO BE STILL ...

During whatever we celebrate at the winter solace the rush of things, happenings, and people can be overwhelming. Coupled with gray weather and limited sunlight it can also be a season for "feeling blue". Those of us fortunate enough to have a few days off from work and school may yearn a return to the relative calm of nine to five. While it is OK to remain active and have a schedule during the holidays, it can also be stressful and downright maddening.

Perhaps in the rush and jumble of the season, it would be healthful to simply stop, be still, and be alone. With computers, fancy phones, digital games, parties, music noise, church, and family our wits can be ground to brittle nerve endings. With all due respect to friends, family, and holiday traditions the rush of so much stimulation in a compressed time may be counter productive to achieving holiday joy.

Therefore, to claim tranquility and inner peace during the celebrations of December and a new year find a quiet place and be still. Let your mind revel in good memories and the pleasantness of the present while abandoning the noise and clutter bursting forth from so many places. Beyond the season, realize the healthy habit of finding quiet and alone time. Perhaps in the process we may discover that "laughing" and happy place Uncle Remus told us about in the Brer' Rabbit story.

NEIGHBOR NAMED NED

My neighbor Ned is a total Neanderthal when it comes to lawn care.

In the spring, summer, and fall while most folks up and down the street groom yards of uniform green, Ned settles for various shades of green, brown, and yellow. My neighbors and I pay for cute little green trucks to deliver nutrients, seeds, and other services while Ned performs his yard work without a schedule or supply of reputable materials. Most lawns on the street are expertly cut by landscape engineers, but Ned chooses to push a smoky old mower. The mower blades are evidently so dull the grass is chopped and clumped into wet masses which become yellow lumps in a day. The hedges and beds around Ned's place are a hodgepodge of some legitimate flowering plants, but mostly common weeds.

In the fall and winter, the oaks and other trees in Ned's yard provide a steady shower of leaves which blow up and down the street. While most of us attend to the collection and destruction of the brown bits of debris, Ned seems content with allowing the leaves to pile up and blow into drifts around structures and parked cars. One or two times a season, Ned may rake or blow his leaves into piles which are either deposited at the back of his property to wait for fresh breezes or left in neat piles. Millions of worms, slugs, fleas, and varieties of mold surely flourish beneath his carpet of brown. Sometimes, I get so irritated with his misguided leaves littering my yard I fantasize writing his name on each leaf and mailing him weekly bundles of the blasted things.

On balance, I confess, Ned is generally a decent enough fellow, but a nuisance and nerd when it comes to complying with the niceties of lawn care. It irritates the stuffing out of me and probably my neighbors that his sloppy yard detracts from our manicured landscapes of green neatness. The cold holiday weather offers little relief as Ned detracts from our community of white window candles and professionally hung white lights. Ned seems to revel in Christmas lights which blink and flash a rainbow of odd colors. Rather than a scene of quiet white light dignity, his yard flashes all night like a carnival or Vegas gambling joint.

Sometimes I wish Ned would move his bad yard manners to another part of town. We who work so hard to present properly green and tidy yards do not deserve a  neighbor like Ned. We deserve a conforming good soul who abides by our high level of standards.

Then the alarm clock goes off. I wake and in the immortal spirit of Gustave Flaubert I realize that while I am not Madame Bovary, I am that Ned.

       

THE MOBS OF FERGUSON & CNN - written Nov. 2014

The mobs of Ferguson and all the wannabe Ferguson mobs are a mindless muddle of people heading in no particular direction just like the Occupy Wall Street fools of a few months ago.

There are children and teens with no homework, curfew, or responsible parents. Also, adults lacking jobs, curfews, and maturity who fill the night streets. Add, out of town people looking for looting and mayhem opportunities and a few serious terrorists hoping to score murder or disorder. Importantly, there are the bands of CNN and CNN wannabes following the mobs looking to sensationalize the sadness of street violence while enhancing their resumes and reputations. The CNN mobs will flame the fires to keep the news cycle alive and earn more advertiser dollars. The only group with discipline and order are the cops. However, they are forced to chase the rampaging mobs busy killing cop cars, looting liquor stores, destroying private property, aimlessly firing guns, and showing off for CNN.

The news reporting talking heads anxiously wait for the mobs to do something provocative so they can rush in and get more air time. To be expected regular mob people hustle and misbehave to get a few seconds of attention from the CNN cameras and personalities. Mobs of other mindless people in faraway cities rush and rumble to support whatever it is the mobs in Ferguson think they are protesting or accomplishing. With their signs and attitudes they disrupt traffic, businesses, and normal folks. CNN breathlessly reports all the movements like the play by play coverage of some big football game.

Mobs are mindless things lacking information, order, responsibility, or accountability.  No individual within a mob would ever dare do anything untoward without a screaming supportive cast of fools at his or her back. It takes no courage and little intelligence to join a mob. Many mob folk wear disguises and masks to hide their faces and identity. They chant things which are sometimes phrases of profanity or mindless clichéd drivel lacking facts or any grasp of reality. The Ferguson hoards have destroyed businesses and property in their own neighborhoods which will force employers to relocate and take precious jobs out of the area. While they curse the police, when one of their own needs protection, a fire extinguished, or medical aid the mob people demand instant help from their police or fire personnel.

Despite what Governor Nixon, President Obama,  Holder, and the usual mob of national race profiteers say, there is no valid case to be made against the white policeman who unfortunately killed a young black man. The real tragedy in Ferguson is the lack of education, parental direction, jobs, and meaningful black leaders for it's minority population. Shame on the Congressional Black Caucus, NAACP, and other  black leader mobs for their pronouncements which simply flame the fires of unrest. The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King must be crying as he looks down from heaven. Racial relations in America have steadily declined since his inspiring days of leadership.

The majority of citizens in Ferguson are embarrassed by the actions of the few who are destroying their community. The various mobs amassed in Ferguson and other urban areas will eventually fade, despite the best efforts of the CNN gang, as it becomes increasingly apparent that the reason for their discontent is not the police or the tragic death of one youngster.

FERGUSON FACTS & FANTASYS - written 11/2014

Soon all the facts will be revealed from a Grand Jury concerning the death of a young black man at the hands of a white policeman in Ferguson Missouri.

The news will likely indicate a situation in which a policeman was forced and justified to unfortunately use deadly force. The small population of poorly informed citizens of Ferguson may react violently. Their lawlessness may be goaded on by a sympathetic far left media and racist profiteers. Chaos and violence within a small minority of the local African American community may bring further negative notoriety to the area. All the frustrations of the communities lowest social-economic group may whip itself into a frenzy that may hurt people and destroy businesses.

Ferguson reflects many small enclaves within American cities where poorly educated, government subsidized, and fatherless families struggle in a hopeless quagmire of despair, drugs, and violence. This situation is not the fault of, but is enhanced by the steady stream of government welfare plans. Despite trillions in federal expenditures and millions of speeches, poverty and ignorance remain cancers which cannot be healed with government money.

The abysmal leadership of current black national leaders, an inept NAACP, and a gang of "for profit" race pimps have failed to set the correct example and provide guidance for millions of black youngsters. Coming out of World War II the steady strides of improved racial relations faltered when the federal government decided handouts could forever heal the sins of Jim Crow and slavery times. The integrity and importance of family units, churches, education, and social leaders within the black community were diminished as the federal government plotted to fix things with money and over regulation. Over the decades too many black citizens chose dependence over independence, and their self serving leaders promoted federal government schemes. Since FDR, and accelerated by the Johnson administration, a large number of families have become total government dependents unable or unwilling to escape the shackles of welfare.

The facts of Ferguson may ignite all the fantasies held by many in that community. They may believe or be lectured that their unfair world is fueled completely by racial discrimination. So called black leaders and the left wing media will likely trumpet this theme in the days and weeks ahead. If violence and disorder follow, the greatest losers will be those who imagine themselves the victims. Sharpton, Holder, Jackson, Obama, and the news organization talking heads may again stoke the fires of hatred and as Ferguson burns and suffers, they will go home to their comfortable mansions and safe neighborhoods.

     

POST ELECTION DELIRIUM

Despite stunning losses the big boss of the Dem's defies the clear mandate of the electorate. His most ardent minions and spokespersons serve as mindless zombies as they follow him in denying the reality of the mid term election results. Even the NAACP is mute in congratulating new black members of congress who happen to be Republicans. The official Obama excuse for massive setbacks is that not enough of the "right" voters voted on election day.

Obama will continue to force his agenda upon America despite the strengthened constitutional role of Republicans. He really believes his pen and bluffs can override the will of the American people, Constitution, and the vote of lawfully elected congressional representatives. Unfortunately, too many Republicans in name only (RINOS) are willing to compromise the will of the people to get favorable headlines and be liked by the liberal establishment. These RINOS must be exposed, shamed and voted out of office in 2016 if they cannot stomach the fight with Obama. Unfortunately, impeachment is impossible as it has become an unwritten new racist amendment that the first black POTUS can never be impeached.

Newly elected members of Congress should understand they were elected as a clear protest to the socialist ideology of Obama. The Republicans have no specific plan and were chosen to simply STOP Obama. Beginning in January the new Congress should flood the White House with bills to dismantle Obamacare, lower corporate tax rates, enforce existing immigration laws, legalize the Keystone pipeline, and halt the rush to socialize this republic. Let Obama grind his veto pen to a nub until more Americans clearly understand his true obstructionist nature. Obama has immorally manipulated his executive power using the federal government to gratify his most ardent contributors and further his progressive ideas. Abuses of power and poor management within the IRS, Department of Justice, Department of Veterans Affairs, and many other agencies underline the incompetence and evil intentions of the Obama Administration.

Republicans should expect no cooperation from Obama and his remaining congressional followers. Turning America back to a direction which celebrates our core values of capitalism and liberty must be a relentless bloodless coup by the combined forces of republicans, conservatives, libertarians and tea party advocates. The cancer that the Obama presidency has spread across our nation must be aggressively treated and eradicated. The process begun with the 2014 mid terms must be finished in 2016.   

MAD AS HELL ?

The atmosphere of the upcoming mid term election reminds me of the famous line shouted by Peter Finch in the great movie Network. "We're mad as hell, and we're not going to take it anymore." While much of our current anger may result in defeats for Democratic Party incumbents and candidates, I hope the angst will motivate voters and politicians of both parties. It's time both Republican and Democratic lawmakers rethink their agendas and reasons for holding positions in Congress. It's also time voters demand a common sense return to the Constitution and it's three co equal branches of checks and balances.

Liberalism and the Social Progressive movement of the twentieth century has damaged and nearly wrecked our culture, economy, and borders. Early in the twentieth century, national politicians determined that social problems were the domain of government intervention. The issues of racial inequalities, women's suffrage, child labor abuses, overt pollution, monopolies, and food safety were legitimate concerns and rightly deserved attention and improvement. However, the federal government decided that it alone could solve all the ills of society by enacting laws, growing bureaucracies, and developing a system of ever increasing taxes. The group think of government was believed to be superior to the traditional reforms offered by churches, families, individuals, and civic minded businesses. Unfortunately, world wars and a global depression caused Americans to look the other way as the federal government became the repressive two ton gorilla in the room of societal change. From the days of Woodrow Wilson through the Franklin Roosevelt and the Lyndon Johnson Administration, our government has spent and wasted trillions of dollars on worthless  schemes. Barrack Obama has faithfully carried this liberal progressive banner into the twenty first century, and brought the American brand to the brink of extinction.

Democratic Party controlled government has failed to eradicate poverty, personal irresponsibility, drug abuse, stupidity, alcoholism, gang warfare, health care inequities, and poor educational scores for our children. The only liberal remedy to persistent failure is to build new agencies and appropriate more tax payer money. Simply stated, too many males have abandoned their responsibilities as fathers and in many cities traditional families and their values have disappeared. Government handouts have become the chief source of income, cellphones, housing, and food for too many able bodied workers. Our southern borders have been made porous to allow fresh supplies of illegal aliens to blossom into welfare recipients and guaranteed democratic voters. Our president has bowed and cowered to many foreign bad guys and chosen to call some acts of domestic terrorism "workplace violence." Hollywood play actors, liberal media big wigs, political lefties, plus self proclaimed intellectuals including college professor twits, have convinced too many Americans and impressionable students that our nation is a bad world citizen. It has become almost trendy for these groups to slam America, but surprisingly few ever leave the country they claim is so evil. In a daily refrain we hear that energy self sufficiency is bad, global warming or climate change is the number one threat to civilization, the morals of our grandparents are passé, capitalism is almost a crime, and political conservatives hate children, minorities, women, and the elderly.

Obama gladly and proudly carried forward the theme of big government trumping individual and states rights and the Constitution be damned. However, when his gross inexperience and inabilities revealed dangerous foreign policy failures, citizens began to notice and became alarmed. Historically, the number one responsibility of the President is to protect Americans from domestic and foreign enemies. Bailing out GM, jamming Obamacare into law, screwing veterans, raising a billion dollars in campaign funds, engaging in crony capitalism, overtaxing individuals and corporations, repeatedly lying to the American public, ruling by czars and decrees are not things authorized in the Constitution. However, his failure in defending the nation from terrorism, disease, and illegal aliens are constitutional mistakes that will forever shame his reign.

Voters and potential office holders need to realize that the era of government rejecting the US Constitution and common sense must end very soon. The American public has lost confidence in the present government and politicians willing to whore themselves to the highest paying lobbyist. The Obama regime has bungled our best interests domestically and abroad too many times and people are angry. Therefore, if you are really "mad as hell", dump incumbents and democrats who blindly voted the Obama agenda.

The ballot box is the best way to effect change, however the second amendment may be necessary if bad government and lousy politicians continue to squander our resources, personal liberties, and sovereignty.

     

BOWL UPSIDE MY HEAD

When I was a boy I treated my young sister to all manner of torture and misery. In those early years we lived in a rural community without the benefit of neighbor kids as play companions. Consequently, many times we were playmates. Frankly, I was mean to Marie. I was bigger, older and could get away with teasing and bullying. For some reason mom, dad, granny, and even Aunt Sarah (our part time black ironing lady and baby sitter) often excused my offenses and blamed Marie. I was a brat, probably the favored sibling, and spoiled. In retrospect my role was more a jerk than a nice brother to my sister. This pattern of poor behavior continued until I was about ten years old. Then, one day she did something I will never forget.

As was the custom in the fifties, unless a natural disaster was happening outside, children were expected to be outside.  I cannot remember if it was a large spider or long nasty snail, but I decided it needed to be attached to my sister's face. I carefully approached Marie with the offensive creature hidden in my closed hand. At the perfect moment I smeared the thing into her face. As expected, and to my delight her shrieks were loud and blood curdling. Then, Marie did something which literally marked me forever. From somewhere she found a heavy round bowl used to provide outdoor drinking water for our pets . With astonishing speed and accuracy, she slammed the bowl upside my head. The mighty blow knocked me senseless and drew blood. When I was patched up an inch long scar on my forehead appeared. Sixty some years later, I can still see the scar amid the wrinkles on my forehead. It remains the indelible mark and reminder of my sister's just revenge and my past meanness.

I deserved a good smack down from Marie, and hopefully she found a little payback for my earlier rotten behavior. At any rate, the event and the scar also remind me of Beatitude # 8 from the Gospel Of Saint Matthew. "Blessed are those who suffer persecution .. for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Despite the bowl upside my head, I think Marie will get to paradise easier than me because she was a much nicer kid.

  

THE U.N., BIG APPLE & DC CIRCUS ...

So, we are at war with a grand coalition of five nations and a few secret camel herding friends. Meanwhile, those wild and crazy UN guys are going to begin a meeting to discuss "global warming" or whatever the current hip word is for this fantasy. At the same time, the cool kids and worldly upper crust of the Big Apple will  march in the streets and chant about drowning polar bears, evil business people,  minimum wages for hamburger flippers, and a host of other silly issues. President Obama will visit the UN to head up a high powered talk fest to defeat Ebola just as he sends thousands of US soldiers into Africa to become potential disease carriers.

Down in Washington, the political fingers are pointing in every direction to explain how a nut ball entered the unlocked front door of the White House with a pocketful of knives. Press secretaries at the White House and Pentagon are busy getting briefed to tell the world exactly what Ms. Jarrett and POTUS want to reveal. The old boys and girls in Congress are salivating at the opportunities war, Ebola, and global whatever might afford their re-election possibilities.

More than ever we need God to bless America and show his or her amazing grace to a nation and world increasingly lead by funny bunnies.

 

THE GREAT GLOBAL WARMING OR WHATEVER HOAX

For several decades common sense and simple observation have surrendered to pop science and government induced hysteria designed to take away more personal freedom while collecting more taxes.

A "sky is falling" scenario of global warming, cooling, or whatever is now maintained as the world's greatest crisis. Nuclear proliferation, the 21st century revival of the Mideast Crusades, Putin's unholy ambitions, and the rising super military and economic power of China are minor concerns compared to weather changes according to many. Consistently, Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Barrack Obama, and bands of scientists predict and proclaim catastrophic weather patterns as the worlds greatest problem. They cite melting polar ice caps, drowning polar bears, our coastal cities sinking under rising tides, and a variety of other life ending situations as their proof. Their message is always the same. Capitalist rich evil nations and individuals are to blame and only government can solve the emergency. Every dire prediction is made, immediately ballyhooed by the media, certified as Gods truth by politicians, and brainwashed into impressionable children. Despite the staged photos their predictions always fail to materialize. Recently, The Weather Channel and Audubon Magazine devoted great time and space to the threat, danger, and alleged reality of global weather goblins citing junk science sources and government agencies as their reliable sources.

I have observed weather for nearly seventy years and lived directly on the Chesapeake Bay nearly forty years. Except for northeast storms and the occasional tropical storm or hurricane I can safely report my dock space and property have not surrendered to the rising seas. I see ice & snow in the winter, heat and humidity in the summer, and usually more pleasant weather in the spring and fall. My observations have as much validity as all the junk science gathered by scientists paid by government grants to find problems, and thus continue their government paychecks. Is it any wonder that a greater and greater crisis is projected as government budgets allow more "studies" and scientists to collect government paychecks ? Ever wonder why the governments 50 year war on poverty produced more poverty and a cost of 21 trillion taxpayer dollars ?

Fact is the weather changes every day. It takes thousands upon thousands of years to measure patterns of cooling and warming on a planet millions of years old. Man's scientific weather measurements are only a few hundred years old, and man's influence on the climate is only a few thousand years old. I think it is BS and man's incredible ego to believe that my internal combustion engine, can of aerosol, or incandescent light bulb could destroy a planet and universe designed by Almighty God. To predict climate doom and gloom, so called "computer models" are always used. In my opinion, these "computer models" are probably a modern day version of crystal ball gazing, and are skewed to produce results consistent with pre determined goals.

In the history of mankind, the vast majority of scientists and The Holy Roman Catholic Church once taught and insisted that the world was flat, the earth was the center of the universe, and every man was directly related to Adam & Eve. Those who questioned these "scientific" certainties were often severely punished and excommunicated from the Church. It took hundreds of years of research and observation to disprove  scientific "facts" of the past. The current high percentage of climate alarmists are paid by governments and organizations with a strong motivation to further their cause.

Consider your lifetime and observations of the weather and it's occasional extremes.

Does a hot day, severe snowstorm, spring flood, tornado or hurricane mean the world is about to explode or implode from weather fluctuations ? Understand that governments good and bad are always seeking your money and liberty so that they (the government) can grow and assume more and more power.

While Al Gore and other climate alarmists have raked in millions of dollars in personal earnings, have any of their doomsday predictions come true ?

  

NASCAR POLITICIANS ...

In politics in order to reach a goal a course must be followed. The successful track will involve political turns to the right, turns to the left, and times to simply steer straight ahead. Unfortunately, in the last few decades there has been a tendency of politicians to be NASCAR like in their approach to problem solving. Simply stated, too many feel their road to victory is a continuous drive to the right or left. This manner of driving may result in a victory for a race car driver, but gridlock in the halls of Congress.

Being a good democrat, republican or independent should not involve being in lockstep or zombified with the extreme right or left wings of a political party. The polarization in Washington is crippling our nation. Too many politicians have abandoned the Constitution for the latest poll numbers or pop culture noise from media outlets, who themselves are, increasingly tied to political agendas.

In 2014 and 2016 new congress people must be installed who are alien to the partisan politics which is our current Congress. Our economy, energy independence, and prestige as a world super power have suffered. A strange blend of political correctness and greed for political power among incumbents has replaced the justice and common sense which should guide our national journey. The greatest asset of America continues to be it's people. However, to attain their partisan goals politicians have continued to slice and dice citizens into special interest groups. We the people must remain a united nation with a common language, culture, and set of borders. While we have historically welcomed legal immigrants to enrich our country with their contributions, we cannot become a patchwork of subcultures and unlimited diversity.

Our Constitution and system of elections provide a peaceful way to change our government. The upcoming elections must send a clear message to the governing class that America cannot and will not tolerate the extreme partisanship that has plagued our progress. So, turn off the political ads which are straight out lies or at best stretches of reality, and vote for the person least linked to the current Washington scene.

 

SMOKEY THE BEAR ...

In the early fifties with my cousin Bobby I met Smokey at the Washington National Zoo. At the time he wasn't wearing jeans or a forest ranger hat, and was not walking on two feet.  We met the real four legged Smokey who was a valuable resident at the zoo for over 25 years. At the time of our visit he lived and paced a small barred cage with a tiny pool of water cut into the cement floor. I half expected that he might talk, but he only paced and occasionally sniffed at bits of fruit.

The fictional Smokey was created in 1944 as a government mascot to warn against the dangers of forest fires. The real Smokey was a rescue bear from a New Mexico forest fire in 1950. He was briefly called "Hotfoot Teddy" before stardom gave him his permanent name. In time he had a wife bear named Goldie Bear and an adopted son named Little Smokey. When Smokey died in 1976 a Washington Post obituary was posted. His remains were returned to Captain, New Mexico in what is now Smokey Bear Historical Park.

Meeting Smokey was a big deal to a couple of six year old boys. Bobby and I waited with hundreds of other kids to get our chance to see the brave little bear that had scaled a tree to escape burning. He really sustained some burns and needed to be nursed back to health. At the time, I ranked meeting Smokey as a celebrity encounter just as important as meeting Santa Claus. While time has diminished the fantasies of Santa, Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy, I will always believe in Smokey because I  met the real deal bruin at the National Zoo a long time ago.

Whenever I see a Smokey Bear sign or Public Service Announcement it brings back fond childhood memories of the real Mr. S. Bear.

Happy Birthday Smokey and remember California, only you can …… ! 

Finally, why are few massive wildfires north of our western border in Canada ?

From the left Bobby, Me & Smokey

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ANOTHER 4 OR 6 YEARS OF INCUMBENTS ?

The big Fall elections are here and isn't it about time we make some big, really big, changes in Congress ?

First, any incumbent of either party should be carefully scrutinized. The record of Congressional action in improving our economy, international standing, lowered corporate & personal taxes, and energy independence has been miserable. Scandals have poisoned federal agencies into cesspools of crony capitalism, inaction, and downright fraud. Politicians of both parties have catered to the moneyed lobbyists offering them the biggest shot of political gain and personal wealth. It's not so much a democratic or a republican party problem, but more a problem with incumbents. The need for term limits is so damn obvious, but it will never happen because of the self interests of corrupt Congress persons and their puppet masters. Therefore, voters must do what they can to create change. I personally believe that if every incumbent were replaced in 2014 and 2016, the inexperience of rookie congress people would be an improvement over the current crappy leadership in Washington.

Second, is it not a little scary that Hillary Clinton heading for a 2016 Democratic Party coronation has stated that she believes the number one problem in the world is global warming or climate change ? This liberal rallying point flies in the face of reality, and the concerns of Americans in every significant poll. Is it possible Ms. Clinton can bypass her miserable record as Secretary of State and her minimal record as a Senator by appealing to this emotional canard ? As for the Al Gore pool of 97-98% of supporting scientists, I say it's unproven pop science designed to penalize rich nations, empower government overreach, and line the pockets of Mr. Gore and his pals. In world history, practically every learned scientist and the Holy Roman Catholic Church taught and insisted the world was flat, the earth was the center of the universe, and man really did descend from the Garden of Eden. It took hundreds of years of very careful scientific inquiry to disprove these great ancient "truths." It will be centuries before we know the facts of the earths cooling and warming patterns. Nonetheless, with today's world on fire, our economy in decline, and our natural resources either forbidden (coal) or hampered by government dictate, Ms. Clinton offers global whatever as the worlds number one problem ?

Third, here in Virginia we have Senator Mark Warner up for re-election. Although a very bright person and successful businessman, he voted with Obama initiatives about 97% of the time. Also, Senator Warner supported Obamacare. In the next sixty days his democratic machine will spend millions to distance himself from Obama, and dump tons of dirty tricks on his republican opponent. Should Mr. Warner be rewarded for being an Obama pawn by re-election and another six years ?

Whether in Virginia or somewhere else, before you pull the lever or mark your ballot on election day think. Please think, and carefully consider our "State of the Union" and how it has degenerated over the last six years and which politicians are responsible.

COMMUNITY BUS COMPANY 1952-53

In the first and second grade I attended Catholic school in downtown Portsmouth, and lived way out in Norfolk County (Virginia). The daily commute was an hour long journey each way. Remembering details about the bus trips, fellow passengers, and customs of the day provide a few fond and interesting memories. Also, a reminder of how things have changed over the last half dozen decades.

It was the early fifties and public transit service was provided by a fleet of buses called Community Bus Company. Powered by smelly diesels, the carriers had exteriors painted in light blues and greens. Each bus had a number and it was critical to know your bus number. Catch the wrong bus and you would be horribly delayed or might get home hours late and after many transfers. School kids and some commuters used cardboard tickets which the driver punched with a hole puncher. Each perforation represented one ride, and the tickets generally had ten marks good for ten rides. Riders could also use coins which were inserted into a coin contraption at the front of the bus. If a passenger needed change, the driver wore a stainless steel coin dispenser with levers and springs which dispensed coins. At the time I dreamed of the day, as a grownup, I could own a sparkling metal coin dispenser strapped to my hip and used to smartly click out coins as needed.

Depending on the length of the ride, I remember fares ranging from ten to twenty five cents. Transfers were slips of paper which permitted someone to transfer from one bus route to another. This seemed, at the time, a complicated procedure which involved chits of paper and knowledge of bus numbers and routes. There was only one entry/exit door on the smaller buses. The standard sized buses had a front door for entering and a rear door for exiting. When activated to open or close the doors always hissed. The seats were spring loaded platforms composed of a dark plastic/leather material. They were slick comfortable cushions with long cracks. The chairs were bolted to the floor. Some seats had loosened floor bolts and were prized since they provided rocking chair motion when  shoved from behind or bounced nicely over road bumps. The windows could be lifted for fresh air, but also allowed clouds of dust, and diesel fumes to fill the passenger space. Projecting arms and legs from the windows was forbidden, but easily accomplished when the driver wasn't peering into the huge rear view mirror or when negotiating heavy traffic.

Best I can recall, the bus had no heating or air conditioning. Some drivers had small fans mounted above their heads to provide moving air. The interior featured long shiny poles for standees and metal seat frames to hold. These shiny tubes supported people standing and helped moving about as the bus jerked from stop to stop and thumped along uneven pavement. The most popular feature was the long pull cord which activated a bell or buzzer to signal the driver when it was your stop. There were few regular bus stops outside the city so when you pulled the cord the driver would gently pull over and stop. For school kids and regular riders the driver usually knew your stop however it was still necessary to pull the cord as a reminder. If you forgot to pull the chord at your stop the driver would grumble, glare, and find a safe place to pull over. The Community Company buses were not equipped with big red flashers so once off you had to be cautious. Pulling the cord for amusement always drew a stern stare and verbal warning from the driver. Most bus drivers were men, I don't remember any lady drivers. The driver knew his students, their parents, and even teachers. It wasn't unusual to have Sister Herculane or my parents remind me of my undesirable bus behavior from a few days earlier as reported by our driver.

Running about was forbidden, squealing above a whisper was another offense, hurling things was criminal,  and fighting or rolling about was never allowed. Seat hopping was a constant source of fun and giggling. The amusement was to seize the opportunity when the driver was busy watching the road or collecting a fare and at just the right moment jump to another seat with a new companion. Kids were always expected to surrender their seats to any adult even if it meant sitting in the lap of another student.  Drivers wore gray pants, white shirts with drab blue ties, a few shiny badges, dark shoes, blue jackets or coats,  and military style dress caps. The drivers were always addressed as "Mister" or "Sir". It was amazing how skillful our drivers safely steered their huge vehicles through congested streets all the while watching us closely in their large rear view mirror.

St. Paul's had no fleet of buses so we used the city bus. In addition to us, our bus carried working people, sailors, and downtown shoppers. We also picked up a few kids from Harry Hunt and other Non Catholic (public) schools along the way. Mingling with kids from other schools was rare and I think each group surveyed the other as aliens. We had our nifty uniforms, blue monogramed ties and white shirts while the Harry Hunt kids wore a delicious variety of casual clothing. It must be remembered that in those times most families had only one car or no car so using the bus was a necessity. Before malls and shopping centers the only place to shop was downtown. The shipyard was nearly downtown and many jobs were also in town. Smoking was still allowed on board so the distinct aroma of cigar, pipe and cigarettes tickled our noses. Tobacco chewing was becoming rare, but once in awhile an old man would spit a mouthful out a window. Everyone knew to shift away from the windows. Once in a while the driver quickly hopped out of his seat and roughly escorted  rowdy, cursing or drunk riders off his transport.

"Colored" people were required to sit in the rear of the bus which, at the time, we thought was the coolest place to sit. The back of the bus had long sofa sized seats which afforded group seating, full reclining possibilities, and a panoramic view of everyone else on the bus. Another attractive feature was the reality that the rear seats bounced at every potholes and dip in the street. The rumble and tumble at the back of the bus was fun. I didn't realize black people sitting in the back of the bus was not their choice but a law. Like the white and colored water fountains at city hall and the separate bathrooms at the public library my young mind didn't yet understand segregation and integration. Eventually my grandmother told me the racial rules when I was half way through the first grade. Since it was a grownup thing I didn't spend time questioning or trying to understand such things. However, my mates and I always raced to claim a back bench on the bus and gleefully dared each other to poke into the bathrooms or sip from the water fountains set aside for black people.

We had some bus delays when ice, snow, high winds, rain, and tidal flooding obscured visibility or clogged the streets. The buses were tough transporters and usually plowed through the bad weather.  Although the windows leaked and cold drafts filled the bus, our drivers soldiered on from stop to stop. On the occasion of a breakdown the driver calmly announced the situation and walked to the nearest public telephone to summon a mechanic or replacement bus. We were commanded to stay in our seats, but naturally forgot that order once the driver was a few paces from the bus.

Home was nearly at the end of the line well into the country. Mine was one of the last stops before the bus began picking up riders on its return downtown. The long commute afforded plenty of time to exchange gossip and perform pranks. The long daily rides were part of our growing up time.  It was where we became best friends, girlfriends, boyfriends, rivals, and enemies forever or at least for the day or week. I cannot recall the exact path the bus followed or all the specific stops, but I fondly remember a few crossroads and neighborhoods. After exiting High Street, we crossed near Westhaven, Oregon Acres along Portsmouth Boulevard and skirted Airline Boulevard along the way. Our daily commute took us near Academy Park, Alexander's Corner, Rollingwood, Century Homes, Simonsdale, Hodges Manor, Park Manor, Hodges Ferry, and then into the country which was Sunray, Jolliff Road, Bowers Hill. By way of the extended roadways of Portsmouth and Airline Boulevard we moved deep into Norfolk County where there were no sidewalks or subdivision names.

After the second grade, Little Flower (St. Therese) School opened in Oregon Acres and our daily bus ride was cut in half. Many of the same kids from St. Paul's were still my bus buddies. With my sister Catherine just starting school, the morning and afternoon rides were shorter but just as exciting as the downtown journeys from 1952 and 1953. As we got older our pranks and conversations got a little louder and bolder, but I think we remained a bunch of good kids.

From those Community Bus days I still recall drivers Mr. McKay (RIP) and Mr. Shotsenberger (RIP). I fondly remember the great kids who were my daily commuter pals; Tommy Bunting (RIP), Patty, Marshall Connely (RIP), Sandy, Mandy, Judith, Francis, Marvin, Mike Rooks (RIP), Margaret, Millard, Johnny, Zita, Keith, Jimmy, Chuck, Thomas Parsons (RIP), Diane, Eugene, Janice,  Francine, Sharon, Jerry, John, Joyce, Paul, Tom, Wayne Smith (RIP), and so many more.



                 




   

MOST SERENE & FEARLESS LEADER

Obama wins hands down as the ultimate liberal twit of American politics in the first quarter of the twenty first century.

With few qualifications, stirring empty oratory, and an attractive smiling family, he was swept into the most important elected office in the world. His election victory was guaranteed by a huge block of liberal Caucasians still guilty about slavery and giddy about his good looks. Democrats and many republicans hoped his ascension would forever smooth the troubled waters of race relations in America. The European Federation of especially silly liberals even gave Obama an undeserved Noble Peace Prize for doing nothing.

With Democrats in both houses of Congress, the adoration of practically all media empires, money and mindless kudos from nearly 100% of Hollywood play actors, a huge block of college professors, and self proclaimed "intellectuals", he began his administration. His mantra was to promise anything and everything to everyone. After six years, it is crystal clear he was, and is, a fraudulent leader. We all got screwed by his lies.

The crowning jewel of his liberal domestic fantasies was Obamacare. This scheme resulted in less health care, increased health care costs, and exploded the number of bureaucratic flowcharts designed by civil service demons. His heavy handed manipulation of business and industry has failed to improve our economy. Tax funded bailouts of GM and other businesses, insistence on maintaining the highest corporate tax rates in the world, and his refusal to allow our energy independence have all contributed to our sluggish economic growth.

The scandals and failures, in his reign, within the FBI, Veterans Administration, Internal Revenue Service, State Department, OSHA, Labor Department, EPA, EEOC, Justice Department, Department of Education, and a slew of other agencies combine executive level incompetence with unending attempts to make the liberal agenda the law of the land. That liberal agenda simply stated is that big government has all the solutions. With an endless stream of taxpayer money your wildest dreams of domestic tranquility and free things from the government are realized. Anyone questioning this progressive plan is quickly labeled a racist, and an enemy of the people, especially innocent children and old folks. Unlike other historic liberals, Obama has been the champion liberal of the decade because he is so self assured of his rightness. He cannot accept constructive criticism or compromises even from fellow democrats. He has sacrificed the nation's economic well being to fulfill his own dreams which are anti capitalist and socialist. Also, a big part of his motivation has been to satisfy a tiny group of mega contributors and far left supporters.

The diplomatic failures of Obama are probably the worst of any past US President. From the start, he proceeded on the mistaken premise that his winning smile and kind words could solve world problems and melt the hearts of the worst dictators. His childlike approach coupled with soft words and body language convinced most real world leaders he was a weakling. At every turn, he has gone out of his way to downplay and even deny "American Exceptionalism".  He has rarely represented our role as the only real economic and military superpower on the face of the earth. At critical moments he has elected to wait until events forced him to act or simply retreated to another vacation spot or golf match until the news cycle moved to a new crisis de jour. Without exception, he has neglected Israel in favor of their murderous neighbors. In Syria, Libya, Egypt, Russia, North Korea, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Mexico, China, Algeria, Pakistan, and most other foreign nations when American lives or economic interests have been at stake he has failed to act. He has not been able to save a reporter from beheading, get an ex Marine freed from a Mexican jail or prevent the slaughter of our Libyan Ambassador. However, he can quickly insure all his federal resources descend on Florida and Missouri when a black kid gets killed by a non black.

Stumbling through the last few years of this presidential nightmare may not destroy our republic, but it's sure been a bad trip. Obama cannot be impeached because of his race, but a handful of his supporters are beginning to realize the shallowness of his leadership and character. If Katrina was our worst ever hurricane than Obama might  be our worst ever Chief Executive. It will take a long time to heal the economic, social, and international wounds he has caused. With God's help and better national leaders the American brand may someday get back it's luster and respect.

The lesson we should learn from suffering the rule of Obama is that a pretty face, skinny resume, fluffy speeches, oodles of campaign money, and an extreme political philosophy do not make a great leader. In 2014 and 2016 we need to carefully read the resumes of the candidates and throw out anyone preaching from an extreme corner of any political party.

 

MY SAM CHAIR

Years ago my boss Sam (Sandler) changed his office furniture and before it was dumpsterized I asked for his old chair. It has been my office chair ever since and it reminds me of Sam.

Sam inherited a thriving food distribution business from his father and with a few relatives and loyal employees built a tremendous enterprise. Sam was a brilliant businessman, but also a philanthropist,  avid Boy Scout supporter, and generous member of his synagogue. With his family he built a company that was named the nation's Best Food Distribution Company during the 1980's. Eventually, his company was sold into other companies and faded after nearly 80 years of existence.

I love my Sam chair as I admire the great man who once used it to manage his financial empire. It is a heavy wooden chair of highly polished wood. No pads, softness, wheels, or adjustment dials on this solid piece of furniture. The straight-backed chair has a stamped date underneath of April 11, 1955 and may have been his father Max's chair. Despite it's age it shows no sign of weakness and will surely last many more decades. It is an honest straight forward bench once used by an honest straight forward man who possessed great gifts of business acumen, common sense, and kindness.

My Sam Chair is a prized possession because it is a reminder of a great Hampton Roads (Virginia) man who built a large business and provided thousands of people careers over the life of his company.