More Memories From The Past

A while back I wrote a blog about a small town near here, one where my mother was born, and my grand parents lived until their deaths. I didn't realize it at the time, but it was a part of area history. In my mothers time, the town was larger, a little more logging and saw mills, railroads, trapping etc.. Some of my older brothers and sisters were also born there. And around high school time my mother and family moved to this town I live in now. My grand parents continued to live there as well as a spinster aunt, and also another grand father.
The old folks no longer worked but my aunt did, at a store in town, hardware I believe, there was a little grocery store also, and a small school there. Not everyone had running water as I mentioned before, most had electricity, but not all, the other grand dad didn't, kerosene lamps were the mode. I remember being young, mybe 7 or 8 and walking up the Mason Hill west of town, and walking a short ways to watch Ol' Pappy Olson working his team of horses across a forty, throwing hay with a pitch fork onto a wagon. He was one of the last farmers to do that at the time. But to me it was like being in a movie. The horses were huge! And they did just what he wanted them to do, amazing. Little did I know that 7-8 years later I would be using horses logging! But, I remember conversations about the people of the town and out on the farms, everyone knew everyone else, when someone died or was seriously sick it was a community event. People sent pies or baked goods, and dishes of food to the affected families.
I don't remember them using a mower of any kind, but I do remember them using a scythe to cut the grass when it got a little high. The scythe was a long handled implement, with a long sharp blade on the bottom, you may have seen pics of farmers using one to cut hay or oats. I still have the one gramps used. Heck I even use it to cut grass by the alley when it gets long.
It was surely, at least from my point of view, a much simpler time, but I also realize I wasn't yet old enough to worry about surviving, so I loved it. Listening to the old folks talking about the past, and being a part of a community that really cared about each other.
There are still a few of the really old timers around, not many, but now their kids are there, or other relatives, so the town is there, there isn't roller skating at the old school anymore, the grocery is now a gas station that sells groceries of some sort, the old homes of grand parents are no longer there, I don't know many that live there, but I would bet I could go there, say who I am and who my family was, and be just as welcome as I was when I was young, so lots may change in towns and lives, but somethings remain the same for generations, and I carry that with me always.

A Day in The Garden

Yesterday I put a new blade on the riding mower, I had to after an encounter with a cement block the last time I mowed. My daughter and I had to make some adjustment to it also, from the same encounter. After that we did some weeding in the garden. I rent from my father-in-law, so we have a spot in the garden, that wifes mother used to have. Since her death a few years ago the garden has gone to weeds and unkempt. Our goal was to bring it back to life, save all the flowers growing in the weeds, and creating a new spot for some tomatoes and what not.
So, my wife, and two of my daughters and I went to work, actually, they worked, and I bagged the weeds. I never realized 13 bags of weeds could come from such a small area, and still only be 90% done. I wanted to plant some tomatoes, because I'm usually at Shutters garden in mid summer delighting in the fruits of his labor, and plastic fruits at times eh, eh.
I started weeding also, but it was decided by the girls, that at my pace, by the time I got done the weeds would again be in full bloom where I started. Well I have to agree with them, I'm not as quick as I used to be! The wife at first tried to help me bag, but after getting a shovel handle up side the head, and fork tine to the leg, she thought better of helping me! And after letting me know I was a certain part of my anatomy, she took her place next to the other girls. Well it looks great, they did a fine job. I love flowers, but don't know one from the other by name, I love the colors, but they managed to save many more than I could have picked out.
I will still sample Shutters bounty, I want to continue a neighborhood tradition, and I will tolerate the rubbery fruits, come to think of it I have to check the progess over there!
So, I will end here, please keep in mind this week end, and what it means, the sacrifices paid so we can pursue all we can and have. And the sacrifices being paid to this day. If only for a few minutes, put them all in your prayers. God bless and be safe!

Understanding

I just read Spadomans blog, I like that fellow, we seem to be a lot alike, in fact I had to laugh as I read it. We are who we are, and we aren't about to change that. We read other blogs, and find we don't blog like others. We talk from the heart and aren't real concerned about how it looks in print. We have the capacity to sound intellectual, but don't, we are willing to learn, we don't criticize others for their beliefs, we just are and want others to accept what we are also. I guess that's a big order in a way.
Sure we grouse and bitch like others, we even have our own ideas, we have lots of experiences in the world, we both have had lots of jobs but someday we will find what we want to be when we grow up, I know that for sure eh eh. We will keep blogging, even if no one reads it but the two of us, I'm sure of that also. There are some other bloggers that speak from the heart, I read them also. I make the daily rounds of several blog sights, then sit down and type out my tripe!
For myself, I find humor in most things as well as serious stuff, most days will find me laughing about many things. I know from some the the things I have blogged about that it may not seem that way, but that's the way I am.
Maybe I 'm trying to find my niche in the blogging world, offering a different view and my take on things. If it's of value, is only determined by those who read it. To me it's of value of course. Hell, I don't even proof read it, so yes there are typos, I catch some, others I don't. But that's me also, typos and all, I have no desire to change that. Hell I even tried to use the spell checker and the cyclops wouldn't let me use it, and I have no desire to keep playing with it.
Damn, I just used the yahoo spell check and it worked, I've learned something today, whew! Thats my goal to learn one thing each day. Only in America! All these things at our beck and call!
Since my humorous blogs stopped, I have noticed readership is down, so who am I to argue, I will sprinkle the bogs with humor as I find it, just keep in mind my humor can be a little twisted, so I mean to offend no one, I laugh at others and even more at myself!
Now that doesn't mean the topics won't have a serious side, they will, but will also have my homespun humor with it.

A Collection of Reflections

Finally someone hit upon the biggest reason for oil prices as I mention more then once in this blog. Ben Stein hit upon it also! Now if more will realize it, we may have a chance for the near future. The reason I say that is, because of our own greed, we have to pay the piper. If it all continues, as I again stated earlier, we face things we never thought we would have to in the ol' US. Change is coming and we won't like it! Prices will continue to rise, and this country will be in a crisis, more than it is now. Why? Because there will be a huge gap between the high priced oil, and renewable energy implimentation and discoveries. I shouldn't have to say how it will all shake down, from industries to us, it will all be painful, and it isn't a joke. I'm not sure that if we start today to put all resourses into R&D that we can stop it, but we should try.
As I said before, I am an environmentalist, even did some consultation in it. I guess I didn't fit in to the environmentalist ideal, you see it isn't an either or proposition in my mind. To me, as long as there are people on earth we are going to leave a lasting foot print. And to me, all we can do is try to see to it that it is as minimal as it can get.
In college I had many environmental classes, what the hell, it was an environmental college. And I would sit and listen to the young people hashing over the environmental problems of the earth. Against pollution, against raising animals to eat, yet all wearing leather sandals, like they came from road kills. Going all over the US and other countries on field trips, driving SUV's, yet not bathing often, or flushing toilets. Same was true for some of the profs, living off the grid, but driving 60-70 miles per day in a smaoking car they chose to recycle by driving til it quit, and feeling they came out "even" on an environmental scale.
Thirty years ago, there was some talk about an ice age coming, glaciers were advancing 30 feet per year in places. Now it is shrinking, global warming we say. It may well be, even for sure the earth is warming, but I doubt it is from one thing. We talk about global warming and say "they" need to do something to stop it. Well who is they? The grovernment? Whose government? I have news for you, as underdeveloped countries, you know, like the ones where our industries are flooding to, develope and have the means to buy things like we do, will find pollution like we did in our industrial revolution. China is finding that out already, and they have just begun.
Have you been to large suburban developments, huge houses, you know, ones that need two furnaces to heat, two airconditioning units to cool, all for 2-3 people to use, thats right, those houses. They also take a small forest to build.
I live in northern WI and drive past several wood yards, on my drive to work each day I see logging trucks hauling wood to them. Thousand, tens of thousands, millions of trees per year meet their fate there. I can also say this, trees are now being cut before they reach maturity, and get smaller all the time. Certainly they are being made to wood chips, not lumber, you couldn't get a firring strip out of what they are taking.
For the last thirty years or more I have heard what deforestation does to the earth, and not just in rain forests. Warms climate, changes wind patterns, promotes irrosion, pollutes water and on and on, hence also effects rain.
Now we come to the term ecosystem, the key is system, not eco! It's the system, not just one thing, we are screwing it all up, not just one area. So my advice to anyone is, study, read, find out, don't just squeak about it. Then try to make some changes yourself, remember, when you point a finger there are three more pointing back at you!
Now to a change in thought: Hayden makes it to CIA, after all the clamor, made it by a wide margin, imagine that. If it wasn't so serious it would be funny. Maybe we can look forward to another era of McArthyism and J. Edgar rolled into one.
I thought of something, about the time of the revelation of intelligence gathering came to light, that GM makes cars with "Onstar" in them. Onstar can tell someone exactly where you are, talk to you, and you can answer. It can monitor car performance, and more I'm sure. I wonder if it occured to anyone that it is also a wonderful surveilance tool. Hell, they can or have the potential to, listen to coversations that take place in cars, as well as know where you are. I wonder if GM has had any requests from the government to follow or listen to conversations. As long as the car is quiped with it, I'm sure it can be activated at anytime by GM. It sure would be easy and cheaper for the spooks to do it that way, and way less manpower to do. I guess only time will tell, but if you have onstar, installed or not, watch what you say or do in the car, heh heh.
Again, I will say, contact your government reps in your state or fed government, go to the state and fed sites and email them with what you want. The squeaky wheel does get the grease, like I said if we don't say what we want they will do it their way. They may do it their way anyway, but they can also be voted out of office. Take the time just like you would email anyone else, doesn't take long, and IS EFECTIVE. With all but the White House of course!
A while back I made a post about "the 24", I stated I thought the marines were victims of war as well as anyone else. Some took that to mean I thought they should be forgiven, or that what they did was ok. I still stand by they victim thing, they may have lived their whole life without hurting someone if they were never in a war. But what they did was wrong if it was plain murder. I have said since I was in the military, mommies would shit if they knew what their home grown boys were capable of. I have seen it with my own two eyes, from WWII vets to Korea, to Vietnam, to Somalia, Panama, you name it. The only point I wanted to make by my first statement was that there are all kinds of victims of war, and they certainly are too. Are they to be treated differently? No. Wrong is wrong no matter how you pile it.
But let me say this, I know some think that to say stresses of war or job such as police, firemen, EMT's etc., is cop out, it is not. And to say if you haven't been there, you don't really know is a cop out, that is not either. And let me tell you, no amout of training in the world prepares you for what you have to see, live, and do. And that includes corrections officers!
So look around you folks, there are victims of all kinds, right wrong or indifferent!

The sky

I have been looking at the site, "Astronomy Picture of The Day", and I am amazed daily by what I see, or most days anyway. Part of it is what is shown, a part is the huge distances envolved, a part is what has been discovered over time, and a part is our ability to see so far into the past. As I have said before, much of what they discover out there they can use on earth. And sometimes what they discover in labs here leads to greater understanding out there.
Todays picture is of a five quasar gravitational lense, some 7 billion light years from us. A light year is the distance light travels in one year at approximately 186,000 miles per second, or nearly 6 trillion miles /10 trillion kilometers per year, now multiply that by 7 billion and you have the distance of what you see in the pic! I sure can't tell you how many miles that is.
I guess I could put it this way, the light of something that happened 7 billion years ago, is just now getting to earth. What we are seeing no longer may be there. It always amazes me to know that we won't live long enough, by billions of years, to see the end result of what we see now. As an example, by chance, astronomers have found an exploding star, very rare find, very far from here, aslo a chance to discover what really happens, rather than theory, to these stars. But even though we may see the beginning, we won't see the end. Weird huh!
On a clear night, and you are outside, star gazing, try to find the constellation Orion, then find the belt, on the verticle part of the belt you will see what looks like, a red star twinkling, actually it isn't a star per se, it is a super nova, or collapsing star, the red color is the nebulae, or remnants of this explosion, and you can see a little of it with the naked eye. If you go to the "astronomy pic of the day", and check the archives you can find it there.
Just thought I would give you something to look at on a clear night! Happy star watching.

Reflecting on the G-Word

The other day a young fellow at work asked me if I believed in god, I said yes. He couldn't believe it. Now this is a 22 year old, was a valadictorian of his class, a very smart person. He is partly responsible for my studying the last couple years. We kind of tested each others knowledge. Any way, he said he didn't understand how someone with my aptitude could believe in what no one could prove. I said no one can prove there isn't a god either. I said it was all a matter of personal choice and beliefs, along with being raised surrounded by believers.
Now we don't argue points we discuss things and suggest readings etc.. He wasn't raised believing in god, and pointed out all the failings of the world, crime, wars, sickness, hunger a whole list of things. I said I really couldn't speak for god if there is one, I said he would have to study it, read about it and may or not believe in it all. I said I could give him an explaination, but I doubted it would be good enough. He said he heard all the arguments before, and I said I doubt I could add to them in any significant way. I explained to him there were lots of reasons for believing and just as many for not believing.
After some discussion I had a hint of what had taken place in his life, but I won't go into it here. But the discussion did make me think about my beliefs, and this time in history. I guess I'd have to say that my beliefs are stronger than they have ever been, for lots of reasons. Now I'm not a religious fanatic, nor a steady church-goer. You might call it spirituality in a sense. Now, don't get me wrong, I believe it is a personal choice and thats it. I don't look in judgement at those who don't belive as I do. I don't appreciate when others try to tell me how and what to believe either.
You all have heard the latest, the evolution vs intelligent design thing. I agree that religion need not be taught in schools, but I do believe that kids should be taught that it exists and what it is about, like history. If someone wants to believe we came swinging out of the trees so be it. It seems science like to use rats and monkeys, mostly rats to test vaccines and diseases etc., because they are similar to our own systems, maybe we evolved from rats instead. But I can't be too sure, I see a lot of people monkey around!
I can be sure that I will get alot of guff over this blog, after all I might irritate someones sensibilities. Oh well, I've been known to chafe a few butts. Come to think of it, I've wondered if the same people that harp on the separation of church and state, are the one that supported removing childrens books of my time from libraries because they were too violent while letting their children play x-boxes and other video games that show, killing, rape, mutilation and other forms of depravity? Oh for the paradoxes of our times, heh heh.

Reflecting again

Well, a few days ago, I had the sighting of the unknown "jugger", a block away this time, but I would recognize "the poetry in motion" if she were in the boston marathon. I was in the yard but was just looking around when the sighting occured, so I was unscathed this time, no power equipment in hand!
I was just listening to the news, and the government found no evidence of price gouging, and 26 million vets are at risk because their information was stolen from the government. Now thats enough to make anyone cheerful! Of course, they had a talking head on from the oil analyst front, mouthing the tune, capacity, capacity, capacity. Well the last stats that I saw was that we used slightly more gas this last year, but capacity was the same even in the wake of katrina.
Listen up folks, thousands are getting rich on oil futures, and include retirement funds of all kinds including state funds, and are making big bucks. Futures are commodities like wheat, corn, etc, and can be gold, and oil. Futures are risky business, and while turning big bucks now, can really take a beating very fast. Now that was just for your information. Judge for yourself. This is a big part of the price of oil, and it sure makes oil companies smile also. So in effect investors are or may be cutting their own throats at the pump and by the beating in the markets. Time will tell if I am right. Maybe this is whats called plausible deniability heh heh.

More Experiences

Spadoman, like you I have and had interest in Native American Spirituality. I have lived here most of my life, and been aware of Native American everything all my life. Not that I understood it but it was there. I have always had Native American friends, and heck even relatives finally owned up to having some of the blood line, heh heh, others through marriage.
In college I studied Native American history, society, and religion, along with 3-4 years of the language. I have participated in many ceremonies, pow wows, sweat lodges etc.. I did likewise with the Japanese. I can say now that I have a better understanding of both societies, and practice somethings as I can. I'll leave it right here for now. I went to the site you suggested and loved it, thank you!
I grew up here in northern WI, most of my family did too. Grand parents came from Norway and my dad came from Yugoslavia, smuggled out just before WWI. We were not well- to -do, my parents never owned a car, but we got around somewhat. Family was always important to all of us, even extended family, my house was like a gathering place for it too, kind of funny in a way because we had the smallest house, but we would jam in there. Lot of food and laughter! Lots of wonderful memories also.
My grand parents lived in a little town southwest of here, just a handful of people, they had electricity, but no running water. There was another grand dad down the street who didn't have electricity either. That all meant that both places had outhouses. I was pretty young then, they were all gone by the time I was 9. But I still remember them, remember the smell as you came in the back shed. All places of the time had a shed attached to the back of the house to store fuel in the winter, apples , slop bucket, etc.. You never went to a relatives house without having lunch, cookies, sandwich, coffee and milk. I remember carrying water for them, filling kerosene lamps, carrying wood ect., as they were aging and I was told to do it. The town pump was about half a block away, across a little ravine, up a hill and pump away. As I remember it, it took a little while to master carrying the porceline pails without having wet pant legs and feet, not to mention a half pail of water!
My parents were strict, enforced respect for others, mainly company, ladies, elderly, etc.. The respect and discipline is with me to this day. When I got a whack up the back of my head, I deserved it. And all mom had to do was scowl in your direction, and you knew you were approaching a line. She also had what I call now, frisbee shoes, I swear she could throw them around corners and hit you, heh heh. And that was just a warning shot!
Until I left for the military, we never had a furnace, always wood and coal hand fired heat. And that is a whole other story. They finally got a gas furnace when I went in the military from the allotment checks sent home.
Growing up, most people had gardens in their yards, to supplement their income and food. From mid summer to mid fall I carried a salt shaker to sample the neighborhood goodies growing all over, carrots, rhubarb, tomatoes, onions, apples you name it.
I guess we live in a wonderful place yet, people will stop and talk to you when you are outside, people you don't know as well as those you know. If you have a fire in the firepit, everyone is welcome, neighbors amble back and forth , people walking by comment on the fire. It's wonderful to live in a neighborhood like this!
I guess I wasn't heading anywhere with all this, just sharing some of my past. Thanks for listening!

Our Own Interests

I like watching, listening to and reading what others have to say. Some are very heady, some funny, some plain dumb, and others follow the crowd, some thoughtful, and many are a little of everything. I was a counselor for many years, some of the interest comes from that I suppose.
I try to keep an open mind, sometimes thats pretty hard to do. We all have beliefs, interests, learning, experiences etc..
Many times our thoughts and actions are dictated by our own interests and experiences. I certainly can't say sometimes that one idea or opinion is better than another. Other times it is not too hard to disagree. But we can always listen and give our two cents worth if we see fit. There are those who believe they are right and that is that! I wish I could be that sure of all things, but I can't. I can only give my thoughts or wisdom and thats it. I have my beliefs, and my thoughts and wisdom, but I don't need to be right or think I have won in some way.
I guess in short, I know a little about lots of things, I know all there is to know about very few. I try to keep that in mind! I'm not passive by any means, if you ask me, I will rattle on about most things. I am also willing to learn. If I'm not sure I will look it up, study it, and possibly change my views, or not.
Here is an example: In the news it was reported that a few Marines killed several civilians after one of their own was killed by an IED. People are calling it murdering innocent civilians. And it may well have been. For those who have been in the military its easy to understand military life, for those who have been in combat its easier to understand combat conditions. Now this doesn't mean I agree with what happened, but I do understand that the Marines may have been victims also, tragic as it may have been. For one, we are hearing only part of the story, not from the Marines. A part of the problem of war is you don't always know who the enemy is. The insurgents don't wear uniforms, a teen ager may well be trying to kill you or a female. War is hard, even for the warrior, seeing death and destruction. Friends in body bags, and in reality our kids are seeing things that would make a cockroach puke. Guilty or not my friends, they are victims of the nastiness of war, and we sent them there. Amen

Changing reflections

I have decided to end the reflections on the future due to lack of interest. We really should be looking to the past and the future, or it will come up and bite us on the ass. We can blog our hearts out, re-hashing the news each day, but what do we really accomplish? There are as many opinions on anything anyone does, as there are fleas on a hounds back. Opinions are like butts, everyone has one!
Some blogs are very elaborate at mouthing the news. Personally I like stuff from the heart and mind, or experiences.
How many people know that they can contact their representatives in government. They all have email, even the white house. Some may say it doesn't do any good, I say it does do good or can anyway. They are put there by votes and want to keep it that way. A few people bitching may not make news, but hundreds will, thousands for sure. Most will answer the emails. Politicians have staff, and it doesn't need to be a gripe, it could be a problem with benefits or whatever, they will answer. If not do it again! Why heck, you can even email support for something, or support for the job they are doing. They like that too! So someone impress me please.
Just recently, a young fellow at work was denied workmens comp for an injury at work. I told him to contact a state office and representative. Within a couple days workmens comp was nice as pie and more cooperative, how it turns out has yet to be seen, but action of some sort will be taken. The fellow said to me he really didn't think it would do any good until he got more than one response for his problem. I have done similar things several times, not as much as I should, so maybe I will practice what I preach too.
If our reps don't have guidance from us they will do it their way, or how they want it. They do not want a few thousands of people barking up their colons.
So be a part of government, not a victim of it! We do have choices, use them wisely.

The Future

Imagine a time line of the earth we live on. Lets say there is a line on the wall, any wall in your house, all the way across. This will represent how long the earth has been livable . Now somewhere right of center put a thick vertical line with a highliter, this represents since man appeared, now along side that line put a vertical pencil line, that represents time since the industrial revolution until the present.
What you have then is a line on a wall 8-12 feet long, with two vertical lines less than an eighth of an inch combined. Think about that, we have been here for such a short time in history, and even shorter since we became mechanized. We have also caused so much havoc in that time also, pollution, devouring resources, world wars, and on and on.
I'm not sure that I have enough time today to say all I want to say. So this may be in two or more installments.
I believe we are coming to a crossroads, which road we take is up to us, but change is coming, the world is changing. I don't mean little change either, huge even sounds small.
I think economies will be more local, than national, and international. Sure there will be trade, all products can't be grown or produced in all places. Industries will have to reconsider keeping jobs here, because as the underdeveloped countries, the ones with our jobs now, grow and use more resources, cause more pollution etc., as China is having trouble with now, industry will not be as welcome as they find it now.
My generation will retire soon, opening many jobs, the catch will be that companies will find that young people will not work for what pay we get now. We lost ground in the last 20 years! So companies will have to increase wages to get people on the jobs, also better benefits.
You frequently here the word "Sustainable", economies, growth, environment, jobs etc.. We will have to be open to change, open minded I guess about all things. History tells us that most if not all "great societies" collapsed. We need to ask" are we next?". For sure it doesn't need to happen.
Stay tuned until tomorrow night when I will ramble on again! I have sinus and cold trouble and feel like hell. Down but not out, heh heh! Later folks

This Morning

I get up to prepare for work at 2:30 am. As I poured a cup of coffee I noticed the moon outside the kitchen window. Bright, silver and floating in a sea of stars.
As Shutter and I have said, we can sit for hours and stare up at the night sky. I am so strongly attracted to the night sky that I have to look up frequently.
The past two years I have spent so much time studying the universe, and no matter how much time and looking at pictures of the universe from Hubble, and so many other telescopes around the world, I never tire of what I see and what I can learn.
I leave home when it is dark, and I have been known to stop on the highway and try to find something in the sky, away from city lights. People from work have stopped to see if I was having car trouble and when I tell them what I am looking for, they look at me funny. But what the heck, I never said I was too smart!
I don't have a telescope, I use binoculars and NASA to see what I want. So can anyone else, that has an interest in the heavens.
I guess some people think they are just stars or planets, and they are indeed. But much of what takes place out there, has led to many dicoveries here on earth, and may well change a great many things in the future. So I am awed by it all, out there and here . I still suggest for everyone to visit the NASA site of "Astronomy Picture Of the Day" , for a wonderful experience.

Some Thoughts on Myself

I have said on this blog site that I have taken up studying this past year or so. Actually I have studied most of my life, just more so at times than at other times. Also for many different reasons. I have education up the ying yang. I like to say I have a Phd (post hole digger) not a doctorate, heh, heh.
It occured to me this week, why at this time was I again interested in so much. I think I found the answer.
Over the past 20 years or so, the ol' body has begun to fail. Some of the failings are natural, others are from one abuse or another. It started out as small things and got bigger over the years. I don't mind getting old, I just don't like what comes with it. I just can't do the things or atleast some of them as I used to do. Even that doesn't scare me too much. But I am afraid of losing my faculties(mind). Being a veggie of one sort or another does! So even if my physical house falls apart I want to keep the mind active, so I try to exercise it. If it works remains to be seen.
Keep in mind that I don't want to be able to go back and relive my life, nothing would irritate me more than making the same mistakes all over again, heh heh. Sometimes I wish I would have kept my patience in check long enough to retire from something, but I didn't and I won't, retire form somewhere that is, heh heh.
I like to say my life has been kind of like paying to use a toilet in a train station, and only passing gas.
I'm not afraid to die, I'm just not in a hurry to do it. No sense rushing into things! One of my son's tells me, "don't worry dad, the big guy is gonna keep you around for another 30 so you can suffer" heh heh. Well he has a twisted sense of humor like his dad!
Can anyone relate to this? Just some thoughts on this gloomy rainy day in gods country!

The Constitution

Recent events have caused me to think about what I have studied about the constitution over the years. As I have said I have a degree in policy studies/economic policy. This includes our laws and international law, environmental law etc. . Policy studies is what used to be called Political science in days gone by.
Am I an expert in constitutional law?, no. But I think I have a working knowledge of how it works. The document is amazing really, the foundation of all things american. The document is quite small, including the amendments to it. The reason for it was to form a government like no other in the world after rejecting the english form of government. Then we would have a new country governed by the people for the people! I believe it was written so future generations could interpret it for their needs. The constitution has a system of checks and balances, or the government does, there for there is congress and senate, along with the presidential branch. All of this was designed to prevent the abuse of power, and the overseerers of the constitution is the Supreme Court, the judicial branch.
The supreme court doesn't make laws, it interprets the constitutionality of the laws we have, pretty much attempting to make sure our rights haven't been trampled on.
At first blush it all looks so simple and well defined. If you have never read the contitution go read it. You can get a pocket sized one easily. As I have said it is the bedrock of our country, so much so it is very hard to get amendments to it . As well it should be that way.
The framers of the constitution, knew they could not come up with a document to cover every possible situtation the country could face, nor define laws that that were fair forever, so these far seeing people allowed it to be open to interpretation.
The states are given power, and the federal government given power and we are given power so to speak.
Even at the time of the revolution there were those that wanted to stay controlled by england, and there were conservatives and liberals. Yet in the end, they were able to come up with a document that satisfied a majority.
I don't need to tell anyone the impacts of the legal system in the last 200 years. We often read about legal and constitutional issues. Sometimes we read about abuses of power and or attempts at abuse, whether in state government or federal government.
So now we know the states have laws somewhat governed by the federal government. And we are governed by both. The legal system is quite complicated as you can see daily.
I have heard perhaps thousands of times people talking or arguing the constitution and laws. I have seen people even bring a copy of the constitution and say, this is where it says this and that. Well, generally it may say what they say it said, so to speak.
How do you think the constitution is interpreted? Do the justices open their little copy of it and say" yup, it says it right here, case closed?". As Wilson on tool time says" no no no Tim". First of all, there are thousands of past decisions by this high court on constitutional issues they look at. There are also books written by some of the founding fathers who may also have become future presidents. Then there are papers written by the founding fathers and other thinkers and indeed just people. As there wasn't a postal sevice at the time, these "letters" were posted in most of the communities for people to read and debate about. The papers contained statements, ideas, wishes, arguments and even criticisms. and were posted in communal areas in the communities. I'm sure there are also letters that passed from each other.
So you see, the supreme court interprets also from the "intent" of the framers of the constitution.
Now given that there are conservatives and liberals, some past decisions may be overturned even by the court, such as an opinion be a conservative to a more liberal opinion by a current more liberal justice.
Hence, it takes time for the justices to study a case, and all the information available to them, and to reach a decision in a certain majority, to be upheld or rejected.
So now, we live in a time when the constitution is put to the test in no small measure. Complicated to be sure. My opinion is but one in millions I'm sure. I'm not even sure if it is an opinion, or questions. After 9/11 it seems that congress came up with an act to keep us more secure(national security). Giving the prez and other agencies power to do things. I can't help but ask if they had a right to do that. And now we have people in power willing to run like hell with that ball.
One of my professors in economics used to say "there is no such thing as a free lunch", in otherwords there is some kind of price paid for whatever. I think that is true!
I think we may have over reacted on the home front, after 9/11, the "hue and cry" across our country was security. We felt threatened, as well we should, rare is the occaision that we are attacked on our own soil. But there is a price to be paid! What are we willing to give up to feel secure, and when is enough, enough? In economics there is a thing called diminishing returns, in otherwords, to make one or more something, costs more to do than the benifit to make it. As an example, are we willing to give up much of our freedom for the next level of security, or appearance of security?
I consider myself a patriot, I uncover(take my hat off) when a US flag passes in a parade, I take my hat off in public buildings, I support our troops, I cried and was very angry on 9/11, to this day I wear hats from New York, FDNY, and NYPD, to honor those fallen. I was in the military and also in law enforcement. To me, even the symbals of our country are sacred, as well as those who serve us, and those that have died in serving us. To me we have the greatest country in the world, and still do.
Now we have Dubya and congress threatening the foundations of our country, for a security they say we want. Yes I want to stop attacks or prevent them, but at what price? I have seen many abuses of power, J. Edgar come to mind amassing information on thousands of americans deemed dissidents or some such things. Ol' slippery Dick is another example.
It seems to me we have and had a system of intelligence that has always worked, maybe it doesn't now, it seems they are not what they used to be. Just look at the billions we spend on intelligence, by the billion or so agencies gathering it.
Now we have the "great decider" telling us and doing what he "decides" we want and need. Hell he doesn't need a court that was designed to stop abuse, telling him what to do. Hell he has even decided that we don't need to talk with, or negotiate with countries we think are doing something wrong. After all he is the prez, and he is Dubya, they do what he says or else.
Maybe he should focus our money, and time on getting the intelligence system working again the way it should be. We can't even guarantee the security for the Iraqi people in their small country and can't stop the influx of insurgents into the country. We have satellites that can watch a sand flea scratch himself in the dead of night in a desert, but we can't find the little bearded turd Binladen living like a rat somewhere.
Well I'd better stop rambling for now and do what I do best, heckle Shutterwi!

Laughing

I loved the comments folks and I'm still laughing, thank you all! I'm beat tonight, so I will post more tomorrow night on Dubya and the phone call thing. I too tired and disgusted right now. And welcome to the new blogger on the block it sure made me think!

A Bear In The Neighborhood and Other Happenings

Several Years ago I was mowing the lawn when a woman I knew from a few blocks away was walking by. We exchanged waves and continued on our way. Suddenly, I heard a commotion over the loud noise of the mower, so I came to a stop and began to look around. I noticed that the woman who just walked by was running in my direction, flailing her arms and making a gutteral sound. Right at that time I noticed a small yearling bear runiing like he seen the devil,cross behind the woman and head up the street. For a few fleeting seconds I felt a real kinship to the little bear because of the look on the womans face, wailing sound, her size, and speed at which she was approaching, I had to fight my natural urge to turn and flee with the bear. I held my ground though, and as the woman passed she grabbes my arm, and pulled me 5 or 6 steps to the west, while hollering bear, bear. I told her it was gone, and reassured her it was ok. As proof we walked to the intersection and looked in the direction the bear went. Sure enough it was several blocks away running full speed towards the wooded area south of town. She asked if it would come back, I said I was sure it would forever be a more careful bear and stay out of town. Well she said she wasn't taking any chances and headed home. I shrugged and started old betsy again.
Well I hadn't made but 3 more passes around the yard with the mower, when I noticed A young woman jogging, I'm sure she was college age. Having the scientific mind that I have, I noticed that she was wearing very petite, well built, wearing very tight very short, shorts, and a small top of some kind. After due scientific consideration I realized that I was observing a some of the laws of motion, momentum,velocity and with a shot of chemistry as well. The law of motion was sure to be the rare and little seen, "poetry in motion", and as I well knew it was even more rare in this neighborhood. Well as she passed and was going to be out of sight soon, I decided to lean way over as I mowed craned my neck to see around a huge maple tree to catch the last glimpse of this phenomenon. Just as I was as far over as I could go without falling over, the mower struck an exposed root coming to a dead stop. True to the laws of momentum , my body kept traveling in the same direction striking my midriff and knocking the wind out of me. As my body began to slow the force snapped my body upright and my head forward, stiking a low hanging branch with my head removing a small piece of bark from the underside of the branch as well as a small piece of bark from my head. My hands flew up to my head causing the engine brake to stop the engine.
As I caught my breath I realized that there was alot of science that took place in a short time. The first thing upon seeing the young jugger, caused the last remaining hormone in my old carcass to start screaming, and as you can observe in teenagers, their heads seem to empty out creating a vacuum, theirs as well as mine, heh, heh! Causing me to act like a teen. Well, just like a revelation of some kind, I knew why they put engine brakes on mowers as well as knowing that the inventor had to have a similar experience and deciding to prevent old geezers from losing a toe or two under a mower!!!!!!
After mowing and having the evening meal, I again went outside as earlier in the day Shutter and I decided to have a fire in the fire ring. So I prepared for it, then lit it and soon Shutter and wife came out. By then it was growing dark, the sky full of stars and full moon. as we sat at the fire I related the bear incident and we all had a chuckle. I didn't relate about the jogger, I thought I would let sleeping hormones be so to speak. I just said I had hit my head on the tree. Well, sometimes around the fire, we don't talk much, we get lost in our own thoughts. Well we were quiet for some time when suddenly Shutterwi asks "do you smell smell something burning?, yes says I, the fire is right here, giggling. No, No shutter kind of snapped, something different he said. Well, I looked around the yard and towards the house to see if an ember started a fire elsewhere. Just a my gaze got back to Shutter, he sprang out of his lawn chair like he was ejected from an F-16, he began stomping his feet, flapping his arms and slapping his legs, doing a half pirouette and sitting back down in a different chair.This particular movement has come to be known as the "east coast jitterbug" in the neighborhood. It is a cross between a polka, Irish jig, and musical chairs. As it turns out, Shutter had his feet up on the fire ring and his felt clogs reached the point of ignition, causing the jitterbug.
I named this dance ritual several years before, this was due to the fact that burning wood sometimes pops and snaps and sends a shower of embers out of the fire. It seems that Shutter defies the laws of probability and statistics and 9 of ten times the embers fly, they will end up on Shutter's sweat pants causing pinholes in them. They are also hot, so as he feels and sees the embers land he does the little jitterbug, slapping and jumping to prevent more damage. My teen daughter did the same when she asked me if I could smell rubber burning, and yes it was the bottom of her clogs getting very hot.
Well that ended a busy day in the neighborhood........amen

On The More Serious Side

Well folks, I am up early as usual. My biological clock for the work-a-day world keeps ticking in the same way even on week ends. My day usually starts at 2:30 am so week ends I can sometimes force myself to sleep until 4am or so!
I usually try to spend some time learning something, a book or internet. Lately I visit my favorite blog sites, and others I will list here. My favorite area of study is astronomy so I visit this site: antwrp.qsfc.nasa.gov/apod, and view the picture of the day. Along with the pictures there are archives to hundreds of pics, and links to other sites. One of my other favorites is called" How Stuff Works".
Over a year ago, now that my youngest is in college, I found I had lots of time on my hands, and for the most part, other than the history channel, and discovery, and the news, I dislike tv. So I decided to learn something daily, even if it meant only doing it for 30 mins. Well that has worked well, I do it daily. My interests are listed on my profile, so as you can see, there is no shortage of material to study.
I'm kind of a strange bird, so to speak. In short, I just have to know how stuff works! As an example, so many years ago, I was forced to enter the computer age, I had trouble until I went to the library and read all the books on computers. Then, I somehow had a lot less trouble! Why? I can't begin to tell you. Being able to use something and knowing how it works, usually are two different things.
Anyway, I guess I'm interested in astronomy because I'm awed by it, and over time I came to understand that the same forces that are at work out there, are at work on earth on a smaller scale. I am also awed at the scientists who figure this stuff out. I am also awed at the pure beauty of it all!!
My favorite astro physicist is Stephen Hawkings. I admire the man. He has a site on the web and you can read some of his lectures and find out about his theories. I urge you to go there and browse around. He suffers from ALS and can only move his eyes somewhat. His computations take place in his head!
Now, keep in mind, that I have a questioning mind, and having that, I don't need to agree 100% with everything I learn. Most things I agree with, they make sense. I can neither prove or disprove of anthing. And some things they can't either, hence they are theories.
One theory I'm not sure if I agree with is the "big bang theory", the universe and all things began in what scientists call a "singularity", one single explosive event, that created all we know about and all we don't, and that since that time, the universe has and continues to expand. Current theory also says the universe is flat! Now where have I heard this flat thing before?
Keep in mind, that this has been like 10 billion years ago! Theory says that when they can or if they can go back to the singularity, the laws of physics won't apply because it will all be different. Darn those scientists, just when they go and figure things out, they change the picture!!!
Well I may not be a physicist, or a scientist, but it seems to me that the quest to know how it all began will somehow prove evolution or god, to put it simply. I really doubt that even if they can trace it all backward in time to a single atom, the question will remain, "how did it get there?"Some theorists think the universe may have always been there, but the question remains in that case also "how did it get there?".
For the time that man looked in the sky, I'm sure they wondered if there were others like us out there. We are still on that quest, but the question is different, that being is there life out there, not necessarily man?, or even signs that other life existed out there.
As for the flatness of the universe, I think about an exploding firecracke thrown in the air, it sure looks like it flies apart close to equal in all directions. Could it be that that the universe is expanding in all directions?
I had better stop for today, I may have hurt myself thinking this hard! I can oly hope this may cause you to give it a thought or two!

Plastic Fruit

As I have related before the relationship of Shutterwi and myself. The following is yet again some of our antics!
A few years ago, I decided I needed a picnic table. On to the internet I went and found free plans for one I liked. Now you have to understand that when Shutter and I build something it will be sturdy. You know the type, if plans call for 2x4's we use 2x6! Well, I constructed this table Tim The Tool Man would be proud of. Indeed, made of 2x6, hole in the middle for an umbrella that would not tip over with tornadic winds, and supposed to be easy to store.
Well one day as I was mowing I came to the table, the directions said it would stand on its own, so reason told me that would be best on its side, so I was tipping it on its side, made sense to me, now given that it was more than a little on the heavy side, it got over the center of gravity. Now, falling on the top wouldn't have hurt the table, but I didn't want to let go of it, why one can only guess. Well the weight of it going over flipped me over the table, in a total summersault, I hit the ground on the other side of it with enough momentum to to come standing upright again.
As I stood there wondering what the hell happened, I thought I better scan the neighborhood to see if anyone noticed this event. As sure as the sun rises, there was Shutter in his driveway, doubled over in laughter. I put my hands in my pockets and shuffled over to him, stood there kicking an imaginary rock with my foot while he caught his breath. After several minutes he was able to ask "what was that?". I proceeded to tell him that it was supposed to be able to stand on end. He informed me that the end I tried was the wrong end. I said yes, that thought crossed my mind in mid flight, along with a considerable amount of air between my ears!
That same year, and for a couple more he and I planted several fruit trees in our yards. Every spring I would pace like an expectant father watching for the fruits of our labor so to speak. One year the apple tree looked like it would produce, only to sprout little apples the dry and drop off. Well, one week it looked like a few might grow, so I watched and watched. I pulled in the yard one day and noticed a couple walnut sized apples hanging in the tree. I yelled to the wife who I could see in the open kitchen window, "honey we got apples I yelled", I could hear the patter of little feet coming out the door as I approached the tree. Just about the same time I noticed that the apples had monofilament line holding them to the tree! Ahhhh, plastic too!
I had to chuckle after being had like that. Wasn't long after that, I was in the yard when over the shade fence of Shutter's patio I hear, "grapes getting ripe". Shutter knows I have a weakness for grapes, his grapes, so I scamper to the the vine, sure enough I see a few ripe ones. As I picked a few and popped them in my mouth, I notice a nice bunch, perfect thought I! Just before my fingers reached the grapes I thought, something not right here. Sure enough, they were rubbery! "How are they" I hear as he chuckled, "a little rubbery this year" says I, having been had yet again!!!!!

Reflecting

I just read a post by Morning Martini, which caused me to reflect a little on the past. On relationships that live on in me. The first and most important was that of my mother. As I have said before I am just "po folk" and have been most of my life. My folks never had a car, and never drove. My father was from Yugoslavia, was smuggled out to come work in the US in the lumber camps if northern Wisconsin before ww1. When I was born he was hired as a great lakes seaman until he retired. At that time, pay wasn't as good as it is today for the seaman.
Anyway, my father was home for about a month each year when the "big lake" froze over, so mom pretty much raised us. Having raised 5 kids during the depression, she could squeeze a nickel til the buffalo went potty!
People today think of homelessness as something new, it isn't. We had many men that were "bums or hobos" come by our house. Later in life I knew a fellow that was a hobo during the depression and made me aware of the difference between the two. A hobo was willing to work for something, while a bum just wanted you to give it to him, mainly food.
No matter how little we had, when a hobo knocked, mom would always make him a sandwich from whatever we had. So I learned compassion for people, and not to look down on those less fortunate. To this day, no matter how little I have I will drop some change in a can, ring a bell at christmas, and give someone a kind word.
So, mom being the first in a long list of people that helped shape me as a person, I don't have enough time or space to list them all. I guess you could say that I am and was shaped by those I don't want to emulate also. I am 57 and I certainly still have and will admire others and learn from them. One of my greatist treasures is when someone lets me know I had a positive effect on them in some small way. So likewise, never be afraid to let others know when they do!!!

Ho Hum-Oil In The News Again

On the way home from work, there was a short blurb about gas and what an analyst had to say. He stated it was all due to capacity, capacity, capacity! Also today it was reported that gas supplies grew this week and the price of oil dropped a couple bucks. It was also reported that our consumption is and was just slightly higher than a year ago!!
As I have said before my degree is in policy studies, economic policy with an environmental emphasis. I would still like to know what an analyst is. Makes me wonder if I am one and don't know it. I think what you hear about oil analyst are talking heads, working for the energy producers, mouthing what the companies want them to say. Then everything fall apart when they "predict" oil price increases. I can see it now, holy cow the analyst s all say this and that, and like magic the prices rise. I wonder where I can get one or two of those crystal balls they use.
I looked at a few sites that tells us what goes into the price of oil. Guess what? The graphs and info is no different than what they would be for anybusiness!
Now as for price gouging, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that something is amiss with oil producers saying the price is due to high costs and jittery markets to see we are getting ripped off on a monumental scale, with record high profits!
I do know this, I don't believe the oil producers should be the ones producing ethanol. If we want to see a cheaper option for normal gas. Fuel should be produced by other entities and sold at gas stations not owned by the oil producers. If the big guys do it, it is like the fox guarding the hen house.
Dubya says he wants the oil companies to invest in alternative energy research. Sure, and I the odds are like me winning two huge lotteries in one week!
The White House is sending letters to the big guys asking how they are going to spend their profits! Now that one made me laugh it was so damned stupid. I have news for Dubya, they aren't going to tell him. They may give him another run around, but a straight answer? Ya right!!
Legally I don't think they have to, and shouldn't. If they feel they were gouging us, then investigate and fine the hell out of them. But I think it is all sabre rattling, and as usual it will all come to nothing, as sad as that may sound!
This administration is fighting for ratings not the truth, and damned sure not for us. I hate to say this folks, I never ever thought I would think this or feel this, let alone say this, but my faith in this country is at an alltime low. I have always considered myself a patriot, we have and had our faults, but man oh man, we have one messed up country! We have to brace ourselves, because this will take years to overcome. And sadly, we will be changed forever, how I'm not sure, we could come out better for it, I hope we do, and we need to remember this time and be determined never to repeat it. The US isn't done for, don't get me wrong, I hope I live to see it strong once again!!!

A Best Friend

To naandpappa, like you, I consider Shutterwi my best friend. Only friends, and good ones at that have a relationship like ours. I know his children, grand child, sisters and love his mother. I look forward each year to her visits, we email and talk on the phone. Likewise he knows my family very well. A part of this relationship is playing pranks, and lots of time laughing. We have been "good for each other" as his mother puts it!
Shutter has a degree as I do, we are intellegent people sharing the same things in life! I never, repeat never will or would belittle a friend!
I pretty much write like I talk in real life. Sure I could use 10 dollar words, but I'm not here to impress anyone. I respect all opinions and most people, no matter their lot in life. I my careers I have direct contact with the best and worst this country has. I look everyone in the eye, I never look down or up to anyone! I have spent enough time hanging my head, feeling less than others, and I am secure enough to know I am ok as a person. So all and all I say it the way it is if anyone asks, no frills, or the way I see things anyway!
I don't expect everyone to agree with me, and heaven knows, I sure don't need to agree with everyone.
So, my friends, I will continue, I hope you all come back and read these things
as I do your sites!
Reflectionswi

More News From The Firepit

Shutterwi and I were standing near the "pit" mulling over young people nowadays. Talked about summer jobs we in past years. I talked of working in gas stations, farms, and logging. Shutter related how one summer he must have got under his dad's skin for something because he found Shutter a summer job, this was in "ol Mass". I asked what the job was, he replied with a straight face, like this was a normal job, "de-beaking chickens". I couldn't say anything for several minutes because I was bent over in laughter and out of breath!
Well after I could talk, I said you gotta be kidding. And pray tell how do you de-beak a chicken? Well I will spare you the details, but I am sure of one thing, those chickens wouldn't be eating with their peckers!!!!! After some thought I asked how they could eat, well it seems they could still kinda peck the ground. I'm sure it would be like us trying to eat corn on the cob without front teeth!!! To this day I believe that these skinney faceless birds only made it to canned soup, I'm sure they would not have made a good chicken nugget.
To put this event in some time frame, I think this revelation came about the same time I found a hornets nest on an old ladder I had leaning against the house, lengthwise to be sure. Now being the biologist that Shutterwi is and a bee expert to boot, he did research on the same, I hollered over his deck fence "yo Shutter, you there?" "yeah, whats up" came the reply. Well I have a bee problem over here, says I. Well I could hear the patter of clogged feet before I could finish the sentence. He came around the corner with a big knowing smile on his face. Ok, where are they? He asked. I pointed to the nest. MMMMMM says he. Well he said yup, you got a problem!He explained what kind of bee it was, how they nest, what they eat, how they breed, species, phyla and a complete family history. And he says did I ever tell you how to treat bee stings?
Well after being stung one day, he explained to me how meat tenderizer in powder form add a little water, mix and spread would do the trick. Sounded hokey to me so I lived with the pain! Not sure if it works but you would have tender stings. If anyone tries this remedy let me know. Anyway, I said I know I have a problem, now that I know way more than I wanted to know, how do I get rid of the damned things!!!!!! MMMMMMMMMMM says he, I think I have some bee spray. He disappeared into the bowels of the tool shed and returned with a sizable can of spray and a 4foot stick. He handed me the stick, and says go knock the nest down and I will spray it. He was about 20 feet away, and I had a 4 foot stick. Well I haven't fallen for this trick since I was a kid, so I said, "whoa, wait here" I said I would spray while he hit the nest. Well he suprised me, he took the stick and the spray, so armed to the teeth he got rid of my problem, well at least the bee problem!
Tomorrow more of adventures of the firepit!!

Good Friends

As I mentioned in an earlier note, Shutterwi and I are good friends! We bounce things off each other, and otherwise whine, bitch and complain. We also help each other out and borrow tools etc.. Living next door to him, I decided to build a fire ring in the back yard, very close to the Lake Reflection that formed in the spring, complete with a pink flamingo and lilly pads put there by you know who!
We always struggled to have enough firewood for the fires, and we burned whatever we could find. Including the wifes wicker furniture on the front porch, until she stopped us before we got to the fire. Anyway, shutterwi one day for a real steal on free firewood, so he brought it over. Well I kindled the fire, we stood around and watched the kindling burn down and this free wood was untouched by the flames. Again I kindled the fire then put some other wood on top of it. It worked like a champ until the asbestos wood shutterwi found began to show through. Well I had been burning wood for many years so didn't consider it a real problem.
A few days went by and we had another fire, with the same result! Well I wasn't going to let a chunk of wood get the best of me. As anyone knows fire needs oxygen, well I was going to give it some. I got the leaf blower, plugged it in and let it rip!!! Just about that time Shutter came out of the house, just about the time a shower of sparks, ash and flames rose about 8 feet in the air! Shutter took one look and was near doubled over laughing at me and the fire. The back yard, well several yards actually was under a dull yellow glow from the firepit.
There was some talk of a strange light phenomenon being observed in Northern WI, by the shuttle crew!!! There will be more reports of other antics by Mutt and Jeff around the fire pit tomorrow. Just so you know, there is still a chunk or two of this posessed firewood eerily floating around the neighborhood, Chard to be sure, but still there!!!!